Lawyer for the Cat

Sally Baynard #2

by Lee Robinson

Sally Baynard is one of the best lawyers around. In the years since her divorce from Family Court Judge Joe Baynard, she dedicated herself to representing the worst and craziest Charleston, S.C. had to offer. But none of the murderers, burglars, or angry divorcing clients compared to Sherman, the dog her ex-husband appointed her to represent. Although the miniature Schnauzer found his way into her heart (and brought his handsome vet Tony along too), his case was a thorny one. With that business out of the way, Sally is happy to move back to non-canine clients... until a probate judge asks her about a cat. Agreeing to represent Beatrice, a black cat who's the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar trust and a plantation, Sally must put her wit, charm, and brains to the test, choosing among three colorful potential caregivers while dodging the former owner's angry son. Meanwhile, Sally must juggle the demands of the court with those of her aging mother and make a decision about Tony, who wants to get more serious. Lee Robinson's Lawyer for the Cat is Southern women's fiction at its most delightful, featuring strong, smart characters, a charming setting, and plenty of adorable critters.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Cats, Mystery, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

Published May 10, 2016

About the author

Lee Robinson practiced law in Charleston, S.C. for over 20 years and was elected the first female president of the Charleston Bar Association. She has been writing since high school. Her first book of poetry, Hearsay, won the Poets Out Loud Prize from Fordham University Press, and she is a three-time winner of the South Carolina Arts Commison's Fiction Prize. She and her husband, Jerald Winakur, were co-recipients of the Literary Excellence Award from Gemini Ink, San Antonio's center for the literary arts. Lee lives on a ranch in the Texas hill country, where she is surrounded by many wild critters--some of them human!

Reviews

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Robinson's "Lawyer for the Dog" book so when I saw this sequel was available, I had to request it. Although I am much more a dog person than a cat person, I had such confidence that the author would provide me with a great read that I couldn't wait to dive into it.

Sally Baynard, a South Carolina attorney, was appointed guardian ad litem for Sherman the Schnauzer in the first book, and this time around, she is representing Beatrice, a cat whose owner has died. Sally is left to determine who is the best beneficiary for the millions of dollars and old antebellum mansion which has been left for Beatrice, as well as who will best provide for Beatrice's needs.

All of my favorite characters are back from the first book - Sally's mother and her caretakers, Tony the vet and Sally's new love interest, Sally's ex husband and Judge who got her into handling animal cases in the first place and Sally's wonderfully canny secretary. There are also new characters introduced and throughout the book, I really was unable to figure out who could best meet Beatrice's needs until the very end. Oh, and how could I forget Beatrice. She is just what a reader would expect in a cat character who is now a millionaire - aloofness, distrust and mysteriousness.

I flew through this book and although the end left me completely satisfied, there are still some things which need tied up. This makes me wonder if Robinson has another sequel in mind. And if so, what animal will she be forced to represent the next time?

If you love animals and good women's fiction, then this might be the book for you. Although it is the second in the series, and I highly recommend you read all about Sherman first, one could very well pick this book up without having read "Lawyer for the Dog" and completely enjoy it.

I received a copy of this ARC from Thomas Dunne Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost -- this is the best word I can think of to describe this book. It is almost good. It is almost 3 stars (a like). It is almost as good as the first one which managed to get 3 stars from me, but it's not. So I am rounding it down to 2 stars

One problem is that there has been zero character growth in the main character. Another is that instead of properly developing a relationship, this lack of character growth means that it is going to fizzle in a really stupid way. She is rather selfish, even in her refusing to put her mother into a home, which her mother told her caretaker, while she still had some of her marbles, to tell her daughter that she'd changed her mind and wanted to go there when she got past a certain point.

Yes, she's a capable lawyer, but I thought that there was not enough character development in the new secondary characters--again, at times there is almost enough.

There was plenty of fodder to make this much better than it was, and I can see why this series fizzled after two books despite its respectable rating on GR.

[Linda Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via a goodreads giveaway.

This is one of those fun, breezy, easy to read books that is a nice break from those thrillers I so often find in my hands.

Sally Baynard, lawyer extraordinaire, becomes celebrated after her ex-husband, Family Court Judge, Joe Baynard appoints her to represent the interest of Sherman, a miniature Schnauzer in a nasty divorce. Not only did the dog find its way into Sally’s heart, it also brought her new love interest into her life.

Believing that representing an animal was a one time affair, Sally answers the call of a retiring probate judge, only to learn that he wants her to represent a cat who has recently become the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar trust and a plantation. Although Sally always puts her best foot forward where her clients are concerned (even the four legged, furry ones) she has to make sure her aging mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s is also tended to properly.

While Sally’s job concerning Beatrice, the big black cat, is to find an appropriate caregiver for the animal, preferable from a list left by the deceased, she must also deal with the deceased angry son who wants his share of the estate and he wants it now, even though according to the will, he must wait for the cat to live out its life in the style it has become accustomed.

Leaving the cat with her new love interest, Sally travels from Charlotte to New York City to complete the last interview from the list of potential caregivers only to return to find that cat has disappeared. Sally’s gut tells her that the son of the deceased is up to his eyes in catnapping. While he thinks that she is willing to “settle” the case in his favor, Sally has come up with code to make sure he understands how deeply he has sunk in the litter.

Will the cat be returned unharmed? Will Sally complete this case satisfactorily, or will she be forced to tell the probate judge that she has lost her charge? The only way to find out, is read the book.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Loved the Charleston setting and the bit of mystery and the unusual case---but I thought I lot of it was repetitive and kind of whiny.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle, meandering character story, not a plot-driven story. I enjoyed the verbal sketches of these people and what made them tick.

A cat inherits a lot of money, and a plantation, and the lawyer has to find the best care-giver. She's also trying to find and give suitable care-giving for her mother with Altzeimer's.

The main character may be doing well in her professional life, but seems to be floundering in her personal life, and isn't always someone to be emulated. One other reviewer said that the lawyer's life is "a mess," and yes, I can see that, but she does do well in some things - her commitment to her profession, and she has found responsible people she has caring for her mom. She is also committed to her mom despite the aches in their relationship.

Another reviewer commented that this was not "a feel-good story." Yes, I'd agree with that, too. There are too many of the aches and disappointments of life in there, although none written with drama and angst. They were things to be endured, not things to terrorize. In fact, that seems to sum up the lawyer's character. She thinks life is to be endured, although she does have some good, enjoyable moments here and there.

A friend made a comment today which reminded me of this book. She said something to the effect of, "This life can be so discouraging if this life is all there is, and there's not something more in eternity." I felt like the first part of that described this book perfectly. The lawyer is discouraged on many fronts, partly because she doesn't realize there's anything more that transcends her own experience and miseries, and partly because so many people aren't good to each other. The book didn't discourage me in my own life, particularly, but it did mention discouraging circumstances that many people do face, and we all face troubles from time to time.

My favorite quote:

"What I mean is, she wanted what we all want, what is at the heart of all our striving, all our loving ... perhaps all our poetry ... She wanted to be understood."

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly delightful book, I couldn't help laughing at times. It's very easy to picture Beatrice queening over all the people that enter her life that she considers staff. As our cat doesn't like traveling in a car it doesn't take much to imagine her indignant and angry yowling. Of course, seizing the most comfortable and prime seating or sleeping spots is just something the people must accept as inevitable and her prerogative as she is an heiress with a mansion (somewhat rundown) and several million dollars to her name. It's up to Sally Baynard to interview and decide who will administer Beatrice's trust. That someone will have to move into the mansion and put up with its ghost.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the two books in this series. I am sad she didn’t write any more.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book and I loved that Beatrice had a lawyer to defend her. I felt bad for Lila’s son though, all he ever wanted was the love of his parents

[Susan Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attorney Sally Baynard's life is a mess. A retiring family court judge appoints her to find a home for an arrogant cat that just became trust beneficiary of millions. Her mother, dipping into and out of the murky world of dementia, demands more and more of her time. And Tony, her sexy veterinarian boyfriend, demands a full-time commitment to their relationship. On top of all this, Sally's feelings toward her ex-husband, the highly respected Judge Joe Baynard, are becoming more ambivalent as Joe's hints about problems with his current wife are anything but subtle. Despite all of these challenges, Sally's life is still full of humorous twists and turns that keep the reader turning the pages.
Lee Robinson deftly brings the reader into the main character's collision-course worlds. The author captures the drama, heartache and too-infrequent joys of the emotional-charged world of family court. She pulls the reader into the conflicting emotions every reader facing the challenges of caring for a loved one falling into the abyss of dementia feels. And she presents the dilemma of an attractive, competent professional woman dealing with her own commitment issues in the area of romance in a credible manner.
Throughout the story, the author brings in rich background characters who enrich and complicate Sally's life. The book is full of professional, family and romantic issues that keep the reader's interest throughout. A good read throughout!

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I did not enjoy this as must as Lawyer for the Dog. Sally managed to irritate me almost the entire book. She is a complete pessimist. She gives up when things get even the slightest bit complicated, then she regrets it for decades. She has an inability to form emotional attachments because she's afraid of being hurt or losing control of her life, and this has diminished her. I'm glad I stuck with it because I liked the ending, but I'm not sure if I would read another in the series.

[Karen & Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quirky quick read that I enjoyed. Beatrice had only a small part in the book which was a bit disappointing to me. I was happy with who the lawyer picked to be the caretaker for the cat though and enjoyed Sally’s mother and their relationship. This is a book I happened to see while browsing at the library and the title and cover called out to me! I found it to be a light, entertaining read and would recommend it for anyone interested in animal's rights or family court law. (Karen's review)

[Pauline Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Charleston, South Carolina, lawyer Sally Baynard, whose ex-husband is a judge in family court, generally defends the worst offenders. Her ex appoints her to represent the dog in a custody battle. With that case solved she is next assigned to represent Beatrice, a black cat, whose beneficiary is a multimillion dollar trust and a plantation. She has to chose among three caregivers for the cat.
It is a delightful quick read in a lovely setting

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that the main character, Sally the lawyer, was rather flaky. She didn't seem to know what she wanted. She was influenced by everyone else. It is probably just as well that the cat Beatrice ended up where she did.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, light, fun read. I am a cat person, so I would probably like this better than someone who isn't. No literary awards here; just a nice break between heavier reads.....

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so boring. The only interesting characters were the cat, who wasn't in the book a lot, and the veterinarian. The main character was selfish and mean. I didn't like her or the book. :(

[Eva Hechenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Die Glücksbringerin“ ist der zweite Teil der Reihe um die Anwältin Sally, allerdings sollte es kein Problem sein das Buch ohne Vorkenntnis zu lesen, denn jede Geschichte steht für sich alleine.
Ich fand ja bei diesem Buch die Idee eines Erbes an eine Katze sehr interessant und habe mich auf dieses Buch wirklich sehr gefreut. Persönlich hat mich die Geschichte nun eigentlich nicht enttäuscht, denn es sind genau diese Aspekte, die bei solch einer Thematik auftreten, sehr gut herausgearbeitet worden und ich fand diese auch stellenweise sehr humorvoll präsentiert.
Natürlich wäre es jetzt für den Leser wahrscheinlich zu wenig, wenn es nur um die Katze ginge und so hat uns die Autorin auch  noch mit einer Liebesgeschichte verwöhnt, denn Sally hat auch einen Lebensgefährten, aber mit diesem wohnt sie noch nicht zusammen. Ich fand diese Abschnitte über die beiden wirklich nett, denn ich habe mich immer gefragt, wann ziehen den die beiden endlich zusammen. So ging es dann doch einige Zeit zwischen den beiden hin und her, aber auf eine wirklich nette Weise beschrieben.
Sally war mir auf der Stelle sympathisch. Sie wirkte sehr engagiert und man merkte schnell, dass für sie ihre Klienten am wichtigsten sind. Außerdem fand ich es bewundernswert, dass sie sich auch noch um ihre kranke Mutter kümmert, obwohl sie Vollzeit arbeitet. Ich empfand sie als sehr authentisch.
Tony war ja hier der männliche Gegenpart und auch ihn fand ich toll, denn ich fand seine Art sehr löblich, denn ich glaube, dass nicht jeder Mann seine Freundin einladen würde und dann auch noch damit klar kommen würde, wenn die kranke Mutter dabei ist. Seine Liebe zu den Tieren machte ihn mir dann noch einen Ticken sympathischer.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin hat mir gut gefallen. Ich fand ihn sehr leicht zu lesen, denn ich fand die Autorin hat sehr gut verständlich geschrieben. Das Setting der Handlung in Charleston hat mir gut gefallen und ich hätte mir vielleicht auch noch mehr Beschreibungen der Landschaft gewünscht, denn schon die Erwähnungen über die Plantage fand ich sehr ansprechend.
Das Cover finde ich niedlich und es gefällt mir gut mit der Gestaltung.
Fazit:
4 von 5 Sterne. Klare Kauf – und Leseempfehlung.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up off the library sale shelf because I was intrigued by the title. I did not read the first book in the series ("Lawyer for the Dog") so it can be read as a stand-alone, though as always, there may be things about the characters's backgrounds that you would better understand if you read the series in order.

I'm not quite sure how I'd categorize this book if I needed to. It's not courtroom fiction like Grisham. It is legal fiction in the sense that Sally Banyard is tasked with fulfilling the requirements of a trust set up to care for the cat, Beatrice. Though there are relationships, it's not really a romance: Sally seems incapable of committing to a mature relationship (which makes me angry that she's apparently sleeping with Tony). Though, given that most of the marriages we hear about in this book are/were not happy ones, it doesn't sound like she has a good role model for marriage. (her mother and father apparently had marital problems because her mother keeps saying she should have "married Ed Strand", Lila's marriage seemed more one to please her parents and/or keep the land she loved though her relationship with Simon might have been love, Gail's in an abusive relationship though they aren't married, Gina's beau is convinced he needs a prenup because women always betray him, Mandy's pretty much dismissed the boy who got her pregnant from her life other than wanting him to contribute money toward their child's upbringing...)

Sally does finally commit to adopting the dog Tony has been after her to adopt. Maybe that is a start toward progress in her character.

Sally interviews several people, some identified by Lila and some not, for the position as Beatrice's caregiver. I didn't guess correctly who she chose--I was expecting her to pick a different character than she did--though the character I expected her to pick does seem like he might get to stay involved with the house and Beatrice, just in a different way that I expected.

[Dyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I like cats, the cover of the book caught my eye at the library. This was more than a quick cozy read, because it contained lots of emotional insights from the main character. It's also not a cat book per se, but the cat is the catalyst that moves the story forward. I also haven't read "The Lawyer for the Dog", the first book in the series, so I can't compare this one to it. It works fine as a stand alone book though.

Fifty year old Sally Baynard is a family court attorney practicing in Charleston, South Carolina. A retiring probate judge asks her to be a trust enforcer for the trust of a deceased owner of a black cat named Beatrice who is the beneficiary of the multimillion-dollar trust and a plantation home left to the cat when Lila died. Paragraph 5 of the trust reads "I hereby appoint one of the following as caregiver for my cat, Beatrice, to be chosen by the Probate Judge at the time of my death...; Gail Sims, my groundskeeper; Katherine Harleston, Assistant Librarian...; Dr. Philip Freeman, my nephew.... I direct that the chosen caregiver shall reside with Beatrice, during Beatrice's lifetime, at my home, Oak Bluff Plantation, on Edisto Island, South Carolina, and shall endeavor to provide Beatrice with the same lifestyle, routine, and emotional environment as she has become accustomed to in my care."

Sally must interview each prospective caregiver and choose the one who is the most appropriate and who agrees to live in Beatrice's home. That person will receive $50,000 a year as caregiver to the cat. The one stickler is that Lila's son Randall is angry about not getting "his rights" and wants his share of the estate NOW. He doesn't get anything until the cat dies. When Sally is on a short trip to N.Y. to interview the nephew, the cat is kidnapped (I refrain from saying catnapped!) and all evidence points to Randall who has also been leaving threatening notes for Sally to find. Sally cleverly resolves this dilemma and gets the cat back.

The book is rich in quirky characters and minor subplots. Characters include Sally's mother, Margaret, who is suffering from Alzheimer's and living with her; Joe Baynard, Sally's ex-husband who is a family court judge; Gina, her assistant, secretary and friend; Ellen, her best friend and confidant; Tony the veterinarian and current boyfriend who is pressuring her to move in with him and his three dogs; and Delores and Shenille, her mother's caregivers. Minor subplots include:

- Tony wants Sally to move in with him, but she has a fear of commitment and emotional attachment.
- Ellen's college-age daughter is pregnant and wants to keep the baby.
- Gina is dating an ex-client who wants a pre-nuptial agreement.
- A man, Ed Shand, whom her mother had an affair with years ago moves into the building where they live. Sally is suspicious of his motives and doesn't like him.
- Her ex Joe wants to run for circuit court judge and wants Sally to campaign for him.
- Sally tries to locate Simon Witowski, an old flame of Lila's, who might give her some insight into Lila's past life and which might help her in choosing a caregiver.
- Sally is always battling her insecurities, emotions, and feelings.

Who will Sally choose as the caregiver for Beatrice? The only hint I will give is that everything works out with a happy ending. It doesn't say, but the only one who probably didn't get what he wanted is Randall. At least not for NOW.

[Jasbr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Katze Beatrice Frauchen ist gestorben: Jetzt ist das Tier eine Millionenerbin mit großem Anwesen. Wer die Katze - und damit auch Zugriff auf den Treuhandfond - bekommt, soll Anwältin Sally Baynard herausfinden.

Ich habe von dem Buch erwartet, dass die Katze bzw. ihre Geschichte im Mittelpunkt steht. Das war aber für mein Empfinden nicht der Fall. Vielmehr hatte ich das Gefühl, dass Beatrice die ganze Zeit nur in ihrem Transportkörbchen sitzt und von A nach B transportiert wird.

Im Mittelpunkt steht viel mehr die Anwältin Sally. Mit ihr als Protagonistin konnte ich mich leider gar nicht anfreunden. Zwar lebt sie für ihre Arbeit, aber sonst wirkte sie sehr schwermütig und teilweise sogar melancholisch. Eigentlich könnte sie mit ihrem Leben zufrieden sein, aber das ist sie nicht. Dass ihr Liebes- und Privatleben so viel Platz im Buch eingenommen hat, hat mir nicht gefallen. Der eigentlich Fall um die Katze war für mich nur eine Nebenhandlung. Das war schade!

Ein bisschen haben mich auf die vielen Verweise auf ihren ersten Tier-Fall gestört. Es hat so gewirkt, als würde sie den Hund total vermissen und die Katze wäre ihr nur lästig. Vielleicht lag es daran, weil ich das erste Buch nicht kenne, aber man hätte sich hier kürzen fassen können.

Der Schreibstil war vollkommen in Ordnung und hat sich gut lesen lassen. Weil sich aber die Handlung doch sehr gezogen hat, kam ich mit dem Lesen nicht wirklich voran.

Insgesamt konnte mich das Buch leider nicht überzeugen. Deswegen gibt es von mir nur 2 Sterne.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book but I don’t like the main character “Sally”. She’s nearly heartless. Had the author given Sally a bit more of a softer side this could have been more of a “feel good” novel. Sally has issues with relationship by the way.. committed isn’t in her vocabulary and she can’t figure out what she wants other than for no one else to be happy since she’s not. Boo Sally!!

[Michelle L. Ledesma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but I didnt. The main character was whiny, indecisive, & cold. I was very disappointed that she also didn't like cats. I'm surprised that I got through it. Although, I did skip over parts where she complained on about her problems. I really was more interested in who she would pick to care for the cat.

[Debbie Ladd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one and enjoyed the setting...Charleston is such a vibrant city

[Michael Carrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

RPL Audio

Aside from saying that golden retrievers bark (nope) it was a very good book for a car trip. Not sure how it was going to end.

(Audio edition not listed)

[Bridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the main protagonist, Sally Baynard. The portrayal of her mother with Alzheimers rings true.
Enjoyable story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story, fast read.

[Katherine Pederson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I knew this wasn't going to be a literary work of art, but was in the mood for sorbet for the brain. I am quitting at page 107. It's badly and unevenly written.

[Sara Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with an interesting concept. The characters are well written and the plot moves at a steady pace. I will probably read more by this author.

[Nan Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in the ending

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lawyer is tasked with finding the best carer for a cat with a very large estate. As you can imagine, this book is seriously twee but it's such a nice easy read that I really enjoyed it.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice book to read - something different!