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Familiar Spirits #2
Cauldrons and Cats
Ex marks the murder scene…or does it?
New relationships can be fraught with emotional missteps. Charity Hughes’s awkward encounter with Shelby Howard, Noah Jenkins’s ex, at his front door certainly qualifies, but as they’re clearing up that sort-of-minor misunderstanding, a new challenge enters Charity’s shop. A witch’s cat familiar pining for the impossible — kittens of her own.
The kitty conundrum takes a back seat when a frantic Shelby calls with a rather pointed problem. An ex-fiancé dead on her living room floor, run through with an antique sword. Now the prime suspect, Shelby begs Charity for help to prove her innocence.
There’s just one problem. Using magic to solve the case risks outing her as a witch to the public...including Noah. But Charity brings all her somewhat-inconsistent abilities to bear in the investigation, even calling on Milo, the spaniel familiar, to nose around. But it’s the Tarot that cuts through the static toward a culprit who's definitely not an ex-anything.
It's someone who opens a whole new kit and caboodle of lies.
Cauldrons and Cats is Book 2 in USA Today bestselling author Christine Pope’s “Familiar Spirits” series. Contains a cat familiar with mommy fever, a doggo familiar pining for his feline friend, and a killer who does it old school — up close and personal.
New relationships can be fraught with emotional missteps. Charity Hughes’s awkward encounter with Shelby Howard, Noah Jenkins’s ex, at his front door certainly qualifies, but as they’re clearing up that sort-of-minor misunderstanding, a new challenge enters Charity’s shop. A witch’s cat familiar pining for the impossible — kittens of her own.
The kitty conundrum takes a back seat when a frantic Shelby calls with a rather pointed problem. An ex-fiancé dead on her living room floor, run through with an antique sword. Now the prime suspect, Shelby begs Charity for help to prove her innocence.
There’s just one problem. Using magic to solve the case risks outing her as a witch to the public...including Noah. But Charity brings all her somewhat-inconsistent abilities to bear in the investigation, even calling on Milo, the spaniel familiar, to nose around. But it’s the Tarot that cuts through the static toward a culprit who's definitely not an ex-anything.
It's someone who opens a whole new kit and caboodle of lies.
Cauldrons and Cats is Book 2 in USA Today bestselling author Christine Pope’s “Familiar Spirits” series. Contains a cat familiar with mommy fever, a doggo familiar pining for his feline friend, and a killer who does it old school — up close and personal.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2023
28 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Christine Pope
217 books1,096 followersA native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 15, 2023
Cauldrons and Cats is the second book in Christine Pope’s Familiar Spirits series.
I received an ARC copy and this review is my honest opinion.
If you are looking for spoilers or a synopsis, you won’t find them here. To me, spoilers ruin the book and you can read the synopsis where you purchased the book.
This book, like most of the author’s, is a cozy mystery. What does that mean you ask. There’s a murder, no I’m not going to tell you who. There isn’t any explicit sex, although there is plenty of kissing and trips to the bedroom. The main character solves the mystery with the help of her, usually, friends. It’s cozy. Something you would like to read the makes you feel good without being too long or thought provoking.
Christine Pope is one of the queens of the cozy mystery and this book does not disappoint. The main characters are people I would like to meet. The location is beautifully described. And the story line is easy to follow even if there are big reveals at the end.
I read a lot of books with the most of them right now being complex, hard hitting mysteries that take you hours to read. But I love Christine’s books! When the rest of the world is going crazy, I know her books will take me to someplace I’d like to visit with people I’d like to meet. They are cozy and I hope you enjoy this and the rest of her books as much as I do!
I received an ARC copy and this review is my honest opinion.
If you are looking for spoilers or a synopsis, you won’t find them here. To me, spoilers ruin the book and you can read the synopsis where you purchased the book.
This book, like most of the author’s, is a cozy mystery. What does that mean you ask. There’s a murder, no I’m not going to tell you who. There isn’t any explicit sex, although there is plenty of kissing and trips to the bedroom. The main character solves the mystery with the help of her, usually, friends. It’s cozy. Something you would like to read the makes you feel good without being too long or thought provoking.
Christine Pope is one of the queens of the cozy mystery and this book does not disappoint. The main characters are people I would like to meet. The location is beautifully described. And the story line is easy to follow even if there are big reveals at the end.
I read a lot of books with the most of them right now being complex, hard hitting mysteries that take you hours to read. But I love Christine’s books! When the rest of the world is going crazy, I know her books will take me to someplace I’d like to visit with people I’d like to meet. They are cozy and I hope you enjoy this and the rest of her books as much as I do!
August 15, 2023
Cauldrons and Cats is the second book in the familiar spirits series. The story continues from the ending of book one where Charity finds out that Noah is engaged. In this book we witness Charity try to help a cat that wants to be a "mother" with kittens of her own, however, we also note that Charity is evolving not only as a witch that can speak to animals but also solving crimes, specifically murder.
It seems that Noah's ex-fiancee has found the body of her present fiance on the living room floor with a sword in his back and desperately needs her help to locate the real murderer.
Will she be successful? Does she use magic? Will the cat familiar become a "mother"? Read the book and find out all the details. It is rather entertaining with unbelievable twists and turns that keep one guessing.
Anna
It seems that Noah's ex-fiancee has found the body of her present fiance on the living room floor with a sword in his back and desperately needs her help to locate the real murderer.
Will she be successful? Does she use magic? Will the cat familiar become a "mother"? Read the book and find out all the details. It is rather entertaining with unbelievable twists and turns that keep one guessing.
Anna
August 6, 2023
Back to Salem, Mass. we go!
Charity has a new found reputation for solving murders as well as being the owner of her shop. Her romance with Noah was stymied in book 1 when his fiancée answered the door! But after Noah explains the situation to Charity, they get back on an even keel. Just as well 'cause the so-called fiancée has just found a dead body in her Air B&B!
Charity also has another familiar to foster. This time around it's a cat who wants to be a mother.
There are a few twists along the way and I loved the way Charity dealt with her charge's need to be a mother. Milo is also the best dog ever! There are some advancements in the Noah-Charity romance but there is also a great big wrinkle added!
Charity has a new found reputation for solving murders as well as being the owner of her shop. Her romance with Noah was stymied in book 1 when his fiancée answered the door! But after Noah explains the situation to Charity, they get back on an even keel. Just as well 'cause the so-called fiancée has just found a dead body in her Air B&B!
Charity also has another familiar to foster. This time around it's a cat who wants to be a mother.
There are a few twists along the way and I loved the way Charity dealt with her charge's need to be a mother. Milo is also the best dog ever! There are some advancements in the Noah-Charity romance but there is also a great big wrinkle added!
August 9, 2023
Starting just after the surprise ending of the previous book, Noah is trying to reassure Charity that Shelby is not his fiancée. though that’s what she had just told Charity a few minutes previously. The confusion cleared up, Charity gets a cat familiar who’s having a disagreement with her witch about having a litter of kittens. Then Shelby calls for help, there’s a corpse with a sword in his back. Now there is a murder mystery to solve to clear the name of a possible romantic rival as well as finding a solution to the cat’s disagreement with her witch. The romance between Charity and Noah takes a quantum leap. The Tarot cards give Charity a very big clue, which she follows up to solve the case. She also finds a happy solution to the cat’s wish for a family.
August 3, 2023
We continue another paranormal mystery in Cauldrons and Cats of Familiar Spirits Book 2. Charity Hughes has the ability as a familiar whisperer to assist fellow witches with problem familiars. Unfortunately, sometimes things do not go as planned for Charity as a murder mystery gets thrown her way. Of course, there’s always her continued romance with Noah the local veterinarian. Secrets, exciting and suspenseful twists and turns, sprinkled with romance, are in the works. Absolutely love this second book and look forward to more. Highly recommend it along with this new series.
August 9, 2023
Another story in this awesome cozy paranormal mystery series. Charity is our fmc, a witch who is a familiar whisperer and her story continues in this fantastic second book. With a reputation of solving murders we dive into a new one in this exciting and twisty read as well as another familiar, a cat who really wants to be a mother! Throw in the drama circling Noah and his ‘fiancée’ , mystery, suspense, secrets and a little romance and you have a fantastic read you will not want to end!
March 21, 2025
Brilliant Series
Cauldrons and Cats (Familiar Spirits Book 2) by Christine Pope. Charity is a witch, a fact that she, as all witches, kept to herself. She’d just starting to date the local vet Noah when his ex fiancé turned up and added to which she found an ex dead on her living room floor. She then asked Charity to help find out who killed him.
Cauldrons and Cats (Familiar Spirits Book 2) by Christine Pope. Charity is a witch, a fact that she, as all witches, kept to herself. She’d just starting to date the local vet Noah when his ex fiancé turned up and added to which she found an ex dead on her living room floor. She then asked Charity to help find out who killed him.
July 11, 2024
Got the first book during a Stuff Your Kindle event so chanced the second one. It was good, but a bit slower than the first and more focused on the romance than the mystery, but still enjoyable over all.
November 20, 2025
The story this time around was interesting, but the schenanigans with the familiars are my favourite part of the book. I liked Cinnamon as well, and I’m looking forward to the next book. 5 stars
August 11, 2024
Very cute cozy fantasy murder mystery that took a different turn than expected.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews