A Cat's Garden of Secrets

by Jacqueline Diamond

Awakening magical powers? Yes! Solving a murder, sure. But turning into a cat? Who, me?

On the weirdest day of my life, my cat starts talking, my car kidnaps me to a charming hidden village, and I inherit a mystical library. Plus, I discover I have superpowers!

As an orphan who grew up in foster care, I had no idea I came from an enchanted land full of furry shapeshifters, including—surprise!—me. Or that I had a gifted grandmother, who’s been murdered. Now it’s up to me, with the help of a handsome, otherworldly detective and my know-it-all cat, to uncover the truth... if someone doesn’t kill me first.

Enjoy cozy mysteries with talking animals? Love tales of awakening supernatural abilities and small-town bookstores and libraries? Discover why National Book Award winner Neal Shusterman wrote, “Master storyteller Jacqueline Diamond draws you in to this magical feline mystery, enchanting you page after page.”

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Fantasy

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2023

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Jacqueline Diamond has more than 100 novels to her name! A former Associated Press reporter and TV columnist, Jackie is best known for her Safe Harbor Medical romances and mysteries, as well as her traditional Regency romances.

Her newest exciting venture is the Forgotten Village Magical Mystery series, beginning with A Cat's Garden of Secrets. Other recent works include the Sisters, Lovers & Second Chances series, featuring couples over age 50.

Jackie has been honored with a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. She and her husband, who have two grown sons, live in Southern California. You can learn more about her books at www.jacquelinediamond.net or at JacquelineDiamondAuthor on Facebook.

Reviews

[ItaPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cat's Garden of Secrets was a very good read for a fan of paranormal cozy mystery like me.

When Chess was made redundant, and she found out her boyfriend cheated on her, she thought she had to start again to make up her life, but she could never expect the drastic changes she would have to face. A new life in a new world, will it be the right place where she finally finds happiness? Or it will be the place where she finds her demise?

The author made an excellent job creating this intricate magical world with all its different characters, and a well developped mystery.

Chess' life has suddenly been turned upside down but she reacts as best as she can, never giving up and trying to understand her new reality better. She is a good character, I really liked her determination and perseverance.

I’m eager to read more books in this series because I want to meet again the heroine and to follow her future adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of magic. We follow Chess who is struggling to make it and everything that could go wrong has with her out of luck she is called back to a magical place that is familiar but unfamiliar to her. I thought the magic was decently explained for a first book there must be more cause not all the mysteries were resolved in this first book. I liked her cousin and even though I don’t think the characters in town were exactly warm they weren’t over the top mean to her. If there is a second in this series I do want to check it out. I didn’t think that the who for the mystery that was solved was a surprise in anyway though. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

While A Cat’s Garden of Secrets leans more toward fantasy than a traditional cozy mystery, it delivers an imaginative and entertaining story. Chess, short for Duchess, is a 19-year-old orphan whose adventure begins in the most unusual way: her car kidnaps her and her cat. Yes, you read that right. Chess is kidnapped by her own car! The journey takes her to a world she doesn’t remember, where danger awaits and someone clearly wants her gone.

Although A Cat’s Garden of Secrets isn’t the type of book I typically pick up, I found it engaging, whimsical, and intriguing enough to make me want to continue with the rest of the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lori Herter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cat's Garden of Secrets is a charming, beautifully written book transporting the reader, along with heroine Chess, to a hidden, parallel world called Loobly. Here you'll meet colorful characters in an old-world setting that includes people who can shape-shift and have magical powers. And most fun of all are the Meechi, special cats who speak to their humans with feline attitude and snarky ad libs. But they are loyal and, using their special powers, help save the day toward the end of the novel. This book is a creative and innovative beginning to what promises to be a unique series set in a wonderfully imaginative world!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an odd supernatural fantasy with talking animals and magick . Imagine being kidnapped by your car and taken home- a place you barely remember from your youth. Chess finds herself inheriting her grandma's estate , but there are others who would do anything to keep that from happening. Greed is a vile companion. This was an intriguing journey . Can Chess survive her Inheritance??? This wasn't for me, but maybe for others. It was too much imagination and make believe. I voluntarily read a free copy of this provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cats Garden Of Secrets is the first book in the new series by Jacqueline diamond, Chess is 19 has recently lost her job and now learned her boyfriend of a few months is cheating on her. so once she packs up her car and leaves him she has no place to go her mom died six years before leaving Chess to grow up in foster care due to having no extended family. that is besides all the strange things that have been happening such as finding messages written on the fog after her shower and strangest of all her car starts driving in the direction it seems to want to go and not wear just thought she was going in on top of this her cat Koffka starts talking. her car pulls up in a strange town that she first believes she’s never heard of but the longer she’s there the more memories come back. It seems this is a magical town where her dad was once but we call the sheriff and do to some suspicious things got removed and was dead soon after. The lawyer who did I mention can shape shift into an owl, he then tells her she has inherited her grandma‘s home and the ancient library that holds all their peoples history the only problem is it’s in a language only Chess and the female members of her family can read. The town is over seen by the council and to be on the council you have to be able to shape shift and you’re considered to be part of the Select the other part of the community just has minimal magic and cannot shape shift. Thanks to Chess’s cousin Priti, who was the library caretaker in Duchess‘s absence, gives her the lay of the land. She also lets her cousin know their grandma may have been murdered and to chess shock it seems the murderer may want her to be next. this book was not only so much fun it was well laid out intricate with great world building including likable and very unlikable people. I love chess‘s relationship with the new sheriff who shaped shifts into a dog which doesn’t build well for the shape shifting chest. There are so many fun things about this book I cannot wait to read the second book just to see what the gang is up to now. This was so good and a book I definitely recommended those who love magic, Shapeshifting, and other supernatural abilities written into a story bordering on reality. What a great cozy mystery! #BookSirens, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Identity matters…even for folks who don’t know much about where they come from yet.

The mystery elements of the storyline were handled nicely. This was one of those books that wove multiple genres together seamlessly. While it did feel like slightly more of a mystery to me than anything else, the fantasy themes were strong as well. There’s something to be said for authors who pull this off. It’s not an easy thing to do by any means, and I tip my cap to Ms. Diamond for following the rules of all of the genres she included here while still leaving space for a few surprises.

I struggled to keep track of the large cast of characters in this novella. There simply wasn’t enough time or space to develop dozens of different people and animals, and the ones that were given more attention were still only able to reveal limited parts of their personalities due to how many of them there were. As interested as I was in the world building and storyline, this prevented me from choosing a higher rating.

With that being said, the world building was handled nicely. Sometimes I found myself wishing I really could travel to Loobly and explore all of the magical things to be found there. I’d recommend taking notes about how the characters know each other and what the mysterious terms they use mean unless you have a photographic memory as recalling all of these details will be extremely important later on. There were a lot of moving pieces in this tale, but the complexity of it truly pays off later on.

A Cat’s Garden of Secrets kept me guessing.

[A J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chess is having a rough day. It begins with an odd message scrawled on her bathroom mirror. She arrives at work, only to have her boss reluctantly report that he needs to let her go. Then her home situation prompts her to pack her bags and grab the cat to leave. Unpredictably, her old car suddenly becomes self-navigating and kidnaps Chess and cat Kafka, transporting them to a whole new world.

Fun and completely unexpected, I was taken on an imaginative journey to a world with talking animals and other enchanting creatures. Very well written with the perfect mix of mystery and magic. Chess returns to her birthplace in the land of Loobly, when she was summoned after the death of her Grandmother. The death was ruled accidental, but her superior senses have Chess investigating in search of the truth.

This is the first installation in what is currently a three-book series. As with most imaginary lands, Diamond gave the town the unique name of Loobly, which she explains in the epilogue. There is an actual medical condition and elements of history woven into the story that made it even more enjoyable for me. She includes an alternate story opening, which I loved, and as a final bonus, she treated us with the recipe for Zeanni’s barley soup at the end. I am starting the second book tonight.

My review is based on a free advanced review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Many thanks to BookSirens for providing the ARC and to Jacqueline for the opportunity to review this charming story.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a mixture of cozy and fantasy. Chess is having a really bad day. Her job has been made redundant and her boyfriend has cheated on her. What is she to do. Mysterious messages start to appear telling her to go home. But where is that, her mother died when she was young and she has no family. Her car kidnaps her, yep, that's right, kidnaps her. It just starts driving like it knows where it's going. She can't stop it. If that isn't weird enough, her cat starts talking to her. Chess ends up in a little village, but it's not like any she has seen before. The people dress differently, almost like medieval times. Very few motorized vehicles. Her car takes her to an attorney. He looks like an owl and tells her of her inheritance. A library, but first she has to prove she is who she says she is. Slowly memories start to return and she reconnects with a cousin. They band together to stop something evil happening and make sure Chess is proven the rightful owner of a library that has secrets.

This was so fun. I loved reading about the new world and Chess starting to piece back together her life. When she and her mother left, her memories were erased. Now they are starting to come back. She has to figure out who killed her grandmother and she believens her father was framed and killed as well. Such a fun book the very entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Christian fantasy reader, I enjoyed this book’s mystery, strong flow, and vivid imagination. One particular thing was the way the author opened the story—with a strange message written on the bathroom mirror. It immediately set a mysterious tone and made me curious to see how the ordinary world would unravel into something extraordinary.

The story kept me interested from start to finish, and I appreciated its deeper themes of good triumphing over evil, courage in the face of fear, and finding light in dark places.

Those moral threads gave the story a meaningful heart that reminded me of the timeless struggle—how easily appearances and emotions can mislead us, yet how truth always brings clarity and peace.

That said, the story includes elements of magick and mystical powers—common in fantasy that explores courage, destiny, and the struggle between good and evil. While it doesn’t represent Christianity or point toward Christ, we can still discern threads of truth within its pages—reminders of integrity, courage, and the triumph of good over darkness. It’s a work of imagination meant to entertain rather than illuminate faith, and as Christians, we can appreciate its moral undertones while remembering that true power and truth come only from God.

Last said, I found the story enjoyable, well-written, and full of imagination. It offers an engaging adventure with a valuable reminder that light, integrity, and compassion always overcome darkness.

[Riddhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just couldn't stop reading it till I finished it.
Filled with Magick and mysteries, definitely a charming read. Talking cats, and all kinds of magick abilities with a place still dealing with the effects of the past, a very interesting and attention-grabbing plot.
The plot was good, and fast-paced with a smooth flow. I definitely liked it. A talking cat and a self-driving car, I loved that. And the part about magick is awesome. And the main character Duchess, I have to say, I liked her.
The characters were all good. And that's the point for me because I somehow wanted to read more about them. Maybe I will feel happy when I read the second book because the first book only added more to the mystery. Like what more powers did Chess have? Her parents and her ancestors, the whole town actually, because I somehow feel the antagonists are going to cause more trouble.
That aside, I loved it because I like reading about magic. And there were some cool plants here with cryptic messages. So I have to say, 4.5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley for the review copy!

[Jo-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jackie's books so when I was offered A Cat's Garden of Secrets to read, I jumped at the chance. Even though I knew it was a paranormal mystery I was surprised at how different it was from her other stories.

What a delightful look into the magical world of Loobly! Here we meet people who have magical powers and can shape-shift. The Meechi were a hoot. They are cats who speak to their humans complete with attitude and snark.

Chess returned to Loobly after her grandmother's death, but not everyone was happy she was back. While proving her identity and her birthright, she made enemies but she also made allies. In this magical town, usually just one person can understand one cat but Chess was able to understand more than just her own cat.

As Chess spent more time in Loobly, she began to be suspicious of her grandmother's death, wondering if she had been murdered. As she searched for the truth, with help from her Meechi, she knew she had to watch her back or she could be next.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: I started to read this whilst still reading another book that was not pleasing me. I stopped reading the first book because I became enthralled with the Cats Garden. After losing her job and her home, Chess and her cat Kafka are kidnapped by her car and brought to a magical place where Chess is about to be reintroduced to her real world and all the inhabitants in it.

Not everyone is delighted that she is back. She has a steep learning curve all the while she must fight to prove both her identity and her birthright. Along the way she makes enemies but she also makes friends and allies, including all sorts of talking cats. Normally one person can understand only one cat but Chess is different. Just how different is a mystery until the end when she defeats the forces that are arrayed against her.

I was swept along by the story and the characters. It was both thrilling and fascinating and I can hardly wait for further stories. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming mystical mystery which is heavy on the world-building but doesn't stint on a decent mystery. I enjoyed Chess who rolls with the punches pretty well when she loses her job and her boyfriend and suddenly learns about a magical village she grew up but does not remember and the magical powers she has. Even learning her grandmother was murdered isn't going to stop her from making the most of her new life. With some help, of course, from her talking cat and a handsome detective. Well, then also maybe her frenemy cousin.

There are a lot of names to keep straight and a new world to digest so sometimes I got lost in who was who and what was what. I guessed fairly early on who the culprit was but I still thought it was a fun mystery and I would definitely read another in this series. After all, I'm always a sucker for a talking cat.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[PAMpublish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chess Vevoda, an orphan, studying and known for her enhanced senses to solve mysteries finds herself replaced in her job by the boss's daughter. After dumping her unfaithful boyfriend, she is transported and enters a magical world that guides her back to her beginnings in Loobly. There she learns that she was to inherit her grandmother's estate to include access to the library containing the town's mystical beginnings that may ultimately save the town. Upon learning that her grandmother may have been murdered for these secrets, her welcoming is challenged as 'duchess' by certain self-serving citizens. Using her senses, her cat's ability to communicate with her, allowing her to shapeshift while 'seeing through other's true natures, she is determined to be granted her title and her grandmother's estate. A true fanciful fast-paced mystical adventure for all ages that will maintain one's attention throughout.

[Roy Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CAT'S GARDEN OF SECRETS
JACQUELINE DIAMOND

Review by Author Roy Murry

"Cat's" is a quirky journey into another world adjacent to California, where the main character, nineteen-year-old Chess Vevoda, travels through fog to Loobly. This land has magick in every endeavor, where the cats talk to each other, and Chess learns this quickly.

Chess has been brought to Loobly by a self-controlling car to claim an inheritance from her grandmother, but many contest it. There is a question as to how her powerful grandmother died.

With her close family and friends, Ms. Vevoda embarks on a turbulent journey to clarify the situation. Control of a library of historical importance is at the heart of the Loobly society.

The reader will enjoy the colorful circumstances in this, which is more of a fantasy than a cozy mystery. When the epilogue begins, the mystery is solved, and the reader will be content purchasing another of Ms. Diamond's fun novels about cats.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cats Garden of Secrets by Jacqueline Diamond is the first book in a new a new series A Forgotten Village Magical Mysteries.

This book is written for teens to young adults, which is not my preferred mode of storytelling. However, this book still has a wonderful story line for all readers. It is about a girl who is coming of age. She must navigate those tumultuous waters while simultaneously learning how to harness her mystical and esoteric powers. I was enamored with the way the story's characters were able to transform into animals that corresponded with their respective personalities. All in all, this was a story that encapsulated a positive moral lesson about friendships, loyalty, and trust.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and Jacqueline Diamond for allowing me to read thus ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cat's Garden of Secrets is an Excellent story and start of a series about Duchess Vevoda who gets sacked and her very special psychic cat Kafka. Her Grandmother dies and magical events start to happen. Duchess returns magically to where she was born and she starts to discover that she has magical skills and can understand animals. But when she arrived she discovered she was her Grandmother's next of kin but had to prove who she was. Her Cousin Priti supported Duchess in her search to uncover the proof. Unfortunately there are many who want to stop her inheriting. There are many twists and turns and some surprising events. But can the truth be discovered?

I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book of a series! This definitely draws you in, jumps right in from the start and off you go on an adventure with Chess and her talking cat, a magic village, shifters and a hot detective! Chess inherits her grandmother's estate and gets all kinds of surprises. I love that Chess got a library - my dream come true! Add in a talking animal and you can't go wrong (although I'd rather have a talking dog than a talking cat! lol) Will she find out who murdered her grandmother and who is trying to keep her away? Great read, can't wait for the next one in the series - please don't make us wait too long?! Just kidding, we'll wait as long as necessary!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda "Lilybug's Library" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, unusual take on a cozy paranormal mystery. I absolutely fell in love with the characters. The main character Chess is "kidnapped" by her car and ends up in a magical community with her cat, who can now talk to her. Although it all sounds very sweet and light to begin with, there is depth to the story and the magical community and the rules of magic are very well done. In this town Chess already has allies and enemies, now she just needs to figure out which is which.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily. It is my honest opinion. Thank you to BookSirens and the author and publisher for the advance copy.

[Kristi Lamont · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOK REPORT
This was an entertaining little bit of fluff that was just what I needed to take my mind off the world’s problems as I sat by the pool for a while today.

Props to Jacqueline Diamond—talking cats are hard to get right. I think she nailed it.

Also props to her for the very interesting and illuminating information in the epilogue.

Now, all that said, I’m probably not going to make an effort to keep on with the series, because it really seems more like something for 12-year-old Kristi and not The Kristi Who Is Almost Five Times That Old.

PS
Necessary Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

#ACatsGarden #NetGalley is the first book in a new series and it is quite a story. Chess is a young woman of 19, who has been fired from her job, found out her boyfriend is a cheat, and now her car randomly kidnaps her, and her cat Kafka.
She's transported to a small village where things are quite magical, but her memory takes a bit to return to her.
As she's reunited with a cousin and her grandmother's housekeeper, she starts to learn the truth, about her life, her parents and herself.
Even though I would not consider this a traditional cozy mystery, it was interesting and entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Forgotten Village Magical mystery.

I was drawn to the aesthetic of the cover, picturing a cosy cottage setting. When I first started reading, I enjoyed the way the protagonist narrated, as it seemed quite open and humorous. As I read on, however, I didn't quite connect with the story in the way I hoped. There was paranormal theme, but somehow, that just wasn't the flavour of cosy mystery that I had in mind. I didn't get the cosy cottage escape that I hoped for.

This was a pleasant enough read, and it was easy to read in one sitting, but I don't think it's the type of book that I would read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cat's Garden of Secrets is Book 1 in A Forgotten Village Magical Mystery by Jacqueline Diamond. I believe that first books in a series are so important. Chess and her cat, Kafka, are terrific main characters and the magical town of Loobly has some interesting characters. I thought that the mystery was excellent. Did someone murder Chess' grandmother, can Chess prove who she is? Lots of questions with unknown enemies and friends. This "Cat" tail is dynamic. I received an arc for free and an leaving my review voluntarily.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do you believe the Vevodas are cursed?”

Be careful when you cross through the haze...you might find yourself in a different world, one that you’ve forgotten. Chess is having an epically bad day and it gets even stranger when her car...that’s not normally a self driving vehicle...kidnaps her and her cat talks to her. At the end of her journey she finds herself at a home erased from her memories, and the news that her grandmother has died. From there her journey only gets crazier and it’s full of mystery, and fantastical beings that make for a great read!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duchess Vevoda (Chess) knew she was "different" from others in her California town. She and her mother had escaped from a magical village when Chess was thirteen. Now, at nineteen here car decided to drive itself, her cat Kafka began to speak, and she finds herself back in the magical village. It turns out she has inherited a library from her grandmother, along with some super-powers. Her cousin, Prite, is an old friend and helps Chess adjust to a new lifestyle.
This is a fun, cozy, magical mystery. It has good characters and a well-planned plot.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cat's Garden of Secrets is book #1 in the Forgotten Village Magical Mysteries series by Jacqueline Diamond.

I really enjoyed this story. I like Chess and Kafka. As if losing your job and finding out your boyfriend is cheating isn’t enough, you are kidnapped by your car! I was pulled into the story immediately and couldn’t put it down. I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

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

[Hannah Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Cat’s Garden of Secrets by Jacqueline Diamond
⭐️⭐️
Unfortunately I didn’t love this. I had a hard time with the language, get frustrated with the pacing of the book, and felt bored much of the time. I think part of this difficulty is that it didn’t necessarily fit the synopsis in the way I was expecting, and it felt very predictable who the bad guys were, so didn’t feel particularly mysterious either.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and magical mystery. I loved the characters especially Chess and the talking cats. I think the author really built a unique magical world for Chess to navigate.

I loved this story because it allowed me to forget the craziness of real life meaning I could slip into into the chapters and got lost investigating the main character's world.
I received a complimentary copy of this story.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic messages on her mirror, A car which kidnaps her has Chase visiting a Magical Town. Chase has inherited her Grandmother's home and bookstore and is back with her cousin when she finds out her Grandmother was murdered. She has magical powers and can shift into a cat and see others who can shift. This was a fun story and I recommend it.