The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy + giveaway!

The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
e-book: 256 pages
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher: Entangled
Release date: December 13, 2012

Series: Witch's Brew #1

Source: Review copy from Bewitching Book Tours

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon

When a magical presence is detected around a recent string of feline slayings, Libby, an enchantress, is determined to discover who is behind the odd deaths. Being a witch gifted by the Goddess to conjure spells won’t protect her from the sexy warlock the Coven sends to assist her. Kale weaves a spell more powerful than any she’s ever seen.

While having the muscle around proves to be useful in her investigation, fighting her growing attraction for Kale is worse than a hex, especially considering the secrets she knows he’s keeping. But when her spells turn up clues that point to something far more sinister than slaughtered cats, the elusive warlock becomes the least of her worries.

Libby finds herself in the midst of an uprising. She trusts no one and isn’t safe—not from the warlocks stirring up trouble. Not from the worrisome rebellion she can’t escape. And certainly not from Kale, who is weaving a very dangerous spell over her heart.

Don't let the cover fool you: THE CAT'S MEOW isn't nearly as silly as you might expect based on the cover art. I think the book got something of a raw deal with this cover (no offense to the designer) since it doesn't really capture the full spirit of the novel and might have people discounting it. I know I was expecting something really fluffy and smexy when I first saw it and I was on the fence but I decided to request a review copy when I was won over by reading an excerpt.

Don't get me wrong. There are definitely some sexy moments between Libby and Kale but there's a great mystery at the heart of THE CAT'S MEOW: Libby and Kale are investigating a slew of mutilated cats, which eventually puts them on the trail of some serious dark magic. Libby's used to investigating on her own as her coven's Enchantress so she's a little put out and confused by Kale's presence. Kale is a new warlock in her coven, which puts her back up because (a) Libby has a grudge against warlocks and (b) she knows he's keeping secrets from her. Watching her overcome her prejudices and some justified anger made THE CAT'S MEOW a fun, engaging read.

To be honest, though, there are some predictable elements in the story, especially if you tend to read a lot of romance, paranormal or otherwise. I was able to guess what Kale's secret was, for example, but the predictability didn't detract overmuch from my enjoyment of THE CAT'S MEOW since I was still charmed by Libby and Kale's blossoming relationship, and by Libby herself. And a lot of the book's elements are less obvious, so there were still moments that came as a surprise, particularly as the plot builds to the book's climax. There are some really cool moments in the last third of the book and I was flying through the pages to discover what was really going on with all the dark magic around Charleston.

Plus, I can get past some predictability as long as the characters keep me hooked, and that was the case in THE CAT'S MEOW. I really enjoyed watching Libby and Kale fall for each other, and I really enjoyed Libby as a character on her own, right from the start. It took me a little bit longer to warm up to Kale, partially because he's named after a vegetable and partially because of the walls he's got up to maintain his mystery.

On the whole, despite some obvious plot points, I enjoyed reading THE CAT'S MEOW and look forward to seeing what comes next for Libby, since this is the first book in a series. I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled at the library when the next book comes out. I may not need THE CAT'S MEOW on my shelf but I'd definitely enjoy revisiting this world and these characters down the road.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

We have one (1) e-copy of THE CAT'S MEOW for a lucky winner!

Open internationally

Ends on Thursday, February 14, 2013
(this giveaway runs for one week only!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This post is part of Stacey Kennedy's blog tour! You can check out the rest of the stops by clicking on the button:

Posted by jenn at 06:38

 Entangled, giveaway, Review, Stacey Kennedy, Witch  14 People left their mark

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jenn moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, eight years ago for school. She's still in school (thankfully on another degree!), now trapped in her dissertation. When she's not dissertating, which happens more often than it should, Jenn spends her time reading, watching movies, playing volleyball, travelling, and enjoying the local music scene. Her latest addictions: yoga and Almond Crunch cereal.