When He Was Bad

This review first appeared on A Weebish Book Blog.

I have a confession to make. I didn’t read WHEN HE WAS BAD entirely. I bought it entirely for “Miss Congeniality,” Dr. Irene Conridge and Niles Van Holtz story. I’m not a fan of reading novellas unless I’m invested in the series/characters… and I’m very invested in these characters.

Okay, I have two confessions. I basically bought this book for Irene. I’ve been fascinated with the somewhat sociopathic scientist since she first appeared in Van’s book, BIG BAD BEAST, and I’ve been in love with her since her part in WOLF WITH BENEFITS. Any time she makes an appearance I have a good time.

“She’s odd because she’s brilliant.” He motioned to the exit where the female show more disappeared. “At this moment, she’s discussing things you and I could never even comprehend.”

***

“I absolutely could create a lightsaber.”

“You could not create a lightsaber.”

“I could too. It’s all science.”

“I thought being a Jedi was mystical?”

Irene snorted. “Mystical, my butt. It’s all about science.”

Why such an interest in our genius heroine? She’s scary smart. She terrifies Van Holtz wolves, probably the most arrogant of all Laurenston’s shifters. The pack is so scared of her, they hide under tables to get out of her way. She is such a hoot.

I am obsessed.

Niles is fun, too, but Irene definitely takes the cake. I worship this woman. In fact, after writing this… I feel the urge to re-read it. Again. show less

The first story was Shelly Laurenston's Miss Congeniality where shifter Niles Van Holtz finds that he can't get Dr Irene Conridge out of his mind, initially he thinks it's because she's a challenge and he's never lacked for women who want him, but as they get to know each other they both realise how much they mean to each other and how they actually suit each other. I did love how she gave as good as he got and the mention of Risk and whimpering uncles just made me grin so hard. She logics so hard and made me think of Sheldon Cooper in Big Bang Theory. They made a great couple. I was vastly entertained by them.

Cynthia Eden's Wicked Ways was a bit more predictable, shifter interrupts vampire attack, vampire determined to finish her off, show more Shifter, and human fall in love. Another female character with a decent backbone. Just didn't engage me as well as the Laureston story.

Nothing deep here, just two novellas that I really had fun reading, particularly the first. I would like to read more by Laurenston show less

When He Was Bad is an anthology featuring stories by Cynthia Eden, author of Hotter After Midnight, and Shelly Laurenston, author of The Mane Event. Both of these authors are new to me, so this novel was one of those great finds.

Miss Congeniality by S. Laurenston
I’ve heard of this author mentioned before, but never to the point where it made me want to pick something up from her and now I’m kicking myself for it. While the story had it’s moments of being dragged out, overall it was hilarious. The last chapter had me rolling with laughter and made it really hard to finish the story. I really liked the female lead, Irene Conridge. Her whole personality was very straight forward and brutally honest and because of the situations show more Laurenston put her in, it just made her come across all the better. As for the male lead, Niles Van Holtz, his character was okay, but he was way to sex oriented. I’m not complaining about the sex in the novel, but for someone who likes to read the trashy romance novels and has no problem with romantic elements in any sense of the word, it was kind of overdone and tended to get annoying. I could have done with a little less sex and more on the plot. The plot of the story was actually really good and I could totally see this more as a full length novel rather than a short, but it was still good as a novella. Overall, if the rest of Ms. Laurenston’s stuff is as good as Miss Congeniality, then I’m really going to enjoy the novels I’ve added to my TBR list. Edited: I was just perusing Laurenston’s website and noticed that this story is part of a series. It’s the fourth story set in her Magnus Pack series, however, I never felt that I was missing out on anything prior to this.

Wicked Ways by C. Eden
For another unknown author, I was completely floored by the story Wicked Ways. Cynthia Eden had been from the first paragraph and she really didn’t let me go until the end. I’ll be honest, I did put the book/story down a couple of times, but only because I had to (stupid paint doesn’t apply itself). The story’s plot had all the elements for a full length novel and they were all exceptionally well written in this short novella. Both of the main characters were well developments and their interaction with each other was pure chemistry. We were given a plot that had danger and entanglements that kept us guessing at every page. I really have nothing bad to say about this story. The pacing was great, the characters were engaging, and the plot kept you interested; what more can a person expect out of a novella. I’m definitely going to be adding Eden to my TBR list and I am sorely tempted to hunt up one of her books tomorrow.

Overall, When He Was Bad was an awesome anthology featuring two authors who I should have heard about a long time ago. The book kept my attention all day and I can honestly say that it has driven my reading mood out the door. Where it took me days to get through the last novel, this one didn’t let me go until it was finished. If you’re looking for new authors and want to test out their material, then you really need to get your hands on this book because you’ll be searching for any Laurenston or Eden novels once you’re done.

http://www.literaryescapism.com/2008/08/15/353/ show less

OK, it's really more like 3.75 stars...
This book includes two stories. A very funny story written by Laurenston back in the 80s and a new one by Eden. If you don't or can't remember the 80s, Laurenston's story might not be as funny, but I did enjoy it. It is, however, more romance than erotica.

Miss Congeniality by Laurenston
Irene is a prodigy biophysicist. She considers her greatest asset to be her brain and everything else in her life is just what she does to use that brain. She is socially inept, wardrobe challenged, and can't understand why anyone would want to have sex...much less a relationship.

Van will be Alpha of his pack one day and his life is just as he likes it. Money to burn, sex on demand, and no real responsibilities. show more Now if he could just stop fantasizing about Irene.

Wicked Ways by Eden
Miranda can sure pick 'em. After dumping her second fiance, she tries to be selective...and ends up with a date who bites her neck with some wicked long fangs and tries to drain her!!

Cain hasn't been able to get his new neighbor out of his lustful thoughts. When he saves her from a vampire, he decides she's obviously open to some interspecies dating.

Eden's story is hot, hot, hot. I want a Cain of my own!!. show less

Picked this one up because I wanted to read Shelly Laurenston's story which centered around Niles Van Holtz. I really enjoyed his story. His mate, Irene Conridge, was a pretty fantastic heroine with her crazy intelligence and cold demeanor. It made seeing her warm up to Niles fun. My only problem was with the plot device that Laurenston used to get them to take each other seriously. I hate hate hate "forced" mating scenarios. As for Cynthia Eden's story, it was alright. Miranda Shaw is being targeted by a vampire serial killer. Lucky for Miranda, her neighbor happens to be a shifter who is hell bent on protecting her. Like I said, this was an okay story. Miranda was a little bland, but I did enjoy the hero.

I picked this one up purely for [a:Shelly Laurenston|65137|Shelly Laurenston|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66.jpg]'s tale, Miss Congeniality -Irene's story whom we met in [b:Go Fetch!|6680705|Go Fetch! (Magnus Pack, #2)|Shelly Laurenston|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1262824751s/6680705.jpg|3688060]. In some ways she can be compared to Miki in that book but she is different in one particular aspect: Irene is clinical, analytical and insanely logical in the way she approached everything, even sex!

Science is Irene Conridge's whole life and she has difficulty in understanding emotion and social interactions. She's very much like Dr. Temperance Brennan in the TV show, Bones. She doesn't actually like sex, until show more she's had it with the wonderful Niles Van Holtz, who ultimately turns her into a sex fiend!

Again, this was a brilliant story from Laurenston who's incredibly talented in making me laugh long and hard at her characters and their predicaments. I highly recommend her books to everyone who needs a good chuckle and a decent storyline.

As for Eden's short story, it was good enough but largely forgettable. I felt sympathy for Cain considering his past rejection due to his "beastly" nature and was happy he found peace with his new neighbour after hunting and destroying her serial killing vampire date from hell. show less

'When He Was Bad' consists of two novellas featuring shapeshifters - a werewolf in the first story and a werejaguar in the second. Both stories were entertaining but "wicked ways" by Eden was better. Cynthia Eden grabs your attention from the very first page and keeps you immersed in the storyline until the very end. the hero and heroine have vulnerabilities and personalities that really endear them to the reader.