When In Romance

Jess and Trisha revisit goals from the last episode and the WIR survey from this summer, discuss sexiness and academia in Office Hours, and have some fall romance recs that are more dark and stormy than pumpkin spice-y.

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News

Read about the results of the WIR listener survey – and thanks to everyone who completed it! 

Books Discussed

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (because Trisha can’t help herself)

The Tenant by Katrina Jackson

Her Other Secret by HelenKay Dimon

A Lady of Rooksgrave Manor by Kathryn Moon

Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray

Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder

The Wife in the Attic by Rose Lerner

Let us know what you think about this week’s conversations and anything you’re reading and thinking about (and thinking about what you’re reading!) As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha talk about a publisher taking advantage of an author’s idea, explain what on earth is happening with a certain ice planet (and the barbarians who reside there), and have some plans to read what they’ve got. 

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News

Hear directly from R.M. Virtues about the Violet Gaze monster anthology mess, and if you’re interested, you can read the Violet Gaze apology as well.

Here’s a good rundown of the Ice Planet Barbarians – and larger Booktok – story. [CNN]

And ICYMI is a great internet culture podcast that also had a take on this story.

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Books Discussed

Office Hours by Katrina Jackson (Read along with us for WIR Book Club!)

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

Capturing the Silken Thief by Jeannie Lin

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

What We May Be by Layla Rayne

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren

Let us know what you think about this week’s conversations and anything you’re reading (hopefully Office Hours!) and thinking about (and thinking about what you’re reading!) As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha have a few updates and then discuss how to talk about sexual content in romance before recommending romances with teachers and school settings. 

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News

Aug 21 was Bookstore Romance Day! Find the events and participating bookstores online.

Learn a little more about the Romance for Haiti and Rom for Afghan Woman auctions – and then bid if you can.

Here’s where you can find out if it “bangs”, and here’s an episode in which we talked about romance without explicit sexual content. 

And it’s time to start planning for the next WIR Book Club! We’ll be talking about Office Hours by Katrina Jackson on our October 4 episode (recording Sept 30). 

Books Discussed

Then There Was You by Mona Shroff

Between the Sheets by Molly O’Keefe

Grumpy Jake by Melissa Blue

Sing Anyway by Anita Kelly

A Taste of Her Own Medicine by Tasha L. Harrison

The Professor Next Door by Jackie Lau

Just Like This by Cole McCade

Getting Schooled by Christina C. Jones

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Touch Me by Alexandria House 

Teach Me by Olivia Dade

Let us know what you think about this week’s conversations and whatever else you’re reading and thinking about (and thinking about what you’re reading!) As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha discuss why some corners of the romance book world have seen progress regarding inclusion and others have very much not, talk about a recent review and how we think about trauma in romance, and recommend (and re-recommend) romances that involve trauma, grief, and other often difficult human experiences. 

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News

Here’s a rundown from Book Riot’s Sarah Nicolas on the RWA/Vivian award terribleness. 

The most recent statement from RWA about it is here. 

The review of The Heart Principle that we discussed can be found on the Kirkus site.

Books Discussed

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev

The Seducing the Sedgwicks series by Cat Sebastian

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Anything by Roan Parrish (Seriously, anything. Riven. In the Middle of Somewhere. Best Laid Plans. Or whatever else.) 

Let us know what you think about this week’s conversations and whatever else you’re reading and thinking about (and thinking about what you’re reading!) As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It’s WIR Book Club time again! Jess and Trisha discuss Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae and then talk about their most anticipated romances for the rest of 2021. 

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Books Discussed

Wrong Number, Right Woman and Under a Falling Star by Jae

Donut Fall In Love by Jackie Lau

A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Love Con by Seressia Glass

The Cowboy’s Unexpected Family by Molly O’Keefe

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne

The Lights on Knockbridge Lane by Roan Parrish

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes

All The Feels by Olivia Dade

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Role Model by Rachel Reid

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

The Brightest Star In Paris by Diana Biller

Breaking Badger by Shelly Laurenston

The Groom, The Maid of Honor, and the Runaway Bride by Katee Robert

The Devil You Know by Kit Rocha

Well Matched by Jen DeLuca

Let us know what you thought of Wrong Number, Right Woman and what books you’re excited about for the rest of 2021. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha share feedback from their listener survey and recommend some backlist titles in case you’re having trouble getting your hands on new releases. 

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To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

News 

We’re discussing Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae on July 22 for our episode coming out July 26 – read with us!

You can still take our survey! And please do!

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Books Discussed

Human Enough by ES Yu

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson

You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria 

Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Inheritance by Katrina Jackson

Thanks to everyone who took the WIR survey! We’re leaving it up for another week or so, so feel free to let us know how your reading is going if you haven’t already. As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha talk about how their reading habits have changed and ask for listener input before discussing their favorite romances of 2021 so far. 

Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher.

To get even more romance recs and news, sign up for our Kissing Books newsletter!

News 

We’re discussing Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae on July 22 for our episode coming out July 26 – read with us!

Jess mentioned the Book Riot reading log, so here you go if you wanna check it out.

We want to know how your reading is going, so take our survey!

Books Discussed

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan

Best Laid Plans by Roan Parrish

Make It Sweet by Kristen Callihan

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod

Please take our survey! And let us know what your favorite romance of 2021 is so far – you can even do it in the survey! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jess and Trisha dive into the world of romance between women, discussing the current publishing landscape and recommending some titles you should check out.

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News 

The podcast 99% Invisible has a new episode about romance novels and their covers!

Looking for just a bit more clinch cover coverage in your life?

One of our faves is getting a special anniversary re-release, and we are decidedly on board.

Books Discussed

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole

Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl by Hettie Bell

Prize Money by Celeste Castro

Small Town Secrets by Katrina Jackson

Femme Like Her by Fiona Zedde

Wrong Number, Right Woman by Jae (Our next book club pick!!)

Send us your favorite romances between (and among) women! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Trisha is joined by very special guest Jenn Northington to discuss Beverly Jenkins’s Vivid and to offer some SFF (and P) romance recs. 

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News 

Listen to Jenn discuss all kinds of other bookish things on Get Booked and SFF Yeah!

If you are also a “cook or bake as you read” person, here’s the recipe Jenn used for what we’re now calling Miss Abigail bread. (It calls for a cast-iron skillet but you can use any oven-safe pan or cake tin of that approximate size.)

AND Jenn was kind enough to also share her (soon to be famous, probably) jam recipe with all of us: 2 cups blueberries; 1 tbs white sugar; ½ tbs lemon juice; a pinch of cinnamon (optional). Mix blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan; cook, stirring regularly, over medium heat until thickened, about 30 minutes. It will gel a little more as it cools; an easy way to know if it’s “done” is if you can draw a spoon through it along the bottom of the pan and it takes a second for the pan bottom to be covered up again. (TB note: this recipe apparently does not call for a dutch oven or a double boiler – I checked.)

Books Discussed

Vivid, Wild Rain, and Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

The Books of Ambha series by Tasha Suri

In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens

The Heroine Complex series by Sarah Kuhn

Briarley by Aster Glenn Gray

Touched By An Alien by Gini Koch

The Off the Grid series by Alyssa Cole (First book is Radio Silence)

The Heart is a Universe by Sherry Thomas

Sword Stone Table: Old Legends, New Voices edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington (Out July 14)

Send us your favorite SFF(P) books AND your favorite bookish recipes! You can find Jenn on Twitter and Tumblr (@jennIRL) and on Instagram (@iamjennirl). And as always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

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After some kitchen appliance romance-related follow-up, Jess and Trisha return to the topic of romance covers and recommend some options for your #SpringIntoLoveBingo reading.

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News

Use #SpringIntoLoveBingo and #RomBkLove on Twitter as ways to find your next spring read!

Don’t forget to send any questions or thoughts about Vivid by May 13 for our book club episode (which will drop Monday, May 17).

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Books Discussed

Vivid by Beverly Jenkins

The Lady’s Champion by Marie Lipscomb 

Touch Me by Alexandria House 

The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy E. Reichert

Bear’s Gold by Yvette Hines

In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish

The Hate Project by Kris Ripper (Quick note on this one: Jess mentioned that a character in this book was deceased, but that relative is actually in care.)

Send us your thoughts on Vivid and whatever else you’re reading this spring! As always, you can find Jess and Trisha at the WIR email address ([email protected]). You can also find us on Twitter (@jessisreading and @trishahaleybrwn), or Instagram (@jess_is_reading and @trishahaleybrown).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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