In this episode, we discuss The Highlander’s Pirate Lass by Heather McCollum.
It’s a pirate's life for Eliza. She’s grown up with salty sea air in her hair, an unblemished horizon as a future heading, and hatred in her heart for the scoundrel who murdered her family. Eliza has no plans to ever be a wife or even to fall in love. Meanwhile, highlander Beck needs a wife so that his family island can once again support a community and be rid of the curse that has plagued them.
Beck rescues Eliza from being stranded on an island, and the chemistry between them is overwhelming. They develop a friendship and maybe more. But, with such different life paths, how will they ever manage to chart a course that will bring them together?
Content warning: Human trafficking (including children), references to rape, sexual assault, trauma survivorship
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
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1:52:05
The Lady and the Orc
In this episode, we discuss The Lady and the Orc by Finley Fenn.
Once upon a time, there was a Lady who was doomed to a loveless, childless, and comfortless marriage. As luck would have it, Lady Jule’s situation gets worse, when her husband Lord Norr abandons her to be captured by orcs.
Orc Captain Grimarr makes Jule the centerpiece of his plan to win his war against her husband, and Jule, in spite of herself, is on board. But, this means she has to surrender, in all ways, to her orc enemy.
Content warning: Dubious consent, non-consent, exhibitionism, emotional manipulation, and domestic violence (but not between the couple).
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Highlander’s Pirate Lass by Heather McCollum
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2:07:47
Ask, Tell
In this episode, we discuss Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes.
Amid the oppression of the U.S. government's Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, Army Surgeon Capt. Sabine Fleischer is busy in Afghanistan, patching up injured bodies while keeping her crush on her commanding officer under surgical wrap. Forced to internalize her struggles so she doesn’t face career ending consequences for revealing her sexuality, Sabine battles personal challenges related to finding her place in the military, from which she feels increasingly isolated. And, while her commanding officer Col. Rebecca Keane seems to be dropping hints that she returns Sabine’s interest, the timing could not be worse. Taking a risk for love may not be worth it if it means ruining both of their livelihoods.
Content warning: cheating (but not between the couple), homophobia, PTSD, graphic depictions of combat, casualties, injuries, and death
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Lady and the Orc by Finley Fenn
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1:30:44
The Break-Up Artist
In this episode, we discuss The Break-Up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely. Narrated by Regan Linton
When life gets her down, Zelda applies her creative writing gifts to the composition of break-up e-mails for others using facts provided to her by the dumper. It's a stress reduction outlet she doesn’t question until one day she realizes that the recipient of one of her creations is someone she knows and likes.
Newly single Jake recently received a message brutally canceling his previous relationship, a fact that Zelda soon discovers and finds deeply upsetting. Now, Zelda has a front row seat to the devastation she helped cause while falling for the same guy she’d mocked for being a loser. Unfortunately for her, karma wields a jackhammer when it becomes evident that Zelda’s secret identity will be revealed, one way or another.
As Zelda’s choices come back to haunt her, what will happen to the blooming relationship she’s developing with Jake?
Content warning: Ableism, homophobia, transphobia, death of family members, grieving death of a parent.
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes
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2:06:59
An Easter Demon for Eloise
In this episode, we discuss An Easter Demon for Eloise by Chloe Alice Balkin. Bouquet of basil, yellow carnation, and butterfly weed anyone? Florist Eloise would love to give her demonic captors the arrangement of hatred, disdain, and let me go, but unfortunately she’ll have to settle for breaking out of her confinement and rescuing herself.
Almost immediately, she is found by Killian, a loathsome demon who has come to save her. You see, they’ve met before. And, they didn’t like each other before. But, now they have to work together if they want to get out of this hellacious landscape or else they’ll be captured, tortured, and killed by his family.
Content warning: Descriptions of past torture, character experiences episodes of trauma, panic, and anxiety
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Break-up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely
We’re a pair of long-time friends who love discussing (and laughing about) almost anything. Join us as we deep dive into a new romance book each episode.
Intro/Outro Music: Celtic Warrior by Damiano Baldoni is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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