Caturday Art & {52 Snapshots of Life}: Create

Is it just me or does it seem like everyday we're waking up to fresh snow on the ground? Since it almost feels like we're living in a snow globe, for our Caturday Art submission this week I created a Truffles snow globe using Pho.to. (I only wish that I could make a real one like this!)

It's week six of the #PBSG #52Snapshots of Life photo challenge (hosted by The Lazy Pit Bull) and the theme is create. I don't really consider myself a very creative or crafty person, but my Aunt Gail certainly is. Last year at our family holiday gathering she hosted a craft session where anyone who wanted to participate could create a wool feather tree. Since I love the Victorian era I decided to give it a try and was very pleased with how it turned out. I think Truffles was too:

This year's craft project was to make a tree skirt for the tree which required me to (gasp!) sew. Again, I checked to make sure that it met with Truffles' paw of approval:

Fry Another Day by J.J. Cook: Guest Author, Review & Giveaway

Why is it always me?

By Crème Brulee

Fry Another Day

From the Biscuit Bowl Mysteries

By J.J. Cook

Why am I always the one who has to leave home when my friend, Zoe Chase, does something crazy?

It’s always, ‘Let’s start a food truck, Creme Brulee.’ Or ‘We should drive out to see my Uncle Saul and his crazy alligator, Creme Brulee.’

Zoe doesn’t seem to know that Uncle Saul’s albino alligator, Alabaster, tries to eat me. She also conveniently ignores my discomfort when I have to be strapped into my car seat or ride in the Biscuit Bowl food truck.

What’s a cat to do?

Don’t get me wrong – I love Zoe dearly. I want her to be happy. But I’m not the kind of cat who likes to move around much. It upsets my digestion. It’s not that I mind living in the old diner with her instead of our comfortable apartment. I want her to have her dream of a restaurant. She’s worked hard for it with her food truck. This girl loves food more than me!

But I don’t want to drive from town to town on some food truck race. I don’t want to be on TV. I just want my bed and a safe place to stay. I can’t stay in Mobile, Alabama, our hometown, while Zoe is gone either. Her mother and father always forget to feed me!

If I didn’t love Zoe so much, I’d run away, and take all my cat toys with me. There better be some salmon in this for me if she expects me to walk on a leash in the grass instead of pooping on the seat! That’s all I have to say on the subject.

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Blurb: With a few loyal friends in tow—including her handsome attorney, Miguel, and her cat, Crème Brûlée—Zoe drives the Biscuit Bowl to Charlotte, North Carolina, to enter a nationally televised food truck race. The contest features challenges across the Southeast, and with a fifty-thousand-dollar grand prize, competition isn’t just fierce—it’s killer.

As everyone gears up for the first challenge, another food trucker from Zoe’s hometown is found dead. The race rolls on, but when the body count rises, police begin to suspect Miguel. Now Zoe must race to catch the killer before her attorney needs an attorney.

Tortie Shorties

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

This is the most action-packed cozy I've read in a very long time. A food truck race from Charlotte to Mobile with $50,000 on the line sounds exciting enough, but add to that crazy challenges at every stop and an ever-rising body count, and Zoe is left with a biscuit bowl filled with murder and mayhem! In addition to the mystery there's the thrill of an intense competition sure to appeal to Food Network fans, and a good amount of romance between Ollie/Delia and Miguel/Zoe. Persnickety feline Creme Brulee of course stole the show for me. (Let's just say life on the road does not appeal to kitties.) Did I mention mouth-watering food descriptions too? This book firmly cements the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck mysteries as one of the best culinary cozy series on the shelves today.

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Friday, February 13th for your chance to win a copy of Fry Another Day. (US entries only, please.)

Truffles Interviews...Charles from Eva Gates' By Book or By Crook (W/Review & Giveaway)

Hey everybody, Truffles at the keyboard! Today I'm interviewing Charles (Dickens), the feline star of Eva Gates' brand new Lighthouse Library mystery series. Mommy *loved* this book, as you will see from her rave review. And I loved the extra cuddle time I got with her while she was curled up in bed reading! Win-win :)

Welcome, Charles! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions today. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself and how you came to live with Lucy?

I didn’t come to live with Lucy. Lucy came to live with me. I am a library cat, and proud of it. I love the library at night, but it can be a bit lonely after everyone has gone home at the end of the day. So, when Lucy got the job of assistant librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, which came with an apartment on the fourth floor, I naturally decided that Lucy needed me to move into the apartment with her. So now I am a library cat by day and a house cat by night. 

I understand you were named after Charles Dickens. How did that come about? And does Lucy have a favorite Dickens novel? (My Mommy's all-time favorite story is A Christmas Carol!)

Yes, I was named for Mr. Charles Dickens, a great man of letters, as I am a great cat of books. I don’t actually read books mind, but I find they are very comfortable to settle down on when left open on a table top. Like your mom, Lucy loves A Christmas Carol. She is also very fond of Great Expectations, and that is going to be the selection of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library Classic Novel Reading Club soon.

What is a typical day like for you?

Busy, busy. I have to greet patrons when they arrive, join the children for children’s activities, allow lonely old women to fuss over me, keep mice out of the cupboards, and advise Lucy NOT to wear that hideous dress for her date with Connor. Or is it Butch this time? I get confused.

What kinds of trouble do you and Lucy get into in By Book or By Crook?

When the chair of the library board is murdered and then priceless Jane Austen first editions begin disappearing, things look bleak for the future of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. When the ruthless killer traps Lucy in the library at night, I… well, you’ll have to read the book to find out, won’t you?

Do you help Lucy solve the mystery in any way?

I would if she’d let me. I told her and told her that…. Well, not to mention any names, but that person wasn’t to be trusted. But does she pay any mind to me? No. Humans, they think they know it all. 

Cat to cat: do you have a favorite treat, toy, and nap spot?

Nothing I like better than a party at the library, unless they shut me in the broom closet that is. The staff tell guests not to feed the cat, but no one pays any attention to that. Smoked salmon canapés are my favourite and I do like the one-bite crab cakes. The best nap spot is the lap of a little one when the children are upstairs listening to story time. 

Anything you can tell us about your upcoming adventures?

It’s going to be interesting times at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library with Lucy on the premises. Perhaps one day she’ll stop acting so darn human, and listen to what I tell her. I am, after all, an excellent judge of character.

Eva Gates is the author of the Lighthouse Library cozy series from Penguin Obsidian, set in a historic lighthouse on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, featuring Boston-transplant librarian, and highly reluctant sleuth, Lucy Richardson. The first in the series, By Book or By Crook, will be released in February 2015. Eva is the pen name of bestselling author Vicki Delany, one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers. Eva can be found at www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com and Vicki at www.vickidelany.com. Facebook at evagatesauthor and twitter: @evagatesauthor

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Blurb: For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. But when her ten-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite.

Calling on her aunt Ellen, Lucy hopes that a little fun in the Outer Banks sun—and some confections from her cousin Josie’s bakery—will help clear her head. But her retreat quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when Aunt Ellen gets her involved in the lighthouse library tucked away on Bodie Island.

Lucy is thrilled to land a librarian job in her favorite place in the world. But when a priceless first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen and the chair of the library board is murdered, Lucy suddenly finds herself ensnared in a real-life mystery—and she’s not so sure there’s going to be a happy ending....

Tortie Shorties

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

A lighthouse library and a gorgeous Himalayan cat...if you think that sounds like the making of a purr-fect cozy mystery, you would be 100% right.

Lucy has just moved to North Carolina's beautiful Outer Banks for her new job as assistant librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Not everyone is happy about her new job, though, including the chair of the library board who ends up murdered during a reception to celebrate the arrival of a complete set of first edition Jane Austens. Then the rare and valuable books start disappearing, one by one, in the order they were written, and the Lighthouse Library's future is in serious jeopardy.

Every single character in this book is a delight, from Lucy and her co-workers at the library to a wannabe librarian to suspicious rare book collector Theodore. I am completely jealous of Lucy's cozy 4th floor lighthouse apartment (which comes with all kinds of cool ghost stories!) and my mouth watered at the delicacies served at her cousin Josie’s Cozy Bakery. The mystery is a total page-turner with loads of twists and turns, plus there's a hint of a possible love triangle in the air as well! And the ending reminded me of a delicious gothic novel with Lucy trapped in the lighthouse with the killer as a storm rages outside.

This is a debut not to be missed, and thankfully the wait for book 2, Booked for Trouble, won't be that long. It's already on my calendar for September!

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Wednesday, February 11th for your chance to win a copy of By Book or By Crook. (US entries only, please.)

Meowing About Authority Dental Cat Treats for #CatDentalHealth

This post is sponsored by PetSmart, and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Dental Health Month, but Mochas, Mysteries and Meows only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. PetSmart is not responsible for the content of this article.

One of my most vivid childhood memories is of the day we had to leave my beloved cat Patch at the vet to have several teeth extracted. I still remember my mother crying in the car when she picked me up from school as she told me how he had climbed up her jacket, practically pleading with her not to leave him there. As she explained the surgery he would be undergoing I couldn't help but wonder if my best friend would be coming home.

Patch ended up making a full recovery, but this was only the beginning of feline dental disease in my home. Either by chance or by choice, up until now every cat I have adopted has been middle-aged with a fair amount of "tooth trouble" already in progress. Now that Truffles is in my life, everyday I marvel at what beautiful teeth she has, and I am determined to make sure that they stay that way.

Dental disease impacts 89% of dogs and 83% of cats over the age of three, but it can be prevented. Tartar, plaque and gingivitis can lead to diminished overall health in your pet. Truffles is 3, so this is definitely the time for me to be pro-active. The great news is, in addition to regular dental care at the vet's office (and brushing, if you're that brave), there is something you can do to help keep your cat's teeth and gums healthier every day in your very own home: dental treats!

I'm very excited to be teaming up with PetSmart® for February's Dental Health Month, a month all about helping pet parents learn how easy it is to keep their pet's dental health in check. PetSmart offers a large variety of dental treat options and will be running sales all month long. Less than 10% of the people that shop at PetSmart use any sort of dental product for their dog or cat, so our goal is to change that statistic!

Truffles recently got to taste test Authority® Dental Cat Treats, sold exclusively in PetSmart stores nationwide. Here are 4 reasons your cat will meow with excitement over these dental treats:

1) The crunchy morsels promote chewing action that helps reduce plaque and tartar buildup, leaving your cat's mouth fresh and clean.

2) They are formulated without grain for a high-protein reward.

3) They come in a variety of flavors to satisfy every palate. (We chose chicken, but they also come in duck, salmon, and tuna flavors.)

4) They are designed for every age: kittens, adults, and seniors.

Now when I'm getting ready for bed by brushing my teeth, Truffles is taking care of her own dental health with a yummy treat! (As you can see, on this particular night she was so sleepy she could barely finish her snack!)

PetSmart's vision is to provide Total Lifetime Care for pets by offering superior products, unmatched services and superb customer service to pet parents and their pets. To stay informed on their sales and specials, as well as new products and services, make sure you follow PetSmart on all of their social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+.

Book Review & Giveaway: Arsenic & Old Books by Miranda James

Blurb: In Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is known for his good nature—and for his Maine coon cat Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but taking the plunge into a recent acquisition will have him in over his head…
 
Lucinda Beckwith Long, the mayor of Athena, has donated a set of Civil War-era diaries to the archives of Athena College. The books were recently discovered among the personal effects of an ancestor of Mrs. Long’s husband. The mayor would like Charlie to preserve and to substantiate them as a part of the Long family legacy—something that could benefit her son, Beck, as he prepares to campaign for the state senate.

Beck’s biggest rival is Jasper Singletary. His Southern roots are as deep as Beck’s, and their families have been bitter enemies since the Civil War. Jasper claims the Long clan has a history of underhanded behavior at the expense of the Singletarys. He’d like to get a look at the diaries in an attempt to expose the Long family’s past sins. Meanwhile, a history professor at the college is also determined to get her hands on the books in a last-ditch bid for tenure. But their interest suddenly turns deadly…

Now Charlie is left with a catalog of questions. The diaries seem worth killing for, and one thing is certain: Charlie will need to be careful, because the more he reads, the closer he could be coming to his final chapter…

"Can you help me read Diesel's latest adventure, Mommy? I just love him!" --Truffles

Tortie Shorties

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

How much trouble can a set of four Civil War era diaries cause? Quite a lot! Charlie and Diesel's 6th adventure - their 1st in hardcover - begins when Athena's Mayor Long donates the family diaries to the archives of Athena College hoping they will benefit her son Beck's state senate campaign. Before Charlie knows it people are practically lined up ouside his door wanting to get their hands on the diaries, including a history professor desperate for tenure and Beck's political rival Jasper Singletary who thinks the diaries contain evidence of wrongs the Mayor's family perpetrated upon his 150 years ago. It contains scandalous information - but not what anyone expected - and before long the diaries are stolen, the professor is dead, and everyone is a suspect.

This book is a fast and fun read. What I enjoyed most was the "mystery within the mystery" of what transpired between the Long and Singletary families during those awful days of the Civil War. I found the diary entries to be riveting and the entire mystery compelling. The only thing missing was a "big reveal," just a brief explanation of what transpired.

For those of us who have followed Charlie and Diesel from the very 1st Cat in the Stacks mystery, this book contains an extra treat - the short story "When Charlie Met Diesel". Here's hoping these two have many, many more adventures yet to come!

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Monday, February 9th, for your chance to win a hardcover copy of Arsenic and Old Books. (US entries only, please.)

A Purr-fect Gift from #Chewy.com

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! On Friday afternoon when Mommy went to get the mail, a FedEx truck was waiting outside. This is what we found when we opened the package from Chewy.com.

We read the note:

This absolutely amazing painting of ME was a thank you gift from Chewy, who commissioned the paintings from Off the Wall Paintings.

Words can't express how much this painting means to Mommy...she will cherish it forever. It is truly "purr-fect" (just like me MOL!!!).

It's Kitten Bowl Sunday!!!

Hey everybody, it's Truffles! As you can see, I have confiscated the remote and am settled in to watch both the Kitten Bowl and the Puppy Bowl. There is no interest in humans playing football in this house, only animals :)

(This is also our entry in the Sunday Selfies blog hop hosted by The Cat on My Head.)

Remember how a couple weeks ago we told you about The Lucy Bowl commercial which will premiere today during the Kitten Bowl on Hallmark Channel? The full version was actually released early...have you seen it?

Since Super Bowl Sunday is all about the commercials, we wanted to share a few other pet-related favorites. First up, "Dear Kitten: Regarding the Big Game. (The full 4-minute version can be found here.)

We love the Kitten Bowl promo with Katy Perry’s “Roar”:

And last but certainly not least, Super Bowl Sunday means that the Daytona 500 is the next major sporting event! We are incredibly proud that our favorite driver Kevin Harvick's primary sponsor is Budweiser, and once again they produced an incredible commercial starring a team of Clydesdales and one precious puppy: