Christmas will be here before you know it! Time to get in the mood and I know just the way to do that—Christmas-themed novels. At first glance fast-paced suspense novels and Christmas wouldn’t seem to mix, but let me assure you they do.
I love the challenge of finding a way to mix suspense into a Christmas story. There’s always so many possibilities for what the characters can learn as they journey through the story. And, of course, I love all the Christmas symbolism available during my favorite time of the year.
So exactly how do I come up with a Christmas-themed story?
First I came up with the suspense plot:
Chloe is a classic case of the “prodigal daughter.” Chloe didn’t just rebel against her famous father, she became the poster child for the party life in Hollywood so Cloe’s not exactly squeaky-clean.
In fact, she’s more a victim of her own bad choices than a victim of a bad guy, but, of course, there’s still a bad guy. After witnessing a crime, Chloe goes on the run but now wants nothing more than to go home—both literally and figuratively. But Chloe believes some mistakes are too big to fix—ever!
Then I had to add in the romance and the spiritual element:
Colton Douglas, ex-FBI agent turned preacher knows there’s no problem too big for God.
Then it was time to add in the Christmas part:
When Colton and Chloe’s paths cross, he’s determined to get her home by Christmas. But someone else is just as determined that Chloe go away—permanently! But Christmas is the season for miracles and a miracle is just what Chloe Sullivan needs!
So there you have it: a damsel in distress + a handsome hero + a bad guy + spiritual lessons + Christmas = GREAT CHRISTMAS STORY better known as NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Merry Christmas and remember it really is the season for miracles!
Lillian Duncan: stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!
Lillian is a multi-published writer with several Amazon bestsellers, including The Christmas Stalking and Betrayed. Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us.
Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.
To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net. Tiaras & Tennis Shoes is her personal blog at www.lillian-duncan.com.