Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse

Content Warning: The book we discuss features a serial killer and rapist. We also discuss sexual assault.

• Guest: Romance Author Lucy Score
  Website: lucyscore.net
  Twitter: @LucyScore1
  Instagram: @ScoreLucy

Lucy while recording this episode (shot by Mr. Lucy): https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hqadgAwYv/

We read:

• The Obsession by Nora Roberts (2016)
  (CW: on-page descriptions of sexual violence)

Lucy’s books that are mentioned:

• The Worst Best Man
• The Christmas Fix
• Mr. Fixer Upper
• Moonshine Kiss (pining)
• The Price of Scandal (Bluewater Billionaires)
• Newest (out Jan. 2020) - ...Listen to hear the title!

Books mentioned:

• The Bride by Julie Garwood
• Bluewater Billionaires series:
  • The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score
  • The Mogul and the Muscle by Claire Kingsley
  • Wild Open Hearts by Kathryn Nolan
  • Crazy for Loving You by Pippa Grant
• JD Robb In Death Series
• Chanel Miller - Know My Name

Other mentions:

• Bluewater Billionaires Boobies & Noobies episode
• Air Ambulance ER - YouTube
• Turn The Page - Nora Roberts’ Bookstore: https://www.ttpbooks.com/
• Inn BoonsBoro - Nora Roberts’ Inn: https://innboonsboro.com/

Trope Town: artists

• Strictly Professional - Katherine Nolan
• Reckless (Book 1: Renegades) - Skye Jordan
• Chesapeake Blue - Nora Roberts
• Flashed - Zoe Castile
• Pacific Blue - Kristina Luckey
• Serving Pleasure - Alisha Rai
• Beard in Mind - Penny Reid

Contributors:

Kelly Reynolds (Boobies & Noobies), Denise Williams, Hannah is a Palindrome, Fiona West

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon: it may be a Tik-Tok sensation now, but over a year ago it was a podcast sensation. Dani Lacey invited me as a guest on her podcast, Ice Planet Podcast, to discuss Barbarian's Hope, a second chance romance between two very tall blue humanoid-ish aliens with horns whose love life is controlled by a parasite. This is an edited version of that episode.

CW: loss of a child, grief, depression.

Show Notes:

NEWS:

• Dame Jodie Slaughter River Boat Cruise & Virtual Event with Copper Dog Books! (August 10 & 11, 2021)
• I launched a Patreon!
• Watch my PCA Presentation about Romance Reader Stereotypes!
• Support Honor Black Birth!

Show Notes:

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Patreon | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: [email protected]
• Check out Shelf Love’s updated website including the transcript for this episode
• Shelf Love episodes with transcripts

Guest: Dani Lacey, host of Ice Planet Podcast

Dani Lacey: Twitter

Ice Planet Podcast: Website | Twitter

We Discuss:

Barbarian's Hope, Book #11 of the Ice Planet Barbarians Series by Ruby Dixon

To listen to the full original version of this episode, you can listen to episode 10 of Ice Planet Podcast here:

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-ucewn-854ac9f?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Decameron Quarantine Romance Book Club: part 3 of a 10-episode mini-series of short, casual conversations with romance experts, who are here to spread the joy of romance novels so that we can all stay home and NOT spread the Coronavirus.

Tonight’s theme is Fate vs. Free Will and my guests are romance novel experts LaQuette, Katee Robert, and Ruby Lang.

Stay safe, stay calm, and keep reading romance.

-

Shelf Love:

• Sign up for the email newsletter list
• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Email: [email protected]

Sign up for the Shelf Love newsletter for bonus content!

Guests:

• Ruby Lang
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon | Buy House Rules by Ruby Lang
• LaQuette
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon | Buy Bedding the Enemy by LaQuette
• Katee Robert
  Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Bookbub | Buy A Worthy Opponent by Katee Robert

Book recs:

• Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
• The Cougar’s Pawn by Holley Trent
• Heart of the Falcon by Francis Ray

(I'd recommend listening to the episode for full content warnings, and please do your own research as well.)

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

“What is a greater expression of love than eating someone else or wanting to consume and have that person in a way that no one else can have?” Dr. Nicola Welsh-Burke joins to delve into the intriguing topic of cannibalism in romance novels. We explore the intersection of food, eating, and sexuality, discuss the metaphorical use of cannibalism in literature, and examine the societal taboos and fascinations with the concept. The conversation touches upon various themes such as erotic vampirism, werewolf lore, incorrect eating, and how these elements are used to explore deeper human desires and fears.

Media Mentioned/Discussed:

• Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
• Tooth and Claw series by Heather Guerre
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Hannibal (TV show)
• A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
• Fresh (film) Twilight (books/film)
• Betwixt the Sheets Podcast
• Kinky History Podcast
• Sex historian Esme Louise James

Guest: Dr. Nicola Welsh-Burke

Dr. Welsh-Burke is an academic and lecturer at Western Sydney University in Sydney, Australia. She’s an early-stage researcher in folklore and fairy tales and the romance genre, and her PhD was on contemporary YA supernatural romance, retellings of little red riding hood from the 21st century.

Twitter

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Questions from:

• Christina.us.uk
• HEA Apologist
• Kini Allen (episode 5 guest!)
• purlsquirrel
• JenniMReads

Books mentioned:

• Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
• A Midnight Feast by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner (on upcoming episode with Kate Clayborn)
• The Charm School by Susan Wiggs

Links:

• Twitter Thread starting place for Mass Market Paperback discussion (JenReadsRomance)
• My Favorite Darcy - data/poll from EisReading

Questions:

• Americans: do you find you have more or less time to listen to podcasts during Thanksgiving week? Everyone: do you catch up on listening during holidays, or listen less?
• Would you be interested in a future episode focused on the evolution of the romance genre throughout time and why (I think) it's unfair to completely tear apart retro romance?

You can always email me at [email protected] or check in on social media to participate in future listener request episodes!

• Twitter: @shelflovepod
• Instagram: @shelflovepodcast

Sign up for my email list, where you'll get bonus content, insider info, and all the updates.

Shelf Love:

• NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
• Email: [email protected]