I have to say that when it comes to Shelly Laurenston I am completely biased. I love her books, and have read them all at least two (or is it four?) times. Her Pack and Pride series have the perfect balance of humor, romance, action, violence, and drama. She expertly brings to life both the animal and human aspects of the shifters. The men and women are tough, tender, and loyal. Given my love for these characters, I approached BIG BAD BEAST with a bit of caution. This is Dee-Ann Smith's story. This is the woman who, if you sprained your ankle, would give serious thought to killing you just to save you both the trouble of going to the hospital. How could an entire book revolve around Dee-Ann and still retain the twisted charm and humor of the earlier books? Now, I hang my head in shame at my lack of faith. By page five, I was laughing out loud and cheering for both Dee-Ann and the man who loves her, Ulrich "Ric" Van Holtz.

Ric, of the wealthy Van Holtz Pack, fell in lust (love?) with Dee-Ann Smith, of the Tennessee (and now New York) Smith Pack, the minute he spotted her at the apartment of mutual friend Lock MacRyrie in The Mane Squeeze. Now, Ric is her supervisor as she works for the Group to take down the evil full-humans who stage pit fights using abducted young hybrid shifters. Dee-Ann, who takes after her lone-wolf daddy, doesn't walk away from a fight and is more than capable of killing as needed. She plays by her own rules and doesn't hesitate to show up uninvited in Ric's apartment day or night. A chef by trade, Ric uses her visits as an opportunity to feed her (she's too skinny!). He also wants to charm her into getting naked with him. Dee's not buying it... except she's starting to realize that Ric may be one of the few people she can trust, and he is supermodel handsome. Now, if they can keep Ric out of the shallow grave Dee-Ann's daddy has dug for him, they just might have a future together.

I thoroughly enjoyed BIG BAD BEAST and have already started re-reading it to catch all the little details I missed the first time. Dee's terseness (and violent tendencies) are softened just a tiny bit, but it's enough to make her likable as a main character. Her toughness is balanced by the prominent re-appearance of many of the characters from earlier books in the Pride and Pack series. Ric is powerful and smart, and can both nurture and challenge Dee. They make a great couple!

BIG BAD BEAST is a must read. If you haven't read them already (and really, what are you waiting for?), start with the earlier books in order to get the most enjoyment out of the latest installment in the Pride series.

Book Summary

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee- Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely- independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.

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