Preview of the upcoming book Unrivaled, due out later this year, which will continue the saga of Shane and Ilya.

Since season 2 of the TV show is not expected out before 2027, this will help tide stans over.

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by vetsoapfan

A lovely series of posts @vetsoapfan .

22 minutes ago, Vee said:

A lovely series of posts @vetsoapfan .

Awww, shucks.😌

Thank you for the kind words.😊

11 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

I was pleased to read that Rachel Reid is reportedly coming out with a new, seventh book in the Heated Rivalry universe in September, entitled Unrivaled, continuing the Shane and Ilya saga.

https://www.out.com/books/heated-rivalry-unrivaled-rachel-reid

3 hours ago, vetsoapfan said:

I truly believe that our attraction to people grows in direct proportion to the appealing interior qualities we see in them. We can initially assess someone physically and not be swept away, but if proximity allows us to see numerous, positive attributes in him (kindness, empathy, loyalty, morality, a sense of humor, honesty, protectiveness, a deep capacity for love, etc.), our attraction starts to skyrocket.

@vetsoapfan some amazing posts you’ve written in the last couple of days - thank you so much!

Firstly, I’ve preordered Unrivaled and cannot wait to see what other trials and tribulations are coming Shane and Ilya’s way - they are likely my most loved fictional couple ever at this rate!

Secondly, it’s funny that you talk about the different types of attraction - I was talking about this very thing with my therapist a few hours ago, and he was talking about the difference between physical attraction and intellectual attraction - the latter is very much what you described above with noticing the other attributes of that person. More often than not, they tend to be attributes that you hold yourself, and finding other people like that is akin to finding members of your “tribe”, in a manner of speaking. Relationship dynamics is a fascinating thing, and it’s probably one of the things that attracted me to soaps in the first place!

@vetsoapfan I agree about your posts -- they're great, and your insights nail it.

I can't get enough of Heated Rivalry or of the 4 lead actors. I've destroyed my algorithm on IG, Threads, and Facebook, so I'm fed so much HR content I should be embarrassed.

But I'm not.

I fully admit I'm obsessed right now with this show and especially with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. I've never seen better chemistry -- ever -- and I am ridiculously happy about their success.

The last rewatch I've done of a TV show or series? I honestly don't remember. Even if I love a show, I'm content with one watch.

I'm now on my 4th Heated Rivalry binge, and I don't think I'm insane.

3 hours ago, OzFrog said:

@vetsoapfan some amazing posts you’ve written in the last couple of days - thank you so much!

I'm humbled that people appreciate my thoughts and commentary. Thank you, @OzFrog

3 hours ago, OzFrog said:

Firstly, I’ve preordered Unrivaled and cannot wait to see what other trials and tribulations are coming Shane and Ilya’s way - they are likely my most loved fictional couple ever at this rate!

So many folks are expressing that very same sentiment to me. It's interesting; we've only "known" Shane and Ilya for a total of six hours, yet viewers are already more emotionally attached to them than they are to tepid soap opera pairings who have been rammed down our throats for years. Probably because so many soap characters today lack real depth and humanity, and their on-screen shenanigans come across primarily as contrived plot mechanics, rather than being borne out of genuine chemistry and human feelings.

3 hours ago, OzFrog said:

Secondly, it’s funny that you talk about the different types of attraction - I was talking about this very thing with my therapist a few hours ago, and he was talking about the difference between physical attraction and intellectual attraction - the latter is very much what you described above with noticing the other attributes of that person. More often than not, they tend to be attributes that you hold yourself, and finding other people like that is akin to finding members of your “tribe”, in a manner of speaking. Relationship dynamics is a fascinating thing, and it’s probably one of the things that attracted me to soaps in the first place!

So true: finding out that other people hold the same attributes that you do, attributes which you value and admire, goes a long way into making you warm up to those folks and feel close to them. That sort of intellectual/emotional attraction tends to go further and last longer than just surface, physical appeal.

I, too, became immersed in soaps because of their reliance on interpersonal-relationship dynamics and the exploration of the human condition. When those components were largely discarded in favor of glitz and glam, flash and trash, soaps lost their appeal for me.

1 hour ago, ranger1rg said:

@vetsoapfan I agree about your posts -- they're great, and your insights nail it.

All this praise is making me giddy. I appreciate the kind words, @ranger1rg .🙂

1 hour ago, ranger1rg said:

I can't get enough of Heated Rivalry or of the 4 lead actors. I've destroyed my algorithm on IG, Threads, and Facebook, so I'm fed so much HR content I should be embarrassed.

But I'm not.

I fully admit I'm obsessed right now with this show and especially with Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie. I've never seen better chemistry -- ever -- and I am ridiculously happy about their success.

The last rewatch I've done of a TV show or series? I honestly don't remember. Even if I love a show, I'm content with one watch.

I'm now on my 4th Heated Rivalry binge, and I don't think I'm insane.

When I was a kid, long before the advent of the internet and streaming services, our viewing choices were much more limited than they are today. I used to re-watch favorite shows and movies regularly. Except for a few vintage, beloved staples, I haven't done that in decades; one viewing of modern material is enough for me. My gut-level feeling about Heated Rivalry, however, is that I will want to watch and experience it again. Probably not every week, LOL, but it may very well become a stand-by, feel-good favorite like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Wizard of Oz, and a few other gems which I am always happy to revisit throughout the years.