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Summary: It's Super Bowl Sunday, and this football fan is here to celebrate with a Fantasy Fiction book draft. Join the romance reading (and writing) "team captains" as they draft their favorite books releasing between January 1st - March 31st, 2024. 💖
Then, vote for your favorite "team" on the Boobies & Noobies Instagram.
The Team Captains:
Kelly Reynolds, Author & Host of Boobies & Noobies
Satoria, Instagram and Tiktok
Lena, Instagram and Tiktok
Torry, Podcast host of Ready to be Petty and Ready to be Romanced
An Indie-published romance book (00:17:45)
Torry's pick: Face Off by Teagan Hunter
Lena's pick: Girl Meets Grump by Hailey Gardiner
Sat's pick: The Seventh Month Itch by Tanvier Peart
Kelly's pick: The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award
A traditionally published romance book (00:25:35)
Lena's pick: The Veiled Kingdom by Holly Renee (Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition)
Sat's pick: Sex, Lies, and Sensibility by Nikki Payne
Kelly's pick: This Could be Us by Kennedy Ryan
Torry's pick: Bride by Ali Hazelwood
An LGBTQIA+ romance book (indie or trad pub) (00:38:05)
Sat's pick: Loving Safoa by Liza Wemakor
Kelly's pick: My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy
Torry's pick: Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa
Lena's pick: Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean
A romance book written by a new-to-you author (indie or trad pub) (00:46:15)
Kelly's pick: A Duet of Darkness and Dreams by L.H. Blake
Torry's pick: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Lena's pick: The Accidental Crush by Mia Heintzelman
Sat's pick: I'll Conjure for You by Charish Reid
A freebie (any book published between January 1st and March 31st) (01:00:18)
Sat's pick: Saint, Sorrow, Sinner by Freydis Moon
Lena's pick: Play Me Once by Carina Taylor
Kelly's pick: Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod
Torry's pick: Red String Theory by Lauren Kung Jessen
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
Episode Summary: We're kicking off the eighth season of Boobies & Noobies with Kristen Alicia, whose debut romance, You've Been Served, is available now! Along with Kristen's new book, we also discuss the legacy of Legally Blonde, magic eight balls, and dismantling "milestone" expectations for women.
Guest: Kristen Alicia, author of You've Been Served
Book Summary: It’s the Magic 8 Ball’s fault. All of it. One teeny little question, and suddenly Simone Alexander is chucking her whole life out the window. So long, being a chef in California–it’s time for law school. In Michigan. Where there’s actual winter . And law school’s nothing like the romantic comedies said it was.
Simone is tragically underprepared. Hell, she’s already behind before classes have even begun, and her hard-as-nails Contracts professor is giving her no mercy. Then there’s Silas Whitman, her tall and annoyingly cute neighbor. Off campus, Silas is incredible. Kissable, even . In class, he is one thousand percent the obnoxious kiss-ass.
But Simone’s given up everything to be a lawyer. The competition is fierce and she has a hateful professor gunning for her to fail, but she’s not about to let little things like sleep, or love, stop her from kicking law school ass…
Show Notes:
- Welcome to Season 8 of the podcast!
- Legally Blonde... in all its iterations
- Bay Area babes unite!
- Kristen's relationship with romance books (00:10:25)
- First romance reads and airport bookstores
- A quick synopsis for You've Been Served (00:16:24)
- Women in high-powered careers... in romance and in real life
- No shade to the Magic 8 ball
- Writing Black joy without trauma (00:24:26)
- If you can read about monsters, you can read about Black characters falling in love. Period.
- What's up next for Kristen?
Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Brandy's Cinderella
- Legally Blonde: The Musical
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
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The Novel: Secret Heir for Christmas
The Author: LaQuette
The Guest: Bree, co-host of The Categorically Romance Podcast
The Synopsis:
This holiday, will the man next door tempt him with a second chance?
Actor Carter Jiménez lived a glamorous life until he lost his wife to the dark side of fame. Now he’ll protect his young daughter by avoiding celebrity at all costs. Then his seemingly understated neighbor, Stephan Devereaux-Smith, tempts his still-wounded heart. Is this Carter’s second chance at love?
But Stephan isn’t an average man caring for a sick relative. He’s part of a billionaire family and the ritzy world Carter left behind. Torn between new love and old demons, can Carter trust Stephan with his family—and his heart?
Show Notes:
- The 12th (and final) Day of Boobsmas
- A bit on the history of category romance, plus the upcoming Harlequin imprint, Afterglow, coming in 2024
- Book Sale Finder - find the next library sale near you!
- Introducing today's read - one of the final titles in the Harlequin Desire line (00:13:52)
- If you've watched "Dynasty"...
- Picture this... Monsters + Category
- Romance books ahead of their time: Jennifer Crusie's backlist, early 2010s Harlequin Kiss that mentions abortion, etc.
- A brief (but very dramatic) synopsis for Secret Heir for Christmas (00:24:17)
- Celebrating the memories, rather than mourning
- These are a few of my favorite things... and excerpts (00:41:32)
- A few spicy sexcerpts
- A few holiday category recs from Bree (00:50:20)
Christmas in River's Edge by Nan Reinhardt
Boston Christmas Miracles by Various Authors (Bree's medical romance series rec)
- The 12th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin... you're going to want to listen to this one!
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: The Christmas Veto
The Author: Keira Andrews
The Guest: Simone
The Synopsis:
Can fake dating lead to true love?
My name’s Connor Lisowski, and here’s what you need to know about me:
I’ve had a massive crush on my best friend’s older brother since high school.
Everyone thinks I’m straight.
I have two dads but I’m afraid to come out.
I’ve never even been kissed.
And somehow, I’ve been roped into pretending to be Reid’s boyfriend for the holidays. Who’s Reid, you ask? Only the aforementioned best friend’s older brother who never looked at me twice.
Until now.
Show Notes:
- The 11th Day of Boobsmas
- Simone fangirls over me and my books
- Introducing today's holiday romance (00:07:38)
- We HEART fake dating
- A little on German Christmas markets from a real German (00:10:22)
- A synopsis for The Christmas Veto (00:18:20)
- Catching up on the first two books in the series
- Books about queer characters vs. coming out stories
- "Ridiculously political. Ridiculously feminist."
- A few steamy sexcerpts... that don't have sex in them (00:41:30)
- Shoe-tying as a love language
- Tit or Tat: a Holiday Game (00:50:19)
- Kelly's major brain fart
- The 10th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: It's a Fabulous Life
The Author: Kelly Farmer
The Guest: Jessica Buck, San Diego Public Library
The Synopsis:
After years of putting aside her dreams of travel and adventure, Bailey George is ready to leave Lanford Falls and her responsibilities behind on a long-awaited vacation to New York City. But when the volunteer who took over her leadership position for the town's Winter Wonderfest has a medical emergency, Bailey finds herself stuck in Lanford Falls. She gets roped into reassuming her old role, not wanting to let the town or her friends and family down.
Staying home seems slightly less terrible when Bailey runs into her high school crush, Maria Hatcher. A kiss they shared years ago in the town's mistletoe grove was a life-defining moment for them both. Maria quickly offers to pitch in and help with Winter Wonderfest. Her sunny disposition and holiday cheer perk up Bailey's grinchy feelings about everything.
However, one disaster after another snowball on the day of the festival. Bailey’s frustration boils over, and she ends up on the town's old wooden bridge. There, she meets fabulous drag queen Clara Angel. Bailey declares that she wishes she hadn’t been born in this Christmas-obsessed, suffocating small town. With a little of the magic Clara possesses, she shows Bailey how wrong she is about Lanford Falls and her place in it. And that with a little hope and some true holiday spirit, there is a way to attain all her dreams.
Show Notes:
- The 10th Day of Boobsmas
- San Diego Public Library (SDPL) Matchbook - ask a librarian to "make you a match"
- Check out Listener's Advisory Podcast's upcoming romance novel series
- Romance is for everyone. Stop stigmatizing it.
- Introducing today's Boobsmas read (00:12:40)
- A not-so-brief synopsis for It's a Fabulous Life (00:14:54)
- From the perspective of one "It's a Wonderful Life" fan and one who won't watch it
- One heck of an acknowledgment (00:20:20)
- Count the "It's a Wonderful Life" references
- The fantasy of moving to a small town... vs. reality (00:28:49)
- A smut-free holiday read
- What's your drag queen name? (00:37:34)
- Some fun behind-the-scenes factoids about "It's a Wonderful Life" (00:44:14)
- Can women fall in love with men their age? Or younger?
- The 10th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: The Santa Pageant
The Author: Lillian Barry
The Guest: Amanda, from Talk About Swoon
The Synopsis: Ten years ago, best friends Effie and Tove kissed in the bushes at Winter Ball…and then stood there like lemons, as if they weren’t crushing on each other so hard it hurt. In the confusion, their friendship fizzled, and Tove walked into the sunset with some guy who had nice hair.
Now a cocksure twenty-five-year-old with secretly appalling self-esteem, Effie enters the Santa of the Year Pageant to prove to her unsupportive family that Santa could, in fact, be a lesbian. Enter Tove, the grumpiest Santa in the grotto, back on the island after a harrowing break-up with Nice Hair Guy and using the Pageant to reconnect with the world.
As the Pageant eliminates Santa after Santa, Effie and Tove clash over their past: the kiss that drove them apart, and the fears the last ten years have etched into their worldviews. Effie must let go of others’ opinions and learn to love herself, and Tove must move forward despite there being no guarantee they won’t be hurt again… Or they risk losing each other a second time.
Show Notes:
- The 9th Day of Boobsmas
- Amanda's Santa Romance Recs are FIRE
- What's your Christmas Aesthetic?
- A few words on nutcrackers...
- Introducing today's Boobsmas pick (00:11:41)
- A synopsis for The Santa Pageant plus a LOT of Britishisms (00:12:58)
- Sunshine characters that aren't really sunshine-y
- Holiday romance that takes place in other countries and climates
- Identifying your needs (00:25:30)
- A few steamy sexcerpts... that are worth the LONG wait (00:30:57)
- Some surprising heat
- Santa Trivia! (00:37:24)
- The 9th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Wishing on Winter
The Author: Brenna Bailey
The Guest: Laura, host of What to Read Next and Turkish TV Obsessed
The Synopsis:
The aspiring novelist. The retired drummer. The fake relationship that will warm up their winter.
Evvie Adler thought she’d never find love again. Then the recent pair-ups of her two best friends make the queer septuagenarian realize she doesn’t want to be alone for Christmas. Besides, she needs fodder for her romance novel, and what better research than the real thing? But one disastrous date later, and Evvie’s ready to give up on love once and for all.
After years on the road, drummer Matthias Vogel is settling down in Juniper Creek to focus on family—and to finish the band memoir he has no idea how to start. When he literally bumps into an aspiring novelist, his sister suggests they collaborate. But how could he trust a stranger with his secrets, let alone immortalize them in ink?
When Evvie proposes they fake date to give her material while she helps Matthias finish his memoir, it seems like the perfect solution—until feelings get real and insecurities, presumptions, and a meddling bandmate interfere. With a lifetime of baggage to unpack, will Evvie and Matthias take a chance on love and make this the best holiday season ever?
Show Notes:
- The 8th Day of Boobsmas
- Listen to Kelly on What to Read Next with Spicy Holiday Romance recommendations
- Laura's latest venture? The Turkish TV Obsessed Podcast
- Introducing today's Boobsmas pick... with characters in their 70s (00:15:15)
- A brief synopsis for Wishing on Winter (00:18:17)
- "Golden Bachelor" but make it a book
- Miracles and Menorahs by Stacey Agdern - listen to our 12 Days of Boobsmas episode
- Calling our Biphobia a LOT this Boobsmas
- Labels can be empowering... but also limiting
- Writing about identity and sexuality without "preaching" - listen to our Steamy Spotlight episode with T.J. Alexander
- Stop. Settling. (00:32:23)
- AITA: See my IG post for details
- Take a sip every time Kelly says, "Patriarchy"
- Older women and the "Last F*ckable Day"
- Tit or Tat: a Holiday Game (00:49:01)
- How did we make it to Twilight talk?!
- The 8th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Under the Meh-stletoe
The Author: Leonor Soliz
The Guest: Caroline, Just Me and My Mirror (Tiktok, Instagram)
The Synopsis: Planning my hometown’s annual Christmas celebrations is bad enough… Having to do it with a hard-to-resist grump is even worse.
When my injured sister guilt-trips me into organizing the town’s holiday celebrations, only a week after moving back home, all I want to do is survive the season, nurse my bruised heart, and start my life over.
Now I have to co-chair a Christmas committee with a grouchy man I’ve never met. He has sexy curls, intense eyes that make it clear he craves my curves, and he dares look hot chopping down trees. He even likes it when I make fun of him! Grumps like him are my weakness.
But I can’t be interested. Who cares if we bond over our disdain of the holiday nonsense around us. Who cares if we share private jokes or engage in benign Christmas-related vandalism. Or even if we share a kiss or two.
I need time to be single and settle back into small-town living, not the distraction of an infatuation.
Except there may be more between us than a few rushed moments… and mistletoe won’t let me forget it.
Show Notes:
- The 7th Day of Boobsmas
- "Your mom says, 'Hi!'"
- Jack Black burlesque & spreading fat joy
- The pressure on "delivering" content to your followers
- A brief synopsis for today's Boobsmas read (00:14:39)
- An honest to goodness "noobie"
- The fat, funny friend can also be the main character
- Authors designing their own book covers... leave some talent for the rest of us
- Not one Grinch, but TWO (00:23:56)
- Time for more plus-size rep for male characters (00:30:25)
- We STAN Scott & Alicia
- Diversifying your reading list... especially as a noobie romance reader
- Christmas-lite
- A few steamy sexcerpts... but also, lumberjack fantasies (00:39:01)
- "What those hands do?"
- Give us more awkward sex!!
- Tit or Tat: a holiday game (00:48:34)
- The 7th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novella: Sentient Sour Cream And Applesauce Bisexually Get Me Off For Hanukkah Because The Latkes Are Gone But My Ass Is Still Here
The Author: Chuck Tingle
The Guest: Becky, host of Too Stupid to Live
The Synopsis:
Hanukkah is Sarah’s favorite holiday, but there’s one part of the festivities she adores even more than the rest: latkes.
Who could blame her? These delicious potato pancakes are one of the greatest foods ever crafted, offering up two distinct ways to enjoy them. But this incredible culinary masterwork is not without drama. According to Sarah’s friends, there’s a sharp divide that’s determined by what kind of sauce you like: you’re either an applesauce person, or a sour cream person.
When Sarah discovers a sentient version of each condiment has joined her yearly Hanukkah celebration, she’s forced to make an impossible choice. Fortunately, this year Sarah’s ready to chart a path of her own in a bisexual group encounter. She wants both.
Show Notes:
- The 6th Day of Boobsmas
- When romance readers & podcasters unite - Laura from What to Read Next on Too Stupid to Live
- Romance reading "noobies" - start small or dive into the deep end?
- Introducing today's Boobsmas pick, the shortesy book we've ever read on Boobies & Noobies (00:13:45)
- Who exactly is Chuck Tingle?
- A satirical take on a real question: sour cream or applesauce?
- A brief synopsis for the book (00:25:02)
- Sentient Beings for the win: Unhinged by Vera Valentine (the door erotica), Back for Seconds by Vera Valentine & J.L. Logosz (Thanksgiving leftovers come to life)
- Sentient sour cream and applesauce... what exactly does that look like? (00:27:49)
- A subtle take on biphobia
- A few steamy sexcerpts
- Chuck Tingle or Chris Pine? (00:53:04)
- The 6th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Almost Perfect
The Author: E.F. Dodd
The Guest: Briana, owner and founder of Wicked Words
The Synopsis:
All he wants for Christmas is her.
Dave Richardson's life hasn't turned out the way he thought it would. He never expected to slink back to his hometown of Rochester two years ago and take a bartending job, nor did he expect he'd still be tending said bar. Everyone thought he would achieve great things. Hell, he'd believed he would achieve great things. But when Vivian Walters walked into his bar, wearing that dress, on a random Wednesday night . . . things were looking up for the first time in a long time. And they looked even better when he got her number, even if it was obvious she didn't see things between them lasting beyond her night out on Sunday. If he wanted to keep a woman like her, he'd need to become the man he was supposed to be, and fast.
If there was one thing Vivian "V" Walters liked almost as much as designer heels, it was checklists. They'd served her well her entire life- first with college, then med school, landing the perfect internship followed by an even better residency, and, finally, her dream job. So far, her checklist for the perfect man hadn't panned out the same way. But that didn't mean she would lose her ever-loving mind and chuck it all out the window for a hot, sweaty weekend with a bartender . . . right? No matter how good he looked in those worn jeans, or how his blond hair curled just so at the nape of his neck, or the way his deep-brown gaze made her stomach somersault. And even if she gave in to her purely physical attraction to him, it wouldn't be anything other than a fling . . . would it?
Show Notes:
- The 5th Day of Boobsmas
- Ode to advent calendars
- Lady Krampus and Krampusnacht (Bremerton)
- The Dickens Faire (San Francisco)
- Introduction & Synopsis for today's read (00:10:03)
- The perfect transition from fall into winter
- A very merry millennial Christmas
- A long distance grown-up relationship (00:22:55)
- A few spicy sexcerpts - lube and phone sex?! (00:25:06)
- Fling-to-lovers, but make them fall in love
- A holiday romance or a romance with holidays?
- A Holiday Romance Drinking Game (00:35:58)
- Romance reading "icks"
- The 5th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West
Big Nick Energy by Morgan Elizabeth
A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun - Listen to our Boobsmas podcast review
Getting it on with Gargoyles by Hazel Mack
A Christmas Cowboy Legend by Linda Broday (this is the one with the creepy, cartoon-like children) - Listen to our Boobsmas podcast review
Need a BIPOC holiday romance? We recommend Amanda, from Talk About Swoon and Taima, from Shades n Pages
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Hook-up to Holidate
The Author: Rose Santoriello (previously published as Priscilla Rose)
The Guest: Anna & Taylor, co-hosts of The Naked Peach Podcast
The Synopsis:
Indigo Watson gets serotonin from sticking to her plans. She has a long list of to-do’s, including grading midterms, and the list only grows longer when she meets a sexy half-orc at the bar. After spending a weekend with the woman, Indigo is beside herself with feelings, and for once, it’s not anxiety: it’s lust.
Vega Daelor is an orcling woman with a body of steel and a heart of pure gold. She recently started a new job as Department Chair of Charms at Augury University, but everything goes astray when the submissive, little elfborn she’s been fooling around with turns out to be her subordinate.
With the holiday season upon them and a perfect sister to outshine, Indigo gathers up the courage to ask Vega to be her “Holidate.” It’s a foolproof plan. She’ll have a hottie by her side to show off to the family, and she can get Vega out of her system for good. But when the sun sets and the string-lights rise, they find themselves falling for each other instead. Will Indigo follow her job’s zero fraternization policy, or will she be asking for a girlfriend this Christmas?
Show Notes:
- The 4th Day of Boobsmas
- Shoutout to former Boobies & Noobies guest, Caleb for introducing us!
- Breaking from "traditional" jobs and expectations
- A brief synopsis for today's read, Hook-up to Holidate (00:15:11)
- She big and hot, but... the tusks
- Prime example of how we explore real world politics, challenges, etc. in fiction (00:22:30)
- Challenging gender roles, too?!
- A few steamy sexcerpts - mind the tusks (00:33:45)
- Book Rec: Santa Claus is Going to Town on Me by M.L. Eliza - Listen to our Boobsmas podcast episode!
- We love the toys and lube!
- Book Rec: Claimed by the Alien Bodyguard by Tiffany Roberts - Listen to our Boobsmas podcast episode!
- Tit or Tat: A Holiday Game (00:43:53)
- The 4th Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Second Chance Snowmance
The Author: Caroline Frank
The Guest: Caroline Frank
The Synopsis:
Rosie Castillo swore to herself that she’d never go back home—no matter what. But after her sister decides to get married in her snowy hometown in Colorado on New Year’s Eve, she’s left with no other choice but to return to the scene of the worst mistake she’s ever made. Though assured several times by family members that the man who had her heart for so many years would not be home, Rosie runs into him the first day she arrives. Immediately, she’s left wondering how she could ever walk away from him again. With the wedding, the holidays, their families being so close-knit, and the fact that they’re neighbors, it’s looking more and more like there’s no way for them to avoid falling back in love with one another.
Can they manage to forgive each other and themselves and put the past behind them, or will it catch up and run their new relationship into the ground?
Watch as Rosie navigates meddling mothers, bridezilla sisters, a heart-melting love interest, and the general insanity that comes with the holiday season. Second Chance Snowmance is a holiday childhood-friends-to-lovers contemporary romance with delicious pining, banter, Spanglish, and a whole lot of steam. It is book 3 of the Seasons of Love series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Show Notes:
- The 3rd Day of Boobsmas
- Give back, organize, and protest this holiday season (if you can, however you can)
- A different take on Boobsmas (00:06:09)
- Dating your brother's best friend... in real life
- Writing from your own experiences
- A brief synopsis for Second Chance Snowmance (00:10:54)
- When wedding season meets the holiday season
- Holiday eats, treats, and favorite traditions (00:15:22)
- Breaking generational expectations and trauma (in real life and in fiction)
- Pop culture references in book: Adam Brody FTW (00:29:01)
- Artists + Scientist = Love
- Research is sexy
- What's up next in Caroline's Seasons of Love series?
- Justice for the divorced single mom!
- Tit or Tat: a Holiday Game (00:44:21)
- Toxic relationships on TV in the 90s & 00s (00:50:09)
- The 3rd Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
The Novel: Clued in Christmas
The Author: Mia Heintzelman
The Guest: Angela Maria Hart, host of the Cozy Mystery Book Club
12 Days of Cozies (December 1st - 12th)
The Synopsis:
Nadia Sikes usually loves the holidays—cozy game nights, snowy mountain girls’ trips, hours decking the halls at Love & Games. But when her two best friends and co-owners find love, all she wants is to tuck away her heart and make it through the season. Quietly handsome bookstore owner and single dad Micah Hamilton is determined to a) build lasting Christmas memories with his little girl and b) avoid Nadia. When his daughter asks to attend the holiday festivities at Love & Games, though, Micah is forced to introduce the woman who broke his heart, to his child she never knew existed. The scene would drive anyone to plot their romantic reunion…and someone does.
Between turkey dinners, tree decorating, and mistletoe kisses, mysterious notes begin showing up at the game store. As Nadia strings together clues, motives, and suspects for this twisty whodunit, she and Micah are blindsided by the return of their desire. Is it a mistake to lose themselves in each other again? Or will a Christmas miracle bring them back to where they belong?
Show Notes:
- A familiar face for the 2nd Day of Boobsmas
- RIP Twitter
- The 12 Days of Boobsmas meets the 12 Days of Cozies
- Stop downplaying your accomplishments (00:10:54)
- Today's reading selection - the perfect mystery/romance crossover (00:12:30)
- Trivia and Murder, She Wrote
- The 90s reference to end all 90s references
- A short synopsis for Clued in Christmas (00:21:27)
- Some petty notes... that we just can't let go of
- Hard up for cardigans (00:35:14)
- Are newsboy hats actually SEXY?!
- A few steamy sexcerpts (00:37:17)
- Tit or Tat? A festive holiday game (00:45:35)
- Don't overstretch yourself
- The 2nd Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Books, Movies, etc. Mentioned in this Episode:
- "The One with the Embryos" from Friends
- Murder, She Wrote - which you will find ample references to in my book, Venice Actually
- Clue (1985)
- Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) - and underrated 90s classic
- A Christmas Story (1983)
Other News:
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually. -
The Novella: Snowed in for Christmas
The Author: Jaqueline Snowe
The Guest: Esther
The Synopsis:
Sorority mom Becca Fairfield is used to guys not taking her seriously. She’s too blond, too quirky, or Just. Too. Much. So she’s ditched dating to focus on her job and a house filled with drama and plenty of tea. Now with the holidays and a major blizzard on her doorstep, Becca has everything she needs to survive the next two weeks on her own. Hot cocoa, plenty of books . . . and the memory of a steamy kiss with a certain sexy, grumposaurus next-door neighbor to keep her warm.
Only Becca’s seriously underestimated this Snowpocalypse. So when the power goes out and Harrison Cooper—football coach, master crank, and the guy who acted mega-awkward after said steamy kiss—offers her shelter, it only makes sense to accept. They’ll just be Blizzard Buddies. Hang out, stay safe, and maybe indulge in a little R-rated cuddling . Becca knows that Harrison isn’t the dating kind, and what happens during the storm lasts only as long as the storm. But are they keeping warm . . . or playing with fire?
Show Notes:
- The 5th annual 12 Days of Boobsmas
- Cotton Mouth March Madness, hosted by Amanda (Talk About Swoon)
- Discovering indie romance
- What's your favorite holiday memory or tradition? (00:06:09)
- Introducing today's read, Snowed in for Christmas
- A brief synopsis for today's read, Snowed in for Christmas (00:11:55)
- Still finding "firsts" in romance reading, even after a decade
- Pop culture references: yay or nay?
- A shift in romance towards REAL people with REAL jobs
- Henley Harrison (00:27:06)
- A few cold AF experiences
- Why we love snowed-in romance... especially when it's messy
- A few steamy sexcerpts (00:37:08)
- Removing the "masculine" and "feminine" from romance novels (00:41:30)
- Tit or Tat? A festive holiday game (00:46:30)
- The 1st Day of Boobsmas jingle courtesy of Cooper Baldwin
Books, Movies, etc. Mentioned in this Episode:
- The House Bunny (if you want another story about a sorority mom)
- THE monologue from Barbie
- Corporate Mandated Holiday Romance by Nellie Wilson
- The Christmas Notch series by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
December 1st marks the start of The 12 Days of Boobsmas. Tune in for new podcast episodes, new giveaways, and more holiday romance recommendations, all month long!
Purchase MY holiday novellas, Meet Me in Los Feliz and Venice Actually now!!
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website. -
Summary: I, for one, am a huge fan of adaptations, retellings, and re-imaginings of romance favorites, from Shakespeare's classic comedies to romcoms of the 80s and 90s. During this panel we'll discuss the process of adapting existing source material, highlight a few favorites (including some of the panelists' books), and explore stories we haven't seen yet (that we'd like to). 💕
Tit Talk is a monthly panel discussion between the folks who write romance and the readers who love them. Join Kelly every month as she moderates a discussion - with a new topic each time - amongst readers, bloggers, podcasters, authors and more!
Tit Talk (usually) takes place the second Saturday of every month at 10 am PST/1 pm EST. These panels will be recorded LIVE on YouTube and released later in the month as podcast episodes.
Watch: Watch the full episode with video HERE on YouTube.
Today's Panelists:
Alison Cochrun, author of Kiss Her Once for Me
Livy Hart, author of Planes, Trains, and All the Feels (May '23)
Allie Parker, author and podcast host of Romance Ever After Podcast
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/mont& -
Episode Summary: What's better than Pride and Prejudice? GAY Pride and Prejudice. Join debut author, Camille Kellogg, and I as we discuss her debut release, Just as You Are. Other topics include our favorite adaptations of Pride and Prejudice (in books and on screen), how early 2000s romcoms shaped our romance reading journeys, and of course, the importance of queer joy in media today. Happy Pride, y'all!
Guest: Camille Kellogg, author of Just as You Are
Book Summary:
The only thing worse than hating your boss? Being attracted to her.
Liz Baker and her three roommates work at the Nether Fields, a queer magazine in New York that’s on the verge of shutting down—until it’s bought at the last minute by two wealthy lesbians. Liz knows she’s lucky to still have a paycheck but it’s hard to feel grateful with minority investor Daria Fitzgerald slashing budgets, cancelling bagel Fridays, and password protecting the color printer to prevent “frivolous use.” When Liz overhears Daria scoffing at her listicles, she knows that it’s only a matter of time before her impulsive mouth gets herself fired.
But as Liz and Daria wind up having to spend more and more time together, Liz starts to see a softer side to Daria—she’s funny, thoughtful, and likes the way Liz’s gender presentation varies between butch and femme. Despite the evidence that Liz can’t trust her, it’s hard to keep hating Daria—and even harder to resist the chemistry between them.
This page-turning, sexy, and delightfully funny rom-com celebrates queer culture, chosen family, and falling in love against your better judgment.
Show Notes:
- Be sure to grab your copy of the Queer and Cute Anthology and read my novella!
- Camille's jump from editing/publishing to writing
- Our shared love of romcoms
- "The gayest book I could possibly write."
- A brief synopsis for Just as You Are, a queer twist on Pride and Prejudice (00:11:10)
- All the extra crap that goes into writing a book... after the writing itself
- Pride and Prejudice adaptations... and Kelly's spreadsheet (00:14:32)
- Camille's version of Pemberley: how she adapted (and changed) a story we know well
- Found family in queer romance
- Where are all the vegans in romance novels?
- HANDS. OFF. OUR. BOOKS.
- The legacy of romance writers writing LGBTQIA+ stories (00:34:02)
- Someone will love your book... and someone won't!
- What's up next for Camille? (00:44:15)
Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Pride and Prejudice (2005) - the almighty version
- Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
Pre-order your copy of the Queer and Cute Anthology - featuring my spicy sapphic short, "Love is in the Air" - available June 30th.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
Episode Summary: This episode has been a long time coming, and it's a wild one for sure! We cover everything from the wonderful world of fanfiction - "The Practice" and the Green & Pink Power Rangers, obviously - to the effects of purity culture on readers and writers today, and even a few helpful tips for how to write more authentic fat characters in romance novels.
Guest: Kayla Grosse, author of Rein Me In (The Cowboys of Night Hawk)
Book Summary:
BLAKE TANNER never thought she’d return to her hometown after her brother Reed died in a tragic accident. But when her mom gets injured, she comes home to help out on her family's ranch. Now, only five years after her brother's accident, she can’t hide from the grief, the people, or the guilt that she's been running from.
GAVIN MONTGOMERY didn’t plan for his life to be this way. He didn’t ask to be stuck with a pile of debt, the responsibility of a failing family business, or a little brother with a drinking problem. But when his dad died nine months ago, Gavin had no choice but to step up and take care of his family, even if that involved hiding the truth from them: that they’re about to lose everything.
When Blake reluctantly agrees to attend a charity “date auction” at the local townie bar, she figures supporting the family of her late brother's best friend is the right thing to do. Only Gavin is no longer the sweet young boy she remembers, and when he challenges her to ride the mechanical bull in front of the whole town, what choice does she have but to saddle up.
But getting back in the saddle might be a mistake. Because even if she's an expert rider, there’s no way in hell she's letting that cowboy hold the reins.
Will Blake and Gavin find a way to work through their grief and ride off into the sunset?
Or will they be over faster than an eight-second ride?
Authors Note: Rein Me In is the first in The Cowboys of Night Hawk series. This book can be read as a standalone novel and has a HEA. Please know that while there are lots of fun and uplifting moments in this book, the characters also deal with themes of loss, grief, alcohol abuse, and depression.
Show Notes:
- May Patreon Shoutout
- Kelly and Kayla have WAY too much in common
- Soap operas as gateway into reading (and writing) romance
- How purity culture has affected a generation of romance readers (00:07:19)
- Glad to know I'm not the only person who watched "The 10th Kingdom"
- From "The Practice" to "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"... Kayla is a shipper
- Don't try to legislate LGBTQIA+ romances "for the sake of kids" when there have ALWAYS been cishet romances in our media
- How positive fat rep in "Hairspray" changed our outlook on love (00:17:45)
- Fat joy & fat liberation
- How the love we see in books and on screen affects the way we receive love in real life (00:27:30)
- From rockstars to cowboys...
- The almost bull ride that inspired Rein Me In
- Writing meet cutes from missed opportunities
- Third. Act. Break-ups. Are. NOT. Necessary. (00:38:18)
- Hockey romance vs. romance with hockey in it (especially with plus-size love interests)
- Writing plus-size characters without a weight loss journey or shame (00:45:27)
- What's up next for Kayla?
Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Julia Wolf's rockstar romance - check out our episode on Built to Fall
- Kat Blackthorne's The Halloween Boys - a good example of a straight-sized author writing a plus-size character
- I Like You Like That aka the fastest book that Kayla's written (before now) based on her high school friends and one traumatic 15-year-old girl experience.
- Emily Rath's Pucking Around
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
Summary: I, myself, am a fan of "messy, unlikeable" heroines, mostly because I just think of them as REAL ASS human beings. So why do they get so much hate? Especially from female readers? 💖 Tit Talk is a monthly panel discussion between the folks who write romance and the readers who love them. Join Kelly every month as she moderates a discussion - with a new topic each time - amongst readers, bloggers, podcasters, authors and more!
Tit Talk (usually) takes place the second Saturday of every month at 10 am PST/1 pm EST. These panels will be recorded LIVE on YouTube and released later in the month as podcast episodes.
Watch: Watch the full episode with video HERE on YouTube.
The Panelists:
Follow Suzanne Baltsar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzanned523/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzMWrites
Follow Tavi
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/tattletav
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattletav/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tattletav
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tattletav
Follow Cat Wynn
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/catwynnauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catwynnauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/catwynnauthor
Follow Ariana
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianareadsbooks
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arianareadsbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ariana_reads
Books, Articles, & Other Media Mentioned:
Reddit: "Can someone please explain unlikeable heroines to me?"Partner Track and Airplane Games by Cat WynnChelsea Handler's "A Day in the Life of Childless Woman""An Ode to the Unlikeable Heroine" (Frolic)We Should All Be Mirandas: Life Lessons from Sex and the City's Most Underrated CharacterGeneral "Sex and the City" chatterMy Steamy Spotlight Interview with Kwana Jackson (re: her book, How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days)The Stand-up Groomsman by Jackie Lau and Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade (both books feature plus-size male main characters)How to Survive a Scandal by Samara ParishReleasing the Gods by Leia Stone & Jaymin EveGet a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia HibbertBook Lovers by Emily HenryThe Devil You Know by Elizabeth O'RoarkEvery Summer After by Carley FortuneKiss the Sky by Krista & Becca RitchieBroken King by Bella MatthewsDo You Take this Man by Denise WilliamsThe Bluewater Billionaire series (with ethical female billionaires)Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
Episode Summary: We had waaayyy too much fun with this one! Join debut author, Sarah Hawley, and I as we discuss her debut release, A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon. She also gives us an inside look at the rest of the series... can you say, "I accidentally summoned a succubus from a stone I bought on Ebay?" Other topics include incorporating current issues and political messaging into paranormal/fantasy romance, lusting after men in black leather gloves, and the emotional rollercoaster of publishing your first book. Enjoy!
Guest: Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
Book Summary:
Mariel Spark knows not to trust a demon, especially one that wants her soul, but what’s a witch to do when he won’t leave her side—and she kind of doesn’t want him to?
Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.
Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).
But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.
Show Notes:
Cocktober came early! Let's chat with paranormal romance author, Sarah Hawley
- The emotional rollercoaster of publishing your debut
- Not every book is for every reader... and that's okay!!
- Authors staying out of readers' spaces (00:09:15)
- The anatomy of a demon cock
- Varying spice levels and a shoutout to my mom!
- Another podcaster turned writer... have you listened to the Wicked Wallflowers? (00:14:34)
- A not-so-brief (but thoroughly entertaining) synopsis for A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon
- Incorporating current issues and political messaging into paranormal and fantasy romance (00:23:50)
- It's funny. It's horny. And good things happen.
- Looking ahead at the rest of Sarah's series (pre-order A Demon's Guide to Wooing a Witch now)
- Two words... GHOST. E-BAY.
- Creating the "rules" and lore for A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon (00:33:59)
- I meant have found an amnesia romance I actually want to read...
- Brown is NOT the new black
- Werewolves in sweater vests
- Do you have a dream project? (00:47:25)
- More paranormal comedies, please!!
Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Wicked Wallflowers Club (Sarah's podcast)
- Bonkers Romance Podcast
- Remember our Steamy Spotlight Interview with Sally Thorne? Listen for more on haunted dollhouses...
- Revisit our March Tit Talk on "Nostalgic Love: Romantic Updates to Stories We Love"
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. 👈 -
Episode Summary: Be sure to stock up on snacks before listening! On this hunger-inducing episode, author Amanda Elliot joins me to discuss her latest release, a food critic v. food critic romance called Best Served Hot. Other topics include the symbiotic relationship between food, sex, & romance, the surprisingly positive impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on 2023 book releases, and a bit of 90s nostalgia. Enjoy!
Guest: Amanda Elliot, author of Best Served Hot
Book Summary:
Two restaurant critics learn their opposing tastes might make for a five-star relationship in the next foodie romantic comedy from the author of Sadie on a Plate.
By day, Julie Zimmerman works as an executive assistant. After hours, she’s @JulieZeeEatsNYC, a social media restaurant reviewer with over fifty thousand followers. As much as she loves her self-employed side gig, what Julie really wants is to be a critic at a major newspaper, like the New York Scroll. The only thing worse than the Scroll’s rejection of her application is the fact that smarmy, social-media-averse society boy Bennett Richard Macalester Wright snagged her dream job.
While at the Central Park Food Festival, Julie confronts the annoyingly handsome Bennett about his outdated opinions on social media and posts the resulting video footage. Julie's follower count soars—and so does the Scroll’s. Julie and Bennett grudgingly agree to partner up for a few reviews to further their buzz. Online buzz, obviously.
Over tapas, burgers, and more, Julie and Bennett connect over their shared love of food. But when the competitive fire between them turns extra spicy, they'll have to decide how much heat their relationship can take.
Show Notes:
- Let's talk food and foodie romance with Amanda Elliot
- Cookbooks and recipes we love
- Food vs. romance novels (and what they have in common)
- Amanda's romance reading & writing journey (00:06:45)
- Our shared passion for "Top Chef"
- The impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on 2023 book releases
- The symbiotic relationship between food & sex & romance (00:14:12)
- The Literary Dates food tour collab we need!
- Food evokes memories (and creates new ones)
- Creating a hand-me-down recipe keepsake (here's the tea towel I bought for my Mimi)
- What's up next for Amanda? (00:24:20)
- The dream project or story Amanda is dying to tell...
- 90s nostalgia for the win
Books & Other Media Mentioned:
- Well Met by Jen DeLuca
- "Top Chef" Season 20
- Sadie on a Plate (Amanda's previous book)
- For Her Consideration by Amy Spalding
- Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
Links:
Follow Boobies & Noobies on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook @boobiespodcast, on TikTok @realkellyrey, and check out our blog, merch, and more on our brand new Boobies & Noobies website.
Support the podcast on Patreon for as little as $1/month. - もっと表示する
