on Paper/eBook
**NB This review first appeared in the February ARRA newsletter**
The Geek with the Cat Tattoo by Theresa Weir – B+ This delightful novella is the second book in the “Cool Cats” series. There were supposed to be three, but I think the third book has been shelved for now. The first book was Girl With the Cat Tattoo (scroll down the link for my mini review). I liked Geek better but both a fun and quirky stories. Both stories feature a cat’s POV.
In Geek, the cat is Sam. He has been through a number of different owners but has yet to find his “forever owner”. When he meets Emerson Foshay, maker and repairer of musical instruments, he has high hopes. Sam has a secret super-power – he can “mindmess” with people. This is usually only in the form of getting them to empty the cat litter tray or buy him the expensive cat food, but when he sees how tongue-tied Emerson gets around Lola Brown, a regular customer in the shop, he steps in to help. Both Emerson and Lola get a POV but I admit I had a soft spot for Sam here.
With Sam’s help Emerson and Lola begin a relationship and Emerson starts to overcome his shyness. However, it’s not all smooth sailing and when Sam is “found” by his former (evil) owner, Emerson no longer has Sam’s “mindmessing” to help him and things fall apart. Even worse is to come however, when Sam’s former owner (because: reasons) wants Sam destroyed and before too long Emerson and Lola have to put aside their own problems to rescue Sam before it’s too late.
It is a fairly short story but the romance is very satisfying and Sam the cat is just awesome.
BUY IT:
AMAZON
It’s All Geek To Me by JL Merrow – B This is a cute little short – just under 50 pages. JL Merrow is one of the few authors I’m prepared to spend $2.99 on at that word count. I think it takes a particular talent to write an engaging and complete short story and while the subject matter is fairly light, I think she does a good job here.
Jez is a non-geek rugby-loving lab technician who has a bit of a complex about his looks after his ex did a number on him. When his friend Tel is in the hospital having broken both legs in a car vs. bike accident where he came off the definite loser, Jez is tasked with finding a comic book to replace the one damaged in the crash. Upon arrival at the comic store, he becomes deeply smitten by Rhys, the gorgeous guy behind the counter. Jez, desperate to impress Rhys begs “geek lessons” from Tel. It actually plays into his Jez’s lack of confidence and so it made sense and even though it was a bit of deception it was the kind I find fairly easy to forgive.
I don’t think the twist at the end will surprise many people but the journey is a bit of fun and there are some cute references to “Pitcraft” and “Daisies vs. Ghouls” which made me chuckle. I like the British idiom in the book and Merrow’s humour and style suit me. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but if you’re in the mood for something not too heavy, not very long and a bit funny and sexy, this might be just the thing.
BUY IT:
AMAZON
Coming Soon
on Audio
Reviews of these books will be up soon at AudioGals.
Links
Here’s what you may have missed:
Unraveled by Jen Frederick
Do or Die by Suzanne Brockmann
Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk
My Sweetest Escape by Chelsea M. Cameron
Marked by Kit Rocha, Vivian Arend and Lauren Dane
Kaleidoscope by Kristen Ashley
Carolina Girl by Virginia Kantra
at AudioGals
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, narrated by Kate Reading
Tempting the Player by J. Lynn, narrated by Kaleo Griffith
Unbound by Cara McKenna, narrated by Lucy Rivers
Collide by Gail McHugh, narrated by Mary Kowal
at Dear Author
Be With Me by J. Lynn
Slow Burn by Sam B. Morgan
Eagle’s Heart by Alyssa Cole
Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard (a joint review with Janine)