Romance Book Review Podcast

Heidi wanted to continue exploring Kathryn Le Veque's books and chose this book that was a USA Today bestseller, RONE finalist for 2018, Book Excellence Award Winner for Romance 2018, and Kindle Book Review Finalist for 2018.  Le Veque is a master at medieval romance and Heidi is enjoying joining her in the medieval time period, even if she is wondering just how smelly these people are.

This book joins Gaetan, the hero, who is the WarWolfe of the Norman army as they are conquering the Anglo Saxons in England. He leads a team of ten Knights in an elite squad that decimates its enemies. Our heroine Ghislaine is on the Anglo Saxon side and she decides to help Gaetan rescue one of his fallen nights from her sadistic brother. 

Heidi didn't enjoy this book as much as Highland Gladiator. She again found some problematic themes with the hero that she had trouble surpassing in order to root for him and the heroine as a couple in the end. She wasn't crazy about the heroine either and found some inconsistencies in her character.  The romance aside, you will want to read this book for the plot and the action alone! Heidi stayed up all night to find out what happened. One of Heidi's main criteria for romance books is that they need to be great books and have great writing - and these books have that! Come and listen to the podcast and see if you agree.

Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book.

Heidi gives each book a Steaminess Rating using the PG, PG13, and Rated R system.

Heidi also ranks each book using her own ranking system.

Heidi uses a 1-10 system with 10 as the best. Each of the following categories can get a point: characters, romance, plot, climax, pacing, dialogue, world building, mechanics, overall impression, and authorial voice. She did give one book a 0.

Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know that going forward to the end of the podcast there are mild spoilers about the book.

Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/

Support the show (https://paypal.me/romancebookreviewpod)

In the mystery debut novel The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor Heidi shares that she felt the romance story in this book was superior to the mystery story. The romance moved her emotionally in ways her desiccated heart rarely allows. This book is told in flashbacks. Twenty years ago Maggie's cousin goes missing in Ireland. While there, Maggie meets Connor and they fall in love. They are torn apart and are not able to reconcile when they both think the worst of each other. Maggie never gets over him. 

Twenty years later, Maggie's cousin has never been found and when some of her cousins clothing is found she is back in Ireland and back near Connor. The flashbacks dole out their story line in small sips which was infuriating because Heidi wanted to know as much  as possible as quickly as she could because she loved them. It is well done. Heidi believes this author should switch to romance because she did a good job twisting Heidi's heart. Heidi loved the romance more than the murder story. 

If you enjoy mysteries, Heidi wanted to share this mini podcast about this book in case you may be captivated by this book too.  

Support the show (https://paypal.me/romancebookreviewpod)

This podcast is the first of two books that Heidi is reviewing by this author. 

Kathryn Le Veque is the Queen of medieval romance and in this tale she provides a love between rival clans that can barely get off the ground when the hero's village is burned to the ground. To get his revenge against the heroine's clan he goes off to learn how to fight gladiator style.  The action scenes in the ring are heart pounding. What really charmed Heidi though, was that the hero, Lor, was a gentle giant. He was a big, Viking looking man, but he didn't want to learn how to fight. He just wanted to be a blacksmith. He was gentle and kind. He was a hero Heidi really loved and rooted for. Isabail, the heroine, is feisty, if a bit one dimensional.  This story is really Lor's and Heidi loved following his story as he goes to the elite, secret, Ludus Caledonia fighting school.

Heidi really enjoyed the romance threaded through this story and was surprised to find how sweet and charming the romance was. Lor really put a sparkle in her eye.

Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book.

It includes the Steaminess Rating using the PG, PG13, and Rated R system.

It also includes Heidi's ranking system. Heidi uses a 1-10 system with 10 as the best. Each of the following categories can get a point: characters, romance, plot, climax, pacing, dialogue, world building, mechanics, overall impression, and authorial voice. She did give one book a 0.

Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know that going forward to the end of the podcast there are mild spoilers about the book.

Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/

Heidi reviews a paranormal romance series Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter. She specifically read two books in this series for the podcast, Book 8 The Darkest Surrender, and Book 13 The Darkest Promise but she discusses the overarching elements of this series.

Heidi also discusses how she does her ranking system of 1-10.

Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book or not with Heidi's ranking of 1-10, and the steaminess rating.

Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know that going forward to the end of the podcast there are mild spoilers about the book. There is only a small spoiler section on one particular topic in this episode.

Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/

Heidi reviews the contemporary romance Managed by Kristen Callihan. This book is the second in the VIP series by the author. Heidi has found a new favorite author and will be reading her other series and the other books in the VIP series. The hero Gabriel has kept himself as an outsider, even among his very close friends. Our bubbly heroine Sophie is his opposite in many ways and yet the two of them develop an instant attraction. When Sophie gets a job working with the band that Gabriel manages, it just gets more and more delightful from there. Heidi loved this couple and really enjoyed spending time with them in this book.

Come and join Heidi to get to know a little bit about our hero and heroine and see if you might enjoy this book too!

No spoilers in this episode!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/
Follow me on instagram at:  @romancebookreviewpodcast

Heidi reviews the contemporary romance On Dublin Street.  This is her second novel with this author and Heidi finds her novels fun and fast paced and they focus on the present day chemistry between the hero and heroine with not a ton of plot other than these two getting together.  This is a great beach or plane book that will have keep you turning the page to get to the end.  Come and join Heidi to get to know a little bit about our hero and heroine and see if you might enjoy this book too!

No spoilers in this episode!
 
Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/
Follow me on instagram at:  @romancebookreviewpodcast

This lush and intense fantasy romance features Yvenne, an intelligent and courageous heroine that Heidi really rooted for and wanted a happy ending for.  However, this romance also features Marrek, the "hero".  The uneasy truce that has settled on the land is on pins and needles as the death of the King and Queen of Parsathe, and Marrek's parents, starts this tale.  If you enjoy Barbarian swashbuckling romances, this may be your kind of book.

Heidi was really conflicted on his book.  It brought forth a lot of negative emotions around having such a superior heroine in a subordinate role.  This podcast is a bit longer because Heidi takes some time to reflect (minute 14ish) that she really does not enjoy reading romance books where the romantic partners are not equals.  She found the authors world building incredibly impressive but the romance between the hero and the heroine was very disappointing.  Come and find out why and see if you agree with her.  

Each podcast is broken into two sections, separated by a music interlude to let you know when Part II - with mild spoilers has started.

Spoilers start at minute: 30.00
 
 Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book or not with Heidi's ranking of 1-10, and the steaminess rating.
 
 Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know when the spoilers start.
 
 Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!
 
 Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/
Follow me on instagram at:  @romancebookreviewpodcast

Support the show (https://paypal.me/romancebookreviewpod)

The Rakess is a refreshing historical romance that pushes the boundaries for the categories that women are meant to be in during this time period.  Seraphina Arden, our heroine, takes what she wants and fights for women’s rights for education and equal treatment.  She is strong, she is not without her flaws, and she is relatable.  Our hero, Adam Anderson, is understandably bowled over.  Heidi has a lot that she really enjoys about this book and wants to share, but has some really strong thoughts and discussion about the sex scenes.  There is some frank discussion on the use of language and some of the sex acts that occur in this book (explicit content for sure).  There is a reason why this podcast is one of the longest so far!  Come and see what the buzz is all about regarding this book and what Heidi gave it as a rating.

Each podcast is broken into two sections, separated by a music interlude to let you know when Part II - with mild spoilers has started.

Spoilers start at minute: 30.00
 
 Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book or not with Heidi's ranking of 1-10, and the steaminess rating.
 
 Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know when the spoilers start.
 
 Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!
 
 Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/
Follow me on instagram at:  @romancebookreviewpodcast

Heidi reviews a paranormal romance Rhapsodic The Bargainer Book 1 by Laura Thalassa.  Heidi explores this author (her first time reading her) and explains what she liked and didn't like about this book.  This book involves a romance between a Fae King and a Siren!  Come and check it out if you are a paranormal romance reader!

Each podcast is broken into two sections, separated by a music interlude to let you know when Part II - with mild spoilers has started.

Part I - A spoiler free review of the book to help you discover if you want to read the book or not with Heidi's ranking of 1-10, and the steaminess rating.

Part II - There are mild spoilers about the book as Heidi does a deep dive to explore what she liked or didn't like and give you the details on why.  There is a brief music interlude to break up the podcast to let the listener know that going forward to the end of the podcast there are mild spoilers about the book.

Listen to the first half of the podcast to find out if you want to read the book... then listen to the full review when you have finished the book to see if your review aligns with Heidi's!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/

Heidi reads the first in the Vampire series Deep in Your Veins by Suzanne Wright titled Here Be Sexist Vampires.  Even if you don't like paranormal romances, come listen to Heidi skewer the hero in this podcast for his misogynistic ways.  This book has one of the best heroines that Heidi has read in awhile, she is strong, sure of herself, and takes no prisoners.   If you like contemporary romances with a military bent, this romance may appeal to you if you can get over the military folks enjoying a bit of blood.  Listen and find out what Heidi rated this book and if you may want to read this book too!

This podcast does not have a spoiler section as Heidi didn't need to do the deep dive this week!

Join us at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/637531733526838/
Find Heidi on instagram:  @romancebookreviewpodcast