Video: Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie react to their rooftop scene in Heated Rivalry

Happy Thurssday!

I finally watched the first two episodes of Heated Rivalry, and they were really good. It inspired me to go to the bookstore today thinking I would buy a few books from the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. And the only book (and I mean the only book) on the shelf (and in the store) was the first book in the series Game Changers. One of the employees said that they are not sure when the store will get a new shipment in to restock the series. Seeing as there is a huge demand for these books, she put my name down on a contact list when the books finally arrive.

Something else, I really think is good is all the promotion for the show. I feel like all the marketing is really working in the shows favor which I hope leads to a second season. Anyway, I wanted to post this video of actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie talking about the rooftop scene from the first episode Rookies makes me wish more current shows would be released on DVD because something like this would have made a really cool extra. Anyway, I just wanted to post this because the actors were giving a bit insight into their characters and the scene.

Characters Reading: Robert Nash (9-1-1)

In the 9-1-1 episode What's Your Grievance (season 4 episode 4), Robert "Bobby" Nash was in his backyard reading Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks. I'm always surprised when characters in shows and movies are shown reading a real book instead of a prop one. Anyway, Bobby took a reading break to talk to his stepdaughter May Grant who was in need of a little advice. Earlier in the episode, May who at the time was a 911 dispatch operator in training, was on an emergency call when she overheard a woman getting shot then falling into her pool. Bobby and the rest of his firefighter team were at that emergency call to the late woman's home.

May needed some advice about how to let go of the job at the end of the day. And with stressful jobs like theirs as first responders, you need a way to not take the job home with you. Anyway, back to Bobby's book, I didn't realize that the actor Tom Hanks had wrote books and Uncommon Type: Some Stories is a fictional story that seem interesting. The story centered on various characters but I'm interested in knowing why a typewriter is connected to them. Below, I included the book and description.

(9-1-1 season 4 episode 4: What's Your Grievance)

Rumor: Ryan Guzman allegedly dating a con artist

I rarely ever post gossip but there is a fast moving rumor that actor Ryan Guzman is allegedly dating a former OnlyFans model/current photographer who allegedly is scamming people with tarot card readings. Many of his fans seem concerned because they think she allegedly latched on to him because he's an easy mark. That's not difficult to imagine, con artist are good at spoting someone they think is easy to scam. I guess we'll see if this alleged relationship is something he will go public with or continue to keep it "secret".

It's not that secret if his fans have picked up on whatever is going on with him and his alleged girlfriend. And if she is allegedly scamming people with tarot card readings (which she's allegedly charging up to $300 for) that's absolutely terrible. Unfortunately in this day and age, tarot card reading has become an easy online con to dupe vulnerable people with so-called insightful readings. I wrote about this a while back when a friend of mine was scammed by a phony tarot card reader. It's disappointing that's he's allegedly dating someone who's allegedly scamming people. Right now this is all circulating within fandom spaces but sooner or later, it's probably going to get on some entertainment journalist's radar.

On My List: Heated Rivalry TV Series

Since hockey romances aren't my usual genre of books, I had no idea about Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid let alone that it was adapted into a TV series. Funny enough I used to be a big hockey fan but for some reason I must have lost interest in it. I certainly don't know the names of any of the players on my local national hockey team that's for sure. I don't remember the last time I watched. But I'm sure if I wanted to, I could probably go back to watching it. Anyway, back to this new show, Heated Rivalry, I'm not sure if this is a TV series or a miniseries, either way, the first season has six episodes. And the first two episodes premiered yesterday (Friday, Nov. 28th) and the other four episodes will be released on Fridays (December: 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th).

The show seems interesting because despite progress in the LGBTQ+ community, there is still unfortunately plenty of hate and homophobia in the world directed at that community. And with Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov being professional athletes, them being open about their sexuality is probably not going to get the positive reception that it should. Which is probably why they are keeping what they're doing a secret. Since I never read the book (maybe I will), I don't know how this will turn out. Will they get the chance to be themselves and have both their careers and love/relationship? Or will they have to continue to keep everything a secret as not to lose everything?

I'm trying to see when I'll start watching this because do I want to read the book first then watch the show or just watch the show and read the book later? I also still need to watch the first part of Stranger Things' fifth season. I didn't get a chance to watch it when it premiered on Wednesday and I have been avoiding spoilers ever since. Anyway, since I want to watch both shows, I just need to figure out which one to watch first.


Heated Rivalry (HBO Max in the United States and Crave in Canada)

Starring: Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, Callan Potter, Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, François Arnaud, Dylan Walsh and more

Creator: Jacob Tierney

Based on: The book Heated Rivalry (Game Changers book #2) by Rachel Reid

Description:

Two rival hockey stars, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, are at the top of their game, face an unexpected challenge when they develop feelings for each other, complicating their careers and the sport's expectations.

Book of Interest: Wonder Woman: The Official Cookbook

Happy Friday!

I love fandom cookbooks and trying some of the recipes that are inspired by the book, movie, show or characters. Some of the ones that I have are:

- Gilmore Girls: The Official Cookbook by Elena Craig and Kristen Mulrooney (I still want to get Gilmore Girls: Sookie's Recipe Book)
- I also have the three Eat Like a Gilmore unofficial cookbooks by Kristi Carlson:
    - Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls
    - Eat Like a Gilmore: Daily Cravings
    - Eat Like a Gilmore: Seasons
- Black Panther The Official Wakanda Cookbook by Nyanyika Banda with foreword by Jesse J. Holland
- The Nancy Drew Cookbook: Clues to Good Cooking by Carolyn Keene (I found this one at a thrift store)
- The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook: Charming Recipes from Anne and Her Friends in Avonlea by Kate Macdonald

And now, I've been thinking of getting the Wonder Woman: The Official Cookbook by Briana Volk. What I found interesting is that this cookbook has only vegetarian recipes. I guess there's so much information about the characters that it's easy to not know something. Because I didn't realize Diana was vegetarian. I know Poison Ivy is vegetarian (or vegan) but it never knew that about Diana. Well, I guess you learn something new everyday. I'm interested to see what recipes are in the book. Are they more Greek inspired or just generic recipes with Wonder Woman related names added on?

Book: Wonder Woman: The Official Cookbook: Over Fifty Recipes Inspired by DC's Iconic Super Hero by Briana Volk

Description:

Cook like an Amazon with this official cookbook inspired by DC Comics’ beloved Super Hero Wonder Woman.

An enduring symbol of truth, justice, and equality, Wonder Woman has inspired comic readers of all ages for nearly eighty years with her unwavering moral compass and commitment to preserving peace on Earth. Now, fans can celebrate their love of this iconic hero with this fun vegetarian cookbook inspired by all things Wonder Woman. Illustrated by gorgeous full-color photography, the book features over 50 delectable recipes—including Paradise Island Pancakes, Justice League Lasagna, and Golden Lasso Peach Shortcake—for cooks of all skill levels. With simple recipe instructions, gorgeous photography, and prepared menus for several delightful Wonder Woman–themed parties, this is the perfect cookbook to share with friends, family, and Amazon warriors both big and small.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is a day of giving thanks and reflecting on our lives. And I want to wish all my Book Girl readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! And to anyone who doesn't celebrate, I want to wish you a Happy Thursday!

What's something that you're thankful for? If you're having a difficult time thinking of things to be thankful for, why not make a list. Once you're finished, look over your list and see all things you are thankful for, from a roof over your head to family and friends and everything else you can think of.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Thursday everyone!

Currently Reading: Congo

Happy Saturday! How's everyone's weekend going so far?

I was trying to find something different to read, and from searching through my new books to my old ones, I just couldn't figure out what to read next. However, I did end up finding Congo by Michael Crichton, I bought this book from a thrift store back in 2014. I bought so many books over the years from bookstores, thrift stores and library book sales that sometimes I forget what I have until I'm searching through my books.

Anyway, I'm really interested in reading this. From the description, there's a lot going on and despite several mysterious deaths, that doesn't seem to stop the curiosity in trying to find a lost city.

Book: Congo by Michael Crichton

Description:

Deep in the African rain forest, near the legendary ruins of the Lost City of Zinj, an expedition of eight American geologists is mysteriously and brutally killed in a matter of minutes.

Ten thousand miles away, Karen Ross, the Congo Project Supervisor, watches a gruesome video transmission of the aftermath: a camp destroyed, tents crushed and torn, equipment scattered in the mud alongside dead bodies — all motionless except for one moving image — a grainy, dark, man-shaped blur.

In San Francisco, primatologist Peter Elliot works with Amy, a gorilla with an extraordinary vocabulary of 620 “signs,” the most ever learned by a primate, and she likes to fingerpaint. But recently, her behavior has been erratic and her drawings match, with stunning accuracy, the brittle pages of a Portuguese print dating back to 1642 . . . a drawing of an ancient lost city. A new expedition — along with Amy — is sent into the Congo where they enter a secret world, and the only way out may be through a horrifying death…

Book Review: Velvet vol #3

Book: Velvet volume #3: The Man Who Stole The World (issues #11-15) by Ed Brubaker with illustrations by Steve Epting, color by Elizabeth Breitweiser and letters by Chris Eliopoulos

Cover Art by Steve Epting and Elizabeth Breitweiser

Edition: Trade Paperback

Description:

The strands of the mystery finally bring Velvet back home to the US, and to Washington DC, for the explosive finale to the first big Velvet story arc.

Fashion Meets Fandom: The Lord of the Rings Sweater

I really like this dark green sweater, and I'm thinking of getting it. It's got a nice shape and it looks very flattering. And not only does it look cute and cozy but it has a subtle geeky nod to The Lord of the Rings with the Lórien Leaf embroided on it. I love wearing my geeky t-shirts that have the graphics all bold and bright but sometimes I want something a little subtle. Which is why I like this Lord of the Rings sweater.

And depending on where you work, you could just put a blazer over this sweater and pair it with pants and wear it to work. And not to mention you could dress it up with a nice pair of pants or a skirt like the models are shown wearing in the pictures. Or you could wear it cute and casual with a pair of jeans or leggings. However this is paired up will probably look really cute. It's very geek chic.

Book Review: Con Quest!

Book: Con Quest! by Sam Maggs

Cover Illustration by Chris Danger
Cover Design by Natalie C. Sousa

Edition: Paperback

Description:

Cat and Alex are excited to be at the world’s most popular comics convention―and they’re even more excited to compete in the Quest, a huge scavenger hunt run by their favorite nerdy celebrity. The big prize: a chance to meet him!

The twins ditch their older sister Fi and set off to find geeky clues, tackle nerdy challenges, and cross as many items as possible off their Quest list, which includes volunteering at an Artist Alley booth, gathering cosplayers in enough colors to make a double rainbow, and actually finding something healthy to eat in the convention center!

Can the twins work together even when they disagree on how to compete? Will Fi find Cat and Alex before their parents realize they’re missing? Most importantly, can these ultimate fans complete the ultimate Quest?

Trailer: Cold Storage

While I'm writing up my review for Con Quest! by Sam Maggs, I took a little break and ended up watching the trailer for the upcoming movie Cold Storage. This horror comedy movie looks like it's going to be really good, it's based on the book Cold Storage by David Keopp, which I never read. Since this movie isn't released until 2026, I have time to read the book before I see it. This really does look really good.


Cold Storage

Starring: Joe Keery, Georgina Campbell, Liam Neeson, Lesley Manville, Sosie Bacon, Aaron Heffernan and more

Director: Jonny Campbell

Writer: David Koepp

Based on: The book Cold Storage by David Keopp

Description:

When a highly dangerous fungus escapes from a secret laboratory, a former bioterrorism agent is called back into action. Alongside two young employees, he must confront an invisible and out-of-control threat.

Book of Interest: How to Survive a Horror Story

When I read the description for How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold, I knew I had to read it. Because to me, I couldn't imagine taking on the challenge presented to the writers in this story. Unless it was an offer they couldn't refuse, I would leave as soon as the challenge was mentioned. If they are not being forced, then why are they taking on this challenge. Is it for money? Whatever the reason, is it worth potentially losing your life for. Well, I guess that what makes this an interesting story.

Book: How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold

Description:

Seven authors enter the manor

Can they survive the story within?

When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of writers find themselves invited to his last will and testament reading expecting a piece of his massive fortune. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they've been waiting for their chance to step into the author's shoes for some time.

Instead, they arrive at his grand manor and are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If they don't, the manor will take one of them for itself.

You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of Mortimer's family, and like any true horror story, the house is still very, very hungry.

With the clever, locked-room thrills of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone with the ghostly horror of The Fall of the House of Usher, How to Survive a Horror Story is a bright, biting, thrill-ride that begs us to contemplate how the best horror stories come to be.

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #49: 9-1-1's Ninth Season

Happy Fandom Friday, here are some of my not so happy fandom thoughts about 9-1-1:

- On 9-1-1, there was no reason to have killed of yet another beloved character. This time was Isabel Diaz, Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz's abuela (grandmother) in yesterday's episode Día de los Muertos (season 9 episode 5). The last time Isabel was shown was a blink and you'll miss her appearance at Maddie and Howard "Chimney" Han's hospital wedding in There Goes the Groom (season 7 episode 6). So, why bring her back just to kill her off? It's just doesn't make any sense, it's not as if Eddie wasn't already dealing with grief from the death of his wife Shannon and Fire Captain Robert "Bobby" Nash now the writers are going to heap on more by killing off his abuela. And since the Showrunner and writers seem so happy to be killing of characters, who's next? Is it Henrietta "Hen" Wilson? Because in the trailer for next week's episode, she's dealing with what appears to be a serious health issue, so is she the next to die? Are there more characters that are going to being dying this season and onwards? Maybe firefighter Ravi Panikkar is next?

The show has a long list of characters to choose from, perhaps the writers will continue with family members. Maybe one of the kids is next: Denny or Mara Wilson, May or Harry Grant, Christopher Diaz or Jee-Yung or Robert Han? Or one or both of Maddie Han and her younger brother Evan "Buck" Buckley parents Margaret and Philip? Or one or both of Athena Grants' parents Beatrice and Samuel Carter or Athena's ex-husband Michael Grant? Or maybe either Bobby's mother Ann Hutchinson or brother Charlie Nash or both? Or Hen's wife Karen or her mother Toni Wilson? Or one or both of Eddie's parents Helena and Ramon Diaz or one or both of his sisters Sophia and Adriana Diaz or his tia Josephina "Pepa"? Or Chimney's father Sang or younger brother Albert or Chimney's surrogate parents Anne and John Lee? Or maybe they will go with someone from 9-1-1 Dispatch, such as Dispatch Manager Sue Blevins, Dispatch Supervisor Josh Russo, Linda Bates or Terry Flores? Or maybe someone in the Police Department such as Captain Elaine Maynard, Officers Williams and Branford or Detective Rick Romero? Or maybe just kill off characters the audience didn't like: Kameron and Connor Riley, Taylor Kelly, Fire Captain Vincent Gerrard, actor Brad Torrance, Eva Mathis, firefighters Lucy Donato, Jonah Greenway and Tommy Kinard or Marisol (no last name), to name a few.

As I said the list is endless. I just find the writing and the continued focus on death and pain is bringing down the show instead of allowing these characters to heal. The continuous grief this ninth season is really weighing down the show.



- What are the Showrunner and writers doing with Buck and Eddie this ninth season? They have them both being distant as well as giving them fewer scenes together. They no longer seem like best friends. Eddie is mostly in scenes with either Hen or Chimney while Buck is mostly with Ravi (with their scenes feeling forced to me). They are not there for each other like they should be. It really just feels like Eddie and Buck are shown as simply co-workers. And out of the few scenes Eddie and Buck have together, why have them argue. Is this a storyline that's going to lead somewhere good or are they simply just separating them and writing them as acquaintances instead of best friends?

It really feels like the separation is due to the Showrunner and writers baiting the fans last season with a potential romance between Buck and Eddie. And they don't want to go through with it. So now they are distancing them so than can most likely pair then with yet again more random love interests instead of with each other This show feels like it dying because the writing no longer makes sense. It just feels like the Showrunner and writers are doing everything out of spite and are actively trying to kill off not just Buck and Eddie's friendship/bond and connection but also this show. Other Showrunners have purposely killed off their shows in the past, so I wouldn't put it past the 9-1-1 Showrunner for trying to get the show cancelled. If the Showrunner and writers don't want to work for the show anymore than why not move on and let someone more skilled take on the roles. Because 9-1-1 is in desperate need of both a new Showrunner and writers.