Illicit Liaisons

This week, we're celebrating Fantastical Foes, an enemies-to-lovers romantasy zine. We're chatting with the editor, Parrish Baker, and contributing authors Marissa Marinello, Lynne Solisse, and Tara Leederman. Parrish Baker/Urna Sempe r Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for her books depicting passionate tales of forbidden love between clones and born-humans. Born to...

This week, we're joined by author Mara Heath to talk about romance books, bookish drama and hot takes, romance categories, and more. Mara fell in love with the romance genre when she first started reading the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams series as a teen. Decades later, after working as an English teacher and taking time to be a mother, she's finally become the romance writer she a...

This week, we discuss bookish news, hot takes, drama and more. Join us and let us know your hot takes. BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Pearl Crucible by Urna Semper https://amzn.to/4waBkHK Serialized stories by Urna Semper Substack https://urnasemper.substack.com/ Dead but Not Forgotte n by Jenna Harte https://amzn.to/4eEltKh Back to Us by Jenna Harte free at https://jennaharte.com/ Shadow of Betr...

This week, we're joined by author Allie Lasky to talk about romance books, including what it means to be well-read, sports romance, and more. Allie Lasky is a queer and AuDHD writer with a hyper-fixation on inclusivity and representation. She loves the color purple, Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, and the Boston Bruins. When she’s not absorbed by a book, she likes to watch sports and sp...

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Tara Leederman and Urna Semper, where we discuss: - Anti-intellectualism in reading - Follow-up from Romanstasy-gates - Plus, we learn about Tara and Urna's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more! Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for...

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Lynne Solisse and Miranda Tamrakar, where we discuss: - Spice levels in romance and what each chili pepper means - Plus we learn about Lynn and Miranda's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more! Lynne Intro: Writing found Lynne Solisse later in life, and...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Aline Francoure and Jenna Harte. We discuss: - The Romancestasy controversy - What inspired Aline's story, Back to Us, a second chance romance with a singing telegram - Factoids about the mafia and New Orleans, and Blackbeard folklore, and a whole lot more! Aline Francoure is a passionate rom...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Annie R McEwen. We discuss: - Publishers ending their historical romance lines - The future of publishing - Plus, we learn how Guy Fawkes inspired Annie's story in Fireworks & Flirtation, share book recommendations, and more. A career historian, Annie R McEwen has lived in six countries a...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation with our authors, Suzy Langevin and Marissa Marinello. We discuss: Bookish drama over an editor asking an author to remove similes and other metaphorical language from their story to avoid being accused of using AI With the popularity of MM romance, where is the love for sapphic romance?  Plus a whole lot more.  S...

This week, our guest host is author Jason Wrench, and we discuss: * Face Off cover controversy * Jason's appearance at BookCon * Hockey romance and more! Jason Wrench writes. He writes a lot. With his publisher, Pride Publishing (now Totally Entwined) he’s the author of three different series: 12 Days of Murder & Till Death Do Us Wed, Up on the Farm (Finding a Farmer, Bewitched by the Bar...

This week, our guest host is Sierra Hill, with whom we discuss the controversial attempt by Ivory Chapters to trademark "Blind Date with a Book," the impact of AI in publishing, sports romance, and more! Sierra Hill is a RONE Award-winning romance author of Game Changer and the award-winning college sports series Courting Love. She writes steamy new adult and sports romances, including t...

This week, our guest host is author Mariah Ankenman. We discuss hot takes around the author ARCs, disability representation in romance fiction, #authorapril, and book adaptations we'd love to watch. Mariah Ankeman is a bestselling  romance author living in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse, who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexi...

This week, Tara and I share the tea, hot takes, and news from the romance book world, including Shy Girl drama, worst spicy writing, and more. AUTHORS & BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn Paws & Peril from Tender & Tempting Tales READING & RECOMMENDED Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc Urna Semper on Substack...

This week, we talk with book influencer Bea from Mama Needs to Read Romance about the state of historical romance, being a booktuber, and more. LINKS TO BEA Mama Needs to Read Romance YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@mamaneedstoreadromance Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mama.needs.to.read.romance/ Goodreads : goodreads.com/user/show/75674482-mama-needs-to-read-romance AUTHORS & BOOKS...

This week, we celebrate the release of Paws & Peril , a romance zine with stories, articles, games, and more around romantic suspense that include a dog. We discuss romantic suspense and why dogs make a perfect side character, and more. Hosts this week include zine editor Rachel Young; zine copyeditor, social media manager, and contributor Tara Leederman; author Marissa Marinello; and managing...

This week, our guest host is romance author Annie R McEwen where we discuss the hubbub around the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, classic romance novels, and more. LINKS TO ANNIE R MCEWEN Annie's Website: https://www.anniermcewen.com/  Bound Across Time https://amzn.to/4bIJ9M9 The Corset Girls Unlaced https://amzn.to/4uPC84S Annie's Books on Amazon https://amzn.to/487lqnE BOOKS MENT...

This week, our guest host is romance author Aubree Valentine where we discuss Heated Rivalry, hockey romance, the why-choose trope, and more. LINKS TO AUBREE VALENTINE Aubree's website: https://authoraubreevalentine.com/ Aubree's social links: https://authoraubreevalentine.com/social/ Aubree's author's page: https://amzn.to/4bglzHF Pucking Tangled : https://amzn.to/4uwdaY0 Chri...

This week, our guest host is romance and mystery author Jenna Harte (yes, me!), where we discuss passionate sleuthing couples, fan fiction, the amnesia trope, and more! LINKS TO JENNA HARTE Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com Jenna's Author Page: https://amzn.to/4b39fKF BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Valentine Mysteries (7 books in KU): https://amzn.to/40tacWv New Release: Dead but Not Forgotten...

This week, our guest host is romance author Stephanie R. Caffrey, where we discuss books we're afraid to read, romantic suspense, and more! LINKS TO STEPHANIE R. CAFFREY Stephanie R. Caffrey: https://srcaffrey.com Stephanie's Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephanie-R.-Caffrey/author/B0CXNBGX1Z Strings of Deception : https://amzn.to/3MXD85S Profiling the Heart series: https:/...

This week, our guest host is Parrish Baker writing as Urna Semper, and we discuss: * Book Bullying * Romantansy vs Romantic Fantasy vs Fantasy Romance and more! LINKS TO URNA SEMPER Parrish Baker writing as Urna Semper on Substack: https://urnasemper.substack.com/p/copy-the-lady-of-birzeta Urna Semper's Amazon Author page: https://amzn.to/4rn86TO The Pearl Crucible by Urna Semper: https://amz...

Guest Host Suzy Langevin, 2024 RWA Golden Heart Award for Excellence In Pre-Published Romance, for the Plus One Pact. We discuss hot takes on romance, including our thoughts on epilogues and bonus chapters, is cheating okay in romance, depictions of mental health in romance, and more!  Check out Suzy at https://www.suzylangevin.com/  Suzy's Books https://www.suzylangevin.com/team-3 Suzy on In...

Illicit Liaisons reboot! Join for a discussion about: book goals drama gateway books into romance reading book crushes current book adaptations  and more On this show: Guest Rachel Young/Aline Francoure - https://alinefrancoure.com/ Books/Authors: Moonlight & Margaritas Steamy Romance Anthology - https://amzn.to/3ZhtfCG Julie Garwood Books - https://amzn.to/3LQuWE3 The Duchess by Jude Deveraux...

This week I interview Jackie Mojica author of contemporary romances feature rockstars. Visit the Illicit Liaison page at SwoonworthyHEA to learn more about Jackie and her books, as well as other books mentioned on the show.

In this week's episode, I interview Lisa Becker, author of the Starfish Series. We talk about the author duo she admires most, her all-time favorite book boyfriend, and how she got started writing. You can learn more about Lisa at her website Check out more Illicit Liaison's shows and join the romance fiction conversation at SwoonworthyHea.com.

Maggie Blackbird is on Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario who writes contemporary, YA, historical and LBGTQ romances involving Canada's indigenous people.  Her latest book is Knight Moves, book three in her When We Were Young Series.  Maggie and I talk about the romance authors she loved (and still loves), her start in romance writing, and how she incorporates the lives of indigenous people in...