Do...do you hear that? That-that...throbbing hum? Then adjust your speakers! You're gonna wanna hear us discuss THRUM by MEG SMITHERMAN.

Astronaut Ami is the lone survivor of a mysterious accident that killed the rest of her crew. It also means she is the lone Earthling guest of the extra-terrestrial calling himself Dorian Gray. I bet you can see where this is going...(no, you definitely can't, actually) (but it is a Happily Ever After?).

What are the contours of the sci-fi or horror romance? What are the contours of the gothic romance? What are the contours of sentient object romance while we're at it?

Set phasers to OH GOD THE HORRORS THE HORRORS!!!!!!! and tune in.

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We read the second half and discovered that you can live with a heart murmur, but maybe a romance can't exist well without some critical affection for its main characters. Join us as we investigate the missed opportunities and stumbling blocks holding this "cozy" would be charmer back.

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It is a renn fest season and Pride month. Perfect time to chat about chapters 1 through 8 of Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland

Tam and Lyford get it on like all the time. Much to Tam's chagrin. Not that it is like a non-con situation, just that he hates how much he likes having sex with the Lord. For...reasons. And pretty much everything else. His god/desses, his little village with a cute downtown, himself, maybe all women. In spite of this (fittingly) he is sent on a quest to like just be chill about it and maybe come to terms with enjoying the company of Lord Lyford.

Can a beautiful world, alone, make a story beautiful? Does Romantasy cease without angst (pronounced aughnstuh)? Did your county fair host any good orgies?

Please, only drink a reasonable amount of tea before this one. The ep might raise your blood pressure all on its own.

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Well we stood and are now delivering to you part 2:

This episode covers chapter 15 through the epilogue of THROUGH A DARK MIST by MARSHA CANHAM, book 1 of the Black Wolf Trilogy.

To recap we learn that not only is Lucien Wardieu Lord of Bloodmoor Keep, he is also a highwayman, is not dead in the crusades, and gains a whole new identity as Eleanor of Aquataine's most decorated and loyal knight.

But rest assured gentle readers, young Servanne learns to love all of these identities and will passionately join the fight to oust the bastard brother and his extremely sexually liberated consort and restore Lucien to his ancestral home. Or at least that's the project we thought Lucien was on, but as things unfold and the villains lose interesting dimension the back drop of 1991 comes into focus and so too does the cultural war. Is a woman only as good as her perceived potential motherhood? Is this just a big door stop of slut shame? Have we come so far only to hurtle ourselves back onto the dark shores of the 90s?

Keep your cross bows handy--there's trouble ahead

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What ho! A new challenge faces yr grls as they attempt a new format. An intentional two-parter! This episode covers the prologue through chapter 14 of THROUGH A DARK MIST by MARSHA CANHAM, book 1 of the Black Wolf Trilogy.

Lucien Wardieu is Lord of Bloodmoor Keep. Or he is a highwayman. Or he is dead in the crusades. Or he is basically Robin Hood. Or he is basically Satan. In any case, young widow Servanne is headed right toward him - to become his bride and Lady of Bloodmore Keep and/or become his captive in semi-magical woods. Confused? Don't be. One Lucien Wardieu has brown hair and the other one is blond.

What does this novel set ca.1194 tell us about life under late-capital in 1991? How can a novel show without telling? Do you think this villainess will shake out to be an interest, fully realized character by the end of the book?

Stand, deliver, and don't forget to read chapters 15 - Epilogue for the next eppy.

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Hold your nose and close your eyes - we're jumping feet first into DEEP END by ALI HAZELWOOD.

Scarlett Vandermeer attends real-life American University Stanford on a diving scholarship. Tall, blond, Swedish, heavily-siblinged (ring any bells?) Lukas Blomqvist (...sure) attends the same very real school and is swim team captain. Other common interests include attending medical school someday, working in the lab of a previous Hazelwood main character, BDSM, and Scarlett's only friend/Lukas's secret ex Penelope. Will these two ever be able to don the goggles of love and truly see one another through the stinging chlorine of circumstance?

Is real person fic as toxic as it is pervasive? Who are trigger warnings for and what do they actually do and are they as toxic as they are pervasive? For such a clean dive, how did this book manage such a big splash?

You can fear the tree all you want, but remember that it is Whoa!mance who will judge you.

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