My automatic alert usually wakes me up just a few minutes before I want to get out of bed. Honestly, I don’t know why I even set an alarm clock. Quincy, my rescued tabby buddy, is more reliable than electricity. He always smooths over my morning grumps with his purrs and his head rubs to my face.
We breakfast together in my kitchen, which is above the shop I co-own with my dear Anna Larson. She’s more than a business partner—she and her husband raised me after my parents both died, so she’s like a mother and a grandmother, rolled into one.
Anna is usually in the kitchen of the Bar None by the time Quincy and I go down the back stairway. Her cheerful periwinkle blue eyes always sparkle when she sees the butterscotch cat we both love.
“Good morning, Charity!” she called from across the room where she is already mixing up a batch of Hula Bars, our delicious pineapple coconut concoction that tastes like the South Pacific and makes you forget you’re in Minneapolis when it’s winter.
Anna is the only person in the world who calls me Charity, although that is my given name. My best friend, Julie, says that if I wasn’t already nicknamed Chase before I got Quincy, my name would have had to change. That cat! He’s always getting out of wherever I put him. He stays in the office during the day—except when he gets out. He travels in a carrier to the vet—except when he unzips it. He’s an indoor car and always stays in the building—except when he sneaks out the back door to explore the dumpster and the parking lot.
Julie has been talking to us about setting up a booth at the Bunyon County Fair this fall. There have been complications, though. What would I do with Quincy? Inger, our new employee in the front sales room, has said she doesn’t mind looking after him in the least. How could we bake enough dessert bars to stock the Bar None plus a booth? Anna dismissed that quickly. She would work extra and make them ahead of time. That woman has more energy than I ever will, even though she’s a good forty years older than my thirty-two! Is it fair to our sales employees to leave them to handle the shop while Anna and I go to the fair? Again, Inger and Anna worked that out. We would be open limited hours and Inger can handle that, she says.
This has all been discussed with the aid of leftover dessert bars and herb tea after hours. I think it’s settled. Looks like we’re going to the fair!
You can read more about Chase in Fat Cat Spreads Out, the second book in the “Fat Cat” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. The first book in the series is Fat Cat At Large.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 18 for the chance to win an autographed copy of FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
About the author
Janet Cantrell is a pen name for Kaye George, Agatha nominated novelist and short story writer. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Guppies, and Austin Mystery Writers. Her cozy Fat Cat mystery series features Quincy, a pudgy, adorable cat who is an accomplished escape artist. Especially when he’s on a diet and hungry. Leave it to Quincy to lead his human, Chase, co-owner of a Minneapolis dessert bar shop, into trouble. Fat Cat at Large debuted in September 2014 as a national bestseller. The second in the series, Fat Cat Spreads Out, appears June 2nd, 2015. Janet lives in Knoxville TN with her husband. Her recently departed feline, Agamemnon, is a source for some of Quincy’s antics. Visit janetcantrell.com for more details. Check out her blog at janetcantrell.blogspot.com.
Fat Cat Spreads Out sounds great!📖📚. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Really looking forward to this one.
My cat won’t move when I need to get up, she’s 11 lbs and a pain but I love her. This book sounds great! Thanks for the chance!
My cat is completely different from Quincy. She’s tiny and has a picky appetite and clings to me, but I loved reading about Quincy in the first book. I would love to win this one!
Sounds like a fun book! Thank you for the giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
Cute cover, looks great, thanks for the chance 🙂
My cat was the runt and is tiny with an attitude.
This sounds like a great book. I just found the first book and was laughing in the store as I read the back of the book. I would love to win. Thanks for the chance.
I love a new adventure. I hope I win.
Just ordered the first book in the series. Can not wait to read it. 🙂
I’m in love with the cat. Can’t wait to read.
Sounds like a good book, thank you for the chance to win
Looks like a fun and interesting read! Thanks for the opportunity!
sharonbabyme@yahoo.com
I love this cover. Sounds like a good story. Thanks.
My firswt cat was an orange tabby. I have a soft spot for them to this day.
This book sounds like good,funny entertainment.
This sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sound like a good read, and a cute kitty
Looks like a fun read! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
lcaldwell@ku.edu
I love being introduced to new books! I came across this and have not read these. Would love to win, thanks for the opportunity! 🙂
Being the proud owner of a fat cat, I can relate to this and am looking forward to reading it.
It has a cat…I’m getting this book! Thanks for the chance of to win!
Sounds as if I really would enjoy reading this series.
Quincy sounds so much like our cat Keeko. He always knew when we needed up in the morning and he had opinions about when we needed to be in bed for the night! Sadly, he has passed, but he will always be in our hearts. Thank you so much for having this book giveaway.
Animals are great clocks. Bear is set to go off for breakfast and supper. She knows when it’s time to get up (according to her plans).
Sounds like a fun book.
thanks.
I absolutely loved the first novel and can’t wait to read this one. I would love to win this. Thank you for the chance to do so.
It’s amazing how much an animal can consume our lives once they enter our lives. I can’t remember what I did prior to my adoption of my Romeo Luigi. robeader53@yahoo.com
Quincy rules all!! Seems like a great story – can’t wait to read.
Sounds like a great book, I can’t wait to read it.
A delightful cozy. Many thanks.
In real life, I’m allergic to cats, so I’ll take all the cats-in-books that I can find! Thank you for offering the giveaway!
I’m allergic to cats in real life, so I enjoy as many cats-in-books as possible. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
Thank you, Dru and Chase/Janet. Who wouldn’t love Quincy, tubby tabby extraordinaire? 🙂
Sounds like a very good book. I would love to win it.
Sounds like a great book. READ the first one.
Congratulations to Kaye on her second in this series. I loved book one as Quincy reminds me so much of my cat Sunny who is now in kitty heaven, but not forgotten in the least. The cat adventures bring me back in time and that has been a good thing as many lovely memories are logged into my brain from my feline friends. Would love to be the recipient of book two and thank you for that opportunity.
Sincerely,
Cynthia B.
What fun…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Cats and a mystery are a good combo.
The cat on the cover makes me think this would be a great cozy and I would love to learn how to make those Hula Bars.
I had never heard of the series before so I thank you for bringing it to my attention. It sounds fun!
Fat cats are loveable and a mystery too! Love both.
Oh gosh ! From what I just read in the exert above. I have to read this book. It would so nice to win ! Thank you so much for the opportunity to win.
I really enjoy Fat Cat. Congrats on the new one
Loved the first one and can’t wait to read this one. Thank you for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
My fat cat says I MUST read this book . Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Love a fat cat!
Love mysteries with Cats!!!! I foster cats and never get tired of them!!!!Good series keep them coming!
Love the FatCat!!
Thank you for the giveaway….
I would love a copy of book 2 in the series.
I would love to win, I love mysteries with cats in them
Love the FatCat Crossing my fingers on this one!
Cats -fat cats – and a mystery – too much fun! Hope I win 🙂
We had our own version of Quincy which initially drew me to the cover for these books. I just bought the first for my Kindle & would love to win the second.
Sounds like a good read 🙂
I live with a fat cat. She has bad habits. How do you keep tubby, I mean Kit Kat from somehow getting up on the dining room table? That is besides putting her in the garage.
This series sounds like fun! I’m ordering Fat Cat at Large right now.
I’m a cat lover!
I think I know Fat Cat in real life. Sounds like a great series
I got a couple cat mysteries last month, but I’d love to win this and add another one to my collection. Haven’t tried this series yet. I’ve seen it at the library. My cats get in trouble. Suzie dipped her tail in some grease when she was on the stove. I had to wash it off.
This is definitely on my TBR list, win or not.
My chihuahua wakes me up too. He starts with whining, then tries tapping me with his paw and finally he will bark.
Bettyjo.English@gmail.com
I’d love to win thanks for the giveaway!!!!
Love cats!
Contest is closed.
Oh would love to win