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In the latest episode of Romance on the Rocks, Season 2 Episode 18: Hot Swap, hosts Nicole and Meghan embark on a spicy adventure through the world of romance novels with their book exchange. This month, they’re trading novels. And the first book trade is way outside their comfort zones with some particularly steamy selections. (The next swap has us returning to more conventional romance novels.)
Nicole Danielle’s Book: B.O.B.’s Fall by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick
Nicole kicks things off by reviewing “B.O.B.’s Fall” by Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick. It’s futuristic erotica published in 2005. Meghan picked the book for Nicole, thinking it would be amusing given Nicole’s husband is named Bob. Turns out we’re talking about a very different kind of B.O.B. – a “battery-operated boyfriend.” Set in the year 2375, the plot follows “Mac” MacDougal, a Scottish CEO whose consciousness is transferred into a sex droid after an assassination attempt.
The droid is modeled after Mac himself — a choice made by his sister that raises a lot of questions for Nicole and Meghan. Confused about who he is and what’s happened to him, the AI robot escapes and feels compelled to find romance novelist Elyiana Richards. What follows is what Nicole describes as “90% gratuitous sex and 10% plot” with sex scenes spanning multiple chapters. Nicole was grateful this was a quick read and tried to think positively with her appreciation the book’s liberal attitude toward sexuality. But she found the lack of plot and some boundary-crossing moments extremely challenging.
Meghan Leigh’s Book: Mine by HelenKay Dimon
Meghan then reviews “Mine” by HelenKay Dimon, a contemporary romance about a former CIA agent named Natalie and her security detail, Gabe McIntosh. While initially dreading the book based on its synopsis (which suggested heavy domination themes), Meghan was pleasantly surprised to find a balanced story. She estimates as a “50-50 split” between plot and sex scenes. The book explores the developing relationship between these two strong-willed characters while dealing with CIA fallout and childhood trauma. Meghan particularly appreciated the realistic portrayal of relationship challenges and communication. She highlighted quotes about apologizing without necessarily having solutions, as well some that acknowledged relationships between strong individuals won’t always be easy but are worth the effort.
How Spicy Were These Books?
Both hosts rated their books as “Habanero” on their Spicy Scoville Scale – hot but not quite reaching their highest rating. They also discussed the curious disconnect between book marketing and content. Meghan notes how the synopsis of “Mine” suggests a much more dominating relationship dynamic than what was actually portrayed in the book. This led to a broader conversation about misleading book descriptions and cover art that doesn’t match character descriptions. It’s a common issue they’ve encountered in romance novels.
That’s a Wrap!
The episode wraps up with both hosts teasing their next exchange books. Nicole will be reading “Dark Roots and Cowboy Boots” by Luann McLana, while Meghan tackles “Kissing Bandit” by Margaret Rose. These selections promise to be more aligned with their usual preferences, focusing on characters in the beauty industry and resale business respectively – interests that connect to the hosts’ personal lives.
Throughout the episode, Nicole and Meghan maintain their trademark humor and candid commentary, making even their most uncomfortable reading experiences entertaining for listeners. Their willingness to step outside their comfort zones while providing honest feedback demonstrates why Romance on the Rocks continues to be a refreshing voice in the romance novel podcast landscape.
Have you read either of these books? What did you think of them? Comment below! We’d love to hear from you. Interested in reading these erotic and spicy novels? You can purchase “B.O.B.’s Fall” here and “Mine” here. To learn more about author Lora Leigh, click here. And to learn about award-winning author HelenKay Dimon, click here. Want to listen to the podcast episode? We’re available on pretty much all your favorite podcast streaming services. Or you can find our podcast player for this episode here.
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