Romantic Suspense

Category

Holiday whodunits

The holidays, especially Christmas, have served as a backdrop for the romantic suspense genre for decades. While Christmas and criminals seem an unlikely combination, many writers have successfully blended the two to create fast-paced thrillers and mysteries that have you sitting on the edge of Santa’s lap: Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark, Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie, Hard Christmas by Barbara D’Amato.

Several of my romantic suspense stories feature mistletoe and mayhem. Which one is your favorite?

Mission: Impossible to Wed (The Impossible Mission Series, Book 5)

A Marine’s Christmas Wedding (The Grayce Walters Series, Book 5)

A Christmas Code (The Code Breakers Series, Book 2)

A Holiday Code for Love (The Code Breakers Series, Book 7)

A Code of Joy (The Code Breakers, Book 10)

For romantic suspense authors, the love, peace, joy and comfort of the holidays offer a sharp and vivid contrast to the terror, danger and peril of mysteries and thrillers. When everything you love most is at risk, it becomes that much more precious when saved by a clever hero and/or heroine.

What is your favorite holiday romantic suspense film or book?

Fourth of July Book Binge

With communities still battling Covid-19, many traditional Fourth of July events and traditions are not an option this year. If your picnic has been nixed or your parade has been cancelled, how about celebrating with a book binge instead.

Here are a few tips and a FREE ebook to get you started.

1. Pick the right books. Are you in the mood for comedy, suspense, romance or adventure? Once you decide, assemble a list of books that fit the theme.
2. Get comfy. Set up your hammock or lawn chair in a shady spot. If the temps are sizzling outside, lounge around inside.
3. Stock up on drinks and snacks. The idea of a book binge is that you don’t have to step away to do anything else. It’s all about reading and escaping into books. Fuel your binge with sweet and salty snacks and a few drink options.
4. Hang up the Do Not Disturb sign. You might have to negotiate a few hours of ME time to thoroughly enjoy your book binge so let your family/housemates know your plans. Log off of social media, silence the phone, and spend some QT with your book friends.

Right now, An Inner Fire is free. Download a copy to start your binge list.

Grayce Walters, animal acupuncturist, harbors a secret. She hides her intuitive gifts from the world until she becomes embroiled in arson on Seattle’s waterfront.

As a key crime witness, Grayce must convince the attractive, logical, by-the-numbers fire investigator, Ewan Davis,that the fire she witnessed is part of a larger criminal conspiracy. Grayce embarks upon a mission to gather proof of the dangerous threat. She enlists the help of her cross-dressing best friend, her street-wise assistant, and Davis’ poodle, to conduct her own investigation.

As her feelings for Davis shift between white hot passion and cold fear, Grayce must risk exposing her secrets to save Davis’ life. Davis must accept things, he can neither see, nor understand to solve the mystery and finally find the love he has stopped believing in.

With nudges from the protective poodle, Grayce and Davis confront shocking betrayal and international crime on the rain soaked streets of Seattle.

If you want more contemporary romantic suspense, check out the entire Grayce Walters series, available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited.

Have a fabulous Fourth of July!

Yay, it's release day! Now what?

A writer’s work is never done.

There isn’t really a saying like that, but there should be. Why? Because even when a book is finished, the job isn’t over. There’s always another book to be written, another story to be told.

I recently released Mission: Impossible to Forget. It was months of research, writing, editing, and rewriting. After investing hundreds of hours and a big part of my heart in the story, I released it to my readers. Even thought it wasn’t my first book, every launch is a momentous event that fills an author with pride and anxiety–Will readers like it? Was it a good story? Could it have been any better?

Happily, the reviews for Emily and Nick’s story are strong. It’s heartwarming and exhilarating to read reviews like these:

“This story has it all going on suspense, kidnappings, murders, loving ex-military brothers, a cello, a feisty heroine, romance and a dog.” —Angela, Goodreads

“Five stars! Secrets, lies and danger around every corner. Loved this book.” —Sue, Goodreads

“One of the things I love about this series, and admire the author for, is the way she tells each characters story with scene overlaps that gives you a real sense of the timeline in which they are happening. As you read each book in the series you are able to easily fill in the gaps and feel more connected to the characters.”  —SIMATSU, Amazon

I’m still enjoying the Mission: Impossible to Forget ride, but there’s another roller coaster beckoning. It is the next story waiting to be told.

A May Day Code for Love is part of a Regency romance box set coming out on May 5th. I’m shifting from contemporary romantic suspense to Regency romantic suspense, but I love the Code Breakers world and the characters who reside there.

I hope you’ll come along for the ride. It’s always more fun with friends!

Preorder A May Day to Remember for just 99¢

Eight all-new novellas full of May Day Mischief and heart-pounding romance. Indulge in these novellas from USA Today and bestselling authors.

One Fateful May Day by Amanda Mariel
The Vixen in Red by Dawn Brower
A May Day Code for Love by Jacki Delecki
Falling for the American by Aileen Fish
Lady Mary’s May Day Mischief by Cerise DeLand
The Queen of May by Diana Bold
Magic in Mayflowers by Sandra Sookoo

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA

Apple Books | Kobo | Nook

So Tasty ~ Excerpt from 'An Inner Fire'

Grayce stood in the doorway wearing his shirt. Mitzi stood behind her. A surge of possessiveness hit him in the gut. He wanted Grayce Walters to belong to him and only him.

“How long have I been asleep?” She stretched her arms over her head. He watched his shirt hike up to reveal her thighs, high enough to tantalize, high enough to cause heat to pool under his clothes, under his skin.

“Three hours.”

“Wow, I was really out. I had no idea I was so tired.”

“My fault. I didn’t plan on a workout when I invited you for dinner.”

A patch of red appeared on each cheek. A woman who blushed, a woman with no artifice.
How had he gotten so lucky?

“Are you working?”

“I was.” He stood. He wanted to go back to bed and do all the things they had done to each other and more. Desire drummed through him in a slow, steady beat. With her hair sleep-tousled around her shoulders, she looked like the cover of Maxim, like every hot-blooded male’s fantasy.

He pulled her into his arms. She smelled of lemon and warm, sleepy woman.

“Are you hungry?”

“I am, but you keep working. I’ll fix something.”

“I’m hungry too.” He leaned down, taking bites of her earlobe, nipping at her neck. “So tasty.”

Click here to keep reading An Inner Fire, The Grayce Walters series Book 1

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET is a Next Up in Romance book!

I’m incredibly thrilled to have MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET mentioned by Apple Books in their Next Up in Romance Collection!

📚Check it out here ➡️ apple.co/nextupinromance

⭐Don’t forget to pre-order! It’ll release on February 1, 2020.⭐