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A matchmaking cat may be their only hope for a happily ever after.

Maggie isn’t a fan of people. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that people aren’t a fan of Maggie. Therefore, when she inherits a house and enough money to retreat from the world, she happily embraces the opportunity, bringing only her cat along for company.

Jackson is the sheriff of his shifter town. He deals with people all day long and for the most part, enjoys his job. Until the crazy human who just moved to town reports a catnapping. He’s not exactly leaping at the opportunity to track down a missing pet. Then he discovers the crazy human is his mate.

Genghis Khat has a mission: find his human companion a mate. The only problem? Her mate is the sheriff and she’s not exactly a fan. It’s going to take a lot of work to make this match a pawsitively purrfect one.

Note: previously published in the multi-author anthology, Shifters Do It Better.

184 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 7, 2022

76 people are currently reading
151 people want to read

About the author

Pepper McGraw

70 books105 followers
Sadly, Pepper was not born a shifter. She dreams of being adopted (or mated) by one, but until such a glorious day arrives, she consoles herself by writing about shifters instead.

Either that, or she really IS a shifter and is just pretending NOT to be a shifter, to protect her people.

Whether the former or the latter is anyone's guess, but either way, she's living her absolute best possible shifter-life.

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5 stars
106 (43%)
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80 (32%)
3 stars
42 (17%)
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12 (4%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
45 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2022
Very cute story with cats causing chaos and leading people to find their true mates. Maggie is very quirky and odd and not good with social interactions but she still comes across as Charming and sincere. There is one sex scene at the end of the book with a very mild description. Most of the story is dedicated to Jackson attempt at wooing his mate while the cat and the town interferes. This was a very enjoyable and fun story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.8k reviews360 followers
July 17, 2022
Lifetime Winner of "The Most Irritating Human" Award . . .

Maggie Winters is human (and more which she doesn’t realize), and not particularly fond of dealing with other people. She is blunt and painfully truthful, which most people don’t appreciate. So inheriting a house and money to allow her not to have to work anymore is a real blessing to her anti-social behavior. She finds a stray cat along the way there and names him Genghis Khat.

Genghis Khat remembers the people at the diner talking about Maggie and whether she has a mate here. Mate magic will call a person to the town, and if there is no mate, the magic will send them elsewhere. Maggie has been here a month, and Genghis Khat likes the town and the people. He doesn’t want to go somewhere else, so he needs to help Maggie find her mate.

Sheriff Jackson Hewitt is a panther shifter in the town. The town’s shifter population is a bit uneasy at her arrival, especially as she is so unfriendly. Since Genghis Khat has taken on the job of matchmaker for Maggie, he disappears. Maggie contacts the Sheriff to report a probable catnapping, but the Sheriff is absolutely not impressed. Still he contacts Maggie about a cat in the diner that could be her missing cat. She wants the Sheriff to bring him to her, which he refuses. He’s not a taxi nor a pet rescue service. So she has to go herself. But her anxiety about talking to people is so bad that half-way to the diner doors, she begins pacing back and forth, talking animatedly to herself, and flinging her arms around. The entire diner is watching her from the windows, figuring this is the crazy human. The waitress, Annie, tells them to all sit down and prohibits any sniffing or growling. And Annie made her eat, then took her to each table to introduce the town’s residents. Although Maggie remained what I would term “flaming rude”, the people truly tried to make her feel more accepted.

By the time Maggie ends up meeting the Sheriff in person after her cat is “stolen” for the third time and she rushes to the diner to find Jackson sitting in the booth with Genghis Khan, he realizes the crazy lady is his mate. She screams at him about his incompetence, and storms off with her cat. Will he sneak off and try to pretend it isn’t true? Or will he try to find a way to get her to accept that Fate wants them together? Perhaps Genghis Khat will put in a good word for him?

I can’t stand Maggie. But Annie is a sweetheart and saved the story for me. I felt bad for a nice normal guy like Jackson to be saddled with the truly crazy lady. He deserved much better. Maggie was just too over-the-top annoying to me where I couldn’t see the “humor” because she was just so oblivious and rude. But the rest of the story was a good one.
Profile Image for Chandra Luna.
1,780 reviews12 followers
October 12, 2025
If you’ve ever suspected your cat was secretly plotting your love life, Catnapped by Pepper McGraw is here to confirm it—with claws, charm, and just the right amount of chaos.

Maggie has made peace with her solitary life—and honestly, so has her cat. After inheriting a home in a quiet shifter town, she’s perfectly content to avoid small talk, people, and any situation requiring pants that aren’t stretchy. But when her beloved cat goes missing, she storms straight into the sheriff’s office to file a catnapping report… and walks right into destiny.

Sheriff Jackson has seen a lot in his line of duty, but a feisty human demanding a full-scale search for her “kidnapped” cat might just take the cake. Still, there’s something about Maggie—her stubborn spark, her sharp tongue, her fierce loyalty—that stirs something deep inside him. Something primal. Something mate-level.

And as for Genghis Khat (yes, that is the cat’s name)? He’s got a mission of his own—to play Cupid with fur, whiskers, and a touch of feline brilliance. Because sometimes, love doesn’t come with roses or candlelight… sometimes it comes with hairballs and a matchmaking menace in a tail.

Pepper McGraw nails the balance between cozy humor, sizzling chemistry, and genuine heart. Maggie’s reluctant vulnerability, Jackson’s gruff patience, and Genghis’s meddling make for a feel-good story that’s impossible not to purr over.

⭐ 5 Stars – Funny, flirty, and fantastically fuzzy!
Catnapped is a heartwarming rom-com with shifters, sass, and a cat who clearly deserves his own spin-off. It’s the kind of story that makes you believe in fated mates, found family… and maybe a little bit of magic behind those feline eyes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for casvec.
7,458 reviews75 followers
July 24, 2022
Bygul, a matchmaker, was challenged to match Maggie Winter, a woman that was more than difficult and had her own way about her, to a companion cat, then mate. Maggie was most unusual as she did not act or respond the way Bygul had seen other human and was going to have to try a different approach.

Maggie's honesty, straight talk easily turned others off and her being unaware or confused by normal social ques made this story even better. Bygul struggle to find Maggie a mate, as she rather stays away from other and just stay at home, needed to rely on her cat match for help.

Jackson was a sheriff of the shifter town, which he made for a never dull day.
Lately it had been the new person in town calling about her missing cat, stating it was catnapped, but each time he was found at the local diner, where Maggie was forced to go into town and socialize. When they met at the dinner, Maggie's directness and temper flew, the only thing Jackson could do was sit back and process she was his mate.

This was a fun story that put a smile on my face from the start. I loved Maggie's interactions with the town and the sheriff as she tried to understand all that what going on.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,858 reviews
December 19, 2025
Maggie isn't a fan of people or maybe it's that they're not a fan of her. So when she inherits a house and enough money to truly retreat from the world, she's happy to do just that although she does bring her new cat along for company. Jackson is the sheriff of his shifter town and he typically enjoys his job dealing with people. However, when the new human in town calls to report her cat being stolen he's not eager to take the case. Then he discovers the human is his mate so everything changes.

Genghis Khat is Maggie's cat and he's been given a mission ~ find his human's mate. The problem is that the sheriff is her mate and she's not a fan. So he has his work cut out for him.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It was an excellent addition to the series. It was well-written with well-rounded characters who were so much fun. It was a quick, fun read that drew me in and kept me hooked from start to finish. This was a sweet, slow-burn romance with humor throughout. I loved getting to know Maggie and her quirks as well as Jackson who embraces her as is. This was a captivating story and I'm looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series.
Profile Image for Geff Ratcheson.
250 reviews3 followers
July 5, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I read a couple of this author's stories in anthologies & really liked them. I am a huge fan of Kitty Cats, & wanted to read this series.

Some of the ideas are great & hilarious. Love the name Maggie settled on for the car, Genghis Khat. There were also some great ideas for female cats, Cleocatra; & a couple I no longer remember.

It was easy & quick to read (escape is good these days!), & it was somewhat interesting reading of (though they were not called this)
Maggie's personality disorders.

That was the one place I had issue with believability. Maggie treats Jackson very poorly, & because of "the mating bond" he just keeps putting up with it.

When I was younger, there were times I would place a kitty's happiness over that of a significant other, & I would still do that at times today. But taking the cat's side when the cat was BADLY hurting her "mate" & the male sticking around for more strained the book's credibility for me.

Other than that, it was an entertaining read, & the author definitely gets my favorite animal, the feline!
605 reviews7 followers
October 19, 2025
This paranormal shifter novel was such a delightful surprise! One of the highlights for me was the cat’s constant involvement — honestly, the cat nearly steals the show with its hilarious and perfectly timed interactions. It adds so much humor and warmth to the story.

What really stood out, though, was how beautifully the female main character is written. She’s clearly on the Autism Spectrum, and it’s portrayed with authenticity and respect — not as a stereotype or plot gimmick, but as a natural part of who she is. It makes her character feel incredibly real and relatable.

The story itself is engaging, well-paced, and full of charm, with just the right mix of romance, humor, and heart. I loved how the author balanced the paranormal elements with very human emotions and growth.

It’s the first book in the series, and I honestly can’t wait to read the next one! If you’re looking for a paranormal romance with real warmth, great humor, and meaningful representation, this one is a must-read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
40 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2025
Maggie is an extremely introverted human who, after inheriting the estate of an aunt she’s never even heard of, packs up her life and moves to her new farmhouse in a small shifter town, adopting a meddling, matchmaking cat along the way. Jackson is the town sheriff, and is completely baffled to discover that Greensboro’s newest resident and slightly unhinged “cat lady” is actually his mate.

This was so much fun. The premise was great, and the cats were hilarious — I especially loved their POVs, Bygul’s sass and exasperation and Genghis Khat’s tomcat swagger, their voices were so distinct and entertaining. I also really enjoyed watching Maggie’s growth, from prickly, closed-off, and slightly unlikeable to someone able to open up and truly connect with her new home and its inhabitants. Jackson was the ideal sweet, softie-below-the-tough-exterior alpha shifter, protective, patient, and utterly devoted to Maggie.

I absolutely loved this start to the series and will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for julie.
603 reviews18 followers
July 5, 2022
Maggie isn’t a fan of people. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that people aren’t a fan of Maggie. Therefore, when she inherits a house and enough money to retreat from the world, she happily embraces the opportunity, bringing only her cat along for company.

 Jackson is the sheriff of his shifter town. He deals with people all day long and for the most part, enjoys his job. Until the crazy human who just moved to town reports a catnapping. He’s not exactly leaping at the opportunity to track down a missing pet. Then he discovers the crazy human is his mate.

 Genghis Khat has a mission: find his human companion a mate. The only problem? Her mate is the sheriff and she’s not exactly a fan. It’s going to take a lot of work to make this match a pawsitively purrfect one.
Totally recommend really enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lizette Novotasky.
292 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2022
In here we have the story of Maggie a very socially challenge person. Seriously for a moment I was do they send me the wrong story and this going to turn in to a female Dexter! When lawyers contact her that an unknow relative pass away and leave her not only a house but money, she said goodbye to everything grab her possessions and quit her 3 jobs and off she went. Meanwhile the gods where planning something else for her with the help of Bygul (a goddess cat) they need to pair this human to a cat, but Bygul not only want to match Maggie with a cat, but he wants to get her a mate also. So, who the lucky shifter will be her mate? read and find out. This is not a too fast story we don't meet her mate till like 40% of the book but is ok. If you like Romcoms you will really enjoy this story that have no cheating and of course a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,463 reviews26 followers
February 10, 2024
So so funny

Okay this move quickly and my biggest question is if finally having sex makes them mates how is it that the sheriff isn't a virgin? Because if that's all it takes the he should have been mated to the very first woman he had sex with. It was just very illogical to me.

That said while I wasn't super impressed with how that was not so explained or the romance part of this romance which so of lacked a lot in chemistry, I consider it a must read for the humor alone. My poor husband wasn't able to sleep until I finished the book because every few minutes I was laughing out loud and I don't mean a quick chuckle I mean that sort of laughter where you're laughing so hard you can't catch your breath. I mean this was great. I loved Maggie from the moment she was introduced and every cat character was beyond charming. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Nan.
1,321 reviews4 followers
July 17, 2022
Maggie just flat out does not like people. She says exactly what she means and can’t understand why others don’t do the same. When she inherits a home and enough money to live off from an unknown great aunt, Maggie is thrilled that she can now stay away from people almost entirely. What she doesn’t know is that her new home is in a shifter town and she has been chosen to be matched to a feline companion. Kittens don’t move her but a giant scarred tom melts her heart and eventually helps lead her to her mate. Maggie and Genghis Khat are hilarious and his attitude toward Jackson is even better.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
212 reviews4 followers
August 23, 2024
Acceptance

The book starts out as a cute story about a socially different woman inherits a home and no longer has to work with **shudder** people.
Then it twists and turns all about, with a battle scarred tomcat and a town full of shifters. This book is so good, I would love to say more! Instead of spoilers, just know Khat is the star and genuine acceptance is priceless. Although this tale is short, Khat and his human are well developed and I got a good sense of the side characters as well.

Happy Reading!
~ljs

Content: clean with one intimate "mating night" scene at the end plus occasional swearing (Cat claws hurt!).

Profile Image for Iluvbks.
584 reviews6 followers
November 16, 2025
What a fun story. They start of the book is where you get to know her and she is very strange. So much that you wonder is the book going to be good? I has to stop and think about finishing the story. Glad i kept reading. It gets so much better as you go along. The cats add so much to the story. I loved the dinner scenes the ladies make Maggie have fun. The inner thought of the cat was hilarious. Not an instant love but one that grew from trust and understanding. A very interesting story and a very good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Daz Waltzer-Hill.
25 reviews
October 10, 2024
OMG TOO FUNNY! Seriously, this whole series has me laughing myself silly! I've just finished binge-reading the entire Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses series, and I'm going to go dive right back in and find more Pepper McGraw books. These are SO much fun to read! They're not particularly long books, but they are packed with humor, activity, and of course, romance! The added element of the matchmaking cats is seriously adorable, kudos for creativeness! Definitely unique and unusual storylines! A must-read!
Profile Image for Lynn.
702 reviews7 followers
October 10, 2025
Laugh out loud, quirky, fun, paranormal, short novella with heat and steamy spice near the end. Hilarious.

Maggie had no clue shifters existed, let alone that she moved into a town full of shifters.
Jackson knows right away that this quirky human is his one and only mate.

In my opinion, Maggie seems to be on the autism spectrum. Other places have always made her feel like she's weird. I live how the shifters accept her quirks and don't treat her differently for them.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Johanna.
1,538 reviews40 followers
December 19, 2025
This is Book 1 of the Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses series. What a positively hilarious story! The shifter sheriff and his human mate.

The plot was well written and developed. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. The characters were what drove the story and they were so very appealing and likeable and funny and perfect together. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Andrea Barth-Leidinger.
417 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2022
Hahaha. How very amusing to read this story! I have to say that I know this series, so to say the next to installments since a while and I always wondered how Ghengis Khat and Maggie came together be. Now I know! And what a wonderful story it is! It can , if we pay attention, also show us how normal and socially awkward might be perceived just the other way around….
Enjoy your read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for TrixieB.
844 reviews15 followers
September 18, 2024
Up to 52%, it was a really enjoyable book.

She doesn't like people and that's fine. I applaud her stances on this.

Genghis Khat is amazing.

And then some dude tells his friends oh by the way she's my fated mate. Then just puts his hands on her, kisses her without consent or even asking, orders her around and she obeys him? And is starry eyed? Yeah that's a hard no.

Even though fated mate isn't my favorite thing there's ways to do it that don't violate consent. This one doesn't even try
680 reviews3 followers
October 8, 2025
I laughed all the way through this and would have given it more than 5 stars if I could have. A slow start but heated up with laughter very soon. Easy to read in a long lazy evening ad you will have tears of laughter right the way through . I am not a cat person and after this I dont think I ever will be but I can still appreciate the genius of this crafty cat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,550 reviews14 followers
November 9, 2025
This book made me laugh so much.
I love Maggie and her idiosyncrasies. I love the fresh take on her character and wish I was as bold and truthful as her!
Pretty much every scene was fun and witty. Jackson was funny as well. I loved it when he thought her had to compete against the cat. Hilarious. However, Genghis Kat was the best! The funniest moment was with him and the panther. You’ll know it when you get there.
This is an excellent read!
2,194 reviews28 followers
July 9, 2022
I enjoy a good fun read, and this one certainly delivers. I can totally relate to Maggie and loved this laugh out loud fun story. I obviously love cats and loved everything these amazing cats got up to!!! Massive Fun! I Loved It!!! No Spoilers!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Felicia Seay.
526 reviews4 followers
August 17, 2024
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!

I have read thousands of shifter romance stories through the years, but this one is definitely a top ten read. It's unique, interesting and totally hilarious. The author wrote a truly fabulous tale. It's a Must Read for fans of Supernatural, Romance and Rom-Coms. You'll be glad you read it! Brava Pepper McGraw!
1,241 reviews3 followers
September 7, 2024
The Sheriff and the Misfit

Sheriff Jackson Hewitt stood dumbfounded as the very human Maggie accused him of catnapping her cat Genghis Khat. He couldn't believe that his newly discovered mate was yelling at him because her cat kept disappearing. He didn't steal the cat! This is a delightful story. Fun to read. Wonderful characters. Enjoy!
727 reviews7 followers
November 7, 2024
A screwball comedy about an autistic woman being adopted by a cat, inheriting the best life ever (no joke, she orders everything on Amazon, owns her house free and clear, and never has to leave the house) only to have it screwed up by the pet of the gods deciding that she needs a partner, too. I am kidding, of course.
Profile Image for AuntieErrica (audiobooks=life).
170 reviews10 followers
March 8, 2025
Okay, okay, okay, this series is so goofy I can't help but love it. I read number 13 (12? (diff websites say diff things)) first, Valen-Cats, by accident and decided I needed more. I've bought books 1-4 and am now reading through them. Will I end up buying and reading the entire series (currently 17 books) at some point? Probably. They're short, cute, and weird. What's not to love?
Catnapped: A Pawsitively Purrfect Match (Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses Book 1) follows Maggie, an undiagnosed autistic woman who is matched with a cat she names Ghengis Khat, by one of the Goddesses matchmaking cats, Bygul. Antics ensue when Ghengis and Maggie move to a town inhabited almost exclusively by animal shifters. Bygul helps Ghengis Khat on his mission to now match Maggie with her fated mate.
This novella has cuteness overload, a touch of spice, fated mates, love at first site, and just plain, simple fun.
853 reviews4 followers
October 14, 2025
This is the first book in the Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses series. This is a laugh out loud romantic love story. I love that the main character Maggie is antisocial. My favorite character is her cat, to me he makes the story. Happy ending included.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2,015 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2025
Catnapped: A Pawsitively Purrfect Match Book 1 of Matchmaking Cats of the Goddesses series by Pepper McGraw is a very cute, unique and funny story that I really enjoyed reading. I'm looking forward to reading more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Melanie Purcell.
706 reviews6 followers
October 28, 2025
The supporting cast are a riot! Genghis Khat and his god handler are perfect not Cupids. I love Maggie's honesty and her fit in the shifter town is perfect while Jackson demonstrates a perfect love for her. Can't wait for more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,141 reviews7 followers
November 3, 2025
This was such a fluffy, cute story, and Ghengis Khat was as adorable as his name. It was a lighthearted read that had me laughing out loud at times. I also loved the little section dividers. Can't wait for more of this fun town and the quirky characters.

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