In reading the 2nd novel of this series, I also learned of another concern for cats and dogs as they walk outside in the winter elements that I was not aware of as we had dogs when I was growing up but as an adult I’ve only shared life with indoor cats. As cats gravitate to warm places, social media always mentions checking any vehicle parked outside in several ways before starting a car or truck but I was unaware of the danger of "Ice Melt" which is more chemically active than the salt used years ago. These chemicals can be lethal when licked off paws or ingested from melting puddles. In a conversation Sunny has with Dr. Jane Rigsdale (Veterinarian), Jane explains one of the dangers of the chemicals being used to melt winter’s ice.

“Well, the stuff you get in most stores now is more chemically active than plain old salt. Sometimes it can even crack the pads on a cat or dog’s paw.

Getting that stuff caught in there is like having a pebble in your shoe, except it’s not only getting stuck between your toes but burning them, too.

Just warm up a little mineral oil and work it in around the pads…picked up a bottle of mineral oil, and went to the built-in sink, running the hot water.

After holding the bottle under the stream of water for a couple of minutes, Jane opened the bottle, let a drop of oil fall on her wrist, and nodded, “Just right.”

…and Jane rested his (Shadow’s) paw in the pool of warm oil she’d collected in her palm.

…massaging the oil between the pads on his (Shadow’s) paw.

...just try the oil massage for a week. If he (Shadow) doesn’t show improvement, then we’ll try something medical."

As the series continues I am again reminded of the wonderful names given to businesses in cozy mysteries that absolutely delight me as a reader and are much more imaginative than in real life. My favorite in this series to date is a café named "Spill the Beans."

There’s a new mystery in Kittery Harbor, Maine, for Sunny and Shadow to solve but unfortunately Sunny and Shadow are solving part of this mystery independently. On a cold winter night, there is an unexpected 4-pawed visitor at Shadow’s new home with Sunny and her father. Although Shadow definitely loves Sunny and is thoroughly enjoying the luxuries and comforts of his new home (especially on these cold winter nights), Shadow’s afraid to completely trust Sunny due to some of his previous experiences with humans. Sunny has also had her heart broken in a past relationship so Shadow’s been helping Sunny’s heart heal too.

Shadow already had my love and devotion as a favorite cat character as introduced in "The Big Kitty" but I will especially recommend it to anyone rescuing a kitten or cat and sharing their lives for the first time. Rescuing animals requires patience and understanding and Shadow’s story can help explain that trust and understanding isn’t as simple as an on/off switch as old fears from past experiences don’t dissipate overnight. ( )

Cat Nap is the second book in the A Sunny and Shadow Mystery series.

Jane and Martin Rigsdale, both vets, have been divorced for a few months. Martin has been after Jane to give him some desperately needed money. Going so far as to ask Sunny to convince Jane and he will make sure Sunny benefits. Once Jane learns this, she asks Sunny to go with her when she confronts Martin. They arrive at Martin's clinic and soon find him in an exam room dead. Right on there heels, Dawn, the receptionist, enters and accuses them of murdering Martin. But Martin is a man that never met a woman that he didn't want to love. Then, throw into the mix that he is blackmailing one of his mistresses and has misused some money that a loan-shark was having him launder.

So Sunny and Jane have their hands full trying to sort through all the suspects and can finally give Will, Sunny's policeman friend, enough information and facts to apprehend the murderer.

Mike and his lady friend, Mrs. Martinson, are back to lend some chuckles to the book. But the character that I most enjoyed was Shadow, the black cat. He doesn't provide clues, but does have his paws in helping to capture the person that has been holding him captive. I think his best thought that reader will read, is his calling Mrs. Martinson's puppy, The Biscuit Eater.

I am certainly looking forward to the next book. ( )

OK Cozy in spite of weird lady. Police were OK in this one and good pet tips. ( )

I enjoy Lilian Jackson Braun's Cat Who series, so my sister has given a few other cat-related mysteries. Not that we expect them to be great literature, but wow, this book was pretty bad. Heavy concentration on high school-style romance, main character makes a lot of silly decisions, and throughout, a very muddled mystery. Not recommended, even (especially?) if you're a fan of Koko and Yum Yum. ( )

Cat Nap is the second book in the A Sunny and Shadow Mystery series.

Jane and Martin Rigsdale, both vets, have been divorced for a few months. Martin has been after Jane to give him some desperately needed money. Going so far as to ask Sunny to convince Jane and he will make sure Sunny benefits. Once Jane learns this, she asks Sunny to go with her when she confronts Martin. They arrive at Martin's clinic and soon find him in an exam room dead. Right on there heels, Dawn, the receptionist, enters and accuses them of murdering Martin. But Martin is a man that never met a woman that he didn't want to love. Then, throw into the mix that he is blackmailing one of his mistresses and has misused some money that a loan-shark was having him launder.

So Sunny and Jane have their hands full trying to sort through all the suspects and can finally give Will, Sunny's policeman friend, enough information and facts to apprehend the murderer.

Mike and his lady friend, Mrs. Martinson, are back to lend some chuckles to the book. But the character that I most enjoyed was Shadow, the black cat. He doesn't provide clues, but does have his paws in helping to capture the person that has been holding him captive. I think his best thought that reader will read, is his calling Mrs. Martinson's puppy, The Biscuit Eater.

I am certainly looking forward to the next book. ( )