I'm happy to welcome Tracy Solheim back to The Romance Dish today. Tracy's newest novel, Shot in the Dark released last week and it's another fast-paced, action-packed, suspense-filled romance that's sure to keep readers flipping pages to find out what happens next. I loved the pairing of zoologist, Josslyn who hates guns, rebels against authority, and does whatever it takes to keep her beloved animals safe with by-the-book Secret Service agent, and expert marksman, Adam who has yet to meet a rule he doesn't follow. Add in a secret past encounter, sizzling chemistry, and the fact that they are in the cross hairs of an international poaching ring and you can be sure there will be plenty of fireworks ahead...both in and out of the bedroom.
Connect with Tracy online at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bookbub, and Goodreads. Learn more about Tracy and her books at her website.
Shot in the Dark
by Tracy Solheim
Men of the Secret Service - Book 2
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Release Date: February 25, 2019
If there’s anything zoologist Josslyn Benoit abhors more than guns, it’s poachers. When an African “fact-finding” mission with a wildlife conservationist group goes horribly wrong and one of their members is shot, Josslyn and her team must flee for their lives. What’s worse? Josslyn must call in a favor from her older half-sister…the First Lady of the United States. She returns to D.C. to hunt down a major importer of illegal animal products and the last thing she needs on her tail is a gun-toting, testosterone-fueled hottie who’s too sexy for words and too bossy to tolerate.
After suffering an injury in the line of duty, Adam Lockett, commander of the Secret Service’s elite team of snipers, is sidelined on a boring protective detail—guarding the First Lady’s wild-child younger sister, who’s hell-bent on ditching her detail. He’s biding his time until he can return to the job he loves best, and no tree-hugging, animal saving smokey-eyed beauty is going to ruin his perfect protection record. But when Josslyn’s leads heat up, it’s her own skin on the line, and she’s become much more than a job for Adam.
Can two opposites find happiness, or is it just a shot in the dark?
Who Says Fiction Can’t Be Factual?
by Tracy Solheim
by Tracy Solheim
I’ve
spent much of my adult life researching. Whether it was to earn an advanced
degree or testify before Congress, I’ve done my fair share of sifting through
archives, depositions, micro-fiche, and
surfing the Internet. Just because I write fiction now, doesn’t mean I don’t
want it to be “real.”
Case
in point, my Men of the Secret Service series for Tule Publishing. The
agents may be characters of my own
imagination, but the weapons they carry, the equipment they use, the code names
they utter, are all based on real-life accounts from actual agents. Best of
all, the setting for the series is the White House, a place rich with its own history and a treasure trove of fun facts I
can sprinkle throughout my books—especially when the plot seems to stall!
Let’s explore some of those fun
facts, starting with the Secret Service. Most people aren’t aware that the
agency was created following the Civil War to help sort out the influx of
counterfeit money that arose during Reconstruction. It was only in 1901 after President
McKinley was assassinated—the third US
president to be killed while in office—that someone got the bright idea elected
officials might need an extra bit of personal protection. Thus, the Secret
Service we know today was born. But that doesn’t mean the agency isn’t still on
the front lines sniffing out counterfeiters. They continue to lead federal law
enforcement’s efforts in that area.
Getting a feel for the White
House was easily my favorite
aspect of the research for this series. The White
House Museum has an interactive site where you can wander from room to room
within the eighteen acres of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I had fun sending my
characters to the historic rooms everyone sees in history books. But it was the
obscure places no one knows about that lend a little something extra to the
book, like the chocolate shop in RECIPE FOR DISASTER, or the Children’s
Garden in SHOT IN THE DARK.
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Children's Garden |
The third book in the series
will feature a look at the First Lady’s offices and Camp David. The characters
will also spend a hot minute in the White House Calligraphy office. Yep, they
address all those invitations by hand! The three White House calligraphers are
among 300 staff whose job it is to keep
the executive mansion running on a day-to-day basis. And that gives me a deep
well of characters to choose from in this series!
![]() |
Liberty Ford |
In Shot in the Dark, I put another dog in the White House, Fergus the Scottish terrier. There have been many
pets—including a few famous Scottish terriers—who called the White House home. FDR’s
terrier, Fala, was so popular, she was the subject of a short film. Miss Beazley,
the terrier owned by First Lady Laura
Bush, was the first pet to be adopted by a president. Bo and Sunny were scene
stealers from the Obamas during photo shoots, while who could forget Nixon’s
dog, Checkers or Liberty, Gerald Ford’s beautiful golden retriever.
![]() |
Obama in Children's Garden |
And there were a few exotic
pets, too, including a one-legged rooster Teddy
Roosevelt owned and a raccoon gifted to Calvin Coolidge that was supposed to be
dinner, but who was spared and kept as a pet by the First Family. The
Coolidge family ended up with a second raccoon before they left Washington, not to
mention a pet bobcat named Smoky! Benjamin Harrison kept a pair of opossums
while he was in office. Martin Van Buren wanted to keep a pair of tiger cubs
gifted to him by the Sultan of Oman, but Congress quashed that idea, forcing
the president to donate the animals to a zoo, instead.
Speaking of zoos, the
Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park has a few scenes in the Shot in the Dark. I’m grateful for the
docents within the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) who took the time to
answer my many questions and show me around the Elephant Trails exhibit—including
the poop pit! I truly am lucky to have this career. And yes, I do base my
characters in places I’d love to research,
because why not?
I have signed copies of both books in the Men of the Secret Service
series (digital copies if the winner is
international) for one randomly selected person. Just tell me below if you
could get unlimited access, what famous place would you love to explore?
Sir Winston Churchill's war room would be fascinating and extremely interesting to explore.
ReplyDeleteThat would be fun!
ReplyDeleteThe White House would me my pick. The history and secrets it holds would be fascinating. I love history. My favorite period is just after World War II. Everything changed and people were so excited. Your books sound perfect for me!!
ReplyDeleteI've taken the "public" White House tour but it really shows so little. I'd love to have unfettered access to the entire building. That would be so cool.
DeleteTrish, I've been in the press room of the White House but not before they've redone it. I'd love to catalog all the gifts and artwork.
DeleteThe White House and Air Force One!
ReplyDeleteOh, Air Force One would be fun.
DeleteThey have one of the decommissioned Air Force One planes at the Air and Space annex in Reston,VA. I haven't been inside of it yet, but I'm dying to check it out.
DeleteBesides the White House, I would love to explore Buckingham Palace.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be fun?
DeleteMe too, Pamela!
DeleteThe White House would be really interesting (but not til at least February 2021), or Buckingham Palace.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the House and the Palace! :)
DeleteThe Smithsonian! It looks like it would be an awesome experience.
ReplyDeleteThe Smithsonian museums are incredible but a "backstage" tour would be fascinating.
DeleteThe Smithsonian or the Zoo.
ReplyDeleteI've been to D.C. four times but have yet to visit the zoo. One of these days!
DeleteIt's a great zoo to visit!
DeleteI honestly wouldn't say no to exploring many historical places - when ever I'm lucky enough to visit one, zi want to go all over especially the off limits places. Did you know that Pompeii has n open air workhouse/storehouse where they make casts of the famously preserved bodies? And it appears that they make replicas of the frescoes preserved on the walls? We discovered it while wandering around. It was locked up but we could see inside. SO cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to Pompeii next spring. I will have to check this out! Thanks, Glenda!
DeleteYou're welcome, Tracy! We didn't take a tour but wandered all day on our own. It was so much fun! The entire trip was amazing! Enjoy your trip!
DeleteMaybe some of the sights in China--the site of the terracotta warriors at Xian, for instance! There are also a great many other historic places there I'd love to explore!
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, some of the Terracotta warriors were here in Atlanta. They were amazing to see in person!
DeleteI see that I am in good company wanting unfettered access to all of the Smithsonian. But a place that I would love to have that access to that would not be famous but has always piqued my curiosity, is a Hong Kong Dim Sum restaurant kitchen.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I've had Dim Sum in Hong Kong, but I've not been in a restaurant kitchen there!
DeleteDon't count me because I have the book--I helped name Fergus in a contest!
ReplyDeleteI would love to explore a castle like Neuschwanstein.
denise
Thanks for helping me name Fergus, Denise!
DeleteI've been once, but I'd love to go back to Jerusalem. And, by granting me unlimited access, I am hoping you'd be ensuring my safety, as well! That's really what's stopped us from returning. All these incredible, historical and holy sights are surrounded by violence. Thanks for the post and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteJerusalem is on my list, too! Thanks for stopping by the blog.
DeleteTotally agree, LSUReader--Israel is on my list too!
Delete