Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston
The Honey Badgers, #1
PNR/Comedy
March 27, 2018
Kensington

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “I hate my fammmmiiillllyyyyyyy!!”

The MacKilligan sisters are in trouble. Their father has done some terrible things in his life but this time, he may have sealed his death warrant and possibly theirs with his latest get rich scheme.

Berg Dunn is just your average bear who works as security for the rich and famous with his siblings. When a gorgeous but naked honey badger drops into his suite with guns blazing, he falls head over heels. Determined to help her, Berg gets his siblings and the other bears involved because you never EVER get between a bear and his honey.

Hot and Badgered is the first in a new spin-off series starring her infamous honey badgers. Laurenston first introduced this new species in her Pride series in book eight, Wolf With Benefits and ended (maybe) the series with a honey badger heroine in book nine, Bite Me.

Shelly Laurenston can do no wrong in the paranormal world and proves it with this latest hilarious, sexy, action-packed story. This new series introduces readers to a whole new set of characters who put the fear of God into the shifter world and has all the groups up in arms. A rambunctious story line blends well with solid plot lines, a sexy engaging romance,  punchy dialogue, and a slew of new and old friends. Non stop action and crazy antics keep this ever-expanding world rolling along, delightfully fresh and laugh out loud insane.

I laughed this entire book. The MacKiligan sisters are a riot and their unconditional love for one another is the mainstay of this story. Charlie MacKilligan is a fixer. There is nothing she will not do for her two younger sisters. Raised by their grandfather and insulated from the other shifters, these three hybrid honey badgers learned early that life is not fair, their father is a horrible HORRIBLE person, and allergies are the devil.  Max is the killer of the group. She has no empathy or morals. Her leash is held by Charlie and woo to anyone if Charlie lets her go. The youngest of the group, Stevie, is a genius and is scared of everything. Until she shifts then everyone needs to look out because she is something never seen before. She is also besties with Kyle Jean-Louis Parker. YIKES.

I love Laurenston bears and she definitely outdoes herself with this bear family. The Dunn triplets (Berg, Dag, and Britta) are an easy-going family who grab onto the MacKilligans and hold on for dear life once it becomes clear Berg is falling for Charlie; even though it takes Charlie awhile to get it. They give the MacKilligans something they haven’t had for a long time-a family who helps with no conditions attached. Though there is a romance, the foreplay last most of the book, the story revolves mainly around the MacKillians and their problems. Family first in here.  I liked that this one was lighter on the romance and sex. It worked well for this story line and the characters.

Berg and Charlie are the perfect match for one another in that they are both natural-born protectors and warriors. Both are calm until angered (or startled), intelligent, and witty with a unique approach to handling life’s little problems that belay their complexity. They accept their attraction and eventually act on it without a lot conflict, fussing, or chasing. Berg understands female shifters and waits for Charlie to make the first move. It takes Charlie awhile because she’s only dated humans and has no idea of her own appeal. I loved that Berg not only understands Charlie but accepts her and her sisters just the way they are. He is also very protective of them.

There are multiple subplots rolling through with the main one revolving around the MacKilligans’ sister’s father. Laureston does her usual excellent job of setting up the parameters and explaining the various family members and their relationship to one another. The Group involves themselves and learns the hard way in a hilarious scene that sometimes the bigger you are just means the harder you fall.

As usual, plenty of familiar faces arrive in a mass hoard to interfere, offer useless advice, and generally annoy each other to distraction. I love that Laurenston always infiltrates current story lines with past characters. The entire shifter nation interacting with one another is what makes these stories so damn funny plus we get to see what they have been up to.  Bo Novikov, Dee-Ann Smith, Crush and Malone, the oh so arrogant Kyle Jean-Louis Parker, and even Livy and Vic show up to hinder… errr…offer some help  to Charlie and her sisters. We also meet plenty of new characters and species whom I can’t wait to see more of in action.

The ending is explosive and resolves the main conflict perfectly while leaving a large opening for plenty more stories to come. If you enjoy outrageous scenarios, witty banter, and insanely hilarious characters then look no further than Shelly Laurenston. She writes winners across the board.

Grade: B+

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