Tag Archives: Howl For It

Howl for It ReRead by Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Howl For It ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden
In: Howl For It (Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Werewolves
Pace: Fast
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2012

Thoughts

Howl for It is a great anthology with two fun and engaging novellas. Even on the reread, I absolutely adored both of these stories. They were a whole lot of fun, quite light and a fantastic way to leave aside the whole adulting thing for a little while. Both paranormal romances featured werewolves, but in starkly different ways – one was part of a greater series and filled in aspects of Laurenston’s Shifter World. The other, a story about Hunters and Shifters ultimately coming together.

I picked this up as a reread as part of my Laurenston ReRead, and there are zero regrets about this decision. I always love revisiting a well-loved anthology of stories, and Howl For It definitely ticks those boxes. It’s a great reminder of why I love reading anthologies – the novellas and short stories just work as a brilliant window into another world. Into a new author, or a great way to revisit someone that you have read before, and just want to return to again.

<- Wed or Dead ReReadLike a Wolf with a Bone ReRead ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Like a Wolf with a Bone ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Like a Wolf with a Bone ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.75
In: Howl for It (Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2008

Thoughts

Like a Wolf with a Bone is the story of Dee-Ann’s parents. Although Eggie is mentioned as a bit of a boogey man throughout the series, it is really Dee-Ann who keeps popping up and scaring everyone. So I kind of loved going back to this as part of my reread. It gives context to some of the things that come after, but also works really well as a standalone novella. I also love that there is a brief appearance of Sara Morrighan’s parents and the hints of what’s to come in their story too.

Although Darla Mae isn’t as aggressive as almost any of the women in this entire series, she is still an incredibly tough and strong willed woman. I love that she is a feminist and a pacifist who chooses not to engage and fight with others. Yet, when push comes to shove, she’s willing to dig her feet in for what (and who) she wants. It’s a reminder that strong women don’t have to fit a certain mold and can show their spine of steel in a multitude of ways. Plus, I’m always a fan of anyone who enjoys walking to the beat of their own drum.

As with all stories, I definitely want to talk about Darla Mae (the female) more than anyone else. I love that not only does Darla Mae fight her sisters for her right to choose the man she loves. But, ultimately, she also starts her own pie business (again, with her intense sisters) and starts the most intense and insane race known to Shifters. Having been part of my reread, I love how this ties in with Sissy Mae’s story and shows just how the car racing in Smithtown actually starts. Its hilarious. Its terrifying. And I plan on reading all about it again and again.

For some reason (that I should maybe talk to my therapist about), Eggie’s declaration of love to Darla Mae was incredibly beautiful and romantic. I love that within it is the fact that most people annoy him, but Darla Mae doesn’t. And therefore he loves her. It’s a funny approach, and one that I found ridiculously sweet. Declarations of love are always fun, but this just made it so much better.

<- Miss Congeniality ReReadChristmas Pride ReRead ->

Image source: Kobo

Like a Wolf with a Bone by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Like a Wolf with a Bone
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.5
In: Howl For It (Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Year: 2012

Thoughts

I’m really not used to reaching any kind of story with incredibly Southern names in it. Names like Darla Mae, Egbert…. It took me a little bit to get used to reading such names. But, once I moved past that, I definitely enjoyed this story. Particularly when I realised that it’s a tale about Dee Ann’s parents. Who I’ve only really met in the Honey Badger Chronicles, but I know I will have a greater appreciation for as I delve into the Pride series.

I thought that this was quite a humorous novella. Kind of like the Laurenston stories that I’ve already read so far. It had me smiling and laughing, and just all round enjoying this storyline. I mean, it’s a story of two individuals falling for each other. But in the meantime, there is a whole lot of family drama, killers on the loose and siblings who are determined to put their nose into everything. The perfect combination for a fun and fast paced tale.

I loved how Darla was able to just… handle everyone. She might be the meeker of the sisters, but she is only like that because she doesn’t feel the need to fight. The moment her sisters step too far over the line, she happily shoves them back into line and handles their nonsense. A perfect match for a man who is a known killer. Then, she also finds a way to mess with Egbert’s brothers, family and race fast cars.

A great novella that has me ready to dive into a whole new Laurenston series. I’ll definitely be devouring this series just as quickly as the rest of the books on my shelves.

<- Howl For ItMiss Congeniality ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Wed or Dead by Cynthia Eden

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Wed or Dead
Author: Cynthia Eden
In: Howl For It (Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Year: 2012

Thoughts

I’ve read a Cynthia Eden story before, a little while ago. But just the one, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect with this novella. Likewise, after reading the blurb for this tale, I thought I had an inkling of what I was going to enter into. None of these things prepared me for the story I got. And it was completely epic for that fact. I seriously loved this and had a great time reading through this novella.

There is a whole lot of betrayal and treachery throughout this story. The turns and the deceits happened so quickly that I got to a point I was expecting it with each turn of the page. I most definitely had a beating heart throughout this tale. And it most definitely made my poor heart hurt for both Gage and Kayla – they so obviously care for one another, but are also constantly thrown into the path of some seriously horrible drama.

Gage and Kayla work wonderfully as a couple, although Gage does spend most of this story underestimating her, and then getting his butt kicked. I love that Kayla is able to go toe to toe with Gage in every moment that he underestimates her. It made me smile and laugh. I love a strong woman who is able to stand up for herself and take people to task for underestimating them.

To add to the drama and heartbreak throughout this story, there is Kayla’s brother and the past trauma that they both experienced. You spend the whole time hoping that Kayla and Gage find their happily ever after, but also hoping that Kayla is able to find that with her own brother. And the two seem to be mutually exclusive conditions…

<- Like a Wolf with a BoneHowl For It ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Howl For It by Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Howl for It
Author: Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden
In: Howl For It (Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Short story collections, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Year: 2012

Thoughts

Howl For It is a fantastic collection of two wonderful, lusty novellas. They both fit nicely together in this collection, with the paranormal romance and werewolves as the centre point. Yet, Laurenston and Eden have two distinctly different voices that you will fall in love with. Both of these novellas are fast paced and filled with a decent amount of death and mayhem. A little bit of betrayal and a whole lot of strong males who can howl at the moon. Definitely a fun anthology to sweep you away on a moonlit night.

This is one of those anthologies that I’m really glad I bought, I look forward to reading it again and again. There was something kind of sweet about both of these stories. Even as they are tales that involve a whole lot of blood and death. I might already have both of these authors in my TBR, but I most definitely want more!

<- Wed or DeadLike a Wolf with a Bone ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia