Send us a text

Street corn nachos, a cucumber margarita the size of a goldfish bowl, and enough romance novels to take us from cozy bookshops to briny underwater kingdoms. Season two wrapped up with everything we love: the reads that made us swoon, the ones that shocked us, and the moments that had us snort-laughing into our drinks.

We talk about the couples that stayed with us, from board-game tenderness to a demon who adored a heroine’s pocket snacks. Heat levels became a running character: one of us is a jalapeño-level, closed-door loyalist. The other keeps testing the Scoville scale. We break down the scenes that delivered heat, the ones that didn’t, and the small gestures that built real intimacy — texting side by side, building blanket forts and making romance feel cozy.

Along the way, we celebrate the settings that did heavy lifting: snowed-in luxury retreats where writers finally write, small-town series you wish you could move into, and fantastical oceanic worlds that made us believe. And because we’re us, we also crown the anatomy metaphors that will haunt us forever (hello “man root” and “snug clasp”), confess the creature-feature moments that broke plausibility in spectacular fashion, and share our favorite cocktails of 2025.

We shout out authors who owned our hearts, including Heatherly Bell, Emma Hamm, Serena Bowen, Elle Kennedy, Charlotte Stein, Kimberly Lemming, Paige Lavoie and Emily B. Rose. We admit our biases: instant heat versus slow burn, mystery-driven plots versus contemporary comfort.

Looking ahead, we’re letting fate guide our TBR with a martini-glass number draw, trimming segments that feel forced, and planning more meetups with readers, writers and fellow romance nerds.

Hit play for a warm, candid, end-of-year debrief full of spice scales, monster mayhem, nachos,and genuine affection for romance. If you laughed, discovered a new favorite author, or added a title to your list, follow, share with a friend, and leave a review. What was your most surprising romance read this year?

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

Pop the cork with us as we open season three and get real about how a half-joking idea turned into a ritual that changed our reading lives. We trace our path from sneaking dog-eared paperbacks to championing today’s expansive romance universe, and we talk about what happened when we let romance back in — more joy at home, a revived writing habit, and a community that feels like a warm, rowdy book club.

We swap origin stories and gateway reads, then dive into tastes that reveal who we are: forced proximity for pressure-cooker growth, friends to lovers for rock-solid foundations, enemies to lovers when the heat needs a sharp edge. Spice gets its own spotlight as we map jalapeño slow burns to habanero thrills and draw the line at Carolina Reaper chaos. Along the way, we shout out our insta-buy and comfort authors — Lisa Kleypas, Emma Hamm, Heatherly Bell, Ashley Herring Blake, B.K. Borison, Katie Robert, Fallon Ballard — and the singular books we’d be buried with, because some stories become part of your DNA.

You’ll also hear how this show actually gets made: racing two-week cycles, editing transcripts that mistake our voices, migrating a website without losing our minds, and keeping the marketing engine humming. Through it all, the laughs steady us. We’re building something welcoming and interactive, where your recs flood our DMs and your niche tropes find a home. On the desired horizon: playful staged reenactments with actor friends, reader retreats, maybe even a romance cruise if we can convince Meghan to board.

If you love smart, spirited talk about romance novels, from historical comfort reads to dark fantasy detours, you’re in the right place. Hit follow, share this with your bookish bestie, and tell us your ride-or-die trope and your latest auto-buy author. Your rec might be our next favorite read.

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

Candy Cane Cocktails in hand, we dive into two very different holiday romances and come up for air with laughter, side-eye and a few hard truths. First up: Good Spirits by B.K. Borison, a contemporary paranormal charmer where a Ghost of Christmas Past lands in a modern woman’s living room and promptly breaks every rule — starting with her heart. We dig into the banter that actually crackles, the clever sensory limits on ghosts (Hot Tamales, anyone?), and the soft-boy off-season where knitting and stray cats reign. Then we pick at the seams: why does a world with cosmic HR underuse its best haunter and what happens when a century-old ghost gets a mortal body with zero paperwork? The snow-globe spice scene delights but the ending raises questions the book doesn’t answer.

Next: a small-town second-chance romance set in Door County that trades genuine intimacy for tourist brochure vibes. Lila returns home with writer’s block, Conrad is mid-proposal arc with his long-term girlfriend, and the story asks us to cheer for kisses before clean breakups. We talk through the stiff dialogue, relentless name-dropping and the deeper issue: how ambition and choosing to be childfree get framed as moral failings, while cooking and caretaking are used as a wife test. It’s a clash between nostalgia and agency, and it makes the so-called happily ever after feel smaller than it should.

We close with clear takeaways: apologies mean you want to try again and cheating isn’t romantic. If you crave holiday romance with heart, look for stories that balance cozy settings with consent, accountability and characters who get to be whole. Hit play for ghostly giggles, spicy snow and frank talk about what makes a winter love story actually warm. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a romance-loving friend, and leave a review. What’s your holiday romance green flag or dealbreaker?

Books for the Episode:

Good Spirits by B.K. Borison

A Christmas Kind of Perfect by Christine Schimpf

Cocktail for the Episode:

Candy Cane Cocktail

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

Holiday romance should feel like stepping into a warm kitchen: familiar, fragrant and a little bit daring. We open with two cocktails that embody that spirit — a risky Latke Sour with potato syrup and egg white, and a bright cranberry cosmo sweetened with local honey. Then we dive into two Hanukkah-centered love stories that test how much flavor, heat and heart a seasonal read can carry.

First up, Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern. We explore a latke fry-off romance built around Jewish food traditions, a foodie blogger with big TV dreams, and a smoked-meat-loving crush who wants a deli. The sensory writing sings and the food-as-courtship thread feels true. We quote lines about allyship as action and desire that tastes like barbecue on the breath. But we also press on continuity gaps, a “next town over” exile that strains credibility, and TV production logistics that real-life timelines would never allow. When humor is announced instead of earned, the rom-com fizz goes flat—even while the menu dazzles.

Then we head to Milwaukee for a friends-to-lovers Hanukkah story that brings grief, chemistry and real spice with Find Me by Liz Lincoln. The dialogue sounds like 23, the city feels lived-in, and the steam arrives early with intention. We highlight a grounded take on loss — love doesn’t end just because someone is gone — and we talk about how frequent, well-placed intimacy can deepen character rather than distract. We also call out two bar-based encounters that set off our hygiene alarms (because even fantasy benefits from a touch of realism). Overall, this one hit the sweet spot: emotional stakes, local texture and holiday heat in balance.

Across both books we keep circling the same truth: holiday romance thrives on specifics. Food as love language. Place as memory. Ritual as structure for second chances. When timelines are tight and banter is earned, even familiar tropes sparkle. Pour a glass, add these to your TBR, and tell us: are you team cozy or team spicy this season? If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a bookish friend, and leave a quick review on your podcast app to help other romance readers find us.

Our Books & Bevies for the Episode:

Meghan --

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

A hockey crush in 8th grade and a lifelong love of the game set A.C. Wonderland on an unexpected path: slow-burn romances that feel as tense and electric as a tied third period. We pull up a chair with A.C. to talk about her books One Shot and Summer Shot, why golden retriever male leads deserve their flowers, and how to write intimacy that actually moves the story forward. If your heart wants authentic hockey details with just-right spice, you’re in the right locker room.

A.C. opens up about the spark behind her characters, the personal Easter eggs she hides in names and moments, and the art of pacing tension so readers keep whispering one more page. We trade recs across romance and fantasy, dig into the joy of traveling book clubs with annotated copies, and explore how mental health themes in popular titles shaped her approach to empathy on the page. She also explains why she mostly avoids reading hockey romance while drafting — protecting voice and honoring accuracy — without losing the delight of a great love story.

The road to indie publishing gets real here. A.C. breaks down building a trusted team, working with editors and cover artists found online, navigating PR, and partnering with indie bookstores. We get practical about writing routines: outlines as guardrails, chapter-based goals over rigid word counts, non-linear drafting when a scene stalls, and the surprising effectiveness of moving tough chapters to a brewery. Through it all runs a steady message to aspiring authors: keep going, find your people and let the work change you first.

One Shot is now available on Kindle Unlimited, while paperbacks and special editions live on her site and at major retailers. If you love hockey romance with heartfelt stakes, character-driven spice and the promise of a true HEA, queue this one up. Subscribe, share with a romance-loving friend, and leave a quick review — your support helps more readers find the stories they’ll cheer for.

Featured Cocktail for the Episode: The Hat Trick

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

The ice is cold but these love stories are blazin'. We’re pouring drinks, pulling on jerseys and diving into two hockey romances that deliver big feelings, bigger chemistry and the kind of character growth that lingers after the final buzzer. First up: One Shot by A.C. Wonderland. It's a slow-burn college romance where a PR hopeful and the youngest team captain in program history find more than spark — they find a way to hold space for grief, ambition and healing. We unpack how trauma is handled with care, why scent and sensory detail elevate intimacy, and what it means to love someone without asking them to shrink their dreams.

Then we skate into Stay by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen, where a discreet concierge owner discovers her anonymous client might be her favorite Toronto forward. We loved the texting-on-the-couch moment that respects nerves; the opera “date” that turns confusion into chemistry; and the grounded realities of co-parenting, packed schedules and finding joy after divorce. Expect thoughtful spice talk — habanero vs jalapeño — plus playful digs at penalty boxes, Midwest winter bravado and the eternal excellence of ordering too many nachos.

Along the way, we explore why hockey romance is surging: discipline on the ice, tenderness off it and a team-first mindset that makes for memorable partnerships. You’ll hear our favorite lines, the language choices that split readers and the quiet green flags that make relationships feel safe and thrilling all at once. If you’re into sports romance, contemporary love stories, or simply crave banter with heart, this one’s for you.

If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a romance-loving friend, and drop a quick review. What romance novels should we read next? We’re building our TBR stacks and would love your picks.

*** BE SURE TO GET CHECK OUT OUR DRINKING GAME FOR THIS EPISODE*** Click here.

Meghan's Book & Beverage: Stay by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen with Dailey's Frozen Cocktail Strawberry Daiquiri in her beloved Unicorn Cup (which met a tragic end in the dishwasher after we recorded this episode)

Nicole's Book & Beverage: One Shot by A.C. Wonderland with Leinenkugel's White Mocha Stout Beer

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

Let’s end spooky season with a clink: a neon-blue zombie cocktail meets a cozy Oktoberfest beer as we close our creature feature month and dig into two wildly different monster romances. First up, Zombie Moon by Lori Devoti drops us into "Brain Alley", Wisconsin, where a werewolf zombie-hunter and a mystery woman collide over brain bait and secrets. We unpack the moral gray zones, the alleyway action, and the sticky question of how zombies can roam for decades without going public. The romance lands as serviceable heat but the undead conspiracy hooks us — labs, ethics and a whiff of cover-ups that beg for a sequel that never came.

Then the energy flips from grit to gleeful with That Time I Got Drunk And Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming. Cinnamon, a fierce spice farmer with hidden-pocket skirts and a soft spot for snacks, teams up with a cursed demon to smash chalices and break a witch’s hold. It’s fantasy romance that sparkles — cheese-queen shenanigans, mead-fueled mishaps, and a map-rich world that embraces fae, shifters and orcs. We talk spice levels (jalapeño-to-habanero thanks to language and playful kink), the “mate” trope as a love-it-or-hate-it trigger, and why humor might be the best antidote to curses and cravings alike.

Along the way we savor food as intimacy — crawfish boils, nacho buckets and experimental kitchen dates — and trade a practical relationship takeaway: play to each other’s strengths. When one partner can solve a problem faster or safer, let them. It’s not surrender, it’s strategy. We also tease what’s next: a full-on hockey romance month featuring Stay by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen and One Shot by A.C. Wonderland, with anonymous texting, second chances, campus PR drama, and captain-on-a-mission stakes ready to skate onto the page.

If you’re into monster romance, laugh-out-loud banter and a little spice with your world-building, this one’s for you. Hit follow, share the show with a fellow bookish biddie, and leave a quick review to help more romance readers find us. Which creature romance should we read next?

Meghan's Book & Cocktail: Zombie Moon by Lori Devoti with Bacardi Ready-to-Serve Zombie

Nicole's Book & Cocktail: That Time I Got Drunk & Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming with Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest Beer

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait

Send us a text

What happens when a debt-crushed millennial takes a job at a "milking farm" and a runaway stumbles into the arms of a golden-sapped tree man who can sew, garden and cook? We pour a drink (okay, a few), roll up our sleeves, and unpack two monster romances that are equal parts spicy, sweet and unexpectedly practical. From fictional Cambric Creek to a swamp sanctuary outside Cypress Landing, this creature-feature doubleheader puts consent at the center and asks BIG questions ... if you know what we mean.

We start with Morning Glory Milking Farm, where Violet’s new gig comes with protocols, tips, and one very considerate minotaur named Rourke. The cover screams medieval but the setting is contemporary: lattes, texts and a gentleman who insists on dates before heat. We rate the spice level, glean practical "romantic" advice, and run a tongue-in-cheek audit on the infamous “24 ounces.” (Nicole likes her scientific facts and figures.)

Then we wade into Mated to the Swamp Monster. We meet Rory and Marsh, a tender dryad hybrid who weaves his own fabric, tends chickens, and teaches plant lore. The world-building is light, the chemistry earnest, and the "wood" jokes just magically present themselves.

Along the way we explore why short monster romances can satisfy a mood without overstaying their welcome, animals vs. Animals, and classic romance tropes. Expect playful wordplay and candid spicyness scales. Stay to the end for booby prizes, romantic reminders, and teases for our next reads: a zombie hunter with a lunar secret and a demon who keeps losing his shirt.

If you had fun, tap follow, share this with a fellow romance goblin, and leave a quick review. It helps other curious listeners find us and keeps the creature features coming. Which monster should we date next?

Meghan's Cocktail & Book: Monster The Beast Mean Green with Mated to the Swamp Monster by Honey Phillips

Nicole's Cocktail & Book: Deep River Brewing Company Pumpkin Pie Porter with Morning Glory Milking Farm by C.M. Nascosta

Other Episodes Mentioned:

Season 1 Episode 5: A Christmas for the Dogs

Season 2 Episode 10: Love in the Deep

Season 2 Episode 11: Diving into Underwater Romance

Season 2 Episode 21: I'm Also in Love with Mothman

Season 2 Episode 22: Love Spells

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Pinterest ... https:/www.pinterest.com/romanceontherockspodcast

Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait