Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

The ads and features of the September 2015 issue of Romantic Times are a nine-layer cake of wonderment and weird.Don't miss the visual aids! WE GOT FONTS. And dogs!Side trips include:Janet Dailey and who is writing her books (we don’t know)lawyer romanceschanges in cover designa twist cliffhanger in a quiz with no answer key!Plus, this issue of the magazine and also Amanda both have terrific memories of RT 2015 in Dallas.We have So many links!Meet Louisa, the cover model dog! (Instagram)Reformed Rakes’ episodes on Janet Dailey Part 1 and Part 2JanetDailey.com – all present tenseTopaz Literary: “Janet Dailey and the Curious Case of the Missing Author”The Contemporary Romance Color of the Year (SBTB)Joyfully Jay“This is the Last RT: Kathryn Falk Announces End of Romantic Times” (SBTB)Thanks to our sponsor for this week’s episode: Lume!  New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products with our exclusive code and link. Use code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer are podcasting powerhouses with shows like By the Book and How to be Fine With Friends.This season they’re looking at friendship, the research behind sustaining friendships, ending relationships, and creating new connections with people – and they joined me to talk all about it.You can find their show, How to be Fine with Friends where you get your podcasts – like this one!TW/CW: short discussion of diet culture and diet books just after Kristen introduces herself. When she stops talking, hit your 30 second skip and you should be fine.What are some of the traits you appreciate most about your closest friends?...You can find How to Be Fine with Friends where you get your podcasts, and you can follow the show on Instagram @howtobefinepod.Jolenta Greenberg can be found on her website JolentaGreenberg.com, and on Instagram @jolenta_g.Kristen Meinzer can be found on her website, KristenMeinzer.com, on Instagram @K10meinzer, and co-hosting her show The Daily Fail. Music: Purple-planet.comThanks to our sponsor for this week’s episode: Lume!  New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products with our exclusive code and link. Use code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re going back to September 2015, and I want to ease you into this knowledge, so take a breath, center yourself: that was nine years ago. I don’t get it either but apparently it’s true?JR Ward is on the cover, and there’s all kinds of good stuff inside! Come with us to visit some reviews that are word salad, and some that made me say, a few times, “Way harsh, Tai. Way harsh.”Don't miss the visual aids!Music: purple-planet.comThank you to our sponsor for this week’s episode: HelloFresh!For a limited time, kids eat FREE! Go to HelloFresh.com/sarahkids to unlock this exclusive offer. One free kids’ meal per box for two months while subscription is active. Visit HelloFresh.com/sarahkids! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris DeRosa is co-host of the podcast Fixing Famous People, and has been a reality tv producer for 11 years. We talk about his career starting with Food Network then moving into unscripted reality tv like the Real Housewives, how reality tv has changed, and how much of the narrative producers have influence over – and what parts they don’t.We’re also locating RH on the larger timeline of major television programs centering women over 40. I think this episode holds a lot for writers because it’s about making the conflict, and the motivations behind that conflict, public and spoken in dialogue. It’s a new way of looking at show/don’t tell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alison aka Fashionably Evil is back with us recapping the ads and features from Romantic Times’ October 1999 issue!There were leers, horny men, and nipples with personalities, and we explore effective friction and learn about The Douche Chills.The visual aids are amazing this week – don’t miss the horny covers!We also mentioned:Daniel Craig’s campaign for LoeweThe updated text of Whitney, My Love covered at AAR Our conversation about Crusie’s books which capture a specific time periodMusic: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Continuing my exploration of reality franchises that are favorites of romance readers, Shana joins me to talk about the Real Housewives franchise: her favorite Real Housewives locations and seasons, and what aspects of this reality franchise appeal to romance readers.We cover relationships, conflict, and the blend of fiction and “reality,” and some of the ethical considerations as well, especially with the Real Housewives of Dubai.Are you a Real Housewives watcher? Which ones? Do you think there’s a reason why romance readers are often also Real Housewives watchers? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have a special guest! Alison, aka Fashionably Evil, won our Romancing the Vote auction to co-host this round of RT Rewind with us! Congratulations!!Alison picked our issue, October 1999, and wow, it’s just as weird as we’d hoped.And, as part of the auction, we offered a midroll ad, which we typically don’t run. Alison chose to use her midroll to promote a website we love and admire, Scarleteen.com.We start with a discussion of Alison’s incredible spreadsheet that she made us (❤️!) and a discussion of historical romance. Along the way: many yikes, many bikes.I want to offer some heads up for racism, human trafficking, mentions of stillbirth, ableism, Islamophobia in the reviews.These will be long episodes this month so journey with us back to 1999.Don't miss the visual aids! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month on the podcast, I wanted look more closely at the intersection of romance and reality tv, particular the Bachelor franchise and Real Housewives. There is only one place to start with that inquiry: with Dr. Jodi McAlister.Jodi McAlister is a scholar of romance and an expert on all things The Bachelor, and she’s the author of the Australia-set Marry Me, Juliet trilogy, which you may remember was available digitally in the US as a surprise after a lot of folks, including and especially Amanda, started talking about the books in the series. Shana reviewed the series and the third book, and loved all of them. So we are talking all things Bachelor, about writing a similar reality tv show for her series, and why romance readers globally dig this franchise so very, very much.You can find Dr. Jodi McAlister on TikTok, Instagram, and BlueSky, and on her website, JodiMcAlister.com.au.We also mentioned:Jodi in People Magazine! IASPRThe SBTB Land AcknowledgementShana’s review for Not Here to Make Friends and the rest of the trilogy as well. And thanks to our sponsor for this week’s episode, HelloFresh!Go to HelloFresh.com/sarahkids to unlock this exclusive offer: one free kids’ meal per box for two months while subscription is active. That’s FREE kids’ meals just by going to HelloFresh.com/sarahkids Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re going back to December 1997 to look at the Ads & Features from Romantic Times.We’ve got a cover with many, many fonts, several memorials for Princess Diana, and we find out what happens when you win an award and find out while you’re on the john. There are profiles of readers and romance reading book clubs, AOL chat rooms about romance for writers and readers, and the price of the Essence of Romance.It’s a wonderful time capsule, folks.CW/TW: antifat bias and deathDo not miss the visual aids - the covers alone, my goodness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine M. Larson is the author of the new book Love in the Time of Self-Publishing: How Romance Writers Changed the Rules of Writing and Success, published by Princeton University Press. This book is NIFTY - it’s about us! I was interviewed for it, and we are going to talk about ALL The Things, from identity-driven ethics of care to RWA to the need for “a collective unified body for creative people.”Come for the vintage Romancelandia gossip, stay for the labor activism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The book reviews in 1997 may be fewer in number but they are ample in wtfery.Prizefighter younger sons getting kicked out of brothels on their wedding night!Nicknames that follow you around the globe in the 1880s!Regency cats!We’ve got truly glorious covers, so do not miss the visual aids. They’re incredible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirsty Greenwood’s book The Love of My Afterlife is out now, and it’s bubbly and charming and funny, with a lot of emotion, so we’re going to talk all about it. We also talk about making friends as an adult, and how there’s just about every genre inside this book. There’s even a heist. This might be why it’s the Good Morning America book club pick this month – congrats Kirsty!Then I learned she’s a former book blogger so there’s recommendations back and forth, all over the place.You can find Kirsty Greenwood at her website, KirstyGreenwood.com, and sign up for her newsletter. You can also find her on Instagram and on Facebook at KirstyGreenwoodBooks.We also mentioned:Book, Music, and LyricsThe Merry Pin craft shop in DC Romancing the Vote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re going back in time to look at the ads and features of the September 2002 issue of Romantic Times!This issue left us with many questions, such as:What the hell is Tart Noir?Are reviewers elsewhere too mean? (Not us – we weren’t online yet!)How much lore is there about pesto?Should you jump into a pile of leaves?Should you soak crawfish tails in milk?Why is an author defending polygamy?What snack is best for reading and why is it not an apple?We had a lot of fun, even if the feature article was a bit of a let down, so please come join us for assorted silliness, and a Shadow Prince with no neck!Don’t miss the visual aids – so many screengrabs, so many weird necks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oriana Leckert is the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, and works with the many, many authors who are finding community support on Kickstarter. They’re hosting a celebration all this month, Heartstrings & Hardbacks: Kickstarter and Romance, so we connected to talk about successful romance projects, strategies that work and don’t work on Kickstarter, and the evolution of fandom (a topic I’m always curious about).Oriana has worked in publishing for a long time, and applies her entire employment experience to her current job. She’s also the author of a book called Brooklyn Spaces, and it sounds like it was a really cool project.You can find Oriana Leckert on her website, and on Instagram.We also mentioned:Heartstrings & HardbacksMonopsonyEpisode 507. Romance Kickstarters with Lucy Eden and Katee RobertMy post on book title SEO madness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We asked our Patreon community to vote on this month’s issue, and September 2002 won by a wide margin. So let’s dive into the book reviews, shall we?There are strange subcategories and overlapping genres, and also color-conscious aliens and amnesia, too. Plus, we talk a bit about one of the best lines Avon ever produced.Don’t miss the visual aids, because some of the covers are something.We also mentioned:Avon True RomancesA thread from Ashia Monet on the shift away from story arc to story trope (Twitter)Carrie’s review for How to Manage a Marquess, where she talks about soap bubble books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 1989, Kathryn Falk published The Romance Reader’s Handbook, a 354 page spiral bound collection of everything a romance reader would need to know. Steve Ammidown leads us on a brief tour of this artifact of romance history.  There’s a collection of over 2000 pseudonyms, plus a directory of where to contact authors, lists of bookstores that love romance, and recommended reads. And of course, advertisements from authors inviting readers to correspond with them. This is early social media for authors and readers, and it’s a fascinating time capsule. A PDF scan of the pages we talk about is available for downloads at SBTB.You can find Steve Ammidown at RomanceHistory.com, and on Instagram @RomanceHistorian.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 611, we talked about the ads and features in the April 2005 issue of Romantic Times, and there was an ad on the back cover for Romance Soundtracks. We could not find anything about them, but Malaraa in our Patreon sure did!We’ve got samples! We’ve got MUSIC that you’re meant to read with, and Amanda tries to identify the genre/album the music was from.MASSIVE THANKS to Malaraa for finding this treasure trove!We’ve! Got! Links!Episode 611. Romantic Times Rewind: April 2005 Ads & FeaturesThe Wayback Machine copy of the Book Soundtracks Website – thanks to Malaraa!Pure Moods!Music LeagueThrowback Trivia TakedownMedieval Fantasy MusicMusic: Purple-Planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a review for Never Cross a Highlander, Shana came up with the ACAB scale, or the Alyssa Cole Anti-Slavery Book Scale, which ranks how central the horror of slavery is to the storyline. I asked her to tell me all about it, and Shana, kindly, said yes.Our conversation grows (of course) to include the field of narrative therapy and bibliotherapy, other evaluative rubrics for reading, and the subgenres, professions, settings we can, and cannot, relax into.NB: I had a cold when we recorded, so apologies for my very low voice.You can find Shana here at SBTB, and on Instagram @BlackBabeReads.We also mentioned:Shana’s review of Never Cross a HighlanderCarrie’s review of Ana María and the FoxMy interview with Erica Ridley about her Winchesters series Music: purple-planet.comSpecial offer from Lume: New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products with our exclusive code and link. Use code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are traveling back in time to May 1994 and taking a look at the ads and features inside Romantic Times Magazine – oh, it’s a time.We have questions – and answers!Are Eric Braeden and Victor Newman the same guy? Is Kathryn Falk writing celebrity gossip and outing people? Are there Lorena Bobbit jokes? Were Glamour Shots™ very well represented among author headshots? We had a great time looking at the reviews, and the ads & features do not disappoint.Don’t miss the visual aids. Seriously. There’s crooning.Thank you to Mari the Romance Girl for this issue!Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harper St. George joins me to talk about The Stranger I Wed (look at that gorgeous cover) and the dollar princesses of the Gilded Age. We talk about transactional marriages, the power dynamics of marriages of convenience – and Harper has a few recommendations of her favorites!You can find Harper St. George at her website, HarperStGeorge.com, and on Instagram @HarperStGeorge.We also mentioned:Clayton, the preserved home of the Frick family in Pittsburgh, PAAlmina Wombwell Herbert, Countess of CarnarvonHistory Tea Time with Lindsay Holiday – YouTube – Dollar Princesses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are traveling to May 1994 and taking a look at the book reviews in this edition of RT Rewind!We’re answering many questions, including:Why does five stars mean something is a classic, but one star is acceptable?What do CS, RM, VR, and F stand for inside Contemporary and New Reality?What grade did Dreaming of You receive?There’s so much Fabio, a telepathic cat, blaming tornadoes for murder, and a lot of time travel.But my gosh, golly, gee whiz, do not miss the visuals for this episode!Music: purple-planet.comControl Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code [SARAH15 ] at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Len Pennie’s book of Scots poetry poyums is out in the US this week, and you might have seen my post about her book launch earlier this week. Len is my guest today and we’re going to talk about:Poetry!Healing from trauma and abuseThe subversive revolution of teaching a word a day in a minoritized languageUsing humor to overcome the “cultural hangover of linguistic oppression”More poetry!TW/CW: discussion of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse, depression, stalking.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Y’all, the April 2005 issue of Romantic Times is a treasure of truly amazing fun. So many of you told me that episode 609, where we looked at the reviews, made you laugh so hard you cried.Well, let me share some highlights of what is about to happen to your eardrums.The Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant was a Six-episode reality tv show on the Oxygen network, and we missed it when it ran. It’s not all on YouTube but we have a few links!We have the arrival of what I called the “venti sized” paperbackRomance writers with “dedicated rooms for Star Wars collectibles!”We’ve got some disturbing gimp masks on computer generated Poser people.It’s a glorious time. Come on over.Did you ever attend Mr Romance at RT? Did you see the Mr Romance Pageant on tv?! And gosh, do you have a Romance SoundTrack CD? Please tell me everything.Don’t miss the visual aids!Links! For your browsing pleasure!Jafar’s staff on EbayThe 2005! cover snark featuring The Big Sword and the Naked GuyThe 2006 post about the Venti sized paperbacksThe cover for Running Anonymous – NSFW, NSFLAnd visit the visual aids for a clip from Mr Romance on the Oxygen network! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you write the books you want to read but are having a hard time finding? Many good things. Kimberly Lemming loves fantasy, and started writing her own catnip, which led to the joy that is the Mead Mishaps series.We answer ALL the tough questions, like how many mead mishaps have we personally experienced? How does one make the bananas spin? And why is Galavant the greatest production ever made?Note: in the middle of the episode, the email Kimberly sent that gave me a peek at the cover for That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human, which was in the final stages of development, so you’ll hear me lose my cool.For the book and video games we discuss in this episode, please visit our show notes page!You can find Kimberly Lemming at KimberlyLemming.com, and on Instagram @KimberlyLemming.We also mentioned cover artist Mike Pape, and the cover art for the Mead Mishaps series is visible on his website, too!Thank you for supporting our show, and our advertisers! new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code SARAH15 at LumeDeodorant.com. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack when you visit LumeDeodorant.com and use code SARAH15. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re taking a tour through the new releases across many genres from April 2005, nearly 20 (!!!) years ago. Romance has changed a wee little bit.How much cringe shall we find? Plenty!Other oddities? Mainstream includes YA and Chick Lit. Contemporary includes New Reality. Regency in Format includes Corinthians! And we’re trying to understand a character who wants to “dim the pain of turning 30.” It’s a ride, as usual.Side trips include Sea Breeze, Stridex, and St Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub.TW: for mention of sexual assault, body horror – we do announce it in the audio so you can skip ahead.You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, visual aids posts, and more in one convenient place!Don't miss the visual aids for this episode!We also mentioned:Regency in format, not genre: This r/HRNovlesDiscussion post shows a treasure trove of Regency/format books. Did you use St. Ives Medicated Scrub? I sure as heck did.RegRom.com answers the question, ‘What is a Corinthian?’Amanda mentioned author Naomi Hirahara in a recent Get Rec’d with Amanda post Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Blue was my guest when we discussed Spare – which has become one of my most listened-to episodes – so I asked her back to talk about the narratives of PR, why the weird stories around Kate Middleton grabbed attention worldwide, and why so many people were and are paying attention.On one level it’s a story that originated in gossip about rich and powerful people in an archaic power structure being weird. But it’s also a story of misinformation, propaganda, and a complicit media system, and we deal with that over here in the US, too.This was recorded on Wednesday, March 20, and we did a follow up this week following the announcement late Friday, March 22, that Kate Middleton is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. So there are two parts to this episode.A few content warnings: Discussion of self harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation, and child abuse and exploitation.Please visit the show page for all the resources used for this episode, including news articles, Instagram live recordings, and Twitter threads. Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re looking at the ads and features from the March 2016 issue of RT Book Reviews!We’ve got cowboy heads growing out of gravel roads, a dude who looks like he’s on fire, and that one guy who is always ripping his shirt off from romance covers. We decide on an in-house definition of “Castle Bangenschloss.”Oh! And a really angry reader wants self pub authors to stop using the same stock images for different covers. It’s wild, y’all.Don’t miss the visual aids that go with this episode! We’ve got links!Fanlore.org: Cassandra ClaireDahlia Adler’s LGBTQ Reads PatreonTirgearr Publishing’s T shirts!The podcast episode where we were at the Peppermill in Reno, and also on edibles, aka episode 304. “You Have a Type and it Might be Mullets” – Sarah, Amanda, and Elyse are VERY Silly About Books and VillainyThe Chippendales at the Rio Thank you to our sponsor, Lume! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code.Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shirley Green and Sharon Spiak are the duo behind many, and I mean many of your favorite romance covers, and are absolutely 100% the duo behind one of mine – For the Love of a Pirate by Edith Layton. The hair. The waves. THE ROCKS.I connected with Shirley and Sharon and got a History Lesson in how cover shoots used to work. We’re talking costume, art direction, photography, and painting skills combined to make some very memorable covers, and how much deliberate emotional care went into some of the photo shoots with the cover models.You can find Shirley Green’s portfolio and stock image collection at ShirleyGreenPhotography.com. You can find Sharon Spiak at SharonSpiakArt.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda and I are diving into the reviews from the March 2016 issue of RT Book Reviews.In this episode you will learn about A Tale of Two Biddies. You’ll discover Baby Bothering and God Bothering. And most importantly, are demons really a natural fit for the Regency era?All these questions are more will be answered in this episode!Don’t miss the visual aids for this episode!Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katee Robert joins me to talk about her many releases this year, about marketing through Kickstarter and direct-to-reader options like Patreon, and about the foundational books in fantasy and romance that got her started.We also talk about current issues, like Findaway Voices and Spotify’s changes to the terms of service for authors.You can find Katee Robert on her website, KateeRobert.com. You can also check out her Patreon.We also mentionedModern PostcardBonkers RomanceThe Bonkers Romance KickstarterNK Jemisin's PatreonUrsula Vernon/T Kingfisher's PatreonChanges in the Findaway Voices ToSAnd former PRH CEO Markus Dohle's comments under oath:“The trial put the inner workings of the company on public display in sometimes unflattering ways. In his testimony, Dohle argued that success in publishing is driven by instinct and random luck, not necessarily a company’s size — an argument that the judge found unconvincing. And he revealed his dissatisfaction with the company’s performance since the 2013 merger.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to April 2006 in this month’s RT Rewind!We discuss the evolving cover art for the Immortals After Dark series and style changes in illustrated covers. We also talk aboutWell water adventuresAuthor photo? MUST be leaningA contest made of author prom photosMany predecessors to GoodReadsA book from 1991, promoted in 2006, made into a movie in 2022.And a FULL PAGE of Mr. Romance.When I start talking about Redeeming Love, massive trigger warning and content warning, just a giant pile of YIKES. The book summary begins at 35:20.Thank you for the reviews, the support, and the positive feedback to this series! If you’re enjoying these episodes, please drop a comment below or on the visual aids post and let me know?Music: purple-planet.comDon't miss the visual aids! Really, I mean it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jennifer L. Armentrout joins me to talk about the books she considers the foundation of her fantasy romance reading, and what classical historical romances she adores. Her newest book, Visions of Flesh and Blood is out next week, so we’re looking forward, and back – and way, way back in the past. We talk about a series she’s paused, and why, and what it means to update a book that doesn’t ‘age well.’ What fantasy or historical romances were foundational reading for you? I’d love to know which are your favorites! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to April 2006 in this month’s RT Rewind! We take a look at the reviews in this issue and we’ve got some one-star reviews, and curiously paranormal is part of contemporary? It’s weird.Things I initially pronounce wrong: demesneTW/CW: mention of suicide in book reviews, plus snakes and rat infestations.Link to visual aids!...Music: purple-planet.comCoupon! LUME: New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code. Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Support for this episode comes from LUV! LUV is an app that connects authors and fans with producers, actors, plus film and publishing industry folks to celebrate romance in many marvelous formats, and demystify the process of adapting books for film and television. LUV is available on Apple and in Google Play, and online: checkoutluv.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our 600th episode!! Emily Nagoski is back to talk about her new book Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections.We talk about the genesis for this book, which is in part that writing a book is stressful and hard, and while writing Come As You Are, Emily noticed that her own interest in sex was missing. By diving headlong into all the research, she realized that people who sustain lasting sexual connections have a few major things in common, which is what this book is all about.CW/TW: we mention this in the conversation, but it's important to note that at 23:36 we talk about intimate partner violence, and at 1:00:45 we talk about intentional weight loss. We are also talking about intimacy, sex, and sexual practices.Music: Purple-planet.comYou can find out more about Emily Nagoski at her website, EmilyNagoski.com.We also mentioned Dr. Shamika Thorpe's work, which you can find at DrShemeka.com.And I mentioned this Tweet from author Racheline Maltese. Thank you to our sponsor, HelloFresh. Visit HelloFresh.com/smarttrashyfree and use code smarttrashyfree for FREE breakfast for life! One breakfast item per box while subscription is active.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind, and we're taking a look at the ads and features in this issue!We’ve got LONG series from Elizabeth Hoyt, Kresley Cole, and Shannon Stacey, plus SWAT team shifters, Navy SEAL Highlanders, and some memories, some not so great, of the 2016 RT convention in Vegas…at the Rio.And then! We have a supplement that only appears in the digital editions of RT at the time: the Indie/Hybrid News & Reviews Supplement. It’s a wild ride.Don't miss the visual aids for this week's episode!What's the longest series you’ve stuck with?What Duran book should Amanda read?Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mimi Matthews returns to the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lily of Ludgate Hill, which is the third book in her Belles of London series. Among the major themes of this book? PINING. SO MUCH PINING. Which I love.But this is also a book about grief: characters are pining for what was as much as other characters are pining for what could be. So we talk about grief, loss, hope, and about adapting to massive upheaval - and about The Gilded Age television show.CW: We talk a lot about grief, disordered eating, diet culture in the 90s and 2000s, the death of Mimi’s father, which inspired parts of Lily.Music: purple-planet.comThank you for supporting our sponsors! Sign up for the Red Feather Romance newsletter for free today at https://www.redfeatherromance.com/sbtb/ to start receiving free and discounted romance eBooks sure to keep you up all night long!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind!We take a look at the reviews in this issue and along the way talk about audiobook series, historical romance, Jesus by Volume, and the ever-so-small range of grades in each genre. We also take a side trip into JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.You can find the visual aids for this episode right here!You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, show notes, and visual aids at RTRewind.com!We also mentioned my review of Lover Revealed by JR Ward.And finally: thank you to the SFWA for sponsoring this episode! Be sure to check out HEA Quest on January 20! Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our final holiday wishes episode - thank you to everyone who makes these episodes such a treat. It’s an honor to connect with all of you!This week, Sneezy, Sandra, Tiffany, Lisa and Shana share recommendations, wishes, and terrible jokes. CW: we start off and end with some talk about anxiety brain gremlins, so FYI.Thank you again for making these episodes so fun! Happy New Year!We also mentioned:Baked by the Baroness (Tapas)Roni Loren's NewsletterTODY App Library Extension for ChromeEpisode 342. Stories are Everything with Arkady MartineNarrative TherapyHallmark's "Friends and Family Christmas"COUPON WOO HOO! Go to HelloFresh.com/smarttrashyfree and use code smarttrashyfree for FREE breakfast for life. One breakfast item per box while subscription is active. Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got books, wishes, and wonderful jokes from Amanda, GarlicKnitter, Alanna, and Claudia! We’re traveling around the world with this episode! We’ve got many, many books to tell you about, and also wishes for cozy light and joy.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More holiday wishes, book recs, TV recs, and bad jokes, with you as my guests!This week, I’m joined by Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, and we talk about So Much Entertainment! Verity and I chat about books, tv, and writing - so if you’re looking for some British tv shows, you’re in a lot of luck. We do start with some critique of the early 2000s language about women, bodies, body shaming, and anti-fat bias.Then I chat with Elyse and Carrie, who review for SBTB, and maybe they liked the same book (they did!). And then Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, tells us about a book that rocked his world.What about you? Were any of these books on your list? Any anti-inflammatory cookbook ideas? Telly suggestions? Let us know!Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you!Music: Purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s July 2004, and the ads and features are a wild ride.I might say that every month but this month it is especially true. We learn about a bunch of different bookstore that are still in business - and encounter a lot of ads for small presses that are, alas, long gone. There’s a lot of romance history in this issue.Bonus: I solve a HaBO for Amanda! Live! I’m so proud of me.Important: Do NOT miss the visual aids for this episode. My goodness me. Music: Purple-planet.comCoupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time for holiday wishes, book recommendations, and absolutely dreadful jokes, with listeners and reviewers as my guests!Each year I invite the review team from SBTB and the members of the Podcast Patreon to connect with me to offer recs, wishes, and, if they wish, a bad joke. These episodes are so popular and are like weekly hugs for your ears and your brain, with some potential hugs toward your TBR, which is definitely about to get a little taller.In this first of our holiday wishes series, Agnès, Sue, Jo and Varian join me.Find out what books made up 10% of Agnès’ reading this year!What series and what webtoon did Sue get lost in?What series did Jo and I have in common? What book did Varian text absolutely everyone about?And what happens when I’m on the receiving end of all the wonderful terrible jokes?Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you! Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to Kay Sisk for sending us this issue! We’re taking a look at the book reviews from the July 2004 issue of RT Book Club – yup, the magazine had a different title back then.This issue predates the founding of SBTB, in fact! The genres are different, and so are the books inside. And! We have some one-star reviews!We’re going to talk aboutColor changing taffeta!Sex in department store fitting rooms!American historicalsAnd heads up for some absolutely incredible amounts of exoticism, racism, and something called “Lad Lit.”Music: purple-planet.comLink to visual aids! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently, Mara Wilson was talking about her favorite (and least favorite) romance tropes on social media, so I invited her onto the podcast to tell us all about it. You may know Mara Wilson from Matilda or Mrs. Doubtfire, but she’s currently working very happily as an audiobook narrator, most recently for Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus!Please note: we don’t talk a lot about the films she has been in, because this was recorded while SAG-AFTRA and the WGA were on strike. Special thanks to Basil and Freya!COUPON! Find your new favorite fits and get 15% off @marinelayer with our exclusive link -> marinelayer.com/SARAH15. #marinelayerpodMusic:Purple-planet.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back with the June 2014 issue of RT Book Reviews, and we are taking a look at all the advertisements and features – and it’s a ride.We discuss the RT awards, the ads congratulating the winning authors, strange distorted feet, and wolf eyed vikings.No, we don’t know what that means, either.But we do have a question! Amanda, it seems, has never read a Harlequin Presents! Which one should she read for Maximum Presents experience?Music: purple-planet.comCoupon! Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.comLink! Link! Check out all the visual aids for this episode right here at SBTB! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Weinman joins me to talk about true crime, a genre which I absolutely cannot read! We talk about how true crime “can be a catalyst for social change” and why people, especially White women, obsessed with true crime.Plus we talk about Sarah’s latest books, Scoundrel, which has a surprising (to me) literary angle for true crime, and the anthology, Evidence of Things Seen. We discuss at length looking at the true crime genre as a whole, and exploring what true crime can do better ethically and socially.VERY IMPORTANT INFO: We are talking about true crime in a larger context socially and ethically, but we also mention specific cases, and when possible we name the victims. We also talk frankly about the mental health costs of doing this kind of writing and investigative journalism.The timestamps for when we mention specific cases, which include murders of young people, and talk about mental health are:13:45.7119:19.55624:24.12632:43.584Please look after yourself, ok?Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re heading back to June 2014 to look at the nearly three hundred new books reviewed in RT Book Reviews.Come on a journey with us through historical, contemporary, thrillers, and inspirational, and learn more about cattle fraud. We are obsessed with boilers.Also: apologies in advance for the fact that I cannot say "minutiae," which, my bad. It's a word that never comes out of my brain correctly. My apologies.All the book covers, images, and more are right here at this link.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the May 2014 Ads and Features episode of our Romantic Times Rewind series, the cover feature was all about Valerie Bowman, her latest book - and inside was a mention of her appearance on Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta in 2014!So Amanda and I connected with Valerie to hear all the details! We talk about weddings and dresses and reality tv, including a side trip discussion to the real housewives, Scandoval, and $17,000 sunglasses. Then we invent our own reality shows. This is a goofy, silly, very fun episode.Music: purple-planet.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back, traveling in time to May 2014 to take a look at the ads and the features inside RT Book Reviews magazine! Side trips include Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, the immortality of strange stock images on book covers, and the importance of alligator fritters in the marketing budget.You can find all the ads and images on SBTB! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

THIS is episode 584 (I said in the intro that last week was 584 but I was wrong. Oops - my bad).Maggie Tokuda-Hall returns as a guest to talk about The Siren, The Song and the Spy, and so much has changed since our last conversation in Episode 406 when the first book, The Mermaid, The Witch, and the Sea released in May 2020.We also talk about racism and her experience with Scholastic regarding her book Love in the Library, and we talk about Baldur’s Gate and queer pirate fantasy. Come for the discussion of dismantling facism, and stay for the video game and book recs. You know, as usual.You can find Maggie Tokuda-Hall at her website, PrettyOKMaggie.com.We also mentioned:"Scholastic and a Faustian Bargain" Maggie's podcast, Failure to AdaptHarper's Bazaar: "Refusing to Censor Myself" by Maggie Tokuda-HallAnd the picture from Our Flag Means Death that had us both on the floor.I also mentioned my appearance on the Rephonic.com list of 12 Best Author Interview Podcasts - thanks, y'all!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.