Send us a text Let’s end spooky season with a clink: a neon-blue zombie cocktail meets a cozy Oktoberfest beer as we close our creature feature month and dig into two wildly different monster romances. First up, Zombie Moon by Lori Devoti drops us into "Brain Alley", Wisconsin, where a werewolf zombie-hunter and a mystery woman collide over brain bait and secrets. We unpack the moral gray zones, the alleyway action, and the sticky question of how zombies can roam for decades without goi...

Send us a text What happens when a debt-crushed millennial takes a job at a "milking farm" and a runaway stumbles into the arms of a golden-sapped tree man who can sew, garden and cook? We pour a drink (okay, a few), roll up our sleeves, and unpack two monster romances that are equal parts spicy, sweet and unexpectedly practical. From fictional Cambric Creek to a swamp sanctuary outside Cypress Landing, this creature-feature doubleheader puts consent at the center and asks BIG questions ... i...

Send us a text Do monsters make the perfect mate? We kick off with our signature cocktails — Buttersquatch whiskey for a Sasquatch fling and a citrus-spiked Werewolf’s Call — then dive into two paranormal romances that couldn’t be more different in pace, tone, and payoff. First up: a 97-page sprint where a half-banshee heroine bolts from an arranged marriage straight into the path of a half-Sasquatch protector. It’s fast, filthy, and full of audacious choices: scenting as safety a...

Send us a text A forgotten summer, a hungry garden, and a winged legend with a soft spot for small kindnesses. Our creature-feature month kicks off with two romances that trade jump scares for emotional stakes. We start in Yarrow, Kentucky, where three generations of Haywood witches tend a shadow garden that grows on sorrow and fuels a rival distillery’s enchanted bourbon. When the town collectively erases the summer of 1997 from their minds; old feuds flare, magic falters, and a tangle...

Send us a text Something remarkable is happening in Milwaukee — a renaissance of dedicated romance bookstores creating vital community spaces where readers connect over shared literary passions. As we celebrate our one-year podcast anniversary, we're thrilled to spotlight two visionary women transforming the local literary landscape. Meet Natasha Meyer from The Well Red Damsel, who transitioned from pop-up to permanent space after seeing hundreds line up at her very first event. "I look arou...

Send us a text Fall in love with small-town romance as Nicole and Meghan exchange books perfectly tailored to each other's interests in this delightful end-of-summer reading episode. Their thoughtful book exchange showcases the power of friendship through literature, with Nicole receiving a hairstylist-centered romance and Meghan diving into a story featuring baseball and thrifting. Nicole explores "Dark Roots and Cowboy Boots" by LuAnn McLane, set in the funnily-named Hootertown, Kentucky, ...

Send us a text Nicole and Meghan dive headfirst into uncharted territory with their first-ever romance novel exchange. And things get spicy faster than either of them anticipated. After exchanging books based on loose personal connections (Nicole's husband is named Bob), the hosts discover they've accidentally thrust each other into the deep end of the romance pool. Nicole tackles "B.O.B.'s Fall," a futuristic erotica where B.O.B. stands for "battery-operated boyfriend" -- a sex droid contai...

Send us a text Ever wondered what happens when you inherit a bookstore from your murdered grandfather? Or when a city lawyer falls for a struggling resort owner in rural Minnesota? This episode dives deep into two contemporary small-town romances that explore what happens when urban professionals leave behind their city lives for love in communities where everyone knows your business. Meghan reviews "Closer to You" by Cheryl Lister, following Zara Chandler as she takes over her grandfather's...

Send us a text Summer heat has us craving refreshing drinks and equally refreshing romance novels! We're diving into contemporary romance novels this month, and both our selections had us staying up late turning pages. Nicole sips a piña colada (perfectly matching her book) while discussing "Mixed Signals" by B.K. Borison. This slow-burn romance features Caleb, a Spanish-teaching ex-firefighter who's been crushing on bakery owner Layla for years. When they agree to a month of "practice datin...

Send us a text Christmas in July heats up as the Romance on the Rocks podcast tackles two holiday-themed romances that push boundaries in very different ways. Hosts Meghan and Nicole deliver equal parts humor and literary criticism while enjoying seasonal beverages — a festive "Snowball Old Fashioned" for Nicole and iced coffee for Meghan (who's admirably sticking to her health challenge despite the temptation of a cold beer). Meghan dives into "Merry Cris Moose" by Delta James, a 2024 relea...

Send us a text What happens when you mix Christmas romance novels with scorching July temperatures? Pure magic, as it turns out! We're kicking off our "Christmas in July" theme with two delightfully different holiday romances that prove festive love stories work beautifully year-round. Nicole takes us through "Cowboy, It's Christmas" by Heatherly Bell, where auto mechanic Daisy Carver proposes a fake relationship to former rodeo star Wade Cruz to help him avoid becoming the next reality TV b...

Send us a text Fantasy worlds should sizzle with magic and romance, but what happens when the promised heat fizzles out like a damp sparkler? We tumble headfirst into two Fae romance novels that left us wanting more in the spice department, though they certainly delivered on world-building and character development. Meghan explores "A Dance with the Fae Prince" by Elise Kova, following Catria through an arranged marriage with mysterious Lord Fenwood. Their unconventional relationship begins ...

Send us a text Prepare for a brutally honest journey through the enchanted — and sometimes disturbing — world of fairy romance as Nicole and Meghan tackle two wildly different novels that left them questioning everything they thought they knew about the genre. When Nicole's chamomile-infused bourbon meets Meghan's aptly named "Bitter End" cocktail, you know you're in for a revealing discussion. Meghan doesn't hold back as she tears into Bertrice Small's "Lara," a 524-page saga following a 14...

Send us a text Dive beneath the waves as we explore two captivating underwater romances in our Mermaid Month special! Our oceanic journey takes us through magical underwater kingdoms, body-positive representation, and the universal challenges of communication in relationships. The first stop on our underwater adventure is "Call of the Sea" by Emily B. Rose, featuring Princess Makenna. Makenna is a full-figured, neurodivergent royal with ADHD who's been fascinated by mermaids since childhood....

Send us a text Dive beneath the waves with us as we explore two vastly different underwater romance novels featuring magical sea creatures seeking human connection. Our special "Siren" cocktail (which might taste suspiciously like brackish seawater) sets the mood for a deep dive into mythological maritime love stories. Meghan takes us through "The Kraken's Sacrifice" by Katee Robert, where a woman named Catalina signs a surprisingly ethical contract with a demon and finds herself matched wit...

Send us a text Heatherly Bell transforms everyday love into extraordinary storytelling. In this revealing conversation, she takes us behind the curtain of her creative process as a romance novelist who expertly balances humor with genuine emotional depth. Beginning as a reader who was always drawn to the romantic subplots in novels across genres, Bell has crafted her own distinctive voice in the romance world since 2010. She shares how she develops characters who feel like people "you'd meet...

Send us a text Two cocktails, two small towns, and two heartfelt love stories by Heatherly Bell have us swooning on this episode of Romance on the Rocks. Grab your Topo Chico Ranch Water or Fireman's Sour and settle in as we explore what makes Bell's romance novels so addictively relatable. First stop: Stone Ridge, Texas, where elementary teacher/EMT Sadie Stephens returns to her hometown and reconnects with Lincoln Carver, her teenage crush turned rodeo-ropin' rancher. Their chemistry sizzl...

Send us a text Two vastly different romance novels reveal the same profound truth: recognizing genuine love often comes after experiencing relationships that fall short. In this lively discussion, Nicole and Meghan explore what happens when characters mistake manipulation for affection before finding their perfect match. Meghan dives into "Tricks of the Trade," an LGBTQ romance set in early 2000s Hollywood, where publicist Bart Kane initially falls for Rod, a narcissistic hustler using him f...

Send us a text The perils of consent, agency, and "apple boobs" take center stage as Meghan Leigh and Nicole Danielle continue their Scottish/Irish reading theme with two wildly different romance novels. We kick things off with a slew of trigger warnings as Nicole delves into Bertrice Small's The Border Lord's Bride, a historical romance that doesn't shy away from graphic content. Ellen MacArthur faces tragedy when her grandfather and fiancé are murdered, only to be forced into marriage with...

Send us a text The full moon and lunar eclipse bring out the wild side in our bookish biddies as Meghan Leigh and Nicole Danielle venture into the world of werewolf smut for a howling good time. Meghan delves into "The Wolf Wore Plaid" by Terry Spear, where Scottish clan werewolves provide security for a Hollywood film production at their ancestral castle. Heather McNeil, a successful baker and alleged "wild card," finds herself drawn to clan second-in-command Enric McQuarrie while sabotage ...