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 3^rd 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

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