One Good Book Deserves Another

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Naked Werewolf, Book 2
Rating: 4 Stars
Length: 352 Pages, 4541 Locations
Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle


Maggie Graham has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders as alpha of the Crescent Valley werewolf pack near the small town of Grundy, Alaska. She has to run her pack, protect them, and, sometime in the future - the further away the better, get mated so she could birth a few pups to help increase the numbers of her threatened species. The responsibilities of an alpha were those she felt she was best suited for after her brother Cooper abdicated his position years ago and she helped kill Eli, the werewolf with a pesky penchant for homicide who took over in Coop's absence.

A big part of protecting the werewolves who depend on her is making sure their existence remains a secret from humanity. Being a 'bite first, bite again, and keep biting until the victim loses too much blood to ask questions' sort, when she finds out a human researcher has shown up in town to seriously investigate werewolves, Maggie's first...well, okay, only instinct is to make the guy's inevitable demise look like an accident. Then she comes face to face with self-labeled zoological anthropologist Nicholas J. Thatcher, PhD.

If the inability to string a coherent sentence together and resultant vapid babbling weren't bad enough, there was the excessive drooling and the heavy panting...while in her human form! How weird is that? No doubt about it, dominant werewolf Maggie Graham, the girl who knows a hell of a lot more about flashing fang and fighting than flirting, is in way over her head as she falls face first into a case of puppy lust with the one human determined to expose her kind's most closely guarded secret.

Awkward!

Harper hits another high note in this followup to her hilarious book, How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf. Set about a year after the wacky romance of Mo and Cooper, little sister Maggie, a werewolf with a penchant for sarcasm and a bit of an aggression management problem, tells her story of incautious romance and pack life in this slick and funny book.

I admit, I have a fondness for quick witted smart-asses, tomboys, and strong female characters, so I felt an instant appreciation for Maggie. One I wasn't expecting, actually, but she has mellowed from the major bitch she was in the previous book and embodies a decided sarcastic contrariness without losing likability. That's a very good thing, because I was leery of reading about her as a lead character after her introduction in that one. As it turns out, I found her easier to relate to than the more girly Mo.

Nick was a charmer, too, and made a great romantic male lead. He wasn't the dour grump that Coop was at the start of the first book, so I warmed up to him a little quicker than I did Cooper, and I really enjoyed the way he related to Maggie and his acceptance of his widened world view. They were a strong romantic pair and their relationship was both sizzling and fun.

As much as I enjoyed both of them, and I was thoroughly entertained by the whole of the story, The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf wasn't quite as funny as its predecessor, and while it made me chuckle throughout, there were fewer laugh-out-loud moments. The non-romantic plot threads were a little less cohesive, as well, and I found the mystery and outside threat to the pack wasn't as well developed as Eli's thread had been. The level of intensity and danger just missed rising to the same level as the humor and romance, which wasn't a problem in the first book.

There was a nifty plot twist towards the end I didn't see coming, though, and I love when that happens. I didn't so much love the way the story evolved immediately after it, though. It was a strong storyline with a lot of potential for conflict and complex resolution, but it wasn't given as much development as it could have been so it ended up falling a little flat for me. I wish it had been afforded more room to have a larger impact on the overall book.

I ended up feeling largely charmed and amused by The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf, but wish that it had gone just a bit further on some of the story elements. It was a highly entertaining read, though slightly lacking in plot complexity. Harper has proven she has a genuine gift for humor and romance, and has done so while utilizing a first person point of view narrative that I normally don't prefer for books in the romance genre. She makes it work for her, though, and with aplomb, by creating likable, sympathetic, and hilarious primary characters and stories that are sheer fun to experience. Like this one.

Naked Werewolf Series:

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: N/A
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Length: 384 Pages, 4353 Locations
Formats: Paperback, Kindle


When Lacey Terwilliger finds out that her husband of eight years is cheating on her with his secretary, she fights back. For eight years she's been the little woman, the housewife dedicated to her husband's career and their social standing, chairing causes, setting up lunches and meetings, doing whatever she could and whatever he asked to further his career. And when she thinks about it, she can't even say she was happy in the marriage. She was consumed by it. So to have her husband become such a tragic cliche blows her world apart...then ignites her temper.

In a fit of well-deserved fury, she emails every single friend, client, and family member with the monthly newsletter that she writes for her husband. Except this one is a heck of a lot more...newsworthy.

When that letter goes viral, everything in Lacey's life pretty much hits the fan. She leaves her husband, but the ensuing media frenzy forces her to leave town. People hate and are embarrassed by her, her soon-to-be ex-husband is suing her, and her own father is giving her the cold shoulder. She slips away to her lakeside cabin to lick her wounds, only to find surly, unfriendly neighbor Lefty Monroe, who is ready to bite her head off every time he sees her.

At first it didn't seem like the second phase of her life was off to a very auspicious start, until Lacey realizes that the very thing that got her into this mess to begin with, her writing, could be exactly what gives her a new chance at life...and love.

Written with Molly Harper's quirky sense of humor, And One Last Thing ... is a light, humorous chick lit read. It was nice to see Harper transition into a non-paranormal genre. I appreciate her sense of humor and enjoy her technical skill and writing style.

I hesitate, though, to consider this a romance novel, as it spoke louder to me as light woman's fiction. I was more compelled by Lacey's evolution from a woman who defined herself by her husband's career to a woman who found her independence and blossomed. The romance was more of a subplot in that regard and while I enjoyed Monroe and liked him and Lacey together, the evolution of their relationship hit a few sour notes with me. There were a few times when Monroe's reaction to some of Lacey's actions and decisions seemed a bit...over the top or overly vehement.

The humor in the book was a bit more muted than I'm used to from Harper. It was a less comedic read than either her Jane Jameson or Naked Werewolf series. But maybe that's just my impression because I sympathized with the betrayal to such a degree. I wasn't thrilled at Lacey's father's lack of support, though, or how often Lacey got smacked on the hand for posting that letter, and the entire town turning against Lacey seemed a little much.

Actually, this is one of those books that I can appreciate for the skill with which it's written, but isn't to my personal taste. The romance seemed secondary to Lacey's post-letter awakening and as the narrative is told in a first person point of view (never a preference of mine for romance), I didn't get the sort of insight into Monroe that would have really fleshed him out as a romantic lead.

I wasn't pleased with the reaction Lacey got for writing that letter nor was I thrilled with the direction of the book from there. All of the reactions to Lacey seemed so extreme, and the backlash for writing the letter so negative, I found it upsetting instead of humorous. Where were the Lacey supporters? Where were the women who admired her for doing what they wished they had done or could do? Was it just Maya? That's depressing. True, it's very southern in that accepting-whatever-crisis-comes-your-way-just-don't-make-a-scene sort of way, but I subscribe to the other southern way of handling a cheating spouse: gator bait.

In the end, I just didn't feel like the story went in the direction my tastes and preferences lie, and the romance wasn't as large a part as I would have preferred. It's a good book, but it just didn't speak to me personally. I can't wait for Harper's next Naked Werewolf book, though. It's been a while since I've laughed as often as I did when reading How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf and I can't wait to see what the little psycho Maggie has up her sleeve.

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Naked Werewolf, Book 1
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Length: 384 Pages, 4620 Locations
Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle


Slipping out of Mississippi and moving to the small town of Grundy, Alaska to escape the invasive influence of her hippie parents seemed like a great idea to Mo Duvall-Wenstein, but the culture shock may just kill her - if she can survive the winter, the quirky locals...oh yeah, and the surly, cantankerous werewolf. Who may or may not be savagely killing locals and tourists.

And the sad thing is, all that still beats being close enough for her mother to barge in on her whenever she wants.

Molly Harper kicks off a hilarious new paranormal romance series that ended up teaching me a bit about myself as a reader. I'm a sucker for stories that make me laugh out loud (I knew that already), and there were plenty of giggles, guffaws, and snorts of amusement in How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf. First person POV isn't my preference for romance novels, but Mo's wacky, sharp-witted, and often self-deprecating humor really sold me on this book. I enjoyed her so much, in fact, and appreciated the very thorough view into her psyche and her life, that other aspects of the book that might normally concern me just seemed like background noise that was easy to take in stride (that was the surprise).

The plot was simple but the uncluttered nature of it really worked for me when mixed with the comedic style. I didn't find myself getting overly concerned about the immaturity and impulsiveness of a twenty-nine year old woman basically sneaking out the back door of Mississippi while her parents weren't looking and high tailing it to Alaska, maybe because Mo was upfront and very astute in acknowledging both the necessity of doing so and the immaturity of it. It was a stretch for me, but several solid examples of the justification and the overall humor of it kept it from feeling too kitschy.

There wasn't a tremendous amount of world building in the paranormal arena, and what was there was mostly imparted in narrative dialogue between Mo and the werewolf Cooper so it never really felt like it was being incorporated into Mo's expanding worldview or becoming part of some large paradigm shift, just imparted like a story within the story. In fact, despite a glimpse or two of the pack and pack life, there just wasn't a lot of the paranormal theme in the book at all, which did seem odd considering the male romantic lead was a werewolf. In that vein, the book seemed more like a contemporary romance where one of the leads just happened to turn four-legged and furry.

The ease in which Mo accepted the existence of supernatural creatures was a bit surprising and the subplot of a rampaging wolf/werewolf was pretty predictable and wasn't very original, but within the scope of the book, neither were a major detractor. In almost any other book, though, all of those things would be - and have been - major complaints of mine, yet I loved this book despite them all.

Mo was a blast and I thought Cooper was perfect. I loved his gruff, standoffish demeanor just as much as I enjoyed when that got peeled away to show off a playful, protective man. I also loved how Harper developed the relationship between him and Mo. Again, maybe not the most original in concept, or the most complex in design, but it worked so very well here. And it was all so very, very funny.

He peed on her porch, for goodness sake! That's hilarious!

Molly Harper has the sort of comedic voice that most appeals to me in writing, and she develops likable characters as she tells decent stories with that voice. I was very fond of her Jane Jameson series, but the style of the story in that light urban fantasy series isn't a favorite of mine. It was the humor that drew me in there and the cast of quirky characters that kept me coming back. This book falls far closer along my lines of reading preference and it was much funnier, and I loved Mo in a way I just couldn't bring myself to love Jane. I've pre-ordered the next book in the Naked Werewolf series, The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf, and can't wait to see what Cooper's violent little werewolf sister Maggie brings to the table. Given Harper's sense of humor, writing style, and the sort of bawdy, ribald fun that was shown here, I envision nothing but a rip-roaring, howling good time.

Genre: Light/Comedic Urban Fantasy
Series: Jane Jameson, Book 3
Rating: 4 Stars
Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle


I'm not sure if the Jane Jameson series is intended to be a trilogy or not, but after finishing the third installment, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever, I'd say it reads very well like it should be. Jane's back with her trusty friends, family squabbles, and boyfriend angst in this book about the life and loves of an ex-librarian-turned-vampire just trying to make a little something of herself.

Wielding the double-edged sword of witticism and sarcasm and brandishing a shield of self deprecation to cover insecurity, Jane manages yet again to charm and amuse as she deals with the doubts and fears of a potential cheating sire/lover, the annoyance of family, the terrors of the pink Courtneys, and the danger of a potential stalker, all while she opens her bookstore and helps her best friend and his new wife get ready for cubs...er...kids.

I've enjoyed each book in this series as light, cute, whimsical romps...with a wee bit of fang...and this one in particular was a pleasant road trip towards maturity, confidence, and a freedom of spirit that Jane had been previously lacking. With the comfort of familiar faces that are all quirky and fresh, Nice Girls provides a few hours of relaxation and escapism without forcing you to think too hard or relate too closely to the goings on, even while Jane's exploits and concerns, fears and doubts, hopes and dreams so closely resemble our own. She truly is an Everywoman with fangs, and that's one of the most appealing aspects of this series (trilogy?).

My only significant complaint about this book in particular, and the overall series in general, is that every major issue that Jane had, every true crisis of heart and hope, came to an almost too-comfortable resolution in the last few chapters of this book. I would've liked to have seen a more gradual progression as things fell into place and Jane started growing up and becoming more comfortable with her fangs, instead of having it all piled up at the end. That's strictly a personal preference, however, and not a critique of the way Harper has told her story. I will say it made me question whether or not these characters could remain interesting over a larger arc than what we've been given, and is what's made me think the intent for Jane was a trilogy. Regardless, I say, "Long live the Everyvamp!" And enjoy Jane's latest escapades.

In order the series (trilogy?) is:
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1)
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2)
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson, Book 3)

Genre: Light/Comedic Urban Fantasy
Series: Jane Jameson, Book 2
Formats: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle

4 Stars
Jane's a Funny, Funny Girl...For a Dead Chick

Poor Jane. She's got the bridesmaid dress from hell, a dead great aunt with a penchant for getting some ghostly nookie in her living room, a mother who refuses to come to terms with her less-than-alive status (and still foists food off on her at every chance), a grandmother who's a black widow - maybe, a sister who loathes her, a boyfriend/sire who keeps disappearing for weeks at a time with suspicious reasons...when there are any, and a best friend who's begun to make some disturbing sexual and emotional advances on her - despite his engagement to a werewolf (whose family could eat him). Oh yeah, and she's a vampire.

Jane's life is like a cross between an I Love Lucy special and an episode of Punk'd. And it's hysterical at times. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men is a definitively original, character-driven narrative of life on the other side of a pulse for the ex-librarian and slightly geeky Jane. It's not always easy, it's not always comfortable, but she's making do with what she has as she comes to terms with it all. And man, her inner monologue makes me laugh.

I personally enjoyed Harper's first Jane book, Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1), just a wee bit more, though this one was funnier. I just prefer books with a bit more of a story-driven plot and this one was light on that. That's a personal preference, though, not a critique, because without a doubt, Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men is one of the funniest books I've read in a very long time.

The few critical issues I have with the book is centered around Jane's family. I hate them. I really, really do. I think her mother needs to get her head out of her a....er...nether regions and her sister needs to have a house dropped on her - or a tree (can we get Gabriel to do that? I've heard he's good for that sort of thing). I'm not sure why Jane hasn't smacked the stupid out of her sister and I'm not sure why her Dad hasn't gotten control of his wife - and the fact that he hasn't tried and goes around looking helpless about it doesn't exactly warm him in my estimation). I also had a problem with Gabriel's comings and goings and how Jane dealt with it - or doesn't. There wasn't any true development of that relationship because he just wasn't around enough, and when he was it seemed very uncomfortable for him and Jane. Left me feeling sort of weird about their whole relationship.

I can't stress enough, though, that this book is perfect for a laugh. If you like your comedy reading with a bit of a bite and don't mind a Seinfeld-esque story-about-nothing, I highly recommend the Jane Jameson series. It's an absolute charmer.