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Pride #8
Wolf with Benefits
Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?
Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…
Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for…
433 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 26, 2013
476 people are currently reading
3761 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Laurenston
47 books7,945 followersOriginally from Long Island, New York, Shelly Laurenston has resigned herself to West Coast living which involves healthy food, mostly sunny days, and lots of guys not wearing shirts when they really should be. Shelly Laurenston is also The New York Times Bestselling author G.A. Aiken, creator of the Dragon Kin series. For more info on G.A. Aiken's dangerously and arrogantly sexy dragons, check out her website at www.gaaiken.com.
Pseudonym G.A. Aiken
Pseudonym G.A. Aiken
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 812 reviews
February 12, 2017
3.5 Are You My daddy? Stars
Wolf with Benefits is the 8th book in the Pride series and it was a little better than the last one, but no where near as good as the other ones. I again found myself getting bored at parts of this book. It got better towards the end when there was a little more action. I like Ricky Lee okay. There is nothing real special about him that stands out and makes me take notice. He is just kinda there. Toni is okay I guess. I went back and forth on her between her annoying me and me just not caring. She didn't really stand out either except when she was getting on my nerves. I can't really tell you much about each character because there isn't much to tell. Toni is the average one in a family full of prodigies. She is pretty much used as a nanny, and she is fearful of starting a life for herself and lets her family walk all over her and use her. Ricky Lee is from Tennessee he says darlin' a lot. That is about the depth of these two characters.
There was no real romance between the two. I felt no connection, pull, or sexual tension. Nothing! It was like they're just there and then the next thing they are sleeping together and then they're in love . I am just looking at my kindle going What? How did that happen? Whatever I don't really care! The book was a little funny, but again not as funny as others in this series. I enjoyed reading about Bo and Toni's little brothers and sisters way more than the couple who couldn't hold my interest. I really like Livy, and Ric sounds interesting. I know their book is next and I am looking forward to it. I really hope it is better than the last two.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Wolf with Benefits is the 8th book in the Pride series and it was a little better than the last one, but no where near as good as the other ones. I again found myself getting bored at parts of this book. It got better towards the end when there was a little more action. I like Ricky Lee okay. There is nothing real special about him that stands out and makes me take notice. He is just kinda there. Toni is okay I guess. I went back and forth on her between her annoying me and me just not caring. She didn't really stand out either except when she was getting on my nerves. I can't really tell you much about each character because there isn't much to tell. Toni is the average one in a family full of prodigies. She is pretty much used as a nanny, and she is fearful of starting a life for herself and lets her family walk all over her and use her. Ricky Lee is from Tennessee he says darlin' a lot. That is about the depth of these two characters.
There was no real romance between the two. I felt no connection, pull, or sexual tension. Nothing! It was like they're just there and then the next thing they are sleeping together and then they're in love . I am just looking at my kindle going What? How did that happen? Whatever I don't really care! The book was a little funny, but again not as funny as others in this series. I enjoyed reading about Bo and Toni's little brothers and sisters way more than the couple who couldn't hold my interest. I really like Livy, and Ric sounds interesting. I know their book is next and I am looking forward to it. I really hope it is better than the last two.
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
March 22, 2013
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: A-
“Your charm makes me want to punch you in the nose.”
That made Ricky chuckle. “I’m not trying to piss you off, darlin’. Just trying to get you to give me a chance.”
“Why?” she had to ask. “I’m really not that interesting. I’m cute but not stunning. I’m not excessively tall. And sexually, I’m rather vanilla. So then what is it?”
Rickey decided to be honest with her. “I like your hair.”
She suddenly went tense. “You don’t have to be mean.”
“I’m not. I like curls. If we have sex, can I play with them?”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
Toni is the oldest of 11 children and her 10 younger brothers and sisters are all prodigies in different fields. Along with the genius that are these young musicians, artists, mathematicians, etc. comes a drive and competitiveness that only Toni can manage. It’s been her full time job for years, managing her siblings’ schedules, breaking up fights and controlling the chaos but she’s starting to want more. She ends up landing her dream job with one of Ric Van Holtz’s companies, managing team travel and promotions – which is perfect for her considering all the schedule maneuvering and travelling she’s been doing with her siblings. But, she’s having anxiety over leaving her brothers and sisters, positive that they’ll kill each other (and they probably will) but her parents step up and she gives her first job a try. It does not go well at first. Add in to the mix Ricky Lee Reed. He works in security with his brothers and loves Toni’s curly hair. Yup, that’s all it takes for him to initially get fixated on Toni.
Where to start…Toni’s family is nuts. I seriously didn’t think that Shelly Laurenston could give us a crazier pack/family than the ones she’s already written about, but she does it with the Jean-Louis Parker family and these 10 kids who had me rolling with laughter. From eleven year old and artist Kyle, who wants to sculpt Bo Novikov naked, and yes asks him, to young Freddy and his photographic memory, to Delilah, a true psychopath, the fun never stops. It is constant mayhem in this jackal shifter family and also the source of the small suspense storyline comes from the very creepy Delilah and little Freddy, who gets his hands on some information from Miki (Go Fetch!) that puts him in danger. The danger presents itself early on which means we get plenty of time with Dee-Ann doing her scary bit and are introduced to Livy, Toni’s best friend and possibly someone even scary than Dee-Ann, especially when you find out what she shifts into.
Toni growled a little, then asked, “Why did you attack her [Ricky’s ex-girlfriend]?”
Livy had to think on that for a second, as if she attacked so many people during the day, she couldn’t just recall them easily. “It was time for his appointment with me and she was in my way. Plus,” she added, “I didn’t like her face. So I slapped it around.”
The story is heavily focused on the family and Toni’s new job working for Ric that takes her to Siberia to negotiate with the Russian hockey team. The romance between Toni and Ricky Lee isn’t front and center, and if I had a very small complaint, that’s it. There’s not much in the way of hot sexy scenes in this one, but any guy that sees first-hand what Toni’s family is capable of and doesn’t run away screaming, he’s a keeper.
Past series favorites show up, Bo and his awesomely detailed organizing skills come in handy when he helps the Jean-Louis Parker kids. Where there’s Bo, there’s also Blayne – who Toni and Livy love to torment by never seeming to remember her or her name:
Toni…waved at Bo’s fiancee. “Bye Blank!”
She stopped, spun around, and snapped, “It’s Blayne.”
“Right. Blayne. Sorry.”
And as an added treat, there’s a quick scene with Sara, Miki and Angie (Magnus Pack series) – I love those insane women and even Conall gets a little page time.
This might be one of the funniest books in the series. I laughed so hard at all the random, off the wall comments and insane situations the characters put themselves in. But even through all the funny moments, the fights (even a fist fight with a squirrel) Toni was the star for me. I loved her so much, she really stands out from the start. She loves her family so much that even though she wants and needs a life of her own, she has separation anxiety when she starts to live her own life and the family goes through some growing pains getting used to the new arrangement. I loved seeing her take the skills she used to manage her siblings and move that into the professional position she’s working in and how she needed to be a bit, uh, creative, to get some negotiations done. I loved her and I loved how Ricky Lee just went along for the ride, no matter where she was heading or what she was doing.
Wolf With Benefits delivers big time. It’s hilarious, we’re introduced to new characters who I can’t wait to get more from in the future. The story, while giving us new characters, still manages to work in past characters so well and with purpose. This is a big must read, one of most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time and the series continues to be one of the funniest I’ve ever read.
Blog rating: A-
“Your charm makes me want to punch you in the nose.”
That made Ricky chuckle. “I’m not trying to piss you off, darlin’. Just trying to get you to give me a chance.”
“Why?” she had to ask. “I’m really not that interesting. I’m cute but not stunning. I’m not excessively tall. And sexually, I’m rather vanilla. So then what is it?”
Rickey decided to be honest with her. “I like your hair.”
She suddenly went tense. “You don’t have to be mean.”
“I’m not. I like curls. If we have sex, can I play with them?”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
Toni is the oldest of 11 children and her 10 younger brothers and sisters are all prodigies in different fields. Along with the genius that are these young musicians, artists, mathematicians, etc. comes a drive and competitiveness that only Toni can manage. It’s been her full time job for years, managing her siblings’ schedules, breaking up fights and controlling the chaos but she’s starting to want more. She ends up landing her dream job with one of Ric Van Holtz’s companies, managing team travel and promotions – which is perfect for her considering all the schedule maneuvering and travelling she’s been doing with her siblings. But, she’s having anxiety over leaving her brothers and sisters, positive that they’ll kill each other (and they probably will) but her parents step up and she gives her first job a try. It does not go well at first. Add in to the mix Ricky Lee Reed. He works in security with his brothers and loves Toni’s curly hair. Yup, that’s all it takes for him to initially get fixated on Toni.
Where to start…Toni’s family is nuts. I seriously didn’t think that Shelly Laurenston could give us a crazier pack/family than the ones she’s already written about, but she does it with the Jean-Louis Parker family and these 10 kids who had me rolling with laughter. From eleven year old and artist Kyle, who wants to sculpt Bo Novikov naked, and yes asks him, to young Freddy and his photographic memory, to Delilah, a true psychopath, the fun never stops. It is constant mayhem in this jackal shifter family and also the source of the small suspense storyline comes from the very creepy Delilah and little Freddy, who gets his hands on some information from Miki (Go Fetch!) that puts him in danger. The danger presents itself early on which means we get plenty of time with Dee-Ann doing her scary bit and are introduced to Livy, Toni’s best friend and possibly someone even scary than Dee-Ann, especially when you find out what she shifts into.
Toni growled a little, then asked, “Why did you attack her [Ricky’s ex-girlfriend]?”
Livy had to think on that for a second, as if she attacked so many people during the day, she couldn’t just recall them easily. “It was time for his appointment with me and she was in my way. Plus,” she added, “I didn’t like her face. So I slapped it around.”
The story is heavily focused on the family and Toni’s new job working for Ric that takes her to Siberia to negotiate with the Russian hockey team. The romance between Toni and Ricky Lee isn’t front and center, and if I had a very small complaint, that’s it. There’s not much in the way of hot sexy scenes in this one, but any guy that sees first-hand what Toni’s family is capable of and doesn’t run away screaming, he’s a keeper.
Past series favorites show up, Bo and his awesomely detailed organizing skills come in handy when he helps the Jean-Louis Parker kids. Where there’s Bo, there’s also Blayne – who Toni and Livy love to torment by never seeming to remember her or her name:
Toni…waved at Bo’s fiancee. “Bye Blank!”
She stopped, spun around, and snapped, “It’s Blayne.”
“Right. Blayne. Sorry.”
And as an added treat, there’s a quick scene with Sara, Miki and Angie (Magnus Pack series) – I love those insane women and even Conall gets a little page time.
This might be one of the funniest books in the series. I laughed so hard at all the random, off the wall comments and insane situations the characters put themselves in. But even through all the funny moments, the fights (even a fist fight with a squirrel) Toni was the star for me. I loved her so much, she really stands out from the start. She loves her family so much that even though she wants and needs a life of her own, she has separation anxiety when she starts to live her own life and the family goes through some growing pains getting used to the new arrangement. I loved seeing her take the skills she used to manage her siblings and move that into the professional position she’s working in and how she needed to be a bit, uh, creative, to get some negotiations done. I loved her and I loved how Ricky Lee just went along for the ride, no matter where she was heading or what she was doing.
Wolf With Benefits delivers big time. It’s hilarious, we’re introduced to new characters who I can’t wait to get more from in the future. The story, while giving us new characters, still manages to work in past characters so well and with purpose. This is a big must read, one of most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long time and the series continues to be one of the funniest I’ve ever read.
March 26, 2013
2 Stars…An Unexpected Letdown
Wolf with Benefits is the eighth book in Shelly Laurenston’s hilarious and sexy Pride series. The female and male shifters – sometimes human mates – battle wits, pour on the charm, karaoke, race cars, display peculiar traits (love the bears!), and enjoy rigorous love lives. Set in modern times, the focus is primarily on the romance with an ongoing mystery-suspense involving human/shifter violence. This paranormal romance book has some of the ingredients Laurenston usually uses, but they are very weak. It was not what I expected…at all!
The match-up is between Toni Jean-Louis Parker, a jackal shifter, and Ricky Lee Reed, a wolf shifter and relative of the Smith Pack. In a family of prodigies, Toni is the only sibling of average intelligence. She deftly manages her demanding family’s hectic schedules. Appreciation for her services is rarely given. For the most part, the story focuses on Toni cutting the ‘umbilical cord’ and finding her place in the world. Ricky Lee tags along.
The romance was missing, although there are a few love scenes. The reason for Ricky’s attraction is basic. The simplest conclusion I can make of Toni’s attraction to Ricky Lee is physical proximity. He’s there plus she’s cute pretty much sums up their romance. Their sexy times did not scorch the pages for me; I didn’t find the couple engaging nor did I feel emotionally invested, which I’ve felt toward previous main characters.
Wolf with Benefits is listed as having four hundred pages. It was a struggle at the halfway mark when I realized it wasn’t getting any better. The pacing is slow. The plot is unfocused. Previous characters appear and readers are given their status, mates’ names, Packs’ names, and humorous quotes here and there. The parade of characters felt like filler. Toni’s siblings and secondary characters had little adventures that distracted me from the storylines I tried to follow.
I seem to be in the minority regarding my feelings for this book. I have read and loved other Pride books. I thought this would be a ‘sure thing.’ I was wrong. Maybe you won’t feel that way. Read other reviews! I’ll definitely read the next Shelly Laurenston book with the hope it will be much better and back on track to what I’m used to from this talented author.
*ARC courtesy of Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Here's another review readers may find helpful.
Wolf with Benefits is the eighth book in Shelly Laurenston’s hilarious and sexy Pride series. The female and male shifters – sometimes human mates – battle wits, pour on the charm, karaoke, race cars, display peculiar traits (love the bears!), and enjoy rigorous love lives. Set in modern times, the focus is primarily on the romance with an ongoing mystery-suspense involving human/shifter violence. This paranormal romance book has some of the ingredients Laurenston usually uses, but they are very weak. It was not what I expected…at all!
The match-up is between Toni Jean-Louis Parker, a jackal shifter, and Ricky Lee Reed, a wolf shifter and relative of the Smith Pack. In a family of prodigies, Toni is the only sibling of average intelligence. She deftly manages her demanding family’s hectic schedules. Appreciation for her services is rarely given. For the most part, the story focuses on Toni cutting the ‘umbilical cord’ and finding her place in the world. Ricky Lee tags along.
The romance was missing, although there are a few love scenes. The reason for Ricky’s attraction is basic. The simplest conclusion I can make of Toni’s attraction to Ricky Lee is physical proximity. He’s there plus she’s cute pretty much sums up their romance. Their sexy times did not scorch the pages for me; I didn’t find the couple engaging nor did I feel emotionally invested, which I’ve felt toward previous main characters.
Wolf with Benefits is listed as having four hundred pages. It was a struggle at the halfway mark when I realized it wasn’t getting any better. The pacing is slow. The plot is unfocused. Previous characters appear and readers are given their status, mates’ names, Packs’ names, and humorous quotes here and there. The parade of characters felt like filler. Toni’s siblings and secondary characters had little adventures that distracted me from the storylines I tried to follow.
I seem to be in the minority regarding my feelings for this book. I have read and loved other Pride books. I thought this would be a ‘sure thing.’ I was wrong. Maybe you won’t feel that way. Read other reviews! I’ll definitely read the next Shelly Laurenston book with the hope it will be much better and back on track to what I’m used to from this talented author.
*ARC courtesy of Kensington via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Here's another review readers may find helpful.
July 14, 2020
~ 5 Wolf with Benefits Stars ~
I loved Wolf With Benefits . It pulls you in from beginning to end. I could not put this book down. I am a huge FAN of the Pride series by Shelly Laurenston.
It's got a great plot and is a fun sweet romance. If you love to laugh and read funny lines then you will enjoy Wolf with Benefits. It's non-stop hilarious! The first line I just loved it: "Are you my daddy?" It's also a fun light hearted romance that gives us new characters and still manages to work in past characters. I had so much fun reading this book. I loved Toni and her crazy family. Shelly keeps giving us more and more fun characters to learn about and love. I liked that a Reed boy Ricky Lee finally got a book.
Wolf with Benefits is a fun light hearted romance with great humor. If you have not picked up the Pride series yet then you are missing out. I highly recommend!
Audio July 2018: I loved the audiobook. It was so much fun. I laughed so much, my hubby was looking at me funny wondering what I was listening too. ^_^ Great audio!
Audio 2019: Loved it all over again. The kids are just to fun and so is Ricky Lee and his lade back attitude.
I loved Wolf With Benefits . It pulls you in from beginning to end. I could not put this book down. I am a huge FAN of the Pride series by Shelly Laurenston.
It's got a great plot and is a fun sweet romance. If you love to laugh and read funny lines then you will enjoy Wolf with Benefits. It's non-stop hilarious! The first line I just loved it: "Are you my daddy?" It's also a fun light hearted romance that gives us new characters and still manages to work in past characters. I had so much fun reading this book. I loved Toni and her crazy family. Shelly keeps giving us more and more fun characters to learn about and love. I liked that a Reed boy Ricky Lee finally got a book.
Wolf with Benefits is a fun light hearted romance with great humor. If you have not picked up the Pride series yet then you are missing out. I highly recommend!
Audio July 2018: I loved the audiobook. It was so much fun. I laughed so much, my hubby was looking at me funny wondering what I was listening too. ^_^ Great audio!
Audio 2019: Loved it all over again. The kids are just to fun and so is Ricky Lee and his lade back attitude.
December 31, 2014
3.5 stars
So when Sara recommended this one to me, I wasn't sure what her motivations were.
I mean, maybe she was trying to get back at me for some of my recommendations to her.
Evidently, I almost ruined Wonder Woman for her...
Pshhht. As if!
Anyway, I went into Wolf with Benefits with my fingers crossed, hoping that it wasn't some sort of a clever prank.
It wasn't! I thought this was a pretty cute story about a family of crazy prodigy jackal-shifters, and the normal sister who keep them all from imploding.
And the hillbilly(ish) wolf-shifter that she falls in love with.
Plus the psychotic sister that's slurking around in the shadows.
Oh, and also, a whole lotta other characters that I would probably recognize, if I hadn't started on book #8.
*shrugs*
I should also mention that while I've read quite a few of this author's Dragon Kin books (penned under the name G A Aiken), I've never actually finished anything she's written as Laurenston.
I've gotta say, the way she writes as Aiken is still what I prefer, but this wasn't half bad.
Anyway, if you're in the mood for a lighthearted PNR, then this is something you might find interesting.
PS-
Thank you for not punking me, Sara!
So when Sara recommended this one to me, I wasn't sure what her motivations were.
I mean, maybe she was trying to get back at me for some of my recommendations to her.
Evidently, I almost ruined Wonder Woman for her...
Pshhht. As if!
Anyway, I went into Wolf with Benefits with my fingers crossed, hoping that it wasn't some sort of a clever prank.
It wasn't! I thought this was a pretty cute story about a family of crazy prodigy jackal-shifters, and the normal sister who keep them all from imploding.
And the hillbilly(ish) wolf-shifter that she falls in love with.
Plus the psychotic sister that's slurking around in the shadows.
Oh, and also, a whole lotta other characters that I would probably recognize, if I hadn't started on book #8.
*shrugs*
I should also mention that while I've read quite a few of this author's Dragon Kin books (penned under the name G A Aiken), I've never actually finished anything she's written as Laurenston.
I've gotta say, the way she writes as Aiken is still what I prefer, but this wasn't half bad.
Anyway, if you're in the mood for a lighthearted PNR, then this is something you might find interesting.
PS-
Thank you for not punking me, Sara!
March 19, 2021
4.5 Sparkling Stars
A book I've read a number of times and still enjoy. Plenty of the humour, charm and wit that marks a Laurenston book.
A good host of secondary characters that add to the tale unfolding. I'm hoping to see Toni's siblings in more books as well as getting their own stories.
A book I've read a number of times and still enjoy. Plenty of the humour, charm and wit that marks a Laurenston book.
A good host of secondary characters that add to the tale unfolding. I'm hoping to see Toni's siblings in more books as well as getting their own stories.
June 30, 2015
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
I went into this book blindly. Yes, I decided that it was a good idea to jump into a well established series on book number 8. I knew that this was going to be a book about a werewolf (I figured that one out from the title) but that was about the extent of my knowledge. Believe it or not, everything actually turned out okay and I didn't feel too lost. I did find that there were a whole lot of characters to try to keep straight that I would guess long time readers of the series already know and love.
Toni is the oldest in a family with 11 children and she is the only one of her siblings who is not a prodigy. Toni's family of jackals is spending the summer in New York. Toni's role in the family is that of caretaker. She is able to manage all 10 of her difficult siblings which is quite the task. Her path crosses with the wolf across the street, Ricky Lee, very early in the story.
Ricky Lee is a werewolf who seems to keep finding himself in the position to help Toni out of various situations. He works in security and when things get dangerous, he takes it upon himself to keep Toni and her family safe. Ricky has tons of southern charm and an easy going attitude. Toni's difficult family doesn't even seem to faze this werewolf.
This book was filled with colorful characters. Ricky Lee was simply fantastic. He was just so lovable and funny and he brought a spark of excitement to every scene he was a part of. Toni was likeable and could handle her family's needs brilliantly but she seemed to panic with every problem not related to her family. Toni's family added a unique twist to the story and I thought they were fun most of the time. I just loved Bo from the hockey team. He was probably the most difficult member of the team but Toni was able to deal with him quite easily since he reminded her of her siblings. Toni's friend, Livy, was just plain awesome.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. The romance between Toni and Ricky Lee was rather predictable and I felt that the chemistry between the pair was lacking. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it kept its focus on Toni and Ricky Lee but there was so many other things going on that it was hard to keep up at times. As I already mentioned, this book had a lot of characters to keep up with which took away from the flow of the story for me.
There were a lot of really strong points in this book. I loved the humor in the story. I really liked that the plot took a few turns that were completely unexpected. The final third of the book just flew by for me because it just full of excitement. I found that I really enjoyed this author's style of writing.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I do think that I will have to check out this series from the beginning because there were a lot of things that I liked. I am willing to bet that regular readers of this series will find this book quite enjoyable.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
I went into this book blindly. Yes, I decided that it was a good idea to jump into a well established series on book number 8. I knew that this was going to be a book about a werewolf (I figured that one out from the title) but that was about the extent of my knowledge. Believe it or not, everything actually turned out okay and I didn't feel too lost. I did find that there were a whole lot of characters to try to keep straight that I would guess long time readers of the series already know and love.
Toni is the oldest in a family with 11 children and she is the only one of her siblings who is not a prodigy. Toni's family of jackals is spending the summer in New York. Toni's role in the family is that of caretaker. She is able to manage all 10 of her difficult siblings which is quite the task. Her path crosses with the wolf across the street, Ricky Lee, very early in the story.
Ricky Lee is a werewolf who seems to keep finding himself in the position to help Toni out of various situations. He works in security and when things get dangerous, he takes it upon himself to keep Toni and her family safe. Ricky has tons of southern charm and an easy going attitude. Toni's difficult family doesn't even seem to faze this werewolf.
This book was filled with colorful characters. Ricky Lee was simply fantastic. He was just so lovable and funny and he brought a spark of excitement to every scene he was a part of. Toni was likeable and could handle her family's needs brilliantly but she seemed to panic with every problem not related to her family. Toni's family added a unique twist to the story and I thought they were fun most of the time. I just loved Bo from the hockey team. He was probably the most difficult member of the team but Toni was able to deal with him quite easily since he reminded her of her siblings. Toni's friend, Livy, was just plain awesome.
I liked this book but I didn't love it. The romance between Toni and Ricky Lee was rather predictable and I felt that the chemistry between the pair was lacking. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it kept its focus on Toni and Ricky Lee but there was so many other things going on that it was hard to keep up at times. As I already mentioned, this book had a lot of characters to keep up with which took away from the flow of the story for me.
There were a lot of really strong points in this book. I loved the humor in the story. I really liked that the plot took a few turns that were completely unexpected. The final third of the book just flew by for me because it just full of excitement. I found that I really enjoyed this author's style of writing.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. I do think that I will have to check out this series from the beginning because there were a lot of things that I liked. I am willing to bet that regular readers of this series will find this book quite enjoyable.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Kensington Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
April 10, 2014
Beginning I would like to make clear the fact that I liked this book and it needs to be emphasized because my thoughts may point to the opposite!:P
My main problem with the book? I couldn't find the romance. I looked hard, tried every corner but it just wasn't there... I didn't see any great feelings developing, I didn't see how they went from friends to f*ck buddies to mates. I just couldn't see it! I want some relationship development, I want to be able to discern the point were they go from friends to "more".
My second problem was the epilogue. I was reading the book and then, suddenly, it was over. No easing into it, no closure, nothing. It was too abrupt and addressed almost none of the issues raised during the book in my opinion. It was like walking down a street and suddenly falling down the cliff you didn't even know was there.
What I liked about this book was the characters, the fast paced story, the humor and Irene's and Bo's appearances. Generally considering the characters in this book it pussed every button I have. Genious people, psychotic people, laid back people, motherly, arrogant, in their own world, scared, brave, funny, boring. Everything you could think of that you like in a book character the author provided it for you. Especially Toni's family were the best supportive characters I've ever read in a book. 11 prodigies in a family make for an interesting day. My favorite was Kyle...The kid is 11 and psychotic.
Summing up...The book was great but it failed miserably in the romance department. I was thinking of giving it a 3 but I seriously enjoyed it so 4 it is!
PS. I want a romance between Livy and Reece next but I have a feeling that Vic will get the girl!:(
**************10/4/2014**************
BR with Aly
Surprisingly I liked this book even more the second time around. It still had the issues mentioned before but this time it workes better for me!
PS. I finished first... And yes, I'm bragging despite the fact that she probably read two other books in the meantime.
My main problem with the book? I couldn't find the romance. I looked hard, tried every corner but it just wasn't there... I didn't see any great feelings developing, I didn't see how they went from friends to f*ck buddies to mates. I just couldn't see it! I want some relationship development, I want to be able to discern the point were they go from friends to "more".
My second problem was the epilogue. I was reading the book and then, suddenly, it was over. No easing into it, no closure, nothing. It was too abrupt and addressed almost none of the issues raised during the book in my opinion. It was like walking down a street and suddenly falling down the cliff you didn't even know was there.
What I liked about this book was the characters, the fast paced story, the humor and Irene's and Bo's appearances. Generally considering the characters in this book it pussed every button I have. Genious people, psychotic people, laid back people, motherly, arrogant, in their own world, scared, brave, funny, boring. Everything you could think of that you like in a book character the author provided it for you. Especially Toni's family were the best supportive characters I've ever read in a book. 11 prodigies in a family make for an interesting day. My favorite was Kyle...The kid is 11 and psychotic.
Summing up...The book was great but it failed miserably in the romance department. I was thinking of giving it a 3 but I seriously enjoyed it so 4 it is!
PS. I want a romance between Livy and Reece next but I have a feeling that Vic will get the girl!:(
**************10/4/2014**************
BR with Aly
Surprisingly I liked this book even more the second time around. It still had the issues mentioned before but this time it workes better for me!
PS. I finished first... And yes, I'm bragging despite the fact that she probably read two other books in the meantime.
August 1, 2024
Ricky Lee Reed feels life provides enough entertainment and if he waits long enough it will come to him. Seeing the adorable woman with a gaggle of children waiting at the arena looks like just what he is looking for, especially those beautiful curls he would love to put his hands into. Toni Jean-Louis Parker is the queen of organization and being able to handle any situation put in her path, when Ricky tries to pick her up she has the help of her brother and sisters to keep him at bay, should work right?
Ricky is not deterred by the weird little children, he is however even more interested in Toni and plans to hang out with her quite a bit, even if it means just following her around until he wears her down. Toni’s life is changing though and she finds herself under Ricky’s protection and into his arms.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8432
Ricky is not deterred by the weird little children, he is however even more interested in Toni and plans to hang out with her quite a bit, even if it means just following her around until he wears her down. Toni’s life is changing though and she finds herself under Ricky’s protection and into his arms.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8432
July 17, 2014
3 stars
I love Shelly Laurenson. Rarely has a book by her failed to make me laugh and make me feel good. Here-I did laugh. Facing the crazy Parker brood, who wouldn't? But, the romance was severely lacking. Frankly I was happier to read about EVERYONE other than the H/h. I mean, on one side, we have crazy genius kids, Bo(BO!) and bunch of characters we all know and love, and on the other two very, well, boring characters (And I can't even remember the names) whose love affair was very much in the background.
Still, it was fun, and I'll always be a fan of SL. Looking forward to the next book!
“And you’re comfortable with him basically pummeling your brother?” Ricky thought on that, but he must have taken too long to answer because the She-jackal handed off the boy in her arms to the teenager. “It’s like I have to take care of everything,”
“Yeah,” Oriana said, “it went great until Kyle here asked to see him naked.”
Ric briefly closed his eyes. “Again, Kyle? Again?”
Horrified, Toni demanded, “Oh, my God, Kyle! Did you ask Ric to—”
“I will not be held back by society’s mores!”
You can't not love Kyle :D
"Her brother might have the hands of a true artist, but his brain . . . his brain was like that of a sadistic psychiatrist who liked to see if he could force his patients to gouge out their own eyes during therapy appointments."
"At the time, it broke my heart . . . but also at the time, when my momma didn’t make blueberry pancakes on Sunday mornings like she promised, that kind of broke my heart, too.”
“Not really a deep wolf, are ya, Ricky Lee?”
“Not if I can help it.”
I love Shelly Laurenson. Rarely has a book by her failed to make me laugh and make me feel good. Here-I did laugh. Facing the crazy Parker brood, who wouldn't? But, the romance was severely lacking. Frankly I was happier to read about EVERYONE other than the H/h. I mean, on one side, we have crazy genius kids, Bo(BO!) and bunch of characters we all know and love, and on the other two very, well, boring characters (And I can't even remember the names) whose love affair was very much in the background.
Still, it was fun, and I'll always be a fan of SL. Looking forward to the next book!
“And you’re comfortable with him basically pummeling your brother?” Ricky thought on that, but he must have taken too long to answer because the She-jackal handed off the boy in her arms to the teenager. “It’s like I have to take care of everything,”
“Yeah,” Oriana said, “it went great until Kyle here asked to see him naked.”
Ric briefly closed his eyes. “Again, Kyle? Again?”
Horrified, Toni demanded, “Oh, my God, Kyle! Did you ask Ric to—”
“I will not be held back by society’s mores!”
You can't not love Kyle :D
"Her brother might have the hands of a true artist, but his brain . . . his brain was like that of a sadistic psychiatrist who liked to see if he could force his patients to gouge out their own eyes during therapy appointments."
"At the time, it broke my heart . . . but also at the time, when my momma didn’t make blueberry pancakes on Sunday mornings like she promised, that kind of broke my heart, too.”
“Not really a deep wolf, are ya, Ricky Lee?”
“Not if I can help it.”
May 6, 2015
Read this review on Got Fiction? book blog
Review originally posted on Demon Lover's Books & More
I breezed right through this one, even though it’s over 400 pages. With Shelly Laurenston’s trademark sense of humor, her shifters are always fun to read.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker and Ricky Lee Reed are fun characters to read, and they’re fun to watch fall in love as they are so incredibly opposite.
Toni is the only non-prodigy in a family full of child-prodigies. When she was younger her dad used to have her help him deal with all her younger siblings (of which there are 10 I believe), and that turned into her career. Toni now spends every day knowing that her siblings, genius as they may be, can’t do anything without her. They depend on her way too much, but she likes it. She thrives on it.
She has had many jobs that she has turned down because after just a day or so, she feels the family falls apart without her. And they do to an extent, but she never lets anyone try to help her because she manages them so perfectly.
An opportunity for her mom arises that means they’ll be staying in New York for the summer. This is frustrating for Toni because it means she’ll be giving up yet another job opportunity back home, but something else comes up and she gets a job working for The Carnivores as Director of Team Travel and Promotions. She handled Novokov amazingly. She “gets” him. She also asks him to schedule her family when her job takes her to Siberia. (For anyone who knows this series, this is hysterical. For those who don’t-he’s very OCD about his schedule, so it’s funny to watch him take charge).
Ricky Lee Reed, on the other hand is a laid back country boy who works in New York now (he’s part of a security firm). He kicks back and just waits for something fun to happen, because when he’s around Toni, something seems to always happen. He’s never bored. His character was fun and sweet and sort of quietly funny. He spent most of the book dodging an ex-girlfriend from high school, and it was hysterical.
When he goes with Toni to Siberia (as security), the two of them have a lot to deal with. Bears (yes, Russian bears at that), their desire, and Toni’s first time out on her own. It’s a lot for her to handle. But Ricky Lee is there in his quiet way to help her calm down.
This book has it all; fun, action, and humor. We also are treated to some cameos from Laurenston’s Magnus series as well, and a brand new type of shifter--see spoiler below, BUT only if you truly want to be spoiled). I absolutely recommend this book to any GA Aiken or Shelly Laurenston fans. If you’re a big fan of shifters and enjoy humor in your books, I suggest this series. But I’d suggest starting at the beginning.
***ARC courtesy of Kensington
August 13, 2016
This is the Pride book I've been waiting for. Beautifully paced action, hilarious dialogue, and just the right amount of shifter mayhem and violence mixed in with the romance. I've always preferred the bear books, but Ricky Lee is right next to Bo and Crush on my favorites list.
Toni's family of prodigies brings all the crazy fun of the wild dogs, but with a sweet, centered heroine who is a pleasure to read. And as
much as I was rooting for Toni to succeed, Ricky Lee's good natured courtship was practically ursine in its sweet, funny sexiness. There is plenty of page time for past favorites (I particularly loved Bo's appearances), and I'm dying for more of Livy, the bad tempered little shifter that even bears treat with respect.
Laurenston's world is always sexy, violent, and utterly hilarious, and WOLF WITH BENEFITS has all of that classic shifter charm plus a very well paced story. The action doesn't overwhelm the characters, the changes in Point of View are effective and seamless, and the romance was so beautifully written I fell in love a little bit, too. For fans of the Shifter series, this book is a must, and for anyone new to this crazy, hilarious world, I'd recommend WOLF WITH BENEFITS as one if the best of great series.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Sex scenes.
Re-read #1 (3/31/14): Re-reading BITE ME brought me back to where Toni and Ricky Lee began... and WOLF WITH BENEFITS has me wanting to hunt all the way back to Niles and Irene.
Toni's family of prodigies brings all the crazy fun of the wild dogs, but with a sweet, centered heroine who is a pleasure to read. And as
much as I was rooting for Toni to succeed, Ricky Lee's good natured courtship was practically ursine in its sweet, funny sexiness. There is plenty of page time for past favorites (I particularly loved Bo's appearances), and I'm dying for more of Livy, the bad tempered little shifter that even bears treat with respect.
Laurenston's world is always sexy, violent, and utterly hilarious, and WOLF WITH BENEFITS has all of that classic shifter charm plus a very well paced story. The action doesn't overwhelm the characters, the changes in Point of View are effective and seamless, and the romance was so beautifully written I fell in love a little bit, too. For fans of the Shifter series, this book is a must, and for anyone new to this crazy, hilarious world, I'd recommend WOLF WITH BENEFITS as one if the best of great series.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Sex scenes.
Re-read #1 (3/31/14): Re-reading BITE ME brought me back to where Toni and Ricky Lee began... and WOLF WITH BENEFITS has me wanting to hunt all the way back to Niles and Irene.
July 7, 2019
This was a truly funny book. I just love Ms. Shelly's Pride series. And if you never have read "any" of her books you are missing out on great stories!! Can't wait to see what she has in store for her next book...
February 10, 2013
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Shelly Laurenston, New York Times bestselling author and a star in the paranormal romance genre, comes the eighth book is the successful Pride series, that blends outrageous humor and sexy shapeshifters to create irresistible heroes that readers fall in love with.
Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?
Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for.
Page Count: 400 Pages
My Thoughts:
This book was provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.
I will begin my review by stating that I have only read the first book, The Mane Event, in the Pride series. It has always been on my list to go back to. But, as with so many of us profusive readers, the adage "so many books, so little time" rings true. I decided to jump on the opportunity to read Wolf with Benefits because I enjoy Ms. Laurenston's writing style.
I absolutely loved this story. Toni (and company) and Ricky Lee were absolutely hilarious and captured my attention from the very first page. How can you not be drawn in when the first line of the book is, "Are you my daddy?" The story was an even paced ride filled with laughs, interesting plot twits, and slowly simmered passion. But, as a word of caution, those of you looking for über smexy will not find it in this story. Although the book was subtly sexy, there was no super hawt action happening in this book. But, in spite of that, the book contained a solid enough story to withstand the loss of that element.
One of my most favorite lines...well diatribe, actually...in the story came from Kyle in his defense of Tori against another shifter.
The book was completely filled with hilarious moments and interactions between the characters. But there were serious moments as well. Tori's sister Delilah *major issues, that girl* wreaked major havoc within the family that took the story from light and funny to dead serious in a heartbeat. *Shiver*
This is a book that you will not be able to put down. I read it in one setting. A most humorous and engaging read from Ms. Laurentson. Read it. Love it!
Reading Time: 5 Hours
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VERY GOOD: The characteristics of a 4 star book include: a great story; I loved the characters; and there was an interesting plot and unique story elements; there may have been a few odd things kept the story from being amazing. I would read it again and I would recommend it to a friend.Book Description:
Shelly Laurenston, New York Times bestselling author and a star in the paranormal romance genre, comes the eighth book is the successful Pride series, that blends outrageous humor and sexy shapeshifters to create irresistible heroes that readers fall in love with.
Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks?
Toni doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for.
Page Count: 400 Pages
My Thoughts:
This book was provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.
I will begin my review by stating that I have only read the first book, The Mane Event, in the Pride series. It has always been on my list to go back to. But, as with so many of us profusive readers, the adage "so many books, so little time" rings true. I decided to jump on the opportunity to read Wolf with Benefits because I enjoy Ms. Laurenston's writing style.
I absolutely loved this story. Toni (and company) and Ricky Lee were absolutely hilarious and captured my attention from the very first page. How can you not be drawn in when the first line of the book is, "Are you my daddy?" The story was an even paced ride filled with laughs, interesting plot twits, and slowly simmered passion. But, as a word of caution, those of you looking for über smexy will not find it in this story. Although the book was subtly sexy, there was no super hawt action happening in this book. But, in spite of that, the book contained a solid enough story to withstand the loss of that element.
One of my most favorite lines...well diatribe, actually...in the story came from Kyle in his defense of Tori against another shifter.
"It must be hard," Kyle mused to the bobcat. "One of the superior cats. Revered and adored through history as far back as the ancient Egyptians. And yet here you sit. At a desk. A common drone. Taking orders from lowly canines and bears. Do your ancestors call to you from the great beyond, hissing their disappointment to you? Do they cry out in despair at where you've ended up despite such a lofty bloodline? Or does your hatred spring from the feline misery of always being alone? Skulking along, wishing you had a mate or a pack or a pride to call your own? But all you have is you...and your pathetic job as a drone? Does it break your feline heart to be so...average? So common? So...human?I literally laughed out loud when I read this because it was said by an eleven year old to an adult shifter. Who responded by...crying.
The book was completely filled with hilarious moments and interactions between the characters. But there were serious moments as well. Tori's sister Delilah *major issues, that girl* wreaked major havoc within the family that took the story from light and funny to dead serious in a heartbeat. *Shiver*
This is a book that you will not be able to put down. I read it in one setting. A most humorous and engaging read from Ms. Laurentson. Read it. Love it!
Reading Time: 5 Hours
Visit The BookChick Blog
June 27, 2023
NetGalley free read
Not as good as book #5, BEAST BEHAVING BADLY, but still funny and good.
My favorite couple, Bo and Blayne, were present.
Antonella 'Toni' Jean-Louis Parker is the eldest of 11 children born to jackel shifter parents Jackie, world renowned violinist and Paul, average guy. All of Toni's siblings are geniuses, but she's not. Her talent is being able to wrangle them and schedule their lives, which she doesn't realize is a talent until, while in New York with a few of her siblings, she stops a fight between Bo Novikov and Reece Lee Reed. Two of of the Hockey players for the Carnivores. She so effortlessly handles them she's offered a six figure job, apartment and driver from her family-friend-turned-cousin Ric Van Holt.
Toni meets wolf sifter Ricky Lee Reed, who is the middle brother of the Reed Brothers and works in private security with them. Ricky is immediately attracted to Toni. He loves her wild curly hair. While trying to get to know her, he meets her strange and eccentric family, who have decided to move across the street from the Smith Pack. Jesse's adopted son, Johnny, is a violin prodigy and Jackie is determined to find a way to work with him.
While endearing themselves to the Smith Pack, Bo Novikov and the Reeds, it is discovered that one of them is in danger. Government types are after 7-year-old genius Freddy, who has a penitent for stealing and burying things of people he likes. He's stolen one of Miki's, fellow scientist, books and sociopath sister Delilah wants to sell it to the highest bidder in order to make money and extricate herself from her family. She doesn't care who it hurts.
Okay... Siblings:
Kyle - 11 year old genius artis/sculpter. Works with marble mostly. Is so cocky and funny, it's not even funny. Toni believes he's the one who needs to be reigned in and handled the most. Says exactly what's on his mind and has particular talent in reducing many men to tears due to showing them how inferior they are. Kyle feels he's so superior to everyone to the point of being downright rude. Only Toni seems to be able to control him.
Oriana - 15 year old ballet prodigy. She doesn't worry about friends or boyfriends. Her singular goal is all she things about and that is being a world premier ballerina. She argues with Kyle and Troy the most.
Cherise - 20 year old agoraphobic, who is a world renowned cellist. She meek and mild, but determined to help with her siblings so her sister Toni can begin to have her own life.
Cooper 'The Coop' - 22 year old world renowned pianist. He makes the classical piano seem cool. He's young and attractive and like a rock star god. He comes home and puts his tour on hold to help Toni get a life. He realizes everything she's done when he can't handle any of the children.
Troy - 9 year old math genius. He is also a bit of a narcissist like Kyle and Oriana. They don't care what the other needs to do to practice or focus on their craft, as long as it doesn't interfere with what they want to do.
Freddy - 7 year old science genus. Loves it when his idles Irene Van Holt and her friend Mikki reduce his professors to tears by showing how much smarter they are than the professor. Freddy is the only one of the younger geniuses who has a heart and soul. He loves his sister Toni and wants her to be happy. He also is gullible and believes everything Delilah tells him until it's too late.
Dennis - 5 year old prodigy painter. could replicate anything to the point of it looking like a photo.
Twins Zoe & Zia - 3 year old toddlers who picked up languages and could speak with authentic accents to the point that people would ask where they were adopted from.
Delilah - 18 year old artist. Delilah wasn't just an artist, she was smart in science and math as well. She is also a sociopath. She has no emotional connection to anything or anyone. She will put her own family in danger in order to get enough money to be away from them and do anything she wants. She just has no intention of working for it. She will lie, cheat and steal to get what she wants. Toni sees this in her and keeps her under control to an extent, but the other family members give her a wide berth.
Olivia 'Livy' Kowalski, Honey Badger shifter and Toni's best friend. She's also a genius photographer, honorary member of the family and basically the 11th sibling that Toni takes care of. Livy has a bad habit of squatting in other people's homes instead of owning or renting a place to live. It's more exciting to her. Toni hires her as the Hockey teams staff photographer and gets her the same postion with other teams in order to give her some semblance of normalcy and steadiness.
When Livy stays with the Jean-Louis Parker family, she likes to think she's still squatting. Though they give her keys to wherever their staying, she still sneaks into the house through a window and sleeps under beds and sneaks around. They love her and get her and don't mind her eccentricities.
Livy knows what Delilah is and will do whatever she has to to back up Tony and the Jean-Louis Parker family, even if that means killing Delilah. When Delilah thinks she's gotten away with threatening Oriana, Livy makes it clear she won't stand for it and will kill her if it comes to that, and makes sure she knows that Toni won't mind if it comes to that.
One thing I don't understand about the story is why Livy and Toni are so mean to Blayne. Since she's one of my favorite characters, their dismissal of her to the point of Toni calling her any other name but her real name, bothers me. Toni seems so caring and sweet and this is one of her only mean traits and there's no real explanation for it.
I love everything that comes out of Kyle's mouth. He's thoroughly hysterical when talking to what he consider's the 'common man.' When Troy throws that out when Ricky is trying to explain to them that they need to let their sister get her own life, I fell out laughing when he says "The common man has spoken."
I love how light and breezy Ricky is. He lets nothing get to him, not even his conniving ex-girlfriend. He's more focused on Toni and doesn't care what she's up to.
Two of my favorite visuals from the book is with Livy takes out the Lion shifter Hockey player and then when she took down Laura Jean, Ricky's ex-girlfriend. Brilliant.
I love how cold Irene is. She's like, let the family get over Delilah for a couple years then take her out. I agree. She can't be left to out there and potentially take advantage of one of the kids again.
I also wonder if Vic Barinov and Livy will be a couple in the next book. Their connection at the end makes me think that.
Some of the things that were problematic for me is that there were so many characters and story lines going on. Yes they interwove ended up being connected, but with few breaks in the structure of the book, you could easily get lost as to what was happening and where you were in the story. Example was when Cella goes into the church to talk to John the all of a sudden they are at the farmhouse where Freddy is being kept. What does the guy at the church have to do with anything? And does he have something to do with Whithal, who they've been looking for and what happened to that part of the storyline? It just seemed to end with no resolution. Although it was very funny, just not as funny as book #5 as I started before. These are the only reasons I havent' given it a bigger rating, but I would still recommend and I'm sure I will buy the other books in oder to read the rest of the story and characters.
I almost wish these books were paranormal and/or were able to be adapted into a television show. Thats what I do for a living and I just can't see this happening but I could be wrong. I would definitely watch something like this on tv.
Re-read 3/7/14
Not as good as book #5, BEAST BEHAVING BADLY, but still funny and good.
My favorite couple, Bo and Blayne, were present.
Antonella 'Toni' Jean-Louis Parker is the eldest of 11 children born to jackel shifter parents Jackie, world renowned violinist and Paul, average guy. All of Toni's siblings are geniuses, but she's not. Her talent is being able to wrangle them and schedule their lives, which she doesn't realize is a talent until, while in New York with a few of her siblings, she stops a fight between Bo Novikov and Reece Lee Reed. Two of of the Hockey players for the Carnivores. She so effortlessly handles them she's offered a six figure job, apartment and driver from her family-friend-turned-cousin Ric Van Holt.
Toni meets wolf sifter Ricky Lee Reed, who is the middle brother of the Reed Brothers and works in private security with them. Ricky is immediately attracted to Toni. He loves her wild curly hair. While trying to get to know her, he meets her strange and eccentric family, who have decided to move across the street from the Smith Pack. Jesse's adopted son, Johnny, is a violin prodigy and Jackie is determined to find a way to work with him.
While endearing themselves to the Smith Pack, Bo Novikov and the Reeds, it is discovered that one of them is in danger. Government types are after 7-year-old genius Freddy, who has a penitent for stealing and burying things of people he likes. He's stolen one of Miki's, fellow scientist, books and sociopath sister Delilah wants to sell it to the highest bidder in order to make money and extricate herself from her family. She doesn't care who it hurts.
Okay... Siblings:
Kyle - 11 year old genius artis/sculpter. Works with marble mostly. Is so cocky and funny, it's not even funny. Toni believes he's the one who needs to be reigned in and handled the most. Says exactly what's on his mind and has particular talent in reducing many men to tears due to showing them how inferior they are. Kyle feels he's so superior to everyone to the point of being downright rude. Only Toni seems to be able to control him.
Oriana - 15 year old ballet prodigy. She doesn't worry about friends or boyfriends. Her singular goal is all she things about and that is being a world premier ballerina. She argues with Kyle and Troy the most.
Cherise - 20 year old agoraphobic, who is a world renowned cellist. She meek and mild, but determined to help with her siblings so her sister Toni can begin to have her own life.
Cooper 'The Coop' - 22 year old world renowned pianist. He makes the classical piano seem cool. He's young and attractive and like a rock star god. He comes home and puts his tour on hold to help Toni get a life. He realizes everything she's done when he can't handle any of the children.
Troy - 9 year old math genius. He is also a bit of a narcissist like Kyle and Oriana. They don't care what the other needs to do to practice or focus on their craft, as long as it doesn't interfere with what they want to do.
Freddy - 7 year old science genus. Loves it when his idles Irene Van Holt and her friend Mikki reduce his professors to tears by showing how much smarter they are than the professor. Freddy is the only one of the younger geniuses who has a heart and soul. He loves his sister Toni and wants her to be happy. He also is gullible and believes everything Delilah tells him until it's too late.
Dennis - 5 year old prodigy painter. could replicate anything to the point of it looking like a photo.
Twins Zoe & Zia - 3 year old toddlers who picked up languages and could speak with authentic accents to the point that people would ask where they were adopted from.
Delilah - 18 year old artist. Delilah wasn't just an artist, she was smart in science and math as well. She is also a sociopath. She has no emotional connection to anything or anyone. She will put her own family in danger in order to get enough money to be away from them and do anything she wants. She just has no intention of working for it. She will lie, cheat and steal to get what she wants. Toni sees this in her and keeps her under control to an extent, but the other family members give her a wide berth.
Olivia 'Livy' Kowalski, Honey Badger shifter and Toni's best friend. She's also a genius photographer, honorary member of the family and basically the 11th sibling that Toni takes care of. Livy has a bad habit of squatting in other people's homes instead of owning or renting a place to live. It's more exciting to her. Toni hires her as the Hockey teams staff photographer and gets her the same postion with other teams in order to give her some semblance of normalcy and steadiness.
When Livy stays with the Jean-Louis Parker family, she likes to think she's still squatting. Though they give her keys to wherever their staying, she still sneaks into the house through a window and sleeps under beds and sneaks around. They love her and get her and don't mind her eccentricities.
Livy knows what Delilah is and will do whatever she has to to back up Tony and the Jean-Louis Parker family, even if that means killing Delilah. When Delilah thinks she's gotten away with threatening Oriana, Livy makes it clear she won't stand for it and will kill her if it comes to that, and makes sure she knows that Toni won't mind if it comes to that.
One thing I don't understand about the story is why Livy and Toni are so mean to Blayne. Since she's one of my favorite characters, their dismissal of her to the point of Toni calling her any other name but her real name, bothers me. Toni seems so caring and sweet and this is one of her only mean traits and there's no real explanation for it.
I love everything that comes out of Kyle's mouth. He's thoroughly hysterical when talking to what he consider's the 'common man.' When Troy throws that out when Ricky is trying to explain to them that they need to let their sister get her own life, I fell out laughing when he says "The common man has spoken."
I love how light and breezy Ricky is. He lets nothing get to him, not even his conniving ex-girlfriend. He's more focused on Toni and doesn't care what she's up to.
Two of my favorite visuals from the book is with Livy takes out the Lion shifter Hockey player and then when she took down Laura Jean, Ricky's ex-girlfriend. Brilliant.
I love how cold Irene is. She's like, let the family get over Delilah for a couple years then take her out. I agree. She can't be left to out there and potentially take advantage of one of the kids again.
I also wonder if Vic Barinov and Livy will be a couple in the next book. Their connection at the end makes me think that.
Some of the things that were problematic for me is that there were so many characters and story lines going on. Yes they interwove ended up being connected, but with few breaks in the structure of the book, you could easily get lost as to what was happening and where you were in the story. Example was when Cella goes into the church to talk to John the all of a sudden they are at the farmhouse where Freddy is being kept. What does the guy at the church have to do with anything? And does he have something to do with Whithal, who they've been looking for and what happened to that part of the storyline? It just seemed to end with no resolution. Although it was very funny, just not as funny as book #5 as I started before. These are the only reasons I havent' given it a bigger rating, but I would still recommend and I'm sure I will buy the other books in oder to read the rest of the story and characters.
I almost wish these books were paranormal and/or were able to be adapted into a television show. Thats what I do for a living and I just can't see this happening but I could be wrong. I would definitely watch something like this on tv.
Re-read 3/7/14
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2013
I love Shelly Laurenston's books like crazy. Crazy! So it pains me very much to say how much I did not love this one.
One of the things I like the most about this series is the sense of controlled chaos. The characters are over the top, the relationships are all intertwined and so many characters from previous books appear that it almost feels like this series is one long continuous narrative. However I think in this book the author lost control of that chaos.
Toni Parker has descended on New York with her parents and ten genius prodigy siblings. Toni, we learn, is not a prodigy at anything except wrangling her family. The siblings range in age from toddler to 18. To the child, they are precocious, arrogant and talented. Toni feels a deep obligation to her family, convinced they can't function without her. So she has subsumed her own desire to get a job and possibly start he own family. But her ability to organize difficult people lands her a perk filled job with the shifter Hockey team after she manages to defuse a situation with the notoriously difficult Bo Novikov.
Ricky Lee Reed meets Toni and is immediately smitten. He smoothly inserts himself into her life and ambles along as she grapples with her family and her new demanding job, finding her endlessly amusing.
All the markers that make a typical Laurenston book are here: the outrageous characters, the well-drawn concept of the different shifter types that make up the world, and the humor that wafts over everything.
And yet...yeah...I didn't love it.
I think Toni and Ricky's romance got lost in the midst of all other other stuff happening. There are at least 3 or more side stories going on, including the continuing story of Dee Ann & Cella's hunt for a slippery psychopath who organizes shifter hunting parties for full humans. And then there is Toni's mysterious sister Delilah whose own side story here seems like a set up of a continuing arc. Every one of the previous couples from all the Pride books make an appearance and some of them have major page time. Even Sara, Miki and Angelina from her Magnus Pack series appear. So yeah, this felt chaotic and not in a good way.
Also. Sigh. I didn't love Toni. Whew! That was hard to admit. Hands down I have been major in love with ALL of Laurenston's heroines. Every. Single. One. Even Sissy Mae from The Mane Attraction. But Toni veers dangerously near Mary Sue territory which is SO not what a Laurenston heroine is. And frankly I thought she was on the nasty side in her interactions with Blayne. I find the supposedly funny convention of deliberately not remembering someone's name to be a dismissive tactic meant to belittle someone. For someone who deserves it it can be funny. But Toni's dismissal of Blayne (she'd would mangle her name as 'Blank' or 'Bland') felt pointed and cruel especially because Blayne was really nice to her and just wanted to be her friend.
I also disliked her family with one or two exceptions. I think I was supposed to like them and find them charming, but I didn't. I found them obnoxious and overly precious. Strangely I found myself most fascinated with the evil Delilah.
Ricky Lee was great, though. Of all the characters that permeate this series I think this author has the best handle on the Smith clan, of which Ricky Lee is an honorary member. Now he was charming and felt comfortable in his skin.
Hence, I am putting this one in the 'ok, but not great' column. It is always great hanging out with the Pride crew and I did enjoy those parts, but I thought the romance got lost and I didn't really like Toni.
Still love this author's work like crazy, though.
One of the things I like the most about this series is the sense of controlled chaos. The characters are over the top, the relationships are all intertwined and so many characters from previous books appear that it almost feels like this series is one long continuous narrative. However I think in this book the author lost control of that chaos.
Toni Parker has descended on New York with her parents and ten genius prodigy siblings. Toni, we learn, is not a prodigy at anything except wrangling her family. The siblings range in age from toddler to 18. To the child, they are precocious, arrogant and talented. Toni feels a deep obligation to her family, convinced they can't function without her. So she has subsumed her own desire to get a job and possibly start he own family. But her ability to organize difficult people lands her a perk filled job with the shifter Hockey team after she manages to defuse a situation with the notoriously difficult Bo Novikov.
Ricky Lee Reed meets Toni and is immediately smitten. He smoothly inserts himself into her life and ambles along as she grapples with her family and her new demanding job, finding her endlessly amusing.
All the markers that make a typical Laurenston book are here: the outrageous characters, the well-drawn concept of the different shifter types that make up the world, and the humor that wafts over everything.
And yet...yeah...I didn't love it.
I think Toni and Ricky's romance got lost in the midst of all other other stuff happening. There are at least 3 or more side stories going on, including the continuing story of Dee Ann & Cella's hunt for a slippery psychopath who organizes shifter hunting parties for full humans. And then there is Toni's mysterious sister Delilah whose own side story here seems like a set up of a continuing arc. Every one of the previous couples from all the Pride books make an appearance and some of them have major page time. Even Sara, Miki and Angelina from her Magnus Pack series appear. So yeah, this felt chaotic and not in a good way.
Also. Sigh. I didn't love Toni. Whew! That was hard to admit. Hands down I have been major in love with ALL of Laurenston's heroines. Every. Single. One. Even Sissy Mae from The Mane Attraction. But Toni veers dangerously near Mary Sue territory which is SO not what a Laurenston heroine is. And frankly I thought she was on the nasty side in her interactions with Blayne. I find the supposedly funny convention of deliberately not remembering someone's name to be a dismissive tactic meant to belittle someone. For someone who deserves it it can be funny. But Toni's dismissal of Blayne (she'd would mangle her name as 'Blank' or 'Bland') felt pointed and cruel especially because Blayne was really nice to her and just wanted to be her friend.
I also disliked her family with one or two exceptions. I think I was supposed to like them and find them charming, but I didn't. I found them obnoxious and overly precious. Strangely I found myself most fascinated with the evil Delilah.
Ricky Lee was great, though. Of all the characters that permeate this series I think this author has the best handle on the Smith clan, of which Ricky Lee is an honorary member. Now he was charming and felt comfortable in his skin.
Hence, I am putting this one in the 'ok, but not great' column. It is always great hanging out with the Pride crew and I did enjoy those parts, but I thought the romance got lost and I didn't really like Toni.
Still love this author's work like crazy, though.
October 4, 2014
This review is posted on Way Too Hot Books.
Grown-up world was a little depressing these last few days, so I wanted to read a fun book that would cheer me up a little bit and that's why I picked Wolf With Benefits by Shelley Laurenston. I've been reading her Pride series for years now and the one thing they always never failed to do is to make me laugh.
It was the same with this installment- super-fun paranormal/shifter story with witty, playful and endearing characters. I highly recommend reading this series from the 1st book, because every next book has a new leading couple who also appears in every next installation as secondary characters and the best and only way to understand them is to read their story.
While I loved the appearance and interaction of secondary characters (Ric, Dee Ann, Bo, Blayne, Marcella Malone etc.) in this story the thing in which it for me unfortunately failed big time is- the romance. The biggest blame for that reason I see in MCs, Tony, the jackal shifter, & Ricky Lee, the wolf shifter who in comparison to other awesome couples in this series seemed quite monotonous and easily forgettable.
The romance was slow-paced, but not in a good way. It lacked sparks, tension, passion...and I actually skimmed a little when IT finally happened (read= when they finally had sex.) That's quite unusual for me, lol.
Your charm makes me want to punch you in the nose.”
That made Ricky chuckle. “I’m not trying to piss you off, darlin’.
Just trying to get you to give me a chance.”
“Why?” she had to ask. “I’m really not that interesting. I’m cute but not stunning. I’m not excessively tall. And sexually, I’m rather vanilla. So then what is it?” Rickey decided to be honest with her. “I like your hair.”
She suddenly went tense. “You don’t have to be mean.” “I’m not. I like curls. If we have sex, can I play with them?”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
The characters that made it a little more enjoyable- Tony's cute, loud, at times overbearing family. The girl has 10 siblings. Yes, you read that correct- 10 and they are all little, arrogant, spoiled, but also cute geniuses who need a lot of attention. My favorite sibling was her little brother Kyle. He was hilarious!
“Yeah,” Oriana said, “it went great until Kyle here asked to see him naked.”
Ric briefly closed his eyes. “Again, Kyle? Again?”
Horrified, Toni demanded, “Oh, my God, Kyle! Did you ask Ric to—”
“I will not be held back by society’s mores!”
My ulitmate favorite character from this book is Toni's weird, but uber-fun BFF Livy who will be female mc in the next book- yayy! (Even though I'm little bummed because she won't end up with the guy I thought she would *pout.*) Fingers crossed that the author will get back on track with her story!
Grown-up world was a little depressing these last few days, so I wanted to read a fun book that would cheer me up a little bit and that's why I picked Wolf With Benefits by Shelley Laurenston. I've been reading her Pride series for years now and the one thing they always never failed to do is to make me laugh.
It was the same with this installment- super-fun paranormal/shifter story with witty, playful and endearing characters. I highly recommend reading this series from the 1st book, because every next book has a new leading couple who also appears in every next installation as secondary characters and the best and only way to understand them is to read their story.
While I loved the appearance and interaction of secondary characters (Ric, Dee Ann, Bo, Blayne, Marcella Malone etc.) in this story the thing in which it for me unfortunately failed big time is- the romance. The biggest blame for that reason I see in MCs, Tony, the jackal shifter, & Ricky Lee, the wolf shifter who in comparison to other awesome couples in this series seemed quite monotonous and easily forgettable.
The romance was slow-paced, but not in a good way. It lacked sparks, tension, passion...and I actually skimmed a little when IT finally happened (read= when they finally had sex.) That's quite unusual for me, lol.
Your charm makes me want to punch you in the nose.”
That made Ricky chuckle. “I’m not trying to piss you off, darlin’.
Just trying to get you to give me a chance.”
“Why?” she had to ask. “I’m really not that interesting. I’m cute but not stunning. I’m not excessively tall. And sexually, I’m rather vanilla. So then what is it?” Rickey decided to be honest with her. “I like your hair.”
She suddenly went tense. “You don’t have to be mean.” “I’m not. I like curls. If we have sex, can I play with them?”
“I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
The characters that made it a little more enjoyable- Tony's cute, loud, at times overbearing family. The girl has 10 siblings. Yes, you read that correct- 10 and they are all little, arrogant, spoiled, but also cute geniuses who need a lot of attention. My favorite sibling was her little brother Kyle. He was hilarious!
“Yeah,” Oriana said, “it went great until Kyle here asked to see him naked.”
Ric briefly closed his eyes. “Again, Kyle? Again?”
Horrified, Toni demanded, “Oh, my God, Kyle! Did you ask Ric to—”
“I will not be held back by society’s mores!”
My ulitmate favorite character from this book is Toni's weird, but uber-fun BFF Livy who will be female mc in the next book- yayy! (Even though I'm little bummed because she won't end up with the guy I thought she would *pout.*) Fingers crossed that the author will get back on track with her story!
January 11, 2015
Once again, something was missing in the romance department. I still laugh like a loony with the craziness that only Ms. Laurenston can create, but I miss the love that made me sigh like a ninny in the first books of the series. Is it time to end it?
March 5, 2013
It has been a long time since I laughed this much while reading a book. The characters and their interactions with one another were fabulous. Wolf with Benefits has a great mix of humor, romance, and an awesome cat of charters.
Antonella Jean-Louis Parker is the oldest of the Jean-Louis Parker children. She is also the only non-prodigy of the bunch. Her loving and slightly psychotic and certainly high maintenance siblings remind her of all of her short comings as often and snarkily as possible. It is easy for them to do. They are constantly near her as she is basically their life manager. Toni’s impressive micro managing skills has landed her with an amazing new career and a house full of stressed children (and parents) who have no clue to do without her around.
While hiding from his sister Ricky rescues a damsel in distress that he quickly decides he needs to follow around. That is the only way to explain Ricky’s beginning courtship of Toni. He just wants to follow her around, keep her company. I could not pick just one quote. Ricky has this knack for perfect replies though. He is also a country boy. He is laid back and easy going and it made him an awesome read.
Considering how low key he is I thought it was hilarious. For the most part he sits in the background and watches what goes on around him. If the need to react is there he does if not he just sits back and waits.
All three of the following are from Ricky to Toni.
“Dalin’, at this point, I’m startin’ to think you are sweet on me.”
“I swear, entertainment seems to follow you around, like a puppy after its momma. So I am along for the ride darlin’.”
“Let’s go back to the hotel, get naked, and be all awed by how good we look.”
I LOVED the multiple points of view. Readers are treated to a constant change of drivers for this crazy train. Many of the characters are couples from past books. This has made me very anxious to read the previous books in the series. Yes, this is the first book in the Pride series that I have read. It easily worked as a stand-alone. I knew from blurbs of the other books in the series that many of the characters have already had their tale told. Readers and fans of Shelley's Magnus Pack series are treated to some cameos from that series heroines.
Antonella Jean-Louis Parker is the oldest of the Jean-Louis Parker children. She is also the only non-prodigy of the bunch. Her loving and slightly psychotic and certainly high maintenance siblings remind her of all of her short comings as often and snarkily as possible. It is easy for them to do. They are constantly near her as she is basically their life manager. Toni’s impressive micro managing skills has landed her with an amazing new career and a house full of stressed children (and parents) who have no clue to do without her around.
While hiding from his sister Ricky rescues a damsel in distress that he quickly decides he needs to follow around. That is the only way to explain Ricky’s beginning courtship of Toni. He just wants to follow her around, keep her company. I could not pick just one quote. Ricky has this knack for perfect replies though. He is also a country boy. He is laid back and easy going and it made him an awesome read.
Considering how low key he is I thought it was hilarious. For the most part he sits in the background and watches what goes on around him. If the need to react is there he does if not he just sits back and waits.
All three of the following are from Ricky to Toni.
“Dalin’, at this point, I’m startin’ to think you are sweet on me.”
“I swear, entertainment seems to follow you around, like a puppy after its momma. So I am along for the ride darlin’.”
“Let’s go back to the hotel, get naked, and be all awed by how good we look.”
I LOVED the multiple points of view. Readers are treated to a constant change of drivers for this crazy train. Many of the characters are couples from past books. This has made me very anxious to read the previous books in the series. Yes, this is the first book in the Pride series that I have read. It easily worked as a stand-alone. I knew from blurbs of the other books in the series that many of the characters have already had their tale told. Readers and fans of Shelley's Magnus Pack series are treated to some cameos from that series heroines.
March 29, 2013
3.5 out of 5. Liked this one a lot but Ricky Lee got lost amongst his love's stronger personality and the other much stronger characters. Still. Yeah. Lots of fun to be in the middle of the crowd of shifters again. :)
April 5, 2022
4.5 Sparkling Stars
A book I've read a number of times and still enjoy. Plenty of humour, charm and wit that marks a Laurenston book.
A good host of secondary characters that add to the tale unfolding. I'm hoping to see Toni's siblings in more books as well as getting their own stories
A book I've read a number of times and still enjoy. Plenty of humour, charm and wit that marks a Laurenston book.
A good host of secondary characters that add to the tale unfolding. I'm hoping to see Toni's siblings in more books as well as getting their own stories
February 13, 2013
Wolf with Benefits is the 13th book in Shelly Laurenston's Pride/Pack series.. Technically there are three books in one and ten in the other but that line got blurred a while ago and you will find characters from both series popping up on occasion. So as far as I am concerned, it's one series *grins* yeah I know but it makes it easier for me.
The most remarkable thing about any book I have read by Ms Laurenston is her insane sense of humor. Her ability to make these characters believable through humor is a true gift. Sure they are shifters but when you read a book by Ms Laurenston you see your mom, your dad, your annoying brother, your favorite cousin, that chick down the block that made your life hell as a kid.. yep, they are all there. So first she makes you recognize your past, then she makes you laugh at it. While Wolf with Benefits isn't as hysterical as some of her other books, it still had me giggling on a regular basis. Well when I wasn't banging my head against the wall, because seriously, I know these people and I want to shoot them all. Which is the appropriate shifter response..
Ricky Lee Reed, yep one of "those" Reed boys. Enforcers, protectors of the Smith pack left Tennessee with Bobby Ray Smith to form the New York Smith Pack.. and took his place as a Reed in a Smith Pack. Ricky Lee is what you call a laid back Reed.. He is perfectly happy just sort of waiting for things to happen. He loves his job, enjoys his pack and pretty much has a sweet life. Until some shifter chick that dumped him as a teenager shows up and his sister (the oh so pregnant Ronnie Lee) decides he needs to share how this makes him feel. Talk about hysterical . how he feels? He was 19.. sheesh, he is so over her but no one is listening. So there he is trying to mind his own business and escape his sister when he meets a sexy jackal surrounded by a brood of kids.. kids whom enjoy asking "are you my daddy" to any male that gets too close to their sister. Now when you are a wolf who has spent his life enjoying the females of the world.. this does make you stop and think.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker, is the perfectly normal oldest child of a perfectly abnormal family. She has been forced to deal with her TEN count em TEN prodigy siblings as well as her brilliant mother.. her brilliant mother's brilliant best friend and assorted other brilliant people. As most prodigies go. they have no concept on how to function in real life and the honestly feel that Toni has been put on this earth to serve them. When a chance meeting with Bo Novikov ends up with Toni getting a job as the promotions person on the Carnivores life just gets more and more interesting. Suddenly, her skills that she didn't realize she had have made her a very marketable commodity and she has this wolf who just can't seem to leave her alone. Says, when he is with her the entertainment comes to him. And honestly it does.
These two are actually one of the more "normal" characters in this series rather the "straight" men to the insanity that is the shifter world. But in all the insanity it seems that Toni actually gets Bo Novikov and likes *gasp* yep that's right likes him. Of course, when she has need of him, Bo discovers that it's not all that easy working with a prodigy.. And of course there is the Blayne factor.. Seems, even Blayne is confused by this family.. and Toni's inability to remember her name.
Oh and wait until you meet Toni's best friend.. she's a shifter no one has ever met before so the entire shifter world tends to underestimate her. And honestly, she makes DeeAnn seems sweet.
In some ways this book is Shelly Laurenston at her best.. Why do I say this? Well she's more subtle.. Remember at the top of my review where I said this book wasn't as hysterical as some of her others? Of course you do, it was only a couple of paragraphs, anyway.. just writing this review made me laugh.. I kept thinking of yet another moment that made me just laugh.. made me want to bang my head against the wall for poor Toni.. made me wanna smack someone.. and made me smile because we got to see so many of my favorite characters without it seeming like they were just tossed into the story for no reason. Actually Ms Laurenston does that part so well, it took until late in the book for me to tie some characters together..
So what can I say? This is another Great Job by Ms Laurenston. If you haven't read this series.. DO SO!! It really is that good.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Wolf with Benefits provided by netgalley and is scheduled for release on March 26, 2013
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
The most remarkable thing about any book I have read by Ms Laurenston is her insane sense of humor. Her ability to make these characters believable through humor is a true gift. Sure they are shifters but when you read a book by Ms Laurenston you see your mom, your dad, your annoying brother, your favorite cousin, that chick down the block that made your life hell as a kid.. yep, they are all there. So first she makes you recognize your past, then she makes you laugh at it. While Wolf with Benefits isn't as hysterical as some of her other books, it still had me giggling on a regular basis. Well when I wasn't banging my head against the wall, because seriously, I know these people and I want to shoot them all. Which is the appropriate shifter response..
Ricky Lee Reed, yep one of "those" Reed boys. Enforcers, protectors of the Smith pack left Tennessee with Bobby Ray Smith to form the New York Smith Pack.. and took his place as a Reed in a Smith Pack. Ricky Lee is what you call a laid back Reed.. He is perfectly happy just sort of waiting for things to happen. He loves his job, enjoys his pack and pretty much has a sweet life. Until some shifter chick that dumped him as a teenager shows up and his sister (the oh so pregnant Ronnie Lee) decides he needs to share how this makes him feel. Talk about hysterical . how he feels? He was 19.. sheesh, he is so over her but no one is listening. So there he is trying to mind his own business and escape his sister when he meets a sexy jackal surrounded by a brood of kids.. kids whom enjoy asking "are you my daddy" to any male that gets too close to their sister. Now when you are a wolf who has spent his life enjoying the females of the world.. this does make you stop and think.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker, is the perfectly normal oldest child of a perfectly abnormal family. She has been forced to deal with her TEN count em TEN prodigy siblings as well as her brilliant mother.. her brilliant mother's brilliant best friend and assorted other brilliant people. As most prodigies go. they have no concept on how to function in real life and the honestly feel that Toni has been put on this earth to serve them. When a chance meeting with Bo Novikov ends up with Toni getting a job as the promotions person on the Carnivores life just gets more and more interesting. Suddenly, her skills that she didn't realize she had have made her a very marketable commodity and she has this wolf who just can't seem to leave her alone. Says, when he is with her the entertainment comes to him. And honestly it does.
These two are actually one of the more "normal" characters in this series rather the "straight" men to the insanity that is the shifter world. But in all the insanity it seems that Toni actually gets Bo Novikov and likes *gasp* yep that's right likes him. Of course, when she has need of him, Bo discovers that it's not all that easy working with a prodigy.. And of course there is the Blayne factor.. Seems, even Blayne is confused by this family.. and Toni's inability to remember her name.
Oh and wait until you meet Toni's best friend.. she's a shifter no one has ever met before so the entire shifter world tends to underestimate her. And honestly, she makes DeeAnn seems sweet.
In some ways this book is Shelly Laurenston at her best.. Why do I say this? Well she's more subtle.. Remember at the top of my review where I said this book wasn't as hysterical as some of her others? Of course you do, it was only a couple of paragraphs, anyway.. just writing this review made me laugh.. I kept thinking of yet another moment that made me just laugh.. made me want to bang my head against the wall for poor Toni.. made me wanna smack someone.. and made me smile because we got to see so many of my favorite characters without it seeming like they were just tossed into the story for no reason. Actually Ms Laurenston does that part so well, it took until late in the book for me to tie some characters together..
So what can I say? This is another Great Job by Ms Laurenston. If you haven't read this series.. DO SO!! It really is that good.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Wolf with Benefits provided by netgalley and is scheduled for release on March 26, 2013
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
November 21, 2025
A re-release for the first time in the Mass Market, this was a re-read for me and I loved it just as much as the first time around. 5 LOL - Absolutely worth the re-read Stars for me!
“Toni” Jean-Louis Parker is an extraordinary young lady with a house hold of siblings that are prodigies (every last one of them). She has been helping to manage her siblings training and careers for as long as she can remember but now she is taking a step out on her own. She has been offered a job managing the travel and promotions of a highly chaotic ice hockey team. One of her assignments sends her into the heart of bear shifter territory in Siberia and her boss higher Ricky Lee to travel as her security. Did I mention that Toni is a she-jackal and bears hate anything 1/8 dog…
Ricky Lee Reed isn’t looking for anything serious but when he runs into the intriguing little she-jackal during his brother’s hockey practice, his world is about to change. Where that little she-jackal goes, crazy and entertaining things always follow. Ricky just happens to be there most of the time to watch it happens. When Toni suffers from separation anxiety, the slow building friendship becomes something much more. This sexy wolf may have bitten off more than he can chew with this hot little she-jackal but it sure is going to be fun to watch.
This is another hilariously funny story from Shelly Laurenston. I can’t help but laugh out loud at the outrageous antics of these amazing characters from Laurenston imagination. Sometimes I wonder, how does she make this stuff up...but I’m still blown away time and time again. You want a fun, exciting, action packed, crazy shifter story don’t miss Wolf with Benefits.
This ARC copy of Wolf with Benefits was given to me by Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for a honest review. Mass Marketing Date June 30, 2015.
“Toni” Jean-Louis Parker is an extraordinary young lady with a house hold of siblings that are prodigies (every last one of them). She has been helping to manage her siblings training and careers for as long as she can remember but now she is taking a step out on her own. She has been offered a job managing the travel and promotions of a highly chaotic ice hockey team. One of her assignments sends her into the heart of bear shifter territory in Siberia and her boss higher Ricky Lee to travel as her security. Did I mention that Toni is a she-jackal and bears hate anything 1/8 dog…
Ricky Lee Reed isn’t looking for anything serious but when he runs into the intriguing little she-jackal during his brother’s hockey practice, his world is about to change. Where that little she-jackal goes, crazy and entertaining things always follow. Ricky just happens to be there most of the time to watch it happens. When Toni suffers from separation anxiety, the slow building friendship becomes something much more. This sexy wolf may have bitten off more than he can chew with this hot little she-jackal but it sure is going to be fun to watch.
This is another hilariously funny story from Shelly Laurenston. I can’t help but laugh out loud at the outrageous antics of these amazing characters from Laurenston imagination. Sometimes I wonder, how does she make this stuff up...but I’m still blown away time and time again. You want a fun, exciting, action packed, crazy shifter story don’t miss Wolf with Benefits.
This ARC copy of Wolf with Benefits was given to me by Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for a honest review. Mass Marketing Date June 30, 2015.
March 26, 2013
Shadow's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
5 Stars
Her work is snarky, outrageous, off the wall and hold your sides funny. Shelly Laurenston’s shifters are some of the funniest creations in literature and that holds true for her latest effort, Wolf with Benefits.
Toni is a jackal shifter, and the caretaker for her impossible family. Her ten siblings are all prodigies, and Tony, although wickedly smart and organized beyond normal, feels just average. When the opportunity comes along to land a full time job that takes her away from her family, her friends and father insist she live her own life rather than staying as babysitter. Complicating the situation is the wolf who is friends with the wild dog pack across the street. Ricky Lee has the patience of a hunter, saying he waits for the entertainment to come to him. And around Toni, there is always entertainment. He works for the family security agency and accompanies Toni to Russia to negotiate with the notoriously bad-tempered Russian bears over a hockey schedule. On the trip, they succumb to their mutual attraction.
But can they overcome the problems they face with her family-and his?
I loved every word of this book, laughing out loud in places, and getting wrapped up in the drama in others. Don’t expect hot sex every other page, (the hot sex is there, just not everywhere), but the humor soaks through every paragraph. The characters are wild-in every sense of the word, and guessing what animal Toni’s friend Olivia shifts into keeps you turning the pages. All in all, a joy, a pleasure, and a light-hearted romp through a talented author’s imagination. Enjoy!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
5 Stars
Her work is snarky, outrageous, off the wall and hold your sides funny. Shelly Laurenston’s shifters are some of the funniest creations in literature and that holds true for her latest effort, Wolf with Benefits.
Toni is a jackal shifter, and the caretaker for her impossible family. Her ten siblings are all prodigies, and Tony, although wickedly smart and organized beyond normal, feels just average. When the opportunity comes along to land a full time job that takes her away from her family, her friends and father insist she live her own life rather than staying as babysitter. Complicating the situation is the wolf who is friends with the wild dog pack across the street. Ricky Lee has the patience of a hunter, saying he waits for the entertainment to come to him. And around Toni, there is always entertainment. He works for the family security agency and accompanies Toni to Russia to negotiate with the notoriously bad-tempered Russian bears over a hockey schedule. On the trip, they succumb to their mutual attraction.
But can they overcome the problems they face with her family-and his?
I loved every word of this book, laughing out loud in places, and getting wrapped up in the drama in others. Don’t expect hot sex every other page, (the hot sex is there, just not everywhere), but the humor soaks through every paragraph. The characters are wild-in every sense of the word, and guessing what animal Toni’s friend Olivia shifts into keeps you turning the pages. All in all, a joy, a pleasure, and a light-hearted romp through a talented author’s imagination. Enjoy!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
May 10, 2015
“Toni” Jean-Louis Parker is an extraordinary young lady with a house hold of siblings that are prodigies (every last one of them). She has been helping to manage her siblings training and careers for as long as she can remember but now she is taking a step out on her own. She has been offered a job managing the travel and promotions of a highly chaotic ice hockey team. One of her assignments sends her into the heart of bear shifter territory in Siberia and her boss higher Ricky Lee to travel as her security. Did I mention that Toni is a she-jackal and bears hate anything 1/8 dog…
Ricky Lee Reed isn’t looking for anything serious but when he runs into the intriguing little she-jackal during his brother’s hockey practice, his world is about to change. Where that little she-jackal goes, crazy and entertaining things always follow. Ricky just happens to be there most of the time to watch it happens. When Toni suffers from separation anxiety, the slow building friendship becomes something much more. This sexy wolf may have bitten off more than he can chew with this hot little she-jackal but it sure is going to be fun to watch.
This is another hilariously funny story from Shelly Laurenston. I can’t help but laugh out loud at the outrageous antics of these amazing characters from Laurenston imagination. Sometimes I wonder, how does she make this stuff up...but I’m still blown away time and time again. You want a fun, exciting, action packed, crazy shifter story don’t miss Wolf with Benefits.
This ARC copy of Wolf with Benefits was given to me by Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for a honest review. Publish Date March 26, 2013.
Ricky Lee Reed isn’t looking for anything serious but when he runs into the intriguing little she-jackal during his brother’s hockey practice, his world is about to change. Where that little she-jackal goes, crazy and entertaining things always follow. Ricky just happens to be there most of the time to watch it happens. When Toni suffers from separation anxiety, the slow building friendship becomes something much more. This sexy wolf may have bitten off more than he can chew with this hot little she-jackal but it sure is going to be fun to watch.
This is another hilariously funny story from Shelly Laurenston. I can’t help but laugh out loud at the outrageous antics of these amazing characters from Laurenston imagination. Sometimes I wonder, how does she make this stuff up...but I’m still blown away time and time again. You want a fun, exciting, action packed, crazy shifter story don’t miss Wolf with Benefits.
This ARC copy of Wolf with Benefits was given to me by Kensington Publishing Group in exchange for a honest review. Publish Date March 26, 2013.
June 8, 2016
I have nothing but praise for another delightful read by Shelley Laurenston. She always makes me giggle with her Pack, Pride, and Clan storytelling. In the words of the Tennessee Pack, Y’all, this one was a hoot an a hollar.
I don't think anyone should start out thinking this a regular romantic paranormal story. Because, most of it was stupid funny. And, if you loved the Beverly Hills Hillbillies and Cheaper by the Dozen, you'll really enjoy this story.
Ricky Lee was adorably funny, and Toni was brilliant in her own right. The big disappointment for me was there was very little romance to the story. When I got curious about the lack of romantic heat I went to look at some reviews. I quickly discovered there wouldn't be much, so I just settled in with the comedy, and in Ricky Lee's words "let the entertainment come to me". The end of the story did have a bit of mystery and action which kept me thoroughly entertained. Great read!
April 9, 2013
1.5
I'm done.
For me this was just a mess. Way too many character cameos from previous books and too many new characters introduced as well. Three or four different storylines to navigate. Some meshed and some didn't. There was the classic pride humour but I found that grating and repetitive.
I'm done.
For me this was just a mess. Way too many character cameos from previous books and too many new characters introduced as well. Three or four different storylines to navigate. Some meshed and some didn't. There was the classic pride humour but I found that grating and repetitive.
May 16, 2013
I haven't been impressed by the last few books by this author, this one seemed so seamless and flowed. Yes, the romance came out of the blue and was underdeveloped, heroine's family was weird and so was the hero following her but hell this is the Pride series which is nothing if not weird.
March 13, 2018
LOVED IT (in sing songy voice) from beginning to end LOVED it! I so love Ms. Laurenston’s sense of humor, it has you laughing from beginning to end. In the book we met Toni Jean-Louis Parker and her incredible family. A family of 10 prodigies, Toni is the 11th and oldest sibling and the only non-prodigy. She is in charge of all the progeny and that is a full time job. The siblings crack my ish up! All of them, they are just so bratty and narcissistic just the kids alone make this book worth a read!
However, the real stars of this book are Ricky and Toni and I adored them both. Ricky is this fun loving wolf who doesn’t let much get to him. His fun loving exterior masks the dangerous wolf that lies beneath. Like the rest of the Reeds once they have something in their sites they stop at nothing to get it. Right now, Toni is in Ricky’s sites and he always gets what he wants. Toni’s life is a whirlwind of activity, too bad all the activity is because of her siblings. Finally she has a shot at her own life and the newest director of travel for the Carnivore hockey team and she is sure that she is going to muck it all up! Somehow, some way she has to convince a bunch of Russian bears to let Novikov into their country to play some hockey, too bad they are just as determined to not let him in their country at least not unless it is in a cage. The Russian bears are nothing compared to Toni’s crazy siblings, you haven’t met difficult until you have met her brother Kyle, if only she could get the bears to even talk to her.
The hockey team sends Ricky with Toni as her “security”, this is just the chance Ricky is looking for. There is no way Toni can shake him, if he is there to protect her. In Russia tensions run high and Toni is breaking down more, than usual, but Ricky has her back and front, among other things. In Russia tensions run high, to relieve that tension Toni gives in to her intense attraction to Ricky. Ricky is the calm to Toni’s storm, but when they get home from Russia it turns out that a hurricane is going on. Some human government types have invaded Toni’s home, now Toni needs Ricky’s help more than ever!
This book takes you through highs and lows, it’s a whirl wind of action and humor. This installment is one of my favorite of the series. IT has everything that you have come to love from this series. This book brings Laurenstons trademark humor and all of your old favorite characters. Blayne is training Bo for fatherhood, which always brings about a laugh. This book also brings lots of new characters all of which I came to love and really hope to see again in the future. I have hopes for a Liv (A fierce predator who is not afraid to slap someone around and Toni’s best friend) and Vic (security expert) pairing. Then there are two of Toni’s older siblings that have a lot of potential for a future book.
However, the real stars of this book are Ricky and Toni and I adored them both. Ricky is this fun loving wolf who doesn’t let much get to him. His fun loving exterior masks the dangerous wolf that lies beneath. Like the rest of the Reeds once they have something in their sites they stop at nothing to get it. Right now, Toni is in Ricky’s sites and he always gets what he wants. Toni’s life is a whirlwind of activity, too bad all the activity is because of her siblings. Finally she has a shot at her own life and the newest director of travel for the Carnivore hockey team and she is sure that she is going to muck it all up! Somehow, some way she has to convince a bunch of Russian bears to let Novikov into their country to play some hockey, too bad they are just as determined to not let him in their country at least not unless it is in a cage. The Russian bears are nothing compared to Toni’s crazy siblings, you haven’t met difficult until you have met her brother Kyle, if only she could get the bears to even talk to her.
The hockey team sends Ricky with Toni as her “security”, this is just the chance Ricky is looking for. There is no way Toni can shake him, if he is there to protect her. In Russia tensions run high and Toni is breaking down more, than usual, but Ricky has her back and front, among other things. In Russia tensions run high, to relieve that tension Toni gives in to her intense attraction to Ricky. Ricky is the calm to Toni’s storm, but when they get home from Russia it turns out that a hurricane is going on. Some human government types have invaded Toni’s home, now Toni needs Ricky’s help more than ever!
This book takes you through highs and lows, it’s a whirl wind of action and humor. This installment is one of my favorite of the series. IT has everything that you have come to love from this series. This book brings Laurenstons trademark humor and all of your old favorite characters. Blayne is training Bo for fatherhood, which always brings about a laugh. This book also brings lots of new characters all of which I came to love and really hope to see again in the future. I have hopes for a Liv (A fierce predator who is not afraid to slap someone around and Toni’s best friend) and Vic (security expert) pairing. Then there are two of Toni’s older siblings that have a lot of potential for a future book.
May 26, 2015
This author rarely writes anything that doesn't overflow with humour and this book is no exception. Wolf with Benefits is part of the Pride series and features a rather persistent Wolf shifter Ricky Lee Reed and Toni Jean-Louis Parker the Jackal shifter who can organise just about anything. Now that's important to remember becase Toni has ten siblings and they are all tremendously talented prodigies who rely on her for everything. A chance encounter with a particulately angry ice hockey player sees a whole new world opening up for Toni but she has some strange company to deal with because Ricky sure does like what he sees!
Ricky is a laid back kind of guy and whilst he loves his somewhat wayward Pack he's enjoying his new life in a security firm in New York. When visiting his brother he can't help but be intruigued by the lovely Jackal female with the most amazing hair but more importantly such a unique manner with people . Yes Ricky may not be looking for a Mate or anything but with this female around life sure is entertaining! Toni starts her new job but Ricky is never far away and as their friendship blossoms Toni's skills get well and truly put to the test!
This is a book that has so many characters with so many names to remember that it makes this readers head spin! Lots of characters from previous books show up with often truly funny consequences but I'm not sure if that was slightly overkill . It's a gentle romance that just sort of creeps up and I guess I missed the fireworks and chemistry but Toni is an amazing heroine and Ricky just made me smile. As for Toni's family well in true shifter style they are totally neurotic, obscenely self obsessed and absolutely hilarious ! Add in the mystery surrounding Toni's best friend Liv and her unusual sister Delilah and it made for a different book to the ones I usually read by this author . Not really a great romance and if honest much as I really liked the two central characters I felt it lacked a solid storyline. Still you can guarantee I will keep reading Ms Laurenstons books because for sheer laugh out loud pleasure there's none better.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
Ricky is a laid back kind of guy and whilst he loves his somewhat wayward Pack he's enjoying his new life in a security firm in New York. When visiting his brother he can't help but be intruigued by the lovely Jackal female with the most amazing hair but more importantly such a unique manner with people . Yes Ricky may not be looking for a Mate or anything but with this female around life sure is entertaining! Toni starts her new job but Ricky is never far away and as their friendship blossoms Toni's skills get well and truly put to the test!
This is a book that has so many characters with so many names to remember that it makes this readers head spin! Lots of characters from previous books show up with often truly funny consequences but I'm not sure if that was slightly overkill . It's a gentle romance that just sort of creeps up and I guess I missed the fireworks and chemistry but Toni is an amazing heroine and Ricky just made me smile. As for Toni's family well in true shifter style they are totally neurotic, obscenely self obsessed and absolutely hilarious ! Add in the mystery surrounding Toni's best friend Liv and her unusual sister Delilah and it made for a different book to the ones I usually read by this author . Not really a great romance and if honest much as I really liked the two central characters I felt it lacked a solid storyline. Still you can guarantee I will keep reading Ms Laurenstons books because for sheer laugh out loud pleasure there's none better.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
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