A grumpy librarian, a sunshine handyman, and a cat who's convinced they’re soulmates.

Cali Jacobs didn’t move to Autumn Ridge for love. She came for quiet nights, piles of books, and maybe—if she was lucky—a stray cat to keep her company.

Instead, a shaggy Maine Coon strolls into her life… and seems just as attached to Ethan Cross, the infuriatingly handsome construction worker who always manages to be in her way.

Ethan is supposed to be temporary, just like the City Hall renovation that brought him here. He drinks his coffee black, returns library books late, and has a talent for testing Cali’s patience. Worst of all? The Maine Coon clearly adores him.

But the Nine Lives Club has its own ideas about destiny. Between late-night cat rescues, small-town gossip, and one runaway feline with flawless matchmaking instincts, Cali starts wondering if Ethan might be more than a distraction with a toolbox.

He’s steady. He’s kind. He might even be worth the risk.

Because sometimes the cat doesn’t just choose its human… sometimes it chooses two.

Love at First Scratch is Book 1 in the Nine Lives Club series: a slow-burn, opposites-attract small-town romance featuring cat-assisted matchmaking, found family, heartfelt banter, cozy charm, and a Maine Coon with excellent taste.

Additional notes for ARC readers:
-    Cozy-with-heat. Spice Level: 3 (occasional open-door, on-page spice; not sex every chapter)
-    Feel-good tone, low drama, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after
-    Told in single POV for an intimate, character-driven emotional arc