Christian Romantic Suspense

by Sharee Stover

Christian mystery, suspense, and romance are my favorite genres to read, so when I began writing, I felt most at home with those. As Will Smith in the movie Hitch said, “this is where you live,” or in my case, this is where I write.

I believe readers want to connect to others, to stories, to know whatever they’re facing or dealing with, they’re not alone. And sometimes, books are a way of escaping into another world.

Redeeming Suspense is my tagline because I strive to write stories offering redemption for my characters and hope to my reader. My books tackle difficult issues like addiction, forgiveness, unresolved pasts, and family dysfunction, just to name a few.

Christian romantic suspense is a wildly wonderful combination of action-packed adventure, entwined with the sweet thrill of falling in love, braided with a backbone faith thread. The recipe involves equal parts of romance and suspense—both adrenaline-fueled—while maintaining a clean read without preachy doctrinal language. The goal is to show examples of less-than-perfect people encountering, enduring, and overcoming difficult real-life stuff while demonstrating hope in God.

Romantic suspense merges the two genres by drawing the reader into the page-flipping action and suspense, while tugging at their heartstrings with the promise of a happily-ever-after romance. The characters apply reasoning to their situation and act in a way true to their Christian worldview. Additionally, Christian fiction is clean, meaning there is no graphic violence or profanity, although some are considered edgier and might have borderline aspects.

Breaking it down, suspense is the easiest to describe—it’s the nail-biting business between facing life-threatening situations and solving the mystery or overcoming whatever treacherous dangers befall the hero and heroine.

And it is, by far, my favorite part to write.

I put my characters through a lot in the course of one book. They must survive shootouts, car chases, hand-to-hand combat, kidnapping, and other assorted criminal acts.

Along with the suspense, I love the mystery of ferreting out the bad guy or gal, and bringing them to justice.

Why do these characters endure those terrifying obstacles, aside from the fact they have no choice since I hold the pen?

The answer is simple…mainly to stay alive, which is usually incentive enough, but in doing so, they’re fighting alongside someone they cannot help but fall in love with. Anyone else hearing Elvis Presley right about now?

In my Love Inspired Suspense books, no wimpy heroines scream “help” from a burning building. These ladies are tough, capable, and intelligent. I pair them with a strong, ethical, and brilliant hero.

Proximity does not equal romance. In fact, this is just the beginning because there is always pesky conflict keeping these two love birds from flying off into the sunset. Not to mention the bad guy who’s determined to silence them.

Like other sweet romances, Christian romantic suspense focuses on the emotional connection. Although I don’t craft any on-screen intimacy scenes, all the elements of attraction must be incorporated. The heat level stays low while the emotional connection is high. Build-up to a first kiss can be monumental, and making that aha moment fabulous is no small task. The reader expects a happy ending, making the journey worthwhile. There is power in a first kiss.

In fact, that single incident can be the sexiest part of a romance book. It holds the beginnings of a new life, the pent-up desires of a reunion, or the incredible gratitude of being alive. Psychology Today reported, “The first kiss is a landmark event in the lives of most individuals.”

And there’s physical proof to back it. According to ABC.net, “that first passionate kiss causes dopamine to spike in the brain.”

Why does that matter?

They go on to say, “Oxytocin is a love hormone that is crucial in promoting affection and attachment so that when dopamine wanes oxytocin surges. That’s why a kiss, hug, or tender caress helps to maintain a strong sense of attachment for lovers.”

If the emotional connection is done well, the reader is invested in that first kiss as much as the characters are.

Add in the suspense—mystery to be solved or the bad guy captured—and our hero and heroine are forced to work together. Now, toss in an added factor like putting them at opposite ends of the spectrum. For example, solving the crime is our heroine’s goal, but doing so will destroy something for the hero, and we have a great story conflict.

While they’re busy taking care of the mystery, something changes, and they also fall in love. This is the dance between romance and suspense. One is as necessary for the other to keep the story moving forward. Those adrenaline-accompanying emotions intensify as the story progresses, but conflict forces them apart and must be overcome before happily-ever-after happens. A sweet tango of complications and high stakes.

The interweaving of romance and suspense coordinates from the first action-packed event to the time our characters notice each other. As the suspense builds in the story, so does the relationship between the two. They investigate the case while investing in one another.

Do not forget conflict.

Conflict continues to rear its ugly head, interrupting the budding romance, even threatening it, until that emotional commitment propels them to acknowledge they have fallen in love. They will do whatever it takes for one another—including sacrificing their desire—for the other person’s benefit.

And while the suspense builds and the romance buds, the Christian piece is woven throughout. This doesn’t mean a beat-you-upside-the-head sermon. Rather, the characters face their challenges grounded in their faith and values. When they meet their worst fears while struggling with doubts about themselves, their lives, and/or God, they travel through a faith crisis. That battle will take the character through a journey of discovery, oftentimes ending with a deeper understanding or acceptance. Because sometimes no good answers exist to tough questions beyond the hope in a loving God who promises to waste nothing, not even pain and suffering, without turning it into redemption.

The hero and heroine believe lies about themselves and others that develop into responses and perceived realities. The faith thread of a Christian romantic suspense allows the characters to traverse the journey and come to the other side of the lie into truth. That does not mean everything is Pollyanna and the characters are perfect.

Far from it.

Besides, what fun is that?

Nope, all those shortcomings and faults, doubts and uncertainties endear the hero and heroine to the reader. And those problems that seem overwhelmingly ginormous and impossible? Those make the story un-put-down-able. Yes, I am positive that is a real word somewhere.

All three of these elements must work together with equal parts romance and suspense, while weaving the character’s faith journey into an intriguing tale.

Great, so what’s that look like?

In my book, Untraceable Evidence, my hero, Ace Steele, is a scientist who develops a completely undetectable 3D printer gun, and my heroine, Randee Jareau, is an ATF agent tasked with protecting him and the project. Both are Christians, but the untimely and violent death of Ace’s sister has tainted his view of God. Ace views life through his perceived reality, requiring perfect performance to earn God’s love.

Randee’s career cannot afford a dead scientist or stolen prototype. Ace’s integrity with the project and loyalty comes into question, forcing Randee to either turn him in or prove him innocent. No good solutions, and both require a hefty cost. Together, they must fend off a militia leader determined to steal the prototype and its plans and kill anyone who gets in his way. As the stakes get higher, Randee and Ace’s relationship deepens. The quest to stop the militia leader brings them to the ultimate decision for themselves and their future…

You didn’t think I’d give spoilers, did you?

Suffice it to say Untraceable Evidence is a romance, so the happily-ever-after is guaranteed. But getting there…that’s all part of the adventure.

I write Christian romantic suspense with the intention of telling stories that offer hope in the midst of pain. They’re meant to entertain, be read by male and female, young and old, Christian or not, while providing clean content and leaving the reader with a satisfied happy ending.

Words change people.

Words change hearts.

And I’m a word nerd to the core. I believe words have the power to heal, transform, and restore, and I love being a part of positive change with the power of a story.

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Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and a ridiculously spoiled dog. She is a triple Daphne du Maurier finalist, winner of the 2017 Wisconsin Fabulous Five Silver Quill Award, and her debut, Secret Past, won Best First Book in the 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards.