Cat Calls: Wonderful Stories and Practical Advice from a Veteran Cat Sitter-Jeanne Adlon and Susan Logan

Cat Calls: Wonderful Stories and Practical Advice from a Veteran Cat Sitter


Jeanne Adlon and Susan Logan

Square One, Sep 15 2012, $14.95

ISBN 9780757003448



This is an excellent memoir and guide book in which the cats (to the delight of the two authors) steal the show disproving W.C. Fields’ comment: "Never work with animals or children.” In 1974, Jeanne Adlon in Manhattan opened Cat Cottage for felines and their human pets. Over the next thirty-five plus years, she has dealt with a variety of cats, not all likable or friendly as she became a cat sitter making house calls. The anecdotes are often amusing while we feline fans can relate with our own tales of purr-fection. My favorite anecdotes are Eloise turning on the TV to watch sports as my dog Max did, and that of Princess as my Angel was caught in a plastic bag too. The authors also provide tips on keeping your pets (many will apply to dogs) safe when moving and afterward, a safe environment and how to work with special needs cats (I had a loving dog who suffered from epilepsy; we learned how critical hugs were to him) including seemingly terrorists and sociopaths. Illustrations enhance this engaging insightful cat book that this useful guidebook offers tips on how to care for happy, healthy cats while discouraging them from wrecking the furniture, and other anti-social behavior. Like me cat lovers will appreciate Cat Calls while comparing Ms. Adlon’s tales of tails with our own experiences (my strictly kosher late mother-in-law always gave us made for Pesach cat treats.



Harriet Klausner

The Dogwalker-Corwyn Alvarez

The Dogwalker


Corwyn Alvarez

Bell Bridge, Feb 15 2012, $14.95

ISBN: 9781611940961



In Mayfield, Maryland, mentally challenged Benny drops out of high school. His mom is upset with him and he expects an extended silent treatment. She demands to know what he plans to do with his life. Benny, whose first word was doggy, says he will become a dog walker as he has a natural affinity with canines.



At the pound benny meets death row inmate Noodles. With forged documents from his friend Zach and his mom’s approval, Benny rescues Noodles. They become BFFs. As his new business is a success, his brother Jerome at Boston Medical School causes tsuris for their beleaguered mom. Meanwhile through Zach’s prepayment, Benny meets and is attracted to Chloe. No human or dog is immune to kindhearted Benny’s caring honest nature.



This is an engaging character study of a mentally challenged person escorting dogs (and readers) around his hometown. The protagonist’s independent behavior indicates he is intelligent but wired differently. Fans will enjoy his naïve maturing as he changes his life and that of others in his expanding circle.



Harriet Klausner

Home-Karen Wiesner

Home


Karen Wiesner

Karen Wiesner, Feb 2012, $13.50

lulu.com/spotlight/karenwiesner

ISBN: 9781105201189



Ayodele left her beloved hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin years ago when her husband Declan relocated to Chicago as part of a business deal when he and his partner Hannah sold their ownership of a furniture design company. Dec demands Della obtain full time work since their eight year old son River will be out of school for the summer. Irate as she has sacrificed so much for her husband to include residing in a dangerous neighborhood and working part time at a diner, Della realizes Dec cheated with Hannah. She informs him she is going home with River.



Hannah calls to inform Della that Dec died in a car crash just after their warehouse went up in flames. His ailing parents driven by their nephew Cade Somers drive to Chicago for the funeral and take their daughter-in-law and grandson home. Hannah pleads with Della to share the insurance payout on the firm with her as she is pregnant with Dec’s child. Though un-Christian, Della says no. In Peaceful, River and Cade become buddies while he loves Della. However, burned once, Della suffers from a major relationship phobia.



Home is a wonderful inspirational romance in which Karen Wiesner displays her immense talent as she overcame a major pet peeve of mine; Dec’s death makes everything seem easier for the heroine, but instead Della is haunted by guilt and other debilitating emotions though she logically believes she was doing the right thing. With a late suspense adding tension, fans will enjoy returning to Peaceful (see Family Heirlooms and Friendship heirlooms sagas) as Della affirms you can go home if love embraces you.



Harriet Klausner

Highland Avenger-Hannah Howell

Highland Avenger


Hannah Howell

Zebra, Mar 27 2012, $7.99

ISBN: 9781420118797



In 1480 off the coast of Scotland, a large ship plows into a smaller vessel. Arianna Lucette knows her vicious brother-in-law Amiel, who she believes murdered his sibling Claud and Claud’s legal wife Marie Anne, and the vicious DeVeaux clan seek her two stepsons (Adelar and Michel). She and the boys use barrels to make it ashore.



Smuggler Brian MacFingal and his brothers were waiting for Captain Tillet to deliver cargo. They rescue the captain and four others and find the lads protecting Arianna. She tells him she is a Murray trying to take her husband’s children to safety while an evil army comes for them. Brian directs his brothers to separately take the lads to their keep Scarglas while he escorts Arianna in order to split the adversaries into three groups. Arianna tells Brian that her husband was a bigamist as he was already married before he wed her. She cannot explain why the DeVeaux are involved. He admires her loyalty and love for someone else’s children. As the enemy pursues them, they fall in love, but she was burned once and apparently abandoned by her clan so is wary of relationships.



The latest Murray Highlander romance (see Highlander Protector) is a strong entry starring two fully developed protagonists with the female lead an interesting heroine. The story line is fast-paced and filled with suspense as the enemy is like the Energizer bunny. Although some of the hero’s actions are inane for an intelligent leader like their stopping for a tryst or his rejecting a scout while in peril from adversaries hunting them down, fans will appreciate the return of Arianna Murray from her horrible French “marriage”.



Harriet Klausner

The Job-Cramer Louis Jackson

The Job


Cramer Louis Jackson

Outskirts Press, Jan 30 2012, $8.95

WWW.OutskirtsPress.com

ISBN: 9781432784584



Joe’s search for employment has turned into a frustrating full time job as he checks want ads, sends out résumés and shows up for announced vacancies; only to return to his walk up dumpy small apartment unemployed with his self-esteem dropping. After his latest humiliation, he opens the mail, which adds to his debasement with overdue bills.



However, the last letter is from a firm he never heard of, who offers him an interview. Instructions were sent to him by e-mail as this company provides no address or phone number. He goes on line, thankful he did not hock his computer, to obtain directions. Joe arrives for the interview and learns that if he takes the job, Joe Jamieson will no longer exist as he will have a new identity and compensation is one million annual. He agrees to become Zann General Morgan briefs him that his position and new identity ties back to 1947 Roswell and soon finds another perk when he rescues the other selectee Layone from some nasty folks who have other plans for the pair.



There is plenty of action in this thought provoking science fiction romantic novella. The story line starts with a depressed everyman struggling to pay his bills and keep a dilapidated ceiling over his head before the plot moves into an exciting thriller with its Life Energy connection to Roswell. Encouraging people to take a radically fresh look at their options reminds me of my husband’s reengineering teaching and mentoring position in which he destroyed a zillion paper cups claiming they were not half full or half empty if you slice off the top the cup is filled. The Job is a quick engaging thriller.



Harriet Klausner

The Slayer-Theresa Meyers

The Slayer


Theresa Meyers

Zebra, Apr 1 2012, $6.99

ISBN: 9781420121254



In 1883, although he was trained from childhood like his siblings (Remington – to follow and Colt – see The Hunter) Winchester Jackson prefers being the sheriff of Bodie, California than fighting vampires and demons. His Vampiric Imperial Majesty sends Lady Alexandra Porter to persuade Winn to work with her in retrieving a part of the Book of Legend that his sire hid decades ago.



Though he has doubts as his mantra has been the only good vampire is a dead vampire who cannot rise from the grave, Winn agrees to join Alexa on her mountainous quest in Transylvania to save her people. With steam gadgets created by brilliant inventor Marley Turlock to assist them on their journey, the pair confronts many adversaries demonic, vampiric; gizmos and mortal, but the most challenging is love.



The second Book of the Legends Chronicles is a terrific steampunk historical romance starring a western sheriff and a vampire battling a variety of paranormal and normal foes. Fast-paced from the moment Winn thinks he is rescuing a damsel in distress and never slows down as the twisting exciting storyline will prove a fan favorite with the only subtraction being the wait for Rem’s entry.



Harriet Klausner

CrystalFire-Kate Douglas

CrystalFire


Kate Douglas

Zebra, Apr 1 2012, $6.99

ISBN: 9781420110029



Lemurian Taron enjoys being an academic, but since the philosopher is partnered with the sentient sword CrystalFire, he must learn to act like a warrior too. He understands he must help the humans near Mount Shasta and his people deal with the demon invasion though CrystalFire feels his scholarly Lemurian is unsuited for combat against the Demon King, who plans his return from the abyss to breach the barriers between dimensions.



In combat with the Demon King, Taron is taken aback by a stunning side effect. Willow the sprite of the mists becomes a beautiful normal sized female though inside her is also Bumper the dog. Meanwhile the Demon King shows his adaptability when he possesses Ed Marks’ body while Eddy and her sentient sword DarkFire are trapped in the Void; a place her lover Dax the former demon knows firsthand and guiltily knows his calling her led to the demon King sending her there. While Dax works on rescuing his beloved human, Taron and Willow begin falling in love as they team up to prevent the Demon King’s diabolical scheme from happening.



The latest DemonSlayer romantic fantasy (see Starfire, Demonfire and Hellfire) is a super thriller that contains two strong prime subplots with each flowing nicely and converging to the delight of Kate Douglas’ fans. Fast-paced and filled with action yet a strong romance, CrystalFire is an entertaining twisting tale.



Harriet Klausner