The Bridge

One Bridge. Five Strangers.

A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.

On a bridge suspended above the Willamette River, five lives collide for a journey through hope and hardship in a suspenseful, heartwarming tale of courage, connection, and the magic of second chances.

Sergeant Archer Raines has worked every holiday all year for one reason: to finally spend Christmas with his wife. But when a desperate man threatens to jump from Portland’s St. Johns Bridge, Archer’s expert negotiation skills are required to defuse the situation.

Rosalee, a high-powered accountant and mom-to-be, only meant to swing by home for a forgotten phone and client file. Then her car is caught in the chaos on the bridge, she unexpectedly goes into labor, and her carefully planned world begins to unravel amidst the unfolding drama.

Exhausted nurse Nova just wants to make it home for Christmas after too many night shifts. When the pileup halts traffic and Rosalee’s baby is on the way, Nova puts her own plans on hold to help a stranger in need.

Carter, the owner of a busy tow truck business, regrets taking the call to clear the multi-car collision off the bridge. He’d intended to spend the day tackling last-minute holiday errands. Instead, he’s praying the lunatic pointing a gun at him doesn’t pull the trigger.

Fresh out of college and anxious to kick-start his career, Ian’s running late when his car won’t start the morning of his big interview. His rideshare driver turns out to be a captivating girl with a penchant for aggressive driving that narrowly saves them from being part of the wreck on the bridge, sending Ian on an unexpected path of his own.

The Bridge is the perfect uplifting holiday read and a story of how one frozen moment can thaw even the loneliest of hearts.

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Praise for The Bridge

“A treat for holiday story lovers, like a hot cup of cocoa.” — Kirkus Reviews

“When I feel the need for inspiration and comfort I reach for a book by Shanna Hatfield.” — Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

“Oh. My. Word! So good! … You have drama, action, some suspense, romance, a little psychological component, and inspirational all rolled up in one really great plot. I have never read a book to compare it to that pulls so many main characters and storylines in and weaves them into one story by the end.” — A. Moore, Editor

“If you’re looking for a poignant, powerful holiday story about hope, healing, and the unexpected ways we find our way home, The Bridge is for you.” — Melinda Curtis, USA Today Bestselling Author

“A Christmas story unlike any other – bursting with suspense, vivid characters, and an ending that will make you close your eyes and sigh in happy satisfaction.” — Pam Crooks, Author of the Blackstone Ranch Series

“The Bridge had me hooked from page one. Beautifully written with compelling characters, these intertwined Christmas stories came to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend!” — Anna Grace, Author of A Rancher Worth Remembering

“The Bridge has it all–unique characters, page-turning tension, and the perfect setting for danger and chaos. It’s like Vantage Point meets The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. If you love multiple points-of-view stories with a touch of humor, this one’s for you. I loved it!” — Carmen Peone, Award-winning author of the Seven Tine Ranch Romance Series

Excerpt

The captain sighed again. “I don’t need a jumper off the bridge today.”

Archer could picture his boss running a hand through his graying hair in a move he’d seen hundreds of times in the twelve years he’d worked for the Portland Police Bureau. Mark Cohen had dedicated his life to upholding the law and serving the community. It would be a great loss to the bureau when the man got around to retiring.

“I’ll get there as soon as I can,” Archer said, snagging a clean uniform from the bedroom closet.

“Thanks, Archer. I really am sorry to call you in today. I know you and your wife have plans.”

“She’ll understand, sir.” At least Archer hoped she would. Otherwise, he might spend the holiday sleeping on the couch and watching Santa leave lumps of coal in his stocking.

He sent Lena a text, then tossed the phone on the bed as he pulled on pants and a pair of wool socks. Uncertain how long he might be out in the cold, he layered on a thermal shirt and soft body armor beneath his uniform shirt, gathered his gear into a backpack, then wrote Lena a quick note that he left beneath a snowman magnet on the refrigerator door in case she didn’t get his text for some reason. His wife would be home shortly after noon, ready for an afternoon of holiday merriment. They’d decided to enjoy a leisurely lunch at their favorite neighborhood restaurant, then drive over to Pittock Mansion to see the holiday decorations at the historic home. Lena had mentioned tootling around to look at Christmas lights before joining friends for dinner. After that, they’d attend the Christmas Eve service at church.

Now, Archer had no idea if he’d be able to keep any of the plans they’d both been looking forward to for weeks—although, truthfully, he didn’t mind missing the mansion tour or driving around to look at lights. Traffic was horrible on a good day, and Christmas Eve was a nightmare with people scurrying everywhere on last-minute errands or visiting family and friends.

Given a choice, Archer would be perfectly content to stay at home, eat Christmas cookies until his stomach ached, and watch sappy, happy-ending holiday movies with Lena until it was time to leave for the Christmas Eve service.

However, it appeared that option was already on the way to being long gone right along with their holiday plans.

Maybe the guy on the bridge would be easy to talk down and Archer could soon get back to his holly jolly holiday. It was the first time in five years he’d been scheduled to have both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and he’d wanted to make the time they were together special for Lena.

“So much for that,” he grumbled as he hurried into his garage, slipped the backpack over his shoulders, then pulled on his helmet and gloves, and rolled his motorcycle outside. As he cranked it to life, he glanced back to make sure the garage door was securely shut, then raced down the street. If the bridge was closed, traffic would be in a snarl around it. Days like today made Archer regret buying a house less than two miles away. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d been called to help with a wreck or someone acting suspicious on Portland’s tallest bridge.

One Bridge. Five Strangers.

A Christmas Eve That Changes Everything.

Praise for The Bridge

Excerpt

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