Showing posts with label Amber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amber. Show all posts

Friday, 23 January 2026

Book Reviews with Amber ~ The Cat Book Connoisseur at The Mewton-Clawson Library ~ #346 featuring **Pox You: A Croft and Tabby Short** by Brad Magnarella **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A digitally illustrated promotional graphic for The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features Amber, a white and orange cat wearing a light blue scarf, seated in front of bookshelves filled with colourful books. Decorative elements like holly leaves, a mouse, a quill, and a thimble add festive charm to the top of the image. The bottom text reads "Book Reviews with Amber," indicating Amber is the host of the library’s book review segment. The overall design is cozy, whimsical, and holiday-themed. At www.bionicbasil.com

From the shelves of the Mewton-Clawson Library, a curated review destination for cat-centric fiction at BionicBasil.com

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

✨ This Week’s Intro ~ Temporal Fireworks & Mouse‑Sized Mayhem ✨

Hello, gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today. I’m delighted to report that while the major timeline wobbles have settled, we now appear to have… well… micro‑time pockets. Tiny little bursts of temporal nonsense that pop like fireworks between the shelves.

For example:

Down the B aisle, it was 10.30am.

Then pop... suddenly it was 1pm, and apparently lunchtime.

Melvyn nearly cried because he thought he’d lost two and a half hours of shelving.

And the library mice?

Oh, my dahlings… the mice are not coping.

Oswald, our Chief Mouse, has filed three formal complaints.

Snitch keeps reappearing in the wrong decade.

Tootles insists she’s lived Thursday twice.

Ardvaar claims he saw himself eating a cracker he hadn’t eaten yet.

Nibbles is refusing to leave the stationery cupboard.

Flora fainted dramatically (twice).

Chedds is demanding hazard pay.

And Lumie… poor Lumie… keeps blinking in and out like a faulty fairy light.

Naturally, Melvyn is on the brink.

📚 A Conversation in the Library This Morning

Me: “Melvyn, sweetie, why are the mice wearing tiny helmets made from metal bottle caps? Chedds says Lilt on it, that's a drink from years ago.”

Melvyn: “Because they keep getting sucked into time pockets, Amber. Oswald said they needed PPE. And they're now even wearing High-Vis vests.”

Me: “PPE? They’re mice, dahling.”

Melvyn: “Exactly. They’re small. They’re aerodynamic. They’re basically temporal snacks.”

Me: “That’s not a thing.”

Melvyn: “Amber, Snitch just reappeared holding a newspaper from 1998.”

Me: “Well, that’s retro. How fun! And it explains the Lilt cap.”

Melvyn: “Amber, he wasn’t born in 1998.”

Me: “Details. Everything is fine. Purrfectly normal. Libraries evolve.”

Melvyn: “Amber, the mice are staging a union meeting.”

Me: “Oh, furbulous. Tell them to keep it down. I’m meditating.”

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Yes.”

Melvyn: "Now, if mew will excuse me, I must go check whether Lumie has re‑solidified."

Me: "Of course, pop off now while I get deep into..."

Melvyn: “Meditating or napping.”

Me: “Exactly.”

So, my dahlings, if mew notice the time jumping forward, backwards, or sideways while mew browse the shelves, please don’t panic. It’s just the new temporal ambience.

Everything is absolutely, completely, unquestionably fine.

Probably.

One final thing... if mew find yourself briefly existing in two places at once, please return the duplicate copy of any book mew borrowed. We’re still sorting out the overdue system for parallel selves.

Now, let’s begin this week’s adventure before Oswald files another complaint and Melvyn starts wearing a bucket as a helmet! MOL

Amber, a regal orange tabby cat, sits on the sunlit steps of the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari. She wears a sunrise‑blush robe of soft rose silk embroidered with lotus petals and golden rays, a broad collar of carnelian, gold, and desert quartz, and a Hatshepsut‑inspired diadem shaped like a stylised rising sun. In one paw, she holds a golden cocktail garnished with mint. Behind her, the temple’s terraced colonnades rise against sheer desert cliffs glowing in warm morning light, at www.bionicbasil.com

🌙 Amber’s Egyptian Adventure #13: The Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el‑Bahari 🐾

Location: The Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el‑Bahari, a breathtaking terraced monument carved into the sheer cliffs of the Theban mountains, dedicated to Egypt’s legendary female pharaoh

Time: Early morning, when the desert shadows stretch long and cool, and the rising sun paints the cliffs in rose‑gold light

Dahlings, today I ascended into one of Egypt’s most dramatic and awe‑inspiring sanctuaries: the Temple of Hatshepsut, a place so regal, so commanding, so unapologetically iconic that I felt an instant kinship with its namesake.

The moment I padded across the sweeping causeway, the desert breeze whispered through the colonnades, carrying the scent of warm stone and ancient incense. The cliffs towered above me like a natural cathedral, glowing pink and gold in the newborn sun.

“Ahhh,” I purred, “a temple carved into a mountain… clearly built for somepawdy with a flair for dramatic entrances.”

I arrived draped in a sunrise‑blush robe of soft rose silk, embroidered with lotus petals and tiny golden rays. Around my neck shimmered a collar of carnelian, gold, and desert quartz, glowing like the dawn itself. Atop my head rested a Hatshepsut‑inspired diadem, shaped like a stylised rising sun, because if one is visiting a queen, one must dress like royalty.

The air vibrated with ancient power as I climbed the terraces, each level revealing sweeping views of the valley below. The colonnades were lined with statues of Hatshepsut herself, serene and commanding, and I paused before one particularly regal figure.

“Amber,” I whispered, “mew and this queen would have been best furiends.”

To celebrate the moment, I sipped a Desert Dawn Catnip Spritzer, chilled with crushed ice and infused with hibiscus, mint, and a whisper of honey. It tasted like ambition… and excellent lighting.

Then I ventured into the shadowed inner sanctuaries, where the cool air wrapped around me like silk. The walls glowed with scenes of divine birth, sacred journeys, and offerings to Amun. One relief depicted Hatshepsut sailing to Punt, and I traced the ship with a single elegant claw.

“Next time,” I murmured, “I’m bringing my own yacht.”

My Morning Essentials Included:

🌅 A Desert Dawn Catnip Spritzer, crisp, floral, and purrfect for sunrise strutting

📜 A miniature map of Deir el‑Bahari, annotated with my paw‑written notes (“This terrace needs more cushions”)

👑 A rising‑sun diadem, radiant enough to rival the cliffs

🐾 A rose‑silk wrap, ideal for sweeping up monumental staircases

I wandered through the echoing halls, the sunlit terraces, and the shadowed chapels, each space humming with the legacy of a queen who refused to be ordinary. The architecture was so bold, so visionary, that I half expected Hatshepsut herself to appear and ask for a joint portrait.

But naturally, I remained composed.

After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, appreciate a well‑curated reign.

Deir el‑Bahari may hold the memory of a pharaoh who defied expectations, but today it held me: a cat of legend, glowing in the morning light, sipping floral spritzers, and adding a touch of feline majesty to Egypt’s eternal story.

Mood: Majestic, sun‑kissed, and delightfully commanding (but only because the cliffs insisted on matching my aura)

Quote of the Day: “Some queens carve their legacy into stone, dahling… others simply arrive and improve the view.”

A stylized illustration of two black cats sitting back-to-back, facing opposite directions. Each cat is adorned with gold accents on the ears and eyes, red and gold collars, and gold hoop earrings, evoking the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian art. Their symmetrical pose and regal detailing suggest inspiration from Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection and home. The image blends cultural symbolism with elegant feline design.

✨ Next week, prepare your whiskers, we’re going somewhere ancient, painted, and filled with secrets whispered in blue and gold. Think: tombs, treasures, and cocktails served in the shade of eternity.

Bring your best eyeliner, the kind that survives millennia.

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcase a beautifully organized home library. The top half reveals a long wall of white bookshelves filled with colorful books, magazines, and decorative items. A chair and a cat add a cozy touch to the aisle. The bottom half features another section of the library with shelves lined with older, leather-bound volumes, suggesting a collection of classics or historical texts. The caption in the center reads: "Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®"
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I feel like ______________________________ whenever I think about _______________.
2. January is a good month to _____________________.
3. _________ is nonnegotiable in my life.
4. I could give up _________ as long as _________.

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

1. I feel like I’m juggling flaming marshmallows whenever I think about my to‑do list.

2. January is a good month to hibernate! Horrid weather, oh, more horrid weather, cold weather, unpleasant weather. Did I mention awful weather? LOL

3. Creative time and cats is are nonnegotiable in my life.

4. I could give up work as long as I won the lottery Jackpot. How hilarious, and OMC, that would mean more time for writing for blog stuff... yeah... it could be even more exciting, and chaotic than it already is! LOL

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

A whimsical library scene featuring Amber, head librarian,a large orange and white cat sitting regally on a chair at a desk. The desk is adorned with a lamp, feather quill, scrolls, books, and a “SHHHHH!!!” sign. A small mouse perches atop a nearby stack of books. Behind the cat, bookshelves filled with colourful titles and lush green potted plants create a cozy backdrop. A copy of Pox You by Brad Magnarella is prominently displayed in front of the cat, with a cover showing a man holding a glowing purple orb and a cat on his lap. Above the scene, a sign reads “THIS WEEK’S TOP BOOK PICK! www.bionicbasil.com”
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Pox You 

A Croft and Tabby Short

by 

Brad Magnarella

A symmetrical cartoon-style illustration featuring four mice and two pieces of Swiss cheese. The mice are arranged in pairs on either side of the cheese, all facing toward the center. Each cheese wedge is illustrated with classic holes, and the playful layout creates a balanced and whimsical visual.

I did laugh at the title, yep, POX is not a word mew usually associate with furbulous felines, but it fits this book so well! MOL

This week, I purrchased and downloaded this five-book box set from Audible because I wanted to meditate and listen. Of course, I didn't nap. Melvyn just has a skewed view of metaphysical purractices, and deep meditation can sometimes, and I reiterate 'sometimes', look like napping!

Anyhoo, my point is the narration was really fun.

This is a brand new author for me, but I'm sure many of mew have already read his books.

📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: Pox You

A Croft & Tabby Short by Brad Magnarella

Gather close and fluff your whiskers, because this week’s read is a tiny but tantalising morsel of magical mayhem featuring a wizard with questionable judgement and a cat with absolutely none. Naturally, I felt spiritually connected.

❓ What’s the Vibe?

Imagine New York City… but with more ghosts, more magical mishaps, and one ginger (my favourite colour)) feline who is technically a succubus and emotionally a wrecking ball. It’s fast, it’s snarky, it’s chaotic, and it goes down smoother than primo nip tea.

🐾 What’s the Story?

Professor Croft, ascholar, spell‑caster, and part‑time disaster magnet, once trapped a succubus inside a kitten because he thought it was “merciful.”

Oh, honey. No.

Two years later, that kitten has blossomed into Tabitha:
Gloriously rotund, magnificently rude and morally… fluid.

Who is fully committed to devouring his soul the moment he slips up.

But when hauntings, monsters, and supurrnatural oddities start popping up across the city, Croft realises Tabitha’s unique talents might actually be useful. If she can stop insulting him long enough to help.

⚔️ What I Loved

😼 Tabitha: A queen. A menace. A masterpiece. Her insults are so sharp they could slice through enchanted steel.

🔮 Croft: The long‑suffering wizard who absolutely brought this upon himself. I respect the chaos he lives in.

👻 The Mini‑Mysteries: Short, punchy, and delightfully spooky, purrfect for a quick curl‑up‑and‑read session.

🐾 Their Dynamic: Think “exhausted magical dad” meets “demonic toddler in a cat body.”
I adored the premise.

📖 Final Thoughts

At just 75 pages, this is a delicious little supurrnatural snack, light, funny, and full of claws. Purrfect for when mew want something magical without committing to a full‑length saga of epic proportions.

It’s witty, it’s weird, and it’s wonderfully feline‑centric. A purrfect palate cleanser between bigger reads.

🪄 Summed up in one sentence

🐾 A SNARK‑SOAKED, CLAW‑SHARPENED DELIGHT ~ TOTALLY TOP FLUFF! 🐾

This is also available, at the time of posting, in the Kindle Unlimited catalogue for free; the entire five-book series is there to enjoy! EPIC ~ mew know what I'm doing for the rest of the weekend, and yes, I'll share more soon!! MOL

A Totally Top Paw Read!

Paperback:  75 Pages

Audio: Only available as a complete 5 book boxset at 9 Hours 2 Mins (That I could see - I may be wrong, please do your own research)
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
My Rating Scale

A whimsical graphic featuring a triangular arrangement of light blue paw prints on the left side, forming a downward-pointing triangle. On the right side is a playful rating scale for reading material, themed around fluff and animal humor. The five levels are: 1. 	TOTALLY TOP FLUFF — READ IMMEDIATELY 2. 	FURRY GOOD FLUFF — READ AS SOON AS 3. 	ENJOYABLE FLUFF — PUT IT STANDBY 4. 	NOT FLUFFING BAD — EMERGENCY READING 5. 	FLUFF OFF — GO NAP INSTEAD The design is lighthearted and imaginative, perfect for a fun, informal book review setting. At www.bionicbasil.com
Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

 Pox You 

Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® 5 Paw Rating - Pale Blue

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.
   
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

A colorful collage of six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. Each graphic features unique designs and text: 1. 	"Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop" with a cat and the URL "brianshomeblog.com". 2. 	"The Cat Blogosphere" with the URL "catblogosphere.com". 3. 	"Feline Friday" with a playful cat theme. 4. 	"Nature Friday Blog Hop" featuring nature-inspired elements. 5. 	"Friendly Fill-Ins" with the URLs "15andmeowing.com" and "Four-Legged Furballs". 6. 	"Friendship Friday" with the tagline "Create With Joy". The image celebrates community-driven online events centered around cats, nature, and friendship.

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

I'm off to read next week's books, as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time! 

Don't forget, if mew are looking for great books with cats, check out the Book Review page, just click the link here or at the top of the page, as that's the place to visit to get your feline fiction fix. 

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

The Cat Book Connoisseur

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® Paw







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 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com  

Monday, 19 January 2026

**BRAND NEW POST**🐾 WHAT THE FLUFF!?! 🐾 A BBHQ Q&A SERIES ~ **FEATURING** WING COMMANDER BASIL

Ten cats with distinct fur patterns pose in front of a futuristic control room filled with glowing monitors and consoles. Bold text at the top reads “WHAT THE FLUFF!?!” followed by “A BBHQ Q&A Series” and “Ten memfurs. Ten tales. Infinite floof.” The scene blends sci-fi flair with feline charm, setting the stage for a quirky and imaginative interview series. Copyright @BionicBasil® appears in the bottom right corner.

🐾WHAT THE FLUFF – A BBHQ Q&A Series🐾

Supurr Monday greetings, epic furiends!

Today we’re launching something brand new from deep inside the BBHQ think‑tank, and trust us, this one’s been simmering in the creative cauldron for a while.

Welcome to WHAT THE FLUFF, the fluffiest, quirkiest, most revealing Q&A series ever unleashed from The B Team. Each memfur sits down for a no‑holds‑barred interrogation … err… interview with Vera V5.0, the BBHQ Bunker A.I., answering the questions mew didn’t know mew needed answers to.

From snack stash secrets to interdimensional dilemmas, from floof maintenance routines to heroic regrets, this series dives deep into the minds (and whiskers) of our legendary memfurs.

💬 Expect:

🙀 Outrageous confessions

🛡️ Tactical brilliance

🧠 Floofy wisdom

💥Possibly a few hairballs

First up: Commander Basil,  the tactical heart of the B Team, master of the Nexus Spiral, and keeper of the snack stash (allegedly). What does destiny mean to him? What’s his proudest moment from the Pirate Adventure? And who would he trust with the M Unit if he took a sabbatical?

Stay tuned for Basil’s full Q&A, and prepare to say "What the Fluff?!" at least once per post. 

A horizontal pattern of black-and-white icons representing satellite communication. The sequence includes a satellite dish emitting signals, a globe, a satellite, another globe, another satellite, and a second satellite dish. The icons are simple and stylized, suggesting themes of global connectivity, data transmission, and space technology.

Interview No. 1 - Tactical Genius, Nexus Navigator, Snack Stash Custodian (allegedly)

Vera V.5.0: Commander Basil, welcome to the very first instalment of WHAT THE FLUFF. Are you ready for some hard‑hitting, fluff‑rattling questions?

Basil: I was born ready. Also, I brought snacks. Just in case this goes sideways.

Q1: What does destiny mean to mew?

Basil: Destiny is that curious force that nudges mew toward the right mission at the right moment, even if mew were planning a nap instead. I don’t believe everything is pre‑written, but I do believe every cat has a path. Mine just happens to involve portals, pirates, cyborgs, necromancers, zombie cats, and the occasional interdimensional crisis.

Q2: What’s your proudest moment from the Pirate Adventure?

Basil: Oh, that’s easy. The moment I realised my crew trusted me completely, even when we were about to be blown to smithereens by pirates, and the ship was on fire. Leadership isn’t about being fearless; it’s about being brave enough that others feel safe beside mew. Also, defeating a legendary pirate captain with nothing but a modern warship hidden beneath a wooden hull. Well, when I put it like that, the poor chap didn't stand a chance.

Q3: If mew took a sabbatical, who would mew trust to be in charge of the M‑Unit?

Basil: Sabbatical? I don’t know her.

But hypothetically… I’d choose Parsley. He’s calm, methodical, and unlikely to accidentally open a wormhole while trying to heat up a snack (probably). Melvyn is brilliant, but too young and easily distracted by shiny things. Smooch is fearless but would probably declare martial law by lunchtime. Pandora would run it flawlessly but would also redecorate the entire HQ in black velvet. Amber would start a reading workshop and force endless cozy cat mysteries on them. And Fudge, well, given his propensity for being a disaster magnet recently, not advisable at all. So yes, Parsley.

Q4: What’s the biggest misconception about mew?

Basil: That I’m serious all the time. I’m not. I simply look serious because somepawdy has to be the responsible one while the rest of the team is arguing about who ate the last tuna stick, and where are the back-up snacks. And then who didn't put the bazooka back after Smooch blew up the vegetable garden?

Q5: What’s your ultimate comfort snack?

Basil: Freeze‑dried salmon bites. Preferably hidden in a location only I know. And no, I’m not telling mew where. They are really good and weigh nothing, so mew can take loads on missions for that just-in-case moment.

Q6: What’s one thing mew wish every cat knew?

Basil: That bravery isn’t the absence of fear, it’s choosing to act even when your tail is puffed up like a bottle brush and looks slightly ridiculous, well, in Fudge's case, his tail looks like a co-joined twin, I even put googly eyes on it once, Fudge was not amused. And last but not least, that naps are essential for tactical clarity.

Q7: What’s your most embarrassing moment on a mission?

Basil: During the Great Mewtonian Heist, I leapt heroically onto a moving cart… and missed. Completely. The cart rolled over my tail fluff. The team pretended not to laugh. They failed.

Q8: If mew could redo one classified adventure, which would it be?

Basil: The Time‑Travelling Tea Party, redacted. I’d bring more biscuits. And possibly a fire extinguisher and definitely more ammo.

Q9: What’s your secret to keeping the team together?

Basil: Patience, snacks, and the ability to say “No, we are not adopting another interdimensional creature” with authority. But mew know really, that the interdimensional creature will get adopted, providing it's not hostile and doesn't want to eat us.

Q10: What’s your message to BBHQ readers?

Basil: Stay curious. Stay brave. And above all… stay fluffy. Oh, and I can't forget this bit. Thanks ever so much for being here. We love your company. Oh, and the vending machine is free, so help yourself to snacks! MOL

A horizontal pattern of black-and-white icons representing satellite communication. The sequence includes a satellite dish emitting signals, a globe, a satellite, another globe, another satellite, and a second satellite dish. The icons are simple and stylized, suggesting themes of global connectivity, data transmission, and space technology.

We hope mew enjoyed today's feature brought to mew courtesy of Vera, the bunker A.I., yep, it was her idea, to interrogate, sorry, ask us these questions! MOL

Next up in the WHAT THE FLUFF hot seat: Pandora. Expect velvet drama, wand precision, and possibly a redecorating manifesto, with a colour chart of every black paint available.

Click to go to Episode 2 ~ Link Coming Later...

And don't forget to go and join in today's fun Blog Hop at www.comedy-plus.com

We'll be back on Wednesday with more Midweek News, in the meantime...

Playful graphic featuring the phrase “STAY FLUFFY” in bold red lettering with a soft blue shadow. The rounded, whimsical font and vibrant color contrast create a cheerful and uplifting vibe, perfect for conveying comfort, positivity, and lighthearted encouragement.
...and furbulous


Wing Commander Basil & The B Team


Black Paw Print Sign off














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