This is the 3rd book in the Honey Badger Chronicles and I would absolutely read the previous ones before reading this one or you will be completely lost. In this one we finally get Max's story!! ZeZé Vargas has been hired to kidnap a woman but has no idea why. But when things goes sideways-he is just trying to get them both out of it alive. He just doesn't realize that the woman he kidnapped is completely crazy and has her own plans. Max “Kill It Again” MacKilligan has no idea what one of her own is doing with the gang that kidnapped her. At least not until she realizes that he has no idea what he truly is. But she is more than happy to show him what he is capable of. At least until she realizes just what her enemies are willing to do in order to wipe her out. Too bad for them that Ze' is going to do what it takes to keep her safe and that she is so hard to kill!

I absolutely loved Max's story!! I always thought she had to have some sort of hidden depths after the previous books and this one definitely shows that there is more to her than meet's the eye! Yes, she is hard core but she is also all about her family and doing what is best for them. No matter what. Ze' is this stand up guy who has no idea that he is a shifter. He is just trying to do what he believes is right, even when it is unnecessary. I might have laughed so hard I cried at some points! This book has it all! Humor, romance, suspense, action-it kept me hooked from the start and I definitely didn't want it to end! I especially loved the little twist to it and can't wait to see where that leads us!! Can't wait for the next book!

Max is crazy and a honey badger shifter who is trained to kill. She's just about as lethal as you can get. So when she finds herself kidnapped, it's not really a problem for her to escape but she wants answers first.

Ze is one of Max's captors but when Max starts calling him a cat shifter, he just thinks she certifiable. Max is something different though and he's not sure just what kind of crazy she is.

Max saves Ze and brings him back to her home where her sisters and other shifters live. Then she tries to make Ze understand that he too is a shifter but it took a little time for him to finally believe her. Max says things that just made me laugh out loud, she can be so funny. But she's also lethal and doesn't seem to feel bad about hurting or killing someone. Most shifters don't seem to like humans and they tend not to mingle with other animal shifters. Each group of animal seems to keep to their own group.

Of course there are government agencies that want to use the shifters for their own resources and one of Max's sisters have told one such group to keep away from her and her sisters. So when a group comes and wants Max and her friends to work for them, her sister, Charlie is not happy about it and lets them know it. All I can say is, don't piss off Charlie. Seriously, don't piss her off.

Then there's one of Max's cousins who tends to come after her and wants her dead, just because. These sister's seriously have some messed up family. Max and her sister have family that hate them, Ze has family that lied to him and the government agencies just keep coming back to get them to work for them.

This book had so much butt kicking action, but it also made me laugh out loud so many times. It was a lot of fun to see what would unfold next, what new character would pop up with some kind of emergency or who would come around sniffing for Charlie's baked goods. This was such a fun book.

Disclosure: I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley but all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Please tell me there is going to be a book four! This is a great series and the way it ended you have to give us more!

Badger to the Bone is book 3 in Honey Badgers Chronicles by Shelly Laurenston. This is Max Yang's story. She is the middle sister and I have been dying for her story since she was introduced back in book 1- Max was the borderline sociopath MacKilligan sister.
In her story, we find Max has depths that we didn't know about. And her hero has to be someone who can calm her yet match her and she has that with ZeZé Vargas. What I can tell you is Ze has secrets that he himself doesn't know about. The plot is fantastic, the ensemble secondary characters is fabulous, the chemistry between the main characters are amazing and the plot kept me reading feverishly until the middle of the night. I couldn't stop reading once I started. I enjoyed reading the MacKilligan sisters stories. I wished it didn't end. I dare not give any spoilers away. Let's say there are quite some twists/turns in this read. The ending was great! I can't wait to see what's next.


My Rating: 4.5 stars ********

A basketball playing honey-badger, a military/special forces veteran, who discovers he is a jaguar shifter, and all the bad guys trying to take down the MacKilligan sisters. The writer’s voice is not for everyone, but I love the badger sisters. Max is my favorite. I was happy to read her story.

I re-read the 1st two books in this series before starting this and I highly recommend reading the series.

What to expect from a Shelly Laurenston book? Expect the unexpected.

Max MacKilligan is the complete opposite to her sister. When I say opposite I mean they're about as different as you could possibly get. They act on emotions but max is about as emotional as a rock. I'm talking like serial killer calm.

What started off as a kidnapping.. Max's kidnapping mind you. Turned into her rescuing a stray kitty that didn't even know he was a kitty and keeping him.

Max needed a man that took no notice of her crazy and just let her be. Zezé Vargas had no idea what was in store for him when the hood came off this tiny spit of a women that apparently needed a whole ex military team to keep her at bay. Lord he had no idea. He was about to be let into a world he didn't even know he was apart off. I loved him. Ze was just so layed back cool calm and collected. Even when his life was turned upside down literally.

Max is really the underestimated one of the three sisters. Her very unbothered persona is easily mistaken for weakness but that's their biggest mistake and her gain. Max likes to play with her pray.. literally. Every action from her has a purpose.. there is always a reason for her doing something even when it seems pointless. She smart, smarter than she's given credit for.


I knew going into this story that is was going to be a hugely unpredictable rollercoaster. Anything involving these honey badgers is fucking nuts and this definitely did not disappoint. Typical to this author she not only brings us a crazy story filled with all kinds of ridiculous and highly entertaining shenanigans. She also gives us multiple POVS from many different hilariously dysfunctional and absolutely outrageous characters. It's not the kind of story you breeze through because there is so much packed in here you have to pay attention. It's the kind of story you loose yourself in and once you're finished question your own sanity. It's great. The kind of great that's addictive.

Shelly gave us a multidimensional story jam packed with characters that have substance and grit. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. It's crazy, extremely outrageous and absolutely satisfying. But if you've read this author then you know what you're getting into with her. I'd definitely say that it's best to read the previous books in this series because then it will make more sense and it's far more enjoyable to read. But it can be read as a standalone.

This isn't you average quick read. You have to pay attention because there's so much in here and you could easily get lost along the way if you didn't. But what a fucking ride it is. Definitely worth it and I absolutely recommend.

4.5 Hearts
SJ, Romance Junkies

Shelly Laurenston returns to her Honey Badger Chronicles, loosely related to her Pride (shapeshifter) series, with BADGER TO THE BONE. It helps to have read the previous books in The Honey Badger Chronicles, as there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and the book is richer for having some idea of who fits into which family/pairing. 

Laurenston is still the at the top of her game with humor and zany situations involving danger and laughs while her honey badgers roll around in trouble. Max MacKilligan finally finds love with a shifter—Zé—who has no idea he's a shifter! While Max is volunteered to help poor Zé, there are humans after her, a criminal father to take care of, and an insanely angry shifter with a vendetta.

It's just another day for the crazy honey badgers, and watching Ze learn about his jaguar shifter heritage nicely plays out against his family issues. This story is much more humor and dangerous shifter antics with a dash of romance, but it still satisfies.

Fans will love it, but newer readers would be best to start with the first book in this series, HOT AND BADGERED, followed by IN A BADGER WAY.

Grandpa definitely has his hands full with these Honey Badgers haha...
Max is hilarious, snarky, and just outright fun until you mess with her family.
Max gets herself taken and meets Ze who has no clue what he is and when he figures it out? Well, let the fur fly...
Absolutely hysterical, action-packed read.

Absolute chaotic action laced with humor! No one can write this crazy stuff like Shelly Laurenston, her honey badgers are her wackiest characters yet. The plot was kinda hard to see at first but it was there within the hilarious action. I didn't really mind because I was so entertained, and yes the action just kept coming. She set up a lot of options for the next book that will come from this series and I'm anxious to find out. We were also treated by visits from many of her other characters from her other series. They all popped in and out playing a part in this book.

Max MacKilligan is the middle half sister in this trio and like the others extremely deadly. They share a Dad, Freddie MacKilligan who is a thief, conman and idiot. Max is the pro basketball player with her loyal cadre of lethal former high school basketball team. In this story Max has been very effectively keeping herself from being killed by several individuals. She knows her cousin Mairi is one and she can't determine why she want's Max dead other than Mairi is crazy. But her step-father Devon is also trying to take her out because of a convoluted op her mother was involved in. Renny Yang has been in a Bulgarian prison for 20 years because of a heist she was involved in with Devon & Freddie. The money seems to be missing and everyone thinks Renny has it. They figure taking out Max will draw out Renny, and it does. She burrows out of prison being a honey badger and deals with Devon. It gets nuts from there. I just love this series and you just have to let go and enjoy the ride.

When Max meets ZeZe Vargas he's undercover working with Amelia Kamatsu who is contracted by the government for jobs too sensitive for the government to do. Ze gets caught in the havoc the undercover op going sideways while trying to kidnapped Max. Max saves his life and realizes he's a jaguar shifter and doesn't know it. She takes him home so he can learn about his new powers and not give away the shifters to his team. The lethal nuttiness just goes on from there.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for granting me this book. Absolutely adore all Shelly Laurenstons books regardless of series. Max is just amazing, her expanding family is just so hilarious i found myself laughing multiple times. The shocking twist near the ending brew my mind. I'm really hopeful that this is a full series not a trilogy as it added lots of characters that need love and crazy awesomeness also. Can't wait to read more! JL

***4 Stars***

I totally NEEDED this.

I needed an insane, OTT, WTEF. make me laugh/snort out loud read to simply take me away from the reality we are living in and put in another one and this book did that for me.

Now, as I’ve said before, I don’t really read these books for the romance, I read them for the crazy, unique characters that populate them and this one is chock full of them. Max and Ze, being the MC’s as far as the budding romance is concerned, were a lot of fun. Max is beyond...well, simply beyond, but what I loved about her is that regardless of everything, her sisters are her priority ~ even when it comes to pissing them off. Ze was a bit unexpected but he fit right in with everyone, even when he didn’t realize it. Their journey was simply crazy and fun and considering their differences, they made a great couple.

Then there Charlie, Berg, Stevie, Shen, Dutch and everyone else ~ even the baddies ~ gave me everything I needed. I loved seeing how their relationships have grown, or not depending on who we’re talking about. But they all kept me on my toes along with a huge grin on my face the entire time.

I would recommend you do not read this as a stand-alone and start from the beginning. Everything is tied together, and a few characters from the Pride series show up (they are set in the same world). Also, expect the unexpected and if you have any issues with violence and blood, then you should tread carefully.

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Well the DragonKin might be gone but we have the honey badgers to spread the kinds of insanity that only Shelly Laurenston can dish up since I am convinced it takes a very disturbed mind to think of these kinds of books ..... and I love them.

The first thing I remembered (that I had forgot) was you don't eat or drink while reading these books or you stand a very good chance of wearing those items. These books are insanely funny and if you can get through them without several laugh-out-loud moments we need to get you some professional help.

The stumbling, bumbling and hilarious courtship of Ze and Max is just part of the fun but the only thing that I find negative about these books is the fact they build upon each other and some of previous series of hers so the cast of characters is enormous and hard to process for my poor brain but it only detracts slightly since there are not many places where you have to do a serious "who is that and where did they come from" since most of the action takes place in the her and now.

Bottom line: One of the most disastrous and hilarious courtships ever plus it just feeds my addiction for more like this in these days of nothing but bad news. I would suggest you go back to at least book 1 of this series to start but for maximum entertainment you really need to back up all the way to the Pride series (9 books) but understand you are starting a serious addition to the insanity :)

I FREAKING LUUURRVVVEEEDD THIS BOOK! There are not enough words to express how much I love the MacKilligan sisters. Max MacKilligan is no exception and Ze Vargas was her perfect match. Unbeknownst to Ze he is a cat shifter, a jaguar to be specific and him learning all about the shifter world was hilarious, poor guy, Lol. I am not sure how Ms. Laurenston does it but those friends of Max's, from high school; Nelle, Mads, Streep and Tock, Lol. Those girls right there? And all that they do? Just beautiful, awesome, stupendous and so many more words that I can't even think of, but they have got to be the best "Butchers' Badger Force" out there! There were some surprises in this one and I am not going to spoil it for anyone. Suffice it to say it has to do with Freddy MacKilligan, their father. It is beyond me how this man is still alive, I mean seriously? Lol We got to see all my past favorites, Dee Ann Smith, Cella Malone, Bo Novak, Blayne Thorpe, Miki Kendrick, Irene Conridge, and so much more. Some new people as well, the 'other Malones" too funny. Just an awesome fantastic read and I could go on, and on, and on, it is just that good. Ms. Laurenston is a wonder! I am not sure how she keeps all of this straight in that head of hers, but another job well done. Her books always keep me laughing and I am NEVER, EVER DISAPPOINTED!!! I have to say that in the past, my favorite characters have been Blaynie and Dee-Ann, however CHARLIE MACKILLIGAN TAKES FIRST PLACE!!!! SHE IS THE BEST COLD AND CALCULATED, ON TARGET, NON-SHIFTING KILLER EVER!!!!!!!!! MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHARACTER, THEN BLAYNE, LOL!!!
I wish I could give this book 10 stars, as a matter of fact I shall, Lol. 10, TEN-CHARLIE TERRIFYING-KILLING, MAX DISMEMBER-KILLING, CAPTAIN DESTRUCTO, STREEP, TOCK, MADS, NELLE HONEY BADGERS STARS*********

P.S. I will definitely be re-reading this again. It was just stock full of good time and hilarious moments, that I laughed until I cried. I totally love that feeling!

****** I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley******

I do this to myself. Every time.

I know that Shelly Laurenston, my favorite author, comes out with a book once or twice a year, so I have to savor her books when I can. But do I? Yes, if savor means devour them and get all sad because I have to wait. Again.

In this entry, Max MacKilligan and Zé Vargas meet when she’s “kidnapped” by an old enemy, aka her mother’s ex. What Zé comes to realize is that a) Max goes nowhere she doesn’t want to go; and b) there’s an entire shifter world that he didn’t know existed, because he didn’t know he’s one too. As Max deals with the people trying to kill her, including family, and Zé figures out his powers, romance happens. Along with alot of action, adventure and some really snarky humor.

Bottom line - it's all about the 'verse. It's a complex mix of lions, tigers (and bears...no I won't do it but you KNOW I want to), and best of all, honey badgers, living, loving, and occasionally killing each other violently as only predators can do. If that sounds good to you, I think you’ll enjoy this.

This book has all I expect, sassy female characters, strong male ones and non stop action. Family interactions are more violent than usual but with Max nothing else could be expected. The only thing for me was this book seemed to stop really abruptly which is why it will be 4 rather than 5 stars

If you're looking for a paranormal romance full of snark, wit, chaos, and shifters doing bad things, then this book is for you. It truly kept me entertained the whole time I was reading it. Max finally gets her own story and it rocked. And ZeZé is the perfect mate for her - crazy honey badger + arrogant panther = an awesome good time.
Honey Badgers Rule!!!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

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!

Omg! I was beyond honored to review this book. Ms. Laurenston is by far my favorite author. So it was really gonna tear me up to destroy her work. Well thank Queen Annwyl I won't have to do that.
I have been waiting for max's story and the psycho didn't disappoint. Her character even gained some depth and of course humanity. Now Ze' was pure entertainment. Discovering his cat side was new a beautiful to read. The two of them together was magic. The secondary characters who really never are, bring such a well rounded story. It's about making and keeping their family. Love, love, love this book. Thank you My Laurenston

When Max MacKilligan is kidnapped by a mysterious band of mercenaries hired by whichever family member has it out for the MacKilligans this week, she is: 1) ready to show these fools a thing or two about messing with a honey badger, and 2) surprised to find a fellow shifter among their ranks. But all is not as it seems.

Zezé Vargas is not really working for the mercenaries he’s working undercover. At least, he was until their kidnapee starts talking like she knows him. With his cover blown, he’s got to figure out a way to get him and the woman out alive. Well, she actually takes care of that problem all on her own, but unfortunately Zé is injured in the process. When he wakes up he learns that he has been taken to a house full of people who believe they can shift into animals, and apparently Zé is one too, a cat shifter.

While trying to show Zé the side of himself that was hidden away from him, Max will have to continue to dodge murderous family, her mother’s sudden return from prison (and no it wasn’t an early pardon), and her sudden interest in the cat shifter. All while making sure her basketball team makes it to the playoffs.

Badger to the Bone is the third (and final?) book in Shelly Laurenston’s Honey Badger series with middle sister Max as the lead. Max has been my favorite MacKilligan because I feel like she’s such a loose cannon. But really that’s not even true because every action she takes is super calculated. She just calculates at a speed quicker than normal people can blink.

I’ll never tire of these sisters. I’ll always get a little giddy feeling whenever they’re put into a situation where they are clearly not taken as a threat, and then they quickly turn it around on those misbegotten people.

The problem is that I think Shelly Laurenston almost set Max up as too much of a sociopath to the point where it would be difficult for her to carry a story on her own. Because I felt like the Max we’ve gotten to know over the course of the first two books was dialed down a little bit. But honestly, I don’t know any other way to have her be front-and-center if she’s just manically laughing the entire time. So I understand it, but I kind of missed the more sinister aspects of Max’s character. And with everything that is piled on in this book, and in this series in general, getting a Max that’s a little more sociably approachable was nice.

Plus, we get the addition of Zé. Which I really loved for the fact that he’s a shifter that doesn’t know he’s a shifter. I thought that was a unique approach. His reactions to this new world are hilarious. Like seeing these characters we’ve known for two books now through new eyes. It’s great and I wish we could have played a bit more in Zé’s new perspective as well as why he wasn’t told early on that he is a cat shifter.

On the whole, Badger to the Bone is what I’ve come to expect from this series and from Shelly Laurenston. It was a fun—at times hilarious—wild ride. Sometimes you just need the expected. I would be fine with revisiting the MacKilligans again, but if not, there’s a whole cast of kooky characters just ready to step into the limelight.

For me, there are usually three things that make for writing a hard review. 1 The book was very emotional and I felt so much during the time of reading it that I find it hard to get it all out or I don't want to give away an important moment in the story. 2 I really didn't like it and I hate hurting anyone's feelings. And 3, I loved it so much all the words want to fly out of my mouth and I can't type as fast as my thoughts come in.

Can you guess which works for his book?

Yep, number 3. I love this series so much that before I read Badger to the Bone I read the first two books in this series again. I have a feeling I'll be reading them again soon if I keep having some much trouble reading. They are now passing up my love to reread Ransom by Julie Garwood. Okay, maybe not pass but are at the same level.

At first, I was a little surprised that Badger to the Bone didn't open up with the same humor that the others had. In fact, it's not till 1/4 of the book that you really see the humor. Not that I didn't love it because I sure did, it was just different.

I loved how poor crazy Max ended up with a man that doesn't even know what he is. She doesn't have time for others besides her sisters and here she is taking care of a man who she finds somewhat attractive (more than somewhat she just doesn't want to admit it yet)

Poor Ze', he just doesn't understand what's going on or why he keeps waking up naked and on top of the china cabinet. That should give you a clue about Ze'. I love the interaction between him and Max. I also love how Charlie treats him. She's offish with so many and right away she likes him. This is a fast-moving story and you'll love the new characters coming in.

I think my favorite part is the fact that I just love Max and all her craziness. But you also get to see her for the person she really is. You got glimpses of her from the other books but most of the time you only go killer Max with a dash of pain in the ass sister thrown in.

This is a fab book that you'll love. I was so thrilled that Max found a man who put her first and even when there are crazy issues he stands with her. They make the perfect couple. See, I really want to reread this series again. That's who much I love it. Being locked in this is the perfect series to try. For a while, it will help to get your mind off all the crap going on in the world today. I would say that you should read this series in order. It does make a difference. Now you don't need to read the prior series to understand and enjoy this one but there are characters from that one that's in this one. Might want to read both series for the heck of it

This is a fun, loving story that cracked me the hell up over and over again.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Badger to the Bone mainly because, although Max has always been a part of the previous books, I didn’t feel like I knew much about her. I should know better than to doubt the master as Badger to the Bone was fantastic! It has the right balance of humour and action and an intriguing storyline that kept me wondering what was going to happen next and laughing along with the shenanigans.
I found it hilarious that Ze thought he was the one that would have to protect and rescue Max when they first meet and instead she rescues him and turns his entire life upside down with her revelation and this continues on throughout with Max’s blunt brand of honesty and care.
Max and Ze were a good match and I liked the cat like traits that came out in Ze’s personality and his surprise at the things he was discovering about his cat self and the shifter world in general. Their relationship almost took a back seat to everything that was going on for them both, but I felt this was right for their personalities and when they were together it definitely sizzled.
There was a lot more to Max that I realised. She wasn’t just the crazy knife wielding sister, she had a purpose to everything she did, she might be the only one that knew what it was, but it generally had her sisters best interest at the heart of it and she would protect Charlie and Stevie with her life. Max is very comfortable with her life, her personality and her family and she is happy with her place in things. I enjoyed seeing the friendships that she had with her team and am looking forward to seeing more of these characters in the future.
I know this is the end of the Mackilligan sisters trilogy but I’m looking forward to see where the sisters will pop up again as I think they will be a big part of whatever is coming next from Ms Laurenston and I can’t wait!!