While I love to read and read quite voraciously, certain stressful situations make it difficult for me to concentrate so I typically don’t even try to pick up a book… such as flights and having the flu with a fever. One year ago when Bethany Blake released her first book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series, I just happened to start reading it shortly before I boarded a flight. Imagine my amazement when I continued reading throughout the entire five hour flight and barely noticed my discomfort! I experienced a similar situation earlier this month with Ms. Blake’s newest release, PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS, the third book in the series. I came down with that dreadful flu making the rounds and took two trips to urgent care. Armed with PAWPRINTS & PREDICAMENTS on my iPad, I immersed myself in Sylvan Creek’s festivities and barely took notice of my surroundings or my achy, feverish body! I find the protagonist, Daphne Templeton, highly entertaining and Ms. Blake writes with a terrific sense of humor that had me chuckling out loud on several occasions. People might mistakenly think that Daphne is a ditzy blonde, but beneath her bohemian exterior is a highly intelligent young lady with a generous heart. The predicaments Daphne alludes to throughout the book about her trips that have gone awry during her previous nomadic life have me hoping the author expounds on them in future books… just her small mentions had me laughing at the scenes I envisioned. Not only are the human characters well-developed and entertaining, but the pet characters are equally so. I adore Daphne’s dog, Socrates and her trying cat, Tinkleston. They truly have their own personalities that greatly add to the story.

A strong, smart, funny protagonist is great but the key to a terrific book is a strong plot and Ms. Blake delivers that as well. She ties an old local legend surrounding a Saint Bernard ghost, a recluse living deep in the woods, and a Polar Bear Plunge that ends in murder together into one cohesive story that had me turning pages and ignoring my illness. There are suspects galore but clues to point the vigilant reader in the right direction. I’ll admit I decided to just go along for the entertaining ride and didn’t try to figure it out, but I wasn’t in the least bit disappointed. In fact, I was glued to the book until the very last page was read and then started wondering how soon the next book will be available!

In addition to pet sitting, Daphne is opening a pet bakery called Flour Power. She creates many delicious, healthy treats for her pets and the author has included several recipes at the back of the book.

I was lucky enough to read the 1st 2 books in this series and when I saw that NetGalley & the publisher were giving away an advanced readers copy of the next book in the series, in exchange for an honest review, I jumped for joy.
I thought this book was a funny and extremely enjoyable cozy mystery.
The characters were all lovable and quirky, the location was a place that I would love to live in and the mystery was original and complex.
I highly recommend this book and all the books in the series and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Pawprints & Predicaments is the third installment in the Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series set in Sylvan Creek, a small town set in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Daphne Templeton is quite content with her Lucky Paws pet sitting service but knows she needs to get her pet friendly bakery, Flour Power open for business.

The annual Tail Waggin' Winterfest has undergone a few changes this year, and a new feature is the Polar Plunge. Daphne mistakenly believes that her best friend Moxie is going to take the dip with her into the frigid waters of Lake Wallapawakee but instead finds herself heading into the water alone while faithful sidekick Socrates, the basset hound, watches from the shore. Unfortunately, for Daphne she doesn't come out of the water alone.

A small TV crew led by producer Lauren Savidge is in town to film a segment for the Stylish Life Network, "America's Most Pet Friendly Towns". Since her arrival the woman has done nothing but rub fur the wrong way so it's really no surprise when she's the one who turns up dead in the water. The surprise comes in the form of a St. Bernard, the elusive dog at the heart of a local legend.

This is such a terrific series and this latest addition doesn't disappoint. A well crafted plot with developed, returning main characters, just the right touch of romance (although I seriously hope the dreaded love triangle isn't on the horizon) and a delightful cast of lovable animals. The animals once again steal the hearts of readers and you'll have a hard time putting this one down from the first page to the last. The author does a fantastic job of transporting the reader smack down in the middle of Sylvan Creek - I can't wait for many more adventures with Socrates (and Daphne).

I received an advanced copy of Pawprints and Predicaments from NetGalley via Kensington Books. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Pawprints and Predicaments
Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #3
Bethany Blake
5 Stars

Synopsis:

The Tail Waggin' Winterfest is the highlight of the season in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. But despite attractions like an ice sculpture display, a dogsled race, and gourmet hot chocolate, Daphne Templeton finds herself annoyed by TV producer Lauren Savidge, who's filming the festivities. She's critical, controlling, and as chilly as the January air. Daphne would like to tell her to go jump in a lake--and as a matter of fact, that's exactly what they're both going to do . . .

It's the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee, and Daphne and Lauren are among the eighty or so people who charge into the frigid water to raise funds for animals in need. Daphne makes it back to shore--with the help of a mysterious St. Bernard--but Lauren is dragged out stone cold dead. Now, with her trusty basset hound Socrates at her side, Daphne intends to assist Detective Jonathan Black in his investigation--whether he wants her to or not . . .

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats!
"Doggone charming from start to finish!" --Cleo Coyle, New (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I thought all of the characters are engaging and I enjoyed spending time with them. I really like how Daphne and Moxie are such good friends and they compliment each other well. Her sister, Piper, and her mom sometimes give Daphne a hard time, but you can tell how much they love her. And Detective Jonathan Black continues to be the bane of her existence but I think she would date him if the opportunity ever presented itself.

I still continue to think that all of the animals steal the show. They all have very distinct personalities and we get to meet a new pet named Sebastian, the cheese loving rodent. I loved the way Daphne was always talking to them and asking their opinions. Socrates, her basset hound had me laughing out loud. The animals are as real to me as any of the humans.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The authors is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was visiting Sylvan Creek, watching the celebration first hand. The mystery is well plotted and fast paced. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and the mystery was not easy to solve.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted animal cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series, I hope the author is a fast writer.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this great book.

Pawprints & Predicaments (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #3) by Bethany Blake is just as fantastic as I hoped.
Daphne is a great protagonist, she is fun, carefree and her willingness to help animals and friends is a plus.
It's time for The Tail Waggin’ Winterfest in the famously pet-friendly Pocono Mountains town of Sylvan Creek. This event should be a blast, but TV producer Lauren Savidge is really putting a damper on the activities. She is rude and to critical in Daphne's opinion, but that won't stop Daphne from participating in the first-ever polar bear plunge in Lake Wallapawakee.

It's not just the shock of the freezing cold water that takes Daphne's breath away, it's finding yet another dead body!

Daphne swears she saw the ghost of the local town legend- A mysterious St. Bernard who is known to travel through their small town.

Daphne knows what she saw and she won't rest until she discovers all the answers and unravels this intriguing mystery.

The ending caught me by surprise and I was delighted that this was one mystery I couldn't solve.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This series is so much fun and I excitedly started this third book in this series. It was a joy to return to this pet friendly town and follow Daphne as she solves yet another murder. There are secrets that come to light, new things we learn about characters and ofcourse lots of pets.

The mystery in this one was a good one. It kept me guessing. At first I wasn't quite sure who to suspects, then I eventually decided on a suspect, but wasn't 100% sure either and I my guess turned out to be wrong. I did guess the murder weapon correctly as one hint in that direction kept standing out to me and allowed me piece that together. I liked how a lot of secrets and stories get uncovered in this mystery and then by the end everything falls on it's place. The mystery was also different here as Jonathan wasn't on this case, but another detective instead, so that changed the dynamic a bit. It was a nice twist who the murderer was and it did make sense, but I would've liked a few more hints in that direction. And there was one red herring that was a tad too obvious to me.

At the end of book 2 Daphne rents some space to start her own pet bakery and I was excited to see how that plan panned out. In this book it isn't up and running yet, but she is working to get the business there. I am curious to see how that will play a role in the next book. There's also a friendly new dog we meet in this book and there's a bit of mystery surrounding him and where the dog came from as well.

I also was excited when it turned out there was a rat pet in this book as well as I love rats. Although sadly I have the feeling either the author or the side character doesn't know as much about rats as I would've liked as some of how the characters handled the rat didn't make as much sense to me and cheese usually is only given as an occasional treat to a rat not as a staple food which it seemed to be here. Another slight issue I had was with how bad the main character was with skiing even while she had lessons and stopping while skiing/ slowing your speed is actually one of the easiest things about skiing.

This was just a really fun and well written cozy mystery. I like visiting this small town and spending time with the characters and pets that live here. I also think Daphne makes for a great main character although she does sometimes run off without anyone telling what's she's going to do.

There is only a hint of romance in this books and I still hope she's going to end up with Jonathan as I really like the scenes between them and the type of banter they have going on. There are also some scenes involving Gabriel, but to be honest I never fully warmed up to him and I hope he doesn't turn into a potential love interest.

I also like how the dogs and pets all have their own behavior and really come alive. I really like how Socrates's his behavior is described and also how different Tinkleston and Artie are in comparison. And the St. Bernard that plays a role in this book is different again. The winter setting and focus on that with the Winterfest was a fun touch. And I feel that with each book we learn more about this town and it's inhabitants.

To summarize: this was a great read! I loved returning to the small town of Sylvan Creek where the winter festival was taking place. the mystery was a good one that kept me guessing and lots of secrets and backstories got unraveled along the way. I predicted the murder weapon correctly, but not the murderer. It was a nice twist, although I wouldn't have minded a few more hints in that direction. Daphne is a fun main character to read about and I am still holding out hope that her relationship with Jonathan will eventually turn into a romance, they have some great banter going on. I never really fully warmed up to Gabriel, but I liked the new pets we meet in this book. And it's great how with each book we learn more about the town and the characters. There also were parts about Daphne's new business and the winter festival which was a nice touch and I like the continuity in this series. Another great read in this awesome cozy mystery series and I am already looking forward to the next book!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is the third story in the series. If you are a pet lover, this book will be right up your alley! I’m not much of an animal lover, but I still found this cozy mystery entertaining. Daphne, our heroine, is sort of a a wandering gypsy who is in the town where her sister and mother live. Daphne has been on the cusp of opening her own pet treat bakery, but hasn’t made much progress due to the commitment of putting down roots. A lifestyle TV show is being filmed in town, about the pet friendly community. When the producer ends up dead, the mystery begins. Add a St. Bernard, Bernie, and two potential romantic interests, and you’ve got a fun read.

Daphne is absolutely delightful! Her interactions with her dog Socrates are so fun. Once again she is touched by a murder and it takes all of her doctorate degree in Philosophy to sort through all the suspects. I was extremely surprised by the ending. I love her tentative relationship with Jonathan Black and can't wait to see where that goes. I highly recommend the entire series!

In Pawprints & Predicaments, Daphne Templeton certainly has her hands full with the impending opening of her pet bakery, Flour Power, and running her pet sitting service, Lucky Paws. When a murder occurs during the Polar Bear Plunge that's kicking off the Annual Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin' Winterfest, she needs to solve it quickly so that she can get back to business. Enter a ghostly and legendary St. Bernard, mysterious Detective Jonathan Black, and all the excitement of the Winterfest, and author Bethany Blake has gifted the reader with another wonderful cozy mystery! I really like Daphne and her upbeat, positive attitude, and especially her very philosophical relationship with her canine partner in crime, basset hound Socrates. Love this series, and I hope there will be many more books. I highly recommend Pawprints & Predicaments! :-)

Brrrr! Winterfest with a polar bear plunge. Engaging and entertaining with animals being featured characters. The culprit surprised me. An intriguing cozy murder mystery. I look forward to my next visit to this pet-friendly town.

This series is really growing on me. I love the ever-expanding cast of animals with great personalities. The ending was very unexpected, which is always a nice surprise in this genre.

I didn't read the previous books in this series so this was a wonderful discovery.
A very good mystery with an interisting cast of characters (both humans and pets), full of humour and well written. Even if it is the third in this series there were no problems to understand the characters and their relationship.
A great discovery, alredy purchased the other books and look forward to reading the next instalment.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley

I just finished Pawprints & Predicaments by Bethany Blake. This is a series I really like because the main character is one of the most unique and oddly optimistic characters I have ever encountered. She is relatable, not predictable and quite unassuming. She has wonderful instincts that are important in any great cozy but there is just something about her I cannot quite put my finger on that I just really like. This story was a great one and I love all the animal characters as much as the human ones. The mystery was a good one, even though I figured out who the murder was quite off handedly just before the big reveal and I was thrilled by the revelation. A great deal of effort and thought clearly went into this one and I feel like were are just getting to know Daphne a little bit better with each book. A great winter read. I loved it. This one is a Kensington release and it is out Feb 27th. Don't you just love the cover?

This is the third book in the Lucky Paws Petsitting series but it's the first one I've read. I had no problem following along. I felt as though I was a part of this small town. I love that they love animals. I'm a big animal lover myself and have pets so I could relate to Daphne talking to her pets and them giving her certain looks and answering her because, oh my God, mine do that too! The mystery was great. I suspected everyone at one point and was surprised at who the murderer was. Lots of cozy vibes with the fireplaces and warm, gooey cookies and hot chocolate. There are even recipes for our furry friends that Daphne uses in her new bakery Flour Power! I'm definitely going to read the first two books and keep my eyes open for more in the future.

Daphne Templeton and scurrying to get her pet treat bake shop open when a TV producer drowns at Sylvan Creek's annual polar plunge. Cautioned against investigating on her own by Detective Jonathan Black, she rushes headlong to solve the case which involves several of the quirkier residents of the town. With her intrepid basset hound Socrates at her side, she solves the case and opens her treat bake shop.

Daphne Templeton is again surrounded by an animal in Sylvan Creek. Her plans to open a pet bakery are moving slowly. The Tail Wagging Winterfest has started and Daphne plans on taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge into the lake that is poorly organized. A St Bernard appears out of nowhere and pulls an unconscious person from the chaos that occurred when the group jumped into the freezing water. The dog quickly disappeared. The dead person turns out to a TV producer who had many enemies. The autopsy shows she was murder. Daphne investigated even though she promised to stay out of the case. Daphne uncovers secrets that the several of the residents. The ending is a surprise. Recipes for pet treats are included.I highly recommend this book and series.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Kensington Books for my copy for review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Adored this book! Love the quirky characters and the plot. Didn't see the killer until the end. Great mystery. Loving this series!

A new to me series and I'm not usually into the pet stories. However the humor in the description drew me to want to try this one and I was not disappointed. Well written with those humorous touches and the always interesting mystery to keep your attention. I will be checking out more of this one.

Polar Bear Plunge Turns Deadly

Pawprints & Predicaments is the third book in Bethany Blake’s Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. The storyline is well plotted and the characters are well developed and affable. This is an enjoyable, clean read, with an interesting mystery and touches of humor. The book held my attention from the beginning until the end and the final reveal was shocking. I highly recommend this delightful series to cozy mystery fans.

Daphne Templeton is the owner of Lucky Paws Pet Sitting in the quaint village of Sylvan Creek. She has a Basset Hound, Socrates, who is her loyal companion, and a newly adopted Persian cat, Tinkleston, who continues to be a handful. She loves baking healthy treats for cats and dogs and is preparing to open Flour Power, a bakery for pets. She lives in Plum Cottage on her sister, Piper’s, farm, Winding Hill. Piper is a veterinarian and the owner of the Templeton Animal Hospital. Moxie Bloom is her best friend and the owner of Spa and Paw, a unique salon for humans and pets, and her mother, Maeve Templeton, is the owner of Maeve Templeton Realty. Elyse Hunter-Black, Jonathan’s ex-wife, is the executive producer of Stylish Life Network, which is filming a show called America’s Most Pet Friendly Towns in Sylvan Creek. Daphne, Piper, and Moxie are attending the Thirtieth Annual Sylvan Creek Tail Waggin’ Winterfest, a weeklong event. Daphne is participating in the first polar bear plunge into Lake Wallapawakee and Daphne and Moxie plan to dress up Artie, a one eared, crooked toothed, drooling Chihuahua she used to foster, and enter him and Moxie’s rat, Sabastian, in the annual Cardboard Iditarod. Daphne plunges into the icy water and when she noticed everyone starting to retreat, she’s more than ready to join them, but when she tries, her fingers tangle in something and Lauren Savidge’s body rises next to her. Detective Jonathan Black pulls Daphne out of Lake Wallapawakee and a Saint Bernard mysteriously appears and pulls Lauren out. Vonda Shakes, the county coroner, rules the death a homicide and Detective Jonathan Black begins his investigation. Daphne’s no stranger to finding bodies and she has the tendency to meddle in investigations and has a knack for putting clues together and solving puzzles. Although Jonathan admits her actions have often helped solve crimes in the past, he doesn’t like her meddling in his cases and asks her to stay out of this one. Lauren, who wasn’t well liked, was the field producer for America’s Most Pet Friendly Towns and when Elyse tells Jonathan about an argument she had with Lauren just prior to the plunge, he recuses himself and his partner, Detective Fred Doebler takes over the investigation. Despite Jonathan, Piper, and Maeve requests that she mind her own business, Daphne can’t resist the temptation of investigating Lauren’s death.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.