Friday, March 30, 2012

Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy—especially for a shapeshifting bear. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she -- tiger who's bringing his passion out of hibernation...

Marcella Malone is a member of an elite feline protection unit, and Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she's joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who's got her entire species in his ruthless sights. But there's no denying that beneath that big, burly exterior is a man who knows how to rub her in all the right ways... 
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I didn't know I wanted Crush & Cella's story but apparently I really wanted Crush & Cella's story.  This book has all of the classic Laurenston touches that make her books so fun to read - sassy females, loveable alpha males, action and supporting characters you both love and hate. I don't ever find myself bored with her books and I know that I can read them without fear of emotional scarring - which I really needed right now. Plus there's definitely something to say (something positive) about an author who doesn't back down with previous characters. Bo Novikov is a dick. He likes being a dick, even if he doesn't quite see it that way, and doesn't have any intentions to change. Laurenston sticks with that, forces her characters to deal with and respond to that, and it makes for a hilarious story. 

But ok, back to Crush and Cella. Cella is blunt and relishes the chance to embarrass Crush out of his scowly life rut. She doesn't take no for an answer and even though it makes no sense to him, Crush spends most of this book as her 'pretend' boyfriend. Yes 'pretend' - and strange as that sounds it makes perfect sense in the book I promise. There are tons of sparks between the two of them and as they inch their way to love and long term happiness it's a ride for the reader that you don't want to get off at the end.

The mystery/cop elements of the story might take a back seat to the relationship (it is a romance after all) but I never felt that anything was handled carelessly. The bad guys were very bad and I hope that Dee-Ann, or Dez or Cella, get another shot at making them hurt in a future book. 

LOVE!

Overall Feeling - A+

Series - ...5) Beast Behaving Badly 6) Big Bad Beast 7) Bear Meets Girl