If you look at my new "Billionaire World" reading map, you’ll see a sprawling empire of families, scandals, and happily-ever-afters. But to truly understand how this world came to be, we have to go back—all the way back to 2010.

The Hero They Said Was "Too Much"

Once upon a time, before the billionaire romance explosion and before Fifty Shades of Grey changed the landscape, I wrote a hero named Dominic Corisi. At the time, publishers told me he was too alpha, too angry, and too intense.

I didn't listen.

My daughter’s favorite quote from that era perfectly sums up the Corisi energy: "Can you really kidnap someone who wanted to go with you?" In 2011, I self-published Maid for the Billionaire. I put it up for free, and by the time I was ready to release book two, over one million people had downloaded it. Dominic hadn't just jumpstarted my career; he had claimed a permanent residence in the hearts of readers.

Seeing the World Through Many Eyes

What fascinated me most about the original Legacy Collection wasn't just Dominic’s own story, but how he looked through the eyes of everyone else.

• In book one, you see his power.

• In book two, you see him through the eyes of his adversary.

• By books three and four, you’re seeing him through a sister-in-law's romance and another woman enjoying her own "kidnapping" fantasy.

One of my favorite perspectives was Alethea’s. She was a woman obsessed with the truth who trusted no one —except Dominic. Their bond showed that even a morally gray billionaire values loyalty and friendship above all else.

A World That Refused to Stay Small

Most authors might have closed the book there. But my characters had other plans. The Corisis spilled into the world of the Barringtons. Then the Westerlys. I was eventually given the chance to expand Dominic’s family even further, discovering "lost" relatives and giving a broken hero the foundation he always craved.

I’ve watched Dominic grow, stumble, and nearly make irreversible mistakes, only to pull back at the last second from becoming someone unforgivable. He is so dynamic that he even demanded a cameo in my World War II "super soldier" series (yes, the one with the silverware!). It was perfect.

The Next Chapter: Firebrook Valley

This year, as I sat down to start a brand-new series, I knew exactly where it belonged: right back in the Billionaire World.

As you dive into Firebrook Valley and meet the new families I’m introducing, keep your eyes peeled. There will be cameos. There will be crossovers. And if the stars align exactly the way I want them to, this journey will culminate in the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Judy Corisi finally revealing to her father exactly who she’s been dating.

Welcome back to the world that Dominic built. It's good to be home.

In Firebrook Valley, the mountains aren't the only things with deep roots. For thirty years, two powerful families have lived on opposite sides of the river, sharing nothing but access to the water and a mutual, simmering distrust.

If you’re looking for the high-stakes intrigue of a family saga like Dallas, look no further than the Burkes and the Hollistons .

The Self-Made Battering Ram: The Burkes 🔨

Cody Burke didn't start with much, but he built an empire through sheer ingenuity and relentless grit.

Celia Burke (Cody’s wife) tragically died on a trail ride in the mountains.

Drew Burke is the "find out" part of the FAFO equation. He’s the battering ram of the family, a man who values a handshake over a bloodline and will tear down a mountain to protect his sister, Nora.

Nora Burke is the youngest and the most likely to cross feud lines first if someone on the other side needs her.

The Old-World "Fixers": The Hollistons

Gabe Holliston was born into wealth and connections, ruling from a world of hidden doors and exclusive clubs .

Beth Holliston, his ex-wife.

Bella Holliston is the family "fixer". She is a successful CEO who has mastered the art of composure, holding her family together even as her father’s volatile ambition threatens to derail them.

Evan Holliston is the wild child. He’d rather not return to Firebrook Valley, but he will when he’s needed.

Brady Holliston is the youngest and most likely to head off on an adventure to uncover the truth.

The Spark

The feud started long before Drew and Bella were born, but it's only getting worse. When their younger siblings get tangled up in it, working together is suddenly more important than old wounds.

In this world, the only thing more dangerous than a rival is falling for one.

But love always finds a way.

Let’s go back to a time when my life was a little more crowded and my office was a kitchen table.

Before the high-rise offices and the sprawling family sagas of Firebrook Valley, my husband, our three kids, and I lived in an 850-square-foot house. Calling the small patch of floor in front of our sink and refrigerator a "kitchen" was generous, and calling that table my "office" was even more so. It was loud, it was chaotic, and looking back, it was a time I’ll always miss—even if the fatigue was very, very real.

The Great Escape

Sometimes, the chaos won. Maybe the roof was being fixed, or maybe everyone was home at once, but on this particular day, I needed to hit a deadline. I grabbed my laptop and headed to our local library.

Between writing in my car during my oldest daughter's cheerleading practices or on park benches, I was a pro at writing anywhere. I found a spot, put my headphones on, and completely fell into the story. I was having one of those rare, furiously productive days where the words just flow.

The "Private Room" Offer

I was deep in the zone when a librarian approached me. She asked if I wanted a private room. I pulled back my headphones, looked around at the relatively quiet library, and gave her a polite smile.

"No, I’m perfectly fine writing right here, thank you," I said.

She paused, then asked, "Then I wonder if you would like to write somewhere else?"

That’s when it hit me. She wasn’t offering me a quiet place to focus; she was asking me to go anywhere else but there. My hands went up to my face and I realized my cheeks were soaking wet. The scene I was writing was so emotional that I was sitting in the middle of a public library, sobbing my heart out.

The Giraffe and the Zoo

I was tempted to tell her that I was a New York Times Bestselling author and that libraries are where we belong—it’s like asking a giraffe not to be at the zoo! But then I looked at the quiet, overtly curious people around me and realized I had very publicly lived out the scene in my head.

Mortified, I stuffed my laptop into my bag and practically ran for my car.

The Magic in the Middle

That was the last time I wrote in a library, though I’ve continued to write in cars, at cheer events, and in fields while my daughter rides our horse. I just choose my locations more carefully now, places where if I start laughing because my characters are hilarious or crying because they’re suffering, and nobody cares.

I share this because it was one of my most embarrassing moments, but also because it shows how real these stories are to me. When my characters are falling in love, I’m falling in love right along with them. When they are sad, I am sitting in that space with them.

People say the journey is more incredible than the destination, and that encapsulates writing for me. Reaching "The End" is incredible, and the blank page is scary, but the magic that happens in the middle? I wouldn't want to miss a moment of it.