Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: How to Howl at the Moon
SERIES: Howl at the Moon #1
AUTHOR: Eli Easton
NARRATOR: Matthew Shaw
PUBLISHER: Pinkerton Road
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2015
LENGTH: 5 hours 52 minutes
BLURB:
Sheriff Lance Beaufort is not going to let trouble into his town, no sir. Tucked away in the California mountains, Mad Creek has secrets to keep, like the fact that half the town consists of “quickened” – dogs who have gained the ability to become human. Descended on both sides from Border Collies, Lance is as alert a guardian as they come.
Tim Weston is looking for a safe haven. After learning that his boss patented all of Tim’s work on vegetable hybrids in his own name, Tim quit his old job. A client offers him use of her cabin in Mad Creek, and Tim sees a chance for a new start. But the shy gardener has a way of fumbling and sounding like a liar around strangers, particularly gorgeous alpha men like Sheriff Beaufort.
Lance’s hackles are definitely raised by the lanky young stranger. He’s concerned about marijuana growers moving into Mad Creek, and he’s not satisfied with the boy’s story. Lance decides a bit of undercover work is called for. When Tim hits a beautiful black collie with his car and adopts the dog, its love at first sight for both Tim and Lance’s inner dog. Pretending to be a pet is about to get Sheriff Beaufort in very hot water.
REVIEW:
I loved and adored this book. This is exactly my kind of book and one I can read or listen to over and over again. It is super light and sweet and fun. It’s a true feel-good book that will brighten any grey day and just make you smile. How to Howl at the Moon was a fluffy slow-burn romance story, with a different twist to the shifter stories we’ve all gotten used to. Here we have dog shifters that are “quickened” instead of the werewolves we’ve read about so many times before. It’s new, it’s fun and I promise you will fall in love with Mad Creek and all its residents.
Lance is all about duty (all work, no play) and has committed his life to keep his shifter community safe and away from the public eye. He’s wary of strangers and does not like change. Then Tim arrives in Mad Creek, running from his old life, skittish, nervous smelling of pot. Naturally Lance, as the sheriff in town, has to investigate, turning both of their lives upside down.
Tim was just adorable. Shy and awkward and a little bit beaten down by life, but determined to make a new life in Mad Creek. I loved how he loved; so completely and unconditionally. He’s this wonderful person who has so much to give and offer to the world and just needed somewhere to really bloom and thrive.
I loved Tim and Lance/Chance together, they balanced each other out and they were just what the other needed. Tim made Lance lighten up and enjoy life and have fun. Made him realize he could have a life and someone to love and still take care of the town. And Lance helped Tim bloom and believe in himself, to believe he was someone worth loving and realizing he had a home and people (pack) to call his own.
Matthew Shaw did a great job performing this book. His voices for the different characters are distinctive and he made it effortless to follow along with the story. He brought you to Mad Creek and I loved every minute spent listening to this book. So much so that, when I found myself in-between books, not knowing what to read next I started this book all over again.
This was a really fun and cute story and a must read at that, though fair warning – be on the lookout for meddling border collie mothers, they tend to be a bit overzealous at times.
RATING: 
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