Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers

Joss is back! She was our first guest when we started our podcast a year ago which meant so much to us. We were thrilled to have Joss back to talk about her second book "Let's Kiss and Tell". Lucy is a sex columnist committed to being single and Marshall is a serious news reporter saddled with an invite to his ex's wedding. Lucy's column is slipping because her audience has grown into relationship territory and Marshall could use a wingwoman at this wedding, so...fake dating is the only obvious solution.

The book dives into the romance of Verity and Monk from when they meet in College to when they are reunited on set working on a Harlem Renaissance biopic many years later. Will they overcome the intense drama and misunderstanding that drove them apart in College? I was once again pleasantly surprised by the realistic depiction of a life in the entertainment business and the intense pressures of it. This book doesn't paint it as an easy fairytale, which I appreciate. We hit Sassy Pumpkin spice level which is a 4 out of 5 in this layered romance story.

This episode is a collaboration with Allurial. Allurial is a book box subscription that has special editions of romantasy books and is delivered to your door!

Saige is a bookbinder. Her job is to restore old tomes, and her mentor recently passed away, so now she has taken over his shop. Archer is a fallen Azkari general and she winds up imprsioned beside him. Why would a bookbinder wind up imprisoned beside an immortal being? Because she owes some sketchy characters a lot of money from needing to procure pain managing drugs due to debilitating pain she has dealt with her whole life, but she doesn't know the cause and she is an orphan so there is no family history for her to trace. Never make a deal with an Azkari, is what Saige has been told her whole life. Of course the book begins with a deal sealed with a kiss to an Azkari. This romantasy has heavy Tolkien vibes and is an agonizing slow burn that will have you kicking your feet as you begin an epic adventure. The twist at the end is epic and has us seriously debating our feelings...

Are you looking for a cozy, spicy, witchy Fall romance? That has "Gilmore Girls" meets "Practical Magic" vibes? Look no further. It also acts like a 50 Day countdown to Halloween! I love this book. It is Cute with a capital C but it works. And it's got the Spice! I'd say it's a 2.5 on the Pumpkin Spice meter. The first book in a new romance series. Rosie is a witch who owns a romance bookshop that happens to be across the street from Jack's gamer store. The perfect match. Jack's grandfather was a warlock who cursed the women in Rosie's family from ever falling in love. This enemies to lovers romance is the perfect early fall read.

Welcome back to Season 2 of our podcast! We are so excited to have author Sheila Masterson on with is to talk about her stand alone romantasy, "The Poison Daughter". This book is everything you want for a September read: a romantasy that wraps up in one book. Let's face it this is always a busy season and it feels good to get this accomplished not open more loops you can't close. Also, this book has it all: messed up magical families, vampires beyond the walls and serious spice.

We're finishing our first Season of the podcast talking about the romance book "Please Don't Go" by E. Salvador. It's officially sad girl summer but don't be scared to read it because it is so good! The story deals beautifully with themes of grief and healing as we fall in love with Josephine and Daniel. Josephine does not want to be close to anyone and Daniel is busy being "a great guy" for everyone else while pushing down his own sadness rooted in trauma. E. Salvador trusts the intelligence of her readers and as a result achieves a 4 pumpkin spice level sad girl romance that is a must read. Josephine is a swimmer and Daniel is a hot baseball player who speaks spanish and italian--you're welcome!

This week we are talking about "Into the Blue" by Emma Brodie. It's more lit fic than romance, but it plays by some key romance rules...This book will make you cry but you will be so grateful you read it. If you're a fan of "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, then you will love this book. Noah and AJ have such a strong connection that spans from their video store working youth to the Broadway stage. We highly recommend you read the physical copy of this book.

We know we're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but...we all do. WE ALL DO! That's why we were so excited to talk with Cat of TRC designs about her process as a designer of romance book covers. Cat works with authors like Anna Huang, Sav R. Miller and Tessa Hale to name a select few. Learning about her journey to become a book cover designer and her process was super cool. Listen to hear the magic of following your passion, even when you're perfectionism threatens to shut you down before you begin.

Director Dawn Wilkinson directed the last two episodes of one of "Off Campus" our latest romance adaptation obsession! We got to talk to her about the experience and she was so forthcoming about the whole process. Wonder how they shot those hockey scenes? How they navigate the intimacy on set for those spicy scenes we love? Dawn has all the answers. The show is a hit because it is a great adaptation and we talk about how that came to be.

We got to talk with romance author Tessa Bailey about her book, "My Summer Vacation" and s'more...It was such an insightful conversation about the value and joy of smut. Tessa was incredibly cool to talk to and she has so many great romance novels out there to choose from. Cait is a huge fan as someone who doesn't like to always have to linger over a slow burn before we get to the "good stuff"!