The Beast in Him

Pride, Book 2

By: Shelly Laurenston

Narrated by: Charlotte Kane

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Some things are so worth waiting for. Like the moment when Jessica Ward "accidentally" bumps into Bobby Ray Smith and shows him just how far she's come since high school. Back then, Jess's gangly limbs and bruised heart turned to jelly any time Smitty's "all the better to ravish you with" body came near her. So, some things haven't changed. Except now Jess is a success on her own terms. And she can enjoy a romp - or 20 -with a big, bad wolf and walk away. Easy.

The sexy, polished CEO who hires Smitty's security firm might be a million miles from the lovable geek he knew, but her kiss, her touch, is every bit as hot as he imagined. Jess was never the kind to ask for help, and she doesn't want it now, not even with someone targeting her Pack. But Smitty's not going to turn tail and run. Not before proving that their sheet-scorching animal lust is only the start of something even wilder.

©2008 Shelly Laurenston (P)2013 Tantor

Hooked

I will read any all books in this series oh wait I have...lol this series is laugh out loud funny give it a try and I hope u'll enjoy.

Fun

Laurenston always makes me laugh and she has just the right narrators for her books. Great characters and a good plot.

My favorite author... favorite books

Laurenston writes with humor and great dialogue. I love these books they make me laugh and thoroughly engage me in the story. I absolutely love them! So worth it! Enjoy!!!!

Very good continuation of the series :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story. I liked Jessica (Jess) and Smitty is great if a bit clueless. I was very happy to see Smitty get his own book.

Jess is a African Wild Dog shifter. She grew up around the Smith pack as an orphan and got beat up and picked on mercilessly. Most of it by Smitty's sister and her friends. Smitty always tried to protect her from that but his protection ended when he left for the Navy. She had a tough life but made a lot out of it. When she next meets Smitty, she's the CEO of a big company and has grown up from the girl he used to protect.

Bobby Ray Smith (aka Smitty) is a good guy but for a wolf shifter he's a total dog. He's looking for his next conquest when he meets Jess again. He's astounded when she only seems to remember him vaguely and pretty much blows him off. Smitty can't believe that sweet little Jess doesn't remember him and their friendship. Smitty isn't one to back down from a challenge and he wants to see Jess again so he decides to push his way back in to her life.

Jess isn't thrilled to have Smitty pushing his way back in to her life. She's still attracted to him after all these years but she also put up with hell at his sister's hands after he left. She honestly doesn't know if she can trust him and tries pushing him away again and again. Fortunately wolf shifters tend to have selective hearing and Smitty disregards her protests and eventually manages to get her to let him back in. Their relationship is halting as Jess still doesn't think she could get what she needs from Smitty and Smitty doesn't realize what he really wants from Jess. It's fun as well as frustrating seeing them try to get their relationship working.

Issues from the past have to be handled, as well as dealing with each other's packs and family issues that come up. Things are far from boring and we have plenty of interaction with secondary characters that are from previous books. There is also an influx of new characters in the form of Jess' pack (loved her pack...great group) and some of the Smith family (Smitty's Mom and Pop are great at the end of the story). I have to say that Smitty's Mom certainly helped with a little well placed advice for Jess when her and Smitty were at a stumbling block that made me want to reach through my Kindle and slap them...thank goodness for interfering family! Once they get past that stumble the ending of the book is great.

This was a really good book. I really enjoyed seeing Smitty and Jess get together (I was rooting for Jess the whole time) and was very happy with their ending. I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series. I'd recommend this one. Thumbs up!

Another great Laurenston book!

Shelly Laurenston has a talent for creating likable characters and fascinating secondary characters that you can’t help but root for. And the narrator is terrific at bringing her vision to life. If you are looking for a light hearted paranormal romance with great world building, this series can’t be beat!

Sexy Beast!

Ok, so I'm officially a fan now! I have some reservations about the narrator--she's a bit much, but the storyline, the super hot sex and most importantly the laugh out loud humor has me ready to purchase the whole series! This story is equally if not funnier (and better) than the first. The 'honky tonk/country' vibe of these characters is hilarious. Smitty falling in love and Jessieanne finally giving in to him, made for a cute love story and I can't wait to hear what happens next!

Best yet

This is a great series, but this was the best in the series so far for me. Smitty and Jessie Anne's story was everything from comical, heart warming and down right enthralling. Shelly Laurenston is an absolute genius at character development and story progression. Her characters are so interesting that when a minor character is introduced in a story I find myself wondering when they are going to get their own book.

Great job Shelly Laurenston keep the great books coming.

Laughing at those Wild Dogs!

OK, some people don't get the wild dogs, but, I thought they were the funniest things around. Loved the humor and the way they get serious. You just have to laugh. Jessica and Bobby Ray, well , what can I say? Once again, a great series. Charlotte Kane, you are the voice!

Narration is hit and miss.

What made the experience of listening to The Beast in Him the most enjoyable?

Read the story first and that helped get through the not so great narration.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Charlotte Kane?

Phil Gigante, Rosalyn Landor or Oliver Wyman. These narrators seem to grasp the emotions and characteristics of the characters and narrate appropriately. Ms. Kane's performance in this book was over the top drama instead of sarcastic, humorous and/or snarky. Her failure to grasp this lessens some of the humor in this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Shelly Laurenstons books always make me laugh out loud but sadly this narrator losses much of the humor due to poor narration choices.

Any additional comments?

I am a huge fan of Ms. Laurenston (and her alter G.A. Aiken) and it is disheartening that the audio book productions on ALL of her books have not embodied her characters and writing. In the end i believe the blame falls on the director and producers for not familiarizing themselves with the projects they are recording. In the end I do urge readers new to Ms. Laurenston to read the book first as the narration is lacking.

An entertaining light read

Whatever problems were previously experienced with the narration being too fast must have been fixed. The narration speed was fine (the same cadence Johanna Parker aka Charlotte Kane used in the Sookie Stackhouse books).