My guest today is author Farah Heron, whose latest book, Kamila Knows Best, is an updated spin on the Jane Austen classic Emma! Along the way we talk about: Updating a unique, challenging character Addressing the age gap between the characters The importance of hot wet saris Curly hair care techniques Lipstick recommendations What are your favorite Emma retellings? And what are your go-to lip color recommendations? … Music: purple-planet.com  

My guest today is Jane Buehler, author of The Forest Bride and The Village Maid. I have several favorite parts of this conversation, including our discussion of cozy fantasy, addressing and undoing misconceptions about sex in romance, and sourdough starters and bread making. So fantasy, writing, sex, and bread. Several excellent topics! What about you? What have you learned or unlearned from sex in romance? Do you have a sourdough starter? What’s its name? Do … Continue reading 503. Bread, Cozy Fantasy, Sex, and Romance with Jane Buehler →

My guest today is Kate Spencer, author and host of the podcast Forever 35. Her new book, In a New York Minute, is out this week, and y’all, this book was so charming and fun. In this conversation, we talk about: Vulnerability Projecting narratives onto strangers Vintage rom-coms She’s a romance fan, and a rom-com fan, and we had a lot of fun. … What about you? What is your favorite vintage rom com? Or not … Continue reading 502. Classic Rom Coms with Kate Spencer →

It’s episode 501 – onward toward a thousand! I start with mini interviews with Shana and Elyse, and then Amanda and I have more listener email, questions, recommendations, and many, many jokes. Yay! Thank you for celebrating with us! … Key Questions: What should we do for our next merch opportunity? What SBTB phrases have stuck with you? What is the best kind of French fry? … Our music in this episode is a custom … Continue reading 501. More Celebratory Mayhem with Amanda! →

We did it! It’s episode 500! Amanda and I have email and recommendations, your absolute favorite books, weird questions, and a LOT of mayhem. Plus mini interviews with Shana, Tara, Carrie & Elyse. There are so many great questions, clips, and conversations, you guessed it, there will be two episodes celebrating all the fun. … KEY QUESTIONS: What would you do in the wasp/hair/bus situation? What’s the worst commute you’ve ever had? What would an … Continue reading 500. Mayhem with Amanda! →

Jeff and Will from The Big Gay Fiction Podcast are joining me for the Sweet Dreams Recap of book #9, Cover Girl by Yvonne Green. This cover, y’all. And inside! We have a rather gross boyfriend, and an even worse mom, plus nature nerds! This is undoubtedly one of the greatest Sweet Dreams cover of them all. TW/CW: Chapter 10 is a little upsetting. … Music: purple-planet.com

Happy Valentine’s Week! Amanda and I have voicemail messages, updates on tattoos, book and lip balm recommendations, and more! Come hang out with us and nosh on all that half price candy. What candy are you buying? Thank you to Nancy, Claudia, Jimmy, StylinsonBirds, Leslie, and Ann! … Music: purple-planet.com

It’s part II of our recap of The Invisible Goddess by AC Dawn, a retelling of the myth of Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home. Have you read it? Did you like it? I have some things to tell you! A NEW PODCAST! I’m co-hosting LoveStruck Daily with Alisha Rai! LoveStruck Daily is a new podcast from iHeartRadio produced by Frolic Media that will deliver a true love story and those HEA feels every … Continue reading 497. The Invisible Goddess, Part II, with Melody from Heaving Bosoms! →

Melody is back! Some of our most popular episodes are our crossovers with Heaving Bosoms, and we have a new one for you! We read The Invisible Goddess by AC Dawn, a retelling of the myth of Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home. We had a LOT to talk about, so I’ve divided this into two episodes. Here in episode one, we’ll recap about half the story, and you’ve got options! You can read … Continue reading 496. The Invisible Goddess, Part I, with Melody from Heaving Bosoms →

I follow Vanessa North on Instagram and after she posted a picture of her first completed project of 2022, I had to talk to her about knitting. So of course we also talk about gender, crafting, raising fearless trans teenagers, photography, and writing romance. Plus book recs, as always. LPT: Always Buy Extra Buttons! … Music: purple-planet.com

Amanda and I catch up on her “lots of things to look forward to” plan, which now includes things that were done! We talk about anxiety, therapy, angsty books, trimming your own bangs, and we have book and video game recs, plus new year’s wishes from Elyse, Pudding, and Jane B! Do you like angsty books? Are there books that help you feel things cathartically? … Music: purple-planet.com