by Sandra Murphy
& Bethany Blake

This week we have a review of the latest Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery by Bethany Blake, along with a fun guest post by Bethany about weddings. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of Something Borrow, Something Mewed. There is also a link to purchase it Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed: A Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery by Bethany Blake
Review by Sandra Murphy

Piper has always been the favorite child. Daphne’s used to that. After all, Piper’s a veterinarian which means a regular income. She has her own home. Daphne loves to see the world, not much planning involved. Once home again, she started pet sitting and making dog treats. She’s living in a cottage on Piper’s property. And now, Piper’s getting married.

Their mother, Maeve, is beside herself. Daphne is the maid of honor. No one can explain how their normally chic mother let the wedding planner talk her into a red, white, and blue Fourth of July themed wedding. Of course, Piper didn’t have a vote in the decision. The Statue of Liberty bridesmaid’s gown were the worst part of the day.

That is, until six brides found out Abigail, their planner, had booked them all into the same reception area, on the same day, at the same time. Since the groom is moving to England for a few months, Piper would like to be married before he leaves. Daphne and her bestie, Moxie, are moving at a dead run to make that happen. Unfortunately, dead has other meanings for Daphne since she has the misfortune of finding bodies. This time is no different when Abigail turns up in the fountain.

Besides the murder, the wedding, pet sitting, and 300 dog treats to bake, Daphne has problems in her own love life with the hunky detective, Jonathan. He’s been out of town for a few weeks and arrives home just in time to find Daphne sitting with Abigail’s body.

This is the fifth book in the series. Socrates the Basset remains a favorite character as Daphne interprets his sighs, looks, and moans. She continues to get into predicaments like aboard the Tiny-tanic, a refurbished rowboat along with a Pug and a Chihuahua for crew mates. Daphne’s relationship with Jonathan is full of potential pitfalls, but the rewards far outweigh them.

I picked up on one clue and thought I had the killer nailed only to find out, there’s a lot more to the story. With the background of romance, possibility of disasters, dead bodies, and surprises, this series has a solid place on my Best of Reviews List. Again.

Recipes for Something’s Fishy Cat Treats, Fruity Pupsicles, Meow Mash-Up Cat Food (fish and clams) are included. Humans were not forgotten. There’s a recipe for Daisy Carpenter’s Secret Potato Salad with Dill.

An interesting new character is introduced in this book and has earned herself a series of her own. It starts with A Brushstroke with Death, an Owl and Crescent mystery, due out in November. An excerpt is included.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She writes about eco-friendly topics, pets and wildlife for magazines and reviews mysteries and thrillers for KRL. A collection of her short stories, published by Untreed Reads, From Hay to Eternity: Ten Tales of Crime and Deception can be found at all the usual outlets. Each one is a little weird and all have a twist you won’t see coming.

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed
By Bethany Blake

Were you the type of person who dreamed of a lavish wedding—or did you think quietly eloping, or a visit to the justice of the peace, would be good enough?

As the June “wedding season” rolls along, I’ve been reflecting a lot on weddings, including my own, which took place more than twenty years ago. As an introvert, the thought of a big wedding horrified me. So many eyes, all on me? No, thanks! Instead, my husband and I had a small ceremony. Maybe forty guests, drawn from our closest friends and family.

Bethany Blake and her dog Big Pup

I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money, preferring to save up to travel and buy a house. I think my gown cost about $125, and, since it was a fall wedding, I bought potted mums and put them on the tables at our reception, held in a lovely inn on the banks of a pretty creek called the Yellow Breeches. My sister was my only attendant, and a friend loaned her a dress.

There was no family drama, and no stress. But I realize that’s not always the case. Maybe because they’re so emotionally charged, and often so expensive, weddings seem tailor-made for “bridezilla” moments and family meltdowns.

What a great setting for a murder mystery!

In my new book, Something Borrowed, Something Mewed, down-to-earth bride Piper Templeton wants a simple ceremony. But her mother and mother-in-law have different ideas. The team of domineering moms hire an obnoxious wedding planner—who angers everyone and ends up dead, the victim of homicide.

Luckily, Piper’s sister, pet sitter and amateur sleuth Daphne Templeton rushes in to solve the case and save the day, with the help of her boyfriend, Detective Jonathan Black. Together, aided by the quirky denizens of pet-friendly Sylvan Creek, they plan a quiet ceremony that is, of course, designed to be pet friendly. (Picture a basset hound in a bow tie.)

Looking back, there’s not much I would’ve changed about my wedding. But if I could do it all over again, I would’ve included my cat, Boochie. Pets are family, too, and she would’ve looked so cute with a little flower corsage attached to her collar. If I ever renew my vows, the whole menagerie I live with now will definitely be there!

To enter to win a copy of Something Borrowed, Something Mewed, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “mewed,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 29, 2019. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode goes up next week.

Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #5)

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Bethany Blake lives in rural Pennsylvania, where it’s not uncommon to share the road with horse-drawn buggies. When she’s not writing, she likes to travel, cook and hang out with her dog, Big Pup, and her cat, Potpie.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.