Romance isn't Dead

In this wittily titled episode we're talking about Rockstars, mostly those created by Nalini Singh in her Rock Kiss series, that started with Rock Addiction and the enigmatic Zack Fox...so join us on this wild ride with Schoolboy Choir. Also, this is our last episode until late October. We have decided to take a brief hiatus, work on the schedules for what will be the official Season 2 and kick things up a notch!

No, it's not another episode dedicated to Clueless. This time we're looking at the second book in the Torpedo Ink Series from Christine Feehan, Vengeance Road. This isn't your usual happy-go-lucky romance, it's dark, gritty and apparently (?) has some, blink and you'll miss it, supernatural elements too!

It's a long one this week, folks! For some reason, we decided to talk about everything we've been up to. It's not just books, it's TV, movies, life! This week there's regency, supernatural biker gangs, bourbon, bad titles and action movies, as well as talk of the shows we've been watching and the fact that we've actually started to plan for future podcasts! Weirdness!

In the second, and final, episode of our Steamy Summer we looked at a book by popular erotic novelist Cherise Sinclair.  We read the first in her Sons of the Survivalist series (released in 2019), Not a Hero. So, how did this book fare in comparison with the Lisa Kleypas book from the last episode? Listen and find out!

For the first episode of June, the month we are terming our own Steamy Summer, we read our first ever Lisa Kleypas book, the first in her popular Wallflower series, Secrets of a Summer Night. We weren't too sure what to think about it at first. However, in this episode, you'll find out what we decided about this novel, and where we're going to go next!

When discussing Emma in our previous episode, this particular book and film combination came up several times. So, we felt we should probably talk about it in a little more depth. A Room with a View is a British classic. Written at the very beginning of the 20th Century and made into a stunning film in 1985, the stunning scenery and the untraditional love story make a beautiful combination that both Raye and Sally love with relatively equal fervour. So, join us, maybe with your Baedecker, as we tour Florence and Surrey together.

Picture this...it's 1815 and Jane Austen has just written a coming of age novel about a young woman who discovers that not only does she not know everything, but when it comes to love she knows very little at all. That's Emma...well, sort of! Right now, we're going to be looking at the 1996 movie version of the film, starring a young Gwyneth Paltrow and a very enigmatic Jeremy Northam (Raye's favourite Knightley). We do go off on a bit of A Room with a View tangent (review coming later)...but this week, the topic is most definitely Emma.

Picture this, it's 1995, Raye and Sally are both just turned 21 and a movie that has since been called one of the most iconic high school movies of all time has just been released. Better still, for these two romance fiends, it's based on one of Jane Austen's best romance novels...Emma. Yes, this week we're talking about the incredible, iconic, classic 1995 movie by Amy Heckerling...Clueless!

It's all about a vase, and an incredibly persistent Malory woman. Warren Anderson has experience of the Malory family, thanks to the fact that his sister is married to one. But he doesn't anticipate how frustrating it can be when one of them is pursuing him to the point where she will even get taken hostage for pretending to be his fiancee! So, where does the vase come in? It's a key player when it comes to Warren giving up on running away. Believe it or not, we're talking about a book, The Magic of You by the fantastic Johanna Lindsey.

We're all in the same boat, so we thought we'd put together a list of the things we'll be watching, reading, enjoying during this period of self-isolation. We've got everything from early 2000s TV shows, to fantasy novels. So it's not all about the romance this week, though we've added some in for good measure. What's a romance podcast without a little bit of romance? So, if you're stuck indoors, and short of something to amuse, listen to this and then try some of our recommendations. And just remember, keep safe, keep your distance and look after yourselves.

Also known as Our Romance with the '80s.  This week we're looking more closely at the 1984 movie Footloose. Is it a statement about society or is it more a statement about teenagers and rebellion? Whatever you believe, we're talking about it this week. We both love the movie and have a lot to talk about - especially the fantastic soundtrack! Who can forget the title track? The incredible scene in the warehouse? So here is our love letter to the 1980s movie soundtrack!

This week we're looking at an oldie but a goodie in the world of regency/historical romance. We're delving into the world of pirates, mistaken identities and the very old 'reformed rakes' trope. Yes, we're taking a trip down memory lane and reading Gentle Rogue by the much-missed Johanna Lindsey.  Released in 1990, this is the third book in her very popular Malory series, and it hits all the popular tropes head-on. So, what did we think about it? Here's the unvarnished truth...you might be surprised!

"It was the summer of 1963 [...] and I didn't think I'd ever find a guy as great as my dad." This week we're all about movies of the 80s, well, one in particular. It's the movie many a teenage girl swooned over in the summer of 1987. Did it set unreasonable expectations? What is it about Dirty Dancing that made it so successful? Was it all about Baby and Johnny? We take a look at one of Raye's all-time favourite movies...it's all about the music and the moves. And of course, "nobody puts Baby in the corner."

For our first book of 2020 we read Only His by Elizabeth Lowell. It's the first in a series based in the west after the American Civil War...So, what did we think of this book? Did we like it? Would we put it on the 'recommendations' shelf? Listen to hear what we had to say - we promise we're wittier than this appears to be!

As you may (or may not) know, Sally is a HUGE fan of Star Wars. So at the end of last year she went and saw The Rise of Skywalker...not once, not twice, but three times! Here are her thoughts. Unedited, unscripted and definitely uncensored. Oh, and romance plays a big part too...So settle in for something of a rough ride!

In our last episode of this decade, we take a chance to look at the first book in the Argeneau series (vampire novels) by Lynsay Sands, say thank you to all our listeners for going through our first year with us, and talk about the general stuff in life. So farewell 2019, and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 to all our listeners.

This week we're all getting ready for the festive season, so we thought it only appropriate to talk about two of our favourite winter movies. While You Were Sleeping and The Holiday. We talk about why we love them what is romantic about them and hopefully will encourage you to watch if you haven't already seen. We'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Festive season, no matter what you're doing.

This week we picked up another book by Catherine Coulter. If you listened to episode 27 you will remember we said that Coulter is a good writer, her characters are well created, the story progressed well (though there were a few bits that were unnecessary) and overall, we enjoyed the book. This week we looked at a later book by the same author, Night Fire, and let's just say...if we were grading newts, this would be a T for Troll...

This week it's all about writing. With it being November we felt it only appropriate to talk about our own experiences, especially as Raye has been daft enough to sign up for NaNo again! Of course, writing isn't all fun and games, as anyone who has desperately been cursing their vanishing muse will be well aware...So, how do you do it?

There are few things better for a romance reader than a well-written regency, and Coulter definitely gives us that. The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter is a wonderful introduction to a regency series about a strong family, with the tale of straight-laced and sensible Douglas and his rebellious young bride, Alexandra. Oh, and we found our mojo, so expect some sass.

It's a special episode this week, in aid of #InternationalPodcastDay (Mon 30/9). Yes, we're looking at the classic Pride & Prejudice again, but this time we're off to the movies. Raye looks at one of her favourites, Bollywood's Bride and Prejudice, while Sally takes on the more traditional 2005 Kiera Knightley version. So, what did we think? And who did we bring along for the ride?

This week we've taken a step into the paranormal, with a bit of sci-fi tossed in for good luck. We're talking about the fifth in Jayne Castle's Rainshadow Island novels, Siren's Call. So, what did we think of this? Sally has read some of the books, Raye has read none, so where does this one fall in the spectrum? Is it 'yay' or 'nay'?

This week we've turned to the classics. Yes, we're looking at the original romantic hero. Whether you know him from the BBC drama, the 2005 movie, or just remember he was a character in Bridget Jones...Fitzwilliam Darcy has earned his place as a romantic hero! And this week, Pride and Prejudice is our focus, though we promise we don't go all lit-crit!

First, there was Jennifer and Royce. Now, we have Whitney and Clayton. Sure, the names are less than traditional, and the stories are incredibly similar, but we wanted to take some time to talk about Judith McNaught's seminal work, "Whitney, My Love". So, here it is...

If you're now humming 'Barbie Girl' by Aqua then I sort of apologise... This week's episode is all about the first in The Iron Fae series by Julie Kagawa. A YA romance published by Harlequin Teens in the US, it's supernatural, includes familiar characters from Midsummer Night's Dream and fae mythology. If you love that, then you'll love this. Listen to the latest episode to find out what we thought.

21 today...21 today...we've got the key to the door... We've been talking about it for a while! Wolves, rain, empaths...yes, this week we're talking about the latest in the psy-changeling series by Nalini Singh, Wolf Rain. Also, our next book is a YA, the first in a series all about the fey, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.

This time we're talking about the 1989 book, A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught... We talk historical accuracy, character development and everything in between. Find out what we thought and listen to us chatter a lot about loads of different things romantic.

At the Bar Cynster marriage is to be avoided, but once they meet their soulmates - the ones born just for them - they are doomed.  This week we are talking about the first Cynster novel by Stephanie Laurens, Devil's Bride.  We also get a bit distracted, with talk of weather and other books!

Whether it's a red thread, the Force, or writing on your skin...we all search for ours. Soulmates...can anyone say they didn't dream, at some point, of finding theirs? This week, the soulmate trope, in many guises, is our topic...how much do you love it?

This week we're reviewing Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. While it's one Raye likes, Sally is relieved that it's one she reserved at the library. Hence, it's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...

A thriller with a difference...a horrific murder spree brings Marlie the alpha male of her dreams(?). This week we're looking at one of Sally's book choices, Dream Man by Linda Howard. This book is a quarter century old. How did it age? We take a look...

This week is the episode none of you asked for. In which we look at EL James' The Mister and Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan. We are going to be VERY honest...

This week was another book club week, and the book was Frontier Woman by Joan Johnston. It was a choice...and we go into why we would not EVER recommend it. Sorry, not sorry!

Today we go just a little off-piste but the subject of the day is fanfiction. We talk about what it means to us, how we came across it and a little bit about relation-shipping. Also, we mention White Abyss by Stephanie Terault...check it out here.

This week is we chatted about Avengers (for a bit) and then The Dark Highlander by Karen M Moning. Oh, and if you want us to read the new EL James and talk about it...let us know in the comments...we're willing to take the hit for you, our readers!

This week we take a quick(!) look at YA novels, from their odd conception in the 1980s to their modern incarnation... Oh, and check out our Twitter.

This week it was all about chicklit with Jill Mansell's 2011 novel, To the Moon and Back. It was a brand new author for Sally and an old favourite for Raye. Let us know what you think. Oh, and we're now on Facebook.

This week we talked all about the authors on our 'Must-buy' list both past and present, and got pretty animated about the books we love and why. Check out our blog to find out where else we can be found.

This week we were reviewing The Other Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. Feelings were mixed, but you can find out more about how we felt about the most recent addition to the extended Bridgerton series by listening along. Let us know what you think.

In the purple corner we have Rapunzel...In the pink corner we have Princess Aurora. Who will win? The Self-Rescuing Princess or the Damsel in Distress. This week we talk about Disney princesses and their male counterparts...  

It's another book review this week, and another supernaturally-themed one at that. This week we take a look at the fifth Dark-Hunter novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Night Play. We look at the themes, what we liked, what we didn't...and tell you all about the next book we're going to be reading. Our blog

This week we're talking all about the incredible world-building of Nalini Singh, specifically in her first psy-changeling novel, Slave to Sensation. So, if you want to find out how we got on in a world where cats, telekinetics, empaths and wolves walk among us, then listen. https://twitter.com/IsnRomance

A long time ago...in a galaxy far far away... At least that's how it starts. This week we're talking all about the romantic couples in the Star Wars movies...just the movies...listen to Sally and hear Raye try to figure stuff out... http://bit.ly/rid-goodreads

What's really under that kilt! This week we talked all about Ransom by Julie Garwood. We like the fantasy of the highland warrior in a historically inaccurate kilt so sue us (please don't!). Next week it's Star Wars!!!

In this epic episode we are looking at the MCU and all the romantic relationships. We talk about our favourite and not so favourite MCU canon relationships, what we like, what we don't like and what we think should never have happened. Join us on our journey and if you like what we're saying or have any ideas, leave us some love. Oh, and we have a blog now too: https://romancenotdead.wordpress.com/

Romance isn't dead: It's alive and well on my bookshelf.In this, our first, podcast we talk about the well-known trope star-crossed lovers. From Romeo and Juliet to Anakin and Padmé and everything in between. Join us as we talk our way across our well-stocked shelves. Romance isn't just for that rainy Sunday afternoon on the sofa, it's for every day. Enjoy it with us, and while you're at it, why not join our virtual book club and read some old classics with us?