Whoo! Folks we only have just a few days left in #amonthoffaves. Gosh, this month has flown by in a flurry of fab posts and getting to know great bloggers!
Today’s link-up will be held at Estella’s Revenge– and naturally a hat-tip to Tanya @ Girlxoxo for being the super-smart lady behind this event!
Today is going to be a post less about 1 particular book- and more of the romantic suspense genre.
What is romantic suspense?
According to eHow:
Romance novels and suspense novels have melded together to form a genre uniquely blended with racy, hot moments and knuckle-whitening, edge-of-your seat tension. Romantic suspense has become a genre that is popular today with young adults, young and older women and married women. Unlike typical romantic novels, romantic suspense novels do not have to have a happy ending; in fact, generally, romantic suspense novels turn into series with no apparent end.
So now that we know what romantic suspense is- let’s talk more.
Question to consider:
Is all suspense that has a romantic subplot (a la Mary Higgins Clark) to be considered romantic suspense? After all- Mary Higgins Clark is considered the Queen of Suspense- but her books don’t have that racy hot moments mentioned in the romantic suspense.
Considering the definition and MHC’s style- to me, she would be firmly in the suspense category with the romantic subplot.
But back to the romantic suspense.. It’s a genre that I’ve not really read much of (I’ve read romance and I devour suspense- but together- well… not quite as much.) UNTIL….. this book came into my life:
Photo Credit: Goodreads
River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz. Perfectly combining the suspenseful storyline I crave and devour greedily with the steamy romance I have started reading more of- ahh, it was a book that was enjoyed quite a bit in early 2014.
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Do you read romantic suspense? Or are you more of a suspense with a romantic subplot reader? Did you know there was a difference? Do you have any fave romantic suspense authors?
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
T @ Traveling With T
Traveling With T 
This is an interesting one! I feel like Nelson DeMille might fall in this category…he writes terrorism thrillers, but his main character always has some sort of romantic sub-plot going on…
Is his romance sexy/steamy? Because that is the deciding factor between suspense with romantic subplot/romantic suspense. The romantic suspense is not like super graphic- but the scenes are def sexy/steamy/hot.
I can’t recall reading any romantic suspense books. I love romance! So I’m good for it, and I enjoy the ocassional suspense, but I don’t think I’ve come across a book that mixes both. It definitely sounds to me like a great combination though, so maybe I should keep an eye out for the genre.
I reallllllly liked River Road! I also enjoy a good romance- Kristan Higgins is one of my faves!
I love romance! Love it! I love romance/suspense but I didn’t know that there was a difference between romantic suspense or romantic subplot. I love Mary Higgins Clark. She’s a fantastic writer. I haven’t read any books that I can think of by Jayne Ann Krentz but I look forward to it. I’ll add Nora Roberts to the list. I think she’s another fantastic writer. Jennifer Faye. There was a lot of romance in that book. It was short, sweet, ‘romance’, and a little bit of a mystery! My first Harlequin book!
Yep! There is a difference! I like both- but not everyone does. I hope you’ll get a chance to read Jayne Ann Krentz!
I read the first two books in Dee Davis’ A-Tac series. I’d consider it romantic suspense. It’s a sub-genre I don’t read often but I would go back to this series (I think there are 7 books total).
Gosh Mary! You are just telling me about MORE books that I didn’t know about?! *faints at the sight of my TBR pile*
I did know there was a difference so I was curious to see what you have read. I’ll try this one but at the moment I prefer suspense with a romance subplot. I haven’t read too many romantic suspense authors. I enjoyed Leslie Tentler’s Chasing Evil Trilogy (especially the last 2). While I didn’t rate them low on Goodreads, Maya Banks KGI series is hit and miss. The men in this series are very unrealistic and the steamy scenes throw off the pacing of the suspense. Sometimes I overlooked it and sometimes it got on my nerves.
I MAINLY enjoy suspense with romantic subplot. Some of the steamy scenes do throw off the pacing (I totally understand!) I’ll have to check out Leslie T!
Romantic suspense was part of a genre challenge I did a while ago and I never got to reading a book for that genre, so I’ve been curious about it ever since. Thanks for your helpful post! When I want to check it out, I’ll have to try River Road đŸ™‚
I think River Road has enough of suspense to keep your interest- it really was enjoyable!