Farewell to Felines By Kathi Daley: Review/Giveaway

by Kathleen Costa

This week we have a review of a fun new book by Kathi Daley, and a fun little extra bit about some homemade treats for your cats from the evermineOccasions blog. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win either a print or kindle copy of Farewell to Felines, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Caitlin, Cats, and Curious Conundrums!
First published in January 2015 with Romeow and Juliet, Kathi Daley’s Whales and Tails Mystery series has garnered a huge fan base receiving an average of 4.55 stars for her fifteen books. Her delightful stories are set on the fictional Madrona Island off the coast of Washington State and treat us to clever cozy mysteries with a twist. Caitlin Hart helps out at the Harthaven Cat Sanctuary, and with her BFF/partner Tara, she manages the popular coffee bar/bookstore/cat lounge Coffee Cat Books. But, it’s the murder and mayhem, often close to home, that tends to grab her attention. Along with a rich group of friends and family, she gets some unique assistance from a variety of cats. Magical? That’s what some say, but it works…no juvenile hocus-pocus. Whatever feline pops into her life, they tend to be very important for focus and direction. Although life has evolved and relationships have become more serious, newbies can start the series at any point. It is a fun and engaging cozy!

They’re gone…the cats are a special part of Madrona Island. They live in the hollow and are thought to be magical, and Caitlin is thought to be their guardian. They come to her when trouble (i.e. murder) needs her attention. Hiking through the hollow Caitlin and Tansy, thought to be a witch herself, sense the cats are leaving and neither understand why. They do sense the balance in which they live seems broken. However, a brown cat with bright eyes and pointy ears appears. Tansy says “Apollo” is here to help Caitlin with another pressing issue…someone has died. The suspects and motives begin to pile up. Jealousy? Anger? Payback? The cat just might hold the key…“Meoooow!”

Another excellent book from Kathi Daley, engaging and entertaining. Yes, the cats that pop up (my favorite part) seem odd, but it works well and provides a clever literary vehicle to explain how the characters come upon the dead body, clues, and evidence. More realistic is the way the friends and family work together with their “murder board” showing critical thinking in action. Kathi writes even the mundane use of brainstorming as an engaging way to spread out all the suspects with motive, opportunity, and means. From there the characters engage the suspects in conversation (formal or informal), peruse reports and documents, and collaborate with law enforcement (well, of course, he’s Cait’s brother-in-law). All this, a major storm, and, spiced with a unique intuition, includes developing or evolving relationships (no spoilers…there have been fifteen books): Cait and now fiancé Cody, sister Siobhán’s pregnancy and husband/deputy Finn, Cait’s mother’s upcoming marriage to a defrocked priest, BFF Tara’s relationship with birth mother/Sister Mary, brothers, sisters, and a town full of characters all entwine to make for a very entertaining experience…a big fan favorite!

Farewell to Felines earns 5/5 Mysterious Feline Sidekicks!

Mix with Murder and Bake!
Several of Kathi Daley’s books are known to include easy-to-follow recipes for tasty treats submitted by her fans. Joining her recipe exchange group and submitting a personally created recipe could put you in a book. In “Farewell to Felines” we have four treats perfect for a Mother’s Day tea, book club, or potluck office gathering: Cranberry Salad…fruit, fruit, and J-E-L-L-O! Crab Nachos…crab? Yes, please. Cherry Cream O Cheese Pie…aka “Cheater Cheesecake” Open-faced Apple or Plum Cake…let them eat…cake! Enjoy!

Like, Visit, Join, and Follow…Oh, my!
Facebook – Kathi Daley Books
Join the Club Kathi Daley Book Club
On the Web Kathi Daley Website
Join the Group Kathi Daley Books Recipe Exchange

Homemade Treats for Your Fur-Friend — Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats
By Rachel Beyer
Our fur-friends are also an important member of our families, and therefore we want the best for them and healthy treats are one way to provide that. At a popular web spot, evermineOccasions, are some “Unique DIY Ideas for Every Occasion.” Rachel Beyer, an artist, designer, and creative maker based in Portland, Oregon, loves crafting, party planning, and illustration. She runs her own creative blog, Adventures In Making, and also has a line of greeting cards, art prints, and handmade goodies called Camp Smartypants. Check out her delightful blog that provides a marvelous easy-to-follow recipe for Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats.

evermineOccasions Rachel’s Blog – Crunchy Tuna Cat Treats (3/23/15)

To enter to win either a print or kindle copy of Farewell to Felines, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “felines,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 14, 2018. U.S. residents only for the print copy. If entering via email please include your mailing address, and if via comment please include your email address. PLEASE STATE IN ENTRY WHETHER YOU WANT PRINT OR KINDLE.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

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

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. 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.

Tagged as: book, cats, Farewell Felines, Kathi Daley, mystery