Arts
**Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse**

Shelf Love is about romance novels and how they reflect, explore, challenge, and shape desire. Host Andrea Martucci invites experts from a variety of perspectives to critically engaging with romance novels. Listen for discussions of individual books, genre discourse, and scholarly topics.

Latest Episodes:

007. The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan with Erin Leafe (Learning the Tropes) Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

Erin Leafe (Learning the Tropes Podcast) and I get deep into a discussion of power, privilege, the patriarchy, and pretending to be someone you’re not after reading The Heiress Effect by Courtney Milan. Also discussed: Podcasting. Inspirational Westerns rife with sexual tension.

Guest Information

Erin Leafe, co-host of Learning The Tropes Podcast
Twitter: @LearningTropes
Instagram: @LearningTheTropes

Book Pick

Contributors

Instagram friends: LiteraryPetals, Annielikesbugs, Christina.us.uk

Book Recommendations

Historical Western Recs

Ellen O'Connell - Westerns!
Dancing on Coals (not Erin's favorite, but her first)
Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold (Erin's fave!)
Lorraine Heath
Maggie Osborne
Not a historical western, but recommended: The Sufragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

Trope Town:

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean (historical M/F)
The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne (Historical M/F)
Lady Sophia’s Lover by Lisa Kleypas (historical M/F)
The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (historical, M/F)
Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas (rich woman/poor man, M/F, historical)
Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Gurkhe (Historical, M/F)
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean (Historical, M/F)
Take Me Back by Meghan March (Marriage in trouble, contemporary, M/F)
Changing His Game by Megan Erickson (contemporary, M/F, mild BDSM crazytimes!)

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

006. Halloween Boo? by Sarah Spade - with my BFF Becky Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

Guest Information

Guest Host: Andrea’s BFF Becky

Legit famous on Instagram: @bexburbs

Book Pick

Halloween Boo by Sarah Spade

https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Boo-Holiday-Hunk-Book-ebook/dp/B07JGXPG5N

Contributors

Lara van Lelyveld, Rose, Bree Hill, Esme Brett, and B.andherbooks

Links

The Salem Witch Museum: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/

Giles "More Weight" Corey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giles_Corey

Famous for being pressed to death in the Salem Witch Trials; less famous for beating one of his indentured farm workers to death.

Books Mentioned:

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

http://tessadare.com/bookshelf/a-week-to-be-wicked/

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

005. Time Served by Julianna Keyes with Kini Allen Oct 15, 2019

Show notes

Kini Allen (Smexy Books) and Andrea discuss Time Served, a steamy second chance contemporary by Julianna Keyes: a lawyer who made it out of her rough neighborhood reconnects with her ex-con ex. We cover “unlikeable” heroines, social class/Otherness, steamy revenge sex, and why it’s ok to like books in which characters do problematic things.

CW: Boundary-pushing, consensual intimate encounters are discussed.

Guest Information

Guest Host: Kini Allen (Smexy Books)
Instagram: @1KiniLei
Twitter: @kinilei1
You can find Kini at the Maryland Romance Writers tent at the Baltimore Book Festival, which is coming up November 1-3, 2019.

Book Pick

Contributors

From Instagram: B.andherbooks, Now_Booking, Boobiespodcast, AddictedtoRomance, Amanda_Baller

From Twitter: Ainsley Wynter of Tarth, Lisa Donaldson, Booked and Busy

Trope Town: Second Chance Romance

Back To You by Priscilla Glenn (M/F Contemporary)
Every Last Breath by Juno Rushdan (M/F Contemporary / Romantic Suspense)
The Ones Who Got Away by Roni Loren (M/F Contemporary / CW: School shooting)
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas (M/F Historical)

Reader Recommendations:

Booked and Busy - Twitter

Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino (M/F Contemporary)
Famous by Jenny Holiday (M/F Contemporary)
Kini adds:
Infamous by Jenny Holiday (M/M Contemporary)
Honorable Mention is Undeclared by Julianna Keyes (M/F Contemporary)
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev (M/F Contemporary)

Ainsley Wynter of Tarth

Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan (M/F Paranormal)

Lisa Donaldson

Falling Again for Her Island Fling by Ellie Darkins (M/F Contemporary)

Featured Romance Book Club:

Location/Host organization: One More Page Books
When: First Thursday of the Month at 7:00 pm

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

004. Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean with Esme Brett Oct 08, 2019

Show notes

Esme Brett (Feminist Romance) and Andrea discuss Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean, plus-size representation in romance novels, ladies with skillz, and introduce a new game to Romancelandia: Hot Damn/No Ma’am.

CW: Discussion of body size from 31:30 - 43:45.

Guest Information

Guest Host: Esme Brett
Instagram: @Feminist_Romance
Website: https://feministromance.home.blog/

Book Pick

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean
Sarah’s website and links to buy
Fated Mates Podcast - Definitely check out the Derek Craven (Dreaming of You - Lisa Kleypas) episode which is season 2, ep. 3.

Contributors

Kassi from Wyoming, Aaliyah from Instagram, @Shannyspants, @Authoralexandraayers, @Now_booking, @RosaMValdez, @HEAApologist

Book Recommendations (Trope Town)

Trope: Ladies with Skillz

Recommendations:

Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai (Contemporary M/F)
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (Historical M/F)
The Rogue of Fifth Avenue by Joanna Schupe (Historical M/F)
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole (Contemporary, M/F)
A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare (Historical M/F)
Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik (in the episode I incorrectly say this book is by Ada von Hasenberg, which is the name of the main character) (Space opera, M/F)
- For fans of Dune + The Fifth Element
- Listen to: Deltron 3030
Lacy Literacy has an amazing blog on STEM heroines in romance

Recommended throughout the episode:

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt (Esme’s fave, historical romance, M/F)
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare (historical romance, M/F)
Cherice Sinclair - recommended “dubious consent” books, if it’s something you’re interested in

New Zealand Romance Writers

Natalie Anderson - category romance
Esme’s fave: Pleasured in the Playboy’s Penthouse (Contemporary M/F)
Nalini Singh - paranormal romance
Lenora Bell - historical romance

Featured Romance Novel Book Club

The Romance Book Club at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY

Book Club Page on Word Bookstore’s website
Organizer: Maddie Caldwell
Location/Host organization: Word Bookstore
When: First Saturday of every month, 2:45 pm

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

003. Rebel by Beverly Jenkins with Bree Hill Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

Bree Hill (Falling For Romance) and Andrea discuss Rebel by Beverly Jenkins.

We chat about inspiring teachers, Pizza Hut’s link to many millennial’s love of reading, and heroes who give and give, and ask nothing in return.

We also learn how Bree is a recent romance novel convert (it’s never too late!) and how Hallmark holiday movies and Debbie Macomber were her gateway to the genre.

The book discussion covers historically-accurate female agency, emotionally intelligent heroes, and the gift that keeps on giving (Thanks for the pleasure, Drake!).

Stick around until the end to learn about upcoming guests and book picks, as well as this week’s featured in-person romance novel book club.

Guest Host: Bree Hill

Contributors:

Morgan, Ariel Storm, Gina Drumm, Amanda Ball

Book recommendations (aka Trope Town)

Trope: Don’t believe in love/Love isn’t required for marriage

Recommendations:

How to Hack a Heartbreak by Kristin Rockaway (Contemporary, M/F)
The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score (Contemporary, M/F)
Hot Asset by Lauren Layne (Contemporary, M/F)
A Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai (Contemporary, M/F with a M/F/M scene)
Man Candy by Melanie Harlow (Contemporary, M/F)

Featured Romance Novel Book Club

Romance Lovers Book Club in Durham, NC

Meetup page
Organizer: Cathy Crone
Location/Host organization: Durham Southwest Regional Library
When: First Thursday of every month

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

002. Jennifer Crusie's Oeuvre - guest Amanda Diehl Sep 24, 2019

Show notes

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea discuss their favorite Jennifer Crusie novels and other reader favorites.

We discuss the rampant anti-butter bias in Crusie's maternal archetypes, cute and fuzzy hitmen, the dangers of frying pans, and secretary Inception! We also learn how Andrea once trapped Amanda in her car and forced her to start reading Jennifer Crusie novels.

Is it a bingo? Is it a drinking game? Andrea shares the recurring themes she's noticed in Jennifer Crusie's oeuvre.

In Trope Town, Amanda recommends con artist and pet-centric romance novels. Andrea hopes someone writes a book full of carpenter puns.

Contributors:

Jess, Fish With Sticks, Diana, Rebecca, Erica, Kelly M.

Chit Chat

Amanda Diehl:

Jennifer Crusie Books we discuss

Welcome to Temptation
- Dusty Springfield
- Y2K
Agnes and the Hitman (with Bob Mayer)
Bet Me
Fast Women
Faking It
- Love Languages

Trope Town - Book Recommendations

Crime Solvers

Stephanie Plum novels

Con-artists/criminals

True Pretenses: Rose Lerner (historical)
The Lawrence Browne Affair: Cat Sebastien (LGBT - m/m, historical)
The Taming of Jessi Rose: Beverly Jenkins (historical)
Meghan March: Anti-Heroes Collection, including the The Mount Trilogy (contemporary)
Mia Hopkins: East Side Brewery Series (contemporary)
Kresley Cole - Gamemaker series (contemporary)
Kerrigan Byrne: Victorian Rebels (historical)
Rachelle Ayala: Her Christmas Chance (contemporary

Must love dogs:

Rebekah Weatherspoon: Haven (Content warnings)
The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Write This Book

Carpenters (with Puns)

Two Grinches Non-denominational Holiday Romance

If this sounds like a book you’ve read, email us at andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

Last thoughts

Amanda’s Romance Book Club at Porter Square books - There’s a Facebook Group that’s private, so reach out to Amanda on social media if you want details or search on Facebook for “HEA Romance Book Club.”

Future Episodes:

Brazen and the Beast, Sarah MacLean
Wallbanger, Alice Clayton
The Heiress Effect, by Courtney Milan

Social media/contact:

Twitter: @shelflovepod
Instagram: @Shelflovepodcast
Website: https://shelflovepodcast.com/
Email me at: andrea@shelflovepodcast.com - I’d love to hear from you!

Shelf Love:

NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.com

001. Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers Quartet with Amanda Diehl Sep 18, 2019

Show notes

Amanda Diehl (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; NPR Books) and Andrea duke it out to select their favorite Wallflower from Lisa Kleypas’s memorable Wallflower quartet series.

During the Wallflower Rumble, we share crowdsourced contributions from readers about their favorite characters and books.

In Trope Town, we recommend Girl Squad romance novels. (Mostly Amanda recommends, since she is the queen of book recs.) Amanda also shares the premise for a sexy spy heroine in Write This Book.

In the course of casting each book we talk about, Andrea discovers a surprising connection to her favorite GLOW actor. We also discuss the meaning of “maladjusted narcissist” and Lisa Kleypas’s amazing, long-lived career as a romance novelist.

Thank you to the contributors of this episode: KB, Sue D., Jane Galen, Morgan, Robyn, Claire A., Malin, Jess, Erica, Jayne Hendry, Maida Malby