Romantic suspense authors I love to read

Romantic suspense is one of my favourite genres to write and read in. It combines the best of fiction – romance and crime – in my opinion. And if I’m being honest, sometimes I read so many romantic suspense novels, I’m barely reading any other subgenres. Yet romantic suspense always amazes me. Sometimes the novels in this genre can have a deeply romantic plot with just a hint of danger, and sometimes they’re high-stakes dangerous love stories.

With each romantic suspense book I’ve added to my ‘Read’ pile, I’ve been convinced that rom sus authors are one of the most talented. They write books which suit every reader’s mood.

Here are some authors who’ve written books in niche tropes:

When The Cops Fall for The Bad Guy

I’m jumping into the deep end with this trope because I LOVE it.

Cynthia Eden

I’ve recently come across Eden’s Protector and Defender series. The first book in this series When He Protects was an unputdownable read and hooked me on to reading the rest of the books.

The female protagonist is a smart, beautiful, extremely savvy thief. The male main character is a good-guy-hero law enforcement official. And when they’re pushed to work together on a case as a married couple… let’s just say I ate that book up.

And it’s not just this book, this entire series has similar tropes: fake relationships, forbidden, opposites attract romance and incredibly high stakes. Yum.   

Let me add here…

I never knew how much I loved the good guy falls for the bad guy trope until earlier this year. That’s when I wrote the book Lessons In Deception and found myself salivating over Joshua and Sloane’s high-energy, slow-burn connection. On the face of it, he’s the perfect manifestation of a book boyfriend. The perfect match for a woman in love with her romance novels. Yet, as things start to unravel, she realises this perfect book boyfriend might in fact be a cold blooded killer.   

If you love your romantic suspense novels with a pinch of dangerous love and some unexpected laughs, definitely read Lessons In Deception because, apart from connecting you with a hot Scottish man, it’ll also introduce you to his cop pals as they end up tumbling in love with their criminal soulmates.  

You can read Lessons In Deception on Shanafrost.com/LessonsInDeception.

Nana Malone

Malone is also a new-to-me author. I binged her The Covert Affairs duet published by Kobo Originals. This interracial romantic suspense between two enemy spies is so irresistible. The two of them have amazing chemistry but have this awkward push-pull in the beginning.

I haven’t read a book like this one before, and I loved it. I’ve since moved on to reading Big Ben. So far, I love the British-London setting (as mentioned in the title of the book!) and the spy element to Malone’s books.

Romantic Suspense Meets Women’s Fiction

I suppose, I have to backup a bit from the sizzling hot chemistry of Bad vs Good and mention the OG and, in my opinion, the GOAT of romance fiction:

Nora Roberts

Roberts was the one who introduced me to romantic suspense. She was my first romance author and over the decades, I’ve read so many of her books, my library is full of them. My favourites are Shelter In Place, The Witness, and Blue Smoke. Of course they’re all romantic suspense novels. I’ve also read almost all of her In Death series written under the pen name JD Robb.

High-Stakes Thrillers with Sizzling Romance

This next category is my ‘curl up with these books’ one. When these authors have a new book out, I pencil a day-off in my calendar and sit down to truly take-in their books.

Toni Anderson

One of my auto-buy authors – an author whose books I buy without reading the description – and, in my opinion, the best in the genre, Toni Anderson is an incredible writer who combines the most page-turning thrillers with the best heart-warming romance.

I first read her book Colder Than Sin and fell in love with her writing. I’ve since read all of Anderson’s novels, and I’m always eagerly awaiting to read her latest release.

Rachel Grant

Rachel Grant writes romantic suspense novels with an archaeological element to them. And they are incredibly smart. As someone who loves history, these novels are an education in that field and add that extra edge to the suspense.

Grant also sets her novels in different topographical areas in the world. Very well-researched, these books are an immersive read. You’ll feel like you’re on an adventure in those treacherous regions alongside Grant’s characters. 

I’d definitely recommend reading Firestorm, Body of Evidence and False Evidence. 

Private Security Romantic-Suspense

Katie Reus

Katie Reus has written multiple books in the romantic suspense genre. She is extremely prolific and incredible at writing page-turning novels.

If you like to read books in a series where you feel like each character is a close friend of yours, Reus’s books are the perfect read. Some of Reus’s books are short enough to devour in a night or two. Trust me, I’ve done that!

I’d recommend Reus’s Red Stone Security series especially No One To Trust, Danger Next Door, and Love Thy Enemy.

PJ Fiala

Most of Fiala’s books that I’ve read are on audio, and I’ve loved all of them. Fiala writes books with female characters who’ve been through so much. It’s inspiring to see these women grow stronger over the course of the book and find a worthy partner for themselves.

With some elements of military fiction, Fiala’s novels have a mix of romance and suspense-thriller elements in them. They aren’t mysteries or crime fiction novels, but they are fast-paced nonetheless.

I’d recommend Finding Lara and Protecting Everleigh.

Do you enjoy reading female protagonists who break free and grow stronger?

Maybe you’d love to read Molly McBrae and Faith Darcy’s stories. These women have been through tough times. So what happens when they bump into rich, handsome, powerful, and sketchy Scottish brothers? Read the Buchanan Security: Glasgow series on Kobo Plus to dive into Dangerous Escape, Molly and Leo’s single-parent, billionaire romantic suspense.

Janie Crouch

The only Kindle Unlimited author on this list, Crouch’s romantic suspense audiobooks are widely available to read. I’ve read many of her audiobooks on Kobo Plus and enjoyed how twisted and attention-grabbing they are.

Crouch’s Linear Tactical series are absolutely incredible with a found family appeal to the books. She has also written the second generation in the Linear Tactical world.

My favourites are Shamrock, Baby and Forever.

Small Town Feels Romantic Suspense

Jennifer Bernard

I love romantic suspense novels that are set in different places in the world. So books set in the Alaskan wilderness are as wild and unique as any location.

Bernard’s Firelight Ridge series really invoke a sense of the Alaskan climate. You truly feel like you’re in a cold scarcely-inhabited region where the climate can be your friend or your enemy. I learned so much about Alaska and the people that have called this region home for centuries. If you want something to cool you down in a heatwave, pick up this series especially Smoky Lake which is a spicy page-turning interracial romance. 

Jemi Fraser

Another author who is brilliant at bringing the setting to life. Fraser’s books are page-turning reads with a romatic arc that’ll warm your heart.

I especially loved her book Reaching for Normal which brings together diverse characters, the cold wilderness and wildlife alongside a fast-paced thriller element. I read this book in two days while on holiday and am currently reading the next book Reaching for Risks.

The Family-Centric Romantic Suspense

Barbara Freethy

Freethy is a new-to-me author even if she has a long repository of books. I can’t wait to delve into them all.

So far, I’ve loved the close-knit family feel that her books have. The books I’ve read so far are about the Callaways, a large family who are fire-fighters.

The books I’ve enjoyed so far are On A Night Like This and Between Now and Forever. I read them all as audiobooks and couldn’t figure out whodunnit until the very end.

Do you love found-family romances?

Cause I love to write those too! Four half-brothers who’ve never met before find themselves inheriting billions while being forced to run a slightly-illegal security business together. The Buchanan Brothers need to figure out how far they’d go for money and love.

Kobo Originals is currently publishing my Buchanan Security: Glasgow series, and if you want to fall for a new-billionaire protecting a single mother with the cutest wee girl, get Dangerous Escape (Book One in the Buchanan Security: Glasgow series) on Kobo Plus. Oh, and he falls first and hard which means the pining is real:)

Having read this list, don’t you see how fascinating romantic suspense can be? As you can see, I love the mix of romance and suspense so much, I write books in this genre too.

So far, I have published two romantic suspense series. My Scottish Investigators: Glasgow series follows cops as they fall for the criminals they’re meant to be arresting (fun!). The other series, Buchanan Security: Glasgow, is a break from the law enforcement world where four half-brothers running a multi-billion pound security business fall for four women who are fighting to expose the injustice hidden in their company.

My stories are fast-paced, unputdownable, and romantic… Oh aye, they’re also all set in Scotland with the swooniest of Scottish men. Read more at Shanafrost.com/RomanticSuspense

Until next time, tell me: who’s your favourite romance author? Please comment below.