Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: How to Walk Like a Man
SERIES: Howl at the Moon #2
AUTHOR: Eli Easton
NARRATOR: Matthew Shaw
PUBLISHER: Pinkerton Road
RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2016
LENGTH: 7 hours 53 minutes
BLURB:
Deputy Roman Charsguard survived Afghanistan where he lost his best friend – his K-9 handler James. Roman was a military dog until two years ago when he developed the ability to shift into a human. It’s not easy to learn how to be a man. He found a place to live in Mad Creek, a haven for the secret world of dog shifters. Finding a reason to live has been harder. That is, until a certain human walks into the Mad Creek Sheriff’s office and starts making trouble.
Matt Barclay has the worst luck. First he was shot in a SWAT drug raid, then he was sent as DEA investigator to Mad Creek, a little town in the California Mountains. Matt’s job is to keep a lookout for illegal drug farms, but nobody in the town wants him there. And then there’s Roman, Matt’s erstwhile baby-sitter. He’s the hottest guy Matt’s ever seen, even if he is a bit peculiar. If this job doesn’t kill Matt, sexual frustration just might.
The town is counting on Roman to prevent Matt from learning about dog shifters, Matt’s counting on Roman to be his work partner and tell him the truth, and Roman’s trying to navigate love, sex, and a whole lot of messy human emotions. Who knew it was so complicated to walk like a man?
REVIEW:
I just want to gush and mush over this book and could probably rave about it for a couple of days, but I’ll try to make this short. I loved this book, it was super sweet and it had me smiling from page one. I never wanted it to end and it is placed firmly on my all-time favourite’s shelf.
After losing his best friend and handler James in Afghanistan, Roman gets the spark and is able to turn into a human. He finds his way to Mad Creek where he found others like him, and slowly learning what it means to be human.
Matt is a former SWAT agent, injured in the line of duty and forced to make a career change and now working for DEA. His new assignment lands him in Mad Creek trying to get a top of the growing drug problems in the area. But working closely with Lance and Roman has its own set of issues and he is certain that there is something strange going on in the town.
I absolutely adored Roman in all his clueless and dorky doggie ways, trying to figure out how to go from dog to man and navigate the often confusing human world. He was so real, naïve and honest that you couldn’t help but fall for him from the start. It’s wonderful and awkward and truly hilarious and there is no doubt that Roman is both man and dog. He’s so unique and wonderful that I could easily read another few books with him.
Matt fell hard and fast for Roman, but getting so many mixed signals from him was beyond confusing – but so much fun for the reader. And it didn’t help that Roman didn’t always understand the situation or the questions asked. The slowly building romance between them was absolutely perfect. And Lance… I wonder how his ulcer fared when educating Roman about the human body and intimate relationships. He was just so adorably awkward that I just had to laugh out loud so many times!
The Dogmas were so heartbreaking and I’ll admit that more than one tear was shed while listening to them. What a beautiful bond Roman and James shared. With that kind of bond it’s no wonder Roman did get the spark to become human after James. I’m only sad James never got to see and know what kind of man Roman turned into. But then again he knew the dog truly and absolutely, so the man in Roman would probably have been no surprise.
I loved Matthew Shaw’s performance of this book. It was brilliant. He portrayed all of the feelings and emotions perfectly, and he made Mad Creek and everyone in the town come alive. He captured all the quirks and strangeness that surrounds the town. It was never a problem following along with the characters and each had a distinct voice. It was perfection and I know this is a book that I will listen to over and over again.
Needless to say, this was an incredibly, sweet and funny read and I can’t wait to go back to visit Mad Creek, which in my opinion can’t happen soon enough! If you haven’t read these books yet, read them now – it’s definitely worth your time!
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