Meg and Laine talk about books
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RE-RELEASE: The Madness of Miss Grey by Julia Bennet
40:32
40:32
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40:32
This book is... a lot. It handled a difficult subject in a compelling way but left us wanting more from the characters. The main couple really works, but this book didn't feel like an escape.
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Passion at the Palais Royal by Delphine Roy
20:39
20:39
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20:39
Delphine Roy deals with some themes that are not our favorite, but does seem aware of the difficulty and makes some fun choices within a very not fun context. Mind the trigger warnings here for sure.
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MacLean really nails the prose as she goes full medieval. We liked it.
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Meg and Alex are joined by Kelsea Yu to spend most of the episode talking about the ending of this book.
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How to Fall for a Scoundrel by Kate Bateman
19:45
19:45
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19:45
Good news! This book was wayyyyy less problematic than the first in the series, in that it was not problematic at all.
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There are many things to enjoy about this book and a ton of well developed B plots. Maybe too many, but we could have looked beyond that if all the talk of erotica had lived up to the hype. As such, we liked this, but didn't love it.
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Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis
21:57
21:57
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21:57
Meg loved this, Laine didn't, so maybe don't start here if you're new to SciFi?
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My Word as Vorkosigan: Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
59:48
59:48
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59:48
Meg and Alex are joined by Jim Butcher to discuss Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, which TBH sounds like a romp.
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The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by Indian Holton
25:21
25:21
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25:21
Laine isn't a bird person and apparently Meg isn't a this book person, so we struggled a bit here.
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This series keeps getting more and more bonkers. There are moments of fun, but we untimately had trouble connecting with the characters.
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This book might be quintessential Milan. She deals with real issues with a lot of resonance today in a way that is still so true to the Romance novel genre. This one is definitely on the angsty side, but it really plays with the expected.
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My Word as Vorkosigan: Diplomatic Immunity
54:11
54:11
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Meg and Alex are joined by Yoon Ha Lee to discuss Diplomatic Immunity.
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Torie is basically the best and Dominic is... trying, but in a way we both REALLY enjoyed.
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Alexandra Vasti's first full-length novel is here and we stan it almost as hard as Peter stans Selina.
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Trope Talk: Sunshine/Grump with Eloisa James
46:38
46:38
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We asked Eloisa James to join us for a discussion of one of the tropes in her new book, and she said yes! We touch on so many topics, but it was fascinating to get an author's take on how romance evolves with the times. Thank you, Elosia!
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My Word as Vorkosigan: Winterfair Gifts and Flowers of Vashnoi
58:44
58:44
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58:44
Meg and Alex have paired the Ekaterin Vorkosigan novellas, and they are definitely Ekaterin defenders.
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We both had expectations for this seasonally-appropriate novella, which was probably a mistake.
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To be honest, we were both nervous about this book, but Lydia Lloyd stunned us both in the best way possible. Fake rakes are our favorite rakes, and this is a second chance romance we can both get behind.
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The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
27:24
27:24
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27:24
Ok real talk, this book was inevitably going to suffer by comparison to "The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy" becuase that book was surprising and perfection. It it fair? no. Did we appreciate the risks taken? yes. Are we ready for Rosie? Yes.
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My Word As Vorkosigan: A Civil Campaign
1:05:08
1:05:08
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Listening to this episode had me rereading the Lord Peter Wimsey books, if you're wondering how much of the conversation is about the dedication and comedies of manners and romance. The episode is celebration that works out way better than Miles' dinner party.
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It's our favorite time of year: Lady Sherlock Time
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We talk for.... a while about season 3 of Bridgerton.
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We both adored this book. It's perfectly feel good and exactly what we want from a romance. Can something spiritually have a virgin here even if he's not a virgin?
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Alex and Meg are joined by Everina Maxwell to discuss the meet cute? of Miles and Ekaterin and the plot. But mostly Miles and Ekaterin.
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We've reached the Ali Hazelwood singularity and we are here for it.
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Usually spies do it for us but this book wouldn't have done it for us on that alone. Instead, the ending! The ending absolved so much.
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The Countess Without Conviction by Katherine Grant
31:32
31:32
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31:32
Meg and Laine were both super intrigued by this book but omg is it visceral. Perfect execution; Meg cried and Laine was waiting to get punched, which is not what we generally expect from Romance novellas.
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Meg and Alex are joined by Jill Tew to discuss a Vorkosigan novel without any Vorkosigans in it.
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All's Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath
20:15
20:15
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20:15
Henry is very put upon! Georgina is too mouthy for governessing! They figure it out!
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Laine and Meg once again read Romantasy. Meg is glad they aren't teenagers, Laine has questions.
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Charis writes fairy tales so well, and Laine wasn't even annoyed by the kids. This is the kind of living in a cave we can get behind.
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Alix Harrow joins Alex and Meg to discuss Memory: the transition book between young Miles and Lord Vorkosigan.
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None of us can remember the name of Sarah's hometown so we just call it Grover's Corners, which is fitting given how forgettable she is as a character. We also didn't recall how much of this book was threats of sexual violence. We had a great time recording, but make no promises as to your listening experience.…
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This books plays with using characters with anachronistically modern world views in a recognizable historical romance set up. Like it or don't, it's all very deliberate.
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The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Craig
27:11
27:11
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27:11
We're far enough into Susanna Craig that the appearance of characters from past series is a delight! We both really enjoyed this spin on the actor and his critic, and the low stakes found us both in the right moment.
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Jo Walton joins Meg and Alex to discuss Mirror Dance. Come for the clones, stay for the amnesia.
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We're back with more sentient space dildos! Meg loves virgins and Laine needs some innovation.
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This series continues to impress, even when exploring our less-enjoyed tropes.
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This book just did a lot of things right. It struck a balance: well researched without being explosive, a slow burn that knew how to incorporate early heat, and a dramatic set up but two characters who communicate.
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Meg and Alex are joined by Olivia Waite to discuss this entry in the Vorkosigan saga. Is there a more fun way to represent issues of a fractious identity than clones?
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The Sailor Without a Sweetheart by Katherine Grant
34:59
34:59
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34:59
Katherine Grant always impresses us with the diversity of experiences she puts in her romances. Both of us enjoyed reading this! Meg had a lot of thoughts on Persuasion and was into it, Laine thought the reality was a little TOO real to be sexy.
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Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean
43:34
43:34
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43:34
We are officially Sarah MacLean completionists with this book. We are NOT fans of this couple, but it was very fun to see how far MacLean has come.
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This is a very promising debut, especially on the hot tamale scale. We just couldn't get over the hero's lack of conviction and making out with her cousin.
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Meg and Alex are joined by Katherine Addison, author of the Goblin Emperor, to discuss Cetaganda. For a romp, there's quite a bit of social and political commentary.
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Is this the biggest disagreement ever on plot trysts?
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The title is meant to be Not!Jeopardy reference, but even though we loved this book all I can think is "baby don't hurt me."
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We (reasonably IMO) expected a sex book. This was NOT a sex book.
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We interrupt your usual Naismith/Vorkosigan family hijinks to explore some speculative, old-school SciFi. What if a planet inhabited only by men ran out of ova? One intrepid scientist must even *gasp* speak to a woman to find a solution!
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A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins
20:45
20:45
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20:45
This is a bite-sized good time, even if neither of us can articulate more than "it was fun and we figured out the mystery too soon so there should have been more sex."
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This book really takes some chances and explored new-to-us things in Romance. We liked it overall, but if we're being honest Thorne's way of... taking control... is what really sold us here.
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