Tag Archives: Pride

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Beast in Him
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2008

Thoughts

Smitty and Jessie Ann are a wonderful and fun couple. I mean, you have two canine shapeshifters to start with. I’m obviously going to love that. And then, there’s also the whole childhood history and prejudices that are so obviously present in the Shifter World. I loved that Jessie Ann is an African Wild Dog shifter – not a shifter that I’ve seen very often, and one that I really enjoyed. I also loved how Laurenston highlighted the differences between the two types of shifters.

Jessie Ann might be small with a history of being a bully victim, but she is incredibly tough. I seriously enjoyed all of the ways in which she led her Pack and found a way to compensate for the size difference. Particularly when she decides to enact her revenge on Sissy Mae. She also continuously fights with Smitty to make sure he sees her as an equal, not someone who is smaller and weaker.

Smitty’s parents are secondary characters in Like a Wolf with a Bone, and I didn’t get overly attached to them in that story. But, their manipulations and energy in this novel was brilliant. I absolutely adored them and found their antics quite funny. Don’t get me wrong, I would HATE the idea of having such people as my parents, but it was still quite an entertaining plot driver.

I honestly read this paranormal romance from cover to cover. I thought that the characters were lovely, and the romance passionate, with a little sweetness rubbed in. Although, I must say, that I loved the Wild Dog Pack the most. I really want more of them in my future readings!

<- The Mane EventThe Mane Attraction ->

Image source: Shelly Laurenston

The Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: The Mane Event
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: Medium
Format: Collection, eBook
Year: 2007

Thoughts

This might be the first novel in The Pride series, but it’s really two novellas in one. And they are not a disappointment. A great introduction (for me) into the world of the lions, and the joys of cat-shifter romances. Plus, there is just something fun about lions playing with their mates before finally getting them to commit.

Honestly, I absolutely adored the stubbornness and cunning of both of the male lions in this collection. Both choose women that are not exactly settled with the idea of forever-after. Yet, they use their smarts and little manipulations to wait them out. Kind of like I imagine an impala feels being hunted by a lion in the wild… with a much better reward at the end.

Both of the women are exactly the kind of female leads I enjoy reading about in a romance – a little off-kilter and, quite frankly, nuts. But tough as nails, and loyal to boot. Whilst they are vastly different in every other way (also something I like, because otherwise, boring), they were such a pleasure to read about!

Although these are two separate novellas, there is plenty of overlap between the two stories. It almost reads like a part one and two of a greater tale. It made for a nice cohesive whole, and I look forward to diving into this as a reread in the future.

<- Shaw’s TailThe Beast in Him ->

Image source: Amazon

Shaw’s Tail by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Shaw’s Tail
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #1.2
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: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2007

Thoughts

I’m not going to lie, this is one of the most laugh out loud stories I’ve read in a little while. As in, I frequently found myself laughing out loud while reading this. Luckily it was at home, with no one around to get confused by the giggling maniac in the corner… and it’s all because Brendan Shaw (lion extraordinaire) is freaking hilarious in a fever delirium!

I loved that this was one of those kind-of love-at-first-sight type romances. I mean, Shaw decides that Ronnie is his before he even sees her. Just smells her (weird if you don’t think of him as part cat admittedly) and decides, yup, that’s the woman for me. Everything that follows is just him digging in and being stubborn. I loved that there was no hesitation, and he was just like “yup, that’s my person.”

Then, there’s also the nice backdrop of the drama of Mitch’s life. For starters, just the mystery of what crap Mitch is actually mixed-up in. but also a little bit more about the Shaw brothers’ relationship. It’s a good counterpoint to make you want to read this even fatster. If you know, the fever delirium shenanigans, lust and sass between the main couple isn’t enough for you.

A multi-layered and fun novella that I thoroughly enjoyed. One I’ll definitely be reading again and again.

<- Christmas PrideThe Mane Event ->

Image source: Amazon

Christmas Pride by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Christmas Pride
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #1.1
In: The Mane Event (Shelly Laurenston)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Collection, eBook, Novella
Year: 2007

Thoughts

Christmas Pride is a very sweet and delicious novella. It was incredibly easy to just… inhale this whole story in one sitting. Difficult to even look away for the two seconds it took to have a glass of water. Which is honestly exactly what I want in a novella – they’re short enough to read in one sitting, and they have to be amazing so that I want to read them in one sitting.

I loved that this romance focused on a couple that grew up together and reconnected. It’s the usual feelings of inadequacy and class separation. But it works. Therefore, rather than feeling like an insta-love story, it’s one that feels like it’s been decades coming. Plus, there’s also the great acknowledgement that although they had feelings for each other as teenagers, they actually needed the time apart to grow into the people they became. I mean, it’s all well and great to be able to spend your whole adult life with a person, but it’s pretty hard to actually grow and change in that circumstance (I speak from experience).

Mace is wonderfully stubborn in his pursuit of Dez. I particularly loved all of the “cat games” that he played with her in his pursuit. Personally, I prefer someone coming head on in this kind of situation. But I love that his sneaky cat tactics are exactly what Dez needs to realise that what they have is real. I also love how Dez is able to constantly stick up for herself… when she really feels the need. It’s a great relationship with a lot of give and take.

Then, behind the lovely romance that definitely takes centre stage is the mystery of just who killed Petrov. And then the dynamics and politics of the hyena / lion antagonism. Something that I want more of as the series unfolds… I’m also wanting more hyena-based stories in the greater Smith’s Shifter World…

<- Miss CongenialityShaw’s Tail ->

Image source: Amazon

Miss Congeniality by Shelly Laurenston

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Miss Congeniality
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.75
In: When He Was Bad (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: 2008

Thoughts

Irene was a great character to be introduced to in In A Badger Way, she is clinical and terrifyingly brilliant. But you can tell that she actually cares about others, she’s just completely unable to show to, well, anyone. The fact that she has her own novella about falling in love decades before… it was even better than I imagined. Wonderful, funny and kind of sweet. A perfect novella.

As expected, Irene is all sass and attitude. Some of it is just pure personality, but some of it is the fact that she’s pretty protective of her feelings. And, you know, there are apparently multiple government agencies spying on her and watching her every move… all of this just meant that even as Irene falls in love with Niall, she is still sassy and feisty and everything I love in the character.

The wedding that finishes out this story is kind of perfect. I mean, it’s always nice to skip forward a little bit so that you can see how the couple ends up. But the fact that Irene genuinely forgets that its even her wedding day and cares not at all about it, was brilliant. It also pulled in the Jean-Louis Parkers into the story. And how that clan of terrifying geniuses had their beginnings too…

All in all, this was a wonderful novella. And I can’t wait to see what happens next in this story. Definitely a strong argument for continuing to fill my ereader with books by Shelly Laurenston.

<- Like a Wolf with a BoneChristmas Pride ->

Image source: Goodreads

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