Episodes

2d ago

It's that time of year, when we highlight some of our favorite new voices in romance! This week, we're talking about eight new writers who are making us excited about what's to come in historical, contemporary, cozy fantasy and more. Here's to reading them all for years to come! From horse girls to divorcees, hair stylists to magical tea shop owners, basketball coaches to jewel thieves, there's something in here for everyone. It's going to be great for you! Don't forget--you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2025 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the books on the list! Scoundrel Take Me Away and Lazarus, Home from War (independently published) are not in the box. As always, you can add additional romances, or one of Sarah's books to your box. If you want other people to discuss brand new romance authors with, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . You can also ask for it as a gift, or give it as one at fatedmates.net/gift . Our next read along will be Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarians (you’re welcome). Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , from your local indie , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Books The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare Hopelessly Teavoted by Audrey Goldberg Ruoff Savannah Royals by Lindsay Barrett Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths Celebrity Crush by Christy Swift Notes Check out our Debuts of 2024 episode here . It’s not frod (Friend + rod), it’s frotting . Here’s the wikipedia page. Sarah apologizes for not knowing the proper spelling. Jenny Hamilton wrote a terrific piece about sex in Heated Rivalry in this recurring feature on her blog called Anatomy of sex scene. The non-romance time travel book Jen mentioned was Version Control by Dexter Palmer . Sponsors Atria Books , publishers of Ellis Hunter's Blood Bound , available for preorder in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Scandals & Swoons Festival , a new historical romance signing event in Orlando, Florida on January 18, 2026, learn more at swoonsfest.com . Mariah Scarpellini , author of The Titan's Rose , the first book in the Olympian’s Curse Saga. Learn more about the book and help Mariah build a world before her launch . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/S2025/12/15/0814-2025-romance-debuts If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 10

We’re so excited for our deep dive of KJ Charles’s The Magpie Lord , first in her magical, gothic series, A Charm of Magpies. We talk about the clear chops displayed in this romance --strong plotting, complex characterization, and a beautiful understanding of what happily ever after looks like. And yes, we get to the tattoos. Obviously. Don't forget--you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2025 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the books on the list! Scoundrel Take Me Away and Lazarus, Home from War (independently published) are not in the box. As always, you can add additional romances, or one of Sarah's books to your box. If you want other people to discuss great romance series, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . You can also ask for it as a gift, or give it as one at fatedmates.net/gift . Our next read along will be Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarians . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , from your local indie, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Notes This is our second KJ Charles deep dive. The first was Band Sinister. We were lucky enough to speak to KJ Charles about her work and her pathway through romance as part of our Trailblazers series. Listen to that interview here. It’s been the snowiest start to winter in Chicago since 1978! The Great Lakes can freeze , kind of . Here’s what the Great Lakes ice prediction for this year . The Ice Fishing town hall meeting , as promised. Heated Rivalry is great and Jen (and everyone else) thinks you should watch it. The Magpie Lord was published in 2013 by Samhain Publishing, which shut down in 2016. You can find all of our 80+ deep dive episodes in the Fated Mates Book Club . Sponsors Zara Doyle , author of Bianca and Her Wolf , available in print, ebook, audio or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Gummies . Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. Alexandra Cait , author of Storm of Fire , available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of years of delicious romance novellas and collections. The imprint will shutter in 2026, so head over and load up on print versions of all your favorites right now . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/12/2/0813-the-magpie-lord If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now. 00:00 Wintr Bantr 08:17 Discor Bantr 14:40 AD: BIANCA AND HER WOLF 16:43 Best of 2025 Book Box 20:25 KJ Charles 28:36 The Samhain Publishing Story 32:10 AD: STORM OF FIRE 34:17 The Samhain Publishing Story 36:24 The Magpie Lord 43:19 It's Bad Magic 48:06 AD: 1001 DARK NIGHTS 50:19 Two For Joy 59:28 AD: LUMI GUMMIES 1:01:05 Curses & [in]Fluences 1:10:53 The Romance Pacing 1:19:51 Sex and the Ether 1:31:01 The End 1:40:42 Outro

Dec 3

It's winter, which means that it's time to get cozy, build a blanket nest on the couch, and read a million books one right after the other in the great tradition of our ancient forbears. Today, we're talking about series that deliver one banger after another and, yes, that also bang. We'll talk historicals, contemporaries, and of course, the paranormal series that started it all for us. Don't forget--you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2025 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the books on the list! Scoundrel Take Me Away and Lazarus, Home from War (independently published) are not in the box. As always, you can add additional romances, or one of Sarah's books to your box. If you want other people to discuss great romance series, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . You can also ask for it as a gift, or give it as one at fatedmates.net/gift . Our next read along will be KJ Charles's The Magpie Lord . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes Go to Sarah’s site to sign up for her newsletter . Apparently, it’s going to be a snowy winter because of squirrels , the Farmer’s Almanac is over , and social media is ruining your life and your brain , or maybe it’s just your whole damn phone. Heated Rivalry , baby . Also this fall, the CW has unveiled a bunch of movies based on Harlequin books, including Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell , Mason Deaver’s YA romance I Wish You All the Best and in January we get Season 4 of Bridgerton, and Netflix's adaptation of Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation . Graphic Audio has adapted a bunch of your favorite books, not just Kate Daniels. A graphic of the Beverly Jenkins universe . Here’s a cool way to look at the connections from Lorraine Heath’s Scoundrels of St. James series . Sarah misses Romantic Times magazine. Books Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole The Game Maker Series by Kresley Cole Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews The Cynster Family by Stephanie Laurens Pennyroyal Green by Julie Anne Long The Beverly Jenkins Universe The Game Changer Series by Rachel Reid The Irish Shifters by Theodora Taylor Temperance Falls by London Hale His Duchess’s Lovers by Elizabeth Roubaix Scoundrels of St. James by Lorraine Heath The Toronto Series by Farrah Heron Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon The Undone series by Payton Corinne Fast Track Billionaires by Amanda Cinelli Bourbon Brothers by Reese Ryan The Shieldmaiden Sisters by Lucy Morris Sponsors Zara Doyle , author of Tanya and Her Wolf , available in print, ebook, audio or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jenny Alexandra , authors of Santa Cutie , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Bailey Seaborn , author of Peppermint Bark, No Bite , available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Blue Box Press , publishers of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood: 20th Anniversary Insider's Guide , available in hardcover, ebook and audiobook at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/12/1/0812-bingeable-romance-series-update If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 26

The end of the year is nigh, and it's our holiday romance novel episode! We're talking about a collection of romances that are entirely new to us (except for the one moment where Sarah talks about that old McNaught short story that installed all her cold-weather romance buttons). We've got Austen retellings, Regency cats, characters playing with holiday toys, CIA agents and, of course, some sexy Santas. You deserve nice things. Don't forget--you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2025 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the books on the list! Scoundrel Take Me Away and Lazarus, Home from War (independently published) are not in the box. As always, you can add additional romances, or one of Sarah's books to your box. If you want other people to discuss holiday (or other) romances, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along will be KJ Charles's The Magpie Lord . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes There are several accounts as to where Irving Berlin wrote White Christmas . Sarah stayed at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel , which claims it inspired the song (by being the opposite of snowy), but there's also an account that he wrote it in La Quinta, CA at the La Quinta Hotel (not to be confused with just any LaQuinta). Check out our prior holiday romance episodes: 2024, including Sara Raasch, Vivian Mae, Evie Rose, Timothy Janovsky & more 2023, including Holly June Smith, Oona Grace, Kayla Grosse, Tracey Livesay & more 2022: Here Comes Santa Claus 2021: Short & Sexy Christmas Recs 2019, including Adriana Herrera, Delilah Peters, and several anthologies 2018, including Therese Beharrie, a Chanukah anthology, Cecilia Grant, Tiffany Reisz & more Books Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding Christmas in Coconut Creek by Karissa Kinword Mistletoe and Mishigas by MA Wardell Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria Make My Wish Come True by Caroline Linden Claiming His Christmas Wife by Dani Collins An Heir for Christmas by Caitlin Crews The Rescue by Julie Weaver Christmas in Spite of You by KC Mills Saint and the Queen by Desiree Date Night in December by Jaqueline Snowe Santa’s Baby by Lacey Hawthorne Sponsors Jenny Alexandra , authors of Santa Cutie , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . LaQuette , author of The King's Pregnancy Proposition , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Ginny B Moore , author of How the Rogue Stole Christmas , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . William Morrow Books , publishers of Olivia Dade's Second Chance Romance , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/11/23/0811-holiday-romances If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 19

It's that time of year! We're talking about the Best Romance Novels of 2025. We've chosen ten books that we love and that cover a range of historical, contemporary and paranormal, featuring romance with werewolves and cowboys, vaudeville actresses and vikings, Dukes and the actual Devil. This year, you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2025 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the books on the list! Scoundrel Take Me Away and Lazarus, Home from War (independently published) are not available. As always, you can add additional romances, or one of Sarah's books to your box. We love the idea of you gifting yourself this box (you deserve it!), but maybe you’d like to slide into someone’s text messages with the link as a very excellent gift for you! Or…you can do what Sarah does, and buy the box and spread the love around—sending each of the books to someone on your list or wrapping them up and popping them in your local Little Free Library. Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Threads or Bluesky when you unbox! Check out our “Best Romance Novels” lists from previous years: 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020 , and 2019 . (We were 5 minutes old in 2018 and didn’t do a list that year), and please tell us what your favorite books of 2025 were! If you want other people to discuss this list with, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along will be KJ Charles's The Magpie Lord . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Fan Service by Rosie Danan Scoundrel, Take Me Away by Louisa Darling Son Of The Morning by Akwaeke Emezi Tempest Of Desire by Lorraine Heath Into The Woods by Jenny Holiday Lazarus, Home from the War by E.H. Lupton A Showgirl’s Rules For Falling In Love by Alice Murphy The Bone King And The Starling by Elisabeth Stephens Some Kind Of Famous by Ava Wilder Cowboy It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates Sponsors Lyx Books , publishers of Selina Mae's Lessons in Faking , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . (We mistakenly called this YA in the ad read. It is New Adult .) Lumi Gummies . Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. Darcy Green , author of After the Siren , available in print or ebook at Amazon , Kobo , and Apple Books . Zara Doyle , author of Emma and Her Wolf , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/11/17/best-romance-novels-of-2025 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 12

We had a great week, and so we decided we all need nice things, which means it's time to just talk about the stuff we love in romance. We're talking about our favorite microtropes in romance novels--the things that give us pure shots of joy. There's all sorts of stuff in here: contemporaries, historicals, paranormals, mafia, hockey, tattoos, piercings, kilts, families getting their comeuppance, and much much more. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along will be KJ Charles's The Magpie Lord . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes It’s not too early to donate to our Fated States Giving Circle , or maybe you want to Run for Something . You can check out the Collections page for more great book lists (made by humans!), and we also talked about the breeding kink episode in case you want to see just how unhinged we get on New Year’s Eve. The Mandela Effect is in fact named after Nelson Mandela . Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a researcher who has described universal pleasure centers. Monkey Island is a real place called Cayo off the coast of Puerto Rico or a video game . Here’s an amazing dissection of a microtrope beloved by Mary Balogh: stern men who can’t stop skinny dipping. If you are in Brooklyn this week, stop by on Thursday November 13, 2025 to see Sarah and several other authors from the Ladies in Waiting collection. Books Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz The Billionaire’s Bargain by Naima Simone The Beast Prince by Marian Perera Lothaire by Kresley Cole Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase The Bride by Julie Garwood Mafia Mistress by Mila Finelli Mister O by Lauren Blakeley Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey Redemption by Nikki Sloane Funny Feelings by Tarah DeWitt Hellfire Riders: Jack and Lily by Kati Wilde Tempest by Beverly Jenkins Mountain Boss by SJ Tilly Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan The Hostage Bargain by Annika Martin Hans by SJ Tilly Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade Puck Me Secretly by Odette Stone Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Lead by Kylie Scott Oops Baby for the Mafia Boss by Evie Rose Sponsors Lily Riley , author of Phoenix's Last Heist , available in print and ebook at Amazon or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Gummies . Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. Kylie Scott , author of So My Ex-Boyfriend is a Serial Killer , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/11/10/s0809-our-favorite-romance-microtropes If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 5

We definitely have a hope became reality hangover this morning, but we also have a very fun episode for you today! We're talking romance shorts -- not novellas, not short novels, but actual short stories under 15,000 words (or about 50 pages). We talk about why this is such a difficult goal to hit, about why romance lends itself to longer formats, and about why short fiction is a really great way to keep reading when things feel chaotic. We also chat about Sarah's new short story, a part of the Ladies in Waiting anthology, out this week and providing minor characters from Jane Austen their own happily ever afters. Sarah is joined by romance greats Diana Quincy, Nikki Payne and Eloisa James, among others. Get the collection at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Also, we want to take a moment to send enormous thanks to everyone who donated to the Fated States Giving Circle at The States Project this year — those donations were gamechangers — last night we expanded our majority in the VA House, and secured a Democratic Trifecta in Virginia! As ever, we’re so proud to stand and fight with you! If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along will be KJ Charles's The Magpie Lord . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes The Ladies in Waiting anthology was released this week, and in the anthology, authors wrote HEAs for minor Austen characters. Sarah wrote about Miss Bates from Emma . Sarah has a few short stories: The Bladesmith Queen , a Medieval short available with her newsletter signup; "Fire That Lasts," and a YA short in the Generation Wonder anthology. The duke who has a sheep is in a novella called A Duke Worth Falling For . Sarah asked Threads for recs of romance short stories and that’s where many of these stories came from, but there are many more we didn’t get to. So check it out. There are lots of news articles and independent essays about why people are reading less , college kids are reading less , and children are reading less , But also, the decline of reading has been something we’ve been talking about for years . Check out the Read Me Romance podcast and Audible Originals for other pieces of original short fiction. Books Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters No Taste Like Home by Nisha Sharma Falling for Nola by Katie Reus His Duchess’s Lovers series by Elizabeth Roubaix Give it To Me by Angelina M Lopez Hands on Learning by Maggie Eliot Remedy for a Rake by Ginny Moore The Worst Possible Thing by Melissa Kendall While it Was Storming by Cara Dion The Greymere Cliffs by Anne Knight Books & Broadswords by Jessie Mihalik Cynders & Ashe by Elizabeth Boyle Splash Me by Laura Lovely Whispers of Love by Jayashree Gopal Ten Things I Loathe About You by Leslie Vollard The Spicy Bites anthologies The Bladesmith Queen by Sarah MacLean Fire that Lasts by Sarah MacLean Sponsors Blue Box Press, publishers of Jennifer L. Armentrout's Official Blood and Ash Coloring Book , available in print at Amazon , B&N , or wherever you get your books . Avon Books, publishers of Sasha Laurens's When I Picture You , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you get your books . William Morrow, publishers of Akwaeke Emezi's Son of the Morning , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books , with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited , or wherever you get your books . The What in the Smut Podcast , available wherever you get your podcasts . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/11/4/0808-the-ladies-in-waiting-anthology-and-other-romance-short-stories If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 29

It's Halloween which means we're talking about monsters (complimentary)! We've done devils and witches and an entire season on monsters of all ilk, but we haven't done demons yet, and so here we are! Come one come all as Sarah confesses one of her weirdest (charming) kinks and we discuss the age-old adage: "If a demon's horns aren't sexual organs, why are they even there?" We're heading back to the early 00s on this one, so headphones in because who knows what we're going to talk about?! Definitely not us! This week also marks our 7th anniversary, so we're feeling just a little emotional (grateful). Thank you for being with us, whether this is your first episode or your almost four hundredth. We love you. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes We’ve done some serious Halloween episodes and also some silly ones . And all of season one was the Immortals After Dark series. The devil is just the most powerful demon in Christian mythology , and apparently so are incubi and succubi . Tim Curry in Legend is actually nothing at all like David Bowie in Labyrinth . Books Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Hot as Hades by Alisha Rai Succubus Blues by Richelle Meade Dealing with a Desperate Demon by Charlotte Stein Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend by Jessica Cage Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole MacRieve by Kresley Cole Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole A Rogue’s Proposal by Stephanie Laurens A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur Demon Lover by Heather Guerre Dionysus in Wisconsin by EH Lupton Sponsors HarperCollins , publishers of N.E. Davenport's Our Vicious Oaths , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books , with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited , or wherever you get your books . Rachel Runya Katz , author of Isn't it Obvious , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you get your books . Zara Doyle , author of Tori and her Wolf , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jessica Thomas , author of Dare Me, Ellie, available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited .

Oct 22

It's Gorilla Twins Week! We couldn't be happier to be talking about The Earl Takes All , a book we love so much we gave it a nickname that all of Romancelandia uses now. Whether you're reading it for the first time or the fiftieth, we're so happy to have you. We talk about Jane Goodall, Romance Gorillas, Lorraine Heath's brilliant mind, how she's easily a top-five romance novelist and possibly the best of them when it comes to writing conflict, and just how much we love a bonkers historical. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes It’s not too late to join the The Fated States Giving Circle , 25 people who give in October will receive a copy of Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen's Unsung Characters , featuring Sarah's novella about Emma 's Miss Bates. This is our second Lorraine Heath deep dive episode, because she writes a banger. Listen to our deep dive of Waking Up With the Duke . According to search, we’ve mentioned Gorilla Twins (aka The Earl Takes All ) at least 34 times on the podcast. Sorry not sorry. The hallmark movie Adventures in Love & Birding is based on Birding with Benefits by Sarah Dubb. Apparently the birding community has some feedback on the bird situation of the movie. It’s Romance Bird ! It’s Romance dormouse ! It’s Romance Pig ! Rest in Peace Jane Goodall . Famous Last Words is a show where you get to leave your burn book, and Jane Goodall’s was the first episode. Our episodes will be 100 hours each, so plan accordingly. The history of influenza . Vaccines work . Go get a flu shot . Some more information about mountain gorillas . JK. It’s Rune Week! Sponsors Charis Michaels, author of Claiming the Princess , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Elizabeth Roubaix , author of the His Duchess's Lovers collection, available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Sotto Voce Scents . Go to sottovocescents.com and use code FATEDMATES2025 for 25% off your order. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/10/21/0806-the-earl-takes-all-by-lorraine-heath-gorilla-twins If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 15

How is it possible we've never done a governess episode? And how is it possible Louisa Darling hasn't been a guest on the pod yet? We're rectifying both of these injustices this week. We talk about Jane Eyre, The Sound of Music and other primordial governesses, and discuss exactly what kind of buttons these books installed--almost entirely thanks to old school historicals. We also talk about how governess books are some of the only books in which we will suffer a child, and yes, we shout out the nannies, too! Louisa Darling is the pen name of Louisa Edwards and Lily Everett, and the author of Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up to be Scoundrels , Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone , and Scoundrel, Take Me Away . Our next read along is Gorilla Twins, AKA Lorraine Heath's The Earl Takes All . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . (Apologies for the subpar audio quality.) Notes Learn more about The States Project and donate to the Fated States Giving Circle to keep Virginia blue this November. Welcome historical author Louisa Darling . She’s written contemporary romance as Louisa Edwards and women’s fiction as Lily Everett. She imprinted on Jayne Eyre and worked as an editorial assistant for Leslie Gelbman at Berkley , who edited Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. Maybe all those early governess books were really about The Sound of Music . We talked about the Molly O’Keefe series that included Wait For It in season 7, and about Vanessa Riley and wet nurses when we had Kennedy Ryan on in season 2. Finally, our next deep dive will be Gorilla Twins . The actual title, of course, is The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath. The Books Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up to be Scoundrels by Louisa Darling Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone by Louisa Darling Scoundrel, Take Me Away by Louisa Darling Rules for a Proper Governess by Jennifer Ashley A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley The Duke Who Ravished Me by Diana Quincy Deception by Amanda Quick Snowed In with the Viking by Lucy Morris Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan The Game and the Governess By Kate Noble The Lie and the Lady by Kate Noble The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian The Nanny is Off Limits by QB Tyler Rafe by Rebekah Weatherspoon Sponsors Harpercollins, publishers of Lindsay Kelk's Christmas Fling , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Andie J. Christopher , author of Faster , available in print, ebook, audiobook, with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited , or wherever you get your books . Lumi Labs , creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. Katherine Grant , author of The Widower Without a Will , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/10/14/s0805-governesses-with-louisa-darling If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 8

We're thinking about Chicago, DC, and LA this week, and standing in solidarity with the people living and resisting in those cities. While reading isn't action, it can supplement it, and keep us joyful as we do the hard work of standing up. To that end, this week, we're recommending books that feature Chicago, Washington, DC & Los Angeles as settings. We're also sharing resources and ways you can stay informed, help communities of immigrants, and get involved in whatever way possible. Note: We recorded this episode just as the National Guard was sent to Portland, Oregon, which is why Portland-set romances are not included in this episode. Please feel free to share your favorite romances set there in comments or on social media. Tag us so we can share! Our next read along is Gorilla Twins, AKA Lorraine Heath's The Earl Takes All . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Notes Learn more about Ramón Ayala, the King of the Accordion. There goes your social life. It's too late to go to The Gothenburg Book Festival this year, but there’s always next year. One of the first internationally known Swedish romance writers is Simona Ahrnstedt. Crime fiction is a big deal in Sweden , and Sarah met Camilla Läckberg and Anders de la Motte . Terrible awful things happening in Chicago , Los Angeles , Washington DC , and Portland . Many of these raids are apparently being filmed to make propaganda for the regime. Support local, independent news organizations in your town. This is how you can find out information about what is going on across the country. You might start by checking out: Unraveled Press , Block Club Chicago , The Triibe , LA Taco, WBEZ chicago or your local NPR station, The Chicago Sun-Times . You should also find local organizations that do work you care about and find a way to support them. In Chicago, for example, two vital organizations are The Brave Space Alliance and The Love Fridge . And, find out who is supporting immigrants where you live and find out what they need and how you can support their work. For example, The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in Illinois, and CHIRLA, The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in LA. Find a local Latinx-owned bookstore near you by using this list from the Latinos In Publishing account. Here's a list of Latinx bookstores in LA if you're looking there. The Chicago North Romance Writers hosts a writing conference called Spring Fling, it’s happening in April of 2026. Some of the great people Jen has met from the group or around town at local romance events: Pamala Knight, Shannyn Schroeder, Kelly Farmer, Victoria Hamel, Kathy Douglass, and Chandra Blumberg. Find other people in your community who are working to fight authoritarianism and tyranny at Mobilize . Not sure how to contact your reps? Try using 5 Calls and Resistbot . You, too, can Run for Something . It’s not too late to donate money to our Giving Circle for the upcoming election in Virginia. Listen to Amanda Litman from Run For Something on Fated Mates Listen to Melissa Walker from The States Project on Fated Mates Books Noelle the First by Nicole Falls I’ll Get Back to You by Becca Grischow The Matched to Perfection Series by Priscilla Oliveras The Vega Family Love Stories by Natalie Caña The Crowne Legacy Series by Sherelle Green The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev The Curse Bearer Series by Veronica Roth Stars in Your Eyes by Kacen Callender The Eastside Brewery Series by Mia Hopkins The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Jayne Ann Krentz His Girl Hollywood by Maureen Lee Lenker The Sapphire Cove Series by C. Travis Rice Love Will Always Remember by Tracey Livesay Something Cheeky by Thien-Kim Lam Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kincade The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/10/6/0804-we-love-you-chicago-dc-and-la If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now. Feral Warriors Series by Pamela Palmer Pride & Protest by Nikki Payne The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa The Blackout Billionaire Series by Naima Simone Sponsors Lindsay Barrett, author of Savannah Royals series, available at in print or ebook , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Vedentro , premium leather accessories. Use code FATED at checkout to get 30% off. Jamie Varon , author of Charlie Quinn Lets Go , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books .

Oct 1

It's October, which means we're thinking about fall, which comes with spice, heat and hanging out under the blankets! Today, our Fall 2025 romance novel preview, guaranteed to fill your TBR pile. There’s something here for everyone — historicals, contemporaries, a splash of magic, princesses, superheroes, time-travel, widows, F1 drivers...a real ideal dinner party roster. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Books September Releases Faster by Andie J. Christopher The Earl That Got Away by Diana Quincy Resisting the Forbidden Widow by Maggie Weston The Scot's Seduction Megan Frampton The Dreamer and the Deep Space Warrior by TK Tucker October Releases Hell's Heresies by Kat D. Coffin Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia Wrecking Caine by Amelia Shea A Scar in the Bone by Sophie Jordan Cowboy, It's Cold Outside by Maisey Yates Strings Attached by Noel Bailey A Pack for Winter by Eliana Lee Isn’t It Obvious by Rachel Runya Katz London Calling by Rita Gordon Backslide by Nora Dahlia Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur All of us Murderers by KJ Charles Only Rakes Need Apply by Kate Pearce Julia Song Is Undateable by Susan Lee Some Kind of Famous by Ava Wilder A Star Is Scorned by Maureen Lee Lenker Blue Collar Billionaire by Amy Andrews Once Upon a Courtesan by Jess Michaels Claiming the Princess by Charis Michaels Heartsick by Kristina Forrest Reel Love by Addie Woolridge November Releases The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose Robyn Green Not You Again by Erin La Rosa These Violet Delights by Madeleine Roux All Superheroes Need Photos Ops by Elizabeth Stephens Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz Call Me Anytime by Max Monroe The Maid of Sherwood Forest by Sian Ann Bessey Pick Me by Victoria Schade Ellie Hayes and the Himbos by Vanessa King Next Time Will be our Turn by Jesse Q Sutanto Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters Big Sky Safe House by Juno Rushdan Snowbound and Royally Forbidden by Maya Blake The Reluctant Reaper by MaryJanice Davidson Midnight Book Club by E.W. Anderson December Releases Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lee Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot by Alexis Hall Something Wicked by Falon Ballard Her Time Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan How to Grieve like a Victorian by Amy Carol Reeves A Most Worthy Husband by Faye Delacour Love letters for Other People by Shaylin Gandhi Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal Sponsors Jaylee Austin, BL Lucas, Tegan Lleuad, Brie Blackmore, RM Fire, & Natasha Wilco, authors of Monsters in Moonlight series, six books available at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . HarperCollins , publishers of Diana Quincy's The Earl That Got Away , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Pippa Grant , author of The Spite Date , available at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jamie Varon , author of Charlie Quinn Lets Go , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/9/12/0803-fall-2025-preview If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 24

Our fave, Adriana Herrera, is with us this week to talk about feminism, romance, and how the two intersect. We talk about the history of the genre, about the evolution of feminism within it, and about what we want from the texts we're reading now, as the world does whatever it is it's doing. Oh, and we recommend some feminist romance, because of course we do. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes Welcome back to the podcast, Adriana Herrera . Her first time on the podcast was way back in Season One, talking about Bowen and Mariketa , and then there were all these other times we’ve talked with her or about her books . Her latest project is the After the End kickstarter , which was just ending as this podcast aired. But you might be able to get in on it for a few more days if you act fast. Choice feminism isn’t the way , even if you’r e Charlotte from Sex in the City … why did Jen think it was Samantha? Because memory is weird, okay. In 2025, the New York Times reports that 350k Black women have lost their jobs and the goal of the administration broadly seems to be resegregation . We recommend books about feminism below, from beginner to advanced. But we’ve also collected some web-based resources you might want to check out: The Race to Innocence: watch this TikTok or read this 1998 paper by Fellows & Razack which first defined the phenomenon. Intersectionality: This idea was first defined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. You can read more about the basics of intersectionality here , here, or here . Feminist Theory: The Four Waves of Feminism explained; The Uses of the Erotic: the Erotic as Power by Audre Lorde; No Offense by Jia Tolentino. Transmisogyny: Transmisogyny defined; why trans rights are human rights , and why feminism must support trans people . Books Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night by Kresley Cole Hold by Claire Kent Fanta C by Sandra Brown Darling Obstacles by Barbara Boswell A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women Careless Whispers by Synithia Williams The Bone King and the Starling by Elizabeth Stephens Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzales Ain’t She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips The Bright Falls series by Ashley Herring Blake Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre Streams and Schemes by Rebecca Kinkade All About Love by bell hooks Feminism, Interrupted by Lola Olufemi The Portable Feminist Reader The Trouble with White Women by Kyla Schuller Sponsors Melody Beckett, author of Alien Desire , available at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . HarperCollins, publishers of A. T. Qureshi's The Baby Dragon Bakery , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Pippa Grant, author of The Spite Date , available at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/feminism-in-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 17

Season Eight! How is it possible you're all still here?! We're so incredibly thrilled to have you all with us for another season. We've got big plans for talking to your favorite people, getting under the hood of your favorite tropes, and filling your TBR pile with your new favorite books. We quickly find ourselves in the deep end, talking about craft, criticism, and romance’s place in 2025. But first, we share what we did on our summer vacations. Season Eight. Wowzer. Honestly, we love knowing you're out there. Thank you so much for listening. If you'd like more romance chat in your life, please consider joining our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! There, magnificent firebirds hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes If you’re a writer looking to learn more about in person events for romance craft, check out Romancing the Craft in Anaheim this fall or Spring Fling which will be hosted by Chicago North Romance Writers in spring of 2026. Australia is not actually a land of criminals , but Tasmania is a dark place…the sky we mean. On the This is Love podcast, there was an episode about it! Check out the Night Sky app , which will help you identify the stars you are seeing in the night sky. Martha’s Vineyard is great, actually. But watch out for ticks and sharks . Speaking of Jaws, it’s a different vibe without that music and here’s more about John Williams and the power of the score. AP isn’t doing book reviews anymore , and that means that there will be less book news in papers across America. We talked about the decline of cultural criticism this week. Read more about music criticism and film criticism . This goes hand in hand with news that less Americans are reading for pleasure. Across storytelling mediums, people are noticing a breakdown in the ability to tell a story. Here’s a great essay about the difference between premise and narrative in film. Here’s a really interesting thread from Blue Sky wondering if Sci-Fi is a genre that’s dying. Ten years ago gay marriage passed and it felt like the world had changed , but they’re determined to roll them back. Keep fighting. -- Sponsors Blue Box Press , publishers of Kristen Ashley's Finding the One , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . HarperCollins , publishers of Laurie Gilmore's The Gingerbread Bakery , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Vasilisa Drake , author of A Bargain So Bloody , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Get the audiobook wherever you listen. Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/9/10/0801-season-eight-the-state-of-the-romance-union If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 3

This year's Fated Mates Live was a little different than those we've hosted before, as it was also launch day for Sarah's These Summer Storms! We celebrated in style in the Midwest, hosted by the fabulous team at indie bookstore (and romance lovers), Novel Neighbor and joined by our absolute favorite, Kate Clayborn. So many Firebirds turned out to celebrate with us from across the midwest to help Sarah learn the intricacies of Midwestern Romance Heroes™️, to talk about Derek Craven and others, and to celebrate Storms in style. The audience was, unfortunately, without microphones, so some of the event has been edited from this recording, but we hope you'll get the vibes -- and learn a little about the midwest! (We apologize for the Indiana and Connecticut shade within.) Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us -- we couldn't have asked for a better event, or a better launch day for These Summer Storms . Thank you for reading, for hanging, and for standing in an endless line to meet us and spend a little of your rainy Tuesday with us!

Aug 27

We’re wrapping up season seven by asking ourselves a simple question. Do we like this stuff? Yes? No? Maybe so? We’ll be back in two weeks for the start of Season Eight of the podcast. Honestly, we remain amazed that y’all are with us on this journey. In a world full of madness, you bring us calm, joy and purpose, and we couldn’t be more grateful for you. Thank you so much for listening. While you’re waiting for Season Eight, you’re welcome to join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes The Komboucha Girl was sick of seeing her face back in 2019 , and yet here we are. Hozier in concert was great, even if his parents were not stars on the NBC soap, Days of Our Lives. That was John and Marlena. The visuals on Eat Your Young and Nina Cried Power were especially moving and inspiring. Someone made a playlist of the Nina Cried power songs , and now is a great time to listen to protest music. The impact 50 Shades had on the sales of ties (and other things) was real. An article from MEL about the wet problem, not just in romance, I guess. (that’s a NSFW link based on the headline and content, okay.) Butts tie these two clips together: Miranda on SATC on “are we doing this now?” and Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle thinking “some lady is going to want to do it her.” But overall, spit is important. Fucking her ass, saving her life is a quote from a Shayla Black book and this amazing review from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. Truly a Romancelandia classic. EM Forester described flat and round characters in Aspects of the Novel (1927). “The second shift” is a phrase used by author Arlie Russell Hochschild to describe the housework and childrearing responsibilities faced by women after coming home from their day jobs. Commuting is really bad for your wallet and bad for your health. Go to a farmer’s market if you must. Books Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe Hans by SJ Tilly The Club by Lauren Rowe Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday Lothaire by Kresley Cole Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley Stuck Up Suit by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson Sponsors Blue Box Press , publishers of the Hearts and Hidden Secrets: A Family Romance Collection featuring Devney Perry, Helena Hunting, Lauren Blakely and Tijan, available at Amazon . Rose Prendeville , author of Grace on the Rocks , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Avery Flynn , author of Head Witch in Charge , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/8/21/0749-season-seven-ends-with-the-kombucha-gif If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 20

Joanna Shupe joins us this week to celebrate her new book, The Gilded Heiress, and talk about one of our favorite things—baddies with a heart of gold! We talk about the book, about our mutual love of criminals, of noble scoundrels, of con artists and basically anyone willing to do crime in the name of love. We also talk about how everything Gilded Age is back again, which…ugh. We love Joanna and her book – come see us with her in Chicago on August 28th and in Brooklyn on September 9th . You can get The Gilded Heiress right now in print, ebook or audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes Welcome Joanna Shupe , who writes mafia romance as Mila Finelli. Next week, her historical The Gilded Heiress comes out next week. Earlier this summer, she released her latest in the New York State of Mafia series, Empire of Seduction . You can see her on book tour starting the week of August 26th , including with Jen in Chicago on August 28th . Pinkertons & Bow Street Runners were early cops and private investigators. Check out Joanna’s TikTok , which explores how the history of the Gilded Age is very relevant again: Tariffs are pretty bad, actually; the attempt to build an all white town in Arkansas , inspired by Apartheid South Africa , you can learn about Sundown Towns , Redlining , and racist housing covenants. Al Swearengen is a character on the show Deadwood based on a real person. The Gilded Heiress pays homage to Anastasia the Disney movie , which is itself a retelling of the story of Anastasia Romanov . The novel also explores the famous crime of the kidnapped Lindbergh Baby . Books Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe Empire of Seduction by Mila Finelli The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles The Player by Kresley Cole Scoundrel, Take Me Away by Louisa Darling Faking It by Jennifer Crusie The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt Baron by Joanna Shupe A Good Rogue is Hard to Find by Kelly Bowen The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian Hidden Sins by Selena Montgomery The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas The Windflower by Laura London Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Destiny’s Captive by Beverly Jenkins Captured by Beverly Jenkins To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins Sponsors: Amy Andrews, Pippa Roscoe, Rachael Stewart and Clare Connelly , authors of The Karma Club series, available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Maureen Lee Lenker , author of His Girl Hollywood , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/8/18/0748-criminals-and-noble-scoundrels-with-joanna-shupe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 13

It’s Bodyguard Romance week, which feels impossible, honestly, considering we’ve definitely done this before, haven’t we? According to Eric and also the internet, we haven’t, which means we get to talk for the first time in seven seasons about why Bodyguards work so well for so many romance readers, including us! We talk about the basics – the innate joy of having an Exasperated Man™️ willing to put himself in front of a bullet for you, the absolute delight of the books that turn the whole thing on its head and make the protector the protected, and yes, Whitney Houston. Also, Jen makes a brilliant observation on surveillance culture and how it’s impacting romance. We’re keeping you safe from the baddies this week. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes In a recent interview Kevin Costner talked about his feelings about Whitney Houston . Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston ’s versions of I Will Always Love You , Whitney’s isolated vocals on How Will I Know , and Whitney sang the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl in 1991 and the New Yorker article about it. Caroline has created a bodyguard collection featuring books across subgenres. The Big Easy is a movie with Dennis Quaid (he’s crazy now) and Ellen Barkin where he is a cop who uncovers corruption on the force. Everyone, it looks like this thing about not needing a PI license in the state of Wyomin g is legit, go forth and spread the news. Books Princess by Galen Foley Hans by SJ Tilly Wyoming Bodyguard by Danielle Haas The Wilde Ways Series by Cynthia Eden Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert The Billionaire’s Bodyguard by Emma Holly Sexy/Dangerous and Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins Burned Dreams by Neva Altaj A Duke to Remember by Kelly Bowen Ace of Hearts by Renee Rose Keep Her Safe QB Tyler Sponsors: Blue Box Press , publishers of the Duty and Desire: A Uniformed Heroes & Bodyguard anthology featuring Aurora Rose Reynolds, Kristen Ashley, Kylie Scott & Rebecca Zanetti available at Amazon . Hunter Snow , author of Gone Country , available at Amazon , B&N or wherever you get your books . Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/8/12/0747-bodyguards If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 6

We're back with a deep dive episode on one of our favorite Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, Natural Born Charmer . Jen thinks this one marks SEP's Imperial Period, and Sarah looks askance at the term romcom to describe romance novels. We're back on our bullsh*t, is what we're saying. We're talking plot, character, risk-taking, and how romances can feel wildly expansive. This is our last deep dive of Season 7 -- more in Season 8, which begins in September. If you want to talk in depth about specific books, though, maybe you'd enjoy being a member of our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes You can get Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Natural Born Charmer at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . In season 2, we did a deep dive of an earlier Chicago Stars book, Nobody’s Baby But Mine . We also did an episode with Susan in season 3 . It’s the interview that made us realize we should keep interviewing romance trailblazers. Jen was on Learning the Tropes to talk about another SEP book, Kiss an Angel. In 2003, the song Hey Ya by Outkast was number 1 for 9 weeks at the end of that year and into early 2004. In 2018, Rolling Stone ranked the song #4 in the top 100 songs of the 21st Century So Far . This article from Spin describes what it means when an artist is in their imperial period. Sleazy Burt Reynolds guy. Almost Famous (2000) is amazing movie about the rise and fall of a 70s rock band. A great thing happened during the baby races halftime show last week at a Las Vegas Aces game last week. Also at the Indiana Fever game. Sponsors Scarlett Xavier , author of Irish Fire and Forbidden Love , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publishers of Mason Deaver's The Build-a-Boyfriend Project , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Claire Trella Hill , author of Black and Deep Desires , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Avon Books , publishers of Holly Michelle's Last Night Was Fun , available in print, ebook or audio from Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/8/4/0746-natural-born-charmer-by-susan-elizabeth-phillips If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 29

By request (and because Sarah needed books for her upcoming trip), we're talking about romance novels by Australian authors this week, with a nod to some New Zealanders as well. We discuss how historical romance has much maligned Australia, recommend some absolutely terrific books, many of which we've actually done deep dives on, and we talk about why so many Australian romances hit the spot with American readers. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along (next week!) is Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Natural Born Charmer . You can get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes French Kiss is not available on streamers and it's very upsetting for those of us who know the deep magic of Kevin Kline & Meg Ryan. Australia is not the nation of criminals historical romance novels would like you to believe, but a lot of criminals did get sent there over an 80 year period from 1788-1868. Sarah is going to talk to the Romance Writers of Australia and the Romance Writers of New Zealand next month. Yes, she'll be going to Port Arthur in Tasmania to check out the place where all those criminals were sent. Victor Gadino illustrated the stepback for Dream Fever by Katherine Sutcliffe Mills & Boon is a British romance imprint, in North America these books are published under the name Harlequin. When Sarah talked about The Australians in the early years of Mills & Boon, she was wrong, and likely thinking of Diana Palmer's 1985 The Australian . The Australians series was a 12 book series in the early 2010s from Harlequin Presents. The book Raising the Stakes by Jess Dee is no longer available in Kindle, but maybe it is in other countries or maybe you downloaded it in the past? Check out her available titles here. Books Dream Fever by Katherine Sutcliffe The Sydney Smoke Series by Amy Andrews Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell Devil’s Bride and the Cynster family by Stephanie Laurens ( listen to the deep dive ) Wildflowers , Lies , and It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time by Kylie Scott ( listen to the deep dive of Kylie's Stage Dive series) Captivated and Act Your Age by Eve Dangerfield Office Affair by Jess Dee The Milvus Files by NR Walker The Last Binding Series by Freya Marske A Baby in his In-Tray by Michelle Douglas The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie The Return of Her Billionaire Husband by Melanie Milburne Fugitive Bride by Miranda Lee Home by Jezz De Silva Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh ( listen to the deep dive ) The Devil’s Submission by Nicola Davidson Sponsors World Gone Wrong: A fictional chat show about friendship at the end of the world , available at audaciousmachinecreative.com and wherever you listen to podcasts . Sophie Morgan , author of Season of the Witch , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Louisa Darling , author of Scoundrel Take Me Away , available at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/7/29/0745-australian-romance-authors If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 22

It's been several years since the last time we talked about the allure of competency in romance, but it's a topic we adore, so here we are again, talking about characters with relentless competence and the characters who love them beyond measure. If you're new here, welcome! We're happy to have you! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Natural Born Charmer . You can get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Notes The These Summer Storms tour is a wrap, ending with Sarah in conversation with Rebecca Baumann from the Lilly Library at the Mallow Run vineyard . That one movie with Keanu Reeves and a vineyard is called A Walk in the Clouds (1995). You can’t grow grapes anywhere, but you can grow them in a lot more places than you’d think. The Nora Roberts book about fossils called Birthright , and here’s the manga Dreaming of Yo u. Look at all these editions of Wuthering Heights . The Airmont career series . Here’s a recent update on the search for Amelia Earhart’s plane from just a few weeks ago. Watch the video of Delta’s flight crew uniforms over time. Jen was interviewed by Lauren Sarner from the New York Post for an article about love triangles in pop culture because of the return of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Ranger vs Morelli has been going on for far too long, or maybe it’s over? We last officially talked about careers back in Season 2, episode 8. Speaking of fixers, you might enjoy the movie Michael Clayton. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition . Our next deep dive is Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Books Georgie All Along by Kate Clayborn Out with Lanterns by Hillary Bowen A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera Single Player by Tara Tai Duke of My Heart by Kelly Bowen Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside by Maisey Yates Evernight by Kristen Callihan Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan The Fixer by Helenkay Dimon King by SJ Tilly Sponsors Hillary Bowen , author of Out With Lanterns , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . Wattpad Books , publisher of Z.W. Taylor's The Pack , available in print, ebook and audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/7/22/0744-jobs-careers-and-fixers-in-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 15

Our Trailblazer series continues with Pamela Sanderson, the first Native American author to write contemporary romance about Native characters in Native community. Pamela joins us to talk about her writing journey, about her decision to write and independently publish romance, about the need for more Native American romance in the world. We so enjoyed this conversation, and we’re grateful to Pamela for joining us to tell her story. Listen to all the Trailblazer episodes . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes Pamela Sanderson is an enrolled citizen of the Karuk Tribe , located in northwest California on the Klamath River. Pamela also publishes in other genres as Pamela Rentz . People Mentioned this Episode: Louise Erdrich , N. Scott Momaday , Johanna Lindsay , Kathleen E. Woodiwiss , Stephen King , Anne Rice , On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves, Courntey Milan , Sarina Bowen , Love is a War Song by Danica Nava , Ali Hazelwood , Tessa Dare , Alexis Hall , Theory of Bastards by Audrey Schulman, the TV show North of North, The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones , and Rebecca Roanhorse . Writing Workshops: Clarion West and Romancing the Craft The Dear Author blog was an early, vocal fan of Pamela’s work. If you are interested in KidLit or have children, you should be familiar with Debbie Reese and her blog, American Indians in Children’s Literature . Pamela's Books Heartbeat Braves Lovesick Braves Sweetheart Braves Crooked Rock Braves Sponsors Blue Box Press , publishers of Jennifer Probst's The Reluctant Flirt, available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . Kylie Scott , author of Wildflowers: An End of the World romance , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . World Gone Wrong: A fictional chat show about friendship at the end of the world , available at audaciousmachinecreative.com and wherever you listen to podcasts. Renée Ahdieh , author of Park Avenue , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/7/15/0743-trailblazer-pamela-sanderson If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 9

Last night’s Fated Mates Live was so much fun , but now we’re back in your earholes. It’s time again for our annual Sarah MacLean deep dive (with no spoilers!). As per tradition, Jen asks Sarah a bunch of fun questions and forces Sarah to talk about her book. And it all ends with Julia Whalen reading two chapters of These Summer Storms! It was a delight to see so many of you in St. Louis yesterday, and to everyone else, we’re just as glad you’re here with us today. Notes It’s finally time for These Summer Storms ! And it might not be too late to see Sarah on book tour! Mary Kay Andrews is very fierce on Instagram, and we love her for it. You can also see her with Renee Adiah, author of the forthcoming Park Avenue , which she mentions at the end of the show. When the New York Times published their Best Books of the 21st Century so far, Sarah shared her ballot. Rhode Island has a long history of being associated with big money. On Inside the Actors Studio, the host James Lipton always ended with the same list of questions , known as the Pivot questions after their originator Bernard Pivot. Similarly, the New York Times column By the Book (Jen called it Get Booked, sorry for any confusion!) has a rotating list of questions, but some are very common. If you are interested in reading some of these columns, check out By The Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life , published in 2015. The books on Sarah’s nightstand were: The Second Coming by Carter Sherman, It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan, and Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella. Sponsors Kylie Scott , author of Wildflowers: An End of the World romance , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . 1001 Dark Nights , publisher of Midnight Myths and Magic , available in print and ebook from Amazon . Mina Brower , author of A God of Moonlight and Stardust , available in print, ebook, and with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publisher of Scotch on the Rocks , available in print, ebook, and audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , and Bookshop.org . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 2

We're thrilled to have audiobook queen and Voice of the Summer ( USA Today ), Julia Whelan with us today! Aside from being the voice of Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, VE Schwab and Kristen Hannah, she's also an author of her own delicious books and the founder of Audiobrary, an audio book company that pays narrators on a royalty structure. She's here to talk about her journey to writing and to narrating, about the way she thinks about her work, her advocacy, and the world of audiobooks. We are so incredibly thrilled to have her! Julia is also the narrator for Sarah's book, These Summer Storms, available next week wherever books are sold. The audiobook is perfection, and you can read it on Audible , LibroFM or Apple Music ...or wherever you get your audiobooks. There are still tickets to see Sarah on tour in NYC , Chicago , Winston-Salem, NC , Newport, RI , Cambridge, MA , Decatur, GA , or Franklin, IN . There are a handful of tickets still available for Fated Mates Live in St. Louis, MO on July 8th! Join us! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Notes Welcome Julia Whelan, USA Today's voice of the summer , audiobook narrator extraordinaire and the founder of Audiobrary . A Netflix movie of her book My Oxford Year is coming soon. Sarah wants you to know that she realized later that she was remembering the plot of The Girl on the Train when she was talking about the audiobook Gone Girl , but that they're both bangers. Like everything, AI is creeping into the audiobook world . An audiobook Julia recommends is Jess Walters’s Beautiful Ruins, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini. Books These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan Casanova LLC by Julia Whelan Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Animal Bodies by Suzanne Roberts Heroine by Mary Jane Wells American Queen by Sierra Simone Sponsors Avon Books , publishers of Alexandra Paige's An Irish Summer , available in print, ebook or audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Chelsea Fagan , author of The High Dive , available in print, ebook or audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or wherever you get your books . Alyxandra Harvey , author of A Deal with the Devil , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . MA Wardell , author of Stirring Spurs , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/7/1/0741-a-conversation-with-audiobook-narrator-julia-whelan If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 26

We're both staying very still in front of air conditioners this week, so that means we're very very happy to have a pile of summer reads at the ready! We're teeing up your piles of summer reads this week with our quarterly romance roundup! As a reminder, we haven't read most of these books -- but they're the ones toppling our TBR! As a reminder, preorders mean a lot more than they should these days, so if there's anything on this list that makes you go "oh, yes. that's for me," and you're able to preorder from your local bookstore (or from Pocket Books Bookshop with the code PREORDER) or reserve at your local library. The authors on this list thank you. As a reminder, Sarah has a new book out on July 8th -- go see her on tour in NYC , Chicago , Winston-Salem, NC , Newport, RI , Cambridge, MA , Decatur, GA , or Franklin, IN . There are a handful of tickets still available for Fated Mates Live in St. Louis, MO on July 8th! Join us! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books June When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa Best Summer Ever by Jessica Cunsolo Keeping the Countess by Lille Moore An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Ceclia Edwards Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino Party of Three by C. Travis Rice Eliza and the Duke by Harper St. George Steel Horses & Leather Roads by Cher Terais July These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Enemies with an Earl by Lizzie C. Koz The Summer You Were Mine by Jill Francis Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee Behind Frenemy Lines by Zen Cho How Freaking Romantic by Emily Harding One More Time by Emily S. Morris Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman Love is a War Song by Danica Nava August Lane by Regina Black Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez Sweet Thing by Kate Meader Bad Luck Bride by Laura Lee Guhrke Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods Not Part of the Plan by Lucy Score Soulgazer by Maggie Rapier The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick by S. Isabelle Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by CB Lee A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan August Heart Strings by Ivy Fairbanks A Promise of Forever by Sheryl Lister The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh His Forgotten Wife by Tara Pammi You’ve Got a Place Here, Too: An Anthology of Black Love Stories Set at HBCUs The Fortune Hunter’s Guide to Love by Emma-Claire Sunday My Big Fat Vampire Wedding by Jessica Gadziala Zom Romcom by Olivia Dade Kiss & Collide by Amanda Weaver The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe Here For a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War The Entanglement of Rival Wizards by Sara Raasch Love is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De La Rosa Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan A Waltz on the Wide Side by Erica Ridley My Best Friend’s Earl by Bethany Bennett September Time for You by Elizabeth Davis By the Horns by Ruby Dixon It Had to be Him by Adib Khorram Dead Poet Sorority by Sofia Shelley The Haunting of William Thorn by Ben Alderson The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne Tracing Her Stolen Identity by Katie Mettner To Heist and to Hold by Christina Britton Honey and Heat by Aurora Palit We Met Like This by Kasie West Scoundrel, Take Me Away by Louisa Darling Charlie Quinn Lets Go by Jamie Varon Mourner for Hire by Caitlin Moss Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola Sponsors Pocket Books Bookshop , a feminist, antiracist, queer owned bookshop in Lancaster, PA. Preorder any upcoming book from their website and use the code PREORDER for 15% off! Get These Summer Storms signed by Sarah from them . Kay K. Denner , author of Again, Scoundrel , available in ebook from Amazon . Kara Kentley , author of Another Summer , available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Lumi Gummies , THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/6/21/0740-hot-summer-reads If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now. 00:00 Opening the Book Hydrant 11:33 June 21:24 AD: ANOTHER SUMMER 23:38 July 42:34 AD: POCKET BOOKS 44:41 More July! 55:31 AD: AGAIN SCOUNDREL 57:36 August 1:20:03 AD: LUMI GUMMIES 1:22:08 More August! 1:32:07 September 1:58:16 undefined

Jun 17

This week, we're talking about romance's most common family: the dysfunctional one! Sarah wrote a book about one, so we're thinking about what makes them special to romance, and what sets the romantic dysfunctional family apart from the ones that live outside of the genre. Jen has five categories. There's a game involved. You can play along at home! If you love this one, you can listen to our Daddy Issues (not the fun kind) episode with C. Travis Rice. And if you just want to listen to an episode about Daddies (the fun kind), we've got you . Sarah's book, These Summer Storms is out in three weeks and she is going on tour! What's more, there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books The Filthy Rich Americans series by Nikki Sloan The Uptown Girls Series by Joanna Shupe The Dukes in Disguise Series by Louisa Darling American Royalty by Tracey Livesay Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria One and Only by Jenny Holiday The Billionaire’s Bargain by Naima Simone Lead by Kylie Scott After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez Dark Needs at Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole The Player by Kresley Cole Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre Darkest Sins and Sweet Prison by Neva Altaj The Dangerous Royals Series by Annika Martin Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Dream a Dream by Susan Elizabeth Phillips A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught Beautiful Beast by Neva Altaj Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie The Scandal and Scoundrel Series by Sarah MacLean The Proposition by Judith Ivory The Blue Cedar Falls Series by Jeanne Chin Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez The Takeover Effect by Nisha Sharma The Vega Family Love Stories Series by Natalie Cana Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner Notes If you love Derek Craven, check out the newest entry at the Fated Mates Collections Department, Spectacular Spectacles courtesy of Sanj . You can listen to our Susan Elizabeth Phillips episode as you do your “one a days.” (When we recorded all the eBooks were on sale, but they aren’t anymore. SORRY.) According to Psychology Today, there are 5 specific types of dysfunctional families. Taking the Finger, explained Jen called it a Drive-Thru in Dream a Little Dream, but she meant a DRIVE-IN . Maybe go to one if you want and report back, idk! Or the new version is this Rooftop Cinema Club , where you sit together with bluetooth headphones. A great discussion of why it’s problematic or damaging to always redeem the family, read this powerful essay about why queer people have the right to leave their harmful family members behind by Nathan Burgoine. Sponsors Kristen Jennings , author of Lessons From a Tour Guide , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Amy James , author of Crash Test , available in print, ebook, or audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or wherever you get your books . JL Birchwood , author of Power Ballad , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/6/17/0739-romances-dysfunctional-families If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 11

We're taking a second run at second chance romance this week, and while we intended to recommend a million books, we ended up talking about all the ways this trope really works and really doesn't work for us! We're talking about rekindling love, unrequited love, resurrecting old wounds, the unforgivable stuff and of course, pining. It's a long one, and yes, Jen is talking about present tense. If you love this one, you can listen to our first Second Chance Romance episode with Priscilla Oliveras here. It's that time of year again--Sarah's next book, These Summer Storms is out in July and she is going on tour! What's more, there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books Love’s Encore by Rachel Ryan Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt Designing his Duchess by Gabrielle Carr A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria Broken by the Horde King by Zoey Draven It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time by Kylie Scott Make Me Hate You by Kandi Steiner Dreams of Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole Notes Everyone watches women’s sports. You can watch basketball , women’s soccer a, and the new softball league . Get out there, go do stuff in your town! We had a second chance romance episode back in season 3 with Priscilla Oliveras . Sponsors 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Dark Clouds and Bright Skies: A Grumpy Sunshine Collection , with novellas by Joanna Wylde, Kristen Proby, Larissa Ione and Laura Kaye, available in ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Ava Miles , author of The Hockey Experiment , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Meghan Quinn , author of Till Summer Do Us Part , available in print, ebook, or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publishers of Holly Michelle's Last Night Was Fun , available in print, ebook or audio from Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/6/9/0738-a-second-chance-on-second-chance-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 4

Another deep dive episode, and this one feels like it shouldn't have taken so long! We're reading Run Posy Run, talking about the way Cate C. Wells walks a fine line of mafia romance while keeping the book on the morality chain side of the line from dark romance. We talk about heroines against the wall, heroes who have to suffer, the way violence fits into these romances, and about sex and how it's deployed in these books to enormous effect. We love this one (as you all know), and we were so excited to go back to it and give it the deep read it deserved. You can find all of our deep dives at the Fated Mates Book Club . It's that time of year again--Sarah's next book, These Summer Storms (complete with sexy, silent, deeply competent hero) is out in July and she is going on tour! What's more, there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Book Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells Notes A boat, ship whatever, ran into the Brooklyn Bridge , and here’s a video of a woman who is a mariner explaining what might have happened . The Chicago River is an engineering marvel. In 1887, they reversed the river and sent it out to the Mississippi rather than having it flow into Lake Michigan. They were moving rivers around in Rhode Island because of Mayor SOMEBODY and his desire to turn Providence into the Venice of the United States. Waterfire is a Providence thing , but it isn’t the same as the water fire[s] in Cleveland . The greatest of the Great Lakes is Lake Superior, to be honest, and it’s not afraid to tell everyone about it. Station Eleven is a great book set in and around the Great Lakes. No one ever talks about Lake Huron except for Jenny Holiday . Great Lakes, Great Times! The New Jersey mob loved The Sopranos . There is a short story now available about Dario & Posy’s daughter called Made Man . The psychopath vs. sociopath continuum. You can listen to our previous episodes for more about the difference between morality chain and dark romance . Sponsors Patricia Grayhall , author of A Place for Us , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Underlined: Where Books Are Life , a place for young readers to explore find their next book obsession along with quizzes, reading lists, book trailers and more. Visit getunderlined.com . Darci St. John , author of Racing Heart , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publishers of Alexis Daria's Along Came Amor , available in print, ebook or audio from Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/6/3/0737-run-posy-run-by-cate-c-wells If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 28

Sarah is over the moon that we're talking about celebrities again, especially because we're keeping it tight this time around and limiting it to celebrity/normal person romance (mostly -- Jen is ungovernable)! Yes, Sarah is going to talk about Perfect , but also we're going to talk about celebrities who fall for stranger normies, for normies they knew before they were celebrities, for normies who work with them, and for normies who protect them. The episode is 1200 books long and honestly, we're not sorry. In case you wondered why Sarah is breaking her rule about talking about her own books, it's that time of year again! Her next book, These Summer Storms (complete with sexy, silent, deeply competent hero) is out in July and is going on tour, and there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you can't make the tour, you can preorder These Summer Storms signed with a special romance dust jacket from The Ripped Bodice. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Cate C Wells's Run Posy Run , available right now in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited at Amazon , Apple Books , and Libro.fm . The Books Perfect by Judith McNaught All The Feels by Olivia Dade The Hollywood Jinx by Sariah Wilson Fan Service by Rosie Danan Not a Bad Boy by Louisa Edwards LOL by Lucy Lennox & Molly Maddox The Mechanic by Reina Torres The Stand-In by Lily Chu The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale 32 Days in May by Betty Corrello The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev Ghosted by JM Darhower Small Town Swoon by Melanie Harlow Just Playing House by Farah Heron Just for the Holidays by Adriana Herrera When I Think of You by Myah Ariel What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan Set Piece by Lana Schwartz Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman The Mixtape by Brittainy Cherry The Bodyguard by Katherine Center Keep Her Safe by QB Tyler The Notes Pilsen is a great Chicago neighborhood that has historically been home to Mexican-Americans, including stunning murals throughout the neighborhood . But also, that Chicago dust bowl of 2025 was not so great! Summer book tour is upon us. Check out Sarah’s book tour, including dates for Fated Mates Live. In Chicago, Jen will be at The Last Chapter with Mia Sosa for her book When Javie Dumped Mari on June 30th and the Books in Bloom Event hosted by the Chicago North Romance Writers in July. Jen went out for Kennedy Ryan’s tour for her new book, Can’t Get Enough . We’ve had versions of the celebrity romance in previous seasons: the celebrity romance in season 4 , way back in season 1 we did an episode on rock star romance , and sports romance with Jenny Nordbak in season 1 , with Farrah Rochon in season 3 , and Jessica Luther in season 6 . And no, we haven't done a bodyguard episode, but check out Caroline's "I Can Be Your Bodyguard" collection ! The primordial celebrity/normie romance for Jen is the movie Notting Hill with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts . For Sarah, the primordial celebrity normie book was Perfect by Judith McNaught . As it turns out, Hugh Grant and Hugh Jackman are not the same person. The Sponsors Alice Murphy , author of A Showgirl's Rules for Falling in Love , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or wherever you get your books . Blue Box Press , publishers of Lexi Blake's Built to Last , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . Bailey Seaborn , author of All Twerk, No Play , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avery Maxwell , author of Heart Strings and Hotlines , available in print or ebook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , or Bookshop.org . Vedentro , premium leather accessories. Use code FATHER at checkout to get $25 off. If you sign-up on the website you will receive an email with an additional $45 off, for a total savings of $70. Visit vedentro.com for more info. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/5/26/0735-celebrity-normie If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 14

One of the og romance tropes is on the table today -- we're talking about heroines who are on the shelf! It's not quite wallflowers, not quite ruined, not quite spinsters...it's a very particular flavor of unmarried woman, and one we basically only find in historicals (can you tell Sarah is writing?). We're talking about the subtle nuances of heroines on the shelf and honoring some of the classics...but Sarah's got a batch of books we've never talked about before! Also! It's that time of year again! Sarah has a new book out in July and is going on tour, and there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Cate C Wells's Run Posy Run , available right now in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited at Amazon , Apple Books , and Libro.fm . Books Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean The Proposition by Judith Ivory The Viscount Who Loved Me and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare An Earl Like You by Caroline Linden Along Came a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle One for the Rogue by Manda Collins His Wicked Reputation by Madeline Hunter Love is a Rogue by Lenora Bell Taming His Viking Woman by Michelle Styles Notes Check out the The Collections Department for fun groups of books, organized by real people. On the shelf, wallflowers, and spinsters . What does being a spinster look like now? - Louisa Darling suggested the French Guy who made a TikTok about “dating a girl who is used to being alone.” - A contemporary example (other than Bridget Jones ) is Gracie from Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Author Madeline Hunter died in April and was an important member of the romance community. A professor and historian, for many years, Madeline was chair of the RWA Academic Grant Committee, ensuring that researchers and academics had access to funds to research and write about romance. She wrote this piece about spinsters for USA Today in 2015. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and readers. SPONSORS Ava Rani , author of The Charmer , available in print, ebook, and audio from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , Bookshop.org , and Libro.fm . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Sparks and Surrender: An Enemies-To-Lovers Collection , available in print or ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited from Amazon . Susan Lee , author of T he Romance Rivalry , available in print, ebook, or audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , Bookshop.org , and Libro.fm . Stephanie Rose , author of A Whole New Ball Game , available in print or ebook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , or Bookshop.org . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/5/12/s0735-on-the-shelf-with-spinsters-amp-wallflowers If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 7

We're gonna get people excited with this one (it's us. we're the ones who are getting excited). Back by popular demand, we're talking craft this week--digging deep into the third-act breakup, what it really means, why it's misunderstood, and why it really is essential to romance. Sarah suggests that every romance has one whether people like to admit it or not, Jen is, as always, ready to fight. Strap in! Also! It's that time of year again! Sarah has a new book out in July and is going on tour, and there is a real deal Fated Mates LIVE planned for July 8th in St. Louis, MO! Get tickets to any of these events (Jen will be at a bunch of them, and other pod friends will be popping up along the way) at sarahmaclean.net/tour ! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas Something Wilder and Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren Hidden Truths by Neva Altaj Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan Lead by Kylie Scott Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kang Painted Scars by Neva Altaj MacRieve by Kresley Cole Notes We love Sephora and Ulta, and Sarah has some faves from Dermatology Instagram, like dermangelo and drdrayzday . Sarah’s on tour for These Summer Storms in July, and Fated Mates Live will be in St. Louis !! Sarah recommends the audio of The Hero’s 2 Journeys by Michael Hauge In our discussion, we identified several types of third act break-ups: Going Home Again, Self-Sacrifice, Who am I?, and You Fucked All the Way Up. An SD card , for you youths. Sponsors Dani Francis , author of Silver Elite , available in print or ebook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Cara Dion , author of Claim to Fame , available in print or ebook from Amazon . Rachel Griffiths , author of The Trouble with Anna , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Anna Todd , author of The Last Sunrise, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/5/5/0734-the-third-act-break-up-complimentary If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 30

Today we're headed back in the time machine to before the pandemic when everyone but us read this one m/m hockey book and lost their collective minds! Heated Rivalry is one of those books that romance lovers place high up on their keeper shelf, and we're talking about why, about how it really knocks sports romance out of the park (yes, we're aware that there is no knocking out of parks in hockey), and how it might be one of the books that launched a thousand hockey ships. We're talking about erotica vs. erotic romance vs. romance, about sexy secrets, about first names and about why it's always sexy when people say "I love you" in a foreign language. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books Heated Rivalry The Long Game Notes Visit the Fated Mates Collections Department for great romance recommendations organized by micro tropes, characteristics, subgenres, or things like Virgin Heroes . Check out Jen’s collection Hoop! (There It Is) and listen to the 1993 hit song, Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team . Barnes & Noble and Amazon holding sales during Independent Bookstore day felt super icky. If you missed it this year, maybe you can find a great indie to visit next year. It’s always the last Saturday in April. Alan Ritchson is Jack Reacher, Alan Rickman is not. On the road to the NHL, the World Juniors is pretty important. Professional sports are notably homophobic , especially the NHL despite its history of hosting pride nights . Luke Prokop is the only openly gay professional hockey player , but he does not play in the NHL at this time. The professional sports league with the most openly queer players is the WNBA , which also has a past history of enforcing certain gender norms and gender presentation for its players. Leagues create rivalries between players and teams in order to promote their brand and ratings. A WNBA case study is Angel Reese & Caitlin Clark . Sponsors Measured & Slow , purveyors of unique crafted products for people who love books and whimsy. Visit the shop at measuredandslow.studio . Jillian David , author of Paging Dr. Breakup , available in print or ebook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books. LaQuette , author of Royal Bride Demand, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/4/28/0733-heated-rivalry-by-rachel-reid If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 23

We're talking about the worst possible thing that can happen to a romance heroine today (it's always the heroines) -- ruination! Whether the hero did it, another man did it, or society simply decided that she's ruined, there's simply nothing to be done about it...except revenge, a triumphant return, or the crowning of a new reigning queen. We cover all three here, with almost entirely new to the pod books, and even get some contemporaries into the mix! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry, which you can get in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Books Mentioned In This Episode Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean Wicked & The Wallflower by Sarah MacLean Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas The Magic of You by Joanna Lindsay A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins The Rake by Suzanne Enoch Compromised by Kate Noble Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M Lopez Notes The space domination of Katy Perry is depressing compared to the space demotion happening to real women scientists. In terms of plotting and the hero, Anne Stuart’s Breathless (2010) might be a good precursor to what we call dark romance today. Actually, you say ratafia like this . Check out the 2025 Lift for Autism auction , sponsored by Kennedy Ryan. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a sneak peek of the audiobook of Piper Rayne's The One I Didn't See Coming . Sponsors 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Pride and Passion: A LGBTQIA+ Love Collection , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jess K Hardy , author of Wish You Were Here , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Mara Moody , author of The Reunion Recipe, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble or wherever you get your books . Piper Rayne , author of The One I Didn't See Coming, available in print, audiobook or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/4/21/0732-ruination If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 16

Yes, Sarah has a longtime fantasy of being on the lam, but let's be honest, she'd be caught reading a book in the nearest diner as soon as anyone got serious about looking for her. This week, we're talking about books in which characters are much more serious about being on the run! We break the category into people on the move and people in hiding, but also talk about secrets, about lies, and about how love really is about telling something all the truths you've got. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry, which you can get in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books The Master by Kresley Cole Run Posy Run by Cate Wells Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell Burn Down the Night by M. O’Keefe Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison Tycoon by Joanna Shupe Something Wilder by Christina Lauren If I Told You, I’d Have to Kiss You by Mae Marvel Hunter by Emmy Chandler Stranded by Jennifer D. Bokal The Harpy and the Dragon by Marie Liscomb Wyoming Double Jeopardy by Juno Rushdan Bourbon and Lies by Victoria Wilder Hunted Through Italy by Delaney Diamond Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Cordova Under Her Skin by Adriana Anders Whiteout by Adriana Anders Kink Camp: Hunted by Adriana Anders The Notes Fill out the survey , check out our quests on Pagebound , and the Fated Mates Collections Department. Thanks @kimonlyreadsromance from Threads for coming up with the name “discoverabilitybuddies” -- and for submitting a Collection for Books with Secret Tattoos ! We’ve done deep dives of The Master and Dragon Bound . Run Posy Run and Whiteout have both appeared on one of our year end “Best of” Lists . Mr. and Mrs Smith is a great movie and a great tv show . Just make some time to read The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell. The Sponsors Michelle McCraw , author of Conspiracies and Chemistry , available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or wherever you get your books . SE McPherson , author of A King's Trust, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or wherever you get your books . Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/4/13/0731-romance-on-the-run If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 9

We're crossing off a classic romance novel structure this week -- the list! Whether life changing to-do lists, bucket lists, or lists for kinky exploration, these romances take characters and readers on remarkable rides, reminding us all that sometimes it really does pay to be organized. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry, which you can get in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott Wicked Nights with a Lover by Sophie Jordan What Heals Us by Maggie Gates The Ending I Want by Samantha Towle Camera Chemistry by Chelsea Curto 30 Days and 30 Nights by Christine d’Abo The Seal’s Rebel Librarian by Anne Calhoun How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams Rockaway Bride by Pippa Grant Mr. Swoony by Piper Rayne Three Little Mistakes by Nikki Sloan All Played Out by Cora Carmack Show Notes We’re excited about these author and listener created lists at the Fated Mates Collections Department . And in case you want to see the one from Competitive Yam about Skinny dipping, here it is . Kelsey Plum’s cigar photos went viral and now she models for a cigar company . We love this for her. The Bucket List (2007) stars two terminally ill men, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. They are out checking items off their list before the “kick the bucket.” We’ve done deep dives of several of the books on this episode: Nine Rules , Chloe Brown , and Three Little Mistakes. The Sponsors 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Vows & Veils: A Celebration of Love , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Elizabeth Bright , author of Wild, Wild Cowboy, available in print, or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Rachel Griffiths , author of The Trouble with Anna , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Andrea Jenelle , author of Spine of Steel , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/4/7/0730-romances-with-a-bucket-list If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 2

It's our quarterly discoverabilibuddy episode! Get your TBR piles structurally sound and exercise that preorder clicking finger, because here are nearly 50 books coming out in the next three months that we're excited to read! Eric said next time we have to split it into two if we're going to keep talking about what's coming for hours... In the meantime, we're ungovernable! Tell us about the books you're waiting for...and if you're a romance novelist and have a book coming this year, please head over and fill out our handy Google form to let us know! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Rachel Reid's Heated Rivalry, which you can get in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books MARCH Witch of Wall Street by MJ Etkind A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley Lush by Tinia Montford APRIL Royal Bride Demand by LaQuette Wyoming Double Jeopardy by Juno Rushdan Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine Whisk Me Away by Georgia Beers Playing for Keeps by Lainey Davis The Nanny is Off Limits by QB Tyler Marriage Bargain with the Comte by Parker J. Cole A Lady’s Guide to London by Faye Delecour The Duke and the Widow by Christina Diane Naked in Naknek by Lolu Sinclair Fly by Night by Kelly Cain The Matchmaker by Aisha Saeed Anywhere You Go by Bridget Morrissey Once Upon You & Me by Timothy Janovsky Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone The Last Guy You Kiss by Carla de Guzman MAY Left of Forever by Tarah deWitt Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau The Singular Life of Aria Patel By Samira Ahmed Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love by Alice Murphy Love in Focus by Lyla Lee A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher His Dark Vendetta by Katelyn Brehm Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson All Superheroes Need PR by Elizabeth Stephens The Romance Rivalry by Susan Lee Slipstream by Madge Maril Katheryn by SM LaViolette Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria Hunted through Italy by Delaney Diamond Marked by Moonlight by Sophie Jordan JUNE Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto Empire of Seduction by Milla Finelli Never been Shipped by Alicia Thompson Writing Mr. Right by Alina Khawaja Party of Three by C. Travis Rice Plus Sized Player by Danielle Allen When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa Cruel Summer by Maisy Yates A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer Savannah Royals by Lindsey Barrett He’s to Die For by Erin Dunn Sounds like Love By Ashely Poston Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong Bits and Pieces We’ve collected our 76 (and counting!) deep dives at fatedmates.net/bookclub , making it a fine place to discover your next great romance read. And if you’re the type of person who’s always believed you deserve a medal for your reading prowess, you can visit our friends at Pagebound.co , where you can join our Fated Mates Book Club Challenge. Don’t forget to tell us what you think of us in via our annual survey . We’re dying to know what you think. The Arc browser is almost a religion for Eric, but you should feel comforted by the fact that a normie like Sarah likes, too. We love these great indie bookstores: Montgomery & Taggert (in our new favorite small town, Chester CT) and Heartleaf Books in Providence, RI. Nearly all of these titles are available at Bookshop.org. We created a collection to make it easy for you. We shared the full list at Pagebound, as well. Sponsors Lotte James , author of A Governess to Redeem Him , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Avon Books , publishers of Annie McQuaid's Crash Landing, available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Stephanie Rose , author of Just One Favor , available in print, ebook, audio, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/3/30/0729-spring-2025-new-releases If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 25

This week, for some reason, we're talking about romance novels with horses in them! Do we know anything about horses? Of course not! Do we let that stop us? It never has before! We're talking about the ones where the horse dies, the ones where they do it on a horse, the ones where she's a horse whisperer, and the ones where she just really likes horses. Giddyup! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Take the Fated Mates Season 7 listener survey at fatedmates.net/survey The Books A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught A Very Private Love by Melinda Cross This Fierce Splendor by Iris Johansen The Secret by Julie Garwood Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux Montana Sky and Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas Legends Lake by JoAnn Ross All Night Long with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews The Wildest Ride by Marcella Bell A Thorn in the Saddle by Rebekah Weatherspoon Sanctuary Island by Lily Everett The Notes Who Did it Better… on a Horse? In an elevator? In the library? At Thanksgiving? And on a pool table? “It’s a fun book, there’s no sex in it,” is something Sarah said about Pride and Prejudice, which is just funny. In honor of the 20th Anniversary of the MacFayden/Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice, they are releasing it again in theaters the weekend of April 20th. Horses get stressed out on movie sets, and that’s why there are so many regulations about how to care for them. There was an HBO show that got cancelled because so many horses died! Why horses have to be put down when they break a leg . Based on some research, it was clear that Jen’s friend Bridget said that Lou Diamond Phillips DID know how to ride a horse in Young Guns. But, here’s an interview of him talking about a horse accident on the set of Young Guns 2! LDP, still hot, by the way! We did an episode on A Kingdom of Dreams if you want to listen. In A Very Private Love , the horse is like Secretariat or some shit like that. The Budweiser Clydesdales are real horses, and I’m just gonna say, you come across some weird information about the world when you write show notes. Here's an article about them being at the bar near Sarah's house. Fetlock are this , not this . The entire first season of Unbound Pod with Adriana Herrera and Nikki Payne is about Western romance. The Sponsors Avery Maxwell , author of Cross My Heart , available in print, ebook or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Crowns and Courtships: A Royal Romance Collection , with novellas by Claire Contreras, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Lexi Blake and Skye Warren, available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Piper Rayne , authors of Mr. Swoony , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Stay tuned after the podcast for a sneak peek of the audiobook! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/3/24/0728-horses If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 19

It's deep dive day here at Fated Mates and we're reading an absolute banger of a historical -- Julie Anne Long's fifth Pennyroyal Green book, What I Did for a Duke . We talk about great romance kisses, about age gaps and how they operate in books, about house parties and art and sacrifice and how sexy it is when someone actually sees you for who you are. If you haven't read this one yet, do yourself a favor and do it right now. It's so great. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long The Pennyroyal Green Series Show Notes The main building you think of when you think of the New York Public Library with the lions is officially called the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building . From what I can tell, it didn’t actually have anything to do with Andrew Carnegie, but he did donate $5 million to ensure that the New York Public Library had branch libraries in communities around the city . He also donated a lot of money to other things , that’s a fun thing billionaires used to do. Read more about doing the forbidden kind of “romance stuff” in the library. Jen talked to the New York Public Library's Best New Romance List Committee Co-Chairs Kate Fais and Grace Loiacon back in February . In 2022, we recorded our “Break in case of emergency” episode, and it was in fact two sisters, Cait and Kara who requested the episode. PS: We are in emergency. Feel free to break those out now. Julie Anne Long’s The Beast Takes a Bride was on our Best of 2024 episode. What I Did for a Duke is the 5th book in her Pennyroyal Green series. “It must have been a lie,” is what Jen’s grandma Betty used to say if you lost your train of thought and couldn’t remember what you were saying. This is a good speech from Crash Davis , the pitcher played by Kevin Costner in the 1988 movie Bull Durham (also, Nuke says “what’s all that molecule stuff?” which is pretty funny considering the title of this episode). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston had a Titian exhibition back in 2022 called Women, Myth and Power , and it seems like a thing Genevive would have liked it a lot. Titian’s Venus of Urbino is currently on display at The Uffizi Galleries in Italy. If you’re in New York on March 31st, head over to the Astoria Bookshop to see Historical Romance authors TJ Alexander and Joanna Lowell in conversation, moderated by Sarah, in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility . Sponsors Avery Flynn , author of Airhead: A Hartigans Totally '80s Hot RomCom, available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Gummies ,. Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/3/18/0727-what-i-did-for-a-duke-this-gentleman-is-completely-composed-of-revenge-molecules If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 12

This one's for those of you who've been asking us to talk more about craft on the podcast! We're talking romances with ticking clocks and clear time frames, about how this impacts conflict and makes books more breathless, and of course about the books that deploy this strategy perfectly. Inside, you'll find road trips and adventures, vacation romances and romantic suspense, house parties and that classic romance chestnut: "I have 30 days to get pregnant." It's going to be fun. But first, we're talking to Amanda Litman, founder of Run For Something , an organization filling the back bench of the Democratic party, helping people run for local office and make sure that we're holding the line at all levels of government. Tell us if you are running for school board, and we'll proudly donate to your campaign! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Next week, we're reading Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books It Had to Be You and Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Hot Touch by Deborah Smith Whiteout by Adriana Anders Waking up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath Perfect by Judith McNaught Fiasco by Constance Fay One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean Her Night with the Duke by Diana Quincy Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria Curvy Girl Summer by Danielle Allen Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone Fan Service by Rosie Danan Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas One Last Night by Lauren Ford Tycoon by Joanna Shupe Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday One Stormy Night by Jules Bennett Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins Pleasure of a Dark Prince and Lothaire by Kresley Cole Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Luck of the Draw and The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn Dionysus in Wisconsin by E.H. Lupton The Notes Join TJ Alexander and Joanna Lowell in a conversation at Astoria Bookshop in Queens, NY on March 31st for a conversation about trans rep in romance, moderated by Sarah. Learn more about Run for Something and What You Can Run For in 2026 (don't forget to tell us you're running!), and preorder Amanda Litman's book, When We're in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership wherever you get your books. Four Minutes is a very shallow cut, actually. This is the good stuff: Casey Kasem ’s Top 40 and Friday Night Videos , boom boxes , and cable TV . Also, The Sound of Music on has an actual running time of 2 hours and 52 minutes and an “on-TV- with-commercials" running time of 200 hours and 52 minutes. The best scene is the curtains one , the dancing one , or the tearing down the flag one . That leg lamp is a reference to the movie A Christmas Story. Conflict defined . Or, next time Sarah gives it in October 2025, attend her conflict workshop . Speaking of tension, how about that moment in Toy Story 3 when they are headed to the incinerator. We’ve talked about Ted Lasso season 1 and season 2 . Sarah wasn’t the only one disappointed with season 3 , Jen felt the ship going down and bailed right out of it. In the book Techniques of a Selling Writer , Dwight Swain described his scene and sequel theory . The Sponsors 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Office Sparks: A Workplace Romance Collection , with novellas by C.D. Reiss, K. Bromberg, Laurelin Paige, and Heather Graham, available in ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Labs , creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order. Lucy Score , author of Story of My Life , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . TJ Alexander , author of A Gentleman's Gentleman , available in print, ebook or audiobook, at Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , Amazon , or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/3/10/0726-romance-novels-with-a-ticking-clock If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 5

Maybe you're rooting for the asteroid, but you gotta have a plan! To help, this week, we're keeping track of what romance is looking like off-planet--it's Romance! In! Space! (Part 2, but the first episode we did was six years ago, so we figured it's time.) Headphones in, loves, this one covers space scavengers, aliens, anatomy, crash landings, abductions, talking lions and people in Space Army (what happens in Space Army stays there, unless it's here). If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Fiasco and Chaos by Constance Fay Full Speed to a Crash Landing and How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis Space Deputy by Jenny Schwartz I Got Abducted By Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell Heart Song by Heather Guerre Ruling Sikthand by Victoria Aveline Stranded by Heather Fox Raw Desires by Cynthia Sax Cathian by Laurann Dohner Space Army Recruits by Kinley Grey The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells The Notes Bad news: the asteroid can’t save us , so we’ll just have to save ourselves . You can read Jen’s newsletter here , she’ll be writing about the grand gesture in Fiasco next. We did space romance back in season 1, Claire Kent’s Hold back in season 5. And speaking of Claire Kent, she’s been writing dystopian books lately that you might want to check out. Insane colonialist fantasies are running rampant in the USA right now, so we don’t really need them in our romance, now do we. You’re a virgin who can’t drive. All about the legendary imprint Ellora’s Cave . Our next read along is What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long. The Sponsors Chandra Wicke, creator of The Happily Ever After Sociey: A Book About Romance Novels. Back the Kickstarter. Yvette de Oro, author of Mine to Match , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Enter to win the Mine to Match giveaway on Yvette’s Instagram by making a donation to your local foodbank — winners will win a copy of her book and a matching gift to the foodbank of their choice! Amy Spalding, author of On Her Terms, available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Elle Kennedy, author of The Charlie Method , available in print, ebook or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/3/1/0725-sci-fi-romance-theres-no-book-banning-in-space If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 25

It's been the longest month of our lives and as self-care, we're not thinking about billionaires this week (or at least for the duration of this episode). Instead, we're talking about those men who are rich in other ways, in throwing a punch, chasing a tornado, camping, playing an instrument, you get it. We've got a bunch of books we love and not a ten-figure bank account to be seen! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of the audiobook of Charlotte Stein's My Big Fat Fake Marriage . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins Thirsty by Mia Hopkins Stealing the Rogue’s Heart by Erica Monroe A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter by Alice Coldbreath In the Morning Sun by Lena Hart An Unseen Attraction by KJ Charles Whirlwind by Kayla Gross Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle Take Me Home Tonight by Erika Kelly Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday Drilled by Brill Harper Sinner (was Sinful Temptation) by London Hale Pardon my Frenchie by Farrah Rochon Sleeping With the Frenemy by Natalie Caña Common Ground by Melanie Greene Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nascosta Rock and Soul by Lauren Sattersby Losing Sight by Tati Richardson Unloved by Payton Corinne The Notes There have always been rich people in romance, but we think it could be argued that Christian Grey and 50 Shades invented the billionaire romance genre. Jen started writing a newsletter , leaning back into the romance reader “and critic” part of the job. You can check it out here. It’s free and who knows how long it will last. Bobby Tom is the hero of Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. If Jen refers to something being “a basic” please know she is referring to a line from Strictly Ballroom . Maybe you want to learn about a rookery . Anti-miscegnation laws in the United States prevented people from marrying someone of a different race. Storm chasing seems honestly like a very dangerous activity. There is no evidence that I could find that a tornado can rip your clothes right off your body, but Kayla Grosse probably read this webpage for research. (lol) Dyscalculia is a learning disability rooted in math and number. The Sponsors Piper Rayne , authors of Mr. Heartbreaker , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Megan Frampton , author of The Devil's Charm , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Riches and Romance: A Billionaire Romance Anthology from Dylan Allen, Kendall Ryan, Lexi Blake and Melissa Foster, available with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Charlotte Stein , author of My Big Fat Fake Marriage , read by Imogen Wilde, available from Audible , Kobo , Apple Books, Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm , or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of the audiobook. Lucy Score , author of Story of My Life , available in print, ebook, audio, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/2/24/0724-hes-not-a-billionaire If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 16

Historicals are dead! Long live historicals! This week, we're talking about fourteen (and change) historical romances that we've never talked about before -- all published recently, some already this year. Every book we talk about is available right now for download and reading pleasure--and we have a stack of them ready to talk about in future episodes! We're so excited to be your discoverabilibuddies on this one! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepsteakes to win one of five free copies of the audiobook of Stephanie Burgis's Wooing the Witch Queen . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Lyon’s Lover Maggie Sims The Sapphire Heiress by Ella Leon A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell The Duke’s Bartered Mistress by Caroline Lee The Villain by Victoria Vale Exit, Pursued by a Baron by Aydra Richards Seduced in a Storm By Royaline Sing A Bloomy Head by J. Winifred Butterworth Never Woo the Wrong Lady by Charlie Lane Dionysus in Wisconsin by EH Lupton All About That Duke by Merry Farmer The Wayward Duke by Katrina Kendrick Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone by Louisa Darling Winnie West has an Agenda by Kat Sterling The Notes Check out Bookshop’s Black Romance List and you might want to use their new digital books app to read The Co-Op by Tarah DeWitt or any other eBook on a Boox Palma 2 . Budleigh Salterton seems nice next time you’re going to England. A bike with a big front wheel is called a penny-farthing . Bicycle jousting sounds like that whole scene in Footloose. Endymion is a myth, a poem , and also a burly, grouchy Scot. Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a stage direction from a Winter’s Tale. Sponsors Rien Gray , author of Double Exposure , available in print , ebook , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Stephanie Rose , author of Just One Favor , available in print , ebook , audio , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Stephanie Burgis , author of Wooing the Witch Queen , read by Amanda Leigh Cobb, available form Audible , Kobo , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm , or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepsteakes to win one of five free copies of the audiobook. Lumi Labs , creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to lumigummies.com and use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/2/13/0723-the-new-historicals If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now. 00:00.000 Heavy is the DiscoverabilityBuddy Crown 11:09.500 Upstairs Downstairs Reading 14:37.500 The New Historicals 18:56.000 AD: DOUBLE EXPOSURE 21:03.000 Lyon's Lover 27:38.000 The Sapphire Heiress 33:15.000 AD: WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN 35:50.000 A Shore Thing 43:48.500 The Duke's Bartered Mistress 49:36.500 AD: JUST ONE FAVOR 51:31.500 The Villain 59:14.000 Exit, Pursued by a Baron 01:04:12.000 AD: LUMI GUMMIES 01:06:30.500 Seduced in a Storm 01:11:56.000 A Bloomy Head 01:19:19.000 Never Woo the Wrong Lady 01:27:07.500 Dionysus in Wisconsin 01:32:52.000 All About that Duke 01:40:48.000 The Wayward Duke 01:45:59.500 Where Have all the Scoundrels Gone 01:52:13.000 Winnie West Has an Agenda 02:03:22.000 AD: WOOING THE WITCH QUEEN

Feb 11

There's a new Adriana Herrera book out this month, so that means we get to have one of our very favorites back on the pod to talk about not only her banger of a book, A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke , but also about historical in general! This week, we talk about historicals, in general, about why everyone seems to think they're dying (spoiler: they're not!), and do some myth busting on perceptions of the historical romance. We're extremely grateful to friend of the pod Alexandria Bellefleur for offering up her collected data on historical romance and readers -- check out her books (listed below), as well, and come back next week for more historical recs! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free audiobook copies of Chloe C. Peñaranda's The Night is Defying . The Books A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley Proper English by KJ Charles My Lady’s Lover by Nicola Davidson The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy Love, Death, and Lanterns by Jeanne Lin A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas The Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe The Bride by Julie Garwood Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole Night Hawk by Beverly Jenkins Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt The Notes Welcome Adriana Herrera , author of A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke , the third in the Las Leonas series set during the Exposition Universelle in 1889 Paris. In this book, Aurora is running a women’s health clinic and the text is a fierce call for reproductive justice, and we’re back there. If you’re interested in checking out some of the books she used to do her research, try Sex, Herbs, and Birth Control: Women and Fertility Regulation Through the Ages by Ann Hibner Koblitz and The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Feminist Abortion Service by Laura Kaplan. The Comstock Act of 1873 was a problem then, and sooner or later, they’ll be a problem again. Thanks to Alexandria Bellefleur for sharing the results of her poll about historical romance. You can check out her latest contemporary romance, Truly, Madly, Deeply . The Sponsors Jenn Bouchard , author of Considering Us, available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of From Friends to Forever: A Love Grows Collection , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Chloe C. Peñaranda , author of The Night is Defying audiobook, read by Corvin King and Jacci Prior, available from Audible , Kobo , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of this audiobook. Sophie Lark , author of Kingmakers: Year One , available in print or ebook from Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Annabelle Slator , author of The Launch Date , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . 00:00 Welcome Adrianna Herrera 01:34 A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke 07:41 The Political Realities 11:24 What Historical Can Do 14:54 AD: FROM FRIENDS TO FOREVER 16:41 Romance and Feminism 29:26 AD: CONSIDERING US 31:17 More of What Historicals Can Do 43:29 AD: KINGMAKERS: YEAR ONE 45:39 The Future (and Present) of Historical Romance 57:38 Myth: There Aren't Sapphic Historicals 59:54 ADL THE NIGHT IS DEFYING 1:07:07 Myth: The Writing isn't for Me 1:09:56 Myth: I Can't Relate 1:15:10 AD: THE LAUNCH DATE 1:16:56 Myth: History is a Problem 1:25:52 Foolproof Recs 1:43:22 Beverly Jenkins Recommendations 1:47:24 The "Wettest" Historical Romance 1:59:19 Outro 2:01:01 ADL THE NIGHT IS DEFYING

Feb 11

Jen had a great time chatting with the New York Public Library's Best New Romance List Committee Co-Chairs Kate Fais and Grace Loiacono this week. They talk about the list and how they built it, about the power of libraries, and, as always, about joy. See the full list Visit the New York Public Library

Feb 4

We're mixing it up today with a fabulous special guest! The brilliant V.E. Schwab joins us for a far-reaching chat about writing romance outside of romance novels™️, about the difference between obsession and love, about the way we can't help but ship characters who will never get together, and about writing in general...and how we tackle character, conflict, and power in storytelling. We had a great time, and you will, too. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook, and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free audiobook copies of Emma Lord's The Rival . The Books Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Vicious and Vengeful by V.E. Schwab A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Babel by RF Kuang The Midnight Line by Lee Child Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo When Among Crows by Veronica Roth A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane Chaos by Constance Fay Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells The Notes Welcome V.E. Schwab to the podcast! You can check out her podcast about writing called No Write Way , and you can click her to sign up for her newsletter . Sarah has a new birdfeeder for her office. You, too, can watch Lee Child playing chess. Philip Larkin wrote a great poem about parents, This Be the Verse. The Sponsors Max Monroe , author of Playing Games, available in print or ebook from Amazon . Adriana Herrera , author of A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Macmilllan Audio , publishers of The Rival by Emma Lord, read by Jesse Vilinsky, available from Audible , Kobo , Apple , Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of this audiobook. Allison A. Andrews , author of The Winning Ticket , available in print or ebook from Amazon , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited. 00:00 Bantr 07:54 Welcome VE Schwab 15:15 AD: THE WINNING TICKET 21:37 Writing Relationship 32:29 The Marketing Problem 34:24 AD: THE RIVAL 44:47 Characters and Genres Evolve 49:10 AD: PLAYING GAMES 57:35 Judgement & Labels 1:03:56 AD: A TROPICAL REBEL GETS THE DUKE 1:12:32 The Minions Complex 1:20:02 Recommendations 1:31:25 Outro 1:33:44 AD: THE RIVAL

Feb 4

It's February 4th, the most important romance holiday in February: Derek Craven Day! We're celebrating this year with a little reminiscing of the past years' episodes, and a close reading of the first chapter of that classic, Lisa Kleypas's Dreaming of You. Read Dreaming of You at: Bookshop , Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you get your books. Learn more about the holiday, and the man who inspired it, and listen to past Derek Craven Day episodes on the Fated Mates website . If you want more discussion of Derek Craven in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com .

Jan 27

We'll be honest, we don't know what the heck is going on, either. If we could find someone or something to make all this chaos make sense, we'd be very very happy. And so, we're reading books this week about people and things that make sense of chaos--that realign the universe. It's tarot, astrology and psychics this week! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free audiobook copies of Jenny Elder Moke's She Doesn't Have a Clue . The Books Temperance by Cassia Leo Queen of Wands by Suzanne Halliday Five of Cups by TriciaWolf Outsider by Cora Brent The Lovers by Rebekah Faubian In on the Action by Elle Diaz The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole Lord Lightning by Jenny Brown Lunar Love Laura Kung Jessen Seducing The Colonel’s Daughter by Amy Andrews Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur The Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan Baron by Joanna Shupe The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan Sensing Danger by Wendy Vella Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts The Third Circle By Amanda Quick The Notes Eric listens to the ATP (Accidental Tech Podcast) and this week, they gave a little pep talk . It helped us to remember we aren’t alone. It’s not going to be easy and lots of people are going to be hurt. But we are a community and we love you. BTW, that's Marco Arment doing most of the talking at the beginning of the ATP episode. He's the creator of our favorite podcast app, Overcast . We did a witchy episode this past summer. Maybe you want to learn about tarot. The Cards of Love series has a very nice website that is still functioning. The Sponsors Jillian David , author of Dr. Alaska, available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Macmilllan Audio , publishers of She Doesn't Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, available from Audible , Kobo , Apple , Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of this audiobook. Avery Maxwell , author of The Renegade Billionaire , available in print or ebook from Amazon .

Jan 21

We're getting into the romance time machine and setting the course for 2001, when Harlequin decided that those Temptations could get scorching hot and become a Blaze . We scoured ebay for boxes and boxes of old Blazes, dug deep into the back catalogues of our Kindles, and are celebrating the OG one-handed read, the Harlequin Blaze. We had a great time, but we knew what to expect -- if you need content warnings, make sure you check them. And let us know if you want us to explore some other category lines! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke , available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . The Books Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz Getting Physical by Jade Lee Just Watch Me Julie Leto Too Wicked to Keep by Julie Leto Anything Goes by Debbi Rawlins The Fantasy Factor by Kimberly Raye Whisper by Nancy Warren Shameless by Toni Carrington What a Girl Wants by Jamie Sobrato Silent Desires by Julie Kenner Certified Male by Kristin Hardy Hot Island Nights by Sarah Mayberry The Notes Sarah is teaching her beginner Start Your Romance Today class virtually on February 23rd at 1pm eastern. What is a category romance? Maybe listen to our episode from season 5 . The Blaze line , from 2001-2017, was a spin off from the Harlequin Temptation line. The Kimani romance line ran from 2006 to 2019. We had an episode about Tiffany Reisz’s Men at Work trilogy, a 2016 Blaze series, back in season 4. Join Sarah with Rebecca Romney at The Strand’s rare book room on Feb 18, 2025 to celebrate the release of Rebecca’s book, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf . Jen is SCREAMING because the sequel to Certified Male ? You guessed it. If you read Hot Island Nights first, go back and check out Her Best Worst Mistake. The Sponsors J. Winifred Butterworth , author of A Bloomy Head , available in ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books. Jill Shalvis , author of Better than Friends, available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Macmilllan Audio , publishers of Let's Call A Truce , by Amy Buchanan, and read by Charlotte North, available from Audible , Kobo , Apple , Barnes & Noble , Libro.fm or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of this audiobook. Maureen Lee Lenker , author of His Girl Hollywood , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . 00:01 Sarah's Romance Class 01:31 Bantr 06:25 Pour One Out for Harlequin Blaze 15:12 AD: LET’S CALL A TRUCE 17:51 The Segregation of Harlequin Lines 27:11 Sex in Harlequin Blaze 33:19 Plot, Character, and Tropes 36:45 AD: HIS GIRL HOLLYWOOD 38:52 Just Watch Me 42:26 Too Wicked to Keep 47:58 Up to No Good 50:35 Anything Goes & the Fantasy Factor 53:17 Gender Essentialism & Consent 55:55 Whisper 1:00:23 AD: A BLOOMY HEAD 1:03:06 Shameless 1:07:20 What a Girl Wants 1:12:16 Play With Me 1:17:24 AD: BETTER THAN FRIENDS 1:19:22 Guess the Title! 1:27:36 Hot Island Nights 1:37:33 Outro 1:39:02 AD: LET’S CALL A TRUCE

Jan 13

We're toppling TBR piles and preorder lists today with our quarterly "Books we're excited to read" list! We're name-checking more than 50 romance novels we're looking forward to, and looking forward to hearing about the ones you're waiting for, too! If you're a romance novelist and have a book coming this year, please head over and fill out this Google form to let us know! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Notes Los Angeles, we are thinking of you. After our very silly firefighter episode , we chatted with magnificent firebird and wildland firefighter, Emma, who gave us the lay of the land as a woman firefighter. You can listen to that conversation on YouTube . Emma recommends the following resources: the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters account on Instagram, and you can make donations to the Wildland Firefighter Foundation . If you are looking for factual, reliable information, check out the website of the National Interagency Fire Center , inciweb is the national situation report with information from wildland firefighters. If you are looking to make donations to aid those impacted by the fires, we recommend World Central Kitchen , Baby2Baby , the Pasadena Humane Society , and Octavia’s Bookshelf which has details mutual aid collection efforts on their Instagram. The Ripped Bodice has free wifi and period products . If you have a 2025 release you have written or you are a reader looking forward to something this year, please use our handy form to submit books for upcoming episodes in spring, summer, and fall. For more Romantasy recs, follow Jen’s friend Gabriella Guava on Instagram. The Books January Empire of Temptation by Mila Finelli Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams Flirting with Disaster by Naina Kumar Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan Book People by Jackie Ashenden His Girl Hollywood by Maureen Lee Lenker The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee Shifting Gears by Jazz Forrester She Doesn’t Have a Clue Jenny Elder Moke Better than Friends by Jill Shalvis The Naked Truth by Sandy Lowe Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen Best Mistake Ever by Christy McKellan Fighting for Berlin by Katie Reus Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan Malcolm by Margot Bond Collins Unromance by Erin Connor My Inconvenient Duke by Loretta Chase 3000 Reasons to Stay by Jaime P. Bradley Strike and Burn by Taylor Hutton Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday The Duke’s Guide to Fake Courtship by Jade Lee The Broposal by Sonora Reyes February A Tropical Rebel gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera Deep End by Ali Hazelwood Never Gamble Your Heart by Lindsay Lovise The Mafia King’s Sister by P Rayne Frenemies with Benefits by Synithia Williams Unloved by Peyton Corinne First Time Caller by BK Borrison On Screen and Off Again by Caitlin Cross I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Romcom by Kimberly Lemming Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis No Saint by Donna Alam The Devils Charm by Megan Frampton The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest Break Point by Yahrah St. John Losing Sight by Tati Richardson Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli March The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffiths Take a Chance on Me by Elizabeth Eulbert A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander The Shots You Take by Rachel Reid One in a Million Beverly Kendall And They Had a Great Fall by Shelby Saville Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen Fan Service by Rosie Danan The Big Fix by Holly James Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley A Wager at Midnight by Vanessa Riley A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett Chaos by Constance Fay Just Our Luck by Denise Williams Something Cheeky Thien-Kim Lam Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raash Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker The Sponsors Jamie P. Bradley , author of 3000 Reasons to Stay , available in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you get your books . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Love Rekindled: A Second-Chance Romance Collection from Tessa Bailey, Sawyer Bennett, Alexandra Ivy, Corinne Michaels, and Kennedy Ryan. Available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jenni Bara , author of Mother Maker , available in print, ebook or audiobook, with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited , or wherever you get your books .

Jan 7

Happy New Year, Magnificent Firebirds! We don’t know what 2025 is going to bring, so we’re starting with a bang—the long awaited deep-dive of Judith Ivory's The Proposition , featuring that rakish rat catcher, that ferret-loving firebrand, the man himself, Mr. Mick Tremore! We’re talking sexual tension so overwhelming it makes a girl cry, horse-faced ladies who bring men to their knees, kissing on omnibuses and legs! All that, and Sarah and Jen disagree heartily on the issue of mustaches, but agree heartily that lionhearted virility is the energy we want this year. Get the book at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Notes We did some holiday movie watching, as one does: Moonstruck, Sleepless in Seattle, and some scenes in particular were great to watch with our kids, the bus scene in Almost Famous and the underwear scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary . Lil Romance and Jen also watched When Harry Met Sally. There’s a new book called Nora Ephron at the Movies you might like, and this TikTok is great . Sometimes I just find cool stuff when I’m working on show notes, like this 2014 article from The Cut about the visual storytelling in When Harry Met Sally. A rolodex, including Marie’s portable version . Sarah was wrong about Nightime radio host Delilah , but you know. We aren’t apologizing for anything in 2025. Judith Ivory published 6 historicals, and then another 4 as Judy Cuevas . The Proposition is a Pygmalion / My Fair Lady retelling with a side of Trading Places . Do we think the dormouse is Ravishing the Heiress was inspired by Mick? Legs is a ZZ Top song The Sponsors Mila Finelli , author of Empire of Temptation , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . A.E. Merriweather , author of Marin in the Moonlight , available in print, ebook or audiobook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Max Monroe , author of What I Should've Said , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble , from your local indie , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited .

Dec 31, 2024

It's New Year's Eve, and we're ringing it in with our standard silliness, this year with brilliantly funny duo Adriana Herrera and Nikki Payne, playing the current internet sensation game, Hear Me Out, where we share the people, illustrations, and vibes that can get it in our respective corners of the world. While there is no specific call for headphones in on this episode, you may choose to wear them to save yourself having to explain what exactly you're listening to! If you are looking for something a bit more headphones in, you should try one of our past episodes! Breeding Kink with Mila Finelli (2023) Omegaversity with Adriana Herrera and Ali Hazelwood (2022) Jessa Kane extravaganza with Andie Christopher, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, LaQuette, Tracey Livesay, Nisha Sharma, and Joanna Shupe (2020) Pegging in Romance with Sierra Simone (2019) In 2021 we released the Season 2 Ted Lasso Roy Kent lovefest on New Year's Eve, but we were still pandemic-ing, so please don't blame us for the detour in brand that year. The Notes Nikki Payne and Adriana Herrera are friends of Fated Mates, but they are also the hosts of their own romance podcast, Unbound Pod . The first season was all about the Western and was six episodes. You can listen on all the podcasting apps. Preorder Adriana’s upcoming release, A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke or go see her on tour . She will be at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NY with Sarah and Joanna Shupe on February 11th ! This TikTok thing , who knows what will happen! Hear Me Out is a fun meme, but in our case, no cakes were involved. That’s not my praxis is a funny thing to say in a text thread. Sorry Bambi’s Dad , from Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago . Listen, everyone was hot in Romeo + Juliet , so they aren’t in the photo array below. But the real ones know. Same with the NBA: Angel Reese and DiJonai Carrington , no need to convince people about it! LL Cool J and Eminem delivering Murdergrams . The Sponsors Meghan Quinn , author of The Path to Loving Him , available in print, ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited , on January 7th. Avon Books , publisher of Jillian Meadows's Give Me Butterflies , available in print, ebook or audiobook, at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or from your local indie . Kayla Grosse , author of Axes & Os , available in print, ebook or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Kate Cole , author of Under Construction , available in print, ebook or audiobook at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , or from your local indie .

Dec 18, 2024

It's the holiday season, which means holiday romance! This year, we're talking about Princes of Christmas falling for heirs to Halloween, Hanukkah treats, retellings of The Holiday, sexy cabins in the woods, second chances, Harlequin Presents, and yes, an online site called OnlySantas. It's truly something for everyone! We are taking next week off, but we’ll be back with some special guests for our annual New Years Eve episode, which promises to be a banger. In the meantime, we hope you get everything you want from whomever you believe in. After New Years, our first read along of 2025 is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . The Books The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sarah Raasch Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride by Maisey Yates Kingpin’s Nanny by Evie Rose From Meltdown to Mistletoe by Jessica Terry Merry Little Mishap by Vivian Mae Snowed In by Catherine Walsh You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky I’ll Be Gone for Christmas by Georgia K. Boone The Holiday Honeymoon Switch by Julia McKay Grounded for Christmas by Savannah J. Frierson Return to Love by Tara Pammi Deadlines, Donuts, and Dreidels by Jennifer Wilck Fortune’s Holiday Surprise by Jennifer Wilck The Notes It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We’ve had lots of previous episodes around the winter holidays , as well. Rare book dealer Rebecca Romney was on the podcast back in season 4 , talking about how to collect books. You an read the catalogue for her collection, The Romance Novel in English , which was sold to the Lilly Library at Indiana University . You can see an exhibit of this collection, called Love in the Library , in Bloomington, Indiana through early February of 2025. The real line from Pulp Fiction is “check out the big brain on Brad.” Balls obviously had nothing to do with it. Here’s a pretty solid overview of all the different ways to get audiobooks into your earholes without breaking your wallet. Two very funny posts on Threads about category romance, one from Kate Clayborn and Amanda Cinelli’s reply . Sweetest Day isn’t even a real holiday, unless you’re from Cleveland, that is. The Holiday (2006) is a great movie and everyone is rewriting this plot this year for some reason. Support your local indie by using Bookshop.Org to buy this week’s books in print. The Sponsors Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATED50 for free gummies with a limited time $50 off coupon, or use code FATEDMATES for 30% off. Sophie Lark , author of Brutal Prince , available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publisher of Ally Carter's The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year , available in print, ebook or audiobook, at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or from your local indie . Lark Maitland , author of Ash and the Butterfly, available in print and ebook at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or from your local indie .

Dec 10, 2024

We're so excited to be talking about some of the bright new voices in romance this week -- every book we talk about in this episode is a debut romance from 2024. We're introducing you to eighteen new authors, all of whom you'll be able to meet years from now and say, "I've been reading you from the beginning!" From chefs to film directors, baseball players to librarians, spies to playwrights, there's a little something here for everyone. You're going to love it. Guess what? There's a debut romance in the Fated Mates Best of 2024 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA ! There's still time to order...and get a box of our favorite books of the year and support booksellers at a fantastic indie bookstore all at the same time! If you want to talk romance more ofte, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . The Books The Prospects by K.T. Hoffman Unsteady by Peyton Corinne The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit But How Are You, Really? By Ella Dawson When I Think of You by Myah Ariel Showmance by Chad Beguelin The Lovers by Rebecca Faubion Say You’ll be Mine by Naina Kumar The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain The Spy and I by Tiana Smith Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang Pick-Up by Nora Dahlia Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal I’ll Have What He’s Having by Adib Khorram Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi The Notes It’s not too late to buy the Fated Mates best of 2024 box available from Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA. Jen realized a lifelong nerdy dream by being on Chicago public radio. The show is called Reset, and she was talking about romance with Sonali Dev and Bryn Donovan. Jackwagon , defined. Take a look at the feelings whee l. The Prom , a broadway show. Sneakers , a movie. You can shop this week's books on bookshop.org and choose which local indie you want to support. The Sponsors Book of the Month , bringing the best new fiction to your door. Go to bookofthemonth.com to pick a book and join. For a limited time, you can get your first book for just $5 with code TINSEL ! Remember to tell them Fated Mates sent you! Pippa Grant , author of The Worst Wedding Date , available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lydia Lloyd , author of When the Viscount Wanted Me , available in print, ebook or audiobook, at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo, Apple Books.

Dec 3, 2024

Let's talk about the over 40s and how they deserve love, too! This week, we're diving into what the industry calls "seasoned" romance, though we're not wild about this phrasing and prefer "Women over forty can get it!" We're talking about romances where, yes, the heroines are older, but they still get to go on adventures, in and out of the bedroom...and with rock stars and incubi, even! Guess what? There's a romance with a heroine over 40 in the Fated Mates Best of 2024 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA ! You can get a box of our favorite books of the year and support booksellers at a fantastic indie bookstore all at the same time! If you were shouting book names at your car stereo during this episode and want to shout them at other people, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . The Books Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo Becoming Crone by Lydia M. Hawke Pick-Up by Nora Dahlia Gray Hair Don’t Care by Karen Booth Remember When by Mary Balogh Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy Reaper’s Stand by Joanna Wylde The Art Collector by Katelyn Brehm Losing Sight by Tati Richardson Role Playing by Cathy Yardley The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen Candidly Yours by Reese Ryan Dirty Little Midlife Mistake by Lilian Monroe Beautifully Unexpected by Lily Morton Chieftain by Annie Lucas Talk me Down by Victoria Dahl Fanning the Flames by Victoria Dahl The Worst Guy by Kate Canterbury As the Underworld Turns by Robin Peterman It’s a Wonderful Midlife Crisis by Robin Peterman The Notes We had an episode about Daddy romance and age gap romance , but that’s not what this episode is about, this one is about characters over 40. Basically, if you loved Pearl Jam’s Ten , then you are probably the age of the characters in this episode. Now that “spicy” is used to describe sexy books, the word seasoned seems less useful. Veteran’s Day , Armistice Day , and how the wikipedia editors are making war on AI slop . Allie Parker is the host of the Romance Ever After podcast , and she recently suggested “the next wave of historical romance would be the 80s and 90s,” but there’s been way more historical romance kerfuffles happening since then. Sandra Antonelli is a key advocate for romance with older characters. Her site has an essay called Ignored and Misrepresented , which describes why characters over 40 should be leads and not stereotypes. This NYTimes article answers a pressing question: Why Do So Many Women Wear Giant Eyeglasses? A new name for middle aged folks: the sandwich generation . The Sponsors Book of the Month , bringing the best new fiction to your door. Go to bookofthemonth.com to pick a book and join. For a limited time, you can get your first book for just $5 with code TINSEL ! Remember to tell them Fated Mates sent you! Jenni Bara , author of Finding Out , available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Avon Books , publishers of Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone's A Jingle Bell Mingle , available in from your local independent bookstore , Kobo , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble or Amazon . Kayla Grosse , author of Axes & Os , available in print, ebook or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited .

Nov 24, 2024

It's Thanksgiving week in the United States, which means capitalism! We're skipping (mainly) the talk of the midnight electronics runs, and heading straight to Small Business Saturday, when your local independent bookseller is doing their very best to put great books in your hands. Ever been in your local bookstore and thought -- I wish this place was the setting of a romance novel? We've got you, friends. We talk about the magic of bookstores, about the importance of small businesses, about bookshops as sites for revolution, and about the appeal of running your own little shop around the corner. And we recommend a bunch of books that are...honestly? Charming AF. Want more indie bookstore content? Support some booksellers at a bookstore we really love by purchasing the Fated Mates Best of 2024 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA . Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Threads or Bluesky when you unbox! If you were shouting book names at your car stereo during this episode and want to shout them at other people, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . Books Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall by Alexandra Lange The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean The Vampire in the Bookstore by Elle M. Drew Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee Once Upon a Charming Bookshop by Heatherly Bell A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello Taken by Charlotte Stein Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley Better than Fiction by Alexa Martin Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever by Molly Harper The Earl Takes a Fancy by Lorraine Heath Seven Secrets of Seduction by Anne Mallory Beach Read by Emily Henry Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke The Wrong Mr. Right by Stephanie Archer The Adrien English Mysteries by Josh Lanyon Notes A guide to upcoming shopping holidays, because America: Black Friday , Small Business Saturday , Cyber Monday , and Giving Tuesday . Some more info about the best time to buy a TV . Returning a perfectly good item after you’ve used it for a holiday (do we call the Super Bowl a holiday? Probably, if Taylor Swift is in attendance.) is called “ wardrobing .” Back in 2018, LL Bean changed their famous lifetime return policy . I guess if you need some Chicago stuff, you should check out The Silver Room , and you can use Bookshop.Org to find a local indie bookstore to support. It’s not called Library Thing (that’s an app to catalog your own library), what Jen was talking about is the Library Extension. WTF, You’ve Got Mail , the 90s what an innocent time . You've Got Mail is a retelling of the 1940s Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan film The Shop Around the Corner which, incidentally, is a perfect movie for a lazy holiday weekend with several generations in attendance. Sponsors Book of the Month , bringing the best new fiction to your door. Go to bookofthemonth.com to pick a book and join. For a limited time, you can get your first book for just $5 with code STUFFED before December 2nd, and TINSEL anytime in December! Remember to tell them Fated Mates sent you! Sara Cate , author of Keep Me , available in print, ebook or audiobook from your local independent bookstore , Kobo , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble or Amazon . Blue Box Press , publishers of Darynda Jones's Graveyard Dog , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Melissa Dymond , author of Holiday Wedding , available in print or ebook from your local independent bookstore , Barnes & Noble or Amazon . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/11/24/bookstores-and-booksellers If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 19, 2024

The Best Romance Novels of 2024! This is our favorite episode of the year, where we get to shout at you about the terrific books we read this year, and tell you all the ways romance continues to excite us. It's the best and worst job, because we get to shout about books we love, but we are limited to only ten! And choosing ten favorites is very difficult! That said, we persevered, and here they are: Ten books we loved, books that delivered all the things we love in romance: bold heroines, big heroes, banter, complexity, conflict, impossible situations, and stories that swing for the fences. You're going to love these books. This year, you can buy the Fated Mates Best of 2024 Book Pack from our friends at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA , and get eight of the traditionally published books on the list and a Fated Mates sticker! A Love Song For Ricki Wilde (hardcover) and Lips Like Sugar (independently published) can be added to the box for an extra fee. As always, you can add other 2024 books by some of our favorite people (or a signed Sarah MacLean book!) to the box if you’d like. We love the idea of you gifting yourself this box (you deserve it!), but maybe you’d like to slide into someone’s text messages with the link as a very excellent gift for you! Or…you can do what Sarah does, and buy the box and spread the love around—sending each of the books to someone on your list. Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Threads or Bluesky when you unbox! Check out our “Best Romance Novels” lists from previous years: 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020 , and 2019 . (We were 5 minutes old in 2018 and didn’t do a list that year), and please tell us what your favorite books of 2024 were! If you want other people to discuss this list with, maybe you want to join our Patreon? You get an extra monthly episode from us and access to the incredible readers and brilliant people on the Fated Mates Discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . The Books A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck by Kylie Scott Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous by Mae Marvel Lips Like Sugar by Jess K. Hardy The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long Sex, Lies, and Sensibility by Nikki Payne Hans by S.J. Tilly No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt Sleeping with the Frenemy by Natalie Cana Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore The Sponsors Avon Books , publishers of Sarah A. Parker's When the Moon Hatched , available in print, ebook or audiobook from your local independent bookstore , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or Amazon . Vi Keeland , author of Bossman , available in print, ebook or audiobook from your local independent bookstore , Barnes & Noble or Amazon . Lois Templin , author of Heart of the Hawk , available in print or ebook from your local independent bookstore , Barnes & Noble or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Melanie Greene , author of Common Ground , available in ebook from Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/11/17/0711-the-best-romance-novels-of-2024 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 12, 2024

Like many people, we don't have much to say this week, and whatever we might have said probably wouldn't have been very eloquent, so we've decided to talk about something we know about: Comfort reading and the way romance provides us solace, peace and hope. This week's books are our old reliables--books that we turn to again and again for a reminder that love triumphs, hope sings and romance is resolute. We're so happy you're here; we are, too, for as long as you'll have us. If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our next read along is Judith Ivory's The Proposition , a terrific Pygmalion retelling and one of Sarah's favorites. Find it at your local independent bookseller, Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or Amazon . The Books The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane Butcher & Blackbird by Brynn Weaver A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Cana Scoring Off the Field by Naima Simone On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells Chain Lightning by Elizabeth Lowell Secret Santa & All He Wants for Christmas by Kati Wilde The Proposition by Judith Ivory Tycoon by Joanna Shupe The Notes We’ve talked about “Break in Case of Emergency” reads on an episode back from 2022, and comfort reads with Dani Lacey back in 2020. Kaitlyn Greenidge sent out a substack with her 2016 interview with Dorothy Allison , who died this week . Pat the Producer and Clayton have a podcast called The BO Boys, and a few weeks ago they recorded a live episode with guests Sean Donnelly and Brett Arnold. The question was: are we okay? If you happen to be in Chester, Connecticut, visit the romance bookstore Montgomery & Taggert. You should just call them directly and order that romance card game called Romance vs. The World. Follow Fated Mates on BookBub , you can select your preferred eBook platform and get emails when books we’ve recommended go on sale. You can also follow Sarah for information about her books and upcoming releases. The Sponsors Max Monroe , author of Meet Me at Midnight , available in print or ebook from Amazon or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Blue Box Press , publisher of Heather Graham's The Ghost of a Chance , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon . Jaime P. Bradley , author of Wait: A 3000 Series Novella , available in print or ebook from Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Amazon . Lumi Gummies, THC gummies available nationwide. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATED50 for free gummies with a limited time $50 off coupon, or use code FATEDMATES for 30% off.

Nov 5, 2024

It’s just a very normal first Tuesday in November, and you need — and deserve — a distraction! We’re here to help with an episode that not only avoids discussing anything that might or might not be happening in the US today, but also lacks anything remotely of consequence (we promise 100% vibes!). Today, we’re releasing the November 2024 Bantr+, which is usually exclusive to the Patreon, in the main feed, in case you need it. For no particular reason. (But for real, if you haven’t yet, please go out and vote. Don’t wait! Or, better yet, bring us with you and listen to us while you’re in line!) If you need further distraction/comfort/community (and more Bantr+ episodes), you might find what you’re looking for over at the Patreon .

Nov 5, 2024

Today we're talking mermaids with our friend, Zóraida Cordova, an author of many genres who also writes romance under the name Zoey Castile. We talk about the appeal of mermaids, why we're so drawn to them as creatures, their history in mythologies around the globe, and yes, we get into biology, because we give the people what they want. If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . The Books The Captive Merman’s Promise by Zoey Castile Mermaids Never Drown edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova The Penguin Book of Mermaids Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin The Mermaid’s Knight by Jill Myles Soul Song by Marjorie M. Liu Tentacles and Triathlons by Ashley Bennett One Night Standard by E.F. Dodd Siren’s Secret by Debbie Herbert Whispers of the Deep by Emma Hamm Wish out of Water by Holley Trent Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo The Notes Welcome Zoraida Cordóva , our resident mermaid expert. Well, everyone’s mermaid expert. Laura Von Holt is another one of our faves, and she has a mermaid podcast you might want to check out. The ocean is so deep, we don’t even know what’s down there ! Have you ever googled a whale penis ? Merman christmas ornaments . What a world. A huge group of YA books sold all at once: Wake by Amanda Hocking, Fins are Forever by Tera Lynne Childs, Tempest Rising by Tracy Wolff, Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli Maybe you’ve read a Namor comic, or watched Aquaman with Jason Momoa , or Splash with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah, or either of the two versions of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. MerPeople is a Netflix documentary about professional mermaids. The Coral Room was a bar in New York the features professional mermaids, such as Julie Atlas Muz . The Sponsors Avon Books , publishers of Alyssa Cole's How to Find a Princess, available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo & Apple Books , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Madison Score , author of Happily Never After , available in print or ebook from Amazon or Barnes & Noble . Alyxandra Harvey , author of The Scandalous Spinster , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . MJ Etkind , author of Dishwasher Safe , available in print or ebook from Amazon .

Oct 27, 2024

This is a bit different than our usual Halloween adjacent episodes -- we're talking about the rise of romance centered around ghostly secondary characters (Jen) and funeral homes and mortuaries (Sarah). These two themes have become more and more prevalent in romance over the last few years, and we talk about how and why they've risen and what they might mean -- considering the way romance reflects the world we live in. We talk about the pandemic, about grief, about community and about the way humor and love find their ways into the cracks left by death. If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Also! We stay phonebanking! Join us this Saturday and next to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist by Ali K. Mulford & K. Elle Morrison Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore A Ghost in Shining Armor by Therese Beharrie Undertaking Love by Megan Montgomery Inheritance and The Mirror by Nora Roberts Temple of Persephone by Isabella Kamal Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca Mourning Wood by Heather Orgeron Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper The Notes We have one more Fated States phone bank , or maybe you want to try ballot curing phone banking, which might feel less stressful. Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey was released on March 16th, 2020. Three days later, California became the first state to give a “stay at home” order. On March 25th, we had an episode celebrating health care workers . Even at that time, we wondered how romance would process the pandemic, and we weren’t the only ones. In May 0f 2020, the New York Times published the names of 100,000 people who died , with the headline An Incalculable Loss; as of October of 2024, over 7 million people have died in the Coronavirus pandemic. Remember, remember the 5th of November is from Guy Fawkes and maybe you saw it in the movie V is for Vendetta . Tim Walz called Elon Musk a dipshit last week, Eminem (who is hot now?) showed up at a Kamala rally, as did Beyonce. The Day of the Dead is an important celebration meant to honor and commemorate those who have died, and Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art has a different exhibit to celebrate every year. Jen discovered there is an entire subgenre of books with ghostly banging that you might like, such as TBR: Dead but Well Read or Gang of Ghouls , but that don’t seem to be part of the pattern at hand we’re talking about. But you know. Mick Jagger went (and dropped out) of the London School of Economics. Who knew. The Sponsors Brianna Bancroft , author of the Dash of Desire novella series , The Businesswoman and the Bartender; The Librarian and the Mechanic; and The Maestro and the Roofer available in ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Robyn Peterman , author of Fashionably Dead , available in print, ebook, or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Katherine Grant , host of the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast. Listen now on your favorite podcasting app. M. Jacqueline Murray , author of Out of Time , available in print, ebook, or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or in print, direct from the author .

Oct 23, 2024

Happy anniversary, Firebirds! Seven years ago this week, we launched Fated Mates with our first Episode, "A Wolf Without a Foot," in which we planned a tight 18 episode series, here and gone before you'd know it. Seven years later, we're still here, and we're celebrating by doing the obvious: Talking about Sin! We've taken the seven deadly sins and assigned a great romance novel to each one, and we've dug deep into the dark recesses of our minds, our bookshelves and our psyches to do it. This is a long one (obviously), and full of some real "abandon all hope, ye who enter here" vibes. Thanks for being with us new listeners and longstanding ones...we love you! If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Also! We stay phonebanking! Join us this Saturday and next to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books Envy Barbarian’s Taming by Ruby Dixon Sin and Ink by Naima Simone Staying in Vegas by Sam Mariano The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath Lust Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett Bass-Ackwards by Eris Adderly Stolen Desire by Robin Lovett Gluttony Fury on Fire by Sophie Jordan Cajun Hot by Nikita Black Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren Greed Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie One and Done by Cynthia Sax Sloth Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey Fan Service by Rosie Danan Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up to be Scoundrels by Louisa Darling Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt Wrath A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane Wait for It by Molly O’Keefe Nero by SJ Tilly Pride The Bride Price by Anne Mallory Double Standards by Judith McNaught The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale The Notes As we all know, there are 3 kinds of pipe. The Seven Deadly Sins are: sloth, wrath, gluttony, envy, lust, greed, and pride. In case you not a sinner, you may be more familiar with the seven virtues : humility, charity, chastity, gratitude, temperance, patience, and diligence. Historically, it was illegal for a man to marry his brother’s widow . “I am in lust with Dain,” is a line from Lord of Scoundrels . With some further researching, Jen discovered that there is a podcast by Stephen Fry about the 7 Deadly Sins. The Sponsors Blue Box Press, publishers of Jennifer Probst's Book of the Month, available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo & Apple Books . Kylie Scott, author of Text Appeal , available in print, ebook, or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo & Apple Books , or in audiobook from Audible. Stephanie Rose, author of Safe With Me , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Laura Moher, author of What She's Having , available in print, ebook, or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo & Apple Books .

Oct 16, 2024

We're starting our Season 7 read alongs off with a bang! M. O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology is some of the best contemporary romance out there, and if you need proof, here it is: The first book ends on a cliffhanger and it holds a prime spot on Jen's keeper shelf. We're talking about all the ways this book works, the way O'Keefe wields tension and description and narrative voice and point of view like an absolute master and delivers a series that is not only deeply representative of the contemporary romance of the mid 2010s, but also a near perfect example of how contemporary can fire on all cylinders. Clear your calendar, you're going to want to read all four books in this series back to back. If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books Everything I Left Unsaid by M. O'Keefe The Truth About Him by M. O'Keefe Burn Down the Night by M. O'Keefe Wait for It by M. O'Keefe The Notes Raise a glass to the Old School Romance Book Club on Facebook. They had their final zoom on October 14, 2024. Problematic vs. Dated originated with a discussion of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Twitter, a conversation that has been ongoing for a long time . Just to be clear, when Jen said “it’s 2015 so it’s in past” she’s referencing that although some books were written in present (like 50 Shades, published in 2011), the wholesale shift to present tense that we see in romance now hadn’t happened yet. Researchers and law enforcement professionals have determined that nonfatal strangulation is a leading indicator of escalating violence in a relationship and an important risk factor for homicide in women , and the fact that choking is on the rise in teenage sexual encounters is especially troubling. The Sponsors 1001 Dark Nights, publishers of Audrey Carlan's A Christmas Auction , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Aethon Books, publishers of Belle Walker's Blood and War , available in print, ebook and audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Gummies --use the code FATED50 for $50 off your first order, or use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off your next order. Meghan Quinn, author of How My Neighbor Stole Christmas , available in print, ebook, audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Don't forget to keep listening for an audio excerpt of June Westwood's Grave Temptation , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited .

Oct 7, 2024

An episode for the old school romance readers in the audience, we're talking about kidnapping this week! A trope that either absolutely works for readers (aka us) or absolutely doesn't, we talk about why that is, how the original romances of the 80s and 90s installed these buttons and how we still see the bones of old school kidnapping in delicious romances of today. That, and Jen reminds Sarah of books wrote one time. If you want more romance content, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Next week, our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas The Master by Kresley Cole Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey The Windflower by Laura London A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught Perfect by Judith McNaught Demon Lover by Kathleen Creighton Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole The Outlaw and the Lady by Lorraine Heath The Hawk by Monica McCarty Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet The Hostage Bargain by Annika Martin Mafia Mistress by Mila Finelli Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly Taken by Charlotte Stein Savage Hearts by JT Geissenger Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan Captive of the Horde King by Zoey Draven The Grabbed Series by Lolita Lopez My Favorite Kidnapper by Melanie Moreland Chieftain: The Outlander Book Club…in Space! By Annie Lucas The Notes Nobody has ever quoted me back to me before Learning the Tropes has covered every Kleypas book if you’re in the mood for that. Next week, our read along is Everything I Left Unsaid and The Truth About Him by M. O’Keefe, so get to reading. The Sponsors June Westwood, author of Grave Temptation , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . KL Parsons, author of Love By a Landslide , available in print and ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Jenni Bara, author of The Foul Out , available in print and ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited .

Oct 1, 2024

We are so thrilled to have thee Meg Cabot with us, one of the original queens of YA romance. We talk about her longstanding writing career, about the authors who inspired her, about her early historical romances, written as Patricia Cabot, about her pivot into young adult romance and the power of the subgenre, about her own love story, and, of course, about The Princess Diaries of it all. It will surprise absolutely no one that Meg is a delight as a guest--we're so grateful for her time and her insight, and she's welcome back any time. If you also love romance, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . Looking for Sarah's Conflict Writing class? It starts this Sunday-- find it right here . The Books Where Roses Grow Wild An Improper Proposal The Princess Diaries The Black Canary: Ignite The Mediator: Shadowland Educating Caroline The Boy Next Door Enchanted to Meet You All-American Girl Show Notes Meg Cabot . has written over 50 young adult romances, including The Princess Diaries. Meg also wrote adult romances under the name Patricia Cabot, and her first book Educating Caroline has just been re-released under the name Meg Cabot. Jen recommends the book Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of 80s and 90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss. Publishing Professionals and Authors Mentioned: author Barbara Cartland , Jennifer Weis was an agent at St. Martin’s Press and is now at the Weis Agency , editor Amy Pierpont , editor Carrie Fero n, agent Laura Langlie, Sarah Davies with MacMillan in the UK, author Judy Blume , author Michelle Jaffe , author Susan Isaacs , author Susan Elizabeth Phillips , author Bolu Babalola , author Lee Child , publisher Erica Sussman , author PD James . Books & Movies mentioned: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Romancing the Stone , Daughter of Hassan by Penny Jordan, Anne McCafferey ’s Dragonriders of Pern series, Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, Blubber by Judy Blume, The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Danziger, Norma Klein , Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman, Born in Ice by Nora Roberts, In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath. The Sponsors Book of the Month , bringing the best new fiction to your door. Go to bookofthemonth.com to pick a book and join. For a limited time, you can get your first book for just $5 with code PUMPKIN. Remember to tell them Fated Mates sent you! TL Smith , author of When He Reads to Me , available in print and ebook, from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you get your books . Claire Therese , author of The Starling Inn , available in print and ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Isabella Kamal , author of The Temple of Persephone , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books .

Sep 23, 2024

There's a particular kind of romance hero who makes us feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy, because all he wants to do is stare in awe at his partner and tell everyone in the world to do the same. The Wife Guy is everything we love when it's done right, and we're so very excited to share a list of books that deliver this straight shot of serotonin every single time. If you also love romance, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers. Jen & Sarah are joined by special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books The Bride by Julie Garwood A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips The Secret by Julie Garwood Knockout by Sarah MacLean Worked Up by Tessa Bailey Bombshell by Sarah MacLean Naked In Death by JD Robb American Royalty by Tracey Livesay The Favor by Suzanne Wright Wild Pitch by Cat Giraldo The House on Mulberry Street by Jeannie Chin Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas The Hating Game by Sally Thorne Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Dark Needs at Night’s Edge by Kresley Cole Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole MacRieve by Kresley Cole Wicked Abyss by Kresley Cole Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera Up in Smoke by Tessa Bailey Prince of Broadway by Joanna Shupe To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins Lush Money by Angelina M. Lopez Engaging the Enemy by Reese Ryan Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon The Notes We are not the only ones just discovering what 6-6-6 means . There is evidence that women in Georgia have died as a result of abortion bans, and it’s true in other states as well . Some of our favorite wife guys: Doug Emhoff, Joe Biden, Barack Obama , Tim Walz , and Hunter Woodhall . The Jayne Ann Krentz trailblazer episode has a great discussion of core story. Jen thinks the Julie Garwood book with the wolf is actually Honor’s Splendor, which we do not recommend due to very problematic portrayal of a gay character. The Sponsors Sarah Chamberlain , author of The Slowest Burn , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books . Avery Maxwell , author of Late Nights & Love Lines , available in print and ebook, from Amazon . Erin Langston , author of The Finest Print , available in print and ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you get your books .

Sep 18, 2024

Everything is new and crisp in the fall, as F. Scott Fitzgerald likes to say, and the romance novels are no different! We're starting to think about cozy fall reads under warm blankets with cider and pumpkin spice...and we're talking today about our massive autumn TBR piles! There’s something here for everyone — chefs, witches, sexy anthologies, vampires, sports, dragons, hot air balloons and, of course, dukes. If you also love romance, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us on Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers, Jen, Sarah, and special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . If phonebanking isn't your thing, we're also raising money for downticket house and senate races, because state legislatures may not be sexy, but they sure hold all the power. Learn more, and give what you can at fatedmates.net/givingcircle . The Books Contemporary I’ll Have What He’s Having by Abib Khorram Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley Deja Brew by Celestine Martin Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi Love in Bloom by Lucy Eden Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen Give It To Me by Angelina Lopez Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff / 831 Stories Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb Wished by Sarah Ready Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London All Signs Point to Malibu by Jennifer Snow Love and Sportsball by Meka James YA Romance Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew Romantasy The Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan Twisted Shadows by Allie Therin The House at Watch Hill by Karen Marie Moning Blood and Magic by Lauren Dane Swordcrossed by Freya Marske Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher HISTORICAL My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley Three Sins and a Scoundrel by Tracey Sumner Educating Caroline by Meg Cabot The Duke’s Sister and I by Emma-Claire Sunday The Beast Takes a Bride by Julie Anne Long The Highlander’s Return by Lynsay Sands A Tempest of Desire by Lorraine Heath The Wallflower List by Jess Michaels The Trouble with Inventing a Viscount by Vivienne Lorrette No Ordinary Duchess by Elizabeth Hoyt Romantic Suspense I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War You Can Kill by Rebecca Zanetti Mr. Nice Spy by Tiana Smith The Notes You can join us for Fated States phone banking this Saturday, Sept 21, 2024, and then starting Oct 5th, we’ll be phone banking every Saturday until Election Day. A great clearinghouse for all your voter information needs (yes, you should check your voter registration one more time) is Rock the Vote or Vote.org Find out more information about The States Project and join the Fated Mates Giving Circle . After watching this great video from John Legend , who was born in Springfield, you can also support Springfield, Ohio and its Haitian immigrant population by supporting any of the following organizations: Haitian Community Help & Support Center of Springfield, The Second Harvest Food Bank , The Rocking Horse Community Health Center , and the Springfield chapter of St. Vincent De Paul . The Sponsors Aethon Books , publishers of KW Foster's A Curse of Breath and Blood , available in print or ebook . Blue Box Press , publishers of J Kenner's Craved By You , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Meghan Quinn , author of Bridesmaid Undercover , available in print or ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Labs , creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATED50 for free gummies with a limited time $50 off coupon, or use code FATEDMATES for 30% off.

Sep 11, 2024

Seven is heaven! Today, we are celebrating seven seasons of Fated Mates and this genre that we just can't get enough of with two people we just can't get enough of--Kate Clayborn and Adriana Herrera! We're talking about books, about the tropes we love, about the little bits of romance that make it the very very best. We're also thanking you for listening for seven seasons--and also being the very very best. If you also love romance, maybe you want to join our Patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us on Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers, Jen, Sarah, and special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . The Books The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn On the Hustle by Adriana Herrera An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel Hollywood Wives by Jackie collins The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie The Gift by Julie Garwood Run Posy Run by Cate Wells The Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews Lover Eternal by JR Ward Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning Texas Destiny by Lorraine Heath Only You by Elizabeth Lowell Lothaire by Kresley Cole The Notes Welcome Kate Clayborn and Adriana Herrera , we’ve had both of them on more episodes that we can count. Kate’s latest book is The Other Side of Disappearing , and Adriana’s is An Island Princess Starts a Scandal. The Sponsors Katelyn Brehm, author of The Art Collector and The Siren's Song , the first two books in the Demons Among Us series , available in print or ebook . Blue Box Press, publishers of Kristen Ashley's Embracing the Change , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Avery Maxwell, author of Love Notes and Lifelines , available in print or ebook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Buns & Roses Romance Tea for Literacy, Sunday, October 20th, in Dallas, TX. Proceeds go to the Richardson, TX Adult Literacy Center. Get tickets and more information . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/9/10/s0701-the-magnificent-season-seven-with-kate-clayborn-and-adriana-herrera If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 4, 2024

While we're off this week, we're encouraging everyone to listen to our Stop Book Banning episode, rereleased with new content! This week, we're talking to Maggie Tokuda-Hall, one of the founders of Authors Against Book Bans about the growth of book bans around the country in 2024. Book bans in United States schools and libraries are at their highest since the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom started collecting data, happening around the country, in every state, and disproportionately affecting books by and about LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people. What’s more, challenges are likely underreported, because librarians who are resisting them are facing unprecedented workplace retribution and in some cases physical danger. Book Bans are on the ballot this year in every state and local election, up and down the ticket. State legislatures, local town councils, county leadership and school boards are being overrun with candidates supported by conservative activists looking to limit access to books and ideas that offer identity, empathy, awareness, and power to young people around the country. We’re concerned, so today, we’re releasing a special episode of Fated Mates focused on book bans across the country. We interview three experts on what’s happening, who is most impacted, and how we can all help. Show notes are extensive, and we hope you’ll take a look at them. The Guests Maggie Tokuda-Hall , author, activist, podcaster and founding member of Authors Against Book Bans Jarett Dapier , librarian, activist and author of Mr. Watson’s Chickens . Jarrett is offering his complete stage adaption of Chris Crutcher's YA novel "The Sledding Hill" to the Office for Intellectual Freedom in support of Banned Books Week as a free download to read. Schools and communities interested in performing the play can do so with a $75 donation to the ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom . Lily Freeman, activist and student in Central Bucks County, PA. Read Lily’s op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer and follow her instagram at ProjectUncensored . Congratulations, Lily, on your graduation! Melissa Walker , political activist at The States Project , journalist, and Middle Grade and YA author of Violet on the Runway , Let’s Pretend We Never Met , Small Town Sinners and more. The Resources Authors Against Book Bans , the author and creator wing of the fight for the freedom to read The Youth Censorship Database at the National Coalition Against Censorship Book Riot’s censorship coverage is excellent and updated almost daily. They have an excellent explainer for how to find and develop a local anti-censorship group Intellectual Round Table Freedom Blog : an exhaustive list of links related to news about challenges, censorship, and banning incidents, developing issues, and controversies that is updated weekly PEN America’s data on School Book Bans and Index of Educational Gag Orders American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom , full of resources and toolkits on challenges and how to combat them What’s happening in Central Bucks County, PA is happening all over the country. Kids, families and educators are protesting loudly Advocates for Inclusive Education , for more information on what’s happening on the ground in Bucks County, PA A map from ALA Banned Books week at the University of Illinois Library , and another from Red Wine & Blue . Teens around the country can get library cards from the Brooklyn Public Library . To apply for the card, teens can send a note to BooksUnbanned@bklynlibrary.org , or via the Library’s s teen-run Instagram account, @bklynfuture . The $50 fee normally associated with out-of-state cards will be waived Learn more about the Book Ban Busters at Red Wine & Blue . Ballotpedia is a resource for your local ballot and your local election maps Vote.org , to check your voter registration, locate your voting place and more How to Help Educate yourself about the book challenge process in your school district: How it works, who sits on the book challenge committee, how those committee members are appointed. If there are book bans and protests in your school district , attend local school board meetings and support students, teachers & librarians who are speaking up. Tell your local public and school librarians they have your support. Write letters. Visit the library. Thank them for standing for intellectual freedom. Research school board candidates in your district . Vote accordingly. Consider running for something! Your school board and your state legislature need you! Consider this us telling you seven times! (We’ll phonebank for you!) Vote to flip your state legislature blue. Rally your friends to join you in a Giving Circle at the States Project . If you're an author or creator, join Authors Against Book Bans . Donate to organizations (listed below) that support intellectual freedom and combat book bans. Organizations to Support (and Volunteer with) Donate to the Freedom To Read Foundation and become a member. The Freedom To Read Foundation effectively conducts important first amendment legal work regarding book bans and censorship. GLSEN , Creating a Better World for LGBTQ Students Intellectual Freedom Endowment Fund at the American Library Association The National Coalition Against Censorship , providing direct intervention for people and groups facing censorship The States Project , helping to flip (or keep) state legislatures blue The Trevor Project , supporting LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round We Believe in Education , a movement of parents and families fighting for students’ freedom to learn Your local Freedom to Read organization, which you can find with a quick web search! r1qqzChZcbawCZ6X3BVO

Aug 27, 2024

Everything old is new again...or young again? We're talking about New Adult romance today, that is, romance novels where the love story is set at or during college! We're hopping in the time machine and headed a generation or two back in romance to talk about the first time New Adult came around changing the contemporary romance game. We're getting to the bottom of why these particular love stories work so well when it comes to feelings, and asking that eternal question -- has anyone involved in this subgenre actually met a 19 year old man? (JK, we support you!) We're taking next week off, but we'll be back the week after for the start of our Seventh Season! If you'd like more romance chatter in the meantime, we encourage you to join our patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Our first read along of Season 7 will be Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid duology, selected by Jen which despite the first book being a cliffhanger should not surprise you because she contains multitudes. The second book is The Truth About Him. Read them both and get ready for Jen to talk to you for hours. You will thank us. Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us on Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers, Jen, Sarah, and special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . The Books 50 Shades of Grey by EL James Wait for You by Jennifer Armentrout The Wild Seasons Series by Christina Lauren Butterfly by Jo Brenner First Semester by QB Tyler Losing It by Cora Carmack Never Sweeter and The Professor by Charlotte Stein The Unrequited by Saffron Kent Sincerely, Carter by Whitney G The Boys Next Door by Miranda Silver The Game On Series by Kristen Callihan The Deal by Elle Kennedy Foreplay by Sophie Jordan Lick and Play by Kylie Scott The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yaros One and Done by Frederick Smith Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly Real by Katy Evans The Notes At the beginning of season 6, Sarah and Lo (Lauren Billings from Christina Lauren) recorded a Hot for Teacher episode . Also a popular Van Halen song from the 80s, and the video is honestly something else. What is new adult as a subgenre? Risks of college life are well-documented, depression , substance abuse , and higher rates of violence toward women. The Sponsors Roxy Sloane, author of Cross My Heart , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Blue Box Press, publishers of Rachel Van Dyken's Love Hazard , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Sara Cate, author of The Heartbreaker , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Gummies --use the code FATED50 for $50 off your first order, or use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off your next order. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/8/27/0651-college-bound-new-adult-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 20, 2024

We're back with Christopher Rice celebrating one of the longest running themes in romance: Daddy Issues (not the good kind)! Christopher writes romance under the pen name C. Travis Rice, and today, we're talking about his recent banger, Sapphire Dawn. We talk about the longstanding history of characters with terrible fathers, about why romance seems to love a bad dad, about our favorite characters with terrible fathers, and about why terrible fathers make the best heroes? (we know! it's problematic!) All that, and we're talking about Nora Roberts and (gasp!) Janet Dailey! We're coming up on the end of Season 6 (what?! how!?), and so incredibly grateful to you for listening. If you'd like more romance chatter, we encourage you to join our patreon, where you get another episode from us each month, and access to the incredible readers and listeners and brilliant people on the Fated Mates discord! Support us and learn more at fatedmates.net/patreon . Also! We're back on the phonebanking train this election season! Join us on Saturdays between now and Election Day to phonebank with fellow romance lovers, Jen, Sarah, and special guests who will knock your socks off! Learn more and register at fatedmates.net/fatedstates . The Books Sapphire Sunset by C Travis Rice Sapphire Spring by C Travis Rice Sapphire Storm by C Travis Rice Sapphire Dawn by C Travis Rice The Dream Trilogy by Nora Roberts In Death by JD Robb T he Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles Love in the Time of Scandal by Caroline Linden Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey 52 Reasons to Hate my Father by Jessica Brody A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz This Calder Range by Janet Dailey Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt The Notes Welcome author Christopher Rice who writes gay romance as C. Travis Rice. His current series is called Sapphire Cove, and his most recent release is Sapphire Dawn. Christopher and his best friend Eric Shawn Quinn host a podcast called The Dinner Party Show. The great dish soap decision : Dawn vs. Ajax . Check out some of our trailblazers referenced this episode: Vincent Virga , Radclyffe , and Nora Roberts. If you want to learn more about Janet Dailey and the plagiarism scandal that tarnished her name, check out the Reformed Rakes episodes about her . Maybe you want to read what the New Yorker has to say about pirates. The Sponsors Robyn Peterman, author of As The Underworld Turns , available in print, ebook, audiobook or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Blue Box Press, publishers of Kristen Proby's The Substitute , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon . Victoria Hamel, author of Is This Love Fur Real? , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Bri Castellini, author of Rehabbing the Billionaire , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/8/20/s0650-daddy-issues-with-chris-rice If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 14, 2024

This week, we're back to Mafia books, because it's been a few years since we've tackled this one and the landscape has changed drastically. We're talking about the appeal of the organized criminal, the way the genre is the direct descendant of the Medieval romance, and the fact that it underscores some of the deepest seeded patriarchy in the genre--for good and bad. Sarah shows off the Italian and the Italian American in her past, and tells a few stories about people and places she doesn't name because did she see anything? No she didn't. If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where 1000 other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . The Books Deviant Hearts by Jagger Cole Mafia Virgin by Mila Finelli Bound in Honor by Cora Reilly Scorned Vows by Victoria Paige Because You’re Mine by Claire Contreras Going Rogue by Amelia Shea Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks Her Dark Salvation by Katelyn Brehm Vow of Revenge by P. Rayne 7th Circle by Tate James Ruthless People by JJ MacAvoy Nero and Hans by SJ Tilly The Notes Back in 2020, we recorded our first mafia romance interstitial with author Nisha Sharma , that season we also had a dark romance interstitial , and those two genres have only become more popular over time. If you’re interested in the real life story of how Providence RI was a hotbed of organized crim activity, check out season one of the Crimetown Podcast . But every town has their famous mobsters: Al Capone in Chicago, John Gotti in New York, etc, etc. As Jen was preparing show notes for this episode, she discovered there is a Mob Museum, The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement in Las Vegas , so add that to your bucket list. Lorenzo Lamas was a favorite 80s Hottie, and the movie The Shawshank Redemption had a very important scene with a tunnel behind a movie poster. Watch this scene with the horse head and tell Jen she didn’t NAIL it with her impersonation of the guy’s scream. Part of the reason he sounds so horrified… that head was real and he didn’t know it?!?!? Apparently Joseph Campbell said, “Women don't need to make the journey. In the whole mythological journey, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she's the place that people are trying to get to.” And well, we hate it. You might be interested in reading The Heroine’s Journey by Gail Carriger if you would like to learn more about other ways stories can be organized, and also The Heroine with 1001 Faces by Maria Tatar. The Sponsors Sophie H. Morgan, author of De-Witched , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or wherever you get your books , 1001 Dark Nights, publishers of Jennifer L. Armentrout's Born of Blood and Ash , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books , TL Swan, author of The Bonus , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/8/12/s0649-mafia-romance-reasons If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 7, 2024

It's coming up on the end of Season 6, and that means we're talking about one of Sarah's books! We're finishing up (or beginning?) the Bareknuckle Bastards series today with a deep dive of Sarah's Wicked and the Wallflower, the first in her Bareknuckle Bastards series--part Rumplestiltskin retelling, part Peaky Blinders fic, all justifiable face punching and ode to the darkness. This is the series she loves the best, and Jen just might agree. You can get Wicked and the Wallflower in print, ebook and audiobook at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . It's also currently free with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited. The Books Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean The Notes Wicked and the Wallflower was so early in the life of the podcast that we didn’t do a deep dive, so here you go! You can follow up by listening to deep dives of Brazen and the Beast and Daring and the Duke , both available wherever you get your books, and free with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited. Last week, Sarah and Jen were at Steamy Lit Con in Anaheim. There was a terrific panel on the 30th anniversary of the publication of Beverly Jenkins's Night Song . Artist Shannon Donahue made a very cool sketch of the panel , which along with Beverly Jenkins included Jeanne Lin, Adriana Herrera, Diana Quincy, and Alyssa Cole. Some of the influences on Wicked and the Wallflower include the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin , Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders , the 99% Invisible podcast about Perfect Security , the Disney movie Frozen , and Gavin Weightman's The Frozen Water Trade . The Sponsors Kayla Grosse , author of Silver Foxed , available in print, ebook, and audiobook , or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . 1001 Dark Nights , publishers of Lexi Blake's The Bodyguard and the Bombshell , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon Leslie Hachtel , author of Come Back to Me , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Serena Akeroyd , author of Broken , available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/8/6/s0648-wicked-and-the-wallflower If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 30, 2024

We're back this week living Olympic vibes and recommending books with big Olympic vibes! Whether you're drawn to the sports of it all or the France of it all or you just really love Flavor Flav stanning women's water polo, or you were very drawn to the wild, exciting, perplexing opening ceremony and just want to read a romance with beheading, we've got you covered. We're coming up on the end of Season 6 (what?! how!?), which means a deep dive of one of Sarah's books, even though she doesn't have a new one this year! We're talking Wicked & the Wallflower next week, the first of her Bareknuckle Bastards series. Get it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . Books Mentioned This Episode A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera Love Me in the Dark by Mia Asher Kayla in Paris by Theodora Taylor Broken French by Tasha Boyd Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller We’ll Never Have Paris by Adriana Anders Duchess by Night by Eloisa James A Bride Unveiled by Jillian Hunter Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Let the Games Begin by Rufaro Faith Mazarura Nothing But Trouble by P. Dangelico Stroked by Meghan Quinn Just This Once by Rosalind James Heart Breaker by Elle Kennedy Heart and Hand by Rebel Carter Take Me by Bella Andre Shadow’s Claim by Kresley Cole Too Hot to Handle by Elizabeth Lowell Remember Summer by Elizabeth Lowell Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon Show Notes It’s the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, and we’re having a ball. Beyonce introduced the USA Olympic Team , and Flavor Flav’s support of the women’s water polo team , and Snoop Dogg love for the games have made them America's elder statesmen of the Olympics. Watch this 2020 clip of Snoop and Kevin Hart watching Equestrian. The Opening Ceremonies were wild, and you can also watch a documentary about the making of it called Le Grand Siene . Olympics lawyers have always been hypervigilant about removing copyrighted videos, but this year after complaints about a scene that appeared to show drag queens arranged like The Last Supper, the entire opening ceremony was removed from YouTube , leading people to believe the IOC was hiding its censoring behind copyright protections. Americans Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt ar e Fencing’s first couple . The first “baby with headphones” of Paris is the son of swimmer Caleb Dressel. They’re surfing Teahupo’o, a massive deadly wave in Tahiti with Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost as the on site reporter. One of Jen’s favorite books about surfing is The Wave by Susan Casey. Sponsors Rose Prendeville , author of Maggie & the Pirate's Son , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you buy books Pippa Grant , author of The Secret Hook-up , available in print, ebook, and audiobook, and Kindle Unlimited from Amazon Elliot Fletcher , author of Whisky Business , available in print, ebook, and audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books , or wherever you buy books

Jul 24, 2024

This week, we are doing something a little different, talking about the New York Times's Best 100 Books of the 21st Century, a list that Sarah was asked to contribute a ballot for. We talk about how Sarah made her list, what she put on it, and why...and why we think there are no romance novels on the final top 100 list. Don't fret, though -- on the Discord , FM listeners have started collecting nominations for the 100 Best Modern Romance Novels (since the publication of The Flame and the Flower)! Join the group to submit your own nominations and vote on the final list throughout August. We're coming up on the end of Season 6 (what?! how!?), which means a deep dive of one of Sarah's books, even though she doesn't have a new one this year! We're talking Wicked & the Wallflower, the first of her Bareknuckle Bastards series. Get it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Books We talk about lots of books today, but most of them aren't romance novels. The nine romances on Sarah's list for the New York Times are: Kate Clayborn's Georgie, All Along Kresley Cole's Dark Needs at Night's Edge Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me Uzma Jalaluddin's Hana Khan Carries On Beverly Jenkins's Forbidden Lisa Kleypas's Again the Magic Angelina M. Lopez's After Hours on Milagro Street Sherry Thomas's Ravishing the Heiress Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes Show Notes In between the recording of this episode, about two hours after Biden dropped out of the race , and the time we released it on Wednesday: Kamala Harris has locked up the delegates for the nomination and raised 100 million dollars from small donors, a majority of whom are first time donors. Click here to express your interest in joining us for Fated States phonebanking. If you’re an author who would like to donate books to phonebankers, please fill out this form . We’re mad at Aaron Sorkin for writing a boneheaded oped in the New York Times, which was truly the dumbest thing, and then retracting it later. The New York Times Best 100 Books of the 21st Century list is interesting, not only for the list itself but for how it was made. If you don’t want to go to the New York Times site, You can see the entire list on Goodreads or Instagram . You can see Sarah’s ballot and those of other authors and literary luminaries, as well, and they also compiled a reader’s list . You can also listen to the New York Times Books Podcast for discussion of the process and the final product! Sarah Jessica Parker is a big reader who loves libraries . We still don’t actually know who Elena Ferrante is , so it's not officially not Scott Turrow's sister. Sponsors Danica Nava , author of The Truth According to Ember , available in print, ebook, or audiobook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or wherever you buy your books , Lumi Labs , creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATED50 for free gummies with a limited time $50 off coupon, or use code FATEDMATES for 30% Off, and Stephanie Rose , author of Second Time’s the Charm, available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/7/23/s0646-the-perils-amp-promise-of-the-new-york-times-best-100-books-list If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 17, 2024

Jen and Sarah are together at last (again), and we’re taking your questions! Listen as we revisit some of our favorite past episodes of the podcast, as we discuss our favorite books with our least favorite tropes, and recommend a bunch of books that take the finger. We’re also talking about historical romance, and why it remains an absolute bop. We're coming up on the end of Season 6 (what?! how!?), which means a deep dive of one of Sarah's books, even though she doesn't have a new one this year! We're talking Wicked & the Wallflower, the first of her Bareknuckle Bastards series. Get it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Books The Next Best Fling by Gabby Gamez Chef’s Kiss by TJ alexander Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly An unsuitable Heir by KJ Charles The Ghost Town East Series by Amelia Shea Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera The Duchess Hunt by Lorriane Heath Morning Glory Milking Farm by CM Nacosta Just Playing House by Farah Heron The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley Preacher Man by Jessa Kane The Show Notes Jen went to go see Illinoise when she was in New York, and the Fated Mates team ate at Claro in Brooklyn. Some of our favorite episodes of the podcast: the Derek Craven episode with Kate, the first category romance interstitial, and trailblazers Vincent Virga , Elda Minger , and Nora Roberts . Our walk up songs are Too Funky by George Michael for Sarah, and Every Day I Write the Book or Town Crier by Elvis Costello. The Comstock Laws were bad and they are still on the books, which is gonna turn out to be a bad thing. Alexa Riley also writes as AR Taboo , for the truly dirty stuff. Check your content warnings. The Sponsors Blue Box Press , publishers of Audrey Carlan's The Marriage Auction, Season 2 , available in print or ebook from Amazon . Lucy Score , author of The Body in the Backyard: A Riley Thorn Novel , available in print, ebook or audiobook, from Amazon . Jess K. Hardy , author of Lips Like Sugar , available in print or ebook from Amazon . Liana De la Rosa , author of Isabel and the Rogue , available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/7/16/s0645-ama-jen-and-sarah-are-taking-your-questions If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 8, 2024

For the last few years, The Ripped Bodice bookstore has published a Summer Romance Bingo Card and this year, we're helping you win! With absolutely no prep, we're recommending books for every bit of the game, from Lost Treasure to Time Travel to the Olympics. Head to The Ripped Bodice's instagram feed to see the bingo card and get reading! Books Mentioned Only and Forever by Chloe Liese A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette Remember Summer by Elizabeth Lowell Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker Seduction on the Slopes by Tamsen Parker From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton by Miranda Neville Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter by R. Cooper Breath of Magic by Theresa Medieros Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Crazy Stupid Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams Shaken and Stirred by Kathleeen O’Reilly Double Down by Katie Porter Copper by Lily Atlas Santa’s Baby by Chloe Maine Lighthouse on Moonglow Bay by Lori Wilde Dragged to the Wedding by Andrew Grey Looking for a Sign by Susie Dumond Star Crossed Seduction by Jenny Browna A Touch Magical by Sonia Hartl Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde Waylon by Theodora Taylor Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello Wild Ride by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer Something Wilder by Christina Lauren Romancing Ms. Stone by M.C. Vaughan Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura The Red by Tiffany Reisz Faking It by Jennifer Crusie Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison A Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean Way Down Deep by Charlotte Stein & Cara McKenna Written on His Skin by Simone Stark Lovers in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest The Gift by Julie Garwood After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelia M. Lopez Show Notes This week, we’re making suggestions in case you’re trying to complete The Ripped Bodice’s 8th annual summer reading bingo game. Some of the squares we’ve had full episodes on, so check it out for ideas: Duels with special guest Chels , Runaway Brides , and Grumpy/Sunshine . Control rods are what cools down a Nuclear reactor, or in the case of Chernobyl what causes one to melt down if they are all moved simultaneously. “You wanted to tussle, we tussled,” is a line from Out of Sight. “The pressure of a name’” is a line from Pretty Woman. A quick guide to book trim sizes : hardback, trade paperback, and mass market. There was a great article in the New York Times this week about the explosion of romance-only bookstores. Jen doesn’t do RPF and she doesn’t really know anything about Taylor Swift . You might want to enjoy Andrew McCarthy’s navel gazing in the documentary Brats, even if it’s just to roll your eyes. Sponsors Blue Box Press, publishers of Aurora Rose Reynolds's BRODIE: An Until Her Novella , available in print or ebook, from Amazon . Aethon Books, publishers of Hannah Levin's THE TREASURED ONE, available in print, ebook or audiobook, from Amazon . Tara L. Roí, author of HOPE , available in print or ebook from Amazon , Apple Books , or Barnes & Noble . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/7/8/s0644-summer-romance-bingo-recommendations-2024 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 3, 2024

We're taking a break this week, but we forgot to tell anyone about it. We’ll be back next week. In the meantime, check out Romancing the Vote 2024 !

Jun 26, 2024

Who says it has to be Halloween to celebrate witches? It’s 2024 and frankly, we could do with a few more powerful, spell-casting women around here. We’re talking about our favorite witch romances, many of which (see what we did there) have nothing at all to do with spooky season! There are rumors of a new Practical Magic in the air, which (ope!) makes us extremely happy, and we’re just trying to decide which (!!!) of these fabulous books to reread this week. We’re going deep into romance history to talk about why witches are so compelling, why they’re perfect for a light, frothy romance, and why magic in the hands of men doesn’t hit the same way. We are the weirdos, Mister. The Books Jill Barnett's BETWITCHING Teresa Medeiros's BREATH OF MAGIC Teresa Medeiros's TOUCH OF ENCHANTMENT Annette Blair's SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH Annette Blair's GONE WITH THE WITCH Annette Blair's NEVER BEEN WITCHED Nora Roberts's DARK WITCH Nora Roberts's SHADOW SPELL Nora Roberts's BLOOD MAGIC Molly Harper's WITCHES GET STUFF DONE Molly Harper's BIG WITCH ENERGY Celestine Martin's WITCHFUL THINKING Juliette Cross's RESTING WITCH FACE AJ Sherwood's A FAE COIN TRANSPORTED ME INTO ANOTHER WORLD AND NOW I'M THE GAY HOLY MAIDEN Kimberly Lemming's THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND YEETED A LOVE POTION AT A WEREWOLF Meg Cabot's ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU Alexis Daria's WHAT THE HEX Erin Sterling's THE EX HEX The Notes If you liked the post-it note situation in The Fall Guy , or the low-tech pre-post it note version from Romancing the Stone , Aqua Notes may be for you. Today banter portion was very into “Great Lakes, Great Times.” If you would like to talk to Sarah about the Wisconsin fish boil from Top Chef, please take that up with her and leave Jen out of it. Or travel across Lake Michigan on the SS Badger ferry . (But you cannot drive across Texas in one day). The entry point for witches tends to the fun, silly ones: Bewitched and Hocus Pocus , but also because it’s the realm of women, we love movies like Practical Magic , The Witches of Eastwick , and The Craft . Willow’s arc on Buffy the Vampire Slayer goes from rom-com witch to strong witch to evil witch. Here’s a critique of Yennefer’s transformation in The Witcher . Emily Alexander and Heidi Rehwaldt host a Nora Roberts podcast called Romancing the Shelf, so check it out if you love La Nora! The Winchester Mystery House in California is pretty wild and worth going on a tour! Listen to Iris Johansen’s Trailblazer episode. The Sponsors Blue Box Press, publishers of C. Travis Rice’s Sapphire Dawn, available in print, ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Lumi Labs, creators of Lumi Gummies. Go to Lumigummies.com and use code FATED50 for free gummies with a limited time $50 off coupon. Or use code FATEDMATES for 30% Off. Grand Central Publishing, publishers of Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen’s Flashback, available in print, ebook, or audiobook at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple Books or your local bookseller . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/6/24/s0642-witchy-romances-are-not-just-for-halloween If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 19, 2024

We are talking about a full on banger this week — Joanna Shupe’s The Devil of Downtown , which is Sarah’s favorite of the Uptown Girls series (Jen is a The Prince of Broadway fan, but honestly, all three are basically perfect). We love this one so much, you’re about to get an hour or so of squeeing and sighing — Jack Mulligan is everything you could possibly want in a romance hero, Justine Greene is the do goodingest do gooder who ever was, and the way they adore each other is enough to wreck you. If you haven’t read this one yet, do yourself a favor and go read the whole series right now…Joanna Shupe proves that historical romance is everything you want. If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where 1000 other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Joanna Shupe also writes mafia romance under the pen name Mila Finelli, and we love The Kings of Italy series. The Greene sisters are loosely based on the Schuyler Sisters , made famous by the musical Hamilton. On the TV show The Wire , a popular drug dealer named Stringer Bell only moved up to the big leagues of evil once he started buying up real estate and rubbing elbows with politicians and businessmen, who are portrayed as the biggest crooks of all. The story of the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire is tragic, and ultimately led to labor reforms around the country. The Sex in the City gals have some thoughts about butt stuff. Sponsors Dr. Melissa Dymond, author of Paging Dr. Hart , available in print or ebook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited Mary James Ketch, oil painter. Find her new series of paintings and prints, Book Lovers, at her online studio . Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA. Check out their new $40 Swoony Subscription Box for a monthly delivery of brand new, hand-selected romance novels and access to a discussion Discord. July’s box includes TRIPLE SEC by TJ Alexander, FOR REAL by Alexis Hall, and A LIAISON WITH HER LEADING LADY by Lotte R. James. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/6/18/s0641-the-devil-of-downtown-by-joanna-shupe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 12, 2024

We’re talking about brothers and sisters as secondary characters in romance today — by popular demand from listeners, it’s our sibling episode! We get to the bottom of why we all love secondary siblings—the overbearing olders, the wild child middles, the delightful youngers, the equally handsome and broad shouldered boys, the snarky, stunning girls, and everyone else who’s ever caught our eye and made us say “now where’s there book?!” We tackled complicated relationships, shared history and the perfect fantasy of family that romance delivers so well. Next week, we’re reading Joanna Shupe’s The Devil of Downtown , from her Uptown Girls trilogy. There are sisters! Also, it’s Jen’s favorite in the series and an absolute banger. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or your local indie . If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where 1000 other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes We’ve done twins , and we’ve done siblings’s best friend , but this time we’re talking about plain old siblings in romance. We’re definitely not talking about anything Tangled Lies adjacent this time. If you want the deep dives we mentioned, they are Preferential Treatment , Gentle Rogue and Devil’s Bride . Illinoise is playing on Broadway if you’re in New York this summer. They’ll be a meet-up at Steamy Lit Con for us with our listeners, details coming soon! There’s a dark romance podcast called Trigger Warning you might want to check out, and in case you want to read that romance with mummification but no cheating, it’s Dead Love by Audrey Rush The Orphan X book with the evil killer siblings is Prodigal Son . In case you have ever wondered about the provenance of the beloved Fated Mates phrase, “take the finger” this is an episode where Sarah talks about the book that inspired it. Sponsors Frederick Smith, author of One and Done , available at in print or ebook from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books Aethon Press, publishers of SK Horton’s The Concealed, available in print, ebook or audiobook, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited Avon Books, publishers of Alexandria Bellefleur’s Truly, Madly, Deeply , available at in print, ebook, or audiobook from Amazon , Apple , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or wherever you get your books .

Jun 5, 2024

School’s out for Jen’s summer and Sarah’s in the final stretch so we’re dreaming of romance beach reads and talking about our massive summer TBR piles! There’s something here for everyone — hot librarians, superheroes, heists, funeral homes, wedding planners and baseball players and F1 drivers and, of course, dukes. Our next read along is Joanna Shupe’s The Devil of Downtown , from her Uptown Girls trilogy. It’s Jen’s favorite in the series. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or your local indie . If you love a fire hose of romance recommendations, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where 1000 other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Maybe men shouldn’t cover the WNBA , tbh. All about The electric slide . You can follow DodoTheBookBitch on Instagram; follow Sarah there to see the scratch-off TBR poster. Jacque is one our romancelandia faves, and she has a Pride reading challenge for you all. RomanticallyInclined is on Threads reading books with fewer than 100 reviews all through June. For reviews in advance of publication, your best bet is Kirkus (Jen reviews for them), but you can also try Booklist or Publisher’s Weekly . We also talked about NetGalley and Edelweiss to discover upcoming books. If you’re in NYC, don’t miss the launch event for Liana de la Rosa’s Isabel and the Rogue next week! She’ll be at The Ripped Bodice with Sarah and Adriana Herrera…and Sophie Jordan will be there, too! Tickets and info here.

May 29, 2024

One of our most popular interstitial topics, we had to come back for a third run at Curvy Heroines this month in celebration of Bridgerton-mania online and our absolute delight that we finally get to see Penelope get that handsome man who is just back from his long trip to glow-up-land (we deserve nice things, and so do curvy heroines)! Sarah’s talking exclusively about historicals today, and Jen is bringing new-to-the-pod authors to the table…all that, and we’re naming the six historicals Sarah’s written with curvy heroines (There’s also a contemporary! Check the photo array, below). This one is a lot of fun. Our next read along is Joanna Shupe’s The Devil of Downtown , from her Uptown Girls trilogy. It’s Jen’s favorite in the series. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or your local indie . Happy anniversary to our founding Patreon members — May marks one year of our Patreon and our Discord! We love you a whole lot. Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes You can visit the Sleeping Beauties Exhibit at the Met, which sounds pretty fascinating, is there all summer through September 2nd. All about smelling salts , Kardashian levels of rib removal which is called tight lacing , Each and Every brand deodorant , and retinol . If you’re interested historical fashion and lingerie, follow Cora Harrington on twitter, she wrote about corsets on her blog back in 2012. If you’re interested it watching a guy talking about cologne, here is link to Joshua Godfrey , the guy with the labyrinth tattoo and his journey . If you loved Fury Road, you should read Blood, Sweat, and Chrome, which is the story of how the movie was made. Here’s a supercut of Tom Hardy grunting .

May 22, 2024

Gather together your bouquets and boutonnières, wedding season is here! But, in typical Fated Mates fashion, we spend the first 20 minutes talking about Pulp Fiction (just go with it, these are the mysterious ways of the podcast and you just need to trust the process). Then, we’re talking weddings in romance novels—not the books where the main characters get hitched, but instead they are guests at a wedding. Maybe they’re fake dating, maybe they’re the wedding planners, or maybe they’re the runaway bride or abandoned groom. Of course, we can’t wait to hear about your favorite books that happen at a wedding..

May 15, 2024

We don’t often talk about secondary characters in romance, but this week, we’re talking about the women who provide wisdom, council and laughs in romance—moms, grandmothers and aunties! We talk about the shocking epidemic of orphaned main characters in romance, about how extended family provides nuance in the books, and about our very favorite mothers, grandmothers, aunties and adopted older ladies in books. Thanks to all the women who provide care and sage advice out in the world. We appreciate you. Our next read along is Joanna Shupe’s The Devil of Downtown , from her Uptown Girls trilogy. It’s Jen’s favorite in the series. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Apple or your local indie . Happy anniversary to our founding Patreon members — May marks one year of our Patreon and our Discord! We love you a whole lot. Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Crush , the new apple ad is honestly so bleak , and the backlash was so extreme that they pulled the ad. Look how easily they could have made it cool, though . The Matriarchy isn’t just a dream , as it turns out. The Gaza Evacuation Fund Auction raised $160,000 and it’s not too late to donate to one of the funds of people trying to get to safety.

May 8, 2024

This one is for our historical lovers! We’re talking about everyone’s favorite title — Dukes! We get to the bottom of many duke questions, including: Why so many? Why are they always dukes? What’s wrong with princes? How do these guys make their money anyway? What’s with all the normies inheriting dukedoms? What about duchesses? And more! Please remember that everything we are about to say is romance fact. Don’t @ us with real life fact. We don’t want it. Happy anniversary to our founding Patreon members — it’s one year of our Patreon and our Discord today! We love you a whole lot. Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as we do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes The tree thing about pollen and allergens is called botanical sexism (god it’s everywhere) and this claim, like all things, is complicated. Defining the title of duke. What are the corn laws or the laws about chimney sweeps ? You don’t really care—it’s just fossils. The Reformed Rakes podcast had a recent episode about pregnancy. The Unites States Congress is comprised of incredibly wealthy people . In 2009, Tatler got 10 of the 24 living non-royal dukes to sit down for lunch. There’s a photo. It’s exactly what you would expect. This 2021 article from Tatler lists the 4 living single dudes that either are or will be a duke. Shoot your shot, ladies. Question: has Sarah really written more dukes than fewer? A Duke: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished, The Rogue Not Taken, A Scot in the Dark, The Day of the Duchess, Daring and the Duke, Heartbreaker, The Duke of Christmas Present, and A Duke Worth Falling For (9) Not a Duke: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord, A Rogue by Any Other Name, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover, Wicked and the Wallflower, Brazen and the Beast, Bombshell, and Knockout (9)

May 1, 2024

For our forever favorite, Kate Clayborn, our third Fated Mates Live episode! During the absolutely delightful event (we had so much fun!), Kate selected an interstitial topic that we’ve never tackled, somehow? It’s time for Marriage in Trouble! We talk about the old school bones of the trope, with ingenue wives and the jaded heroes who have to crawl over glass for them, about marriages that carry enormous secrets, the grovel, the heir, and about the threat of divorce motivating men toward being their best selves. Is this good marriage therapy? It is not. Is it good podcasting? It is. We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan. If you want more discussion of banana-pants romance, join our Patreon and get access to our Discord, where a thousand other listeners are hanging out and giggling all day long. Show Notes Read Kate Clayborn’s The Other Side of Disappearing , which is a beautiful road trip of a romance that does not have a marriage in trouble but does have a hero who is pure fire. Sarah used to work for Susan Miller of Astrology Zone , so when she tells you that Mercury is in retrograde , you better listen. Even if it’s about The 2000 election Like Jen, you may have thought the superhymen was a myth ! But now you know better because of romance, Fated Mates Live, and Megan Frampton .

Apr 24, 2024

Headphones in! This is not for beginners. Our second Fated Mates Live episode is live! During the event (which was so so fun we love every single one of you who came!), the fabulous Nikki Payne selected one of the most challenging interstitial topics we’ve ever tackled—Inanimate (and sentient!) objects! So! This one is very very odd, and filled with a number of recs that just prove that there is literally something for everyone in this big, beautiful romance pool. We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan. If you want more discussion of banana-pants romance, join our Patreon and get access to our Discord, where a thousand other listeners are hanging out and giggling all day long.

Apr 17, 2024

This is the first of three episodes inspired by the incredible time we had at Fated Mates Live in Brooklyn. During the event (which was so so fun we love every single one of you who came!), we asked guests Nikki Payne, Kate Clayborn and Lauren Billings of Christina Lauren to choose an interstitial topic they would like us to tackle on the show. Lauren chose a great one: Exceptions to our rules, meaning…tropes we don’t care for that are done really really well. So! This one is for everyone who’s ever asked Jen for Secret Baby or Virgin Heroes and anyone who’s ever asked Sarah for Friends to Lovers or Spies. We talk about the books that make us go… not that…but maybe that? We also want to thank the following publishers and authors for their incredible generosity in making sure that almost every attendee of the Live went home with a romance novel. We are so lucky to share Romancelandia with you: Avon Books, Ballantine Books, Blue Box Press, Dell, Grand Central/Forever, Gallery Books, Lauren Blakely, LJ Evans, Pippa Grant, Ana Huang, Parker S. Huntington & LJ Shen, Elle Kennedy, Avery Maxwell, Ava Miles, Max Monroe, Kathryn Nolan, Amari Nylix, Meghan Quinn, Piper Rayne, P Rayne, Stephanie Rose, Lucy Score, & TL Swan. Photo credits: Stephanie Keith Show Notes We had the very best time at Fated Mates Live, and it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without Lauren being there. Christina Lauren’s newest book, The Paradise Problem , is out May 14th. Preorder it now, and check out their tour schedule to go see them (they’re even more terrific in person) when they’re near you! Solar eclipses are very cool, and Jen really should have gone home…. as it turns out, 95% is not anything like 100%! If you have the chance, you should go get in that path of totality. Jen’s brother Erik was at his office rooftop in downtown Cleveland and saw people getting married , and also took a very cool video at totality . New York earthquake twitter was pretty funny, too. Jen, staunchly anti- virgin heroes since 2018. Kevin Costner’s speech about luck from Bull Durham . The book about women in the CIA is called The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA by Liza Mundy.

Apr 10, 2024

This week, we’re talking about film adaptation and romance novels with Yulin Kuang, filmmaker and romance novelist. We discuss her work as both a screenwriter and director (she’s writing and directing the adaptation of Emily Henry’s Beach Read) , and her debut romance novel, How to End a Love Story , set inside the writers room on a television show between the author of the books the show is adapting (the heroine) and one of the writers in the room (the hero). We talk about why romance adaptations are so difficult to find, why they don’t often hit quite like we expect, and we pitch a few books we’d like to see Hollywood take a crack at. If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Mr. Sunshine is the name of the K-Drama that Jen’s friend Sunhee recommended, but also everyone loves Crash Landing on You. If you’re in New York City, you can see Sarah and Yulin together in conversation Thursday, April 11, at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn. Get tickets here. Find and follow Yulin Kuang at her website .

Apr 3, 2024

We’re finally diving into alpha submissive romance novels during this deep dive of Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s best books of 2022. We’re talking about the way some romances do such immense work today—this one really digging into something that romance usually steers clear of…money. We know money and power are inexorably intertwined, but what does that really mean when relationships are budding, and when sex is on the line? How do power dynamics shift and move, how does money impact our ability to be honest in a relationship, and most importantly, should billionaires exist? All that and we finally get to the bottom of the Alpha submissive kink, why Sarah thinks it’s great, and why it just doesn’t move Jen. Oh, and for those of you who’ve been asking for years, Sarah’s doing a mini interstitial in here about books that feature alpha submissives — enjoy! Read Preferential Treatment at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Preferential Treatment was on our Best of 2022 list. Preferential treatment is a word used to describe unfair labor practices . Here are some of the most common financial problems in relationships and marriages. Mackenzie Scott’s strategy for getting rid of money through her foundation, Yield Giving . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/4/2/s0630-preferential-treatment-by-heather-guerre If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 27, 2024

An absolute classic for a reason, we’re talking about Beauty & the Beast today — about the trope itself, about how the 1991 Disney movie brought it back to life (yes, we see you, Dain), and about why we love the vibe of scarred and broken men in a castle being found and renovated by whip smart, bookish heroines. Spoiler: It’s patriarchy. If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Next week, we’re finally getting to Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Thanks for joining us last week at Fated Mates Live!! We had a great time, and it was amazing to see everyone. Thanks for being on this journey with us. Stay tuned for photos and more recaps—and for the recording of the Live, which will be our May 1 episode. We love soundtracks, we played the Dua Lipa song from the Barbie soundtrack , and back in the day, the Pretty in Pink soundtrack was Jen’s jam. Cassette tapes anyone? We have talked about romance retellings of all kinds with Kate Clayborn , and fairy tale retellings with Zoraida Cordova. You can find links to all of the books we discussed at fatedmates.net.

Mar 20, 2024

The cornerstone of the genre. The one thing that, when thrown into question, is guaranteed to enrage every corner of Romancelandia. We’re talking about Happily Ever After (HEA). Its promise, its importance, its relevance to us as readers, writers and people in the world. We talk about what really makes it hard won and deserved for us — which means yes, we’re talking about grovels and yes, we’re talking about third act break ups, and yes, we’re talking about patriarchy. Because of course we are. You’ve probably heard us talk about all the books we’re mentioning here…greatest hits are hits for a reason, y’all. There are a handful of tickets left for Fated Mates LIVE in Brooklyn, NY, this Saturday, March 23, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel! Join us, along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings (one-half of Christina Lauren), Nikki Payne, and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. Get Kate’s The Other Side of Disappearing three days early (and books from everyone else!) from The Ripped Bodice—links, tickets and more info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subsc Show Notes Ope! Jen’s mic wasn’t fully connected for the first 10 minutes of the episode, so that’s why it sounds terrible. User error on her part, Eric would never. Hang in there, she figures it out! Let John Green and the good folks at Crash Course teach you about European History and The Hundred Years’ War. The 2024 Audie Award winners included The True Love Experiment for best romance. Three more days until Fated Mates Live … a handful of tickets are left! Join us! Looking for all kinds of perfect HEA stickers, check out the Romancelandia Shop! UPDATE: The book Sarah was looking for when she was talking about Enemies to Lovers was Johanna Lindsey’s Prisoner of My Desire . All the content warnings, friends…but if you do wade in, don’t miss our chat with Joanna Shupe where we talk about it from Season 1.

Mar 13, 2024

A classic among classics, we’re talking enemies to lovers this week! We get to the bottom of what we think of as “enemies,” and how it differs from “rivals-to-lovers” and “friends-to-enemies-to-lovers” and “friends-to-lovers” (jk, we’ll never understand friends-to-lovers). We revisit some of our very favorite romances, talk about stakes, about impossible situations, and about how sexy hating someone can be. If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Pandora Ravenel owns a boardgame company, but I don’t think she made ouija boards. You should watch Only You (1994) , directed by Norman Jewison who also directed Moonstruck! Don’t forget how charming Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is, a very different vibe from Ripper Street. Jen thought about Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips when she read an article about the updating of the gorilla enclosure at the Brookfield Zoo. IYKYK, and if you don't, listen to Jen on Learning the Tropes. Sarah said there's only one friends-to-lovers romance she likes. It's Christina Lauren's Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/3/12/s0627-enemies-to-lovers-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 6, 2024

Sometimes you just have to get to the bottom of something, and that’s what we’re here for. Today, we’re taking an unexpected, unexpectedly thorough at what might be one of the rarest and most maligned heroes in Romancelandia—the Himbo. He’s darling, he’s sweet, and he’s made of nothing but love and abs. Journey with us as we consider the place of these lovable dummies in the pantheon of this great genre of ours. We just released a final 25 tickets to Fated Mates LIVE in Brooklyn, NY, on March 23, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel! Join us, along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings (one-half of Christina Lauren), Nikki Payne, and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Preorder Kate’s The Other Side of Disappearing three days early (and books from everyone else!) from The Ripped Bodice—links, tickets and more info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes If you like Matthew Macfadyen in Pride and Prejudice , perhaps you will also like him on Ripper Street . Coming to Fated Mates Live this month? Go see a musical or a dance performance or eat some pizza when you’re in New York. Apparently, we’re all talking about himbos, and because of Ken, apparently 2023 was the year of the himbo. A truly excellent himbo: Chris Hemsworth in Ghostbusters .

Feb 28, 2024

Y’all enjoyed Romance Science so much, we figured, why not tackle romance law next! This week, we’re discussing wills and trusts, inheritances, guardianship, and more than a few HR violations! We also begin the episode with an important addendum to Romance Science (apologies to the Passion fans in the crowd). There’s still time for you to join us for Fated Mates LIVE in Brooklyn, NY, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel, on March 23rd, along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings (one-half of Christina Lauren), Nikki Payne, and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Preorder Kate’s The Other Side of Disappearing three days early (and books from everyone else!) from The Ripped Bodice—links, tickets and more info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Listen to the Romance Science episode . Pride & Prejudice won the 2024 romance bracket, hosted by Ali Parker of the RomEverAfter Pod. Romance biology addendum: the hymen , the Passion episode . Romance Law probably started with our love of TV Law: LA Law , Ally McBeal , The Good Wife , and Law & Order .

Feb 21, 2024

We’re joined this week by the fabulous Nikki Payne, author of Pride & Protest and this month’s new release Sex, Lies & Sensibility to talk about home renovation romance and why we all love it so much! Is it because of competence? Yes. Because we like it when characters have to walk through fire together? Definitely. Because of the metaphor for our lives and futures? Absolutely. We talk about all these things, and how Old School historical really did the business on this trope. And — a bonus! Sarah finally gets to talk with someone about Jane Austen! Nikki is joining us at Fated Mates Live! Join us in Brooklyn, NY, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel, on March 23rd, along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings (one-half of Christina Lauren) and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Preorder Kate’s The Other Side of Disappearing three days early (and books from everyone else!) from The Ripped Bodice—links, tickets and more info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Welcome Nikki Payne , author of Sex, Lies, and Sensibility. She’ll be at the Ripped Bodice on Feb 23, and at Fated Mates Live , along with Kate Clayborn, Lauren Billings from Christina Lauren, and a few hundred Magnificent Firebirds on March 23, 2024. You can get signed copies of her books at East City Books in DC . Jen had to read A Separate Peace in high school and doesn’t have the best memories of it, to be honest. The mid-90s were a real high tide for Austen adaptions: in 1995 the movies Clueless and Sense and Sensibility and a miniseries of Pride and Prejudice , and the following year the movie Emma. A little bit more about the rights of American women to have their own bank accounts , but women’s access to fair credit is still unjust. A few movies we discussed this week: The Money Pit , Something New , and Baby Boom .

Feb 14, 2024

We’re talking about gaming hells! Is it residual Derek Craven love? Probably. Why does Sarah love a casino so much? Why are we so into ladies being wagered by the idiot men in their lives? What makes these places that are so not sexy in real 2024 life so incredibly hot in a) James Bond movies, b) heist movies, and c) historical romances? We’re getting to the bottom of it—or at least, we’re going to talk about books we love. That’s the Fated Mates promise. We’re betting you’re going to love this one! (see what we did there?) We also talk about Fated Mates Live! Join us in Brooklyn, NY, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel, on March 23rd, along with a collection of special guests and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Tickets and info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Our next read along is Heather Guerre’s Preferential Treatment , one of Sarah’s favorite romances of 2022. Get it at Amazon, or with your monthly subscription to Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Get Fated Mates Live tickets for March 23, 2024 in Brooklyn. We think that waking up married is different than casinos. Derek Craven is of course our favorite casino-owner, but Sarah wrote a pretty famous casino series , too. In modern times, casinos are owned by giant conglomerates and they are definitely making a ton of money, Especially this past weekend since the Superbowl was in Vegas. The Taylor Swift Effect is real. Have we mentioned that there are lots of movies about casinos out there in the world. “Fuck me gently with a chainsaw” is a reference to Heathers, not a dark romance. An explainer about fantasy sports and where they are legal. You can join Sarah and Julia Quinn next Tuesday, February 20, online via Zoom. They'll be talking about all things Bridgerton, about romance, about reading and writing, and taking questions! Register for the free event, sponsored Illinois Libraries Present, and join them!

Feb 7, 2024

We’re so excited for today’s deep dive on Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot — a sexy, second-chance romance that gave us so many feelings, including delight that Natalie is at the very beginning of her romance writing career! Here we talk about taking big swings in romance, about telling love stories against the backdrop of real life issues, and about how this book’s ending might be the closest thing to Kleypas we’ve read in a long time. Get the book at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . We also talk about Fated Mates Live! Join us in Brooklyn, NY, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel, on March 23rd! Join us along with a collection of special guests and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Tickets and info are at fatedmates.net/live . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes On March 16 2024, Jen will be at the Forest Park Library for an event called Book Buzz. Use this link to register. It’s all about romance, and Natalie Cana, Nicole Falls, and local Forest Parker Maria Monroe. Selective mutism is a type of anxiety disorder. Humboldt Park is a Chicago neighborhood that has been ethnically Latine with the largest Puerto Rican population in the city , for a long time. The gentrification described in the book is a real problem facing the neighborhood . If you were inspired by this story, you can support La Case Norte , a real Humboldt Park organization that supports homeless teenagers. This whole Arrested Development thing about Army was very funny, just trust us. The Rock having a tea party with his daughter is very adorable. February romance articles are coming, including one written by Jen for Kirkus. You can sign up for the virtual conversation with Sarah and Julia Quinn, hosted by the Illinois Libraries (which includes Oak Park) on Feb 20th, 2024. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2024/2/6/0622-a-dish-best-served-hot-by-natalie-cana If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 4, 2024

It’s February which means it’s time for the biggest holiday in romance — Derek Craven Day! We’re so thrilled to be able to celebrate this remarkable man—born in a drainpipe, named himself, turned to a life of spectacle stealing—with all of you! This year, we’re so excited to have friend of the pod and of Cravens, Sanjana (follow her on TikTok at baskinsuns), to chat with us about her landmark research: A Comprehensive Categorization of Kleypas Heroes. We laugh, we get serious, and yes, we even talk about Zachary Bronson. — calm down, Bronsonettes. Also — it just feels right that we’re announcing Fated Mates Live on Derek Craven Day! Join us in Brooklyn, NY, at the gorgeous William Vale Hotel, on March 23rd! Join us along with a collection of special guests and a roomful of other romance-obsessed listeners for a night of romance shenanigans at a live taping of Fated Mates! While we’re never sure quite how it’s going to go, we can guarantee there will be books, booze and bantr…and you’ll leave full of joy from all the fun. We’ve even got The Ripped Bodice on hand to sell books, and the room will be available for hanging with other Firebirds after the live! Tickets and info are at fatedmates.net/live . Next week, we’re deep diving on Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot . Find it at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Welcome Sanj. You can find her on TikTok or twitter . Her “Comprehensive Categorization of Kleypas Heroes” below went through several iterations during the pandemic, you're looking at v4. Lots of people have organized their thoughts about Kleypas characters, we also liked this one that’s a Venn Diagram. Kate Clayborn joined us in 2021 to address a deeply silly list of questions and scenarios submitted by Magnificent Firebirds. It is absolutely worth a second listen . In 2023, we dropped That’s So Craven . And then there’s our Dreaming of You read along . If you’re looking for hard data about what Derek Craven would or would never do, or just want to browse some absurd memes, the official Derek Craven Day master page has you covered. There are a few new memes this year and an answer to an important new question about Derek shopping at Winterborne’s. Finally, the YouTube version of the 2021 Derek Craven Day episode will light up any display from phone to TV with an exhaustive list of Derek Creaven would/never scenarios. You can turn down the sound and just have it loop all day long. It’s very possible that only Eric thinks this is a good idea, but you never know. Oh, and this .

Jan 31, 2024

This one is probably as goofy as we get — we’ve spent six years talking about Romance Science, and now class is in session! We’re talking biology, human physiology, astronomy, neurology, urology, gynecology, obstetrics and dermatology. Basically, we’ve studied this enough to hold multiple MDs & PhDs. If we’re ever on a plane and someone needs a doctor, we’re volunteering. Love doctors count, right? We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording. Our first read along of 2024 is Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes Two brothers who are both in the NFL , that’s romance science. Kylie Kelce seems pretty cool . Too bad we missed her book. On twitter, you can check out the Male Scent Catalog , and Jen has talked about this flower thing , too. Conveniently, Jen wrote a review of the book where that guy had Periwinkle eyes , it was called A Very Private Love by Melinda Cross. What are Palazzo pants , you might be wondering. When it comes to superheroes, everyone is beautiful and no one is horny . Believe it or not, that’s not even how we ended up on Christopher Reeve as Superman. You should definitely pee after sex if you have a vagina. There is a huge difference between a million and a billion , or here’s [another way] to see it 11 , or another way . Jen is obsessed with lens wipes , and you will be, too, if you try them.

Jan 24, 2024

It seems impossible that we haven’t done this one, but we haven’t done this one! We’re talking one night stands—the absolute classic that ends up being a part of so many chaotic, wonderful romances. We’re talking about how they work, why its so important for them to make sense in the context of the story, and how the best authors inject emotion into one life-changing moment (often) early in the book. Enjoy! Our first read along of 2024 is Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the The rom com brackets are out, hosted by Allie Parker of the RomEverAfterPod. Joy Ride was a great movie, even if Jen bungled the plot description. She was excited, okay! Sarah and Jen have been doing some other fun reading. Sarah read Jess K Hardy’s forthcoming Lips Like Sugar and she also got some cool paperbacks from the inlaws: Gift of Fire and A Coral Kiss by Jayne Ann Krentz along with Nora Roberts’ Charmed. Jen and Ernie were reading Reacher short stories .

Jan 17, 2024

Is it getting hot in here? It is! We’re talking about firefighters this week — arguably the best of the hero(in)es in uniform because, let’s face it, there’s something pretty sexy about someone who will run into flames to save a stranger…let alone to save you. We’re talking about primordial firefighters, about patriarchy (obviously), about the difference between city firefighters and smoke jumpers, and about about the nature of a love interest who puts themself in danger for a living. All that, and they can dead lift you, too. Our first read along of 2024 is Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes You can watch some movies and shows about firefighters and paramedics: Backdraft , Chicago Fire , and Sky Med. Here’s a snipped of the scene from Backdraft where they break a car window to get the hose to the hydrant. Wildland firefighting is dangerous and often underpaid , and the Marshall Project has written extensively on prisoners forced into these jobs . Also, here is a first person account of two men who used emergency fire shelters to survive a wildfire . Firefighting demographics are actually pretty bad in Chicago , and here’s a libguide (a library designed portal for collecting links/info on a certain topic) from the University of Illinois about this history of women in firefighting . Too bad about Charmed by the Alien Vampire Firemen!

Jan 10, 2024

Is it getting hot in here? It is! We’re talking about firefighters this week — arguably the best of the hero(in)es in uniform because, let’s face it, there’s something pretty sexy about someone who will run into flames to save a stranger…let alone to save you. We’re talking about primordial firefighters, about patriarchy (obviously), about the difference between city firefighters and smoke jumpers, and about about the nature of a love interest who puts themself in danger for a living. All that, and they can dead lift you, too. Our first read along of 2024 is Natalie Caña’s A Dish Best Served Hot. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . If you just can’t get enough of us, consider joining our Patreon! You get an extra episode of banter every month and access to the Fated Mates discord, full of people who love romance as much as we do. It’s pretty great, we have to say. Learn more at patreon.com/fatedmates . Show Notes You can watch some movies and shows about firefighters and paramedics: Backdraft , Chicago Fire , and Sky Med. Here’s a snipped of the scene from Backdraft where they break a car window to get the hose to the hydrant. Wildland firefighting is dangerous and often underpaid , and the Marshall Project has written extensively on prisoners forced into these jobs . Also, here is a first person account of two men who used emergency fire shelters to survive a wildfire . Firefighting demographics are actually pretty bad in Chicago , and here’s a libguide (a library designed portal for collecting links/info on a certain topic) from the University of Illinois about this history of women in firefighting . Too bad about Charmed by the Alien Vampire Firemen!

Jan 1, 2024

It’s New Years Eve, and that means tackling some of the more headphones-in stuff in the Romance Pool, we don’t make the rules. Ok. We kind of make the rules, and this is the New Years Eve service we provide. Today, we’re talking breeding kink in romance with one of our faves, Joanna Shupe ! She’s here in disguise though, as Mila Finelli , author of absolutely fire mafia romances, including her latest, Mafia Virgin , which features this particular trope and is a full on delight. As usual, we start out giggling and then get serious as we try to get to the bottom of this very specific thing that seems to have had a recent resurgence in romance. We do patriarchy, body autonomy and heteronormativity, then get into the provenance of this particular romance trope, and finally to the but why tho part of the discussion with a minor detour about spelling. We net out at…well, just give it a listen. But for the love of all that is holy, put your headphones in. Happy New Year, Magnificent Firebirds. We love you a lot and hope that 2024 is the best year yet. xx Jen & Sarah Show Notes Our New Years Eve episodes are always...interesting. Listen to past years: 2019: Pegging in Romance with Sierra Simone 2020: Jessa Kane extravaganza with Andie Christopher, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, LaQuette, Tracey Livesay, Nisha Sharma, and Joanna Shupe 2022: Omegaversity with Adriana Herrera and Ali Hazelwood In 2021 we released the Season 2 Ted Lasso Roy Kent lovefest on New Year's Eve, but we were still pandemic-ing, so please don't blame us for the detour in brand that year. We came back with a bang in 2022, and now, in 2023, we're the full banana, as surely you can agree.

Dec 20, 2023

It’s our annual holiday romance episode, and we’re so excited to have you with us! No Santa this year, but we’ve got Toy Runners, audio sexitimes in the Alps, menage in NYC, and more than one snowy cabin just waiting to keep us isolated from the outside world. You’re going to love it. Headphones in, though, please! We don’t have an episode next week, but we’ll be back with a special guest for our annual New Years Eve episode. In the meantime, we hope you get everything you want from whomever you believe in. Thanks for being with us in 2023 — we can’t wait for what comes next. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes We read a bunch of books for the holidays, but mostly they lean Christmas this year. Last year’s episode was just about Santa. Our listener Katie sent us the Instagram Reel about Daddy December, but it's gone now! Subscribe to the BookBub daily email . You won’t be sad! I also followed @Shadesnpages who had two different #jinglebooks games, one for Naughty and one for Nice . The Lifetime movie that promised a sex scene failed to deliver, and Jen made a joke about it on Twitter, of course. Audio porn exists -- check out the British Filth archive on Tumblr , MitchellASMR on Patreon (some free stuff on Patreon without subscription, too), and apparemtly, the place to find audio now is Quinn. Try it here .

Dec 13, 2023

You didn’t think we were going to stay silent during the current dragon frenzy, did you? We absolutely have things to say about dragon heroes, and the one from Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound in particular — which meant we had no choice but to do a surprise deep dive, read along! We talk about dragon shifters, about the history of dragons in romance, about why we think this is a near perfect example of paranormal romance and road trip romance. Also, if you are looking for rom com, look no further. This is a funny funny book. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Get our Best Romance of 2023 book box from Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA . We're excited to be partnering with them on this one! Dragons are kind of big right now . A Cowby Christmas Romance, the Lifetime Movie with the sex scene , failed to deliver . Wikipedia 0 , Jen 1 . Playing records backwards used to be a big thing everyone was worried about, but then we got over it and it's just something Harry Styles does. Ladyhawke is a super great movie from the 1985, but then again, we’re old. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/12/11/0614-dragon-bound-by-thea-harrison If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 6, 2023

It’s December, Jen is in NYC, and we’re taking questions from our Discord and Instagram! Listen to us talk about how we read, what makes us DNF, how we met, the books we loved this year (that weren’t published this year), and more. We love these episodes, and not only because they happen when we’re together on Sarah’s couch, but also because we get to talk directly to you! Next week’s episode is a surprise deep dive, because y’all are wild about dragons! We’re reading Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound, available in print and ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and your local indie. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Get our Best Romance of 2023 book box from Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA. We're excited to be partnering with them on this one! You know what we meant when we talked about Bart writing on the chalkboard. If you’ve never been to New York City at Christmas, we would highly recommend it. This year, the windows at Saks were cosponsored by Dior and celebrated the signs of the zodiac , and it’s pretty awesome. But there’s also the angels and the Rockefeller center tree, and the Bryant Park holiday market. Jen also went to Back to the Future the musical and ate at the place with two bulls, which was actually called Benny John’s. Tillie Cole has bigger problems then Jen not liking any mention of cults in the books she reads. Should you DNF? Yes. If you’re looking for a romance writer’s conference, check out the Chicago North conference in April of 2024. Some bookish gifts: a Book stand , a bluetooth page turner for your eReader, and get a stand while you’re at it. Tracey Livesay made a very funny and very perfect video this week about the rise of Romantasy.

Nov 29, 2023

It’s the best and worst task for us, because we read so many fabulous books over the course of the year, and choosing ten is hard, ok? But here they are — ten books we adored—books that delivered all the things we love in romance: sharp edges, sparkling dialogue, strong heroines and smoking hot chemistry.

Nov 22, 2023

This week, we’re doing things a little differently! A while back, we donated an episode for bid in the Lift 4 Autism auction , arranged by friend of the pod, Kennedy Ryan. Listener Julie won (thanks, Julie!) and selected Roan Parrish’s Rend for a deep dive read along, which we were so happy to do! After a shocking amount of Bantr, here it is — we’re talking about POV, about sadness in romances, about the way romance represents loneliness, and more. We’re also taking a bit of time to recommend a group of books that have autism spectrum rep on page and that we, members of our Discord, and other authors adore. Enjoy! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes If you’re looking to buy stuff, especially this weekend during holiday-sale-extravaganza, you should probably check out Wirecutter. You should subscribe to the Bookbub daily email , choose what kinds of books you want and watch your wallet! Order the best of the year box from Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA. The Best of 2023 list comes out next week!

Nov 15, 2023

We’re feeling silly and spicy this week, so we’re delivering the silly, spicy niche content you’ve come to expect from us now and then — we’re talking Men in Fur! This one is for alien lovers, medieval warlord stans, and everyone who’s ever messaged us to ask for a Viking interstitial. We’re talking about fur in all it’s function—luxury, warmth, competence, historical necessity—and getting to the bottom of why we like it so much. It’s not the mojo dojo casa house vibe, but it sure is something. Headphones in because fur, and proceed with caution…these Viking books are a lot. You’ve been warned. Our next read along, and last of the year, will be Roan Parrish’s Rend. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books and Kobo . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes The Nora Roberts book where the hero smokes is Born in Ice . Our Deep Dive on Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes . Season 1 of Game of Thrones aired in 2011, and Jason Momoa’s character Khal Drago did not wear fur as far as we can tell, but you still deserve nice things. Carding wool is strangely calming if you ever have a chance, and all about alpaca fibers. If You're ever in York, check out the Jorvik Viking Center . Volcanoes are erupting all the time , no need to worry! If you’re in the mood for some non-romance Viking content, read the short story Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/11/14/s0610-men-in-fur-aliens-warlords-and-vikings If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 8, 2023

It’s another sports interstitial! We’re talking sports, balls & sports balls with the brilliant Jessica Luther, sports romance lover, podcaster, and author of Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape and Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Fan. Everyone came to this one with their own strategy, so we’re talking everything from beach volleyball to hockey, surfing to F1. Of course, we talk about Beckham, but surprisingly, we don’t even say Jurgen Klopp one time. Show Notes Welcome Jessica Luther . You can read her books, Unsportsmanlike Conduct: College Football and the Politics of Rape and Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: Dilemmas of the Modern Fan , or listen to her (on hiatus) sports podcast Burn it All Down . Her dissertation is about Retha Swindell and the first integrated women’s basketball team at UT, and she recently wrote about the 50th anniversary of "The Battle of the Sexes." WNBA stuff we talked about: Teresa Weatherspoon is the new head coach for the Chicago Sky , Allie Quigley and Courtney VanderSloot , Dawn Staley supporting her players , and the WNBA pandemic bubble , and that dumb man who thinks a high school boys basketball team could beat a WNBA team, which by the way dumb men have been saying this about the WNBA for a long time. Football stuff we talked about: Taylor Swift has caused a spike of interest in the NFL , the SNL skit with the football players , women on TikTok getting their husbands to say that Taylor Swift is putting Travis Kelce on the map, the real life football cupcake shop in Austin , and why it’s a dumb idea to use betting apps on your phone. MNBA stuff we talked about: That tall man who plays for the Spurs is Victor Wembanyama and he’s 7’4” and it’s honestly quite startling ! Bobby Knight was a terrible man . Jen’s too cheap to pay $300 a seat for a Bulls game. Hockey Stuff we talked about: the openly homophobic NHL banned pride tape this year , and even though they rescinded the ban, it’s still pretty awful for queer players and fans , the Blackhawks abuse scandal. Racing stuff we talked about: The Racy Books Podcast , F1 racing , Lewis Hamilton , Drive to Survive on Netflix , and NASCAR in Chicago . An important addition: a reader contacted us and let us know about Robbie Wickens, a race car driver who suffered a spinal cord injury in an Indy Car race and has returned to racing. Soccer stuff we talked about: Ted Lasso and the Beckham documentary on Netflix. a folder of PDFs for ya . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/11/6/s0609-sports-romance-with-jessica-luther If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 1, 2023

Today, we’re reading an absolute romance classic — one of those books everyone tells you is a must read, and one that neither of us had read before the podcast! We’re taking a few minutes at the top to admit our mutual folly, though, because Flowers from the Storm is stunning, and we now feel grown up enough to appreciate it. We talk about Quakers, about dogs and kittens and apes, about men with pirate smiles and vengeance in their heart, about thees and thous, about capitalism and happily ever after and about how internal conflict can sometimes be the most difficult hurdle to overcome. Also, we find an undeniable reason to learn trigonometry. Our next read along, and last of the year, will be Roan Parrish’s Rend. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books and Kobo . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes All about the Quakers , including some thoughts about pronoun usage. You definitely did not want to be in an Insane asylum in the 1800s ...or in 2023. Just ask Britney Spears. People we think have read this: Ruby Dixon, Lisa Kleypas, Kresley Cole, Elizabeth Hoyt, Kerrigan Byrne. People we know have read this: Kate Clayborn (this is her favorite book) and Kennedy Ryan (this is one of her favorite books) The narrator of this audiobook is Nicholas Boulton , and Jen highly recommends it. Let Boulton do all the decoding for you. Here is a short YouTube clip of him talking with Kinsale about reading steam scenes. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/10/30/s0608-flowers-from-the-storm-by-laura-kinsale If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 25, 2023

Jen’s been asking for this for six literal years, and we’re finally doing it! It’s Halloween and we’re talking Devils! Sure, we’ll touch on demons, but aren’t the scariest Devils the granite-jawed feelingless scoundrels who are definitely never going to fall in love? We’re talking Wicked Cynsters in Winter, Scoundrels of Downtown, Deals in Bed with Hades. You’re going to love it. All trick, no treat. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship for the second year in a row , and twitter was actually fun for a few days. Jen ranted about this dumb Washington Post article about Lee and Andrew Child. We have some documentaries to recommend: Sarah liked Beckham on Netflix and Jen liked The Supermodels on Apple Plus . Linda Evangalista’s “We don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day” has aged better than Kate Moss’s, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Either way, GenX has some body issues . Devils are just morality chain when you think about it. There actually is a place in VA called the Devil’s Bathtub! I wonder if there are any camps nearby. Here’s a handy explainer on the difference between homophones, homographs, and homonyms from the good people at Merriam-Webster. Looks like Cynster and Sinister would be homophones. Speaking of Cynsters, listen to our deep dive of Devil's Bride . Here’s the video about the audiobook of Unhinged . Are you in Florida? Sarah will be at the Off the Page Book Festival in Sarasota in November.

Oct 18, 2023

Our Trailblazer conversations continue this week with legend Nalini Singh, whose groundbreaking paranormal series changed the game. We talk about the early days of her writing (when she was a kid!) about building her career in New Zealand, about how she came to publish in the US, about her beautiful relationships with readers, about the way she thinks about her series and how the stories hang together, and about her moves into contemporary and beyond. We are so grateful to Nalini Singh for making time for us, and for her amazing books. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Welcome Nalini Singh , author of dozens of romance novels, including several popular paranormal series. You should subscribe to her newsletter on her site! We did a deep dive of Caressed by Ice in Season 4. Preorder her new thriller , There Should Have Been Eight, coming November 21st, right now. Authors & Books: The Time is Short by Nerina Hilliard, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jayne Ann Krentz, Yvonne Lindsay/EV Lind, Karina Bliss, Louisa George, Helen Bianchin, Emma Darcy, JD Robb, Meljean Brook. Publishing Professionals: Berkley editor Cindy Hwang, bookseller Barbara Clendon owner of Barbara’s Books. A transcript (by a human being!) is available for this episode.

Oct 11, 2023

Oh no! Jen has bronchitis or at least something with bronchitis vibes and her voice is barely with us, so Sarah went rogue and brought Lauren Billings, the Lauren half of Christina Lauren, with her! While Jen is taking this week off, Sarah & Lauren are taking this opportunity to talk about a topic that is deeply Not For Jen™️, Hot for Teacher! We talk about Anne of Green Gables, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other teachers who just might have installed our buttons, and then we get to absolutely crushing TBR piles! Headphones in for this one — it is not for all markets, and you’ve been warned! Jen will be back next week along with a very fun Trailblazer, and then we’ll be tackling our first read along of Season 6, Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com .

Oct 4, 2023

This week is full ✨vibes✨ and we’re not sorry about it. By request, we’re doing a “Romances for Sweater Weather” which aren’t spooky for Halloween and aren’t (mostly) snowbound romances, but are just…full of apple cinnamon, pumpkin spice, fuzzy socks feelings. We’re talking about sports, about crunching leaves, about small towns, about pumpkins and about elections, so it must be fall here on the pod. Light that fire, put on that cable knit sweater, and get to reading. We’ve got you sorted. Our first read along of the season will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Check out Louisa Edwards ’s chef romances. The first is called Can’t Stand the Heat. We like a man in a cable knit sweater . So sue us . Katy, Texas is home of a lot of football and a lot of book banning. We don’t really have any opinion about Taylor Swift’s new boyfriend , but his mom seems great.

Sep 27, 2023

We’re so excited for today’s episode—in which we topple TBRs worldwide in support of the #23for23 Challenge! Spearheaded by Adriana Herrera, Nikki Payne and Nisha Sharma, 23 for 23 encourages romance readers to read 23 books by BIPOC authors about BIPOC characters before the end of 2023. Nikki Payne joins us for a bit to talk about the challenge and why it’s important, and to lay out some clear ways we can all help boost BIPOC books and authors….and then we get down to business, recommending a truly enormous number of books. Get your pencils ready, you’re going to want to take several notes. Learn more about the #23for23Challenge and see the full list of participating authors at 23for23.net . Our first read along of the season will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com .

Sep 20, 2023

We’re so excited you’re with us for this season! The first interstitial episode of Season 6 drops today and it’s the full banana, meaning—here’s where we talk about the absolutely bonkers romance novels we’ve encountered over our decades of romance reading. Sentient doors, 24-ounces of liquid, gorilla attacks, kinky bank robbers, and Tarzan retellings are here…and so much more! Our first read along of the season will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes We had a great time at the Popular Romance Fiction conference at Yale. We met Carole Bell , one of our favorite reviewers. We were also joined on our panel by Julie Moody-Freeman of the Black Romance Podcast and Kinohi Nishikawa from Princeton. Our moderator was Jeania Ree Moore, a PhD student at Yale and one of the lead organizers of the conference. It was spectacular, as were all the panels and classes at the event. Jen has decided, a group of Magnificent Firebirds is a phalanx , it just rolls off the tongue: a phalanx of firebirds! Check out the great selection of romances and book boxes at Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA . The drilldo book is called Laying Pipe by Kate Allure , and here’s a little illustration from our fave, Jennifer Porter . Don’t worry future Fated Mates listener, I took a screenshot for posterity once twitter is gone for good. You can listen to Sarah do a deep dive on Gorilla Twins over at Learning the Tropes. You should really watch the movie Lone Star starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, and a young Matthew McConaughey , but we are less sure if you should read The Elegance of the Hedgehog .

Sep 13, 2023

Season Six! How is this even possible! Season One gave us a full lAD deep dive (if you’ve never read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, general existential malaise is a really good reason to start), and Season Two gave us The Books That Blooded Us, the books that made us the romance readers we are. Season Three was during a pandemic, and celebrated that thing we were all desperate for—joy. Season Four introduced the Trailblazer episodes, where we featured interviews with the people who have built the romance house over the last fifty years. Season Five built on all of that, deep diving on books that are new and fabulous, old and transformative, and generally celebrating the vast and magnificent romance pool. Season six will do the same. We’ve got interstitials, trailblazers, read alongs and interviews planned, so head over to your favorite podcasting app and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute. The season launches today with what we thing is an absolute banger—a trailblazer episode about Jackie Collins, legend, juggernaut, author and lady boss, who was gone too soon. We’re so lucky to have had a chance to talk to Collins’s daughters, Rory Green and Tiffany Lerman, who were immensely generous with their time and storytelling, to talk about their mother’s life and work. We love this conversation, and are so grateful to Ms. Green and Ms. Lerman for their time. Our first read along of the season will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Jackie Collins died in 2015 . You should watch the Netflix documentary Lady Boss for more about Jackie’s life, as well as her YouTube channel. Chels wrote a great essay about the infamous interview between Barbara Cartland & Jackie Collins . Authors and publishing professionals mentioned Enid Blyton , Harold Robbins , Sidney Sheldon , her editor was Suzanne Baboneau at Simon & Schuster.

Sep 11, 2023

Here’s a short one — our first episode of Season 6 is a trailblazer (AND A GREAT ONE) — so here’s a little glimpse of where we’ve been during hiatus, and where we’re going this season! Thanks, as always, for being with us!

Sep 9, 2023

Season six is almost here, but not quite yet. To keep you entertained, we’re sharing Sarah’s latest appearance on the excellent Failure to Adapt podcast. FM listeners will thoroughly enjoy this discussion of the 1933 short story Night Bus and the 1934 film adaptation It Happened One Night. Listen to Failure to Adapt on Overcast , Podcast Addict , Apple Podcasts , and anywhere you enjoy podcasts. You can also keep up with the show on Instagram . Maggie’s next book The Siren, the Song, and the Spy drops later this month.

Sep 7, 2023

We’re still on hiatus, but we’ve got more goodies for you. We recently stopped by Likewise for a chat, and they were gracious enough to let us share it with you. We talked about romance novels and recommended books, if you can imagine. There’s no host. It’s just us. So give it a listen! If you’re looking for more fun stuff to fill the time between now and next week’s season six premiere, we’ve got plenty of Bantr+ and Five Minute Firebird at fatedmates.net/patreon . And check out Likewise to get great recommended TV, film, podcasts, and BOOKS!

Aug 30, 2023

We’re on hiatus this week (next week, too!), but we miss you, so we’re bringing you treats! On our Patreon, we host a short-video conversation series with our favorite people, sometimes about romance, and mostly about other things they are into. We’ve had Adriana Herrera, Dani from Ice Planet Pod, Maureen Lee Lenker, Eloisa James and Jen’s friend Ernie, among others! This week we thought we’d share the audio from our chat with Christina Lauren, which, as you can imagine, is more than five minutes. Enjoy this fun chat with our friends and stay tuned for more goodies over the next two weeks…and learn more about our Patreon at fatedmates.net/patreon !

Aug 23, 2023

Sarah has a new book out, so as is tradition for our last episode of the season, Jen is playing host, and Sarah is playing guest, and we’re talking about this gorgeous cover, about secrets and power, about Exasperated Man vibes, about characters having to learn lessons, about writing propulsive stories, about how bored Sarah gets by ballrooms and about how fun it is to write in a big fictional, fantasy world. Jen talks about how Bruce Springsteen understands romance novels better than most people. It’s mostly a spoiler free episode, but you might prefer to finish your read before listening. Enjoy! And don’t miss the first two chapters of the magnificent Knockout audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Mary Jane Wells, at the end of the episode! If you still haven’t got a copy of Knockout , you can get it signed, with exclusive FM swag, from Book Club Bar in NYC , or at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books , or in print from your local independent bookseller . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Lil Romance is in Europe, and apparently will become very familiar with Eurail. Why because Europe is so small compared to the US, for example, check out this map of the Great Lakes basin compared to the continent of Europe. Imposter syndrome explained. Join us in New Haven CT at the Yale Romance Conference Sept 8-9, 2023 . We are both very excited to meet Carole Bell , a romance advocate and a crackerjack reviewer. If you are listening to this the day it released, you can tune into Likewise tonight and hear us chatting about Knockout and recommending books. Read Adriana's An Island Princess Starts a Scandal . Sounds like if you need to learn more about explosions, gunpowder, nitroglycerine, and TNT, the person to call is Elena Armas . Preorder The Long Game , which comes out on Sept 5, 2023. Other pirate ship desks include: Chase's desk in Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover , Whit's desk in Brazen & the Beast , and Max's desk in A Duke Worth Falling For . In 2005, Bruce Springsteen was on VH1’s Storytellers, and his description of the work of Thunder Road is exactly how we think of the work of romance. Watch all the way until the end, when he says, “Nothing left but the ride. So this was my big invitation to my audience, to myself, to anybody that was interested. My invitation to a long and earthly, very earthly journey, hopefully in the company of someone you love, people you love, and in search of a home that you can feel a part of.” A perfect description of the romance genre, Bruce! The Hell's Belles playlist got a major Knockout update. Listen on Spotify and Apple Music.

Aug 16, 2023

We’re talking about a classic trope that we’ve somehow missed over five seasons — Grumpy/Sunshine! Of course our favorite brand of this particular trope is what our friend B.andherbooks calls “Exasperated Man™️,” but we’re talking about the whole continuum of grumps and sunshines, including grumpy women (because it’s 2023, and aren’t most women pretty grumpy, honestly). Check out this list of books, and share your own faves! Next week, we’re reading Knockout ! Get it signed, with exclusive FM swag, from Book Club Bar in NYC ), our next read along will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm, available at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes AI is for scamming , and scamming , and more scamming . Perhaps you, too, would like to see Denzel Washington not as the enforcer, but as the Equalizer. The 3rd installment will be released on Sept 1, 2023.

Aug 9, 2023

We’re talking fairytale retellings today with Zoraida Córdova, the author of Kiss the Girl, a new retelling of The Little Mermaid. We talk about the responsibility of authors when they tackle retellings, about the relevance of fairytales in the world, about the history of fairytales, and about why they resonate so powerfully with us as authors and readers. After Sarah’s Knockout ( preorder it signed, with exclusive FM swag, from her local bookstore ), our next read along will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Welcome back, Zoraida Córdova . She was on the podcast back in Season 3 talking about fantasy romance . Kiss the Girl is a Little Mermaid retelling, and the third book in the Meant to Be series. You can check out her other mermaid books, a YA series that starts with The Viscous Deep , or the forthcoming anthology Mermaids Never Drown. Are we billionaires from winning the MegaMillions? Probably not. But if we did, Jen is planning to renovate the Jackson Park Beach House . The great thing about helping refugees and immigrants is you can do something about that even if you haven’t won the lottery.

Aug 2, 2023

It’s a million degrees and no one has time for slow burns right now, y’all. This week, we’re talking books that start with a bang — and we mean literally. We talk about how difficult it is to thread the needle on romance that starts with sex, about the tropes that lend themselves to this particular theme, about sex work, one night stands, about erotic romance vs. romance, and about how pulling this set up off takes masterful skill with character. There are so many great books for you in here. Enjoy! After Sarah’s Knockout ( preorder it signed, with exclusive FM swag, from her local bookstore ), our next read along will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Jen using the phrase “fast, incendiary burn” to refer to books that start with a bang dates all the way back to season 2 . The Twitter thread where Funmi compared slow burns to crockpots is here. If I could figure out how to save it (screenshots, I guess, sigh), I would. We had Nikki Sloane on to talk about taboo romance , but we also like Jennifer Porter’s definition of erotic romance from a 2019 twitter thread, where she said, “I don't think the sexual relationship has to be the conflict. But sex/sexual interaction/etc has to be critical to the development of the relationship….I think their has to be some type of sexual journey for the main characters for a book to be erotic romance…Ultimately, if there is sex in a romance, it should be important to the couple's journey, but maybe in erotic romance, the main characters need to have a sexual or erotic journey of some sort.” Knockout arrives on August 22! Join Sarah at her NYC launch party (a real party!) and meet new friends at a romance-specific hang on August 24th. Tickets and details here . Take Sarah's Mastering the Art of Great Conflict the week of August 6th. More info here . Head to Yale University to take Sarah & Adriana's writing romance class, and to hear Fated Mates & The Black Romance Podcast talk about oral history and romance.

Jul 26, 2023

After literal years of requests for this one, we’re finally tackling the divorced main characters in romance! We talk about romance between grown ups, about bad exes and good ones, about marriages that were mistakes and ones that help characters learn. This one is full of contemporaries and historicals, and you definitely don’t want to miss it. After Sarah’s Knockout ( preorder it signed, with exclusive FM swag, from her local bookstore ), our next read along, the first of Season Six, will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Jen saw Beyonce for the Renaissance Tour at Solder Field this week for the Renaissance Tour, and also Barbie and Oppenheimer, although not on the same day , so not the full Barbenheimer experience. Divorce is becoming less common in America, but it might not be a good thing. No, Elizabeth Taylor didn’t have violet eyes. A folder with PDFs of this week's articles.

Jul 19, 2023

Today, we’re talking about books we’re excited about this Summer! We’re toppling TBRs with books you can get now, books you can preorder, books that are terrific beach reads, books that gave us big feelings, and books that made us really very happy. Enjoy! For the readers in the group, preorder Sarah’s book, Knockout , now. For the writers in the group, register for her conflict class, at her website . Our next read along, the first of Season Six, will be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the Storm. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com .

Jul 12, 2023

We go back to the OG DNA of the contemporary boom of the early 2010s today, with a read along of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight, with fabulous fan fic writers turned brilliant romance novelists, Christina Lauren. Christina and Lauren talk about the way the books inspired them to write, helped them find a community, and their fated mates (each other). Jen talks about reading Twilight as a middle school teacher, and Sarah talks about never reading it at all…until now. Within, we’ll talk about characters feeling big feelings, about how Twilight inspired romance novelists across the board, about third acts that go hard, and about how Alice is unquestionably the best character in the whole thing. Get Christina and Lauren’s most recent book, The True Love Experiment , wherever books are sold, and this week from Bookshop.org , where you get free shipping and help your local independent bookstore. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Welcome back Christina and Lauren! After listening to them talk about Twilight, don’t forget to pick up their latest book, The True Love Experiment. We’ve had Christina and Lauren on a bunch of times to talk about FanFic , The Soulmate Equation , and the forced proximity trope. Not sure of the exact article that Lo read about brain scans and married couples , but this seems like a good overview. And a selection of some of our favorite articles about Twilight: From The Atlantic: At Its Core, the ‘Twilight’ Saga Is a Story About From Entertainment Weekly: The Twilight Effect From The New York Times: Love and Pain and the Teenage Vampire Thing From Slate: All 349 “Murmurs” in the Twilight Saga, Charted and Ranked From Salon: Meet the Twilight Dildo Inventor From Vogue: 56 Thoughts I had While Rewatching Twilight From Vulture: The Most Horrific Twilight Character Backstories, Ranked by Absurdity and a video about The Rise and Fall of the Vampire Romance Craze in Film and TV. A Google Folder with PDFs of this week's articles. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/7/11/s0543-twilight-by-stephenie-meyer-with-christina-and-lauren If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 5, 2023

We were devastated to learn of the passing of Julie Garwood, honest to God romance doyenne, last month. Garwood installed many of our buttons, and the buttons of so many romance readers who came up reading “The Four J’s,” and, more importantly, paved the way for historicals with humor. She was, without question, a trailblazer. While we were unable to interview her for our trailblazer series, we couldn’t let her passing go without an episode, so please enjoy our read along of The Bride, which is a nearly perfect book even now, decades after she wrote it. While our thoughts are with with Julie Garwood’s family, her friends, and the legions of readers she delighted over her long and legendary career, our endless gratitude is with Julie Garwood herself—for the laughter, the sighs, and the absolute bangers that were her books. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes We were devastated to learn about the death of romance great Julie Garwood. You can read her obituaries in the New York Times and the Washington Post . In 2022, Julie Garwood was a guest on the Smart Bitches Trashy Books podcast. Are we at the end of the usable internet? A google folder with PDFs of this week's articles. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/7/4/s0542-remembering-julie-garwood If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 28, 2023

We’re talking about worldbuilding this week, and you’re getting a glimpse into Jen and Sarah’s everyday non-podcasting romance chatter. This one is for everyone — we talk about paranormal and historical romance, about what we think fantasy means when it comes to romance, and (most importantly) about how contemporary romance just might require the most worldbuilding of all of it? Separately, Eric points out the irony of us referring to “two people in a phone booth” in an episode where we talk about how kids today don’t know about cassette tapes. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Donald Trump was indicted and was storing his documents, including some with nuclear secrets, in his bathroom at Mar-a-Lago. Thread by Angus Johnson about ChatGPT and writin g, which was in response to this article at PW about how AI will soon replace editors. Sarah’s editor Carrie Feron says, “Your opening has to tell a story and leave the reader asking a question.” A classic reaction video from Tim and Fred Williams to In the Air Tonight , Questlove was nervous about In the Air Tonight , and a terrific episode of Hit Parade about how Phil Collins changed the sound of drumming. NPR did a terrific piece about Kennedy Ryan and why she’s so big right now, and we were briefly interviewed talking about her legacy. Jen tries to make as many of those links as possible into PDFs! Thinking of you in the future times, wondering wtf we were talking about.

Jun 21, 2023

It’s heroines in science week here at Fated Mates! STEM heroines are having a resurgence in romance, in no small part because of the rise of “STEMinist romcoms” (citation: Ali Hazelwood and Elena Armas), but we’re talking about everything from astronauts and archeologists to explosives experts and healers and we’ve got a list of books we love throughout romance history. That, and we already talked about The Love Hypothesis earlier this season, so we’re filling your TBR with books you might not have found already. You’ll find historicals, contemporaries, and paranormals on this episode — pick your pleasure! If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes The Canadian wildfires have been exceptionally bad this year , and here’s why. Climate change continues to impact the way we live now, including announcements from State Farm and other insurance companies that they will not be writing new homeowner’s insurance policies in CA . This was already happening in Florida . What is a portmanteau ? What is a bluestocking ? A link to our episode recommending read-alikes for The Love Hypothesis , including some other recommendations for STEM heroines. On Variety’s Actors on Acting series , Ellen Pompeo talked about how humiliating she thought it was to give the “pick me” speech. A link to a folder with PDFs of links in this week's show notes. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/6/19/s0540-stem-heroines-in-romance-novels If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 14, 2023

The Trailblazers conversations continue this week with historical romance juggernaut Mary Balogh, whose decades-long career has shaped the Regency romance in both category and single title. We talk about historical accuracy, about research, about love, about staying true to your voice and your purpose, and about who Mary Balogh thinks is writing at the top of the game (spoiler: we agree). We are so grateful to Mary Balogh for making time for us, and for her beautiful books. If you want more Fated Mates in your life, you are welcome at our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Welcome trailblazer author Mary Balogh . She has written over 80 bestsellers and 37 of her books have been New York Times Bestsellers. Her forthcoming book, Remember Me, will be released next week on June 20, 2023. Preorder now! Authors Mentioned Catherine Coulter , Barbara Hazard , Edith Layton , Joan Wolf , Mary Jo Putney , Joan Johnson , Jo Beverley Publishing Professionals Hilary Ross at Harlequin and Claire Zion at Berkley.

Jun 7, 2023

It’s hard to believe it’s taken us this long to do a prologue and epilogue episode! We talk about beginnings and endings and why they exist and why writers should ignore every piece of broad strokes nonsense advice people want to throw at them. Jen says “Prologues are plot and epilogues are character,” and blows Sarah’s mind with her genius (jk, Sarah already knew she was a genius). And yes, we talk about babies. Fair warning! This interstitial idea came from the Fated Mates Discord, which all of our patrons have access to. Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes You know, Animal Farm is a good book and King Lear is a good play. There is a very cute family of foxes living in Chicago’s Millennium Park Apparently this dogs and rosetone thing is a known issue. Here is an example of the hardline “Prologues are Bad” stance. || ed note: I’m not mad about it, since I have some known hardline stances myself. Ahem. || Our list of things good romance epilogues do: provide needed backstory, historical information, an inciting incident in the past, an unusual set-up, and showcasing the relationship between the primary characters. Our list of things romance epilogues do: fan service, bringing the whole gang back together in a series,providing a glimpse into the other character’s POV, The HEA fulfilled, the babylogue, and surprise motherfuckers!

May 31, 2023

In March, we had the absolute best time with some of our favorite people at Fated Mates LIVE in Brooklyn! Here, for your enjoyment, is the recording of the wacky, wild night, which we spent with 250 Magnificent Firebirds, including: Tessa Bailey, Andie Christopher, Adriana Herrera and Joanna Shupe, who took the opportunity to announce that evening that she also writes mafia romance as Mila Finelli (*GASP!*)! We cannot stress this enough: Headphones in! We were also joined by Amanda Litman, the co-founder and co-executive director of Run for Something, and by Erin Leafe, the host of our sister podcast, Learning the Tropes! Special shout out to Producer Pat from Learning the Tropes, who helped Eric get the whole event recorded beautifully. You can read more about the whole event at Brooklyn Magazine ! We’re approximating the experience of Fated Mates Live every day over on the Fated Mates Discord, which you can access by becoming a Patron of the podcast! Find out more at: fatedmates.net/patreon .

May 24, 2023

We’re talking kissing today! So simple and so powerful, there’s no doubt that that first kiss in romance is always an important one. This episode was inspired by our recent readalong of Her Best Worst Mistake, but we talk about some other great books (most of which we’ve talked about before) with truly excellent kisses. Enjoy…and tell us about your favorite kisses in books, movies, tv shows…wherever you get your superior smooching. We have a Patreon now, and it comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Kissing is the best, and we are obsessed with the first kisses from the following movies and TV shows: Maddie and David from Moonlighting, lots of Angel and Buffy kissing, jump in the wayback machine for Sam and Diane from Cheers, and more recently Jim and Pam from The Office. The first gay kiss on network TV was on LA Law back in 1991 . In the 80s and 90s, we imprinted hard on movies with great kissing scenes: The primordial kiss that was Han Solo and Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back, the “No Kissing on the Mouth” from Pretty Woman and Jen forgot to mention another 90s classic, Poetic Justice with Tupac and Janet Jackson . Hello to that last scene from Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore . People have made entire YouTube videos of great movie kisses . Why did people use a metaphor about “Rounding the bases” to discuss sex back in the day? Who knows!

May 17, 2023

The Trailblazers conversations continue this week with the brilliantly talented Loretta Chase, who we adore, and not only because she wrote one of our favorite romances of all time. We obviously talk about Lord of Scoundrels and Jessica and Dain, but we also talk about writing, about the challenges of writer’s block, about the glorious rabbit holes of research, and yes…we ask hard hitting questions about The Mummy. We are so grateful to Loretta for making time for us, and for writing such glorious books. If you are in New England, you can meet Loretta and Sarah at the Ashland Public Library Romance Festival this Saturday, May 20th in Ashland, MA. Attendance is free! Learn more and register at Eventbrite . We have a Patreon now, and it comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com . Show Notes Welcome author Loretta Chase , author of over 20 historical romance novels. We did a deep dive on Lord of Scoundrels back in season 2. Authors mentioned: Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick, Susan Holloway Scott , Mary Jo Putney , and Caroline Linden . Publishing Professionals: Walker & Co. Publishers, editor Ellen Edwards, , Gail ? at Berkley, Romantic Times magazine.

May 10, 2023

This week, we’re talking about one of our very favorite romance novels, Sarah Mayberry’s absolute banger, Her Best Worst Mistake . We talk about how enemies to lovers works best, about how POV changes the whole game with this particular trope, about how Mayberry threads a very difficult needle with the main characters’ past relationship, and about how conflict somehow remains queen, even when not a ton is going on on page. All that, and it’s a novella! An absolute gem. We hope you love this one as much as we did. Read Her Best Worst Mistake in ebook at Amazon , B&N , Kobo or Apple Books . Show Notes Along with giving great writing advice, Sherry Thomas writes an amazing romance. Check out our season 3 deep dive of Ravishing the Heiress. If you, too, are a fan of Peach schnapps, maybe it’s time to mix up some summer cocktails . Jaguar is all in the pronunciation when you think about it. All about mangoes . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/5/8/s0534-her-best-worst-mistake-by-sarah-mayberry If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 2, 2023

After a number of conversations and requests, we’re talking about the best long-running romance series today! We’ve got something for everyone — paranormal, historical and contemporary — and we’re getting your long, lingering summer reading TBR sorted! We talk about why series work so well for romance, what makes them rewarding, and what we’re looking for when we dive in. Next week, we’ve got another read along! Join us to read one of our very favorite short novels, Sarah Mayberry’s Her Best Worst Mistake , which sets the bar for every other enemies to lovers romance ever. Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo or Apple Books . Notes There are lots of words for snow, including graupel . We loved our conversation with Christine Feehan, and it got us thinking about series. This is also a great essay about series from Ilona Andrews , who have lots of great long-running series (some of which we mentioned today) and talk about the difference between episodic vs. progressive series. Author Heather Burch shared her description of the novel with Sarah as: "an unforgettable character, a relentless threat, and an impossible situation." You can check out Heather's books here. In this EW interview with Nora Roberts , she said the In Death series was supposed to be a trilogy set in the near future. Here’s a USA Today interview with Joanna Wylde about writing the Reapers Legacy series. You can turn off popular highlights , btw. Our next read along, next week, is Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/5/2/s0533-romance-series If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 26, 2023

It’s runaway bride week here at Fated Mates and we’re delightedly traveling down memory lane to talk Julia Roberts, Sally Field, the importance of significant lips for a proper mustache, and all the ways we love cold feet on the way to the altar! We discuss all the ways runaway brides can happen in romance, talk about our high expectations for this trope…and Sarah realizes she’s written two of them! Our next read along is Sarah Mayberry’s Her Best Worst Mistake , an absolute banger of an enemies-to-lovers romance and one of our favorites. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble or Kobo . You are in for an absolute treat with this one. Show Notes This week we’re talking about runaway brides (in the past, we also recorded an episode about Waking Up Married ). Some of the primordial runaway brides are from movies: Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and Runaway Bride (1999). Sarah recommended an essay called The Bizarre Genre of Runaway Bride Romcoms, which has some other great movie rom-coms: Maid of Honor , Something Borrowed , My Best Friend’s Wedding . We’re tired of kids' movies. Jen’s last one was Big Hero 6 (that is not hyperbole, she hasn’t seen an animated movie since 2014 when Lil Romance was 11). Other families movies we enjoyed: Ghostbusters (2016) and Fly Away Home (1996). Growing up in the 80s , “those other channels” that weren’t one of the major networks were called UHF channels , I think? Whew, the wedding industrial complex is no joke. Our next read along is Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry.

Apr 19, 2023

Finally, the read along we’ve been promising! We’re so excited to talk about Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight, a gothic romance from 2008 that delivers what we here at the pod like to refer to as “the full banana.” We talk about bodysnatchers, about science, about dukes in disguise, about twins, and about why historical romance is unmatched. If you know Tracy MacNish, please tell her we love her book, and we’d really appreciate it if she’d right that second one. Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Let the New York Public Library explain the history of gothic romance to you. Perhaps you want to know a little bit more about Resurrectionists and grave robbers. Most bodysnatchers were working for people who were learning about human anatomy. I guess you could watch The Banshees of Inisherin if you want to learn to correctly pronounce the name Padraig. Should you tell your twins their birth order? Talking about foils is some real English teacher business. Sir Gawain was one of King Arthur’s knights Spanish fly is a real thing, and probably best to stay away from it. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/4/18/s0531-stealing-midnight-by-tracy-macnish If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 12, 2023

This week, we’re sharing our fantastic conversation with trailblazer Christine Feehan, an undeniable force in the rise of paranormal romance in the early 2000s. We discuss the genesis of her work, the way she builds her far-reaching worlds, her relationship to readers, her heroes, her sex scenes, and the long and winding path of her career. Our conversation covers a lot of ground—personal, professional, paranormal and powerful, and we’re so grateful to Christine Feehan for making time for Fated Mates. You’re going to love this one, Firebirds. Next week, our first read along of 2023 is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Welcome to Christine Feehan , author of almost 100 romance novels. Her next book, Ghostly Game, is part of the Ghostwalker series and will be released May 2, 2023. PEOPLE : editor Alicia Condon at Dorchester and now Kensington, and editor Cindy Hwang at Berkley. BOOKS: Freckles and The Harvester by Gene Stratton Porter, Louisa May Alcott, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, Mary Janice Davidson, Gift of Fire and Gift of Gold by Jayne Ann Krentz, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes , The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King.

Apr 5, 2023

We were together for the first time in a while, so we decided to record on Sarah’s couch! We answer questions from the audience at Fated Mates Live, recommend Spring romance novels, fill your TBR pile and bantr. It’s nice. Next week, we’re reading Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes We had a great time at Fated Mates Live! Thanks to everyone for coming, to The William Vale for being a great location, and to Word bookstores for selling books. Producer Pat from Learning the Tropes was Eric’s co-producer that night! A huge thanks to Grand Central/Forever , Sourcebooks , and Berkley Romance for donating books for us to give away! If you are ever in Williamsburg, you should go ahead and order some pizza . Jen ordered from Mo’s General and it was delicious. A primer on the Model Minority Myth. Some real life examples of people dancing themselves to death. A Splash of Cream at the Alabaster Cafe came out 6 weeks after Morning Glory Milking Farm , but also correlation does not imply causation.

Mar 29, 2023

Sophie Jordan is back again! She’s got a new book out, The Countess , the first in her Scandalous Ladies of London series, featuring a true Regency squad full of scandalous ladies and answering the question: What if the Real Housewives were actually Regency-era aristocrats? We talk about friendships in old school romances, about why groups of women are game changers in fiction and in real life, and fill your TBR with groups you will absolutely wish you could be friends with. In two weeks, we’re reading Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Welcome Sophie Jordan . Her newest release, The Countess , is the first in the Scandalous Ladies of London Series. It’s loosely based on the reality TV show, The Real Housewives. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for the first two chapters of The Countess in Audiobook . In horror, “the final girl” is a trope about who survives. Check out the Pocket Bookshop next time you’re in Lancaster PA. Enid is a secondary character from several of Sophie’s books in The Rogue Files series. Check out the Ice Planet Podcast if you’re a fan of the series.

Mar 22, 2023

We’re talking about teachers and librarians in romance today, but don’t worry — not hot-for-teacher kinds of teachers and librarians (someday, Sarah will do that one on her own, maybe). Instead, we’re talking about romances with main characters who are teachers or librarians, in honor of the hardworking, committed teachers and librarians who are fighting book bans all across the United States right now. And speaking of book bans…we’ve got author, activist and our friend Jarrett Dapier back with us this week to talk about the upcoming Spring off-cycle elections that are taking place around the country in the coming weeks…and how book bans are on the ballot in so many places right now . We encourage you to check the dates of your local elections, and make sure that if school or library board positions are on the ballot, you’ve done some research before you head to the polls! You can still get tickets to Fated Mates Live! Join us this Friday, March 24 in New York City with Tessa Bailey, Andie J. Christopher, Mila Finelli, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe! Amazing stories will be told, many laughs will be had, terrific books will be on sale, and there will be a bar! Get tickets now ! Our first read along of 2023 (soon! we promise!) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Welcome Jarrett Dapier , author of Mr. Watson's Chickens , back to the podcast. He was a guest on our first book banning episode , click to listen and see the show notes. This is a time for action, not just being a keyboard warrior. Check our your local paper if you have one, your school district website, and your library’s website. Wondering if there are upcoming elections in your state? Check out Rock the Vote and click on your state. You can find information about off-cycle elections, which is what non-November election are called (not “off brand” as Sarah accidentally said on the pod.) Moms for Liberty is bad, actually. These groups trying to ban books continue to ramp up their efforts—they are specifically targeting books with any kind of queer characters, regardless of sexual content, books with people of color, and books that tell the accurate story of our history. Other states are looking to ban books with any kind of sexual content. If you are looking for the big picture, you must follow the censorship tag at Book Riot . Reporter Kelly Jensen has been on the front line of this story for years, and if you’re looking for resources this monster thread she keeps pinned to her twitter profile has ideas for how to take action. You should also check out this list to find an anti-censorship group to join in your area. The story about the library board in Niles, Illinois ; an exciting new Right to Read law making it’s way through the Illinois state congress could be duplicated in your state! Call your local rep and senator and tell them you support the freedom to read. Author Laurie Halse Anderson is a model for how you can show up . As for book recommendations this week, check out the list of romances about librarians from SuperWendy , and this list from Jessica Pryde, Hot for Teacher (but not Mine) . And last but not least, Jen’s list of Who Did it Better in the Library .

Mar 15, 2023

Pistols at dawn, y’all! We’re talking about duels today — what they are, why they exist, who fights them, their rules and why they’re so darn sexy when they are really just silly. We’re taking our twenty paces alongside Chels_ebooks, one of our favorite BookTokkers, who has a longstanding love of old school romances and their covers, and a substack that you should subscribe to immediately. Of course, we’re talking TikTok, too. This one is long and fun and full of book recs, so strap in! You can still get tickets to Fated Mates Live! Join us on March 24 in New York City with Tessa Bailey, Andie J. Christopher, Mila Finelli, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe! Amazing stories will be told, many laughs will be had, terrific books will be on sale, and there will be a bar! Get tickets now ! Our first read along of 2023 (soon! we promise!) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . We are thrilled to welcome Chels, the Reigning Monarch of Bodice Ripper TikTok, to the show today. You can also follow them on twitter and subscribe to their substack, The Loose Cravat . Wondering about those TikTok hit pieces we mentioned? Read the ones from British GQ and London Review of Books . It’s a few years old, but this Wall Street Journal video is a great look at the mysterious TikTok algorithm and how quickly it will rabbit hole you, and a more recent piece from Vox about TikTok’s recent promises to become more transparent, and another one from The Verge about how TikTok suppresses content from disabled users . The relationship between BookTok and bookselling is complex and difficult to parse because of the lack of transparency around book sales. Check out Where Is All the Book Data by Melanie Walsh , as well as how book-buying habits changed during the pandemic . Deloping is bad, actually! So If you’d like to learn more about duels, Chels recommends Pistols at Dawn by Richard Hopton and The Duel: A History of Duelling by Robert Baldick. Jen recommends this article about dueling from JSTOR Daily , or this one about American dueling in the Smithsonian , which led her to the Code Duello as one example for the rules of dueling. Speaking of moral panics, JSTOR Daily has a list of them! I told you it was a good site! Deuling in pop culture: check out The Duelists by Ridley Scott, this famous scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark , and of course, Hamilton . For some real historical duels, check out: The billiards balls duel , The topless lady duelers in Austria , additional ladies being badass , Humphrey Howarth the naked dueler , and Burr and Hamilton . Senator Brooks caning Senator Sumner on the Senate floor is another thing entirely. Glove Slap! Finally, check out this page from Loretta Chase’s website which describes and links to several videos about the Singing bird pistols from Lord Lovedon’s Duel.

Mar 8, 2023

We’re talking Masquerades! Is it the Phantom of the Opera? Is it Amadeus? Is it Jude Deveraux’s The Raider? We don’t know but man we love a masquerade in a romance novel. We talk about the 3 to 5 different types of masks in romances, about why they’re catnip, about what they mean, and recommend a full grip of romances (mostly historical) for you to read. Enjoy! You can still get tickets to Fated Mates Live! Join us on March 24 in New York City with Tessa Bailey, Andie J. Christopher, Mila Finelli, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe! Amazing stories will be told, many laughs will be had, terrific books will be on sale, and there will be a bar! Get tickets now ! Our first read along of 2023 (soon! we promise!) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books .

Mar 1, 2023

It feels like you can’t turn around these days without stumbling into a story that’s a little unsettling about technology and how we’re all living our lives in this post (sort of) pandemic world. Between Twitter dramz, TikTok explosions and the rise of AI, it’s a lot. So, it’s probably to be expected that we are talking about how technology is impacting romance novels. We’re talking about texting, about FaceTime, about podcasting, and yes…even about robots. If you can use it to fall in love, there’s a romance using it…and we’re recommending a few we really enjoyed. You can still get tickets to Fated Mates Live! Join us on March 24 in New York City with Tessa Bailey, Andie J. Christopher, Mila Finelli, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe! Amazing stories will be told, many laughs will be had, terrific books will be on sale, and there will be a bar! Get tickets now ! Our first read along of 2023 (soon! we promise!) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes This New York Times article called When the Novel Swiped Right doesn't mention a single romance novel, of course. But don't worry. We've got you. Sarah wrote about tech in romance back in 2019 in the Washington Post. We are very excited about Ted Lasso season 3, which premiers on March 15, 2023. This is a very nice little teaser is a masterclass in character work , but here’s the trailer . Also in the New York Times, this creepy article about interviewing the Microsoft Bing AI . Maybe that thing has love on the brain because Microsoft fed the AI a bunch of romance novels at some point. Seems legit. But then this New Yorker article came out and said that ChatGPT is just like a blurry jpeg , so everyone calm down. Match.com was invented in 1995 , but it was the invention of the dating app a decade ago in 2013 that really changed the game. And if you’re famous, you can get on Raya. Kevin Costner is relevant again ! Everyone, time to reread Perfect. The pager situation was wild, but Sky Pager is a truly great song by A Tribe Called Quest, off of The Low End Theory , one of Jen’s all time favorite albums. Poet Hanif Abdurraqib has written an entire book about A Tribe Called Quest called Go Ahead in the Rain for the fans out there. Watch this cute video about the guy who built a house for the frog living on his fence. And when it comes to the internet , cats rule and dogs drool.

Feb 21, 2023

Every once in a while, we decide we’re going to do an episode about books we just really really really like. Books we want you to really really really like. Is that episode usually in February? Does it coincide with Sarah’s book deadline? Don’t worry about it. This one is for the bantr girlies. We’re talking about books we loved so much on the first read that we wish we could reread them again for the first time. Please let us know if you try reading any of them for the first time…and when you do, tell us on Instagram and Twitter . Or Tumblr , where Eric is making fun new friends. Fated Mates Live is happening! Join us on March 24 in New York City with Tessa Bailey, Andie J. Christopher, Mila Finelli, Adriana Herrera, and Joanna Shupe! Amazing stories will be told, many laughs will be had, terrific books will be on sale, and there will be a bar! Get tickets now ! Our first read along of 2023 (soon! we promise!) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books .

Feb 15, 2023

Today, we’re welcoming KJ Charles to Fated Mates for our next Trailblazer episode! Known for her work helping to bring queer historical romance to the modern genre, KJ joins us to discuss historical romance, how it remains relevant in the modern world, her work centering queer characters and communities in romance, and the start of her romance career as an editor of Mills & Boon medical romances. We also talk about the arc of her career through early small press publishing, indie publishing, and now, as a traditionally published author. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and we are so grateful to KJ Charles for joining us. Thanks to Kylie Scott, author of End of Story , and Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies , for sponsoring the episode. Visit microdose.com and use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off and free shipping on your first order. Notes K.J. Charles is a RITA nominated author of over 25 historical romance novels. You can preorder her upcoming novel, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen , which will be released on March 7, 2023. KJ worked as an editor at Mills and Boon, and her blog is an excellent source for romance readers and writers. If you're looking for the "romance with a body count" infographics , click here. Authors mentioned: Mills & Boon author Alison Roberts , Mills & Boon author Marion Lennox , author Jordan L. Hawk , author Alexis Hall , author Talia Hibbert , author May Peterson , author Jackie Lau , author EE Ottoman , author Penny Aimes , author Kris Ripper , author Therese Beharrie , author Jeannie Lin , editor Anne Scott . Don’t miss our Band Sinister episode from last December. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/2/14/s0522-trailblazer-kj-charles If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 8, 2023

It’s happening LIVE, in New York City! Join Jen, Sarah, and an absolutely fire lineup of special guests for a Fated Mates LIVE recording, in person, in Brooklyn. Time to book tickets, flights, and make plans to spend the weekend in NYC with your romance loving friends! The recording will take place Friday, March 24th from 7-9pm at the William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! A live episode extravaganza, the whole Fated Mates crew will be on hand for an episode with book recs, chats with some of our favorite people! Click here for tickets . Tickets are $60 and include a $10 credit from WORD Brooklyn, to be used at the pop up romance bookshop at the event. There will be a cash bar and lots of time to hang with other Magnificent Firebirds! If you are interested in staying the weekend at the William Vale, there is a small block of rooms availalbe. You must use this link for 20% off the regular king size room rate.

Feb 4, 2023

It’s Derek Craven Day 2023 —empirically the best romance holiday of February—and we’re celebrating in traditional fashion by talking about why there are two types of Lisa Kleypas readers: The ones who think Derek Craven is the best hero, and the ones who are wrong. If you’ve been with us for any length of time at all, you know we are mildly obsessed with Lisa Kleypas’s heroes, her writing, the way she writes objects into her books as talismans of emotion, and the way she injects excellent romance directly into our veins every single time. This year, to celebrate this most high holy of romance days, we asked all of you to help us by filling up a Google spreadsheet with things other Kleypas heroes do in their books…because while St. Vincent and Winterborne will never get a holiday all to themselves, they’re pretty great dudes. Enjoy, friends. It’s -11 degrees on the East Coast, so we give you permission to hang out in bed all day and read a book by Lisa Kleypas. Our first read along of 2023 (in February) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books .

Feb 1, 2023

You’ve been asking for a shifter interstitial, and we like to give you what you want. Today, we’re talking manimals! We go back to the beginning and touch on all the shifter/Lycae business that we dealt with in Season 1, and then we talk about all the ways werewolves have evolved into were-other things and then into DNA-splicing experiments. The recs get wild, the plots get weird, and there’s a lot happening! Our next episode will drop Saturday in honor of the greatest of holidays, Derek Craven Day! To celebrate, we recommend rereading Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You and then enjoying a full hour of our banter about our proudest achievement. In observance of DCD23, we will not be releasing a Wednesday episode next week, but we will be with you all the week after! Our first read along of 2023 (in February) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Today’s show is apparently brought to you by 1983. The song She’s a Maniac was on the Flashback soundtrack, and Manimal was a television show. We talked so much about shifters in Season One , you just have to go back. I’m sorry. Derek Craven Day is coming this Saturday. Please celebrate responsibly. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/1/31/s0520-shifter-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 25, 2023

Seven-timer Kate Clayborn returns to the Fated Mates studio (lol, jk there is no studio) to talk about about going home again in romance and to celebrate the launch of her new book, Georgie All Along , which you can get this week wherever books are sold! We talk about all the ins and outs of homecoming romances, what sends characters back to the beginning, what readers expect from these books, why they hit so hard and in so many ways, and how this trope intersects with small town romance. All that, and Sarah’s brought an X,Y chart to class. Next week, we have an interstitial, and then it’s Derek Craven Day 2023! Our first read along of 2023 (in February) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Welcome Kate Clayborn . Her newest release, Georgie, All Along came out yesterday. She’s been on Fated Mates so many times because we love to talk to her about romance. You can listen to them all here , but considering the time of year, might we recommend the 2021 Derek Craven Day episode? In case you forgot what your English teacher told you about theme . Here's Sarah's chart , as promised. Also, you can learn about all about the X and Y axis. And the Z axis . And coefficients . So mathy this week!

Jan 18, 2023

We don’t talk enough about category romances, and that is a big mistake. This week, we’re changing that — discussing the power of the category romance, the skill it takes to write one well, and the love we have for the authors who are committed to this perfect morsel of the format. There are nuns and vikings, Italian billionaires, lady assassins and more! Next week, we have a special guest, but our first read along of 2023 is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Harlequin has an entire explainer about the ins and outs of category romance. The first romance Jen ever read was called Pink Satin , from a long-since defunct category line called Second Chance at Love. You can support the workers in the Harper Collins Union by donating to the strike fund , or sign the letter in support of the Union. I couldn’t find the romance title generator, but I did find this sporcle quiz for the most common words in Harlequin titles —it’s only up to 2012, and someone needs to update this. The word billionaire is barely on it! The Princess Routine by Tonya Wood (1985) was a favorite of both Jen and Caitlyn Crews . And right now, Jen is freaking out a little that she can't find her copy of it!

Jan 11, 2023

We’re thrilled to share our next Trailblazer episode this week—we had a great time talking with Catherine Coulter about her place in romance history as one of the earliest authors of the Signet Regency line—and the author who many believe revolutionized the Regency…by making them sexy. She tells a million great stories here, and we talk about writing historical romance, about sex in romance, about the way she thinks about plot vs. story, about the way she’s evolved as a writer, and about revisiting her old books. All that, and Catherine has a lot to say about heroes. Thank you to Catherine Coulter for making the time for us. Next week, we’re back with more interstitials, but our first read along of 2023 is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight —we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes People Mentioned: publisher Peter Heggie , editor Robert Gottlieb , publisher Bob Diforio , publisher Phyllis Graham , editor May Chen , editor David Highfill , and marketing consultant Nicole Robson at Trident Media. Authors Mentioned: Georgette Heyer, Janet Dailey, LaVyrle Spencer, Linda Howard, Iris Johansen , Kay Hooper, Debbie Gordon and Joan Wolf

Jan 4, 2023

Happy New Year, Magnificent Firebirds! Our first episode of 2023 leans into winter — we’re talking snowed-in romances! What makes snowed-in different than forced-proximity? Why is snow different from other situational nature stuff? Why are so many of these stories novellas? How do authors use snow as a plot device, a ticking clock, or a starting gun? All that, and a plea for more snowed-in romances without the holiday angle. We’re gearing up for a year full of interstitials, more trailblazers and other fun stuff. We can’t wait for you to see what we have in store. Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Of course we've talked about forced proximity romance in general, most notably with Christina and Lauren back in Season 2 ! But this time around, we're only talking about SNOWED IN. That being said, snowed in is no joke. Our thoughts are with the people of Buffalo, who experienced major blizzard conditions last week, including four feet of snow. If you'd like to help, here are some suggestions, but we've also heard good things about the organization Friends of the Night People , which helps unhoused people in Buffalo. A look back at that blizzard in Chicago , which was on Groundhog's Day in 2011. Don't miss our deep dive from Season 2 of Managed and Fall by Kristen Callihan . If you're in the DC Metro area, you can see Sarah and Kate talking about Georgie, All Along at East City Bookshop live or on zoom, Friday Jan 27 at 7pm. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2023/1/2/s0516-snowed-in-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 31, 2022

As is customary, we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve here on Fated Mates with some of our favorite people in a fully headphones-in episode! Pour yourself a drink and pull up a chair, because Omegaversity is in session with professors Ali Hazelwood and Adriana Herrera! Jen and Sarah get a crash course in this wild end of the romance/fan fic pool. We’re talking about mating heat (!), knotting (!!), butt babies (!!!) and loads of body fluids (!!!!). Seriously, loads of them. When we say headphones in, we mean it. Enter at your own will, abandon all hope, and bring in 2023 right. Check shownotes for omegaverse recommendations, and enjoy, firebirds! Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful. Notes Welcome Ali Hazelwood and Adriana Herrera , let's just call them AH2, shall we? The New York Times article about the Omegaverse , which is where a lot of us named Jen and Sarah first learned about so much of it. You can also watch this terrific series of videoes from Lindsay Ellis explaining the Omegaverse lawsuits: Into the Omegaverse: How a Fanfic Trope landed in Federal Court and Addison Cain's lawyer e-mailed me, and it only got worse from there . Also, the video essay The Rise (and Rise) of the Omegaverse by Rowan Ellis. Ali recommends reading this quick Omegaverse primer. Or this other list of how the Omegaverse world exploded. You should read The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller , which is a good example of how there are books out there telling the stories we want about the characters we love. For Your Consideration: A List of Recommendations of Omegaverse Fics from AH2 A quick reminder to please check all tags and CWs as you explore the Omegaverse! Ali and Adriana both agree that a great starting point for Reylo ABO is Can't Turn Off What Turns Me On by audreyii_fic. But there are tons of Reylo fics recommended by AH2. If you want ABO in the workplace + elevators, try Gonna Get Myself Connected by TourmalineGreen. If you want something sweet and fluffy try (I Want to See You) As You Are Now by walkingsaladshooter or your name (twine it with mine) by lachesisgrimm (olga_theodora). For an enemies to lovers Reylo vibe, Ali recommends like my heart longs for an ocean by hi_raeth. He's the Omega in sharpen your teeth and sink into me by Like_A_Dove. If you want your fic with a sidecar of knitting puns, try The Knotting Shop by crossingwinter. Some others AH2 agree on: Reclaimed by Betts, Juniper and Bergamot by SaintHeretical, and Abash the Little Bird by SecretReyloTrash. Coveted by OptimisticBeth is a crossover between Star Wars and Mercy Thompson. If you have a lot of time on your hands, try the Reylo ABO hereafter by voicedimplosives. If you want lots of voyerism with your Reylo, check out An Unexpected Vacation by tigbit If you're looking for ABO but vampires, try a little death (goes a long way) by crossingwinter Adriana recommends trying any Stucky fic by GiselleSlash . Ali recs Hello, Heartbreaker by astoryaboutwar or The Chase by Tipsy_kitty. In this universe, everyone’s a werewolf and Ali says it's a great starting point for ABO, written for a fandom that has tons of amazing ABO fics. Another TeenWolf fic you might enjoy is If you want to try some Sherlock fic (not with Lucy Liu, but Jen believes it must be out there!), check out The Breath Between Us and The Breath Before Us by fayfayfay. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/12/29/s0515-omegaversity If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 29, 2022

Sarah recently joined Red Scott and Maggie Tokuda-Hall on their excellent Failure To Adapt podcast to discuss the Jane Austen’s Emma and Amy Heckerling’s Clueless. We thought you'd enjoy listening to it here, and they were gracious enough to let us share it with you. The show’s current season is dedicated solely to Austen adaptations. Follow Failure To Adapt in your favorite podcast app to get in on the action.

Dec 25, 2022

Happy happy holidays — our gift to you this weekend is a little bantr, a lot of book recs, and a wish that you get everything you want this holiday season, and throughout 2023. We’re so grateful for all of you…and we wish you the merriest, happiest, brightest, most joyful season. We hope you’re staying warm…see you on New Year’s Eve! xx Sarah, Jen & Eric Check out our holiday music playlist on Spotify and Apple Music .

Dec 21, 2022

It’s our final read along of 2022, and we’re so excited to be talking about KJ Charles’s Band Sinister — one of Jen’s favorite books (she won the coin toss when we picked which of KJ’s books we were going to read). This one has all the things we love: found family, sexy rakes, gentlemen’s societies, meddling sisters, anonymous gothic novelists, hot doctors, and more. We talk about how KJ writes a beautiful book, that seems to use all the necessary words and nothing more, and makes us think differently about the world and our place in it. Do yourself a favor and read it right now. This is the last traditional episode of the year — Our next full length episode will be our New Year’s Eve episode and it’s a doozy — we suggest putting your headphones in right now to be prepared. Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful. Thanks to Jaye Viner, author of Jane of Battery Park , and to Lumi Labs for sponsoring the episode. Visit microdose.com and use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off your order and free shipping. Show Notes Band Sinister is a stand alone romance published by KJ Charles in 2018. If you loved it as much as we did, go read Sarah's favorite, Wanted: A Gentleman , next. Publishing is on fire, or it least it seems that way. The USA Today Bestseller List is gone , at least until further notice, but the New York Times list lives on. In other news this week, Book Forum is shutting down , and so is Buzzfeed Books . Oh, and the HarperCollins Union is on strike (we stand with them, and will not be doing deep dives of HarperCollins books until the strike is resolved). So what we want to know is: Who is putting together Block Club Chicago and the Defector …but for books. What’s a sawbones ? Oh, so that’s why Corvin , Raven , and Rookwood are called the Murder . There is a whole lotta Latin in the Two Cathedrals episode of The West Wing . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/12/19/s0514-band-sinister-by-kj-charles If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 13, 2022

It’s the Holiday Season™️ and for some reason 2022 Holiday Season has brought romance a sleigh full of Santa romance, which may or may not be a thing you’re into…but either way, here we are! Santa is doing all sorts of naughty business in these romances, and this one is definitely not for the kids. So headphones in, MFers! While you might not get it in time for the holidays, there’s still time for you to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2022 book collection from Old Town Books in Alexandria Virginia , and get the eight traditionally published books on the list along with a Fated Mates sticker! The holidays are hard, but this box is great. And you deserve it. FYI, you can also throw in other books (or a signed Sarah MacLean book!) if you’d like! Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Twitter when you unbox (#FMBestof22)! Our next read along will be KJ Charles’s Band Sinister . We did not fight over which KJ Charles book to read because Sarah is all that is good and gracious in the world and she let Jen win. It is Scorpio season, after all. Get Band Sinister at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful. Notes According to Snopes, Coca-Cola didn’t invent our modern image of Santa , but they definitely capitalized on it. Book Riot also noticed that santa erotica is on the rise , including a link to last year’s Caressed by Ice episode where we briefly discussed the phenomenon. All about the krampus , Lapland , and why Elf on the Shelf is a cop. Jen can't take credit for calling Romance "the final boss" because it was Mikki Kendall who said it first: "Romancelandia is the final form of the final boss in the game no one can beat." Am I trying to actually write out the tweets now isntead of just linking in case twitter dies and everything gets deleted? yes. Eric wants to remind you about the Fated Xmas playlists on both Spotify and Apple Music . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/12/12/s0513-here-comes-santa-claus If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 7, 2022

TWINS! For two romance readers steeped in 80s romance mythology, it’s hard to believe that it took us five seasons to have an interstitial on twins (a Twinterstitial?)! Jen has a theory about a romance twin continuum and Sarah jumps right back out of a boiling twin pot. It’s an exciting episode full of romance history, with plenty of recent titles to try. Just think: if you had a twin during the holiday season, someone else could deal with all your relatives for you! That’s the real HEA. Buy the Fated Mates Best of Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria Virginia , and get the eight traditionally published books on the list and a Fated Mates sticker! We love the idea of you gifting yourself this box, but maybe you’d like to slide into someone’s text messages with the link as a very excellent gift for you! Or…you can do what Sarah does, and buy the box and spread the love around—sending each of the books to someone on your list. FYI, you can also throw in other books (or a signed Sarah MacLean book!) if you’d like! Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Twitter when you unbox (#FMBestof22)! Show Notes You might not be descended from people on the Mayflower, but according to the BBC, at least 35 million people are. People are getting taller over time , but someone forgot to tell Jen’s DNA about it. Sarah’s new oven has a proving function ( not that kind of proving ) She made chelsea buns not cinnamon rolls . Georgette Heyer's books are racist and antisemetic , so we don’t often discuss her, but False Colors is one of the first twin romances. The 80s were thick with twins: Sweet Valley High , Flowers in the Attic , Twins , Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen from Full House , and The Parent Trap to name just a few. Twins take a lot of energy to film, and here is a really cool video from Movies Insider explaining how filming twin scenes has evolved over 100 years.

Nov 30, 2022

The Best Romance Novels of 2022! It’s the best and worst task of the year for us, because we read so many fabulous books over the course of the year, and choosing ten is hard for us, ok? But here they are — ten gorgeous books that we adored—books that delivered all the things we love in romance: sharp edges, sparkling dialogue, strong heroines and smoking hot chemistry. Buy the Fated Mates Best of Book Pack in one fell swoop from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria Virginia , and get the eight traditionally published books on the list and a Fated Mates sticker! We love the idea of you gifting yourself this box, but maybe you’d like to slide into someone’s text messages with the link as a very excellent gift for you! Or…you can do what Sarah does, and buy the box and spread the love around—sending each of the books to someone on your list. FYI, you can also throw in other books (or a signed Sarah MacLean book!) if you’d like! Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Twitter when you unbox (#FMBestof22)! Our next read along will be KJ Charles’s Band Sinister . We did not fight over which KJ Charles book to read because Sarah is all that is good and gracious in the world and she let Jen win. It is Scorpio season, after all. Get Band Sinister at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie . Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful.

Nov 16, 2022

Two seasons ago we promised an episode where we recommend romance novels for each of the characters in Ted Lasso. Sarah’s brother is holding us to it! This week, we’re filling the TBRs of every single member of the Richmond Team…and Trent Crimm, of the Independent. It is a very chaotic journey…but one we hope you’ll enjoy. F*ck Cancer. Next week, we’re taking a break while Sarah makes Thanksgiving dinner and Jen waits for hers to warm in the oven (definitely the smarter of the two choices). We’ll be back on November 30th with our Best of the Year episode — Happy long weekend of sloth and excess to all those who celebrate! Our next read along will be KJ Charles’s Band Sinister . We did not fight over which KJ Charles book to read because Sarah is all that is good and gracious in the world and she let Jen win. It is Scorpio season, after all. Get Band Sinister at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or from your local indie .

Nov 9, 2022

We’ve talked about this week’s read along so much it’s kind of impossible to imagine that we haven’t read it with y’all, yet! But here we are, finally cracking open Claire Kent’s brilliant novella, Hold . Set on a prison planet, this one dials forced proximity up to 11, and does the excellent job of answering just how horrifying a world can you write a romance in? The answer is very. Very horrifying. We talk about sex and consent and strength and humanity and how love blooms in even the darkest of places. Is it possible we needed this book this week? It sure is. Content warnings for the book and headphones in for the episode, magnificent firebirds! Get Hold at Amazon, free in Kindle Unlimited . Thanks to the Meet Cute Bookshop in San Diego, CA and Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies , for sponsoring the episode. Visit the Meet Cute website to browse their Space Romance list , and use the code FATEDMATES for 30% your order at Microdose.com Show Notes If you like astrology, check out the CoStar app. Claire Kent also writes as Noelle Adams . Hold was released in 2015 and is the first book in a series, the next books in the series are Release, Fall, and Rise. It doesn’t take much digging to find out about the inhumanity and injustice of the American Justice System . It is absolutely unjust and racist to the core . Alcatraz and Ellis Island are tourist destinations worth seeing, but also… who the fuck invented Alcatraz . Emma on TikTok and abolitionism and romance . Also here . Just follow her! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/11/8/s0509-hold-by-claire-kent If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 2, 2022

Our Trailblazer episodes continue this week with Iris Johansen, who began writing category romance in the heyday of the format at Loveswept. During her varied career, she’s written categories, historicals and now writes thrillers and crime novels. In this episode, we talk about the founding of Loveswept, about how she learned to write, and about the power of storytelling. We also talk about the way her career has grown and evolved—about transitioning to thrillers, about writing the Eve Duncan series for 28 books, and about keeping it in the family and writing with her son. We had a wonderful time hearing these stories. Thank you to Iris Johansen for making the time for us. Thanks to Callie Chase, author of Dishonor Among Thieves and Sara Wetmore, author of The Christmas Script , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Claire Kent’s HOLD. It’s a prison planet romance, so…you know…enter at your own risk. Get it at Amazon or in Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes People Iris Mentioned: Loveswept editor Carolyn Nichols, Agent Andrea Cirillo, Sandra Brown, Kay Hooper, Fayrene Preston, Roy Johansen, Catherine Coulter, Linda Howard, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Johanna Lindsey, Jayne Ann Krentz, Ann Maxwell. The story of Roy Johansen's visit to the submarine at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

Oct 26, 2022

It’s spooky season and that means we’re reading spooky stuff! We recommend some of our favorite recent witches and demons and incubii and ghosts and vampires and others…and then we try to get to the bottom of why paranormal romance and monster romance doesn’t feel like halloween romance to but these books do? This episode has it all: celebrity witch talk, a welshman named Rhys who isn’t the one you’re thinking of, a peek into Sarah’s past that reveals a painting that just might have installed one of her buttons…she had a beer before we recorded, so stuff happens! This one’s all treat, no trick…but headphones in, y’all. This one isn’t for the kids. Thanks to Terri Green, author of The Swordmaster’s Daughter and Alyxandra Harvey, author of How to Marry a Viscount , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Claire Kent’s HOLD. It’s a prison planet romance, so…you know…enter at your own risk. Get it at Amazon or in Kindle Unlimited . Show Notes Spooky Shit Nitro Stout isn’t a brand, it’s a process . Although we’ve never done a Halloween episode before, we did have a monster romance interstitial in season 4 with guest Jenny Nordbak . Also, all of season 1, basically. We came up with a new rule for what makes something a paranormal, which is it’s about whether or not the main characters are immortals or humans. Or, you know, the patriarchy . And now time for a celebrity gossip interlude: Are Gisele Bündchen & Olivia Wilde witches? It's possible. It has something to do with altars & healing stones , [the Don’t Worry Darling controversy] , Jason Sudeikis under a car , and Nora Ephron’s salad dressing. We have two more Fated States phonebanks! Register here for Oct 29 at 3 eastern to Kentucky for Charles Booker, and Nov 5 at 3 eastern to Pennsylvania for John Fetterman. Did someone mention a Welshman named Rhys? Gather round and look at the painting The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli . Here’s a cool explainer about the significance of the painting. As of Oct 25, 2022, the United States has 1,090, 632 dead from Covid. Worldwide, at least 7.5M people have died. Get boosted. Wear a mask. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/10/24/s0507-halloween-and-other-spooky-romances-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 19, 2022

In the very best version of “third time’s the charm,” we are finally welcoming Christopher Rice to Fated Mates! A man of many talents, he writes fabulous contemporary romances as C. Travis Rice, and suspense, crime and supernatural thrillers as Christopher Rice. Today we’re talking Redemption Romance in honor of his most recent romance release, Sapphire Spring . In this episode, we talk about how redemption romances and bully romances work, how tricky they are to write, and why so many of us are so drawn to redemption arcs — particularly when they involve sticking it to our childhood enemies. We had the best time with Christopher, who filled our TBRs…so get ready, because he’s definitely going to fill yours, too. Thanks to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies , for sponsoring the episode. Use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off and free shipping. Thanks, also, to emjoy for sponsoring the episode. Visit letsemjoy.com/mates for a 14-day free trial. Show Notes This week's guest is Christopher Rice , who also publishes under the name C. Travis Rice. He and his best friend Eric Shaw Quinn host a podcast called The Dinner Party Show . The inspiration for the Sapphire Cove series came from Nora Roberts's Dream Trilogy. The first one is Daring to Dream. Jean Valjean is the main character in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. A Molly House was a British term for a place where gay men could meet up. Like Victorian Grindr .

Oct 14, 2022

In 2022, book bans in United States schools and libraries are at their highest since the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom started collecting data. Bans are happening around the country, in every state, and disproportionately affecting books by and about LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people. What’s more, challenges are likely underreported, because librarians who are resisting them are facing unprecedented workplace retribution and in some cases physical danger. Book Bans are on the ballot on November 8th, in every state and local election, up and down the ticket. State legislatures, local town councils, county leadership and school boards are being overrun with candidates supported by conservative activists looking to limit access to books and ideas that offer identity, empathy, awareness, and power to young people around the country. We’re concerned, so today, we’re releasing a special episode of Fated Mates focused on book bans across the country. We interview three experts on what’s happening, who is most impacted, and how we can all help. Show notes are extensive, and we hope you’ll take a look at them. Thank you to librarians, teachers, and kids and families who are standing up and speaking out. We are proud to stand with you. Guests Jarett Dapier , librarian, activist and author of Mr. Watson’s Chickens Lily Freeman, activist and student in Central Bucks County, PA. Read Lily’s op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer and follow her instagram at ProjectUncensored . Melissa Walker , political activist at The States Project , journalist, and Middle Grade and YA author of Violet on the Runway , Let’s Pretend We Never Met , Small Town Sinners and more. Resources The Youth Censorship Database at the National Coalition Against Censorship Book Riot’s censorship coverage is excellent and updated almost daily. They have an excellent explainer for how to find and develop a local anti-censorship group Intellectual Round Table Freedom Blog : an exhaustive list of links related to news about challenges, censorship, and banning incidents, developing issues, and controversies that is updated weekly PEN America’s data on School Book Bans and Index of Educational Gag Orders American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom , full of resources and toolkits on challenges and how to combat them What’s happening in Central Bucks County, PA is happening all over the country. Kids, families and educators are protesting loudly Advocates for Inclusive Education , for more information on what’s happening on the ground in Bucks County, PA A map from ALA Banned Books week at the University of Illinois Library , and another from Red Wine & Blue . Teens around the country can get library cards from the Brooklyn Public Library . To apply for the card, teens can send a note to BooksUnbanned@bklynlibrary.org , or via the Library’s s teen-run Instagram account, @bklynfuture . The $50 fee normally associated with out-of-state cards will be waived Learn more about the Book Ban Busters at Red Wine & Blue . Ballotpedia is a resource for your local ballot and your local election maps Vote.org , to check your voter registration, locate your voting place and more How to Help Educate yourself about the book challenge process in your school district: How it works, who sits on the book challenge committee, how those committee members are appointed. If there are book bans and protests in your school district , attend local school board meetings and support students, teachers & librarians who are speaking up. Tell your local public and school librarians they have your support. Write letters. Visit the library. Thank them for standing for intellectual freedom. Research school board candidates in your district . Vote accordingly. Consider running for something! Your school board and your state legislature need you! Consider this us telling you seven times! (We’ll phonebank for you!) Vote to flip your state legislature blue. Rally your friends to join you in a Giving Circle at the States Project . Donate to organizations (listed below) that support intellectual freedom and combat book bans. Organizations to Support (and Volunteer with) You can join PenAmerica , and your membership helps defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Donate to the Freedom To Read Foundation and become a member. The Freedom To Read Foundation effectively conducts important first amendment legal work regarding book bans and censorship. GLSEN , Creating a Better World for LGBTQ Students Intellectual Freedom Endowment Fund at the American Library Association The National Coalition Against Censorship , providing direct intervention for people and groups facing censorship The States Project , helping to flip (or keep) state legislatures blue The Trevor Project , supporting LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round We Believe in Education , a movement of parents and families fighting for students’ freedom to learn The Most Banned Books of 2021 Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content. Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit. Find more info and more books from this episode at fatedmates.net .

Oct 12, 2022

It’s our 200th Episode and we’re finally doing the thing we’ve been talking about doing for 200 episodes! A full deep dive into one of our favorite — or possibly our favorite! — romcoms…Moonstruck! Moonstruck was released December 18th, 1987, one day after Sarah turned nine…auspicious Sagittarius energy! It’s set in Brooklyn, is a perfect romance novel on film, and features more than one wolf, bewitched by the full moon. It is everything. Go watch it (you won’t be sorry), then come back here and listen to us wax poetic about it. Thank you for being with us for 200 episodes…you’re the moonlight in our martini. Notes Moonstruck was released on Dec 18, 1987. It was nominated for several oscars. Cher won for best actress, Olympia Dukakis for best supporting actress, and Best Original Screenplay for John Patrick Shanley. Everyone loves Moonstruck and there are lots of fun listicles and essays about the movie. Here’s a great thread from Vulture where a movie critic named Rachel Handler live-tweeted a rewatch. Most of the film’s exteriors were filmed in Brooklyn , but many interiors were shot in Toronto. Sarah mentioned an essay by Emily VanDerWerff, Moonstruck: Life in the In-Between , about the beauty shop scene and how it can be analyzed as showing the power of the female gaze in Moonstruck. The last scene at the breakfast table is a good example of farce . An article about the making of Moonstruck and the ending scene played in the style of a farce , with lots of cool info on Loretta's grandfather, played by Feodor Chaliapin Jr. Jen liked all that moon stuff . When Cher won the Oscar, she was wearing a very memorable dress . May we all vow to live our 40s with her as our guide. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/10/11/s0505-were-moonstruck-on-our-200th-episode If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 5, 2022

Today we start one of our new features for Season Five: If You Liked…Read This ! We begin with Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis , a book that took romance and BookTok by storm last year when it burst onto the NYT best seller list and hung out there for nearly a year, bringing so many new readers (and Reylos!) to romance. This one is full of tropes romance loves, and we take them topic by topic, recommending read alikes for everything from grumpy/sunshine, to academic romance, to STEM heroines, to that spicy sex scene that was a delightfully unexpected surprise! That, and we’ve got a bunch of Reylo fic recommended from Ali herself (check the end of show notes)! Show Notes Tattoos are expensive ! ReyLo is the ship name for Kylo Ren and Rey from the Star Wars movies. And the actor who plays Kylo Ren is Adam Driver . All about Pansexuality . Censorship on TikTok is so widespread is has its own wikipedia page, which makes it rife for misinformation about sex and sex education. Small point of order, Jen was at the LPI (Lunar and Planetary Institute) , which is close to the Johnson NASA Space Center in Houston. Obviously, she wasn’t at the JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) , because that’s in California. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/10/4/what-to-read-if-you-liked-the-love-hypothesis If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 28, 2022

It’s official! Sarah has broken the glass and taken Marrying Winterborne out of the vault and she has exactly as much to say about it as you expect! We’re talking perfect heroes, heroines who deserve to be revered, brilliant writers and plots that require the kind of skill you only get with Lisa Kleypas. Rhys Winterborne is nearly crushed by a building and still shows up at traditional calling hours (with 30 minutes to spare) to propose. An absolute king. Thanks to Lucy Leroux, author of Making Her His , and Emjoy for sponsoring the episode. Visit letsemjoy.com/mates to access your 14-day free trial. Show Notes Maybe you’d like a very fast-talking man to describe the organization and countries of the United Kingdom to you, so watch this video Jen shows her students. Rhys Winterborne isn’t the only one who thinks Wales is better than England. Along with being a guy you definitely wouldn’t want to be your dad, the word Albion means England. They say Helen of Troy started a whole war, but probably a bunch of dudes were just looking for something to fight about. The state of Sex Education in America is bad and getting worse . The oathing stone in weddings, and Rhys’s description of the word hiraeth , along with the TikTok Sarah mentioned. We partnered with The Bawdy Bookworms, and selected A Caribbean Heiress in Paris as the book! Check it out! Join us this weekend and every Saturday between now and the midterms as we phonebank for Democratic candidates. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/9/24/s0503-marrying-winterborne-by-lisa-kleypas If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 21, 2022

Not that kind of bang! We’re talking about beginnings today, on the first interstitial of Season 5! This one edges into a bit more writing shop talk than usual, but we’re still name checking lots of favorite books, many of which we’ve done deep dives on already! So consider this your nudge to go back and read some great books we’ve talked about! Also, Sarah has Covid, Jen’s on the mend, Fated States is back, and next week, we’re reading Marrying Winterborne . Thanks to Lucy Leroux, Eva Moore and Torie Jean for sponsoring the episode. Read Making Her His , Caught a Vibe and Finding Gene Kelly now. Next week, our first read along of the season is Lisa Kleypas’s Marrying Winterborne. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or at your local indie . Show Notes Get boosted! When a book starts in the middle of the action, it’s called in medias res If you’re in MA, check out the Rom-Con , a full day celebration of “rom”ance at the “Con”cord free public library this Satruday, Sept 24, from 10-3. Tickets are free! Fated States has returned, and it looks like we’ll be phonebanking every Saturday starting Oct 1 through the election.

Sep 14, 2022

Season Five starts today, you Magnificent Firebirds! Season One gave us a full lAD deep dive (if you’ve never read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, general existential malaise is a really good reason to start), and Season Two gave us The Books That Blooded Us -- the books that made us the romance readers we are. Season Three was during a pandemic, so just let us live (but also, there was a Roy Kent episode). Season Four introduced the Trailblazer episodes, where we featured interviews with the people who have built the romance house over the last fifty years. Season Five will build on all this — Deep diving on books that are new and fabulous, old and transformative, and generally reveal how vast and magnificent the romance pool can get. We’ve got great interstitials planned, trailblazer episodes already recorded and waiting for you, and a few new episodes that will focus on the books that are putting romance on the map these days…and where readers should go from there. We’re excited! Aren’t you? Head over to your favorite podcasting app and subscribe so you don’t miss a moment of it! In the meantime, today’s episode covers some of the romance new that happened while we were away the publishing DOJ trial, the absolute explosion of great books on August 23rd, and what on earth is happening with TikTok? There's a new theme song! And Jen broke her arm! Next week is an interstitial, and our first read along of the season is Lisa Kleypas’s Marrying Winterborne. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or at your local indie . Show Notes If you’re in MA, check out the Rom-Con , a full day celebration of “rom”ance at the “Con”cord free public library on Sept 24. That skeleton in your high school might have been real bones . All about the radius and the ulna . Gross Anatomy was a 1989 movie starring Matthew Modine. The blood hand job from A Heart of Blood and Ashes continues to amaze new readers, and we are here for it. Parking at Chicago’s hospitals is so prohibitively expensive that a grieving family created The Jackson Chance Foundation to honor the memory of their beloved son who spent all but 48 hours of his life in the NICU. The Jackson Chance Foundation provides parking assistance and transportation at three downtown hospitals where parking can often run almost $100 per day. A few useful explainers we found about the PRH vs DOJ trial , a breakdown of why the statistics about books sales are so confusing , and why Stephen King was the government’s star witness. That NPR article about TikTok, Gen Z, and romance.

Sep 5, 2022

We’re still on our break (back next week!) but this week we have two episodes coming to your earholes! Today, we’re releasing our crossover episode with the brilliant Melody and Erin of the Heaving Bosoms podcast to talk Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews! Burn For Me is a longtime favorite of Jen’s and the first book in the Hidden Legacy series and Sarah deeply regrets taking so long to read it because WOW IT IS GREAT. Here is one for the slow burn lovers in the group! We get to the bottom of sexy times at the mall, whether or not slow burns and lawn mowing go together, and we talk a lot about waterbeds. You’re going to love it. Head over and subscribe to Heaving Bosoms ! Season 5 starts next week! Our first read along of the season is Lisa Kleypas’s Marrying Winterborne. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or at your local indie .

Aug 31, 2022

We're on hiatus until September 14, when we'll start Season 5, but you won’t miss us, because this week, we have the recording of Fated Mates Live, our first-ever in-person live! Headphones in for this one, y’all. We were joined in Alexandria, VA by Kate Clayborn, Adriana Herrera, Tracey Livesay, Naima Simone, Ali Hazelwood, Diana Quincy, Andie J. Christopher, and Sophie Jordan, and we had the best time! This audio is imperfect, but there’s so much laughter here — we hope you’ll join us for the next one (which will hopefully be in the spring)…stay tuned on that front! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting app so you know the moment we return. Thanks to Fox & Wit, creators of the Foxglove Special Edition Book Box of Kennedy Ryan's Before I Let Go , available for preorder now. The box comes with a special edition cover of Before I Let Go , a signed book plate, and a letter from Kennedy herself. Season 5 starts in two weeks! Our first read along of the season is Lisa Kleypas’s Marrying Winterborne. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or at your local indie . Show Notes Our first in-person Live event was a smashing success! We welcomed Kate Clayborn, Adriana Herrera, Tracey Livesay, Naima Simone, Ali Hazelwood, Diana Quincy, Andie J. Christopher, and Sophie Jordan. Thank you to Old Town Books for partnering with us on this event. Thank you to the audience for their participation! We used a platform called Menti, which turned the screen behind us into an interactive platform (like an Instagram Live) where our audience could respond and comment. If we all have a reaction to something you can't hear....it's because someone in the audience said something brilliantly funny using Menti. The book Sarah accidentally interstitialed during the recording is C.M. Nascosta's Sweet Berries .

Aug 24, 2022

Sarah has a new book out, so as is tradition for our last episode of the season, Jen is playing host, and Sarah is playing guest, and we’re talking about journeys vs. quests, how being a romance heroine is political, and why Heartbreaker just might be Sarah’s most romantic book. It’s mostly a spoiler free episode, but you might prefer to finish your read before listening. Enjoy! And don’t miss the first two chapters of the magnificent Heartbreaker audiobook, narrated by the incomparable Mary Jane Wells, at the end of the episode! If you haven’t purchased Heartbreaker yet, you can get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , at your local indie , or signed and with special swag (and a Fated Mates sticker!) from Sarah’s local indie, WORD in Brooklyn ! Thanks to Alyxandra Harvey, author of How to Marry a Duke ; to Amazon’s Kindle Vella, publishers of Rebecca Zanetti’s Knife’s Edge, Alaska series; and to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies, for sponsoring the episode. Use the code FATEDMATES for free shipping and 30% off your first order at microdose.com . This episode wraps up Season 4 of Fated Mates! Jen’s returning Lil’Romance to college, Sarah’s taking a break from social media, and we’ll be back in September with Season 5, which will look similar to Season 4, with read alongs, interstitials, trailblazer episodes and some other fun things we’ve got cooking. Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Next time you’re in Brooklyn, check out The Center for Fiction . You can register (it’s free!) to see Sarah and Adriana Herrera in conversation with Greta Johnson from the Nerdette Podcast at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest in Chicago . The panel is at 11:30am on Saturday, Sept 10, 2022. If you’re in MA, check out the Rom-Con , a full day celebration of “rom”ance at the “Con”cord free public library on Sept 24. Jen’s planning a pilgrimage to The Book Barn in Niantic CT on Labor Day Weekend. Pick your local gathering spot: The Peach Pit , Central Perk , Luke’s Diner , or in the MacLeaniverse, The Place. Every book in the Hell’s Belles series has a cold open. Adelaide stole the tesseract ! On TikTok, check out this amazing video by emmkick that compares MacLean to Kleypas , and friend of the pod Brittney has an entire TikTok series about the MacLeaniverse. Start with the first one here. What’s a Himbo ? I bet you’re glad you asked. Speaking of Kleypas, our first read along for Season Five (what!) will be Marrying Winterborne , but we recommend that you read Cold-Hearted Rake first to get “the full Winterborne.”

Aug 17, 2022

The final Trailblazer of Season 4 is a very excellent one—we’re welcoming JR Ward to Fated Mates! Best known as the author of The Black Dagger Brotherhood (a series that blooded Jen), JR began her career writing contemporary romances under the name Jessica Bird before turning to the vampires the romance world adores. In this episode, we talk about the twists and turns of her early career, about the influence of her mother and other powerful women in her life, about the business of being JR Ward, about her process of writing the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and about her relationship to her characters. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, and we are so grateful to JR Ward for spending some time with us. Thanks to Avon Books, publishers of Beverly Jenkins’s To Catch a Raven , Blackstone Publishing, publishers of Nora Zelevansky’s Competitive Grieving , and Alyxandra Harvey, author of How to Marry a Duke , for sponsoring the episode. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for an audio excerpt of Competitive Grieving . Next week, we finish out Season 4 as is traditional — with a deep dive episode on Sarah’s summer release, Heartbreaker ! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , at your local indie , or signed and with special swag (and a Fated Mates sticker!) from her local indie, WORD in Brooklyn ! Show Notes Welcome J.R. Ward , author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a series of paranormal romances. She also wrote category romance under the name Jessica Bird. We did a deep dive of JR Ward's Dark Lover in Season Two. Listen here . People Mentioned: editor Hannah Braaten , publisher Jennifer Bergstrom , publicist Andrew Nguyen , editor and publisher Kara Cesare . Authors Mentioned: Sherilyn Kenyon, Laurel K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan, Kresley Cole, Nora Roberts, Kristen Ashley, Christopher Rice, and Gena Showalter.

Aug 10, 2022

Our final interstitial of Season 4 and we’re talking Antiheroines! If she’s a criminal, a grifter, a villain or a generally bad dude, we’re here for her, we support her, and we’re rooting for her to fall in love! Today we’re talking about the way antiheroines play in romance, about how we hold them to different standards than antiheroes (it’s the patriarchy, that’s why!), and about why they seem to be more prevalent in historicals and paranormals than they are in contemporaries. Please tell us about all the bad b*tches in books you love so we can love them, too! Thanks to Alyxandra Harvey, author of How to Marry a Duke , and Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies, for sponsoring the episode. Use the code FATEDMATES for free shipping and 30% off your first order at microdose.com . Next week, we have a trailblazer (so exciting!), and then we will finish out Season 4 as is traditional — with a deep dive episode on Sarah’s summer release, Heartbreaker ! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , at your local indie , or signed and with special swag (and a Fated Mates sticker!) from her local indie, WORD in Brooklyn ! Show Notes Lots of housekeeping this week: Bookstore Romance Day is coming! We will be hosting a kickoff event online with Christina Lauren and C. Travis Rice. Check out the official Bookstore Romance Day site to sign up for any of the virtual panels . If you’re in NY metro area, you can see Sarah live in conversation with Tessa Bailey at RJ Julia on Saturday, Aug 20, 2022 at 4pm. Sarah will be on a panel with Adriana Herrera and other authors for the Printer’s Row Lit Fest in Chicago the weekend of Sept 10-11, 2022 . Check the site, which should have a schedule of events coming soon. Jen will be in the audience! You can preorder signed copies of Heartbreaker from Word in Brooklyn , and you can order signed copies from the authors at Fated Mates Live from Old Town Books in Alexandria. You don’t have the library extension on chrome yet? You should! Here’s an interesting article that tries to define the antiheroine archetype . Check out Harley Quinn from movies, and Alice from the show Luther as examples. That article in the Atlantic was called The Subversive Power of Romance Novels. The book Sarah talked about is Inventing the It Girl: How Elinor Glyn Created the Modern Romance and Conquered Early Hollywood . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/8/8/s0447-antiheroines-in-romance If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 3, 2022

You’re getting the full banana this week, y’all, because we were together ! Like, actually face to face, across a table in a hotel room! We’re talking Apollycon and Fated Mates Live, answering your questions, recommending fun books, and generally being delightful in your earholes (listen, if we’re not delightful, don’t tell us, we had a great time)! Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, publishers of Farrah Rochon’s The Hookup Plan , Blair Babylon, author of Rogue , and Amazon’s Kindle Vella, publisher of Audrey Carlan’s The Marriage Auction series, for sponsoring the episode. We’ve got interstitials and trailblazers coming your way this month, and we will finish out Season 4 as is traditional — with a deep dive episode on Sarah’s summer release, Heartbreaker ! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , at your local indie , or signed and with special swag (and a Fated Mates sticker!) from her local indie, WORD in Brooklyn ! Show Notes You can check out The Steam Box , which is a great romance + toy subscription box. A very funny twitter thread about what Mary Shelley might have to say to Joyce Carol Oates. Speaking of Joe Manganiello , he was in the news this week after finding out about his racial ancestry on the TV show Finding Your Roots. Sarah says the best feminist double feature is Magic Mike XXL and Mad Max Fury Road and you should try it and report back. You can not only watch Mad Max Fury Road, you can read about it , too. Don’t forget to order signed copies of Heartbreaker from Word in Brooklyn.

Jul 27, 2022

This week, we’re talking about one of our (and many of your!) favorite recent contemporary romances, Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown . We’ve talked about Talia on a number of episodes before, and we’re so happy that our final read-along for Season 4 is this one — which is a straight shot of sexy joy directly into readers’ hearts. Also…these two are so thirsty for each other and it’s great. We talk about artists and handymen and cats in trees and heroines with bucket lists who are just a delight. Sarah goes on a Seth MacFarlane tangent, and yes, we’re still cataloguing the greatest romance grandmas around. Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn’t get a ticket, but want to order signed books from participating authors, you can do that at Old Town Books in advance of the event! Thanks to Alyxandra Harvey, author of, How to Marry a Duke , Kate McBrien, author of One Night Together , and Amazon’s Kindle Vella, publisher of Nikki St. Crowe’s Hot Vampire Next Door series, for sponsoring the episode. We’ve got interstitials and trailblazers coming your way in August, and we will finish out Season 4 as is traditional — with a deep dive episode on Sarah’s summer release, Heartbreaker! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , at your local indie , or signed and with special swag (and a Fated Mates sticker!) from her local indie, WORD in Brooklyn ! Show Notes Get a Life, Chloe Brown is the first book in the Brown Sisters Trilogy by Talia Hibbert. Here’s a great interview with Talia Hibbert in Kirkus, written by Jen's editor Laurie Muchnik . Jen reviewed some of Talia’s books for The Book Queen back in 2017. If you would like to help out with Kansas’s constitutional amendment vote, you can phone bank on your own with the ACLU . Fated States will return in late August or Early September. You can still sign up for Sarah’s “Mastering the Art of Great Conflict” class! Check out all these starred reviews of Heartbreaker from Kirkus and Library Journal . You can order signed copies from Word in Brooklyn . Um, there are a lot of songs with lyrics about heartbreaker, soulshakers, and lovemakers, but the one Jen was mangling was Don’t Let Go by En Vogue . Here’s the story about Seth MacFarlane oversleeping on 9/11 . Here’s a great twitter thread about ableism in fictional characters. Some great romance grandmas: Gigi in Chloe Brown, Grandma Frida in the Hidden Legacy Series, Genevieve in Lord of Scoundrels, and Grandma Carol from Every Road to You by Phyllis Bourne. Here’s a quick primer on potential vs kinetic energy in case Jen’s deranged cat explanation didn’t make sense. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/7/26/s0445-get-a-life-chloe-brown-by-talia-hibbert If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 20, 2022

Four seasons in, we’re just throwing caution to the wind now. It’s Daddy week! Yes, that kind of daddy. No, it’s not for everyone, but it is for us and we’re talking about the whys and hows and wtfs herein. Headphones in, obviously . Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn’t get a ticket, but want to order signed books from participating authors, you can do that at Old Town Books in advance of the event! Thanks to Avon Books, publishers of Charis Michaels’s A Duchess by Midnight , and to Juniper Butterworth, author of Priest Queen (Goblins & Cheese, Book 2), for sponsoring the episode. Next week, we’ve got another interstitial coming your way, but the final read along of season four, in two weeks, is Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes It’s Daddy week on Fated Mates. Here’s a few classic articles and explainers that might help you understand the phenomenon: a Daddy explainer from Esquire , an advice columnist from The Cut helps you get over your feelings about Daddy Kink , a woman in a relationship with a Daddy helps you understand the appeal, and why it’s totally find to think Oscar Isaac is the best (stern brunch) Daddy , even if he is having some sort of Daddy-off with Pedro Pascal. Sarah’s newest release is Heartbreaker, and it comes out Aug 23, 2022. You can preorder signed copies from Word in Brooklyn. A local Chicago indie, [Women and Children First], 7 sponsored a panel on historical romance. You can watch the recording of Adriana Herrera, Harper St. George, and Joanna Shupe in conversation with Jen. Tickets for both Apollycon and Fated Mates Live are sold out, but you can still get books signed and shipped from: Andie J Christopher, Kate Clayborn, Ali Hazelwood, Adriana Herrera, Tracey Livesay, Sophie Jordan, Diana Quincy, Naima Simone or Sarah by ordering from Old Town Books! If you are coming, we hope you’ll say hi! You might also want to order an avatar button from the Romancelandia Shop . The TikTok where a woman calls her husband Daddy and he’s surprised at how much he likes it . Here’s Bill Pullman’s speech from Independence Day , which is so weirdly hopeful I don’t even know what to say about it. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/7/13/s0444-daddy-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 12, 2022

It’s July, which means it is officially summer reading time in the northern hemisphere! We’re so excited to share this week’s episode, in which we talk about Beach Reads that aren’t just beach reads but are actually beach reads, by which we mean, romances in which the characters — *ahem* — on the beach. It’s all part of the service we provide here at Fated Mates. We’re taking little trips to Spindle Cove and Lucky Harbor before we take a tour of some very naughty beaches indeed. We hope you’ve got 🔥🔥 beach plans this summer! Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn’t get a ticket, but want to order signed books from participating authors, you can do that at Old Town Books in advance of the event! Thanks to Avon Books, publishers of Tracey Livesay’s American Royalty , and to Julie Puckrin, creator of SkyMed for CBS Studios and Paramount+. Next week, we’ve got another interstitial coming your way, but the final read along of season four, in two weeks, is Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Humidity is terrible! And it really does make it difficult to line dry clothes if you're into that sort of thing. You can see Sarah at Apollycon (Jen will be there, but at the bar); Fated Mates Live in Alexandria is sold out; and preorder signed copies of Heartbreaker from Word in Brooklyn . You can also sign up for Sarah's conflict in romance class , which will be happening virtually the first week of August. Jen is looking to do a book event at RJ Julia in Middletown CT , or anywhere in CT. Even better if it’s Labor Day weekend. For reasons. The pineapple thing and the Adirondack chairs thing. Seal training is called BUD/S . Sure. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/7/12/s0443-sex-on-the-beach-reads If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 6, 2022

Our Trailblazer episodes continue this week with Brenda Jackson, contemporary romance juggernaut, the first African American romance novelist to hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists, and the author of more than 140 romance novels. In this episode, we talk about her journey to romance writing — from writing in high school for her friends, while parenting, while thriving in a completely different career. We also discuss her career at multiple publishing houses including BET Arabesque, Silhouette Desire, Kimani, Mira, HQN, and now, with her own publishing company. We also talk about Brenda Jackson’s legendary families — the Westmorelands, the Steeles, the Madarises and the Grangers — about her relationship to readers, about her writing, about covers, about why 36 is a magic age in romance, and about keeping romance alive beyond the pages. We are thrilled to share this incredible conversation with all of you, and we are so grateful to Brenda Jackson for taking time to talk with us. Thanks to Blair Babylon, author of Blair Babylon, author of Once Upon a Time , and Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies, for sponsoring the episode. Visit microdose.com and use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off and free shipping on your order. Interstitial next week, but our next read along is Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Welcome Brenda Jackson, author of over 140 romance novels, with more than 15 million copies of her books in print. Her first romance, Tonight and Forever , was published in August of 1995 and there was a short bio of both Brenda and author Angela Benson in that month's Romantic Times , and her 2001 novel A Family Renuion was the cover story . RT also covered the launch of the Kensington Arabesque line in 1994 . Several authors mentioned in today's episode were also guests on the Black Romance Podcast: Brenda Jackson , Gwyneth Bolton , Rochelle Alers , In November of 2021, Brenda Jackson signed a deal with The Cartel to bring 25 of her books to the screen. You can learn more about Truly Everlasting , the film Jackson financed, here . People Mentioned: Romantic Times publisher Kathryn Falk , editor Monica Harris , publisher Walter Zacharius , General William Westmoreland , author Gwynne Forster , author Marcia King-Gamble , author Gwyneth Bolton , author Rochelle Alers , publisher and editor Linda Gill , editor Glenda Howard , and editor Mavis Allen.

Jun 29, 2022

We don’t even know, y’all, so this week, we’re doing a little bit of flailing and a lot of talking about books we found unputdownable when we read them the first time. We did our very best to avoid repeats — which is difficult this many episodes in! We talk about what makes a book unputdownable (we’ve got buckets!) and about other things too…like our annual reader survey and how skilled a musician Sarah is. Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn’t get a ticket, but want to join the wait list, you can do that at Old Town Books ! The event is mask required , so plan accordingly! Thanks to Avon Books, publishers of Julie Anne Long’s You Were Made to Be Mine , and to Leighann Hart, author of Darling Descent , for sponsoring the episode. Next week, we’ve got a Trailblazer coming your way, but our next read along is Talia Hibbert’s Get a Life, Chloe Brown . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Abortion is lifesaving healthcare. We are devastated and urge you to support the National Network of Abortion Funds , which removes financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice. They partner with organizations already in place on the ground in places where abortions are banned to do the work of helping people who need abortions. We’ve talked about bodily autonomy in romance novels before, and in our trailblazer conversation with Elda Minger , she spoke extensively about what birth control and abortion were like for people back in the 70s. We remain Big Mad. Also, we are here for you, always. Find Jen (mostly) at Twitter and Sarah (mostly) on Instagram . Sarah broke her ukulele, which is a pretty cool instrument . It's Lizzo leading the charge to donate proceeds from her tour to Planned Parenthood , joined by (of course) Rage Against the Machine. Although Harry Styles did make a statement about the Dobbs decision. Don’t forget to take our Season 4 listener survey! London Has Fallen is a deeply silly and very entertaining movie that absolutely does not even try to pass The Bechdel Test . Back when Jen read the first Scorpius Syndrome book, she did notice a funny thing about the main character’s sense of smell . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/6/28/s0441-unputdownable-romance-novels If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 22, 2022

We were going to do a deep dive this week, but then we read the book and decided that was a hard pass! So, we do a very shallow dive and then get to the good stuff this week…talking about Royal romances! We talk about the strange fascination the world has with royalty, about the way fake countries hit the spot, and about why it’s so rare to see a gender-swapped Cinderella story. Sarah also offers a peek at her newest research project, preliminarily titled— Alexbastian: Is Name, In Fact Destiny? It’s better than a deep dive, we promise. Fated Mates Live, in person is happening — if you have tickets to the live show in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — let us know on our Twitter thread (and find friends!). If you didn’t get a ticket, but want to join the wait list, you can do that at Old Town Books ! Thanks to Adriana Herrera, author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris , for sponsoring the episode. Thanks, also, to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies. Visit microdose.com and use code FATEDMATES to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Show Notes Turns out we are not reading The Dragon and the Jewel…because yikes. Eleanor Plantangenet and Simon de Montfort were real people, but this 1991 romance is too problematic for a full discussion. Yes, we talked about royalty in romance with Nana Malone back in season 1 , but there’s always fresh content! The Oprah interview with Prince Harry & Meghan Markle is worth a watch, if you can stand all the commercials. The launch event for American Royalty will be in Richmond on June 28, 2022. Go check it out— Tracey will be joined by Kate Clayborn. There is a real His Royal Highness Prince Sebastian in Luxembourg , if you’re into that kind of thing. Order an avatar button from The Romancelandia Shop ! This is a great way to announce your presence at in-person events and help people find you. It really works!

Jun 15, 2022

This week, we’re talking Superheroes! Why is it so rare to see a great romance in a superhero story? Is there really no room for love and capes? Do heroes eat? (spoiler: obviously) — We’re joined by author Barry Lyga, a comics and superhero expert, to discuss all this and more…and to chat about the new YA Superhero anthology, Generation Wonder, in which Sarah has a short story (it’s a romance). We also recommend some great superhero romances and comics, because of course we do. Do yourself a favor — be sure to check out show notes this week. The visuals are a delight. Fated Mates Live, in person, is happening!!! We’ll be in Alexandria, VA on July 30th — join us there! We’ll be joined by a ton of our favorites…find more information about the event and get tickets through Old Town Books ! Thanks to Penguin Random House, publisher of Andie J. Christopher’s Thank You, Next , for sponsoring the episode. Thanks, also, to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies. Visit microdose.com and use code FATEDMATES to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Our next read along is Virginia Henley’s The Dragon and the Jewel , a deep cut from Sarah’s childhood. Check your content warnings and remember this one is from 1991, so we don’t even know, honestly. We’re flying without a net here. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Thanks to Old Town Books , we are going to have a real Fated Mates Live event at Apollycon at the end of July. It will be Saturday evening July 30th in Alexandria. Stay tuned for details. Welcome Barry Lyga , comics author and editor of the YA superhero anthology Generation Wonder . Sarah has a story in the anthology, and we’ll hope you’ll buy one for the young reader in your life. There was no kissing in Doctor Strange , but we’ve been promised there will be in Thor: Love and Thunder . In fact, Taika Waititi said Mills & Boon , so...that's official. Back in the day, romance comics were just as popular as superhero comics. Check out the site Sequential Crush to see the history of romance comics. If after this episode you think you might want to check out more comics, Suzanne’s site Love in Panels is the best place to start. Comics writer Mark Waid wrote about manhood and comics in an essay that is no longer available online, but Mark is also the author of Irredeemable , a comic about Superman turning villainous. Another essay about how modern superhero movies are romance and sex-free is called Everyone is Beautiful and No One is Horny. If you have little kids, check out the Mia Mayhem series of graphic novels. Jen was on Heaving Bosoms to discuss Cinnamon Blade. The TV Show about the superheroes going to work is called The Boys. Exactly one year ago (well, one year ago yesterday), Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker, co-creators of the DC Entertainment-HBO Max adult animated series “Harley Quinn,” told Variety that DC Comics removed a scene from the show of Batman "dining feline" (h/t bleedingcool for this delightful euphemism), saying "Heroes don't do that." As is right and just, the internet disagreed and #HeroesWhoEat and #BatmanGoesDown were born. It was a great day. For what it's worth, it wasn't just the internet that disagreed. Zach Snyder confirmed that Batman in fact does eat, with one of the greatest tweets of all time . At least, we think so. DC apparently did not care for it . While we like Snyder's version very much, here are some other NSFW images we like almost as much (eye headphones in): From artist @Mrs_Van_Damn ; commentary from @realAgdtwinkie ; from artist (with excellent commentary) @ArtKhobra ; and this one, from artist @rpace , with special love for the pegging crew.

Jun 8, 2022

This week’s episode is thanks to Julie Block, the Fated Mates listener who won an episode of the podcast in the Romance for Reproductive Justice auction sponsored by The Meet Cute Romance Bookshop and Fizzery in La Mesa, CA. Julie made a generous donation to the Collective Power Fund at the National Network of Abortion Funds, and in doing so, got to pick the episode topic — Books that Bang! Headphones in, y’all. We have sixty-nine (that’s right, 69, by pure unplanned luck!) recommendations for you this week — everything from bonkers to bloody to blazing hot…naughty bits that we believe deliver the whole banana (and sometimes no banana at all, if you know what we mean). Pencils ready…your time starts…now. Thanks to Melissa McTernan, author of Married to the Fae Queen , the second book in the Fairy Realm series, for sponsoring the episode. Thanks, also, to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies. Visit microdose.com and use code FATEDMATES to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Our next read along is Virginia Henley’s The Dragon and the Jewel , a deep cut from Sarah’s childhood. Check your content warnings and remember this one is from 1991, so we don’t even know, honestly. We’re flying without a net here. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Thanks to Julie Block for suggesting this episode and donating to abortion funds for the Romancing for Reproductive Justice Auction, sponsored by The Meet Cute Romance Bookshop & Fizzery , opening fall of 2022 in La Mesa, CA. It is not too late to donate to the Collective Power Fund at the National Network of Abortion Funds . While we name checked some Fated Mates classic recommendations like Tessa Bailey , Jessa Kane , and London Hale , somehow we recorded this episode without once mentioning the name of Charlotte Stein . So raise a glass to her and all the other authors writing super hot books that we forgot to mention. Probably you want to see Jen Porter's illustrations of the drilldo. (PS. Protip: you might put "drilldo" in the search field of twitter thinking that Jen's tweets will come up, and that would be a mistake unless you want to see it real and in action. Ask me how I know.) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/6/7/s0438-these-books-bang If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 1, 2022

If there isn’t a grovel, is it even a romance? This week, we’re getting to the bottom of one of our favorite moments in a romance novel — the grovel. Love it or hate it, some of the best loved books of the genre go all in on hero (because let’s face it, it’s almost always the hero) on his knees…and we are here. for. it. We talk about the hows and whys of the grovel, about the reasons we love it, about the difference between a grovel and a grand gesture, and about the books that installed this particular button for us. This episode is sponsored by Janna MacGregor, author of Rules for Engaging the Earl , and Adriana Herrera, author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris . Our next read along is Virginia Henley’s The Dragon and the Jewel , a deep cut from Sarah’s childhood. Check your content warnings and remember this one is from 1991, so we don’t even know, honestly. We’re flying without a net here. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes We love a good grovel here at Fated Mates, and back in 2018, Jen wrote an essay on groveling for #RomBkLove Merriam Webster is the world’s greatest dictionary. We don’t come from chimpanzees, but we do have a common ancestor . If you think a character hasn’t suffered enough, you can leave them in cold storage . You have the power! Jen did the entire breakdown on Kiss an Angel with Erin & Clayton from Learning the Tropes We did a deep dive on Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes because we love it so much. We also did episodes on Lothaire , Sweet Ruin and The Master . The first five seconds of the Sweet Ruin epsiode are a straight shot of Sarah's joy, if you are looking for that sort of thing. More about the problem of captive (and presumably lacking telepathic prowess) Tigers in America. Molly Bloom totally would love a good romance novel, btw. The American President is a pretty great movie, but it also came out back in 1995 when we some of us were still capable of positive feelings about politicians. Our next read along is The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henley. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/5/30/s0437-groveling-in-romance-novels If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 25, 2022

Our Trailblazer episodes continue this week with Jude Deveraux, an early historical romance author who broke several publishing barriers over her more than forty year career. In this episode, we talk about her journey through the Wild West of romance in the late 1970s, her publishing career at Avon Books, Pocket Books and Ballantine. We talk about the judgement and misogyny that circles romance, the buying power of readers, and the way the genre and bookselling has changed. We also talk about her writing process, and what it’s like to be Jude Deveraux. This one is a real joy for us, as we wouldn’t be the readers or writers we are without Jude Deveraux. This episode is sponsored by Avon Books, publisher of Joanna Shupe’s The Bride Goes Rogue , and Amazon’s Kindle Vella, publisher of Eloisa James’s The Seduction Series . Our next read along is Virginia Henley’s The Dragon and the Jewel , a deep cut from Sarah’s childhood. Check your content warnings and remember this one is from 1991, so we don’t even know, honestly. We’re flying without a net here. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Like many of our trailblazers, Jude Deveraux’s first brush with romance was Kathleen E Woodiwiss’s The Flame & the Flower. The publisher with “the prettiest covers” in the 1970s she references was Woodiwiss’s publisher, Avon Books. Books of Jude Deveraux’s that we talk about in depth include: The Enchanted Land (her debut novel), A Knight in Shining Armor (early time-travel romance), Sweet Liar , The Providence Falls series with Tara Sheets, The Girl from Summer Hill , Twin of Ice (the twins!!), and “The Matchmakers” a short story in The Invitation collection (featuring Cale & the angel sex scene). The Four Js were Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. People mentioned in the episode: Kate Duffy , editor at Silhouette Books and Pocket Books; Joan Schulhafer, publicist at Pocket Books; Richard Gallen , publisher & packager; Ronald Busch , publisher of Pocket Books; Robert Gottlieb , agent; Linda Marrow, editor at Ballantine/Doubleday/Dell; Kathryn Falk, publisher of Romantic Times Magazine; Kathe Robin, reviewer at Romantic Times Magazine.

May 18, 2022

This week, we’re talking about one of our favorite historical romances, Jeannie Lin’s Butterfly Swords . This is one we’ve mentioned on previous episodes, and discussed at length during Jeannie’s Trailblazer episode, as it is the first own voices Asian-set historical romance. Aside from setting the standard for adventure romance, it’s also a near-perfect road trip romance with one of the hottest slow burns you’ll ever read. We talk about all of it, including the absolutely devastating first kiss—one that should go down in romance history. TL;DR: We love this book hard. Thanks to Charlotte Howard, author of Secret Verses , and Mila Finelli, author of Mafia Mistress , for sponsoring the episode. Stay tuned after the episode to hear the first chapter of Mafia Mistress in audio! Our next read along is Virginia Henley’s The Dragon and the Jewel , a deep cut from Sarah’s childhood. Check your content warnings and remember this one is from 1991, so we don’t even know, honestly. We’re flying without a net here. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes This week, we’re reading the debut novel Butterfly Swords by romance trailblazer Jeannie Lin. This is the first book in her Tang Dynasty series. It’s not too late to see Sarah with Christina and Lauren in Connecticut on May 18th, 2022, or Jen with Christina, Lauren, and Sonali Dev in Naperville on May 19th, 2022. We’re looking for an artist to draw us a magnificent firebird. Maybe it’s you? So, it’s classic Jen to get titles wrong. Farewell, my Concubine is a movie, and the third book in the Tang Dynasty series is called My Fair Concubine . But, that’s not Li Tao’s book, either–it’s The Dragon and the Pearl . We talked about Road Trip romance back in season 1 . Time for an interlude from The Princess Bride . Our next read along is The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henley, first published in 1991. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/5/15/s0435-butterfly-swords-by-jeannie-lin If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 11, 2022

We’re tackling one of Sarah’s favorite tropes this week — the celebrity romance! We talk about all the ways that her buttons were installed (thanks Judith McNaught) and about how rare movie stars are in romance even now, all these years later. We discuss The Chrises, the appeal of celebrity/normal person pairings, the difference between film/tv romance and rockstar/sports star romance, and about why Americans especially love a celebrity. Oh, and we get into our own existential despair. Visit fatedmates.net/fatedstates for past episodes of us being Big Mad if you want some inspiration. Thanks to Avon Books, publishers of Eloisa James’s How to Be a Wallflower for sponsoring the episode. Thanks, also, to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies. Visit microdose.com and use code FATEDMATES to get free shipping & 30% off your first order. Our next read along is Jeannie Lin’s Butterfly Swords . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes A leaked memo from The Supreme Court makes clear the fate of Roe V. Wade, and the other civil rights they’re looking to eliminate next. We’ll be reactivating Fated States soon, and you can listen to some of our previous episodes (RBG, bodily autonomy, elda minger) related to these topics. It’s terrifying and feels like its all unraveling, so just fight where you can , remember we’ve been here before , and you should organize in your local community to help others. Check out the Auction for Reproductive Rights being organized by The Meet Cute Book Shop, and donate to an abortion fund near you. Good Chrises only, please: Hemsworth , Pine , Pang , and Evans. As we say, name is destiny . We feel bad about it, but both of us thought about the book Perfect after hearing about the shooting on the movie set Rust. Here is a timeline of how Alec Baldwin ended up with a live weapon. Perfect takes place is some part of Texas where it snows , and Judith McNaught partnered with Coors to raise awareness of and adult literacy . We love it when Normal people and movie stars get together. Harry Styles will be on tour later this year, everyone. I’m not sure why photographers love “the wet suit photoshoot” , but it’s definitely a thing . If you think you've bought a book before on Amazon, but it's showing you the buy button. Go to Your Content and Devices and search for the book. You can also search your digital orders. Charlevoix MI is a cute tourist town on the shores of Lake Michigan, which is very big by the way . Unsure about whether or not merpeople live there, but there are lots of shipwrecks . The final gir l is a horror trope. Our next read along is Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin .

May 4, 2022

This week, we’re talking about a beloved contemporary romance, the first in Julie James’s FBI/US Attorney series — Something About You . This one is a fascinating look at a series connected by not the romance standard of friends or families, but by work. Set in Chicago, it contains all the mystery of a romantic suspense without ever straying from the contemporary romance path. The characters are sharp, the writing is clever, the structure is fascinating, and it will likely make you read the rest of the series almost immediately. Thanks to Avon Books, publisher of Lynsay Sands’s Immortal Rising , and Kelly Cain, author of An Acquired Taste , for sponsoring the episode. Show Notes Julie James is the author of 9 books in the FBI/US Attorney series. They are stand alone novels in the world of the Chicago criminal justice system. The Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook has a lap pool with lane lines in case you’re into that sort of thing. The U.S. Attorneys are federal prosecutors and there are 94 districts . Saying out each letter separately “A-U-S-A” is in fact the right way to shorten this title. Jen confirmed it with Erin . The Peninsula is a fancy hotel in Chicago. Jen is unsure of whether or not it has a lap pool. After refinishing hardwood floors, you really do need to wait a while before walking on them! Vocation vs Career vs a bunch of other things . “Taste her blood in her throat” as someone (ahem, Nora Roberts) might say. You definitely want to see that scene Jen referenced from The Old Guard with Nicky & Joe. Unfortunately, Channing Tatum’s stirring defense of romance in The Lost City is not yet available on YouTube. Watch this as a placeholder. Or this . You’re welcome. Christina Lauren is going on a book tour! You can see them with Sarah in Connecticut on May 18th, or in the Chicago suburbs with Jen on May 19th. Join us! Spiaggia has closed, but it was very fancy in its heyday. It’s not weird pizza , okay. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/5/2/s0433-something-about-you-by-julie-james If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 27, 2022

Trailblazer episodes continue this week with EE Ottoman, the first out trans author of romance novels. EE joins us to talk about his journey into romance, about the evolution of trans romance novels, and about the importance of representation in romance. This is a fascinating conversation, and we’re so grateful to EE for joining us to tell his story, and the story of trans romance to date. An important note: While books by LGBTQ+ authors have been targeted by book bans across the country for decades, the recent bans on books and language around queerness in schools and public spaces make this issue even more pressing. This episode was recorded in the fall of 2021, which is why this specific issue is not a part of our discussion. Thanks to Kelly Cain, author of An Acquired Taste , and Ava Wixx, author of Virtual Reality Bites , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Julie James’s Something About You . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . Show Notes Welcome EE Ottoman , a romance trailblazer for being the first trans writer to write romance with trans characters. You can watch the RWA video of romance firsts here . People and publishers mentioned: Less Than 3 Press ; We discussed the shifting landscape of LGBTQ bookstores during our trailblazer interview with Radclyffe and Oprah daily has an extensive list of LGBTQ bookstores searchable by state. The zine bookstore in Chicago is called Quimby’s . EE Ottoman mentioned authors KJ Charles and May Peterson as being especially supportive on his journey through romance, and notes that Carina Press has been several trans romance titles. Books with queer characters continue to be the target of book banning across the country, and books with trans characters are the most likely to be targeted.

Apr 20, 2022

At the request of Instagram, we’re talking Vampires today! We’re doing some deep cuts, returning to Kresley Cole for a minute or two, and then digging into worldbuilding, morality chain, why these books lend themselves to massive series, and ultimately…why we love these big toothy jerks. If you’re a paranormal reader, get your pencils ready — especially if you’re new to it, because we’re taking everyone way back to the beginnings of the subgenre! Thanks to Kelly Cain, author of An Acquired Taste , and Alyxandra Harvey, author of How to Marry an Earl , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Julie James’s Something About You . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . Notes We’ve talked about vampires on past episodes: Kresley’s IAD vampires ( Conrad is our favorite ); Dark Lover by JR Ward ; and last fall, we had Jenny Nordbak on for a monster interstitial . If you’re in Brooklyn and looking for a bookstore that carries lots of PNR, try The Bookmark Shoppe . In film, after 9/11, the rise of the anti/superhero to reconcile America's participation in a war. After the economic downturn, it was the rise of zombies to justify the way America was leaving poor people behind. And in this TikTok by Virgolikebeyonce , she suggests we're about to see media that reconciles our obsession with work/capitalism. We at FM have been noting a rise of the regular, blue-collar hero, which would track with this. A hegemony explainer. Tessa Bailey hit #1 on both the USAToday and New York Times bestseller lists with Hook, Line, and Sinker . The Sherilyn Kenyon situation is truly weird. Even eBooks can go out of print, for example, The Faustian Brothers series by Evie Byrne. Our next read along is Something About You by Julie James. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/4/16/s0431-vampire-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 13, 2022

This week, we’re talking about one of Sarah’s favorite recent historicals, Diana Quincy’s beautiful Her Night With the Duke , which was on our 2020 Best Romance of the Year list. This one fires on many cylinders, and the conversation it inspired covers a lot of ground. We talk about how you won’t get a better Bridgerton read-alike than this one, about the third-act breakup, why it works and the work it does in a romance, about why widows are allowed to be sexy, about responsibility and aristocracy, about hot golf, and about how modern historicals are really doing the business. Thanks to Avon Books, publisher of Eva Leigh’s The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes , and Kelly Cain, author of An Acquired Taste , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Julie James’s Something About You . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . Show Notes Diana Quincy has written many romance novels, and she also published Regency era mysteries under the name D.M. Quincy. You can find information about her books on her website , on twitter , or on Instagram. Her Night with the Duke was one of our best of 2020 romances . Leela taking her knife to her evil brother-in-law's face was just as satisfying as this great scene with Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride. Here's a brief overview of the history of the Arab community in Manchester, England. Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses dives into storytelling around the world, makes the case that conflict-driven plots are not universal and advocates for making diverse storytelling traditions welcome in literary spaces. This essay from LitHub is a good primer to his argument. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/4/10/s0430-her-night-with-the-duke-by-diana-quincy If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 6, 2022

The Trailblazer episodes continue this week with the Queen herself! Nora Roberts joins us today to talk about her longstanding career in romance—from her extremely relatable roots as a mom going mad in a snowstorm, to her deep rooted work ethic, to the plagiarism that rocked the publishing world. We talk about her place in the romance pantheon, about the reasons she thinks her books are so beloved, and about that one time her publisher called to tell her she was writing too much. It was an absolute pleasure to have Nora Roberts personally explain things to us; we’re beyond grateful to her for making time for Fated Mates. Thanks to Piper Rayne, authors of Sneaking Around With #34 , and Kenya Goree-Bell, author of California Love , for sponsoring the episode. Our next read along is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke , which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from our partner, Chirp Books! Show Notes We are thrilled to have Nora Roberts on the podcast today. Take a moment to read this 2009 New Yorker profile about Nora and her career. This 1982 article from the Washington Post, Sharpsburg Writer Turning Romance into Profits, is one of the earliest mentions of her career in the mainstream media. Nora’s bookstore Turn the Page is located in Boonsboro, Maryland. She hosts a community of readers at her website Fall into the Story , which includes a definitive list of things Eve and Roarke will never do. Nora Roberts is a staunch defender of writers who have been victims of plagiarism, starting in 1997 when Janet Dailey stole from several of her books. In December 1997, Romantic Times wrote about the plagiarism scandal , and the previous month there were several letters to the editor from romance readers . More recently, Nora sued a Brazilian writer who plagiarized the work of more than 40 romance novelists authors. Nora Roberts took some time to explain the process to Debra . Listen to our deep dive episode of Nora Roberts's Born in Ice . Authors mentioned: Violet Winspear , Anne Mather , Phyllis Whitney , Victoria Holt , Mary Stewart , Janet Dailey , Kathleen E. Woodiwiss , Rosemary Rodgers , Ruth Langan , Dixie Browning , Patricia Gaffney , Mary Kay McComas , Elaine Fox , Mary Blayney . Other people on Nora's team: Silhouette editor Nancy Jackson , agent Amy Berkower , editor Isabel Swift , editor Leslie Gelbman , and publicist Laura Reeth .

Mar 30, 2022

We’re on a roll delivering interstitials about all our very favorite wild tropes, and this week we’re tackling boss/assistant romances! We’ll unpack the problematic bits, discuss the book that installed these deeply troubling buttons in us both, and fill your TBR pile to overflowing. Get your wallets and library cards ready! Thanks to Avon Books, publisher of Nisha Sharma’s Dating Dr. Dil , and Piper Rayne, authors of Lessons From a One Night Stand for sponsoring the episode. Next week, we’ve got a trailblazer episode! Our next read along is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke, which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from our partner, Chirp Books! Show Notes The Scholastic Inc. succession drama is honestly deserving of it's own Netflix series. Learn more about it from The Wall Street Journal , the New York Times and Vanity Fair . Publishing loves drama but this is honestly almost too much. If you're not receiving the Bookbub daily romance deal emails , you should be. Follow Sarah while you're there! Killing the dog is a very bold writing choice . Harlequin Blaze was a high heat category romance line from Harlequin that published monthly romances from 2001 to 2017. It was replaced with Harlequin Dare, a high-heat digital line. Mystic Pizza remains a pure problematic fave here at Fated Mates, but we will always stan pouring fish bait in your rich boyfriend's Porsche . He should have told you he had a sister, Kat.

Mar 23, 2022

It’s a Very Special Episode™️ of Fated Mates today, celebrating the rerelease of Sarah’s first book, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake! We talk about the book that started Sarah’s romance career, about why it still resonates, about new covers during a pandemic, and yes…we get to the bottom of the age old question: Will Benedick Ever Get a Book? You can buy the new Nine Rules at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Bookshop , and get signed copies at WORD . This episode is sponsored by Adriana Herrera, author of The Duke Makes Me Feel and The Romancelandia Shop . Our read along next week is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke , which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from Chirp Books! Show Notes This tweet about Car Talk made Jen laugh. It really was the greatest NPR show of all time, and since they are no dummies, they have in fact made it into a podcast . Buy the books with stepbacks now, because we aren’t sure how long they are going to last. Lots of folks participate in #StepbackSaturday on Twitter and Instagram to share their favorites. Sarah's agent at the time was Alyssa Eisner-Henkin , who is still a great YA and children's agent! Sarah's editor is still Carrie Feron, who has edited romance for her entire career. Authors she has edited include Lisa Kleypas, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Sally Thorne, Jude Deveraux, Elizabeth Lowell and Eloisa James. The name of the documentary about romance is called Love Beneath the Covers (2016 ), which is a fascinating look at the romance genre. Where's My Hero is a romance anthology that featured some of the good guys, and it's available in eBook and print.

Mar 16, 2022

Our Trailblazer episodes continue this week with Jeannie Lin, one of the first authors to write historical romance featuring Asian characters set in Asia. Her debut romance, Butterfly Swords , is set in Tang Dynasty China. In this episode, we talk about the craft of romance, about preparing for and resisting rejection while finding her own path to publication, about how she honed her storytelling, and about the way cultural archetypes find their way to the page. We also talk about the lightning fast changes in romance over the last twelve years. Thank you to Jeannie Lin for making time for Fated Mates. This episode is sponsored by The Steam Box (use code FATEDMATES for 10% off) and Chirp Audiobooks . Next week, we’re talking Sarah’s Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake , which will release March 22 in a new trade paperback format. After that, our next read along is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke , which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from our partner, Chirp Books! Show Notes This week, we welcome romance author Jeannie Lin , whose newest book in the Lotus Palace Mysteries series, Red Blossom in Snow, comes out next week on March 21, 2022. Hear us talk about Jeannie Lin's books on our 2020 Best of the Year episode , our Road Trip Interstitial , and our So You Want to Read a Historical episode. The Tang Dynasty lasted from 618-907, and Empress Wu reigned from 624-705. RWA's Golden Heart Award was phased out in 2019. Twitter was launched in 2006 and Goodreads in 2007. Goodreads was acquired by Amazon in 2013. Borders Books closed in 2011. People mentioned: author Jade Lee , who also writes as Kathy Lyons; author Barbara Ankrum ; author Shawntell Madison ; author Amanda Berry ; author Bria Quinlan ; author Eden Bradley of Romance Divas forum ; author Kate Pearce ; actor Tony Leung ; Piatkus editor Anna Boatman ; agent Gail Fortune . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/3/15/s0426-jeannie-lin-a-trailblazer-episode If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 9, 2022

We’re still doomscrolling, so we’re still releasing goofy, bantr-y episodes about tropes we cannot quit! This week, we’re talking about a very specific one that we adore — Waking up Married! We talk about Vegas, about why you shouldn’t drink and espouse, about The Hangover, and about how…when a trope ain’t broke, you definitely shouldn’t fix it. This episode is sponsored by Christi Caldwell, author of For Love of the Duke , and BetterHelp Online Therapy . Next week, we’ve got a trailblazer episode! Our next read along is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke, which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from our partner, Chirp Books! Show Notes You might be wondering how Las Vegas became the wedding capital of America. Jen and Sarah have some strong feelings about phones! The rotary phone was a real trip. Back in 1996, when Jen was in Houston doing TFA, they added 281 to the Houston area codes (yes, she said zip code on the pod, but you know what she meant!), but by now we’re over having area code pride . Meanwhile, we still want to know why international dialing is so expensive. I’m sorry to report that we don’t ever think we’ll have a Fated Mates Discord, and whatever Quordle is, that’s not the way Jen’s brain works. Help us make a Fated Mates glossary by filling out this form . You should all listen to On Being with Krista Tippet , which is a podcast dedicated to answering questions about what it means to be human. It’s not wonder kid, it’s wunderkind . Just ask Nate . Not that kind of Prince Albert . The Hangover is a very funny movie.

Mar 2, 2022

Welp, we’re back in a doom scrolling spiral this week, so why not take a visit to a small town full of hot single dads and firemen? We’re reading London Hale this week, and talking about the appeal of the quick and dirty romance! We’ll also talk about the value of a genuinely hot read and where all the stops are on the romance-to-erotica spectrum. We’re also talking about kinks and why daddies are installed in so many of us. Basically, we’re telling y’all to read these London Hale books so they’ll write more of them for us. Thanks for listening! This episode is sponsored by Kennedy Ryan, author of Reel , and BetterHelp Online Therapy . Our next read along is Diana Quincy’s Her Night With the Duke, which was on our Best of 2020 year-end list! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local bookstore . You can also get it in audio from our partner, Chirp Books! Show Notes Authors Ellis Leigh and Brighton Walsh are the two authors who write as London Hale. Sarah talked about their books back on the Quick and Dirty interstitial in Season 2 . You should read Circe . And Jack Reacher . If you've run out of Jessa Kane books , try Chloe Maine . There is not a Harlequin Presents called The Pregnant Billionaire’s Italian Mistress, but you can find The Italian’s Pregnant Mistress , The Italian Billionaire's Pregnant Bride , The Italian’s Pregnant Cinderella , The Italian’s Pregnant Virgin , The Italian’s Pregnancy Proposal , and The Italian’s Pregnant Prisoner. Robert Redford was a snack. So was Richard Gere both in Pretty Woman and in “the one where he’s an Air Force pilot.” (An Officer and a Gentleman, and it was the Navy. Fine.) We also admire the silver fox good looks of Benecio del Toro , Idris Elba , and George Clooney . Andie J. Christopher coined the phrase “stern brunch daddy” and we’re all better off for it. Unfortunately, she’s the kind of person who deletes old tweets so you can't see that picture of Oscar Isaac with an eating utensil that inspired it, but luckily they talked about it on Reddit and Andie talked about it on the Wicked Wallflowers Podcast . We’re constantly trying to explain the difference between Romance vs erotic romance vs erotica. The Great Stepbrother Explosion was mostly 2015-2016, but I’m willing to talk some more about it or cite sources if you have them. The 2020 Netflix movie 365 Days was originally released in Poland under the name 365 dni and was based on a book by Blanka Lipinska. Apparently, there will be a sequel. It doesn’t have a release date, but we’ll keep you updated, baby girl . Jo Brenner and her friends have a gray scale for dark romance, and I hope she’ll explain it all on twitter so I can link to it. Does calling a stranger for phone sex still exist–I bet you’re shocked to find out that there was an uptick in demand during the pandemic. In editing, TK means “to come” as in I’ll fill it in later. In Fumbled by Alexa Martin, it stands for Trevor Kyle . Eucalyptus is native to Australia and was introduced to England in 1774. You should follow the Male scent catalog on twitter , and if you want to read more about it, check out the book Nose Dive: A Field Guide to the World’s Smells.

Feb 23, 2022

You can’t throw a stone in romance in 2022 without hitting a fake dating story, so we figure it’s time to do an interstitial on it! We’re talking about when it works, why it works, how it works, and by whom it works, so get your library cards ready because this one will topple your TBR! While this one is, as always, for the readers, there’s lots of goal/motivation/conflict here for the writers, too. Thanks for listening! This episode is sponsored by Isla Moore, author of The Jennifer Files , and BetterHelp Online Therapy . Our next read along will feature some of Sarah’s favorite quick & dirty books by London Hale, the pen name of authors Ellis Leigh and Brighton Walsh. Their Temperance Falls series is full of kinks and tropes and HEAs and while we won’t be talking about all ten books, we’ll definitely be talking about a few of them, including Nanny With Benefits , Reunion , Daddy’s Best Friend and Sarah’s favorite, Talk Dirty to Me . The whole series is free in KU. Show Notes Hey, dating during the pandemic was, and still is , hard! Sarah suggest that there are 3 questions an author must address for each character in order to make the fake dating plot work: Why is this happening/why a fake relationship the only option? Why this person and not some other person? What happens if it all goes south? In other words, what is the the stake, the thing the reader has to care about? In other words: goal, motivation, conflict . One of our very earliest interstitials was on Escort romances , and another was on fake engagement/marriage of convenience , tropes that has a lot in common with fake dating. #RomanceClass is the name for a group of authors from the Phillipines writing in English. You can learn more about the romance class authors and their story , which is strongly influenced by the fact that divorce is illegal in the Phillipines . Fuck Me Gently with a Chainsaw is something from a very dark 80s teen movie called Heathers . There is a Canadian equivalent to the Navy SEALs, it's called Joint Task Force 2 . The Mounties (which stands for Royal Canadian Mounted Police) definitely do not have that same vibe, but here is a nice video of a gentleman talking about his the training of the RCMP dogs. Fake Dating Romance Novels Hell Breaks Loose by Sophie Jordan Hold by Claire Kent Gigolo All the Way by JN Welsh Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras Totally Engaged by Mina Esguerra Like Lovers do by Tracey Livesay Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn A Caribbean Heiress in Paris Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur Worked Up by Tessa Bailey The Penalty Box by Odette Stone Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills Fake Fiancee by Ilsa Madden Mills Sponsors This week’s episode of Fated Mates is sponsored by: Better Help online therapy. Fated Mates listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com/fatedmates . and Isla Moore, author of The Jennifer Files , available free in KU. Visit Isla at islamoore.com , or follow her on Instagram at @islamoorebooks or Twitter at @islabooks.

Feb 16, 2022

Oh boy have we got an episode for you! We’re thrilled to have Sarah J. Maas with us to celebrate the release of the second in her Crescent City series, House of Sky and Breath — in this episode, we talk about second books in series, why second books are often so unique and different from the other books in the series, and about how fandom informs Sarah’s work. And of course, because it’s Sarah, we talk about fantasy, about worldbuilding, about moving between YA and adult fantasy, and about writing romance (and sex) on the page. All this, and we talk about some favorite second books, too! This episode is sponsored by Sara Wetmore, author of Brush Strokes , and Mila Fanelli, author of Mafia Mistress . Next week, we’ve got an interstitial coming your way, but our next read along will feature some of Sarah (MacLean)’s favorite quick & dirty books by London Hale, the pen name of authors Ellis Leigh and Brighton Walsh. Their Temperance Falls series is full of kinks and tropes and HEAs and while we won’t be talking about all ten books, we’ll definitely be talking about a few of them. Specific titles to follow, but Sarah is for sure going to want you to read Talk Dirty to Me , which is older mayor of the town heroine, younger firefighter and also phone sex operator hero because…obviously. The whole series is free in KU. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas Show Notes Sarah’s new book, House of Sky and Breath , was released yesterday on February 15, 2022. In case you don’t know who MacGyver is, ope. The Empire Strikes Back is the second in the original Star Wars trilogy, and a perfect example of how the second installment can be influential. In Arrested Development, it was George Michael with the light saber in the garage. Some of Sarah’s original fandoms: My Little Pony , Sailor Moon , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Star Wars , The Lord of the Rings , and Goonies. These kids acted like real jerks on an airplane, and Please don’t do that. Jen is writing Tommy and Imogen fanfic on twitter with the hashtag #TommyGoBoom.

Feb 9, 2022

Annnnd….we’re back! This week, we’ve got a new Trailblazer episode: Sandra Kitt—the first African American author at Harlequin ( Rites of Spring , Harlequin American #43)—joins us to talk about the early days of writing category romance in the US, about writing for Vivian Stephens, about launching romance lines at Kensington and BET, and about her longstanding career. She also talks about writing the books that speak to you first and finding an audience for them later. This conversation is far reaching and could have gone for hours longer — our hope is that it is not the last time Sandra will join us at Fated Mates. We are so grateful to her for making time for us. Find the full list of trailblazer episodes here . For more conversations with Sandra Kitt, please listen to her episode of the Black Romance Podcast . Join us LIVE tonight, Feburary 9th, for our special edition IAD celebration/Fated Mates funtime/ Munro /Very likely Derek Craven too episode! Tickets are “pay what you wish” at live.fatedmates.net , you’re welcome to join us for free, or make a donation to help offset the costs of transcribing this season’s Trailblazer episodes. Our next read along will feature some of Sarah’s favorite quick & dirty books by London Hale, the pen name of authors Ellis Leigh and Brighton Walsh. Their Temperance Falls series is full of kinks and tropes and HEAs and while we won’t be talking about all ten books, we’ll definitely be talking about a few of them. Specific titles to follow, but Sarah is for sure going to want you to read Talk Dirty to Me , which is older mayor of the town heroine, younger firefighter and also phone sex operator hero because…obviously. The whole series is free in KU. Show Notes People Sandra mentioned: Vivian Stephens , Elsie Washington/Rosalind Welles , Georgette Heyer , Walter Zacharias , Beverly Jenkins , Jennifer Enderlin , Julie Moody Freeman , Kathryn Falk , Kathleen Woodiwiss , Patricia Veryan , Janet Dailey , Jayne Ann Krentz , Anita Richmond Bunkley , Eboni Snoe , Donna Hill , Gwynne Foster , Marcia King-Gamble , Brenda Jackson .

Jan 19, 2022

Thanks to romance reading sisters Cait & Kara for their donation to the Romance for Haiti auction last year, and for this fabulous episode idea! We’re talking about the books we’re saving for the darkest of dark hours…the ones we know will be warm blankets of joy. What are the books we keep under glass, for serious break in case of emergency moments? We talk about them here. Also, Eric has informed us that this episode gave him big “up is down vibes” so here we go! There are some big secrets here, too, so please share your own! Let us know which books you’re keeping in the vault by filling out the “What’s in the Vault” form on the main page of the website . Our next read-along will be Kresley Cole’s Munro , Book 18 of the Immortals After Dark series. You’ve probably heard of this series because Fated Mates began as an IAD fan podcast. You can take the girls out of Monster Mash, but you can’t take Monster Mash out of the girls…so we’re reading Munro, obviously. Stay tuned for information on that episode…but also, if you’re inclined to go back to the beginning, here you go . Preorder Munro at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , or B&N . 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! Show Notes The Romance for Haiti auction was last fall. You can still support Haiti relief efforts via: Ayiti Ademen: Haiti Tomorrow : providing disaster relief St. Boniface Hospital : providing medical relief Ayiti Community Trust : providing social services/long term recovery How much does it cost to move your books ? Our next read along is Kresley Cole's Munro . Stay tuned for more information!

Jan 12, 2022

On this episode, we’re talking about a historical that we like to think of as the full banana. A descriptor which, now that we’re typing it, really covers a lot of ground. It’s Passion week — we’re talking about how Lisa Valdez shook up the traditional historical world in 2005 when she released this erotic historical featuring a widow and a dude who has an extremely large…you know. We talk about what it means for a romance to be erotic and about how this might also be inspirational. We also talk about this as a marker of a significant shift in the content of romance novels, and ask some questions about basic anatomy. Headphones on for this one, y’all! Our next read-along will be Kresley Cole’s Munro , Book 18 of the Immortals After Dark series. You’ve probably heard of this series because Fated Mates began as an IAD fan podcast. You can take the girls out of Monster Mash, but you can’t take Monster Mash out of the girls…so we’re reading Munro, obviously. Stay tuned for information on that episode…but also, if you’re inclined to go back to the beginning, here you go . Preorder Munro at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , or B&N . 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! Show Notes Passion by Lisa Valdez was the first book in a series named the Passion Quartet, but only two were published. Passion in 2005 and Patience in 2010. Passion takes place during Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, commonly called the Crystal Palace Exhibition. The Great Exhibition was well-documented in the book Dickinson's Comprehensive Pictures of the Great Exhibition , which is available in its entirety online . Charlotte Bronte was a visitor and wrote about her impression of the exhibits . Lisa Valdez wrote about sex in romance on Jess Michaels's blog back in 2014. America is full of weird controlling shit about sex, like abstinence only education, and the fact that people don't know where the hymen is . You should follow Dr. Jen Gunter and tell your kids about Scarleteen . Sarah mentioned that Marc is a hero very much in the model of Dain from Lord of Scoundrels . Up next, Munro . Stay tuned for more details. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2022/1/2/s0419-passion-by-lisa-valdez If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 5, 2022

Our Trailblazer episodes continue this week with Jayne Ann Krentz, who has done it all: writing for Vivian Stephens, writing historicals, writing contemporaries, writing space-set, fantasy, and paranormal romance, writing nonfiction about romance. In addition to managing life as JAK, Amanda Quick, Stephanie James and more, she’s also a legend of the genre because of her vocal resistance to the way society, literature and academia talks about romance novels. In this episode, we talk about her journey and the way she continually reinvented herself to keep writing, about the importance of writers’ core stories, about genre and myth making, and about the role of romance in the world. We could not be more grateful to Jayne Ann Krentz for making time for Fated Mates. Next week, our first read-along of the year will be Lisa Valdez’s Passion , an erotic historical published in 2005 that is W-I-L-D. There is a lot of biblical stuff at the world’s fair. Also some truly bananas stuff that…sticks with you. Get it at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , or B&N . 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! Show Notes Welcome Jayne Ann Krentz, she has had lot of pen names, including Jayne Taylor, Jayne Bentley, Stephanie James and Amanda Glass. Now she publishes under 3 names: Jayne Ann Krenz (contemporary), Jayne Castle (speculative fiction romance), and Amanda Quick (historical). She has said, “I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names. The answer is that this way readers always know which of my three worlds they will be entering when they pick up one of my books.” We read Ravished for the podcast in 2021, or three decades ago. You know how it goes in these pandemic times. People mentioned by Jayne: editor Vivian Stephens , author Barbara Delinksy , author Amii Loren , agent Steve Axelrod publishing executive Irwyn Applebaum , author Susan Elizabeth Phillips , author Kristin Hannah , author Debbie Macomber , author Christina Dodd, author Rachel Grant , author Darcy Burke , editor Leslie Gelbman, editor Cindy Wong, editor Patricia Reynolds Smith.

Jan 1, 2022

It’s New Year’s Eve and that means it’s time for a special episode of Fated Mates! Also, Ted Lasso Season 2 is complete and that means it’s time for another Roy Kent episode, so we’re saying, “Why not both?” Both it is! Come for this two-hour deep dive on former AFC Richmond team captain and current AFC Richmond coach, Roy Kent and his bangin’ girl, Keeley Jones, Independent Woman…stay for the Bantr about Isaac, Rebecca, Ted and more. We’re talking about the whole season (except for that one episode we’re going to pretend doesn’t exist). Spoilers abound, so if you haven’t watched, do that first! Happy happy new year, Magnificent Firebirds. You were the best thing about 2021 for us. 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! We are starting as we mean to go on in 2022 — our first read-along of the year will be Lisa Valdez’s Passion , an erotic historical published in 2005 that is W-I-L-D. There is a lot of biblical stuff at the world’s fair. Also some truly bananas stuff that…sticks with you. We haven’t read it in a while, so we’re telling you to be careful because…honestly, it’s just good sense with this one. Get it at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , or B&N . Show Notes In January of 2021, sex columnist Sophia Benoit was our guest , and we talked about Ted Lasso. In June of 2021, we aired our first Roy Kent episode. Doc Martens have never been gone, but they are definitely back . Cheers was one of the all great sitcoms , which aired from 1982-1993. Jen's Christmas gift from Mr. ReadsRomance was the BusyBox ; Sarah’s Christmas present from her in-laws came from Spare Time Used Books in Paso Robles, California . Hearst Castle is pretty wild, and not just because it has literal wild zebras roaming around on its grounds. You, too, can make a donation to Flatbush Cats . To clarify, Jen watched The Bear Episode the first time around, but skipped in on this rewatch. The “Roy is sorry for not understanding keely” playlist on apple music and also on Spotify . Apple TV+ is available nearly everywhere people watch video. An Apple device is not required. You can binge both seasons with a seven day free trial .

Dec 24, 2021

Holidays are about traditions and it's a Fated Mates tradition to rerun the previous year's holiday episode. So here we are! This year, we’ve added 30 minutes of chatter about two Christmas romances we loved in 2021. You can take Fated Mates to work, but you can’t take the very unsafe for work discussion out of Fated Mates, so headphones in! Much love and many thanks for being with us! Please enjoy this short playlist of holiday music featured on the podcast. For full show notes, see: S02.16: Christmas Romance Novel Recommendations 3.5: Holiday Romances: Interstitial Roy and Keely's Sexy Christmas . Check out Whores of Yore. Seamen sing shanties . Sarah's talking about something else. Jen did not make up this thing about St. Nicholas and shoes . The Black Forest in both a place in Germany and a delicious cake. Best Friend Kelly saved this baby's christmas ornaments! TYRANNOSAURUS REX FOR CHRISTMAS!

Dec 15, 2021

We’re back to paranormal romance this week — and so excited! It’s been literal years since we’ve done a deep dive like this one, talking about a beloved, long-standing, many booked, series — Nalini Singh’s Psy Changeling series. We’re deep diving on Caressed by Ice , which features a hero who literally experiences physical pain whenever he feels a feeling, so…of course he’s Jen’s favorite. We talk paranormal world building, patriarchy, hero’s feeling feelings, and try to explain the universe of this book. We’re not great at it, but there is about 20 minutes of bantr, so you’ll be fine! There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! 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! We are going to set some wild intentions for 2022 with our first read-along of the year, Lisa Valdez’s Passion , an erotic historical published in 2005 that is W-I-L-D. There is a lot of biblical stuff at the world’s fair. Also some truly bananas stuff that…sticks with you. We haven’t read it in a while, so we’re telling you to be careful because…honestly, it’s just good sense with this one. Get it at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , or B&N . Show Notes Caressed by Ice is the third book in the Psy/Changling series by Nalini Singh . If you want more read-alongs and critiques, check out Melinda and Melanie’s write ups on the Psy/Changling channel at Smexy Books , and the Changeling Cast by Mara/BooksLikeWhoa on YouTube. Johnnie Walker Blue is pretty fancy , and definitely wants to be served over an ice ball. Jeremy Renner is a jerk . If there is a GBBO (which stands for Great British Bake Off, so no need to google it ) and Ted Lasso crossover, they better bake biscuits with the boss. Speaking of GBBO, one of the hosts dressed up as Santa and that's nice. We talked about the paranormal explosion of 2006 when we recorded our first IAD episodes, so just listen to season 1 again because Munro is coming. You might also want to listen to our fantasy romance episode with Zoriada Cordova. More about the monster of the week model. If you're having sexytimes with a telekinetic, the promise of the premise is that they're gonna use those powers during sex! Mad Rogan in the Hidden Legacy series knows his job. Do you know how powerful serging is? If not, check out this story from Talia Hibbert about the time she did some [VERY IMPORTANT romance research.][14] Shadow Dancing is actually a song by Andy Gibb , younger brother of the other Bee Gees. You might want to watch the Bee Gees documentary . You can watch 6 hours about the Beatles , or this three minute clip . Your call! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/12/8/s0415-caressed-by-ice-by-nalini-singh If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 8, 2021

The Trailblazer series continues this week with Elda Minger—author of contemporary and historical romances, including Untamed Heart , which is the first contemporary romance to feature condom use on the page. Elda talks about writing for Vivian Stephens, about writing about women’s bodies, about reproductive choice and about the way romance made space for women during the 70s and 80s. She shares a collection of gorgeous stories about her life as a reader and writer (and a particularly wonderful detour as a bookseller). About the boom of category and contemporary romance in the 1980s, and about the way writing made her who she is. We are thrilled to have found Elda, and that she took time to speak with us and share her wonderful perspective on the genre with us. We can’t think of a better week to share this episode with you. There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid supply chain snafus. 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! Next week, we’re reading Nalini Singh’s Caressed by Ice , number three (and Jen’s favorite) of the Psy-Changeling series. Get it at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , B&N or at your local indie . Show Notes Welcome Elda Minger , author of over 30 romance novels, including Untamed Heart , Harlequin American Romance #12, the first contemporary romance with condoms used on page. In 1987, Elda wrote a column in RWR (the Romance Writer’s Report, an RWA publication) defending the use of contraception in romance novels. Elda was selling Kathleen Woodiwiss's Shanna at the Chicago bookstore chain Kroch and Brentano’s. Elda first Harlequin American Romances were edited by Vivian Stephens. In this interview with Vivian Stephens from the Browne Pop Culture Library archives, she describes the founding of RWA and her move to Harlequin. Names Elda mentioned: Harlequin editor Evelyn Grippo , Harlequin editorial director Fred Kerner , writing coach Marilyn Lowery , Mills & Boon editor Frances Whitehead , Mills and Boon editor Jacqui Bianchi, Loveswept editor Carolyn Nichols , Harlequin editor Debra Matteucci , Harlequin editor Birgit Davis-Todd , Avon editor Nancy Coffey .

Dec 1, 2021

We’re joined this week by author Piper Rayne, who is two authors! Elizabeth Grace (Piper) and Michelle Lynn (Rayne) have written dozens of wildly tropey, wonderfully romantic contemporary romances together. They join us for a few minutes at the start of the episode to talk about how they came to romance and how they write together, and then leave us with a list of questions about publishing, books, and romance recommendations. There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid supply chain snafus. 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! Our next read-along will be Nalini Singh’s Caressed by Ice , number three (and Jen’s favorite) of the Psy-Changeling series. Get them at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , B&N or at your local indie . Show Notes We are joined today by Piper Rayne , an author duo who are about to publish their 50th book, My Unexpected Surprise on December 14, 2021. They won the right to decide the topic of an episode after winning an item in Kennedy Ryan's Lift4Autism auction with Kulture City . We mostly talked about and recommended books today, so check out the photo array for all the books we mentioned in today's episode.

Nov 24, 2021

It’s autumn which means it’s time to start talking holiday seasons and holiday romances here at Fated Mates, so this week, we’re talking about one of Jen’s favorite category trilogies—Tiffany Reisz’s Men At Work series from Harlequin Blaze. These are sexy, subversive romances that turn tropes on their head while delivering delight. There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid supply chain snafus. 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! Our next read-along will be Nalini Singh’s Caressed by Ice , number three (and Jen’s favorite) of the Psy-Changeling series. Get them at Amazon , Apple , Kobo , B&N or at your local indie . Show Notes Tiffany Reisz is the author of the Original Sinners series and several category length romances. The Men at Work series was a Harlequin Blaze, a line that ran between 2001-2017. The ghost story one is called The Headmaster, part of a tiny stand alone Harlequin eBook series called Shivers. We’ve talked about the history of category romance on many episodes: our favorite bonkers old categories from the 80s/90s , with Steve Ammidown on the first acquisitions of Vivian Stephens , and with rare book dealer Rebecca Romney . Harlequin at the end of 2021 has 11 different lines : Desire, Heartwarming, Historical, Intrigue, Medical Romance, Presents, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Special Edition, Love Inspired, and Love Inspired Suspense. The Romance Wars section of Rebecca Romney’s romance catalog starts on page 125 , and it’s fascinating. Amazon began in 1994 , it had 180 thousand accounts in 1996 and a million accounts by the end of 1997. The Sony Reader was on the market starting in 2004, and the first Kindle was in 2007. Kindle Unlimited started in 2014. The Invention of Thanksgiving is a video from T he Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian , it features an interview with Paul Chaat Smith, a member of the Comanche tribe. Debbie Reese has a great thread with resources for children’s books with Native American characters to read or avoid. Sarah recommends the TV show Happy Endings , and Flashdance is has a music video vibe rather than a movie with a plot. Compare and contrast original Loveswept back cover copy to the updated version for Sunny Chandler’s Return by Sandra Brown. Here is an explainer about how there was a traditional belief that Judaism is matrilineal , it is not a belief held by all Jewish people. This essay explains how a 1983 decision from Reform rabbis made room for children of mixed marriages to claim patrilineal descent. Order soon if you want to make sure your Fated Mates Book Pack — 8 of our 10 Best Romance Novels of 2021— from Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/11/19/s0412-the-men-at-work-trilogy-by-tiffany-reisz If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 19, 2021

This week, we’re continuing our Trailblazer episodes with Vincent Virga—author of the Gaywyck trilogy, the first m/m gothic romance, and one of the first m/m romances ending with a happily ever after. He talks about writing gay romance and about the way reading about love and happiness change readers lives. He also shares rich, wonderful stories about his vibrant life as a picture editor in publishing, about the literary set in New York City in the 70s and 80s, about writing during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, about the times in a writer’s life when the words don’t come easily, and about the times when they can’t be stopped. We are honored and so grateful that Vincent took the time to speak with us, and we hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid supply chain snafus. 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! Our next read-alongs will be the Tiffany Reisz Men at Work series, which is three holiday themed category romances. Read one or all of them: Her Halloween Treat , Her Naughty Holiday and One Hot December . Show Notes Welcome Vincent Virga , author of Gaywyck, the first gay gothic romance, and one of the earliest gay romances with a happily ever after. It was published by Avon in 1980. He has written several other novels, including Vadriel Vail and A Comfortable Corner . He was also the premier picture editor in the book industry. He has been with his partner, author James McCourt, author of Mawrdew Czgowchwz , for 56 years. Their collected papers are housed at the Beinecke Library at Yale University . Today is the 41st anniversary of The Ramrod Massacre in New York City, where Vernon Kroening and Jorg Wenz were killed. Six other men were shot and injured inside the bar or on the streets near the Ramrod. Author Malinda Lo and Librarian Angie Manfredi sound the warning bell about the fights that we are facing around access to books and libraries and calls for book banning happening all around the country. Here is what you can do to help support your local library . Check out Runforsomething.net for ideas about local races where you live. Want more Vincent in your life? Here is a great interview from 2019 on a blog called The Last Bohemians , and this 2011 interview on Live Journal . Daisy Buchanan cries that she's never seen such beautiful shirts in The Great Gatsby , and We Get Letters is a song from the Perry Como show. People Vincent mentioned: Susan Sontag , Maria Callas , opera singer Victoria de los Ángeles , editor Elaine Markson , Jane Fonda , Armistead Maupin , poets John Ashbery and James Merrill , Hillary and Bill Clinton , editor Alice Mayhew , Gwen Edelman at Avon Books, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse , publisher Bob Wyatt , John Ehrlichman from Watergate, author Colm Tóibín , poet Mark Doty , Truman Capote , poet and translator Richard Howard , Shelley Winters , John Wayne , Lauren Bacall , and Kim Novak . The museum Vincent was a part of in County Mayo, Ireland, is The Jackie Clarke Collection . The twisty turny secret book that made him a lover of Gothics was Wilkie Collins's Woman in White . Vincent is also a lover of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa , and Henry Bellamann 's King's Row. A few short pieces abaout the AIDS epidemic: the impact of the epidemic on survivors in the queer community , and how the American government ignored the crisis .

Nov 17, 2021

This week, we’re continuing our Trailblazer episodes with Beverly Jenkins—the first Black author of historical romance featuring Black main characters. We talk about her path to romance writing, about how librarians make the best writers, and about her role as the first Black historical romance novelist. We’re also talking about writing in multiple sub genres, about lifting up other authors, and about the importance of the clinch cover. Thank you to Beverly Jenkins for taking the time to talk to us, and share her story. There’s still time to buy the Fated Mates Best of 2021 Book Pack (which includes Beverly’s Wild Rain!) from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid supply chain snafus. 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! Our next read-alongs will be the Tiffany Reisz Men at Work series, which is three holiday themed category romances. Read one or all of them: Her Halloween Treat , Her Naughty Holiday and One Hot December . Show Notes Welcome Beverly Jenkins , the author of more than 50 romance novels , and the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance. You can hear Beverly’s interview on the Black Romance History podcast , and last February, Jen interviewed her for Love’s Sweet Arrow when Wild Rain was released. Wild Rain was also one of our best of 2021 romance novels. Beverly Jenkins's first agent was Vivian Stephens. You can listen to Julie Moody-Freeman's interview with Vivian in two parts on the Black Romance Podcast. Some of the people Beverly mentioned: sweet romance author Laverne St. George , author Patricia Vaughn , author Anita Richmond Bunkley , publisher Walter Zacharius , editor Ellen Edwards , editor Christine Zika , cover designer Tom Egner, author Shirley Hailstock , author Donna Hill , author Brenda Jackson , editor Monica Harris , author Gay Gunn , marketing expert Adrienne di Pietro , editor Erika Tsang , agent Nancy Yost , Romantic Times owner Kathryn Falk , and Gwen Osborne from The Romance Reader . Here’s more information about 1994, the summer of Black love , and here’s a PDF of Beverly Jenkins’s 1995 profile in People Magazine .

Nov 10, 2021

It’s time for our favorite episode of the year — the one when we topple TBR piles! It’s our Best Books of 2021 episode — ten books that got us through this wild, not always great year—books with fabulous heroines, heroes who aren’t sure about feelings, delicious sexy bits, and stories that swing for the fences. You will not be disappointed. Buy the Fated Mates Best of Book Pack in one fell swoop from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA , and get eight of the books on the list, a Fated Mates sticker and other swag! Order the book box as soon as you can to avoid the snafus arising all over from supply chain issues. 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! Our next read-alongs will be the Tiffany Reisz Men at Work series, which is three holiday themed category romances. Read one or all of them: Her Halloween Treat , Her Naughty Holiday and One Hot December . Best Romance Novels of 2021 Hana Khan Carries On Careless Whispers by Synithia Williams Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath Run Posy Run by Cate C. Wells For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes All the Best Nights by Hanna Earnest It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins After the Billionaire's Wedding Vows... by Lucy Monroe The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton Show Notes You can order the Fated Mates Best of 2021 box from Old Town Books in Alexandria. The supply chain is a mess , especially for books. Why does it always seem like cosmetics companies are discontinuing your favorite products? “Big mistake, huge,” is a quote from Pretty Woman, of course. Dario is a psychopath , but Jen wasn’t about to let that stop her. Everyone loves Schitt’s Creek , but you don’t need to know about Alexis Rose to enjoy It Happened One Summer. A Star is a Born has a truly terrible ending , no matter which version of the movie you watched. Author Aviva Blakeman wrote some really thought-provoking threads about groveling and the grand gesture . Jen still loves the grovel, but Aviva's threads are a great reminder of how many ways there are to write a romance. A Carl Sandburg poem about the fog. You know how Jen is.

Nov 3, 2021

2021 has been kind of a mess, honestly, and Sarah hasn’t been reading as much as usual, because *waves hands at the world.* But Hana Khan Carries On is a total delight and exactly the book she needed this year, so we’re reading it with you! We’ll talk about romcoms, authorial voice, podcasting heroines, about how much we enjoy heroes who deserve a bit of cold storage, about writing contemporaries that reflect the time we live in, and about first person narration and why it works really well when it works really well. Also, Sarah tries to get herself invited to hang out with Uzma Jalaluddin and tries to trademark a Ted Lasso reference all in one episode. It’s rough out here. Leave her alone. Get ready for more trailblazers and our Best of 2021 episode this month! Our next read-alongs will be the Tiffany Reisz Men at Work series, which is three holiday themed category romances. Read one or all of them: Her Halloween Treat , Her Naughty Holiday and One Hot December . Show Notes This week’s book is Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin . Her first novel was Ayesha At Last , which was a Pride & Prejudice retelling. Mindy Kaling is adapting Hana Khan for Amazon . The Folio Society has a new version of Georgette Heyer’s Venetia . The introduction is by Stephen Fry , who is a real champion of poetry , including a great book about the joys of reading and writing poetry called The Ode Less Travelled. The dating app invented for Ted Lasso is called Bantr . If you can’t identify different voices, maybe it’s because we all have podcast voice . In the ReadsRomance family, we call Toronto Clean Chicago ….because well, I think it explains itself. The Golden Crescent might be an invented neighborhood for this book, but it seems similar to Toronto’s Crescent Town . If you’d like more information about what it means when food or a restaurant is Halal . Perhaps you do not know about biryani , an Indian delicacy, or poutine , a Canadian one. Jen was right about the meaning of the word pillory . This book has aspects of the 1998 movie You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, which had a terrible ending . From what we can tell, the NPR of Canada is CBC radio. In some recent books, we get an unflinching portrayals of toxic white women on page---characters like Marissa in this book, or Misty in American Dreamer . Adriana Herrera was a guest on last year for an interstitial about the immigrant experience . Our next read-alongs will be the Tiffany Reisz Men at Work series, which is three books. Read one or read them all: Her Halloween Treat , Her Naughty Holiday , and One Hot December . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/11/1/s0408-hana-khan-carries-on-by-uzma-jalaluddin If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 27, 2021

This week, we’re thrilled to have Rebecca Romney with us! Rebecca is a rare books dealer and the woman behind The Romance Novel in English, a 100-lot collection of rare romance novels and other romance-adjacent paraphernalia. We had a great time talking to her about the collection, her motivation to develop it, her hopes for its future at the Lilly Library at the University of Indiana, and about how romance lovers can start thinking about collecting books! We hope you love this one as much as we did! Our next read along is Uzma Jalaluddin’s Hana Khan Carries On . Find it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . Show Notes Welcome Rebecca Romney . She is the cofounder of Type Punch Matrix , a rare books firm based in Washington DC. She started out working at Bauman Rare Books in Las Vegas. You can also watch her in action from old appearances on Pawn Stars where she routinely broke people’s hearts about the values of their rare books. Rebecca recently put together a collection that was purchased by the Lilly Library at the University of Indiana called The Romance Novel in English: A Survey in English 1769-1999. You can follow Lilly Librarian Rebecca on twitter; they sound like a great resource for romance, and for planning a visit! On the episode, we extensively discuss some of the general themes and specific items in the catalogue. Two authors that didn’t make it into the catalogue because Rebecca couldn’t find copies: Eliza Haywood and Evelina by Frances Burney. The Elizabeth Lowell book about a gold dealer in Las Vegas is called Running Scared and is part of the Rarities Unlimited series. Gold books aren't really a thing , but gold leaf and illumiated manuscripts are . Here’s an explainer on The Gutenberg Bible and a clip from Pawn Stars where an individual leaf is available , and here is a page from a 2021 auction site selling a leaf . But remember that bookmaking in China was far more advanced at that time. Or maybe you’d be interested in knowing more about Newton’s Principia . Although I couldn’t find an article about the history of Jewish booksellers, I did find an interview with Adam Kirsch , an author who wrote a book called The People and the Books, about the importance of books to Jewish people throughout history. On our Trailblazers episode with Radclyffe, she talked about the importance of queer bookstores. What is the difference between ARCs and first editions ? Time to check and see if your copy of The Flame and the Flower to see if it's a first edition . Jen called it a garage sale and Sarah called it a Tag sale, which is exactly right considering where they grew up . Foxing isn’t as sexy as you’d think when we’re talking about rare books. The 2019 Rita ceremony included a video of romance firsts . In John Markert’s Publishing Romance: The History of an Industry, 1940s to the Present, he discusses a series called Adam that failed because they were romances only from the hero’s point of view. Time to shake all your Sweet Valley High books out of your closet, fellow Gen-Xers.

Oct 20, 2021

We’re talking minotaurs and spiders and orcs and gargoyles…it’s Monster Romance week at Fated Mates! Jenny Nordbak of the Wicked Wallflowers and Bonkers Romance podcast joins us to talk about this explosive, extremely popular genre that both intrigues and perplexes us. Our next read along is Uzma Jalaluddin’s Hana Khan Carries On . Find it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . This episode sponsored by Radish: Bottomless content; one cute app. Visit radish.social/fatedmates for 24 free coins and to read your first Radish story. Show Notes Welcome Jenny Nordbak . Her first romance, His Leading Lady , was just released, ( Jen did the final developmental edit! ) and she just started the Bonkers Romance podcast with Melody from the Heaving Bosoms podcast. Check it out! Although there is lots of crossover with paranormal or alien, Jenny defines monsters as: creatures who don’t shift into humans, you’d definitely scream if you saw them running down the street, but human enough to be able to bang. Although no one mentioned on the episode, here is the single greatest monster explanation ever seen on twitter . The cartoon Sarah refered to is called The Harkness Test , and it's a reference to Dr. Who. More about what it means to go into the Amazon dungeon --this, of course, is related to attempts to deplatform sex everywhere on the internet . Besialisty cartoon that Sarah is going to look for Baby Jenny imprinted on Fantasia, specifically the centaurs and Chernabog . She also loved the Gargoyles TV show and the orcs in Lord of the Rings . What is Knotting? Here’s listener Alyssa Long’s terrific thread about monsters and disability . Often, writers use ableist tropes in their monster-creation , and Alyssa’s thread talks about how and why this is harmful. (Any mistakes in the summarizing of this thread are Jen’s!) In that thread, Alyssa shared a great article about ableism in the horror genre , and although we loved The Witcher, it reinforced some of the most common problems with putting disabilities on the screen. Sarah is hosting a writing workship to kick of NaNo-- register here !

Oct 13, 2021

This week, we’re continuing our Trailblazer episodes with Radclyffe—author of lesbian romances and founder of the LGBTQIA+ publisher, Bold Strokes Books. We talk about her path to romance as a reader and an author, and a publisher, about the early days of queer romance, about the importance of independent booksellers to the queer community, and about how readers find themselves in books. Thank you to Radclyffe for taking the time to talk to us, and share her story. Our next read along is Uzma Jalaluddin’s Hana Kahn Carries On . Find it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . This episode sponsored by Radish: Bottomless content; one cute app. Visit radish.social/fatedmates for 24 free coins and to read your first Radish story. Show Notes Welcome Radclyffe , romance author and founder of Bold Strokes Books. The internet archive has preserved her fanfiction site . Bookstores mentioned: Giovanni’s Room in Philadelphia , Womancrafts in Provincetown , and an article about the current state of Queer bookstores in America. Publishing and Distributors Radclyffe mentioned: Naiad Press , founded by Barbara Greer , Sarah Aldridge , and Muriel Crawford; Regal Crest Enterprises is now Flashpoint Publications ; Fawcett ; Bella Books founded by Linda Hill; and Alyson Books . Awards mentioned: Lambda Literary Awards , and the RWA Prism award Further Reading: Creating a Literary Culture: A Short, Selective, and Incomplete History of LGBT Publishing, Part I , Part 2 , and Part 3 by Michael Neva in the LARB. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/10/10/s0405-trailblazer-radclyffe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 6, 2021

At some point, we were going to have to talk about fossils, right? Ravished is the bluestocking book that started it all for Sarah, and an absolute classic for Jen. On the reread, we absolutely loved it, which just goes to show that Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) is a total legend. We’ll talk about the appeal of big heroes who know what they want and just go for it, about how difficult it is to write two people who genuinely enjoy each other’s company from the jump, about how awesome it is when a heroine is totally down with doing it in a cave, and about the broad appeal of greatcoats. Our next read along is Uzma Jalaluddin’s Hana Kahn Carries On . Find it at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . Sponsored by Radish: Bottomless content; one cute app. Visit radish.social/fatedmates for 24 free coins and to read your first Radish story. Show Notes Ravished was originally published in 1992 by Jayne Ann Krenz , who has a lot of pen names, including Jayne Taylor, Jayne Bentley, Stephanie James and Amanda Glass. Now she publishes under 3 names: Jayne Ann Krenz (contemporary), Jayne Castle (PNR), and Amanda Quick (historical). She has said, “I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names. The answer is that this way readers always know which of my three worlds they will be entering when they pick up one of my books.” The Bluestocking archetype is about a woman who is interested in science and learning in her own right, and is a reference to the Bluestocking Society , which was founded in the 1750s by Elizabeth Montagu and Elizabeth Vesey. Some hallmarks of a gothic novel are “the discovery of mysterious elements of antiquity” and also handsome men in great coats. All about the waltz and why it was so scandalous . Jen’s thread about fossils , which are just a McGuffin . Maybe you are more interested than Jen and would like to learn about how to fake a fossil. Author Vanessa Riley is committed to reviving bananas regency names for men. In A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby , the hero’s name is Busick. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/10/3/s0404-ravished-by-amanda-quick If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 29, 2021

We’re doing a big one this week — secret babies! We’re talking the babies and the pregnancies—and why they are such a juggernaut in romance. We’re talking about why people are all in on secret babies or absolutely all out on them, we’re pinpointing the itch they scratch and why have they installed such buttons in so many of us, and we’re getting to the bottom to why these secret babies are often sired by billionaires. It’s a ride. Next week, our first read along is Amanda Quick’s Ravished —which Sarah describes as “Harriet, in a cave, with a rake.” It’s great. Get reading at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . Sponsored by Radish: Bottomless content; one cute app. Visit radish.social/fatedmates for 24 free coins and to read your first Radish story. Show Notes The secret baby trope can be broken down into secret baby or secret child. Secret pregnancy is just earlier on the timeline, while surprise pregnancy. Often, a secret baby plot happens because there is a fear that the baby is in danger. More about the word Interstitial . We recently re-released our bodily autonomy interstitial from 2019. If you are on Facebook, join Sarah’s OSCRB group (Old School Romance Book Club ) if you want more romance talk. On some old school covers, you see lots of people with gravity defying hair. Sarah mentioned the “Four Js” and she meant these old school historical romance powerhouses: Johanna Lindsay , Jude Deveraux , Julie Garwood , and Judith McNaught . The most dangerous third rail in romance is cheating . More about “the heir and the spare.” The Right Stuff is a movie about astronauts, but Terms of Endearment is the movie where Jack Nicholson plays an astronaut. The movie was released in late 1983, and Long Time Coming was released in 1988. The Cut went ahead and published two pieces about Sally Rooney’s latest book, and they loved the sex in Rooney's book and think folks want more , but somehow they’ve never heard of genre romance. Given that description of the book Sarah was looking for, Jen thinks if it exists, it could have been a Harlequin Blaze , rather than a Loveswept or a Desire. But who knows! Next week, we’re reading Ravished , a 1992 historical about fossils by Amanda Quick. Yes, actual fossils .

Sep 22, 2021

The Trailblazers conversations begin this week with the brilliant, fearless Sandra Brown—aka Erin St. Clair and Rachel Ryan. We talk about everything from her first books, acquired by Vivian Stephens for Candlelight Ecstasy, about how Slow Heat in Heaven was her personal game changer, about the beginnings of romantic suspense, and about what makes a Sandra Brown novel, the most recent of which, Blind Tiger, was released last month. Thank you to Sandra Brown for taking the time to talk to us, and share her story. We’ve got an interstitial episode coming your way next week, but our first read along (in two weeks) is Amanda Quick’s Ravished —which Sarah describes as “Harriet, in a cave, with a rake.” It’s great. Get reading at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . You have two weeks to read, but in the meantime, sit back, relax, and let us give you a preview of what's to come! Don't forget to like and follow in your favorite podcasting platform! Show Notes Welcome to our first trailblazer, romance legend Sandra Brown . Her latest release is Blind Tiger, which was her 73rd book on the New York Times bestseller list. Blind Tiger is a thriller set in Texas during the 1920s. Prohibition went into effect on January 1, 1920. In Texas, the town of Glen Rose was the Moonshine Capital of Texas. The Ford Model T was the first mass produced American car. Here’s a video of the actual driving experience of the 1915 model. If you’d like to see a bunch of Model Ts in the same place, you can visit the winter home of Thomas Edison in Fort Myers, Florida. Henry Ford visited so often that he eventually bought the home next door . Prohibition and moonshining gave birth to NASCAR . Sandra’s first books were bought by Vivian Stephens for Candlelight Ecstasy under the pen name Rachel Ryan. She wrote for Silhouette under the name Erin St. Clair, and for Pocket as Laura Jordan. Carolyn Nichols at Loveswept wanted authors to use their real names , and now all of Sandra's books have been rereleased under her own name. Sandra appeared on the cover of one of her own Loveswepts, The Rana Look , with actor Mclean Stevenson . Some of the romance authors Sandra mentioned: Paris Afton Bonds , Candace Camp , Mary Lynn Baxer , Nora Roberts , Jayne Ann Krentz , Barbara Delinksy . Some of the thriller/mystery writers Sandra mentioned: Helen MacInnes , Evelyn Anthony , Gayle Lynds , David Morrell , and Lee Child .

Sep 14, 2021

Season Four starts today, you Magnificent Firebirds! Season One gave us a full lAD deep dive (if you’ve never read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, general existential malaise is a really good reason to start), and Season Two gave us The Books That Blooded Us -- the books that made us the romance readers we are. Season Three was during a pandemic, so just let us live (but also, there was a Roy Kent episode)! Now, Season Four is here, and we have — dare we say — a plan? We’re going to deep dive on books that are new and fabulous, old and transformative, and generally reveal how vast and magnificent the romance pool can get. We’ve got some great interstitials planned, including some fabulous, brilliant guests on deck…and when Munro is released, we’ll (obviously) drop everything and read with you! But we’ve got something new and different to add to the mix — a collection of interviews with trailblazers of the genre—the people who have built the romance house over the last fifty years. We’re already blown away by who we have on deck, with many many more to come! Stick with us, it’s going to be a terrific ride. We begin our read alongs in two weeks with a delicious book that did not bring romance the bluestocking, but definitely made sure we all knew who she was. It’s Amanda Quick’s Ravished —which Sarah describes as “Harriet, in a cave, with a rake.” It’s great. Get reading at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . You have two weeks to read, but in the meantime, sit back, relax, and let us give you a preview of what's to come! Don't forget to like and follow in your favorite podcasting platform! Show Notes The only Fated Mates episode where one of us was absent was back when Sarah was sick and Kate came on to talk about sickbed scenes --It was March of 2020 and we weren’t as Coronavirus-aware as we thought. Keeping our fingers crossed that the FDA will approve the vaccination for kids between 5 and 12. Health care workers are facing increasingly hostile and frightening aggression from anti-vaxxers. We were ahead of the ball on calling Ted Lasso as a romance. You should follow Phil Dunster , the actor who plays Jamie Tartt, on Twitter. Last week, Roy and Jamie had a heartbreaking and perfect moment. All about gaffing and scatting . Hannah Waddingham is from the theater world, so maybe that’s why we didn’t realize her brilliance before this show. Apparently we just didn’t realize she was on Game of Thrones, which sounds terrible. Kresley sent a newsletter and let everyone know that she might have news this month about Munro and the next book in the Arcana chronicles. You can change the time zone of your Kindle , but I don’t think the books arrive any earlier. The Flame and the Flower was published in 1972. We will not do a read along of the book, but we will talk about its influence on the genre. Julie Moody-Freeman, host of the Black Romance Podcast , was a guest on Fated Mates at the end of season two . Here’s a New Yorker profile of Nora Roberts from 2009, and a People magazine story on Danielle Steel from 2014 . Many of romance's writers and editors have already passed. Two we mentioned: Carolyn Nichols, the original editor for Loveswept, died in 2017 , and legendary author Johanna Lindsey died in 2019. 24 ounces is a lot of fluid . Our first season four read-along will be Ravished by Amanda Quick .

Sep 1, 2021

We promised you fun stuff while we are on Hiatus, and here we are! Last week, more than 700 of you joined us for a Fated Mates LIVE to celebrate Sarah’s new book, Bombshell ! We had a great time talking to some of our favorite people, playing games, talking about thighsexuality, 19th Century surgery, and, of course, girl gangs in pop culture. Thanks to our faves: Andie J. Christopher, Kate Clayborn, Alexis Daria, Adriana Herrera, Sophie Jordan, Christina Lauren, Diana Quincy, Kennedy Ryan and Joanna Shupe for celebrating with us, and to Northshire Bookstore , East City Bookshop , Katy Budget Books , Old Town Books & Mysterious Galaxy for being fabulous independent bookstores that always support romance novels. We’re starting Season 4 in two weeks…we hope this helps tide you over until then! For more from the event, check this Twitter thread .

Aug 24, 2021

Sarah has a new book out, so Jen is playing host this week, and Sarah is playing guest, and Jen is really extremely good at it…so pour yourself a glass of whatever you’re drinking and get ready! And don’t miss the first two chapters of the Bombshell audiobook at the end of the episode! If you haven’t purchased Bombshell yet, you can find it wherever books are sold, and at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . This episode wraps up Season 3! Jen’s taking Lil’Romance to college, Sarah’s taking a break from social media, and we’ll be back in September with Season 4. Don’t worry, though, there will be a few little audio treats dropping on Wednesdays so you don’t miss us too much. (we will miss you, though. obviously.) Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Bombshell is here! The audiobook is narrated by Mary Jane Wells , and she’s one of Jen’s favorite narrators. Maybe you want to watch the Amazons fighting in the Wonder Woman movie, just for vibes. The Soiled S’s are the five Talbot sisters: Seraphina, Sesily, Seleste, Seline, and Sophie. Seraphina and Sophie each had their own books, and Seleste and Seline were married in the background of the series. A series bible is used by writers as a reference document for the world they’ve made. Some of our favorite movies with a crew and/or a heist movies: The A-Team, Ocean’s Eight, and the Avengers. The first of Louisa Edward’s chef romances is called Can’t Stand the Heat . Queen Victoria was on the throne from 1837-1901, and here is an overview of the hallmarks of her reign and what it was like for women during that era . Here’s a brief history of Scotland Yard . The word bombshell dates back to 1708 . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/8/21/s0354-bombshell If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 18, 2021

Today we’re joined by Farrah Rochon, author of The Dating Playbook , to talk sports romances! We talked sports way back in season 1 (links below), but this is one of those tropes we’re always happy to dig into! We get to the bottom of Farrah’s love of football, we talk about competence porn and the human body as a superior tool, and we recommend a LOT of B O O K S! Don’t miss Fated Mates LIVE! to celebrate the release of Sarah’s next book, BOMBSHELL! Join us and some of our very favorite people on August 24th! Tickets are a copy of the book, and available at five participating romance friendly bookstores. Get them here ! NEXT WEEK IS BOMBSHELL WEEK! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org , or at one of the participating romance-friendly bookstores hosting the Fated Mates Live/Virtual Bombshell Launch ! Orders will come with a Fated Mates Sticker! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Welcome Farrah Rochon ! Her newest book, The Dating Playbook just came out yesterday. She has another football series, the New York Sabres. The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing begin on February 4th, 2022. Here’s an explainer for dressage , an Olympic equestrian event. The horse at the club dressage video on twitter , Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart watching the same video . The 1984 category romance about a woman competing in Equestrian events at the Olympics was originally called Summer Games and later changed to Remember Summer (which is available as an eBook), and it was by Elizabeth Lowell not Iris Johansen. How the horses travel to Tokyo , how the ice is made , and other articles about new sports at this year’s Olympics . All about Rune , the Danish Destroyer . In season one, we did a fake engagement interstitial , but it’s a very popular trope in 2021 . Texas football culture is legendary , just look at some Texas high school football stadiums , including the one in Katy. If you’re ever in Katy, we highly recommend a trip to Katy Budget Books . You might be interested in this article with statistics breaking down the average age of professional athletes by sport , and this list of oldest professional athletes by sport . The question of which Olympics sports have the oldest and youngest athletes is always a fascinating one. This year, the youngest athletes were 12: Syrian tennis table player Hend Zaza and Japanese skateboarder Kokona Hiraki. The oldest athlete is Australian equestrian Mary Hanna, who is 66. We interviewed Susan Elizabeth Phillips and also did a deep dive on the third book in the Chicago Stars series, Nobody’s Baby But Mine . Pitch was a Fox show that was cancelled before its time. It turns out there are two real life ex-NFL players, Brian Orakpo and Michale Griffin who opened Gigi’s Cupcake shop in Texas. So just read this article over and over again until we get all the deets on Jamie Wesley ’s forthcoming series. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/8/17/s0353-sports-romance-interstitial-with-farrah-rochon If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 11, 2021

Surprising absolutely no one, we love an assassin here at Fated Mates! We basically love any character who has been through the wringer and also can kill a man fourteen different ways before dinner. Even better if it’s a heroine, and she’s been hired to kill the hero (or vice versa). Anyway, we’re talking about why these books (and so! many! movies!) scratch that particular itch for us. Spoiler: It’s beautiful people blowing things up, obvi. Don’t miss Fated Mates LIVE! to celebrate the release of Sarah’s next book, BOMBSHELL! Join us and some of our very favorite people on August 24th! Tickets are a copy of the book, and available at five participating romance friendly bookstores. Get them here ! Speaking of BOMBSHELL, it is our next read along! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org , or at one of the participating romance-friendly bookstores hosting the Fated Mates Live/Virtual Bombshell Launch ! Orders will come with a Fated Mates Sticker! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes The game Assassin’s Creed first came out in 2007, and now there are so many different versions , and in many of them, you can garrote someone if you are so moved. Sarah's favorite is Assassin's Creed Syndicate , which is set in Victorian London. We mentioned so many movies and TV shows with assassins: John Wick , The Bourne Identity , Gunpowder Milkshake ( and its many weapons ), Suicide Blonde , Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon , Kill Bill , Mr. and Mrs. Smith , James Bond , Black Widow , Le Femme Nikita , The Saint , Grosse Pointe Blank , Desperado , and The Witcher . More about some of the super camera angles we are seeing at the Tokyo Olympics . Jack Reacher isn’t as assassin as much as he’s a vigilante. Also, he doesn’t know how to use a washing machine. Rege-Jean Page signed up to make a remake of The Saint , and Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge are remaking Mr. and Mrs. Smith , and we’re not sad about any of it. Iocane powder is from The Princess Bride, of course. Listen when you read Sweet Ruin you'll definitely want to go back to season 1 and listen to our deep dive epsiode . Because it is great. We also talked a bunch about romances with paid killers in the Spy Romance and Mafia Romance interstitials. As Jen was working on show notes, she discovered the book Killing Sarai was adapted into a Spanish language action movie called “En Brazos de un Asesino,” which translates to “In the Arms of an Assassin.” You can stream it on any number of services, including Amazon Prime Video. Check out all the programming for Bookstore Romance Day , August 21-22, 2021. We are having a live episode of Fated Mates to celebrate the launch of Bombshell on August 24th at 7 eastern, to get a ticket, you'll need to buy a copy from one of these indie bookstores. (If you already pre-ordered from WORD in Brooklyn, you'll get log in details in an email.) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/8/10/s0352-assassins-and-hitmen-in-romance-interstitialt If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 4, 2021

Adriana Herrera, a FIVE-TIMER, joins us this week to talk about the third-rail of romance…infidelity! We’re talking about cheating, and about all the other bits related to it: mistresses, courtesans, illegitimate children, sex work…and get your pencils ready because (of course) we’re toppling TBRs with this one. Don’t miss Fated Mates LIVE! to celebrate the release of Sarah’s next book, BOMBSHELL! Join us and some of our very favorite people on August 24th! Tickets are a copy of the book, and available at five participating romance friendly bookstores. Get them here ! Speaking of BOMBSHELL, it is our next read along! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org , or at one of the participating romance-friendly bookstores hosting the Fated Mates Live/Virtual Bombshell Launch ! Orders will come with a Fated Mates Sticker! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes Welcome to five-timer Adriana Herrera , our very own Rizzo , and her Pink Lady jacket is on the way. PS. It was only in working on these show notes that Jen realized that Rizzo’s first name is Betty. The phrase “safe romance” is used in online spaces to describe books without a single molecule of infidelity energy. Infidelity in evangelical christianity (and everywhere, honestly) often places the blame on the wife if her husband strays and also on “the evil other woman” -- in this model, you know who’s not to blame? Men. And that’s pure patriarchy. Lavender wasn’t invented because it’s a plant and its known history dates back 2500 years. Courtesan culture was inextricably tied to colonialism in India , in China , and in the USA . Summer Brennan’s patreon about The Book of Courtesans. Hallie Rubenhold's Covent Garden Ladies , which is the book that inspired the Hulu TV show Harlots , is about Harris's List of London "working girls." The Spanish word for wife is esposa , which means handcuffs or manacles, while the word for mistress is amante , which means beloved. We have had some deep dive episodes where there is infidelity: Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath and Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas There are so many bastards in historical romance , partly because it’s an easy on-ramp for creating a character who is an outsider. Ethical non-monogamy is the practice of talking to your partner(s) about the boundaries of your relationship. Polyamorous and Open relationships would fall into this category. On Maryse’s Book Blog , there was a 2015 post about cheating in romance , and most of the titles are self-published and indie. Sarah talked about Lorenzo Lamas and Dynasty and Jen and her brother Mike talked about Santa Barbara on Adriana’s Instagram Live conversations about telenovelas and soap operas. We are having a live episode of Fated Mates to celebrate the launch of Bombshell on August 24th at 7 eastern , to get a ticket, you'll need to buy a copy from one of these indie bookstores. (If you already pre-ordered from WORD in Brooklyn, you'll get log in details in an email.) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/8/1/s0351-mistresses-courtesans-and-cheating-in-romance-interstitial-with-adriana-herrera If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 29, 2021

We’re nearing the end of Season Three and we are so happy to be reading one of the most delightful books in modern historical romance, Cat Sebastian’s Unmasked by the Marquess . We talk about Cat’s masterful plotting within a three-act structure, about friendship, trust and sacrifice in relationships, and about writing a modern historical while still delivering the bananas plots that made the early books in the genre the best. We also announce our next Fated Mates LIVE! to celebrate the release of Sarah’s next book, BOMBSHELL! Join us and some of our very favorite people on August 24th! Tickets are a copy of the book, and available at five participating romance friendly bookstores. Get them here ! Our next read along is Sarah’s BOMBSHELL! Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org , or signed via Sarah’s local indie, WORD , or one of the participating romance-friendly bookstores hosting the Fated Mates Live/Virtual Bombshell Launch ! Orders from WORD or the launch sponsors will come with a Fated Mates Sticker! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful. Show Notes The virtual launch event for Bombshell will be on Tuesday Aug 24 at 7eastern/4 pacific. If you pre-ordered a signed book from Word! , keep an eye out for details for how to join the event. Unmasked by the Marquess received excellent reviews from Kirkus , Publisher’s Weekly , and the New York Times . A guide to nonbinary pronouns . The audiobook of Unmasked by the Marquess is great, and narrated by Joel Leslie. Cat Sebastian is a fanfiction expert and routinely talks about some of her favorite fics. If you don’t know, the Stucky ship of Cap & Bucky is the most written about ship on Ao3. “Natural child” was the nice way of saying that a child was born out of wedlock. The mean way, of course, is bastard . More about the three act structure. This is a great interview with Cat Sebastian in Jezebel about writing queer characters in historical romance. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/7/26/s0350-unmasked-by-the-marquess-by-cat-sebastian If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 22, 2021

Two episodes this week! Huzzah! Today we’re joined by the extremely delightful, extremely brilliant Nicola Yoon to discuss her extremely romantic new book, Instructions for Dancing, and YA Romance in general! We talk about Nicola’s love of romance novels (which she shares with the heroine of her book), about her history with them, and about what makes YA Romance so extremely delicious. We also talk about her new project with the Obamas and her new imprint for young readers at Random House. Our next read along (next week! we told you it was coming!) is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Nicola Yoon! Along with Instructions for Dancing , she and five other Black women authors just published the Blackout anthology, which has been picked up by the Obamas for TV and film for Netflix. Nicola and her husband David Yoon are also creating the Yooniverse, including a new YA romance imprint called Joy Revolution at Random House . Poltergeist and its infamous curse scared everyone back in the 80. Nicola wasn’t sure what imprint she was reading when she found her first romance under her aunt's bed, but she mentioned Harlequin Blaze, one of our all time favorite imprints which was shuttered in 2017. Just a quick reminder that HFN means “happy for now” and HEA means “happily ever after.” YA has evolved over time , a process which has ramped up in the past 20 years and is now a publishing juggernaut. YA is far more progressive that adult romance , but also grapples with the influence of adult readers of all kinds and gatekeepers who want to stop kids from reading about sex & gender, race, and other issues around identity . According to the Library of Congress, most of the earliest entries from Urban Dictionary date back to 2003. Before Covid, It used to be hard to explain the terrifying rise of HIV was in the 1980s, along with the way the Reagan administration ignored the epidemic. This timeline tells the history of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and here is an explainer for why Covid vaccinations were developed so fast when we still don’t have one for HIV. The Heads of Your Enemies as love language appears in Shadow’s Claim , when Trehan literally gives this gift to Bettina while they are courting. The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of the Scheherazade story , which is the framing device for The Arabian Nights . If you are GenX or Millenial and were a reader, you’ll love the book Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of 80s and 90s Teen Fiction . It's full of images, so read it in paper or on a full-color reading device! Jessica Trent is a different thing entirely than Jessica Wakefield. Along with other changes, the Sweet Valley High twins are size 4 now, which we don’t like at all. I Believe in a Thing Called Love was also just optioned for Netflix, but they aren’t going to have much luck checking The Wirecutter for road spike recommendations, because this was the closest thing I could find to them. “ The Hellmouth or whatever,” is a reference to Sunnydale, the setting of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You can pre-order signed copies of Sarah's Bombshell from WORD in Brooklyn, and you'll get a Fated Mates sticker with your signed book! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/7/20/s0349-ya-romance-interstitial-with-nicola-yoon If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 20, 2021

“Hang on,” we can hear you saying, “isn’t this a romance novel podcast?” It absolutely is, and that’s why we’re dropping a very special episode about the character who is the most perfect on-screen version of a romance hero that ever there was: Captain of the AFC Richmond team, Roy Kent. Added bonus, we’re joined by Jen’s brother Erik to talk sports stories (and check in on Jürgen Klopp). Spoilers abound, so if you haven’t watched Season 1, do that first! Our next read along is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Ted Lasso season two starts this Friday, and the reviews look great . Also, if you haven't read this GQ profile of Jason Sudeikis , you are missing out. In season 2, we talked about Cinnamon Roll heroes , as compared to Alpha heroes . Grunting is definitely an alpha hero trait. We love Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca) and Juno Temple (Keeley) and that’s all we have to say about that. Apparently, there are ways to watch Apple TV Plus shows even if you don’t have an Apple Device. Who knew! You, too, can bake Ted’s biscuits . USAians have a different relationship with Soccer than the rest of the world . Perhaps you need a primer on the Premier League, promotion and relegation , the average age of Premier League players , and just how popular is Premier League football really is. Fated Mates has a favorite team, it’s Liverpool , and it’s basically because of our favorite stern brunch daddy TM , Jürgen Klopp. Stern Brunch Daddy(tm) is the invention of Andie J. Christopher , friend of the pod, who has a new book out this week! Richmond is a fake team, but that won’t stop you from buying gear to show your team spirit. This year, London was home to six Premier League teams: Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Tottenham, and West Ham United. Yes, Jen hates it when young characters make ancient pop culture references in romances , but in this case, Indiana Jones is appropriate for people our age! Go ahead and write I Love You on your eyelids! More about the story of how Brett Goldstein got the part of Roy Kent . Jen’s sister-in-law Janine writes for TV and she’s kind of a big deal! Susan Elizabeth Philips was a guest a few weeks ago, and she talked about the trope of the grizzled veteran at the end of his career and how it’s a hallmark of the Chicago Stars series. Jen mentioned a series of soccer romances-- it’s the Atlanta Skyline series by Rebecca Crowley. You know, Roy Kent really should have tried to get that Rolex back . In a New York Times article about adapting romance to TV and film , Outlander showrunner Matthew B. Roberts “found that voice-over sequences left actors standing around with nothing to play against. Interior monologue has to become exterior dialogue. ‘That’s our biggest challenge always.’ “It’s witched” was a joke from our very first episode , in case you’re into that sort of thing. That German word (phrase?) is sturm und drang and it means turmoil. No topping from the bottom. Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey is an archetype that values community building over individualism, we like the latest iteration from Gail Carriger. Rupert Mannion is the woooooorst . That darts scene is awesome though, and if you want to read a contemporary romance set in a pub that includes darts playing, Sarah wrote one ! Other sports TV shows and movies we mentioned: Friday Night Lights , Sports Night , The League , Bull Durham , and Major League . Maybe you didn’t know that the character of Ted Lasso originated in a series of TV commercials for NBC. Bill Lawrence was a producer for Spin City and Scrubs, which were other funny workplace comedies. In the past few weeks, Italy won the Euro 2020 and Argentina won the Copa America . And the Olympics football competition will be interesting since men’s teams are limited to players under 23 years of age. FYI, the US Soccer Federation is pretty awful . For Generation X and Millenials, soccer was a big deal. If you are interested in a family friendly sports outing, maybe your city has a professional soccer team ! The Chicago Fire is awesome , and New York has two teams ! The 1994 World Cup was played in the USA , and Sarah remembered the name of defender Alexi Lalas . Now he’s a commentator and we would like him to do better . So there are trick plays in football and . . . well, football. The last few decades of television have focused on the antihero , and lots of people wonder if that didn’t help create our recent political moment. It’s hard to beat the fan experience of singing You’ll Never Walk Alone at Anfield; but Erik recommends this 2019 video of the team and fans singing after Liverpool defeated Barcelona . The version in the last episode of season 1 of Ted Lasso is this one by Marcus Mumford. Follow AFC Richmond , Ted Lasso , Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein on Twitter. Jürgen Klopp does not have Twitter because "he is a grown man with a job ." You can preorder signed copies of Bombshell from Word in Brooklyn , buttons and stickers from Best Friend Kelly , and Fated Mates merch from Jordan Dene. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/7/18/s0348-is-roy-kent-a-romance-hero-the-ted-lasso-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 14, 2021

It’s Taboo Romance week! We’re thrilled to be joined by Nikki Sloane, whose books we’ve adored for years here on FM. We talk about what makes a romance taboo, about why readers are drawn to taboo stories, and about whether taboo romance is empirically erotic. Our next read along is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Nikki Sloane! We discussed her novel Three Little Mistakes in season two. Her latest release in the Filthy Rich Americans series, The Redemption, won the Holt Award from the Virginia Romance Writers Association and has been nominated for the inaugural Vivian Award from the Romance Writers of America. We had an episode about age-gap romance , but when the woman is older sometimes we use the phrase Cougar, which I do not recommend googling! Taboo romance is difficult to define. But on the episode, we talked about three major ideas: it explores power dynamics, it contains an element of the forbidden, and is makes readers viscerally feel that the relationship is “wrong.” However, Nikki also used the phrase “universal taboos” to describe topics so forbidden--beastality and incest--that they could never be a part of romance. In a Florida high school, the necklines of women and girls were photoshopped (without their knowledge) if there was too much cleavage. We’ve been digging the priest taboo since The Thorn Birds , and it was revived in pop culture by the TV show Fleabag . We discussed Sierra Simone’s Priest in season two. As we reckon with #MeToo, we are all thinking about and redefining power dynamics in our culture . Incest is a common trope in horror and other gothic stories , it didn’t originate with Flowers in the Attic . Don’t forget to preorder signed copies of Bombshell from Word in Brooklyn. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/7/13/s0347-taboo-romance-interstitial-with-nikki-sloane If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 7, 2021

We are so excited to have absolute romance legend Susan Elizabeth Phillips with us to discuss every fangirly question we had for her! We talked about her new book, When Stars Collide , the latest in the Chicago Stars series, about her role in inventing the sports romance, about the opera and the way she thinks about her career after a few decades of writing. We had the BEST time. Our next read along, sometime in July, is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Susan Elizabeth Phillips ! We talked about an earlier book in the Chicago Stars series, Nobody’s Baby But Mine in season two. Speaking of amazing stories about opera singers, last week, an opera singer in Pennsylvania gave birth in the car while her husband was driving. As it turns out, the Opera in Verona is a pretty big deal! If you’re ever in Chicago, go to The Lyric Opera and then let Jen know because she wants someone to go with her. The Chicago Children’s Choir is amazing, too and they often collaborate with the CSO and Lyric Opera. All you need to know about the totally awesome Chicago Flag , and why it's better than most city flags . The Dangerous Men, Adventurous Women anthology , which explored the genre from the perspective of romance authors instead of academics, was published in 1992. Jen was on Learning the Tropes to talk about Kiss an Angel if you want to hear more about it. There are really cool things and really bad things about the Chicago River. You can preorder signed copies of Bombshell from Word Bookstore in Brooklyn. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/7/6/s0346-susan-elizabeth-phillips If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 30, 2021

We promised you an episode on Dark Romance and truthfully we’re pretty proud of how well we’ve delivered. We’ve got Kenya Goree-Bell, Nisha Sharma, Joanna Shupe and Jo Brenner with us today to dig deep on this subgenre that we don’t read regularly. We are endlessly grateful for their guidance through this end of the romance pool! We talk about what makes a romance “dark,” about how dark romance differs from morality chain and taboo romance, and about why dark romance resonates with so many readers. Oh, and yes, if you’re curious, we fill your TBR pile (obvi). Stay tuned at the end of the episode for additional reflections from Sarah & Jen. CONTENT NOTE: Because Dark Romance can include all sorts of problematic content, we don’t shy away from many of those topics in this episode. Proceed with caution, both in listening and in reading. AUDIO NOTE: Due to countless irregularities, expected and unexpected, the audio in this episode isn’t up to our normal standards. But it sounds fine. Our next read along, sometime in July, is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome our panel of dark romance experts: Kenya Goree-Bell , Nisha Sharma , Joanna Shupe , and Jo Brenner . The hallmarks and tenets of Dark Romance All dubious consent and non-consent romance is dark romance (although not all dark romance has dubcon or nonconsensual elements). It’s about what the HEA is made up of: If the non-aggressor or non-villian moves into the dark (rather than pulling the other into the light), then it would qualify as dark romance. Often the aggressor/villain is static, while the non-aggressor finds their light or strength in the new world they exist in. This person does all the work and learns how to navigate a life around the aggressor and their world. These are not stories of love redeeming, but rather of learning to find love and happiness with the person (people) in front of you. The characters are suffering from current or past psychological or physical trauma. The non-aggressor represents the last bits of humanity that the aggressor has to hold on to. Dark romance explores a relationship where only one person has strains of humanity and the impact it has on a person without it. The evil and violence of the aggressor must take place on the page. Some Terms we'll use on this episode Consensual non-consent (non-con) : is when romantic partners engage “in behaviors that may include role-playing nonconsensual behaviors, or may involve negotiating sexual behaviors where one partner agrees to give up consent during certain behaviors or relationships.” This can include fantasizing about rape and kidnapping, and lots of women have complicated feelings about these fantasies. Dubious consent (dub-con): is the gray area between full, enthusiastic consent and rape. A person hasn't give outright consent to having sex and might not consider it rape; however, some other factor prevents them from saying no. The Aggressor: rather than use hero/heroine, Jo started using aggressor and non-aggressor as a way of talking about chracters who exhibit very non-heroic behavior. The skin suit: What Jen calls the experience of reading a book where she wants more distance between herself and the main characters. The Murder Meal: Sarah noticed that a common trope of dark romance is a meal where blood is shed and people still continue to eat. More Notes You may have listened to our Morality Chain episode , where we made a graphic explaining how it differs from dark romanc e. Next month, Nikki Sloane will join us to discuss taboo romance. It’s not Mordor unless you’re a hobbit. Sarah is not opposed to elevensies, so it's fine. Earlier this year, there was a Saturday Night Live skit about women watching The Murder Show. Why do women like reading about serial killers? Did you see this essay in Slate about a woman who thinks she slept with a man who went on to be a serial killer ? Game of Thrones and it’s penchant for sexual violence is still influencing pop culture. The only thing that’s forbidden in dark romance is cheating, which shows how firmly these books are rooted in the romance genre, as compared to the rampant cheating by male characters The Godfather and other mafia movies , but this is often rooted in obsession rather than a belief in monogamy. While there's very little (possibly no) research on readers of dark romance, but there's lots of research on the horror genre. Sarah’s friend Micol Ostow , who writes YA horror recommended this essay about the "spectacle of the ruined body." Meanwhile, Jen follows Becky Spratford , a librarian and horror expert , who says that one thing romance and horror have in common is they are both “genres of emotion.” There’s some research on horror and spoilers from Jonathan Leavitt & Nicholas Christenfeld which indicates that spoilers might allow people to enjoy a story more fully. Perhaps dark romance readers, regardless of what terrible things happen, can safely continue reading because they know there will be an HEA. Why do we like to watch and read media where characters are undergoing trauma? In The Paradox of Horror: Fear as a Positive Emotion, Katerina Bantinaki explains how readers experience reading about fear and trauma. Related: [(Why) Do You Like Scary Movies? By G. Neil Martin. A highly gendered kind of world exists in many m/f Dark Romances, and the article Her Body, Himself: Gender in Slasher Films by Carol Clover explores how similar themes play out in horror movies. As Nisha said, there are queer and polyamarous dark romance and a few the panel recommends are Soul Survivor by Daniel de Lorne , the Wicked Villains Series by Katee Robert , Trouble or the Darkness trilogy by Nora Ash, and Manipulate by Pam Godwin. Stockholm Syndrome isn’t real, quelle surprise , but it still a popular idea in pop culture of all kinds. Many dark romance novels show characters using extreme or maladaptive coping strategies in an attempt to heal themselves or others without the help of therapists or medicine, a particularly American problem since so few people have adequate (if any) coverage for mental health. Dark romance runs long, they’re all “Zack Snyder cut” books. We speculated that there are two reasons for the length of many of these books: 1) The books are long because the trauma on page must have an equal or greater redemption arc. Readers must believe that the non-agressor has fully accepted the bad deeds of the aggressor in order to believe the HEA. 2) Many of these books are on KU, which means authors are getting paid by the page. Like Charles Dickens, the incentive is to write longer to increase their pay.

Jun 23, 2021

We’re back to read alongs this week! We’re big Kylie Scott fans here at Fated Mates, and we talked about her Stage Dive series all the way back in Season One on our very first interstitial , and now we’re doing a deep dive. We’d intended to do book three, Lead , but we ended up talking about all four, and honestly, rereading this was pretty great for us. We hope it was great for you, too. Our next read along, sometime in July, is Cat Sebastian’s wonderful Unmasked by the Marquess . Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Sarah has a book coming on August 24th! Preorder Bombshell now. You won't regret it. Everyone is struggling with getting dressed again. It’s a 1001 in the 1001 Dark Nights series as an homage and allusion to Scheherazade , the story-teller of the Arabian Nights. We also love the VIP series by Kristen Callihan , and the 4th book in that series, Exposed , comes out next month, July 2021. On our upcoming episode with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, where she told us that back in the day, “rock stars, actors, and athletes” were not allowed in the early days of romance. We aren’t sure why, but we speculate that it was fear of putting “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” and other high roller lifestyles on page. If you want to join the OSRBC group (Old School Romance Book Club) on Facebook, make sure to answer the three questions if you want to be admitted. Beverly Jenkins liked the Stage Dive series, too. Andi Arndt is the narrator of all Kylie’s books, including the entire Stage Dive series, and Jen thinks she is terrific. The Captains’ Vegas Vows has a similar set up to Lick: waking up married in Vegas, and only one of them remembered what happened. “Retcon” is a word that started out as shorthand for retroactive continuity, and here’s a piece from Merriam-Webster explaining its remarkable elasticity. Hyperemesis gravidarum is the medical term for severe morning sickness, which affects about one percent of pregnant people. DC comics claims that Batman doesn’t go down , but the internet and everyone else on twitter and even Zach Snyder disagred. But in all seriousness, maybe it's just another interesting data point about America turning back towards the Hays Code and continuing to remove sex from all kinds of media . Thelma and Louise does have a great ending , you can’t argue with that. And since 2021 is the 30th anniversary of the film’s release, there are lots of interesting retrospectives on the movie. Desmond Morris is an English zoologist who outlined the 12 stages of intimacy -- hey, humans are animals, too! Our July interviews will be with Susan Elizabeth Phillips , Nicola Yoon , and Nikki Sloane . Our July read-along is Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/6/19/s0344-the-stage-dive-series-by-kylie-scott If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 16, 2021

We’re welcoming Tia Williams, author of the wonderful Seven Days in June, to talk about her delicious book, about writing writers, about romances set in New York City, about her youth as a romance reader, and about Drew Barrymore as inspiration, and about The Joan Wilder?! . Our next read along is Kylie Scott’s Lead , one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org ! Get the others in the series, too, while you’re at it, because you’ll probably want to read the whole thing. Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes If you want a signed copy of Bombshell along with a Fated Mates sticker, preorder from Word Bookstore in Brooklyn. Welcome Tia Williams! Her new release, Seven Days in June , is Reese’s Book Club pick for June . In this article in Ebony, Tia talks about her commitment to putting Black love on page and creating rich, interesting lives for Shane and Eva. Eva’s website is Eva MercyMe , and her vampire hero is Sebastian. And according to Twitter, all romance Sebastians are good Sebatians . Slow Heat in Heaven by Sandra Brown is quite the read, and we talked about it on the Texas!Chase episode. The question of “what if Romeo and Juliet met as grown-ups” was also the idea behind Kate Clayborn’s Love at First, and we talked about it with Kate on an episode about retellings in romance . Drew Barrymore’s memoir Little Girl Lost is the story of her childhood in Hollywood, and definitely was hugely influential and shocking, and it still is worth a read if you can find a copy. It hasn't been digitized! Jen talked to Adriana Herrera about how people might self-harm, cut, and use other extreme coping mechanisms if they have experienced trauma. The Brooklyn Book Festival is not for the faint of heart. More about the quote “Easy reading is damn hard writing.” The Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands started with started with A Quick Bite in 2005, and book 33, Mile High with a Vampire comes out in Sept of 2021. Want to watch that TikTok about The Unhoneymooners? Romancing the Stone is a great movie from the 80s, and “The Joan Wilder!?” is a line from the movie. And, friend of the pod Linda has a t-shirt you might like . What’s looking like a great movie with a similar set up is The Lost City of D with Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock. Next week, we’ll be discussing Lead (and the other books in the Stage Dive series) by Kylie Scott. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/6/13/s0343-writers-in-romance-interstitial-with-tia-williams If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 9, 2021

This week, Zoraida Córdova (aka Zoey Castille) joins us to talk about fantasy romance and why it is so hard to find it in the romance pool. We talk about speculative fiction, high fantasy, low fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance and more, all while trying to figure out just what makes something fantasy and not paranormal (we think we’ve cracked the code). We also talk world building, about maps, and about merman junk. Our next read along is Kylie Scott’s Lead , one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org ! Get the others in the series, too, while you’re at it, because you’ll probably want to read the whole thing. Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Zoraida Córdova! Zoraida writes MG, YA, and adult speculative fiction, and also romance under the name Zoey Castile. Puerto Rico is a US territory and residents of the island are American citizens. Why Moscow Mules are served in copper mugs. We love Norma Perez-Hernandez who is an amazing, exuberant editor at Kensington , and if you don’t follow her on Twitter she should. Norma also was on the 2020 Publisher's Weekly Star Watch List. Zoraida’s book The Vicious Deep answers the age-old question of “where does it go,” a similar answer is in Guillermo del Toro's movie The Shape of Water . Speculative fiction asks the question “what if” and is the big umbrella category for science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy (now Black authors in particular suggest we rename this contemporary fantasy), and paranormal. Reading strategies are for everyone: We love maps in fantasy , so why not in contemporary fiction? Victoria Avyeard was on Sarah Enni's First Draft podcast talking about world building. The Hero’s Journey , or maybe the heroine’s journey . NK Jemisin’s lecture about the cultural iceberg shows writers how to build a world that goes beyond what’s on the surface. An interesting thread from a YA librarian , and another from author Elizabeth May , about why and how romance plots in SFF are pushed into YA. Zoraida hosts a writing podcast with Dhonielle Clayton called Deadline City. Relevant music perormed by: Twin Temple , Marike van Dijk + Katell Keineg , King Missile , Dr. Octagon , and Led Zeppelin. Listen to the full Fated Music playlist on Spotify.

Jun 8, 2021

Monday Surprise! We’re so excited to share last week’s episode of 99% Invisible with Fated Mates listeners this week — Sarah’s favorite podcast did an episode about romance covers, and it was thoughtful and respectful and perfect….and not only because she was on it. She’s so grateful to the team at 99% Invisible for having her, and we’re so grateful to them for letting us share the episode with all of you. Enjoy! Show Notes Sarah was a guest on last week's 99% Invisible podcast called The Clinch . We're huge fans of the podcast, but it's especially because their episode about locks called Perfect Security was the inspiration for Felicity Faircloth in Wicked and the Wallflower . Although we haven't talk about the cover of Tender is the Storm on Fated Mates, we did discuss another Johanna Lindsey fan favorite, Gentle Rogue . One of Jen's favorite episodes of 99% Invisible is about flag design, probably because it was very complimentary to the Chicago flag. Sarah's is obviously Perfect Security, but she also loved this one on water fountains . If you're looking for other great reads about romance covers, Kelly Faircloth wrote about clinch covers for Jezebel and it is a must read. And Jen wrote about the art of the Harlequin romance cover for Kirkus. This episode of 99PI was produced by Katie Mingle and inspired by her mom, Pamela Mingle, who writes historical romances. Try her debut (with that gorgeous clinch!), A False Proposal , or her most recent, Game of Spies . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/6/7/bonus-99-percent-invisible-podcast-on-the-clinch If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 2, 2021

You are in the right place! Your eyes do not deceive you! We’re actually talking about spy romances this week and no Sarahs were harmed during the discussion, but that’s probably because it was a discussion with one of her favorite people, the fantastic Nana Malone! We talk about Nana’s immense career, about how she took matters into her own hands and started making the covers she wished to see in the world, about her Brown Nipple reading challenge, about her latest book, a Kobo original, The Spy in 3B, and about porny ferris wheels. Real ordinary stuff. We also get to the bottom of why Sarah doesn’t like spy romances generally, but why she can’t get enough of Mr. & Mrs. Smith retellings. Our next read along in some number of weeks (three? four?) is Kylie Scott’s Lead , one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon , Apple Books , B&N , Kobo , or Bookshop.org ! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Nana Malone back to the pod, and if you want to hear more about the Brown Nipple Challenge, check out her Instagram . She is an amazing author and recently became her own cover model after failing to find good stock photos for her books. If you don’t know how stock photography works , here’s a brief primer on how they can be used to make book covers and teasers . The problems with finding stock photography that is truly diverse is a well-known problem. For most authors, custom photography is cost-prohibitive. Nana’s favorite photographer is Wander Aguiar . If you want to hear more about romance covers and their history, Sarah was interviewed on an episode of the 99% Invisible podcast about covers this week. Head over and have a listen after you listen to this! Just in case you need a quick review, there are currently three paths in publishing: self-published, indie, and traditional. It’s common to use “indie” and “self-published” interchangeably, which why Nana described an author as “their own business.” Strictly speaking, Indie means small, independent presses, such as Violet Gaze Press . And Trad, or traditional publishing, refers to the Big Five (Big Four?) New York publishing houses: Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. A little about the history of Kobo and why it’s worth supporting them. No one likes it when the Mary Sue character has no idea what’s going on. Turns out that Ferris Wheel sex is a real thing at Coachella . And Myrtle Beach . And Vegas . And Kindle Unlimited . Daniel Craig jumps on a train . Pierce Brosnon catches a plane . Faberge Eggs have a storied history and are very fancy . The hero of Night Magic is not that John McClane . If you like a Cold War thriller , you might enjoy a bonkers 80s spy thriller, The Charm School by Nelson DeMille . Jen did love Lies , but had some thoughts about the ending and unreliable narrators that you can read after you finish the book. Miss Moneypenny . We also mentioned some movies and TV shows about spies: Mr. and Mrs. Smith , La Femme Nikita , Spy , James Bond , True Lies , The Americans , Kingsman , and The Scarlet Pimpernel . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/5/31/s0341-spy-romance-interstitial-with-nana-malone If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 26, 2021

Continuing our conversation about Bright Bananas on the Romance Tree — this week we’re reading an extreme oldie, Anne Stuart’s Tangled Lies, famous for being a story about a heroine falling for her brother…except he’s not really her brother! It’s a RIDE. We talk about just how odd romance could be back in the day, about how this book might be an ancestor to dark romance, and about how alpha alpha heroes could really get. And then we talk about modern contemporary romance and how things are changing in traditional publishing. Our next read along in some number of weeks (three? four?) is Kylie Scott’s Lead , one of our longtime favorites. Get it at Amazon, Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, or Bookshop.org! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Bombshell comes out on Aug 24th. You should preorder it from WORD in Brooklyn , which will for sure come with some cool swag, including a special edition Fated Mates sticker. Best Friend Kelly did a Twitter poll asking people about their experiences ordering books + swag from Indie bookstores. Speaking of which, the art by Liz Parkes for The Soulmate Equation is the cutest! You might need this page as you are reading Tangled Lies . Speaking of books from your grandma’s attic, look at what HEAapologist found this week ! If you want this feeling without having relatives cool enough to leave them lying around, just order a big lot of random romances from eBay. For individual titles, Jen thinks Thrift Books is better than Amazon because you don’t pay shipping for each individual title. Rob Imes has a page on his blog where he keeps track of all the category lines through 1989. In the case of Tangled Lies , it was first published as Harlequin Intrigue #5, then it was rebranded in the Men Made in America series , and finally part of the Famous Firsts Collection that celebrated Harlequin's 60th anniversary . Fiction DB is the place to do if you're looking for an author's backlist. Here is Anne Stuart's page, the one where the soldier and the nun have a baby together. Also, Catspaw . Check out Adriana’s Instagram Live Series about telenovelas . Sarah was on to talk about Falcon Crest , because she imprinted on Lorenzo Llamas in his swim suit. His character's name was Lance Cumson. Sure. Speaking of Adriana, now is the time to preorder One Week to Claim it All . Jen and her brother Mike will be on to talk about Santa Barbara. In case you don’t remember the movie Sneakers a very similar situation happens when Robert Redford is out for pizza in the 60s. And it looks like Jen & Sarah aren't the only ones who love this movie. Why we were all afraid of piranhas and quicksand in the 80s. I don’t know why. The Pondering Padre (from the original cover) looks like Friar Lawrence , but not like Friar Tuck . Please note: not that kind of Priest . In the introduction, Anne Stuart mentioned being inspired by an old movie called Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948) but when it comes to "ope, maybe we're related" in pop culture, it seems hard not to talk about the influence of Flowers in the Attic and its famous incestual relationship . More recently, it was the Lannister twins in Game of Thrones or the folks in this Slate column . In romance, it was more common that these attractions were the mark of villainous men lusting after their sisters, such as Prisoner of My Desire by Johanna Lindsey , and others by Bertrice Small and Stella Cameron. A more updated story is Mister Moneybags by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. In film, along with Miss Tatlock's Millions, Sarah metioned Crimson Peak (2015) , and Jen is kicking herself for not bringing up the terrific movie movie Lone Star (1996). Jen wrote about paratext on Twitter , which of course turned into a cover conversation. We have a lot of fun interviews with authors coming up in June, and our next read along (in a couple of weeks) will be Lead by Kylie Scott. Vulture TV Critic Angelica Jade Bastién wrote a thread asking why she's bored, and wondering what happend to interesting failures . Donald Glover returned to Twitter to blame cancel culture for boring art , but then he canceled his own tweets later. A few think pieces about why sexual content is being deplatformed on the: who is doing it , and who it impacts . I bet you're shocked to learn its about capitalism and right-wing politics . Why Sarah's Facebook group OSRBC keeps getting dragged into the net. We have a lot of really fun guests coming up in the next few weeks: Tia Williams, Zoraida Cordova, and Nana Malone. Our next read along (at some point in June) will be Lead by Kylie Scott. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/5/25/s0340-tangled-lies-by-anne-stuart If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 19, 2021

It is release week for some of our favorite people, and we’re here to celebrate with them! Join us for a wild conversation about the books Jen refers to as “the brightest bananas on the tree” — each of us has selected a truly wild ride of a book, and we’re going to share them with you! We also talk about their fabulous new release, now Sarah’s favorite CLo book, The Soulmate Equation . Preorder it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Bookshop.org , or signed from Vroman’s bookstore ! Our next read along is out of print (but available in audio!), so you will have to do a bit of a used bookstore hunt to get it! Get Anne Stuart’s truly eye-widening Tangled Lies at your local library or via a used bookseller near you. We recommend checking Amazon , eBay & Thrift Books . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes If you'd like to order signed copies of The Soulmate Equation, check out Vroman's Bookstore or the other book shops on CLo's virtual book tour . Tonight, 5/19/2021, Christina and Lauren are celebrating the launch of The Soulmate Equation with Sarah, Xio Axelrod, and Rachel Epstein. If you want to dive into the Theranos story, Lo recommends the book Bad Blood by John Carreyrou , and the New York Times has a list of recommended things to read and watch. 23 & Me and other DNA Ancestry tests can tell you some things: whether or not you think cilantro tastes like soap , and about the size of our hair follicles , but as of right now, science can’t tell you much about your fated mate, I mean soulmate. Questions about the future of technology and how it intersects with humanity make for great television in shows like Black Mirror , The One , and Casual . I don’t know, maybe you’ve heard about there being a fundamental incompatibility between science and religion , but others are pretty sure we can work it out. If you’re not a sportsball fan, Michael Jordan is a kind of a big deal. Aphrodisia was a short-lived Kensington imprint that focused on erotica and erotic romance, it ran from 2006 to 2014. Jen asked if it was Ellora’s Cave , which was another powerhouse erotic romance publisher that shuttered in 2014. A satyr is a magical creature from Greek mythology , so we’re not sure if they 1) have two dicks and 2) if they are covered in soft fur. You’re going to have to use your own imagination. We all hope that Nicholas the satyr is a little sexier that Mr. Tumnus from the movie version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Slate had a woman asking for advice about her pandemic threesome with two brothers, and you can tell a romance reader didn’t write that advice, because probably they could work that out. Jen alerted Jenny Nordbak immediately , of course. Are you also looking for monster fucking romances ? If you need a quick review on alpha traits, listen to our episode from season two. Knotting isn't just for A/B/O , it's also in romance . Same with mPreg romances and DP (which no one has made a list of!), in case you need a primer. Lo is looking for a romance that she thinks is called Passionate Ink about an octopus shifter tattoo artist...Maybe? Christina wants your favorite mPreg romance recommendation. We'll also take marriage of convenience recs and secret scar recs if you're in the mood. More about the word "quim" and how it was used in that Avengers movie. Next up, Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart . Buy it used because it's not avaible as an eBook. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/5/16/s0339-the-soulmate-equation-trope-death-match-with-christina-lauren If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 12, 2021

We’re talking Sherry Thomas’s beautiful, unrequited love/marriage of convenience story Ravishing the Heiress this week — we’ll talk about angst, about why we love yearning so much, about our feelings about heroes who are dummies, about homes vs. houses, and about Victorians being E X T R A. Next week, we’re back with the delightful Christina Lauren to play a very fun game with bananas romance novels and celebrate the launch of their fabulous book (now Sarah’s favorite CLo book), The Soulmate Equation . Preorder it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , Bookshop.org , or signed from Vroman’s bookstore ! We’re also going to announce our next read along now, because it’s out of print (but available in audio!), so you will have to do a bit of a used bookstore hunt to get it! Get Anne Stuart’s truly bananas Tangled Lies at your local library or via a used bookseller near you. We recommend checking Amazon , eBay & Thrift Books . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes This is the Eurographics Moon Puzzle that Jen is doing, and it’s too hard. There is a very funny tweet thread trying to drag the Shadow and Bone TV show , but the replies are terrific. Jen was texting Sarah in the middle of the night about Ravishing the Heiress, because of the angst! Here’s an interview where Sherry Thomas talks about how reading romance influenced her as a writer. We talked about time slip quite a bit on the episode for A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh. Millie is 16 at the beginning of the book, and because Jen forgot to talk about it, she wrote a thread about Sherry’s deep respect for teenage girls. A little bit about the history of tinned food and the rise of advertising in Victorian England. All about the dormouse and keeping them as pets , if you’re into that sort of thing. Give us some credit for not making a joke about Of Mice and Men , thank you. The Victorians were super extra. Here’s a primer on women in business in the Victorian era . Floriography is the Victorian name for the language of flowers , which ascribes meanings to flowers and plants. For example, chrysanthemums and lavender ( and yes rosemary is for remembrance is from Hamlet ) have very specific meanings. If you’re interested, check out the book Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux. Bees that make honey from the nectar of lavender flowers is a different thing than people who make lavender-infused honey. Now you know! Infidelity in Romance is tricky, and Sarah’s book Day of the Duchess is an example, and there really aren’t that many out there. The myth of Cupid & Psyche in literature and art . In Season 4 of The Crown, the scene where Camilla Parker-Bowles takes Diana is based in truth , but the name of the restaurant was not Menage a Trois . Raise a glass to the incomparable Olympia Dukakis. Next up, we’re dialing the banana phone with Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart. Join BestFriendKelly’s Sticker of the Month Club . If you put Fated Mates in the note, she’ll send a free sparkly Fated Mates sticker. If you’re already a member, drop her a note and she’ll include it with your next sticker. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/5/9/s0338-ravishing-the-heiress-by-sherry-thomas If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 5, 2021

We’re toppling TBRs this week with widow romances! We’re talking widows of all shapes and sizes…from virgin widows who murder their husbands in old school historicals to modern-day widows who are looking for love because they know how good it can be. If widow romances are your thing, we’re about to make you very happy! Next week, we’re back with an interstitial, and in two weeks, we’re reading Sarah’s favorite Sherry Thomas book — Ravishing the Heiress . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . We’re also going to announce our next read along now, because it’s out of print (but available in audio!), so you will have to do a bit of a used bookstore hunt to get it! Get Anne Stuart’s truly bananas Tangled Lies at a used bookseller near you. We recommend checking Amazon , eBay & Thrift Books . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Last week, we talked about Big Pharma , and if you want more of that, read Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe . It’s about the Sackler family and how they made billions on Oxycontin which was a huge factor in the creation of the opioid epidemic. Daisy Jones and the Six is a great novel, and the full-cast audiobook is supposed to be amazing. The Reese Witherspoon book club is the definition of the full glow-up. Sarah made some Maple Oatmeal Muffins, and maybe you want the recipe. Why food bloggers include some pre-recipe chatter. The question of freshman year dorm room decoration is of new significance to Jen since Lil Romance will be heading off to college in the fall. Might we recommend a Pulp Fiction movie poster or some Absolut Vodka ads? If we’re talking skyscrapers, meaning buildings over 150M (about 500 feet) tall, when this was recorded in April of 2021, Cleveland has 4 , Denver has 7, Chicago has 127, and New York has 284. According to wikipedia, only nine cities in the world have over 100 buildings 150M tall. The other seven are Hong Kong (355), Shenzhen (289), Dubai (201), Shanghai (163), Tokyo (158), Chongqing (127), and Guangzhou (118). Check out the Sassy Podcast and the Babysitter’s Club. No, not that kind of babysitter . We love the movie Widows . The merry widow is an opera and a kind of sexy lingerie . We did an episode on Prisoner of My Desire with Joanna Shupe way back in season one. Primogeniture laws are all about who inherits titles and money and estates, and wasn't changed in England until 2013 . Apparently there are lots of misconceptions about Arabian horses . More about Victorian era mourning requirements. Historically you couldn’t marry your brother’s widow All about gorillas and where the live , and actually it turns out a gorilla really could kill you in a fight. Sarah was on Learning the Tropes talking about The Earl Takes All , in case you need more of that. Spoiler alert about The Power Broker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. We have two read-along books in May. On the 12th, we’ll be reading Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas. On the 26th, we’ll be reading Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart . It’s out of print and not available as an eBook, so order a used copy from Amazon or ThriftBooks, or check out the audio. Join the "Romance sticker of the month" club Preorder Bombshell , which comes out August 24th. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/5/2/s0337-widows-in-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 28, 2021

This week, we’re tackling Romantic Suspense and reading one of our favorite books of 2020, Adriana Anders’s Whiteout ! We talk about all the things romantic suspense has to nail (ha!) to knock it out of the park, why we would literally never be characters in a book set in Antarctica, and the wild feeling of reading a romantic suspense about a virus during a pandemic. Also Sarah talks about how much she loves Adriana Anders’s writing and recommends lots of backlist. Next week, we’re back with an interstitial, and in two weeks, we’re reading Sarah’s favorite Sherry Thomas book — Ravishing the Heiress . Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes It’s tenterhooks, not tenderhooks. Apparently Jen needs more sleep, or else it’s gonna be a real drag on future seasons of Fated Mates. Jen tweeted about Whiteout a lot, put it on our Best of 2020 list , and even made a meme about it last week. Reading a book about a virus during a pandemic is kind of wild! Jen and Sarah are not campers, but we support you. We do like reading books about people doing extremely cold outside things: Into Thin Air , Into the Wild , and a new book on Jen’s TBR is The Next Everest by Jim Davidson. Let Sandra Brown explain romantic suspense to you, and maybe you’d like to read Jack Reacher if you’re into that sort of thing. We learned some things about Antarctica and staying warm while reading this book: How cold did you say it was again? Why are frostbite and hypothermia so dangerous? How fast can you get hypothermia? What would really happen to a penis in super cold weather? What's the deal with the red puffy jacket? What was all that other gear Angel and Ford had? What are fat bombs? Do people really burn 6000 calories a day there? Can you really go 300 miles on foot? What is an ice core and why do scientists study them? Are ice tunnels real? Why is flying a plane in Antartica so dangerous? What about driving vehicles? Or swimming? There are mountain ranges in Antartica? What's the terrain like? Is that cravasee thing real? Can you really make a heater out of a tealight candle? Why are there seasons? ? What is Polar Night? Was it just a coincidence that you released this episode concurrently with the onset of Polar Night in Antartica? Outside of murdering people for their ice core samples, are people doing crimes in Antarctica? How accurate is the movie Arctic with Mads Mikkleson? How's Antartica doing in global climate change? Thanks to Amy , one of our listeners, we now know that Antarctica TikTok exists . The two ice stations in the book McMurdo and Vostok are real research stations , and actually there are way more of these stations than you’d think. Angel calls Ford the Iceman, but not that Iceman . If you want to read more about racism and greed in American pharmaceutical companies, you might be interested in Empire of Pain , Patrick Radden Keefe’s new book about the Sackler family, about Pfizer and Moderna and the COVID vaccine, Henrietta Lacks , the Tuskegee experiments, medical colonialism , and the list goes on and on . Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder isn’t a critique of big pharma, but it is a fierce critique of the American system of justice. Chekhov's Gun is an axiom by the playwright about how props on stage must come into the plot. You can still order the Fated Mates Best of 2020 pack from Old Town Books . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/4/24/s0336-whiteout-by-adriana-anders If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 19, 2021

We’re thrilled to be joined by the wonderful Priscilla Oliveras to talk about second chance romance and her new book (out next week!), Anchored Hearts . We talk about our favorite second chance romances and dig into the Venn diagram of second chance, marriage in trouble, secret baby, childhood sweethearts, and one night stands. We also talk about the hard truths of face transplants, the way characters in romance have to do their own emotional work, and how we love it when they remember every bit of a kiss from a decade before. Preorder the delightful Anchored Hearts at Amazon , B&N , Apple , Kobo or from your local indie . Next week, we’re we’re reading a romantic suspense— Whiteout by Adriana Anders. Find it at Amazon (free in KU!), Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local indie . You can also get it along with our other picks for best books of 2020 as part of the Fated Mates pack from Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Priscilla Oliveras! Her next novel, Anchored Hearts comes out next Tuesday, April 27th. You can order signed copies (bookplates) with recipe cards from Love’s Sweet Arrow. The first in the series, Island Affair , has the fake relationship trope. Key West things Priscilla mentioned: the half marathon in January , and the Cuban restaurant El Mason de Pepe. This Goodreads list of second chance romance has over a thousand titles! Operation Peter Pan moved over 14,000 unaccompanied minors from Cuba to the US between 1960-1962. We think cliff diving might be a bad idea. In Wild Card and The Highwayman, the heroine doesn't recognize the hero, but the absolute pinnacle of this is the 1997 movie Face/Off with John Travolta and Nic Cage. You honestly have to see it to believe it. Theodosia is a name we all know from Hamilton. Aaron Burr married Theodosia Bartow Prevost, and it was an age gap romance! she was a decade older than he was. Their daughter Theodosia was their only child to survive to adulthood. Here is a very nice video of NWSL players sliding on their knees after scoring goals . That person you liked in high school? You're the one that got away, not the other way around. Next week, we'll be discussing Whiteout by Adriana Anders . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/4/19/s0335-second-chance-romance-interstitial-with-priscilla-oliveras If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 14, 2021

Rounding the corner on Season Three, and we’re missing Kresley Cole! This week, we read a book neither of us have read before — Kresley’s Captain of All Pleasures . A Victorian pirate book about a ship race. We talk about the magic of the debut romance, why pirates are often times icky, and why setting a book on a boat is risky business. Next week, we’re back with an interstitial, and in two weeks, we’re reading a romantic suspense— Whiteout by Adriana Anders. Find it at Amazon (free in KU!), Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local indie . Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes The requisite coronavirus chat: Sarah was very sick in 2020 and Kate and Jen did a “sickbed scenes” interstitial without her. Jen said someone is going to make a jingle out of “Fauci Ouchie” and it already happened. Sarah’s upcoming book is available for pre-order. The title is Bombshell and it comes out August 24, 2021. You can read this interview with Sarah when EW did the cover reveal. Check out Season one, which is all about Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series. Quite a few of Lisa Kleypas’s earliest novels are out of print and not available as eBooks, but you can probably find them used on eBay or Amazon. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is Sarah’s debut, you should read it. Borders was a bookstore that closed in 2011 . Goodreads was invented in 2007 but took a few years to become popular , but once it was bought by Amazon, it completely stagnated . Sarah was probably talking about Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours of practice rule , but how many words would that actually be? The Stephanie Plum series is now on book number 27 , and all Jen has to say is #TeamRanger forever . Don’t @ her. Here’s Kresley’s FictionDB page for a complete list of her books in order. Ships vs. boats , if getting those names is important to you, I guess. The Amazing Race arc of IAD takes place over two books, No Rest for the Wicked and Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night . Again the Magic was actually published in 2004, a year after Captain of All Pleasures. The golden age of pirates was between 1650 and the 1730s, and of course our actual knowledge of pirates and piracy is limited . But most recently, of course, there are the Somali pirates . The race in Captain of All Pleasures was probably based on the Great Tea Race of 1866. The history of henna tattoos . A marchioness is a higher rank than an earl . Dr. Gunter has some information for you about the hymen . That’s what she said. Hattie ties Whit to a mast in Brazen and the Beast , in case you want more of that. Next up, Whiteout by Adriana Anders. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/4/13/s0334-captain-of-all-pleasures-by-kresley-cole If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 7, 2021

Silver foxes, May/December, older heroines/younger heroes. Look, Sarah’s buttons were installed young, OK? We’re talking age gap romances, how they played out in the early days of the genre, how they remain popular today, and what has happened (or not!) in the books to make them viable in 2021. We try to keep this one taboo but not dark, sexy but not erotic…but by the end, we’re not making any real promises. Check all your Content Warnings before you begin with these books! Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. We hope you’re reading the best books this week. Next week, we’re reading Kresley Cole’s debut, The Captain of All Pleasures . Neither of us have read it, so we’re all jumping into the deep end without a mask on this one! Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books . Or find it from your local indie via bookshop.org . Show Notes You can buy Iris Johansen’s mansion in Cartersville, GA for a cool 8 million. Maybe Chaotic Evil isn’t the best writing plan. Here’s some pop psychology about the May December romance. By the way, the phrase May-December romance apparently dates back to Chaucer. In The Merchant’s Tale, a young woman named May marries a much older man and a confusing idiom was born. As it turns out the “half your age plus 7” rule is not something Jen made up, because once you google it, you get charts and graphs and articles and everything . Sarah’s reference to “Every terrifying post on that reddit board” is r/relationships , although r/amitheasshole is always available with some new tale of terrifying bad behavior. This problems presented from lack of sex ed are pervasive though historical romance , but how much better are we doing by our kids? Jen was talking about Marvin Gaye when she mentioned "Everybody wants their own piece of clay " shit. Diana Palmer has a long, storied romance career, and none of it involves that kind of DP. The first book in the Long Tall Texans series , Calhoun, was published in 1988, and the latest one is #57 in the series, Texas Proud , and was published in October of 2020. All joking about the Pioneer Woman aside, she does have some great recipes. It turns out that the “boiling frog” analogy is just a myth, so keep on reading! The movie Carol is based on Patricia Highsmith’s The Price of Salt. The Jessa Kane book with the dirty version of the talk is called His Prize Pupil , in case you want to read it yourself. For science . Our next read-along episode will be The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole. If you want more Kresley, all of Season One is for you.

Mar 31, 2021

We named Alexis Daria’s You Had Me At Hola one of the best romances of 2020, and for good reason. This week, we’re talking about how great romances can be handbooks for great relationships, about why taking risks in romance writing can pay off big time, about what it’s like to be bilingual in America, about why intimacy coordinators are amazing, and about normalizing lube. Enjoy! Next week, we’re back with an interstitial, and in two weeks, we’re reading…honestly, we don’t know. Stay tuned! Thank you, as always, for listening! Please follow us on your favorite podcasting app, and if you are up for leaving a rating or review there, we would be very grateful! Show Notes If you need to manifest, Sarah's surprise crystal kit came from Crystal Rising . We had a Best of 2020 box available from Old Town Books in Alexandria , and it looks like you can still order it. You can listen to the whole Best of 2020 episode here . The Applying to College Reddit is probably not a real healthy place for high school seniors to hang out, so I guess if you must, you can be the person who just says reassuring nice things. But if nothing else, portal astrology shows just how desperate people are to make meaning out of the tiniest of clues. Telenovelas vs. soap operas . The bilingual spectrum--from receptive to equilingual --and the ways that this is a particularly American issue. Jasmine in YHMAH is a dominant bilingual (so is Sarah). The ways in which writers put languages on the page has changed a lot in the past decade. Watch this video of author Daniel Jose Older explaining why he doesn’t put Spanish in italics . In the movie Selena, there’s a scene where her father worries about her Spanish skills as she is about to meet Mexican reporters . Although this scene may not be accurate, Selena learned the phonetic Spanish for all her songs since she wasn’t fluent . A more recent series about Selena’s life is on Netflix , check for reviews because neither of us have watched it . Being an Intimacy coordinator is a real job! Breaking the 4th Wall is a phrase from TV when the actors directly address the audience. In You Had me at Hola , we see Jasmine or Ashton fall out of character and become themselves during the filming of a scene. The Penn & Teller cup and ball trick , which we also talked about in the Bet Me Episode . Little Red Corvette and Sugar Walls are songs about sex, so don't worry about the pop music your kids are listening to these days . It's all gonna be fine. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/3/30/s0332-you-had-me-at-hola-by-alexis-daria If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 24, 2021

We’re so thrilled to be talking morality chain romance! We’ve owed this episode to Katee Robert for nearly a year, and we have no excuses for how long this has taken, except that time in 2020 was a flat circle. Here, we get down to business—we tackle the definition of Morality Chain, and how it differs from Dark Romance, how it connects with mafia, criminals, pirates, highwaymen, and the original Alpha. Check all your Content Warnings before you begin with these books! Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. We hope you’re reading the best books this week. Next week, we’re reading Alexis Daria’s You Had Me At Hola, one of our Best Books of 2020! Find it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes One very important note: we highly recommend doing a thorough search for content warnings for all the books and movies we mention this week. We love Katee Robert , who we had on as a guest for the menage interstitial . Katee bid on this item at Kennedy Ryan ’s Lift 4 Autism auction. It happens every spring, so keep an eye on this page for the 2021 auction if you’d like to pick the topic for a future interstitial. This week, Katee released Seducing My Guardian , the 4th book in her SUPER HOT Touch of Taboo series. If you'd like to read a morality chain romance written by Katee, we recommend The Bastard's Bargain . “In springtime, the only pretty ring time” is from Shakespeare’s As You Like It . It's also possible Sarah knows it from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory . She would like you to believe that it's from the former, but we'll leave you to draw your own conclusions. Either way, “If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it,” is from Beyonce. As it turns out, Chicago is a great town for beach volleyball. It’s hard not to talk about morality chain & dark romance together, but we think they are inverse tropes. The internet definition of Morality Chain is “is a character who is the reason another character is Good.” Jen and Sarah’s current definition is that in morality chain romance, the Love Interest pulls a hero towards humanity and goodness, while in dark romance, the love interest is pulled down into the hero’s lawless world. Some examples in pop culture are Spike from Buffy and maybe Barney in How I Met Your Mother r. Also, check out a movie called The Professional , where a child (played by Natalie Portman!) befriends the assassin next door. The Jason Statham one with a kid is called Safe . The Hero’s Journey is very common character archetype in literature and pop culture , but Sarah and Jen are both very taken with Gail Carriger’s description of the alternative archetype, The Heroine’s Journey . If you want more about morality chain, so many of Kresley’s books from The Immortals After Dark series will work, so please listen to season one! Our favorites are Dark Needs at Night’s Edge , Lothaire , and Sweet Ruin . We were divided on whether the character has to be a danger to others in order to qualitfy as morality chain. In the Gamemaker series: The Professional is about an assassin who is a danger to others, while in The Player he’s only a danger to himself. Jen Porter wrote a long thread about what she thinks of as PEA , or problematic ever after, romance. Mickey is "kind of a Fagin -y" as a character, but without the antisemitism. In interesting historical facts, Dickens rewrote Oliver Twist later in life to remove all anti-Semitic characteristics from Fagin, after he'd been criticized for the portrayal of the character. Of course, it's not that simple. Read more about it from Deborah Epstein Nord . Scottie is the main character of Managed , and is classified more as grumpy one/sunshine one , which we argue is just morality chain dialed down. More about how most writers have a “core story." Next week, we'll be reading You Had me at Hola by Alexis Daria The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/3/23/s0331-morality-chain-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 17, 2021

We’re headed back to 2007 this week, to talk about Mary Balogh’s A Matter of Class , which Sarah’s editor gave her as assigned reading when she was writing A Rogue By Any Other Name . We’re leaving plot and character aside here and really digging into structure, so expect conversations about timelines, about language and yes…about tense. Because, Jen. Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. We hope you’re reading the best books this week. Next week, it’s a morality chain romance interstitial! After that comes our next read along, which is still in discussion—stay tuned! Show Notes For what it’s worth, this is our 119th episode, so time to clarify the pronunciation of MacLean. Say it like the last name of famous movie badass, John McClane from Die Hard . Jen is now very mad at herself and thinking of renaming herself Jennifer Diesel in honor of Vin Diesel and the Fast & Furious movie franchise . If you liked A Matter of Class , check out Balogh’s Bedwyn and Westcott series . PS, Jen thinks she deserves a lot of credit for not cracking up at “A quiet, stiff hero.” Sarah’s editor at Avon is Carrie Feron. Time slip is a narrative structure where stories are not told in chronological order. Here is an entire website about time . Although Jen couldn’t find the article for “I write what I can’t draw, I draw what I can’t write,” a few people on the internet also give credit to Marjane Satrapi , author of the amazing graphic novel Persepolis. Sarah’s friend Carrie Ryan writes YA , and she’s the one who talked about the difficulties of secrets in first person narration. Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day is a book in first person that didn’t work for Jen. It seemed like the narrator was dissociating , which is different than keeping a secret. Although she never mentioned Butterfly in Frost in the piece, the book inspired Jen to write about the problems with unreliable narrators in romance for Kirkus. The Crown is a Netflix series that is well-regarded, but the difficulties of portraying the modern years of the monarchy has been well-documented. Read this in case you want to know about Princess Margaret's love life . In Oprah’s interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry , Meghan talked about the difference between Hollywood and the monarchy. They also routinely referred to “the Institution” and “The Firm” to distinguish the monarchy from individuals. A few weeks ago, Kate Clayborn joined us to talk about retellings . A Matter of Class gave Jen some Romeo & Juliet feelings . Sarah's dual timeline books are The Day of the Duchess and "The Duke of Christmas Present," which is in the How the Dukes Stole Christmas anthology. Sherry Thomas's Private Arrangements is a fabulous example of it, as well. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/3/15/s0330-a-matter-of-class-by-mary-balogh If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 10, 2021

Sarah is *still* on deadline (WE KNOW), but we’re answering your questions about romance novels, publishing, writing and more. In this episode, we’re talking about stand-alone romance series, heroes who do bad stuff, Jane Austen, cover reveals and more. Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. We hope you’re reading the best books this week. Next week, it’s Mary Balogh’s A Matter Of Class — this is the truth. Get it for only $2.99 at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or Google Books . Show Notes Sarah and Eric, Sara and Derek ! Jen recommends Let’s Make Art if you’re looking for something fun to power you through until we’re all vaccinated. Check out Kelly’s Romance Sticker of the Month Club . Next week, we’ll be reading A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh. WE PROMISE. Why aren't there more Fantasy Romances? Later this spring, we’re having an episode with Zoraida Cordova about fantasy romance. Until then, maybe you’ll be interested A Court of Silver Flames , the newest release from Sarah J. Mass. When did Series becomes so Popular? We talked about this in our episode about romance families , so you might want to check that out for a longer discussion of this topic. Perhaps you are like Jen and want to know more about how to turn off the “popular highlights” series on your Kindle. Oh the 80s and 90s: Lovesepts series with the Delaneys , or Elizabeth Lowell’s series with heroes named after states . What's the State of Publishing? What are the different Trim Sizes? One of the reasons mass market paperbacks (MMPB) are harder to get is because of a merger between printers , which explains the transition to Mass Market Max . All about stripped or remaindered books and what happens when a bookstore returns a book to the publisher . How Can You Afford Your Romance Habit? Kindle Unlimited , obviously. You should absolutely get the Libby app (managed by Overdrive) and use it to check books out of your local library. If your library system has Hoopla , you should check it out. Here’s a quick primer on the differences between these apps . It’s essential to subscribe to the BookBub daily email , you can choose from a number of categories. Also, you should follow The Book Queen on Twitter , who posts a daily thread of what's on sale. Finally, you should use eReaderIQ to track authors and specific books, and they will email you when the prices drop. Who do we want to write our Life Story? Kleypas and Kresley . What are the Best Romance Craft Books? OH-IO is what all the Ohioans say. And there’s nothing more midwestern than “ope.” It's "Ope There Goes Gravity" and we will not be taking questions at this time . Sarah recommends the following craft books: Romancing the Beat , Save the Cat , and The Heroine’s Journey . (And here’s the Hero’s Journey). Can a Hero by a Known Kidnapper? Ask St. Vincent , although he doesn’t kidnap the heroine. It depends on the reason for the kidnapping--for example, his childhood home is part of her dowry, meaning A Rogue by Any Other Name or try Dark Mafia Prince . But these stories are less common in contemporaries, unless it’s “dark romance.” Why aren't there more Vibrators? It's such a good question, and we are slowly seeing more of them. Check out Elia Winters' blog where she reviews sex toys . Other books to check out: It Happened One Summer , Happy Endings , and You Had Me at Hola . Why Are there so Many Dukes? Because people buy them. Why don't we have better names for different types of Illustrated Covers? Because we're readers and don't know enough art words? The word cartoon has a childish connotation, and so we think that's why we started using illustrated. Sometimes we hear the phrase "photo-realistic" to describe the previous illustrated style . Did Jane Austen write Contemporaries? Yes. Historical romance are set in the past, and an example of one set in the recent past is Loud is How I Love You by Mercy Brown. Why are Cover Reveals Important? Publicity, and if you want to see a great new cover, check out the new cover for The Kiss Quotient. Can You be a Casual Romance Reader? Yes! You can. Please just tell us to calm down, and maybe just start with our best of lists . Have fun! Where are the Curvy Heroes? It's so tricky, but we like Marie Liscomb's Champion's Heart series . There's a few from Jessa Kane . But body image issues are present even in children's toys . What does "Two Ps in V" mean? It's two penises, one vagina. Usually, one P waits its turn, but in The Architect by Nikki Sloan and also Ready and Willing by Cara McKenna , (which is no longer available) it's actually happening simultaneously. Romance really does have everything! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/3/9/30229-your-romance-questions-answered If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 3, 2021

Ok, so it’s that time of year and Sarah is on deadline, which means we’re just kicking our next read along episode down the road until she’s done (which she swears will be very soon). So, this week, we’ve got a freewheeling episode that we’ve been thinking about for a while — let’s talk about what makes a romance novel a romance novel (hint, it’s not when the heroine is run over by a train). Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. We hope you’re reading the best books this week. Our next read along is Mary Balogh's A Matter of Class , a short historical novel. Get it for only $2.99 at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or Google Books . Show Notes We keep putting Mary Balogh in the corner, but swear to God, our next read-along will be A Matter of Class . Also, we've been pronouncing her name wrong -- it's "Bah-log" not "Bay-lo" We'll get it right on the read along we promise. A couple of weeks ago, Jen asked about what articles romance readers share with people new to genre , and the results were interesting. The Bridgerton effect: Regé-Jean Page on SNL , the Bridgerton musical on TikTok, and the brilliant Patricia A. Matthew in the Los Angeles Review of Books . The Happily Ever After (HEA), or the Happy For Now (HFN), is a requirement if you want to categorize it as romance. Nicholas Sparks doesn’t write romance (per the previous item), but this kiss between Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling was great on film and great on the MTV Movie Awards . Me Before You has horrible disability rep and shouldn't ever appear on anyone's list of Best Romances. Oubliette is a great word. Surprising no one, Sarah likes it because of Labyrinth , obviously. In WandaVivsion, Vision (played by Paul Bettany) asks Wanda, “What is grief if not love persevering?” And it struck a chord with a lot of people. If you're interested in the book about the speed skater and the figure skater, it's Fire on the Ice by Tamsen Parker . It's HOT. In the New York Times, Matthew B. Roberts, a showrunner for Outlander said that one of the difficulties of adapting romance is that "You can’t film a thought." Deus ex Machina never works in a romance novel. I said what I said. Speed is a romance and Jeff Daniels does great eye work . Miss Scarlet and the Duke is a TV show that follows a lot of romance conventions, and Sarah says the sexual tension is terrific. Also, this beard . Jen used Working Girl as an example of a movie where the woman's journey is more important than the romantic arc. Yes, she's dating herself, but whatever, it's an age-appropriate pop culture reference for her! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/3/1/s0328-romance-novels-101 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 24, 2021

We are joined by the fabulous Kate Clayborn — the first in the Fated Mates five-timer club! — to talk about about retellings in romance and to celebrate the launch of her new book, Love At First , which you can get wherever books are sold. We talk about the difference between retellings and homages, about Shakespeare and mythology and retellings of classic texts versus modern ones. And of course, we fill your TBR. Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. Next week, we're back with a read along of Mary Balogh's A Matter of Class , a short historical novel. Get it for only $2.99 at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or Google Books . Show Notes Welcome Kate Clayborn , our first five-timer. She was with us for the Best Friend’s Sibling Interstitial , Kresley’s The Player , the Sickbed Scenes Interstitial , Derek Craven Day 2021 , and today’s interstitial on Romance Retellings. Texas and the rest of America got hit with some espically bad winter weather this February . This is climate change . Kate released Love at First this week, which is an homage to Romeo and Juliet . Kate’s 2020 book, Love Lettering, is an Overdrive read. Get it today with no wait! Dr. Jill Biden loves Valentine’s Day. JK Rowling is a problem, and it’s changed the way many Harry Potter fans think about her books . Yes, yes, the English Teacher memes are so funny . Well take that. Tl;dr: archetypes are about character,while retellings are about plot. In Where Dreams Begin, Zachary Bronson is a hero that follows the Beast archetype, and Jen saw it in the scene where Holly first enters his house. Story can be a safe way to explore terrifying ideas about society and people. For example, both La Llorona and Medea are about mothers who kill their children, but have a kind of distance that the story of Andrea Yates does not. Dr. Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes about storytelling and the universal ID. Our next read along episode will be A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/2/24/s0327-retellings-in-romance-novels-with-kate-clayborn If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 17, 2021

So you watched the Bridgerton Netflix series and you've torn through the books, and now you're desperate for more historical romance while you wait for Season 2 of Bridgerton? Don't worry, dear readers, these podcasters have you covered. Tuck into our What to Read if You Loved Bridgeron episode for a massive list of historical romance recommendation based on what you might have loved in Bridgerton! Is it boxing? Is it I don't know how sex works? Is it the wigs? Is it the scene with the spoon?! Whatever it is...we've got you covered. And when you're done with this one, go check out our episode on romance series featuring big families ! Whether you're new to Fated Mates this month or have been with us for all three seasons, we adore you, and we're so grateful to have you. Please join us next week to chat with the fabulous Kate Clayborn about retellings in romance and to celebrate the launch of her new book, Love At First , which you can preorder now or get wherever books are sold ( even your local indie !) next Tuesday, February 23, 2021. In two weeks, we're back with a read along of Mary Balogh's A Matter of Class , which is one of Sarah's favorite historicals. We'll talk about why then. Get it for only $2.99 at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or Google Books . Show Notes We have some ideas about winter sports, which is that maybe they are best left to other people. But here are some photos of Chicago’s ice skating ribbon and the sledding hill at Soldier Field , which even has its own snowmaking machines ! When the Obama Library is built, Michelle Obama requested they include a sledding hill because she remembered wanting to sled closer to home when she was a kid. In the 90s, they really let Hugh Grant do anything . The Luxe is a gilded age YA series, and the original covers were so gorgeous , as compared to the rejacketing . We are not taking questions at this time. We can't find the video Sarah talks about, probably because it was THIRTEEN YEARS AGO (lolsob), but you can watch this fun one about the cover shoot for Splendor, the final book in the series, here ! The comedian who did the Bad TV Impression of Bridgerton is Kieran Hodgson. His YouTube channel was recently emptied of content, which makes us think he's got his own TV show coming, but in the meantime, you can watch the Bridgerton hilarity on his Twitter feed . We recommend you do this immediately. Speaking of rakes, Sarah explained them to Oprah Magazine . We aren’t the only ones who thought the Bridgerton brothers were indistinguishable. A collective noun is the name for a group of things. A Cache of Jewels is a very charming picture book about collective nouns if you’re into that sort of thing. If you love Queen Charlotte’s wigs, you can read this piece in Glamour about the hidden meanings in Bridgerton hairstyles , or follow the wig-maker on Instagram . Here’s a great timeline of the books in the Beverly Jenkins universe made by Scentsational Rynnie. Jen interviewed Ms. Bev on Wild Rain ’s release day for Love’s Sweet Arrow . In Heart and Hand , Julie is a member of The Four Hundred, the most exclusive society families. She attended Vassar College , which opened in 1865. To watch Jen’s interview with Rebel Carter, KJ Charles, Caroline Linden, and Amalie Howard, join the Facebook group, The League of Extraordinary Historical Romance Authors . Gunter’s Tea Shop is a real place if you liked that scene with the spoon. Tell us about your historicals where there are duels: We've already got Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake , The Lady Hellion , and The Serpent Prince on our list. Sarah didn’t know Jen was going to bring up Boxing, or she would have been ready to recommend Piper Huguley’s A Champion’s Heart , which is a beautiful inspirational romance. If you want to know more about the connection between writing and boxing, Sarah recommends the Library of America's At the Fights: American Writers on Boxing . Here's more about the fascinating history of boxing gloves. Jen enjoyed two movies about women who box: Girlfight with Michelle Rodriguez and Million Dollar Baby with Hillary Swank . Next week, we'll have Kate Clayborn on to talk about retellings and her new book, Love at First . Our next read along book is A Matter of Class by Mary Balogh . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/2/16/s0326-bridgerton-read-alikes If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 10, 2021

We are talking about Naima Simone this week — and honestly, we could have picked any of Naima’s series to read because she’s just. that. good. We chose the whole series so we could talk more about the complexities of category romances, about wild plots, about alpha heroes, and about how Sarah is absolute trash for a rich hero and the working class girl on the other side of the tracks. Don’t @ her. Next week, we’re back with an interstitial, and in two weeks, we’ve got Kate Clayborn joining us to talk about her upcoming book, Love at First! After that, we’re back to read alongs, but we’ll announce our next read on next week’s episode … see you then. 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! Show Notes We had such a great time on Derek Craven Day . Check out our dedicated Derek Craven Day page . On Derek Craven Day, Lisa revealed the cover of her upcoming release, The Devil in Disguise, which comes out summer 2021. The article in the New York Times about three mothers during the Pandemic was a hard, hard read. We are all experiencing the strange time warp of the pandemic , but some of us even lost a hot year . Maybe you would like to watch the Jem and Holograms movie . Here are some fancy places: The Main Line, the Gold Coast, Park Avenue, and Scarsdale . Lake Forest is fancy, but it was also an actual sundown town , so yikes to that . Here’s a quick primer about category romance from Love in Panels . Right now in February of 2021, Harlequin publishes 66 titles every month in 12 different series . We’ve had two previous episodes that were specifically about category romance: a fun one with bananas old school categories , and another with Steve Ammidown about how Vivian Stephens invented the American category . Check out Steve’s new blog about the history of romance. Pre-pandemic, Jen interviewed Tony Horvath from Harlequin about Harlequin’s branding and cover art . Light a candle for Harlequin Blaze. T he Military Industrial Complex is a lot to unpack, but maybe you have the time. Jen is not the president and CEO of Great Lakes Cold Storage , but they are hiring. Heterochromia is a thing, but David Bowie just got punched in the face. Naima's newest release is Back in the Texan's Bed. Movies we mentioned: GI Jane , where Demi Moore becomes the first female Navy SEAL. Mystic Pizza , which is not only about dumping fish into a convertible. Four Weddings and Funeral , which has a woman everyone calls Duckface, which is not great ! Music: Youngblood by Jem and The Holograms The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/2/9/s0325-the-blackout-billionaires-by-naima-simone If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 4, 2021

Happy Derek Craven Day! We’re wearing our t-shirts and buttons , and spending a whole lot of time talking about what Derek Craven would and wouldn’t do with one of our very favorites — Kate Clayborn. Thanks to everyone who played our silly Derek Craven games this year — don’t forget to visit our Derek Craven Day page for charts, graphs and hilarious memes made from your submissions! Also, if you haven’t read Dreaming of You , now’s your chance to get it at a special Derek Craven Day price — $2.99! We love you, and we’re thrilled we can celebrate this, the best of all holidays, with you. Next week, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series (With a little Derek Craven Day excitement in there, too!) In order, the books are: The Billionaire's Bargain, Black Tie Billionaire, and Blame it on the Billionaire. Find them at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes Here's the history of Derek Craven Day in tweets , but also our mantra: there are 2 kinds of Lisa Kleypas readers. Jen was shitposting about Kleypas heroes. Mary Jane Wells and Rosalyn Landor are great audiobook narrators. It’s not Talk Talk , it’s TikTok . All About fabric and paper scissors . No one should test the patience of Nora Roberts, part 231. Kate has strong feelings about Irish Spring. Don’t ever reply all . In case you need an explainer of what happened with Reddit and the stock market last week. We think Derek Craven would enjoy this story. Why backup cameras were invented . They say you can't buy your way onto the Bestseller lists, but it's been done. Kate's question about romance heroes and Halloween . Lisa Kleypas revealed the cover for her new book, Devil In Disguise , today. Take a look!

Feb 3, 2021

This week, we’re releasing a new episode on Thursday with guest Kate Clayborn in honor of Derek Craven day, so today we’re rereleasing our Dreaming of You episode from Season 2 so that people can be all caught up before our extremely niche episode for the holiday itself! For full show notes, see: S02.3: Lisa Kleypas Does Spectacles Better than F. Scott Fitzgerald: Dreaming of You Next week, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series (With a little Derek Craven Day excitement in there, too!) In order, the books are: The Billionaire's Bargain, Black Tie Billionaire, and Blame it on the Billionaire. Find them at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books .

Jan 27, 2021

Back in July we had a very fun crossover episode with Erin and Clayton of Learning the Tropes. It was a delight and you should absolutely listen to it. During the event, we received so many questions from listeners that we didn’t have enough time to answer them all…so here we are, answering them! We talk about the kinds of romances we love, Normal People, morality chain and villains turned heroes, COVID and Romance Novels, Ted Lasso, and romance main character names. And, of course, we talk about our mutual adoration for Lisa Kleypas, which is extremely timely, as next week, on February 4th, we will be celebrating Derek Craven Day 2021! So look for a very special episode on Thursday instead of Wednesday next week…and if you want to be a part of it, visit fatedmates.net and take our “Would Derek Craven?” poll (questions change every day until the 4th!). After that, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming with Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series (With a little Derek Craven Day excitement in there, too!) In order, the books are: The Billionaire's Bargain, Black Tie Billionaire, and Blame it on the Billionaire. Find them at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or Apple Books. Show Notes Sarah and Jen both adore Blackwing Pencils , but Sarah has really achieved new heights of nerd with her Carl CC-2000 Custom hand crank pencil sharpener . Tessa Bailey is a Fated Mates favorite , and has a new, very charming book out this week called The Sweetest Fix . You should read it. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/1/26/s0324-fated-tropes-ama If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 20, 2021

Nearly two years since our first Curvy Heroines interstitial, which was short and sweet, we’re back with another that is longer and more meandering, but absolutely chock full of recs! We love a curvy heroine, and so do you all, apparently, as our original Curvy Interstitial is our most popular episode of all time! Next week, we’ve got a special crossover episode with Erin and Clayton from Learning the Tropes, and the week after, we’re back to the deep dives with Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series (With a little Derek Craven Day excitement in there, too!) In order, the books are: The Billionaire's Bargain , Black Tie Billionaire , and Blame It on the Billionaire . Find them at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes This piece in Book Riot by Carole Bell argues that fat representation is different than fat acceptance , which is something we grapple with as we’re talking. She also wrote this list of romances with fat representation. If you haven’t read books by Charlotte Stein , you should. Which ones? ALL OF THEM. Fat Monica , if you don’t know , is a reference to the TV show Friends. Watch Olivia Dade talk about where we are now with fat representation in romance. Cult of Glory , a 2020 book about the true history of the Texas Rangers paints a grim picture of the storied law enforcement agents. In case you’re interested, last week Jen was googling “anal hook” and this week she landed on a bunch of Christian websites when she googled the Magi , so she got freaked out and just used a wikipedia link. It's fine. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thea de Salle is one of author Hillary Monahan's pseudonyms. Back in the day, Jen wrote about Catholicism in romance based on a later book in the series, The Lady of Royale Street. Luciana Barroso is married to Matt Damon , and she’s a regular person. In Get a Life, Chloe Brown, the heroine suffers from fibromyalgia. , and so does the author, Talia Hibbert. We did a whole episode on Alisha Rai’s Serving Pleasure in season two. Jen recently read The Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas. She’s obsessed with Rhys Winterborne , and West Ravenel is pretty great, too. Don’t worry, Derek Craven is still her favorite, and if you haven’t ordered your merch for our upcoming Derek Craven holiday, what are you waiting for? On the show Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington is a curvy girl ; however, in the books, she loses weight in the 10 years between when she comes out and when she finally gets her HEA with Colin. Iman is one of the most famously beautiful supermodels in the world, and she married David Bowie in 1992 . “That’s what he said” is a long running joke from the sitcom The Office. The Queen’s Gambit is a Netflix show about chess, and Crash Landing on You is a K-Drama about a woman who accidentally paraglides into the DMZ in a tornado. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/1/18/s0323-curvy-heroines-redux If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 13, 2021

It’s 2021, and we’re back on the reading train with one of Sarah’s favorite erotic romances ever, Alexis Hall’s For Real. We dig into sex on the page, how sex and identity work together to make an erotic romance an erotic romance, power dynamics, and the difference between fear & risk. Enjoy! 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! Next week, we’re returning to Curvy Girls for an interstitial, and then we’re headed on to Naima Simone’s Blackout Billionaires series! In order, the books are: The Billionaire's Bargain , Black Tie Billionaire , and Blame It on the Billionaire . Find them at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Kobo , or Apple Books . Show Notes We won Georgia , but then white supremacist terrorists attacked the Capitol . If you want to talk to your kids , here are some suggestions from Facing History and Ourselves , this is a resource for teachers but I think any parent with tweens and teens will find it helpful. If you have little kids, Jen’s friend Elisa is a children’s librarian and recommend the books When a Bully is President and What We Believe: A Black Lives Matter Principles Activity Book. Answering machines don’t exist anymore. (Well, they probably do, but no one we know uses them.) For Real won the 2016 RITA for Best Erotic romance , and Alexis Hall wrote a blog entry about it . Fear vs. Risk, the short version. Or maybe you want to read whole book about fear, called Nerve by Eva Holland. Jen knows Eva from another online space, but they've never met in person. Bluebeard ’s attic had some things Jen had to google . Eric Selinger is a romance guy , but also a poetry guy at DePaul. Jen took a workshop with Eric a million years ago (before she started doing romance stuff), and the guy who said “poetry is a laboratory for sentences” was poet Baron Wormser , author of the best book Jen’s ever read about teaching and learning poetry, A Surge of Language. Jen was thinking about what happens when romance authors are forced to read the sex scenes instead of the feelings scenes , like when Stacey Abrams on Stephen Colbert . Sarah talked about chastity belts at the end, and we here at Fated Mates strongly advise against giving the internet the power over your chastity belts and cock cages. SAFETY FIRST! Derek Craven Day is coming, do you have you merch ready? T-shirts and buttons and listen to our discussion of Dreaming of You, of course. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/1/12/s0322-for-real-by-alexis-hall If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 6, 2021

This week, we’re thrilled to be joined by the fabulous Sophia Benoit, sex columnist for GQ magazine and romance novel lover! We talk about romance, about why it’s so hard to talk about sex in the world, about the books Sophia has written and is planning to write, and about Jimmy Butler. Because, obviously. Happy New Year! Next week is our first read along of 2021, Alexis Hall’s For Real ! Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Welcome GQ sex columnist , Sophia Benoit . She’s absolutely great on twitter and writes an amazing advice column, which is available as a Substack . Her book of essays, Well, That Was Exhausting will be out in the summer of 2021. The Sex and the City reference, of course, it to Carrie Bradshaw’s job as a dating columnist . Captain Sit on my Face. America has a sex education problem . Lollapalooza is very fun and the music is great and every time she’s attended , it has made Jen feel like she’s a million years old. Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina has a famous first line , but the rest of it is very long. HoCo , FauxCo, and Prom is Cancelled . If you’re looking for paranormal, all of season one is a read-along of the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. The Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds mustaches of the 80s were quite a thing. And if you look at the original covers of romances from that time , you'll see them in action. Wigs were big in the 1700s. Reddit’s Am I the Asshole (AITA) is a cultural touchstone for so many people. We are adding Jimmy Butler to our list of favorite athletes, which started with Jurgen Klopp . Here is a bunch of Jimmy Butler information for you: about the trade from The Bulls , about his minivan , about his love of country music , about his coffee company , about his teamwork , and about his fashion sense . The third member of the Fated Mates sports team is Ted Lasso. Next week, we’ll be reading For Real by Alexis Hall . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2021/1/4/s0321-sophia-benoit If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 1, 2021

WELCOME 2021! As is customary on Fated Mates, we’re releasing a special New Year’s Eve episode that requires headphones if you’re in mixed company! We brought some of our most favorite people together for a very special crossover episode of Fated Mates and Andie J. Christopher’s Instagram TV Juggernaut: Drunk Romance History , during which we drink a delightful mix of alcohol and talk about a delightful mix of erotic romance by the queen of the quick and dirty novella—Jessa Kane. We’re talking priests and daddy kink, mafia hitmen, billionaires, husky heroes, stepbrothers and what Joanna Shape refers to as the Kane-Trope-Wheel. Tracey Livesay has a mug with penises on it. Bring in 2021 right. (Also, if you, like Joanna and Jen have read all of the Jessa Kane’s, no worries! She released a new one today— BURLY —just in time for this episode! Shero!) Head over to Andie’s IGTV channel for the video version. Next week, we have a special guest episode, and in two weeks, our first read along of 2021, Alexis Hall’s For Real . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes One more chance for phone-banking is Monday 1/4/2021 at 5pm central . Listen to last year's New Year's Eve epsiode on Pegging with special guest, Sierra Simone! Have we mentioned Drunk Romance History on Andie's Instagram ? We are joined today by our friends: Andie Christopher , Alexis Daria , Adriana Herrera , LaQuette , Tracey Livesay , Nisha Sharma , and Joanna Shupe . Get Tracey's penis mug here . Normalize sex toys. Today's guests are big fans of LELO products and recommend: The Ora2 , The Sona2 , and The Gigi2 .

Dec 30, 2020

It’s the Holidays and the end of 2020 and we don’t really know what’s happening, but Eric is keeping us honest with another AMA! This one was recorded during our Fated States postcard writing party for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock — the Democratic candidates for the Senate Runoff in Georgia — answering reader questions that came in during the live recording! We talk about pen names, working class heroes, whether or not you should DNF books, and Rasputin’s penis. Come back tomorrow for a special treat, and get ready for our first read along of 2021, Alexis Hall’s For Real . Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes One more phone banking opportunity for the Georgia Senate runoff is coming up on January 4, 2021 from 5-7 central. Join us! You should watch Drunk Romance History on Andie's Instagram . If you want more romance novels made into TV shows, you should watch Virgin River and Bridgerton . But everyone is watching Bridgerton, so that's great . Jen thinks you should DNF . We rattled off a bunch of historical romances with working heroes. Dreaming of You , of course, and American-set historicals, like Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. In England, A Matter of Disagreement by EE Ottoman, The Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins, Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt, The Lawrence Browne Affair by Cat Sebastian, Honeytrap by Glen Aster Gray. Almost every KJ Charles book would qualify, as well as many by Sophie Jordan and Anne Mallory . Also, don't forget Sarah's Bareknuckle Bastards series. Annika Martin writes all the best bananas books. Rachel Hawkins is writing contemporary adult witches under the name Erin Sterling . Some historicals with characters from Imperial Russia? That's tough, but Sarah suggests the Stokehurst Duology from Lisa Kleypas, the first is Midnight Angel. And if you have kids interested in this time period, check out The Family Romonov by Candace Fleming . There is nothing about Rasputin's penis in that book, be assured.

Dec 23, 2020

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 Notes Richard 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 App and 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.

Dec 16, 2020

BRIDGERTON is nearly here! Make sure you have batteries in your remote and your Netflix subscription is up to date, because on 12/25, Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series is coming to your TV courtesy of Shonda Rhimes! We are EXTREMELY EXCITED, and in honor of the series, we’re reading Sarah’s favorite Julia Quinn romance which, *surprise!* isn’t a Bridgerton book! If you want Bridgerton deep dives, do not miss the series at Learning the Tropes with our amazing friends Erin & Clayton. But we’re reading The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, and we’ve got a LOT to say! Content note: This book and episode discusses miscarriage and pregnancy. 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! Next week, we’ve got an interstitial, and the following week…honestly, who knows? It’s December! It could be ANYTHING! Show Notes Can we brag for a minute? Our #FatedStates phone bank appeared in the Washington Post this week! Also, if you're looking for phone banking opportunites, we have one tonight 12/16 at 5 central , and another on 1/4/2021. Join us. December 25th is going to be a great day. Bridgerton drops on Netflix and Wonder Woman 1984 will be on HBO Max. If you want a podcast tackling all of the Bridgerton books, check out Learning the Tropes . Sarah was on the episode for Sir Philip with Love, which is her favorite. Jen’s favorite is The Viscount Who Loved Me, and if it’s yours maybe you’d like a “mallet of death” t-shirt from Linda . Her shop is on hiatus right now, but she'll be back in the new year. Here’s the Ted talk with Elizabeth Gilbert , author of Eat, Pray, Love. Does Olivia get her own book? Of course she does, it’s called What Happens in London. Sarah’s favorite Jane Austen is Emma . Jen’s favorite Jane Austen is none of them . If you want to see some house party games in action , watch Season 4 of the Crown. Megan Markle recently wrote about her miscarriage in the New York Times . Jen wrote about miscarriage back when she blogged for The Book Queen, and it includes discussion of Sarah’s book, Day of the Duchess . The book with all the former heroes sharing their childbirth war stories is...well, we don't remember. If you do, please tell us! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/12/15/s0319-the-secret-diaries-of-miss-miranda-cheever-by-julia-quinn If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 9, 2020

This week, we tried something a little different—recording a live interstitial episode! We’re talking about Jen’s formative queen, Julie Garwood, and we dig into dialogue, alphas who are instantly gone for their heroines, heroines who tame wild animals, arranged marriages between children, and why every Garwood historical feels medieval whether or not it actually is. We recorded this episode live during a Fated States postcard-writing party to get out the vote for the January 5th runoff election in Georgia. If you’re a Georgia voter, please vote for Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock, and let’s finish what we started with the blue wave! If you’re up for it, please consider joining us for a phonebanking session on the evening of January 4th ! Next week, in advance of the launch of the Bridgerton series on Netflix (coming December 25th!), we’re reading Sarah’s favorite Julia Quinn novel, The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever . Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org . Show Notes Fated States is gearing up to phone bank on the evening of Jan 4 from 5-7 central time. Join us if you can! In Sarah’s OSRBC facebook group , there’s a longstanding search for a book where two people are on a beach and a wave throws them together, and then “oops they’re boning.” A few folks have suggested that maybe it was Pirate by Fabio . So check it out. His co-writer (a ghost writer is when they are unnamed) is Eugenia Rielly . A teenage horror/romance that both Jen and Kelly loved was called The Ghosts of Departure Poin t. Probably came from the Scholastic Book Club, if we’re being honest. In case you’re wondering, the copyright page will tell you if you’re holding a first printing or first edition . Here’s a bunch of people talking about why the edges of paperbacks were dyed . RT Book Reviews and the RT conference once had Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux on stage at the same time, and YouTube has the video! When Coronavirus is over, I highly recommend going to KissCon . Nora Roberts is our Queen and last week a poor unfortunate soul named Debra learned that the hard way. Obviously, Luke grew up on Tatooine . Hoth was that ice planet place, which is why the women in the Ice Planet Barbarians series call their new home Not-Hoth . We’d be interested in hearing your interpretation of The Bechdel Test. Jen thinks the women can still talk about men AS LONG AS they also talk about other stuff, but Sarah thought it required no discussion of men at all which is pretty tough to find in romance. FWIW, Jen mentioned it in regards to The Bride because Jamie is so isolated and largely without women friends. We like prologues and epilogues here at Fated Mates , but we understand not everyone agrees. The feud between the families in The Gift is “ like the Montagues and the Capulets , but worse.” Speaking of which, Kate Clayborn’s upcoming book, Love At First , is an homage to Romeo and Juliet. This isn't exactly about the life expectancy in Scotland was in 1100 , but it's close enough. Vanessa Riley’s site has a great explainer about Black people during the Regency on her site. We talked about the Carribean in the Regency when we read Gentle Rogue. It wasn't a "rip off" of Home Alone, it was just an allusion . Similarly, Nathan's whip reminded Sarah of Indiana Jones . Are these books on audio? Why yes they are and Jen listened to The Bride in between recording and release of the episode and greatly enjoyed it. Boats vs ships. Next week, we're reading The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn

Dec 2, 2020

There aren’t many recent romances you can point to and categorically label as game changers, but Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game definitely fits this bill. We talk about all the ways we love it, about sparkling dialogue and witty writing and what makes a romcom and how this book changed the cover game for a generation of romance. Oh, and yes, we get to the bottom (jk, there is no bottom) of Jen’s issues with first-person present. 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 before December 5th for Christmas delivery! 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! Next week, we’ve got an interstitial, and the following week, in advance of the launch of the Bridgerton series on Netflix, we’re reading Sarah’s favorite Julia Quinn novel, The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever . Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org . Fated States We were really thrilled to be interviewed by Kelly Faircloth for her article about How Romance Novelists Are Mobilizing Voters in Solidarity With Stacey Abrams. Show Notes The Hating Game was a juggernaut and will soon be a movie . Bridget Jones’s Diary came out in 1996 and the movie came out in 2001. Enemies to Lovers is a completely beloved romance trope. Rivals to lovers lives within the larger trope and is very fun because it is often a perfectly matched pair on an even playing field. Sarah wrote Brazen & the Beast after being inspired by The Hating Game. Here’s what we mean when we say situational comedy . What is the plural of arch-nemesis? Jen hates present tense , but of course everyone should write what’s right for them. Is it chick lit or is it women’s fiction ? Why do these labels even exist ? Just go back and read The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing or Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner . We don’t talk about voice that much, but maybe we should . There was a short lived Harlequin chick lit line called Red Dress Ink in 2001. Here’s what Jen teaches her kids about characterization . The Slate article about interiors and a very thorough rebuttal from Felicia Davin . We talked about another hero who came up through Twilight fanfic. If you like a scene where one main character tells off the family on behalf of their beloved, you should read Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz. In two weeks, we'll be reading The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. We are getting ready for Bridgerton and Wonder Woman 1984 . If you're interested in the Fated Mates Best of 2020 book pack and you want it delivered by Christmas, make sure you order it by 12/5. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/12/1/s0317-the-hating-game-by-sally-thorne If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 25, 2020

The Best Romance Novels of 2020! It’s the best and worst task of the year for us, because we read so many AMAZING books over the course of the year, and choosing ten and not one hundred is hard for us, ok? But here they are — ten gorgeous books that we adored—books with badass heroines, larger-than-life heroes, brilliant structure, and outstanding writing. Buy the Fated Mates Best of Book Pack in one fell swoop 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! Support fabulous authors and a woman-owned independent bookstore all at once ! 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! Next week, we get back to doing what we do best: Reading Romance! We’re deep-diving on Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game . Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org . The Best Romance Novels of 2020 Fated States Interested in phone banking or writing postcards to voters in Georgia? Join us for our upcoming Fated States events: phone banking on 12/2/20 and 1/4/2021 and postcards on 12/5/2020. Show Notes Consider buying a Fated Mates pack of 7 of our 10 books (it doesn't include the self-published books) from Old Town Books in Alexandria, Virgina. You can also check out our Bookshop link . Can you believe that RWA debacle was 11 months ago? So you want to hear us talk about A Heart of Blood and Ashes , Like Lovers Do , Queen Move , or The Devil of Downtown ? Cold War history is fascinating. Not only all the nuclear stuff , but Sarah's story about K Blows Top sounds fascinating. Some LitFic novels that play around with dual storylines are The French Lieutenant’s Woman , Possession , and the more romance adjacent Secret History of the Pink Carnation . All about danger banging. And of course there’s a button for that. Tammany Hall is often used as a historical example of total police corruption. Up next week, we'll be reading The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.

Nov 18, 2020

It’s getting colder out there, so we’re getting hot in here! We’ve got the fabulous Katee Robert with us to talk about ménage romance and why she writes them so well. We get to the bottom of why it always gets shoved into the taboo corner of romance, the fantasy of the trope, and why we like it so very much. Also, we topple the TBR (as usual)! 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! Slight change of schedule to accommodate a fun thing we’re up to…next week, just in time for your Thanksgiving sloth, we’re announcing our best books of 2020! The following week, we’re reading Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game ! Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org . Show Notes Welcome Katee Robert ! You can’t just make wikipedia pages about yourself . High fantasy has real meaning. When talking about romance, M and F (and NB for nonbinary) are used to inform readers about the gender identity of the main characters. This is an imperfect shorthand, but at this point in our understanding of sex and gender, it seems like the most respectful way to acknowledge that there is a huge range of sexual identities that exist for people of all genders. For example, if we call a book with two women “a lesbian romance” it might not take into account that one character is bisexual, which adds to bi-erasure. So if a romance is labeled M/F, we know there is a man and a woman in a romantic relationship, but that leaves room for the sexual identity of the characters to be fully explored in the book. In romance with more than two people, the order of the letters matters. A book that is MFM would mean that the two men do not have a sexual relationship with each other, while FMM or MMF means that they do. There is nothing taboo about polyamory . Jen liked the progression of menage in Elle Kennedy’s Out of Uniform series. The series starts with a non-swords crossing threesome, Hot and Bothered . The observing one was Heat of the Night (available in the Hot and Heavy anthology), where Ryan watches Annabelle have sex with his roommate. But as the series progresses, there is contact between the SEALs in Feeling Hot and a fully formed menage relationship in Hotter Than Ever . Ellora’s Cave and Samhain were two of the original (and now shuttered) indie publishers that specialized in erotic romance and/or taboo romance. That article in Harpers about how men don’t have friends . The Anita Blake series went through a lot of changes, so just go with Katee’s method and start with #9, Obsidian Butterfly . Katee will be back to talk about morality chain in 2021. Next week, we’ll be airing our Best of 2020 episode, and then the first week of December, we’ll be discussing The Hating Game .

Nov 11, 2020

ONE HUNDRED EPISODES! You’ve seen us through Immortals After Dark , through Books that Blooded Us , and through a presidential election, so if there was any doubt that you’re stuck with us, put that right out of your mind! We love you so much for listening…and we hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we had recording it! Thanks to Tracey Livesay , Andie J Christopher , Kate Clayborn , Christina Lauren , Adriana Herrera , Nisha Sharma and Joanna Shupe for joining us, and to Steve Ammidown for popping in to say hi! Next week, we have an interstitial coming, and the following week, we’re back on read alongs with Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game ! Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org . Show Notes In between when we recorded and when you're listening, something great happened . How did Hollywood Squares work ? What did the theme song sound like? What does Whoopi Goldberg have to do with it? Fated States will be back! One of our dedicated phone bankers and the head of the OSRBC-IAD book discussion, Caroline, had an amazing experience when she was phone banking the week before the election. And we are not at all jealous about her amazing gift basket from Kresley Cole! Check out Milla Vane on the Wicked Wallflowers podcast . Andie Christopher hosts Drunk Romance History on her Instagram feed every Saturday and it’s hilarious. Sarah joined her Saturday after a full day of Election drinking to talk Suddenly You . Do you know the book where a wave causes accidental penetration for a couple on a beach? NEITHER DO WE! Here’s the link to all the slides for Fuck, Marry, Kill and Would Derek Craven . And here are all the Title Smash slides. We invented a holiday . No big. We love Philadelphia. Gritty was an unexpected hero of the 2020 election . Now you know all about the Philadelphia Left . The Danielle Steele thread from Steve Ammidown at the Browne Pop Culture Library. We really need to talk about the 80s blockbusters The Thorn Birds , Clan of the Cave Bear , and Flowers in the Attic (and powdered donuts ). It was Buffy and Spike in the mausoleum, not Buffy and Angel. We can't find the TikTok of Paul Rudd and his son, but instead we'll discuss if anyone knows where Michael J. Fox got his cloning machine? We’ll leave you to contemplate the whole “hero pooping” theory on your own, but we all know for sure that Elvis poops .

Nov 4, 2020

The last six weeks have been rough, but Fated Mates listeners and a wild number of Romance Authors made them easier by being a part of Fated States, our weekly phonebanking initiative with Indivisible Action. We don’t know how yesterday went, but we know we are so incredibly proud to have worked alongside so many listeners who volunteered their time to phonebank, and so many amazing authors who donated books to phone bankers! On this episode, we rec books by every author who donated free books to Fated States — all 49 of them! Your TBR is going to be full for years after this one! We promise! Special shout out to Julia Quinn, Suzanne Brockmann, AJ Cousins, Carrie Ann Ryan & Cassandra Carr, who each donated books to EVERY phonebanker, once a week for five weeks. Below, in Show Notes, you’ll find a full list of the books we recommend, and links to Amazon. You can buy print versions of books and support independent bookstores at our bookshop.org shop ! AND…thanks to our sister pods, Heaving Bosoms , Learning the Tropes and The Wicked Wallflowers , who donated podcasting swag, and to BestFriendKelly for stickers! IMPORTANT UPDATE: This Thursday, November 5th, we’ll be recording our 100th Episode LIVE on Zoom, and we want you to be there! Join us and special guests, for games, laughter, romance recommendations, and as much joy as you can handle. Sign up here . Next week, we’ll release the 100th Episode for those of you who can’t make it Thursday, and the following week, we’re back on read alongs with Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game ! Get it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie via bookshop.org .

Oct 28, 2020

The fabulous Adriana Herrera is here for her fourth time to talk about Joy! We had a great time with one of the greatest people this week — talking about the American immigrant experience, how hope and bravery make for beautiful love stories, and listing a huge number of books that we love. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Next Thursday, November 5th, we’ll be recording our 100th Episode LIVE on Zoom, and we want you to be there! Join us and special guests, for games, laughter, romance recommendations, and as much joy as you can handle. Come on…you know you want something to look forward to next week! Let it be this! Sign up here . We’re putting read alongs on hold for a bit to spend the next few weeks hanging out with some of our favorite people and talking about books and tropes that give us joy, so we hope you’ll join us and keep a pen handy so you can add to your TBR list as needed! 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! Fated States! Join us this Saturday, October 31st at 3pm Eastern to flip the country blue! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! Sign up at the link, watch the video, and come hang out! Remember: "Despair is not a strategy." Donate Donate Donate (if you can). We're thrilled to support " Get Mitch or Die Trying " via ActBlue -- donations to this are immediately split evenly between Senate candidates in elections Text bank Phone bank Vote early by mail if you are planning to vote by mail. At this point, the USPS is so slow that your best bet is to drive/walk/bike/rollerskate your ballot to the nearest polling dropbox rather than put it in a mailbox. Vote early in person if your state has early voting . Stay fired up! Show Notes Welcome back, Adriana Herrera ! She’s been on a few times so far: Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night , the food romance episode , and she and Jen talked about trauma in romance . This week, her March 2020 release American Sweethearts appeared on the Publisher’s Weekly Best of 2020 List . Normalize pegging at all costs . If you’re going to come to the phone bank this weekend dressed as a romance heroine, might we suggest you drape a mantilla over your head and carry a pistol? You’ll be a dead ringer for Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels . Sarah was on a panel with Loretta Chase a few weeks ago, and I guess the only blessing of these Zoom times is watching these things online. IS THERE A LINK TO THIS? Adriana has written a few pieces about immigration in romance, one for Bustle and one for Remezcla . Just a quick primer, because we didn’t clarify these definitions on the podcast and it’s complicated, because both terms are widely used to describe the same group of people--American-born children of immigrants. While Sarah grew up thinking of herself as "first-generation," many modern academics & the Census label her as "second-generation." Here's a cool article on all the terms, and how they've evolved. Also, it’s useful to know the difference between push and pull factors that drive immigration. If you want to read a terrific immigrant superhero story, Jen recommends a graphic novel she teaches to her 7th graders, The Shadow Hero by Gene Yang. She’s also really loved his recent release Dragon Hoops. Adriana loves the podcast On Being, hosted by Krista Tippet . The episode with Ocean Vuong , author of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous , features some interesting discussion of his own immigrant story. We do not recommend reading American Dirt, but you should know the story of how and why it was published , some ideas about why publishing was so eager to sell this particular story from a variety of Latinx authors and thinkers . When Adriana mentioned “the fun kind of thrust” she is referencing Jenny Nordbak’s best advice for finding a sex scene in a book: search for the word “thrust.” Diacritical marks are symbols added to letters which tells the speaker how to correctly pronounce the word. In The Bride Test , the same words have diacritical marks when spoken by Esme, a character newly immigrated from Vietnam, but do not have them when spoken by Vietnamese-Americans. Also, language loss in the children of immigrant families is a well-documented phenomena. The Worst Best Man has recently been optioned as a movie ! Take a look at the cultural iceberg . Nigeria and SARS and what you can do about it . Jeannette Ng’s piece, Critiquing Cultural Appropriation in Books That Are Kinda Meh , is about the pressure to research and how it undermines the lived experience of #OwnVoices authors. Jen mentioned a piece in Kirkus called 100 books by Cynthia Leitich Smith, which argues “Before trying to write any character outside one’s lived experience, I recommend reading at least 100 books* by authors from that community. To start.” By the way, Smith is the author of a terrific YA novel called Hearts Unbroken if you’re interested. Trujillo was terrible ! Don’t steal Adriana’s idea to write a story about the Japanese-Dominican people who were living on the border of the Domenican Republic and Haiti. Ethiopia and its capital Addis Ababa are fascinating places. Adriana and her partner lived there for five years. Also, the lions of Ethiopia are genetically distinct from other lions. When it comes to holiday shopping, October is the new December. Sarah wrote a long thread of some of her favorite local indies that carry romance . Support them if you can.

Oct 21, 2020

It’s comfort read week! What makes a comfort read, why do we turn to them, what do we want from them, and why on earth do blue aliens fit the bill?! This week, we all need a comfort read, and we’re joined by Dani Lacey, host of Ice Planet Pod and Black Chick Lit Podcast, to talk about all things comfort reads! We’re putting read alongs on hold for a bit to spend the next few weeks hanging out with some of our favorite people and talking about books and tropes that give us joy, so we hope you’ll join us and keep a pen handy so you can add to your TBR list as needed! Also! please join us for a Fated States phonebanking session with Indivisible.org on Saturday — it’s so fun! We love seeing so many of your amazing faces there, hanging out, and lifting each other up through absolute anxiety! Please join us, fellow Fated Maters, and special guests for Fated States Phonebanking Part 5 this Saturday, October 24th at 3pm Eastern to call South Carolina ! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! 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! Show Notes Welcome Dani Lacey , host of Ice Planet Pod and Black Chick Lit podcast . Black Chick Lit is a podcast Dani hosts with her friend Mollie, and the focus is books by and about Black women. Ice Planet Pod has different guests every week, and Jen has been on and Sarah will be on! Some of the specific Ice Planet Podcast episodes that Dani mentioned: she did one with her friend Mollie from Black Chick Lit , Jen talked about what would happen if Wedding Magazines existed on that world, and the latest release was with author Katrina Jackson . All about Hoopla and the difference between Hoopla vs Libby (Overdrive). If your public library doesn't have Hoopla, it's probably becasue they can't afford it . You, too, can have a banana phone . Don't tell Sophie, but Sarah's definitely getting her one of these. In the Ice Planet books, the khui is the magic thing that “resonates” to tell the two people that they are a destined to be together--it also allows these shipwrecked humans to survive the ice planet, and also to speak the same language. A couple of times, Dani mentioned “Harlow’s book, and the title of that one is Barbarian Mine. Jen's friend Julie was a little worried about Chuck Tingle being sad when he released Chuck Tingle Pounded in The Butt by a Knockoff Book that Glorifies a Deadly Tragedy and Doesn't Prove Love is Real Then Accepting This as a Sad Side Effect of Making Wider Positive Impact as an Author , but the following week it was Mike Pence Pounded in the Butt by His Handsome Werefly , so he’s probably fine. Magic Mike XXL is a pure, beautiful movie about men and their feelings . We highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of the Stage Dive series , there was a new novella that was released yesterday called Love Song . It’s the book about Adam Dillon, a character that the band mentored in later books in the series. How the Reddit forum AITA (Am I the Asshole) reveals the sexism of everyday life. The two audiobook companies are Tantor and Brilliance , but with the huge rise of popularity in audiobooks , lots of audio in now produced in house . When it comes to the Ice Planet audio, Dani loves the two narrators Hollie Jackson and Mason Lloyd . The Ice Home series, a spin-off of the Ice Planet Barbarians Series, has two new narrators Sean Crisden and Felicity Munroe . But Jen recently listened to a book narrated by Sean Crisden and it was awesome . So we think you should give the Ice Home audio a try, Dani! Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast and also a book . Books and Series We Mentioned: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Barbarian’s Mate by Ruby Dixon The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon Grace Goodwin's Interstellar Bride Series Barbarian Mine by Ruby Dixon A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane Sweet Ruin by Kresley Cole Lead by Kylie Scott Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins A Chance at Love by Beverly Jenkins The AI Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole Brothers Sinster Series by Courtney Milan Her Halloween Treat by Tiffany Reisz Love All Year a holiday anthology Halloween Boo by Sarah Spade A Winning Season by Rochelle Alers Hidden Legacy Series by Ilona Andrews Jack Reacher Series by Lee Child Welcome to Night Vale is a book based on the podcast The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/10/18/s0311-comfort-reads-with-dani-lacey If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 14, 2020

This week, as part of joy month, we’re joined by Nisha Sharma, author of The Takeover Effect and The Legal Affair, to talk about her favorite trope — Mafia Romances! We talk about why organized crime works in romance, fill your TBR to the brim…and share some real life mafia stories. Or, at least, Sarah does. It’s a lot. We’re putting read alongs on hold for a bit to spend the next few weeks hanging out with some of our favorite people and talking about books and tropes that give us joy, so we hope you’ll join us and keep a pen handy so you can add to your TBR list as needed! Also! please join us for a Fated States phonebanking session with Indivisible.org on Saturday — it’s so fun! We love seeing so many of your amazing faces there, hanging out, and lifting each other up through absolute anxiety! Please join us, fellow Fated Maters, and special guests for Fated States Phonebanking Part 4 this Saturday, October 17th at 3pm Eastern to call Iowa ! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! 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! Show Notes Welcome Nisha Sharma ! She is the author of some of favorites: the YA romance My So Called Bollywood Life , and the Singh family trilogy . The Fifty Shades movies are lying about lipstick. Maybe you’d like to learn more about organized crime in Rhode Island , Cleveland , and Scranton . Sarah grew up in Rhode Island and recommends you listen to Crimetown if you're interested in learning more about how far-reaching the mob is there. How car crushers work . When it comes to Capone, we recommend the Chicago tour (if life ever returns to normal) but not the movie with Tom Hardy . Nisha mentioned a 1970s Bollywood movie. It’s called Sholay , and Nisha said, “Technically it was like this small village bad guy...think old westerns but he had like a gang of hoodlums.” The big Western movies seem to pop up every ten years, and Brokeback Mountain was 2005! The list of mafia romance from Goodreads is here, and the queer mafia romance list is here. Does your gender determine how you relate to mafia movies, books, and TV shows ? Or if you participate in real life? Maybe you want to watch Weeds or Traffic and see some kickass women who are antiheroes? Erin from Learning the Tropes is on the hunt for books that have heroines that are named Erin, so let her know if you’ve read any. Jen’s list is Ivan and an old Loveswept by Barbara Boswell called Sharing Secrets -- the hero’s name is Rad Ramsey! Speaking of Ivan and Erin , while working on show notes for this episode, Jen discovered that a second story with these two is coming out in a few weeks! It is MMA fighting, which stands for Mixed Martial Arts . We did a deep dive episode on Kresley Cole's The Master in Season 1. Listen to it here . Jen’s love of Russian mobsters started with Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises . Sons of Anarchy actually does predate the MC romance. The TV show aired from 2008 - 2014, and one of the first MC romances was Motorcycle Man (2012) by Kristen Ashley. After Sons of Anarchy ended, the MC romance genre did grow exponentially , including books like Reaper’s Property by Joanna Wylde (2016). Jen said the Molly O’Keefe book with the mafia guy and the secret baby was Bad Neighbor, but it’s actually Baby Come Back . You should just go ahead and read them both. All about the myth of the minotaur . The Oscars released a diversity rubric . The big, bad Russians influenced American media for decades . Online Advertising is the new cement shoes . Sarah learned about money laundering because of pinball machines. Today's kids get to learn about it because of the President. Sure. Books Mentioned in the Podcast My So Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma The Singh Family Trilogy by Nisha Sharma The Professional by Kresley Cole The Master by Kresley Cole The Player by Kresley Cole The Bastard’s Bargain by Katee Robert The Marriage Contract by Katee Robert The Corruption Series by CD Reiss Ivan by Roxie Riveria Lies You Tell by LaQuette The Fighter’s Prize by Jessa Kane Baby Come Back by Molly O’Keefe The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe Dark Mafia Prince by Annika Martin Luca by Theodora Taylor Judgment Road by Christine Feehan Turbulent Sea by Christine Feehan The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/10/13/s0310-mafia-romance-interstitial-with-nisha-sharma If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 7, 2020

It’s joy month! We’ve got two of our very favorites with us — Christina Lauren is here with us to discuss fan fiction, romance, their romance origin stories, what they love about fic and how fic makes romance better! We talk about about a thousand books and authors, and do a little giggling too, so strap in! We’re putting read alongs on hold for a bit to spend the next few weeks hanging out with some of our favorite people and talking about books and tropes that give us joy, so we hope you’ll join us and keep a pen handy so you can add to your TBR list as needed! Also! please join us for a Fated States phonebanking session with Indivisible.org on Saturday — it’s so fun! We love seeing so many of your amazing faces there, hanging out, and lifting each other up through absolute anxiety! Please join us, fellow Fated Maters, and special guests for Fated States Phonebanking Part 3 this Saturday, October 10th at 3pm Eastern to call Wisconsin ! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! 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! Fated States! Join us this Saturday, October 10th at 3pm Eastern to call Wisconsin and make sure it turns up blue! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! Sign up at the link, watch the video, and come hang out! Remember: "Despair is not a strategy." Call Your Senators . Tell them you want "the McConnell Rule" enforced. Donate Donate Donate (if you can). We're thrilled to support " Get Mitch or Die Trying " via ActBlue -- donations to this are immediately split evenly between Senate candidates in elections Text bank Phone bank Write postcards Vote early by mail if you are planning to vote by mail. Be sure to check that your ballot has all the correct information, and is returned accorting to the instructions (this goes double for people in NYC and Pennsylvania ). Vote early in person if your state has early voting . Stay fired up ! Show Notes Christina Lauren has a new, delightful holiday romance out this week! Find In a Holidaze at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple or at your local indie . When we recorded, the wildfire situation was particularly grim in California , and it’s still a huge problem facing many Western states. We hope you're all being safe out there. A brief overview of CLo’s story from fandom to bestselling authors . The first of their published books came from Christina's fic "The Office," and was published as Beautiful Bastard . Sarah loves it a lot. Wonder Woman 1984 has been postponed because of COVID, and according to the director the film is best seen in a theater. It is not because Robert Pattinson got COVID (He's back to business now ). Sarah loves the preview of the new Batman movie . Our love of Days of Lives couples Jack & Jennifer and Patch & Kayla is eternal and everlasting. (Ps. Jen's favorite scene is not in that video, her search continues.) The Twilight fandom was vast , as we discussed in this episode. And there are important reasons why many folks are drawn to fandom. Last summer, Alexis Daria and Adriana Herrera talked about fanfiction and fandom on Instagram Live , and it's a great watch. Christina and Lauren mentioned “canon” and “AU” and AO3 and livejournal and fandom bootcamp and maybe you want a primer on some fanfic terms. Maybe you also need a primer on a cinnamon roll character . These hugely popular romance writers came up through fanfic: Sally Thorne, Alice Clayton, Nina Bocci, Tara Sue Me, Amanda Weaver, Rebekah Weatherspoon, Helena Hunting, Daisy Prescott, EL James, and Ruth Clampett. Present-tense, stream of consciousness flow, and intense character work are some of the hallmarks of fandom writing, and some of those stylistic choices have influenced mainstream fiction in multiple genres, including romance. Did you miss the community experience of The Submissive ? Lucky for you, it's now available as a stand alone novel, and the next books in the series The Dominant and The Training also started as fic. Christina and Lauren and Nina Bocci worked on the Fandom Gives Back fundraiser to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand . Jen said she loves Beautiful Player , but honestly no one will be surprised that she got the title wrong and her real favorite is Beautiful Stranger . Just read all of them. You won't be disappointed. The question of who owns these stories and the legalities of fanfic is so interesting , and specifically the history of Fifty Shades of Grey as Fanfic . As promised, a list of CLo recommend fics: Tropic of Virgo by in.a.blue.bathrobe (aka Kira Gold) The Blessing and the Curse by theblackarrow (Sally Thorne) The Best I Ever Had by whatsmynomdeplume Mr. Horrible by algonquinrt Creature of Habit by ezrocksangel The Art Teacher by spanglemaker9 Summer of Salt by lolapops A Murmur of Fire in the Vein Scotch, Gin, and the New Girl by wtvoc Sarah, Christina, and Lauren will be joined by Kennedy Ryan at an event on Oct 21st for a zoom event at Northshire Books. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/10/5/s0309-fanfictions-influence-on-romance-with-christina-lauren If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 30, 2020

This week, we’re talking about a book and author who has given both of us a whole lot of joy — Alisha Rai! We’re reading Serving Pleasure, which is the story of the most relatable of heroines and the outrageously hot painter who moves in next door! Voyeurism, sex positivity and family in romance are all on the table here. We love it. We’re putting read alongs on hold for a bit to spend the next five weeks hanging out with some of our favorite people and talking about books and tropes that give us joy, so we hope you’ll join us and keep a pen handy so you can add to your TBR list as needed! Also! We had our first Fated States phonebanking session with Indivisible.org on Saturday — it was great and we loved seeing so many of your amazing faces! Please join us, fellow Fated Maters, and special guests for Fated States Phonebanking Part 2 this Saturday, October 3rd at 3pm Eastern to call North Carolina ! It’s easy, not scary, and there will be prizes! 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! Show Notes It was March of 2015 (a kinder, gentler time) when Jen first Sarah Wendell talking about Alisha Rai on NPR . Later that summer, Sarah put Serving Pleasure in her Washington Post romance column . It was the first self-published book ever reviewed in the Post . Just this week, Carole Bell wrote about why readers don't pay enough attention to indie and self-published romance for Shondaland . Pregnant people don't actually get the greatest treatment in the workplace , so thanks Akira. Birth order seems like a real thing , but is it ? Is it all that great to be an artist's muse ? Alisha Rai loves a cute purse . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/28/s0308-serving-pleasure-by-alisha-rai If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 27, 2020

Two episodes in one week! We are doing what we can to take care of you, Fated Maters! This week, we’ve got Julie Moody-Freeman, professor, self-proclaimed romance nerd, and host of the new “Black Romance Podcast” with us! We’re freewheeling about the importance of oral history, Black romance, romance and academia, her life as a romance reader, her favorite books and authors, and her dream interviews. Subscribe to the Black Romance Podcast at Apple , Overcast , Spotify , or your favorite podcasting service. We’re back on our regular Wednesday schedule next week, and with a deep dive on Alisha Rai’s Serving Pleasure , a fantastic erotic romance. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or Bookshop.org . Also, we had our first Fated States phonebanking session with Indivisible.org this week — it was great and we loved seeing so many of your amazing faces! Please join us, fellow Fated Maters and special guests for Fated States Phonebanking Part 2 on Saturday, October 3rd at 3pm Eastern to call North Carolina ! Show Notes This week, we interview Julie Moody-Freeman , a professor of African and Diaspora Studies at DePaul University. She's the host of the Black Romance Podcast. Julie wrote a chatper in the newly released Routledge Companion to Popular Romance Fiction. The Black Romance Podcast is an oral history podcast which has interviewed some of the greatest voices in Black romance both past and present. If you're interested readings some books of non-romance oral history, Jen recommends Voices from Chernobyl , Tower Stories , and anything by Studs Terkel . You might also enjoy the podcast Bughouse Square , which pairs interviews from the Studs Terkel Radio Archives and Eve Ewing interviewing poeple today. It's terrific. The era of the mall bookstore --Waldenbooks and B. Dalton-- is over. But then again, malls might be over . Vivian Stephens was the woman who revolutionized the American cateogry romance. You should listen to her two-part interview on the Black Romance Podcast, read this terrific profile of her in Texas Monthly , and listen to us read and discuss some of her early aquistions with Steve Ammidown . Julie teaches a class called Romance, Women, and Race at Depaul. On the reading list: Make it Last Forever by Gwyneth Bolton , Gabriel's Discovery by Felicia Mason , A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole , Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins , and The Brightest Day Anthology . Although Season One of the Black Romance Podcast will be coming to a close soon, she listed some of the women she'd love to interview: Shirley Hailstock , Donna Hill , and Rochelle Alers . Rosalind Wells and Francis Ray are two Black romance trailblazers who are no longer with us. Next week, we'll be reading Serving Pleasure by Alisha Rai . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/24/s0307-an-interview-with-julie-moody-freeman-from-the-black-romance-podcat If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 21, 2020

This is a tough week for everyone, so we did what we could do to make ourselves feel a little bit more ourselves despite existential despair—we recorded a podcast. We’re all over the place (we promise this won’t be a theme for the whole season!), but we recommend a TON of books, which is basically all we can do. Next week, we’ve got an interstitial for you! And the week after, we’re deep diving on Alisha Rai’s Serving Pleasure , which is a fantastic erotic romance. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or Bookshop.org . Also -- Sarah has a contemporary novella out September 15th! Preorder the Naughty Brits anthology, wherever you get your ebooks: Amazon , Nook , Kobo , Apple , or in print at bookshop.org . Show Notes Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls is available wherever books are sold, and you can listen to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. The RBG episode is here . You can watch a documentary about RBG , or read the Notorious RBG book, or wear the RBG dissent collar now. RBG's "When there are nine," quote is: "When I'm sometimes asked 'When will there be enough {women on the Supreme Court}?' and I say 'When there are nine,' people are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that." Tom Hardy might be James Bond and we're fine with it. Melissa did some great work pairing pictures of Tom Hardy as Sarah MacLean covers . Here's a thread of Henry Cavill as Sarah MacLean covers , too. Let it be known Sarah has the best readers around. The Jurgen Klopp thread from comedian Laura Lexx is a thing of great beauty. These Fifty Shades movies are terrible but we can't stop watching them and we don't understand it either, you guys. Masquerades are great. We talked about how historicals do masquerades more than contemporaries, and we couldn't name any contemporaries with masquerades, but then Sarah immediately picked up the Dark Fairy Tales anthology , which is brand new, 99 cents, and in which all the stories are connected by a masque. You should get it. You deserve nice things. Also, the fact that we didn't mention Sweet Ruin is causing Sarah some pretty deep shame. You should wear your undies over your garters. Dita Von Teese confirms this . Apparently this is referred to as "The French Way." The lining is silver . Books mentioned in the podcast: The Notorious RBG The RBG Workout Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Sweet Ruin, Kresley Cole Mine Till Midnight, Lisa Kleypas Warrior, Elizabeth Lowell The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt Blackout Billionaire series, Naima Simone Naughty Brits Anthology The Blindfold Club series, specifically Three Little Mistakes, Nikki Sloane Run to You, Charlotte Stein The Crossfire series, Sylvia Day Holt, Theodora Taylor The Pleasure Principle, Jane O'Reilly Slave to Sensation, Nalini Singh Good and Mad, Rebecca Traister The Seven Necessary Sins of Women & Girls, Mona Eltahaway The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/21/s0306-we-are-grateful-for-you-freewheeling-with-sarah-amp-jen If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 16, 2020

This week, we begin the Season 3 read alongs, and we announce the first wave of work of romance we want to honor -- joy. Romance is supposed to be fun, and sometimes, especially now, as 2020 rages around us, it can be difficult to remember that. So, we begin talking about joy this week with a book that gave us both immense joy, Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes . This one is a long one, y'all, so get ready. We're all over the place because we loved it so much, and it's a ride. Eric wants us to tell you that this is going to feel like an old-school IAD episode, so if you haven't read the book, good luck! We love you! Next week, we’ve got an interstitial for you! And the week after, we’re deep diving on Alisha Rai’s Serving Pleasure , which is a fantastic erotic romance. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or Bookshop.org . Also -- Sarah has a contemporary novella out September 15th! Preorder the Naughty Brits anthology, wherever you get your ebooks: Amazon , Nook , Kobo , Apple , or in print at bookshop.org . Show Notes Please listen and suscribe to the Black Romance Podcast , a fascinating oral history of Black romance authors. For more recent interviews with authors, check out The Wicked Wallflowers podcast . There are so many amazing romance podcasts for every type of listener. After her death , readers shared their memories of their first Johanna Lindsey novels using the hashtag #MyFirstJohanna. Alisha Rai, we demand to know the name of your hairdresser . California and the entire West Coast and experiencing the worst fire season in 100 years . Climate Change is real . Sarah asked for maps , and Jen said "reading strategies are for everyone" because they are! While we're at it, making mental movies, models, and visual images of what you read is one of the best reading strategies out there and if you have little kids, teach them to do this and it will help them be better readers their entire life. This amazing thread by Alexandra Erin is about how sometimes genre is determined by plot and sometimes it's determined by setting . The audiobook for A Heart of Blood and Ashes is great , but Jen really recommends you slow it down to .9 if you want it at "regular" speaking speed. Ilona Andrews writes amazing books, and Jen wants you to read the Hidden Legacy series . IN FACT, NEVADA AND ROGAN DO KISS in the first book, but they don't do the business until the second. If you missed our bodily autonomy episode , we were real mad about ridiculous anti-abortion laws and we talked about how romance taught us about birth control and our bodies. Some interesting thoughts about poison , and the myth of the woman as poisoner and who is likely to use it . This is realted to the idea that manipulation (or as Maddek might call it, "sly tongue") is often used by the powerless as a way of getting around patriarchal power structures that silence them . "She rescues him right back" is, of course, a reference to Pretty Woman. Up next, Serving Pleasure by Alisha Rai. Buy Fated Mates swag by clicking on the Merch link at the top of this page. Did someone say map? Milla Vane's website had it! Lost Limb Count (SO MANY SPOILERS!) For those listeners who missed Season One of Fated Mates, Kresley Cole really enjoyed removing limbs from her characters (They mostly regenerated). She liked it so much, that we tracked the lost limbs from the books in what is now an epic lost limb counter. Also, if you missed Season One, it's our pure joy in your earholes. We recommend it. Legs & Feet Years earlier, Yvenne attempted to escape with her mother. In retaliation, her father and brother shatter her knee. It never heals properly and she will never run again. At the end, Yvenne is trapped in her tower, and from that window she shoots her father Zhalen right through his knee and calf with her arrow, shattering his knee as hers had been. Arms, Hands, and Fingers Immediately before the book begins, Yvenne used a bow and arrow to kill her brother Lazen. To punish her, her father cut off the first and second fingers of her right hand so she can never draw a bow again. Head, Face, and Eyes Yvenne throws a dagger at her brother Bazir’s eye. Although her aim is perfect, the handle hits him in the eye rather than the blade. Later that night, Bazir and his men attack, and Maddek rips out Bazir’s tongue, stabs and kills Bazir with his own poisoned sword. Torso When Zhalen realized that Yvenne sent a message to Maddek’s parents, he whipped her back and left numerous scars. When Maddek kidnaps her from the wedding caravan, Yvenne stabs her brother Cezan in the back with her dagger. When Zhalen’s men come for her and kill Banek, she rips the arrows from the fallen bodies around her in order to shoot back at her father’s men. Total Body Destruction After Yvenne’s brother Aezil poisons Maddek, he is too weak to wield a weapon. He crawls to the edge of the cliff, drops his sword into the drepa (an evil bird dinosaur kind of thing) nest which causes them to attack and kill Aezil while Maddek and his wolf play dead. Zhalen tricks Yvenne into drinking three doses of half-moon milk. She was not sure she was pregnant, so it forced her to have a heavy period or perhaps an abortion. She is overcome with grief. After Yvenne shatters Zhalen’s kneecap with her arrow, Maddek rips out his tongue, shreds his cock and balls with his silver claws, and then tears out his heart. He then uses Zhalen’s own axe to cut off his head, which he then presents to Yvenne as a sign of his love and devotion. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/15/s0305-a-heart-of-blood-and-ashes-by-milla-vane If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 9, 2020

Two years in the making, we’re finally talking to one of our very favorites, Tracey Livesay, about friends-to-lovers romances! Ironically, for a group of people who say they don’t love friends-to-lovers, we sure had a lot of books to recommend! We’ll also peel back the curtain on Tracey’s feelings about Jamie Dornan, talk about the strangest places romance couples have sex, and get to the bottom of why this trope works so well when it works. Sarah wrote a contemporary novella during a pandemic, and it's coming out September 15th! Preorder the Naughty Brits (an anthology with Sophie Jordan, Sierra Simone, Louisa Edwards and Tessa Gratton), wherever you get your ebooks: Amazon , Nook , Kobo , Apple or Google , or in print at bookshop.org . Next week, we’re deep diving on Milla Vane’s A Heart of Blood and Ashes , which is a long fantasy romance. If you are a reader who needs content warnings, you might want to check out reviews on Goodreads. Find it at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books or Bookshop.org . Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) summer! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Linda is keeping a calendar of romance events . You should subscribe. The Fifty Shades movies aren’t well reviewed , but really who cares. We definitely recommend the unrated version if you have the money (editorial note: would we say "recommend?"). Some interesting facts about the movies , including the director change from Sam Taylor-Johnson to James Foley . The soundtracks for the movies are terrific, especially two Beyonce songs: the remix of Crazy in Love and the song Haunted . May all of your contract negotiations look like this. Tracey said “we see more of Jamie” in the next two movies, so maybe she didn’t know about his modeling career . All further 50 Shades questions should be directed to Nisha Sharma . Unrequited love is way more stressful than friends to lovers . In Like Lovers Do , Ben's ex-girlfriend is racist to Nic in a way that Ben doesn't quite understand, including a reference to Courvoisier , which Ben thinks is referring to an SNL skit . Unsurprisingly, we adore Like Lovers Do , but we're not sure we can give it a better review than this one by LaQuette , who really hits the nail on the head with the promise of this particular premise (aka, hammock sex friends-to-lovers). Martha’s Vineyard is for fancy people. A New York Times article about Interracial romance in media in 2020 . Handstand . Hammock . Horse . Are bachelor auctions even a thing? A history of taxidermy . Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher are amazing in all ways in When Harry Met Sally, and the "pesto is the quiche of the 80s" scene gets quoted more than anyone in Sarah's house would like. Up next: A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane. Books discussed in the episode: Like Lovers Do , Tracey Livesay Sweet Talkin' Lover , Tracey Livesay The Navy Seal's Christmas Bride , Cora Seaton Scoring off the Field , Naima Simone Trust Fund Fiancé , Naima Simone His Until Midnight , Reese Ryan Goddess of the Hunt , Tessa Dare My Fake Rake , Eva Leigh An Unseen Attraction , KJ Charles Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating , Christina Lauren Beautiful Player , Christian Lauren Beautiful Stranger , Christina Lauren The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/6/s0304-friends-to-lovers-interstitial-with-tracey-livesay If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 2, 2020

If we’re going to talk about the last 10 years of romance — what we’d call modern romance — it’s basically impossible to do that out in the world without someone who doesn’t know much about the genre asking about EL James’s Fifty Shades of Grey. This week, Fated Mates is talking about Fifty Shades. Or, rather, we’re talking about what we're really talking about when we talk about Fifty Shades of Grey. At no point in this discussion do we talk about tampons. You’re welcome. Next week, we’ve got an interstitial for you! And the week after, we’re deep diving on Milla Vane’s A Heart of Blood and Ashes, which is a long fantasy romance. If you are a reader who needs content warnings, you might want to check out reviews on Goodreads. Find it at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Apple Books or Bookshop.org. Show Notes There are honestly so many articles about Fifty Shades that Jen couldn't possibly even link to them. But the one about the increase in ER visits , necktie sales up 23% , and Jen wrote about the history of romance between Fabio and Fifty Shades . Drunk Austen went through a rather spectacular break-up last week; we promise never to do this and swear we are full legal partners in our current venture. Fanfiction brought Christina Lauren , Tara Sue Me , Sally Thorne and so many others to us. And lots of great BDSM was written after Fifty Shades by too many authors to count, but many think of The Original Sinners series by Tiffany Reisz as being truly excellent. There's a reason why women hate dealing with car salesmen and mechanics. Jen wants you to know that if you're in Chicago and looking for a mechanic, the guys at Ashland Tire and Auto will never treat you like that. Perhaps you're interested in whether or not Fifty Shades of Grey was copyright infringement ? The 2010 He-cession vs the 2020 she-cession . Sarah reviewed Grey for the Washington Post , and just a few weeks ago, Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's Point of View was released. Ope. We forgot to talk about Thomas Hardy, so just read this article from The Guardian instead . Mrs. Robinson refers to a character in the 1967 film The Graduate . Flat Stanley is a character in a children's book, but here we are talking about the theory that readers insert themselves into a book and become the main character. Many people believed that teenage girls reading Twilight imaged themselves as Bella, for example, but that's deeply rooted in misogny . In Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women , Laura Kinsale suggested that women reading romance imagine themselves as the hero rather than the heroine . Fifty Shades of Grey sold a lot of fucking copies . A lot . A lot! Lori Perkins was the editor of Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey . You can also check out Hard Core Romance: Fifty Shades of Grey, Bestsellers, and Society by Eva Illouz. Jen refers to Christian as the Marlboro Man , a symbol of a kind of gruff, male, American renegade loner. BDSM contracts are a thing! Where does Kink come from? And what Fifty Shades gets right and wrong about kink and BDSM. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/9/1/s0303-fifty-shades-of-grey-by-el-james If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 26, 2020

We’ve been gone for many weeks, as you know, and during that time we read a whole lot of books. In this, our first interstitial of Season Three, we’ll talk about some of those books…and also Jen will spend some really important time confirming that Sarah is, in fact, right. About everything. That’s canon now. Next week, we’ll read Fifty Shades of Grey. We'll talk fan fiction, Christian Grey, 1st person POV, billionaires, the early 2010s, why the book mobilized so many readers, why it made so many others angry, and what we talk about when we talk about Fifty Shades of Grey. It’s Season Three. We’re back on our bullsh*t. Find Fifty Shades of Grey at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, or at your local indie. Show Notes Cats like boxes ! Dogs like to chew things ! Speaking of Rube Goldberg machines , if you're ever in Chicago, you should really see the one at the Museum of Science and Industry . Who is the CJ Craig of "Bless her cotton socks" fame , you ask? Speaking of Vivian Stephens...We mentioned our episode with Steve Ammidown on the books she aquired was one of our favorite episodes, but you should really read this terrific interview with her that was published in the September 2020 issue of Texas Monthly magazine. The iHeartRadio podcast awards are a thing, and Jen just wants to be recognized. Milla Vane also writes as Meljean Brook , check out The Iron Duke if you like steampunk. But all of us recommend against using blood as lube. John Cusack's starring role as a hit man was in the 1997 movie Grosse Point Blank. LaQuette left a perfect review on Goodreads of Like Lovers Do in case you need more convincing. Subscribe to Linda's calendar of virtual romance events . Did we mention there are Fated Mates t-shirts now? Check out the shop at JenReadsRomance for Kelly's romancelandia buttons , stickers, and cards, and her Resistance Buttons shop for Biden Harris 2020 buttons . Next week, Fifty Shades of Grey . Our next read along book is going to be A Heart of Blood and Ashes . That's the way we want it. Oh, and this hadn't been announced when we recorded, but Sarah wrote a contemporary novella during a pandemic, and it's coming out September 15th! Preorder Naughty Brits (an anthology with Sophie Jordan, Sierra Simone, Louisa Edwards and Tessa Gratton), wherever you get your ebooks: Amazon , Nook , Kobo , Apple or Google . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/8/25/s032-summer-reads-interstitial-the-sarah-was-right-edition If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 19, 2020

SEASON THREE! It’s here, we’re back, and we’re back on our bullsh*t because it’s 2020 and it’s all we have, honestly. Season One gave us a full lAD deep dive (if you’ve never read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, pandemic anxiety is a really good reason to start), and Season Two gave us The Books That Blooded Us -- the books that made us the romance readers we are. Season Three will pick up where Season Two left off. This season, we'll tackle 15 (or so) books that did heavy lifting for the genre and for readers. Some of the books are transformative, some are juggernauts, and some are just truly excellent romance that shows how vast and magnificent the romance pool can get. All of them will show just how the genre works, and how it’s always changing the game. We’ve also got some great interstitials planned, including some fabulous, brilliant guests on deck…and when Munro is released, we’ll (obviously) be here for you! So...where do we begin? We begin in two weeks with a text that no one can deny transformed romance and the way the world looked at it: Fifty Shades of Grey . We'll talk fan fiction, Christian Grey, 1st person POV, billionaires, the early 2010s, why the book mobilized so many readers, why it made so many others angry, and the work it did to set the genre spinning in multiple directions over the last decade. Get reading, y'all, we've got a lot to say. You can find Fifty Shades of Grey at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . Note: We are focusing on the first book in the trilogy, not the whole trilogy, though we will likely discuss the entire thing. You have two weeks to read, but in the meantime, sit back, relax, and let us give you a preview of what's to come! Don't forget to like and subscribe in your favorite podcasting platform! Show Notes Did you notice our new intro music? All about carbon dioxide , carbon monoxide , and nitrous oxide. In case you want to hear more about blood blow jobs ( A Hunger Like No Other , Lothaire , and Sweet Ruin ) and blood handjobs ( A Heart of Blood and Ashes ). Here are some things you can do if you want to save American democracy: make sure you're registered to vote (and keep checking), fill out the census , if you can sign up to be a poll-worker , text bank , phone bank , write postcards to voters , subscribe to the My Civic Workout newsletter , join a local Indivisible Group . If you're not following Celeste Pewter on twitter , you should. Here's her thread on what you can do to help save the Post Office. Shop your local indie bookstore ! They need your support. Jen and Sarah met for the first time at the Printer's Row Lit Fest in Chicago. Catch up with season one -- a read along of Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, and season two --the Books that Blooded Us. We love the Gaslighter album , the song Wet Ass Pussy , and Kamala Harris . All joking aside, there's nothing wrong with a wet ass pussy, and you can read The Vagina Bible to learn more about it. The Potentials were the pool of available women who might be tapped as Slayer. Jen's reading Jack Reacher books with her friend Ernie . Name is destiny . Katee Robert's taboo series is giving readers exactly what they want. You want Fated Mates shirts and buttons ? Of course you do! Up next: Fifty Shades of Grey . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/8/18/s031-season-three-back-on-our-bullsht If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 12, 2020

Surely the silverest lining of the Pandemic is how many fabulous conversations are happening all around us. A few weeks ago, Jen had an incredibly important conversation about the work of romance and writing trauma and trauma survivors. You can follow Adriana on Facebook and watch the video of the conversation there! Representation of Trauma Survivors in Romance: Adriana Herrera and Jen Prokop Fated Mates Download As you know, Adriana is one of our favorite people…preorder her next book, Here to Stay —you deserve a treat! Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) summer! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah has a new book out? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie . We’ll see you next week, for the first episode of Season 3!

Aug 5, 2020

Since the start of the Pandemic, brilliant VE Schwab has been hosting authors from across the spectrum of genres on Instagram Live Saturdays at 3pm et for her No Write Way series, talking about books, writing, the world and whatever else comes at them. Several weeks ago, Sarah joined her, and they had a great conversation about romance and writing, and we’re thrilled to share the audio with you this week! Follow VE on Instagram , preorder her next book, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue , and don’t miss her lives on Saturday afternoons! Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) July! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah has a new book out? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie .

Jul 29, 2020

We're still on hiatus between seasons, but your earholes don't have to be! This week, the Deerfield Illinois Public Library turned the tables on us and interviewed us for their podcast! We had a great time talking about romance and why it's the very very best. Subscribe to the DPL Podcast for more great interviews! Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) July! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah has a new book out? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie .

Jul 22, 2020

We are on hiatus for the rest of July, but never fear! We're still bringing fun content to your earholes! In June, we recorded a live crossover episode of Fated Mates/Learning the Tropes, during which we played delightful games, talked about books, and got to the bottom (or maybe not) of Learning the Tropes's Clayton's interesting romance kinks. We are delighted to share that episode with you this week! If you subscribe to both of our podcasts, this will be a duplicate episode this week. If you *don't* subscribe to both podcasts...you definitely should. Find Learning the Tropes wherever you listen to podcasts! Erin and Clayton are two of our favorite people. Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) July! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah has a new book out? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from the wonderful independent bookstore, Savoy Bookshop in RI , where she is through the end of July!

Jul 15, 2020

It felt fitting that our final episode of Season 2—during which we celebrated so many of the vintage romances that blooded us—would be with someone we could fully geek out with! We are thrilled to have Steve Ammidown, romance nerd and archivist at the Browne Popular Culture Library at Bowling Green State University, with us today to talk about Vivian Stephens and early category romances. To prepare, all three of us read some of the earliest American category romances, and wow were they a ride! We’re talking women who work, marriage in romance, older heroines, the impact of Vietnam on 1980s romances, and more. Strap in! We’re on hiatus for the next three weeks, but you’ll hear some great alternative content on Wednesdays — including crossover episodes and interviews we’ve done in other places. Thank you, as always, for listening — we hope you’re having a great (and safe!) summer. While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah has a new book out? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from the wonderful independent bookstore, Savoy Bookshop in RI , where she is through the end of July! Show Notes Welcome Steve Ammidown , the Manuscripts & Outreach Archivist at the Browne Popular Culture Library at the Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Vivian Stephens was one of the original founders of RWA and one of the most important editors in romance . At the Browne Pop Culture library, there is a special Vivian Stephens collection . Vivian was instrumental in bringing category romance to America and created the Candlelight Ecstacy Romance line , which put sex on page in a new way. She also created the Harlequin American line. Vivian recruited a series of authors who changed the face of romance: Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krenz , Sandra Brown , and later Beverly Jenkins . Here is an early interview with Vivian about her work and the world of romance . At the last RITAs ceremony--in the future, it will be the Vivians! -- there was a great video of romance firsts . You should watch it. Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women was a 90s era collection of romance essays by romance writers to combat a lot of not great academic research on romance. The late 70s and early 80s were a tumultuous time in American history: the return of Vietnam soldiers , a finacial crisis , and a huge divorce boom . The mall bookstores , B. Dalton and Waldenbooks, were alive and well in the 80s. The buyers at these bookstores, including Sue Grimshaw, were powerful gatekeepers who had a great amount of power over the romance genre. Kathryn Falk and Romantic Times and Flavia Kngightsbridge was a famous RT columnist , and at RT conventions there was something called the Mr. Romance Competition , and everyone who has ever seen it is like...whoa. Marisa de Zavala, whose real name is Celina Mullan, also wrote as Ana Lisa de Leon and Rachel Scott. See more about Marisa on this great thread about her from Alexis Daria ! Entwined Destinies was one of the first category romances with Black characters by a Black author, Elsie Washington writing as Rosalind Welles. Although it's very difficult to find a copy of Entwined Destinies, but BGSU has a great photograph of Vivian and Elsie together. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/7/6/s0245-vivian-stephens-acquisitions-with-librarian-steve-ammidown If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 8, 2020

We’re so excited to have Kennedy Ryan with us this week — someone who was blooded not once, but twice by old school historicals! Listen to us talk powerful heroines, her brilliant Queen Move, how so much romance is political and why those old romances are still worth reading — problematic and all. Summer is here, and next week is the final episode of Season Two, with a few others to come while we take a few weeks off. To read romance novels. Obviously. Season Three begins in August! While we’re apart, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah had a book out last week? Daring & the Duke is officially here! Get it at Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from the wonderful independent bookstore, Savoy Bookshop in RI , where she is for the. month of July! Show Notes Welcome Kennedy Ryan ! You know what they say about pastors' kids . Just kidding, she was a late bloomer . Teacher Jen would like a moment to talk about vocabulary acquisition: Parents can help kids learn new words by modeling , but reading is really the X factor. You can take this vocabulary test to see the rough size of your own vocabulary, but this information about how kids acquire new words is actually pretty simple: read lots of fiction when you're young. Believe it or not, there was never a Carole Mortimer book titled Frustration. But perhaps you might be interested in her other single word titles: Untamed , Gypsy (yikes!), or Witchchild . Prince had lots of protégées, including Vanity (Rick James's ex-girlfiend! thank you for that info Cheris Hodges !), Sheena Easton , and so many others. Speaking of Sheena Easton, Prince wrote the lyrics for Sugar Walls and it is pretty dirty . Ava DuVernay was slated to direct a documentary on Prince for Netflix, but stepped down over "creative differences." And if you can ever travel again, Jen highly recommends going on the tour of Paisley Park . Jen mentioned that Iris Johansen, Fayrene Preston, and Kay Hooper wrote several series about a family called the Delaneys, and Kay Hooper tells the story of how it happened on her website . PS. the original covers for The Delaneys : The Untamed Years are amazing. And in case you're looking for a house to buy, maybe Iris Johansen's place might be to your liking ? Going back to the archives, Candace Proctor (who also writes as C.S. Harris) and Penelope Williamson are sisters ? So, in romances, being a wet nurse is just a plot device. But the history of wet nurses is, to no one's surprise, rather grim. Sunset Embrace is the Sandra Brown book with the wet nurse. In Vanessa Riley's newest-- A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby -- the heroine has to sneak in to feed her own son and manages to get herself hired as his wet nurse. In Romeo and Juliet the nurse said that Juliet was "The prettiest babe that e’er I nursed." In a pinch, Enfamil is the way to go . Mary Queen of Scots didn't come to a good end . So maybe just read Shadowheart ? The Tragic Mulatto is a harmful anti-Black trope . Meagan McKinney defrauded the government during Katrina and landed in jail , which is why we are never going to read one of her books for Fated Mates.

Jul 1, 2020

Sarah has a new book out, so Jen is playing host this week, and Sarah is playing guest, and Jen is really outrageously good at it…move over Terry Gross! Find Daring & the Duke wherever books are sold, including Amazon , Kobo , B&N , Apple Books , Books-a-Million , or at your local indie via Bookshop.org . Show Notes You can listen to all of our walk-up music suggestions on the Fated Mates Spotify playlist . But in case you've never seen The Music Man, the song Marian the Librarian is very cute. Sarah wants to be a guest on Fresh Air . (Jen obviously does, too, but has to actual cause to be interviewed. So #TeamSarah.) Do we know anyone who knows Terry Gross ? If you can't wait, you can listen to us on the Deerfield Public Libary podcast , but we're going to drop it into our own feed later this month. So no worries. Jen thinks Sarah is in her imperial period --a phrase Jen learned from listening to the Hit Parade podcast . The past year have had some great books about rage and feminism: The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls , Good and Mad , and Hood Feminism are three we recommend. We put children in factories all day , so of course kids fought, too. Sarah recommends The Fair Fight , a historical novel, about bareknuckle fighting kids. Statler & Waldorf are the two old dudes up on the balcony during The Muppet Show . The Victorian Age wasn't so great for women and other marginalized people . That Jeffrey Epstein documentary is on Netflix. Ewan's year-long break was inspired by The Player . The myth of Apollo and Cyrene , and also a little about neo-classicism . One of our favorite myth retellings of the past few years, is Circe by Madeline Miller . Jessica Avery presented a paper at the Popular Culture Association about mythology in Sarah's books . The Master's Tools will Never Dismantle the Master's House is the name of the essay by Audre Lorde. You should read it. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/6/30/s0243-daring-and-the-duke If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 24, 2020

This week it's one of our very faves, Joanna Shupe is back! Joanna has a new book out June 30th -- The Devil of Downtown -- which is basically perfection, so we're talking about why Gilded Age romance is the best, and why everyone should be reading unusual historicals (historicals set outside the Regency in England). Get ready, your TBR will groan after this one! Oh, and did you know Sarah also has a book out June 30th? Order Daring & the Duke from Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from her local indie, WORD Bookstore , and get a special edition Fated Mates sticker with your purchase! As summer approaches, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Oh, and did you know Sarah also has a book out June 30th? Order Daring & the Duke from Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from her local indie, WORD Bookstore , and get a special edition Fated Mates sticker with your purchase! As summer approaches, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Show Notes This is Joanna's second time on Fated Mates. The first was to discuss the enemies to lovers trope in Prisoner of My Desire and Kiss of a Demon King . Speaking of IAD: ever seen the IAD spreadsheet of Wonder , created be Sarah Hawley from the Wicked Wallflowers Podcast? Oh, and if you haven't read it, why not do it this summer? There's a group read going on right now on a subgroup of Sarah's Facebook Book Club ! All about Homage , allusion , and allegory in case it's been a while since you were in an English class. Modern Library! Where are our romances? Sarah has a bunch of online events this summer. Many of the old American historicals support an ahistorical white settler, Manifest Destiny , story of Westward Expansion. Savage Thunder was a particularly problematic one, and Jen only read it for the "sex on a horse" scene. Maybe watch some Deadwood instead? Which came first? Eurocentrism or the Anglophiles ? Gone With the Wind is just Lost Cause propaganda . Don't at us. Speaking of wars: The Napoleonic Wars took place during the Regency, but no one ever really talks about them in Regency romances. Romance's Regency blueprint was created by Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. Nipple piercing has been around for a long time . Look for it in Joanna's next book. Joanna's fascination with The Gilded Age started with Edith Wharton . The time period is the setting for the Uptown Girls series, but the Gilded Age also has lots of uncomfortable parallels to today . If you're looking for more information about The Gilded Age, you should know that Jack Mulligan was based on real life mobster Paul Kelly . Joanna also recommends the following books: Low Life , The Gangs of New York , and Incredible New York . If you want to hear Joanna talk about The Gilded Age, join her Facebook Group on July 9th, 2020 for a virtual tour! If you haven't ever been to Ellis Island , it's excellent. It's a dynamic museum with tons of interesting facts about European immigration to New York. Speaking of history, if you're interested in learning about The Great Migration, the setting of A Champion's Heart , you should read The Warmth of Other Suns . Food is everyone's love language until the jello molds and casseroles start to arrive. You actually can read lots of books about the 60s . What do you mean you haven't seen The Hudsucker Proxy ? The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/6/23/s0242-unusual-historical-interstitial-with-joanna-shupe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 17, 2020

This one’s for you, audio readers! We’re thrilled to have a freewheeling episode this week featuring the fantastically talented Justine Eyre, who has narrated Sarah’s last seven books! Sarah & Justine had never talked until this conversation, when we were able to ask all the questions we’ve always had about how audiobooks work, and what makes them so great. And stay tuned until the end of the episode, when you can hear the first two chapters of the audiobook of Daring & the Duke , available wherever audiobooks are sold, June 30th! We might not be doing read alongs until August, but that doesn’t mean your TBR won’t still be groaning under the weight of our recommendations — we’ve got a bunch of rec episodes lined up for summer… Oh, and did you know Sarah has a book out in two weeks? Order Daring & the Duke from Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from her local indie, WORD Bookstore , and get a special edition Fated Mates sticker with your purchase! As summer approaches, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Welcome Justine Eyre ! Justine has narrated all of Sarah's books since Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover . Join Sarah's Old School Romance Book Club (OSRBC) on Facebook. Is Jane Eyre really "our favorite Jane"? Jane Austen would like a word. Justine talked a lot about how audiobooks are made, but here's another great explainer about the role of narrators and audiobook production . We recorded this before J. K. Rowling's latest terrible TERF rant, so take Jen's praise of Jim Dale's narration with a grain of salt. Justine mentioned Scott Brick as a mentor, and his site has a guide for those interested in becoming narrators. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/6/16/s0241-audiobook-interstitial-with-voice-actor-justine-eyre If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 10, 2020

It’s the last read-along of Season Two! We’re reading Judith McNaught’s A Kingdom of Dreams, which is the actual book that blooded Sarah when she was wee. This week we’re talking old-school romance, what McNaught was doing with this book and this hero who is so unlike all the heroes who came before him, and why (book) Jennifer is the perfect namesake for (our) Jennifer. We might not be doing read alongs until August, but that doesn’t mean your TBR won’t still be groaning under the weight of our recommendations — we’ve got a bunch of rec episodes lined up for summer….oh, and did you know Sarah has a book out in three weeks? Order it from Amazon , Kobo , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Books-a-Million or from your local indie , or order it signed from her local indie, WORD Bookstore , and get a special edition Fated Mates sticker with your purchase! As summer approaches, if you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your podcasting app, we would be very grateful! Show Notes Marty McFly , played by Michael J. Fox, was the main character in an excellent 1985 time-traveling movie called Back to the Future . Sarah's next book, Daring and the Duke , comes out at the end of the month. Preorder from WORD in Brooklyn and you'll recieve a limited edition yellow Fated Mates sticker . Whitney, My Love is an early McNaught historical romance that the author changed because in the original text, the hero rapes and horsewhips the heroine. The hero of A Kingdom of Dreams , Royce Westmoreland, is one of Clayton's ancestors, but we think he is McNaught correcting the record on the Alpha hero. In the IAD novella episode , we talked about the changes in Whitney, My Love . Whitney also came up in the Alpha episode that started the season, because it's impossible to talk about the primordial alphas without talking about the early Alpha. More on the four books that comprise the Westmoreland series . Who do we talk to get A Kingdom of Dreams on audio? Oh, you can email a request to Audible. Jen learned about 1497 on Wikipedia. As one does. Women could inherit a title in Scotland . Margaret Tudor was Henry VII's eldest daughter, married to James IV of Scotland to bring peace to the border. Fun fact, once James IV died (thanks for nothing, Henry VIII, you were the worst), Margaret acted as Regent until James V of Scotland, but when that didn't work out, she married two other dudes and also staged a coup, so we don't really know why we don't all sing her praise always. Yeah, we do. Patriarchy. Anyway. Sarah didn't learn about Margaret Tudor on Wikipedia, but you can . All about the bliaut . Sarah would like you to know she looked up bliauts on Wikipedia after we recorded and now she's an expert. High-fives to all Wikipedia editors. Nothing without you. Tinctures, tonics, and teas is Fated Mates shorthand for historicals where medicine women knew various herbal remedies for preventing or ending pregnancy. Or in this case, causing life-long impotence. We talked a little bit about the freedom of setting a romance in Medieval times on our Scottish Romance episode , so head over and listen to that if you're interested. Jen's obsessed with the idea of the Vietnam Hero, but doesn't know where to start. Probably with finishing the Ken Burns Vietnam documentary . Jousting . WTF . What would Jurgen Klopp say? While we're talking about Judith McNaught and Wikipedia, do not sleep on her page. Divorce celebrations, Coors Brewing Company tie-ins, the invention of the non-clinch romance cover, moving to Dallas after going there on book tour... it has it all . Support Black Lives Matter and bail funds in your city or state. Shop and support Black-owned Indie bookstores . Register to vote . Already registered? Double check . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/6/9/s0240-a-kingdom-of-dreams If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 3, 2020

One of readers’ very favorite tropes this week…sometimes it’s friends-to-lovers and sometimes it’s friends-to-enemies-to-lovers and sometimes it’s friends-to-attempted-murder-to-lovers….we’re talking childhood friends to adult lovers and we will get to the bottom of it! Get ready for way too much music from The Saint. But first things first….Black Lives Matter. Next week, we’re officially OFFICIALLY reading Judith McNaught’s A Kingdom of Dreams ! Get ready for Sarah’s favorite historical of all time. It’s HAPPENING. Find A Kingdom of Dreams at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo … and don’t forget your favorite indie , which is probably shipping books right now and definitely needs your patronage! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes Looking to donate? Here's why supporting community bail funds is so important. The Minnesota Freedom Fund has raised millions of dollars for protestors who have been arrested, and here is an exhaustive list of other collectives and organizaions spearheaded by Black activists. Sarah donated to The Brooklyn Bail Fund and Jen to the Chicago Community Bail Fund . Find one in your city or state through the National Bail Fund Network . Bookshop.Org has a special link if you want to shop and support Black-owned Indie bookstores. Register to vote . And make sure you're still registered . You can also donate to Stacy Abrams's nonprofit, Fair Fight , which is dedicated to ensure voting access for all Americans.. Jen's friend Susan is putting together a service to help parents keep kids busy this summer, it's called My Camp Box. Maybe you'd like to find some more unrequited love romances ? And, by the way, Requited is an actual word. Jacob imprinting on a baby in the Twilight series was...a thing. But in the MG (middle grade) graphic novel Fake Blood , a bookish boy has a crush on the coolest girl in school, and she just happens to be a vampire slayer. Friend of the Pod @Bandherbooks led a read along of Again the Magic a few weeks ago. Sarah loves The Saint , a Val Kilmer classic. The author of that NYTimes profile, Taffy Brodesser-Akner also wrote a LitFic novel Jen loved called Fleishman is in Trouble . Next time you need details about the exact details of what's happening in a movie, TV show, video game, or book for your kids, check out Common Sense Media . Mulan II is a romance. Don't @ Sarah; Alvin and the Chimpunks is a not a romance. Don't @ Jen Preorder Daring and the Duke from WORD in Brooklyn and score a special edition yellow Fated Mates sticker. Next up, A Kingdom of Dreams . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/6/2/s0239-childhood-friends-to-adult-lovers-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 27, 2020

We’re talking about one of the best writers in erotic romance this week—Join us for a deep dive into Nikki Sloane’s Three Little Mistakes, which is one of Sarah’s favorite romances. We’re talking about kink, kink shaming, how to make sex discussions less awkward with new partners and how erotic romance is doing some of the best work in the genre right now…and we’re also going to talk about fruity drinks. In two weeks, we’re officially OFFICIALLY reading Judith McNaught’s A Kingdom of Dreams ! Get ready for Sarah’s favorite historical of all time. It’s HAPPENING. Find A Kingdom of Dreams at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo … and don’t forget your favorite indie , which is probably shipping books right now and definitely needs your patronage! Show Notes Here's Jen Porter on Twitter talking about erotic romance . But just this week, Robin Bradford (winner of the RWA Librarian of the year!) was also talking about why it's a problem that we don't have a clear definition for erotic romance . Getting RWA to recoginize erotic romance was such a struggle that there was actually a petition ! But now we can (hopefully) all move on to bigger and better things with The Vivian . YA books with queer characters are some of the most challenged books in America . Sarah also mentioned Sordid , which has non-consensual sex and therefore needs a content warning. Ron Charles is cool . Nikki Sloane used to live in Chicago and now lives in Kentucky. Looks like Jen's friendship plans have just been foiled. Having sex in a porche sounds excruciating, and so does having sex with a porche ( WTF! ), but Men's Health Magazine to the rescue with this handy (lol) list of best cars to have sex in . If you're interested in breath play, please do it safely . RIP Tumblr. We miss you. Decriminalize sex work. Maybe when we can go places again, you might want to ren t or buy a yurt in Hawaii. Avoid those sugary drinks for yourself and your kids. If you are in Chicago and looking for a dentist, Jen LOVES her dentist Dr. Deaver and Dr. Casimir at Classic Smiles on South Wabash . And she really buried the lede and forgot to mention that Dr. Deaver is not only an amazing dentist, but he was President Obama's dentist ! Next time: A Kingdom of Dreams. Preorder Daring and the Duke from WORD in Brooklyn and you'll get a sweet limited edition yellow Fated Mates sticker . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/5/26/s0238-three-little-mistakes-by-nikki-sloane If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 20, 2020

It’s one of our favorite tropes this week — get your pens out, because we’re talking about about a thousand books that tackle Partner in Danger! You know what we’re talking about: “Oh no! This person I sometimes bone is in danger! WAIT! I am feeling feelings!!!” It’s great. We’re going to talk about why. Sarah would like to apologize in advance, because it was really hot in her house when we recorded, and it scrambled her brain. We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! Next week, it’s erotica week! We’re reading a book that Sarah loves, Nikki Sloane’s Three Little Mistakes, which we’ve talked about before on the podcast, but we want to deep dive on. Get Three Little Mistakes from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo … and don’t forget your favorite indie , which is probably shipping books right now and definitely needs your patronage! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes As of last week, going outside looks like a pretty safe thing to do. In fact, there is less central A/C in New York City . So watch out for the window units. Zoom fatigue is real. You know, there is quite a large assortment of "Dorothy in the Sheets, Blanche in the Sheets" merch on Etsy. In case you need to talk a call from your editor. We all struggle with the illusion of control . The trope of the damsel in distress has been around for a long, long time. So let's not fridge more women , mm'kay. Friend of the pod Adriana Herrera has some words of wisdom about writing trauma in romance . And also Jen and Adriana did a Facebook Live chat on the topic. (link & audio forthcoming). Pour one out for planes . And cars . And alcohol from mysterious European lands. In case you missed Blood Blow Jobs: please refer to Fated Mates Season One, Lothaire and Rune . Jen looked it up a map. In Reborn Yesterday, the heroine is dropped onto the Belt Parkway , not the Long Island Expressway. Still seems bad . Edward saved Bella from a careening van in the school parking lot. And from a bunch of drunk guys . The Most Dangerous Game is a pretty great short story, classically used to teach person v. person conflict . Morality Chain is a great trope. Look for an upcoming interstitial on this topic soon! In Pretty Woman, she rescues him right back . Preorder signed copies of Daring and the Duke from WORD bookstore in Brooklyn and you'll get swag from Sarah and this special yellow Fated Mates sticker . Books referenced this week: Judith McNaught's Perfect Lisa Kleypas's It Happened One Autumn , Devil in Winter & Dreaming of You Joanna Shupe's The Prince of Broadway & The Devil of Downtown Kresley Cole's Lothaire Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood And Ashes Tessa Bailey's Reborn Yesterday Emmy Chandler's Hunter Claire Kent's Hold Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Molly O'Keefe's Everything I Left Unsaid , The Truth About Him , Burn Down the Night & Wait for It Sarah's Wicked & the Wallflower , Brazen & the Beast , Daring & the Duke , The Rogue Not Taken , and No Good Duke Goes Unpunished Sierra Simone's American Queen Kati Wilde's Hellfire Riders HelenKay Dimon's The Secret She Keeps Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess Nana Malone's Protecting the Heiress Kresley Cole's The Master The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/5/19/s0237-partner-in-danger-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 13, 2020

It’s a Jen week this week! We’re reading Bet Me this week, the book many people put right on the top of Best Contemporary Romance lists — one of Jen’s favorite books and a book Sarah liked to tell people she loved but has now discovered she’d never actually read. Minerva and Cal are absolutely terrific, as is this book, and we’re having a rollicking conversation about fat rep, about friendships in romance, about food (Sarah’s love language), about shoes, and about why grown people at little league games are a weird thing. Show Notes We're big fans of Carly Lane-Perry from SyFy Fangirls . We especially like her newsletter, Kissing Books-- Jen wrote about grandmothers in romance . Is it criticism if it's all positive? Baby Foot is sold out , but there are lots of other terrifying alternatives you can try. Janet Dailey is famous for plagiarizing Nora Roberts . Before that happened, she wrote the Americana series , with one book set in every state. The one set in Ohio was called The Widow and the Wastrel , and Jen's twitter thread about the book unearthed several early covers for the book . Sarah asked if Jenny Crusie is from Ohio? She is . This was Sarah's first time reading Bet Me, just like it was Jen's first time reading Gentle Rogue . Minerva and Diana probably wish they weren't named after Roman goddesses. So: you want to be an actuary . You want to learn about chaos theory . You're wondering about the gender essentialsim of a book with a title like Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus. You want to learn more about the band Cake . Love Me Tender is a beautiful song . Penn and Teller explain the Cup and Ball trick . Oh, and did you hear Sarah mention it's going to appear in Daring and the Duke? Pre-order from WORD in Brooklyn , and you'll recieve a free limited edition yellow Fated Mates sticker . With these many characters, it might as well be a Robert Atlman movie . Learn about dyslexia , our understanind of which has dramatically changed over time . Erin McCarthy's Hard and Fast (2009) also has a dyslexic hero. Another utterly fantastic family dinner gone wrong scene is in Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany Reisz. Jeanne Lin knows how to write some really sexy kissing . The fairy godmother is a hallmark of Cinderella, and Sarah's own magical modiste is Madame Hebert. There are so many homages to great rom-coms of the 90s. Diana loves the music from Julia Roberts movies. Elvis Costello's She appeared in Notting Hill, the lead up to the big wedding was like Four Weddings and a Funeral, and of course Diana turns into a Runaway Bride. Min's visit to the magical modiste is like one of the greatest makeover sequences in movies, Pretty Woman . The "I love your shoes" was like The American President. All the wolf references , of course reminded us of Moonstruck . Cynthie's sexy clothes at the little league game were reminiscent of this great scene in Bull Durham . Order buttons from Kelly in Jen's shop, and t-shirts from Jordan Dene . Next up, we'll be reading Three Little Mistakes from Nikki Sloan. Books We Mentioned This Week: Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie The Widow and the Wastrel by Janet Dailey Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean Hard and Fast by Erin McCarthy The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/5/12/s0236-bet-me-by-jennifer-crusie If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 6, 2020

Sophie Jordan is back again! She’s got a new book out, The Virgin and the Rogue , and she’s back with us to freewheel about old school romances, aphrodisiac plotlines and just what do we mean when we say “taking the finger?” It’s a delightful hour. You won’t regret it. We love having you with us! Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! Next week, we’re reading a book that blooded Jen, Jenny Crusie’s Bet Me ! Which you can get bundled with Welcome to Temptation (get this one — it’s $2. cheaper than getting Bet Me alone!) from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo … and don’t forget your favorite indie, which is probably shipping books right now and definitely needs your patronage! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes Welcome Sophie Jordan , who was last on the pod talking about The Master . Come on five times and you get a Pink Ladies jacket. How are the Introverts faring during the pandemic ? Chewy.com will deliver your cat litter and also massive bags of cat food. Annika Martin's Dark Mafia Prince inspired Sophie and Sarah to coin the phrase "taking the finger," which Jen has co-opted with glee. Not sure what counts as worthy of "taking the finger"? The Simone Scale TM is here for you. Jen's "control rods" metaphor is because she's a big old nuclear nerd . Aphrodesiac books we know of: The Virgin and the Rogue ; Robin's Lovett's Planet of Desire series takes place on a planet where the atmosphere is an aphrodesiac; in A Taste of Her Own Medicine by Tasha Harrison, the grandmother whips up a "come to me" potion; Johanna Lindsey's Secret Fire sounds bonkers; Wild Card is one by Lora Leigh that Joanna Shupe recommends . Does the shortbread in How the Dukes Stole Christmas count? What else have you got? Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune taught Jen everything she needed to know about the backbone of good criticism, everything else she's making up as she goes along. We talked about bodily autonomy in season one. Sarah talked about watching the trailer for this very terrifying 60s movie The Lady in a Cage . Order Sophie's signed books from Katy Budget Books and Sarah's from WORD in Brooklyn -- including pre-orders for Daring and the Duke. Oh, you want to read Sophie's story about a stablemaster and a maid? No horses were harmed, so it's fine. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/5/5/s0235-freewheeling-with-sophie-jordan-a-taking-the-finger-explainer-episode-W1FeR If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 29, 2020

Sometimes there’s a writer who’s so transformative to your experience as a reader that you forget she even was a part of it until you remember, and then you remember every book she’s written . It’s Sandra Brown week here at Fated Mates, and we have loved so many of her romances that we just didn’t know what to read, so strap in, because both Jen and Sarah read Texas! Chase, and then two roads diverged, only to discover some real deep-rooted kinky stuff. Strap in. This one left Eric shellshocked! We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! In two weeks, we’re reading a book that blooded Jen, Jenny Crusie’s Bet Me ! Which you can get bundled with Welcome to Temptation (get this one — it’s $2. cheaper than getting Bet Me alone!) from Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo … and don’t forget your favorite indie, which is probably shipping books right now and definitely needs your patronage! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes Jen's been thinking about how we're going to archive the Quarantine Times and so are historians . Steve Ammidown was kind enough to make some videos about archiving for Jen's TikTok. Turns out that tweet about the Spanish epidimologist was not true ! Blessed be the fact checkers. Lori Lightfoot is Jen's mayor and her Coronavirus memes are the best . Everyone knows who Tom Brady is, but not many people seem to like him. Sandra Brown was in the first class of authors acquired by Vivian Stephens . Her Loveswept #1 was Heaven's Price, and her Harlequin American Romance #1 was Tomorrow's Promise. Steve Ammidown was also kind enough to dig into the archives and pull out some early interviews with Sandra Brown and about the founding of Loveswept . Benjamin Dreyer definitely wants you to know the difference between the em dash, en dash, and the hypen . The Rana Look cover has the author and McLean Stevenson from MASH as the cover models. Whoa. You can still join the Doubleday Book Club . Who knew! Jeff Wright has a very funny TikTok (which he crossposts to Twitter and Instagram) and a very distinctive way of saying Oh Wow . Sheikhs & Native Americans in romance are full of racist, harmful stereotypes. Jennifer Porter took the hit on Texas! Lucky for us. Oil Futures aren't looking good for the Tyler family; it's not looking great for the rodeo , either. The primordal 80s Don . Not him . That was the 70s. Sunny Chandler's job as a Mardi Gras costume designer seems pretty sweet. Here's a cool interview with Patricia Halsell-Richardson , a woman who designs Mardi Gras costumes in Mobile. A quick primer to the waves of feminism and what people thought about working women in the 80s . Sandra Brown's house was blown up for an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. A show that is making a comeback , as it turns out. Ann Richards was pretty great, and so is her daughter Cecile. GQ has some instructions on how to be a DILF , but our current favorite is by Katee Roberts . Slow Heat in Heaven has a plot about dogfighting, but Sarah mentioned a romance where the dogs fall in love back when we talked about non-Sandra Brown category romances. The 80s Primetime Soap Operas were a force to be reckoned with . Next time, we'll be talking about Bet Me by Jenny Crusie. For some reason, it's cheaper to buy it bundled with Welcome To Temptation . /rolls eyes at eBook pricing on a 20 year old book.

Apr 22, 2020

Tasha Harrison is joining us this week to talk about an old reliable trope — enemies to lovers! This is one of those that we return to again and again — and of course, since it’s a Pandemic, we have to ask…if you’re into enemies to lovers and you haven’t read Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark, what are you waiting for? Season 1 is here for you! Otherwise, we’re freewheeling with Tasha on everything from the best Chris to the real inspiration for The Wire, so strap in. It’s a ride! We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! Next week, we’re reading Sandra Brown ! Jen and Sarah will be reading Texas! Chase , but it’s dealers’ choice! Pick your favorite old Sandra Brown or ask us for a rec on Twitter or Instagram! Maybe you want That Rana Look ? Or Slow Heat in Heaven ? Or French Silk ? You can find them wherever books are sold (but the Texas! series isn’t in ebook format yet, sadly) — and don’t forget your favorite indie! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes The internet is so slow . Remember that time when Michelle from Destiny's Child fell and then got right back up ? The Fraggle Rock Trash Heap . Jen wrote about Enemies to Lovers for Kirkus. Apparently, it's called a Proprietary Eponyms when a brand name becomes a verb or common noun . The question of whether or not fiction should be "timeless" is one that authors deal with in different ways. Robert Redford was a snack . Kevin Costner was named The Sexiest Man Alive , but Jen thinks the only time he was truly sexy was in Bull Durham. Can there ever be a definitive ranking of the Chrises ? Jen likes Pine , Sarah likes "the Australian one," and Tasha isn't interested in any of them. Sarah has Chris Evans blindness , but Tasha points out that he's got a little of the wild one in him. Check him checking out this reporter's boots. We just had Christina Lauren on our show ! Beautiful Bastard is better than Fifty Shades in a lot of ways, especially for that elevator scene . Either way, it's a good illustration of the myriad problems with a workplace romance. Speaking of Lucy Eden , she and Jen had THE STRANGEST thing happen at the 2019 RWA conference. Babies are complicated in romance and complicated in real life. Maybe what we're really going to see is a boom in "marriage in trouble" romance. Kids are complicated, too, especially if you buy the wrong poop bags . Tasha's dad inspired the character of Norman Wilson on The Wire ! The Baltimore paper The Afro-American can be read online. The real life Baltimore Mayor he worked for was Martin O'Malley . These Italian Mayors want you to stay inside. If only all the American governors and mayors were the same. Cardi-B is worried about Coronavirus-- so stay home and stay safe! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/4/21/s0233-enemies-to-lovers-interstitial-with-tasha-harrison-bwm6H If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 15, 2020

We’re back to a more recent book that taught Sarah about contemporary romance, Victoria Dahl’s Taking the Heat. Use headphones for this one, because we’re talking about the best BJs in romance, the power of a great sex scene, and how we want you all to be in a sex pantheon. We’re also talking about flawed characters, true cinnamon rolls, and why Victoria Dahl is a fricken great author. We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! In two weeks, we’re reading Sandra Brown ! Jen and Sarah will be reading Texas! Chase , but it’s dealers’ choice! Pick your favorite old Sandra Brown or ask us for a rec on Twitter or Instagram! Maybe you want That Rana Look ? Or Slow Heat in Heaven ? Or French Silk ? You can find them wherever books are sold (but the Texas! series isn’t in ebook format yet, sadly) — and don’t forget your favorite indie! Also, if you love the music in this or any of our episodes, check out our Spotify playlist , which includes it all! Show Notes Sure, Sarah's new computer makes her feel like Lightning McQueen , but it's her new version of Scrivener that is the most exciting thing. Jen isn't the only one who likes Starburst jelly beans . Sarah has planner envy. We both love Blackwing pencils. If you also love Blackwing pencils, we highly recommend this video by comedian David Rees on Artisinal Pencil Sharpening. There's also a book ! We don't quite understand washi tape , but we're happy for those who love it. If you want to talk planners, Nisha Sharma , Kate Clayborn , and Tracey Livesay are your people. RIP BEA 2020, we look forward to 2021. Jen is addicted to jigsaw puzzles , just like everyone else in the world. The city junk problem is actually pretty great . Victoria Dahl also writes as Victoria Helen Stone . Jen rediscovered contemporary romance with the Tumble Creek series , and also the Fast Track series by Erin McCarthy. Gabe's job was to introduce eBooks to the library. We've come a long way, baby . Jackson, Wyoming is the setting of this book, and apparently there's a lot to do there -- like skiing and rock climbing . It's all outdoorsy, so we can't really speak to it. The big city to small town trope is a cornerstone of romance. It's just not a corner we visit that often . The advice columnist is experiencing a huge resurgence these days, and in the age of the internet, everyone can give advice. Some useful resources if someone you know is sharing their thoughts of suicidal ideation. That Elizabeth Hoyt book with Winter Makepeace is called Thief of Shadows , and it also has a great blow job scene. In case you're into that sort of thing. Watch the Ending of Crocodile Dundee if you've never had the pleasure. If you are looking to try a new podcast app, we both love Overcast . Along with being a great listening device, you can use it to find and share any podcast clips online! Preorder Daring and the Duke ! Support your local indie bookstore, Sarah's is WORD in Brooklyn and Jen's is 57th Street Books in Chicago. And everyone's is Love's Sweet Arrow or The Ripped Bodice . Next time, it's choose your own Sandra Brown adventure. We'll both read Texas! Chase, which believe it or not isn't on Kindle, but it is on audio ! We'll also post a thread of some other Sandra Brown favorites. And if straight thriller is your thing, try OutFox , which is the one Sarah's mom enjoyed. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/4/14/s0232-taking-the-heat-by-victoria-dahl If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 8, 2020

This week, we’ve got two tremendous guests and we’re coming to you from four different time zones! Coronavirus silver lining — time has literally no meaning any longer. We’re talking to the brilliant duo Christina Lauren about their new book, The Honey Don’t List, and forced proximity romances — which is a crowd favorite…or at least was a crowd favorite until we were all forced into forced proximity! Next week, we’re reading Victoria Dahl’s Taking the Heat . We know it’s tough to get it in print, but find it in e at your local library or at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or in print, mailed from your local indie (which is probably still shipping!) We hope you’re staying safe! Show Notes Welcome Christina Lauren ! Check out their new release, a forced proximity romance called The Honey Don't List . Perhpas, like Sarah, you need to understand the "honey do" list. If you're worried about zombies running , there's an app for that . Christina and Lauren said their cover reminds them of Lizzo's big inflatable butt at the 2019 AMAs . Jen wrote a Kirkus column about why "only one bed" is one of the most delightful subsets of the "forced proximity" trope. Amanda Diehl reviews for BookPage and also for Smart Bitches Trashy Books. Here is her inteview with Christina Lauren . Sarah mentioned the great New York City Blackout of 2003 , but it turns out a field in Ohio caused the problem . "He is poison to everyone but her" is of course a reference back to Sarah's favorite IAD book, Sweet Ruin . All about wheelwrights . Wondering what it's really like for scientists on Antarctica is no place you'd want to be trapped, and certainly no place for a danger bang . Outbreak and Contagion are the top movies on Netflix right now. You can order The Honey Don't List with signed bookplates from Books a Million , not sure directly how to order from the one in Hunstville, AL, but try calling the store. Check out the audiobook of the Honey Don't List , starring Patti Murin and Jon Root . While you're whiling away the hours in self-isolation, don't forget to check out our Spotify playlist , which includes the full versions of every song we've ever used on Fated Mates -- or head over and watch all the music videos of all those songs on our site! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/4/7/s0231-forced-proximity-interstitial-with-christina-lauren If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 1, 2020

We are feeling really proud of ourselves this week because Nobody’s Baby But Mine was the perfect isolation read for us both. The reread confirmed to both of us that this is, beat-for-beat, one of the best romcoms of all time. We’re talking problematic plots, the 90s, what we expect from jerk heroes and how Susan Elizabeth Phillips is better at flawed characters than anyone else in the game. We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast, please! In two weeks, we’re reading Victoria Dahl’s Taking the Heat . We know it’s tough to get it in print, but find it in e at your local library or at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or in print, mailed from your local indie (which is probably still shipping!) Show Notes Americans are stress buying chickens . Yes, eggs are more expensive , but this is not a good idea . Speaking of chicks, now that Jen knows what happens to the chicks in the hatchery at the Museum of Science and Industry, she's back on Team Train Room . One day, we'll be able to visit the Butterfuly exhibit at the Museum of Natural History again. Nick Heath and Conor McGahey have figured out a way to keep those announcing skills sharp. Jen's interviewing YA authors on TikTok . When it comes to the SEP-Multiverse, we like the whackadoodle one at the circus ( Kiss an Angel ), the one with Bobby Tom ( Heaven Texas ), the one with the lazy golfer ( Lady Be Good ), and the one with Sugar Beth ( Ain't She Sweet ). What happened to the Lamont House romance collection? Charlotte Stein has a suggestion for authors of contemporary romance. Last year, Sarah wrote about technology in romance for the Washington Post. We talked about Prisoner of My Desire with Joanna Shupe , which is another book about a heroine who has done something very wrong. Maybe you're looking for actual secret baby books. The one with bad sex is Call Me Irresistible . After 9/11, Saturday Night Live and The Onion had to figure out how to be funny again. Our next book is Taking the Heat (aka Cunnilingus Gabe) by Victoria Dahl.

Mar 25, 2020

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 Notes As 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. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/3/24/s0229-health-care-workers-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 18, 2020

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 Notes Please 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 Sylvester is 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. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/3/17/s0228-devils-bride-by-stephanie-laurens If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 11, 2020

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 Notes Welcome 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. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/3/9/s0227-sickbed-romance-interstitial-with-kate-clayborn If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 4, 2020

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 Notes We 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 Wallflowers and 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. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/3/3/s0226-womens-friendship-in-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 26, 2020

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 . Show Notes 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 . Buy 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. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/2/24/s0225-asking-for-trouble If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 19, 2020

It’s February and it’s winter and it’s grey and dark and we’re all just looking for some books that are quick, dirty and delicious. Or, at least, Sarah & Jen are. If you are, too, this is the week for you! We love having you with us! — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined! Next week, we’re reading the Queen of Dirty Talk! Sarah and Jen both love Tessa Bailey — so we’ll be talking about our two favorites of her books, Asking for Trouble (Sarah’s) and Protecting What’s His (Jen’s). Find them at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Sarah had boozy brunch with the RITA Writer’s Room— Nisha Sharma , LaQuette , Adriana Herrera , Andie Christopher , Alexis Daria , and Joanna Shupe ( Sierra Simone & Tracey Livesay weren't there). You should maybe check out this awesome video of them in all their slow motion glory. Jen didn’t know what ASMR is either. Valentine’s Day is Go Week for Sarah. Jen wrote about Galentine’s Day for Kirkus . But one thing we can all agree on: Anna Karenina isn’t a fucking romance . Getting hit by a train does not qualify! The 2 for 1 rule: in a male/female romance, she comes twice for every time he comes. If you’re in Chicago, you can see Fated Mates Live at Spring Fling , and at KissCon , it’ll be a podcast ménage special with us, the Wicked Wallflowers , and Heaving Bosoms podcast. What will Craven Day 2021 bring? Stay tuned. Sarah’s friend Rachel Hawkins told Sarah to read A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane , which is a pen name for Meljean Brook, author of The Iron Duke . Is there danger banging ? Yes. Is there vengeance banging? Also yes. Jen read and loved White Out by Adriana Anders , which is a romantic suspense novel that takes place in Antarctica. It’s cold, but they still manage to danger bang. Speaking of Danger Banging, Jen’s favorite is in the first of the Kinky Bank Robbers series by Annika Martin . It's honestly more like heat-stroke banging. Jen and Sarah don’t think a quick and dirty read has to be InstaLust, but it does have to get right to the inciting incident . Sarah recommends London Hale (a pen name for authors Ellis Lee and Brighton Walsh) as a reliable quick and dirty read. Start with The DILF (if you're ok with taboo) or Talk Dirty To Me (if you'd prefer something a bit further left on the Simone Scale). Adopt don’t shop when it comes to real pet stores. Breastfeed if you can and if you want to , but if you can’t that’s fine, too. Even if you live in Fucking Berkeley . Or the Berkeley of Brooklyn . Some other of our favorite quick and dirty reads that are mostly in space: Grace Goodwin’s Interstellar Brides and Ruby Dixon’s Ice Planet Barbarians . But if you’re reading the Ice Planet Barbarians,please listen to our friend Dani’s Ice Planet Pod . It’s great. More space romances: Laurann Donner’s New Species series , or Cavas , the one that appeared recently on the USA Today Bestseller list (not the New York Times, Jen misspoke) is one from the Vorge Series. Cynthia Sax has a whole cyborg series. Jen also really liked The Grabbed series by Lolita Lopez. What we're trying to say is that these books are the romance equivalent of The Fast and the Furious series --which is the pinnacle of Jen's favorite movie genre, "Handsome men blow things up." Finally, check out Brill Harper’s alphamallow series . But Jen’s favorite was Altogether, which is very, very hot. Yum. This Mr. Plow is not quite as hot; unless your name is Marge, of course. Buy buttons and stickers from Kelly and t-shirts and totes from Jordandene . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/2/18/s0224-quick-and-dirty-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 12, 2020

This week, it’s one of Sarah’s favorites, and by an author Jen has never read! Lorraine Heath is a master of the historical, and this one is near-perfect. It’s complex and nuanced and it has an infidelity plot and THERE IS SO MUCH ANGST! 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 the Queen of Dirty Talk! Sarah and Jen both love Tessa Bailey — so we’ll be talking about our two favorites of her books, Asking for Trouble (Sarah’s) and Protecting What’s His (Jen’s). Find them at: Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Turns out Sarah and Jen aren't the only people who think these Apple keyboards are trash--after winning a 2020 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, Taika Waititi had quite a bit to say on the subject . Tom Beer is one of Jen's editors at Kirkus, and you should follow him on Twitter. You can read The Smith College Sophian on line, and we'll link to the interview with Sarah onces it goes live. We have Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation to thank for the glory that is Galentine's Day. Read Jen's column about some books that celebrate women's friendship . A few years ago during #RomBkLove, Shantastic/@bardsong wrote a great piece about disability in romance . You can also check out the blog, Sense and Disability by @Callalily . Kate Reading is an amazing audiobook narrator, she's the one who narrates Lord of Scoundrels . Fridging is a word from comics that is when women characters are killed to motivate a male character, but can be used to describe any time a less powerful or privileged character is used as a plot device. Flat Stanley is a character in children's books, but flat characters you might remember from English class. Harry and Meghan are still taking money from the Duchy of Cornwall . Jen said she was going to go back and read the other books in the trilogy, and they are bundled together on Amazon for $10 . The Bechdel Test is a pretty simple way of judging how inclusive movies are of women characters; it's limited but powerful . Jen wrote about external and internal conflict in romance , but we also talked about it on the Priest episode -- and we are always unpacking the way conflict works in romance. Dialogue tags get a bad rap, famously Elmore Leonard claimed that writers should only use "said" and "asked. " In this part of the discussion, Sarah mentioned her friend Barry Lyga, a YA author . Jen thinks these three are codependent . Cheating is the third rail of romance. It is. There are some lists on Goodreads of romances that have cheating , but it's complicated and difficult. One Jen read recently was I Want You Back by Lorelei James , but the cheating happened in the past. If you're interested in reading another book about someone who discovers the other family, Jen recommends Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. Next time, we'll be reading Tessa Bailey, The Queen of Dirty Talk. Sarah's choice is Asking for Trouble , and a secondary text is the first one of that same series, Protecting What's His . Buy stickers and buttons from Kelly and t-shirts from Jordan . We are experimenting with some voice to text transcripts, so here's the first one for this episode . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/2/11/s0223-waking-up-with-the-duke If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 5, 2020

We promised we’d get to the rest of our Holiday AMA questions eventually, and Sarah’s on deadline, so this seemed like the perfect week to do it! Join us for a freewheeling hour during which Sarah cannot remember Tessa Thompson’s name, we talk about how much we’d like to meet Sandra Brown, and how romance really does have something for everyone, including an entire series about romance during power outages. Also, we forgot to mention that Tuesday was Derek Craven Day! Lots of fun was had by all goofballs who joined us on the Internet to celebrate, and Lisa Kleypas herself even got involved! If you haven’t read Dreaming of You , you can get it for $2.99 right now in ebook! Also, do not miss this incredible Craven Day thread on Twitter from Steve Ammindown and the Browne Pop Culture Library. And if you want Derek Craven t-shirts? Those exist now ! Next week, the book is in and we’re back in business! Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up With the Duke is our next read—a book that blooded Sarah. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Full Show Notes @ FATEDMATES.NET - Question 1: Weird but true: the more specific the request, the more likely we are to come up with a recommendation. So if you just need "enemies to lovers" and you've already read Her Best Worst Mistake, or "friends to lovers" and you've already read Scoring Off the Field , then you just need to google it. - Question 2: Who are we fancasting? These beautiful people: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Henry Cavill, Tessa Thompson, and Tom Hardy. Also, listening to Henry Cavill and Tom Hardy grunt is one of our favorite things. - Question 3 : Who do we want to have lunch or tea with? Kresley Cole, obviously! Sarah said Joanna Lindsey. Jen says Julie Garwood. We'd both love to meet Sandra Brown. Jen still can't believe the people she's met, and hopes she was cool like Yolanda . - Question 4: Do we have recommendation for lesbian and f/f romance? Is it more difficult to find? Check out Bold Strokes Books . strands of f/f, and others have different roots. We will keep looking for some history of f/f romance and link to them if we find one. But in the meantime, YA author, critic, and expert Malinda Lo wrote about "The Invisible Lesbian" in YA , and it's right on point and worth your time. But we do have lots of great f/f romances that we love in the photo array below. - Question 5: What about steampunk? Is that ever coming back? We don't know! But all we can do is recommend these ones we do know. Sorry! - Question 6: What is like Harry Potter for grown-ups? Burn For Me by Illona Andrews (Jen also liked the Kate Daniels series). That's it. That's the answer. - Question 7: Books with power outages? Read this Naima Simone series called Blackout Billionares. - Question 8: How to get started with reviewing and NetGalley? You should look at lists that big reviewing clearinghouses make-- Kirkus (Jen writes that one!), Booklist, and PW . Just trying to look at some of these lists will give you a sense of what books will be coming out. The Book Queen is keeping a list of 2020 new releaes . But Estelle from Forever Romance wrote a great piece about how to get started with NetGalley . - Question 9: Looking for hardcore enemies to lovers with kids in the mix. Jen recommends Wait For It by Molly O'Keefe. Lord of Scoundrels is great for this, too! - Quesiton 10: Books that made us literally laugh out loud. Jen recommends I Think I Might Love You by Christina C Jones. Sarah recommends It Takes Two by Jenny Holiday. Christina has a huge backlist, and Jenny's newest book, Mermaid Inn , came out last week. - Question 11: Looking for books with a heist plot and polyamory. Jen thinks Katrina Jackson has cornered the market on this request and we have all been blessed by it. - Quesiton 12: A question if there are any romances with a Muslim hero and heroine with on-page sex. Jen couldn't think of any, but asked author Farah Heron. Farah also couldn't think of one, but we do recommend her book The Chai Factor. - Quesiton 13: Jackie from Elyria Ohio (where Jen went to high school!) is looking for historical with a murder and a twist. We recommend Kelly Bowen and Sarah's book No Good Duke Goes Unpunished. - Quesiton 14: Sarah is looking for books with virgin heroes--but hot! - Question 15: A book with a grovel so unconvincing that the character has to do it again. Oh, we have suggestions but also you should check out Jen's treatise on groveling . - Quesiton 16: What are some museums we love? Sarah talked about these in England: The Museum of London , The Foundling Museum , The Soane's Museum , and The British Library . She also loves the Museum of Sex in New York, and the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston. Jen doesn't research, but in Chicago, she recommends The Art Institute and the National Museum of Mexican Art. If you're ever in Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is so cool, and in Houston, check out the most meditative place Jen has ever been, The Rothko Chapel. (when this aired in Feb 2020, the chapel was temporarily closed for renovations! Please check the website ). The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/2/4/s0222-february-ama If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 29, 2020

This one is a RIDE, you guys! We wanted to do something really fun this week—something that would lighten the mood for us and for you. So, strap in, because we’re talking about our favorite Old School Category romances today! We’ve got something for everyone — wolves and dragons and marine biologists and single moms and more wolves! A word of caution this week — we didn’t reread these books before we recorded, and they’re all published in the 80s and 90s, so tread lightly if you decide to read them…and let us know just how wrong we got the plots! (Just kidding, we’re for sure rereading all of them now). Next week was supposed to be the deep dive of Lorraine Heath, but Sarah has a book due, so we’re putting it on hold—but stay tuned, because we’ve definitely got something coming! Waking Up With the Duke will definitely be the next read, though: Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes If you're looking for a real cool summer sleepaway camp, check out Camp Kupugani . They'll pick your kid up at O'Hare! You can order girl scout cookies online now . Good luck to all of us. If you're in Chicago, I guess you could go to Navy Pier ; But if you're in Peru, you should definitely go to Machu Picchu . That American Dirt story is real wild. This review by Myriam Gurba is amazing, and Vox has you covered with an entire explainer . Remezcla has better recommendations for books about the border. If you want to know what makes something a category romance , Love in Panels has a very good explainer. Also, if you're interested in Harlequin covers now, Jen interviewed Tony Horvath for Kirkus. He's the creative director in charge of all of Harlequin series romance. You can also check out Kelly Faircloth's Instagram , where she posts pictures of her favorite old school romance covers. Buying old category romances is easy. Check out ThriftBooks for the best prices and best shipping (Amazon charges for individual items from sellers), but also Better World Books . And if you're lucky enough, local thrift stores and used book stores. For more recent remaindered books , try Book Outlet . We mentioned so many category series today. Check out this blog by Steve Imes with all the category series names and dates, and FictionDB for listings of books by series. Sandra Brown wrote as Erin St. Claire and also Rachel Ryan. She was an 80s powerhouse who still writes romantic suspense. The book Sarah mentioned was Honor Bound , but Jen was thinking of a similar book called Hawk O'Toole's Hostage . Ope . Jen reread and reviewed several of her first category romances for the Book Queen. The one about Pink Satin compares the book to the Harvey Weinstein case . It's honestly shocking how little has changed for women in the workplace. White Satin was an early Iris Johansen about figure skating, but that author is also for being the book that inspired the "Who Did it Better on a Horse" post. And at the end of the episode, Sarah mentions that she had a house for sale if you're on the market, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY A MANSION. Brad Pitt is old and still working because of the patriarchy. Deep Tracks is the name of an XM radio station that plays B sides and less popular songs, which is very on brand for the books in this episode. Maybe you'd like to read those goodreads reviews for The Lady and the Dragon . And here is the obituary for the author, Regan Forest . Jen loved Barbara Boswell . She was a fan of the Brady/Ramsey series where a bunch of sisters married a bunch of brothers. And then this one that is Brady Bunch fanfic . Eight is enough , I swear! Was this all Roe v. Wade blowback ? You actually can still get Harlequin subscriptions , but the best current Romance subscription is definitely the Bawdy Bookworms box. In Demon Lover, the heroine thinks the hero is a coyote , but he's really an undercover DEA agent. Jen asked the Smart Bitches to help her find it in 2018 , when it was available as an eBook, but it isn't anymore! All you need to know is that these 80s covers celebrated the Tom Selleck mustache in a big way. Warrior was last in the McKenzie-Blackthorn series by Elizabeth Lowell. Light a candle for Utah, who never got his book. Ao3 needs to get on it! #JusticeForUtah Virginity is a construct! Also, here's where the hymen is in case you need to know. Sarah's on deadline, so who knows what's going to happen next week. Buy some stickers, buttons , or t-shirts to tide yourself over while we figure it out. Please check out the photo array below for books we referenced. You may remember that we recorded an entire episode on category romances with Andie Christopher, but Jen screwed up the recording. By then, we moved on with Andie to cinnamon rolls . But Andie recommended Driven by Fate by Tessa Bailey , and Jen talked about Every Road to You by Phyllis Bourne . Sarah proably talked about Hot Touch, but Jen can't really remember...we'll just think of that episode as the one that got away. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/1/27/s0221-old-school-category-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 22, 2020

Don’t miss a single moment of our 2020 episodes — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined! In two weeks, we’re reading one of Sarah’s picks, Lorraine Heath’s Waking Up With the Duke , which was a tough choice because Lorraine is amazing and Sarah wants you to read all of her books. Read Waking Up With the Duke at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Jen's disappointed with the iHeartRadio Podscast awards . It's an honor just to be nominated, and that didn't even happen! For your consideration: Best Pop Culture Podcast and Best Fiction Podcast! Come on! Literary Disco wasn't even nominated! Everyone loved The Pegging episode ! Jen found this really interesting article too late for those show notes, but why not drop them here? We don't really think that we jumped the shark . Oh, and any chance to drop the " smashing from the back " rap. The 20 minutes Eric cut were about RWA. So just read Jen's article for Kirkus instead . Just kidding. We don't really need D & O insurance . Do we? Either way, Eric should stop harshing our dream mellow. Scotty vs. Scottie . Our Kristen Callihan origin stories: Sarah recommends Evernight in the Darkest London series, but Jen can't help but think of Tony Stark . Jen wrote about Kristen's book The Hook Up in the Who Did it Better in the Library post. Slumpbusters from this week: The Player and Sweet Ruin for Sarah, and two Sophie Jordan books, While the Duke was Sleeping and The Scandal of it All , for Jen. And the shipbuilder book by Holley Trent is called Lowdown Dirty . If you're trying to find the sex scenes in books, Jenny Nordbak from the Wicked Wallflowers Podcast has the sure-fire keyword search word: thrust . The kind of super fancy first class where the seats turn into beds looks pretty great. Recently, we saw this happen in the movie Crazy Rich Asians . Unbuttoning a glove is a huge romantic moment in Lord of Scoundrels and The Age of Innocence. In case you have to travel with a rock band on a bus , the internet provides useful tips , of course! Jen loves this famous tour bus scene from the movie Almost Famous . Also, read Daisy Jones and the Six , which uses interview format to tell the story of the rise and fall of a 70s rock band. Our Rock Star Romance interstitial was our very first interstitial. It's 20 minutes long, and you can listen to it here . Revision is everything, but it is also very hard . Interested in more slow burn romances? Goodreads has you covered . Kerrelyn Sparks is the one who told Sarah romance is like a football game. If you're worried you have an STI like Chlamydia , please see a doctor. Also, if you have kids, make sure they get the HPV vaccination . Being a professional friend is a real job. More about the A in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. If you're ever in Chicago, you should go to the dining room of the Chicago Athletic Association , check out the trophies , and play some bocce ball. Looking to hang out with us in April? We'll be at KissCon and Spring Fling . Buy buttons and stickers from Kelly and t-shirts from Jordan . Next up, Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath, a book that blooded Sarah. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/1/20/s0220-managed-by-kristen-callihan If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 15, 2020

Don’t miss a single moment of our 2020 episodes — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined! Next week, we’re talking Kristen Callihan’s Managed , which you may recognize as “SCOTTIE,” which is how Jen refers to it because she loves him so much. We think you’ll love it, too, and if you have time, read the next in the series, Fall , which is one of Sarah’s top 10 romances ever. Read Managed at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes RWA imploded and it's such a long, complicated story, but this article from Vox and this timeline by Claire Ryan are what will catch you up. Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start : there are seven romance subgenres: historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, paranormal, inspirational, erotic romance, and YA. When it comes to the grandmother of historicals, don't forget that Jane Austen was writing contemporaries. Johanna Lindsey died in October, and her family announced it publicly in December. The New York Times obituary was trash , so read the Washington Post or Entertainment Weekly one instead. Check out the Twitter hastag #MyFirstJohanna for people's stories about their first book by Lindsey ( including Sarah's ), and maybe listen to our episode on Gentle Rogue . Support Farrah Rochon for an organ in her sister's memory. And come this summer, buy her upcoming book The Boyfriend Project. In Born a Crime , Trevor Noah wrote about what his mother said about her second husband wanting to put her in a cage: For a long time I wondered why he ever married a woman like my mom in the first place, as she was the opposite of that in every way. If he wanted a woman to bow to him, there were plenty of girls back in Tzaneen being raised solely for that purpose. The way my mother always explained it, the traditional man wants a woman to be subservient, but he never falls in love with subservient women. He’s attracted to independent women. “He’s like an exotic bird collector,” she said. “He only wants a woman who is free because his dream is to put her in a cage.” Mary Wollstonecraft is all the evidence you need that feminists have been around for a long time. Jen recommends In the Dream House by Carmen Marie Machado , which is about domestic abuse in a queer relationship. The quote from Jose Estaban Munoz is, "When the historian of queer experience attempts to document a queer past, there is often a gatekeeper representing a straight present." When talking about The Doctor's Discretion by EE Ottoman, Sarah is very excited about a book called The Butchering Art by medical historian Dr. Lindsey Fitzharris, whose sometimes very gross Instagram is amazing. Doctor James Berry was trans man who lived and worked in London in the mid 1800s. If you haven't listened to our episode about Beverly Jenkins's Indigo what are you waiting for? Avon Red was a short-lived series, but then again, so was The Red Shoe Diaries. Sarah recommends On These Silken Sheets by Sabrina Darby from that series. Whores of Yore is a great blog, and definitely proves Jen's assertion that as soon as someone invented cameras, someone else wanted to get naked in front of it. Dr. Kate Lister, who founded the site, has a book called A Curious History of Sex coming out Feb 2020. Next time you are in New York, visit The Museum of Sex . Sarah recommends Hallie Rubenhold's The Covent Garden Ladies: Pimp General Jack and the Extraordinary Story of Harris' List (which out of print, but available in audio , and is the book Harlots is based on). Hallie Rubenhold's The Five is not out of print, and also excellent--it is very not a romance, and about the victims of the Ripper killings. KJ Charles is so ridiculously good. Sarah's favorites are Wanted a Gentleman and Think of England and Jen loves Band Sinister. Nicola Davidson 's Surrey Sexual Freedom Society series is fantastic. Alyssa Cole 's An Extraordinary Union is amazing. Monica McCarty wrote a historical series that imagines Highlanders as being kind of like Navy SEALs. Sarah talked about one of the books in the series, The Arrow on the Scotland interstitial . Honestly, we talked about so many authors, so just click on any one of the images in the photo gallery below for some of our favorites by those authors. But stickers and buttons from Kelly , tees and bags from Jordandene , take our reading challenge , and answer our survey . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/1/14/s0219-so-you-want-to-read-a-historical If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 8, 2020

Don’t miss a single moment of our 2020 episodes — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined! In two weeks, we’ve got another of Jen’s pics, Kristen Callihan’s Managed , which you may recognize as “SCOTTIE,” which is how Jen refers to it because she loves him so much. We think you’ll love it, too, and if you have time, read the next in the series, Fall , which is one of Sarah’s top 10 romances ever. Read Managed at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , or Kobo . Show Notes Who knows what the RWA situation is when you read this, but as of this podcast, the absolute best source is Claire Ryan's blog post outlining the timeline of events. There was lots of national news coverage, but the " come on girls " comment was on NPR. The 2019 RITA ceremony was amazing , and one that celebrated the history of romance . In between when we recorded this episode and when it was released, RWA cancelled the 2020 RITA awards . When Sarah said "it was a check the organization couldn't cash" she's alluding to a less well-known section of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech . "La Nora" is how many people refer to Nora Roberts. Sarah mentions some of her earliest category romances, including Gabriel's Angel , an early Nora from the Silhouette Intimate Moments line . She's also read Naked In Death (Jen hasn't), but Jen loved The Brides quartet , which was probably the last Nora Roberts series she read. Sarah said she feels like readers should at least have read ten percent of an author's backlist for full romance competency. Should the "Ten Percent Rule" be a plank of the official Fated Mates Romance Reader platform? Discuss. When we talk about Nora Roberts, we used a lot of superhero language: her origin story ; her vanquishing of a villanous and duplicitous plaigiaris t-- twice !; owning her own town ; her complete dominance of the bestseller lists . None of it is hyperbole. It's possible she actually is a superhero. Lots of authors made statements about the RWA situaton. Here is Nora's , and then JR Ward's . Virginity in romance has come a long way. PS. Virginity is a construct. Somewhere in the 43 minute mark, Jen says " ope ," which is the most Midwestern of sayings. If the twitter account Midwest vs. Everybody doesn't make you laugh so hard you wheeze, you're probably part of the everybody. Jen isn't the only one who thinks smoking is a short cut for villainy . She thinks The X-Files is to blame. Also, PSA: vaping is really bad for you, too. Birth control in romance has changed so much, listen to our episode on bodily autonomy for more discussion of this topic. What does it mean to do something in a fugue state ? Sarah wrote a column for the Washington Post in December 2019 about how technology is changing romance . Sarah's big thread about why authors shouldn't be afraid of the problematic content in their old romances. If you're interested in a big interesting book about The Troubles , Jen recommends Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe . What's a moor anyways? So you wanted to know what it was like to fly the Concorde ? Buying a car? Sounds like that other Grey. Too bad this Gray was a Confederate apologist . Saying the Civil War was about "a way of life" instead of slavery is a classic Lost Cause myth . As Courtney Milan says, the devil doesn't need your advocacy . Buy buttons and stickers from Kelly, tshirt and swag from Jordan, particpate in a 2020 reading challenge with Jen and Sarah, and fill out this survey for Eric. In two weeks, we'll be discussed Managed and Fall by Kristen Callihan. If you have to pick one, make it Managed. As of this episode airing, Jen has tweeted just the word Scottie with a swooning gif at least 11 times. Our listener call in book was Star King by Susan Grant. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/1/7/s0218-born-in-ice If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 1, 2020

Auspicious beginning, right? Don’t miss a single moment of our 2020 episodes — subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and like/review the podcast if you’re so inclined! We’re back next week (WE PROMISE!) with Born in Ice , by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Jen misquoted a famous scene in Chinatown; it's actually "my sister and my daughter." Yikes. Pretty sure if you're fancasting us into this clip from Grease about the Pink Ladies , Sierra is Rizzo. We've talked a lot about Sierra's books on the podcast, but it was on the Small Town Romance interstitial that Sarah joked all of Sierra's books take place in Menage County, Kansas. The Romance for RAICES auction was the brainchild of Suzanne from Love in Panels and raised TWENTY THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS! You should definitely support her blog and patreon if you can. The crisis on the border is ongoing and getting worse. Please continue to support romance's teams at RAICES and The Young Center . We were going to rickroll you by talking about Peggy Sue Got Married and pirate romances , but we're nice that way and didn't. FWIW, Jen still thinks the plot of Peggy Sue Got Married is haunting. Sierra is also, of course, the founder, owner, and operator of The Simone Scale , which does not include teabagging even, but has been, because she loves us, updated to include pegging. The image is on our website in show notes. We did a lot of research for this episode! Everyone wants the right pegging playlist , and of course there's one on Spotify . What a world! Besides Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman , we offer up for your consideration Back It Up , Boys by Peaches and Behind the Wheel by Depeche Mode. Here are some Sierra Simone recommended toys and harnesses . She says of the toys, "The small is VERY gently sized and some men may feel more comfortable with a toy is that isn’t a hyper-realistic reproduction of a cock." Elia Winters is a Fated Mates favorite, and we want to thank her for her help thinking through the implicatons for gender essentialism and cisnormativity in this discussion. Buy her books! Her latest Three For All has pegging. Sierra mentioned "that law about gas expanding to fill a space" -- well, I phoned Jonathan, a friend who teaches chemistry, and he says that's called entropy or Boyles Law of Kinetic Molecular Theory. Learn more about it here from Professor Dave , a Jonathan-approved chemistry youtube instructor. Samhain and Ellora's Cave (which was especially messy ) were two earlier and now shuttered publishers of erotic romance. Jen Porter wrote a great twitter thread about erotic romance and character development. That's What She Said . Sarah mentioned "the RITA entry window" and goddamn if that's not a bitter pill to swallow right now. She's sorry. A little about what it means to be allosexual . Check out Roan Parrish's short story A Good Old Fashioned Chanukah Pegging , starring Ginger and Christopher from Small Change . Everyone knows you need a flared base on your butt plugs, or at least anyone who follows Jenny Nordbak knows. Romance as sex ed is complicated, but Scarlteen is on the job, and Teen Vogue would never steer you wrong. The Pegging Song that Adriana sent us from Twitter is amazing, and we want to thank @shutupaida for being so gracious about letting us play it during the podcast. Also, be sure to watch Big Mouth on Netflix , because she's writing for it now! I guess Katee Robert isn't the only one staging elaborate scenes with her Barbie dolls . The Rogue Anthologies are pretty great and there are quite a few of them. Jen had to do a major " retcon " on this hero in the Tamsen Parker book in order to read it. It's fine, really. Special thanks to our special guest Sierra Simone! You can find her on Instagram or Facebook . Read her New Camelot series, the first is American Queen ! She also joined us on our MacRieve episode , and we talked about Priest , a book that blooded Sarah. You can buy a Pegging the Patriarchy button and other Romancelandia buttons at stickers at Jen's shop run by her best friend Kelly, and Sarah's t-shirts and swag from Jordandene . Next week, we'll be talking about Born in Ice by Nora Roberts ! We mean it! Much thanks to all the members of the Pegging Cabal for their amazing, generous donation, and for asking us to do this episode: E is reading , Jennifer , Stephanie Blackhart , Amanda , Kini , Melinda , Tempest Bonds , Michelle Boule , JS Lenore , Eve Pendle , and Isabel . Give them a follow, or maybe this related account, Is There Pegging ? But whatever you do, don't make everyone think that something is wrong with Colin Firth . We hope you enjoyed the episode!

Dec 25, 2019

If you want to give us a gift this year, please like/subscribe to/review the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform! We’re back next week with the seasonally appropriate (at least in title) Born in Ice , by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Sarah and Jen like a lot of Christmas songs: Silver Bells , Fairy Tale of New York , Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (which in fact does have a sad and not-sad version !), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen , Carol of the Belles , Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree , Santa Baby , and Baby It's Cold Outside ( which just might be super feminist? ). This year, there's a new Chanukah romance anthology you should check out called Eight Kisses , and Roan Parrish just released a little snippet of a story about Ginger and Christopher from Small Change called A Good, Old Fashioned Chanukah Pegging . Oh, you aren't familiar with the Carina Dirty Bits line? They are quick and dirty--not thicc and dirty. But whatever works. Also, check out Jen's list of which romances have the best sex in the library. We have lots of favorite romance librarians, but we love Bandherbooks and our favorite archivist is Steve Ammindown at the BGSU Pop Culture Library in Ohio. The Sierra Simone story with the bear is from Hot for the Holidays anthology , but she also has a story with Kennedy Ryan in a 2019 release called Christmas in the City . Did someone say only one circulation desk? Just kidding. It's only one bed . If you want show notes for last year's holiday episode, click here . Our first episode of 2020 will be Born in Ice by Nora Roberts , a book that blooded Jen. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/12/19/s0216-christmas-romance-recommendations If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 18, 2019

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! Next week, we’re releasing a little stocking stuffer for our Christmas Day episode, but we’re back in business on January 1, with the seasonally appropriate (at least in title) Born in Ice , by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Question 1: Beth from Milwaukee asked, "I'm going to Iceland in December for my 10th wedding anniversary! I obviously need a book that has snow/cold and using body heat and -ahem- other activities for warmth. Bonus points if a volcano or other geological feature is a part of the story! Sub genre is not important, and yes I'm aware of the Ice Planet Barbarians ." Our recommendations: From the deep recesses of Jen's brain, the only romance she can think of with a volcano, Eden Burning by Elizabeth Lowell . And that's from the 80s, so fair warning that it's likely to have problematic elements. When it comes to snuggly, warm, only one bed romances, you just need to use the internet! But Jen did write a piece about Only One Bed for Kirkus , which you should read. In the meantime, go watch Joe versus the Volcano , and then talking about Hawaii reminded Sarah of some bananas sounding book by Anne Stuart called Tangled Lies . But a few snowy romances: Beary Christmas Baby by Sasha Devlin or How the Dukes Stole Christmas . Question 2: Emily from Washington D.C. want our opinion aobut "the BEST star crossed lovers trope (it always gets me so good)." Our Recommendations: The reason Sarah thinks that star-crossed lovers have to end up unhappy is Romeo and Juliet, of course. But Jen thinks you should try Luck of the Draw by Kate Clayborn and Sarah recommends Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan , but comes with a whole suitcase of content warnings for domestic violence. In the interim, Jen read and recommends Forbidden Promises by Synithia Williams , the heroine falls in love with her sister's ex-husband! And of course, coming in the summer of 2020 comes Daring and the Duke by Sarah, which will also work. But you have to wait! Question 3: Megumi from San Antonio, TX is looking for "a contemporary of someone not Scottish going to Scotland and finding love. (Maybe England but mostly Scotland)" Our Recommendations: Jen lost her mind and said Unfixable by Tessa Bailey , but Willa is a heroine who goes to Ireland. She thinks it still counts. Sarah recommends a novella by Sophie Jordan called "In a Stranger's Bed" which was a Goldilocks retelling published in the Glamour anthology but which is currently unavailable so come on Sophie, get it together and put your stories up because they are ON FIRE. A few others you can try: A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole , the Under the Kilt series by Melissa Blue , Getting Hot with the Scot by Melonie Johnson , and Ten Days With the Highlander by Hayson Manning . Also, we didn't know what Adriana Herrera had up her sleeve when we recorded, but Mangos & Misteltoe is ADORABLE, and features to delicious Dominican heroines falling in love on a Scottish Baking Show. It's also a perfect holiday romance! Question 4: Becca wants "a funny contemporary, a true romcom, minimal trauma." Our recommendations : Jen thinks it doesn't exist. Sarah recommends going old school to Jennifer Crusie or Susan Elizabeth Phillips. If it helps, you should know that later this season, we'll be talking about Bet Me and Nobody's Baby But Mine. After we recorded, Sarah realized she should have recommended Christina Lauren, who she adores, and who she believes is one of the few authors writing real RomCom. If you haven't read Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating , it's a very funny, very romantic friends-to-lovers romance! "What happened to romantic comedy" is an existential question for our time. Question 5: Laurel from NC wants a book that "Has marriage of convenience, preferably historical." Our recommendations: Sarah says Sherry Thomas better than everyone and recommends Ravishing the Heiress . Jen thinks The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan might work. Sarah points out that in order to qualify, the marriage has to happen pretty early in the story. The marriage has to be part of the plot the whole time. Once again, there are so many of these we had trouble thinking of them on the spot, but in hindsight, Sarah would like you not to miss Amalie Howard's The Beast of Beswick or Scarlet Peckham's The Duke I Tempted . Bonus story from Jen about a Sherry Thomas YA book about Mulan called The Magnolia Sword. Question 6: Cara from Finland wants a book that "Has chosen families strongly included in the plot. Extra points if it's enemies-to-lovers with the heroine's family ready to kick the pining-but-unfortunately-dumbass hero's butt." Our recommendations: Whoa! That's a lot of asks all at once. Just reread IAD, Cara! This is the plot of Sarah's book A Scot in the Dark, so that's a good place to start. Lots of rock star romances have chosen family, try Kristen Callihan's series, and Managed will be a book that blooded Jen later this season. It's not linked via heroines, but Elle Kennedy's Hotter than Ever is bonkers sexy, a MMF menage, and has lots of found Navy SEAL family. In historicals, there are lots of sisterhood/brotherhood books. Try the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas, or Lorraine Heath's Scoundrels of St. James ! Question 7: Krystal from New Jersey is looking for "Childhood friends to lovers - historical! Where the Male is titled and the woman is not!" Our recommendations: There are so many that will work here. Sarah recommends Tessa Dare's first series, the Wanton Dairymaids (!!!) should work, try Godess of the Hunt . After recording, of course, a bunch of books came to mind! Try Kelly Bowen's You're the Earl That I Want , Vanessa Riley's The Butterfly Bride , and Loretta Chase's Last Night's Scandal . Question 8: Rosalie from the Chicago suburbs wants books she "can recommend to my 15 year old son. Have thought about Sarina Bowen’s Ivy Years. Although LJ Shen “Sinner of Saints” series is high school, seems too dark/gritty and I think he would not be able to suspend reality for some of the story lines given he is the same age." Our Recommendations: Sarah thinks the Sarina Bowen series you mentioned should work just fine. Adult romances that are adventure stories might work are the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews and Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik . Some actual YA Romance that Jen likes are The Way You Make me Feel and I Believe in a Thing Called Love , which are both by Maurene Goo. One of Jen's favorite YA books of all time is called The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks . She also recommneds Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter . Some sports romances we recommend are the WAGS series by Naima Simone, especially Scoring Off the Field . Finally, The Deal by Elle Kennedy might be a good choice. Question 9: Jemma from Texas is looking for "Found family. Also with lots of good food descriptions. Not necessarily a chef romance though (they stress me out because chefs stay up so late at night; ugh, who does that?)" Our recommendations: This is such a perfect question for Sarah. She recommends the Recipe for Love series by Louisa Edwards . Another series by the same author is called the Rising Star Chefs . The Opposite of You by Rachel Higginson will work. Finally, American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera , and a series by Sabrina Sol . In hindsight, Sarah basically only recommended books with chefs in them. She's sorry. She has a problem. Question 10: Sara from Albuquerque wants a "Bodyguard trope where the person being guarded does NOT spend the whole book trying to escape the bodyguard because he/she doesn't think there is any danger even though it's incredibly obvious to everyone else. Bonus if the bodyguard character is female." Our recommendations: Jen recommends Sexy/Dangerous (female bodyguard) by Beverly Jenkins, which is fabulous. Nana Malone has a few, one in her royals seris, and another is Bodyguard to the Billionaire (female bodyguard) -- also, listen to Nana talk about Royal Romance on an interstitial last season! . And! Try HelenKay Dimon's Leave Me Breathless (female bodyguard), Katee Robert's Thalanian Dynasty series (male bodyguard/MMF menage) and Anna Zabo's Reverb (trans male bodyguard). Question 11: Molly from Washington has an AMA question about how to organize her Kindle books. She is also looking for a book that "Features a Grumpy/terse older brother’s friend (or older brother of friend) with smart mouth heroine, bonus points for SUPER HOT, some sort of road trip, or problem they have to solve much to their reluctance (trapped on a desert island?) basically Bowen and Mari 😂" Our answer: : Jen wrote a long thread about how she organizes her Kindle , which you should just read on Twitter. But it takes a lot of time, so clear a day to do it! For the grumpy road trip question, Sarah recommends Right by Jana Aston . This is the second book in a series, the first one is called Wrong and you don't have to read them in order. Also, don't miss Tessa Bailey's Staking His Claim or Fix Her Up ! Maybe try Mister McHottie by Pippa Grant. And...have you listened to our Road Trip interstitial ? Question 12: Hero from Paris, France (not Texas!) wants to know what trope would be, and then some books that take you on a "yellow brick road of emotions." Our Recommendations: We ended up talking about the last books that made us cry. The last book Sarah read that made her cry was Sinner by Sierra Simone . For Jen, it was The Bride Test by Helen Hoang . Jen also thinks Sarah's books are pretty emotional, so start off with her first, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing the Rake. Finally, The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley or Escorted by Claire Kent . Also, we're going to read Alexis Hall's For Real as a book that blooded Sarah, so stay tuned for that! Question 13: Chris from Seattle wants to know how we keep track of all these books! Also, a book that "starts with the main character in jail." Our recommendations: Jen recommends the book Hard Time by Cara McKenna . The entire Devil's Rock series by Sophie Jordan is fantastic, and the first one is actually called All Chained Up , but you're going to want to read them all. Sarah recommends My One and Only Duke by Grace Burrowes , which starts with the hero in Newgate. Another historical with the hero in jail is The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne . Hold by Claire Kent starts with both characters on a prison planet, and there is also an entire series of prison planet books by Emmy Chandler . Question 14: Emily wants to know "How do you find time to read as much as you do? I’m a fast reader but can never seem to carve out enough time to read as much as I want." And also is looking for recommendations for books that are "deeply, utterly romantic and swoony and leaves you with a PROFOUND book hangover. Great, sexy banter is a plus!" Our recommendations: Jen doesn't watch TV and Sarah starts a book every day. Don't be afraid to DNF! Book wise, Jen knows a book is a real winner if she rereads it, and some of her favorites are Everything I Left Unsaid and The Truth About Him by Molly O'Keefe (famously, this is the only duology/book with a cliffhanger that Jen has ever finished!), Thirsty by Mia Hopkins , Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein , and she also rereads a lot of Kresley Cole . Sarah recommends Three Little Mistakes by Nikki Sloane . Question 15: Rosa, Daughter of Mexican immigrants living in Oakland, CA wants to know "Is a historical romance where both main characters are people of color. Does this exist?" Our recommendations: Some #OwnVoices historical authors you should check out are Beverly Jenkins , Alyssa Cole , Rebel Carter , Vanessa Riley , and Piper Huguley . Lydia San Andres has several historicals with Latinx characters, start with A Summer for Scandal . Also, check out <a href="https://amzn.to/38OxDh2" rel="noopener...

Dec 11, 2019

Get ready for Hester, one of Sarah’s favorite heroines of all time — and Beverly Jenkins’s Indigo, which Jen just read for the first time! We’re talking historical romance, the way romances feel important, sex and intimacy, and all the reasons why everyone should read Beverly Jenkins right now. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! Next week, it’s the second half of our book recommendation, stump Sarah & Jen AMA. The following week we’ll release a tiny little stocking stuffer for our Christmas Day episode, but we’re back in business on January 1, with the seasonally appropriate (at least in title) Born in Ice, by none other than the queen herself, Nora Roberts. Read Born in Ice at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo or your local indie. Show Notes Jen now has critic crushes on Diego Baez and Walton Muyumba . Liz Taylor who is kind of a big deal in the book world wrote an amazing book about Chicago's first Mayor Daley called American Pharaoh . Thanks to the Lincoln RI public library for being awesome. There's actually a lot of great resources for how to teach slavery to kids , so do better white teachers . Here at Fated Mates, we are LaQuette stans. Listen to her talk about discomfort and how important it is in her RITA speech last year. Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad is an absolute tour de force . Here is a cool site mapping the world of the novel. If you don't know about America's history of lynching , you should learn all about Bryan Stevenson , who spearheaded the effort to create a Lynching Museum . The site Without Sanctuary preserves the history of these postcards (Content warning on that site for obvious reasons.) Gone with the Wind is an example of the pervasive and terrible "happy slave" narrative, which appears over and over again. Know and reject this narrative, not just in adult books, but in those written for kids . And while I'm on the subject, that goes for picture books about monkeys , too. This amazing One Dot One Person map is a stark look at how the legacy of slavery and segregation still impacts where Americans live today. So you want to read all the books about the LeVeq clan? Start with Through the Storm . and although Sarah said "kids" she meant that Hester and Galen's descendents are the main characters in the Edge of Midnight series. One of our favorite romance people is When Fumni Met Romance, and you should definitley read her talking about her love for Indigo and Beverly Jenkins . The internet makes it so much easier to read the stories of enslaved people. Along with the rather amazing ( but imperfect ) WPA interviews , you can read any number of slave narratives. Remember it was illegal to teach slaves to read , so it's an especailly powerful experience to read slave narratives. If you've never read Frederick Douglass , you should, but Jen also recommends Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs . If you are looking for more resources to learn about American slavery, the New York times 1619 Project is amazing . If you are a listener, Jen recommends you listen the Yale open course about The Civil War with professor David Blight . Jen liked an early 80s novel called The Chaneysville Incident , which is about a historian trying to discover the truth about how his family's past intersects with a local legend about the Underground Railroad. Here's a recent interview with author David Bradley when the book was converted to an eBook. The history of the Underground Railroad is part legend, part myth, and part fact. This site talks specifically about the route people fleeing took north through Michigan on the way to Canada. Night Song was the first novel by Beverly Jenkins. All about the Fugitive Slave Act , why it was so terrible , and how we are seeing echoes of it today. Zeus and Athena . Some interesting sites that talk about indigo cultivation and the role of enslaved people in making the dye. A 2013 book called Red, White, and Black Make Blue discusses the relationship of slavery and indigo production in South Carolina. A thread from Adriana Herrera about why historical romance must grapple with how problematic white women upheld slavery. Colorism is an issue that Beverly Jenkins weaves into Indigo. Looking for more romances with carriage sex ? Of course you are . The Blessings series is a contemporary series by Beverly Jenkins that takes place in the town of Henry Adams, KS. The Biblical story of Daniel and the Lion's Den is why Galen's nickname is The Black Daniel. Sex euphamisms , anyone? Robert E. Lee was pretty terrible . Jen's favorite novel by Beverly Jenkins is Forbidden , which was recently optioned for TV ! Sarah reviewed it for the Washington Post in 2016. Jen has no idea what movie she saw with a character who was passing, but Sarah recommends Nella Larsen's 1929 Passing . In 2018, they made a movie of Deadly/Sexy . Fun fact, the actor in the movie, Travis Cure, was then the cover model for her next book, Rebel. The book recommended by Walton Muyumba is called Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments . Buy Fated Mates buttons from Kelly at the shop on Jen's site , and Sarah's t-shirts and other swag here. Jan 1, 2020, we'll be discussing Born in Ice by Nora Roberts . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/12/9/s0214-indigo If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 4, 2019

The rest of the internet is obsessed with best of the year lists, so we’re doing it, too! Jen and Sarah have both chosen five of our favorite reads of the year — or of 13 months, if you’re really counting. Tell us what we’ve forgotten here, on Twitter , on Instagram , on Facebook or in comments! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! In two weeks, we’re moving across the pond to Beverly Jenkins’s Indigo, with one of Sarah’s favorite heroines ever—Hester Wyatt, Underground Railroad conductor! Read Indigo at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes In between our recording and release of this episode, Kristen Callihan did release a new book, Outmatched , which is cowritten with Samantha Young . But don't miss Scottie from Managed , who will appear later in season 2 as a book that blooded Jen. Munro . That's it. That's the show note . Some of the best of 2019 lists from Bookish , NPR and Kirkus. Sarah's website has all of her past Best of the Year Lists for the Washington Post . Amazon also has a best of the year list , but the Goodreads Award list is strange . Emma Donoghue's Room was a big literary fiction book back in 2010, and it was on all the end of the year lists . Jen will be appearing at The Book Cellar on Dec 7, 2019 if you're looking for something to do. She'll be talking about the best books of the year with other critics. Around the same time we recorded this episode, Kini at SmexyBooks wrote this thoughtful piece about transparency in romance reviewing . Kylie Scott's Repeat was also on our Amnesia episode . Love's Sweet Arrow is a romance-only bookstore in Chicago's south suburbs. Quelle suprise! . Jen also likes Rebecca Zanetti , who also resists romantic suspense that is just " women in peril " plots. Face/Off is a very goofy movie from the late 90s. So of course they're going to remake it . In this Juno Rushdon series, Jen wants the boss's book . We're talking about historicals, but we're not talking about Brazen and the Beast even though Jen wants you to know it's spectacular and you should definitely read it. I guess we're singing this episode: Just One Night is a twist on Phil Collins's One More Night in the Moulin Rouge movie and All Night Long. Jenny Nordbak recommended Dare to Love a Duke to Sarah, and after the unreliable narrators essay, Amy Jo Cousins recommended Any Old Diamonds to Jen. Who wouldn't want to talk about Frankenstein, Shelley , and Wollstonecraft ? Don't sleep on the Gilded Age. Kennedy's Basketball series is also great. But in The Kingmaker duet, she also tackles the problem of missing and murdered indiginous women and land grabs on Native land. Here is a list of #OwnVoices Native American authors from BookRiot, and another from Smart Bitches , but Jen specifically recommends Pamela Sanderson . Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik. Jen interviewed Robin Lovett for Kirkus. And our friend @Bandherbooks was quite taken with the " space chaise " in this book. Jen and Sarah tried so hard to undersatnd the cinnamon roll phenomenon . Maybe you want to check out Jen's many amazing Pinterest boards featuring very specific romance novel cover kinks . Looking to buy some swag? You can buy Fated Mates buttons from Best Friend Kelly and Sarah has an awesome line of romance themed t-shirts and other swag from Jordanene. This week, our listener-recomended books are When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn and Truly, Madly, Yours by Rachel Gibson. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/12/1/s0213-sarah-and-jens-best-romance-novels-of-2019 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 27, 2019

It may be Thanksgiving week in the US, but that didn’t stop us from recording a monster episode about one of our (and all of Romance’s) favorite books of all time! It’s Lord of Scoundrels week! We’re talking gloves and fans and prologues and why Jessica is one of the best heroines of all time! All that, and Sarah is on a rant about Byron…so don’t miss it! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! In two weeks, we’re moving across the pond to Beverly Jenkins’s Indigo, with one of Sarah’s favorite heroines ever—Hester Wyatt, Underground Railroad conductor! Read Indigo at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Lord of Scoundrels has its own wikipedia page , which in case you're curious, is kind of unusual. Just look at this gorgeous Lord of Scoundrels embroider y. If you haven't listened to our episode on Dreaming of You , what are you waiting for? Maybe you want to find out what you first ordered in your Amazon account . Jessica Trent is not a Mary Sue . Erin from Heaving Bosoms is famous for not liking epilogues , but it's a pretty good reason why. But prologues are fine . You've been lawyered is from How I Met Your Mother. Sarah wrote the prologue to a new edition of The Transformation of Philip Jettan . Maybe watch out when taking DNA tests . Or not . Stronzo ! And maybe some more if you're interested. Love's Sweet Arrow is a romance-only bookstore in the Chicago suburbs. It's awesome. Gentle Rogue started too late . More about Russian religous icons , but maybe you want to buy some . The gloves scene in the Age of Innocence movie. All that repressed longing from Daniel Day Lewis ! In the book, it's this chapter where Newland Archer "bent over, unbuttoned her tight brown glove, and kissed her palm as if he had kissed a relic." All about Beelzebub . If you want to know about demon seals and the Wroth brothers , then listen to season one of Fated Mates. What does it even mean to dance a waltz in the Continental style? Probably not this Continental -style. The Beverly Jenkins book where the heroine shoots the hero is Tempest . Reading the banns and a list of people who were married at Saint George Hanover Square. You'll be shocked to know that Jen has some theories about internal vs. external conflict . When they're at the wrestling match, Dain says his friend could have "stayed comfortably at home and pumped his wife." She Walks in Beauty Like the Night is a glorious poem, but that doesn't make Byron any less of a scumbag . That Ada Lovelace was Byron's daughter is kind of wild, but we're glad she's known for being her own person . Despite Sarah trying to create an authorship question for Byron, that's not really a thing. There's no such person as the Duke of Summerville. Jen just made that up. If you're interested in The Romantics, you can find Jen's old college syllabus here . Lots of Wordsworth, but no Bryon, which is just fine. But we still love the way Loretta Chase used Don Juan in the text of Lord of Scoundrels. Friend of the pod Adriana Herrera has been reading Lord of Scoundrels for the first time and her tweets about it are honestly the most amazing thing . Maybe you want to buy some romancelandia buttons or some of Sarah's t-shirts . Coming up next on December 11, 2019, Indigo by Beverly Jenkins The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/11/25/s0212-lord-of-scoundrels If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 20, 2019

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 Notes Question 1 : Ennis from New York asked, "is like Lothaire by Kresley Cole or Cold Cole Heart by 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 Donna posts 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...

Nov 13, 2019

Next week, we’re switching things up and running a full recommendation podcast! You asked us questions, and we’re recommending a metric romance ton of books! Don’t miss it! In two weeks, we’re going to a classic of classics! The read was on both Jen & Sarah’s list—Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels , which 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 Notes Listen, it's Eric FONER . He's kind of a big deal . More about how brains develop . A twitter thread about Sarah's brain surgeon . The kind of Amnesia in books and movies isn't real , but in case you were wondering, all about global amnesia and aphasia . Jen & Sarah have seen the 80s version of Overboard 100 times, and the 2018 version no times. Speaking of Pregneisa ... on the podcast I Don't Even Own a Television , these two guys mostly read it to make fun of it, but then listen to just this snippet of Jeb Lund TOTALLY GETTING ROMANCE. Kylie Scott does write about zombies , and threesomes , and rock stars , and getting with your Dad's best friend . Jen did write about Lies as an example of an Unreliable Narrator , but she still enjoyed the book! Jen couldn't locate the future/present/past thread on twitter, but this is a placeholder in case she ever does. No one liked that Chris Pratt movie . All about that incel bullshit. The Silent Towns is a short story by Ray Bradbury in The Martian Chronicles ---which Jen really liked for the most part! Try There will Come Soft Rains instead. The Last Man on Earth is a TV show and While You Were Sleeping was a movie. Jen likes the scummy, sexy white boy thing Matthew McConaughey has going on. " Don't You Forget About Me " is the theme song to The Breakfast Club . No one had amnesia in the movie, they were just teenagers likely to be shitty to each other. What's Fair Use ? Buy buttons from Kelly and shirts from Jordandené . Ashley from Southern California was blooded by The Duchess War by Courtney Milan Next week we're doing the first of our big romance recommendation podcasts, but get reading Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase -- it's our next read! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/11/11/s0210-amnesia-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 6, 2019

It’s Priest week! Sarah put Sierra Simone’s Priest on her Books that Blooded Her list, and this episode is a ride! Jen’s reading first person narrative, we’re both escaped catholics, Sarah imprinted on The Thornbirds, we’ll get to the bottom of anal sex in church (see what we did there?), and fully disagree about how much guilt is too much guilt for a hero. Plus, you’ll hear us tell you how brilliant we think Sierra is. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! In two weeks, we’re going to a classic of classics! The read was on both Jen & Sarah’s list—Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels , which 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 Notes We love Sierra Simone! Sarah talked about Sinner on the Best Friend's Sibling episode , and Sierra was a special guest on our MacRieve episode . She'll also be joining us on a very special future interstitial. Will Kresley drop Munro like Beyonce ? One can only hope. If you want to join Sarah's FB Old School Romance Book Club group, click here and wait for moderator approval. We (try to remember but sometimes have to be reminded to) post a discussion post for each week's episode there. Have you listened to what we consider to be our sister podcasts: The Wicked Wallflowers , Heaving Bosoms , and Black Chick Lit ? We also love Learning the Tropes and RomBkPod . Check them out for all your listening needs. Facebook is garbage and Zuckerberg is aiming for Bond Villain . The modern day dirty priest fantasy is Fleabag , the old school one is The Thornbirds . If you're not following Jen Porter on Twitter , what are you doing with your life? Sierra's Markham Hall series is an erotic retelling of Jane Eyre . Jen doesn't like first person present . What does it even mean to be star-crossed ? More about reader response theory . A defintion of "framing device" and how they work in fiction. In the Catholic Church, penance is one of seven sacraments . In case you want to know more about hairshirts as a thing, but please don't wear one. In the Ice Planet Barbarians series , the khui is a mystical thing on the ice planet. That's really all you need to know. More about the history of Rhode Island as a haven for escaped Catholics . No not that kind of escaped Catholic . The 2015 movie Spotlight is about the investigative journalists who broke the story of priest sexual abuse in Boston . In one famous scene, a reporter knock on the door of a retired priest who answers her questions in a shocking way . (All the trigger warnings on that scene, by the way.) Mark Ruffalo the hulk vs Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight . Sarah recommends the audio of Priest. This summer, the Catholic Diocese of Providence released the names of 50 priests who were credibly accused of abuse. Celibacy is a core tenent of Catholic priesthood, but as less and less men enter the priesthood, that might be changing in some interesting ways. Please note that the Vatican is more likely to lift celibacy requirements before they'd allow the ordination of women . Eddie Izzard . If this is the defintiion of an inspirational romance , then Priest qualifies. The Tessa Bailey book with "baby girl" is Fix Her Up . It's hot if you don't mind that sort of thing. What we know about priests and sexual abuse . Hot Cop is a book by Sierra Simone and Laurelin Page. In season 2 of Fleabag, the therapist who asks if she wants to "fuck the priest or fuck God" was played by Fiona Shaw . Kristen Scott Thomas gives a barn burner of a speech after the "people are all we have" moment. All about Saint Anselm . In case you don't know, the home at the parish for the priest is called the rectory . Sarah refers to the book of the Bible as Song of Songs , but it's also called the Song of Solomon . Jenny Nordbak was a guest host on Heaving Bosoms talking about Priest, and it's a great episode if you just need more. Sierra Simone was also on a delicious episode of Wicked Wallflowers ! The sequel to Priest is called Midnight Mass . Why is a nun's outfit called a habit ? Erin from Heaving Bosoms famously does not read prologues or epilogues . We love her even though we don't really understand. Shop for buttons from Best Friend Kelly and t-shirts and totes from Sarah. Christina called in today to talk about Colleen McCullough's The Thornbirds , and we hope she enjoyed Sarah's shout out to it this week! Coming up: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase on Nov 20, 2019; Indigo by Beverly Jenkins on Dec 4, 2019; Born in Ice by Nora Roberts on Dec 18, 2019; and A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught on Jan 8, 2020. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/11/4/s029-priest-by-sierra-simone If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 30, 2019

Today, we’re talking jobs in romance novels—why we love them, when we hate them, what’s the proper work/smooch balance, and what we mean when we say “competence porn.” This is a far reaching, many-rec episode that involves discussion of billionaires, of wealth, of power, of what Sarah means when she says heroes have to be kings, no matter what. We’ll also try to get to the bottom of what an Enterprise Holding, LTD is. Nah, that’s a lie, because who cares?! Oh, and stay tuned for Sarah’s treatise on the importance of local journalism. Don’t forget to subscribe to Fated Mates in your favorite podcasting platform — subscriptions mean so much! While you’re there, please leave us a like or a review if you feel so inclined! Next week, we’re taking you to blasphemy town! Or are we?! The read is Sarah’s pick, Sierra Simone’s Priest, which is an erotic romance in first-person hero POV, featuring a priest and an exotic dancer (NB: She is not Catholic). If sex in church is your concern, maybe skip this one, but also know that there’s a lot fo religious allegory in here that is fascinating and brilliant. Content warning for discussion of the Catholic Church and sexual abuse. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes Jen said fossils are boring . It wasn't a good look. Defining competence porn . Christian Grey at work . Despite when Jen said, most sex toys are not made out of neoprene . And please be cautious about the sex toys you buy . Imposter syndrome is the worst for everyone but these guys . Job versus career versus vocation . The Joanna Shupe book about the architect is actually called A Scandalous Deal . If you do want to read books about fossils, Amanda Quick and Tessa Dare have them. Eloisa James does not. Manda Collins does. Sarah MacLean does not. What's wrong with " Not Like Other Girls ." What's a bluestocking ? Doogie Howser was a doctor, not an astrophysicist. How to avoid the " What do you do " question . The recent Supreme Court case about the rights of queer people to work. Sarah mentioned an article about how Americans haven't gotten a raise in 40 year s, and Jen mentioned the struggle to stay in the middle class . Lori Lightfoot won the Chicago mayor's election, but here's the story about her background and why Black Lives Matter activists are worried . The thing Jen made into a job: writing about romance for Kirkus . High School Musical 2 had the "I need a college scholarship" plot. Roseanne and class on television . Jen really hated This is 40 . Are you in Chicago? Come to Jen's romance book club at 57th Street Books or at Love's Sweet Arrow . Divorce has profoundly negative impact on women's financial security . Sarah mentioned a twitter thread about mothers telling their daughter's to have separate money and why women get jewelry as wedding gifts. All women work , even if they don't have a job outside the home. An overwhelming majority of American school teachers are white women . You should read Catch and Kill if you can, but the story about how it impacted Ronan Farrow's relationship is also interesting. Subscribe to your local newspaper ! This week, caller Samantha from Kuala Lumpur recommends Spellbound by Nora Roberts . Next up is Priest from Sierra Simone. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/10/29/s028-competence-amp-careers-in-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 23, 2019

Woof, you guys. Woof. This week we’re talking a whole different kind of Vampires (not a single one chained to a radiator…we love u, Conrad) — with JR Ward’s Dark Lover — the first in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series! We’re talking a LOT this week about toxic masculinity, about the world post 9/11, about what we expect from heroines, about the entire BDB series, and about what the heck is going on in these books. We also get all the titles wrong, as usual. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! In two weeks, we’re getting more current! The read is Sarah’s Pick, Sierra Simone’s Priest, which is an erotic romance in first-person hero POV, featuring a priest and an exotic dancer (NB: She is not Catholic). If sex in church is your concern, maybe skip this one, but also know that there’s a lot fo religious allegory in here that is fascinating and brilliant. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie . Show Notes JR Ward's first pen name was Jessica Bird . Despite Jen's joke about Proust , she's never actually read him. Some of the most famous vampire books in fiction were Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire and Queen of the Damned . And let's not forget Twilight . In romance, you should check out the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands, or any number of books by Jeaniene Frost . Nalini Singh's Guild Hunters series has a vampire hunter. Sherrilyn Kenyon also has lots of books in this category. In urban fantasy, of course there was the Sookie Stackhouse series, and it's TV adaptation True Blood . In fact, the 90s were full of vampires in the movies and on TV: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and if you've never seen it, the opening scene from Blade that Jen mentioned. Sarah would like you to consider the fact that very few people know who Mary Shelley is, but Francis Ford Coppola made a blockbuster movie with Bram Stoker's name in the actual title because patriarchy is a helluva drug. Is it romance or urban fantasy ? The JR Ward interview was in Louisville Magazine. The Wicked Wallflowers interviewed JR Ward and it's just terrific. Jen read all the RITAs, and she reviewed Consumed in the romantic suspense category and Dearest Ivie in the paranormal category. All about sawed-off shotguns . Sarah said John Michael, but OF COURSE she meant John Matthew. Maybe you should read Lover John Matthew and Xhex . Mary Bly's article about the Black Dagger Brotherhood appears in New Approaches to Popular Romance Fiction . The Lessers as Incels . Caldwell is like the world of Gotham ... and why it seems so nihilistic . Beth and Wrath's story continues in The King , or as we like to call it here at Fated Mates, Lover Wrath and Beth Part 2. It's Lover Phury and Cormia , and then Lover Rhevenge and Ehlena , and Lover Quinn and Blay . The Susan Faludi book Sarah mentioned is called The Terror Dream: Myth and Misogyny in an Insecure America . We don't think Beth is a Mary Sue , and JR Ward doesn't either. A guide to the waves of feminism . A ferrari doesn't weight 2000 tons . A ton is 2000 pounds . Wellsie is maybe a stand in for Smith vs. Wellesley . Jen was reading Native Son in college when her professor told her blindness is always a symbol . Oedipus blinded himself , and oracles are seers are often blind . Daredevil is blind and can still kick your ass . The other most famous Blind King Jen could find is in Assassin's Creed . Next up is Priest by Sierra Simone. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/10/20/s027-dark-lover If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 16, 2019

We heard you! You wanted to talk about Cinnamon Roll Heroes, so here we are, and we’re bringing in an expert on the topic (in real life and in fiction) — Andie Christopher. We’re talking about the evolution and popularization of the beta in the 90s, why they became such a powerful force then, why they’re back now, and why they work so well for some readers! We’ll also talk about dating in 2019, recommend some books (obviously), and talk about Andie’s upcoming, Not the Girl You Marry , which is out November 12! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! Next week, we’re going back to paranormal with the first book in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Dark Lover. It’s a whole ride. Strap in. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie (it’s currently only $2.99 in ebook!). Show Notes We're so excited to have Andie on the podcast -- her book, Not the Girl You Marry, is out November 12th. Preorder now! Do you know the importance of a Sky Pager ? The Pegging Crew is a nickname we use with love for the folks who bought a change to decide a Fated Mates interstitial topic. If you're looking for romances with the Great British Bake Off energy, Sarah recommends Louisa Edwards .- Last summer, Jen interviewed Andie for Kirkus . Nancy Pelosi is taking care of business . Olivia Dade has a great list of cinnamon roll heroes , but this piece from The Onion originated the term. The Simone Scale is very different from the Clayborn Curve . I guess you can decide for yourself if Father Bell is a cinnamon roll (whispers: especially because this will be a season 2 book that blooded us). The only person who can ask for flowers is Barbra Streisand . Every time Jen mentions a fainting couch, she's thinking of this most excellent pinterest board by friend of the pod @bandherbooks . Some really thoughtful tweets that were in response to our alpha episode: Charlotte talking about lust and care , and Cat talking about baggage . The romance trailblazer videos from this year's RITAs are so great. The original stern brunch daddy tweet. Toxic masculinity is like acid rain , not rain rain. The "I'm baby" meme. Jess & Marie are pretty great. Andie said Gen Z doesn't fuck , but it sounds like they just don't date . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/10/13/s026-cinnamon-roll-romance-heroes-interstitial-with-andie-christopher If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 9, 2019

Sarah picked this week’s read without having read it recently, and she shockingly doesn’t regret it! We’re talking Johanna Lindsey’s Gentle Rogue—arguably one of the most beloved texts of the genre, complete with a reformed pirate and a heroine who is having absolutely none of his nonsense. We’ll talk about heroines who are sex positive, about obvious references to the slave trade that are problematic and somehow utterly glossed over, archetypal brothers, and about the shocking lack of plot in this book (which we don’t mind a bit). Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review! In two weeks, we’re going back to paranormal with the first book in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Dark Lover. It’s a whole ride. Strap in. Get it at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo or your local indie (it’s currently only $2.99 in ebook!). Show Notes Jen's the romance correspondent for Kirkus , and she recently wrote about Fabio who appeared on the original cover of Gentle Rogue. Also, this piece by Kelly Faircloth about romance covers is amazing. When Sarah dreamed of Amy Schumer, I wonder if it was anything like this ? 7th grade is awful for everyone. Voldemort and his horcruxes . The Magic of You is all about Georgie's brother Warren. Here's some basic information about slavery in Jamaica and sugar plantations in particular. And the Slave Voyages site is an amazing and well-researched online archive you should also check out, which includes a searchable database of transatlantic boats and the numbers of enslaved people on board each ship. Although we didn't mention it the podcast, if you're reading romances where white people have weddings, parties, or balls on plantations ...that's terrible. The Georgian , the Regency , the Victorian . In real life, billionaires are always a problem. For your consideration: a goodreads list of ugly duckling romances . A thread from EE Ottoman about why pants are not the problem... or the answer. We love Jen Porter . Lord of Scoundrels will definitely be making an appearnce in season 2. Sometimes we don't know if it's better to get bangs or just deal with our feelings . Why are there so many YA love triangles ? The Bridgertons , in case you don't know. Jen thinks James Malory is a Mary Sue . Coming up in two weeks, Dark Lover by J. R. Ward. An official Romancelandia poll on the best emjoi for pegging . I don't even know what to say. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/10/7/s025-gentle-rogue If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 2, 2019

This week we’re talking about novellas with one of the best novella writers around—Alyssa Cole. Join us, along with Alyssa’s tree frogs, to talk about why she loves the novella format, the trick to writing a short romance, and her upcoming Audible original! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. We’re back in two weeks with Johanna Lindsey’s Gentle Rogue , set on a ship with a heroine-in-pants and a hero who really deserves everything she delivers him. Find it at: Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple Books , or at your local Independent Bookstore ! Show Notes Ultra-marathoners really do suck down energy gel out there! Soylent Green is people , and therefore not someting Ultramarathoners consume during their races. Sarah uses weird with love. In fact, she crowdsourced a great weird romance list yesterday on Twitter. Head over there to overload your TBR. Robot girlfriends are a thing, I guess. But even more exciting is that Alyssa's audio for The AI Who Loved Me has some big time narrators! Keanu Reeves in the Matrix has his own gel problem . Sarah wrote a novella for a Christmas anthology with Tessa Dare, Sophie Jordan & Joanna Shupe, How the Dukes Stole Christmas , that is newly out in paperback. Alyssa mentioned a KDrama called Noble, My Love that has 15 minute episodes. Ladyhawke is an 80s movie that honestly defies description, but lives on in our memories. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/10/1/s024-novella-romance-interstitial-with-alyssa-cole If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 25, 2019

We begin the exploration of The Books That Blooded Us with the one that probably least surprised listeners—Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You ! We tackle this fabulous, bonkers book (yes, we get to the bottom of the did-he-or-didn’t-he conundrum, and we spend some serious time discussing Joyce). We also talk about how we think Derek Craven changed the romance hero game, what might have been in the water in romance in the early-mid 1990s, and Sarah tells a few stories about her weekend with the queen herself, Lisa Kleypas. Don’t forget to like & subscribe in your favorite podcasting app so you don’t miss a single second of us in your earholes! Show Notes Anyone know if Warby Parker is looking for a podcast to sponser? Sarah & Lisa spent time together because they were signing at Nora Roberts's bookstore, Turn the Page , in real-life Boonsboro, MD. Jen had some hard-core FOMO . February 4th is Derek Craven Day, look at some of our tweets from that day . A reminder of that 1992 election and what we should have learned from Anita Hill . But Stormy Daniels is more in control of her narrative. Josh Lyman never calls it a recession , call it a bagel. We love Steve Ammidown at the BGSU pop culture library . IRL, Matilda was Pamela . But that ending, classic Lady or the Tiger or The Sopranos . The second casino is in Devil in Winter , where Ivo Jenner's daughter falls in love with Sebastian, St. Vincent, whom many think is Lisa's best hero. They are wrong. We're back on Moonstruck with that mother-in-law and "Bring me the big knife! " More about some of those Jungian archetypes . Jen meant coitus interruptus in the Urban Dictionary way , not the Merriam-Webster way . This article seems to think head hopping is more common in roamance, but I don't know if that's true. Close third person POV or Free Indirect Speech & Jane Austen . Have you listened to our bodily autonomy episode ? Dangerous Liasons the book has been around for a long time, but Jen is talking about the 1988 movie . "She leaves the gun on the table" is a reference to a famous writing precept by Chekhov . Doing spectacles better than F. Scott Fitzgerald . Gentle Rogue is coming up in two weeks. Kelly has some Fated Mates swag and Romancelandia buttons for sale . Derek Craven would never . Fated Mates is produced by Eric Mortensen The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/9/24/s021-lisa-kleypas-does-spectacles-better-than-f-scott-fitzgerald-dreaming-of-you If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 18, 2019

As we lead into Season Two, and consider the fact that some of our faves are definitely going to be problematic, we’re talking about the alpha hero this week — we’re also tackling the beta hero and the cinnamon roll, and why these archetypes largely don’t work for us. We’re talking romance heroes who changed the game for us and the genre, about how hard it is to turn the alphahole around, and how satisfying it is to watch it happen. We’re also talking the female gaze (of course) and the patriarchy (like always). Next week, we’re digging into one of our original alphas, Derek Craven! You can find Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . It's currently $2.99 in digital everywhere, so snatch it up! Show Notes The alpha , the beta , and the cinnamon roll . You should all follow Cora Harrington (lingerie addict) on twitter. It's all so beautiful. Jen screams about first person a lot, but MOSTLY about first person present . It was Demon Rumm by Sandra Brown that was all in the male POV, and this review is so great. Jen's going to follow Alaina , the author, on twitter. UPDATE: The Browne Pop Culture Library was able to find the descriptions of Demon Rumm, and as Jen predicted, they were in the back matter of the previous month's books ! Thanks, Steve ! Alec Kinkaid, The Montgomerys , James Mallory , and the Westmoreland heroes. Did you somehow miss us talking about The Professional ? It the Movie may or may not be your cup of tea, but this discussion of Jane Doe with Victoria Helen Stone has some really interesting points about horror and romance. Bourne from A Rogue by Any Other Name is "Sarah's worst hero" by which she means it was just reall satisfying to break him. You have to listen to our antiheroes episode if you want to know what it means to "take the finger." P in V is great, but 2Ps in V is even better . Hillary Clinton was wrong about romance novels, and Lisa Kleypas explains why . Adriana Herrera's American Dreamers series is one of our faves. What it means to be a Kinsey 2 . Romance for Raices has a few more days. Spend enough money and you can pick an upcoming interstitial topic ! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/9/17/s022-the-alpha-in-romance-novels-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 11, 2019

We're Back! We promised you we'd be back with Season Two in September, and here we are in September, back with Season Two! We've said farewell to Season One , but we'll never fully be able to quit IAD, so Season Two will be The Books That Blooded Us -- that is, the books that made us the romance readers we are...books that taught us what the genre could be, books that scratched our itch, books that made us lifelong romance readers, books that set us on the path directly to your earholes! Over the season, we'll tackle 10 (or so) books that blooded each of us -- we'll deep dive, discuss, and delight in each other's picks -- and we've got some fun ideas for how you all can share the books that blooded you! So...where do we begin? We begin in two weeks with the primordial text for both of us...the one...the only... Dreaming of You . We'll talk Derek Craven's cockney accent, Sara Fielding's legendary novel, Lisa Kleypas's immense skill with talismans, and we'll get to the very bottom of some of the most controversial bits of this glorious book that the two of us love a whole lot. Get reading, y'all, we've got a lot to say. You can find Dreaming of You at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie . It's currently $2.99 in digital everywhere, so snatch it up! We'll be announcing the schedule for the first few reads later this week -- so you'll have time to read ahead, but in the meantime, sit back, relax, and let us give you a preview of what's to come! Don't forget to like and subscribe in your favorite podcasting platform! Show Notes Jen tweeted about Altogether by Brill Harper and then all of Romancedlandia read it. It's deliciously filthy. Read Sarah's drunk texts to Jen and Kate on the Vika group chat. Take a look at these covers for Rebecca Zanetti's Deadly Silence. Sarah was on Wicked and the Wallflowers podcast to talk about Brazen and the Beast . You had no idea flag design was so fascinating. Looking back at twitter, it might have been a shared love of Derek Craven that made Sarah and Jen friends . We can't wait to discuss Dreaming of You in two weeks. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/9/9/s021-welcome-to-season-two-1 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Sep 4, 2019

In July, at the Romance Writers of America annual conference, we had the extraordinarily good luck to record a crossover episode with Jenny Nordbak & Sarah Hawley of The Wicked Wallflowers podcast! We talked about our favorite books with a roomful of librarians & bloggers, and we had the best time. Now, you can, too! Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting app so you know the moment we return! Subscribe to these other amazing romance podcasts! The Wicked Wallflowers (with Jenny & Sarah) Heaving Bosoms (with Melody & Erin) Learning the Tropes (with Erin & Clayton) The Big Gay Fiction Podcast (with Jeff & Will) Listen to the longer version of the conversation with Sarah (MacLean) that Jenny (Nordbak) talks about in her discussion of Brazen & the Beast . Sarah's hometown library (complete with dark corridors for romance novels) is the Lincoln Public Library in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Aug 28, 2019

Yes, yes, we're on hiatus. But we can't stop, won't stop! In this mini episode, Jen talks to her friend Elizabeth about what we can do when someone judges our romance reading. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting app so you know the moment we return!

Aug 21, 2019

We're on hiatus until September, when we'll start Season 2, but here is a quick hi from Sarah, with a story from her trip to the UK that only Fated Mates listeners will appreciate. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting app so you know the moment we return! Show Notes George & Dragon Inn , Clifton, Penrith, UK Lowther Castle Hugh Lowther , proper reprobate and 5th Earl of Lonsdale

Aug 14, 2019

Fated Mates returns with Season Two in September — don’t forget to like & subscribe in your favorite podcasting app so you don’t miss a single second of us in your earholes! And more than all this — thank you for listening to us talk at you about vampires, valkyries, wolf holograms, horns & Rune for 39 weeks — there honestly aren’t words for how much we love you for listening! Team Vertas 4eva! — xoxo Sarah & Jen Show Notes This is The End is by The Doors, and Closing Time is by Semisonic. The RITAs were amazing , and one of the best things about it was this romance trailblazers video. Lila is a face character at Disney. Inside the Mouse is a book you should read, or just this New York Times article where John Jerimiah Sullivan (omg. his essays are so good! Read Pulphead !) trying to figure out the best place to smoke weed there. That Banksey video. Because Disney is too expensive , #TeamReadsRomance suggests Cedar Point if you like roller coasters . Hela's crown in Thor Ragnarok is PRETTY GREAT. It's interesting to think about a framing device and what it does for a story. Sarah's WaPo piece about the Alpha Feminist . All about archetypes and the princess trope . The Room of Requirement is part of Hogwards. When we talked about time, Sarah recommended Kylie Scott's Repeat . Tim Curry as The Darkness in Legend or The Devil in Fantasia . We talked about curvy heroines way back at the beginning of this podcast. Everything Sian owns is in a box to the left . The Beauty and the Beast Library . We're all on Munro Watch . Thanks to everyone for listening to season one of Fated Mates! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/7/20/19-wicked-abyss If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Aug 7, 2019

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform so that you know the moment we start Season Two (in early September)! Next week, it’s the end! WHAT HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! We’re talking Sian (HORNS HORNS HORNS HORNS HORNS HORNS HORNS) & Lila with Wicked Abyss , featuring the literal King of Hell, and the Queen who takes fully no shit from him. Get Wicked Abyss at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie ! Show Notes What is the appeal of the antihero ? Fangirl Jeanne wrote a really interesting thread about why she ships villains and what it means to believe in an HEA for everyone . The Sierra Simone Scale seems relevant here. We here at Fated Mates love a grovel . Morality Chain is a very specific trope. Jen's goodreads search for books with criminal heroes versus criminal heroines . Take a minute to donate to RAICES because we do have concentration camps on our border , and it's so hard to know what to do about it. Jen and Sarah talked about female antiheroes in pop culture: Catherine Zeta Jones in Traffic and Mary Louise Parker in Weeds . Jen's Rita thread about how white guys get to be anitheores . Movie time references: Sarah is Italian, so since there are no Italian mafia guys anymore, watching The Godfather is the only choice. The "one armed man" reference is to The Fugitive . What are we talking about when we talk about billionaire money . A " diamond of the first water " Molly Fader , Molly O'Keefe, and M. O'Keefe are three pen names for one author who really knows her branding. #Blessed Wicked Abyss in next and then...we're done with season one. Commence mourning . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/7/29/185-antiheroes-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 31, 2019

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. We’re getting down to the wire with Season One of Fated Mates — in two weeks, join us for Wicked Abyss , featuring the literal King of Hell, and the Queen who takes fully no shit from him. Get Wicked Abyss at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books , Kobo , or at your local indie ! Show Notes You know Kresley is self-publishing when you see it's Valkerie Press . In IAD, a sorceri queen has the most power in that area. Love triangles are very common in YA . - Eloisa James' first novel was Potent Pleasures , the the line Sarah quoted is: "Charlotte was one week short of 17 when her life was changed, falling into two halves like a shiny child's ball: before and after." The best thing that ever happened at Coachella . Uh. While researching for this podcast, Jen realized that Deadmou5 is real. Sarah's hero/heroine/heroine's best friend on the line book is A Rogue By Any Other Name , which you can get in ebook for $1.99 right now! There apparently was a crossover between IAD and Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series . Tell us what you know. Gay romance author and all around good guy Nathan Burgoine explains why "Gay for You" is a problem . No one like a milksop . All about the Kinsey Scale , and Jen thinks of this very funny tweet from her friend Zach every time she hears the phrase "Kinsey scale." Happy Days didn't spin off from something, it was the spinner . Frasier was a Cheers spin-off. The Dacians is not an IAD spin-off. It is IAD. This is canon now. The Arcana Chronicles is Kresley's YA series. Jen recommends The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker if you're interested in a novel about women artists at work. In two weeks, we're finishing Season One (sniff!) with Wicked Abyss ! Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (8) 1. Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) 2. Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) 3. Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) 4. Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 5. In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 6. Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) 7. After receiving Lothaire's heart in a box, Ellie cuts off her middle finger and sends it to him. (Lothaire) 8. Chloe 's shoulder is dislocated in the escape from her auction (MacRieve). Chest and Torso (7) 1. Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) 2. Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 3. On Torture Island, Regin , 4. MacRieve , 5. and Brandr are vivisected. It's pretty terrible. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) 6. Declan 's skin is peeled off by the Neoptera as a child. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) 7. Lothaire rips out his own heart and sends it to Ellie in a box. ( Lothaire ) Head, Face, and Eyes (6) 1. Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) 2. Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) 3. During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 4. Lothaire kicks out La Dorada's remaining eye and throws her over a cliff. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) 5. In the Bloodroot Forest, the tree grows over Lothaire 's lips and tongue. ( Lothaire ) 6. After she gains her immortality, Chloe 's hair grows, but she cuts it off every morning. (MacRieve) 7. Lanthe agrees to have her tongue cut out to save herself and Thronos, knowing she can still use the power of persuasion telepathically. ( Dark Skye ) Horns (2) 8. Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) 9. Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) Legs and Feet (3) 1. Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) 2. Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) 3. Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) 4. While in Pandamonia, Thronos is trapped in a Groundhog Day like trap, doomed to repeat his worst nightmare over and over again. When he believes that Lanthe is about to die, he repeatedly tears of his legs in order to reach her. He never actually loses a limb, but he was willing, so we're counting it. ( Dark Skye ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (4) 1. The first time Garreth spies Lucia , it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 2. Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. Garreth promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 3. Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) 4. Declan fights and beheads several creatures as they escape Torture Island, including squeezing one dude so hard his eyes pop out and then he twists his head off. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) 5. Thronos beheads several foes during fights, which impresses Lanthe ; but he also beheads Felix, a sorcerer who once tricked Lanthe and stole her sorcery. ( Dark Skye ) 6. The bag of heads, yo. This is the pinnicle of this category, obviously. ( Shadow's Claim ) Beheading as a Non-Romantic Gesture 1. Ellie cuts off Lothaire 's head, leaving a slender 1/8 of an inch left. It was kind of an accident, but he deserved it. (Lothaire) Maybe? 1. Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) 2. When Soroya inhabited Ellie 's body, she subjected her to a full Brazilian wax. Ellie doesn't realize it's happened until she takes control of her body again. ( Lothaire )

Jul 24, 2019

Next week, we’re tackling the Dacians in two weeks with a two-for-one episode featuring both of these Lothaire spinoff stories, Shadow's Claim (featuring demon-sorceress Bettina and Dacian assassin Trehan) & Shadow's Seduction (featuring Caspion the demon and Mirceo the vampire prince)! Show Notes Jen loves hype video, and there are some for the USWNT are amazing . All about advanced reading copies (ARCs) and what it looks like when you get typeset pages . Jen has a new title at Kirkus: romance correspondent. She's been interviewing a lot of authors . Kate Clayborn perfectly described why we love a grunting hero . Only 33 Fortune 500 CEOs are women , which is nonsense. Listen to our Curvy Heroines interstitial . Covent Garden and the rookeries . What's a life peerage ? Derek Craven forever . What it means to be "on the shelf." Audiobook narrator Justine Eyre is the narrator for Sarah's books. Can you even imagine what would happen if she and Petkoff ever got together and narrated a romance? Preorder Brazen & the Beast at Amazon , B&N , Kobo , Apple , or Indiebound -- or from Sarah's local indie, WORD, and get it signed and with fun goodies ! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/7/20/175-this-isnt-a-podcast-this-is-a-brazen-and-the-beast-hype-episode If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 17, 2019

Our favorite person, Kate Clayborn, is back with us to wrap up the Game Makers series with THE PLAYER! Join us as Sarah explains all the ways that the damaged hero works for her (Spoiler: It’s Every Single Way), Kate digs deep on Kresley’s liberal use of punctuation, and Jen admits that Sarah was right all along. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. We’re getting down to the wire with IAD, but because we’re completists, we’re tackling the Dacians in two weeks with a two-for-one episode featuring both of these Lothaire spinoff stories, Shadow's Claim (featuring demon-sorceress Bettina and Dacian assassin Trehan) & Shadow's Seduction (featuring Caspion the demon and Mirceo the vampire prince)! Show Notes Wecome back, Kate ! The Grassy Knoll isn't much of a knoll, anymore. But if you're ever in Dallas, check out the Sixth Floor Museum . This kind of teabagging does not appear on the Clayborn Scale. YA Author Carrie Ryan has smart things to say about first person and scary things to say about zombies . Famous for having a big reveal: The Usual Suspects , The Sixth Sense , and The DaVinci Code . Not famous for a big reveal: Meet Joe Black . We should have asked Adriana Herrera about Dimitri's trauma. Rocky was also a self-made man, and you cannot even convince Jen that the person who invented CrossFit didn't rapturously watch this a million times . Dryer's English is a book that all the writing nerds had a pre-order, and he has strong opinions about exclamation points, but absolutley nothing to say about sexclamation points. Everyone loves foreshadowing . But in romance, no one loves an unreliable narrator . Jen recommends the YA novel One of Us is Lying , or you could kick it old-school and watch Roshomon . Pre-order Brazen and the Beast ! and Love Lettering ! And read Jen's interviews with Reese Ryan and Marie Tremayne and Robin Lovett on Kirkus. In two weeks, we're back to IAD with the Dacian two-fer: Shadow's Claim & Shadow's Seduction ! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/27/17-the-player If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 10, 2019

This week we’re talking all things royal! Join us with the fabulously fun Nana Malone to talk about kings, queens, princes and princesses, royal weddings, royal gossip, why Nick Jonas married SO FAR ABOVE HIMSELF, and how we wish poor Kate Middleton could just have a cheeseburger with her friends. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Next week, we’re finishing up the Game Makers series with arguably Kresley’s most damaged hero, Dmitri Sevastyan! Basically, July is “Sarah’s favorite books” month, so settle in for that…we’ll be joined by one of our favorites, Kate Clayborn, who will reveal the name of our group text thread! Read The Player at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Welcome, Nana Malone ! We were all about talking about songs and music videos today: Royals by Lorde , S&M by Rhianna , and Senorita by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello . Bonus hilarious conversation between Jen and her son about that last one. The e is silent . Shawn Mendes in Calvin Klein . All about boy bands , why girls love them , the powerhouse that is BTS , and the many hairstyles of Justin Beiber . Nick Jonas married up ... Chasing that happiness , I guess. Priyanka Chopra is unbelievably gorgeous . We stan. Meghan and Harry's wedding was our favorite movie of 2018, but Charles and Diana's makes us sad. Jen's favorite moment is the singing of Stand by Me , but Sarah's daughter likes this yellow lady . Kate Middleton has a new fashion plan. This list on Goodreads has FOUR HUNDRED AND FOUR romances where the hero is a duke. Prince Albert of Monaco married Grace Kelly and her wedding dress is still gorgeous sixty years later. All about the Romanceclass authors and their books . Jen loves John Wick . But then again, who doesn't ? The Sierra Simone taboo scale . That Sex in the City episode with the "bum licker," as Nana said. Sarah wants 16th century Assassin's Creed, so this series by Robin LeFevers about a bunch of teenage assassin nuns is the obvious answer. Have you pre-ordered Brazen & the Beast ? We can't keep track of what we're reading, when. Next week, The Player ! In three weeks, back to IAD with the Dacian two-fer: Shadow's Claim & Shadow's Seduction ! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/27/165-royals-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jul 3, 2019

IT’S HAPPENNNINNNGGGGG! Sweet Ruin , Sarah’s favorite book in the IAD series, is finally here and she is BEYOND EXCITED to talk about her favorite Kresley hero and the magnificent, perfect heroine who refuses to back down from their fated matehood. Listen as Jen and Sarah discuss Nix as Warrior Queen, make important demands of fan fiction writers in the IAD universe, and generally discuss why this book is one of the best of the series, without question. Block off some time and be sure to use the bathroom before you start, because this one clocks in at two hours (and we’ve already realized we forgot to talk about a few things — so prepare for updates in future episodes!) Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, we’re finishing up the Game Makers series with arguably Kresley’s most broken hero (don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of this ranking on the episode), Dmitri Sevastyan! Basically, July is “Sarah’s favorite books” month, so settle in for that…we’ll be joined by one of our favorites, Kate Clayborn, who will reveal the name of our group text thread! Read The Player at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Short chapters make for quick pacing . The Morior are like the Super Friends ...but evil . All about The Starship Enterprise . More about a witch's familiar . Runes are actually from Norse Mythology. You'd think Rune would use the internet to learn more about them. Rune is poison to everyone but her . Jen's never read The Poisoner's Handbook , but everyone says it's amazing. Thinking about theme as a literary device isn't just for English class. Our twitter friend Aunt Angelique has changed her username , so follow her for interesting tidbits like this. That cock tweet . All about edging . The Mariana Trench is real deep, y'all, but we've still discovered plastic there. Uluru is a sacred place for Aborigines , and Australia reverted to officially using this name in 2002. Revenge is stupid . Jen loves that scene where Captain America beats the shit out of everyone in the elevato r. In case you need help finding Shipper Names . The What Would Allixta Do Button. The story of Supergirl . Speaking of our Heaving Bosoms friends, It wasn't Melody, it was Erin who said she doesn't read epilogues! Speed is a romance . Don't at Jen or Bandherbooks . The Player is coming up after our next interstitial! Pre-order Brazen and the Beast , and if you say "Fated Mates" in the notes, Sarah will include a Fated Mates sticker! Click here for the transcript of this episode. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/27/16-sweet-ruin If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 26, 2019

Love letters are the best because they’re personal and honest and raw and beautiful, and this week—by request—we’re talking about all the different ways romance tells epistolary love stories! Leave us your own version of a love note in comments! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Next week, IT IS HAPPENNNINNNGGGGG! We’ll be talking about Sweet Ruin , Sarah’s favorite book in the IAD series, and she is BEYOND EXCITED to talk about her favorite Kresley hero and the magnificent, perfect heroine who refuses to back down from their fated matehood. Block off some time, as we can’t guarantee this will be anything near a normal length episode! Read Sweet Ruin at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Also, we promise you won’t be disappointed by the audio of this one! Show Notes It was @jenalice1 who requested an epistolary interstitial . "That INXS song" that played in the universe when Sarah met her husband was Never Tear Us Apart . Sarah didn't like the movie Mystery Men . (Jen did.) Text messaging has come a long way since ICQ, but it looks like there are ICQ nostalgia apps in case you miss it. We muddled through our Kristen Callihan favorites for a while: The one where they fuck in the library , the one with the virgin NFL player with the piercing , and the one with Scottie . When Sarah said " Mr and Mrs Smith but make it gay," Jen was thinking of The Spies Who Loved Her series by Katrina Jackson but couldn't remember them. Salt with Angelina Jolie. Archie was a non-cool name that is experiencing a resurgence . when Jen said Not if I Save You First was "An RWA book," she meant it was a RITA finalist . Atonement , fuck that book. The Crimea ? The Napoleonic Wars . A still funny New Yorker cartoon about Power Point . The Vixen and the Vet (not that kind of Vet) has extensive heroine-groveling. The problem of how we should archive our personal electronic communication is soemthing people think about. Multimedia apps for The Waste Land and Ulysses. The Cyrano story is well-entrenched that it has become a trope. A perfect tweet from Kate Clayborn. Pre-order Brazen and the Beast from Word in Brooklyn, mention Fated Mates at checkout, and you'll get a bunch of cool swag. Kelly's business is Resistance Buttons , so check that out. Buy fun stamps , including these that Jen pre-ordered. Write some postcards to voters . Sweet Ruin is coming. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/24/155-epistolary-romances If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 19, 2019

We’re back with The Game Makers Series this week — talking with the wonderful Sophie Jordan about her favorite book in the series, The Master! Starring Maxim Sevastyan and the first-time escort who lays him flat (in all ways), This one has all the insane sex stuff of the last Game Makers book, now with birth control insanity, and a sweet nod to holiday traditions…and a trip into the Internet to look at chastity belts. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, IT IS HAPPENNNINNNGGGGG! We have reached Sweet Ruin, Sarah’s favorite book in the IAD series, and she is BEYOND EXCITED to talk about her favorite Kresley hero and the magnificent, perfect heroine who refuses to back down from their fated matehood. Block off some time, as we can’t guarantee this will be anything near a normal length episode! Read Sweet Ruin at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Also, we promise you won’t be disappointed by the audio of this one! Show Notes Welcome Sophie Jordan ! You should listen to the Wicked Wallflowers podcast where Sophie talks about her Game Makers Series theory. The politics of lane-sharing at the pool are more complicated then you'd think! In case you don't know what pendejo means. ICYMI: one of our first interstitials was about the escort trope . I guess we did learn more about what Christian was thinking when she fell over the threshold in that 50 shades sequel, Grey. Is there really a morning after shot ? The Smart Bitches gave The Master a D! /clutches pearls If you haven't read Lord of Scoundrels , you should. I decide who is a Pretty Woman quote. Of course. The Robin Hood Men in Tights chastity belt , or iron underwear as it's more commonly known. Sophie's upcoming book is The Duke's Stolen Bride . You can preorder signed copies of Brazen and the Beast from Word in Brooklyn . You can download Wicked and the Wallflower for $2 all of June. "That great Kerrigan Byrne Newgate one" is called The Highwayman . Bitch Planet is an amazing comic . Sweet Ruin is coming! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/17/15-the-master If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 12, 2019

Well, it was destined to happen sometime—we’re taking the show intergalactic! This week we’re talking about space romance and why it’s totally. fricken. bananas. Discover the series that brought Jen and Sarah together, hear us talk about prison planets, sex planets, the Muppet Show and more. Series by Grace Goodwin, Emmy Chandler, Robin Lovett & Jessie Mihalik. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Also — if you have a romance loving friend, please let them know that we don’t just talk about vampires & valkyries, and maybe they’d like us, too? We’re back to the Game Makers in two weeks with Jen’s favorite of the three books, The Master, and one of our favorites, Sophie Jordan! Get ready for chastity belts and string bikinis! Read The Master at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Who knew there was so much to say about The Muppets? We both loved Pigs in Space , and Sarah mentioned that General Hospital-style skit. The Muppet Show is streaming on YouTube. And they're still making new ones ! How many dudes were in Dead Poet's Society? Well, there was Robert Sean Leonard . Ethan Hawke . And Josh Fucking Charles , of course. And then these other guys . Josh Charles and his amazing man hands on The Good Wife, kissing Alica in an elevator . Oh, and Sarah also likes Sports Night even though Aaron Sorkin is definitely a problem . Muppets from Space . Omg. A few early space romances were Sweet Starfire and Warrior's Woman . Formative 80's space and sci-fi movies: Conan the Barbarian . Back to the Future . Star Wars . We deserved more than one kiss and real snotty offspring . " Make is So ," says Jean-Luc Picard. Warden Egara is giving Grace Goodwin the silent treatment . Australia was the original prison island. You should read The Most Dangerous Game . It's an amazing story. Robin Lovett is reading Dark Skye . Aurora Blazing doesn't come out until October, but you can read the first chapter here . Princess . General . Jen recommends The Chernobyl miniseries and the podcast . Sarah thought she was joking when she said I should go to twitter and ask for nuclear romances , like I hadn't thought of that already. Sarah recommends Booksmart . The Master is next, and we'll be joined by Sophie Jordan . The Moon is not a fucking part of Mars . My God. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/10/145-romance-in-space-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jun 5, 2019

We are back from vacation and Torture Island is back — surprising no one more than us! It’s Dark Skye week, Lanthe & Thronos are doing some weird stuff with holey-sheets, y’all. We talk about religion and romance, the work this book does in the larger series, and—as always—patriarchy. Friend of the pod, SS Jaxon joins us, too! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. We’ve got an interstitial lined up for next week, then we’re back to the Game Makers in two weeks with Jen’s favorite of the three books, The Master, and one of our favorites, Sophie Jordan! Get ready for chastity belts and string bikinis! Read The Master at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Thronos, not Thanos . Childhood best friends to lovers to enemies to lovers is one of Sarah's favorite tropes. She wrote one once , and it's only $1.99 in Kindle! We mention a lot of adventure movies in this episode, including Groundhog Day , Raiders of the Lost Ark , Time Bandits , Labrynth , and The Matrix . We also mention some of classic literature that we think Kresley might be alluding to in Dark Skye, including: Paradise Lost , The Inferno , The Odyssey , Alice in Wonderland , and many Bibilical stories including Jonah and the Whale . At one point Jen calls it "classic sci-fi" when she really meant to say fantasy . Ooops! In case you're planning to read Ulysses , make sure you have a copy of Ulysses Annotated . But I guess now there's an app for that . All about hairshirts . Ouch. If you want more about what it would be like on Feverus, maybe check out Robin Lovett's sex planet series . Welcome S.S. Jaxon ! Here's her vagina thread and her one about the IAD cult . Are there any people having sex with a sheet with a hole in it? The tale of Icarus . If you haven't read it yet, Daedalus makes an appearance in the novel Circe by Madeline Miller , which Jen highly recommends. More about Bandherbooks love for fainting couches and the space chaise . Munro is in the wind. Someone write us some fanfic. Our next episode will be The Master , the second book in The Game Maker series. Keanu Reeves is very swoonworthy. Have you seen Always Be My Maybe yet? We have very different opinions about it, but agree that Keanu is the best. Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (8) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) After receiving Lothaire's heart in a box, Ellie cuts off her middle finger and sends it to him. (Lothaire) Chloe 's shoulder is dislocated in the escape from her auction (MacRieve). Chest and Torso (7) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) On Torture Island, Regin , MacRieve , and Brandr are vivisected. It's pretty terrible. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Declan 's skin is peeled off by the Neoptera as a child. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Lothaire rips out his own heart and sends it to Ellie in a box. ( Lothaire ) Head, Face, and Eyes (6) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lothaire kicks out La Dorada's remaining eye and throws her over a cliff. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) In the Bloodroot Forest, the tree grows over Lothaire 's lips and tongue. ( Lothaire ) After she gains her immortality, Chloe 's hair grows, but she cuts it off every morning. (MacRieve) Lanthe agrees to have her tongue cut out to save herself and Thronos, knowing she can still use the power of persuasion telepathically. ( Dark Skye ) Horns (2) Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) While in Pandamonia, Thronos is trapped in a Groundhog Day like trap, doomed to repeat his worst nightmare over and over again. When he believes that Lanthe is about to die, he repeatedly tears of his legs in order to reach her. He never actually loses a limb, but he was willing, so we're counting it. ( Dark Skye ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (4) The first time Garreth spies Lucia , it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. Garreth promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) Declan fights and beheads several creatures as they escape Torture Island, including squeezing one dude so hard his eyes pop out and then he twists his head off. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Thronos beheads several foes during fights, which impresses Lanthe ; but he also beheads Felix, a sorcerer who once tricked Lanthe and stole her sorcery. ( Dark Skye ) Beheading as a Non-Romantic Gesture Ellie cuts off Lothaire 's head, leaving a slender 1/8 of an inch left. It was kind of an accident, but he deserved it. (Lothaire) Maybe? Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) When Soroya inhabited Ellie 's body, she subjected her to a full Brazilian wax. Ellie doesn't realize it's happened until she takes control of her body again. ( Lothaire ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/6/4/14-dark-skye If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 22, 2019

Y’all asked for more rants, and boy do we have some for you this week! Alabama passed a terrible law, Georgia and Ohio are right there with them, and other states are following suit. Jen and Sarah are talking bodily autonomy — contraception, pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, hysterectomy and abortion and how they exist in romance novels. Get your pens ready — we’ve got a library full of books to talk about. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. We’re taking a break next week (Happy Memorial Day! Eat a cheeseburger for us!)…but will be back to regular IAD programming in two weeks with Dark Skye . Get ready to have your heart ripped out by these childhood lovers turned enemies turned lovers again! Poor Lanthe has been running from her Vrekener, Thronos since Kiss of the Demon King , and finally she gets her story! Read Dark Skye at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes That Victoria Dahl tweet about hysteria . More about the forced birth laws sweeping through several states , and where you can donate your money if you're so inclined. How transgender and gender nonconforming people might be especially endangered from this recent spate of laws. Sarah's twitter thread asking about romances with abortion . Fanny Hill and some of the illustrations . Tinctures, tonics, and teas . The portrayal of abortion in Fast Times at Ridgemont High . The perils of abstinence-only education . Romance is a powerful tool for sex-education , but not all authors view it as a responsibility . Romance euphamisms FTW. Screenshots from the scene Sarah referenced in Jane Feather's Vixen. All about the efficacy of birth control . French Letters had to soak for two hours (at least)...oh! And we forgot the best (ACTUAL WORST) part: They were reusable . --scream emoji-- Sarah says we should all watch the TV show Harlots , and not just because it shows French letters . " 220/221 whatever it takes ," is a quote from Mr. Mom. Actually, we talked about a lot of 80s movies on today's episode, including The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally . But we didn't mention Dirty Dancing which has a botched back alley abortion. We meant to...but this is what happens when you don't take good notes before you rant. This 2011 paper about condoms and birth control in romance is VERY INTERESTING. A link to the Twitter conversation about PrEP . Pulling out is weirdly more effective than you'd think for preventing pregnancy, but not at all effective for preventing STIs. All about Plan B . The Pop Culture Library at Bowling Green University is a place both Jen and Sarah would like to visit. Librarian Steve Ammidown is the 2019 RWA Librarian of the Year. Kelly Faircloth writes great articles about romance for Jezebel. Endometriosis deserves more attention than it gets. What it means to be " childless by choice ." Jen's post about miscarriage in romance , and some statistics about how often miscarriages happen. 25% of American women have had an abortion. Sweet Liar is the only romance that Sarah can think of that references a vasectomy --please tell us if you've got other examples? The Jezebel article wondering how many more abortion stories we have to share. If you're on FB, check out Sarah's OSRBC (Old School Romance Book club).

May 15, 2019

The Game Makers Series! Kresley’s first foray into contemporary begins with The Professional, which is some kind of book, y’all. Originally released in three parts over six weeks, The Professional stars Natalie, an American Ph.D. who happens to be the long lost daughter of a Russian mobster, and said mobster’s bodyguard, who can’t get enough of watching her in the tub. Or on his cellphone. Or tied up in a sex club. You’ll see! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, we’re back to IAD, just like the original Kresley fans were! Get ready to have your heart ripped out by these childhood lovers turned enemies turned lovers again! Poor Lanthe has been running from her Vrekener, Thronos since Kiss of the Demon King , and finally she gets her story! Read Dark Skye at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes When we asked about the serialization of The Professional, listener Sarah Asnaashari came to the rescue! Serialization of novels used to be very common, and although we've all heard the myth that Dickens was paid by the word , in fact he was paid by the installment. Roxie Rivera is the author of the Her Russian Protector series , relevant to everyone's interests, she also wrote a "prison planet romance" series under the name Lolita Lopez . Eastern Promises is a great movie. Scroll down this list for the description of Edward's creepiness in Twilight . Sookie Stackhouse is a telepath in the books and TV show . This is an interesting essay on why Hollywood should stop talking about telepathy as a disability . That Wayne's World flashback noise . Jen will never get tired of the greatest real estate listing ever . Real hurricanes form over the Atlantic very similarly to the way Jen describes a hurricane of an alphahole forming. We want characters to have agency . The story of Anastasia Romanov is pretty amazing. Jen recommends this YA book called The Family Romanov for both adults and middle school readers. George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice is an awesome album, and Jen still thinks Freedom is one the greatest music videos of all time. Sarah's theme song is Too Funky . Jen recommends (in that "this book is terrifying way") The Man without a Face: the Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin . But if you just want the quick and dirty version, read this story about how Putin stole a superbowl ring from Robert Kraft . The Pirate's Code . Romance author Jayne Ann Krentz often talks about how author's have a " core story ." Dark Skye is our next IAD book. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/4/22/13-the-professional If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

May 8, 2019

Small towns! Jen (Chicago) and Sarah (NYC) do not understand them IRL, but we are talking about them in fiction this week! Listen to us talk about their genesis, what they represent, and why Romancelandia can’t get enough of them. Books by Sierra Simone, Vanessa North & Alisha Rai! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Also — if you have a romance loving friend, please let them know that we don’t just talk about vampires & valkyries, and maybe they’d like us, too? In fact — In two weeks, we’re not talking about vampires at all! (Except we kind of are) The Game Makers series read-along begins with Kresley’s first contemporary, The Professional. Get ready for Wroth Brother fanfic that Kresley herself refers to as “way sexier” then IAD. Get The Professional at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes In case you missed the Signet Regency era of romance. More about the Regency period , and Sarah would like you to know that she knows “a bunch of people” didn’t come between George IV & Victoria. One person did: William IV. Everyone's favorite Darcy and Darcy-esque figure. Jane Austen and her world, Georgette Heyer and hers. Cleveland DOES rock , and yes the Cuyahoga River caught on fire , but that whole story is kind of a myth . Y'all know who Jen means when she talks about Kelly , right? The word Jen was searching for when talking about small town romances was " revisionist ." Maybe it wasn't "some Russian " who talked about the two stories. Colson Whitehead is amazing and Jen definitely recommends seeing him in person if you ever have the chance. You can read his post 9/11 essay at the New York Times. The Whiting Award All about how Americans live: urban, suburban, or rural . Nora Roberts was profiled in the New Yorker and talks about her favorite small town: Boonsboro . Farrah Rochon also writes a great series of small town romances. How WalMart changes small towns . As it turns out, there is not a Menage County, KS . Did you say RITA books ? Jen's favorite cupcake place in Chicago is Sweet MandyB's . A Roller Derby glossary and some video tutorials for all your favorite moves. Stay safe, kids! Montagues & Capulets . Hatfields & McCoys . Chandlers & Kanes . The saddest discovery Jen made while working on this week's show notes is that Hot as Hades is no longer available as an eBook! Oh no! On Twitter, Bree Bridges of Kit Rocha asked people to reply with the size of a "small town." In Brooklyn, go to Butter and Scotch for cake, and based on this website, they have some very Romancelandia-friendly swag. Have you pre-ordered Brazen and the Beast yet?

May 1, 2019

MacRieve is here and so is friend of the pod, Sierra Simone! We’re so excited to talk about The Full Kresley, what makes erotic romance, The Simone Scale™ of taboo romance, why MacRieve is so tough to read, why Sarah thinks it might be Kresley’s best book, and why Chloe is such a badass. There’s a lot of hysterical laughter, and Sarah is preparing for legal action. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, we’re starting Kresley’s contemporary series The Game Makers (we’re reading the books in original publication order) with The Professional. Get ready for Wroth Brother fanfic that Kresley herself refers to as “way sexier” then IAD. Get The Professional at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes The NECRWA conference always sounds so great! I don't even know where to start with Andie Christopher and her Chris Evans obssession. Avengers Endgame , that ol' chesnut. We stan Sierra Simone , and we love The Sierra Simone Scale™. Check out her two latest, Misadventures of a Curvy Girl and A Lesson in Thorns . Debbie Macomber is a queen of small town contemporary romance. You can't stop me, you can only hope to contain me is a play on a very catchy ESPN phrase from back in the day . Adriana Herrera wrote about how to ethically write about sexual trauma for Smart Bitches. She also joined us to talk about Food Romances & her most recent release. Adriana Anders' Under Her Skin explores a story of a woman's traumatic past, as does Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan. Suzanne from Love In Panels wrote a great explainer about content warnings and why we use them. This is a powerful critique of sexual violence in Game of Thrones . Just last year, two books about women and anger were published: Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly and Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister. More about emotional dysregulation . The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux is an old school classic. Dick flu is definitely some BDE . You'd be surprised about how much writer's advice you can find about the evils of the info dump . The history of the Wingding . There's an entire subreddit dedicated to ranting about Comcast . Yankee Candle will eff a werewolf up. You can listen to Kresley on the Wicked Wallflowers podcast. Snakes on a plane ! The story of Sir Walter Raleigh throwing down his cape for Queen Elizabeth to walk over is not historically accurate, but it still makes for a great scene in Shakespeare in Love . The Fifth Element is a completely rewatchable movie. All about the Mothman , who, it bears pointing out, Lothaire says exists. Here's the beginning of Sarah's stalking of Sierra after reading (and loving) Priest . Next time, we're going off road and have decided we'll be reading the first book in The Game Makers series, The Professional . Here's the reading order for the rest of Fated Mates Season One. Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (8) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) After receiving Lothaire's heart in a box, Ellie cuts off her middle finger and sends it to him. (Lothaire) Chloe 's shoulder is dislocated in the escape from her auction (MacRieve). Chest and Torso (7) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) On Torture Island, Regin , MacRieve , and Brandr are vivisected. It's pretty terrible. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Declan 's skin is peeled off by the Neoptera as a child. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Lothaire rips out his own heart and sends it to Ellie in a box. ( Lothaire ) Head, Face, and Eyes (6) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lothaire kicks out La Dorada's remaining eye and throws her over a cliff. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) In the Bloodroot Forest, the tree grows over Lothaire 's lips and tongue. ( Lothaire ) After she gains her immortality, Chloe 's hair grows, but she cuts it off every morning. (MacRieve) Horns (2) Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (4) The first time Garreth spies Lucia , it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. Garreth promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) Declan fights and beheads several creatures as they escape Torture Island, including squeezing one dude so hard his eyes pop out and then he twists his head off. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Beheading as a Non-Romantic Gesture Ellie cuts off Lothaire 's head, leaving a slender 1/8 of an inch left. It was kind of an accident, but he deserved it. (Lothaire) Maybe? Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) When Soroya inhabited Ellie 's body, she subjected her to a full Brazilian wax. Ellie doesn't realize it's happened until she takes control of her body again. ( Lothaire )

Apr 24, 2019

Are you a sports ball fan?! Do we have romances for you! We’ve got the brilliant Jenny Nordbak from The Wicked Wallflowers podcast back for a sports romance interstitial! Listen to us chat about why we love sports books, the alpha, competence porn and books by Kennedy Ryan, Tamsen Parker, and Naima Simone! Next week, it’s (FOR REAL THIS TIME) MacRieve week with Sierra Simone! We’re so excited, and Sierra is the perfect guest for this sex-driven book! Get MacRieve at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Welcome back to our guest Jenny Nordbak from the Wicked Wallflowers podcast! Everyone loves a trip to the hairdresser . Here's a list of the RITA finalists , and a link to Jen's new twitter account which tracks her reviews of the finalists. Author Bronwen Fleetwood crunched a bunch of RITA data from the past 20 years , which is how we know there are more winners named Susan (and Elizabeth, Barbara, Karen, Jennifer, Ann, Jill, Linda...) than WoC finalists. Famously, the Hugo Awards also struggled with recognizing the best books in their field . Here's what we are talking about when we talk about how PoC are underrepresented in publishing . Um, actully Sarah, Ulysses is a twitter thread . This week, Sarah told a pretty solid competence porn story about her neurosurgeon on Twitter. Kennedy Ryan has been on the Wicked Wallflowers podcast . Twice . Content warnings for Long Shot. Adriana Herrera, author and friend of the Pod, recently wrote a very important piece for the Smart Bitches about how to portray sexual assualt in romance . Why the Ray Rice elevator video is important . Jen's written about the whiteness of hockey romances for The Book Queen. Don't believe Jen? Back in 2012, commenter #11 left a plea for more hockey romances on this Smart Bitches post . I bet they are happy now. Susan Elizabeth Phillip's Chicago Stars series is a romance classic. There's no crying in baseball . Jen reviewed all of Tamsen Parker's Snow and Ice Games series. Olympics atheletes are busy , y'all . 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon was an amusing 90s pop culture game . Tennyson is a romance heroine and a famous poet . Listen to Naima's interview on the Wicked Wallflowers. Fumbled is a new football romance by Alexa Martin, and it deals with CTE . Get ready for MacRieve .

Apr 17, 2019

Jen and Sarah were together in the same city in the same room and just couldn’t pass up the chance to do a real-deal AMA while looking at each other’s faces! You asked, we answered…but get ready. There are some weird things in here (mainly said by Jen). Next week, it’s MacRieve week with Sierra Simone! If you think things got weird this week, just you wait! Get MacRieve at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes At KissCon, Sarah and Sophie Jordan hosted a session called "Bananas Books" and friend of the pod Beth took notes and listed all the titles . Jen's Best Friend Kelly runs The Resistance Button Club , makes avatar buttons , and also designs stickers and swag for Romancelandia. You can see the signed copy of Wicked Abyss on our insta . Jen wrote about making new TBR collections for her Kindle on Twitter. Soren is one of the characters in Tiffany Reisz's Original Sinners series . Check out the IAD fan Facebook group . Check below in the photo array for the Kleypas books with talismans . Fridging is a comics term, and this explainer uses Deadpool 2 to explain the history of this problematic trope. Close 3rd person point of view is very common in romance. Unreliable narrators are very uncommon in romance. Here's how to make a Chicago-style hot dog . A quick primer on archetypes . Next week, we're talking about MacRieve with the magnificent Sierra Simone . Sarah's newest book, Brazen and the Beast , comes out in July and you should pre-order it now! The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/4/15/115-ama-with-jen-amp-sarah If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 10, 2019

Lothaire is here! We’re so excited, we don’t know what to do with ourselves, but FYI, this is a longer episode than usual -- so get ready! We're talking morality chain romance, how Lothaire is a pure ass but incredibly funny, and how Ellie is pretty much the only mate he could ever have. Also, we love Nix & Lothaire a lot. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, one of our favorite people, Sierra Simone, is joining us to talk about The Full Kresley, and MacRieve! It's going to be a great time, we promise. Get MacRieve at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes Learn about tone-policing so you won't make Jen mad. Maybe we haven't recommended audiobook narrator Robert Petkoff to you enough. Justine Eyre is the audiobook narrator who was nominated for an Audie for Sarah's book Never Judge a Lady by her Cover . Love Between the Covers is an amazing documentary about romance, and you might be able to find it on Netflix. Everyone knows the difference between hardback and paperback books, but learn the difference between mass-market and trade paperbacks . During the Lothaire bus tour, Kresley wrote her fans this Facebook letter about the experience. Paul Marron is a very handsome man. The morality chain trope. Other famous series with villains-turned-heroes include Lisa Kleypas's Wallflowers ( Devil in Winter ), Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane ([Duke of Sin]) 10 , and Sarah's Scandal & Scoundrel ( Day of the Duchess ). Italy discovers what happens when everyone is raising a mammone . Lothaire breaks his life up into tasks, sort of like Hugh Grant in About a Boy . When Robert Downey Jr. starred at Sherlock Holmes, he can forecast the moves his opponents will make in a fight . On Twitter, Melanie did a very thorough count of all the times Lothaire punched a wall . Lothaire is very funny. Andie Christopher, friend of the pod, is very pro his cock slapping gnomes joke. Old Friends is a very sweet song by Simon & Garfunkle, even if you aren't learning to play the ukulele. Check out the Romance Sparks Joy read-along on Twitter and Facebook . Get M. Malone's Bad Blood for the April 15th Read! MacRieve will be next, and Sierra Simone will be joining us! Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (7) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) After receiving Lothaire's heart in a box, Ellie cuts off her middle finger and sends it to him. (Lothaire) Chest and Torso (7) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) On Torture Island, Regin , MacRieve , and Brandr are vivisected. It's pretty terrible. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Declan 's skin is peeled off by the Neoptera as a child. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Lothaire rips out his own heart and sends it to Ellie in a box. ( Lothaire ) Head, Face, and Eyes (5) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lothaire kicks out La Dorada's remaining eye and throws her over a cliff. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) In the Bloodroot Forest, the tree grows over Lothaire 's lips and tongue. ( Lothaire ) Horns (2) Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (4) The first time Garreth spies Lucia , it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. Garreth promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) Declan fights and beheads several creatures as they escape Torture Island, including squeezing one dude so hard his eyes pop out and then he twists his head off. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Beheading as a Non-Romantic Gesture (2) Ellie cuts off Lothaire 's head, leaving a slender 1/8 of an inch left. It was kind of an accident, but he deserved it. (Lothaire) In the fight with Ruelle, MacRieve and Munro's mother is beheaded by a envenomed vampire boy. Their father then beheads the vampire. Ruelle is also killed. (MacRieve) Maybe? Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) When Soroya inhabited Ellie 's body, she subjected her to a full Brazilian wax. Ellie doesn't realize it's happened until she takes control of her body again. ( Lothaire ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/4/8/11-lothaire If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Apr 3, 2019

This one has to be a top-ten universal trope…were talking fake engagements! Listen to us chat about why ladies love a fantasy, the royal wedding, marriages of convenience, and books by Elle Kennedy, Talia Hibbert, Chelsea M. Cameron and Kate Clayborn! GIRD THY LOINS, LOTHAIRE IS NEXT! A jumbo episode with this jumbo jerk face dreamboat! Get Lothaire at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie …and if you’re an audio lover, you are not going to want to miss Robert Petkoff on this one — Jen hearts it baaad. Show Notes Ana Coqui is the force behind #RomBkLove . The twitter thread where Mary Lynn Nielsen perfectly described the fake engagement trope. In historicals, the trope is usually called marriage of convenience . Chelsea M. Cameron vs. Chelsea Cameron . Garrets are empirically great romance heroes. Kate Clayborn joined us for our Best Friend's Sibling episode. The royal wedding of Harry & Meghan was so delightful . We wish them many years of happiness. New adult is a genre descriptor that not everyone loves, but there are lots of wonderful NA romances . She's All That is a 90s teen romance starring Freddie Prinz Jr. and Rachel Leigh Cook. "That Six Pence None the Richer" song is called Kiss Me . 2 historicals that Sarah mentioned this week are His at Night by Sherry Thomas and Pleasure for Pleasure by Eloisa James. Lothaire is next. We can't even. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/4/1/105-fake-engagement-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 27, 2019

Mr. Vivisection is here, and it’s a whole lot! Regin the Radiant is on Torture Island, and just her luck, the guy running the whole show is a berserker reincarnate who she’s loved in five earlier lifetimes. Declan Chase is a highly controversial Kresley hero, and Dreams of a Dark Warrior is a book Sarah and Jen always skip on the reread…but this week, we’re talking about it and *gasp!* we’re kind of on #TeamDeclan by the end?! UP IS DOWN! This episode, we’re digging into the way Kresley builds characters and lays the brickwork for the rest of the IAD series. We’re talking about torture, about childhood, about packing for the end of days, and about Lothaire’s Guide to Wooing Women. We’re joined by the wonderful Sarah Hawley, co-host of the Wicked Wallflowers podcast, and Declan-stan. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, strap in because Lothaire. Is. Here!!! We’re so excited we don’t know what to do with ourselves, but FYI, this is gonna be a double episode for SURE. Gird your loins. Get Lothaire at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes In Salman Rushdie's novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories , juggling is often used as a symbol for storytelling. There's not much better than a snowed-in romance . Or maybe marriage in trouble is more your speed. " That just happened " is a quote from a very funny scene of a movie with Alec Baldwin called State and Main. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the single sexiest hate fuck ever filmed. /fans self The heist movie slow walk is iconic. Villains as heroes : hard to write, delicious to read. Sarah Silverman interviewed a woman who escaped from the cult of The Westboro Church . Revenge is a good plot . Talia Hibbert had to quit this one . The Lord of the Rings Ring is super fancy. And super creepy. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame has a TED talk . Of course he does. Welcome to Sarah Hawley from The Wicked Wallflowers Podcast Kylo Ren is Han & Leia's jerk son. Presumably he'll get a redemption arc, but the jury is out on whether he deserves it. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a good book and a great movie . Don't at Sarah (MacLean). The Morality Chain trope , and some romance examples . White Satin by Iris Johansen . "I think it's time for beer," is what FDR said after while the country was deep in the Great Depression before he sent word to Congress that he wanted to end Prohibition . Lothaire is coming, and just clear your whole day for what will likely be a three hour podcast. Also, maybe you want to brush up on The Odyssey (free for Kindle). A huge shout out to Heather Pagan , who helped us with medieval French and edits the Anglo Norman Dictionary . Here’s the official translation of the Medieval French, along with some fascinating notes on historical swearing, which you all know is our favorite ! Go copulate with a pig - Va foutre un porcel! (literally, go fuck a pig). Unless the joke is that they are being formal (ie. copulate and not fuck) in which case: Va couvrir un porcel! You defend that rampart female? - Femme / Dame, defendis tu le terrail? To the death, prick*! - Jusqu'a / A la mort, ribaud! OR Jusqu'a / A la mort, paillard! OR Jusqu'a /A la mort, pautener! * There are lots of words for penis/prick in Old French, but I don't have any evidence that they were used as insults (and that's a whole 'nother book about when we began to use genitalia as offensive words...) I've chosen to translate it with a bunch of words that mean 'jerk'. The words I used are all ones that end up being borrowed into English (ribald, pailliard, pautener) for someone who is base / rascally / a scoundrel / someone of low status etc. Thoughts (or why you never ask an academic for a translation...) We actually don't know overly much about medieval swearing. What we know about language use during the period is based on what was written down, and what was written down (gross generalization ahead) tended not to be 1) direct / indirect speech or 2) of a less formal register. Nevertheless, we do have some record of what people said, and in some cases, how they would curse each other. A lot of these curses were be religious in nature - damning them, accusing them of bad faith etc. We have one amazing set of texts, referred to as the Manieres de Language , which were an early type of phrase book for Englishmen wanting to learn French in the late fourteen century. These include my favourite section - insults! So this is mainly what the translation is based on - though insults of the time were a bit different. Here are some from the phrase book (translated) : You're lying, you evil bastard; Go hang yourself, you bastard; Go away you bloody son of a whore; You will pay!; Kiss my ass (I am very pleased that this has been the eternal insult!) ; Kiss the devil's ass; Go to the devil! Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (6) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) Chest and Torso (5) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) On Torture Island, Regin , MacRieve , and Brandr are vivisected. It's pretty terrible. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Declan's skin is peeled off by the Neoptera as a child. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Face and Eyes (4) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lothaire kicks out La Dorada's remaining eye and throws her over a cliff. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Horns (2) Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (4) The first time Garreth spies Lucia , it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. Garreth promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) Declan fights and beheads several creatures as they escape Torture Island, including squeezing one dude so hard his eyes pop out and then he twists his head off. ( Dreams of a Dark Warrior ) Maybe? Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/2/11/10-dreams-of-a-dark-warrior If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 20, 2019

This week, Adriana Herrera joins us again to talk food romances and Sarah is very excited. Adriana’s debut food romance, American Dreamer , is on shelves now. We talk about the book, the pull of the food romance novel, and why nourishment is sexy. Also, Sarah basically name checks her whole favorites shelf. Next week, it’s full Torture Island with what is probably the most controversial of the IAD books—Dreams of a Dark Warrior. Declan Chase—torturer extraordinaire is our hero , Regin the Radiant is the woman he’s been trying to love for a millennium, and we’re full bananas in the lead up to Lothaire! Get ready! Get DoaDW at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Don’t forget that the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes Welcome back Adriana , and if you didn't hear her on our Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night episode, you should check it out. The concept of love languages comes from 1995 self-help book The Five Love Languages , by Gary Chapman. It's a little soft for us. We prefer this additional list of love languages , from McSweeney's. Adriana talked about her grandmother bringing a pot of Sancocho from the DR to family in New York, and here's a twitter thread where Adriana makes a pot with a friend . American Dreamer came out at the beginning of the month, and the sequel American Fairytale comes out in April. Find American Dreamer at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books or Kobo . The dull thuds you're hearing in this episode are Sarah's phone falling off her desk. She is convinced her phone is defective because it falls off flat surfaces every day. She has fantasies of finding Jony Ive 's phone number and texting him lists of everything it falls off every day. Next time you're in Brooklyn, you should visit the Smorgasburg . Find a Michelin star restaurant to try if you're so inclined. Just kidding about the Soylent Green thing. Really. Jen interviewed Mia Hopkins last year when Thirsty came out. The song Jude was singing was Latinoamerica by Calle 13 . You, too, can find great music on NPR . A romance has to have an HEA or HFN , but a love story doesn't. Don't at us. An interesting think piece from The Common Reader about how we view competence in men and women . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/3/18/95-foodie-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 13, 2019

Torture Island is here and we could not be more excited! Demon from the Dark is Jen’s favorite book in the series, because she loves poor, broken Malkom, the vemon with a heart of gold, and his fated mate, Carrow, our second witch, whose powers come from other people’s joy. This episode, we’re digging into the worldbuilding of the second movement of IAD — Torture Island. We’re talking about innocence and how it is a great motivator, what saves a heroine from being unlikeable, why bathing is sexy, and how we really would like it if more men offered up the heads of our enemies as tribute. As always, there’s a lost-limb count and Lothaire-Watch! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, get ready for the most (we think?) controversial of the IAD books — Dreams of a Dark Warrior, when Declan Chase, unknowing berserker and magister of Torture Island, gets paired with Regin the Radiant. Get DoaDW at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes In the 1976 movie Rocky, one of the things he consumes during training in a glassful of raw eggs . Jen loves books about nuclear weapons and nuclear disasters , and the mindset of the Order is very much that of mutually assured destruction during the Cold War. In Buffy , it was called the Initiative . Angel , Riley , and Spike were her boyfriends on the show, but in the comic there are other lovers . Your brain isn't fully cooked until you're 25! Duolingo helps you learn languages, but if you're in a hurry just drink down somebody's blood. Sarah's friend Natalie Parker's book is called Seafire and it has the most gorgeous cover . Book Riot makes the case for a Romantic Horror subgenre , and Victoria Helen Stone wrote about the relationship between romance and suspense . Some information from Pew about rural vs urban living in America . Adventures in Babysitting is an 80s movie all about the horrors of some kids and their babysitter getting into trouble in the big, bad city of Chicago (or, as Jenny Holiday & Jen call it : Dirty Toronto ). You can tell a lot about a culture by its parenting . Pygmalion and Encino Man . Some directions for any tailsman -making endeavors. Lore parenting tips aside, Jen wrote once about how human parents can talk to their kids about sex . Maybe 28 Days Later isn't the best metaphor for IAD, but it's a scary movie. Jen loves it when heroes grovel . A vemon is a vampire/demon hybrid; Venom is a Tom Hardy movie. If Jen knew photoshop, she'd be putting Malkolm inside a Sweet Valley High circle... Demon Love ! Yao Ming is very tall compared to Kevin Hart , but Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet are much better fancasting for Malkolm and Carrow. Friend of the Pod Adriana Herrera was on our sister podcast Wicked Wallflowers last week. Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (6) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Lanthe and Carrow cut off Fegley's hand so they can use his thumb to unlock their torques. He's later killed. ( Demon from the Dark ) Chest and Torso (2) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Face and Eyes (3) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Horns (2) Cadeon cuts off his own horns to prove to Holly that he is worthy of being her mate. She tells him to let them grow back ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Malkolm is captured by his enemies in Oblivion and taken to the city of Ash. The publicly cut off his horns and then intend to kill him, but Carrow saves him. (Demon from the Dark) ** Legs and Feet (3)** Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Beheading as a Romantic Gesture (3) The first time Garreth spies Lucia, it's when she shoots an arrow and beheads a kobold. He notices that it's "a fantastical shot" and he's super into it. Later, he helps her pick up the head because he's a real gentleman like that. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Later in the book, they are under attack from vampires and Lucia asks him to help. He promises to "give her their throats" and beheads two vampires. But she's upset about it because of a previous bad experience with cannibalism. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ (Pleasure of a Dark Prince). Malkolm beheads men that attacked Carrow in Oblvion, and he throws them to prove he's a worthy mate. ( Demon from the Dark ) Maybe? Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/2/11/9-demon-from-the-dark If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Mar 6, 2019

You’re new to romance, where should you begin?! This week, Jen and Sarah are talking about good gateway romances, and we’ve got four that we think work for readers who’ve never dipped a toe, but are open to things from dukes to magic, the America West to kinky London and everything in between. Next week, it’s Jen’s favorite IAD book, Demon from the Dark ! Malkom Slaine is a demon living alone on another plane…until witch Carrow Graie comes to fetch him. Get DFTD at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Don’t forget that the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes Next week, it's Demon from the Dark since we already talked about Pleasure of a Dark Prince ! Derek Craven is our favorite and since it's our podcast, we don't have to listen to anyone talk about St. Vincent . A librarian who excels at reader's advisory is a wonderful thing to have in your life. Check out Jen's website for targeted romance recommendations. John Warner is the biblioracle , and he's an amazing advocate for educators and the teaching of writing . He's also one of the key players in The Morning News Tournament of Books , which is literary blood sport par excellence. An explainer about American-style universtiy course numbering . Jaime Green is the New York Times romance reviewer and we love her. One of the most hilarious twitter accounts is all about the smells of romance . The Georgette Heyer chronotope and its limits explained. If you are interested in knowing the "beat for beat" way a romance is built, you should check out this book by Gwen Hayes . The ton , the modiste , and Bond Street . Everyone loves a read-alike , but the problem is finding them. The Governess and rake tropes are beloved by romance readers, and Tessa Dare's The Governess Game is an excellent example of the trope in action. Lol, you can't fool Jen. She is absolutely not googling "sex swing." Hillary Clinton said some things about romance novels, and Romancelandia wasn't having it . NPR's Codeswitch wrote about Passing in America . Sarah isn't the only one who learned about history from romance novels . Jen described her angst vs. stakes theory in this post. Alexander Chee is a delight, but Jen hated A Little Life more than any other book she's ever read, so just enjoy this Nicole Cliffe thread where a million people dunk on it . The Sex House for sale in PA was the best 2019 story. Don't believe us? Read this interview with the realtor. Epistolary novels are interesting; but Jen, Melinda, and Kat talked in this review about Thrall by Roan Parrish & Avon Gale and whether or not epistolary novels work in the age of the internet. (Edited by Sarah to add: Epistolary novels are the tits and anyone who says otherwise is F- wrong.) The bass line in question. Jen and Sarah really hate cliffhangers . Andrew and Illona Gordon are a husband and wife writing team and Jen would probably read anything they wrote (as long as there were no cliffhangers.) Tom Hardy as Mad Max and fancast as Derek Craven , Mad Rogan , Rune , etc . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/3/1/85-gateways-to-romance-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 27, 2019

We’re back with the werewolves this week, with one of our very favorite books in the series, Pleasures of a Dark Prince , featuring Garreth MacRieve and Lucia the Huntress, a Valkyrie who is burning it all down. This episode, we’re discussing the way this book wraps up the first movement of IAD and preps readers for what’s to come (SPOILER: IT’S TORTURE ISLAND), we get into how the books are becoming more political, we update the lost-limb count, begin Lothaire-Watch, and dig into why it’s just plain futile to try to stay away from a werewolf mate on the night of a full moon. More than all that, we’re interviewing moon expert Summer Ash about moon business, and Jen is beyond excited. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, get ready for vivisection, because it’s happening on Torture Island, and we’re doing a reread of Jen’s favorite book in the series, Demon From The Dark ! Malkom Slaine is a demon living alone on another plane…until witch Carrow Graie comes to fetch him. Get DFTD at Amazon , B&N , Apple Books , Kobo , or from your local Indie . Show Notes This article explains "the heir and a spare" and also has a lot of Prince Harry. Fine. It's an astronomy heavy show, so learn all about The Big Bang . Ah, the double entendre . All about how goals are scored in rugby . Turns out there are lots of myths about gods and cannibalism . Chastity is one of the seven virtues , but the seven deadly sins sound a lot more fun. Is it really necessary to link to Fifty Shades of Grey ? The " he-cession" recession . Women and the second shift. The Cooler stars WILLIAM H. Macy, obviously. Robert H. Macy isn't even a thing . The Amazon rainforest is truly amazing, but Brazil's new president Jair Bolsonaro is removing legal protections from the rainforest. A man who tried to contact a legally protected island tribe died in the South Pacific last year . Indiana Jones and lots and lots of snakes . Lara Croft Tomb Raider is a 2001 movie with Angelina Jolie, but here's a great explainer to the entire Lara Croft franchise. El Dorado myths and details. Jen's idly curious if Charlie/Isabel character is a nod to the Brazilian Travesti culture, but she doesn't know enough about it to be sure . The Wonder Woman "Godkiller" is a sword , not an arrow. In two weeks, we'll be discussing Malkom & Carrow in Demon From the Dark . Welcome Summer Ash ! Please check out her blog Startorialist , which brings science and fashion together. More about moon phases and the baby moon/dying moon way of remembering if the moon is waxing or waning. The Dreamwakers Program helps classrooms all over the country skype with scientists and STEM people. So cool! No, you can't blow up the moon . What If! is a great collection of XKCD columns, including Jen's favorite about whether or not you can swim in a pool with spent nuclear rods . Jen really loves books about nuclear disasters . Light pollution is the worst. Check out the Sky Guide app . More about Haley's Comet and the Bayeux Tapestry . Astronomy on Tap is worth checking out. The moon is amazing. Look up! Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (5) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Lucia peels all the skin off from her hand in order to free herself from some handcuffs. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) In order to retrieve the ring from La Dorada , Lothaire cuts off her finger. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Chest and Torso (2) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Lucia 's neck is broken. She regenerates. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Face and Eyes (3) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) During a rugby match, Garreth has his teeth knocked out and swallows them. ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince ) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) These Lingering Questions Does Garreth's losing his connection with his mortal soul count? ( Pleasure of a Dark Prince )

Feb 20, 2019

It’s Scotland week, Lads and Lassies! We’re talking about the great green jewel to the north of England, where the ladies are bold and the lairds are brawn, and we're all just wishing we could get wrapped in a plaid and cuddled through a cold Highland night. Next week, we’re back with the Lykae with Pleasure of a Dark Prince —starring the FULLY DREAMY Garreth MacRieve and Lucia the Huntress, who just might be our favorite heroine yet. We’ll be talking wolf holograms, how Kresley is blowing the doors off the IAD world, and we’ll be starting Lothaire Watch! Get ready for the PoaDP read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes Here's the twitter thread where Lillie talked about imprinting on Julie Garwood. The Heaving Bosoms podcast is pretty great, and although this episode about Mastered by Her Mates by Grace Goodwin is not set during Highlander Times, it's profoundly hilarious. Some brief explainers about why old paperbacks have dyed edges, but according to Sarah's research, the more popular an author, the more likely it was the pages would be dyed. All about kilts . Also, it's never too late for a calendar of men it kilts . Dirks and broadswords , oh my! Goodreads has a few lists of Broken marriage romances , but Jen recommends Cherish Me by Farrah Rochan . Here's a google folder with screenshots of the entries for cunt, cunny, pussy, quim, shit, and fuck from the Oxford English Dictionary. Jen mentioned a book called Cunt: A Declaration of Independence , but it's kind of Terf -y, so she does not recommend it. Sarah does talk about the etymology of swear words a lot on Twitter, becuase fuck just isn't a new word . Don't @ us. If you want to learn more about the etymology of swear words, Melissa Mohr's Holy Shit: A Brief History of Swearing is the book for you. A thread about vaginas by friend of the pod S.S. Jaxon. You definitely want to see the flying fuck image and read Jen's column called Who Did it Better on a Horse . Lyrics to a song from 1657 that uses some very choice dirty words. Maybe you prefer to listen ? The Hangover is a 2009 comedy, so who knows if it's held up over time. Sarah, Sophie Jordan, and a bunch of other amazing authors will be at Avon's KissCon in early April. Jen will be there as an attendee, and we'll definitely have some sort of Fated Mates meet-up! Jen said she texted Sophie, but that's not true. She tweeted at her. Katy Budget Books has a super-amazing romance section and if you want to order signed copies of Sophie Jordan's upcoming book, you should contact them. Next week, we return to IAD with Garreth and Lucia in Pleasure of a Dark Prince. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/7/65-scotland-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 13, 2019

We’re tackling the novellas this week, and finishing up the Wroth Brother Quartet with The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), as well as their incredible Valkyrie mates. This episode, we’re talking about Myst’s weird chain, Danii’s loneliness, the responsibility of authors to readers, to themselves, to the text, and to literary history, and the way Untouchable hints at the enormous world that IAD is about to become. Don’t forget to subscribe to the po dcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. In two weeks, we’re back to the Lykae, with one of our favorite books — Pleasures of a Dark Prince , the last book in the first arc of the IAD series (this begins at the same time as A Hunger Like No Other). Garreth MacRieve, prince of the Lykae clan and Lucia the Huntress — the greatest archer of all time. Show Notes The Wroth Brothers are dreamy, and here are the books the feature Nikolai , Sebastian , Conrad , and Murdoch . Take a look at the IAD Ranking Spreasheet of Wonder from the Wicked Wallflowers Podcast. Sarah refers to our novella episode, but she means the Holiday Romances episode where we had a long discussion of the novellas as a form. Jen collected some comparison screenshots from the original (A) and revised (B) versions of The Warlord Wants Forever. The two versions of the scene after the chain is broken; The two versions of the first time they have sex; and the two versions of Nix naming herself. Dubcon romances have main characters who agree to sex play featuring "dubious consent." A little more about the versions of Whitney, My Love . You can still find original versions on eBay or Amazon, but you'll pay more for them. Jen mentions Eric Selinger at DePaul . He teaches classes on Romance at DePaul, which is local for her. SADLY, they don't have PhD programs. But you can read more academic romance talk at a blog called Teach Me Tonight . The Hello Stranger review at Smart Bitches calls out the Orientalism in the novel, and features Lisa Kleypas' response. The Memory Hole is a reference to 1984 by George Orwell. A little more about why sheikh and Native American romances are problematic. A definitive list of the qualities, skills, and powers of vampires in literature and pop culture. At some point, Jen's going to add IAD. Retcon stands for "retroactive continiuity" and here's a great primer about it from the best dictionary, Merriam-Webster. In two weeks, we'll be discussing Garreth & Lucia in Pleasure of a Dark Prince . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/13/7-warlord-wants-forever-amp-untouchable If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Feb 6, 2019

This week, we’re having a fun, far-reaching conversation with the wonderful Joanna Shupe—who loves Kiss of a Demon King a whole lot, immediately saw the echoes of one of the most famous old school romances inside it, and came to talk to us about enemies to lovers romances, but ended up telling us all about that time she spent a lot of time researching penetrative sex in carriages. We had a great time, and hope you do, too! Our next read-along episode will tackle the final two Wroth brothers with the two IAD novellas, The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology! This will be the last time we tackle vampires until Lothaire, so get your fill! A Note: There are two version of The Warlord Wants Forever — you want the most recent version. Show Notes Joanna Shupe writes delightful Gilded Age romances. Check out this twitter thread where Jen raved about A Daring Arrangement . Sarah was hunting for that Lora Leigh book on Twitter. Goodreads reviewers have feelings about Prisoner of My Desire . Of course there's a YouTube channel of classic clips from Candid Camera . Eleanor of Aquitaine is an amazing woman. The 1968 film The Lion in Winter stars Katherine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole . Hot Island Nights is the prequel to Her Best Worst Mistake. Jen also talked about A Matter of Disagreement on Twitter. Consider this a placeholder in case Joanna shares links from her sex in a carraige research. Jen's a little afraid to google search that one. A barouche is a real thing, and you can learn more about all of it at the Carriage Museum in Long Island. We return to IAD next time with two Wroth brother novellas, the first is The Warlord Wants Forever (an earlier version of this was available in an anthology called Playing Easy to Get . It is not HUGELY different, so it's okay if you just have that one--we'll talk about the differences during the episode.) The second is called Untouchable and available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/2/5/65-freewheeling-with-joanna-shupe If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 30, 2019

One of the best loved books in the IAD universe, this week we’re talking about Kiss of A Demon King, the completion of the Demonarchy Duology, starring Rydstrom, the deposed King of Rothkalina, and his fated mate, Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, which is an incredibly handy power. We’ve got a fabulous guest host this week, Jenny Nordbak from our sister romance podcast, The Wicked Wallflowers Club. Jenny is ride-or-die for Sabine, and she’s got a fabulous personal story about her relationship with the book that we’re thrilled to share with you. This episode, we’re talking traumatic pasts, Latin references, horns (I mean, obviously), villains, the unlikeable heroine (a whole lot), and we’ll come back around to Cade & Holly and tackle the unfinished business from their book! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Novellas are up next! We told you we’d get to the rest of the Wroth Brothers eventually, and eventually is here! Our next read-along episode will tackle both novellas, The Warlord Wants Forever (Nikolai) & Untouchable (Murdoch), available in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology! This will be the last time we tackle vampires until Lothaire, so get your fill! A Note: There are two version of The Warlord Wants Forever — you want the most recent version. Show Notes Our special guest this week is Jenny Nordbak , author of the memoir, The Scarlett Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an LA Dungeon and co-host of the Wicked Wallflowers Club Podcast. All about the freudian slip. Here is Wendy 's blog post about the righted world , along with a twitter thread that Jennifer Porter wrote that eloquently talks about the importance of this idea. Teach Me Tonight jumped in with a look at how this same phenomenon plays out in academia. Jen's friend Liz, the Latin teacher !, loved this book for the sheer number of classical allusions. Here's a report of some of her mort specific findings: "mors, mortis" means death in Latin, so O-mort means "without death" or "in the way of death." The Ourbouros is an ancient symbol that shows up in Egyptian traditions. Finally, the invaders that Omort led into Tornin--the Invidia, Libitinae, and Undines--are also Latin allusions, and they're really evil in the classical world. (Invidia--this Latin word means jealousy and personified envy. Undines-- Latin word for female spirits that inhabit the water. Libitinae--has several meanings: the goddess of corpses (in her temple were kept the funeral apparatus and registries of death), the apparatus of funerals, or death itself.) Jen's interview with Adriana about Domestic Violence in romance. The name Sabine might be a reference to Rome's neighbors, the Sabines. The story of the abduction of the Sabine women has been told in art over and over again . It's intersting to consider why this name was used: perhaps to reclaim a story where sex was a weapon used against women? Melanthe means "dark flower" in Latin, and she was a minor character in the Odyssey . Gone with the Wind has a very problematic portrayal of the happy slave and the good master . House elves aren't much better . The Wicked Wallflower's IAD Spreadsheet of Wonder . All the horn photos are on Instagram. Saga is an amazing comic . The Babysitter's Club Summer Special , and all the other amazing goodness of the Scholastic Book Club. And in case you didn't know, the Scholastic Book Club & its Book Fairs are still a thing. Jenny's book is called The Scarlett Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an LA Dungeon . That Mr. Too Big (not to be confused with Mr. Big ) Sex in the City episode. The Arcana Chronicles is a YA series by Kresley. Why yes, both Sarah and Jen have been on the Wicked Wallflowers podcast. When you're done listening to this episode of Fated Mates, head over to listen, and don't forget their interview with Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter ! The Warlord Wants Forever & Untouchable (in the Deep Kiss of Winter anthology) are coming up next. Lost Limb Count Arms and Hands (3) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Chest and Torso (1) Omort severs Rydstrom's spine and punches through his torso in a fight. Sabine saves him and enlists Hag to help heal him. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) Face and Eyes (2) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Legs and Feet (3) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Thronos is chasing Melananthe and loses a foot when a portal closes on it. ( Kiss of a Demon King ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/7/6-kiss-of-a-demon-king If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 23, 2019

We’ve got Doritos, a stack of Cosmo sex quizzes and an epic mixtape ready to go — Sarah and Jen are talking about road trips and the inevitable smooching that comes with them in romance! Next week, we’re back to the Rage Demonarchy Duology with Kiss of A Demon King — where we get the full wrap up of the plot of the second in the duology, and the wrap up of the plot of Dark Desires After Dusk . We’ve seen Rydstrom total his McLaren and get abducted by Sabine, who is not only Queen of Illusions but also his Fated Mate and he’s not feeling great about this at all (Spoiler: We feel very great about this.) We’ll be joined by the fabulous Jenny Nordbak from The Wicked Wallflowers podcast for part of the conversation, and it will be a longer episode than usual because of that! Get ready for the KoaDK read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes Texas is very big , everyone. Here's some interesting facts about Starbucks . Jen had no idea how posting horses worked until Elisabeth Lane asked on Twitter. (Sarah knew.) Looking for books with carriage sex? Twitter has recs for you. Learn more about the Gilded Age in America. New York's Grand Central Station is absolutely magical. Hildene , a museum of Lincoln's family home, has a full-scale reproduction of an amazing private rail car ...It's amazing how someone on Twitter will always know the good things . All about bustles . Trading Places is a 1983 comedy with Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd, and the blog Obscure Train Movies has an extensive break down of the train scenes from the movie. The Ani Difranco poem Sarah mentioned is called Self-Evident . Buy yourself a set of butterfly swords for $500. JK. That's probably a really bad idea. Here's an overview of the Tang Dynasty , and its capital Chang'an . If you haven't seen Mad Max Fury Road you should probably drop everything and take care of it. In case you were wondering what the world looked like in 750 , Time Maps has you covered. Here's a list of rich heroines/poor heroes from goodreads . A quick summary of Pygmalion , and if you happen to be in New York City, you can go see My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center . Sarah talks about Tom Hardy a lot on Twitter . Not that there's anything wrong with that. Apparently, it is Low and High Fantasy, and Reddit talked about the differences between them. There's a Slurpee twitter account , which shouldn't really surprise anyone if you think about it. Whoops, it's my Mom . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2019/1/18/55-road-trip-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 16, 2019

DEMONS ARE HERE! We’re talking Dark Desires After Dusk, starring Cadeon Woede (Prince of the Rage Demonarchy) and Holly, his human fated mate (SPOILER SHE ISN’T HUMAN, WHAT!). This one is the first in what we will end up calling the Demonarchy Duology — and we encourage you to read the next book in the series, Kiss of A Demon King as soon as you can after reading Dark Desires. Each book makes the other better. We’ll cover female rage, sex shaming, fast cars, food, feminism and…maybe a pot joke? Also, Sarah waxes on about horns. A lot. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Our next read (in two weeks) will be Kiss of A Demon King — the second in the duology, and the wrap up of the plot of this book. We’ve seen Rydstrom total his McLaren and get abducted by Sabine, who is not only Queen of Illusions but also his Fated Mate. DOUBLE TROUBLE. Cade and Holly are a HUGE part of our episode on Sabine & Rydstrom’s — because we just can’t talk about one of these books alone. Get ready for the KoaDK read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes A quick primer to the verbs deposed , dethroned , defrocked , and usurped . Groot the Metallurgist is not a cute dancing tree , but rather the half-brother of Omort the Deathless. This Groot has forged a sword that can kill Omort. Jen went back to Dark Needs at Night's Edge and here is a screenshot of the scene where both Rydstrom and Cadeon choose their kingdom over their fated mates. Nix was not amused. Romancing the Stone is a rather amazing 80s adventure movie that stars Kathleen Turner as a romance author who travels to Colombia, where she has to trade a treasure map to free her sister. The sequel is The Jewel of the Nile , but it's not as good. Freya and Woden are two of the three parents to every valkyrie that is created. Jen says Holly is "some bullshitty one thing away" from being done with her PhD, but the phrase she was looking for was ABD (All But Dissertation). A MacGuffin is an object that drives the plot. Serial killers are creepy AF . Women should not be treated like incubators . Genetic (or biological) determinism is a problem . For some reason, even with all the talk of eating and not eating, Jen and Sarah failed to bring up the myth of Persephone . #Fail. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn't always portrayed well in the media. UPDATE: One of our listeners wrote this thoughtful thread on Holly's OCD and you should read it. The phrase "Heavy is the head that wears the crown" is from Shakespeare . Lobsters are always about love . Instagram and Twitter horn talk . One of our listeners painted an amazing portrait of Nix . Along with that 50% more blood thing, pregnant bodies are kind of amazing . Jen did some emergency research to find out about the etymology of sword , gladius ( this video ! lol), scabbard , and vagina . A Bugatti Veyron is very sexy, very speedy , and very spendy . One of our listeners noticed that there is no mile marker 775 in Mississippi, but there is something special about Mississippi River mile marker 775. The Stig read Sarah's book on Top Gear! Groot and Omort are only one letter away, which maybe means nothing; but playing games with words is fun. The Venn Diagram of what the author means vs. what English teachers think it means. Jen loves groveling a lot. 420 . I mean, that can't be an accident , right? Updated: On Instagram, follower Ellenino22 pointed out that 420 is "the smallest number divisible by 1-7." Whoa. Literary Disco is a podcast with lots of great games. Avon's KissCon will be in Chicago the first weekend of April 2019. Everyone but Sarah should watch these videos of planes landing in high winds . Kiss of a Demon King is going to be epic, so get ready. Lost Limb Count Legs (2) Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) ** Arms (1)** Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Eyes (2) Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Cadeon loses an eye and part of his forehead and hair when fighting. It all regenerates. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Hands (2) Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) Cadeon has both of his hands burned off in the same scene where he loses an eye. There's description of what Cade's baby fingers look like as they are re-growing. It's...kinda gross. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) Horns (1) Cadeon files off his own horns in an attempt to win back Holly. She tells him to let them grow back. ( Dark Desires After Dusk ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/5-dark-desires-after-dusk If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 9, 2019

Happy New Year, Fated Matesers (This isn’t a great name for us. We need a better name—someone name us)! We’re back, it’s 2019, new year, new us, and we’re starting as we mean to go on with Curvy Heroines, because, in the words of Julie Murphy , Every Body is a Swimsuit Body. Jen and I love a curvy heroine, and the men who love them, and so curvy romances are OUR FAVES. Next week, we’re getting into Demons! We’ve met Cade, the prince of Rothkalina (the Rage Demonarchy) and his brother Rydstrom, its deposed King, before — they were in the Talisman’s Hie, and in Néomi & Conrad’s book. Next week, we tackle Cade & Holly’s story, Dark Desires After Dusk , with Rydstrom & Sabine’s book Kiss of a Demon King two weeks later. We highly recommend reading these two close together! Show Notes - In the summer of 2018, Jen and a bunch of people on Twitter discussed Nine Rules to Break While Romancing a Rake using the hashtag #9RulesRake . - Sarah also has a curvy heroine romance that is coming in July! Brazen & the Beast has a gorgeous curvy heroine on the cover . - Just a reminder that Jenny Crusie is completely awesome , and Bet Me is an amazing book. - Courtney Milan has lots to say about romance. All of her books are amazing, but we talked about The Heiress Effect . - Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein was awareded the platinum medal in Jen's " Who Did It Better in the Library " post. - Romancelandia often recommends books with curvy and fat heroines , and there are quite a few thoughtful pieces about how we think aobut these characters our ourselves. - Naima Simone writes very excellent books and Jen & Sarah want this one right now. - Olivia Dade is an advocate for fat women in romance, and Jen and Sarah both loved this thread and want to read books about all these heroines. - Check out the full transcript for this episode. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/45-curvy-heroines-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Jan 2, 2019

Book 4 is here and so are ghosts! We’re talking Dark Needs at Night's Edge , starring Conrad (the most tortured of the Wroth vampire brothers) and Néomi (the ghost trapped in the house where he’s held hostage while he dries out). We’ll cover heroines with agency, menstrual cycles, virgin heroes and the importance of family. Also, Jen is on about the moon again. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Our next read (in two weeks) will be Dark Desires After Dusk — the beginning of the Rage-Demonarchy duology, featuring Cadeon Woede, who is forced to choose between familial loyalty and his human (or is she?!) fated mate, brilliant mathematician, Holly. Get ready for the read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes - Ghosts are a human problem and preoccupation. - According to the Washington Post, "nearly half of the women who were murdered during the past decade were killed by a current or former intimate partner." Huge content warnings for everything in this article. - The Flame and the Flower , Shanna , and some of Sarah's thoughts about rape in romance . - We talk about Id a lot on Fated Mates, and we use it as a shorthand for our most primal, deep-rooted desires. - "All happy families resemble one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" is the famous first line of Anna Karenina . This New York Times article about the many Tolstoy translations is fascinating. - Kresley Cole isn't the only one to use the menstrual cycle as a symbol ; but others wonder why menstruation is almost always absent from fiction. - A crescent moon (or "sliver moon" as Neomi calls it) is never up at midnight . Literally never. - Jen rants a lot about first person narration a lot on Twitter, but it's super OTT, so just read this thread about first person narration that was started by Rebekah Weatherspoon . - Shortly after they recoreded this episode, Jonathan Franzen stanned for third person narration and Jen realized she's just a handmaiden to the patriarchy. - Jen strongly recommends Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon . She saw Kiese Laymon being interviewed by Lolly Bowean at the Chicago Humanities Festival , and it was amazing. - All people deserve birth control that's right for them . - Some romance readers love breaking in the ponies with a virgin hero . - Arguably, agency is the most important character trait. - There are 45 cemetaries in New Orleans , 31 are historic, and 5 are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. - If you're planning to write a sitcom, know the formula . - In IAD, it's Thrane's Key; it Harry Potter, it's a time turner . - Get yourself some IAD ringtones . - Holly Ashwin and Cadeon Woede are up next in Dark Desires After Dusk. Lost Limb Count Legs (2) - Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) -Mariketa 's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Arms (1) -Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) Eyes (1) - Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) Hands (1) - Conrad cuts off his own hand with a rusty axe so he escape the "witched" chains his brothers locked him in. ( Dark Needs at Night's Edge ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/4-something-we-said-dark-needs-at-nights-edge If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 26, 2018

It’s the holidays, and whether you’re the type to hole up on the couch and read, or go for a long walk to escape, we’ve got you covered. Get ready; we’re talking about horns. Show Notes - Update: Jen got THREE books for Christmas this year! These two from her brother, and her best friend gives perfect, #onbrand books . Sarah got Thomas Madden's Venice and the Great British Bake Off coloring book. Does that count as a book? - Sarah loves The Great British Baking Show , so you should watch. Or maybe you would just like to admire silver-fox, Paul Hollywood . -Here's a 1979 New York Times article about this new craze sweeping the nation: hand-raised pies . Everthing old is new again in Sarah's house! - Jen no longer has the decorative wooden book item, but she does like to window shop for glass jars full of...things . - " You can put your weed in there " is an old SNL joke. - Gatsby's books are a symbol , but maybe more than you wanted to know about how books are put together and how pages are cut . - Read some more AMAs if you're in the mood, and you know Jen can't wait to read that first one. - Strawberry Rhubarb pie is Sarah's favorite, and although Jen didn't mention it, a favorite pie she makes every summer is Strawberry Margarita pie . - Our favorite pie shops in Houston , Northern Michigan , Chicago , and Brooklyn . - Charlotte Stein and Sophie Jordan are auto-buys, and A Kingdom of Dreams and Dreaming of You are comfort reads. Sarah's most re-read IAD book is Sweet Ruin , and Jen's is Demon from the Dark . - Kresley announced in her newsletter a few months ago that the next IAD book is Munro (he's Uilleam 's twin brother). - It's not only romance where we talk about unlikable heroines , but it's also that we only ask women authors if their female characters are likable . - A quick overview of Gender essentalism . - A very long twitter thread where all of Romancelandia picked their IAD dream cast . - Olivia Dade made a list of cinnamon roll heroes . - The ultimate romance rule is HEA or GTFO (Happily Ever After or Get the Fuck Out). There's also HFN, or Happy For Now. Here's the rest of Jen's Romance Rules . - More about the the problematic fave - Your Kink is Not my Kink , a very useful way to be respectful when something just isn't your jam. Also, Sarah would like to remind you that decent people don't yuck other people's yum . - Jen could write odes to the arms of Linda Hamilton and Angela Basset forever. - Aidan Quinn, then and now . - We'll be ringing in 2019 with Neomi and Conrad . The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/12/24/ama-with-sarah-amp-jen If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 19, 2018

It’s the Holiday Season™️, which means it’s time to talk about Holiday romances! Get ready because there are A WHOLE LOT of books in this show. Also, get ready, because next week, on December 26th, instead of releasing our Dark Needs at Night’s Edge episode, we’re releasing a bonus Ask-us-Anything episode as a special holiday present to you! Our official IAD reread will resume January 2nd, with Néomi (ghost) & Conrad (vampire) and we have so. many. feelings. SO MANY. Show Notes - In case you're curious, here's where Jen learned to properly pronounce Therese Beharrie's name . Therese wrote 2 Christmas books this year: A Wedding One Christmas and Her Festive Flirtation , and Jen liked them both. - Before Sunrise came out in 1995, a sequel Before Sunset in 2004, and a third Before Midnight in 2013. This New Yorker review is a perfect example of everything Jen hates when people review anything romantic, so hate-read it if you're in the mood. - Jen completely got the name of that chapter book wrong, it's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever . - Novellas are really common in romance , maybe more than other genres, and Jen anxioulsy awaits the think-piece explaining why. - Speaking of novellas: The anthology of Chanukah stories that Sarah mentioned is called Burning Bright ; Reindeer Games is an anthology of stories with the snowed-in trope; and in Silver Belles , all the characters are over 40. - Sarah described the cover of A Holiday of Love as an example of a certain type of old-school book package. But just last year, A Christmas to Remember with Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, and Vivienne Lorret followed the same exact cover protocol. - Epistolary novels are super fun to read (Jen's favorite is Where'd You Go, Bernadette , Sarah is--unsurprisingly--very pro epistolary romance; her favorite is Kleypas's Love in the Afternoon ), but Jen's pretty interested in how they are changing in the age of the internet . - All three of the books in the Men at Work series by Tiffany Reisz are delightful, but the Thanksgiving one is an absolute classic. - Last year, Jen ranked Thanksgiving romances for The Book Queen. - How the Dukes Stole Christmas is pretty great, and here's where Jen talked about Joanna Shupe's novella on twitter. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/35-holiday-romances-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 12, 2018

We’re three books into IAD this week, and it is happening ! We're joined by the brilliant Adriana Herrera to talk Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night , starring Bowen (the werewolf trapped in a tunnel of fire) and Mariketa the Awaited (the witch who is going to run him ragged)! Adriana, Jen & Sarah cover everything from Snow White to trauma survivors, jungle warfare to May-December romances, sexism and Cardi B. And we still find time to fangirl over Kresley's heroines. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Our next read (in two weeks) will be Dark Needs at Night's Edge — complete with a broken hero tied to a bed (vampire, obvi) and a haunting heroine who just wants to be seen (literally). This one makes for a LOT of opinions among IAD fans...you won’t want to miss it. Get ready for the read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Also, the Audible versions of IAD are on sale right now -- and WORTH EVERY PENNY! Listen on Audio ! Show Notes - Our special guest this week is romance author Adriana Herrera . American Dreamer , her debut novel with Carina Press, comes out in March of 2019. -Jen interviewed Adriana about domestic violence in romance for the Smart Bitches. - Jen and Sarah both loved The Opposite of You , a food truck romance by Rachel Higginson, and Sil at Book Riot made a list of food truck romances . - Kresley's historical trilogy is called The MacCarrick Brothers , and you can get all 3 bundled together, of course. - There's nothing more amazing than warring think-pieces. So here's Huffington Post and Slate teaching us about fuckboy, and Jezebel telling us how they're doing it wrong. - The five witches' castes are warrior, healer, enchantress, conjurer, and sorceress. Jen's going to make a Buzzfeed Quiz that tells you which witch strength you'd have. (This is a lie. Jen does not know how to make Buzzfeed quizzes. But it's a good idea, right?) -Speaking of vibrators, the best Romancelandia blog is the Bawdy Bookworms , which features review of both books and sex toys! - Here's a serious video explainer of the Hero's Journey , and also a slightly more silly one . - This blog is dedicated to looking at feminism and Snow White in American culture. - Deconstruct Disney for yourself or for your kids. - There's an IAD wiki, and it's pretty useful for when you're listing Hekate, Haxa, and can't remember the third one is Hela . - As symbols, apples do a lot of heavy lifting . - Mirrors and feminism have a long complicted history. And since we're talking action movies, check out this think piece by Carolyn Petit about feminism, movie criticism, and John Wick's house of mirrors . And then I found this article about Sylvia Plath's senior thesis at Smith and it's very far afield from the current topic, but this is a super interesting read. - Jack Ryan on Amazon . - There isn't a video for Cardi B's Money yet , but here are the lyrics . - How young women have internatlized the Girl Power vs. Feminism dichotomy. - There's a famous image that illustrates the difference between equality and equity . It's most often used in the context of race, but can be used as a way to envision any kind of oppression. - Romance has been thinking about consent for a long time. Jen wrote a review of a graphic novel for teenagers called What Does Consent Really Mean ? - Our next Dark Needs at Night's Edge is next. Lost Limb Count (Leg - 2, Arm - 1, Eye - 1) - Lachlain tears off his own leg to reach Emma. He regenerates. ( A Hunger Like No Other ) - Sebastian pulverizes most of his right arm during the Hie. He regenerates. ( No Rest For the Wicked ) - Bowen loses an eye and most of his forehead during the Hie. Mariketa has cursed him and he can't heal until he returns to her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) - Mariketa's skull is fractured and her leg is torn from her body. She heals herself after Bowen lays on the ground. Ivy grows over her and heals her. ( Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night ) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/3-something-we-said-wicked-deeds-on-a-winters-night If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Dec 5, 2018

Next week we’re going to get into Werewolves and Witches with Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night , but this week, we’re so excited to talk best friend’s sibling/sibling’s best friend romances with one of our favorite people: Kate Clayborn ! Show Notes Kate Clayborn writes awesome books, but her romance think pieces at Frolic aren't too be missed. There's nothing more hilarious than reviving old twitter threads, and in this one Kate and Talia Hibbert talk IAD . The Game Maker series will get its own episodes, don't worry. Jen was thinking about saving this chastity belt article for then, but really, why wait? Best of Luck was just named one of Amazon's Best Romance of December , which is as it should be. The second book in the series, Luck of the Draw , was on Sarah's Best of 2018 list for the Washington Post. Sarah's twitter thread where people described what they'd do if they won a billion dollars is pretty fun to read. But really, there's a reason we all love that daydream . This month, the Ripped Bodice is spearheading The Great Big Romance Read and maybe you can find a bookstore, library, or blog where you can talk about Pride by Ibi Zoboi . The American Dream is complicated , college is expensive , and all of it freaks Jen out if she thinks about it too much. Sarah wrote a YA historical! It's called The Season . This is a good take on why the best friend's sibling trope is so powerful . Sinner by Sierra Simone . She talks about her writing here . Jen doesn't really think it counts as blasphemy , but she looked it up just to be sure. Some more about insprirational romance , and although we didn't mention her name on the podcast, Jen thinks Piper Huguley writes the best inspirational romance out there. She wrote about Piper's book The Mayor's Mission and Sarah's book Day of the Duchess in this piece on miscarriage in romance . Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare . Clean Breaks by Ruby Lang . But when this podcast went live, it was an even better deal to buy all three books in the Practice Perfect series bundled together. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/28/25-best-friends-sibling-romances-interstitial If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 28, 2018

We’re two books in this week, reading No Rest for the Wicked , starring Kaderin the Cold-hearted and Sebastian Wroth, participating in the Talisman Hie…Kresley’s version of The Amazing Race. Sarah & Jen cover everything from pop-culture in romance novels to the lengths we’ll go for the people we love, and the immense trust required when we fall in love…all while marveling at the way Kresley sets the stage for a series that will subvert tropes and genres again and again. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, please leave us a like or a review. Our next read (in two weeks) will be Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night — and the witches are coming! WDOAWN is the story of Bowen MacRieve (werewolf) and Mariketa the Awaited (witch)…and the book that really breaks open the wide world of IAD. We’ll be joined by the brilliant Adriana Herrera , and you won’t want to miss it. Get ready for the read along at Amazon , Barnes & Noble , Apple Books or your local indie . Show Notes Some fun facts about The Amazing Race . The Valkyeries in mythology , and maybe you didn't notice that "Val Hall" is a play on Valhalla . Vampires in pop culture & literature. Remember your high school English teacher talking about characters who are foils of each other? This is not to be confused with your algebra teacher talking about how to solve quadratic equations . On Urban Dictionary, I want to kiss the person who defined Frigid it as "An outdated, Victorian term used to describe women who aren't interested in sex. Only used today by drunk men in bars to explain why the woman they attempted to pick up wasn't interested." A wacky look at some potential real life examples of time travel . Just out of curiosity, this is what you'll find if you google " Bad Ass Estonian General ." IMPRESSIVE. Sarah's wet noodle joke is part of a long literary tradition where vampires just need a good dose of viagra . All about beta heros , cinnamon roll heroes , and a link to a lot of talk about the latter from Ana Coqui 's November 2018's #RomBkLove . Sarah mentions "the vampire chained to a bed" and she's talking about Conrad Wroth, the hero of Dark Needs at Night's Edge (book 4). Just a brief review of birth control , how we use it, and why it is so important to women's rights. In case you were wondering why Jen talked about "no one ever has to go to the bathroom." It's a thing. Sarah accused Jen of RUINING ROMANCE, but clearly that's not the case because here we are. More about lightning and planes . Chicago's Bubbly Creek . That's real. If you ever want to nerd out on this history, Jen recommends a book called Nature's Metropolis . Honestly, you really have no idea how fascinating grain elevators are. The short and incomplete list of magical items introduced in this book: Kaderin gives the Furies armor that can't be pierced and a battle axe that can kill Lore beings without having to behead them. The New Zealand coven of Valkyeries has a choker that allows the person wearing it to sing a siren's song. No one knows what happend to the armband that makes the wearer feel overwhelming sexual desire. Amphitrite's tear is a bead that will heal any wound. The Blade of Honorius never misses its target. Thrane's Key was the time-traveling prize in this Hie, and at the end of the book, Riora gives Sebastian one to use at his discretion. Deus Ex Machina is fun to say, but kind of a bummer when that's how an author gets her characters out of a jam. All the cool vampires from the mid-2000s carry RAZR phones . Diamonds are a construct , just like virginity. Sarah is pro-Kardashian . Bowen & Mariketa are coming up next, but the thing she was excited about at the end of that book actually happened at the end of Dark Needs at Night's Edge . Swineherds vs. shepherds, and the only time Jen ever felt truly understood on Reddit . The Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin, and if you think Jen wasn't dying to update Genius with this Kresley Cole reference, you don't know her at all. But maybe the video is more your speed. The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/27/2-the-best-led-zeppelin-song-is-by-pink-floyd-no-rest-for-the-wicked If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 21, 2018

We know you’re getting excited for No Rest for the Wicked , but before we talk about vampires and Valkyries, let’s talk about escort romances! Show Notes Sarah and Jen have both loved The Kiss Quotient . Sarah reviewed at for The Washington Post . Jen's been turning her friend Ernie into an occasional romance reader, and live-tweeted his read of TQK . Escorted by Claire Kent, which is a pen name of Noelle Adams Virginity is a construct Romancing the Stone is an 80s movie classic . Kathleen Turner plays a romance writer on an adventure to retreive a missing emerald. Curio and the Curio Vignettes by Cara McKenna The Smart Bitches made a list of competence porn romances , where all the characters are just really good at their jobs. Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas . Here's the Twitter thread where Jenny Nordbak alerts everyone to the sexiness factor. The Companion Contract by Solace Ames Burn Down the Night by Molly O'Keefe The Duke by Gaelen Foley Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell Journalist Melissa Gira Grant writes about sex workers and the politics of sex work . You should follow her on Twitter. The Master by Kresley Cole Get ready for No Rest for the Wicked The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/20/escort-romances-interstitial-2 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 14, 2018

Sarah & Jen talk A Hunger Like No Other , why reading Alphas in 2018 is a tricky situation, how Kresley instantly changed the game with Lachlain MacRieve, and why Emma's bite sets the standard for the whole series. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting platform — and while you’re there, a like would be awesome! Our next read (in two weeks) will be No Rest for the Wicked — the story of Sebastian Wroth (vampire) and Kaderin the Cold-Hearted (valkyrie), and the beginning of the IAD Amazing Race mini-arc! Show Notes Why do people hate the word moist ? There really are catacombs below Paris , and they seem very creepy. Co-ed is a more dated word than you'd expect. According to the Oxford English dictionary, it's been in use since the 1880s. Game, set, and match to The Independent , which printed the following sentence in 1903: "Any college where the girls are commonly called ‘co-eds’ is not a truly co-educational institution." The TSTL trope in romance heroines . All about Mary Sues . The Fated Mates trope . Maybe you all missed the Kavanaugh hearings. I love myself, so we'll just stick to one informative infographic . Jen's romance book club at 57th Street Books in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. If you're not in Chicago, bookstores and libraries across the country and online will be participating in The Great Big Romance Read in December 2018. Find your people! Romance isn't the only genre examining old favorites through the lens of #MeToo. Molly Ringwald looked back at John Hughes and The Breakfast Club in The New Yorker . This podcast from WNYC is about pop culture in the #MeToo era. The list of RITA award winners , sorted by year. A million articles have been written about Twilight , but I like this one that looks at the big themes that bubble up time and time again. Alisha Rai has said lots of smart things about toxic masculinity , as it turns out. Representation in BDSM matters. Take a crash course in modernity . A brief overview of Cassandra from Greek mythology. The Devil in Winter , because everyone loves to read about a sex deal. According to The Smart Bitches , a magic hoo-hah is "shorthand for the equally illustrious and many powers of the female sex organ, specifically the vagina. The Magic Hoo-Hoo tames the Mighty Wang, and becomes the magnetized true north for the hero’s trouser compass from the point of their first sexual coupling. The Magic Hoo-Hoo brings the hero to monogamous attachment, because after experiencing it, the hero will not be satisfied with anything or anyone else." I'm sure everyone wants to learn more about moon phases . Fury is an actual furie . When we say Lothaire was a big deal , we mean there was an actual Lothaire bus touring around America. Are you ready for No Rest for the Wicked ? The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/11/1-were-gonna-come-back-to-biting-a-hunger-like-no-other If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Nov 7, 2018

While you're reading A Hunger Like No Other , we're bringing you off-week romance recommendations, on themes! Join us this week for Rock Star Romances. Kristen Callihan Idol (VIP Series #1) Managed (VIP Series #2) Fall (VIP Series #3) Sarah’s first Kristen Callihan book, Evernight Kylie Scott Lick (Stage Dive Series #1) Play (Stage Dive Series #2) Lead (Stage Dive Series #3) Deep (Stage Dive Series #4) Anna Zabo Syncopation (Twisted Wishes #1) Counterpoint (Twisted Wishes #2) JN Welsh In Tune Sarah’s first JN Welsh book, Gigolo All the Way The book that made Sarah a Rock Star Romance reader, Erika Kelly’s Take Me Home Tonight The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/11/5/rock-star-romance-interstitial-1 If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.

Oct 23, 2018

Welcome to Fated Mates! Author Sarah MacLean and critic Jen Prokop launch their fan podcast about Kresley Cole’s Internationally bestselling paranormal romance series, Immortals After Dark. Sarah and Jen introduce themselves and the series, and talk about its place in the romance genre. Topics include feminism, patriarchy, modernity and Moonstruck. Yes, the one with Cher. Also included, an introduction to the first book in the series, A Hunger Like No Other …the book they’ll be rereading for Episode 1. Buy A Hunger Like No Other at Amazon , B&N , iBooks , Kobo , or your local indie . Show Notes Jen wrote about A Hunger Like No Other twice: a Throwback Thursday review , and a look at how the book covers changed over time . A definition of the Fated Mates trope . Sarah wrote about fated mates and Kresley Cole on twitter. What is paranormal romance? A big overview of PNR A thoughtful academic definition Superhero movies after 9/11 Superhero Movies have become an endless attempt to rewrite 9/11 from Vox On Superheroes and the Myths of American Power from LitHub Monster Mash . And cuter Monster Mash . The Immortals after Dark on Audio Lots and lots of tweets from us about the audio. Robert Petkoff , audiobook narrator of our hearts. Kresley Cole’s Pocket Books page Moonstruck , 30 years old and still amazing. Sarah wrote about the Alpha Male in Romance after the 2016 election. What is Urban Fantasy ? Have we mentioned that we talk about this series a lot on twitter A Google folder with PDFs of articles above that still exist online as of 8/2023) The Rest For even more info about this episode, and to explore everything Fated Mates has to offer, visit: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2018/10/23/5-a-wolf-without-a-foot-intro If you wish you had six more days in a week of people talking about romance, may we suggest joining our Patreon? Aside from an additional episode every month you get access to our Discord, where other romance readers are talking about books they love (and many other things!) all the time. It’s so fun! Learn more about the Patreon and go join those cool people who love romance as much as you do at patreon.com/fatedmates . Beyond your favorite podcast app , you can find us on Instagram , Threads , Blue Sky , Tumblr , and probably some other places, too, if you look hard enough. If you've never listened to our Stop Book Banning episode , there's no better time than now.