Plot Trysts

Her Lessons in Persuasion by Megan Frampton

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg really enjoyed this feel good, cross-class romance! A fluffy, fun, quick read!

The Charmer Without a Cause by Katherine Grant

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We loved how many unconventional things Katherine Grant does in this book, but damn Irish history is depressing.

A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

06 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're apparently on a monster romance in a normal world kick, and this entry is really fun! Our biggest discussion centered around how annoying it is ...

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg really enjoyed this contemporary romance! The characters felt centered in a way that made us believe in the absurd conflict, and we love...

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Maiden Lane continues to be fluffy, low angst, easy reading *sarcasm ends here*. Kyle and Alf are both very cool characters who maybe don't have the m...

Artfully Yours by Joanna Lowell

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg really enjoyed the latest from Joanna Lowell about a hipster who cultivated his aesthetic for the cred and a girl who's never before fel...

Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We are so excited to finally release this episode and are so proud of the union! This book is an awesome return to Avon, and it gave us a lot to talk ...

Say Goodbye to Hollywood by Jenny Trout

17 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You know we love talking romance novels, so getting to talk meta analysis of romance novels within a romance novel might be our favorite thing. If you...

Radiant Sin by Katee Robert

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg both really enjoyed the main couple here, with Cassandra's attitude and Apollo's bossiness working extremely well in tandem. We're left ...

Once Upon a Moonlit Night by Elizabeth Hoyt

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This Novella is quick and fun, but after so many books of build up we were mostly surprised that Hippolyta Royle is resolved with so little fanfare. I...

The Worst Woman in London by Julia Bennet

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Divorce is hard. It was even harder in 19th century England. Freedom comes at a price, and may require resisting your husband's very hot friend.

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

03 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This book is WILD. Val is less morally ambiguous than totally unhinged, which was a unique reading experience to say the least.

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint by Alexandra Vasti

31 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Alexandra Vasti is doing some really interesting things with this series. You know we love independent women, and one who illustrates sex pamphlets is...

Barbarian's Prize by Ruby Dixon

27 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We change it up this week with Meg explaining a book to Laine. It is the mark of an excellent friendship when one of you can tell the other to skip a ...

The Orc from the Office by Kate Prior

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If a massive size difference in a monster romance is your sexy sweet spot, you'll probably love this book. Meg and Laine could have used more corporat...

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett

20 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The third entry in this series was written specifically for Meg. Rupert Carsington is a virgin hero.

Love, Laugh, Lich by Kate Prior

16 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Contemporary monster romance isn't usually our ish, but the corporate satire, not to mention the mysteries of the hero's body (like what form is it), ...

Midnight Duet by Jen Comfort

13 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meg (a lifetime Phantom fangirl) and Laine (a Phantom newb) both really loved this modern, gender-swapped, Phantom of the Opera retelling. Very sexy, ...

Errata Not Erotica 10: Wild Speculation

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg explain the serious change in audio quality, discuss things we love, and discuss some of the Bridgerton leaks

Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about sexy consent, sexy violence, and our lines when it comes to sexual violence in romance.

Nice Earls Do by Susanna Craig

03 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This teaser novella definitely has us excited for Craig's new series! Yes, we are suckers for a low-angst book between adults who know what they want....

A Wicked Game by Kate Bateman

30 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Bateman doesn't know the meaning of the word "enemy" but she does know exactly how to write sexy and low angst romance.

Orchids and Mistletoe by Kate Bateman

26 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This Novella about a best friend and a little sister hooking up after their shared loss gets off to a very cute start with a very sexy hot tub of pote...

Mishaps and Mistletoe by Catherine Stein

23 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This Novella is absolutely adorable and angst free, if a bit lacking in traditional Christmas tropes. Taking a triple dose of a love potion should onl...

Once Upon A Christmas Eve by Elizabeth Hoyt

20 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Elizabeth Hoyt's take on Christmas is exactly what you'd expect. Equal measures of sex and angst with a smattering of Christmas cheer.

Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can the dungeons and dragons morality scale explain our taste in romance heroes? We do our best to explore that in this episode, while talking about t...

Joy to the Duke by Darcy Burke

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We finish out the Love is All Around Trilogy with this adaptation of A Christmas Carol. There are some interesting concepts to explore in this one and...

The Gift of the Marquess by Darcy Burke

09 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

St. Stephen is not St. Nicholas and thus we are not moved by the spirit of Christmas in this Novella.

RE-RELEASE: The Red Hot Earl by Darcy Burke

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg picked this up because the idea of a Christmas novella based on Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer seemed fun. Not only is it fun, it's also sexy and ...

A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

06 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Changing things up this week with a Christmas novel featuring the bromance book club. This book is so much fun and we both enjoyed it a bunch. Laine h...

From London, With Love by Bec McMaster

28 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We both think this book is a fitting cherry on top of the London Steampunk sundae. Alexandra gets her happy ending and the gang gets back together one...

Dukes Are Forever by Bec McMaster

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bec McMaster certainly knows how to end a series. We face the existential crisis of being older than all of our heroines while relishing in the hate s...

RE-RELEASE: The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg squeal over this perfect book. It's third in the Lady Sherlock series, but first in our hearts. Somehow we keep this spoiler free, so li...

In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation by Alexandra Vasti

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This novella took us both by surprise with just how great it was. Flawless execution, next time please add more baths.

Facilitators by Audrey T.F. and Mera N.J.

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This little novella asks the question, "what if there were all of the tropes?" And we liked the answer. Thanks, 2012 Tumblr.

Re-release: Darling Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine talk about hulking dudes, dirty talk, and big, thick Minotaurs.

To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This very angsty series gets an infusion of fluff with Lark and Charlie. The change of pace was very fun, as was the setting! Did we follow all aspect...

The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We really enjoyed the setting and the romance in this ghostly love story. There was some angst, but not a ton of it was driven by the relationship whi...

Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The sequel to His Mistress by Morning is romance novel x Blade. It was a lot of fun!

RE-RELEASE: His Mistress by Morning by Elizabeth Boyle

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg found the perfect sexy fun historical with minimal agnst and depth and then spend the episode talking about Freud, feminism, and the his...

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maximus Batman... I mean Batten, is such a raging Alphahole. Meg and Laine debate whether is this entertaining or frustrating, but we both think the b...

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Honestly we don't even know how to start describing this book even though we loved it a lot. It's like a more macabre "Hating Game" meets "Pushing Dai...

Night of the Huntress by Kathryn Smith

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We kick off spooky season with the second book in Brotherhood of Blood (aka they're vampires). Plus to the second entry: no cancer. There are some OTT...

How the Wallflower Was Won by Eva Leigh

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine has never been more shocked to hear there was controversy over a book, so we'll spare you the click-bait: we liked it, it was cute.

RE-RELEASE: The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you need to go back to basics, which we do with this tropetastic, sexy, and perfectly executed historical.

Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone should be warned going into this that it's not Historical Romance in the way we've all come to expect from Enoch. Her character development r...

Barbarian Mine by Ruby Dixon

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Barbarian Mine deliberately goes back to whatever passes for basics in this universe. Neither of us were prepared for how gross that would be.

Lord of Darkness by Elizabeth Hoyt

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dang, we both have a lot of ways to say "this book is just ok, have you read Thief of Shadows?"

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg liked this a bit more than Laine, but we're both convinced the author hasn't been to Maryland and we were distracted by the way certain things wer...

Re-Release: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This book takes a lot of tropes we don't like, including student/teacher romance, but executes them in a way we couldn't help but enjoy. There's a lot...

Heartbreaker by Sarah MacLean

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This book was impossible to put down and perfectly paced. The heat was indulgent in the best possible way and we're loving where Sarah MacLean is taki...

RE-RELEASE: Bombshell by Sarah MacLean

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've been waiting for Sesily and Caleb's book since 2017 you guys. While we might have wanted a little more on-page romancing, the on-page sexing mor...

The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Spies? Check. Very very very sexy? Very very very check.

Every Rogue Has His Charm by Susanna Craig

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We loved this series and enjoyed both (all three of?) couples in this finale, but ultimately felt like everything was very rushed. We're sad to say go...

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine talk about virgin heroes, the naivety of Lois Lane, and the appropriate use of gritty origin stories (Laine attests they should not be b...

Nobody's Princess by Erica Ridley

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Wynchester series is the best at funny sibling dynamics but this one fell a bit short for us in the romance department. YMMV, but we needed a bit ...

Tempting Two by Victoria Vale

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We step outside of our historical romance wheelhouse into erotic historical romance. Vale deftly uses tropes to get to the sex as fast as possible, wh...

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower by Erica Ridley

02 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Throughout our convo, one thing kept coming up: this book is perfectly executed. It leans into plenty of romance novel tropes while throwing others ri...

A Duchess by Midnight by Charis Michaels

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We remain trash for fairytale retellings in general and Charis Michaels specifically.

When You Wish Upon A Duke by Charis Michaels

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're loving this series of secondary-character-focused fairytale retellings. The Peter Pan bits were super fun, but what we really loved was the chem...

The Governess Without Guilt by Katherine Grant

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This book is a huge departure for the Preston series, starring a Preston who isn't an ethical consumer or a socialist. A lot of this book challenged u...

The Viscount without Virtue by Katherine Grant

19 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We really really liked this love story and the worldbuilding in this one. Man goes undercover in hopes of ruining a woman's family but falls for her i...

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This book is... A LOT. Meg and Laine disagree about some of the finer points, but on the whole it vacillates between a fun ride and a lot of trauma.

Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This whole episode is one big content warning filled with spoilers. Blue aliens have sex and this invented universe sadly has many of the same hangups...

Four Weeks of Scandal by Megan Frampton

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This low angst, high fun read was exactly what we both needed this week, even if we can't agree on how time works.

You Were Made to Be Mine by Julie Anne Long

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Content warnings abound in this one, and to avoid sounding like a broken record Laine resorts to song.

Brazen and the Beast by Sarah MacLean

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Is boxing sexy? Do you dream of sex on a boat? How do brothels work? Meg and Laine discuss these and other pressing questions in our review of this ve...

The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about fairy tales, BEEF, and beefcakes.

Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We are very sorry if this is your favorite Maiden Lane because it is not ours. The groundwork for the rest of the series, however, is excellent. Goodn...

Errata not Erotica: Bridgerton Ball Review and Dark Olympus Outtakes

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're joined by Kat from Page Rage to discuss the DC Bridgerton experience and chat season 2. If you hang around after the sign off, you'll also hear ...

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Marian and Rob are pretty much perfect for each other in every way, and the found-family HEA definitely put a smile on our faces. There's not much plo...

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This is the kind of mess we are totally here for. Was it perfect? No but also yes. As long as you can get past the extremely tenuous connection to the...

A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera

04 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There was a ton of promise in this series starter! Sometimes the exposition overwhelmed the romance, but when the romance was the focus, we were very ...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 12 | Finale (Farewell, Sweet Prince!)

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

A Daring Pursuit by Kate Bateman

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Look, these families are terrible at feuding with one another but very good at f***ing one another. We can't complain. Totally admit this book has a b...

How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart by Vivienne Lorret

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A+ concept, which made it so disappointing when the ending took a hard left into general misunderstanding. This is, however, all kinds of sexy, which ...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 11 | Clarity ... Eventually

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

A Duke for Diana by Sabrina Jeffries

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sabrina Jeffries's new series kicks off with a woman who saved herself with her sisters and a guy who never thought he'd inherit. It's tropey and fun,...

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We kick off our deep dive into Maiden Lane with... the beginning. Lazarus and Temperance felt secondary to world building, but Hoyt delivers on hotnes...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 10 | Wise to the Ways of the F*ckboi

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

You Only Love Twice by Bec McMaster

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gemma is exactly our kind of heroine, so we were both a bit bummed that this book ended up doing more for the wider plot of the series than the main c...

Priest by Sierra Simone

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This one is a modern take on the "corrupting a priest" thing. Neither we nor the book could overlook the church's systemic abuse, which made some of t...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 9 | #VanLife

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

RERELEASE: The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg disagree about this story of an aspiring whipping governess and a pastor. Meg thinks Henry's piousness and consistency are sexy and intr...

Never a Duke by Grace Burrowes

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We fell hard by this cute couple but weren't nearly as enamored with the wider book. We totally admit that might have been our fault for starting with...

Errata 9: Truly Erratic

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A funny outtake, some insight into Laine's brain, a review of "The Lost City", and our immediate response minutes after finishing Bridgerton Season 2....

The Courtship Recap: Episode 8 | Poor Kitty and Slouch Socks

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

Dark Needs At Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Apparently the consequence of Meg making Laine start in the middle of a series is an hour long episode. This series is BONKERs and each species has it...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 7 | At Least He's Not Good Looking

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Maya Rodale is a romance author but this book is a big departure from her usual fare and could generously be called flirtation adjacent. Don't let tha...

Heiress Gone Wild by Laura Lee Guhrke

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We enjoyed this conclusion to the Dear Lady Truelove series, which managed to stay true to the spirit of the original. In this episode, we shockingly ...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 6 | BACCHANAL!

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Look, Meg and Laine recognize we're probably not the right people to review this book. Cat Sebastian is a good writer, but the plot here missed the ma...

I Married a Lizardman by Regine Abel

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine spend way too much time talking about capitalism, racial coding, and Star Trek when discussing this sex book.

The Courtship Recap: Episode 5 | What's Authenticity Worth These Days?

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

Bridgerton Season 2 Discussion

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine an Meg are once again joined by Maria (a romance novice) to discuss Bridgerton. This time, it's season 2! Our opinions were mostly aligned, whic...

To Marry and to Meddle by Martha Waters

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Martha Waters is becoming one of our favorite and most reliable romance writers. Neither of us are angst queens, and her ability to make what could be...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 4 | Dating Privilege

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition of Plot Trysts, Meg is joined by Tatianna Richardson, romance author and podcaster on Romance in Colour, to recap The Courtshi...

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

18 books in and the third straight book with the exact same plot and we're as charmed as ever. Does the plot make sense? No. Is there a plot? Also pre...

How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jake and Cleo a ton of fun as long as you're along with them for the ride on their unconventional courtship. If you're not and you think too hard, Jak...