This was an emotional episode in that we discuss some life changes. Yvonne shares some important news and we console each other. "Growth happens during hardships." This has been our motto during this season of life. We also talk about the books we have been reading and what our next buddy read will be. Shelley shares how she has been helping her sister launch her newest book and how it has been a family affair and a long time in the making. 

We're Back! Its been since December since we recorded a podcast and we were way past due! In this episode we dive into what we have been reading since the new year. We did a buddy read of Penn Cole's Kindred Curse Saga and we both had different takes on the book. Find out who DNF the series and why. No haters here, just explaining why we don't jive with certain books. Yvonne discusses Zodiac Academy and why she likes it. She also reveals a genre that she is currently reading that took us all by surprise. We hope you enjoy this episode and stay tuned for more to come!

Books discussed:

Kindred Curse by Penn Cole

The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros

Zodiac Academy by by Caroline Peckham

Wild Side by Elsie Silver

Yvonne and Shelley finally caved and read/listened to "Quicksilver" by Carrie Heart and it was worth all the hype across the booktok community.  We have a new top favorite Shadow Daddy!  We both were pleasantly surprised at how much we liked this book.  Spoilers!  We work through the entire book here so if you haven't read it and you want to, don't listen just yet.  Enjoy!

In this episode we discuss our take on the Lisa Marie Presley Memoir.  We both were blown away by this book and learning about her.  She had an intensity about her, a trait that her dad had as well.  We learn about her relationship with her dad, her mom, and her love and devotion to her own kids.  This memoir was heartbreaking, but also beautiful.  Yvonne and Shelley both loved listening to this memoir because you could hear the emotion in her daughter's voice as she recounts events of her mother's life.  Julia Roberts narrates Lisa Marie's words and we also get to hear clips of Lisa Marie herself.  This was a 5 star read for both Yvonne and Shelley. At the end of the episode Yvonne does a reading for us in honor of Lisa Marie who was also spiritually connected.  Enjoy.

Trigger warning: suicide

Yvonne and Shelley catch up and talk about what we are currently reading.  We talk about friendships and how we relate to books and certain characters.  Shelley is currently doing a digital detox so she explains what book inspired it.  We laugh a lot as usual.  This episode is a true representation of how our conversations typically go when we are together.  We hope you enjoy!

Yvonne's Current Reads: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith (Fantasy Romance) and Enigma Series by Shandi Boyes (Romance) 

Shelley's Current Reads: Powerless by Lauren Roberts (Fantasy Romance) and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz (Non fiction)

We had an impromptu podcast to discuss this hot Texas weather and what we are planning on reading this fall.  Yvonne embarrasses Shelley yet again with some of the books she has been reading.  Shelley laughs at what is on her Kindle right now and the irony of it all.  We discuss what makes for the perfect bookstore and which local bookstore is our favorite.  We basically just have a normal conversation and we decided to record it and share it with all of you!  Enjoy!

In this episode we review the final book in the Flesh and Fire series by Jennifer Armentrout. We have absolutely LOVED this series and this book was 5 stars for us. We are big fans of JLA and her Blood and Ash series. We discuss why we love this series so much, the characters, and how JLA intertwines real life trauma and anxiety into this book. 

Trigger warnings: sexual harassment 

Welcome to this episode of Bookmates where we discuss what read over the summer and our ratings of each one.  We also show our love and devotion to author Jennifer L. Armentrout and her upcoming release of Book Four in the Flesh and Fire series.  We LOVE this series along with the original series, Blood and Ash.  We credit the name of our Podcast here.  Enjoy!

Shelley's summer reads:
Buddy read: One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King duology)
Butcher and Blackbird, Leather and Lark (The Ruinous Love Trilogy)
The Ever King, The Ever Queen (The Ever Seas)
Fate and Furies (3), Shadow and Storms (4) (The Legends of Thezmarr)

Yvonne's summer reads:
Buddy Read: One Dark Window (The Shepherd King duology)
How Does it Feel
Fall Into You
Beautifully Cruel
Sweet as Sin
From Blood and Ash, Graphic Novel (1) (Blood and Ashe series)

Welcome back! In this episode we dive into Queen of Shadows.  A lot happens in this book as Aelin returns to Rifthold to discover her cousing Aedion has been captured.  She also must confront Chaol who now knows who she really is.  Dorian has been collared and is trapped, slowly losing himself to the Valg prince who has captured him.  We also get to know Manon on a deeper level and how she will play into the storyline.  We decided to break this up into 2 episodes because there is a lot to uncover here.  Enjoy.

We are back to discuss Assassin's Blade which are a compilation of Novellas following Celaena's story before she goes to Endovier.  We discuss the controversy over which order to read the books and how we both chose to read them.  We love Celaena even more after reading Assassin's Blade.  Enjoy.