Readers may not be ready to blurt out their fantasies in public, but they’re obviously eating this stuff up in private. Why do romantic fantasies feel so right and the way we talk about them feel so wrong? Best selling author Sierra Simone joins us to talk about breaking taboo in every way possible, and why readers love it so much.

The language of love is forever changing, but a constant theme throughout time has been the use of sexualized words to label women, shame them, and take away their power. Modern romance novels are one of the ways women are taking back the language of sex, and flipping words and behaviors - once deemed inappropriate - into scenes of empowerment and independence. Evie Dunmore, historical romance author of USA TODAY bestseller Bringing Down the Duke and the League of Extraordinary Women series, joins us to talk about how she learned to write strong female characters who balance standing up for themselves while falling in love.

Listener discretion advised.

From pillow talk to praise kinks, romance novels have the power to uncover women's deepest desires and bring them to life in the pages of a book. Allie Martina explores the stories and sounds of taboo, forbidden romances, and independent women from across a century of writing, and tops it all off with an interview with best-selling author Sara Cate.

Listener discretion advised.