Chapter 1
Rebecca peered through the small, cloudy window into the
machine shop. Inside, someone held a flaming welding torch to an odd jumble of
metal. She couldn’t see the person’s features beyond the face shield, but a
glimpse of tousled, dark blond hair suggested it might be the woman from the
article. The treasure hunter.
The woman who could help. If only she would.
Rebecca made sure her blouse was neatly tucked into her
skirt and pushed through the door. A burning, metallic smell hit her. The new
angle gave her a glimpse of the welder’s shoulders and she reversed her
opinion. That was no woman.
He turned off the torch and removed the welding helmet.
“Hey.” He was average height, with sun-streaked hair and a killer smile. Sweat
glistened on his face and lean, muscular arms. He was sexy in an athletic way,
though she preferred the work-obsessed brainiac type.
Rebecca gave a brief nod of greeting. In the clutter of odd
machinery, it took her a moment to spot the woman leaning against a long metal
table. Curly blonde hair, curvy figure in jeans and a tank top. That was whom
she’d come to see. “Camille Dagneau?”
“Call me Camie.” The blue eyes studied her with open
curiosity.
Rebecca forced a smile, hoping her fatigue and anxiety
didn’t show. “I’m Rebecca Westin. Can we talk?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Rebecca glanced at the man, but he was poking at his
project, testing the weld or something, and it would be rude to insist he leave
in the middle of his work. He was probably a student, though he looked close to
thirty, and the metal thing looked more like an artistic sculpture than an
engineering project.
She moved closer to Camie and spoke in a low voice. “I read
about you in a National Geographic
article. And when I found out you were here, in New Mexico…. Well, it seemed
like too good a coincidence to pass up. I’m hoping I can convince you to help
me find another treasure.”
Behind her, the man said, “Wait a minute, if this is a treasure
hunt, I want in this time.”
Rebecca shot him a frosty look, but he kept smiling. He was
probably used to getting whatever he wanted with that smile. But this wasn’t a
game. Her future was at stake. She turned back to Camie, shifting slightly to
block out the man, and waited for a response.
“You want to hire me as a treasure hunting guide?”
Here’s where things got tricky.
Stop by next week for another excerpt, or browse quick peeks of other books in this series.
The Dead Man’s Treasure
Rebecca Westin is shocked to learn the grandfather she never
knew has left her a bona fide buried treasure – but only if she can decipher a
complex series of clues leading to it. The hunt would be challenging enough
without interference from her half-siblings, who are determined to find the
treasure first and keep it for themselves. Good thing Rebecca has recruited
some help.
Sam is determined to show Rebecca that a desert adventure
can be sexy and fun. But there’s a treacherous wildcard in the mix, a man
willing to do anything to get that treasure – and revenge.
Action and romance combine in this lively Southwestern
adventure, complete with riddles the reader is invited to solve to identify
historical and cultural sites around New Mexico.
“… it’s all good, suspenseful fun as Rebecca and Sam traipse
the New Mexico desert, deciphering clues and trying to outwit Rebecca’s half
siblings.” – Publishers Weekly BookLife
Okay, first of all, I love that the author makes this book interactive
– if the reader wants it to be. You can go online and download a printable copy
of the treasure map and try to decipher the clues yourself. I found that it be
a fun addition to the book, plus you'll also get awesome Southwestern recipes.
… The Dead Man’s Treasure is fast-paced and a perfect read for the weekend. I
highly recommend this one. - A. Brantley
I
would give this 10 stars if I could!! I can't say enough how much I LOVED
this book! It has mystery, adventure, danger, romance, and above it all family
remains a huge theme. … I was literally like a kid in a candy store turning
page after page reading this story. - Jules-Mighty
Tired Mom
Kris lives in New Mexico, where she enjoys hiking, watching
the sunset from her patio, and hanging out with her husband and their ferrets.
Her home office looks out on nature, complete with distracting wildlife such as
roadrunners and foxes. Her BFA in photography is used mainly to show Facebook
friends how lovely the Southwest is.
The Mad Monk’s Treasure follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure
in the New Mexico desert. In The
Dead Man’s Treasure, estranged relatives compete to reach a buried treasure
by following a series of complex clues. In The Skeleton Canyon Treasure,
sparks fly when reader favorites Camie and Tiger help a mysterious man track
down his missing uncle.
Read excerpts
at www.krisbock.com or
visit her Amazon page. Sign up
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