Review: Big Bad Beast

Author Shelly Laurenston 

Format e-book 

Print Length 307 pages

Publisher Kensington

Published May 1, 2011 

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely-independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets. 

My Opinion 

This is the book I have been waiting for! Van and Dee-Ann! It only took six books for them to finally get their story but man has it been a great ride getting here. These two polar opposites are going to have a lot of opposition but man is their story going to awesome! 

Ric Van Holtz is a wolf from THE Van Holtz family. Yepper, the one who owns all the restaurant, the upscale restaurants that everyone wants to get a table at. So yeah, he is a little on the rich side but a snob he is not. He is the chef in the restaurant, a hockey owner and he kinda manages the shifter CIA like organization, the Group. He is also a pretty boy, which was pretty much a given. He has his own family problems-enter dad and brother yet he lets it roll off his back. His cousin who is a black sheep of the family. He is also a city boy. 

Dee-Ann is a Smith, yepper of the red-neck Smiths. A loner by nature, she gets shocked when people think of her as a friend. She is Eggie Smith’s only child and pretty much just like her daddy. An ex-marine with a kill record to match. She honestly does not see her and Ric working out because of their differences. Ric on the other hand things that their differences is what will make them work. 

This one was a fun read, mainly because Ric is adamant about them getting together and Dee-Ann is just as adamant about them staying apart. The fact that Ric has no problem stepping back and letting Dee-Ann take the lead escapes her notice. I love the tit for tat that these two have going on and how their personalities really are opposites. They complement each other so much that it is hard to image either of them with someone else. Ric brings out a side of Dee-Ann that we haven’t seen yet. This was a side that we as the reader needed to see as Dee-Ann is a hard character to like. I loved her, she made me laugh every time she was on a page but a lot of readers loved to hate her. 

The mystery of the illegal hybrid dogfights helps to keep these two in each other’s path. Old characters show up and we get to see where they are and how much they have grown. The Pride series is one where you see former characters time and time again. This makes it seem truly like a pride or one big family that keeps getting additions added to it. 

I can’t say it enough, this is one great series that will have you binge reading it if you just found it. The Big Bad Beast was a great addition to the series and will keep you company through out a cold autumn day. 

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars 

Favorite Quote How did a nice wolf-next-door lure the most dangerous She-wolf alive into his life for good? 

Other People 

Aunt Irene- my favorite human is back 

Eggie- Dee-Ann’s daddy 

Blayne- she’s back