June is National Adopt A Cat Month, so I thought we’d do some cats. At first, I drew a blank and could only come up with my own books despite knowing there are cats in so many stories I’ve read. Then more and more titles started to pop up.
Which is your favourite book with a cat?
Hard Tail by J.L. Merrow
The first kitty to come to mind was Wolverine, an awesome cat. I’m not up to date on all my J.L. Merrow books, but of those I’ve read, there are cats in most of them, and they’re definitely worth reading.
“Finding love can be a bumpy ride. “
His job: downsized out of existence. His marriage: on the rocks. It doesn t take a lot of arm twisting for Tim Knight to agree to get out of London and take over his injured brother s mountain bike shop for a while. A few weeks in Southampton is a welcome break from the wreck his life has become, even though he feels like a fish out of water in this brave new world of outdoor sports and unfamiliar technical jargon.
The young man who falls literally through the door of the shop brings everything into sharp, unexpected focus. Tim barely accepts he s even “in” the closet until his attraction to Matt Berridge pulls him close enough to touch the doorknob.
There s only one problem with the loveable klutz: his bullying boyfriend. Tim is convinced Steve is the cause of the bruises that Matt blows off as part of his risky sport. But rising to the defense of the man he s beginning to love means coming to terms with who he is in public in a battle not even his black belt prepared him to fight. Until now.
Warning: Contains an out-and-proud klutz, a closeted, karate-loving accountant and a cat who thinks it s all about him. Watch for a cameo appearance from the “Pricks and Pragmatism” lovers. May inspire yearnings for fresh air, exercise, and a fit, tanned bike mechanic of your very own. “
https://books2read.com/HardTail
Double Blind by Heidi Cullinan
This is not a book I rec often because it makes me a little (read a lot) uncomfortable. I don’t have a poly bone in my body so whenever we’re talking more than two in a bedroom I wince and squirm and not in a good way. But, Ms Cullinan can write, so if BDSM and multiple partners are your thing, give it a go. And there is a kitten.
Know when to show your hand…and when to hedge your bets.
Randy Jansen can’t stand to just sit by and watch as a mysterious man throws money away on the roulette wheel, especially since Randy’s got his own bet going as to the reason this guy is making every play like it’s his last day on earth. The man’s dark desperation hits Randy right in the gut. Half of him warns that getting involved is a sucker’s bet, and the other half scrambles for a reason—any reason—to save the man’s soul.
Ethan Ellison has no idea what he’s going to do with himself once his last dollar is gone—until Randy whirls into his life with a heart-stealing smile and a poker player’s gaze that sees too much. Randy draws Ethan into a series of wagers that leads to a scorching kiss by midnight, but he isn’t the only one with an interest in Ethan’s vulnerability. Soon they’re both taking risks that not only play fast and loose with the law, but with the biggest prize of all: their hearts.
https://books2read.com/DoubleBlind
The Invasion of Tork
I love this book and I’ve recommended it several times. Today it makes the list because of Dickens the cat LOL
Adam is cool, intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous – all the guys tell him so! When he is forced to start voluntary work at the local homeless shelter, all he worries about is keeping the clients well away from him and finishing the placement as soon as possible. Until he meets Tork.
Tork is clever and funny. He makes origami models and reads Dickens. Tork has green hair and makes Adam’s heart race with longing. But Tork is homeless and not at all impressed with Adam’s attitude.
Can Adam see past his fear and arrogance? Can Tork give Adam a chance?
Can two such different men turn the world upside down and find out what really matters? Read to find out their story.
Content Warning: the story includes reference to and description of self-harming.
https://books2read.com/TheInvasionofTork
Dead Man and the Restless Spirits by Lou Harper
We need a little paranormal in the mix, so here are some ghosts and of course a cat.
Dying sucks hairy monkey balls, even when you’re not the stiff.
Denton Mills has a secret: he can see dead people. Or rather, how they died. It’s quite a drag in a city like Chicago, teeming with the echoes of the no-longer living. Rather than whine about it, Denton has learned to live with his troublesome talent. His adaptability comes in handy when he meets his enigmatic new neighbor.
Bran Maurell catches Denton’s eye right away, but unfortunately Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious is as standoffish as he is alluring. However, after an unexpected introduction from Bran’s cat brings the two men together, Denton discovers they have a mutual interest in the spirit world. Herbalist by day, Bran moonlights as a witch, performing house cleansings for a fee.
From Bran, Denton learns that his knack for interacting with the dead qualifies him as a necromancer. It makes good business sense for them to team up and rid Chicago of its pesky spirits one grateful client at a time. Amongst ghostly adventures the attraction between the men is impossible to ignore. They seem like perfect partners—unless Bran’s not-so-little secret comes between them.
Warning: men loving men, ghosts with attitudes, and a portly feline with hidden talents.
https://books2read.com/DeadManSpirits
Chalk Butterfly The Complete Trilogy by Audra Red
It’s been a long time since I read this, but I remember liking it, and I think there is a cat? Or at least one of the characters really likes cats.
Alexander Price, a sweet and stunning young librarian, is trying to get his own bite of the Big Apple. The only thing holding Alexander back from the life he dreams of is a devastating secret; he suffers from a rare skin disease that makes the skin on his hands and feet as delicate as the wings of a butterfly.
Beyond shy, gorgeous Alexander has never been kissed, though his body craves the touch of a strong, yet gentle man.
One unusual autumn morning on the subway, Alexander meets the handsome and rugged millionaire Daniel Sommers, who is instantly infatuated by the coy and delicate young man. Daniel longs to be the first and only man to open Alexander’s eyes to love, the joys of sex and a life lived without secrets.
https://books2read.com/ChalkButterfly
The Ghost on My Couch by L.A. Gilbert
Ah, bunny slippers. It’s soo many years since I read this, but I doubt I’ll ever forget the ghost on the couch LOL
The Cat’s Meow by Stormy Glenn
Since I’ve mentioned this a zillion times lately, I might just as well continue. I love the beginning of this book. It’s not a book I would include on a list of my absolute favourites, but the beginning LOL
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is not always a bad thing…
Noah Anderson is odd and he knows it. He has a strong obsessive compulsive disorder that keeps him organized but distances him from the world around him. He doesn’t have any friends, family, or even a lover. He’s never had a lover.
When he finds himself in the wrong place at the right time, Noah discovers that the dangers posed by having sex for the first time pale in comparison to having sex with the assassin that comes to kill him, even if it means his life.
Gage Tynan is a killer. It’s what he’s always been. And he excelled at his job until he jumped into the car of a passing motorist when his latest mission goes wrong. The man driving is so odd that Gage suspects he might have been sent to harm him. Gage has no idea that the little man that asks him to take his cat will change his life in ways he has no clue of.
Gage is dragged into a world of shifters and exiled kings, one where his strength will be called upon to keep Noah safe from the pride soldiers sent to keep him from taking the throne.
https://books2read.com/TheCatsMeow
Widdershins by Jordan L. Hawk
I had this there-is-a-cat-in-Widdershins-isn’t-there-thought, so I went searching and ended up reading Rescued which is a flash about how Griffin first found Saul. So yes, there is a cat.
A reclusive scholar. A private detective. And a book of spells that could destroy the world.
Love is dangerous. Ever since the tragic death of the friend he adored, Percival Endicott Whyborne has ruthlessly suppressed any desire for another man. Instead, he spends his days studying dead languages at the museum where he works. So when handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches him to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of the detective as quickly as possible.
Griffin left the Pinkertons after the death of his partner. Now in business for himself, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy young man. His only clue: an encrypted book that once belonged to the victim.
As the investigation draws them closer, Griffin’s rakish charm threatens to shatter Whyborne’s iron control. But when they uncover evidence of a powerful cult determined to rule the world, Whyborne must choose: to remain safely alone, or to risk everything for the man he loves.
Widdershins is the first novel in the Whyborne & Griffin series, where magic, mystery, and m/m romance collide with Victorian era America. Buy it today and join the adventure.
https://books2read.com/Widdershins
Ready for the ego wall??
I’ll pick three. I have more than three books with cats, but Booksy in #PictaBook is an adopted cat. Ginger in Hop Hop, Carrot Top was meant to be a foster, but they kept her. And then we have Toffee and Caramel in Pet Delivery. Gabe’s biggest dream is to start a cat sanctuary.
Jules Rose leads a quiet life working as a librarian. He’s happy to spend his spare time reading books and talking to his homicidal cat. What more could he wish for? But when his cozy Friday night is shattered by a friend request on his book community app, politeness gives him little choice but to accept. Jules doesn’t want to talk to anyone, but he can’t be rude. Besides, if he had to talk about something, books is the topic he’d pick.
Phoenix Ford is dyslexic and avoids everything that has to do with the written word, but when the colleague he’s trying to impress calls him stupid, he decides to convince the other man, he’s mistaken. All he needs is the right book to make him look smart, a perfect balance between intelligent and short. And who better to ask for help than a guy who loves books so much, he labeled one boner-worthy on a book app?
When Jules finds out Phoenix never has read a book from start to finish, he’s on a mission. He will find the right book, the book that will make Phoenix fall in love — with reading. Phoenix’s plan might have been to listen to the book Jules picked for him to impress his colleague, but that was before he got to know him. Talking about books is a sure way to Jules’ heart, but is it enough for him to agree to go on a date?
Flynn Thomas is back in Hartley. His plan is to be out of there before anyone notices he’s back. He left twenty years ago and promised himself he’d never have to face his childhood bullies or set foot in his bigoted hometown ever again. But it’s been six months since his mother passed away, and someone has to clear out the house.
Caspian Cook is out on a walk with his three dogs when he sees Flynn Thomas, at least he thinks it’s Flynn Thomas. He never forgot the red-haired boy his brother used to harass, and he never forgot how he used to wonder if there were freckles underneath his clothes as well as on his face.
Flynn mistakes Caspian for his childhood tormenter and flees. Caspian can guess why he’s in such a hurry to get away, but he hasn’t seen Flynn in twenty years, and if he allows him to run off, he fears he’ll never see him again. Will spending time with Flynn be enough for him to forget who Caspian’s brother is?
Flynn needs help. He underestimated how much work it would be to move his mother’s things. Caspian offers to give him a hand, but can he trust someone who looks like his worst nightmare?
Chris Hart owns the only grocery shop in Nortown, but he isn’t exactly overrun by customers. Some days he wonders why he bothers to open the doors at all. Spending his days smiling at the few people trickling in and his nights alone in bed isn’t the most interesting life a man could lead. But when Chris suddenly gets the excitement he’s been craving, it may be more than he bargained for.
Gabriel Miller loves his life. He’s close to his sister, has a job he adores and is the proud owner of one and a half cats. But all of it is taken away when he witnesses a murder. To keep him safe, the police place him in Nortown, of all possible locations.
Chris can’t believe they’re letting someone live in his gran’s old cabin in the middle of the winter. It’s too cold. When the poor man shows up in his shop looking to buy clothes, Chris’s heart melts, despite the freezing temperature. Gabriel notices the way the shopkeeper looks at him, but it can’t be right. No one looks at a heavyset man with heat in their eyes. Do they?
Kace and Lukas have been best friends for over thirty years, but the last couple of years they haven’t talked much. Lukas’ girlfriend doesn’t like Kace, he doesn’t know why that is, but he’s dreading the wedding invitation or news about a baby on the way he suspects will reach him any day now.
It’s 1947. George is going through the motions, sowing seeds and tending plants and harvesting crops. The nursery went on without him perfectly well during the war and he spends a lot of time during the working day hiding from people and working on his own. In the evening he prowls round the place looking for odd jobs to do.
It’s been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn’t expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway?
Evan Luck is a dragon rider with no dragon. Five years ago, his dragon gave her life defending the monster-ridden remnants of Marble, and ever since, his ability to connect empathically to another dragon had been as broken as his heart. Now he spends his days dodging his disappointed mayor, crafting arrows, fighting off the not-as-legendary-as-they-should-be beasts that’ve overrun America, and just trying to get by in the city of Forge.
I kept tripping over my feet, tripping over my words, and eventually gave up talking all together. You continued to smile anyway.
Ofelia Grand 