What The Smut Are You Talking About
What The Smut Are You Talking About Podcast is a romance book podcast where two smut-loving co-hosts bring their honest, unfiltered, and completely chaotic lives to the internet. We chat all things romance books, with a side of motherhood, pop culture, and Cortney's very unhealthy obsession with Diet Coke.
Each week is a surprise (even to us), because anything goes. Expect romance book deep dives, general book talk, fun interviews with people we have no business interviewing, and whatever else we spiral into along the way.
This podcast is for romance readers 18+ who make reading their personality, thrive in chaos, and have an unhealthy obsession with fictional men who set unrealistic standards. If that's you, then welcome home.
Come listen to see What the Smut we're talking about this week!
What The Smut Are You Talking About
The Hotshot by Piper Rayne | The Steamy Baseball Romance That Will Be Your Next Obsession
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This week, we’re diving into The Hotshot by Piper Rayne and let’s just say… we have thoughts.
From fake dating and second chances to single guardian and baseball bad boys, this steamy sports romance checked way more boxes than we expected. We’re breaking down all the chaos, the swoon-worthy moments, and THAT ending (because what the smut was that cliffhanger?!).
Cortney and Mary are fully in their baseball romance era and loving every recommendation coming our way. Got a romance book you want us to deep dive next? Slide into our DMs because we’re always ready to give our two cents.
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What's up, Book Nerds? Welcome to What the Smut Are You Talking About podcast. We are a weekly romance book podcast where we talk about books and chaos. So yeah, pretty much anything goes.
SPEAKER_02Join us as we talk about the books we are reading, what crazy shenanigans are happening in our lives, and who knows, we may have some fun guests drop by.
SPEAKER_00So grab your favorite snacky snack and your beverage of choice and come hang out and see what the smut we are talking about this week. Hi guys, welcome back.
SPEAKER_02Hello, hello. How's everybody doing?
SPEAKER_00Oh man. I am How's your week been? I'm just I'm exhausted. Like the kids aren't sleeping. I'm not sleeping. The air quality here in Chattanooga has been god awful. I woke up this morning with another sore throat. I'm on a struggle bus, guys.
SPEAKER_02So how many Diet Cokes are you gonna need today?
– Life Updates & Chaos Chat
SPEAKER_00Probably a lot, but I've only had one so far. So that is a win in my book.
SPEAKER_02That is a win. That is a win. Oh my gosh. Yeah, it's gonna be hot here today. It's already like I got up at the cats got me up at 6 30 and I let them outside. And I was like, man, it's already warm. Like it's and and I am not ready for shorts weather. I am not a shorts weather fan.
SPEAKER_00My thighs are too big for shorts, guys. Like I love I'm a chubby girl. I would have been wearing when we went to Disney. I had leggings on the entire time. And still at one point, like I had like the chub rub is what I call it. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_02If I wear it, if I wear out my jeans, like my jean, my pants, like the first place they wear out is my thighs. So fully, fully understand.
SPEAKER_00At one point, I was like, I I need the bathtub right now. I was like, I need to go and just let my thighs soak. Like it was so raw. And also, like, I should have known better. Like I should have put like baby powder or something to like stop it. But I think it's just because we sweated so much. Yeah. Um, yeah, it was hot. I was not like we went, we went late February, early March. Like, I was expecting it to still be a little cool, and it was 80 fucking degrees.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. There's a reason I don't live. There's there's several reasons I don't live in Florida. One of them being the heat and the other being the bugs.
SPEAKER_00And the alligators.
SPEAKER_02And the alligators and the alligators. Oh my gosh. But yeah, the bugs and the frogs and the lizards. Like, oh no. No, thank you.
SPEAKER_00One thing about me, I cannot like, I don't like frogs. I don't like looking at them. I don't like them trying to jump on me. Like, if I see a frog too close to me, I will freak the
– Florida Rant: Heat, Bugs & Alligators
SPEAKER_00fuck out. I don't know why. But there were frogs everywhere at nighttime. And I'm just like, oh, get them away. Please don't let my kids touch them. Like, yeah, it was it was a time.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah. And some of them down there are actually like poisonous to pets and things. Because when I was a kid, I went to visit my aunt and uncle down in Florida, and their dog, like, either tried to eat a lizard or a frog, and it ended up causing neurological issues for like 48 hours. It was wild. And I'm like, I'm like, add this to the list of reasons I do not want to move to Florida.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. I'll go for the beach and I'll go for Disney and Universal.
SPEAKER_02I'll take my beach elsewhere. I'll, I'll, I'll move further up north. Give me North Carolina.
SPEAKER_00See, I I don't like the ocean on what is that, the Atlantic side?
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00It's too yucky for me. Like, I want the Gulf where sometimes the water can be clear. Like, I want to go.
SPEAKER_02You have to do the stingrace shuffle every time in the golf. Yeah. See, I can't do the golf. I don't want the sting race.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah. So that is true. But like, I don't like swimming with fish in general. I think we've had this conversation before. I can't remember. But I will freak the fuck out if a fish comes near me. And I I blame like childhood trauma on it, I guess. I don't know. But it was our one-year wedding anniversary. We took a cruise to Mexico, and which I should have known better, but Barrett wanted to do a snorkeling thing. I was like, I'm not snorkeling. I was like, you know me. I I don't like fish being around me. So he's like, okay, well, the snorkeling thing was like really weird to get into. Like you didn't go through a beach. Like they had a ladder attached to from like this like overlook thing. So it's like you had to climb down into the water and then climb up to get back up. So I was like, well, Barret's gonna go snorkel and I'm just gonna go swim a little bit just to cool off. Well, bitch, it's all like the reef. Like that's where fish feed from. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Me not thinking about this shit. I get in this water, Mary. And when I tell you fish swarm me, like I thought like they were trying to eat me at this point because they would just keep on circling me. When I say I screamed, like you would think I was dying, type of scream. Like everybody around us came running. They thought I was getting like attacked by a shark. Oh my gosh. So finally, Barrett's like, what? And they're like, what's going on? And it's like, it's okay, it's just fish. She doesn't like fish.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_00These people are like, so on top of it, I'm embarrassed because there's like 20 people like just like staring at me. So yeah, I'm that girl. Like I was like, okay, I'm getting out.
SPEAKER_02You're like, I'm a land only girl. I will admire the water from shore.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I have full-blown panic attacks in the ocean. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself, but I just love going. It's so much fun. And the only time I truly enjoy the water, like the ocean water, is if I'm drinking. Like there's some like old like PCB pics of because me and my girlfriends used to take a trip every year to PCB. And like you have me and my friend Kara like out in the water, like trying to hold up our our alcohol. And we're like, woo.
SPEAKER_02It's amazing how brave that can make you sometimes.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Yes. That's the only time you can find me enjoying the ocean.
SPEAKER_02That's too funny.
SPEAKER_00Okay, sorry. I took us way off topic again.
SPEAKER_02That is okay. That is okay. We are excited to talk to everyone today, with it being baseball season: A Deep Dive Into The Hot Shot by Piper Rain.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Let me just tell you, I love this book so much.
SPEAKER_02I don't remember what book is this. That one's not book one, is it?
SPEAKER_00It's dugout series book one. It's going to be a four-book series, but this is the first book of the series.
– Episode Introduction: The Hotshot by Piper Rayne
SPEAKER_02Okay, so this is the first book. Yay, we got in. We got in at the beginning. Look at our chaos working.
SPEAKER_00I know. I know. And I'm I I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. Like, I'm like, oh my God, this is my new personality.
SPEAKER_02So The Hot Shot by Piper Rain, as Courtney said, is book one in a four-book series. This one covers a single mom, where it's
– Book Overview (No Spoilers Yet)
SPEAKER_02her best friend's brother, has a little bit of fake dating rolling around, a good amount of baseball, which was fun to have. And it's kind of a second chance story. It's it's a missed opportunity. I think that would be that would be a good way to describe it. And it is on audiobook or is it coming on audiobook?
SPEAKER_00It is on audio. Yeah. I I did audio on it.
SPEAKER_02So who was it narrated by?
SPEAKER_00So I love them for doing this. So it's technically what's called like a full cast, but it's duet narration by CJ Bloom and JF Harding. But it also features Teddy Hamilton, Sean Masters, Connor Crace, Aaron Mallon, Willa James, Meg Sylvan, and Austin Stone.
– Audiobook Breakdown
SPEAKER_02Well, I can say, as not typically an audiobook girly, that cast and that lineup, oh my gosh, Court, I might have to check it out because whoo, that's a list. That is a superstar list for an audiobook.
SPEAKER_00Yes. It is so good. So for those that are not used to the audiobook world, if it was just a true duet narration without the full cast, then the female narrator will read any part of the female, regardless of whose point of view it is in. The female does all the female parts, the male narrator does all the male parts. Well, when you have a full cast, each narrator is assigned a person. A character. So it's a character. Yes, thank you. So if that character is speaking, then that narrator will narrate the that part. But if it's not a narrator assigned to one of those characters, then the two main people will do it. I know I probably just confuse people, but no, no, you described it really, really well.
SPEAKER_02And think of it, think of it like a live action play where your main core narrators are going to narrate all the non-speaking parts. And then you have the full cast, like you said, each character has a cast member who will be reading the speaking parts. And yes, book two is already out on audio.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it just came out.
SPEAKER_02It did, and I can't wait. And it's a full cast for book two audio as well. And that one, the lead narrators are Sean Masters and Aaron Mallon, which are in which are in the book one. Sean Masters is one of my favorites for audiobook narration. There's been several books of his that I have listened to. And so that has me excited as well.
SPEAKER_00Yes. I I love all of these narrators. So I am I am so excited. I and that's luckily I have a credit. So I gotta get through my chaos reading right now, but then I'm definitely going back and uh getting book two.
SPEAKER_02So book book one and book two, which just released on the 31st, both of them are on Amazon NKU. And we will be sure to drop the link in our show notes, and it'll be included in season one list on our Amazon storefront. So be sure to check it out and let us know what you think about the book.
SPEAKER_00Yes, because it's my new personality. Well, guys, we are going to dive deep into the hot shot. So this is your spoiler warning. We love that you were here. But if you haven't read this book yet, I suggest that you utilize the chapter features on whatever platform you're listening to this episode on and jump ahead to the next segment.
SPEAKER_02If you have read, or if you are chaos readers like Courtney and I, then stick around and hear our thoughts about the book.
– Spoiler Warning - skip to next segment if you havent read
SPEAKER_00All right. So, Mary, let's first do like our overall thoughts of the book. What you got for me?
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. Well, you know me, second chance or missed opportunities that come back around definitely fall into my jam of reads. This book was so much fun to read. I thought that it had some really, really tender, heartfelt moments. And I thought that Piper gave these characters a lot of depth,
– Overall Thoughts
SPEAKER_02emotional growth, and she also gave us some fiercely loyal friendships. I definitely have so many things I want to know, especially with Foster coming into play. Like I felt like Hayes was getting a lot closer to Easton and Decker and kind of excited that Foster wasn't in the picture. So I'm definitely excited for that story arc to kind of hopefully continue. The ending did take me by surprise. I have to admit, I was surprised on that one because I had my guesses, but she totally threw me for a loop with how she played out that ending. And so I know we'll get to that in a little bit. And I have to say that I'm nervous for book two because Foster is not my favorite. So I'm excited to see how Piper will redeem him in the story. Okay.
SPEAKER_00So who were you hoping for? And tell me it was Decker.
SPEAKER_02It really was. It really was. Yes. I was I was hoping. I was hoping beyond hope that that's what it was. And so I am very excited to see how she writes and has fosters character growth in book two because how he's portrayed in book one is definitely the cocky hot shot who almost like he's an asshole. He is. He is, but I also feel like he is the one who eggs all the other people on to make bad decisions. And I feel like he does that because he doesn't want to look at himself and be like, I'm the one making these decisions. I want to bring somebody down with me. That's kind of how I pictured him. But I I thought the story was very well done. I loved Leighton and Hayes, and I loved the fun times and the kids in the story and how she captured, how she captured real life in that respect. Like as a mom, there were so many things where Leighton was doing stuff, and I'm like, oh yeah. I think we've all been there and can relate to that on such a deeper level. And so I'm thrilled that we get to deep dive in and compare notes. So what was what was your overall thought so far?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I loved it. It was the perfect read for, you know, the start of the baseball season. And I started reading this on open and day. So it like just fit. It was the vibe I wanted. It was the vibe that I got. And I so, I so wanted to include it in our episode of the boy garden in bloom because it would have been so perfect, but or at least like, you know, give it an honorable mention. But I'm glad it's getting its own episode. That friend group, that friend group, it's so relatable. And like you said, they brought Foster in, like probably about 65-70% in the book. And this whole time, you're he's made to be the villain, right? Because Hayes is Hayes is on his redemption path. Like he got he's the bad boy, he's trying to clean up his image, and then you throw Foster in at left field. And uh Foster's redemption story. I feel like we're gonna love him by the end of book two, but that ending, that ending, I was kicking my feet, and like because it did you have no clue. Like they get they they truly leave you on a cliffy. Like it says, you know, it ends with it can be any of the three guys, and I'm like, motherfucker, motherfucker, who is it? And I was I was so hoping for Decker. And then of course I had to go um to Piper Rain's Instagram page, and do find out that it is foster is gonna be book two's main male character.
SPEAKER_02When I saw the title for book two, I figured out that it was gonna be Foster. Uh right after we got to the cliffhanger, and then you scroll down and she mentions book two's title, the wild card, and I was like, oh, so my guess was wrong. Like immediately knew.
SPEAKER_00I love how your brain works because I never would have guessed that the title.
SPEAKER_02I guessed it because foster foster was the wild card coming into the team during during this book with with Hayes um as the catcher, and Foster came in as the wild card as the pitcher. And so when I saw that title, I was like, oh, I know who it is.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. Definitely, definitely did not get a read on that.
SPEAKER_02Which I love. I love how we both have our different takeaways from from the book and different things that stuck with us.
SPEAKER_00And I know that's why we work so well together.
SPEAKER_02I agree, I agree. I have to give an honorable mention from the book to Ruby. Yeah, she's the bartender, she's the bartender at Peeper's Alley, which in this story is the bar that is at the bottom of the apartment complex where Decker, Hayes, and Easton live. And eventually Foster comes to live there as well when he is signed on to the team. But throughout the story, I think the comical piece is they're trying to rename the apartment to match the players and what what team and what sport is being played. But then Ruby and her sass and gruff attitude, and I feel like she looks out for them like she's their mama bear. And it is just so funny how listening to her talk with Layton that one time, I was laughing when they were going head to head verbally against each other.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah. She she was definitely the mama bear to them, and I don't know, she was just hilarious the entire time. And then at the end, when they brought the kids in, she's just so loving. I love it. I love I love when there's an older character in the stories that have like the best comedic relief. Um there's a lot of comedy in this. I mean, just between the guys alone, like literally at point, there was points I was crying from laughing so hard. I'm surprised I didn't pee on myself.
SPEAKER_02You want to start and take us from the very beginning with their little meat cute setup.
SPEAKER_00Can we really call it a meat cute in this one? Because, you know, we meet Leighton, and at the very beginning, we're finding out, you know, she just gained temporary custody of her cousin's kids. Her and her cousin was very close. They were more like sisters. And Leighton is a single labor and delivery nurse, and she just feels like she's drowning, but also wants to honor her cousin's wishes. So her cousin and her cousin's husband ended up passing away. They were on like a hike or something like that, right?
SPEAKER_02Yes. They they took a vacation, they took a vacation to a cabin, and it was interesting and probably one of the loose plot threads that I would have liked tidied up a little bit, is they apparently went, they supposedly went hiking and they passed away on the hike. It sounds like they fell off a cliff or something happened in that nature. But also later in the book, they find that phones and things were in the cabin in the backpack and not with them when they went on the hike. And that my little detective brain with red flags was like, why? I needed to know for me, for me, that nugget, and sorry, that was a huge spoiler.
SPEAKER_00Hey, we already gave that spoiler warning. We're good.
SPEAKER_02But yeah, so they did. So, anyways, they passed away, and Leighton is trying to honor her cousin and her husband's wishes. They both agreed they wanted Leighton to have custody and guardianship over their three kids.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes. And so her best friend is Callie, and Callie knows she's about to go away on like this like work trip. So she wants someone there representing for her and like wants Leighton to feel supported, even though Callie can't be there. So she calls in her hot older brother Hayes.
SPEAKER_02Dun dun dun.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Hayes, you know, he plays for the Chicago Colts as a catcher, and he's new to the team. He I forgot what team he was playing on previously, but he was in Seattle. So he was in Seattle, and the pitcher for them was Foster. And when them two AK is his best friend when he was in Seattle. Yes. When you get them two together, they just cause chaos. They feed off each other. It was like a toxic friendship, pretty much. And I think. So too. And you just learn all this stuff throughout the book about Foster. That's like what made me hate him before even knowing him.
SPEAKER_02I know, I know. And that's I I hope that Piper tells us in book two a little bit more backstory of what happened in Seattle because we do find out in the book in Hotshot, we find out why Hayes felt so lost when he was in Seattle. And I think that's the best word for it. He was spiraling and he was lost. And you find that out as you read the story. He confides in Leighton about all of it. And I feel like, like you said, Foster, I feel like egged on that feeling in Hayes. And that's what caused Hayes to have issues to where coming to Chicago was for two reasons. He wanted to be near family, but I think also it was the last straw for him to prove that he could get his act together and be a professional level-headed player.
SPEAKER_00Right. 100%. And they have like this little backstory. So she Leighton has always thought he was like really good looking. Like through high school, they're just a couple of years age difference. But Callie, one thing she made clear to Leighton is how much she despised having girl friendships that was only wanting to be friends with Callie to get closer to Hayes. So when Leighton hears this, she's like, Well, I can't I can't be interested in Hayes because I don't want to lose that friendship with Callie. So she immediately puts up this like wall for that. And it was in the college years, Leighton and Hayes end up kissing one night, maybe at like at a party or something where they were leaving something. I don't, I can't remember the full story. But right after the kiss, Leighton just like turns and runs away. And she never tells Callie about it. Like, like it never happened.
SPEAKER_02And Hayes never tells Callie about it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't think they tell basically anyone about it, right?
SPEAKER_02Right. And so that covers some of our backstory. And part of you can definitely see the foreshadowing. So before Callie goes on her podcast tour, which let's give a huge shout out to that because hello, podcast goals, Court and I would love to go on tour. Yes, totally. But she meets with the attorney who handled her cousin's affairs. And he says that right now she is the guardian, but there is a time period where people can contest. And at the funeralslash wake that's at the home, you kind of meet other characters in the story, specifically the late husband's brother and his wife. So they are Art and Juliana. And you can kind of tell, you're like, this bitch, I do not like her completely. And so when the lawyer is talking to Callie and Leighton about the guardianship and that people can contest, as soon as he said that, you know the tension is going to be her fighting for these kids.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Yep. 100%.
SPEAKER_02And that leads to a hearing where Hayes stands up in the middle of the courtroom and says they're dating.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Loved it. I I should at this point because you know me. I I love a good fake dating.
SPEAKER_02And that was the that was a beautiful announcement and way to do it. And you're just like, yes, fist pump. Go get her.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Yes. And the kids. Let's talk about the kids for a second, because they're mostly younger. You have Lake, the oldest, who is like a teenager. I think she's like in high school. But then you have Lincoln, who is more like in middle school. And then you have Monroe, who is younger. And I just loved all of their personalities. Like they were so sweet. And you see the three of them take the grief of losing their parents in different ways. And I feel like this, like Piper did such a great job. Like with all like I couldn't do it. That was that is some art right there. Their craft is like so amazing because like they took three little people, gave them each their own personalities, and then how to overcome grief, which is hard to do at that age. So kudos, kudos to Piper.
SPEAKER_02It is, it really was beautifully, beautifully done. So Monroe is six. And can I also say as a mother, so apparently the children's parents decided to do a national day calendar with Monroe, which, if you don't know what the national day is, when you Google, it'll say, oh, today is the national day of ice cream. Today is the national day of hugs. And for Leighton and then Hayes to pick it up to and just completely go with this. As a mother, I was like, what the hell was she smoking? Because there is no way that I would ever do something like that. I'm like, I would have shot myself in the foot 10 times over.
SPEAKER_00But the national like say hi day or introduce yourself day or whatever it was. Like I was chuckling because that would totally happen. Like with the six-year-old, like my five-year-old would do the same thing.
SPEAKER_02Like Oh my gosh. And high high five day. High five day. Yeah. Yes. And and so one of the one of the fun days and the first, one of the first times Callie calls in Haze is when it is national get your nails done day. And so all the boys, Decker and Easton, go with Monroe and Lincoln so that Monroe can get her nails done. And it ends up that Easton and Lincoln get their nails done to match. And it was such a funny, funny time. But I do, I do love, I like when there are kids in the story. It definitely makes it real and relatable for me. But like you said, I really, really love how Piper, how they captured each child individually and each of their struggles because it was very different how the grief manifested in each of them. And and you could really, you could see it and you could understand it. And it seemed, it seemed very believable as a reader.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I think one of my favorites was with Lincoln's dad, was going to coach his baseball team. And Layton was like, oh, I can do it. And so then she goes to Hayes and like gets all these, like they plan and she gets all of her notes and stuff. And then she gets there, and this guy is trying to like mansplain to her and just being a complete douche. I know. And she's just like, oh, my boyfriend, my boyfriend's helping me. Oh, my boyfriend like gave me some pointers, and he's just like, Oh, your boyfriend, okay. And then he shows up.
SPEAKER_02I know, I know. That was probably one of the best scenes ever to have that. And the guy, the guy, I can't even remember his nickname. It was like something smarmy. Like it was so gross.
SPEAKER_00Well, like the I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I have to look it up now.
SPEAKER_00What was the nickname? But people call me Bump Bummer, Bumper? Some weird name.
SPEAKER_02I know it was. And um butter. Is it butter? Yes, I think so.
SPEAKER_00It was yes, yes, butter. It is butter. Yeah, and then he was like, you could call you could call me butter. And then like Hayes, like intentionally was like not calling him that and then calling, yeah. It was, I loved every second of it.
SPEAKER_02It was hilarious. So obviously, throughout all of this, they start falling for each other and start realizing that it doesn't feel like it's fake. And I do like and appreciate how they communicated that both of them were both of them were feeling real feelings for each other. So Piper Rain didn't, she didn't skirt around that. And you actually are like, okay, here are adults who are having conversations, and that was a good thing. They are communicating in that way, and we'll get to the conflict chaos in a minute because we will have to mention that there is a third act breakup, and I'm not normally a fan of those, but we'll we'll cover that in a second. So while they're admitting they have feelings for each other, the guardianship was challenged. And one of the Easter eggs or clues is while she's putting away her stuff, waiting for the social worker to come and review what's going on in the home, she finds this duffel bag with lingerie in it that she thought was really, really odd that it was in the spare room. And the kids also alluded to their dad sleeping in the spare room. So Leighton is not only going over the loss of her best friend, but also going through the realization that what she thought was a picture perfect marriage and family may not have always been the case.
SPEAKER_00Yes, because I I recall her saying that her cousin would never wear like red lingerie, and there was red lingerie in the bag.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00So she's she starts questioning this, like, why didn't she tell me any of these issues kind of thing.
SPEAKER_02And we also have their backpacks. Eventually, Hayes convinces her to move into the master bedroom, and that's when you start to see you see their backpacks from their camping, their hiking trip that they went on. And there was a separate phone that the husband had, and she confides in Hayes that she's not sure what it is because all of his work stuff was collected and that this was different. So that is another thing that leaves readers guessing. And I will tell you, this is the first place that I went was most of your readers are going to guess that he was having an affair.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And I was like, some crazy bitch showed up at their like weekend trip and pushed them. Like that's exactly like my head went.
SPEAKER_02Well, so my head went that it was Juliana and the husband. And that's why Juliana wanted, and that's why Juliana wanted, was contesting this and wanted the kids. That was where my that was where my brain thought and went, which I thought was really, really fabulous of them to write it that way, because I think readers are going to expect that. And then when you find out the reality, which we'll we can get to later after we do some of our chaotic conflict that they have. But she threw me for a loop for that one because I did not expect what it actually was.
SPEAKER_00Me either. Me either. Like you said, I'm I'm not a fan of the third act breakup. Um, but if it's done well, I enjoy it. And this this is one that was done really well.
SPEAKER_02And it wasn't long.
SPEAKER_00Yes, it wasn't a long so Hayes promised Lakin that he would be at her birthday party. So she ended up telling all of her friends, you know, that I have this MLB player coming to my birthday party. And then Hayes was gonna bring his guys, and it was just gonna be fun. But it gets time for the party, and Hayes isn't there, but they have a game, so she's like, Okay, okay, it's running a little bit late. I understand. And so she starts calling him and he doesn't answer. And she continues to call and call and call. And here it is at the end of the party, and there it's a no-show, and he finally comes home. I want to say he has he's sporting a black eye. Yes, and they get to this huge fight, and I don't even think she like lets him fully explain, right?
SPEAKER_02Does this no because because we find out we find out throughout the story Layton's trauma and her trauma is is her not being able to depend on anybody. Because if you don't depend on anybody, then you can't get hurt. That's right.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And she was starting to depend on what I will say is with the conflict and him not showing at the birthday party, one of the things I loved about Hayes' character is even though Leighton was mad at him, he went up to Lake and apologized to her on his own, you know, did did the adult thing to do. And that was that was a piece where I was like, okay, you're a little, that's a little swoony. That was that was good.
SPEAKER_00It shows that he's he doesn't just care for for Leighton, he cares for all of these kids.
SPEAKER_01Yes. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00I was I was so mad, but I get I get why we needed the breakup, but she kind of finds herself too during this breakup. Like because she's also like she doesn't like to depend on anyone other but the thing is she does in a way. Like she she will it's like a catch 22 because she knows her parents will back her up if needed, but she also depends on on Callie. You know, she comes home. Wait, Callie was there for the party, so I it that's how she finds out that her and Hayes actually like a real thing.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes. And it was funny, it was funny because we also find out Callie kind of set it up. She knew that they both had feelings for each other, so that is why she you find out that is why she sent Hayes to check on Leighton at the beginning. I feel like that was the sister blessing of I know my brother wants you, and I know you want my brother, so here's my blessing.
SPEAKER_00Also, like I loved how they wrote their like sibling dynamic because you could truly tell they were like brother-sister, because like the throughout every interaction with Hayes and Callie, she was like doing reverse psychology to get her away. Yes, and like I died every single time because I was like, Yep, that's that's something I would have done with my brother at that age. Yes, yes, it is.
SPEAKER_02And and also I think what was hilarious is we find out that Callie fed reverse psychology to Lake to talk to Leighton in order for her to forgive Hayes and to get like when that truth came out that it wasn't Lake's therapist, it was Callie. And I'm like, oh, that was brilliant. That was just hilarious. That was so, so funny. So funny.
SPEAKER_00Oh my gosh. Yes, that was amazing.
unknownI forgot about that.
SPEAKER_02And obviously, obviously they get back together. Yes. And we find out what what threw me for the loop is we find out that it was actually the uncle, Art, who is Patrick's brother, the late husband's brother, and Skylar, Leighton's cousin, were having an affair. And I felt like it was good that Hayes was around when Leighton found that that so Patrick hired a private investigator, and all of this came to light at the end. And at first Leighton didn't want to know, but Hayes, Hayes supported her whichever way she, whatever her decision was. And they found out and they decided to know the truth, but not obviously not tell the kids. And they also decided to, Leighton went to art and basically threatened him in a good way to say, back off, these kids are mine, you're never getting them if you want this information to stay private. And so it does end up with her having the kids as their own and Hayes moving in with them, even though he was already living there.
SPEAKER_00Also, when she was like going to storm out of Art's house, and he was sitting there on Hayes was sitting there on the steps waiting for her. Like that was like, Yes, like I know you're strong enough that you can do this, but I'm here if you need me.
SPEAKER_02Like, I was just like, I know that was total swoon. That was like swoon moment, main character energy, 5,000. It was beautiful how he just was there for her, and and that was it. And he just hugs her, and you're just like, okay, heart melt, I'm done. Put a ring on her finger.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02And then obviously at the very ending, we find out somebody is pregnant.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So our epilogue, which, you know, I'm not big fans of prologue and epilogue. I get like why we have them. But the epilogue comes, it's five months later, and it's in someone else's point of view. It is in Callie's point of view, and we find out, you know, that she's pregnant. She's not that in the book. Does she take the test in the bar? Or does she take the test before she went?
SPEAKER_02I think she took the test before she went.
SPEAKER_00That's that's right. And but she tells Leighton in the bathroom in a bar, and she's like, I forgot how how it happened, but she's not a big thing.
SPEAKER_02They they tell each other outside, actually. They're talking outside. They walked out, mm-hmm. They walk outside, and they're outside of the building, and she blurts it out. And Layton is shocked, and she said she took the test this morning, and she asked Callie who's the dad, and Callie said it's one of the men in there, which obviously you know it's not Hayes, and you know it's not Jagger, because I think their manager Jagger is in there, so you know it's not him because he is obsessed and married. She she asks for clarification. She's like, the baby's father is either Decker, Foster, or Eaton, Eason, and Callie nods. And then Hayes interrupts with all the kids coming out, and they were like, We're getting fresh air, and they decide to go to the zoo afterwards, and they find out the name for the building they finally came up with was the dugout. And so and then we end it with a perfect ending right there.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah. So I am definitely excited for book two and the wild card. You know, it's out now. I finished a book, so I think I'm gonna download. I think I'm gonna start the wild card today. That's gonna be my currently reading.
SPEAKER_02That's gonna be your currently reading. And I will say they do have Piper Rain. So if you don't know, Piper Rain is two people writing under that name. And they do have a bonus content that when you finish reading, if you sign up for their newsletter, you get a you get a bonus, you get a bonus content, and it talks, um, talks about their happily ever after a little more. And there's a little bit more of Callie in the bonus content too.
SPEAKER_00So currently reading, not surprisingly. You're going to the wild card. I'm going to the wild card, baby. I am going to the wild card. I'm going to start that. Like I need to start another book. Bass Courtney is back, bitches.
SPEAKER_02I think I'm actually taking a little bit of a break. That's okay. Catch up on some admin stuff. So my currently readings are paused at the moment, but I definitely want to dive into book two of this one.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I'll, I'll, I won't spoil it for you, but I will I will give you my vibes as I go.
SPEAKER_02What are we watching? Well, still American Idol, definitely. And we watched.
SPEAKER_00Did you find out who got voted off?
SPEAKER_02No, I find out Monday. Probably when this airs, I probably will have known who got voted off, but I don't know right now.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_02And obviously still watching The Rookie, which has new episodes every Monday, right after American Idol. And that has this and Phillian who's uh
– What We're Currently Reading
SPEAKER_02that's my older man. Yeah. Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_00I did get to. Start the Real Housewives of Rhode Island. I'm still on episode one, but because my kids had to put my kids to bed. So because we kind of watch it on a delay because I just never know when I can have to watch it. But I wanted Hubby to watch this one with me because he is a fan of Bachelor Nation. So I was like, at least give it one one episode. I don't think he's feeling it because it's like a lot of drama. So this is probably one like I can watch on my own so I can keep up with it quicker.
– What We’re Watching
SPEAKER_00But um I did have to put the kids to bed last night. So I'm hoping to finish it tonight. But it's good. I like what I see I've seen so far.
SPEAKER_02So I'm I'm hooked. Awesome. So now we get time for our unhinged thoughts of the week. We take our normal thoughts with no context, no logic, and just vibes and unpack it like it's completely normal around here. So what's your unhinged thought, Courtney?
SPEAKER_00I've just been so burnt out. Like burnout is so fucking real. Because if you think about it, like I work full-time, I podcast, which is almost itself a full-time job. Um, I got all my little side hustles I like to do, the authors I help. And then on top of that, like I'm a mom. I'm the primary parent. I gotta figure out what to cook every night. I gotta clean. I gotta do laundry. I just need a fucking break.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00So my united thought is normalize breaks. Like, it's fine. Yes, I wanted all of this. Yes, I could take away things, but it's okay to say, hey, I just I just need a little me time.
SPEAKER_02Yes, I agree, I completely agree. My my thoughts are we need to normalize that burnout can happen and normalize building in safety measures, I say it like that, but normalize building in checks and balances so that we
– Unhinged Thoughts of the Week
SPEAKER_02don't have burnout as often. And like you said, like normalize taking breaks, normalize doing doing things completely off the wall to just minimize the burnout. Because yeah, I I feel you 100% on the burnout. I don't know what it's been for these past six months, but like it's real and it's struggle busing. And I some of it I think has to do with age too. And I think that that's a hard, a hard thing to balance as women is our hormones and our body changes and our mind changes and our energy levels change. And just yeah, having having more more normalized breaks and understanding of those things.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Cause it's like points like this, like I really wish I had my kids when I was in my 20s. But because like I had more energy then. And um, because that's one thing. Like, I want to give them the childhood I didn't have. So I work my ass off.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes. Fully understand that. Fully understand that. What you got for me, Miri? My unhinged thought are why are cats such feral chaos gremlins? I love, I love our little furballs, and one of them is not little. Her name is Buttercup, but she literally looks like a butterball turkey when she lays down on the ground. Uh but one the other one, Gus, he is in his feral stage where I cannot sleep. And he is even worse than when my kid was born. Uh, and and you're up all night feeding your child. No, this cat is worse. If I'm in bed, he starts plucking on the side of the bed to wake me up to go downstairs. And then if I'm downstairs, he will pluck and lift the floor mat at our front door. So it makes this really loud thwack, like smacking sound. He will pluck the couch, he will pluck the bins, the little cloth bins that we have that, you know, used to house my kids' toys and now house all the junk I don't want anybody to see in my home. And, you know, I'm not one to let my cats out at night just because we do live in an area where there have been coyotes, there are bears, they're there are stuff like that. So I don't let them out at night. And some nights I literally want to swaddle him in one of those Velcro sleep, angel sleep sacks, and put him in a crib and a sound machine so I could get a full night's sleep.
SPEAKER_00Listen, let me tell you something that's gonna change your life. Go to the pet store and get him what's called a thunder vest or a thunderbuddy vest. I don't my cat, when we had our cat Gibson, he was so anxious if new people came over or if there was any loud sounds. He got so anxious. So they made these like it's basically like a I know exactly what you're talking about for cats. Like literally, you put that on, he would walk two steps and like just fall over. And I thought it was the funniest thing.
SPEAKER_02Oh my gosh. I might have to try that for night. I don't know if he'll let me do it. I don't know if he'll let me do it because he is also like, don't don't touch, like, don't rat me in anything. Yeah, but I might I might have to try that. But yeah, so nights the past two weeks have been have been interesting to say the least. And I don't know these these pet owners who have their cats or pets who sleep all night and don't disturb them. I I I'm in awe of them. So, listeners, if you have a pet, especially a cat, and your cat sleeps all night, teach me your ways, tell me your secrets because this uh this girl would like some uninterrupted sleep.
SPEAKER_00And again, always feel free to message us um your unhinged thoughts to us because who knows, we might read them on air.
SPEAKER_02Yes. And we are going to wrap it up for today, but next week we have a wonderful author guest joining us. Yeah, you want to drop some teasers? You want to drop some teasers, Court?
SPEAKER_00Yes. So this author writes romance stories with heat, heart, and humor, and of course, some happily ever afters. She is a Chicago native and also a fellow Diet Coke lover.
SPEAKER_02So which she will fit right in.
SPEAKER_00Yes, she's gonna fit in quite well. So check us out next week to see who we're gonna have.
SPEAKER_02Yes, and be sure if you want a little early access, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram. We will be dropping hints and we'll be revealing who our guests are. And if you want first access to all of the unhinged chaotic goodies, our newsletter is where you want to be. And our sign-up is linked in the show notes. In the meantime, you can catch us causing chaos over on Instagram at WhatTheSmut Podcast, and me personally at On Point Digital Services.
SPEAKER_00And I'm over on Instagram at Courtney
– Next Week’s Author Tease
SPEAKER_00Leanne. If you want to join us for a chat, there's a form linked in our notes. So be sure to fill that out because we would love to hear from you. If you enjoyed today's episode, please consider leaving us a review.
SPEAKER_02Reviews help other smut readers find us, and honestly, they make our chaotic hearts very happy.
SPEAKER_00And if you really love this podcast and want to show support, we've got a listener support link in our show notes. Supporters get shout outs, special giveaways, and maybe even some exclusive chaos you can't find anywhere else. We also have sponsorship opportunities as well. Thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you guys next time.
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