THE SECRET LIFE OF MAC by Melinda Metz appears to be a sequel to the ‘Talk to the Paw’ which was published last year. This quaint little romance story is something slightly unique as it is told from the point of view of a tabby cat called McGyver (Mac), alongside two other characters, Nate and Briony. Mac is on a mission to make the people in his life happy, either romantically, generally or where there are friends involved.

This was an easy, light read so I did not feel disadvantaged in any way not having read ‘Talk to the Paw’ first, though it would have been preferable to me if I had read them in sequence.

This book is a romantic comedy where Mac acted as the matchmaker. As well as being wildly humorous and funny, it is also a tale about personal development and self-discovery. There’s even a mystery linked to the retirement home which added to the interest of this sweet tale.

Most of this story was told from the viewpoint of Briony and Nate. Nate had some personal issues that he needed to deal with, helped along by Briony who had woes of her own. All of the characters had something to offer and the mystery was concluded very well.

All in all, THE SECRET LIFE OF MAC by Melinda Metz was a charming, sweet and worthwhile read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the author, Melina Metz, for my free ARC of The Secret Life of Mac. My honest review is entirely voluntary.

Second in a series, MacGyver the cat is up to his old tricks again. Attune to smells, especially those connected to distressed humans, Mac to bring people together who he has determined belong together, because their odors are more palatable together than apart. In this installment, Mac sets his sights on helping Briony, a recent bride to be who got cold feet at the last minute. Mac can tell how unhappy she is and wants to help her feel better, so he finds an unattached man for her to meet, Nate. At first the story was a little disconnected, as I couldn’t follow the introduction of some of the characters in a community for senior citizens; it seemed random. Within a few chapters though, the story comes together and flows fairly well. In addition to a few romances, Mac also helps Nate solve a mystery at the retirement community. There are a few hints about what is taking place and overall, the story is cute. If you like cats and romantic comedy, this is a good book for you.

The Secret Life of Mac is a follow-up story to the contemporary romance, Talk to the Paw by Melinda Metz. These stories have a very different twist to them, in that the POV is from Mac (MacGyver) the cat, as well as the main characters. Mac has a mission in life, to make humans happy, whether in romance, friendship or life in general.In Talk to the Paw, Mac played matchmaker and got his owner Jamie together with her neighbour David. In this story, they are on their honeymoon and Jamie's cousin Briony, who just left her fiancé at the altar, is staying at the house and pet-sitting for Mac and D-O-G, David's dog. Apparently, Briony passed out walking down the aisle and has decided that they are obviously not meant for each other. Once Mac gets a whiff of Briony, he knows that smell, she is sad and lonely. Let the games begin as Mac sets out to find her the perfect mate.This book is another cute rom-com, where Mac is the matchmaker. I did not see Mac's role as much in this book as the first one. Once he lured Briony to the Retirement Community that Nate runs, things seemed to progress without too much interference from Mac. Most of this story was told from the point of view of Briony or Nate. I am not a big fan of insta-love, especially in rebound, but it seemed to work. Nate had a ton of issues he was dealing with and Briony was able to help him work through some of them as well as doing a lot of self-assessment and discovery of her own. I enjoyed the various characters involved in the story and there was even a bit of a mystery, Nate's family were really needy, but as the book progressed, so did their relationships and expectations. The mystery was solved with Mac's help, so he was still the hero in the story. The neighbourhood where these stories take place is fun. The neighbours and even the name of the streets are cute and add to the sweetness of the book. I enjoyed this book and hope to see more from Mac, the matchmaker. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

A fun read and glad I didin't know immediately who was doing what and allowed the mystery to unfold. A m in love with Mac!

Perfect chick lit! I loved the premise and the characters were well developed! I recommend this for anyone looking for a light and fun read!

This is a charming little story of MacGyver a tabby who is a kleptomaniac and loves a good challenge by playing matchmaker….he thinks humans are hopeless when it comes to romance and crazy for not following their instincts.

Mac is simply a loveable kitty and is definitely the star in the fiction. We meet him from the start where he lives with his humans and a bonehead of a dog named Diogee. Mac’s owners are on their honeymoon and is left in the care of Briony, a cousin now house/pet-sitter. Briony just left her fiancé at the alter and Mac sense her sadness so he springs into action, back to his old tricks and sets her up with Nate, owner of a retirement home…..awe……

We have a cute romance and a little mystery going on: someone is trying to sabotage the retirement home and Nate has to find out who is doing it and why…. … no more pussyfooting for Mac he is out for the kill….and a little matchmaking….

Where this story excels is in the descriptive writing. Through MacGyver’s eyes the author’s expresses clearly his point of view. His voice is clear and loud, he is simply an adorable feline. Most of the story tells how the two main characters see their lives with tid-bits of Mac’s manoeuvers inserted here and there. The best part is definitely MacGyver no doubt in my mind. The human players main and secondary are good and well defined but Mac is my hero…:)

If you like cats and know how they think you will enjoy “The Secret of Mac” it will hit all those soft spots. This book is such a delightful read…Enjoy.

It is amazing to me that Melinda Metz has written a story that is cute, cute, cute without being too cute. However that is exactly what she has done with The Secret Life of Mac. The second book in the Mac series, I hurried to buy the first one, Talk to the Paw before I had finished this reading this novel.

As my own cat is sitting here staring at me, I can now imagine his thought since as a reader I was privy to know Mac’s. I think this is the first adult book that I have ever read where the cat’s POV is given. I can name some children’s book where animals have a PO, but not one written for adults. I must say I think it is dead on with Mac.

The plot is developed well, with all the characters well written, likable and easy to wish them happiness, both the young and the older ones. The mystery was one that I should have solved faster than I did. I think I got caught up in all of Mac’s match making. It was a fun pleasure to read book.

Mac the cat is back in this second tale of this matchmaking kitty and follows, ‘Talk to the paw’, however it’s possible to read and enjoy as a stand-alone title. I love that this tale is based on a real kleptomaniac cat.

Easy to read, a ro-mystery (romantic mystery) the adventures of McGyver as he seeks to find and assure happiness for his packmates are delightful. Start this book in the early afternoon so that you can indulge in it in one session. You won’t be disappointed... and if you’re not already a ‘cat person’ be prepared to be swayed.

Cute and cuddly sweet story about a cat who plays matchmaker. If you like cats and sardines, with a lot of tongue-in-cheek tales, this book will hit all those soft spots.

I loved the first book featuring Mac as much as I loved this one.
It's cute, heart-warming and fun to read.
I love Mac, he's becoming one my favourite feline characters, and look forward to reading other books featuring him and the cast of characters.
This book is perfect for cat lovers and whoever wants to read something cheering and heartwarming.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

Mac is back! Don't worry if you didn't read the first book- the bottom line is that Mac is a cat who is determined to make his people happy. In this second book, Mac decides his cat sitter Briony, who walked away from her fiancé, needs a friend. He finds Nate, who runs the local retirement community. Perfect! You get a mix of two young people who fall in love, older people who will make you chuckle, and a super cat who makes it all work. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Totally implausible but also completely delightful, this is a book that will make you smile.

The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz actually seems to be a follow up to the contemporary romance, Talk to the Paw by Melinda Metz. These romance stories have something a little different in them as they give a point of view to Mac, the cat, along with the two main characters.

In Talk to the Paw Mac had made it a mission to make his owner Jamie happy by trying to set her up with David. The way Mac goes about his matchmaking ways is he has a habit of sneaking out of his home with Jamie and stealing little trinkets to bring to her bringing a reason for the pair to come together and meet.

Now in The Secret Life of Mac Mac’s owner/s are off on their honeymoon after his matchmaking was a huge success which leaves the need for a house/petsitter. Briony is Jamie’s cousin and she just left her own fiance at the alter coming to the conclusion that they weren’t meant for each other. Mac senses Briony’s sadness and goes back to his old tricks setting her up to meet Nate.

This series is a rather cute rom com that I’m sure more than just the kitty lovers out there would enjoy. It really didn’t have the POV of the cat as much as I expected it to have with him only inserting in little bits here or there and most of the story being from Briony or Nate’s POV. While I’m not usually a fan of jumping right into another relationship it somehow worked here as Briony did a lot of self discovery in the book and grew as a character. There’s also a bit of mystery happening with the retirement home to add to the antics of the book which made for even more fun so in the end I really enjoyed this one.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a cute book about a cat that is a clever matchmaker for his human. If you love cats as I do you will adore this fast read and all the antics of this very smart cat. This is a fun enjoyable romp through the eyes of a cat intent on fixing his owners love life.
I do recommend this book for all animal lovers and those who enjoy a light romance theme.

Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.

The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz is a funny romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud. Jamie Snyder is in her 30's and tired of dating and has sworn off men. Jamie's cat, MacGyver, has other plans because he can smell the loneliness on his owner and other humans in the apartment complex. MacGyver sneaks out of their apartment and steals items to bring people together, which was often funny. I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for the author's other books. I love all the quirky characters that bring this book together, and MacGyver of course. If you want a funny, heartwarming quick read, I recommend this book. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz is a cute fun story about a cat, who is also known as a matchmaker. We meet Mac (MacGyver) from the start, as he lives with Jamie and David and a dog, he loves to tease. Jamie and David, whom Mac previously brought together, are going on their honeymoon, and her cousin Briony has come to stay for the month to care for Mac and the dog.

Briony is our heroine in this story, as we learn that she came to help out Jamie, after she fainted at her wedding ceremony, and left the groom at the altar. Briony feels guilty about what she did to her fiancée, but her anxiety attacks confirm that perhaps it wasn’t meant to be. She does fall in love with Mac and Dioggy (the dog), and finds herself constantly looking for Mac, who is also an escape artist.
Nate, our hero, manages a local retirement community (The Gardens), and we get to meet many of the residents and employees throughout the story. Mac of course, senses that he needs to help out with the residents of the home, and with the little gifts he pickpockets, help bring Briony and Nate together, not to mention some other people at The Gardens.

What follows is a cute romance, with a bit wild story with a little mystery as to who is sabotaging the home, with Nate beside himself with things going wrong. The secondary characters were all very good. Nate and Briony were great together, as you found yourself rooting for them; even though her ex-fiancée (who actually was a good guy) shows up, but all turned out good. The resolution to the mystery turned out to be a surprise, though I did guess who the saboteur was, but not who the partner was.

As much as I liked all the characters, I absolutely loved Mac; who to me was the star of the show. I will end this review with a short blurb from the description that says it all…. ‘MacGyver is on the case. And this time, he’s not pussyfooting around . . .’ If you enjoy cute stories featuring animals, a appealing cozy romance, then look no further than The Secret Life of Mac. It was a fun quick read.

Writing the final women’s fiction post for HEA is such a bittersweet moment. It has been an honor to share noteworthy women’s fiction books with you, and I am glad that I have this one last opportunity to do so.
This blog is a hodgepodge — with books that are out now and are soon to be released and won’t be out until months later.
Happy reading …
Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg (out now)
What it’s about:
The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.
When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community—just when they need it the most.
The right stuff: Perfect for this time of year. Full of wonderful friendships and heartwarming moments. A bit bittersweet, but readers are left more with the feeling that kindness can work miracles than any sadness.
In Dog We Trust by Beth Kendrick (Jan. 8)
What it’s about:
When everything has gone to the dogs …
When Jocelyn Hillier is named legal guardian for the late Mr. Allardyce’s pack of pedigreed Labrador retrievers, her world is flipped upside down. She’s spent her entire life toiling in the tourism industry in Black Dog Bay and never expected to be living the pampered life of a seasonal resident in an ocean side mansion, complete with a generous stipend. But her new role isn’t without its challenges: The dogs (although lovable) are more high-maintenance than any Hollywood diva, the man she wants to marry breaks her heart, and she’s confronted at every turn by her late benefactor’s estranged son, Liam, who thinks he’s entitled to the inheritance left to the dogs.
Jocelyn has worked too hard to back down without a fight, and she’s determined to keep her new fur family together. As she strives to uphold the “Best in Show” standards her pack requires, Jocelyn finds love, family, and forgiveness in the most unexpected places.
The right stuff: Zany Black Dog Bay is back! Full of wonderful characters, sometimes adorable dogs and second chances at love. All the things we’ve come to love about this series! (See a fun Q&A on HEA with Beth about In Dog We Trust.)
The Best of Us by Robyn Carr (Jan. 8)
What it’s about:
Dr. Leigh Culver loves practicing medicine in Timberlake, Colorado. It is a much-needed change of pace from her stressful life in Chicago. The only drawback is she misses her aunt Helen, the woman who raised her. But it’s time that Leigh has her independence, and she hopes the beauty of the Colorado wilderness will entice her aunt to visit often.
Helen Culver is an independent woman who lovingly raised her sister’s orphaned child. Now, with Leigh grown, it’s time for her to live life for herself. The retired teacher has become a successful mystery writer who loves to travel and intends to never experience winter again.
When Helen visits Leigh, she is surprised to find her niece still needs her, especially when it comes to sorting out her love life. But the biggest surprise comes when Leigh takes Helen out to Sullivan’s Crossing and Helen finds herself falling for the place and one special person. Helen and Leigh will each have to decide if they can open themselves up to love neither expected to find and seize the opportunity to live their best lives.
The right stuff: Dare I say it? This feels like almost the conclusion to the Sullivan’s Crossing series, with all the loose ends tied up so neatly with two engaging romances and appearances by the cast of characters.
The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz (Jan. 29)
What it’s about:
He’s the cat thief of love
MacGyver the tabby is feeling very pleased with himself. His human, Jamie Snyder, has found the perfect packmate—and it’s all thanks to Mac. By stealing personal items from the home of Jamie’s handsome neighbor David, the matchmaking cat brought these two L.A. singles together. Now, while the newlyweds are off on their honeymoon, MacGyver is ready for a well-deserved cat nap. That is, until he meets his cat sitter Briony. Like most humans, she’s hopeless when it comes to romance. And Mac can’t resist a challenge …
She’s found the escape claws
Briony feels terrible about leaving her fiancé at the altar. When her cousin Jamie offers her the chance to cat sit MacGyver, the runaway bride leaps at the chance to cuddle up with the only male creature she trusts herself around. But MacGyver has other plans. He lures Briony to a friendly neighborhood retirement community—run by a charming young hottie named Nate. Briony and Nate hit it off instantly. But Briony’s still not sure she’s ready for a relationship. And Nate’s got problems of his own—someone is sabotaging his community.
Crazy humans. Why can’t they follow their instincts and go after the love they deserve? MacGyver is on the case. And this time, he’s not pussyfooting around …
The right stuff: It seems apropos that my first post for HEA featured a book by Ms. Metz — Talk to the Paw, and so does the final one. Charming and cute sometimes get a bad name, but not in this case. Pure delightful escapism with plenty of laughs.
The Military Wife by Laura Trentham (Feb. 5)
What it’s about:
Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.
Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.
In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.
In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts?
The right stuff: Nicely done story of husband’s best friend to lover! Complex relationship issues will keep you turning the pages. Perfect feel-good ending.
I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella (Feb. 5)
What it’s about:
Fixie Farr has always lived by her father’s motto: “Family first.” And since her dad passed away, leaving his charming housewares store in the hands of his wife and children, Fixie spends all her time picking up the slack from her siblings instead of striking out on her own. The way Fixie sees it, if she doesn’t take care of her father’s legacy, who will?
It’s simply not in Fixie’s nature to say no to people. So when a handsome stranger in a coffee shop asks her to watch his laptop for a moment, she not only agrees—she ends up saving it from certain disaster. To thank Fixie for her quick thinking, the computer’s owner, Sebastian, an investment manager, scribbles an IOU on a coffee sleeve and attaches his business card. Fixie laughs it off—she’d never actually claim an IOU from a stranger. Would she?
But then Fixie’s childhood crush, Ryan, comes back into her life, and his lack of a profession pushes all of Fixie’s buttons. As always, she wants nothing for herself—but she’d love Seb to give Ryan a job. No sooner has Seb agreed than the tables are turned once more and a new series of IOUs between Seb and Fixie—from small favors to life-changing moments—ensues. Soon Fixie, Ms. Fixit for everyone else, is torn between her family and the life she really wants. Does she have the courage to take a stand? Will she finally grab the life, and love, she really wants?
The right stuff: Sophie Kinsella writes wonderful stories about heroines going from low self-esteem to finally getting it right, and this definitely fits the bill. Humor, lots of character growth and a sweet romance.
Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper (April 2)
What it’s about:
Lucy Brewer would never have guessed that her best friend, Duffy McCready (of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home) has been in love with her since they were kids. Fear of rejection and his own romantic complications prevented Duffy from confessing his true feelings in high school, so he stood by and watched her wed Wayne Bowman right after high school. Wayne had always been a cheapskate, so it comes as no surprise when he suffers a fatal accident while fixing his own truck.
Even as her family and friends invade Lucy’s life and insist that the new widow is too fragile to do much beyond weeping, Lucy is ashamed to admit that life without Wayne is easier, less complicated. After all, no one knew what a relentless, soul-grinding trudge marriage to Wayne had been. Only Duffy can tell she’s hiding something.
In need of a fresh start, Lucy asks Duffy to put his cabinet-building skills to use, transforming the town’s meat shop into a bake shop. As the bakery takes shape, Lucy and Duffy discover the spark that pulled them together so many years ago. Could this finally be the second chance he’s always hoped for?
The right stuff: Perfect blend of wacky, poignant and amusing. Escaping into one of Molly Harper’s book is pure entertainment.
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (Aug. 13)
What it’s about:
Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s a total pro at other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.
The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a “lady” on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn’t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can’t think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping…and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.
Katherine Center’s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.
The right stuff: I know, you’re thinking, August? But this book is so good! Loved the juxtaposition of the hero’s and heroine’s roles. She’s the expert and he is the rookie. Fabulous forgiveness theme. Humorous and touching!
Leigh Davis is a former contributor to Heroes and Heartbreakers. When she is not reading, she’s usually outside throwing balls to her insatiable dogs. She loves hearing and talking about great books. You can connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.
MORE ON HEA: See more posts by Leigh
Beth Kendrick, Elizabeth Berg, Katherine Center, Laura Trentham, Melinda Metz, Molly Harper, Robyn Carr, Sophie Kinsella, women's fiction, Recommended reads, Top stories

Mac is the pet cat of Jamie and david.he likes getting into things including suit cases . They also have a pet dog named diogee.cousin briony takes a visit before Jamie and David take a honeymoon . Briony was happy for her cousin but sad because she thought her and Caleb would be perfect together,I loved reading about mac and his antics but couldn't feel a connection to the other charcaters .

This was just ok for me. It started off slow but then got progressively better. It just took me awhile to get into it. Maybe it’s because it is part of a series?
Anyway- things I loved- the cat!! So cute.
And I did like the little twist in the end on how things worked out. 3 stars!

The Secret Life of Mac by Melinda Metz is a rare inside glimpse to what our cats think of us, humans. The story switches point of views but is mostly from the cat's perspective. I can hear Mac purring and wondering why the humans around him are upset. Mac is one interesting kitty. He loves so easily. Instantly, he takes to the new human. His goal is to help her not feel sad anymore. And Mac is up to his detective and matchmaking skills once again. 

Melinda Metz's writing brings a lot of humor. It was definitely a heart melter. I love animals and Mac caught my heart from the beginning. This cat is like any other cat. Always getting into trouble,  constantly wanting his food, and wants attention from his humans...but Mac is also a trouble kitty. He gets into everything. However, I think his nose and instincts are right on target. Overall, I loved this book.

The cat & escape artist MacGyver is back in Metz' second book. Having successfully found a mate for his owner, Mac takes in hand Jamie's cousin, a runaway bride. He also sets his sites on putting things right in a nearby retirement community.

Full of eccentric characters, Mac's own commentary, and delightful sub-plots, it's tons of fun to read.