Words I Write Crazy: Week 42 Reviews: Like a Wolf With a Bone, The Mane Event, The Beast in Him, The Man Attraction, The Mane Squeeze

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Week 42 Reviews: Like a Wolf With a Bone, The Mane Event, The Beast in Him, The Man Attraction, The Mane Squeeze

From Goodreads:

Quiet little Darla Lewis doesn't know what to think when the most-feared member of the South's rowdiest wolf pack kidnaps her. Does he want to protect her or kill her? It could be either! Everyone knows about Egbert Ray Smith and how dangerous he is. Every pack avoids him, and the U.S. military uses him as their own killing machine. And Darla is just a nice girl who likes to bake and occasionally follow the Grateful Dead around. She doesn't have time for this sort of foolishness. And yet . . . there is something about Eggie Ray. He just doesn't seem as bad as everyone says. In fact, the more she gets to know him, the cuddlier he seems.

Something her overprotective family is not going to be happy to hear . . .

From Goodreads:

Shelly Laurenston turns up the heat with two sizzling novellas.

In "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.

In "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...

From Goodreads:

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.

From Goodreads:

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...

From Goodreads:

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.

My Review:
These were so much fun to read! I love her writing, and the continuation series, the Honey Badger chronicles, but I'm so glad that I'm going back and reading all the previous books in this world before I continue on, I'm loving getting to know these characters!

One thing that I'm learning, is that at least one person from every couple is connected to another group of people that we've previously meet. A good number of the hockey team are going to get stories, Lock is just the first one, which means that while each book adds more and more people, it's not a big explosion of new faces, making it easier to keep track of everyone.

Just the sheer amount of violence that happens in this series, alongside the humour, yeah, it's baffeling and so much fun to read, alongside these romances! It's just go go go nonstop, and they're just such thrill rides to read!

Of the couples in these books, I think Jess and Smitty, and Gwen and Lock were my favourites. Jess is nerd, and I loved the wild dogs and their energy! And Gwen, she's got to deal with the lions as well as being a hybrid, and getting along with the bears and I just loved it!

Loved reading these books and I can't wait to continue!

Author: Shelly Laurenston
Series: Pride #0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, Smith's Shifter's World #3.75, 4, 5, 6, 7
Read: October 18th, 19th, 18th, 20th, 20th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike, Library, Own
Reason Why: Love her writing and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2023 Books!
Publisher: Kensington Books, Tantor Audio, Brava
Published: August 28th 2012, September 25th 2007, April 1st 2008, November 1sst 2008, November 1st 2009

Like a Wolf With a Bone: