If you listened to the Harlequin Blaze episode, but still haven't read one: Marie Donovan's ROYALLY CLAIMED $1 amzn.to/3JX2uPL Devi Rawlin's ANYTHING GOES $1 amzn.to/4qVZaVA Kathleen O'Reilly's SHAKEN AND STIRRED $1 amzn.to/4oBpfHZ and SEX, STRAIGHT UP $2 amzn.to/481eyHN

We've been improving the metadata on fatedmates.net, which should make search more useful. Every FM episode has its own page with extra info and all the books we discussed, so you should be able to search for a book or author you love and find lots more like it. 👉 fatedmates.net/searchfm

We're talking about our favorite microtropes in romance novels--the things that give us pure shots of joy. There's all sorts of stuff in here: contemporaries, historicals, paranormals, mafia, hockey, tattoos, piercings, kilts, families getting their comeuppance, and much much more.

Follow us on Bookbub for discounts on books we've talked about on the podcast. We've added 764 titles so far, with lots more to come. www.bookbub.com/profile/2278...

I love the second chance romance novel trope. I like seeing second chances in real life, too. This @fatedmates.net episode from June 2025 explores second chance romance novels. fatedmates.net/episodes/202... #Romancelandia #BookSky #RomanceBookSky

We've been improving the metadata on fatedmates.net, which should make search more useful. Every FM episode has its own page with extra info and all the books we discussed, so you should be able to search for a book or author you love and find lots more like it. 👉 fatedmates.net/searchfm

The Immortals After Dark series has hit Kindle Unlimited and I am finally reading LOTHAIRE after hearing @fatedmates.net talk about it for years and OH BOY

Following up on this. This remains a ‘cave is minutes or hours away’ situation. If you want to impact how this plays out you need to contact senators literally now. I want to add additional points of context. What I’m relaying is what I’ve picked up from highly reliable sources.

9️⃣ Seattle voters fired their sole Republican office-holder, its city attorney. That's the local prosecutor who oversees lower-level offenses. You may remember this policy she helped roll out, and which her challenger told Bolts she staunchly opposed:

Excellent books for $1! THE MARQUESS MAKES HIS MOVE and DUKE MOST WICKED are previous best-of picks. THE PROPOSITION and WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE are both deep dive selections. Snatch 'em up!

Something something, short-form romance fiction used to be the norm before paperbacks (in the US, at least), something something, here's the proof? 😂 #pulp #pulpmagazines Seriously, though, a fun listen, and a good, refreshing defense of the short story/novelette format in the genre! 💕

Follow us on Bookbub for discounts on books we've talked about on the podcast. We've added 764 titles so far, with lots more to come. www.bookbub.com/profile/2278...

Great ep—I'm not just saying that because I edited Katie Reus's Falling for Nola, which manages to be a great little short where the h/h *don't* know each other before pg 1. Also I just started Ladies in Waiting—it's delightful. Justice (and happy endings!) for Jane Austen's other ladies!

I know everyone is celebrating Mamdani, but in my hometown, Wichita Kansas, the City Council and school board election results are absolutely seismic: www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-...

Big results in PA's Dauphin County, a swingy area that's home to Harrisburg. Dems won judgeships in the county for first time in 33 years; one of winners is the first Black woman judge in county ever. They beat the Republican DA who was looking to become a judge. www.pennlive.com/elections/20...

The. Full. Banana.

We definitely have a hope-became-reality hangover this morning, but we also have a very fun episode for you today! We're talking romance shorts -- not novellas, not short novels, but actual short stories under 15,000 words (or about 50 pages).

god his team really is perfect, all the way to the end

🚨BREAKING NEWS! The Virginia House of Delegates has not only been defended, but expanded — making VA the nation’s newest pro-democracy trifecta!

We did it! When Fated States teams up with The States Project, we win! Virginia is the nations newest pro-democracy trifecta! statesproject.org/election-nig...

If you or a buddy haven't yet read the Duke of Falconbridges's notion of a perfect kiss or if you've been meaning to get started on the Palace of Rogues series, What I Did for a Duke and Lady Derring Takes a Lover are on sale. #pennyroyalgreen #palaceofrogues 💙📚 #romancelandia tinyurl.com/2ucpa7un

Today, you’re not just voting — you’re choosing your rent, your school, your library, your future. 🗳️ Vote local. Take a friend. Change everything.

From our Fall 2025 Preview episode: 16 November releases we're excited to read. fatedmates.net/episodes/2025/9/12/0803-fall-2025-preview

Ope!

Grab a copy for $1 today! bookshop.org/a/5779/9780061795312 www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/natural-born-charmer www.barnesandnoble.com/w/natural-born-charmer-susan-elizabeth-phillips/1100554753?ean=9780061795312

There's still time to read at least one Halloween romance this year! Annika Martin's HOT GHOST $1 amzn.to/4oK57Dp Sarah Spade's HALLOWEEN BOO $1 amzn.to/4qvb091 Laura Lovely's PUMPKIN POUNDER $2 amzn.to/431z21q Ali K Mullford & K Elle Morrison's PUMPKIN SPICE & POLTERGEIST amzn.to/3WszW3d

I never feel more embraced by my fellow “girls who talk a LOT during English class” than in listening to the Fated Mates Podcast.

Dionysus in Wisconsin made it into this episode! I'm so excited to listen. 😁 Thank you!!!

Dealing With A Desperate Demon is mentioned in this episode! And lots of other demon books that I love.

Books we've recommended. Free! Cynthia Eden's PROTECTING PIPER amzn.to/3LfT3v0 Claire Kent'S ESCORTED amzn.to/4357IiQ Evie Rose KINGPIN'S NANNY amzn.to/47BgJSh Cynthia Sax's RELEASING RAGE amzn.to/3WrKwaO Penny Reid's TRUTH OR BEARD amzn.to/3LeNHQU Kaye Blue's WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT amzn.to/4nylUrL

It's Halloween which means we're talking about monsters (complimentary)! We've done devils and witches and an entire season on monsters of all ilk, but we haven't done demons yet, and so here we are!

In this one, we go back to the beginning and touch on all the shifter/Lycae business from season 1. Then talk about all the ways werewolves have evolved into were-other things and then into DNA-splicing experiments. The recs get wild, the plots get weird. There’s a lot happening.

There's still time to read at least one Halloween romance this year! Annika Martin's HOT GHOST $1 amzn.to/4oK57Dp Sarah Spade's HALLOWEEN BOO $1 amzn.to/4qvb091 Laura Lovely's PUMPKIN POUNDER $2 amzn.to/431z21q Ali K Mullford & K Elle Morrison's PUMPKIN SPICE & POLTERGEIST amzn.to/3WszW3d

October seems like a fine time to revisit our Trailblazers conversation with Christine Feehan, an undeniable force in the rise of paranormal romance.

Thanks for all your help! We're getting close to our goal, but we still need more $$ before the end of the month. This isn't like those annoying campaign texts you get. We have a concrete goal and a specific deadline. So if you can help, please contribute.

A really great, fascinating ep about a current trend in romance, which honestly really parallels the spiritualism boom of the 1920s (not coincidentally following a devastating war and a previous pandemic!). Also, shoutout indeed to those pulp-esque vintage paperback covers by Megan Montgomery. 😉

VAMPIRES! 🧛🧛🧛 We’re doing some deep cuts, returning to Kresley Cole for a minute or two, and then digging into worldbuilding, morality chain, why these books lend themselves to massive series, and ultimately…why we love these big toothy jerks.

Thanks for all your help! We're getting close to our goal, but we still need more $$ before the end of the month. This isn't like those annoying campaign texts you get. We have a concrete goal and a specific deadline. So if you can help, please contribute.

You had me at "she whispers it into his bad ear"!!!!!! Yes, I too am finally ready to read Gorilla Twins!!!!!

Fated Mates is a fun podcast, and this right here: I will recommend Overcast, which is a small business. No one should be using Spotify for their podcasts. Even if that's your music app. Use a different one for podcasts.

Heres @hankgreen.bsky.social explaining more about the election I’m spamming everyone about — Find your precinct: mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/ (x for video: www.instagram.com/reel/DQIPIrH...)

Lorraine Heath is part of my holy trinity of how I came to romance & I finally broke this out of my emergency vault last year and I’ve already read it 3x. Thanks so much for highlighting what makes this book & her writing so fabulously rich & layered!! bsky.app/profile/stel...

I hadn't read Heath in years, then everyone mentioned the Gorilla Twins book, & I had to see it for myself. Got hooked again. It reminds me of my time as a zoo volunteer & the drunk who wanted to fight a silverback. Dude, the gorilla will kick your *ss, plus it's 11am on Sunday, you have a problem.

It's Gorilla Twins Week! We couldn't be happier to be talking about The Earl Takes All, a book we love so much we gave it a nickname that all of Romancelandia uses now. Whether you're reading it for the first time or the fiftieth, we're so happy to have you.

I did one over the summer even though I’m not strictly book-related and Sarah and Jen did a lovely ad for me and Eric was so nice to email with! It helped get me through the slow season ☺️. You should sign up if you’ve been looking for an ad spot!