So anyhoo, guess what I've decided? Well, that could literally be anything, but seriously, I was chatting with Parsley and Smooch about expanding the library to see if we could reach more book-loving feline fanatics to share all my epic feline fiction recommendations. They said I needed a bio, of all things. I've never imagined that I'd ever need one, but this is what they came up with:
Meet Amber: Bookfluencer Extraordinaire at BBHQ
When she’s not pawing through first editions or chasing rogue bookmarks, Amber spends her days curating the purrfect reading list for feline bibliophiles worldwide. As BBHQ’s chief bookfluencer, she delivers weekly tail-twitching recommendations from the heart of the Mewton-Clawson Library, with a rating system powered by precision, purrsonality, and plenty of paw prints.
From cozy cat mysteries to whisker-tingling space operas, Amber sniffs out the fluff from the fluff-tastic and isn’t afraid to say, “Fluff off” to a book that doesn’t meet her high standards. With her velvet whisper of a voice and a tea trolley loaded with sardine scones, tuna crackers and copious amounts of catnip tea, she invites mew into a world where every chapter is an adventure waiting to happen.
Follow her weekly picks at www.BionicBasil.com and discover your next meowvellous read. Because at BBHQ, the only thing sharper than the plot… is Amber’s wit.
Part 17
(Just so I don't lose track of where I am in the story, well, I am getting older, and sometimes forget things! MOL)
Clawdia stood before us, her expression calm. Far too calm.
Outside the estate, the truck had already disappeared, carrying away whatever treasure had been buried beneath Fuskerton Grange.
But Clawdia hadn’t left with them.
She was still here.
I stepped forward, my claws flexing. “What did mew take?” I growled.
Clawdia tilted her head, a slow smile creeping across her face. “Oh, darling, do mew really think I’d leave all the fun to my associates?”
Hissy narrowed her eyes. “Mew stayed behind for a reason.”
Willie gripped the estate document tightly. “We have proof now. Prudence, my older sister, was always the true heir. Whatever mew took, it doesn’t belong to mew.”
Clawdia’s smirk deepened.
“Ownership is such a messy concept,” she purred. “Sometimes, things belong to those who know how to use them.”
A cold shiver crawled up my spine and made my fur bristle in all kinds of disconcerting ways.
This wasn’t just about money. It wasn’t just about inheritance.
It was about power.
And whatever Clawdia had stolen? It wasn’t just treasure, it was something that could change everything.
Muskulls, his expression conflicted, jaw tight. He had betrayed Clawdia. But he hadn’t fully chosen a side yet.
“Mew don’t have much time,”he muttered, avoiding Clawdia’s gaze. “If mew want to stop whatever she’s planning, mew need to act now.”
Willie inhaled sharply. “What was buried beneath the Grange?”
Muskulls hesitated for a moment before he spoke. “Not gold. Not money.” He glanced at Clawdia, and I saw the brief flicker of true fear in his eyes. “It was a relic.”
Silence.
My breath hitched.
Hissy took one step forward, eyes wide. “A what?”
Muskulls exhaled, shaking his head. “A royal artefact, lost for decades. Something that could...”
Another gunshot.
We ducked as the study window shattered, shards flying across the room.
Clawdia laughed, a wicked, knowing sound.
“Oh, darling,” she purred. “Mew have no idea what mew’re about to uncover.”
I ducked back down behind the overturned desk, my heart hammering. The gunshot had been too close; Clawdia wasn’t just playing mind games anymore.
She was out of options.
Hissy crouched beside me, ears flattened. “We need to get out of here, now,” she hissed in terror.
But Muskulls?
He wasn’t running.
Instead, he stood, shoulders squared, eyes locked on Clawdia. The betrayal had finally sunk in, and he wasn’t about to let her walk away victorious, gun or no gun.
“You lied to me,” Muskulls growled. "And used me like a puppet."
Clawdia tilted her head, a sickeningly sweet smirk dancing across her face. “Darling, I lie and use everyone. Mew just happened to be convenient for this scheme.”
Muskulls’ claws flexed. “What were mew going to do with me once this escapade was over?”
Clawdia exhaled dramatically. “Do mew really need me to answer that? I know mew're dumb, but didn't realise how dumb!”
Willie stepped forward, holding up the ancient estate document. “Prudence is the true heir. Whatever it was mew took, doesn’t belong to mew, it never did!”
Clawdia’s smirk wavered, but only slightly. Her eyes flickered toward the door. She was buying time.
I realised what her plan was in a nanosecond. A delaying tactic, all about the truck escaping.
And if we didn’t act now, it would be gone forever.
I met Hissy’s gaze. “Time to move,” I whispered.
She nodded once. “We go and get that truck.”
I nudged Willie, and she looked panic-stricken. "Stay low and follow us," I murmured.
I could barely hear the truck now, so I knew it had pulled out of the drive, and this sent my heart slamming against my ribs. The stolen relic, whatever it was and the key to everything, was disappearing into the night.
"On three," I instructed quietly, glancing towards Willie and Hissy. "One... two... three."
We dashed towards the doorway, and Clawdia lunged.
I barely dodged as she swiped at the estate document, her claws flashing under the shattered chandelier light. Hissy yelped, ducking just in time, while Willie gripped the ancient deed tighter, keeping it out of Clawdia’s grasp.
“Mew won’t win!” Willie growled as I grabbed her paw.
Clawdia laughed, cold and sharp. “Oh, darling, I’ve already won... can’t mew see? The treasure is gone. Whatever mew think mew have here, it’s meaningless.”
Muskulls stepped forward, and for the first time, I saw real anger in his eyes.
“No,” he muttered, voice low, steady. “That’s where mew’re wrong.”
He charged.
Clawdia spun to block, but Muskulls was faster, his powerful frame slammed into her, knocking her backwards into the overturned desk. Papers flew, and her grin vanished.
“Mew traitorous little fluffer!” she spat, as she tried to shoot him at point-blank range, but he knocked the gun from her paw, and it slid under the debris.
I moved fast.
With Clawdia distracted, I turned to Willie. “We have seconds before the truck is lost forever. What do we do?”
Willie sighed as we stood in the hallway. "There's no way we can catch it, we don't know which way it went."
"Fluff me!" I spat. "Where's the fluffing B Team when mew need them?"
There was an almighty crash from the library, and Clawdia screamed. "I'm going to kill mew!"
There was the sound of breaking glass, and a chair flew out of the doorway, landing in the hall next to us.
"We need to move!" I snarled. "Willie, is there anywhere we can hide?"
BANG! BANG!
Her eyes wide, and her tail flicking. “There’s one place, the underground archives.”
I blinked. “The what?”
Willie ran to the oak panelling lining the walls, reached up, and pulled on an ornate brass wall light; a hidden doorway sprang open, revealing a passage leading deep beneath Fuskerton Grange.
"In here," she said breathlessly. "And I just had another thought... if the relic they stole is real, then the truth about it is written in the archives. We have to get there before it’s too late!”
I grabbed Willie’s paw. “Mew lead the way.”
And we ran into the secret passage, the door slamming behind us as we chased the truth before it was lost forever.
Feline Charm
Scrying, Scones, and Secrets!
Things have been quiet in Twilight Hollow. Too quiet. When a hiker finds a valuable pirate coin, the townsfolk think they’re in for a bit of fun. But no one expected the treasure hunt to end in murder.
Armed with nothing but her wit, her cat, and a pendulum, Addy tries to help the ghost of the deceased while staying out of the grave herself. The dark magic is back with a new plan, forcing Addy to work with Damon, despite both Max and Logan wanting to keep her out of the clutches of a murderer.
Feline Charm
The bio is just right to me, and the adventure continues for Prudence, I'm enjoying the whole story.
ReplyDeleteThank your PA for writing and keeping us entertained and thank you, Ms. Amber, for the review. I appreciate your linking up with Feline Friday.
Amber, I don't think I would be wrong in saying you are a nip cocktail lush, but as long as you enjoyed your self!! Your throwback selfie is lovely. That is a great bio. The Prudence story gets more exciting every week and I can't wait for the next episode.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like another good book, Amber. I have been reading a few more cosy mysteries lately because my books were getting a bit dark, and I needed something lighter for the next few books.
Amber, we like the bio! Wow things are really heating up in the Prudence story, and the book you reviewed sounds like a good one!
ReplyDeleteWhat truth is gonna git lost? We'll just have to wait to find out! We got the fireworks Friday night from 2 towns close by. Now our nutso community will set off more tonight. We have ear plugs in. Amber you were quite gracious to let Melvyn have his pawty and we are delighted PA had a minute free to see us this weekend.
ReplyDeleteSweet Amber, you are such a special and talented ladycat. Those were good answers and yes, on the fireworks. I enjoyed that fun book review too.
ReplyDeleteI adore your bio! And the book sounds pawsome.
ReplyDeleteExcellent bio. I hope you are planning to work most of the summer as I miss you too much when you take 2 whole months off. Great review, sounds like an interesting book. Thank you to the PA for participating in the fill-ins. I always enjoy her answers and I had the same for #2. I can't wait to find out if the artifact can be saved. XO
ReplyDelete