Shelly Laurenston

Features "Christmas Pride," in which NYPD Detective Desiree MacDermot hooks up with an old flame, finding explosive and animalistic passion in his arms, and "Shaw's Tail," in which hotel owner and lion shifter Brendon Shaw finds an unexpected soulmate in a rough-and-tumble cowgirl. Original.

The Mane Event

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
  

 
  
    Summary 
  
 
In The Mane Event we have two stories: Christmas Pride and Shaw's Tail. Both are delicious stories. In Christmas Pride it begins with Dez McDermott, a NYPD cop, meets up with a old childhood friend when she investigates a murder. Mace Llewellyn, fell in love with Dez when they were fourteen years old, but then she and her family left for the big city and he never saw her until now. Mace is determined to not let Dez go again. He begins a hearty courtship without letting Dez know his true feelings or his plan on keeping her as his mate. But he holds a secret she knows nothing about, that he is a pride lion with a full mane and tail. Will Dez accept him and the love he has for her or reject him?

In Shaw's Tail, Brendan Shaw is injured and is running a shifter fever. Ronnie Lee Reed is part of a wolf pack, best friend to the Alpha female Sissy Mae. She is called upon to protect Brendan and watch out for him. But he has the fever, which means he tends to shift often and is highly sexually aware--way more than usual. So on Christmas Eve, Ronnie is busy protecting Brendan and keeping his lion from dancing the mamba on a human's front lawn. Ronnie is a wild child, she is afraid of commitment and settling down and taking her kids to summer camps and soccer. She wants to be free and make her own decisions and not be tied down. But sometimes love gets in the way.
 
  
    Plot and Story Line 
  
 
The Mane Event was so delicious and fun and sexy! It really surprised me that I loved both stories. What really surprised me was how much depth both stories have. Normally for novella's, there is always a feeling of something lacking, however, Shelly Laurenston has shocked me in such a fun way. Both stories are connected to each other. I loved all four characters and the side characters that are involved. I loved these two lion males---boy were they fun. They tend to be crazy and wildly fun but think too much sometimes. Unlike the wolf packs, Lions are very different. Most of the time lions are called upon to breed for cubs and are treated like kings.

In the first story we have Dez who is human and Mac a lion pride shifter. Quite a unique mix, a southerner and a gal from the Bronx. Both have tempers and they tend to run high at odd times. But boy were they lively and fun together. In the second tail Brendan and Ronnie are quite intense. Each of them have different plans for the relationship. Brendan is wanting permanence and Ronnie is just out looking for some fun and play for a short time. Then we get some added bonus from Brendan's siblings, his twin sister and younger brother. Then of course we get more from Ronnie's best friend Sissy Mae who loves to mess with people's minds.

Both stories were full of fun drama, sexy interactions and some wildly entertaining moments. I can't wait to read more of this series.
 
  
    Narration 
  
 
I really love the narrator here, Charlotte Kane. She is fabulous and does great with the accents---her use of character inflections make the story come alive. Love the way she portrays the various emotions and settings. She displays the humor and sensuality in such a delightful way.
 
  
    Overall View 
  
 
The Mane Event is a thrilling and exciting beginning to the Pride series. Its playful, witty, sensual and lots of fun in and out of bed. Love seeing both of these couples together and having a introduction to the Pride series.

Jennifer Eggleston 

I loved this book! I think Mace and Desiree was my fave out of the two stories yet I enjoyed Brendon and Ronnie Lee, too. I loved how Mace had always known that Dez was his mate and he was set on claiming her! 

 There was a bit of everything - action, humor, and HOTNESS. I am a sucker for a good shifter story. Thankful to the October Romance Readers Challenge for exposing me to a new author; I can't to read more of her works!

Sarah Escorsa

Note to self: stop doing this to yourself. RIGHT. NOW.

Why did I read this book? Because:

a) I am a masochist
b) I am a complete idiot
c) My last two grey cells got fried while reading Mermen
d) I am an unredeemable twit
e) My synapses are on permanent strike
f) I have finally lost it
g) I love reading (view spoiler)[STUPID (hide spoiler)]  Pieces of Crap (PoC™)
h) My dear friends use recommendations as a means of inflicting death by Crappy Book on me.
i) All of the above

Hint: the correct answer starts with "i"



You do not know what STUPIDITY is until you've read this book. In fact, this book is so STUPIDLY STUPID that it effectively managed to STUPIDLY shut me up. That's right, this STUPIDLY STUPID Piece of Crap (SSPoC™) is so STUPIDLY STUPID it left me STUPIDLY speechless. This must be the STUPIDEST STUPIDLY STUPID book I have read in my entire STUPIDLY STUPID life. And believe me, I have STUPIDLY read LOTS of STUPIDLY STUPID books. But this one really, REALLY takes the cake.



This ↑↑ in case you didn't quite grasp just how STUPIDLY STUPID this book is.

So what do we have here? Simplistic, boneheaded characters in a simplistic, boneheaded world (yes, I'm pretty sure there is such a thing). Think of it as a VERY cheap, VERY distasteful, VERY tacky Psy-Changeling wannabe. Without the cool Psy stuff. And the great world building. Wait. Why I am comparing this SSPoC™ with Psy-Changeling? I must be insane. Damn, this book really has affected my ability to think. All this book has in common with Psy-Changeling is the zoo setting. You know, cats lions, dogs wolves, and all that crap. And you know what? The STUPIDLY STUPID hairy Mane bunch on display here can go the STUPIDLY STUPID vicious hyena way, too. So. Much. Awesome.



You got that right, Spocky.

So. To summarize. Take nothing from Psy-Changeling, then throw in the subtle delicacy and delicate subtlety of Pack Challenge. Add a pinch of class, a touch of elegance, a hint of charm. And what do you get? A delightful little book that leaves you feeling delightfully satisfied and delightfully pleased. 



And that's all you'll get from me. Because I won't waste another second of my STUPIDLY STUPID life talking about this SSPoC™. Now excuse me while I go and shoot myself in the head.



✉ Private message to the dear friends who keep recommending I read Crappy Books: you will not succeed. YOU WILL NOT END ME.

✉ Private message to Kate: you are evil, but I still love you. Well most of the time, anyway.

✉ Private message to Evgeny: do not even consider making a comment about my reading choices. This is bad enough as it is.

Sheena

Karr

Gennesa Leu 

Petaco

When Gwen--half lioness, half tigress--meets shape-shifting grizzly Lachlan "Lock" MacRyrie, she finds someone that does not embarrass her like her crazy family and someone to protect her from a murderous enemy who hates hybrids--especially her. Original.

The Mane Event

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