On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m chatting with Jennifer Pierce, who is a top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She lives in Arkansas where she’s busy raising two children and a husband. She’s a paralegal by trade and an author by free time. She’s fluent in sarcasm and Princess Bride quotes. Her love of books began with trips to the library with her grandmother. Please don’t ask her to name her favorite book—it’s like trying to pick her favorite child. And unicorns. She loved unicorns before they were cool.
When Jennifer wrote her first book, “I didn’t know what I was doing, but it kind of felt natural to me, this kind of storytelling. … I had a lot of crafting to learn, but the story was still there.”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Trail of Suspicion by Jennifer Pierce. Excerpt and back cover copy read by Janda Sample of Janda Sample Storytelling.
A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly S. Irvin — Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat’s milk and goat’s soaps. Against her the wishes of her father–who’s also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen’s beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less. (Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Biblical:
Loss and Loyalty – Moabites by Christine Dillon — What makes someone family—blood, love, or something more? Arielle believed she was an Israelite—until her brother confessed the truth: she was found as an infant on their doorstep in Moab. After tragedy strikes and the men of her household are snatched away, Arielle must leave the only land she’s ever known and any hope of finding her birth family to follow her adopted family to Bethlehem. (Biblical Fiction, Independently Published)
Contemporary Romance:
Clean Sweep by Julie Arduini — Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace. A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Royal Runaway’s Holiday by Mandy Boerma — Can the princess and the reporter overcome the ancient laws and royal protocol standing between them, or is heartbreak the only outcome? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Christmas in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch — Set in the heart of small-town Arkansas, A Christmas in Shady Springs is a sweet Christian romance about love that holds fast, plans that fall apart, and grace that shines even brighter when everything else goes wrong. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)
Clearing the Cowboy’s Name by Elle E. Kay — Accused of stealing her first edition Austen. Guilty of stealing her heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Logan’s Legacy by Susan Anne Mason — He ran from commitment for years – until he met the one woman who made him want to stay. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Home for the Ranger by Audrey Wick — Texas park ranger Shane Hutton must choose his future: the opportunity he’s always wanted or the family he’s always needed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Under the Mistletoe by Penny Zeller — A small-town adventure, unexpected romance, and Christmas cheer. He’s a nerdy tourist needing a vacation. She’s a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart. Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas. (Contemporary Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)
Crime Mystery:
Eight Days Anxious by Luana Ehrlich — When ex-con Jason Brennan takes a senator hostage, Mylas Grey has eight days to find Brennan’s missing wife and daughter. If Mylas fails, the senator will lose his life. But things are much more complicated than that. As the clock ticks down, Mylas must navigate his way through a maze of political ambition, moral corruption, and judicial misconduct, challenging his investigative skills and newfound faith, but ultimately drawing him closer to Whitney. (Crime/Mystery, Independently Published)
General Contemporary:
Nearly Beloved by Kendra Broekhuis — Dylan Turner’s quiet life unravels on the day of her dad’s funeral—when she finds out he’s not her biological father. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a cross-country journey, confronting family secrets and her own identity. (General Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])
Every Captive Freed by B.D. Lawrence, Shannon McNear, and Angela D. Shelton — Three Novellas about human trafficking. This collection is one of three dealing with “brave” topics Christians often face in the world today. (General Contemporary [Novella Collection], Independently Published)
General Historical:
Even If I Perish by Terrie Todd — Music teacher Mary Cornish volunteers to escort a group of 15 girls from England to Canada as part of Britain’s World War II child evacuation program. All is well aboard the SS City of Benares until September 17, 1940. With a storm brewing in the North Atlantic, a German U-boat releases its torpedo and breaches the ship’s hull. Do the Nazis know ninety children are on board? Based on a miraculous true story of courage in the face of impossible odds. (Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)
Historical Romance:
No Plan At All by Denise M. Colby — Two strangers. One journey. A love neither expected. Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned. A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)
To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — When love feels reckless, faith can lead the way. A story of second chances, steadfast love, and the courage to follow where God leads. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Midnight Masquerade by Elle E. Kay — Two federal agents with trust issues must infiltrate a charity masquerade ball to stop a human trafficking operation that funds terrorism. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Mac by Melanie D. Snitker — Fame has its price—and someone’s ready to collect. As danger closes in and secrets come to light, Mac must rely on every skill, instinct, and ounce of resolve he has to protect the woman he’s realizing he can’t live without. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Trail of Mountain Secrets by Darlene L. Turner — Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
First Glow of Illumination by Demi Griffin — Every ending leads to a beginning. All hope seems lost when darkness pushes against the light and the Realms are in danger of being swallowed up by the Shadow Realm. Will the Realm Warriors and Realm Binders wake up from their cultural stupor to defend what has been given them? What will it take for them to recognize their King, trust in his plan, and crown him victorious in the end? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Young Adult:
The One You See by Melissa Knight — Seventeen-year-old Miranda’s world involves wealth and Paris vacations while Zac comes with a past she will never understand, yet in a single lapse of judgement their worlds collide, leading Miranda to faith in the God who truly sees her. (Young Adult, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
The Accident by Kenneth Bliss — A psi EMT responds to an accident which he discovers an “impossible” psi child and the dark agent sent to recover him. (Speculative Fiction)
To Have and to Hold by Deb L. Brown — When life doesn’t go according to plan, perfectionist Amelia must trade control for faith—and find joy in the beautiful mess of becoming a mother. (General Contemporary)
Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy — When they leave the ranch in search of stolen treasure, will the spark between them survive the perils ahead? (Western Romance)
My Heart’s for You by Jan Rae Johnson — Kaitlyn Monroe is driven by two desires—find a job and find a soul mate. (Contemporary Romance)
That Was Me by Rick Tester — When you look back on your life, realize it was God… then suddenly discover why. (Mystery)
Pretzels & Pirouettes: The Baby is the Gift by Lynn U. Watson — Meet Clara’s great-great-great-granddaughter, motorcycle-riding, ballet-dancing Lyydi Jager. She’ll pirouette straight into your heart, and you’ll ride right into this Christmas pageant at Our Savior Church. (Contemporary Romance)
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from six authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for November 2025, with the book’s release date if not available now.
Camy Tang/The Lone Rice Ball
Danielle Grandinetti/His Boss’s Little Sister (11/18)
Kerry Johnson/Abducted in the Woods (11/25)
Patricia Bradley/On the Edge of Trust (11/4)
Hannah Linder/The Red Cottage
Darlene L. Turner/Trail of Mountain Secrets (11/25)
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Charlene Amsden, who is a storyteller, coffee enthusiast, and devoted follower of Christ who calls a small island in the far Northwest home—where her neighbors include orca whales, bald eagles, and the occasional black fox. A former elementary school teacher of 18 years and children’s ministry leader for six, she now serves as an elder and newsletter editor for her local church.
Born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Charlene’s life has been as varied as the settings in her books—she has taught school in the desert and on the beach, crossed the country in the cab of an 18-wheeler, and gathered stories in all seven states she’s called home. She is a wife, sister, aunt, and friend. Her writing reflects the faith, hope, and deep sense of community that have shaped her journey.
When she’s not writing Christian fiction, you’ll likely find her sipping coffee, watching the tide roll in, or dreaming up new tales that weave together suspense, redemption, and God’s grace.
Charlene started writing romantic suspense “probably for the same reason I started to teach. I like action, I like tension,” she says. “You never walk into a classroom two days in a row and have the exact same thing happen. It’s always different. It’s always changing. [That’s what I like about writing romantic suspense.]”
Listen to the podcast for more from our interview, plus an excerpt from Kage by Charlene Amsden. Excerpt and back cover copy read by Janda Sample of Janda Sample Storytelling.
Award-winning USA Today bestselling PeggySue Wells recently stopped by my blog to share about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? I began my career as a news reporter and moved into nonfiction books. I’m embarrassed to say I imagined fiction writers as the folks who didn’t do reality. In a personal growth exercise, someone challenged me to write a novel. What a revelation to learn that fiction is the highly skilled art of making something up that is believable and so compelling that readers will suspend reality and dive into story with the author. I was hooked.
Why do you like writing romantic suspense? I’m drawn to stories, both fiction and real life, that showcase characters fighting for the relationships and people they love. This resonates deeply with me as a reflection of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, demonstrating how much He values us.
The romantic suspense genre weaves together the intimacy of developing relationships with the heroic actions of people who put others before themselves. Romantic suspense allows me to explore characters at their most vulnerable and their most courageous, falling in love while facing danger, choosing sacrifice over safety, and discovering that the greatest strength often lies in fighting not just for survival, but for the people who matter most.
In romantic suspense, love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a decision made in the face of real risks and genuine danger. That’s the kind of story worth telling.
Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Why? In Chasing Sunrise, our hero tragically loses his mother and two young sisters, a scene that was deeply emotional to write. While this loss becomes pivotal to who he is and shapes every decision he makes going forward, I mourn the stories I can’t tell.
I imagine the conversations he might have had with his mom as an adult, the way his sisters would have teased him about his best friend, the holiday gatherings and everyday moments that will never happen. Instead of knowing how rich those present-day interactions could be, including the laughter, the conflicts, the growth, I’m confined to brief flashbacks within a narrow window of time.
The very event that defines my character also closes the door on countless future scenes that would be fun to explore.
What is absolutely essential for you to write? Most essential to my writing is learning about new people, places, and things. Each book takes readers where they have never been before and keeps the writing exciting for me. Secrecy Order mainly takes place in a kibbutz. I traveled to Israel to visit a kibbutz and go off-roading in the desert to accurately write about life in this unique community, as well as facing down gun runners in the Negev. Other books in the series include the only tea plantation in the United States, islands in the Sea Island chain, and a risky mission with a little-known community of fierce warriors called the Circassians.
How do you come up with titles for your books? Titles are a vital aspect of a romantic suspense novel. The words can draw a reader’s curiosity or cause them to scroll by without a second glance. I toss out ideas with fellow authors and readers. When I have a title or two that have potential, I ask my readers. I’m so grateful for the feedback they provide, letting me know how the title feels, and how they interpret the words. Once the title is reader-approved, we do the same process for the subtitle. Readers are my valuable resource.
About PeggySue Award-winning USA Today bestselling author of 45 books, including mystery suspense of the year, Unnatural Cause, PeggySue Wells is known for action and adventure, romantic suspense—Chasing Sunrise, Homeless for the Holidays, and The Patent. She empowers readers with nonfiction like The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make.
Secrecy Order
Powerful nations hunt for Marc Wayne and his invention, which promises to redefine weapons and global warfare. Meanwhile, in a remote hiding place, Marc serves as bait in hopes of turning his predators into prey. When an illegal arms dealer leverages Marc for his own ends, will Marc ever see home and family again? As time runs out, can he trust the electro-physicist, Lei Quong, enough to escape with her?
Connect w/Jennifer
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About PeggySue
