Merry Christmas, Kitten: 12 Cats of Christmas Romance Series, #1

By Karen Drew

It's beginning to look a lot like kittens.

Rosie has given up on love after a failed engagement left her shattered. But she can't face the festive period alone, which is how she came to be at Forever Paws Animal Shelter just before Christmas. She's determined to help the unloved and find some Christmas cheer of her own.

Archer is working to get back on his feet and discover joy again after losing his business and his fiancee. Working long hours as a delivery driver doesn't give him a chance to find love, but this time of year tugs at his heart. Surrounded by happy couples and families, he sure would like love in his life. And there's a certain beautiful, funny woman he'd love to spend Christmas with. But will she want a guy with so much baggage and a bruised heart?

A grumpy cat, two lonely hearts, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic make this heartwarming festive story a real delight.

Please note - you get to see the inner thoughts of the fabulous, and very grumpy, Gremlin the cat, in this book. Expect an obsession with cardboard boxes, food, and mice!

This is the first book in the 12 Cats of Christmas Romance. Each book is around 30,000 words and can be read as a stand-alone or enjoyed with other books in the series.

Books in the series:
- Merry Christmas, Kitten
- Joy to the Cats

- Mistletoe and Meows

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Drew
• Release date: Nov 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9798201469740

Karen Drew

Karen Drew grew up surrounded by animals. They're her first love and taught her respect, loyalty, and the true meaning of friendship. Although still looking for her Mr. Right, Karen lives a fun life with her books. Animals feature in (almost) everything she writes. Her one piece of advice to you: if you meet someone who doesn't like animals, run away from them as fast as you can!

Book preview

To stay in touch with the world of heart-clenching, smile-inducing love, follow Karen on Facebook or join her newsletter and get an exclusive free novella set in the sweet world of Furs Hill, a wonderful world where the humans and the animals get their happily ever afters.

Chapter 1

Rosie

The scent of cinnamon and warm sugar, mingled with a faint tang of cleaning products from the animal pens, surrounded me.

I stepped away from the cluttered refreshment table and bumped into a stand displaying Christmas socks.

With gritted teeth, I grabbed the stand before it crashed to the floor and righted it, shoving it away and scowling at the jolly Santa on the lurid green socks. What did he have to be so happy about?

The ache behind my eyes increased, and I took a deep breath, almost gagging on the overwhelming Christmas scents. I should be joyful, surrounded by cats, Christmas, and hope, but my heart had sunk to the pit of my stomach and refused to comply.

Last Christmas, it had been all sparkles, promises of forever, and exchanging gifts with the love of my life. A Christmas miracle that had turned into a moldy mince pie no one wanted.

Have you found your perfect match yet, Miss Buchanan?

I lifted my head as the smiling receptionist approached. How about the mixed Persian? I held out the tablet I’d been flicking through. It was full of pictures of the adorable cats available for adoption.

No, she’s not right for you.

My smile slipped. Was there something wrong with me? Didn’t I look like a responsible cat owner to this woman? Why not? She’s young, in good health, and available. I want her.

Do you? The receptionist straightened the socks before snagging a sugar cookie from a plate on the refreshment table and taking a bite.

Yes. This is the cat for me. I glanced at the badge on the woman’s chest. Mulberry? That’s your name?

Of course.

I shrugged. It sounded more like a Christmas candle scent. Those things always gave me a headache, just like the one I was currently fighting. Fine, Mulberry, I want a cat. You want people to adopt your cats. What’s the problem?

No problem. Here at Forever Paws, we make sure the perfect cat is matched with the perfect owner. That’s where the magic happens.

Magic. Sure. I’ll take this one. I want him.

Her smile only widened. He doesn’t want you.

You can’t know that. I’ve not even seen the cat. What was wrong with this woman?

I’ve worked here twenty years, Mulberry said. I have a knack when it comes to matching lost souls.

That felt like a punch to the gut. Who says I’m lost?

You didn’t have to say anything. I’ve seen that shine in plenty of eyes. Everyone has it when they walk through the door, ready to bring a bundle of perfect fur into their lives.

Anger rose inside me like a hot wave. You know, there are plenty of other animal shelters I can go to. They’d be willing to give me whatever cat I want.

I didn’t say we won’t find you a cat to adopt, simply that we need to find you the perfect puss, Mulberry said. True love can be hard to find, but once you do, boy, are you in for a treat.

I turned away, my breathing shallow, and lifted a finger to the pulse in my throat. My heart had felt out of rhythm for months. Every small bump in the road sent me crashing over the edge.

A gentle touch on my arm had me turning.

How about we take a look at the cats together? You can study dozens of pictures, but until you meet them fur to face, you won’t know if it’s the right one for you. Mulberry’s nod and her soft smile looked like she was encouraging me. It didn’t work.

This is ridiculous. I hissed air through my teeth. Is there somebody else who can look after me?

Just me today. We have a volunteer team working at the shelter. It’s a busy time just before Christmas. We always get a full house when the older cats have to make room for the new kittens.

Ugh. The way people dumped an animal just because they got old or weren’t so pretty got me riled. You’re paid to be here?

No, I’m a volunteer too. I’ll always be here. Someone has to be around to sprinkle the fur-filled festive magic. Now, let’s take a trip along cat alley and see who catches your eye.

My fingers flexed around the tablet, my gaze shifting to the door. A few steps and I’d be free. I could retreat to my car and race back to my apartment. It had taken most of the morning before I’d managed to crawl out from beneath the duvet and face the world. I shouldn’t have bothered.

I’ll make you a coffee, and you can have some sugar cookies, Mulberry said.

I don’t want cookies. My words sounded choked. Great. I was close to tears again. If I could barely keep myself together, should I adopt a cat? What if the cat pooped in my favorite pair of shoes? Or hated me? I couldn’t stand the rejection. I didn’t want to feel that ever again.

But wasn’t this what spinsters did? We surrounded ourselves with cute and cuddly animals because we weren’t good enough to be loved by anybody else. Animals loved unconditionally. That’s what I craved.

My blurry gaze settled on a huge wall covered in photographs of cats. I took a shaky step toward it. What’s this?

Our success stories. Mulberry walked beside me. We get pictures sent to us most days of owners with their cats. They all look so happy.

Let me guess. You were the one who picked them their perfect cat? That was sharp, harsh, and not friendly. That also wasn’t me. Or it didn’t used to be.

Most likely. Mulberry’s laugh tinkled out of her. And I’d like to see your smiling face on that wall. I get the feeling it’s been awhile since you smiled. And not one of those tight little grins you keep trying out on me.

You know nothing about me. I pinched the bridge of my nose. I wasn’t usually such a massive jerk. I wasn’t normally a jerk at all, but I’d been carrying misery for too long. That left its mark.

Coffee, sugar cookies, and cats, Mulberry said. You wait here and admire the Wall of Joy. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I just need to sprinkle some magic over the cats to make sure they’re ready for you. Don’t you worry. Your perfect cat is waiting. I even have someone in mind. A very special case for a special lady.

If it isn’t the Persian, I’m not interested. Calm, composed, and collected, those were my targets. Instead, I’d hit bitter, jaded, and mean.

That same warm tinkling laugh came from Mulberry as she walked away. You will be. I’m never wrong.

There’s a first time for everything, I muttered. I shouldn’t begrudge another person happiness, but why did Mulberry get to be all Christmas cheer and laughter, when I had none?

I set down the tablet, my gaze moving over the pictures. There was so much happiness and bliss radiating off that wall that I had to look away. I wanted to be wrapped in those feelings, but the emptiness inside me remained, the shining eyes and goofball smiles rolling off me, not even breaking the surface. Everything was bleak. Even being surrounded by tinsel, pictures of cats in Santa hats, and free cookies, didn’t help. The world was one lonely, messed up, horrible place. As if a cat could solve any of my problems.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket as it buzzed. My throat clogged with tears as I stared at the image. Shaking my head, I jammed it back in my pocket. That was enough. No more from the world today. It was time to go back to the duvet. There was sure to be a box set I’d not binged on yet. So long as it wasn’t a romance, I didn’t care what I stared at for the next five hours. A juicy thriller or something with a high death count would be ideal for my current mood. I could stop off at the pizza parlor, grab an enormous cheese loaded pizza with all the toppings, and maybe indulge in a container of triple chocolate ice cream with cookie crumb topping.

We’re ready for you.

My hand was on the exit door. My shoulders inched up. I should just keep walking. I wasn’t in the right headspace to offer a home to anyone else, whether they came with two legs or four.

Just five minutes of your time. Mulberry’s soothing tones eased my shoulders down as if she’d walked over and pushed them. I’ve got someone who really wants to meet you.

Is it the Persian? My breath fogged the door as