This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.

This week, I’m thrilled to discuss adding suspense to romance: turning up the heat beyond the heart. Here’s my approach, which I recommend to authors.

Love is powerful. But love in danger? That’s electric.

Romantic suspense takes the emotional punch of falling in love and throws it into a high-stakes world where every heartbeat could be the last. It’s not just about two people finding each other—it’s about what they’ll risk to keep each other alive.

So how do you, as a writer, balance the swoon with the shrapnel? Let’s break it down.

1. Start With Stakes That Matter

Suspense thrives on what’s at risk. It’s not just bullets and bad guys—it’s what your characters stand to lose.
Her career. His freedom. Their future together.
If readers care about the why, they’ll hold their breath for the how.

2. Layer the Tension

Romantic tension pulls hearts closer. Suspense tension tightens the noose. Mix the two.
Let a near-death moment spark a first kiss. Let an argument hide a fear they can’t voice. Alternate between emotional intimacy and external danger—each feeding the other until readers can’t tell which one’s going to break them first.

3. Keep Secrets—But Play Fair

Suspense thrives on secrets: hidden motives, past betrayals, unspoken truths. But don’t cheat your reader. Drop clues. Plant doubts. Give them just enough to question everyone’s intentions—including the hero’s.
Because what’s sexier than a man who might be dangerous…but you can’t help falling for him anyway?

4. Use Pacing Like a Pulse

Fast. Slow. Faster. Stop.
Let your pacing mimic the rhythm of a racing heart. Short sentences in danger. Long, lingering ones in quiet moments. Give your readers time to breathe—and then snatch that breath away.

5. Remember: The Heart Is the Hook

No matter how explosive the action, readers stay for the connection. The suspense makes them flip the page—but the romance makes them feel it.
Because in the end, the most breathtaking rescue isn’t from a villain…It’s from loneliness.

Your Turn:
What keeps you turning the page—love, danger, or the delicious mix of both?

Thanks for joining me on Ink & Intrigue, where romance and suspense go hand in hand.

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Want more behind-the-scenes content, writing tips, or a peek into my books? Visit sheilakell.com or follow me on social media at @sheilakellbooks.

Until next time—keep writing, keep swooning, and remember: every heart has a secret.