In Season 3 Episode 11: Meg’s Got a Mother of a Book, the bookish biddies wrap up their “Mothers of Romance” month with two wildly different historical romances — one delightful Scottish murder mystery romance and one rage-inducing classic that sparks one of the most passionate discussions in Romance on the Rocks history.
Nicole reviews The Bride by Julie Garwood, a 1989 historical Scottish romance featuring enemies-to-lovers tension, marriage of convenience, witty banter and a murder mystery woven through the Highlands. Jamie Jamison may have a terrible sense of direction, but she quickly becomes one of Nicole’s favorite historical romance heroines thanks to her intelligence, strength and dagger-throwing abilities.
Meanwhile, Meghan tackles The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss — sometimes considered the novel that launched modern romance publishing as we know it. What follows is less a review and more a full-scale reckoning with outdated romance tropes, sexual violence in vintage romance novels, and the way generations of readers were taught to mistake manipulation and abuse for love.
Along the way, Nicole and Meghan discuss:
The episode also previews June’s theme, “The Great Outdoors,” featuring:
Highest Point by Kels and Denise Stone
Southern Seducer by Jessica Peterson
Grab a drink, avoid the rapey historical dukes, and join the bookish biddies for one of their most unfiltered episodes yet.
Meghan's Book & Beverage: The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss with Sangria
Nicole's Book & Beverage: The Bride by Julie Garwood with The Highland Vow
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Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait
