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CLAWS OF DEATH, the second book in the Cat Lady Mystery series by Linda Reilly, is a sweet, sentimental story that is also an entertaining whodunit with a mystical twist! Protagonist Lara Caphart, with her Aunt Fran, have turned their home into High Cliff Shelter for Cats in the small New Hampshire town of Whisker Jog. Lara has a “guardian”, a Ragdoll cat that only she can see, who guides her and helps match up felines with fur-ever homes. Even if you’re not a cat person, you can’t help but love the sweet scenes connecting kitties with homes, especially when children are involved. I also enjoyed the ideas Lara comes up with to involve the community with the shelter, especially having kids practice reading to the cats waiting for families! I also appreciated that Ms. Reilly starts the book with a list of feline characters living at their shelter. It’s an adorable touch.

The mystery plot is fast paced with plenty of suspects to guess about who murdered a local man and if the new resident in town, actress Deanna Daltry, is really guilty. I love mysteries that weave in long-ago stories that need unraveled in order to solve the current day crime. Ms. Reilly’s writing flows and the clues are sprinkled evenly throughout the story to keep the reader guessing and turning pages. The subplots added to the appeal of the book yet didn’t detract from the main event. The suspenseful conclusion had me turning pages faster and faster and ended on a sweet, emotional note. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for Lara and her mystical Ragdoll, Blue!

In the story, Lara meets her boyfriend’s uncle and makes a connection with the elderly man. She bakes him a Blueberry Buckle and thankfully the author includes a recipe for it at the back of the book. My family adores blueberries so I knew it would be a hit! There’s nothing better than sweet, ripe blueberries paired with a tender, moist cake. Adding some vanilla ice cream to each serving makes this the perfect summer treat!

Amazon Synopsis

Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, is a long way from Hollywood, but it’s the place legendary actress Deanna Daltry wants to call home. Taking up residence in a stone mansion off Cemetery Hill, the retired, yet still glamorous, septuagenarian has adopted two kittens from Lara Caphart’s High Cliff Shelter for Cats. With help from her Aunt Fran, Lara makes sure the kitties settle in safely with their new celebrity mom.

But not everyone in town is a fan of the fading star. Deanna was in Whisker Jog when she was younger, earning a reputation for pussyfooting around, and someone is using that knowledge against her. After being frightened by some nasty pranks, Deanna finds herself the prime murder suspect when the body of a local teacher is found on her property. Now, it’s up to Lara, Aunt Fran, and the blue-eyed Ragdoll mystery cat Lara recently encountered to collar a killer before another victim is pounced upon . . .

A special thanks to Linda Reilly for providing a winner with an e-book copy of CLAWS OF DEATH! Contest ends Sunday, July 22, 2018 at 11:59 pm PST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Lara's Blueberry Buckle

Ingredients

Ingredients for cake:

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour (preferably sifted)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh blueberries

Ingredients for streusel topping:

1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or to taste)
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter

Instructions

Directions for cake:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.
In a bowl, blend the flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, 3/4 cup sugar, egg, vanilla, and lemon zest.
Alternately add the milk and the flour mixture to the sugar/butter mixture.
Add blueberries, stirring only enough to blend.
Pour batter into pan.

Instructions for streusel topping:

In a small bowl, blend the white and brown sugars, flour, and cinnamon.
With a fork or pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.
Sprinkle evenly over the cake batter.
Bake at 375 degrees (F) for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on wire rack, then serve right from pan.

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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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35 thoughts on “Lara’s Blueberry Buckle”

No, I haven’t had a cat since I was a kid.

All three of my cats were from different rescues and so were my two dogs.

YES! Our little dog must have known this black cat was in our yard – she’d been hanging around in our garage off and on, so we started leaving food for her. Started coming inside a few times, and after taking her to the vet, realized she’d already been fixed! We put signs out about a lost cat, but no one ever claimed her. My daughter named her Toby (no idea why) and she became an indoor cat at night after getting bit (another vet visit, poor thing!). Gradually, she only went outside a few times during warm weather and would come back in within half an hour. Passed on after getting thyroid disease. We miss her!! LOVE Blueberry Buckle, might have to make it, YUMMO!!

Presently my family have a mother and six kittens that are about 4-5 weeks old, we are caring for. We already have two male cats who both were rescued. My husband has told me, “We are not taking in another cat.” But we will see who wins. Thanks for the delicious looking recipe.

I volunteered at the local humane society for several years a d have adopted 5 cats and 2 dogs

Yes, we have.

We adopted 3 together in November 2015: Eliza, Natasha, and Gracie. We went fot two then they brought Gracie in and she loudly told us she wanted to come home with us; when my husband unthinkingly uttered the statement that 3 are no more trouble than 2, I snatched up Gracie and we brought them all home. They are mischievous, loving, funny, and the reason we couldn’t have a full sized decorated tree last Christmas. Wouldn’t trade them for the world! ???

No adopt, very allergic. Still love cats.

I have never adopted a rescue cat.Thank you for a chance to win a e-book copy of Claws Of Death.

I think this is a really great recipe that my whole family would like.

Every cat I have ever had has been a rescue! They needed me and I needed them!

No I haven’t!

My two cats, Hamilton and Jefferson were adopted from a shelter. They are great boys and they make me laugh every day.

Yes we have rescued several cats who appeared at our door and some from rescue groups.

Yes I have. Turned out to be the best cat ever.

We are currently feeding several cats who have showed up at our house. I’m a cat lover, but can’t have one in the house since I’m also allergic to them. I play with them, wash my hands up to the elbow and then take an allergy pill.

Rescue dogs and Cats growing up….yes but I moved around a lot so not at present. Thank you for the chance…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

I’ve adopted a cat from the shelter I use to work at, one from the vets office I worked at, and I’ve rescued several others after being set out. Same for all my dogs but one were rescued.

My Belle was a private rescue. The owner said they were going to take her to have her put to sleep as they were divorcing and neither one of them wanted her. My husband worked with the husband and when he told me that I said no way we’ll take her. She is the sweetest little girl, she is a Hemingway cat. Barnabas was got at a shelter in Salem, MA and he’s a black cat with fangs that hang out of his mouth. They had sent an email saying that they were having a hard time adopting out black cats. They had them all in this one play room and I just sat there and Barnabas came over to me so he was the one we took. I also take care of 2 strays that I call Buddy and Lil Fella. I just got involved with this program that captures and releases after they have been fixes and gotten there rabies shots, etc. Lil Fella is all set, now we are trying to catch Buddy but he is very wily.

Not officially, but I did get our black cat B’gheera from the animal shelter, does that count? She was one of 9 kittens that were left in a box on the side of the expressway. She was sooo small. We were told she was 8weeks old, but there was no way she was even 4weeks. She barely ate, and for years she was absolutely afraid of men.. it took my husband a while before she would go to him. She was such a good girl. She passed away 6 years ago.

I have an 19 year old rescue cat.

Yes years ago but she passed. Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

Pretty much all my pets are rescue, the dog I have is a drop off, one cat is a drop off and the other cat we got from Pet Smart’s rescue.

We have had 3 rescue cats and about a dozen rescue dogs. Also have rescue rabbits, snakes, and peacocks

yes, several times. They were all great pets and very loving

Yes! I just brought home my latest cat baby last month!

Yes. When I was younger we found three kittens that had been thrown from a car. We took them to the animal shelter to have them checked out. One of them had medical issues from being tossed out so we had to leave him there. Fortunately a UPS driver was there at the time and fell in love with him. He visited everyday and paid all the expenses of the medical treatment so we know that kitten found a loving home. We adopted the other two. They lived long, happy lives with us. Now we a rescue dog. My experience with rescue animals is that we may be rescuing them, but they also are rescuing us.