
The Historical Romance Sampler
Find your next historical romance obsession while getting to know the author, too! Each guest author reads an excerpt of their book, then chats with host Katherine Grant. In the time it takes you to drink your morning coffee, you can find a new author for your reading list!
Hosted by award-winning historical romance author Katherine Grant
Latest episodes

Jul 16, 2025 • 35min
Cathy Maxwell Samples A Touch of Steele
The legendary Cathy Maxwell joins the podcast to read from her latest Regency romance, A Touch of Steele! We talk about her journey to writing books, why she considers romance novels to be adventure novels, and what she has learned writing 41+ books. To wrap things up, she plays Love It or Leave It? and reveals why rules are meant to be broken! 00:00 Introduction to the Historical Romance Sampler 01:54 Reading from 'A Touch of Steele' 23:43 Discussion on the Scene and Cathy's Background 29:31 Love It or Leave It: Romance Conventions 33:28 Final Thoughts and Where to Find Cathy Maxwell Find out more about Cathy Maxwell: https://cathymaxwell.com/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jul 9, 2025 • 34min
Edie Cay Samples Into The Breach With You
Edie Cay joins the podcast to read from INTO THE BREACH WITH YOU. Edie tells us more about 'Golden Age of Mountaineering', what inspired her to write about women climbing mountains in the 19th century, and what historical romance can do that historical fiction can't (and vice versa). 00:00 Introduction to the Historical Romance Sampler 00:33 Meet Edie Cay: Award-Winning Author 01:23 Reading from 'Into the Breach With You' 23:00 Discussion on the Golden Age of Mountaineering 30:08 Love It or Leave It: Romance Rules 33:20 Where to Find Edie Cay's Books 34:09 Closing Remarks Find out more about Edie Cay at https://store.ediecay.com/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jul 2, 2025 • 35min
Jane Hadley Samples A Fine Looking Soldier
Jane Hadley joins the podcast to read from A FINE LOOKING SOLDIER (Volume 1 of her serialized SECRET SOLDIER series)! We talk about the real-life inspiration of women fighting in the Civil War, writing about gender identity in a historically accurate manner, and what makes something historical romance. Plus, Jane reveals how much she hates rules in LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?! Find out more about Jane Hadley at www.janehadleywrites.com HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jun 25, 2025 • 29min
Harper St. George Samples Eliza and The Duke
Harper St. George joins the podcast to read from her new release, ELIZA AND THE DUKE! Hear about Harper’s inspiration, her research adventures in London, and her interest in themes like the intersection of class and money in historical romance. Plus, she talks about writing in various historical eras as well as the historical romance rule she loves to break. 00:00 Welcome to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast 00:33 Meet Harper St. George 05:03 Reading from Eliza and The Duke 14:59 Discussion on Themes and Research 25:03 Love It or Leave It? 27:17 Conclusion and Where to Find More Find out more about Harper St. George at https://www.harperstgeorge.com/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jun 18, 2025 • 34min
Blair Fell Samples Disco Witches of Fire Island
Blair Fell joins the podcast to read DISCO WITCHES OF FIRE ISLAND. A multi-hyphenate writer of TV, theater, and novels, Blair set this story during the AIDS crisis in 1989 - a distinctive time period that he lived through. We discuss the point at which he realized he had written a historical romance, his creative journey from plays to novels, and how his story about 1989 resonates with today. Plus, he shares the romance rules he loves to break! 00:00 Introduction to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast 00:33 Meet Blair Fell: Multitalented Writer and ASL Interpreter 01:55 Blair Fell's Personal Connection to 'Disco Witches of Fire Island' 04:49 Reading from 'Disco Witches of Fire Island' 18:13 Discussion on Writing and Personal Experiences 29:04 Love It or Leave It: Rapid-Fire Questions 32:10 Conclusion and Where to Find More Find out more about Blair Fell at https://blairfell.com/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jun 11, 2025 • 28min
Olivia Waite Talks Book Bans
In this special episode of the Historical Romance Sampler podcast, Olivia Waite joins to discuss the issue of book bans in the United States and their implications for romance readers. Olivia, a queer historical romance author and romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review, shares her insights on how these bans target predominantly queer and BIPOC stories. The episode also explores historical perspectives on censorship and highlights current opportunities for activism. To top it off, Olivia recommends several historical romance books that deal with themes of resistance and political change. 00:00 Introduction and Special Guest Olivia Waite 01:37 Understanding Book Bans in the US 07:01 The Impact of Book Bans on Romance Readers 11:07 Historical Context of Book Bans 13:28 Historical Romance Recommendations 20:05 Modern Activism and How to Get Involved 25:53 Olivia Waite's Current Projects 27:30 Conclusion and Farewell Find out more about Olivia Waite at https://www.oliviawaite.com/ Get involved in fighting book bans in your community! Check out Every Library (https://www.everylibrary.org/) or American Library Association (https://www.ala.org/bbooks) for more resources. Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

Jun 4, 2025 • 35min
Misty Urban Samples Miss Gregoire's Beginning
Misty Urban returns to the podcast to read from MISS GREGOIRE'S BEGINNING, her entry in the SUFFRAGETTE UPRISING series. We talk about themes of independence, feminism, and the historical context behind her characters. Misty also takes on the challenges of integrating feminist narratives into historical romance. 00:00 Welcome to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast 02:18 Miss Gregoire's Beginning: A Reading by Misty Urban 15:32 In-Depth Discussion with Misty Urban 27:41 Fun and Games: Would You Rather? 33:42 Where to Find Misty Urban and Her Books 34:32 Closing Remarks and Subscription Reminder Find out more about Misty Urban: https://mistyurban.com/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

May 28, 2025 • 33min
Ally Hudson Samples The Scottish Scheme
Ally Hudson, an Amazon bestselling author known for her steamy Regency romances, dives into her latest work, 'The Scottish Scheme.' She discusses her unconventional approach to writing historical romance and her shift from first-person to third-person narration. Ally also shares her passion for breaking romance rules and crafting diverse characters, particularly in LGBTQ contexts. The conversation sparkles with nostalgia as they reminisce about American Girl dolls, making it a delightful listen for romance fans.

May 21, 2025 • 32min
Faye Delacour Samples A Lady's Guide to London
Faye Delacour joins the podcast to read from A LADY'S GUIDE TO LONDON, her latest Regency romance! We talk about the themes of passion versus money, the pressure to want it all, and the reality of divorce in Regency Britain. Plus, we fangirl over some of our favorite authors and their "unlikeable heroines"! 00:00 Welcome to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast 01:14 A Lady's Guide to London: Book Reading 14:51 Interview with Faye Delacour: Themes and Inspirations 26:32 Love It or Leave It: Rapid Fire Questions 30:18 Conclusion and Farewell Find out more about Faye Delacour at https://www.fayedelacour.com/ THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: Listen to Smart Podcast, Trashy Books wherever you catch podcasts or via https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)

May 14, 2025 • 35min
Alice Murphy Samples A Showgirl's Rules For Falling In Love
Alice Murphy joins the podcast to read from her hot new release, 'A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love.' We talk about the book's dual timeline narrative intertwining a historical romance with a contemporary framework, the importance of the happily ever after, and body image over time. 00:00 Introduction to the Historical Romance Sampler Podcast 03:47 Reading from A Showgirl's Rules for Falling In Love 15:56 Interview with Alice Murphy: Writing Process and Inspirations 21:24 Discussion on Historical Accuracy and Representation 30:29 Love It or Leave It: Romance Tropes 34:00 Conclusion and Where to Find Alice Murphy's Book Find out more about Alice Murphy: https://alicemurphybooks.com/ THANK YOU TO THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS: Listen to Smart Podcast, Trashy Books wherever you catch podcasts or via https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/podcast/ HRS is an affiliate of Libro.fm! Sign up for a new monthly membership and get three audiobooks for the price of one with code HISTORICAL! (As an affiliate, HRS may earn a portion of your purchase, for which we thank you!) Check out the official HRS playlist at: https://tidd.ly/4hgCquh Find out more about your host Katherine Grant: Instagram (@katherine_grant_romance) TikTok (@katherinegrantromance) Facebook (@Katherinegrantromanceauthor) Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19872840.Katherine_Grant) Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/authors/katherine-grant) Follow HRS on social media! TikTok (@historicalromancesampler) Instagram (@historicalromancesampler)