My epic excitement for Not So Fast!

I often get asked about the inspiration behind my books, and there’s almost always a story. Gray Hair Don’t Care was inspired by my friend Ashley, who let her hair go gray, and it made her even more gorgeous. The Little Black Book of Secrets series was inspired by a Vanity Fair article I read about Truman Capote and the diaries he used to keep, chock full of everyone else’s secrets.

A lot of people have asked what made me write a Formula One romance. So let me tell you! During the pandemic, a friend of ours suggested we watch Drive to Survive. My immediate reaction? Why would I watch that? I was ignorant to what a truly and utterly fascinating sport it is. And, fair disclosure, I had no clue how utterly stunning the drivers are. No clue. A few episodes in, I was hooked. As was my daughter. When she latched onto F1, it gave us some prime mother/daughter bonding.

The first full season of racing we watched was the 2021 season, which was super exciting, and ended in the most controversial, thrilling way imaginable–seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lost to Max Verstappen on the last lap of the last race, all because of a call made by the race director. I hate it when the refs end up deciding the outcome of a game (or in this case, a race). But that’s also sports–sometimes it just isn’t fair. Anyway, Ems and I have been die-hards since then. We watch every single practice session, qualifying, and race.

Early in 2024, I had a call with my editor at Harlequin. We were talking about the new line I write for, Afterglow Books, and I asked what was on her wish-list. (Editors often have a wish list of books they “wish” they could edit and publish.) She rattled off a few ideas, none of which were entirely up my alley, then she said, “And I really want a Formula One book.” Well, dear reader, my brain and really, my entire person exploded. It’s funny…I’m a romance author who had become consumed by the sport, but I hadn’t planned on writing an F1 romance. Until that moment. Then I was off to the races. So to speak!

Not So Fast was one of those rare books that just sort of spilled out of me. Xander and Mia appeared in my brain as fully-formed human beings from Day 1, and I loved writing the snarky enemies-to-lovers vibe that starts the book and how that transforms into a genuine love story full of ups and downs, sexy times, and ultimately an HEA that I think everyone can root for! The eBook and audio editions of Not So Fast are coming out a little earlier than originally planned. Release date for those is April 1. The trade paperback will be released May 27. And I hope you decide to take a chance on it. If you love my books, you will love this one, even if you don’t know a single thing about Formula One. I promise you’ll love the ride!