Jennifer Prokop 1/25/23 Jennifer Prokop 1/25/23

S05.19: Homecoming Romance with Kate Clayborn

Seven-timer Kate Clayborn returns to the Fated Mates studio (lol, jk there is no studio) to talk about about going home again in romance and to celebrate the launch of her new book, Georgie All Along, which you can get this week wherever books are sold! We talk about all the ins and outs of homecoming romances, what sends characters back to the beginning, what readers expect from these books, why they hit so hard and in so many ways, and how this trope intersects with small town romance. All that, and Sarah’s brought an X,Y chart to class.

Next week, we have an interstitial, and then it’s Derek Craven Day 2023! Our first read along of 2023 (in February) is Tracy MacNish’s Stealing Midnight—we’ve heard the calls from our gothic romance readers and we’re delivering with this truly bananas story, in which the hero is dug out of a grave and delivered, barely alive, to the heroine. Get ready. You can find Stealing Midnight (for $1.99!) at Amazon, B&N, Kobo, or Apple Books.

Show Notes

Welcome Kate Clayborn. Her newest release, Georgie, All Along came out yesterday. She’s been on Fated Mates so many times because we love to talk to her about romance. You can listen to them all here, but considering the time of year, might we recommend the 2021 Derek Craven Day episode?

In case you forgot what your English teacher told you about theme.

Here's Sarah's chart, as promised. Also, you can learn about all about the X and Y axis. And the Z axis. And coefficients. So mathy this week!

Books Mentioned This Episode

Georgie, All Along by Kate Claybron

Love at First by Kate Clayborn

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

Return to Cherry Blossom Way by Jeannie Chin

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez

Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden Mills

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Sweet Home Cowboy by Maisey Yates

Home at Last by Lily Everett

The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone

In a Jam by Kate Canterbary

A Lot Like Adios by Alexis Daria

Fury on Fire by Sophie Jordan

The Legend of Lyon Redmond by Julie Anne Long

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath

It Takes Two to Tumble by Cat Sebastian

The Arrow by Monica McGarty

Taking the Heat by Victoria Dahl

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

S05.11: Best Romance Novels of 2022

The Best Romance Novels of 2022!

It’s the best and worst task of the year for us, because we read so many fabulous books over the course of the year, and choosing ten is hard for us, ok? But here they are — ten gorgeous books that we adored—books that delivered all the things we love in romance: sharp edges, sparkling dialogue, strong heroines and smoking hot chemistry.

Buy the Fated Mates Best of Book Pack in one fell swoop from our friends at Old Town Books in Alexandria Virginia, and get the eight traditionally published books on the list and a Fated Mates sticker! We love the idea of you gifting yourself this box, but maybe you’d like to slide into someone’s text messages with the link as a very excellent gift for you! Or…you can do what Sarah does, and buy the box and spread the love around—sending each of the books to someone on your list. FYI, you can also throw in other books (or a signed Sarah MacLean book!) if you’d like! Let us know what you end up doing with these fabulous books, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Twitter when you unbox (#FMBestof22)!

Our next read along will be KJ Charles’s Band Sinister. We did not fight over which KJ Charles book to read because Sarah is all that is good and gracious in the world and she let Jen win. It is Scorpio season, after all. Get Band Sinister at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo or from your local indie.

Thank you, as always, for listening. If you are up for leaving a rating or review for the podcast on your favorite podcasting app, we would be very grateful.