Friday, 31 July 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #373 featuring **Witch Slap** by Amelia Ash & Kim M. Watt **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins AND Photo Fails Blog Hops

A colourful, whimsical library scene featuring a cat sitting in front of bookshelves filled with books. The background is decorated with bright flowers, butterflies, and festive bunting. A large banner reads “Welcome to The Mewton‑Clawson Library at BBHQ – Book Reviews with Amber.” The overall design is cheerful and inviting, blending a cosy literary setting with playful feline charm.
This review of Witch Slap by Amelia Ash & Kim M. Watt is part of Book Reviews with Amber, the Cat Book Connoisseur at the Mewton-Clawson Library. Scroll to read.

The world’s leading feline literary critic

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com
Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ 72% Gouda‑bury Glee, 19% Festival Fatigue, 9% “Oh Fluff, Not Again!” Energy ✨

Hello again, my wonderfully pawesome and gloriously adventurous library guests,

The Mewton‑Clawson Library has officially entered Advanced E.M.A.S. ~ Extended Mouse Absence Syndrome, Stage Three. The Calmness Tracker pens have abandoned their serene aqua and are now glowing in a dramatic swirl of neon cheddar, moonlight blue, and “they’ve done WHAT now?” magenta.

Because yes… the mice were supposed to return from Mousecapade Under the Moonlight. They did not.

(And honestly? I should have placed bets!!! MOL)

Instead, in true L.M.C. fashion, they have once again flung themselves head‑first into yet another festival ~The Gouda-bury Festival, the ultimate mouse‑sized Glastonbury where squeak meets stage, cheese fuels the soul, and chaos is not just expected… it’s catered.

The fax machine delivered the news at 3:17 a.m., blinking like a device that has seen too much. The flyer was scented. The glitter was fresh. The cheese stickers were… numerous.

Hootbert has declared this “inevitable.” Melvyn has declared it “a logistical nightmare.” The thesaurus has declared it “gouda‑infused pandemonium.” And honestly? They’re all correct.

So here we are - the library calm, the mice festival‑immersed, and the fax machine bracing for whatever dawn‑o’clock communique arrives next.

The Cheese Era hasn’t ended. It hasn’t even plateaued. It has expanded, evolved, and now comes with parachuting gouda wheels, glow‑in‑the‑dark whisker rings, and a Silent Cheese Disco.

And mew know what? We’re just rolling with it now.

A richly illustrated poster for the “Gouda‑bury Festival,” a whimsical mouse‑themed celebration where “squeak meets stage and cheese fuels the soul.” The artwork shows anthropomorphic mice enjoying music and cheese‑centric activities under warm golden lights. At the top, a banner reads “GOUDA‑BURY FESTIVAL” with the tagline “Where squeak meets stage & cheese fuels the soul.” Three main stages are listed: The Cheddar Pyramid featuring DJ CheddarTail, The String Quartet (of Mice), Brieoncé, and The Cheese‑Ups Band; The Mousetrap Arena with Pickle & the Crumbets and Rind & Rhythm; and The Blue Stilton Tent hosting Feta Phonics and Ratatouille Blues Band. Below, themed villages—Parsnip’s Patch, Rindtown, and Crumbstock—offer eco‑glamping, cheese sculpting, and talks like “Mozzarella & Mindfulness.” Legendary festival moments include The Great Cheddar Drop, Squeakstock, and the Silent Cheese Disco. Souvenirs listed include glow‑in‑the‑dark whisker rings, “I Survived The Cheddar Pyramid” totes, kazoo‑and‑nibble packs, Tail Flamenco Champion badges, scented cheese marker sets, miniature acorn lanterns, and a Cheddar Pyramid snow globe. The bottom banner reads “EAT DANCE SQUEAK REPEAT” and “CHASE DREAMS EAT CHEESE MAKE CHAOS BE LEGENDARY.” The scene glows with vibrant colours, joyful mice, and a festive atmosphere of cheese‑fuelled fun.

🐾 Amber & Melvyn: Gouda‑bury Festival‑Week Library Check‑In

(The library hums with faint echoes of distant kazoo choirs and the occasional whiff of brie‑scented optimism.)

Amber: “Melvyn… the Calmness Tracker pens are flashing cheddar gold.”

Melvyn: “That’s the colour of ‘they’ve gone to another festival.’ We’ve reached Advanced E.M.A.S.”

Amber: “Extended Mouse Absence Syndrome, Stage Three?”

Melvyn: “Exactly. The fax machine confirmed it at dawn: ‘Gouda‑bury Attendance Verified. Festival Season Escalation: High.’”

Amber: “I told mew they wouldn’t come straight home from Mousecapade.”

Melvyn: “They’ve gone full Gouda. DJ CheddarTail’s headlining the Cheddar Pyramid again, and Velvet’s apparently running the kazoo choir.”

Amber: “The thesaurus whispered ‘pandemonium’ earlier.”

Melvyn: “It’s jealous... It wanted to perform spoken‑word poetry in the Blue Stilton Tent.”

Amber: “Hootbert’s taken it well though. He’s perched above the encyclopaedias, muttering ‘No gouda shall go unguarded.’”

Melvyn: “Classic Hootbert. I found a glow‑in‑the‑dark whisker ring in the archives. I’m wearing it in solidarity.”

Amber: “Mew’re glowing.”

Melvyn: “It’s the festival spirit. Or possibly the cheese fumes.”

Amber: “Do mew think they’ll send another postcard?”

Melvyn: “Definitely. Probably scented. Possibly glittered.”

Amber: “I’ll prepare the fax machine emotionally.”

Melvyn: “Good idea. It’s still recovering from the Moonlight glitter incident.”

Amber: “Meanwhile, the library’s tidy and calm.”

Melvyn: “The kind of calm that hums with distant kazoo energy.”

Amber: “Tea then?”

Melvyn: “Lavender catnip, extra catnip foam.”

Amber: “And a tuna panini with shrimp?”

Melvyn: “Amber… mew read my mind.”

🧳 General Library Status Update ~ Gouda‑bury Edition Quiet Mode

The library has entered that peculiar hush reserved for Stage Three E.M.A.S. - Extended Mouse Absence Syndrome with added kazoo interference. The bunting droops in dignified resignation, the Calmness Tracker pens shimmer in cheddar gold, and the fax machine hums softly, as if composing its own ballad of abandonment.

This morning’s communique arrived with confetti stuck to it:

“Gouda‑bury Attendance Confirmed. Festival Season Escalation: High.”

Hootbert read it, sighed, and declared, “Predictable.” The thesaurus muttered “pandemonium… pageantry… preposterous.” Melvyn added another cheese sticker to the Solidarity Wall.

And the library?

It’s calm. Festival‑calm. Calm with the quiet confidence of a place that knows its residents are currently knee‑deep in glowsticks, kazoo choirs, and parachuting gouda wheels.

🎉 Calmness Tracker 3000 Update ~ Gouda‑bury Standby

Today’s fax reads:

“Recalibration at 84%. Ambient Chaos: Festival‑Grade. Awaiting Gouda‑bury Dispatches.”

They still refuse to elaborate. They still insist it’s “classified.” We still respect their multi‑coloured mystique.

Now, with the mice fully immersed in Gouda‑bury’s squeak‑powered revelry, it’s time to pad softly toward this week’s review - whiskers relaxed, tails steady, and ready for whatever cheese‑fuelled nonsense arrives after I've left for my annual vacation. Let's hope the mice get back in time!

A split image shows two sections of a large home library. The top section features long white bookshelves filled with colourful books and magazines, with a cat walking along the wooden floor in front of them. The lower section shows another area lined with shelves of older, leather‑bound volumes and encyclopedias, with chairs placed nearby for reading. Text in the centre reads “Part of The Mewton‑Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®,” highlighting the cosy, well‑stocked library setting.
A black‑and‑white line illustration shows three stacked books arranged like steps. A cartoon mouse with large ears stands proudly on the top book, while another mouse on the ground to the right looks up toward it. The drawing has a playful, storybook feel.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
A cartoon illustration titled *Friendly Fill‑Ins* shows two cats sitting on a grassy field dotted with flowers. The cat on the left is orange with a red collar and a winking expression, while the cat on the right is black with green eyes and a blue collar. A butterfly flies above them, and rolling green hills and a blue sky form the background. Text at the top reads “Friendly Fill‑Ins — Hosted by Four‑Legged Furballs & 15andmeowing.”

1. My plans for August include _____________ and ________________.
2. I am a type ___________________ personality.
3. If _________ were a currency, I would be rich.
4. I can do a good impersonation of _________.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. My plans for August include more garden clean-up and writing the new B Team adventure - I just started chapter 3 yesterday... yep, and it's funny! LOL

2. I am a type go-with-the-flow-but-still-slightly-chaotic personality.

3. If cat fur were a currency, I would be rich. In fact, by now I'd be a billionaire, as would all of us cat guardians; no tech firms required, just cat fur! LOL

4. I can do a good impersonation of posh English, plumby. My impression days are long gone, though that one has never left me! LOL


Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

As it's the last Friday of the month, we're also joining in the furbulous...

A light‑blue promotional graphic for the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop features bold red and blue lettering at the top, with illustrated stage lights and a camera to suggest a photography theme. A playful cartoon cat reaches up from the bottom left corner. Text at the bottom reads “Hosted by Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries & Meows” along with the website address.

Do stop by Mudpie's meowvellous blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

An orange tabby cat sits on a woven rug mid‑groom, one hind leg lifted high in an unflattering but funny pose. His fluffy tail curls beside him. In the background, a second cat with white and dark fur lounges on a grey mat near a brick fireplace and black stove. The cosy indoor scene captures Fudge’s perfectly imperfect pet photo fail.

This is a Fudge fail from December 2024... don't ask us what he was doing... but we think it was bathtime yoga!!! MOL MOL

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

A black‑and‑white illustration features a vintage typewriter with a paw print on the sheet of paper. Stacks of books sit on both sides: on the left, a small cartoon mouse stands atop the books, and on the right, a cartoon elephant balances on the stack. The scene has a playful, literary feel, fitting as a divider for Amber’s book reviews.

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Witch Slap


The Hollowbeck Paranormal Cozy Mysteries Book 1


by

Amelia Ash & Kim M. Watt

A symmetrical black‑and‑white illustration shows four cartoon mice arranged in pairs on either side of two pieces of Swiss‑style cheese placed in the centre. Each mouse faces inward toward the cheese, creating a playful, balanced composition.

Oh, I must tell mew this: I had a wonderpurr book for mew this week, but as I began to read, guess what? The cat's name was Rumpus, and we can't have two Rumpuses in a row - I wouldn't be doing my library due diligence, now would I?! MOL

  So I'll save the other one for the start of next season because it's so good.

🐾 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Pick: 


My epically epic library loving furiends, I'm a little sad today, as it's my last review of the season, but I do need a little vaycay. 

And today I'm relaxing on my supurr snuggly oversized reading chair, sipping a steaming mug of catmint‑hazelnut cocoa, and trying very hard not to cackle loud enough to disturb Hootbert. Because this week’s book? Oh, it is a hoot-worthy, spell‑slinging, chaos‑infused delight that had my whiskers twitching from page one.

So smooth your whiskers, settle into your comfiest reading nook, and prepare for a purranormal cozy mystery that is equal parts magical mayhem, sibling drama, and feline‑forward nonsense. Witch Slap is sharp, funny, and full of supurr-natural shenanigans, exactly the kind of book that makes me purr with wicked glee.

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Think

purranormal cozy chaos

magical town with suspiciously friendly residents

sibling banter with claws out

talking cat (against his will, MOL)

mystery, mischief, and magical mayhem

It feels like wandering into a quaint English village, only to realise everyone has a wand, a secret, and a very flexible definition of “normal.” (Oh, similar to Mewton-Clawson, but we have weapons instead!!! MOL)

🐾 What’s the Story?

Morgan Winters wants a quiet life.
A bookstore job.
An apartment she can barely afford.
A healthy dose of existential dread.
Nothing fancy.

Enter her brother, affectionately known as The Ruiner - who appears on her windowsill one night… as a talking cat.

He claims a date with a witch went horribly wrong. Morgan, naturally, assumes he’s being dramatic. But family is family, even when they’re shedding on your duvet, so she agrees to help him find somepawdy who can reverse the spell.

Their search leads them to Hollowbeck, a tiny, magical town that looks like it was designed by somepawdy who loves tea, folklore, and mild chaos.

They find the witch. Only she’s dead. And she’s left a letter addressed to Morgan. Even though no one knew she was coming.

Cue the whisker‑twitching intrigue.

Morgan could walk away.
She could pretend none of this is happening.
But she’s not that type, especially when her brother is leaving enchanted hairballs on the rug.

So she dives headfirst into Hollowbeck’s supurr-natural secrets, determined to find the murderer, uncover why she was summoned, and hopefully get her brother back into his inconvenient human form before he knocks something else off the shelves.

⚔️ What I Loved

😸 Ruiner the Talking Cat Sarcastic, dramatic, and absolutely done with everything. His commentary alone is worth the price of admission.

🔮 Hollowbeck’s Magical Charm A village full of witches, oddities, and suspiciously helpful locals. Cozy, quirky, and delightfully weird.

🕵️‍♀️ Morgan’s Reluctant Hero Energy She doesn’t want adventure, but she’s brilliant at it. Her dry humour is purrfection.

🧙‍♀️ The Mystery Twisty, funny, and sprinkled with purranormal clues. A murder with magical motives? Yes purrrrrrlease.

🐾 Sibling Chaos Morgan and Ruiner’s dynamic is hilarious, heartfelt, and painfully relatable, even when one of them has whiskers.

✨ The Tone Light, witty, magical, and full of purrsonality. A cozy vibe that never takes itself too seriously.

✨ Tone & Style

whimsical
snarky
purranormal‑cozy
character‑driven
mystery with magical sparkle
feline‑forward (obviously)

Pawesome for readers who love talking cats, small town magic, and mysteries that make mew laugh as much as they intrigue.

📖 Final Thoughts

This is a furbulously fun book with sharp humour, magical mischief, and a mystery that keeps mew guessing. Morgan is a delight, Ruiner is a menace (in the best way), and Hollowbeck is a place I’d happily get lost in, preferably with a wand, a snack, and a niptini ready to pour.

A purrfectly enchanting start to a series I can’t wait to continue.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A magical, mischievous cozy mystery where a reluctant heroine, a talking cat brother, and a suspiciously magical town collide in the hunt for a witch’s killer. 🐾 

A Top Paw Read

And there are four books in the series, so I can only imagine the mayhem coming, and yes, they are all on my to-read over summer list! MOL Plus, at the time of posting, they are available in the Kindle Unlimited catalogue if mew subscribe, but who knows for how long!

Paperback:  290 pages
Audio:  8 hours 23 mins
A black‑and‑white line illustration shows three stacked books arranged like steps. A cartoon mouse with large ears stands proudly on the top book, while another mouse on the ground to the right looks up toward it. The drawing has a playful, storybook feel.
My Ratings Scale

A simple black‑and‑white rating chart uses rows of pink paw prints to show five levels of book ratings. Five paw prints correspond to “Top Paw ~ Read Immediately,” four to “Furry Good ~ Read As Soon As,” three to “Good ~ Put It On Stand‑By,” two to “Average ~ Emergency Reading,” and one to “Meh! ~ Take a Nap Instead.”

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Rating of:

Witch Slap


Overall Enjoyment

A horizontal row of five identical pink paw prints representing the highest rating level in the pet‑themed book‑review scale, corresponding to “Top Paw ~ Read Immediately.”ook Reviews 5 Paw Rating ©BionicBasil®

A black‑and‑white illustration features a vintage typewriter with a paw print on the sheet of paper. Stacks of books sit on both sides: on the left, a small cartoon mouse stands atop the books, and on the right, a cartoon elephant balances on the stack. The scene has a playful, literary feel, fitting as a divider for Amber’s book reviews.

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

A horizontal row of six square graphics, each representing a different themed blog hop: “Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop” with a cat silhouette; “The Cat Blogosphere” with a globe and cat; “Feline Friday” with stylised cat drawings; “Nature Friday Blog Hop” on a stone background; “Flashback Friday” with a cat and dog; and “Friendship Friday” featuring two cats.



Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Do enjoy the book if mew decide to read it.

It's time for me to say BFN or bye-for-now, as mew know the drill: so many books, so little time, and I'll be back in the autumn/fall after my summer jollies with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't forget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

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Follow us @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 

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© [2026] BionicBasil®. All Rights Reserved. No part of this post, characters, or lore may be reproduced, scraped, or rewritten in any form (including AI) without express written permission
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20 comments:

  1. Brian's Home Blog31 July 2026 at 00:39

    Those were sure good answers and quite the photo fail too! Amber, I really enjoyed your book review sweetie, the book sounds really good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:13

      Thank mew so much, sweeties 😺💖
      I’m absolutely delighted mew enjoyed my review! And yes, Fudge’s photo fail was quite something… I’m still not entirely sure what he was attempting, but it certainly made me MOL!!! 😹📚
      Thank mew again for stopping by, mew’re always such a joy to see in the library.
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  2. messymimi31 July 2026 at 02:29

    A Gouda Festival. I’d ask what next but we probably just want them home in time for Amber’s vacation.

    I’m so glad the PA is writing out the next adventure.

    Fudge, your floof about exploded, no wonder you wanted a bath.

    Great review and Ms. Amber, enjoy your vacation!

    Thank you for linking up with Feline Friday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:15

      Thank mew so much, Mimi 😺💖
      Gouda‑bury has truly gone off the rails now, I just hope the mice get home before my vaycay! MOL
      And yes, the P.A.’s new adventure is shaping up beautifully.
      Fudge’s floof absolutely detonated, poor boy 😹
      Thank mew for the lovely words, I’ll enjoy my vacation!
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  3. Lynn and Precious31 July 2026 at 12:26

    Love visiting the library with Amber. The mice seem to have every thing under control And the P A has some fun fill ins to keep her busy. Happy yoga Fudge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:16

      Thank mew so much, Lynn & Precious 😺💖
      I’m so glad mew enjoyed visiting the library today!
      The mice think they have everything under control… but I have my doubts!!! MOL
      Happy yoga indeed, Fudge ... whatever he was doing! 😹
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  4. Eastside Cats31 July 2026 at 14:27

    Yep, we'd be rich if cat fur was currency!
    The best part of listening to audiobooks based in UK, is the accents!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:19

      Oh yes, if cat fur were currency, we’d all be billionaires by now!!!
      Some UK accents in audiobooks are an absolute delight, in fact that might be a new career pour moi - Amber the audio book narrator! 😹😹😹
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  5. Leah31 July 2026 at 15:55

    Sounds like everything is smooth going at the library, and the book sounds really good. Enjoy your vacation, Amber!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:20

      Everything is wonderfully calm at the library, for now! MOL
      And thank mew for the lovely vacation wishes!
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  6. pilch921 August 2026 at 23:24

    Who knew Gouda could cause so much troubles? Amber, you are ending the season with a bang. Excellent review and an awesome choice. I hope you have a relaxing, enjoyable and very short vacation. I will miss you. Thank you to the PA for participating in the fill-ins, great answers. I can't wait to read another B team adventure. XO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:22

      Who knew Gouda could cause such chaos? MOL
      I’m so glad mew enjoyed the review!!!
      Thank mew for the lovely vacation wishes; I’ll miss mew too.
      And the P.A. is thrilled mew liked her fill‑ins; the new B Team adventure is coming along meautifully!
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  7. eileeninmd2 August 2026 at 15:04

    Hello,
    I would like to attend a Gouda festival, sounds awesome. The Fudge fail image is cute.
    Take care, have a great day and a happy week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:23

      Thank mew so much, Eileen 😺💖
      Gouda‑bury does sound like a festival worth attending, the mice certainly think so! MOL
      And Fudge’s little photo fail made me smile.
      Wishing mew a lovely day and a wonderful week ahead.
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  8. Christine3 August 2026 at 13:34

    Looks like an amazing cheese festival. Thank you Amber for another great book review happy holidays x 😽

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:24

      Thank mew so much, Christine 😺💖
      Gouda‑bury really does look amazing, the mice certainly think so!!! MOL
      I’m so glad mew enjoyed the review, and thank mew for the lovely holiday wishes.
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  9. Brian's Home Blog3 August 2026 at 22:57

    Thanks for joining Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:25

      Thank mew so much, sweeties 😺💖
      Always happy to join Angel Brian’s Thankful Thursday, it’s one of our favourite hops.
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete
  10. ~Lavender Dreamer~3 August 2026 at 23:11

    Lavender catnip? Interesting! A fun filled post. It must take a long time for you to put these together but we all really enjoy them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Basil and The B Team ~ BionicBasil ®10 August 2026 at 09:26

      Thank mew so much! 😺💖
      Lavender catnip is one of my favourites, very soothing!
      And yes, these posts do take a bit of time, but I love putting them together and I’m so glad mew enjoy them.
      Purrs, Amber 😽🐾

      Delete

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