REVIEW: Furever After

 Furever After
Author: Sofie Kelly 

Finishing a series causes such mixed feelings.....

On the one hand, when I finished this book, took my magnetic bookmark out, and closed the cover...I felt happy that I had finally read this series. But then I realized it's over....no more tales of Owen and Hercules, the magical cats. 

At least I think there won't be any more. This book ends on a perfect note to finish out this series, and I read online in a couple places that this is the final book in the series. So, I'm going to assume that's true and be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong. 

This time, Librarian Kathleen Paulson is preparing for her wedding to her local detective fiance, Marcus. So, of course, something has to happen to liven things up a bit. There is a break-in at the library. But not just any break-in....Kathleen finds the would-be thief dead on the floor. So, as usual, Kathleen, Marcus, the cats and assorted friends are all helping investigate what happened.....and planning the wedding. 

This book is a perfect wrap-up for a wonderful series. I enjoyed every word! And I feel better about reaching the end of this series. I realized I still have this author's (under her other pen name - Sofie Ryan) Second Chance Cat series on my bookshelf to be read! I will miss hearing about Owen and Hercules....but I can still enjoy this author's style! :) 

Moving on! And, I've added Second Chance Cat to my list of series I'm reading next. Have a couple other cozy series to read first, but eagerly waiting that series! 

 

REVIEW: Paws to Remember

 Paws to Remember
Author: Sofie Kelly 

It's the holiday season. Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her fiance Marcus are planning a trip to Boston to spend Christmas with her family. And everything is going wrong....including finding the body of a teenage girl who disappeared 36 years before.  Can they solve a cold case....and still have a family Christmas?

I ended up totally binge reading this book. I couldn't put it down. Cold cases are so intriguing, and the plot just sucked me right in.  For me, this is the best book in the series so far. 

A bit of a surprise at the end made me smile. Not going to say what, but Hercules (one of Kathleen's cats) and his friend have a great moment. Loved it!  Best moment in the series as far as I am concerned. 

I now have the next book -- and potentially the final book in this series -- on my desk ready to read. It seems weird to think I may be starting the last book featuring these characters. What a ride! I've loved each book...and I enjoy all the characters, the cats, and all the amateur sleuthing. And....maybe....just maybe Furever After will turn out to not be the last book after all....

We shall see. :)  

 

REVIEW: Whiskers and Lies

 Whiskers and Lies
Author: Sofie Kelly 

Autumn is in the air and Mayville Heights residents are ready for a fun and spooky good time. Halloween decoration and party planning by the local library staff is interrupted by a rather public argument in the library. The family drama stemming from a custody battle then escalates when one party is found dead at the rocky bottom of steep embankment. Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her cats Owen and Hercules are once again on the trail of a killer.  

This story kept my attention from start to finish. The ending was rather darker than I expected - but perfect! I had to stop reading for a few minutes and let the who/why/how sink in before I could read the last few pages. Intense! 

Owen and Hercules are fabulous as usual. I love how they join their sleuthing skills with Kathleen's. There was some interesting character development in this book as well. Can't wait to read the next book! 

I can't believe I'm down to just two more books to read in this series! I have heard that book 16 is the final book in this series, but I haven't been able to verify that for sure. I will enjoy the next two books and savor them like they are the last....and will just be pleasantly surprised if there are more. 

I already have the next book -- Paws to Remember -- on my desk ready to go. 

Great cozy series! I have enjoyed every book!  

REVIEW: Cold as Hell

 Cold as Hell
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Cold as Hell is the 3rd book in the Haven's Rock series, which is a spinoff of Kelley Armstrong's Rockton books. Haven's Rock is a settlement hidden deep in the Yukon. A place where residents can come to start new lives, hide out from danger, and feel relatively safe. Their past is kept secret. They have jobs within the settlement. And, life goes on. 

Casey Duncan is the local detective and helped start the new settlement with her husband, Eric, who is the Sheriff. Casey is pregnant and dealing with that in the middle of the Yukon as best she can. Things are going ok and everyone is settling into routine finally....until....   (There is always an "Until" isn't there!)

Someone drugs a female resident and drags her into the forest. She's saved by another resident before any further violence occurs. Then a snowstorm hits, and as the snow flies and the wind blows, Casey and Eric learn another female resident of the settlement is missing. Only this time, they find her frozen dead body in the snow. 

Who attacked one woman and killed another? It's hard to know in a town where people's pasts are secret and nobody knows who anyone really is. Which one of them is a murderer? 

I loved the Rockton series....and this new spinoff in a new settlement! Always the perfect combination of wilderness survival, unexpected events and suspense! 

I listened to the audio book version of this book [Macmillan Audio, 10 hrs 6 minutes, narrated by Therese Plummer]. Therese is a skilled narrator and always gives a great performance.  

This story kept my attention from start to finish. The pacing was spot-on and there were plenty of suspects and surprises along the way. 

I do have to say that I did get a bit tired of hearing about Casey's pregnancy. It just got old by the end of a 10 hour audio book. lol 

I can't wait for the next book!!  

 

REVIEW: Hooked on a Feline

 Hooked on a Feline
Author: Sofie Kelly

This is the 13th book in the Magical Cats Mystery series. I first started reading this series years ago when the first couple of books came out. Then life intervened and I didn't have much time to read. Life is calmer now, and I've learned that it's important to find time for things that make you happy. Reading moved up on my priority list! So, this year I backtracked and started reading this series again from the start. 

I've almost caught up to the author! :) 

A couple incredibly busy weeks at work caused me to not finish my library copy of this book before the due date...so at Chapter 6 I had to switch to an audio book through Hoopla to finish up. 

I enjoyed this story. This time, a local band comes back together to put on a reunion concert, but just days later one of them is dead. Librarian Kathleen Paulson, her two slightly magical kitty cats and her detective boyfriend Marcus....plus their circle of friends....are back on the case! 

The plot kept me engaged the entire time. There was plenty of suspects and amateur sleuthing. And, the cats, Owen and Hercules, helped solve the case as usual. 

The audio book (Tantor Media, 2021, Narrator Cassandra Campbell, 7 hours 21 minutes) was a great save when I had to return my book before I was done. In fact, when I came out of the library after returning my book, I sat in the parking lot for a minute and checked the book out on Hoopla using my phone. Modern libraries for the win! But....I didn't like the narrator. For me, the way she did the voices of the characters was odd and a bit annoying. Not my favorite narrator at all. But, I was determined to find out who the killer was, so kept listening. If this wasn't  one of my favorite series, I probably would have turned the book off and moved on to the next book.  

Great addition to this series!  I'm glad I'm finally getting to read all of these books. I will be sad when I close the cover on book 16 and realize I'm waiting on the author to publish a new story before I can continue. Or, that book 16 might be the end of the series. I will just savor the next 3 books in the series and hope that there will be more! 

 

REVIEW: A Case of Cat and Mouse

 A Case of Cat and Mouse
Author: Sofie Kelly 

 

I'm working my way through this entire series. It's taken a spot on my list of favorite cozy mystery series. Two cute kitties, each with a magical power. A small town librarian whose boyfriend is a police detective. And a group of various friends that help Kathleen and her kitties solve mysteries. 

What's not to love? 

I've had most of this series on my bookshelves for a few years, started reading with book one in 2011 when it first published. But life got busy and I lost track of this cute series. Picked up book one again this year....and just finished book 13. Having a great time!! 

In A Case of Cat and Mouse, a reality cooking show is in town. One of Kathleen's friends is a contestant. Kathleen is doing research. And the whole town is just enjoying having something this exciting going on in town. Things are going perfectly....until.....one of the show's judges is found dead face-down in a bowl of whipped cream. Once again, Kathleen and her magical kitties are on the trail of a killer!  Who offed the judge? 

Great addition to this series! The plot kept my attention from start to finish. Hercules and Owen were once again real characters in the book, helping out and making solve the case. They aren't just kitties....they are kitty sleuths! There were plenty of suspects, and the perfect amount of amateur sleuthing. 

I'm on to the next book!  I'm almost caught up to the author! Only 4 books left!  

REVIEW: No Rest for the Wicked

 No Rest for the Wicked
Author: Rachel Louise Adams

Delores Hawthorne left her hometown in Wisconsin years ago, cutting all ties with family and friends. But after 20 years, she's drawn back. Her father is missing under odd circumstances. Her memories of events on a Halloween night years and years ago are vague and disjointed. Now her father is gone, her family's reaction to her homecoming is cold, and something tells her that there is much more to that night and its aftermath than she remembers......

Wow! I loved this book! The story reveals the intricacies of an odd Halloween obsessed town, the difficulties in a blended family, and the one event that tore apart Delores' life when she was a teenager. 

This is Rachel Louise Adams' debut novel. I will definitely be reading more by this author! The suspense built steadily....revelations coming out bit by but....until the ending just exploded on the page. 

I listened to the audio book version of this story, narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker (Macmillan Audio, 12 hrs 4 minutes) and had an ebook review copy as well (St Martins Press). 

Awesome book for spooky reading season! And the cover art is amazing! I can't wait to find out what this new author comes out with next! 

**I read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press and a review audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**