Friday, 16 October 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #375 featuring **Sea of Charms** by Sarah Beth Durst **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins - Blog Hop

Amber sits in a cosy autumn library on a green velvet chair, reading an open book while tiny scholarly mice bustle around with their own volumes. Golden lamplight, overflowing bookshelves, cookies, a teacup and rich fall flowers create a whimsical, elegant scene that celebrates Amber’s role as the world’s leading feline literary critic for the October banner at BBHQ
This review of Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst 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 
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Hello, meautiful library guests!

And

Welcome back to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ!

OH MY COD! THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!

Yes, dahlings, after nine gloriously indulgent weeks travelling around Italy with *Purrfectly Luxurious Jollies*, I'm finally ready to share my Grand Italian Journals!

Now, mew may remember the rather furbulous postcards I sent to Melvyn while he was holding the fort at the Mewton-Clawson Library. If mew missed them, here are the links for a quick refresh:

Episode 1     Episode 2     Episode 3

Episode 4     Episode 5     Episode 6

Episode 7     Episode 8     Episode 9

Well, those postcards were merely the highlights... the carefully selected, meautifully presented, entirely respectable highlights! MOL

Because behind the meowgnificent scenery, exquisite cuisine, bespoke ensembles and endless glasses of Dom Purrignom's finest catnip champagne, there were a few rather unexpected developments.

And when I say a few, I may be exercising considerable restraint!

Over the coming weeks, I'll be taking mew along on my Italian adventure, from the sparkling shores of Lake Como to the romantic canals of Venice, the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and the grand palazzos of Rome.

There'll be meowgnificent libraries, fascinating characters, glorious fashion, a rather long-suffering tour guide named Raffi and one or two mysteries that are still giving certain individuals sleepless nights.

Although I really can't imagine why!

Now, before we begin, I must make one thing purrfectly clear.

Everything mew're about to read is entirely true.

Well, true from my perspective, and as everypawdy knows, my perspective is invariably the most accurate!

So, settle into your favourite reading chair, pour yourself something delicious and prepare for a gloriously glamorous journey through Italy.

My Grand Italian Journals officially begin NOW!

And Raffi, dahling, if mew happen to be reading this, I do hope mew've checked into that two-week spa retreat Melvyn sent mew the gift card for!

Amber, the ever‑glamorous feline literary icon, reclines on an ornate golden sofa overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Como, dressed in an opulent lavender‑and‑gold gown dripping with jewels, lace and intricate embroidery. Her wide‑brimmed hat, lavishly adorned with purple and pink flowers and soft feathers, frames her face as she peers over heart‑shaped sunglasses with effortless aristocratic flair. A beautifully set table beside her gleams with fine china, crystal glasses and polished silverware, while she savours a decadent Italian dessert as though it were part of her daily scholarly ritual. Stacked books — Italian Villas, La Dolce Vita, Gardens of Lake Como, and Culinary Delights of Italy — hint at her grand literary tour through the region. Behind her, a tuxedo‑clad feline butler stands poised with a silver tray, ready to attend to her every cultured whim. Wisteria cascades overhead, framing the breathtaking view of lakeside villas, lush greenery and distant mountains. The entire scene radiates whimsical luxury and continental charm, capturing Amber at her most extravagant as she chronicles her Italian adventures for the BBHQ readership.

 Grand Italian Journals #1: La Dolce Vita at Lake Como

Where the Gelato Is Divine, the Jewels Are Dazzling, and a Cat Knows How to Lunch in Style

Location: Villa Lago di Como, a magnificent lakeside retreat overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Como, with wisteria-draped terraces, elegant gardens and views worthy of a Renaissance painting.

Time: The following afternoon, after my arrival and a thoroughly restorative first day of doing absolutely nothing strenuous.

Dahlings, mew may remember my first postcard from Lake Como, where I was reclining on a rather splendid old-fashioned steamer-style sun lounger, wrapped in a luxurious silk kaftan, sipping champagne and admiring the magnificent scenery.

Well, that was merely my arrival day.

Naturally, after such an exhausting schedule of reclining, reading and being waited upon, I decided the following afternoon called for something a little more elaborate.

A private alfresco late luncheon!

And obviously, one cannot attend such an occasion dressed as though one has just stepped off a sun lounger. Standards must be maintained!

For this delightful little gathering, I selected a lavender-and-gold silk brocade gown with exquisite floral embroidery, delicate lace cuffs and a sweeping skirt that required Raffi to negotiate rather carefully around the furniture.

My enormous ivory hat was adorned with lavender roses, feathers and a magnificent amethyst brooch. A matching amethyst-and-diamond necklace, earrings and bracelets completed the ensemble, along with my favourite heart-shaped sunglasses.

Understated elegance. Nothing too extravagant! MOL

Raffi had arranged luncheon on a secluded terrace overlooking the lake, where cascading wisteria framed the mountains, marble statues stood among the flowers, and a meautifully dressed waiter appeared with a silver tray.

The table was positively groaning beneath the weight of pastries, fresh fruit, delicate sandwiches and an assortment of refreshments. But my attention was immediately drawn to one particular offering.

Lemon gelato!

I lifted a spoonful, considered its colour, admired its texture and conducted a most thorough taste test.

“Raffi, sweetie,” I announced, “this is absolutely divine. I shall require another serving.”

Raffi glanced at the empty dish beside me. “Signora Amber, that is your second.”

“Precisely. The first was research, the second was confirmation, and the third will be purely recreational.”

He sighed and signalled to the waiter.

Such excellent service! MOL

Naturally, Raffi insisted on taking a photograph for my holiday album, using his marvellous **F.F.F. - Feline Furbulous Filter**.

I hardly need a filter, of course, but who am I to object?

As he adjusted his camera, I noticed a faint rustling from my embroidered handbag.

“Raffi, did mew put the luncheon menu in my bag?”

“No, Signora Amber.”

“Hmm. How peculiar.”

I gave the bag a little pat, decided the noise was probably tissue paper and returned my attention to the important business of gelato.

After all, a lady cannot investigate every mysterious rustle when there are desserts requiring her professional attention!

By the time luncheon concluded, the sun was glittering across the lake, my third helping of gelato had been declared a triumph, and Raffi was studying the afternoon itinerary with the expression of a feline who had suddenly remembered something terribly impawtant.

Apparently, we had more sightseeing planned.

How thrilling!

 Lake Como was proving to be every bit as meowgnificent as I'd hoped, and I had barely begun exploring its many delights.

💜 My Lake Como Luxury Essentials Included:

💎 An extraordinary amethyst-and-diamond jewellery collection, because a little sparkle is essential

👒 A magnificent lavender rose-and-feather hat, guaranteed to turn heads across the terrace

🍋 Three servings of lemon gelato, all in the interests of thorough culinary research

📚 A selection of Italian travel books, because one must occasionally interrupt one's holiday to read

👜 My embroidered handbag, which seemed unusually rustly for reasons I couldn't quite fathom, and no, it wasn't the wasp spray, nunchucks or my Uzi.

Mood: Lavishly lavender, gloriously gelato-fuelled and supurrbly satisfied.

Quote of the Day: “One scoop is a taste. Two scoops are research. Three scoops are simply good manners.”

Amber, dressed in her signature Lake Como finery — a sweeping lavender‑and‑gold gown with lace flourishes and sparkling jewels — leans gracefully over an ornate floral handbag, inspecting its contents as though preparing for another glamorous chapter of her Italian adventures. Her wide‑brimmed hat, lavishly decorated with soft feathers and clusters of pastel flowers, frames her face with aristocratic charm while sunlight glints off her matching jewellery. In front of her, a beautifully arranged table gleams with gold utensils, fine china and delicate pastries crowned with berries. Stacked beside the plates are her current reading companions: Lake Como, Italian Villas, and The Art of La Dolce Vita, each one hinting at the cultured escapades she’s chronicling in her Grand Italian Journals. Behind her, a tuxedo‑clad feline waiter stands poised with a tray of desserts, ready to attend to Amber’s next indulgence. The setting is drenched in Italian splendour — classical stone architecture, cascades of wisteria, lemon trees heavy with fruit, and the serene blue lake stretching toward elegant villas and distant mountains. The entire moment radiates whimsical luxury, capturing Amber at her most glamorous as she revels in the sweet, sunlit magic of La Dolce Vita at Lake Como.

✨Next time, dahlings, we're venturing beyond the villa to discover more of Lake Como's hidden delights. There are meautiful gardens, charming villages and a rather intriguing little chapel waiting to be explored!✨

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📚BACK IN THE LIBRARY📚

🐾 Amber & Melvyn: The Trouble With Holiday Photographs!

Amber: Melvyn, sweetie, have mew seen the photograph Raffi took of me at Lake Como? Absolutely magnificent, isn't it?

Melvyn: It certainly is, Amber. Although I'm rather distracted by your handbag.

Amber: Italian craftsmanship, dahling. Exquisite embroidery, antique gold fittings and enough amethysts to make a duchess faint.

Melvyn: That's not what I meant. There's something looking out of it.

Amber: Oh, that's Ralph.

Melvyn: I can't believe he was in Italy with mew for nine weeks!

Amber: Yes, sweetie. We've established that.

Melvyn: And mew didn't mention him in a single postcard!

Amber: Dahling, those postcards were about my holiday, not a dustbunny's travel arrangements, and besides he was having a blast.

Melvyn: When did mew actually discover him?

Amber: Ahhh, now THAT is a story for another week!

Melvyn: Amber!

Amber: Patience, sweetie. All will be revealed in due course. Now, would mew like to hear about the lemon gelato?

Melvyn: I have a feeling I'm going to need something stronger than gelato.

Amber: There's a Jammie Dodger in the biscuit tin.

Melvyn: That'll have to do.

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📚 General Library Status Update ~ Business As Usual... More or Less!

 Well, now that I've had a full week to reacquaint myself with being back in the Mewton-Clawson Library, I'm delighted to report that things are running remarkably smoothly.

Remarkably being the operative word! MOL

Melvyn has returned from his well-earned break looking refreshed, although I did catch him checking the Calmness Tracker 3000 three times before breakfast.

Apparently, he doesn't entirely trust a library that isn't actively misbehaving.

The library mice have taken their elevenses responsibilities to extraordinary new heights. Oswald has produced a laminated cheese-tasting schedule, while Chedds insists that Ralph's Italian cheese souvenirs require further sampling for quality-control purposes.

I've suggested they pace themselves. We don't want another emergency cheese meeting!

Meanwhile, Gordon has been studying his Italian tourist guidebook with great enthusiasm, and Clive has begun drawing up a packing checklist for next year's holiday.

GOOD GRAVY, FURIENDS!

Nopawdy has even chosen a destination yet!

Fergus's proposed cocktail bar remains under review, much to his disappointment. Reginald has offered to conduct a security assessment, provided he's allowed to wear his ceremonial cape.

As for Ralph, he's resumed his usual silent duties and has been offering Melvyn what I can only describe as motivational mime.

Melvyn says it's helping.

I'm not entirely convinced, but at least it's quiet!

🎉 Calmness Tracker 3000 ~ Surprisingly mellow.

Library Stability: 98%

Mouse Attendance: 9/9

Mandatory Elevenses: FULLY OPERATIONAL

Stationery Holiday Planning: UNNECESSARILY ENTHUSIASTIC

Fergus's Cocktail Bar: STILL PENDING

Ralph's Motivational Activities: ONGOING

Head Librarian's Patience: ADEQUATE... FOR NOW!

So, all things considered, it's been a rather satisfactory week.

And after sharing a little of my Lake Como adventure, I think it's time to return to another of my favourite indulgences: a furbulous book, a comfortable chair and a generous supply of biscuits!

Now, where's Melvyn with my catmint cocoa?

A richly decorated autumn library filled with tall wooden bookshelves, glowing lamps and garlands of seasonal leaves and flowers. Comfortable chairs and a patterned rug create a cosy reading nook amid rows of colourful books, giving the Mewton‑Clawson Library a warm and elegant October ambience at BBHQ.

🐾 Other Library Notes ~ A Few More Bits and Bobs!

A few final snippets from around BBHQ before we get down to some serious reading!

Vera Prime has informed me that the library's operational efficiency has improved since my return. She then added that this was statistically inevitable. I'm choosing to take that as a compliment! MOL!

Parsley has submitted a preliminary report concerning the demise of his Long-Distance-Parcel-Prodder. Unfortunately, the document contains seventeen diagrams, three theories and the words DO NOT OPEN underlined six times.

I think I'll save that particular bedtime reading for another day!

Fudge and Smooch have been spotted near the biscuit cupboard again. They insist they were conducting a routine inventory. Strangely, the inventory appears to have involved several missing Jammie Dodgers!

Hootbert has requested a quieter perch, preferably somewhere beyond the reach of the thesaurus's latest vocabulary exercises. His official complaint consisted of one word.

"Predictable."

After Melvyn sent Raffi on a luxury spa retreat as a thank-mew for his extraordinary patience during our Italian adventures, he suggested we include a complimentary biscuit hamper.

I suggested we include a DO NOT DISTURB sign.

Preferably one that lasts a fortnight! MOL!

As for me, dahlings, I've enjoyed revisiting the sparkling shores of Lake Como, but my favourite reading chair is calling, and there's a rather intriguing book waiting on my desk.

So, without further ado, let's get to this week's paw-approved pick! 📚🐾

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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. ______________________is a useful skill that I have.
2. I recharge by ____________________.
3. My job as a _________ taught me _________.
4. I wouldn’t mind visiting a house haunted by _________.

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

1. Gardening is a useful skill that I have.

2. I recharge by retreating from the world entirely. I'm in one of those phases right now... sorry for not commenting or visiting you all over the last couple of weeks... I'm so so tired...

3. My job as a teenager valeting cars taught me patience. T-cutting factory wax off brand new cars back in the day by hand... was humbling!

4. I wouldn’t mind visiting a house haunted by nothing whatsoever... I live in a haunted haouse already.

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Amber, the world’s most distinguished feline literary critic, sits regally at her ornate library desk dressed in deep burgundy velvet with lace cuffs and a ruffled Victorian collar. Warm lamplight glows across the scene, illuminating the polished wood, scattered autumn flowers and the neatly arranged towers of books surrounding her. A tiny scholarly mouse assistant in a blue waistcoat stands proudly beside a framed display of this week’s featured title, Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst, holding a book as though ready to present his research notes. Signs proclaim Amber’s authority - “Amber’s Top Book Pick,” “This Week at The Mewton‑Clawson Library,” and “Selected by The World’s Leading Feline Literary Critic” - while another gently reminds visitors, “Shhhhhh! The Critic Is Reading.” The entire library glows with cosy, whimsical richness: shelves packed with colourful volumes, golden lamps, and autumnal décor, creating a magical BBHQ atmosphere where Amber delivers her latest literary verdict with impeccable style
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Sea of Charms

by

Sarah Beth Durst

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Mew may remember the reviews I did for the two previous books in this series:

The Spellshop BK1

The Enchanted Greenhouse BK2

I reviewed those last December and January, respectively, and then had to wait until August to finally get my paws on Book Three!

EIGHT WHOLE MONTHS!

Do mew have any idea how long that is in feline literary anticipation?!

Thank goodness I had a rather furbulous Italian holiday to distract me! MOL

Now, although each book can be enjoyed as a standalone adventure, they're all set in the same enchanting world, with familiar characters and connections woven throughout. So, if mew've read the previous two, there are some lovely little moments of recognition to enjoy!

🐾 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Pick: 

This week, I've swapped my cosy reading chair for a literary voyage across sparkling seas, enchanting islands and a world brimming with magic!

And before mew ask, no, I haven't booked another holiday! MOL

This adventure features a sea serpent, a sailor shrub, a rather independent heroine and a handsome musician!

OH MY COD, FURIENDS!

Pass the catnip cocoa and prepare to set sail!

❓ What's the Vibe?

Think...

🐉 A sea serpent with serious crew-member credentials.

🌿 A sailor shrub. Yes, mew read that correctly!

⛵ Island-hopping adventures aboard a hardworking supply boat.

✨ A meautifully cozy fantasy world filled with magic and unexpected furiendships.

👑 A revolution in the capital and a rescue that changes everything.

💕 A fake-boyfriend arrangement with the potential to become something rather more complicated!

It's cozy fantasy meets seafaring adventure, with found family, romance and a wonderfully unconventional crew.

Quite frankly, the only thing missing is a dedicated onboard library and a properly stocked biscuit cupboard!

🐾 What's the Story?

Marin has always felt most at home on the open sea.

After being betrayed in love, she's built a life that suits her purrfectly: sailing between islands, delivering supplies and answering to nopawdy but herself.

Well, almost nopawdy!

Her crew consists of Perri, a sea serpent, and Ree, a sailor shrub.

And I thought the Mewton-Clawson Library had an unusual staff roster! MOL

But during a routine visit to the capital city of Alyssium, Marin finds herself caught up in a revolution. When a furiend is placed in danger, she steps in to help, and suddenly her carefully ordered life takes a most unexpected turn.

Enter Dax.

Marin agrees to take him aboard her boat, but there's a condition: he must pretend to be her boyfriend when they attend the End-of-Harvest Festival back home.

A fake boyfriend!

WHAT COULD PAWSIBLY GO WRONG?!

Of course, as Marin spends more time with Dax, she begins to notice his stubborn determination, his love of stories and that rather charming smile.

And perhaps, just perhaps, the rescue isn't quite as one-sided as she first imagined.

⚔️ What I Loved About the Premise

⛵ Marin's Independence - A heroine who knows her own mind, loves her boat and has built a life around the freedom of the sea? Supurrb! 

🪽 The Winged Cats - Of course, the enchanting winged cats are back! Just as in the previous two books, these furbulous felines are part of this magical world.

🐉 Perri the Sea Serpent - Now there's an intriguing crew member! I have several questions, chiefly concerning snack preferences and whether sea serpents enjoy being read to.

🌿 Ree the Sailor Shrub - A shrub that sails? I've encountered some unusual characters in my literary career, but this is certainly a new one!

💕 The Fake Romance - Marin and Dax's arrangement adds a delicious little complication to their voyage. Pretending to be romantically involved is one thing. Discovering that those feelings might not be entirely pretend is quite another!

✨ The Shared Magical World - This is the third standalone adventure in the same enchanting universe as the previous two books. I particularly appreciate that each story can stand on its own while still offering connections and familiar faces for returning readers.

🏡 Found Family - There's something rather lovely about the idea that family isn't always the one mew're born into. Sometimes it's the rather peculiar collection of companions mew gather along the way.

✨ Tone & Style

Whimsical, heartwarming and gloriously cozy, with magical creatures, seafaring adventures, gentle romantic tension and the promise of a crew that becomes something much more than a collection of travelling companions.

It's the sort of fantasy that invites mew to leave the everyday world behind and spend a little time somewhere enchanting.

Preferably with a sea view, an endless supply of catmint cocoa and absolutely no unexpected library incident reports!

📖 Final Thoughts

This story brings together so many of the things I adore about cozy fantasy: a richly imagined magical setting, an independent heroine, unusual companions, the promise of romance and a story about discovering where and with whom mew truly belong.

I especially love the idea of Marin creating her own little world aboard her boat, with Perri and Ree as her loyal crew.

Sometimes home is simply being surrounded by those who understand mew, support mew and make every adventure a little more magical.

And that's a rather meautiful thought.

🪄 Summed Up in One Sentence

🐾 A charming, sea-swept cozy fantasy featuring a fiercely independent sailor, a wonderfully unconventional crew, a pretend romance and the magical discovery that sometimes the family mew choose is the greatest treasure of all! 🐾

A Pawsome Pick for Fans of Cosy Fantasy, Magical Adventures and Found-Family Romance!

Epic news: book four, The Magical Cheese Emporium, releases in January 2027 - The library mice can't wait for that one! MOL


Paperback:  384 pages
Audio:  13 hours 12 mins

Rating of:

Sea of Charms

Overall Enjoyment


Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

 
   
  Feline Friday   

     Saturday Critters    




Next Friday, I'll be back with another furbulous instalment of my Grand Italian Journals, as my Lake Como adventures continue with breathtaking scenery, a rather intriguing hidden chapel, and possibly another helping of lemon gelato!

And believe me, even the most peaceful corners of Italy have a way of becoming rather interesting when I'm around! MOL

But until then, I hope mew have a supurr weekend filled with wondrous books, delicious treats, a little luxury and absolutely no unexpected surprises!

And if mew're looking for more great reads with cats, click here to visit my Book Review Page and purruse every book I've reviewed to date; I'm sure mew'll find something epic!

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

A glossy orange paw print with four rounded toe pads and a larger central pad stands out in a bright, smooth finish, creating a bold and cheerful sign‑off graphic for Amber’s Book Reviews.










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