Book Review: Puma by Jorie Spencer

Puma
Author: Jorrie Spencer
Publication: Samhain Publishing (August 1, 2009)

Description: Callie, a cat-shifter, is a loner by virtue of the puma that lives inside her. After a job gone bad, her very human need for contact sends her in search of the only family she has. Callie finds her foster sister in a disturbing living arrangement.

The truth is more dangerous than Callie imagines. And Dev's need to protect the vulnerable is as strong as Callie's own.

My Thoughts: This urban fantasy stars a cat-shifter named Callie. She's left her work tracking down rogue shifters and decides to try to find her foster sister.

When she locates Ruth she learns that she is under the control of a Minder. Callie had never heard of Minders, humans able to control people's behavior. 

Callie learns that her sister is under the control of a young Minder named Scott and in the care of Dev who is another of Scott's people. Scott has good intentions. He wants his people to be happy and healthy, but he's been influenced by the stronger members of his pod and goes about things the wrong way.

Dev has cared about Scott since he was his mentor in Big Brothers. But Scott's habit of "pushing" Dev has almost broken his mind. 

Callie, who hasn't spent much time as a human recently, is confused by the situation she encounters when she locates her foster sister Ruth. She only knows that she cares for her sister and Dev and wants to get them away from all Minders. 

She and Dev begin a relationship which helps Dev break out of Scott's control. But he still feels a need to protect Scott. Callie isn't sure if that is Dev's own feelings or something Scott imposed on him. And neither is Dev.

This was an interesting urban fantasy story with a woman who has a difficult relationship with her puma other self and who encounters a group she's never heard of but knows she doesn't like. 

I bought this one August 1, 2009. You can buy your copy here.