Bite Me (Pride #9) by Shelly Laurenston-a review

Bite Me (Pride #9) by Shelly Laurenston-a review

Bite Me

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BITE ME (Pride #9) by Shelly Laurenston

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 25, 2014

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots. When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life’s irritants is a finely honed skill. Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin and dealing with her dad’s untimely and unexplained demise.

That’s where Vic Barinov comes in—or his house does. Vic can’t step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky. It gets his animal instincts all riled up. But he’ll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge…

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: BITE ME is the ninth instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s contemporary, adult, shifter PRIDE series. This is badger shifter Olivia (Livy) Kowalski and hybrid shifter Vic Barinov’s (Siberian Tiger/Kamchatka grizzly bear) storyline. Readers were first introduced to Vic and Livy in Wolf with Benefits. This is a friends to lovers storyline.

The premise focuses on Livy and the truth about her father’s death. Badgers are known for their ferocity in a fight and their ability to protect the ones that they love but Livy’s father had been hunted and the family will do anything to bring the people responsible to justice-and justice- is another way of saying-dead.

Vic and Livy’s relationship is interesting. Vic is Livy’s go-to person when things get a little too tense with the family and tense is a way of life for the badgers. Their attraction to one another is apparent to everyone but to the couple who believe their mutual love for honey keeps their friendship real- in this they dance around one another all the while fighting off marauding bears and nasty badgers. There is none of the does he want me/does she love me conflict-Livy and Vic are two mature shifters who go for what they want and they want one another.

When the truth about Livy’s father’s death is revealed Livy knows that Vic will do everything he can to help locate the person(s) responsible but Vic will bring in assistance from another part of the world when all fingers begin to point to connections an ocean away.

BITE ME is a novel that features many of the previous storyline characters and premises including another look at shifter roller derby; Bo Novikov and Blayne Thorpe as they prepare for their upcoming dual nuptials with Gwen and Lock; as well as the Smith Pack including Dee Ann and Eggie play a pivotal role in the take down of those responsible but not before the badgers begin to make life miserable for anyone connected to Livy and her father’s death.

Shelly Laurenston writes with her usual flare of humor, entertainment and sexiness. A storyline rich in one liners and poetic sarcasm, BITE ME is a story that focuses on speciesism, stereotyping, discrimination and a hatred for a group of people all because of who and what they are.

If you love a shifter storyline with plenty of humor, family, friends and a take no prisoners kind of attitude, Shelly Laurenston’s Pride Series should be your next go to read in your ever growing TBR pile.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy

READING ORDER

Pack Series
1. Pack Challenge
2. Go Fetch
3. Here Kitty Kitty
4. When He was Bad (anthology)

Pride Series
.5 Howl For It (anthology)
1. The Mane Event
2. The Beast in Him
3. The Mane Attraction
4. The Mane Squeeze
5. Beast Behaving Badly
6. Big Bad Beast
7. Bear Meets Girl
8. Wolf With Benefits
9. Bite Me

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Cover Reveals May 24, 2013

 

COVER REVEALS May 24, 2013

AMR final

 

TITLE: Avoiding Mr.Right

AUTHOR: C.J. Ellisson

SERIES: A Walk on the Wild Side

RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2013

 

 

 

BLURB: Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:

1. Casual Sex
2. Friends with Benefits
3. Avoidance of Intimacy

Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her.

Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It’ll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla’s sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate.

 

 

The Wicked.July 2013jpg

 

 

TITLE: The Wicked

AUTHOR: Thea Harrison

SERIES: A Novel of the Elder Races

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Endless Night oc t 2013

 

TITLE: Endless Knight

AUTHOR: Kresley Cole

SERIES: Arcana Chronicles

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

 

Wild Wolf Feb 2014

 

TITLE: Wild Wolf

AUTHOR: Jennifer Ashley

SERIES: Shifters Unbound

RELEASE DATE: February 2014

 

 

 

Warrior Untamed Novem 2013

 

TITLE:  Warrior Untamed

AUTHOR:  Melissa Mayhue

SERIES: Warrior #3

RELEASE DATE:  November 2013

 

 

 

 

I Surrender July 2013

 

 

TITLE: I Surrender

AUTHOR: Monica James

SERIES: I Surrender Trilogy #1

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

Against-the-Ropes-May 2013

 

TITLE:  Against the Ropes

AUTHOR:  Carly Fall

SERIES:  N/A

RELEASE DATE:  May 29, 2013

 

 

 

After burn  aug 2013

 

TITLE :  Afterburn

AUTHOR:  Sylvia Day

SERIES:  Cosmo Red Hot Reads #1

RELEASE DATE:  July 2013

 

 

 

 

Aftershock Nov 2013

 

TITLE:  Aftershock

AUTHOR:  Sylvia Day

SERIES:  Cosmo Red Hot Reads #2

RELEASE DATE: November 2013

 

 

 

Alone January 2014

 

TITLE: Alone

AUTHOR: Kendra Elliot

SERIES: Bone Secrets

RELEASE: January 2014

 

 

 

After the Kiss - Lauren Layne

 

TITLE: After The Kiss

AUTHOR: Lauren Layne

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Runaway Queen May 2013

 

TITLE:  The Runaway Queen (YA)

AUTHOR:  Cassandra Clare/Maureen Johnson

SERIES:  The Bane Chronicles/The Mortal Instruments

RELEASE DATE:  May 2013

 

 

 

 

Playing the part

 

TITLE: Playing the Part

AUTHOR: Robin Covington

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The Spider Dec 2013

 

TITLE: The Spider

AUTHOR: Jennifer Estep

SERIES: Elemental Assassin

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

 

 

 

Conceal

 

TITLE: Conceal

AUTHOR: Juliana Stone

SERIES: The Barker Triplets #3

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The last kiss goodbye Aug 2013

 

TITLE: The Last Kiss Goodbye

AUTHOR: Karen Robards

SERIES: Dr. Charlotte Stone #2

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Revealed Oct 13

 

TITLE: Revealed

AUTHORS: PC & Kristin Cast

SERIES: House of Night (YA)

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Big Bad Beast Oct 2013

 

TITLE: Big Bad Beast (re-release)

AUTHOR: Shelly Laurenston

SERIES: Pride and Pack

RELEASE DATE: October 2013

 

 

 

Her Ladyship's Curse aug 13

 

TITLE: Her Ladyships Curse

AUTHOR: Lynn Viehl

SERIES: Disenchanted and Co. Part 1

RELEASE DATE: August 2013

 

 

 

Falling Into Us June 2013

 

TITLE:  Falling Into Us

AUTHOR:  Jasinda Wilder

SERIES:  Falling Into You #2

RELEASE DATE:  June 2013 

 

 

 

Fit muscular man exercising with dumbbell

 

TITLE: The Winning Season

AUTHOR: Alison Packard

SERIES: N/A

RELEASE DATE: July 2013

 

 

 

Shattered Emotions

 

TITLE:  Shattered Emotions

AUTHOR:  Carrie Ann Ryan

SERIES:  Redwood Pack

RELEASE DATE: June 2013

 

 

 

The Sharpest Blade

 

 

TITLE: The Sharpest Blade

AUTHOR: Sandy Williams

SERIES: Shadow Reader #3

RELEASE DATE: December 2013

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Wolf With Benefits by Shelly Laurenston-a review

WOLF WITH BENEFITS (Pride Series #8) by Shelly Laurenston

Wolf With Benefits

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 26, 2013

Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?

Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…

***********************

REVIEW: Shelly Laurenston (aka G.A.Aiken) is one of my all-time favorite authors. Shelly’s world of shifters, whether it be pride and pack or dragon, is a world filled with humor. The ease with which Shelly’s characters and storylines pull you into the book is something every author should aspire to. I have a habit of re-reading novels that I enjoy, but if I am feeling a little down, one of Shelly’s books is one of the first books I head to –first.

Wolf With Benefits is one of those storylines where Shelly brings together many of her characters from previous storylines. And if you are a fan of the Pride and Pack series, you will be pleased to know that several characters from the Pack series make a return cameo. Our heroine is the daughter of Jackie the Jackal –yes you are reading that correctly-Jackie the Jackal whom we first met in the anthology WHEN HE WAS BAD in the short story Miss Congeniality !!

Toni’s believes her family of ten siblings need her to help stay organized and in a sense they do. But what Toni discovers is that her talents at organization stand her in good stead with the Van Holtz organization who offer her a prime position within the company. Wolf With Benefits follows Toni as she endeavors to cope with a family of ten siblings-all jackals- all prodigies in their own rights, and the knowledge that her one and only specialty leaves her feeling like a glorified babysitter. When she is asked to go to Russia to broker a deal with the Russian Shifter Hockey league, Toni learns that dealing with the Russians is not like dealing with her family back home- and what is happening back home is something even Toni would have a hard time comprehending.

Ricky and Toni’s relationship is slow to build, although they do meet within the first few pages of the book. Ricky is persistent and garnering a position as security for Toni allows Ricky more one on one private time that will eventually lead to the one thing both of them had not been looking for-a mate. And in true Laurenston style, the families, the wild-dogs, the lions and the wolves will become involved when one of the Reed boys looks like he has fallen in love with a she-jackal. We witness the OCD antics of Bo Novikov who discovers that a family of child prodigies is a little more than he can handle: Blayne Thorpe stunned that not everyone is pleased with her hyper rantings: and a family of wild-dogs whose own child prodigy is making a name for himself.

There are several secondary storylines building that will involve Dee Ann Smith, The Unit and a new member to the team whose shifter heritage is a surprise to everyone but a sexy, honey loving bear. And Shelly pulls no punches when a family member becomes a threat. Due justice will be served-not now-but in the future.

WOLF WITH BENEFITS is another wonderfully sexy and well-written storyline from the mind of Shelly Laurenston. If you are a fan of shifters and humor, Shelly’s Pride series is a definite must read. Shelly pulls the reader into the storyline and makes you feel like part of the pack , or pride, or clan or ….family.

If you are not familiar with the series, I suggest you start with the Pack series. Many of the characters from the Pack series have cameos in Wolf With Benefits.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Shelly Laurenston Pride and Pack

 

READING ORDER
1. Pack Challenge
2. Go Fetch
3. Here Kitty Kitty

4. When He was Bad (anthology)
5. The Mane Event
6. The Beast in Him
7. The Mane Attraction
8. The Mane Squeeze
9. Beast Behaving Badly
10. Big Bad Beast
11. Bear Meet Girl
12. Howl for It (anthology)
13. Wolf With Benefits

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COVER REVEALS

COVER REVEALS

 

 

TITLE:  Wolf With Benefits

AUTHOR:  Shelly Laurenston

SERIES:  Pride Series

RELEASE DATE:  March 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Tidal

AUTHOR:  Amanda Hocking

SERIES:  Watersong

RELEASE DATE:  April 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Dead Ever After

AUTHOR:  Charlaine Harris

SERIES:  Sookie Stackhouse

RELEASE DATE:   May 2013

 

 


 

TITLE: Apollyon

AUTHOR:  Jennifer Armentrout

SERIES:  Covenant

RELEASE DATE:  May 2013

 

 

 

TITLE: One Night With A Hero

AUTHOR: Laura Kaye

SERIES: Contemporary Romance

RELEASE DATE: October 2012
(available now)

 

 

 

 

TITLE: A Soul for Chaos

AUTHOR: Krista McHugh

SERIES: Soulbearer Trilogy

RELEASE DATE: December 2012

 

 

 

 

TITLE: By Love Unveiled

AUTHOR: Sabrina Jeffries

SERIES: Historical Romance

RELEASE DATE: March 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Rogue Descendant

AUTHOR: Jenna Black

SERIES: Nikki Glass #3

RELEASE DATE: May 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE: The Seduction of Elliot McBride

AUTHOR: Jennifer Ashley

SERIES: Highland Pleasures #5

RELEASE DATE: January 2013

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Crystal Cove

AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas

SERIES: Friday Harbor

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

 

TITLE: Collide

AUTHOR: Juliana Stone

SERIES: Barker Triplets

RELEASE DATE: January 2013

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CAFE NEWS

CAFE NEWS

FROM: Karen Marie Moning

Guys, ICED is NOT Young Adult. Dani ages during the next three books of the Fever Series. Yes, there’s sex. I like writing about sex. I always write about sex. No, 14-year old Dani doesn’t have sex. Other people do. Nor does 14 -year old (at the start of the trilogy) Dani make it a book by or for a 14 year old. I promise you all the magic you’ve come to expect from the Fever World. I don’t write YA. This series isn’t YA. Please spread the word so my inbox will calm down:)

Click HERE for an excerpt from ICED by Karen Marie Moning

 

 

TITLE: The Cursed

AUTHOR: Alyssa Day

SERIES: The League of the Black Swann

RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: Beauty Awakened

AUTHOR: Gena Showalter

SERIES: Angels of the Dark

RELEASE DATE: March 2013

 

 

 

TITLE: Magic at Midnight

AUTHOR: Gena Showalter

SERIES: 2 previously released novellas

1. The Witches of Mysteria and the Dead Who Love Them
2. The Tawdry Affair

RELEASE DATE: February 2013

 

 

TITLE: Silverwing’s Sorceress

AUTHOR: Cassi Carver

SERIES: Shadow Slayers

RELEASE DATE: December 2012

 

 

 

 

 

TITLE: The Better to Bite

AUTHOR: Cynthia Eden

Series: Howl

RELEASE DATE: November 2012

 

 

 

 

TITLE:  Last Blood

AUTHOR:  Kristen Painter

SERIES:   House of Comarre

RELEASE DATE:   TBA

 

 

 

BITS AND PIECES

WOLF WITH BENEFITS by Shelly Laurenston (Pride series-Ricky Lee’s story)
Release Date: March 2013

FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson)
Release Date: July 2013

CALCULATED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb (In Death Series)
Release Date: February 2013

TIGER MAGIC by Jennifer Ashley (Shifters Unbound)
Release Date: June 2013

WICKED MEMORIES by Nina Bangs (Castles of Dark Dreams)
Release Date: June 2013

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HOWL FOR IT Anthology by Shelly Laurenston/Cynthia Eden-a review

HOWL FOR IT Anthology by Shelly Laurenston/Cynthia Eden-a review

This review will cover LIKE A WOLF WITH A BONE only.

Back Cover Copy:
LIKE A WOLF WITH A BONE
Quiet little Darla Lewis couldn’t be happier when the most-feared member of the South’s rowdiest pack kidnaps her. A girl gets real tired of being overprotected by her own shifter family, and there’s nothing like an oh-so-big bad wolf to start a pack feud, unleash her instincts—and have her surrender however and whenever she wants…

Eggbert *Eggie* Ray Smith is feared by everyone, the members of his own pack, his fellow Marines, mostly due to being very good at his job: killing……. Everyone except Darla Mae Lewis, (who is a pacifist), whom he encounters while on leave in Smithville, NC, where the Lewis Pack is based. She lives in San Francisco and works as a pastry chef for the Van Holtz pack in one of their exclusive restaurants. Mr. Van Holtz, for some unknown reason, sent Darla Mae home, insisting that she take a little vacation.

Darla Mae is the baby of her family and her sisters are very overprotective. And she couldn’t be more different than her sisters. Her sisters, whom are all “Maes”, are mated to Eggie’s brothers, whom are all “Rays”. (It really is hysterical!) And, of course, once Eggie and Darla meet, there is an immediate attraction for both. As the story unfolds, there is an attempt on Darla Mae’s life and Eggie takes things into his own hands, literally. Once he has the situation under control, he takes her back to Smithville, TN to his home, where he can better protect her. Of course, his brothers’ mates think he is evil incarnate and are worried for Darla Mae’s well-being, so they all follow them back to Tennessee. Once in Tennessee, things start to happen quickly. There are a few bumps in the road with the Lewis Pack being accepting of Eggie, and of course, the Smith Pack has to make sure that Darla Mae is worthy of Eggie. And, they all find out the reason behind Darla Mae’s boss being insistent that she take a vacation. She saw something she shouldn’t have. There is another attempt on her life and all of the shifters in and around Smithville, TN help out, and once Eggie makes the scene, they are reminded why he is so feared. No one messes with anything or anyone Eggie considers his.

I loved this story. No one writes with humor like Shelly Laurensten. Of course, this is a prequel, going back and telling us how Darla Mae Lewis tamed the enigma that is Eggert Ray Smith. We also hear from the Magnus Pack in this book, which was a hoot. The interaction between the brothers and their mates, is, as always, too much fun!! Those sisters are a force to be reckoned with. And, Eggie’s Sugar Bug!!! For those of you who haven’t read this series, that’s their daughter Dee Ann, affectionately known as Sugar Bug. And you really have got to read this series in order to understand how hysterical that name is for little ol’ Dee Ann!! The epilogue ends up in the “present day” timeline within this series. I am telling ya’ll, this is absolutely one of the best, funniest, action packed series that I have ever read. Definitely in my top five series of all time. If you’ve read this series, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, there aren’t enough words for me to tell you what ya’ll are missing!! 😉

READING ORDER
1. Pack Challenge
2. Go Fetch
3. Here Kitty Kitty
4. When He was Bad..anthology

5. The Mane Event
6. The Beast in Him
7. The Mane Attraction
8. The Mane Squeeze
9. Beast Behaving Badly
10.Big Bad Beast
11.Bear Meet Girl
12.Howl For It

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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BEAR MEETS GIRL by Shelly Laurenston-A New Release Review

BEAR MEETS GIRL by Shelly Laurenston

BEAR MEETS GIRL is the latest instalment in Shelly Laurenston’s Pride and Pack Shifter series of novels. Bear Meets Girl focuses on Lou “Crush” Cruzek (polar bear) former undercover police officer and Marcella “Bare Knuckles” Malone (tiger) professional hockey player/enforcer for Bo “The Marauder” Novikov and one of the elite feline protection-contractors for the KZS.

Lou ‘Crush’ Cruzek had too many jello shooters at Mace and Dez’s party. But when he wakes up with a hangover and a naked feline-shifter draped across his chest, he has no idea what is in store. And the fact that she is teasing and tormenting a 6’9” polar bear-shifter has him concerned. Doesn’t she know NOT to poke an angry bear?

Crush’s cover has been blown and to complicate matters someone from his childhood is directly involved. So he is re-assigned to another division and partnered with the infamous Dez MacDermott-Llewellyn human wife of lion male Mace Llewellyn. Not happy with his re-location, Crush considers early retirement versus a potential desk job. But when their assignment involves missing and murdered shifters the same 2 names from his past keep making an appearance.

Cella is a single mother and a protection-contractor for the KZS. A shifter assassin working for the KZS and the Group, she has been working with DeeAnn Smith –mate to Ric Van Holtz and Cella’s boss at the Group. Cella is surprised to find Crush has also been assigned to the same investigation, but finds it even funnier that he refuses to acknowledge their awkward morning after. But life has a funny way of pairing up potential mates, and Crush must now work alongside Dez, DeeAnn and Cella in the hopes of locating and stopping a man determined to add to his trophy collection.

Throughout the storyline, Crush is amazed that Cella is the same ‘Bare Knuckles’ Malone- enforcer for the professional shifter hockey team and the daughter of the infamous ‘Nice Guy’ Malone-one of Crush’s favorite players. In awe of their reputation, the polar also meets many of the current stars including Bo Novikov and Lock “The Tank” MacRyrie. With Bo’s reputation as a hard-assed, take no prisoners attitude on the ice, Crush finds himself in the unenviable position as one of the few friends (including Cella) who is able to tolerate Bo’s outbursts and tantrums. Even Bo’s fiance Blayne has a few choice words for her mate.

There are several secondary storylines as well. Cella’s mother Barb is a wedding planner who has arranged the wedding for Cella’s ex. Like many pride females, Cella was never married to her daughter’s father, but remains friends with both he and his new fiancé. As well we are introduced to Cella’s best friend and team doctor Jai Davis and her daughter Josie, and Cella’s extended family of Malones. Cella’s daughter Meghan is readying for university but there are secrets that threaten her mother’s happiness. And like many families, Crush’s relationship with his brothers is difficult and their connection with someone from his past may place them all in danger. Orphaned as young children, the trio was raised by a woman willing to risk everything for what she wants.

Crush and Cella’s relationship started as a matter of convenience. Hoping to keep her family from match-making with cousins, Cella enters into a deal with Crush. Pretending to be a couple only brings them together, but when Cella becomes the on-ice target for an off-ice game of revenge, Crush knows exactly who to target for his next take-down assignment.

Bear Meets Girl is another great storyline in Shelly Laurenston’s Pride and Pack series. I was pleased with the return of many of her former storyline characters including Bo, Blayne, Loch, Ric and DeeAnn, but I am also looking forward to the ‘weddings of the century’. Shelly has introduced a few new shifters and brought back a couple of secondary characters from other books. Shelly’s writing is filled with humorous dialogue and sexy love scenes. Shelly is one of my favorite authors and along with her counterpart in the Dragonkin series G A Aiken, I look forward to every new book in both of her series.

READING ORDER
Shelly Laurenston
Magnus and Pride Series

1. Pack Challenge
2. Go Fetch
3. Here Kitty Kitty
4. When He was Bad..anthology
5. The Mane Event
6. The Beast in Him
7. The Mane Attraction
8. The Mane Squeeze
9. Beast Behaving Badly
10.Big Bad Beast
11.Bear Meet Girl (Mar 2012)

Reviewed by Sandy

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Wolf with a Bone ( Howl for It-Anthology) by Shelly Laurenston

From Shelly Laurenston’s Facebook page:

 WOLF WITH A BONE by Shelly Laurenston

March 15, 2012

NEWS UPDATE!!

The antho title is HOWL FOR IT and Shelly’s story is called “Wolf With a Bone.” She also decided to take another trip back in time to the early 70s and give you the story of Dee-Ann Smith’s parents: Darla Mae Lewis and Egbert “Eggie” Ray Smith. Yes, that’s right. It’s the story of how a little “rescue” (some might call it a “kidnapping”) led to the romance between the sweetest She-wolf in the South and the most feared wolf in Smith Pack history…until his baby girl came along anyway. His Sugar Bug.

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