You’ve done it again, Meg, I told myself as snow lashed at my face and the storm howled around me. I should have learned my lesson after my first assignment for Northwest Extreme. Well in fairness, I sort of did. After bumbling my way through an adventure race in the Columbia River Gorge and stumbling onto a murder scene, I decided it was time to beef up my outdoor skill set. Writing for Northwest Extreme was a good gig, especially in Portland’s super competitive job market. Jobs in journalism were scarce in the hipster city that I call home, and I’d been saying a silent prayer of thanks for months that I had an official job and a paycheck to go with it.
There was just one problem—I’m a total klutz when it comes to outdoor pursuits. Before taking the position with Northwest Extreme, my idea of sport was knocking back a pint of Portland’s famed microbrew with my friends at the local pub. If I didn’t get up to speed, I was going to get the boot and end up back on my best friend’s couch. So I took matters in my own hands and called my burly besties—the Crag Rat’s. They’re Oregon’s premier mountain rescue team. If the Crag Rats couldn’t get me in tip-top shape and ready to take on any assignment that my dreamy editor sent my way, no one could.
I spent the summer trekking through the backcountry and learning how to start a fire with a few pieces of kindling and flint. By the end of my intensive training with the Crag Rats I felt stronger, more confident, and eager for my next adventure. Little did I know that my next adventure would involve a bumpy snowcat ride through a blizzard to a remote hut high up on the slopes of Mt. Hood.
At first the idea of spending a weekend at Timberline Lodge on Oregon’s highest peak, sounded like a perfect winter retreat. I imagined that I would plant myself in a comfy chair in front of a roaring fire and sip hot chocolate while dainty snowflakes fell outside. Northwest Extreme was sending me to Mt. Hood to cover the Ridge Rangers training weekend. The Ridge Rangers were a new mountain guiding group who were dedicated to helping novice and experienced climbers reach the summit. I knew I wouldn’t be summiting, but I was looking forward to interviewing the Ridge Rangers and snapping photos while they performed killer stunts on the slope.
I outfitted myself with some adorable winter gear—including cashmere fingerless gloves and a plum colored parka. If I was going to blend in with the throng of snow junkies descending on the mountain for opening weekend of ski season, I had to look the part. Armed with a pair of skis that I had no intention of strapping on, and my trusted notebook and pen, I navigated the winding road up to Timberline Lodge under a brilliant November sun.
There was no sign of snow and just a few clouds on the horizon. I smiled with relief. The weekend was going to be a breeze.
However I was wrong. Very wrong. An unrelenting breeze soon began to gust as a blizzard closed in around me. Within a matter of hours I was trapped at elevation and about to discover that the Ridge Rangers weren’t just performing killer stunts. One of them was a killer. . .
You can read more about Meg in Slayed on the Slopes, the second book in the “Pacific Northwest” mystery series, published by Kensington. The first book in the series is Scene Of The Climb.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on April 10 for the chance to win a copy of Slayed on the Slopes. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring a 
young journalist, Meg Reed, who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. Only Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.
Kate’s work has appeared in a variety of regional and international publications including: The Columbian, The Vancouver Voice, Seattle Backpacker, Portland Family Magazine, and Climbing Magazine.
She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.
Thanks for the giveaway- would love to win!
Jerri, best of luck and happy reading!
Looks like a winner.
Teri, and maybe you’ll be a winner too!
Thanks for the giveaway.
🙂
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance!
Barbara, happy reading!
Would liove to win Slayed on the Slopes! Thanks so much for the opportunity.📖📚
MaryAnn, good luck!
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win Slayed on the Slopes; sounds like a great read.📖📚
This is a fun different series. Happy to see a new one.
So true! Meg is NOT your average cozy mystery sleuth. She’s young and has a lot to learn. I’m excited to watch her continue to grow and mature.
Loved the Scene of the Climb. Would love to win this one. Thanks for the chance for giveaway.
Lindar, yay! So glad you enjoyed the first book.
Thanks for the chance! This sounds like a great book!
Good luck, Terri!
Thank for the chance to win. The books sounds like a great mystery read.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Best of luck, Jen!
Sounds like fun, love the cover
Debbie, I’m glad you like the cover. I love the sinister ski dangling from the chair lift.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway. I’m looking forward to this one in the series.
Brenda, happy reading!
Thank you for the chance to win, it looks great 🙂
Lisa, fingers crossed 😉
I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Shelia, I hope you get a chance to read it!
This sounds like a great book and I would like a copy. Thanks for the offer.
Nancy, I hope you enjoy it!
Sounds like a great read!! I’m sure I would love it. Thanks for the chance to win!
Judy, I’m sure you’ll love it too. Not that I’m biased or anything 😉
This sound interesting – thank you for sharing
🙂
This sounds like a fun read!
Fun reads are necessary sometimes, right?!
Thanks for having this giveaway. =) I love the Northwest and like to read books that are set in that area! 🙂 Though they usually make me miss living out there even more! 🙁
The Northwest misses you too. I’m sure you’ll recognize many of the locales in the book. Greetings from the very rainy PNW!
I don’t ski and do the roughing-it outdoor stuff so it would be fun to read about somebody else doing it.
thanks.
Happy Easter
Marylouh, Meg doesn’t do the outdoor stuff well. That gets her in trouble, but hopefully makes for an entertaining read. Happy Easter!
Sounds like Meg has really done it this time! Thanks for the preview, sounds like a good book.
Mary Jane, Meg has done it again! Not to worry, she’s improving slowly but surely. However being snowed-in on a high mountain slope is not her idea of a good time 😉
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book. It’s on my TBR list!
Christi, thanks so much for adding it to your TBR list!
A great feature and giveaway. Sounds intriguing.
Pearl, good luck and happy reading!
My idea of fun in the cold is inside by the fireplace looking out! Sounds like a good book.
Mine too! I admit I spent many hours in front of the lodge’s fireplace, for the sake of “research” of course 😉
The 1st book is in my TBR pile…gotta start it soon…
Thanx for the giveaway….
Thanks so much for adding it to your TBR pile. Happy reading!
Great post and contest~thank you! Love the title!
Betty, when I was on the mountain doing early research a snow boarder zoomed past me and his friend shouted, “You’re slaying it!” I knew right away that had to be the title.
How did I not know about this series? I live in the Pacific NW and love reading stories set in this area. Thanks for the chance to win.
Three cheers for the PNW and Dru’s Book Musing for connecting you to the series!
Cashmere gloves? Boy! Does she have some learning to do!
Libby, oh yes she does, but those gloves are so cute 😉
Gotta say. I admire her for being fashionable on the slopes.
Lisa, fashion is half the battle.
I would love to win and read this book!
🙂
Leather with a cashmere lining are the only way to keep hands toasty on the slopes! Can’t wait to read and thank you for the chance in contest!
Veronica, yes! Leather and cashmere, a perfect pairing!
This looks like a fun read.
Good luck!
Wow this sounds so good and would love to win a print of it.
Thanks, Peggy! Happy reading.
Great play-on-words title. New author to me.
Judy, as my agent says, “the punnier the better” when it comes to cozy titles.
wow , this sounds really like a story I would love to read – keeping fingers crossed I win it and thanks for this fantastic giveaway
Jo Anne, I’ll cross mine for you too!
I’m not a winter sports person either—so I think the cashmere gloves and plum parka are perfect! Thanks for the contest/
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
You have to look good on the slope, right?!
This sounds like a great book. I’d love to be lucky enough to win it.
Best of luck, Sharon!
Another to add to my list! Would love to win.
Kay, thanks for adding it to your list.
I love reading about coordinated and graceful skiers. Unfortunately I am a very uncoordinated individual..lol
I am not familiar with this series, but that changed as of now. Thank you Dru for enlightening me to this great sounding series.
Cynthia
Cynthia, Dru’s blog is the best! And I’m so glad you’re excited about the series.
Reminds me of my skiing days in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.
They both sound beautiful.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series. I’m glad to hear that Meg is trying to improve her skills! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Slayed on the Slopes.
Linda, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed Meg’s first adventure! I love getting to write Meg because she has no where to go but up when it comes to improving her outdoor skills.
Just discovered your series and I’m looking forward to reading Slayed on the Slopes.
Sharon, yay for finding the series!
Yes, I most assuredly want to win a copy of this. What a treat were I to be selected! Thank you and Happy Easter!
Kathleen, good luck and hope you had a wonderful holiday!
Sounds fantastic! Definitely on my TBR list
Robin, many thanks for adding it to your TBR list!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win a copy. Thank you.
🙂
Sounds like a book I could escape into for a few hours. 🙂
Reading is my favorite escape!
Great giveaway! Love the premise of this series.
Scouts579 (at) aol (dot) com
Good luck, Stacie!
i enjoyed the excerpt.The Pacific Northwest Mystery Series sounds like a book series I like to read. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I read this book and loved it, so many twists and turns. Now I have to go back and read the first book in the series. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
This series is new to me. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sounds like a good book. Hope to win
Looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing.
contest is closed.