Smart Podcast, Trashy Books: A Romance Novel Podcast

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597. Romantic Times Rewind: December 2015 Reviews Jan 12, 2024

Show notes

We’re traveling back to December 2015 in this month’s RT Rewind!

We take a look at the reviews in this issue and along the way talk about audiobook series, historical romance, Jesus by Volume, and the ever-so-small range of grades in each genre. We also take a side trip into JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

You can find the visual aids for this episode right here!

You can find all the Romantic Times Rewind episodes, show notes, and visual aids at RTRewind.com!

We also mentioned my review of Lover Revealed by JR Ward.

And finally: thank you to the SFWA for sponsoring this episode! Be sure to check out HEA Quest on January 20!

Music: purple-planet.com

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596. Books, Wishes, and Extremely Good Jokes with Sneezy, Sandra, Jenna, Lisa, and Shana Jan 05, 2024

Show notes

Our final holiday wishes episode - thank you to everyone who makes these episodes such a treat. It’s an honor to connect with all of you!

This week, Sneezy, Sandra, Tiffany, Lisa and Shana share recommendations, wishes, and terrible jokes. CW: we start off and end with some talk about anxiety brain gremlins, so FYI.

Thank you again for making these episodes so fun! Happy New Year!

We also mentioned:

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Music: purple-planet.com

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595. Holiday Wishes from Amanda, GarlicKnitter, Alanna, and Claudia Dec 29, 2023

Show notes

We've got books, wishes, and wonderful jokes from Amanda, GarlicKnitter, Alanna, and Claudia! We’re traveling around the world with this episode! We’ve got many, many books to tell you about, and also wishes for cozy light and joy.

Music: purple-planet.com

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594. Holiday Wishes and Recs from Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

More holiday wishes, book recs, TV recs, and bad jokes, with you as my guests!

This week, I’m joined by Verity, Elyse, Carrie, and Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, and we talk about So Much Entertainment! Verity and I chat about books, tv, and writing - so if you’re looking for some British tv shows, you’re in a lot of luck. We do start with some critique of the early 2000s language about women, bodies, body shaming, and anti-fat bias.

Then I chat with Elyse and Carrie, who review for SBTB, and maybe they liked the same book (they did!). And then Rich, aka Mr. Elyse, tells us about a book that rocked his world.

What about you? Were any of these books on your list? Any anti-inflammatory cookbook ideas? Telly suggestions? Let us know!

Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you!

Music: Purple-planet.com

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593. Romantic Times Rewind: July 2004 Ads & Features Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

It’s July 2004, and the ads and features are a wild ride.

I might say that every month but this month it is especially true. We learn about a bunch of different bookstore that are still in business - and encounter a lot of ads for small presses that are, alas, long gone. There’s a lot of romance history in this issue.

Bonus: I solve a HaBO for Amanda! Live! I’m so proud of me.

Important: Do NOT miss the visual aids for this episode. My goodness me.

Music: Purple-planet.com

Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.

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592. Holiday Wishes and Recs from Agnès, Sue, Jo and Varian Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

It’s time for holiday wishes, book recommendations, and absolutely dreadful jokes, with listeners and reviewers as my guests!

Each year I invite the review team from SBTB and the members of the Podcast Patreon to connect with me to offer recs, wishes, and, if they wish, a bad joke. These episodes are so popular and are like weekly hugs for your ears and your brain, with some potential hugs toward your TBR, which is definitely about to get a little taller.

In this first of our holiday wishes series, Agnès, Sue, Jo and Varian join me.

Find out what books made up 10% of Agnès’ reading this year!
What series and what webtoon did Sue get lost in?
What series did Jo and I have in common? What book did Varian text absolutely everyone about?
And what happens when I’m on the receiving end of all the wonderful terrible jokes?

Happy Holidays from all of us, to all of you!

Coupon!

New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com.

Music: purple-planet.com

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591. Romantic Times Rewind: July 2004 Reviews Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Thanks to Kay Sisk for sending us this issue! We’re taking a look at the book reviews from the July 2004 issue of RT Book Club – yup, the magazine had a different title back then.

This issue predates the founding of SBTB, in fact! The genres are different, and so are the books inside. And! We have some one-star reviews!

We’re going to talk about

Color changing taffeta!
Sex in department store fitting rooms!
American historicals

And heads up for some absolutely incredible amounts of exoticism, racism, and something called “Lad Lit.”

Music: purple-planet.com

Link to visual aids!

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590. Audiobooks and Romance Tropes with Mara Wilson Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Recently, Mara Wilson was talking about her favorite (and least favorite) romance tropes on social media, so I invited her onto the podcast to tell us all about it. You may know Mara Wilson from Matilda or Mrs. Doubtfire, but she’s currently working very happily as an audiobook narrator, most recently for Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus!

Please note: we don’t talk a lot about the films she has been in, because this was recorded while SAG-AFTRA and the WGA were on strike. Special thanks to Basil and Freya!

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Music:Purple-planet.com

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589. Romantic Times Rewind: June 2014 Ads & Features! Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

We are back with the June 2014 issue of RT Book Reviews, and we are taking a look at all the advertisements and features – and it’s a ride.

We discuss the RT awards, the ads congratulating the winning authors, strange distorted feet, and wolf eyed vikings.

No, we don’t know what that means, either.

But we do have a question! Amanda, it seems, has never read a Harlequin Presents! Which one should she read for Maximum Presents experience?

Music: purple-planet.com

Coupon! Coupon! New customers get $5 off Lume’s Starter Pack with our exclusive code and link. And for a limited time, returning customers can get $5 off their next purchase of $30 or more, too! Use code SARAH30 at LumeDeodorant.com

Link! Link! Check out all the visual aids for this episode right here at SBTB!

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588. True Crime as Social Change with Sarah Weinman Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

Sarah Weinman joins me to talk about true crime, a genre which I absolutely cannot read! We talk about how true crime “can be a catalyst for social change” and why people, especially White women, obsessed with true crime.

Plus we talk about Sarah’s latest books, Scoundrel, which has a surprising (to me) literary angle for true crime, and the anthology, Evidence of Things Seen. We discuss at length looking at the true crime genre as a whole, and exploring what true crime can do better ethically and socially.

VERY IMPORTANT INFO: We are talking about true crime in a larger context socially and ethically, but we also mention specific cases, and when possible we name the victims. We also talk frankly about the mental health costs of doing this kind of writing and investigative journalism.

The timestamps for when we mention specific cases, which include murders of young people, and talk about mental health are: