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We’re wrapping up our April Pick a Number month with two very different reads and some very honest opinions about what worked, what didn’t and what we’re willing to forgive when the vibes are vibing.

Nicole dives into A Fate of Onyx & Ivory by O’Junea Brown, a 2024 romantasy featuring a fierce heroine, a magical kingdom called Solaris, and a fae king who may or may not be waving red flags under all that charm. We’re talking plot twists, a jalapeño-level slow burn, and the very real betrayal of a series that ends on a cliffhanger with no final book in sight.

Then Meghan brings The Pretend Wife by Bridget Asher, a fake relationship story that leans hard into grief, identity and emotional growth instead of a traditional romance formula. There’s a drunken agreement, a lakeside family visit, a love triangle that’s more complicated than it looks, and a green pepper spice level that keeps things firmly on the mild side. We also get into character development, beautiful writing moments, and whether you actually need a villain to justify your choices.

Of course, we keep our traditions alive:
– the spice scale 🌶️
– the first booby reference hunt (with some aggressively unsexy contenders)
– and a spirited debate over what even counts as a romance

Next up, we kick off our Mothers of Romance theme with Barbara Cartland and Judith McNaught, so prepare yourselves for vintage covers, dramatic plots and old school tropes.

Grab your drink of choice (box wine or liver-cleansing tea, we don’t judge), hit play, and come hang out with your favorite bookish biddies.

👉 Subscribe, share with a romance-loving friend, and leave us a review wherever you’re listening.

And tell us: are you okay with a cliffhanger … or do you need closure?

Books & Beverages for this Episode:

Meghan's Book & Beverage: The Pretend Wife by Bridget Asher with dandelion tea

Nicole's Book & Beverage: A Fate of Onyx & Ivory by O’Junea Brown with Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc

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

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Wine in a paper cup. A break-in “just to pee.” And somehow … a dead body in a closet. Welcome to this episode’s chaos.

Meghan kicks things off with Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews — a Southern, antique-filled, mystery-heavy read that may or may not qualify as a romance (jury’s still out). We dive into estate sale strategy, messy divorces, rich people behaving badly, and how one very questionable bathroom decision turns our girl into a prime murder suspect. Bonus points for how deeply we relate to the thrifting, reselling and “cooler packed for the day” lifestyle.

Then Nicole brings us A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins, a historical romance set in 1865 London featuring a newspaper-writing widow and a Scotland Yard detective chasing a serial killer. We get into enemies-to-lovers tension, predictable plot twists as well as the eternal desire for more gowns, more atmosphere and more drama in our historical reads.

Along the way, we keep the important traditions alive:
✨ The Spicy Scoville Scale (because spice must be measured)
✨ The ongoing debate of “does this even count as romance?”
✨ Boob math — including a serious discussion on whether décolletage qualifies
✨ And those oddly specific sensory moments that stick with you (looking at you, lavender and soap quilts)

We also pull our final Pick-a-Number reads for the month — including a traveling book surprise — and Nicole shares highlights from the LoveLit Cruise, from incredible author connections to the very real struggle of trying to spend a $650 bar tab in five days (a challenge she did not take lightly).

If you love romance-adjacent chaos, murder mystery detours, historical intrigue and unfiltered bookish banter; hit follow, share with your favorite bookish biddy and leave us a review.

Because sometimes it’s chaste kisses … and sometimes it’s quiet banging. 🍷

🍸 Books & Beverages

Meghan’s Book & Beverage:
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews with Wine (in a paper cup, obviously)

Nicole’s Book & Beverage:
A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda

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

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Bakery heat meets alien heart in this delightful episode of Romance on the Rocks.

Nicole dives into Tart by Lauren Dane, a 2012 contemporary why-choose romance that serves up a habanero-level throuple between bakery owner Juliet Lamprey, steady farm boy Gideon Carter and longtime best friend Cal Whaley. When Cal makes an aggressive play for Jules just as her relationship with Gideon is taking off, the solution isn't a love triangle. It's a love expansion. We unpack jealousy, possessiveness, bisexual representation and what real consent looks like in a polyamorous relationship. There's emotional labor. There's family judgment. There is a wise grandpa who absolutely steals the show. And, yes, there is plenty of spice.

Then Meg beams us up to I Think I’m in Love with an Alien by Ann Aguirre, a 2025 sci-fi rom-com that proves cozy romance can exist across galaxies. Jeanette Hammond has always preferred the possibility of extraterrestrials to disappointing human dating prospects. When she finally meets her longtime online crush at SpaceCon in Rellos, Utah, she discovers he's not just socially awkward. He's literally an alien stranded on Earth. We talk neurodivergent coding, identity, performance versus authenticity and the quiet intimacy of being fully seen. The worldbuilding sparkles with humor, heart and one now-iconic rooster named Kevin.

This episode covers why-choose romance, throuple dynamics, bisexual leads who reject tidy labels, and alien love stories with low spice and big emotional payoff. It's habanero heat on one side, poblano sweetness on the other and a reminder that love does not have to follow a conventional blueprint to be real.

Pour something bright, settle in and join us for sharp takes, spicy quotes and our final March romance wrap-up.

Nicole’s Book & Beverage
Tart by Lauren Dane with The Shameless Tart

Meg’s Book & Beverage
I Think I’m in Love with an Alien by Ann Aguirre with The Rellos

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