Art of the Day: Bookworm Alligator

Artwork: Alo the Alligator by Heegyum Kim

How cute is this little book gater with a stack of books? Alo probably has a cozy home full of books.

Currently Reading: The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster Mall

I know I just read a mystery book, but when I was looking through my shelves for something else to read, I found The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo volume #2: The Monster Mall by Drew Weing. I forgot I had this. It's been 10 years since I read the first volume, The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo and I really enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to start reading The Monster Mall and it seems like a very interesting story with the monsters of Echo City feeling like they are not only being squeezed out of their neighborhood by humans but also having their mere existence being exposed. And it will be up to Margo to solve the problem.

Book: The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo volume #2: The Monster Mall by Drew Weing

Description:

In this second volume of The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo, graphic novelist Drew Weing delivers a fresh and funny take on the age-old battle between kids and closet-dwelling monsters.

Charles meets a lot of monsters in his line of work. While assisting Margo Maloo on her assignments, he’s had close encounters with trolls, ghosts, imps, and ogres. And lately, they’re all saying the same thing: living in Echo City is getting harder.

As the human population of the city grows, monsters are being forced to abandon their homes. Teenagers are creeping into their territory, smartphones in hand, eager to photograph paranormal activity. Some monsters are tired of hiding and ready to fight. How can Margo and Charles keep Echo City’s monster community a secret, when it’s teetering in the brink of war?

Happy Black History Month!

February is Black History Month!

Black History Month was created to celebrate, educate, honor and appreciate the complex and rich history and culture of the Black and African-American community. It goes without saying that Black history is American history, how are you celebrating this month? Are there any historical facts, books, movies, shows, cultural events, etc. that you're interested in for Black History Month? Granted you can do all of this throughout the year as well. There is just so much out there to learn and know more about.

With that said, Happy Black History Month, everyone!

Book Review: Murder on Cape Cod

Book: Murder on Cape Cod (A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery book #1) by Maddie Day

Edition: Paperback

Description:

A Cape Cod shop owner and her book club must find a crafty killer in this charming new series from the Agatha-nominated author of the Country Store Mystery series.

Summer is busy season for Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida’s bicycle shop, nestled in the quaint, seaside hamlet of Westham, Massachusetts. She’s expecting an influx of tourists at Mac’s Bikes; instead she discovers the body of Jake Lacey. Mac can’t imagine anyone stabbing the down-on-his-luck handyman. However, the authorities seem to think Mac is a strong suspect after she was spotted arguing with Jake just hours before his death. Mac knows she didn’t do it, but she does recognize the weapon—her brother Derrick’s fishing knife.

Mac’s only experience with murder investigations is limited to the cozy mysteries she reads with her local book group, the Cozy Capers. So to clear her name—and maybe her brother’s too—Mac will have to summon help from her Cozy Capers co-investigators and a library’s worth of detectives’ tips and tricks. For a small town, Westham is teeming with possible killers, and this is one mystery where Mac is hoping for anything but a surprise ending…

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #51: 9-1-1

Happy Fandom Friday, I am posting this early because I just have too many thoughts about last night's 9-1-1 episode Handle with Care (season 9 episode 10):

Edit: To add that despite being disappointed with the writing for the ninth season of 9-1-1, I shouldn't have focused on the actress' appearance. And as I stated below it is refreshing to see an actress who is aging naturally. So, I appologize for making a portion of this about someone's looks.

- I'm not one to judge someone's looks or appearance but why is the therapist Alex Doyle that the writers on 9-1-1 are possibly (most likely) setting Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz up with so ugly? She's looks ways older and uglier than any of his love interests have ever been. I can't believe they had Abigail refer to Alex as being "pretty". Abigail I know you have been traumatized by your parents but do you also need glasses? Because is the pretty in the room with us. And in what universe is Alex considered pretty. She's homely at best and fugly at worst. The only way she's considered pretty is if you've never seen any of Eddie's past love interests. As well as there being no more women (or anyone in general) on the show. And not to mention, she is so boring. And I thought Eddie having no chemistry with Marisol was bad but him and Alex are even worse. So, ugly, boring and no chemistry, that's usually not a good combination. But for 9-1-1 that's down right perfect to be Eddie's love interest. Usually, they are just boring and lack chemistry but this is a new low by casting someone who looks like that. You're telling me there were no pretty actresses they could have been cast for this role. While it's refreshing to see an actress who doesn't have a face full of plastic surgery, fillers and Botox, however, she's still very homely for a love interest.

Fashion Meets Fandom News: The "Heated Rivalry" Shane Hollander Canada fleece is officially being released!

There's some good Fashion Meets Fandom Heated Rivalry news. The Canada fleece jacket that Shane Hollander was wearing while he was in Russia for the 2014 Sochi Olympics in the Heated Rivalry episode Olympians (season 1 episode 2) is going to be released. The white fleece jacket with red accents became an instant fan favorite and there were even some fans making their own version of it. But now the Provence of Canada apparel company will officially be making one.

(Heated Rivalry season 1 episode 2: Olympians)

Book of Interest: The People's Library

This sci-fi book, The People's Library by Veronica G. Henry seems very interesting. With the way the world continues to be digitized, it's not hard to imagine human consciousness being as well. And a anti-tech rebellion is also something that's not hard to imagine, especially since there is already a growing anti-AI sentiment. And couple that with the librarian, Echo London uncovering secrets about the library, I so want to read this book. Because what does she find out and is it connected with the anti-tech rebellion?

Book: The People's Library by Veronica G. Henry

Publication: February 1, 2026

Description:

From critically acclaimed author Veronica G. Henry comes a thought—provoking science fiction fantasy set in near—future Cleveland that follows a reluctant curator of digital human consciousness who must uncover twisted secrets and navigate ethical quandaries and dangers when anti—technology rebels attack the futuristic library.

Echo London never wanted to be the curator of the People’s Library, a digital collection of human consciousness. But when she’s assigned as its head librarian, Echo is entrusted with humanity’s greatest minds and historical figures, all of whom have been recreated through controversial consciousness—capturing technology that lets visitors interact with the dead.

But an anti—tech rebellion is stirring. When a rebel attack results in tragedy, a mysterious woman wearing an ancient death mask leaves behind cryptic final words for Echo: It all begins with nothing. Caught between the resistance and a potentially virtual evolution, Echo begins to fear that there’s more to her job than meets the eye and the mind. There are secrets here. And the People’s Library may be less of a promise of things to come than a warning of the danger that lurks beneath the surface. Now the fate of humanity lies in uncovering the truth.

Book of Interest: The Dead Romantics

Is The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston a supernatural romance? I was wondering if the ghost of Florence's late editor is there to help her see that love isn't dead which will lead to not only get her back to writing but to also find love. Also, what is his unfinished business? This seems like an interesting and fun story. I'm really surprised that I don't read a lot of ghost stories. I want to read this, so I'll be adding this to my list.

Book: The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston

Description:

Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead.

When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won't give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.

For ten years, she's run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it.

Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is.

Romance is most certainly dead . . . but so is her new editor, and his unfinished business will have her second-guessing everything she’s ever known about love stories.

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it so sad the way this country continues to go backwards whenever there is any form of progress. Hatred is unfortunately thriving and there's an American Gestapo terrorizing people under the evil so-called leadership of this country. Not to mention this so-called leadership is also trying to terrorize other countries into doing what they want. Thankfully more countries are pushing back against them.

Dr. King's enduring message of fighting against hatred and seeking peace, justice and equality continues to live on. Despite the current times, people continue to push for change in making this country a better place. Diversity is wonderful and should never be seen as something bad. We have to continue to fight for our rights.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may his message never be forgotten.

Fandom Thoughts: 9-1-1's Ninth Season and Heated Rivalry

Happy Saturday! I had some fandom thoughts on my mind and wanted to share them. And here they are:

- What is going on with the writing on 9-1-1? Why does Henrietta "Hen" Wilson have to be written out of character to try to make this terrible storyline of her being sick and hiding it work? Which by the way, it didn't. It's definitely one way of ruining her character. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever that Hen would have done any of the stuff the writers had her doing. And at this point, it truly feels like character assassination especially with her blaming others and lashing out at her best friend and now 118 Fire Captain Howard "Chimney" Han. I'm starting to wonder if the writers are using AI (which I hope not and it's just bad writing) to write this ninth season because so far this has been a very lackluster season with boring storylines and characters being out of character. I guess since they couldn't have any more repetitive storylines of Hen and her wife Dr. Karen Wilson either not being able to have a second child or have something dealing with their children. So, now it's a ridiculous storyline about Hen's out of character response to having a health issue.

Something I have no interest in is the writers most likely planning on giving Edmundo "Eddie" Diaz yet another random love interest this season. The same most likely for Evan "Buck" Buckley. I never understood why they just don't want to put Buck and Eddie together. It's kind of hilarious that this show has one of the most popular ships (albeit non-canon) and instead of seeing what the fans and viewers are seeing and enjoying. The Showrunner and writers would rather baits fans and viewers instead of actually putting them together. I guess it's more fun for them to bait fans but it's not fun for fans. Anyway, it looks like one if not both of them will probably be getting new random love interests. I would love to be proved wrong with the Showrunner and writers no longer baiting fans and they stop writing the same storylines over and over again and finally put Buck and Eddie together. But I'm not holding my breath for that.

- Something I hope that Heated Rivalry will showcase more of in the second season is Canada. This is a Canadian show and I want to see more of Canada especially since I've never been there. I know this show has a low budget and it doesn't look like it's changing, so maybe they can get creative with how they showcase Canada. Since Shane Hollander lives in Montréal and plays for the Montréal Metros, I want to see more of the city. And with Ilya Rozanov thinking of leaving the Boston Raiders to play for the Ottawa Centaurs, it would be cool to see more of the city of Ottawa. And with Ilya moving they will both be in Canada and it would be nice to see them going out and showing viewers more sites in both cities. I don't know, it's just when I think about Sex and the City, it truly made New York City a focus and almost like another character on the show. I just hope Heated Rivalry could add a little more essence of Canada to the show.

(Montréal    Photo Credit: Vogue magazine)

Book of Interest: Unrivaled

I know I haven't read the other six books in the Game Changers series (but I will) which I recently bought but that doesn't stop me from wanting to pre-order this book, Unrivaled by Rachel Reid. I've never pre-ordered a book this far in advance, Unrivaled which is the seventh book in the series is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, September 29th, 2026.

Although, I'm new to the Game Changers fandom, prior to this new book being announced, I had read that the author had written the final book in the series, The Long Game. So, it's pleasantly surprising that Rachel Reid secretly wrote a new book that I'm sure old and new fans will be happy to read. I can't believe that Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are getting a new and third book, that's pretty cool.

Book: Unrivaled (Game Changers book #7) by Rachel Reid

Publication: September 29, 2026

Description:

A line has been drawn—and the hockey world is divided.

For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. For more than a decade, they kept their love a secret, but now they're out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support is incredible.

Most of the time.

They've gotten a lot of love from fans who are thrilled for them. But some people in the hockey world are still reeling from their relationship reveal, and the backlash—led by popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is getting louder.

Ilya and Shane are finally able to stand together in the light, the way they'd always wanted. And now they might be facing their biggest challenge yet.

Book Girl Thoughts: Thank You

Happy Wednesday!

I feel like I haven't said this enough, but I truly mean it, thank you for being here and reading my blog, Book Girl and my other blog Truly Outrageous Buck and Eddie (which I need to update). I want to thank you for your support, for reading my posts about books and my book reviews, for reading my geeky lifestyle posts which I hope are helpful, my posts about shows and movies and for posts about life. With time being so valuable, I am so grateful that you choose to visit my blogs.

So, thank you so much.

~ Book Girl

(Photo Credit: Martha Stewart)

Book of Interest: Scooby-Doo! and the Attack of the Scooby Snacks Cookbook

Happy Tuesday!

I've mention this plenty of times but I love fandom cookbooks, and I was thinking about getting Scooby-Doo! and the Attack of the Scooby Snacks Cookbook by Elena Pons Craig and Marc Sumerak. I love Scooby-Doo and my love of mysteries is definitely can be a attributed to this franchise. From the classic series Scooby-Doo! Where are you? to some of the newer adaptations, I'm just a huge fan. Whether they're having picnics at the beach, going to diners, restaurants, guests at friends homes, hotels, inns, the Mystery Inc. gang do eat quite a bit of food and especially Shaggy and Scooby. So it will be interesting to see what Scooby-Doo related recipes are included in this.

Book: Scooby-Doo! and the Attack of the Scooby Snacks (An Official Cookbook): From Scooby Snacks and Pickled Vampire Wings to Fried Moonbeams and More by Elena Pons Craig and Marc Sumerak

Description:

Scooby-Doo, where are you? Join Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Velma to solve their latest mystery—just how delicious the 55+ recipes included in Scooby-Doo! and the Attack of the Scooby Snacks are!

Zoinks! Scooby-Doo! and the Attack of the Scooby Snacksallows Mystery Incorporated fans to finally answer the question, “Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?” This family-friendly cookbook’s recipes takes fans on an immersive journey through the incredible snacks that Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang encounter during their mystery-solving antics alongside complementary sidebars with party ideas inspired by all the ghouls and frights of Coolsville.

Fans will have the courage to face any monster head on as they recreate delicious, easy-to-follow recipes for Scooby Snacks, Shaggy’s Jaw-Stretcher Special sandwich, Pot Pie Pizza, Fruitmeiers Ice Cream, a Spooky Haunted House Cake, and so much more.

55+ SNACKS: Jinkies! With more than 55 recipes inspired by the meddling kids and ghoulish monsters of Coolsville, there’s something to delight everyone

STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY: Features beautiful photography of the delicious, fully prepared recipes to help ensure success

MENUS FOR EVERY OCCASION: Includes suggested, themed menus featuring recipes for delicious snacks, stuff to go with snacks, really big snacks, drinkable snacks, and sweet snacks

FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPES: Perfect for kids, adults, and families, this book has easy-to-follow recipes and everyday ingredients, making it ideal for every chef, meal, and occasion

OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Created in conjunction with the studio behind Scooby-Doo