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.