At a fundraising event for animals, a plunge into a frigid lake may be an opportunity for cold-blooded murder . . .The Tail Waggin' Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who's filming the festivities. She's critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake—and as a matter of fact, that's exactly what they're both going to do . . .It's the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore—with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard—but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation—whether he wants her to or not . . .Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!“Doggone charming from start to finish!” —Cleo Coyle, New York Times bestselling author on Death by Chocolate Lab
Bethany Blake lives in a small, quaint town in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters. When she's not writing or riding horses, she's wrangling a menagerie of furry family members that includes a nervous pit bull, a fearsome feline, a blind goldfish, and an attack cardinal named Robert. Like Daphne Templeton, the heroine of her Lucky Paws Mysteries, Bethany holds a Ph.D. and operates a pet sitting business called Barkley's Premium Pet Care.
Sylvan Creek is being touted as a pet-friendly destination and there is television crew in town to film their Tail Waggin’ Winterfest. Locals are hoping the exposure will bring more tourists to the town. Petsitter Daphne Templeton is trying to get her new pet bakery open and included in the production but contractors are hard to come by due to another huge home renovation. So right now she is concentrating on Winterfest and all it entails including a polar bear plunge. Turns out this part of the festival was a bit unorganized and with over 80 people rushing into the frigid water and trying to hurry back out was a little chaotic. Especially when Daphne takes a little fall and winds up underwater tangled with another body. Daphne is rescued by industrious St. Bernard but the other person, the television producer, Lauren Savidge, was not so lucky, Her body is ice cold and she is dead. Daphne knows Detective Jonathan Black isn’t going to like it but she and her sleuthing assistant basset hound, Socrates are plunging into their own investigation.
I so enjoyed this story. Daphne has quickly become one of my favorite protagonists. I am excited about her new pet bakery even though she needed a little shove and a little push to set up her grand opening. Her mind was clearly on everything else happening that the store hit the backburner for awhile. Her friend Moxie always makes me smile, great attitude and her love for the great film actresses of yesterday. Daphne’s mother is quite a woman, pushy and demanding, but she truly loves her daughter and Daphne gets to know how to handle her better every day.
The pets again add so much to the story. They are unique and mostly lovable. One new pet addition made me squirm, definitely not my idea for a pet, but to each his own 🙂 Of course, basset hound Socrates is still my favorite. Laugh out loud funny and able to turn even the worst day around.
The murder mystery is quite a tangled up mess when Detective Black’s ex-wife becomes a suspect and another detective takes over the investigation. There are plenty of suspects to weed through and eliminate as we follow each and every piece of the puzzle that gets locked into place. I love the way the author takes a reader right into the story. She makes it so easy to see everything like we are right on her character’s shoulders.
Bethany Blake has written a fun story with engaging characters, human, and animal, that captivated this reader from beginning to end. Small town life converged with an excellent mystery was so entertaining. I can’t wait to visit Sylvan Creek again soon!
I just finished Pawprints & Predicaments by Bethany Blake. This is a series I really like because the main character is one of the most unique and oddly optimistic characters I have ever encountered. She is relatable, not predictable and quite unassuming. She has wonderful instincts that are important in any great cozy but there is just something about her I cannot quite put my finger on that I just really like. This story was a great one and I love all the animal characters as much as the human ones. The mystery was a good one, even though I figured out who the murder was quite off handedly just before the big reveal and I was thrilled by the revelation. A great deal of effort and thought clearly went into this one and I feel like were are just getting to know Daphne a little bit better with each book. A great winter read. I loved it. This one is a Kensington release and it is out Feb 27th. Don't you just love the cover?
Daphne, and other locals in Sylvan Creek, are not too happy with Lauren, a TV producer. Lauren is working on a show that features the pet-friendly town, but she is harsh and controlling. At the Winterfest's first-ever polar bear plunge, Lauren is killed. Amateur sleuth Daphne sets out to find who killed Lauren.
The 3rd book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. I have not read the previous two books, but I enjoyed this book and will keep an eye out for others by Bethany Blake.
A cozy mystery for dog lovers. The mystery part was good and kept me interested. The characters and setting were delightful. Sylvan Creek is very pet-friendly, especially to dogs. Most characters have a dog in this everyone knows everyone, and their dog, town. As a nice bonus, recipes for pet treats are included in the back of the book.
I received a digital copy of this book from Kensington and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Daphne Templeton is again surrounded by an animal in Sylvan Creek. Her plans to open a pet bakery are moving slowly. The Tail Wagging Winterfest has started and Daphne plans on taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge into the lake that is poorly organized. A St Bernard appears out of nowhere and pulls an unconscious person from the chaos that occurred when the group jumped into the freezing water. The dog quickly disappeared. The dead person turns out to a TV producer who had many enemies. The autopsy shows she was murder. Daphne investigated even though she promised to stay out of the case. Daphne uncovers secrets that the several of the residents. The ending is a surprise. Recipes for pet treats are included.I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Kensington Books for my copy for review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Pawprints and Predicaments Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #3 Bethany Blake 5 Stars
Synopsis:
The Tail Waggin' Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who's filming the festivities. She's critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake--and as a matter of fact, that's exactly what they're both going to do . . .
It's the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore--with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard--but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation--whether he wants her to or not . . .
Includes recipes for homemade pet treats! "Doggone charming from start to finish!" --Cleo Coyle, New (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I thought all of the characters are engaging and I enjoyed spending time with them. I really like how Daphne and Moxie are such good friends and they compliment each other well. Her sister, Piper, and her mom sometimes give Daphne a hard time, but you can tell how much they love her. And Detective Jonathan Black continues to be the bane of her existence but I think she would date him if the opportunity ever presented itself.
I still continue to think that all of the animals steal the show. They all have very distinct personalities and we get to meet a new pet named Sebastian, the cheese loving rodent. I loved the way Daphne was always talking to them and asking their opinions. Socrates, her basset hound had me laughing out loud. The animals are as real to me as any of the humans.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The authors is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was visiting Sylvan Creek, watching the celebration first hand. The mystery is well plotted and fast paced. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and the mystery was not easy to solve.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted animal cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series, I hope the author is a fast writer.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
Pawprints & Predicaments (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #3) by Bethany Blake is just as fantastic as I hoped. Daphne is a great protagonist, she is fun, carefree and her willingness to help animals and friends is a plus. It's time for The Tail Waggin’ Winterfest in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. This event should be a blast, but TV producer Lauren Savidge is really putting a damper on the activities. She is rude and to critical in Daphne's opinion, but that won't stop Daphne from participating in the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee.
It's not just the shock of the freezing cold water that takes Daphne's breath away, it's finding yet another dead body!
Daphne swears she saw the ghost of the local town legend- A mysterious St. Bernard who is known to travel through their small town.
Daphne knows what she saw and she won't rest until she discovers all the answers and unravels this intriguing mystery.
The ending caught me by surprise and I was delighted that this was one mystery I couldn't solve.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
As always, Bethany Blake takes us on a fun, rollicking ride with the third in the Lucky Paws petsitting mystery series. The action never stops, and if you can guess the murderer than you're a better sleuth than me. Everything leads up to it, but I was so in the dark it wasn't funny. Speaking of funny, the humour in this series is a real draw card; I can't count the amount of times I laughed or smiled while reading!
It's always a plus to involve animals in cozy mystery, but this one not only adds in new dogs and cats every so often, but adds baking and baking tips too. There are recipes at the end for people who can actually bake (not me). Little details like this just add to the general fun of this book. You don't have to just picture the food, you can try it for yourself!
These books are a real gem in a genre I generally enjoy anyway. They're only getting better! Five stars.
Hmmm the mystery was great, but the love triangle stuff just needs to go away.Daphne tried to stay out of trouble this time around but it just seemed to follow her around. The scenes of her trying the ski are just hilarious. I was hoping for more being written about her efforts to get her pet bakery business off the ground, I think incorporating that into the mystery would have been great especially as she tried to solve the murder of Lauren. Having townspeople come to the new store etc to give it exposure etc. The killer was a surprise so that was very well written though the reason for the murder was ehhhh
So once again we are thrown into the pet-loving town of Sylvan Creek and if there was ever a place for me and the boys to take up a new residence, it would definitely be the place. This town LOVES its pets and has all kinds of events and businesses which cater to them. "Pawprints & Predicaments" picks up right after the Halloween Pet Parade and at the very beginning of the Tail Waggin' Winterfest. However, a big-time TV producer is still working on her new series but before long, it's clear that she isn't going to make it to the end of the production.
Once again all of my favorite characters are front and center. Daphne, the MC and owner of the wonderful Socrates and now Mr. Tinkleston, her best friend Moxie, who now has a new best pal of her own in her pet rat Sebastian, and Detective Black and his newly adopted crew, Axil and Artie. Also, Daphne has been convinced to take in a newly found St. Bernard named "Bernie" until the town can figure out if he is linked with Lauren's death.
I pretty much loved everything about this book - the small town feel, the pets, the quirky townspeople, and as mentioned, some very colorful characters. However, I did struggle with one aspect - a love triangle (DA DA DUM!). So let me start by saying I thought for a brief moment I would give this latest installment 4/5 instead of my final decision of 5/5 because love triangles really bother me. BUT, this one is a tad different in that it's not technically a triangle. First of all, Daphne is not sure of her feelings for one individual and secondly, Detective Black, whom I am fully and completely cheering for, has not really made his intentions clear. So I'm calling it a non-triangle at this time and giving it the coveted 5/5. I will just be leery going into the next one and hope this aspect resolves itself.
If you enjoyed the first two books, then don't hesitate to pick this one up. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.
I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Pawprints & Predicaments by Bethany Blake is the 3rd book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series, and another great addition. Daphne Templeton keeps busy with her pet sitting business, Lucky Paws and getting ready to open her pet bakery, Flour Power. To kick off the annual Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin Winterfest, Daphne participates in the Polar Bear Plunge, where she finds a body and almost drowns. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. I love the unique people and situations in this book. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
In Pawprints & Predicaments, Daphne Templeton certainly has her hands full with the impending opening of her pet bakery, Flour Power, and running her pet sitting service, Lucky Paws. When a murder occurs during the Polar Bear Plunge that's kicking off the Annual Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin' Winterfest, she needs to solve it quickly so that she can get back to business. Enter a ghostly and legendary St. Bernard, mysterious Detective Jonathan Black, and all the excitement of the Winterfest, and author Bethany Blake has gifted the reader with another wonderful cozy mystery! I really like Daphne and her upbeat, positive attitude, and especially her very philosophical relationship with her canine partner in crime, basset hound Socrates. Love this series, and I hope there will be many more books. I highly recommend Pawprints & Predicaments! :-)
Pawprints and Predicaments is full of humor, delightful pets (especially the dogs) and a great plot!
You will find yourself chuckling often throughout this read. At the vivid personalities that Bethany Blake gives the animals (Artie the one-eared Chihuahua and Socrates the basset hound slay me). At Daphne’s eccentrically endearing personality (she was banned from Kenya & accidentally took Krav Maga classes in Israel). And just at the witty way in which the author weaves her words – wry & sometimes a little bit snarky.
I gotta admit that I thought I had it figured out right from the beginning. Nope. Not even close. Blake constructs the mystery in such a way that you anticipate the predictability, are even fine with it because the story is so delightful… and then you’re pleasantly surprised by the actual unpredictability of the story when all is said and done.
Bottom Line: If you have ever insisted your dog was laughing at you, tried to force his appalled self into a cute doggy sweater and/or talked to him like he was human, then Pawprints and Predicaments by Bethany Blake is right up your alley! A dash of romantic possibilities (#teamJonathan), loads of quirky humor, and a well-plotted murder mystery round out the tale. A great choice for fans of cozy mysteries, clean reads and dogs!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)
While I love to read and read quite voraciously, certain stressful situations make it difficult for me to concentrate so I typically don’t even try to pick up a book… such as flights and having the flu with a fever. One year ago when Bethany Blake released her first book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series, I just happened to start reading it shortly before I boarded a flight. Imagine my amazement when I continued reading throughout the entire five hour flight and barely noticed my discomfort! I experienced a similar situation earlier this month with Ms. Blake’s newest release, PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS, the third book in the series. I came down with that dreadful flu making the rounds and took two trips to urgent care. Armed with PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS on my iPad, I immersed myself in Sylvan Creek’s festivities and barely took notice of my surroundings or my achy, feverish body! I find the protagonist, Daphne Templeton, highly entertaining and Ms. Blake writes with a terrific sense of humor that had me chuckling out loud on several occasions. People might mistakenly think that Daphne is a ditzy blonde, but beneath her bohemian exterior is a highly intelligent young lady with a generous heart. The predicaments Daphne alludes to throughout the book about her trips that have gone awry during her previous nomadic life have me hoping the author expounds on them in future books… just her small mentions had me laughing at the scenes I envisioned. Not only are the human characters well-developed and entertaining, but the pet characters are equally so. I adore Daphne’s dog, Socrates and her trying cat, Tinkleston. They truly have their own personalities that greatly add to the story.
A strong, smart, funny protagonist is great but the key to a terrific book is a strong plot and Ms. Blake delivers that as well. She ties an old local legend surrounding a Saint Bernard ghost, a recluse living deep in the woods, and a Polar Bear Plunge that ends in murder together into one cohesive story that had me turning pages and ignoring my illness. There are suspects galore but clues to point the vigilant reader in the right direction. I’ll admit I decided to just go along for the entertaining ride and didn’t try to figure it out, but I wasn’t in the least bit disappointed. In fact, I was glued to the book until the very last page was read and then started wondering how soon the next book will be available!
In addition to pet sitting, Daphne is opening a pet bakery called Flour Power. She creates many delicious, healthy treats for her pets and the author has included several recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fun cozy with a lively plot. Lots of humor! I enjoy revisiting the characters in this series. The cast of animal characters is one of my favorites! I highly recommend the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries.
This book just seemed to drag. The winterfest is going on and they are having a polar bear plunge for the first time. Daphne is taking part and upset at Lauren a Tv Producer who is bossy and trying to take over. Then Daphne finds Lauren's body during the plunge and she has to figure out who killed Lauren and why.
Come and spend some time with the ladies of Sylvan Creek. Daphne, her sister Piper, and her best friend Maxie are all such fun and diverse personalities I love seeing what they are all up to. This book doesn’t disappoint and is a lot of fun. I highly recommend this series for cozy mystery fans.
Sub Topics: Small town, pet loving; especially dogs, female small business owner
Can You Start The Series in the Middle? You can, but each installment endears you to Daphne as a protagonist and I’d recommend starting at the beginning to get the best feel for the charm and full depth of each character.
If You Like … Krista Davis’ Paws and Claws Mystery Series, you’ll enjoy this book.
I think each book in this series gets better than the previous. These are light-hearted mysteries, but they still manage to keep me guessing to the end most of the time.
I enjoy the cast of characters in these books -- the human ones and the furry ones -- and was happy that Daphne didn't come across as such a bumbling fool in this book as she has in others.
I had won book #4 in a giveaway last year, and am really glad that I decided to start the series from the beginning after having enjoyed the book I won.
If you like animals and cozy mysteries, you will most likely enjoy this series too.
De los libros leídos de esta serie hasta ahora éste es el que más me ha gustado. Repite la misma temática sin embargo es simpático, Daphne encuentra otro cadaver y pese a que Jonathan le indica que no se involucre ella sigue entrometiéndose con la excusa de encontrar el dueño de Bernie. Una lectura muy fácil y simpática. Espero que esta serie siga y siga. Me encantan Daphne, Moxie y Socrátes. También en este libro se nota más que Daphne estudio filosofía ya que tiene una cita para todo.
Pawprints & Predicaments by Bethany Blake was a fun story filled with animals, friends, and one of the most philosophical characters I have come across in a cozy series. Daphne Templeton holds a PHD in philosophy, but runs a pet-sitting business and is getting ready to open a pet bakery. She lives in the town of Sylvan Creek, known as one of the most pet loving towns. When a television crew descends on the town, their plan is to make a show that makes them look pet crazy, not pet loving. When the producer ends up dead, Daphne once again, gets involved in solving the crime.
I love Daphne's character. She is not as ditzy as she was in previous outings, but still has her moments. She has a quote for every situation showing her upbeat nature. She is an allover nice person who I would love to meet. Of course she seems to stumble onto murder victims quite regularly. Luckily for her, her instincts are great and she is often able to solve the crimes herself. Of course my favorite characters are Socrates, the basset hound, who seems to be the reincarnation of Socrates himself, and Artie, the one-eared chihuahua, owned by Detective Jonathan Black. Their personalities are hilarious and they are able to assist in solving the crimes unintentionally. The mystery was a good one, and the murderer was not even on my radar before the big reveal. Each book in this series seems to get better. We get to know a bit more about Daphne and Jonathan in this book. I wonder if their friendship will ever become more? I am looking forward to the newest addition to this series due out in November 2018. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating and opinions are my own.
Pawprints & Predicaments is the third book in Bethany Blake’s Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. The storyline is well plotted and the characters are well developed and affable. This is an enjoyable, clean read, with an interesting mystery and touches of humor. The book held my attention from the beginning until the end and the final reveal was shocking. I highly recommend this delightful series to cozy mystery fans.
Daphne Templeton is the owner of Lucky Paws Pet Sitting in the quaint village of Sylvan Creek. She has a Basset Hound, Socrates, who is her loyal companion, and a newly adopted Persian cat, Tinkleston, who continues to be a handful. She loves baking healthy treats for cats and dogs and is preparing to open Flour Power, a bakery for pets. She lives in Plum Cottage on her sister, Piper’s, farm, Winding Hill. Piper is a veterinarian and the owner of the Templeton Animal Hospital. Moxie Bloom is her best friend and the owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for humans and pets, and her mother, Maeve Templeton, is the owner of Maeve Templeton Realty. Elyse Hunter-Black, Jonathan’s ex-wife, is the executive producer of Stylish Life Network, which is filming a show called America’s Most Pet Friendly Towns in Sylvan Creek. Daphne, Piper, and Moxie are attending the Thirtieth Annual Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin’ Winterfest, a weeklong event. Daphne is participating in the first polar bear plunge into Lake Wallapawakee and Daphne and Moxie plan to dress up Artie, a one eared, crooked toothed, drooling Chihuahua she used to foster, and enter him and Moxie’s rat, Sabastian, in the annual Cardboard Iditarod. Daphne plunges into the icy water and when she noticed everyone starting to retreat, she’s more than ready to join them, but when she tries, her fingers tangle in something and Lauren Savidge’s body rises next to her. Detective Jonathan Black pulls Daphne out of Lake Wallapawakee and a Saint Bernard mysteriously appears and pulls Lauren out. Vonda Shakes, the county coroner, rules the death a homicide and Detective Jonathan Black begins his investigation. Daphne’s no stranger to finding bodies and she has the tendency to meddle in investigations and has a knack for putting clues together and solving puzzles. Although Jonathan admits her actions have often helped solve crimes in the past, he doesn’t like her meddling in his cases and asks her to stay out of this one. Lauren, who wasn’t well liked, was the field producer for America’s Most Pet Friendly Towns and when Elyse tells Jonathan about an argument she had with Lauren just prior to the plunge, he recuses himself and his partner, Detective Fred Doebler takes over the investigation. Despite Jonathan, Piper, and Maeve requests that she mind her own business, Daphne can’t resist the temptation of investigating Lauren’s death.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Could someone please make the Tail Waggin' Winterfest real? Minus the murder, it sounds like a wonderful festival, and it is a beautiful setting for the mystery. There are some amazingly quirky characters and pets. I found the mystery to be a bit surprising.
I really love this cozy series it's always a lot of fun every time I dig into one of the books.
In Book three Winterfest is going all out and Daphne has signed up for the Polar Plunge because she thought her best friend Moxie wanted them too, turns out that was not it. So she is off to plunge on her own and in the misted of all that a dead body is found. It's Lauren a reporter that wasn't very well liked by a few people, she seem to be making their cute little pet friend town seem like a weird thing.
Jonathan Black, the detective who is usually on the case has to step down because his ex is a suspect and it's a conflict of interest. It doesn't stop Daphne from checking things out and then telling him things, which only makes him a bit mad as he doesn't want her mixed up in things. Daphne is also going out with Gabriel, a reporter, she is not sure if she likes him or not, but she sure doesn't trust him not after finding out some things about him.
I really love the characters in this story, especially the dogs! Socrates and Artie, plus now there was a new one I think his name was Bernie. He is the Saint Bernard who found the dead body. Daphne who owns a pet walking service has also opened a pet food bakery, which is just getting started. Her sister Piper pretty much pushed her into opening sooner than she wanted too by putting up posters with a opening date, got to love a sister like that! Jonathan Black, one of my favorite detectives! I really hope Daphne and him end up together, she needs to forget that Gabriel!
It has a really good mystery that took my by surprise as I didn't figure it out! Though it made a lot of sense. :)
If you love a pet themed cozy then you need to try out this series!
This was a lovely little cozy mystery. The characters were great and the animals made it all the cozier---except the rat. I'm sorry---I know she tried to make the rodent endearing and cute but I could not get past the fact that it was a rat! Ugh! However - that was my only complaint. Great little read. I had not read the titles that preceded - but will certainly being doing so.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
This series is so much fun and I excitedly started this third book in this series. It was a joy to return to this pet friendly town and follow Daphne as she solves yet another murder. There are secrets that come to light, new things we learn about characters and ofcourse lots of pets.
The mystery in this one was a good one. It kept me guessing. At first I wasn't quite sure who to suspects, then I eventually decided on a suspect, but wasn't 100% sure either and I my guess turned out to be wrong. I did guess the murder weapon correctly as one hint in that direction kept standing out to me and allowed me piece that together. I liked how a lot of secrets and stories get uncovered in this mystery and then by the end everything falls on it's place. The mystery was also different here as Jonathan wasn't on this case, but another detective instead, so that changed the dynamic a bit. It was a nice twist who the murderer was and it did make sense, but I would've liked a few more hints in that direction. And there was one red herring that was a tad too obvious to me.
At the end of book 2 Daphne rents some space to start her own pet bakery and I was excited to see how that plan panned out. In this book it isn't up and running yet, but she is working to get the business there. I am curious to see how that will play a role in the next book. There's also a friendly new dog we meet in this book and there's a bit of mystery surrounding him and where the dog came from as well.
I also was excited when it turned out there was a rat pet in this book as well as I love rats. Although sadly I have the feeling either the author or the side character doesn't know as much about rats as I would've liked as some of how the characters handled the rat didn't make as much sense to me and cheese usually is only given as an occasional treat to a rat not as a staple food which it seemed to be here. Another slight issue I had was with how bad the main character was with skiing even while she had lessons and stopping while skiing/ slowing your speed is actually one of the easiest things about skiing.
This was just a really fun and well written cozy mystery. I like visiting this small town and spending time with the characters and pets that live here. I also think Daphne makes for a great main character although she does sometimes run off without anyone telling what's she's going to do.
There is only a hint of romance in this books and I still hope she's going to end up with Jonathan as I really like the scenes between them and the type of banter they have going on. There are also some scenes involving Gabriel, but to be honest I never fully warmed up to him and I hope he doesn't turn into a potential love interest.
I also like how the dogs and pets all have their own behavior and really come alive. I really like how Socrates's his behavior is described and also how different Tinkleston and Artie are in comparison. And the St. Bernard that plays a role in this book is different again. The winter setting and focus on that with the Winterfest was a fun touch. And I feel that with each book we learn more about this town and it's inhabitants.
To summarize: this was a great read! I loved returning to the small town of Sylvan Creek where the winter festival was taking place. the mystery was a good one that kept me guessing and lots of secrets and backstories got unraveled along the way. I predicted the murder weapon correctly, but not the murderer. It was a nice twist, although I wouldn't have minded a few more hints in that direction. Daphne is a fun main character to read about and I am still holding out hope that her relationship with Jonathan will eventually turn into a romance, they have some great banter going on. I never really fully warmed up to Gabriel, but I liked the new pets we meet in this book. And it's great how with each book we learn more about the town and the characters. There also were parts about Daphne's new business and the winter festival which was a nice touch and I like the continuity in this series. Another great read in this awesome cozy mystery series and I am already looking forward to the next book!
Pawprints & Predicaments is the third installment in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series set in Sylvan Creek, a small town set in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Daphne Templeton is quite content with her Lucky Paws pet sitting service but knows she needs to get her pet friendly bakery, Flour Power open for business.
The annual Tail Waggin' Winterfest has undergone a few changes this year, and a new feature is the Polar Plunge. Daphne mistakenly believes that her best friend Moxie is going to take the dip with her into the frigid waters of Lake Wallapawakee but instead finds herself heading into the water alone while faithful sidekick Socrates, the basset hound, watches from the shore. Unfortunately, for Daphne she doesn't come out of the water alone.
A small TV crew led by producer Lauren Savidge is in town to film a segment for the Stylish Life Network, "America's Most Pet Friendly Towns". Since her arrival the woman has done nothing but rub fur the wrong way so it's really no surprise when she's the one who turns up dead in the water. The surprise comes in the form of a St. Bernard, the elusive dog at the heart of a local legend.
This is such a terrific series and this latest addition doesn't disappoint. A well crafted plot with developed, returning main characters, just the right touch of romance (although I seriously hope the dreaded love triangle isn't on the horizon) and a delightful cast of lovable animals. The animals once again steal the hearts of readers and you'll have a hard time putting this one down from the first page to the last. The author does a fantastic job of transporting the reader smack down in the middle of Sylvan Creek - I can't wait for many more adventures with Socrates (and Daphne).
I received an advanced copy of Pawprints and Predicaments from NetGalley via Kensington Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
As Pawprints and Predicaments by Bethany Blake opens, the small town of Sylvan Creek in the Poconos is having its popular Tail-Waggin' Winterfest. The event features charity fundraisers and tours of Bear Tooth Forest, including the local legend of the Lake Wallapawakee St. Bernard, a ghost dog who lives in the forest. But the highlight this year is a polar bear plunge in the lake, an event in which Daphne Templeton, pet sitter, has agreed to take part. With little organization, the 80- some people joining in the activity create a mob, with people's getting jostled badly, and Daphne gets pushed underwater. When she surfaces, she finds her hands wrapped in hair, pulling up the body of Lauren Savidge, the field producer of the show America's Most Pet Friendly Towns, in Sylvan Creek to film an episode of the show. Calling out for help, Daphne gets rescued by Detective and former Navy Seal Jonathan Black, and an unknown St. Bernard jumps in to pull Lauren to shore. Is this the mysterious Lake Wallapawakee St. Bernard? He then disappears into the forest.
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