Contemporary

In this episode, we discuss Haven by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
Claudia Cade's camping trip with her brother turns horrific, leaving her running for her life and relying on the kindness of a stranger. Shep Olsen happens to be in the right place at the right time and saves Claudia from a terrible fate. Months later, they reunite to find closure. Now that the dust has settled, the city girl and the mountain man must figure out if what they feel is not just lust but actually love.
Content warning: Graphic violence off the page and healing from related trauma, and BDSM
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast

In this episode, we discuss Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
America's First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is convinced he has a nemesis in the British Prince Henry of Wales due to a previous snubbing. When an act of clumsiness creates a $75,000 problem that requires the First Son and Prince to play nice for the public and their respective world leaders, Alex learns the truth behind Henry’s carefully crafted image. Soon, Alex and Henry must make a decision that will go down in history. 
Content warning: Homophobia
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast

In this episode, we discuss Butterface by Avery Flynn.
Gina Luca plans weddings, content in her life having mostly made peace with the "butterface" label given to her in high school. Stickler Ford Hartigan is a "hot" by-the-book police officer who wants to get to know Gina and gather intel on her mildly mob-ish brothers. 
While initially denying their shared chemistry, they prove capable of renovating Gina's old Victorian and grow into a relationship; however, can they repair their burgeoning romance when Ford's hidden motives are revealed?

In this episode, we discuss Stripped by Zoey Castile. 
Robyn Flores teaches 5th grade while struggling to be a functional adult. Zac Fallon has spent the last 10 years making money and improving his skills as a stripper. Amidst steamy romantic encounters and awkward social settings, Zac and Robyn get to know each other in ways most of the world doesn’t get to see. But can they make a lasting connection before Zac is supposed to fly off to Vegas for the dream job he’s been working toward?

In this episode, we discuss Pulling Doubles by Christina Jones. 
Nurse Practitioner Devyn Echols is making strides to live her best life by completing her internship at University Hospital. The physician supervising her internship is the arrogant Dr. Joseph Wright. Devyn soon learns that Joseph has been hiding his attraction to her behind his callous treatment. Maybe the first impressions were wrong, but does this mean their mutual chemistry can turn into love?
Content warning: Abusive ex-partners.

In this episode, we discuss You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. 
No longer feeling the love, Naomi decides that her fiance Nicholas no longer loves or appreciates her, if he ever did. She wants out but she doesn’t want to be responsible for the breakup. Naomi stops trying to keep things together and goes on the offensive. If Nicholas breaks up with her, she won’t be expected to foot the bill for the wedding her mother-in-law has been planning. As Naomi and Nicholas engage in a series of pranks and other misdeeds, they start to realize that there might be something worth staying for after all.

In this episode, we discuss Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade.
Geologist April Whittier loves rocks, fanfiction, and the TV show God of the Gates. For years, she’s been writing fanfic of her one true pairing, not realizing that she was sharing her stories with one of the show's stars Marcus Caster-Rupp. Marcus asks her on a  date after seeing her cosplay on Twitter, and April accepts, unaware that he is actually her online buddy. 
Although besotted with April, Marcus is reluctant to share his online identity, fearing career-related repercussions. But as they grow closer, his circumspection is now potentially relationship ending.

In this episode, we discuss Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny by Rebekah Weatherspoon.
Unexpectedly deserted by her live-in nanny, single mother Dr. Sloan Copeland needs someone, hopefully more reliable, to watch her precocious daughters. She hires Rafe Whitcomb, tattooed, bearded, and highly recommended. They have immediate chemistry and begin developing a romantic relationship.

In this episode, we discuss The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai.
When former linebacker Samson re-enters entrepreneur Rhiannon’s life after previously ghosting her, she must decide whether he deserves a second chance.

In this episode, we discuss The Roommate by Rosie Danon.
Professional academic and carefully boring Clara moves across the country to win the affections of a man who isn’t interested. Uninterested Man has better places to be, but thoughtfully leaves her a replacement roommate. His name is Josh; he’s a professional porn performer.
Will self-described prude Clara be brave enough to follow her own dreams as she helps Josh realize his?

Today we’ll be discussing Pitifully Ugly by Robin Alexander.
Displeased with her life and with wine in hand, Shannon impulsively creates a dating profile to prove she can manage her own love life, thank you very much. While enduring romantic misadventures, she makes a connection with “Newbie,” a shy woman who is unwilling to meet in person, except, maybe, they have already met.

In this episode, we discuss The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor.
Emma is co-president of the high school coding club along with her friend and academic rival George. As co-presidents, it is their responsibility to come up with a project idea and Emma’s idea to make a match-making app is popular with everyone but George.
The club moves forward with the matching app and it seems to be working, at first. However, Emma can’t figure out the code for that ineffable quality of love that the happy couples around her describe.

In this episode, we discuss Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson.
After his mother unexpectedly passes away, Jesse is determined to keep her knitting shop open, in spite of his brothers’ doubts that he can be successful. His childhood friend Kerry agrees to help him with learning to run the business, despite her lifelong crush on him.
As they work together to save the shop, they discover that their shared past and current passions are strong and lasting.

In this episode, we discuss Sustained by Emma Chase.
Jake is a criminal defense lawyer and he’s good at his job. He likes to live a “complication free life” and it’s been working out for him until he meets Chelsea. Chelsea’s life is anything but uncomplicated. She’s the legal guardian of her six nieces and nephews and she has no support network until Jake steps in.
Soon, Jake is living the family life, even though he’s always told himself that’s what he never wanted. Being with Chelsea and the kids feels right, but Jake isn’t sure he knows how to be the man Chelsea deserves.

In this episode, we discuss Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard.
On their regular girls’ night out, Jaine and her friends create a list for what would make a man Mr. Perfect. Although it was meant to be a private bit of fun, the list gets shared around at work, and then it spreads to the news. While many think the list is funny, some people are offended, maybe even offended enough to kill.
When one of her friends is murdered, Jaine turns to her next door neighbor, police detective Sam, for help. Sparks fly as they work together to figure out who the killer is and stop them.
Content warning: Child abuse, murder.

In this episode, we discuss Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. 
Luc is tangentially famous as the son of two rock stars from the 80s. Ever since his estranged father has made a comeback, Luc has been uncomfortably in the public eye. When a picture showing him in a bad light is released, Luc has to clean up his image in order to keep his job. To do that, he needs to find a nice, normal boyfriend. 
Oliver, a vegetarian lawyer, is the perfect man for the job, and he agrees to be Luc’s fake boyfriend for a time. But, as they spend more time together, the lines between real and fake begin to blur.

In this episode, we discuss A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev.
Mili has been married since she was a child in India, but she doesn’t remember the groom. She’s spent the last twenty years learning how to be the best possible wife she can be while she waits for her husband to finally come back and claim her.
Samir is a famous Bollywood director, and the brother of Mili’s husband. He travels to Michigan to find Mili and convince her to officially annul her marriage to his older brother. Mili is nothing like what he expected, and Samir ends up wanting more from her than her signature.
Content warning: Child marriage and child abuse.

In this episode, we discuss Love Hacked by Penny Reid.
Sandra is looking for a stable, long term relationship. She takes all her first dates to the same restaurant and every date ends the same way. The guy starts crying.
One night, after Sandra’s newest date leaves in tears, Alex the waiter and Sandra share a passionate kiss. Alex is hot and obviously Mr. Wrong, but Sandra decides to enjoy a fling for once.
Alex is smart, secretive, and complicated. As Sandra begins to develop feelings for Alex, she realizes that maybe Mr. Wrong is perfect for her after all.

In this episode, we discuss The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang.
Stella has high-functioning autism, loves math, and is a brilliant and successful econometrician. She’s less successful at romance, so she decides to hire an escort to help her improve her skills. Michael, the escort she hires, can’t believe Stella is bad at sex, but he agrees to conduct a series of “lessons.”
Immediately attracted to each other, the partnership starts to feel more like a real relationship. But, both Stella and Michael are hiding something. When the secrets come out, will love still be the logical conclusion?

In this episode, we discuss The Christmas Pact by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward.
Riley Kennedy and her colleague Kennedy Riley meet in person at the office holiday party after sparring over misdirected emails. While Riley was initially infuriated by Kennedy’s nosy responses to emails meant for her, he manages to convince her that he’d make a great date to impress her mother when she goes home for Christmas. In return, she agrees to be his date for his brother’s wedding.
Their act manages to fool everyone and, as they become closer, they both start to wonder if there is something more to their scheme than a simple agreement.