Romancing the Shelf

Another decade is complete! Wow. There were some big Nora shifts in this decade, and we can't leave it behind without some reflection. Which books and characters were our favorites? Who was the scariest villain? What happened to side romances?? All that in more in this episode!

The last book of the 2010s is a blend of small town feels and heart-pounding tension. Nora has us asking throughout...wait, who is our villain?! Listen in as we discuss Under Currents (2019).

I think we can all agree, Patricia is SCARY! Also, Shelter In Place (2018) is not a romance. However, this book is a tense and thrilling suspense, and we are here for it.

Nora has been taking us for an emotional ride, and now it's time for Fallon to save the ENTIRE world. No big. We are discussing the epic conclution of this trilogy: The Rise of Magicks (2019).

Nora left us an emotional wreck after book one of this trilogy and has placed the weight of the world on baby Fallon's shoulders. Of Blood and Bone (2018) raises the stakes as our girl grows up and starts assembling the Dream Team. This is Emily's first read-through, so don't miss it!

We had to leave you with a cliff hanger in our last episode, but we are here to finish up our discussion of Year One (2017)! Nora is throwing the playbook out the window with this trilogy, and we have big feelings! 

You think that after almost four decades you know Nora? Well our queen is embarking into new territory with this trilogy. First up is Year One (2017), and we have so much to say that it had to be a two-parter!

Ugh, what's worse than an entitled, bored, narcissistic rich boy? TWO entitled, rich, narcissistic boys. Eve has her hands full in this one with two killers, but thankfully she has the team (including Roarke behind her)! Listen as we try to contain our feminine rage as we discuss Seduction in Death (2001).

We are excited to be back with Eve and Roarke! We are loving seeing their relationship (both personal and professional) grow. But, uh oh, Peabody and McNab are NOT okay. And have we mentioned the gruesome murders that need to be solved? Listen in as we discuss Betrayal In Death (2001).

Grab your popcorn, it's time for a movie watch! Can Hollywood ever do a Nora book justice? Well we have some thoughts! Listen as we discuss the movie adaptations of Angel's Fall and Blue Smoke.

Well here we go.... For better or for worse, it is time for (in our opinion) Nora's darkest book. Definitely don't miss this discussion of Come Sundown (2017).

After so many Nora thrillers, we have asked ourselves...what happens to the family after this?? In The Obsession (2016) Nora is giving us an answer. The trauma is real here, but so is the healing!

This book has a lot of the hallmarks of a classic Nora fantasy series: magic, curses, and the age-old battle of good vs. evil all wrapped up in a beautiful Irish setting. Listen in as we discuss the epic conclusion to this series with Island of Glass (2016).

She's sexy, she's kind, and she has a tail...sometimes. It's our first (and only) Nora mermaid love story! Bay of Sighs (2016) takes us to an even darker place, and we are here for it.

Get excited, because we are starting a new trilogy that one of us has NEVER read. First up is Stars of Fortune (2015) with our reluctant seer Sasha and her street magic boyfriend. This trilogy has a lot of firsts, so listen in as we discuss!

We are back with In Death, and there is trouble in paradise! Eve has a mess on all sides in Judgment in Death (2000). Cops are dying, cops are dirty, cops (*cough* Webster *cough*) are hiding in her bushes, and Roarke isn't speaking to her! You don't want to miss this one!

Is this an In Death or Agatha Christie?? Witness In Death (2000) is scaling down the In Death universe to a more intimate mystery. It's a real whodunit and we loved it! Also, Eve and Roarke are super cute in this one. (Swoon.)

Can we really ever go home again? What about after our emotionally abusive husband is lost at sea and leaves us with a three year old and a mountain of debt? Welcome to The Liar (2015)! Shelby is trying to move on by moving back to her hometown, but her husband's drama just keeps following her... Listen in as we enjoy the small town feels!

Time and maturity is giving us a newfound perspective on these 2010 Nora's! This is the last episode of Season 7, and we are ending it with murder, mystery, a moody artist, and a peeping Tom heroine. Listen as we talk The Collector (2014)!

Oh my, did we have opinions on this one! And we desparately want to know your thoughts too! It's the final book in this trilogy, so of course, it is time to take down the big bad Cabhan and resolve the second chance romance between Fin and Branna. How does Nora do it all? Listen in as we discuss Blood Magick (2014).

Who doesn't love a friends-to-lovers story?! But while reading this story, we started to have some déjà vu.... We are breaking it all down in this episode as we discuss Connor and Meara in Shadow Spell (2014).

Another witchy Nora trilogy! Our heroine Iona goes to Ireland ready to find where she belongs. This one has charming Irish cousins, grumpy/sunshine meets boss/employee, and a big bad evil! Come listen to us discuss The Dark Witch (2013)!

In part 2 of "Nora Roberts is our secret best friend," we are headed to Boston! Our hero is suspected of murder and needs a safe haven, but someone is breaking into the family mansion looking for treasure and the cleaning lady keeps forcing him to drink water. Listen in on our discussion of Whiskey Beach (2013)!

Our heroine is a woman of many names - Elizabeth, Liz, Abigail - but who is she really? Well, our hero Brooks really wants to find out! Is he pushy or just dedicated to his job and community? Is Liz/Abby frustrating or endearing? Also, where did the Russian mafia go?? We have some mixed feelings on The Witness (2012). Listen in and let us know if you agree!

Another In Death! And the stakes are HIGH in this one. Eve is taking on Cassandra - a greedy terrorist group with a delusional self-image as selfless vigilantes. Even with all that going on, what's really on our mind is...what's happening with Peabody and McNab?? Listen in as we discuss Loyalty In Death (1999)!

We are back in the In Death universe! For one of us Conspiracy In Death (1999) is our favorite In Death so far, and for the other, it has our biggest heart flutter in the series! Don't miss this one!

Another classic opposites attract story! Or is it?? We are wrapping up the Inn Boonsboro Trilogy with big brother Ryder and our girl Hope (aka, The Perfect Hope). And we also have a ghost mystery to solve. Don't miss it!

Ah, the friends to lovers trope. Is there any more adorably sweet? Owen was Avery's first boyfriend and now one of her best friends. Can they be something more? Listen in as discuss The Last Boyfriend (2012)!

We are so excited to be in THE trilogy - the guidebook for Nora-land - the Inn Boonsboro trilogy! We will be starting with Claire and Beckett in The Next Always (2011), where the line between a sweet unrequited crush and an obsessive stalker is clearly drawn!

Fire jumping, equipment tampering, murder, and co-worker romance - it's Chasing Fire (2011)! We had so much fun with this one! Plus, the heroine is a real baddie - in the best way.

Can a girl just get some peace?? Poor Fiona needs to face, not just one, but two serial killers! Thankfully she finds a grumpy, carpenter boyfriend to help. We are loving the dogs and woodsy vibes in The Search (2010).

We have completed another Nora decade! The 2000s were so much fun, and we need to recap. Who were our favorite heroes and heroines? What were the big themes and changes through the decade? And, what are we looking forward to as we move into the 2010s? We have all that and more in this season wrap-up!

We just couldn't help ourselves. The Nora movie adaptations were calling to us and we had to answer! We watched the Lifetime adaptations of High Noon and Tribute, and it is time to discuss. Also on the agenda, what makes a great book to movie adaptation? Plus, some of our favorites!

Getting into the holiday spirit In Death style! We are closing out season 6 with Holiday In Death (1998). Is it wrong for us to say that we had SO MUCH fun while reading this festive Christmas tale with a murdering Santa Claus? Because we did! Seriously, don't miss this one!

A certain cop who struggles with work-life balance and her billionaire husband have been on our mind, so it is time to return to the In Death universe! Vegeance in Death (1997) doesn't disappoint with gruesome murders, explosions, passion, a trip to Ireland, and the introduction of McNab!

Parker always has a plan, but she didn't plan for bad-boy Malcolm! We are wrapping up the Bride Quartet with Happily Ever After (2010). This book gives us ALL the feels as a beautiful, friend-focused series gets wrapped up in a bow.

Our 100th episode! We had to celebrate with ceremony, so this is the Emidi Awards: Nora Edition. We have nominees and winners for a variety of categories, and we discuss almost 30 Nora titles! We also have honorable mention categories at the end, and we need YOU to weigh on the winners. Don't miss this one!

This episode we've got the tropes! If you love best friends to lovers or best friends brother then this is the Bride Quartet story for you. Del and Laurel have known each other FOREVER, but what happens when the attraction is out in the open? It is time for Savor the Moment (2010)!

Love is in the air, and no one loves love like our girl Emma! And, is this one of the spiciest Nora's we've read? Jack and Emma are heating things up in Bed of Roses (2009). Come listen!

Reading was a bit intense over the summer, so we are excited to go a little less high stakes. (Or is it??) It's the Bride Quartet! We are loving this friend group and the business they've built together. Our girl Mac is up first as we focus on Vision in White (2009)!

It's cooling off outside, so it's the perfect time to head to the rugged landscape of South Dakota! Black Hills (2009) has childhood friends, exes trope, big cats, and a murderous stalker that can't spell. Don't miss this one!

If you love a great whodunit, this is a great one! Tribute (2008) has a driven but vulnerable heroine, a hot but nerdy neighbor, and a decades long mystery to solve. We loved every minute!

When you are a top level hostage negotiator with a daughter and an agoraphobic mom, it can be hard to make time for love and romance! We were on the edge of our seats watching our heroine in High Noon (2007) try to balance it all. We had a lot to say in this one!

It has been quite the ride, but I think it's time to take this demon down! This is our third and final episode discussing the Sign of Seven trilogy, with a focus on Pagan Stone (2008)! Neither Gage nor Cybil ever planned on settling down, but is there room in their lives for love? Don't miss this exciting conclusion!

We are continuing on with our discussion of the Sign of Seven trilogy, with a focus this time on The Hollow (2008)! We are loving the sexy, loyal, hippie-raised, small town laywer that is Fox. Can he and NYC Layla make a lifetime work? Oh, and there's a demon wreaking havoc. Don't miss this one!

It's July, so there is better time to discuss The Sign of Seven Trilogy! This is one of Emily's all time favorites, full of small town vibes and demon scares. In this episode, we are diving deep into Blood Brothers (2007).

If you love age gap then we have the story for you! We are closing out The Circle Trilogy with a vampire and queen love story in Valley of Silence (2006). Don't miss the final battle at the end of this epic fantasy trilogy!

We are in full Nora-fantasy mode now! The Circle Trilogy has it all - vampires, witches, shape-shifters, demon hunters, and godesses with missions and really poor timing. This episode we are focusing on Morrigan's Cross (2006) and Dance of the Gods (2006).

We see something new from Nora in Angel's Fall (2006) as she makes use of an unreliable narrator. Was there even a murder? Is a killer playing mindgames? Or is our heroine's past trauma taking over? Come listen as we discuss it all!

We are kicking Season 6 off with a hot one! (Literally.) Blue Smoke (2005) delivers with great family dynamics, some love at first sight, and so much murder!

We are wrapping up the In the Garden trilogy and season 5 with Red Lily (2005)! We have the love story of a sweet, young mother coupled with a vengeful, body-possessing ghost! But she also really loves kids... Join us for this exciting conclusion!