Suspense

Romantic suspense or thrillers provide readers with heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and/or anxiety.

  • Character Sketch,  Suspense

    Character Sketch: Big Mike from Bad Vibes @JDFaver_Author #RLFblog #Suspense

    Bad Vibes 
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13
    Darla came on deck clad in black body armor, her copper top hidden
    under a black Sheriff’s Department cap with the bill turned backwards. She had her
    M-14 slung over her shoulder and a pack of extra magazines.
    Damn! She looks so hot!
    Like Badass Barbie…
    5 star Review~ “J.D. creates two characters in Mike and
    Darla that you’ll be rooting for while simultaneously ratcheting up the suspense
    to the breaking point. The Texas
    Coast will *never* be the
    same by the time these two get done…”
    When government agent Mike “The Iceman” Burke invades
    her South Padre Island turf, Deputy Darla Calhoun
    is assigned as liaison officer to his team. Her skills as a sniper come in handy
    when a gang of human traffickers strikes close to home, kidnapping local women including
    her best friend.
    Darla is recovering from her husband’s suicide and trying to
    be a good parent to her twin sons. The ICE assignment takes her out of her misery
    and plunges her into a dangerous mission and a steamy affair.
    Mike and Darla tear up and down the Intracoastal
    Waterway in search of the kidnappers and the captive women while Rafael
    and Javier conduct their own investigation. Will they rescue the captive women or
    will the kidnappers slaughter them as they have done in the past? Two teams race
    to find the answers before it’s too late.

    About the Character

    Name: Michael Thomas Burke (Mike/Big Mike)
    Age: 32
    Gender: Male
    Birthplace: Maine
    Profession: Federal agent on loan to ICE (Immigration & Customs
    Enforcement)
    Ethnicity/Species (if not human): White male human
    Describe his/her body build, skin tone, height and weight. Include
    any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars: 6’5″ muscular frame;
    Tanned from the sun; Mikes most startling feature are his silvery-blue eyes and
    his ability to appear emotionless, earning him the title> The Iceman
    Who is the significant
    other in your character’s life?
    Mike has been a complete loner, until his ICE assignment on the
    lower Texas coast
    throws him into close proximity with a petite, red-headed local deputy assigned
    to his team as liaison officer. Darla raises his blood pressure and his libido from
    the moment they meet. She rousts him in his undercover disguise as a waterfront
    bum, disarms him and takes him into custody, which first alerts local law enforcement
    that there is a federal investigation into human trafficking using the Intra-coastal
    Waterway.
    How does your hero dress?
    Mike is known for his love of Hawaiian shirts, the louder the
    better. A pair of cargo shorts and flip-flops complete his outfit.
    If you could only hear
    this character’s voice (but not see him) what characteristic would identify him?
    Mike has a deep, raspy voice. He doesn’t waste words, sometimes
    barking out clipped orders. He’s a man’s man and not a ladies man, so he isn’t skilled
    at “girlfriend-speak”. Fortunately, his lady love is the only girl among
    seven brothers, so she can decipher his sometimes brusque verbage, and is also able
    to give him a smack upside his head when he needs it.
    What special skills does
    your character rely on?
    Mike is a former SEAL and is skilled in diving and underwater
    demolition. He is very intelligent and able to think on his feet.
    What does he have a knack
    for doing?
    Mike is a great guy, but he has a knack of pissing people off.
    Before long, he has Darla’s brother and one of her fellow deputies ready to throw
    down with him.
    What is your character’s
    family like?
    Mike’s mother abandoned him at an early age to be brought up
    by his grandfather, who was a carpenter. He likes to work with his hands when not
    blowing up drug lords in Central America. He has
    no living family and immerses himself into his current assignment, whatever that
    might be. The ICE assignment, where he has to work with the local deputy, Darla
    Calhoun, shakes up his usual mode of operation. He tries to protect her, which just
    irks the daylights out of her, since she sees herself as a completely competent
    member of the team.
    Does this character see
    morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
    Mike has a very definite sense of right and wrong. He sees himself
    as the defender of the weak and the one to apprehend the bad guys. There is no try.
    There is do or die.
    How do others perceive
    your character based upon looks? How true is this assumption?
    Darla’s brother, Calvin, a large, powerful man himself, describes
    Mike as “Big Mutha’.” Darla is very attracted to him, but also doesn’t
    want to get hurt when he moves on to his next assignment.
    What past event causes
    your character the most fear?
    Mike most definitely has abandonment issues, which he has dealt
    with in the past by not becoming too attached and by being the one to move on. However,
    for the first time, he sees himself settling down in this Texas coastal town and taking on a family, Darla
    and her twin sons.
    What is your hero’s biggest
    hopes and dreams?
    At the outset, his goal is to rescue the kidnapped women and
    destroy the human trafficking gang. As he works with Darla, he begins to dream about
    nesting with her and providing for her and her sons.
    What is your hero’s biggest
    personal flaw?
    Mike has absolutely horrible communication skills when it comes
    to romance.
    How does your character
    handle challenges?
    Head on! Fix it! Kill it! Move forward! Accomplish the objective!
    How emotionally expressive
    is your character to others?
    Have I mentioned how totally inept he is
    at expressing his emotions?

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    Why do you think your
    writer chose to write about you?
    Hell if I know? I’m a man of action. I don’t have time to sit
    around writing pretty little stories.
    What do you wish your
    writer had not told others about you?
    She had no right to go prying into my life, especially when I
    found the love of my life while on assignment. I’m a very private guy.
    What do you wish your
    writer would write next?
    I know her books about the Texas coastal area are evolving, and there are
    plenty of characters to write about. But, seriously. . . just write them as they
    happen. Chloe and Rafael have hired me to update an old Victorian house that comes
    with its own set of mysteries, like the skeletons I dredge up in the murky fish
    pond. Write about that.
    What other character from
    your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
    She’s written about my buds, Rafael, Javier and Zach, but our
    stories are unfolding, so I guess she should just keep telling our tales as they
    occur.
    Is there anything you’d
    like to say to your writer?
    Thanks for pairing me up with such a feisty and adorable love
    interest.

    Previous Books

    The Edge of Texas
    Series:
    • Book 1-Bad Medicine
    • Book 2-Bad Karma
    • Book 3-Bad Vibes
    • Book 4-Bad Dreams
    • Book 5-A Sandcastle Christmas

    Buy This Book

    Amazon US
    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LYM3ZQ
    Amazon UK
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009LYM3ZQ
    Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B009LYM3ZQ

    About the Author

    J.D. Faver lives near Houston,
    Texas. She writes steamy contemporary
    romance and romantic thrillers/mystery/suspense. She loves to kill people…on virtual
    paper, that is. Although she writes daily, she still finds time to enjoy family
    and friends. She is a foodie and an adventurous cook. Determined to preserve generations
    of family recipes, she is publishing a series of cookbooks entitled A Texan in the
    Kitchen.
    Gardening is another passion (and linked to the food thing) since
    she has an orchard of fruit trees and berry bushes/vines in her back yard. Tomatoes
    and other veggies round out her kitchen garden.
    All other interests (painting, drawing, sewing, quilting, crocheting,
    weaving, stained glass and pottery) have taken a back seat since they require hands-on
    participation which is difficult if your fingers are always on the keyboard.
    An active member of several Houston
    writer’s organizations, she belongs to National RWA and is a member of Houston chapters.
    She is owned by two cats and a small, yappy rescue dog. As a
    former educator and healthcare professional, she is an advocate for children, animals
    and elderly/disabled individuals.
    She would rather be sailing or on a beach somewhere, but if not,
    you can probably find her with her fingers on a keyboard, pouring word images onto
    the virtual films playing in her head.

    Author Social Media

    Blog http://www.jdfaver.com/blog.html
  • Suspense

    Burn on the Western Slope @angelaswriter #RLFblog #suspense

    Burn on the Western Slope 
    Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a
    book and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the
    author. Today’s featured book is Burn on the Western Slope by Angela Smith.
    Solving the Mystery of Love with Romance Novels
    Chemistry fires up the ski slopes when an undercover agent
    falls for a suspected jewel fence
    Reagan McKinney is on a mission to discover more about a
    deceased uncle who mysteriously left her a sizable inheritance, a condo in the
    mountains, and a stash of stolen jewels. With both her graphic design career
    and her love life in shambles, the opportunity to begin a new life couldn’t
    have come at a better time. When she becomes involved with the sexy FBI agent
    next door, she finds her struggle is not only to keep her heart intact, but her
    life. Grief stricken after an undercover investigation ends in the death of his
    partner, FBI Agent Garret Chambers goes home to find solace in the arms of his
    mountain retreat. That is, until his boss assigns him to investigate the
    spirited brunette staying in the condo next door. He is assigned to investigate
    Reagan’s involvement with a large jewel fencing organization, but his
    investigation becomes compromised when his attraction to her heats up. Will his
    discovery destroy everything he has come to love, including Reagan?

    Buy This Book

    Crimson Romance http://www.crimsonromance.com/crimson-romance-ebooks/crimson-romance-book-genres/romance-suspense-novels/burn-on-the-western-slope/
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00DL3ALDE/
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burn-on-the-western-slope-angela-smith/1115916239?ean=9781440570353
    iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/burn-on-the-western-slope/id665930023?mt=11
    Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/books/Burn-on-the-Western-Slope/DzzRVGdYBE6J_DUxJQHPAg

    Author Social Media

  • Suspense

    Character Sketch: Sam Samuels – Protective Instincts @mmarvelab #RLFblog #suspense

    Protective Instincts 
    Protective Instincts
    Author: Mary Marvella
    Genre: Romantic Suspense/Erotic Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings) PG13
    They met because he had premonitions and she was in peril. But
    you will never believe why they fell in love. Paranormal romance at its best.
    After mourning the loss of her husband, Brit Roberts manages
    to pick up her life as a teacher for a rural Georgia High school.
    Things are fine until anonymous phone calls turn creepy and her life is endangered.
    It’s not until Sam Samuels, shows up to check on her that she finds a little peace,
    if not a slight attraction to the handsome yet meddling security specialist.
    Sam Samuels isn’t just the father of one of Ms. Robert’s students,
    he’s a man with premonitions so strong, they make him ill. So when he meets his
    son’s teacher and pain kicks in, he knows something’s awry but can’t put his finger
    on it until he interrupts an attempt to kill the teacher. Sam makes it his personal
    goal to protect her, only he didn’t count on falling for her.
    Someone wants Brit, and now Sam, dead too. Could the death of
    her ex husband be part of the reason? Can Brit and Sam navigate a relationship despite
    both of their headstrong natures?
    About the Book
    They met because he had
    premonitions and she was in peril. But you will never believe why they fell in love.
    Paranormal romance at its best.
    After mourning the loss
    of her husband, Brit Roberts manages to pick up her life as a teacher for a rural
    Georgia High school. Things are fine until anonymous
    phone calls turn creepy and her life is endangered. It’s not until Sam Samuels,
    shows up to check on her that she finds a little peace, if not a slight attraction
    to the handsome yet meddling security specialist.
    Sam Samuels isn’t just
    the father of one of Ms. Robert’s students, he’s a man with premonitions so strong,
    they make him ill. So when he meets his son’s teacher and pain kicks in, he knows
    something’s awry but can’t put his finger on it until he interrupts an attempt to
    kill the teacher. Sam makes it his personal goal to protect her, only he didn’t
    count on falling for her.
    Someone wants Brit, and
    now Sam, dead too. Could the death of her ex husband be part of the reason? Can
    Brit and Sam navigate a relationship despite both of their headstrong natures?
    Buy This Book

    About the Character

    Name: John Samson Samuels (Sam, please)
    Age: 38
    Gender: male
    Birthplace: Florence, Georgia
    Profession: He owns a security systems company
    Ethnicity/Species (if not human): Caucasian.
    Sam is tall, broad shouldered. He has thick black
    hair and piercing green eyes.
    Who is the significant other in your character’s
    life (hero/heroine)?
    The heroine is Brittany Marie Simpson Roberts,
    33 and a teacher.
    If
    you could only hear this character’s voice (but not see him) what characteristic
    would identify him?
    Sam’s baritone voice suggests strength and confidence.
    All true!
    How
    educated is this character? Is he book smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?
    Sam has a college degree from University of Georgia. He played football for them.
    Are
    any of his/her skills a source of pride? Embarrassment? Which ones and why?
    Sam has premonitions when bad things are likely
    to happen. He can’t ignore them, but he won’t discuss them. He doesn’t see visions
    or hear voices, he just has physical pain and the knowledge that a certain person
    is in danger. His premonitions have never been false alarms.
    What
    is your character’s family like?
    Sam has two brothers and a sister. They are close.
    His mama gave each child a Biblical name. Sam’s are Samson and John. He goes by
    Sam!
    Is
    he close to family?
    Sam still works on his daddy’s farm and calls
    on his mama when he needs someone to watch over the heroine when — You didn’t
    think I would give away part of the plot, did you?
    Does
    he have children?
    He has a son, one of Brit’s students.
    Is
    your character involved in his/her community?
    He installs a security system in his son’s school
    at a low price, just as he did several churches. He attended all of his son’s sporting
    events.
    How
    does your character handle challenges?
    He meets challenges head-on!

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    Why
    do you think your writer chose to write about you?
    Mary had no choice. I pestered her until she
    gave in and started writing
    What
    do you wish your writer had not told others about you?
    She did blab about my premonitions, but i guess
    she had to.
    Why
    do you think your writer loves to write?
    Mary has stories to tell and voices inside her
    head. She’s been telling stories for so long I knew she had to tell mine. She listened
    to me instead of making up a story.
    What
    do you wish your writer would write next?
    Mary needs to write a book about my baby sister
    Esther. She’s a pistol and a strong southern woman.
    What
    other character from your book do you think your writer should write a book about?
    Care to tell us why?
    Mary has a book about my brother she needs to
    send out again or publish it herself. My brother is a great guy who saves lives.
    He’s an undercover cop. It’s a good story, too!
    Is
    there anything you’d like to say to your writer?
    Thanks, Mary, for
    finding us a publisher. I was leery when you sent my story to a publisher specializing
    in erotica. I never thought about my story and Brit’s as erotic fiction, though
    we have a VERY erotic relationship!

    Author Bio

    Mary has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember.
    She made up stories for the other children and created the details for their “play
    like” or “let’s pretend” games. Sometimes the details were so real
    they scared Mary.
    Mary was born in Augusta,
    Georgia to two eighteen-year
    olds. Her daddy, a young Mississippi man, was stationed
    at Camp Gordon and fell in love with a young girl
    selling flowers.
    Mary graduated from Mercer University
    where her mama worked in the library. Her mama started working there when Mary’s
    daddy went to college to become a preacher and a teacher. Mary taught language arts
    for 15 years, perfect for her BA in English. Her M.Ed in Counseling served her well
    during her years as a school counselor and as a teacher later.
    Now she tutors, teaches writers, and edits. Her inner English
    teacher loves the editing part. Mary helped her husband photograph hundreds of weddings.
    Her daughter is her cover artist now. Danielle was raised in the photography business.
    She doesn’t read Mary’s books. Something about TMI.

    Author Social Media

    Facebook http://on.fb.me/1anqdxk
    Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/19AJ37F
  • Suspense

    Reflection, a novel by @kimcresswell #RLFblog #suspense

    Reflection 
    Today’s featured book is Reflection by Kim Cresswell.
    Florida
    investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, has lived in the shadow of her legendary
    father long enough. To prove herself she needs to find the “Big”
    story.
    She found it. Now it may kill her.
    After receiving a lead pointing to the world’s first cloned human, now a small
    child, Whitney vows to unravel the truth. However, sifting through the facts
    proves to have dangerous results, including death threats and murder.
    When she’s nearly killed, but is saved by undercover FBI Special Agent, Blake
    Neely, he refuses to let her get in the way of his own objective–at least not
    right away.
    Caught in a lethal game between a billionaire obsessed with genetic perfection,
    his hit man’s thirst for retribution, and a Colombian drug lord fresh out of
    prison determined to make Blake pay for his twin brother’s death over a decade
    ago…
    Can they save an innocent child before it’s too late?
    Faced with tough choices, with deadly consequences for many–Whitney soon
    realizes that sometimes a story becomes more than just a story.

    Buy Link

    Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflection-kim-cresswell/1114770566?ean=2940148330660
    iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id671759101

    Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Reflection/book-bm2knKPdYUS0fKF2ztoL5A/page1.html?s=oIxG9Mf0JES9Gayw3ediyg&r=1

    Find Me Here

    Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Cresswell/e/B00B5LKAXA/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

  • Suspense

    Whispers in the Dark @Kris_Bock #RLFblog #suspense

    Whispers in the Dark
    Cover Love at Romance Lives Forever is a short intro to a
    book and includes a cover, blurb, buy links, and social media contacts for the
    author. Today’s featured book is Whispers in the Dark by Kris Bock.
    Genre: Romantic Suspense
    Publisher: Pig
    River Press
    Length: 218 Pages
    Sensuality Level: PG
    Young archeologist Kylie Hafford heads to the remote Puebloan
    ruins of Lost Valley, Colorado, to excavate. Her first exploration
    of the crumbling ruins ends in a confrontation with a gorgeous, angry man who looks
    like a warrior from the Pueblo’s
    ancient past. If only Danesh weren’t so aggravatingâ€Ĥ and fascinating. Then she literally
    stumbles across Sean, a charming, playful tourist. His attentions feel safer, until
    she glimpses secrets he’d rather keep hidden.
    The summer heats up as two sexy men pursue her. She finds mysteries
    – and surprising friendships – among the other campground residents. Could the wide-eyed
    woman and her silent children be in the kind of danger all too familiar to Kylie?
    Mysterious lights, murmuring voices, and equipment gone missing
    plague her dig. A midnight encounter sends Kylie plummeting into a deep canyon.
    She’ll need all her strength and wits to survive. Everything becomes clear – if
    she wants to save the man she’s come to love and see the villains brought to justice,
    she must face her demons and fight.
    Whispers in the Dark is romance and suspense set in the Four Corners region of the Southwest.

    Buy Links

    Paperback: http://bookShow.me/B006M6P6FA
    Kindle: http://bookShow.me/B006M6P6FA
    Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whispers-in-the-dark-kris-bock/1108066717

    About the Author

    Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance involving outdoor
    adventures and Southwestern landscapes. Counterfeits starts a new series about art
    theft. Whispers in the Dark features
    archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. What We Found is a mystery with strong
    romantic elements about a young woman who finds a murder victim in the woods. Rattled follows the hunt for a long-lost
    treasure in the New Mexico
    desert. Read excerpts at www.krisbock.com
    or visit her Amazon page.

    Find Me Here

    Website http://www.krisbock.com/
    Barnes and Noble Author Page http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kris-bock

     

  • Suspense

    The Burning Seal @JennaStormWritz #RLFblog #paranormal

    Jenna Storm 

    Today’s featured book is The Burning Seal by Jenna Storm.

    Detective Danni Keegan is plunged into a dark, demonic world
    where survival depends on deciphering the connection between ritual killings,
    and a demon terrorizing her for a “gift” she wasn’t even aware she
    possessed. She must unravel her dreams of another woman who lived during
    ancient times and battled a bloodthirsty demon—the same demon who now hunts
    Danni. The loss of her body and soul looms imminent as her only chance to
    destroy the demon depends on changing her new partner’s convictions. He is a
    sinfully sexy man, who exudes power and self-assurance with the ease of
    breathing and has an iron-willed determination not to believe in the
    paranormal.

    Buy links:

    Find Me Here: