Raging Romantics

Kindle Unlimited is great...until we remember it's run by Amazon. The petition! Authors/books we mention: Raven Kennedy Carissa Broadbent Ruby Dixon Elise Kova Sources: "I support Everyone's Decision" (Well-Read Nurse, Tiktok) "Z-Library shutdown leaves users scrambling to find alternatives" (Emde, 2022) Royalties in Kindle Unlimited "Amazon Punishes Authors Whose Work Is Pirated, Due to Aggressiv...

What does a printing press and a Canadian fur trader have in common? One of the most successful romance publishing houses in the history of modern publishing, Harlequin! Jackie leads Jen down the marketing and publishing rabbit hole in this episode to explore the history of the little purple paperbacks everyone loves to read...and pick on. EDIT - the day after we recorded, Harper Collins and the s...

Help Jackie welcome Hilary Hallett, professor, historian, and author, in a conversation about Elinor Glyn. If you haven't yet, go listen to episode #49 Shameless and Shameful Fiction: reintroducing Elinor Glyn for an intro to today's discussion! Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Raging Romantics Book List Books/references we mention Inventing the It...

In honor of Valentine's Day, Jen does a deep dive into the history of modern courting and dating. Who would have thought department stores could have had so much to do with it? Questions/Comments/Concerns/Recommendations? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Books we recommend: Labor of Love by Moira Weigel Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Inv...

Are you on a book buying ban? Do you have a lot of books on your shelves you own but haven't read? Don't worry, we do too. No shame here! Here's some of the books Jen and Jackie are so excited to read...even if they've been languishing for years at this point. Poison Princess by Kresley Cole (Arcana Chronicles) War of Two Queens by Jennifer Lynn Armentrout (From Blood and Ash series) Devil in Spri...

CONTENT WARNINGS: repeated use of the word "harem," non-explicit discussions of sexual exploitation, the potential harm and benefits of polyamory, and brief mention of cultic practices in the United States both historically and contemporaneously. Specifically @ 20:21-21:20 discussions of sexual exploitation from lack of consent; @ 24:05 - 24:35 discussion of "Ascended fellowship" and child abuse;...

Ready for some more romance rec's? Break out the pens and paper, we're stacking the decks with 2023 releases! Fictional Love survey Listenership survey Questions/comments/concerns/recommendations? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Raging Romantics Book List Books we mention: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen Foxglove...

SPOILER ALERT for Fire in His Blood by Ruby Dixon @ 1:01-1:02 Ready for a classic Jen and Jackie discussion? Well buckle in, because as is now tradition, we're driving back into Ruby Dixon territory! This month, we're tackling the Fireblood Dragon series and, in a larger discussion, shifters in general. Let's go! Please, if you would be so kind, help the podcast out and fill out these surveys!: Wh...

It's the final countdooooooown to 2023! And what better way to say farewell to 2022 than to reminisce on our favorite books we read this year? Raging Romantics Book List Favorite books to recommend? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Jackie's favorites: Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake The Kraken's Sacrifice by Katee Robert Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy Bonus mention...

Calling all Cindy Lou Who's! Are you a holiday nerd in addition to being a romance nerd? Well good, because we're thinking way too deeply about Christmas trees and lumberjacks in this one. Buckle in for a history of the Christmas tree and cross-cultural intersectionality and dating and mating rituals. Questions? Comments? Concerns? Suggestions? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Raging Romantic...

Top off your december with some fun festive reads! Any recommendations for us? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org . We wish you a safe an happy holiday season, and a warm end to your 2022! XX, Jackie + Jen Raging Romantics booklist Storygraph (free!) Books we recommend: Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan You're a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Ja...

Jen and Jackie may not be the most coordinated, sporty people out there, but we sure do love sporty romance books! Jen leads this discussion this time into the history and objectives of sports, and why we, romance nerds, feel so attracted to all those...tight ends. (Jackie's buzz word this month is apparently "zeitgeist;" she's so sorry) Books we mention: Playbook series by Alexa Martin Fake It Ti...

Content warning: witch hunts and why women in the past were accused of being witches, misogyny, the clash between the Christian and non-Christian societies, toxic masculinity, and effects of the 2016 American Presidential election. Timestamps to skip if you don't want to listen to politics after sitting through thanksgiving dinner: 40:18 - 46:54. Hey there witches, let's talk witchy romance books,...

Looking for a little office romance? We have some recommendations! (obviously...) The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon The Billionaire's Wake Up Call-Girl by Annika Martin The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior Live, Laugh, Lich by by Kate Prior The Season of Love by Helena Greer The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae And yes, Jackie now knows she pronounced "...

Ever wondered at how we run the podcast? Well here's your look behind the curtain! We recently had the opportunity to present the podcast at the New York Library Association's 2022 annual conference, and we recorded that for you to listen to! Questions/comments/concerns/suggestions? Feel free to email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org ! Link to the presentation so you can view the slides! Books we me...

Monster romance? We love her! Here's some of our new recommendations for you: A Deal with a Demon series by Katee Robert (Dragon, Kraken, Demon, more to come) The Kraken series by Tiffany Roberts Spider's Mate series by Tiffany Roberts Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison Cackle by Rachel Harrison Stalked by the Kraken by Lillian Lark Found by the Lake Monster by Lillian Lark Blood Moon by Jillian...

Himbo werewolves? Spicy gargoyles? Domineering Kraken? In case you weren't aware, Jen and I are obviously on board with monster romances. What about you, dear listener; where do you stand on the monster escalator? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org! Raging Romantics Book List Blood Moon by Jillian Graves Titan by Jillian Graves A Caress of Twilight (Merry Gentry #2...

Let's keep spooky season rolling with a whole slew of witchy romance books! Raging Romantics book list Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email us at ragingromantics@nopl.org . Make sure to go listen to the interview with Jillian Graves, available now! Books we mention: Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy) Witch Please by Ann Aguirre (Fix-It Witches series) Take a Hint, Dani Brown by T...

We're so happy to welcome monster romance author extraordinaire, Jillian Graves, onto the podcast! Jillian's debut published book, Titan, was a breakout bestseller, and is synonymous with monster romance. In this episode we look at what Jillian thinks of the recent rise of monster romance, and what could have influenced its popularity! Questions? Comments? Concerns? Recommendations? Email us at ra...

Go ahead, we give you permission to judge books by their covers. Cover art is an important aspect of your reading experience! Designs we appreciation Amanda Quick Dara Joy Lisa Kleypas Ruby Dixon My Lady's Choosing by Kitty Curran Lyssa Kay Adams and Bromance Book Club series Deceived by the Gargoyles by Lillian Lark Titan by Jillian Graves The Witch's Curse by J.A. Hoyt Cover Design videos The Ar...

Content Warning: Discussion of censorship, sexual material in books, sex workers, racism, Nazi "romances," dog whistles, "cancel culture," and subversive librarians  Banned Books Week in America is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community- librarians, bookse...

Fancy a binge read? We've got you covered! (get it? book covers?) Spiders Mate trilogy by Tiffany Roberts Beach Kingdom trilogy by Tessa Bailey The Rules of Scoundrels by Sarah MacLean Three Sisters Island trilogy by Nora Roberts Questions? Comments? Concerns? Email us at Ragingromantics@nopl.org! Raging Romantics Book List

Content warnings: Discussion of book banning, divorce, adultery, Post Partum Depression and chronic illness. For a woman who was so incredibly influential on the genre of romance and the early Hollywood, Elinor Glyn has been relegated to the shelves of history. Let's bring this incredible woman, mother, and author back to the limelight today. The majority of the research for this episode was done...

Calling all fellow cosplayers, rennies, and knight-obsessed! There's a whole genre for us to talk about! Help us welcome Alexander Schulz, life-long ren faire player, as we talk about some of our favorites. Well Met series by Jen De Luca Renaissance Man by Tessa Bailey Hard Day's Knight by Katie MacAlister Blow Me Down also by Katie MacAlister Raging Romantics book list Email us at Ragingromantics...

Content Warnings: Discussions of sex workers and sex work, colonialism, racism, religious persecution, sexually transmitted diseases, virginity, serial killer Belle Gunness, miscarriage, murder What do pilgrims, Benjamin Franklin, and Tinder have to do with one another? Don't take it personally if you don't know; you'll just have to listen to this episode! Questions/Comments/Concerns? Email us at...