I love a thriller that makes my heart race. But throw in a bit of sexiness and I won’t be able to stop turning the pages. Make the sexiness edgy and forbidden? Even better—I’ll read it in one sitting. Though the added component is not about sex, per se; it’s more about the emotion that a compelling romantic storyline can add.
There can be a fine line separating one genre from another. Domestic thrillers are often character-driven plots where the relationship of the main characters are explored. Authors walk a tightrope when that relationship is a romantic one. Too much romance in the thriller and it becomes, well, a romance novel. But add just the right sprinkle, and it can enhance the thriller, making the plot go from entertaining to enthralling.
After publishing more than forty romance novels, I’ve written The Unraveling, a thriller I’ve been thinking about for years. I write what I love to read, so you can expect a side of that sexiness I love so much. Psychiatrist Meredith McCall is struggling after the loss of her husband. When she crosses paths with a man with whom she has a tragic connection, she follows him, sparking an unhealthy obsession with Gabriel Wright. That obsession is innocent enough until Gabriel shows up at her office as a new patient. Meredith knows it crosses all ethical and moral bounds to treat him, but she can’t bring herself to turn him away.
If you’re like me, and love your thrillers with a side of romance, give these books a try:
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
Evie Porter has the perfect life—big house, handsome and successful boyfriend, evenings spent attending fancy parties. She’s finally settling into the life she’s always wanted. There’s just one problem—Evie Porter doesn’t actually exist, and it’s her job to con people into believing she’s who she says she is. First Lie Wins is a sublime game of cat and mouse, filled with morally gray characters, a smart female lead, twists that keep on coming, and the perfect sprinkle of romance.
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Stop reading now if you’ve not read this one, because it’s impossible to tell you what I loved without spoiling the story. Vanessa is a woman scorned. Her husband Richard has moved on, replaced her with a younger, newer model. She’s jealous and obsessed with Nellie, the woman who took her place. Seems simple, right? Husband, wife, mistress. Nothing new here. Or so it seems… Until we find out that Vanessa and Nellie are the same person, and Richard isn’t quite the charming husband he appears to be.
The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen
This one has the perfect blend of thriller and romance. Ariel gets a text from the love of her life asking her to meet—the same ex who ghosted her five years ago and then supposedly died. When Ariel uncovers that a glitch caused a bunch of old text messages to not go through, she discovers that there was more to Drew’s disappearance than meets the eye.
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
Millie Calloway is down on her luck, living in her car, and having a difficult time finding a job after spending the previous decade in prison. Most employers want a background check and multiple references, so she almost doesn’t bother going to the interview when a wealthy family is looking for a live-in nanny. Imagine her surprise when she’s hired right on the spot. It seems too good to be true. As does Mr. Winchester, the handsome husband whom Millie can’t help but imagine being with, if there was no Mrs. Winchester.
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
If you’ve ever read a book by Tarryn Fisher, you know to expect the unexpected. But this one is pretty clear-cut. The title of this book is The Wives and we’re told in the synopsis that Thursday Ellington’s husband has two other wives. Thursday is willing to accept the arrangement because she’s so in love with him that she’ll take whatever she can get. But whatever she can get turns out to not be enough, and Thursday seeks out her husband’s other wives to size up the competition. What she discovers is nothing like you would imagine.
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
I love that this one is set in Brooklyn, which is where I grew up, and that the author also writes romance. Alyssa Cole delves into the history of New York City and weaves a tale with complex characters that involves a very real look into a community undergoing change. It promises to have a splash of romance on top of a heart-pounding thrilling story.
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