Romance isn't Dead

Let's hear it for the boy...a 1980s love letter.

This week we're looking at an oldie but a goodie in the world of regency/historical romance. We're delving into the world of pirates, mistaken identities and the very old 'reformed rakes' trope. Yes, we're taking a trip down memory lane and reading Gentle Rogue by the much-missed Johanna Lindsey. 

Released in 1990, this is the third book in her very popular Malory series, and it hits all the popular tropes head-on. So, what did we think about it? Here's the unvarnished truth...you might be surprised!

"It was the summer of 1963 [...] and I didn't think I'd ever find a guy as great as my dad."

This week we're all about movies of the 80s, well, one in particular. It's the movie many a teenage girl swooned over in the summer of 1987. Did it set unreasonable expectations?

What is it about Dirty Dancing that made it so successful? Was it all about Baby and Johnny?

We take a look at one of Raye's all-time favourite movies...it's all about the music and the moves. And of course, "nobody puts Baby in the corner."

For our first book of 2020 we read Only His by Elizabeth Lowell. It's the first in a series based in the west after the American Civil War...So, what did we think of this book? Did we like it? Would we put it on the 'recommendations' shelf? Listen to hear what we had to say - we promise we're wittier than this appears to be!

As you may (or may not) know, Sally is a HUGE fan of Star Wars. So at the end of last year she went and saw The Rise of Skywalker...not once, not twice, but three times! Here are her thoughts. Unedited, unscripted and definitely uncensored. Oh, and romance plays a big part too...So settle in for something of a rough ride!

In our last episode of this decade, we take a chance to look at the first book in the Argeneau series (vampire novels) by Lynsay Sands, say thank you to all our listeners for going through our first year with us, and talk about the general stuff in life.

So farewell 2019, and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 to all our listeners.

This week we're all getting ready for the festive season, so we thought it only appropriate to talk about two of our favourite winter movies. While You Were Sleeping and The Holiday. We talk about why we love them what is romantic about them and hopefully will encourage you to watch if you haven't already seen. We'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Festive season, no matter what you're doing.

This week we picked up another book by Catherine Coulter. If you listened to episode 27 you will remember we said that Coulter is a good writer, her characters are well created, the story progressed well (though there were a few bits that were unnecessary) and overall, we enjoyed the book. This week we looked at a later book by the same author, Night Fire, and let's just say...if we were grading newts, this would be a T for Troll...

This week it's all about writing. With it being November we felt it only appropriate to talk about our own experiences, especially as Raye has been daft enough to sign up for NaNo again! Of course, writing isn't all fun and games, as anyone who has desperately been cursing their vanishing muse will be well aware...So, how do you do it?

There are few things better for a romance reader than a well-written regency, and Coulter definitely gives us that.

The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter is a wonderful introduction to a regency series about a strong family, with the tale of straight-laced and sensible Douglas and his rebellious young bride, Alexandra.

Oh, and we found our mojo, so expect some sass.