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

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.

Image source: World of Books

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

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.

Image source: World of Books

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

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.

Image source: World of Books

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

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.

Image source: Amazon

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

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.

Image source: Amazon

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

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…

Image source: Amazon