Whoa!mance

We’re coming out the gate at a wagon’s pace for this series y’all, beginning in the bucolic pastures of the middle west. This week, Morgan and Isabeau embark on a reverse rumspringa with a plunge into Amish romance, led by the deft hand of Patricia Davids in the first installment of her Amish of Cedar Grove series, The Wish. This slow burn sweet romance meanders through the agrarian and folksy close quarters courtship of our heroine, widow Laura Beth Yoder, and the formerly Amish and formerly incarcerated, Joshua King. But will the implications of racial and patriarchal supremacy outweigh the flutter of hands at the butter churn? Can a culture built on strict biblical fidelity produce enough heat to spark passion? Do yr girls have the patience for sweet romance? Unplug everything but yr podcatcher for this one y’all. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

That’s right y’all. We asked for fan favorites that center on yr girls' least favorite tropes, and y’all came through like you always do. This week, Morgan and Isabeau reveal the selections and get ready to dip their toes in the water. This week's episode of Whoa!mance is brought to by "In To Her" by JA Huss. Available now at audible.com. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

Ever have a steamy threesome with a coworker and the mark yr boss sent y’all to murder? Of course you have. Whoa!mance is excited to offer a sneak peak at In To Her, a harrowing new tale of crime and passion by JA Huss. Available now at audible.com. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

Why do bad things sometimes make us warm? And we’re not talking about some slicked back James Dean or the guy in Misfits PPE. We’re talking about straight up military industrial complex, black site torture, for-profit CIA hijinx, the full front and back nine of bad feeling. Because that’s exactly the kind of bad this week’s book, Nothing To Fear by Juno Rushdan, manages to dress up for a night on the town. Our hero, Gideon Stone, is tasked with uncovering a mole in his deep state, Tom Clancy-esque, transcontinental murder-for-hire organization, Gray Box, before the whole operation is torn asunder. His chief suspect and our heroine, Willow Harper, is in his crosshairs for allegedly selling bio-agents on the black market, an act that’s surely grounds for termination. But as the real mole remains hidden in plain sight, Gideon will stop at nothing to keep Willow safe, even if it means dipping into his toolbox of grisly implements to extract the truth before it’s too late. Trigger warning: contains some descriptio

While we’re still not leaving the house, yr girls are giving the books a rest in favor of Romance on the silver screen. For this Whoa!nus, Morgan and Isabeau are revisiting their mutual childhood favorite and sleepover film par excellence, Romancing The Stone, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Joan Wilder (post-Body Heat Kathleen Turner) is a successful but cloistered Romance novelist, who embarks on a journey of treasure hunting and self-becoming set in motion by the murder of her brother-in-law. Travelling through Colombia, Joan links up with exotic bird trafficker and egotistical boating enthusiast, Jack T. Colton (pre-sex symbol Michael Douglas) to find a prize emerald, El Corazon. But the dreaded Colonel Zolo is on their heels, and will stop at nothing to claim El Corazon for himself. It’s a harrowing tale of adventure, discovery, the perfect smokey eye. This week's episode of Whoa!mance is brought to by "In To Her" by JA Huss. Available now at audible.com Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Networ

As yr girls Morgan and Isabeau continue to shelter in place, stories of normal life - drinks in a cozy bar, dinner with a friend - are becoming just as titillating as the triumphs of our heroines. So imagine the excitement when Not The Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher was set in Chicago, with real life landmarks transported to the page like distant comforts. But the novel, which turns How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days on its head, is a not-so-friendly reminder that the “normal” we remember is still a funhouse mirror of patriarchal control. What makes a good ally? What role should believability play in a romantic fantasy? And aren’t we all just other girls? We may need a few more weeks indoors after this one y’all. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

This is an historic week y’all, for this is our final Boner. The ultimate rod. The closing chubby. That’s right, we’re going beyond the bone where no romance podcast has gone before, careening into the wild blue yonder to bring you: The Whoa!nus. Where it took plagues to discover gravity and write King Lear, our modern twist on the Black Death has generated untold megatons of creativity that bring you, dear listeners, the humble rebranding of our bonus episodes. And it is in this spirit of revision that yr girls Morgan and Isabeau are reaching back in this Whoa!nus to amend Whoa's and No's that don’t hold up in the face of time and memory. Dive into our inaugural Whoa!nus and see which bits of the Whoa!mance catalog are getting a well deserved tune up! Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

As you know, we at Whoa!mance possess an undying reverence for yr grrl Jane (see JANEuary if you don’t), and we’re smitten with this own voices retelling of P&P. This week, Morgan and Isabeau escape to Toronto in Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, a modern Muslim twist on the Austen classic. Ayesha is an aspiring poet struggling to repay loans to her wealthy uncle, when her life collides with Khalid. While their styles and worldviews clash, there’s an unavoidable tug each feels toward the other. Can traditional and modern interpretations of Islam find a common ground of titilation? Are office dress codes tools of negation and oppression? What is the value of 100 marriage proposals if none begets a bride? This rendition may keep it sweet, but the stakes are high y’all. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

Ever wonder what yr girls Morgan and Isabeau are like when they’re not behind the mic? Or what their high school experiences were like? Or the ins and outs of how they feel about this or that aspect of romancelandia? We asked you, our beloved listeners, to submit questions via our various social platforms, and thankfully, you asked back. This week, Morgan and Isabeau answer your questions in an exclusive, no holds bar, tell-all, exposé. For this Boner, we’re letting it all hang out. This week’s episode of Whoa!mance is sponsored by Native. Did you know that many conventional deodorants contain aluminum, which forms a plug in your sweat glands to keep you from sweating? Yikes! Native’s deodorant is made without aluminum so you can feel better about what you’re putting on your body. Native comes in a wide variety of options for men, women and even teens! They also offer an unscented option and a baking soda free formula for those with sensitivities. For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant

If you caught a whiff of death, how would you restructure your life to make the most of its remainder? Chloe Brown’s penchant for computers, coupled with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, has left her with a formidable bucket list. But it took a near-miss with a speeding car to get her busy living. This week, Morgan and Isabeau check off some to-do’s with Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. Our heroine, Chloe, grabs life by the horn in the shape of Redford ‘Red’ Morgan, the tattooed painter and building superintendent who’s equal parts bad boy and soft serve. But Red is weary of his new socialite bombshell, as Chloe’s trust-fund lifestyle is a little too close to his old flame that left him feeling burned. Will class divisions suppress their passion? Will Chloe’s social aires keep her stratified above the brooding Red? How do twee aesthetics make you feel? Don’t be fooled by the cover on this one y’all, it’s a real scorcher. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

This unprecedented time of crisis and distancing has us thinking a lot about bad feelings. For yr girls, this means topics in Romance that are typically a no go on the show: secret babies, sports, and the armed forces. This week, Morgan and Isabeau raise this lil Boner to ask you, our beloved listeners, to share your favorite novels that feature one of these topics. What’s the cutoff age for a secret baby? Can for-profit military action be sexy? What’s your favorite ball in the bedroom? Send us your favorite recommendations and go wash your damn hands! This week’s episode of Whoa!mance is sponsored by Native. Did you know that many conventional deodorants contain aluminum, which forms a plug in your sweat glands to keep you from sweating? Yikes! Native’s deodorant is made without aluminum so you can feel better about what you’re putting on your body. Native comes in a wide variety of options for men, women and even teens! They also offer an unscented option and a baking soda free formula for those with

What’s a dealbreaker for you? What’s something that, no matter how many luxurious nights and sumptuous meals, would continue to nag at the corners of your mind? Write it down. This week, Morgan and Isabeau get in touch with their teen angst for this YA retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. For this rendition, the Caliph of Khorasan has taken to marrying virgins, and killing them off the morning after consummation. Enter our heroine, Shahrzad, who volunteers to marry the Caliph and spare the fate of a friend bound for a grisly end. Bent on revenge, Shahrzad ensnares the Caliph with spellbinding tales that keep her alive night after night, as her passion for blood turns into an unexpected adoration. Now go back to your dealbreaker. Was it murder? Was it practicing blood magic? Was it books that kind of, maybe, somewhat, remind us of our month-long foray into sheik romance? For those that wrote down something innocuous like “snoring” or something vain like “they can’t

We love Romance. But sometimes having all your stories feature muscular, taciturn, bodice-ripping, secret baby/royalty/wealth and/or spouse-having heroes is too much excitement in this chaotic world. Sometimes you just want a story that’s relatable. This week, Morgan and Isabeau tread the bureaucratic waters of non-profit management where Rayanne (heroine) and Henry (hero) are tasked with saving the Crooked Rock Urban Indian Center in its eleventh hour. Will they be able to overcome their mutual attraction to save Crooked Rock? Will they get the necessary funding? Can nepotism be sexy? Brush up on Own Voices and get your 501-c3s in order for this one y’all. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

We wanted to take a moment to pop this lil boner and organize our thinking on Own Voices. What do we mean when we say Own Voices? It’s when the author, artist, filmmaker, producer, etc. is a member of the community they are representing in a given medium. This week, Morgan and Isabeau discuss the societal barriers within mainstream [white] culture that can keep Own Voices stories marginalized, and how to be a good ally without succumbing to the pitfalls of tokenism. Plus, a few gardening tips from our registered green thumb, Morgan. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

We’re celebrating our cotton anniversary this year at Whoa!mance, and what better way to wax nostalgic about marital bliss than to pretend to do it all over again. This week, yr girls Morgan and Isabeau are joined by producer Nick to unpack The Unhoneymooners by the writing duo Christina Lauren. This contemporary enemies to lovers features Olive, the perpetually unlucky twin sister of the soon-to-be-married Ami, who’s loathed to spend her sister’s special day with her worst nightmare, Ethan, who happens to be the brother and best man of Ami’s future husband, Dane. But when a seafood buffet spares only Olive and Ethan from an explosive fate, they are tasked to redeem the all-inclusive honeymoon package waiting under Ami’s name, the only catch is they have to play the part of newlyweds. Hilarity ensues as Olive and Ethan overcome their own misplaced hatred, and we settle into the long business of marriage. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

What a month y’all. This was a veritable roller coaster of emotions as yr girls Morgan and Isabeau took stock of Johanna Lindsey’s legacy and work, and sussed out how to feel about the harsher realities depicted in her novels. This week, our last installment of JOHANNAuary, features a viking novel of your choosing: Fires of Winter, Book 1 in the Haardrad Family Saga Series. Published in 1980, it’s not without its difficulties, but just as this novel has Lady Brenna, a headstrong and agential heroine, even roses have their merits. Held captive by the strikingly dangerous Garrick Haardrad, Lady Brenna witnesses the subjugation of her people as she is held in relative, if hostile, comfort. It's a problematic tale of passion guaranteed to melt your permafrost. A special thanks to all those who threw their support behind their favorite viking - you’re the real heroes. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network. This week's episode is sponsored by LOLA - a modern approach to feminine care. LOLA is a femal

As the ghost of JOHANNAuary continues to plague this humble project, we are reminded here at Whoa!mance of the importance of friends when doing battle with distraught paranormals. Yr girls Morgan and Isabeau are joined this week by Erin, the Veteran of Learning the Tropes, for a gracious re-recording to once again discuss Brave The Wild Wind, Book 1 of Johanna Lindsey’s Wyoming series. We meet our heroine, Jessie Blair, as her family is torn asunder by the quick anger of her father. This prologue of violence is a mark of frontier life, and a distinguishing characteristic of our hero, Chase Summers, who, along with a litany of other details, combine to make this a difficult read from the moral high ground of our current moment. But what’s a western without a little grit? What’s a boot without a spur? This one’s for all you cowpokes and horse girls. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

00h00m00s: message received via interplanetary communications systems re: distress signals circa terrestrial surface Kystran [] > [] terrestrial being i.e. “heroine” identified Tedra De Arr: class known: warrior re: terrestrial being i.e. “hero” Challen Ly-San-Ter: class known: bronzed_barbarian [] > [] unclear if distress product of misery/ecstasy; unclear as to issues of consent re: sexbots; unclear re: whoa/no spectral alignment; requires discussion [] > [] re: terrestrial beings i.e. "yr girls" Morgan: class known: Whoa!mance and Isabeau: class known: Whoa!mance [] > [] joined this week by terrestrial being i.e. "special guest" writer/critic Esme Brett: class known: FeministRomance [] re: celebrating life/works re: terrestrial being i.e. "subject" Johanna Lindsey: class known: lioness. [] >>>> [] end transmission Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network. This week's episode is sponsored by LOLA - a modern approach to feminine care. LOLA is a female-founded company offering a line of organic co

It's another beautiful JOHANNAuary day, and yr girls Morgan and Isabeau are embarking on a farcical romp on the high seas. This week, Gentle Rogue, the third installment of Lindsey's Malory-Anderson Family Saga series, a sultry comedy worthy of the great Bard himself. The novel centers on Georgina Anderson, who, fed up with England, disguises herself as a cabin boy to secure safe transport back to America. But unbeknownst to our heroine, the ship's captain, ex-pirate James Malory, is aware of Georgia's ploy, and takes great pleasure in trying to reveal her true identity, and hopefully spark the passion they both feel churning within. Make ready your sea legs for this one you scalawags. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.

As many of you know, JOHANNAuary has fallen under a somber hue. With the news of Johanna Lindsey’s passing, this month’s project will take on a retrospective, celebratory stance that we hope will dovetail nicely with our usual bouillabaisse of critical and irreverent commentary. So, without further ado, JOHANNAuary commences with a real keeper, Defy Not The Heart by the indomitable Johanna Lindsey. Set back in the 1100’s, we meet Reina, armorclad and defending her stronghold from the mercenary Ranulf, sent to kidnap her into a forced marriage by the loathsome Lord Rothwell. But their chemistry proves greater than any amount of gold, and our hero must learn how to please a woman a fraction of his colossal size. It’s a stunning work by an artist in full command of her creative palette. Let your hair down and put the cat outside for this medieval romp. Whoa!mance is a part of the Frolic Podcast Network.