Photo by Tori Wise

There’s a fascinating and interesting duality between romance and suspense. This is evident in Cheryl J. Corriveau’s The Tangled Web, a suspense story about a long-lost lover.

People are always looking for ways to escape. Yet, what if that escape is a fascinating and interesting duality of romance and suspense? What if the love story has a heart-pounding race against time? 

Romantic suspense is a genre that masterfully blends the emotional highs of romance and the seat-edged tension of a thriller or suspense story. The combination of the romance and the suspense genres offers a unique reading experience that satisfies the yearning that people have for connection and intimacy. This is while simultaneously providing a thrilling mystery to unravel. 

A Fascinating and Interesting Duality 

The duality of the narrative keeps readers engaged on multiple levels: on the one hand, they are invested in the typical will they/won’t they dynamic that is central to romance and are desperate to uncover the truth lurking beneath the surface.

Thus, the balancing of the two genres is the key to a successful romantic suspense novel.

Compelling Characters

Both the romance and the suspense hinge on well-developed characters. Your protagonists, especially, need to be relatable and believable. The heroine shouldn’t simply be a damsel in distress, and the hero shouldn’t be an emotionless knight in shining armor. 

• Give them depth, flaws, and motivations that make them enjoyable.

A Captivating Romance

Don’t let the suspense overshadow the emotional core of your story. Develop a believable connection between your protagonists. Show, don’t tell, their growing attraction. 

• Let their stolen glances, witty banter, and moments of shared vulnerability build anticipation for their eventual romance.

A Gripping Mystery

Craft a suspense plot that’s as intriguing as it is fast-paced. Introduce the central mystery early, planting doubt and suspicion in the reader’s mind.

• Pepper your story with red herrings, cliffhangers, and plot twists to keep them guessing.

The Intertwined Threat

The danger that fuels the suspense plot should directly impact the romance. 

• Is the heroine being stalked, putting the hero in a protective role? 
• Is the hero a detective investigating a crime threatening the heroine’s life? 

The stakes for the romance should rise alongside the escalating suspense.

Pacing is Paramount

Romantic suspense requires a dynamic pace. Alternate between heart-stopping action sequences and quieter moments where the romance blossoms. 

• Let the more peaceful moments serve as a respite for your reader, only to launch them back into the heart of the mystery with renewed vigor.

Romance and Suspense 

Let your protagonists work together to unravel the mystery. This creates opportunities for them to rely on each other, witness each other’s strengths, and build trust. With this in mind, consider adding a layer of forbidden love. Perhaps they’re on opposite sides of the law, or their professions create a conflict of interest, adding tension to their budding romance. The high-pressure situations of the suspense plot can create intimacy. Imagine a scene where the hero comforts the heroine after a close call or where they share a stolen moment of tenderness amidst the chaos.

The danger shouldn’t just threaten their physical safety. Let it threaten their emotional well-being or their very core beliefs. This creates a deeper connection between them.

The climax of your story should resolve both the romantic and suspense plots. Ideally, these climaxes should intertwine. Their love disarms the villain, or their trust in each other is the key to solving the case.

Romantic suspense should offer a captivating blend of heart and adrenaline. 

By balancing romance and suspense with well-developed characters, a gripping mystery, and a dynamic pace, you can craft a novel that will leave your readers breathless until the very last page. 

Cheryl J. Corriveau’s suspense story about a long-lost lover is a wonderful example of the fascinating and interesting duality between romance and suspense.