Why I Had to Write This Forbidden Romance

There’s something uniquely thrilling about a story built on secrets—the kind that simmer beneath the surface, waiting for the exact wrong (or right) moment to erupt. That’s exactly why I’m so excited to share a glimpse of the next One Night Scandals novel with you.

This upcoming release leans all the way into the tension I love most: loyalty versus desire, past versus present, and the dangerous pull between what we should do and what we can’t help but want.

At the heart of this story is Inigo Velasquez—a Formula One champion who is utterly in control of his world. On the track, precision and discipline define him. He knows how to win, how to calculate risk, how to push limits without losing 

grip. But off the track, his life is governed by something far less predictable: family.

And family, as we all know, complicates everything.

When Inigo comes face-to-face with Marielle Bisset, the past doesn’t just resurface—it collides head-on with the present. She isn’t just a stranger. She’s a reminder of a betrayal that cut deep, one that left lasting scars on someone he loves. By all logic, this should be simple. Clear lines. Clear sides. Clear consequences.

Except nothing about Marielle is what he expects.

What begins as something charged and impulsive—a single night—quickly becomes something far more dangerous. Because the woman behind the scandal isn’t cold or calculating. She’s layered. Fierce. Thoughtful. Carrying her own quiet wounds. And the more Inigo sees her for who she really is, the harder it becomes to hold onto the version of her he’s supposed to hate.

This is where the story really takes hold for me.

I’ve always been drawn to characters who exist in that gray space—where right and wrong blur, where loyalty demands one thing but the heart demands another. Inigo is fearless at 200 miles per hour, but emotional vulnerability? 

That’s the risk he’s never trained for. And Marielle, despite everything said about her, refuses to fit neatly into anyone else’s narrative.  Their connection is intense, complicated, and undeniably magnetic. But it comes at a cost.

Because this isn’t just about two people falling for each other. It’s about the ripple effects—on family, on identity, on the stories we tell ourselves about forgiveness and justice. Old wounds don’t stay buried forever, and as they resurface, the stakes climb higher and higher.

What I hope readers will feel most is that push and pull—the ache of wanting something you might not be allowed to have, and the courage it takes to reach for it anyway.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a One Night Scandals story without a healthy dose of heat, tension, and emotional payoff. Expect explosive chemistry, high-stakes conflict, and a romance that doesn’t come easily—but feels all the more satisfying because of it.

And then there’s the setting.

The world of Formula One brings its own kind of glamour and intensity—fast-paced, high-pressure, and constantly under the spotlight. It’s the perfect backdrop for a story about control, risk, and what happens when both start to slip.

If you love forbidden romance, complicated family dynamics, and characters who have to fight hard for their happily-ever-after, this one is very much for you.

The new One Night Scandals novel is available for preorder now and officially releases on May 21, 2026.

I truly can’t wait for you to meet Inigo and Marielle—and to see which wins in the end: loyalty, or love.