After decades of avoiding, occasionally fearing cats, C. Robert Holloway adopts a rescue cat from the SPCA for the specific purpose of eradicating the rodent problem at his French Quarter apartment. In admiration for a friends cat named Charlie, he names him Charlie, Too but quickly realizes the Too is too cumbersome and, more bewildering, his critter has little inclination for killing any living creature, especially mice. This distressing trait is in high contrast to Charlies captivating, canine-like social skills and an IQ rivaling the US Navys dolphins. For the next seven years, Charlie and CRHs bonding coalesces in a determination to be together whenever possible, sharing eating and sleeping habits, learning each others language, mediating friends arguments, amalgamating political persuasions, even travelling together by plane and automobile across the USA. Early on in their relationship, Charlie demonstrates an inordinate fascination for CRHs laptop, frequently reaches for the delete button, and in the doing, makes valuable editorial contributions. Eventually he masters lifting the PCs lid and turning it on when CRH is away. When Charlie becomes gravely ill, CRH discovers his true age to be much older than originally listed by the SPCA. Distressed by concern and grief, he drags him to several Veterinary specialists in the area, while begging Charlie to hold on until his condition can be properly diagnosed and a cure might be found. Charlie rallies for a few months, then, just before Christmas, succumbs to cancer of the liver. Soon after his passing, C. Robert stumbles on a remarkable document which confirms the power of unconditional love, the jubilation that comes from unwavering responsibility, and, on closer reading, a poignant argument to give the concept of reincarnation another appraisal.

From the moment Tanya woke from her accident, Wade had been her fierce and loyal protector. In contrast to his hard, brawny physique, he was kind and gentle, thoughtful and considerate, and remarkably resourceful in keeping one step ahead of the people who wanted her dead. And of course the sex was fantastic. But nobody could be that perfect, so what was the catch? She knew he wasn't telling her everything It wasn't all that hard for Wade to imagine that someone would want to kill Tanya Riverton. After all, he'd felt like doing it himself more than once over the years. But now that the blonde vixen had sheathed her angry teeth and claws, he was finding her quite adorable in a uniquely Tanya kind of way. In fact, he couldn't seem to keep his hands off her. The chemistry between them was electric, but when her memory eventually returned he knew there would be sparks of a different kind

This delighful book of memoirs, short stories, and poems describes some of the events of his life that leads him to say in his retirement years, This is one great trip and Im so grateful to all the saints and scoundrels that have made it so much fun. It is well written, loaded with charming characters, and a hopefully a model for readers in maintaining a positive attitude through challenges and chuckles. You will not forget how he got airsick in his first ever job interview, or when he was caught stretching the truth in front of a beer soaked audience,, or his survival with women through paralyzing shyness. These stories start with his birth into a middle class family, proud of its Scottish traditions, through the school years to a successful dental practice in a small Cape Cod village and his delight at some of the colorful characters along the way. He is still searching by volunteering in Haiti and Africa and trying to lend a helping hand to people in need. He has now retired to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina where he teaches English to immigrants, assists at the Boys and Girls Club, and tries to enjoy each moment. He especially looks forward to returning to Ghana and hugging the beautiful children at the orphanage school.

When her partner of twenty-five years dies, Rebecca Collins discovers the secret life he had been living. Grieving, and with her sense of self in ruins, she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about the man she loved, and to recreate the shattered image of herself. Rebecca is constantly challenged in her quest by visions of her dead partner. Is she going insane or is her current sorrow and anger beginning to mesh with the remnants of an earlier trauma, one she has long ago repressed, one involving her troubled twin brother? Seeking the help of a therapist, Rebecca is forced to travel the hidden recesses of her mind. Agonising memories begin to resurface, and she eventually uncovers the well-spring of a far more profound grief, one that threatens to destroy her completely. A beautiful and gripping contemporary Australian story about family secrets and impossible choices. Perfect for fans of Breath and Bluebottle.

On the evening of July 31, 1961, a horrifying incident took place atop the roof of one of Manhattan’s most iconic venues. Despite an intense investigation, covertly ordered by Mayor Robert Wagner, the motives for this bizarre event continued to baffle the authorities. Neither the EMS, the NYPD, the Investigative Detectives nor a team of Bellevue Psychiatrists could discover a credible explanation. After the recent death of one of its key figures, new and startling evidence was discovered among their personal effects. The author has been given exclusive access to those documents and by culling fact from fiction and painstakingly retracing nearly six decades of obfuscation, finally unravels the mystery in Swan Song.

In this cozy mystery, a cat pounces into sleuth mode when a cold case interrupts a wedding in a California seaside town. It took Joe Grey’s human, Clyde, nearly forever to pop the question to Ryan Flannery, and what more romantic time to tie the knot than on Valentine’s Day? But dark secrets from the past, uncovered by Joe and his feline pals, threaten to ruin the happy union. First, a body discovered many miles away reopens a ten-year-old cold case involving a man who disappeared days before his own wedding. The jilted bride is back in town and eager to find the truth . . . or to hide evidence of her own wrongdoing. Trouble is, she’s soon involved with Ryan’s father, who is house-sitting and preparing meals for Joe Grey while Clyde and Ryan are on their honeymoon. Then another body is found closer to home on the grounds of a ruined estate, deserted save for a band of unusual feral cats. Around the wrist of the corpse is a bracelet bearing the image of a rearing cat, and the cats discover a rare literary volume hidden nearby that divulges their own secret: their special ability to speak. But as the police investigate the two murders, located more than five hundred miles apart, only Joe Grey suspects that the crimes are related. It takes a chase from which the tomcat wonders if he’ll emerge alive for anyone to hone in on the connection between the murders. Finally, feline perception and cop sense combine to bring a killer to justice in this delightful new tale involving Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s three amazing cats. Praise for Cat Playing Cupid “Murphy's gentle blend of fantasy and mystery includes revelations about her unusually verbal cat detectives sure to please series fans.” —Publishers Weekly “Murphy’s feline-loving fans will enjoy the latest in her long-running series.” —Kirkus Reviews

Kool Kat Charlie of Cocoa Beach tells the story of Charlie, an orphan cat who is adopted by a toy Manchester dog named Benny (and his human family). The pair of friends lead easy, uneventful lives on Merritt Island in Floridauntil the day when their master, Steve, decides to move to the city of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and brings Benny and Charlie along! On Charlies first day at the beach he meets Mack and Snowball, two cats who become his new friends. But as the days pass, he encounters trouble after troubleand nearly loses his life! He and his buddies set out to rescue a beautiful female cat from her abusive mateand find themselves captured and taken to the pound. His owner, Steve, must make a hard decision to save him from the animal pound, a jail for cats. In his new life, Charlie finds new friends and talents he didnt know he possessed. He learns important lessons about giving and loyalty, and he finally finds love.

Developed from her tremendously popular blog, this book offers the inspiring and beautifully illustrated account of the author's experiences raising an orphaned coyote as a beloved pet. Full-color photographs throughout.

“Fourteen writers take on perhaps the most important cultural issue of our time: figure out what we’re talking about when we’re talking about cat videos.” —New York magazine Are cat videos art? This essay collection, funded by a Kickstarter campaign, addresses not just our fascination with cat videos, but also how we decide what is good or bad art, or art at all; how taste develops, how that can change, and why we love or hate something. It’s about people and technology and just what it is about cats that makes them the internet’s cutest despots. This lively essay collection is intended as “an earnest attempt to uncover more about human nature—especially in today’s internet-driven world.” —Cool Hunting Contributors include: Sasha Archibald, Will Braden, Stephen Burt, Maria Bustillos, David Carr, Matthea Harvey, Alexis Madrigal, Joanne McNeil, Ander Monson, Kevin Nguyen, Elena Passarello, Jillian Steinhauer, Sarah Schultz, and Carl Wilson. “This clever collection is highly recommended for people who watch cat videos, which is apparently nearly everyone.” —Publishers Weekly “A delight.” —Chicago Tribune