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Love's Enchanted Tales #4
Cat's Gambit
Trusting a talking cat was perhaps the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard of . . .
Helena Sheppard always prided herself on keeping a level head. But when she gives up the flock of sheep meant to be her dowry to preserve her younger sister’s happiness, she accepts a cat to appease her family despite the impracticality. When the cat starts talking and insisting on an adventure, Helena finds her path taking rather unexpected turns.
Cursed by a dragoness nearly a century ago, Reed hasn’t spoken to a human in nearly as long. When Helena proves herself worthy, he grows determined to see the former shepherdess properly rewarded even if it means leading her to Carabas and encouraging her to accept the attentions of a nice knight.
But when they discover a dragon in Carabas, what will it cost to save the people and the kingdom?
A fantasy retelling of the classic fairytale, Puss in Boots
Helena Sheppard always prided herself on keeping a level head. But when she gives up the flock of sheep meant to be her dowry to preserve her younger sister’s happiness, she accepts a cat to appease her family despite the impracticality. When the cat starts talking and insisting on an adventure, Helena finds her path taking rather unexpected turns.
Cursed by a dragoness nearly a century ago, Reed hasn’t spoken to a human in nearly as long. When Helena proves herself worthy, he grows determined to see the former shepherdess properly rewarded even if it means leading her to Carabas and encouraging her to accept the attentions of a nice knight.
But when they discover a dragon in Carabas, what will it cost to save the people and the kingdom?
A fantasy retelling of the classic fairytale, Puss in Boots
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 16, 2023
So I was really exited for this book. It was my third of the author's, and some of the big issues I had with the other two I had read was that the heroine was this perfect girl who had perfect morals and was super forgiving and perfect dutiful daughter. It was annoying and frustrating that the heroines had no angst or complexity. So I was excited for this because in the fairy tale Puss and Boots, the parents suck and the heroine gets to rise above this terrible hand dealt her. Sigh. That is not the case with this book. Again, the heroine Helena is a perfect daughter and sister and has zero problems with the situation she is in; in fact, she organizes it because she has to take care of her family. Sigh. If this was the first of the author's books I had read, I probably could have soldiered on, but by now, I am just tired of the same heroine, the perfect heroine who does not get angry at anything. So I could not finish it and will not read another book by this author. I am just done with the poor and one note representation of heroines.
So if you like the author's works, you will probably like this book. If you are looking for complex heroines and an interesting take on a fairy tale, maybe look elsewhere.
So if you like the author's works, you will probably like this book. If you are looking for complex heroines and an interesting take on a fairy tale, maybe look elsewhere.
June 18, 2019
This is a Puss-n-boots re-telling, but it's quite different from the original. It stays in keeping with the land that the previous stories are in and we even see some characters from other books in the series - dragons!
She's a shepherdess. When her parents decide to move to the city it is finally her chance to do some exploring and find her own life. Her parents want to give her an inheritance, but she doesn't want to take anything from them they may need, so she tells them she wants the cat, the cat she can't stand!
Reed, the cat, has been cursed by a dragon sorceress - yep, the same one from previous stories, and has lived 100 years as a cat. He reveals his ability to speak, to Helena, as they make their journey to Carabas, the place he once called home.
In this re-telling, the cat doesn't have any magical abilities; and it's not an ogre who has taken over Carabas but rather a rogue dragon. Helena just isn't interested in the men the cat encourages her to fall in love with, but there is still a happy ending!
This is a clean read.
She's a shepherdess. When her parents decide to move to the city it is finally her chance to do some exploring and find her own life. Her parents want to give her an inheritance, but she doesn't want to take anything from them they may need, so she tells them she wants the cat, the cat she can't stand!
Reed, the cat, has been cursed by a dragon sorceress - yep, the same one from previous stories, and has lived 100 years as a cat. He reveals his ability to speak, to Helena, as they make their journey to Carabas, the place he once called home.
In this re-telling, the cat doesn't have any magical abilities; and it's not an ogre who has taken over Carabas but rather a rogue dragon. Helena just isn't interested in the men the cat encourages her to fall in love with, but there is still a happy ending!
This is a clean read.
May 11, 2022
Helena and Reed make quite the pair. They both are stubborn, love making plans, and are smart. 😂They are so well matched. I 🤎LOVED their banter between them. Reed's schemes/ plans keeps you hooked and wanting to know more. Especially on why he is a cursed cat. I 🤎LOVE the interactions between them, especially after he is changed back. You can tell how much their 🤎LOVE was ready to blossom for each other after he changed. I also🤎LOVED mention of past characters and a scene that takes place in Dragon's Maid. Helena is so smart in restoring her husband's estate. 😂He loves her just not the sheep. However, his encounters that happened in the past I can understand being leary of them. There is so much mystery, action, and adventure along with humor that makes this book so great. If you need a book to keep you smiling and entertained this is the one. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.
May 6, 2019
Love it! Very original retelling
What a fun story. I've read some other Puss in Boots retellings, one other of which was also quite fun with a similar back and forth sparring dialogue between the cat and the maid. I enjoyed the inclusion of dragons in this one (great to see familiar characters again), with a dragon replacing the ogre (excellent idea!), and the complications that entailed. The ending was perfect, too, even if you could see it coming... It was right for the characters. Another hit for Miss Kimberly too include in my book of favorites!
What a fun story. I've read some other Puss in Boots retellings, one other of which was also quite fun with a similar back and forth sparring dialogue between the cat and the maid. I enjoyed the inclusion of dragons in this one (great to see familiar characters again), with a dragon replacing the ogre (excellent idea!), and the complications that entailed. The ending was perfect, too, even if you could see it coming... It was right for the characters. Another hit for Miss Kimberly too include in my book of favorites!
October 9, 2019
Enchanting retelling
I really enjoyed this retelling of Puss in Boots. It was so good to finally see some characters from previous stories! I love when series like these meld together. I only didn’t give it 5 stars because the initial relationship between Helena and Reed didn’t feel very developed. It just happened and I didn’t fully believe it until the end. Fun dragons, characters, and story!
I really enjoyed this retelling of Puss in Boots. It was so good to finally see some characters from previous stories! I love when series like these meld together. I only didn’t give it 5 stars because the initial relationship between Helena and Reed didn’t feel very developed. It just happened and I didn’t fully believe it until the end. Fun dragons, characters, and story!
April 7, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Reed was a fun character to follow, and Helena was strong in her own right. Sometimes I thought her stubbornness at being forthright was too much so, but since she had a means of protecting herself I guess it worked. Using a dragon instead of an ogre made for an interesting twist. I loved seeing the return of previous characters in the series too. Overall good plot with a good pace.
September 19, 2020
What a gambit!
Loved this Puss in Boots tail / tale! In this version, both Puss and his traveling companion have honor and integrity. I really liked Puss and his character development, and enjoyed Helena's steadfastness and acceptance of who she is and where she came from. Highly enjoyable read!
Loved this Puss in Boots tail / tale! In this version, both Puss and his traveling companion have honor and integrity. I really liked Puss and his character development, and enjoyed Helena's steadfastness and acceptance of who she is and where she came from. Highly enjoyable read!
October 10, 2020
Puss in Boots was one of my favorites growing up. This cat is every bit as clever and scheming as the original. This adaptation does a little gender swapping that results in one dynamic duo. I thoroughly enjoyed this reimagining. Each of these tales in the series is well written and well paced. I find myself devouring each installment.
July 11, 2019
An absolute favourite.
This is clean and very well written fairy tale retelling. I loved practical heroine, and Reed was hilarious. An adorable read.
I haven't tried or read all the books in the series, but this on is my favourite so far as well as overall very high on my list of this genre.
This is clean and very well written fairy tale retelling. I loved practical heroine, and Reed was hilarious. An adorable read.
I haven't tried or read all the books in the series, but this on is my favourite so far as well as overall very high on my list of this genre.
February 20, 2020
A fun read with a cat and girl who spend a lot of time saucing each other. Considering how much Helena hated the cat I thought she allowed him to lead her from her original destination to the middle of nowhere really easily without a real clear reason as to why.
I liked how Helena stayed true to herself and wasn't embarrassed of who she was or where she'd come from. It was nice to see some familiar faces from book 2 as well.
I liked how Helena stayed true to herself and wasn't embarrassed of who she was or where she'd come from. It was nice to see some familiar faces from book 2 as well.
March 24, 2020
Delightful Puss in boots retelling
This was a fun adaptation that I enjoyed. I enjoyed getting to see Marissa and Alastair from the Storyteller's Dragon. I would rate this sweet and clean, PG for thematic violence.
This was a fun adaptation that I enjoyed. I enjoyed getting to see Marissa and Alastair from the Storyteller's Dragon. I would rate this sweet and clean, PG for thematic violence.
March 30, 2023
Contains: some fighting. I liked this Puss ‘n Boots retelling. I loved how non-nonsense and practical Helena which juxtaposed nicely with Reed’s mild foolishness. I also liked that while it has the elements of Puss ‘n Boots it is still its own story.
August 17, 2020
I really enjoyed this take on the "Puss in Boots" fairytale. It was a lot of fun, especially considering that the cat was an enchanted man.
November 3, 2025
This is such a fun Puss in Boots retelling. Lots of adventure and humor. It was good to see the characters from a previous book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews