**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #302 featuring **A Christmas Yowl ~ A Cat's Whisker Café Christmas Short Story** by Sarah May Bird **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello Supurr Library furiends

and

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ

Many thanks for joining me in the stacks again, and oh my gosh, the pawty last week was a riot. Literally a riot!

Luckily, Parsley suggested that I got an official Pawty pawtrait with the Library Mice in my private reading room before the festivities really kicked off. It's a good job he did because twenty three minutes and fifteen seconds later I was passed out under my desk! MOL

So here is the official Mewton-Clawson Library Catmas Pawty Pawtrait of 2024. 

Yes, I know my private reading room is rather decadent, but I've worked hard for it, and this was my dream. Anyhoo, I just realised that I've never told mew the Library Mice's names, well, they are a little bit shy, but today I'd like mew to meet:

Top Shelf Left ~ Oswald

Top Shelf Right ~ Snitch

Middle Shelf Left ~ Tootles

Sofa Arm Left ~ Ardvaar

Sofa Back Left ~ Velvet

Sofa Back Right ~ Nibbles

Sofa Arm Right ~ Flora

Sofa Right ~ Chedds (short for Cheddar)

Catmas Tree ~ Lumie

Without my Number One Mouse team, or N.O.M.'s, the library wouldn't be half as much fun. They are epically epic, and maybe we might do a MEET THE MOUSE segment in the New Year.

Oh, and before we dive into this week's book, I have to tell mew this. 

We had a gatecrasher at the pawty. A Mr Hugo Hetherington-Fluff, who apparently resides at Fuskerton Grange in the neighbouring village, anyhoo, it turns out that H-H.F. is a bit of a book fanatic, and he brought me a gift hamper filled with rare books for the library.

Well, mew could have knocked me sideways, twizzled me around the library in a pink tutu and given me an extra large niptini on the rocks, and I don't think I could have been more surprised.

After the introductions and the acceptance of said hamper, H-H.F. stayed for the pawty, and according to Smooch, he had a really great time and is coming back in the New Year, as he'd like to sponsor us! 

There is a lot more gossip, but I will share more of that in my next post in January, so stay tuned for Amber's Dishing The Dirt! MOL

Let's get stuck into this week's book.

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

1. ________________________at Christmastime is such a pain to me.

2. I can’t wait to see ______________ open his/her gift from me.

3. I _________ on Christmas morning.

4. I _________ on Christmas night.

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

1. The overtly high and over-the-top expectations of some at Christmastime is such a pain to me. I find it utterly exhausting; my philosophy is to spend time with family, enjoy the moment, and be happy.  

2. I can’t wait to see Cat Dad open his gift from me. The B Team will get a few new toys, and that's about it; we are so uncomplicated it's hilarious! LOL 

3. I like to just chill out on Christmas morning. BBHQ is a no-stress zone. Cat Dad talks to his family in Australia, and we'll just have a super leisurely day. See #4.

4. I like to just chill out on Christmas night. After lunch and clearing up, it'll be a movie in the afternoon, perhaps a few snacks, then in the evening another movie, we like a really laid-back day.

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

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

A Christmas Yowl

 A Cat's Whisker Café Christmas ~ Short Story

Cat's Whisker Café Mysteries

by

Sarah May Bird

 Here's the book blurb:   

A Cosy Christmas Tail

Loki isn’t a bad ghost cat. Just mischievous. What did anyone expect when they named him after a mythical trickster god?

Christmas is the season to spread love, joy and pranks. And Loki intends to particularly focus on the latter this year.

But when he takes a joke too far, he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future with a stern warning that has him racing to save a life.

As it's my last review of 2024, I have found the purrfect book for Catmas, which is also part of a bigger series of five books so far, set in a quaint English village.

If mew're looking for a whimsical read to get mew in the festive spirit, look no further than A Christmas Yowl! This delightful short story from the Cat's Whisker Café Mysteries series serves up plenty of holiday cheer along with a healthy dose of whiskery mischief, thanks to our ghostly feline protagonist, Loki. Loki might be a ghost cat named after a trickster god, but he's all heart (albeit a rascally one). As he embarks on a mischievous Christmas adventure, the book encapsulates everything delightful about the holiday season—love, warmth, and most impawtantly, a few well-placed pranks. The plot weaves together themes of redemption and the true spirit of giving, particularly as Loki grapples with the consequences of his actions when the ghosts of Christmas come to pay him a visit. The stakes rise when his antics might spell disaster for another cat and her unborn kittens, leading Loki to realise that maybe it's time to trade in a few heathen pranks for acts of kindness. The narrative is charming and humorous, inviting mew to cheer for Loki as he navigates his way through Catmas chaos. With a cozy setting, a sprinkle of supurr-natural charm, and a heartwarming message, this story is purrfect for curling up with a hot cup of catnip tea and a mince pie. Whether mew're a cat lover or just in need of a bit of holiday spirit, A Christmas Yowl is a meowvellous addition to your festive reading list. Get ready to laugh, gasp, and perhaps shed a happy tear or two as mew discover that even a ghost cat can find redemption and joy in the heart of Catmas! So, grab your favourite holiday treat and settle in for an enchanting tale that reminds us all of the magic that the festive season can bring—even for a cheeky feline spectre.

A TOTALLY TOP PAW READ

This title is also available within the Kindle Unlimited Library if mew are subscribed. And the other books related to this series are available, too; it's the series that just keeps giving, and I will be reviewing more of them in 2025.

Paperback: 69 pages

My Rating Scale

Ratings of:

A Christmas Yowl

Overall Enjoyment

     

That's me done for 2024, I do hope mew've enjoyed all the books I've reviewed this year, and I look forward to sharing oodles more in 2025.

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.

Wishing mew all a supurr festive

MEOWY CATMAS!

And if mew're feeling a little stressed this holiday season, don't forget to...

Keep calm and read another book

Amber 

Follow me at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #301 featuring **Gallows Born** by A.C. Salter **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello Supurr Library furiends

and

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ

Many thanks for joining me in the stacks again, and look, no eye snot and smooth chest fur!  Yes, I was ambushed by the P.A. and I did try most valiantly to fight off the washcloth and brush, but then I realised I really quite enjoyed it!

So now I'm looking supurr smooth and rather cute for the Mewton-Clawson Library Catmas Pawty tomorrow evening.

Parsley has been in charge with Melvyn's help, and apparently, it's going to be quite 'the do', although I have been told that I'm not allowed to get behind the bar due to my behaviour at BBHQ birthday parties. 

This did offend me somewhat, as I thought it was my duty as a barkeeper to sample everything first to make sure a; it tasted good and b; it tasted better the more mew had.

Anyhoo, the library mice are in charge of the food, so no doubt there's going to be endless cheese platters and other cheesy delicacies. I did tell them I wanted some smoked salmon, so hopefully, they'll heed my request.

Melvyn has installed a karaoke stage, so Cod help us all when the caterwauling starts about nine-thirty pm, I'll probably be passed out under my desk in my emergency heated snooze spot. 

Anyhoo, I'll fill mew in on all the gossip next week!

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

1. My favourite Christmas movie (or book) is ____________________.

2. My favourite Christmas song is _____________.

3. _________ is the best way to spread Christmas cheer.

4. _________ is my favourite day of the holiday season.

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

1. My favourite Christmas movie (or book) is the first Die Hard movie; it's not Christmas if I haven't watched it. HO! HO! HO! and Yippee-Ki-Yay! Yep, now you know where The B Team get it all from! LOL

2. My favourite Christmas song is _____________. I don't really have a favourite modern Christmassy song. However, I always liked, if I could use a hymn, Silent Night, and that was my favourite to play on the piano when I was younger.

3. Kindness is the best way to spread Christmas cheer. Merry Christmas, or as we say here at BBHQ, Meowy Catmas!

4. _________ is my favourite day of the holiday season. I don't have a favourite festive day, although I really enjoy Christmas Lunch, Boxing Day Lunch, and New Year's Day Lunch. Did anyone mention lunch? LOL

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

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Gallows Born

Epic Viking Fantasy

The Bane Of The North Book 1

by

A.C. Salter

 Here's a little of the book blurb:   

'We live as men - but fight as gods.'

Born on the gallows, his mother still swinging from the rope above, the villagers brand him The Bane of the North and leave him out for the Fug to claim - a deadly fog ruled by Draugr - Viking warriors that had long ago fallen in battle.

They didn’t expect to find him the next day, tattooed with the mark of an ancient god.

Fifteen winters later - ridiculed, scorned; but never broken, Bane forges a life as a forager, surviving between Castle Garik and a looming mountain that legend says contains the body of a Norse god. In a strange twist of fates Bane discovers that the mark gives him abilities beyond that of mortal man, and along with his lineage and a blood link to the god, his journey unfolds, fraught with danger and purpose.

TIKTOK MADE ME BUY IT! MOL

Oh wow, have I found an epic fantasy book for mew this week! There I was just scrolling through the #FYP page last weekend, and this appeared as if by magic, and as it happens, I was looking for a new book, something exciting, an epic fantasy, and well, read my review because this is one of my new favourite books.

And as mew know, I love books with cats of course, and this has shadow leopards, so instantly I was utterly smitten.

Gallows Born, the first instalment in A.C. Salter's Epic Viking Fantasy series, plunges mew into a rich tapestry of Norse mythology, grit, and adventure. With an opening that establishes a dark, haunting atmosphere that captivates from the very first page.

The protagonist, Bane, is instantly a compelling character—marked by tragedy and born into a world that scorns him as The Bane of the North. His life is not merely a struggle for survival but a quest for identity and purpose amid the harsh landscape governed by fearsome Draugr and the ominous Fug. The plot masterfully weaves elements of ancient lore with compelling storytelling, making Bane’s journey not just physical but also deeply emotional. As Bane matures over the fifteen winters, mew witness his evolution into a resourceful forager. The stark contrast between his early years of ridicule and his emerging powers offers a poignant reflection on resilience and the search for belonging. When he discovers the mark of the ancient god, the narrative gains momentum, revealing not only his newfound abilities but also linking him to a destiny that could alter the fate of the North. The writing is both vivid and immersive. The landscapes of Castle Garik and the ominous mountain are brought to life with such detail that mew can almost feel the chill in the air and hear the distant roar of war drums. Additionally, the pacing is well-executed, balancing action with rich character development that keeps mew engaged and those pages turning while exploring the complex dynamics of loyalty and betrayal among the villagers. This is an epic tale of mythology and adventure that poses thought-provoking questions about what it means to fight as gods when one has been born of tragedy. As Bane stands at the threshold of war, mew are left eager to discover whether he can rise to meet his destiny or if the shadows of his past will consume him.

A.C. Salter has crafted a powerful opening to a series that purromises both thrills and depth, making it a must-read for readers who love excitement, fantasy and Viking lore alike. This book isn’t just about surviving; it’s about defining what it truly means to live.

UTTERLY FLUFFING BRILLIANT! 

And to make it even better, there are four books in the series, and to make it even better than that, if mew have Kindle Unlimited, all are available to read (at the time of posting) within the catalogue - epic! 

On a final note, the audio version is incredible, and the last two chapters, well, let's just say, I can't wait to dive into Book 2!

Hardback: 444 pages

Audio: 11 hours 40 mins

My Rating Scale

Ratings of:

Gallows Born

Overall Enjoyment

  

I'm off to prepare for next week's review, 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 week...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow me at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

**FELINE FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #300 featuring **Chumley and Hudson Investigate. The King Herod's Affair** by M.E. Watson **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello Supurr Library furiends

and

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ

Many thanks for joining me in the stacks today and for my 300th Book Review!

OH MY COD! I can't believe I've reached such dizzying heights of reviewdom. When I started my little hobby library a few years ago, I never thought about the numbers or how many books with cats I would read, but at this moment, I must say I'm feeling rather accomplished about my furbulous feline fiction accomplishment! MOL 

And I think I'm the only Library Cat and Private Library Owner who has reviewed that many cat books in the world. Way to go me, at twenty-fluffing-two!

Oh, and I just have to share this with mew...

The other morning, I woke up and needed to visit the little cats room, but my fresh grey blanky was so snoozable and warm that I didn't want to get up, and then Melvyn appeared and had a really great idea. He said.

"Amber, I'll keep your blanky warm until mew get back!"

Awwwwww, what a little sweetie, purrhaps all my training is finally paying off.

Anyhoo, a short while later, because I stopped off in the kitty kitchen for some snacks, I returned to my favourite snooze spot to find Melvyn zonked out and unwakable.

He stayed there for a good few hours, and I was relegated to the emergency grey blanky on the other sofa, which the P.A. had put my heated warmer on, so it was supurr toasty for snoozing.

So this was me...

Yep, life is really this good! MOL

Anyhoo, let's see what's been happening at the Mewton-Clawson Library this week.

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

1. ___________________, ______________________ and _____________________ are on my to-do list this month.

2. If I hear _______________________________ one more time I will scream.

3. All I want for Christmas is _________.

4. _________ is my favourite holiday scent.

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

1. A new Catmas Crafting with Cats post, rerunning all the other Catmas with Cats posts, and I have a very special crystal wand to make; these are on the 'urgent side' of my to-do list this month.

 

2. If I hear Last Christmas by Wham one more time, I will scream. I never liked it back in the eighties, and that has never changed. Some songs are like that; you either love or loathe it!  I've never been a fan of schmaltzy songs; I'm more of a dance, trance, house music, deep house, etc, with a bit of Heavy Metal/Rock thrown in when I want a change, kinda girl. If it's schmaltzy, romantic or the like, I've headed for the hills at lightning speed. LOL

3. All I want for Christmas is a new box of coloured pencils. I've seen a rather lovely set on Amazon, which would be utterly delightful.

4. Spice, orange and cinnamon are my favourite holiday scents - for home fragrance, not purrrsonal purrfume! LOL 

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

Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Chumley and Hudson Investigate

 

The King Herod's Affair

by

M.E. Watson

 Here's the book blurb:   

Welcome to 1920's Britain, where cats and dogs have a voice and are treated as equals to humans. In the quaint village of Upper Much-Mousing, one lucky young cat named Erin Chumley inherits an old Manor house and Estate. But with it comes responsibility and bills, and Erin must navigate her new life with the help of her housekeeper and tutor, Mrs. Hudson, a retired Army veteran with a mysterious past.

Together, Erin and Mrs. Hudson start a detective agency to earn funds and teach Erin about the world. Their latest case takes them to the bustling city of London, to the famous King Herod's Department store. Three kittens have gone missing, and it's up to our dynamic duo to solve the case. But what starts as a simple investigation quickly turns into a dangerous race against time, as they must save the kittens from the clutches of the evil and lazy Anders, the store's nighttime security guard. As they dig deeper, they uncover a sinister black-market gang stealing from the store, and must also help their feline seamstress friend, Jenifer Darcy, get the recognition she deserves for her work.

Join Erin and Mrs. Hudson on their witty and whimsical adventure, filled with action, fun, and heartwarming moments. Perfect for younger and middle grade readers looking for a fun and exciting read.

I was going to review this purrticular title last week, but then I noticed that today was my 300th Book Review, and I wanted something rather special to share in today's post.

So for my milestone 300th Book Review, I have the greatest purrleasure of sharing Chumley and Hudson Investigate by non other than fellow Cat Blogger Erin the Cat Princess.

If mew're looking for a delightful romp through 1920s Britain with a cast of charming anipal characters, look no further than Chumley and Hudson Investigate: The King Herod's Affair! M.E. Watson has created a whimsical world where cats and dogs are not just anipal companions but equal members of society, and it's an absolute joy to dive into their adventures.

Meet Erin Chumley, a young cat who finds herself the proud owner of an old manor house in the picturesque village of Upper Much-Mousing. While inheriting an estate sounds glamorous, Erin quickly realizes that with great property comes great responsibility (and bills!). Luckily, she has the steadfast Mrs Hudson by her side—a no-nonsense retired Army veteran whose mysterious backstory adds further layers of intrigue and charm. And together, they embark on an entrepreneurial journey by starting their own detective agency! How pawesome is that? Their first assignment takes them to London’s bustling King Herod's Department Store to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three playful kittens. The stakes rise when they encounter the wickedly lazy security guard, Anders, who seems to be hiding more than just his nap schedule. The storytelling is filled with clever twists and vibrant characters to keep those pages turning, as the plot unfolds with humour, action, and heartwarming interactions, making it a page-turner that keeps mew on your paws! The dynamic duo of Erin and Mrs Hudson is refreshingly witty, reminding us that teamwork, furiendship, and a little bravery can help us overcome the most daunting challenges—even if it involves battling a black-market gang! Purrfectly tailored to cater for all reading ages from middle grade to whenever this tale balances adventure with life's lessons. Chumley and Hudson Investigate not only entertains but encourages curiosity about the world around us. So, grab a nice cup of catnip tea (or a bit-sized bag of kibble!), settle in, and prepare for a delightful adventure that will leave mew purring for more!

AN EPICALLY EPIC ADVENTURE

Just how adventures should be, and I know, as mew know that I know, with the amount The B Team go on! MOL 

I've got one last thing to say; this would make a furbulous Catmas present for anypawdy who loves a great read and cats. 

Erin my dear, mew are the epitome of FURBULOUS, and many CON'CAT'ULATIONS on your first published novel. I hope there will be many more!

**Available in paperback and hardback copies from Amazon**

Hardback: 118 pages

My Rating Scale

Rating of:

Chumley and Hudson Investigate. The King Herod's Affair

Overall Enjoyment

      Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

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

I'm off to prepare for next week's review, 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 week...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 

Follow me at @BionicBasil® on Instacat

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

 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com