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Love at First Scratch: A Nine Lives Club Romance
Not yet published
Expected 20 Mar 26Book #1 of the Nine Lives Club Romance Series
Cali Jacobs didn’t move to Autumn Ridge for love. She came for quiet nights, stacks of books, and maybe—just maybe—a stray cat to keep her company.
Then a shaggy Maine Coon strolls into her life … and right into the arms of Ethan Cross, the infuriatingly handsome construction worker who always seems to be in her way.
Ethan is supposed to be temporary, just like the City Hall renovation that brought him here. He drinks his coffee black, returns library books late, and somehow finds new ways to test her patience. Worst of all? The Maine Coon seems to like him as much as it likes her.
But the Nine Lives Club has its own ideas about destiny. Between late-night cat rescues, small town gossip, and one runaway feline with perfect matchmaking instincts, Cali finds herself wondering if Ethan is more than a distraction with a toolbox.
He’s steady. He’s kind. He might even be worth the risk. Because sometimes the cat doesn’t just choose its human … Sometimes it chooses two.
Tropes you’ll find
🐾 Slow-burn romance
🐾 Cinnamon roll hero
🐾 Small-town charm
🐾 Cat-assisted matchmaking
Cali Jacobs didn’t move to Autumn Ridge for love. She came for quiet nights, stacks of books, and maybe—just maybe—a stray cat to keep her company.
Then a shaggy Maine Coon strolls into her life … and right into the arms of Ethan Cross, the infuriatingly handsome construction worker who always seems to be in her way.
Ethan is supposed to be temporary, just like the City Hall renovation that brought him here. He drinks his coffee black, returns library books late, and somehow finds new ways to test her patience. Worst of all? The Maine Coon seems to like him as much as it likes her.
But the Nine Lives Club has its own ideas about destiny. Between late-night cat rescues, small town gossip, and one runaway feline with perfect matchmaking instincts, Cali finds herself wondering if Ethan is more than a distraction with a toolbox.
He’s steady. He’s kind. He might even be worth the risk. Because sometimes the cat doesn’t just choose its human … Sometimes it chooses two.
Tropes you’ll find
🐾 Slow-burn romance
🐾 Cinnamon roll hero
🐾 Small-town charm
🐾 Cat-assisted matchmaking
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 20, 2026
3 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Mayes
1 bookHazel Mayes writes cozy-with-heat romances set in the small town of Autumn Ridge, where stray cats have as much matchmaking talent as the locals. Her stories mix heart, humor, and a touch of spice—always centering characters who find love in unexpected places (often thanks to a whiskered accomplice). When she’s not writing, Hazel can be found spoiling her own furry crew, brewing strong coffee, or plotting her next Nine Lives Club romance.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
The author has a “let’s talk spice level” intro that gives you the rundown not only of the spice level, but in which chapters the spice occurs so that you can be aware of when to start watching out so you can skip them if they’re not your preference. She describes it as 3 edging toward 4, I’d say it’s mostly rated R with a little NC-17.
The writing is very sensory rich - I can smell Autumn Ridge, I can hear the purrs, I’m craving apple pie or apple cider doughnuts.
Given this is book one, I’m hoping for Leo and Minka to feature in books 2 and 3, and if there’s a book for every member, I’m really looking forward to Mrs. Ellery’s book too!
I like the book, and I am looking forward to future books in the series, but I have a hard time liking Cali. She really irritated me; she had been hurt in the past, but she came across more wishy-washy, and some of what she said and did to Ethan was really just unfair.
I would have liked to have had more narration from Ethan’s perspective, especially once Cali started pushing him away. Why, with the way she treated him, did he keep opening himself back up to her just to be pushed away again. My overall feeling is that Ethan deserves better than Cali, but maybe a more fleshed out narrative in the last quarter of the book would have helped. The HEA doesn’t feel – earned? - by Cali.
As someone who was a cat fosterer for many years, I have to say I’m also very #TeamEthan when it comes to cat rescue. You don’t “pss pss pss” a stray cat because it sounds like hissing. You need to get the momma and dadda cats spayed and neutered. And you don’t give cats milk (they lack the enzyme to digest it). (and here ends my cat rescue tangent)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing is very sensory rich - I can smell Autumn Ridge, I can hear the purrs, I’m craving apple pie or apple cider doughnuts.
Given this is book one, I’m hoping for Leo and Minka to feature in books 2 and 3, and if there’s a book for every member, I’m really looking forward to Mrs. Ellery’s book too!
I like the book, and I am looking forward to future books in the series, but I have a hard time liking Cali. She really irritated me; she had been hurt in the past, but she came across more wishy-washy, and some of what she said and did to Ethan was really just unfair.
I would have liked to have had more narration from Ethan’s perspective, especially once Cali started pushing him away. Why, with the way she treated him, did he keep opening himself back up to her just to be pushed away again. My overall feeling is that Ethan deserves better than Cali, but maybe a more fleshed out narrative in the last quarter of the book would have helped. The HEA doesn’t feel – earned? - by Cali.
As someone who was a cat fosterer for many years, I have to say I’m also very #TeamEthan when it comes to cat rescue. You don’t “pss pss pss” a stray cat because it sounds like hissing. You need to get the momma and dadda cats spayed and neutered. And you don’t give cats milk (they lack the enzyme to digest it). (and here ends my cat rescue tangent)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 2, 2026
"After a while, moving was just easier, starting over in a new place. When you never unpack all the way, there's not much to lose when it's time to go."
Firstly, I love the idea of this story, cute small town romance with a heavy focus on cats. The side characters were adorable and exactly what you would expect from this type of book, the MMC? I loved Ethan from the start! He's kind, generous and committed, the cats? Plentiful and delightful.
My problems arise with our FMC.. I really really did not like her. She came across as petty and rude with a full on 'woe is me' persona and I just didn't care for her at all not with how she treated Ethan and not with how she was with her supposed best friend.
Having found a dislike for our FMC I really struggled to stick with the story, especially because she doesn't really have a redemption arc she is just eurgh.
Alas, I did continue and finish the story and they did indeed get their happily ever after (poor Ethan).
I loved the nine lives club, the library setting and the gala was brilliant - I'm intrigued to see if the next set of characters in the next book turn out to come across in a similar way as I think I'd have enjoyed this a lot more with a likable FMC.
Firstly, I love the idea of this story, cute small town romance with a heavy focus on cats. The side characters were adorable and exactly what you would expect from this type of book, the MMC? I loved Ethan from the start! He's kind, generous and committed, the cats? Plentiful and delightful.
My problems arise with our FMC.. I really really did not like her. She came across as petty and rude with a full on 'woe is me' persona and I just didn't care for her at all not with how she treated Ethan and not with how she was with her supposed best friend.
Having found a dislike for our FMC I really struggled to stick with the story, especially because she doesn't really have a redemption arc she is just eurgh.
Alas, I did continue and finish the story and they did indeed get their happily ever after (poor Ethan).
I loved the nine lives club, the library setting and the gala was brilliant - I'm intrigued to see if the next set of characters in the next book turn out to come across in a similar way as I think I'd have enjoyed this a lot more with a likable FMC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Very slow to start. This is Cali and Ethan's story.
Cali a Liberian and a member of the Nine Lives cat group who has ben droppedby a fiance. Ethan a carpenter in a group of workers who travel to where the work is.
They meet trying to catch a stray cat.
Where will this take them?
Cali a Liberian and a member of the Nine Lives cat group who has ben droppedby a fiance. Ethan a carpenter in a group of workers who travel to where the work is.
They meet trying to catch a stray cat.
Where will this take them?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews