Shelly Laurenston – The mane squeeze

The fourth book in the Pride series, published October 27, 2009.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: Paul Marron I presume?



In Shelly Laurenston's laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously sexy novel, a shape-shifting Grizzly and a single dangerous feline collide - and discover untamed, unstoppable attraction...

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.


I know, I know, another Shelly Laurenston review already. But those books are perfect for when I am tired. You don’t have to concentrate or think, just read and have fun. I really have to give her G.A. Aiken books another try someday.

And this book I really loved. I liked Gwen from the start, she is half lion, half tiger, also called a tigon. She is Mitch’s little sister (the hero from the previous book) and at the wedding of Jess and Smitty, she meets Lock, a grizzly bear shifter. Hybrids are not really welcome in shifter society, a lot of shifters want to keep the bloodlines pure. And the mixes often look really strange when shifter. Like Blayne, Gwen’s best friend, who is a wolf-dog. For the most part she looks like a wolf, but she has dog ears and feet. And I am dreading to read her story, as she is obnoxiously perky and happy and always smiling. I did meet her briefly in the latest book, Wolf with Benefits, and did not really like her in that one either. She is a major secondary character in this book, as Gwen and Blayne get into business together, as plumbers in New York City. Which means they will have to stay at Brendon Shaw’s hotel, at least until they find a place to live on their own, on which their family has approved.
I absolutely disliked Mitch even more in this book, as he never approves of anything his “little sister” does; he wants her back home at Philly and in their mother’s Pride. He can’t understand that as a tigon, she has never been accepted into the Pride, even though she is a member of the family.

Then there is our hero, Lock. I loved him from the first page. A grizzly bear shifter, huge in human form, enormous in his bear shape. He sure loves his salmon and honey, and he thinks about things, before acting on something. Which is totally new for someone like Gwen, who often jumps to conclusions. I love it when he just take hold of her, when she wants to run off when she misunderstands him. He explains himself to Gwen, and I just love Lock.
His family is strange but nice, and Gwen’s family is just weird and not-nice. And well, bear shifters are exemplary lovers thanks to their versatile lips …
Lock has his future all planned out, just a few more years of making money with software, thanks to Jess, and then he can retire and start woodworking fulltime. For now, it is just a hobby, a passion. But when Gwen finds out, she starts selling his stuff for him, calling him an artist, as he makes the most gorgeous wooden furniture. I enjoyed how she just takes control of Lock and looks after him.

There is a little plot about the bias against hybrids, and bad guys who abduct them for some sort of cage fighting. And what I loved especially, is that it brings Dee Ann Smith back into the thick of things. I enjoy her character, and can’t wait for her book, as Ric Van Holtz is totally in love with her already.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian