Love Letters and Books

Join me for another hopecore episode with Ceilidh of @YourHopefulRomantic! Today, we’re exploring the double narrative of the phrase, “Good things happen when you least expect them,” and how it can feel both hopeful and deeply invalidating when you’re at rock bottom. And why these kinds of storylines in books can be so healing. So whether you’ve hit a wall or just fallen off your path, we’re here to let you know you’re in the right place! We’ve heard this line in moments of grief, career upheaval, and personal “failure,” and we’re talking about why it can feel like a Band-Aid over real pain, and how presence and sitting in the discomfort can sometimes be more healing than fast-forwarding to the silver lining.Ceilidh’s book this week is Ronnie Matthews’ small-town romance, Melody Whispers, where an unexpected pregnancy between near-strangers, Harriet and Warren, collides with Warren’s PTSD. The episode also features a voice love letter from Ronnie herself, sharing her intention to write about mental health in a way that is both realistic and uplifting, especially for people who often feel alone in their strugglesBooks mentioned in this episode:Melody Whispers by Ronnie MatthewsRules For Starting Over by Katie KingConnect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ceilidh aka @yourhopefulromanticTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhopefulromantic Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yourhopefulromantic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourhopefulromantic/

Author CJ North returns to talk about Grave Errors, a why-choose MFM dark romance that collides medical debt rage, vigilante justice, and forced-proximity obsession. We discuss the real-world fuel behind this book: the cruelty of medical debt, medical gaslighting, and the belief that our lives only have value if we’re perfect humans who never struggle, get sick, or need help. CJ shares personal healthcare experiences that informed Willow’s fury, explores themes of debt (financial, emotional, generational) and worthiness, and reflects on why she keeps writing stories where broken people still choose to protect others, even at great personal cost. Grave Errors is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with CJ NorthTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cj_north_writes Threads: https://www.threads.com/@cj_north_writesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575075535014# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cj_north_writes/

Horror romance author Tylor Page returns to Love Letters and Books to talk about her traditional publishing debut, Good for Her, a Hollywood-set horror romance. We’re talking about romance, revenge, and our favorite “final girls” who reclaim their power and make the bad guys pay. Tylor also shares candidly about career growth, rewrites, listening to readers, and why the slow, messy climb is often where the most important lessons (and best stories) live. Good For Her will be available 4.28.26 in paperback, ebook, and audio at Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, and more.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Tylor PaigeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tylorpaige Threads: https://www.threads.com/@tylorpaige_authorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylorpaige_author/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tylorpaigeauthor Website: https://www.tylorpaige.com/

I spoke with Katie King, author of Rules for Starting Over and Rules for Faking a Marriage. Today, we're talking about slow burns, big feels, and swoony chaos. Katie's books are contemporary romances with heart, depth, and emotional safety. We explore why we love imperfect characters who make cringeworthy mistakes and awkward apologies, yet still work hard to build strong foundations in their relationships.  If you love stories about healing and second chances and character-driven romance full of growth, tenderness, and joy, this episode is for you!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Katie KingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katiekingwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiekingwrites/Website: https://www.authorkatieking.com/

In this episode, I’m joined by Ceilidh @YourHopefulRomantic for a conversation about what it really means to let hope guide us in life and love, and how the books we read can offer us an entirely new perspective on what it means to cultivate hope in our lives. We’re also going to explore why cynicism is so tempting, how negativity bias keeps us small, and why hoping out loud can feel like a radical, vulnerable act. We’ll share the impact that She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb and Savor It by Tarah Dewitt have had on each of us. And you, the listeners, are invited to submit your love letters on any topic to be shared on air in future episodes: [email protected] with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ceilidh aka @yourhopefulromanticTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhopefulromantic Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yourhopefulromantic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourhopefulromantic/

In this episode, my guest host, author Ali Roberts, and I drop into dark, deliciously over-the-top Mafia and Bratva romance books to explore why morally gray (and morally black), rule-breaking heroes and high-stakes love stories are so irresistible to romance readers. We’re talking about enemies-to-lovers tension and obsessive devotion, slow-burn angst, mental health themes, and totally unhinged, spicy scenes. This conversation is perfect for listeners searching for their next dark Mafia or Bratva romance series!Authors mentioned in this episode:RIna KentShantel TessierMichelle Heard Lilith VincentS.J. TillyMontana FyreRebekah SinclairSomme SketcherDanielle LoriConnect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ali RobertsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraliroberts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraliroberts/Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ali-Roberts/author/B0F8WVQN4M?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=11b47175-7339-4aba-83d1-20f42c0cdfa1

I spoke with UK-based romance author Lila Dawes about Redemption, book one in her Cowgirls Do It Better series: a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers cowboy romance set against the Grand Tetons, where the women run the ranch, the emotional stakes are sky-high, and forgiveness is the hardest thing anyone is asked to do. We definitely talk romance, but it's also a discussion about grief, guilt, accountability, and what it looks like when someone genuinely tries to earn their way back into the world after causing irreparable harm. We also talk about what's coming next for the Cartwright sisters in Revelry, Resonance, and beyond. Lila closes the episode with a love letter written to her younger self. It's written for her, but it lands for everyone who has ever made something quietly and hoped it was enough.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Lila DawesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@liladawesauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/liladawesromance/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lila.dawes.7/Website: https://www.liladawesauthor.com/home

I spoke with author Elaine Evans about her beautiful debut novel, Becoming Mallory, a sweet coming-of-age romance that follows Mallory, a young woman with autism, anxiety, and depression, as she navigates her way through growing up and finding her place in the world. The story focuses on themes of self-discovery, love, and acceptance. But we're also dropping quite a bit deeper in this episode as Elaine explores what it's like to write raw, tender, vulnerable, real-life experiences that take readers on a journey of growth, healing, maturation, and exploration, all leading to a wonderful, happily-ever-after. Make sure to stay until the end of the episode to hear Elaine's love letter to her younger self. Because, as always happens on this podcast, it's probably the love letter that you need to hear as well. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveLettersandBooksPodcast Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Elaine EvansTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elaineevanswritesThreads: https://www.threads.com/@elaineevanswritesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557583049180YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elaineevans-b9rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elaineevanswrites/

I spoke with Ariel Anderson, the author behind the viral romantic tragedy Under Your Scars. Today, we're talking about her latest book, the mythic romantic tragedy, Entombed, which, for me, was a five-star read. We are exploring so many themes in Ariel's writing today, including being the outsider, tenderness, loneliness, relationships that nurture us, connection, and communication, as well as what helps us navigate some of the hardest moments of our lives. We'll also explore what the genre of romantic tragedies can teach us. Ariel also talks about her upcoming releases, including The End Unseen, and shares a spontaneous love letter for the listeners who need a little help saying yes to themselves.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ariel N. AndersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariel.n.anderson Linktree: https://linktr.ee/arielnandersonAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/

I spoke with author Erinn Maxwell about her powerful debut novel, Of Heather and Thistle. This is a slow-burn, small-town romance where healing matters just as much as the happily ever after. It's a story about second chances, self-discovery, a hot Scotsman, and the unexpected places we find home. Make sure to stay until the end to listen to Erinn’s love letter, a heartfelt message to the woman holding this story, who may not realize she’s been grieving long before the loss had a name.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Erinn MaxwellTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinnmaxwellwrites Threads: https://www.threads.com/@erinnmaxwellwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinnmaxwellwrites Website: https://erinnmaxwell.com/

Maggie Gates returns to talk all things Fire Line, the finale in her bestselling Griffith Brothers Ranch series, now being re-released in North American bookstores on March 3 with a brand-new cover and two paperback-exclusive bonus chapters. If you love cowboy romance with real emotional stakes, complicated heroines, and heroes who have to grow up fast or lose the one person who finally sees them, this episode is for you! Maggie and I talk about writing women who’ve survived despite being under-resourced, and why readers who’ve lived in survival mode see themselves in the FMC’s struggle to trust good things when they finally show up. Maggie calls Fire Line “a love letter to anyone who has struggled to feel happy after they’ve been through something really traumatic.” If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “too much,” “too broken,” or simply too late for a happy ending, take a seat and join the conversation. Pick up the re-release of Fire Line wherever you buy your books!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Maggie GatesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormaggiegates Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authormaggiegates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormaggiegates Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authormaggiegates/Website: https://maggiegates.com/

I spoke with author CJ North. We discuss her Louisiana swamp-set romance, Beast of the Bayou, and her dystopian love story, Jump or Fall, exploring devotion through acts of service, power, and agency in high-stakes worlds, and what it really means to love someone who is still healing. We talk about acute versus complex trauma, embodied responses to intimacy, revenge transformed by connection, and the radical idea that you don’t have to be “fixed” to be worthy of love. It’s a vulnerable, nuanced conversation about survival and finding hope even inside oppressive systems. Today’s discussion is about trauma, resilience, and choosing love even when the world feels broken. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with CJ NorthTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cj_north_writes Threads: https://www.threads.com/@cj_north_writesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575075535014# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cj_north_writes/

I am joined by author Ali Roberts (The Unseen and After Hours) for an in-depth chat about our all-time favorite cowboy and cowboy-adjacent romance books. We’re talking small towns, ranch life, country living, and Yellowstone-dark antiheroes, all anchored in themes of found family, devotion, and happily ever afters. Not to mention the rustic settings, dream ranches, and wild rodeos. We didn’t have time to mention every single book or author we love in this genre, so make sure to email us with your favorite cowboy or cowboy-adjacent romance book recommendations for Part 2!Cowboy Romance Authors mentioned in this episode:Louis L'AmourMaggie GatesRaya Morris EdwardsLila DawesThe Moth: Hector Black on ForgivenessBailey HannahJessica PetersonElsie SilverLyla SageAva HunterBrooke MontgomeryVictoria WilderAlbany ArcherConnect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ali RobertsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraliroberts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraliroberts/Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ali-Roberts/author/B0F8WVQN4M?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=11b47175-7339-4aba-83d1-20f42c0cdfa1

I spoke with Ceilidh of @yourhopefulromantic on IG/TikTok, PA to romance author Bailey Hannah, and the hype-engine behind content teams and reader communities that actually feel good. We talk about everything in this episode, from eldest-daughter energy and imposter syndrome to grief, boundaries, and going after what we want, even if we have to do it scared. We discuss soft hearts, strong boundaries, people-pleasing recovery, and empathy burnout. Ceilidh gets real about showing up online and in real life without losing yourself, and how romance novels like Change of Heart can model healthier love, mutual care, and asking for help. Ceilidh also talks about authors Julia Jarrett and Tarah DeWitt. Stick around for Ceilidh’s love letter to her future self, which is part manifesto, part pep talk, and it just might become yours.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ceilidh aka @yourhopefulromanticTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourhopefulromantic Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yourhopefulromantic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourhopefulromantic/

I spoke with Ambar Cordova, author of the Baker Oaks series, a series of interconnected stand-alone stories about interracial and multicultural small-town romances. In this episode, we talk about our love for very human, flawed characters, tender partnerships, the many variations of intimacy and vulnerability in our lives, and why representation of body diversity, chronic illness, and neurodivergent/mental health experiences in romance can be both healing and wildly swoony. Ambar also opens up about boundaries, content notes, and how fiction can nudge us toward self-acceptance without shame. Ambar also discusses her next book, The Hope Once Lost ( available Feb 25, 2026), about a single-mom, grief-to-joy romance that closes the Baker Oaks series, as well as her Patreon-only serialized rom-com on the way.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ambar CordovaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorambarcordova Threads: https://www.threads.com/@acordovabooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acordovabooks/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556977405552 Website: https://www.acordovabooks.com/

I spoke with Ellie Mack, author of Kiss Me Thrice, a New York City ballet romance that takes us on a journey of ambition, artistry, and first love. This book offers a compassionate exploration of OCD, self-sabotage, and the power of letting the present rewrite the stories we tell about our past. Ellie will be your new favorite author if you crave immersive writing, passionate, emotionally intelligent characters, and intimacy grounded in care, communication, and growth. Ellie and I also share our experiences in the world of New York City ballet, including its discipline, creativity, stress, and beauty. Ballet girlies and book lovers, this episode is for you!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ellie MackTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliemackbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@elliemackbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliemackbooks/ Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/ODllnd

I spoke with Lauren Biel, author of dark romance, horror romance, and Dark romantic comedies. Lauren first captivated me with her Ride or Die series, especially her book Across State Lines. Lauren is the Queen of writing “Traumances” (think trauma and romance), finding love when you least expect it, and relatable characters whose love languages are often a bit surprising. Lauren shares so much with us in this episode, from discussions about mental health to grounding yourself in authenticity to the sometimes necessary and always transformative experience of failure and seeing where it leads you. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelettersandbookspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Lauren BielTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenbielauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@laurenbielauthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBielAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LaurenBielAuthor Website: https://laurenbiel.com/

I spoke with Allie Lasky, a neurodivergent author of sports romance, for a powerful conversation about writing romance with mental-health and disability representation. We drop into Allie’s Boston Grizzlies Hockey universe with a spotlight on Defenseless (where demisexual hockey player MMC Ryan falls hard for and FMC navigating life with a chronic illness) and reader favorite Puck Me Twice (an autistic hockey hero, fake-dating romance). Allie explores how therapy, strengths-based routines, and “working with your brain” can have an impact on life and creativity, why slow-burn yearning hits harder when characters are fully seen, and how romance can model healthier love than many of us have witnessed in real life. She also gifts listeners a free eBook of Defenseless. Check out the link below to grab your copy!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Allie LaskyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allielasky Threads: https://www.threads.com/@allielaskyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/allielasky/?ref=_xav_ig_profile_page_web# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allielasky/ Website: https://www.allielasky.com Get your free copy of Defenseless by Allie Lasky: https://BookHip.com/BNJBKSA

I spoke with Lauren Summers, poet and host of the It's Only Up From Here podcast. We trace Lauren’s path from “fake poems” in childhood journals to open-mic stages in NYC. Lauren and I explore poetry, creativity, and yearning in a world that demands our time, attention, and hobbies automatically turn into a hustle. Lauren spotlights the books that shaped her (Anne Frank, Toni Morrison, bell hooks, Kate Chopin), teases a memoir-in-progress, and closes with an original poem—a love letter to hope. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Lauren SummersTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsonlyupfromherepodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsonlyupfromherepodcast/ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-only-up-from-here/id1749144661 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DPl1Dm7rrnfpiD7OX4q3H?si=37e25632565c4d75 Website: https://linktr.ee/itsonlyupfromherepodcast

Author Ali Roberts returns to talk about her new book, After Hours, a romcom workplace romance kicking off the Dinner Club series. We discuss her main characters: the rigid, obsessive, and completely loveable Dr. Alfie and his sunny, wickedly smart office manager, Mia. Ali and I share our favorite books and tropes of 2025 and how tropes like enemies-to-lovers, found family, terrible parents, and dark revenge helped us process big feelings. Also, Ali surprised me with an incredible love letter that had me laughing and sobbing off camera. Here is a list of all the authors mentioned in this episode:AJ MerlinAli HazelwoodBrynne Weaver Chelsea CurtoC.R. JaneEva Simmons Holly June SmithK.M. MoronovaMeghan QuinnLilith VincentMonty JayNavessa AllenShantel Tessier Sloane St. James Stephanie Archer Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Ali RobertsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraliroberts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraliroberts/Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ali-Roberts/author/B0F8WVQN4M?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=11b47175-7339-4aba-83d1-20f42c0cdfa1

I spoke with author KD Cureton about her viral debut, Cracked Ice, a spicy, dark hockey romance and prequel in the F*cked Up Player series. We discuss her FMC, Sydney Sinclair, who just might be my MVP FMC of 2025 due to her unhinged stalker behavior and her secretly romantic MMC, Lucian “Morningstar” Morrow, as they embark on a wildly chaotic all-nighter that sparks obsession while detonating secrets and trust. KD teases her next book in the series, Black Ice, a why-choose tension-filled, enemies-to-lovers dark hockey romance. KD also wrote a beautiful love letter to her readers that you won’t want to miss.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with KD CuretonTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kd.cureton Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authorkdcureton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkdcureton Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/kdcureton

I spoke with Lydia, a content creator I crossed paths with on TikTok and Instagram, who shares some of my favorite LORDs series theories and always shares the best book recommendations. In fact, Lydia has introduced me to some of my favorite authors of 2025. Drop into our virtual living room as we chat all things Rina Kent and Shantel Tessier, including some of our favorite books (God of War) and favorite FMCs (Blakely from The Ritual and Laikyn from The Sacrifice).Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with LydiaTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lydialovesliteratureInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydialovesliterature_/Amazon: amazon.com/shop/influencer-df1369af

I spoke with author Bailey Hannah to discuss her latest book, At Whit’s End, book 4 in the Wells Ranch series. We’ve met our main characters in the previous books, but we’re about to fall deeply in love with Colt, a loveable, golden retriever ranch hand, and Whit, a single mom who feels that she’s both too much and yet not enough (relatable, btw). We explore the many layers of their love story and the transformative effect of trust, gentleness, and simply showing up. Set against a background of small-town gossip and the ache of old family wounds, Colt steps into Whit and her son Jonas’ life with steady hands, a strong heart, star-gazing metaphors, and the kind of everyday devotion that heals wounds he didn’t cause. Expect found family warmth, a light fem-dom dynamic that centers Whit’s power, and proof that real love keeps its promises—especially to a child. If you crave single-mom romance, ranch romance, small-town coziness, witty banter, and HEAs with emotional depth, this book will be your comfort read. At Whits End releases December 2, 2025, in print, ebook, and audio (narrated by Stella Hunter and Teddy Hamilton). If you love learning more about Bailey Hannah, make sure to listen to episode 8 of the Love Letters and Books podcast.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Bailey HannahTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baileyhannahwrites Threads: https://www.threads.com/@baileyhannahwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyhannahwrites Website: https://www.baileyhannahwrites.com/

I spoke with Katana Collins, a USA Today bestselling author known for her grumpy-sunshine RomComs and Romances. We talk about her recent book Meet Cute or Your Money Back (ex-Navy SEALs turned matchmakers find love), why she writes HEAs, and how joy (not algorithms) guides her creative life. Katana shares about her Maple Grove small-town romance series, her holiday romcom Rebel Without a Clause, and what’s next in her meet-cute universe. If you crave slow-burn tension, witty banter, small-town charm, found family, and romances that make your toes curl and your heart swoon, this episode is your perfect comfort listen. Katana also shares a tender love letter that will remind you why we read romantic comedies in the first place.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Katana CollinsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katanacollins Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katanacollins/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatanaCollins Website: https://katanacollins.com/

I spoke with author Ali Roberts about her debut novel, The Unseen. This is a sweet, spicy, and very funny book about a reverse kidnapping romantic comedy where a fiercely responsible big-sister “accidentally on purpose” kidnaps the man who’s been quietly devoted to her for years (cue unhinged plans, scorching banter, and a hero who’s dangerous to everyone… except her). We dig into why “safe but unhinged and has already done the inner work” makes the perfect MMC, how comedy softens darker edges, and the scene-stealing therapist Dr. Alfie, star of Ali’s upcoming workplace romance, After Hours. If you love great banter, electric chemistry, and a side of spice, you’ll love getting to know Ali (your new favorite author). Ali also shares a tender love letter to her younger self, encouraging her to choose curiosity over fear. If you crave ’90s romcoms with bite, big feels, and a guaranteed swoony HEA, press play—then add The Unseen (and After Hours) to your TBR. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Ali RobertsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoraliroberts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoraliroberts/ Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ali-Roberts/author/B0F8WVQN4M?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=11b47175-7339-4aba-83d1-20f42c0cdfa1

I spoke with AJ Merlin, author of some of my favorite dark romance and horror books. She’s the go-to author for readers like me who enjoy a little too much romance in their horror and a little too much horror in their romance. AJ's specialty is writing irredeemable heroes who somehow still manage to captivate their heroines (and her readers). Today we discuss some of my favorite AJ Merlin books, including “No, You Hang Up” (think a prank call gone wrong, a morally black MMC, and ’90s horror movie vibes) and the summer-camp horror romance, “Dead of Summer” (think Stranger Things meets a summer camp slasher from the ’80’s, with a big love story). AJ and I had a beautiful discussion about disability and mental-health representation, why “unhinged but safe” makes for a top-tier MMC, and how vintage horror cinema shapes her storytelling. We also talk about her books “Scaredy Cat” (Halloween fun, murder-mayhem) and Starve (monster romance rooted in American folklore). Stay for AJ’s tender love letter to her younger self—a reminder to keep going and trusting in who you are. If you crave horror romance, dark romance, slasher love stories, and morally black heroes with real HEAs, this is the episode for you!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with AJ MerlinTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajmerlinauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ajmerlinauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajmerlinauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.aj.merlin/ Website: https://authorajmerlin.com/

I spoke with Raya Morris Edwards, the dark cowboy/country romance author of the Sovereign Mountain series, which also includes the books Sovereign, Westin, Deacon, and the soon-to-be-released Jack. Today, we’re talking about Jensen, the fourth book in the series, which launches on November 11th, 2025. Jensen centers on one of my favorite side characters from the previous books and his FMC, Della, a single mother fighting for custody. We explore themes of revenge, discernment, fighting internal and external battles, degradation kinks, power exchanges, and so much more in this high-tension, high-stakes, high-spice series.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Raya Morris EdwardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rayamorrisedwardsauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rayamorrisedwards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayamorrisedwards/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566070091251 Website: https://rayamorrisedwards.com/

I spoke with Ariel Anderson, the author behind the viral romantic tragedy Under Your Scars. We talk about love, grief, and the cost of devotion in dark romance. Ariel opens up about the making of Elena and Christian's love story and why she chose a non HEA ending, and how staying true to the story became a lifeline through devastating loss. We discus mental health, self-harm, suicide, trauma, and recovery with care; Ariel also shares why she donates royalties to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and reads a moving love letter to anyone fighting to make it “one more day.” Ariel also shares about her lighter rom-com Venus: A Love Story (firefighter x nurse) and her Vampire duet: King of the Damned and Queen of the Wicked, and what’s next in her “tragedy era.” If you crave emotional, boundary-pushing romance with obsessive love, corruption, morally gray characters, and heartbreak that still heals, this is the episode for you.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Ariel N. AndersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariel.n.anderson Linktree: https://linktr.ee/arielnandersonAmerican Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/

I am so excited to introduce you to Juliet, your new Thursday host on Love Letters and Books with her Lavender Library episodes. In this fun kickoff, we chat friendship, found family, and why messy, imperfect main characters deserve their HEAs. We unpack the miscommunication trope, the balm of dark and “taboo” romance, and how LGBTQ+ literature, horror, and romance help us process grief, identity, and trauma. Expect candid book talk (think Jennifer Hartmann, Penelope Douglas, Shantel Tessier, Tamsyn Muir, Kelly Quindlen), author interviews, and compassionate conversations that honor vulnerability and creative courage. Press play, subscribe, and join Juliet for the Lavender Library podcast episodes.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Juliet and The Lavender LibraryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavenderlibrarypod/

I spoke with Summer Riley, the dark romance author of the new four-book Douglas Brothers series. Summer and I talked about creativity, community, and releasing first book in the series,The Tycoon, a sweet-but-dark billionaire antihero romance told in first-person, dual POV. Expect an obsessive Southern-gentleman MMC with a monstrous secret and a tender, bookish FMC caught in a web of charm, manipulation, love-bombing, danger, and devotion. We talk redemption arcs, trigger warnings, why imperfect heroines deserve HEAs, and what it takes to write the stories we crave. If you love obsessive/possessive, grumpy/sunshine, or “fluffy dark” vibes with high tension and real heart, press play. The Tycoon is on Kindle Unlimited so dd it to your TBR and stay for Summer’s vulnerable reflections that will light up your own creative courage.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Summer RileyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsummerriley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsummerriley Website: https://thesummerriley.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/authorsummerriley

I spoke with Mae Tingstrom, owner of Smitten Bookstore in Ventura, California. In this very chatty episode, we explore how Mae dreamed up a dedicated romance and women’s literature haven, complete with cozy book clubs, indie and traditional author signings, “blind dates with a book,” writing circles, tarot nights, and a calendar packed with community-forward events. We talk about the stigma surrounding the romance genre, why stories about caretaking matter, and how Mae “matchmakes” readers with the perfect book (and each other). If you’ve ever wished for a local romance bookstore, this is your invitation to step into a world with curated shelves of books that look suspiciously like your TBR. Stay to the end for Mae's tender love letter to her younger self about slowing down and savoring the chapter you’re in. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Smitten BookstoreTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smittenbookstore Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smittenbookstore Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smittenbookstore Website: https://smittenbookstore.com/

I spoke with Maggie Gates, author of raw, relatable romance books. We discussed her Griffith Brothers Cowboy Romance series, including Dust Storm, Down Pour and Fire Line, three swoony, high-heat love stories set on a Texas ranch where we meet a protective single dad, an ex–bull rider learning to live again, and a grumpy cowboy who hates change, plus the unforgettable women who match their grit. We talk found family, grief, anger, and the journey of surrender and healing. We touch on grumpy/sunshine chemistry, how sometimes the thing we never saw coming is exactly what we never knew we needed, and how Maggie turns real emotions into safe, cathartic small-town cowboy romances that increase our empathy and understanding. If you're a fan of books with resilience, redemption, and forever love, this is the epsiode for you.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Maggie GatesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormaggiegates Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authormaggiegates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormaggiegates Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authormaggiegates/Website: https://maggiegates.com/

I spoke with Katherine Bitner about her new book, Lucky Penny, the emotional, second-chance, small-town romance in her Hometown series (an interconnected standalone series that began with Unravel Me). Katherine takes us inside Penny’s journey of maasking pain with with upbeat enthusiasm and introduces Jesse, her former foster brother turned tattooed animal rescuer, as a dual-POV, dual-timeline love story unfolds in Wilmington, North Carolina. We dig into many topics in this episode, including: loved ones being a mirror for our trauma, coping mechanisms, and the discomfort of growth, ultimately allowing us to heal old wounds. We also touch on child-free by choice romance books, in a tender, honest conversation that makes space for readers to feel seen. Katherine shares the impact that Chloe Walsh's Boys of Tommen series has had on her and the next direction she's taking in her writing. Lucky Penny launches 10/8/25 in Kindle Unlimited and paperback.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Katherine BitnerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katherine.bitner.writes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatherinebitner/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thekatherinebitner Website: https://katherinebitner.com/

I spoke with Measha Stone, a dark romance author of spicy and complex psychological thrillers such as Dolly and Marked, as well as mafia romance series, Mafia Brides and Vicious Sinners. We explored Dolly, one of my favorite reads of 2024, a psychological thriller that blends survivor healing, trauma bonding, and gloriously cathartic revenge, and how she crafts protective heroes, powerful heroines, and that sigh-worthy “ahh” ending after the chaos. Measha shares her writing process, what inspires her, including her favorite authors and films, and how dark romance can be a safe place to feel hard things. We discuss her Vicious Sinners series, including Devious Corruption, her newest book, arriving October 17 on Kindle Unlimited. We also discussed the Mafia Brides series starting point (Taken by Him), her Stalked by a Monster collaboration with Zoe Blake and Sarah Fields. Measha shared a tender love letter to readers to round out this intimate, empowering conversation.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Measha StoneTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meashastoneauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@meashastone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeashastone/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meashastone/Newsletter: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vbvyo5r3s1 Website: https://meashastone.com/

I spoke with Tawnya Torres, a dark romance and fantasy romance author, who writes about underrepresented characters. We discussed her latest book, A Taste of Candy, about an unhinged yet tender hacker–stalker FMC who sets her sights on Jeremy, a sweet, lonely office worker living with a chronic heart condition. We talk flipping power dynamics (soft MMC/shameless FMC), compassionate chronic-illness representation in dark romance, and how fanfic roots plus inspiration from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Haunting Adeline shaped this sparkly-pink, vigilante love story. Tawnya also shares her creative restart during lockdown, her audiobooks and fantasy books (A Silent Discovery, At the Castle of Eternal Winter, and Heart of the Machine), and closes with a beautiful love letter to readers about visibility and belonging. And don't miss the wild cold-open recording saga we experienced that could be a book itself. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Tawnya TorresTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tawnyewestwriter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawnye_westwriter/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tawnya-Torres/author/B0F798NF83?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1758485618&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=cf5fe43b-58dd-46e6-b111-f6c7f7013b08

I spoke with Amanda Jones, author of the Queen City series, a dark forbidden romance series, and the Guardian series, a fantasy romance series. We dive into I Stop Somewhere Waiting for You (Maverick & Jonesie’s forbidden romance across rival gangs), how it sparked We Were Together, and the forthcoming conclusion, As Long As We Live, exploring how redemption, reinvention, and found family power her character-driven plots. Amanda and I discuss the influence of Walt Whitman, Frank O'Hara, and Richard Brautigan, as well as the playlists that score pivotal scenes, and the moments when characters “take the wheel” of her writing. Amanda also shares a moving love letter to her younger self about resilience, believing in yourself, and dreaming big.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Amanda JonesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatauthorchick_ajones Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thatauthorchick_amandajones Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatauthorchick_amandajones/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatauthorchick.amandajones

I spoke with K. Webster, bestselling author of over 150 books and the banned book queen of some of our favorite taboo romance books, including The Wild and The Free. Kristi opens up about writing as escapism, the fierce compassion she brings to her flawed characters, their complicated relationships, and how she navigated backlash and book bans. We discuss challenging happily-ever-afters, trusting the process, double standards for women in publishing, the layered, multi-generational storytelling that fuels books like The Wild, and the real-world research behind the mental health themes in her books. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with K. WebsterTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkwebster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkwebster/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkwebster Website: https://authorkwebster.com/

I spoke with Tylor Paige, the horror-romance author of Slash or Pass from her Final Girls trilogy, her follow-up novella, Thots and Prayers, and the forthcoming novel, Good For Her. We spoke at length about Tylor’s cult-survivor slasher romances where villains stay villains, the chemistry is electric, and a goth FMC steals everyone’s heart. We explore the difference between dark romance and horror romance, Tylor’s cinematic writing process, the nostalgic roots that inspire her writing (V.C. Andrews, Stephen King, Twilight Zone), and the indie-to-traditional journey that led to her upcoming Hollywood revenge novel, Good For Her. Tylor also shares a vulnerable and inspirational love letter to the readers who championed her work. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Tylor PaigeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tylorpaige Threads: https://www.threads.com/@tylorpaige_author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylorpaige_author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/376190999768893/ Website: https://www.tylorpaige.com/

I spoke with Kate James, paranormal romance author, to talk shifter romance, soul-deep bonds, and writing the kind of love that feels a little bit like magic. Inspired by a real backcountry rescue, Kate’s wolf-shifter firefighter novella, Rescued by the Wolf, delivers a tender second-chance romance with fierce pack/found-family vibes and an FMC learning to find her voice. We also dive into her nostalgic, beachy ghost romance Summer’s Ghost (think Gidget with a bit of spice), her Scottish Highlands Cameron Clan shifter world (Desiring the Alpha and Hunting the Alpha), plus witchy novellas (The Witches of Engels) and new books on the way. If you crave wolf shifters, firefighter romance, witches, vampires, and magic, and quick, satisfying novellas that still hit the mark emotionally, this conversation is your next cozy listen. Stay to the end to hear a beautiful love letter Kate wrote for her readers.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Kate JamesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katejamesauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authorkatejames Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatejamesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatejames/ Website: https://www.katejamesbooks.com/

I sat down for a solo episode today. It's my birthday week, and so much has risen to the surface as I process this rollercoaster year. I share a heartfelt, extended dance remix, stream of consciousness love letter from me to you for anyone who needs it today. Live well and love easy. xx CaseyConnect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected]

I spoke with Raya Morris Edwards, the dark cowboy/country romance author of the Sovereign Mountain series, which includes books Sovereign, Westin, Deacon, and the soon-to-be-released Jensen and Jack. We discuss Raya’s “Yellowstone meets 50 Shades of Grey” universe, set in fictionalized rural Montana, where timeless stories and wild landscapes collide with high-spice, age-gap, and BDSM-forward love stories, and themes of trauma and deprivation give way to storytelling about connection, autonomy, and self-discovery. We’ll also explore how Raya transforms a place into a character, a flawed main male character into the ultimate anti-hero, and all while building a life for her main female characters that go from harsh and hopeless to soft and sensual, and how these flawed yet beautiful relationships are explored through intimacy, communication, and kink as healing. Make sure to stay with us to the end, as Raya will share a beautiful love letter to her readers.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Raya Morris EdwardsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rayamorrisedwardsauthor Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rayamorrisedwards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayamorrisedwards/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566070091251 Website: https://rayamorrisedwards.com/

I spoke with Maren Riley, the dark thriller romance author of the Grave Series (Grave Obsession, Grave Possession, and the forthcoming book three) and Wrong Turn. We'll explore how love, obsession, and survival collide across the jaw-dropping twists of the Grave series. Maren gets candid about writing on-page trauma, hypersexuality as a lesser-talked-about survivor response, balancing horror with heat, and building a multi-book universe that leaves readers wrecked and wanting more. We also discuss why she refuses to fade to black when it comes to both the trauma and the healing her characters experience. We also explore dark romance, trauma survivorship, the myth of the perfect survivor, and how, for some readers, dark romance is an opportunity to process some of their own traumatic experiences in a safe space without the questions and judgment that the world can sometimes burden us with. Make sure to stay with us to the end, as Maren will share a beautiful love letter to Mallory, the FMC we have all come to know and love. If you crave twisty plots, morally (dark) gray main characters, and FMCs who claw their way back to power, this episode is for you. Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Maren RileyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maren.riley.author Threads: https://www.threads.com/@maren.riley.author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maren.riley.author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/962622892541142/

I spoke with debut romance author Emmy Kendall about her upcoming book, Ricochet, a second-chance medical romance where two doctors reunite a decade after an explosive betrayal. Emmy reveals why she dared to make her FMC the one who strayed, how real-life experience as a labor-and-delivery nurse fuels the novel’s authentic operating-room tension, and what forgiveness, self-acceptance, and messy, grown-up love truly look like. We explore the powerful impact of writing about romance that occurs later in life, the allure of white-coat power dynamics, and the fine line between heart-racing drama and swoony happily-ever-after. This episode is perfect for romance fans who loved ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Chicago Med, House, or The Pitt, and who crave high-stakes medical romance, big feelings, and a satisfyingly tender endgame.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Emmy KendallTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@emmykendallThreads: https://www.threads.com/@emmyk.writes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmykendall.author/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Emmy-Kendall/author/B0FH5MPZ6J?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=ac81aab4-5825-414e-a283-fdf0bf83636f

I spoke with best-selling romance and fantasy author C.R. Jane. I am obsessed with her viral Pucking Wrong hockey romance universe, the Wrong Player spin-off series, and all of her red (ish) flag MMCs! Jane explains how Taylor Swift tracks inspire every book idea, why she mixes laugh-out-loud locker-room banter with raw emotional themes and powerful love stories of healing and connection. We also discussed the importance of sharing stories that highlight themes of coercion, shame, trauma recovery, and self-love, and how her own journey motivated her to write heroines who fight to reclaim their power. We discuss found-family friendships and the profoundly healing experience readers have of seeing survivors instantly believed and loved on the pages of her books. Jane also closes the episode with a heartfelt and tear-jerking love letter to readers, reminding listeners that “the best things in life are born from the ashes of the worst.” Perfect for fans of dark sports romance, emotionally safe alpha heroes, heartbreak, and happily-ever-afters.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with C.R. JaneTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crjaneauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/crjaneauthor/Website: https://www.crjanebooks.com/

I spoke with Bailey Hannah, the best-selling author of the Wells Ranch series, which is full of small-town heat, heartfelt stories, and an abundance of hope and healing. Together, we explore what makes the Wells Ranch series so impactful for readers. We discuss Bailey's emotional debut novel, “Alive and Wells,” which introduces us to this spicy cowboy-romance world set in rural British Columbia, where heroine Cecily escapes an abusive marriage and finds safety, community, and real love on the ranch. Next up is “Seeing Red,” an accidental-pregnancy, friends-to-lovers story that tackles trauma, abandonment, and breaking toxic cycles. Bailey then unpacks her latest book, “Change of Heart,” a swoony second-chance romance that spotlights the realities of the sandwich generation balancing self-care with caregiving. Finally, she teases her upcoming book, a single-mom romance called “At Whit’s End,” promising more of what we love about the Wells Ranch community: love, found family, and the feeling that this was all meant to be. Along the way, we discuss why Bailey writes thirty-something characters and the life-changing messages her books inspire in readers. If you crave spicy Canadian cowboy romance, memorable characters, relatable stories, emotional depth, soul mates, and happily-ever-afters, hit play and head back to Wells Ranch!Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Bailey HannahTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baileyhannahwrites Threads: https://www.threads.com/@baileyhannahwrites Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baileyhannahwrites Website: https://www.baileyhannahwrites.com/

I spoke with Kitty King, a dark romance author, who writes unforgettable stories with blazing spice where flawed characters, making mistakes, deconstructing shame, exploring kink, and sexual trauma survivorship take center stage. We discuss the electric relationship between Xavier and Marissa, the fan-favorite couple from Red Night, and the exploration of male sexual assault and survivorship from her book White Hole. Plus, Kitty generously offers exclusive intel on her July launch of Cult Campus, a seven-book, second-generation college saga complete with primal hunts, horror escape rooms, and Greek-house cult games that overlap almost every series in the Kitty-verse. If you crave lovable anti-heroes who do not grovel, taboo spice, and HEAs that make you question everything, this conversation is for you! Stay with us to the end to hear Kitty’s heartfelt love letter to her readers.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] Connect with Kitty KingTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorkittykingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kittykingauthor/ Website: https://www.kittykingauthor.com/

I spoke with Albany Archer, an indie country romance author known for her “Hallmark-After-Dark” blend of heart, heat, and happily-ever-afters. In this episode, we drop into her wilderness romance, Roughing It (a 30-day wilderness challenge that pairs an Austin influencer with a gruff mountain man), her first book, Keep This Between Us, and her novella Wild Horses. Albany reveals why she writes about 30-something protagonists, the power of found family, the importance of communication, connection, and consent-driven spice, and crafting flawed heroines readers love to debate. She discusses world-building a fictional small-town universe in New Mexico, her own “Southwestern Stars Hollow,” balancing heat with emotional depth, her voracious reading habit, and what’s next for her characters. We also shared our mutual love for Ruby Dixon! This episode is perfect for fans of small-town, sweet-and-spicy contemporary country romance looking for strong female leads, cinnamon-roll heroes, and guaranteed HEAs.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelettersandbooks Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lovelettersandbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelettersandbooks/ Write me a love letter: [email protected] with Albany ArcherTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authoralbanyarcherInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoralbanyarcher Website: https://linktr.ee/authoralbanyarcher

I spoke with Alina May, a bestselling indie author of dark romance thrillers. Alina shares her experience going from voracious reader to international hit author with her why-choose, captive, dark romance book, Better Run. We dig into Alina’s real-life inspirations, her craft secrets, and the compelling characters she creates, including her resilient heroines who reclaim their agency after experiencing PTSD, miscarriage, and abuse. We also explored the stigma around the dark romance genre, discussing consent, why readers feel safe processing real-world pain inside a guaranteed HEA, and the catharsis of Alina’s latest release, Make Me. Plus we'll touch on her other books, Better HIde, Ready or Not, and Wanna Play A Game, what it's like to write a book that shares a world with her friend and author, Alexandra St. Pierre, a TBR of must-read books, and Alina’s tear-jerking love letter to readers where she reminds all of us, “You are loved and worthy, no matter how comfortable the darkness feels.”Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: @lovelettersandbooksInstagram: @lovelettersandbooksWrite me a love letter: [email protected] with Alina MayTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alina_may_authorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alina_may_authorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/133494816419422/Website: https://www.alinamaybooks.com/

I spoke with dark romance indie author Summer Riley about her Possession Duology, including Mine, and its brand-new sequel, Ours, and the choices that make this stalker romance resonate with readers. We dive into using a third-person POV and delivering a cliffhanger ending that actually satisfies. Summer reveals how revising and re-releasing Mine on social media helped the book find its audience, why fiction is a safe space for trauma healing, and how a near-death experience pushed her to hit publish. The conversation also previews her next project, The Many Sins of the Douglas Brothers, a four-book, billionaire, dark romance series, and embracing the stops and starts of creativity. If you’re searching for paranormal and dark romance, strong female leads, obsessive heroes, self-publishing strategy, or writing through pain, you’ve come to the right place.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: @lovelettersandbooksInstagram: @lovelettersandbooksWrite me a love letter: [email protected] with Summer RileyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorsummerriley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsummerrileyWebsite: https://thesummerriley.com/LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/authorsummerriley Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Summer-Riley/author/B0B2Q7QLXG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c3352820-b9d4-4e75-9291-05380bc2812d

I spoke with author Katherine Bitner about the inspiration behind her book, Unravel Me, the first book in The Hometown Series of interconnected stand-alone novels. Unravel Me is a steamy strangers-to-lovers, opposites attract, small town romance. Think: The Notebook meets Sweet Home Alabama. This sweet and spicy love story is about two people from different worlds and the invisible string that keeps pulling them back together. Katherine also teases the spicy sequel Lucky Penny (out October 2025). We talked about Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, the importance of Lana Del Rey, Pinterest mood boards, and the experience of writing spice without the cringe. The conversation also explores the power of romance fiction to process trauma, increase emotional awareness, and revive us after reading slumps. This episode offers a heartfelt, in-depth exploration of storytelling, community, and pursuing big dreams.Connect with Love Letters and BooksTikTok: @lovelettersandbooksInstagram: @lovelettersandbooksWrite me a love letter: [email protected] with Katherine BitnerTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katherine.bitner.writesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatherinebitner/Website: https://katherinebitner.com/Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Katherine-Bitner/author/B09X6373YQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=01c94375-a0d6-4aa5-9c73-18ddfdc0be97