Werewolf Sings the Blues

A Midnight Magic Mystery #2

by Jennifer Harlow

If Vivian's life had a soundtrack, every song would be the Blues Pushin' Thirty (Hard Life Takes Its Toll) Singer Going Nowhere Fast Mysterious Stalker Got a Hold on Me Bullets, Blood, and Fur Long Lost Werewolf Daddy Done Me Wrong Ain't No Pack War Gonna Keep Me Down Love on the Run (feat. Sexy Jason) Melting in His Icy Eyes She's No Good (Born Under a Bad Moon) Don't Let Her Song Be Cut Short Livin' La Vida Werewolf (Bonus Track)



"[Vivian's] journey ends with a twist that will have readers rapidly flipping the pages." -RT BOOK REVIEWS"

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Fiction

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Northern Virgina home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.

Reviews

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts – 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book!

The cover is what attracted me to the book as well as the blurb. Life distracted me for a while, but I’m trying to get the books read that I promised I would.

This is the 2nd book in the series, but in the timeline of events this book happens before book 1. I think you can read these books in either order. This book is for adults only due to the content and steamy scenes.

I connect with this book more, but I’m not sure if it is because I seem to connect with author’s more after I get in the groove of their writing or because I loved Vivian! I love her spunk and attitude! I thought Jason was a jerk on several occasions, but he grows on you. I understand him more than I did in book 1, but boy does pack life complicate things.

I don’t know that I understand everything in this world yet, but I know I like it! I definitely like Jennifer’s work and will get more when I can.

I highly recommend to paranormal fans especially if you love werewolves, magic, mystery, and more!

[Tiffani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Werewolf Sings the Blues is the second book in Jennifer Harlow’s Midnight Magic Mystery, though the events in the book actually take place before the first book in the series (What’s a Witch to Do?). Between the two, I liked the witch book a bit more than this one.

One reason why I had trouble connecting to this story was the main character, Vivian. I don’t believe one has to necessarily like a character to like the story. (Gone Girl is an example where the main characters are totally unlikeable yet the story is totally compelling). Still, if the characters don’t grab the reader, then there has to be something else to pull the reader in (again see Gone Girl). Here, Vivian quickly grew tiresome and there wasn’t much else to grab my attention, which is probably why it took me so long to read this fairly short book.

Vivian wasn’t all bad but her bad girl antics started to feel like listening to a broken record after awhile. The excuse for her behavior is her sad childhood. Her father abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby (or so she was told) and her mother and stepfather all but ignored her, especially after her sister Jessie was born. Vivian was literally the redheaded stepchild. Like unhappy children do, Vivian rebelled, with drugs, alcohol, and minor skirmishes with the law, which of course only made her relationship with her mother and stepfather worse. As an adult, Vivian is still struggling. Her thirtieth birthday days way, Vivian gets some startling news: Werewolves exist. Her father Frank is not only a werewolf, but the pack leader. The werewolves are at war, and she, as the daughter of the pack leader, is in danger. Enter handsome, muscular, blond guy, otherwise known as Jason, to the rescue. Jason has his own daddy issues, and frankly they are much more serious than Vivian’s issues. Yet, Jason is a fairly decent guy. Vivian, in contrast and to use Jason’s words, is a wrecking ball. She recognizes that her behavior is destructive but does it anyway. I get it, she has low self-esteem. I sympathize but her destructive behavior and general negativity got old pretty quickly.

I might have gotten past Vivian if there was an actual mystery here, this is part of the Midnight Magic Mystery series after all, but there isn't one. Jason immediately explains the reason why Vivian is in danger. Most of the book is about how (not if, because this is that kind of book) Jason and Vivian will make it to safety and how long it will take them till they realize they are in love with each other and they live happily ever after. There is a question of who the traitor inside Frank’s pack is but even that isn't much of a mystery (let's just say it's the mean guy), and anyway this question doesn't really surface till late in the book and no one spends all that much time trying to figure it out. If there had been a more of a mystery I think I would have liked this more. Overall, this was okay but I would recommend What’s a Witch do Do? over this.

[Stephine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian is getting close to thirty and her singing career is at a standstill. She does little gigs, but they’re just getting her by. She thinks she’s developing a stalker when a tall blue-eyed man shows up everywhere. After singing at a wedding she discovers he’s protecting her. Bullets, car chases and werewolves fly as the two race across the U.S. before the they’re caught. Along the way the chemistry between the pair builds.

Werewolf Sings the Blues is the second book in A Midnight Magic Mystery, only it’s not a mystery. While not a mystery it is skating the line between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, and it does it very well. The events in this novel happen years before the first novel, What’s a Witch to do? Reading the first novel isn’t a requirement for the second. It deals with mostly all new characters that have their own plots. It’s told in Vivian’s POV, but broken into two parts. The first part is the race across the country. The second is dealing with Pack problems.
 
Vivian was by far the most interesting character in the novel for me. Vivian is the female character I’ve been waiting for. She’s rebellious, fun, and usually knows what she wants. In short she’s my kind of girl. She’s the playboy type character put into a woman’s body. Unfortunately I still have a couple ‘buts’ for her. She’s witty, which is great, but sometimes it feels forced and unnatural. This is also true to some of her responses, examples- When her drugs are thrown out of the window and she swears not to touch them again, really? When she adapts and plays with children, this totally didn’t seem like her wheel house for me. She was edgy, but some of that edge was forced or not enough, and then taking that character and putting her in a mother-hen role, that doesn’t happen overnight.
 
Her counterpart, Jason the werewolf, is another beast entirely. Starting out in the novel he goes from seeming stoic to broody to loveable to utterly amazing. This happens naturally because of seeing him through Vivian’s eyes. He makes her want to change, and we see this organically and it’s beautiful. Jason has a childlike quality that makes him vulnerable, which seems so strange considering his life. Yet he complements Vivian in a way I didn’t expect, and while I hate the shining white knight characters and usually find them too good to live, Jason was an exception. I’ve seen characters paired like this before, but it’s never worked for me. Not like this one did.
 
Then there are the other relationships. Like Vivian’s to her family. And here I’ll say it. I cried a little and it had nothing to do with the love story or lack of a HEA. It had everything to do with Vivian and her father. I don’t want to ruin it and say anything more, other than this novel is worth it.
 
I want to bring up one negative here. The plot is under assumption that Vivian is doing something wrong. Her lifestyle is one of sacrifice for her dreams. She hasn’t settled down, hasn’t had children, and hasn’t done anything because she does have a dream. This is my only hang up, because I want Vivian to have her cake and eat it. I don’t want her to be “fixed” when I don’t think there is anything wrong with her.
 
This brings me to my next point. I’ve read Harlow for a while and I really think she made something great in these pages. It seems to me like each book is getting better and better. That means I can’t wait to see what she turns out next. From Urban Fantasy focused on action, to mystery, and now to a nearly straight up romantic adventure she’s showing a fantastic range all in a shared world.
- Elizabeth

[Alice Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really like about Jennifer Harlow is that she allows her heroines to be imperfect. In the case of Werewolf Sings the Blues, Vivian is so imperfect that I cringed and fumed for at least 50% of the book. I've been around the block (hell, I lived through the 1980's) so not much shocks me. Yet, Vivian's drug use and her seemingly inevitable road to crack whore obscurity in the beginning of the book really set off my disgust meter. Once kidnapped, she continues to indulge that archetypal pattern, seesawing between impulsive behavior and self-flagellation, constantly manipulating without being aware of it. Still, I found that I liked the story even though I didn't like her. However, as I got through the book, I realized how integral this aspect of her character was to the story as her street survival skills gave her a strength of character that is missing among many of the werewolves. It seems growing up in a supportive (pack) environment can take the edge off of a person, and have him/her strive for security rather than take a risk...even when loved ones' lives are in danger. I really loved Vivian and Jason's different takes on selfishness, and Vivian's ability to be honest with herself. She has a real desire to be a better person, and that desire comes out of love which, she discovers, is "fucking horrible." Vivian evolved from awful to awesome, and I found that I really, really liked her.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Magic

The Midnight Magic series is unusual. The books don’t follow In time but jump around. This one started slowly for me but built to a satisfying climax. The author writes a blazing narrative with lots of excitement but never forgets to let you get to know the characters. I think Viv needed to sing At Last at the end.

[Una · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed from the first chapter right up until the end.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of an adventure story than a mystery, which suited me just fine. I really liked that Vivian was not your usually heroine, but a too thin, defensive, hard drinking cocaine snorting rebel. Actually, I didn't like her for many chapters, but I liked the pacing and then saw where the story was taking her. The world building overlaid werewolves in our modern culture very nicely.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Werewolf Sings the Blues grew on me slowly and by the end I was hooked. Once the story got rolling, I was all in to the adventure. There was a good balance of humor, sexual tension and mystery adding the perfect amount of intrigue to the plot.

Jason, although socially inept, was my favorite character with his unyielding loyalty and ability to take action when needed.

I'm not a fan of open drug use, but again, that is something resolved during Jason and Vivian's journey.

I did love watching the progression of Vivian from self-absorbed wannabe star to selfless kiddie caretaker.

Werewolf Sings the Blues is an alluring trip across country with a hot werewolf. Entertaining, intriguing and fast paced, Werewolf Sings the Blues is a terrific read for the paranormal romance/shifter fan.

I received this ARC copy of Werewolf Sings the Blues from Jennifer Harlow - Midnight Ink in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on March 8, 2014.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivian Dahl is one tough cookie. She doesn’t let life get her down, even when her singing career has stalled with wedding receptions, her family could care less about her and two divorces say she’s an asshole-magnet. Oh, and she’s not even thirty yet.

So when two US Marshals come knocking, Vivian isn’t all that surprised that one of the men from her life has landed her in hot water – she just never expected it’d be the first man who ran out on her, her father.

But what Vivian can’t wrap her head around is when bullets start flying and a big, gorgeous, blonde-haired hunk comes to the rescue . . . Turns out, these US Marshals aren’t exactly friendly. They’re looking to take Vivian back to their leader, who happens to be a werewolf. A werewolf who is currently in the middle of a bitter feud with Vivian’s dear old dad, Frank Dahl, who is Alpha of a werewolf pack.

Big, tall and blonde is Jason – Frank’s adopted son and Vivian’s sent-for saviour here to take her home to the wolf compound and safety.

This is going to be a road-trip from hell, but it’s just the beginning of a whole lot more bad luck for Vivian Dahl.

‘Werewolf Sings the Blues’ is the second book in Jennifer Harlow’s urban fantasy series ‘A Midnight Magic Mystery’, and is set seven years before the first books ‘What’s a Witch to Do?’

The first book in this new series was ‘What’s a Witch to Do?’ released March 2013, and I loved it – easily one of my favourite books to come out of 2013. So I was over-the-moon excited when the second book came my way . . . but this second outing didn’t have the same charm as the first, and actually very few ties to mark this as the second in an ongoing series.

Something I loved in ‘What’s a Witch to Do?’ was the protagonist Mona McGregor – terminally celibate High Priestess of her local witch coven who raised her sister and when we met her in that first book, was raising her two nieces. She was such a down-on-her-luck trooper who really took on everyone’s problems and left very little room for her own. I loved her – she was selfless, a little bit overweight and terribly lonely. She was a great first protagonist who instantly got me on side and laughing. By contrast, new protagonist in ‘Werewolf Sings the Blues’ is about as different from Mona as oil and water. Vivian is a Southern Californian singer whose career has reached a plateau with wedding gigs. She does drugs constantly and recreationally, has had two fantastically failed marriages and expects to attract the wrong sort of men. She’s 29 and a very prickly protagonist indeed.

Now, on the one hand I commend Jennifer Harlow for breaking out of the urban fantasy female character mould. More often than not they’re attractive Mary-Sue’s who are really extra-special at their supernatural-given talents and happily attract enough men to form a neat love triangle. Snore. Mona broke that mould too by being a little chubby, a little plain and in her mid-to-late thirties (from memory?). Vivian breaks it by being a lot inappropriate and even a bit damaged – from the casual sex to the casual drug-taking; she’s definitely not your typical urban fantasy heroine.

But she’s pretty darn kick-ass too. Everything that makes her an unconventional heroine also makes her a ballsy one – she knows how to steal a car, avoid police detection and go off-grid. She’s the best sort of partner-in-crime to have by your side, as Jason very quickly realises.
But she’s also very angry. Believing her father abandoned her and her mother when she was a baby, being ignored by her mother’s second family and a slew of bad-mistake boyfriends have taken a wrecking ball to Vivian’s trust and ego which has turned her into a very angry, defensive woman. It’s really hard to sustain that anger throughout the book, and became a bit exhausting for me to the point that I was desperate for a bit of let-up in Vivian’s tough-as-nails, angry-spitfire personality.

This is also a 360-page book, and the majority of it is spent with Jason and Vivian on the road as they make their way to Virginia. These scenes started to feel very one-note as Jason and Vivian rent cheap motel rooms, duck and run from the werewolf rivals who are on their tails and Vivian tries to seduce the shy and staid Jason;

Damn, he’s like a robot. I can’t find an emotion anywhere on his face. It’s unnatural.
“The sooner you accept this new situation you find yourself in, the easier this will be for us both. I am on your side, Vivian.”
He starts towards the trunk of the car. “All I want to do is escort you safely back to Maryland where we can all protect you until the danger’s passed.”
“You want to escort me to my father. Who is king of werewolves. I’m sorry, did you forget to take your pills or something? Are the aliens telling you to do this, Blondie?”
He opens the trunk. “My name is Jason.”
“I like Blondie better,” I say with a sneer.

The whole time they’re on the road, Vivian’s father is in the back of her mind – she’s going to meet the man who she’s spent the better half of 30 years assuming abandoned her. But when she actually arrives in the compound, the scenes between Vivian and her father Frank are miniscule in relation to what sort of closure Vivian needs.

My other issue with the book was that it didn’t feel like a sequel to ‘What’s a Witch to Do?’. ‘Werewolf Sings the Blues’ is actually set eight years before ‘What’s a Witch to Do?’ – Which is the first thing that threw me and had me wondering ‘why?’. I mean, sure, Mona and her werewolf (soon to be) beau Adam Blue make an appearance and it’s very cute that we know the truth about them while Adam acts very distant with Mona in this book. But I thought Harlow was setting up a series with the common denominator being the setting of Goodnight, Virginia. But the werewolf compound is a little outside of Goodnight. So that makes me wonder if the common thread in this ‘A Midnight Magic Mystery’ series is the werewolf pack? The fact that I’m not 100% sure of the common thread running throughout this series is not good and the leapfrogging timeline makes it even more disorientating to get into the rhythm of this series.

Some things really worked for me. I liked the mystery in this book and I did warm to Vivian in the end. She and Jason were great, and I loved how opposite-attracting they were. But this was also a very violent book, and a lot of stuff happens to women in this instalment that had me feeling queasy. I feel like violence in urban fantasy needs to be introduced gradually – I’m thinking of Sookie’s stomach-turning torture in the ninth ‘Sookie Stackhouse’ book by Charlaine Harris, or Mercy Thompson being raped in third book ‘Iron Kissed’ by Patricia Briggs. It’s just a lot to swallow in only the second book of a new urban fantasy series, but I do hope the repercussions of what happened are explored in subsequent books (but, again, the timeline of this being seven years prior to book one would make that near impossible?) I'd just hate for that to be thrown out there for the sake of this storyline, but not have it be addressed later on, is all I’m saying.

All in all, this wasn’t as fun a book as the first one. Vivian was a prickly protagonist to spend 360-pages with, and I feel like very little was resolved or even addressed in her complicated life. The timeline threw me way off course, being set seven years before book one and I’m still a little hazy on what the ‘Midnight Magic Mystery’ is actually all about. The violence in this book also unsettled me, but I'd be less devastated by it if it’s not just swept under the rug for convenience in this book and it remains a talking-point for other books in the series. I’m still invested in Jennifer Harlow’s new urban fantasy series (indeed, I hope there are more books planned for this series!) I’ll just be very interested to see where the third book leads . . .

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jennifer Harlow's books, in particular the F.R.E.A.K.S. series. As for this Midnight Magic series, I liked the first one, WHAT'S A WITCH TO DO, much better than this one. The main character in the first book had her act together a bit more maybe or I read it a different time in my life.
I could definitely dig how much Viv's life was pretty sucky, having been abandoned by her father and her mother's new husband was not overly fatherly and her mother was not exactly there for her. The reader don't meet these parental/step-parental units but we get to know how crappe-weasel they are. Viv is making the best of her life. She knows she loves singing but can't make more in-roads into the music business except as a wedding singer.
Then her life gets turned upside down by people trying to kill her and a tall blond stranger leaps into her life to save her.
I will say that Viv definitely thinks very fast on her feet and is a survivor. Some would just roll up in a ball and whine. She comes out kickin'. I really liked that about her.
A violent book, not for the faint of heart, but a good story all the way around.
I can recommend this book and definitely recommend Jennifer Harlow's writing. She rocks.

[Jes Hancock · Rating 2 out of 5]

* 2³/⁴ stars*

Okay, let me start this review by saying Vivian is TRASHY. In "What's a Witch to Do", Mona didn't make the best decisions but she was way more likeable. Vivian also referred to Jason as "an autistic" because he didn't show emotion, which is insensitive AF, ignorant, and really made me mad. There's also lots of threats and references to rape and/or women being raped.

For the storyline, it isn't much better. There's not really a mystery; you pretty much know everything up front. Sleuthing out who the mole is would be the "mystery" for this novel, but I had that guessed within 20 pages of Part Two. Within the first 100 pages there was a shoot out and two car chases, then the action just stops at Part Two. Part Two, in my opinion, didn't need to be as long as it was. Nothing really happened for 100 or so pages and I felt the author put it in there to make the book longer. I did, however, enjoy seeing some of the characters from "What's a Witch to Do" and it was interesting to read about Jason and Vivian and why they are the way they are in WAWTD. The last 70 pages were phenomenal. If the whole book had been like that I feel like it would have been a five star read.

There are also A LOT of typos in this book. She needs a better editing team.

[Elysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a more straightforward cozy mystery, this book is probably not for you. If you're looking for an adventurous paranormal romance, then I think you should give it a try. This book is listed as number 2 in the series, but the events actually take place before book 1, which is kind of a bummer because you pretty much know who will be dead at the end and who did the big betrayal. Luckily, I didn't read them back to back, so my memory was a little fuzzy on details, which means some of it was still a surprise. I definitely recommend reading them with this one first and then What's a Witch To Do? Though both stories are easily to follow if you only want to read one. I think book 1 is the stronger of the two, but I still really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced with an intriguing plot and likeable enough characters. The romance has a lot of emotional turmoil because one character is utterly selfish and is afraid to let her guard down while the other is completely selfless and also afraid to let his guard down; they need each other to balance out. I like this series, and I'll continue with it and look for anything else from Harlow.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could maybe give this book 2.5 stars, but I do not think I can go higher than that. It was a nice read overall with some slight additions to the whole werewolf lore, but it was nothing outstanding. I am also unsure on how this is a mystery. There was conflict, but there did not seem to be a crime or something that needed be solved. Yes, there is a plot point that could be considered as something that needs to be solve, but I would not automatically think of it as a mystery. If anything this book is more of a supernatural version of the Bobbie Faye series, which is not a mystery. I think this story is more of a supernatural adventure as well as family story.

[Jackie Sonnenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't read like I expected it to. I was expecting a mystery like it was claimed to be, but there was no mystery at all. I expected a werewolf story, but the werewolf part seemed minor and not important at all. It was about family mainly but it read more like it was a mafia with the "bad guy" chases on the road and to the 40 people house. (Really?) The main character was a hot mess for the most part and tried too hard to be the stereotypical "kick ass heroine" when she wasn't lusting after her bodyguard half-brother. I couldn't get into this one.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick read, like the song references.

[Leiana Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so hard to find a book like this about a singer with supernatural. Nonstop action! I loved it!! Have read it over and over! Love this trilogy

[Landslide · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Werewolf Sings the Blues is a prequel of What's a Witch to Do?, one of my favorite reads in 2013. So the expectations were very high and, luckily they were completely fulfilled!

The story takes place eight years before What's a Witch to Do? and tells us the story of Vivian and Jason that those who read the previous book already know how it ends, since they are both characters on that book.

Vivian’s life is in a downward spiral: about to turn thirty, her singing career is going nowhere, her love life consists of one night stands with random guys and she’s getting addicting to cocaine. The last thing she needs is a stalker, even if it is a blonde, tall and muscular blue eyed stalker… But it seems that’s exactly what she gets, that is, until she’s the victim of an attempted kidnapping and is saved by her supposed stalker.

Her savior is Jason Dahl, the adopted son of the father who has abandoned her and her mother when she was just a baby and he wants to convince her that he and their father are werewolves and that her life is in danger because a rival pack wants to use her to get to their father. Even though at first Vivian thinks that Jason is crazy, she has to surrender to the evidences when he is forced to do a partial transformation in order to heal faster.

And that is how Vivian and Jason find themselves forced to travel together from California to Maryland and they discover they have more in common than it seemed. Obviously all that time spent together, plus the adrenaline of the run from those who want to kill/kidnapped them, can only mean one thing, right? After all, it’s not like they’re really siblings, they just share the same last name.

Vivian is determined to make the best of the situation she finds herself into, which means taking full advantage of her time with Jason. But his behavior is really hard to understand. Even though he seems to be very interested in Vivian, he quickly becomes cold and distant. Of course, even though Vivian was completely in the dark, having read the previous book, it was pretty obvious to me why Jason behave the way he did in regards to Vivian…

I really liked Vivian’s evolution, the way she goes from being completely self-centered and full of self-pity to being someone who risks her own life to save those that she loves. And it was so good to finally have a glimpse at Jason’s feelings, since I hadn’t exactly become a fan of his in the previous book… But now I understand better why he is so protective of Adam.

OMG, Adam and Mona are secondary characters in this story and it was so good to see them again and to witness the tumultuous way he dealt with Mona’s presence, who really doesn’t have a clue… And to learn more of Adam’s past, the luggage he carries with him and that only starts to lift eight years later, following the events of What's a Witch to Do?... I didn’t think it was possible to like him more, but I was wrong!

But back to the story, it’s not only Vivian who has to confront her past and learn to forgive and move past it, Jason also has to do the same. And Vivian’s father has a lot of explaining to do… And, of course, there is an eminent threat against the pack and, when the attack comes, not everyone is going to make it…

Even though I liked What's a Witch to Do? better (it’s difficult to surmount the awesomeness of Adam and Mona), I really liked Werewolf Sings the Blues so far, my best read of 2014! I don’t know if the author is planning to continue the series, but I wish she did… I’ve grown fond of these characters and I would very much like to read more of this paranormal world the author has created and where I love getting lost in.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 3 out of 5]

Werewolf Sings the Blues is the second book in Jennifer Harlow's Midnight Magic Mystery series but not at all what I expected after reading the first, What's a Witch to Do?

“Vivian Frances Dahl, daughter to Frank and Michelle, I am here to protect you and deliver you to safety. No harm will come to you, I swear on my life, but we must leave now. Please get in the car. Now.”

When a pair of US Marshall's turn up at a gig to ask singer Vivian Dahl questions about her father, she is surprised, given she hasn't seen or heard from the man in nearly thirty years, but it's not until one draws a gun and the other forcefully grips her arm and starts dragging her through the underground car park that she realizes something isn't quite right. Moments later, her captors are trading gunfire with the hot, built, blonde Adonis -with a paw?! -she suspected of stalking her and she is forced to make a quick decision. What follows is a wild cross country road trip as Vivian learns her estranged father is a the Alpha of the North American werewolf pack, her saviour, Blondie aka Jason, his second in command, and adopted son, and she is in grave danger from a rogue wolf making a bid for power.

Luckily Vivian is no princess, her rebellious teen years and party hard life style as a wannabe singing star means she can hold her own when things get difficult. Vivian is not your typical heroine, self absorbed, not averse to (more than) a few drinks, a hit of cocaine or a casual shag, I didn't warm to her initially. She carries a lot of anger due to her father's desertion, her mother's disinterest, the failure of her career to launch and the breakdown of two marriages. Viv freely admits she is selfish and bitter but spending time first with Jason and then the Pack in her father's Virginian compound her attitude begins to change.

I was surprised by the increase in action and violence in this story, particularly during the final scenes, when contrasted with the first book. What's a Witch to Do? had a paranormal romance/ cosy mystery feel, this is much darker in content, more like urban fantasy, though with more focus on the romance than is usual for the genre. I felt there wasn't a lot of mystery in the story either, the identity of the mole is obvious from the moment of his introduction. It does still have the snark and biting humour familiar to readers of the author's backlist though.

I also found it odd that this installment takes place eight years earlier than What's a Witch To Do? Though Adam and Mona, amongst other characters from the F.R.E.A.K.S. series, make an appearance, the link between the two books in the series isn't clear and I'm wondering in which direction the author plans to take the series next.

Despite the unexpected direction in which Harlow chose to take this series, and the unconventional characterisation of the protagonist, I did enjoy Werewolf Sings The Blues. It's a fast paced, action packed easy read with plenty of humour to balance the darker moments.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first Midnight Magic Mystery, What's a Witch to Do?, which actually takes place 8 years AFTER Werewolf. I remember enjoying it, so I was looking forward to Werewolf. Werewolf is darker with no real mystery or romance (it is marketed as a mystery).

All of the main characters are damaged, especially Vivian, who was led to believe her father abandoned her as an infant (and essentially he did, despite whether it was in her own best interests)and lived with a disinterested mother and step father. She drinks to excess, takes cocaine and sleeps around, so she's definitely flawed though her street smarts and strength of will to protect herself from others, if not herself, works in her favor. Jason, our hero, was abused by his father and is now pack Beta so he punishes people which makes him feel worse about himself when already having low self esteem. He comes into Vivian's life to save her from a rogue pack intent on taking over her father's pack, using Vivian to get to her father, the alpha of the legitimate pack. Jason protects Vivian (they end of protecting each other) and takes her on a road trip to her father's compound where she'll be safe. The road trip goes on a bit too long and there's no real interaction between Vivian and Jason, no talking, no connecting, ultimately, despite, a sex scene, there is no chemistry. Jason shuts down when Vivian tries to bond. When they finally reach the compound the clash between packs happens.

I can not recommend this book because if you are a mystery fan, there is no true mystery except for who is a mole in the legit pack and we kind of know who it is since the mole doesn't like Vivian, smirks and is disrespectful to all. In essence, the only one giving off evil vibes. No one really tries to find out who the mole is, Vivian only finds out when she's captured and brought to the mole.

For paranormal lovers, beside some of the characters being werewolves and there being a witch who has a very minor role, there isn't much paranormal. The story could easily just be between rival gangs of humans/bikers. It was nice that Harlow lets her wolves be real wolves when the moon is full so that the human members have to be separated for their own safety versus the weres being humanistic while in animal form, which is probably far less realistic.

For romance lovers, there is no romance. We find out Jason and Vivian are mates, but as I mentioned, if there's no interaction/communication we can't feel any chemistry between the characters, so there's no romance.

Another plus is that the story is involved and the writing has a lot of detail, but the characters are dark, the story line is dark. There is a lot of violence and women and teens get raped. You will not feel great after finishing the book.

If this was the first Harlow book I'd read, I would not read another. Since it's the third (I've also read a F.R.E.A.K. novel), I would give another book a try.

I got this book in exchange for an honest review, and that it is.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I really liked the first novel, so I was curious to find out what the author has in store for us for this new volume. I admit that I did not pay attention to the synopsis, and it’s true that I was surprised not to find the following adventures of Mona at the beginning of the novel. But while I realized that we would follow Vivien this time, I was also surprised to see that the environment was also very different from the first one. You then imagine that I wondered for a long time how the two novels were connected, but it is ultimately something that we understand in the second part of the story. And yes! We also see Mona and even Adam, even if it’s not a lot.

Vivian is a young singer who is jaded by life. Moreover, she doesn’t have any pleasure anymore when she sings even if it is her whole life. But one day, here she is, followed by a strange man who saves her from a marshal when he tried to kidnap her. So now all of a sudden, her world is turned upside down. Her father, she does not know about, and who abandoned her a long time ago, is a werewolf, the alpha of his pack and he sent his beta Jason to help and bring her back to him, while he is in the midst of war. That the young woman is surprised is an understatement, and it will take some time for her to accept this truth and adapt, yet this does not change her feelings toward her father. But while they both go into the territory of the alpha, our two heroes will discover each other. And as Vivian knows that he is attracted to her, she is determined to have a good time with him. The problem is that the young man did not seem at all to agree! But throughout this journey she gets to know Jason and her father and although she struggled to cope with her ​​feelings, she discover a new family.

I loved Vivian, she is a young woman with a fiery temperament who is thrust into a world she never suspected to exist. Yet, despite this change, she will keep her stubbornness and does not hesitate to be strong when she needs to be (and I must say it is often required). And it was pretty funny to see her face Jason. He is the opposite of the young woman: musty, not very talkative and especially mysterious. For once the two do not fall madly in love with each other at first glance and at the same time I struggled to understand why Jason fled her that much especially when we see their attraction for each other. We understand the reason at the very end of the story but it is true that it does not prevent me to remain a little dubious over such a refusal. It was also nice to see Mona and Adam and even though it was very short, it was a real pleasure and I hope we will have the opportunity to see a little more next time.

A new good novel we can read fairly quickly and I am curious to try the next installment.

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

While serving up her usual mystery, romance and humor, Harlow’s second Midnight Magic Mystery, WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES, failed to live up to my (admittedly high) expectations. I loved WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO, and was hoping for more of the same here. Unfortunately, Vivian was a hard character for me to like, and I couldn’t get into the developing relationship, making it hard to enjoy the book.

Part of the issue – and this is definitely a personal preference thing, in my opinion – is the relationship Vivian develops is with her adopted brother, Jason. They weren’t raised together, and they’re not blood related, but whenever two characters call the same guy “dad, ” in my opinion they should not be sleeping together. If that kind of thing doesn’t bother you, though, you will likely have an easier time with WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES. The other issue I had was that the book was divided into two sections, a road trip section and a “home” section. With the road trip being first, we didn’t get the usual ensemble cast like in the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad books or WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO. The focus was nearly entirely on Vivian and Jason, and in my opinion, wasn’t as entertaining as when there is a whole werewolf pack in the picture. Plus Vivian is a very multi-faceted character, which is good, but there were some aspects of her personality that rubbed me the wrong way. Sometimes she felt a little too pushy and disrespectful of Jason’s boundaries, which was bothersome.

WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES definitely had its good parts. In the beginning, Vivian was a bit frustrating, but that only made her character growth that much more compelling, as the reader sees her transition from beginning to end. Her interactions with her new-found family are endearing and enjoyable to see. There was also lots of action, and I felt some of the book had a total action movie vibe, with car chases and scenes of people sneaking around armed guards. Once the pace picked up in part two, the book didn’t let up, which made the awkward moments in part one more worth it. Plus, a cameo by Mona was fun – I felt like I was in on a secret, since this book is chronologically earlier than WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO.

WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES takes place nine years before WHAT’S A WITCH TO DO, and the series coexists with the F.R.E.A.K.S. series, so I’m really curious to see where Harlow goes next with both series. While this installment of the Midnight Magic Mystery series may not be my favorite, Harlow’s writing doesn’t disappoint, and I’m still solidly a Harlow fan.

Sexual content: Frequent references to sexual contact, sex scenes

[Shy The WidowMaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that I was interested in reading this book because I loved the first one in this series and thought it was a sequel but it reads more like a prequel to the series. We start this series out by meeting Vivian who we learn is messes up in so many ways but yet you still want to root for her. Vivan has had a rough go at life but she is an amazing singer and is still waiting for that day to pay off that she gets her big break. Vivi quickly learns that there are parts of her life that she has no clue about and doesn't even realize what all will be coming her way soon. I loved that Vivi was a singer and the author included so much about her love for music throughout the book though as I am a huge music lover along with being the huge book lover that I am. I loved seeing Vivi in her element and you can tell just how much music was a part of her and how she really needed it in her life to keep her sane. I will warn people that you have to get past the drug use that is in this book and once you do you will be in for a great read.

As this story continues Vivi quickly learns that the dad she thought was gone left for a huge reason and she now has a target on her back because of it. Vivi learns she is the daughter of an Alpha and there is a huge war brewing that she is now in the middle of. This war brings Jason her way because he is sent to safely get her to her dad and the pack. I have to say that I liked Jason as a character especially once you learn what all he has been through as a kid but I don't think that I was really feeling the relationship the author created between them. I didn't feel like they had that much chemistry together but maybe the next book will show more of them and they will start to grow on me. The story continues and finds Vivi and Jason on the run and trying to make their way back to the pack. There are events that take place that some will leave you shocked while others I saw coming beforehand.

As the book starts winding down that is when the action really kicks up and we get to see Vivi in her element. I loved how take charge she became and how protective she was of her new family. It was also nice to see her finally bond some with her dad and I think she started to understand why he did what he did. I was also great to see Adam and Mona in this book although they weren't many characters but I loved seeing some of the struggles they had to deal with. I would say that if you are new to this series it might make sense to read this one first because then things in the first book will make a bit more sense to you. Overall this was a solid read and was enough that I will continue with the series to see where these characters will go next.

[Vilia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review from Backchatting Books

"Werewolf Sings the Blues" is set quite a few years before the first novel in the series. Wedding singer Vivian discovers that she is in danger as her estranged father is an alpha werewolf. She gets drawn into a territory war between packs and along the way starts to fall for her adopted brother Jason.

Vivian's life hasn't been easy as she was abandoned by her father, neglected by her mother and step-father and can't get a break in the music industry she loves. She turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain and seems to be on a downward spiral. Jason saved her life literally and figuratively by removing her from that life. She might have barely passed school but she has several degrees from the school of hard knocks - she is great at carjacking, evading cops and taking care of rambunctious children. Jason had a pretty traumatic past too because of his abusive father and now he abuses other people for a living as the pack's Beta.

My biggest problem with the fact that the book is badged as a paranormal mystery. The only 'crime' needing solving is who is the wolf in sheep's clothing (sorry, I couldn't resist). As there is only one character Vivian can't get on with, it isn't that hard to work out the big baddie. The book doesn't really fit the romance genre either as there isn't much actual romance between Jason and Vivian. Jason is so closed off emotionally that the connection between the two isn't fully developed. I think if we had experienced some events from his point of view, things would have been easier to digest. There were quite a few aspects of werewolf lore that weren't discussed which was a shame. Two characters for example are not permitted to fall in love yet Vivian (and therefore the reader) was never really told why.

Two things I really must mention are the level of violence which is considerably ramped up from the first novel and the fact Harlow has written it in a stream of consciousness style. I think this caused a few problems because it was hard to connect with the protagonist as she was so self-absorbed and bitter about how her life turned out. Once Vivian gets to the werewolf compound, things improve drastically as she is forced to consider the needs of others.

I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this book very much which was a surprise as I really liked Harlow's F.R.E.A.K.S. series and enjoyed the first novel in this series. If you are debating whether to dip into her novels then please start with one of those books rather than this one as the characterisation, plot and style are much stronger.

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a slow start and some scrambling to get necessary details that helped to clear up the question about Vivian’s bad attitude, the story moved into a fast-paced road story, light on the mystery but very heavy on action, violence and substance abuse. While I haven’t read any other books by this author, nor had I read the first in this series, all of the information needed to find my way in this story was provided, and I didn’t end with great gaps of information.

Vivian has issues, LOTS of issues: anger with her father’s desertion, hurt from her mother’s disinterest and a penchant for self-medicating with whatever is at hand. She was a difficult character to not want to shake; she should have dealt with all of these issues, and understood that singing is not a stress free career choice long ago. Instead, she seems to work to make others uncomfortable with her self-centered and spoiled reactions. Her only redeeming feature early on was the fact that she is aware of her immersion in the all things HER world, even if it took some time before she actually did anything about it.

Her kidnapper/protector on this cross country journey is her suspected stalker, Jason, a member of her father’s pack. Oh, did I forget to mention that she’s a werewolf? And that her father, the same man who deserted her as a child is the alpha, AND there is a war between two packs in which she may be the one thing to end it? Yeah. Lots going on and not enough solid information to make the story or the plot feel plausible.

Now that she knows Jason is not a stalker however, the romantic attraction between the two starts, as Vivian slowly starts to grow into a woman that one could spend time with and NOT have the urge to muzzle her. There were some ends left untied, but there wasn’t really a mystery here, and I was left rather wondering just where the story was meant to go. It was a paranormal that was leaning to the Urban Fantasy side of the spectrum, but never quite grounded itself in either.

I received an eBook copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Werewolf Sings the Blues takes if I'm not mistaken place eight years before the first Midnight Magic Mystery book, What's a With to Do. I did like the idea of reading Vivian and Jason's story of how they came to be together but it wasn't as good as the previous book. Overall I did like it but I didn't love it.

Vivian wasn't at all how I pictured her. In the beginning of the book as we get to know her we find out she uses drugs, drinks a lot and tries to make a living of singing which hasn't worked out like she'd hoped. So clearly she's very damaged. Damaged people are the most interesting to read about in books I think, though. But I have to admit that I wasn't too sure in the beginning if I was going to like reading in her point of view. Throughout the book she did grow on me, however. She turned out to be very fierce and knows how to kick ass if she has to. Not my favorite female character ever but I liked her spunk.

Jason is someone totally different. Although the oppossite from Vivian, he also was very damaged with what he went through with his father. But still, he knew how to love fiercely and didn't let his past put him down. I loved that about him. I loved him. And I do think he's a good fit with Vivian.

The story wasn't much of a mystery like the previous book and I couldn't seem to like it as much as I loved What's a Witch to Do. But there were some pretty awesome moments in it so the good definitely outweighs the bad. One of my favorite moments were where characters from the F.R.E.A.K.S series came in like Will and Oliver. I might've squealed out loud when I read Oliver was there. Also George and Mona from What's a Witch to Do made an appearance. And of course Adam Blue was there too. It's always nice to see other characters come in.

So overall, Werewolf Sings the Blues was a good read if you like werewolves, action and the paranormal as much as I do. It isn't the best book I've read from Jennifer Harlow but I did like it and read it pretty fast because I didn't want to stop reading this story.

[Jodie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay what the fuck did I just read ?! Or should I say what the fuck did I 'did not finish'

Heebus jeebus that was one rotten stink of a train wreck.

The main heroine (who is so exciting I can't even remember her name ) is seriously the biggest whiner on the planet.

Boo hoo my daddy left me, boo hoo my mummy neglects me, boo hoo I'm gaunt and too skinny , boohoo I don't have a music career, boohoo a hot guy just saved my life, boohoo boohoo,boo fucking hoo.

Seriously get a god damn clue. You're a nearly 30 year old woman get a real job, stop complaining and expecting things to be handed to you. Mummy is mean? Tell the bitch where to go, Daddy abandons you? How about you let the man explain.

Oh and all these 'fake' emotions daddy has I wonder if he's got any real ones?

Our main male lead is Jason a..wait for it...WEREWOLF!!! Dun dun daaaaaaa.. *yawn* our heroine is surprisingly okay with this news..in fact she's the only consistent thing in the book in that she is awfully vanilla but the author has tried to make her typically bad ass but FAILED. Oh yeah and Jason is SUPER hot and we get told this about a billion times with his beautiful face blech

Also you know Jason isn't into you unnamed heroine, yet you force and force and force the issue until he breaks, fucks you then feels guilty because you've enticed him to break his honour...can anyone say coercion?

Don't even get me started about her 'out of body experience' where the author cunningly uses third person to make it oh so amazing (not)

And off of a sudden she's calling him Jace? And somehow knows everyone's names in the compound even though she's only been there a day!? Not likely dear.

Will I be getting a refund? Hell to the yes.
Will I read anything more from this author? Hell to the no.
Sorry to be so harsh but this book pushed all the wrong buttons and I want to throw my iPad at the wall just to see the words shatter.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to preface this review by saying I have issues with parental-type characters keeping big, life-altering secrets from other characters. This isn't something new. I get a little rage-y at times over it. That said, I was able to overlook some of the things kept from Vivian and while I didn't always understand how she was able to let things slide when she had been lied to and lied to and lied to, it wasn't a deal breaker for me.

Now that I've said that... dude, Viv. Your family is kinda whacked. I get what your parents were trying to accomplish by not telling you things but for them to let it go on as long as it did... well, you were much more forgiving than I would have been. But then, I'm a vindictive person who doesn't like having my trust shattered, I guess.

Anywho. It took a while for me to connect with Vivian. Not having read book 1, I don't know if the mating issues were established previously but I didn't understand why Frank was so determined to keep her and Jason apart. No one really explains anything to her until she's made all sorts of mistakes and put people in awkward positions. Honestly, a lot of that is her fault for being hard headed and choosing to see what she wanted to see. But at the same time, if someone is new to a place that has very defined rules, you'd think those rules would be laid out instead of expecting her to just know them.

Despite my griping, I did enjoy the book. The battle doesn't pull any punches. Innocent people get caught in the crossfire and are hurt. The betrayal is messy and painful and Vivian rises to the challenge of saving people nicely. I didn't always like Vivian but I liked her growth through the book.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Frankie Ness · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is good but the tipping point came late IMO. More later

#SpringCleaningRAT

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Talk Supe review

The plot of WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES was tense and full of intrigue. You have power struggles, a vulnerable pack, loyalty issues, forbidden love, and lots of secrets. The tipping point came very late in the story which affected my view of the climax, conflict and resolution. I think if the shocking ending was the climax, it would've provided more room for Viv and Jason's character to grow instead of waiting for that growth to happen in the next books. The ending wasn't necessarily a cliffhanger but it sure incited a lot of questions from me plus there are still a few threads that needs to be tied down. WEREWOLF SINGS THE BLUES also is sort of a prequel as the events that took place here precedes What's A Witch To Do?, so if you're thinking of picking up this series, I feel it's safe to read the series out of order or even as a stand-alone. At the same time, it's also in this book where Mona and Adam first met (MC's of book 1), and as I'm a fan of this couple, I had a bigger appreciation for this added element.

Like I said, the ending was leading and I have a feeling that JHarlow is setting up the stage for something bigger. Hopefully my hunch is right and with a little more magic from JHarlow, book 3 will be epic. I sure love me some more tense otherworldly politics, these night creatures go for the jugular all the time and I don't shy away from blood and gore.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Harlow’s work since the first book in her wildly creative investigative series, The F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad and while certainly more adult oriented than I remember her other tales to be, “Werewolf Sings the Blues” is just as lively.
Vivian Dahl’s life has become mundane. An aging wedding singer—yep, that’s her claim to fame—she’s not living the life. Drugs, sex, and not much rock n’ roll have taken their toll and Vivian feels like most who haven’t realized their dreams, she’s going nowhere pretty darn fast and frankly, she’s exhausted. So what if drugs give her the bump needed to help her plant her butt firmly on the stage to sing At Last for the millionth time for one more bride and groom? A girl’s gotta pay the rent.
When she realizes she’s being followed, Vivian figures she’s smart enough and tough enough to get away. It doesn’t take her long to recognize her mistake as she stands smack-dab in the middle of a gunfight and is swiftly kidnapped by said stalker.
But in an unexpected twist, Vivian soon realizes Jason isn’t a stalker at all. He’s a werewolf—from her birth father’s pack—who is there to save her life and plans to take her across country to meet that father. Rescuing her just goes with the job right now because dear old dad has a few enemies and they’ve found out about the daughter he left behind. Unfortunately for Vivian, this little bombshell is the first of many.
A sharp-tongued heroine, hunky hero, and a cast of unconventional characters makes “Werewolf Sings the Blues” a seducing, forget-the-real-world read.
Reviewed by Shannon Raab for Suspense Magazine

[Melissa ♥ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place quite a few years before the action in What's a Witch to Do? so in essence it is more like a prequel than a sequel. I actually liked the idea of getting to now some of the secondary characters from the first book a little bit better. And since I now know that this series is not a cozy mystery...my expectations going into this one were much more realistic and I didn't miss the cozy aspects as it did in the first in the series.

The pacing and writing style weren't effortless but neither did they really leave anything to be desired either. And the character and plot development were clear and easy to follow.
I really had a hard time connecting to the characters in this one. Generally I love real, flawed characters...but I just couldn't get Vivian or the choices she made...and Jason just fell a bit flat to me. I also sort of felt that the whole story line was just a bit ho hum. I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood for this read when I picked it up, if it was because it went from Witches to Werewolves and lost the magical aspect, or if others felt the same...but I never really felt myself completely drawn in.
That said...this was still an enjoyable and entertaining read...I'm just not so certain that this will be a series that I continue reading.

On a side note though...how cool are the covers in this series?