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Romance on the Rocks Podcast

Sip, Read, and Get Swept Away in a World of Romance

Episode 5: A Christmas for the Dogs

December 10, 2024

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Episode Synopsis

What if your holiday season could be spiced up with a touch of mystery and a dash of romance? This episode promises to take you on a whimsical journey through the world of holiday-inspired romance novels paired with festive cocktails. We explore the heat levels of our featured reads using our Spicy Scoville scale while Meghan Leigh sips on cozy hot chocolate spiked with brandy and Nicole Danielle indulges in a unique Christmas Margarita with cranberry juice. Our first spotlight falls on Caroline Burnes’ “Familiar Christmas.” In this romance romp, a mystery-solving cat named Familiar adds charm to a tale filled with humor, mystery and the unlikely invention of antibacterial dolls.

Then we dive into another holiday romance that’s giving “Parent Trap” vibes with “1225 Christmas Tree Lane” by Debbie Macomber. Cliche characters and unrealistic rekindling of relationships abound as the bookish biddies share their seasonal romantic reads. Oh, and there’s puppies. Lots of puppies. And no regular episode of Romance on the Rocks is complete without our special Boobie Prize award. Do these books sizzle with holiday heat … or are they just milk and cookies?

As we cozy up with our wintry cocktails, we encourage listeners to share their own bookish adventures and drink preferences. We preview upcoming reads like “A Charming Christmas Arrangement” and “A Wallflower Christmas,” promising more holiday romance reviews in our next episode. Don’t miss out on joining our festive conversation, where love stories unfold in the most unconventional ways amidst the holiday cheer.

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Books & Beverages for the Episode

Meghan: Familiar Christmas by Caroline Burnes with Boozy, Caffeinated Hot Cocoa
Nicole: 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber with a Christmas Margarita

Familiar Christmas by Caroline Burns
1225 Christmas Tree Lan by Debbie Macomber

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Podcast Credits

Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

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Categories: Podcast Episodes, Season 1

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Holiday Cocktails to Keep You Warm & Merry
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romanceontherockspodcast

Romance on the Rocks is a podcast featuring Meghan Leigh & Nicole Danielle — bookish biddies who imbibe and share their latest romance novel reads.

Season 3 Episode 6 is live and we are officially i Season 3 Episode 6 is live and we are officially in our Recipe for Romance era.
From 1957 college secrecy in Odd Girl Out to chef banter and small-town healing in Savor It, this episode has:
🍺 beer
🍓 brambles
🔥 green pepper and jalapeño spice
🎧 audiobook nerd talk
💔 jealousy
💬 actual communication
Vintage lesbian romance meets modern small-town charm  and we break it all down.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/season3-episode6/
#RomanceOnTheRocks #RomancePodcast #RomanceBooks #Bookstagram #OddGirlOut #SavorIt @authortarahdewitt
Tomorrow we’re serving up a Recipe for Romance. Se Tomorrow we’re serving up a Recipe for Romance.
Season 3 Episode 6 pairs Odd Girl Out by Ann Bannon with Savor It by Tarah DeWitt — from 1957 campus secrecy to small-town chef redemption in Spunes, OR.
We’re talking:
🍺 jealousy that feels painfully real
🍓 brambles and beer
🔥 green pepper to jalapeño-level spice
🎧 audiobook narration hot takes
🏆 Festival of Spunes drama
Vintage longing meets modern banter and we have thoughts.
Drops tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts.
#RomanceOnTheRocks #RomancePodcast #BookPodcast #RomanceReaders @authortarahdewitt
“Yes, but was there drinking involved on the cruis “Yes, but was there drinking involved on the cruise?”
Darling, but of course!
Gunbae! Gunbae! Gunbae!
#lovelitcruise #lovelitcruise2026 @lovelitcruise @ronnuska
LoveLit Cruise was such a whirlwind. The romance n LoveLit Cruise was such a whirlwind. The romance novel community is seriously the best. Now we just need to convince Meghan to go on next year’s cruise!
@lovelitcruise #lovelitcruise #lovelitcruise2026
📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚 I recently had the chance to r 📚 ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚
I recently had the chance to read A Bookish Story by Heatherly Bell after my podcast co-host and I received a hand-signed ARC copy from the author.
This sweet contemporary romance follows:
✍️ A ghostwriter who dreams of publishing her own novel
📚 A bestselling author hiding a romance pen name
💔 Two people navigating past heartbreak
It’s a slow burn, closed-door romance set in the world of publishing and writing.
If you love bookish romances and stories about authors, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Full review now live on the blog. https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/a-bookish-story/
#BookReview #RomanceBooks #ARCReview #RomanceReaders #BookishRomance @heatherly.bell
A little This or That from Magic & Mischief Night A little This or That from Magic & Mischief Night on the LoveLit Cruise! (Version 2.0 because even the Premium WiFi on the ship was not enough to handle all this awesomeness.)
@brittney__hope @mindychalfant @authorbrittneyhope @the_bookish_betch #lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #thisorthat #bookstagram @jamiesreadingspace @bkthompson77 @kaydanielsromance @lovelitcruise
Nicole was not the only one struggling to get thro Nicole was not the only one struggling to get through the last of her bar credit on LoveLit Cruise. Sometimes, you just gotta shake for champagne and share the bubbles.
@lovelitcruise #lovelitcruise #lovelitcruise2026 #virginvoyages #shakeforchampagne
Last March, Meghan and Nicole devoted an entire mo Last March, Meghan and Nicole devoted an entire month to Scottish and Irish romance novels on the podcast. This year? Nicole updated her blog post and expanded it to 10 Scottish romance reads — from historical Highland lairds to contemporary Isle of Skye rom-coms to paranormal Loch Ness romantasy.
You’ll find:
✔️ Historical Highland heroes
✔️ Second-chance romance
✔️ Clan rivalries and treasure hunts
✔️ Paranormal spice
✔️ Multiple ways to read — print, Kindle, Audible, Libro.fm and more
If you’re an Outlander fan like Nicole and perpetually in your “Jamie Fraser time,” this list is for you.
Grab your TBR and dive in.
🔗 https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/scottish-romance-novels-to-fall-in-love-with/
Y’all, the swag haul Nicole scored on LoveLit Crui Y’all, the swag haul Nicole scored on LoveLit Cruise is wild! Talk about bookish biddie loot!
#lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #swag #bookishbiddie #bookhaul
Rugby. Surprise pregnancy. Safe word: Dolly Parton Rugby. Surprise pregnancy. Safe word: Dolly Parton. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Nicole’s full review of Every Version of You by Sloan Spencer is now live on the blog.
✔ Friends to lovers
✔ Inclusive cast
✔ Negotiated kink
✔ Habanero heat
✔ Real partner care
If you love sports romance with emotional maturity and spicy rom-com energy, this one’s for you.
Read the full review at https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/every-version-of-you/
#SportsRomance #RugbyRomance #SpicyBooks #RomanceReview #FriendsToLovers @sloan_spencer_author
Announcing our Episode 6 books! Meghan is reading Announcing our Episode 6 books! 
Meghan is reading Odd Girl Out by Ann Bannon and Nicole is reading Savor It by Tarah DeWitt. The episode drops March 17!
Want to read along with us? Please consider using our affiliate links for Amazon, Libro.fm & The Ripped Bodice. You'll be supporting the podcast! 
(Psst. Nicole recommends the audiobook for Savor It.)

https://amzn.to/4u7HoR9
https://tidd.ly/4rG6JQj
https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867

#affiliate
🚨 WORST. COCKTAIL. EVER. 🚨 On Season 3 Episode 5 o 🚨 WORST. COCKTAIL. EVER. 🚨
On Season 3 Episode 5 of Romance on the Rocks, Nicole chose chaos and made the Dirt Road Martini from Dolly Parton’s cookbook.
Ingredients include:
🍸 Vodka
🫖 Unsweetened tea
🥒 Giardiniera brine
🫒 Olives
Yes. Really.
And friends … it tasted exactly like it sounds.
“It’s called Dirt Road. It tastes like a dirt road.”
We love Dolly. We respect Dolly.
But Dolly did Nicole wrong on this one. 💀
Would you try it? Or are we suffering so you don’t have to?
Full episode dropped today! 🍸📚
#RomanceOnTheRocks #CocktailFail #DollyParton #PodcastOuttakes #DrinkResponsibly
A little This or That from Magic & Mischief Night A little This or That from Magic & Mischief Night on the LoveLit Cruise! 
@brittney__hope @mindychalfant @authorbrittneyhope @the_bookish_betch #lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #thisorthat #bookstagram @jamiesreadingspace @bkthompson77 @kaydanielsromance
IT’S LIVE. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Season 3 Episode 5 is official IT’S LIVE. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Season 3 Episode 5 is officially out now.
We’re talking:
🏉 Surprise pregnancy + negotiated kink
⛪ Lapsed Catholic meets novice nun
🔥 Habanero heat
🧠 Consent, theology and emotional maturity
🍸 And one truly questionable Dolly Parton cocktail
If you love romance that respects your brain and your body, this episode is for you.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://romanceontherockspodcast.com/season3-episode5/ and tell us — which book would you read first?
#RomancePodcast #SpicyRomance #SportsRomance #SierraSimone #SloanSpencer #HabaneroReads @sloan_spencer_author @thesierrasimone
Scarlet Night was absolutely wild. I cannot say en Scarlet Night was absolutely wild. I cannot say enough about how wonderful it is to be on The Scarlet Lady for LoveLit Cruise!
#lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #scarletnight #virginvoyages
🚨 NEW EPISODE DROPS TOMORROW 🚨 Season 3 Episode 5 🚨 NEW EPISODE DROPS TOMORROW 🚨
Season 3 Episode 5 is coming in hot. 🌶️🌶️
Nicole Danielle and Meghan Leigh are diving into:
🏉 Every Version of You by Sloan Spencer
⛪ Sinner by Sierra Simone
Expect:
🔥 Surprise pregnancy + friends to lovers
🔥 Rugby-adjacent rom-com energy
🔥 Religious tension + open-door intimacy
🔥 Habanero-level spice
🔥 Theology, consent and safe words
This one gets deep. And spicy. And a little holy.
Set your reminder. We’ll see you tomorrow. 🍸
#RomanceOnTheRocks #RomancePodcast #SportsRomance #ReligiousRomance #SpicyBooks #RomanceReaders @sloan_spencer_author @thesierrasimone
New month. New books. New beverages. March on Roma New month. New books. New beverages.
March on Romance on the Rocks with co-hosts Nicole Danielle & Meghan Leigh:
✨ 3 – Safe Words & Sinners
✨ 17 – Recipe for Romance
✨ 24 – BONUS: Our Not So Drunkest Episode
✨ 31 – Close Encounters of the Threesome Kind
From safe words to aliens, from sinners to throuples… we’re covering range this month.
Save this post so you don’t miss a drop.
#RomanceOnTheRocks #RomancePodcast #Bookstagram #PodcastSchedule #RomanceReaders
Beach read! Meghan and I were so excited to receiv Beach read! Meghan and I were so excited to receive this ARC copy from one of our favorite authors and podcast guests, Heatherly Bell. So, of course, Nicole knew she needed to bring it for a beach read for the LoveLit Cruise. Just a little sunshine, sand and Bookish Story in Turks & Caicos. #beachread #abookishstory #lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #heatherlybellauthor @heatherly.bell
First full day of LoveLit Cruise and we’re just ge First full day of LoveLit Cruise and we’re just getting started. Author panels in the morning, writers’ workshop in the afternoon and now bracelet making. Later tonight, we’re doing maffia glam!
#lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #romanceontherockspodcast #virginvoyages
Last night’s introductory mixer for the LoveLit Cr Last night’s introductory mixer for the LoveLit Cruise. This is such an amazing, well planned and executed cruise!
#lovelitcruise2026 #lovelitcruise #virginvoyages
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