S07:19 Back in Time with Harlequin Blaze

We're getting into the romance time machine and setting the course for 2001, when Harlequin decided that those Temptations could get scorching hot and become a Blaze. We scoured ebay for boxes and boxes of old Blazes, dug deep into the back catalogues of our Kindles, and are celebrating the OG one-handed read, the Harlequin Blaze. We had a great time, but we knew what to expect -- if you need content warnings, make sure you check them. And let us know if you want us to explore some other category lines!If you want more Fated Mates in your life, please join our Patreon, which comes with an extremely busy and fun Discord community! Join other magnificent firebirds to hang out, talk romance, and be cool together in a private group full of excellent people. Learn more at patreon.com.Our next read along is Julie Anne Long's What I Did For a Duke, available in print, ebook and audio at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.The Books Her Naughty Holiday by Tiffany ReiszGetting Physical by Jade Lee Just Watch Me Julie LetoToo Wicked to Keep by Julie LetoAnything Goes by Debbi RawlinsThe Fantasy Factor by Kimberly RayeWhisper by Nancy WarrenShameless by Toni CarringtonWhat a Girl Wants by Jamie SobratoSilent Desires by Julie KennerCertified Male by Kristin HardyHot Island Nights by Sarah MayberryThe NotesSarah is teaching her beginner Start Your Romance Today class virtually on February 23rd at 1pm eastern.What is a category romance? Maybe listen to our episode from season 5.The Blaze line, from 2001-2017, was a spin off from the Harlequin Temptation line. The Kimani romance line ran from 2006 to 2019.We had an episode about Tiffany Reisz’s Men at Work trilogy, a 2016 Blaze series, back in season 4.Join Sarah with Rebecca Romney at The Strand’s rare book room on Feb 18, 2025 to celebrate the release of Rebecca’s book, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf. Jen is SCREAMING because the sequel to Certified Male? You guessed it. If you read Hot Island Nights first, go back and check out Her Best Worst Mistake. The SponsorsJ. Winifred Butterworth, author of A Bloomy Head, available in ebook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.Jill Shalvis, author of Better than Friends, available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.Macmilllan Audio, publishers of Let's Call A Truce, by Amy Buchanan, and read by Charlotte North, available from Audible, Kobo, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Libro.fm or wherever you get your audiobooks. Enter the Macmillan Audio sweepstakes to win one of five free copies of this audiobook.Maureen Lee Lenker, author of His Girl Hollywood, available in print, ebook or audiobook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books or wherever you get your books.00:01 Sarah's Romance Class01:31 Bantr06:25 Pour One Out for Harlequin Blaze15:12 AD: LET’S CALL A TRUCE17:51 The Segregation of Harlequin Lines27:11 Sex in Harlequin Blaze33:19 Plot, Character, and Tropes36:45 AD: HIS GIRL HOLLYWOOD38:52 Just Watch Me42:26 Too Wicked to Keep47:58 Up to No Good50:35 Anything Goes & the Fantasy Factor53:17 Gender Essentialism & Consent55:55 Whisper1:00:23 AD: A BLOOMY HEAD1:03:06 Shameless1:07:20 What a Girl Wants1:12:16 Play With Me1:17:24 AD: BETTER THAN FRIENDS1:19:22 Guess the Title!1:27:36 Hot Island Nights1:37:33 Outro1:39:02 AD: LET’S CALL A TRUCE