1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BEST KEPT SECRET   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  After she rescues her sister’s ex from a loopy response to pain meds, Nyla has to keep Leo’s biggest secret while trying not to fall for him.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  Nearly all of my 40+ published rom-coms take place in the Pacific Northwest. I’m a fourth-generation Oregonian, so this region and its quirks will always have my heart. While The Best Kept Secret takes place in a tiny town in northern Washington, fans of the series will recognize some of the Oregon-based smokejumpers who make an appearance (but don’t worry if you haven’t read others—all the books are standalones!)   4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?  Definitely! She’s one of the kindest, most caring and earnest people I know. Even though she can’t keep a secret to save her life, she’s the sort of person who’ll have your back no matter what.   5–What are three words that describe your hero? Loving, hard-working, father. That last one is really at the core of who Leo…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LOOKING FOR LEROY   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Two women head to Sonoma in a camp-trailer in search of a long-lost beau whose family owns a vineyard—but the only clue to finding him is that his first name is Leroy.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?   I drove through Sonoma wine country once on my way back to Oregon from San Francisco—and the landscape of rolling green vineyards was beautiful. We’ve wanted to return for a longer visit in our motorhome, but in the past few years they’ve been ravaged by fire—and then there was Covid. So I decided to create a family-owned vineyard that had suffered some fire damage and was trying to recover and visit vicariously.   4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?   Absolutely! I have great empathy for Brynna. She’s had some hard knocks in life but keeps bouncing back. As a teacher of younger children, she has a tender heart. But her tender heart sets her up for some heartbreak too.   5–What are three words that describe your hero? Kind,…

CHAPTER 1 Dry Heat by Len Joy   Excerpted from Dry Heat: A Novel. Copyright © Len Joy. All rights reserved. Published by BQB Publishing. https://www.lenjoybooks.com   3 P.M. – SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 20, 1999 ROADRUNNER PARK – PHOENIX, AZ   The gangs were always stealing the nylon basketball nets, so the park director had replaced them with galvanized steel chain, which rattled obnoxiously on every bad shot. Joey frowned as his jump shot clanked off the front rim.   “Your shot sucks today, Joey Blade,” Mallory said as she bounced the ball back to him.   “Your boobs are distracting me. Maybe it’s time you started wearing a bra.” Blonde, with a pixie cut that framed her cute little-girl face, Mallory could have passed for a twelve-year-old if it hadn’t been for her huge breasts. She was fifteen, two years younger than Joey, and they had been playground buddies for ten years. She lived with her creepy father in a rundown brick house a block away and escaped to the park most afternoons.   “Come on, concentrate, Mr. All American.” She lifted up her sweatshirt, flashing him as he took his next shot. An airball.   “Aargh.” Joey chased…