My name is Sydney McCall, but all my friends call me Syd. Up until recently I had a cushy job at a New York advertising agency – and then I caught my fiancée, who just happened to be the son of the company president, in a compromising position with my secretary! I was at loose ends for awhile until my sister Kat called. The shelter she runs, Friendly Paws, was in a bit of financial trouble. She could use my help. . .
So back I went to my hometown of Deer Park, North Carolina. I hooked up with my old pal, Leila Addams, now a reporter for the Deer Park Herald, and moved in with her. And not long after, The Wanderer came into my life.
The Wanderer is Toby, a large orange tabby so nicknamed because of his penchant for getting out of his cage in the shelter and, well,. . .wandering! Before I adopted Toby formally, I used to see him pop up in some unusual places. . .like in the Brush and Canvas when Kat and I stumbled across a dead body! But that’s a whole other story. . .
Looks like Toby and I will be together for a while, though. And the town of Deer Park has plenty of lovely quirky inhabitants that keep life at the pet rescue shelter interesting. One is my good friend, Dayna Harper, who runs Dayna’s Sweets and Treats (It used to be McCall’s when my parents owned it). Here’s one of Dayna’s favorite recipes! It’s quick when you have a need for something sweet (and delicious too)
Quick and Easy Brownies
½ cup flour
1 cup white sugar
½ cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1/3 cup cocoa powder
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-9-inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar and cocoa powder. In another small bowl, whisk together the butter and eggs. Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring until just combined.
Bake the brownies for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut into 16 squares and serve!
You can read more about Syd McCall, her cat Toby, and the inhabitants of Deer Park in Purr M for Murder, the first book in the NEW “Cat Rescue” mystery series.
Sydney McCall left behind an ex-fiancé and a New York advertising job to return home to Deer Park, North Carolina and help her sister, Kat, run the local animal shelter, Friendly Paws. Determined to save the shelter from financial trouble, Sydney and Kat organize a cat café fundraising event at a local coffee shop. Things are looking up until their landlord, Trowbridge Littleton, threatens to shut down the event. When Sydney drops by his art gallery to make peace, she finds Kat–along with Littleton’s dead body.
Local homicide detective Will Worthington–who just happens to be Sydney’s old high school crush–is highly suspicious of the sisters’ involvement. Desperate to clear their names from the suspect list, Sydney pounces on the investigation. With the help of one of the shelter cats, a savvy orange tabby named Toby, Sydney begins poking her nose into other local businesses whose owners may have benefited from Littleton’s death–until the killer notices she’s pawing a little too closely at the truth.
Delightfully clever and charming, Purr M for Murder, the first in a new series from nationally bestselling author T. C. LoTempio, will leave readers clawing for more.
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About the author
While Toni LoTempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – and in Spring 2017, the new Cat Rescue mysteries from Crooked Lane Books! She, Rocco and company make their home in New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York. Catch up with them at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Purr M for Murder. US entries only, please. The giveaway ends March 16, 2017. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
Purr M for Murder is available at retail and online booksellers.
Have loved T. C. LoTempio’s other books. This sounds like a great start to a new series. I’m very aware of how cats can “adopt you” for reasons of their own.
thank you Jacki! Yes, cats certainly “adopt” you. and run the house too.
A must-add to my WishList……
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I love Toni and her books. The covers lure me in and then the story between the covers keep me coming back. I haven’t got this book yet but hope my name is the one pulled. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
thanks Robin! good luck!
I love Toni’s books and I am so excited about this new series. I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win Dru!!
thanks Brian!
This look to be a great read. The recipe looks good & is perfect for my granddaughter’s first try. So appreciate both. Thank you
What a cute cover, thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com
Thanks for hosting me and for the support, Dru!
Hmmmm sounds like a great read! Thank you for the opportunity.
This looks like a good read. Thanks for the chance to win.
This book would be a delight to enjoy. Toni’s books are unique and special.
thanks so much! We try. 🙂
Loving the sound of this one, adding it to my tbr list…now can someone give me more hours in the day to read? LOL
I know I say the same thing. need more hours to read and write!
Love the book cover ( maybe because I’m s cat lover) I’m looking forward to reading the book
The cover did turn out nicely. This was the second cover art, but the cat was always the same on both versions. it’s one beautiful cat!
Oooo I’m thinking warm brownies ‘n ice cream! I’m dying (no pun intended lol) to win this book so count me in on the giveaway please! barbie17 (at) gmail (dot) com That little kitten is just so inviting! And the skull cookie is really cool too.
thanks. the first cover art had the skull in the form of spilled coffee, but I think he cookie is better.
Thanks for the chance. It’s snowy here and I am snuggled down with my 2 cats.
yes, me too! I’m not feeling all that great anyway, so it’s a good day to snuggle up.
Wow and yum! What an easy brownie recipe — I can’t wait to try it. I enjoyed A day in the life of Sydney McCall (and Toby) and would love to win a copy of Purr M for Murder — I have heard many wonderful things about it!
This sounds like a purr-fectly good book! Thanks for this giveaway and for sharing a delicious Brownie recipe.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Interesting plot.
Sounds good, I can’t wait to read it.
My favorite combination – mysteries and cats. I’d love to win a copy of Purr M for Murder.
Toni writes great stories!
Cute title and sure to be a fun read! Thanks for sharing Dru Ann and Toni! Thanks for the chance to win a copy as well. 🙂
Love Tony’s boooks, would love to have this one in my library!
Sounds purrfect–mysteries, food and cats
I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks so much for a chance to win a copy of Purr M for Murder–love the title!!!
I would love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.
Oh how I would love to win this new book! I love, love, love both the awesome title and the cover! I am a huge fan of Toni’s awesome books and am looking forward to this new one. Thank you so very much dearest Dru Ann and Toni for the chance to win. God bless you girls!
Yeah! A new series as I can depend on her works to be good.
Congrats on your new release, Toni. I’m a big fan of the Nick and Nora series and I’m sure this is the start of another great series. I can’t wait to read more about Toby, I was just adapted by a orange tabby named Jefferson and a brown and white guy named Hamilton. Really enjoy books that include cats.
Looks like fun! Thank you for the contest!
love the teaser, makes me want the book even more, Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Meow!
Another great book to add to the reading pile. Thanks for the giveaway.
This will soon be a series that I will add to my collections of cat mystery books. I just adore cats helping their owners solve a mystery, and Toby will, no doubt, be a great help to Sydney McCall.
Yay! A new series and recipe. Thanks!
To me there is nothing better tha a good cozy with animals in it, a warm brownie, a cup of black coffee, and a large easy chair. I’d love to win this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I have read several of T. C. LoTempio’s other books and enjoyed them! A new series set in an animal shelter is new and different, and it sounds like it could be fun – a great opportunity to feature some fun animals and their could-be owners. Thanks for a chance to win!
what a fun sounding read! You have my attention. Thank you for the chance to win a copy
I’m already a big fan of Toni and Rocco. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Purr M for Murder.
I’d like to visit Deer Park.
I love Toni’s Nick and Nora mysteries. I know I will love this series also.
Another new to me author to add to my TBR list which keeps growing at an alarming rate. 🙂
No excuse to not make a homemade treat when it’s so easy! Thanks for the chance to win!
**** WINNER ****
of Purr M for Murder is Beverly Guy
Congrats!
Oh how awesome to see me listed as the winner here….So cool! I am so super duper thrilled and so excited to get my new book soon! Thank you so much dearest Dru and Toni for picking me to win! WOO HOO…..So very happy!