“How many dukes are just rolling around?” Today we’re talking about The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, one of Chelsey’s favorite historical romance novels. Curtis gives a brief synopsis, and then we talk about romance tropes, historical time periods, and Tessa Dare’s sassy wit. This was Curtis’ first romance novel, and *spoiler alert* he loved it. Listen in to find out why!

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Do You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare 

Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale

Scandal and Scoundrel series by Sarah Maclean

The Countess (Madison sisters #1) Lynsay Sands

How to Forget a Duke by Vivienne Lorrett

While the Duke Was Sleeping by Sophie Jordan

Episode 47 Romance Recommendations

Alyssa Cole

Beverly Jenkins

Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Today we're chatting about the role of reading during stressful times. For us, books are comforting, but they also require a certain level of focus. Listen in to hear tips for reading while stressed, getting out of a reading slump, and plenty of book recommendations. 

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On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Joe Pike novels by Robert Crais

Cormoran Strike series

 Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Tom Clancy

Inferno by Dan Brown

Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven

Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel

Toni Morrison essays

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Game of Thrones 

Gates of Fire by Stephen Pressfield

Star Wars 

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

Episode 47 romance recommendations

Alyssa Cole 

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Dan Carlin Hardcore History: Addendum

The Bold Type Freeform on Hulu season 3

Hey listeners! Today we have a special bonus episode for you. Introducing...Novel Pairings, a brand new podcast dedicated to making the classics readable, relevant and fun. Chelsey and her friend Sara have been working on this new project for months. Listen to find out what Curtis thinks of this endeavor and get a preview of what Novel Pairings is all about!

Follow Novel Pairings @novelpairingspod on Instagram. Subscribe to the Novel Pairings newsletter at novelpairings.substack.com.

Today we’re discussing how to weed through the piles and piles of presidential biographies to find the right one for you. Plus, we take a dip into Abraham Lincoln biography waters with some recommendations that range from Civil War deep dive to loosely-inspired literary fiction. 

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Today we’re sharing some of our bookish romances, favorite romance novels, and how to pronounce a word Curtis has been messing up his whole life. Tune in for some book recs and Valentine’s Day fun!

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Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare 

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole 

Forever Your Earl by Eva Leigh 

Courtney Milan

Beverly Jenkins

The Outsider on HBO

The Outsider by Stephen King

Miracle Forest ASMR rooms

Today we’re discussing Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal, a WWI spy story with fantasy elements. Before we launch into our book discussion, Curtis is sharing pertinent historical background while Chelsey shares some literary history lessons. Check the show notes for spoiler timestamps and a list of book and article recommendations.

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Spoilers begin 12:43

Spoilers end 41:08

Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal

About the Battle of the Somme

J.R.R. Tolkien and WWI

WWI “shell shock”

WWI poetry

Regeneration (trilogy) by Pat Barker

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

Maisie Dobbs series by Jaqueline Winspear

Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

1917

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

Today we’re talking about the books we’ve read recently, including two intense memoirs we loved. Plus we have book recommendations for fans of the television show taking pop culture by storm: The Mandalorian. We are HERE for Baby Yoda. As always, we’d love to hear from you!

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Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal

How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones

What Should I Read Next Episode 214

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Tribe by Sebastian Junger

The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan

The Gunslinger by Stephen King (#1 The Dark Tower)

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (#1 The Lunar Chronicles)

LibraryThing App

What Should I Read Next Episode 215

You on Netflix

In the spirit of the winter season, we’re sharing our favorite books about arctic exploration. We also discuss the joy of giving books as Christmas gifts and what we’re reading lately. 

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Show Notes

Strength to Love by Dr Martin Luther King Jr

The Lola Quartet by Emily St. John Mandel

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides

A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter

Atypical

Dolly Parton’s America

Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips

We’re debuting our new episode format. We’re chatting about a bookish topic, sharing reviews of recent reads, and recommending our favorite books of 2019! Listen in to hear about our reading goals from 2019, ideas for 2020 goals, and a bunch of great book recs. If you’re still wondering which books to buy as gifts this year, this is the episode for you!

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2019 Reading Goals

Taliban by Ahmed Rashid

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Sea Stories by William McRaven 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper

Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

Heaven My Home by Attica Locke

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Watching: The Crown

Listening: Death Beside the Seaside by T.E. Kinsey

Reading: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Count of Monte Cristo by French author Alexandre Dumas is often ranked in the Top 100 Novels of all time. Originally published in eighteen parts from 1844 to 1846, audiences of that time experienced something akin to a gripping TV show. At work, on the street, on a daily basis people could talk of nothing else. Monte Cristo has been printed in dozens of languages and adapted into over 20 film and TV adaptations. Did we think it was an edge of your seat adventure, or just a giant bore? 

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The Black Count by Tom Reiss

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy

A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

True Grit by Charles Portis

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Atonement by Ian McEwan