Search Beyond Lies: Its Genre

On Valentine’s Day we explored what was fact and fiction concerning the romance between James and Charlie. Is that romance enough to make Search Beyond Lies a romantic suspense thriller or is it a suspense thriller with a dash of romance?

The RomanceRomance – the Genre

All romance novels have two basic elements:

A love story, anda happy ending.Romance Novel

According to Romance Writers of America (RWA), “The main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as they want as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.”

What does that mean exactly? It depends on who you ask.

The Industry

The rules of the industry are pretty cut and dry. In order to be classified as a romance, you need to ask one question: Is there a story if the romance is removed? If the answer is no, it’s a romance because without the romance there is no story.

Romance writers may choose to write contemporary, historical, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, romance with a spiritual element, etc.

I’ve had the pleasure to review an ARC for After the Shadows, an example of an historical romance and one you won’t want to miss! It’s excellent and is available for preorder!

Search Beyond Lies is a suspense thriller. RWA defines a romantic suspense as “Romance novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.” Does that definition fit Search Beyond Lies?

The ReadeR

Readers may have a totally different take than the industry. If there’s enough romance within the novel, it IS a romance even if the main plot is a mystery, suspense, thriller, or …

I write for you, the reader, not the industry. In your opinion, is Search Beyond Lies a romantic suspense thriller or a suspense thriller with a dash of romance?

The second in my Search & Recovery International Series, After the Verdict, will have a similar romantic element. Your thoughts on Search Beyond Lies will help me classify the second in the series. Thank you in advance for your opinion!

© 2023 Karen VDH Fischer

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