Review: Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney

Howling at the Moon (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, book 1)
Karen MacInerney
Ballantine Books
February 26, 2008
ISBN-10: 0345496256

Romance is about to get a little hairy.

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 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.

Sophie Garou thinks she's the only werewolf in Austin, Texas. After spending the first eighteen years of her life going from one place to another with her mom because her furry side kept popping up and getting her in trouble, they finally settled down in Austin. She has a great job as an auditor, an amazing boyfriend, and of course, a fabulous closet. These are all the trappings of a fantastic life.

That is, until her mom is accused of poisoning a politician with a love potion! Which isn't that far fetched considering Sophie's mom is a psychic witch running a magic shop called “Sit A Spell”. So Sophie's determined to do anything to prove her mom innocent but when a sexy werewolf rolls into town, she's having quite a hard time keeping her animal side down and not jumping him, amazing boyfriend or no.

Sophie's life is about to be turned over and things might get a little hairy.

Howling at the Moon is the first book of the Tales of an Urban Werewolf and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sophie has spent the last twenty-something years of her life fighting her werewolf side, thanks to her dad's gene. She wants a human life, but no matter how much wolfsbane tea she drinks, she can't deny her animal side. The plot got me going until the very end. Reading Sophie and her best friend, Lindsey, play detectives and try to find who murdered the late Mr. Brewster was hilarious. Clearly, they shouldn't change their day jobs.

Sophie's illusions that she's the only werewolf in Austin, except a few homeless ones, is sadly broken when Tom, the golden-eyed werewolf who has Sophie's panties in such a twist, comes into town. He's there to fix the Austin's pack's little problem: a few made werewolves have been causing trouble and he's there to "unmake" them. They have an exploding attraction to each other that Sophie can't help but feel and that only complicates things.

Howling at the Moon is an insanely funny, sexy story with some great characters. While at times, the writing seems repetitive and Ms. MacInerney should definitely research her Spanish better next time, the story had me laughing out loud at times and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book, On the Prowl.

[Original review posted from NOR]