Illicit Liaisons

This week, we chat with author Eva LeClerc, who has a secret. We discuss hot takes around slow-burn romance, use of pen names in romance fiction, and what happened in the finale of Outlander. 

Eva LeClerc set out to write a dark mafia romance set in New York City. Somehow, that turned into a dark paranormal romance set in New Orleans, serialized to Substack and now published just this last week as Shadow of Betrayal, the first book in the Oathmarked series. Eva loves myths and folklore that involve magic and romance, and she’s also intrigued by the city of New Orleans, a whole world of folklore and magic on its own. 

Eva LeClerc Website https://www.evaleclerc.com/
Eva LeClerc Substack https://evaleclercauthor.substack.com/
Eva LeClerc Amazon https://amzn.to/4fKvM01
Eva LeClerc TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@evaleclercauthor
Eva LeClerc Instagram https://www.instagram.com/evaleclercauthor/

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc https://amzn.to/4x5VUcD

Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward https://amzn.to/4w5vNSo

In Death series by JD Robb https://amzn.to/44UW1f2

Contact Unknown by T.A. Leederman https://amzn.to/4wlSpyK

Outlander (books) by Diana Gabaldon https://amzn.to/4fCqTpx

Outlander (Starz/Prime TV) https://amzn.to/44UMQLD


TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, our guest host is author Annabella Lowe, and we're talking about bookish overconsumption, paranormal romance, Summerween, and more!

About Annabella Lowe:
Books have always been a passion for Annabella, who was raised on The Vampire Diaries, Shadowhunters, and Twilight, so it was no surprise that she started writing books that contained vampires—her first love! She published her first book, Find Me in the Shadows, in late 2024. She loves to blend genres to create something unique and add new and sinister twists to the paranormal mythology in her books. She has a talent for writing despicable villains, and she always aims, no matter the genre, to reveal the complexities of being human. Book Two of her series is coming out in 2027. She lives in a small town in the UK with her husband, teenage son, two spaniels, and a devious cat. She also has a photography business, and naturally she spends time writing, reading, and, more recently, learning to draw.

Annabella Website https://annabella-lowe.com/
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/4hoKufp
Annabella on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@annabella.lowe.author
Annabella on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annabella.lowe.author/

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

Ascendant: Songs of Chaos Book 1 by Michael R. Miller https://amzn.to/4gKA7lS

Off Campus (The Deal) by Elle Kennedy https://amzn.to/3RNnDQj

Off Campus TV Show on Prime https://amzn.to/4ftFYd9

With This Ring, I Thee Kill by Jenna Harte https://amzn.to/4ywZldJ

Stories by Urna Semper on Substack https://urnasemper.substack.com/

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki https://amzn.to/44pHd87

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon https://amzn.to/4b6b9tA

Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux https://amzn.to/3TgJPCM

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Latest Releases:

Fantastical Foes: Enemies to Lovers Romantasy Zine https://amzn.to/3T28SJT

Fireworks & Flirtation Summer Anthology https://amzn.to/4gKFu4z

Follow Us: 

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we chat with Laura Solar, a booktuber who covers news and drama from the book community on her channel, Laura Rae Says. We discuss book piracy, bookish drama, and questionable editors.

Laura Solar is a book lover and the host of a YouTube channel that focuses on topics related to the book community. Making videos for over three years featuring reviews, interviews, and all things involving books, she's recently started making videos to expose the dark side of the book world. Uncovering scams and badly behaving companies and authors has become a passion project for Laura, as she continues to deliver in-depth and entertaining book world coverage!

Laura's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@lauraraesays

Laura's Playlist of multi-video topics (e.g. Christina Kaye) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt0A7GSlDSSWkIHFaoU7QgKkbZuyzqBsE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraraesays/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraraesays

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb https://amzn.to/4w2485n

Gate to Kagoshima by Poppy Kuroki https://amzn.to/44pHd87

Fantastical Foes from Tender & Tempting Tales https://amzn.to/4hhDPU6

Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc https://amzn.to/4vukAKM

Contact Unknown by T.A. Leederman https://amzn.to/4f1MJUw

Reel by Kennedy Ryan https://amzn.to/4plW4dk

Stolen Death by J.D. Robb https://amzn.to/3Ty7WwK

Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune https://amzn.to/4vsBRUm

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're celebrating Fantastical Foes, an enemies-to-lovers romantasy zine. We're chatting with the editor, Parrish Baker, and contributing authors Marissa Marinello, Lynne Solisse, and Tara Leederman.

Parrish Baker/Urna Semper
Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for her books depicting passionate tales of forbidden love between clones and born-humans. Born to a family of scriveners, she learned the art of writing at her mother's side. Her breakthrough came with Olava: Fallen into Bondage, followed by Kyrie: Betrayed into Bondage, and Kingdom of Maids. Her most recent projects, The Pearl Crucible and Where All Past Years Are, are out on Amazon. She can be found at https://urnasemper.substack.com.

Marissa Marinello
Marissa Marinello is a SoCal native who writes urban, high fantasy, and cozy-romantasy. A TTRPG nerd who grew up on Tolkien, musical theater & comics, she's always been inspired by finding the fantastical in the mundane and building amazing worlds to tell rich stories in. Much of her work is inspired by real life moments that spark something more. Her work can be found in several anthologies, and she is an active participant in fandom and her writing group in Southern California. In Fantastical Foes, she did something new with Tender and Tempting Tales and wrote an epic romantasy story.
https://marissamarinello.com/

Lynne Solisse
Writing found Lynne Solisse later in life, and never let go. She writes romance that doesn’t flinch, centering on women who are fierce, loyal, and unafraid to demand more out of life. Women who want to reclaim passion on their own terms. Whether contemporary, fantasy, or even proving that love can still burn bright in a gritty post-apocalyptic world, her stories are raw but sweet, fun and emotionally charged, threaded with just enough tension to keep your heart racing. She lives in the Southern US with her three boys and two spoiled cats, and she believes it’s never too late for a second chance. Or a plot twist. https://lynnesolisse.com/

Tara Leederman
Tara Leederman is the Social Media Manager here at Tender and Tempting Tales, and Lore Maven and main fiction writer for Starship Valkyrie, a science-fiction game and story universe. She writes science fiction stories, including romance, and you can often find her in our anthologies, including our upcoming zine, Fantastical Foes!  https://taleederman.com/

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

Fantastical Foes: A Steamy Romance (Print, ebook, KU)  Zine https://amzn.to/3QWEe3S

Princess Bride by William Goldman https://amzn.to/3QWEe3S

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas https://amzn.to/4gneFmR

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson https://amzn.to/44NG8a7

A Heroine of the World by Tanith Lee https://amzn.to/44NG8a7

Dresden Files by Jim Butcher https://amzn.to/4h1b0LD
(TV Show: https://amzn.to/4aJ6Ynf)

October Daye Series by Seanan McQuire https://amzn.to/4psgIZr

Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris https://amzn.to/4eOYZYn

In Death Series by JR Robb https://amzn.to/3RnMhGY

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer https://amzn.to/4vsyqgM

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're joined by author Mara Heath to talk about romance books, bookish drama and hot takes, romance categories, and more.

Mara fell in love with the romance genre when she first started reading the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams series as a teen. Decades later, after working as an English teacher and taking time to be a mother, she's finally become the romance writer she always wanted to be. She's the author of the New Adult Contemporary Romance series The Secrets of Brownhill, with book one, Caged in Silver, releasing last year, and book two, Harnessed in Gold, coming out in August. In her stories, there's nothing Mara enjoys more than matching a soul-searching young woman with the man who truly "sees" her, especially in a setting where the supernatural collides with the real world. Mara lives in Maryland with her husband, son, and elderly cat. When she isn't writing, she enjoys reading, sipping hot drinks, and binge-watching shows from the early 2000s.

Mara's website https://maraheathauthor.com/
Mara's Substack https://maraheathauthor.substack.com/
Mara's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maraheathauthor/

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh https://amzn.to/3QHCxXT

Filthy Rich Fae by Genva Lee https://amzn.to/4oVEyMw

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas https://amzn.to/4ecqR6Z

Valentine Mysteries by Jenna Harte https://amzn.to/4ff6wif

Lion in the Garden https://urnasemper.substack.com/

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we discuss bookish news, hot takes, drama and more. Join us and let us know your hot takes.

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

The Pearl Crucible by Urna Semper https://amzn.to/4waBkHK

Serialized stories by Urna Semper Substack https://urnasemper.substack.com/

Dead but Not Forgotten by Jenna Harte https://amzn.to/4eEltKh

Back to Us by Jenna Harte free at https://jennaharte.com/

Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc https://evaleclercauthor.substack.com/


TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're joined by author Allie Lasky to talk about romance books, including what it means to be well-read, sports romance, and more.

Allie Lasky is a queer and AuDHD writer with a hyper-fixation on inclusivity and representation. She loves the color purple, Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, and the Boston Bruins. When she’s not absorbed by a book, she likes to watch sports and spend time with her nephews. A San Diego, CA native now residing in South Carolina, she’s allergic to the cold, rain, snow, and mosquitos. When you read Allie, you’re guaranteed a few things: He falls first… but she comes first, as well as found family, mental health and neurodivergent rep, and body positivity in all shapes and sizes.

Allie's Website https://www.allielasky.com/

Allie on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/allielasky/

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Fourth and Falling by Susan Renee https://amzn.to/4gnx8Q2

Color His World by Taryn Quinn https://amzn.to/4vXgXxD

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas https://amzn.to/4ecqR6Z

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer https://amzn.to/4uH83Do

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Tara Leederman and Urna Semper, where we discuss:

- Anti-intellectualism in reading

- Follow-up from Romanstasy-gates

- Plus, we learn about Tara and Urna's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more!

Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for her books depicting passionate tales of forbidden love between clones and born-humans. Born to a family of scriveners, she learned the art of writing at her mother's side. Her breakthrough came with Olava: Fallen into Bondage, followed by Kyrie: Betrayed into Bondage, and Kingdom of Maids. Her most recent projects, The Pearl Crucible and Where All Past Years Are, are out on Amazon. She can be found at https://urnasemper.substack.com.

Tara is the Social Media Manager here at Tender and Tempting Tales, and Lore Maven and main fiction writer for Starship Valkyrie, a science-fiction game and story universe. She writes science-fiction stories, including romance, and you can often find her in our anthologies, including in our upcoming new summer anthology, Fireworks and Flirtation! Learn more at Tara's Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/


BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Fireworks & Flirtation https://amzn.to/4uacLtQ

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

A Heroine of the World by Tanith Lee https://amzn.to/4fwLYDu

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold https://amzn.to/4fACE1x

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas https://amzn.to/4ecqR6Z

In Death Series by J.D. Robb https://amzn.to/43Zcaj2

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Lynne Solisse and Miranda Tamrakar, where we discuss:

- Spice levels in romance and what each chili pepper means

- Plus we learn about Lynn and Miranda's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more!

Lynne Intro: Writing found Lynne Solisse later in life, and never let go. She writes romance that doesn’t flinch, centering on women who are fierce, loyal, and unafraid to demand more out of life. Women who want to reclaim passion on their own terms. Whether contemporary, fantasy, or even proving that love can still burn bright in a gritty post-apocalyptic world, her stories are raw but sweet, fun and emotionally charged, threaded with just enough tension to keep your heart racing. She lives in the Southern US with her three boys and two spoiled cats, and she believes it’s never too late for a second chance. Or a plot twist.

Links to Lynne

Lynne's website https://lynnesolisse.com/

Lynne's Substack https://lynnesolisse.substack.com/

Miranda Intro: Miranda Tamrakar was raised in SoCal on a steady diet of books and musicals. She finds joy in creating worlds that chase the same sense of sweeping romance and wonder, sometimes with dragons and sometimes with spies, but always telling a tale of how the right people can change a life. She is inspired by looking at relationships in real life and asking herself, "what if?" When she's not writing, she is winning at cards, losing at elaborate board games, or finding inspiration out in the wild with her husband and two daughters, all of whom are delightfully weird.

Links to Miranda:
Miranda Instagram https://www.instagram.com/miranda_writes_author/

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Fireworks & Flirtation https://amzn.to/4uacLtQ

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

McRae Bodyguards by Jolie Vines https://amzn.to/4dY9l6C
Green Rider Series by Kristen Britain https://amzn.to/4a8VNUx
Lane Sanders Mysteries (Art Deco) by L.A. Chandlar https://amzn.to/4aq5Zbk
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain https://amzn.to/43vxBrL
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer https://amzn.to/4uH2Lsd
Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune https://amzn.to/4x5wXyP
The Shippers by Katherine Center https://amzn.to/4o6YwDQ
Urna Semper at Substack https://urnasemper.substack.com/

The Book Witch, Our Perfect Storm, and The Shippers, Jenna picked up through Book of the Month (BOM). BOM is a fun way to get great new books at great prices. Don't see a book you like for a month? That's okay, you can skip that month. Get your first book for only $5 here.  https://www.mybotm.com/yoljbhec8pc

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Tender and Tempting Tales ARC Team: https://booksprout.co/reviewer/team/56782/tender-and-tempting-tales

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Aline Francoure and Jenna Harte. We discuss:

- The Romancestasy controversy

- What inspired Aline's story, Back to Us, a second chance romance with a singing telegram

- Factoids about the mafia and New Orleans, and Blackbeard folklore, and a whole lot more!

Aline Francoure is a passionate romance writer hailing from the picturesque countryside of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. When she's not crafting tales of love and passion, she enjoys the company of her two loyal dogs and my supportive husband. A lover of all things Scotland, she's enchanted by the rugged beauty of the Highlands and the iconic Highland cows. She also has a passion for crime TV, and you can often find her glued to the screen, unraveling thrilling mysteries.

LINKS TO ALINE

Aline's Website: https://alinefrancoure.com/
Aline's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinefrancoure/

Jenna Harte is a die-hard romantic who writes with heat, heart, and always an HEA. She's the author of the Southern Heat contemporary romance series and the sexy Valentine Mysteries. She's also the managing editor of Tender & Tempting Tales, a romance anthology for readers who like romantic quickies.

LINKS TO JENNA

Jenna's Website https://jennaharte.com
Jenna's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jennaharteauthor

Jenna's Page on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4x9ZweH

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Fireworks & Flirtation https://amzn.to/4uacLtQ
It's About Damn Time (free short story) Subscribe: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

CURRENTLY READING & RECOMMENDATIONS

Poison Ivy by Misty Simon https://amzn.to/4uBF1pt
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain https://amzn.to/43vxBrL
Disability in Romance (article by Mariah Ankenman) https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/disability-in-romance

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story! https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/

Tender and Tempting Tales on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tendertemptingtales/

Calls for Submissions: https://tenderandtemptingtales.substack.com/p/write-for-tender-and-tempting-tales

ILLICIT LIAISONS PRODUCED & HOSTED BY

Tara Leederman Substack: https://taleederman.substack.com/

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com/

Outline and Show Notes: T.A. Leederman
Editing: Jenna Harte