A Good Thriller discussion

What is a romance thriller?
A mystery or danger plot with a core love story. Blending elements that include a developing, passionate relationship (often involving protection, such as bodyguards or cops) set against a backdrop of crime or danger, culminating in a guaranteed happy ending.

Key characteristics of a romance thriller:

Intertwined Plots: The suspense and romance are inseparable
High Stakes: Characters often face life-or-death situations
Protective Themes: One character protecting the other from danger
Character Development: The true nature of the characters, enhancing their bond
Emotional Journey: Combines the tension of a thriller with the emotional depth of a romance novel

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver: A dark romantic comedy/thriller about rival serial killers who form an unlikely bond (Trilogy)
Cold Cruel Kiss by Toni Anderson: An FBI romantic thriller where a negotiator must work with a seemingly low-level assistant with a hidden life to find a kidnapped ambassador's daughter
Movie: Rebecca (1940/2020): Based on the 1938 novel, it follows a young woman haunted by the memory of her husband's first wife.

Really Outstanding and Unknown Reads

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen (2025): A gripping, fast-paced thriller featuring a retired CIA agent who gets pulled back into a dangerous world, blending mature characters with intense suspense.

Rescuing Kenna by PJ Fiala: A "steamy, small-town, protector romance" where a GHOST operative rescues a process server caught in a dangerous local feud. It is described as a high-stakes, action-packed read.

Solace Island by Meg Tilly: A romantic suspense novel set in a Pacific Northwest island village, where a woman recovering from a broken engagement finds herself entangled with a mysterious neighbor after a murder attempt.

Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn: A fast-paced, critically acclaimed, and intense romantic suspense novel that combines a high-stakes investigation (sabotage of a new medical technology) with a "sizzling" romance.

All the Little Raindrops by Mia Sheridan: A romantic thriller noted for its deep emotional connection and high-stakes tension.

The Garden Girls by Jessica Patch: A popular choice in the romance thriller genre that often flies under the radar of mainstream bestseller lists.

Edge of Collapse by Kyla Stone: A thrilling, fast-paced story often recommended for those who love intense, action-packed, and high-tension romance.

Tregaron's Daughter by Madeleine Brent: Known for a blend of historical romance, adventure, and suspense.

Tasting Fear by Shannon McKenna: An erotic romance-suspense, full of high-stakes, action-adventure, and intense, passionate, "sizzling" scenes.Dark/Steamy Romance

Trail Marked by Heather Hambel Curley: A chilling, supernatural thriller following a woman with fire-wielding powers fleeing an ancient evil with a mysterious man who claims to know her from a past life. Paranormal/Mid-Life Romance


These books are frequently recommended for their fast-paced, "can't-put-down" nature, high-intensity romantic chemistry, and suspenseful, often unexpected, twists.

Linda Howard also writes Romantic Suspense. Her MacKenzie Family series starts with Mackenzie's Mountain

Karen Rose has several Romantic Suspense series. I've read the four books in the New Orleans Series that starts with Quarter to Midnight

Meg Tilly

The actress and now author and director.

The largest selling author in romance/thriller

JD Robb also known as Nora Roberts.

Some of her books are romance but also good thrillers.

These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford) wrote several great romance/thrillers. Ignore the atrocious cover art: On the Night of the Seventh Moon: The Classic Novel of Romantic Suspense and The House of a Thousand Lanterns are amazing.

Hi,
Here are some of my favourite authors of Romantic Suspense:

1) Jami Alden
2) Toni Anderson
3) Allison Brennan
4) Kylie Brant
5) Sandra Brown
6) Catherine Coulter
7) Janie Crouch
8) Lisa Childs
9) Diana Duncan
10) Lena Diaz
11) Cynthia Eden
12) Kendra Elliot
13) Tee O'Fallon
14) Heather Graham
15) Kay Hooper
16) Linda Howard
17) Rita Herron
18) Alexandra Ivy
19) Julie James
20) Julie Anne Lindsey
21) Melinda Di Lorenzo
22) Melinda Leigh
23) Judith McNaught
24) Karen Rose
25) Nora Roberts
26) Amanda Stevens
27) Anna J. Stewart
28) Norah Wilson
29) Rebecca Zanetti

I added some of my favourite book series to the following Goodreads list:

Best Romantic Suspense Series

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

Thanks and Happy Reading :-)

Carol wrote: "These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford)..."

I have not read any of hers yet Carol. I do own two.

The Road to Paradise Island and The Shivering Sands

Have you read either of them?

Ramla
Thank you for sharing your list!

Carol wrote: "These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford) wrote several great romance/thrillers...."

It's been years since I read anything by Victoria Holt, but I know I enjoyed them at the time.

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Hi,
Here are some of my favourite authors of Romantic Suspense:..."

Ramla, Thanks for sharing the list with this group, too.

Lesle wrote: "Carol wrote: "These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford)..."

I have not read any of hers yet Carol. I do own two.

[book:..."

yes! The Shivering Sands is great.

PamG wrote: "Carol wrote: "These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford) wrote several great romance/thrillers...."

It's been years since ..."

it was only yesterday, Pam, I’m certain. also our memories are accurate.

Lesle wrote: "Ramla
Thank you for sharing your list!"

PamG wrote: "Ramla, Thanks for sharing the list with this group, too."

You're welcome, Lesle and Pam!

Thank you for setting up this folder. It's very helpful :-)

A quick question: what about hostage negotiator stories? Should they be added in the Action Thriller thread or will you be making a separate thread for them?

Lesle wrote: "All the Little Raindrops by Mia Sheridan: A romantic thriller noted for its deep emotional connection and high-stakes tension."

I first read "Where the Blame Lies" by Mia Sheridan. I had to skim over certain scenes as they were hard to read but overall I enjoyed the book. The strength, resilience, and selflessness of the female protagonist blew me away. I also read its sequel: "Where the Truth Lives". It was also good.

Some excerpts: (view spoiler)[

*******

Love didn’t end. Love never died. Love went on and on, like a swiftly moving river. No matter the obstacle, it continued forward, an unending force moving around, over, into—carving away at the rocky shores in its path.

*******

"I love you," he repeated. "Every imperfect, flawed part of you. Every heroic, selfless part of you. The part that's fallen, and the part that’s gotten back up, over and over and over. You."

*******

"Throughout the most horrific moments of her life, she followed the instinct to love. To protect. To save." He looked at Reed. "It kept her human. It anchored her heart, maybe even her mind, though I don't pretend to understand how a mind is lost."

*******

"Don't deny your past, Liza. It’s not your shame to carry. Grieve it and then use it to strengthen others. You made it. You're here, and I have no idea how, but you are. That's the story I really want to hear. Maybe someday you'll tell it to me, because I'd like to believe monsters don't get the final say."

*******

She had no idea how strong she truly was. How unbelievably loving. She’d walked out of hell with love still in her heart. How miraculous was that?

*******

"Love heals, Liza. Those aren't just words. And I think acting in love doesn't just heal others. It heals yourself."

*******

"All I'm saying is that if you need to climb stairs in the dark then you do that. And if you'll let me, I'll be waiting for you on the other side, and I'll be cheering you on."

*******

"You wanted to know about our grandfather? He didn't just hurt us, he thought he'd create another version of himself. He thought he had the perfect recipe."
"Well," Charles sighed. "His recipe was a little off because you're a few cinnamon sticks short of an apple pie, my friend. You do realise that, right?"

*******

All people moved between darkness and light into those gray areas between the two, the only difference between any of them being the degree in which they walked in shadow and how far they traveled into murkier depths. Sometimes an evil man acted as a hero, and sometimes a victim became a tormenter. Criminals exhibited unexpected grace, and honest men had moments of great weakness. There was a strange, terrible, beautiful, complicated universe inside them all where nothing was simply black or white.

*******

But in his heart, a specific desire burned brighter. The need to prove he belonged. That he wasn't just a terrible accident not meant to happen. That his existence mattered—not only to himself or those who loved him, but to others too. Strangers who might one day be thankful he'd shown up in their life when he did.

*******

Yes, he would work hard. Every day, he would strive to honor the people who had loved him so deeply.

*******
(hide spoiler)]

I then went on to read a few more books by her including: All the Little Raindrops, Fallen, and Bad Mother. All were good.

Fallen had Suspense, Mystery and a touch of Paranormal. Creepy at times yet intriguing. Character development and the way the story unfolded was impressive. There was a bit of Romance as well and an endearing mother-daughter relationship. The protagonists were likeable and the ending was beautiful. It was basically an entertaining read but the book also contained thought-provoking content for people wishing to delve deeper.

Actually, this is what sets her books apart. They're not just escapist fiction as Romantic Suspense generally tend to be, they're also at times thought-provoking and even inspiring.

PamG wrote: "Linda Howard also writes Romantic Suspense. Her MacKenzie Family series starts with Mackenzie's Mountain

Karen Rose has several Romantic Suspense series. I've read the four books in ..."

Linda Howard's standalone books are also good, such as Mr. Perfect, Now You See Her, and so on.

I've pretty much enjoyed everything I read by Karen Rose :-)

Sean wrote: "The largest selling author in romance/thriller

JD Robb also known as Nora Roberts.

Some of her books are romance but also good thrillers."

Yes, Nora Roberts has written some really good Romantic Suspense books, such as The Witness, The Obsession, The Search, The Collector, and so on.

Regarding the In Death Series she has written as J.D. Robb: I read some of the earlier books in the series a long time ago and enjoyed them. I then got distracted by other books but I would really like to go back to this series and get current on it. Hopefully soon :-)

Carol wrote: "These are 1970s classics, but Victoria Holt (one of many pseudonyms of Eleanor Alice Hibbert Burford) wrote several great romance/thrillers."

PamG wrote: "It's been years since I read anything by Victoria Holt, but I know I enjoyed them at the time."

Same here :-)

Thank you Carol and Pam for the recommendation of The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt

Lesle wrote: "Thank you Carol and Pam for the recommendation of The Shivering Sands by Victoria Holt"

You're welcome. I hope you enjoy it.

Ramla Zareen wrote: "Thank you for setting up this folder. It's very helpful..."

We're glad it's being helpful to you.

"A quick question: what about hostage negotiator stories?"

We feel it fits with Crime Thrillers. (Detective/Investigator/Negotiator, High Stakes, Criminal psychology, Action-packed sequences)
Lesle will soon clarify this in Message 1 of Crime Thrillers.

"I first read "Where the Blame Lies" by Mia Sheridan."
Is there one you recommend above the others from Mia Sheridan and Linda Howard?

Ramla Zareen wrote: "A quick question: what about hostage negotiator stories?"

PamG wrote: "We feel it fits with Crime Thrillers."

Okay, great! I'll add my recommendations there then. Thanks :-)

PamG wrote: "Is there one you recommend above the others from Mia Sheridan and Linda Howard?"

Hmm, tough question! It's always hard for me to pick just one. Lol. Still, if I absolutely had to then I think "Fallen" by Mia Sheridan and "Mr. Perfect" by Linda Howard. Hope this helps :-)

Ramla Zareen wrote: "I think "Fallen" by Mia Sheridan and "Mr. Perfect" by Linda Howard. Hope this helps..."

It absolutely helps, Ramla. Thanks! I've added it to my TBR.

PamG wrote: "It absolutely helps, Ramla. Thanks! I've added it to my TBR."

That's great! You're welcome. Happy Reading :-)