Jackie's talked about her enough on the show, it was high time we got LYLA FREAKING SAGE onto Raging Romantics. Grab your Swig, a comfy blankey, and a cowboy to cuddle (a paperback one is perfectly acceptable), and turn it up!Lost & Lassoed is out November 5th and available for preorder wherever you purchase your books. Make sure to also place it on hold or recommend it to your favorite local library! Thank you again to Lyla for taking time out of her busy schedule for sitting down and talking romance Rebel Blue Ranch series by Lyla SageHello Beautiful by Ann NapolitanoAustin Drake @bottlecap.creative

May your Halloween be full of treats with these bonus spooky titles!Stalked by the Wide Receiver by Maya Stratham Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa BroadbentFang Fiction by Kate Stayman London (bonus mention One to Watch)Inkspell by Cornelia FunkeThe Starless Sea by Erin MorgensternThe Woods All Black by Lee MandeloLights Out by Navessa AllenBonus: Raihn fanart by Enchanted Chapters Art

It's a cryptid; of course Jackie wants to talk about it again. That's right, let's get back into werewolves with everything we've learned over the past three years!Books/legends/texts we mentionthe Epic of GilgameshThe Legend of LycaonBeowulfThe Saga of the VolsungsBisclavret by Marie de FranceWilderness by Dennis DanversDead Until Dark by Charlaine HarrisCate C WellsCrave to Conquer by Zoey EllisAddison CainChristine FeehanSherrilyn KenyonBad Dreams in the Night by Adam EllisSilmarillion by JRR Tolkien (sp. the one narrated by Andy Serkis)Other werewolf episodes we've done!#27 Howling For Werewolves#28 Intro to Omegaverse#66 Did They Just Say Mothman Romance? (Cryptids)#35 We Ship It! Fanfiction and Romance Novels#29 Spilling the Tea on Romance Scandals (Omegaverse scandal)

Check out your new favorite book club Between the Covers at the North Syracuse library, every third Thursday of the month! Join us virtually on Zoom, or in person at the library. (See our event calendar at onlib-nopl.libcal.com.Questions/Comments/Concerns/Recommendations? Email us at [email protected] we mention:Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (Ruinous Love Trilogy)Haunting Adeline by HD CarltonBride by Ali HazelwoodSteminist series by Hazelwood

We're so honored to welcome author John Wiswell to the podcast! We talk all things horror, romance, monsters, sexuality, neurodivergence, short fiction, and so. much. more. Go check out John's website for more information about him and his vast array of writings! Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!John can be contacted at:Website: johnwiswell DOT blogspot DOT comE-mail: johncwiswell AT gmail DOT comX: http://twitter.com/Wiswell Instagram: John_Wiswell US cover by JM FennerUK cover by Stephen PlayerJohn Wiswell's work:Someone You Can Build a Nest InSpectrum, an autistic horror anthology"Alligators by Twitter""A Silhouette Against Armageddon" (skeleton)"For Lack of a Bed" (sofa)"The Three O'clock Dragon" (dragon runs for mayor)"A Taste of Justice" (magic dirt - not yet out)Books, authors, works we mentionJRR TolkienAlexandra DumasMark TwainMargaret AtwoodMarlon JamesUncannyClarkesWorldStrange HorizonsGuan Un Locked Tomb trilogy by Tamsyn MuirMurderbot Diaries by Martha WellsRumiko TakahashiTerry PratchettGrendel by John GardnerCirce by Madeline MillerLet the Right One In by John Ajvide LindqvistMongrels by Stephen Grahame JonesClytemnestra Costanza CasatiMedea by Eilish QuinHera by Jennifer SaintDracula by Bram StokerOscar WildeVampire Chronicles by Anne Rice Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby DixonFifty Shades by EL JamesDowry of Blood by ST GibsonDuskwalker Brides series by Opal ReyneCity in Glass by Nghi Vo

It's that time of year- all the cool librarians strap on our superhero capes and dust off our soap boxes to scream about banned books! We may only officially recognize Banned Books Week the last week of September, but let's talk about, read, and celebrate banned and challenged books every single day.Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected] we mention:Gender Queer by Maia KobabeAll Boys Aren't Blue by George M JohnsonThe Bluest Eye by Toni MorrisonCaptain Underpants by Dav PilkeyAnd Tango Makes Three by Justin RichardsonA Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill TwissPrince and Knight by Daniel HaackThe Hill We Climb by Amanda GormanSources:"American Library Association reports record number of demands to censor library books and materials in 2022,” American Library Association, March 22, 2023. https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/03/record-book-bans-2022"Book Ban Data", American Library Association, March 20, 2023. https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data"American Library Association reports record number of unique book titles challenged in 2023", American Library Association, March 14, 2024. https://www.ala.org/news/2024/03/american-library-association-reports-record-number-unique-book-titles“Let Freedom Read,” Daniel Boone Regional Library, September 25, 2003. https://www.dbrl.org/adults/let-freedom-read“An Author’s Apology” in “Mrs. Warren’s Confession,” George Bernard Shaw, 1902, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1097/1097-h/1097-h.htm“About” Banned Books Week Coordinator, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, 2024. https://bannedbooksweek.org/about/Five Laws of Library Science, S. R. Ranganathan, 1931.

Let's try this again, shall we? Are vampires being resurrected in romancelandia? Or are they back in the coffin? Come along for classic Jackie + Jen hijinks.Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-LondonOne To WatchAnd I Darken by Kiersten White**Don't Eat Me Chupacabra! by Kyle SullivanDracula by Bram StokerCarmila by J Sheridan Le FanuSmoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin DoughtyCackle by Rachel Harrison So Thirsty by Rachel HarrisonLucy Undying by Kiersten WhiteA Dowry of Blood by ST GibsonVampires of El Norte by Isabel CañasAssistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole MaehrerMistress of Lies by KM EnrightAmish Vampires in Space by Kerry NietzMy Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna LevineReal Vampires series by Gerry BartlettDark Ones series by Katie MacAlisterSookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine HarrisFantasy Lover by Sherrilyn KenyonDark Carpathian by Christine FeehanHouse of Hunger by Alexis HendersonBeautiful Villain by Rebecca KenneyBride by Ali HazelwoodGlimmer Falls series by Sarah HawleySomeone to Build a Nest In by John C. WiswellNoah Kahan - "If We Were Vampires"

Time to crack open the books and jump back in the day to the smell of autumn leaves and anxiety - that's right, it's collegiate romance time!Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (book 1 of the UCMH series)Elle KennedyGirl Abroad by Elle KennedyThe Hook Up by Kristin CallahanNuts by Alice clayton (not collegiate but Jackie got this author mixed up)Letters We Keep by Nisha SharmaGridiron series by Jen Frederick Mistakes Were Made by Meryl WilsnerDon't forget to pop on in (virtually) for book club! October we're reading Bride by Ali Hazelwood. You can join us via zoom, the third Thursday of every month at 630pm EST! Questions/comments/concerns? Email us at [email protected].

We have a special treat for you to welcome you back from our hiatus - today we're interviewing booktok phenom, Chelsea Reads! Let's talk all things booktok and make Jen thoroughly confused. Make sure to go check out @Chelseareads on tiktok and @Chelseareads__ on bookstagram!Questions/Comments/suggestions/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]/authors/things we mention:Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby DixonFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosRed Tower booksThe Pairing by Casey McQuistonColleen HooverForked/Spooned by Ruth CardelloAbby JimenezGena ShowalterCM NascostaNora RobertsSophie LarkBloom booksBrynne WeaverThe Hollow God by Alec HutsonLove at a Funeral and Other Awkward Conversations by Sophie Andrew**Jen and I mistakenly used "confirmation bias," when discussing screaming into the Tiktok void. We've since learned that the phenomenon Jackie described is actually called the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon or the Frequency Illusion, or, yes, the Red Car Theory.

Check in with what Jen and I read (or didn't read) this summer!Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon (out October 15)After the Shut Up Ring by Cate C WellsDark Restraint by Katee RobertTrail of the Lost by Andrea LankfordBeautiful Villain by Rebecca F. KenneyMarriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma

Guess who's back...back again...Did you miss us??? We missed you! Let's jump back into things with a fun episode all about this new sphere of romance that's been appearing on our Kindle Algorithms.Books/Authors we read:Forked by Ruth CardelloUnhinged by Vera ValentineJack by Layla FaeDeviled egg bookTriceratops and Bottoms by Lola FaustChris Tingle booksFantasy Lover by Sherrilyn KenyonAs always, you can email us at [email protected] with any thoughts/questions/comments/concerns/recommendations. Thanks for coming back to us, and we hope you had an excellent summer!

This June 28th (2024) is the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In honor of that, here's a re-release of our episode all about queer history, the impact of Stonewall, and queer romance books we love. Featuring friend and fellow librarian, Thomas! Books we mention:Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonThe God Box by Alex SanchezThe Rainbow trilogy by Alex SanchezCity of Bones by Cassandra ClareHarry Potter by She Who Shall Not Be AcknowledgedThe Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily DanforthAristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire SáenzThey Both Die At the End by Adam SilveraSimon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky AlbertalliDavid LevithanTessa DareFloat Plan by Trish Doller (prosthetic leg on cover!)Titan by Jillian GravesSarah J. MaasBook of Gothel by Mary McMyne (Google Lens Cover)Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita KellyToo Hot To Handle by Tessa BaileyVirginia Heath (the author Jackie couldn't remember but likes the illustrative style)Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusMortal Follies by Alexis HallGirls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane BrazierDear Prudence by Daniel LaverlyMarriage, A history by Stephanie CoontzSources:"Stonewall Riots" (history.com, 2017)“Stonewall then and now” (Walsh, 2019)“‘Queer, hilarious and full of joy’: the rise of LGBTQ+ romance fiction” (Braidwood, 2022)“‘I Just Want Something That’s Gay and Happy’: L.G.B.T.Q. Romance Is Booming” (Harris, 2022)“The Rise of Queer ‘New Adult Romance’ Literature,” (Beggs, 2022)“I ONLY READ QUEER ROMANCE AND I FEEL GREAT ABOUT IT” (Sackton, 2017)“Love is for everyone. Modern romance writers are breaking barriers to show it” (Asmelash, 2023)“A Brief History of the Path to Securing LGBTQ Rights” (Davidson, 2022)“Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"” (Human Rights Campaign.org)“Stonewall at 40: The Voice Articles That Sparked a Final Night of Rioting” (Village voice, 1969, ed. 2009)Bookstagram Examples@[email protected]

Thomas is back, and we're recommending our favorite books to celebrate Pride Month with!The Guncle by Stephen RowleyThe Boyfriend Subscription by Steven SalvatoreThe Pairing by Casey McquistonA Lesson in Thorns by Sierra SimoneBoyfriend Material by Alexis HallHow to Become the Dark Lord or Die Trying by Django WexlerBonus mentionsRed White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonWaiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall

Would it be a RR episode without us having technical issues? One of our mics decided to die right as we started recording, so bear with us on this one folks. IT WILL BE FIXED WHEN WE COME BACK IN AUGUST.And on that note - our hiatus stretches from July-August 23rd. WE WILL BE BACK AFTER THAT. We hope you have a splendiferous summer filled with so many beautiful romance books. Keep reading, and keep raging!Want to talk with us in the meantime? Email us at [email protected]!Books we mention:AJ Tremble (Hold Me?) - can't find this anywhere online. If anyone knows it, reach out!Ace by Angela ChenBoink by Mary RoachSapiens by Yuval Noah HarariFlame & The Flower by Kathleen WoodiwissBecky ChambersRole Playing by Cathy YardleyThe Romantic Agenda by Clare KannTea for Two by CM NascostaThe Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwoodand Not in Love by Ali HazelwoodMorbidly Yours by Ivy FairbanksTwo Rogues Make a Right by Cat SebastianCybernetic Tea ShoppeVicious by V.E. SchwabOther episodes to listen to;Noble Blood#49 Elinor GlynSources:The Kinsey Scale"Asexual Romance in an Allosexual World: How Ace-Spectrum Characters (and Authors) Create Space for Romantic Love" (Carter, 2020)"Asexual Romance Readers Are Finally Getting Their Happily Ever Afters" (Herman, 2021)The Asexual Visibility and Education Network; FAQ"Ace Books 4: Ace & Books – still more books with ace rep" (K-Specks, 2024)"Why Women in Asia Are Having Fewer Babies" (Rajvanshi, 2024)

CONTENT WARNING: drugs and drug trafficking, violence, violence against women, gang and outlaw culture, and murder.Now paging Charlie Hunnam...Charlie are you there? We need someone to take us on a motorcycle ride! On this episode we explore the history of motorcycles, motorcycle riders, and the original outlaw motorcycle gang (aka, the OMG!). Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at: [email protected] Pics:ReitwagonMotorcycle adOrient Motor PacerMotodomeJohnnie drinking cokeJohnnie the pigKnuckleheadVarsity riders clubHollister RiotBooks/authors we mentionTillie ColeJoanna WyldeDevil's Game by Joanna WyldeReaper's Property by Joanna WyldeTm FrazierKristin AshleyChristine FeehanCate C WellsButcher & Blackbird by Brynne WeaverThe Dirty Life by Kristin KimballWhen the Moon Hatched by Sarah ParkerSources"Bonds of Brotherhood: The Origin and Growth of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs" (Hamilton, 2002)"Outlaw Motorcycle Club" (Wikipedia)"The Rough History of Biker Cuts" (Muzquiz, 2020)"Cut-off" (wikipedia)"Hollister Riot" (wikipedia)"American Masculinity After World War II" (national ww2 museum, 2021)"Counterculture as a Gendered Post-War Legacy: The Latent Case of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs" (Hatta, 2020)"Motorcycle Club Culture: Embracing the Brotherhood & Exploring the Rich History" (Leather Face Gear, 2023)Commodification and Popular Imagery of the Biker in American Culture (Austin, 2010)A Brief History of the Motorcycle (Bellis, 2019)A Brief History of Motorcycles" (Windy City Motorcycle Company, 2023)"Motorcycle" (wikipedia)"History of Motorcycles in the United States" (Indian Motorcycle of Austin, 2022)THE MOTORDROME - BOARD TRACK MOTORCYCLE RACING (Panhead Jim, 2012)"Not Just a Knucklehead: The 1936 Model EL" (Harley Davidson Museum)"A Century of Motorcycling | The 1930s (Motorcyclist Staff, 2012)""Davidson: There’s a Reason It’s Called a Hog "(Wells, 2024) - note that this website might not work correctly."THE MOST RECOGNIZED PHOTO IN HARLEY-DAVIDSON® HISTORY: RAY, JOHNNIE AND THE HOG LEGACY" (Harley-Davidson, 2020)HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES (Online Museum.net, 2020)"Choppers" (wikipedia)What is it about choppers? (quora)What are some criticisms of Sons of Anarchy regarding its portrayal of biker culture? (quora)Longing and Belonging: Toward a Cultural History of Gay Motorcycle Clubs in the US (gurman, 2019)

What sort of books do you, you lovely listeners, binge read? Jackie has been bingeing cowboys.Yeah, no one's surprised.She recommends:Chestnut Springs series by Elsie SilverWild Love/Rose Hill series by Elsie SilverGold Rush Ranch by Elsie SilverThe Edens by Devney PerryThe aesthetic on pinterest that made Jackie read itTexas Rodeo by Kari Lynn DellShelter in Place by Nora Roberts

We all have our guilty pleasures...one of Jen's is mafia romance books! In this episode she leads us on a classic RR discussion all about this specific side of dark romancelandia.Questions/comments/concerns? Email us at [email protected]!Books/authors we mentionAnn MayburnAlexa RileyMaid for the Italian Mafia by Flora FerrariDen of Vipers by K.A. KnightSweet Cruelty by Zoe BlakeDesperate Measures by Katee RobertAddison CainUrgent Vows and Demanding Mob Boss by Lucy MonroeDeal with a Demon series by Katee RobertAtlas Rose Mafia MonstersOrc Boss by Lark GreenButcher & Blackbird by Brynne WeaverMy Secret Garden by Nancy FridayMob movies Jackie recommends"Scarface (1983)Gangs of New York (2002)Newsies (1992)West Side Story (1961)Mafia Mamma (2023)SourcesThe American MafiaThe Sicilian MafiaOmertà

Did we look at a calendar when we recorded this? NOPE. It's mother's day weekend here int he US, but today we're talking about single dads and bookish hot takes. Email us at [email protected] with your thoughts! Books/authors we mention:Lost and Lassoed by Lyla SageTessa BaileyLana FergusonDevil's Lair by Anna ZairesBuns by Alice ClaytonJust for the Summer by Abby JimenezDust Storm by Maggie Gates

Saddle up and let's make our way back into cowboy-landia! We did our first episode on cowboys back in 2021, and thought they wouldn't come back. Well we're eating our hats, because darn-tootin' if they haven't reappeared on our shelves! In this episode, we discuss why that could be, and what other possible genres could be making a comeback.Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!Books we mentionLouis L'AmourTrue Blood by Charlaine Harris50 Shades series by EL JamesDark Carpathian series by Christine FeehanJohanna LindseyDone and Dusted by Lyla SageFlawless by Elsie SilverDust Storm by Maggie Gates Ava HunterBrooke MontgomeryHannah CowanMaisy YatesBeverly JenkinsCowboys of California series by Rebekah WeatherspoonLora LeighLorelei JamesNora RobertsJanet DaileyCJ Box Joe Pickett seriesDiana PalmerThe Cruel Prince and Folk of the Air series by Holly BlackThe Country of the Blind by Andrew LelandSources“The ‘Yellowstone’ Effect: Controversy and Commerce” (Western Ranch Brokers, 2024)"Manifest Destiny" (americanyawp.com)"Indian Reservations" (history.com, 2023)"The Civil War’s Economic Impact on New York" (Chris K., 2020)

Between the Covers book club pick this month was It Happened One Fight by Maureen Lee Lenker!Next month we're reading Heartless by Marissa Meyer. Join us May 18th at 630 for baked goods and fun discussions. Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected].

This week we cover a topic that has become quite the buzz in the library and bookish community - Artificial Intelligence. That's right - Jackie makes Jen talk about AI. but we'll cleanse your palate first with a classic talk about plagiarism in romancelandia with none other than romance giants, Janet Dailey and Nora Roberts!Books we mentionSweet Revenge by Nora RobertsNotorious by Janet DaileyCait CorrainHouse of Earth and BloodGothikanaHatchetThe Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin (movie adaptation with Kate Winslet/Idris Elba)The Familiar by Leigh BardugoChristine FeehanSources:‘Plagiarism in Romantic Fiction; Nora Roberts and Janet Dailey’ (Kincaid, 2019)“Sometimes Love Means You DO Have to Say You’re Sorry” (Strittfield, 1997)“The Queen Of Hearts Gives Up Her Throne” (Peyser, 2007)"Definitions" Copyright.gov"Copyright and Plagiarism" (duke.edu)"Plagiarism, then and now" (Roberts, 2019)

It's that time of the month - new books!Books we mention:The Lady He Lost by Fay DelacourRemedial Magic by Melissa MarrNight Shift by Annie CrownThe Partner Plot by Kristina ForestFor Never and Always by Helena GreerRed White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

CONTENT WARNING - Language use, please use headphones if in mixed company!Buckle in folks, this is a long one! Thomas and I are so happy to introduce Steven Salvatore, whose debut adult romance has recently been added to their YA catalogue! In this episode we talk about publishing, writing degrees, genderqueer books, and what we want to see in the writing community.Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!Make sure to check out Steven's website and follow them on social media!Books/Authors we mention:Can't Take That AwayAnd They LivedNo Perfect PlacesThe Boyfriend SubscriptionLemon at First Sight (coming next year)Realm Breaker series by Victoria AveyardFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosIce Planet Barbarians by Ruby DixonHunger Games Suzanne CollinsThe Charm Offensive by Alison CochrunRed White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston Boyfriend Material series by Alexis Hall10 Things that Never Happened by Alexis HallHere We Go Again by Alison CochrunBecky ChambersGideon the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirLibba BrayJohn GreenCoe BoothNicholas DiDomizio Less by Andrew Sean Greer Check out the Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, and our interview with Leah back in the day! #26 Today's Romance Novels with the Ripped Bodice

Women. Women doing awesome things. Women breaking records. Women testing the limits. Is there anything more inspiring?This month, in honor of Women's History Month and in honor of some AMAZING women athletes, Jackie's got a few romance books that feature women athletes!Oh, and a rabbit hole about one of her favorite niche subjects: The Barkley Marathons."The Barkley Marathons - 100 Mile Run" (Mahoney, 2002)"The Barkley Marathons, the Race that eats its young" (youtube doc)"Where Dreams go To Die: Gary Robbins and the Barkley Marathons" (My favorite youtube doc)"Jasmin Paris first woman to complete gruelling Barkley Marathons race" (Brown, 2024)Courtney DauWalter, 2023 UltraRunner of the Year!Books I mention:The Siren of Sussex by Mimi MatthewsCleat Cute by Meryl WilsnerFangirl Down by Tessa BaileyDone and Dusted by Lyla SageFrom Lukov with Love by Mariana ZapataQuestions/Comments/Concerns/Recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!

A ghostwriter...who sees ghosts? And their editor is now a ghost? Yep, sounds about right. Take a peek between the covers with us for our book club's most recent read, The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston!This episode does contain spoilers for the book. BE WARNED! Spoilers start at 03:45Books we mention:Dead Romantics by Ashley PostonSeven Year SlipA Novel Love StoryPartners in Crime by Alisha RaiEmily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather FawcettYou can also join us for our monthly bookclub. More info can be found here: Nopl.org/eventsEmail us at [email protected] to find out how you can join us virtually!

Hallmark is synonymous with the world of movie romances...but where did they get their start, and when did they become so intrinsically linked with Christmas? Thomas comes back to the podcast to answer all our Hallmark-related questions!Movies we mentionAmahl and the Night Visitors (1978)Christmas Under Wraps (2014)Housekeeper's Revenge (2016)The Psycho She Met Online (2017)Shoe Addict's Christmas (2018)Road to Christmas (2018)Under the Christmas Tree (NOT Hallmark) (2021)Memories of Christmas (2018)Dashing in December (also not Hallmark, sorrz) (2020)My Christmas Guide (2023)Romance in Style (2022)BooksDater's Handbook by Cara LockwoodJill ShalvisDanielle SteeleChristina LaurenPartners in Crime by Alisha RaiThe Right SwipeA Feather So Black by Lyra SeleneOther episodes we mention#79 Krampus

Content Warning: NSFW episode! Please at least wear headphones when listening to this at your desk...Spicy? Smutty? Clean? Romantasy? Alpha? WHAT ARE ALL THESE WORDS? Don't worry, we'll get into it.Questions/Comments/Concerns/Recommendations? Email us at [email protected](Bonus - listen to the postcredits for what a Jen/Jackie conversation sounds like outside of the podcast)Books we mention:Ruby DixonHouse of Flame and Shadow by SJMA Court of Mist and FuryBeverly LewisNora RobertsSorry, Bro by Taleen VoskuniBridgertons by Julia QuinnTamora PierceJennifer Lynn ArmentroutRebecca YarrosJuliet MarillierA Song of Ice and Fire by Georg RR MartinThe Witcher by Andrzej SapkowskiLord of the Rings by TolkienHM LongMarion Zimmer BradleyBride by Ali HazelwoodThe Fake Mate b Lana FergusonBlacktop Wasteland by SA CrosbyWhispers of the Deep by Emma HammThe Mortal Queen of Faerie Smut (VanArendonk, 2024)"Lexington-Richland school board votes to remove fantasy series from district libraries" (Grenier, 2023)Publisher's Marketplace"Hot stuff: why readers fell in love with romance novels" (Darbyshire, 2023)#79 Krampus episode

Diversify your reading!Questions/Comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected] we recommend:Nicola Yoon, The Sun is Also a Star and Everything, EverythingOne of Our Kind by Nicola YoonThe Scourge Between Stars by Ness BrownWomen who Dare series by Beverly JenkinsAn Extraordinary Union by Alyssa ColeThe Accidental Pinup by Danielle JacksonTalia Hibbert, esp. The Brown SistersHighly Suspicious and Unfairly CuteLore of the Wild by Analeigh Sbrana

Content warning: Discussion on the use of rape fantasies in early romance books.We're so happy to have gotten the chance to sit down with romance author extraordinaire, Susan Elizabeth Phillips! Tune in for an interview full of laughs, knowledge, and Jackie even saying "yes ma'am" on more than one occasion. Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]! Susan Elizabeth Phillips websiteTour info! Titles:The Copeland BrideJust ImagineFancy PantsSimply the BestGlitter BabyNatural Born CharmerWhen Stars CollideHappiness for Beginners by Katherine CenterFlame and the Flower by Kathleen WoodiwissFlowers in the Storm by Laura Kinsale (sp. The Fabio Cover)Lorelei JamesMariana ZapataSarah J Maas interview with Jenna Bush Hager on the Today Show (Youtube)"The Mortal Queen of Faerie Smut" (VanArendonck, 2024)

Did you know that we run a romance book club? Between the Covers is hosted every month at NOPL North Syracuse, and you are formally invited! If you can't join us, though, don't worry, we'll give you a post-meeting rundown of the book and our feelings on it.Join us virtually on Zoom, or in person at North Syracuse! Last month we read "Verity" by Colleen Hoover, a book that took the book world and romancelandia by storm. Let's take a peek between the covers...Other authors/books to look at:Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Ruth WareThe Wife Upstairs by Rachel HawkinsFrieda McFaddenThe Only One Left by Riley SagerGone Girl by Gillian Flynn

CONTENT WARNING: We will be discussing snakes and similar slithery creatures in this episode, as well as dubious consent through legends and myths.Dragons and Unicorns and Virgins, oh my! Ever wonder why virgins keep getting tied to mythical beasts? don't worry, Jackie's got you.Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at [email protected]!Unicorn images!Unicorn tapestriesElasmotherium, 1878 reconstructionElasmotherium reconstruction on XBroken horn unicornUnicorn and maidenOther episodes to listen to:#57 Dragon Shifters #54 Witches#71 Chivalry and medieval pt. 2Books/texts we mention:Moby Dick by Herman MelvilleThe Iliad (Jackie recommends Emily Wilson's translation)The PhysiologusHistoria Naturalis (Pliny the Elder)Etymologies (Isidore of Seville)Expositions on the Book of Psalms (Augustine, transl. 1845)King James translation of The BibleGolden Legend (Legenda Aurea)Ctesias' IndicaThe Bridge Ladies by Betsy LernerKing of Battle and Blood / Queen of Myth and Monsters by Scarlett St. ClairSources:"Dragon" (Medieval Bestiary)"Unicorn" (ibid.)“In a Word: Of Serpents, Snakes, and Sobriquets” (Hollandbeck, 2023)“Separating Myth from Legend about the Medieval Dragon” (Diaz, 2018)“Understanding the Book of Revelation” (White, 2014)“Snake to Monster: Conrad Gessner’s Schlangenbuch and the Evolution of the Dragon in the Literature of Natural History.” (Senter, Phil, et al., 2016)"Exposition on Psalm 148" (Newadvent.org, 2023)"Enter the Dragon: Happy St Margaret's Day!" (British Library, 2014)"Chapter 8 The Unicorn as a Symbol for Christ in the Middle Ages" (Beal, 2018)“Qilin” (britannica.com)“Zevachim 113b ~ On the Identity of the Re'em" (Talmudology.com, 2018)“The Hunt of the Unicorn Tapestries Depict a “Virgin-Capture Legend” (Morgan, 2021)“The Virgin Captures Myth in the hunt of the unicorn during the middle ages” (Frederici, 2021)“Cult of the Virgin Mary” (Intriguing History, 2016)

Favorite reads of 2023? Let's go!Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan BannenA Soul to Revive by Opal ReyneI Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuistonFangirl Down by Tessa BaileyLove Hypothesis by Ali HazelwoodSpells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young(bonus mention - Casey's next book is The Pairing and it's out August 6th!)

Happy 2024! Did you struggle like Jen and Jackie in 2023 to meet your reading goals? Don't worry, we have some advice (that we're going to try and be keeping too).Email us at [email protected]!Sites we mention:GoodreadsStorygraphGraphic AudioHooplaLibro.fmAudibleBooks we mention:American Prometheus (Oppenheimer biopic)Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire) by GRR MartinThe Witcher by Andrzej SapkowskiDog Man by Dave PilkeyPercy Jackson by Rick RiordanKristen AshleyS.A. CosbyTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Shel SilversteinNikita GillJacqueline WoodsonRobert FrostThe Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon ChakrabortyButcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Break out the notepad, it's time to add to the TBR! House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas out January 30thDon't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R Alban out January 9th Courting the Countess by Lyssa Kay Adams Bride by Ali Hazelwood out February 6thThe Familiar by Leigh Bardugo out April 9thCheck out Between the Covers book club too! Have any book releases for us that you're excited for? Email us at [email protected]!

We made it another turn around the sun! Thank you for listening during the craziness that was 2023...let's talk about some of our favorite episodes.Don't forget to email us with your favorites at [email protected]. Happy 2024!#78 Gilt-y Pleasures: Dollar Princesses and Husband Hunters#76 For the Love of True Crime#74 Things Are Getting Tense...#69 Lost Genres pt. 4 - Feeling Fine in the Medieval Times

**Apologies for the audio - we went back to our Zoom roots and it did us dirty**Thank you to Jennifer Armentrout for sitting down and talking shop with us! Buckle up for a LONG discussion on things like fan merch, Etsy, book banning, burn out, inspiration, publishing contracts, television deals, and MORE!Make sure to check out all of Jennifer's books! The ones we mention are:Blood and Ash (series)Flesh and Fire (series)Storm and fury/Harbinger (series)Find Jennifer on Instagram, Facebook, JLanders reader group, and her newsletterBooks/Authors we mention:The Vampire Diaries by LJ SmithThe Witcher by Andrzej SapkowskiGame of Thrones by George RR MartinSarah J MaasFantasy Lover/Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon Consort of Fire by Kit RochaKerrigan BryneGuild Hunter series by Nalini SinghLarissa IoneJR Ward

Don't forget to give Jen a birthday shoutout! Email us at [email protected] tune in on December 22 for our interview with Jennifer Lyn Armentrout!Books Jackie recommends:Defy the Night by Brigid KemmererA Broken Blade by Melissa BlairGwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex CroucherIris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

Make a list and check it twice, we're looking at Krampus this holiday season!Questions/Comments/Concerns/Recommendations? Email us at [email protected] episodes to listen to:#51 Jillian Graves interview#52 Monsters! Books/authors we mention:Krampus: The Yule Lord (by Brom)The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregorHer Night With Santa by Adriana HerreraKrampus and the Crone by Honey PhillipsKissed by the Krampus by L. EvelandKidnapped by Krampus by Emily ShoreI Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuistonIron Flame by Rebecca YarosMidsummer Bride by Kati Wilde

Short and sweet and to the point, here are some books and authors we're thankful for!Sherrilyn Kenyon (esp. Fantasy Lover)Tessa Bailey Same Time Next YearNisha SharmaIsland Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana HerreraJennifer L. ArmentroutRuby Dixon

*Edit: Fourth Wing came out May, 2023, not June like Jackie kept saying in the episode...*The release of one of the internet's most anticipate fantasy books of this year, the follow up to blockbluster Fourth Wing, has been wrought with issue and controversy. Let's talk about it!Books we mention:Fourth WingIron FlameLegends and LattesArticles worth reading:"‘Fourth Wing’ Publisher Vows to ‘Swiftly’ Resolve ‘Frustrating’ Misprint Issues With Sequel ‘Iron Flame’: ‘We Are Committed to Making This Right’" (Maas, 2023)"Information About Sprayed Edges for Iron Flame" (Barnesandnoble.com, 2023)"The release of Rebecca Yarros' much-anticipated sequel to 'Fourth Wing' has been messy," (Grindell, 2023)"Booktok discussion>>Miscellaneous > Fourth Wing Conspiracy Theory," (goodreads.com forums, 2023)

Books we mention/recommend:The Husband Hunters by Anne de CourcyThe Buccaneers by Edith WhartonThe Gilded Age by Mark TwainThe Luxe series by Anna GodbersonThe Gilded Age Heiresses by Harper St. GeorgeThe Four Hundred series by Joanna SchupeUptown Girls series by SchupeFifth Avenue Rebels by SchupeBareknuckle Bastards by Sarah MacLeanReferences:Possibly source of the Spanish Influenza- Fort Riley in Kansas"The New Colossus" by Emma LazarusAmerican dollar princess (wikipedia, n.d.)“Amy Henderson: “Downton Abbey” and the Dollar Princesses” (Henderson, 2012)“How American ‘Dollar Princesses’ Invaded British High Society” (Blakemore, 2023)“Why Did the Gilded Age End?” (Rotondi, 2022)“Gilded Age” (History.com, 2023)Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker" (wikipedia, n.d.)"Our Notable Knicks" (The Knickerbocker Historical Society)The Fabulous Leonard Jerome: Churchill's "Fierce" American Roots (Taylor, 2017)“The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos” (American Duchess, 2017)“Inside Alva Vanderbilt's Party Of The Century” (Grimm, 2022)“The ‘Dollar Princess’ and the Duke” (Christies.com, 2016)“The Lost Wm. K. Vanderbilt Mansion -- 660 5th Avenue” (Miller, 2014)“Vanderbilt Ball” (Broyles, 2013)“The Vanderbilts: How American Royalty Lost Their Crown Jewels” (Robehmed, 2014)“A who’s who of the Gilded Age, ahead of the Met Gala” (Cope, 2022)

Sip, turn the page, savor, add it to the book cave!Fireblood Dragons by Ruby DixonDark Water Daughter by HM LongDay of the Duchess by Sarah MacLeanBookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

We're so happy to welcome Nisha Sharma onto Raging Romantics! Let's talk good books, bad bookish practices, book bans, and what we get out of romance, ❤️Questions/comments/concerns/excitement? Email us at [email protected] Nisha on her website, or on social media under NishaYou can find Nisha on most social media under @nishawrites!Books we mention:Dating Dr. DilTastes Like ShakkarMy So-Called Bollywood LifeThe Karma MapInner Harbor by Nora RobertsLong Tall Texans by Diana PalmerFourth Wing by Rebecca YarrosPsy-Changeling series by Nalini SinghInheritance by Nora RobertsScholastic fiasco (NPR/Treisman, 2023)"Scholastic backtracks, saying it will stop separating diverse books for fairs in 2024" (Treisman, 2023)"Penguin Random House and 5 authors are suing a Florida school board over book bans" (Sullivan/Ulaby)

Halloween + Romance + Spice? YES PLEASE.And hey, happy Halloween!The Demon's Bargain by Katee RobertWhen Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria DukeBlood Moon by Jillian GravesThe Dead Romantics by Ashley PostonMy Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna LevineGo listen to our interview with Jillian Graves here!

Content warning: this is a discussion that involves aspects of true crime involving serial killers and hybristophilia and paraphilias. Books we mention:My Killer Vacation by Tessa BaileyLove in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia ThompsonDial A For Aunties by Jesse Q SutantoUrgent Vows by Lucy MonroeDemanding Mob Boss by Lucy MonroePodcasts we mention:RedhandedMy Favorite MurderDatelineUnladylikeSerialSinisterhoodResources:"There's Actually A Reason Why So Many Women Were Obsessed With Ted Bundy" (Canning, 2019)"Is Attraction to Crime a Mental Disorder?" (Restore Mental Health 2023)

We finally get Jen's take on the hockey X booktok drama! Go listen to our original discussion in episode #73. Do you have your own take? Give us a shout at [email protected] we mentionArticles to read"The Smutty Hockey Drama Melting Down BookTok" (Gonzalez-Ramirex, 2023)"The Messy Relationship Between Romance Novels and Ice Hockey" (Holpuch, 2023)

What trope will come out on top?! Will it be Second Chance? Love Triangles? Or Fake Relationships?! Cast your votes now at [email protected]!Books we mention:Heartstopper by Alice OsemanTwilight by Stephanie MeyerAstrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring BlakeThe Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare*The Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare (Jackie said Kingmaker Chronicles)*The Day of the Duchess Sarah MaClean husband bookRed White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonThey Never Learn by Layne FargoIt Happened one Summer by Tessa BaileyThe Dragon's Bride by Katee RobertWeather Girl by Rachel Lynn SolomonHappy Place by Emily HenryGood Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle KennedyThe Darkest Seduction by Gena ShowalterAgainst a Wall by Cate C. WellsKiss Her Once For Me by Alison CochrunLove Theoretically by Ali HazelwoodUnfortunately Yours by Tessa BaileyWindow Shopping by Tessa Bailey

Happy Hispanic Heritage month! Let's celebrate by ready some absolutely amazing OWN VOICES romances:You had Me at Hola by Alexis DariaA Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adrianna HerreraAfter Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina Lopez