Book Title: FORBIDDEN SECRETS, Payback Mountain, Book 5
Character Name: Gage Landry
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
My family was great… until it wasn’t. My dad was killed by a drunk driver when I was seven, and overnight I felt like it was my job to take care of my mom and little sister. Then Janie got sick – cancer – when she was twelve. High school for me was a blur of doctor’s appointments, working whatever jobs I could, and trying to keep my grades up. Looking back, I guess you could say I didn’t really have much of a childhood.
What was your greatest talent?
Recognizing bullshit. Part of that comes from training, the rest from experience. After years as a special agent with the FBI, you learn to see through people fast. Not much gets by me.
Significant other?
No. People close to me have a tendency to die, and I’ve had my fill of heartbreak. Better to live alone than risk losing someone else.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
I’ve been told I’m reserved – aloof, even – and that I keep myself safe by not letting anyone get too close. But my best friend and his crew didn’t give me that option. They dragged me into their circle, refused to let me brood on my own, and now they’ve become family. I tried to keep my distance. They didn’t let me.
Where do you live?
I bought a house at the base of the mountain. It’s nothing fancy, but the view of the Sierras through those big windows is what sold me. The peace I get up here has done more for me than therapy ever could.
Do you have any enemies?
I did. My partner and I were undercover when our operation went sideways. Our cover was blown, and the cartel tortured us. Rafe was killed; I was barely alive when the rescue team found me. Those enemies are gone, but the memories of what they did? Those don’t die so easily.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
I like living on the edge of the valley – it’s quiet, steady. But lately, I can’t seem to focus on the mountain view. My new neighbor, Melanie, keeps stealing my attention. Long legs, a smile that kills me, and a strength that draws me in. She’s in trouble, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her and her little girl safe.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
Yeah. Those friends who wouldn’t let me brood on my own? They got me a big, goofy puppy. Now Pancake’s full grown (I’ll let you guess why she’s called Pancake) and I can’t imagine my life without her. Sure, she can be a pain in the ass, like when we’re in town and she flops on her back and refuses to budge, but I think she’s also helped me to heal.
What do you do for a living?
I left the FBI and started my own security firm. Now I pick my own cases and skip the bureaucratic nonsense. When strange things start happening to Melanie, I’ve got the resources, and the motivation, to figure out who’s behind it.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
Three people I loved died before their time. Maybe it’s irrational, but I can’t shake the feeling I should’ve been able to stop it. That guilt makes me overly protective now, but I’d rather carry that than another loss.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
Melanie’s in danger and finding who’s threatening her and her daughter is my top priority. But somewhere in the middle of protecting her, I realized my priorities are shifting. My life’s changing and for the first time in a long while, that feels like something to look forward to.
FORBIDDEN SECRETS by Diane Benefiel
If you love small towns, strong heroines, and protective heroes, USA Today Bestselling author Diane Benefiel’s Forbidden Secrets is the book for you.
Some Secrets Refuse To Stay Buried
Melanie Brennan’s world revolves around her daughter, and she’s worked hard to build a life rooted in safety and love. But when a disturbing incident shakes their quiet town, Melanie turns to former FBI agent Gage Landry, the one man she shouldn’t trust but can’t ignore.
He’s intense, protective, and far too perceptive for Melanie’s comfort. Yet Gage sees through the walls she’s built, and he refuses to back down from either the mystery at hand or the connection growing between them. But uncovering the truth may demand more than she’s ready to give.
As long-buried secrets surface and danger looms closer, Melanie and Gage must learn to trust each other if they want to protect what matters most.
Set against the rugged backdrop of Sisters, California, Forbidden Secrets delivers emotional depth, pulse-pounding suspense, and the unforgettable power of found family. Get your copy today!
Romance Contemporary [ Boroughs Publishing Group, On Sale: November 11, 2025, e-Book, / eISBN: 9781957295930 ]
Buy FORBIDDEN SECRETS: Kindle | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Diane Benefiel
Murder? Stalker? Mayhem? Are bad guys coming to get her? Nope, Diane is just a retired school teacher with a laptop. She’s been married for decades. Decades! She walks Finn every morning (mostly). She FaceTimes with her grandkids. The most excitement she’s had lately is a bumpy ride on a plane, and that’s not the fun kind of excitement. But her heroines? They have all the thrills. Scary things happen to them. Hot, compelling men find them fascinating. And they always find their HEA.
An avid reader for as long as she can remember, Diane has always favored stories with strong female characters who go on adventures and can think themselves out of the most dangerous situations. It’s no surprise that those are the kinds of books she enjoys writing.
Diane’s love of the outdoors is reflected in her books. Born and raised in Southern California, family vacations meant camping in locations ranging from Big Sur to Death Valley to Zion. Two of her series are set in fictional towns in her happy place, California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her love of travel took her to Sweden as an exchange student when she was sixteen and backpacking around Great Britain (after a week in Paris) while in college. She and her husband have enjoyed pulling their little trailer to the National Parks, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Pinnacles.
Winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award in Romantic Suspense and a USA Today Bestselling author, Diane has recently retired from a career teaching high school history. She now has all the time in the world for writing, gardening, and travel. That’s the theory, anyway. She is a member of the Orange Country Romance Writers.
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