Podcast appearances and mentions of Stephanie Laurens

Stephanie Lauren's doesn't know how to write less than 300 pages and even when there's nary a whiff of plot to be found, we can't spend less than 40 Minutes talking about it.

Hey y'all! Sabrina is back to recap Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens! It's Cynster book 1 and we LOVED it! There's a super decisive hero (tyrant? lol), a strong-minded heroine, and a murder mystery!Bonus Content: Sabrina hyper-focus on fixing her tags in Storygraph, a whole passel of Stephanie Laurens, how do you say "Honoria" and are we French now?, we are Sherlock Holmses now, a mirror fingerbang in an Orangery, and so much more! Lady Loves: Sabrina: Fresh haircut! She feels so good now! Mel: Let your 4 year old give you a manicure! And just embrace the joy of those little moments. Make sure to check out Mel's new podcast Bonkers Romance! Subscribe! Rate! Review! Tell all your friends :)Get more content on PATREON!!Sign up for our Newsletter! MERCH! Teepublic, Chicaloo Kate, RedbubbleInstagram: @heavingbosomsTwitter: @heaving_bosoms

In aflevering 2 van Liefteratuur spreek ik met feelgoodauteur Marijke Vos over chemie en aantrekkingskracht. Hoe omschrijf je een knappe love interest, zonder te vervallen in 'hij was knap en had mooie blauwe ogen'? Hoe zorg je ervoor dat de chemie van de pagina's afspat? En hoe doe je dat als het verhaal zich afspeelt in 1904? Ook hebben we het over de Franse songfestivalinzending van 2020, is het fluitje weer terug én vertelt Marijke wat de Ridgewood Hall-trilogie te maken heeft met... een behangrol.Boeken die in deze aflevering worden genoemd en/of besproken:• Alles van Marijke Vos, met in het bijzonder de Ridgewood Hall-trilogie• Hou je mond! van Sophie Kinsella• Het heft in eigen hand van Stephanie Laurens • De verliefde graaf van Julia Quinn

Regency romance queen Stephanie Laurens has been in the top 100 Romance of the Year lists many times over. She is one of the most successful and popular romance novelists of all time, with over 80 works of historical romance, including 40 New York Times bestsellers. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler, and on Binge Reading today Stephanie talks about switching from cancer research to romance and the changing tastes of romance readers. As usual, we've got free books to give away. This week it's a range of historic adventures. Check them out here: https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/GBTyjjv9LFfGQ1X5JI9vA GET FREE BOOKS And don't forget, you can get exclusive bonus content, like hearing Stephanie's answers to the Getting To Know You, Five Quickfire Questions, by becoming a Binge Reading on Patreon supporter. For the cost of less than a cup of coffee a month, you can get special bonus content, including a new one starting next month, Encore, where authors who have already been on the podcast talk about their latest book. It's a shorter episode, quick to get through and exclusive to Patreon. support binge reading on patreon Links for this episode:  The Legend of Nimway Hall: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/series/the-legend-of-nimway-hall/ Devon Monk: https://www.devonmonk.com/ Sam Quinn series: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/k/seana-kelly/sam-quinn/ Faith Hunter:  http://www.faithhunter.net/wp/ CS Harris:  Sebastian St Cyr series  https://csharris.net/sebastian.php Where to find Stephanie Laurens: Website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStephanieLaurens Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9241.Stephanie_Laurens Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stephanie-laurens What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to the show notes in The Joys of Binge Reading.com for important mentions. But now, here's Stephanie. Introducing Stephanie Laurens Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, Stephanie and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Stephanie Laurens Romance Bestseller Stephanie Laurens: Thank you. It's lovely to be here. Jenny Wheeler: I am in awe or of having the chance to talk to you because you are one of the legends of romance publishing. You have been working since the early 90's, you've got more than 80 books now published and many accolades including landing in the top 100 Romance of the Year many times. You have an international army of fans, so tell me about how you got into this career. Give us a little bit of a helicopter view of all of those years. Stephanie Laurens: Okay. I got into writing romances because I literally ran out of Regency romances to read. At that time, back in the late 80's, it was 1989, I used to read Regency romances because I was working as a scientist and writing scientific grants and reviewing scientific grants and papers and stuff like that. It was all very, very dry as you can imagine, so I liked to be able to read at night. After I put the kids to sleep, I would read. At that time in Australia there were only two Regency romances brought in a month by Mills & Boon and that was nowhere near enough. I had already gone through a lot of the libraries and what Regency romances they stocked, and so in order to keep myself occupied I started writing one. I assumed that I would never get to the end because you know how you start projects. I always have projects lying around for literally years, incomplete. A hard beginning in Regency romance But, lo and behold, I found that because I wanted to find out what happened I got to the end of the book, so I actually wrote a book. I read it over again and I thought, this is not bad, and so I started to write around, to find out where to send it. It was my mother who told me, send it here.

18 books in and the third straight book with the exact same plot and we're as charmed as ever. Does the plot make sense? No. Is there a plot? Also pretty much no. Did we have fun? You bet we did.

Stephanie Laurens is a genius for writing the same book again, but this time with less logic. We stan.

Guys this book makes no sense. It asks the very important question, "what happens when sex telepathy works but it works so well you're convinced it was a trick?"

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It's the holidays and we're talking family romances because many of us are with our families or thinking about them this week. No matter whether you have a perfect family life or one that's a bit more of a journey, romances focusing on families have been around from the beginning -- this week, we're talking royal houses like the Westmorelands and the Malorys, the LeVeqs and the Montgomeries, and the Holmeses and the Hathaways. We also talk a lot about our own families...which was unintended, but there it is.You still have time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2020 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria Virginia, and get the seven traditionally published books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and a candle from the bookstore! Order here!Thank you, as always, for listening! If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! For the next week or so, we've got a lot of fun stuff in the hopper -- be on the lookout for a few extra episodes! And, if you're celebrating this week -- Merry Christmas!Show NotesRichard Gere wasn’t old when he filmed Pretty Woman, even though he was going gray.Samantha Jaxon posted a very upsetting TikTok, and that's all we have to say about that. The days of the big and small envelope in college admissions are over, but they do have the Common Appand that seems nice. Maybe, you too, would like a karaoke microphone for your future weather-person. The 1987 movie Roxanne with Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah is a Cyrano retelling, and it has lots of very funny jokes and one-liners. There is one more phone-banking opportunity on January 4, 2021. You should join us!Bridgerton drops on December 25th, along with Wonder Woman 1984. Virgin River is another Netflix show based on a romance series. Just a heads up about the photo array, I’m just including the first book of a family series because otherwise it will be overwhelming! 70s and 80s Old School romance series with families include: the Malorys by Johanna Lindsey, The Montgomerys and Taggerts by Jude Deveraux, and the Westmorelands by Judith McNaught. 90s families: the LeVeq family by Beverly Jenkins, The Cynster family by Stephanie Laurens, the Rocking M series by Elizabeth Lowell.2000s families: Brenda Jackson’s Westmoreland family, the Essex Sisters by Eloisa James, The Holmes Brothers by Farrah Rochon, and the Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas. 2010s families: The Blackshear family by Cecilia Grant, The Ravenels by Kleypas, the Duke’s Daughters by Megan Frampton, the Mackenzie series by Jennifer Ashley, the Greene sisters in the Uptown Girls series by Joanna Shupe, the Talbot sisters in Sarah’s Scandal and Scoundrel series, the von Hasenberg sisters in the Consortium Rebellion series by Jessie Mihalik, the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews, and the Sullivans by Bella Andre.Brenda Jackson was the first Black romance author to hit the New York Times bestseller list with the book Irresistible Forces in 2008. It's not a Westmoreland book, but the Westmoreland series is currently 30+ books and growing.

Today’s guest is historical romance author Elizabeth Hoyt. In this interview, Patreon member MIchelle joins me to interview Elizabeth. We chat about her journey to publication, writing historical romance and her latest  book When a Rogue Meets His Match.    BOOKS RECOMMENDED: Maiden Lane by Elizabeth Hoyt- https://amzn.to/3o5Lq9B Greycourt series by Elizabeth Hoyt - https://amzn.to/2HNw9L6 When a Rogue Meets His Match by Elizabeth Hoyt - https://amzn.to/33qgdGr Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte https://amzn.to/2HTKqpD Untamed by Elizabeth Lowell- https://amzn.to/2JnhdEj Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens - https://amzn.to/2JmgPG9 KJ Charles - https://amzn.to/33wtf51 CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH HOYT  Website  Twitter  Facebook    SUPPORT THE WHAT TO READ NEXT PODCAST! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends   JOIN PATREON COMMUNITY  Get weekly romance recommendations, early access to author interviews, monthly meetups and exclusive Patreon audio series by joining the Patreon community. Want to join the fun? Sign up today; http://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/patreon   ETSY SHOP ALERT- QUEEN BEE READS   Romance lovers: check out Queen Bee Reads Etsy Shop for cute & comfortable bookish apparel! The shop also features social justice apparel and fun items from some of your favorite TV shows like Schitt’s Creek & The Office. Items are designed and made by Megan of @queenbee_reads. Use code: WHATTOREAD10 to save! http://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/queenbeereads FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK  What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!    AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE If you purchase a book through my Amazon or Bookshop link, I will receive a commission at no cost to you that will help cover the cost of the podcast    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com Instagram  Goodreads

In which Sean comes down from the mount, stomps out the burning bush and hands down the ten (and a half - don't forget the half) commandments of writing. After a healthy dose of heckling, his disciples agree they're pretty good. No 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbours ass' kind of good, but 'don't be a dick' is definitely a keeper.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In which Sean comes down from the mount, stomps out the burning bush and hands down the ten (and a half - don't forget the half) commandments of writing. After a healthy dose of heckling, his disciples agree they're pretty good. No 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbours ass' kind of good, but 'don't be a dick' is definitely a keeper.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In which Sean comes down from the mount, stomps out the burning bush and hands down the ten (and a half - don't forget the half) commandments of writing. After a healthy dose of heckling, his disciples agree they're pretty good. No 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbours ass' kind of good, but 'don't be a dick' is definitely a keeper.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Prebble was among the first narrators honored as Golden Voices in 1995. He is much loved for his narrations of historical mysteries, literary fiction such as THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro, and romance titles, such as Stephanie Laurens’s Cynster series. He won an Audie Award in Romance for his narration of Laurens’s UNTAMED BRIDE. AudioFile has honored 39 of his titles with Earphones Awards. On today’s episode, AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss A DIVIDED LOYALTY, Charles Todd’s newest mystery starring Inspector Rutledge. Simon Prebble is the perfect narrator for this series, as he’s so skilled at highlighting the historical details that are the hallmark of the series. Simon narrates with ease as he helps create an almost palpable atmosphere that runs through the story, set in the mysterious Avebury with its neolithic standing stones. This is the 22nd title in the series but makes for an enjoyable listen even for those new to the Inspector’s tales. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the What to Read Next Podcast! Today’s guest is Laine and Meg from Plot Tryst Podcast. In this episode, we chat about the Plot Tryst Podcast which is short digestible romance book reviews. We chatted about how they met and decided to start a podcast. Our many questions about the Bridgertons’ adaptation and a round of historical romance book recommendations.    BOOKS RECOMMENDED: Bridgertons series Julia Quinn Cynsters series by Stephanie Laurens  Julie Garwood Honor’s Splendor by Julie Garwood The Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle  Nine Rules of Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (Carriage Sex) Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyte (Carriage Sex) A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens (Carriage Sex) Twentieth Wife by by Indu Sundaresan  The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel Bring up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel  Broken Earth trilogy N.K. Jeninson  The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin A Prince on Paper Alyssa Cole Brazen & the Beast by Sarah Maclean Whose Body? By Dorothy Sayer You Never Forget Your First (Washington Bio) by Alexis Coe  Tessa Dare  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory Connie Willis The Missing of Clairedelune by Christelle Dabos Maya Rodale  Kerrigan Byrne, Eloisa James Julia Quinn Amanda Quick Doomsday Book by Connie Willis Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks World Without End by Ken Follett Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams The Wallflower series by Lisa Kleypas   Elizabeth Peters  CHECK OUT PLOT TRYST PODCAST  Itunes Spotify  Instagram  Twitter    NOTE FROM SPONSOR This episode is brought to you by  Never Conspire with a Sinful Baron by Renee Ann Miller. Buy it on Amezon- https://amzn.to/2yS1JmA Buy it on Bookshop- https://bit.ly/reneeannmiller-4   SUPPORT THE WHAT TO READ NEXT PODCAST! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends   JOIN PATREON COMMUNITY  Join the What to Read Next Podcast Patreon Romance Book Club. We are offering one tier Weekly Recommendation + Early Access to Author Interviews and other bonus podcast content + Access to Patron-only Facebook Group:  + Twice a month Zoom meetups (Backlist Book Club &  Author Q&A ) + Conversation with Publishers + Rolling IG Chat: $5  This is a great romance loving community where you will get book recommendations, make new friends and an opportunity to discover to new to you authors, series and genres to binge on.  Want to join the fun? Sign up today; https://bit.ly/WTRNRomanceBookClub   FROLIC PODCAST NETWORK  What to Read Next Podcast is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!    CONNECT WITH LAURA YAMIN  WhattoReadNextBlog.com  Instagram  Goodreads Twitter   

Laine and Meg complain about parental sex tips, offensive selections of mental illness, and why we are so entertained by the Cynsters.

Stephanie Laurens puts on her deer stalker and calls for the Orient express in this community-centered whodunnit. Generic Cynster Man and Future Cynster Wife fall in love while solving the brutal murder of a close friend, but all's well that ends well.

The Batshit continues... with masks! Asking a friend for help is so embarrassing, especially when you're not sure if they're willing to help at all. The only thing to do in a situation like that is masquerade as a masked widow and give in to his seduction while continuing your very awkward real life acquaintance without his knowledge. Top 5 carriage sex scenes.

We are very pro health care workers these days — we love all of you…doctors, nurses, EMTs, home health aides…if you know how to work a stethoscope, we’re into you. This week, we’re taking about some of our favorite medical romances. Listen for Jen getting thoughtful, and Sarah getting wildly inappropriate. We’re all just doing our best.We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please!Next week, we’re reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Nobody’s Baby But Mine, and we cannot WAIT. We know it’s tough to get it in print, but find it in e at your local library or at: Amazon (free in Kindle Unlimited!), Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or in print, mailed from your local indie (which is probably still shipping!).Show NotesAs we all shelter in place, romance twitter has been very entertaining. Julia Kelly posted a thread where she posed her pets as romance novel covers, and everyone had fun with it. Sarah also loved this one about a dog who howls along with the Law and Order theme song.We forgot to tell you last week when we talked about Devil's Bride that Stephanie Laurens has a new book out, The Inevitable Fall of Christopher Cynster. We also have added information about how to pronounce Honoria and details about peach silk.Now is the time to get the BookBub daily romance email. Here's Sarah's Bookbub page.The nurse and doctor books were the backbone of early Mills and Boon romances, and the forerunner of the modern Harlequin Medical Romance; whereas Americans often find big, soapy hospital dramas on TV.Budleigh Salterton looks like a very nice place to hang out unless you are a bored American 12 year old.The roots of American and British romance are different, as proven by this absolutely WRONG LitHub romance essay. (They're wrong about romance a lot.)Sarah has talked about Radclyffe and the origin of Bold Strokes Books, but many of her romances are about doctors or set in hospitals.Jen doesn't really care too much about job details. Sorry not sorry.No one likes a Bloodletter. We want our historical doctors to be foreward thinking. Or as Eloisa James does in When Beauty Tamed the Beast, use a modern TV character like House as model for a hero.In Tempest, Jen spoke out inequities in acess to medical care for black patients, and that's still true today.If you're looking to see some "don't fuck your doctor" romances that definitely fall somewhere on the Simone Scale. Wrong by Jana Aston and Medicine Man by Saffron Kent.Jurgen Klopp wants you to put your hands away, and this amazing thread by comedian Laura Lexx and support all the Liverpool fans out there (especially Jen's brother).Jen's cool TikTok project is up and running, she's interviewing YA authors and hoping to get kids to read while they are sheltering in place.You can order buttons from Kelly and t-shirts from Jordandene.Next time, we'll be reading Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

For this episode I talk about book 9 Play of Passion! It’s got two wolf changelings, younger man/older woman trope (kinda!) and Andrew Kincaid is a delightful main character. Reading has been tough but I’ve started re-reading Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens because the Fated Mates podcast had an episode about it. The novellas I mentioned that are set in the Psy/Changeling world are: Beat of Temptation - Tasmyn and Nathan from DarkRiver; Declaration of Courtship - Grace is a submissive being courted by a very dominant wolf - both can be found in Wild Invitation. In Wild Embrace you can find Partners in Persuasion which has Felix a submissive wolf tangling with Dezi, a dominant leopard soldier. Please share your thoughts on Twitter @molessie and Instagram @essiemv

This week we’re reading a favorite of both Sarah & Jen — Stephanie Laurens’s Devil’s Bride! We’re so excited to talk about ridiculous (we mean amazing) nicknames, about 30 page sex scenes, and about how we crushed our SATs thanks to romances like this one! We’re also hoping you are keeping a safe distance from others and washing your hands lots!We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please!Next week, we’re reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Nobody’s Baby But Mine, and we cannot WAIT. We know it’s tough to get it in print, but find it in e at your local library or at: Amazon (free in Kindle Unlimited!), Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or your local indie.Show NotesPlease stay inside and stay safe if you can, and remember not to believe screenshots from your cousins.Here are some interesting and well-sourced tweets about coronavirus from a Fos (Friend of Sarah).Want to know the other books Jen ordered back in 2001? It was Grand Passion by Jane Ann Krennz, Prince of Swords Anne Stuart, and Innocence by Suzanne Forester. She still swears she didn't read any of them.Captain Jack's Woman was Stephanie Laurens' debut novel, not Devil's Bride. But it's the Bar Cynster that made her such a popular writer.Sometimes (ok, a lot) Jen shit-posts on twitter about conflict and writing. Sarah can't always have eyes on her, sorry.Jen thinks it was Amanda Quick that brought back old-fashioned names, but the only truly great Sylvesteris from disco."Eyes on stalks" is a real phrase, and so is rapaciously. On the other hand, here's a bunch of sex scene euphamisms.The Cynsters were at Waterloo, so we're not sure why busting through the hymen is such work for them.All about the Greek chorus.Lady Osbaldestone does have her own books, as do Devil and Honoria's kids.Veronica Mars illustrates the fan service problem.Jen is obsessed with the idea of "the imperial period" for musicians--and other kids of artists.Next time, we'll be reading Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

Sarah has the flu! She wants you to know it’s absolutely terrible and you should all get your flu shots even though she got one and still got the flu but vaccines are good for you. Also, we all want you washing your hands and air high-fiving your friends because it’s wild out there. But you are IN FOR A TREAT this week — as our fave Kate Clayborn is pinch hitting for Sarah, and we’re talking romance sickbed scenes this week! If we have to be hyper focused on sickness, shouldn’t there be yearning and vigiling and a veiled death threat against a doctor (don’t threaten doctors)?We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please!Next week, we’re reading Stephanie Laurens's Devil's Bride, starring Devil Cynster, who also happens to be the only romance hero Sarah's husband can name (yes, even now). Find it at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or your local indie.Show NotesWelcome Kate Clayborn! She joined Jen this week since Sarah was down and out with the flu.Kate loves a sick bed scene. When we talk about acute vs chronic illness, the sick bed scene is acute rather than chronic. And, as Jen points out, these are almost always about physical rather than mental illness.Some of Jen's favorite sickbed scenes are in Indigo by Beverly Jenkins and Managed by Kristen Callihan -- but we've talked about those books already! Same thing with The Master by Kresley Cole.Kate is a lot more interested in work of all kinds than Jen. It's okay. We're still friends. We even made a hashtag, #Claykop, so we can find all our discussions.We recorded this on Sunday March 8th, so who knows what the coronavirus situation will be by the time you listen to this.Andie Christopher was the first to bring the I'm Baby meme to our attention when she joined us for the cinnamon roll episode.Jen and Kate both suffer from insomnia. Sarah sleeps like a rock.Jen was procrastinating about her report cards--but they're all done now, it's fine.The bedside vigil is kissing cousin to Jen's cold storage fetish, and the way Kate loves it when a hero suffers.Endomitriosis is no joke.The man flu phenomenon.Wash your hands! Don't touch your face!We'll be back next week with Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens.

A book about two horse people falling in love. She's young, he's a Cynster, they are both blonde.

We’re talking about women’s friendship in romance this week — how it works, why it’s important, and why we want all our romance heroines to have a squad.We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please!Next week, we’re reading Stephanie Laurens's Devil's Bride, starring Devil Cynster, who also happens to be the only romance hero Sarah's husband can name (yes, even now). Find it at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or your local indie.Show NotesWe know we shouldn't make the gallows humor jokes about coronavirus, but we did. We hope there won't be a pandemic, but if there is, get your TBRs ready. Jen's excited it won't have anything to do with RITA books.Have you preordered Daring and the Duke yet?Daddy is kind of sexy, but Mike Pence really does call his wife mother, and that's never gonna be sexy.We love Henry Cavill in season 1 of The Witcher. Just watch this video of them kissing. Jen stopped watching when they broke up in episode 7, and Netflix really wants her to finish.The idea for this week's episode came from listener Mary Ann Harlan who wondered, "Do you have an episode on how female friendships in romance disrupt the patriarchy? Or even just how female friendships work in a good way in romance?" I mean, probably just listen to season 1 where we talked about the witches and valkyries.Jen wrote about women's friendship in romance for Galentine's Day. So if you're looking for more recommendations, check it out.Some of the early proto-women friendships in historicals are Lisa Kleypas's Wallflowersand Penelope in the Bridgerton series.Adult friendships are important even if you don't have a best friend.Deficit modeling is a kind of thinking that assumes people can't move forward due to deficits or shortcomings. It's a phrase used in education that blames students and their families for lack of school readiness; for women, it's used when discussing the way they assert themselves.It would be really weird if your ex started dating Lady Gaga.It can be hard to be friends when the other person has more money than you.In abusive relationships, the abuser often separates and isolates the victim from their friends and family in order to control them.The Outsiders by SE Hinton is a really beloved book. One day, Jen's going to write a think piece about how it's all about American identity.Every woman loves the song "I Will Survive." We don't make the rules.Linda would definitely have your back, so follow her on Twitter if you're not already.Looking for new buttons from Kelly? Jen loves Danger Bang! while Sarah is Living Every Week like it's Rune Week. The full set of t-shirts and totes is available now from Jordandene.Wash your hands! Stop touching your face!Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens is next week.

Join Dawn and Ashley as we review: Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis Thorn by Intisar Khanani Bent Heavens by Daniel Kraus Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles Red Hood by Elena K. Arnold On a Wicked Dawn by Stephanie Laurens

This week we're mixing it up, talking about an author more than a specific book -- the Queen of Dirty Talk herself, Tessa Bailey. But we're not just talking about the sexybits -- we're also talking about working class heroes, women and worry and how awesome it is to watch authors evolve.We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined!In two weeks, we’re reading a book that blooded both Sarah and Jen — and approximately 50% of Romancelandia, we think -- Stephanie Laurens's Devil's Bride, starring Devil Cynster, who also happens to be the only romance hero Sarah's husband can name (yes, even now). Find it at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or your local indie.Full Show Notes @ FATEDMATES.NET- Sarah was heading to Birmingham for the Southern Voices Book Festival. The last time she was there, it was when she was a kid going to a Science Olympiad competition. Based on the description of that event, Jen suspects that she was outside orienteering. She's going to see Rachel Hawkins and Naima Simone!- Meanwhile, Jen went to see Bug by Tracy Letts at the Steppenwolf Theater, which is known for being the home theater of John Malkovich and also where hope goes to die.- Jen wrote about Johanna Lindsey and her New York Times obituary in a column for Kirkus.- The hero of Protecting What's His is Derek Tyler, which is Jen's second favorite romance Derek. Derek and Ginger also appear in a follow-up novella, Protecting What's Theirs. Derek also appears as a secondary character in the Crossing the Lines series, where he assembles a team of ex-cons and misfits as a special crime fighting team. Ginger's sister gets her own book in Unfixable.- The rise of eBooks made room for indie publishing and small presses like Entangled. Here's the story of how Barabara Freethy took advantage of the Kindle revolution.- Enemies to Lovers is one of the most beloved romance tropes. Jen is going to talk about her whole energy theory in an upcoming Kirkus column.- This is a romance that deals with class in an unusual way--she's the poor little rich girl, while he's working two jobs because of family obligations to his siblings.- Tessa Bailey is the Queen of Dirty Talk. She just is. Jen's favorite is Duke from Worked Up, who is a perfect grunting hero.- Jen noticed that several motifs that appear in Asking for Trouble appear in other books -- for example, there is a trip to Atlantic City in Worked Up, and connecting doors in a hotel room in Driven by Fate.- Sarah identifies "heroine as rock" as part of Tessa Bailey's core story, Jen noticed the pull between familial duty and individual needs. At first Sarah thought Tessa's most recent book, Love Her or Lose Her, doesn't fit into the core story...but after talking it through, she thinks it fits perfectly.- Sarah mentioned the one with a hero who is a recovering alcoholic called Indecent Exposure. Jen also loved it and reviewed it for The Book Queen.- Some advice in case you ever need to stop a wedding.- But buttons and stickers from Kelly at Jen's shop and the newly available full line of t-shirts from Jordandene.- Listen to this week's music selections and peruse this episode's transcript.- Next time on Fated Mates, we'll be reading Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens.

There is nothing I can put in this description that can come close to describing the crazy that is this novel. Convos with God, drugging a man so he'll knock you up, being blackmailed into marriage by a will and a butt birthmark are only the beginning.

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Laine and Meg compare Stephanie Laurens to Agatha Christie and Beowulf. While Vane's story doesn't have the literary merit of either, it outshines both in sheer absurdity. A cat unlocks and opens a third story window exactly as a lover arrives in stealth and our only response was, 'sure' because then they immediately hook up and we are easy, apparently.

Stay tuned for the second half of the episode in December! Next week, just in time for your tryptophan induced coma, we’re talking Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels, which was on both Jen & Sarah’s list, and is on the lions’ share of Best Romance Novels Ever lists. We’ll get into why. Read Lord of Scoundrels at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo or your local indie.Show NotesQuestion 1: Ennis from New York asked, "is like Lothaire by Kresley Cole or Cold Cole Heartby K Webster, where the hero is someone who would be a villain in any other book. A megalomaniac, horribly damaged, murderous, whatever- and a heroine who takes NONE of his shit and brings him to his knees."Our Recommendations: The name of this trope is "morality chain" which might help you on your search for books like this. Sarah's Summer 2020 release Daring and the Duke is perfect for this question, but since it's not out yet, try The Masterpiece Duet by Skye Warren. The first is The King.Question 2: Lesley from Washington DC asked for books "with Jewish heroes and heroines, does not have to be holiday themed."Our recommendations: : Jen suggests Knit One, Girl Two and Cinnamon Blade by Shira Glassman. In fact, Jen was a special guest on the Heaving Bosoms podcast taking about Cinnamon Blade. Sarah recommends Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker and Dalliances and Devotion by Felicia Grossman. Stacey Agdern also writes about Jewish representation in romance and has written some novellas in the Rogue Anthologies. We also mentioned a great point that inspired a great thread by Felicia Grossman about Jewish characters in literature.Question 3: Daniela from Winnipeg had this AMA question: If there was a battle royale between all the IAD heroes, who would win? Does the answer change if they can't use weapons?Our Answer: The Wroth brothers would band togehter, Declan Chase has a real shot, and Lothaire wouldn't care. No matter who wins, Thronos goes down first. Jen mentioned someone who wrote about what would happen if all the US Presidents were in a knife fight. Enjoy.FWIW, Daniela also asked a question we skipped because we couldn't think of anything: A historical that has a silver fox duke and a spitfire heroine who exhausts the hell out of him. IDEAS? Let us know on twitter.Question 4: Kristen from DC! asked, "LGBTQ romance easily available in PRINT for my book club???? We do it through a local indie bookshop, and are having a hard time finding things other than Cat Sebastian/Olivia Waite from Avon."Our Recommendations: Adriana Herrera's American Dreamer series! Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. We think Vanessa North and KJ Charles might be print on demand, which many indie bookstores won't carry. Dreamspinner is a mess right now, but many great authors are there, including LaQuette's latest, Under His Protection, which Jen bought a copy of at Love's Sweet Arrow. Carina titles might be more easily available, so try Syncopation and the rest of the Twisted Wishes series by Anna Zabo. Jen mentioned Being Hospitable by Meka James, but it's just in E. But you should still read it for fun.Question 5: Courtney from the Bodice Tipplers Podcast wants to know what books made us fall in love with the genre.Our answer: Well, just listen to all of season 2 of Fated Mates! But Sarah mentioned Nobody's Baby but Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Jen mentioned a new book that has made her feel that way is The Bride Test by Helen Hoang. Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux were old-school authors we both loved back in the day.Question 6: Ali in NYC had an AMA and a question: How is Eric Mortensen so good at podcast editing?Our answer: Well, he just is and you should contact him if you need podcast editing help.Ali also wanted recommendations about historicals with witches/magic. Our recommendations: So many of these are old school, because this is not a very popular trope right now, so please proceed with caution. Sarah recommended Bewitching by Jill Barnett and Jen recommended a pair of books by Teresa Medeiros, Breath of Magic and Touch of Enchantment. In fact, Jen reviewed Touch of Enchantment for The Book Queen. Post-recording, we thought of Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair, which is the first of a series where three sisters use their "magic powers for good and their good looks for seduction."Question 7: Hannah from Texas asked for a romance that "has a Lucy Liu in "Set It Up" type heroine getting her actual HEA. I need ball-busting energy falling in love with a guy/gal/whoever that deserves her."Our Recommendations: Sarah recommended The Takeover Effect by Nisha Sharma which has a corporate espionage plot. Jen was maybe thinking of Set it Off and recommeded Elle Kennedy's Out of Uniform series. Jen mentioned Getting Hotter by Elle Kennedy, but upon further reflection, also thinks The Heat is On (in an anthology called Hot & Heavy) might work. But since Hannah was actually talking about Set it Up, which is about assistants and bosses, maybe try The Assistant by Ramona Gray or check out this extensive goodreads list of boss/employee romance novels.Question 8: Jenica from New York asked for a book that has "Childhood friends to enemies to lovers, preferably contemporary."Our recommendations: : We don't say it here, but one strategy Sarah and Jen use all the time with more popular tropes is searching for a Goodreads list. If you can find a book with a title or two you like on it, you might like others! Jen recommended His Until Midnight by Reese Ryan, and also noted that Sarah's book A Rogue by Any Other Name has this trope. Sarah recommended Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas. And a trailing suggestion was trying Christina Lauren, who has written many great enemies to lovers books and maybe one also has childhood friends. We didn't mention it on the podcast, but if you like YA, Jen loved Not if I Save You First by Allie Carter. That one would definitely work!Question 9: Holly from Chapel Hill asked for a book that "Has all the mutual pining. Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, doesn't matter. Give me every last drop of pining."Our recommendations: Sarah suggests Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath. Jen recommends On Broken Wings by Chanel Cleeton. After we realized that there is lots of pining in Lisa Kleypas, but we think Again the Magic might be best.Holly had a follow up AMA, "What would your ideal book-centered vacation be?" Sarah said a beach, Jen has always wanted to stay at The Library Hotel, and that led to a discussion of Nora Robert's Boonsboro Inn, in Boonsboro, Maryland. But Jen also loves to read locally, which means reading books set in the places you are traveling.Question 10: Kara asked for a recommendation that "Has some sort of adventure or quest but is also slow burn."Our recommendations: Slow burns aren't our speciality. Jen joked she likes a "fast, incendiary burn." Please check out the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews, and the second one where they finally do it is called White Hot. The first one is called Burn For Me, it's right in the title! If you like fantasy, try Bound to the Battle God by Ruby Dixon. Sarah mentioned A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet. And Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik could count for this category and for pining!Question 11: Chase from Germany wants "Has m/m with a happy ending and the trope enemies to lovers?"Our recommendations: Sarah recommends Goalie Interference, which has enemy hockey players. Annika Martin has a good series, the first is called Enemies Like You, and Jen also likes a series by Layla Rayne called Agents Irish and Whiskey. Cask Strength also appeared in Jen's list of Who Did It Better on a Pool Table. You're welcome.Question 12: Caitlin from Wisconsin wants a book that "Has a plus size heroine, emphasis on fashion...vampires would also be nice."Our recommendations: We had to handle these two separately. For a curvy heroine with fasion, we recommended Take Me by Bella Andre and The King of Bourbon Street by Thea De Salle. For vampires, try Tall Dark and Hungry by Lynsay Sands. It's about a vampire who writes vampire novels. The Sherrilyn Kenyon book Sarah was thinking about is called Night Play, but it's actually about a werewolf. Oh well.Question 13: Jess asked, "Has an alpha submissive (I’ve tasked Sarah with this before and want more!)"Our recommendations: Jen doesn't think this exists, but Sarah recommends The Duke I Tempted, Giving It Up, The Devil's Submission and Sierra Simone's New Camelot series. If you can roll with Kristen Ashley's prose style, try Deacon. There is no pony play involved.Jess had a follow up AMA: "I would love to hear more about audiobook production. How much say authors have. Do they get to check in during production to make sure jokes are being delivered properly, etc?" Sarah replied that the answer is ... authors don't have much say at all, except maybe a choice of narrators. Sarah loves her narrator, Justine Eyre.Question 14: Lesley from San Francisco asked for a book that "Has a heroine over 50 who is single (not divorced or widowed)."Our recommendations: This was a hard one, and we are hoping that listeners will chime in with answers. We don't think any of these heroines are single--all widowed or divorced. But try Apples Are Red, Driving in Neutral, Bound with Love, or Mrs. Martin's Incomparable Adventure. But, you can check out this facebook group for seasoned romance, and Donnaposts a weekly Frolic column of seasoned romances. Finally, Sarah recommended London Hale's Talk Dirty To Me.Question 15: Carly from Atlanta is looking for “there’s only one bed,” historical edition (bonus points if they don’t have sex that time, but do later).Our recommendations: There are so many of these that we had a hard time answering. Yikes! But A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong is amazing. Later in Season 2 of Fated Mates, we'll read Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens, but the ohter one Sarah was thinking of was The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae Afterwards, we thought of The Duke Buys a Bride and Tycoon.Question 16: Shannon in Atlanta said, "Ghosts. I need all the ghosts. I’m regrading Lynn Kurland’s Stardust of Yesterday to see if I am still madly in love with Kendrick like 14 yr old me was. But I need more ghosts. For spooky season and for always."Our recommendations: So obvioulsy the best IAD book is Dark Needs at Night's Edge. But Halloween Boo and Hot Ghost might also be of interest. After recording, Jen thought of The Headmaster by Tiffany Reisz and Sarah thought of For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory.Question 17: Natali from Tampa asked for romances with "a sexy but serious body guard- saves heroine from her evil husband OR serious sexy body guard that is hired by father to care for wild heroine. And/Or sexy but consensual teacher-student relationship."Our recommendations: Sarah and Jen both liked The Professor by Charlotte Stein. Sarah also recommended The Unrequited by Saffron Kent. Bodyguards for some reason we didn't have specifics, but check out Sexy/Dangerous by Beverly Jenkins, which has a female bodyguard. Fallen by Rebecca Zanetti will work. But also, Jen is convinced that something in Lexi Blake's Masters and Mercenaries series will work.Question 18: Nisha wants books that are "bananas sexy."Our recommendations: Ice Planet Barbarians forever. But Brill Harper anything will work, and Jen especially recommends Altogether. Everyone on twitter thinks White Whiskey Bargain is super hot, and The Red is amazingly sexy. Grace Goodwin's Interstellar Brides series is also pretty hot.

In episode 6 we have the book of the week “The Pursuits of Lord Kit Cavanaugh” by Stephanie Laurens. This is a Regency Era historical romance featuring a self made hero, a teacher heroine and mystery to solve and a sweet yet angsty romance. Truly loved this book in so many ways. Follow me on Twitter. steepromancepodInstagram The Steeped In Romance Podcast Email me at steepedinromancepodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions, concerns, comments or would like me to cover

Laine and Meg talk about kissing your future wife next to your cousin’s body, very stupid nicknames, and familial justice. Buckle up, this one is wild.

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!

Break out the Franzia and give that bag a big ol’ slap y’all because it’s time for some motherbitchin’ ICEWINE. And what better way to begin than by taking a cold look at the skewed historical reality of Stephanie Laurens’ inaugural installment of her Cynster series, Devil’s Bride. One of the many missives of the 90’s culture wars, Morgan and Isabeau unpack the novel’s opinions on female agency and sexuality not-so-tacitly coded into the stuffy life of dukes and the messy business of murder. Don’t forget to restock the ice tray! Remember: you kill it, you fill it.

In our first podcast of 2017, we talk Romantic Reads. Joining Justine and Natalie is their dear colleague Katia. They talk about romance, love, the differences, how to choose romance books and the books that turn the 'romance formula' upside down. Justine's books: His Fair Assassin series / Robin La Fevers – fantasy/historical romance The Cynster series / Stephanie Laurens – historical romance Currently reading: Sweetbitter / Stephanie Danler Natalie's books: The History of Love / Nicole Krauss Our Souls at Night / Kent Haruf Currently reading: The Bricks That Built The Houses / Kate Tempest Katia's books: Gone With the Wind / Margaret Mitchell Not Quite A Husband / Sherry Thomas Currently reading: Fight Like A Girl / Clementine Ford Other series Justine loves: Graceling Realm series / Kristin Cashore – fantasy romance Circle trilogy / Nora Roberts – fantasy romance The Queens Thief series / Megan Whalen Turner – fantasy romance - good for YA / crossover reads Rule of scoundrels series / Sarah Maclean – historical romance Carsington brothers series / Loretta Chase – historical romance Chicago Stars / Susan Elizabeth Phillips – contemporary romance - particularly loved Match me if you can – it had me laughing out loud! Other love books Natalie has loved: Mothering Sunday / Graham Swift Love Story / Erich Segal Blue is the warmest colour / Julie Maroh The Passion / Jeanette Winterson Other great romances Katia loved: Anything by Lorraine Heath and Sherry Thomas Courtney Milan – The Countess Conspiracy (Brothers Sinister Series Book 3) Lorainne Heath – Falling into bed with a duke (Hellions of Havisham Book 1) Jane Goodger –The Spinster Bride Sarah Maclean – One good earl deserves a lover (Rule of Scoundrels Book 2) Lisa Kleypas – Secrets of a Summer Night – (Wallflower Series) Joanna Shupe – The Lady Hellion (also has an awesome Pinterest site https://au.pinterest.com/joannashupe/) Georgette Heyer – Friday’s Child Madeline Miller – Song of Achilles Annie Proulx – Brokeback Mountain Ann Patchett – Bel Canto Hanya Yanagihara – A little life Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights Meg Wolitzer – The Interestings

In a KWL Podcast first, we checked in with an editor from a major publishing house, Tessa Woodward from HarperCollins. In her eleven years at Harper, specializing in editing romance, women's fiction, and historical fiction, Tessa has seen the industry go through the parallel changes in the emergence of eBooks and self-publishing. Tune in to her Tessa and KWL US Manager Christine Munroe chat about:   The range of genres Tessa edits: women's fiction, romance (historical and contemporary), some mystery and non-fiction. She is specifically always looking for great romance, especially historical What the submission process is like at HarperCollins. Avon Impulse has an open submission policy – it's one of the few remaining imprints that offers that opportunity for authors without literary agents. They receive 100-400 submissions a month What Tessa looks for in a new submission: a great voice She had no background in romance before she started at Avon. How she fell in love with the genre, and the “classic” romance authors she read first in her self-education when she first started: Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Rachel Gibson, Stephanie Laurens, Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Now, Tessa is a big-time romance book lover who rarely reads outside the genre During a typical workday, Tessa doesn't have time to do much reading or editing. She reviews covers, marketing and publicity, writes and approves copy, takes editorial calls with authors, and answers a lot of emails Why Tessa doesn't expect an unpublished author to have a social media platform established when they approach a publishing house Her one big pet peeve when it comes to authors who do have social media already in place When she's looking at self-published authors interested in a traditional deal, she's much more interested in the potential of this specific story than eBook sales track record for previous books. She still has to pitch the new book to bookstores, who won't be very interested in hearing just about eBook sales or free download numbers The main benefits, from Tessa's point of view, of working with a publisher today. You get an experienced support team who share the publishing burden with you, so that you can focus on writing your next book. Tessa joined HarperCollins 11 years ago, and has seen the industry undergo changes in digital publishing and self-publishing, particularly in romance. She thinks new digital opportunities have opened up the chance for publishers to experiment and publish a lot more books, and a wider range of voices How she feels about hybrid authors – “As long as we're working together, I think it's great!” Hybrid authors bring new insights, and can create opportunities for new hybrid marketing models and more   Senior Editor Tessa Woodward edits a wide array of romance, women's fiction, and historical fiction. On the romance side, she edits authors across all genres, including the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers Tessa Dare, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Jennifer Bernard, and Maya Rodale. Her women's fiction titles range from USA Today bestseller Shelley Noble's beach-set novels, to Molly McAdams' New York Times bestselling New Adult stories, to Lisa Turner's psychological mysteries, and the darker, historical ORPHAN #8, a debut from Kim van Alkemade. She is the US editor for international bestseller Paullina Simons. On the nonfiction side, she is publishing THE WORLD OF MR. SELFRIDGE. She is looking for more women's fiction with strong characters, both historical and contemporary, as well as all genres of romance.  

Jenn and Amanda recommend books in translation, wacky fantasy, and more. This episode is sponsored by The Lady's Command by Stephanie Laurens and The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean.