In To Love a Cat by Billi Tiner, Catherine “Cat” James has overcome a rough childhood. Having abusive parents and being kicked out when she was a teenager, Cat has vowed to help another child if she got the chance. Finally, having a stable life as an accountant and living in her own home, she has decided to become a foster mom. She ends up taking in a 13-year-old boy named Ethan, who has had a childhood very similar to her own. Soon, her life changes drastically, and Detective Mitch Holt enters their lives. Fighting her attraction to this man and trying to focus on only being a mother, she convinces herself that she doesn’t need or want a relationship. Will Cat finally find the happiness that she has always dreamed of?

Thinking I was getting into a typical romance book, I was pleasantly surprised in the depth of not only the plot, but the characters as well. Yes, there is romance. Cat and Mitch have an undeniable attraction to each other, and seeing them try to deny their feelings and focus on other things is both frustrating and entertaining. However, what is truly at the heart of the story is the relationship between Cat and Ethan. Witnessing their mother/son bond gradually grow as time goes on and as circumstances change is absolutely heartwarming. They both desperately needed each other, more than they even knew. Any parent can relate to Cat’s love for Ethan and her need to protect and keep this boy safe. Billi Tiner is an amazing writer who really brought these characters to life and made the relationships realistic. The plot was suspenseful and unpredictable. In this story about friendship and love, with the perfect amount of animal-loving moments, To Love a Cat is a must-read. Filled with touching moments that got tears streaming down my face, this was a book that I could not put down. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Take two successful professionals, each independent and content with life. Mitch is a law enforcement officer and family for him consists of his dog Roscoe and Tucker, an appealing but unwelcome cat. Mitch is totally dedicated to his work getting criminals off the streets. He is not the marrying kind. Catherine James is single and stunning. She is an over-achiever, seeking nothing more than to continue her career as lead accountant in prestigious company. Her success enables her to help youngsters; especially those damaged and rejected by their families. She knows too well how traumatic that is. She wants to provide a stable, comfortable home to a child, and applies to foster one. Add a troubled teen, Ethan, and you have the ingredients for an interesting, compelling read.

The story not only winds in and around the lives of Mitch, Catherine, and Ethan, but introduces their individual families, who are all caring and well-adjusted adults. As the tale unfolds, it exposes unsavory elements, too. To reveal more could spoil the story for you. Suffice to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is engaging and well written. You want to keep reading. How the characters meet each other, and adjust makes for a wonderful read and I highly recommend it if you want to escape your reality for a while, and become entwined in the lives of these fictional folk. It highlights how critically important helping less fortunate individuals is, as well as having a stable, loving family.