Showing posts with label library cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library cat. Show all posts

Friday, 5 December 2025

Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #340 featuring **Hemlock & Silver** by T. Kingfisher **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

Hello, gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank you for joining me in the stacks today. 

Gosh, I miss the heat from my summer jollies, and to be honest, I may have to flee the U.K. if the cold weather keeps looming!

Are mew ready for more of my Egyptian adventures? Of course, mew are! MOL

Amber, an orange and white tabby cat, sits regally in front of the colossal statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. She wears a flowing scarlet robe with a sapphire sash, a crescent-moon pendant, and a wide golden headdress adorned with lotus motifs. Her blue sunglasses add a touch of feline glamour. The sandstone temple glows in the rising sun, with warm hues and dramatic shadows casting across the ancient carvings. The scene blends majestic Egyptian architecture with whimsical feline elegance.

🏛 My Egyptian Adventure #7: Colossal Cats & Ramses Rendezvous 🐾

Location: Abu Simbel, gazing up at Ramses II’s monumental temples

Time: Sunrise, when the desert blushes gold, and the statues awaken in light

Dahlings, today I traded moonlit ripples for monumental stone. My paws padded across the sands of Nubia until the colossal guardians of Abu Simbel loomed before me, four towering effigies of Ramses II, carved with such audacity that even the sun itself pauses to admire them.

“I was expecting colossal cats? Clearly an oversight. Luckily, I’ve corrected it.” 

I arrived at dawn, draped in a flowing scarlet robe with a sapphire sash, my crescent‑moon pendant gleaming against the rising sun. A new hat, of course, a wide golden headdress adorned with lotus motifs, because one must match the grandeur of the gods.

The air was crisp, tinged with sandstone and history. As the first rays pierced the temple’s inner sanctum, I sipped a chilled catnip espresso from a gilded chalice and whispered, “Amber, mew are eternal.” The statues didn’t blink, but I swear one smirked.

My Morning Essentials Included:

🐟 A platter of Nile perch pâté with pomegranate glaze

🍷 A sparkling nip‑tonic infused with desert herbs

  📜 A scroll of Ramses’ victories annotated with my paw‑written commentary (“Too much ego, dahling, but fabulous execution”)

  🐾 A silk fan painted with Bastet’s likeness, fluttered dramatically at key moments

I wandered through the temple halls, hieroglyphs dancing in the dawn light, cats carved into eternity alongside pharaohs and gods. The grandeur was overwhelming, yet I remained composed. After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, command legacies (and snacks).

The desert may hold echoes of kings and conquerors, but today it held me: a cat of legend, strutting beneath colossal stone, sipping cocktails, and rewriting history with impeccable taste.

Mood: Majestic, monumental, and slightly smug (but only because my hat was bigger than Ramses’ crown).

Quote of the day: “Grandeur is not measured in stone, but in the paws that walk among it.”

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, I’ll be surprising mew with a mystery location. Expect masks, mystery, and more cocktails. 😸🌙🍸

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top book pick.

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. The easiest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is _________________________.
2. The toughest one in my Christmas shopping list to buy for is _____________________.
3. I try to spread Christmas cheer by _________.
4. When it comes to _________, I’m a bit of a Scrooge.

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

1. The easiest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is all of The B Team; catnip, toys, treats… basically anything that crinkles or jingles.

2. The toughest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is my parents, who somehow need nothing and everything at the same time.

3. I try to spread Christmas cheer by avoiding festive, crowded, heaving places. Nothing kills my holiday spirit faster than being trapped between a stressed shopper and a rogue tinsel display.

4. When it comes to sharing my blanket on the sofa, I’m a bit of a Scrooge. Unless it’s one of The B Team, in which case I become a human heated cat bed.


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 cozy library scene features a large orange and white cat sitting on a chair in the foreground. Around the cat are a desk lamp, a feather quill in an ink pot, a stack of books, a wooden sign that reads "SHHHHH!!!", and a small mouse perched on another stack of books. Green potted plants flank the cat, and behind is a warmly lit library with wooden floors and bookshelves. At the top, a sign reads "THIS WEEKS TOP BOOK PICK!" with the website www.bionicbasil.com. In front of the cat is the featured book: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher, with a cover showing a red apple, flowers, and a green snake-like creature. At www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Hemlock & Silver


by 

T. Kingfisher

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.

📚 This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: Hemlock & Silver

Curl up in your cosiest nook, tail tucked, and ears perked, because this week’s read is a whisker‑quivering fairy‑tale retelling that proves cats aren’t just companions, they’re sharp‑tongued familiars who can claw their way right into the heart of dark magic.

❓What's the Genre?

This is a darkly whimsical fantasy stand‑alone that blends fairy‑tale retelling with gothic humour and a dash of feline mischief.

🕵️ What’s the Story?

Anja, a healer with a knack for poisons and stubborn courage, finds herself tangled in a deadly curse tied to a mirror and a queen. Alongside her unlikely allies, including a sardonic, talking cat who refuses to be mere background fluff, she must navigate a world of enchantments, secrets, and shadows. What begins as a quest to save lives becomes a battle against the twisted reflections of power itself.

⚔️ What I Loved:-

🔥 The Vibes: Imagine Snow White meets Practical Magic, but with more poison bottles, more wit, and 100% more feline commentary.

🐾 The Cat: Grayling the talking cat is sly, sarcastic, and scene‑stealing, the kind of companion who’d roll their eyes at your potion ingredients but still save your life when it counts.

🍸 Anja: A heroine with grit, compassion, and a refusal to bow to fate. She’s the kind of woman who’d heal your wounds, hex your enemies, and still have time to argue with her cat.

🎬 The Fairy‑Tale Twist: The author takes the bones of Snow White and reshapes them into something darker, funnier, and far more unpredictable.

🏚 The Setting: A world of cursed mirrors, shadowed castles, and dangerous magic, painted with a blend of eerie atmosphere and sly humour.

📖 My Final Thoughts:-

This is a fantasy that purrs with wit, hisses with danger, and sparkles with fairy‑tale menace. Anja is the kind of heroine mew’ll want to follow through every poisoned apple and shattered mirror, and Grayling is the purrfectly snarky sidekick #epic! I read it faster than a kitten chasing a laser pointer, and it’s a magical, mischievous tale that’ll leave mew yowling for more enchantments! MOL

Available in audiobook and print, so grab your catnip cocoa or nip gin, a blanket, and let the magic and the cat sarcasm begin!

A Top Paw Read!

**And at the time of posting, the Kindle edition is available for 0.99p**

Paperback: 368 pages

Audio: 11 hours & 50 mins
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:

Hemlock & Silver

 
This one’s got claws in all the right places, a TOTALLY TOP FLUFF read that’ll enchant mew from page one!

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 

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® Paw







Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Follow us at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®
 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com  

Friday, 28 November 2025

Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #339 featuring **ONE DEADLY TAKE** by D.B. Borton **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins & Photo Fails

A whimsical autumn-themed illustration features Amber the cat seated in front of a bookshelf filled with books, surrounded by pumpkins, fall leaves, and flowers. The text reads “Welcome to The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ – Book Reviews with Amber,” setting a cozy and playful tone for feline-led literary adventures. Perfect for seasonal pet-themed content, book review blog graphics, and fantasy storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com

Hello, meautiful library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank mew for joining me in the stacks today, and I must apologise for disappearing for the last two weeks; however, Basil said we were running Fast, Furry and Dangerous, our third epic adventure and that I needed to step back while the ten chapters were posted, and so I did! 

But I made Basil give me A LOT of Amazon gift vouchers for my inconvenience, and I'm really looking forward to cashing them in over the coming weeks, but first, let's return to Egypt.

Amber the orange and white tabby cat floats down the Nile River at night in a private felucca boat. She reclines on a purple cushion wearing a turquoise shawl, red turban, blue sunglasses, and a crescent moon pendant. A golden goblet of catnip cocktail and a scroll rest beside her. The boat glides past the illuminated Temple of Isis under a starlit sky, with lotus flowers drifting nearby and gentle ripples reflecting the moonlight. At www.bionicbasil.com

🌌 My Egyptian Adventure #6: Felucca Fantasies & Starry Sips 🐾

Location: Nile River, drifting past Philae Island

Time: Nightfall, with the stars twinkling and the catnip cocktails flowing

Dahlings, tonight I traded sandstone for starlight and columns for constellations. I boarded my private felucca, a sleek wooden vessel with silk cushions and a striped canopy, and set sail beneath the velvet sky. The Nile shimmered like liquid moonlight, and the Temple of Isis glowed in the distance, as if lit by divine approval.

I wore my deep teal robe with a gold broach, a crescent-moon pendant nestled against my fur, and, of course, my signature orange sunglasses, because glamour never sleeps. The breeze was gentle, scented with lotus and mystery, and the boat rocked with the rhythm of ancient lullabies.

My evening essentials included:

  A tray of elegant canapés: smoked sardine spirals, silvervine-stuffed figs, and mini salmon tartlets

Followed by my signature seafood (and eat it) buffet

  A sweet catnip cocktail, fizzing with stardust and sass

  A scroll of celestial maps annotated with my paw-written musings on feline astrology

  A leather-bound journal titled Amber Among the Stars, soon to be a bestseller, obviously

I reclined on my cushion, scroll in paw, and gazed upward. The stars winked back. I caught my reflection in the crystal glass and whispered, “Amber, mew are cosmic.” And in that moment, I truly was.

The Nile may carry stories of gods and pharaohs, but tonight it carried me, a cat of legend, lounging in lunar luxury, sipping cocktails and rewriting the stars.

Mood: Celestial, serene, and slightly tipsy (a lot tipsy! MOL)

Quote of the day: “Some journeys follow maps. Others follow moonlight and impeccable taste.”

Two Bastet side profile cats, tail to tail

Next week, I’m heading to Abu Simbel for a rendezvous with Ramses II’s colossal legacy. Expect grandeur, drama, and a new hat. 😸🛶📜 

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top book pick.

A panoramic view of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcases tall white bookshelves filled with colourful paperbacks, vintage leather-bound volumes, and decorative items like framed pictures and sculptures. A wooden chair sits along the aisle, inviting quiet reading and reflection. The cozy, well-organized space reflects a deep love of literature and feline-led storytelling. Perfect for book-themed blog content, cozy library aesthetics, and cat-centric literary adventures from www.bionicbasil.com
Amber's Book Review Library Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. My Christmas tree goes up on ___________________.
2. I am thankful for ______________, __________________ and ________________.
3. I _________ by the time December rolls around.
4. I’ll be spending a lot of time _________ this holiday season.

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

1. My Christmas tree goes up on the last weekend before Catmas.

2. I am thankful for my husband, my cats and being able to share crazy, epic stories with all of you!

3. I am already over the cold weather by the time December rolls around. (And it only gets worse from thereon in!!!)

4. I’ll be spending a lot of time reading this holiday season. My TBR pile almost has its own postcode! LOL

A symmetrical autumn-themed post divider featuring two large orange pumpkins with green stems, surrounded by fall leaves in shades of orange and brown, acorns, and soft pink flowers. The mirrored design adds seasonal charm and visual balance, making it ideal for Thanksgiving blog posts, cozy pet-themed content, and festive fall storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com

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


Do drop by Mudpie's marvellous blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

Amber, a white and orange cat, sits on a granite kitchen counter—with her mouth wide open in a dramatic yawn or expressive meow. She wears a collar with a bell and tag, and her fur is fluffy and well-groomed. The background features kitchen cabinets and countertops, suggesting a cozy indoor setting. The image is framed with a white border and includes the text "copyright www.bionicbasil.com" at the bottom.

This is NOT A FAIL from 2008! This is PURRFECTION!!!

MOL MOL


Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

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

Amber the orange and white tabby cat sits upright in a cozy library setting, surrounded by bookshelves. She gazes slightly to the side beneath a bold sign reading “THIS WEEK’S TOP BOOK PICK!” in black letters with an orange border. To her left is the featured book One Deadly Take by D.B. Borton, with a colorful cover showing a director’s chair and film set. A small mouse reads a book beside a red pushpin and a piece of cheese. To Amber’s right is a desk lamp and a wooden “SHHHHH!!” sign, completing the whimsical and literary scene. At www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

   

ONE DEADLY TAKE

    

The Cat Caliban Mysteries Book 1


by

D.B. Borton

Amber's Book Review Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
📚 This Week’s Paw-Approved Pillage: One Deadly Take

Get comfy, fluff up a cushion in your cosiest reading nook, and prepare for a whisker-twitching romp through Cincinnati’s Northside, because this week’s read is a claw-clinking, clue-sniffing, tail-flicking mystery that proves sleuthing isn’t just for the young, it’s for the feisty, feline-loving grandmothers, too.

🕵️ What’s the Story?

Cat Caliban has just moved into her new apartment block, armed with nothing but a library card, a sharp tongue, and three cats: Sidney, Sadie, and Sophie. When the body of an elderly homeless woman is discovered right under her nose, Cat decides it’s time to put her mystery-reading skills into practice. What begins as a neighbourhood whodunit soon spirals into a surprising connection with the glittering yet shadowy world of silent films in Golden Age Hollywood.

⚔️ What I Loved:-

🔥 The Vibes: Imagine “Murder, She Wrote” meets “Arsenic and Old Lace,” but with more gin, more sass, and 100% more cats.
🐾 The Cats: Sadie, Sidney, and Sophie are not just background fluff; they’re mischievous, meddling, and occasionally helpful pawtners-in-crime. Sadie, in particular, steals scenes with her devilish charm.
🍸 Cat Caliban: A grandmother with gumption, wit, and a refusal to fade quietly into bingo nights. She’s the kind of heroine who’d solve a murder, critique your casserole, and still have time to pour another drink.
🎬 The Hollywood Connection: The silent movie twist adds a layer of glamour and intrigue, like finding a reel of forgotten film in your attic that suddenly makes sense of the present.
🏚 The Setting: Northside, Cincinnati, is painted with warmth and grit, a neighbourhood full of secrets, gossip, and just enough danger to keep the pages turning.

📖 My Final Thoughts:-

This is a mystery that purrs with humour, hisses with danger, and sparkles with old Hollywood charm. Cat Caliban is the kind of sleuth mew’ll want to follow through every gin-soaked clue, and her trio of cats are the purrfect furry sidekicks. I finished it faster than Sidney chasing a moth across the living room, and it’s a purrfectly quirky start to a series that’ll leave mew yowling for the next case. MOL

There are eleven books in the series, so one down, ten to go!

Available on Kindle Unlimited at the time of posting, so grab your catnip cocoa or nip gin (depending on your preference), a fluffy blanket, and get reading!

A Totally Pawsome Start To The Series!

Paperback: 228 pages
Amber's Book Review Library Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
My Rating Scale
A whimsical paw print rating chart from The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features five levels of book urgency, each represented by a triangular arrangement of paw prints. Ratings range from “TOP PAW ~ READ IMMEDIATELY” (five paws) to “MEH! ~ TAKE A NAP INSTEAD” (one paw), blending feline charm with literary flair. Perfect for cat-themed book reviews, cozy reading content, and playful blog visuals from www.bionicbasil.com
A symmetrical autumn-themed post divider featuring two large orange pumpkins with green stems, surrounded by fall leaves in shades of orange and brown, acorns, and soft pink flowers. The mirrored design adds seasonal charm and visual balance, making it ideal for Thanksgiving blog posts, cozy pet-themed content, and festive fall storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com

Ratings of:

ONE DEADLY TAKE


Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Rating Scale ©BionicBasil® 5 Paws

Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today
A symmetrical autumn-themed post divider featuring two large orange pumpkins with green stems, surrounded by fall leaves in shades of orange and brown, acorns, and soft pink flowers. The mirrored design adds seasonal charm and visual balance, making it ideal for Thanksgiving blog posts, cozy pet-themed content, and festive fall storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com

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

I always look forward to your company every Friday throughout the review season as I share a specially paw-picked book just for mew, my epic readers!

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 week...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 









A symmetrical autumn-themed post divider featuring two large orange pumpkins with green stems, surrounded by fall leaves in shades of orange and brown, acorns, and soft pink flowers. The mirrored design adds seasonal charm and visual balance, making it ideal for Thanksgiving blog posts, cozy pet-themed content, and festive fall storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com

Follow me at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another review! 
A symmetrical autumn-themed post divider featuring two large orange pumpkins with green stems, surrounded by fall leaves in shades of orange and brown, acorns, and soft pink flowers. The mirrored design adds seasonal charm and visual balance, making it ideal for Thanksgiving blog posts, cozy pet-themed content, and festive fall storytelling from www.bionicbasil.com
 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com