Romance on the Rocks

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It's time for another round of seasonal romance, magical mayhem and questionable cocktail choices! In Season 3 Episode 22, Nicole Danielle and Meghan Leigh are celebrating Halloween with two very different reads.

Meghan dives into Binding Shadows by Jasmine Silvera, a dark, magical romance set in a dystopian version of 1990s Prague. Expect witches, werewolves, necromancers, murder, revenge and a grumpy professor who meets his match in a brilliant doctoral student. This cerebral slow burn brings rich world-building, complex magic and a romance that rewards readers who like a little substance with their spice.

Nicole reads Pumpkin to Talk About by Allie Samberts, a Halloween romance featuring second chances, small-town vibes and characters in their 40s. When Mike returns to his Texas hometown and reconnects with Belle, old chemistry resurfaces just in time for Halloween. Add pumpkin spice, a little romance and a quick, fun read, and Nicole has found herself a seasonal favorite.

Of course, no episode would be complete without cocktails. Meghan attempts a Czech-inspired shot called the Softener, also known as Water Goblin Sperm, while Nicole tries to recreate the midnight margarita magic from Practical Magic 2. Unfortunately, her slushy machine has other plans. 

Pour yourself something seasonal and join the bookish biddies for Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice!

Books & Beverages

• Meghan: Binding Shadows by Jasmine Silvera — Softener (Water Goblin Sperm), a green liqueur and cream shot
• Nicole: Pumpkin to Talk About by Allie Samberts — Midnight Margaritas (using the Barefoot Contessa's TRIED AND TRUE Real Margaritas recipe ... that did NOT work in a Ninja Slushi machine)

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Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
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It’s officially spooky season on Romance on the Rocks and we’re kicking things off with witches, ghosts, curses, monsters and plenty of questionable decisions.

Nicole and Meghan are diving into two Halloween-season romances: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling and Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist by Ali K. Mulford and K. Elle Morrison.

Nicole’s book brings us witches, a second-chance romance, a spectacularly specific curse and a whole lot of magical mayhem. Meghan’s book gives us a witch, a poltergeist ex-girlfriend, a secret supernatural town, a possible murder mystery and a very sweet sapphic romance.

We’ve got vodka crans, a completely improvised pumpkin cocktail, magical cats, ghostly shenanigans, questionable fashion choices and plenty of discussion about what happens when witches and romance collide.

Plus, we’re talking spice levels, memorable quotes, book challenges, suspicious deaths, supernatural tourist towns and the important question of whether you should ever mix vodka and witchcraft.

Grab your favorite spooky-season cocktail and join us for a witchy, weird and wonderfully chaotic episode of Romance on the Rocks.

Nicole: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling — Vodka Cranberry
Meghan: Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist by Ali K. Mulford and K. Elle Morrison — Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini

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We’re doing something a little different on Romance on the Rocks this week. Instead of reviewing romance novels, we’re talking to the people who bring them to life: audiobook narrators.

Nicole and Meghan are joined by three romance audiobook narrators — Wren Lockley, Max Davidson and Lauren Robin Amanda.

We’ll get to know our guests, talk about their favorite romance sub-genres and the books they’ve narrated, hear about the realities of recording from home and find out what happens when a narrator encounters unexpected noises, questionable anatomy references and very spicy scenes.

Plus, we’ve got games. Our narrators take on ridiculous romance book blurbs in “Would You Narrate It?”, attempt cold reads in completely inappropriate voices, tackle one-star reviews of famous romance novels, and compete in trope roulette to create their next romance hero.

There’s also a lightning round, plenty of questionable book premises and more than one moment where things get very, very weird.

Come hang out with us and Wren Lockley, Max Davidson and Lauren Robin Amanda for an episode all about romance audiobooks, the people behind the microphones and the wonderfully bizarre world of narrating love stories.

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Our back to school theme continues at Romance on the Rocks and this time we’re heading to science labs and high school reunions.

Meghan reads The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, following a PhD student at Stanford who finds herself fake dating a grumpy professor. Nicole reads The C🍆ck Down the Block by Amy Award, where childhood friends and next-door neighbors turn a fake relationship for a high school reunion into something much more real.

We’ll talk fake dating, friends to lovers and the surprising overlaps between these two books.

Plus, we’ve got Books & Beverages, spice ratings, questionable decisions and Star Wars-themed chicken names.

P.S. Nicole recommends the audiobook for this one!

Books & Beverages:

Meghan: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood with a pineapple coconut water, rum and lime interpretation of a piña colada

Nicole: The C🍆ck Down the Block by Amy Award with a Happy Ending Original Vodka Cocktail

Support the show

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September's theme for the podcast is "back to school" and we're picking romance books with college campus settings for this episode.

Nicole reads Heartless Game by Jo Brenner, the second book in the Kings of Reina University series. It features a star hockey player with ties to organized crime and a journalism student determined to uncover his secrets. Meghan reads Take the Lead by Johnny Diaz, following a Boston journalism professor navigating relationships, family, career ethics and a new connection with a dance instructor.

We'll talk about college romance, hockey, mafia drama, journalism ethics, age gaps, questionable decisions and why sometimes a book can be well-written and still not be your cup of tea. 

Class is in session. Grab your drink and join us.

Books & Beverages:

Meghan: Take the Lead by Johnny Diaz with seasonal Red Bull and vodka
Nicole: Heartless Game by Jo Brenner with Gray Whale Gin with LaCroix Sunshine

Support the show

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Arr-gust continues with our second pirate romance episode and this time we're sailing into very different waters.

Meghan reads Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert, a fantasy romance featuring a witch, a vampire, a powerful sea captain and a band of monster-hunting pirates. Nicole tackles Pirate by Fabio, a 1993 historical romance featuring a privateer, a tropical island, kidnappings, questionable decisions and plenty of very 1990s romance.

We'll talk about what worked, what absolutely didn't, questionable historical romance tropes, pirate pets, Fabio's ghostwriter, the return of "manroot" and whether Pirate was actually as bad as Nicole expected.

And, of course, no pirate episode would be complete without appropriately themed beverages. Meghan goes ocean-y with a blood orange White Claw topped with blue curaçao, while Nicole mixes up an Oceanside with Gray Whale gin, lime, simple syrup, sea salt, mint and soda water.

Plus, we'll preview the books coming up for our next theme: Back to School.

Grab your drink, climb aboard and join us for Pillaged & Plundered.

Books & Beverages:
Meghan: Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert with a Blood Orange White Claw with Blue Curaçao

Nicole: Pirate by Fabio with an Oceanside

Support the show

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Ahoy, romance readers! Arr-gust is officially underway and we're setting sail with two very different pirate romances.

Nicole reviews Poppy and the Pirate by Elizabeth Cole, a historical romance featuring a spirited wallflower, a charming sea captain who's more privateer than pirate, and a murder mystery set along the Cornish coast. Between smuggling rings, enemies-to-lovers tension and just the right amount of slow-burn spice, this swashbuckling adventure proved to be a delight.

Meanwhile, Meghan tackles Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin, a dark pirate romance that sparked one of our most passionate discussions yet. We dive into difficult topics including consent, sexual violence and the difference between dark romance that thoughtfully explores trauma versus stories that appear to glorify abuse. If you're considering this book, you'll definitely want to hear Meghan's honest review first.

Of course, no pirate episode would be complete without pirate-inspired drinks! Nicole samples traditional grog for the very first time while Meghan invents her own Angry Ahoy -- a cocktail combining apple cider tea and Fireball that turned out far better than expected.

We also chat about Fabio's legendary pirate novels, the challenges of finding memorable book scents and the books we'll be reading next as Arr-gust continues.

Book & Beverage Pairings

📚 Nicole: Poppy and the Pirate by Elizabeth Cole
🍹 Beverage: Grog

📚 Meghan: Sea of Ruin by Pam Godwin
🍎 Beverage: Angry Ahoy

Support the show

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It's Christmas in July, and we're embracing the holiday spirit ... even if we're sweating through our Santa hats.

In this bonus episode, Meghan reviews It's a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer, a sapphic retelling of It's a Wonderful Life featuring a trio of drag queens instead of Clarence, a charming small-town holiday festival and a sweet second-chance romance.

Nicole then reviews White Wedding by Carla Luna, a contemporary romance set in the Blackwood Cellars series. A disastrous blackmail scheme, a surprise reunion and one unforgettable chef make this emotional holiday romance an easy five-star read. Nicole also gives a shoutout to audiobook narrator Vanessa Vasquez for bringing every character to life.

Of course, we also sip some festive cocktails. Meghan puts her own spin on an It's a Wonderful Life martini with Rumple Minze, Irish cream, coffee tequila liqueur and fresh coffee, while Nicole keeps things simple with a glass of wine inspired by her heroine's winery roots.

Plus, we chat about surviving Christmas books during a summer heat wave,  our excitement about becoming LoveLit Cruise representatives and a preview of our upcoming Arr-gust pirate romance month.

Book & Beverage Pairings

📚 Meghan: It's a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer
🍸 Beverage: Meghan's "It's a Fabulous Life" Martini

📚 Nicole: White Wedding by Carla Luna
🍷 Beverage: Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc

Support the show

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Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

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Summer Lovin' month continues with an episode full of beach towns, Wisconsin traditions and romances where first impressions are anything but accurate. In Season 3 Episode 15: Naughty by Nemesis, Nicole and Meghan review two summer romances featuring grief, ghosts, fake enemies and a whole lot of unexpected chemistry.

First up, Nicole reviews Sun-Kissed Nemesis by Willow Winters, a contemporary romance novella that proves love can appear when you least expect it. After the recent loss of her mother, Luna rents a beachside condo hoping a change of scenery will help her heal. Instead, she finds herself at odds with her landlord, Parker, after one loud night with friends leads to an emotional confrontation. What begins as an awkward misunderstanding slowly turns into something much deeper when Luna discovers Parker unknowingly painted a portrait of her late mother years earlier. Nicole loved the balance of emotion and spice, the realistic dialogue and the beachy atmosphere, making this one of her favorite quick reads of the summer.

Then Meghan heads to the Wisconsin Dells with The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert. Sabrina returns home after losing her journalism job and takes a seasonal position driving the famous Wisconsin duck boats. Unfortunately, her new employer is owned by the family of her high school nemesis, Erica, while the town's newest supper club owner, Ray, is trying to save his late uncle's beloved restaurant. Add fake dating, ghosts, family secrets and plenty of authentic Wisconsin history, food and cocktails, and you've got a romance that blends heart, humor and a touch of the supernatural.

Along the way, Nicole and Meghan swap stories about Wisconsin tourism, water parks, supper clubs, old-fashioneds, bachelorette parties and why "woo girls" have apparently invaded every vacation destination in Wisconsin.

Book & Beverage Pairings

📖 Sun-Kissed Nemesis by Willow Winters
🍷 Whispering Angel Rosé

📖 The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert
🥃 Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned Sour (with cinnamon-infused simple syrup)

Support the show

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July's Summer Lovin' theme kicks off with two forced proximity romances that transport Nicole and Meghan from the shores of Door County, Wisconsin, to the rolling hills of Tuscany.

First up, Meghan reviews The Other Room by Katherine Hastings. Jo has spent years avoiding her former best friend, Matt, after he broke her trust. But when Matt suddenly finds himself without a place to live, Jo reluctantly agrees to let him move into her tiny beachfront cabin in Door County. Sharing close quarters with old wounds, unresolved feelings and one particularly nasty cat proves far more complicated than either of them expected. Meghan also shares how accurately Katherine Hastings captures life in Door County, from the housing shortage and bar dice to familiar local landmarks.

Then Nicole reviews One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle. Scottish author Grace Harper is struggling to write her first solo novel without her late best friend and co-author when her new literary agent offers her a month at an Italian villa to help overcome writer's block. The plan goes sideways when the villa's owner unexpectedly returns home with his 10-year-old son. The owner just happens to be Grace's agent's ex-husband, Claudio Romano. As the three share the villa in Tuscany, Grace begins to heal, rediscover her creativity and question whether falling for Claudio is worth the risk.

Along the way, Nicole and Meghan debate forced proximity romances and enjoy their typical witty banter.

Book & Beverage Pairings

The Other Room by Katherine Hastings
The Bernie Shot (tequila with orange and cinnamon sugar) and Peach Barn Brewery The Door County Sunset 

One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle
Limoncello Kisses

Whether you're craving a Wisconsin beach vacation or an Italian escape, grab your favorite beverage and join us for another romance-filled adventure.

Support the show

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Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait