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Tales of an Urban Werewolf #2
On the Prowl
Sophie's got her hands (er... paws) full, juggling two sizzling-hot supernatural suitors, a maybe-engagement... and a death threat from the Houston pack.
Will she find a way to survive? Or will the next full moon be her last?
Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast, which comes in handy since she's werewolf once a month when the moon wanes full. But with a big promotion at work and a super sexy boyfriend Heath (who she recently spotted leaving a jewelry store with a beguiling ring-sized box), she's one happy girl.
But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his new associate--who happens to be a dead-ringer for Career Day Barbie--Sophie smells trouble. Still, when her professional relationship with her big new client--Texas's brilliantly blue-eyed most eligible bachelor--begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the right direction.
Just when it seems that things can't get any more complicated, they The Houston werewolf pack has sniffed Sophie out in their territory, and their message is chillingly you're either with us or against us. If she doesn't find a way to get them to back off, the next full moon could be her last.
Will she find a way to survive? Or will the next full moon be her last?
Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast, which comes in handy since she's werewolf once a month when the moon wanes full. But with a big promotion at work and a super sexy boyfriend Heath (who she recently spotted leaving a jewelry store with a beguiling ring-sized box), she's one happy girl.
But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his new associate--who happens to be a dead-ringer for Career Day Barbie--Sophie smells trouble. Still, when her professional relationship with her big new client--Texas's brilliantly blue-eyed most eligible bachelor--begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the right direction.
Just when it seems that things can't get any more complicated, they The Houston werewolf pack has sniffed Sophie out in their territory, and their message is chillingly you're either with us or against us. If she doesn't find a way to get them to back off, the next full moon could be her last.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2008
65 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Karen MacInerney
52 books1,147 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 83 reviews
January 22, 2023
Another adventure with broad comic strokes and, this time around, lots and lots of werewolves. Just can't get away from them. The story's told once again in the first person by Sophie Garou, who used to be the only werewolf in Austin, Texas. No longer! But to be truthful, this book also brings in the werewolves of Houston, Texarkana, San Antonio, and northern Mexico.
There's also Tom from Norway, complete with a mythical bird named Hugin, who was hired by the Houston werewolf pack to enforce pack rule over half-breeds and rogue werewolves. He's the one whose mission took him to Austin, where he discovered Sophie and began to date her best friend Lindsey. Neither Lindsey nor Sophie's boyfriend Heath know that Sophie and Tom are werewolves, and some of the humor hinges on that.
Well, the first book ended on a tense note between Sophie and the Houston pack, who claim Austin as part of their territory (although San Antonio is "neutral" territory, meaning that Houston sends spies there). The usual punishment for trespass on Houston's territory is death, or if the trespasser meets pack standards, admission at a low level to do gruntwork on one of their ranches. Yes, I know. Reference to Sophie's Choice. Sorry if you just groaned. Because the pack alpha male, named Wolfgang of all things, gives Sophie an alternative--go to San Antonio as a spy and find a pack member who disappeared.
Why entrust Sophie with such a task? Because she's been in their territory for twenty years and they never sniffed a trace of her, and when she came to their headquarters in Houston that was still the case. Sophie picks up the faintest scent of a werewolf (and often, in this story) but she has some sort of shield that blocks her own scent. Her shield is obvious to the others but never fully explained, and it's quite important in what's to come.
Further details would be spoilers, I think, but there are two other things we find out fairly early on: (1) that northern Mexico pack is trying to take over Houston's territory, and (2) Sophie becomes the unwilling savior of three frightened teenage girls from Texarkana who were turned into werewolves and are now on the run from that pack.
More details about the set-up to this series can be found in my review of the first book, Howling at the Moon--click here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... The anomaly I mentioned at the end of that review is even more obvious here--like other writers, this author puts werewolves solidly into the pack structure and territorial behavior of real wolves, but NOT their sex life! Real wolves do go hot and heavy at it (1) for a few days every year (2) if they're the alphas of the pack. Some larger packs may have more than one breeding pair, but usually non-alphas are celibate.
I think the werewolf tradition in urban fantasy probably combines folklore from various cultures with the notion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So the shift to a wolf is a shift to that very lustful beast within the person that we call the id (Freud's das Es), and even in her human form, Sophie lets us know in great detail how much she lusts after good-looking men, above all Heath, Tom (dating her friend Lindsay, remember?), and Mark. Mark's the CEO of Southeast Airlines, and Sophie's made partner in her accounting firm because she landed that contract--and guess why Mark picked Sophie to do his taxes!
While Heath's affections seem to be wandering, both Mark and Tom have major roles in Sophie's adventure, and here we are in spoilerland again. I really enjoyed this book just as much as the first one, and if your sense of humor is like mine, I recommend it strongly.
There's also Tom from Norway, complete with a mythical bird named Hugin, who was hired by the Houston werewolf pack to enforce pack rule over half-breeds and rogue werewolves. He's the one whose mission took him to Austin, where he discovered Sophie and began to date her best friend Lindsey. Neither Lindsey nor Sophie's boyfriend Heath know that Sophie and Tom are werewolves, and some of the humor hinges on that.
Well, the first book ended on a tense note between Sophie and the Houston pack, who claim Austin as part of their territory (although San Antonio is "neutral" territory, meaning that Houston sends spies there). The usual punishment for trespass on Houston's territory is death, or if the trespasser meets pack standards, admission at a low level to do gruntwork on one of their ranches. Yes, I know. Reference to Sophie's Choice. Sorry if you just groaned. Because the pack alpha male, named Wolfgang of all things, gives Sophie an alternative--go to San Antonio as a spy and find a pack member who disappeared.
Why entrust Sophie with such a task? Because she's been in their territory for twenty years and they never sniffed a trace of her, and when she came to their headquarters in Houston that was still the case. Sophie picks up the faintest scent of a werewolf (and often, in this story) but she has some sort of shield that blocks her own scent. Her shield is obvious to the others but never fully explained, and it's quite important in what's to come.
Further details would be spoilers, I think, but there are two other things we find out fairly early on: (1) that northern Mexico pack is trying to take over Houston's territory, and (2) Sophie becomes the unwilling savior of three frightened teenage girls from Texarkana who were turned into werewolves and are now on the run from that pack.
More details about the set-up to this series can be found in my review of the first book, Howling at the Moon--click here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... The anomaly I mentioned at the end of that review is even more obvious here--like other writers, this author puts werewolves solidly into the pack structure and territorial behavior of real wolves, but NOT their sex life! Real wolves do go hot and heavy at it (1) for a few days every year (2) if they're the alphas of the pack. Some larger packs may have more than one breeding pair, but usually non-alphas are celibate.
I think the werewolf tradition in urban fantasy probably combines folklore from various cultures with the notion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So the shift to a wolf is a shift to that very lustful beast within the person that we call the id (Freud's das Es), and even in her human form, Sophie lets us know in great detail how much she lusts after good-looking men, above all Heath, Tom (dating her friend Lindsay, remember?), and Mark. Mark's the CEO of Southeast Airlines, and Sophie's made partner in her accounting firm because she landed that contract--and guess why Mark picked Sophie to do his taxes!
While Heath's affections seem to be wandering, both Mark and Tom have major roles in Sophie's adventure, and here we are in spoilerland again. I really enjoyed this book just as much as the first one, and if your sense of humor is like mine, I recommend it strongly.
April 2, 2018
Very cute. I keep finding fun shifter series lately. It would have been five stars, but I bumped it down due to the number of potential love interests. This is more than just a love triangle. The next book is the last, so I'm curious who she will end up with, although it's kind of obvious at this point. I actually like the other a bit more, but we shall see.
December 9, 2008
I like Sophie Garou. She's the heroine of Karen MacInerney's latest "On the Prowl". This is book two in the 'Tales of an Urban Werewolf' and I laughed through a large majority of the book!
Sophie is a werewolf...umm, hmmm. What does it say about her life that she keeps wolfsbane tea and disposable razors in her purse? She really, really, really just wants to be normal. As far as she's concerned, the tendency to go furry is just a pain in the butt! She's a successful (yea! finally made partner) accountant, just won the biggest account her firm's seen in years, and saw her political contender lawyer boyfriend coming out of a jewelry store and it's almost Valentine's Day! Things are finally going well. Ok, except for the whole someone's apparently trying to kill her. Uh...and her 'boyfriend' is spending a bit, OK WAY too much time with his Barbie lookalike assistant. Umm, and her best friend's newest boyfriend is a smoking hot werewolf with a scent that almost hypnotizes Sophie and makes all her hormones scream. Ahh...and the President of the new account she won is majorly hot and coming on to her like gangbusters. Er...the Houston 'pack' has discovered her existence and she's living in 'their' territory. Oh! Can't forget that some wacko cult werewolves from Mexico are invading Austin and think she'd be a great sacrifice in their big ceremony. But other than that, everything is just fine!
Sophie is a bit shallow. But she's still likeable. She spends most of her time trying to be normal and distancing herself from anything 'weird', even though her mother is a practicing Wiccan with a New Age shop who Sophie had to save from a murder rap in the last book. Little by little Sophie is being drawn further and further into the paranormal world. Her dreams of a DINK marriage followed by 2.2 children and the life of a politician's wife are slowly but surely going down the drain. Of course, Sophie is still fighting for all she's worth. But we the readers know it's a battle she's already lost...and she'll eventually be OK with that...I'm pretty sure.
If the thought of Elaine on Seinfeld with werewolf 'issues' sounds funny to you and you like paranormals...pick up the first book in this series and let me know what you think...
Sophie is a werewolf...umm, hmmm. What does it say about her life that she keeps wolfsbane tea and disposable razors in her purse? She really, really, really just wants to be normal. As far as she's concerned, the tendency to go furry is just a pain in the butt! She's a successful (yea! finally made partner) accountant, just won the biggest account her firm's seen in years, and saw her political contender lawyer boyfriend coming out of a jewelry store and it's almost Valentine's Day! Things are finally going well. Ok, except for the whole someone's apparently trying to kill her. Uh...and her 'boyfriend' is spending a bit, OK WAY too much time with his Barbie lookalike assistant. Umm, and her best friend's newest boyfriend is a smoking hot werewolf with a scent that almost hypnotizes Sophie and makes all her hormones scream. Ahh...and the President of the new account she won is majorly hot and coming on to her like gangbusters. Er...the Houston 'pack' has discovered her existence and she's living in 'their' territory. Oh! Can't forget that some wacko cult werewolves from Mexico are invading Austin and think she'd be a great sacrifice in their big ceremony. But other than that, everything is just fine!
Sophie is a bit shallow. But she's still likeable. She spends most of her time trying to be normal and distancing herself from anything 'weird', even though her mother is a practicing Wiccan with a New Age shop who Sophie had to save from a murder rap in the last book. Little by little Sophie is being drawn further and further into the paranormal world. Her dreams of a DINK marriage followed by 2.2 children and the life of a politician's wife are slowly but surely going down the drain. Of course, Sophie is still fighting for all she's worth. But we the readers know it's a battle she's already lost...and she'll eventually be OK with that...I'm pretty sure.
If the thought of Elaine on Seinfeld with werewolf 'issues' sounds funny to you and you like paranormals...pick up the first book in this series and let me know what you think...
July 30, 2018
I really enjoyed Howling at the Moon, the first book in this trilogy and I wasn't disappointed with On the Prowl. It had all the comedy, romance & mystery of the first book and Sophie's love life has become even more complicated. I'd recommend reading the series in order but I think you could get away with reading this as a stand alone book.
This book starts a couple of months after the last book finished. Things between Sophie and her hot human boyfriend Heath have become even more complicated than they already were - he is doing a lot of overtime & seems to be a lot closer to his new colleague than he should be. He also has no idea that Sophie is a werewolf.
Sophie has just got a big promotion at work which means she is spending a lot of time working with the CEO of her new client. A client who is not only Texas's very sexy most eligible bachelor & but who is also making it quite clear that he is interested in more than a working relationship. Sophie has been told to do anything to keep her client happy but where should she draw the line?
As if 2 handsome men aren't enough to deal with there is also Tom who she is incredibly attracted to but who happens to be dating her best friend Lindsey. Should she warn Lindsey that she is dating a werewolf? And how does she manage to do that without giving herself away?
Relationship problems are the least of her worries though. She has been living in Austin for 20 years without the Houston Pack being aware of her but now she has been discovered in their territory. Sophie is summoned to a meeting with them and is told that the penalty for living in their territory without permission is death. She now has to decide if she should join their pack (starting at the very bottom), or find a way to convince them to allow her immunity. Things are certianly getting interesting for Sophie and she is going to need all the help she can get to deal with this.
This book starts a couple of months after the last book finished. Things between Sophie and her hot human boyfriend Heath have become even more complicated than they already were - he is doing a lot of overtime & seems to be a lot closer to his new colleague than he should be. He also has no idea that Sophie is a werewolf.
Sophie has just got a big promotion at work which means she is spending a lot of time working with the CEO of her new client. A client who is not only Texas's very sexy most eligible bachelor & but who is also making it quite clear that he is interested in more than a working relationship. Sophie has been told to do anything to keep her client happy but where should she draw the line?
As if 2 handsome men aren't enough to deal with there is also Tom who she is incredibly attracted to but who happens to be dating her best friend Lindsey. Should she warn Lindsey that she is dating a werewolf? And how does she manage to do that without giving herself away?
Relationship problems are the least of her worries though. She has been living in Austin for 20 years without the Houston Pack being aware of her but now she has been discovered in their territory. Sophie is summoned to a meeting with them and is told that the penalty for living in their territory without permission is death. She now has to decide if she should join their pack (starting at the very bottom), or find a way to convince them to allow her immunity. Things are certianly getting interesting for Sophie and she is going to need all the help she can get to deal with this.
January 13, 2009
#2 Tales of an Urban Werewolf
Amazingly enjoyable, just about a perfect PNR. Sophie Garou, werewolf, just made partner at a CPA firm. She's lived her life as a werewolf hidden from the packs, and she wants to keep it that way. The packs in Texas have learned about Sophie and they're hot on her trail. And they are NOT being nice about her wish to be left alone.
The writing is superb, the absorbing, sexy, funny, characters vividly drawn and unforgettable -- witty, smart ... I kept thinking, "there is NO way this book could be any better!!". Every single paragraph was terrific!
The author spins an intriguing web of conflicts and cross-purposes, setting up a thrilling final event. At the grand finale, the author TOTALLY lost me -- she introduced a new plot aspect into her perfectly set up werewolf conflicts (no spoilers) that totally threw me out of the story, big time. I was so confused and discombobulated. I still am shaking my head and puzzling over this.
*shrug* Oh, well. On July 28, #3 Leader of the Pack comes out, and I'll be at the book store's door anxious to see what happens next. Hope we'll stick with the werewolves.
Amazingly enjoyable, just about a perfect PNR. Sophie Garou, werewolf, just made partner at a CPA firm. She's lived her life as a werewolf hidden from the packs, and she wants to keep it that way. The packs in Texas have learned about Sophie and they're hot on her trail. And they are NOT being nice about her wish to be left alone.
The writing is superb, the absorbing, sexy, funny, characters vividly drawn and unforgettable -- witty, smart ... I kept thinking, "there is NO way this book could be any better!!". Every single paragraph was terrific!
The author spins an intriguing web of conflicts and cross-purposes, setting up a thrilling final event. At the grand finale, the author TOTALLY lost me -- she introduced a new plot aspect into her perfectly set up werewolf conflicts (no spoilers) that totally threw me out of the story, big time. I was so confused and discombobulated. I still am shaking my head and puzzling over this.
*shrug* Oh, well. On July 28, #3 Leader of the Pack comes out, and I'll be at the book store's door anxious to see what happens next. Hope we'll stick with the werewolves.
December 29, 2010
Sophie's in trouble yet again. She keeps going on and on and she keeps getting in more and more trouble! With a little help and a lot of luck she manages to untangle herself from the troubling-mess but not so much her romantic-mess. She knows who she wants but she can't have him. She has someone else though (no lack of males in Sophie's life, apparently) and I think this romantic mess is one where I can't actually guess who she's going to end up with. If the series is bound to have a happy ending I probably do, but still, I feel as helpless in solving this problem as Sophie herself does.
Then again, maybe not.
Then again, maybe not.
August 23, 2011
To be honest i discovered this book by accident. I was looking for one about fantasy or paranormal and didn't have a lot of money. It was the cheaper on the track ( a sale)
I don't regret it at all, it was really funny to read. you got a new version of werewolf and the plot and the writing were amazing.
It's only at the end that i discovered that it was the second book of a trilogy- doesn't matter you can read it as a stand alone ( it's the best of the trilogy)
I don't regret it at all, it was really funny to read. you got a new version of werewolf and the plot and the writing were amazing.
It's only at the end that i discovered that it was the second book of a trilogy- doesn't matter you can read it as a stand alone ( it's the best of the trilogy)
April 13, 2009
I read this book all in one day. It was an enjoyable read in which we get to know more about Sophie and her friends and we also meet new characters. I'm looking forward to the next one...which won't be out for a while. Oh well.
January 16, 2024
Did not enjoy this sequel as much as the original. Lots of "Pack politics", evil double crossers and some new supernatural entities I suspect were invented for the story. Sex scenes are fairly graphic.
October 2, 2010
I picked this up at a garage sale and fell in love with the humor, action and strong characters. So now I will back peddle to the first one and start this series right.
January 11, 2026
**MINOR SPOILERS**
This is the first book I have read by the author. It is the second book of the Wolves and the City trilogy. There were references to events and characters from the first book and while it was not too big of a drawback, it probably would have been better to read the first book before this one.
I was not a big fan of Sophie, the main character. She gets involved with, or is at least attracted to, three different men. She sleeps with one before she has completely broken it off with another, though the first time it happens when she thinks she is sleeping. While it is difficult to believe you can think you are sleeping while having sex, in this case the other participant, Mark, seemed like a sex demon. So, maybe? The second time she was not sleeping. In addition, Mark is her client, but she consistently puts herself into situations where a personal relationship develops between them. She has momentary thoughts that maybe she should not have done so but she continuously gives in. Not only was it a bad sign for her professional ethics, it also made her seem wishy washy. Though it was not in this book, there is a reference to a time when Sophie kisses her best friend’s boyfriend. That is a betrayal. Bouncing around from one man to the next continued through out the book.
Another reason I did not like Sophie is she did not help people. Later in the book, Sophie’s mother receives a package, and Sophie knows there is something bad about it, but she leaves without finding out what it is or what is wrong. In a different example, three young women come asking for her help and she tells them she cannot do anything. It seemed like she could at least be sympathetic and possibly referred her to someone else. In the end, one of the men she is attracted to comes up with a temporary plan. Later, she needs help and she asks the girls to help her. They say yes.
When she does reconnaissance with one of the girls, they are watching two werewolves through a window and Sophie asks the girl a question. Given that werewolves can hear really well it simply seemed foolish for Sophie to say something out loud. There is very little she figures out during the book except a guess about a location later in the book.
Sophie grew up outside of the werewolf world so it does make sense that she does not know how the pack works but it still seemed like she would have picked up on some things. Throughout most of the book, it felt like Sophie was floundering around and it got tiresome. Mark reveals later in the book that he knows things about Sophie that she has not told him but other than being surprised, she does not seem to worry about it much.
The book is advertised as laugh out loud funny in the book description. There were moments where I thought the author was writing for that, but it did not hit that mark for me.
Sophie had to shave her arms and legs multiple times per day because her hair grew so fast. This seemed unrealistic as it would be hard to keep up with it. Also, she did not have to shave her face. Why would it be uneven? Even if some people/werewolves would choose to keep up with shaving, perhaps others would not or could not. This might have led to people knowing about werewolves or at least knowing about a hair condition. Sophie uses wolfsbane tea to avoid growing hair but, at one point in the book, there is a reference to her drinking too much and having difficulty not turning into a werewolf. It seemed inconsistent.
The climatic scene involves some characters that were only previously mentioned in a minor way. Though a person can be unexpectedly drawn into a situation, I thought that there should have been more clues beforehand. Spoilers…In addition, you find out Sophie is special but there was no lead up to it and you do not know what it means.
While she was trying to hide being a werewolf, Sophie would act oddly. At one point, she is vomiting and sick. She is concerned she will turn into a werewolf, so she runs out into the woods away from a friend. Her friend accepts her weak explanation.
Sophie’s coworker, Adele, seemed a bit like a caricature in the way she was sophisticated at the job but a cowgirl at the retreat.
I do not plan to continue the series. At a certain point, I simply read to finish so I could write a review.
This is the first book I have read by the author. It is the second book of the Wolves and the City trilogy. There were references to events and characters from the first book and while it was not too big of a drawback, it probably would have been better to read the first book before this one.
I was not a big fan of Sophie, the main character. She gets involved with, or is at least attracted to, three different men. She sleeps with one before she has completely broken it off with another, though the first time it happens when she thinks she is sleeping. While it is difficult to believe you can think you are sleeping while having sex, in this case the other participant, Mark, seemed like a sex demon. So, maybe? The second time she was not sleeping. In addition, Mark is her client, but she consistently puts herself into situations where a personal relationship develops between them. She has momentary thoughts that maybe she should not have done so but she continuously gives in. Not only was it a bad sign for her professional ethics, it also made her seem wishy washy. Though it was not in this book, there is a reference to a time when Sophie kisses her best friend’s boyfriend. That is a betrayal. Bouncing around from one man to the next continued through out the book.
Another reason I did not like Sophie is she did not help people. Later in the book, Sophie’s mother receives a package, and Sophie knows there is something bad about it, but she leaves without finding out what it is or what is wrong. In a different example, three young women come asking for her help and she tells them she cannot do anything. It seemed like she could at least be sympathetic and possibly referred her to someone else. In the end, one of the men she is attracted to comes up with a temporary plan. Later, she needs help and she asks the girls to help her. They say yes.
When she does reconnaissance with one of the girls, they are watching two werewolves through a window and Sophie asks the girl a question. Given that werewolves can hear really well it simply seemed foolish for Sophie to say something out loud. There is very little she figures out during the book except a guess about a location later in the book.
Sophie grew up outside of the werewolf world so it does make sense that she does not know how the pack works but it still seemed like she would have picked up on some things. Throughout most of the book, it felt like Sophie was floundering around and it got tiresome. Mark reveals later in the book that he knows things about Sophie that she has not told him but other than being surprised, she does not seem to worry about it much.
The book is advertised as laugh out loud funny in the book description. There were moments where I thought the author was writing for that, but it did not hit that mark for me.
Sophie had to shave her arms and legs multiple times per day because her hair grew so fast. This seemed unrealistic as it would be hard to keep up with it. Also, she did not have to shave her face. Why would it be uneven? Even if some people/werewolves would choose to keep up with shaving, perhaps others would not or could not. This might have led to people knowing about werewolves or at least knowing about a hair condition. Sophie uses wolfsbane tea to avoid growing hair but, at one point in the book, there is a reference to her drinking too much and having difficulty not turning into a werewolf. It seemed inconsistent.
The climatic scene involves some characters that were only previously mentioned in a minor way. Though a person can be unexpectedly drawn into a situation, I thought that there should have been more clues beforehand. Spoilers…In addition, you find out Sophie is special but there was no lead up to it and you do not know what it means.
While she was trying to hide being a werewolf, Sophie would act oddly. At one point, she is vomiting and sick. She is concerned she will turn into a werewolf, so she runs out into the woods away from a friend. Her friend accepts her weak explanation.
Sophie’s coworker, Adele, seemed a bit like a caricature in the way she was sophisticated at the job but a cowgirl at the retreat.
I do not plan to continue the series. At a certain point, I simply read to finish so I could write a review.
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!
December 12, 2022
Sophie Garou is about to find out how the other half lives. The Houston pack has finally gotten wind of her presence in Austin and they aren’t happy. Their request? She must grovel at their feet or be hunted. As if Sophie would grovel – that would be hell on her designer jeans!
If her discovery by the local wolves wasn’t bad enough, her perfect boyfriend, Heath, has been spending a lot of after-hours time with his sexy co-worker, her biggest client can set her on fire with one look, and lone wolf Tom is back in town. Oh, and there’s a trio of made wolves who want her to be their Alpha. Sometimes a girl just can’t get a break.
Overall, I enjoyed On the Prowl by Karen MacInerney. On more than one occasion, I found myself spewing coffee in a bout of uncontrollable laughter, and Tom, Heath, and Mark have permanent starring roles on my Top Ten List of Hunky Fictional Characters. The action flows quickly, the humor is spot-on, and the romance is hot enough to steam the windows.
But—isn’t there always a but?—Sophie has a few issues she needs to sort through. I don’t mind her jumping into bed with one man then lusting after another; she’s a confused woman still trying to find her niche in love and she’s surrounded by gorgeous, drool-worthy men. What I was waiting for was Sophie’s acceptance of this. Instead, she kept making excuses then going back on said excuses, causing her actions to seem more trampy than confused.
Even with that one complaint, On the Prowl earns 4 tombstones. I’m literally frothing at the mouth to see what repercussions her actions in this novel will reap and what new beings she’ll introduce to her readers. There were some nasty creepy crawlies in this one!
If her discovery by the local wolves wasn’t bad enough, her perfect boyfriend, Heath, has been spending a lot of after-hours time with his sexy co-worker, her biggest client can set her on fire with one look, and lone wolf Tom is back in town. Oh, and there’s a trio of made wolves who want her to be their Alpha. Sometimes a girl just can’t get a break.
Overall, I enjoyed On the Prowl by Karen MacInerney. On more than one occasion, I found myself spewing coffee in a bout of uncontrollable laughter, and Tom, Heath, and Mark have permanent starring roles on my Top Ten List of Hunky Fictional Characters. The action flows quickly, the humor is spot-on, and the romance is hot enough to steam the windows.
But—isn’t there always a but?—Sophie has a few issues she needs to sort through. I don’t mind her jumping into bed with one man then lusting after another; she’s a confused woman still trying to find her niche in love and she’s surrounded by gorgeous, drool-worthy men. What I was waiting for was Sophie’s acceptance of this. Instead, she kept making excuses then going back on said excuses, causing her actions to seem more trampy than confused.
Even with that one complaint, On the Prowl earns 4 tombstones. I’m literally frothing at the mouth to see what repercussions her actions in this novel will reap and what new beings she’ll introduce to her readers. There were some nasty creepy crawlies in this one!
November 30, 2018
Sophie can no longer hide from the Houston pack. They have found her and require that she join them or be eliminated. The pack would take her property and force her to start in a lowly position. She is instantly disliked by some due to her heritage. Her father, who she does not know, has a long history with the Alpha. Like this stress isn’t enough, she is struggling to keep her nature from her boyfriend who has been distant. She is drawn to a werewolf who has assisted her with the pack and romanced by a client. There’s never a dull moment with Sophie.
August 12, 2019
Sophie is still trying to figure out how she fits in as a werewolf. She wants to tell her best friend. Then she is summoned to Houston to meet other werewolves.
Ms. Macinerney kept the story going. I was enthralled. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Sophie, Lindsey, Heath and Tom. I am looking forward to the next book. Again, a little racy, but well written.
Ms. Macinerney kept the story going. I was enthralled. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Sophie, Lindsey, Heath and Tom. I am looking forward to the next book. Again, a little racy, but well written.
October 13, 2017
Light and enjoyable. Great for a stressful week. Characters are getting developed over the course of the series and problems I had with first book are not there with second. Recommend for a nice paranormal romp.
October 20, 2017
Didn't finish, although I did read the ending. The contrast between an accounting career and an otherwise illogical mind was off putting. As was the constant shaving.
October 28, 2017
Awesome
Pretty damn good. Team Tom. I knew Mark was weird. I hope Sophie becomes an Alpha. Onto book 3, ASAP!
Pretty damn good. Team Tom. I knew Mark was weird. I hope Sophie becomes an Alpha. Onto book 3, ASAP!
June 16, 2018
Great series
Exciting,funny,romantic.... It's like a supernatural Stephanie Plum! I highly recommend this series. You'll be enthralled with every chapter. Can't put it down
Exciting,funny,romantic.... It's like a supernatural Stephanie Plum! I highly recommend this series. You'll be enthralled with every chapter. Can't put it down
July 13, 2018
On the Prowl
I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen between Solid and Tom. This is a fast paced book that you can't put down.
I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen between Solid and Tom. This is a fast paced book that you can't put down.
August 29, 2018
Main female character is slightly ditzy, which is annoying.
February 25, 2019
A very enjoyable read.
May 3, 2022
Amazing
I read this series years ago, and still continue to come back to it time and time again! I laugh, I cry and I always end up longing for another that will never be!
I read this series years ago, and still continue to come back to it time and time again! I laugh, I cry and I always end up longing for another that will never be!
November 29, 2010
After finishing Howling at the Moon, the first installment of this series, I was eagerly anticipating reading On the Prowl. Karen MacInerney did not disappoint! I was immediately immersed in this second Tale of an Urban Werewolf. This novel took me all of 24 hours to read. My boyfriend's absence may have had something to do with that but, great writing and an awesome story were definitely strong contributing factors as well.
Sophie Garou is back and is as entertaining as ever. One of the main attractions in this series for me is the contrast between her human life and her animal one. She's just made partner at a high powered auditor firm and is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend Heath. Of course, that is until her second nature gets in the way. Sophie has been flying under the werewolf radar all of her life but in this book her secret is exposed and she's faced with werewolves galore. Not her idea of an ideal situation!
Miss Garou's constant battle against unruly hair growth was as hilarious as in the first book. I particularly enjoyed a bathroom stall conversation between her and Lourdes, a new werewolf. They're comparing hair removal horror stories with different techniques likes Nair, waxing, shaving, etc. The challenges of being a modern day female werewolf! This talk reminded me of the banter I hear in public washrooms but with a supernatural twist. I like the way MacInerney gives the characters dilemmas that are similar to every day life. It makes them all the more relatable. When Sophie pulled out her back-up razor for her friend I couldn't help but giggle.
I wish I had Sophie's problems with men! She may me a magnet for trouble but she's also one for swoon worthy men. A third handsome male is added to her plate in the form of Mark, her biggest new client. He's rich, gorgeous, chivalrous but there's more to him than meets the eye. Way more! The book doesn't entirely explain what's up with him; I'm hoping the final installment will. Mark sort of overshadows the two other men. Heath, her boyfriend fades into the background but Tom is as delicious as ever. Between Mark and Tom I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite!
Garou finally meets the local pack leaders and is sent on a reconnaissance mission for them. This fashionista isn't quite cut out for stealthy spying! Naturally, she blows her cover and find herself running from her enemies and her main concern seems to be her shoes. In her situation, shoes would not have been high on my priority list while running for my life. Then again, I wouldn't have went on such a mission wearing $500 high heeled shoes. But that's just me!
The ending of this book is a whirlwind of action. Secrets are revealed, questions are answered but like any good book in a series there are a few mysteries left unsolved. After finishing this book, there was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to read Leader of the Pack but it's always nice to get a little more incentive. I'm sad to say that there's only three books in this series. Right now I'm wishing that there were more but before I start whining I'll wait and see what the conclusion holds.
Sophie Garou is back and is as entertaining as ever. One of the main attractions in this series for me is the contrast between her human life and her animal one. She's just made partner at a high powered auditor firm and is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend Heath. Of course, that is until her second nature gets in the way. Sophie has been flying under the werewolf radar all of her life but in this book her secret is exposed and she's faced with werewolves galore. Not her idea of an ideal situation!
Miss Garou's constant battle against unruly hair growth was as hilarious as in the first book. I particularly enjoyed a bathroom stall conversation between her and Lourdes, a new werewolf. They're comparing hair removal horror stories with different techniques likes Nair, waxing, shaving, etc. The challenges of being a modern day female werewolf! This talk reminded me of the banter I hear in public washrooms but with a supernatural twist. I like the way MacInerney gives the characters dilemmas that are similar to every day life. It makes them all the more relatable. When Sophie pulled out her back-up razor for her friend I couldn't help but giggle.
I wish I had Sophie's problems with men! She may me a magnet for trouble but she's also one for swoon worthy men. A third handsome male is added to her plate in the form of Mark, her biggest new client. He's rich, gorgeous, chivalrous but there's more to him than meets the eye. Way more! The book doesn't entirely explain what's up with him; I'm hoping the final installment will. Mark sort of overshadows the two other men. Heath, her boyfriend fades into the background but Tom is as delicious as ever. Between Mark and Tom I'm having a hard time choosing a favorite!
Garou finally meets the local pack leaders and is sent on a reconnaissance mission for them. This fashionista isn't quite cut out for stealthy spying! Naturally, she blows her cover and find herself running from her enemies and her main concern seems to be her shoes. In her situation, shoes would not have been high on my priority list while running for my life. Then again, I wouldn't have went on such a mission wearing $500 high heeled shoes. But that's just me!
The ending of this book is a whirlwind of action. Secrets are revealed, questions are answered but like any good book in a series there are a few mysteries left unsolved. After finishing this book, there was never any doubt in my mind that I was going to read Leader of the Pack but it's always nice to get a little more incentive. I'm sad to say that there's only three books in this series. Right now I'm wishing that there were more but before I start whining I'll wait and see what the conclusion holds.
October 8, 2011
I kind of liked this one, and it was certainly better than the opening book of the series. It is still not an outstanding book, but one that I would calmly recommend to anyone asking for a mediocre werewolf story.
The world expands a bit in this installment, as Sophie encounters new kinds of supernatural beings. I won't go into details, as it would spoil much of the mystery the story is built upon. All things considered, it's mildly interesting, but nothing too original or exciting.
Werewolf packs also make an appearance, but only as a very borderline element of the story (i.e. it doesn't get virtually any attention).
As for the story, it's a lot more exciting and interesting than it was in the first book; there's plenty of action and a lot of mystery.
I didn't like the paranormal romance features - it subtracts a lot from its overall value and enjoyment for me. Sophie being in the heat is a common element of the book, and it's terribly annoying, especially reading it for the 4-5th time, only with a different male. Erotic scenes are also not uncommon, which is not necessarily a problem, but I really felt like Sophie's private life was too detailed. Some romance is fine, but this is... too much.
The plot largely follows a single line and doesn't often wander into "sub-plots" like in the previous part of the series, which I really welcomed, especially because the main storyline was worth following.
The characters were surprisingly well pictured. Sophie's relationship with Heath was very realistic, so that I actually say a good thing about the romantic aspect of the book. The grrls (not a typo :D) were rather fun as well.
Mark... I have to admit, I hated him until about 80% in the book, where his intentions became clearer, sort of. He was also a well developed character, shrouded by mystery. I actually came to like him towards the end.
Overall this was a pleasant surprise, and I somewhat enjoyed reading it. It has faults, surely, but it is about as good as your average werewolf book.
I'm actually looking forward to the third book.
The world expands a bit in this installment, as Sophie encounters new kinds of supernatural beings. I won't go into details, as it would spoil much of the mystery the story is built upon. All things considered, it's mildly interesting, but nothing too original or exciting.
Werewolf packs also make an appearance, but only as a very borderline element of the story (i.e. it doesn't get virtually any attention).
As for the story, it's a lot more exciting and interesting than it was in the first book; there's plenty of action and a lot of mystery.
I didn't like the paranormal romance features - it subtracts a lot from its overall value and enjoyment for me. Sophie being in the heat is a common element of the book, and it's terribly annoying, especially reading it for the 4-5th time, only with a different male. Erotic scenes are also not uncommon, which is not necessarily a problem, but I really felt like Sophie's private life was too detailed. Some romance is fine, but this is... too much.
The plot largely follows a single line and doesn't often wander into "sub-plots" like in the previous part of the series, which I really welcomed, especially because the main storyline was worth following.
The characters were surprisingly well pictured. Sophie's relationship with Heath was very realistic, so that I actually say a good thing about the romantic aspect of the book. The grrls (not a typo :D) were rather fun as well.
Mark... I have to admit, I hated him until about 80% in the book, where his intentions became clearer, sort of. He was also a well developed character, shrouded by mystery. I actually came to like him towards the end.
Overall this was a pleasant surprise, and I somewhat enjoyed reading it. It has faults, surely, but it is about as good as your average werewolf book.
I'm actually looking forward to the third book.
January 12, 2011
I wish I had started reading this series earlier. I think the "Tales of an Urban Werewolf" series title threw me a bit, but I am very glad I decided to give this series a try. The first book was fun, witty, and very entertaining. Book two was similar, but I had a few issues. First, I love the main character Sophie and enjoyed her sarcasm and humor throughout the entire first book. Now, it is starting to get to me a bit. Instead of likable, she is starting to seem a bit shallow. Then there is the dreaded love triangle which seems to find its way into every urban fantasy book. I was irritated at the beginning of the book when Heath is acting shady with his work associate, then I remembered book one where Sophie felt the need to kiss Tom. I am not a fan of main characters that like to cheat on their significant others, and that is a huge turnoff for me in this series. My enjoyment of Sophie's personality was enough to get me through book one, but her relationship issues and behavior in book two were a bit much for me. For a couple that has been together for a year and may be heading towards marriage there are entirely too many secrets. Which brings me to my next issue, the secret werewolf plotline. It is so predictable and is done so often that I wonder why authors even use it, but it's still present in this series. I personally do not care when or how it comes out that Sophie is a werewolf because I am that tired of the entire thing. Relationship drama and personalities aside, this is a good book. I was interested in the disappearing werewolves, and I like learning more about being a werewolf as Sophie learns. I am afraid that this series will turn into nothing more than a love triangle, and it's disappointing. Sophie's personality and lack of werewolf knowledge along with her quirky mother are enough to make this series interesting. Instead, it is starting to feel more like a soap opera or romance novel then a dynamic urban fantasy. I hope there is more substance and less drama in the next book.
September 7, 2009
The only thing Sophie Garou has always wanted is to live her normal, human life. So far, so good. She just recently got a big promotion at her job, she's fairly certain her boyfriend of more than one year is about to pop the big question and overall, things couldn't be any better. That is, until she receives an email from the alphas of Houston ordering her to go to a meeting with them. Or else. The Houston pack is not happy at all that she's managed to live under their noses all these years and they're not about to let it continue on.
She doesn't have much of a choice: either she joins the pack or she dies. And she'll be damned if some pushy alpha makes her leave the home she's know for the last twenty-eight years.
To only make matters worse, her boyfriend, Heath, seems to be spending a little too much time with his new associate, who is, unfortunately, gorgeous and her relationship with her biggest client, Mark Sydney, is crossing lines into down-right intimate. Sophie has to decide whether she's going to join the Houston pack or not, because if she doesn't join them, and fast, then she might just end up dead.
On the Prowl is a great sequel to Howling at the Moon, the first of the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series. Ms. MacInerney has written a greatly entertaining, hugely funny story. Sophie's definitely in the some hot waters and she has to found a way to come out unscathed. The super sexy werewolf, Tom, is back into town and their chemistry is more explosive than ever. I was a little bit confused at the end with some of the Aztec plot but it didn't dampen how much I enjoyed On the Prowl. It's a delightfully funny story and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
She doesn't have much of a choice: either she joins the pack or she dies. And she'll be damned if some pushy alpha makes her leave the home she's know for the last twenty-eight years.
To only make matters worse, her boyfriend, Heath, seems to be spending a little too much time with his new associate, who is, unfortunately, gorgeous and her relationship with her biggest client, Mark Sydney, is crossing lines into down-right intimate. Sophie has to decide whether she's going to join the Houston pack or not, because if she doesn't join them, and fast, then she might just end up dead.
On the Prowl is a great sequel to Howling at the Moon, the first of the Tales of an Urban Werewolf series. Ms. MacInerney has written a greatly entertaining, hugely funny story. Sophie's definitely in the some hot waters and she has to found a way to come out unscathed. The super sexy werewolf, Tom, is back into town and their chemistry is more explosive than ever. I was a little bit confused at the end with some of the Aztec plot but it didn't dampen how much I enjoyed On the Prowl. It's a delightfully funny story and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 23, 2010
With the first book being just ok for me I wasn't to hot to read this one. Sophie bugs me a little, she bumbles her way around with everything in her life from Heath, to Lindsey, to all the crazy werewolf stuff. And if I have to hear anymore about having to shave her legs I am going to scream!! But for some reason even with all of this stuff going on I still keep reading and I am not sure why.
Sophie seems to be in the middle of a territory dispute between 2 rival packs, each one trying to use her to their advantage. She also seems to keep messing things up with Heath left and right and dating other guys. Random werewolves keep stopping by where she lives to trash her place or ask for help. There is so much craziness going on it is no wonder she bumbles around. In the end she isn't able to get everything resolved and seems to keep adding to problems in one area.
And since I am not sure what is compelling me to keep reading and I have the next one sitting on the shelf I'll see if it can bring some resolution.
Sophie seems to be in the middle of a territory dispute between 2 rival packs, each one trying to use her to their advantage. She also seems to keep messing things up with Heath left and right and dating other guys. Random werewolves keep stopping by where she lives to trash her place or ask for help. There is so much craziness going on it is no wonder she bumbles around. In the end she isn't able to get everything resolved and seems to keep adding to problems in one area.
And since I am not sure what is compelling me to keep reading and I have the next one sitting on the shelf I'll see if it can bring some resolution.
June 19, 2011
It took me a while to get into the rhythm of this book, perhaps because I hadn't read book 1. Sophie Garou has just been made partner at her office and has a boyfriend that she loves. It quickly all starts going wrong when the nearest werewolf pack finds out she has been living in their territory for 20 years undetected. Her love life also starts falling apart. She thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her, she is attracted to her best friends boyfriend (also a werewolf) and there is Mark her client. And then things get really interesting.
I really liked some of the elements so this book such as Sophie needing to shave every two hours and having to drink wolfbane tea to keep down the hair growth. There is also a scene with a horse that is really quite funny. While this isn't the best urban fantasy I have read I would be quite willing to read more in the series. I think it has good potential.
I really liked some of the elements so this book such as Sophie needing to shave every two hours and having to drink wolfbane tea to keep down the hair growth. There is also a scene with a horse that is really quite funny. While this isn't the best urban fantasy I have read I would be quite willing to read more in the series. I think it has good potential.
May 31, 2012
On the prowl, much like the first book, was okay. Unfortunately much like the first book it had irritating mistakes that made the writer seem lazy and made me feel like I had kept track of the story better than she had. I am fairly sure that someone who was an aunt in the first book was called a mother in this which just made me stop and forget about the story for a while.
The series consistently has too many love interests and too many pointless sex scenes. Once again Sophie comes across as pre-occupied with her patterns of consumerism which is just plain irritating. I hoped that the reason she was dislikeable in the first book was because she was going to go through character growth but unfortunately that did not happen in this book.
The plot is reasonable and had more action than the first book but I would be lying if I claimed that the book was anything more than just okay.
The series consistently has too many love interests and too many pointless sex scenes. Once again Sophie comes across as pre-occupied with her patterns of consumerism which is just plain irritating. I hoped that the reason she was dislikeable in the first book was because she was going to go through character growth but unfortunately that did not happen in this book.
The plot is reasonable and had more action than the first book but I would be lying if I claimed that the book was anything more than just okay.
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