"CUPID CATS SHELTER: Bring a little magic and love into your life. Adopt a cat" goes the opening page of the Cupid Cats anthology. This book did bring a little love and magic into my life for two out of the three stories. Since this book was an anthology I’m going to review each story individually. It only seems fair that way. One thing to note though is that the shelter “Cupid Cats” is not the same “Cupid Cats” in every single story. They’re different shelters, run by different people, and in different states. I’m going to start with the opening story which is Unleashed by Katie MacAlister.

I have to say before I read Unleashed I had never read a Katie MacAlister book. After finishing this story I wondered why I haven't because I loved it! This story was easily my favorite of the three and one I really wished Katie had made into a full novel.

The story stars Jacintha aka Jas Ferreira, who is known as the “kitty whisper” from her work with big cats at the Fish and Wildlife Department in Washington state. One day she gets a call from the “Cupid Cats” shelter saying that there is a large cat lounging in their lobby. Jas along with her visiting sister Cora make way to the shelter. There Jas discovers a large jaguar drugged on the floor. Jas at first believes it is a runaway from someone’s private, but illegal collection. That is until the large cat starts talking to her in her mind….

Avery Scott is having a hellish day. He was sent by his brother Paen to investigate why rare animals keep showing up on a game reserve in Scotland. His brother believes that a group called the “Leshy” is responsible and so he infiltrates the group. Unfortunately the leader’s daughter wants him to marry her and she does not take kindly to his refusal. Avery wakes up to find a strange woman talking to him and calling him a jaguar. Something Avery knows isn’t right because he’s a Moravian. Moravian’s don’t turn into jaguars that’s because they’re what mortals call vampires.

As I stated earlier, this story was my favorite out of the three. Something that people who know me might find odd since I’m not a fan of the “I love you after one day of knowing you” and this story literally takes place in one day. I overcame this aversion because the story was just so funny and witty. You could just feel the chemistry flowing off of Avery and Jas. Another plus was that Katie takes digs at the “Twilight” series many times. I am not a fan of the series and therefore every time a dig was made, I would crack up. The story came off brilliantly and it’s a real testament to the author that I want to read more of her work. Something I believe is one of the main points of anthologies. So final scores are:

Rating: 9 (Excellent) J’adored it and recommend it to everyone. Heat: 3 (Sensual)

The next story in the anthology is Cat Scratch Fever by Connie Brockway. This was easily my least favorite story in the anthology. In fact I found it hard to finish.

The story revolves around Jim Curran, his five year old daughter Chloe, and Dr. Edith Handelman. Chole wants a cat so Jim decides to take her to the Cupid Cats shelter. There Chole becomes absolutely convinced that his old cat, Ishy, is the one her dead mother used to own. During the first visit, Jim is there with Chloe and his sister Melissa. Edie comes into mop the floor and thus the story begins.

IIf the summary sounds dull that’s because the story was as dull as rocks to me and aggravating. Edie is supposed to be this super genius that works at Jim’s company and is also the director of that particular cupid cats. She speaks like a droid. Think Data from Star Trek without a personality. There, you have Edie. She was so dull, monotone, and talked so high ended that I couldn’t stand her. Jim only seems to be looking for a mother to Chloe and a person to be with since he's lonely as a single parent.

The author wants us to believe they like each like each other and are compatible. Instead I found myself with the same opinion as my namesake in the book, and that is to say they’re all wrong for each other. Edie deserved a super genius that could talk about why love is only a combination of pheromones, chemicals, and appeasing scents. Jim deserved someone with a personality.

Rating: 6 (Satisfactory) Heat Level: 2 (Mild)

The last story in the anthology is A Cat’s Game by Vicki Lewis Thompson and is where the delightful opener came from. Having read a book by Vicki before, I can say I was not the least disappointed in this story and it was up to her usual standard. In fact this book was having a duel with Kate’s story over which was my favorite. Kate’s story won over all because I was not too fond of the end of this one.

The story revolves around Kate Archer who agrees to watch over her sister’s Maggie Bed and Breakfast while she is gone for a week on a cruise. The job sounds easy enough until Kate finds out her ex-boyfriend and current Hollywood leading man Jon Ramsey has rented out the whole place for the week. This does not sit well with Kate since Kate hates Hollywood and everything to do with it. Her Hollywood star parents' marriage troubles and subsequent divorce haunted her childhood and her very public breakup with Jon in high school made things worse. She agrees believing that she is over Jon and because she feels that her sister truly deserves a break. Helping her sister out to her car she discovers a flier for “The Cupid Cats” shelter and decides to take a visit. Due to the nature of her job as a primatologist, Kate has never been able to get a cat. Yet something is compelling her to visit the shelter and look around. She goes and meets Esmeralda a very kind, yet strange woman. At the shelter she meets gorgeous silver and black tabby named Darwin that has black squirrels and a heart shape on its back. Kate falls in love and immediately agrees to take him. Thus the story begins for Kate…

Jon Ramsey is a Hollywood superstar and just recently missed winning the Oscar. He decides to go to his favorite getaway for a vacation. He learns from the owner that she not be there, but instead her sister/ his ex-girlfriend will be. Jon believes he is fine with this. The problem is that moment he lays eyes on Kate carrying a cat to the Inn he realizes he’s never truly gotten over her and still loves her. Thus the story begins for him as well. As I mentioned earlier I really liked A Cat’s Game and thought it was just as good as Unleashed. I really liked how Vicki gave Kate and Jon a history and their romance seemed less rushed because of it. The story was perfect for the anthology format and might have suffered if it had been any longer. The side characters were great and Darwin really fit the bill for “That Darn Cat”.

Rating: 8 I wasn’t that fond of the ending, but it was still wonderful. Heat Level: 4.
~ Melissa