Shelly Laurenston – The beast in him

The second book in the Pride series published April 1, 2008
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: slowly getting better



In The Mane Event, Shelly Laurenston introduced a whole new breed of heroes - sexy, shape-shifting hunks who redefine the term Alpha male. Now, in THE BEAST IN HIM, one gorgeous lone wolf is about to meet his match...
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 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...


I was tired last week, so I just grabbed another Shelly Laurenston book to relax with. These books are just a lot of fun and a lot of sex, and a little story. And when I am in the mood for something simple, I really enjoy these.
A new breed is introduced in this book, the wild dogs. And they are certainly very different from a pack of wolves. Especially as this pack exists mainly of a bunch of geeks with their own software company and lots of money. Like our heroine Jessica Ward, most of them grew up lonely, and she made them into a pack, with her as the Alpha female. Jessica, or as Smitty keeps calling her, Jessy Ann, is really protective of her pack. They work and live together, and raise their precious pups together, as well as an abandoned wolf pup (who is now 17).

Jessica grew up with the Smith pack in Tennessee, and she was tortured for many years by the she-wolves. Smitty tried to protect her as much as he could, especially from his sister, but he did leave to join the army when he turned 18, leaving Jessy behind. Jessy had to defend herself after that, and when she really hurt her biggest enemy, she left Smithtown. Now she has made a good life for herself and for her pack. She knew when she hired the new shifter security agency to do security on her annual event, that she would be meeting Smitty again. Of course she did extensive research on this new company!
But Smitty was totally flabbergasted when he saw his childhood friend again, and he wanted her. No other woman could tempt him, and when a wolf wants something, he will make sure he gets it.

Jessica really holds her own against her old nemesis, to Smitty’s surprise. But she is Alpha of her own pack, and she will not give in to a bunch of she-wolves trespassing on her land. I liked that in her, and those arrogant wolves deserved what they got, and then some. I just think she should have made Smitty work harder to get her. Of course, her own pack members think Smitty is just what she needs in her non-existent love life, as they are not happy with the male dogs who are sniffing after Jessica.


I loved geeky Jessica and her geeky pack members. Those dogs sure love their dark chocolate! They were fun to read about, and I loved how Jessie even got Smitty to play, which is so beneath a wolf’s status. Smitty’s parents are truly frightening though, and I love how they stand up for her.

A fun read, and yes, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

8 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian