On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Hannah Linder, who resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels filled with passion, secrets, and danger. She is a 2025 Carol Award winner, a five-time Selah Award winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Also, Hannah is an international and multi-award-winning graphic designer who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a self-portrait photographer of historical fashion. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, ukulele, and banjolele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, square dancing, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.
“I’m definitely the type of writer who starts with scene one and goes in chronological order from there,” Hannah said. “I hear so many different ways that people do it, and it’s fascinating to me how different people write words and how they can organize it. … I try really hard as I’m writing it to get it [to as clean a first draft as possible].”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder. Excerpt and back cover copy read by Janda Sample of Janda Sample Storytelling.
A Secret Amish Arrangement by Amy Grochowski — After stumbling upon Reuben Bender’s hidden library in the woods, Nan Burkholder strikes a deal with the reclusive Amish farmer. She’ll keep his sanctuary secret if he’ll accompany her to an upcoming wedding to discourage an unwanted suitor. But when a natural disaster hits, their onetime arrangement turns into a partnership to save the community. Soon Nan discovers the courageous heart behind Reuben’s aloof demeanor, and feelings she never expected begin to bloom. But as Reuben withdraws to his isolated world, Nan will have to convince him to forgive his past for a chance at a life together after the storm. (Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Contemporary Romance:
More Than Friends by Denise Hunter — Jenna expected to enjoy visiting her mom, Tyson, and his whole family. She’d expected to feel closer to her deceased father on the island where the foal they’d named years ago now roams the wild salt marshes of Assateague like its ancestors have for hundreds of years. What she didn’t expect was for her feelings for her best friend to change. But she’s always sworn she’d never date a firefighter. Plus, Tyson is fresh off a betrayal. And also, there’s that teensy commitment problem she seems to have. Would she even have the courage to finally give her heart away? And should they really risk their beautiful friendship in the hopes they could someday be something more? (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)
The Art of Starting Over by Tara Baisden — Nicole Sullivan came to Serenity Crossing, Tennessee, to find herself again. After walking away from a two-year engagement—and a fiancé who loved the version of her that fit his plans—she’s determined to build a life on her own terms. Her new third-grade classroom is the fresh start she’s been praying for. But when her brightest student turns out to be a motherless little girl with sad eyes and matchmaking schemes, Nicole finds herself drawn to the one man who could make her repeat every old mistake: a grieving widower who might only see her as a solution to his daughter’s longing. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Hometown Second Chances by Megan Besing, Tabitha Bouldin, Andrea Christenson, and Rebecca Reed — Sky-diving, sled dogs, Russian photographs, and buried journals add up to 4 novels filled with sweet romance, excitement, and mystery enough to red-line your romantic adventure meter for days. (Contemporary Romance from Two Dogs Publishing)
The Top of the World by Elizabeth Camden — They were perfect together—until powerful forces pulled them apart. Now fate has given them a second chance at the top of the world. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Not What We Pictured by Becca Kinzer — McKenna Boston is feeling stuck. She’s spent years growing her photography skills only for her career to hit a wall. She’s ready to move on, and she will, just as soon as she helps her sister’s boyfriend stage the perfect proposal. But when her best laid plans go awry and a handsome stranger accidentally ends up with the heirloom ring, McKenna hops on a flight to retrieve it. Piece of cake, right? Nate Lambert was hoping to enjoy a relaxing summer before starting his new job as a literature professor, but he arrives in Tennessee to discover his mom’s bed and breakfast is struggling and there’s a long list of repairs to be tackled. The last thing he needs is a gorgeous, determined photographer searching for a ring he doesn’t have since the airline lost his luggage somewhere on his route from Nebraska. (Contemporary Romance from Tyndale House)
A Second Chance for a Dancer by Carolyn Miller — Poppy James is on the brink of attaining national fame, just like her friend and fellow dancer Bailey Donovan, when a blast from the past leads to a devastating injury. Jake Guillemette is used to being overshadowed by his NHL-playing younger brother. When a job opportunity leads him to start afresh somewhere new, he never thought he’d run into the person who made him second-guess everything, but who ultimately led him to become a better man. Horrified, Poppy is desperate to keep their past a secret, and it takes some time to learn to trust this different version of the man she’s long loved to loathe. Can Jake win her trust and prove he’s changed? And will Poppy learn to trust God with all her future? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Contemporary Women’s Fiction:
Birds on a Wire by Katie Powner — A troubled teen whose baby Providence is taken by CPS, a mother of three who takes baby Providence in, and a tenuous friendship that leaves the two very different women asking the same impossible question: Who is the best mother for Providence? (Contemporary Women’s Fiction from Kregel Publications)
Dual Timeline/Historical Mystery:
The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson — In 2006, searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a 1940 bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it. (Dual Timeline – Historical Mystery from Tyndale House)
General Contemporary:
Stronger than the Storm by Deena Adams — In Stronger than the Storm, Kevin, a devoted pastor, and Beth, a parenting expert, are blindsided when their teenage daughter runs away and returns home pregnant. As they struggle to hold their family together, a long-buried secret from Beth’s past threatens to destroy all hope of reconciliation. (General Contemporary from Scrivenings Press)
General Historical:
Sani – The German Medic by Aubrey Reiss Taylor — There are two sides to every story. Can he navigate between them? Frederick’s childhood was spent in America, helping care for his ailing grandparents. Now, he has come of age and craves the adventures he missed out on. It begins with a return to his family’s homeland, into the heart of a continent gearing up for war. His new friends say he can’t possibly understand. Can a German army chaplain help bridge the gap? Or does the man’s own past disqualify him from becoming Frederick’s confidant? (General Historical, Independently Published)
Norwegian Nights by Linda Shenton Matchett — The second anniversary of Germany’s occupation of Norway has passed with no end in sight, so Gustav Westgard and his wife are still exiled on Shetland. He’s convinced Oda’s miscarriage would have been prevented back in Norway and decides he must return to his homeland to do whatever possible to rid the country of its invaders. Will he live to see liberation? Grieving the loss of her baby, Oda turns toward her heavenly Father as Gustav retreats inside himself. Rather than try to stop him after she discovers he plans to join the Norwegian resistance, she stows away onboard the ship taking him home. Can she convince him that they are better united in a cause than apart? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Psychological Suspense:
The Girl Upstairs by Jessica R Patch — She bought this house to save her marriage. Unearthing its secrets might just claim her life. (Psychological Suspense from Love Inspired Trade [Harlequin])
Romantic Suspense:
Witness Safeguard Mission by Carol J Post — When Nicole Woodard and her young sister witness their father’s murder by an unknown assailant, Nicole knows they’re next on the killer’s hit list. Now they must rely on Officer Braydon Feldman and his K-9 partner, Caesar, for protection. The killer will stop at nothing to silence the sisters and keep the crime hidden. But what could their father have been involved in that got him killed? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Speculative/Fantasy:
Paradise Unfallen by Chuck Richardson — What if Adam and Eve had resisted the serpent? Welcome to Erimea—Earth’s twin world, untouched by original sin. Solis and Livi, the first parents of Erimea, begin their lives in perfect fellowship with God. But their obedience does not end the war. Satan and his legions simply turn their fury upon the new world. As the population of Erimea rises, tensions crack the harmony of paradise. A powerful life-giving resource becomes scarce. Rumors spread. God is silent. And a restless humanity flirts with fear, force, and false gods. To save their descendants from repeating Earth’s tragedy, Solis and Livi must confront deception, division, and the relentless pressure of darkness. Their journey—from innocence to holiness—will determine the future of an unfallen world. (Speculative/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
Hearts Restored by Tara Baisden — She was the one thing he could never blueprint. He was the one man she couldn’t wall out. (Contemporary Romance)
Last to Fall by Lynn H Blackburn — She’s caught in a deadly game. He’s the only one who can help her win. They’ll have to risk everything–including their hearts–to expose the truth before it’s too late. (Romantic Suspense)
Anna of Bethsaida by Susanne Blumer — Anna believed choosing Andrew meant gaining a home. Instead, she finds herself on the dusty roads of Galilee, under the watchful eyes of hostile Pharisees, walking ever closer to miracles that both heal and unsettle. Some journeys test what you believe. Some reshape who you become. Anna’s does both. (Biblical Fiction)
Find Me in the Story by Lisa Jordan — He built walls. She brought sunshine. Something had to give. But trust doesn’t come easy for two people who’ve been hurt. And one misunderstanding could destroy everything—including their chance at love. (Contemporary Romance)
Lifekeeper by Colleen K Snyder — A girl and her dragon face life and death decisions not only for themselves but also for their enemies. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy)
Jackal by Michael Jack Webb — In a land where the dead speak and ancient gods walk in human skin, Kate Justice confronts a darkness older than civilization. (Supernatural Suspense)
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from two authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for February 2026, with the book’s release date if not available now.
Award-winning author Donna Wichelman recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? You might remember a book from 2003, a little-known novel called The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. (I speak tongue-in-cheek because the novel not only was a great success, but stayed on the bestsellers list for 136 consecutive weeks.) The book starts with a prologue in which a person is killed, and as the book unfolds, we discover that he was killed for discovering the truth behind Christianity—a very different narrative than Christians have believed for 2,100 years.
I decided it was important for me to write a contemporary romantic suspense that debunked Brown’s theory and showed that the ancient words of Christianity came from reliable sources. In my research, I found a relatively unknown Christian sect, the Waldensians, who trace their origins to early Christianity. So, in Light Out of Darkness, a prestigious art exhibition turns into a horrific spectacle when a murder sends an art curator and a professor on a hunt for a highly covet stolen painting. Jamie and Alesandro risk their lives to uncover why the painting has caught the attention of art critics and criminals alike. At stake is a two-thousand-year-old drama, unfolding in the contemporary world of the Italian Alps.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense? By far, the hardest part of writing romantic suspense for me is the romance. There’s just something personally vulnerable about developing the romance between two characters. It’s much easier for me to dig deep into a villain’s character and explore their darker, visceral side. I’m not sure what that says about me. Maybe it has something to do with what the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed in Jeremiah 17:9: “The human heart is more deceitful than all else, and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
When do you find time to write? I decided a decade ago that I would consider my writing career my fulltime job. So, except for the occasional obligations and outings with church, family, and friends, I work at a desk in my home office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. However, I have been known to get up at 4 a.m. at times to write. My brain seems to function more optimally in the still hours of the morning.
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress? I love to sit on my back deck during the warmer months, where I have a peaceful view of a field and reservoir, where I can read, write, and reflect. Sometimes I do my quiet time devotions there in the early mornings, listening to the birds flitting and singing around me. If it’s too cold or snowy during the winter months, I can sit in my home office or at my kitchen nook table, where I have the same view.
How do you connect with your characters? One of the best ways I connect with my characters is by getting to know their personality types. I use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (16 personality types). Then, when I need to understand what motivates the character to act in a certain way in a given situation, I go back to the personality type and ask, “How would this introverted, intuitive, feeling, extremely organized person handle the problem?” It honestly helps me think through what they’ll do next.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing? I start off with a cup of French-pressed coffee in the mornings (no cream or sugar), and then usually between one and two o’clock in the afternoon, I find I need a cup of tea. I also keep a stash of these yummy soft chocolate espresso candies, called Pocket Coffees, that we found in Germany many years ago. I can’t tell you how scrumptious they are. You’ll just have to try them for yourself. Ferrero makes them.
How do you research ways to kill someone for your books? Oftentimes, it’s the setting that dictates how a person is killed. In books one and two of my Singing Silver Mine series, the setting in the mining communities of the Colorado Rocky Mountains meant that the deaths in both books occurred in a mine.
In A Song of Deliverance, I had to wrap my brain around the gold and silver mining industry of that decade in the nineteenth century to understand what could have caused a mining disaster that would kill nine men in the belly of the earth. I explored several scenarios and chose one that seemed plausible for my story, devising a way for my hero to discover how the villain caused a cave-in down the mine shaft. This meant the hero, Stefan, had to descend into the dangerously precarious situation in which the wood framework undergirding the shaft had been destroyed. Make the wrong move, and he could get trapped as the original nine men had.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? My husband and I have traveled extensively in the United States and other parts of the world over the years. Most of my settings come from places we’ve visited that have intrigued me because of their history or captured my attention because of their beautiful landscapes. Light Out of Darkness was set in Italy because of the Waldensians’ history in the Italian Alps. We had also visited Varenna in the Italian Lake District, where I set the art exhibition for its spectacular views.
How do you ensure your books are accurate? I’m all about research, reading as much as I can from as many different sources as I can on a topic. Usually, if three sources agree, I’m good with the information. But I have to limit myself at times, or I find I’m going down bunny trails that don’t add to the story. It is possible to do too much research, which detracts from your writing.
Who’s your favorite romantic suspense writer and why? There are many excellent romantic suspense writers in the Christian fiction industry, so it’s hard to choose. But if pressed to the wall, I’d say Lynette Eason. She’s a fabulous person as well as an author, and her stories are consistently good every time.
About Donna Donna Wichelman is a 2025 Angel Book Award-winning author for A Song of Deliverance, Book 1 in the Singing Silver Mine series. Her articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two novels in her contemporary suspense Waldensian Series. Donna and her husband live in Colorado and love spending time with their grandchildren. They also bike, kayak, and travel.
Life as Cassie Munro knew it ended the day her husband and children were torn away from her in a deadly train disaster. Haunted by ghosts from her past in Ohio, she takes a teaching position in Georgetown, Colorado, where her parents pastor a church. One thing she knows—she will never risk her heart again.
Born of privilege and educated at the Philadelphia School of Medicine, Dr. Daniel Criley never expected to lose the woman he loved to sepsis. Disillusioned with a hospital that won’t integrate antiseptic procedures and blamed by the family for her death, Daniel moves to Georgetown, where he can practice medicine his way. But just when all seems idyllic, the demons of his past appear to destroy the life he’s built.
When Cassie and Daniel meet, their attraction is undeniably intense. Will they risk following their hearts and step into a future together? Or will the fear of loss stand in the way of their happiness? Only God knows how to mend two broken hearts.
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Camy Tang, who a USA Today bestselling author of Christian romantic suspense. She also writes Christian Regency romantic suspense under the name Camille Elliott. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband. Camy graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, and for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. Then God guided her path in a completely different direction, and now she’s writing full time, using her original psychology degree as she creates the characters in her novels.
She was a staff worker for her church youth group for over 20 years and she used to lead one of the Sunday worship teams. She loves to knit antique knitting patterns and is learning Japanese.
“I can write the fastest and the most if I write within an hour of getting up in the morning,” Camy said. “But then my wrists starting getting worse, so I started doing voice to text dictation. I found it was really hard at first to get into the dictation, but after I got used to it, I found myself writing at least at the same speed as I was when I was typing.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from The Lone Rice Ball by Camy Tang. Excerpt and back cover copy read by Janda Sample of Janda Sample Storytelling.
Connect w/Hannah
About Donna
Connect w/Camy
