Halloween Special

Are you feeling spooky? Want to immerse yourself in a seasonal romance? You'll find one here. This episode features 9 Halloween/monster themed romance books you won't want to miss. 

What you can expect:

• Witches/forbidden love
• Wolf Daddy
• Shifters
• Paranormal Romance
• Dark Romance
• Romantasy
• Erotic Horror
• Romcom Romance
• Novellas
• Series'

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Episode Transcript

Devonnie (00:02):
Welcome to Romance recs, where book besties explore
the world of romance novels andencourage you to expand your
TBR.
Join us as we dive into thehottest releases and hidden gems
of the genre.
You can find us on IG and TikTokat Romance recs Pod.
Hi everybody.

(00:23):
This is Dev.

Jordan (00:25):
Hey,

Devonnie (00:29):
Hi Jordan.

Jordan (00:32):
I

Devonnie (00:32):
I'm reading so much.
I can't even begin to telly'all.
I don't know.
The first thing that pops out atme right now that I'm listening
to is, Smut by Karina Halle.

Jordan (00:44):
was like, you need a name for it

Devonnie (00:45):
yeah.

Jordan (00:46):
Oh yeah.

Devonnie (00:47):
Yeah.
It was coming to me.
I was like, damn, I need to picksomething.
What are all the books you'reabout?
You're currently reading.
So yeah.
Smut by Karina Halle.

Jordan (00:53):
Oh, we're just going with one.
Okay.
hi, I'm Jordan.
I am listening to Never Keep byCaroline Peckham and Susanna
Valenti I'm also listening toInheritance by Nora Roberts.

Devonnie (01:08):
Oh, that's real cute.
Nice, a little Nora.

Jordan (01:12):
And it kind of fits our theme tonight.
But buckle up.
For some bookish banter.

Devonnie (01:20):
That's me as a

Jordan (01:20):
We're getting spooky.
And creepy and dark.

Devonnie (01:25):
Very dark.

Jordan (01:26):
Happy Halloween.

Devonnie (01:27):
Yeah, this is gonna get dark.
So truly buckle up you're in fora ride I have a quote

Jordan (01:33):
Yeah, okay.

Devonnie (01:34):
can I share a

Jordan (01:35):
Yeah, if you just dive right in.

Devonnie (01:37):
the reason why?
Okay, I may have three quotes.
They're all from the same book,but when I tell you I could not
choose I know we just said tobuckle up because this is gonna
be scary and spooky But the recsthat I have for you guys And
spicy, of course always spicy,but the recs I have for you guys
are so Off the wall, like I havea little bit of everything truly

(02:00):
and the quote S quotes that I'mgoing to read today are all from
one book and it is called LightsOut by Nevessa Allen.
This book has been on my TBRsince it was originally released
and I've had it on my Kindle,want to read it, want to read
it, never got around to it.
Then the audio book came outwhen it was re released and I

(02:21):
was just like, okay, I want tolisten to it.
So many people are talking aboutthe audio book.
I got denied on NetGalley.
But that's fine because my girlLibby hooked it up and I
recently listened to it, butI'll talk about the book itself
a little later as one of myrecs.
I just want to read the quotesThis is the male main character

(02:42):
josh I knew I should have arguedwith my therapist when she said
it was time to wean me off theanti psychotics Clearly they'd
been necessary if one of thefirst things I did once they
were out of my system was startstalking someone When I tell you
he's unhinged Please, wait,there's more.

(03:02):
I'd replaced her bullets withblanks.
I was horny, not suicidal.
And yes, I plan to switch themagain.
The thought of her unarmed inthe city made me want to both
rage and puke at the same time,which would probably be messy.
So the real bullets were goingback in as soon as we got to her
house.
He's just, okay.
This one is actually from ourFMC, Ali.

(03:26):
Please, this is the last one Iwant to read for you guys.
There's so many quotes in thisbook.
My highlights are in shambles.
Okay.
I'd stabbed him.
Jesus take me now.
I had stabbed a man while givinghim head.
There was no coming back fromthis.
My days ended here.
Any second now, I wouldspontaneously combust from the
humiliation.
My Kindle note, my little notefor that quote is the absolute

(03:49):
chaos.
I'm cackling.
This book provided me with somany laughs, but yeah, we'll get
into it.
I just wanted to share thosethree questions.
I feel like you can kind ofguess what you're getting into.

Jordan (04:01):
I, this book is blowing up right now, but it's been on
my forever TBR too, so I'm soglad you read it.
And I can't wait to hear moreabout it.

Devonnie (04:08):
please.
I want you to listen to itthough.
You have to listen to it.

Jordan (04:12):
Thank you so much for giving me the go ahead to read
two quotes.
Because it was really hardchoosing.
I'm so excited to hear more.
Those are so unhinged, but likefun unhinged.

Devonnie (04:23):
like funny

Jordan (04:25):
I stabbed a man while giving him, I mean, who hasn't
wanted to?
But good for her.

Devonnie (04:31):
She did

Jordan (04:36):
Happy ending.

Devonnie (04:36):
Crazy

Jordan (04:37):
Okay, my first quote is from one of the books that I
will be telling you all abouttoday on the pod.
It is called, it's from a bookcalled Wickedly Sweet by Steph
Macca.
There's something about thethrill of being scared, the
adrenaline that makes your heartpound while you fight your mind
to stay in control.
Then once it's all over, thefeeling of safety calms you.

(05:00):
And you're so keen to feel therush again.
Maybe I'm sick and twisted, butthere's a reason villains are
often painted as hot, seductivemen.
It's because women like meexist, and we want to scream in
more ways than one.

Devonnie (05:15):
Yeah.
Very succinct very straight tothe point.
Yes.

Jordan (05:19):
I,

Devonnie (05:19):
Love it

Jordan (05:20):
That's the FMC inner monologue.
Okay, this is from a differentbook that I will be telling you
about From the book Dark Psychosby Kristy Cunning.
To bring a homo woman and I'llmake farting noises while
wearing a dolphin costume andacting like I'm humping each of
you.
See how long you can hold anerection then.

Devonnie (05:47):
What?
Who is talking to who?
You know what, you gotta talkabout the book.

Jordan (05:52):
This is the FMC?
I mean, there was another onethat I almost read instead oh,
here it is.
Okay, here's another one.
This is a why choose, and theFMC is a ghost.
So that's why she can do thesethings, because she is a ghost.

Devonnie (06:06):
It makes sense what she just said now.
Okay.

Jordan (06:10):
Jude Butson.
The point is, we can't enjoy awoman unless we enjoy her
together.
It's part of the bond.
None of us have ever had a womanon our own.
So if you were a boy band, you'dbe one erection, I state,
rambling because they have menervous.

Devonnie (06:32):
No, she's actually unhinged.
I fear I must read this book.

Jordan (06:36):
I can't wait to tell you all about it.
So welcome to our spookyHalloween episode.
It should just be more likeunhinged.
episode because

Devonnie (06:46):
Yes,

Jordan (06:47):
are so fun.
I am so excited to talk aboutthese recs.
I, and I've had so much fun,like some of them I read in the
past, some of them I wentthrough some new recs trying to
find fresh titles for thisepisode too.
So it's a mix of old favoritesand new and I just, I don't
know.
There's something special aboutthis time of year and reading
these books.
I love it.

Devonnie (07:07):
yeah, I agree.
I agree.
It's definitely like a vibe toread stuff like this around this
time Like it just doesn't hitreading this kind of stuff in
spring, you know in the spring

Jordan (07:18):
I'm going to go first real quick with a quick one.
If that's okay, I'm going tostart with my first.
I have a lot of recs tonight,but I wrote it all down to make
sure that I get you theinformation you need, I you'll
get some of my ramblings, butwe're gonna try to keep it
succinct.
I'm gonna start with my most,I'd say, clean one.
The least smut.

(07:39):
There's not, I don't think,really any, no, it's closed
door.
This is my only closed door.
I figured I'd do it right away,get it out of the way.
So this is A Dark and SecretMagic by Wallis Kinney, and I
recently read the ARC.
For this one i've posted on oursocials, but I did want to read
it and bring it up because thecountdown in this book counts
down to halloween Which is alsothe female main character's

(08:02):
birthday and it's very heavilyHalloween themed.
In a coven, all about choosingyour own path of magic, Kate,
short for Hecate, was designateda hedge witch from the time she
was born.
Set apart from her coven, sheenjoys her solitude, but as
Halloween and her 31st birthdayapproach, she's confronted with

(08:22):
a guest from her past.
Ex boyfriend.
Dark family secrets.
Shame, mom, shame.
And coven obligations.
Can she face truths long buriedand accept her fate?
Or will she crumble beneath theexpectation?
I loved it.
I listened to this one.
The narrator did a great jobbringing everything to life.

(08:42):
And I really felt through thewriting and the narrator the
Struggle that she was goingthrough and so the thing about
these covens and this witches isthere's all these different
branches of magic but this Largearea coven they choose their
math They choose their own pathof magic and then focus only on
that giving up the rest of theirmagic to the group Like the

(09:03):
greater good or whatever, at 13,but they that's their thing They
get to choose but her momdesignated her one at birth and
no one knew why so her mom tookher choice away

Devonnie (09:15):
hate that

Jordan (09:16):
So that's part of the big mystery, right?
You're trying to figure out why?
It's perfect spooky, but stillkind of cozy vibes You So if
that's kind of what you'relooking for, you're not looking
for anything too dark.
It does have dark themes anddarker magic and is in play.
Her ex is actually a darkwizard.
Technically the dark arts orwhatever you want to call it,
you know, it's not followingvoldemort or anything, but So

(09:39):
it's just the family dynamicsare interesting.
I hate her sisters Even thoughshe has a decent relationship.
I don't know.
I don't think your sister's justa bitch.
But The book itself is writtenreally well, and I went down a
rabbit hole about Wallis Kinney,and this is her first published
novel.
And I am so excited to readmore.
I wrote to the publisher andsaid I would love to be on arc

(09:59):
teams or street teams in thefuture, because it was so good.

Devonnie (10:02):
I love that.

Jordan (10:03):
Yep.
Cozy, spooky.
There you go.

Devonnie (10:07):
Okay.
Since you're going cozy spooky,I'm going to go cozy cringy.
No cozy.

Jordan (10:13):
Just call it cringey.
Sometimes you want it cringey,and just be honest with it,
because what could be cringe foryou could be like, Give me for
other

Devonnie (10:21):
Right.
Right.
It's very cozy though, but alsovery cringy.
So what I was talking about ismuscles and monsters by Ashley
Bennett.
And I wrote a little somethingand I wanted to really Make it
sound cringy.
So I hope that comes through

Jordan (10:40):
Oh, no.

Devonnie (10:41):
in this cozy monster romance monsters and humans are
beginning to live together Tegana bakery owner has an accident
with a wedding cake that seesAtlas coming to her rescue The
woven mail is intimidating kindand the sweetest thing she's
ever seen.
She should know her life issweets.

Jordan (10:58):
Oh, no.

Devonnie (11:02):
I Wrote that of my own volition

Jordan (11:04):
God.
You're good

Devonnie (11:06):
Atlas owns the monster gym near her bakery, and one run
in makes it so that she is allhe can think about.
Lots of spicy spice, knots, andrunning through the woods in
this one.
Also lots of cringey baby, wolfdaddy, and sweet thing.

Jordan (11:21):
Wolf daddy.
Yes, please.

Devonnie (11:24):
As I said, humans and like monsters are coming
together for the first time,you're seeing inter species
relationships, you're seeinginter species business, streets,
and neighborhoods, and all thesekinds of things, and it's a
glorious time to be alive inthis little town.
Tegan is something else, thisgirl is hornier than a fucking

(11:45):
rhino, I don't know I don't knowwhat to compare her

Jordan (11:47):
We're nearer than a rhino.

Devonnie (11:49):
those have horns?
Rhinos have horns?
They do.
I think PFFT HAHAHAHA Anyway, soshe's just Everything just Like
her lizard brain just takesover, you know?
Atlas is a wolven.
So he's a wolf.
I just want to be very clear.
He's a wolf who walks on Hislike legs,

Jordan (12:10):
Oh, so not a

Devonnie (12:11):
he does not a shifter, baby.
He has claws and the claws staythere during spicy time.
And that's a little psychotic,Ashley Bennett.
psychotic.

Jordan (12:20):
how hairy is he?

Devonnie (12:22):
He's hairy.
He's hairy.
He's covered in hair.
He talks about

Jordan (12:26):
he have a red rocket then?
Is that what happens?

Devonnie (12:29):
Yes!

Jordan (12:32):
No.

Devonnie (12:32):
I'm glad you're asking, I'm glad you're asking
the fucking important questionsbecause I was taken aback once
Tegan got her hands and mouth onthat

Jordan (12:41):
No.

Devonnie (12:41):
kept describing the red!

Jordan (12:47):
No.
I cry.
Where's Christina?
She probably would be like, youguys, this is not new.
I read this on a O three all thetime.
Shout out to you,

Devonnie (12:58):
Christina would love this for sure.
Christina, babes, pick the bookup.
I dropped it in our group chat,so yeah, just add to cart for
you, because I think you'd enjoythis.
Anyway, yeah, he's a wolf, okay?
But he has a business, he hasmoney, he lives in a mansion, he
has a gym, he's doing things.
Here's where I struggle.
You hear I'm describing him,right?
You have an image like he owns agym.

(13:20):
He's a wolf.
He's tall.
He's built He's like a wolf likeI don't know how else to tell
you that this man is a wolf Okayin his past trauma is that his
ex girlfriend who is also aWoven female woven was like mean
and called him fat And so now hehas body dysmorphia a little bit

(13:42):
and it's not funny, but he'salso soft.
Like his ex girlfriend stormsinto the gym and like reads on
the riot act and he whimpers.
Because he's scared and upsetand I said Ashley in my mind I
said

Jordan (13:59):
beta.
He is a

Devonnie (13:59):
he's yeah It's giving alpha energy or beta energy and
alpha body but

Jordan (14:06):
to be an alpha, but he's

Devonnie (14:07):
he wants it so bad But also when he's with tegan, he is
kind of alpha like I don't know.
Let me say something.
It's very cozy Yeah, it's verycozy.
It's very cute.
There is some funny Stuff thathappens like some of the
dialogue is funny, but when Itell you'll be cringing and
screaming The fact is Iobviously did not hate it

(14:27):
because I finished it and y'allknow me sometimes i'll start a
book and if it's Real bad.
I have to dip out which honestlywas the case for a couple books
that I wanted to recommend todayThat will not be named.
I had to dnf because I justcould not So I finished this and
it's a quick read like I thinkit's four hours.
So

Jordan (14:42):
my next question was like, how long is

Devonnie (14:44):
Yeah, I listened to it.
I didn't actually read it.
I

Jordan (14:47):
So how is the narrator?

Devonnie (14:49):
That's, so here's what I think.
I think the narrators are theproblem.
I'm so sorry guys.
I don't mean

Jordan (14:54):
hard to read that kind of, and it's kind of hard to
read that material.
Like it's hard.

Devonnie (14:59):
Tegan's character was her, the narrator for Tegan.
I don't think this is thenarrator.
I think this is the combinationof the two.
The lines of dialogue writtenfor Tegan and the voice the
narrator chose to give to Tegan.
But Tegan was like, I Yeah, comeand get me wolf daddy

Jordan (15:15):
I just moved my whole screen.

Devonnie (15:17):
Have you no shame?
Have you no shame to say thingslike that?
But that's also what made itfunny.
Honestly, I didn't hate it I'mtelling you that it was cringy
like do not go into thisthinking you're about to read an
epic fantasy quest babes You'renot you're gonna get a good
laugh.
You're gonna get some spicyspice and a really red rocket.
This is what's This is what'shappening.
So if you want to hear our wolfdaddy call his human baby You 50

(15:41):
million times and Sweet Thing,which honestly made me want to
scream.
Yeah, Sweet Thing, because sheowns a bakery.
Anyway, that, it was an, I hadfun.
I'm not even gonna lie to you.
I had fun.
I enjoyed it.
And the best part, it's part ofa series.
So there are characters that arenext up for the Leviathan Gym

Jordan (16:01):
Okay, the Leviathan gym.

Devonnie (16:04):
yeah, the, his name, his, the gym name is Leviathan.
The Leviathan

Jordan (16:09):
Is he referencing his Red Rocket in that?

Devonnie (16:11):
Don't know.
I honestly don't want to thinkabout the Red Rocket and how
many

Jordan (16:14):
me either.
I can't get it on my head.
That is.

Devonnie (16:17):
Tegan's mouth was wrapped around it.
It was insane.

Jordan (16:20):
it right now Stop it.

Devonnie (16:23):
Moving along.
What's up?
What do you got next?

Jordan (16:26):
Well

Devonnie (16:27):
for that laugh.

Jordan (16:29):
Son of a bitch.
So I'm gonna go right into myfirst unhinged.
Actually, this is probably mymost Let me look at my list.
This is my most unhinged.
So this is the one that I readtwo quotes of.
This is the Dark Side series byKristy Cunning.
The first book is called DarkPsychos.
She's a ghost who only existsaround these four dark and

(16:54):
twisted men.
So if these men aren't Together,she doesn't exist.
She only pops into existencearound them.
And she can't move a certainamount of space away from them.
She has no memory aside from hertime with them.
I think it actually is likeyears when we start.

(17:14):
I can't remember if it's a longtime.
She watches over them and lustsafter each of them.
And especially whenever theybring a girl home to share.
She has only four goals in herexistence, right?
Goal number one, become a realgirl.
Instead of this invisible ghostthing, I currently am.
Goal number two, convince thefour men I've been haunting for

(17:35):
the past five years, oh, fiveyears to pick me and be their
new toy after goal one iscomplete.
Goal number three, figure outwho slash what I am and why I
can't remember anything past thefive years I've been haunting
this quad.
Goal number four, eat popcorn.
So this is a why choose.
It's ridiculous, it's hilarious,and it is addictive.

(17:58):
It's ridiculous because thisfemale main character, she's a
ghost, and her only memories arearound them.
She can't talk to anyone, theydon't know she's there.

Devonnie (18:08):
Wait, they don't know she's

Jordan (18:09):
No, they don't know she's there.
So she's just been hauntingtheir asses for four years, and
they don't know.
And she tries to figure out,kind of, she's something's up
with these guys, but wheneverthey leave a certain way, I
can't follow them.
So it's primarily at the housewhere she's with them, and she
can hang along sometimes, butlike, whenever they dip out a
certain place, she tries tolisten to them, but they don't

(18:30):
talk about certain things.
And she's like trying to connectthese dots and she just thinks
popcorn would be so good to try.
She's obsessed with it.
So she is unhinged because youguys imagine your mental state.
If you had no one to talk to theonly thing she can affect is
what she's wearing So shechanges her outfits constantly
So like in that first quote thatI read when she's make fart
noises while wearing a dolphinoutfit Because she could

(18:51):
literally put on a dolphinoutfit like with her thoughts
then every night she tucks themin though, and she's just and
then she'll just stay up.
She's I'll watch out for youguys.
And she just stands awake andlike outside their doors.
No, and check on her.
They have no idea she's there.

Devonnie (19:06):
This is such an interesting.
I'm so interested in howdialogue happens

Jordan (19:11):
Well, because you hear them talk, but she's also like
just talking to

Devonnie (19:14):
talking.

Jordan (19:15):
because it doesn't matter.
She's never seen another ghost.
She's never seen this.
And That does not last for toolong.
Things start to happen, like,when an intruder does come one
night and she's Holy shit! Igotta protect my guys! And
things happen.
It doesn't she doesn't magicallybecome Like a whole person, but
like it progresses and it is sofunny.

(19:37):
It's a series.
I believe there's four books.

Devonnie (19:40):
All with the same characters.

Jordan (19:42):
Yeah, because then you kind of learn because you
uncover why she is the way sheis, where she came from, if she
was a real person at one point.
Yeah, there were four books.
So you uncover these things andyou learn who they are.
Eventually you'll get certainPOVs from them too.
When they finally start to seeher, they don't trust her.
They think that she'sinfiltrating them or just like

(20:05):
crazy ass ghosts who stalkingthem, which kind of is, but they
don't believe her.
So, her whole existence has beenlonging for these men.
And when they finally can talkto her, they totally shut her
out.
And she's fuck you guys.
And she like tries to hide, butshe can't exist away from them.
So she like will pop intodifferent closets or she'll do
certain things.

(20:25):
And it's

Devonnie (20:26):
Poor baby Popping into closets Wait,

Jordan (20:31):
she's they'll never find me in here.
They're like we can hear younow.
She's God damn it.
I'm not used to that.
Like,

Devonnie (20:37):
Please, without giving too much away, please Tell me
how the spice happened.
Is she a ghost still is she

Jordan (20:45):
well,

Devonnie (20:45):
where does the why choose come in?
Is that

Jordan (20:48):
well, these four guys have a special bond and it's
basically.
It literally, the quote I readearlier, they physically cannot
have sex with anyone unlessthey're all present to have sex
with that one person.
This is paranormal.
This is, there's a lot of thingsthat, it's so unique I really
don't want to tell too

Devonnie (21:06):
Yeah.
Don't give it away.

Jordan (21:07):
But as she becomes more corporeal, because it just
doesn't happen, there are phasesof her becoming quote unquote
real.
then she's able to interact withthem.

Devonnie (21:17):
I'm just stuff.
Okay.

Jordan (21:18):
certain ones are more willing to accept her than
others, but eventually, youknow,

Devonnie (21:22):
yeah.

Jordan (21:23):
It's and it's so different when I heard I'm a
ghost, I'm like, I don't know ifI can get on board with a ghost,
but it's You gotta read it.
It's so funny.

Devonnie (21:30):
Yeah.

Jordan (21:31):
to go in with it thinking it's funny.
So many quotes, too.
Because she's unhinged.
Because she's just used totalking and saying whatever
comes into her brain.
Because no one could ever hear

Devonnie (21:38):
No one

Jordan (21:39):
doesn't know decorum.
She doesn't know anything.
She's just

Devonnie (21:42):
She's a wild woman.
Love that for her.

Jordan (21:45):
Go read it.
It's so fun.
The Dark Side Series by KristyCunning.
Cheers.

Devonnie (21:52):
I love that.
Okay.
My next one is a little more,it's Serious like a really
actually good book that I thinkpeople would like.

Jordan (22:00):
Hey, mine was just because mine wasn't serious
doesn't mean it's

Devonnie (22:03):
No I'm, not yours based off of mine me recommended
muscles and monsters like be forreal Leviathan jib.
Sorry, ashley bennett.
I don't mean that your book isnot likable.
You girl, you know what i'msaying?
You know what?
I mean?

Jordan (22:19):
You write something like that, you know it's just on the
ridiculous side and fun.
Yeah.

Devonnie (22:23):
Right.
It's enjoy.
Yeah, but this book like youhave to think you can't just
like listening Kiki so theseries I'm talking about is the
Shepard King duology by RachelGillick, which popped up a while
ago It was like a tick tockinternet sensation.
It is one dark window and twotwisted crowns and the reason I
wanted to add that to the listbecause This series does have

(22:45):
that spooky factor.
I remember when I was reading itand like just the prose, the way
it's written, some of the words,the way Rachel describes
environments sometimes wouldmake me feel like that spine
tingling sensation or likeyou're being watched or
something.
It was just creepy enough to belike, I don't know, to affect me

(23:07):
in the real

Jordan (23:08):
Yeah, I read the first one.
I haven't read the second onestill.
But I know what you mean.
It's a good fall read.

Devonnie (23:14):
For yeah,

Jordan (23:15):
magic system is so unique that there's such an
element of like mystery behindthings.
And I feel like that's where,what you kind of mean, that's
what I got out of it.
Like it's just a puzzle.

Devonnie (23:26):
It's yeah, it's

Jordan (23:26):
are they who they appear to be?

Devonnie (23:29):
Right.
So I had written like just alittle thing about it but it
doesn't I don't give awayanything in the plot really
because I think you just have togo in blind with this like I
wouldn't but you just kind ofhave to go in blind.
So This atmospheric duologyfollows Elspeth Spindle and the
monster that lives within her.
Magic is a privilege in thisworld, available only to those

(23:49):
who wield the cards.
When Elspeth is a little girl,something happens to her that
allows her to make Out all themagic others are carrying.
It also comes at a hauntingprice.
There's romance, there's aquest, there are battles and
secrets, and they all collide inthis beautifully written tale.
It has an extremely originalmagic system.
And I think people will reallyenjoy the way Rachel crafts the

(24:13):
story.
The environment is just likenothing I've ever read.
And I know that like peopleeither really love it or they're
like, man, but I really enjoyedit.
Like I said, it just made itjust, I felt like I was in the
world.
And that's just a testament tohow Rachel Gillick's writing is.
And there is a bit of romance,so it still falls.
Into the romance category, but Ithink everything outside of the

(24:36):
romance is also so interestingOne of my favorite things about
this is that the characters arenamed after trees And for me
that is like I don't know thatjust made me Even like i'm
saying that and even that justmade like the hairs on my body
stand up because namingsomething after trees When you
think about this magic and thisworld and magic itself and like

(24:58):
how old it is and how likebefore everybody else It
probably existed how long ago itexisted.
And then having the element ofpeople named after trees of
families being named aftertrees, something so permanent
and all like things that wethink have seen a lot, you know,
I don't know, just somethingabout that nuance there that
really likes me tickles mybrain.

(25:19):
It's like a, I don't know, likean ASMR reaction to think about
it.
Also trees.
I love trees.
That was really enjoyable forme.
I love a good spindle.
I love a good U.
You know?

Jordan (25:30):
was just gonna ask, what's your favorite tree then?

Devonnie (25:33):
I love me a nice poisonous U.
I do feel a strong elm.

Jordan (25:40):
Oh.

Devonnie (25:40):
Would have been me in a past life, you know, I don't
know I really enjoy I reallyenjoyed it.
And I think of all the booksi'ma recommend today.
That's probably The most likebrain melting one, you know, so
enjoy

Jordan (25:55):
I feel like even if you don't like it, you still respect
the originality and the writing.
Do you know what I mean?

Devonnie (26:01):
Because you yeah, you're never gonna guaranteed
until you read that you probablywouldn't have ever read
something like it before Likeit'll be a first for you.
So yeah, you'll definitelyrespect it.
Even if you don't love it

Jordan (26:13):
Thank you for

Devonnie (26:14):
It's all unhinged from here, by the

Jordan (26:15):
I'm going to call you.
And this is going to be writtenY E W E U.
All right.
I think I'll stick in the, I'mgoing to skip the one I was
going to do cause that's morecontemporary and I'm going to
stick with our like paranormalfantasy.
So the dark verse series by PennCassidy is my latest obsession

(26:39):
that I read in the last week.
It is a series.
Three book series.
There's actually a fourth, butit's technically a standalone
following different charactersand I haven't read it yet.
Book number one in the Darkverseseries is called Noc City, N O
C, Nox City.
She's known as the angel of NoxCity.
Her father is the state senatorand is openly against the

(27:01):
Darklings.
Darklings are vampires,shifters, and witches, which
came out from hiding and joinedthe human world, our human
world.
I think it was 50 years ago inthis world.
Her father uses her as a posterchild for the humans, but you
never know what happens behindclosed doors.
Especially Once she learns thatshe is one of the monsters.

(27:24):
This series is spicy as all fuckand very dark.
Lots of blood because vampiresare involved.
And so it's a main mixture intothe story.
So if you don't do blood, thisis not for you.
Skip down, go to the contents,go down the next rec.
Her name is Serenity.
This is the female maincharacter.
This is a why choose.

Devonnie (27:45):
Love that, too.

Jordan (27:47):
You get to experience vampires, shifters, and witches
in this series.
Oh, and there's also swordcrossing.

Devonnie (27:55):
Ooh!

Jordan (27:55):
So it's very polyamorous.
She, there's a lot, pleasecheck, this is one that I, if,
even if you're like, I don'tcheck trigger warnings, please
check trigger warnings and behonest with yourself.
There's a lot of trauma.
They rec pass it, but also thathappens on page.
It's very dark.
I could not get enough.
I loved the writing.
I did not expect this.
This has been on my GoodreadsTBR for a long time.

(28:18):
I think it came out in 21 or 22.
Finally read it because I'mlike, Oh, maybe this will be
good for the Halloween episode.
Amazing.
Penn Cassidy, I'm obsessed withyou.
I'm going to read all of yourshit.
Do you need more ARC readers?
I am right here.
I will hype you up.
The writing was so good.
And I think a lot of it is thepacing.

(28:38):
And the characters, and the waythat she reveals information Is
such a good pace.

Devonnie (28:45):
Yeah.

Jordan (28:46):
I never really stopped, and in the back of my mind I was
like, Oh, maybe this hashappened, and maybe it's like
this.
But I just kind of kept goingwith the book, and I was in it.

Devonnie (28:53):
Yeah.

Jordan (28:54):
I did have my theories, because there's a lot of things
that happen, But there was a bigreveal she got me on one reveal,
at the end of the third book.
And I, Yeah, I will say, my onecomplaint is the end of the
third book, I think was alittle, it was too rushed, and I
wasn't very happy about that,but overall the series is a five

(29:15):
star for me, as an overall,because it's so hot.

Devonnie (29:19):
Well, if you picked up one book and then read the whole
series, yeah, that speaks

Jordan (29:23):
I couldn't put it down I have a backlog of arcs now, I
have one arc that's gonna belate for NetGalley because of
this series, like I just, Icouldn't not keep reading it.
I had to just keep going becauseI didn't want to leave these
characters, not because I had toknow, but it's because I wanted
to keep experiencing thesecharacters.
And I think that is such atestament to the writing and

Devonnie (29:42):
Yes, for sure.
Are you going to read the fourthone?

Jordan (29:45):
Yeah, absolutely.
I will.
I need, I have other stuff Ihave to read, so I'm forcing
myself to put it on hold untilmid October, but by Halloween,
I'll get back to it for sure.

Devonnie (29:54):
Okay.
Wait, are all those books Didyou listen to them or read them?

Jordan (29:58):
I read them.
They are not on Audible.

Devonnie (30:02):
Wow.
That's commitment.

Jordan (30:06):
I, for me I am still feel hungover from reading
through that.
I mean, NoxCity only has ahundred and, 181 reviews.
It has, okay, it has, soNoxCity, the first one, has 2,
500 ratings.
With a 4.
24.

Devonnie (30:26):
Right, people

Jordan (30:27):
A lot of great reviews.
So I mean it's got a littlefollow.
It's got a good following butnot huge and those who rated it
love it so excited about thatone

Devonnie (30:35):
that's good.
I know.

Jordan (30:36):
I'm, still like giddy thinking about it

Devonnie (30:38):
That's good.
I love when books feel likethat, because that's exactly the
feeling I have for my next rec,which is Lights Out by Navessa
Allen.
Navessa I want to kiss yourface.
This book was such a treat.
It was such a delight.
When I tell you, I was cackling.
I was cackling.
Let me just read my blurb realquick.
Hopefully it's written wellbecause I wrote it out like

(31:02):
yesterday, but let's see what wehave here.
Trauma nurse Allie has developeda new kink all thanks to the
masked men she's been seeing allover her social media timeline.
When Allie comments and daresthe man from her favorite
account to break into her house,he takes her up on the offer.
Josh is a skilled hacker whohappens to run a secret masked

(31:24):
thirst trap account.
He's also Allie's ex's bestfriend and roommate.
When he finds out that the girlof his dreams is into his secret
account, He becomes feral withthe need to be everything she's
been asking for.
And more the catch due to agruesome past, Josh is

(31:44):
constantly worried.
If he's taking things too far,after all, he doesn't want to be
anything like his father.
Let me tell you something.

Jordan (31:54):
I'm so turned on right now.

Devonnie (31:55):
This, first of all, she's a trauma nurse, right?
She's a trauma nurse.
She sees blood, guts, gore,people die in her all the time.
She haps on her hot, happylittle social media account,
which I'm pretty sure issupposed to be like TikTok, kind
of.
Haps on her, you know, thing.
And sees this masked man, maskon, right?
With a knife and fake blooddripping abs.

(32:18):
He's built.
Of course he's built.
Right?
You don't have this kind ofaccount and be not built.

Jordan (32:23):
There are accounts like that, I'm pretty sure.
I'm not into it, but

Devonnie (32:27):
they're not built yeah pass, anyway

Jordan (32:32):
that reminds me of, I'll

Devonnie (32:34):
Yeah, no, okay Anyway, so she gets obsessed she leaves
comments on every like she knowshis posting schedule because if
josh is that if anything He's ontime.
He's committed to this presenceon social media, right?
He takes it very seriously Hehas amassed a following so he
posts every like wednesdaythursday and sunday

Jordan (32:53):
He's an influencer.

Devonnie (32:55):
He's an influencer, babe.
He is an influencer.
Okay.
She comments on every singlepost he makes.
She like, it's cute becauseshe's interacting with other
girls in the comments.
You know, it's like book talk isin the comments and they're all
interacting with each other.
And it is so funny.
It is so enhanced.
The minute that Josh finds outthat Allie is into this, who
he's, been like, he's seen herfrom afar.

(33:18):
He's met her once when she sleptover, but at the time she was
dating his best friend androommate, but they ended and
they were like, it wasn't likeany animosity or anything.
Allie is super busy.
She's a trauma nurse.
Okay.
She doesn't have time.
She's like constantly workingand overworking herself.
So when their relationship fellapart, it wasn't this big thing.
And the best friend and her exwas actually down for them to

(33:42):
get together.
He's I mean, yeah, I've movedon.
We should all moved on.
Let's do our thing.
So there's none of that lovetriangle thing.
If that's not your thing, don'tworry.
It's not in this book at all.
There's no cheating and no likelove triangle in here, which was
really nice.
But yeah, Josh is he's a hacker.
He's a recluse.
Like he stays at home and hislittle, with his computer and
works from home and hacks, youknow, things.

(34:02):
And he, the way he got his job.
As he hacked into the governmentor whatever or did something and
then told them that they neededto hire him So stuff like this
doesn't happen again Yes, theyhired him immediately.
They hired him.
I love that.
Love that I feel like I want totell I don't want to give
something away because I feellike it's very instrumental to
the plot but Josh is likeconstantly worried that he's

(34:27):
taking things too far withAllie.
He breaks into her house.
He puts things in her house towatch her, which is

Jordan (34:35):
oh, so he's worried, but she's not.

Devonnie (34:38):
She, at first, so her thing was like, This should I
should not be okay with this.
This I shouldn't feel Like thisis okay, but then she'll be
like, oh, and then what, if he,if I go to the police and they
question us, all they got to dois pull up all my comments from
his page of me begging him tobreak into my house.
So she's I don't have a leg tostand on.
I'm like, I just got to let thishappen and pray to God that he's

(35:01):
not going to kill me.
Yes,

Jordan (35:03):
non consent.

Devonnie (35:06):
And so honestly, this book was I.
I cannot explain to you how muchI laughed.
There are some like darkerthemes involved.
There are some things thathappen in the book that you
might be like, huh?
But more than anything, I thinkit's a romantic comedy.
There is, it's a stalkerromantic comedy.

(35:26):
They're they each try to one upeach other and of course, so
here's the thing his account isnamed like the faceless man I
think or the masked mansomething like that.
That's the name of his accountThat's what Ali calls him
because he doesn't give his nameaway and Josh the real person.
This is a Secret account.
He doesn't like want people toknow that this is his account,
but he just wanted to blow offsteam Ali figures out it's josh

(35:50):
after the first second time ofmeeting him Like the first time
I told you she meets him whenshe's with his roommate the
second time she needs someone tohelp her And so she meets Josh,
she immediately finds out it'shim, but she doesn't say that
she's like doing things and liketrying to figure it out.
And he does not fall for itbecause one of those things she
does is squeezes his hand, thesame hand that she stabbed when

(36:13):
he was dressed up as thefaceless mass, when they were
getting, when they were playingwhat is what influencer or book
talk person I love reviewed thisbook and she called the thing
that they did.
And Pocket rocket or pocketwhack a mole or something
anyway, but she was going downon him in the car and she ends
up accidentally Stabbing him.
She knows that he the masked manhas a cut in his hand, right?

(36:34):
So she go when she meets joshand she's like suspecting she
squeezes his hand But josh is atrooper.
He takes that like a champ, eventhough his cuts have probably
just Opened up or whatever.
And at the end, he's she'llnever know it's me.
Right.
We end his POV and he's she'llnever know.
The very next POV is Allie.
And she's I'm pretty sure themasked man is Josh.

(36:56):
Babe, you did not do that.
Well, you did not play it off.
She's I'm pretty sure it's Josh.
Yep.

Jordan (37:00):
That.
I love it because I love itbecause it sounds like I need to
read this It sounds likealthough he's the one stalking
and like dark and mysterious itsounds like she's totally the
one in control of everything andlike It's so great.

Devonnie (37:16):
like he's stalking this girl.
Yes.
There's there are definitelytrigger warnings There's some
writing of knife handles.
So please make sure you checkYeah, it is and real weapons not
also I will highly I mean readit right read it But I would
highly recommend listening tothe audio for none other than
Jacob Morgan slash Zachary Weberis like You He is one of my all

(37:41):
time favorite narrators.
He, he has narrated some of myfavorite books, but he has his
like, his real name is ZacharyWeber, but then his like, And
sometimes he'll use his realname or sometimes he'll go by
Jacob Morgan.
So I would advise you to go backand listen to your favorite
audio books and see who thenarrator is and see if you see
the name Zachary Weber or JacobMorgan, because he is just chefs

(38:02):
effing kids.
The way he delivers, especiallycharacters that have like
comedic.
Timing and stuff like that, butalso the spice he is so good So
I would highly recommendlistening to it.
It is on liby like I said, so Dowith that information with what
you will but I highly recommendlights out if you have a mask
kink or like you're into that Oryou just want to or you're not

(38:26):
sure Maybe this will do it Thiswill help you decide because I
was about to say I was unsure,but that's a lie.
I was very sure that this wassomething I enjoyed.
This book reinforced that.
So there you go.
And Nevessa Allen has alreadysuggested that book two is a
biker who wears a helmet.

(38:46):
So can't wait for that anyway.
That's right on time

Jordan (38:51):
How do you,

Devonnie (38:51):
season if you like

Jordan (38:52):
that up?
Oh, well, I'll follow that upwith a really great novella.
Wickedly Sweet by Steph Maka orMaka.
Maka.
This is the first quote that Iread about the girl liking being
scared.
So after she finds her boyfriendwith his new best girlfriend,

(39:16):
she, in bed,

Devonnie (39:18):
huh.

Jordan (39:19):
to spend the weekend with her brother and his two
best friends in Salem for a longHalloween weekend.
While her brother is annoyedthat she's tagging along, his
friends aren't quite so upsetabout their new company.
Follow Audrey as she takescontrol over losing her

(39:40):
virginity and gets all her dark,sexy dreams made by her
brothers, both her brother'sbest friends at the same time.
This is 73 pages

Devonnie (39:55):
Love that.
Huh.

Jordan (39:56):
one sitting.
For such a short novella, it hasamazing character development.
And storytelling.
I did, I feel like I know somuch about these characters.
It wasn't rushed.
It felt so natural to read.
And not to mention there's athey go to Salem, right?
And then on Halloween night, shewants, her main reason for

(40:18):
going, aside from just gettingout of town, away from her
cheating ex, is she loves beingscared.
And in Salem, they have, It'slike a witch hunt on Halloween
in this book.
I don't know if it's based onreal events.
But where you can sign up to bedressed up as a witch or a witch
hunter.
And the, there's a giant mazeand so there's, they have I

(40:38):
think it's like an hour or twowhere the witches just run away.
And if a witch hunter catchesthem, they bring them back.
To the front to be burned at thestake

Devonnie (40:46):
That's crazy.
This is a crazy game

Jordan (40:49):
she's dressed up and they show up.
She doesn't know it's them atfirst with light up masks.
So again, with the masks, theyfind her in the maze and there's
a chase and fight.
It's just.
It's so good, and I just can'tbelieve it's 73 pages.

Devonnie (41:10):
Yeah

Jordan (41:10):
I hope that wasn't too much of a spoiler, but

Devonnie (41:12):
I don't know right right

Jordan (41:13):
There are three,

Devonnie (41:14):
70 pages

Jordan (41:16):
I mean, there are three, there are three hot scenes, one
with just her.

Devonnie (41:23):
Oh

Jordan (41:24):
she gets interrupted.
Anyways and Two with both men.
But it's so good.
It's so good,

Devonnie (41:31):
that.
That sounds so

Jordan (41:32):
and I can't wait to read more from this author, and I'm
gonna do another novella becausethat one was short.
So if you want even shorter, 46pages, I read this last year.
I got the arc last year.
Demon's prize by Eleanor Bailey.
If you literally just need toscratch an itch, if you want
demons, faded mates, and superquick spice and like 46 pages, a

(41:54):
demon's prize, and there you go.

Devonnie (41:57):
Yeah.
I love that Sometimes you justneed those especially when
you're like in a book slump Andyou also don't want to get
wrapped up in a fantasy worldwith world building You just
need something quick and fast.
Yeah that those novellas come inhandy

Jordan (42:09):
that'll do it.

Devonnie (42:10):
Yeah, I like, you were just setting me up for success
because my final rec is actuallyalso a novella.

Jordan (42:17):
Look at

Devonnie (42:17):
I know, yeah this is, the flow of this has been so
perfect.
I love

Jordan (42:22):
not planned to everybody.

Devonnie (42:24):
and yeah, we did not go over like what we were gonna
be discussing beforehand.
I read, Mine by Rose Reaper.
Now, Rose Reaper is a pen name,pseudonym that one of my all
time favorite authors She wroteObsidian Feathers N Cassaras.
This is her book.

(42:44):
But she's also going by RoseReaper.
Which, I'm not spoilinganything, I'm pretty sure she's
publicizing that

Jordan (42:49):
Yeah, on

Devonnie (42:50):
On her socials.
Yeah.
I think Rose Reaper is just aname that she's using for this
brand of work that she's gonnabe coming out with.
This was my first step intoerotic horror.
Mine is quite possibly one ofthe darkest books I've ever
read.
And for me, hunting Adeline wasreally dark.

(43:15):
That was dark for me.
Not really what the relationshipbetween the female and male main
characters, but like everythingelse that was happening around
them.
And some of the stuff that theFMC went through, that was what
I considered dark.
That was the darkest thing I'veever read until mine.
This is a novella.

Jordan (43:32):
Oh.

Devonnie (43:33):
Yeah, it is 77 pages.
I think.
Don't even, okay.
It's very short and I also thinkit's very easy for me to give
stuff away.
So I'm going to try not to.

Jordan (43:44):
Yeah,

Devonnie (43:45):
Let's read what I wrote.
Yeah.
Okay.
This 70 page novella is my firstforay into erotic horror and it
delivered on both 100 fold.
One deal with the devil betweenthree friends changes the lives
of four people.
Indefinitely insatiable needsomething will definitely scare
you this spooky season.
This starts off with four peoplein the act.

(44:10):
Of doing things, but it ishorrific.
And the way Ro I'm just going toRose Reaper, the way Rose choose
chooses to write the way thenarrator is speaking makes it
even creepier because the voice,the narrator uses, it's like
disjointed and creepy.
And you don't really know.

(44:31):
What they're talking about, andthen you find out it's a she,
and then you're like, okay, Idon't know what she's talking
about.
I don't understand what she'ssaying, but I understand what's
happening in this scene.
You are breadcrumbed till thevery end of the novella.
You actually, I don't even knowif it's a title to novella.
It may just be a book.
This just may be it.
I'm calling it a novella, but Idon't know.

(44:53):
But till the very end, you don'tunderstand why what's happening
is happening until the very lastcouple of pages.
And When I tell you this isgory, it is bloody, it is
painful, like I was readinglines from the book and I had to
close my eyes and curl my bodyin because just imagining the

(45:15):
type of pain that was beinginflicted on some of these
characters was just Y'all,please check your trigger
warnings.
It is not for the faint ofheart.
And at the same time, all ofthis horror and this gore and
this horrible, this is happeningand other things are happening.
And I was wait a minute, am Itingling?

(45:36):
You know, like I was veryconfused reading this book.
Like it was just, it was am Isupposed to be enjoying this
part?
I don't think I should beenjoying any of this really and
truly.

Jordan (45:45):
Like you're gonna have to meditate afterwards and like
really do some

Devonnie (45:48):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yes.
I actually had to start an audiobook immediately after reading
this just to flush my brain alittle bit because yeah, 10 out
of 10 for creeping me out forsure.
And it's real quick.
So it goes by that.
Also, the characters just arewell written.
You don't understand them, but Idon't, it's so hard to explain

(46:09):
how you're watching thesecharacters operate and then you
kind of You make up your ownopinions about them.
And then at the end, thoseopinions are validated when you
find out what's really going on,but then you're still damn, but
should that have happenedthough?
You know, just, I wouldrecommend reading it.
If you think you can stomach it.
Read it because it's sointeresting the way it was
written

Jordan (46:30):
I'm so intrigued.
And that sounds like a, it'sshort enough to where it'd be a
good intro to see if I'm trulyinterested in horror.
Cause I don't know if I am, but

Devonnie (46:41):
Horror I think I might be able to do.
It depends.
I don't think I've read straighthorror before.
Erotic horror I think might belike pushing my boundaries a

Jordan (46:49):
another level.
Yeah.

Devonnie (46:50):
It's very different to,

Jordan (46:52):
this is a good intro, like good length of a one does
try.

Devonnie (46:56):
Exactly.
So yeah.
I mean, that's all my recs.

Jordan (47:00):
have honorable mentions that I don't think

Devonnie (47:03):
Oh, I do have a couple honorable re mentions.
Yeah.

Jordan (47:06):
I don't feel like these need to be discussed.
So gothicana by Ru read that, Ithink it was actually two years
ago now.
It was probably my, it was myfirst dark academia for sure.
It might have been my first darkromance and I didn't quite know
what to do with it.
And I thought it was okay when Iread it.
I think if I read it again, Ithink I would like it a lot
more.

(47:26):
It's good, true dark academia,spooky, and I think I just
wasn't prepared really for whatit was.
So if you like those themes,give it a try.
It's good.
It's everywhere for a reason.
And also the one I've talkedabout ad nauseum, another one is
the Devil's Night series byPenelope Douglas, because it all

(47:47):
centers around.
Devil's Night, which is thenight before Halloween, and this
one Talon really celebrates,especially these four guys do
vigilante shit, but just, itgets seen as mayhem and
destruction,

Devonnie (47:59):
Yeah.
I

Jordan (48:00):
they are dark, though, that is Dark Romance but it is a
whole series, I absolutely loveit.
Go back and listen to otherepisodes, I think the Dark
Romance episode from Season 1, Italk about it in length,

Devonnie (48:12):
yeah.

Jordan (48:13):
Those are my special nods.
Mmm.

Devonnie (48:16):
I have a couple.
So number one, I just finishedtalking about in kiss Harris,
but it's going to be obsidianfeathers.
I will recommend this book untilthe day I die.
I'm just, I'm obsessed.
It's paranormal.
It's creepy a little bit, butit's so sweet and loving and
romantic as well.
So yeah.
Read that it, I mean, check yourtrigger warnings as well,

(48:36):
because we do have somecannibalism in there.
They're just things happen, butone of my favorite reads of all
time for sure.
The next author I'm going totalk about January rain, which
I've also mentioned on thepodcast in season one.
Couple of times specific series.
I'm talking about is a shallowcove dimensions.
There are so many books inthere.

(48:57):
I think they're perfect forspooky season for fall.
If you want that vibe, we haveparanormal, we have different
species.
We've got vampires and shiftersand leprechauns and.
Dragons, they're ghosts.
Yeah, it's a motley crew overthere, but I think it's honestly
a, the, one of the perfectseries to read at this time.

(49:19):
There might actually also be aspecific Halloween novella in
that series.
So like where creepy carnivalcomes to town.
So that's really fun to checkthat out.
January rain, shallow covedimensions.
The last one I'm going tomention is actually bull moon
rising by Ruby Dixon, which isan still in the middle of on
NetGalley.

(49:39):
I'm enjoying this book so much.
It's taking me a little whilebecause I have to physically
read it and I just time like Ijust don't have a lot of time on
my hands, but I am enjoying itso much.
We've got like a minotaur and ahuman.
It's crazy.
Kind of marriage of convenience.
But also I, I've never for RubyDixon for me is ice planet

(50:00):
barbarians, right?
That's like my main encounterwith Ruby Dixon books, but Ruby
has a bunch of different booksacross genres and I haven't
gotten to all of them yet.
So reading something like thishas been so good just to see her
range.
And also this main character isso funny.
I think she's hilarious.
She's like a little demon.
And Not an actual demon.
She's just she always she'salways plotting like she's

(50:22):
always got like a scheme Likeshe's she gotta figure something
out, you know, so I really lovethat about her But yeah, I can't
wait to finish that book So Ijust want you guys to keep it on
your radar because I think itcomes out either next month or
november either way bull moonrising and it's beautiful
There's like a special editioncover of the book and it's just
I really want it.
It looks beautiful

Jordan (50:40):
That I love that.

Devonnie (50:41):
That's it.
No.
I think I was about to say Ithink that's it.
Actually, I have scatteredpetals on this list too.
I forgot about scattered

Jordan (50:48):
We have a lot of Halloween.
We were worried we wouldn't, andthis is like the one with the
most recs we've ever done, Ithink.

Devonnie (50:53):
The craziest part is I don't even know if scattered
petals is halloween I don'tthink it is but it's definitely
monster.
I

Jordan (51:00):
Well, we were doing Monster and yeah.
Hehehehe.

Devonnie (51:03):
Scattered petals Okay, so a gamer girl.
She's at the gaming tournamentof her life, right?
She says she has a team They'reabout to kick ass at the
beginning of this book.
I'm like, oh, it's giving readyplayer one This is serious
business here.
Go ahead and play the game ofyour life, my love Well, lo and
behold a fucking rainbow portalopens up the girl drops through

(51:24):
and now she's in a land That'slike technicolor.
So very bright very like vividbut the man is made of plants

Jordan (51:34):
Oh.
Oh.
Oh, you mentioned it.
Okay.

Devonnie (51:37):
Yeah, he's so the pedals part of scattered pedals
is because he's a plant man andhe takes care of this land and
he has a home

Jordan (51:46):
rocket situation

Devonnie (51:48):
Yeah.
And he's very green.
Everywhere is green.
All the things are green and helives in a tree, the home tree,
but it's like a mansion,

Jordan (51:56):
is his cum green?

Devonnie (51:58):
I don't remember that being I don't remember

Jordan (52:02):
Jordan asking those questions that you're thinking
in your head.

Devonnie (52:07):
I can't remember because also I listened to this
and it was like last year ormaybe the year before this I
want to say it might be onaudible if you're interested in
listening to it.
I think that might be where Ilisten to it but Yeah it was the
wildest thing I've ever read,but also so romantic and so
tender because he's a plant.

(52:28):
Was he going to be vicious?
No, you

Jordan (52:31):
they have thorns.
I don't know

Devonnie (52:32):
They, I guess they do.
And there is like side questsand there's like battles and
there's secrets and stuff likethat, but it's a very quick read
honorable mention.
If you're, if you want a softermonster, honestly, I don't know
if anyone gets softer thanmonsters and muscles.
Muscles and monsters because hewas a soft wolfy baby.

(52:52):
Wolf daddy.
I hate that.

Jordan (52:57):
That reminded me my last one.
That I also am in a wreck Istarted my wreck the mirror by
nora roberts and I was like, whyis this not making any sense?
Nora, robert is like a goodAuthor like so well known and
then I realized it was a sequelLuckily, it's not gonna be
published until November.
So I have time so I went backand I got the inheritance Which

(53:18):
is the first one On Libby

Devonnie (53:22):
Okay.

Jordan (53:22):
this is spooky like it's haunted mansion at least the
second one is so the first oneis building up to that So
haunted mansion that sheinherits So good and and the
mirror is kind of I from whati've gained is like a portal
that Takes her back in time towitness different events from
the manor.
Oh, it's so that's pretty cool

Devonnie (53:43):
yeah, i've never read Nora Roberts.
Like

Jordan (53:46):
think i've read One of hers or I can't remember so
that's why I asked for this arcbecause I wanted to experience
it She's everywhere.
So I just like I wanted to know.
So this is, it's good.
That's good so far.
And it's gonna, I think it'sgoing to be creepy.

Devonnie (53:59):
Yeah.
Okay.
I want to know how you feelabout it when you're done.

Jordan (54:03):
I'll report back.

Devonnie (54:04):
Yes, I feel like there was something I was supposed to
report back on from lastepisode.
Oh I remember guys If you didn'tlisten to last week's episode
now You're gonna have to golisten to it because you'll
understand what i'm talkingabout But last week I mentioned
or not last week, but two weeksago whenever it was In our last
podcast episode, I mentionedthat my friend, Glenn, hey

(54:27):
Glenn, hey babes,

Jordan (54:28):
Hey Glenn.

Devonnie (54:30):
encountered a part in

Jordan (54:32):
oh yeah.

Devonnie (54:33):
the, right, right?
The Witch and the Wolf byCharissa Weeks which is the
like, the witch walker, witchcollector series, the third book
in that.
She encountered a scene that hadher pausing, right?
It had pushed her boundaries alittle bit.
And as I was reading thatseries, I was looking forward to
that scene.
Because I would've known what itwas,

Jordan (54:53):
Well, and I just made a clip of this.
I remember you specifically saidit's probably normal,

Devonnie (54:58):
yeah.

Jordan (55:00):
at least compared to what you read.

Devonnie (55:02):
Right.
I was like, and that's the, oneof the reasons I wanted to know
it.
Cause I was like, okay, if Glenndidn't like it, it's probably
something normal.
As you know, it's normal for me.
I don't know.
I don't know what it is.
Right.
Y'all, I ran up on the scene.
I read the scene.
I had to put the book down andreread it.
Actually not reread it.
To be fair, I did both cause Iwas listening and reading it.
So I had was I listened to it.
I picked up the book to watchthe words actually happen on the

(55:24):
page, put the book down, thenwent back and re listened to it.
I don't even know if I want togive it away because I want
y'all to read it.

Jordan (55:33):
don't give it

Devonnie (55:33):
Don't give it away, but

Jordan (55:35):
It's unique,

Devonnie (55:36):
unique.

Jordan (55:37):
not crazy.
It's not, I wouldn't say it'slike too freaky.

Devonnie (55:42):
It's not, but it's also not normal my love.

Jordan (55:44):
not dark.
Okay, it's not normal.
It's kind, it's freaky, but notdark.

Devonnie (55:49):
Yeah, yes, it's not dark.
No, it's loving.
It's very

Jordan (55:53):
You wish you could, it could happen in real life.

Devonnie (55:55):
Every, yeah, like really and truly.
And not in a why chooseenvironment and that's what i'ma
say.
Yeah

Jordan (56:06):
now.
Ah.
Well, this has been an amazingepisode, if I do say so myself.
We are

Devonnie (56:12):
I think so I hope y'all wrote down all the recs.
Yeah holidays really get usgoing And also you can tell when
we really like what we've readto come share

Jordan (56:23):
We're excited.

Devonnie (56:24):
Yeah,

Jordan (56:25):
Well, thank you so much for listening to us really
ramble about all of ourHalloween and spooky paranormal
book recs.
If you're looking for moreromance recs, be sure to follow
us on Instagram and tick tock atromance recs pod.
You can also find us on Twitter.
On our discord server, Romancerecs, and please subscribe, hit

(56:47):
that subscribe button.
You can find our favorite bookrecs from our episodes as well
as behind the scenes content onour socials.
Again, that's at romance recspod.
So make sure to give us a followand we'll be back in two weeks
or maybe sooner because we havespecial things coming up with

(57:08):
another episode.
Happy Halloween!

Devonnie (57:13):
Yeah, enjoy bye guys