In the premiere season of 'The Plot With A Twist,' hosts Roe, Allorah, and Shaye delve into the world of indie authors, discussing their evolution, significance, and the impact of platforms like Amazon Kindle. They examine the challenges indie authors face, such as marketing and piracy, while highlighting their creative freedom and unique voices compared to traditionally published authors. The conversation also covers various genres, including dark romance and monster smut, that gained popularity through indie publishing. Additionally, they explore the importance of ARC (Advance Reader Copy) processes for indie authors, sharing personal experiences and standout indie books worth reading, while expressing appreciation and support for the indie author community. The episode concludes with a recipe for a themed cocktail, as always.

00:00 Welcome to The Plot with a Twist

00:26 The Rise of Indie Authors

01:28 Challenges and Misconceptions of Indie Publishing

04:42 Personal Experiences with Indie Books

08:20 The Influence of Social Media on Indie Authors

14:42 Genres Explored Through Indie Authors

24:44 The ARC Process for Indie Authors

36:23 Discovering New Authors Through ARC Reads

37:26 Unexpected Twists and Memorable Endings

38:52 Underrated Small Town Romance Gems

42:01 Balancing Indie and Traditional Publishing

44:46 The Benefits and Challenges of Indie Publishing

50:38 Favorite Indie Authors and Their Works

59:50 Top Indie Book Recommendations

01:07:13 Unique Drink Recipe and Closing Remarks

Emotionally Charged Review: Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman

In this episode of The Plot With A Twist, hosts Roe, Allorah, and Shaye dive into an intense discussion of Jennifer Hartman's Still Beating. The story follows Cora and Dean, who are abducted and held captive for 20 days, enduring severe trauma. The hosts explore themes of emotional recovery, the complexity of relationships formed under duress, and the impacts on their personal lives. While engaging with the profound subject matter, they offer differing perspectives on the character developments and narrative choices. The episode includes detailed analysis, warnings on potentially triggering topics, and a signature cocktail recipe to tie in with the book's intense emotional journey.

00:00 Introduction and Hosts

00:29 Book Overview: Still Beating by Jennifer Hartman

01:03 Content Warnings and Listener Discretion

01:44 Initial Impressions and Ratings

02:01 Plot Summary and Key Characters

03:28 Detailed Book Discussion: Emotional Impact and Character Growth

11:45 Part One: Captivity and Escape

13:43 Part Two: Struggling to Reintegrate

15:00 Part Three: Hitting Rock Bottom and Recovery

17:08 Relationship Dynamics: Dean and Cora

23:48 Mandy's Perspective and Family Dynamics

26:24 Analyzing Mandy's Insensitivity

27:10 Dean's Trauma and Relationship Struggles

31:28 The Larger Theme of Trauma

33:23 Side Characters and Their Impact

36:37 Jennifer Hartman's Writing Style

43:10 Future Reads and Series Continuation

52:34 Cocktail Recipe and Closing Remarks

In this episode of The Plot With A Twist, hosts Roe, Allorah, and Shaye dive deep into the beloved 'Enemies to Lovers' trope popular in books. They explore what makes this trope work, its versatility, micro-tropes, and banter. The episode features a lively discussion on side characters, tension, hate-filled relationships, and specific books and authors who excel in writing enemies-to-lovers stories, including series recommendations and upcoming releases. The episode concludes with a cocktail recipe called 'Broken and Bitter,' perfectly embodying the spirit of these tumultuous love stories.

00:00 Introduction to The Plot with a Twist

00:31 Exploring the Enemies to Lovers Trope

01:57 Key Elements of a Good Enemies to Lovers Story

08:58 What We Dislike in Enemies to Lovers

15:04 Authors Who Nail the Enemies to Lovers Trope

24:46 Complementary Tropes for Enemies to Lovers

27:00 Enemies to Lovers: Carnal Games

27:49 Marriage of Convenience and Mafia Arranged Marriages

28:02 Fake Dating and Forced Proximity

28:48 Micro Tropes in Enemies to Lovers

29:08 Possessiveness and Protectiveness

31:45 Non-Consensual Tattoos and Markings

35:47 Enemies to Lovers Book Recommendations

44:27 Upcoming Enemies to Lovers Releases

48:54 Cocktail Hour: Broken and Bitter