Tag Archives: mouse

July 24, 2023 · 7:00 am

Paw and Order: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery (The Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series) by Chris Abernathy (Book Review)

What’s better than a K-9 cop? A feline detective. Detective Whiskers is out to prove himself, and keep his human from being framed for murder, or worse. He’ll need the help of his new animal friends and Sheila’s group of female sleuths. This cozy mystery set in a small town in Old Florida is purrfect for cat lovers and anyone who enjoys a fun beach read.

 

Who is really catching killers in Paradise Cove? It’s not the local police. The Paradise Cove Murder Society is getting the job done, with more help than they realize from a furry detective named Whiskers.

Sheila and her cat Whiskers are starting a new life in the perfect little Florida beach town that managed to avoid the big crowds, condos and chain stores. But as soon as they arrive the town has its first ever murder. Good thing Whiskers is a trained detective! Fred, Sheila’s husband of forty years, was a police detective who recently passed away, right before they were supposed to retire to the beach. After forty years of devoting herself entirely to being a good wife and mother she’s now left to put her life back together, but what kind of life will it be? In a fresh setting, and with some quirky new friends, she slowly begins to remember all of the dreams she had as a young woman. She has a second chance to chase those dreams, if she can stay alive and out of prison. When her next door neighbor is killed and the evidence points to Sheila, it’s time for Whiskers to step up.

Whiskers was Fred’s loyal assistant and he’ll need to remember everything he learned from his mentor to keep Sheila safe as she rediscovers herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends of his own Detective Whiskers sets out to prove to the world, and himself, that he is worthy of the shiny badge on his collar. If you love humorous cozy mysteries where pets take the lead and eccentric friends come together to solve crimes with just the right amount of suspense then the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is exactly what you’re looking for.

 

This book does not contain profanity or graphic descriptions of violence and bedroom scenes.
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

I’ve read numerous detective stories. Watch my fair share of crime shows too. I’ve seen a case played out through the eyes of the victim, lawyers, plaintiff, and (human) cops. However, Paw and Order is the first mystery novel where a cat runs the show. Where the storyline is shown through their eyes. 

Detective Whiskers talks to eyewitnesses, aka fellow animals, as they hunt for clues. The feline detective has many attributes that make him a hot ticket investigator. One, he can speak to eyewitnesses that humans can’t. You know, since humans can’t converse with animals in an actual conversation. Two, Whiskers can sniff out clues better than a dog. True. I  learned that cats have two organs that work together to help them detects scents. In fact, they can detect a smell from across a football field. AMAZING! Three, he doesn’t require cash payment. Belly scratch and donuts, yes. Moolah? Nope, no need. 

Sheila’s recently lost her husband. She nearly traded in her vacation home for prison bars. Thankfully, with her the help of her sweet, inquisitive kitty and the new gal pals, who make up the Paradise Cove Murder Society, the actual culprit was apprehended.  

Paw and Order is a cozy mystery that has many humorous moments. I laughed at the catnip discussion. And when Detective Whiskers questions Roddy, the mouse. There was some awkwardness regarding Whisker’s remarks about an attractive human. Other than that, a solid story that I recommend you read! 


Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 

Meet the Author

Chris Abernathy has narrated more than 200 audiobooks and now he is writing his own stories. He has been a storyteller his entire life — around campfires at a summer camp as a counselor, on the radio for more than 30 years, as an actor with background roles on major motion pictures and TV series, as a producer of short films for social media and more. Chris is married with two sons and lives on the Gulf Coast in Alabama. He is a dual national with citizenship in the US and UK and visits family in the Scottish Highlands as often as possible.

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April 30, 2023 · 7:00 am

Tiny Tales by Vanessa Newman (Book Review)

“Tiny Tales” is a collection of five friendly fables for young children and young-at-heart adults with positive messages and charming illustrations. A collaboration between an American writer, Vanessa Newman, a Ukrainian artist, Anastasia Yatsunenko, and designed by artist Richard Newman.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Tiny Tales is a collection of five friendly fables for young children and young-at-heart adults with positive messages and charming illustrations. 

Each fable is only a handful of pages long, a perfect size for children with limited attention spans. The stories contain easy and advanced words making it an ideal reading material for kindergarten through 2nd grade. 

 

“Posey in Charge” centers around a large cat who’s “large and in charge” until she meets her ultimate foe, a ball. The orange furball set out to show the ball who’s boss. The cat’s antics are hilarious. Kids will love the story and the adorable main illustration of the kitty! I wish the short tale had an image of the kitty protecting his turf, though. I know kids would like to see it. 

“Bumble Bee” teaches children that it’s okay not to do things like everyone else. Be like the fun bee in this short tale. Take your time, enjoy life, and don’t change yourself for someone else’s benefit, even for royalty.  

Chippy the chipmunk loves to gossip and couldn’t wait to share what he heard, even to the displeasure of whose stories he was spreading. When Chippy meets a boy who lost his turtle, he seeks out his forest companions for help. Due to Chippy’s history, no one wanted to be around him; they feared he’d tell others what they discussed. He lost his friends’ trust. 

“Chippy Chitters” teaches children that sharing stories (gossip) can hurt people’s feelings, make them angry, or lead to lost friendships. Chippy realized it’s best only to share information when it is needed. 

Gabe, the mouse, didn’t feel special. He had an average physique and no plan for the future. He wasn’t sad or mad, but he wasn’t happy either. Others referred to him as the “no-fun” mouse. He felt something was missing from his life but had no clue what. Adults experience these feelings, and children do as well. They can be overwhelming for any age. 

Gabe found his missing piece. He discovered that his balancing skills brought joy to others, which also filled him with joy. Like the previous tales, “Synonymouse” weaves a powerful message through a whimsical story. Even if you look like someone else, it doesn’t mean you don’t possess your own talents and abilities. We all have something about us that makes us unique. My special ability is picking objects up with my toes. 

“Tess the Toucan” features a bird with a positive attitude and a willingness to help her friends with any task. No matter the request, Tess answered, “Yes I can.” She worked nonstop, even when her body wanted her to sleep. 

Tess realized it’s unhealthy always saying “yes” and it’s okay to say “no.” Through this fable, children will grasp the importance of setting boundaries. Maybe they’ll even understand why their parents have to say “no” occasionally. 

Tiny Tales was a quick read with easy-to-follow storylines. With more illustrations, the recommended reading age would be three and older. As is, the targeted audience should be five through eight.  

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author 

I have been writing since I was eight and have self-published 10 children’s books and 3 novels. I’m also a freelancer who has contributed to hundreds of articles, courses, and blogs online. I like to write grown-up humor (Dr. Seuss meets Dr. Ruth) and children’s books.

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February 12, 2023 · 7:00 am

Orientella by Elisabeth Vildstjärna (Book Review)

 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

I’ve been captivated by magical carpets ever since I first watched Aladdin. While the magic rug, known as Carpet, in the blockbuster movie was fascinating, it does not hold a candle to Orientella. She’s the Rolls-Royce of carpets with her 24-carat gold threads, made from the finest worms Angelland. While she is masterfully constructed, her uniqueness comes from her ability to speak and express emotions. She cares for her owner/roommate/friend deeply, so when Madame Algarine Castel gets abducted, she doesn’t give up until they are reunited. 

As one would imagine, flying on top of a magic carpet comes with potential hazards, which the characters experience. But, being a magical carpet has its dangers as well. To perform at its best, the wondrous rug has to stay tightly woven. In addition, it has to avoid villains who want to own and control them. Speaking of villains, I love the last name choice, Tarantula. 

All the above came into play, but luckily Orientella wasn’t alone on her journey. She has acquired new friends: a talking church mouse (Walter), a sometimes cranky kitty (Frizzle), and a young neighbor (Emilia), plus additional help along the way. 

Orientella by Elisabeth Vildstjärna was a glorious, imaginative, magical read containing suspense, shocking disclosures, and the legendary Loch Ness Monster. It’s a story that could benefit from more images strewn throughout because readers will want to see Persley, the pirate ship, the castle, and more action and adventure shots. The cover illustration by Henry Johannes Matilainen, though, was spectacular. I adored Frizzle’s facial expression. He looked like a true scaredy-cat, whereas Walter, the mouse, appeared to enjoy the ride of a lifetime. 

I could see this story appealing to three-year-olds, possibly four if it had more images. As it stands, I would recommend the book to school-age children. 

Buy the book; you won’t regret it! 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Meet the Author

Elisabeth Vildstjärna is an author from Sweden who writes fantasy for middle graders.

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September 21, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Sweet Friendship by Lisa R. Neuder (Book Review)


An idealistic, bright-eyed, lop-eared bunny (Baked Bean) is seeking the friendship and company of another bunny. But to her dismay, her new interest (Snowshoe) brings both joy and heartache. Will she be able to overcome her struggles with her new friend?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Before the first chapter, readers will meet all of Baked Bean’s friends through pictures. My favorite image was of Fancy Wat. I mean, you don’t see a mouse wearing a top hat every day. 

Chapters 1-3 gave insight into each friend’s personality and how each one was there for Baked Bean. For example, Biscuit has Snoopy-like ears and short legs but moves like lightning when he runs. Sometimes, his tongue would hang slightly out of his mouth when he sprinted across the field. 

Chapters 4-17 focused on the actual story with plot, climax, and resolution. Baked Bean was longing for a bunny friend. Someone who does the things she does and eats the food she eats. Her wishes came true when she met Snowshoe. They laughed, ate grass, drank water, and explored the countryside together. 

One day, Snowshoe did not arrive to play as promised, and poor Baked Bean’s heart was crushed. When Snowshoe came days later, he acted like it was no big deal. These chapters will open doors for teachers and parents to discuss if listeners ever had someone break a promise and how they felt when it happened. It’ll give the reader the opportunity to encourage children to try their best not to break promises because a broken promise can make a person sad, just like Baked Bean in the story. 

As the story progressed, Snowshoe’s callous behavior worsened, and Baked Bean started feeling worse and worse. Baked Bean begun to feel insecure and question everything about herself. Again, this is another excellent time to discuss how this section makes the listener feel. Do they agree with how Snowshoe treats Baked Bean, and what’s the proper way to treat a friend?

The Sweet Friendship by Lisa Robin teaches children to value their friendships. Treat others how you want to be treated! 

Snowshoe might’ve not been the picture-perfect friend, but Baked Bean met somebunny who was superb! (FYI: Somebunny was written that way on purpose.) 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Lisa R. Neuder is a debut children’s author from Rockville, Maryland (US). She is a member of The Writers Guild and The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is an organizer of a creative writing group. She is starting an MFA program in the Fall 2022.

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May 11, 2022 · 7:00 am

Greedy the Crow: Finders Keepers – Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem (Book Review)

GREEDY THE CROW: FINDERS KEEPERS by Mother Melania
​Greedy the Crow’s greedy ways are going to get him in trouble! Will anybody help him?

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

When our children are very young, we begin teaching them about fire safety. We teach them the dangers of playing with matches or lighters, what to do if a fire starts (escape route/meet point), and what happens if you catch on fire (stop, drop and roll). 

Greedy the Crow: Finders Keepers – Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way by Mother Melania Salem teaches children some helpful ways you can make your home safe from fires and what to do if a fire starts. 

 

Examples: 

Water and mow your lawn to prevent fires because tall, dry grass can easily catch on fire. 

Don’t block doorways and windows with trash because those are your potential escape exits. 

Have several escape routes because you never know where a fire might start or what exits are blocked. 

Get out quickly! 

All good points and solid advice!

 

Amazon has the recommended reading age of 3 – 8 years for Greedy the Crow: Finders Keepers – Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way. I don’t think most 3-year-olds will be able to read this story yet, but 8-year-olds should be able to, for the most part. There might be a few words that might trip them up. 

No matter the age, though, every child will learn something through the text and very realistic illustrations by Cayce Grace Kruse. 

Special note: Greedy the Crow: Finders Keepers – Teaching Values to Children in a Fun Way contains a link to worksheets, which include a vocabulary page and vocabulary quiz. Check them out! 

 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon
add to goodreads

 

 

 

Meet the Author:

Mother Melania is the Abbess of Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, CA. She grew up in a house that always had tons of children around, her poor parents had to read to her till they were hoarse, and from the moment she learned to read, she always had her nose in a book. So, it was only natural for her to grow up to write children’s books. In her books, she strives to teach virtue in a fun, non-preachy way.
 
 

 

 

 

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