On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” my guest is Janice Cantore, a former Long Beach, California, police officer of 22 years. Janice now writes suspense novels designed to keep readers engrossed and leave them inspired. She lives near the Gulf Coast in Florida. She loves swimming, bike riding, golf, and walking her dogs, Abbie and Tilly.
One Final Target follows her previous novels, Code of Courage, Breach of Honor, Crisis Shot, Lethal Target, Cold Aim, Drawing Fire, Burning Proof, Catching Heat, Critical Pursuit, Visible Threat, Accused, Abducted, and Avenged.
“There’s a coffeeshop near me that is perfect for me—I actually like to be in a noisy place because it makes me concentrate on what I’m working on,” Janice said. “I find that if it’s too quiet, I want to do anything but write. So I go to this coffeehouse when it first opens, sit down with a cup of coffee and open my [laptop], and that’s usually where I do my best, most productive work.”
Renee by Sandra Ardoin — A bake-off competition can change widow Renee Burnette’s life and mend a frayed friendship. As the bake-off competition intensifies, Renee’s office relationships are strained, her sweet son becomes unruly, and the rift with her old friend widens. Can a decades-old cookbook help Renee restore the bonds every woman needs? (Romance from Corner Room Books)
Pointe, Shoots, and Scores by Carolyn Miller — When Bailey Donovan’s dance studio faces the risk of closure, she takes a God-given miracle of a gig training a complete non-dancer for a TV show. Only problem is, he’s a real grump, and for an athlete, seems to be lacking all the moves. Luc Blanchard loves hockey, God, and his family, with no time for more, until an unexpected promotion forces him to swallow his pride for the sake of his team. Sparks soon fly as these two opposites spend time together, and TV ratings push for their onscreen partnership to make a fake relationship real. But as they discover a certain magic under the spotlight, will issues from the past ever let them truly soar? (Contemporary Romance Independently Published [ACFW QIP])
Their Unlikely Protector by Meghann Whistler — The last person Valerie Williams expects to rescue her and her toddler twin brothers from a fiery blaze is Brett Richardson, her high school nemesis. But with her house burned down, Valerie is forced to stay at the same inn as Brett and work with him on the town festival. Now Brett has the chance to make things right, but can Valerie let go of the past to make way for a future together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Historical:
Muldoon’s Misfortunes by E.V. Sparrow — A poor widower who suffers from scoliosis loses his second family in Ireland from a typhus epidemic, and his sister convinces him to emigrate to the land of plenty, America. (Historical from Celebrate Lit Publishing)
Historical Romance:
Into the Starlight by Amanda Cabot — Who would have guessed that a spinster’s desire to visit her fiancé’s grave would change the course of a young doctor and a lovely pianist’s lives and resolve a decades-old mystery? (Historical Romance from Revell)
War’s Unexpected Gift by Linda Shenton Matchett — Eager to do even more for the war effort, nurse Gwen Milford puts in for a transfer from a convalescent hospital outside of London to an evac hospital headed across Europe. Leap-frogging from one location to the next, nothing goes as expected from stolen supplies to overwhelming numbers of casualties. Then, there’s the handsome doctor who seems to be assigned to her every shift. As another Christmas approaches without the war’s end, can she find room in her heart for love? (Historical Romance from Shortwave Press)
Libby’s Lighthouse by Susan G Mathis — When a lighthouse keeper’s daughter finds a mysterious sailor with amnesia, the secrets she uncovers may change her life forever. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
The Highlander’s Charity by Z Peabody — From the halls of the royal palace of Oge-chukwukama, to the lush oasis of Shushara, Sani and Teagan will travel the golden dunes to their destinies together. (Historical Romance from Z Peabody Publishing LLC)
Romantic Suspense:
Four Doubt: A Silas McKay Suspense by Luana Ehrlich — Silas investigates the murder of a cybersecurity executive. Was it a random shooting or a targeted killing? (Independently Published [ACFW QIP])
When Secrets Come Calling by Felicia Ferguson — Two ex’s once headed to the altar are reunited by a cold case robbery and murder. His dad is the accused, and she’s the investigator. Will the case’s fallout bury their love forever or rekindle a life they only dreamed of? (Romantic Suspense from Salt & Light Publishing)
Sunset Over Swaziland by Shirley E. Gould — A former military hero rescues a beautiful grant writer when riots erupt in a third-world country and becomes her bodyguard as she completes her assignment losing his heart to her as they work to save orphans being trafficked. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)
Vengeance in Vienna by Sara L. Jameson — A moonlight sail, a sniper on the shore, and a terrorist financier determined to kill Interpol agent Jacob Coulter and everyone he holds dear. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)
Chasing Amanda: Expanded Edition by Robin Patchen — Now with a brand-new bonus epilogue… In the tense months following 9/11, a chance encounter sparks an unlikely connection between two strangers—a young college student and a marine on his way to Afghanistan, but once he says goodbye, there’ll be nobody there to protect her from the stalker with sinister intentions… (Romantic Suspense from Independently Published [ACFW QIP])
Speculative Fiction (Time Travel):
The Root of the Matter by Lynne Basham Tagawa — Geneva Fielding, an archivist in the Department of Applied History, is sent back in time with a colleague, Peter Donatelli, to investigate John Winthrop and Roger Williams in New England of the 1630s. (Speculative Fiction from Independently Published [ACFW QIP])
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
The Way Back by Heidi Chiavaroli — When her mother’s vindictive fans threaten her grandmother’s livelihood and the lighthouse Laney has come to love, she turns to the century-old words of a young lighthouse keeper to help her find the courage to move forward. But once truths from the past come to light and old love finds new beginnings, will Laney discover that forgiveness is the only way toward true healing? (Literary Contemporary)
Her Part to Play by Jenny Erlingsson — When a last minute change in his team brings John face to face with the feisty and alluring Adanne, will the flash of bright lights be stronger than the pull of their hearts? (Contemporary Romance)
Running from the Past by Melanie D Snitker — They must face their fears or risk losing everything. The investigation leads them right back to the scene of the crime. If they have any hope of identifying the killers, they’ll have to set aside their differences or risk facing their greatest fear: losing each other. (Romantic Suspense)
During this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense” podcast, you’ll hear from five authors about their romantic suspense books available this month. Here’s the list of authors and books for July 2024, with the book’s release date if not available now.
Multi-published author Cate Nolan recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
Why did you start writing romantic suspense novels? I actually started out writing historical, but I always loved reading romantic suspense. Back in 2013, the Love Inspired editors announced a “Killer Voices” contest to find new talent for Love Inspired Suspense. I had followed Emily Rodmell on social media, and I knew she loved witness protection stories. The first round of the contest just required a first page. I had an idea for a WITSEC story, so I submitted it. Emily chose me for her team, and I progressed step by step until I had to submit the full manuscript. It was a whirlwind, and then Emily called to tell me they were buying Christmas in Hiding. I’ve been writing suspense ever since because I discovered I love having that extra element to add to the story.
When do you find time to write? My best answer to that question is one word: Summer. During the school year, I teach grades six to eight English Language Arts, so my days are pretty full. I try to manage 1,000 words a day during the school year, but summer is the time I really get to set everything aside and focus on my stories.
Where do you get the inspiration for your plots? I literally get my ideas everywhere. My brain seems to be constantly open to suggestion. I was walking the dog with my daughter recently, and we saw something. I said, “That gives me an idea for a story.” She looked at me and said, “Let’s be honest. What doesn’t give you an idea for a story?” She’s not wrong. For example, I was walking to school one day, and I saw an abandoned veil on the ground in a child’s size, most likely lost by a young girl making her First Holy Communion. By the time I got to school that muddied veil had sparked an entire story.
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels? Most often the location is dictated by the characters and the story I want to tell. I have to think about where that would work best. Sometimes, the setting is triggered by something I discover in my research. For example, Colorado Mountain Kidnapping is about an ex-Army Ranger who suffers from PTSD. I knew I wanted him in a remote area. In my research, I discovered Wilderness Therapy and some specific programs located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Voila! I had my setting.
Which of your books is your favorite and why? I chose this question, but I don’t actually have the answer. I know it’s a cliche, but that’s like trying to choose your favorite child. You love them all for different reasons. Christmas in Hiding will always be a favorite because it was my first. I fell in love with Jackson and Callie, and didn’t think I’d ever love any other characters the same. But then came Christine and Blake in Texas Witness Threat. They hold a special place in my heart because a lot of people were turned off by the snake on the cover. I’ve since learned to cover it with a “Signed by the Author” sticker. Colorado Mountain Kidnapping is really special to me because Adam Dalton is the kind of heroic man who sacrifices his own well-being to protect the innocent. He suffers from PTSD, but he pushed through because it’s what he needs to do for Isabelle and the children. Who wouldn’t love a hero like that?
About Cate Cate Nolan lives in Maine, where she loves to leave her real life behind and play with the characters in her imagination. She’s got that suspense writer gene that sees danger and a story in everyday occurrences. Cate particularly loves to write stories of faith enabling ordinary people to overcome extraordinary danger.
Colorado Mountain Kidnapping
An infant in peril…and nowhere to hide
A cryptic phone call sends Isabelle Weaver running from armed intruders—with her daughter and best friend’s baby under her care. Nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted…except former army ranger Adam Dalton. Together, they must uncover a kidnapper’s motives while protecting the children. But as danger tracks them through the mountains, can they outwit a criminal mastermind before they all lose their lives?
On this episode of “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” I’m talking with Terry Toler, a best-selling and award-winning author who has written 17 nonfiction books and 32 novels, including the Jamie Austen and Alex Halee spy novels, Cliff Hangers, along with The Eden Stories. He won the 2020 American Bookfest Best Book Award for Religious Fiction. In 2021, he followed with two books that were finalists for the Best Book Awards in the categories of Thrillers and Adventure and Religious Fiction. Terry is a public speaker, counselor, and entrepreneur. Impacting the lives of people worldwide through storytelling has become one of his passions in life.
“I do write fulltime now,” Terry said. “Over a five-year period of time, I wrote 25 novels in 30 months. The first book that I wrote took me about 90 days. I studied and learned all the rules of fiction, … but I got so I could write about thousands of words in the morning before my wife gets up. She’s my editor, so I have a chapter for her in the morning, six days a week.”
Colorado Mountain Kidnapping
Connect w/Terry
