ROBIN PERINI

COWBOY IN THE CROSSFIRE

Unjust accusations shattered Blake Redmond's big-city police career—and destroyed everything around him. Now, all this sheriff lives for is keeping watch over his small Texas town…until Amanda Hawthorne and her five-year-old son come fleeing out of a snowstorm with killers on their trail. The terror Blake sees in the young boy's eyes makes Blake swear to protect him and his injured mother.

But winning Amanda's trust is as difficult as resisting the passion drawing him to this beautiful, determined woman. With their every move thwarted and time running out, the only way Blake can clear his name and save this little family is to confront his own dangerous past—no matter what the cost.

READ AN EXCERPT 

Book’s location: Carder, Texas (fictional) and Austin, Texas

Robin Perini QUICK FACTS

• published 3 books with 7 more on the way.
• began writing in  When Moby was a Minnow!
• hometown or favorite city: Florence, Italy is my favorite city.
• ice cream or cake? Cake…always! Preferably with lots of icing.
• hiking or biking? Hiking…I have no sense of balance.

Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
ROBIN: There are so many heroes I've met throughout my life. Teachers, veterans, fire fighters, SWAT team cops, doctors, nurses...the list goes on. Most don't make the news. None want praise or adoration, and when given that admiration most are embarrassed. Today, I think I'll tell you about my great uncle. He fought in World War I. I didn't know him until he was in his 70s. He was wounded twice—once in the arm and once in the leg. He was left on a battlefield and then warned that German tanks would be coming through the next day. He dragged himself a mile (or so the family legend goes) before he was found. He came home from overseas and lived his life. He never spoke of the war, but he challenged himself always. He taught himself to speak Spanish—badly, I'm afraid. He learned to make turquoise jewelry (I still have a ring he made for me when I was a girl). He prospected for gold in New Mexico and Arizona. He was an amazing mechanic and tinkerer. But mostly, he was just always there, quiet and strong.

I know little of what he saw or what he did on those ravaged battle fields. He never spoke of it to anyone—which in itself says so much. What I do know is how he lived his life afterwards. His father had just died, and my great uncle became head of the family (my grandmother was only ten years old at the time). He lived his life for his family. He always looked forward and did for others. Other than my dad, he was one of the first heroes I ever met. And he inspires me to this day. 

What or who inspired the hero for COWBOY IN THE CROSSFIRE?

ROBIN: Blake Redmond came from an interesting place. A man who grew up in a small town, but longed for the big city, who found everything he wanted…and it was all snatched away. He came home to heal, and find a place in the world, only to have his past haunt him again. Blake is a conglomeration of many. His name however, came from a very specific place. Blake's last name was that of my fifth grade teacher. A wonderful man who showed me that science was cool; that great works of art could be inspiring; who taught me how to spell Czechoslovakia and who made learning an adventure. I am where I am today in part due to his influence. Another hero in my life. How lucky can I be?

Is there a hero you’re just dying to write about for Intrigue? 
ROBIN:  I love Intrigue heroes, because I believe an Intrigue hero sacrifices himself for the sake of others. I would love to write about a man with PTSD who has given everything and is struggling to come to terms with the past. Oh, wait…I get to do that in one of my upcoming stories. You'll meet Daniel in Christmas Conspiracy. He gets his own book in 2013. I can't wait! I'm SO lucky to be able to write about the heroes who inspire me. I hope I can do Daniel justice.

What’s your favorite way you’ve killed someone (in your books of course)?

ROBIN: Hmmm…great, if not a disturbing question. The most memorable murder that is available now may be from In Her Sights. I used a tire iron as a murder weapon…it wasn't the weapon that made this scene my favorite, but the way the murderer toyed with the victim. Shudder.

What’s your favorite thing about the Harlequin Party?
ROBIN: I love walking through the Harlequin Party and seeing the authors I've read for years up close and personal. Of course, I'm always way too nervous to talk to anyone, but when I work up the courage, it's amazing to meet someone you've admired from afar for so long and to discover they are as wonderful in person as their books. I'm star struck!

Where are some unusual places your characters have ‘made out’?

ROBIN: Let's see, on a rifle range; in a barn; in a hot tub. I may have to work on that one!

GOTTA ASK: If you had to choose a movie to describe COWBOY IN THE CROSSFIRE, which would it be?

ROBIN’S GOTTA ANSWER:  That's a toughy…how about an odd cross between Conspiracy Theory, LA Confidential, Bonanza, Sneakers and True Lies. LOL…yes, I can't pick just one!

FIND ROBIN on the Intrigue-Authors Blog &

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GLIAS interviews

UP NEXT by ROBIN:

CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY

Harlequin Intrigue

October 2012

Read About It

PREVIOUS RELEASES by ROBIN:

FINDING HER SON
Harlequin Intrigue
March 2012
Read an Excerpt 

IN HER SIGHTS

Amazon Montlake

November 2011

Read an Excerpt 

MONTGOMERY JUSTICE SERIES

Coming in 2013 and 2014 from Harlequin Intrigue, Robin is taking readers back to Carder, Texas for three connected books to Cowboy in the Crossfire and Christmas Conspiracy (October 2012). Keep an eye out for Robin's Carder Connections: Seek and Hide (Hunter's story), Missing in Action (Daniel's Story) and the long-awaited sequel to Finding Her Son, Nowhere to Hide (Noah Bradford's story).

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?

YES! International

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter #GetLostStories or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. Join us tomorrow as INTRIGUE week continues with KERRY CONNOR. ~Angi

? THE QUESTION FOR READERS TODAY ?

I'm going to be writing a lot of connected books in the future. Do you like connected stories. Why or why not? And if you like connected books, what are your favorite and least favorite things in connected stories?