Feline Fiction on Fridays #219 at Amber's Library featuring **A Spell Of Trouble** by Leighann Dobbs & Traci Douglass PLUS Friendly Fill-ins

Hello gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today.

Well, I don't know about mew, but I can't believe we're on another Catmas countdown already!

It doesn't seem like two shakes of a lamb's tail since it was this time last year. I'm not sure if it's a strange phenomenon but time really does seem to pass quicker the older mew get.

Sadly the internet service is still out of commission, and this is really getting to the point of ridiculous, also the P.A. was late serving my fresh chicken lunch on Tuesday and I had to make my way into the kitchen to make enquiries as to why lunch was late and not being served in my bed!  Mew know mew just can't get the cat staff these days! MOL

Ah well, that's progress for mew, anyhoo let's dive into this week's book, as I'm sure mew're going to love it.

Today the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I don’t like ____________________ in my ______________________________.

2. My to-do list for December includes: _____________, ________________ and ______________________________.

3. I still need to _________ before _________.

4. To me, _________ is the most important part of the holiday season.

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

1. I don’t like white chocolate in my festive treat selection. I really can't stand white chocolate; it's just like eating pure white sugar.

2. My to-do list for December includes: This years Crafting with Cats post, some new header graphics and making a video compilation of Melvyn's modelling. Exciting stuff for sure! LOL And if all has gone to plan the new blog header should be right above and The B Team are in the BBHQ Winter Garden.

3. I still need to post a few UK Christmas cards before the end of next week and avoid the postal strikes, but the good news is this; I managed to get all the overseas cards posted on the 30th of November, so if mew're taking part in this year's card exchange and are not in the UK, your card has left BBHQ, just look out for a really pretty gold envelope landing on your doorstep soon!

4. To me, a good Christmas dinner with family is the most important part of the holiday season.

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

This week's top book pick is...

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

A Spell Of Trouble

  Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 1

   

by

Leighann Dobbs & Traci Douglass

 

         Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

When town trouble maker, Louella Drummond, drops dead in front of Isolde Quinn's pet store just minutes after threatening both Issy and her cousin Graeme, the police in the small lakeside town of Silver Hollow assume it's from natural causes.

... Until it's discovered that Louella was murdered.

Not just any murder, though. Murder by paranormal means. Dark magic that could only have been performed by a powerful witch. And every law-abiding paranormal knows that dark magic is forbidden and carries strict punishment at the hands of "the committee" - the mysterious entity that provides law and order within the paranormal community.

As mew know I spend most of my summer break looking for and reading/listening to new books to share with mew ready for the new season, and believe me when I tell mew it's no mean feat to find good reads to share, as I typically need about 40 books per new review season.

Anyhoo, mew know how much I like the author Leighan Dobbs and the Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series is still one of my all-time favs, so mew can imagine my delight when I found another series called The Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery series which is written with a co-author; Traci Douglass.

I was excited, as mew know how much I like my cozies! MOL 

So what did I think of the first book in this new series? As mew know if a book doesn't have any cats in it, I won't review it and this one has a furbulous feline called Brimstone who's got a witty/sarcastic purrsonality.

Set in a paranormal town, although with non-magical humans too, it's an interesting setting with lots of quirky characters including witches, plus other types of paranormals. There are quite a few different familiars throughout the book which bring an added dimension to the story.

As with all cozy mysteries, there's a murder and the prime suspect is usually the wrong one and this book follows that formula. The plot is lovely and twisty, the characters grow and become like old friends and there are enough clues and red herrings to keep mew turning the pages, so all the ingredients are there for a fab and fun read.  

I really did enjoy this book and look forward to getting my mittens on the next four in the series imminently.

Also, the pawesome news is if mew have an audible account mew can listen to this TOP PAW novel for free, and the narrator has a purrticularly nice voice and does a really top job voicing all the different characters.

Audio: 5 hours 50 Mins

Paperback: 353 pages

My Ratings Scale

Ratings of:

A Spell Of Trouble

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday       

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did if mew decide to read it.

It's time fur me to say BFN or bye-fur-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't furget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow me at angry_amber_badtemperedkitty

& @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

Love To Read? Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #206 featuring **Claw and Order** by Leighann Dobbs PLUS Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and mew may remember last week when I was a little over-excited that the P.A. had painted the library door at BBHQ, and it wasn't going to plan?

Well, she duly presented me with this little step as an appeasement present so I didn't lose my fur completely.

And as mew can see, I am moderately appeased and temporarily mollified by said surprise pressie.

Finally, here is the offending door after four coats of red gloss.

If I'm honest it could have done with another coat, but the P.A. said, "Amber if I put any more gloss on it, the fluffing door won't shut!"

So that was that, and I still have my misgivings about it all. The first one is this, the previous colour red was specially mixed and is not available off the shelf, and so the P.A. had to purrchase a new red which is slightly darker with a more blue undertone.

The second is this, I preferred the previous red which had a more orangey undertone and was slightly lighter. We called it nuclear red, and it was pawesome!

But anyhoo, the door is painted, so I have to be thankful for that and it should look ok for a few years. Though if our retired decorator suddenly decides that he'd like to come and do some painting, I'm getting him to get the old colour paint and re-do it! MOL 

Today the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. Did you know _______________?

2. My plans for June include _____________ and __________________.

3. When I need to cheer myself up, I _________.

4. I could teach an entire course on _________.

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

1. Did you know it was Basil's 20th Birthday on Wednesday, and this year marks his 4th Angelversary? Not a day goes by when I don't miss him, or any of the other angels for that matter.

2. My plans for June include painting the summer house and the telephone box among other things. And I will say this, I'm a little daunted by it all! LOL

3. When I need to cheer myself up, I like to partake in a little retail therapy.

4. I could teach an entire course on crystals, healing and other alternative therapies.

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

This week's top book pick is...

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Claw and Order

by

Leighann Dobbs

       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

Bookstore owner Willa Chance had no idea that a magical key was hidden in the old recipe book that she sold to food blogger Mary Ashford. Luckily the key is now safely tucked away in a box high on a shelf in the bookstore.... or is it?

Feline sleuth Pandora needs Willa's help to make sure that key doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. This time she’ll have to take drastic measures to break through the barrier that has stopped her from communicating with her human... even if she has to take a chance on one of Pepper St. Onge’s enchanted teas. The teas are known to have unpredictable results, but Pandora is desperate and what could be worse than the threat to Mystic Notch?

 Here are the links to the previous reviews of the entire Mystic Notch Cozy series:

Ghostly Paws  Book 1

 A Spirited Tail   Book 2

A Mew to a Kill Book 3 

Paws and Effect Book 4 

Probable Paws   Book 5

A Whisker of Doubt Book 6

Wrong Side of The Claw Book 7

Claw and Order Book 8 (today's review)

Finally, here we are with the last book in the Mystic Notch Cat Cozy Mystery series, and after seven books - yes this is going to be a little bit of a spoiler, so if mew don't want to know skip to the next paragraph - Pandora finally gets the ability to talk and propurrly communicate with Willa, like OMC, this was a totally defining moment. And for those of mew who've already read the previous novels, mew will know how challenging it has been for Pandora to try and convey her suggestions, notions and ideas to Willa.

I've thoroughly and unequivocally adored this entire series, the author is such a talented writer and really delivers a supurr story each and every time, with a roller-coaster plot and ameowzing cast of characters.

I do sincerely hope that the author decides to continue this series in the future, but if she doesn't I'm happy with the conclusion of book eight. And she has written many more series besides, some of which I've already featured.

So if mew're looking for an utterly brilliant cat cozy mystery series, I can't recommend this one enough. 

TOTALLY TOP PAW!

Audio: 4 hours 36 mins

Pages: 222

My Ratings Scale

Ratings of:

Claw and Order

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday       

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did if mew decide to read it.

It's time fur me to say BFN or bye-fur-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't furget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow me at angry_amber_badtemperedkitty

& @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

Love To Read? Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #205 featuring **Paws and Effect** by Leighann Dobbs PLUS Friendly Fill-Ins + Photo Fails Blog Hop

Hello gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and OMC aka OH MY COD! 

I can't quite catch my breath, so much so that I had to flop down in catservatory and just not look, and if mew're wondering what I'm not looking at, it's the fluffing library door. 

The P.A. started to paint it last weekend; check out The Midweek News Round-Up for more details. Anyhoo, the P.A. fluffed up, and on Chewsday my lovely red door looked like a dirty maroon colour, in fact it was so bad I broke out in a heinous sweat and just look at what it did to my chest fur!!!! 

Now I need some serious brushing, and the door had a third coat yesterday, but it's still patchy and not RED enough, so it will require another one, so that will mean it's had six coats of paint, and it had better look OK after it's final coat tommorow, because if not, I might just insist it gets painted black and be done with it! 

It's really stressed me out; mew see normally Kim the decorator would come approx every five years and paint all outside at BBHQ, and in March 2020 when he'd just arrived to begin the painting, the UK got locked down and then he decided to retire, so it never got done. I couldn't believe it. He worked for the family for over 40 years when he retired, and sadly there's no one to replace him - AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! 

Where have all the good trades people gone? 

Anyhoo, so the P.A. is going to work/paint her way around BBHQ slowly throughout the summer months and hopefully get it all painted.

Today the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. I wouldn’t mind being stuck in an elevator with _____________________.

2. Now that the formula shortage is fixed, I wish something could be done about the ______________________shortage.

3. If I had to sum up my life in one sentence, it would read as follows: _________.

4. _________ is an awkward situation in which I once found myself in.

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

1. I wouldn’t mind being stuck in an elevator with my hubby and cats, most other people would proabaly get on my nerves! LOL

2. Now that the formula shortage is fixed, I wish something could be done about the ______________________shortage. The formula shortage didn't affect the U.K. that I'm aware of, although we are being threatened with food shortages and wheat shortages coming to a super market shelf near you soon - YAY for war and covid - that was utter and unalterdated sarcasm by the way.

3. If I had to sum up my life in one sentence, it would read as follows: It was always about the cats.

4. _________ is an awkward situation in which I once found myself in. I can't think of any awkward situations, well nothing springs to mind, but if I do remember one between typing this on Thursday afternoon and posting on Friday, I'll be back to add it in. 

Today, as it's the last Friyay of the month, we're also joining in the furrbulous...

So do drop by the marvellous Mudpie's blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

Melvyn's lasers and on, targeted and ready to fire! MOL

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

This week's top book pick is...

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Paws and Effect

 by 

Leighann Dobbs

       Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

Three hundred years ago, accused witch Hester Warren buried a magical box in Mystic Notch. The secret contents within have the power to bring disaster to the town, and when the box is dug up at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Mystic Notch Historical Museum, Hester's ghost and that of her cat make an appearance to warn the humans and enlist their help to ensure the box doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Too bad the only one listening is Pandora, the cat.

Pandora soon finds herself on a treacherous path, battling humans and cats alike, where secrets are revealed and alliances that previously seemed impossible are made. But when one cat makes the ultimate sacrifice for the good of Mystic Notch, Pandora realizes things are not what they seem and is forced to make a decision that could put her own life at risk.

I've now reviewed 6 of the 8 books in the Mystic Notch Cozy series, and here are the links:

Ghostly Paws  Book 1

 A Spirited Tail   Book 2

A Mew to a Kill Book 3 

Paws and Effect Book 4 (today's review)

Probable Paws   Book 5

A Whisker of Doubt Book 6

Wrong Side of The Claw Book 7

Claw and Order Book 8

Here we are with Book 4 today, and it's not as long as the others in the series, which did displease me a little, as I'd got used to each story being around the 6-hour mark, so I have been quite ruthless and deducted a paw off the rating as I did feel that this one was a little skimpy.

Still a good plot, the characters develop nicely, and Pandora and the barn cats have a much bigger role throughout. I feel that this should have been book 3.5, like a novella with a little more back story. Nevertheless, it was very enjoyable, although not long enough for my taste.

 

If mew love the Mystic Notch series, then this is an absolute must-read. If mew haven't read any of the books so far, don't start with this one; begin with Ghostly Paws and work your way through the series for the best reader experience.

Out of all the Mystic Notch books, this is my only 4 paw review, but that is only due to the length of the novel; that aside it's still fabulous, so read it.

Audio: 3 hours 23 mins

Pages: 151

My Ratings Scale

Ratings of:

Paws and Effect

Overall Enjoyment

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today

          Brian's Home   Catblogosphere    Feline Friday   Nature Friday    Flashback Friday   Friendship Friday       

I really hope mew enjoy the book as much as I did if mew decide to read it.

It's time fur me to say BFN or bye-fur-now as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time and I'll be back next week with another specially paw-picked book just for mew, and don't furget that all my previous reviews can be found on my Book Review page.

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow me at angry_amber_badtemperedkitty

& @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com