FEATURED BOOK: OUT OF TIME BY SHIRLEE MCCOY

Someone plans to disrupt the 175th anniversary celebration of the Battle of the Alamo—and it's Alamo Ranger Susannah Jorgenson's job to stop the culprit. But that means partnering with Levi McDonall, who skipped town years ago with her heart. Levi's now a Texas Ranger, sworn to protect her at any cost, but Susannah knows she'll pay the price if she falls for him again. She has to stay focused on their goals—to eliminate the threat and solve the murder of Levi's captain. But an unknown killer is watching…ready to eliminate them.

Running Scared Interview

Today we're welcoming Kane Dougherty, the hero of Running Scared, Shirlee McCoy, July.
Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
Five years ago, my four year old son Eli was abducted. I’d nearly given up hope of finding him when I received a phone call that changed my life.
2. So, during the book you met Maggie Tennyson. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
Maggie is the reason my son and I were reunited, and I owe her everything. We met hours after I arrived in Deer Park, Washington, and I knew immediately that she was hiding something. It took a while for her to feel comfortable enough to share her story, and when she did, I knew I couldn’t go back to my life and leave her to face her past alone.

Loving Maggie was easy. I’d been a widower for nine years when we met, and maybe I was looking for love again. The moment I met Maggie, I knew she’d be a part of my life. I just didn’t know how difficult it would be to keep her safe!

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness? I’m a man of strong convictions, and I’m driven to help those in need. After my son was abducted, I opened a PI firm and made it my life’s work to reunite people with missing loved ones. Sometimes, I work too hard and focus on others when my focus should be on family. Falling in love with Maggie and learning to father Eli again has taught me the importance of building strong family relationships.

4. What scares you? The thought of losing someone I love again.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would spend more time enjoying my new family and less time worrying that they’ll be taken from me.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? I have a very strong faith, but I’ve stopped believing that God cares enough to perform a miracle and bring my son back to me.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story? My faith is stronger than ever. God has shown me His faithfulness, and I pray that I am as faithful to Him.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant. Psalm 56:13 reflects both my journey and Maggie’s. It says: For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

God’s compassion, forgiveness and grace has brought both of us out of the darkness and into the light.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? I think I'd be a brownie sundae. To me, that's celebration food, and I want to spend the rest of my life celebrating what God has done for my family

Thank you Shirlee for sharing Kane with us today. I understand you have a prequel out the 19th on eharlequin. How great!

FEATURED BOOK: DEADLY VOWS BY SHIRLEE MCCOY

Olivia Jarrod was newly placed in witness protection when she discovered she was pregnant. First rule of the program: no contact with anyone from her former life. That includes her estranged husband, Ford Jensen—the unknowing father of her unborn child. Despite their rocky marriage, Olivia still loves him deeply. And when Ford shocks her by tracking her down, she knows the mobster pursuing her can't be far behind. But now their baby's very life depends on both of them staying alive—and together.

Running For Cover Interview

Today we're welcoming Morgan Alexandria, the heroine of Running for Cover, Shirlee McCoy, March 2010. Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life. One of the biggest was marrying my ex. Cody never cared about anyone but himself, and if I’d been a different kind of person when I met him, I might have realized that. When he went to jail for murdering his business partner, I thought he was finally done causing trouble in my life. I was wrong. When two men broke into my art gallery and nearly killed me, I realized that Cody had gotten himself into the kind of trouble he wouldn’t survived, and somehow he’d pulled me into it with him.

2. So, during the book you met Jackson Sharo. Tell us a bit about him/her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Jackson is a true hero. He threw himself into danger to save me…a woman he didn’t even know. What kind of guy does that? His faith and integrity make him the kind of man anyone can rely on. For me, though, it was difficult to acknowledge my feelings for him. I’d been hurt way too many times, and I didn’t want to be hurt again. Jackson’s support never wavered despite my doubts, and I soon realized that I would rather risk a broken heart than regret not letting him into my life.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I’m independent and strong. I know how to achieve my goals and dreams, and I don’t rely on others to help me through the tough times. Those things are both my greatest strengths and my greatest weaknesses.

4. What scares you? The thought of losing those I love most.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be more open to other people. More willing to give of myself emotionally.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? My faith was strong but shaken by my past.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story? I realize that God has always been with me and that, despite my failures, He has never turned away.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
I love this verse! I have often felt burdened by regret, and Hosea 11:4 reminds me of God’s love and grace. When I read it, I can truly imagine Him reaching down and lifting my burden. I can picture Him offering the truth of His mercy and grace as my sustenance.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? Carrot cake. Carrots and sugar and spice. Lots of strong flavors that don’t seem like they can work together, but they do. Just like me and Jackson!


Thank you Shirlee for sharing Morgan with us today. This sounds like a great read!

Cold Case Murder Interview

Today we're welcoming Jodie Gilmore, the heroine of Cold Case Murder; book three of the Without A Trace continuity series, by Shirlee McCoy, March 2009. Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.


1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.
I grew up in Loomis, Louisiana, and spent most of my childhood planning my escape. When I finally got my dream job as an FBI agent, it never occurred to me that I’d be sent back to my home town. I guess God has a sense of humor, because that’s exactly where my first assignment took me. I was supposed to serve as liaison between the locals and the FBI while I helped solve a missing persons case. Instead I got pulled neck deep into a decades old case that forced me to face my past and deal with it.

2. So, during the book you met Harrison Cahill. Tell us a bit about him. Harrison is a forensic anthropologist. The FBI brought him in to help identify the remains of two murder victims. What was your first impression? I wasn’t impressed and neither was he. Harrison thought I was too green an agent to be of much benefit to the case. I thought he was bossy and rude.
When did you know it was love?
When I realized that Harrison accepted me for who I was. I’d never had that before with anyone.

3. What strengths/skills do you have?
I’m independent and strong. I know how to get a job done. What is your greatest weakness? That I don’t want to ask for help. That I’d rather face things alone than rely on the people who care about me. I’ve had to learn that leaning on someone doesn’t make me weak. It makes me doubly strong.

4. What scares you?
The thought that I could turn out like my father – cold, hard and bitter, with little love for those around me.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
That’s a hard one. I’d want to change the resentment I had for my mother for most of my life. I’ve wasted a lot of energy on anger.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
I believe in God, but do not have a relationship with Him.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
The journey I make helps me realize that God wants to be more than just a word in my vocabulary. He wants to have a relationship with me because He loves me just as I am.

8. You've got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.
Galatians 5:1 says that we should stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. I was a slave to my anger and disappointments. Through Christ, I have been freed to live a life of joy. When I find myself slipping back into old habits of thought and action, I remember the truth of that verse.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why? A twelve scoop sundae because it’s a dessert that can be shared by many, and I’d want to be something that brings people together.

To play a mystery game with the authors of the Without A Trace series go to the following link
http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/steeple-hill/without-trace-can-you-solve-mystery

Sounds like another intriguing story. Thank you Shirley for sharing Jodie with us.