This week we'll be discussing everyone's favorite, the Secret trope, highlighting Shana Abe's The Smoke Thief and The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter.

Jess has picked the first book in the Graveyard Queen series for Lisa. Amelia gray is a cemetery restorer in Charleston who can also see ghosts. Amelia finds herself swept up in a murder mystery, when bodies keep being discovered in the cemetery that she’s been hired to restore…ones that aren’t supposed to be there. During the investigation, Amelia is introduced to detective John Devlin, an ex member of Charleston high society with plenty of his own secrets, including the fact that he’s being haunted. Amelia feels drawn to Devlin and when the two team up to solve the murders, Amelia can’t help but start to fall for Devlin, even if it means breaking all her rules.

Lisa's pick for Jess: The Shadow Reader. Human McKenzie Lewis can track the fae by reading the shadows they leave behind. For years, she has been in the employ of the fae king , tracking rebels attempting to overthrow the throne...until she's captured by their leader, Aren. Now she's starting to question everything she's believed. As the fighting becomes more fierce, McKenzie is faced with the ultimate choice: Who will she trust and for which side will she fight?

You know who I'm talking about. Our Wolven bestie Kieran from the Blood & Ash series by Jennifer Armentrout. Poppy may only have eyes for Casteel, except, wait a minute...she's been peeping some of Kieran's personal biz. There's a particular outdoor celebration that comes to mind, or maybe multiple outdoor...celebrations...Okay, girl. We see you.

And let us not forget everyone's favorite Demon Daddy, Lars from Stacey Marie Brown's Darkness series. Who doesn't love a rich demon power player, moving everyone around like pawns in his own personal game of chess? ...Well, but, it's okay when they're super hot and it's all for the greater good or whatever, right?

Join us for a new episode where we leave the main course out of it cause it's all about the sides this week!

Next up is a "Slow Burn Paranormal Witch Romance," Curse of Stone. Book one in Veronica Shade's Academy of the Damned series. Madison has turned her back on her Witch heritage, snubbing her nose at the customary invite to La Voisin school for witches and instead trying to blend in amongst humans. Everything seems to be going fine until her boyfriend ends up dead when Madison uses her powers to save a friend. Realizing she might need help to control her witch abilities after all, she flees to La Voisin. Here she seems unable to escape the cloud of death, when her roommate meets an untimely demise. Madison and her newfound friends find themselves wrapped up in a real Nancy Drew style mystery.

It might be summer, but this week on The Sexy Scary Book Club, we're going Back to School!

We're dishing about what made these books end up in our classic series list and how they paved the way for a genre that's since exploded. We'll discuss how the threshold for romance has changed, the delicate balance of spice and story, & just what the hell is up with all those frilly shirts Jean-Claude wears?

This week we're hanging out with honey badger shifter sisters who can't manage to stay out of trouble, courtesy of their criminal of a father, in Hot & Badgered by Shelly Laurenston. Next will go hang out with a bunch of Mermen and other weird beach creatures on a strange magical island, in Mimi Jean Pamfiloff's Mermen. Wait, these mermen lost their tails? Does that even count?

Please join us while we dig into these two books. What's similar, what's different, what's sexy, what's scary, and what the heck is up with those veils?!...

Isolde never saw herself getting married, instead planning to rule her kingdom alone as Queen. She certainly never saw herself married to a monster like the Blood King, what could he possibly want with her? Though she can't deny their chemistry or strange connection they seem to share. Her father gives his blessing, telling Isolde she is "the only hope for their kingdom." Now she's headed to Revekka, where the sky is always blanketed in red, blocking out the sun. Vampire politics are one thing to navigate, but a retelling of history has Isolde doubting everything she had ever come to know.

Can she do what her kingdom is counting on, saving Cordova from the Blood King's evil, rein without losing her heart and soul in the process?

Join us for a new episode of The Sexy Scary Book Club discussing Scarlett St. Clair's King of Battle and Blood.

Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.

Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?

Dinah Liddell grew up plagued by nightmares of monsters and strange creatures only to discover they are all real. Winterland exists. Now, she’s being forced to return the Blood-Red Queen to her throne.

This time there’s nothing Jessica Winters won’t do to destroy Winterland, warping the lines of reality for Dinah and robbing her of her sanity.

With her sister, Alice, and the gang, Dinah has to fight against an opponent she never saw coming—her own mind. Rediscovering the brazen girl she once was, full of fire and passion, she will break every rule to save those she loves. But as usual in this mad, mad place, nothing is what it seems, and those she trusted will betray her.

In freeing one beast, Dinah sacrifices another. A monster who will be used to help bring down Winterland once and for all. The whole Winterland gang is in a fight for their lives, and as the war between naughty and nice bleeds the ground red, they find there is more to Jessica’s plan than to take Winterland.

When a beauty breaks, the beast will fall, and down will go Winterland…Santa and all.

Things are moving along for Dinah as well. Now at University, she and Scott have moved in together and are saving up for marriage and a real home to call their own. If only Dinah could shake the feeling that something is not quite right. The wind whispers to her and she feels a dark call that she cannot explain. One night Dinah falls through the antique mirror she purchased at a thrift store because it reminded her of the one she had in her room as a child. Out the other side she finds her self locked face to face with a beast of a man, one whose hate and bitterness is only rivaled by the heat and passion he seems to stir in Dinah. Frost wants to capture Dinah, punishing her for a crime that Dinah has no memory of committing.

Saved by Frost's brother Blaze, Dinah is able to return home, but nothing is as she left it. Her world seems to be unraveling and Dinah grows increasingly concerned that Alice's mental illness may run in the family. She feels drawn to the two brothers, who continue to pull her into their world. what's worse is that they also seem to be crossing over more frequently Dinah's world, bringing other beasts back from Dinah's forgotten childhood nightmares.

Torn between heat and ice, Dinah must determine reality from fantasy before she becomes trapped in a world that she no longer understands. Please join us for a new episode of The Sexy Scary Book Club!

Meanwhile, Matt Hatter is also feeling off after kicking a weird fever. He's trying to be a good father to his ailing son Tim, but can't seem to shake the feeling that something is off about Tim, and his wife Jessica. For starters, he has no memories of falling in love with and marrying her. He can't deny the pull toward Alice and when he finds out that Jessica has had her committed, he wastes no time trying to break her out.

Can they remember who they are and how to get back to Winterland before Jessica figures out how to close the portal, killing all of their friends, Santa, and the magic of Christmas itself? A war is coming, and some unlikely alliances may be needed for the sake of everyone's survival. Who can you trust and who is in cahoots with the Blood Red Queen, Mrs. Claus??!! Tune in and find out!

Alice is down on her luck. Heartbroken and jobless, her far more responsible teenage sister Dinah gets her a job working as one of Santa's sexy elves at a local tree farm. Out for a breath of fresh air, Alice sees a sexy shirtless man running through the trees illuminated by a strange red glow... and wearing a pair of antlers? Unable to stop her curiosity, she chases after him until he disappears by a large tree. Upon closer inspection, Alice finds herself tumbling down a hole and waking up in a large house made of Gingerbread.

In Winterland, nothing is as it seems. When Alice stumbles upon a weird "unchristmas" party in the forest, she meets a rag tag cast of characters including Frosty, a Christmas caroling Penguin, twin elves Dee and Dum, a cranky rabbit with a missing foot and a mysterious and super sexy man who goes by the name of... Scrooge? She quickly learns that Santa is gone and Winterland has been taken over by the Blood Red Queen, who has wasted no time in banning Christmas and all things related. There is a war brewing and while Alice may not know it yet, she holds the key to save Winterland and all of Santa's loyal friends. She just has to let go of all of her sense and embrace the madness.

Join us as we discuss the first installment of Stacey Marie Brown's Winterland Tales. a 4 episode arc to keep you warm over the chilly Christmas season.

She's hot, and hot, and hot again. Will they finally get on the same

page and listen to the very loud demands being made by their animals?

Will we ever discover the details of the curse

that is spreading sickness amongst the villages, and keeping the castle

paused in time?

The everlass is growing, and our curiosity is blooming. Can the

Kingdom be saved? And what happens when that darn demon king finally

decides to make an appearance? Find out on the latest episode of Sexy,

Scary, Book Club!

Finley has braved trips to the Forbidden Forest for years, harvesting the everlass in order to save the dying members of her village…until one night when her luck runs out.

As it turns out, Finley hasn’t been all that sneaky. The Beast, otherwise known as Prince Nyfain, has been watching her for years, wondering at her talents with the everlass. A dragon shifter, he fought through the curse, maintaining the ability to shift, but losing his wings in the process. No longer able to fly, he patrols the woods at night protecting the villagers from the nastiest demons coming through the portals. Bitter and alone, he imprisons Finley in the castle, where she quickly finds the curse has affected the castle staff very….differently.

Nyfain wants to learn from Finley, to better understand how she is using the everlass to save the people of the village. Nyfain’s beast has awoken something inside of Finley. She is starting to feel her animal like she never has before, and her animal has a different agenda, she’s got her sights set on Nyfain’s dragon who has called to her to the surface. Their animals won’t be satisfied until they have mated and claimed one another, which is proving very distracting for Nyfain and Finley’s uneasy alliance.

Will they give in to their animal’s desires before they can figure out how to break the curse and save the kingdom? Book 1 of 3 in KF Breene’s Deliciously Dark Fairytales series.

Prince Alexander Kourakin is a Vampire, ruler of the Eastern Clan. He is in London with a mission, find and eliminate the Vampire Slayer who is rumored to be in town. There's also the pesky matter of a rogue vampire who is killing his way through London, bringing unwanted attention to their race. Alexander has no time for distractions, especially not a beautiful telepathic woman that he can't seem to stop thinking about.

Alexander he can only procreate with another vampire, which, as leader he is compelled to do in order to continue their dying race. He would love nothing more than to make Angelica his lover (once his business is done) but Angelica has no time for this. She needs to marry rich, and fast, before she and her brother are left without a penny. No matter how much they try to stay apart, fate continues to thrust them together. When Angelica discovers Alexander's dangerous secret she must become a prisoner, (cough, cough) I mean guest, in his home watched every hour of the day to ensure she does not reveal the vampire's identities to all of London Society.

Can they control their passion and stay on course, or will desire cost them everything?

This week we're talking about Under the Blood Red Moon by Mina Hepsen.

But that isn't the only secret Princess Opal is keeping. She is a shapeshifter as well, who is able to turn into the fabled Black Swan. The problem is, there's is a prophecy that suggests she will cause the end of her kingdom. Opal's troubles only seem to increase when a mysterious man sets his sights on her after chance encounter. She can't deny the connection and attraction she feels for him, but is horrified to learn that he is none other than the Blood King himself. As if Opal didn't have enough problems, now it seems that King Dade will stop at nothing to make her his mate. Can she seduce the King of Wolves and save her kingdom without losing her heart in the process?

The Sexy Scary Book Club returns for Season 2, discussing this stand alone Fantasy/PNR novel by Ella Fields. Enemies to Lovers, shapeshifters, fae magic, prophecies and war... even a sorceress thrown in for good measure! But, in a genre filled with trilogies and ongoing series, is a stand alone novel able to satisfy? Tune in to find out.

Now, as High Queen of the Fae, Mac faces her greatest challenge yet: ruling the very race she was born to hunt and kill—a race that wants her dead yesterday, so they can put a pure-blooded Fae queen on the throne.

But challenges with her subjects are the least of her concerns when an ancient, deadly foe resurfaces, changing not only the rules of the game but the very game itself, initiating a catastrophic sequence of events that have devastating consequences and leave Mac questioning everything she’s ever learned and everyone she’s ever loved. Now begins an epic battle between Mortal and Fae, Seelie and Unseelie, would-be kings and would-be queens, with possession of the Unseelie King’s virtually unlimited power and the fate of humanity at stake.

From the exquisite, deadly gardens of the High Queen’s court, to long-forgotten truths found in the Sacred Grove of Creation, from the erotic bed of her enigmatic, powerful lover to the darkest, seductive reaches of the Unseelie kingdom, Mac’s final journey takes her places no human has been before, and only one human could possibly survive . . .

One who’s willing to sacrifice everything.

When the Faerie Queen used the dangerously powerful Song of Making to heal the world from the damage done by the Hoar Frost King, catastrophic magic seeped deep into the earth, giving rise to horrifying, unforeseen consequences—and now deadly enemies plot in the darkness, preparing to enslave the human race and unleash an ancient reign of Hell on Earth.

With the lethal, immortal Ryodan at her side, armed with the epic Sword of Light, Dani once again battles to save the world, but her past comes back to haunt her with a vengeance, demanding an unspeakable price for the power she needs to save the human race. And no one—not even Ryodan, who would move the very stars for her—can save her this time.

The fate of Man and Fae rests on destroying the book and recovering the long-lost Song of Making, the sole magic that can repair the fragile fabric of the earth. But to achieve these aims, sidhe-seers, the Nine, Seelie, and Unseelie must form unlikely alliances and make heart-wrenching choices. For Barrons and Jada, this means finding the Seelie queen, who alone can wield the mysterious song, negotiating with a lethal Unseelie prince hell-bent on ruling the Fae courts, and figuring out how to destroy the Sinsar Dubh while keeping Mac alive.

This time, there’s no gain without sacrifice, no pursuit without risk, no victory without irrevocable loss. In the battle for Mac’s soul, every decision exacts a tremendous price.

But those who seek the mythic Song—Mac, Barrons, Ryodan and Jada—must contend with old wounds and new enemies, passions that burn hot and hunger for vengeance that runs deep. The challenges are many: The Keltar at war with nine immortals who’ve secretly ruled Dublin for eons, Mac and Jada hunted by the masses, the Seelie queen nowhere to be found, and the most powerful Unseelie prince in all creation determined to rule both Fae and Man. Now the task of solving the ancient riddle of the Song of Making falls to a band of deadly warriors divided among—and within—themselves.

Once a normal city possessing a touch of ancient magic, Dublin is now a treacherously magical city with only a touch of normal. And in those war-torn streets, Mac will come face to face with her most savage enemy yet: herself

When the wall that protected humans from the seductive, insatiable Fae was destroyed on Halloween, long-imprisoned immortals ravaged the planet. Now Dublin is a war zone with factions battling for control. As the city heats up and the ice left by the Hoar Frost King melts, tempers flare, passions run red-hot, and dangerous lines get crossed. Seelie and Unseelie vie for power against nine ancient immortals who have governed Dublin for millennia; a rival band of sidhe-seers invades the city, determined to claim it for their own; Mac’s former protégé and best friend, Dani “Mega” O’Malley, is now her fierce enemy; and even more urgent, Highland druid Christian MacKeltar has been captured by the Crimson Hag and is being driven deeper into Unseelie madness with each passing day. The only one Mac can depend on is the powerful, dangerous immortal Jericho Barrons, but even their fiery bond is tested by betrayal.

It’s a world where staying alive is a constant struggle, the line between good and evil is blurred, and every alliance comes at a price. In an epic battle against dark forces, Mac must decide who she can trust, and what her survival is ultimately worth.

Enigmatic Ryodan forces Dani into a contract, working together to try to solve the mystery of what is icing locations around Dublin and why. The collateral? The life of fellow sidhe-seer Joe, who is now working in one of Chester's sub clubs as a waitress. Dani resents this. She hates having to answer to anyone, and even worse, knowing Joe's life is at stake if she messes up, which she inevitably will.

The iced scenes are multiplying, dropping temperatures throughout the city. What's worse is that the scenes later explode, decimating everything contained within. Ryodan and Dani have to solve the mystery before Dublin is plunged into a perpetual winter. There to help is Dani's friend Dancer. He's just a human , but with his super science smarts, he may be the unlikely key to unlocking the mystery.

In the mean time, Christian's transition into an Unseelie Prince has started to accelerate and the Scotsman is slowing losing his grip on his own humanity. To make matters worse, while the Keltar part of him may protest, the unseelie side now has its sights set on Dani...in a less than platonic way. "Gah! Gross."

Back at the Abbey, Kat is harboring a dark secret: Cruce's prison may not be as impenetrable as they thought. The dark prince has been visiting the new leader of the sidhe-seers in her dreams every night. Seducing her, sexing her, and making her question whether or not she has what it takes to be the leader in place of Rowena.

Mysteries abound and new villains are unleashed. There's never a dull moment in Dublin since the walls between faery came down!

Borrowing a page from Barrons' book, Mac takes advantage of the resources available to continue her hunt for the Sinsar Dubh. She's now bent on controlling the book and using it to make right all of the perceived wrongs in her life. What Mac has come to suspect is now being made clear; the book is hunting her too, and it won't be satisfied until it gets what it's after, which could be Mac's very soul.

Is Barrons really gone? Can the book be caught? Will Christian make it out of Faerie? Did Vlane kidnap the Seelie Queen and entomb her in the Unseelie prison? Who killed Alina? And now we're starting to ask another question... What IS Mac? Many answers will be revealed in Shadowfever, the originally intended ending to the acclaimed Fever Series.

But don't worry, there are still plenty of questions to keep the series going and so much to dig into. Join us, won't you?

Gotta give credit where credit is due. Dani Mega O'Malley saves Mac, by freeze framing her to the Abbey. She hopes Rowena and the rest of the Sidhe Seers can help. Dani quickly realizes there is a traitor in the Abbey. They have erased the protective runes around Mac, allowing the Unseelie Princes to sift in. Mega eliminates the threat by killing one of the Princes with her sword. Before she can fully celebrate her victory, Barrons and the Nine storm the abbey, threatening Rowena and taking over custody of Mac...who is only too happy to fold herself into Barrons arms.

In Dreamfever, the walls are down in Dublin in more ways than one. Mac is fighting her way back to herself, but still unable to stop from surrendering all her inhibitions Barrons: the dark beast who has become her whole world.

What surfaces is not the Mac we have come to know. Mac 2.0 now realizes that she can't trust anyone. Even though she hates Barrons for what he's done, she can't stop her body from craving him. On Ryoden's advise, Barrons is the wave that she chooses to ride, but when you can't even trust yourself, how can you truly put your faith in anyone?

The stakes have never been higher when The Lord Master kidnaps Mac's parents, and her rescue attempt finds her trapped in Faery.

Will Mac have to sacrifice everything she's come to hold dear to find her way out?

In Faefever things are heating up with all of the men in Mac's life. Inspector Jayne wants answers. Vlane wants MacKayla to align with him in their quest for the book (and to accept all of the sensual and enticing gifts that comes with choosing him over Barrons). Christian needs Mac's help getting Barrons to assist the MacKelter Druids with their Samuin ritual. It might be the last shot to keep the walls between human and fae up. Even the Lord Master wants Mac's help locating the book and using the Voice, might even be able to compel her to bend to his will. Barrons wants...oh who the hell knows what Barrons wants. The book. And maybe Mackayla Lane?

Mac doesn't know who she can trust, but she does know that she needs to be able to count on herself and believes her best bet is not putting all her eggs in one big Barrons basket. Halloween eve is coming, and when the walls come down, not even Mac can hide from what's unleashed.

Join us as we discuss Episode two in the Fever series. Mac is trying to figure out what's black, what's white, and how do shades of gray factor in when trying to figure out if you're even the good guy anymore. Who can she trust? Barrons? Vlane? Rowena? Everyone wants something from Mac, but she came to Dublin for one thing: Finding out who killed her sister, and getting revenge.

She's convinced that the Lord Master is behind Alina's death, but Barrons' scoffs at her certainty, and be careful about who you count out of the game, unless you've cut off their head, burned the body and scattered the ashes.

Journey into Karen Marie Moning's dark and cryptic world with the first installment of her Fever series: Darkfever. A dark and shadowy world where nothing is as it seems, and where the Fae come out to play.

Lisa and Jessica bonded over their mutual love of paranormal romance/urban fantasy books and thought to ourselves, what a great idea for a podcast. We can't wait to strap in and talk about all things Fever this season from how annoying but also endearing we find Ms. MacKayla Lane, to how enigmatic and smokin' hot Jericho Barron is. I mean... have they created a better Alpha male? Come on.

Join us as we discover Dublin, meet a host of panty dropping characters and track the Sinsar Dubh, how do you say it? WHAT even is it? before it falls into the wrong hands.

11 books. 11 weeks. Are you ready?...