Born to be Badger by Shelly Laurenston Narrator: Charlotte Kane
Series: Honey Badger Chronicles #5
Published by Tantor Audio on November 28, 2023
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Length: 10 hours and 38 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Emily "Tock" Meyerson-Jackson is on a mission to rid the world of shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. And now that she's narrowed down her suspects to a brutal coalition of male lions, nothing will get between this honey badger and her prey—not even a dog-loving Tiger with absolutely no time management skills. Doesn't matter that Shay Malone is ferociously adorable. With a war brewing between cat families, Tock doesn't have time to lounge around with a football-playing tiger shifter. But when she realizes the coalition is also responsible for the death of Shay's father, she's forced to partner up with the flirtatious feline . . .
Revenge is most definitely on the menu for Shay and his tiger shifter brothers. But when it comes to Shay's alluring partner in crime-solving, so is seduction. Tock might be a bad ass of a honey badger, but she's awfully cute when she's flashing her fangs, which she's pretty much doing all the time these days. Good thing revenge is a dish best served hot. Because when it comes to Tock, Shay knows just how to turn up the heat . . .
I’ve enjoyed Laurenston’s PNR series ever since I read the first one, The Mane Event, back in 2016. The stories always make me laugh and I love all the characters. There are so many personalities in these stories. I love how the characters take on traits from the animals they shift into. In this series, it focuses on honey badgers, which are notorious and mischievous, which has made these stories a lot of fun.
I would not recommend you step into this Honey Badger Chronicles series in the middle of the series. While this is a story unto itself, there are a lot of characters and you don’t know who everyone is, which makes the story harder to follow. There are even characters from her Pride series that show up in this series. I do think you could start this series if you haven’t read the Pride or Magnus Pack, but those characters do show up in this series. Those are fun series that I recommend just because they are a lot of fun too. The honey badgers are really fun because they are alway causing trouble. From being quick to anger and even quicker to fight, to sleeping in cabinets, breaking into people’s houses, and constantly stealing things.
This story follows Tock, the honey badger, and Shay, a Siberian Tiger, along with his daughter, Dani. And someone is trying to kill Tock. And someone is trying to create a poison that will actually affect honey badgers. Like most Laurenston stories, this one is full of action, insanity, hilarity, and romance. Though, the romance is very slow burning and takes a backseat to the other parts of the story. That didn’t bother me. I like this series because I love the characters and love spending time with them. I always look forward to when the next book comes out and I spend more time with them.
Narration:
Charlotte Kane is a wonderful narrator. I think she performs most, if not all of this series and the Pride series too. She really brings out the personality of each of the characters. And with the large cast, that is not easy. I’ve always thought she did a great job with the women and men’s voices, but she also does well with the children when they appear in this series. I’ve you’ve never listened to her narrate a story, you’re really missing out. I highly recommend the audiobooks for this series.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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I love her Laurenston books, but I tried the first couple in this series and couldn’t keep up. I felt so lost with all of the Pride and earlier characters, so I would recommend starting with those series first!
This is on my wish-list. Laurenston is so much fun. Great review.
I’ve read most of this series and liked it. She’s funny too.
I love this series!!! Looking forward to reading this!
I’m not really a shifter romance reader. And to be honest, when I worked at the bookstore, me and some of the other employees joked a bit about starting a sloth shifter romance series. The story itself does sound really good, it’s just shifting into a badger that sounds weird to me! Great review though!
I’ve read the first two. Number two was slightly meh for me. I should continue forward though someday