Shelby, the heroine of I Do. . . or Die, has some commitment issues, thanks to her gigolo father. She learns how to deal with those through her nemesis -- Serena, the hero's cat. Shelby calls her a "time-share cat", since the feline prefers to live with more than one family.
Here's a snippet where Shelby is taking care of Serena while the hero Ryan is on vacay:
I held my breath so I wouldn’t gag while opening the can of cat food. It was even grosser than emptying the litter box, and that task made me seriously reconsider the possibility of a future with Ryan if Serena was part of the package.
If luck were going my way, though, Serena would decide to stay with a different family--especially if she had any abandonment issues resulting from Ryan leaving her, with me, of all people.
I set the open can on the floor, ready to yell out Serena’s name, but she was right by my feet.
“Oh, you must have known it was dinner time,” I said.
Was it weird that I was talking out loud to a cat? Probably, but how else was I going to have a conversation with her?
It was probably weirder that she could read my mind.
~~~~~
Now that I Do. . . or Die is available in paperback format, I'm doing a giveaway on Goodreads. I'm giving away TWO copies, so check it out when you have a chance.
Thanks for stopping by today. Make sure you check out all the other fun snippets at WeWriWa. I know I will be!
Hi Donna :)
Wow, I love the humor in this. It is so relatable, cuz yes, I talk to my cat, lol. I went to the giveaway and read the full summary. I really wanna read this now. She sounds like my kinda girl, vaguely similar to myself. I'm crossing my fingers I'll win your giveaway. Can't wait to read more :)
Posted by: Mandy Earles | May 18, 2013 at 11:44 PM
Great last line, and the phrase "timeshare" cat. Well, the whole thing is great really. My husband hates the smell of catfood, and the stinkier it is, the more my cats like it.
Do you have a cat, Donna?
Posted by: Cara Bristol | May 19, 2013 at 07:07 AM
Hi Mandy -- I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've got my fingers crossed for you in the giveaway too!
Thanks, Cara! I'm not a cat person, although they seem to LOVE me and seek me out. LOL I do get a kick out of this cat, and the scenes were fun to write.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | May 19, 2013 at 08:54 AM
Very nice snippet. I hope she learns to love cats. :)
Posted by: A.S. Fenichel | May 19, 2013 at 09:59 AM
Oh, I remember the cat! Loved this book and your humor. :-) I'm not a cat person either. Cats *know* I'm allergic so saunter over to rub their allergy inducing fur on me.
Posted by: Virginia Kelly | May 19, 2013 at 11:18 AM
I love the Shelby and Serena parts of the book.
Posted by: Kate Warren | May 19, 2013 at 12:23 PM
I'm not a cat person either. How does she know the cat can read her mind? this is one of those POV comments I always get on my snippets, so just curious
Posted by: Sassyspeaks.wordpress.com | May 19, 2013 at 12:43 PM
I like the "timeshare" cat idea...we always talk to our cats in this family! Excellent excerpt...
Posted by: Veronica Scott | May 19, 2013 at 01:14 PM
We talk to our cats all the time around here. Course, we're also crazy. :) Nice snippet!
Posted by: Penny Alley | May 19, 2013 at 02:32 PM
Serena can totally read her mind, lol. I so enjoyed how their relationship changed through the book.
I talk to my cat too. He's pretty talented at getting his point across without words. You could say he's mastered show not tell. :D
Posted by: S. J. Maylee | May 19, 2013 at 02:33 PM
I think Shelby's relationship with Serena will grow even though she's apprehensive now. I love the way you portray Shelby's thinking and slight disgust at what she's having to do. I also love that cover, it's beautiful!
Posted by: Gemma Parkes | May 19, 2013 at 05:46 PM