ll Roar and No Bite by Celia Kyle
Series: Grayslake #2
Published by Indie
Published on: March 31, 2014
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 221
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Who needs claws when you’ve got a baseball bat? Lauren Evans sure as heck doesn’t.
Human Lauren has a protective streak a mile wide and one immediate goal in life—get her best friend out of an abusive household. If that involves a little bat-based redecorating, so be it. Unfortunately—or fortunately—a certain sexy-as-hell cop breaks up the fight before she has a chance to really get going. Grayslake police officer Van Abrams is too hot for his own good, and his handcuffs make all those wonderful places tingle. Too bad he, you know, arrested her and stuff. But then he becomes overbearing, demanding, and commanding. Suddenly Lauren finds herself in his arms, in his bed, and mated to his werebear butt. What’s up with that?
Werebear Enforcer Van Abrams doesn’t want anything to do with humans. He’s got reasons, and they’re damn good ones. He doesn’t need to explain himself to anyone, especially the curvaceous, luscious, gorgeous, human Lauren. Then, his bear decides Lauren is his mate and Van’s anti-human feelings abandon him. He still hasn’t figured out if that’s a good thing. Of course, when danger rolls in from Boyne Falls and joins with a powerful prick from Grayslake, Van realizes that, human or not, Lauren is his.
Van hopes he can kill their enemies and still make it home for dinner.Warning: This book contains bad guys (more than one) being bad to good girls (two if you’re counting), and one group of humans who sorta end up… dead. Unfortunately, all that comes with a lot of blood, tears, and balls of fur. In this one, boy bears really do drool and human girls rule (and kick ass). We also learn that you can never have enough baseball bats, brake fluid, or fire pokers. Just sayin’.
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Lauren is a human. She doesn’t have much, but she works for what she has and is extremely loyal and protective of her friend. She also has an extreme problem with authority. Her best friend is married to an abusive asshole, but not just any asshole, the town mayor. She has made it her job to get her friend out of this relationship and to safety.
Van is a werebear and completely hates humans. He has no qualms about hiding his prejudice. He is also the enforcer to the pack of werebears and part of the local law enforcement. He shows up at the mayor’s house as an officer of the law to break up the fight between Lauren and her baseball bat and the mayor. Van gets a whiff of the her and realizes that Lauren is her mate.
This isn’t a bad story, but I didn’t like it nearly as much as the first story in this series. First, I’m not a fan of the fact that Lauren’s friend does the abused girlfriend that chooses to continue to get abused over and over and doesn’t want to press charges. She does finally leave the mayor in this book, but he had put her in the hospital several times before she is finally convinced to leave. Second, Van’s hatred towards humans. While he does have a reason for his hatred, I would think it is something that would be upsetting, but not enough in my opinion for this amount of hatred.
All in all, I still enjoyed the story. I still see this as being a good series. I still love the characters. The heroine is kickass and very loyal. There is also a large part with the little bear cub, Parker, from the first book. The scene with Lauren watching Mia talk to this little bear and not knowing about werebears is pretty funny. I’m really excited to read the next story.
I think you could read this book without having read the previous book, though I would recommend book one over this one.
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I’m Melanie and I live in Ohio. I have two horses and a dog. I’m an animal lover, avid book reader and audiobook listener. I like to live vicariously through fictional characters. I enjoy reading and listening to mostly fictional books in the paranormal genre, including Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Horror. My favorite paranormal creatures are shifters, doesn’t matter the flavor.
Bears seem to be popular lately. 🙂 Sound like it could be good but the things you didn’t like would probably drive me crazy too. Might still put the series on my list though. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…The Week In Review #56
I really liked the first one. There were a few things in this one that I didn’t like and I know others will not like them either. I have the third one, I’ll read it soon, so we’ll see how it goes.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
A bear shifter series?!?! I need to check this out.
Yes, an entire series of bear shifters. It even has the cutest cub.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
Look at all those bears
blodeuedd recently posted…Carole’s Review Sunday: The exploits and adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy – Elizabeth Aston
I’ve really been enjoying bear shifters lately.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
Oh that would drive me bonkers too! I don’t have the patience for women of martyrdom, but I can see that the author tried to make it more realistic. As bad as that sounds, it’s the fate of a lot of women in an abusive relationship.
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…Photo Vomit [25]: On Instagram
I know. I think that is why I give it a pass. It is very realistic, even if I don’t like it. The heroine was doing right by the abused woman too. I love seeing women stand up for each other.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
I’m really liking all the different shifter series that are out right now. Sounds like I probably wouldn’t like a few of the characters in this book though. But it does sound like a book I might want to read.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Review: Target Beauty Box
So far for me, it is a series that I like, even if there are characters that I haven’t. I already own book three, so that review will be coming up sometime soon.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
They sound like they are supposed to be light and humorous a little when I read the titles and blurbs. But that abuse theme sorta makes it sound on the serious side. Is it a bit of both? I’ll take your advice and nose out book one if I go for it, Melanie.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Demelza by Winston Graham #Review
It is a bit of both, though this one has less humor than book one. I’m hoping that book three will pick up on the humor again.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
I loved the first book in this series. I have been meaning to read book two, but of course other books get in the way. Thank you for the review. I do enjoy bear shifters!
Angela recently posted…Sunday Post/BB&B #80
I know the feeling. I feel like I’m in the middle of a thousand series right now. It is a tough decision which book to pick up next.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
Ya, I have a few series I want to start that I keep meaning too, but for one reason or another I keep putting it off. This one, well I have to buy the authors books. Darn library won’t get the eCopys for me, so that is limiting my reads too.
Angela recently posted…Books That Need More Attention Giveaway Hop! Oct. 3rd-17th #giveaway
I bought this entire series a while back when I saw it was on sale on ARe. That is the biggest reason that these books are going through my TBR list.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine (@Mollykatie112, @rachelcaine, @penguinusa)
Always a little disappointing when the second book isn’t nearly as good..but it still likes you enjoyed it for the most part.
Yes, I think the overall story was good, there were just parts that I wasn’t a fan of.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Rising Darkness by Shannon Mayer (@TheShannonMayer, @HiJinksInk)
I’m glad you liked it for the most part, Melanie. I do understand your problems with it though – I’d feel the same way. Hopefully the next in the series will be better. 🙂
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…#OctobeRecFest Review #2 ~ Audio Review ~ Lick ~ Kylie Scott #ShelfLove #COYER
I think it will be. I already downloaded, so I plan to read it soon.
Melanie recently posted…Review: Rising Darkness by Shannon Mayer (@TheShannonMayer, @HiJinksInk)