Prologue to More Great Cat Stories

Throughout my childhood, I had always loved cats, and wished for one with all my heart. Now, not only did I have my own cat, but she was going to become a mother! It just didn¹t get any better than that.

When the day finally arrived, I tiptoed over to the carefully prepared box in the corner of my bedroom, my heart in my throat. To my surprise, the box was empty. I scanned the room. Nothing. I looked into the closets, under the beds, beneath the stairs. But the mother-to-be was nowhere to be found.

As on most farmyards in the area, half-wild cats skulked on the periphery of human activity, ever wary of coming too near the domestic inhabitants. They were twitchy, ill-fed things, riddled with disease and parasites, here one day and gone the next. Cinders, however, was different. She was cared for and loved. Her kittens would be different, too, I vowed. After all, they were *mine*.

Tears of panic filled my eyes as I intensified my search. I'd kept Cinders confined to the house for the past few days and instructed my family not to let her out, for fear of predators who would have loved to come upon a nest of new kittens. But my precautions had been in vain. I scanned the outbuildings and barns, the corrals and haystacks, the wide-open fields beyond, knowing the hiding places outside were infinite.

I might never find her.

Targets of Affection

Book Reviews

"I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to the next Shelby James mystery!"
—Davena Tarkanen, Kitty Kingdom

Reviewed by Wendy Runyon

Set in the growing Saskatoon suburb of Poplar Bluff, Targets of Affection, RG Willems’ debut novel and the first in a new mystery series, takes the reader into the heart of a local pet clinic, introducing Shelby James, a veterinary technician whose love for animals shines through on just about every page. I was instantly drawn to her character, finding her to be intelligent and caring. I suppose it helped that she and I share a couple of things in common besides our love for animals. We both do not like to cook and as a result our husband’s have become the chef; and we both live in fixer-up houses (however, I don’t have a purple door), although we lack handyman skills to do much about it.

With an opening scene that makes one’s heart rate go up, the novel gets off to a good start. Miranda Walls and her young daughter, Jessie, bring in an injured dog that requires immediate medical attention. He was the victim of a hit and run accident. Despite the fact that he’s a stray, Miranda volunteers to pay for his treatment and care. Her generous nature and caring heart make it impossible for Shelby not to instantly take a liking to the woman and her child, Jessie. Shelby soon discovers that Miranda and Jessie recently fled from an abusive relationship with Jessie’s father, and it increases her protectiveness for the mother and daughter. She feels drawn to Jessie, a sickly child who Shelby finds she can identify with, having had a difficult childhood herself. In the wake of several near tragedies and learning more about Miranda and Jessie’s life, Shelby uncovers more than she bargained for.

Shelby’s husband Jake, a university professor, offers insight into the psychological aspects of the situation with Miranda and Jessie. Despite a subtle unrest in their marriage, Jake’s support and love for his wife is unwavering. Although of the non-human variety, Shelby also has the support of her dog, Spin, a loyal companion who often accompanies her to work. Shelby’s love for him runs deep.

The author delves into the tie between animal and child abuse like few other fiction writers. It isn’t uncommon for those who abuse and kill animals to eventually escalate to harming humans, especially children. Animals and children are two of the most vulnerable targets in our society. RG Willems takes on these disturbing topics with sensitivity but does not shy away from the harsh reality. Her knowledge and use of medical terminology and procedures without sounding too technical puts the reader directly into the book.

Although the mystery takes its time to reveal itself, the characters and anecdotes surrounding the main story are just as poignant and entertaining. RG Willems has created a cast of characters, both human and animal, that readers, especially animal lovers, will be drawn to.

Reviewed by Cherie Jung

TARGETS OF AFFECTION introduces readers to Shelby James, a veterinary technician in Poplar Bluff, a suburb of Saskatoon. Readers will instantly be drawn to Shelby.

The author tackles a tough issue, animal cruelty and its link to child abuse, a topic many others might avoid or tend to sensationalize. Willems explores the issue quite effectively.

It's clear that the author knows her stuff yet the medical and technical aspects of the veterinary practice won't bog the reader down. Readers won't ever feel lost in medical jargon or veterinary procedures. The author takes care to keep the reader involved in the story. The characters, both human and animal, are well drawn. The story is well plotted and will be especially appealing for animal lovers.

It's clear that the author has the makings of a popular and long-running series on her hands. I can hardly wait for the next Shelby James book!

TARGETS OF AFFECTION is the author's first published fiction however her name may be familiar to readers as the author of the popular non-fiction books, GREAT DOG STORIES, GREAT CAT STORIES, and WILDLIFE IN THE KITCHEN.

Author Biography

Roxanne Willems Snopek lives and writes in Abbotsford, British Columbia, surrounded by her family and a variety of dogs, cats, birds, and fish. The human-animal bond is a recurring topic in her writing, which includes fiction and non-fiction. Targets of Affection, her first full-length work of fiction, is the first in a series of mysteries set in the world of veterinary medicine.

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