Breaking Tessa: Behind the Scenes
Welcome to the first behind-the-scenes entry for my T. Christensen contemporary romance novels. Before I dive in, I should start by informing you that I’m a pantser writer. That means I write my romance stories as I type, letting the characters and emotions guide the plot rather than following a detailed outline.
Most of my romance writing process begins with a single scene, one that I can’t stop thinking about. There’s no guarantee where that scene falls. Sometimes it’s the opening chapter, sometimes it belongs in the middle of the book, and occasionally it’s what I imagine as a swoon-worthy ending. From there, the story unfolds organically, shaping itself into the emotional, character-driven love stories I hope my readers will love.
The scene from Breaking Tessa that stayed stuck in my head was one of the very last moments in the book, so I won’t spoil it if you haven’t read this sports romance yet. (It does involve Tessa and Jordan’s mother.)
With that said, let’s talk about Breaking Tessa, my college sports romance.
Two Worlds, One Love Story
The core motivation behind Breaking Tessa was exploring two characters from completely different worlds, and figuring out how to realistically bring them together in this college sports romance. While writing Tessa, I drew from my own experience as someone who was shy and preferred to avoid attention in school. I was never in danger, just quiet and more comfortable staying in the background, which helped me empathize with Tessa’s emotional journey.
Jordan is a college basketball star, comfortable in the spotlight and surrounded by privilege, while Tessa comes from a background where survival means staying unnoticed. Adding to the tension is Jordan’s mother, whose polished exterior hides a deeply judgmental nature. Something Jordan is painfully blind to. That dynamic added an extra layer of conflict and angst, which we all love in a romance novel.
Meet the Characters
Heroine: Tessa
Tessa comes from the inner city, where nothing is handed to her and everything she has, and hopes to achieve, has been hard-won. In this opposites attract romance, she stands apart from the familiar cycle often seen in her world, not because life was easy, but because of the fierce determination and support of two women: her mother and Lindy’s mom (whom she considers a mom as well). Together, they fought to create a better future for their daughters, shaping Tessa into a resilient, grounded heroine
Hero: Jordan
Jordan is a confident, cocky hero—but never an asshole. As a rising college basketball star with his sights set on the NBA, he carries the weight of expectation on his shoulders, from continuing his family’s legacy to living up to the spotlight that has always followed him. For Jordan, success has come easily. Until he meets Tessa.
Tessa is unlike anyone he’s ever known. She has no interest in stepping into his carefully curated world of fame and attention, and that resistance only draws him in deeper. For the first time in a long while, Jordan can’t rely on charm or sheer determination to get what he wants. Instead, Tessa becomes a challenge, a grounding force, and a breath of fresh air, one he can’t imagine his life without.
If you love angsty college romance, here’s a taste:
‘He flipped open his ice-blue eyes in the middle of the kiss, trapping her fog-gray ones. Tessa stopped breathing and her knees started to shake.’
“That same night, your eyes froze me out. I didn’t like that.” Tessa tightened her arms around herself, remembering how she’d felt like he’d put a knife in her.
‘Reality crashed around her, and the blood that had been pounding through her stopped moving. Turning her head she frantically looked for a place to escape.’
Ready for more Jordan and Tessa?
How Breaking Tessa Became a Romance Duet
I began writing Breaking Tessa in early 2020. During the lockdown, I was able to fully focus on my writing, and this college sports romance poured out of me in a way I hadn’t experienced before. With nowhere to go and so many unknowns in the world, writing became both my escape and my anchor.
As the story unfolded, I realized something unexpected. Breaking Tessa wasn’t just one book. What started as a single love story naturally expanded into two, becoming my first series, or more accurately, a romance duet. The second book in the duet is Jordan’s Justice. After requests to tell Lindy’s story, I circled back around to this world and wrote Lindy’s story in Cruel Truths. (I’ll explore both books in later blog posts.)
My Favorite Romance Book Series
There are very few romance series I’ve read from start to finish. When a series follows the same main characters across multiple books, I sometimes lose interest if the obstacles feel repetitive, or when I feel the conflict could realistically be resolved within one or two books. (And frankly, I’m often ready to move on to the next storyline or couple.) To be clear, I’m talking about series centered on the same characters, not interconnected stories set in the same world.
That said, there are always exceptions. I couldn’t put down Rina Kent’s Royal Elite series, and I loved Erin Watt’s The Royals—especially books one through three, which focus on Ella and Callum (though I enjoyed the rest of the series as well). These books struck the perfect balance between tension, character growth, and memorable cliff hangers!
There’s something deliciously excruciating about finishing a book, only to realize the story isn’t over yet. That kind of anticipation is half the fun of reading romance.
Your Turn
Writing Breaking Tessa during the lockdown was such a creative escape, and seeing Tessa and Jordan come to life was incredibly rewarding. I love sharing these behind-the-scenes moments with you. Stay tuned for further installments with my other contemporary romance books.
Now I want to hear from you! Are you team enemies-to-lovers, a fan of college sports romance, or do you love watching reluctant friends fall for each other? What series or duets have kept you hooked this year? Drop your favorites! I always love discovering new reads from fellow romance lovers.
Here’s to a 2026 full of swoon-worthy heroes, unforgettable heroines, and stories that keep us turning pages long past bedtime.
