Say "YES" to Turtle Cheesecake!

Cheesecake. Not necessarily turtle. :)

by Elizabeth Goddard

I’m sure you’re familiar with this quote:

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”― John Lydgate

Recently I've participated in quite a few chats on Facebook. One question posed has to do with romantic suspense preferences. Do you as a reader prefer a romantic suspense novel with more romance? Or do you prefer to read more suspense?

Or do you prefer a good healthy dose of both romance and suspense?

Let’s face it, there are as many flavors of romantic suspense as there are beverages. And that’s a good thing.

When skimming through comments, I found preferences all over the map. I haven’t actually done the math, but let’s just say that preferences are split evenly three ways.

More suspense.

More romance.

Equal parts both.


I find these same types of comments in reviews of various romantic suspense titles—too much romance. Too much suspense. Or the combination is just right. (Reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.)

What this means to writers is that we can’t please everyone! No matter what kind of story I write, some readers are going to love the mix while others not so much. That simply means that we’re all created differently and have varying perspectives.

Like morning coffee. Do you prefer sugar or cream or both? Or do you want your coffee black?

Your response might be you don’t drink coffee. You prefer tea! Ha!

Or let’s talk about dessert. Cheesecake, chocolate or caramel? If someone offers you a slice of turtle cheesecake (cheesecake swirled with chocolate, caramel and nuts) you’re not going to turn them down, are you? No. You’re going to enjoy the full experience that you can only get when these dessert-y favorites are layered together.

So what am I to do as a writer who writes romantic suspense? Should I second-guess my stories? Try to write more romance or more suspense? I’ve decided to keep doing what I do.

I start out with two very well-developed characters who inevitably are drawn to each other as the danger continues to increase. I have to trust that a well-written and deeply-layered story will trump the various preferences regarding romantic suspense.

And hope readers will say ‘YES’ to turtle cheesecake . . . or rather a deliciously-layered story.

Thanks for joining me!!

I love to connect with my readers! To keep updated on the latest in book news you can join me on my Author Facebook Page or Sign up for my Great Escapes Newsletter on my website! 

My latest release is NEVER LET GO.

As a forensic genealogist, Willow Anderson is following in her late grandfather's footsteps in her quest for answers about a baby abducted from the hospital more than twenty years ago. The case may be cold, but things are about to heat up when someone makes an attempt on her life to keep her from discovering the truth.

Ex-FBI agent--and Willow's ex-flame--Austin McKade readily offers his help to protect the woman he never should have let get away. Together they'll follow where the clues lead them, even if it means Austin must face the past he's spent much of his life trying to forget. And even if it puts Willow's tender heart at risk.

In this fast-paced and emotional page-turner, bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard keeps the stakes high, the romantic tension sparking, and the outcome uncertain until the very end.

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