Today, I’m a guest on an episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, which is among the best of the NPR podcasts. My inner 13 year old barely kept herself together, I was so excited. But I figured since perhaps some PCHH listeners are romance fans, or curious about romance, or curious about what we do around here, I’d introduce the site a bit. So: Hi!
I’m Sarah, and welcome to the Hot Pink Palace of Bitchery, a sometimes silly and sometimes critical place where we talk about and celebrate romance novels, and the very smart and savvy women who read and write them. The site just turned 10 (Yay!) so there is a LOT to look at. Along with RedHeadedGirl, Carrie, Amanda, and Elyse, we talk about romance and have some of the best conversations with some of the smartest people online every day.
Here are some links to help you, should you be curious and like to take a look around:
- We review books! Oh, yessss. Lots of romance reviews. You might like our A reviews, which are some of the best books we’ve read recently.
- You might also like our F+ reviews, too. F+ is a grade specifically for books that aren’t objectively very good, but are incredibly enjoyable nonetheless. They are both awesomesauce and WTF-tacular.
- We have a podcast – the DBSA Romance Fiction Podcast! It’s true – every Friday we post new episodes wherein we talk about romance novels, interview people who are involved in the genre, or come up with some kind of mayhem and shenanigans.
- We review TV shows and movies, which includes recaps of Outlander, reviews of movies like Far From the Madding Crowd and Mad Max: Fury Road, and guest recommendations for programs like the Korean drama Healer, which is ridiculously addictive. Beware.
- We talk about all the romance book covers because… there is a lot to talk about.
- We also have knitting patterns because why not, right?
- We have monthly features like Kickass Women in History, and daily features such as our Books on Sale posts, which help us all save our precious book buying dollars.
- We help one another find books, too, whether by recommendation or through our Help a Bitch Out feature, which is for folks who can remember the plot and some scenes, but not the author or title.
- And we have a Greatest Hits collection, should you feel like a deep dive (the water’s fine, I promise!) into the history of the site and all the things we get up to.
(Anything else I forgot, y’all? Feel free to add on in the comments!)
There’s lots to look at – so if you’re thinking, I would like All of This Magical Tomfoolery in my inbox, you can subscribe, as well. We have daily updates, weekly books on sale newsletters, and our weekly podcast, too.
We’re glad you’re here, and hope you come back to visit! Welcome!
ETA: Linda Holmes was cool enough to list all the books we discussed and recommended, so if you’re looking for that info, it’s here (thank you, Linda!).
- Judith Krantz (Princess Daisy)
- Outlander ( A | K | G | AB | Au )
- Maya Banks, Scottish historicals (Clan McClean, hee)
- Lois McMaster Bujold, The Sharing Knife (fantasy)
- Johanna Lindsey, Warrior’s Woman (sci-fi romance)
- Cathy Pegau, Deep Deception & Caught In Amber (sci-fi romance)
- Anne Bishop, Black Jewels (fantasy)
- Courtney Milan (historical & contemporary)
- Tessa Dare (historical)
- Nora Roberts, Vision In White (contemporary)
- #weneeddiverseromance (@KwanaWrites)
- Alisha Rai (contemporary)
- Suleikha Snyder (contemporary)
- Sonali Dev (A Bollywood Affair ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) and the upcoming The Bollywood Bride) (contemporary)
- Beverly Jenkins (and the Destiny trilogy) (historical)
- Rochelle Alers (contemporary)
- Kwana Jackson (again, @KwanaWrites — we got the wrong last name and said “Bradley”; we’re so sorry — this is who Sarah meant to recommend, and it was a super lot of names in a short time)(Sarah: I am seriously so embarrassed. I’m sorry, Kwana!)
- Jessica Clare, the Games series (reality TV – contemporary)
- Theresa Romain (historicals)
- Kate Noble (historicals)
- Kristan Higgins (contemporary)
- Penny Reid (contemporary)
- Julie Anne Long (historicals)
- Lisa Kleypas (historicals)
- Steampunk Iron Man
- Meljean Brook (The Iron Duke, steampunk romance)
- Lorelai James, Rough Riders (“if you like erotica and cowboys”)
- Cupcake Lovers, Beth Ciotta (contemporary)
- Play By Play series (sportsy), Jaci Burton (hot contemporary)
- Fool’s Gold series (and The Bakery Sisters), Susan Mallery (contemporary)
- Animal Magnetism series, Jill Shalvis (contemporary)
- Lori Wilde: Twilight, Texas; Cupid, Texas; Jubilee, Texas; Stardust, Texas (contemporary)
- Cupcake Club, Girls’ Night Out, Last Chance, Virgin River (all real series!)
- Tessa Dare, Castles Ever After, Romancing The Duke ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au | Scribd ) (historical)
- Loretta Chase, The Lion’s Daughter (historical)
- Eloisa James, Desperate Duchesses series (historical)
- Jennifer Crusie, Bet Me ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) (contemporary)
The thought that I would be able to listen to both Linda and Sarah riff off each other on this week’s pop culture podcast made this dreary week a little sunnier in anticipation. As soon as the kids are on the bus, I’m popping in my earbuds and walking-no, I’m dancing- around my neighborhood for the sure to be glorious hour.
@Sarah: I hope you enjoy it! Yay dancing!
YES YES YES YES!!!! I love PCHH and I love SBTB–match made in heaven!
This may be one of the most enjoyable PCHH podcast’s I’ve listened to in a while! I’m about halfway through but I had to comment to say how much I am enjoying it. Also, if Petra is looking for other scifi romance, pretty sure there was a whole rec post on the topic a while back (which gave me some great suggestions). Since like me she also likes historicals, I will make a pitch to her for the Liaden Universe series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (no, not that one), which combines space opera, romantic suspense, and regency romance (in terms of language and custom) in one awesome universe. Plus I think they are currently on book 18 or something, so there is a LOT of good stuff to read. Added bonus — some crazy sauce Baen covers to rival the best of SBTB excellent snark the cover entries.
The fact that y’all are so happy to hear this episode is giving me the biggest grin. Thank you! I’m so happy you’re liking it!
psst: “Madding” Crowd. Feel free to delete my comment!
Saw via Twitter that today’s PCHH podcast was going to be on romance novels and my day became twice as nice. You and the “Dear authors” blogs have reintroduced me to the wonders of the romance genre. I’d read Victoria Holt and Grace Livingstone Hill in middle school and high school but then thought I’d grown up and moved on. You both have opened my eyes to all the wonderful authors and titles that are available. Thanks for your hard work and love for this genre.
@CC:
DANGNABBIT. Thank you!
I am obsessed with PCHH and that episode was EVERYTHING. I was walking down Fifth Avenue today trying to take mental notes of all the books you talked about and was giggling so hard I almost walked into oncoming traffic (I’ll sit next time.) I am ride or die for Judith Krantz and, well, you are my people. I’m here and I’m pulling up a chair. You bitches are fabulous.
@Kristin:
Welcome!! I’m so glad you found us – you are totally our people!
For sci-fi, romance-ish, I recommend Gini Koch’s Alien series. It immediately came to mind to me when listening to the discussion. Kitty is great (well, except for her unreasonable preference for Aerosmith over The Rolling Stones) and there’s all those gorgeous aliens and lots of happy couples. And the world building is wonderful and I cannot believe Gini can still create a 500+ page book that is the 11th (or so) in the series! What a wonderful imagination she has! Plus, Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle with her Harmony books. I’d love a dust bunny but poofs are maybe a bit more awesome.
Thank you for including the entire list of books you all talked about during the podcast! Especially loved the reference to Lois McMaster Bujold. Her Vorkosigan saga is fab, so excited to read more from her. 🙂
Just finished listening to the PCHH broadcast and thoroughly enjoyed it….I have been reading romance novels since the age of 12, when I was introduced to Harlequins by a friend of my Mom…If she only knew what she wrought at that young age. I then had the best job ever at a used bookstore and I could indulge in my addiction. As a young librarian I was fortunate to be at a university that allowed their staff to start discussion lists and my colleague Kara Robinson (also co-founder of Dorothy-L) started RRA-L: Romance Readers Anonymous. We wanted a place where we could discuss romance novels and interact with others who also loved the genre. We started this discussion list around the time of Outlander and it was such fun to “talk” to others and discover new authors. While we left RRA-L a few years ago, it was a great list to be a part of because of the camaraderie amongst the subscribers. I am so happy to see SBs and will enjoy following along and discovering new authors!
AHHHH! This episode was amazing. I have only recently discovered the wonderful of romance and this podcast was great. I have found a ton of new books that I am dying to read. Thank you so much for all the suggestions. And it was hilarious. I love all the women in this podcast. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
She missed The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by JR Ward. They’re great, Absolutely worth it. Also, I heard that PCHH was doing a podcast on Romance Novels, and it MADE MY DAY. So glad I found this website (My wallet not so much…)!
Yay PCHH and SBTB! I’ve been a PCHH listener for a while, and found SBTB through the PCHH small batch edition from a few months ago, and I’m so glad I did. I’m always looking for new recommendations and romance series to plow through!