EP. 44: Lucky River Ranch (Books 1 & 2) by Jessica Peterson

On this episode of 'Read Me Next', Carina and Pili dive into a hilarious, no-holds-barred review of Jessica Peterson’s Lucky River Ranch series, unpacking just how bizarre, cringe-worthy, and surprisingly entertaining modern rom-com cowboy stories can be. What begins as a discussion of rugged charm and slow-burn passion quickly turns into a sharp, funny breakdown of characters, tropes, and writing choices that feel almost too strange to be real. The hosts revisit books 1 & 2 with brutally honest commentary, calling out awkward timeline jumps, cringey sex scenes, and character personalities that seem oddly artificial. They break down the rushed execution of familiar romance tropes like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and fake dating, while also highlighting especially unforgettable moments involving jealous confrontations, sudden gun-pulling, and eyebrow-raising pet names during intimate scenes.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Read Me Next, a Book Club and Make It a Podcast. We have lots of feelings and no qualifications. What are we reading, Peely? We are reading books one and two of Lucky River Ranch by Jessica Peterson. Mm-hmm. Cash and Wyatt. Cash and Wyatt, yeah. Yep. The first two Rivers brothers. So we wanted to get back into our cowboy era. Okay, so yeah. We have read a few cowboy romances. We started last year. Insane. So much fun. We went to the rodeo. Literally. With Chestnut Springs by Elsie Silver, and it was literally the best. Such a beautiful series. And I'm like, did that like just like set expectations way too high? Way too fucking high. Insane. Like literally, I'm reading this book. Right. And I'm like, are we all on TikTok reading the same book? Because like cash is up there for a lot of the girlies. No, yeah. And I'm like, all right, that's fine. But the book itself? No, like literally, like, even like the series, I don't know. I don't know about this. I'm like, did you guys read Chestnut Springs? Because did you guys read Chestnut Springs? Is the question. Yeah. Because maybe that is the issue for us. Like, what are we comparing it to? Maybe we set the bar way too high. Maybe Chestnut Springs was like as good as it was gonna get. I hope not. I'm gonna have to read that series all over again. No, I agree. Because even thinking about it, like Rose Hill was good, but it wasn't that good. No, it was nothing. Fever Dream was good, but it wasn't that good. Fever Dream was wasn't even was barely good. It was barely good. And then this was barely good too. I have a lot of opinions on this one. Oh, I love, I love opinions. I just What did you rate it? Okay. I didn't even look at the thing. I'm gonna go with like two. Okay, yeah. I rated like the first one two and a half. Yeah, but like even then. I promise you, like reading this, I was like, like just skimming. It was bad. No, I did skim too. It was bad. So it's on Audible and it's on Feel Unlimited. And the first three audiobooks are on Hoopla. Mm-hmm. So there you go. So when you told me that you did yours on two times speed, I I had me, the person who's like started off on Audible and on Hoopla on 1.2. I was like, all right, cool, let me go on two point speed. By the time I finished that book, I was on 2.7. I was over it. You were yeah. I was like, this sucks. Yeah, this is not it for me. It was not it. What I didn't like was the writing. I thought the Me too. The writing was very like Chat GPT. It was so weird. Like body almost. It was like really strange. Yeah. And like even like I don't know, I even told you, like chapter one, I was already like, uh. Like even their banter wasn't like the type of banter we like. Like it was so strange. It was so it felt like forced. And I was like, why am I reading a love story about like a forced love? Like I it made me uncomfy. Like reading this, I was like, if you guys are not meant to be, it's fine. No, I don't know. Like, I think they were like trying too hard, right? Right. I don't know. I I really don't. What did you rate the second one? Maybe like a 2.5. Okay, yeah. Mine was like a three, three and a half. Like, I liked it a little bit better. But I still like wouldn't recommend it. Literally, that's what I'm saying. Like, I it was fine. Like, do I want to read the next books in the series? No. Really? I'm gonna be honest with you. Like, I couldn't care. I don't think. Oh, okay. Well, then we don't have to read them. Would you? I would read. Yeah, I I think is it because of like the cliffhanger in this one? Yeah. Like that's the only reason. I don't know. Yeah, like honestly, you're right. Like, I'm not really invested in these characters, to be honest. Like, I'm not invested. Like, and that's another thing about like we like our God almighty. Like, even the side characters in that book were like phenomenal. Yeah. This one, it's like, they're cool. I like the relationships with the girls. That's cute. It's really fun. I want to say something, but like, am I gonna be canceled? Like, I think there was too many men crying in this two for me. Well, you know, I was thinking about Cowboys Can Cry, but there's also maybe it was the audiobook that I didn't like. Oh my god. Can we talk about it? Because can we talk about the audio, please? I was reading book one, listening to it, and I'm like, God, I'm not into this cash character. What's going on? Which can I just say, if you're gonna have dual POV, make it a duet. I don't understand why are books not duets. Like, you need to re-release them as duets. I don't get it. Hearing this man moan as a woman, I was like sucked.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

No, did not like it.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

I didn't like any of it. And because okay, that's another thing I'll say about these books. It was like pure smut. Like the entire book was like just like running on smut. I think that's why people like it. Okay. I think that's why. I mean, maybe, right? I mean, I like the smut in book two. The book one, I literally could not care less. Like, and he said one part that was just like do you know what that part was? I can't wait to hear it. Okay, okay, okay, hold on, hold on. I I annotated it because I'm like, I'm so like I have psych and embarrassment. It was so funny. No, and like the things that they would say, like leading up to sex, I'm just like, I can't. No, like it was cringy as fuck. No, literally. So the narrator on Audible was who? He was the guy that narrated Twisted Pawn. He played Achilles, which in that episode, I was like, oh my god, this guy sounds like my ophthalmologist. So I started this book and I was like, man, why can't I get into this guy? This is so strange. This, that. I go and I'm like, hmm, this sounds familiar. And of course, it was my ophthalmologist was like a Texas twang, which I was like, I hate. No, I cannot because like I love a southern Oh, me too. Give me a southern man. A southern man, I love it. But like, I don't know if it was because I've heard this man as like a mafia king before. Yeah. That I was like, no, like he can't be southern sweets. No. No. I was like Achilles, come back. No, literally. I love Achilles. Not only that, but then I'm like, okay, well, maybe the other audiobooks will get better. He narrates all five of them. Like, okay. Bitch can't catch a break at this point. I'm like, okay, whatever. We could not catch a break. No. I I didn't like it. But going back to what you said, I don't know if we're in spoilers or not, but going We're in spoilers. Yeah. Going back to what you said about them like crying a lot. I feel like it was so strange for me because when we would get their internal monologue, like they were very self-aware and like emotionally intelligent. But at the same time, they were like so dumb. Like they act like they didn't act off of their intelligence. Yeah. Like, what do you mean? Give me an example. Like, for example, the second guy, why would be like, oh my God, I'm in love with uh Sally. I've been in love with her this entire time. We've been best friends for 20 years. Oh my god, I have to tell her how I feel, but I can't tell her how I feel. But oh no, I'm Oh my god, you're right. He would go back and forth with himself the entire fucking moment. No, he went back and forth so many times that I was just like, okay, if you guys go back and forth one more time, I'm DNFing. Yep. But thankfully, she like grew up here and she was like, hey, I actually like you. Like, I actually want you to be my guy. And he was like, okay, I'll be your guy. Hello. Finally. But like that's what I mean. It was so strange. And like Cash too. Like, they they're they were weird personalities. Yeah. I didn't like it. I, you know, I want to like pick. Okay, so I want to pick one over the other. Like Cash or Wyatt. Uh-huh. Who would you pick? No, I'd pick Wyatt. See, like, I'm kind of like, I don't know. I liked Cash. Yeah. It's just like it's so hard because they were both weird. And like I'm trying to do it. No, like they were. They were just weird. Yeah, no, I think Wyatt was funnier. He was funnier. And like Cash was he was supposed to be grumpy, right? And I feel like the premise of the book, like, she's this city girl, which we didn't even say. Oh, yeah, let's literally let's just get it. Sorry about that. We're just talking shit. Yeah, it was Molly. She's like the city girl, and she inherits her dad's ranch when he dies. And she basically, with the ranch, there's like a a stipulation in his will that she needs to stay on the ranch. And there's this grumpy foreman who's like in charge of the ranch and they hate each other because he thinks she's trying to sell the ranch for money. Well, I mean, she is at the beginning. Exactly. He's correct in his thoughts. A hundred percent. Yeah. But it was just like, I don't know. I just like I couldn't get into like their their banter, their relationship. It felt so strange for me. I also It was so forced. That's what I'm saying. I was gonna ask, and it maybe goes into that like force that that you're saying. What is the timeline of this book? Because I'm like, did they have sex like the first week they met? Like it was so strange for me. Yeah, it was definitely very fast. It was so fast. And like not the good guy. It was so weird. I think people just like the smut. People do just I mean, because it was very smutty. Like on the chili peppers, I'd give it like a five. Yeah. Book one, I didn't really like the smut because I didn't like the characters. Book two, I I would say five chilies. Yeah, and that's not even and that's me like separating the fact of like, you know, usually when I rate the smut, I have to like the characters. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm like separating that at this point because I know like how much smut was in this book. So that's why I'm rating it a five. It's not that I loved it. Right. It's not that like it was for me. Yeah, but I know this book was just like filled with it. So that's why I'm giving it a five. Maybe, maybe it's that. Maybe that's why people like it. I don't know. I like when the smut is like good and the actual plot is good. So this podcast, we love a jealousy moment, right? Oh my god, yes. How did you like the jealousy moment of Cash? Because I thought it was the dumbest thing ever. Cash's was which one? Can you tell me? Molly went out dancing with Palmer. First of all, she invited this fucking guy from Dallas. Oh my god, yeah. To the bar. And then he's like ignoring her, and Cash just like that whole part was just so fucking cringy as fuck. Like literally secondhand embarrassment. I mean, like, it I almost liked it. No. No, no, no, no, no. Okay, pause. It's so funny because I'm saying I almost liked it if you would have changed it. You know what I mean? Like, I I like the idea of like he was going to like dance with her and he was gonna hate it. And you know, like I love the setup, but like it fell short. It fell real short because Palmer was an asshole, but like he also didn't do anything to cause that reaction, I think. Yeah, and he like it was just not enough. You know what it was? It would just it wasn't jealousy, it was ego. It was ego because he was like, You got a problem, son. Yeah, it was like the son that pissed me off. Okay, sure. So weird, yeah. But he wasn't like I don't know. Obviously, he was jealous, but it was just it was no, it was no taking the hat and putting it on the cowgirl, you know what I mean? So good. Freaking love that I know. It just like super fell short. Okay, so we didn't really say Molly basically she goes to the ranch, but this whole time she like at the beginning, she's really trying to get out of it, right? She wants to go back to Dallas, sell the ranch, like you said, and she has like this um cowboy boots company, which is really cute. Really cute, but like that. I will say a lot of the explanations of the boots in the beginning, I was like, this doesn't look cute to me. You don't think so? A lot of them, I was like, no, I like them. I don't know. But mean when like once you put like hearts on something, I'm like, I don't know about that. No, I thought they were like really girly cowboy boots. Oh, definitely girly. But like the ones that they described for Sally, the red ones. So cute. Right. I I will give you that. But like the very, very like when she introduced her company to me. Yeah. It's giving shark tank. I was like, I don't know if I would invest. But so this whole time, another like villain in this fucking book is her mom. Okay, also, yes, what the fuck was that about? Bro, she was so annoying. Then we get to the second book villain, but anyways. No, that was hilarious. Insane. I was literally cracking up. No, we'll talk about it. But like the the mom was just such a bitch. I know. When we got to the part about like her ordering a salad, also that was another thing about this book. Her stomach hurt all the time. No, I uh one of my annotations went to the stomach aches. Like the eighth time she said it, I was like, this is me. I was gonna say I was like, this is Beailey actually in the book. No, actually it is me. But I'm like I need I need some fresh hair in a wrench. Is this like another gastritis moment? Stop. Not the gastritis. No, she just needed to be on the wrench. She just needed to be away from her mother. Away from her mom. No, it's ridiculous. She was so mean. She was so stressed. Poor girl. No. Poor girl, for real. No, for real. But like the and even her, like, she was just so weird to me. Like, I found it that I get it. Like, I understand that her dad died, and like obviously you would be emotional when that happens, especially if they're estranged and everything. But I felt like she, when she would talk to Cash, they would have like weird deep conversations, but like she would cry at the most random times, too. Like she was crying the entire book, too. And I was like, I mean, her dad died, really. No, but like that's what I mean. I get it. I get it that you're emotional. But I just didn't feel like the moments that she was supposed to be crying, she was crying, and the moments that she wasn't supposed to be crying. Like, it was just strange to me. Okay. I don't know. And the mom was a bitch. The mom was so bitchy. When I found out that the mom didn't invite any of his friends and people he worked with for 20 fucking years or whatever to the fucking funeral. Yeah. She's like, they're not, they're not family. I feel like that plots of the book didn't wrap up good enough. Like they kind of just like glazed over her mom being a massive asshole. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like cash just breezed on by. Yeah, I didn't like that. Yeah. I feel like that's such a break stop. Thank you. A break stop. That's crazy. That's like we're just gonna keep continuing. Such a break stop. Okay. So sorry. Um, that's such a boundary. I feel like that you like don't cross. No, like a funeral. No, that's so fucked up. And she's like, yeah, none of you guys came. Literally. She was a fucking idiot. Cause like she just believed her mom and like just went willy-nilly with her. And I it's just so dumb. And like, even like Cash bringing the picture, and they're like, all is forgiven. Literally. It was just too let's make this story up. Which I get it, it's a book. No, literally, but no, it was so weird. You know what I mean? No, yeah, I didn't like it. Anyway, so the part that I cringed at. Oh my god, yes. It was they were having sex for the first time, and that's what I meant. Like, I don't understand the timeline because in my head, they had sex like a week after she got there. Which I'm like, it might not be right. Like it maybe it was a couple months, but this is what I mean. I do think it was like two weeks. Literally, right? I think so. So the first time they have sex, I put this is so strange, it's cracking me out. Strange? When you use strange to describe something, no, because it's like you know this is fucking weird. Okay, so it's his POV, right? And he goes, he goes, if you don't want me to come inside you, speak now. I manage or forever hold your peace. I said, What? Ew. I said, sir, ew. That's disgusting. Why would you say that? I was like, oh my god, this is so weird. Why would you say or forever hold your peace? Forever hold your peace in the middle of sex. And and my thing was like, that's what I mean by it was like cringy and like way too fast and really weird, and why I don't understand the timeline because he was saying right before that, he was like, Would it be so bad if she had my babies? Yep. I'm like, what? What are we doing? Yep. I don't know. It was like something. It was weird. Like, I think she was trying to give like so passionate and infatuated, but it was giving like, this is so strange. Okay, don't get it. This is weird. This is not my this is it was not my cup of tea. No, it wasn't our cup of tea, and that's fine. I also think it's funny that it was not either one of our cup of teas. That's insane. Like, we really are one one brain. Anyways, all right, so I just thought book one was really weird. I was like, shit, we gotta read book two now. I know. I mean, you weren't you wanted to DNF. We were I was so close to DNFing this. Yeah. And I was like, well, yeah, it doesn't get any better, to be honest. But let's just try to read book two. Yeah, no, and then she started book two, right? And she's like, it's a little better. And I'm like, oh, thank God. And I was like, wait a minute. Wait a minute, it's not that much better. Yeah, yeah. I'm like, don't be expecting too much right now. It's not that good. Wyatt, I will say, was like a better character, I think. Yeah, I think and I think the writing got a little bit better. You don't think so? Yeah, a little bit. Maybe. Like I said, I was skimming through both of them. I was like, this is not it for me. No. I mean, okay, so book two is Wyatt and Sally. They've been best friends since like they were 12. And it's basically friends to lovers. She has a job in New York lined up. And so before she leaves, she's spending a few months in Hartsville. In Hartsville, thank you. At the ranch. At the ranch. And she's a vet. She wants to have a little bit more fun before she goes to New York. And she's like, all right, like, let's fake Dane. And then they're like, ooh, catching real feelings. Surprise, surprise. Surprise, surprise. Yep. And turns out they fall in love. Of course. No, I but I I thought I thought their book was cuter. Yeah, their characters were cuter. Wyatt was less weird. Like, I don't want to say less weird, but like, like, I think what you're saying is correct. It was written a little better. Yeah. Like he came up came off more as a person than like a bot. Right. Literally. I'm telling you. Yeah, no, book one was written by AI. Like it was so weird. I didn't like it. That is hilarious. No, I feel so bad. But book two was a little better. I feel like he had a little bit more personality. Maybe that was it. Yes. But like even Cash, like you would think, okay, I get it. Like, grumps don't usually have like big personalities, you know. They're serious men, but like he was so he was weird. It was written really weird. I didn't like it. Yeah, no. Like, I remember who Kate Eaton is. He's a grump. You know what I mean? No, literally, I'm like, I I kid you not. I finished reading that and I'm like, this is not how you do grump. I'm like, you do grump or you remember them. He wasn't a Kate Eaton. He wasn't a Huxley. No. Those were grumps. I know. No, Kate and Huxley. Literally. Just like bring up, let's bring up our daddy chart right here. Literally. Kate and Huxley. They're up there. They're up there. They're up there with the grums. God, I love those two. And I'm like, that's how you do it. Not this, whatever that was. But yeah, so Wyatt and Sally, they're friends and they become lovers. Mm-hmm. Well, that's the trope. There you go. There you go. Friends to lovers. Yeah. But again, it was a lot of like, oh my God, I love him, but he doesn't love me. Oh my god, I love her, but she doesn't love me. And I'm like, oh my God. Literally. Can we get to the fucking point? I do like in this book how Wyatt was okay to leave. That was nice. That was really cute. That was really cute. I like the like I love New York t-shirts. That was like a nice moment. Yeah. I was gonna ask you, who is Ava? Was she not the sister? The sister of Beck? I don't think she's a sister. No, she was like She was just like an employee. They didn't have a sister, though. I'm not sure. Because I thought in book one they said that So many people were named in book one, so I agree with this confusion. Like there was like 10,000 in one paragraph. Because I'm thinking obviously Sawyer and Ava are the next book. Yes. And I guess Ava works for them. I think Beck had a sister and she was gonna be with one of the twins, and then Wally's friend is gonna be with the other one. Maybe I'm assuming those are the books. Maybe she is his sister. But it I don't know because when Sally was talking about the job offer, it didn't seem like she was a sister. Yeah, she's like, I have to talk to the Wallaces. Yeah, like she actually did say that. No, no, now that we're coming back. No, it literally did, yeah. Because I was wondering, I'm like, I don't think she is a sister. Of course not, because she said that, which is weird. Yeah. Interesting. But but yeah, no, the grand gestures were cute in the book. Yeah. I mean, like, John B though. No, no, no. John B. was actually insane. Actually crazy. But like, this is like the country stuff. Like, you know what I mean? Get the fuck out of here. Shotgun, shotgun to the boyfriend. Be so fucking. Yeah, be for fucking real. That part was John B for fucking real. John B for fucking real. You're insane. Yeah. No, that part actually, I was cracking up. Yeah, it was crazy. So basically, she turns down the job in in New York because she wants to stay with Wyatt. She wants to stay like in Texas, doing her thing. She she likes the family that she has and the friends. And they're both trying to do grand gestures. So they both haven't told each other that they both decided something. Yeah. She wants to tell the family and everybody that she's staying, and he's gonna tell everybody that he's going. Yeah. So they're both like real opposite. Of course. And of course, John B is like, I see you, Sally. What you got going on? And she tells him. And I'm like, why did you do that? Like, I'm like, that was weird for me, also, that she just went ahead and told him. Yeah. Without her mom there. You know? And without him there. It was weird. It was weird. So, you know, John B ran ran away to get him. Yeah. And I'm like, all right, whatever. Which I thought was interesting because uh the brothers were also there. That's how book one ended. Which I also thought that timeline was strange because in book one, they don't talk about Sally and Wyatt going out at all. It just says how Cash was pissed off that Wyatt was flooding with her. Keeps looking at her a certain way and all that stuff. Yeah. So in my head, I'm like, where the fuck are we getting the shotgun scene? Which I will say, when he snuck into her room, which was a great scene. Love. But I was like, are they gonna get caught in this is the shotgun scene? I thought that okay. So I thought several things were gonna be the shotgun scene. Yeah. That one. That made me really nervous. I was like, oh shit, are they gonna get caught? Because he said that. He's like, Are you gonna let them get caught in the da-da-da-da? I was like, Are you gonna let your daddy catch you? Literally. It was crazy. He said so I swear to God, he said something like, Are you gonna let your daddy catch your real daddy? No, yeah, like that. No, it was that. I was like, I can't. I can't let me see. Um that's hilarious. Yeah. But I thought she was gonna get pregnant the entire book. Well, yeah. I thought she was gonna get pregnant, and because he said something like, You ruined her life, or something like that. Isn't that what John B said when he came out with the shotgun? Maybe, yeah. I don't remember, but I swear I thought she was gonna get pregnant this whole time. Damn. No, but she didn't. So, like you're saying, they were both gonna do a grand gesture, and then it ends up being that John B just runs out into the barn and fucking Wyatt like goes to confront him, and fucking John B pulls a gun to him, and he's like his own gun, because it was Wyatt's gun. Literally, but like the brothers are right there too, and I was just like, what is going on? No, and John B. was like, you couldn't tell that the safety was off. He was like, No, John B, it's dark as fuck, and you haven't pointed at my chest. No, I couldn't so crazy. And like the fact that we forgave him so quickly. That's what I'm saying. Everybody was forgiven so fast in this book. I know, and why is like why was like, I'm surprised to see Sally just hugging him at this point. And she's like, Dad, you need help. He's like, No. But also John, but also John B, like the fact that the entire book he just kept saying how many regrets he has in his life.

unknown 21:58

Poor guy.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

He's not happy here. Poor wife and daughter. Like, this is so fucked up. Every five seconds, and he was like, No, because I live with so many regrets. And I was like, You're so rude. So rude. And Patsy's here, like, I love my life. I couldn't. No. But literally, John would be pulling the gun on him. I was like, That was crazy. And just like the resolution that happened. Because he's like, he just like pulls down the fucking, he like unzips his shirt. And it's like, I love New York. And they're all like, um, what? I can imagine everybody in the background.

unknown 22:33

Hello.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

John, relax. Oh my god, no, it was so funny. No. And when he first tried to zip it, unzip it, he's like, keep your hands where I can see him. What do you think I have? Jumbi, you took my gun. Relax. I don't have a grenade or anything. What are you talking about? Oh my god. No, it was so funny. I love laughing at stupid parts. That was absolutely insane. No. Like, how crazy. Okay. Just like the fact that they forgave him so quickly. No, that's what I'm saying. Freaking Molly's mom. Bitch. Yeah. And that guy. Insane. No, actually insane. So I mean. I'm like, people don't do that. Come on, you cannot convince me people do that. Yeah. Oh my god, no. Something cringy as fuck that I was cracking up. So she basically asks Wyatt to fake date her so she can like let loose because she's like so fucking embarrassing. It's the part where she's at. She's in the bar with Beck and Molly. Molly's like, all right, go up to him, you know, and flirt. And she's like, I know this part. She's like, no, I really don't want to. And Molly's like, just do it, go. He says, I've seen you up there doing your thing. You're great. I don't have a musical bone in my body. So I'm always so impressed when people sing or play an instrument. And so she goes, I swallow. Thank you on the tip of my tongue. But a bit of tahine gets stuck in my throat. Suddenly I'm choking, my eyes watering as I sip more tequila in an effort not to cough. But do I cough? Loud enough that I catch Wyatt looking up from his threesome, or it's a foursome, I guess. And he mouths, Are you okay? And so she goes, I hold my thumb up. I'll good just went down the wrong pipe. And I'm like, This is so embarrassing. No, and then right after that, it's like she talks about how like she likes things like long and hard. And she's like, oh wait, but then she's like, but I do like things long and hard. No, I was like, this is a terrible time. No, no, it was so embarrassing.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

Mm-mm.

SPEAKER_00 24:19

Okay, so this is her her POV. And she's like, tonight is a night of first, that's for damn sure, which is kind of cool. I feel like I'm getting a shot of all my firsts all over again in a way. First date, first time meeting the parents, and now first kiss. Lucky for you, oh god, oh god, why is slipping a hand onto my face using his palm to angle my mouth up toward his? I'm tight with God, and I'll have you saying his name off too. No, I can't. No, please stop. No, I can't. I'm tight with God. No. It's crazy. It's crazy. That's like like I remember reading that and I was like, I'm tight with God. No, I can't. No, there were some like cringy ass fucking things. Cringy ass things. It's so weird. Like she just kept calling him daddy too. Oh my god, no. They were in the car, and she called him daddy, but like I guess a little bit sexier, and he came in his pants. No, that was absurd. I was like, she's like, she's like, you just did you just do what I think you did? Did you just come in your pants? Yeah. No, it was so crazy. That was crazy because the way she explained it is he's like, all of a sudden he goes silent and goes taut. And I'm just this is what I imagine. As he's driving, it's crazy. I can't. No. The part I really which was cute, which I told you, I'm like, not me almost crying in this book. Oh yeah. Was in the epilogue when I think it was the epilogue. Was there an epilogue in this? Yes, there was an epilogue. Go ahead. Because I I teared up at a different part. But I think it was when they go to like their spot by the lake or the river. Oh yeah, yeah. And he's recreating when he realized he was in love with her. And she realizes that he doesn't have the chain on with his mom's engagement ring or wedding ring. I thought it was really cute. I was like, oh, that's so cute. That is cute. I like that. I got emotional when he was telling his brothers he was leaving. Oh, that was really cute too. It was really cute because he was like, Do you think you guys can do this without me? Yeah. And and Sawyer, Sawyer is actually very mature. Yeah. I like that guy. So back to the jealousy moment in book one, right? It's crazy because she's saying how she doesn't want to like catch feelings for cash. And so she's like, okay, let me just invite my situation ship from Dallas. Yeah. Palmer. She's like, I just literally have to have sex with somebody else. Yeah. And she's like, oh, we're not gonna leave the ranch, we're not gonna leave the ranch. And this guy comes and he's like, all right, give me the tour. Yeah. She's like, what? And so my thing is like, why would you bring him to the bar? Because he wanted to go to the bar. He said that. He's like, I mean, I want to go to the dive bar. Yeah. But I was just like, girl, what kind of situationship is this? Yeah, you're stupid as fuck. No, and she's like, oh my God, Cash, I'm so happy to see you. I hated that part. That was annoying. She's like, I'm so happy to see you and all of your brothers while I bring the man. What? I know. I hated that part. Way to make him feel like shit. I did not like that. It was weird. I didn't like that. Like no. It wasn't, it wasn't, it really was not a good jealousy moment. And I love them. It's really hard for me to be like, I don't like a jealousy moment. Because my thing is like, okay, this is the scenario. What happened? Cash is at the bar, he's looking at them dancing. They're dancing, having a good time. At one point, Palmer looks away, turns around to talk to some other girls. Yeah. And then he sees a look in Molly's eyes that she's upset. She's hurt. And that's what gets him. And then he's like, Rivers brothers. He's like, the Rivers men don't start fights, but we finish them. And so he's just waiting for Palmer to fucking punch him, and he does. Then he just punches it back. But like I totally agree with what you said. It was an ego thing. Because now remembering the situation, the sun thing, yes. But it was also like, get your city boy out of here and don't ever come back. No, and when he was being a dick to Talula, I think that's her name, the one who runs the bar. Uh-huh. He's like, I bet you don't have this type of whiskey here. Oh. Yeah. It's just like, which one you want? Yeah. Like, shut the back up. Yeah. Very strange books. I guess we're not going to read books three through five. Sorry if anybody wants their opinion on them. I mean, we can discuss. You already don't want to read them. We're not. Okay, okay, let's think about it. We know the third book is gonna be Sawyer and Ava. Yeah, so the second book leaves off with A cliffhanger that Peeley told me. I'm like, it was kind of a cliffhanger. It's not a cliffhanger. That they knew each other previously? We didn't know that. I mean, that's fine. Yeah. Cool. All right. Did you not think in book one it was a cliffhanger when he was like at the shotgun point? Yeah, also. Oh, okay. No, I feel like I feel like you got more angst out of this one. I did. No, I did, I did. Well, I did because I figured, I'm like, are we gonna read book three or not? You know. Because I'm like, now I kind of like what's going on with these people. All right, all right, all right. Which I think it's like Sorry, before you keep going. Because I just want to say I do like Sawyer more than these two, it seems. Okay. So maybe I'm not the writing got better at book two. Yeah, maybe, maybe Jessica progresses. Maybe. You know? I mean, I don't know. It's really hard. But anyways, I also thought it was interesting because we've never read a book where they're both single parents. I I was gonna say that. I do like that. That's interesting. I'm intrigued by that. That type of trope too. Because I wonder how that's gonna play out. Interesting. Like, are the little girls gonna hate each other? Gonna be like sisters BFFs? Yeah, but they have to be sisters BFFs. They have to. I don't want to read about like kids going through it. No, no, no. I'm sure that like they are sisters BFFs and that's how the parents become close. But like, how do they know each other previously? Yeah, that's what I'm gonna say. Like, what's going on? Is he the daddy? He's the daddy. He can't be the daddy of her kid. No, no. I know. Well, no, can I say I thought so too? I'm like, is this a parent trap situation? Literally. No, I thought that. So I'm like, but ain't no way. There's no fucking way this isn't a air trip. I don't think it's a parent trap situation because whoever Ella's mom is, like, they have to know her.

SPEAKER_01 29:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:48

The whole family being so close, like, they have to know who the mom is. Don't you think? Yeah. And also, like, Ava having her own kid, I don't think she would just leave the other kid. Yeah, it's really. How is parent trap even a movie? Honestly. What's the premise of that? How are they both with their parents? I will say these books really set Sawyer up well. I like feel like I could like him. But also, I like I don't know about Duke and Ryder because they seem very goofy. Oh my god, no, they seem so like immature. Yeah. Like I don't know if I would like them. Me either. And I'm not gonna read book three and not read book four and five. Like, we're already committed. Okay, Peely. So what are we doing? So yeah. Are we reading books three through five? We're not gonna read just book third book and that's it. Damn. So now we gotta figure that out. So we should we should just move on. I mean, I don't like finishing up, like not finishing it. But I also like, so should we just read it? But no, like that's just sucked. Like, if why are we gonna read something we don't want to read? Anyways. Um, okay, so do you want to do the good reads? Let's do the good reads. Yeah. So there was quite a few differing opinions out there, which I liked. Okay, good. Yeah. So this was a two-star, and this was my first cowboy romance, and I'm not impressed, but this is just the book that is the problem and not the whole cowboy appeal. There was a good plot, it had potential, but the way it was written just didn't work out for me. It's so clunky. That's a nice, nice word. That's a good word, yeah. Like half the time I found the banter and the way they talked just so forced and choppy. The inner monologues read like a bot, which why are you phrasing your thoughts like you're asking me, bitch? I don't know. Also, the way they kept going, y'all. Like I get it, the first 15 times in a sentence. Then the quality of the banter. I read it like middle school boys going, oh look, he had sex. Now we all giggle. Oh my gosh, that's funny. Crazy. So I did see a TikTok actually about this girl who has read multiple types of cowboy romances, and this wasn't even on like her list. So I'm like, what the fuck are we doing, guys? What are we doing? Who recommended this to us? Come on. But there's other cowboy romances, because like we said at the beginning, like Chestnut Springs is our top tier, god tier. God tier. So I'm interested to see, like, is anything really gonna compare to that? Because nothing has so far. I did like though, I will say, I did like how these were real cowboys. Like, I liked the the ranch and like they were working. I love and that they were man, they were like men in their wranglers. In their wranglers? Like, I love that shit. No, no. They were hot. Yeah, they were hot. But they were stupid. They were stupid. God damn. Yeah. We continue. Four stars. Entering back into my Yeeha era. Hmm. I wish that was me. Ugh, me too. This one says two stars. Maybe this will be the first cowboy romance I like. Well, it wasn't. I didn't like it. I found the characters to be annoying and one-dimensional with no real connection. They went from disliking each other to loving each other real fast, which didn't make any sense. And when the plot kind of disappeared because of course they had to have sex every chapter now. That's just boring to me. Also, the sex scenes made me cringe. Two stars because I managed to finish it. Interesting. This is four stars, and it says the feast will be laid out, the house will shine like a diamond, and if Cash Rivers wanted it, I'd pop out ten kids without breaking a sweat. Cute. I love it when people like their boyfriends. Literally. Obsess over them, please. Two stars. It's a chill cowboy romance, if you don't mind, rushed. I love you, cardboard characters, and a plot held together by Smut and Tropes. No, perfect, perfect description. Cardboard characters is actually hilarious. That's funny. That's so funny. Five stars. Okay. Question: Where can I find myself a cash? That's so funny. One star. It goes searches pockets. Look at that. Fresh out of fucks to give. Did not care about this at all. Yeah, pretty much. Literally. Five stars. Love when there's no third act breakup and they talk like real adults. That's something we didn't get into. They there are no third act breakups in the first two. Which I love. I love. I did like that. That was enjoyable because I don't think we've read one without a third act breakup. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. This reminds me of Wendy City. How like we got to the whole fucking book and at the end of each book there was some type of breakup. And I was like, god damn it. Yeah. So I did like that about this. Yeah, it was interesting. That's good. I just like, why isn't the writing just a little bit better? You know what I mean? That's tough. One star. DNFing this at 64%. I can't drag this anymore. Just no. Yeah. That was you. Almost me. This one is funny. Two stars. DNF 13%. The Eaton Boys do it better. Oh man. Ain't you fucking right? Mm-hmm. So right. Yep. They do do it better. They do do it better. Man, those Eaton boys, they really did do it better. Yeah. Every single fucking time. Alright, so let's do book two Goodreads. Okay, so this is three stars. This is for Wyatt. The feeling when the book starts off so good, so perfect, and flops around the middle, and then it's like white face. Wyatt and Sally were so cute in the beginning. Me loving a friends to lovers, loving a playboy, never in my life, but this. Ugh, this friendship was so pure and cute when they started to fake date. And then the second half, Smut Fest and Wyatt cooking. Okay, guys, you're in love and everything. Please wrap it up. I don't want to read chapters of smut. That's so funny. People didn't like the smut. It was so smutty. It was no, but it was pure sex. And you know, whatever. But it was pure sex. There was no advancement of plot. No. This is three and a half stars. I'm rounding up because one of my love languages is quality time, and this man knew how to make my heart melt. Besides that, meh. Literally. Honestly. Okay, so this is one star. And it says this was bad, bad. Just so, so bad. The banter was bad, the sex scenes were bad. The use of daddy was bad. The conflict was bad. It says Sally's dad pointed a loaded rifle at my chest and had his finger on the trigger and then was like, the safety was on the whole time, guys. Why are you freaking out? Literally, that's me and you. Literally. It says this started out so good, but after 30%, it went downhill so fucking fast. I usually love a friends with benefits. He teaches her kind of vibe, but and then it was like the little throw-up face. And then also that his dick is so huge. My pussy's so tight. Thing get old. Oh my God. That is another thing they touched on a lot in this. Oh my God, get a grip. Yep. And then she goes, Yeah, like, yeah, pussies are tight, but they stretch. Sally wasn't a fucking virgin. So why it? Bean. So why is Bean like you need to take three advil immediately? That was crazy. After this dicking, it's insane. Unless bro is packing a fucking girthmaster hog. It's just an annoying microtrope. Oh my god. Just make him say she's tight and get it over with. She doesn't need a fucking hospital visit. Oh my gosh, that's actually so funny. The day after text reminding her to take Advil? No, no, so it literally says, I love a size different situation, but I'm sorry. Anatomy is anatomy and vagina stretched. So unless he's fucking her without proper warm-up and lubrication, it's just annoying that he'd be so concerned that she needs to take an Advil lol. Oh my god, that was so funny. Five stars. OMG, as if the Rivers brothers couldn't get any better. We get Wyatt, a total cinnamon roll who just wants to do right by everyone. His love for Sally has been unwavering since childhood. And now he finally works up the courage to tell her. But Sally has been feeling the same way all along, afraid that confessing could ruin their beautiful friendship they've built. Then it goes their chemistry, their emotional depth, and the way they simply get each other made this whole book an absolute joy to read. I laughed, I swooned, I even teared up a little bit. Okay, so this is two stars. It says Wyatt was cute, but this book didn't really deliver for me. It was so much longer than it needed to be. It started off sweet and I was having fun, then bam, Wyatt and Sally are coupled up and in love by 60%. After that, not much. Basically, like watching paint dry. In hindsight, I should have DNF'd. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it lacked any real development to keep me engaged, which is very true. That's how I feel. A thousand percent. Two stars. I was willing to give friends to lovers a chance because supposedly they had fake dating, but the fake dating lasted five minutes, which is so true too. That was such a good trope, and they just like ran over it. Literally, they fake dated for one night. It was so boring. So boring. Come on. I love a fake dating. No, so good. Oh my god. No, I didn't love a fake dating. A friends to lovers fake dating. Like it had potential. No, but an enemies to lovers fake dating? I eat that shit up. Well, no, it's so good. Okay, anyways. It says then the rest of the book is their internal monologue talking about how much they love each other but can't be together, blah, blah, blah. Boring and at the ending, the dad pulling a gun on Wyatt. What the fuck? What the fuck? Literally, what the fuck? Okay, this is five stars. It says, I really, really enjoyed Cash, but Lord have mercy. I did love Wyatt. I'm always gonna fall swiftly in love with the Golden Retriever MMC, a man who is obsessed with his woman and has been in love forever. It is my Roman Empire. It is everything I want in a romance story. The yearning, the burning, the sizzling tension between the two. Holy Toledo. It was incredibly hot. This was five stars. I liked Cash, but I loved Wyatt. You see, I agree. I no, I didn't like Cash, but I liked Wyatt. Like Okay. Yeah. Hands down, one of my favorite childhood Friends to Lovers books I've read in a while. I will say also I I I don't think we always love Friends to Lovers. We don't. But this one wasn't so bad. Oh, correct. Yeah. I'll give you that. Yeah, like for the trope being friends to lovers, it wasn't that bad. Mm-hmm. I agree. Yeah. It says the amount of times I was sitting here giggling and kicking my feet while reading, why do one of the swooniest cowboys ever, and the love he has for Sally is no other. I definitely want to be friends with Sally. Loved seeing her character grow throughout the book. How she was why it's a safe place to help him deal with grief of losing his parents had me in my fields. That was cute. That was a nice part. The friendly banter between them, all of the tension until they both broke, and their chemistry was truly off the charts. I mean, who doesn't love a filthy-mouthed cowboy? I know I do. The spice was some of my favorite I have read in a cowboy romance in a while. The lasso scene, hot damn. I now identify as Sally. Also, the biggest hoe for a secret tattoo and uh whites was Chef's Kiss. Overall, this book was fantastic, and I cannot wait for Sawyer's book. I will say that lasso scene. I just love imagining a man being a man. Yeah, I know. No, I I like the spice in book two. Yeah. It was good. I don't think I liked it in book one because I just wasn't into it. So, I mean, I guess we'll see what we do next week. Yeah, what the hell? We're not gonna continue this series. I mean it was a little bit of a flop. I'm down for whatever. If we want to finish it, we can finish it. If not, we don't have to. Why are we gonna finish something we didn't like? I guess we'll see what we do next week. Yeah, we'll figure it out.

SPEAKER_01 39:44

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 39:44

All right, read responsibly or don't.