Tag Archives: Paranormal Romance

The Beast in Him ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Beast in Him ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #2
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, Novel
Year: 2008

Thoughts

The Mane Event and Shaw’s Tail might have loosely introduced the New York Smith Pack and all of their insanity, but it’s not until The Beast in Him that I became truly enmeshed in Laurenston’s Shifter World. Both in my first read, and this reread, I might have enjoyed the four novellas the preceeded this, but it was Bobby Rae and Jessie Ann’s story that really solidified my desire to dive into this series and story. Particularly because I absolutely adored Jessie Ann’s total and utter insanity, and Bobby Rae’s unshiftable will, regardless of what course and action he chose to follow.

I love that, paranormal tropes, Wild Dog insanity and just a whole lot of crazy aside, The Beast in Him, at its core is a second chance romance. Bobby Rae and Jessie Ann may not have actually been a couple in a past life, but they definitely have some history. And that history leads to some pretty decent hang ups. Mostly on Jessie Ann’s behalf, but that just made her refusal to dive right in all that much more fun. And some of the games she plays prior to letting Bobby Rae back into her life all that much more hilarious.

As the true start of the Pride series (at least in my mind, the four novellas are prequels), I love that Laurenston begins to introduce the idea of prejudice against hybrids. Nothing really obvious, but the occasional insidious comments here and there. It’s even better that all of this prejudice comes from external sources, and quite frankly, both Bobby Rae and Jessie Ann just do not care. Once they’ve both decided on a path, they stubbornly stick to it. Even if that path is towards one another and annoys untold individuals.

One of my favourite parts ever about this book though has to be the unity in Jessie Ann’s Pack of Wild Dogs. I, personally, am a big fan of the African Wild Dog, so I loved how Laurenston was able to create shifters in this image. Not only do they work fantastically as a team, but their joy and pleasure in each other that I’ve witnessed in real life just leaps off of the pages. As does their love for their pups… something that I totally understand, and I kind of wish I too had a pack of chocolate-obsessed weirdoes surroundign me and my own pups.

As much as I loved all of this story, I still found Bobby Rae’s stubborn adherence to his ideals to be frustrating. I mean, he’s decided what Jessie Ann deserves without discussing any of it with her. And, although he feels that he is being kind, honest, and open with her. He is actually being incredibly sexist and disrespectful. Luckily for my enjoyment and sanity, Jessie Ann absolutely calls him on this and makes him actually treat her with equality, not just parts of equality.

<- The Mane Event ReReadThe Mane Attraction ReRead ->

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The Mane Event ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: The Mane Event ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #1
In: The Mane Event (Shelly Laurenston)
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, Novel
Year: 2007

Thoughts

The Mane Event encompasses the first two modern-day novellas to start off the Pride series. Like a Wolf with a Bone and Miss Congeniality work as wonderful prequels from the generation before to lead into this series, but then Christmas Pride and Shaw’s Tail truly start off the whole series with a wonderfully loud and chaotic bang. And I love that both of these stories are great and quick snapshots into different aspect of the Shifter World. Particularly some of the Packs and Prides that form the backbone of this series.

It was really interesting going back and rereading this novella collection after reading the entirety of the Pride series and up to publication with the Honey Badger Chronicles. Plus, I actually read the Magnus Pack trilogy right before diving into my reread, and this was definitely something that I would call worth doing. It gave so much more context to just about everything. Plus, I just all around loved picking up the little hints of what is to come, or what has been in doing this reread. It’s also nice how The Mane Event is able to really drive home the stark differences between the three wolf Packs.

As with my first read through, I still wish that The Mane Event was two full-length novels, not two novellas. I just wanted more of these characters and romances. And yet, I kind of understood why they weren’t. It’s just my need for more strong women like Dez and Ronnie that make me want more. But, I also just love that both of these somewhat insane women show up frequently in the other books anyway, so I kind of get my fix.

I’m absolutely loving diving feet first back into the murderous and intense world of Laurenston’s Shifters. It’s always fun to pick up different nuances in a reread, and I’m definitely finding a whole heap of layers in this writing. Now I’m excited to dive into the next story in this reread… The Beast in Him.

<- Shaw’s Tail ReReadThe Beast in Him ReRead ->

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Shaw’s Tail ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Shaw’s Tail ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.9
In: The Mane Event (Shelly Laurenston)
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, Novel
Year: 2007

Thoughts

As the second Pride novella to open the series, Shaw’s Tail works wonderfully. Not only does it connect in with what happened in Christmas Pride, but it also introduces the New York Smith Pride. Who wonderfully kick off the full-length novels. I also love that Ronnie Lee Reed is the first wolf to kick off the insanity of the Smith Pack. I mean, the woman is a nut and had me laughing out loud throughout the entirety of this story.

The image that is 100% stuck in my brain from this story is Brendon Shaw’s play bow whilst in the throes of the fever. This level of humour and playfulness is something that I really enjoy about Laurenston’s writing. Plus, I love that the entirety of this story is pretty much Brendon chasing Ronnie Lee around. The stubbornness of a male who has decided on his female. Laurenston writes it brilliantly – it’s a welcome pursuit, but it was nice that Ronnie Lee was kind of non-plussed by what was happening, and their ultimate relationship honestly wouldn’t have happened without Brendon’s stubbornness.

Not only does Shaw’s Tail follow on wonderfully from Christmas Pride, but it also leads into The Mane Attraction wonderfully. I absolutely adore Ronnie’s friendship with Sissy Mae. They are wonderfully intertwined, as are Mitch and Brendon. The dynamic relationships throughout this series are phenomenal, and I love how Ronnie’s strong friendship helps to drive a lot of the story going forward.

I absolutely adored this novella, and I love that it starts to introduce the bigotry within the Pride world. This drives such a big part of the story arc throughout. And the fact that Ronnie Lee is scared to mate with a different species because she’s scared of having “half-breed, snaggle-toothed mutts”. It was a great and gorgeous way to lead into this not so pleasant aspect of the shifter world.

<- Christmas Pride ReReadThe Mane Event ReRead ->

Image source: World of Books

Christmas Pride ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Christmas Pride ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.8
In: The Mane Event (Shelly Laurenston)
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, Novel
Year: 2007

Thoughts

Diving back into the Pride series after reading through all of the published books is a great journey. I particularly love revisiting Dez when I realise how she sits within the greater world and series. She’s just this bad-ass cop who constantly shows up, and gives absolutely zero fucks. So going back to the beginning of her second chance romance with Mace and where she starts was fantastic and seriously enjoyable.

Christmas Pride is a second chance romance that isn’t really a second chance that’s required because of past mistakes and decisions. Rather, it is a second shot which is all about missed opportunities, circumstances and growing up. And I love how they are both able to completely grow into themselves and be their own selves. Man, do they grow into well-rounded beings, and I kind of like that their distance in youth is what helps them to become the adults they needed to be. Particularly for Dez who is able to completely hold her own space against Mace and all of the chaos within the shifter world.

Both Dez and Mace have the most insane sisters. I don’t like Mace’s at all as they just strike me as these horribly selfish she-bitches who think that their word is law. Dez’s sisters sit a little in the same space, but mostly they just strike me as absolute chaos gremlins. Which I adore. I might not externally be the kind of woman who is absolutely willing to throw down and fight with anyone, but I kind of want to be. And my Inside Voice most definitely is.

I enjoyed the Christmas Pride novella in my first read through. But, rereading it after knowing more about the world and how everyone sits within it made it all that much better. Particularly having more understanding of the species-driven politics made this a more enjoyable experience all round. I loved it the first time, but I adored it the second time.

<- Like a Wolf with a Bone ReReadShaw’s Tail ReRead ->

Image source: World of Books

Badger to the Bone ReRead by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Badger to the Bone ReRead
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Honey Badger Chronicles #3
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, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

Of course Max is going to be the first Honey Badger to fall for a damn cat – she’s just as contrary and difficult as any feline that I’ve ever come across. I love that she manages to find a cat who doesn’t know what he is. Then kind of adopt him, then just… decide that she might like him a little. Meanwhile, Zé is just following her around in a bit of a daze. And then, in the most catlike way possible, just decides that he’s going to keep Max, whether she likes it or not. The bemusement and the lack of courtship throughout this story was so very Max, and had me laughing again and again throughout.

I found the concept of Zé not knowing what he is to be a really interesting spin. I love that it’s Max of all people who has to introduce him to the world. And that it’s her sisters who really drive her to actually being kind to the poor guy. That girl has no chill and is completely unhinged, so having her be the one to introduce someone to a whole new world was quite frankly hilarious. I also love that, when Zé realises that his grandfather actually knows about this world and Honey Badgers, Max just takes it in hand and gives them the vessel / avenue throughout which to reconnect.

One of my favourite moments in Badger to the Bone, even in the reread is when Stevie announces that Max is not a psychopath because she can feel love. The fact that Max laughs in Mairi’s face and mocks her for not having love in her life just furthers this assessment. I really loved how Max’s shining light and reason for living is really her sisters. And although she’s not exactly the safest of bets, it’s her love for her sisters that keeps her grounded. It’s also what makes her walk from her mother and remind everyone that she has morals and a code that she lives by. Even when it’s a bit unhinged.

I had honestly forgotten all about the Black Malones (I don’t know how), and their psychotic little sister. I’m so glad that I loved them just as much in the reread. They are hilarious and fit perfectly in with the insanity that is the Honey Badger Chronicles. Then there is Max’s basketball team – again, a bunch of women who are just brimming with chaos, violence and total craziness. Now I can’t wait to dive into the next Honey Badger Chronicles book and get to know Max’s friends that much better…

<- In a Badger Way ReReadBreaking Badger ReRead ->

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Taken ReRead by Susan Copperfield

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Taken
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2020

Thoughts

Taken is a brilliant novella that follows Patrick in his daily life six years after the official beginning of his reign as King. I love this insight into his daily life (to begin with). It emphasises that everything Patrick was trying to set up for when Jessica first showed interest in him in Storm Called has worked out well. His hard work and education of himself has seriously paid off, and it’s made him into a fantastic and (mostly) sane king. Being a reread, I also love how Taken sets out some of what is to come in the rest of the Royal States series, and just why kidnapping a monarch is such a terrifically terrible idea.

The first time I read Taken, I was only a new mother (or about to become one), so it was interesting revisiting it when I was more established in that role. For this read through, I really hyper focused on Patrick’s children. I loved how Copperfield was able to talk about the children, the challenges of parenting and that pure love you get, even when they might be tiny devils in disguise. Having had a girl, then a boy myself who are both absolute chaos demons, I found the majority of the storyline entirely plausible where they were concerned. And absolutely hilarious.

Having read all of the published books (thus far), rereading Taken gave me a great appreciation of the crafting and planning that Copperfield has put into her books. They are very politically motivated stories, but she’s also setting up character arcs and the overall story line from very early on. There are so many little tips and hints throughout that foreshadow the later stories. And, there’s a whole heap of work that is going into structuring the lore of the world, in the most subtle of ways.

Aside from the hints and setting up a lot of the Royal States world in Taken, Copperfield also beautifully sets up Deidre’s story for the future. I still haven’t gotten to that book (because it hasn’t been published yet), but later in the series, a lot of her story is beginning to be touched upon too. It just makes me want to dive headfirst into this series and absolutely devour it all over again, in the hopes that doing so will distract from the fact that I have no idea when the next books are going to hit the virtual shelves!

<- Storm Called ReReadNull and Void ReRead ->

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Storm Called ReRead by Susan Copperfield

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Storm Called
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I seem to have been on a major reread bender lately, and the Royal States series is just the latest in this track. Also, I think that there are going to be a few more books trickling out soon, so I figured I may as well go back to the beginning and see what I pick up on my second read round. Sometimes a reread isn’t the best idea, there have been plenty of books that I genuinely regret rereading. However, that is most certainly not the case with Storm Called – it was just as good and fun as I remembered.

I honestly have no idea what it is about this series that draws me in so thoroughly. The writing isn’t the most sophisticated in the world, but there is just something about it that I absolutely adore. Partially this is the politically driven agenda which threads through all of the writing. But, there is also just something about the world building and characters that is just as good on a reread. I wasn’t surprised by the potency of all this this time, but I was just as pleasantly pleased.

One of my favourite things about Patrick is his practicality. I love that, ultimately, the future king of a “state” is one who is born from the lowest of the castes – and that he uses this knowledge to actually create practical and sane laws. It’s definitely an uphill battle, but with everything that is going on in the world, particularly in America, I think that this message is even more poignant. I mean, we need sane and practical people at the helm to ensure that you know, the world survives and people get to live their best lives…

In amongst Patrick’s drive to just support and love the woman he sets his sights on, this story also heavily emphasises the power of education. It’s such an obvious way to keep the masses down, make education almost impossible to obtain, and therefore, it is easier to keep the masses from being able to rise to power. It’s gorgeous that Patrick recognises this, and then chooses to remove this inequality by making sure he is able to take advantage of the benefits of education. It’s just a reminder that education should be available to all, for free.

<- More Susan CopperfieldTaken ReRead ->

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Love of the Witch by Deanna Chase

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Love of the Witch
Author: Deanna Chase
Series: Witches of Keating Hollow #6
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Witches
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

It was obvious from her first introduction in Courage of the Witch, that Luna was going to have a bit of a complex backstory. But, I honestly had no idea what to actually expect. So it was a whole lot of fun finding out more about her life prior to her introduction to Keating Hollow. It was also fun to discover that she actually already had history with her love interest, Chad, and “watch” that unfold as I turned the pages.

One of the aspects of this story that I really enjoyed was how the story unfolded – it was, as mentioned, obvious that Chad and Luna had their own history from the beginning. But not much of it was revealed to start with. Rather, through their interactions, they start to tease out the details of their past. This history was then what they both were able to use to build into their future together. It wasn’t quite a second chance romance, but it was kind of close to it… a bit more of a second chance to get to know one another, not a second chance at being a couple. Or at least, that’s how I felt.

I absolutely called Luna’s family connections when Chase started to leave some of those breadcrumbs. Yet, the journey to get there was still phenomenal and seriously enjoyable. I absolutely adored diving into her journey of self-discovery. And the final twist as to who and what Luna’s family is didn’t quite take me by the surprise it normally would have. Chase is just so fantastic at leaving subtle breadcrumbs throughout her works that it’s kind of anticipated.

Although I go back to Chase’s Witches of Keating Hollow series again and again for the romance, I also love the secondary characters. In the case of Love of the Witch, I think that Levi actually stole my heart more than Chad. He was a great familial love story that just melted my heart again and again and again. I also love how his trauma tends towards the quieter aspects of damage, and then he chooses to still love and care about someone. It’s particularly sweet when he could’ve been displayed as a tough and hesitant young man. But, instead, he and Luna create the most beautiful and sweetest of bonds.

<- Courage of the WitchPower of the Witch ->

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Hearth, Home, and Havoc ReRead by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Hearth, Home, and Havoc
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Hearth, Home and Havoc is a great little novella, one that focuses quite a bit on being controlled and getting revenge. I mean, some of it is justice. But, mostly it just feels like a whole lot of revenge on a bastard who truly deserves it. And then there’s the goddess aspect within the story. And the cute government agent. And the mother who has lost touch with her children. All gorgeous aspects of this story that build and build into a wonderfully fun and somewhat violent novella. My favourite kind.

Running away from your problems and digging a giant hole to literally hide the body is maybe not the best ever coping mechanism. But it is one that I really appreciated and could definitely get behind. It was funny, cathartic and an all round pleasure to read. I particularly like that the lead knows that digging a giant hole to drown a body in isn’t the healthiest or sanest option. But, she continues to do it anyway. Plus, she acknowledges that she is 100% having a break from reality, but just chooses to continue dealing with it / going with it without fanfare. Again, maybe not the best coping mechanism, but maybe one I should try the next time I feel overwhelmed… just digging a giant hole and imagining (ceremoniously) burying my problems deep in the ground.

Although the coping mechanisms in this may not be the best, I love that the importance of therapy is mentioned again and again. In fact, it is visited and revisited at multiple times throughout the novella. With each and every horrible past action revealed, the idea of, and attendance at, therapy is revisited. The normalcy with which this is mentioned was great. I love that it was a fabric of reality to recover from past trauma, without judgement and without stigma attached. I wish this could happen in real life.

Finally, I love that this story centres around the mortal mother of the Goddess of Hearth and Home. And that this little growing deity is all about making sure her Mum is happy and healthy. She not only is the driver of a lot of the interactions and positives within this story, but also the instigator of change. She protects her Mum in the best way she knows how (but with an adolescent mindset), and her Mum in turn tries to protect her. It’s just a gorgeous little novella and signified the unbelievably wonderful strength of a mother-daughter connection.

<- Hoofin’ It ReReadSerial Killer Princess ReRead ->

Image source: Smashwords

Hoofin’ It ReRead by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Hoofin’ It
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Shane and Marian are a great and fun couple, and I love going on the journey with them in Hoofin’ It to find their happily ever after. The fact that it starts with a spitting alpaca, a dead body and a shaved werewolf. Well, of course I’m going to enjoy the heck out of that nonsense. It was funny, sweet (in moments) and just all round a whole lot of fun. I might have been on this journey before, but I enjoyed everything about going on it again. It was just such glorious, unrestrained fun!

Where Shane and Marian were an incredibly fun couple, introducing Ernesto and his brood; and the Babylonians might be an aspect of this story that I enjoyed even more. The Babylonians in particular were just pure chaos demons. Which I loved. They just produced chaos, carnage and insanity wherever they went. Then there were the mounts (of which there were a variety) who just wanted to eat all the human flesh and devour the hordes of evil. Again, absolutely loving the nonsense that is produced by the Babylonians getting involved in the final battle.

Then there’s Ernesto and his clan – they are just beautiful and I vaguely recall something about them coming up at different points later in the series. Their introduction feels so “everyday”, but they are an integral aspect to the patchwork that is the world of the Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) series. Understanding this on the reread meant that I paid a whole lot more attention to Ernesto and his family, and all of the information that is shared about them. I’m not really into vampires per se these days (Twilight absolutely ruined them for me), but I did like Blain’s take on them and the way that they are interwoven into the series.

Back to Marian and Shane though, I love that Marian starts out as an alpaca. Then gets turned back into being a human. Then you realise that she can actually shift into a badger. I’m kind of disappointed that there wasn’t more about Marian turning into a badger. I mean, we have Shane figuring out what animal he shifts into, and spending a bit of time in his animal form. But Marian didn’t have that pleasure, and I really wanted it. But that’s okay, because there are other awesome shifters to come in the rest of this series. Hence the reread.

<- Playing with Fire ReReadHearth, Home, and Havoc ReRead ->

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