A Love Letter to Truffles: One Year Together (w/Giveaway)

Dear Truffles,

Can you believe that we've been together a whole year? In ways it seems like I just brought you home yesterday, but on the other hand I already can't imagine life without you.

A year ago this morning I was so, so excited, but to be completely honest I had some doubts as well. Tara had only been gone for 6 weeks and I hadn't even begun to heal. I was just hoping and praying that you would help me to put the pieces of my shattered heart back together. Still, I had never adopted a cat so soon after the loss of another and I wondered if I was doing the right thing.

I remembered reading a post by one of my favorite cat bloggers, Caren at Cat Chat with Caren and Cody, where she talked about the devastation she experienced after losing her beloved Angel Bobo after 18 years together. A few weeks later Cody came into her life. I went searching for it again and the words she wrote were exactly what I needed to read that day.

My friends used to tell me whenever I felt guilt about having adopted another kitty so soon after Bobo passed, that I loved kitties so much that Bobo would want me to give other kitties that needed a home the same love and devotion that I had given him for 18 years.

He didn't "replace" Bobo, no cat ever could. But as my vet had said, "you aren't replacing Bobo, you are making NEW memories with another cat."

The greatest way I could honor Tara was to rescue another cat. She would have wanted someone else to have the love she left behind. Preferably another tortie. She strutted her tortitude with pride, just like you do!

Truffles, you were an awfully little girl to take on the big job you were given. You stepped up to the plate and performed flawlessly. Not a day goes by that you don't bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Nothing makes me happier than being your Mommy. Your love is one of the greatest gifts I have ever received.

Our story is only beginning. I look forward to many happy years together. I love you so, so very much.

Love you forever,

Mommy

**********************

As a thank you to all of the wonderful friends we have met through our blogging, Truffles and I are BOTH having a giveaway. Truffles is giving away a gift pack containing 2 packages of treats, a large ball with a smaller bell ball inside (shhh...she's getting one of these today too!), a container of Kong Naturals catnip, and a package of chocolate truffles for the humans :) I'm giving away a lot of 8 cozy mysteries and another small package of chocolate truffles.

To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below, and make sure in your comments to let me know if you prefer the cat items or the books, since I know that some of my book friends don't own a cat. (GASP!!!) There will be TWO winners, and this giveaway is international :)



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Haunted Hamlet by Kathi Daley: Review & Giveaway

Blurb: When a ghost hunter is found dead in a haunted house just days before Halloween it looks like the killer may be living impaired. Zoe must juggle the annual Zoe Donovan Spooktacular with zombies on the run, the annual pumpkin carving contest, a haunted hayride, a relationship in crisis, and a little behind the scenes investigation.

Tortie Shorties

Book reviews that are short and sweet...just like Truffles!

When I read the first paragraph in this book I thought the author was writing about me: Halloween is my favorite holiday. I know most people don't really get my obsession with all things spooky, but I love everything about this awesome time of year. I love the decorations, the annual events, horror movies on TV, personalized pumpkins, and finding the scariest costume of all. But it's not just the awesomeness of the holiday that I love, it's the coziness of the season. The romance of that first wood fire, hot cider with good friends, hiding through groves of aspens dressed in fall colors, and the scent of snow just around the corner.

My first introduction to Zoe Donovan was in last year's wonderful Halloween Hijinks, the first book in the Zoe Donovan mystery series. Now with the 9th book in the series, Haunted Hamlet, it's Halloween again in Zoe's world and the action is centered back at the haunted Henderson House in Ashton Falls. While trying to rescue a black cat on the property Zoe stumbles upon yet another dead body in the house, which leads her to also investigate the deaths of 3 summer camp counselors and the disappearance of another 13 years ago. It's an action-packed adventure that left me guessing until the very end.  

The character development in this series continues to be just stellar, with Zoe and her boyfriend Zak now cohabitating and decorating their home for Halloween with Zak's ever-growing collection of electronic gadgets, and Zoe's best friend Ellie facing a personal crisis. Of course there's also a wonderful cast of 4-legged characters as well with Zoe's Zoo, her animal rescue and rehabilitation center, especially black kittens Trick and Treat. 

Halloween is still well over two months away but this book instantly put me in the mood for all of the spooky fun that the holiday holds. The recipes at the end left my mouth watering, so I'll definitely be trying those out while I eagerly await visiting Ashton Falls for Thanksgiving!

Giveaway:

 

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Window Whiffies: A Really Bad Limerick

Hey everybody, Truffles at the keyboard! Today I'm participating in Oz the Terrier's Bad Poetry Day Contest. I'm not a poet at all, but since it's *supposed* to be bad, I figured I'm all set! I apologize in advance to Oz and other other woofies that this limerick may offend.

Don't forget...vote Truffles for "Worst Poem by a Cat". I won't take it personally :)

Window whiffies good and bad

What's the worst I've ever had?

With doggies next door

The rain it did pour

The stench it sure made me sad.

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Black Cat Appreciation Day

Although Truffles is tortie to the bone, she is predominantly black, and we've read that some shelters include torties when they hold special black cat adoption events.

So how are we celebrating? I collect some of the Lemax Spooky Town village pieces (primarily the ones that are cat-related, of course), and each year at Halloween I display them in various vignettes. This is the latest addition to my collection, purchased just last week. Fitting, don't you think? I particularly love the little cat butt sticking out from underneath the table :)

Here are some of the cutie pies available at one of my local shelters. If you have room in your home and in your heart, please consider adopting a black cat. They are less likely to be adopted than their more colorful counterparts, but they are the purr-fect addition to any home.

(Photo: Humane Society of Chittenden County)

Cat's Meow Mews & Mailbox #49

Cat's Meow Mailbox is inspired by the great weekly recap book memes (Mailbox Monday, Waiting On Wednesday, It’s Monday! What are you reading? and Sunday Post)

This past Friday was our 3 year blogoversary! Stop by on Wednesday for a special celebration to coincide with Truffles' very first Gotcha Day...she and I are both going to be hosting a giveaway :)

Last week on Mochas, Mysteries and Meows:
* Spotlight Guest Post: Death by Devil's Breath by Kylie Logan
* Spotlight Guest Post: Death of a Crabby Cook by Penny Pike
* Truffles Celebrates #SharkWeek
* Well Read, Then Dead by Terrie Farley Moran: Guest Author, Review & Giveaway
* Clam Wake by Mary Daheim: Review & Giveaway
* Caturday Art: Remembering Elvis

Thank you, Berkley Prime Crime!

 

Bought:

  

NetGalley:

  

Audible:

 

Caturday Art: Remembering Elvis

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! Today we're doing a musical post for Athena's Caturday Art blog hop...after all, music is art too!

37 years ago today the world lost the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. When people ask those "do you remember where you were when you heard the news" questions Mommy likes to reply that she was in the womb MOL! She was born 3 weeks later. (Oops...I guess I just gave away her age, didn't I? Sorry about that, Mommy.)

We are huge Elvis fans, so in honor of today I wrote a little ditty...sing it to yourselves to the tune of "Burning Love".

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

Lord Almighty,

I feel a hairball a-risin'

Higher and higher

That sucker's soon to arrive

Meow, meow, meow, meow

It's set my tummy on fire, yeah

Carpet or bedspread?

I don't know which way to go

Because a kitty knows it's proper

To plan before you slobber

It's time for towels and water

I hacked a hairball up

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

 ***Wild applause***

Thank you, thank you very much.

Mommy also asked me to attach her favorite performance of Elvis singing "My Way" at his Aloha from Hawaii concert. Hey, that could be the Cat National Anthem!

 

Clam Wake by Mary Daheim: Review & Giveaway

  

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery

Published by: William Morrow

Publication Date: 8/12/2014

Number of Pages: 240

ISBN: 9780062317728

Purchase Links:

Synopsis:
Innkeeper and irrepressible sleuth Judith McMonigle Flynn and cousin Renie face off against a cold-blooded killer in a beach community in this delightfully charming Bed-and-Breakfast mystery from USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Mary Daheim.

With the holidays gone and Hillside Manor almost empty, Innkeeper Judith McMonigle Flynn has a bad case of the blues. A housesitting stint at her aunt and uncle’s retirement home on Whoopee Island with cousin Renie seems like the ideal pick-me-up. Surrounded by retirees in the off-season sounds peaceful and pleasant--or so the duo thinks. But it isn’t long before a dead body pops up in their vicinity. Not surprising in an area full of older folks—until they learn it wasn’t a bad ticker that did in the victim, but a very sharp knife. With clouds of suspicion hovering over her and Renie, Judith reluctantly begins sleuthing—if only to prove they didn’t commit the crime.

But what she finds is puzzling. The victim reputedly didn’t have an enemy in the world--except for the killer. Digging for clams and answers, the cousins discover that retirement can be deadly—at least among the eclectic, eccentric residents of Obsession Shores.

Tortie Shorties

Book reviews that are short and sweet...just like Truffles!

Prior to Clam Wake I had only read one previous book in Mary Daheim's Bed & Breakfast mystery series, and I remember being so confused by the number of characters and various tangential storylines that by the end I was ready to tear my hair out. I'm happy to say that I didn't have that feeling this time around, but I do think it would be most enjoyable to someone who has more of a familiarity with the characters and their various relationships and histories. This is, after all, a very long-running series.

That being said, I did find much to enjoy in this book. My favorite characters in cozies are usually the elderly folks, and Clam Wake is chock full of them! The Obsession Shores retirement home is rich in eccentric elders and life is certainly never boring there. I also like books set in seaside locales and the descriptions of Whoopee Island are so vivid that I could imagine myself digging for clams while smelling the seaside air. Judith and Renie are entertaining as always, and I have a feeling these two ladies still have many adventures awaiting them!

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Wednesday, August 20th for your chance to win a copy of Clam Wake. (US entries only, please.)

About the author: Seattle native Mary Richardson Daheim lives three miles from the house where she was raised. From her dining nook she can see the maple tree in front of her childhood home. Mary isn’t one for change when it comes to geography. Upon getting her journalism degree from the University of Washington (she can see the campus from the dining nook, too), she went to work for a newspaper in Anacortes WA. Then, after her marriage to David Daheim, his first college teaching post was in Port Angeles where she became a reporter for the local daily. Both tours of small-town duty gave her the background for the Alpine/Emma Lord series.

Mary spent much of her non-fiction career in public relations (some would say PR is fiction, too). But ever since she learned how to read and write, Mary wanted to tell stories that could be put between book covers (e-readers were far into the future and if she hadn’t seen her daughter’s iPad, she might not know they exist). Thus, she began her publishing career with the first of seven historical romances before switching to mysteries in 1991. If Mary could do the math, she’d know how many books she’s published. Since she can’t, she estimates the total is at least 55. Or something. See below—count ‘em if you can.

At the time of her husband and mentor’s death in February 2010, David and Mary had been married for over 43 years. They have three daughters, Barbara, Katherine and Magdalen, and two granddaughters, Maisy and Clara. They all live in Seattle, too. Those apples don’t move far from the tree…literally.

Catch Up With the Author: