Geek with the Cat Tattoo

Cool Cats #2

by Theresa Weir

Shy music geek Emerson Foshay breaks into a cold sweat and is rendered speechless whenever Lola Brown, the girl of his dreams, steps into his guitar shop. But once a stray cat named Sam follows him home, everything changes and Emerson becomes the coolest guy in town. Setting: Minneapolis, Minnesota Cast of main characters: Emerson Foshay, shy music geek Lola Brown, Melody's (Girl With the Cat Tattoo) sister Sam the cat, Max's (Girl With the Cat Tattoo) brother

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, New Adult, Humor, Cats

162 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2013

About the author

Theresa Weir (a.k.a. Anne Frasier) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of novels and numerous short stories that have spanned the genres of suspense, mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, paranormal, fantasy, and memoir. During her award-winning career, she's written for Penguin Putnam, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Publishers, Bantam Books/Random House, Silhouette Books, Grand Central Publishing/Hachette, and Amazon's Thomas & Mercer. Her titles have been printed in both hardcover and paperback and translated into twenty languages.

Her first memoir, THE ORCHARD, was a 2011 Oprah Magazine Fall Pick, Number Two on the Indie Next list, a featured B+ review in Entertainment Weekly, and a Librarians’ Best Books of 2011. Her second memoir, THE MAN WHO LEFT, was a New York Times Bestseller. Going back to 1988, Weir’s debut title was the cult phenomenon AMAZON LILY, initially published by Pocket Books and later reissued by Bantam Books. Writing as Theresa Weir, she won a RITA for romantic suspense (COOL SHADE), and a year later the Daphne du Maurier for paranormal romance (BAD KARMA). In her more recent Anne Frasier career, her thriller and suspense titles hit the USA Today list (HUSH, SLEEP TIGHT, PLAY DEAD) and were featured in Mystery Guild, Literary Guild, and Book of the Month Club. HUSH was both a RITA and Daphne du Maurier finalist.

THE ORCHARD

An Oprah Magazine Fall Pick
Featured B+ Review in Entertainment Weekly
Number Two on October Indie Next List
BJ's Book Club Spotlight
LIbrarians' Best Books of 2011
Maclean's Top Books of 2011
On Point (NPR) Best Books of 2011
Abrams Best of 2011
Publishers Lunch (Publishers Weekly) Favorite Books of 2011
Eighth Annual One Book, One Community 2012, Excelsior, Minnesota
Target Book Club Pick, September 2012

www.theresaweir.com


Title List

Writing as ANNE FRASIER
Hush, USA Today bestseller, RITA finalist, Daphne du Maurier finalist (2002)
Sleep Tight, USA Today bestseller (2003)
Play Dead, USA Today bestseller (2004)
Before I Wake (2005)
Pale Immortal (2006)
Garden of Darkness, RITA finalist (2007)
Once Upon a Crime anthology, Santa’s Little Helper (2009)
The Lineup, Poems on Crime, Home (2010)
Discount Noir anthology, Crack House (2010)
Deadly Treats Halloween anthology, editor and contributor, The Replacement (September 2011)
Once Upon a Crime anthology, Red Cadillac (April 2012)
Woman in a Black Veil (July 2012)
Dark: Volume 1 (short stories, July 2012)
Dark: Volume 2 (short stories, July 2012)
Black Tupelo (short-story collection July 2012)
Girls from the North Country (short story, August 2012)
Made of Stars (short story, August 2012)
Stars (short story collection, August 2012)
Zero Plus Seven (anthology, 2013)
Stay Dead (April 2014)

Writing as THERESA WEIR
The Forever Man (1988)
Amazon Lily, RITA finalist, Best New Adventure Writer award, Romantic Times (1988)
Loving Jenny (1989)
Pictures of Emily (1990)
Iguana Bay (1990)
Forever (1991)
Last Summer (1992)
One Fine Day (1994)
Long Night Moon, Reviewer’s Choice Award, Romantic Times (1995)
American Dreamer (1997)
Some Kind of Magic (1998)
Cool Shade RITA winner, romantic suspense (1998)
Bad Karma, Daphne du Maurier award, paranormal (1999)
Max Under the Stars, short story (2010)
The Orchard, a memoir (September 2011)
The Man Who Left , a memoir and New York Times bestseller (April 2012)
The Girl with the Cat Tattoo (June 2012)
Made of Stars (August 2012)
Come As You Are (October 2013)
The Geek with the Cat Tattoo (December 2013)

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars! Quirky, sweet read!!

Wasn't quite sure what to expect here, since part of the book is from a matchmaking cat's point-of-view, but after few pages, I settled in and enjoyed it very much. There's an underlying message here, but you don't really see it until you get into Emerson head, the adorable, humble, and incredibly shy geeky hero in this book. Bottom line, having a pet can be very therapeutic, they don't judge and in some cases can give us give us the strength to overcome. We've all seen the reading programs where children read to dogs...well Sam, the cat, gives Emerson the confidence and courage he needs to go after the girl of his dreams. Ah, the power of our pets, they give us so much, and all they want in return is a little bit of lovin'! In the end, Sam and Emerson come out on top, both heroes in their own right!

This read won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for something different, can open your heart and your mind, it's a pleasant way to spend a few hours! I enjoyed it so much that I want to go back and read the first book in the series, Girl with the Cat Tattoo!

Thanks to author Penny Watson for the heads up on this one. She posted her love for this book on Facebook and she was right, it was worth grabbing!

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Cute romance with a meddling cat who has some mystical powers. I knew there was something up with those furry beasties ! Anyway this kitty is messing with owners minds, moving through them looking for that one who will be his. After being thrown out by super duper jerk he wanders down busy streets until he meets a introverted nerd desperately in need of a cat intervention. He likes girl but is too shy to act on it. There is a lot more happening you'll have to read about it. I enjoyed it, the characters were well formed. I'll read more from this author

[Anne Boleyn's Ghost · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

My favorite character in Geek with the Cat Tattoo was Sam, the matchmaking, mind-controlling cat. Yes, the cat is a fully and well-formed character. One-third of the story unfolds from his snarky yet sweet perspective, and it was amusing and entertaining. Even though I am a dog person, I kind of adored him (Simone, I totally attribute my softening toward cats to you)

It looks like I am going against the grain by shelving the story as paranormal. But to me, a book featuring a matchmaking, mind-controlling cat isn't your ordinary contemporary romance. And that was a good thing.

Geek with the Cat Tattoo follows Emerson, the music nerd who gets all sorts of tongue-tied around Lola, the bright and bold violinist, and how Sam helps Emerson keep his cool and find his confidence. I liked that the hero was the shy and insecure one, and I liked that the heroine was more skeptical. But I didn't find Emerson and Lola's perspectives as engaging or their relationship as interesting as Sam.

Instead, I wanted to learn more about Sam, about his life before Emerson, about how and why his family have "powers". Then I realized that I was longing for information about a fictional cat and should call it a night.

Geek with the Cat Tattoo was a quirky and cute enough tail (wink, wink). Recommended for cat lovers.

Read for SBTB October - December 2018 Quarterly Challenge: A book where a cat is involved.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geek with the Cat Tattoo

Having read “Girl with the Cat Tattoo”, I couldn’t imagine how a geek guy could have a bond with a cat that would be even half as interesting or captivating. It’s a good thing Theresa Weir has more imagination and creativity than I do because I became so immersed in Sam’s story that I read the entire book in one sitting! I may have enjoyed this “Boy” story more than the “Girl” story because I felt the emotional angst of Emerson so much that I wanted what Sam wanted for Emerson as much as Sam did.

Thankfully Sam, the slightly sarcastic, very smooth cat, has only good intentions for Emerson, his newly chosen owner. Without Sam, Emerson would probably remain aloof, alone, and afraid to speak to the lovely Lola. As talented as Emerson is when he works his magic with musical instruments, he is equally untalented when it comes to talking to the woman who is his artistic and emotional complement.

Lola is equally inept at relationships, carrying around residual mistrust from her past, so Sam’s “mindmessing” helps this couple become a couple with a very sweet musical courtship of notes (yes, there’s a double entendre in the story too).

Sometimes love stories are between people, other times it is between a pet and his owner, but in this story it is both☺ Sam turns out to be related to Lola’s sister’s cat, so when Sam finally ends up with his forever owner, he also finds his cat family.

[Penny Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!!!!!! This was sooooo sweet and funny and romantic and lovely!

For a full review, please go to Penelope's Romance Reviews...

http://www.pennyromance.com/2013/12/r...

This is in my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION category. Grade: A++++++++

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.5 stars
What I really like about Theresa Weir's writing is that she doesn't write traditional romance and what I mean by traditional is over the top, drama filled romance and this series is certainly not traditional. I mean which book features:
a) A cat?
b) A cat who acts like a match-maker?
c)A cat who can control his owners actions?

Yes to all of the above, for this is what happens in Geek with the Cat Tattoo where Sam, our cat manages to find himself a new owner, a guy who is shy and who requires the cat to help him find a date with Lola, a woman he has liked for a long while. Lola cannot figure Emery out, he blows hot and cold when he is in front of her.

We see their sweet, quite little courtship and even Sam's meeting with his one sibling. This book is short and sweet and different.

ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley.

[Sharon L · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews visit The Accidental Reader

Since this is a short one, I'm gonna keep it short (I'm also trying to learn to control the length of my reviews so yay me :P)

This is the story of geeks Emerson and Lola and one special cat named Sam. And, IMO, it is one of the sweetest love stories I had the
pleasure to read [and I do plan to read more books by Teresa Weir.

First of all, the writing is quite simple but still I found it held some magic. It was so easy to imagine everything, almost like a movie.

The sense of humor, and the love for cats and music only made this more vivid and cute.

Besides, a love story between to geeks…need I really say more? Yes? Well how about shy geeks?

It was just so cute, and gentle, and it's no wonder they say geeks make the best husbands. And Sam's voice (the cat) was just so funny and scarcastic and cat like I kept laughing. He really added spice to this whole story…is he up for adoption?!

I can only say, READ IT! [if you love cats that is…]

a review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you



This book is such a short sweet read, with one of the cutest love stories ever (Lola and Emerson are both so dorky and geeky it's just sweet)

[JG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geek with the Cat Tattoo isn't your ordinary romance. This was actually a very sweet and romantic story about a geek, a girl and yes the cat who played kind of matchmaker and who may or may not influence human thoughts. For a novella it was just right. Everything flowed, the words, the plot, the two, okay, three main characters. I adored Emmerson and Lola. The interactions between them was simply magic. This was the kind of romance that just gets you feeling happy. It wasn't a mushy romance, in fact it was infinitely painful how both characters struggled with their own issues at the same time that they were trying to navigate their growing relationship. Most of the book details Emmerson's thoughts and struggles with his debilitating shyness around Lola. Both characters are actually well developed, amazing for such a short book. Theresa Weir crafts a story that just reels you in and won't let you go until the very end.

*The ARC for this novel was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review8

[MrsJoseph *grouchy* · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 3.5 but I rounded up just because

Edit. Rounded down to 3.

[I ❤️📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat’s got my tongue...

I selected this book to fit a criteria for a book challenge. This is by far the weirdest book I’ve ever read. Geek With the Cat Tattoo is about an awkward luthier who suffers from serious bouts of social anxiety and his cat. The narrative is multiple POVS including the cat. It’s one of those stories that needs to be out there so that when you truly meet someone who is rather mad that you have a point of reference. I don’t know how to grade this book. It’s neither very bad or really good.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's see what a cat's POV sounds like :)

3.5 stars

I picked this book because I was intrigued by the blurb and the promise of a cat's POV. What I got was Sam, a rather special cat with extraordinary abilities to plant thoughts in the minds of his owner. I have to admit it was a little scary at points but overall I really enjoyed his voice.

I liked the writing style of Ms Weir very much. It was succinct just hinting at things and leaving the rest to the reader's imagination. Despite the multiple POVs the story flow was smooth and evenly paced. There wasn't too much drama, just deep emotions represented with compassion and understanding and a touch of humour.

I appreciate the ingenuity of the idea of writing from a cat's perspective bu I can't vouch for its authenticity since I am not much of a cat person. I liked both main characters, Emerson and Lola, and Sam, of course has a special place in their love story. I found the cat's telepathic abilities a bit scary (if you take them seriously), but thankfully this element didn't overtake the story. The focus remained on Emerson and Lola and their attempts to connect with each other. The romance element was strong and touching without being cheesy. Ultimately, it was a story of two young people, both artists, finding their soulmate with just a teeny tiny help of a very special cat.

I have a soft spot for socially awkward characters and Emerson was just adorable. There is something really cute in guy when he is so smitten by a girl that he cannot think/talk straight when he is around her. He was intimidated by what he saw as Lola's perfection, but in reality her past experience has also made her insecure, even shy.

I expected the story to have more LOL moments with the cat acting as a matchmaker, but it turned out to be more realistic and serious. Overall, it is a sweet feel-good and a bit whimsical romance which I greatly enjoyed and can recommend to anyone looking for a quick fluffy read.

I received a copy of this book by the author via the New Adult Book Club on Goodreads.

This review is also published on Ellie Reads Fiction

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I was on a geek kick so I thought this would be the perfect way to get my fix. Except the main character, Emerson (love the name btw), isn’t so much a geek as awkward as all hell. It wasn’t exactly what I was looking for but I went with it. I was also surprised at how short this book was. I would actually call it a short story or novella, although I guess if I had taken a look at the word count before diving in I would have noticed it was on the small side.

Even though Emerson wasn’t a nerd his awkward turtle routine was pretty adorable. What bothered me was his Hulk like ability to turn into a raging dick when he was in an uncomfortable situation. His bumbling nervousness was cute, but there were a few times where he was more of an ass than anything.

I also wasn’t prepared for the sci-fi aspect of the story, but honestly it was super cute and quirky. I hadn’t read the first book in the series (and you don’t have to in order to follow the storyline) so I didn’t know how big of a part the cat played. While some might find a book that is partially narrated by a cat disturbing, I though it was awesome. It worked to bring the whole story together and I honestly don’t know how it could have been written with out it.

The romance between Emerson and Lola was sweet but low on steam. I wish this had been a full-fledged novel so we could have gotten a better grasp on their characters, but what we did see worked well.

I would have liked a longer novel and for Emerson to get on some better meds (Someone call the doctor. Got a case of a love bi-polar) but otherwise I enjoyed this quick little read.

Review to be posted at Love Between the Sheets
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[Shari Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sequel to The Girl with the Cat Tattoo, but it also works as a stand-alone story. Like the first book, part of the story is told from the point of view of a cat. The cat in this story, Sam, just happens to be the long-lost brother of Max, the cat from the first story.

After Sam is thrown out by his third owner, he found is by shy music geek Emerson Foshay. He breaks into a cold sweat and is rendered speechless whenever the girl of his dreams, Lola Brown, walks into his guitar shop. (Lola is sister to Melody, Max's owner, whose story is told in book one).
Once stray cat Sam enters his life though, everything changes and Emerson becomes the coolest guy in town. But Sam still has some work to do to nudge Lola and Emerson toward happiness.

I would describe this story as a "romantic comedy"; it did not have a mystery woven through it like the first book did, but was a quick, enjoyable read, perfect if you just want to escape with a book for a few hours in an afternoon. I really liked Emerson too, gotta love a guy that loves a cat! As much as I enjoyed this one, my favorite of the two books is The Girl with the Cat Tattoo.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 – 3 stars

The best word I can think of to describe The Geek with the Cat Tattoo is pleasant. This is a quick read that switch POVs of between multiple characters (though the focus is on two people: Emerson and the cat), and admittedly predictable. The writing was clear, concise, and appropriate dosages of imagery.

The characters were the primary drawback for me. Nothing was specifically wrong with them, but neither was anything interesting. They were mostly flat. Emerson, the insecure and introverted nerd and Lola who has hurt by one man too many, and thus she has trust issues. This works with the length of the novel, but this also fails to invest me, as the reader, into their romance.

Overall, this isn’t a mind-blowing, heart-racing love tale, but it is a nice, short and sweet read. I would recommend this book to anyone with a few hours and spare while drinking coffee or tea on a pleasant afternoon.

I received a free copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to think of this one, but the synopsis sounded cute and it was. Sam is a cat in search of a new owner. He finds an owner in the shy geeky Emerson. Emerson struggles with relationships, but Sam is there to lead the way surprisingly. Yes, Sam the cat seems to have matchmaking qualities. Emerson really likes Lola but man he struggles when he is around her. It was difficult to be apart of sometimes, but it was really beautiful and sweet. Theirs was a really sweet and magical love story.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charmer of a book. Lola has been treated badly in a past relationship and our hero is painfully shy. He has a huge crush on the heroine but she thinks he hates her. And along come Max the cat to help them out.

Loved this excellent little romance about working class people with talent and a magical cat.

[Luli · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
Me ha resultado un poco aburrido. Nada memorable. La historia no está mal pero no ha conseguido engancharme. No he sabido distinguir entre qué hacía el protagonista por sí mismo y qué hacía con ayuda…no he visto (o vivido) ese cambio que la historia cuenta. Probablemente culpa mía…

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really enjoying this. And then the girl turned into a bit of a crazy person.

[Kyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as good as the first in the series...but now I'm sad because the third book of the trilogy hasn't been written yet.

[Kasey]

I wasn't expecting this book to be told from the cat's POV. That took me out of it quite a bit even though I love paranormal. I think it was just not what I was expecting. That being said I did like Sam's snarky attitude, and he was definitely the best POV. The mind magic was a little interesting and I'm not sure that I loved it since it's not like Lola or Emerson was aware of it? I still thought it was sweet though so I'm giving it 3 stars.

[Opinionated and Brutally Honest Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely different.
I wished Lola and him could have had a conversation about his shyness and her help him with it instead of him coming off as mean. Which of course leads to her running away calling him an asshole. I didn't believe her love for him because of all of the times she called him an asshole. She didn't seem to try.

[Daniell Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats, music and more

Liked how the author included the cat into the story. Sometimes they say an animal and you get a moment here and there, not in this story. The build up was good, and the little twist. You got to know the characters and where they were coming from. Felt like a connection with them. I would read this author again.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little quick read, with a touch of sweetness.

[Trader (RedHotBlueReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also posted at: http://redhotbluereads.blogspot.com/2013/12/4-flames-for-geek-with-cat-tattoo-by.html

I'm going to be honest -- at first I didn’t know if I was going to be able to finish this book. I didn’t read the first one in the series, Girl with the Cat Tattoo, and had no idea I’d be reading the cat’s point of view. That’s right, the first voice you read in this book is the cat. I was glad I kept reading though, because Geek with the Cat Tattoo is a sweet, well-crafted novella that I enjoyed very much.

Emerson Foshay (what a great name!) is a painfully shy, soulful twenty-six year old with some real talent when it comes to his craft of making musical instruments and restoring old amplifiers. He’s the only one Lola’s father will hire to fix his guitar, and when Lola comes to pick the instrument, it becomes clear that Emerson struggles with his interactions with Lola, even though he really likes her.

Enter the cat. Sam’s a meddler, and his furry point of view is often entertaining. He’s drawn to Emerson and decides to help him with Lola. With Sam’s calming influence, Lola and Emerson hook up and it is one of the most sweet romantic pairings. I thought the cat’s part was accomplished with enough subtlety that his POV enhanced rather than detracted from the story. Animal lovers will get this.

All three are just perfect together, until Sam’s former owner takes him back and things go downhill very quickly for Emerson and Lola. My heart broke for them at this point in the story.

It’s a good thing that cats have nine lives.

Geek with a Cat Tattoo is an incredibly sweet read. I really enjoyed this. There are some wonderful moments and almost lyrical writing, and at times I felt that this book was almost singing the story to me, it was that poetic.

Recommended for when you want a quick, sweet, shy-boy romance. This was a solid 4-star offering that made me want to look at other titles from this author, and Girl with the Cat Tattoo, the first book in this series is waiting for me on my e-reader.

Thanks to Patchwork Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

[Janell Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually read novellas because, if they’re good, then I just want more. I made an exception for this book (it’s 162 pages, is that a novella or a short novel?) because I like cats and geeks, and other reviewers really liked it.

Emerson works in a music store repairing instruments. He’s nursed a crush on one of his customers, Lola, for a long time. But Emerson is painfully shy, and he can barely stammer out a few words when she comes in to have her father’s guitars repaired. Lola misreads this and thinks that Emerson hates her, but her father won’t have his guitars repaired by anyone else.

Enter Sam, a cat who can put thoughts into people’s heads. Sam has just been evicted by his Third Owner, because Third Owner suspected that the cat was a little on the freaky side. Sam finds Emerson outside of a bar and thinks the old chap could use a little assistance, so Sam follows him home.

Emerson is a nice, mellow guy, and he brings his new cat to work the next day so that he can get it some food. Lola comes in, and suddenly Emerson is having a conversation with her about music! Lola suspiciously invites Emerson to her and her father’s performance later, and Emerson accepts, almost against his will.

The narration alternates between Emerson, Sam, and Lola, which was good because I did not want an entire book narrated by a cat. Emerson comes across as very unsure of himself about everything except music and his affection for Lola. He runs hot and cold in Lola’s presence depending upon his confidence level, which is boosted by the presence of Sam. Lola is charmed by Emerson and enraged by him.

The writing style is almost poetic, given that it has so much to convey in so few words. I felt like an observer of a sweet romantic movie. Gestures by the characters were fraught with depth and meaning, and they took the place of narration that would more directly describe emotions.

So, it was very sweet. Slightly unbelievable, even without the addition of a mentally persuasive cat, but sweet. I still prefer full-length novels to give me all the feels, but this was a nice interlude.

Rating: B
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2014/02/review...

[ysar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time Lola walks into the instrument repair shop, Emerson freezes.  He can't talk without stuttering, can barely make eye contact, and wishes he could get away from her -- even though he wants nothing more than to be near her.  But he's not that kind of guy.  He's not cool or witty or flirty or even confident.  And he thinks she's perfect.

Lola has no idea what's wrong with the guy in the instrument shop, but she'd do anything to avoid him.  He acts like he hates her, even though she can't figure out what she's ever done to deserve his rudeness.  If only her father would choose a repair shop closer to his own house, she wouldn't have to come here and deal with this guy's attitude.  But then a cat named Sam shows up.

Thrown out of his previous home, Sam discovers a drunk Emerson outside.  Sensing Emerson is a good guy who could use some comforting, Sam allows himself to be taken home with him.  Realizing Emerson needs more help than he initially thought, Sam begins making "suggestions," telepathically planting little ideas and words into Emerson's head, especially when he sees how jittery Emerson is around Lola.

Lola can't figure Emerson out.  The same guy who for years has acted like he hated her is now being uncharacteristically nice, nice enough that she really, really likes him.  But without Sam around, Emerson is still the socially inept geek who never seems to say the right thing.  What follows is a cute romance based on hand delivered love notes and a custom made violin.

This book was a lot more lighthearted than its predecessor, and it dialed up readers' view of the romance as well.  Instead of angst, widowhood, and secrets, Geek with the Cat Tattoo is a really sweet, simple story of two awkward music geeks finding their way to each other with the subtle help of an insightful cat.  Emerson is adorably shy, and Lola is tattoo chic with a hint of the same self-consciousness.  Their romance is the very definition of cute as Lola tries to figure out the conflicting personalities of a man she can't seem to get out of her head.  If you're looking for a short read with little to no angst, this is the book for you.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series involves three cat siblings with unique powers. In this story, Sam, the cat, can influence the thoughts of his masters. In the past, he has used this power for his own enrichment, gourmet cat food, toys, and other perks. Sadly, his past owners wise up to his mind control and he is out on the street, again. But, with his latest adopted owner, Sam uses his mind control for good. He will help Emerson get over his shyness and woo his long time crush, Lola.

Emerson is painfully shy. He isn't socially awkward, he is a social disaster. When the beautiful Lola picks up her father’s guitar from Emerson, he can’t even look at her far less talk to her.

But with the help of Sam, Emerson is suddenly able to talk to Lola. He can go out the clubs. In fact, Emerson is suddenly the coolest guy in the club. But Emerson knows that he isn’t the coolest guy at the club. And he wants Lola to love him, not someone he is pretending to be. But how can a guy too shy to speak, tell the girl of his dreams how he feels.

As a lifelong and dedicated romance reader, it is rare to find a truly romantic novel such as this novel. The hero courts his lady love in this novel. But more importantly, the hero is brave enough to be himself with the heroine. And the heroine, who was cruelly deceived by a former lover, is brave enough to take another chance at love. In this story, love is more than sexual chemistry, it is the rare and beautiful connection between two souls.

In a genre full of superman heroes, who are in total control, the hero, Emerson, is a delightfully refreshing. He is insecure. He is still growing into his own skin. He is a sweet, gifted artist. He is so realistic that the reader can easily picture him walking the streets of Minneapolis (the city is nearly a secondary character in this novel).

This novel is part of a series, but it stands alone. Don’t hesitate reading this novel out of order. This whimsical love story will delight any romance reader.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amusing novella told through different points of view. We first meet the cat who is on his third owner and literally on his way to being thrown out the door. I loved the parts of the story told through the cat’s eyes. I didn’t have any trouble suspending my disbelief and accepting everything he professed. I was happy when he followed the drunk guy home and decided to adopt Emerson as his human. The cat also decides he would like his name to be Sam.

Poor Emerson was plagued with insecurities and having Sam close by his side gave him confidence. I do wish we had been given more insight into Emerson’s past for a more thorough understanding of where his self-doubts came from, otherwise he was well developed and a very likable character. With Lola Brown we are given more history into why she has built walls around her heart and is more leery of men than she used to be. Her concerns were real and understandable. I found their dialogue realistic, entertaining, and captivating. Emerson has the heart of a romantic and I found him endearing. It was fun watching their relationship grow.

Then a twist in the plot throws a huge wrench in the happy story and everything falls apart. I worry if I will get my HEA (Happily Ever After) when I become invested in all the characters and plot. I am always worried that one day an Indie author will break the mold. It seems reasonable to me to believe it will be a traditional published author turned Indie will be the culprit.

For a charming light-hearted romp that will leave you emotionally satisfied, give this book a try.

FYI: This is the second book in the Cool Cat series but it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy the second.
Format/Typo Issues: I found no editing or formatting issues with this book.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** October 3, 2014

[Stacy Sabala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review- Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir

Emerson Foshay finds a cat one night and takes him home. This is a special cat. He can think, understand humans and even control their thoughts at times. He has had three owners. Owner number two was his favorite so far. He is waiting to see if Emerson could be his forever owner.
Emerson has a crush on Lola. She is the daughter of a well-known local musician. She comes into the guitar shop to pick up her father’s guitars periodically. Emerson gets so tongue tied that he can never talk to her. Lola thinks he is a jerk as a result.
The day after he finds the cat, he ends up bringing him to work. That same day Lola stops by to pick up one of her father’s guitars. Emerson is shocked when he is able to talk to her. She invites him to hear her band play. He decides to take a chance and go. That night he realizes that he panics unless Sam the cat is with him. He has found himself a lucky cat. However when it comes to Lola, he can’t continue to use Sam as a crutch. He has to get over his panic of talking to her.
Lola doesn’t know what to think of Emerson. He seems to have two sides: the jerk and the sweet guy. She doesn’t trust her own judgment after her last relationship. She has no clue whether Emerson is genuine or playing her.
This is the second book in the cat tattoo series I have read. It starts with Melody who is Lola’s sister. These books are fast reads and the cats are very entertaining. I felt sorry for Emerson. His shyness was such an obstacle to get over. I’m glad Lola had enough sense to eventually see through it.
This book had an interesting story, but I couldn’t get completely caught up in it. It may have been too short and I didn’t have enough time to become fully invested in the characters. I would give it a 3 out of 5.

[Kaetrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**NB This review first appeared in the February ARRA newsletter**
The Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir – B+ This delightful novella is the second book in the “Cool Cats” series. There were supposed to be three, but I think the third book has been shelved for now. The first book was Girl With the Cat Tattoo (scroll down the link for my mini review). I liked Geek better but both a fun and quirky stories. Both stories feature a cat’s POV.

In Geek, the cat is Sam. He has been through a number of different owners but has yet to find his “forever owner”. When he meets Emerson Foshay, maker and repairer of musical instruments, he has high hopes. Sam has a secret super-power – he can “mindmess” with people. This is usually only in the form of getting them to empty the cat litter tray or buy him the expensive cat food, but when he sees how tongue-tied Emerson gets around Lola Brown, a regular customer in the shop, he steps in to help. Both Emerson and Lola get a POV but I admit I had a soft spot for Sam here.

With Sam’s help Emerson and Lola begin a relationship and Emerson starts to overcome his shyness. However, it’s not all smooth sailing and when Sam is “found” by his former (evil) owner, Emerson no longer has Sam’s “mindmessing” to help him and things fall apart. Even worse is to come however, when Sam’s former owner (because: reasons) wants Sam destroyed and before too long Emerson and Lola have to put aside their own problems to rescue Sam before it’s too late.

It is a fairly short story but the romance is very satisfying and Sam the cat is just awesome.