The Third Twin follows an ER nurse who is pulled into a web of corruption and black-market adoptions when she sets out to find her missing twin sister. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration for The Third Twin came from my lifelong fascination with human connection—how bonds are formed, broken, and sometimes manipulated. As DrHeatAndHeart, my work has always focused on the space where emotional intelligence meets high-pressure situations, and that lens deeply shaped this story.

Identical twins represent one of the most profound emotional bonds we know. Their connection is often intuitive, unspoken, and deeply rooted in identity. I wanted to explore what happens when that bond is violently severed—and how the absence of someone who is literally part of you can become both a wound and a driving force.

Choosing an ER nurse as the protagonist was intentional. Nurses are trained to read people quickly, to stay calm in chaos, and to lead with empathy even when the stakes are life and death. That made her the perfect heroine—not just for a thriller, but for a romance. As she searches for her missing sister, she’s also forced to confront her own emotional walls, learning that vulnerability can be just as powerful as strength.

The black-market adoption thread allowed me to explore a darker side of connection—how love, legacy, and longing can be exploited when systems become corrupt. But at its core, The Third Twin is still a love story. It’s about trust earned under fire, intimacy forged in danger, and the courage it takes to let someone see you when everything is on the line.

Ultimately, the story asks a question I return to again and again in my work: Can love survive the truth? And sometimes, more importantly, can it heal it?

Is there anything from your own life included in your characters’ traits and dialogue?

When we moved into our first neighborhood in Colorado, my next-door neighbor discovered she was pregnant, with triplets. I had the rare privilege of watching that journey unfold from pregnancy through infancy, witnessing not just the logistics of raising three babies at once, but something far more extraordinary: the invisible bond that connected the babies from the very beginning.

After the triplets were born, I helped often, which allowed me to see firsthand how deeply attuned they were to one another—even in the earliest days. Like all newborns, they fussed at times, and each was cared for individually—fed, changed, held, soothed. But when one baby became inconsolable, something remarkable happened. Simply placing one of the other babies beside them in the crib brought instant calm. No rocking. No singing. Just proximity. As if comfort lived in the shared presence of each other.

We watched their tiny hands reach out, searching, until they found one another. The moment they touched—fingers curling, palms resting—peace followed. It was clear they didn’t just recognize each other; they needed each other. This connection existed beyond sound or sight, rooted in something deeper than ordinary awareness.

As they grew, their communication became even more fascinating. Long before words, they spoke in their own language—soft babbles, rhythmic sounds, gestures, and expressions meant only for each other. Even as they learned to communicate with adults using words, they continued speaking in this private way among themselves, as though translating life into a language only they shared.

What struck me most was their awareness of one another, even when they weren’t in the same room. They seemed to sense when another needed comfort, attention, or closeness—crying, settling, or calming in patterns that defied coincidence. When reunited, their communication resumed effortlessly, as if no separation had occurred at all.

Watching these triplets changed the way I understood sibling bonds—especially those formed before birth. Their connection wasn’t learned; it was remembered. A quiet, powerful communication code that many twins and triplets experience, often dismissed as myth—but I saw it with my own eyes. It’s real. And once you witness it, you never forget it.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing a thriller? 

The most challenging aspect of writing a thriller is maintaining relentless tension without sacrificing emotional authenticity. Suspense can’t exist on plot alone—readers may turn the pages for danger, but they stay for the people at the center of it.

For me, the real challenge is ensuring that every twist is earned on an emotional level. As DrHeatAndHeart, my work has always focused on how people think, feel, and communicate under pressure. In a thriller, characters are constantly operating in high-stakes environments, and if their reactions don’t feel psychologically true, the tension collapses. Fear, love, hesitation, and trust must unfold in ways that mirror real human behavior—even when the circumstances are extreme.

There’s also a delicate balance between control and surprise. A thriller requires precise pacing and careful structure, yet it must still feel unpredictable. The hardest moments to write are often the quiet ones—the pauses between danger—because that’s where readers sense what could be lost. Those moments allow space for romance, vulnerability, and connection, which ultimately raise the stakes far more than action alone ever could.

Ultimately, blending thriller and romance means understanding that danger sharpens desire, love intensifies risk, and when both are woven together, the emotional payoff becomes as powerful as the suspense itself.

Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?

Yes—readers can absolutely look forward to more work very soon. The Third Twin is part of The Casanova Family Legacy Series, an interconnected collection of romance thrillers that blend danger, devotion, and the enduring power of family.

Two new novels are already in development. The first is When Fire Meets the Snow, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Aspen, Colorado. This story traces the emotional evolution of two people who are both afraid to commit, yet slowly discover a bond strong enough to build a family rooted in trust and love. Readers will also be introduced to Luna, an affectionate, purpose-trained rescue puppy—carefully selected and certified for her intelligence, temperament, and ability to serve—whose journey into becoming a skilled mountain rescue dog mirrors the healing and resilience of the people around her.

The second upcoming novel is The Heiress’s Daughter, which introduces a new heroine while weaving in familiar faces from the Casanova world. She is a classically trained chef who studied in Paris, built her career in Seattle, and then lost everything during the collapse of the restaurant industry in the wake of COVID. Seeking a fresh start, she makes her way to the wide-open beauty of Colorado, where building a career within the Casanova family’s restaurant empire brings opportunity—but also exposes her to betrayal, hidden agendas, and unexpected danger. Her journey is one of reinvention, strength, and love tested under fire.

What excites me most about these stories is the balance—introducing new voices while deepening the emotional legacy of characters readers already know. My goal remains the same with every book: to create stories that keep readers on the edge of their seats, emotionally invested, and believing in love even when the stakes are high.

Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | TikTok | Amazon