This is a new feature I developed where each month we will look at our favorite – the best – series in a genre.
The genre here, by my definition, is romantic suspense which is a sub-genre to romance. I thought about breaking it down further to military or law-enforcement or some other smaller faction of romantic suspense and decided against it for now. Remember though, this is for a series. I like the combination of a mystery/suspense along with the romance. In my experience, these are usually contemporary in nature.
Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres; and it’s always hard to narrow down to favorites. I’m sure I am forgetting some great authors. There are also plenty of authors I have yet to read. Please share your favorites with me in the comments, also.
My favorite Romantic Suspense series are (in no particular order):
Romantic Suspense series The I-Team series Troubleshooters series
by Karen Rose by Pamela Clare by Suzanne Brockmann
The Associates series Killer Instincts series Hard Ink series
by Carolyn Crane by Elle Kennedy by Laura Kaye
What are your favorite series?
Vote for your top 3 favorites! You can vote for my favorites or add favorites of your own. Please tell us your top three (or top 1 or 2) in your comments. Remember this is how the winning option is chosen for the giveaway.
Then enter the giveaway below. The winner will get the first book in the winning series! Open to anyone who can receive an Amazon digital ebook.
- Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter @LAPainter @lynnpainter8.bsky.social@BerkleyRomance @berkleyromance.bsky.social - January 25, 2025
- 🎧The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang #YouYeong-Gwang #RosaEscoda @AceBooksPub @acebookspub.bsky.social @penguinaudio.bsky.social @PRHAudio #LoveAudiobooks - January 23, 2025
- 🎧 Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis @JillShalvis @andi_arndt @WmMorrowBooks @avonbooks @HarperAudio #LOVEAUDIOBOOKS - January 21, 2025
I think Karen Rose is the queen of this genre so her series is my favorite, hands down. Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters and Pamela Clare’s I-Team series are tied for second.
Now, many people consider J. D. Robb’s In Death series romantic suspense. I don’t (it’s more mystery with romantic elements) but if it were, it would be my #1.
Yes I love the In Death series but it is futuristic so I think of it as urban fantasy, plus one couple through the series (although there are others but still not PNR) Maybe sci-fi romance? Hard to classify.
The other three are obviously favorites of mine.
The author classifies it as mystery with futuristic & romantic elements. Sci-fi fans don’t own this in the genre as the focus really isn’t on those elements.
But, most fans consider it romantic suspense because of Eve and Roarke. What can you do?
I started reading it considering it in the mystery category, years ago, but it’s not exactly that either. In all cases, they are really great books and such high quality throughout the series, all 45 or so of them. I’ve read all but Leverage in Death which is just released or being released.
kgi series by mya banks, bc i love how a main story continues with each book, Im looking forward to the finale of Rusty and Sean!
I haven’t read the Maya Banks series. I’ll have to take a look.
I used to read tons of Romantic Suspense! I really like Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, and Suzanne Brockmann. I am sure that I am forgetting a lot of others.
It’s one of my very favorite genres. Does Sandra Brown have series? I mostly have listened to and LOVED her standalones. I haven’t tried any Linda Howard.
Sandra Brown is really stand alones. There are a couple of series listed on Goodreads but most are older. I haven’t read Linda Howard in a few years but I did love her books back in the day.
Definitely Karen Rose’s series. Then Shiloh Walker who has a few different romantic suspense series I like, but I’ll go with the FBI Psychics. Kay Hooper’s series. Oh man, and Katie Ruggle’s series (both of them).
I like a few m/m romantic suspense series, too. Abi Roux’s Cut and Run series, SE Jakes’ Hell or High Water series.
Oh!!!! I love the Kay Hooper ones. (This is a longer series or series of trilogies with supernatural, so I might say it is PNR?) Also, I enjoy both of Katie Ruggles’ series. These are definitely romantic suspense – shorter, newer series. I LOVE the latest K9 book. I’m reviewing it this week.
I liked her FBI Psychics too. She also has the Ash Trilogy and the Rafferty Brothers too. Cut & Run is a favorite of mine too.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I’m always up for more Romantic suspense
I don’t really read romance, but romantic suspense seems to be a good sub-genre 🙂 like, it doesn’t center on the romance, right?
Yes, this is why I like romantic suspense, urban fantasy and fantasy romance. They have plot and action and mysteries or suspense, not just the romance. It depends on the author, sometimes the romance is barely there at all. Romantic suspense usually does have the romance part, but urban fantasy may not have much at all or sometimes not until later in the series.
I have only read the Elle Kennedy series among the ones you mentioned, Anne, and I loved it! So good. Which means that I should check out all the other series you shared. Because we definitely enjoy the same kinds of romances 🙂
Many of these are long time series and are fabulous. Karen Rose has 22 books in the series, the Brockmann series is similarly long. Clare and Kennedy are around 8. I think Crane has 4 and Kaye has 5-. Actually they are completed series except for Karen Rose and Suzanne Brockmann.
I think I only tried the Crane one!
There are lots of great series out there. I could add to this list easily. I just picked some of the ones with more books which I enjoyed a lot.
Romantic suspense is probably my favorite subgenre. I like Katie Ruggle, Lori Foster, J.D Robb, and so many more.
It’s definitely my favorite sub-genre in romance. I didn’t know Lori Foster had romantic suspense – I’ll have to look at her offerings. I’ve read her some of her regular contemporary works.