Cozys for Petsitters

     This week's cozy mystery courtesy of NetGalley.com is Bethany Blake's Death By Chocolate Lab (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #1).  Who doesn't like a little chocolate and since we just passed Valentines and are going into Lent it seemed like a great choice.

     As it turns out, I was right.  It was a nice little mystery that was big on story and light on calories.   Daphne Templeton is the perfect pet sitter, although she does seem to have a better rapport with the pets than with their owners.  Her unique background, PhD in philosophy and vegetarian lifestyle gives her a quirky edge unlike her vet older sister who is no nonsense.  Then there is Maeve the realtor Mom who is a mover and a shaker and not always the most motherly towards Daphne, who "could be doing better" in Mom's opinion.  Apparently Mom has a favorite, Daphne's older sister Piper.  Thankfully Piper doesn't let it effect her relationship with Daphne and the two are supportive of each other.  Especially since Piper lets Daphne live with her rent free.

     While hunting a home for her foster Chihuahua one eared Artie, she manages to get herself and her loyal basset, Aristotle embroiled in a mystery.  Piper, her sister , might be Mom's favorite but she falls short in the love department and was still nursing some sore feelings for Steve Beamus, a guy that thinks higher of himself than well, everyone. Not only does he end up dead following a spat with Piper; he is found on Piper's property Winding Hill farm the day of the dog agility trial.  It's Daphne who comes to the rescue to clear her sister's name, of course she might have let it slip that she saw Piper and Steve have a not so happy encounter the previous evening. How was she to know that the lead investigator was behind her.  Speaking of the investigator, he is the new-to-town and dreamy Detective Jonathon Black who's past is a mystery that Piper would like to understand better.  She isn't sure why she is looses her faculties when he is around.  After all she has been content so far with her uncategorized relationship with Dylan Taggart, the hang loose dude, mellow vet tech.

     This story is loaded with many interesting characters and some possible romantic entanglements, especially when there is dog walking involved.  I would say more but I really don't want to give anything away.  A great read, looking forward to the next installment.  Want to see what Daphne is like?  Check out Dru's Blog for a day in the life of Daphne Templeton https://drusbookmusing.com/2017/02/27/daphne-templeton/#comment-70976

Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake

Great follow up to Death by Chocolate Lab. Our Ph.D toting pet charmer Daphne is back  and this time she needs to use her observation skills to clear her own mother. Maeve Templeton is a real estate agent bent on being the best and this time that just might not be good enough when the owner of the Flynt Mansion turns up dead.

What sort of treasures have been left behind in Flynt mansion? In addition to the oh so precious Tinks the Cat or as others like to call him, Tinks the Terror! That won't stop a pro like Daphne who will get to bottom of this cat-tastrophy with or without distractions like handsome Detective Black.

I really enjoyed this second installment of the Lucky Paws Petsitting series and can't wait to read the next one, Pawprints and Predicaments. The story line is moved along nicely, although I'd like to see more along the lines of Daphne and the Detective scenario. Excellent read, perfect example of a cozy.