Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1 of the Harry Potter Series) by J.K. Rowling - Book Review

This book is obviously Fantasy. I would consider it young adult, but also MAGICAL! And an amazing adventure.

Trigger Warning: 

This book deals with death. Nothing graphic, but the main character is orphaned. Also, child neglect (minimal). 

I also understand that the author of this book may be a trigger, too. I will not be addressing the controversy surrounding her. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much."

In case you have been living under a rock, let me tell you a bit about Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It follows a young orphaned boy named Harry. He has grown up in a little English town with his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon Dursley. He has always been a nuisance to them, it seems. And they have always treated him that way, making him live in a cupboard under the stairs with the spiders and dust. 

Harry is living a pretty mundane life when, suddenly, around his eleventh birthday, strange things begin to happen. Soon letters start to appear, addressed to him, specifically to the boy under the stairs. These letters alarm the Dursleys. They knew this day would come, and they taught that they could fight it. 

But they were wrong. 

Little does Harry know that not only is he a wizard, he is a celebrity in the wizarding world, a saviour. He is "the boy who lived". The baby that defeated, You-Know-Who, and has returned the wizarding world to normalcy. And yet, he has no idea what any of that means. He's just Harry. Until Rubeus Hagrid returns him to the Wizarding World. 

The Review

I am biased, I am not ashamed to say that. Harry Potter was a HUGE part of my childhood. I think any child with an imagination has fantasised about being a witch or a wizard, and when I was young, there really wasn't anything like that dedicated to kids. Now, fantasy is everywhere, magic is everywhere. But this was different, new and exciting. Twenty-five years later, I think it is a timeless classic. And I think no matter what age you are when you read this, Harry Potter is an escape. It's like the plain girl realising she's a princess, a family down on their luck, inheriting a multi-million-dollar fortune. It's an escape from reality, and it's an adventure. 

SPOILER ALERT

Before the second Wizarding War, before all our favourite characters died horrible deaths, here was the beginning. And I think that is something that the Harry Potter series does well. Even if you have read all the books, watched all the movies, and know everything there is to know about Harry Potter. When you start the series over again, it is like coming home. Meeting Dumbledore for the first time, seeing the Weasley Twins get into all kinds of mischief, and Sirius Black (enough said). Meeting all those who don't make it to the end, really, is like taking a trip back in time. Like visiting old friends. 

My mom read me the Scholastic's paperback edition to me when I was a kid. Since then, I have listened to Stephen Fry read the book, twice. And I am about to start listening to the Full-Cast read through (Audible). 

Rating and Recommendation

Can you imagine anyone giving Harry Potter anything but five stars? I can't. I read some reviews on GoodReads just to see, and it was absolutely mindboggling to see people so pretentious that they could give the book that changed it all three or fewer stars. Now, usually I don't judge people based on their star ratings; we all have different tastes. But when a book hits multi-million dollar fame, it has literally changed the lives of so many people. I think your three stars may be wrong. 

That being said, I can understand that Harry Potter hit different for my generation. We grew up with The Boy Who Lived. I remember hating the hype. I didn't understand it at first, magic and wizards, pff. But it was huge! And by the time I was in the fourth grade, Harry Potter mania was everywhere. And for good reason. Once I got bit by the Harry Potter bug, there was no going back. 

I went from not caring to standing in line for book releases and reading the new book in two days. By the time the last book of the series came out, I was reading for hours on end just because I couldn't stand to wait a moment longer, not knowing what happened. It was a far cry from the kid who hated reading.

I bought this book from a Scholastic's Book Fair flyer when I was in the fourth grade. I bought the next three books the same way. And then I started getting them right from the bookstore. I couldn't wait for Scholastics anymore; I had to have my hands on the books the minute they came out. Now, at 34 years old, I am starting to collect both illustrated versions of the series. 

Conclusion

I am 100% bias. As I said, Harry Potter changed my life. But I highly recommend this series to everyone. If you grew up with Harry Potter, share it with your children. I recommend grade 3 to 4 for this one - it is not too dark and unless you find your child a little on the sensitive side, they should love it. If you are an adult and missed out, now is your chance, a whole new fandom is coming together with the new HBO series coming this year. 

You can find Harry Potter and the Philosopher's / Sorcerer's Stone in its respective mediums below: 

The E-book of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is available for free to Amazon Prime users. 

The Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 25th Anniversary Edition is available here. 

The Illustrated Editions: 

Jim Kay version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition

MinaLima version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition

Stencilled Edges: 
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Stencilled Edges by Mary Grandpre)

The Hogwarts House Editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone are available below: 

(The best house) Hufflepuff - Black and Yellow: Hardcover and Paperback

Audible has recently released a new "Full-Cast Audio Edition" of all seven books. You can find this edition of the audiobook here. 


HBO is recreating Harry Potter as a TV series. You can see the trailer below. The Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone TV Series will be released on December 25th, 2026.

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley).
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (Book 6 of the Robert Langdon Series) - Book Review

This book is a thriller! 

Other genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Crime

Trigger Warning: Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Psychological Torture, Bomb Threats, Corruption. 

"The right book at the right time can save your life."

Robert Langdon, academia's most eligible bachelor, has finally settled down. He and Katherine Solomon, a celebrated academic in her own right, are in Prague, where Katherine is giving a lecture about her latest developments in Noetic science. 

Prague is old and steeped in history, folklore and ancient mysteries. The exact backdrop in which Robert Langdon thrives. But little does Robert and Katherine know that this simple trip to Prague will turn into a battle for their lives and freedom. 

A cryptic dream wakes Katherine Solomon during the night. She is panting and frightened as she relays to Robert all the details of the nightmare she has just woken up from. Just as the weight of the dream disappears, strange occurrences begin to happen. 

After his morning swim, Robert is walking back to their hotel building when he sees her. A haunting figure walking the bridge, dressed in a crown and carrying a spear. Almost an exact replica of Katherine's dream. The scene wouldn't be odd at all against the Prague backdrop, except it is the early morning, and the woman seems to be in a trance. 

As the dream Katherine told him about replays in his head, Robert races to the hotel - he needs to get to Katherine, he needs to evacuate the hotel! But Katherine is not there, and once the dust settles, Robert has a lot of questions to answer. Where is Katherine? Is she safe? Is all this a coincidence? 

The Review

Katherine Solomon, you may recognise the name from The Lost Symbol. She is Peter Solomon's sister and the main female character. In passing it is stated that she is a noetic scientist and that she is working on experiments, but this book really explores her work. Robert has set her up with his publicist, and Katherine is writing a book. In her book, she plans on revealing a new conclusion that she has come to in noetics. But someone doesn't want that book to see the light of day.  

As things go down in Prague, Jonas Faukman, Robert's book editor, is having a night of his own. Working late in his New York office, Jonas is alerted to a security breach. The only thing the hackers were after and got was Katherine's manuscript for her new book. To say that Jonas is on edge is an understatement. This should not be able to happen on their secure servers. Who would want to steal a noetic science book! Thankfully, he has made a few hard copies, so he can edit them by hand. Little does he know that these people will stop at nothing, including abducting him off the street, to get their hands on every last copy. 

SPOILER ALERT

These Robert Langdon books are starting to get a little played out. As you can probably imagine, if someone dies, Robert needs to play hero; he is in trouble with the law, but at the end of the day, he saves the girl, his name is cleared, and they live happily ever after. In this case, Katherine is missing. She was supposed to meet Brigita Vesna. She is the woman who invited Katherine to Prague in the first place. Vesna has this new state-of-the-art lab, and she is excited to show Katherine the work she has been doing there. 

Slight problem. Vesna is found dead, the lab is broken into, and Katherine is nowhere to be found. This, of course, piques the interest of local police, especially since Katherine Solomon's companion, Robert Landon, has just pulled a fire alarm at their hotel, caused a mass evacuation and has jumped out of his hotel window into the waiting river below. 

It all seems like a lot of drama for nothing. We eventually do find Katherine; she has hidden herself in a little nook that Robert taught her about while they were touring a museum. They meet up, eventually, and then have to make a daring escape, which seemingly includes burning Katherine's manuscript in order to get out of their sticky situation and not get detained by the police. 

That seems like an underlying theme of most Robert Langdon books. Sticky situation, no way out, and then Robert Langdon finds a way. I do have to admit, the plot twist at the end, where Sasha is the Golem. I did not see that coming. It makes total sense, but still, it is a bit of a mind-blowing revelation. 

I originally read the physical book. 

Rating and Recommendation

It hurts my heart to give Dan Brown such a low rating. But unfortunately, this latest book just wasn't as good as his earlier work. The strengths of earlier Robert Langdon books are that they were filled with symbology, codes, cyphers and riddles. It was kind of like a game you could play along with and try to solve with Robert. Now there are fewer little things like that and more, just Robert Langdon knows these obscure facts and details. 

The story was perfectly enjoyable, and it was a cool little twist. But I don't think it is what most people come to expect from Dan Brown. My excitement for the latest book may have also led to my disappointment.  

I preordered this book months in advance. All I had to hear was Dan Brown and new book, and I was there. I don't regret it, but I definitely feel like it wouldn't have been life-changing to wait for it to come on sale.   

Conclusion

If you are a Dan Brown fan, you will pick up this book. It isn't bad. It is an enjoyable enough read. But I think most fans will be slightly disappointed. I know I am. And even now, I am having a hard time putting my finger on why. I love that Robert and Katherine have gotten together. I love that he is finally with someone steady and that she is a strong lead for his strong personality. But something just didn't feel classic Dan Brown to me. I think most fans of Dan Brown, or at least the Robert Langdon series, will be glad they got the book. (Even more glad if they get it at a discount.)

** If you like Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon, and you haven't already, check out The Lost Symbol, the first time we are introduced to Katherine and her family. You can find my review for that book here.  

You can find The Secret of Secrets in its respective mediums below: 

Like The Lost Symbol, The Secret of Secrets is being adapted into a TV series for Netflix. The expected release date is September 9th, 2026. 

* Book cover image retrieved from the author's website. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy (Book 1 of the Off-Campus Series)

 This book is a sports romance novel. 

Other genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Hockey, Fake Dating, Friends to Lovers (though probably more like Enemy to Lovers). 

Trigger Warning: This novel discusses and deals with Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault (SA) Trauma, and reliving SA events. This blog will also touch on SA trauma and experiences. This review will also have foul language. 

One Unexpected Kiss Leads to the Wildest Sex of Both Their Lives 

Hannah Wells has baggage. She is smart and confident in most areas of her life, she is doing well in her courses, and she is perfecting her performance for the upcoming concert. But her baggage makes her less confident in the area of sex and seduction. After the ordeal she has been through, Hannah doesn't drink, doesn't like partying and rarely finds a man worth dealing with. Until she laid eyes on Justin. 

Justin, a football jock, was a recent transfer to their University. And the moment she laid eyes on him, Hannah was smitten. Due to her sexual assault, she doesn't typically crush on men, let alone get turned on by them. But Justin changed all that. Now all she has to do is get him to notice her.

Garrett Graham has baggage of his own. His father was a professional hockey player, and he has been trying to live up to his expectations his whole life. The plan is and has always been to play hockey after graduation. But with his GPA plummeting, all his hard work is about to go down the drain. Unless he can convince the smartest girl in his class to tutor him.

Hannah Wells, or "Wellsy" as he calls her, is not thrilled to be tutoring him. In fact, she downright refuses, over and over. . . it isn't until Garrett has a proposition for her that she can't refuse. Fake Date? Will that really work? If Hannah tutors him, Garrett will pretend to date her to try to make Justin jealous. But as things progress, Garrett realises that he may be the jealous one every time he thinks of Hannah with someone else. 

The Review

I'll be honest, I usually listen to new books at regular speed. Books I have already read, I "re-read" at 1.5x speed. But I got so fed up with this book that I switched to 1.3x speed around chapter 17. This book is SLOW. Ironically, just as I sped it up, it started to pick up a little bit. 

If you're coming here from Heated Rivalry, you're going to be disappointed. I think that "Hockey Romance" is a loose tag for this book. It doesn't really matter that Garrett is the captain of the Hockey team. The only role that it plays in the plot is a reason why Garrett needs Hannah's help. 

Not for the first time, I wonder if I am simply too old for "New Adult". It has the vibe of 90s movies where the enemies-to-lovers trope was huge! But unfortunately for me, I felt it fell short of being one of those classics. The book did get better as it went on, thankfully. 

SPOILER ALERT

I wasn't through the first chapter, and already I hated Hannah Wells. She just came off cold, and like a bitch. It was obvious she was bitter and jaded, and it really came across like she was mad at the world. One of the first things mentioned about Hannah is that she was raped. But it is just thrown out there, and then the chapter moves along without any real comment about it beyond that. And yet, it is always brought up when it is convenient for the storyline. We learn that Hannah hates parties, she doesn't trust people, and she won't drink anything anyone hands her, even her friends. And she doesn't drink because she was raped. And that is why Justin will never notice her. But this isn't explained any further. I think it would help the story and the Hannah character if we heard a little about why. Even something as simple as, "Last time I was at a party. . . ." or "That's how he got the upper hand, he handed me a drink, and I hadn't noticed. . ." Anything that alludes to why this is such a big deal. While you can assume that's what happened, it would be nice to know more. 

And this happens often in the novel. Hannah has 9-1-1 dialled until she gets home, just in case, but she gets in the car with Garrett. Hannah even says she spent a lot of time in therapy to get over her trauma, but she still has these habits that she insists will probably never go away. She also goes to Garrett's house, a frat house basically, instead of insisting they meet somewhere in public. Which probably isn't realistic for a survivor of sexual assault and a guy she barely knows. 

I think this may be why I don't like Hannah; I don't think it's the character per se, but it's the lack of explanation as to why she is like this. And it feels forced for the storyline. Even when she talks about Thanksgiving with her parents, it's just a few "shocking" statements and no details about what happened. It also feels like she is judgmental when it comes to men because of her experiences, but again, there is no explanation. If inner dialogue were to say that Garrett reminds Hannah in any way of her abuser and that's why she has a low opinion of him (or athletes in general - which wouldn't work anyway because Justin is an athlete), then maybe it would sit better. But again, she just comes off as judgmental. 

By today's standards, I can understand why some feel like Garrett is an egotistical jerk. But I think this is by design because of the parallels to 90s movies with the same enemy-to-lover trope (think A Walk to Remember, The Duff, and She's All That). But I think if you look beyond how annoying he is when it comes to begging her to tutor him, you can see the scared little boy who just wants to make his dad proud. 

I listened to this book on Audible. 

On Audible, this book is narrated by Lorelei Avalon (as Hannah) and Christian Fox (as Garrett). I wonder if this is another reason why I don't like Hannah. Lorelei's voice is so deadpan. She sounds like a bored teenager forced to read her diary or complaining to a friend. I am not sure if that is just Lorelei's voice in general or style in general, or if that is her interpretation of the character. Either way, I think that reading the book myself may have helped my opinion of Hannah, though probably not by much. 

Christian Fox is better. But something about his voice doesn't click with me. It's not bad. But it doesn't scream University Jock. He has a lot of steamy titles under his belt, which may play a part in it. But he doesn't seem to really embody Garrett. 

Also, as a side note, I hated that to start each chapter, they said the character's name. "Chapter 8 - Hannah", I really don't think that was necessary. 

Rating and Recommendation

I started by giving this book only two and a half stars. But it did get better as the book went along. So I changed my rating at the last minute. 

This book is a "New Adult" book, which means its target audience is college-aged kids (which makes sense since that's what it is about. Maybe I am a little too old for it. But I just couldn't enjoy it. As I said previously, I think it is the Hannah character that threw me off. And her lack of depth. I felt like the author had a real chance at showing what challenges someone who has been sexually assaulted can face as they try to process their trauma and learn to cope with it. But it felt like she dropped the ball at every turn. 

If you like hockey romances and enemy-to-lovers, you may like this book. I like those things, but couldn't get past the character holes. Maybe I am just too old-fashioned. 

I paid for Audible so I could listen to this book. When I tell you I regret it, I say that with seething rage. I wanted to get this review in close to the show's Amazon Prime premiere. So I paid for Audible and got this book with the free credit. At least I didn't actually spend money on it. It would have been my first DNF, but I refused to give up on it because of the price I paid for Audible. 

Conclusion

Even though the trailer for the TV show is just a few seconds long, it already seems better than the book. I recommend watching the TV series. If you enjoy it, you may want to try reading the book. (If you like the series, you may be more determined to finish the book.) If you didn't finish the book or didn't like the book, I would recommend giving the TV show a try. Already, the Hannah character seems different, more relatable. Maybe I just prefer drunk Hannah instead of regular Hannah. 

I am not sure "Hot" is the word for it, really. There is sex in the book. And it is described, but it isn't what I would say "hot". Again, it is a reminder that this book is aimed at "New Adults". So that may play into it a little, also. But it is definitely not PG-13 by any means. 

Sexual Assault (Trigger Warning)

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Canadian women experience sexual assault in some form annually. Though we will never truly know this exact number because of severe underreporting, it is safe to say that Canada has a sexual assault problem. According to an infographic on the Government of Canada's website, only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to police. Of that six percent only about 1 in 19 cases lead to an accused person being sentenced to custody. It is also believed that of that six per cent of sexual assaults, 89% are women or girls, and 97% of the accused are men or boys. 

According to another infographic, "Sexual assault" is any unwanted sexual activity (e.g. sexual touching, kissing someone without consent, rape). It also goes on to say that 1 in 3 women experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public, which includes unwanted sexual attention or unwanted physical contact. 

I want to be completely honest, I think most of us (ladies) have experienced some kind of sexual assault, violence, abuse, harassment, etc. And I think, depending on when and how you were raised, a lot of us learned to shrug it off. "Oh, Uncle John grabbed my ass? It's okay, he's just drunk." But it's not okay. Those are lies we were told or tell ourselves to minimise what has happened to us. 

I've done it myself. Someone grabbed my ass at a party, and I just let it go because he was drunk and everyone was having a good time. And in reality, he probably didn't mean anything by it. But it was still inappropriate. I think part of the problem with sexual assault is that everyone thinks of rape. Sexual assault doesn't always mean rape. Sexual assault doesn't always mean legal issues. That story, for example, I didn't want the guy to go to jail. He had never done it before, never did it since, and he was drunk. Was it an accident? Maybe. But it was still sexual assault. And even though I didn't want anything to come of it, I still had to recognise it and validate myself and the situation. It's really a mindset we need to break. 

A sexual assault victim never HAS to do anything. You never HAVE to report, you never HAVE to tell someone. But you do need to validate yourself. Oftentimes, that comes with talking to a therapist, sharing with a friend or family member, or calling the police. Whatever you choose, it is up to you. And it is NEVER too late. 

You can find The Deal in its respective mediums below: 

You can find Off Campus (2026, directed by Silver Tree, Samantha Bailey, Erica Dunton, and Dawn Wilkinson), Season 1, on Amazon Prime.  You can watch the trailer below via Amazon Prime's YouTube Channel. 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Book 2 of the Game Changer Series) - Book Review

This book (and entire series) is LGBTQIA+ themed. 

This book specifically is focused on one gay man and one bisexual man (MM)

Other genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance

Canada's Shane Hollander and Russia's Ilya Rozanov! 

Jane and Lilly, finally! Heated Rivalry is book number 2 in Rachel Reid's Game Changer Series. Gaining popularity, thanks to the Crave adaptation, the Game Changer Series has become an international phenomenon! 

Shane Hollander is the poster child for the league. He is an amazing player, and he is squeaky clean. Everything the league would want to showcase and more. The Captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, Shane, is at the top of his game - an amazing young talent, ready to make it big. 

Enter, Ilya Rozanov. He is the exact opposite of Shane. The Captain of the Boston Bears is the self-proclaimed king of the ice. His cockiness is backed by his talent. Since their junior years, the two have been rivals. 

Who is the best? The only person who can beat Ilya Rozanov is Shane Hollander, and it seems the opposite may also be true. But rivals aren't the only thing that Shane and Ilya have been since the rookie season. The two captains have a secret.

Drawn to each other by fate and freckles, Shane and Ilya struggle to find a balance between their emotional bond and the reality of being gay (or bi) hockey players. How long can they keep their hookups a secret?

The Review

I can't say anything bad about Heated Rivalry (partially because I think people with pitchforks would show up at my door), mostly because it's such a feel-good book. Two young kids, finding love and the joy of a first love, exploring each other, getting to know each other. It's all a little wonky for Shane and Ilya, but I think that adds to their relationship. Sometimes relationships are tough like that. Not getting much time together, working too hard, too late, too much, it puts strain on a relationship. But the boys understand it because they are alike in that regard, even though personality-wise they are so different.

For Shane, hockey was always something he was good at. I spiked his competitiveness, and he thrived. For Ilya, hockey was an escape, away from his dad, away from his brother, away from Russia. The tension behind that alone is hard to imagine, but then add in being gay and bisexual, and it's sad to think how much harder that made things for both of them. It's unfortunate that even in 2026, this type of narrative is still prominent. 

I think Rachel Reid does a great job of really capturing the hardships that Shane and Ilya go through both together and apart. It is a much different type of story than Kip and Scott, though we see Scott struggle a lot with the idea that his hockey career may be over if he comes out.

SPOILER ALERT

Unlike Scott and Kip, Ilya and Shane don't really get the "pretty-bow" happy ending. They come up with a plan. They do have some closure. They do have each other. But they still have to hide. Even with the press conference announcing the Irina Foundation and the hockey camps, they still don't get to be themselves. Or together. They still don't get the happily-ever-after they deserve. It's unfinished in that way, which is no doubt why they get two more books covering their story. (We also get glimpses of Ilya and Shane throughout the next few books as we wait for The Long Game. 

I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby). 

As with Game Changer, Heated Rivalry was also narrated by Tor Thom. Again, I didn't have a problem with the narration. Obviously, it wasn't the perfect accent for Ilya, but it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed that he actually attempted to make different voices for each character. While not perfect, it came across as different people from different backgrounds. And I think that's the best a voice actor/narrator can do. 

Because of the pushback, there are talks of the audiobooks recorded by Tor Thom being rerecorded. The most popular choice would be to have the actors (Hudson Williams and Connor Storie) read the book. While others would be happy just to have Cooper North (the person who took over narrating the series), rerecord them.

Rating and Recommendation

I love Ilya and Shane, I love Heated Rivalry. But I loved Game Changer more. To me, Scott and Kip's story had more "bones", more of a story. Ilya and Shane's story was more about sex. Which, don't get me wrong, I enjoy that part too. But, personally, I like a little more meat. Now that is just a personal preference. That doesn't take anything away from Heated Rivalry or the series as a whole. I have read all the other storylines, and I think that Shane and Ilya eventually become the best couple. I think it just takes some time because their story is unfinished. With that being said, I can't wait to start The Long Game and Unrivaled next year. 

After listening to Game Changer (the first book), I bought it (and the whole series) from Indigo online. I also pre-ordered the next book in the series (Unrivaled). 

Conclusion

If you enjoyed the TV show, or if you like Scott and Kip's story, or if you just enjoy two hot hockey players getting together on and off the ice. You will love Heated Rivalry. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry. It will make you hate the world and yet love how beautiful it can be. Ilya and Shane's story is hot and heavy, whereas Scott and Kip's was more romance-based. Both are great dynamics and wonderful in their own way. It just depends on what you're in the mood for. So keep that in mind if you are coming to Heated Rivalry after Game Changer.

If you are a fan of sports romance novels, of hockey, or just a fan of MM stories, you will love the Game Changer Series. Keep in mind, there are a lot of sexual scenes that are very detailed. If you offend easily or are under the age of majority, a different series may be better suited for you. 

Homophobia in Hockey

Heated Rivalry and Rachel Reid's description and depiction of the trials and tribulations that Shane and Ilya have to go through are very eye-opening. I think we (straight people) don't necessarily think about certain implications of being "different" or how that may affect a person. If you don't have a problem with gay people, I think it's easy to overlook certain things. My initial reaction to both Heated Rivalry and Game Changer was, "So what? Come out... who cares?" But the reality is a lot of people do. A lot of people don't want to hear about their idols being anything less than the "epitome of masculinity".  (Note, I am using quotes because I don't think anyone is less masculine or feminine for being gay.) Which is unfortunate. I think the best thing we could ask for and want for our idols is to be happy, a good person, a good player, and a good teammate.

"If you can play, you can play." That was the slogan for "You Can Play" a campaign started by Patrick Burke (an NHL scout and son of Brian Burke), Brian Kitts and Glen Witman, in March of 2012. 

The inspiration for the campaign, now turned organisation, was Brendan Burke, Patrick's brother. Brendan was the closest relation to someone in the NHL coming out as gay. He played hockey for Miami University and found the strength to come out to his teammates as gay. He was one of the first players in the hockey world to do so. Brendan Burke passed away at the age of 21 from a tragic car accident. But his legacy still lives on in his brother's and father's dedication to eliminating homophobia in sports. 

For more information about You Can Play, its founding, and its partnership with the National Hockey League, visit their website youcanplay.org.

You can find Heated Rivalry in its respective mediums below: 

You can find Heated Rivalry (2025, directed by Jacob Tierney), Season 1, on Crave (CAN) or HBO Max (USA).  You can watch the trailer below via Crave's YouTube Channel. 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (Book #3 of the Robert Langdon Series) - Book Review

This book is a thriller! 

Other genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Crime

Trigger Warning: Violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Psychological and Physical Torture, Occult/Ritualistic Practices. 

"We all fear what we do not understand"

Harvard professor Robert Langdon was enjoying a quiet evening when he was summoned to deliver a speech at the U.S. Capitol Building on short notice. As a favour to his mentor and friend, Peter Solomon - philanthropist and prominent mason - Robert jets off to the nation's capital. 

However, within moments of his arrival at the Capitol Building, Robert realises something is wrong. In the middle of the Capitol's Rotunda sits a recreation of the Hand of Mysteries. A severed hand, tattooed with symbols, sitting there, pointing to the sky. It is a clear message sent to Robert Langdon. 

Robert finds himself in the centre of an ancient Masonic secret as he tries desperately to solve the clues left behind to save his kidnapped friend Peter Solomon before it's too late. 

The Review

This is a fast-paced, puzzle-driven thriller that feels a little more personal than Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. In this one, he is dragged, not for his expertise but because of his connection to Peter Solomon. He is targeted for what he knows and what he possesses. 

One of the things I like about this book is that it really plays on Robert's specialities. It makes sense that he is called. Not only is he Peter's friend, but he is also a professor of Symbology and Religious Studies; this is right up his alley. He is probably one of the few people who could solve the mystery. 

That's really the draw, I think of Robert Langdon and the stories, in my opinion. He isn't some Joe Shmoe; he has the knowledge to solve the problem. It's not random. There's a reason for him to be there (unfortunately, some of the later books don't have that feel). It's not typically a "right place, right time" kinda of trope. Usually, he is the only person in the situation, which can be a hard line to walk. But in this case, it makes sense, and it feels deeper.  

SPOILER ALERT

The first time I read The Lost Symbol, I don't remember putting the pieces together that Mal'akh was Peter's son, Zach. I actually thought his cellmate in prison realised he was worth a lot of money, and he killed Zach for it. I assumed that once he ran out of (Zach's) money, he went after the family because he knew they had more. I think I also believed that Zach wouldn't kill his grandmother (or try to kill his aunt), even though he was mad at his father. It was also a little hard to believe that Peter didn't recognise his own son, in my mind. So I never connected the dots until it was spelt out at the end.

I originally read the physical book. As a review for this blog, I also listened to this book through my local library (via Libby). 

The audiobook of The Lost Symbol was narrated by Paul Michael. I personally loved Paul Michael's style. He did different voices for all the characters, and it was really easy to follow the story, even though the novel itself jumps around a lot from different characters and points of view. I think he did an amazing job, and I think anyone who is familiar with the books would really find a familiarity with his tone and the atmosphere he provides.  

Rating and Recommendation

This is one of my favourite Dan Brown books. It is actually tied, for me, with The Da Vinci Code. (Which I love for different reasons. They are so different it is hard to compare.) I read it the minute I could get my hands on it. I loved it. This book is the only thing I have ever demanded back in a break-up! Typically, I chalk up anything left at an ex's as lost. But I could not leave my book behind. 

If you like any type of thriller or adventure story and you can stomach some intense themes, you will love this book.

I own a hardcover copy of ALL of Dan Brown's books, including this one. I am actually (desperately) seeking the illustrated version of the book for a (somewhat) reasonable price.  

Conclusion

If you are a Dan Brown fan, or just a fan of thrillers and adventures. I definitely recommend this book. While it is part of the Robert Langdon Series, you do not have to read the books in order. The stories don't really overlap (though some offhand comments do refer to other novels). If you enjoy conspiracy theories or just American History (keeping in mind this is pure fiction), I think anyone could enjoy this book. The tour of D.C. is fascinating. And if you are in the D.C. area, Dan Brown has a travel guide to all his books on his website. 

** If you like Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon, you can see a continuation of their story in Dan Brown's new book, The Secret of Secrets. 

You can find The Lost Symbol in its respective mediums below: 

I was anxiously awaiting the movie. I was so excited to see Tom Hanks play this out. I had gotten attached to Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. And I was so upset that they decided to make Inferno first. But still, I would be patient. And then I was devastated when they decided to make it into a series. But! Once I saw the series, I was pleasantly surprised. And I really think they did the book justice. 

* Book cover image retrieved from the author's website. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.

Game Changer by Rachel Reid (Book 1 of the Game Changer Series) Review

This book (and entire series) is LGBTQIA+ themed. 

This book specifically is focused on two gay men (MM)

Other genres: Romance, Sports, Sports Romance

Before there was Heated Rivalry, there was Game Changer! 

In case you have been living under a rock the last few months, let me introduce you to the Game Changer Series by Rachel Reid. Gaining popularity, thanks to the Crave adaptation, the Game Changer Series has become an international phenomenon! But before Ilya and Shane, there was Kip and Scott. 

Kip Grady is casually going about his life, working as a barista at Straw and Berry, while living at home to help pay his way through grad school. Little did he know his life was about to change. 

Scott Hunter is the captain of the New York Admirals. And like any professional hockey player, Scott is going through a slump. Frustrated with how the season is going, Scott is ready to try anything to get back to his winning ways. One day, while out running, he stopped in a little smoothie shop. 

Blue Moon over Brooklyn, extra banana. That is Kip Grady's professional recommendation. And wouldn't you know it, Scott Hunter is a blueberry and banana fan. That night, Scott scored a hat-trick (3 goals), and the tradition began. Professional athletes are strange like that, keeping routines alive so as not to break the lucky streak. And with that in mind, Scott starts to frequently visit Kip at work to get his special smoothies. 

Known as one of New York's most eligible bachelors, pro hockey star Scott Hunter has a secret. Something that might derail his career entirely. He couldn't actually be seen with another man, could he? He had people who depended on him, but how much longer can he keep his love life a secret?

The Review

I must admit, I only started reading this series because of the Crave/HBO Max series Heated Rivalry. But I fell in love. I loved the slow burn that "Skip" (Scott + KIP) provided; there was a lot more romance and "meat" to the story. I enjoyed getting to know Kip, meeting his friends, and his family. It is such a sharp contrast to Scott, who is alone in life; he lost his parents young, and he doesn't really seem to have time for friends, though he does have teammates that he considers friends. He lives in a large penthouse and doesn't worry about money. The only thing Scott cares about is the New York Admirals, carrying his teammates to "the cup" and keeping his squeaky clean image. Kip, on the other hand, has long since come to terms with who he is, and everyone in his life supports him.

I think that's what I love about their story. Kip sees Scott as a pro-hockey player; he has money, he's handsome, has all kinds of things going for him. While Scott looks at Kip and sees everything he wants to be, free. Their relationship is hard to navigate, and it's heartbreaking to see how torn Scott becomes between his professional life and his personal life. 

SPOILER ALERT

Ultimately, Scott and Kip get their happily ever after in a very public way. And as a hockey girl, it made me screetch in delight. Every "tomboy" hockey girl has dreamed about the sexy hockey player making the grand gesture on the ice for them. For me, it was a certain Ottawa Senator, down on one knee with a dozen red roses and a wedding ring. Just me? Okay. . . Anyway, it is a wonderful ending to their story and a great start to the Game Changer series. 

I listened to this book through my local library (via Libby). 

The audiobook of Game Changer was narrated by Tor Thom. The first time I listened to the book, I didn't have a problem with the narration. In fact, I loved that Tor Thom did all kinds of different voices for each character. This really brought the characters to life in my opinion. Now that the TV series has come out, a lot of people seem to dislike Tor Thom's interpretation of Kip Grady. I must admit I understand. In the audiobook, Kip sounds very tough, like a hard New Yorker (with an accent), and a little barbaric in ways. That is definitely not what was portrayed in the TV series. While I do recognise that Kip Grady should probably have a New York accent, now that I know more about Kip, the accent used by Tor Thom definitely didn't suit the character. 

Tor Thom narrated Heated Rivalry (Book 2), as well as Tough Guy (Book 3), before being replaced. Many fans are now calling for the books to be rerecorded either by Cooper North (the person who took over narrating the series) or by the actors from the TV series. 

I don't care one way or another for a rerecord, but it is hard to deny that hearing Francois Arnaud (Scott Hunter) and Robbie G.K. (Kip Grady) reading their story would be amazing. 

Rating and Recommendation

I originally gave this book four stars, but that's because I had heard such great things about Heated Rivalry (Ilya and Shane's story). Now that I have listened to the whole series, I have changed my mind. Game Changer, for me, is a five-star book. I love the back and forth, the slow burn, the yearning for each other. I love that they have a love story, one that can make anyone (even a 30-something-year-old straight woman) want to fall in love like that. 

This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but I like Scott and Kip's story the best out of the original series. (By original series, I mean all the books before The Long Game. I consider this a sequel to Heated Rivalry, and naturally, now that I have fallen in love with Ilya and Shane, I can't be unbiased when reading any story involving them.)

After listening to this book, I bought it (and the whole series) from Indigo online. I also pre-ordered the next book in the series. 

Conclusion

If you are a fan of sports romance novels, of hockey, or just a fan of MM stories, you will love the Game Changer Series. Keep in mind, there are a lot of sexual scenes that are very detailed. If you offend easily or are under the age of majority, a different series may be better suited for you. 

You can find Game Changer in its respective mediums below: 

You can find Heated Rivalry (2025, directed by Jacob Tierney), Season 1, on Crave (CAN) or HBO Max (USA). 

* Book cover image retrieved from GoodReads. All rights belong to the author and/or publisher. 
* All the "stickers" in this blog were provided by Bookish (presented by NetGalley). 
* Links in this blog may be generated through the Amazon Associates Program. By using this link, I may make a small profit (at no cost to you) from your purchase.