Stay ConnectedThe comedy podcast that unpacks the bananas world of romance novels! Tune in every other Tuesday as one co-host, either Margie or Rachel, recount a romance novel to the other unsuspecting co-host.
Whether you love romance, love comedy, or love both, join us on our truly bananas comedy adventure!
Copyright: © 2021 Textual Tension
What the Flim Flam?! This book is the Cat's Pajamas! Your favorite Cohosts are going back in time to the roaring...30s? Listen in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Megaera C. Lorenz's book, The Shabti! Because what's better than an supernatural noir-style mystery? Two absolute cinnamon rolls trying to solve a supernatural noir-style mystery!
We've finally done it! Your Cohosts are finally tackling one of like...3 years ago....but better late than never right?! Listen in this week as Margie tells Rachel about The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood! This week is all about academia, fabulous fanfiction, and Star Wars puns.
There are two wolves inside of you....but are they actually wolves?! There's only one way to find out! Listen in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Gena Showalter (and Jill Monroe)'s newest book: The Wrong Bride. Can you figure out who's body is who's? What happens when someone gets really angry? What happens if you just ignore the murder rules? Let's find out together!
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Hey everyone! WELCOME BACK! We missed you! How are you?!
We are coming back with a BANG with a GENA. It's Gena Showalter's The Darkest Night. Has Gena actually read Greek mythology? DOES self-sacrifice always work? And...why? Just why Gena?
Please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
Strap in for the most problematic book Rachel and Margie have ever discussed. This week Margie tells Rachel all about Vow to Protect by J.L. Beck and Monica Corwin. A book full of kidnapping, questionable murder choices, and Mafia purges!
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Your Co-Hosts are taking their first foray into the wide, wide world of cryptid romance! Did you know that was a thing? We didn't! At least not until Margie decided to tell Rachel all about Like a MothMan to a Flame by Remy Cavilich! Life is just full of surprises, isn't it?
Check out our Instagram : Twitter : Facebook : Goodreads : Website
What was that? Did you see it? In the woods? It's a new spooky episode! Margie is taking Rachel camping this time around and telling her all about Sleeping with Sasquatch by Honey Cummings. Make sure you bring your trail cameras and road snacks!
We're kicking off our short hiatus with a Textual Tension classic! As a reminder, we'll be back with new episodes on Tuesday, October 1! Until then, enjoy this gem from the backlog!
Summary:
Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie are going back again! Back to the Scottish highlands! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Karen Moning's The Immortal Highlander: yet another entry into the sexy-Scottish-fairy-man genre!
Happy Pride Month...Again! Look, we're not ready for it to be over, so it's not! Your Favorite Co-Hosts are venturing into Gay territory that they've never ventured into before! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann. It's wholesome. It's adorable. It sparked some awakenings. Strap in!
As a reminder, Textual Tension will be going on a brief hiatus! We will still be releasing episodes from the archive during the interim, but we will be back with new content on October 1! We can't wait to see you then!
Interested in learning more about asexuality? We found the Asexuality subreddit and the associated companion websites very helpful!
Hello Friends! Before the Gay Council arrests me HAPPY PRIDE! This week, Margie is telling Rachel about Christie Randall's The No-Girlfriend Rule. After our most recent aggressively heteronormative read, this book felt like a fresh breath of gay air. Thank God the baby gays are alright.
Happy Pride listeners! Sadly, this is the opposite of gay, it is OFFENSIVELY heterosexual, and....incomprehensible.
Thank you for being patient for this episode and please enjoy as Rachel tells Margie about Parker S. Huntington and L.J. Shen's My Dark Romeo.
Praise be! Your favorite Co-Hosts are tackling another Love Inspired book! Tune in this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Protecting Holly by Lynn Bulock. How many computers must a man hack to know himself? It turns out none when He is helping!
Yeehaw partners! Your favorite Co-Hosts are headed out west this week in an EXTREMELY kidnap heavy adventure! Rachel is telling Margie all about Caine's Reckoning by Sarah McCarty. We've got kidnapping. We've got poorly handled trauma. We've got more kidnapping. What more could you want?!
Who doesn't love a good fairy tale retelling? Even better if that retelling involves cinnamon rolls and some crazy twists! This week, Margie is telling Rachel all about The Royal, by Susan Stoker. And before you ask, no. Murder does not a good hobby to have
Have you ever wondered how gravity works? Have you ever wondered how electromagnetism works? Have you ever wondered how gravitoelectromagnetism works? Well you're in the right place! You're Co-Host Rachel is coming to the rescue with a very special "mini" episode all about the science we experienced in our most recent episode! Get ready to tackle the eldritch maths! (very little math experience actually needed)
We're back with another exciting installment of "Is It Gay Enough?!"! As always, the answer is no, but we think we're getting close! This week, Your Co-Host Rachel tells Margie all about Gravitational Attraction by Angel Martinez. Strap on your space pants and get yourself a space snack, because we're going....TO SPACE
What's your favorite color? Is it red? blue? green?....gold? Your Co-Host Margie is taking us on a journey of self discovery; full of twists, turns, and dragony wings as she tells us all about Dragon Foretold by Eve Langlais! Where will we end up? We hope you can tell us because we still don't know!
Last time on Textual Tension....Margie was upset that Rachel read a really good book....Today? Vindication.
How's that for a dramatic intro? Rachel is redeeming her self by telling Margie all about Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. Because what's sexier than some light impaling?
Guys, Marvel's got nothing on us here at Textual Tension. This week, tune in as Margie tells Rachel about Odette Stone's Beautiful Russian Monster.
Listen, STREET SMARTS: NEVER allow yourself to be taken to a secondary location. Or a third, or a fourth, or a fifth...
Listeners, Rachel has let us down AGAIN. That's RIGHT, she found ANOTHER good book. UGH, honestly Rachel RUDE. How DARE you tell us about Manda Collins adorable AND cozy book A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem. Honestly the book was ANNOYINGLY good, with 11th hour kidnappings, labyrinths, and dusty old shed smooches. Rachel, how DARE you. The AUDACITY.
Hey friends! Margie is back with a bang! (ooohhh maybe I should have put that better).
This week Margie tells Rachel about Jennifer Snyder's Redemption of a Wolf, and well...look this episode isn't sponsored by Better Help but hey...it could be. As could the characters. (Don't put your friends down, it's just not nice.)
Happy New Year! And what better way to ring in the new year than with a friend...and also an EXTREMELY gay book. We sure can't think of one! This week, Your Co-Host Rachel is joined by Tiffany of The Ladies of Strange! Listen in as we hear all about The Magpie Lord, by K. J. Charles. Magic? Check. Gay? Check. Sexy tattoos? A thousand times check
Have we given much thought to what Charles Dickens TRULY wanted in A Christmas Story? Was he perhaps looking for...an alien romance fanfiction of his work? I think we should at LEAST consider it.
Please tune in to Margie telling Rachel about Honey's Phillips's Skruj.
Please enjoy our latest episode! This week Rachel covers Linda Howard's Death Angel. There is definitely quite enough death...and then not death...and almost murdering. And OOOHHHHHH MAFIA BOIS?!?! <3 <3
Can you tell Margie wrote this description? Anyway enjoy!
Hey listeners! Welcome back to another installment of Margie's Mafia Restaurant Madness! This week we're tackling another Michelle Heard novel: Tempted by the Devil. Get comfy, get your mozzarella sticks, and DON'T go murdering people in your family restaurant.
Your Co-Hosts are still holding on to spooky season and are insisting on running amok amok amok! So strap in as Rachel tells Margie all about Whispers of the Dead by Adaline Winters! We've got spook. We've got paranormal. We've got religious figures that canonically exist? We've got it all!
It may be spooky season, but books don't have to be about the supernatural to be scary! This week, Margie is telling Rachel all about H. D. Carlton's Haunting Adeline! A book so scary it made us check our locks three times....And if you're interested in hearing more about Anti-Semitism in modern conspiracy theories, stick around until the end of the episode!
If you or someone you know has been a victim of stalking or similar upsetting behavior, please check out the Victim Connect Resource Map to find resources in your area. If you are interested in learning more about The Stalking Prevention, Awareness Resource Center (SPARC), check out their website here
It's a throwback everyone! Your Co-Host Rachel had some unexpected travel pop up and it really threw a spanner in the works. So here's a fun throwback that has all sorts of spooky stuff in it! And don't you worry. We'll make sure you get all of the spooky episodes you could want this spooky season. As if this would stop us!
Cults? Kidnapping? Werewolves? Could this get any stranger?! Believe us. It can and it will. There might even be some robots that show up. Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Captive by Gale Stanley.
What do you get when you combine an uncharted island full of hot, hunky men, one shipwrecked woman, and Mermen? Not what you think! This week, Rachel is telling Margie all about Mermen by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. You can have as many guesses as you'd like to try to predict where this book goes. You'll be wrong every time
It begins. The swift descent into spooky season. We're not excited AT. ALL. So not excited, in fact, that we're covering our first werewolf book of the season! Your Co-Host Margie is telling Rachel all about Sharon Ashwood's, Possessed by a Wolf. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but this cover is giving us Dean Winchester in Law and Order and we're intrigued...
We all love a good comfort book every once in a while. And that's exactly what we have for you this week! Your Co-Host Rachel is telling Margie all about her favorite romance novel: Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews! We've got some great world building, some snarky characters, and some social commentary on wealth disparity. What's not to love?!
Aliens. Smash or Pass? That's what your favorite Co-Hosts are trying to determine this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Mina Carter's, Alien Mercenary's Bride! The year is sometime in the future probably. The planet is somewhere out in space that's definitely not Earth. It's all still probably controlled by Disney. Will our heroes survive capitalism AND the trials of love?! I guess we'll just have to wait and see...
It's been a while since your Co-Hosts have been to the ocean. Even longer since we've been UNDER it! Tune in this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Dee Henderson's, Undetected. What will we find 20,000 leagues under the sea? Probably some bad science....
It's Pride take two baby! Your favorite Co-Hosts are taking a nice, wholesome adventure into the realm of LGBTQ+ romance this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Alexis Hall's, A Lady for a Duke. Because honestly, who doesn't love a good story about loving, accepting people falling for each other and making each other better people?
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Happy Pride!! Your Co-hosts are kicking of the most colorful time of year with a listener recommendation! Rachel is telling Margie all about Lianyu Tan's, Captive in the Underworld. Much like Persephone, we just can't seem to stay away from that pesky Hades!
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Hello listeners! Caught in a...tenuous romance? This week, Margie gives Rachel all the deets on Chelsea Cain's Heartsick. Can it be considered a romance at all? Are some romances just abusive? Are we reading too much into these books? Does this smell like chloroform to you?! What's tenuous? Why is Margie editing?! Tune in!
Kidnappings, strip clubs, and diamond heists oh my! Your favorite Co-Hosts are taking a trip to the desert as Rachel tells Margie all about Partners in Crime, by Alisha Rai. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but this book is going to stick with us for a good long time!
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What qualities do you hate most in a partner? What would someone have to do to make you want to set them on fire? How much privilege is too much? These are the hard hitting questions that your favorite Co-Hosts will try to answer today on Textual Tension! Join in as Margie tells Rachel all about The Stopover by T L Swan. A book full of annoying "Alphas" and the women that have to put up with them.
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In a podcast full of problematic books, how can one stand out? Your Co-Host Rachel is about to find out! Listen in as Rachel takes Margie into some wild places as she tells her all about Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins. Strap in y'all! It's a crazy one!
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Okay, but not really....Bass Pro shop probably doesn't want anything to do with the gods. But you know who does? Your Co-Hosts Rachel and Margie! Margie is telling Rachel about Scarlett Sinclair's A Touch of Darkness. Sure it's wildly popular on book-tok, but will we like it too?
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What do you get when you cross dust bunnies, crystals, and FrEqUeNcIeS? Siren's Call by Jayne Castle! Rachel is taking Margie to alien worlds full of paranormal harmonies and singing monsters. But the real question is...what type of monsters?!
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What sort of rabbit hole have the Textual Tension Co-Hosts gotten themselves in to today? Why a deeply controversial one of course! Armed only with research and a dead look in her eyes, Margie is telling Rachel all about Ladies First, by Liberty Adams. Join us as we strive to answer the burning question: Will romance novels ever be great again?
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It's a valentine's day miracle! Your Co-Hosts Margie and Rachel are joined by Abbie and Kelsey of Fairytale fix to unpack a truly wild tale. Rachel is telling everyone about The Mermaid's Knight by Jill Miles. Fairytale retellings, time travel, and warlords. What could possibly go wrong?
Check out Fairytale Fix!
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Hello All! Your Co-Host Rachel is back from a long trip and...still recovering...Who knew jet lag sucked? We're hopping in to your feed with a throwback to one of our favorite episodes! We'll be back in two weeks with a brand-shiny-new episode! Maybe with friends? I'll never tell!
Holy Angels Batman! Rachel and Margie are headed off to Heaven, with a few stops at some seedy early 2000s nightclubs along the way. Rachel tells Margie all about Gena Showalter's Wicked Nights.
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Just how bad does a partner have to be before they are un-datable? Where do you draw the line? Your favorite Co-Hosts are attempting to answer that question this week as they tackle Captured, by Michelle Heard. It turns out for some people, pretty bad is still just fine
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It's part 2 of the Textual Tension gift exchange! Rachel is giving Margie the gift of her favorite romance novel genre! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about That Mafioso Magic by Nicholas Bella. What does YOUR birthmark say about your personality?
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What do you get when you combine drinking blood, mind control, immortality, and fast healing? If you guessed "vampires", then you have another thing coming! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Meant to be Immortal by Lynsay Sands, and get ready for the wildest plot twist you can imagine!
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There are still Romance genres that Rachel and Margie haven't covered? It must be a Thanksgiving miracle! Join your favorite co-hosts as they dive in to the wild world of Amish romance novels with Kelly Long's, The Amish Heart of Ice Mountain.
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Happy Spookiest Times! The Textual Tension crew isn't ready to give up the Halloween spirit quite yet! Listen in as Rachel scares Margie senseless by telling her all about Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter. What's scarier than a Gena Showalter novel? Well honestly we're not entirely sure....
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What was that? Did you see it? In the woods? It's a new spooky episode! Margie is taking Rachel camping this time around and telling her all about Sleeping with Sasquatch by Honey Cummings. Make sure you bring your trail cameras and road snacks!
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Jane Austin fans beware! Rachel is taking special guest host Julia on a journey through the deepest, darkest classic(?) literature. Rachel tells Julia all about Gwyn Cready's, Seducing Mr. Darcy. It's time to answer the most burning question in all of fanfiction: is it still fanfiction if none of the characters or the plot are recognizable?
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Who's ready for a throwback? Rachel and Margie throw it WAY back to Episode 1, as they both recover from the plague. Check out the Patreon exclusive revisit of Gina Showalter's, The Nymph King at patreon.com/textualtension!
We are a bi-monthly podcast that summarizes, reviews, and pokes fun at the world of romance novels. Every other week one of your co-hosts Rachel or Margie will summarize a romance novel. The other co-host will listen in on the story for the first time along with our listeners. Together we will dive headfirst into these interesting works of fiction. It’s sure to be a blast so please come join us on our wild adventures into Atlantis, steampunk, the Scottish highlands and many many other…steamy places.
This week we will be heading down to a city very near the Florida coast apparently...Atlantis. Listen as Margie summarizes the book The Nymph King by Gena Showalter for Rachel and listen to 20,000 problems under the sea.
It's a (not so surprise) bonus episode! We couldn't leave everyone hanging with that RIVETING cliff hanger from last episode. Join us in this special two-parter as Rachel tells Margie all about the exciting conclusion to the Fifty Shades sage: Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James!
It's episode 100 y'all! What could possible be worth covering for our 100th episode? Why the next installment in, quite possibly, the most popular romance novel of all time! Join us as Rachel tells Margie all about E.L. James' Fifty Shades Darker, and we celebrate 100 episodes of insanity!
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What's this? A bonus episode?! As a huge thank you for almost 100 episodes, Margie and Rachel are once again joined by the Ladies of Strange to complete our Twilight Saga! Join us as Margie outlines the pure insanity that is Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn! This is technically the fourth part in our Twilight series, but don't worry! You don't need to have listened to the other episodes to enjoy this one!
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It's Episode 99 (part a?!)! In honor of our last episode in the double digits (or is it?!), your Co-Hosts are revisiting the ever popular Twilight series. Join us as Margie takes Rachel, Tiffany, Ashely, and Rebecca on a convoluted trek through the world of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse! A world where love triangles about, and plot is hard to come by!
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Your Co-Hosts are taking their first foray into the wide, wide world of cryptid romance! Did you know that was a thing? We didn't! At least not until Margie decided to tell Rachel all about Like a MothMan to a Flame by Remy Cavilich! Life is just full of surprises, isn't it?
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It's a throwback y'all! To quite possibly the most iconic romance novel of all time. No special reason we picked this one. Definitely not because of any....big milestones coming up or anything...
"In honor of 69 dissected romance novels, Rachel and Margie tackle one of the most popular romance novels of all time, 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James. It only took 69 episodes for Your Co-Host Rachel to break, but it finally happened"
Happy Pride everyone! We hope that you all are out there being gay and doing crime! (OK maybe not crime...well maybe. IDK live your dream. Can you tell Margie edited this week yet?)
This week, Rachel tells Margie all about Erica Ridley's The Perks of Loving a Wallflower. And can we just say...it's pretty gay. Gay enough? No, never. But pretty gay!
It's throwback time! Rachel and Margie need a bit of a break this week, so we're reaching back into the archives and pulling out a true gem. You KNOW we had to pick a Fabio-adjacent episode to once more show the world!
Amethysts? Check. Highwaymen? Check. One of the craziest books Rachel and Margie have ever discussed? Double check. Join us as Rachel tells Margie all about Heather and Velvet by Teresa Medeiros. Strap on your kilt and grab your Scotch! We're going to Scotland!
Strap in folks! We're getting kidnapped by the Mafia this week! Well...the Bratva I guess... Margie is telling Rachel all about Ravaged Crown, by Nicole Fox. A book that's definitely about the fast casual dining wars and not horrific men...On a completely related note:
Domestic Abuse Hotline:
800-799-7233
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How do you feel about...aliens? How about...architects?....How about hot Dads who need a nanny?
Well guess what, the book Alien Architect Needs a Nanny by Tasha Black has you covered!
Listen as Margie tells Rachel about this surprisingly less wild than expected ride!
Did it finally happen? Did Margie finally find a book that broke the Textual Tension ladies? You be the judge! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about The Spirit Path by Madeline Baker.
Definitely unrelated, but if you're interested in learning more about the Sioux Nation, check out their website!
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It took 87 episodes, but we've done it. This is the episode that broke your Co-Host Rachel. But HOW did it break her? Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Dinah McCall's, Mimosa Grove to find out!
Want to learn something cool about Voodoo? Check out these podcasts!
Blurry Photos: Voodoo and Hoodoo
Spirits: Erzulies and Haitian Voodoo
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Holy podcast guests Batman! Margie is joined this week by Rebecca and Tiffany of The Ladies of Strange to tackle all things "wait...what?" Margie tells the ladies all about L. J. Shen's, Viscous. Seriously. Not even Tiffany likes this guy!
Check out The Ladies of Strange!
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We're ending 2021 on a high note! We think we all deserve it. Margie takes Rachel out West and tells her all about Julie Harrington and Lori Wilde's, Montana Blaze. Honestly what is up with these book titles? Literally nothing is on fire!
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Some stories are too crazy to tackle on your own. Thankfully the the Golden Ghouls were willing to step up to the challenge! Join the gang as they attempt to unpack Gena Showalter's newest book: Heartless. Normally, we'd put a fun little teaser about the book here, but you know what? We think you just need to listen for yourself.
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Is it fae-re to say that retellings of classical myths make good romance novels? Listen in to find out for your s-elf! Margie is telling Rachel all about Elise Kova's A Deal with the Elf King. Shout out to our Patrons for recommending a book so that Margie can finally read a good one!
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Margie is back this week battling technical difficulties, an absentee co-host, and hot mob bosses to bring you a brand new episode! And can we just say, she crushed it. This week, Margie tells a super secret guest all about Cruel Saints by Michelle Heard. Is this the good mafia romance we've all been waiting for?
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Your favorite co-hosts are back with a spooky vengeance! Rachel tells Margie all about The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. There's nothing like a brand new, wholesome-yet-spooky romance to kick off the season! Especially when it's this good!
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Strap in for the most problematic book Rachel and Margie have ever discussed. This week Margie tells Rachel all about Vow to Protect by J.L. Beck and Monica Corwin. A book full of kidnapping, questionable murder choices, and Mafia purges!
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What happens when interesting characters are thrown into a completely insane world? What happens when your boyfriend can give you a steady supply of drugs? What happens when those drugs are constantly shedding off of his...wings?! Nalini Singh's Angel's Blood is what happens! Listen in this week as Rachel tells Margie and Amanda (of the Disaster Girls Podcast) all about it!
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What's this? A second sci-fi romance?! Your Co-Host Margie takes Rachel back into the final frontier as she tells her all about Grace Goodwin's The First Starfighter! Because what's a good sci-fi romance without a complete breakdown of the laws of physics?
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Grab your old-timey jungle hats and Khui-nine, we're going on a good old-fashioned space colonialism adventure. Your Co-host Margie is telling Rachel all about Ruby Dixon's Ice Planet Barbarians! Just in case you were wondering what all of this blue horned and horny alien hype was all about!
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Your Co-Hosts Margie and Rachel are going back underground! Specifically to the Shifter underground! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Bears Behaving Badly by Mary Janice Davidson! We all have whiplash from this one, so strap in!
Happy Pride! Have you ever wanted to buy one of those sexy firefighter calendars? Okay but have you ever wished they were more gay? This week, we'll make all of your wished come true! Margie tells Rachel all about Damon Suede's Hot Head, and we discuss the finer points of the Olive Garden's fine dining experience!
Happy Pride Month! Your co-host Rachel is joined by Tiffany and Rebecca from The Ladies of Strange as they discuss Olivia Waite's, The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics. Science? Check. Feminism? Check. Gay? So many checks!
Your Co-hosts Rachel and Margie are back with some special guests! Margie tells Rachel and the folk of What the Horror about Night's Immortal Touch by Cheryln Jac. There's nothing like a good vampire romance novel to get back into the swing of things!
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, this week we are releasing one of our Patreon holiday specials for everyone to hear! We had an extremely fun time recording with our special guest. Please enjoy this little extra-sode! We will be back with a new episode on June 1
In honor of 69 dissected romance novels, Rachel and Margie tackle one of the most popular romance novels of all time, 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James. It only took 69 episodes for Your Co-Host Rachel to break, but it finally happened
The folks at Harlequin Romance Novels are at it again! Margie and Rachel are unpacking the bananas plot of Susan Mallery's, Accidentally Yours. Because with money, anything is possible!
Have you ever wanted to sit down and have a conversation about smutty romance novels with a dad? Well don't worry, we did it for you! Your Co-hosts Rachel and Margie are joined by Mike and Darin of Irritable Dad Syndrome to discuss Cora Reilly's, Sweet Temptation
Due to some technical difficulties, our previous interview with author Lauren H. Mae was not released in its entirety. We were super fortunate to be able to record AGAIN with Lauren! Check out this awesome interview that was so much fun! Huge thanks to Lauren for sitting down with us again!
Your co-hosts Margie and Rachel are dipping into the wild world of non-romance romance novels! All of the marketing of a romance novel, with almost none of the love! Crazy right? Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Carrie Vaughn's, Kitty and the Midnight Hour!
This week, Margie and Rachel are going on vacation! To a great book! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Lauren H. Mae's, The Catch. We're all about good communication, consent, and character growth here at Textual Tension!
In a turn of events that shocked no one, Rachel and Margie picked similar books again! We're headed back to Medieval England again as Margie tells Rachel all about Virginia Henley's, The Dragon and the Jewel. Who's ready for some serious misrepresentation of historical figures?
Ah Ye Olde Times. A whole bunch of terrible diseases, serfs that were basically slaves, and extremely questionable attitudes towards women. Romantic, right? Your co-hosts are going back in time and discussing Johanna Lindsey's, Defy Not the Heart.
Who's ready to REALLY kick off 2021 on a high note? Margie is here for you with an incredibly wholesome listener recommendation! Listen in as she tells us all about The Flatshare, by Beth O'Leary. Our listeners just give us the BEST books!
It's finally here! What better way to kick off the new year than with an unprecedented crossover? Now what if that crossover were also a long awaited sequel to our ongoing Twilight series?! Your co-hosts Margie and Rachel are joined this week by The Ladies of Strange to talk all about Stephenie Meyer's New Moon! Get ready for a ride everyone!
SPACE. Some would call it the final frontier. We just call it a fun setting for a stellar romance. Join Rachel as she tells Margie all about Amanda Bouchet's, Nightchaser. Because let's be honest, who doesn't love a good space opera?
Don't hit that Paws button! Your co-hosts are here with a Purr-fectly wholesome episode to get you through your week! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Talk to the Paw, by Melinda Metz. And don't miss your opportunity to cat-ch up on some big announcements for our Patreon!
Cults? Kidnapping? Werewolves? Could this get any stranger?! Believe us. It can and it will. There might even be some robots that show up. Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Captive by Gale Stanley.
Ah yes. The late 1930s. Full of "modern" women, Hollywood glitz and glamour, and....MURDER?! Your co-hosts are going back in time to an era never seen before on this podcast! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Amanda Quick's, Close Up
No gags or hilarious witticisms today! Just a good, classic, funny-sometimes-sweet-and-ridiculous episode! Feel free to use this as a nice, wholesome distraction from anything that may be going on! Listen in with us as Margie tells Rachel all about Julia Quinn's, The Other Miss Bridgerton! Who's ready to watch the TV series in December?
Are you feeling cozy? Maybe in the mood for a good comfort book? We've got you. Margie and Rachel fall back on an old favorite author as they discuss Lisa Kleypas's, Secrets of a Summer Night. Because nothing says cozy like a fire, some coffee, and some Victorian-era scandal!
Everybody Vogue! This week is all about modeling agencies, arranged marriages, and thinly veiled references to specific American Senators! Listen in as we discuss Stella Gray's, The Deal.
Holy Angels Batman! Rachel and Margie are headed off to Heaven, with a few stops at some seedy early 2000s nightclubs along the way. Rachel tells Margie all about Gena Showalter's Wicked Nights.
Have you watched one of the most viewed movie of 2020 on Netflix yet? Don't worry. We've done it for you! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel, along with Leah and Lindsay of Movie Virgins, about 365 DNI. Turns out, problematic romance tropes don't work well in film form either.
All we want is to be swept away to the castle beyond the goblin city to hang with Jareth for the rest of forever. Is that so much to ask? That's not even that long at all! Laura Thalassa's Rhapsodic doesn't quite hit the mark on that one, but that doesn't make it any less fun to talk about!
It's a 50th episode spectacular! And it was definitely meticulously planned! Play along as Margie tells Rachel all about My Lady's Choosing, by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris. Just like we definitely planned.
We're heading out of the darkest timeline this week into the world of Casey McQuiston's, Red, White, and Royal Blue! Who knew a political romance could leave us with so many warm fuzzy feelings?!
Happy Pridesmas in July everyone! Rachel and Margie are taking it upon themselves to extend pride celebrations with some awesome LGBTQ romance novels! This week, Margie tells Rachel all about Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry. Get ready for some great discussion y'all!
Howdy y'all! Do you ever read a book and really love it, and then try to tell someone else about it and realize wait....is this actually good? Your co-host Rachel finds herself in this exact situation this week as she tells Margie all about The Bridegroom by Linda Lael Miller. I guess you'll just have to decide for yourself!
All aboard the struggle bus! Rachel and Margie are joined by Savannah (co-creator of the in-the-works podcast Cold Storage) to tackle the queen of romance novels: Nora Roberts! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel and Savannah all about The Obsession, and play along at home as we play the new hit game everyone's talking about, Spot the Plot!
Buy Cold Storage a Ko-fi! https://ko-fi.com/coldstoragepodcast
Amethysts? Check. Highwaymen? Check. One of the craziest books Rachel and Margie have ever discussed? Double check. Join us as Rachel tells Margie all about Heather and Velvet by Teresa Medeiros. Strap on your kilt and grab your Scotch! We're going to Scotland!
We have an extra special one for you guys today! We're revisiting the mid-2000s with a seriously formative book from our highschool days. Can you guess what it is? It's pretty topical!
Your Textual Tension Co-hosts are getting cozy with an early morning, pajamas and coffee kind of episode! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Lisa Kleypas's, Dreaming of You. \\. Make yourself a cup of coffee, grab your favorite blanket, and snuggle up with us!
It's the ultimate listener suggestion! Rachel tells Margie all about J.R. Ward's Dark Lover. A book that was recommended not once, but twice! Strap in everyone! We're going on a mid-2000s ride!
Rachel and Margie are joined by Ashley, Tiffany, and Rebecca of The Ladies of Strange! Margie tells everyone about Amanda Ashley's, Embrace the Night. This book has it all! Vampires, reincarnation, an abundance of problematic behavior: you name it!
Have you ever been upset when a book you're expecting to be bad ends up being really good? This week Rachel was! Tune in as Rachel takes Margie to wine country and tells her all about Julie James', A Lot Like Love.
Hey did you know Harlequin Romance makes teen novels? Neither did we! Thankfully (thankfully?) Margie found a real winner to tell Rachel ALL about! Tune in as Margie tells Rachel all about Elizabeth Craft and Shea Olsen's Flower.
Get ready to be blinded by science! And MIB! And...religious persecution? Okay maybe not that last one... But strap in everyone for a long, involved, and ridiculously fun sci-fi themed episode! Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie go deep in the alien paint as they talk about Gini Koch's, Touched by an Alien!
Hello listeners! We're so glad to have you back! This week tune in as Margie tells Rachel about Kerrelyn Spark's novel The Vampire with the Dragon Tattoo. That's right, we're revisiting the wonderful world of Kerrelyn Sparks novels! In this episode we get into the science of genetics, that good cush demon herb, and vampires, were-tigers, and demons, oh MY!
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but chains and whips....confuse us? Tune in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Kristen Callihan's, Soulbound. Because honestly, what says love like chains and cyanide?
Hello South America! It's been a while huh? Your co-hosts are joined by Emily of FBoL as they dive deep into the rainforests of South America and attempt to...fight terrorism? Let's just say there's a lot going on in Kat Martin's Hot Rain
Howdy y'all! Your co-hosts are back with a good old fashioned rodeo! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie about Lauren Landish's Buck Wild. Don't worry, it definitely lives up to its name!
Ep. Bonus: This week the Under the Covers bonus content is free to everyone! Not just Patreon subscribers! Go to patreon.com/textualtension to check it out!
Who's ready for something ridiculous and refreshing? Well maybe not refreshing....but for sure hilarious! This week, Margie tells Rachel about Ross Patterson's At Night She Cries, While He Rides His Steed, a "Romance Novel for Dudes". What exactly does that tag line mean? Let's find out together!
Can you say Macedonian Love Slave? We didn't think we could, but here we are! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fantasy Lover! It's got everything you want in a romance novel! Macedonians, and love slaves!
Patreon: patreon.com/textualtension
This week, Rachel and Margie are breaking into the world of LGBTQ romance novels! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about the Robin Hood-esque antics in The Soldier's Scoundrel by Cat Sebastian. We finally tackled a romance novel that addresses some pretty interesting historical topics! Who knew!
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Textual Tension is now on Patreon! Check out patreon.com/textualtension for more information on how you can support your friendly neighborhood podcast hosts!
Join Rachel and Margie as they pass a serious milestone in Textual Tension history: reviewing their first Harlequin Romance Novel! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Lori Foster's, Run the Risk. If you didn't get enough literary analysis in your AP English class, then this is the episode for you!
It's a Textual Tension Spooktacular! Join Margie and Rachel for this very special and very spoopy bonus episode! The girl's discuss The Cat's Meow, featuring stories by Victoria Alexander, Nina Coombs, Coral Smith Saxe, and Colleen Shannon. Let's pour one out for the spoopiest, and best, time of year!
We're shipping off to international waters this week with a problematic billionaire philanthropist who can't take no for an answer. Did we mention he has a dolphin tramp stamp? Join your co-hosts Rachel and Margie as they discuss the nuances of the "Alpha Male"
You know what we need in our lives? MORE hit-man themed romance novels! Join your co-host Margie as Rachel tells her all about Contract Signed by Marie Harte. Because the only thing better than 1 hit-man, is 3 hit-men...and a baby?
This week, Stacie and Alicia of Trashy Divorces are here to help us answer some truly perplexing questions. How much ghosting is too much? Can Andre the Giant and a literal black hole ever find love together? Truly questions only J.M. Sevilla's novel, Marked Part 1: The Missing Link, can answer.
Yeehaw and welcome to Textual Tension! The rootinest tootinest podcast this side of the Rockies! Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie dive into the wild wild world of westerns as they unpack Lorraine Heath's, Texas Destiny! Saddle up! It's time to mosey on down the trail.
Summer has been getting HOT. Who's ready for a breath of fresh air? Listen in as your co-host Margie tells Rachel all about Nalini Singh's book, Rock Hard. Sometimes you really CAN'T judge a book by it's cover!
A momentous episode! Your co-host Rachel has read her first truly problematic book. Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about Kristen Ashley's book, Wildest Dreams. What if there was an alternate dimension with a copy of everyone you know and love? Would you want to go check it out? We sure wouldn't!
Welcome back listeners! Join us this week as Margie tells Rachel all about Some Like It Scot by Susanne Enoch. It may very well be Margie's first...ourboi story.
We will be having our first LIVE SHOW on August 8th in Cincinnati at Three Points Brewery at 8 p.m.! We hope to see you there!
Nothing makes co-host Rachel happier than an unprecedented number of puns. Listen in this week as Rachel tells Margie all about Casey Griffin's Must Love Wieners, and all of the wonderful puns therein. Hang in there, because this book is dog-gone great!
Your co-hosts Rachel and Margie are going back again! Back to the Scottish highlands! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel all about Karen Moning's, The Immortal Highlander: yet another entry into the sexy-Scottish-fairy-man genre!
Hello listeners! Tune in this week as Rachel tells Margie and Sean from the podcast HalfwayOkay about Alyssa Day's novel Vampire in Atlantis.This episode we'll learn that yes, vampires do, in fact, have souls, the third branch of Congress that is run exclusively by vampires, and another way to find the city of Atlantis. Hint: Just step into the sun.
Your intrepid co-hosts are joined this week by Alexa Fisher, a writer and producer for The Hidden People! Listen in as Margie tells Rachel and Alexa all about The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. We'll tell you all about the most effective way to rescue a long lost crush (spoilers: it involves chloroform) and what actually happens when you don't vaccinate your kids!
This week Rachel and Margie head into uncharted terriroty with an action-mystery-romance-thriller! This is a definite palate cleanser from next week so don't be afraid to listen! Please also rate, review, and subscribe!
Listen as Rachel sits down with Dr. Tony Talbott of Abolition Ohio to discuss episode 16: Nolita. Dr. Talbott brings his expertise to the subject of human trafficking in the media and what you can do to help.
Have you ever wondered where romance and human trafficking overlap? Neither have we. Lucky for us, Margie is here to tell us all about Last Breath by Jessica Clare and Jen Frederick: the book that answers the question that no one asked. Check out the supplemental episode where Rachel sits down with Dr. Tony Talbott from Abolition Ohio and discusses the real-life implications of human trafficking.
Ahoy there everyone! We're taking a trip to sea this week as Rachel tells Margie all about high adventure (and a lot of kidnapping) in The Rogue Pirate's Bride by Shana Galen. Because nothing says attraction and romance like a healthy dose of bloody revenge!
Welcome back to Textual Tension! Listen this week as the girls bravely venture back into the rich CEO genre. Margie tells Rachel all about the book Hero by Samantha Young. Is this book capable of redeeming the CEO sub-genre in the eyes of our intrepid co-hosts? And more importantly, is a mustache twirling plot the best way to pick up chicks? Only one way to find out!
What do you get when you cross reality TV and misogynistic vampires? Kerrelyn Sparks' book Vamps and the City! Listen in as Rachel tells Margie all about high stakes (hah!) romance in the glamorous world of the undead. Let's not forget the healthy dose of misogyny that really makes up bare our fangs!
Welcome back listeners! Listen in this week as Margie tells Rachel about The Princess and the Barbarian by Betina Krahn. You ready to learn about the seven pleasures of Mercia, because we can't WAIT to tell you about them! More info on the book here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/818203.The_Princess_and_the_Barbarian
Tune in this week as Rachel tells Margie about Shelly Laurenston's Hot and Badgered. Yes listeners, you read right, that is Hot and Badgered. And boy oh boy did it get us badgered...just not too hot. Another animorph episode is here for you to enjoy! Tell us what you think!
Happy What the February?! listeners! In this, the most romantic of months, listen in as I, MArgie, tell Rachel about Elizabeth Hoyt's The Raven Prince. While this book breaks some barriers in terms of romance age range and having characters who have had their virgin barriers broken, it still has some very outdated superhero rules and miscommunication mayhem. Enjoy!
Listen in this week as Rachel tells me, Margie, about Amy Raby's Spy's Honor. Hear about the forbidden romance between Janto and Rhianne, one a spy pretending to be a slave in an enemy nation, the other a princess desperately trying to learn more about the world. Ready for a healthy relationship and for some sick world-building? SO WERE WE. Enjoy!
In this weeks episode I, Margie, tell Rachel about Meredith Wild's book Hardwired, a book about a young, smart, businesswoman trying to get her startup off the ground despite the actions of Mr. Wonderful. Blake Landon is a "intellectual" hacker businesman who will literally tear down her defenses with his bare hands to get her to almost trust him. Almost.
PSA: This episode deals with topics of abuse and stalking and may be difficult for some listeners to enjoy. It's still a fun episode but if you feel that you may be a bit sensitive to these topics and have a little less fun listening to this episode just come on back in a couple weeks for a great palate cleanser.
Happy New Year listeners! This week listen in as Rachel tells me, Margie, about Blaze by Donna Grant. Hear about our boi's perfect Dorito shape, the intricacies of hacking, and kidnap-ception. Please rate, review, and subscribe!
Welcome to our CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! In this episode listen as Rachel tells Margie about The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason. Will Madison Lane find the true meaning of Christmas...Colorado? What else will she discover in the small-town of Christmas? Perhaps handsome sheriff Gage McBride?
We will have another episode coming out next week listeners! So you get THREE WEEKS of episodes! Merry Christmas to all and to all healthy and loving relationships all around!
Hello everyone! This week listen in as Margie tells the story of How to Tame a Beast in 7 Days by Kerrelyn Sparks. Sparks fly (heh, heh) between Luciana and Leofric, but can their love survive assassination attempts, b&e, and actual lightning shooting out of homeboy's fingers?
We also have a special announcement! We will be releasing a Christmas episode on Christmas day for all our wonderful listeners and then another episode the WEEK AFTER. We've got THREE WEEKS of great episodes coming your way so get stoked!
This week listen in as Rachel describes the book A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet. This episodes contains many MANY near-death experiences, more powers than the entire X-Men team (in a single person) and OF COURSE, dragon animorphs. One things for sure this girl isn't a special snowflake...she's a special snowstorm. Please rate, review, and subscribe!
This week listen in as Margie describes The Dark Highlander by Karen M. Moning to Rachel. Join us on a time-travelling adventure back to sixteenth century Scotland where Dageus has 13 problems and demons are literally all thirteen of them. Thank you for listening, please rate, review, and subscribe!
Join us, Rachel and Margie, on a steampunk vampire adventure! Leo and Mina are two mid-revolution blue-blood vampires craving a little more than just blood. Listen in as Rachel tells Margie about pleasure dirigibles, automatons, vampire madness, and the overthrow of the bourgeoisie.
We are a bi-monthly podcast that summarizes, reviews, and pokes fun at the world of romance novels. Every other week one of your co-hosts Rachel or Margie will summarize a romance novel. The other co-host will listen in on the story for the first time along with our listeners. Together we will dive headfirst into these interesting works of fiction. It’s sure to be a blast so please come join us on our wild adventures into Atlantis, steampunk, the Scottish highlands and many many other…steamy places.
This week we will be heading down to a city very near the Florida coast apparently...Atlantis. Listen as Margie summarizes the book The Nymph King by Gena Showalter for Rachel and listen to 20,000 problems under the sea.
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