The Sinful Shelf
The Sinful Shelf Podcast where we discuss all your favorite dark romance books!
The Sinful Shelf
Flawless
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Come with us to discuss Flawless by Elsie Silver!
Hi, everybody, and welcome to The Sinful Shell. Um, today we're going to be discussing Flawless by Elsie Silver. Um, a much later read than any of the books that we have done before. Yes.
SPEAKER_01So we're we're switching it up a little bit just for you know for a little bit.
SPEAKER_00We did a little bit of something light in in the middle of the darkness just to give us a little bit of a reprieve. Um, and just a recap of all of the trigger warnings, they are not listed in the book, but I did find them on triggerwarningdatabase.com just in case. Um, so the trigger warning list that they have is parental abandonment, parental infidelity, recounted, toxic relationship and grooming, child abuse, divorce, alcohol consumption, congenital heart disease, or heart defect, recovering, including heart surgery, mentioned, heart attack of a parent, bull riding accident resulting in broken ribs, and a severe concussion, dieting and food shaming mentioned, grief and loss depiction, death of a mother in childbirth recounted, and stalking.
SPEAKER_01Who doesn't love a little bit of stocking?
SPEAKER_00In this book, I think it was unwarranted.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Who is her sister's husband? Yes.
SPEAKER_01What a douchebag.
SPEAKER_00What a douchebag. Oh.
SPEAKER_01I just love how his name on her phone became Dr. Douche.
SPEAKER_00Oh, only because Rhett changed it.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Go Rhett.
SPEAKER_01Go Rhett. Go Rhett.
SPEAKER_00Um, do you want to start us out today?
SPEAKER_01I will because you started last time, so it's only fair. Can I help you?
SPEAKER_00Okay, I'll start first for the next episode.
SPEAKER_01All right. One day we'll figure it out. All right. Theoretically, if Rhett showed up in a cowboy hat asking you to go on the road with him, would you go?
SPEAKER_00Yes. And do you want to know what I would do specifically?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I would take his hat and put it on the head. If you know, you know. Yep.
SPEAKER_01100% is mentioned in the book. I actually did that at my wedding with my own cowboy.
SPEAKER_00I love that for you.
SPEAKER_01Um yeah, no, I would 100% go with him. Yep. Without a second thought. I would just be like, ha, alright, you're cute. Let's go.
SPEAKER_00I would become the biggest buckle bunny for ret and red only.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. 100%. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um if you were to recommend a book for a brand new romance reader who is somebody who has never read a romance book before, do you think you would recommend this book?
SPEAKER_01Yes, I would. I would. Because, like, especially if they're not used to the romance genre, I'm not gonna start them off with something truly dark and you know, um depraved, yeah. So I would 100% recommend this one because there's there's not a whole lot of darkness to it. But it is a good trope.
SPEAKER_00It's a really good trope, and it's just cute and it's fluffy, and I love light and fluffy romances in between all the dark ones that I mean.
SPEAKER_01Every once in a while a nice fluffy romance is is just what you need. And when you mix a cowboy into it, I think it just makes it wound. It does make I love a good cowboy.
SPEAKER_00I love a good cowboy.
SPEAKER_01I just love a good cowboy.
SPEAKER_00Okay, fair enough. Fair enough.
SPEAKER_01All right. What do you think um Rhett's green flag is, and what do you think his red flag is?
SPEAKER_00I think his red flag is that he doesn't know when to quit ever. Um his green flag to me is the fact that he would stick up for you in any situation, absolutely any. Like he would go to war for you, but in the best way. Like he would defend you to the end. Oh yeah. Perfect green flag for me.
SPEAKER_01See, I agree with that, but like also a like a baby green flag is he just he opens the doors for you. He walks on the other side of the door for or on the other side of the road, so he's closer to the traffic than you are. Both things that my own husband does, so I'm like, green flag. Yeah, the the little romantic things that he does, small gestures, people, just the small gestures, but also like his red flag is again, he doesn't know when to quit. And like when you ask him to stop and he doesn't because he thinks he's doing the right thing for you, buddy. No, you gotta listen.
SPEAKER_00Especially when your broken rims and you know, a concussion and a hurt shoulder, I think it's time to like take a step back.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because a broken rib could easily puncture your lung and kill you.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00No, I think that's one of his biggest red flags, is definitely the fact that no matter how hurt he is, he will never stop. Do you think Rhett's reputation was really damaged because he said he doesn't like milk, or do you think it's because he punched the reporter?
SPEAKER_01Honestly, who gets that upset over milk? Over milk. Like, I get it. Like he's supposed to be a big country boy, and you know, a lot of the country folk pride themselves on the work they do. And he and as he said multiple times, he he appreciates the effort that all farmers go through to produce the work that they do because he grew up as a farm boy, you know, his family's farm for farm people. And like, I don't like milk.
unknownI don't either.
SPEAKER_01Like, I shouldn't get hated for not liking something. Like, yeah, I get it, you're repping something, but you have to understand most people who rep things don't actually like what they're reping, or even use it, or like beauty products.
SPEAKER_00Most of the celebrities who rep beauty products don't actually use the beauty products. So it's like, don't shit on him for not liking milk. Get over it. I think that was so blown out of proportion.
SPEAKER_01It really was.
SPEAKER_00I think more of his downfall, because he didn't say he doesn't like ranchers, he didn't say he didn't respect ranchers or anything like that. He just said he didn't like milk, and I think the argument was ridiculous that all of this was because of that.
SPEAKER_01But I right, I don't think it had it so much to do with punching the reporter, because like people would get it. Like you're you're getting in his face, he's asking you to back off, you're not listening. I'd punch him too.
SPEAKER_00I wouldn't, but that's just my passive nature versus I don't want to say your aggressive nature because your nature isn't really aggressive, but defensive nature. Me defensive?
SPEAKER_02No.
SPEAKER_00Never in a million years. Never.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, I I just I don't think it had so much to do with punching the reporter. I literally think it was just about the milk, and I think that was blown way out of proportion.
SPEAKER_00It was way blown out of proportion. Even Summer thought that it was blown way out of proportion, which which it was. It was it was ridiculous to even be that uh because he didn't say anything against ranchers, right? Just I don't like milk. Right. But I loved when his his brother and his friend kept sending coffee or the milk drinks to the table just to piss him off enough to help Summer do her job without her.
SPEAKER_01So fucking funny.
SPEAKER_00Oh, between Jasper Gervaise and fucking Bo Eaton.
SPEAKER_01I couldn't, I was laughing hysterically at that point. Oh, your future wife said this is your favorite. Here you go. And he's like, future wife. Little did he know, Bo called it.
SPEAKER_00Bo and Jasper Bagels called it. Oh my lord. They did such a good job reading that. They really did. So good. Who do you think fell first? Definitely Summer. Um, I think Summer fell first because she had that crush on him from when she was a teenager and he was just starting out in the bull riding industry with his Wranglers.
SPEAKER_01Um Hey, don't knock a nice pair of Wranglers on a man's ass.
SPEAKER_00I think she was just fighting it harder than Rhett was because of the stipulation behind the client like the professional professional line.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I think she definitely fell first, but she was trying not to because of that professional line.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, honestly, I think she should have just said screw professionalism way sooner than she did.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I agree.
SPEAKER_01But like I do agree that I think she fell first just because she had crushed on him so much growing up, which I just find funny, and I think I think Kip had had an idea when he sent her to work for him.
SPEAKER_00Fucked up matchmaker.
SPEAKER_01Like, he he's don't don't let him into your pants. And she goes, Well, I prefer skirts. Like she went into this, she went into this being ready to oh yeah, absolutely, but she had to work out her own personal can I cross this professional line? And I think she did the right thing.
SPEAKER_00Can I just mention the fact that she has that kind of like back and forth with her dad? It's so funny to me.
SPEAKER_01What is it like having a nice conversation with a dad?
SPEAKER_00I know you don't know it, but I know it. And it's pretty fucking hilarious.
SPEAKER_01Listen that the the great dad dynamic in this book between Rhett's dad and Summer's dad, I'm like, this must be nice. I'm jealous of like just out of everything of this book that I could be jealous of, I think I was most jealous of the dad relationships.
SPEAKER_00It was so cute. It really was. Honestly, like most of the books that we both read, people have daddy issues. Yes, big daddy issues. And this one had mommy issues instead, which is honestly great. It was a good twist, it was a good twist for once, you know, to see this not having the stereoty stereotypical daddy issue out there, and just having it be, I mean, they still had the mommy issues, but it was a it was refreshing. It was refreshing. What was your first impression of summer?
SPEAKER_01My first impression of summer, I would probably say, um, why are you in this job? True. Like it does not seem to fit you, and like, yeah, let's show up to a ranch in a corporate outfit.
unknownOh my god.
SPEAKER_00I to be honest with you, I thought at first, and it changed throughout the book. I love her now at the end of the book. I thought she was a little snobby at first, exactly. Because the fact that I know she justified it later, but the entire first meeting, she was smirking, she was hiding her giggles. I know it was because she thought the situation was just so ridiculous and she wasn't laughing at Rhett, but and then showing up to the ranch in heels, a skirt, like but not just any skirt, like a corporate style outfit. It wasn't the move, no, and I know she grew up in the city, but she was also somebody who rode horses and so you should know what to expect going to a farm, right?
SPEAKER_01Right. Yeah, no, she was a complete snob at the beginning. I yes, and in just like key details, like not in like full personality, but in just like key details, key details, yeah, 100%. But then like the later the book got and like as soon as she changed to jeans and a t-shirt, I'm like, there you go.
SPEAKER_00That's how you show up to a writing. It's appropriate. That's how you show up to a professional bull riding like show. You know, you don't dress to the nines like you're having a business meeting. I I loved her character at the end, I really, really did. But at the beginning, I did find her a little snobby.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I did too. I I do have to say, if like you follow Elsie Silver's newsletter on her website, you can get bonus chapters.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you were telling me, Mom box.
SPEAKER_01And the bonus chapter that I got, I'm just like, I love this this family. Like, can I can I be a part of this family?
SPEAKER_00Speaking of Elsie Silver, right? This book based in Canada. I know. Do you want to know what comes full circle with me buying this paperback? What? I bought it while we were in Canada. I found when we were in PEI, I found a little cafe bookstore that was selling books, and I wound up buying the first two. Where was I? You were sleeping, I think. That is not fair because you, David, and camera were all sleeping. So I went out with my mom and with a couple of my parents' friends, and we found this little cafe because we wanted to just go explore and shop, and they were selling these books, all of them. They had every single one, and I bought the first two while we were in Canada.
SPEAKER_01Honestly, smart move. Smart move.
SPEAKER_00It really came full circle for me when I found out these books were based in Canada. I loved it. I loved every second of it.
SPEAKER_01Do you want to come to your spot?
SPEAKER_00Oh, we have a guest joining us. Come on.
unknownCome in.
SPEAKER_00Come on. You know how to go over my list. She's the main character. Oh, we may have to move the book.
SPEAKER_01She has always been main character energy. But she decided she wanted to chew on her bone first.
SPEAKER_00She had priorities, so and now she's gonna do all the slices.
SPEAKER_01Alright. Um if you could change one thing about the plot, what would it be?
SPEAKER_00I honestly don't know. Honestly, I don't think I would change anything about the plot of this book. Personally, I for a softer read, I loved every single second of it. I don't think I would change any part of the plot.
SPEAKER_01The only thing I would change is Rhett's family actually supporting his bull riding. Well, maybe not the whole time because it did kind of build on who his character was, but on the ride that was close to home when she was like trying to advocate his family going.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and then they didn't go.
SPEAKER_01I think that should have been like the turning point for his family on being like, all right, maybe we should go and support him on this.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER_01I think that's the only plot point that I would I would change, honestly.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, just I wish they came around to it versus always being. I do agree with that, actually. That I feel like with the family dynamic they had, they should have been more supportive, at least towards the end. But yeah, I still don't think I'd change anything though. But I I do see how that's a little aggravating.
SPEAKER_01I do just a little.
SPEAKER_00Um this I love this question. Which character do you think would say, I don't need you to give me directions, but then immediately give you get you lost? Summer. Out of all the characters in the book, I could think of a better answer.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I I feel like it would it would definitely be summer, but like it could also be Bo. I say Cade.
SPEAKER_00Because he's such a grumpy man, where he'd be like, no, I know better. I'm gonna I know the way. Don't I don't need your directions, and then he would immediately get you lost.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I feel like that is extremely accurate. Yeah, he's just such a grumpy man, he is a grumpy man.
SPEAKER_00What a grumpy daddy, but no, I 100% believe he would be the one to do that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I could see Bo too, yeah, but he would be funny about it. Oh, of course, he'd be like, nah, this was my plan all alone. This was the whole plot, this was the whole plan. Come here. Okay, baby. All right. Do you think so? In the hospital, when her dad had the heart attack, yep. Do you think Rhett went too far in the con um in the confronting of Dr. Douche, or do you think that Summer overreacted about the situation after the fact?
SPEAKER_00I think it's a little bit of both. Um, I do think Rhett slightly overreacted and caused a bigger fallout than what was necessary, especially between winter and summer, because winter didn't know. Right. And that caused an entire issue in a marriage. Um and then something else that you learn later in the book, it caused something else too.
SPEAKER_01In Rhett's defense, he didn't know all the facts.
SPEAKER_00I understand, which is why I'm saying it's a little bit of both, where I think Summer may have overreacted a teensy bit because she left out key details, like the fact that Dr. Douche was now her brother-in-law. I think that may have made Rhett's reaction a little bit less strong, but I do think he overreacted a tiny bit. More than a tiny bit.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Honestly, I think that you know, Rhett picking the fight, like, good on him protecting his woman, because you know, in his in his eyes, he he was a predator to the woman he loved at a you know, at a different time. And then, you know, stalking her whereabouts after the fact to try and control her. But like, um, I think that when she asked him to stop before things got worse, he should have listened. He absolutely should have listened, and he didn't, and I think that just escalated things more than they should have been, and that is completely on him. But I think like Summer over overreacted in the fact of like, get out of here, I don't want to see you anymore, and was pretty much just done with the entire relationship at that point. Yeah, I think that was an overreaction because all he was trying to do was protect her, and I get it, it was not the way she wanted it to happen, but she also didn't give him all the details before going into a situation where she knew they were both gonna be there, they were both gonna be there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think they both did done fucked up.
SPEAKER_00Oh, absolutely. But my next question actually plays off of your question during this conflict, were you team rhett or team team summer? Team Rhett.
SPEAKER_01I love a man that will do anything to protect his woman, regardless of the fallout. But again, I think he should have been a little bit more self-aware of the fallout. Yes. Knowing what summer's like as a people pleaser. Yes. Because like if she wasn't a people pleaser and it it didn't, you know, destroy her entire family dynamic in one fell swoop in a way, then you know. I think it would have been different. It would have been different. But again, I am team rep because you know he's he's protecting his family, his his loved one.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm also team rep because of that reason. He was protecting Summer from Dr. Douche. It's just he didn't know what the fallout was gonna be because he was ill-informed of the full situation. All he knew about was the grooming aspect of it, the secret relationship, and the stalking. That's all he knew. And he was fed up with it when Dr. Deuce showed up in the hospital room. I don't blame him. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01No, honestly, I think, and I wish characters would understand this. Tell them the full story. Because when you don't, shit like that happens. Like that happens. Shit hits the fan. Like you gotta tell the whole story.
SPEAKER_00Whole truth and nothing but the truth. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01All right. Cowboy or masked men?
SPEAKER_00I love cowboys. Don't get me wrong. Masked men all the way. I just the fear, the allure, every aspect it the mystery. It's just so attractive. It's crazy. And this kind of alludes to our next book. So if you guys want to read into that question a little bit, you're more than welcome. It 100% alludes to the next book.
SPEAKER_01Oh 100%. That's why I wrote it. Because I'm like, it works. Um, yeah, no, I am 100% masked men all the way. I mean, the thirst traps on TikTok of Ghostface. I'm I love that. And plus, I have my own cowboy in real life, so like I can fantasize about the things that I don't have. True. Even though he doesn't work on a farm anymore. My husband, we met on a farm. So yeah, my husband grew up on a farm in Missouri, and then he came up here, so his farm life kind of disappeared, but like he is still he has the cowboy nature, cowboy nature, and I'm I love that about him, but like also masked men is is so much more alluring.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I I think it's just the mystery behind it and that oh my goodness, so many masked men books that I could talk about. So many where I'm just kind of like, dang, I want to read that book again.
SPEAKER_01Can I have the magic pill that lets me reread it for the first time all over again, please?
SPEAKER_00There's so many books where if that was a real thing, I would do it over again.
SPEAKER_01I would need like a million of those pills because there are so many books I wish I could read for the first time again.
SPEAKER_00I agree.
SPEAKER_01But like part of like why I love recommending books to people is because I get to watch them read it for the first time.
SPEAKER_00So what part are you at? Oh, this, and like, who do you think she'll end up with? And oh, it's the fact that you know everything and you're watching somebody go through all the emotions that you did in that moment, yeah.
SPEAKER_01No, like I have a I have a friend and she's like, Oh, I think he's gonna end up with this guy, and you know, uh he's so dreamy, and I'm like, you'll find out why you hate him later.
SPEAKER_00Oops. Did the small town setting add to the romance of this book? It did.
SPEAKER_01Because when you got a cowboy, you've gotta put him in a small town. You cannot do city life with a with a cowboy, it doesn't work. They could have with this book, absolutely. They could have, it just wouldn't work as well. It just wouldn't have worked as well. Because like everybody in town knows your business, and like when they went to the bar for the first time and he's getting all this shit from people about not liking milk. As soon as he steps into this bar with the people he he knows, the small town people he grew up with, they're all like, We're we're on your side, we got your back. Like, that is why I love a small town, because everybody knows you.
SPEAKER_00Everybody knows the real you, the real you, not not the you that is publicized or you know, that the media spins you to be when you're in a public spotlight like red, and they absolutely could have made this a city life book because he's a traveling bull rider, right? And she's from Summer's from the city, so they could have put him in her shoes, right? But they put them at the ranch, living in the same house as Harvey.
SPEAKER_01A little awkward, but it worked, it did, and like drives in the rust bucket to the middle of the field to be under the star.
SPEAKER_00To be under the star. That is a dream.
SPEAKER_01I just need my husband to get a truck first.
SPEAKER_00Look, my husband wanted to fix up my grandfather's old truck so that he could drive it around. Yeah. Too bad there was way too much that needed to be done because somebody put gas in the diesel or put diesel on a gas engine.
SPEAKER_02Ooh.
SPEAKER_00Because somebody was dumb enough to put diesel in a gas can. Um, so it was kind of a little bit too far gone. But he he dreamt of fixing up that truck.
SPEAKER_01You know what? That just means that further down the line, when you have the money to do so, you find him that exact same truck somewhere and you fix it up just for him, just like she did at the end of the book. Just like she did. Honestly, if I could get my husband his dream truck, because I know exactly what it was, you know those those little red trucks you see all over Christmas time?
SPEAKER_00Yes, I love those trucks.
SPEAKER_01His grandfather who used to have one, and he used to drive around winter with a tree strap to this truck. Like not taking it anywhere, just just to just to have it in the back of his truck. I would 100% get that truck for my husband and in the winter keep a Christmas tree in the back of it. Just for that. Just for that, just to see him light up. I would probably make it like a bright pink just to fuck with him at first, and then get it painted red. Because you know I don't like pink. Alright. Um, what was your favorite spicy scene?
SPEAKER_00The first one. Because all the tension leading up to that, the fact that she didn't know the hat rule, put on some other guy's hat at the bar, and Rhett stormed out of there with her in the tension in the elevator to the point where this random stranger realized it.
SPEAKER_01Do you think he got off on his own floor? Or do you think he just got off to I think he just got off.
SPEAKER_00I think he got off the elevator just to give them space because my lord, you could cut the tension with the knife. And then he's like, You need to go in your own room because I won't be able to stop myself. And girl went to his room. She went and then the whipped cream. The whip. I forgot about the whipped cream part. I just feel like there was so much tension leading up to that one moment. That's why it lasted two chapters. It it was fantastic two chapters. It was a fantastic two chapters, but that's why it lasted two chapters. It was a fantastic spicy scene. It really was, and that was it was my favorite.
SPEAKER_01So that that is definitely one of my favorites. I think my other favorite, just to like give a different answer than the same one, would be the chaps. Yep. The fact that he bought her the chaps. I knew he was going to.
SPEAKER_00Swoon.
SPEAKER_01Like the minute he saw her trying them on, I'm like, he's gonna buy them for her. Like it, there's no question about it. And you had to wait till towards the end of the book to discover that he actually bought them for her. But then he's like, try them on. She's like, I'm in my gym clothes. You need you need jeans for this, you need a belt. And he goes, Just take them all off. Take it all off and put them on. And I'm just like, dominant rhett come into play.
SPEAKER_00No, I did love that scene as well.
SPEAKER_01I especially with like the description of the view in the background, and just I would model a pair of chaps if a cowboy asked me to.
SPEAKER_00Oh no. Uh which character do you believe would be the worst roommate?
SPEAKER_01Cade.
SPEAKER_00He's so tidy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but uh his attitude, I would clash with his attitude so much.
SPEAKER_00But he comes with a kid too.
SPEAKER_01I know. A feisty kid. I know.
SPEAKER_00A really sweet kid.
SPEAKER_01If he if he didn't come with a kid, I think him and I, our attitudes would clash way too much to be a non-hostile living environment that would either end in sexual tension or us killing one another.
SPEAKER_00Well, um, I personally think it would be Bo. He's so chaotic.
SPEAKER_01I would love to live with his chaotic energy though.
SPEAKER_00But I feel like his chaotic energy would also mingle with the way that he lives. See, I'd be okay with that. See, I'm already chaotic enough with the way that I live and run my household. I don't need somebody else's chaotic energy in there. And then the place would be a mess. Nothing would be organized, nothing would be clean. It just the whole place would be a disaster.
SPEAKER_01See, I think with my like OCD, the house would remain clean just because of me. But I think like my problem with Kate is like if my OCD met with his OCD and they didn't line up, we'd have a lot of issues. But like my OCD matched with Bo's chaos would make a compatible living situation.
SPEAKER_00See, it would just be chaos on chaos. For me, I couldn't do it.
SPEAKER_01I would just love joking with him every single day.
SPEAKER_00That would be fun, that would be the bright side of it, but our living situation would be a chaotic mess, and I feel like that's what would make him the worst roommate for me personally.
SPEAKER_01Alright, so I'll take bow and you can take Cade. Down with it. Okay. Um do you think that Rhett still should have gone for the bells?
SPEAKER_00No. No, I do not. Um you know, he has two already. He doesn't need a third. Uh let someone else have a chance. For one, and for two, he's hurt. Bull riders, there have been people who have died bull riding because they were doing it with an injury or just like a freak accident. And there's injuries that you that can take you out for life. If he had continued the way that he was going, it was either gonna kill him or take him out for life.
SPEAKER_01So my opinion differs on this. I think that like as soon as he saw Summer, he should have run to her. But I think that how it should have gone was she should have convinced him to go back down there and ride one last time.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, but it's Theo's turn.
SPEAKER_01No, I get it, and that's perfectly fine, but like just tell him one last ride. Let him end on a high note high note, let him go for that buckle, win or lose, just one last ride. Because like, he wasn't expecting his last ride to be his last ride. So this would at least give him the closure as a bull rider of like, this is my last ride.
SPEAKER_00I mean, to be fair, no bull rider thinks their last ride is their last ride.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I know, but like I just think it would have been more romantic if she had been followed your dreams and ride this the last time.
SPEAKER_00If she was supportive of it, I think it would have made him feel better about the situation. I don't think he should have done it. I do.
SPEAKER_01We're gonna agree to disagree on this one.
SPEAKER_00I just think I'm sorry, but the benefit versus the risk, which outweighs which being in a relationship with a three-time gold buckle winner versus a two-time gold buckle winner, which one's gonna be. But you still have some bragging rights for the two buckles.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but the three is so much better. He will, however, have the most historic retirement story.
SPEAKER_00It's an odd number.
SPEAKER_01You don't like odd numbers? I don't, however, I do like the number three.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_01Especially when it's followed by or you know, follows a one, you know, 13th, best number out there. But no, I think I think you should have gone for the third. I think that three would have been better than two. And plus, I'm not a person who's like odd or evens, I'm a person who's equivalent by five. So it's not a zero and it's not a five, so I say it should be three because it's in the middle.
SPEAKER_00The next question Do you think Rhett earned his redemption or do you think he was just forgiven too easily?
SPEAKER_01There are so many sides to this question. Honestly, I think I think he, you know, showed her that he wasn't gonna give up on their relationship and give up on her, and I think that was a very redeeming aspect, but I think you know, they should have like talked a little bit more before he was just automatically forgiven.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I agree with you, yeah. But I I do think he was forgiven a little bit easy, especially with the whole fallout with her family, yeah. Um, and the fact that she got fired was a big deal. It was semi because of him, yeah.
SPEAKER_01But it was also like dad taking care of daughter in a way.
SPEAKER_00In a way, in a way, but I I do think he was forgiven a little bit too easily.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I honestly think like they should have talked more before she just forgave him. Like, even though I believe that she blew it a little far out of proportion, I still think like, oh, I just miss him, and he keeps texting me that he loves me and he's sorry, and he's you know, he'll spend the rest of his life proving that he's gonna do better. But like, I don't know if it's just like my nature to like argue, but I would have wanted him to fight just a little bit harder to earn back my my trust and my respect for him. But I do think like he did try to prove to her as many ways as he could think that hey, I'm gonna be better for you.
SPEAKER_00He did what he knew how to, but I still just I think he was forgiven. But the same could be said for any male main character in a book where they are always forgiven too easily, even when they do the most horrendous shit, they always seem to be forgiven like it's nothing every time. There's another book that we're gonna talk about way down the line, where I think all of the main characters were forgiven a little bit too easily, despite revenge.
SPEAKER_01I think I know which book you're talking about.
SPEAKER_00I'm sure you do. There's multiple books in this series where I think the men are always forgiven a little bit too easily, just a little bit, despite the revenge the woman got, they deserved more. Yes.
SPEAKER_01100% but you know, I think that's just why we love these books, is because there is a quick resolve to most of the most of the dilemmas where in real life we have to truly fight for the resolve we want.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I think that's part of the reason we love it so much. What do you think of their relationship overall?
SPEAKER_00It's cute. I think it was destined for the two of them to be gathered, specifically because she had his photo when she was a teenager, and now he will never let her live it down. And the would you? No, absolutely not. Like the fact that she fit in with his family so well, with Harvey, Bo, even Cade. Cade.
SPEAKER_01I hate that I like her.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he is such a grumpy man who doesn't like women, and he liked her.
SPEAKER_01Like he just hated that she was smarter than him, right?
SPEAKER_00But she fit in so well with them. She really did. She really loved Luke, which was Cade's son. Like, she just fit in so naturally, and it was really heartwarming to see. It really was. I loved it.
SPEAKER_01No, I I loved their relationship. I think that honestly, they should have given in a little bit sooner than they did.
SPEAKER_00I agree.
SPEAKER_01But I really do think that it was just it was such a cute, romantic little little romance. I think that like, especially with how well she fit in with his family, but also how well Rhett gave shit back to Kip.
SPEAKER_00Yes. It was so good. Like he fit in too with Kip.
SPEAKER_01He really did, because he's like, fuck you, man. Uh now you love me, man. Oh, you think I'm pretty? All the shit talk. Yeah, honestly. I so I loved that most of the chapters started with like a little text chain between the between two characters. I'm like, this just helps give like a little bit more context into the relationship that certain characters have with one another without being like a main part of the story.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I agree with you.
SPEAKER_01I I thought that was so cute. I just I loved their their dynamic, you know, his protective cowboy nature and her like stop it.
SPEAKER_00Did the cowboys make you enjoy this book more? Like if there was no like if this wasn't a cowboy book, do you think you would actually read it?
SPEAKER_01I I think I've been spoiled with all my dark romance books because I do prefer that genre over regular romance like this, but I don't think I would read the book if they weren't cowboys, because like I've always had a thing for bull ride and cowboys, and I just think that without it it's meh, it's meh, like throwing a masked man and some more trauma, then I would be interested a little bit more. But without the cowboys, there is no book.
SPEAKER_00Fair point. I'm with you on that.
SPEAKER_01Like if you picked if you picked any other sports, you wouldn't read it.
SPEAKER_00I know I've tried to get you to read hockey romance. I have read a hockey romance.
SPEAKER_01You liked it, but you're just you're not a hockey fan, and you just don't care about the There are only two sports that I will ever watch, and one of them's only if somebody else has it on, but I'm never actually really interested in, and that's hockey. But like one sport I will sit down and be fully invested in screaming at the TV is UFC and MMA. Like those those two I will sit down, I'll watch for hours and just be invested. But if someone else puts on a hockey game, I'll be like, all right, it's on. I'm I'll I'm sort of paying attention, but unless they're fighting, it's yeah, it's not like that's why I love the show Shortsy so much. It's because it's a hockey show where they try and fight every game. That's the type of hockey I like. I like the fighting hockey. But yeah, if if you didn't have a bull rider or a cowboy in this book, nah. Probably not.
SPEAKER_00No, I'm with you on that. I I don't think it would be as good in like another setting.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I don't think I would have read it in another setting, to be completely honest.
SPEAKER_01I like I said, I've just been spoiled by dark romance that anything else really has to have some sort of hook that pulls me into it for me to enjoy it. Otherwise, it's just like meh, I'll read it. It's just like nothing.
SPEAKER_00You're not gonna it's not gonna be a book that you get invested in.
SPEAKER_01And I think that's why I had so so much difficulty trying to come up with questions for this book, is because it's not like I liked the book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book. Like I was in Delaware when I was reading it, and I was like laughing through it. I was swooning at certain parts, but I wasn't like pulled in.
SPEAKER_00It's not our typical genre, but it's a good read for not our typical genre.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I would recommend it to people who are like, Oh, I like a little softer romance.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I like cowboys. Here you go. Or even if you're a dark romance reader and you're like, I need something lighter. Yeah, this is a way to go for something lighter that's not in the dark romance genre.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. No, I would definitely recommend it to people because it was a good book. It's just out of all the things that I read, it's not my favorite.
SPEAKER_00I'm with you.
SPEAKER_01All right, my last question. Overall thoughts on the book.
SPEAKER_00I love this book. Um, I know I say that about every single book that we read, but I think for like a light read, it's just cute. It really is. Overall, it's cute, it's fluffy, their relationship is so wholesome and solid. And I do really like the book. Oh, overall for being something different. I I do really like it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I th I think it was a good book. I loved that she rode in on a horse to save him when he was left by his brothers. I love that she just reamed out her brother out his brothers before they start before she went to go save him. Like, I there were a lot of moments in this book where I'm like, oh my god, I love this. It was it was a really cute book. I did I did enjoy it. It was a little short for me, but but it was cute. It was cute, it was good. I enjoyed it, I had fun.
SPEAKER_00Alright, this is gonna be a little bit of a one-sided question because I have already read the next two books in this series out of the five. After this book, which character are you most looking forward to to reading the book about?
SPEAKER_01Bo.
SPEAKER_00Yep.
SPEAKER_01I honestly I know like I'm always the one to go for the grumpy boy. I'm surprised your answer wasn't Cade. And don't get me wrong, I'm really excited to read about Cade. But like there's just something about Bo that I'm like It's his humor, it's his humor, but also the fact that he's a special forces like cowboy in uniform, cowboy humor, but like also think of like all the things he witnesses as a special forces unit, but he still has the sense of humor, he still has the sense of humor, but just think of what that like dark side of him could really bring out. Like if we were gonna get a darker romance, that one would be it. I and I think there is like a grumpy side to him that we can unlock with the special forces side of him.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna do a little bit of a hint. Jasper Gervais. One of the books is about Jasper. He's darker than he looks.
SPEAKER_01I had a feeling it's the quiet ones you gotta watch out for.
SPEAKER_00No, he's he's darker than he looks. Like hit because so the next book after the one that we just read is about Cade, and then the one after that is about Jasper.
SPEAKER_01And then we have Theo after the other.
SPEAKER_00Theo after that, and then Bo is the last one. And honestly, Jasper, he's pretty, like I said, pretty dark. Um, but really I enjoyed that book. That we'll have to come back to it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we're eventually. We'll definitely come back to the other books in the series.
SPEAKER_00Especially like there's five of them in total. None of them have any well, they kind of have something to do with each other, but they're about different couples, so we're just gonna split them up because of that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I think I am excited to read about Cade because I do love a grumpy man, but I just think there's something dark hidden within Bo's humorous exterior that I need to explore.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I am also most excited about reading about Bo, but that's just because I've read two out of or three out of five books.
SPEAKER_01So if you hadn't, would who would you still have been most excited about Bo?
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, 100%. I would have either Bo or Jasper.
SPEAKER_01And Jasper, because he's the hockey boy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I love hockey. I I know it's not your thing, but it's my thing. I grew up watching hockey 24-7. Like I still even watch it to this day. Whenever it's on, I'm a hockey person through and through. So yeah, I was really excited about reading Jasper's book.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I can't wait to read the rest of the books, but that will be continued.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, and then we'll, you know, try and figure out who was the better boy. Who was the best boy? Who is the best boy? And I heard rumors that this is getting made into like a TV show or something.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna be so excited if it does.
SPEAKER_01If it does, I will I will be a happy camper.
SPEAKER_00If we oh we have to watch it together. Yes, 100%.
SPEAKER_01We can't watch a single episode without each other.
SPEAKER_00For any books that are turning in like the ones that we've read that are turning into movies or TV shows or TV shows, I feel like we should round back and talk about them.
SPEAKER_01Bonus question, not about the book. Do you prefer a book to be turned into a movie or a TV show?
SPEAKER_00TV show.
SPEAKER_01Me too, because and and here's what I think that all books or movies there are all books that could turn into a TV show or movie should be is either the movie has to be like six hours long with every single detail, because I would sit down and watch a six-hour-long movie if it had every detail that was in the book. Or the TV shows, like each season is a book in the series, each chapter is an episode, have all the details.
SPEAKER_00Like, I think that should be because how the TV shows go so much more if you turn it into a TV series because you have more time to do it. You're doing an entire season.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You know, you can add in little details that maybe got left out of the book or people want to know more about, as well as staying true to your story.
SPEAKER_01My my least favorite thing about when books get turned into a TV show or movie is when they change it so much that it no longer resembles the book. I'm with you. I think that if any author wants to go about turning their writing into a book or a movie, they have to be so hands-on that it resembles the book as much as possible. Kind of like Twilight. There are some differences, but the movies really resemble the books as a whole.
SPEAKER_00We got really off topic. Yes. But this was our conversation about Flawless. Now to the next book.
SPEAKER_01Yes. Our next book is Lights Out by Navessa Allen. I think that's how we pronounce her name. We're gonna go with it. I specifically bought her hardcover blackout book. Um, the After Dark edition is what it's called, mainly because it has a bonus scene about the cat in the cat's point of view. And I think if you're gonna read it, you should invest in the hardcover because it is worth it. Not only because hardcovers are the best version, agree to disagree, but because it has a bonus chapter in Fred's point of view.
SPEAKER_00Um I just want to read the bonus chapter. I didn't have the bonus chapter.
SPEAKER_01Um I'm gonna read her contents and trigger warnings. So Lights Out is a dark stalker rom-com with heavy themes. Read your discretion is advised as this book contains sexually explicit discussions and scenes, including anal play, alcohol consumption, mention of off-page rape, child abuse remembered, medical content, blood and gore in a hospital setting, discussion of mental health, mention of serial killers and their crimes, limited descriptions of a mass shooting, stalking, invasion of privacy, home invasion, hidden cameras, hacking, theft, unintentional cannibalism remembered, death, car accident remembered, description of a violent death remembered, death of a parent, breath play, knife play, gun play, fear play, primal play, mask play, consensual, dubious consent. So here is our next book.
SPEAKER_00And we are recording these same days, so uh we're gonna jump right on into it, but we'll see you at the next episode. See you later. Bye. Thank you all again for listening. Don't forget to follow us on our social medias for episode updates.
SPEAKER_01You can find us on Instagram at the Sinful Shelf Podcast, Facebook, The Sinful Shelf, X at the Sinful Shelf, TikTok, the Sinful Shelf Podcast, and Threads, the Sinful Shelf Podcast.