Ames’ review of How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper.
Northern Exposure
Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.
For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.
If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .
I read and enjoyed the heck out of Molly’s contemporary romance And One Last Thing… earlier in the year so when I saw some positive buzz for this book, I overcame my paranormal burnout to pick it up and give it a try. I’m so glad I did. I thought How to Flirt was a fun, fluffy paranormal with some crazy characters that charm your socks off.
Mo has run away from the South to Grundy, Alaska for a change. She had a failed relationship to get over and she really needed to get away from her mother. Her parents are died-in-the-wool hippies and all Mo has yearned for is normalcy. Unfortunately, the one man who can warm her up on a winter’s night in Alaska happens to be a werewolf. How normal is that?
I loved Mo. She was a really fun character. She ends up getting a job in Grundy’s most popular watering hole working as a cook. She also whips up the most amazing desserts. She’s made quite the place for herself in Grundy. She really is a great character. And Cooper? I loved how mean he seemed at the beginning. Very reticent. And Mo can’t resist him even though he drives her crazy. Mo drives him equally mad. *g*
I like the juxtaposition of a Southern Belle in backwater Alaska.
“Just enjoy it. It’s a little harmless flirting. You don’t have to worry about serious intentions until they start offering you meat.”
I arched my eyebrow. “Is that some sort of double entendre?”
The werewolf stuff doesn’t even bother me. 4 out of 5 Recommend if you want some laughs.
This book is available from Pocket Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Pocket Books is currently having a PNR and UF ebook sale and this is one of the books included. It and a bunch of others are $3.99. I had already picked up the paperback in the Borders closing sale, otherwise I would buy it now for sure. Haven’t got to it yet due to my massive TBR pile, but I’m looking forward to reading it.
Jen — I also picked it up in the Borders sale. It’s a really charming book. I didn’t like the sequel nearly as much, mostly because Mo really drives the light-hearted humor in this one and the sequel’s heroine is much too angsty/witchy. But Harper’s done a great job with this one.
JenM-That’s a good deal, thanks for sharing!
CarlyM-I agree about Mo. She does keep it light. And also about the sequel, I didn’t enjoy that one as much.