Episode THREE

Written By Brats .

Things are about to get weird around here - it’s the Cursed Episode! We wish we could say this was all about dark fantasy romance, but no, this is the MM romance episode we do not speak of in the group chat. You have been warned! 

It’s a Rat Chat week here on Rainbow Book Rats: a Queer Romance Podcast. Brought to you by four feral besties who have left their book nests to nerd out about their favourite LGBTQ+ romance reads with you, and as always on a Rat Chat episode, we'll be discussing how our week went, how great the books we read this week were, and what's on our book radar of new and upcoming queer romance. 

JD is leading us all astray with Morally Gray by Becca Vale, Kit is getting mushy over My Everything by Jayda Marx, Megan is making it rain with Cold Hard Cash by KL Hiers and Caity thinks maybe the mafioso life is for her with Married to the Mobster by Leighton Greene.

Whether you’re looking to discover a new favourite indie author or reminisce about queer books you already love, get listening to the Rainbow Book Rats podcast today! You can find our episodes on all major platforms. So wherever you are, whatever the time, subscribe today! 

In the meantime:

trope highlights from this episode:

JD’s top read was Morally Gray by Becca Vale!

Synopsis:

If anyone knew the things my brother did, they’d assume I forgive him because I’m too soft, or because he’s my twin, or because I realize he’s wired differently than the rest of us, born without a conscience through no fault of his own.

His official diagnosis is psychopathy.

His moral compass is non-existent.

He… does things, to me and for me, and he isn’t sorry about it. He wouldn’t even understand why he should be.

But I don’t forgive him because I’m soft, or because we’re twins, or because I understand that he doesn’t consider it wrong.

The reason I don’t forgive him is because there’s nothing to forgive.
Because everything Gray does?

I like it.

I need it.

I’m grateful.

So maybe I’m wired a little bit differently, too.

Or maybe, like Gray always says, I’m simply his.

Kit’s top read is My Everything by Jayda Marx!

Synopsis:

Titus- My large stature and intimidating looks serve me well in my career as head of security and bouncer of the city’s most popular gay dance club. In my personal life? Well, not so much. Not many men approach me, and those who do only see me as a challenge. They either want to brag about getting banged by the bear or are simply curious if I’m “big all over.” Spoiler alert: I am. If anyone does look beyond my intimidating physique, they’re turned off by my borderline control-freak personality. Everything changes when a fight breaks out one night in the club and I come face to face with a beautiful little man.

Owen- I can’t get the sexy bouncer out of my head. Titus is everything my wet dreams are made of; tall, broad, strong and gruff. The kind of man who could take charge and own me the way I crave to be owned. The kind of man who never gives a pretty boy like me a second look. My poor dating luck won’t stop me from dreaming of what I really want; a man to be my boyfriend, my Daddy, my dom…my everything.

*This M/M romance is for readers 18 and up! It has no cliffhangers or cheating and a very happy HEA. It contains a firm but loving Daddy (no age play), his very pretty boy and scenes so hot they’ll make you sit up and say “Yes, Sir!”
**My stories tend to be low on angst because it hurts my heart. They are, however, packed with sexy scenes, heartwarming moments and a healthy dose of humor.

Megan’s top read is Cold Hard Cash by KL Hiers!

Synopsis:

When you owe money to a powerful mafia kingpin, you find a way to pay it back or you get hurt, and the only thing twenty-six-year-old Jimmy Poe has to offer a man like Boss Cold is himself. Cold agrees to give Jimmy a chance to have his debt cancelled, but it will mean surrendering his body to Cold's rough, ruthless demands every night until the very last penny has been repaid.

Over the coming days, Jimmy learns what it means to be truly mastered, and Cold's stern dominance arouses him far more intensely than he would have thought possible. But as their business arrangement grows into a romance, can Cold keep Jimmy safe in his dangerous world?

Publisher's Note: Cold Hard Cash includes spankings and rough, intense sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

A Dark Mafia Romance.

Caity’s top read is Married to the Mobster by Leighton Greene!

Synopsis:

Years ago I saved his life, and we spent one hot night together before he disappeared. Now this bad boy's all grown up, and living a dangerous life. But when his Family decides to send a message to my father, it's my life on the line.

Only he can't bring himself to do it when he realizes who I am.

He bargains for my life.

He argues to keep me as a hostage instead of killing me.

He even agrees to marry me, but not for love.

Marrying me is the only way he can repay the debt he owes me.

He tells me he'll keep me alive only as long as his Boss allows it.

What he doesn't know is that I've loved him since the first moment I laid eyes on him. I'll take him any way I can get him. Sleeping with the enemy never felt so good...

But is there someone else who wants me dead?

And finally, we have the books soon to be published that have caught our eye recently! We have:

Make it stand out

Content warnings for things talked about in this episode include:

  • incest

  • flight turbulence

  • stalking

  • murder

  • parental death

  • false imprisonment

  • debt

  • breaking and entering

  • threats of violence

  • evidence of past violence

  • stabbing

  • amateur medical procedure

  • parental abandonment

  • kidnapping

  • forced marriage

  • dead people

  • haunting

  • drugs

  • life as an unhoused person

  • mention of past cheating by a side character.

That’s all for this week BRats, as always we would love to hear your thoughts about the episode on our social media or via email (rainbow.book.rats@gmail.com) and we will be back with another Rat Chat episode at the normal time of 5AM EST next Thursday 9th! We also have a Patreon now so check out the link below if you want uncut episodes, games with real prizes, merch and more!

https://patreon.com/cw/RainbowBookRats/

Stay Feral! <3

Full List of Books Mentioned:

In Flight Entertainment by Becca Vale

Morally Gray by Becca Vale

My Everything by Jayda Marx

Cold Hard Cash by KL Hiers

Hard Earned Cash by KL Hiers

Married to the Mobster by Leighton Greene

Dead Nights by Crea Reitan

A Daddy for Cooper by Emory Winters

Shake Your Boo Thang by Chloe Archer

Monsters Hollow series by Chloe Archer

Violent Devotion by L. Norell

Shadow Prince by S. Rodman

Wish We Were Here by Risa Cruise

Lock Step by CT Whistle

Knitting Needles by Ezra Wren

Suck by EM Lindsey and Cora Rose

Enchanted by Envy by Nik Knight

Brats .
Next

Episode Two