Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am happy to welcome Paige Sleuth to Escape With Dollycas today!
Cat Rescue and “Buy in July”
Like many cozy mystery writers and readers, I’m a huge animal lover. My two cats came to me five years ago now, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Anna Belle and Molly not only engage in daily antics to inspire some of the scenes in my Cozy Cat Caper Mystery 
Anna Belle and Molly celebrated their birthday/adoption anniversary last week. They were both rescue cats, and now that they have their own series they like to give back during the month of July. So, this month, $1 from every Paige Sleuth book purchase (for books priced above $0.99) will be donated to the Community Cat Coalition of Clark County (C5) as part of Paige Sleuth’s second annual “Buy in July” event. C5 is a volunteer-powered organization that seeks to reduce the number of cats euthanized every year by trapping and spay/neutering feral cats in the Las Vegas area before releasing them back into their communities. Have you ever seen a cat with a tipped ear, where the top sliver of one ear has been surgically removed? That’s an indication the cat has been fixed, and he or she probably is or was a stray at some point. If you look closely at the Cozy Cat Caper Mystery
If you’re eager to support your own local animal rescue, there are many ways to help. Of course, the biggest thing you can do is adopt your next furry friend from one of these rescues or a local shelter. Besides dogs and cats, many shelters have other small animals looking for homes—rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, you name it! If you’re not ready to make a lifelong commitment but enjoy the company of animals, foster parents are always in demand, especially around this time of year, which is sometimes known as “kitten season.” Foster programs differ by organization, but in most cases you simply have to provide the space, love, and basic needs of the animal until they find their forever home. Anna Belle and Molly actually started off as foster cats, but you know how cats are. After a few days they demanded I adopt them permanently. If fostering isn’t an option, you can still help! Many rescues have wishlists for items in need, so before you throw out those old towels and bedsheets, check to see if your local shelter or rescue can put them to good use. Even just spending some time with the homeless animals is appreciated, and it can benefit you as much as them.
Anna Belle, Molly, and I would love to hear about your own four-legged family members, past or present, and whether you’re involved with animal rescue in your own community. Leave us a comment below. Then we hope you’ll enter our July giveaway for a chance to win one Paige Sleuth book plus a surprise mystery book as selected by Anna Belle (Molly lost the coin toss on that one). And, if you haven’t already, you can check out the Cozy Cat Caper Mystery series for free right now. Details for downloading your free copy of book one, Murder in Cherry Hills, are in the Rafflecopter below. Good luck, and may your July be filled with happiness and love!
~Marla (aka Paige)
About The Author
Paige Sleuth is a pseudonym for mystery author Marla Bradeen. She plots murder during the day and fights for mattress space with her two rescue cats at night. When not attending to her cats’ demands, she writes. She loves to hear from readers, and welcomes emails at paige.sleuth@yahoo.com.
Website Cozy Cat Caper Mystery books Goodreads Amazon author page
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Washington
Self Published (August 8, 2015)
Paperback: 130 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1518798207
E-Book ASIN: B013M8PMG8
Kat Harper has only just returned to her small hometown of Cherry Hills, Washington when she discovers the dead body of her neighbor, Mrs. Tinsdale. Matilda, Mrs. Tinsdale’s orphaned rescue cat, just might be the only eyewitness to the murder. But how do you convince a cat to reveal “whodunit”?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We meet Kat Harper just when she notices Matilda in the hallway. Her neighbor’s door is ajar so that explains how the cat got out. When Kat goes to return the cat, she find her neighbor has been murdered. Kat soon realizes Matilda witnessed her person’s death. Now how can Kat get the cat to help her find the killer?
This series is off to a great start. We just scratch the surface on our lead characters, Kat and Matilda. I would have liked a little more depth and a little more drawn out plot but this is just the first story in a series where there are now 16 books so I am sure as the series continues the characters are more fleshed out.
This was a fun, light cozy that I enjoyed very much. A fast read too. I will be returning to Cherry Hills soon to visit with Kat and Matilda again.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I think this book sounds perfect for me. I have two rescued kitties that I’ve had for 21 years, since they were only about 10 days old. Sharon catwoman-1(at)comcast(dot)net
I love that, Sharon! I didn’t meet Anna Belle and Molly until they were five and two years old respectively, but I’m hoping we get to enjoy one another until they’re both well into their twenties. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
This series sounds so good and i love that the cats are included in all the books. Will have to start with #1 since this is a new author to me and get a print then read and review and go to the next thank you for featuring
Thanks, Peggy! Molly and Anna Belle insisted they get to be included with the books, and you know how demanding cats can be! I hope you enjoy the stories. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Sounds really good and I like having cats in the story.
Stories with cats in them are my favorite, too, Donamae. And I promise Anna Belle and Molly didn’t make me type that! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Thank you to Marla for the giveaway, your kitties are adorable! Thanks to Lori for hosting as well!
Aw, thank you! That topmost picture is my favorite. Molly and Anna Belle are actually not cuddly cats, but I guess they knew I wanted at least one shot of them hugging! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
I love any book that has a cat in it and this is right up my alley. Thanks for hosting it on your blog and for the chance to win a book.
My cats told me this series wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without a couple of four-legged characters. I have to agree with them. Good luck in the contest! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Beautiful cats. Thanks for the chance to win a print copy of your book
Thank you, Elaine! I certainly think they’re beautiful, but I’m biased. Good luck in the giveaway! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Books look great. Thanks for a chance to read your book.
Thank you, Barb! Good luck in the giveaway. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
I was a recipient of one cat during my working years and Sissy really treated me like “staff”. I got rescued by Toby the Wonder Weiner who spent 14 years as my lil sidekick. I lost him the year of Hurricane Sandy and now we have a pair of zebra finch…with my disabilities, they are less care… Gllad to help support your cause–we need to “speak for those who have no voice” as the Little Olive Foundation says.
Sounds like you’ve had quite a collection of animals, Andrea! My Molly definitely views me as her staff. I’m pretty sure she thinks my main purpose in life is to open cans and dish out food for her. And thanks so much for helping to support the animals. I agree that we need to speak out on their behalf, because how boring would life be without them? –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Another new to me author, although how I missed one with this many books I have no clue. This definitely sounds like my type of series, thanks for bringing it to my attention.
There are so many books out there it’s easy to overlook some. I’m glad you found me though! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Being owned by a cat I always enjoy a cat cozy mystery. This series sounds like it will be a purr-fect read for me this summer. Thanks for the giveaway!
Cats are naturally curious, which make them the purr-fect mystery sidekicks! Thanks for commenting, and good luck in the contest. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
You have two beautiful cat babies.
Thank you! And don’t they know it, too! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
This is a new series to me. I really enjoyed the description of the books and I’m looking forward to reading the series.
Thank you, Dianne! I hope you enjoy reading these books as much as I enjoy writing them. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
So hoping. Have adopted only rescues over that past 25 yrs. Plus chased an abused kitty down a few years ago. She was so skittish. She took to me only. Appointed herself as my caretaker and protector. She protected me twice from a perceived danger. I have 2 cats and 2 dogs now. The dogs are elderly, that had gotten ‘traded in for a younger model’ by scum who are not nearly as loving and loyal as their pets are. I have often found animals to be far more compassionate and caring than most people. My first cat cozy was Cat under fire by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. I got it and The Cat Who read backwards at the same time at a used book store 20 something years ago. Have all in those 2 series. Been keeping my eyes open for others. Which surprised my when I recently learned of yours. Thought I was looking better than that. My bad So hoping for a win. So I can start sooner.
It sounds like you and your cat saved each other, Della! I’m not surprised she took to you. I’ve found that animals have a good sense of who they can trust, and they aren’t blinded to things like money and prestige as people sometimes are. Trading in animals is something I will never understand, but I’m so happy those dogs ended up with you. Good luck in the contest! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
I love your cats and can’t wait to read your entire series.
Thanks so much! My cats certainly make life more interesting. I hope you enjoy the books! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Looking forward to reading this new to me series! I am very involved in local rescue. I have become the default cat person at my local humane society, so am largely responsible for bottle feeding, arranging foster homes, and running our TNR program. We received our first ever grant this year that is allowing us to TNR 250 cats.
I love how involved you are, Susan! Your local humane society is lucky to have you. And congratulations on your grant. TNR is so critical to helping to reduce the overpopulation issue. C5, the organization I’m supporting with this “Buy in July” event, has some impressive statistics up on their page (http://www.c5-tnr.org/) about how dramatically the number of cats euthanized at local shelters has decreased since the inception of their program. Here’s hoping your program is just as successful, and thank you for helping the kitties! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
My husband and I had 3 cats, but only have one left, Sambuca, who is 19 years old. Our last one, Margherita, left us at the age of 21. Bacardi, a Maine Coon, left us early at the age of 14 due to a genetic condition of the heart that we could not control. So, as you can see, we love our cats, dearly. Sambuca will be a solitary kitty due to his age. They have all been rescues, and we have had them since they were kittens. They are my favorite genre of Cozy Mysteries.
I hope my cats are around as long as yours are, Lizz! You know you’re doing something right when they live into their twenties, but like the situation with your Bacardi, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do. Molly and Anna Belle send Sambuca lots of love! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
These are new books to me. Can’t wait to start reading!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the series. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
Thank you for the giveaway.
My pleasure, Donna. Good luck! –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)
All of my kitties have been adopted from shelters.
My cats approve, Jana Leah! They say rescue pets are the best, and I have to agree with them. –Marla (aka Paige Sleuth)