Ep #132 – LUST & FOUND

“BEYOND CINNAMON ROLLS”

This week Sarah Jean hosts the podcast with special guest author Allie Therin as we conclude our April “betas & cinnamon rolls” theme with a focus on Queer Romance

EP 132 HOST

> SARAH JEAN (she/her) From the woods of Massachusetts, Sarah Jean has been reading queer romance for 12 years. She runs a queer book club called Rainbow Readers of Massachusetts (https://www.facebook.com/rainbowreadersmass/) that celebrates queer lives, joy, and empowerment through genre fiction. When not reading or listening to books Sarah is plotting her queer historical romances, cuddling with her cats, and planning her next adventure. Follow Sarah on Twitter @queer_reader

EP 132 GUEST

ALLIE THERIN (she/her) Allie Therin is a writer and avid reader of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. She also is, or has been, a bookseller, an attorney, a Parks & Rec assistant, a boom operator, and a barista for one (embarrassing) day. Allie grew up in a tiny Pacific Northwest town with more bears than people, although the bears sadly would not practice Spanish with her. When not researching odd questions for her 1920s romance series, she loves to connect with other readers and writers. You can visit Allie’s website at https://allietherin.com/ or follow Allie on Twitter @allie_therin and on Instagram @allietherin

EP 132 DISCUSSION

NOTE: This discussion was recorded during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic

> Title: Spellbound

Author: Allie Therin

Relation to theme: Male MC Arthur & Rory

Representation: Queer MCs

Content Warnings: https://allietherin.com/content-warnings/

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44546990-spellbound

> When Sarah Jean says RomBkPod she actually means #RomBkLove the hashtag originated by Ana Coqui to celebrate inclusive romance and the inspiration for this podcast

> Title: An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities #1)

Author: K.J. Charles

Relation to theme: Male MC Clem

Representation: Queer MCs, MC with dyspraxia, English-Indian MC

Content Warnings: ableism, bullying, childhood neglect, colonialism, racism, off-page torture

and murder, arson, attempted murder

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30517107-an-unseen-attraction

NOTE: This book was previously discussed in RBP ep #108

> Title: The Soldier’s Scoundrel (Turner Series #1)

Author: Cat Sebastian

Relation to theme: Male MC Oliver

Representation: Bi author, queer MCs, physical disability

Content Warnings: blackmail, assault, off-page death, Napoleonic war veteran, PTSD, childhood poverty, past prostitution

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29875088-the-soldier-s-scoundrel

NOTE: This book was previously discussed in RBP ep #108

> Title: A Gentleman Never Keeps Score (Seducing the Sedgwicks #2)

Author: Cat Sebastian

Relation to theme: Male MC Sam

Representation: Bi author, queer MCs, PTSD

Content Warnings: PTSD from sexual assault, fire

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35564594-a-gentleman-never-keeps-score

NOTE: This book was previously discussed in RBP ep #108

> Title: Two Rogues Make a Right (Seducing the Sedgwicks #3)

Author: Cat Sebastian

Relation to theme: Male MC Will

Representation: Bi author, queer MCs, PTSD

Content Warnings: mentions of past emotional, physical and sexual abuse, chronic illness,

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52737554-two-rogues-make-a-right

> Title: A Duke in Disguise

Author: Cat Sebastian

Relation to theme: Male MC Ash

Representation: Bi author, queer MC, disabled MC

Content Warnings: discussion of seizures, abusive family, toxic family, death (off page)

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36501794-a-duke-in-disguise

NOTE: This book was discussed in our 2019 Faves episode

> Title: Band Sinister

Author: K.J. Charles

Relation to theme: Male MC Guy

Representation: Queer MCs

Content Warnings: broken leg/medical injury

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41947093-band-sinister

> Title: Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Author: Roan Parrish

Relation to theme: Male MC Faron

Representation: White author, Jewish author, queer MCs, white MC, Black MC, MC with depression, PTSD, and sensory sensitivity

Content Warnings: depression, suicidal thoughts, internalized ableism, past abusive relationship, confrontation with past abuser

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38510053-invitation-to-the-blues

NOTE: This book has been discussed in several RBP eps including #129 & #106

> Title: Widdershins (Whyborne & Griffin #1)

Author: Jordan L. Hawk

Relation to theme: Male MCs Whyborne & Griffin

Representation: Trans author, queer MCs

Content Warnings: Murder, death

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51632736-widdershins

> Title: Hexbreaker (Hexworld #1)

Author: Jordan L. Hawk

Relation to theme: Male MC Tom

Representation: Trans author, queer MCs

Content Warnings: Murder, gangs, deceit

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29509881-hexbreaker

> Title: Our Bloody Pearl (These Treacherous Tides #1)

Author: D.N. Bryn

Relation to theme: Male MC Dejean, & non-binary MC Perle

Representation: Queer MCs, deaf and disabled MC

Content Warnings: Captivity, murder, genocide, internalized ableism, bloood, violence

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40612896-our-bloody-pearl

> Title: The Croaking

Author: Echorise

Relation theme: Both male MCs

Representation: Queer MCs

Content warnings: prejudice, systematic oppression, murder, violence, attempt murder, military school

Link: https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/the-croaking/list?title_no=1494

> Title: Not Dead Yet (Not Dead Yet #1)

Author: Jenn Burke

Relation to theme: Male MC Wes

Representation: Queer MCs

Content Warnings: Murder, death, ancient demons

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41435160-not-dead-yet

> Title: Yona of the Dawn

Author: Mizuho Kusanagi

Relation to theme: Male MCs and Female MC

Representation: Japanese author

Content warnings: war, violence, death, poverty, murder, blood

Link: manga https://www.viz.com/yona-of-the-dawn

Anime: https://www.funimation.com/shows/yona-of-the-dawn/

> Title: Snow White with the Red Hair

Author: Sorata Akizuki

Relation to theme: female mc

Representation: n/a, japanese author

Content Warnings: kidnapping and poisoning

Link: https://www.viz.com/snow-white-with-the-red-hair

https://www.funimation.com/shows/snow-white-with-the-red-hair/?qid=b744e5325308fcfc

> Title: The Wolf at the Door (Big Bad Wolf #1)

Author: Charlie Adhara

Relation to theme: Male MC Oliver Park

Representation: Queer MCs

Content Warnings: Murder, death, racism/specisim, predjuice, chronic injury, animal abuse

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36480253-the-wolf-at-the-door

> Title: Small Change (Small Change #1)

Author: Roan Parrish

Relation to theme: Male MC Christopher

Representation: Bi MC

Content Warnings: Mentions of sibling’s suicide attempt, microaggressions, sexism, emotional abuse from family

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34878010-small-change

> Allie’s TBR

>> Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian, also mentioned above

>> Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian, out now

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44785311-hither-page

>> Allie says she’s working her way through Jordan L. Hawk’s backlist but didn’t name any specific titles

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6519692.Jordan_L_Hawk

>> Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, out now

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42036538-gideon-the-ninth

> Sarah Jean’s TBR

>> Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles due May 2020

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52237989-slippery-creatures

>> House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, out now

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45047384-the-house-in-the-cerulean-sea

>> Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie, out now

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42302727-bonds-of-brass

>> Deck of Omens by Christine Lynn Herman, out now

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40204193-the-deck-of-omens

> Allie says she has several Alyssa Cole and Beverly Jenkins books on her TBR but doesn’t mention specific titles which is ok because you can’t go wrong when reading these two!

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7790155.Alyssa_Cole

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/199260.Beverly_Jenkins

> Can only male MCs be cinnamon rolls? Sarah Jean wants to hear your nominations for non-male cinnamon rolls in romance

> Title: Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure

Author: Courtney Milan

Relation to theme: Female MC Violetta

Representation: Asian-American author, queer MCs

Content Warnings: sexism, ageism

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44084867-mrs-martin-s-incomparable-adventure

NOTE: This book was also discussed in RBP ep #128

> Title: Starcrossed (Magic in Manhattan #2)

Author: Allie Therin