Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse

Questions from: 

• Christina.us.uk
• HEA Apologist
• Kini Allen (episode 5 guest!)
• purlsquirrel
• JenniMReads

Books mentioned:

• Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
• A Midnight Feast by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner (on upcoming episode with Kate Clayborn)
• The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

Links:

• Twitter Thread starting place for Mass Market Paperback discussion (JenReadsRomance)
• My Favorite Darcy - data/poll from EisReading

Questions:

• Americans: do you find you have more or less time to listen to podcasts during Thanksgiving week? Everyone: do you catch up on listening during holidays, or listen less?
• Would you be interested in a future episode focused on the evolution of the romance genre throughout time and why (I think) it's unfair to completely tear apart retro romance?

You can always email me at [email protected] or check in on social media to participate in future listener request episodes!

• Twitter: @shelflovepod
• Instagram: @shelflovepodcast

Sign up for my email list, where you'll get bonus content, insider info, and all the updates.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Romance novelist Alyssa Cole joins the podcast to discuss Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh, which features emotional badasses. Also discussed: Using your Power. Systemic Oppression. Growing Your Circle. Sign up for the email newsletter on shelflovepodcast.com for bonus episode content!

Author Alyssa Cole

• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Next release: The AI Who Loved Me - Audible Original out 12/3/2019

• Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh
• Nalini Singh's website

Book recs by HannahHeartsRomance

Review sites that review fairly and diversely:

• Love in Panels
• WOC in Romance
• Girl Have You Read

• Shondaland Interview
• HBR Women at Work Podcast referenced: Sisterhood is Scarce at Work
• Sunny Lee-Goodman interview on Smart Podcast Trashy Books (Grow Your Circle)
• Alyssa's speech at RWA Librarians Day Luncheon (2019) - RWA Podcast

Emotional Badasses

• Xeni by Rebekah Weatherspoon
• Lotus from Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan
• Block Shot by Kennedy Ryan
• Free from The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan
• Sebastian from The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan
• After the Wedding by Courtney Milan

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Erin Leafe (Learning the Tropes Podcast) and I get deep into a discussion of power, privilege, the patriarchy, and pretending to be someone you’re not after reading The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan. Also discussed: Podcasting. Inspirational Westerns rife with sexual tension. 

• Erin Leafe, co-host of Learning The Tropes Podcast
  Twitter: @LearningTropes
  Instagram: @LearningTheTropes

• The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan
• Courtney Milan's website

Instagram friends: LiteraryPetals, Annielikesbugs, Christina.us.uk

• Ghosted Stories Podcast
• You're Wrong About Podcast
• Courtney Milan's Me Too Article
• Ten Sessions - This American Life Podcast Episode

• Ellen O'Connell - Westerns!
• Dancing on Coals (not Erin's favorite, but her first)
• Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold (Erin's fave!)
• Lorraine Heath
• Maggie Osborne
• Not a historical western, but recommended: The Sufragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

• No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean (historical M/F)
• The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne (Historical M/F)
• Lady Sophia’s Lover by Lisa Kleypas (historical M/F)
• The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (historical, M/F)
• Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas (rich woman/poor man, M/F, historical)
• Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Gurkhe (Historical, M/F)
• Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean (Historical, M/F)
• Take Me Back by Meghan March (Marriage in trouble, contemporary, M/F)
• Changing His Game by Megan Erickson (contemporary, M/F, mild BDSM crazytimes!)

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Guest Host: Andrea’s BFF Becky

Legit famous on Instagram: @bexburbs

Halloween Boo by Sarah Spade

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Boo-Holiday-Hunk-Book-ebook/dp/B07JGXPG5N

Lara van Lelyveld, Rose, Bree Hill, Esme Brett, and B.andherbooks

The Salem Witch Museum: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/

Giles "More Weight" Corey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Corey

Famous for being pressed to death in the Salem Witch Trials; less famous for beating one of his indentured farm workers to death.

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

http://tessadare.com/bookshelf/a-week-to-be-wicked/

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Kini Allen (Smexy Books) and Andrea discuss Time Served, a steamy second chance contemporary by Julianna Keyes: a lawyer who made it out of her rough neighborhood reconnects with her ex-con ex. We cover “unlikeable” heroines, social class/Otherness, steamy revenge sex, and why it’s ok to like books in which characters do problematic things.

CW: Boundary-pushing, consensual intimate encounters are discussed.

• Guest Host: Kini Allen (Smexy Books)
• Instagram: @1KiniLei
• Twitter: @kinilei1
• You can find Kini at the Maryland Romance Writers tent at the Baltimore Book Festival, which is coming up November 1-3, 2019.

• Time Served by Julianna Keyes
• Julianna Keyes' website

From Instagram: B.andherbooks, Now_Booking, Boobiespodcast, AddictedtoRomance, Amanda_Baller

From Twitter: Ainsley Wynter of Tarth, Lisa Donaldson, Booked and Busy

• The Mary Sue article by Jessica Mason: What you Ship Doesn't Make You a Bad Person...Or A Good One
• Kini mentioned Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, which isn't out until 2020 but has a beautiful soft-touch finish on the print copy - Pre-order now!

• Back To You by Priscilla Glenn (M/F Contemporary)
• Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan (M/F Contemporary / Romantic Suspense)
• The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren (M/F Contemporary / CW: School shooting)
• Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas (M/F Historical)

Booked and Busy - Twitter

• Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino (M/F Contemporary)
• Famous by Jenny Holiday (M/F Contemporary)
• Kini adds: 
  Infamous by Jenny Holiday (M/M Contemporary)
• Honorable Mention is Undeclared by Julianna Keyes (M/F Contemporary)
• The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev (M/F Contemporary)

Ainsley Wynter of Tarth

• Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan (M/F Paranormal)

Lisa Donaldson

• Falling Again for Her Island Fling by Ellie Darkins (M/F Contemporary)

Featured Romance Book Club:

• Location/Host organization: One More Page Books
• When: First Thursday of the Month at 7:00 pm
   

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Esme Brett (Feminist Romance) and Andrea discuss Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean, plus-size representation in romance novels, ladies with skillz, and introduce a new game to Romancelandia: Hot Damn/No Ma’am.

CW: Discussion of body size from 31:30 - 43:45.

--

• Guest Host: Esme Brett
• Instagram: @Feminist_Romance
• Website: https://feministromance.home.blog/

• Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean
• Sarah’s website and links to buy
• Fated Mates Podcast - Definitely check out the Derek Craven (Dreaming of You - Lisa Kleypas) episode which is season 2, ep. 3.

Kassi from Wyoming, Aaliyah from Instagram, @Shannyspants, @Authoralexandraayers, @Now_booking, @RosaMValdez, @HEAApologist

• More information about Te reo Māori – the Māori language
• Twitter - Men Write Women
• Falling Inn Love - Netflix Original Movie
• Beyond Heaving Bosoms - The Smart Bitches Guide to Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan.
• @MyShittyBookstagram - discusses “Romance Fat”
• I sew my own clothes! Here’s my sewing instagram
• Rebel Lite / Devil in Winter + angsty/problematic heroes: see episode 1
• Am I The Ashole? Reddit post about an (asshole) who leaves his girlfriend alone at the ER to lift weights at the gym

Trope: Ladies with Skillz

Recommendations:

• Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai (Contemporary M/F)
• The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (Historical M/F)
• The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Schupe (Historical M/F)
• A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (Contemporary, M/F)
• A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare (Historical M/F)
• Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik (in the episode I incorrectly say this book is by Ada von Hasenberg, which is the name of the main character) (Space opera, M/F)
  • For fans of Dune + The Fifth Element
  • Listen to: Deltron 3030
• Lacy Literacy has an amazing blog on STEM heroines in romance
   

Recommended throughout the episode:

• The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (Esme’s fave, historical romance, M/F)
• The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare (historical romance, M/F)
• Cherice Sinclair - recommended “dubious consent” books, if it’s something you’re interested in

New Zealand Romance Writers

• Natalie Anderson - category romance
• Esme’s fave: Pleasured in the Playboy’s Penthouse (Contemporary M/F)
• Nalini Singh - paranormal romance
• Lenora Bell - historical romance

The Romance Book Club at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY

• Book Club Page on Word Bookstore’s website
• Organizer: Maddie Caldwell
• Location/Host organization: Word Bookstore
• When: First Saturday of every month, 2:45 pm

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Bree Hill (Falling For Romance) and Andrea discuss Rebel by Beverly Jenkins.

We chat about inspiring teachers, Pizza Hut’s link to many millennial’s love of reading, and heroes who give and give, and ask nothing in return. 

We also learn how Bree is a recent romance novel convert (it’s never too late!) and how Hallmark holiday movies and Debbie Macomber were her gateway to the genre.

The book discussion covers historically-accurate female agency, emotionally intelligent heroes, and the gift that keeps on giving (Thanks for the pleasure, Drake!).

Stick around until the end to learn about upcoming guests and book picks, as well as this week’s featured in-person romance novel book club.

• Twitter: @Bree_TheGoddess
• Instagram: @Falling4Romance
• Website: Fallingforromance.com

Morgan, Ariel Storm, Gina Drumm, Amanda Ball

• Beverly Jenkins' website
  Princess Bride Twitter thread by Annie Bellet
• The Pizza Hut Reading program is called BOOK-IT!
• Fun Facts including that a study was done and showed that it actually improved enjoyment of reading for kids that participated!
• Apparently Pizza Hut is still very much in business. Whoops. Sorry Pizza Hut! Thanks for all the individual pan pizzas and a love of reading.
• Google Search Results for "Romance authors who write the best christmas novels"
• I tried counting how many Christmas books Debbie Macomber has written but gave up when I ran out of fingers and toes.
• Bree's articles on Frolic
• Deadly Sexy the movie (based on the novel by Beverly Jenkins)
• Forbidden, by Beverly Jenkins (Old West)

Trope: Don’t believe in love/Love isn’t required for marriage

Recommendations:

• How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway (Contemporary, M/F)
• The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score (Contemporary, M/F)
• Hot Asset by Lauren Layne (Contemporary, M/F)
• A Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai (Contemporary, M/F with a M/F/M scene)
• Man Candy by Melanie Harlow (Contemporary, M/F)

Romance Lovers Book Club in Durham, NC

• Meetup page
• Organizer: Cathy Crone
• Location/Host organization: Durham Southwest Regional Library
• When: First Thursday of every month

.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea discuss their favorite Jennifer Crusie novels and other reader favorites. 

We discuss the rampant anti-butter bias in Crusie's maternal archetypes, cute and fuzzy hitmen, the dangers of frying pans, and secretary Inception! We also learn how Andrea once trapped Amanda in her car and forced her to start reading Jennifer Crusie novels. 

Is it a bingo? Is it a drinking game? Andrea shares the recurring themes she's noticed in Jennifer Crusie's oeuvre.

In Trope Town, Amanda recommends  con artist and pet-centric romance novels. Andrea hopes someone writes a book full of carpenter puns.

--

Jess, Fish With Sticks, Diana, Rebecca, Erica, Kelly M.

Amanda Diehl:

• Twitter
• Instagram

• Welcome to Temptation
  • Dusty Springfield
  • Y2K
• Agnes and the Hitman (with Bob Mayer)
• Bet Me
• Fast Women
• Faking It
  • Love Languages

Crime Solvers

• Stephanie Plum novels

Con-artists/criminals

• True Pretenses: Rose Lerner (historical)
• The Lawrence Browne Affair: Cat Sebastien (LGBT - m/m, historical)
• The Taming of Jessi Rose: Beverly Jenkins (historical)
• Meghan March: Anti-Heroes Collection, including the The Mount Trilogy (contemporary)
• Mia Hopkins: East Side Brewery Series (contemporary)
• Kresley Cole - Gamemaker series (contemporary)
• Kerrigan Byrne: Victorian Rebels (historical)
• Rachelle Ayala: Her Christmas Chance (contemporary

Must love dogs:

• Rebekah Weatherspoon: Haven (Content warnings)
• The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Carpenters (with Puns)

Two Grinches Non-denominational Holiday Romance

If this sounds like a book you’ve read, email us at [email protected]

Amanda’s Romance Book Club at Porter Square books - There’s a Facebook Group that’s private, so reach out to Amanda on social media if you want details or search on Facebook for “HEA Romance Book Club.”

Future Episodes:

• Brazen and the Beast, Sarah MacLean
• Wallbanger, Alice Clayton
• The Heiress Effect, by Courtney Milan

Social media/contact:

• Twitter: @shelflovepod
• Instagram: @Shelflovepodcast
• Website: https://shelflovepodcast.com/
• Email me at: [email protected] - I’d love to hear from you!

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea duke it out to select their favorite Wallflower from Lisa Kleypas’s memorable Wallflower quartet series.

During the Wallflower Rumble, we share crowdsourced contributions from readers about their favorite characters and books.

In Trope Town, we recommend Girl Squad romance novels. (Mostly Amanda recommends, since she is the queen of book recs.) Amanda also shares the premise for a sexy spy heroine in Write This Book.

In the course of casting each book we talk about, Andrea discovers a surprising connection to her favorite GLOW actor. We also discuss the meaning of “maladjusted narcissist” and Lisa Kleypas’s amazing, long-lived career as a romance novelist.

-

Thank you to the contributors of this episode: KB, Sue D., Jane Galen, Morgan, Robyn, Claire A., Malin, Jess, Erica, Jayne Hendry, Maida Malby

Amanda Diehl:

• Twitter
• Instagram

Mentioned:

• The Blacksmith Queen: Review on SBTB
• Podcast Amanda + Sarah Wendell about The Blacksmith Queen
• Interview on Smart Podcast, Trashy Books with Shelly Laurenston
• Storyland

People article title, 1987: “...Lisa Kleypas, New Wellesley Grad, Beauty Queen (Gasp!) and Successful Romance Novelist”

Origin of “All out of Spoons” aka Spoon Theory

Information on all Lisa Kleypas’s books/series

The Bechdel Test

Secrets of a Summer Night (2004)

It Happened One Autumn (2005)

Devil in Winter (2006)

Content warning in this book: kidnapping and threat of sexual assault

Dollar Princesses: https://www.history.com/news/american-heiress-marry-british-aristocrat

Scandal in Spring (2006)

Highly scientific research shows Devil in Winter is a fan favorite:

56% Devil in Winter

22% Secrets of a Summer Night

22% It Happened one Autumn

Every time Andrea says “holding a torch” she means “carrying a torch.”

Girl squad romances:

Amanda’s recommendations:

• Kresley Cole’s: Immortals after Dark (paranormal romance)
• Hudson Valley series by Alice Clayton (contemporary)
• Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole (contemporary)
• Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare (historical) - A Week to Be Wicked is one of Amanda’s favorite all-time romances.
• Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore (historical) - Suffragettes! Debut novel!
• Married Women’s Property Act (1882)
• Women gained the right to vote in the UK between 1918 and 1928

Recommendations from listeners:

Jayne Hendry:

• Kristen Ashley's Rock Chick series
• Call of Crows Series Shelly Laurenston
  • SPTB podcast episode: “We talk about writing badass sisterhoods in romance” Ep 198
• Maida Malby on Twitter:
  • Nora Roberts’ The Bride Quartet
  • Girls Night out series by Eva Moore

(PS: when Andrea says “forced intimacy” she means “forced proximity”.

If this sounds like a book you’ve read, email us at [email protected]

Social media/contact:

Twitter: @shelflovepod

Instagram: @Shelflovepodcast

Website: https://shelflovepodcast.com/

Email me at: [email protected] - I’d love to hear from you!
 

My child thinks we went to Disney World, but we actually went to Storyland.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]