New relationships can be fraught with emotional missteps. Charity Hughes's awkward encounter with Shelby Howard, Noah Jenkins's ex, at his front door certainly qualifies, but as they're clearing up that sort-of-minor misunderstanding, a new challenge enters Charity's shop. A witch's cat familiar pining for the impossible - kittens of her own.

The kitty conundrum takes a back seat when a frantic Shelby calls with a rather pointed problem. An ex-fiancé dead on her living room floor, run through with an antique sword. Now the prime suspect, Shelby begs Charity for help to prove her innocence.

There's just one problem. Using magic to solve the case risks outing her as a witch to the public...including Noah. But Charity brings all her somewhat-inconsistent abilities to bear in the investigation, even calling on Milo, the spaniel familiar, to nose around. But it's the Tarot that cuts through the static toward a culprit who's definitely not an ex-anything.

It's someone who opens a whole new kit and caboodle of lies.

Note: Cauldrons and Cats is Book 2 in USA Today bestselling author Christine Pope's "Familiar Spirits" series. Contains a cat familiar with mommy fever, a doggo familiar pining for his feline friend, and a killer who does it old school - up close and personal.