Michaela (1:55)

Yeah.

Kennedy (1:56)

They drop this Thursday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time. So run your little booty to all read what she's reading dot com. Grab yourself a Kindle case. So, yeah, we're excited. Hopefully you guys are excited too.

Reggie (2:13)

They're so cute.

Kennedy (2:14)

Yeah, we're really excited.

Reggie (2:15)

There's more where that came from for sure.

Kennedy (2:18)

Yes.

Reggie (2:19)

So.

Kennedy (2:20)

So here we go. Kindle Unlimited, for all you Kindle peeps. There are so many books on Kindle Unlimited, it's kind of crazy.

Reggie (2:27)

Like you said at the beginning of the episode. We've done an episode of this before about a year ago. But it's crazy how often like. Like these are current things on Kindle Unlimited. Some of the things we've talked about in the past episode are no longer included on Kindle Unlimited.

Michaela (2:42)

Yeah.

Reggie (2:43)

So things definitely come and go.

Kennedy (2:46)

Yes.

Reggie (2:47)

These are more of the current things that we're seeing on there.

Kennedy (2:50)

Also, while we were doing a little bit of research for this episode, Michaela found out something that's kind of interesting. I didn't know about this. Yeah, maybe you all did know. I didn't know.

Reggie (2:59)

I didn't know either.

Michaela (3:00)

So I don't have a Kindle Unlimited account quite yet, but I got the app and it had some options. Not all of the options, but had quite a few of Kindle Unlimited that were on Amazon. Prime Reads. What. Is that what they called it?

Kennedy (3:20)

I think so, yeah.

Reggie (3:21)

Prime Reads. Kennedy and I were looking on our apps and where we both have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It didn't have the option for Prime.

Kennedy (3:31)

Reads because I think all of the Prime Reads are in Kindle Unlimited. But if you don't pay for a Kindle Unlimited subscription, but you have prime. Yeah, you'll have access to some, but not all the Kindle Unlimited reads.

Michaela (3:47)

From my research, it was showing, like, a lot of the first books in series were on Amazon or Prime Reading, but if you wanted, like, the second or third book in series, they didn't have those for Prime Readings, which. And they were on Kindle Unlimited. So it seems like there's pros and cons, but I feel like it's nice if you are wanting to start, like, a series and it's included in Prime Reading and then Kindle Unlimited, and then you're like, okay, I might as well.

Reggie (4:21)

Just buy Kindle Unlimited. That's how they get you.

Kennedy (4:24)

Or also, you could rig the system, because sometimes if you read the first book in the series, it's really popular on the Libby app. But then sometimes the second book in a series ebook isn't as popular. Audiobooks on Libby are very popular, but ebooks are less popular. But we're not here about Libby. We're here about Kindle Unlimited. We're here about Kindle Unlimited. So we have it broken down into kind of three categories. We have a fantasy category, we have a romance category, and. And then we have an other category which will include, like, you know, sci fi, thriller, litfic, kind of all of those. Because I don't know if you guys know this, but we mostly read fantasy and romance, so that's why we're experts. But who wants to kick it off? Oh, also, I should mention some of these books we have read and some of these books we haven't read. So we'll. We'll let you guys know if they're books we have read or not. And if we've read them, we can kind of Give a little bit of insight and if we haven't read them, we'll tell you why we want to read them. Let's go first. We going. We doing fantasy first?

Reggie (5:30)

Let's do fantasy.

Kennedy (5:31)

Sure.

Michaela (5:31)

Michaela, you go first. What? I'm going first.

Kennedy (5:35)

You're going first. Okay.

Michaela (5:38)

I'm a newbie to all of this, so my recommendations may not be amazing, but I. I tried. Okay. There was a lot. It was a little overwhelming with the Kindle recommendations.

Reggie (5:52)

There's seriously. I was just telling my sister in law this the other day because she just barely got Kindle Unlimited. I feel like there's so many more books now than there were like two or three years ago or whatever it was that I got my Kindle Unlimited subscription. So there's lots of options out there.

Michaela (6:09)

Yeah, I feel like we're. I also am newer to it, which is great. There were a lot of like Kindle Unlimited recommendations that I haven't read yet that I would be interested in reading, which was exciting as a new Kindle reader. So.

Reggie (6:29)

Okay.

Michaela (6:30)

The first one, hopefully I'm not taking any of your.

Kennedy (6:33)

Guys, it's okay if you do One.

Michaela (6:35)

Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and I.

Kennedy (6:39)

Forget the second one. Two Twisted Crowns.

Michaela (6:42)

Two Twisted Crowns, both on Kindle Unlimited. We did do a book club book of One Dark Window and so good. Highly recommend something that's like different. It's more like dark fantasy, not like, like gothic. Yeah, Gothic, that's the better word for it. Which is. It was just so fun. I still think about that book a lot and always recommend it. I think it's just such a fun book.

Kennedy (7:11)

So I think we all rated that five stars.

Reggie (7:13)

Yeah, I think we did too.

Michaela (7:16)

That one. Yeah. And it's nice that it's on Kindle Unlimited. So.

Reggie (7:19)

Yeah, duologies are great. And then having both of them, both of them on Kindle Unlimited is really nice because sometimes it will be like, oh, the first two books are on there, but the third one isn't. But usually they have most of the books. But yeah, that's a great, great suggestion.

Michaela (7:37)

Yeah.

Reggie (7:38)

And if you don't know anything about One Dark Window, like Michaela said, it's like gothic vibes. But I feel like we say this a lot, but it's really different from a lot of fantasy books that we've read. And so I think that's a reason why we really like it. But also Rachel Gillig's like, phenomenal.

Kennedy (7:54)

So. Yeah, lately I've been seeing a lot of people say they didn't like One Dark Window. Which is crazy to me because I loved it. No, I think it's just a different pace, different vibe than most fantasy books. It's almost. It's in between like high fantasy and cozy fantasy. Do you know what I mean? It's a little bit cozy. Ish. Kind of. Because it's not super fast paced. I feel like it is a little bit slower paced anyway.

Michaela (8:24)

Yeah.

Kennedy (8:25)

Loved it.

Michaela (8:25)

I think the concept was just really fresh.

Reggie (8:28)

Yeah.

Michaela (8:29)

And maybe it was the time that we read it too. But anyways, if you haven't read it, check it out. Hopefully you like it as much as we did.

Kennedy (8:39)

Then you can go listen to the book club episode.

Michaela (8:41)

Yes.

Kennedy (8:42)

While you're at it.

Michaela (8:43)

Yeah.

Kennedy (8:44)

Do you want me to go next? We go down the line. Okay. My first recommendation is going to be kind of a loose recommendation. I haven't finished the series and honestly it's just okay. A lot of people said it's amazing, but it's just okay. But I'm gonna say it because I know these two aren't gonna say it. And I'm recommending the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. It's the first Law trilogy. Unfortunately, this is the rare case that only books one and two are on Kindle Unlimited. The third is not. The weird thing about these books is it's almost like there's no plot. You don't really know what the end goal is you're following. I'm trying to remember the first book. I know you're for sure. There's three different point of views. One is a retired hitman esque type person. One is a. He's not a mercenary, but he's almost like a detective. And then one is kind of a nobleman. And eventually their stories all intersect, but it's. There's like no plot.

Reggie (9:55)

It's.

Kennedy (9:56)

I'm not selling this book on you, you listener. But if you like very character driven fantasies, I think you'll really enjoy this book. I really do love some of the main characters and it's set in a medieval esque times and there's like a sprinkle of magic. There's some wizards. Other than that, if you take out the wizards, there's really no fantasy element. It's almost like a medieval story. There's a little bit of humor in there. But if you're looking for something that's different, slow paced, character driven boy book. If you will, try out the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie. I still have very polarizing opinions about it, but I did rate the first books, four stars each. They're just very differently paced than any other fantasy book I read.

Michaela (10:56)

They sound very interesting.

Kennedy (10:58)

Yeah.

Reggie (10:59)

Like, if you're needing, like a change of.

Kennedy (11:00)

Yeah. And honestly, I couldn't even tell you the major plot points because there's basically no plot. Like, you don't really know what. They're fighting a war, but there's no end goals. It's like they're just fighting a war.

Reggie (11:16)

Okay.

Michaela (11:18)

Vibes.

Kennedy (11:19)

Vibe. Just vibes. You go for the. The fun vibes, even though it's not.

Michaela (11:24)

Yeah.

Kennedy (11:24)

They call it grim dark fantasy, whatever that means.

Reggie (11:27)

Okay. All right. Yeah.

Kennedy (11:28)

So try it out.

Reggie (11:30)

All right. This is a recommendation. I'm pretty sure I recommended this the last time we did this episode. But if you have not already read. If you're a fantasy reader and you haven't already read any of these books by this author or all of her series, you need to, because they're all on Kindle Unlimited and I'm obsessed and she's not hyped enough. It's Carissa Broadbent. All of her books are on Kindle Unlimited.

Kennedy (11:58)

Even the newest one. Like, not the one that now.

Reggie (12:00)

Yeah. Pollen and the Kiss of Dusk.

Kennedy (12:03)

Yeah. So wait, that one's gonna be on Kindle Unlimited. Interesting.

Reggie (12:09)

Available on August 5th.

Kennedy (12:11)

So that's exciting.

Reggie (12:13)

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Well. Well, yeah, while we're.

Kennedy (12:17)

While we're recording this. It comes out tomorrow. Yeah.

Reggie (12:20)

But all of her books are on there. I would recommend starting with the Serpent in the Wings of Night, which is the Crowns of Nyaxia. It's vampires. It's. It's not like it's super, super dark, but it's kind of. It's dark. It's kind of eerie. It's romance.

Kennedy (12:39)

High stakes trial.

Reggie (12:41)

Brutal. It's very brutal. I. So I've been, like, so excited to read her one that's just coming out, but I'm kind of tempted to, like, reread all the books again because I seriously love them so much. But then I'm like, do I have the time for that? I've just can't be reading rereading books all year, unfortunately. But they're really good. And it's nice because even though, like, the Crowns of Nyaxia books, for example, they're like duologies, but they're in. It's a series of duologies. So the first two books, you have the Serpent in the Wings of Night and then Ashes and the Star, Cursed King. Those are like a duology. So you could, like, just read the two and Then when you're ready, come to the next two books, which are.

Kennedy (13:29)

I always messed up the third book. The name of the first book.

Reggie (13:32)

Songbird in the Heart of Stone and the Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk. So then those. It's like they follow. You have, like, a male main character and a female main character in each little duology.

Kennedy (13:44)

But I.

Reggie (13:45)

But you want to read them in order.

Kennedy (13:46)

Yes, you have to read them in.

Reggie (13:48)

Order for it to make sense. Yeah, so it sounds confusing, but it's kind of nice because duologies are just so nice.

Kennedy (13:55)

Well, and you can read the, like.

Reggie (13:57)

Love of a duology, but also, like a series at the same time. So, yeah, the Crowns of Nyaxia is vampires. Like I said, there's also a novella that you can read that's called Six Scorched Roses. I've never given a novella five stars before, except for that book. I think it is literally the most perfect novella. It's so good.

Kennedy (14:21)

It is very good.

Reggie (14:22)

You can read it at any point in the series. But it's so great. And so, yeah, I recommend any of Carissa Broadbent's books because I've loved all of them. Her other series, Daughter of no Worlds, Actually, it's called War of Lost Hearts series. Is it a trilogy? Those are also very good. And I also ate those up. So I am a big Carissa Broadbent fan, if you didn't know that already. So seriously, give them a whirl if you haven't yet, because I seriously think that her books are so good. And, like, you know, you see everyone talking about the same books over and over, like, Fourth Wing Acotar, and I don't know, it's just. I'm like, why are we not talking more about these? I know some of them are a little bit super old.

Kennedy (15:15)

Do you want to know what's crazy, though?

Reggie (15:16)

I just think that, like, I don't know. I just don't know why they're not as, like, all over TikTok as I would hope that they are.

Kennedy (15:23)

The weird thing is, it's like Carissa Broadbent is an under. Hyped. Hyped offer author. Does that make sense? Like, everybody knows who she is, but I don't feel like her books get talked about as much as others. Like you were saying, Reggie. But most readers, if you say Carissa Broadbent, they know who she is.

Reggie (15:45)

So, yeah, she's probably just one of those authors where people are, like, meaning to pick up her books, but they haven't yet. I don't Know, I just highly recommend. That's like my number one fantasy suggestion for Kindle Unlimited.

Michaela (15:59)

Yeah.

Reggie (15:59)

In general, but Kindle Unlimited, because they're all there.

Kennedy (16:04)

So we love Krissa Broadbent. If you haven't, go listen to our interview with her. She's phenomenal.

Michaela (16:09)

She's fantastic. The Poppy War by RF Kuang. I feel like it's very polarizing in if people like it or not. I found it very intriguing and good and different. I would say it's more fiction. Fantasy.

Kennedy (16:34)

Yeah.

Michaela (16:34)

Or yeah.

Kennedy (16:35)

Nonfiction fantasy. Like historical fantasy.

Reggie (16:41)

I don't know.

Kennedy (16:42)

It's just like.

Michaela (16:43)

It's not super fantasy.

Kennedy (16:46)

It's like a sprinkle of fantasy. Yeah.

Michaela (16:48)

But I think it's still in that genre.

Reggie (16:52)

Right?

Kennedy (16:52)

For sure, for sure.

Michaela (16:54)

So it's, it's.

Kennedy (16:55)

It's good.

Michaela (16:56)

I don't really know how to describe it. Besides, it takes place in.

Kennedy (17:04)

Does it even say it's based on certain parts of Asia? Because. Yeah, it interweaves with Chinese history.

Michaela (17:16)

Yeah, that maybe sounds really boring, but it's pretty epic, pretty brutal. And there's got some magic elements that make it really fun and high stakes. And it's a trilogy. And we actually. Well, I'm just picking ones that we've done for a book club.

Reggie (17:40)

Sorry guys.

Michaela (17:42)

We have done a book club book. What month was that for?

Kennedy (17:48)

I don't remember. May, April.

Michaela (17:50)

April something. And yeah, it was really fun to discuss. And yeah, it's just a really, really fun book if you're wanting something that's very unique and different from like regular fantasy books. Yeah, it can be brutal, it can be sad, it can be epic. Anyways. All the things you would describe as a fantasy book, but based on real history. So which I think is also makes it very unique. And there's like actual research behind what RF Kuang did. So very, very awesome. And she's very talented writer. So highly recommend.

Kennedy (18:36)

I left that book feeling a little smarter because I learned so much about the history.

Michaela (18:42)

Yeah.

Kennedy (18:43)

One thing I will say is if you are a die hard romantasy girly and you need romance, you are not going to enjoy the Poppy War.

Reggie (18:51)

Yeah.

Kennedy (18:52)

No, there's no romance. No, I really, I really enjoyed the Poppy War. I personally out of the series, I liked the Dragon Republic, which is the second book, the best. I rated that one five stars and then I rated the other two. I think four. Reggie decided not to continue on in the series. Rightfully so. Rightfully so. But she does know how it ends.

Michaela (19:15)

Yeah.

Reggie (19:16)

Then I was kind of like wishing I would have, like, read it. But, you know, there's just so many books, so little time. It's so overwhelming.

Michaela (19:22)

I will say all three of them are on Kindle Unlimited.

Kennedy (19:27)

We love that. So I remember when I read those books, I was stoked because I had the physical copy, the Kindle on my Kindle and the audiobook. That's just the best way to read. Guys. Okay, this recommendation, I don't honestly know where this fits. And, you know, it might be in the other category, but I'm gonna put it in the fantasy category because it's fine. It could be sci fi, it could be fantasy, it could be. People will describe it as rpg. And you know what? One time I talked about it on the podcast, and these two were like, what the freak are you reading? But let me just say it has gained a lot of traction on TikTok, at least on the booktok I'm on. And that is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinnemann. Now it's on Kindle Unlimited. I'm pretty sure the whole series is on Kindle Unlimited. I could be wrong, but I saw multiple of the books in this series on Kindle Unlimited. I think there's like, seven books. Do you need to read all seven? I'm not sure. Read the first one. See if you like it. If you really like video games, you will enjoy Dungeon Crawler Carl because you're following Carl. There is it's the End of the World, and then he basically has to go underground and partake in these challenges. But the way that the book is written and structured is very similar to a video game, if that makes sense at all. Yeah, the audiobook is so well done. I listened to the audiobook, but it is on Kindle Unlimited. So do a little hybrid read. Get it on audible, and then if you have Kindle Unlimited, pay for it too. It's just so different. And it was so outlandish and cheesy, but rather entertaining at the same time. I've never read a book like that. Have I continued with the series? No.

Michaela (21:37)

Will I?

Kennedy (21:37)

I'm not sure, but try it out if you want something a little bit different.

Reggie (21:40)

I've been seeing so much more about. Like, I remember the first time we talked about it, I was like, what are you talking about? And now I'm seeing it like, it's everywhere. Like, Maude, she.

Kennedy (21:49)

Yeah. Loves it. Yeah.

Reggie (21:50)

Talks out on her podcast a lot. So, like, yeah, I love the. I like us seeing a lot more about it because now I'm like.

Kennedy (22:01)

Once again, I. If you have the audible. Yeah. It's not for everyone. If you love video games, you will eat the book up. I'm not a video game player, but it still was fun. It was a fun read. Change of pace. Literally the most outrageous book I've ever read. There's a cat named Princess Donut. Like what?

Reggie (22:24)

Sounds kind of fun.

Kennedy (22:25)

It was fun.

Michaela (22:25)

But my interest has piqued. Yeah.

LifeLock Ad (22:31)

This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two factor authentication, strong passwords and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for 40% off terms apply.

Reggie (23:00)

The next one I will recommend is Spark of the Everflame series by Pen Cole. I. It's so funny because I had such a love hate relationship with this book and I think a lot of it is because the only thing I really disliked about the overall series is just the female main character. But there's. I ate these books up anyways. Maybe there's people out there who like the female main character, but I know a lot of people, like really struggle with her. But in a way it kind of makes it. Even though you get really infuriated with her, I almost think it makes it. I don't know, I won't say too much, but essentially. So basically there's like, the magic system is so cool in this book. That's what I really liked. And it's also very easy. I feel like sometimes it can be really intimidating to start a new fantasy series because you're just like, oh, gotta learn a whole new magic system. A whole new, like, world. All these characters. But it's a fairly simple concept. And I just, I really. I don't know, I ate it up. Like the third book is really long and I was like, oh my gosh, like, this is such a long book, but I gobbled it up in like two days. So, yeah, you got slow burn. I'm not. I'm not making that up. It really is. It's a slow burn. It's. Yeah, like I said, very simple, very fast paced. So you have your main character, her mother disappears and she learns like this big secret about her mother's past. And so she's given this, like, opportunity to enter the dark world of descended royalty and unlock A web of mysteries that her mom has basically, like, left behind. And like I said, very cool magic system. There were things that I didn't love about it because sometimes, you know, it can feel similar to things you've read before. But I can't tell you how many people have said that this is, like, one of their favorite, like, fantasy series. So, like, there's people out there who are, like, absolutely love it. I'm not an absolute love, but, like, even though I didn't wouldn't say it's like, the best fantasy series I've ever read, I absolutely demolished it. Gobbled it up.

Kennedy (25:23)

So there's only three books that. Right, the second. Right.

Michaela (25:27)

Yes.

Reggie (25:27)

But the fourth one comes out next summer and you can read the first, like, four or five chapters on PenCole's website.

Kennedy (25:34)

It's so interesting that she, like, said it was going to come out.

Reggie (25:39)

I don't know the reason why for that, but that's why I started the series because I thought that the fourth book was going to be coming out within, like, two months of me starting the series later from when I originally started. So, yeah. Wah, wah, wah, wah.

Kennedy (25:57)

I'm up, aren't I? She's up.

Michaela (25:59)

This is one that I have not read, but I'm really excited to read. And it's on Kindle Unlimited. It's Metal Slinger by Rachel Schindler. Schneider. Schneider. That's how you say it. Rachel Schneider. I legit don't know anything about it. I've just seen a lot of people like it.

Kennedy (26:22)

She loves the COVID It has a dagger.

Michaela (26:24)

It has a dagger and it looks so pretty. It has a butterfly. I just. I kind of refuse to read the back of it. But Sunken Unlimited, I've seen a lot of people really like it or have talked about it. I don't know. Maybe not necessarily like it because I usually skip videos that have it because I am just trying. Once again, if you've listened to the podcast, I'm trying not to get any preconceived notions about books. I want to just go into it for myself. I've just seen it a lot over TikTok and social media. I genuinely don't know what it's about. I'm guessing it's about a metal slinger.

Kennedy (27:06)

No way.

Michaela (27:08)

Potentially.

Kennedy (27:08)

I don't know.

Michaela (27:10)

So that's one that's on Kingdom Loaded. I'm really excited to read it. Fantasy book. It's rated pretty highly on Goodreads, so I. Yeah, I know. These two haven't read it either.

Kennedy (27:25)

Nope. Um, but yeah, it's rated pretty highly.

Michaela (27:28)

It has 4.27 stars and 74. 75,000 ratings. Holy.

Reggie (27:36)

So I feel like it's pretty good.

Michaela (27:38)

It's pretty good ratings.

Reggie (27:39)

Yeah, Yeah, I would. That's the one I was going to say, but I'll have. I'll say another one because that's one that like I've seen so many people talk.

Michaela (27:48)

But it is, it. It's not a standalone and the second book is not out and it doesn't come out till unknown date.

Kennedy (27:57)

Guys, I'm tired of reading books that don't have all I need to start reading completed fantasy books because I can't keep. Yeah, I can't keep reading these first books and then having to go back and read.

Michaela (28:04)

I feel like that's why I haven't read it yet.

Kennedy (28:06)

Yeah, so.

Michaela (28:08)

Because there's not a release date for the second one.

Kennedy (28:11)

So then hopefully it'll be a duology. Yeah, we need more of those authors.

Michaela (28:16)

If you're listening and you're writing books, try to keep it in a duology. Just kidding. I'm not, I'm not going to tell.

Reggie (28:23)

You how to write.

Michaela (28:23)

But it is favored in my opinion to read those. More likely.

Reggie (28:29)

Yeah.

Kennedy (28:30)

Okay.

Reggie (28:30)

I'm done with that.

Kennedy (28:32)

Okay. My next book, I really don't know that much about either. I feel like I've had it on my want to read for a while and I recently found out that it's on Kindle Unlimited, so. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. All I really know about it is it's about necromancers. I think there's some sort of trial in it. Not sure. I've heard it's kind of funny. I think it actually might be sci fi now that I'm sitting here thinking.

Michaela (29:12)

About what I've heard about this book.

Kennedy (29:13)

But we're gonna keep it in Fantasy section. Yeah, I. I don't know a lot about it. I've had a few friends read it on Goodreads and they've rated it really highly. It's got a 4.19 rating out of 172,000 ratings. So I feel like it's pretty highly rated. You know, I've seen it so often it just.

Michaela (29:37)

I don't know, I just feel like.

Kennedy (29:39)

Seems fun. Seems different. I. I need a. I need some sort of sci fi series. Sorry. I'm including In Fantasy. It seems like the fourth book. Are you kidding? Unfortunately does not have a release date. So once again, a non complete series.

Reggie (29:57)

If you're gonna read Fantasy, that's just, like, territory, you know?

Kennedy (30:01)

So I'm. I think I'm gonna dive into it maybe as the next series that I read. I'm not sure, but I've heard good things and I'm ready for something a little bit different. I don't know how I feel about necromancy per se. I don't think I've ever read a book with necromancy, so we'll see. Yeah, we'll see.

Michaela (30:22)

Let me know how it is.

Reggie (30:23)

Okay, so one that I'm looking forward to reading, that's on Kindle Unlimited. If I can get to it before it leaves. Who knows when it will leave? It's book one of six. If you read this series.

Kennedy (30:32)

There's six books, but I think it's completed now.

Reggie (30:34)

But, yes, I was going to say, I do think it just recently.

Kennedy (30:37)

Yeah, got completed.

Reggie (30:39)

The Plated Prisoner series, for the most part, I've seen really good things about it, and I don't know if it's young adult or new adult.

Kennedy (30:53)

I think it's new adult. I'm pretty sure I had a friend that just finished it, and she ranted and raved about it, and I'm pretty sure it's new adult.

Michaela (31:01)

I think it starts as young adult, though.

Kennedy (31:04)

Oh, maybe.

Reggie (31:04)

Okay.

Michaela (31:05)

Interesting young adult section.

Reggie (31:07)

Oh, okay.

Kennedy (31:08)

Okay.

Michaela (31:10)

I could be wrong.

Kennedy (31:10)

Don't quote me on that.

Reggie (31:11)

I don't know a lot about it, but essentially what I do know.

Kennedy (31:16)

Do you think it's about a plated prisoner?

Reggie (31:18)

I think so. It's just like a kingdom of gold. Like, the king's name is Midas, rescues this girl, and, like, she comes from the slums, and then she's put on this, like, pedestal within the kingdom. He basically just, like, takes her under his wing, and then war strikes the kingdom and, you know, all hell breaks loose. I'm sure. So. Oh, yeah. She's kept in some bars in a gilded cage. So, yeah, sounds. Sounds like it's gonna be a fun time. So, yeah. And I love a completed series. And I don't think the books are crazy long, but I could be making that.

Kennedy (32:08)

The newest book, I just checked, I Think is released September 24th of this year.

Reggie (32:14)

Okay.

Kennedy (32:14)

So by the time you get to it, what the freak? Maybe not. Yeah, it's not Goldfinch. Yes, it is released. Well, we're in 2025.

Reggie (32:25)

The third book.

Kennedy (32:26)

Psych. It was released last year. Okay.

Reggie (32:28)

It looks like the third book is kind of long and the fourth book, you know, books tend, you know, but I just. I think that'd be a fun one, too.

Michaela (32:39)

Not ya. Oh, don't listen to me, everyone.

Kennedy (32:44)

Do you know what? Sometimes things are listed as ya or, you know. Yeah, but really, they're not. Like, they shouldn't be listed as ya.

Reggie (32:53)

Yeah, but yeah, yeah, yeah, they have. One of my friends just recently finished reading it, and she said she gave the series as a whole a 4.75.

Kennedy (33:03)

Wow. Okay.

Reggie (33:04)

She really liked it, so I'm like.

Kennedy (33:05)

Maybe I'll move that up. That literally wasn't even on my radar.

Reggie (33:08)

She said there were a few cringy spots, but the story was so good.

Kennedy (33:13)

Okay. All right.

Michaela (33:15)

So I. I've been wanting to read it.

Reggie (33:18)

Yeah.

Kennedy (33:19)

Now it's all Kindle Unlimited.

Reggie (33:20)

When you Kindle set up.

Michaela (33:21)

Here's what I need.

Reggie (33:22)

Here's what I need as a reader. I just need to start a fantasy series that I can just. I want to obsess over any fantasy series. I want to be like, I need the next book. I feel like I've kind of been reading, like, oh, this one who does. Doesn't have a release date, or I'll start one. They're like, I don't know if I want to continue.

Kennedy (33:39)

So we need to go read some old. Like, not older ones, but like Robin Hobb or go read the Hobbit, you know, like old that are completed. But. Yeah. Yeah, okay. Yes. We're moving on. Moving on to.

Reggie (33:55)

Roman talked about fantasy. For the majority of this episode, it's just romance.

Kennedy (34:00)

What first romance book do you have?

Michaela (34:01)

In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarrow.

Kennedy (34:03)

And guess what? It's also on audio for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Reggie (34:08)

And a lot of her books are on Kindle Unlimited. They're.

Michaela (34:11)

They're good. It's really good.

Kennedy (34:12)

It's a good.

Michaela (34:15)

Military romance. I don't know.

Kennedy (34:18)

Kind of.

Michaela (34:18)

Kind of fun.

Kennedy (34:19)

I think that was my first military romance.

Reggie (34:21)

I read by her.

Kennedy (34:24)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was.

Michaela (34:27)

Yeah, it was. It was really good. Really good.

Kennedy (34:31)

Sorry, I don't know.

Michaela (34:33)

He.

Kennedy (34:34)

She goes out to him where he's, like, in. He's in the military, and she goes out to him. Isn't she that.

Reggie (34:45)

Isn't she a reporter?

Kennedy (34:46)

Yeah, she's a reporter. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I love that one. That one's good. It's good. All of her military romances are great.

Reggie (34:54)

Isn't his name Nathan?

Kennedy (34:55)

Nate.

Reggie (34:56)

Nathan. Oh, I still remember him. See, you know, it's good when you remember that we say this a lot and you can remember the name of the male main character. Yeah. Love him.

Kennedy (35:05)

That was a good one. He's the greatest. Yeah. Okay.

Michaela (35:07)

She goes into politics and he joins the military.

Kennedy (35:10)

Yes. And she goes to him.

Michaela (35:12)

Yeah.

Kennedy (35:12)

She's like negotiating or something.

Michaela (35:13)

And it alternates between their early encounter and then their late encounters.

Kennedy (35:19)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Reggie (35:21)

I would read that one again.

Michaela (35:23)

And it takes place in Afghanistan.

Kennedy (35:25)

Yep.

Michaela (35:26)

And she is there on some diplomatic.

Kennedy (35:34)

You know, there's some really good scenes in that book.

Reggie (35:37)

Yeah, I would read that one again. I love it.

Kennedy (35:39)

And like I said, you can also. You can hybrid. You can listen to it and then it'll keep your spot, and then it'll put you in the Kindle app and it'll keep you in your spot.

Reggie (35:47)

And there's honestly not a better.

Kennedy (35:50)

You just really enjoy.

Michaela (35:54)

Her books. Yeah, I enjoy her books a lot.

Kennedy (35:57)

So I don't think you could go.

Michaela (35:58)

Wrong with pretty much any of them.

Kennedy (36:00)

Nope, you can't.

Michaela (36:01)

I. Yeah, they're. They're pretty good.

Kennedy (36:03)

So I honestly, I think all of her romance books have been four stars.

Reggie (36:05)

Or higher for me.

Michaela (36:06)

Yeah.

Kennedy (36:06)

So all of her book, not even just romance, all of her books have been four stars or higher.

Michaela (36:11)

Yeah.

Kennedy (36:12)

Okay. My next one, it's coming as a surprise to me as much as it is to you. The Boys of Tommen series. Oh, okay. Okay, okay.

Michaela (36:20)

Here we are. Here we are. Here we are.

Kennedy (36:24)

I'm sorry, I just like to say.

Michaela (36:25)

On record, there is record, actually, of her bashing this.

Kennedy (36:30)

Okay, let me just.

Michaela (36:32)

Let me just look into the camera and apologize to all of you boys.

Kennedy (36:37)

Of Tom and Lovers.

Michaela (36:38)

Okay, I get it.

Kennedy (36:40)

I get it now. The first two books were not for me. I think they. I just don't know if I just didn't love Johnny and Shannon. I. I don't. I actually.

Michaela (36:52)

I just don't think I like Johnny.

Kennedy (36:54)

And I know that's kind of. I don't know. I just. There were certain plot points of the boys of the first Boys of Tom and book that I just were weird to me didn't love. And then I got two. What was what? Redeeming and saving seven. Yes. No, no, six.

Reggie (37:13)

I don't know how you keep the title straight.

Kennedy (37:14)

Well, it's their numbers for their team. Six.

Michaela (37:16)

And then seven's next.

Kennedy (37:17)

Saving six and redeeming six, right?

Michaela (37:19)

Yeah. And then it's seven, then it's 10.

Kennedy (37:21)

Okay, I get it now. I love Joey. I get it. They are. But I will say they're not feel good reads. I don't finish them and feel good. I just feel depressed. So if you want to feel depressed and you want to cry and you want to have a lot of trauma. Read those books. But they're also very heartwarming at the same time. I. Yeah, saving Joey's story is just. Was way better. And I will be continuing the series. So once again, I am so sorry for bashing it. Do I think it's a little. Still overhyped? Maybe a little bit. But. But. But I. I get it.

Reggie (38:07)

Yeah, I get it.

Kennedy (38:09)

It's like you are too young for this. Mikayla, you may have not watched this. Reggie, did you ever watch Degrassi?

Reggie (38:16)

No, but I know what you're talking about.

Kennedy (38:18)

It's like if Degrassi was a book, that's the Boys of Tommen series. Do you even know what that is?

Michaela (38:23)

No, Drake was on it. That's how Drake got famous was on.

Kennedy (38:27)

The show called Degrassi. It was like a Canadian teen drama, soap opera esque. Yeah, there's some lore for you. Some Drake lore. Okay. Started from the bottom now you hear?

Michaela (38:41)

I'll go look up Degrassi after this.

Rakuten Ad (38:45)

This episode is brought to you by Rakuten. If you're shopping while working, eating, or even listening to this podcast, then you know and love the thrill of a deal. But are you getting the deal and cash back? Rakuten shoppers, do they get the brands they love? Savings and cash back. And you can get it too. Stack sales on top of cash back and feel what it's like to know you're maximizing savings. It's easy to use and you get cash back sent to you through PayPal or check. The idea is simple. The brands you love pay Rakuten for sending them shoppers, and Rakuten shares the money with you as cash back. Download the free Rakuten app or go to rakuten.com to start saving today.

Reggie (39:22)

It's the most rewarding way to shop.

Rakuten Ad (39:23)

That's R a K u t e.

Reggie (39:26)

N rakuten.com okay, Reggie, you're up. Alrighty. I'm gonna just give a little shout out to Chestnut Springs, my good old buddies in Chestnut Springs.

Michaela (39:37)

Chestnut.

Kennedy (39:38)

I went to a rodeo and I said, where's Rhett? Yeah, Rhett.

Reggie (39:42)

Where's Rhett?

Kennedy (39:43)

The million dollar bowl, right?

Michaela (39:44)

Where's.

Reggie (39:45)

Pretty darn spicy. But they're just. They're. Sorry. I've been watching the Hunt and Wives, so I've had my. My Southern accents coming out. Anyways, they are just fun. Especially, like, you know, they're really short too, which is great. But are they, like the best romance books ever? Written. No, but, you know, you're gonna get some.

Kennedy (40:14)

You're gonna have a darn, too. And good time.

Reggie (40:16)

You're gonna have a good. You're gonna have some great Little Spice. I shouldn't say little.

Kennedy (40:23)

Some cutoffs and work boots. Some whipped cream.

Reggie (40:28)

Anyways, it's. It's a fun, spicy, vibey read, but.

Kennedy (40:35)

There'S a few, like, wholesome moments in there.

Reggie (40:37)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kennedy (40:38)

Few and far between, but they're there.

Reggie (40:39)

Yeah. They're not just.

Kennedy (40:40)

Just smutty.

Reggie (40:42)

Like, there's.

Kennedy (40:43)

I mean.

Michaela (40:46)

A little bit, but.

Reggie (40:48)

Yeah. A great palette cleanser for when you're trying to read a long fantasy series and you need a little break.

Kennedy (40:55)

You want to save a horse, Ride a cowboy.

Reggie (40:57)

Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Kennedy (40:58)

Giddy on up down to Chestnut Springs.

Reggie (41:05)

Anyways, that's what I got for y'.

Michaela (41:06)

All.

Reggie (41:07)

Very fun. If you haven't read any of Elsie Silver's books, you're in for a treat.

Michaela (41:14)

I will say, though, I feel like Elsie Silver writes these books where you become, like, obsessed with, like, the town, in the community.

Kennedy (41:25)

Oh, yeah.

Michaela (41:26)

Like, something just is about it. Like, I. I can't wait to read some of her other books because of how obsessed I became with, like, Chestnut Springs. And, like, I'm really sad that that series is, like, over, at least as far as we know. I'm currently in the Wild Love.

Reggie (41:43)

What. What is it called?

Michaela (41:44)

What is it called? Rose Hill. Rose Hill. And it's just, like. I just. There's something about it. I just. They're spicy. They're not the best romance books you're ever going to read, but something about the way she writes makes you become obsessed.

Kennedy (41:57)

I don't know.

Michaela (41:58)

I don't.

Kennedy (41:58)

I don't get it. But she's a wizard.

Michaela (42:00)

It works. She, like, casts a spell and.

Kennedy (42:04)

Yeah, it's so true. You're so right. Yeah. That's a good wreck.

Michaela (42:10)

Yeah.

Reggie (42:10)

In a different life, I would have married a cowboy. Yeah.

Kennedy (42:12)

You know what? Me too.

Michaela (42:15)

Okay, I'm ready. I'm gonna make this really quick because we talk about her way too much. It's deserved, but Abby Jimenez. Anything on Abby? Abby Jimenez?

Kennedy (42:25)

Who is that?

Reggie (42:26)

Haven't heard of her. Tell me more.

Kennedy (42:29)

Okay.

Michaela (42:31)

I would suggest.

Reggie (42:33)

Doesn't she only have one series of hers? I think she only has and then Worst Wingman ever, which is a novella.

Kennedy (42:41)

No, I think part of your world was on there.

Reggie (42:42)

Oh, is it?

Kennedy (42:43)

I think they're actually all what I thought.

Michaela (42:47)

I looked and it had all of.

Reggie (42:49)

Them just for the summer. And you're Truly a part of your world. The part of your old ones are on there.

Kennedy (42:53)

Oh, just kidding. She's kidding.

Reggie (42:55)

Okay, it's just the Friend Zone.

Kennedy (42:56)

But still, those ones are great.

Michaela (42:58)

Friend Zone.

Reggie (42:59)

Yeah, that's a great way.

Michaela (43:00)

The Happily Ever After.

Reggie (43:01)

I will say the Friend Zone is my least favorite of all of her books. Maybe I should say that.

Michaela (43:13)

Yeah, the Friend Zone. That's. Okay, Let me. Let me rephrase that. I don't know. I'm still talking to Southern Exit. Not all of her books are on Kindle Unlimited. It's the Friend Zone trilogy that she has. The Friend Zone. Just the Happily Ever after playlist. And Life's Too Short. Great. Little Fluffy reads so good.

Reggie (43:38)

Life's Too Short's one of my favorite romance books.

Michaela (43:41)

It's really, really fun.

Kennedy (43:42)

Fun.

Michaela (43:42)

Cute. Highly recommend reading them in that order.

Reggie (43:45)

Yep.

Michaela (43:45)

You can read them out of order if you want. If you want to do yourself a disservice and do that, you're welcome to do that.

Kennedy (43:51)

You'll have them spoiled. They're interconnected, standalone.

Michaela (43:53)

Anyways, I made that really quick because we talk about her a lot. So that's it.

Kennedy (43:56)

Okay. I'm mo to a book that I want to read, and I need help from the listeners. I don't know why I'm talking like that. I'm sorry. So the next romance, interconnected, standalone romance series that I really want to read is the Windy City series by Liz Tom Ford. Okay. All on Kindle Unlimited. Pretty sure every single one is on Kindle Unlimited. Now here's the dilemma.

Michaela (44:22)

Tell us.

Kennedy (44:22)

Reggie, over here. No. Yeah. Reggie, over here. Yeah.

Michaela (44:25)

Yeah.

Kennedy (44:25)

Read the first dnf. The first one. Read the first cape. Now, in our interview that we had with, if you guys don't know who Brady Lockerbie is, she's an influencer.

Michaela (44:35)

Book talk.

Kennedy (44:36)

You know, she said just to skip the first one, and, you know, I very well might just skip the first one. Oh, yeah.

Reggie (44:44)

So I think you would feel the same as I did.

Kennedy (44:47)

Okay. Okay. So maybe listeners don't weigh in, but.

Reggie (44:50)

You don't read the first chapter, and maybe you probably get a good feel for. For it.

Kennedy (44:54)

But yeah, that's my. That's my next one. I've honestly never read. I've read a hockey romance, but I don't. No. I guess one of Sarah Adams is, like, ballerina, football player. So that's probably sports romance. Yeah. But I don't feel like I've dove into the sports romance world enough. I love sports. Love sports ball. I think I'd Love a sports romance. So that will be my next romance series that I start. Just let me know if Reggie's right and I should skip the first one or if I should read the first one because they're kind of long.

Reggie (45:30)

Yeah.

Kennedy (45:31)

But I know a lot of people love them.

Reggie (45:32)

Yeah.

Kennedy (45:33)

So I'm very excited for that.

Reggie (45:35)

I'm right there with you. Is that on your list? I literally. You guys said my other three things I was gonna. Other things I was gonna say. I don't have any other romance ones that I'm looking at that I want to really talk about.

Kennedy (45:47)

Okay. That's okay.

Michaela (45:48)

Well, do we want to continue on.

Kennedy (45:50)

What you want to read?

Reggie (45:51)

Well, that's what I was gonna say. I want to read.

Michaela (45:53)

Oh.

Kennedy (45:53)

Oh, sorry.

Reggie (45:55)

No, that's okay. That's okay. I'm just trying to.

Kennedy (46:00)

Do you want to read Debony Perry's romance mysteries? Oh, hers are on there. They're called Haven River Ranch.

Reggie (46:08)

Okay, I'll just bring that up quickly. All right. One that I want to read is these are a mystery romance. I just finished Shield of Sparrows and I absolutely loved it. So now I'm very curious about all the other things that Debbie Perry has out there. And she has a series, the Haven River Range series.

Kennedy (46:32)

I think it's two books. Oh, is it just two? I think it's just two. Or at least the first. Only two are on there.

Reggie (46:37)

Okay.

Kennedy (46:38)

I think it's two.

Reggie (46:39)

And yeah, I just. I loved the mystery elements in show of Sparrows. And also you can dual listen and read.

Kennedy (46:51)

Oh, yeah, that's moving up in my TBR.

Michaela (46:55)

Yeah.

Reggie (46:56)

Also, they're short. Look, 284 pages. I might start those soon.

Kennedy (47:01)

Yo, if you gotta hit your reading goal. There you go.

Michaela (47:04)

I think I'm like five behind, so there you go.

Reggie (47:08)

She's going to. I don't know if this is the first book or not.

Kennedy (47:12)

When I looked up on Goodreads, I think. What's it called? Cross. What?

Reggie (47:16)

They're wrong. Anyways.

Kennedy (47:18)

Cross Ranch.

Reggie (47:20)

Yeah. There's Crossroads and Sunlight. I don't know which one's first. It doesn't say.

Kennedy (47:25)

Crossroads.

Reggie (47:26)

Crossroads is first.

Kennedy (47:27)

It is set on a fictional Montana guest ranch. These two stories have it all. Emotion, heat, and a whole lot of heart things. Goodreads.

Reggie (47:36)

Small town romance about love lost in a Montana legacy. So, yeah, sounds kind of fun. Especially after we just did an interview recently if you didn't see with Ali Carter. And, you know, after talking about Blonde Identity and like, mystery stuff, I'm like, I need more of that in my life for sure. Like a good time for sure. So. Yeah.

Michaela (48:00)

All right.

Kennedy (48:01)

It's me.

Michaela (48:02)

I'm just gonna say this really quickly. I mentioned this in the other episode. Cash.

Kennedy (48:07)

Yeah.

Michaela (48:08)

By Jessica Peterson. It's on Kindle Unlimited, and that just cowboys my entire life.

Kennedy (48:13)

So that's on your under hyped tbr. Yeah.

Michaela (48:17)

Yeah. Cash. I'm just excited.

Kennedy (48:21)

It.

Michaela (48:23)

You know, Elsie Silver can't write a billion books a year, so I needed something similar to that vibe.

Reggie (48:29)

Mm.

Michaela (48:30)

So why not try it out?

Kennedy (48:32)

I bet you'll love it.

Michaela (48:33)

I think I will, too.

Kennedy (48:34)

Okay. One that I have is if you guys didn't know this KG oppa and what's her name. Oh, Madelyn Klein are starring in a movie together. But little fun fact, you probably already know this. It's actually a book, right? Yeah. Okay.

Michaela (48:52)

I'm like, am I crazy?

Kennedy (48:54)

So the book that is on Kindle Unlimited, that is going to be a movie is called the Map that Leads Me to youo by J.P. monager. Read the book before you go see the movie. Or don't. It's whatever you want to do or do.

Reggie (49:06)

Whatever.

Kennedy (49:07)

I don't know anything about this book. I'm not gonna lie. I just saw the COVID and I said, oh, that's K.J. appa and Madeline Klein. Yeah, it's on Kindle Unlimited. Let's chat about it.

Michaela (49:15)

Yeah.

Kennedy (49:15)

So maybe go watch the movie trailer. If the movie trailer looks interesting to you, read the book and then you can go get excited about the movie. But I always love reading a book before the adaptation.

Michaela (49:26)

Yeah.

Kennedy (49:26)

So I'll try to read it before the movie comes out. Will that happen? I don't know. But you go read it. If you pay for Kindle Unlimited. Sweet.

Reggie (49:35)

We're now just gonna rapid fire a few things because those are all maybe ones we're more excited about or feel passionately about. Like, check those out. There's a lot more that we could. Rapid fire. Like, if you haven't already read Fourth Wing. Surprise. Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Kindle on there. The Silent Patient by Alex Mecalides. I don't know how you say his last name, but, like, if you need a good thriller and you haven't already read that one, that one's a good one. Fantastic. Fantastic. Also, Jason. How do you say his last name? Recollect hidden pictures. Especially if you're getting on a Kindle. Kind of fun. It's got pictures in it. Spooky. And he has another one that I hadn't heard about. The last one at the wedding. That's also a Kimball on the movie.

Kennedy (50:23)

Okay.

Reggie (50:24)

So I might need to save that for my fall.

Kennedy (50:27)

Tbr. We did do hidden pictures as a book club book, so you can go read it and then go listen to the episode. That one was a fun one.

Michaela (50:34)

That was a fun one to talk about. And, yeah, last one, I'll add.

Kennedy (50:41)

Frida McFadden.

Reggie (50:42)

Oh, how can you forget?

Michaela (50:45)

They're not, like, my most favorite thriller books, but if you're wanting something very, like, outlandish. Outlandish. And, like, I feel like all of her books are really short. Usually. Like, I've only ever listened to her books.

Kennedy (51:03)

Me too, actually.

Michaela (51:05)

But they are, like, seven hours or.

Reggie (51:07)

Shorter, which is good. I don't think I've ever listened to one. That's funny.

Kennedy (51:12)

Yeah.

Michaela (51:13)

Anyways, they're really just like, simple, easy books that are just. If you're wanting, like, something that's like a cloud palette cleanser and that will.

Kennedy (51:23)

You kind of giggle a little at them because the. The plot twists are so outrageous. But there's. There's a time and a place for a freedom. McFadden book.

Reggie (51:32)

The movie.

Kennedy (51:33)

Yeah.

Reggie (51:34)

Housemaid. It's coming out in December.

Michaela (51:36)

It is? Ho, ho, ho. It is.

Kennedy (51:39)

So I think that's it. That's great, right? Yeah, amazing. I'll add. I'll add one more author because we love her. Jessa Hastings.

Reggie (51:48)

Oh, yeah.

Kennedy (51:48)

Never's on there. Conditions of Will is on there, and her newest release. Yeah, Time of youf Life is also on there. So if you haven't tried Jessa Hastings, but you aren't convinced, we haven't convinced you yet. Try it on Kindle Unlimited. You got nothing to lose.

Reggie (52:06)

Right?

Kennedy (52:07)

So obviously, there are so many more books on Kindle Unlimited, and we could make episodes about new Kindle Unlimited releases, honestly, probably monthly. But we were just, you know, excited to share our big news about our Kindles releasing, and we thought, what better way to do that? Then share some of our current favorite reads on Kindle Unlimited. I will say one of the. I would love to get to a point in my reading journey where I maybe read a Kindle Unlimited book that I. That nobody's talked about, kind of go through the archives and find a book that sounds interesting and read it eventually. And I'm kind of getting to the point where I want to do that, because sometimes books are just over hyped for me. So eventually, when we do this episode, we'll have recommendations for you on Kindle Limited that you've never heard of. That's the goal.

Michaela (53:01)

Yeah.

Kennedy (53:02)

But right now, this is what you get. So hopefully you enjoyed it. Hopefully you added to your tbr. And if you didn't, that's okay, too. But as a reminder, our Kindle cases drop Thursday at 5pm Mountain Standard Time, so be ready. We hope you guys love them as much as we do, and we hope you guys have a great week of reading. We'll see you next Wednesday, guys. Bye.