Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: How to Wish Upon a Star 
SERIES: Howl at the Moon #3
AUTHOR: Eli Easton
NARRATOR: Matthew Shaw
PUBLISHER: Pinkerton Road
RELEASE DATE: August 9, 2016
LENGTH: 7 hours 42 minutes
BLURB:
Dr. Jason Kunik is working on the most earth-shattering genetics project ever: DNA mapping of a new species, the quickened – dogs who can shift into human form. The problem is, no one knows the quickened exist, and Jason can’t betray them by publishing his studies. When he moves to Mad Creek to continue his research in a town full of quickened, all he wants is peace, quiet, and to be allowed to bury himself in his work. Perhaps if he figures out how the mutation is activated, he can silence his own inner dog forever.
Milo is a hospice comfort dog who has bonded with, and lost, many beloved patients in his life. He intuitively understands sickness and pain on a spiritual level most can’t see. When he gains the ability to become a man, he thinks he finally has everything he ever wanted. But being a man isn’t the same thing as being loved, and taking shelter in Mad Creek isn’t the same thing as finding a home.
When a mysterious illness hits Mad Creek and threatens all the quickened in town, it’s up to the scientist and the comfort dog to figure out what it is and how to stop it. Along the way they might discover that true love is possible – if you wish upon a star.
REVIEW:
How to Wish Upon a Star was another sweet story in the Howl at the Moon series. It does have a bit of a different feel to it than the previous books as a lot of it is focused on finding a cure for the illness spreading through Mad Creek rather than the relationship between Jason and Milo. But I enjoyed listening to it all the same.
Scientist Jason Kunik has a mission in his life. He wants to find how dogs become quickened, to find what triggers the change. But he has one problem; his research subjects are far from helpful when interviewed – he’s even had one man flee through a window to get away. So when he finds himself taking in a newly quickened man he realises he has the perfect subject for his studies right under his nose.
Milo was so sweet and adorable. His story was one of heartbreak, of so much loss and my heart just broke in so many pieces for him. His only wish was one of belonging, finding a true home. He’s that kind of caring person that keeps giving even when he’s nothing left to give, and more than anything you wanted to wrap him up in one giant hug and never let go.
It took a long time for me to warm to Jason, he came across like a very cold, unsympathetic and uncaring person. Sure, it was all a front and shield to keep him from getting hurt like he had in the past, but he’d perfected it too much and there were so many times I wished he would just allow himself to truly feel.
Milo was the true star of this book and I wish we’d seen a lot more of him throughout. You just couldn’t help but love him. You, like everyone else in his path fell in love with him at first sight, and were happily wrapped around his paw for life.
The story wasn’t as good as the previous ones have been, it lacked a bit of the humour, the intimacy and cuteness. It was a bit too focused on the epidemic spreading through town, for Jason to find that elusive cure and keep from being infected himself.
Matthew Shaw was again brilliant in his narration of this book and I can’t think of even one thing to change. It was just perfection, plain and simple. I loved every second of listening to his performance and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The Howl at the Moon series is one of my absolute favourites and I always have such fun visiting Mad Creek – you can never have too many dogs or too much doggie love in your life. And the people of Mad Creek have that in abundance and, most of them, are happy to share – with the select few that they invite to their town. Onto the next one!
RATING:
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