Tea & Strumpets: A Regency Romance Review

Spooky Ooky season is here at last! We’re getting you in the mood with a pair of lovers who seem to be encountering a restless spirit. They need to trust and rely on each other to get to the other side of this mystery. Today’s Halloween novella is Highland Haunting by Lily Maxton. **You’re cursed to hear SPOILERS!**

Everything was going well for Lady Hero Batten until she finds herself attracted to her fiancé’s scandalous brother. Pretty soon they cannot keep their hands off each other. Griffin Reading knows he needs to stay away from Lady Hero but after one taste he cannot get enough. We’re heading down Maiden Lane with Elizabeth Hoyt’s second book in the series, Notorious Pleasures. **St. Giles is filled wi...

Sesily Talbot has lived her life in the spotlight as one of the ton's favorite troublemakers - and she likes it that way. She uses her reputation as cover for her missions with the Hell's Belles - a group of women with special skills that dole out retribution when the more conventional channels don't. Caleb Calhoun has secrets that are just a tiny tinder away from fully exploding and completely ch...

Two years ago, two intrepid ladies set out on a creative endeavor inspired by their shared love of regency romance. And today, we're delighted to share with you the discussion we had with the author that started it all: Julie Anne Long. From Pennyroyal Green to the Palace of Rogues, from drawing from the pool of creative energy to transforming emotion into art, we are endlessly inspired by the wit...

Freyja Bedwyn is enjoying life as an unattached, privileged woman. She rides recklessly and she wields her social status expertly, setting down those who need it without sparing a second thought. A few chance meetings with Joshua Moore, Marquess Hallmere, give Frejya plenty fuel to the fire for his public humiliation, but her impulsiveness gets the better of her and she falls on her own sword whil...

Phineas Duncombe may be a duke, but as the fifth son, he was not raised to be one. When he meets Annabel, the Countess of Longstowe, he find that being a duke has it's advantages. It allows him to help this reluctant (and much older) widow in her search for the daughter that was cruelly taken and hidden from her eighteen years before. Along the way, these two battle demons of the past and present...

Stumblers 2: Still Stumbling may be a real bar in West Virginia, but it's also would be an excellent alternate title for this episode, as your plucky hosts try to gain their footing navigating the discussion of a book they Both Don't Like. It's an auspicious beginning as we embark on our fourteen-book-series-journey together. Join us in the slums of St. Giles for an icy hero, a pious heroine, a mu...

There's something special about a family bond and that's what we're celebrating in today's list; amazing series in historical romance that focus on siblings! If you love Bridgerton then look no further for reading recommendations than this list, presented from us to your ears. *Apologies for some audio issues on Zoë's track in the second half of the episode - our special guest co-host presented he...

TW: Death of a parent, suicide, grief. It's time to check-in on the realm of Bridgerton! You thought we were done but we still have a few HEAs to discover. This week we head out to country to see what Eloise and Sir Phillip are up to. However, it's Eloise's step-daughter Amanda who steals the spotlight in this 2nd Epilogue by the esteemed Julia Quinn. Grab your copy of the book we read today, The...

A duke known as Scandal itself. A vicar paying for his sinful thoughts through service to the Lord. What happens when these childhood friends meet again and band together to save a life? Well, sparks fly, ideals are challenged, and in the end, everyone might just be better for it. Join us for our thoughts on Annabelle Greene's stellar debut MM Regency, The Vicar and the Rake! Grab your copy of the...

Last year we were lucky enough to get to sit down with Cat Sebastian, author of many LQBTQ novels, including Avon's first published MM historical romance. We spoke about her journey to being an author, what drew her to the genre and time period, and how she discovered queer romance as a reader and as an author. We also talked about how she gives voice to her very diverse cast of characters who cha...

Ever wonder what your co-hosts do when they're not prepping for an episode? Turns out, they read more books. This week Tea & Strumpets is sharing with you all the books they've been reading so far in 2021. They've been exploring new authors and even just rereading some old favorites. It's a week of recommendations and short reviews for the enjoyment of your ears and to the detriment of an ever...

From gallows to galleries to galleys, from spiders to sea monsters to Spain, we've read our way through the eleven books of the Pennyroyal Green Series by the amazing Julie Anne Long and today we're talking about the whole, absolutely fabulous experience. Plus we're answering listener questions annnnnd discussing what series we should read next! **The whole dang episode is full of spoilers!!** Lis...

After almost two years of waiting we finally come to our Pennyroyal Green conclusion. Olivia Eversea is at last ready to put the Redmond she should have never loved away for good. The trouble is as the wedding gets closer, the world appears to be conspiring against her. Lyon for his part has tried to forget the girl who broke his heart on a rainy night five years ago. And yet, upon learning of her...

What would you do if you lost every cent to your name over one hand of cards? Well, that's what our hero Bourne is dealing with - and he's chosen revenge. And when the chance to reclaim an elusive plot of his land is offered he goes all in, even though it comes with a bride attached! Lady Penelope Marbury isn't what Bourne remembers from their childhood, though. She's got an agenda that she's prep...

We're back with the next installment of our most-requested episodes! We return to the Bridgertons to check in with our favorite writing and flirting duo - Colin & Penelope. And what we get is a closure most-excellent for a scene we never got to see - between Penelope and Eloise!! The secret is out....so join us to discuss the reveal! Pick up a copy of this week's book, The Bridgertons: Happily...

Elise Fountain has never met a challenge she could not rise to, and that includes being the housekeeper for a grumpy, convalescing Lord Lavay. Lavay is not used to being laid low, especially when time is running out to secure an influx of funds to buy back his childhood home. Through sheer determination and cheerful optimism, Elise slowly wins over the recalcitrant staff and also wins over the har...

This week we’re talking about an absolute favorite in the genre! Evie Jenner needs to get married - and quickly. After failing to kidnap and marry one of her best friends, Evie knows that Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, is desperate enough to marry her straightaway. Neither planned that after a whirlwind wedding they would find that they just cannot seem to do without the other. While this was a rere...

This week we were joined by fabulous author Rose Lerner to discuss the regency, revolution, and research, and most of all, her new Audible Exclusive and Gothic Regency, The Wife in the Attic!

It’s our last episode so we had to have our biggest guests ever on the pod. Best-selling author, Regency Romance royalty, and Anthony Bridgerton super fan Tessa Dare is here and she’s brought a friend, #1 best-selling author Jodi Picoult. WHAT?! Once we got over the shock we could not wait to dish all about the season as a whole, how we actually got through an epilogue in the first season, and of...

In our second to last episode on the series, we speak with friend of the podcast, bookstagramer and author Mazey Eddings. Mazey talks about her overall excitement over the show, our massive speculations on the future, and of course, how we cannot wait to see who is cast as Kate in the next season. **Note: This episode was recorded before the casting announcement for Kate was made, and if you want...

**TW: Consent and Sexual Assault** It’s time to get into it and discuss Bridgerton’s most controversial episode. While we dove deep into these themes during our full book review (Episode 6 of our podcast, coincidentally), we wanted to find someone who had more authority than we did to speak on consent. We were so lucky to get to speak with former dominatrix, Wicked Wallflowers podcast co-host, and...

For Episode 5, we knew we could not exclude the thoughts of Julia Quinn’s largest fan base - Brazil! So we spoke with the founder of the hugely followed Julia Quinn Brazil social media channels, Mariana Fonseca. We discuss what made her fall in love with Julia Quinn and why Julia is treated like a Beatle whenever she’s in Brazil. We also talk about her favorite Bridgerton book, if Netflix and Shon...

We’re halfway through the series so it was high time to bring in a regency expert - historical fiction and regency romance author Vanessa Riley! We chat all about the cast diversity, why Queen Charlotte is a BA, and also fan easter eggs throughout the series. So many thanks to Vanessa for joining us for this episode! Follow Vanessa on: Instagram Twitter And visit her website vanessariley.com ! You...

In this third episode we’re talking fashion with Jane Austen fan and historical costume hobbyist Bianca Hernandez-Knight. We discuss gatekeeping in the historical community, use of color stories in Bridgerton, and just how fierce Queen Charlotte’s wigs are. **Note: Stay tuned for the last 45 minutes of this episode for sample of the audiobook The Duke Heist by Erica Ridley!** So many thanks to Bia...