From my staring-at-a-blank-page point of view, writing Romantic Suspense is double the work and double the fun. There’s still only one hero and one heroine, but woven within their story of getting together is one of survival from whatever bit of danger I decide to toss their way. Of course, I have to be careful where, when and how they end up in each other’s arms for a tender moment or their first sexy encounter. After all, running from the bad-guy doesn’t exactly set the mood for an intimate dinner for two.
Then again—this is fiction. Right?
Some of my favorite romantic suspense movies (North by Northwest, The Thomas Crown Affair, Romancing the Stone) have varying levels of closed door or all the way scenes. But, one thing’s for sure, the reader/movie goer can feel the build-up of tension between the hero and heroine from the moment they meet. We know they’ll end up together, but the big question is when and where. Especially since that pesky bad-guy keeps interrupting their romance.
Picture a wild car chase in the middle of winter, a quick turn on to a back road to lose the bad guy, then weave down a farmer’s driveway and park the car behind the barn. Now what? The couple are cold and tired and hungry, they need some rest…BUT— Adrenaline is running high. Need is ramping up. Hormones have lost all sense of propriety. And, shared body heat would keep them warm. Suddenly, he unbuckles his seat belt, and slides the seat back as she climbs into his arms.
All for the sake of surviving the cold (wink, wink), their arms and legs become tangled, their lips come together in a kiss meant to take the other’s despair away, his fingers inch beneath her sweater, and— Darn, are those headlights pulling up behind their car? Was that a gunshot they heard? Did the rear window just shatter into a million pieces? To heck with the sweater! He grabs his gun and fires at the approaching car as she scrambles back to her seat. Time to escape one more time.
Whew—that was close enough to feel the heat. Close enough to get your heart pounding. Close enough to know that later, when the hero and heroine check into a hotel with only one room available, only one bed, and only one blanket, there will be more than sleep happening beneath the cover. But, for now, the reader has to wait.
That’s what I call romancing the suspense. Intense danger. Smoldering emotions. Anticipation. And, frustration to the nth degree. Lots and lots of…frustration!
About the book:
Can she survive his past?
Three years ago, Marcy Bradley let the man she loved go so he could follow his career dream of being an FBI agent. She sent divorce papers. He signed. She never filed them. When a disgruntled client threatens her life, her ex, JB, is all that stands between her and an early grave.
Injured during his last assignment, FBI Special Agent Jean Bernard—JB—Bradley questions the honesty of his fellow agents. A few days recuperation back in his hometown will give him the perspective he needs. The added bonus is it’ll give him time to convince his ex-wife to come back to him, despite his life of risk. But when Marcy experiences a slew of unexplained accidents, JB realizes he brought the danger to her doorstep.
With a killer after them, Marcy and JB run for their lives, escaping to a lakeside cabin. Their love is rekindled, and JB realizes they’re still married, but will there be time for their passion amidst the explosions and gunshots?
Voted one of Ebooks Galore top reads for 2014!
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About the Author:
Award-winning author Claudia Shelton thought she wrote mainstream when she began writing, but before long, someone told her she sounded more like romance. Then those pesky alpha heroes and the women strong enough to love them, started running through her mind insisting she write their own happily-ever-after. Since then, she’s focused on HEA with a splash of suspense or intrigue, becoming a two-time finalist in the Daphne Du Maurier (Unpublished) awards for excellence in mystery and suspense. During her down-time from writing, you’ll find her sipping a cup of cocoa in winter’s chill or enjoying a drink by the water in summer’s heat–either way, she’s always enjoying life.
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