What do Stephen King novels and good romance books have in common?
They use tension.
This is the tool that drives readers to turn page after page.
Will the main charcter solve the crime or become a victim of the serial killer?
Are your lovers facing challenges?
Are they will to jump over emotional hurdles to reach happily-ever-after?
Make the readers bite their nails anticipating what happens next.
Pour tension into every chapter. Use it!