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Season 4 Recap: Welcome to The Afterburn, the season may be over, but we are absolutely not done. We’re diving back into the books that lived rent-free in our heads, putting them on the ultimate scale of yes, no, maybe…and you already know we have opinions. We’ll be revisiting our favorite MMCs and FMCs, breaking down the spicy scenes, and debating the true definition of "uncle". IYKYK As always, nothing is off limits! Pull up a chair, pour a strong signature cocktail and join us for the fun! Signature Cocktail: The Plot Twist Paloma The Plot Twist Paloma was the perfect pairing for our Season 4 recap—bold, layered, and a little unpredictable. With tequila reposado and smoky mezcal, it mirrors the smooth, slow-burn reads we loved. The grapefruit brings that hint of bitterness (because not every story was sweet), while the ginger habanero syrup delivers the spice—just like the books that caught us off guard and turned up the heat. Just like this season, every sip comes with a twist. Ingredients: 1 oz tequila reposado 0.5oz Mezcal ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz fresh grapefruit juice ½ oz ginger & habanero syrup Top with grapefruit soda Directions:  Layer your ingredients in a tall highball over clear ice. Stir quickly. Top with grapefruit soda and garnish with a thin grapefruit wheel.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid  Someone sedate Miranda! Things get heated once again as the ladies break down episodes 3-6 of Jacob Tierney's series, heated Rivalry based on the novel by Rachel Reid. We're talking tuna melts, the ginger ale of it all and forbidden love. So pour yourself a signature cocktail and join us for some laughs as we wrap up season 4!   Signature Cocktail: Rivalry Reignited Today’s cocktail is called Rivalry Reignited. Unlike our last episode’s drink, which was sweet and a little deceptive, this one doesn’t pretend to be nice. Smoky mezcal, sharp grapefruit, and just enough spice to let you know things have escalated. Because once a rivalry crosses the line…there’s no going back.   Ingredients:  2 oz mezcal 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ oz agave syrup 2–3 dashes orange bitters Tajín or chili-lime seasoning for rim Ice Instructions Rim a rocks glass with lime juice and Tajín. Fill the glass with ice. In a shaker combine mezcal, grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave, and bitters. Shake well and strain over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge or charred lime.

Heated Riverly by Rachel Reid This week the cousins are switching up the format! We’re trading paperback pages for power plays and diving headfirst into Heated Rivalry on HBO Max based on the MM romance by Rachel Reid. We'll be joined by a Heated Rivalry superfan, Miranda to recap and review episodes 1-3 and let’s just say, the ice is not the only thing melting. Mix up a Pretty Russian and join us for some laughs!    Signature Cocktail: The Pretty Russian Tonight’s cocktail is the Pretty Russian — a dangerously smooth blend of vanilla, marshmallow, and just enough kick to keep things interesting. At first sip it’s sweet, creamy, and a little indulgent… but much like a heated rivalry, Pretty on the outside… chaos underneath Ingredients: 2 oz vanilla vodka 1 oz coffee liqueur (Kahlúa) ½ oz marshmallow syrup 1 oz half & half or heavy cream Ice Optional “Pretty Factor” 1 drop pink food coloring in the cream Mini marshmallows White chocolate syrup Graham cracker crumbs or vanilla sugar for rim Prep the Glass (makes it look amazing) Drizzle white chocolate syrup inside the glass. Rim the glass with marshmallow fluff then dip in graham cracker crumbs or vanilla sugar. Add ice. Build the Drink Pour vanilla vodka + coffee liqueur + marshmallow syrup over the ice. Stir lightly. Slowly pour the cream (with a tiny drop of pink coloring if you want the swirl effect). Garnish Toasted marshmallow on a cocktail pick Optional: tiny dust of edible shimmer Flavor Creamy vanilla latte Toasted marshmallow sweetness Rich coffee finish Basically this is a grown-up marshmallow latte that looks like it belongs in a romance book scene.

Inevitable by Jenna Hartley This week the cousins are talking about Inevitable by Jenna Hartley—where a summer internship turns into a dangerously tempting situation with her dad’s best friend. This one has some of us all hot and bothered and others clutching their pearls. So, mix up a WAP and join us for the fun!   Signature Cocktail: WAP (Wet and Potent) Tonight's beverage of choice is strong enough to withstand the roller coaster of emotions we are about to take. It's sweet, bold, slightly messy and has just enough alcohol to help us cope with tension in this book, and let's be honest, who doesn't like a WAP.  Ingredients: 2 oz vodka  1 oz watermelon liqueur 1 oz pineapple juice 1 splash of lime juice For spicy flavor rim the glass with Tajin For sweet flavor rim the glass with sugar lime wheel for garnish Rim tumblers with preferred flavor (spicy or sweet)and add ice.  Add  ice, vodka, watermelon liqueur, pineapple juice and lime to a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into iced tumblers. Garnish with the lime wheel and enjoy.

The Devil's Advocate by Ashley Jade Hey Boozy Book Lovers! Today we are going to make Lynn smile when we finally finish the second book in a duet! The cousins are recapping and reviewing book two of the Devil’s Playground duet by Ashley Jade, and let’s just say… if you thought book one was messy, buckle up.  We’re talking obsession, political power plays, true crime, revenge, and a romance that refuses to behave itself. Damien and Eden are back, making choices that will have you screaming, swooning, and maybe texting your therapist “you up?” So grab your drink, lower your expectations for healthy relationships, and join us for some laughs! Signature Cocktail: The Devil Will Get You Ingredients: 1 1/2 ounce vodka or tequila 1 1/2 ounce peach puree 1/2 ounce lime juice Chile-lime seasoning Ice cubes Instructions: Rim your glass with Tajin. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine your alcohol liquid, peach puree and lime juice. Shake until chilled about 30 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass.

The Devil by Ashley Jade Tonight the cousins dive headfirst into Book One in The Devil's Playground duet where the men are dangerous, the tension is sinful, and the emotional damage comes with a side of sexual chemistry.  Pour a drink and join us as we unpack power plays, toxic flirting, and a love triangle that feels less like romance and more like potential for felony charges. Cheers to bad decisions and even worse men. Signature Cocktail: Devil's Heart Ingredients: 1/2 oz 1883 Spicy Syrup 4 oz White Tequila 1 oz honey 3 oz cranberry juice splash of lime juice   Pour all the ingredients in a shaker, add ice and shake well during 10 seconds. Strain in chilled Martini glass. Decorate with a pepper and a lime peel.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith Today the cousins are entering the dark, deadly, and frankly very sexy world of Phantasma, the gothic competition where contestants must survive a series of terrifying trials inside a cursed castle. Think haunted house meets Hunger Games, with just enough brooding men to make everyone question their survival priorities. So pour yourself something strong, light a candle that probably shouldn’t be flickering like that, and laugh along with Kim, Jen and Lynn!

Promise Me Forever by Sadie Kincaid The cousins are back with one of our FAV authors! This office romance delivers longing so intense it should come with a workplace hazard sign. We’ve got sexual tension that escalates faster than a skipped HR meeting, and promises that are less pinky swear and more blood oath in designer shoes. So grab your beverage, silence your inner moral compass, and join us as we unpack love, loyalty, and the kind of romance that absolutely does not come with a 401k.   Signature Cocktail: Promise Forever Ingredients: 2 oz pomegranate vodka (or regular vodka with pomegranate juice) 1 oz cherry liqueur 1 oz simple syrup ½ oz lime juice Ice cubes Cherry or lime wheel, for garnish Instructions: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add vodka, cherry liqueur, simple syrup, and lime juice. Shake well until chilled. Strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cherry or lime wheel.

Scattered Bones by Nicole Scarano Who doesn’t want to fall in love with a thief, catch the attention of the gods, and embark on the most dangerously unhinged scavenger hunt imaginable—tracking down your husband’s missing body parts? Come along with the cousins as they take on this crazy, somewhat romantic adventure.   Signature Cocktail: Mezcal Bone Crusher Tonight's beverage of choice is not for the faint of heart. It is smokey, bold and the perfect cocktail for when you want to work with Death himself to piss off the rest of the gods all in the pursuit of Happily Ever After-ish. Ingredients: 8 oz Mezcal (Del Maguey VIda recommended) 2 oz fresh lime juice 2 squirts of Sriracha 2 oz simple syrup Chipotle chili powder for the rim and surface of the drink lime wheel for garnish Rim two 12oz tumblers with chili powder and fill with ice. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice and add the Mezcal, lime juice, simple syrup and sriracha. Shake well and pour into iced glasses. Sprinkle a top coat of the chili powder over the surface of the drink and garnish with the lime wheel.

Three Swedish Mountain Men by Lily Gold Join the cousins as these rugged men save a woman on the run—from her life and a blizzard. With nowhere to go and nothing to do but survive, there’s really only one option: share a bed, abandon all boundaries, and stumble into forever.   Signature Cocktail: Sex on a Snowbank 5-6 Pieces Ice 1.5 oz Malibu Coconut Rum * 1.5 oz Cream of Coconut Instructions: Add all of the ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth. Rim a Martini glass with chocolate syrup and dip in coconut flakes. Add the mixture to the glass and enjoy.

Braving the Storm by Elliott Rose We’re back with the second book in the Crimson Ridge series by Elliott Rose—Braving the Storm. And let me be clear… this is not a “will they, won’t they.” This is very much “they absolutely will,” and you know it right out of the gate and oh boy is it complicated.    Signature Cocktail: The Stormbreaker This drink like the book is all about things that shouldn't work together but somehow do - so naturally, I made a cocktail that sounds like a horrific idea on paper. Coconut whiskey? Um no, Lime and pineapple - more suspicious. But not unlike Braving the Storm - messy, emotional, and a little chaotic - against all odds this shit works! It's strong, sweet and a little unhinged which seems right on brand for us.  Ingredients: 2 oz Beach Whiskey - Island Coconut flavor 3/4 oz fresh lime juice 3/4 oz pineapple juice Club soda if you need to cut the strength - wimps! Combine the Beach Whiskey, lime juice and pineapple juice in a shaker. Shake well. Strain the drink into a whiskey glass filled with ice. Top it off with a splash of club soda if you need to tone it down a bit.

A Devious Arrangement by J Wilde Join Lynn, Kim and Jen as they discuss a fake relationship that turns very real, a hot MMC who is stalkery in an adorable way, and a plot that exists solely to justify why we had to climb a rope in gym class to pass middle school. Put on your favorite tierra and join us for the cocktails and laughs! Signature Cocktail: The Polished Princess We went with The Polished Princess as a nod to Bash’s ‘princess’ Anastasia, who isn’t nearly as innocent as she looks—and that’s exactly why he can’t stay away. This cocktail starts sweet, ends bold, and lives in that same tension of desire and deception. It's absolutely beautiful.  Ingredients: 8 fresh cranberries, divided 3/4 ounce simple syrup 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 pinch pumpkin spice 1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka 1 large egg white In a cocktail shaker, combine 5 cranberries, simple syrup, lemon juice, and pumpkin spice. Muddle well. Add the vanilla vodka and egg white and dry shake without the ice. Once thoroughly shaken add ice and shake again. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and add 3 floating cranberries for a beautiful garnish.    Please note you can change out the primary liqueur for tequila, or gin as well.

Audacity by Elodie Hart Join the cousins as we dive into Audacity—where the heroine is an executive assistant who is on call at all times and her boss believes “other duties as assigned” is a lifestyle choice. It’s bold, filthy, and wildly unapologetic, with boundaries being crossed faster than an unread calendar invite. Grab a drink and laugh with us, because this is what happens when ambition, chemistry, and audacity all hit “reply all.”   Signature Cocktail: The Priest and The Whore A cocktail with equal parts devotion and temptation Ingredients The Priest (clean, crisp, righteous) 2 oz Audacity Vodka 1 oz fresh lemon juice ½ oz simple syrup 2 dashes orange bitters The Whore (sweet, seductive, dangerous) 1 oz blackberry liqueur (like Chambord) ½ oz grenadine Splash of ginger beer or soda for a little sparkle Garnish A lemon twist and a blackberry — because duality matters Optional: a tiny sprig of thyme (for that “holy” aesthetic) Directions Shake the Priest: Add Audacity Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters to a shaker with ice. Shake until it’s cold and clean. Pour the Whore: In the bottom of a chilled rocks glass, pour in the blackberry liqueur and grenadine to create a deep, sultry base. Bring Them Together: Slowly strain The Priest mix over the back of a spoon so it layers on top like a halo over sin. Finish with a little sparkle: Add a splash of ginger beer or soda to give it a playful lift. Garnish: Add your lemon twist (purity) and a blackberry (temptation) on a pick.

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver Today, the cousins dive into Brynne Weaver’s darkly fun romance, Butcher & Blackbird—a story where two morally gray antiheroes team up, use their murder skills for justice, and somehow stumble into one of the healthiest relationships in the book. It’s funny, twisted, unexpectedly tender, and the very first installment in the Ruinous Love Trilogy.   Signature Cocktail: Cookies and Creamtini If you know, you know! If you don't... read chapter 17!  Ingredients: 1/3 cup milk or cream 1/4 cup Pinnacle Whipped Vodka 1 1/2 teaspoons Jell-O Oreo instant pudding mix Hershey's chocolate sauce Crushed Oreo crumbs Whipped cream 1 mini Oreo for garnish (optional) Mix milk/cream, Pinnacle Whipped Vodka, and JELL-O Oreo instant pudding mix in shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds. Dip rim of glass in chocolate sauce, then dip rim into Oreo crumbs. Strain drink into glass. Top with whipped cream and a mini Oreo if desired

Beautiful Carnage by Caroline Peckham Family drama, forbidden love, and one dangerously adorable pomeranian—what could possibly go wrong? Join the cousins as we unravel this mob-style romance packed with passion, power plays, and Coco’s chaotic charm, buckle up.   Signature Cocktail: Beautiful Vengeance Our cocktail tonight walks the line between danger and devotion — a swirl of violet sweetness and innocence with just a little lethal punch of revenge. Like Beautiful Carnage, it’s intoxicatingly unpredictable Ingredients: 1.5 oz Vodka (vanilla or regular) .5 oz Elderflower liqueur 1 oz lemonade  .25 oz violet syrup sparkling water or champagne lemon twist or edible flower Add a handful of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Pour in vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemonade and violet syrup and shake until chilled (15 seconds).  Strain into a coupe or martini glass and top with sparkling water or champagne for a shimmering finish. Garnish with the lemon twist or an edible flower.  Please note you can change out the primary liqueur for tequila, or gin as well.