Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston
- paranormal, romance -
reviewed by Tara SG
free eBook via Amazon.com
Book Order (Magnus Pack)
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Pack Challenge * * *
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Go Fetch!
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Here Kitty, Kitty
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When He Was Bad anthology (“Miss Congeniality”)
Links
Author’s Website :www.shellylaurenston.com / www.gaaiken.com
Amazon : paperback / eBook ($3.59)
Add To Your GoodReads TBR List (848 ratings : 4.05 avg)
In Six Words:
funny, sexy, and a little annoying
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
– I wasn’t sure if this fell into the Mature Moments category, but it’s definitley for adults. –
This was another one of my Shiny Book Syndrome picks. I got this as a free download and am glad I was given a chance to start this series. The only reason this got only 3 stars (which isn’t a bad rating) is due to the slow beginning. I got a little bored with the build-up and think the book could have been paced much better. That being said, I laughed a lot more than expected and I really enjoyed the harsher romance. This isn’t a lovey, sweet book. There is cussing, fighting, and rough sex. But don’t take that to mean the book is crude. I think there is a difference between being what I consider gross crude and less romantic sexy (this book is the latter).
There isn’t a huge mystery, but there was plenty of action. While the characters seem to have rubbed some people the wrong, I liked them. I’ll definitley be picking up the rest of the series (even if the next one features who I found most annoying).
Brief Summary
What’s an Alpha Male to do when he meets the Alpha Female of his dreams? Step one, hide all sharp objects. All Zach Sheridan ever wanted was to become Alpha Male of his Pack and be left alone. What he definitely didn’t need in his life was some needy female demanding his attention. What he never saw coming was the vicious, scarred female who not only demanded his attention but knew exactly how to get it. Sara Morrighan knew this was the best she could expect from her life. Good friends. A nice place to live. And a safe job. But when Zach rode into her small Texas town with his motorcycle club, Sara knew she wanted more. She knew she wanted him. But after one sexy encounter with her dream biker, everything is starting to change. Her body. Her strength. That new thing she’s doing with the snarling. Even her best friends are starting to wonder what’s going on with her. But this is only the beginning. Sara’s about to find out her life was meant for so much more. And Zach’s about to find true love with the one woman who makes him absolutely insane. Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and strong violence.
- via GoodReads.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
This is another twist on werewolf mythology that I wished had been explained a little better. However, this is more of a “read for fun” than think about the deeper meaning book so it didn’t really matter in the long run. The beginning and constant asking if Sara was going to some party was a little tough to get through. But I didn’t mind reading about the characters fighting their feelings. I actually found it more entertaining in this book than in others due to the realistic way they communicated.
The shifting of POVs was handled really well and I loved the author’s sense of humor.
Characters
Sara isn’t perfect. She’s scarred from an animal attack as child that left her with marks across her face and a bad leg. She cusses. She drinks. She was real. While she annoyed me at some points, it was in a way that real people annoy me. Yeah, she’s a little crazy and bitchy. She doesn’t mind.
Zach was OK. I wanted to know more about him. I liked his interactions with Sara. I’m not 100% sold on them being in love, but I think they could make it work and it was a good start to a relationship. I feel like in real life we “fall in love” fast and sometimes relationships start out as being purely physical and turn into something more (not that I know from experience or anything…).
Sara’s friends drove me a little nuts. They fought a lot. It reminded me of how some of my friend bickered in high school. But this is set in small town Texas and it worked I think. I’ve noticed that people that stay home and don’t go away for college (or those that hang out with old friends from high school) tend to act younger than those who move away.
Favorite Quotes
I actually highlighted a lot in this one…
“Besides, I’m not celebrating. I’m just glad that my grandmother’s –”
“In hell?” Miki cut in.
“There’s no proof of that.” Especially since Sara felt pretty confident Satan wouldn’t take the vicious old heifer.
“I need you to remain calm.”
“Fuck you!”
“That’s not calm.”
- this sounds like something that would be said between the hubs and I
“You’re trying to make me crazy, aren’t you?’
“Not at all.” Sara put her bowl down. “I’m just saying there could be bunny shifters.”
“There are no bunny shifters!”
Shaking her head as she accused, “You’re a bunny bigot.”
- this is part of their bunny shifter conversation that had be laughing so hard I was tearing up
“Where you’re concerned, I am in charge.”
“Are you happy in your land of delusions? Are you king there?”
Recommendations
If you’re looking for a quick sexy paranormal read, then give this a shot. It will make you laugh, but don’t expect to swoon.
Other posts with a 3.5 star rating
Dooood! I have this one, too! I DL it was a free read, and still have it on the old TBR. But you know how I love to laugh! I think just for fun reads serve a pretty fundamental purpose. X)