We're All Rakes Here: Historical Romance's Importance

Romance-Con | Presented by Toledo Library

Historical Romance is thriving with fresh voices and inclusive storytelling. We'll discuss how these timeless stories continue to evolve while honoring the roots that made Romance a powerhouse.

At each program, authors will speak, followed by a question and answer session. This event is free, and tickets are not required.  For other Romance-Con events and offerings, visit toledolibrary.org/romance-con.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Chasity Bowlin is the author multiple bestselling historical romance novels, both independently and with Dragonblade Publishing. She lives in central Kentucky with her husband, their adorable son, and a menagerie of animals. She loves writing, loves traveling and enjoys incorporating tidbits of her actual vacations into her books. She is an avid Anglophile, loving all things British, but specifically all things Regency. 

Jess Everlee is the author of the Lucky Lovers of London, a series of queer historical romances. She writes her decadent novels from the Ohio home she shares with her small family of furballs and fellow humans. She holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University, where she studied English and Gender Studies. She has a deep love of interesting art, offbeat communities, and admittedly pretentious coffee brewing systems.

Michelle McLean is a USA Today bestselling author who writes historical romances and educational non-fiction as herself and contemporary romances as Kira Archer. Combined, she has published 30+ books and has several film projects in the works. Her novel Truly, Madly, Sweetly, written as Kira Archer, was adapted as a Hallmark Original movie in 2018, and 69 Million Things I Hate About You was optioned by Amazon MGM in 2025. Michelle has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, and an insatiable love of reading and libraries, likely due to spending most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She resides in central PA with her family and a rotating menagerie of fur babies. 

Lisa Rayne writes fun and sexy, banter-laden contemporary and historical romance. She’s currently deep into her historical era, serving up alpha heroes and fierce heroines living and loving on both sides of the Atlantic—from the Renaissance to the Regency to the Old West. Her milestone Scottish romance NEVER CROSS A HIGHLANDER, featuring the romance industry’s first Black Highlander hero, received a Publishers Weekly starred review. An intellectual property attorney and business coach by day, when she’s not writing (or working), she spends her time binge-watching planner flipthroughs on YouTube and plotting how to get one of her novels turned into a movie featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Sensory Considerations: This program will use artificial lighting.  All speakers will use microphones.

Accessibility Details: Located on the first floor, accessed by elevator and/or stairs. All doors will feature an automatic function or be propped open prior to program start. Tile or low pile carpet throughout the building. Limited free parking is available in the attached garage. 

Please call Public Services at 419-259-5293 to request an accommodation at least two weeks prior to the program date.

Romance-Con is presented by Toledo Library, with support from Destination Toledo, the official Destination Marketing Organization promoting the Toledo, Ohio region to visitors, meeting and convention business locally, regionally, and nationwide.