Eyes of the Cat

by Mimi Riser

Historical Romantic Comedy (the complete serialized novel; 4 parts in 1 volume)… Once upon a time, in a far, strange land (1883 Texas, to be precise), there arrived from back East a beautiful and headstrong young princess…um, I mean a scientist…named Tabitha Jeffries. Hardly more than a girl really, but she had the courage of an Amazon and a heart as big as her intellect. To save another girl, named Gabrina, from an arranged marriage to this presumably wicked prince (well, a laird, anyway) called Alan MacAllister, Tabitha switches places with her. Expecting, naturally enough, that the awful Alan’s Highland Scots family (who just happen to live in a full-scale medieval castle) will release her the moment she confesses she’s not Gabrina. Only—and this is the annoying part—Alan’s family is actually more interested in a bride, period, than they are in a specific bride… “Gabby or Tabby, ’tis such a wee dif’rence”… In other words, they keep her—fussing and fuming, kicking, clawing, biting, punching and screaming, notwithstanding. And Alan himself, who turns out to have wanted Gabrina even less than Gabrina wanted him, decides that he does want Gabrina’s replacement. He decides this on first sight, in fact. And one can scarcely blame him, because that first sight was a lulu. It was the sight of said replacement—who had just escaped a tower by way of a tree that snagged off most of her clothes on the climb down—leaping wildly out of that tree in her unmentionables. Very interesting. Something to make a man stop and think. Catching her in his arms, Alan thinks he may be in love. Numerous battles and embraces, some bloodcurdling adventures, and an emotional triathlon later, Tabitha is beginning to think the same thing. Now all she has to do is solve a ten year old murder, prevent a new one, and save herself and Alan from a horrifying family legacy. There’s always something, isn’t there?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Paranormal, Historical

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2012

About the author

Mimi Riser is a multi-published, award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction. Her books celebrate the upbeat and the offbeat, and “happy endings” are her specialty. She began life in the urban northeast, but now resides in the rural southwest with one husband, two dogs, and more cats than anyone wants to know about. (Source: Smashwords)

Reviews

[Yaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabitha is a romantic at heart - she must be, though she considers herself a logical and practical woman and behaves as someone much older than her tender years - why else would she agree to be a stand in bride for her irritating charge? Obviously she has no intention of going through with it, just to give the reluctant bride enough time to escape with her lover. But she didn't contend with the bridegroom's weird family, who are determined to see him married, no matter whom the bride is.

Alan, said bridegroom, has no intention of falling into the arranged marriage his family has set up - he has no interest in Gabriella, the woman his family has wheedled/bribed into marriage. That is, until he sees his replacement bride making her escape via a convenient tree, now he can think of nothing he wants more. At least his new bride will keep him on his toes.

Tabitha is furious when she's trapped into a not -marriage with a Scottish Laird and no one mentioned he was half Commanche. With wizards, female outlaws, not to mention ghosts and even worse, a ghost cat only she can see, she has no intention of sticking around and seeing her logical world view smashed to smithereens.

Tabitha is fun and feisty and Alan is an old school romantic, though it's hard to spot under his tough exterior. He's a tad heavy handed with Tabitha, who's independant and headstrong and it feels as though he's trying to push her to fall in line with what he wants. As the story progresses it becomes apparent Alan's depth of feeling for Tabitha and he's worried that she will leave if she doesn't acknowledge that she feels the same.

I also enjoyed the banter between Simon and Kathy, both of them hiding their true identities while attempting to uncover each others secrets. I hope we get to see more of these characters in future books.

I loved this book and practically inhaled it. The characters are engaging and the story flows well, though I was worried the ghost as a villain would put me off. But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story at all. This book is a keeper for me.

[Michelle [Helen Geek]]

sounds really cute.
Free on Amazon 04/14/2012.

[Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining and unusual

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book i would read it to the grave if i could i have read this book more then once it is a book i enjoy to read because it catches my interest

[SandraE · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story with strong characters.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, the first of four, but it was interesting and enjoyable.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly enjoyed this book by Mimi Riser. This is the first book I have read by this author. The book is in four parts and the first part is free on Smashwords or you can buy the whole book for $2.99. I am now in the process of buying and reading a few more of her books. I have now added Mimi Riser to my favourite author list.