Hilarious fast paced paranormal romance which doesn't skip on the fantasy plot and delivers a heroine with bite. I had a blast with this series. Recommended for fans of Molly Harper.

📖REVIEW📖

Title: Born to be badger
Author: Shelly Laurenston
Genre: Romance/Comedy, Shifter
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖Synopsis:

In the Honey Badger Chronicles, nothing gets between a honey badger and her prey. And no one spins a bolder, snarkier, laugh-out-loud, fiercely feminist shape-shifter love story than New York Times bestselling author Shelly Laurenston...
Emily "Tock" Lepstein-Jackson is on a mission to rid the world of shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. And now that she's narrowed down her suspects to a brutal coalition of male lions, nothing will get between this honey badger and her prey--not even a dog-loving tiger with absolutely no time management skills. Doesn't matter that Shay Malone is ferociously adorable. With a war brewing between cat families, Tock doesn't have time to lounge around with a football-playing tiger shifter. But when she realizes the coalition is also responsible for the death of Shay's father, she's forced to partner up with the flirtatious feline. . . .

Revenge is most definitely on the menu for Shay and his tiger shifter brothers. But when it comes to Shay's alluring partner in crime-solving, so is seduction. Tock might be a badass of a honey badger, but she's awfully cute when she's flashing her fangs, which she's pretty much doing all the time these days. Good thing revenge is a dish best served hot. Because when it comes to Tock, Shay knows just how to turn up the heat. . .

📖Review: (ARC) 4.3/5 stars
My first read by this author I’d seen some good reviews and wanted a break between fantasy books. This is book five in the Honey Badger Chronicles. Does that sounds kind of ridiculous, yes. Did it make me wonder what was going on for the first chapter, also yes. But this was witty and clever and had a lovely slow burn romance. I enjoyed the strength and depth of the female characters and the camaraderie. Really enjoyed the book and looking forward to the next instalment. Will be looking at what else Shelly has written!
📖Release 28th November 2023.

*please note I received this ARC from netgallery for free in exchange for an honest review*

#netgallery #shellylaurenstone #thehoneybadgerchronicles #rom-com #shifterromance

Tock and Shay are a riot together. Add in Shay’s daughter Dani, puppies and the honey badger team and you have the perfect weekend read. I can’t wait to see what the author has planned for Keane. Buckle up for a wild ride and hang on tight!

A Hilariously Wild Ride with Unforgettable Characters!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)

"Born to Be Badger" by Shelley Lauren Laurenston is an uproarious and thrilling addition to the Badger Chronicles series that will have you laughing out loud while on the edge of your seat. Laurenston's off-the-wall plot and quirky characters make this book an absolute gem in the paranormal romance genre.

Emily "Tock" Lepstein-Jackson, our fearless honey badger heroine, is on a mission to take down a coalition of male lions involved in the trafficking of humans for hunting. But what makes this story truly stand out is Tock's no-nonsense attitude and relentless determination, all wrapped up in an irresistibly cute package. She's a honey badger with a heart of gold and a mean bite.

Enter Shay Malone, the football-playing tiger shifter with a penchant for procrastination. Shay's charming, laid-back personality provides the perfect foil to Tock's fiery and focused nature. The sparks between them fly from the moment they meet, and their banter and chemistry are nothing short of electrifying.

But "Born to Be Badger" isn't just about romance. It's a rollercoaster of hilarity and action as Tock and Shay team up to seek revenge for the death of Shay's father. The war brewing between cat families adds an extra layer of tension and excitement to the story, and the way Laurenston weaves it all together is masterful.

What truly sets this book apart are the laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout. Laurenston's wit and humor shine, and you'll find yourself chuckling at the snarky dialogue and the outrageous situations the characters find themselves in. Whether it's Tock's fierce determination or Shay's misadventures in time management, every page is a riot.

"Born to Be Badger" is a standout in the Badger Chronicles series, offering a perfect blend of humor, romance, and action. Shelley Lauren Laurenston's storytelling prowess is on full display here, and her ability to create unforgettable characters and an off-the-wall plot is second to none. If you're looking for a paranormal romance that will keep you entertained from start to finish, look no further. This book is an absolute must-read!

Extra shout out to the lessons on consent that didn’t feel at all preachy, and added to the narrative in a positive way. I hope we see more of Danni in the next books. She was the hidden gem of this book!

Thanks to Ms Laurenston, Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend you read the whole series and I can’t wait for the next book!!

Shelly’s latest book takes place in the crazy, funny shifter world that she’s brought to life throughout her Magnus Pack, Pride, and Honey Badger series. Emily “Tock” Lepstein-Jackson tried to sneak off on a family mission but Shay Malone won’t let her go alone.

On their adventure Tock and Shay are joined by Lepsteins, Malones, and of course the honey Badger gang. And while learning about Tock we get introduced to quite a few new faces and some old favorites. I can’t wait to see more from the older generation. Hopefully there will be many more Honey Badgers Chronicles in our future.

Shelly creates characters that truly capture the traits of the animals they shift into, from the defiant cat that knocks over your stuff right in front of you to the honey badger that just don’t care! And no one surpasses Shelly’s ability to write graphic details of violent fighting done with a comedic twist. She continues to incorporate beloved favorite characters from her previous shifter series for that home and community feel.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The badger books never disappoint. Funny, fast-paced and crazy. Love these stories. I love all of them and enjoy getting glimpses of previous characters.

I just finished an ARC copy from NetGalley. This book did not disappoint at all! I can’t wait until it is released on audible so I can hear this one come to life. I also can’t wait to see what happens next for this group of characters.

As usual Shelly Laurenston has produced yet another fabulous book. Her characters are so well fleshed out that it's like watching a movie and her humor is right down my alley.

I have been reading and reread Shelly Laurenston books for a long, long time. I also love her Dragon Kin Series under G.A. Aiken.
Born to Be Badger is book 5 and it takes off with a bang. I was smiling and LOL and it kept me reading till very late. I really enjoyed this story. The characters are larger than life, all the chaos and mayhem just was wildly entertaining... I love that we get glimpses of past characters as well.
Well worth the time to read. I am going to go back and reread the whole series again.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley for my honest review.

I am a long time Shelly Laurenston fan and the Honey Badgers have been my favorite ever since Livy was introduced in the Pride Series. This book did not disappoint (per usual)! In Born to Be Badger, Emily "Tock", our favorite honey badger focused on time management and whose specialty is explosives, and Shay Malone, the quieter Malone brother that has a young daughter and a soft spot for his dogs, team up with the other badgers and Malone brothers to continue the job of uncovering who killed the Malone's father and the human trafficking ring from the previous books. I liked that Tock and Shay's relationship developed from a mutual respect and understanding. I also enjoyed meeting Shay's daughter Dani and how she got along with Tock and Charlie McKilligan.

One of my favorite parts of Ms. Laurenston's books is that they always include past Pride Series characters so it's wonderful to catch up with them (Eggie!). This time we even got to meet some (new to us) extended family members of the Van Holtz pack and the Malone family, Streep's fiance (this was a happy adorable surprise!), as well as a group of older honey badgers that I imagine will be like how Max, Tock, Mads, Nelle, and Streep are in 20/30 years.

I 100% believe that everyone needs more Honey Badgers in their life or to at least be more like a Honey Badger. I sincerely hope Ms. Laurenston will keep putting out more. I need to know how Nelle and Keane get together next, I still want to find out if Nat and Kyle will ever get together, and now I want to learn more about Mads' Aunt Tracy and her honey badger group!

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I looove these books!!! They are so funny. Buuuut this one I had no idea what was going on. There was so many point of views. And really the Goodreads description was just a tiny bit of it. I did enjoy reading it and loved it. Action. Shifters. A little sex. The cutest little girl ever.

Tock is a honey badger shifter and plays basketball. Shay is a tiger shifter and plays football. When Tock is ambushed and poisoned, Shay takes her to the shifter hospital. Once she comes around and hides from her family, she hides in Shay's cabinet. They are trying to find out who is kidnapping humans and selling them. While also trying to find out who killed Shay's dad. They are into all kinds of trouble and when a group comes after the team, they have to fight their way out.

I know this makes no sense but I really don't know how to explain this story 😆.

* Voluntarily read and reviewed for Netgalley *

Shelley Laurenston is one of my favorite authors. I adored her Pride series and her Honey Badger Chronicles are an auto-buy for me.

They are utterly hilarious! I got hooked with the MacKilligan sisters (Charlie, Stevie, Max) and am now addicted to Max's teammates (Mads, Tock, Streep, Nelle). These honey badger shifters are vicious, psychotic, and unapologetically snarky. I love them!

The series continues with this fifth book and Tock's story. I swear that I was laughing from start to finish because the banter and the situations are just that ridiculous. I binge read this in one day and while Tock and Shay probably won't be my favorite couple, I still enjoyed myself immensely. I loved little Dani and the dogs and that that Charlie and Max and Keane are still their grumpy selves. I am dying to find out what happens in the next book, which I am anticipating will be Nelle's story.

I highly recommend this series and this author for a fun read!

God, I really love these absolutely bat-shit books! I love the chosen family and friendship, the sibling dynamics, and all the chaos and mayhem that’s so prevalent in the honey badger books. I really enjoyed Tock and Shay, and am looking forward to Keane being knocked for a loop by Nelle. I Hope we get to see Streep and Ashley’s wedding. Just, lots of mayhem and violence, and for whatever reason these books absolutely hit the spot!

Emily- a honey badger vows to stop shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. She has no time for Shay- a tiger shifter. But she teams up with Shay when she finds that the guitly parties are also responsible for the death of Shay's father.

There are mentions of familiar characters from past books. It's a standalone so it's fine to read this book only. But it's a really fun book universe. The characters are funny and larger than life. The romance is terrific too. A very enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


TW: Mentions of trafficking

I have been waiting for this installment for a year. Ms. Laurenston did not disappoint. There are some bad shifters who have it out for the badger nation and some humans it seems. This book focuses on Tok and Shay. Some of our favorites and love to hates are mentioned as well.

This book opens up a new world within the shape shifter universe as we meet new badgers, new Van Holtz's and new Malone's.

You will laugh, sigh and long for the next installment. It is a one sitting read and a standalone but you will want to read the entire series.