Title: Waifs and Strays (The Cat Lady Chronicles Book One)
Publisher: HarperFire
Author: Helen Harper
Pages: 298pp

Kit McCafferty is happy with her quiet life in the magical city of Coldstream. She cares for the town’s feral cat population, hangs out at the local market, chats with her nosy neighbors, and steers clear of Coldstream’s supernatural politics. But then Nick, an orphaned teenage werewolf, shows up hoping to rent the spare apartment in her house. And it turns out that Nick is the nephew of one of the most powerful werewolves in Scotland — and when Nick is kidnapped, Kit has to get him back … or else ….

Helen Harper is one of my favorite urban fantasy authors. When I heard about The Cat Lady Chronicles, I added it to my wish list, sadly forgot about it, rediscovered it on my wish list, and immediately ordered the book. The moment it arrived, I dove it and spent two happy days thrilling to Kit’s adventures.

And I do like Kit. First, she’s older than most urban fantasy heroines; at forty-one, she is self-confident and physically tough, but starting to feel her age (flying kicks look cool, but her hips aren’t what they used to be). She’s learned patience and diplomacy, and the importance of allies and community; unlike Nick, she’s no lone wolf, even if she does like her privacy. She also respects other people’s privacy and their secrets; she certainly has plenty enough of her own.

The residents of Coldstream make for a terrific supporting cast. Standing on the border between England and Scotland, Coldstream is a liminal community filled with preternatural beings who feel unwelcome elsewhere in Great Britain. Werewolves, vampires, witches, ogres, druids, trolls, and even the odd fae live side-by-side and (mostly) get along. Among those who have settled down in Coldstream are Trilby, a being of unknown origin who sells herbs and potions in the market (and who lives in a most unusual house); Mallory, a charming and seemingly sweet old woman who trades in secrets and favors; and Thane Barrow, an exiled werewolf whose difficult childhood has made him compassionate and keen to help those who cannot help themselves.

And then, of course, there are the cats. She Who Loves Sunbeams. She Who Hisses. He Who Must Sleep. He Who Crunches Bird Bones. He Who Roams Wide. The cats all have distinct personalities and each, in their own uniquely feline way, assist Kit in her quest to save Nick.

I had a heck of a lot of fun reading Waifs and Strays. I can’t wait to see what Harper has planned next for Kit and the cats of Coldstream.

Highly recommended to fans of Harper’s other books, as well as Ilona Andrews’ The Innkeeper Chronicles, the Little Yokai series by Scott Walker, A Witch in Wolf Wood by Lindsay Buroker, The Gunderson Case Files by Blaze Ward, and Touched by Magic by Celine Jeanjean.