Hey Nerds! We hope you are excited to discuss our favorite book of the year so far, Bride by Ali Hazelwood!
This episode is a testament to the power of names—whether they're mispronounced or carry an unexpected depth, they have a way of enriching our discussions and keeping us on our toes. We ponder over the idiocy of love, finding ourselves both amused and exasperated by the heartbreaks and knots of drama our beloved characters endure. The engaging banter between Chanel and Stacy brings out the hilarity and humanity in each twist and misunderstanding, proving that even supernatural beings can have their own share of ordinary woes.
Summary:
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
*Summary from Goodreads*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
Hey Nerds! We hope you are excited to discuss our favorite book of the year so far, Bride by Ali Hazelwood!
This episode is a testament to the power of names—whether they're mispronounced or carry an unexpected depth, they have a way of enriching our discussions and keeping us on our toes. We ponder over the idiocy of love, finding ourselves both amused and exasperated by the heartbreaks and knots of drama our beloved characters endure. The engaging banter between Chanel and Stacy brings out the hilarity and humanity in each twist and misunderstanding, proving that even supernatural beings can have their own share of ordinary woes.
Summary:
A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.
Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...
Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….
Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
*Summary from Goodreads*
***Produced by Jen Hardin***
And it's, it's just say it.
Speaker 2:Why are you laughing at it?
Speaker 1:I don't immediately understand, until his soft skin changes. Something inflates under my ball. Lowe's hand closes around my, pressing it there, circling the swelling for truberance like all he wants. Oh Hi, I'm Chanel.
Speaker 2:Hi, I'm Stacy. Hey, nerds, this is Ashley.
Speaker 1:And this is Fiction Fanatics.
Speaker 2:All right, I'm starting to know because it's been 20 minutes behind here with Ashley's Mike Troubles which is so random because we never have Mike Troubles or any kind of audio Troubles with recording. Yeah, our audience been 100% from the beginning. From the beginning. Stellar to not attend To the end, so Like OK.
Speaker 2:But for real, are you guys prepared to talk about nodding today in Ali Hazelwood's Bride? I get it all pumped up, but then you know, the actual nodding scene isn't like hardcore, which I get. Why it can't be the hardcore like fanfiction, whatever that's true Like how hardcore is it in fanfiction? I haven't read a fanfiction one. Well, I can't help it that your life isn't blessed because I love, love me some. She know this too. It's not just me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I haven't read one in a minute actually, but I mean it's. Yeah, the last one I read was a really good one.
Speaker 2:It was a Ray low one, and it's just because Ben Solo just screams alpha, so, like you know, it'd be good.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Ray is like this princess and Ben is a prince. But he gets exiled because he was supposed to identify Ray as his omega but he hadn't developed in time as an alpha, so because he couldn't do it, he gets thrown into the slums and he gets chained up and he's almost like I do not know horses, but how they like the bridal thing yeah, they put this clasp on their face and it goes into your glands and your cheeks and then he has to cover a ball of his and then he's put into the slums and he has to fight his way out of this.
Speaker 2:I'm horrified right now. You know what are you reading?
Speaker 1:Chanel, Jesus, Like he has to like like his position as, like this, as like the prince of Alderaan you know what I mean but like no one knows that he is, that he is, you know, ben Solo, like the prince. They just know him as this alpha and they're seen as like these dangerous creatures. And she's this princess, and so he like wins his position as her guard, and then they, of course, like fall in love, but they can't do anything because he's like all chained up and it's so freaking good. And so he like yeah, anyway, are you going to?
Speaker 2:send me this, are you going? To send me this. Yeah, I can send you to Chanel.
Speaker 1:You're so.
Speaker 2:Chanel's so deceiving Like you would never know that Chanel's reading this thing with this guy with this thing stuck in his mouth, Look at her. Well, I told you that I think Ashley knows the story. But I did I tell you how I knew I had a like my weird sexual awakening as a child. I'll never forget it. I was watching Power Rangers.
Speaker 1:I mean, like we're like you guys were so early into this episode.
Speaker 2:I'm just like straight into this crazy.
Speaker 1:I just feel like I need to tell this power yeah, but the red card.
Speaker 2:No, it was the green one. Ashley knows where this is going, so we were watching that.
Speaker 1:Do I? I don't, I'm done the green.
Speaker 2:Power Ranger gets kidnapped by the evil queen lady. What was her name? We'll have to look it up. Someone tell us. Rita Rita gets him Rita, what's her name? That was her name. Yeah, rita, I'm looking it up?
Speaker 1:Why do you tell the story?
Speaker 2:They chain him to a cave wall.
Speaker 1:I do know what you're talking about.
Speaker 2:They chain him to a cave wall. The green Power Ranger this is when he turns into the white Power Ranger or whatever, and I remember watching that as a small child and going what's this feeling like Rita Rapulza?
Speaker 1:Yeah, what do you think that means you like? I like to like bondage. I?
Speaker 2:was just like oh my God. I just remember thinking like what is this feeling? Like I'm feeling something, I'm feeling some type of way. And it all started with the green Power Ranger, chain up by Rita in the cave. I'm feeling a certain kind of way about you guys right now because you guys are crazy it's 1050 in the morning.
Speaker 1:I've got a lot of coffee. I'm going to wait until you read these fix because they're pretty hot.
Speaker 2:Stacy's going to be looking for a Power Ranger. Maybe I should. I'm sure there's some good ones out there.
Speaker 1:I bet there are.
Speaker 2:I'm back on my Stranger Things bullshit right now. I'm reading a steady fake right now where it's like 16 years after the whatever finale and Steve is a guidance counselor at like a high school in Chicago and he meets up because he's going to walk Mack down the aisle and Eddie's there and he's like the lead singer of this really popular, amazing rock band and they're going to fall in love and they're going to do it and I'm so happy to read it right now.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. I just I haven't started any, but I just got a bunch of wrecks on Instagram of Zutara. Since you know, Avatar, the Last Airbender just came out, so I'm like some good enemies to lovers with Katara and Zuko. I can't wait to read.
Speaker 2:It's funny you said that because I've been getting so many TikToks where it says the missed opportunity with like their ying and yang and like everything they could have done in the show and it's like, oh, yet again missed opportunity.
Speaker 1:They still have two more season. They just got renewed for two more seasons, so I'm hoping they can do this you think they'll change it up from the cartoon. I mean, I don't know, they've changed a lot of stuff already.
Speaker 2:I mean that is fair. They have changed a lot of stuff. Ashley's like what the fuck are we talking about right now? I don't even know. I mean, you have to watch the show. It's even Cole told her to watch it when he was on. He says it's like one of his favorite shows, like would change nothing about, about the animated series. It's amazing, it's amazing.
Speaker 1:Like it's so amazing, it's so amazing.
Speaker 2:I'll add it on my list of things to read and watch. It's out of control, you guys.
Speaker 1:I don't know why, but I feel like Skyler would like it too. He probably would.
Speaker 2:Well, he's like it. He might have already seen it. I should ask him. I don't even know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know why. I have a feeling that he would like it.
Speaker 2:It's he would. I think he would, yeah, yeah. Well, you guys ready to hit it about this bride stuff with Ali's wood?
Speaker 1:Do it, do it.
Speaker 2:Do it. Okay. So to get a little caught up on where we were, if you haven't listened to part one, please check it out. We covered episodes one through 17, and what did I say? Well, that's fine, that's fine, everything's fine. It's fine, it's fine, it's no big deal. So chapters one through 15. And then so we ended on. Basically, loll and misery are trying to plant spyware in this office where it's Roscoe who's died. He was the alpha before. It's his wife. They're in her territory and they sneak up there so misery can feed, and now she actually has to feed on him and we literally ended with her clamping on his neck, and so that's where we're starting.
Speaker 2:It was so hot, yeah it was so so what's really interesting about misery's character, and really smart on Ali Hazelwood's part, is that misery is a vampire, but she's not very schooled and like vampire things, because she was raised with humans and she was like eight, right, yeah, for 10 years, eight to 18. And then she chose to live with humans. So she's never bit anyone. She just knows that it's like not forbidden, but like frowned upon, and so she doesn't know how to do it. She doesn't know what it entailed, but of course which we love it turns super sexual as soon as it happens. Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, like literally.
Speaker 1:I have um, I have a lot of friends who are like um. So she's like describing his like, like what's happening. And she said you know, it's spicy and coppery, it tastes like blood. But then she's like. It tastes like his scent, his smile, his hands lingering on my skin and the serious way he stares into the distance and rubs his jaw when he's worrying about Anna. His blood is everything he is and I'm drinking of it. It's the most delicious earth shattering, the most inside out moment of my entire life. And you're just like oh my God.
Speaker 2:You're like oh my.
Speaker 1:God. And then he like, he's like she's grabbing his shoulders, and then his hands are like going down her back and he's like cupping her butt and her legs start going like around him.
Speaker 2:He has an erection, like it is very intense.
Speaker 1:He has an erection. She's like my breasts are getting so achy and tender.
Speaker 2:It's like it's getting so intense and you can tell he's I mean other than the obvious, like she mentions that. She can tell that he's aroused, like you can tell that he is like enjoying it too. And it's definitely not only, I think, is a physical reason he's enjoying it, but also just his character and how he loves providing for people. So you know he's gonna love providing for the person he loves because he's giving her something that she needs. He's probably like yes, take it all, but I have this quote that I love. So it gets really hot and heavy.
Speaker 2:She pulls herself away. She's kind of embarrassed because she just didn't know that it was gonna be so intense and sexual. And then, as soon as they pull away from each other well, before they pull away she pulls away and Lowell says have you had enough? And she says enough and he says blood and she goes. Oh, yes, and then she goes, but in her head I love her in head dialogue she goes, but I'd like more. May I have more. But then, as soon as that happens, cohen busts through the room and sees them so vivid.
Speaker 1:And that's his best friend who lives up in the North, like not in his pack. They're just like old friends or whatever.
Speaker 2:And when Chanel started this book before me and Ashley, she had said a couple of times that she loves the side characters almost as much as the main, and I didn't get it at first. And then, as soon as we get to part two, it really like hits home how great the side characters are. But it says and then Cohen appears behind Emery leaning against the door jam with a shit eating grin. I for one am glad the kids are having fun. He's the only one who wasn't like freaked out that she fed on him or anything. He fucking loves it. I fucking love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, especially because, like the rest of his pack, that like obviously lives with him right Like this is his like childhood friend. He is a werewolf, but he's part of another pack. I believe he's the alpha of another pack. He's not like freaked out by this, even though his own like seconds in his pack are very like wary of her. Like you know you mentioned Juno she like starts like super hostile with misery, but like he like takes it in stride and like making jokes about it and so it's funny, but it's also like really nice, like she's like giving me shit.
Speaker 2:It's just great that someone who really cares about him is like I could care less that it's some other species or person like, just that he's happy. So I love, I fucking loved him the second I met him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's great, he's a great character.
Speaker 1:Just another little mention on, because they, you know they do get this spyware planted but misery is freaking out because you know we, you know you said she doesn't know her own like culture, her vampire culture.
Speaker 1:So she goes and talks to her brother like the end of having a call and she's like I fed on him Guess what I did, and he like freaks out and he like has this whole monologue and I just kind of want to read some parts of it.
Speaker 1:He's just like there's a reason we as vampires transitioned from live feeding and like developed or took advantage of technology to it says like to safely draw and store blood and drink from that. And it's because drinking from a live source is not something that's hard to tease, apart from sex. You know it's hormonal, it's biological and vampires were very much, you know, like we don't live in, like we don't have monogamous relationships basically, and so it's very hard to like detach that from. You know like he's out from sex. So he's like don't do it again, be his friend. You know live with his, you know pack, but like don't live feed from low again is essentially like he like really reinforces that because you're going to start getting feelings, it's going to become interconnected from you know this hormonal sexual experience essentially so, which was interesting.
Speaker 2:It was interesting too to have Owen explain to her like the vampire customs and how like they don't really do mates anymore because their fertility rates are so low and that's why they don't feed, and so that was really. It was really interesting because in the book it kind of hints how the vampires are more like independent and cut off and not very emotional, more intellectual, and then it's like, well, how much of that it really is like just natural biology and how much of it has just been pushed in because they push away like the more natural, like feeding and stuff that they use to do on each other and stuff Right.
Speaker 2:So that was cool. So then I kind of just put like their feelings. Intentions grow after this Cause. It's pretty intense. They have the airplane scene and then the feeding scene. So the fact that they got anything done on that trip is amazing. I don't know how. So then they get the stuff planted and they go back to Lowell's Ware territory and I love this part because we kind of learned that they don't need to eat but they can. Again, it's custom, right.
Speaker 2:What's around upon Ashley? How much do you love that? She loved peanut butter. I just love to eat peanut butter out of the jar, so I love that she likes to do this too. I pictured it as like Ashley doing Ashley's peanut butter out of the jar too, and so I was laughing. So she goes back and they're kind of talking and he's making we know that Anna likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and she takes a bite of the peanut butter in front of him, which kind of shows her comfort levels grown too, because she's eating in front of him, which is a big deal, because the Empire's in the good gross to eat Like a big no-no and she gets poisoned and they assumed that the poison was for Anna, because it was in the peanut butter which they wouldn't think that she would necessarily eat.
Speaker 1:Like, yeah, whoever was trying to poison, whoever planted the poison, knew that Anna loves peanut butter, and why would they think that misery would be eating the peanut? Butter because she's a vampire, right? Yeah, you know, yeah.
Speaker 2:It's kind of nuts how she gets sick too. Like she gets sick obviously. Lol freaks out and she looks dead. I guess she almost dies. Like yeah, she's really sick.
Speaker 1:I don't know. That's why one of my other favorite tropes is like when someone's sick or hurt and their partner, significant other, is just like so worried and intense and like freaking out and like help them. And he's just like so when she is, she like is in her room and like recovering and everything. And we don't get a ton of glimpses of it because it's her point of view, obviously, but you might all of a after the fact that he was like, he like didn't leave her side and like you know, pacing and worried and stuff, and so I love him so much he was worried, he was scared, and you know she's really sick because they don't I mean, obviously they don't know, because they're wolf, where wolves a whole lot.
Speaker 2:But her, you know, when she finally does wake up she's like was I out a few hours? She thinks it's like hours and they're like you were out for days, days, days and days, pretty much dead, and so it was really serious, like that helps, like someone was obviously trying to kill someone in this house, like this wasn't, like we're trying to take you out, like out for a few days or something. So after that we have the meeting, which this was really cool part. It's misery and low Gabby and Owen. So misery thinks, going back, that Gabby is wolves me, and that's why they switched, because she must be important to the pack right, and so Owen is, is like taking care of her or whatever. So they meet up and this is a cool part, because misery is excited to see how they interact with each other. She wants to see how mates interact.
Speaker 2:And then we also get this like little fur loop. Owen tells misery pretty much how, even though he hasn't shared this before he's not cool with what his dad's been doing, he's not cool with what his dad did to misery, Definitely like the collateral program, and that he's like I'm going to take him out, like I'm taking over, I'm taking over. And so she's really shocked because Owen kind of she's disguised him as like a non serious person, you know, and so we get a lot of information in this part we get he's more serious, he wants to change a lot of stuff for the vampires. And then misery, finally, these idiots in love. She finally figures out by watching them that Gabby clearly is not his mate, Even though she assumed that it was.
Speaker 1:I took this whole time.
Speaker 2:Like that only took the whole book, like again, like idiots in love. Like obviously he doesn't have a mate I mean it's not her. Like, yeah, I don't know. Also, pause side note, because you guys didn't listen to the audio book, right, it was just me. I read it, yeah, and the audio book, and I could be wrong. They say his name is low, is it not?
Speaker 1:low it's low.
Speaker 2:What have I been saying? Low, low or something I've been saying low, like LOL, like laugh out loud, low, I mean, that's correct me Last episode. Well, I mean, I didn't, I couldn't tell. At first I was like, oh, I thought it was a speech thing, but yeah now my speech she just has an accent. I thought it was a hillbilly accent. And then it's just, it's just then. But then when you just said, I'm like wait a minute, it's take it's harder for her to say what she's saying than to say low. Low.
Speaker 1:Like lows, like the store.
Speaker 2:Why don't you guys tell me that I sound like this? How is it spelled in the book?
Speaker 1:L O.
Speaker 2:W E, so it's low. What were you saying, lol?
Speaker 1:I thought Wait, so you wait. So you've been saying that on purpose.
Speaker 2:I thought that was his name. Haven't you been to the store lows before? Why don't you shut up?
Speaker 1:Ashley I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 2:Do I look like I go to Lowell's all the time? Also, I didn't want to say anything, I thought you just had a hillbilly accent. Also, this isn't a big deal. This is just something inside, and I only know this because I listen to the auto book. Her name's Anna and not Anna.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Ashley, why didn't you say something? Chanel didn't say anything either.
Speaker 1:I didn't. I didn't either, but it's. I don't think that one's a big deal, because it's the way people's on it? Yeah, not yet.
Speaker 2:I will say I say everyone's name wrong except for everyone. This is so wrong because it's a different book series. But I listened to the Throne of Glass series the first like four or five books and everyone says Kale's name wrong. They call him Cole and it's Kale. Yeah, it's.
Speaker 1:Kale.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you feel better now, stacey?
Speaker 1:It's like the green.
Speaker 2:I just know that some things I can say right, and some things I cannot. Well, I love all of it. Then I was afraid to say anything because we hadn't said anything last episode and now it's the last, the last episode? I don't know.
Speaker 1:I thought that was her accent. And then Anna Anna, I was like, yeah, that's not a big deal, yeah that doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:But I just thought I would say it, since I'm giving you a hard time now. Anna sounds so much prettier than I mean. Anna is pretty too, but I love Anna. Anna it sounds very fancy. Yeah, Like me. It's like. It's like Liliana yeah, Liliana yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, whatever. Oh my gosh, I didn't know she did.
Speaker 2:They sound really sorry, dude.
Speaker 1:It's Chanel. Thank you, it's Chanel.
Speaker 2:I'm glad that you corrected me in the last episode halfway through it. Really it's great, let's do it now.
Speaker 1:Let's do it now. Oh God, I don't even know what you were talking about.
Speaker 2:Oh, just about how they're idiots in love now, yeah, but it's funny because it's not funny. But I like it because Misery finally talks to him low about it and and says like oh, I thought she was your mate and he was like well, we just told them that because we he wasn't obviously ever going to give them Anna ever, like he wasn't going to give her up for collateral, and he was like so we had to find, we had to make something seem like it'd be a really hard loss for me and that's why they do it. But it's just funny because he's almost surprised, like why would you ever think that that wasn't my mate? Idiots in love. Idiots in love.
Speaker 1:Well, and I know, we haven't really talked about this but, like throughout this book, they've talked about, like who his mate is or how he would interact with his mate and they like, and she like asks him questions of like how would you interact with your mate? Or like what are you looking for? And blah, blah, and he's like giving these scenarios of like how you would treat his mate and blah, blah, blah and like, when it comes out, it's just like this really big epiphany and yeah, so it's just funny.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so then I think she finally gets it too, and she's like oh, like you know, maybe it's me. You know what I mean. Like maybe. Yeah, like she, yeah Like this idea, like, oh, like I'm liking him, like there's a possibility, like you know, and we have these feelings, yeah, and so then I have that they finally get physical, like it finally happened, and it's great. Allie Hazelwood writes really good tension and she writes really good spice.
Speaker 1:So good, like it's so good. Yeah, I'm just like I have a few things like just talking about their first kiss Just like it's just like a really messy kiss and especially just because in her head misery is worried that she's going to hurt him kissing wise because of her fangs and stuff. But you find out that low really likes it, like, really likes her fangs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he likes them, he thinks it's really attractive.
Speaker 1:Yeah and yeah, yeah, he, literally he licks my things and I feel it deep in my core.
Speaker 2:Me too, misery me too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know how. Like, how are you going to get into that?
Speaker 2:Let's get into it Do we want to talk about? They talk about nodding the first time. Yes, because she obviously doesn't know what it is. Yes, and it's very hot the way he tries to explain it to her and but he doesn't think it's going to work. He doesn't. He doesn't want to hurt her either, like they're both very much like. I don't hurt you, yes, yes, yes, I don't know. I don't know how far to get into it to talk about, like how much we should talk about it or not. Like what the nodding? Yeah, well, here he's just explaining, he, he doesn't really. Is it here that he explains what it is? He just says that they're not compatible.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he doesn't. Yeah, he doesn't. Really, it's a wearable thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And she's like I just love that she's like, but we should still just do it and see, and he's like no.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because she's all about it. So they this happens, they finally get physical the spice of it, all, the tension, and then he kind of ruins it, because why would he not? There's got to be the myth communication of it in the third act. You know what I mean. Well, yeah, can I just so they are getting physical.
Speaker 1:Can I just do your?
Speaker 2:quotes.
Speaker 1:I'd say you got to put these quotes in here because, okay, so they like go back and forth as far as, because, like you said, they he just keeps saying like I don't think we're ready, I don't think we're compatible, and so they do other stuff to to get off essentially. And then she's like well, I want to like separate essentially. So this is this part.
Speaker 2:No, I cannot with you right now.
Speaker 1:So I'm never going to be this funny, okay, okay. And then the things he's saying changed and so they're like. So he shivers and he's panting and he's like you really want to know. His hand comes down to guide mind lower on his cock until he reached the base. His cheeks are flushed, head tilting back, and it's just say it.
Speaker 2:Why are you laughing at me?
Speaker 1:I don't immediately understand, until his soft skin changes. Something inflates under my Lowe's hand, closes around mind pressing it there, circling the swelling for true brands, like all he wants is for it to be enclosed with, held within something. It grows larger and Lowe's stifles groans grow louder. He's saying my name like a prayer, like I'm one thing standing between him and heaven on earth. That's when I understand what he meant. Sexually, he and I might not be fully competitive.
Speaker 2:She's like this is terrifying. Well, wouldn't you be terrified, Should he handle that better than I would have? I mean, if that's what kills me, that's what kills me, dude, oh my God, death by penis. Death by penis. There are worse ways to go, I'm sure, or better, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, that's so great, anyway, so that's how she's officially.
Speaker 2:Anyways, anyways. And so then after this happens she's feeling like super close to him and you can just, I could just sense it coming. He's like so then he just gets scared. So he pretty much tells her they're not mates. He doesn't really. He like likes her, but he's in love with her and like basically just trying to push her away. And it's really sad to read because it's terrible. I hated it. I hated reading or listening to it. I think it's just hard because this character never does anything like that.
Speaker 2:I can see why the story. Why in the story he would? Because he thinks he's protecting her. But also you're fucking stupid, so that, well, that even happens.
Speaker 1:Cause like cause, then they actually you're talking about after they actually. Yeah, after they actually yeah, yeah, yeah. Cause that was clearly they didn't do anything. They go to her apartment and he sees her apartment and then they like legit, do it. And then but by this point she's like, she's like I'm your mate, she puts it all together, she knows yeah, by this point at her when he's cause he wanted to see her apartment.
Speaker 2:He wanted to see, like sorry, they're so close to each other, like them doing other stuff, and then it's only like a chapter two apart. And then they're out driving around and he wants to see her apartment and they go, and then they they actually do it in her apartment.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, and she's like here I was. It says it happens between mates, right, notting. She's like and she goes it's me, right, like that's why you're not, it's because of me. And she's like I'm your mate, and he's like being all evasive and he's like no misery, and she's like that's why. And he's like, and she's like, well, I feel the same way that you do, like I love you, I'm your mate, and she's like literally putting herself like out there, out there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and and this is what you're talking about is where he's been a total dick and yep. And she's thinking, oh, he feels the same way I do. That's why you know he is. He's physically reacting this way, that's why we're becoming so close and that's why he's not. You know he doesn't feel that way for Gabby and that's why we just had sex and blah, blah, blah. But then this quote is my assurance wobbles, when I was secure in his feelings for me until a moment ago. Well, come on, I know Gabby isn't your mate and he goes, she isn't. But I'm afraid you've reached the wrong conclusions, You're such a fucking asshole.
Speaker 2:No, she didn't Bitch.
Speaker 1:So anyway, go ahead, oh no.
Speaker 2:So I was just going to say so he, it's the whole thing like he breaks her heart because he thinks it's going to help her. It's very sad. And now does he leave, or does he? He leaves, he leaves, what is he thinking? He leaves the apartment and then she gets fucking kidnapped and only it's our heartbroken. Then she gets kidnapped and then she's like uh, he should feel so guilty.
Speaker 2:I mean I think he does so, but the silver lining is when she wakes up in this, this room Serena's there, she's like back, she's been there the whole time, like she's pretty much said like in this, like where is it?
Speaker 1:It's like I did not.
Speaker 2:I did not see this coming. I thought she was dead seriously, when I was reading the whole book.
Speaker 2:I thought that it would come out that she had like died or something had been murdered by I. I mean I I mean just say she's getting her, say I even thought like maybe the vampires might be behind it, but I thought she was dead. Yeah, I'm surprised. So we learned a lot of surprises really quickly. So she's been kept alive, which was a shock because, like Ashley said, I assume that she had been killed too. They're in this weird like there's no windows. She thinks she's in a basement kind of thing. She's been held there but they've been nice to her, like she's been giving food. She's tried to get out. You know she can't get out and, um, misery figures out. Does a misery figure out from the room that they're at the vampire headquarters? I forget, oh, not until I get out.
Speaker 1:Not until they get out. Literally, they walk out the door.
Speaker 2:And then she does. So they talk and catch up for a little bit and basically everything that misery has been pithing together is somewhat correct. Like he wasn't investigating the story, he was looking into this stuff and then it comes out. Does it come out here or when? Now I'm getting my parts.
Speaker 1:It comes out there. It comes out there. She tells it.
Speaker 2:She tells her Serena is also a hybrid, just like Anna is, and basically, oh yeah, it does. She kind of fills her in that she's figured this out, she's kept it a secret the whole time and that she was trying to track down more information if there was anyone else like her and that's why she got kidnapped which is why, obviously, she was looking into Anna, because Anna was the only other hybrid she knew.
Speaker 1:She knew.
Speaker 2:So they, so they all caught up. We learned this. And then misery is like we got to get out of here, and so Serena is like you need to also. It's really sweet because Serena didn't think that she was looking for her, that misery was looking for her, but I love that Because they had that fight.
Speaker 1:Both of them were like like doubting their friendship. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, serena wants her to throw the guard to get out, which is because the guards are werewolves, so they think. Oh yeah, that's right, the guards are like low level werewolves.
Speaker 1:They think they're in werewolf territory, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so we're still thinking this is Emory, like Emory's come up with all this to get them, and so it takes a little maneuvering and stuff, but she does, she is able to throw him. She's up like she isn't able to do it like her dad without touching him, but she's able to, like, grab him and they start to get. And that's when, when they get out and they're trying to escape, that's when misery figures out. No, we're definitely not at a aware territory, we're in the vampire like this name built nest thing yeah.
Speaker 2:And then it's just like it goes and then it gets really nuts, because then we figure out that really Emory and Rocco, they have nothing to do with what's going on. The main plot was a good twist. It's all been misery's dad. He's such a dick.
Speaker 1:He's been in control the entire time, and so they kidnapped and taken to like the main office, like her yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, her dad's office or whatever. And then we learn not only has he been like fucking around with misery's existence and really not caring if she's alive or like what happens to her, he's been like sabotaging things for years, with wares and vampires and humans, like planning border issues and all these murders, and then, on top of it, he also figured out that Serena was a hybrid and he was using her. The reason he didn't kill her is because they were kind of like watching to see what would happen and he doesn't want the hybrid thing to exist. Because in his mind he's like well, the humans know that were wolves and them are compatible, like that that they can reproduce it could. They could like join together to want to get rid of vampires, and there's already like the vampire numbers are so low already. So, yeah, and then what we learn is really shitty is that he has been blackmailing and thralling Mick, who misery really liked.
Speaker 2:To his lows number two, or yeah, yeah To like watch her and watch them and work with him. And so then we learn. Not only did he do all this to be a dick, he literally tried to kill his own daughter, like he's the one who had the peanut butter poison. He knew about it because Mick had been watching and he was hoping that by killing misery, low would be super distracted and they would be able to get on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Mick was the one that kidnapped misery, yeah, so, like all of this he's been doing and has been orchestrating, like all the werewolves, essentially, and yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's just like man this man is. When does he sleep Like? This is a lot of work. Yeah, it's insane. Yeah, it is insane.
Speaker 2:But one of my favorites though, yeah, and what I love is that, like misery's dad thinks he's one, he thinks like they eventually, eventually, lowell comes up, lowell, lowell comes up and you know, misery's dad thinks he's one. Like they have everyone under control and all this stuff. And I, serene's character, is in it for like five chapters and she's such a badass and I like her because she literally looks at misery, because they don't know who's going to live and survive if this turns into a fight and she Everyone's their Owens there.
Speaker 1:Like you said, Lowell is there and the pack and stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the tension, because they were looking for misery, because they figured out she was kidnapped pretty quickly, and Serena tells misery, tell Anna that thing she's worried about She'll be able to do, which is the shifting thing. She turns into a fucking werewolf and just rips, rips misery's dad, and taxically, it was a great scene it was. It was the whole. I loved all of it. So then there's a big battle they don't kill misery's dad there. I don't. I think it's implied that he's killed later though, right?
Speaker 2:I don't ever really say what happens to him, like misery says she doesn't want to know what they decide to do with him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they like take him to like a closet and just like yeah.
Speaker 2:Owen wants to kill him. So he they might, they might they we just never know for sure what Owen decides to do with him, because Owen does take over his spot.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, yes, because, and so he got to like, take over the council and yeah, which I really.
Speaker 2:I really liked the like happy ending rap part. Like Owens characters are really good guy. I love it. Owen actually offers to give her the council, or at least be a part of it, which I thought was great. He wants to like do a lot of stuff different, but I love it because misery decides to go back to the wear compound with low because she loved him and they're going to have happily ever after.
Speaker 1:It would be great Anna, I know, I know.
Speaker 2:So then it kind of gets resolved. They go back and so the happy ending. We get lots of stuff with a happy ending. We finally get the knot with the happy ending. They attempt it and it goes very well. I don't know if anyone with that anything else to that. That's all I was. I mean I feel like we should talk about the nodding scene.
Speaker 1:Well, I just have yeah, I mean I just have quotes of what like of them, just not about nodding, but of them just confessing like they're a love to each other, because clearly they ended on a bad note. I mean, you know what I mean. And this was back in in like that conference room and when Misery thought she was like gonna die and thought she ended up like looking at low and she was like you're the best thing that ever happened to me. I would never ask you to put Anna before me, and if you ever put someone else before her I'd love you a little less. But when you next would you see her? Can you give her a message for me? Tell her that she's as annoying as sparkles? Yeah, and so yeah, but like, so she like gives her like last goodbye and then obviously, you know, they get together and and she, you know, always thinks of herself as this problem and he this is when they're like together, kissing and stuff and he's like you're not a problem, misery, you're a privilege.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's what I had highlighted too, where he says that is so great.
Speaker 1:It's so sweet, I love it when they're kissing and getting intimate, so they, like you said, they get their happy ending and but I love you know, right after the part you're talking about, where he says you're not a problem, it's your privilege.
Speaker 2:Like the paragraph underneath that he says and I really love this he goes maybe I don't have the hardware, but the software is here and I get to program it. Maybe you're not meant for me the way I'm meant for you, but I'm going to choose you anyway over and over again. I don't need a special genetic permit to feel sure that you are. And then then he kind of stops because they're kissing. But he was going to say you're mine or my mate or what. And then later on in the at Houston, since later, he says mate, my mate.
Speaker 1:I'm so cute, my mate and it's really beautiful.
Speaker 2:And then right after they have this exchange this is when they're able to they're having sex again, like in her apartment, but pretty much they're going to attempt to do this knot and it happens and it's really sweet and beautiful and hot. But basically she talks about how, like it's painful, but not painful in an unpleasant way, it's like they, their bodies, really were meant to do this for each other kind of thing, and it's really great. Body's reacting, body's reacting, yeah, and then I just forgot her friend's name, serena. Serena comes with her to wear territory. Yes, this is a great.
Speaker 1:To learn about her wear side and can I say this part, cause I love this whole book.
Speaker 2:So I love this whole book and I wanted more of it, and I it's seen and maybe it's it will be a standalone book. But Serena is in the house and then his like you know best friend from California, cohen Cohen, walks in the door and he sees Serena and she's his mate. That's how it ends. It just ends that way.
Speaker 2:And I'm so hopeful that Ali Hazel would, would will write a sequel to this book. That's about Serena and Cohen. I know, Write it up. Write it up. I want to read it, oh, I hope, so Cause I didn't see that coming, so honestly there for a little bit. I thought he might be a bad guy because he was so close to him.
Speaker 2:And like, and so funny yeah and you like him and you know, sometimes writers do that with those characters that come in kind of in the middle. So I was really happy that he wasn't a bad guy and that now Serena is his mate. I just loved it. Yeah, it really was a good twist that it was Mick, because I wasn't expecting it necessarily to be him, just because he was like the older, wise best friend kind of thing. You know what I mean. So I mean, I honestly wasn't expecting it to be her dad either. I really thought it was just going to be Emory and them.
Speaker 2:So, and then that is Ali Hazelwood's bride, and I don't. I just want to know if you guys had a favorite part or anything like that. You want to like kind of end on with the book, if you had like a favorite interaction or a favorite character or anything like that. Um, well, favorite character was misery. I just loved her. And then, like, with both of them I loved how funny it was and I loved the banter in general, but my favorite scene was probably the bathtub scene after, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:That's a good one. The bathtub scene was really good. It's something about that tension build up. Yeah, the like slow, like simmer release, but not the full release. Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's a good one. My favorite scene. Well, okay, lo is my favorite character because I knew you were to say it.
Speaker 1:I just love him. But my favorite scene is when they are up on the roof of the house and they're just looking out and talking and he tells her about, like, being an architect and living overseas, and I just felt like that was like a really vulnerable time of them, just like getting to know each other. Like that was just like, oh, my favorite scene. I loved it and I wanted to show it because in this addition, I have yes, I was dying. I don't know if you guys can see it, but it's them on the roof, them on the roof, they're on the roof, and so I was like, oh, my favorite scene got illustrated.
Speaker 2:We'll post photos in case people haven't seen it, but Chanel's edition is beautiful and it has these really beautiful illustrations and one of them isn't them on the roof and it's amazing, literally my favorite scene. So yeah, well, my favorite character was misery and Anna. I fucking love Anna.
Speaker 2:I did love Anna I just loved how she said everything wrong. She was like the typical, like little eight year old girl. I love that. She loved misery from the very beginning and thought she was beautiful. But I think my favorite scene honestly was the airplane scene, because that's the first time they like physically really touch each other like that. I just like that we finally get to see low and how he really does Like he can't hide it physically even though he tries to like distance himself. And I just love the banter beforehand when she's like honey, are we rich? And then he like flies the fucking plane why would he not? And so I just I love that because it's the first like glimpse we get into like their banter, how cute they are, how compatible they really are physically. So I really love that. That part in the book that's when I I know when I got to that part, that's when I like sped red and like finished it yeah.
Speaker 1:You're like oh yeah, this is a good one. Yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2:Yay, okay, so do you guys want to hear my spice and story level for this book?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and then we can announce our book of the month for next month.
Speaker 2:Yes, so honestly, because I've read a few books so far this year, this was probably one of my probably my favorite read so far. I gave the story I mean honestly, it's a five out of five for me. I loved reading it. I've looked into other which I'm not critiquing anyone else, but like I've listened to other people's stuff and they're like, oh, the world's a little vague and there's like some stuff here or there and to me when I read a book it's not so much about that stuff, it's it's how much like the story stays, how much you want to finish it. Are you forcing especially sometimes with what we do on here, like in my forcing myself to finish this so we can talk about it, kind of thing. So I love the story. I thought it was unique to vamp, like even a unique take on the vampire werewolf thing. So I have the story of five out of five and that spice is a five out of five.
Speaker 1:Five out of five baby Tins all around baby.
Speaker 2:Tins all around. You're so funny and out of 10 would recommend. Okay, go ahead, you can announce the book now for next month.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm super excited, it's my pick and I chose Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. That's going to be our, our next book. I'm so excited I've heard so many good things on book talk about this book. Yeah, it's.
Speaker 2:I just finished it. I read the audio book and it's really good, really good. It was part of Reese's book club pick last year.
Speaker 1:So you already know it's a good book because she chooses amazing books her book club and yeah, it was so good, it's such a good book, so I can't wait for you guys to read it, because I know you're going to have thoughts. The best thing about it already is that it's a book that's really, really good. I can't wait for you guys to read it, because I know you're going to have thoughts. The best thing about it already is both of the main characters are authors and it's it's not a trope. I'm glad I went in and I didn't know anything about this book. I just knew it was a romance, but it's basically a second chance trope, second chance of love, which I was kind of telling Ashley. I'm like that's not a trope, that I like.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't read that, I just think it's a.
Speaker 1:You don't like it either, ashley.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I just I've never read them, so it's not really my thing.
Speaker 1:Like you would seek it out, or whatever, yeah, yeah Right. I just, I just think it's. I don't know, I don't know why I don't like it. I just think it's um, I don't know.
Speaker 2:It is like boring and it's usually like really messy, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you just want to get it right the first time, kind of thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But this was so well done. I don't know why it was just so well done like so cute, but also like sad, Like I was crying.
Speaker 2:Oh, great, great, I'll be a sobbing mess.
Speaker 1:Thank you, because I listened to the wrong one, my hormones won't be able to take it.
Speaker 2:Chanel, I'll literally be reading this book like nine months pregnant, so I hope you're proud of yourself when I'm sobbing, can't breathe.
Speaker 1:No, but the but it's also so funny, like it's witty commentary, Like it's hilarious, so you'll be like crying one chapter, in the next chapter You'll be like dying, laughing, and. But it's also really heartfelt Like it deals with like generational, not like trauma, but like like finding your family and like digging deep into your roots and I don't know. It's just. It's such a great book, so many great themes it deals with like being a parent, like a single parent, and mental health. Yeah, there's a lot of great themes in this book, so I'm super excited. I'm super excited to cover it.
Speaker 2:So yeah, love it. Bam bam, bam, go into our tropes. Okay, do you guys want to hit the kudos? Oh, sorry, yeah.
Speaker 1:The kudos. That's what I meant.
Speaker 2:No, I know, I know what you meant. You said tropes. I said episodes earlier. It's fine, it's Sunday morning, we're just getting getting with it. I would like to go first because of a great kudos. So Ashley and my sister's, julie and Katie, and my mom did amazing and I had a sprinkle yesterday and I was actually able to see Chanel in person too. It was great. So I just want to kudos every just. I feel very supported and I feel very lucky because I know not every woman who's pregnant gets the kind of support. Dude, I will cry right now. I'm so emotional. You can ask Ashley. When I was open to my presence, I was reading cards and crying yes, it was absurd. Like, literally, julie like made a sprinkle cloud out of balloons and paper and like my mom made so much food and desserts.
Speaker 1:It was incredible, you saw those cupcakes Like.
Speaker 2:They looked professional. And you know Theo's mom. I love her pathology.
Speaker 1:So solid.
Speaker 2:Ashley decorated all the candle holders had like rainbow sprinkles. You know I just felt very supported and loved. Yesterday it was amazing. And, yeah, you know, I got to see Nora came, nor brought her mom. I haven't seen her forever. You know, people have so much stuff going on with their lives right now and so many people were able to come and Sarah was there and I got to hug her and you know, and so anyway, I don't know if we all loved you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I feel very loved.
Speaker 2:So I wanted to especially kudos Ashley and my mom and Julie and Katie, because they really did the damn thing and it was great and it looks great and yeah, yeah, definitely deserve all the kudos.
Speaker 1:I'm going to hop on that bandwagon because, yes, I pops up at the end after, after work. But, yeah knows that a couple days you got a rough, rough, while yeah, but yeah, it was kudos to Stacy, obviously because you looked so cute.
Speaker 2:You did? You look so cute, I was popping and happy spree.
Speaker 1:But but, yeah, more kudos to Ashley because you did Like you said. You did the damn thing. You set that all up and I'm sure you spent so much time and effort and money and energy and so, yeah, I was. It was amazing and I'm also just so happy to see both of you guys. Stacy, I was thinking about this last night before I went to bed. The hug you gave me before you left, you were crushing my ribs. I was like I could feel it hurt and I know I haven't seen you in person and I was like I was so happy to see you, but I was like Stacy, stop.
Speaker 2:I'm like stop. What's that grapes of wrath book where he hugs the bunny too much because he loves it so much and he kills it? Dude, he kills a person that way too, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Why would I kill you? Yeah, I don't read that, but he's a bunny to kill the young woman.
Speaker 2:that way, he's a loving her.
Speaker 1:I would never kill you on purpose.
Speaker 2:I just wanted you to feel my love I totally felt it.
Speaker 1:I was so good to see you for that. Then I was like she's really into this hug. It was so funny. But and it was so good to see your mom too. She's so sweet. I loved her. She came over and gave me the popcorn and goodie bags and so she likes you more than Stacy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she forgot to hug me by, which is fine because there's a ton of people, but she made sure to hug Chanel.
Speaker 1:It was so cute.
Speaker 2:I'm not mad. She hugged me like eight times when the party was happening.
Speaker 1:I know she was so excited for you.
Speaker 2:She did amazing job. Very, very special. I feel very loved yeah.
Speaker 1:Kudos to all of you guys. Oh yeah, it was a great party.
Speaker 2:Well, my kudos is for you guys and like in general, all of my friends, me and Stacy's birthday was like last week, two weeks ago, something like that. Anyways, everybody's been so kind. They've let me celebrate it a couple of times. I had like a little birthday month.
Speaker 1:Birthday month.
Speaker 2:Like I had a work dinner last night with people you know that I worked with and we went to this nice restaurant downtown and it was really nice and just like our birthday dinner that we got to do together with like our sisters and our mom and just like our friends. Everybody's been so sweet. I love you all. Yeah, everybody's just been amazing.
Speaker 1:I feel very lucky. Had a great few weeks, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Enjoy it, because you're getting old.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're all just dirt now. Who are you telling, okay, should we give a little, just real fast, a little update about that, some of our recording stuff, that we might be taking a little break in a couple weeks with me and Chanel will be out of the country?
Speaker 2:Out of the country Out of the country. So we have this episode, we have another one ready for you guys, a bonus episode that'll be coming out after that. But there might be a week or two where we're taking a break or doing a little reread on an episode. So, just so everybody's posted, we'll for sure have at least two episodes for the book. So that's definitely going to happen in April. So no fear, yeah, and late April. So no fear, yeah, but that's happening. Chanel are gone for a little over a week in Europe. We can't wait to see what they do and I'm sure they'll post photos and some videos so we can see, especially of all the cool places they're going to be, but recording wise, it just might be hard because they'll both go straight back to work when they come back and life so, but we will for sure have two new book episodes for the month. First, the book of the month yeah, yeah, I'm gonna be in.
Speaker 2:April Yep.
Speaker 1:So yeah, just keeping you guys updated.
Speaker 2:Lead us out, stace. Okay, we hope everyone has an amazing week. Please go read Bride by Aisle, allie Hazelwood. Let us know what you think, let us know your favorite parts, and please don't say his name wrong for two episodes straight. And make sure that you read what you like.