A man. A tiger. A tornado. Jared Montaine owns a big cat rescue in Florida and faces financial pressures, getting over his ex-wife, and the challenge of suburbia creeping ever closer to his enclave for the animals. But when a tornado wrecks part of the refuge, Jared's worst fear comes to life: his Siberian tiger, Sultan, escapes. It's a big cat handler’s nightmare: a tiger on the loose, confused, lost -- and hungry. Jared races against the police, the media, and the hysterical public, all of whom are clamoring for the tiger's hide. He must re-capture Sultan before the cat is killed -- by traffic, by SWAT, or by a civilian who just wants to shoot a tiger. With fellow wildlife handlers at his side, Jared fights desperately to find and capture Sultan before the tiger injures or kills a human. Because that would lead to his worst nightmare -- having to kill the tiger he hand-raised from a cub. Jared’s commitment is tested -- to his animals, his refuge, and his belief that saving the life of even one tiger is worth losing everything.

The Tiger Whisperer

I took care of myself, I put myself through school, I do not need this man’s approval.


“I’m not sure this is a good idea. There could be repercussions, bad publicity…What if this animal hurts someone?”


“I’ll just be behind the scenes. It’s not like it’s going to be on television minute by minute, you know.”


Wolf sighed and gave in. “All right, Valerie. Do what you need to, then.”


First names: a sign they were back on a friendly footing.


“Thanks, Augustus. I’ll report in as soon as I can and let you know my new schedule.”


She dialed more numbers. The people at National Geographic were easier to handle; Marcelo, the VP who’d walked her through orientation was a decent guy, he understood. “Yipes, a Siberian loose? What a mess that could be.”


“Even if it’s not resolved, I willbe on a plane by next Friday. I promise.”


Chapter 76