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Romance readers love a formula. Meet-cute, tension, third-act breakup, happily ever after. Done and done.
But every once in a while, you pick up a “romance” that … decides to do something else entirely.
This week on Romance on the Rocks, we’re diving into two very different reads — one that veers hard into murder mystery territory and one that brings us back to historical romance (with a side of serial killer, because balance).
📚 Meghan’s Pick: Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
Meghan kicks things off with Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, a Southern, antique-filled story that starts off feeling like chick lit with a strong sense of place … and then casually drops a dead body into the mix.
Literally.
Eloise “Weezy” Foley is newly divorced, navigating life in Savannah, and fully immersed in the world of antiques, estate sales and reselling culture. She’s the kind of girl who packs a cooler, camps out for a sale and knows exactly what something is worth.
And then she makes a choice.
A questionable choice.
A “break into a house in the middle of the night just to use the bathroom” choice.
Which turns into:
- stumbling upon a dead body
- becoming a prime suspect
- uncovering a web of shady deals, family drama and old-money chaos
This book leans heavily into:
- Southern setting as a character
- detailed antiques and resale culture
- slow, meandering mystery storytelling
The big question we kept coming back to:
Is this actually a romance?
There is a love interest—Daniel Stepanic, a charming chef. But the romance feels more like a side dish than the main course. Think chaste kisses, not center-stage chemistry.
That said, Meghan appreciated:
- strong writing and immersive detail
- a surprisingly respectful LGBTQ+ side storyline for its time
- the cozy-meets-chaotic energy of Southern mystery
🛒 Read Savannah Blues
📚 Nicole’s Pick: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
Nicole brings us back to more traditional romance territory with A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins — this time with a historical twist.
Set in 1865 London, this story follows Lady Catherine Bascombe, a widowed newspaper owner who writes about crimes against women and finds herself investigating a serial killer known as the Commandments Killer.
Enter Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham.
He’s:
- annoyed
- skeptical
- absolutely going to fall for her
Classic.
This gives us:
- enemies to lovers energy
- a murder mystery plotline
- forced proximity via investigation
Nicole’s take?
While the premise is strong, she wanted:
- more lush historical detail (give us the gowns!)
- more atmospheric setting
- a less predictable twist
That said, it still lands as:
- an accessible historical romance
- a lighter mystery read
- a solid option if you want romance with a plot, not just spice
🛒 Read A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
🔥 Final Thoughts
These two books gave us a full-on genre identity crisis — in the best way.
One leans mystery with a side of romance.
The other leans romance with a side of murder.
And honestly? There’s room for both.
We also tackled the real question:
What actually qualifies as a romance?
Is it:
- the presence of a love story?
- the central focus of the plot?
- or the emotional payoff?
We may not have fully settled that debate … but we did rank the spice, discuss the importance of décolletage, and once again prove that no episode is complete without a little chaos.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/season3-episode8/
If you love romance-adjacent reads, historical intrigue and bookish banter that feels like your group chat after two drinks — this episode is for you.
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