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In the latest episode of the Romance on the Rocks podcast, hosts Meghan and Nicole deliver another entertaining exploration of romance novels while enjoying creative beverages. The episode continues their “Christmas in July” theme, highlighting both the enjoyable and cringe-worthy aspects of holiday-themed romance books.
Meghan Leigh’s Book: Merry Cris Moose by Delta James
Romance on the Rocks Podcast Co-Host Meghan kicks off the discussion with her book choice, “Merry Chris Moose” by Delta James. This 2024 release centers around Keely Blake, a fox shifter and toy designer from Otter Cove, Alaska, who meets Cris Sutton, a moose shifter running a mysterious toy company. The plot involves saving Christmas by creating toys that generate “belief” to counter someone trying to steal Christmas magic.
While Meghan appreciates the author’s creative concepts and thinks it could make an interesting movie or CW show, she struggles with the writing style — particularly the extreme repetition of phrases. She created an actual chart documenting repetitive language: 12 variations of “intensity in his gaze,” 15 mentions of “tension,” and an astounding 34 references to the heroine’s racing/pounding/fluttering heart. The abrupt transitions between Christmas magic themes and explicit sex scenes also created tonal whiplash.
Nicole Danielle’s Book: Snowed in with the Cowboy by Maisey Yates
Co-Host Nicole follows with her review of “Snowed In with the Cowboy” by Maisey Yates — a novella with a taboo premise involving step-siblings Chloe and Tanner who reveal their romantic feelings for each other. The storyline follows a predictable romance formula: they get snowed in with only one room available (featuring, of course, only one bed), confess their long-held feelings, and eventually navigate family reactions to their relationship. Despite the problematic premise, Nicole appreciated the author’s dialogue writing skills and the characters’ solid communication. She also notes her perpetual frustration with the unrealistic portrayal of inexperienced women immediately achieving orgasms during their first sexual encounters.
Boobie Prize, Teasers & More
The hosts continue their tradition of tracking when “boobies” first appear in their respective books. It’s page 44 for Nicole’s, with Meghan noting various breast-related terms appearing between pages 14-19 in her read. So it’s “Merry Cris Moose” for the win in this episode. They also share “romantic reminders” — relationship insights gleaned from their reads. Nicole highlights a meaningful quote from her book: “Love is active. This isn’t a passive thing,” reinforcing the idea that relationships require continuous effort and investment.
The episode concludes with announcements about the upcoming Bookish Biddie Brunch in Milwaukee in September, where the hosts are organizing an exclusive brunch for listeners. They also preview their next reads by contemporary romance authors. Meghan will be reading “Delilah Green Doesn’t Care” by Ashley Herring Blake, while Nicole has selected “Mixed Signals” by B.K. Borison.
Through humor, honest critique, and genuine enthusiasm for the genre, Meghan and Nicole continue to deliver a podcast that celebrates romance novels while acknowledging both their merits and flaws — all while enjoying their themed beverages.
Share Your Thoughts & Get the Books
Have you read either of these Christmas romances? What did you think of them? Comment below! We’d love to hear from you. Interested in reading these contemporary novels yourself? You can purchase “Merry Cris Moose” here and Snowed in with the Cowboy here. To learn more about the USA Today Bestselling author, Delta James, click here. And to learn more about New York Times Bestselling author Maisey Yates, click here. Want to listen to the podcast episode? We’re available on pretty much all your favorite podcast streaming services. Or you can visit our podcast player page here.
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