Have you ever been to an escape room? You know, one of those puzzle places where you pay to find clues to get out of a maze or room? You’d have to do it within a certain period of time or you lose the game. No refund!
I kid you not, I was so stressed out the entire time I was in the escape room, hunting for sequential clues that drove me nuts. You’d think that a Computer Science major who loves mathematics would devour this sort of thing.
But not always.
Don’t get me wrong. I do love puzzles. Back in the days, I did quite a few jigsaw puzzles. I like to solve puzzles, including riddles and complicated enigmas. Paradoxes are intriguing to me. So are mysteries.
These days, though, I prefer puzzles in books. Puzzles of the heart. Puzzles of love. Puzzles of life. After all, I explore all these things in the three genres I write. Today, on National Puzzle Day (January 29), I thought I’d chat a little about romantic puzzles.
But first, did you know that the etymology of puzzle is unknown? The word was first used in the sixteenth century, but that’s all we really know about it.
Hmm… That means it could have originated from anything and anywhere. That’s a puzzle we may never be able to solve. Only God knows where that word came from.
I don’t know about you, but one of the reasons I love reading Christian romance is the happy ending, which is a mandatory requirement for the story to be classified as a true romance. To me, the puzzle is solved by the end of the novella or novel.
Non-romance readers might not understand this at all. They might ask why we bother to read such a book if we already know there’s going to be a happy ending. Why don’t the two main characters part in the end, or why doesn’t one of them die? If they ask that sort of questions, it means they don’t understand what a romance novel really is.
Before we get to The End, our two main characters have to go through all sorts of puzzling situations and problematic strife. Their enduring love is tested and tried, sometimes by fire. We readers cheer them on. We want them to succeed, to live, to love.
In a way, it’s like our main characters enter an escape room, and they have to get out of it victorious. They have to cross the finish line and win.
We know that the human heart can be a puzzle indeed. When two hearts come together, the puzzle is multiplied. Add to that, the dilemmas of life, and we have the recipe for daily struggles on earth. At the end of the day, without God, we would not expect to have a happy ending.
In my beach romance series, Seaside Chapel, I often put my lovebirds through the wringer before they can walk down the aisle together. They have to solve puzzles in love and life. Their trials by fire purify them and draw them closer to God.
In His Longing Heart (Seaside Chapel Book 1), twenty-something heiress Brinley Brooks has everything but love, while struggling violinist Ivan McMillan has nothing but love. When the two cross paths again, Brinley is puzzled by Ivan and his Grandma Yun, both living in poverty, but having something she doesn’t have: Jesus Christ. In a way, this novel is Brinley’s journey to discovering the ultimate Answer to life’s puzzles.
In His Wake-Up Call (Seaside Chapel Book 2), restaurateur Sebastian Langston is puzzled that his ex-fiancée would leave him, a handsome dude who would sacrifice the world for her. Apparently none of that is enough. To win her back, Sebastian rents a girlfriend, harpist Emmeline O’Hanlon. Together, they try to untangle the enigma surrounding Sebastian’s relationship with his runaway ex. Will they be able to solve Sebastian’s heartache?
In His Morning Kiss (Seaside Chapel Book 3), burned-out single father and widower Diehl Brooks returns to St. Simon’s Island with all his unresolved problems. He comes to the end of his own ability to fix life’s sorrow and struggles. Where is the God he thinks he once knew? Compared to him, personal chef Skye Langston seems to have it all together, or does she? When a crisis hits Diehl’s family, will the God of the universe solve the puzzle for him?
The next book in my Seaside Chapel series, His Quiet Serenade, has new puzzles for my two main characters to solve, when quiet novelist Devon Hu finds himself living next door to loud trumpet teacher Avery Chung. Without giving away the plot, let me just say that sometimes we see solutions that may not be the best or even the right way to go. At the end of the day, God is sovereign and He always prevails. Preorder this novel on Amazon.
What types of puzzles do you like to solve? What about crossword puzzles? Sudoku? Or other types? Which book puzzles do you like to read in your romance? Have you read a romantic novel recently that has intrigue in it so fascinating that you couldn’t wait to read the end of the book to find out how the puzzle was solved and how the two main characters won each other’s love? I guess that’s one of the ways a novel becomes a page turner.
Until next time, happy reading!
Joyfully in Jesus,
Jan Thompson
USA Today bestselling novelist Jan Thompson writes clean and wholesome multiethnic contemporary Christian romance with elements of women’s fiction, Christian romantic suspense with an air of mystery, and inspirational international thrillers with threads of sweet Christian romance. Join Jan's mailing list for her latest book news: JanThompson.com/newsletter
I love puzzles too. Very interesting post with me learning from it. Previously never considered a story a puzzle, but they are indeed, though I think life doesn’t always need to so hard, though it builds more resilience so I can see alternats for each puzzle. Thanks
I love the challenge of solving mysteries and doing all kinds of puzzles! These books sound very interesting.
I like puzzles to a special point. I have read a few books that have made me read till the end & had very exciting endings.
I haven’t done any puzzles in years but would like to for sure. I got a book recently that I need to sit & start to read which is a puzzle type book.
Hi Jan! Thanks for your unique blog today. Never thought about the etymology of the word puzzle. Intriguing. Studying words in several languages is a puzzle this retired German and English teacher enjoys. Words are very important in writing. Daily I solve a variety of on line puzzles – word games in all variety of forms and a 64 piece on line puzzle to put together. I do not have the patience or room for large physical puzzles. I enjoy solving word puzzles to keep my “old brain” working. I also enjoy reading cozy mysteries to see if I can solve the crime. Best wishes. Stay warm, healthy, and safe. Enjoy your weekend.
I’m working a very hard jigsaw puzzle now. I enjoy crosswords and other puzzle books. I also enjoy solving whodunnits, but the puzzle of love is always intriguing. Have a blessed weekend.
I do love puzzles, and enjoy doing them on the computer. I like puzzles in books, too, and like to see if I can figure things out before the characters. Right now, I’m reading an ARC where I know somethings the characters don’t, I just don’t know how the author is going to resolve it all. I don’t want to put the book down; however, I have to, so I know I’ll be reading again as soon as I can, which means I’ll be finishing it today, after I do some other things.
Yes, indeed. Sometimes life’s puzzles are easy and sometimes hard. But God is always good!
Thank you for your comment! Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Thank you. Glad you think so! They are long books that you can check out from Kindle Unlimited so you can take your time to read them.
Solving mysteries and puzzles is fun!
Have a great weekend and thanks again for your comment!
Nice! Those books are page turners!
I remember reading a mystery novel and being confident I knew the ending, but then I was surprised at the final twist.
Thank you for your comment and have a wonderful blessed weekend!
That book sounds interesting!
For me, I haven’t done crossword puzzles in ages but that’s one I don’t have any desire to try again any time soon. It can get complicated. :-)
Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Yes, I was surprised when I saw the lack of origin for the word “puzzle.” I did some more research but it was a dead end.
I agree that it’s important to keep our brain active. We are still unpacking after moving to a new-to-us house, but as soon as we can have some spare table space, I would like to do some jigsaw puzzles. It will be hard with a cat trying to participate and potentially carting off the puzzle pieces LOL. But you have a good idea re: online puzzle! Where do you find those?
To keep the brain working, I am trying to learn another language. But it does use another side of the brain, so I hope to get back to playing board games, such as Scrabble, soon!
I love mysteries! Cozies are fun to read bc they don’t have all the horrible gore.
Thank you for your comment, and have a safe and warm weekend!
Thank you for your comment. I agree!
Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
That sounds like a fun book! I do like twists and turns in stories, but I write more of them in my suspense books than in my romance novels. Happy reading!
Thank you for your comment, and have wonderful weekend in the Lord!
Hi , I love doing different kinds of puzzles. And yes Life is a big puzzle! Your books sound like great reads , thank you for sharing about them. I enjoyed reading your post. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Thank you so much for your comment. It was a fun post to write.
I hope you get to read my books soon.
Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!
I like an occasional crossword puzzle
I love building puzzles year long I prefer puzzles with bright colors I have two zipper bags full of puzzles.In the winter I like doing puzzles with snow in the picture ,fall I like doing fall puzzles and then summer and spring I do any kind of jigsaw puzzles.
My Bible study group is studying the book of Daniel using a Beth Moore study. Did you know that the word intrigue also means puzzle?? So, it’s been around since Daniel’s time!
I enjoy working jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles. My grandmother introduced meto crosswords and we used to work them together when I was a kid.
I enjoy all sorts of puzzles and puzzles within stories.
Glad you do! It’s hard for me bc of the criss-crossing words that have to be coordinated. But it’s almost like Scrabble, which I enjoy.
Thank you for your comment. Have a great weekend in the Lord!
Nice! Sounds like you’re very organized. That’s cool that you have seasonal puzzles. I should try that. It sounds like fun!
Back when my son was younger, we’d do a lot of jigsaw puzzles. I remember how we bought my parents some 3D jigsaw puzzles that took a while to put together. But it was fun!
Thank you for commenting. Have a wonderful weekend!
What a happy memory you have. That’s great! My grandmother did not do puzzles, but she liked riddles. I remember trying to solve some of the riddles she’d give us. That was super fun. I wish I have more memories, though.
Thank you for your comments. Have a blessed weekend!
Same! Glad you do too. Thank you for commenting. Have a great weekend in the Lord!
I love puzzles and as such I love watching my book characters figure out how they’re going to solve a problem before they can get to happily ever after.
I cannot say that I am a fan of puzzles. I may work a word search every once in a while. I love to see how an author winds the story to bring two people together in the end. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I do like puzzles I don’t do as many jigsaws now but use to. I have 2 cats and one things everything is hers and her fetish is paper and cardboard.
I do like to do word searches and online play a few games where you have to fit the pieces together to make as many points as possible.
I guess I don’t think of puzzles in books as much unless its a mystery.
I like crossword puzzles, fill-in puzzles and used to do jigsaw puzzles years ago (really want to take that up again). I’ve tried to figure out how to do Sudoku but still have no idea what I’m doing with that, lol!
The stories that are most intriguing & lots of puzzle pieces to figure out is the opposite-attracts troupe. There was one I read recently that I had no idea how the author was going to get the hero & heroine together. They were SO different from each other & life circumstances were opposite that it was going to take a miracle of God to get the pieces to fit! But it all worked out in the end….just like it was suppose to :-) It was definitely a nail-biter of a novel.
Yes, that makes reading fun!
Thank you for your comment!
Hello Debra! I’m not too fond of crosswords puzzles either. Word searches might be OK but crossword puzzles can be time-consuming.
Thank you for your comment. Have a great week in the Lord!
Yes, I totally get it with cats. I don’t think any jigsaw puzzle left on our table will have its complete pieces intact with our cat around LOL.
I’ve done some of those online jigsaw puzzles and they are fun!
Thank you for your comment! Have a wonderful week!
Glad you like puzzles. I haven’t done any Sudoku either. I often wonder how to work that out LOL.
I have written a few opposites-attract novels. I think it’s even more fun if the readers don’t know how the author is going to tie it all together.
Thank you for your comment and have a blessed week in the Lord!