A Time-Travel Duke + Modern Heroine = Perfect Romcom | Meet Bryn Donovan

from What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a Regency-era duke accidentally time-travels to 2025 Chicago? In today’s episode, Bryn Donovan joins me to talk about Her Time-Traveling Duke — a magically cozy, Chicago-set romcom that blends Regency charm, modern vibes, and a touch of science-meets-spellwork chaos.We chat about Bryn’s life as a former greeting-card writer, why the Art Institute of Chicago feels like pure magic, how she built a low-stakes, lightly-magical world, and the romance titles she’s loving right now. If you love Bridgerton, cozy fantasy, or romcoms with heart, spice, and smart heroines, this one’s for you.📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Her Time-Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan — Contemporary Romance | Time Travel | Light Magic — Audio ✅Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan — Contemporary Romance | Light Magic | Museum Setting — Audio ✅Love Is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg — Contemporary Romance | Slow Burn | Pining — KU  ✅ / Audio ✅When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein — Contemporary Romance | Slow Burn | Steamy — KU  ✅ / Audio ✅The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson — Contemporary Romance | Chicago-Set | Body Positivity — Audio ✅Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove #1) by Lana Harper — Paranormal Romance | Cozy Magic | Small Town — Audio ✅The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston — Contemporary Romance | Ghostly Twist | Grief & Healing — Audio ✅The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston — Magical Realism | Romance | Time Bend — Audio ✅The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst — Cozy Fantasy | Bookish Magic | Low Stakes — Audio ✅🕒 TIMESTAMPS[00:00] – Introduction to the episode & why this book is such a fun mashup [00:44] – Bryn’s background: greeting-card writer, Hallmark Channel, blogger [01:35] – Introducing Her Time-Traveling Duke and how it fits in the series [02:10] – Why this world blends Regency charm with modern Chicago [02:55] – Elevator pitch: magic meets science, sunshine meets grumpy [03:40] – The time-travel mistake: why the duke is not happy to be in 2025 [04:25] – The painting twist & how magical rules affect the museum [05:00] – Building a lightly magical world set in real Chicago locations [06:00] – The Art Institute of Chicago: why it feels like pure magic [07:10] – Laura and Bryn’s shared museum nostalgia [08:15] – Bryn’s reading tastes: romance, fantasy roots, poetry, history [09:20] – Discussing magic systems, research, and Regency details [10:15] – Romance recs: pining, slow burn, smart dialogue [11:00] – Chicago-set romance picks Bryn loves [11:45] – Cozy fantasy favorites (Ashley Poston, Lana Harper, Sarah Beth Durst) [12:50] – Why “low stakes” in fiction still feels high stakes in real life [13:40] – Talking about book one in the series & FBI/“low stakes-ish” chaos [14:25] – Where to find Bryn online + her upcoming YouTube reboot [15:00] – Closing + reminder to check out the blog for more recsJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.Advertise With Us

NOW PLAYING

0:00 15:34

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Shadowwork and The Divine Union Within

Dec 5, 2025 ·50m

You gotta RELEASE to RECIEVE Babes 💁🏽‍♀️

Oct 9, 2025 ·33m

The Manifestation Matrix 👁️

Oct 3, 2025 ·40m

Reclaiming the Divine Feminine Throne as The Crone 👑🖤🌙

Sep 11, 2025 ·31m

Why destiny swap when you can just do this?

Aug 27, 2025 ·39m

One thing is for sure, two are for certain…

Aug 18, 2025 ·54m

Similar Podcasts

Big Old Life: Heather Blackbird interviews people on planet earth. Heather Blackbird loves asking questions. This podcast is a learning experience. Join me, Heather Blackbird, as I talk to people about their lives. Frequency of new episodes is a little all over the place and I'm learning as I go. Big Old Life is a small way of talking about the vastness of life, one person at a time. If you are reading this or found this podcast it's probably because someone you know gave you a link to it. :) Explicit Tales Of A Superstar DJ The Insomniac Spun seemingly out of nowhere from her complacent life in the corporate world, turned seemingly overnight from 16-Hour shift work and into the life of a literally starving artist and working musician, The Protagonist navigates her supposed rise to fame and superstardom on a journey through spiritual awakening, coming-of-age, and intimate self-realization--guided by an omnipresent force and equipped with the power of love, magic, and music. {Enter The Multiverse.} [The Festival Project] The Festival Project, Inc.™ is a multidimensional multimedia platform which encompasses exploratory and artistic social personifications and expressions on cosmic theory, spirituality, growth, health & wellness, philosophy and theoretic dynamics in entertainment such as music, design, film, television, radio, dance and festival culture, art, fashion, literature, and science. The Festival Project™ and its subsidiary Non-Profit, The Collective Complex © aims to challenge modern artistic and philosop Explicit Bitcoin Is Dead Trey Carson Welcome to Bitcoin is Dead, the ultimate Bitcoin variety show where host Trey takes you on a journey through the ever-evolving world of Bitcoin. Each episode brings new personalities, fascinating locations, and insightful conversations with politicians, educators, and innovators shaping the future of Bitcoin. Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting your journey, tune in for thought-provoking discussions, unique perspectives, and a deep dive into the ideas and people driving the Bitcoin revolution. Explicit The Sacred +Profane Podcast nephtaragrace The Sacred + Profane Podcast is a provocative conversation dedicated to cementing a better future for all. We specialize in unpacking the nuances of what is considered sacred and profane, particularly focusing on sex, death, and all that pertains to the circle of life. Our aim in focusing on such ”taboo” subject matter is to demystify what is unconscious, bring to light what has been known for centuries as ”the occult,” and empower the rapid transformation that is occurring on the Planet. Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show?

This episode is 15 minutes long.

When was this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode published?

This episode was published on November 26, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!