Fate led my paws to the Cobble Cove Library one cold night where I was taken in and became the town’s library cat. The old librarian, Mac, gave me a cozy bed near the local history collection. I liked him from the start. My only complaint was, because he was beginning to have memory problems, he was forgetting to clean my litter box in the library storage room. Between you and me, I think that was just an excuse. At least Sheila, the director, was straightforward about it when she refused to scoop my box. Well, I showed Mac what I thought of his neglect when I left him a wet surprise on the jacket he’d draped across the storage room chair. I hope that taught him an important lesson about cats–that they don’t get mad; they get even.
I got lucky when Alicia came along. She is my main co-character in the Cobble Cove mysteries. When she came to town looking for her dead husband’s relatives, she found a bunch of quirky people, me, and my golden retriever dog co-star, Fido.
Cobble Cove may seem like an innocent small town situated in upstate New York, but I tell you there are mysteries to be solved there. In A Stone’s Throw, the first of the series, not only am I introduced, but I help Alicia discover a clue in the storage room. Unfortunately, Fido plays an even bigger part in the solving of the mystery, but I don’t hold any grudges against him because I convinced Debbie, after the recent release of her second book, to help me start my own blog. It has been an exciting venture, and I have interviewed quite a few pawsome cat characters who also appear in cozy mysteries. Check it out at sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com.
Getting back to Cobble Cove, I thought things had settled into the boring routine of small-town life after the first mystery was solved. However, I was dead wrong, litter-ally. A year and a half later, in the merry month of December, Alicia got involved in not one, not two, but three mysteries. Without giving away any purr-tenant details about Between a Rock and a Hard Place, I will just reveal that quite a few new suspicious residents moved to Cobble Cove and took jobs in the library, diner, elementary school, and Cobble Corner where the main shops, post office, bakery, and newspaper office are located.
As far as my role in the second book, it was still downplayed with Fido, but I have hope that Debbie will write me more active scenes in the third book that she has already started. I have to admit I enjoyed my library storytime scene; not so much the vet one. I also wish I had accompanied Alicia to New York City and visited the cat café where I could’ve met a few friends. It gets lonely being the only cat in the library, but at least I don’t have to share my kibble with anyone. Also, it was nice that the new, young children’s librarian, Laura, took a liking to me. After they renovated the library, Sheila also let me use what used to be the library storage room for my own cat room complete with cat door that leads into the staff lounge where I can always find some tidbits of human food hanging around. It’s my duty to gobble all those up before the mice get them. Speaking of mice, thanks to me, the Cobble Cove Library is rodent free.
One thing I must add before I get back to my blog interviews that Debbie kindly transcribes for me is that life in Cobble Cove is bound to get even more mysterious in our upcoming adventures. Even though you can read each book as a standalone, it might be nice to start with A Stone’s Throw that takes place near Thanksgiving and then read the Christmas mystery, Between a Rock and a Hard Place. You can purr-chase both in eBook form or paperback; and, if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can even read the latest book for free. Isn’t that almost as good as catnip?
You can get your paws on the Cobble Cove mysteries as well as Debbie’s other books by visiting her Amazon author page.
Most important, you can follow her blog and sign up for her newsletter on her website at debbiedelouise.com Her newsletter is sent out twice a month and is really pawsome because it features a regular contest for great prizes and lots of info about her books, author appearances, and other mice stuff.
Last but not least, don’t forget to sign up for my purr-sonal blog at sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place is the second book in the Cobble Cove mystery series, published by Solstice Publishing, October 2016.
Librarian Alicia McKinney has put the past behind her. . .
Two years ago, Alicia discovered both a terrible truth and lasting love with John McKinney in the small town of Cobble Cove, New York. Now a busy mother of twin babies and co-author of a mystery series, Alicia couldn’t be happier.
Alicia’s contentment and safety are challenged. . .
Walking home alone from the library, Alicia senses someone following her, and on more than one occasion, she believes she is being watched. Does she have a stalker? When the local gift shop is burglarized, the troubling event causes unrest among Alicia and the residents of the quiet town.
John and Alicia receive an offer they can’t refuse. . .
When John’s sister offers to babysit while she and John take a much-needed vacation in New York City, Alicia is reluctant to leave her children because of the disturbances in Cobble Cove. John assures her the town is safe in the hands of Sheriff-elect Ramsay. Although Alicia’s experience with and dislike of the former Long Island detective don’t alleviate her concern, she and John take their trip.
Alicia faces her worst nightmare. . .
The McKinneys’ vacation is cut short when they learn their babies have been kidnapped and John’s sister shot. Alicia and John’s situation puts them between a rock and a hard place when the main suspect is found dead before the ransom is paid. In order to save their children, the McKinneys race against the clock to solve a mystery more puzzling than those found in their own books. Can they do it before time runs out?
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About the author
Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island and has been involved with books and writing for over thirty years. She is a member of the Cat Writer’s Association, Sisters-in-Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She received the Lawrence C. Lobaugh, Jr. Memorial Award in Journalism for her work as Features Editor on the Long Island University/C. W. Post student newspaper, The Pioneer.
More recently, Debbie received the Glamour Puss Award from Hartz Corporation for an article on cat grooming that appeared on Catster.com. She has published three novels, Cloudy Rainbow, A Stone’s Throw, and Between a Rock and a Hard Place, the second Cobble Cove mystery, that was published October, 2016 by Solstice Publishing as well as short stories in several anthologies. She is currently working on a psychological thriller and lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
Connect with Debbie on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Goodreads.
All comments are welcomed.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a mobi (Kindle) copy of both Cobble Cove mysteries: A Stone’s Throw and Between a Rock and a Hard Place. The giveaway ends December 25, 2016. Good luck everyone!
I loved the first book in this series, and the next one sounds even more exciting! Thanks Dru Ann for alerting me that it is available. 😉 Thanks Debbie for the opportunity to win copies of both books. That is very generous.😊
Thanks for reading, Barbara, and good luck n the contest.
I’m glad Cobble Cove Library has a smart feline who helps solve mysteries.
He really must be quite the cat. As I enjoy a mystery which has a cat in it, I’m anxious to read these mysteries by Debbie De Louise.
Thanks for your interest, Pauline. Good luck in the contest, and Happy Holidays!
This is a new series for me – can’t wait to read them!
Thanks for your interest, Jan, and best wishes on winning the contest. Happy Holidays!
This is a new series for me but it sounded great so I picked up Between a Rock and a Hard Place and Celebrating Christmas. I love the idea of that one and look forward to spending time with this unique visit with the characters. Thanks!
Thanks, Jeanie. I hope you enjoy the book and holiday story. Happy Holidays!
I haven’t heard of this series before, but it sounds very interesting.
Thanks for your interest, Jody, and good luck in the contest.
These books sound interesting and I have added them to my TBR list. Thanks for the giveaway.
You’re welcome, Marlene. Thanks for your interest. I wish you luck. Happy holidays!
I love libraries, and reference librarians are the best – the glue that holds it all together. Finding a reference librarian who also writes is wonderful.
Thanks, Amy. I love what I do and the readers and patrons who make it possible.
This is a new series for me and sounds great! Would love to read them. Thanks for the opportunity😊
Thanks for your interest, Catherine, and good luck!
I like this author and would love to win her books!! Thanks for offering this giveaway! lindaherold999@gmail.com
Hi, Linda. Thanks for your interest. Best wishes and happy holidays!
I really like the idea of library cats.
Another new series to me. Love the sound of the books, would enjoy reading.
Thanks for your interest. Good luck and Happy Holidays!
Thanks for the introduction to another series that sounds wonderful and for the chance to win copies.
Good luck, Ida, and happy holidays!
I like the idea of having cats in libraries. Thanks for the giveaway!
You’re welcome. Cats and books are a great combination. Thanks for your interest.
This is a new series for me! Can’t wait to get started reading it!
So glad for your interest, Pam. Happy Holidays!
The Cobble Cove library mysteries sounds like a good read, and I love that they have a clever feline to help them out.
Thanks, Grace. I will let Sneaky know you like his character. He is hoping for larger parts as the series continues. Happy Holidays!
Love series with cats in them, especially in libraries or around books. I have a cat who “helps” me read by sitting on my lap. Also, any book by an author who lives on Long Island has to be great.
Thanks, Jacki. Are you a Long Islander, too? I wish you luck and nice holidays.
These books sound interesting. Thank you for the giveaway.
You’re welcome, Peggy. Best wishes and Happy Holidays!
Thank you for providing the information on your blog. I enjoy finding new authors and books through your blog.
Sounds like great series. I checked Amazon but can’t find a ebook for the first one. Only found paperback for over $300 which I won’t be reading this series!
Lindar, what you saw was a third-party seller. Amazon and all other sellers have temporarily removed it because I changed publishers. I’m hoping to reprint it soon. If you win, I can send you my own mobi copy of the ebook. If you don’t win, I would still be happy to do that if you buy the second one. Sorry for the inconvenience, but the reprinted edition will possibly have some added content and a nice new cover. I will also be re-editing it so that I can clear up a few minor errors.
Congratulations, Peggy Hyndman, you are the winner of my contest. I will be sending you an email on how to claim your books. Thank you for participating, and thanks to everyone else who entered. Happy Holidays!