Jennifer Prokop 10/19/22 Jennifer Prokop 10/19/22

S05.06: Redemption Romance with Christopher Rice

In the very best version of “third time’s the charm,” we are finally welcoming Christopher Rice to Fated Mates! A man of many talents, he writes fabulous contemporary romances as C. Travis Rice, and suspense, crime and supernatural thrillers as Christopher Rice. Today we’re talking Redemption Romance in honor of his most recent romance release, Sapphire Spring.

In this episode, we talk about how redemption romances and bully romances work, how tricky they are to write, and why so many of us are so drawn to redemption arcs — particularly when they involve sticking it to our childhood enemies. We had the best time with Christopher, who filled our TBRs…so get ready, because he’s definitely going to fill yours, too.

Thanks to Lumi Labs, creators of Microdose Gummies, for sponsoring the episode. Use the code FATEDMATES for 30% off and free shipping. Thanks, also, to emjoy for sponsoring the episode. Visit letsemjoy.com/mates for a 14-day free trial.

Show Notes

This week's guest is Christopher Rice, who also publishes under the name C. Travis Rice. He and his best friend Eric Shaw Quinn host a podcast called The Dinner Party Show.

The inspiration for the Sapphire Cove series came from Nora Roberts's Dream Trilogy. The first one is Daring to Dream.

Jean Valjean is the main character in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.

A Molly House was a British term for a place where gay men could meet up. Like Victorian Grindr.

The Sapphire Cove Series by C. Travis Rice

Sapphire Sunset

Sapphire Spring

Sapphire Storm

Books with Redemption Arcs

Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean

Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean

Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery

The Soldier and the Spy by Annabelle Greene

Unlocked by Courtney Milan

I Want You Back by Lorelei James

Redemption by Garrett Leigh

The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders

S04.37: Groveling in Romance Novels

If there isn’t a grovel, is it even a romance? This week, we’re getting to the bottom of one of our favorite moments in a romance novel — the grovel. Love it or hate it, some of the best loved books of the genre go all in on hero (because let’s face it, it’s almost always the hero) on his knees…and we are here. for. it. We talk about the hows and whys of the grovel, about the reasons we love it, about the difference between a grovel and a grand gesture, and about the books that installed this particular button for us.

This episode is sponsored by Janna MacGregor, author of Rules for Engaging the Earl, and Adriana Herrera, author of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris.

Show Notes

We love a good grovel here at Fated Mates, and back in 2018, Jen wrote an essay on groveling for #RomBkLove

Merriam Webster is the world’s greatest dictionary.

We don’t come from chimpanzees, but we do have a common ancestor.

If you think a character hasn’t suffered enough, you can leave them in cold storage. You have the power!

Jen did the entire breakdown on Kiss an Angel with Erin & Clayton from Learning the Tropes

We did a deep dive on Milla Vane's A Heart of Blood and Ashes because we love it so much. We also did episodes on Lothaire, Sweet Ruin and The Master. The first five seconds of the Sweet Ruin epsiode are a straight shot of Sarah's joy, if you are looking for that sort of thing.

More about the problem of captive (and presumably lacking telepathic prowess) Tigers in America.

Molly Bloom totally would love a good romance novel, btw.

The American President is a pretty great movie, but it also came out back in 1995 when we some of us were still capable of positive feelings about politicians.

Our next read along is The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henley.