Pack Challenge

Coming back to this simpler version of Pack was hard after reading Laurenston's newer Pride books, but nothing is in direct conflict with later mythology. ( )

Why hadn't I heard of Shelly Laurenston before? I loved Pack Challenge. Such a fun read. Awesome friends--we really don't see enough of that in romance--a heroine with a temper, a hero who likes his woman mean-tempered...that's my idea of romance heaven, right there. The world-building needed work and I sometimes felt I was being hit over the head with the fact that Sarah and her friends were such badasses, but all is forgiven. I spent most of this book with a grin on my face, a rare occurrence.

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This book was recommended to me in a urban fantasy forum, and so I figured I would give it a try. It is the first book in a trilogy, although from a simple search on BN.com it would seem the author has several series to chose from.

I don't have a lot to say about this particular book. It was an enjoyable read but by no means one of my favorites, but on the same token, it cost around $4 on my nook, which I have no problem spending on a book I enjoyed reading. The book is about a woman who has no idea that she is a shifter, her name is Sara. From the very beginning it is clear she has had a rough upbringing, and has been left with both emotional and some very serious emotional scars from her childhood. The real upside for her is that her two best friends look out for her and give her the kind of love she didn't experience from her grandmother.

Her grandmother, having died not to long before the book began, is clearly the one of the villains in the story. Her grandmothers death, which seems like a relief for her, actually brings back a feud that she was unaware of her entire life. A feud between a Pride of lions and a Pack of wolves (the same Pack her parents were once a part of). The Pack has arrived in a town where there is another Pack, the one who has been protecting Sara all of her life without her knowing. The author does a good job of showing the people in Sara's life as being protective of her, as well as the Pack mentality typical of shifters.

This book contains more sex in it than the typical mainstream book like Charlaine Harris or Patricia Briggs. That being said, it was well written, a common problem with sex scenes is that they come off as cheesy, with the author often time comparing sex to things having nothing to do with sex. Laurenston did a good job at keeping it realistic as possible, although she enjoys the words nipples and hard as rocks.

The relationship between Zach and Sara is fun to watch evolve, especially since the two of them fight it for so long. Although when they both accept it, they fit together so perfectly. I found the character of Casey to be amusing, she strikes me as one of those girls who think they own the world, until someone shows them they ain't shit, which is something Casey needed. Although I think my favorite part of the book was the ending, when in the end there are three packs of wolves who all respect and care for Sara, something not commonly seen this world. It was kind of a tribute to the person Sara is.

Overall I would say this book is worth reading, but don't expect it to be your all time favorite novel, but that doesn't mean it isn't a fun read. ( )

Eh. There are reasons I'm not a huge PNR fan, and this book contains more than a couple of those reasons. Some PNR kicks it up a notch and actually gives us a bit of plot and character development along with the sexy times. And some doesn't. This book falls into the latter.I find it to be a major cop out when characters are so crazy sexually attracted to each other because of their shifter half, even thought they don't know each other and/or can't stand each other. So they don't know squat about the other person, and the little bit they do know they hate, but...Hey! I need to jump your bones! NOW! Because I am wolf! Hooooooooowl!So basically, the author doesn't have to try to create a believable relationship becauseHey! I am wolf! I must mount you!Ok, so we have these 2 characters who can't stand each other, but really want to rub on each other for no reason other than the wolf bit. So they finally succumb to their hormones, and have a wild night of crazy, rough, animal sex. Guess what? Now they love each other! How romantic is that? And when I say crazy, rough, animal sex, I'm being literal--there was no kindness, no tenderness, no gentleness. Not even a teensy bit. But did I mention that they're in wuv? Soooooo believable.And throw in the fact that the chick talks about her own sexual organs using the word "pussy" repeatedly. I guess I'm a prude, but it grossed my shit out. Honestly, male would walk into the room, and female would think to herself, "Holy shit. My pussy is so wet." :vomit:And...male repeatedly called female wonderful terms of endearment like "crazy bitch", "insane bitch", "psycho bitch", etc. while he was screwing her. I think it was supposed to be funny, but I just thought it was stupid.Oh, and don't let me forget the chick's two best girlfriends. Holy shit--what a bunch of psychos. Was this supposed to be an example of healthy female relationships? Because all they did was fight and insult each other. Little friendship tip: Telling your friend she has a fat ass is not being "honest", it's being a cruel bitch. ( )

While a different series from the Pride books, the Magnus Pack is every bit as riotously funny as the Pride. The world is slightly different, although at the same time not. And seeing as Sara and Zach make an appearance in The Beast in Him I guess they are meant to be the same world despite a couple of continuity issues with when the shifters transform. Despite it all I adored Sara, a bad ass female whose aggressive tendancies are begining to take over. Throw in her human friends who have no idea how to deal with an alpha female ready to establish herself as the dominant female in the pack.I liked how neither Sara nor Zach wanted children and how this didn't magically change once they were together. The pair of them were determined to remain childless. Not to mention Zach respected Sara's strength and intelligence rather than trying to coddle and protect her. They are partners, the leaders of their pack, and not to be messed with! ( )