Howling at the Moon (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 1)

by Karen MacInerney

"A swift-paced, fun romp." -Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author Romance is about to get a little hairy. Sophie Garou seems to have it all: a great job at a prestigious accounting firm,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345496256
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely delightful

I cannot believe the opinions on this book are so diverse. I did think the author was repetitive and the heroine was ditzy. But, her ditziness was presented in a very entertaining manner. Though a fan of paranormal romance, I don't usually go for the comedy types, like Katie Mac Allister or Mary Janice Davidson. However, I found this book really appealing.

A great werewolf / urban fantasy novel with a sense of humour

Sophie Garou, an auditor on the way to success in an accountant firm in Austin, Texas, has a hairy problem: She's a werewolf. Despite the regular drinking of Wolfsbane-tea made by her mother, a professional witch, she turns into a wolf at certain times of the year and the rest of the time she goes through razors on a large scale to keep her legs hairfree - let's not forget the sideburns during that time of the month! Apart from that, all could be well, especially since she also has a wonderful boyfriend, Heath, a successful - and human! - lawyer. If only it weren't for the fact that someone at work has discovered her secret and starts sending threatening packages. Then there's Tom, the werewolf-enforcer who has just arrived in town, who gives animal attraction a whole new meaning. And to top it all off, Sophie's mother is arrested for poisoning a right-wing politician with a love potion. Drawn to two men at once and trying to stay safe and under the radar of the local werewolf packs, Sophie starts researching the murder to prove her mother's innocence - all the while trying to keep her secret from the human world and making a career in accounting... This is a wonderful werewolf novel with great characters, a very good plot and a sense of humour that reminds me of Kim Harrison's books. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy that's not too dark, but funny and intelligent without turning into the silly type of chic-lit that's become quite common recently. The 'Tales of an urban werewolf' will be continued in 'On the prowl' and are planned as a trilogy.

Looks to be the start of a great series

This book was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series. Very entertaining and a fun read. Along the lines of Carrie Vaughn's Kitty series. Entertaining and fun but with a serious dark side.

Urban Fantasy Gets A Little Hairy Sometimes

Howling at the Moon is something often tried and rarely pulled off well within the urban fantasy genre. Combining a good urban fantasy story with the sexual tension of a paranormal romance isn't an easy thing to do and keep it fresh. One might complain about the use of many cliched archetypes and situations in this book but at least they're presented with a fresh coat of gloss. Sophie Garou is a half-breed werewolf, daughter of a gypsy witch and a foxy French werewolf. Unfortunately for Sophie, her dad's pack weren't fans of mating without permission so he ditched baby Sophie and her mom to protect them. On the plus side, with her mother being a witch she was always able to move when things got rough and Sophie turned wolf-pup during her childhood. Now a successful auditor and in a happy relationship with her human lawyer boyfriend, Heath, Sophie only has to change at the full moons closest to an equinox. Of course this wouldn't be possible without daily doses of wolfsbane tea. When a mysterious package of wolfsbane shows up on her desk with a spooky note, Sophie realizes someone has figured out what she really is. But bad news comes in threes and before she knows it Sophie is hurrying off to bail her mother out of jail because she's been charged with the murder of a local politician and she spots and is spotted by a hunky male werewolf on her way there! The plot thickens as Sophie tries to investigate the murder and prove her mother is innocent, discovering all sorts of new mysteries and getting into some bad scrapes along the way. I genuinely adored this book. I love a great mystery in my urban fantasy and this one had me tied up in knots trying to figure out who played into what hand of cards at the table. The Texas setting was refreshing and a great change of pace from the cliched cities so often used in the genre. Sophie was a little annoying at times, but I think it's good when you find yourself telling a heroine not to do something and they frustrate you. I liked that Sophie's friends and family (even her enemies) were all memorable and flawed. I wouldn't quite call this light urban fantasy but if you like the grit of Mercy Thompson and the humor of Michelle Bardsley's Broken Heart, OK series this series blends the best of both. My only real gripe worth noting in review is that the author fell into the brand-name-dropping a lot, I can't stand this as it dates a book considerably and I find it distracting unless used in tiny doses. If you're looking for a good urban fantasy summer read this one is perfect!

So Much Fun

This is not the typical book that I read, but it was recommended by a friend. What fun! I couldn't put it down. The premise is clever, and the antics of the main character really draw you in and keep you guessing - and laughing. It's a great, funny, and engaging break from reality. This book is titled as "Book 1" - I can't wait for more!