The Beast In Him (The Pride Book 2)

Why you should treat yourself to a Shelly Laurenston para-normal novel – (beginning with the 1st in the series): Character Development:The author does such an unbelievable job of blending the animal behavior in so well with the human side thus creating characters that are so realistic for a paranormal story that it is so easy to suspend belief and actually see the characters in your mind. The wolf shifters behave like wolves, the feline shifters do not act like lap cats, and bears lumber. The attitudes of the animal side are so well incorporated in the characters to make them real to the reader and cause a laughing spell. The characters are so well portrayed that a mental picture is easily established for the reader. You come to know the characters and can’t help but be not only fascinated by them but also care about them. Humor:The humor can be considered rude, crude, sarcastic and totally believable for the characters. It is so realistic that you can imagine yourself saying the same thing in the same situation. The interactions between the determined Alpha Males and the Strong Willed Females are some of the funniest moments in the novels that I have ever read. The attitudes of the animal side are so well incorporated in the characters to make them real to the reader and cause a laughing spell. (Warning, do not start reading any of these books in public if you don't want people staring at you when you start giggling uncontrollably. I am a grown woman - I never giggled - until I started reading this series.) Alpha Males:Strong, caring, not perfect Alpha Males that when they set their minds to making a certain female his – has no problem being as sneaky as a feline, as determined as a wolf or as patience as a bear. Each novel involves a different Alpha who comes across that particular female that just happens to make him want to roar or howl to let everyone know that she is his and his only, if he can only get that suborn female to acknowledge it. Strong Female Characters:In the animal world, the female of the breed is often more dangerous than the male and/or capable of taking care of themselves and not waiting to be "rescued". This means that the females in any of Laurenston’s novels are strong, sarcastic and are fighters whether shifter or human. They do not suffer fools or weaklings gladly or at all. It takes a strong Alpha male to even get their attention but he had better not try any sh*t on them or they’ll take his a** down a notch. Originality and Creativity:Out of this world! The only way to describe it is to tell you what it is not:No fated mating – each couple has their own unique reason as why they find themselves attracted to each other – just as in the real world.None of the same plot line just with a different couple – each novel has a unique plot line – no repeats or rehash.No cardboard cutouts for characters. Every character has his or hers unique personality – again, just like in the real world.This still does not touch on how creative the writing is – there are just no words to really describe it. World Building:Both the South and New York are used as backdrop for this series and the author successfully incorporates the regions with all their local uniqueness. I did live in New York but, I've lived in the South most of my life and while most parts are urban and not so "country", there is still to this day what one could call "redneck" communities that are as "unique" as Smithville or Smithtown. And YES - there are adults named Sissy and even some Bubbas (I don't like to admit it - but, yes I have known a few of them.) Editing Problems:Simply put – there are none. WARNINGS:The series must be read in order because the world building is continued from one novel into the next. Also, the previous characters are continued into the next novel as part of the world building which creates a unique world that you are able to visit whenever you get a chance to escape from this reality.If you like your romance to be sweet with the female protagonist waiting for her "Knight in shining armor" to save her - this novel is not for you.If you are offended by explicit sex scenes and profanity - again, this novel is not for you.If you want your hero or male protagonist to be the strong but sensitive type - this novel is not one you will enjoy.If you do not like or get sarcastic humor - then skip this series.This is a very long review but please keep reading.If you look at all my reviews you will see that the first couple pages are all 5* reviews for Shelly Laurenston/ G A Aiken novels as well as a few other authors (after that you can see the good, bad and real ugly). That is because I have done the authors an injustice and am finally catching up on what I should have done a long time ago. I usually do not review all the books in a series unless or until they start to go downhill. I figure that once you are hooked on a series it does not matter what anyone says – you’ll make up your own mind to either stay or quit the series. I did not think that maybe my reviews might actually help on newer books in the series – attract attention from readers who were not even aware of the wonderful writings of the authors. That is why you will see this same review on most of the novels. I actually did an injustice to one of the few writers who actually help me get through this past year events because I just did not want to take the time to write a review.Last summer, I had several life altering events that happened to me – not the good type either. The events, the constant problems that had to be resolved after, the decisions that had to be made were all devastating emotionally, physically and financially. (The old saying that trouble or bad things come in threes is a lie – it can be multiples of that.) It was a time when I wasn’t taking a day at a time – I was taking it minute by minute – just to get through the next decision – face the next problem. Late one night when once again sleep eluded me, I picked up my e-reader and scanned my books to see if I could distract myself with anything. My eyes fell on my section of Shelly Laurenston novels. I started with the 1st in the series – The Mane Event and for the 1st time during that period I could escape from all the pain, troubles and sorrows that I was experiencing. While I couldn’t laugh – they did make me smile and forget for just a little while everything else. While I have read other author’s novels over the past year, it has been Shelly Laurenston/G A Aiken’s series that I have read over and over again to escape to a more pleasant place – to smile again. And for that, Shelly Laurenston deserves a 5* review on every one of her books that I have practically memorized over the past year.

I am so glad I found this author, her stories always make me laugh! Thanks for a great read, keep up the great work! Donna B.

Another re-read and it didn't disapoint! What I love most about this series is that it doesn't just stick to wolf-shifters or bear-shifters--it does all kinds, and the wild dogs are an interesting facet.I love that Smitty and Jess's story starts off when they're in high school, and that we get to see it. We get to see how they both grow up into these adults with responsibilities, yet still manage to be themselves. They really understand each other, which is funny considering how much time they spend fighting or arguing, but it just makes sense for them as a couple.I also enjoyed how we get to see more of the Smith world open up and get more into the "scary" sides of them. While the series isn't about them, they are a good focus for a while and seeing more of their world is always fun.Overall, I couldn't put it down even though it was a re-read. The only things that bothered me was the transitions were a touch abrupt (might be bc its an e-book) and the smexy times were a little more caveman-esque than I remember, but she's a 100000% into it and loves it so its not too bad.

`The Beast in Him' is the second book in Shelly Laurenston's redonkulously cool `Pride' series.Bobby Ray `Smitty' Smith met his mate when they were teenagers. The only problem was that little Jessica Ann Ward was an African wild dog in a town of wolf shifters. Cute-as-a-button and shy-as-a-mouse Jessie Ann didn't stand a chance against the Smith clan wolves. . . especially his sister Sissy Mae. Smitty knew that if Jessie Ann could be bullied and beaten by his Alpha sister that she wouldn't fit into the Smith family as his mate. So when Smitty left for the Navy at the age of eighteen he left Jessie Ann behind and never looked back. Until now.Smitty has moved the Smith clan to New York, where Jessie Ann has transformed herself into mega-rich computer geek Jessica Ann Ward. She is Alpha of her own wild dog pack and surrounded by loyal friends and their pups. Now all Jessica needs is a mate to share her pack and life with. And even though she's on the hunt for a life-mate, at the same time that Bobby Ray Smith re-enters her life, that's no reason for Jessie Ann to forget his rejection of the past and succumb to his wily Smith charms . . . no reason whatsoever.Oh my golly gosh, I love this series. Each time I crack open a new Shelly Laurenston book I think it can't get better than the last. . . and so far, I have been proven wrong.We met Smitty in `The Mane Event' and I loved him. He's a laid-back wolf charmer who is quick with the quips and a cock-sure grin. I loved him. He's a southern gentleman and lustful bed-hopping wolf with a wickedly cheeky sense of humour. But Smitty was also deceptively complex, with hidden depths that are revealed when Jessie Ann re-enters his life.Smitty grew up as `one of those Smith's'. The Smith pack being a notoriously mean and loyal bunch - feared and revered amongst shifters. But Smitty didn't always appreciate being judged for his family's ruthlessness, a ruthlessness that saw his sister bully and beat on the one girl he cared about when they were younger. Smitty also grew up watching his parent's tumultuous relationship, full of highs and low-blows.When Smitty meets Jessie Ann after years apart, he is instantly drawn to her. But he's wary of the territorial feelings she ignites in him - feelings that push Smitty closer and closer to that renowned feral Smith behaviour he so wants to curb around the smart, sexy and sophisticated Jessica Ward.Jessica is a lovely counter-balance to Smitty and his crazy-ass pack. I loved Jessica because she is a through, unabashed geek. She loves Tolkien, candy-bar sword fights and video games. She is so gloriously uninhibited in her geekishness that she's impossible not to like. And her pack of wild dogs are fantastic friends - they bust out the pom-poms when Jessica does something they like and they offer her much-needed shoe advice. I loved them. Their camaraderie is infectious and hilarious.`The Beast in Him' is another fabulous paranormal romance from Shelly Laurenston. Hers is a hilarious and erotic paranormal romance, with a fabulous New York City setting and outlandishly charming characters.

I love Smitty! If I could find me a Smitty, that would be great. I didn't expect to love but I do.Jess is amazing too and someone truly suited for Smitty and Smitty is suited for her.I love how we got to know both their worlds and that they both got fleshed out.I'm a sucker for childhood romance turned into adult romance and so yeah, I loved it.When can I get my Smitty?

This series had been recommended to me several times and indeed I have had book 1 on my kindle for ages. Well I read book 2 before book 1 and am now reading book 1.This is Smitty and and Jessica-Ann's story. Smitty is the wolf and Jessica is the dog. They are shifters, so part animal/human. The story was funny which I enjoyed but it was not romantic enough for me. The book got off to a slow start for me too. However, I did enjoy the story and I am going to finish the rest of the series. All the books in the Pride series are interracial. Definitely worth a read.

This book and the whole series are one of my favourite regular reads. I was therefor soooo excited to buy the audio books for my journeys to and from work. However the very last disc obviously had some fault when created and as a result the CD skips constantly which means I get to listen to 7 cd's fine, but the end of the story on disk 8 is unlistenable - so frustrating and a real let down. My advice is if you order this item play it straight away to check all discs work. I wish I had; but I bought so many that by the time I got to this one the return period had expired. Sigh......

I have a collection of Laurenston's books that I re-read and re-read and this is certainly one of my favourites. No matter how many times I read it I always laugh and find myself engaged. Love Jess who is quirky and fabulous. Enjoyed her interactions with Smithy and the chemistry can definately be felt.

I love this author so much, she is hilarious. On top of being really funny, she writes really good stories about pretty interesting characters.I recommend giving this book a read, you won’t regret it!