Reading Through The Meow 2026

Late but here! Here are some of my personal cat books. The smallest one is a replacement of one that was given to me by friends over 30 years ago but was destroyed by the tornado we went through May 8, 2024. The others were gifts. I saw the Oh It’s You book and thought it was adorable. The other was a gift for either a birthday or Mother’s Day.

Hux is crazy and tries to climb the windows. Kylo is shy. Yes, they are named after Star Wars characters. Hux’s full name is William Hux Weasley to represent two classic Domhnal Gleeson roles – General Hux and Bill Weasley. Kylo Ben Solo represents the good in Ben Solo. The brightness that was always there. (OK, I almost went on a tangent but stopped.)

One of my favorite cat related book series is from the late author Lillian Jackson Braun – The Cat Who series. When my husband and I were dating, we exchange books that we loved. I sent him one of The Cat Who books and he sent me Watchers by Dean Koontz, a book about a dog. Both of us love cats and dogs.

You can purchase The Cat Who Series from Bookshop.org. I’ve added some of them to my storefront that benefits Queen Bee Little Free Library. Her books are also available at Amazon and other retailers.

Happy #ReadingtheMeow2026 🐈 🐈‍⬛️

Starting Tomorrow: Reading the Meow 2026

Tomorrow’s the 15 of June 2026 which means we officially start #ReadingtheMeow2026, an annual week-long celebration of cats in books. To participate, simply pick a book with cats in it (with some role preferably), read and share your thoughts, on your blog, facebook, twitter, instagram or even here in the comments below. Tag it #ReadingtheMeow2026. […]
Starting Tomorrow: Reading the Meow 2026

Kylo, Hux, and I have been waiting for this week. We can’t wait to share. If you’ve got cat books or other cat related book content, join in. Just read the original post!

Gentlemen Prefer Martians by Jack Bodett

Author: Jack Bodett
Narrators: Neill Thorne & Rebecca Winder
Star Rating: 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀
Scoville Spice Scale: 🫑
Hours: 7 hours 37 minutes

“Voila! Puffy Egg Pillows!”
I laughed. “Where we come from we call those breakfast burritos.”

I don’t know what Jack Bodett’s secret is but I swear these installations of No Stress Space Express, this one being Gentleman Prefer Martians, get funnier and funnier. I listened to this in the car on the way down to the beach with my 93 year old mom. It made it twice as fun because the puns and wit just hit harder. My guffawing guffawed and the cakckles I cackled were loud. Thank you, Jack, for inviting us on this journey with you and the crew of “NESSIE”.

In this book, we get to see some sticky situations 🤭, witness precision piloting abilities, an Empath who speaks other people’s truth 🎉, meet lots of new people including a whole host of traveling Carnival workers because Captain Rusty aka Capt Scruffy agrees a side job with Karlie and crew. It all comes to a guaranteed happy ending because this is Cozy Scifi ✨️

I still sit in awe of the vocal talents of Neill Thorne and Rebecca Winder. All the voices they are able to create (aka pull off) make this sound like an ensemble cast. They deserve all the accolades and kudos in the universe plus a Puffy Egg Pillow.

I’d like to thank Jack Bodett and High Gravity Productions for this gifted Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can find Jack Bodett on Substack. Here is the home of High Gravity Productions.

Gentlemen Prefer Martians is Available on Audible and Amazon.

How The Term ‘Romantasy’ Is Misleading Readers

We’ve all heard it… X is the new ‘romantasy’ release of the year. If there’s a supernatural creature and romance, surely that means it’s Romantasy… especially if it has been written by a female author. But I beg to differ! Sometimes it’s just an epic fantasy book with a bit of romance… sometimes it’s a […]
How The Term ‘Romantasy’ Is Misleading Readers

K-Books is one of my favorite bloggers and this is an excellent post on term Romantasy as an umbrella instead of it being used on the actual genre.

You would not believe how beautiful this Special Edition is. Go take a look on Kickstarter

Spies, Lies, And Alibis Advanced Review

HAPPY PUB DAY!
Author: Natalie Walters
Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Scoville Spice Scale 🫑

I love comedy and this was definitely a high stakes mystery comedy of errors with a side order of Second Chance Romance.

Our FMC and MMC, Cybil Langford and Ben Bennett bump into each other at a reception in a Museum. Well acquainted since childhood, neither knows what the other is doing trying to plant a device in time for a private meeting. Out for the same thing, working at different angles, still fighting like two kids, can these two last long enough not to get the other killed?

Ok, this was a Master Class in Banter and Humor complete with a Festival Parade featuring a shirtless sculpted man in a cape, wolf mask and Cybil being dressed as the bride surrounded by decoy brides. This international story keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next, those feelings that are catching – are they going to fizzle or light up, who is Cybil working for, is Kentucky Fried going to live or commit Roostercide?🐓

Read This Book If You Love:

👀 Whose Pulling The Strings
🍝 A Trip To An Italian Villa (complete with lost luggage)
🎭 Unexpected Parades With A Wedding 👰🐺
🥋 She Can Fight For Herself
💞 Chance Second Romance
❣️He Falls First
🍑🍐🍌 Food War
🐓 Demon Rooster
👵 Grandma’s Out Of Control

And now a word about our narrators, Andrew Eiden and Dominique Salvacion. 🎙 OutFREACKINGstanding. They both pulled off the serious and hysterical parts of their roles using a vast number of accents, vocal styles, and just downright panache. Bravo!

Thank you to the Author, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson for a gifted copy of both the Advanced Reader and Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.

You may obtain a copy of this book from:

Bookshop.org

Amazon.com

Announcing #ReadingtheMeow2026: 15-21 June 2026

A little late as always with my announcement post, but I’m excited once again to be hosting this year #ReadingtheMeow2026 on Literary Potpourri. Reading the Meow is an annual week-long celebration of cats and books, or more precisely books with cats in them. Readers, bloggers, and really, anyone interested can pick any book with a […]
Announcing #ReadingtheMeow2026: 15-21 June 2026

Is this the most perfect reading challenge for me? I’m really excited to join #ReadingtheMeow2026: 15-21 June 2026 I’m sure I could write my own book of haiku dedicated to these little Chucklehead Hooligans (Kylo & Hux):

Don’t believe those sweet…awww! Look at them! Cuties!

And many ones to my beloved Samwise.

My beloved Sammie, 2013-2025 You live in my heart in your own special place.

Rocket Ship Road Trip by Jack Bodett

Author: Jack Bodett
Stars: 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀
Scoville Spice Scale: ½ 🌶

“I slipped an arm around her waist. ‘Nature can be pretty fantastic.’ She wraps both arms around my waist and puts her lips to my ear. ‘Everywhere with you is fantastic.'”

Hoobie, Earthers! Hop on board the No Stress Space Express for this installation – Rocket Ship Road Trip. This time we see our No Stress Space Express team – Rusty and Piper (now married) , Mike, and Jenna (Mike is still pining after Jenna) getting their ship, NSSE (pronounced Nessie), getting ready to ferry three alien doctors, a large medical supply, and a giant bird perch to a planet in desperate need. They’ve retrofit Jenna’s groovy VW Bus style Rocket Ship – GlitterBug so that she is docked to NSSE. However, the convoy hits a wonky part of space and GlitterBug gets knocked off NSSE and needs saving. Rusty and Piper end up in GlitterBug and on quite the adventure where they have an epiphany.

How much did I love this audiobook? So much I am (im)patiently waiting for the next one! I love these characters! They feel like friends (some with tentacles) you’ve known forever. This is fun! Unabashed fun. I’ve recommended this series to so many people. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to jump on the No Stress Space Express so you can get to Rocket Ship Road Trip.

Narrated by Neill Thorne and Rebecca Winder, these talented voice actors are able to bring life to an assortment of characters with effortless expertise. Their ranges are commenable and hysterical.

I’d like to thank Jack Bodett and High Gravity Productions for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

You can acquire the audiobook from Amazon.

They also have the ebook if you want to do an immersive reading.

Can’t Shoot Whiskey

Author: Zoe Forward
Stars: 5 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶
Scoville Spice Scale: 🌶🌶

When Zoe Forward is good, she’s good. But when she’s fantastic, she’s writing a book like Can’t Shoot Whiskey. This book is everything I’d want from a book – mutual pining with mutual “I hate you so MUCH!”. A decision from the past that made no sense and still doesn’t (what the heck, Josh?). A kick 🍑 woman who will throw sass around like it’s her purse…but she’s also being manipulated by her boyfriend. Her estranged father dying leaving her as guardian of her youunger brother who she barely knows, her old home – the farm house, and the vet practice – you know, the large and small animal practice. The one that is in debt to the younger, slicker other doctor who also owns it – oh, hello decision from the past! And then a whopper of a secret stumbled upon.

I devoured this book. Zoe’s passion shines in this book. Her plot twists had me flying backwards! Outb of everything I’ve read by her, this is my favorite. Read this book if you want:

🩺 Alpha Hero who loves kids (animal & human)
🔬Vet Surgeon who is a savant♠️🎭 I hate myself for loving you
🎇 Banter is bantering
⚾️ Field of Dreams moment

And so much more.

Thank you, Zoe Forward, for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can purchase this book from the following retailers:

Find Zoe on Instagram

Inked: Retold

It’s here!!!

The story from Zayn’s point of view.

Inked: Retold isn’t just a retelling, it has 60% new content!!! And a reveal that will blow your mind. Only available on Rachel’s Patreon or in paperback from her website!!

🔥 Coworkers to Lovers
🩶 Forbidden Romance
🔥 Mystical creatures
🩶 Touch Her and ☠️
🔥 Smoldering Incubus Boss
🩶 Tattoo/Blood Magic
🔥 Bombshell reveals
🩶 Slow burn to smoldering
🔥 Scene-SteaIing Familiar

And we all know that last on is our beloved Biscuit! You can a plushie like mine on Rachel’s website.

A look at my entire Rachel Rener Book Collection with some trinkets including my signed Topie(pig).

P.S. Photography is not my strong suit.

Amethysts and Alchemy Kickstarter Cover Review

LOOKIE, LOOKIE AT THIS!!! Amethysts & Alchemy is getting a glow up next month!!

Cover artist: @lizdeltonwrites
Background illustration: @kalmahul

💜 Sparkly purple cover with champagne-gold foil and metallic ink
💜 Champagne Gold edges
💜 Hidden piggies on the cover 🐷
💜 Purple interior

Run, don’t walk!!

Follow the project to be notified on launch! Last time Rachel did a project, us rabid fans broke #kickstarter so make sure you are in the know!

Amethysts & Alchemy Deluxe Special Edition on Kickstarter