I work at Second Chance. It’s a repurpose shop, a place where things find a new home and sometimes a new purpose. Quilts, dishes, furniture, musical instruments; it’s wonderful to see everything loved and appreciated again, to see something new made from something that had been discarded. Would you believe we have a tub chair in the store that used to be an actual bathtub? Sarah and Mac made it.
Sarah owns Second Chance. She opened the store a few months ago. I’m so glad she came home to North Harbor. She’s a darling girl. While she didn’t exactly grow up here, she spent every summer and almost every holiday in North Harbor and I know the town feels like home. I also know the only reason Sarah hired Charlotte and I is because her grandmother pressured her into it. We’re both past the traditional retirement age, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot to offer and I think she’s glad to have us here.
We’re a family and yes, I know people say that all the time about their workplaces but we really are; Charlotte and I, Sarah, Mac, Liz, Avery, and of course Elvis. He’s very intelligent cat. I think it’s important for Avery in particular to be around so many strong women. Teenage girls don’t have enough strong role models these days in my opinion.
And how can I forget Alfred? I guess you can call him my gentleman friend. At our age the term boyfriend just sounds silly. Alfred is a whiz with a computer. Which happens to be very convenient because let’s face it, these days a detective agency needs to be on the cutting edge of technology. That’s my other job. I’m a private detective. Charlotte’s Angels is our agency—Charlotte, of course, Liz, Alfred and me. We provide discrete investigative services. We’re very good at it. I may look like someone’s sweet little grandmother but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of catching a killer. People see my gray hair and wrinkles and they usually underestimate me.
They don’t do that twice.
You can read more about Rose in The Whole Cat and Caboodle, the first book in the “Second Chance Cat” mystery series, published by Obsidian. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Book Blurb: The Whole Cat and Caboodle
Sarah Grayson is the happy proprietor of Second Chance, a charming shop in the oceanfront town of North Harbor, Maine. At the shop, she sells used items that she has lovingly refurbished and repurposed. But her favorite pet project so far has been adopting a stray cat named Elvis.Elvis has seen nine lives—and then some. The big black cat with a scar across his nose turned up at a local bar when the band was playing the King of Rock and Roll’s music and hopped in Sarah’s truck. Since then, he’s been her constant companion and the furry favorite of everyone who comes into the store.
When Sarah’s elderly friend, Maddie, is found with the body of a dead man in her garden, the kindly old lady becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Even Sarah’s old flame, investigator Nick Elliot, seems convinced that Maddie was up to no good. So it’s up to Sarah and Elvis, with help from some senior sleuths, to clear her friend’s name and make sure the real murderer doesn’t get a second chance.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by noon EST on April 5, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of THE WHOLE CAT AND CABOODLE. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Sofie Ryan is a writer and mixed media artist who loves to repurpose things in her life and her art. She admits to a fondness for chocolate, cats, and old-time rock and roll. As Sofie Kelly, she writes the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats mysteries.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
Love finding new series to read. Thanks, sounds like a fun read.
This sounds good and I love the cover! Thank you!
Who doesn’t love a new series? Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
As a woman of a certain age I love to see us portrayed as with it and intelligent. It sounds as if we are in this series.
This sounds like a fun read.
Absolutely going to start this series. We recycle everything in our home so this shop sounds like a place I would love to visit. Thanks!
This looks so goood. Oh how I wish as a retiree I could find such a job.
Would love to read this book!
This sounds like a great series!
I love the title ! I am looking forward to reading this one .
love it! I hope I get a chance to read it 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds wonderful. I love second chance shops and would love to work in one, so I think I’ll really enjoy this one 🙂
Excited to read Sofie’s new series! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love the Second Chance series, lots of fun! Thank youi for the chance!!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Two of my favorite things covered in this mystery. What fun.
Sure sounds like a fun one. Thanks for the chance to win.
The shop sounds perfect. And a grandmotherly detective makes perfect sense. People see what they expect to see. Would love to win this book.
Love the blurb! This sounds like it would be a fun read. Thanks for the opportunity… 🙂
Oh I really hope I win this copy.
I am an avid thrifter and repurposer. I am getting to the age where others sometimes wonder what I have to offer. (You’d be surprised!)
And I am addicted to cozy mysteries.
Second Chance sounds like a great shop. Wish it were in my town. “The Whole Cat and Caboodle” sounds like a fun read.
This sounds like a good read! I’ve read the first two books of Sofie Kelly’s Magical Cats series and enjoyed both of them.
Yay! Another great series by a great author, I am so excited!!
I already own this book. Rose’s tidbit is pushing me to start reading it today!!
Sounds like fun! I used to have a sweet black cat who actually guarded my small outside garden from predators . She would sit on my deck railing and “hiss and attack” any animal that came into my small hillside garden. Even the deer stayed away from my cat “Midnight”. So Elvis already has my heart!!
Sounds great! Thanks for the chance to win.
Never let grey hair fool you! Especially if it’s hidden by coloring.
Thank you everyone for your kind words. I hope you all enjoy, Rose, Elvis and the rest of the gang at Second Chance. And thank you Dru for inviting me to stop by.
Sounds like a fun series. I love the Magical Cat series.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
Sounds like my kind of read, thanks for the chance to win.
Cats and cozies—the perfect combo—-so I have another series to add to my TBR list.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Love cozies with cats. Can’t wait to start this series.
woohoo!!!
another new cozy!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!
This new series has many factors that make me already a fan. Being set in Maine, and be being a New Englander, through and through is one reason, and being a cozy mystery is another, but more than anything, having the main characters be an older generation as I am is wonderful. Not enough stories have been written with smart, sassy and intelligent folks over 50 or more, so this is going to be one series that I am definitely going to follow. I have read Sofie’s Magical Cats series so know what great quality of writing awaits me and also being a mixed media artist and loving chocolate, I think this is going to be quite a match to my likings. Thank you for having Sofie on your blog, Dru.
Much success Sofie.
Cynthia
It sounds as if this is a book I would want to read. The title already had me.
I love her other books and I would love to win this one!!
Looks Like a Fun New Series.
I love The Magical Cat series and am betting this one will be as good. I’m looking forward to seeing what tricks Elvis has up his fur sleeves.
I’m totally into repurposing. And cats named Elvis (other personages named Elvis are aka Bubba). Count me in. Thanks.
Sounds like a fun series. Not to mention I love the cover.
I love the concept of a Second Chance.
Love the.magical cat series! Can’t wait to read this one in new series
I love this title!
It sounds really good. I love the characters and the cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Contest is closed.