Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping

Anna Romano #1

by Cheryl Denise Bannerman

Step into the captivating world of Anna Romano, a best-selling author, devoted cat lover, and culinary virtuoso renowned for her sumptuous Italian cuisine. Nestled in the heart of a charming New Jersey community, Anna's life is the embodiment of cozy contentment. When she's not crafting the next gripping murder mystery or planning star-studded book signings, you'll find her immersed in the art of perfecting her Italian recipes.

However, Anna encounters trouble quite frequently, and her life stories are bound to have you on the edge of your seat. In book one, Anna's serene existence takes a hairpin turn when a relentless stalker, harboring sinister intentions, infiltrates her idyllic sanctuary. In this spine-tingling amateur sleuth cozy mystery, Anna is forced into a heart-pounding quest for survival, all while battling an irresistible attraction to the detective entrusted with safeguarding her. Uncover secrets, navigate danger, and revel in the forbidden allure of love in the face of peril.

Don't miss out on this immersive journey, where suspense, culinary delights, and the unconditional love of feline companions converge. Dive into the pages today and experience the pulse-pounding intrigue that has cozy mystery enthusiasts raving. Available in eBook, print, and audiobook formats, this is a must-have addition to any mystery aficionado's collection. Discover the perfect escape into the world of amateur sleuthing today.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2018

About the author

Cheryl Denise Bannerman is an award-winning, multi-genre author of 10 self-published books. She is the winner of the 2018 Book Excellence Award for her book of poetry, Words Never Spoken, winner of the Best Books Awards in the category of African American fiction in 2020 for Black Child to Black Woman, and 2021 Readers' Favorite Honorable Mention in the Fiction - Urban genre for Black Child to Black Woman. She is also a Semi-Finalist in the MLC Audiobook Awards with a 2020 IMDb Nomination for Book 1 of the Anna Romano Mystery Series, Cats, Cannolis, and a Curious Kidnapping.

Within the author’s first three works of fiction, Black Child to Black Woman, Words Never Spoken, and A Killer's Reflection, the author addresses critical topics of social concern, such as alcohol and drug addictions, racism and bigotry, domestic abuse and violence, suicide, and child molestation.

In her latest releases, a cozy mystery series entitled the Anna Romano Mystery Series, she hopes to provide relief from a somewhat somber world and spread laughter and smiles with the main character’s witty humor and ‘unintentional stumbling’ over dead bodies and into murder investigations.

Her goal in life is to keep writing and continue helping victims of Domestic Abuse/Violence, Grief and ANON family groups, and Corporate Health and Wellness groups, to heal through words — encouraging them to ‘write the pain’ via journaling, and expressing themselves through short stories, songs, and poetry.

She currently resides in Orlando, Florida, where she runs her 29-year-old Virtual Training and Development company, specializing in Instructional Design and eLearning.

In her spare time, she loves to read murder mysteries, attend museums, watch movies, try new cuisines, shop with her daughter, and take in the sun on the beach. And, although this author’s works are fiction, she has incorporated many of her personal life experiences into their stories.

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats! Cannolis! Kidnapping!

This was a short fun packed read.... and just as the title implies it was filled with cats, Italian cuisine, and ultimately a kidnapping.... this is the first book in what looks like is going to be a wonderful new series!

Anna is a middle-aged author living in New Jersey with her seven cats... as a cat person myself I appreciated the part the cats played in this book they all had their own unique names and personalities.... someone is following Anna, and Anna is smart enough to call the police about this ( unlike lots of other Book characters in the same situation).... and it’s a good thing she did, not only were they ultimately helpful, but there is now the possibility of romance in the next book!

This is a short book that you can read in a single sitting... books of this length have some drawbacks though.... it’s hard to have well developed characters and a well developed mystery in so few pages.... I think Anna was introduced to us well, and seeings though this is a series we will just get to know her better in future books.... The mystery did feel a bit rushed at the end, it was tied up a bit too neatly for me...

All in all a good start to a new series, recommend to cat lovers, food lovers, and people who enjoy quick easy reads!

*** A big thanks to the author for my copy of this book ***

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping definitely had an interesting title that intrigued me. First off, my inner Italian loves Cannoli's. Seriously, I do. With some chocolate chips or a little cinnamon and I'm good. Not a huge fan of cats and I was a little scared that our main character had 7 of them. Super allergic to them but they are cute to look at.

Since this is the first book of the Anna Romano series, I'll kind of excited with what will happen next. Even though this was short it was definitely jam packed with lots of action and Italian cuisine. The kidnapping itself definitely made me laugh but that's because I enjoyed both point of views throughout this.

The only thing I would have liked a bit more was the actual mystery being drawn out. It just felt like things were kind of rushed towards the end. Which, yes, makes sense with such a short book. Other than that, I enjoyed this and look forward to the next installment!

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was amazed that such a short book could pack such a great punch within itself.

Anna Romano is an author who goes to NYC for a book signing event. There she comes in contact with a mysterious red haired man who she immediately reports to the detectives as a possible stalker. Soon she goes missing, having been kidnapped by the same man and it is a race against time for the detectives to find her unharmed.

I kept thinking of this as a pretty straightforward book with your average stalker character when this book managed to surprise me completely with its ultimate twist. I absolutely loved the story and the pacing of it and this was the perfect fit for me at a time when I am feeling burned out for more heavier books.

4 stars.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

What a great book! I wasn't sure of the style when I began reading, but it grew on me quickly. The story is interesting and fast paced. Characters are interesting, believable, and , well....characters! I highly recommend.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea what to expect from Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping when I first heard about it, the title just rolled off the tongue and the cover image creates a hint of weird so I just had to take a closer look.

Only a shortish book but oh my word this is a little cracker. It appeals to my crazy cat lady image, you just can’t go wrong with a book that has cats featured and this one has cats a plenty! All beautifully named and introduced in the manner to which they have become accustomed.

And just who is the crazy cat lady you may ask … Ana is a delightful character who you warm to instantly no matter what scrapes she gets herself into.

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping is a fast paced mix of humour, quirkiness and just plain crazy wacky with some mystery thrown in. Just take a look a the cover and that sums up entirely what you can expect.

I read this in one sitting and it brightened up my afternoon, so pleasant to have a book that doesn’t have to be taken seriously. If you can relate to any of it’s contents then give it a whirl .. I have a feeling you may just love it! This is the first in a series with another hitting the shelves in January, so I will be looking forward to that.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Emma at damppebbles …. I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Cats, Cannolis, and a Curious Kidnapping
Series: The Anna Romano Murder Mystery series #1
Author: Cheryl Denise Bannerman
Narrator: Robin Waters
Publisher: Cheryl Denise Bannerman Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobook
Genre: Humor, Mystery
Pub Date: November 3, 2023
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 128

Anna Romano is a mystery writer, momma of seven cats, and loves to cook. Anna is happy but does wonder if life would be better with a man to share it with. Since she has seven cats she knows she is getting close to being -the crazy cat lady.
She is promoting her books as a book signing when a strange man asks her to dedicate a book to his deceased wife. Anna, of course, wonders why he thinks his dead wife would want an autographed book.
As the title indicates and the book cover illustrates Anna ends up being kidnapped, and her escape is via stealing a bike with an ice cream trailer while trying to get away from her kidnapper she is also trying not to fall for the detective on the case.

I am half Italian on my dad’s side and have always associated with the Italian culture – so a story with an Italian cuisine looked like fun.

Additionally, since I am a big psychological thriller fan and sometimes just need a brain cleanse!

Yes! There is a purrfect ending

Want to thank NetGalley and the author Cheryl Denise Bannerman for early audiobook.
Publishing Release Day scheduled for November 3, 2023.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story came at a welcome time because I have had it on my kindle for a while, and when I finally picked it up, it sped past, and I was done with it in one sitting!
One of its most significant advantages is the length of the narrative. We meet an author/cat-lady who is getting ready to go to a book signing where she encounters an odd man. Anna's dialogues and thought processes are all wacky and mildly sarcastic. I am not a fan of extra dramatically exaggerated dialogues, but it works most of the time in the pickle she finds herself in. We are also (quite suddenly) given an audience into the criminal and the actual police officer's minds. Till then, things were going well, but the minute these supposedly other characters came into the frame, it got a little weird. The plotline itself was not the issue, being a pretty straightforward one. The language and tone of the narrative did not change between the three characters. It almost felt like all this was happening in the head of the same person! I could not tell who the 'psycho' was, the hero or our leading lady. The style ensured that neither had a distinct personality. The twist also felt unnecessary because there was no foundation for it - I would not have felt bad if that bit had been omitted.
It was a quick read (as already mentioned), fun, but I might not be picking up the next in the series.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review was entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna has just stolen and ice-cream bike and is peddling furiously. Why would anyone want to steal and ice-cream bike as their mode of transport? Where do the cats and the cannolis fit in with a kidnapping? This novella revealed all…and an enjoyable time was had as I read about how everything slotted together.

Anna is an author, is single but doesn’t live alone. She lives with six…yep…six feline furbabies. She is such a fun character to read about as she flits through this story. She is energetic, bubbly and seems to have bad luck perched on her shoulder occasionally.

An incident occurs, well actually a few incidents occur. But one in particular means she has to call the police and walk in the local detective. He does listen to her slightly mad sounding story, but he does feel some concern, just as well really. As she will require him more than she realises.

This is such a fun read and very fast paced as I followed Anna. I am going to say that she is a little quirky and this is meant in a positive way. It means she has bundles of energy, can talk or actually babble away incessantly and is a really great character.

This is the first in the Anna Romano Mystery Series. It is a fun and quick read with a bit of serious stuff as well, but no blood and guts. A great read that would appeal to cosy mystery readers. A series that I am definitely going to return to and also recommend.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping

Is a wild mad-capped ride that your sure to enjoy. Anna Ramona is mature, single author and self admitted mom to 7 cats who unwittingly finds herself smack dab in the middle of mystery. She also enjoys an occasional daydream. At a book signing event she believes she may have a stalker . Is it case of an overactive writer’s imagination? The stalker Talon, believes that Anna knows his secrets. Secrets that he’s willing to kill to keep silent. Working tirelessly on the case is the handsome Detective Solis. The detective likes cats, cannolis and maybe even Anna. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, this is a must read. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series.
#Cozymysteries #catscannolisandacuriouskidnapping

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats, Cannoli’s and A Curious Kidnapping by Cheryl Denise Bannerman is a contemporary light-hearted suspense that would make a perfect afternoon movie for channel 5.
The novel surrounds a crime author who accidentally stumbles into a real life crime. She finds out that fact really is stranger than fiction.
Told from three alternating points of view, the reader ‘sees’ the action through the eyes of the author, perpetrator and a cop. It is an entertaining and unique read.
As a crazy cat lady, I loved the inclusion of seven cats. My favourite was the black Siamese.
Cats, Cannoli’s and A Curious Kidnapping was a pleasant story to while away a dismal autumn afternoon.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping is a delightful romp through a fictional authors life where the impossible and inane often occur simultaneously. Anna is content with her life but occasionally wonders if it would be more with a man to share it with. She is slowly but surely entering the crazy cat lady zone.
Being kidnapped by a lunatic with self esteem issues most assuredly helped Anna reflect on her life choices.
I enjoyed watching Anna’s insane antics and Johns frantic race to save her. This was a fun first in a series and I look forward to the next installment.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Romano is an author, cat momma, and excellent cook. She feels she has the idyllic life even though those around her would like to see her married with children (and not the four-legged kind). When she has an odd encounter at a book signing that turns into a stalker situation, she never expected that her world would be turned upside-down.

Now she finds herself kidnapped and attempting to escape for her life along with trying not to fall head over heal in love with the detective on the case.
Written with lots of wit and humor, madcap adventure, and a potential for romance, this quick read cozy mystery is entertaining and delightful.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna Romano is a mystery writer who finds herself in the middle of mystery after a strange man asks her to dedicate a book to his deceased wife. In the end, Anna ends up being kidnapped, and stealing a bike with an ice cream trailer.

This was a fun, fast read. I was kind of surprised that it was so short. In the beginning it was hard to switch point of view because the different characters didn't have distinct enough voices. If any more in the series are published, I would be interested in reading them.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[Just Passing Through _x · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review.
My Rating: 3⭐️
A lighthearted palette cleanser as represented by the title. A quick read you can easily finish in one sitting.

[Carola | adreamofpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect going into this story, especially when I saw it was such a short story!
It was one wild ride, with cats, food and a kidnapping (like the title says! haha)
The kidnapping/story was really thought through, and I was amazed this could all be told in just over a hundred pages!
It was exciting to read and I will definitely check out more of the author.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Romano was a lonely Italian lady from the Jersey shore. At 37, she was an old maid, unmarried with seven cats. She's often asked why she hasn't found "the one." Her answer: "It could be (A)
from a lack of trying, (B) my sarcasm and independence is a turnoff, or (C) I find most men annoying and harder to clean up after than my cats." (10) Right on, girl!

The only fulfilling part of her life was her work as a mystery author. She was known as "The Author Cat Lady."

Ever since her book signing in NY, she's been getting strange calls and messages from an unknown sender. "Silence is golden." What did that mean?

Since the police seemed to be no help, Anna decides to investigate on her own in order to protect herself and her cats. She comes to the realization that her stalker might have some similarities to a character from her book. Then she gets kidnapped.

The character is witty with a good sense of humor. I liked how relatable she was with her down-to-earth persona and candid remarks, which were sometimes funny. Girl tells it like it is even in the face of danger. The plot can get a little chaotic with the different character perspectives (Anna, stalker, and the police,) but the track is fairly stable.

Will the police get to Anna in time? That's the question since Anna's kidnapping is the main event in like 80% of the book. I didn't quite see the connection between Anna's story and the kidnapper, but still, this was quick, little mystery that I found overall amusing.

[Noemi Proietti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was certainly a most unusual read. It’s both a mystery novel and a humorous story. I laughed, especially at the dialogues and the situations the protagonist get herself in, but I was also on edge during some of the suspenseful moments.

The protagonist is Anna Romano. She is 37 years old and she lives in Jersey Shore. She is single, but she has the company of seven cats that she adores. She is a successful author of crime fiction and during an event at a bookstore, she is approached by a man who leaves her unsettled and leaves her in a curious and dangerous situation.

I really liked the character of Anna and I am already looking forward to more of her adventures (next book coming in January). She is annoyed by people who find strange that, since she is Italian and 37 years old, she is still not married. She likes to cook cannolis. She is funny, smart, and likable.

The mystery side of the story is twisty and suspenseful and sometimes it verges on the absurd that gives the story a funny and witty feeling. There is also some romance, represented by the character of Detective John Solace who helps Anna with her problems.

The story is not very long, less than two hundred pages, and the reading flows easily under the author’s fluent and witty writing. CATS, CANNOLIS, AND A CURIOUS KIDNAPPING is an easy and entertaining read with engaging characters and a captivating plot

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ana Romano is a mystery author who owns 7 cats and is miraculous unmarried despite her innate cooking skills as an Italian. Her life runs smoothly, until a mysterious man begins to stalk her and she tries to find out why.

Honestly, this was a cute and amusing story with some pretty quirky characters. At its core it has good potential, but I feel like it could have been better.

First, it could have been longer. Many of the stories details would have benefitted from if they could have had more focus. I want to know more about some of the side characters. We need more details about the cats. And the same can be said about the overall mystery itself which could have been fleshed out and drawn out to make the story more intriguing. This was far too short and I felt the story suffered.

The details that were included often frustrated and amused me in equal measure. The police interactions especially were frustrating at times, but the actual research that went into making these actions true to life (officers will drop everything if an officer down call comes in) was impressive. The same can be said for the romance in the book. It had no depth, not because I can't see the characters together, but because they needed more time to develope.

Overall, this is a fun quick read that can amuse your average cozy mystery reader. I hope if there are more books in this series, they get longer and more in depth.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Romano is in her thirties and an old maid according to her family. She has adopted seven cats to keep her company and give her company much better than any man. Then at a book signing a man shows up asking her to sign the book to his wife who;s dead. She thinks it;s strange but forgets about it till he shows up again while she;s grocery shopping and sort of threatens her. She goes to the police but they just laugh. Several days later she;s received odd emails and texts and several calls. When she walks into her house she finds photos of herself taped to the walls and what she assumes is blood on the floor. She tries to find her kitties and they are alive and well. Well this psycho needs to be reported so she calls 911. A gorgeous detective, James Solace, shows up. Her mind just, well, has a mind of it;s own, and starts to imagine all types of sexy scenes. Then she decides to investigate on her own...something she remembers tickles her memory and she heads to the library. Unfortunately her day goes from bad to worse and she needs to rely on the detective to help her!
I absolutely adored this book!! I loved how the arthor titles the chapters. I was so rooting for Anna and James!
Absolutely fantastic story and read!!! Hope there are more!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping is a fairly short book but a good introduction for a new cosy mystery series featuring Anna Romano.

Anna is a cat mama, a successful author of crime novels herself who unwittingly becomes part of one herself.

I’m an absolute sucker for a book with an unusual title! I devoured this little novel in one sitting. It’s fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously with plenty of food, mystery and a little romance along the way.

Anna is a great character, a little sarcastic perhaps and seems to like her cats more than people but
I’d still like to be friends with her, mainly so I can have some of those delicious sounding cannolis!

It was a bit of a shame we found out the who was targeting Anna fairly early on but luckily not the whole reason why and there was a nice little twist at the end too.

Plus Anna being called middle aged I found fairly annoying. When did thirty seven become middle aged? I’m not far off that myself and I certainly don’t feel middle aged!

Overall Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping is perfect for crime fans who are maybe looking for something a little more light-hearted.

The next instalment is coming in January and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next for this series!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna Romano is a cat lover and a successful writer, who seems to have a magnet for weird situations!
In this case we will feel a little lost about the mystery, it seems that someone is trying to scare Anna, but we don't know why or how, they simply tell her to shut up... and not really subtlety.
I liked how in every moment our main character thinks about their cats, they are her family and if she doesn't care for them no one would, but at the same time they are a huge level for the killer to torment Anna...!
I liked how Anna, since the first moment that she is been threatened, she calls the police and lucky for her, someone listens to her and investigates the different altercations that she has during the story. Of course, the police maybe has another motive to try to help her, maybe we will have a romance in the next book? We'll see!
I read this book in just one stand, is quite short and with some funny situations, but I didn't like much the ending it didn't have much connection to the story. But be prepared for some delicious dishes and maybe in the next book we will have the recipes too.
Ready for a curious kidnapping?

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping by Cheryl Denise Bannerman is the first book in An Anna Romano Mystery series.

Anna is quite successful mystery writer, and a great lover of cats. She also loves cooking. She is not in a relationship or has many friends. All in all she leads a very quiet life unless she is doing book signings or promotions. On one such occasion her world is turned upside down when a man wants to have book dedicated to his dead wife. Several other times Anna thinks she spotted him, or maybe it's only her mind playing tricks. Until she finds herself literally fighting for her life.

Light and easy to read mystery with a great deal of humor in it.
I liked how story was told in first person and that each important character had the chance to tell things from their perspective.
There are quite a lot incredulous things, such as detective entering someones house with a stolen key, or eating their cannolis and falling asleep This will put your credulity to the test but if some things are put aside it is really quite enjoyable.
Good first start of a new series.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Romano is a charming Italian gal who loves to cook her way out of any challenges her interpersonal skills might create. As an author, she writes great dialogue, and her re-tellings are spot on. But sometimes her humor fails to land on the first run. Go figure. People do not always find snark funny.

A very strange man asks her to autograph her book to his dead first wife . So creepy. People are strange, so.... when the same man pops up at her local grocery, she is a bit worried- and talks herself down. She must be mistaken right? And then the man grabs her and tells her about Golden Silence.

What officer would take the crazy cat lady seriously? A next level encounter in her living room is taken more seriously- not it time to keep Anna safe.

Can detective Solace keep his sanity, keep the litter boxes clean, solve his case, AND get the girl?

Humorous and frightening, yet somehow an oddly sweet romantic adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tasha (Associative Dysfunction) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for choosing or helping me obtain this free copy. My review is entire my own reading experience.

The title caught my eye first thing. It’s quirky and I’m a sucker for them. The story is a fun and lighthearted read if you’re looking for a book to cleanse that book hangover. It is short and fast-paced that I finished in one setting. A lot of other reviews complained about the narration, but I found the narration to be good without any issues of her change of character tone.

The plotline is simple and straightforward. The author used a multiple POV of the Anna, Detective and the criminal, revolving from one to the next and I found that concept appealing. However, some actions by character were a bit incredulous. For example, the police office using a found key to get into victims home only to fall asleep with her cats after eating her snacks. Lol although funny, I found it a little unbelievable and did not aide to the storyline.

As far as continuing this series, I haven’t decided if I will continue or not.

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cats, Cannolis and a Curious Kidnapping
(The Anna Romano Murder Mystery Series-Book 1) by Cheryl Denise Bannerman
(Narrated by Robin Waters)

Short, fast-paced and cozy crime story!

Anna was a famous author and she also a big cat lover. One day when Anna was having her book signing event, a weird man came to ask for a signed book dedicated for his wife who passed away.

This raised the curiosity of Anna. Why a man would give his dead wife a signed book? The story then followed Anna being kidnapped and it’s surely entertaining enough!

I found myself enjoyed the story plot. Cozy, easy to follow and intriguing. The author included cats as the characters which added sparks to the story! The narrator did very well especially the way she played Anna out!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks and Cheryl Denise Bannerman for this audiobook.

Format: Audiobook (2h42m)
Pub date: May 1, 2020

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had absolutely no idea what to expect with this book but thought the cover looked fun and the title was intriguing. Unfortunately, despite it's relatively short length, I admit to struggling to remain engaged and I think it's because it's a quick listen so the characters didn't feel very developed and therefore I couldn't connect with them.

The plot was intriguing but wasn't as fully developed or as gripping as I would have liked again due to the shortness of the book and the ending felt a little to 'easy'. However, having said all that, I think this could be a good series and I would like to get to know Anna a little more (and her cats!) so will look out for more in the future.

Thank you to the author, IBPA and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of this start to a new series.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has all that a cozy mystery can offer a reader!! This is the first book I have read by Cheryl Denise Bannerman and it won't be my last! Cheryl did a fantastic job of drawing me into the story immediately and kept me turning the pages to the end of it! I didn't want to put this well written book with a great story line down until I was finished with it! The characters are wonderful, I really enjoyed how they were introduced and developed through the story. This is a great start to a series book and sure does make the reader want to read more about Ann Romano and see where the future may take her with possibly the young officer John Solace by her side. This is a stand-alone story that is filled with a lot of drama, plenty of action, intrigue, mystery, and much more!!!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: I was not quite sure what to expect. The title indicated it was going to have some humour to it but I did not expect to have nail biting suspense. It took me by total surprise and I found I could not put it down. I wanted to find out what would happen when the famous author is kidnapped. There are three POV’s as the story progresses- the victim, the cop and the perp. The only ones missing were the kitties whose POV was pretty obvious.
It is a quick read, partly because I wanted to know what happened next. I truly like our heroine and our hero and I look forward to future stories.
Five purrs and two paws up.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this short cozy mystery that had you wondering did he all the way to the end.

Cozy mysteries always have that light sense of fun, mystery, romance, and small town. I had so much fun while listening to this one. I think my standards of the funny (laugh-out-loud) may have just been raised a few bars.

I felt that Robin Waters had a voice that was complementary to the genre.

***
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Cheryl Denise Bannerman. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Stacey E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fast, fun, and easy read! Anna is an author and crazy cat lady. Seriously, she has seven cats! During a book signing event, she comes into contact with a man who wispers a vague threat. Soon after she reports her stalker to the police she becomes kidnapped, and it becomes a race against time to escape.
This was a very quick read, and I didn't know what to expect going in. It took me by surprise and kept me engaged to the end. It is funny, quirky, and full of adventure. The narration was great, and I look forward to more in this series!
Thank you, NetGalley and author, for the opportunity to listen and review this great audiobook.