'Bear Meets Girl' Pride series #7 by Shelly Laurenston

From the BLURB:

He's big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He's also about to get trapped by own his game. . .

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that's turning Crush's lone-bear world upside down--and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .

As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn't because Crush's stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways. . .

Marcella Malone has a few problems. Number one is that she just woke up wrapped around a big, gorgeous polar bear named Lou Crushek (who also happens to look like a crazy biker junkie). Second is the fact that her eighteen-year-old daughter is a brainiac nerd, getting ready for final exams and being a bit of a bore at home. Third is that Marcella’s fellow feline aunts are hounding her to start dating – and one aunt in particular is getting on Marcella’s last nerve. Fourth is the elite feline protection unit Marcella is dedicated to and currently working on an investigation with – while also kicking butt on the ice-skating rink as a mean and talented ice-hockey player.

But let’s go back to problem number one – the gorgeous polar who Marcella enjoys teasing, and who happens to be ex-undercover narcotics officer, Lou Crushek. . .  and who could help Marcella with problems three to four.

‘Bear Meets Girl’ is Shelly Laurenston’s seventh book in her paranormal romance ‘Pride’ series.

This book took me so long to finish reading. According to Goodreads, I began on March 27 and didn’t finish reading until April 24. Phew! That is a very long reading time, for me. Honestly though, I knew things weren’t going great for this particular ‘Pride’ installment when I took it to read on the train. A weird way to measure one’s enjoyment of a book? Perhaps. But with all other Shelly Laurenston books I haven’t been able to read them on public transport – because I just knew I'd laugh, guffaw and embarrass myself reading them in public. With ‘Bear Meets Girl’? No such worries. Sure, I chuckled while reading, but this seventh book didn’t elicit the same unmitigated joy as all other ‘Pride’ installments did in the reading. . .

In all other ‘Pride’ books, I felt Laurenston did a fantastic job of balancing the laughs with the lust. In this seventh book the romance takes a long time to develop and is somewhat overpowered by complex side-stories. Lou is stubbornly opposed to dating Marcella for a good long time. When he wakes up with her, naked, in his lap the morning after a big party (jello shots are to blame, but nothing transpired) he is horrified and embarrassed. Lou continues to be horrified and embarrassed when he keeps bumping into Marcella, at the police station where he works in the new supernatural unit and where Marcella works for the crack feline unit. And then Lou keeps seeing her at the ice-skating rink, where Marcella just so happens to play on Lou’s favourite ice-hockey team (and he learns, is descended from hockey royalty). Throughout these encounters Marcella revels in flirting with Lou, because it makes him so awkward and flustered (polar bears tend to hate change, while cats love mischief);

“My goal is to get you to loosen up. You’re so uptight.”
“Why do you care if I’m uptight or not?”
“Because I’m a caring and giving person.”
Imitating her stance, Crush crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her.
Finally, after a couple of minutes, she finally admitted, “All right, fine. In truth, I just like how your face gets all red when I embarrass you.”
“Honesty. How nice of you to finally use some.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I only torment those I actually like.”
“Why would that bit of information make me feel better? That’s like saying ‘I only set fire to the ones I love.’”

It takes a lot of back-and-forth and figurative pulling of pigtails (Lou’s) before these two admit they have actual feelings for one another. In my opinion, it took a little too long. The laughs and awkward moments were cute and all, but it meant that when things did get hot n’ heavy, there had been just a little too long of the goofing around so the transition to intimacy felt skewed.

I also think this particular ‘Pride’ installment had a few too many side-stories and minor characters. In this book Laurenston brings in the supernatural crime unit (headed by Dez from first book ‘The Mane Event’), plus the paranormal ice-hockey team (owned by Ric Van Holtz, from ‘Big Bad Beast’). I prefer the ‘Pride’ books in which one group of paranormals is in focus – like ‘The Beast in Him’ being all about the Smith wolf pack mixing with the wild-dogs. On another note; one thing I really like about the ‘Pride’ series is getting to meet minor characters who will eventually become main protagonists when their books come around – with Lou and Marcella, this is the first time we’re meeting them (at least to my memory), so I wasn’t previously invested in their romance.

I will admit that ‘Bear Meets Girl’ was still pretty funny and when Lou and Marcella stopped goofing around and actually got serious, they were pretty hot. But I felt like it was a long, slow slog to get to the good bits in this seventh book (whereas other ‘Pride’ books are usually consistent with chuckles and blushing). But all in all, this has been the worst in an otherwise unblemished series.

3/5 

'Big Bad Beast' Pride series #6 by Shelly Laurenston

From the BLURB:

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely-independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.

Dee-Ann Smith is a double-dose of bad-ass. Not only is she one of the infamous Smith wolves, she’s also an ex-marine turned special supernatural forces officer. Dee-Ann specializes in kicking butt and taking names. So it’s a little unusual that Ric Van Holtz (of the snooty Val Holtz wolves, and doubly-snooty restaurant chain) would take such a fascination to her.

Truth be told, Ric fell in love with Dee-Ann a long time ago, over a Hershey bar . . . and he fully intends to make her his mate. He knows she’s tough, independent and quick with a Bowie knife ... and he loves her every which way! But before Ric can concentrate on bringing Dee-Anne around to his way of thinking, there are a few problems with slaughtered hybrids that need his attention.

Someone is killing-off hybrids, whether for amusement, sport or just plain genocide . . . it’s wrong, and it has to end. So Ric puts his best girl on the job, Dee-Ann.

‘Big Bad Beast’ is the sixth book in Shelly Laurenston’s ridiculously addictive paranormal ‘Pride’ series.

I have been jonesing for this book for MONTHS! I ravished Laurenston’s ‘Magnus Pack’ and ‘Pride’ series over the course of a few weeks . . . and I was seriously starting to miss my regular dosage of funny-sexy-shifter-romance. So I definitely went into ‘Big Bad Beast’ with high expectations . . . and came away with a smile on my face and a rabid-need for the seventh instalment in this series.

We met Dee-Ann and Ric at the beginning of the ‘Pride’ series. Dee-Ann is cousin to the numerous Smith wolves who pop up throughout the series (namely Bobby-Ray and Sissy Mae), while Ric is best friends with the grizzly Loch MacRyie. These are two established characters whose romance has been brewing for a few books now . . . ever since Ric laid eyes on the ornery she-wolf and decided he loved her. There’s always the chance that an established romance can fizzle when the couple finally get around to their time in the spotlight. But this is Shelly Laurenston we’re talking about; I don’t think this author is physically capable of writing a sub-par romance.

What makes Dee-Ann and Ric work is that they’re opposites-attracting. Dee-Ann is an Alpha through-and-through. She has scars and a dark side; she’s one tough chickie and doesn’t apologize for it. Ric, on the other hand, is a cultured food connoisseur and chef-extraordinaire. Ric is Beta to Dee-Ann’s Alpha . . . and it just works. It’s not that Ric is a ‘sissy’ or in any way unmanly, it’s that he respects and loves Dee-Ann’s strength and revels in it. Plus, Laurenston takes plenty of opportunity to poke fun at the switch-up between this doting male and his tough-as-nails female;

“Oh, come on. Can I at least sit here and watch you strut into the bathroom bare-ass naked?”

“No, you may not.” He threw his legs over the side of the bed. “However, you may look over your shoulder longingly while I, in a very manly way, walk purposely into the bathroom bare-ass naked. Because I'm not here for your entertainment, Ms. Smith.”

“It’s Miss. Nice Southern girls use Miss.”

“Then I guess that makes you a Ms.”

The ‘Pride’ series is a guaranteed chuckle-fest. There were plenty of bellyaching laughs throughout ‘Bid Bad Beast’ . . . a stand-off between Dee-Ann, Ric and a mother rat was amongst my favourites. And fans of the ‘Magnus Pack’ series should be on the lookout for an hilarious cameo appearance by Angela, who is as bitchy-brilliant as ever!

What I love about Laurenston’s funny is that it comes so effortlessly. This is a paranormal series with shifters, hybrids and were-politics. Not to mention healthy doses of hellsa-sexy erotica . . . so throwing comedy on top of all that could get messy and forced. But Laurenston is incredible at effortless repartee and easy wit. So it’s totally natural when characters start improvising and running with a joke;

Ric crumbled the cigarette in his hands until it was nothing but bits of paper and tobacco. “If we think about starting up again, we’ll call each other.”

“And chat about it like girlfriends?”

“Only after we talk about what Prada is coming out with in their latest fall shoe line.” When she only stared at him, Ric quickly added, “I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I don’t wear Prada. They make my ankles look fat.”

I love Shelly Laurenston’s ‘Pride’ series, hard-core. With ‘Big Bad Beast’ we’re now six books deep, but realistically I can see this series continuing well into the double-digits. We’re introduced to a few new characters in ‘Big Bad’, among them a down-on-his-luck Van Holtz cousin called Stein and Dee-Ann’s horny best friend, Rory Lee Reed, who has a penchant for human one-night-stands. We also get to know a few peripheral characters a little better, like the hybrid girl Hannah. I would also love it if Laurenston gave us a book about the puppy-love teenagers, Johnny and Kristan (who don’t really make an appearance in this instalment, but who I am rooting for nonetheless!). I would love books for any and all of these characters . . . and since ‘Big Bad Beast’ just whet my appetite for more of Shelly Laurenston’s sexy paranormal chuckle-fest, I have my fingers crossed that there is more in store for the ‘Pride’!

5/5

'Beast Behaving Badly' Pride series #5 by Shelly LAURENSTON

From the BLURB:

Ten years after Blayne Thorpe first encountered Bo Novikov, she still can't get the smooth-talking shifter out of her head. Now he's shadowing her in New York-all seven-plus feet of him-determined to protect her from stalkers who want to use her in shifter dogfights. Even if he has to drag her off to an isolated Maine town where the only neighbors are other bears almost as crazy as he is...

Let sleeping dogs lie. Bo knows it's good advice, but he can't leave Blayne be. Blame it on her sweet sexiness-or his hunch that there's more to this little wolfdog than meets the eye. Blayne has depths he hasn't yet begun to fathom-much as he'd like to. She may insist Bo's nothing but a pain in her delectable behind, but polar bears have patience in spades. Soon she'll realize how good they can be together. And when she does, animal instinct tells him it'll be worth the wait...

‘Beast Behaving Badly’ is the fifth (and coolest titled) book in Shelly Laurenston’s epically awesome ‘Pride’ series.

Bo Novikov is a demon on the ice . . . well, a hybrid half lion/polar bear to be more precise. He is one of the most feared ice hockey players in the game. He has a take no prisoners approach to the sport, he doesn’t play fair but he does put the ‘ME’ in team. It’s his puck, after all.

During one particularly bloodied game, Bo spies the little wolfdog, Blayne Thorpe, in the crowds and is instantly intrigued. Perhaps it’s not a good omen that upon first introductions, Blayne mistakes Bo and his hulking form for a would-be serial murderer;

“Blayne – ”

Blayne gasped, cutting him off. “How do you know my name? How long have you been hunting me? Well, you can take your cellar of death where you keep all the bodies of the women you’ve slaughtered over the year and go to hell. Because this target, which you probably refer to as ‘it’ in your head to keep me as merely an object, is not going down without a fight!”

But once Blayne calms down enough to realize that Bo is in fact a hockey star and not a serial killer, she turns advantageous. Blayne begs and pleads Bo to break his rigid training schedule and help her train for her derby battles. Soon, the pair forms an unlikely friendship that is soon thrown into danger when Blayne is hunted down by humans who want her for their hybrid cage-fights. Bo whisks Blayne away to Ursus County and his fellow bear family where things take a turn for the steamy. . .

It’s no secret that I love Shelly Laurenston and worship at the altar that is her ‘Pride’ series. ‘Beast Behaving Badly’ is yet another paranormal romance triumph and worthy of high-praise.

First off, Bo and Blayne have one of the kookiest and funniest first meetings of any couple I have ever read. Yes, she thinks he is a serial killer and hides away from him in a bathroom where he is forced to rip a door of its hinges in order to invite her out to coffee. It’s awkward and hilarious and I loved it!

Blayne was first introduced in the fourth ‘Pride’ novel, ‘The Mane Squeeze’. I loved her then but I adore her after reading ‘Beast Behaving Badly’. Blayne is constantly running at full-tilt; she says what’s on her mind and can be as entertained by a squirrel as she can by chasing her own tail. Badgers are out to get her and sugar sends her nuclear. She is hyper and incredible and I loved her.

Bo is Blayne’s polar (ha!) opposite. He’s inflexible and determined – he likes lists and schedules and detests tardiness. He needs a little Blayne in his life to shake things up and wake him up. These two are too cute (as all of Laurenston’s couples tend to be) they were snarky but lustful;

“Don’s sashay away from me,” he murmured, enjoying the view.

She gasped, stopped. “I do not sashay anywhere.” She talked with both hands now without facing him. “I may saunter. Even glide. But I do not sashay. That is for the ladies of the night.”

So, I read ‘Beast Behaving Badly’ with a somewhat heavy heart. Because now I'm at the end of the ‘Pride’ series, for the time being. The sixth novel is ‘Big Bad Beast’ and will be about Ric Van Holtz and the wolf who has him in a tizzy, Dee-Ann Smith. But I have to wait until May for the release. MAY!?! I'm going to have to go through Laurenston’s pseudonym G A Aiken backlist just to tide me over.

That being said, I do hope that ‘Big Bad Beast’ won’t be the last in the pride series. I really want to read Johnny and Kristan’s story – the wolfdog and wolf teenagers of Jessica Ann’s pack. These two are so cute and I'm loving their puppy-love side story. Fingers crossed they get a full-blown book!

5/5

Book #6 - May 1st 2011

'The Mane Squeeze' Pride series #4 by Shelly LAURENSTON

From the BLURB:

Growing up on the tough Philly streets, Gwen O'Neill has learned how to fend for herself. But what is she supposed to do with a nice, suburban Jersey boy in the form of a massive Grizzly shifter? Especially one with a rather unhealthy fetish for honey, moose, and . . . uh . . . well, her. Yet despite his menacing ursine growl and four-inch claws, Gwen finds Lachlan "Lock" MacRyrie cute and really sweet. He actually watches out for her, protects her, and unlike the rest of her out-of-control family manages not to morbidly embarrass her. Too bad cats don't believe in forever.

At nearly seven feet tall, Lock is used to people responding to him in two ways: screaming and running away. Gwen-half lioness, half tigress, all kick-ass-does neither. She's sexy beyond belief and smart as hell, but she's a born protector. Watching out for the family and friends closest to her but missing the fact that she's being stalked by a murderous enemy who doesn't like hybrids . . . and absolutely hates Gwen. Lock probably shouldn't get involved, but he will. Why? Because this is Gwen-and no matter what the hissing, roaring, drape destroying feline says about not being ready to settle down, Lock knows he can't simply walk away. Not when she's come to mean absolutely everything to him.

‘The Mane Squeeze’ is the fourth book in Shelly Laurenston’s ‘Pride’ series.

Gwen O’Neill is a ligon (tiger/lion hybrid) – she can turn her head 180°, go ‘house cat’ on her enemies and generally take care of herself when anti-hybrid bullies want a piece. What Gwen hasn’t quite mastered is her smothering family. Her promiscuous and hot-to-trot mother, ‘Roxy’ O’ Neill. Her half-brother, Mitchell Shaw and the half-brother of her half-brother, Brendan Shaw. All of these people who make up her ‘pride’ and Gwen can’t actually stand them . . . it’s not that she doesn’t have love in her heart. It’s just that Gwen is a strong, independent female who doesn’t appreciate being the baby of the pride. The only person who really ‘gets’ her is her best friend and fellow hybrid, wolfdog Blayne.

And then Gwen meets Lachlan "Lock" MacRyrie . . . a grizzly bear shifter with thighs to die for and an adorable penchant for toesies and honey. Lock is certainly someone who doesn’t treat Gwen like a baby. Not at all.

Lock likes to be content. He doesn’t like crowds. He does like honey. He doesn’t like that people are so intimidated by his size. But he does like that Gwen O’Neill isn’t one of those people. Gwen is one ligon who makes Lock hum, so it’s a good thing he returns the favour by making her purr. . .

I love, love, loved this couple! Gwen and Lock are ranking pretty high on my list of favourite ‘Pride’ couples, purely because they are the perfect combination of funny and adorable.

Especially delightful is their ‘boy meets girl’ story. It all starts with a rousingly grumpy Lock falling down a mountain with Gwen. Then he had to rescue her from organ-thieving doctors. Their chemistry was instantaneous and simmering so Gwen’s bestie, Blayne, decided to help things along and play cupid. No matter how much Gwen’s half-brothers, Mitch and Brendan Shaw, tried to break the couple up . . . Blayne was tenacious in her cupid role;

Blayne slammed her hands against the table and leaned in. “Now listen up, you Navy-loving son of a bitch! If my friend wants that bear, she’s gonna get that bear. And neither hell nor you nor some big-haired, twenty-hour-sleeping king of the idiots is gonna stop me from making sure she gets that bear!”

And when Gwen and Lock do get together, it is sexy as all get out! For one thing, Shelly Laurenston has written some very interesting quirks for bear shifters, like their prehensile lips;

Gosh, this was awkward. “I mean . . .” Damn, what did he mean? “They can move independently. When I'm bear, they’re completely unattached from my jaw, and as human – I can kind of play with that.”

She leaned back a little more, her furrowed brow turning to an outright frown and well on its way to a healthy scowl. “Are you telling me that your lips are like . . .” She had this look on her face that could be a look of disgust or a look of confusion, he had no idea which one. Confusion he could handle . . . disgust, however . . .

“Your lips are like fingers?”

Yep. Lock’s lips act like fingers, independent from his jaw. And when Gwen discovers this interesting information . . . bedroom experimentation (hilariously!) ensues. Seriously, this scene had me laughing out loud.

Lock is perhaps my favourite male character thus far. It has nothing to do with the fact that bears are my favourite animal (and I had a teddy bear collection as a kid). Lock is just gorgeous. He’s a giant of a man, and somewhat shy of his imposing body. But underneath the grizzly morning personality, Lock is a big softie. He loves honey, and playing with his toes. He was too freakin cute!

How could Shelly Laurenston improve her already incredible ‘Pride’ series? How could her combination hilarious/hot writing get any better? I’ll tell you how - roller derby. Hells yeah!

As Laurenston is want to do in her series, she writes outlandish characters and even more wild storylines. ‘The Mane Squeeze’ is a fairly straightforward ligon meets bear love plot . . . but with an added storyline about an age-old roller derby rivalry between wolf and lioness shifters. Oh yeah. This series just got awesome(r) . . . and the skating finale of ‘Squeeze’ is a brilliant bit of jamming bloodthirstiness.

5/5

'The Mane Attraction' Pride series #3 by Shelly LAURENSTON

From the BLURB:

Weddings have the strangest effect on people. How else to explain the fact that Sissy Mae Smith woke up in Mitch Shaw's bed the morning after her brother Bobby Ray tied the knot? Or that gunmen are trying to kill Mitch, and Sissy Mae now has to escort a bleeding, stubborn, yet still incredibly sexy lion shifter to her Tennessee Pack's turf to keep him safe? It doesn't help that Mitch's appraising gaze makes her feel like the most desirable creature on earth, or that the ultimate stray cat is suddenly acting all kinds of possessive...Mitch is an undercover cop who's about to testify against some dangerous ex-associates. Even more worrisome, he's harbouring hot, X-rated fantasies about the fast - talking little canine - and he has to deal with every male in Sissy Mae's Pack sniffing around her in a way that makes his hackles rise. Mitch has his pride, and he intends to show Sissy Mae that when a lion sets out to make you his mate, the only thing to do is purr, roll over, and enjoy one hell of a ride...

‘The Mane Attraction’ is the third book in Shelly Laurenston’s fabulous ‘Pride’ series.

I have to admit, I had a little trepidation going into this third book. My hesitation centred on the heroine, Sissy Mae Smith.

We met Sissy back in first book ‘The Mane Event’ when she was introduced as Bobby Ray’s little sister, and Mace’s friend. But in the second book ‘The Beast in Him’ it was also revealed that Sissy was Jessica Ann’s childhood tormentor. Sissy was a high school bully, and Jessica Ann (now Bobby Ray’s wife) bore the brunt of Sissy’s Alpha attitude. This had me a little unsettled. Nobody likes a bully, and I wasn’t sure how I would like reading about a main character who is still quite proud of her bullying ways. . .

Sissy Mae Smith is one of the famed Smith’s. Their females, from Smithtown to Smithville, are notorious for being hot and mean. And Sissy is no exception. She has left hearts broken across the continent and been kicked out of more countries than you can shake a stick at. And she’s proud of her hedonistic ways. Sissy sees no merit in getting mated and whelped.

We met Mitch Shaw’s brother, Brendan, back in ‘The Mane Event’. Brendan married Sissy’s best friend, Ronnie Lee, and Mitch was introduced to the Smith clan, and Sissy. Ever since Mitch and Sissy have been thick as thieves. They have a purely platonic friendship based on mutual silliness and matching egos. But what Sissy doesn’t know is that Mitch is lying low. . . he’s a Philly cop who saw the wrong guy get whacked and now a mobster family is out to get him. After testifying in court Mitch will go into witness protection, never to be seen again . . . until Sissy and the Smith pack step in to help.

I really loved the fact that Mitch and Sissy started out as friends. It meant we got lots of glorious scenes of them just playing. They get along like a house on fire, and while there was always a crackling lust beneath their play, it was just plain fun to read them bounce off each other;

Sitting on his lap, Sissy gazed down at him. She pushed his hair out of his face and said, “Lord, all this hair.”

“Hey,” he corrected, “this is not merely hair. This is my mighty tawny mane. It’s a sign of my overwhelming manliness.”

“More like your overwhelming bullshit.”

He grinned. “That, too.”

And then, of course, when they do wake up to their attraction Shelly Laurenston pulls out her signature smut. And it is H-O-T. Both Mitch and Sissy unabashedly enjoy sex, and when they discover an admirable partner in each other, they embark on a hot and fun sex-romp;

Mitch pushed the door open and stood there looking too good to be remotely fair. He had on a fresh pair of sweatpants and . . . nothing else. They rode low on his hips, teasing cruelly. She wasn’t a saint, dammit!

“Sexy, sexy,” she growled at him before she could stop herself.

“You treat me like a whore.”

“You are a whore.”

He grinned. “This is true.”

I am a big Shelly Laurenston fan. I love her. I loved ‘Magnus Pack’ and I am loving ‘Pride’. But this is the first book of hers that left me slightly unsatisfied. And it’s purely to do with Sissy’s dubious history. In ‘Attraction’ Sissy’s brother, Bobby ‘Smitty’ Ray, has married Jessica Ann. The same Jessica Ann who Sissy tormented throughout high school. There is one scene in ‘Attraction’ where you think that maybe Jessica and Sissy have buried the hatchet and there is hope that they will become almost ‘friends’. . . but at the same time there was still an uneasiness about them, a still gaping wound that hasn’t quite healed. And Sissy remains unremorseful about her past bullying. That left me slightly uneasy. But it was the only thing in an otherwise unblemished book.

4.5/5

'The Beast in Him' Pride series #2 by Shelly LAURENSTON

From the BLURB:

Some things are so worth waiting for. Like the moment when Jessica Ward "accidentally" bumps into Bobby Ray Smith and shows him just how far she's come since high school. Back then, Jess' gangly limbs and bruised heart turned to jelly any time Smitty's "all the better to ravish you with" body came near her. So, some things haven't changed. Except now Jess is a success on her own terms. And she can enjoy a romp - or twenty - with a big, bad wolf and walk away. Easy.

The sexy, polished CEO who hires Smitty's security firm might be a million miles from the lovable geek he knew, but her kiss, her touch, is every bit as hot as he imagined. Jess was never the kind to ask for help, and she doesn't want it now, not even with someone targeting her Pack. But Smitty's not going to turn tail and run. Not before proving that their sheet-scorching animal lust is only the start of something even wilder...

‘The Beast in Him’ is the second book in Shelly Laurenston’s redonkulously cool ‘Pride’ series.

Bobby Ray ‘Smitty’ Smith met his mate when they were teenagers. The only problem was that little Jessica Ann Ward was an African wild dog in a town of wolf shifters. Cute-as-a-button and shy-as-a-mouse Jessie Ann didn’t stand a chance against the Smith clan wolves. . . especially his sister Sissy Mae. Smitty knew that if Jessie Ann could be bullied and beaten by his Alpha sister that she wouldn’t fit into the Smith family as his mate. So when Smitty left for the Navy at the age of eighteen he left Jessie Ann behind and never looked back. Until now.

Smitty has moved the Smith clan to New York, where Jessie Ann has transformed herself into mega-rich computer geek Jessica Ann Ward. She is Alpha of her own wild dog pack and surrounded by loyal friends and their pups. Now all Jessica needs is a mate to share her pack and life with. And even though she’s on the hunt for a life-mate, at the same time that Bobby Ray Smith re-enters her life, that’s no reason for Jessie Ann to forget his rejection of the past and succumb to his wily Smith charms . . . no reason whatsoever.

Oh my golly gosh, I love this series. Each time I crack open a new Shelly Laurenston book I think it can’t get better than the last. . . and so far, I have been proven wrong.

We met Smitty in ‘The Mane Event’ and I loved him. He’s a laid-back wolf charmer who is quick with the quips and a cock-sure grin. I loved him. He’s a southern gentleman and lustful bed-hopping wolf with a wickedly cheeky sense of humour. But Smitty was also deceptively complex, with hidden depths that are revealed when Jessie Ann re-enters his life.

Smitty grew up as ‘one of those Smith’s’. The Smith pack being a notoriously mean and loyal bunch – feared and revered amongst shifters. But Smitty didn’t always appreciate being judged for his family’s ruthlessness, a ruthlessness that saw his sister bully and beat on the one girl he cared about when they were younger. Smitty also grew up watching his parent’s tumultuous relationship, full of highs and low-blows;

He dropped his hands to the desk. “That’s not the point. I don’t want her thinking...”

“Thinking what?”

Smitty let out one of those soul-deep sighs that used to drive Mace crazy when they were on duty together. “When I was eleven, I walked in the kitchen just as my momma slammed one of those Thanksgiving Day turkeys into the back of the old man’s head. She dropped his ass too. Like two tons of garbage. The sad thing was I knew whatever he’d done – he’d deserved it.”

“And?”

“I just don’t want the next forty years to be filled with flying turkeys.”

When Smitty meets Jessie Ann after years apart, he is instantly drawn to her. But he’s wary of the territorial feelings she ignites in him – feelings that push Smitty closer and closer to that renowned feral Smith behaviour he so wants to curb around the smart, sexy and sophisticated Jessica Ward.

Jessica is a lovely counter-balance to Smitty and his crazy-ass pack. I loved Jessica because she is a through, unabashed geek. She loves Tolkien, candy-bar sword fights and video games. She is so gloriously uninhibited in her geekishness that she’s impossible not to like. And her pack of wild dogs are fantastic friends – they bust out the pom-poms when Jessica does something they like and they offer her much-needed shoe advice. I loved them. Their camaraderie is infectious and hilarious.

‘The Beast in Him’ also includes a cameo appearance from my favourite psycho Alpha – Sara Morrighan of the Magnus Pack. . . and she is as hilarious as ever. As Jessica Ann succinctly describes this insane she-wolf;

... she might be a couple of dog biscuits short of a full box of Milkbones.

‘The Beast in Him’ is another fabulous paranormal romance from Shelly Laurenston. Hers is a hilarious and erotic paranormal romance, with a fabulous New York City setting and outlandishly charming characters.

5/5

'The Mane Event' Pride series #1 by Shelly LAURENSTON

From the BLURB:

CHRISTMAS PRIDE

How come all the good-looking ones are insane? That's what runs through NYPD cop Desiree "Dez" MacDermot's mind the minute she hooks up again with her childhood buddy, Mace Llewellyn. It isn't just the way he stares at her with those too-sexy gold eyes-as if he could devour her on the spot. Or the six-four, built-like-a-Navy Seal bod-o-death. It isn't even that he sniffs her neck and purrs, making her entire body tingle. It's more about that disconcerting, shifting-from-man-to-lion thing that unhinges her…and makes her want more. Mace likes making Dez crazy. In fact, he likes her any way he can get her-in bed, on the desk, here, now, again. Together, they'd always been trouble, but Dez has no idea just how good trouble can feel…

SHAW'S TAIL

Brendon Shaw, hotel owner and lion shifter, has seen better days. He's been beaten, had a gun to the back of his head, and had to be rescued by a Pack of shape-shifting wolves. He didn't think he'd survive the night, much less find the woman of his dreams. And he never thought the woman of his dreams would have a Tennessee accent and wear cowboy boots. Once he sets his sights on her, the predator in him is ready to pounce and never let go. Ronnie Lee Reed is ready to change her life, and New York City is the place where any girl-even one who runs with a Pack-can redefine herself. First order of business: find a mate, settle down, and stop using men for sex. Even big, gorgeous, lion-shifting, oh-my-what-big-um-paws-you-have men. Then again…

Okay. It’s official. I have a new obsession and her name is Shelly Laurenston.

I sort of stumbled across her ‘Magnus Pack’ trilogy, but since then I have turned into a rabid fan-girl. So of course I am trolling through her back and current book list, consuming anything written by her brilliant pen.

‘The Mane Event’ is the first book in her ongoing ‘Pride’ series. ‘The Mane Event’ is really two stories in one, connected via New York’s lion pride.

Mason ‘Mace’ Llywelyn has left the Navy and returned home to his lion pride, headed by his eldest sister. But Mace really has no intention of becoming one of the breeding males, to be tossed aside when a beefier stud strolls by. No, Mace has his sights set on his (human) childhood sweetheart, turned tough NYPD cop. Desiree McDermot left one dull marriage and has no intention of entering into another one. . .

Brendan Shaw knows something is up with his brother. Getting kidnapped by the hyena pack and jumped by two humans had him pondering. . . but Brendan winding up in a hospital bed with a she-wolf sentry all but confirmed it. Though hospitalization does have its plus sides. . . like werewolf sweetie Ronnie Lee Reed and her enticing scent. As a lion male, Brendan Shaw really shouldn’t dream of settling down with one mate for the rest of his life. But Ronnie just incites that sort of compulsion in him.

On the surface, Shelly Laurenston’s paranormal books are just a bit of erotic fun. But by golly, she does it very well. It’s a very rare author who has me scrabbling around for their backlist and reading her books back-to-back, but Laurenston has me thusly enthralled. I can’t even pinpoint any one thing that has me addicted to Laurenston’s book. . . it’s the whole kit and caboodle, really.

She writes in the paranormal with effortless pizzazz – spouting off information about pride and pack hierarchy and ‘rules’ without going into too much detail (because she knows that aficionados will know it all already). She combines the fantastical and the practical with common-sense aplomb. She has her characters relying heavily on David Attenborough reruns to understand pack mentality and the inner workings of the male lion’s mind.

That woman. . . that woman was everything he’d ever wanted. He’d known it all those years ago. Tonight only confirmed it for him. The kiss and that simple touch practically blew his boots off. And she felt it too. He could see it on her face. He could smell it. Her desire rolled off her in waves and practically knocked him from the room.

No, he wasn’t letting Dez MacDermot get away. He’d take her down like his ancestors took down full-grown zebras.

I love that Laurenston keeps things light and fun in her erotica novel. At one point in ‘Shaw’s Tail’, Rhonda Lee comments that she’s glad Brendan can have a laugh while they’re in bed. . . because, really, naked grappling is kinda hilarious. It’s the same for ‘erotica’ reading – there’s often a lot to laugh about, as Laurenston illustrates, again and again. Her characters have fun in bed, but keep things naughty and sweet. And that light hilarity is required when Laurenston writes so many sex scenes. If each smutty scene was weighted down by inner monologues and protestations of love, they would get very heavy and boring. But with Laurenston writing so many sexual encounters between characters, she keeps things playful and teasing in the bedroom, reserving more serious talks of emotion for the clothing optional moments.

The sex is superb. There are a lot of sex scenes, but written with Laurenston’s trademark wit and brevity each one feels fresh and enjoyable.

I am absolutely in love with Laurenston’s humour. Some of her scenes catch me unawares and have me chortling (yes, chortling!) out loud for the joy.

“I don’t need y’all watching out for me.”

“Is that right?” The big grin on Rory’s face had Brendon’s eyes narrowing. Crouching by the fireplace, Ronnie’s brother looked back at Brendon. “Rhonda Lee ever tell you how she and Sissy Mae made money while travelling the world?”

“No. How did she – ”

“Hookin’,” Ronnie Lee tossed desperately. “I was a prostitute. A damn good one too.”

“Stop lyin’, Rhonda Lee,” her mother called from the kitchen. “I doubt you were good at all.”

Shelly Laurenston is a new favourite author of mine, and ‘The Mane Event’ just keeps pulling me into her orbit.

5/5