My favorite romantic suspense novel is… Back to Blog
Update: The winner of the Amazon.com gift certificate is…Joye! Congrats, Joye!
Oh, this is hard. Recently, I was asked to name my favorite romantic suspense novel. Tough question. Because, you see, I have a few favorites…
One that always springs immediately to mind for me is Linda Howard’s DREAM MAN. Loved this one, but it’s not straight romantic suspense. The heroine is psychic, and she literally gets into the mind of the killer. (Since I am such a paranormal fan, I–of course–adored this plot element.)
Another book that was dark and gritty (and at the time the hero really reminded me of Spike from Buffy) is Anne Stuart‘s INTO THE FIRE. Anne Stuart is always great at delivering sexy, suspenseful tales.
And, I am a HUGE fan of Shannon McKenna. I devour her stories. One of my favorite McKenna books (because I love them all) is STANDING IN THE SHADOWS. Hot hero, danger, great chemistry–what more could I want?
These are just three of my favorite romantic suspense re-reads. There are so many, many more.
But what is your favorite romantic suspense? Share with me! I’ll pick one commenter to win a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate–that way, maybe you go buy another romantic suspense!!
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I love Shannon McKenna as well. She is definitely in my top ten. Someone close to the top of my list is J.R Ward and the Black Dagger Brother series. Her stories really flow and leave you wanting more.
Thanks
Sharon Chambers
Favorite Romantic Suspense? Ohh this is a toughy!! I’m going to have to go with Kate Brian’s series Private or Anya Bast’s books….or well this book is not really suspensful, and it’s got some romance in it, but Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels. (Oh…man i’m number 2 or 3. grr)
I read mostly paranormals so this is very difficult. So how about Stephanie Tyler’s HARD TO HOLD series. Those SEALs are scrumptious.
I loved Penny McCall’s ALL JACKED UP which I read a while back. There was so much tension in the story-you could just hear Jack grinding his teeth when he had to put up with the heroine whose name I don’t remember. Check it out
I definitely will choose a Shannon McKenna story. They are the yardstick for story, action, characters that grip me and won’t let go, and I compare most other books to them.
While I love her McCloud series, I have to say that I believe Hot Night is my favorite story by her. I itch to return to that setting, or see it merge with the McClouds in some way.
It’s hard to decide. I love a lot of romantic suspense. I love Rebecca York’s books, have for years. Then there’s always Shannon McKenna. Oh, don’t forget Cherry Adair! That’ll do for starters while I try to think who is my best romantic suspense because somehow, I’m forgetting someone and I know it means a trip to my stacks of books and ebooks I’ve bought!
I have only read Paranormal Romance novels to date but I am really looking forward to your new release Deadly Fear. Also, this blog has just given me a whole lot of other books to add to my to be read list!!!
My love the combo paranormal/suspense too! My favorite series is T-Flac by Cherry Adair. I love Stephanie Tyelers Hard to Hold and Iteam by Pamela Care too. Cindy Gerard Black Ops rocks too!
I also have a lot of favorites. A few years ago, I picked up one of Lisa Jackson’s books in a local bookstore. I live in Louisiana and it was part of her New Orleans series with Detective Montoya. I would say my favorite so far is Lost Souls.
Christy Reece, Cindy Gerard, Cherry Adair, Stephanie Tyler, Rita Herron, Maggie Shayne. Regarding Shannon McKenna, her heroes are a little bit too agressive sexually for my taste – although the stories are o.k. I do like the paranormal books too…..
LOVE Linda Howard. I think my fave of hers though is OPEN SEASON because the heroine is a librarian;)
Also love Karen Rose. She writes some seriously demented villains but in a lot of ways they’re chilling because they’re so *normal*. Well, with a couple of exceptions. My faves of hers are YOU CAN’T HIDE (because the hero, Aidan, is yummy), which creeped me out big time, and SCREAM FOR ME (again because the hero, Daniel, is a dish–do you see a pattern here?), whose villain is just plain psycho and hidden in plain sight.
Can’t wait to add a certain Cynthia Eden’s romantic suspense novels to my favorites list;)
I love Lisa Jackson’s, Karen Rose’s and Roxanne St. Claire’s romantic suspense novels.
I’m a relative newbie to romantic suspense. The titles you listed look like good recommendations.
The author I go to when I want to mix up my usual fare of paranormal & urban fantasy is Kylie Brant. Her Mind Hunters series with its flawed protagonists and creepy sadistic villains in very real situations make for a thrilling read. I gobble her books up in one sitting (unfortunately there have been only 3 – #4 coming out this fall!).
I’m a fan of Linda Howard’s early Rom-Susp books, too, plus several of the other authors mentioned above like Karen Rose, Shannon McKenna, Christy Reece, Cindy Gerard and Cherry Adair. J.D. Robb’s “In Death” series combines romance and suspense with sci-fi futuristic elements that makes every book in this series an auto-buy for me. I also like Shannon K. Butcher’s Rom-Susp. series and I’ve just started reading Laura Griffin and Leslie Parrish. I like romantic suspense books/series that have romance and suspense, not just “romantic elements” in a suspense storyline.
I have to be honest! I have read several new romantic suspense the past couple of months and nothing so far holds a candle to Deadly Fear! You truly blend the perfect balance of both and I can’t wait for more of the Deadly series! I also discovered J.D.Robb’s Death series this summer which I love and while it may be considered more mystery/PN it definitely has a nice blend of romance for the main heroine as well. I’m looking forward to trying both Shannon McKenna and Pamela Clare.
I haven’t had the chance to read a romantic suspense book but I look forward to making Deadly Fear my first 🙂
I love a good romantic suspense noval! I am not sure I have a favorite because most of the time I like every one I read. So it would be hard to choose which I like best! They keep you on the edge of your seat and I love that about them.
Wow, it’s hard to pick just one favorite… I’ll tell you my latest fave in Romantic Suspense is Scent of Persuasion by Nikki Duncan 🙂
I am such a big reader. I read EVERYTHING…so it is hard to narrow this down. If I have to stick to romantic suspense I would say Catherine Coulter’s FBI series is really great. Love the witty dialog and characters. Elizabeth Lowell is another top notch suspense/romance/thriller author that I love. Currently, I am reading Nora Roberts “The Search”, and am really loving it! (was up reading at 2 am) If you blend into paranormal J.R. Ward, J.D. Robb, Karen Marie Moning….I could just go on and on… :)) Deadly Fear is on my list to get!
I love read Cherry Adair’s Men of T-Flac and Lora Leigh’s Elite Ops series, among others.
I love Linda Howard’s DREAM MAN too. Love her books. Can’t pick book so much as authors and series. Some of my other fav’s. Lisa Jackson, Linda Howard, J.D. Robb’s “In Death” series. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels, Kay Hooper’s “The Bishop/Special Crimes Unit” series, Catherine Coulter’s “FBI” series, and Tami Hoag. Those are just a few I have a lot of them.
Boy was this a tough question. Now it’s making me want to go to re-read some of my fav books.
oh Anne Stuart is one of my favorite authors too… and I love Stephanie Tylers books and can’t wait for her new series coming soon *wohoo*… oh, and Shannon K. Butchers No-Series is a keeper for me and believe me you won’t miss it!
Chris
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I love Linda Howard too, but have only read a couple of her books…I’m glomming them at the moment.
Valerie
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in Germany
My favorite romantic suspense is Dark and Dangerous by Jeanne Adams.
I like Stephanie Tyler’s Hard to Hold series and JD Robb’s In Death series. I haven’t had a chance to read your Deadly Fear yet, or it might have been #1.
I really like Karen Rose’s “I’m Watching You,” Dee Davis’ “Enigma” and Cindy Gerard’s “Show No Fear.”
You know, I read so much its very hard for me to remember titles. But I adore Shannon McKennas suspense writing…I will read anything she puts out. I also enjoy JD. Robb’s series and when Nora Roberts puts a suspense one out. I enjoyed Black Hills by her most recently.
Edge of Midnight is my favorite Shannon McKenna stories, loved Sean McCloud. Other favorites are the JD Robb series, Tara Janzen’s Crazy series, and the early Elizabeth Lowell-Ann Maxwell stories. As for a new author, just discovered Christy Reece, and am really enjoying her Last Chance Rescue series.
I’m a fan of Linda Howard’s and Karen Rose’s romantic suspense books!
I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense, but one book that has always stuck in my mind was one I’d read years ago called “Message from Absolom”. Don’t remember the author off hand (something Armstrong … Anne Armstrong, I think) but I think I still have that book somewhere. Loved it.
Another vote for Anne Stuart here.
Roxanne St. Clare and Linda Howard, for sure!
Sandra Brown counts right, well since she does have suspense and romance, duh, where is my head 😉
So yes she is my fav
Cynthia Eden’s (Midnight Series) is up there on my new favorites list. But old Favorites of mine have always been Linda Howard(Kill and Tell),Amanda Quick(Don’t look Back),Catherine Coulter(The Maze, FBI SERIES), Sandra Brown(Slow Heat in Heaven) and J.R.Ward(BDB).
My favorite suspense is Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann. Sam and Alyssa are amazing together and the action of the story moves along at a fast pace.
I loved both of Nikki Duncan’s books-Sounds to Die By and Scent of Persuasion. Both are excellent romantic suspense with a touch of heat to them.
Yeah, I really like Anne Stuart, too.
I agree with Dream Man and I would have to throw in After the Night as well. I love early Linda Howard.
I love Denise Robbins Books!
If you’re talking about pure romantic suspense, I’ll go with Dream Man too. Lately I’ve been reading more paranormal RS, and there are too many great books to choose just one. But your books would definitely be in my top ten. 🙂
I love Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard and Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts.
I don’t think I CAN just pick one. 🙂 I can do authors though LOL
Shannon K. Butcher
Cherry Adair
Belle Andre
Catherine Coulter
Roxanne St. Claire
Kay Hooper
just to name a few. 🙂
I have most of Linda Howard’s books and even purchased a few in cd audio, the ones that are available at this time; I also read Kay Hooper, Catherine Coulter, Christine Feehan, julie Garwood and jayne Ann Krentz, J D Robb, Shiloh WalkerLisa Marie Rice etc. That’s just a few.
Hi Cynthia! I absolutely love all three of the authors that you mentioned. I also love Cherry Adair’s T-Flac series (magical & non), Roxanne St Claire’s Bullet Catchers, and I also love Susan Anderson’s romantic Suspense novels.
I would say Broken by Shiloh Walker!
don’t read a lot of romantic suspense but love Iris Johanson stuff. Have for along time every since she wrote loveswepts lol.
One of my favorites so far is Lorie O’Clare’s FBI Crimes Series.
You know I keep thinking about this and as I said in the group, without sucking up, right now my favorite RS is your book, DEADLY FEAR. I do love Brenda Novak’s RS titles as well as Karen Rose,which I don’t know if Karen’s book are considered RS or not.Gennita Low writes a good RS book as well, and Roxanne Rustand has 2 series in Love Inspired that are outstanding. But against all that and the many others named I still have to say for me now, it’s DEADLY FEAR by you!
hugs,
WendyK
I think I have to go with Linda Howard as a favorite – although I also love Christina Skye and several others too! (There are just too many to name/list!)