I’ve become fascinated with what we use to hold our place – items nested with purpose or merely with convenience. I’ve recently begun a small collection of the oddities that fellow readers have deemed bookmarks.
Uff Da! It’s Christmas in July!
Curling up with a comforting Christmas romance novel might seem like a strictly December activity. But our latest podcast episode makes a compelling case for enjoying these heartwarming stories any time of year.
Season 2 Episode 14: Uff da! It’s Christmas in July!
What happens when you mix Christmas romance novels with scorching July temperatures? Pure magic, as it turns out!
Book Review: Cowboy, It’s Christmas
Cowboy, It’s Christmas is a charming, cozy, emotionally grounded romance with a healthy side of cowboy angst and just a whisper of spice.
For the Love of Liquid
I’ve never been one to drink a lot of sugary sodas, but I do so love a nicely mixed cocktail or locally crafted beer. As a self-professed “Bookish Biddie who Imbibes,” cutting out the alcohol has put a little cramp in my style. So, since adult libations are not allowed during the challenge, I’ve been leaning on other fun options to keep my daily hydration varied and interesting.
We Were Promised Fairy Smut
Despite being marketed with promises of steaminess, both of our fae books failed to deliver the sizzle.
Season 2 Episode 13: We Were Promised Fairy Smut
Fantasy worlds should sizzle with magic and romance, but what happens when the promised heat fizzles out like a damp sparkler?
Book Review: Fae King’s Temptation
Plot-wise, this book is mostly a magical road trip with occasional battles, sexual tension, and a lot of “Don’t die, okay?” vibes.
Summer Beach Reads & The Perfect Cocktails to Go With Them
Whether you’re soaking up the sun at the beach or cooling off by the pool, these book-and-beverage duos are here to make your summer unforgettable.
Myravelle’s Elixir
By Nicole Danielle Cocktail Inspiration I created this cocktail for Season 2 Episode 12: A Midsummer Nightmare. I’m calling it Myravelle’s Elixir and it’s named after and inspired by the character Myravelle from the book Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar. Which is the book I read for the podcast episode. (You can read myRead More
Book Review: Her Dark Enchantments
Her Dark Enchantments is a fantasy/romantasy origin story for the wicked fairy of Sleeping Beauty infamy and melds that timeless classic with elements of Rumpelstiltskin and Gregory Maguire’s Wicked.
Season 2 Episode 12: A Midsummer Nightmare
Prepare for a brutally honest journey through the enchanted — and sometimes disturbing — world of fairy romance as Nicole and Meghan tackle two wildly different novels that left them questioning everything they thought they knew about the genre.
A Midsummer Nightmare
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
We had the privilege of interviewing accomplished romance author Heatherly Bell, whose authentic characters and relatable storylines have captivated readers for over a decade.
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.
Sustainable Love Practices & Eco-Friendly Accessories for Earth Day and Everyday
So, in this post, I’m sharing ways to sustain your romantic love as well as ways to enhance it with sustainable practices, from sexting and lingerie to marital aids and eco-friendly “accessories.”
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
Heatherly Bell’s books reliably fall in the jalapeño category and Lucky Cowboy is no exception.
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
Jagger’s approach to romance writing is to give her readers surprises and mix in flashes of humor with the love story. And it works, especially in this book.
Season 2 Episode 7: Fools in Love
In this lively discussion, Nicole and Meghan explore what happens when characters mistake manipulation for affection before finding their perfect match.
Fools in Love
Romance novels often get a reputation for being unrealistic or formulaic. However, the latest episode of Romance on the Rocks podcast shows us romance fiction can actually mirror real-life relationship journeys with surprising accuracy.
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
