Welcome to Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast where we chat, fangirl, and maybe even swoon over our latest reads. I'm Francesca from Under the Covers Book Blog, and today I’m joined by historical romance legend Eloisa James to talk about her newest release, Hardly a Gentleman — and so much more.

This episode is for you if you love:

• Grumpy Scottish heroes who fish naked in streams 🐟
• Proper heroines on the run who just want to read in peace 📚
• Accidental marriage? Yep.
• He falls first? Oh, absolutely.

We’re diving into:

• How Hardly a Gentleman fits into the Accidental Brides series
• The hilarious (and kilty) setup for this romance
• Why pirates are hard to write these days 😅
• The evolution of romance over the decades: from bodice rippers to booktok
• Whether stepbacks might be making a comeback (Eloisa has thoughts — and art)
• Balancing academia and writing bestsellers
• And why romance is a radical, joyful act of resistance

We also talk about the misogyny still embedded in how romance is viewed and why that makes stories like these matter even more. Plus, Eloisa shares her current reads and what’s coming next (spoiler: haunted abbeys and secret rock star dads).

📚 Books Mentioned:

– Hardly a Gentleman (all about her current release)

– A Kiss at Midnight, When Beauty Tamed the Beast (tropes she loves in her backlist titles)

– Viscount in Love (how the heroine has a piece of her life experience)

– Wilde in Love, Too Wilde to Wed (cover inspiration)

Eloisa's recommendations:

– Earl Crush by Alexandra Vasti

– There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev (available on Kindle Unlimited)

– Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans

– I Captured the Castle by Dodie Smith

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

– Substack series on the Evolution of Romance

–

If you love vampires that smolder, weather witches who flirt, and dragons hiding in the bayou, this episode is for you!

Today on Reading Under the Covers, we're heading to one of the most magical and mysterious paranormal hotspots: New Orleans. 🌙✨

I'm sharing five paranormal romances that each bring a different kind of NOLA magic—from second chance vampire love stories to zombie survival romances, dragon shifters in the bayou, and everything in between.

📚 Books Mentioned:

• Enticed by Blood by Laurie London
• Summer Heat by Jaci Burton
• Run by Gillian Zane (available on Kindle Unlimited)
• How to Date Your Dragon by Molly Harper
• Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon (available on Kindle Unlimited)

📝 Looking for even more New Orleans-set reads? Check out the blog:

• Voodoo and Marie Laveau Books
• Paranormal Romance Books Set in New Orleans
• Urban Fantasy Books Set in New Orleans
• Mystery Books Set in New Orleans
• Romantic Suspense Books Set in New Orleans
• Contemporary Romance Books Set in New Orleans
• Cozy Mysteries Set in New Orleans

✨ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! It helps more romance readers find us, and I always love hearing what books you’re excited about. See you next time! 💕

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It’s time to get cozy with some claws, tentacles, and tusks—because for this week’s Romanceopoly prompt, we’re exploring monster romance! In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, I’m sharing five spicy, swoony, and emotionally-charged monster romance recs that are perfect for the Krampus Night prompt on the Amber Heights (Fall) section of your Romanceopoly board.

Whether you’re new to the monster romance genre or already obsessed, these picks bring a little bit of everything: fated mates, forbidden love, quirky sci-fi, and primal bonds. Here’s what we’re covering:

Books Mentioned:

1. Guarded by the Kraken by Cassie Alexander

Trope: Grumpy/sunshine, forced telepathic bond, bodyguard romance

Vibes: Tentacled hero, deep-sea danger, emotional healing

Get the book

2. Lessons with the Mothman by Kathryn Moon

Trope: Reverse grumpy/sunshine, academic research, monster/human pairing

Vibes: Playful, emotionally awkward hero, monster softboi energy

Get the book

3. Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon

Trope: Marriage of convenience, hidden identity, rut tension

Vibes: Fantasy adventure, magical artifacts, cinnamon roll minotaur husband

Get the book

4. Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts

Trope: Fated mates, survival, primal possession

Vibes: Jungle setting, spider alien, darker themes, intense bond

Get the book

5. I Think I’m in Love with an Alien by Ann Aguirre

Trope: Nerdy girl meets alien, convention romance, opposites attract

Vibes: Adorkable, sci-fi rom-com, quirky and fun with hidden depth

Get the book

• What Is Monster Romance? Beginner’s Guide
• Best Monster Romance Books to Read Right Now
• Romanceopoly Reading Challenge Info & Board

What’s your favorite monster romance? Have you read any of these or are they going on your TBR?

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