Have you ever ridden a roller coaster that jerks you around, goes into a tunnel, and you can’t see what’s ahead? Suddenly, you’re flipped upside down, and the sound of a waterfall rises above screams. Water splashes your body before emerging back into daylight.
It was the exhilarating thrill of the unexpected that took your breath away. The next thing you knew, you were searching for another equal or greater experience. Though your joyride only lasted two to three minutes before revealing the pivotal outcome, the desire for more surged through your body.
Reading romantic suspense, suspense, or thrillers works similarly, except you are sitting comfortably with your feet propped up, sipping on your favorite beverage, and furiously turning the pages of a novel in anticipation of what will happen next.
Will the killer break into the house? Who is hiding behind the door? Will someone kidnap her baby? Why is the butcher knife on the floor? Is that blood oozing out from under the kitchen cabinet?
Writing romantic suspense is fun and challenging and a continual thrill. Developing a realistic yet fictional story with a hero and heroine in dangerous situations while dealing with a broken relationship keeps authors on their toes to ensure the struggles and emotions are relative to the scenes.
Heart-pounding experiences are endless when it comes to reading suspenseful books. The thrill lasts hours instead of a couple of minutes and is memorable.
Threads of romance and tidbits of inspiration woven delicately through high-octane action are why I love writing “inspirational romantic suspense.”
What do you like about romantic suspense novels?
Loretta
Award-winning author Loretta Eidson loves writing inspirational romantic suspense. She believes in the power of prayer and enjoys challenging her characters to trust God in all things. Loretta is also an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) Certified Coach and enjoys encouraging aspiring writers.
Her first novel, Pursued in the Wilderness, was released in September 2022 and won AWSA’s 2023 Romance Novel of the Year award. Blue Ridge Mountain Escape and The Marine’s Deadly Reunion were released in 2023. Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency represents her.
Loretta is a member of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), ACFW local chapter, Faith, Hope, Love Christian Writers, Heart of America Christian Writers, and is on the executive board of the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime (SinC).
She enjoys coffee, chai tea lattes, chocolate, and caramel.
I love your books.
What I love about romantic suspense is the page turning action with a great hero coming to the rescue.
I totally agree, Ethelann! I love the action!
Love when there’s equal parts danger and parts of trying to retain some form of normalcy in a difficult situation. Like the ups and downs of that roller coaster I guess, because you can’t enjoy the down ride if there isn’t the up hill climb. Then it needs to be woven all together with a thread of faith and enlightenment for the romance to be true and to wrap it all up in a fabulous story you can’t turn the pages fast enough but also hate to see it end.
You’re right, Kay. There is a balance that goes with writing a great suspenseful, inspirational, love story.
Love your Books Loretta I love the suspense of wondering what is going to happen next in a book! Have a Blessed Week!
Awe, thank you, Sarah! I love creating suspense and putting my characters in challenging situations. Blessings to you!