LGBTQ+

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 Role Playing by Cathy Yardley.
At age 48, Maggie has learned to embrace her inner bog witch, possibly to the point of being detrimental to her mental and emotional well being. Various people in her life are encouraging her to be more social and less of a hermit, but the one with the power to reach her is her son, Kit. Based on Kit’s quid pro quo logic, she finds herself joining a local online guild where she can obtain loot, talk shit, and potentially make friends, like with the guild leader Otter. 
Unbeknownst to Maggie, Otter, who’s real world name is Aiden, isn’t a 20-something being nice to some woman old enough to be his mother, but instead a 50 year old nurse taking care of his actual mother. Isolated from the very family he’s helping, Aiden struggles to assert himself and fight for the life he wants. 
When they finally meet in person, their friendship grows. Can Maggie the bog witch give Aiden the confidence he needs so that he can tell his family to find another scapegoat for the things they don’t like about their own lives? And, in return, can a playful otter really fall in love with a grumbly old bog witch?
Content warning: Queerphobia, racism, emotionally abusive exes
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Coming next: Frost by C.N. Crawford

In this episode, we discuss Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell.
Dumpster-fire walking, Tennal is self-medicating and self-indulging in an effort to cope with the enhanced mental capabilities of his “reader” brain. He’s living the charmed life of a socioeconomically advantaged civilian as if there are no consequences… until there are, you know, consequences. The next thing he knows, he’s forcibly enlisted in the Cavalry and bullied into syncing with a babysitter, aka “architect”, Lt. Surit.
Hard working Lt. Surit is a model soldier. He doesn’t plan to disobey orders, but when he is ordered to sync with the non-consenting Tennal, Surit is forced to reevaluate why a social pariah like him was given this opportunity in the first place. 
Content warning: Themes surrounding a lack of consent
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast | Facebook: @romanceMEpod

In this episode, we discuss Husband Material by Alexis Hall.
Four weddings, one funeral, but no Andi Macdowell in this romantic comedy. Instead, we are reacquainted with Luc and Oliver! They fell in love with each other in Boyfriend Material and now, two years later, they are still in love, watching those around them do the next socially expected thing: aka get married. As Luc and Oliver work out what they want in their ceremony, and struggle to compromise, they learn whether they are forever-level compatible.
Content warning: Homophobia, abusive parents.
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast | Facebook: @romanceMEpod

In this episode, we discuss Spellbound by Allie Therin.
In 1925 New York, booze and non-heterosexuality were illegal. A magical disaster is threatening the city, and New York’s mightiest heroes are attempting to prevent the atrocity. Two of these champions are Arthur Kenzie, a wealthy veteran of The Great War, and Rory Brodigan, a poor orphan hiding a secret identity. When Arthur’s past returns to threaten the future, they work together to save the city and themselves.
Content warning: Racist and homophobic laws and social conventions of the past.
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast | Facebook: @romanceMEpod

In this episode, we discuss Am I the Asshole? by Cassie Alexander.
While blackout drunk at a party, Becky’s fiancé Logan gets her to agree to summon a demon for a threesome. The demon they summon is Quenalith, who is more than Logan bargained for. But, before he can dispel the summoning magic, Becky and Quen form a connection that is too powerful for either woman to ignore.
When Quen later tracks her down, Becky has to decide whether to ignore their undeniable chemistry or give up her safe life and take a chance on Quen.
Content warning: Cheating and emotional abuse (but not between the main couple), alcoholism, sex trafficking. 
Website: romanceMEpodcast.com | Twitter: @romanceMEcast

In this episode, we discuss One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.
While trying to distance herself from her mother’s pursuit of her missing uncle, August Landry moves to New York City to pursue higher education and higher rent. While boarding the subway, she meets the leather-jacket-wearing-cool-girl Jane Su, who saves her from coffee-shirt humiliation with a red scarf. August soon realizes there is more to the mysterious Jane than she first suspected, and she is forced to admit she wants to investigate Jane's past in order to save her dream girl.
Content warnings: Homophobia.
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

Today we’ll be discussing Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. 
One day, out of the blue, free-spirited Prince Kiem learns of his duty to marry to maintain peace. He’s okay with this, he knew it would happen one day, but he doesn’t want to marry the still mourning widower of his cousin.
Jainan, the prospective groom, is reserved, careful, and seemingly repelled by Kiem, all expected behaviors of a grieving spouse. However, when it’s revealed that his previous husband died under suspicious circumstances, these actions become questionable.
Caught in an expanding web of politics and deceit, Kiem and Jainan must learn to trust each other while they work to discover the truth--and love.
Content warning: Depictions of past domestic violence, abuse survivorship.

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 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.