Plot Trysts

The Courtship Recap: Episode 3 | You Look Like the Duke of Hastings

29 Mar 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 Mech Who Loved Me by Bec McMaster

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg are here for a prissy, smart heroine and a rough around the edges hero. We give a lot of warning when we want to discuss spoilers, so kn...

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about Sarah MacLean’s First Romance Novel and the “girl who is very hot but doesn’t know it” trope.

Red Blossom in Snow by Jeannie Lin

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world of the Pingkang Li gets richer and more complex with each installment, and we are very here for it. The mystery here let us both down, and L...

The League of Gentlewoman Witches by India Holton

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg were both seemingly delirious when recording this episode, but managed to string enough coherent sentences together to review this book....

The Courtship Recap: Episode 2 | Kind of Like the Thing You'd See in a Romcom

17 Mar 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 Hidden Moon by Jeannie Lin

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Loved this book. The mystery is more baffling the more we think about it and we couldn't care less. Five stars.

A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you just need to laugh joyfully at a couple who can pretend they hate each other when they definitely don't AND can find joy in cave sex. We...

The Courtship Recap: Episode 1 | Don't Say Bridgerton

10 Mar 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 Jade Temptress by Jeannie Lin

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeannie Lin is so talented and her characters really do come alive on the page. Less trauma than the first book, with more bad guys!

Errata (Not Erotica) 8: Bridgerton is coming

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this errata, we share clips from our recent discussion with the Bridgerton 2000 crew in anticipation of season 2, share insight into our different ...

The Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St. George

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pretty much everything about this book worked for us, even the stuff that precedent would tell you we'd hate. We both somehow remembered this as havin...

Beyond Repair by Catherine Stein

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This steampunk romance was so dang cute it had us both smiling. It caught us by surprise more than once, but the happily ever after was perfect.

The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Imperial China might not be our usual romance setting, but we both loved pretty much everything about this book. Be prepared for some heavy subject ma...

A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This book is a sexy romp that also makes readers confront the bullshit of the patriarchy, which can be stressful. We took different things away from t...

Six Impossible Things by Elizabeth Boyle

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Goodness knows we love a spy novel and Elizabeth Boyle, so a whole lot of this really worked for us. It's more farce than badass spy mystery, but ther...

Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you're going to give handjobs to pay off your student debt, there's no shame in that game as long as you're honest about engaging in sex work with ...

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Stephanie Laurens is a genius for writing the same book again, but this time with less logic. We stan.

Mission: Improper by Bec McMaster

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If Mission: Improper was a TV show, Ingrid and Caleb would have been the will they/won't they pair that kept viewers waiting for all 15 seasons. Lucki...

Barbarian Alien by Ruby Dixon

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The sentient sex toy from the first book definitely has "brothers" but Liz isn't as thrilled by this fact as you would think. Sexy and funny, this seq...

Electric Idol by Katee Robert

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Dark Olympus series continues with the story of Eros and Psyche, except not really? Both Meg and Laine thought this book's greatest weakness was h...

The Runaway Duchess by Joanna Lowell

21 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg is really charmed by taking an absurd scenario to a logical conclusion, while Laine is less so. The unlikeable characters are very fun and add to ...

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews

18 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine love clothes, so you know this worked for us on the fashion front. We loved both main characters and bought the conflict, so we definite...

The Knave of Hearts by Elizabeth Boyle

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This one has enough plot threads to be a Cynster novel. How ok you are with the lack of pay-off on some of those threads may depend on your frame of m...

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You know we love reinterpretations of classic stories and this modern take on the Greek pantheon was super fun. Half the fun was figuring out how the ...

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

07 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Guys this book makes no sense. It asks the very important question, "what happens when sex telepathy works but it works so well you're convinced it wa...

Better Off Wed by Susanna Craig

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Now that we're done with Christmas Novellas, we return to our bread and butter (historical SPIES). We loved how willing Susanna Craig was to lean into...

The Rebel and the Rake by Emily Sullivan

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine really like anachronistically progressive spies and their suffragette lovers. What can we say, we're predictable.  

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We wrap up our ACOTAR reviews with a discussion of which genre this series falls into. Meg was grateful for the lack of sex cabin, which was a first. ...

Christmas Special: A Castle for Christmas

26 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine & Meg enjoyed this knitting propaganda disguised as a Christmas film so much they decided to watch it a second time and record their comment...

A Mistletoe Kiss by Eloisa James

24 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We wrap up our Christmas novellas with the most epic Christmas party ever! I need to go to this Arthurian grotto.

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This Christmas Novella takes the "aristocratic woman marries low born but wealthy man" trope (better name TBD) and adds some Christmas house party she...

The Christmas Courtesan by Victoria Vale

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a "virgin hero sells virginity at Christmas house party" story. Lots of potential in that description, but it's BARELY a Christmas book and th...

A Christmas Gone Perfectly Wrong by Cecilia Grant

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Two unlikely travel companions get stranded in a small village for Christmas and make the best of it/learn the true meaning of Christmas while trying ...

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Scotsmen with terrible parents have a cousin who gets a Christmas novella! Laine was very very charmed by two adults clearly communicating their d...

Gentleman Seeks Bride by Megan Frampton

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This sex book was so charming, and a hot air balloon wasn't the only thing to rise to the occasion. Did we recognize Jane from the previous book? Not ...

After Dark with the Duke by Julie Anne Long

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I swear the Grand Palace on the Thames generates more marriages than mid-sized liberal arts colleges in Ohio. Our latest couple is a reserved and hono...

A Wicked Bargain for the Duke by Megan Frampton

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Marriage of convenience with agreement to produce an heir after a dumb ruination has never been so sexy. We had a lot of fun with this one, and we thi...

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A kidnapped earth woman abandoned by her cruel abductors is rescued by her soulmate, who is basically an Avatar with genitalia. I don't even know, you...

An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Val and Caro are a second chance romance we're totally on board with! We were super impressed with how deliberate and well designed many of the scenes...

All the Feels by Olivia Dade

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The second book in the Spoiler Alert series builds on the super fun universe of the first book in a way we both found extremely charming. It takes a w...

The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane by Elizabeth Boyle

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If anyone knows what the fairy tale is in this one please tell us because it's driving Laine crazy. Regardless, we very much enjoyed this sunshine/gru...

Tall, Duke, and Dangerous by Megan Frampton

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine are always here for friends to lovers and sexy lessons, so you know we enjoyed the heck out of this one. Ana Maria has a level of indepe...

After Glow by Jayne Castle

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

First of all, I can not be held responsible for keeping track of Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle's noms de plume. Meg has a lot of affection for the romanti...

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

BRB going to law school to become a divorce attorney, then learning how to time travel and make fictional universes real so I can FINALLY GET LORD ING...

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kissing lessons, house parties, and women upsetting the patriarchy are all right up our alley, and this book has all of them! Laine quibbled a bit ove...

My Kind of Earl by Vivienne Lorett

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The premise of this book is perfect. It's basically a gender-swapped Anastasia which hit us right in the feels, and our heroes get to spend a surprisi...

After Dark by Jayne Castle

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg have a difference of opinion on this one. Meg admits to a bias toward Amanda Quick and all of her other noms de plume, which Laine lacks...

The Devil's Own Duke by Lenora Bell

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We both thought this was a cute concept, even if Meg is a self-proclaimed Wine Grinch. We would have loved a bit more from both of these characters, b...

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Not only does April get to go out with a hot celebrity from her favorite TV show, it turns out he's secretly been her online BFF all along. Olivia Dad...

RE-RELEASE: Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about kissing your future wife next to your cousin’s body, very stupid nicknames, and familial justice. Buckle up, this one is wi...

RE-RELEASE: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine gush about perfect books, talk about what it means to be ruined, and don't question what keeps happening to their clothing even a little...

RE-RELEASE: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine talk about doll funerals, non-penetrative sex, and science that isn’t botany.

RE-RELEASE: The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about wedding tropes and scars. Also cats.

Love is a Rogue Lenora Bell

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This book is so full of tropes there's no way we got them all. We both agree this is light reading with great cooperation and heat between the main ch...

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

11 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This bachelor-esque tale was right up Meg's alley, and we both loved the way these men fell in love. The author does a great job outlining the trigger...

Lord Holt Takes a Bride by Vivienne Lorret

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg go back to the beginning with the Mating Habits of Scoundrels to see where it all began. We love a good road trip romance, but this book...

I'm Only Wicked with You by Julie Anne Long

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg are joined by special guest Natalie to discuss the most recent in the Grand Palace on the Thames series. The series' charm remains as st...

Governess Gone Rogue by Laura Lee Guhrke

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Somehow Laura Lee Guhrke manages to take some of our least favorite tropes and turn them into a downright charming book with complex and consistent ch...

A Duchess a Day by Charis Michaels

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This Fairytale retelling hits all the right spots for us. Whimsical and funny with two characters who cannot stop making out? Mirror mirror on the wal...

Errata 7: So Much Sebastian

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg some of our favorite outtakes, romance musings, and excerpts from our conversations with the Lit Wallflowers!

Never Kiss a Duke by Megan Frampton

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This book has some fun takes on tropes we've seen before (gambling hells, debutant siblings) but has one glaring point of historical inaccuracy that y...

Hit Me With Your Best Scot by Suzanne Enoch

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The last Scottish brother is married off and this book did not go down as Meg or Laine expected. Both of us were charmed by Coll, and neither of us we...

If Wishes Were Earls by Elizabeth Boyle

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are huge Boyle stans so it hurts to admit this one didn't work for us quite as well as the first two books in the series. We loved Roxley's crazy a...

Angel in a Devil's Arms by Julie Anne Long

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine are joined by Shani from Romance at a Glance to discuss the second book in the Palace of Rogues series. There's a lot to love with this ...

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We actually managed to keep this one spoiler free in the beginning and very clearly notate where the spoilers start, so those wanting a preview withou...

The Baron without Blame by Katherine Grant

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lolly is super lucky that the strange man who heard her sneeze happens to share her politics and be super hot and be super into her because God knows ...

Isn't it Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Russian gets a character and boy does Meg like him. Having Vlad write a romance was a stroke of genius and put a new spin on the romance-reading c...

Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Long

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A spy falls for a Countess who recently opened a hotel with her dead husband's mistress in a former brothel. We had a lot of fun with this one and tot...

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine really likes this book. Meg can't stop talking about plumbing. We agree that the interpersonal narratives are better than the external plot.

The Devil and The Heiress by Harper St. George

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This road trip/fortune hunter book was a worthy successor to the first book in the series. It had a ton of our favorite tropes, but not enough carriag...

The Wrong Marquess by Vivienne Lorret

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Elephant stampedes are super romantic, dontcha know?! Seriously, we were very into this couple and loved the setup of this conflict. We could have don...

Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Look, this isn't our favorite Kleypas. The main couple certainly has its moments and this might be her best use of former characters yet, but ultimate...

The Trouble with True Love by Laura Lee Guhrke

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We loved the sexy and reluctant advice columnist paired with the wallflower finding her voice and thought most of this book was really fun, and the ta...

The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Impoverished aristocrat is a fortune hunter in need of a marriage of convenience has been done before, but it's definitely done well here. We might ra...

Errata Not Erotica: Mispronunciations, Courtesy titles, and Lit Wallflowers

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It seems we always have more to say about courtesy titles, Amelia Peabody, and Bridgerton.

A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine read this series a while ago and apparently can't keep the books straight or remember the gross plot elements. Meg was not here for Feyre's wet ...

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This gaslamp-ish romance is a ton of fun and made us laugh a lot. It's also filled with a LOT of literary references, and we're pretty sure we missed ...

Three Nights with a Scoundrel by Tessa Dare

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The final book in the Stud Club series has a great portrayal of deafness and Deaf culture but a confusing plot tied up with a plot twist that made Lai...

Film Review - Witness

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg are joined by "Just Plain Wrong" podcast hosts Erin and Tillie to discuss the romance in Witness. Harrison Ford is hot, the cops are rea...

Like No Other Lover by Julie Anne Long

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg talk about marrying for money, bad girls, and the funniest drinking game in the genre.

The Perils of Pleasure by Julie Anne Long

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine talk about how smelly people on the run are, if we want to solve the mystery, and believably duplicitous brothers.

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg both really like Phoebe and West. They're cute together, well suited, and largely pretty sexy. However, there are some ill-conceived not...

The Bride of Larkspear by Sherry Thomas

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg review a novella/writing exercise from Sherry Thomas in this one. It's... hard to talk about as a book because it mirrors Tempting the B...

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Alyssa Cole's latest is about the youngest woman in a line of badass female warriors with no respect for boundaries and maybe princess/definite doorma...

Have You Any Rogues? by Elizabeth Boyle

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Crispin and Henrietta have been locked in a will they/won't they thing for 11 years, and now they're locked in a wine cellar. This novella crams a lot...

Deception by Amanda Quick

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Diving in the way back machine today for Deception by Amanda Quick. We love piracy and academic women, but could have done without the sexual assault....

The Truth about Love and Dukes by Laura Lee Guhrke

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine talk about believable conflict, period-appropriate dialogue, and sexy debate tactics.

Twice Tempted by a Rogue by Tessa Dare

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This book has tropes galore and some seriously batshit plots (yes we bring up Cynsters...) but the characters are charming and we love tropes. Pay att...

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Independent Doctor and Moral Spy trying to reform a corrupt system from the inside..... yeah Kleypas has our number. Add in some wonderful clothing an...

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In spite of the title Gabriel really is nothing like his father. You'd think that would make Laine happy, except he really wasn't much of a character ...

Tempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We've enjoyed the Fitzhugh series so far but this one really turns up the heat. While this one deviates from our usual favorite tropes, Sherry Thomas ...

Once Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're dipping back into the Tessa Dare Archives with this one. Trope-tastic, sexy, and more than a little absurd, this book definitely previews the go...

The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A Civil War vet and a Chinese-born missionary widow team up to solve global communication issues in an equitable and sustainable way. If it sounds lik...

To Love and To Loathe by Martha Waters

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There's plenty to love here - from a critical examination of rakishness to some really well developed friendships. Meg liked this more than Laine (who...

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Martha Waters impressed us both with her debut novel, even if marriage in crisis isn't Meg's favorite. This series really gets us to dive in to whethe...

The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Meg and Laine disagree about the merits of this book. Laine found it to be almost Cynster-esque while Meg was able to put that aside and buy into the ...

And the Miss Ran Away with the Rake by Elizabeth Boyle

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everything about this book is ridiculous in the best way. Hilarious and sexy, this book put big grins on both our faces. We just wish there'd been onl...

One Thing Leads to a Lover by Susanna Craig

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Spies! Again! Some more! But in this case it's a spy retrieving a much needed code book from an unsuspecting and bored widow. Meg and Laine disagree o...

A Dance in Moonlight by Sherry Thomas

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Laine and Meg usually looooovveeee Sherry Thomas, and this book does have some cute moments and was was sexier than expected. But neither of us could ...