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2020 Purrfect Reading Challenge
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Book #1Paws and Punishment : A Norwegian Forest Cat Café Cozy Mystery - Book 5
By Jinty JamesThe Crenshaw cousins, Lauren and Zoe
live in Gold Leaf Valley where Lauren
inherited her grandmother’s café and
her house.
Annie, the silver-gray Norwegian Forest
cat lives with the cousins. Annie seats
customers in the Cat Café.
There is a new beauty salon in town.
When the cousins are there, a woman
comes raging into it complaining about
her perm.
Then the cousins find the raging woman
dead in the doorway of the beauty salon
with the cord of a hair dryer. Who was the
culprit? While all clues seem to point to
the new salon owner, the cousins believe
her innocent.
When Lauren gets sick, Annie helps Zoe
run the Café. Plus Annie discovers the clue
to the real murderer.
Come along to Gold Leaf Valley where you
will meet some well defined, relatable, vivid
characters mixed with interesting, colorful
supporting characters.
This is a well written, humorous and
entertaining story with a touch of romance.
This is book # 5 in the A Norwegian Forest
Cat Café Mystery series. It can be read as
a stand alone as the author mixes the past
and present smoothly with her skilled writing.
A Highly Recommended Read!!
I volunteered to read the ARC of Paws and
Punishment. Thanks to the author for the
opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and
my own.
Book #2Murder in Cherry Hills
by Paige SleuthMatilda the cat better known as Matty
has yellow-and-brown markings plus a
white chin, with oversized green eyes.
Matty was an orphaned rescue, house
cat owned by Mrs Tinsdale.
Matty is now the only witness to the
murder of Mrs Tinsdale.
Kat Harper has returned to her home
town of Cherry Hills, Washington. Kat
finds the cat outside. Going to investigate,
Kat discovers the dead body.
When the police arrive, the plainclothes
Detective Andrew Milhone turns out to be
someone Kat grew up with in the foster
system.
Mrs Tinsdale was the treasurer for the
Furry Friends Foster Families. This group
matches homeless animals with foster
families until they’re adopted permanently.
The reader meets all the groups members
plus learn more about the inner workings
of the group.
Mrs Tinsdale’s daughter shows up at three
o’clock in the morning. What is she doing
there at that time?
Come along with Kat & Andrew as Matty
the cat leads them to clue to discover the
murderer.
A quick, fun read and start to a new series.
Book #3Apple Cider Slaying
by Julie Anne LindseyWinnie (Winona Mae) Montgomery lives with
her Grandma in Blossom Valley, West Virginia.
They run the Smythe Orchards which is a
twenty-five acre farm. It has been the family
business for years only since Grandpa Smythe’s
death has the bottom line suffer.
So Winnie comes up with an idea to keep the
Smythe Orchard open all year round. Her first
endeavor is to present to the community and
tourists the “First Annual Christmas at the
Orchard”. This would be an old fashion festival
with a variety of games, various homemade
jams, various types of apple ciders. Winnie’s
second idea is to open an Apple cider shop
in their barn which would provide a variety of
her homemade ciders.
But her good intentions seem to be meeting
all sorts of detours......a neighbor is murdered
in the barn, Winnie gets attacked in the barn,
Winnie has a threatening note put on the
windshield of her car, someone tries to run
her off the road plus try to set fire to where
she lives ending up running her Grandma down.
When the new Sheriff believes her Grandma
guilty of murder, Winnie decides to investigate
on her own to prove her Grandma’s innocence.
An uniquely, well plotted murder mystery with
plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader
busy with suspects and motives.
The characters are regular, down on the farm,
well educated, realistic, relatable, well defined
persons. The reader will feel as if they are part
of the Blossom Valley community except for
one “Rotten Apple”.
Two orange fur babies, Kenny and Dolly are
essential to the story.
Besides suspense, the challenge of solving
a crime, humor and a touch of romance make
this an enjoyable read.
Winnie believes that if everyone does three
acts of kindness to others, kindness acts will
come back to the doer. Great idea to follow.
Recipes included at the end.
This is book # 1 in the Cider Shop Mystery
Series. I look forward to reading the next book.
I volunteered to read Apple Cider Slaying.
Thanks to the author via the Cozy Mystery
Review Crew. My opinion is voluntary and
my own.
Book #4....Lonesome Spirits: A Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery
by Olivia SwiftChocolates, ghosts, seance, Stetson hats,
watches, gold nuggets, a new edition to
the Chocolate Magic Café, plans for a
diner near the newly discovered ghost town,
two sets of skeleton remains, a holster,
Aunt Allison arrives from Ireland with her
cat, Jezebelle and a ghost town archive
specialist will give the reader an interesting,
intriguing entertaining tail.
Join Sam and Magda and their cats:
Crystal the lilac tortie Birman cat
Abigail, the blue tortie Birman cat
Pushkin and Irina, the two black and
white kittens.
This is book # 4 in the Chocolate Magic Cozy
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand
alone as the author mixes the past and
present effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Lonesome Spirits.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
A Kindle Unlimited Read!!!
Book # 5....The Spook in the Stacks
by Eva GatesHalloween is fast approaching. The Bodie
Island Lighthouse Library in the Outer
Banks is decorating plus getting ready for
the spooky day.
Lucy Richardson, the assistant librarian
has her book group reading The Legend
of Sleepy Hallow. The children librarian
has planned stories and costume parties
for his group of children. Louise Jane has
a Ghost Story Lecture Series being
presented.
A collection of North Carolina historical
documents owned by prominent collector,
Jay Riddle is considering donating these
to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library.
He, his granddaughter and private curator
have come to tour the Lighthouse Library.
Jay is especially interested in the rare
books and documents section.
While his granddaughter and curator
attend an outside event of ghost stories,
Jay requests to go into the rare books
section.
Lucy discovers Jay there...dead...murdered!!
Who would want to kill Jay Riddle?? When
Lucy starts her own investigation, she
discovers he did not make many friends so
she has a lot of viable suspects. She is
determined to bring the culprit to justice.
After Jay’s death strange phenomenons
occur inside and outside the lighthouse.
Lucy experiences flickering light, a model
ship with inanimate captain, cat and sailors
seem to move around on their own. The
most puzzling is the ghostly horse Lucy
sees through the fog. Is the area haunted?
I enjoyed this book....I love the Outer Banks
and all the stories revolving around them...
I love lighthouses and collect lighthouse
memorabilia. The characters are very well
created. Charles, the cat who is essential
to aiding Lucy in identify the culprit lives
in the lighthouse. He stays in the room
where Lucy lives inside the lighthouse at
night and roams the library during the
day. Charles adds to the story.
There is even a hint of a serious romance
beginning.
This is book # 4 in the Lighthouse Library
Mysteries series. It can be read as a stand
alone.
They all sound like great novels/series! It’s so hard to find cozy mysteries with cats as main characters helping to solve the mysteries!
Sharon wrote: "They all sound like great novels/series! It’s so hard to find cozy mysteries with cats as main characters helping to solve the mysteries!"I agree. I read so many cozies with cats but don’t count them unless
they help provide clues to the culprits.
I am going to check out Lillian Jackson Braun cat series, Rita Mae
Brown cat series, Miranda James cat in the stack series & Sofie
Kelly’s Magical Cats series.
Book # 6..Checked Out for Murder
by Allison BrookCarrie Singleton lives in Clover Ridge,
Connecticut. She is the head of programs
at the local library. The library is haunted
with a resident ghost whom only Carrie
is able to see and communicate.
A lot is going on in town, a movie is set
to be filmed. Carrie’s mother and new
husband who has a part in the film will
be with the movie crew. The library is
featuring a woman to speak about the
different types of psychic abilities.
The peaceful town is then turned upside
down when first the psychic woman then
one of the movie crew end up dead.
Also Carrie will find herself involved with
an old cold case of a man turning up
dead then his son went to jail but the
son was released after evidence proved
the son not guilty. The mother disappeared
after the man’s murder leaving her children
behind.
Carrie with the help of the library ghost and
her bushy tailed cat named Smoky Joe
start investigating. Carrie’s significant other
Dylan who runs a private security agency
finds his way to keep Carrie safe is to join
her investigation.
The mysteries were well written. I loved that
the past secrets came to light with the current
inquiries unfolding.
An array of interesting characters with distinct
personalities, quirky traits and interesting
backstories.
This story is so well written you will feel as if
you are right there in the midst of the action.
The story gripped me from the start until the
final word. It provided me with drama, tension,
twists, turns, some shenanigans and even a
touch of romance.
This is book # 4 in the Haunted Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
The author provides enough past with the
present effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Checked Out for Murder.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary
and my own.
Book #7....Purrfect Murder
by Nic SaintOdelia Poole is a reporter for the Hampton
Cove Gazette. She has a flabby, ginger
tabby cat named Max. Max claims his
color as Blorange which is a mixture of
blond + orange. Max and Odelia are able
to talk with each other. Odelia’s mother
owns Harriet, the white Persian cat.
Odelia’s grandmother owns Dooley, a
beige ragamuffin cat. The Poole women
are all able to communicate with cats.
There is a new cat in the neighborhood.
His name is Brutus. He is a black bully.
He arrived with the new Detective Chase
Kingsley.
Odelia and Detective Kingsley clash when
a writer who has been missing turns up
dead. Detective Kingsley does not think a
civilian should get involved in police work.
But that stop Odelia, Max & Dooley from
investigating.
Creative characters and entertaining fur
babies make for a good read. Loved the
interactions of the cats & Odelia.
Book # 8...Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping
by Cheryl Denise BannermanCrank calls, strange anonymous emails,
noises in the night, a kidnapping plus
cats, cannolis and a handsome detective
all mix together with humorous shenanigans
for a good, quick, fun read.
Anna Romano lives with seven cats:
TaterTot ( the Persian cat), Tiny, Sonny
and Petra (The American Shorthair cats
with unique strips i various colors), Jasmine
(Black Siamese) plus Liza and Bette (the
Ragamuffins).
Anna is not married. She writes novels in
addition to writing a Dear Jesse column
for the local newspaper.
So what causes Anna to steal a ice cream
bicycle cart and be riding down the highway?
Come along with Anna to discover what
causes the mayhem surrounding her!!
I volunteered to read Cats, Cannolis and a
Curious Kidnapping. I received a free copy
of this book via Net Gallery and am
voluntarily leaving a review. My opinion is
my own.
Book # 9....Framed in Cherry Hills Framed in Cherry Hills by Paige Sleuth
Cherry Hills, Washington is the home of the 4F.
This stand for Furry Friends Foster Families.
Imogene Little and Katherine Harper are
waiting for another member, Willow Wu to
meet them. Willow is going to orient Kat to
inner workings of the organization. This is the
first time Willow has ever been late. Then one
foster families that Willow calls because she
missed an appointment with them. Where is
Willow? Is she ok?
They are shocked when they discover that
Willow has been arrested and is in jail on a
drug possession charge. Imogene and Dan
Wu, Willow’s husband know that she would
never be involved with drugs. This could ruin
her job as a teacher.
Kat sets out to uncover who set Willow up.
Kat uncovers several reasons Willow might
have been set up.
An interesting, colorful array of characters
including the love able fur babies that add
to the story: Clover (the white cat), Tom
(the brown-and-black cat) and Matty (the
tortoiseshell cat). (less)
Book # 10...Three Treats Too Many
by Debra H. GoldsteinSarah Blair has moved back to Wheaton, Alabama.
Her twin sister, Chef Emily and Marcus are
running the Southwind’s Pub. They are waiting
inspection for their white tablecloth Southwind
restaurant to open.
Meanwhile, Sarah’s nemesis, Jane has opened a
restaurant right across the street from where
Southwind is to open. Jane is “the bimbo” that
stole Jane’s ex-husband. Jane has hired a cook
named Riley Miller that specializes in vegan
cuisine. The vegan menu has their restaurant packed.
The night before the grand opening of Jane’s
Place, the vegan chef is found murdered!!!
When Sarah’s friend gets accused, she has to
prove his innocence. Especially when Anne, the
sister of the accused and up-coming politician,
requests Sarah to investigate.
As Sarah moves forward the plot thickens at
every turn. A slew of well defined, well written
characters keep Sarah rethinking the culprit.
But Sarah is determined to weed through all she
has discovered to find out who murdered the
vegan chef.
Besides well created humans, Sarah’s fur babies:
Siamese cat Rah, Rah and her dog Fluffy add to
the flavor of the story.
I could not put the book down from the first word
until the complex puzzle was solved. I enjoyed the
different angles thrown into the mix as it kept me
guessing up until the culprit was caught.
Although this is book # 3 in the Sarah Blair
Mystery series, the author provides enough
backstory that the past and present are presented
effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Three Treats Too Many.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Delicious recipes are included at the story’s end.
A Definite Book To Read!!
Book # 11...Disorderly Conduct
by Mary FelizAs the song goes, “It doesn’t rain in
sunny California” much to the dismay
of the McDonald family. They are in
the process of putting into action their
emergency crisis plan as a Forest Fire
is heading toward their home in
Orchard View.
Max and Maggie with their two sons
(Brian and David), their golden retriever
(Belle) and two marmalade-colored
cats (Holmes and Watson) are going
to stay with friends.
What they did not expect was to arrive
at their friends and be involved in heart
wrenching drama. It seems Patrick Olmos
is missing. Neither his wife, Tess or son,
Teddy have heard from him or been able
to contact him.
Then the unthinkable happens, a dead
body is found in an area where Patrick
goes running. Soon Tess is arrested for
her husband’s murder after certain
evidence seems to point to her guilt.
Time for Maggie and her cohorts to step
up to prove Tess’s innocence. The
There is more going on in them there hills
than meets the eye!!!
A well plotted murder mystery with several
sub plots to keep the reader attention.
I thought the characters were all artfully
created, well defined, colorful, quirky with
agendas of there own.
I throughly enjoyed the tips at the beginning
of each chapter from the “Notebook of
Maggie McDonald Simplicity Itself Organizing
Services”. Plus at the end there is what I
consider a good reference list of resources
to be able to get information and materials.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Book # 12...The Sweet Smell of Murder
by Cindy BellMeet Peaches, the cat and Arnold, the portly
pot belly Pig when Ally returns to visit her
grandmother.
Ally’s Mee Maw lives in Blue River and runs a
handmade gourmet chocolate and coffee shop.
After Ally’s divorce she and Peaches go home to
visit but Mee Maw want Ally to move back and
take over the making and running the chocolate
and coffee shop.
The first thing Ally makes is a batch of Triple
Chocolate Muffins. The recipe is included at the
end of the book.
But tragedy strikes when the chocolate shops
delivery driver is found shot dead. Thanks to
Peaches escaping the house Ally overhears the
two detectives talking near the scene of the crime.
She feels they are railroading the owner of the an
auto shop whose families had a long running feud.
Ally follows a lead, she discovers on the delivery
drivers GPS when she does a delivery for Mee Maw.
Who should she trust? One detective is new and
while easy on the eyes, he is not use to small town
situations. The other detective on the case is a
person Ally grew up with plus had a crush on him.
But who should she trust with what she has uncovered
with her own investigation?
A chocolate delicious mystery and murder investigation.
Lots of mouthwatering goodies mix with drama, suspense,
danger with the help of Peaches.
A good read.
Book # 13...A Zen for Murder
by Leighann DobbsCrab Cove on Mooseamuck Island, Maine is where
we find many retirees. Among them: Claire Watkins,
a retired criminal psychologist and a Dominic
Benedetto, a retired criminal investigator who will
work together solving the murder of the Island’s
resident psychic, Zoila Rivers. Zoila was found
murdered in the Island’s Zen Garden by the
garden’s caretaker.
I enjoyed roaming the fictional Island with the
many interesting, well fleshed out, colorful and
small village type characters. Some were quirky.
It was fun helping weed out suspects.
An entertaining, enjoyable read full of humorous
antics as suspects are described and eliminated.
A Maine Coon cat which was a bundle of black
and brown fur named Porch Cat played an
significant role within the story.
Book # 14...Purrfectly Deadly
by Nic SaintJohn Paul George, better known as JPG is
known for his famous cat pate. He is an
1980’s pop star. Someone murders him.
He is found face down floating in his
swimming pool!!!
Max is a flabby ginger tabby cat belongs
to reporter, Odelia Poole. His clowder of
cats include Dooley, a beige ragamuffin cat
who belongs to Odelia’s grandmother and
Harriet, a white Persian cat whose owner
is Odelia’s mother. The Poole women are
special as they can all communicate back
and forth with cats.
New on the scene is Brutus who belongs to
the newest Detective Chase Kingsley. Brutus
is a black bully.
Plus meet a feral cat who will help with their
quest to discover a murder
But they all end up on the investigation of
JPG and communicating with JPG’s cats.
Will they find the murder before Odelia?
Will Odelia be able to help prove Detective
Kingsley innocent of accusations made
against him at his former job?
Come along with the cats. Enjoy their antics
and see how influential they will be in helping
solve the murder, uncovering drug dealers
and exposing boy you and disgruntled wives.
Find out if Max gets to taste some of the
famous pate.
This is book # 2 in the Mysteries of Max series.
It can be read as a stand alone.
Book # 15..X-ed
by Jackie ZackChloe Gray is an aspiring writer who has
adopted Mrs X as a substitute Mom.
Mrs X is an eccentric older lady who
decides to help Chloe with her writing.
Chloe believes she needs to experience
heart break to become a full fledged
writer.
When Mrs X rents to a struggling but
talented, Jake Harrison, she requests
Jake take Chloe on as his muse then
break her heart.
But things do not go as planned making
the story an entertaining, humorous
development of friendship, forgiveness
plus faith.
Mrs X shows how an eccentric older
artist is able to manipulate her way into
the life of others with surprising outcomes.
Cleverly crafted storyline.
You will also meet Smokie, Chloe’s fur
baby who adds to the story.
Book # 16....Christmas Claws - A Norwegian Forest Cat Café Cozy Mystery – Book 9
by Jinty JamesIt is the Christmas season in Gold Leaf
Valley. The Crenshaw cousins, Lauren
and Zoe are involved with Father Mike’s
Christmas play.
When the role of Mrs Claus becomes
open, Annie, the silver-gray Norwegian
Forest Cat gets the role. Annie is a well
known part of the community as Annie
chooses seats for the customers at the
Crenshaw’s Cat Café.
Two brothers are helping as the stage
crew. Then one brother is murdered.
An array of intriguing, colorful,some
quirky and all well created characters.
The story is well paced, well written,
humorous, Christmas themed with a
touch of romance.
This is book # 9 in the Norwegian Forest
Cat Cafe Mystery series. It can be read
as a stand alone as the author presents
the reader with the past and present
effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Christmas Claws.
Thanks to the author for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
Cat Mystery Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Christmas Claws (other topics)Christmas Claws (other topics)
X-ed (other topics)
X-ed (other topics)
Purrfectly Deadly (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jinty James (other topics)Jackie Zack (other topics)
Jackie Zack (other topics)
Nic Saint (other topics)
Leighann Dobbs (other topics)
More...
1....Paws and Punishment : A Norwegian Forest Cat Café Cozy Mystery - Book 5
Finished....01/08/2020....5🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
2...Murder in Cherry Hills
Finished....01/12/202.....4🐈🐈🐈🐈
3....Apple Cider Slaying
4....Lonesome Spirits: A Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery
5....The Spook in the Stacks
.....Finished....02/04/2020....5📙📗📔📕📘
6....Checked Out for Murder
7....Purrfect Murder
Finished....O6/12/2020....4😸😸😸😸
8....Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping
9....Framed in Cherry Hills
10.....Three Treats Too Many
11....Disorderly Conduct
12....The Sweet Smell of Murder
13....A Zen for Murder
14....Purrfectly Deadly
15....X-ed
16....Christmas Claws - A Norwegian Forest Cat Café Cozy Mystery – Book 9