Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line offers riveting and suspenseful stories that contain a heartwarming romance and faith message. “We hope that readers fall in love with the characters and root for them to overcome the danger that faces them,” says associate editor Emily Rodmell. We want readers to be on the edge of their seat, wanting to turn the page to see what happens next, both with the suspense and the romance element.”
Offering single‑author series as well as continuity series where books are written by various authors, readers have the opportunity to invest in the characters’ lives from book to book. “Characters are thrust into dangerous situations that test them, their relationships and their faith,” explains Emily. Combining their faith, writing talent and magnetic attraction to danger, at least in terms of their characters, the following authors have written multiple Love Inspired Suspense tales.
Camy TangGrowing up in Hawaii with Asian parents, Camy Tang has the opportunity to write characters who reflect her own unique heritage and faith, as she shares, “Each of my characters for Love Inspired Suspense so far have been at least half Asian, with at least one Asian family member who impacts their faith. I love writing about how the Asian American culture influences women’s spiritual walks.”
Plotting mayhem and murder comes easily to the talented writer. In her latest story revolving around the Grant family’s Joy Luck Life Day Spa, Stalker in the Shadows, nurse Monica Grant discovers someone is violently opposed to her dream of opening a free children’s clinic. Monica looks to a former border patrol agent for help but danger stalks them both.
Camy believes the shorter Love Inspired Suspense novels are perfect for romantic suspense. “Most of the time, suspense novels happen over a short period of time, so writing a slightly shorter book seems to be ideal for me when I’m writing a suspense plot.”
Terri ReedRita Award finalist Terri Reed was told by her creative writing professor in college that she should be writing for Harlequin. She never forgot that advice. A decade later, Terri made the decision to pursue a writing career and targeted Harlequin—but her voice did not fit. “It wasn’t until the Love Inspired Romance line started 1996 that I found where my voice and my worldview fit.” While it took another 10 years for Terri to sign a contract, she never gave up believing her books would find a home with Love Inspired. As she explains, “I love being able to write a romance while incorporating faith into the story, since faith is such an important and integral part of my life.”
While initially writing straight romance, Terri always incorporated a suspense or danger element and as she continued writing more and more books, she gravitated toward suspense. “I love the action and the pace. Also in romantic suspense I get to push my hero and heroine out of their normal lives to test their faith, their strength and their character.” Terri is currently in the middle of her Protection Specialists series, starring a team of former military or law enforcement bodyguards, employed by Trent Associates, who protect the innocent. The Secret Heiress is her most recent installment.
Rachelle McCallaRachelle McCalla, as a child, stole the idea of becoming a writer from her best friend in fourth grade—at that time, Rachelle was planning to be an astronaut! Her passion has since altered from walking on the moon to writing romantic suspense.
Easily bored, Rachelle loves that writing suspense holds her interest. “With suspense, there’s always something happening—a new twist, an unforeseen complication, and life threatening danger with bad guys closing in behind.” Writing her own four-book Reclaiming the Crown series, including Princess in Peril and Protecting the Princess, Rachelle loves writing for the Love Inspired Suspense line. “Of course, I enjoy being able to write stories of romance and adventure from a faith perspective. We’ve got kissing, praying and the occasional dead body!”
Shirlee McCoy
[Photo: Giordano Photographics]
Devoted to reading Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden as a child, Shirlee McCoy then advanced to her mother’s gothic romances. When the writing bug bit, it’s no surprise that “romantic suspense” was her genre of choice.
Blaming her very lively and rather dark imagination for the peril in which she places her characters, Shirlee says the difficulty lies with extracting them from the danger. “I’ve been making up stories since I was a young child. I can’t remember one that did not have an element of danger or intrigue in it. Writing suspense is a natural extension of that.” In her latest Heroes for Hire story, Private Eye Protector, single mother Rayne Sampson deals with a traumatic accident, amnesia and a stalker with destruction on his mind. In January, Shirlee kicks off the Fitzgerald Bay continuity series with The Lawman’s Legacy, introducing readers to the Fitzgeralds, a family of police officers determined to protect the citizens of their small community in Massachusetts.
Valerie Hansen
Ozarks resident Valerie Hansen is an expert in balancing romance, danger and faith. Appreciating a good puzzle and clever storyline, Valerie delights in writing for the suspense line. “I get to share my personal faith, work with wonderful editors and other authors, and can let many of my books reflect the atmosphere of small town camaraderie that I have found here in the Ozarks.” Her upcoming novel The Rookie’s Assignment is the second in the six book Fitzgerald Bay continuity series. This time the heroine is Keira Fitzgerald, a woman who defies tradition to become a cop and as such, is Valerie’s kind of woman!
Valerie is not surprised by the popularity of the suspense line. “They’re adult reading that is safe for anyone to pick up and they’re crafted by true professionals who just happen to share a faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a delight to be among them.”