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Tales of an Urban Werewolf #1
Howling at the Moon
Somebody knows her secret. Can Sophie keep her wolfish alter ego under wraps?
Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm, a closet that rivals a Nordstrom showroom, and a terrific boyfriend who isn’t afraid to use the “M” word. There’s just one little itty-bitty problem: Sophie is a werewolf – and HER time of the month has a whole new meaning.
Needless to say, life among yummy flesh-and-blood humans is no piece of steak… er, cake!, but regular doses of wolfsbane tea and a mother who runs a magic shop have helped Sophie keep her paranormal pedigree under wraps. Still, when a sexy, golden-eyed werewolf prowls into town, Sophie finds herself struggling to keep her animal impulses in check – not to mention trying to keep things on track with her super hot (and super HUMAN) lawyer boyfriend. What’s more, someone is threatening to expose Sophie for what she really is. And when her mother is accused of selling a poison-laced potion, Sophie must sniff out a culprit before the fur hits the fan.
"A swift-paced, fun romp through supernatural Austin." – Charlaine Harris, New York Times best-selling author
"Sophie was a delight, and Howling at the Moon was like a big bag of potato chips… I kept reaching for the next page, and the next, and the next…" – Mary Janice Davidson, New York Times best-selling author of the Undead series
"This hilarious werewolf tale will keep you laughing — and begging for more!" – Fresh Fiction
Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm, a closet that rivals a Nordstrom showroom, and a terrific boyfriend who isn’t afraid to use the “M” word. There’s just one little itty-bitty problem: Sophie is a werewolf – and HER time of the month has a whole new meaning.
Needless to say, life among yummy flesh-and-blood humans is no piece of steak… er, cake!, but regular doses of wolfsbane tea and a mother who runs a magic shop have helped Sophie keep her paranormal pedigree under wraps. Still, when a sexy, golden-eyed werewolf prowls into town, Sophie finds herself struggling to keep her animal impulses in check – not to mention trying to keep things on track with her super hot (and super HUMAN) lawyer boyfriend. What’s more, someone is threatening to expose Sophie for what she really is. And when her mother is accused of selling a poison-laced potion, Sophie must sniff out a culprit before the fur hits the fan.
"A swift-paced, fun romp through supernatural Austin." – Charlaine Harris, New York Times best-selling author
"Sophie was a delight, and Howling at the Moon was like a big bag of potato chips… I kept reaching for the next page, and the next, and the next…" – Mary Janice Davidson, New York Times best-selling author of the Undead series
"This hilarious werewolf tale will keep you laughing — and begging for more!" – Fresh Fiction
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2008
251 people are currently reading
4570 people want to read
About the author
Karen MacInerney
52 books1,142 followersI'm the author of the Agatha-nominated Gray Whale Inn mystery series, Tales of an Urban Werewolf. the Margie Peterson mysteries and the Dewberry Farm mysteries (plus a new fantasy in the works). My reading is like my writing: eclectic!
I grew up in the Northeast, but I currently live in Austin with my husband, two kids, and a houserabbit named Bunny. Feel free to visit me online at www.karenmacinerney.com; I love connecting with readers.
I grew up in the Northeast, but I currently live in Austin with my husband, two kids, and a houserabbit named Bunny. Feel free to visit me online at www.karenmacinerney.com; I love connecting with readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
June 5, 2022
I don't see Sophie Garou as a heroine. She's simply a typical person--who's a werewolf. She lies to her boyfriend about her mother. She makes out with another guy (a very pretty werewolf) while she's still dating her boyfriend. Also, this werewolf is "dating" her best friend.
Overall, she's a really shitty person.
This is chick lit, which I don't normally read, but I make exceptions for werewolves. I don't relate to the protagonist at all, but I still want to know what's going to happen between her and Tom (the werewolf). Enough to read the next book in the series, On the Prowl.
Overall, she's a really shitty person.
This is chick lit, which I don't normally read, but I make exceptions for werewolves. I don't relate to the protagonist at all, but I still want to know what's going to happen between her and Tom (the werewolf). Enough to read the next book in the series, On the Prowl.
January 19, 2022
A French werewolf named Luc Garou (that's right!) had his way with a Romany psychic witch from Texas, who 28-29 years later still has nothing but good things to say about Luc to the product of their union, our first-person narrator Sophie Garou, even though she has never known her father. You see, Luc was inextricably involved with the Paris werewolf pack, which like other packs takes a dim view of half-breeds (and tends to exterminate them), so Sophie's mother took her back to the US where she grew up completely out of touch with werewolves.
All Sophie knows about werewolves at the beginning of this story is her own experience since her childhood, which was hellish for the first eight years until they moved to Austin, Texas and her mother discovered that wolfsbane tea (lots of it, daily) would prevent Sophie's fur and fangs from sprouting, except at the full moon nearest a solstice or equinox. Besides those four times a year when she can't help it, Sophie can change to her wolf form at will whenever she wants to, but she's learned to be very careful about doing that.
Even so, to get out of a tight situation not far from the beginning of this story, she had to transform in such a hurry she couldn't get all her clothes off, leading to newspaper accounts of a "dog" running down an Austin street wearing panty hose. Well, that's a sample of the physical comedy that abounds in this light-hearted adventure that came at just the right time when I needed some humor in my life, so four stars from me and I know my taste in humor may be far from yours.
It's not purely comedy because Sophie's mother is wrongly arrested for murder, but you just know Sophie will unmask the real killer and get her mother released before the end of the book, don't you? That couldn't possibly be a spoiler, because how else is a story like this one going to turn out?
Sophie gets lots of help from her best friend and workmate Lindsey, who has perfected several magazine-quality looks and has a varied love life to match while Sophie is moving towards marriage with a truly good, stable lawyer named Heath. As close as Sophie is to both Lindsey and Heath, only her mother knows she turns furry, and Sophie has great qualms about her friends finding out.
And in spite of the wolfsbane tea that Sophie's always drinking, she's forever needing to shave her arms and legs, sometimes every two hours or so. And then when she transforms, she looks like a dog with shaved legs. Comedy does indeed ensue. And that equinoctial full moon is only a couple days away!
It turns out that Austin, Texas is at the far end of the Houston werewolf pack's territory, and so far they don't know Sophie exists. But they've hired Tom, a lone werewolf from Norway, to deal with a trio of nasty "made" werewolves who wind up in Austin and attack Sophie, and Tom quickly spots Sophie as a werewolf. He's only the third werewolf she's ever seen in her life. Instant lust!
Yes, it's the familiar fantasy plot device: werewolves come very close to the pack structure of real wolves, but their sex lives are quite unlike wolves' real mating behavior. Sophie's graphic sex scenes with Heath yield full satisfaction, but her encounters with Tom take her to a height of arousal she has never experienced before. She knows she's committed to Heath but she can't get Tom out of her mind--and he never tries to bed her although .
Definitely a much needed break from grim reading.
All Sophie knows about werewolves at the beginning of this story is her own experience since her childhood, which was hellish for the first eight years until they moved to Austin, Texas and her mother discovered that wolfsbane tea (lots of it, daily) would prevent Sophie's fur and fangs from sprouting, except at the full moon nearest a solstice or equinox. Besides those four times a year when she can't help it, Sophie can change to her wolf form at will whenever she wants to, but she's learned to be very careful about doing that.
Even so, to get out of a tight situation not far from the beginning of this story, she had to transform in such a hurry she couldn't get all her clothes off, leading to newspaper accounts of a "dog" running down an Austin street wearing panty hose. Well, that's a sample of the physical comedy that abounds in this light-hearted adventure that came at just the right time when I needed some humor in my life, so four stars from me and I know my taste in humor may be far from yours.
It's not purely comedy because Sophie's mother is wrongly arrested for murder, but you just know Sophie will unmask the real killer and get her mother released before the end of the book, don't you? That couldn't possibly be a spoiler, because how else is a story like this one going to turn out?
Sophie gets lots of help from her best friend and workmate Lindsey, who has perfected several magazine-quality looks and has a varied love life to match while Sophie is moving towards marriage with a truly good, stable lawyer named Heath. As close as Sophie is to both Lindsey and Heath, only her mother knows she turns furry, and Sophie has great qualms about her friends finding out.
And in spite of the wolfsbane tea that Sophie's always drinking, she's forever needing to shave her arms and legs, sometimes every two hours or so. And then when she transforms, she looks like a dog with shaved legs. Comedy does indeed ensue. And that equinoctial full moon is only a couple days away!
It turns out that Austin, Texas is at the far end of the Houston werewolf pack's territory, and so far they don't know Sophie exists. But they've hired Tom, a lone werewolf from Norway, to deal with a trio of nasty "made" werewolves who wind up in Austin and attack Sophie, and Tom quickly spots Sophie as a werewolf. He's only the third werewolf she's ever seen in her life. Instant lust!
Yes, it's the familiar fantasy plot device: werewolves come very close to the pack structure of real wolves, but their sex lives are quite unlike wolves' real mating behavior. Sophie's graphic sex scenes with Heath yield full satisfaction, but her encounters with Tom take her to a height of arousal she has never experienced before. She knows she's committed to Heath but she can't get Tom out of her mind--and he never tries to bed her although .
Definitely a much needed break from grim reading.
August 12, 2011
I tried but I couln't finish it.... The character: annoying! writing style: annoying! I hate to be in a character's head the entire book..... Additional the character babbled and babbled and babbled........ I got to chapter 10 and almost began planning my grocery list! I ill not be finishing this... I need action, plot, dialogue, more showing and less telling. This author is just not my type of style.
June 23, 2008
This book was amusing and different from the usual werewolf genre. The mythos for the werewolves is mysterious at this point, but adds to the overall feel of the book. Sophie isn't your gorgeous, super powered heroine, either...her best friend is prettier than she is, and she's been totally isolated from other weres, so she has NO knowledge of her abilities, or strengths. There were delightful tidbits dropped that did leave one looking forward to the next story!
I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars because of the one problem I had with it....but it was a doozy (at least for me it was!) The main character, Sophie, was in a committed, monogamous relationship with a sweet, understanding, gorgeous guy and yet couldn't manage to keep her lips off of Tom the werewolf. Why is it that paranormals are so promiscuous? They are either total horndogs (no pun intended)or utterly committed heart and soul to a lifemate. I tend to believe that that stretches reality a little. Surely they must have SOME semblance of control of their hormones? Even if Sophie discovers that Tom is her "mate" later, that still doesn't excuse her smooching him while expecting an engagement ring any day from her boyfriend, Heath. If you can put that aside, it WAS interesting and shows a witch/Wiccan in a very positive light. I will be looking for the next in this series....and hoping that Sophie either controls herself better or does the honest thing and breaks up with her beau.
I gave this book 4 instead of 5 stars because of the one problem I had with it....but it was a doozy (at least for me it was!) The main character, Sophie, was in a committed, monogamous relationship with a sweet, understanding, gorgeous guy and yet couldn't manage to keep her lips off of Tom the werewolf. Why is it that paranormals are so promiscuous? They are either total horndogs (no pun intended)or utterly committed heart and soul to a lifemate. I tend to believe that that stretches reality a little. Surely they must have SOME semblance of control of their hormones? Even if Sophie discovers that Tom is her "mate" later, that still doesn't excuse her smooching him while expecting an engagement ring any day from her boyfriend, Heath. If you can put that aside, it WAS interesting and shows a witch/Wiccan in a very positive light. I will be looking for the next in this series....and hoping that Sophie either controls herself better or does the honest thing and breaks up with her beau.
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February 8, 2019
First of all, I’d like to mention how sad it makes me to have to write a negative review. I can’t help but feel that way, simply because I know how much time & effort authors put into their work. I wish I could love every single book that comes into my hands, but as we all know, that just isn’t reality. With that being said...
I did not like this book. The first few chapters had me hooked with a couple laugh-out-loud moments & I thought for a minute it was going to be a fun read, but it went downhill almost immediately. This is one of those instances where more doesn’t necessarily mean better. The writing became super repetitive, to the point of eye-rolling, & it just seemed to drag on & on. We don’t need to be reminded every other paragraph that your mother is being charged with murder. We know, ok? We heard you the first 20 times. By the end of the book, I felt like I deserved a medal for my perseverance.
Do I plan to continue the series? Not a chance.
I did not like this book. The first few chapters had me hooked with a couple laugh-out-loud moments & I thought for a minute it was going to be a fun read, but it went downhill almost immediately. This is one of those instances where more doesn’t necessarily mean better. The writing became super repetitive, to the point of eye-rolling, & it just seemed to drag on & on. We don’t need to be reminded every other paragraph that your mother is being charged with murder. We know, ok? We heard you the first 20 times. By the end of the book, I felt like I deserved a medal for my perseverance.
Do I plan to continue the series? Not a chance.
July 30, 2018
This is the first book in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf trilogy & I have to say I really enjoyed it. Sophie has been brought up by her mother who is a psychic witch & has had very little contact with other werewolves. She has a great job & a hunky human boyfriend and is determined that she wants nothing to do with her werewolf side. Sophie's mother has been able to make wolfsbane tea that keeps her inner wolf at bay but there are just 4 times a year when the pull of the moon is too strong for her to resist. With her change imminent this really isn't a good time for her mother to be arrested for murder. Along with trying to find the real murderer Sophie is also trying to work out how to deal with an important presentation at work & how to get out of an important date with her boyfriend. On top of that she meets her first werewolf & is fighting really hard to deny her attraction to him.
Overall I found this book was an excellent light read. It was very funny in places reminding me of a supernatural version of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels & it had me laughing out loud at times. It had a good mix of comedy, romance & mystery and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the next 2 books in the series which I have already ordered from amazon!
Overall I found this book was an excellent light read. It was very funny in places reminding me of a supernatural version of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels & it had me laughing out loud at times. It had a good mix of comedy, romance & mystery and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the next 2 books in the series which I have already ordered from amazon!
December 21, 2009
I was really looking forward to reading this series after reading the book's description. However, I must say I am not a fan of Karen MacInerney's writing. Her prose did not flow well for me and had a tendency to get caught up in verbal minustia that dimished the plot and characters. For example she babbles on and on about designer shoes, purses and high end cars the herione, Sophie Garou buys. I wanted to like Sophie but when face with death if she did not carry out an investigation she was grumbling about how much supplies to do the job would cost her and how she could have purchase yet another designer pair of shoes. Now really, your life or a pair of shoes? I was over half way into the story and wondering if I was going to be able to finish it. At the very in though it got better. The plot is good; but, the writing wasn't great. I will go on to finish books 2 &3 only because I've already purchase them.
March 4, 2010
Sophie Garou is a young, shallow werewolf who has managed to carve out a human life in Austin, with a lawyer boyfriend and a job as an auditor. Her life is complicated when her witch mother is thrown in jail for murder and a hot male werewolf, the third she's seen in her life, shows up in her city.
Howling at the Moon didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. I spent most of the book lolling about in a cushy sofa, stifling the occasional yawn. The story was fine, and the main character was likable enough, but the writing dragged: too much repetition, too much mundane dialogue, and too many words spent on uninteresting events. Some of the protagonist's thoughts were amusing, but many that were supposed to be funny seemed forced and cliche (at least to me, maybe readers not familiar with Whole Paycheck would differ).
Still, I don't want to be too crotchety. I enjoyed this book enough that I may read the next in the series. I'm not in any hurry, though.
Howling at the Moon didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. I spent most of the book lolling about in a cushy sofa, stifling the occasional yawn. The story was fine, and the main character was likable enough, but the writing dragged: too much repetition, too much mundane dialogue, and too many words spent on uninteresting events. Some of the protagonist's thoughts were amusing, but many that were supposed to be funny seemed forced and cliche (at least to me, maybe readers not familiar with Whole Paycheck would differ).
Still, I don't want to be too crotchety. I enjoyed this book enough that I may read the next in the series. I'm not in any hurry, though.
March 7, 2008
My first by this author and a pleasant surprise...
Sophie has is all: the job, the clothes, the boyfriend. She also has a few problems: the snarky assistant, Sophie is a half-blood werewolf, oh...and did I mention her quirky witch mother was just arrested on a bogus murder charge?
The first in this series leaves some unanswered questions for the next installment. Will the drool-worthy full-blooded werewolf Tom return? Will the Houston pack find out about Sophie? Will Sophie's human (and unknowing about her 'hairy' issue) boyfriend propose and if he does, will Sophie confess the possibility of 'pups' instead of babies?
I will definately pick up the next book in this series.
Sophie has is all: the job, the clothes, the boyfriend. She also has a few problems: the snarky assistant, Sophie is a half-blood werewolf, oh...and did I mention her quirky witch mother was just arrested on a bogus murder charge?
The first in this series leaves some unanswered questions for the next installment. Will the drool-worthy full-blooded werewolf Tom return? Will the Houston pack find out about Sophie? Will Sophie's human (and unknowing about her 'hairy' issue) boyfriend propose and if he does, will Sophie confess the possibility of 'pups' instead of babies?
I will definately pick up the next book in this series.
July 18, 2016
I'm a fan of urban vampire/werewolf/demon stories; this is a fun addition to the genre. The Austin references were a little thick, which, as an Austinite, amused me but jarred me a little out of the story. They felt accurate, though I'm not obsessed enough to run around town to check. ;)
Over all, a fun story, and I will most likely read the next one!
Over all, a fun story, and I will most likely read the next one!
October 8, 2023
Eh... that's a no from me. The humour didn't work for me, I didn't care for any of the characters - very much including the extremely annoying protagonist - and I was mostly just bored and mildly irritated by everything.
December 11, 2023
First is a series about a young woman hiding her werewolf heritage from her boyfriend, coworkers and friends. Her mother (who is a witch) keeps her stocked in Wolfsbane Tea to suppress her wolfish traits. An easy read.
July 16, 2018
Funny and Supernatural with a Mystery in makes this a good read
Sophie is travelling through life the best she can, a successful career, a successful and hunky boyfriend but within a day everything can become crazy. A very fun read.
Sophie is travelling through life the best she can, a successful career, a successful and hunky boyfriend but within a day everything can become crazy. A very fun read.
December 2, 2018
I was quite looking forward to reading this one but sadly found myself disappointed. I didn't particularly like main character Sophie and therefore I didn't really care over much what happened to her. I particularly disliked how she spent so much time lusting after (and kissing) mysterious werewolf Tom, despite the fact that she had a boyfriend she supposedly loved AND Tom was dating her best friend. That said I am a little curious about Pack politics (of which there was none in this book but foreshadowed for the next) and what happened with her Dad.
Had it not been for bookclub (and my recommendation - sorry peeps) I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
Had it not been for bookclub (and my recommendation - sorry peeps) I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it.
June 17, 2018
Such a fun read. A good mystery, funny cast of characters.
April 5, 2010
A lukewarm urban fantasy series set in Austin. I'm going to have to keep reading, though, because the author set forth some pretty compelling reasons for the character to move to San Antonio. Setting is probably the only reason I'll keep reading, though. It's okay. Sophie Garou (yep, Garou), is half-witch half-werewolf whose single mom owns a spell shop called "Sit a Spell" in Austin. Obviously some sort of trouble ensues which threatens to out her as a werewolf, and she tries to keep the trouble and the truth from her norm-boyfriend. Along the way she's intrigued by a long-haired motorcycle-driving bad boy who's also a werewolf. Luckily her mom, quirky friend, and sexy bad boy find a way to get her out of said trouble. She ends up staying with boyfriend after he is understanding about her weird witch mom (no werewolf revelations yet), but she still can't help but be pulled by the bad boy. If you consider that a spoiler, then you've never read an urban fantasy book in your life, and you should not start with this one.
Really. Urban fantasy authors of the world: can you come up with an original plot? It's one thing to have recurring archetypes, but it's another thing altogether to follow the exact same plot.
Really. Urban fantasy authors of the world: can you come up with an original plot? It's one thing to have recurring archetypes, but it's another thing altogether to follow the exact same plot.
May 2, 2010
Sophie has a great job with good prospects of promotion and a hot boyfriend who seems ready to pop the question. What could possibly go wrong? Well being a closet werewolf who is being blackmailed over her secret is a bad start,followed by your witch mother being accused of murder using a poisoned love potion. Then you have to give a presentation during a full moon cycle using visits to the loo with a razor to keep your fur at bay and wolfsbane potion which gives you the appearance of a drooling drunken slut...
This book has great humour and werewolf fun.You'll love the comic writing as Sophie attacks a thief who was breaking into her car,and the presentation is very funny! Sophie is a great character who has all the girlie problems that we can identify with, plus the added werewolf thing to ruin a few of her days. A very entertaining read.
This book has great humour and werewolf fun.You'll love the comic writing as Sophie attacks a thief who was breaking into her car,and the presentation is very funny! Sophie is a great character who has all the girlie problems that we can identify with, plus the added werewolf thing to ruin a few of her days. A very entertaining read.
September 23, 2012
Sophie Garouis a werewolf. She lives is Austin with her mom, who is a psychic witch. Her mother gets arrested for murder and this complicates Sophie's life. She works for an accountant firm and has done well for herself. She also has a very handsome boyfriend. But she has been keeping the truth away from him. He wants to have dinner with her on a full moon night. Sophie knows she has to get away. She also needs to find the real killer before her mom pays for it. In the mix, she learns that Austin has other werewolves and they are creating chaos. Then, she meets Tom and the instant attraction is there. He explains some of the werewolf history to her.
I wanted to love this book but I didn't. I liked it enough to follow to the next book. I'm very interested in Tom. Will see if he comes back.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
I wanted to love this book but I didn't. I liked it enough to follow to the next book. I'm very interested in Tom. Will see if he comes back.
3/5 Fangs
cross posted at my blog http://mrsleifs.blogspot.com
May 25, 2020
I Need More
Hilarious and engaging, Sophie is one character you’ll want to see more of! From having her mother in trial for murder to keeping a hairy secret, Sophie’s life is interesting and fun. But Heath or Tom is the most important question here. Team Tom for me, although he’s still iffy. I guess I’ll see, because on to book 2!
Hilarious and engaging, Sophie is one character you’ll want to see more of! From having her mother in trial for murder to keeping a hairy secret, Sophie’s life is interesting and fun. But Heath or Tom is the most important question here. Team Tom for me, although he’s still iffy. I guess I’ll see, because on to book 2!
June 23, 2009
This book was written in an annoying way that I assume was supposed to be funny. Some parts actually were funny, but for the most part, it was trying too hard. The storyline was interesting enough, so I'll read the next one.
July 13, 2014
Sophie Garou has a good job, designer clothes and a wonderful boyfriend - only one problem, she's a werewolf.
This is an interesting start to a new series. It sort of reminds me of Bitten by Kelley Armstrong but with the humour of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
This is an interesting start to a new series. It sort of reminds me of Bitten by Kelley Armstrong but with the humour of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
January 9, 2010
I thought this book was just ok. I liked Sophie, but she seemed like a scatter brain. Tom was more interesting and the whole dance around their chemistry. He knows what Sophie really wants to know about herself and at the end, he gave her just enough to keep me interested to read the next one.
April 6, 2009
Good story and easy to read. Not as much depth as the Laurell K. Hamilton werewolfs or the Patricia Briggs ones...but those will forever be the measuring stick by which I read other urban fantasies.
December 12, 2022
Sophie Garou has the right job, the right clothes, the right shoes, and the right boyfriend. Everything would be perfect if she didn’t have to shave more than most and got fleas when she turned into a wolf. The daughter of a gypsy woman and a werewolf, Sophie’s life is as normal as it can be. She has no pack, has never met another of her kind, and she’s absolutely fine with that until she sees a tall, handsome stranger on the street who screams “Alpha Male Wolf Here for Your Pleasure”.
The new wolf in town isn’t the only snag in Sophie’s hose. Not only is it nearing Sophie’s wolfy time of the month, but gift packages keep arriving at her work, signs that someone knows what she is and isn’t afraid to out her. On top of that, her mother is arrested for murdering a politician, the sexy werewolf keeps popping up in the most inconvenient places (like her dreams), and a ghost is constantly trying to cop a feel.
Howling at the Moon started things off on the right foot just with the last name of the heroine (loup-garou being the French word for werewolf). From there, things only got better. The heroine is smart and sexy with just the right amount of snark. Her best friend, Lindsey, is the perfect side-kick, and I imagine her boyfriend, Heath, to be the personification of The Boy Next Door. Even Tom, the brooding, protective, and mysterious werewolf, was a joy to read. Fans of Katie MacAlister and Patricia Briggs will find no complaints with this cast of characters.
There were, however, a few issues I couldn’t ignore. Continuity is always a big issue for me. If you set something as being true, it should remain true unless the change has been explained. Granted, the mishap I’m referring to is only the ability of a door to lock or not, but there’s a big enough deal about it not being able to lock that when Sophie locks it, it becomes a big, blaring stop sign.
Second was Sophie’s treatment of Heath. He is seriously the perfect guy—good-looking, open-minded, and not afraid to show his emotions. I understand that Sophie is instantly attracted to Tom, partially because he’s a werewolf and partially because he’s just a yummy guy, but I think Heath deserved more respect than he received. No, she didn’t cheat on him physically, but it was close enough to irk me.
Don’t get the wrong idea—Howling at the Moon is a wonderful novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted to point out the flaws to prove that, despite two items that glared at me so brightly my eyes hurt, Karen MacInerney’s first installment in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series still deserved 4 tombstones. Two days after finishing this book and the second in the series is in my grubby little hands. Impressing me enough to ignore my initial misgivings takes talent, and Karen proved herself up to the challenge.
The new wolf in town isn’t the only snag in Sophie’s hose. Not only is it nearing Sophie’s wolfy time of the month, but gift packages keep arriving at her work, signs that someone knows what she is and isn’t afraid to out her. On top of that, her mother is arrested for murdering a politician, the sexy werewolf keeps popping up in the most inconvenient places (like her dreams), and a ghost is constantly trying to cop a feel.
Howling at the Moon started things off on the right foot just with the last name of the heroine (loup-garou being the French word for werewolf). From there, things only got better. The heroine is smart and sexy with just the right amount of snark. Her best friend, Lindsey, is the perfect side-kick, and I imagine her boyfriend, Heath, to be the personification of The Boy Next Door. Even Tom, the brooding, protective, and mysterious werewolf, was a joy to read. Fans of Katie MacAlister and Patricia Briggs will find no complaints with this cast of characters.
There were, however, a few issues I couldn’t ignore. Continuity is always a big issue for me. If you set something as being true, it should remain true unless the change has been explained. Granted, the mishap I’m referring to is only the ability of a door to lock or not, but there’s a big enough deal about it not being able to lock that when Sophie locks it, it becomes a big, blaring stop sign.
Second was Sophie’s treatment of Heath. He is seriously the perfect guy—good-looking, open-minded, and not afraid to show his emotions. I understand that Sophie is instantly attracted to Tom, partially because he’s a werewolf and partially because he’s just a yummy guy, but I think Heath deserved more respect than he received. No, she didn’t cheat on him physically, but it was close enough to irk me.
Don’t get the wrong idea—Howling at the Moon is a wonderful novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wanted to point out the flaws to prove that, despite two items that glared at me so brightly my eyes hurt, Karen MacInerney’s first installment in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series still deserved 4 tombstones. Two days after finishing this book and the second in the series is in my grubby little hands. Impressing me enough to ignore my initial misgivings takes talent, and Karen proved herself up to the challenge.
September 29, 2017
HOWLING AT THE MOON is light and entertaining, ideal for escapist reading. I enjoy MacInerney’s casual, conversational writing style and the liberal sprinkling of humor within the pages.
Sophie’s life is pretty perfect with a great job, good friends, and a hunky boyfriend. Everything a girl could ask for…except that she is a werewolf. With the help of daily doses of wolfsbane tea, she is able to keep her lupine urges at bay other than the four equinox days every year. Usually, she is able to get out of town for the change, but this fall equinox is proving difficult. Her boss insists that she give a big presentation to a potential client, her boyfriend has big plans for their anniversary, someone is threatening to “out” her, and her mother, a psychic witch, has been arrested for the murder of local councilman Ted Brewster. To top it all off, she encounters another werewolf who does unexpected things to her libido and a pack of “made” werewolves is after her.
Full disclosure – I am not much of a romance fan, but HOWLING AT THE MOON is much more than a paranormal romance. I admit that I am intrigued at what the future holds for Sophie and Tom, but I kept reading to see who was threatening Sophie and to solve the murder mystery.
Sophie, despite her supernatural problem, is a pretty average city girl. I admire her drive to save her mothe, but have issue with her making out with her BFF’s boyfriend and lying to those most important to her. She is impulsive but obviously intelligent. Mom Carmen is interesting but, oh so, flighty. Heath, Sophie’s boyfriend, must be the most trusting man out there. His total acceptance of Sophie’s explanations without question is odd. Lindsey makes a good sidekick, and mysterious Tom is compelling. The murder mystery makes sense, and the Austin setting is fun for me since I am a Texan.
I liked HOWLING AT THE MOON and will read the next book in the series. I recommend it to paranormal fans and those who like romance with a heavy dose of mystery and humor.
I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Sophie’s life is pretty perfect with a great job, good friends, and a hunky boyfriend. Everything a girl could ask for…except that she is a werewolf. With the help of daily doses of wolfsbane tea, she is able to keep her lupine urges at bay other than the four equinox days every year. Usually, she is able to get out of town for the change, but this fall equinox is proving difficult. Her boss insists that she give a big presentation to a potential client, her boyfriend has big plans for their anniversary, someone is threatening to “out” her, and her mother, a psychic witch, has been arrested for the murder of local councilman Ted Brewster. To top it all off, she encounters another werewolf who does unexpected things to her libido and a pack of “made” werewolves is after her.
Full disclosure – I am not much of a romance fan, but HOWLING AT THE MOON is much more than a paranormal romance. I admit that I am intrigued at what the future holds for Sophie and Tom, but I kept reading to see who was threatening Sophie and to solve the murder mystery.
Sophie, despite her supernatural problem, is a pretty average city girl. I admire her drive to save her mothe, but have issue with her making out with her BFF’s boyfriend and lying to those most important to her. She is impulsive but obviously intelligent. Mom Carmen is interesting but, oh so, flighty. Heath, Sophie’s boyfriend, must be the most trusting man out there. His total acceptance of Sophie’s explanations without question is odd. Lindsey makes a good sidekick, and mysterious Tom is compelling. The murder mystery makes sense, and the Austin setting is fun for me since I am a Texan.
I liked HOWLING AT THE MOON and will read the next book in the series. I recommend it to paranormal fans and those who like romance with a heavy dose of mystery and humor.
I received a copy of this book from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
September 30, 2017
I read this series years ago and was so excited to see that it is back. This author is amazing at placing you in the minds and troubles of the characters. This is a little spicier than her other series (The Gray Whale Inn mysteries--another great read!), but nothing explicit or too raunchy. The bumps along the way (I mean, what kind of read would it be without some twists and turns?), almost seem commonplace as the character is so well developed.
Sophie is successful in her career, her love life, her wardrobe, and at keeping her dirty (hairy) little secret. Sophie is a werewolf, living in the middle of a big city, on the fast track to partner in a prestigious accounting firm, dating a hunky lawyer, with a mother who practices in the paranormal and provides her with concoctions to keep Sophie from transforming into her furry side at inconvenient moments. The scrapes, and razor-burn, are all part of keeping her world in balance.
Living with the resentment of her father sending her mother away with the half-human, half-werewolf progeny, Sophie resists anything to do with her paternal heritage. She has no insight into the dark and veiled world of werewolves, except the unsavory details contained within the pages of books she has read. Those are enough to seal her determination to try to deny that part of her DNA growing up.
The confusion and anger cause Sophie's hackles to rise as werewolves begin popping up and intruding on her human life that she has worked so hard to build. Her animal instincts, that she has tried to suppress for so long, are unleashed with the uncomfortable experiences. As Sophie gets dragged into that unknown world, with a culture and hierarchy all its own, she struggles to make sense of all that she thought she knew.
Follow Sophie through this rollicking trilogy as she navigates the twists and turns of an ancient werewolf code with a modern spin. The inner conflict, as well as external influences, send Sophie to question everything she once believed as truth.
An excellent series that is hard to put down!
Sophie is successful in her career, her love life, her wardrobe, and at keeping her dirty (hairy) little secret. Sophie is a werewolf, living in the middle of a big city, on the fast track to partner in a prestigious accounting firm, dating a hunky lawyer, with a mother who practices in the paranormal and provides her with concoctions to keep Sophie from transforming into her furry side at inconvenient moments. The scrapes, and razor-burn, are all part of keeping her world in balance.
Living with the resentment of her father sending her mother away with the half-human, half-werewolf progeny, Sophie resists anything to do with her paternal heritage. She has no insight into the dark and veiled world of werewolves, except the unsavory details contained within the pages of books she has read. Those are enough to seal her determination to try to deny that part of her DNA growing up.
The confusion and anger cause Sophie's hackles to rise as werewolves begin popping up and intruding on her human life that she has worked so hard to build. Her animal instincts, that she has tried to suppress for so long, are unleashed with the uncomfortable experiences. As Sophie gets dragged into that unknown world, with a culture and hierarchy all its own, she struggles to make sense of all that she thought she knew.
Follow Sophie through this rollicking trilogy as she navigates the twists and turns of an ancient werewolf code with a modern spin. The inner conflict, as well as external influences, send Sophie to question everything she once believed as truth.
An excellent series that is hard to put down!
September 16, 2017
What do pantyhose have in common with werewolves? You’ll just have to read Karen MacInerney’s, Howling At The Moon, book #1 from Tales Of An Urban Werewolf, to find out.
The life of Sophie Garou is never boring, even though she’d probably settle for a little less drama. Her mother is a gypsy witch, concocting love potions, among other things. Oh, did I mention Sophie’s long-lost dad is a full-fledged werewolf? If you’re keeping track, that makes Sophie half witch, half werewolf. So, what’s the problem with that?
For starters, she has a fully-human hunky boyfriend, Heath, who keeps scheduling important dates during the full moon and, let’s just say, hairy legs become an issue.
Sophie’s life becomes incredibly complicated when her mother is charged with poisoning a congressman, she receives a threatening letter along with a packed of wolfsbane, and a drop-dead gorgeous werewolf keeps crossing her path causing conflicting emotions about her relationship with Heath. Has someone put this irresistible canine on her scent, and will the Austin, Texas “pack” come after her with a stake?
This page-turning story has loads of fascinating characters, descriptions, and laugh-out-loud humor. I finally had to start reading passages out loud to my husband when he kept questioning why I was cackling.
I did have a slight problem with the materialistic side of Sophie that seemed to date the book and make her less relatable, but other than that small nit, Howling At The Moon is a very enjoyable. My kind of tale!
The life of Sophie Garou is never boring, even though she’d probably settle for a little less drama. Her mother is a gypsy witch, concocting love potions, among other things. Oh, did I mention Sophie’s long-lost dad is a full-fledged werewolf? If you’re keeping track, that makes Sophie half witch, half werewolf. So, what’s the problem with that?
For starters, she has a fully-human hunky boyfriend, Heath, who keeps scheduling important dates during the full moon and, let’s just say, hairy legs become an issue.
Sophie’s life becomes incredibly complicated when her mother is charged with poisoning a congressman, she receives a threatening letter along with a packed of wolfsbane, and a drop-dead gorgeous werewolf keeps crossing her path causing conflicting emotions about her relationship with Heath. Has someone put this irresistible canine on her scent, and will the Austin, Texas “pack” come after her with a stake?
This page-turning story has loads of fascinating characters, descriptions, and laugh-out-loud humor. I finally had to start reading passages out loud to my husband when he kept questioning why I was cackling.
I did have a slight problem with the materialistic side of Sophie that seemed to date the book and make her less relatable, but other than that small nit, Howling At The Moon is a very enjoyable. My kind of tale!
September 17, 2017
When your werewolf wears Prada, you know the story is going to be on the unusual side. It is not Dresden Files or Sookie Stackhouse. This is Sophie, the werewolf who keeps track of her expensive designer purses when she has to change into her alter self. It is a humorous look at a woman who has to worry about her job whenever the full moon comes around, especially when the client determines that is the date they will meet with you. Although not the best work from this author, this story is enjoyable, and light, and has all the elements of a good series. There are characters that hint at having more depth (like her mother, and her werewolf lover), but, I feel this book only teases at the possibilities. I wish the author had explored more of these two in this book, especially since it was her mother who was accused of the murder.
This is a paranormal cozy mystery, and like other books in that genre the mystery can take a back seat to the romance plot and character interactions. I do not mind that, as I am a lover of romance, as well as cozy mysteries. I do feel that some of the depth of the characters, however, may have been held back with the purpose of developing them in future books. Not unusual in series, but a little bit unfulfilling for this reader.
I liked the premise of the story, as well as the humor, and will go on to the next book to see how it develops. If you are looking for something light, and fun, I would suggest you do pick up a copy of this. It was a wonderful relaxing read for me, and perfect end from a stressful day.
October 1, 2017
Werewolves and blackmail and murder, oh my!! That’s what you’ll get when you read Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney. It’s the first book in the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series and I’m pretty sure you’ll want to read the other books in the series as well!
Sophie Garou might be a werewolf but she doesn’t let it stop her from being top dog at her job, having a super sexy human boyfriend, and ultimately, solving a murder! She didn’t set out to do the last part, but when her mom is accused of murdering a client (oh, I did I mention her mom’s a witch?), Sophie takes it upon herself to clear the proprietor of Sit a Spell’s name!
This is not a short book! There’s lots of action taking place between Sophie’s job woes, keeping her boyfriend and best friend out of the loop in terms of her “secret”, ferreting out a blackmailer, and keeping off the radar of a local wolf pack. She also meets another Werewolf (a HOT one) and has a hard time sniffing out if he’s a friend or foe.
The author does a great job of vividly setting up the scenes throughout the book and the quirky characters effortlessly spring to life off the page! Whether you’re a fan of mystery, romance, or paranormal, with a good dose of comic relief (just wait until you read the full moon scenes!), you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this book! I am eager to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
Sophie Garou might be a werewolf but she doesn’t let it stop her from being top dog at her job, having a super sexy human boyfriend, and ultimately, solving a murder! She didn’t set out to do the last part, but when her mom is accused of murdering a client (oh, I did I mention her mom’s a witch?), Sophie takes it upon herself to clear the proprietor of Sit a Spell’s name!
This is not a short book! There’s lots of action taking place between Sophie’s job woes, keeping her boyfriend and best friend out of the loop in terms of her “secret”, ferreting out a blackmailer, and keeping off the radar of a local wolf pack. She also meets another Werewolf (a HOT one) and has a hard time sniffing out if he’s a friend or foe.
The author does a great job of vividly setting up the scenes throughout the book and the quirky characters effortlessly spring to life off the page! Whether you’re a fan of mystery, romance, or paranormal, with a good dose of comic relief (just wait until you read the full moon scenes!), you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this book! I am eager to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
September 13, 2017
Being a female werewolf is not nearly as glamorous as you would think.
Sophie Garou is a successful auditor in Austin, but changing into a wolf seriously causes some problems in her life. It doesn't help when her witch mother gets accused of the murder of a local Congressman. What's a werewolf to do?
Howling at the Moon is the first book in Karen MacInerney's Tales of an Urban Werewolf series. Having little experience with paranormal mystery series, I was eager to try out this series. The plot was nice and tight, with little nonessential fluff but plenty of interesting twists and turns. Character development is excellent. MacInerney has really thought about what problems a female werewolf might have and presents them in the most humorous way possible. Sophie's friends and family are interesting and colorful. For those of you that have concerns about sexual content level, there is some, but is short and not grossly explicit. It's enough to let you know what is going on without graphic terminology.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to read the rest in the series. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is that I figured out who did it around the halfway point, but that didn't affect my enjoyment. If you want a sexy paranormal mystery, this is the book for you.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
Sophie Garou is a successful auditor in Austin, but changing into a wolf seriously causes some problems in her life. It doesn't help when her witch mother gets accused of the murder of a local Congressman. What's a werewolf to do?
Howling at the Moon is the first book in Karen MacInerney's Tales of an Urban Werewolf series. Having little experience with paranormal mystery series, I was eager to try out this series. The plot was nice and tight, with little nonessential fluff but plenty of interesting twists and turns. Character development is excellent. MacInerney has really thought about what problems a female werewolf might have and presents them in the most humorous way possible. Sophie's friends and family are interesting and colorful. For those of you that have concerns about sexual content level, there is some, but is short and not grossly explicit. It's enough to let you know what is going on without graphic terminology.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and want to read the rest in the series. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is that I figured out who did it around the halfway point, but that didn't affect my enjoyment. If you want a sexy paranormal mystery, this is the book for you.
I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
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