Illicit Liaisons

This week, we celebrate the release of Starlit & Spellbound, our first fall anthology, featuring 10 spellbinding romances with witches, ghosts, fated mates, enemies-to-lovers, forbidden love, curses, fate & more!

We're chatting with two of the authors in Starlit & Spellbound, Marissa Marinello and Miranda Tamrakar, about bookish drama, their stories in Starlit & Spellbound, and more.

Marissa Marinello is a SoCal native who writes urban, high fantasy, and cozy-romantasy. A TTRPG nerd who grew up on Tolkien, musical theater & comics, she's always been inspired by finding the fantastical in the mundane and building amazing worlds to tell rich stories...

This week, we chat with author and book event planner Amy Marie about whether romance books need more yearning, Amy's success with SaSS while other book signing events seem to be imploding, the internet's policing of dark romance, and more.

About Amy Marie
Amy Marie was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago (Go Cubs Go!) until she married the red-headed love of her life in 2005 and made the move to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she currently resides with her two teenagers and a mini-Australian Shepard, who chases after the four cats!<...

This week, I'm solo (Jenna) with an update to a blast-from-the-past episode from 2021 on what romance books I'd recommend to people who've never read romance but are willing to give it a try, with my updated picks for 2026.

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Classic Romance

Persuasion by Jane Austen https://amzn.to/4gGRvX7

Persuasion movie https://amzn.to/4cpXUVk

Contemporary Romance

Big Rock by Lauren Blakely https://amzn.to/4gJuCCe

Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan https://amzn.to/4...

This week, we chat with author Suzy England about the impact of the butterfly effect on building a writing career, as well as learning about her new and upcoming women's fiction and romance novels.

Suzy England is an Amazon Charts bestselling author of Women's Fiction and Romance. Her heartfelt and relatable stories first captured a global audience on Wattpad, where her work was read by millions. A finalist in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, Suzy has also penned pieces for Amazon Prime Video and BookTrib. She's a proud member of the esteemed Tall Po...

This week, we chat with author Suzy Langevin, discussing tropes, love triangles, and Suzy's new release, The Plus One Pact.

Suzy Langevin writes happily ever afters where people are loved because of, not in spite of, the things they see as their flaws. She is the winner of the 2024 RWA Golden Heart Award, and her short fiction appears in anthologies and magazines. Suzy lives in Massachusetts and does, in fact, run on Dunkin'.

Suzy's Website https://www.suzylangevin.com/

Suzy's Books https://www.suzylangevin.com/team-3

Suzy on Instagram https://www...

This week, we chat with authors Mara Heath and Annabella Lowe about the cosy romantasy debate, AI art scams, as well as their own works and upcoming releases. 

Mara fell in love with the romance genre when she first started reading the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams series as a teen. Decades later, after working as an English teacher and taking time to be a mother, she's finally become the romance writer she always wanted to be. She's the author of the New Adult Contemporary Romance series The Secrets of Brownhill, with book one, Caged in S...

This week, we chat with author T.A. Leederman about sci-fi romance, the book drama over whether book influencers are reading the books they recommend, hot takes in the bookish community, and more.

Tara is a PhD in English and former writing teacher, one of our editors and all-around press gremlin here at Tender and Tempting Tales, and main fiction writer for Starship Valkyrie. Typically she writes science-fiction romance for our publications, though she’s branched out into urban romantasy for our most recent zine, Fantastical Foes. She’s also the editor of Sapphics of Saturn, which is o...

This week, we chat with author Eva LeClerc, who has a secret. We discuss hot takes around slow-burn romance, use of pen names in romance fiction, and what happened in the finale of Outlander. 

Eva LeClerc set out to write a dark mafia romance set in New York City. Somehow, that turned into a dark paranormal romance set in New Orleans, serialized to Substack and now published just this last week as Shadow of Betrayal, the first book in the Oathmarked series. Eva loves myths and folklore that involve magic and romance, and she’s also intrigued by...

This week, our guest host is author Annabella Lowe, and we're talking about bookish overconsumption, paranormal romance, Summerween, and more!

About Annabella Lowe:
Books have always been a passion for Annabella, who was raised on The Vampire Diaries, Shadowhunters, and Twilight, so it was no surprise that she started writing books that contained vampires—her first love! She published her first book, Find Me in the Shadows, in late 2024. She loves to blend genres to create something unique and add new and sinister twists to the paranormal mythology in her books. She has a ta...

This week, we chat with Laura Solar, a booktuber who covers news and drama from the book community on her channel, Laura Rae Says. We discuss book piracy, bookish drama, and questionable editors.

Laura Solar is a book lover and the host of a YouTube channel that focuses on topics related to the book community. Making videos for over three years featuring reviews, interviews, and all things involving books, she's recently started making videos to expose the dark side of the book world. Uncovering scams and badly behaving companies and authors has become a passion project for...

This week, we're celebrating Fantastical Foes, an enemies-to-lovers romantasy zine. We're chatting with the editor, Parrish Baker, and contributing authors Marissa Marinello, Lynne Solisse, and Tara Leederman.

Parrish Baker/Urna Semper
Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for her books depicting passionate tales of forbidden love between clones and born-humans. Born to a family of scriveners, she learned the art of writing at her mother's side. Her breakthrough came with Olava: Fallen into Bondage, followed by Kyrie: Betrayed into Bondage, and Kingdom of Maids. Her most recent projects, The Pearl...

This week, we're joined by author Mara Heath to talk about romance books, bookish drama and hot takes, romance categories, and more.

Mara fell in love with the romance genre when she first started reading the Sweet Valley High and Sweet Dreams series as a teen. Decades later, after working as an English teacher and taking time to be a mother, she's finally become the romance writer she always wanted to be. She's the author of the New Adult Contemporary Romance series The Secrets of Brownhill, with book one, Caged in Silver, releasing last year, and book...

This week, we discuss bookish news, hot takes, drama and more. Join us and let us know your hot takes.

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

The Pearl Crucible by Urna Semper https://amzn.to/4waBkHK

Serialized stories by Urna Semper Substack https://urnasemper.substack.com/

Dead but Not Forgotten by Jenna Harte https://amzn.to/4eEltKh

Back to Us by Jenna Harte free at https://jennaharte.com/

Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc https://evaleclercauthor.substack.com/


TENDER & TEMPTING TALES<...

This week, we're joined by author Allie Lasky to talk about romance books, including what it means to be well-read, sports romance, and more.

Allie Lasky is a queer and AuDHD writer with a hyper-fixation on inclusivity and representation. She loves the color purple, Michigan football, the Detroit Lions, and the Boston Bruins. When she’s not absorbed by a book, she likes to watch sports and spend time with her nephews. A San Diego, CA native now residing in South Carolina, she’s allergic to the cold, rain, snow, and mosquitos. When you read Allie, you’re gua...

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Tara Leederman and Urna Semper, where we discuss:

- Anti-intellectualism in reading

- Follow-up from Romanstasy-gates

- Plus, we learn about Tara and Urna's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more!

Urna Semper is a romance author from Argoshaan, known for her books depicting passionate tales of forbidden love between clones and born-humans. Born to a family of scriveners, she learned the art of writing at her mother's side. Her breakthrough came with...

This week, we're still celebrating the release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Lynne Solisse and Miranda Tamrakar, where we discuss:

- Spice levels in romance and what each chili pepper means

- Plus we learn about Lynn and Miranda's stories in Fireworks & Flirtation, other books they have coming up, and more!

Lynne Intro: Writing found Lynne Solisse later in life, and never let go. She writes romance that doesn’t flinch, centering on women who are fierce, loyal, and unafraid to demand more out of life. Women who want to re...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Aline Francoure and Jenna Harte. We discuss:

- The Romancestasy controversy

- What inspired Aline's story, Back to Us, a second chance romance with a singing telegram

- Factoids about the mafia and New Orleans, and Blackbeard folklore, and a whole lot more!

Aline Francoure is a passionate romance writer hailing from the picturesque countryside of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. When she's not crafting tales of love and passion, she enjoys the company of her two loyal dogs and...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation by chatting with Annie R McEwen. We discuss:

- Publishers ending their historical romance lines

- The future of publishing

- Plus, we learn how Guy Fawkes inspired Annie's story in Fireworks & Flirtation, share book recommendations, and more.

A career historian, Annie R McEwen has lived in six countries and under every roof from a canvas tent to a Georgian Era manor house. She writes historical romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical fiction. Annie is published by Bloodhound Books (UK), Harbor...

This week, we're celebrating the upcoming release of Fireworks & Flirtation with our authors, Suzy Langevin and Marissa Marinello. We discuss:

Suzy Langevin writes happily ever afters where people are loved because of, not in spite of, the things they see as their flaws. She is the winner of the 2024 RWA Golden Heart Award, and her sh...

This week, our guest host is author Jason Wrench, and we discuss:
* Face Off cover controversy
* Jason's appearance at BookCon
* Hockey romance
and more!

Jason Wrench writes. He writes a lot. With his publisher, Pride Publishing (now Totally Entwined) he’s the author of three different series: 12 Days of Murder & Till Death Do Us Wed, Up on the Farm (Finding a Farmer, Bewitched by the Barista, Sanctuary for the Surgeon, & Catching the Composer), and the Love and Liquidation Series (Boy Bands and Bullets, A Choreographed Coup, & Rhythmic Reclamation), and the standalone novella Wolf Is...

This week, our guest host is Sierra Hill, with whom we discuss the controversial attempt by Ivory Chapters to trademark "Blind Date with a Book," the impact of AI in publishing, sports romance, and more!

Sierra Hill is a RONE Award-winning romance author of Game Changer and the award-winning college sports series Courting Love. She writes steamy new adult and sports romances, including the Vancouver Vikings hockey series, the Puget Sound Pilots, and the Clearview Falls University football series with her co-writing partner, S.E. Rose. She also writes award-winning LGBTQ+ romance under the pen name, K...

This week, our guest host is author Mariah Ankenman. We discuss hot takes around the author ARCs, disability representation in romance fiction, #authorapril, and book adaptations we'd love to watch.

Mariah Ankeman is a bestselling  romance author living in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse, who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her. Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books.

This week, Tara and I share the tea, hot takes, and news from the romance book world, including Shy Girl drama, worst spicy writing, and more.

AUTHORS & BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow
An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn
Paws & Peril from Tender & Tempting Tales

READING & RECOMMENDED

Shadow of Betrayal by Eva LeClerc
Urna Semper on Substack

TENDER & TEMPTING TALES

Tender and Tempting Tales Substack: Subscribe and get a FREE story!

Tender and Tempting...

This week, we talk with book influencer Bea from Mama Needs to Read Romance about the state of historical romance, being a booktuber, and more.

LINKS TO BEA

Mama Needs to Read Romance YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mamaneedstoreadromance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mama.needs.to.read.romance/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/user/show/75674482-mama-needs-to-read-romance

AUTHORS & BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Joanna Shupe https://amzn.to/4m9lOYA
Kate Bateman https://amzn.to/4mb9qHE
Teresa Medeiros https://amzn.to/4sZ264y
Lindz McLeod https://amzn...

This week, we celebrate the release of Paws & Peril, a romance zine with stories, articles, games, and more around romantic suspense that include a dog.

We discuss romantic suspense and why dogs make a perfect side character, and more.

Hosts this week include zine editor Rachel Young; zine copyeditor, social media manager, and contributor Tara Leederman; author Marissa Marinello; and managing editor and contributor Jenna Harte.

LINKS TO PAWS & PERIL

Paws & Peril (in KU): https://amzn.to/3NYe9j8

Rachel Young: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.young.1023<...

This week, our guest host is romance author Annie R McEwen where we discuss the hubbub around the new adaptation of Wuthering Heights, classic romance novels, and more.

LINKS TO ANNIE R MCEWEN

Annie's Website: https://www.anniermcewen.com/ 

Bound Across Time https://amzn.to/4bIJ9M9

The Corset Girls Unlaced https://amzn.to/4uPC84S

Annie's Books on Amazon https://amzn.to/487lqnE

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole: https://amzn.to/4tqzdOH

This week, our guest host is romance author Aubree Valentine where we discuss Heated Rivalry, hockey romance, the why-choose trope, and more.

LINKS TO AUBREE VALENTINE

Aubree's website: https://authoraubreevalentine.com/

Aubree's social links: https://authoraubreevalentine.com/social/

Aubree's author's page: https://amzn.to/4bglzHF

Pucking Tangled: https://amzn.to/4uwdaY0

Christmas at Mistletoe Bay: https://amzn.to/4bgBWnz

Saving Sadie (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha - Susan Stoker-verse): https://amzn.to/4dpM2nh

BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW<...

This week, our guest host is romance and mystery author Jenna Harte (yes, me!), where we discuss passionate sleuthing couples, fan fiction, the amnesia trope, and more!

LINKS TO JENNA HARTE

Jenna Harte: https://jennaharte.com

Jenna's Author Page: https://amzn.to/4b39fKF


BOOKS MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Valentine Mysteries (7 books in KU): https://amzn.to/40tacWv

New Release: Dead but Not Forgotten: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKZF2HYK

Deadly Valentine by Jenna Harte: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008...

This week, our guest host is romance author Stephanie R. Caffrey, where we discuss books we're afraid to read, romantic suspense, and more!

LINKS TO STEPHANIE R. CAFFREY

Stephanie R. Caffrey: https://srcaffrey.com

Stephanie's Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stephanie-R.-Caffrey/author/B0CXNBGX1Z

Strings of Deception: https://amzn.to/3MXD85S

Profiling the Heart series: https://amzn.to/4cswIpF

London Detective Agency series: https://amzn.to/3NizZ0x


BOOKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THE SHOW
<...

This week, our guest host is Parrish Baker writing as Urna Semper, and we discuss:
* Book Bullying
* Romantansy vs Romantic Fantasy vs Fantasy Romance
and more!

LINKS TO URNA SEMPER

Parrish Baker writing as Urna Semper on Substack: https://urnasemper.substack.com/p/copy-the-lady-of-birzeta

Urna Semper's Amazon Author page: https://amzn.to/4rn86TO

The Pearl Crucible by Urna Semper: https://amzn.to/4tRJmVy

Olava: Sold into Bondage by Urna Semper: https://www.amazon.com/Olava-Bondage-Science-Incidents-Iphigenia-ebook/dp/B0CLL1Y3Z7

"The...

Guest Host Suzy Langevin, 2024 RWA Golden Heart Award for Excellence In Pre-Published Romance, for the Plus One Pact.

We discuss hot takes on romance, including our thoughts on epilogues and bonus chapters, is cheating okay in romance, depictions of mental health in romance, and more! 

Check out Suzy at https://www.suzylangevin.com/ 
Suzy's Books https://www.suzylangevin.com/team-3
Suzy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/suzylangevinwrites/

Books/Authors/Book Influencers Mentioned on the Show:
Peace, Love, Books XO https://www.youtube.com/@PeaceLoveBooksxo
Dead But No...

Illicit Liaisons reboot! Join for a discussion about:

On this show:

Guest Rachel Young/Aline Francoure - https://alinefrancoure.com/

Books/Authors:

This week I interview Jackie Mojica author of contemporary romances feature rockstars.

Visit the Illicit Liaison page at SwoonworthyHEA to learn more about Jackie and her books, as well as other books mentioned on the show.

In this week's episode, I interview Lisa Becker, author of the Starfish Series. We talk about the author duo she admires most, her all-time favorite book boyfriend, and how she got started writing.

You can learn more about Lisa at her website

Check out more Illicit Liaison's shows and join the romance fiction conversation at SwoonworthyHea.com.

Maggie Blackbird is on Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario who writes contemporary, YA, historical and LBGTQ romances involving Canada's indigenous people.  Her latest book is Knight Moves, book three in her When We Were Young Series.  Maggie and I talk about the romance authors she loved (and still loves), her start in romance writing, and how she incorporates the lives of indigenous people into her romances. 

Visit the Illicit Liaisons page at SwoonworthyHEA to learn more about Maggie and her books. 

In this week's ep, I answer the question on the books I'd recommend to a reader who's never read a romance before but is willing to give it try. I recommend books in a variety of categories, including; Classic, Contemporary, Category, Historical, Mystery, Paranormal, Sweet, and Romcom.

Chances are, you have different books you'd recommend. I'd love to hear what they are. You can let me know at SwoonworthyHEA where Illicit Liaisons is hosted. 

If you love romance fiction, come join the SwoonworthyHEA community to talk about your favorite books, authors, and more. 

This week I discuss my thoughts on The Duke and I by Julia Quinn and the TV adaptation of it, Bridgerton.

For Black History Month, I have a list of black romance authors to check out as well.

To leave a comment or to read show notes, visit the Illicit Liaisons page at SwoonworthyHEA.

Join the online community for romance readers to discuss your favorite authors and books, win fun stuff, start a blog and more at SwoonworthyHEA.

What would you like to see or do in a romance fiction community...

Mr. Darcy has become synonymous with the romantic leading man. Even though he "lived" over two-hundred years ago, many traits that make Darcy an endearing romantic lead live on today's romances. In this episode, I discuss Darcy's traits and share a few modern romances that I feel have Darcy-esque leading men.

Do you have other thoughts about Darcy or modern-day romance heroes similar to Darcy? Let me know on the Illicit Liaison podcast page at SwoonworthyHEA.com

We love romance fiction. But we may not all agree on which types of stories we prefer. In this episode of Illicit Liaisons, I share some of my favorite and not so favorite romance tropes.

Which do you love? Which do you hate? Let me know by visiting the Illicit Liaisons page at SwoonworthyHEA.

Join SwoonworthyHEA, the online community for people who love to read romance fiction. Join groups, start a blog, win stuff and more! Visit Swoonworthyhea to learn more and join!

Cable networks and streaming services are all clamboring for great books to adapt to TV and movies. Here is my list of a few romance books I'd love to see on screen.

What books would love to see adapted to a movie or show? Let me know at the Illicit Liaison page at SwoonworthyHEA.

Are you a die-hard romantic, looking to chat about romance fiction with other die-hard romantics? Join the SwoonworthyHEA community where you can talk books, win fun stuff, and even start your own fan, book, or author blog.