Holiday

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 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 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

In this episode, we discuss Bows and Eros by Ava Devlin.
In a quiet, snow covered town, grade school teacher Noor expects to deal with the chaos of Family Fun Day, not ancient Greek gods running amuck.
Amidst the mayhem, she pairs up with Ethan, the single father of a former student, both to find his child and to help tame the wild love magic. But, with so much love in the air, how can Noor know if her developing feelings for Ethan are real?
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast

In this episode, we discuss There’s Something about Merry by Codi Hall.
When her life implodes after yet another terrible ex, Merry Winters moves back home to Mistletoe, Idaho to be where she feels rooted. Single dad Clark Griffin is now working on the Christmas Tree farm owned by Merry’s parents. When the position on the farm Merry wants is given to Clark, a tension develops, causing isolationist Clark to actively avoid the boss's daughter.
Longing for an adult connection, Clark signs up on an online dating site where he meets KnottyGirl. As he juggles his feelings for Merry and KnottyGirl, Clark wonders if there just isn’t something about Merry.
Content warning: Animal abuse (but they are still okay, guys) and characters with history of childhood abuse.
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast

In this episode, we discuss While You Were Creeping by Poppy Rhys.
In the town of Tinsel on Dor Nye, Holly is struggling to put her ex behind her when she is gifted with a present that happens to be an interdimensional prison containing a Krampus-looking fellow by the name of Kye. When Holly and Kye are face-to-face, she freaks and he calls her a witch. Bound together by circumstance, they make promises to one another: he will participate in the holiday festivities as her boyfriend and she will find a way to release him from his prison by New Years, before he has to disappear back into his prison. But what will happen when the clock strikes midnight?
 

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.