Sandy M’s review of The Beast in Him (Pride, Book 2) by Shelly Laurenston
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Brava 1 Apr 08

Hey! You! Yeah, you! Why didn’t you tell me how good these Laurenston books are? I’ve been missing out at least as far as her Pride books go and now I’m ready to start glomming every book on her backlist. I had that much darned fun reading The Beast in Him.

First, I loved the sense of humor throughout this entire story. A down-home, good ole southern wolf shape-shifter. Never in a million years would I think that could possibly work. Of course, I’d be dead wrong. And Bobby Ray Smith came across just perfect, southern drawl, moseyin’ attitude, keepin’ in mind the respect his mama taught him and all. That, along with a body that just won’t quit, makes him sexier than hell. He has a way about him that draws you to him. You just want to dive right in and feast on him, gnawin’ on his bones and then soppin’ him up with a biscuit.

Next I had such fun with the way Ms. Laurenston gives these characters animal characteristics and uses them to the hilt throughout their everyday lives. They are proud to be who and what they are, never trying to hide or deny their true selves and not trying to be more human than animal. They revel in their beasts. The dialogue also reflects the same thing. Scrawny pooch, calling tigers stripped bastards, lions are king of the jungle, picking someone up by the scruff of their neck and other little tidbits made me laugh out loud constantly. That just kept the idea in the forefront as you read along that these folks are shifters as well as human and that has a whole different side to it, a whole different way of life and living.

Then there’s the heroine of the book, Jessica Ann Ward, an African Wild Dog shifter. She’s been in love with Bobby Ray since she was 16 years old and he left her behind when he joined the military. Now she’s trying to throw some vengeance his way, but nothing seems to work against the beast and she finds herself falling deeper and deeper every time she comes in contact with him. What she wants and what she gets from Bobby Ray are two different things, but she finally decides to push him to his limits to let go and take her like the animal he is, leaving the human courting out of the mix. But the journey to get to that point is fun, sexy, fraught with fear at what her pack and his parents will think and danger from unexpected sources.

The playfulness amoung the pack mates and between Bobby Ray and Jessica Ann, the fierceness with which they protect their own, and the lovin’ we get when Jessie finally gives in to Bobby Ray are just a few of the pieces of this enjoyably satisfying read. And I guess I felt at home with all the backwoods goings-on. I was basically raised by my grandparents growing up, and while they weren’t true southerners, there was enough of the South in them that I grew up with chicken ‘n dumplins, fried okra, cornbread and buttermilk, chocolate gravy and homemade biscuits and we reckoned dreckly, moseyed on down, and took a sup that I felt like part of the pack. How I miss all of that since they’ve been gone.

I have a new author on my auto-buy list and even though I’ve now read them out of order, I’m really looking forward to The Mane Event and the new book in the series, The Mane Attraction, coming out in November.

Grade: A

Summary:

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’s gangly limbs and bruised heart turn 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 loveable 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…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: