Whoa!mance

In this episode Isabeau talks to author Donna Thorland about her craft, and romance across mediums. If you loved the TV show Salem, Buffy, and are interested in the reboot of Sabrina the Teenage Witch this is a good episode for you. If you've noticed that romance tropes are migrating toward your fav TV shows--you're right! We talk about that! And we talk about what it means to keep hope alive in the times we live in--romance being a key point of that. Romance is a subversive genre about revolution always--who can you love? What choices do you make? That's the romance question.

Ever wonder what Romancing the Stone would have been like with a strong neoliberal bias? Unlike the big hair, there's a lot about the Reagan era that doesn't hold up no matter how much spray you lacquer on. This week, Morgan and Isabeau take Wild Orchids by Karen Robards to task for its worldview and experience some unexpected trickle-down titillation. Dedicated to all the far flung Midwesterners out there trying to find love in this mad world.

Hey There Listeners! Do you love conversations about consent, safe sex, and revolutions internal and otherwise? Well this star spangled episode is just for you! Morgan and Isabeau break down Donna Thorland's Mistress Firebrand and get into the nitty gritty of french letters and french kissing. It's so much fun you might throw your tea in the harbor!

In this episode Morgan and Isabeau tackle some of Isabeau's particular tipples--namely 1776 Fanfiction, America in general, and what it means to want to love things that are problematic. If you've ever had questions about fanfiction, what Mr. Feeney did before Boy Meets World, or if you're looking for a safe harbor in an increasingly bleak place--this episode is for you. Conduct Unbecoming: https://archiveofourown.org/works/8595313 New Girl on the Block: https://archiveofourown.org/works/142864 Philidelphia is for Lovers…or something of that sort: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11427357 The Course of Love Never Did Run Smooth: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10378323/1/The-Course-of-True-Love-Never-Did-Run-Smooth

In this special episode Isabeau interviews long time friends Nigel and Maarouf about the time in their early twenties when they read a romance novel out loud to each other. The novel? Paradise--by Judith McNaught a snazzy bit of 90s Regan Romance--bootstraps and all. This second chance scorcher takes place in Chicago--and boy howdy does it deliver. Boardroom brawls, blackmail, letters gone astray, miscarriage and HEAs all over the place. Want to hear how much two straight dudes learned from a romance? What lessons they took away? This episode is an unconventional look at how the genre we love can work its magic on everybody.

In this episode Morgan and Isabeau welcome a dear friend to discuss one of her favorite romance novels. In this particular discussion we tackle cultural appropriation, colonization, and of course always female empowerment. If you've ever watched The Mummy and thought "IT ME!" this is the episode for you! Travel to the sun swept sand dunes of Colonial Egypt (yikes) and get whisked away into hilarity, adventure and happily ever afters!

It's our Sweet Sixteen! And on this week's episode we talk about Courtney Milan's delicious and scintillating "The Suffragette Scandal". Do you love men with damage? Do you love women with gumption? This book is for you! Let me tell you what Free is Victorian England's His Girl Friday and Morgan and Isabeau freaking love it!!!

On this episode Isabeau and Morgan tackle a sea monster of a Classic in Johanna Lindsey's A Pirates Love--Readers be Warned this book deals explicitly with sexual assault----as our producer said it really puts the rape back into rape and pillage. It's a lot. So take care of yourself listener. However if you want to brave the tides with Morgan and Isabeau on this classic anchors away me hearties! Lets get down and dirty.

For this episode Morgan and Isabeau tackle a western! Do you love cowboys, history, and sex positivity? Got secret hots for the country doc? This book has it all! Tell us which bit was the best bit - whoamancemail@gmail.com

Whoa! It's Whoa!mance's first ever author interview! Listen as Isabeau fangirls all over one of her favorite authors--the Rita Award Winning Caroline Linden. Curious about how Caroline broke into the field? The first romance she ever read? Or how she writes smutty periodicals for her hilarious and strong characters? Listen and find out--we cover everything from Happily Ever Afters to diversity in stories and publishing.

If you love the sound of the ocean, sexual awakenings, murder plots, candles and late 19th century New York--this new Whoa!mance is just for you! The Grandfather of Queer Romance is a gothic stunner of sensual delights. Loosen your cravats m'lovelies this one gets good.

This week Morgan blows Isabeau's mind on the social construct of flattering fashion and what constitutes a freudian sex scene. If you love fancy balls, trashy mags, discussions of female friendship--and bobbing penises this is your episode! NSFW but you knew that.

Isabeau patiently explains to Morgan the Rita Awards - especially the recent controversy over long-standing, systemic problems therein. Apologies for the lack of cool tunes and sound-goodness--without Nick we really boner'd this ep. But we wanted to be timely.

Pt. 2 of our two-part series on A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole. LISTEN as Morgan and Isabeau argue the difference between a strain and a reach, shout about what it means to be progressive and inclusive in genre fiction, and finish with some ASMR sound triggers. Hashtag intentional, indeed.

This week on Whoa!mance we're talking about Alyssa Cole's new and delectable book A Princess In Theory. If you love PhD candidates trying to scrape by under the oppression of the patriarchy in NYC--who suddenly meet a woke and hot as hell prince this is the book for you! IT'S A TWO PARTER!!! Morgan and Isabeau had a lot of feelings on this gem.

Do you love libraries, castles, house parties and discussion of gauche merchants? You'll love Grace Burrows regency delight--this one takes place in Wales--and listeners you've nothing to loose but your inhibitions. That's right this gem is class conscience and NOT in a Cinderella way!

In which we tackle "Improper Arrangments" (a novella-ella-ella eh eh by Juliana Ross), perspectives, family planning, sea sponges, underpants and more. Can you believe it--this was the second Whoa!mance ever recorded! ........ whoamance.tumblr.com twitter: @mance_whoa instagram: @whoamance whoamancemail@gmail.com

Hold on to your stays for this romance classic! Shanna has it all! Pirates! A marriage plot! Assumed names! A feisty heroine and a Caribbean island. If you like Sandals Commercials you will like some of this book. Listeners beware there is discussion of non-consensual sex and slavery. #the70s #whoa!mance #romance

We tackle "Montana Sky" by lioness in her field NORA ROBERTS while discussing the vanilla candles, The American West, and 1996 in general. Warning: This episode (and book) contains discussion of violence against women.

Heads up--there is discussion of rape and violence in this episode. WOW! We talk about religion, Three Billboards, the complexity of complicity, the complexity of consent, the complexity of guys who won't shut up about their Women Studies class, and some pretty graphic sex!