Our journey into fairy romance begins with two vastly different novels: “Lara” by Bertrice Small and “Her Dark Enchantments” by Rosalyn Briar.
Book Review: Call of the Sea
It’s a delightful merpeople romp that’s giving me Splash!, Brave and Bridgerton (a la Penelope Featherington) vibes.
Diving Into Underwater Romance
In our latest episode of Romance on the Rocks, we dove deep into two fascinating underwater love stories that combine fantasy, romance, and important themes of body positivity and communication.
Season 2 Episode 11: Diving Into Underwater Romance
Dive beneath the waves as we explore two captivating underwater romances in our Mermaid Month special!
Mostly Anti Non-Fiction (But I’ll Make Room for the Weird Stuff)
I have a confession: I don’t like reading non-fiction. Give me a fantasy, mystery, or thriller any day. But reality? Ugh.
Book Review: The Selkie
The best analogy I can think of for this book is that it’s Outlander meets The Secret of Roan Inish meets True Blood.
Love in the Deep
In our latest dive into romance novels, we explored the mysterious and enchanting world of underwater love featuring mythical sea creatures and their complex relationships with humans.
Season 2 Episode 10: Love in the Deep
Dive beneath the waves with us as we explore two vastly different underwater romance novels featuring magical sea creatures seeking human connection.
Meet the Romance Writer: Heatherly Bell
What if a classic enemies-to-lovers tale could blend feminism, faith, and political ambition?
Season 2 Episode 9: Meet the Romance Writer: Heatherly Bell
Heatherly Bell transforms everyday love into extraordinary storytelling. In this revealing conversation, she takes us behind the curtain of her creative process as a romance novelist who expertly balances humor with genuine emotional depth.
Celebrate Earth Day with These Sustainable Love Practices … and Eco-Friendly Accessories
While Meghan and I love the hunt of finding a fabulous romance book to read for our next podcast episode, we also appreciate the convenience that romance novel subscription box services offer. So we’ve put together a selection of romance book boxes for those of you who like that convenience too.
A Correspondence Renaissance
Today the universe blessed me with a handful of colorful envelopes. And by “the universe,” I actually mean the Hallmark lady.
Book Review: Lucky Cowboy
The Official Blurb “Sadie Stephens has loved Lincoln Carver since she was a girl, but a family feud involving a runaway bride closed any options for a romance. Lincoln’s only interest in her now is one of obligation and guilt. After all, he’s the one responsible for the lassoing “incident” (don’t ask.) Lincoln is notRead More
Slow Burnin’ Love
Heatherly Bell’s romance novels bring a refreshing authenticity to the genre that has quickly made her a favorite author for our podcast.
Season 2 Episode 8: Slow Burnin’ Love
Two cocktails, two small towns, and two heartfelt love stories by Heatherly Bell have us swooning on this episode of Romance on the Rocks. Grab your Topo Chico Ranch Water or Fireman’s Sour and settle in as we explore what makes Bell’s romance novels so addictively relatable.
Book Review: Lord Rupert’s Foolish Bride
The Official Blurb “Rupert would never call her his foolish bride. She makes him laugh. She is lovely, amusing, and a mystery. All those tales about her could not possibly be true. Or could they? To get the land he needs, Lord Rupert Veryan must marry Farmer Tolliver’s witless daughter. Gossip says Jenny was raisedRead More
Season 2 Episode 7: Fools in Love
What if a classic enemies-to-lovers tale could blend feminism, faith, and political ambition?
Fools in Love
What if a classic enemies-to-lovers tale could blend feminism, faith, and political ambition?
Book Review: The Border Lord’s Bride
It was not the Scottish romp I was expecting or hoping for.
Scottish Romance Novels to Fall in Love With
By Nicole Danielle Still Craving Scottish Romance My podcast co-host, Meghan, and I devoted the month of March to Scottish and Irish romance novels (Meg even found Scottish werewolf smut for our Full Moon Friday episode!). I loved my book for Season 2 Episode 5: A Scot is Not Enough by Gina Conkle. (My bookRead More
Season 2 Episode 6: Tit-ular Time Travel
The stark contrast between these books — from their handling of sexual content to their portrayal of relationships — highlights the broad spectrum within romance fiction.
Tit-ular Time Travel
The perils of consent, agency, and “apple boobs” take center stage as Meghan Leigh and Nicole Danielle continue their Scottish/Irish reading theme with two wildly different romance novels.
Full Moon Friday
The full moon brings out something wild in all of us. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the sub-genre of werewolf romance novels.
Season 2 Bonus Episode: Full Moon Friday
The full moon and lunar eclipse bring out the wild side in our bookish biddies as Meghan Leigh and Nicole Danielle venture into the world of werewolf smut for a howling good time.
Book Review: The Alpha’s Mate
The Official Blurb “In The Alpha’s Woman, Kira Radney is all delicous curves and strong will and has no desire to be a subservient mate. When a member of her father’s pack attempts to make her his mate by force, Kira has no choice but to flee. The lat thing she wants is to submitRead More
Warming Up to Spring with Fresh Romance Novels
By Nicole Danielle Warming Up to Spring While my dear bosom buddy and fellow bookish biddy, Meghan Leigh, awaits Spring in the North; it’s well underway here in the Carolinas. I’ve already started my Spring weeding and clean-up and the Naked Lilies my friend, Andre, sent to me from his shop, Firefly Farm & Mercantile,Read More
Literary Gardening
Gardening-inspired methods you can use to reorganize your home library and foster reading around the house.
Book Review: A Scot is Not Enough
The Official Blurb “A Gentleman of Virtue Decent and ambitious, Alexander Sloane is finally a finger’s breadth from achieving the government post he’s worked towards for years. A minor task monitoring Bow Street funds for the Crown is his final hurdle. But he discovers more than he bargains for when his assignment leads him toRead More
Season 2 Episode 5: A Bodice Ripping Good Time
Ever wondered how a simple listener suggestion could spice up our entire podcast? This month, we’re embracing a Scottish and Irish theme on Romance on the Rocks — complete with fiery Scotch bonnet peppers add to our Scoville scale.
A Bodice Ripping Good Time
Sometimes you want a slow burn. And sometimes you want a full-on bodice ripper with drama, passion and at least one wildly unhinged description before chapter two.
Wintry Romance Novel Reads
In addition to the warming bevies, I am discovering I love a titillating read to help keep me warm.
Pepper Spray & Politics
In the latest episode of “Romance on the Rocks,” we delve into two contrasting romance novels that showcase the pitfalls of political romances from the ’80s. With our glasses full of scotch and sauvignon blanc, we dissect the narratives that confounded and shocked us.
Season 2 Episode 4: Pepper Spray & Politics
Can a Sauvignon Blanc truly capture the essence of a political romance novel, or does scotch pair better with Scottish intrigue? Nicole Danielle and Meghan Leigh put their drink-pairing skills to the test in this lively episode as they embark on an amusing journey through romance novels and beverages.
Bridgerton Fan Must-Haves
I am pleased as punch to find a growing number of Bridgerton-themed items available for fans — everything from cocktail crates to teapots. And I decided I simply must compile a a curated collection of Bridgerton Fan Must-Haves. Here they are, “dearest gentle reader.”
Love Campaign
What if a classic enemies-to-lovers tale could blend feminism, faith, and political ambition?
Season 2 Episode 3: Love Campaign
This week, Meghan Leigh kicks off our Season 2 books by unraveling the rich tapestry of “A Vote of Confidence” by Robin Lee Hatcher.
Our Updated Spicy Scoville Scale for Romance Novels
In each of our regular podcast episodes for Romance on the Rocks, we give our books a Spicy Scoville Scale rating. Over the course of Season 1 of the podcast, we realized we need to expand our spiciness levels.
Season One Romantic Reminders
If you’re looking for romantic reminders to help you thrive as a couple, we’re here for you. Let our takeaways from our romance novel reads be your inspiration and guide in everyday life.
Season 2 Episode 2: Highlights & More from 2024
Laughter is our constant companion as we recount some of the most entertaining moments from our literary escapades.
Highlights & More from 2024
As the curtains close on the first season of Romance on the Rocks, hosts Nicole Danielle and Meghan Leigh come together for a spirited recap that is as lively as it is insightful.
