Latest / Fated / We're playing Red Flag, Green Flag, Book Edition!
Transcript
- Tay: Welcome to the podcast or your next favorite stories already written in the stars. April: We're your new book besties, April. Tay: Ante here to get your book craving started and satisfied. April: Why? Tay: Because around here it's faded. April: So grab your current read, maybe a cozy drink, and hide your TBR list because today we are talking about green flags and red flags in books. Tay: Whoop. And we're not giving y'all a 10 today. There's plenty out there. So, you know, suit your fancy. And maybe we can bring the series back and introduce a couple more. But we're so excited. You know, there's nothing I love more than men with red flags. I mean green flags and yes. Yes, April: We like healthy, sometimes unhealthy. Tay: we do. We like a good balance. And I know there's listeners out there who feel the same. So this episode is for y'all, you know, ones that can cater to both. When our men are at their best and when they're not at their best. April: Exactly. Tay: we'll hit it hot. We'll hit it on a good note. We're gonna go with a green flag. So if you would like to present April: Yeah, yes. Tay: your green flag. April: Yeah. So my green flag that I want to talk about is actually in the Chestnut Spring series by Elsie Silver. Fun fact, I haven't even read all of the series. I've read like all of the books kind of out of order of the ones that I have read because I'm such a mood reader. People who get it, get it. And Elsie Silver is a very heavy trope author. And kind of in this series, what she's done is she's taken a trope and she's written a story about it. And so the book that I want to talk about specifically is called Reckless. I think this is book four in the series. It is Theo, Silva, and Winter. Winter is the sister of one of the main female characters from book one. So you kind of have seen Winter throughout the series. You've kind of seen Theo. He's this rough and tough bull rider, but he's also like literally the most perfect man. I cannot think of a more sweeter, more cinnamon roll type character And that's a huge compliment to him. So their trope, and this is not a spoiler in any way, shape, or form, because she literally, like I said, wrote a book around this trope. Their trope is a surprise baby. Okay. So they end up hooking up one night and it's kind of funny because winter kind of like her personality matches her name. She kind of hates everybody, but she hates everybody equally. But it's not that she even hates them. I really kind of compare her to just a character who feels a lot and feels very deeply and is the eldest sister, is very responsible. She's gone through this massive divorce, which is ugly. You kind of see it in book one because her sister is involved with her divorce and her ex-husband. And it's just a really sad story for Winter. And so she gets out of this divorce and she's like, you know what? I'm going to just do the damn thing. I'm gonna do something crazy. I'm gonna have this one night stand, right? So of course we have Theo, who is good friends with, you know, her sister's husband, all of that. They all are in this close friend group. And Theo's like, I really like Winter though. she's actually really hot, even though she's ice cold. And they end up hooking up. Of course, Winter gets pregnant, but the deal is. Theo is a professional bull rider, and he ends up not getting her messages or ignoring her messages. So she thinks about like, hey, I'm pregnant, hey, I'm having a baby. Okay. So winter goes through, she goes through her entire pregnancy without Theo and without him knowing. She goes through labor and delivery without him there, which those of us who've had children, we know how hard this is, especially when it's a surprise unplanned baby. I think he comes in like around the first year of the baby's life, like maybe seven months, maybe a year. I don't remember exactly, but a lot of time has honestly passed. And he sees the kid and it's kind of like this moment of like, my God, this baby looks like me. then he's like, it's this instant regret. I mean, he doesn't even really go through an anger phase, I feel like a lot of people would feel if they feel like This woman's been keeping a baby from me. He doesn't even really do that. He kind of just goes through this immediate, almost acceptance phase, like, okay, this is my life. This is my family. And I want my family. And it is so sweet what he does to just fight for his family. And he's always there for winter. And you find out, of course, you know, what it really was that was causing him to not know. Cause the whole you're like, my God, he is such a great dad. Why didn't he answer her text messages? why did he completely blow her off when she told him that she was pregnant? And really truly he makes up for everything and it's a very sweet story. He is a super, super green flag. Tay: that's really good. I was wondering, you're sitting there telling me like like she didn't, you know, had this baby and everything and I'm like, What? She didn't even Okay, but it sounds like she tried kinda to tell him, like in so many ways, April: She did, yeah. Tay: like, Hey dog, this is your baby and I'm having it and then he just April: Yeah, she sent him some messages and the response back was kind of like, Don't contact me again and so she's like, you know, and obviously doesn't contact him again until, he shows up back in town one day and there's this baby that looks like him. Tay: Hmm. that sounds like a good one. I might I maybe might branch into that. I don't know. I've always April: Yeah. Tay: been kind of timid of LC Silver. And I think it's just because I just thought it was like all cowboys. And April: Yeah. Tay: not that I don't love a cowboy in real life, but for some reason, reading it in a book, I always picture like John Wayne. No matter like April: Right. Tay: how Like hot, like I wanna picture Glenn Powell all the time and like twisters April: Uh-huh. Tay: with the cowboy hat. Like that has to be my go-to apex all the time. But like for some reason I just have never been able to get there. my imagination is like pushing me away from that and going more towards old person. April: I get that. Tay: I just I need to like cause I really want to. And like our friend Morgan, y'all, has told us about some books about a guy spitting whiskey in this girl's mouth and It sounds so good. I need to get involved in these just like steamy cowboys, but I just haven't. please, if y'all are listening to this, flood my DMs, flood our messages, something. Give me options for these cowboys. April: Mm-hmm. Tay: This will be on there. This is gonna be number one, because that sounds really wholesome and sweet. And also two, we love green flags. So I want to I want a green flag guy. So flood my DMs, but give me some cowboys because I'm missing out apparently. Apparently they're all like April: Yeah. Tay: Very good, like that, and then very extreme, the guy spitting whiskey and the girl's mouth. I want it. April: Exactly. No, if you're done with some red flags, Theo Silva is a great one to fall back into for Reckless. A really good green flag. Tay: Y'all hear that? Green flag man coming your way. Now we're gonna give you a red flag because we're gonna alternate between the two, y'all. So we're gonna give you a red flag April: Yeah. Tay: on my one. And let me tell y'all, this book teeming with red flags. Red flags galore. April: Ha ha. Tay: And I'm so excited to share this because I actually just finished reading this book, y'all. So and I've I've got it all laid out just so I'm gonna hook y'all and we're all gonna be on this train. April here knows that I love me some Charity Feral. Charity Feral, like, she needs to be on all the bookshelves. Her books need to be number one, all the things. April: Yeah. Tay: I don't understand why, I go into stores and I really don't see her stuff in a plethora. So, like, bloom books, one of y'all, big ones, hook her up, grab her, and distribute her everywhere because she deserves that. I actually, y'all, momentous occasion, drumroll. I read a mafia romance. April: I'm so proud of you. Tay: Now I would say this is light mafia. It's not, I mean, there's death and murder and gore. So it was mafia for me. I would say, in terms of what I've heard from others, it is light mafia. But if you're like me and you weren't really like, you know, wanting to branch out like that, this is a good opportunity to, y'all. So the series I'm talking about is Saint Vale series. I actually read them out of order. Go Taylor. April: Mm-hmm. Tay: I read book two. April, me and her, you know, we're very much mood readers. And I heard the tropes to the book and I was like, sign me up. So I read book two first. I'm probably gonna go back to one now that I know that I enjoyed book two. But in essence, I well, okay. I think the best way to start this is I'm gonna read the first page from the book. Okay. First page. April: Ooh. Tay: I'm gonna read the first page and hopefully that will incentivize y'all to read. Then I will kind of describe to y'all a scene that kind of gave the red flags vibe of what I'm talking about. I mean red flags even from this line, but I was spread eagle on the resolute desk with the president's son between my legs and about to commit treason. Brooks Byron wasn't just the president's son. He was my best friend's brother and the man I had fallen stupidly in love with. The same man I was about to betray. He thought I was here for a quick naughty time, I'll leave that word to y'all in the office. April: Yeah. Tay: God, I wish that were true. He turned his back and I planted a recording device in the Oval Office. A week later, someone shot the president, and I helped make it happen. Okay. April: Wow. Okay. She's like, I could do two things at once. Tay: Let's break this down. Spread eagle. Man's doing the work. We could say green flag for him. red flag for her. She plants a recording device that gets his father shot. insane. So that hooked me. here's an excerpt from the book that also kind of describes some of those things. They're having like funny banter, ha ha, you know, because he is a part of this mafia. So St. Vale is actually a university they attend. It's a for a bunch of hoity-chorty rich kids or members of mafia families, etc. But it's so they can go to school without getting photographed and all these things. So they April: Mm. Tay: go to this like university together, Saint Vale. and there's this whole thing about the sons, is what they call themselves. They choose a fawn, and the fawn is like their chosen girl that nobody knows to mess with. Touch property, of course. He wants this girl to be his fawn. and she ends up being his fawn. Begrudgingly, because her father is in jail for having shot his father, and et cetera. So he says this, Your father is in prison for trying to kill mine, and that isn't a red flag. She's like, Well, it might be his, but it's not mine. And then he goes, Your smart mouth. She goes, Nope. Just consider it a great personality trait of mine. And he said, But you hit me in my balls just now. And she's like, you kept me hostage in a suitcase. I gave him a a there look like, hmm, mic drop. He dragged his tongue over the inside of his cheek. You know what? You drive me crazy. Same C's. Admit it, princess. He slowly stroked the inside of my knees. We're both red flags. April: Okay. Charity Farrell got that spice. Tay: Yeah. So that was I yeah, they both got like this like like cat April: Mm. Tay: and mouse thing going on, I like it because they both give each other back. they both yeah, very much have red flags. and then two, a guy like he found out went on a date with her. He ends up in the guy because he doesn't want him in the picture of having the opportunity to kill get his fawn. So like this guy is cuckoo bananas. and she has also said cuckoo bananas because she betrayed him just as much. So honestly, they're perfect for one another. April: Hey, look at you. I feel like I feel like with those Tay: No, no. April: who've read Mafia books before, the like ending of opposing, you know, particular second male leads is very common. So look at you. I'm proud of you for reading that. Tay: Yeah, look at me. I'm like I think we we probably should can like I did say in that lat one episode, I was like, We need to do like a mafia April: Yeah. Tay: episode. I definitely think it needs to happen. And now that I've April: I think you're ready. Tay: like dipped a toe in, I'm like, I think I could do it. I think I could read April: Thank you, Kat. Tay: like one or two and really kind of give an in depth somewhere. But let me tell y'all, the first page, I was spread eagle on the president's desk. That did it. That hooked me. I was like, what do you mean, first of all? April: What is going on, girl? Yes. Tay: Second of all, sign me up. Sign me up. I want all the red flags. April: I love too, especially with that like getting away from the virginal, you know, female character who's never been, Tay: Yeah. April: no experiences. That's very refreshing. So I like that. Tay: Yeah, it was good. I liked it. She wasn't, yeah, she was not wholesome biting me. She's like, I know what I want and this is what I'm getting. she's like a princess of her own country and all of this. So there was their own scandal there. And so it it was really good. I enjoyed it, but definitely both of them there's a red flag. April: Yeah. Tay: It's the size of this entire room. Yeah, April: They fly in both their flags. Tay: for sure. Freak flags, red flags, all of April: Mm. Tay: My gosh. well, I guess with that too, I can give a green flag, I guess. It's hard to follow up that book though. I know. April: Yeah. Yeah. Get us back into green territory. Take us back. Tay: y'all, we're gonna do a whole episode dedicated to Aquatar. We're gonna go book one through book five. So I'm not gonna get super in depth on this one, but y'all will have an episode coming up that you can enjoy where I will talk about it way more in depth. But April: Yeah. Tay: I'm gonna talk about The fifth book specifically in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. and it is called A Court of Silver Flames. And this book in particular kind of strays away from like our main characters that we were used to in books one through four. This one covers Cassian and Nesta. And Nesta is one of the Archeron sisters, happens to be the oldest Archeron sister. She also happens to be the bitchiest. and so I think this book is a good example of a green flag. Because Cassian is just a green flag galore. He is one of the bat boys. There's three iconic ones. If y'all haven't read this book series by now, what are you doing? but there is Azreel, there's Resand, and then there is Cassian. and we're hoping, us girlies in the book that's coming up, that we are gonna get some Azriel time. because he is so funny. And I'm gonna share an excerpt that's one of my favorite scenes in this entire book. but Cassian basically takes Nesta, who at the beginning of this book is, I would say, you know, probably one sip of alcohol away from alcohol poisoning. she is constantly drinking, she's constantly pushing people away. She's very much a grumpy bah humbug person. And Cassian is just like, I'm not gonna let you be this way. I'm not gonna let you treat me like shit and you're gonna like get your act together. And so I think that's great. Green April: Mm. Tay: flag on him because he's not letting her wallow away in her self-pity and whatever. He's like, this is the life you're living. Granted, it's not the one you chose, but it is what it is. You gotta have to keep existing and I'm not gonna let you waste away. So he takes her, they go, you know, her sister and everything kind of plays a part in like pushing her up into the House of Wind. Wow. My brain was not getting there. House of Wind, y'all. the house of wind is like this massive mansion of what I picture in my head, your castle, and then right below it there's this library. They're basically like, You have to go up there, you'll be staying up there, you'll be training during the day, and then you'll be working in the library at night. So you have this whole like life cycle that she has to go through. And Cassian is like her caretaker almost. He's like, Good morning, we're going to training. And she's Grumpy, I don't want to eat. He's like, No, you're gonna eat or you're gonna feel terrible. So she's like, I'm not eating. So he's like, Okay, we're gonna train. She trains. Of course, she feels awful. And he's I bet you'll eat next time. Like, yeah, it is. April: That tough love is the best love sometimes, I feel like. Tay: It was. And like, I think they were at a point where we've tried everything and we need to get her past this. So he gave her that confidence. And of course, by the end of this book, she ends up being a badass, y'all. I think it was because he was a good man. He was constant and he didn't let her continuously beat him down. He was like, you know what? you can do that later, tomorrow, not today. we are gonna get past this. And so biggest green flag ever to Cassian. I really commend him the whole series because he's really like that go to person. I picture him April: Mm. Tay: full golden retriever personality. He just is that person. He is not by any means a shadow daddy. and that's okay. We all need that ray of sunshine in our books. And I think Cassian is that. But y'all, this is a this is an expert from this book to get y'all to read the series if you haven't read it already. but him and Nestor are having all this tension. Like it has crescendoed into this. Well, they end up having a good old time in the kitchen. and And by good old time, it means she helps Cassian as like a thank you to him. And he's very appreciative. but there was a shuffle in the hallway without warning, someone who knew how to remain silent. Cassian stiffened and he like refastened his pants. He's getting all settled. Nesta like moves a few feet away, and Azriel comes in and he's like, Good evening, his brother said with a level of calm, striding towards the table. And he goes, Az. And Cassian wasn't able to take a bite out of his tone because of course he interrupted what they were doing. Azreel only shrugged, surveying the food that that the house and also too, this is a magical house. So the house like made food appear. Nesta was watching them, but as soon as Cassian turned to her, she launched into movement, pushing off the table and aiming for the door. She said, Good night. And she didn't wait for him to respond before he was gone. Cassian then leveled a gaze at Az. Thanks for that. I don't know what you're talking about, Cassian said and smiled down at his food. Asshole. Az chuckled, don't show all your hand at once, Cass. Cassian looks at him, says, What is that supposed to mean? Az nodded towards the dark doorway. Save something for later. He goes, You busybody. Az takes a bite. Will you let her suck your mm in the middle of the dining room at the table I'm currently using to eat my dinner? April: Yeah. Tay: I say that would entitle me to some opinions. Cassian laughs. Fair enough. April: So salty. Tay: That is one my favorite scenes ever. It was so played off so well. But also, like, that is just a hint at our Azreel's personality that we get to glimpse at in that book. April: Yeah. Tay: and y'all, his book is probably gonna be so good. unfortunately my expectations are through the roof. I know it's never gonna April: Yeah. Tay: probably get there, but I like based on that. he has some humor that we're just gonna see that's gonna be just like apex. but I also just love like seeing April: Yeah. Tay: Cassian and his element and kind of having that banter with his brother, I just thought it was super cute. And that's just one of my favorite scenes. So I hope April: I love it. Tay: that enticed y'all to read that book, but also read the entire series because what are you doing? April: Love it or hate it, it's a good read. Even if you're Tay: Yeah, it is. It's a great read. April: hate reading it, it's okay. Tay: Yeah, hate, read it, get to this scene, and then you'll realize why you don't hate it. It's because it's funny and it's April: It's funny. Tay: enjoyable. And I'm like, that is so hilarious. Like I just can I April: Yeah. Tay: feel the like like, my gosh, embarrassment through the book. April: Yeah. Tay: then also too, the fact that he said it. He's like, you know, somebody could have easily came in on something like that and like ignored it, pushed it in the rug. I'm not gonna say anything about what I just witnessed or heard. but he's like, Nope, I'm gonna bring it up and April: I'm gonna call you out. Tay: Casually eat my meal here. April: Right. my goodness. Okay. So Tay: One of my faves. April: our final red flag, which I feel like really sends us out on this episode. Okay. Tay: Ooh. Mm-hmm. Yes. April: mine is also a mafia book. So kind of funny that we both went mafia Tay: T April: way. My book is full of red flags. Like they are Tay: Men full of red flags. April: boo, boop, boop, boo, boo, red flags everywhere. and the people who know this author will know immediately what I'm talking about. But it is a Rena Kent book, specifically God of Wrath. And it is, I believe, number three in her series. Now, the thing about Rena Kent is she has built like this entire world. they're all kind of interconnected. Like in this book, our male main character is Jeremy Volkov, and he is the son of another book series couple that she did. And then we have Cicely Knight, who's the female main character, and she's the daughter of another book couple she has. her world is giant. She's written millions of books, I feel like. And I have definitely not read them all, but I kind of did the same thing with this one. I've read some of the books in the series, but not all. And like I said, this is book three. The thing I love about Rena Kent books, this series in particular, is I don't feel like you have to read them all kind of in order. I mean, obviously for plot devices that are continuing throughout the series, that's like best case scenario, but it worked out really well for me not reading it. So this book, it sounds, I mean, it's literally God of Wrath. Like Jeremy is an angry person, but at the same time, you have Cicely and she goes, she's she's kind of this unique character in that she's really pretty. She's got like this white blonde hair, but she's a weird girl. she reads lots of manga and things like that. She's just a little bit different from her friends and what you would expect her to be. By looking at like her outward appearance, you know. looks like an angel kind of has a darker side to her, right? And I love how you were talking earlier about the Charity Farrell book and how the girl kind of has some of the red flags. Well, in this book, it's the same thing. They both be flying those red flags in places. So that's nice. you watch her go through Cicely go through this major shift in character development throughout the book. She's this kind of weird girl, but she kind of grows into her skin and kind of like where her place is and where her place is in the friend group that she has. But she has a crush, okay, on this older boy. And they're like college age two. It's the same kind of setting. They go to this college and she has a crush on her brother's best friend. Okay. And she finds out that he is into something called primal play. And if you don't know what Primal Play is, neither did I, girlfriend, until I read this book. So I literally was like scared to Google it. I was like, my God, what is about because you never know, y'all. You never know what's gonna pop up. I grew up in the age of like, we're googling everything and now I'm scared. Tay: Mm. April: So I'm like carefully like researching it, but also make it PG for my eyeballs. But Essentially, what it is is and trigger warning for those who are very sensitive to primal play. You will not hurt my feelings if you stop listening now. But it's essentially almost like a rape fantasy in the fact that you want to be chased down, you want to be hunted down. Okay. It's very primal. And she finds out that her crush is into this. And she like goes on this website and she's like, he uses this website. I'm gonna sign up and I'm gonna be his person and we're gonna have this moment together, right? And this is like gonna be our meet cute, but it's really not cute. It's red flag waving in the wind here. Tay: Mm-hmm. April: And so she signs up for this, gets an appointment, and she's like, man, I'm gonna be with him. He's gonna be my first because she's also a virgin. And I'm like, girlfriend, you are full sending Tay: Yeah. April: it right now. Full sending it. Tay: Real. April: And she's like, it's gonna be so great. Well, of course, of course, the brother's best friend is not the one who she definitely not meet cutes with. And so I I don't want to spoil too much there, but really truly, it is a good book series. If you want like a super obsessed male main character, like he is obsessed with her, he counts every single freckle on her face. I'm like, boy, I don't know that I'd want anybody that close to me. But that's so sweet. But Tay: That is that you know, I remember in a book, the girl was like, He has a hundred and thirty something freckles on his back. And I was like, girl, we gotta talk. I never like I I saw one gif once it said we love the white boys because they look like tortillas. That is my April: Mm. Tay: husband, because he is covered in moles. So like if I are moles and freckles, April: Right. Tay: so if I counted all of them, I'd be there all day. I got better things to do. April: I got other things. Yeah. There's also a Russian relay scene in this book. Like it is the it is also cuckoo bananas. Like I said, the flags are flying, but it works for them. So if you're into something that and you know you're cool with some triggers, then I highly recommend. Tay: I just I have to read just because I'm curious how her virginity and being so wholesome goes to like primal, I wanna be chased. Like that's April: Yeah, I mean when you want the guy, I guess you want the guy, but holy moly. Tay: That is. That's like n I don't even know if the like I don't think full send is like the good enough term to fit April: Yeah. Tay: that. Like that is like just wild to me. Like I can't even April: Yeah. Tay: I guess I was just the very stereotypical like person that's like when I envisioned my first time it like tick candlelight and you know Marvin Gay, like I don't know. Like you're like it's yeah. Barry Manilo, like I don't know. April: Yeah, exactly. Netflix and chilling, like, yeah, yeah. Not you're getting your face crushed into the dirt and you got leaves and twigs in your hair, like absolutely not. But I will tell you, it was hot. Tay: No, that's like the last, but April: It was so hot, these spicy scenes were like, yeah, Tay: Was it? Mm. April: would I want to be her? Absolutely not. But does it sound really hot? Yes. Tay: And that is why we read them, folks, because we can live something without having to do it. April: Exactly. Without having to actually live it. Tay: I was there, but not. April: Exactly. I think that Tay: Or or I think it fits curio curiosity because people probably April: Mm-hmm. Tay: sit there and read it and thought, I never thought that that would be something and it might be something that they're, you know, wanting to do. So, April: Yeah. In two. Tay: you know, hey, self discovery April: You do you, Boo. Tay: is also a part of these books, y'all. So you never April: That's right. Tay: know. Someone may read it and be like, that's for me. And I will never kink shame anybody. April: That absolutely not. No. Nope. Nope. Nope. Tay: Well, we hope we gave y'all plenty of good red and green flags. that was honestly super fun. April: Yeah. Very unexpected, right? There was like boom, boom, boom, all over. Tay: Yeah. Yeah. I still think this solidifies though we need to do a full mafia and go full send. So if April: Yeah. Tay: y'all want that, please let us know. Also, like I said, please give me all the cowboy hookups that y'all can think of. April: I know. You know what's a trope that's coming out more and more these days? And I keep seeing it whenever I go book shopping, is dark mafia cowboy romance. And I need to know what that's about. I feel like that's such a random mismash of things that I need to know what the heck those are. Tay: Is it like I'm picturing like moguls Yellowstone where they're like, very rich and there's like elitist, but then it's got that like I don't know. I don't know. April: Right? I know. I gotta know. Somebody recommend us some good ones. I've been seeing it on bookshelves and I'm like, what is that? Tay: Hmm. April: I need to know some good ones because I'm curious now. Right. Tay: combo of the two be like Taylor went full send. She did she just skipped right over the normal cowboy. She went straight into Mafia April: That's right. Tay: Cowboy. April: Dark mafia cowboy. Tay: Dark Y'all, I just dipped my toe. Give me at least two toes. I don't want full feet. April: That's right. That's Tay: April's like, I will make you read it. You will read this voice like help. April: all right. It's coming. I'm gonna find one. We're either gonna think it's amazing or we are gonna realize that it's not for us and that's okay. Tay: That's fair. April: All right, besties. That's it for today's episode. Tay: Make sure to follow, download, and share our podcast socials with your other book besties. We would love to hear about your favorite green flags and red flags that you just can't stay away from. please leave a comment on your favorite platform letting us know. April: Join us next week where we are sharing some fall cozy reads and some of our favorite fall activities. Tay: It's so far off from what we just talked about. But that's okay, April: Seriously. Tay: y'all. Diversity. and remember. April: We're glad you're here because Tay: It's faded