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

“No, not yet. I can’t do it this week, hon, please.”


“He needs time to prepare; you should tell him now.”


Peter shrugged, feeling pushed and bullied. He knew Katherine was right; from a financial point of view, he had to leave the refuge. But emotionally…He had no interest in working for her father; he knew that whatever “job” being created for him would be a sham. The man sold marketing coupon books. What would Peter know about that industry?


At least on the refuge his years in school weren’t a total waste. Jared appreciated his expertise on the cats and knew Peter had the eye for details to follow up on new research and grants. It was Peter who had gotten Dr. Wilson’s study on site. Seeing her at work had inspired him to work on his dissertation again. He’d taken his box of notes out of the hall closet just last weekend, intending to review them.


The box still sat in the living room, next to his spot on the sofa. Unopened.


Chapter 77