The Tightrope: An Introduction

The Tightrope: An Introduction

Author: Katee Robert, Melody Carlisle, & Jenny Nordbak September 23, 2021 Duration: 41:25

Welcome to our introductory episode! Get to know a little bit about your hosts, Jenny Nordbak and Melody Carlisle, and learn what Bonkers Romance is all about!

We discuss what “bonkers” means to each of us since it’s something we’ve been asking guests.

  • Jenny: It’s the brave decisions authors have made when they chose not to play it safe.
  • Mel: It’s those books that make you wonder, “is this even allowed??” with absolute glee.

Why we started Bonkers Romance and what we hope to accomplish with it:

  • Celebrate those brave choices authors have made and pulled off
  • To choose joy
  • To encourage readers to come down the rabbit hole with us

The format of each episode:

  • We recap a bonkers book chosen by the guest to exemplify what they consider bonkers
  • One of the hosts in each episode hasn’t read the book to make it more accessible for readers who may not have read the book yet.
  • Along the way, we’ll have tangents, book recs, funny stories, and more!
  • The last episode of every month will only be for our Temple members, but a free preview will be available publicly!

We’re eager to build a community and are excited to hear input, suggestions, book recs, guest recs, and bonkers descriptions in books you stumble upon! You can find us on social media or use the form on our website. We’re particularly looking for bonkers book recs that are inclusive, with a focus on queer rep and books written by authors from marginalized groups.

What is The Temple of Defiant Joy?

We’ve created a members page that functions similarly to Patreon, but gives us more control and flexibility. On there, we have bonus episodes, temple-only episodes, video of our regular episodes, bonus author interviews, Bonkers Romance Book Club, and more! We want it to feel like your community, so if you have ideas, we’d love to hear them! You can check it out HERE!

What is Bonkers Romance Book Club?

All members of The Temple at the Joy Bringer tier or higher will be part of the BRBC, our monthly digital book box subscription. Each month, members will receive two ebooks we’ve handpicked for the community. They’ll usually be advanced copies before the books are even available to the public! Check it out HERE!

Our upcoming episode list is available now on our social platforms, so come follow us on Instagram or Twitter—or join our new Facebook group!

Episode 2: Spider Shibari with Sierra Simone is available now, so don’t miss it!

Support for this episode provided by:

THE TEMPLE OF DEFIANT JOY! Join us in The Temple for bonus episodes, video of our public episodes, access to the Bonkers Romance Book Club, and much more! Membership at the Joy Bringer Tier or higher includes advanced copies of our September BRBC books: Mama’s Boy by Avery Flynn and His Leading Lady by Jenny Nordbak!

Mentioned in


Every Thursday, Katee Robert, Melody Carlisle, and Jenny Nordbak gather to celebrate the wonderfully over-the-top side of the genre they love. Their Bonkers Romance podcast is a deep dive into a truly wild piece of romance media each week, from novels to films and beyond. The conversation isn't about critique, but about joyful analysis-they break down how the story’s tropes are cranked to the maximum and explore why those exaggerated elements work so effectively to deliver a satisfying, often cathartic, experience. Listening feels like pulling up a chair with insightful friends who also happen to be deeply embedded in Romancelandia. You’ll hear their unfiltered commentary, passionate hot takes, and genuinely hilarious personal stories sparked by the week’s selection. The hosts frequently welcome favorite authors and personalities, offering a unique peek into how creators think about the craft and fun of romance. Naturally, you’ll come away with a ton of book recommendations, but more than that, this podcast provides a refreshingly enthusiastic and thoughtful space that reminds you why these stories resonate so powerfully. It’s a weekly dose of analysis, laughter, and pure appreciation for the genre’s most delightfully extra offerings.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 58

Bonkers Romance
Podcast Episodes
Bonkers Catch Up March 2023! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:22
We've missed you! The three of us catch up by sharing bonkers book recs with each other!Books we talked about:The Monstrous Series by Lily MayneHaunting Adeline by H.D. CarltonDoes It Hurt by H.D. Carlton The Hurricane W…
2022 Finale! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Hey gorgeous Joy Lovers! This is the public preview of our last episode of 2022! We haven't gotten to record together for a little while, so it gets a little silly. Not only do you get a behind-the-scenes look at how we'…
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Julie Murphy AND Sierra Simone join us to discuss Christmas movies that should have... and should NOT have banged. They were also kind enough to write the Christmas romance we all deserve...and you can bet your asses it…
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Duration: 1:16:31
Jenny brings Mel and Katee gifts from the fae realm by recapping The Fae Queen's Captive by Sierra Simone! How does Queen Sierra do this to us every single time? We bow before the throne of her writing. You can read the…
Merman Pearls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Melody delights Jenny and Katee by recapping The Captive Merman's Promise by Zoey Castile! We discover a hard limit for Katee and learn what mermen have in their pocketses.You can read the entire Peculiar Tastes series n…
Enter the Void [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:59
Today, Katee takes us through the twisty mind of the one and only Nikki Sloan with The Vixen's Deceit! YOWZA, she delivered a horror romance that got under our skin and stayed there. Make sure to check out our Patreon eq…
Big News for 2023: Dangerous Tides! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:48
𝐊𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 #𝟐 is coming!! Come sail the seas with us... PIRATES ARE COMING!->Make sure you're subscribed to the newsletter! Next year, we'll be launching the Dangerous Tides series, and it will be PIRATES. Sexy, bonkers…
Get Slimed with Elle Diaz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:45
Elle Diaz, aka Liz from the Makeout Already Podcast, is here to recap The Hellmouth Guardian's Lover by Adriana Herrera! This is book 3 in our Peculiar Tastes series! All I have to say is second chance hemi-peen. Does th…
Magical Pegging with RM Virtues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:37
RM Virtues joins Jenny and Mel to recap The Demon's Bargain by Katee Robert! A reluctant bargainer, a stolen amulet, and magical pegging. How did she do it?! Check out our offerings on the Temple of Defiant Joy! Mentione…
Sex Gods with Hannah Whitten [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:30
Hannah Whitten joined Katee and Mel to start our 6 week series recapping the Peculiar Tastes series! All of these books are now available for purchase and in Kindle Unlimited!We start with The Death God's Sacrifice by Je…