Neon Gods

In this episode, we discuss The Highlander’s Pirate Lass by Heather McCollum. It’s a pirate's life for Eliza. She’s grown up with salty sea air in her hair, an unblemished horizon as a future heading, and hatred in her heart for the scoundrel who murdered her family. Eliza has no plans to ever be a wife or even to fall in love. Meanwhile, highlander Beck needs a wife so that his family island can once again support a community and be rid of the curse that has plagued them.  Beck rescues Eliza from being stranded on an island, and the chemistry between them is overwhelming. They develop a friendship and maybe more. But, with such different life paths, how will they ever manage to chart a course that will bring them together? Content warning: Human trafficking (including children), references to rape, sexual assault, trauma survivorship Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

In this episode, we discuss The Lady and the Orc by Finley Fenn. Once upon a time, there was a Lady who was doomed to a loveless, childless, and comfortless marriage. As luck would have it, Lady Jule’s situation gets worse, when her husband Lord Norr abandons her to be captured by orcs.  Orc Captain Grimarr makes Jule the centerpiece of his plan to win his war against her husband, and Jule, in spite of herself, is on board. But, this means she has to surrender, in all ways, to her orc enemy. Content warning: Dubious consent, non-consent, exhibitionism, emotional manipulation, and domestic violence (but not between the couple). Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Highlander’s Pirate Lass by Heather McCollum

In this episode, we discuss Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes. Amid the oppression of the U.S. government's Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, Army Surgeon Capt. Sabine Fleischer is busy in Afghanistan, patching up injured bodies while keeping her crush on her commanding officer under surgical wrap. Forced to internalize her struggles so she doesn’t face career ending consequences for revealing her sexuality, Sabine battles personal challenges related to finding her place in the military, from which she feels increasingly isolated. And, while her commanding officer Col. Rebecca Keane seems to be dropping hints that she returns Sabine’s interest, the timing could not be worse. Taking a risk for love may not be worth it if it means ruining both of their livelihoods.  Content warning: cheating (but not between the couple), homophobia, PTSD, graphic depictions of combat, casualties, injuries, and death Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Lady and the Orc by Finley Fenn

In this episode, we discuss The Break-Up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely. Narrated by Regan Linton When life gets her down, Zelda applies her creative writing gifts to the composition of break-up e-mails for others using facts provided to her by the dumper. It's a stress reduction outlet she doesn’t question until one day she realizes that the recipient of one of her creations is someone she knows and likes.  Newly single Jake recently received a message brutally canceling his previous relationship, a fact that Zelda soon discovers and finds deeply upsetting. Now, Zelda has a front row seat to the devastation she helped cause while falling for the same guy she’d mocked for being a loser. Unfortunately for her, karma wields a jackhammer when it becomes evident that Zelda’s secret identity will be revealed, one way or another.  As Zelda’s choices come back to haunt her, what will happen to the blooming relationship she’s developing with Jake? Content warning: Ableism, homophobia, transphobia, death of family members, grieving death of a parent. Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Ask, Tell by E.J. Noyes

In this episode, we discuss An Easter Demon for Eloise by Chloe Alice Balkin. Bouquet of basil, yellow carnation, and butterfly weed anyone? Florist Eloise would love to give her demonic captors the arrangement of hatred, disdain, and let me go, but unfortunately she’ll have to settle for breaking out of her confinement and rescuing herself. Almost immediately, she is found by Killian, a loathsome demon who has come to save her. You see, they’ve met before. And, they didn’t like each other before. But, now they have to work together if they want to get out of this hellacious landscape or else they’ll be captured, tortured, and killed by his family. Content warning: Descriptions of past torture, character experiences episodes of trauma, panic, and anxiety  Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: The Break-up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely

In this episode, we discuss Crushing on You by Jen Trinh. When Anna sits next to Ian on the plane, she immediately decides she wants nothing to do with him, even after learning they are traveling to the same event. But, by the end of the weekend, Anna realizes that there may be more to him than she’d first suspected. He’s not the well-mannered stereotype she had thought him to be. Perhaps it’s even safe for her to open up to him about her own hardships. As they get to know each other, they share passions and sorrows, and eventually learn there is a validity to living life differently. Content warning: Abusive parents, alcohol addiction, racism, death of family members Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: An Easter Demon for Eloise by Chloe Alice Balkin

In this episode, we discuss My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh. In order to prove to her childhood bully that she isn’t a romantic late bloomer, Poppy claims a random man as her boyfriend without at first realizing that he was so hunky, or such a well-known hockey player. As luck would have it, said hockey player Dallas feels magnanimous towards a pretty stranger and plays along.  Once they get to know each other and their respective situations better, they devise a mutually beneficial plan to enter into a fake relationship. But, once her business is no longer in the red and his reputation is no longer in a fiery dumpster, will they be brave enough to admit their real feelings? Content warning: Character’s past includes neglectful abuse. Financially abusive ex.  Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Crushing on You by Jen Trinh

In this episode, we discuss Neon Gods by Katee Robert. Persephone is on the run from a forced marriage when she crosses the River Styx and falls into the arms of Hades, King of the Underworld. At first, she’s confused, because Hades isn’t supposed to exist, and yet, here he be… and he be hot.  Wanting shelter from the coming storm of her alleged fiance’s wrath, Persephone makes a mutually beneficial deal with Hades. Their fake relationship has a time limit, but as the end date approaches, will they admit to themselves that there is real love between them? Content warning: Exhibition kink; aggressive, but consensual, oral sex; abusive parent Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

In this episode, we discuss Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford. After almost becoming a ice sculpture, Ava falls through a portal and finds herself in an unfamiliar, hostile world with few allies and fewer options. She wants to reconnect with Torin. She wants to go home. She might not want to face the truth about herself and her nature. But when she meets the land’s sadistic queen, Ava is forced to make a gut wrenching decision in the hope that her vicious actions might save the man she loves. Content warning: Abusive family members, captivity and torture Listen to our review of the previous book in the series: Frost by C.N. Crawford Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Neon Gods by Katee Robert

In this episode, we discuss Homecoming King by Penny Reid. Pro-football player Rex is always a boyfriend but never a husband, sending many of his exes into the arms of his teammates. Meanwhile, bartender and crafter Abby had a fairytale love story gone bad, convincing her to give up on love. When Abby’s lifelong crush Rex walks into her bar, Abby is suddenly forced to reexamine her views on love. Rex has a proposal that will hopefully help both of them out and Abby agrees in spite of herself.  As they spend more time with one another, will Rex take a chance and lower his grumpitudinous walls? Will Abby continue to assume her childhood crush is too good to be true?  And what does too good to be true really mean, anyway? Content warning: Abusive and predatory ex, and stalking Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Ambrosia by C.N. Crawford