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In this episode, we discuss My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh. In order to prove to her childhood bully that she isn’t a romantic late bloomer, Poppy claims a random man as her boyfriend without at first realizing that he was so hunky, or such a well-known hockey player. As luck would have it, said hockey player Dallas feels magnanimous towards a pretty stranger and plays along.  Once they get to know each other and their respective situations better, they devise a mutually beneficial plan to enter into a fake relationship. But, once her business is no longer in the red and his reputation is no longer in a fiery dumpster, will they be brave enough to admit their real feelings? Content warning: Character’s past includes neglectful abuse. Financially abusive ex.  Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Crushing on You by Jen Trinh

In this episode, we discuss Neon Gods by Katee Robert. Persephone is on the run from a forced marriage when she crosses the River Styx and falls into the arms of Hades, King of the Underworld. At first, she’s confused, because Hades isn’t supposed to exist, and yet, here he be… and he be hot.  Wanting shelter from the coming storm of her alleged fiance’s wrath, Persephone makes a mutually beneficial deal with Hades. Their fake relationship has a time limit, but as the end date approaches, will they admit to themselves that there is real love between them? Content warning: Exhibition kink; aggressive, but consensual, oral sex; abusive parent Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

In this episode, we discuss Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford. After almost becoming a ice sculpture, Ava falls through a portal and finds herself in an unfamiliar, hostile world with few allies and fewer options. She wants to reconnect with Torin. She wants to go home. She might not want to face the truth about herself and her nature. But when she meets the land’s sadistic queen, Ava is forced to make a gut wrenching decision in the hope that her vicious actions might save the man she loves. Content warning: Abusive family members, captivity and torture Listen to our review of the previous book in the series: Frost by C.N. Crawford Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Neon Gods by Katee Robert

In this episode, we discuss Homecoming King by Penny Reid. Pro-football player Rex is always a boyfriend but never a husband, sending many of his exes into the arms of his teammates. Meanwhile, bartender and crafter Abby had a fairytale love story gone bad, convincing her to give up on love. When Abby’s lifelong crush Rex walks into her bar, Abby is suddenly forced to reexamine her views on love. Rex has a proposal that will hopefully help both of them out and Abby agrees in spite of herself.  As they spend more time with one another, will Rex take a chance and lower his grumpitudinous walls? Will Abby continue to assume her childhood crush is too good to be true?  And what does too good to be true really mean, anyway? Content warning: Abusive and predatory ex, and stalking Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford

In this episode, we discuss Frost by C.N. Crawford. There is rock bottom, and then there is the layer of crap Ava finds herself in the morning after her worst birthday ever. Involuntarily single and not ready to mingle, she finds herself jobless as well. Cue the handsome Seelie King Torin to rush in, saying words that amount to, “I hate you, so, marry me and I’ll give you a bunch of money." Nothing in life is easy, and neither is this staged courtship. Ava must compete against, even sword fight, magic-using princesses to give her a shot at winning Torin’s hand. While Torin helps her survive the deadly challenges, undesired feelings develop. Can Torin keep his distance from Ava and save his people? Or will his love for her doom them all?  Content warning: Cheating, but not between the couple. Ends on a cliffhanger, but we’ll be doing the next book as our first book for the new year! Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Homecoming King by Penny Reid

In this episode, we discuss Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. At age 48, Maggie has learned to embrace her inner bog witch, possibly to the point of being detrimental to her mental and emotional well being. Various people in her life are encouraging her to be more social and less of a hermit, but the one with the power to reach her is her son, Kit. Based on Kit’s quid pro quo logic, she finds herself joining a local online guild where she can obtain loot, talk shit, and potentially make friends, like with the guild leader Otter.  Unbeknownst to Maggie, Otter, who’s real world name is Aiden, isn’t a 20-something being nice to some woman old enough to be his mother, but instead a 50 year old nurse taking care of his actual mother. Isolated from the very family he’s helping, Aiden struggles to assert himself and fight for the life he wants.  When they finally meet in person, their friendship grows. Can Maggie the bog witch give Aiden the confidence he needs so that he can tell his family to find another scapegoat for the things they don’t like about their own lives? And, in return, can a playful otter really fall in love with a grumbly old bog witch? Content warning: Queerphobia, racism, emotionally abusive exes Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Frost by C.N. Crawford

In this episode, we discuss Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. After a brush with death, Chloe rearranges her priorities and writes a list that will ensure she’ll be remembered well once she dies. Chloe is now determined to live her life to the fullest, despite living with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. To complete the items on her list, she enlists the help of a man who doesn’t like her so she can successfully become all the Chloe she can be. Always looking to play the knight in shiny armor, Red is a happy-go-lucky artist unless he is reminded of his painful romantic past, involving an upper class woman who, unfortunately, reminds him of Chloe. Despite this, he agrees to assist with getting Chloe a life in exchange for her professional website building expertise. As Chloe and Red become friends, and maybe more, can they trust each other’s intentions once Chloe finally has achieved a life? Content warning: An emotionally and physically abusive ex and living with chronic pain.   Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

In this episode, we discuss Depraved by A.J. Merlin. Having lived through a formative, terrifying experience when she was young, Sloane works and lives at a camp nestled into a residential area. Virgil is a serial killer just trying to get away from it all and take a little mini-vacay. Sloane finds him intriguing with his snake tattoo, charming looks, and easy way with her guard dog. But, once she finds out that he spends his leisure time un-aliving people, can she ever feel her heart is safe with him? Content warning: Minimal animal cruelty, kidnapping, panic attacks/anxiety/PTSD, trauma survivorship. Dark romance including stalking, knife play, light strangling, primal play, light BDSM, consensual non-consent, and dubious consent. Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

In this episode, we discuss A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare. Susanna’s idyllic seaside home is under invasion of a most brutish sort. These bombers of sheep, these red fever spreading cads, these teashop renaming bulls led by none other than the chief bull Bramwell, the recently elevated Earl of Rycliff.  Susanna and Bram fight for the betterment of the locals – her by maintaining tranquility as well as an restorative atmosphere and him by preparing for a battle that may or may not happen. Will they be able to find common ground? Or will they make their demarcation lines in the sand? Content warning: Dubious consent, FMC strikes the MMC Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Depraved by A.J. Merlin

In this episode, we discuss Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks Evelyn and Graeme are forced into an arranged marriage devised by their king to bring an end to the long-standing feud between their families. Both families think this is the worst thing that could ever happen, especially to poor, gentle Evelyn who is thought of as “daft.” How can she ever be a “true wife” to Graeme? Once Graeme learns Evelyn’s secret and they begin to fall in love, they must now embark on the difficult task of overcoming the ingrained hatred between the families. And, now that Evelyn’s secret is out, Graeme must fight to protect Evelyn from her terrifying past.  Content warning: Abilism, abuse, and captivity Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

In this episode, we discuss Enemy Lines by Alex Lidell. Kyan is determined to rescue everyone he can to make up for the one person he didn’t save. This includes his doctor Ivy, who moved to Denton Valley to escape the danger threatening her life. For mutual benefit, they make an arrangement: He will help her learn to function under constant pressure and she will help him get his medical clearance renewed. But, when Ivy backs out of their deal, will Kyan be able to forgive her and finally work to save himself? Content warning: Trauma survivorship, unhealthy couple dynamics, emotional manipulation/abuse, physical altercation between the couple, indentured servitude Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming Next: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

In this episode, we discuss Beard in Mind by Penny Reid. Beau has a vision of his future, and that vision does not include Shelly, the infuriating, rude mechanic his brothers hired to ensure their family business doesn’t turn into a parking lot. As he grapples with the complexity of Shelly’s prickly exterior, he realizes that there is more to the woman than he first assumed. When a family secret comes to light, will Mr. Fix-It Beau allow Shelly to provide him with the emotional support that he didn’t even realize he needed? Content warning: OCD as a major theme, self harm Website: romanceMEpodcast.com