Whether your romance novel is spicy, tender or wholesome, creating palpable chemistry between your characters is the heartbeat of the story. Chemistry makes the romance believable and fires readers up for the oh-so-satisfying happily ever after. Building emotional feelings between characters is just as important as the physical attraction, especially for romance on the sweeter side.
For this spotlight, we asked Harlequin authors how they sparked chemistry in their latest releases, and why their characters are attracted to one another. Here’s what they said.
Her Private Security Detail by Patricia Sargeant
“One thing I do when creating my protagonists is identify what each needs to become their best self. Jerry and Symone told me what they needed right away. Jerry, who’s impulsive, needs to slow down. Symone needs to trust her instincts. They support each other during their personal growth. This mutual admiration—recognizing something in the other person they respect and are attracted to—provides a strong foundation for emotional and physical chemistry.”—Patricia Sargeant
Billionaire’s Runaway Wife by Rosie Maxwell
“There’s no shortage of physical attraction between Rae and Domenico, but emotionally they have never fully let one another in, so developing their chemistry was all about getting them to finally rip down their walls and open up to one another. As they slowly reveal pieces of themselves, they come to understand and admire each other’s vulnerabilities and resilience. And with that deepening emotional connection, their attraction starts to burn hotter than ever before.”—Rosie Maxwell
A Little Bit of Love by Synithia Williams
“I like to develop chemistry between characters by first having them notice small things about the other. In A Little Bit of Love I started with Deandre noticing Sheri’s smile and laugh, then getting caught up in the spark of her personality, before acknowledging the strong attraction he feels. For Sheri, she’s first intrigued by the way Deandre keeps his emotions under control which makes her want to discover how to get under his skin.”—Synithia Williams
His Chosen Queen by Bella Mason
“Physical attraction plays a big part in this book. From there it’s peeling back the layers so each revelation appeals to the other character. Helia is shy but has hidden strength and genuine goodness; she’s unlike anyone Vasili knows so it singles her out. That, along with the passion he exposes, is attractive to him. Vasili, meanwhile, shows Helia pleasure but also kindness and care which makes her connect to him because she hasn’t had much of that in her life.”—Bella Mason
Safe in Her Bodyguard’s Arms by Katherine Garbera
“Xander and Obie are drawn to each other from the first moment they clap eyes on each other. Running from the bad guys through the swamp forces them to rely on each other in a very primitive way that leaves room only for the chemistry between them. The normal niceties that they’d probably observe if they met in Miami are gone. It’s only the two of them and their attraction.”—Katherine Garbera
Her Secret to Keep by Makenna Lee
“To develop character chemistry, I first create their backstories. Most of that information doesn’t make it onto the page, but it gives me a sense of their goals and motivations. Beyond physical attraction, I build emotional connections. What draws them together and what differences can build delicious tension? In Her Secret to Keep, Grayson is drawn to Sage’s giving nature, and she admires his devotion to promises—even though that puts a hurdle in their way.”—Makenna Lee
We’ve got more helpful tips on bringing the spice and emotional intimacy to your story:
Intimate Details: Authors Dish on Bringing Emotion to the Reader
