Laurenstons Pride series is a series I come back to over and over again, especially when Im dealing with book slumps. Book slumps are periods of time after having finished or put down a terrible book (or even a book that baffled me) and have the urge to avoid all books like the plague, because the last one left me anxious and depressed.
When I pick up a Pride book, I know Im going to enjoy the bumpy, laugh-out-loud ride. The Beast in Him tells the story of Bobbie Ray and his one that got away, Jessica Ward. While this book is not my favorite story in the series, it features some of my favorite characters, the wild dogs. Even though they are the smallest of the shifter predators, they are badass and very tricky - two characteristics that I always find humorous and extremely entertaining.
Jessica Ward [Jessie Ann]
Jessica grew up as the only wild dog in a small, all-wolf town ran by the Smith pack that Bobbie Ray was born into. She was bullied and bruised and lived at the bottom of the food chain all of her life, until she grew up to be an extremely successful CEO and Alpha female to the biggest wild dog pack in America. When she hears of Mace and Bobbie Rays new security team, she hires them on to show Bobbie Ray how much shes grown since she was the runt that used to follow him around with stars in her eyes.
Jessica is as sweet (and klutzy) as they come, until someone thinks they can come between her and her packs young. Shes badass when she needs to be, but not overly obnoxious. She has a shield she wears for the outside world, but when its just her, the pack, and her friends, shes not afraid to accept comfort or empathy. Plus, shes nerdy. What bookworm couldnt identify with a nerdy character?
Shes not an elitist. Meaning, you dont have to be wild dog to be accepted as her pack, unlike most of the other shifter races. They wont deny a shifter love and acceptance, or make you an outcast just because youre different. I quite liked this, its a slap in the face to the shifters of Smithtown, but it also shows Jessica is a caring individual. She could give a flying fuck what other people think about her, which makes her cool in my book.
She cares, shes nerdy, successful, and a badass friend to have in ones circle of friends. What nerdy gal (like myself) hasnt wanted to be Jessica in one form or another?
Bobbie Ray Smith [Smitty]
Bobbie Ray Smith is one of many sons of the Alpha of Smithtown. He moved his small pack up to New York to get out of Tennessee (state overrun with Smith packs) and start his own little pack. When he runs into Jessie Ann all grown up and living large, he thinks shell fall right into his arms, professing her undying lust just like old times. Boy, is he wrong. Instead, she barely wants anything to do with the man who rejected her all those years ago, and ignores his advances to take things to the next level.
I had more of a crush on Jessie Ann than Bobbie Ray. He goes from manslut who will stop for a quickie in a bathroom with any stranger available, to a one woman man as soon as he sees Jessie Ann again. Not that I didnt find his character entertaining, and Im certainly not bashing his slutty ways (the sluttier, the better I say), but its just not all that believable that the guy goes from man slut to saint all in one day. It just felt very insta-love for him. Thankfully, the mans charismatic personality saved him for me. If you love Mace, you will love Bobbie Ray. He may even turn you into a dog person, even if you dont want him to!
What I heart
Jessie Ann and her funny, prideless pack of wild dogs.
ALL THE WILD DOGS
Once again, the sex is hotter than hell, so bring oven mitts. Maybe even flame resistant panties. (If they dont make those, they should!)
Pop culture references that fill my heart with love
Its enjoyable to read shifter romances where the author either knows her animals, or spends quality time researching the animal the characters are supposed to share DNA with.
What I dont heart
The ending seems rushed and almost feels like an after thought (the ending, not the epilogue). I was expecting more actions, and it fell flat.
The almost insta-love Bobbie Ray develops for Jessie.
While I had a couple complaints, the rest are glowing recommendations. Please read The Beast in Him if you loved The Mane Event. They can be read out of order if you want to start with book two, but what crazy person would do such a thing on purpose?
When I pick up a Pride book, I know Im going to enjoy the bumpy, laugh-out-loud ride. The Beast in Him tells the story of Bobbie Ray and his one that got away, Jessica Ward. While this book is not my favorite story in the series, it features some of my favorite characters, the wild dogs. Even though they are the smallest of the shifter predators, they are badass and very tricky - two characteristics that I always find humorous and extremely entertaining.
Jessica Ward [Jessie Ann]
Jessica grew up as the only wild dog in a small, all-wolf town ran by the Smith pack that Bobbie Ray was born into. She was bullied and bruised and lived at the bottom of the food chain all of her life, until she grew up to be an extremely successful CEO and Alpha female to the biggest wild dog pack in America. When she hears of Mace and Bobbie Rays new security team, she hires them on to show Bobbie Ray how much shes grown since she was the runt that used to follow him around with stars in her eyes.
Jessica is as sweet (and klutzy) as they come, until someone thinks they can come between her and her packs young. Shes badass when she needs to be, but not overly obnoxious. She has a shield she wears for the outside world, but when its just her, the pack, and her friends, shes not afraid to accept comfort or empathy. Plus, shes nerdy. What bookworm couldnt identify with a nerdy character?
Shes not an elitist. Meaning, you dont have to be wild dog to be accepted as her pack, unlike most of the other shifter races. They wont deny a shifter love and acceptance, or make you an outcast just because youre different. I quite liked this, its a slap in the face to the shifters of Smithtown, but it also shows Jessica is a caring individual. She could give a flying fuck what other people think about her, which makes her cool in my book.
She cares, shes nerdy, successful, and a badass friend to have in ones circle of friends. What nerdy gal (like myself) hasnt wanted to be Jessica in one form or another?
Bobbie Ray Smith [Smitty]
Bobbie Ray Smith is one of many sons of the Alpha of Smithtown. He moved his small pack up to New York to get out of Tennessee (state overrun with Smith packs) and start his own little pack. When he runs into Jessie Ann all grown up and living large, he thinks shell fall right into his arms, professing her undying lust just like old times. Boy, is he wrong. Instead, she barely wants anything to do with the man who rejected her all those years ago, and ignores his advances to take things to the next level.
I had more of a crush on Jessie Ann than Bobbie Ray. He goes from manslut who will stop for a quickie in a bathroom with any stranger available, to a one woman man as soon as he sees Jessie Ann again. Not that I didnt find his character entertaining, and Im certainly not bashing his slutty ways (the sluttier, the better I say), but its just not all that believable that the guy goes from man slut to saint all in one day. It just felt very insta-love for him. Thankfully, the mans charismatic personality saved him for me. If you love Mace, you will love Bobbie Ray. He may even turn you into a dog person, even if you dont want him to!
What I heart
Jessie Ann and her funny, prideless pack of wild dogs.
ALL THE WILD DOGS
Once again, the sex is hotter than hell, so bring oven mitts. Maybe even flame resistant panties. (If they dont make those, they should!)
Pop culture references that fill my heart with love
Its enjoyable to read shifter romances where the author either knows her animals, or spends quality time researching the animal the characters are supposed to share DNA with.
What I dont heart
The ending seems rushed and almost feels like an after thought (the ending, not the epilogue). I was expecting more actions, and it fell flat.
The almost insta-love Bobbie Ray develops for Jessie.
While I had a couple complaints, the rest are glowing recommendations. Please read The Beast in Him if you loved The Mane Event. They can be read out of order if you want to start with book two, but what crazy person would do such a thing on purpose?
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