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Holiday romance should feel like stepping into a warm kitchen: familiar, fragrant and a little bit daring. We open with two cocktails that embody that spirit — a risky Latke Sour with potato syrup and egg white, and a bright cranberry cosmo sweetened with local honey. Then we dive into two Hanukkah-centered love stories that test how much flavor, heat and heart a seasonal read can carry.

First up, Love and Latkes by Stacey Agdern. We explore a latke fry-off romance built around Jewish food traditions, a foodie blogger with big TV dreams, and a smoked-meat-loving crush who wants a deli. The sensory writing sings and the food-as-courtship thread feels true. We quote lines about allyship as action and desire that tastes like barbecue on the breath. But we also press on continuity gaps, a “next town over” exile that strains credibility, and TV production logistics that real-life timelines would never allow. When humor is announced instead of earned, the rom-com fizz goes flat—even while the menu dazzles.

Then we head to Milwaukee for a friends-to-lovers Hanukkah story that brings grief, chemistry and real spice with Find Me by Liz Lincoln. The dialogue sounds like 23, the city feels lived-in, and the steam arrives early with intention. We highlight a grounded take on loss — love doesn’t end just because someone is gone — and we talk about how frequent, well-placed intimacy can deepen character rather than distract. We also call out two bar-based encounters that set off our hygiene alarms (because even fantasy benefits from a touch of realism). Overall, this one hit the sweet spot: emotional stakes, local texture and holiday heat in balance.

Across both books we keep circling the same truth: holiday romance thrives on specifics. Food as love language. Place as memory. Ritual as structure for second chances. When timelines are tight and banter is earned, even familiar tropes sparkle. Pour a glass, add these to your TBR, and tell us: are you team cozy or team spicy this season? If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a bookish friend, and leave a quick review on your podcast app to help other romance readers find us.

Our Books & Bevies for the Episode:

Meghan --

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A hockey crush in 8th grade and a lifelong love of the game set A.C. Wonderland on an unexpected path: slow-burn romances that feel as tense and electric as a tied third period. We pull up a chair with A.C. to talk about her books One Shot and Summer Shot, why golden retriever male leads deserve their flowers, and how to write intimacy that actually moves the story forward. If your heart wants authentic hockey details with just-right spice, you’re in the right locker room.

A.C. opens up about the spark behind her characters, the personal Easter eggs she hides in names and moments, and the art of pacing tension so readers keep whispering one more page. We trade recs across romance and fantasy, dig into the joy of traveling book clubs with annotated copies, and explore how mental health themes in popular titles shaped her approach to empathy on the page. She also explains why she mostly avoids reading hockey romance while drafting — protecting voice and honoring accuracy — without losing the delight of a great love story.

The road to indie publishing gets real here. A.C. breaks down building a trusted team, working with editors and cover artists found online, navigating PR, and partnering with indie bookstores. We get practical about writing routines: outlines as guardrails, chapter-based goals over rigid word counts, non-linear drafting when a scene stalls, and the surprising effectiveness of moving tough chapters to a brewery. Through it all runs a steady message to aspiring authors: keep going, find your people and let the work change you first.

One Shot is now available on Kindle Unlimited, while paperbacks and special editions live on her site and at major retailers. If you love hockey romance with heartfelt stakes, character-driven spice and the promise of a true HEA, queue this one up. Subscribe, share with a romance-loving friend, and leave a quick review — your support helps more readers find the stories they’ll cheer for.

Featured Cocktail for the Episode: The Hat Trick

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The ice is cold but these love stories are blazin'. We’re pouring drinks, pulling on jerseys and diving into two hockey romances that deliver big feelings, bigger chemistry and the kind of character growth that lingers after the final buzzer. First up: One Shot by A.C. Wonderland. It's a slow-burn college romance where a PR hopeful and the youngest team captain in program history find more than spark — they find a way to hold space for grief, ambition and healing. We unpack how trauma is handled with care, why scent and sensory detail elevate intimacy, and what it means to love someone without asking them to shrink their dreams.

Then we skate into Stay by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen, where a discreet concierge owner discovers her anonymous client might be her favorite Toronto forward. We loved the texting-on-the-couch moment that respects nerves; the opera “date” that turns confusion into chemistry; and the grounded realities of co-parenting, packed schedules and finding joy after divorce. Expect thoughtful spice talk — habanero vs jalapeño — plus playful digs at penalty boxes, Midwest winter bravado and the eternal excellence of ordering too many nachos.

Along the way, we explore why hockey romance is surging: discipline on the ice, tenderness off it and a team-first mindset that makes for memorable partnerships. You’ll hear our favorite lines, the language choices that split readers and the quiet green flags that make relationships feel safe and thrilling all at once. If you’re into sports romance, contemporary love stories, or simply crave banter with heart, this one’s for you.

If you enjoyed the show, tap follow, share it with a romance-loving friend, and drop a quick review. What romance novels should we read next? We’re building our TBR stacks and would love your picks.

*** BE SURE TO GET CHECK OUT OUR DRINKING GAME FOR THIS EPISODE*** Click here.

Meghan's Book & Beverage: Stay by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen with Dailey's Frozen Cocktail Strawberry Daiquiri in her beloved Unicorn Cup (which met a tragic end in the dishwasher after we recorded this episode)

Nicole's Book & Beverage: One Shot by A.C. Wonderland with Leinenkugel's White Mocha Stout Beer

Support the show

Our The Ripped Bodice Affiliate Link: https://www.therippedbodice.com/aff/romanceontherockspodcast_26867
(the best way to get your smut while supporting a fabulous women-owned business and our podcast!)

Follow us on our socials:
Facebook ... https://www.facebook.com/romanceontherockspodcast
Instagram ... https:/www.instagram.com/romanceontherockspodcast
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Credits:
Theme Music Created by Adam Wroblewski
Main Art by PersonalisePortrait