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Breaking Badger by Shelly Laurenston-dual review

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Breaking Badger (Honey Badger Chronicles 4) by Shelly Laurenston-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2021

It’s instinct that drives Finn Malone to rescue a bunch of hard battling honey badgers. The Siberian tiger shifter just can’t bear to see his fellow shifters harmed. But no way can Finn have a houseful of honey badgers when he also has two brothers with no patience. Things just go from bad to worse when the badgers rudely ejected from his home turn out to be the only ones who can help him solve a family tragedy. He’s just not sure he can even get back into the badgers’ good graces. Since badgers lack graces of any kind . . .

Mads knows her teammates aren’t about to forgive the cats that were so rude to them, but moody Finn isn’t so bad. And he’s cute! The badger part of her understands Finn’s burning need to avenge his father’s death—after all, vengeance is her favorite pastime. So Mads sets about helping Finn settle his family’s score, which has its perks, since she gets to avoid her own family drama. Besides, fighting side by side with Finn is her kind of fun—especially when she can get in a hot and heavy snuggle with her very own growling, eye-rolling, and utterly irresistible kitty-cat .

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Sandy’s Review

BREAKING BADGER is the fourth instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s contemporary, adult HONEY BADGER CHRONICLES paranormal series-a spin off from the authors PACK, and PRIDE series. This is honey badger /basketball player Mads Galendotter, and professional football player / Siberian tiger shifter Finn Malone’s storyline BREAKING BADGER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but I recommend reading the series in order for back story and cohesion as it pertains to the MacKilligan sisters and family.

Told from third person perspective including Mads and Finn, BREAKING BADGER follows several paths including the building relationship between Mads and Finn. Finn Malone, and his brothers Keane and Shay are desperate to find the person(s) who ordered the kill and murdered their father, a father who appears to have been abandoned by the controlling Katzenhaus, and his extended family. With the help of the strange group of honey badger shifters Mads, Nelle, Streep and Tock, whom they met during an op that went all to h*ll, the Malone brothers begin a search for the truth but not before discovering the over the top lifestyle and existence of honey badger shifters. To thank the tigers for saving their lives, the honey badgers offer a token of appreciation that is immediately denied, and with it begins the acrimonious relationship between the tigers and the honey badgers. But as Finn begins to dig deeper into their father’s death, they make themselves targets of a powerful group, who may or may not be connected to the people in charge.

Meanwhile Mads and her ‘teammates’ prepare to do battle both on and off the court. Hoping to make the basketball playoffs, the shifters, once again, find themselves targeted when Mads’ extended family accuse our heroine of theft of a priceless family artefact. Mads knows she is going to have to face the family that continue to destroy her life but never expected the help from the new family she has come to love.

Again, Shelly Laurenston pulls the reader into an ongoing war between shifter species, discrimination, the fight for power, and the numerous secrets ops groups that control and regulate the shifter community. The level of violence continues to escalate in both human and animal form; there is no forgiveness or sympathy in a world where one is more animal than human.

As per Laurenston’s style, the humor and snark between characters is front and center in the dysfunctional family units that are often beyond repair but the bonds of friendship usually make up for years of questionable upbringing.

BREAKING BADGER begins a new story line arc, and introduces the reader to a new cast of characters: Mads teammates and friends Nelle, Emily aka Tock, Cass aka Streep; Finn’s brothers Keane and Shay, sister Natalie, youngest brother Dale, and mother Lisa Malone, as well as the Yun mob family. Several familiar faces return for cohesion including honey badgers Max, Charlie and Stevie MacKilligan, Dee-Ann Smith, Niles Van Holtz, Finn’s cousin Cella Malone, bears Berg, Dag and Britta, Panda Shen, Jaguar ZeZe, Lou Cruschek, Dez MacDermott Katzenhaus, The Group, and a cameo appearance by one lion shifter with a thing for his hair, and a feisty wolf dog on roller blades.

BREAKING BADGER follows several paths including the slow building relationship between Finn and Mads. Secondary to the storyline premise, the romance is more of an after thought around the 75% mark, a romance that feels like a friends with benefits relationship more than anything else. The fast paced and often frenetic premise is intense, twisted and entertaining; the characters are fun, familiar and sassy.

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Barb’s Review:
Breaking Badger by Shelly Laurenston is the 4th book in her wonderful Honey Badger Chronicles series. After reading the first three books in this series focusing on the three sisters, I was thrilled to see that Laurenston was giving us more Honey Badgers, and so much more from Charlie, Max and Stevie.  I love love this series, which is so much fun to read.  As I have said before, no one gives us such great stories, with so much laughter from start finish. As always, thank you  Shelly Laurenston for another fantastic addition to this series, and I hope you continue with more.

Breaking Badger centers on Finn Malone, our hero, who along with his Siberian Tiger brothers and sister, are determined to find out who killed their father.  Mads Galendotter, our heroine, loves basketball and her teammates, who are mostly honey badgers, which includes our wild crazy, Max; they have been together since they were kids, with Mads being the leader of the basketball team. Though the background romance is Finn and Mads, the McKilligan sisters (Charlie, Max, Stevie), their teammates, as well as the Malone family play major parts throughout the story. 

The Malone’s get off on the wrong foot with the honey badgers, especially with Max bringing them Danishes to thank them for helping during a fight; and one of the brothers rudely kicks them out.  Max is fit to be tied (which is dangerous at all times), but it is Charlie who will convince Max, Mads and the girls to help the Malones find information.  Along the way, Finn begins to become attracted to Mads, and even though she doesn’t appear to be interested, it is her funny and crazy teammates who push her toward Finn.  A slow build romance will begin, and I really did like them together.  I also loved how Charlie and the McKillgans treated Mads like their own family, since hers were awful to her all her life, even to the point of hurting her.  It was so much fun to watch the tigers slowly accept the honey badgers and how great they were together.  They are an amazing group that are wild, scary and insane, but hysterically funny; and loved how close they were.  Charlie was amazing in this story, since she always has an uncanny ability to take control of any situation, with everyone frightened of her.     

What follows is an exciting adventure that was also fun-filled, with wild & crazy action, a fantastic group of characters, and so much laughter throughout. When it comes to fun, wild crazy antics, hysterical and exciting, no one does it better than Laurenston.  Telling too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of story that needs to be read and fully enjoyed. 

Breaking Badger was another fun, hilarious story, with great characters, sweet romance, action, suspense and so much laughter.  I cannot wait for the next book.   If you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing an author that always gives us fantastic stories, who should not be missed. 

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Hot and Badgered
In A Badger Way
Badger to the Bone

 

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Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurenston – Dual Review

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Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurenston – Dual Review

 

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Description:
She’s the woman he’s been hired to kidnap. But ZeZé Vargas has other ideas . . . like getting them both out of this nightmare alive. Just one problem. She’s crazy. Certifiably. Because while he’s plotting their escape, the petite Asian beauty is plotting something much more deadly . . .

Max “Kill It Again” MacKilligan has no idea what one of her own is doing with all these criminal humans until she realizes that Zé has no idea who or what he is. Or exactly how much power he truly has.

But Max is more than happy to bring this handsome jaguar shifter into her world and show him everything he’s been missing out on. A move that might be the dumbest thing she’s ever done once she realizes how far her enemies will go to wipe her out. Too bad for them Zé is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her alive . . . and honey badgers are just so damn hard to kill!

 

 

Sandy’s Review:

BADGER TO THE BONE is the third instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s contemporary, adult HONEY BADGER CHRONICLES paranormal series-a spin off from the authors PACK, and PRIDE series. This is honey badger /basketball player Max MacKilligan, and jaguar shifter, former US Marine and Black Ops member ZeZé Vargas. BADGER TO THE BONE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary but for back story and cohesion I recommend reading the series in order.

Told from several third person perspectives including Max and Zé BADGER TO THE BONE follows several paths but continues to focus on the MacKilligan half- sisters: badger/ wolf Charlie; honey badger Maxie, and badger/ tiger Stevie MacKilligan.

In the aftermath of an abduction in the Netherlands of badger shifter Max MacKilligan. Max is surprised to discover one of her would-be rescuers is a jaguar shifter, a shifter who is unaware of his DNA. Upon return to American soil, Max would become ZeZé Vargas’ mentor in an effort to acclimate her foundling ‘kitty’ into the unfamiliarity of the shifter world but everything continues to spiral out of control as the fractured and broken MacKilligan family dynamic targets our heroine from a number of sides. What ensues is the slow building relationship between Max and ZeZé, as Max, along with Charlie and Stevie, must come to terms with the fall-out of their father’s life.

Like their human counterparts, the shifter world is constantly at war. From secret military organizations, to illegal money laundering, and the battle between shifter nations, specieism and discrimination are at the heart of everything that continues to go wrong. The MacKilligan family’s reputation is well known in the world of the shifters but Charlie, Max and Stevie are a weapon unto themselves. When another ‘secret shifter’ organization recruits Max to help shut down a human trafficking ring, Max knows, not only will her sisters be by her side, but her basketball shifter team that will always have her back.

Once again, as per Laurenston’s style of writing, the back and forth, frenetic energy between characters and situations is fast paced, humorous, snarky and fun. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters-many whom we have me in this (who doesn’t love the bears) and the author’s previous series, as well as the introduction of more members of the cat nation, and a surprising addition to the MacKilligan family. The premise is imaginative and thrilling; the characters are spirited, sassy and playful; the romance is passionate and enticing.

 

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Barb’s Review:
Badger to the Bone by Shelly Laurenston is the 3rd book in her wonderful paranormal shifter Honey Badger Chronicles series.  I have said this before, Laurenston is a master at giving us wild crazy and hilarious stories, and the Honey Badger Chronicles series is totally a wild, violent, hysterical action-packed adventure that has us engrossed in the story and laughing all the way.  If you have not read this series, you need to start with the first book, otherwise you may find yourself confused, not to mention you need to read about all three of these wonderful crazy sisters.  They are Honey Badgers, who are hard to kill, as well as terrifying to all their opponents.

Max MacKilligan, our heroine in this story, is kidnapped by someone who wants to use her to find her father. Even though the kidnappers are big strong dangerous men, they have no idea who they are dealing with, as our Max brings out her knives and kills them all, freeing herself, and an injured man, who doesn’t know he is a jaguar shifter.

ZeZe Vargas, is an undercover agent, and when he sees the cute Asian young girl, he wants to come to her defense; to his shock she quickly takes care of all of them, as well as taking him to her house to recover from his injuries, and find a way to tell him he isn’t human.  When Ze recovers, he also meets Max’s two sisters, Charlie and Stevie, who push Max to start proving to him he is a cat, and teach him how to be a shifter.  The chemistry between both of them was totally sizzling, and I loved them together.  In a short time, Ze will shift and realize he needs to be around the MacKilligan girls, as well as their family and friends to survive this crazy world. 

Though the main focus of the story revolved around Max and Ze, there were many other things going on with their father, cousins, and other shifters.  Make no mistake, this is a wild crazy family and a hilarious adventure throughout, which is the norm for Laurenston.  I loved Charlie, who has an uncanny ability to take control of any situation, and terrify everyone.  A riot all the way.  Max is also amazing, as she is totally fearless, not to mention a bit crazy.  Stevie, the youngest sister, who is a genius, also stepped up and was able to take a little more control.  Love this family that Shelly Laurenston has created.

What follows is an exciting adventure that was also fun-filled, wild & crazy action, three great sisters, wonderful secondary characters, and so much hilarious laughter.  When it comes to fun, crazy, hysterical and exciting, with fantastic characters, no one does it better than Laurenston.  Telling too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of story that needs to be read and fully enjoyed.  if you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing not only a gem of an author that she not be missed

Copies provided by Publisher

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In A Badger Way (Honey Badger Chronicles #2) by Shelly Laurenston-dual review

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IN A BADGER WAY (Honey Badger Chronicles #2) by Shelly Laurenston-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2019

Petite, kind, brilliant, and young, Stevie is nothing like the usual women bodyguard Shen Li is interested in. Even more surprising, the youngest of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligan sisters is terrified of bears. But she’s not terrified of pandas. She loves pandas.

Which means that whether Shen wants her to or not, she simply won’t stop cuddling him. He isn’t some stuffed Giant Panda, ya know! He is a Giant Panda shifter. He deserves respect and personal space. Something that little hybrid is completely ignoring.

But Stevie has a way of finding trouble. Like going undercover to take down a scientist experimenting on other shifters. For what, Shen doesn’t want to know, but they’d better find out. And fast. Stevie might be the least violent of the honey badger sisters, but she’s the most dangerous to Shen’s peace of mind. Because she has absolutely no idea how much trouble they’re in . . . or just how damn adorable she is

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Sandy’s REVIEW: IN A BADGER WAY is the second instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s fun and fabulous contemporary, adult HONEY BADGER CHRONICLES paranormal, romance series-a spin-off from the author’s PRIDE and PACK series. This is prodigal genius and badger hybrid Stevie Stasiuk-MacKilligan, and security specialist/panda shifter Shen Li’s story line. IN A BADGER WAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from several third person perspectives including Shen and Stevie IN A BADGER WAY follows several paths but continues to focus on the MacKilligan half-sisters: badger/ wolf Charlie; honey badger Maxie, and our heroine badger/ tiger Stevie MacKilligan. Stevie is a prodigal, a genius but suffers from severe anxiety, panic attacks and depression that when provoked or threatened, her self preservation instincts result in a beast that no one is able to control. Currently housing another child prodigy, Kyle Jean-Louis Parker, and his security guard Shen Li, Stevie struggles with demons from the past including a father and uncle who may or may not be threatening the people she loves. When a number of hybrid shifters are found dead, Stevie is contracted by Dr. Irene Conridge, to go in search of the people responsible in an effort to protect shifters like herself. With Shen Li at her side, Stevie will face down her demons, the Bears, the Wild Dog Nights, and possibility of losing herself in the name of science. What ensues is the building romance and relationships between Stevie and Shen, and the potential fall-out as Stevie is targeted by a man desperate to eradicate the impure shifters.

IN A BADGER WAY has all the requisite snark, humor, fun, and over the top craziness expected from Shelly Laurenston’s shifters. The MacKilligan sisters are over protective, fiercely loyal, and when threatened are a force unto themselves. Feared by other shifters, the sister’s reputations as hybrids of unknown consequences places everyone on alert when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan-Stevie is no match for the strongest and biggest shifters, or science, itself.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including some very familiar shifters (Dee-Ann and Ric; Niles Van Holtz and his human wife Irene Conlan, Bo and Blayne, Loch and Gwen, and Marcella Malone), the Berg triplets Berg, Dag and Britta Dunn, Kyle Jean-Louis Parker and his sister Oriana as well as Maxie’s best friend, wolverine shifter Dutch Alexander.

A fantastic story teller, Shelly Laurenston brings her imagination to life blending animal characteristics with a human mind set ensuring no character is entirely free from one or the other. A spirited, energetic and animated series The Honey Badger Chronicles, and thusly the Pride and Pack series are a definite must read.

 

Barb’s REVIEW:  In a Badger Way by Shelly Laurenston is the 2nd book in her wild crazy exciting and hilarious Honey Badger Chronicles series.  Trust me when I say, if you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing not only a gem of an author, but so much fun as you read each and every one of her books. I cannot say enough about Laurenston, as she continually has me engrossed in the story, which has a lot of action and violence, but at the same time I am laughing all the way.  Needless to say, I adore Shelly Laurenston and cannot get enough of her books.  Now for my review  🙂

In the first book of this trilogy, Charlie, the oldest sister was the heroine.  She was an awesome heroine, tough, respected and devoted to her two younger sisters, as well as being the sister who is always in control and feared the most.  They are Honey Badgers, but hybrids; together all three made a wild crazy and terrifying team.  In a Badger Way, the youngest sister, Stevie is our heroine, and we can’t help but love Stevie; she is the child prodigy that everyone wants, even at times to kill her.  Stevie is a genius in everything she does, whether its music or physics, but she has a flaw; she has anxiety panic attacks and when scared, she loses control and shifts into a huge tiger monster.

What I love about this series is that the three sisters are there for each other, even if they also fight each other.  In this story, Charlie and Max are always helping to protect Stevie, even if she can handle herself, if she stays in control.   We also get to meet many of the other shifters we have met previously, like Blayne, Irene, Dee Ann, Jess, just to name a few.   It will be Irene who will convince Stevie and her sisters, as well as some of the MacKilligan family to help bring down a group that are planning to create  a drug that will neutralize hybrids.

Shen Li, our hero, is a panda shifter, as well as a bodyguard.  Shen finds himself spending more time trying to protect Stevie, then what he was hired for.  But living with the MacKilligans is a non-stop wild ride, and life will never be the same.  Stevie likes having Shen around, as she find the panda cute; in a short time after all those around him (especially Max and Charlie) hint that something is going on between him and Stevie; first Stevie and then slowly Shen start falling for each other. Shen realizes that he enjoys being with her and her sisters; he was the perfect person for Stevie, not only protecting her but helping her learn to control her violent anger and shifts.

What follows is an exciting adventure that was also fun-filled, wild & crazy action, three great sisters, wonderful secondary characters, and so much hilarious laughter. Telling too much more would be spoilers, and this is the kind of story that needs to be read and fully enjoyed.  I cannot wait for the next book.   If you have not read Shelly Laurenston, you are missing an author that always gives us fantastic stories.  When it comes to fun, crazy, hysterical and exciting, with fantastic characters, no one does it better then Shelly Laurenston.


Click HERE for our reviews of book one Hot and Badgered.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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