BOOK NOOK; Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter

 "They wouldn't believe me when I told them I was okay alone...When people learned I had my cat, Pigeon, I became subject to the 'Cat Lady' label.  Something that is bashed round quite casually, but it's extremely insulting because no-one means it as a compliment. People are not commenting on the love you feel for your furry friend, they are insinuating that you are lonely and isolated. Possibly even unlovable."

This book appealed to me on so many levels and I was delighted when Harper Collins sent me an ARC of Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter.  Not only have I been a cat lady myself, being a cat-mom for eighteen years to my feline, Pyewackett, until he sadly died, but as a counsellor and bereavement therapist I have worked with all kinds of grieving clients, including those who have sadly lost their beloved pets.   

Working as a grief counsellor usually means that the loss happened a few months before you meet your client, but while working in an emergency vet practice, I have been there to help clients deal with grief when it is at its most raw, in the moments immediately following a pet's death, usually by euthanasia.  Raw grief is very, very difficult to witness day after day, and losing a pet is a grief like no other, for someone has suddenly lost the only creature who loved them unconditionally. 

Cat Lady is the story of a woman in her forties and her extremely special relationship with her cat, a grey feline she named Pigeon.  Mia is a complex character, married to a man who had a very amenable divorce from his first wife, who is still a strong presence in his new marriage.  Mia tolerates this for the sake of her step-son, but she is irritated by it too. She finds comfort in the companionship of her cat, which she rescued at a difficult time in her life and views as her only real reason for living.  She also participates in a pet bereavement therapy group each week.  

Like many people who have come from a chaotic childhood, Mia finds solace in controlling her life as much as possible, living by lists, organization and schedules.  She dutifully pencils in sex with her husband, twice a week, every week, feeling that this is what it takes to be a good wife.  But it is in Pigeon's company that she can be her true self and where she finds the love and friendship she craves.

At times this book reminded me of Bridget Jones, because Mia is that same type of zany character, but while Bridget reclaimed the single woman narrative,  Mia is out to reclaim the cat lady, subverting the stereotype and making sure the lady lands on her feet! 

I laughed and cried my way through this fabulous book. Obviously it brought back both fond and difficult memories of my own cat, Pyewackett, pictured above. Wasn't he handsome? Just look at those whiskers!  But I'm so glad I read this novel, if only because it reminded me of how lucky I was to have had him for so many years.  As the book says, 'The kindness of strangers can get you to the next place you are supposed to be.'  Sometimes that stranger is a new pet. 

Cat Lady is full of humorous moments, as well as being quite an emotional read at times, especially if you have ever built your life around a cat, because they absolutely refuse to accept second place!  It will make you laugh out loud in some parts, while in others you will be quietly sniffling into a tissue.  Mia is both a successful career women and slightly nuts, so when her life takes a turn for the worst, she handles  it in her own entirely unique way, which is very entertaining to read.  I really enjoyed this novel and it is one I will re-read whenever I miss Pye too much.  It might even inspire me to get another cat! You never know!

Wishing you a purrrfect weekend!

Marie x

AD; This book was sent to me by the publisher for the purposes of review.  It will be published on 27th October 2022 and is up for Pre-Order now on Amazon.  The cover is subject to change. 

BOOK NOOK; These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan

 "They expect me to dress pretty and show up to be his queen. 

I am not a pretty thing to be manipulated. I am darkness, and the power rushing through my veins is stronger than ever.  This is what it's like to be fae and have magic. Magic is life." 

As we approach the summer solstice and the sabbat of Litha, my reading choices always become a wee bit fae and I am drawn to all things faerie.  This book has been on my shelf for a while and I have been saving it for the longer summer days.  Having never read any of Lexi Ryan's books before, I went into it without knowing if I would enjoy her style of writing and I am happy to say that I did.  

These Hollow Vows is an adventure romance, with an engaging heroine and two very alluring faerie lovers, setting up a perfectly enchanted love triangle. Personally I preferred Finn to Sebastian, but I am more drawn to bad boys, especially in literature where its safe to love them!  Finn is a dark Prince of the Unseelie Court, while Sebastian is the golden heir to the throne of the Seelie Court.  Both of them are trying to help the protagonist, Abriella, find her sister who has been sold to the fae.

Abriella is a strong character, reminiscent of Merida from Disney's Brave, and the novel is told entirely from her point of view.  She is both a provider and a protector, who would do anything to save her sister Jas, even if that means betraying the man she loves.  With a deep distrust of all things faerie, Brie is sure that she would be able to see right through any faerie glamour - a theory that is put to the test as she travels through the fae realms, seeking Jas.  

But Abriella is not like other girls who would swoon just to meet a faerie prince - she is a thief in the night, a nocturnal creature with the uncanny ability to blend unseen into the darkness around her.  Using this gift, she must seek out three items from the Golden Palace of the Seelie Court and take them to the King of the Unseelie Court, in order to have her sister returned to her safely.  She will need all her nerve, for it is a task that will put both her skills and relationships to the test. 

These Hollow Vows is a character driven novel, so while I was hoping for lavish descriptions of the faerie realms, the world building is kept to a minimum, allowing the reader to build their own visions instead and the characters to move the story forward.  Personally, I would have preferred more descriptions of the fae world, such as those found in the novel The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long, but this omission didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.  

Overall I liked the novel and I have enjoyed spending time in this fae story, where the three impossible tasks of traditional fairytales has been recreated in a new and intriguing way.  It does end on a cliff-hanger, but the sequel to this duology is published next month and I for one, simply can't wait to read it and see how this story evolves and concludes.  But why wait until next month? These Hollow Vows is out now and is the perfect read for the summer solstice.  Just don't drink the faerie wine! 

Blessed Be

Marie x 

SLIPPERS AND SKATES; Lord of the Dance Tour

I have just returned from the theater where I saw the magical Lord of the Dance 25 Year anniversary show by Michael Flatley and it was amazing!  I have waited years and years to see this production and tonight, that wish was finally fulfilled. 

I can clearly remember the moment I first saw Michael Flatley dance.  I was sitting in my flat back in 1994, flicking through the TV channels and Eurovision was on. I wasn't paying too much attention, until the interval, when a lovely dancer came on in a blue velvet dress, dancing prettily, like a ballerina. Then suddenly, out of nowhere this man exploded onto the stage, all taps and fancy footwork, leaping legs and blonde hair gleaming - and that was it, I was in love!  I told my fiance all about this when he got home, but he wasn't too impressed. Not his scene, he said, but to be fair, he did buy me the Riverdance music on tape a few weeks later, followed by the VHS of both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance shows too. He was never a fan of the Flatley though. Personally, I think he was a wee bit jealous. 😉

I did like the Riverdance show, but I much prefer The Lord of the Dance and for me, this is where Flatley's originality and innovative way of thinking really shines in full glory.  The show has narrative, in the same way that a ballet does, telling a beautiful story of magic and enchantment, love and war.  There is Celtic fire in every step and every beat of the music and I defy anyone with a drop of Celtic blood in their veins not to love this show.  

So last year when I saw that it was coming to my home town, I immediately snapped up tickets, and even though Michael Flatley has retired from dancing, his spirit is right there throughout the whole performance, because this show simply would not exist without him.  I was a little dubious as to who could possibly manage to fill his shoes as Lord of the Dance, a role that is so iconically linked to Flatley, that it is a brave dancer who would take it on.  However, I need not have worried, for the new Lord of the Dance, Cathal Keaney, was certainly up to the task and he has just as much charisma as the original. I wasn't disappointed.  In fact, I think I've just developed a new dance crush! He was that good. 

Of course a dancer's career is relatively short, and so for this show to survive, new dance troupes have to be trained to take it on the road so that people can continue to enjoy it. The performance tonight had different songs, different costumes and slight variations on the music and choreography, but it remained true to the original performance.  In one part of the show, the young dancers were dancing in tune with the original cast on the big screen behind them, not a step out of place as they take the torch and dance it forward for a whole new generation of fans to discover and enjoy.  

It was a very exhilarating performance, filled with pretty dresses, lots of sequins and many bare chested young men dancing their Celtic hearts out - just the way I like them!  I had so much fun tonight, and I did finally get to see Michael Flatley perform too, because he had filmed a set of himself dancing, which was played on the big screen, as the dancers went through quick change.  No music. No backup.  Just the Flatley, tapping away - and you could have heard a pin drop. It was as if he held the entire audience spellbound.  So you might say, I finally got to see him dance on stage after all. I'm very happy about that! 

I loved every single second of Lord of the Dance and I came home feeling elated and filled with joy. I also bought the DVD of a special performance that I have never seen before, where Nadine from Girl's Aloud, is singing the role of the Celtic Goddess, Erin.  So I'm going to prolong my Lord of the Dance buzz by watching that now!  All in all it was a fantastic night and I would definitely go and see the show again, so if you get the chance, go and see it for yourself. It was certainly worth waiting over 20 years for! 😍

BB Marie x