Fresh Fiction Blog | Linda Conrad | DEAD? ROMANTIC SUSPENSE CANNOT BE DEAD!

Do you like reading romance novels with a touch of suspense?   Okay, clearly the romance genre is doing fine. But what about my favorite: Romantic Suspense? Supposedly it’s out of favor with readers. Really? As a reader myself, I disagree. I love romantic suspense!

And as a writer, what would I do if it went away? My latest release, LAST CHANCE REUNION is the final book in my romantic suspense series called: CHANCE, TEXAS. The series is a blend of romance, mystery and adventure. Can’t imagine who wouldn’t love that. Here’s my Top Ten list of why I love romantic suspense best. Some of the things on this list also pertain to all romances (and I do love other genres of romance too) but there’s something about romantic suspense that really grabs me. How about you?

1. A hero who can shoot, ride, kill the enemy and kiss the heroine in a way that curls her toes. Yeah, that’s the guy for me.

2. Intelligent characters who can figure out who-done-it.

3. Love at first sight (or right afterward) This one is not just for RS, but it happens often in RS because there’s so much going on that the characters don’t have time to think it over.

4. Characters who trust one another enough to lay their life on the line. Sigh. Now that’s love.

5. Strong heroines who see something special in their alpha hero that no one else sees. He could be a monster to the world but she will acknowledge the heroic man underneath.

6. A hero who loves the heroine absolutely—and we know he will have no desire for anyone else as long as he lives. This is another thing that pertains to many kinds of romance but I think it applies to our alpha heroes more than others.

7. Heroes and heroines who believe in each other despite evidence to the contrary. Sometimes they believe in each other more than they believe in themselves.

8. A first kiss that makes me sigh and a love scene that makes me cry.

9. Secondary characters who keep things interesting -- and dangerous. Just love to get my heart racing.

10. A Happily-Ever-After! Yeah, I know. All romances have HEAs. But the Romantic Suspense HEAs are special.

I hate it when series are finished. And my romantic suspense series, Chance, Texas, has been one of my favorite series. It’s sad to say goodbye to the characters. Chance is the name of a small ranching community in Texas and also the name of a large family of ranchers who own the biggest ranch in the county. Writing it has given me the opportunity to include all the things I love best about romantic suspense in each of the stories.

LAST CHANCE REUNION is a good way to wrap up the series. It had been a while since the first book of the series came out so I was in a hurry to bring you the last two stories. Both TEXAS COLD CASE and TEXAS LOST AND FOUND are included within LAST CHANCE REUNION.

In TEXAS COLD CASE, youngest Chance brother, Colt Chance, is back home and determined to find answers to old questions. With childhood girlfriend, Deputy Lacie McCord, Colt launches a personal investigation to unearth family secrets. As the past is revealed, will they rekindle the fiery emotions between them? Or will the secrets end up tearing them apart?

> Colt’s voice, the warm strong voice she’s sworn always to remember, sounded unsure. “Lacie? It can’t be. Did you say sheriff’s deputy?”  She reached for her weapon. “Yes. And you have a lot of questions to answer. You are under arrest.”

In TEXAS LOST AND FOUND, firefighter Nina Martinez (aka Cami Chance) is on the run from a murderer. Firefighter and medic, Josh “Doc” White has vowed to keep her safe as she recovers from a smoke related injury. But passion between them heats up as they run for their lives. Along the way, secrets are uncovered that could tear them apart. Will love be enough to save Nina from a murderer as she discovers her past in Chance, Texas?

> Tightening her grip on the fire shelter’s handles, Nina refused to consider her situation dire. Don’t think about it. Thoughts of the sexy Dr. Josh White were as good a way as any to spend her last seconds on earth.  Do you love reading suspense along with your romance? Or do you prefer other genres with or without the romance? (as in paranormal or historical) Please leave your comment to be entered to one of three autographed copies of LAST CHANCE REUNION along with a $10 Amazon gift card!

Comments

I love your top 10 list, especially numbers five and seven.
Romantic suspense and historical romances are my two
favourite genres and I don't know what I would do if either
of them went away. My bookcases are divided into three
sections, suspense, historical and everything else. Right
now I'm in a romantic suspense mood and I'll read all the
books from two or three authors before I switch genres. I'm
not sure where you heard that 'Supposedly it’s out of favor
with readers' but I disagree with them too. Everyone needs
some suspense in their fictional reality (my favourite place
to be :-) ) to keep things interesting.
(Lisa White 1:13am August 21, 2013)

Romantic suspense was my first romance sub-genre, and I still enjoy reading it quite a bit. I read many different types of romance nowadays, but I do love to have the mystery and suspense components added to those HEAs!
(G S Moch 2:03am August 21, 2013)

How cool - I love your list - 2, 5 and 6 are REALLY great - and I do love romance and suspense all mixed up together - I think that is what love is, too, in real life - there is always some suspense there; or at least there SHOULD be!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 7:58am August 21, 2013)

romantic suspense is always appealing since it incorporates
romance, mystery, suspense and is special.
(Sharon Berger 9:40am August 21, 2013)

Hi Lisa,
The quote about "Out of favor with readers" has been coming from some of the publishers. They say the books are not selling like they were. But I'm with you and loved your sentence about "Everyone needed some suspense with their fictional reality." Hooray for you!
(Linda Conrad 10:08am August 21, 2013)

You know what, GS, I think writers are sticking more suspense into romance and just not calling it romantic suspense. :)
(Linda Conrad 10:09am August 21, 2013)

LOL Felicia. So glad there are readers like you!
(Linda Conrad 10:10am August 21, 2013)

Linda i think you are right I do think more writers are
sticking with more romance suspense now adays we love a good
romance suspense book i know I do
(Denise Smith 10:12am August 21, 2013)

I like suspense, romance, historical, mystery, thrillers in any combination or not. I like a happily-ever-after. I do prefer a cleaner read. I enjoyed your blog and thank you for the chance to win Last Chance Reunion plus a $10 Amazon gift. The Very Best To You.
(Esther Somorai 10:14am August 21, 2013)

Who are 'they' that say romantic suspense is out of favor?! I
love romantic suspense!
(Diane Sallans 11:11am August 21, 2013)

It sounds like my kind of book! Count me in please.
(Deanna Stillings 11:31am August 21, 2013)

I love romantic suspense, really adds to the story line. I do not read
historical or paranormal.
(Shari Bartholomew 11:48am August 21, 2013)

I enjoy both, the romance and suspense so may as well have them both in a book. A story that makes me wanting to read it and never put it down, with a twist at the end I never saw coming. I am a sucker for the true "Cinderella" ending, so I do like the romantic part of a book.
(Lynne Pearson 12:11pm August 21, 2013)

I read almost anything, except horror. My imagination is too good for horror. I like romantic suspense because of the plot twists.
(Laura Gullickson 1:09pm August 21, 2013)

I like romantic suspense-- it works well with the mystery of
human relationships!
(Mary Ann Dimand 2:37pm August 21, 2013)

Great list... #10 is a must! Enjoy that bit of danger in romantic suspense... thanks for sharing!
(Colleen Conklin 3:19pm August 21, 2013)

I love romance. Period.
Any romance is a good romance.
(Elaine Seymour 3:41pm August 21, 2013)

Oh, I can't believe romantic suspense is not favored! It is the best of everything you want to read- rich characters, romance, love, intrigue, suspense and so much more! As you can see, I love romantic suspense and I love your top ten!! I can't wait to meet the Chance family!
(Britney Adams 3:52pm August 21, 2013)

I love suspense, because I love a good whodunit! And, of course, romance with everything :-)
(Chelsea Brooks 3:59pm August 21, 2013)

I Love suspense too!!! Today is my 37th Anniversary , so a little romance is
great too!!
(Janet Evans 5:02pm August 21, 2013)

You guys are the greatest! Glad you like my list and really, really glad you're with me on Romantic Suspense!
(Linda Conrad 5:05pm August 21, 2013)

I like romantic suspense, that way you want fall asleep while reading.
(Charlotte Wills 5:13pm August 21, 2013)

Love your first name! Your Top Ten List is great! I love romantic suspense. I also enjoy paranormal with romance and enjoy cowboy romance and western historical romance. Always need that #10 for sure!
(Linda Luinstra 5:24pm August 21, 2013)

I like contemporary & historical romance, and some suspense or
a little paranormal mixed in sometimes.
(Sharlene Wegner 5:33pm August 21, 2013)

My favorites of your list are 4 and 7. A couple who trusts each other and is willing to do anything for one another is so much fun to read. I just love the romantic suspense genre so much somedays.
(Jamie Fortney 5:45pm August 21, 2013)

I like historical romance 1 st, then I may read a suspense or a paranormal romance for a change.
(Deb Pelletier 6:01pm August 21, 2013)

Besides a great name for a town (Chance), I also see it being a strong name for a male or female character! Good luck with your new novel!
(Susan Coster 6:07pm August 21, 2013)

I like romance period. :) I like it in suspense... I like it in paranormal too! :)
(May Pau 6:30pm August 21, 2013)

Oh yes! I enjoy romance with a touch of suspense. To me, it's a great combination.
(Anna Speed 6:33pm August 21, 2013)

I LOVE romantic suspense. I never used to like it but lately I
have been a huge fan.
(Jackie R 6:41pm August 21, 2013)

Enjoy reading suspense and romantic suspense. I like paranormal too. I think you've got a great list.
(Rich Cook 6:50pm August 21, 2013)

Romantic Suspense is not out of favor with THIS reader! I love a good
mystery, and I love a good romance. If the two genres are combined, it's a
win-win for me! I sympathize with your comments about not wanting to say
goodbye to your characters. I, as a reader, don't like to say goodbye to
characters either. Congratulations on your series, and thanks for the
chance to win!!!
(Linda Brennan 7:18pm August 21, 2013)

I like to read romantic and historial romance and someone else can enjoy paranormal.
(Sheila True 7:18pm August 21, 2013)

I've always loved romantic suspense, as I find it so much more satisfying than strictly romance.
(Karen Blossom 8:26pm August 21, 2013)

My favorite romances are paranormal and historical. They often have a suspenseful plot.
(Janie McGaugh 9:10pm August 21, 2013)

Love your books and can't wait to read this one!!! THANKS!
(Bonnie Capuano 10:54pm August 21, 2013)

I love romance and am keeping my fingers crossed for the win!
(Melanie Backus 11:04pm August 21, 2013)

Love romantic suspense. Debra Webb's books are a very good example.
The Faces of Evil series. Awesome!
(Vicki Hancock 11:23pm August 21, 2013)

Romantic suspense can't be dead---it's my favorite genre.
(Sue Farrell 11:29pm August 21, 2013)

I love reading suspense with romance in it. It gives that excitement of looking for the criminal. Yes, I do get my high off that.
(Kai Wong 12:02pm August 22, 2013)

Love, Love romantic suspense!! I will read romantic suspense before I read anything else! I do read a lot of other genres but that is my fav..
(Martha Lawson 6:58pm August 22, 2013)

That's a great list. LAST CHANCE REUNION looks fabulous.
(Mary Preston 7:14am August 23, 2013)

I loved your list and especially 1 and 3... the first just because and 3 because I certainly believe in love at first sight. I love to read romance with suspense ... have to add just the right touch of danger to spice up a good romance and make it better.
(Annetta Sweetko 4:34pm August 23, 2013)

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