Welcome to the 5th installment in Shelly Laurenston’s Honey Badger Chronicles, Born to be Badger. It has everything and everyone you loved from the first four books including the McKilligan sisters, Max’s teammates, violence, anti social behavior, inter species conflicts, and plot so bonkers it can’t be explained. This one also has a small child and puppies. Actually, the plot isn’t so bonkers it can’t be explained, but there is a lot of action as the plot unfolds. The plot is basically – someone is tying to kill off the honey badgers, that someone may have had something to do with the death of the Malone brothers’ father, and Tock and Shay Malone fall in love.
Emily “Tock” Lepstein-Jackson gets a call to go somewhere and do something. Intrigued, Shay Malone decides to invite himself along, much to Tock’s disgust.
”What is wrong with you?” she wanted to know.
”Nothing, actually. Just sitting here. Enjoying life.”
“And making my life miserable.”
”That happens sometimes when you hang around cats.”
Tock has no intention of starting something with Shay, but he turns out to be useful, he appreciates her (and her ass), and he has a great kid with whom Tock bonds over a love of math and watches. Their relationship happens in front of, and with a lot of commentary from their friends, family, and antagonists. I love this series so much. It is a constant delight.
Born to Be Badger leaves us with Tock and Shay coupled up, but the larger arc of what’s askew in the shifter world is still unresolved. Which means, there will be more Honey Badger books.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
