Review: ‘In a Badger Way’ by Shelly Laurenston
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In a Badger Way
by Shelly LaurenstonSeries: Honey Badger Chronicles #2
Published by Kensington, Kensington Books on July 26, 2022
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: AudioBook, eBook
Pages: 418
Narrator: Charlotte Kane
Length: 13 Hours And 43 Minutes
Source: Everand, Library - Libby
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Petite, kind, brilliant, and young, Stevie is nothing like the usual women bodyguard Shen Li is interested in. Even more surprising, the youngest of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligan sisters is terrified of bears. But she’s not terrified of pandas. She loves pandas.
Which means that whether Shen wants her to or not, she simply won’t stop cuddling him. He isn’t some stuffed Giant Panda, ya know! He is a Giant Panda shifter. He deserves respect and personal space. Something that little hybrid is completely ignoring.
But Stevie has a way of finding trouble. Like going undercover to take down a scientist experimenting on other shifters. For what, Shen doesn’t want to know, but they’d better find out. And fast. Stevie might be the least violent of the honey badger sisters, but she’s the most dangerous to Shen’s peace of mind. Because she has absolutely no idea how much trouble they’re in . . . or just how damn adorable she is.
I’ve been on a PNR kick lately, and thanks to my Library (Libby), I’ve been reading Shelly Laurenston’s Honey Badger Chronicles. I especially enjoyed the second book, In a Badger Way, which had me laughing out loud and smiling. The FMC, Stevie MacKilligan, who is brilliant, kind, and sometimes lethal, especially stands out to me. (She’s not as lethal, though, as her sisters, Max and Charlie.) She made the book a joy to read, and I knew I would love her, since she was introduced in the first book.
As the youngest, Stevie’s sisters worry about her, so she has a bodyguard when they can’t be with her. However, she treats her bodyguard, Shen Li, as a cuddly companion since he’s an adorable panda shifter—the only bear she isn’t afraid of. Shen insists he’s there to protect, not to be cuddled, but Stevie rarely listens and even thinks he’s her boyfriend, though he isn’t. (Poor Shen.)
I couldn’t help but love both Stevie and Shen. Their interactions were comical, and I enjoyed how Shen was often at a loss with Stevie. He was mostly confused, but the chemistry grew, and he eventually fell for her. Watching them figure things out was worth it, even if Stevie put herself at risk and Shen had to deal with the fallout.
Individually, I loved getting to know Stevie. She’s brilliant, shown by her many accomplishments throughout the book. Her only weakness is her father, but her sisters, who cannot stand him, protect her. I also adored Shen, who protected Stevie despite her risky behavior. Sometimes, I wondered how he managed her, but he did, which made their relationship better.
The book also focuses on uncovering the scientist experimenting on shifters. However, this isn’t the main focus, especially with several POVs and background events that can be hard to follow. This was my only issue while reading, but I focused more on Stevie and Shen’s growing relationship.
My favorite thing about this series is how funny it is. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts. This is exactly what I need right now with how things are in the real world. Overall, I give it four stars and look forward to the next book, focusing on Max’s storyline. I need more funny PNR, and Shelly Laurenston delivers.
Single/Dual/Multiple POV: Multiple POV (third person omniscient)
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Honey Badger Chronicles, and I highly recommend reading in order.
Would I recommend this book/series? Absolutely. If you love Paranormal Romance or Rom-Coms with quirky shifters, this book is a must-read.
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