Scan barcode
bookwyrm76's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this addition to the Pride series. It was fun and funny. sometimes I did feel like there were too many storylines getting tangled together and I really want Laurenston to get back to the background storyline of humans hunting the shifters, but I loved all the characters in the volume and eagerly wait for the next.
kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC from the publisher, and that "3" is generous.
Eighth in the Pride paranormal romance series revolving around the Smith Pack — family and friends. The couple focus in this story is on Ricky Lee Reed and Toni Jean-Louis Parker.
My Take
I just got dumped into the story and it took a while to figure out what was going on. Nor did it feel like a Laurenston until I was somewhat into the storyline. In fact, I kept checking it to be sure Shelly Laurenston was indeed the writer.
It's more of a mess than anything else. It feels as though Laurenston had a bunch of loose threads, and she threw them into the word pot. As if she only is allowed X number more books in the series, so she won't be able to create the individual books she should have broken Wolf with Benefits up into. Sure, Toni's family is a crack-up, but lordy, when you throw these ten geniuses, their parents, all the Reeds and Smiths with their various subplots, Bo, the roller derby team, and Livy's antics all into one storyline. Well, it will be a mess or 700 pages-plus...
It can't help but be funny, considering who the author is and the characters involved, but it takes forever to figure out what's going on with what feels like dozens of little subplots, leaving me feeling cheated.
Toni's family is totally crazy. Each is caught up in their own universe of selfishness with no thought or consideration for others. Hey, who ya gonna call when you need some major organizational skills? Yup, Bo Novikov (see Beast Behaving Badly, Pride, #5) will set these insensitive little geniuses straight!
I did get a kick out of The Infamous Book of Smells. It would be a fun book for kids!
The Story
It's Toni's job to negotiate a hockey game between two bear shifter teams. And Ricky Lee is along to play bodyguard. But that's not the most difficult task she's ever had. No, that would be corralling her family of genius siblings in spite of her hapless parents. It's Ricky Lee to the rescue when Toni's worry over her hapless, helpless family threatens to derail negotiations.
The Characters
Think of the Smiths as the berserkers and the Reeds as the Romans.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker — she works for Cella Malone (see Bear Meets Girl, Pride, #7) — is the Parker family member who holds it all together for this bunch of jackal geniuses: the eighteen-year-old Delilah is the sociopathic sister; Oriana is fifteen and a dancer; the eleven-year-old Kyle is an artist; Cooper, a concert pianist; Cherise; the nine-year-old, has a phobia about germs; Troy is being courted by MIT; seven-year-old Freddy is a mathematician attending uni; Zia and Zoe are the three-year-old twins with a penchant for foreign languages; and, five-year-old Dennis. Dad, a.k.a., Paul, refers to "himself as a male feminist, 'because I have too many girls of my own not to be'." Jackie is his brilliant, impractical violinist wife. Aunt Irene Conridge will never lie; she's mated to Niles Van Holtz (see When He was Bad: Miss Congeniality, Magnus Pack, #3.5).
Olivia "Livy" Kowalski isOriana Toni's best friend, a photographer, and vicious little shifter. Thank god. Even if she does like to break in and sneak around in people's houses. Dee-Ann Smith is one she-wolf with truly scary eyes you do not want to cross (see Big Bad Beast, Pride #6). And she wants Livy for her special skills.
Ricky Lee Reed is staying at the Kingston Arms — he and his brothers, Rory and Reece Reed — have free apartments from Brendon Shaw (see Mane Event: Christmas Pride, Pride #1.5), a bribe. The Reeds work for Llewellyn Security (see Mane Event: Christmas Pride). Jeff Stewart is a lion who also works for Llewellyn; he just don't do kids. At least, not the Parkers! Miss Tala Evans is the Reed boys' mama.
Gwenie O'Neill (Mane Squeeze, Pride #4; Lock is doing well with his woodworking business) is part of the roller derby team along with Blayne. Miki Kendrick and her mate, Conall, (Go Fetch!, Magnus Pack, #2); Sara Morrighan, the alpha female of the Magnus Pack (Pack Challenge, Magnus Pack, #1); and, Angelina Santiago (Here Kitty, Kitty!, Magnus Pack, #3) have a pop-up cameo along with Jess Ward (Beast in Him, Pride #2) with her musically inclined son, Johnny.
The Carnivore hockey team includes:
Bo Novikov is an OCD-obsessed bearshifter hockey player; Blayne is his yappy little wolfdog of a fiancée. She's also a plumber (see Beast Behaving Badly, Pride, #5). Cella Malone is a KSZ contractor/hockey enforcer and a tiger mated to Lou "Crush" Crushek (see Bear Meets Girl, Pride #7). Livy is the staff photographer.
The Russians
Ivan Zubachev owns the team. Yuri Asanov is the greatest hockey coach to live. Vic Barinov is a useful contact for help in Eastern European countries. Genka Kuznetsov shoved Anton Kuznetsov, her brother, out of the Russian pack.
Laura Jane Smith is a self-centered, obtuse she-wolf; dumb enough that the Smith Pack, including Ronnie Lee(Mane Event: Christmas Pride, Pride #1.5), just doesn't care.
Devon "Junior" Barton is on Iowa's Death Row. Pete Gowan, a leopard shifter, is one of his guards. Frankie Whitlan. Chuck Roberts and Chris have a sweet little con going.
The Cover
The cover is an enpurpled sky with a full moon hanging in the background and Ricky Lee's bare chest and those spooky eyes staring out at us. Yup, I can live with those eyes, if that chest comes along with...
Well, heck, just being a part of the Smith Pack is a bonus, but I suspect the title here refers to that lucky Ricky Lee Reed when he meets Toni Parker, and he becomes a Wolf with Benefits.
Eighth in the Pride paranormal romance series revolving around the Smith Pack — family and friends. The couple focus in this story is on Ricky Lee Reed and Toni Jean-Louis Parker.
My Take
I just got dumped into the story and it took a while to figure out what was going on. Nor did it feel like a Laurenston until I was somewhat into the storyline. In fact, I kept checking it to be sure Shelly Laurenston was indeed the writer.
It's more of a mess than anything else. It feels as though Laurenston had a bunch of loose threads, and she threw them into the word pot. As if she only is allowed X number more books in the series, so she won't be able to create the individual books she should have broken Wolf with Benefits up into. Sure, Toni's family is a crack-up, but lordy, when you throw these ten geniuses, their parents, all the Reeds and Smiths with their various subplots, Bo, the roller derby team, and Livy's antics all into one storyline. Well, it will be a mess or 700 pages-plus...
It can't help but be funny, considering who the author is and the characters involved, but it takes forever to figure out what's going on with what feels like dozens of little subplots, leaving me feeling cheated.
Toni's family is totally crazy. Each is caught up in their own universe of selfishness with no thought or consideration for others. Hey, who ya gonna call when you need some major organizational skills? Yup, Bo Novikov (see Beast Behaving Badly, Pride, #5) will set these insensitive little geniuses straight!
I did get a kick out of The Infamous Book of Smells. It would be a fun book for kids!
The Story
It's Toni's job to negotiate a hockey game between two bear shifter teams. And Ricky Lee is along to play bodyguard. But that's not the most difficult task she's ever had. No, that would be corralling her family of genius siblings in spite of her hapless parents. It's Ricky Lee to the rescue when Toni's worry over her hapless, helpless family threatens to derail negotiations.
The Characters
Think of the Smiths as the berserkers and the Reeds as the Romans.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker — she works for Cella Malone (see Bear Meets Girl, Pride, #7) — is the Parker family member who holds it all together for this bunch of jackal geniuses: the eighteen-year-old Delilah is the sociopathic sister; Oriana is fifteen and a dancer; the eleven-year-old Kyle is an artist; Cooper, a concert pianist; Cherise; the nine-year-old, has a phobia about germs; Troy is being courted by MIT; seven-year-old Freddy is a mathematician attending uni; Zia and Zoe are the three-year-old twins with a penchant for foreign languages; and, five-year-old Dennis. Dad, a.k.a., Paul, refers to "himself as a male feminist, 'because I have too many girls of my own not to be'." Jackie is his brilliant, impractical violinist wife. Aunt Irene Conridge will never lie; she's mated to Niles Van Holtz (see When He was Bad: Miss Congeniality, Magnus Pack, #3.5).
Olivia "Livy" Kowalski is
Ricky Lee Reed is staying at the Kingston Arms — he and his brothers, Rory and Reece Reed — have free apartments from Brendon Shaw (see Mane Event: Christmas Pride, Pride #1.5), a bribe. The Reeds work for Llewellyn Security (see Mane Event: Christmas Pride). Jeff Stewart is a lion who also works for Llewellyn; he just don't do kids. At least, not the Parkers! Miss Tala Evans is the Reed boys' mama.
Gwenie O'Neill (Mane Squeeze, Pride #4; Lock is doing well with his woodworking business) is part of the roller derby team along with Blayne. Miki Kendrick and her mate, Conall, (Go Fetch!, Magnus Pack, #2); Sara Morrighan, the alpha female of the Magnus Pack (Pack Challenge, Magnus Pack, #1); and, Angelina Santiago (Here Kitty, Kitty!, Magnus Pack, #3) have a pop-up cameo along with Jess Ward (Beast in Him, Pride #2) with her musically inclined son, Johnny.
The Carnivore hockey team includes:
Bo Novikov is an OCD-obsessed bearshifter hockey player; Blayne is his yappy little wolfdog of a fiancée. She's also a plumber (see Beast Behaving Badly, Pride, #5). Cella Malone is a KSZ contractor/hockey enforcer and a tiger mated to Lou "Crush" Crushek (see Bear Meets Girl, Pride #7). Livy is the staff photographer.
The Russians
Ivan Zubachev owns the team. Yuri Asanov is the greatest hockey coach to live. Vic Barinov is a useful contact for help in Eastern European countries. Genka Kuznetsov shoved Anton Kuznetsov, her brother, out of the Russian pack.
Laura Jane Smith is a self-centered, obtuse she-wolf; dumb enough that the Smith Pack, including Ronnie Lee(Mane Event: Christmas Pride, Pride #1.5), just doesn't care.
Devon "Junior" Barton is on Iowa's Death Row. Pete Gowan, a leopard shifter, is one of his guards. Frankie Whitlan. Chuck Roberts and Chris have a sweet little con going.
The Cover
The cover is an enpurpled sky with a full moon hanging in the background and Ricky Lee's bare chest and those spooky eyes staring out at us. Yup, I can live with those eyes, if that chest comes along with...
Well, heck, just being a part of the Smith Pack is a bonus, but I suspect the title here refers to that lucky Ricky Lee Reed when he meets Toni Parker, and he becomes a Wolf with Benefits.
carebear11's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ketutar's review against another edition
3.0
I seriously dislike the she-wolves.
Sara makes an appearance in this book, and is being an insane bitch.
I don't like the jackals being a-holes to Blayne. I love Blayne.
Even though I think Shelly Laurenston writes good sex scenes, I prefer there being less of that and more of the other.
I love her girl power and girl friendships.
I think the plots of these books are good, interesting, entertaining, high-speed - a perfect pulp fiction entertainment.
I just don't like certain characters.
Sara makes an appearance in this book, and is being an insane bitch.
I don't like the jackals being a-holes to Blayne. I love Blayne.
Even though I think Shelly Laurenston writes good sex scenes, I prefer there being less of that and more of the other.
I love her girl power and girl friendships.
I think the plots of these books are good, interesting, entertaining, high-speed - a perfect pulp fiction entertainment.
I just don't like certain characters.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
This series is always a really good time!...I liked seeing Blayne and Bo!..I loved the crazy kids..and I adored Ricky Lee and Toni...As always it made me laugh out loud!!!...Looking forward to more!...Bring on Livy!~
trudyd's review against another edition
5.0
WOW!!! This story was packed full with suspense balanced out with gut hurting laughs. I have a new respect for Irene Van Holtz.
I loved this book when I first read and when I read it a second time, but the Audio blew me away. My husband and I stayed up late too nights in a row just listening, laughing and loving this story.
I would love to read more about Toni's family. So many prodigies under one roof. Crazy good fun!!!
2/10/20 The husband and I decided to listen to the audiobooks for the Pride series again. I swear we laughed just as hard as the first time but we also got to say things along with the narrator.
"Are you my daddy?"
07/26/22 I laughed just as hard this time around. This book was made to be an audio book.
I loved this book when I first read and when I read it a second time, but the Audio blew me away. My husband and I stayed up late too nights in a row just listening, laughing and loving this story.
I would love to read more about Toni's family. So many prodigies under one roof. Crazy good fun!!!
2/10/20 The husband and I decided to listen to the audiobooks for the Pride series again. I swear we laughed just as hard as the first time but we also got to say things along with the narrator.
"Are you my daddy?"
07/26/22 I laughed just as hard this time around. This book was made to be an audio book.
mamabears_fabulous_book_finds's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my god!! I think I would have run away screaming if I had to deal with that many bratty spoiled kids! So glad Toni was able to finally get away from that, and kick ass at her new job. Love Ricky. Hes so cute and charming..completely irreverent sometimes and I just loved that. He completely complemented Toni. Im so loving this series!!!!
nitzanschwarz's review against another edition
4.0
It's not a secret that I really love the Pride series by Laurenston. Whenever I need a funny, light, crazy romance to pick me up, I know I can count on her because that's exactly what her books deliver!
Wolf with Benefits is perhaps the best example of that, as it's not only trademark Laurenston but my favorite book in the series so far! A big part of that is because the romance between Ricky Lee and Toni took more time to develop, which is the only major weak point in the rest of the novels. Not here. Here, we are able to grow comfortable with the idea of them as a couple as the novel gives us time for them just being around each other and talking with each other and not having sex with each other (lol).
And, of course, they worked really well as a couple. They were cute, they brought each other up, they protected each other... the whole package!
Another subject that I liked a whole lot more in this installment was the family bonds. The Pride series features totally messed up families, and sometimes, it's just slightly too much. In Wolf With Benefits, the dysfunction is more outward than inward, albeit it's not lacking inwardly either.
However, this family units around each other (mostly thanks to Toni's mad organization skills) when needed and would die for one another, a vibe that is sorely missing from some of predecessors in the series.
Eight books in, and I still look forward to more books and romances set in this world (and, possibly, more love stories set in this particular family!), which is quite the accomplishment!
Wolf with Benefits is perhaps the best example of that, as it's not only trademark Laurenston but my favorite book in the series so far! A big part of that is because the romance between Ricky Lee and Toni took more time to develop, which is the only major weak point in the rest of the novels. Not here. Here, we are able to grow comfortable with the idea of them as a couple as the novel gives us time for them just being around each other and talking with each other and not having sex with each other (lol).
And, of course, they worked really well as a couple. They were cute, they brought each other up, they protected each other... the whole package!
Another subject that I liked a whole lot more in this installment was the family bonds. The Pride series features totally messed up families, and sometimes, it's just slightly too much. In Wolf With Benefits, the dysfunction is more outward than inward, albeit it's not lacking inwardly either.
However, this family units around each other (mostly thanks to Toni's mad organization skills) when needed and would die for one another, a vibe that is sorely missing from some of predecessors in the series.
Eight books in, and I still look forward to more books and romances set in this world (and, possibly, more love stories set in this particular family!), which is quite the accomplishment!
alikatson's review against another edition
4.0
Again, not that much romance in this book - however the characters, especially Toni's family of crazy prodigies and her wild best friend were hilarious!! I loved Ricky Lee... he's a low-key, supportive, sexy boyfriend who is actually really badass but doesn't care to push it on people.
lux_klara's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 4.5
Another amazing book by this fantastic author! Honestly, I don't know why I waited to read her books so much! I should have given them a try months ago!
So yeah, I LOVED "Wolf with benefits", it was fantastic.
It was funny and hilarious.
I loved Toni and Ricky Lee and their chemistry.
I know I'm repeating myself, but I just love how Shelly Laurenston develops the relationship and how the character grow in that relationship. And it happen in such an organic and natural way. It never feels forced or contrived, it just feels like for them to fall in love and be happy with each other is the most natural course for their relationship. They always feel perfect for each other in their own diversities.
One thing that surprised me was Toni's family. To begin with, I just didn't expect them when I started reading the book. I didn't expect the mix of crazy, narcissism and caring.
The Jean-Louis Parker were like storm, unexpected and intense.
To start with, it's important to note that they are a family of Jackals. To make it clear there is Toni, her 10 siblings (YES 10 SIBLINGS!!!!) and her parents. And all of them are geniuses, literally, except for Toni and her father. From sports to math, from languages to art, they are all extremely talented in one or more aspects. And they are geniuses not just because of their talent but also extreme dedication. Which means that nothing else exist but their passion. They spend hours on their passion and it has their complete attention.
And I really loved how all siblings were completely different. All different personality, flaws and quirks. From the most narcissistic (hello Kyle!) to the most gentle.
And Toni is the one that always manage and organize them. She manages Cherise agoraphobia, Freddy's panic attacks and tendency to steal.... Etc... She manage them all.
And it was easy at first, to kind of resent her parents, because they basically dumped all their diffict children on the oldest one, one the average one, so that they didn't have to deal with them. Expect that they are then introduced in the story. And then I didn't hate them any more.
Well, to be honest, her mother still annoys me. She had some narcissistic and self absorbed moments, but I could also see that she had no malice and she really loved Toni and never cared that Toni was the "average" one.
Her father on the other hand, well, I did a complete 180° turn with him. I had a certain expectation and then I got to change completely my opinion. I expected her parents trying to stop Toni from finding her independence, and what I find is a father that actually encourages her and push her into it, who from the beginning wouldn't have let her be her sibling's caregiver for all her life. And yes,he allowed/encouraged her to have that role when she was young and it wasn't really her resopnasibilty. But he also did it, just so that, in the midst of a family of prodigies, she didn't left out.
Obviously, I still feel it was misguided, and I don't think they were right in making the whole family depend so much on her.
But at the same time they are shifters. And I think in this case them being shifter and the way their animal nature influences their dynamic.
From the get go we get to know that they are jackals. And that in a family of Jackals the older sibling often cares for the youngest.
This isn't just a poor explanation to excuse her parents, as much as one to explain Toni's nature and personality. Her parents may have allowed and/or encourage her, but they never forced her. It's actually a role she was not just inclined to have but one that, we see through little tidbits and remembrance, she naturally falled into due also to her own personality and disposition growing up.
It's just that she took it to the point where she was putting her own life on the sidelines and letting her perceived responsabilities to her family suffocate her freedom.
And Ricky helped her learn to prioritize herself as well.
This is not to say that she won't be involved in her family life again or won't manage them (again, with her personality it's just impossible!) but that she learns to have more balance.
As for the plot. Well, it was interesting. Nothing overly complex or unexpected, but still engaging.
Anyway, great book. Totally recommend it.
Another amazing book by this fantastic author! Honestly, I don't know why I waited to read her books so much! I should have given them a try months ago!
So yeah, I LOVED "Wolf with benefits", it was fantastic.
It was funny and hilarious.
I loved Toni and Ricky Lee and their chemistry.
I know I'm repeating myself, but I just love how Shelly Laurenston develops the relationship and how the character grow in that relationship. And it happen in such an organic and natural way. It never feels forced or contrived, it just feels like for them to fall in love and be happy with each other is the most natural course for their relationship. They always feel perfect for each other in their own diversities.
One thing that surprised me was Toni's family. To begin with, I just didn't expect them when I started reading the book. I didn't expect the mix of crazy, narcissism and caring.
The Jean-Louis Parker were like storm, unexpected and intense.
To start with, it's important to note that they are a family of Jackals. To make it clear there is Toni, her 10 siblings (YES 10 SIBLINGS!!!!) and her parents. And all of them are geniuses, literally, except for Toni and her father. From sports to math, from languages to art, they are all extremely talented in one or more aspects. And they are geniuses not just because of their talent but also extreme dedication. Which means that nothing else exist but their passion. They spend hours on their passion and it has their complete attention.
And I really loved how all siblings were completely different. All different personality, flaws and quirks. From the most narcissistic (hello Kyle!) to the most gentle.
And Toni is the one that always manage and organize them. She manages Cherise agoraphobia, Freddy's panic attacks and tendency to steal.... Etc... She manage them all.
And it was easy at first, to kind of resent her parents, because they basically dumped all their diffict children on the oldest one, one the average one, so that they didn't have to deal with them. Expect that they are then introduced in the story. And then I didn't hate them any more.
Well, to be honest, her mother still annoys me. She had some narcissistic and self absorbed moments, but I could also see that she had no malice and she really loved Toni and never cared that Toni was the "average" one.
Her father on the other hand, well, I did a complete 180° turn with him. I had a certain expectation and then I got to change completely my opinion. I expected her parents trying to stop Toni from finding her independence, and what I find is a father that actually encourages her and push her into it, who from the beginning wouldn't have let her be her sibling's caregiver for all her life. And yes,he allowed/encouraged her to have that role when she was young and it wasn't really her resopnasibilty. But he also did it, just so that, in the midst of a family of prodigies, she didn't left out.
Obviously, I still feel it was misguided, and I don't think they were right in making the whole family depend so much on her.
But at the same time they are shifters. And I think in this case them being shifter and the way their animal nature influences their dynamic.
From the get go we get to know that they are jackals. And that in a family of Jackals the older sibling often cares for the youngest.
This isn't just a poor explanation to excuse her parents, as much as one to explain Toni's nature and personality. Her parents may have allowed and/or encourage her, but they never forced her. It's actually a role she was not just inclined to have but one that, we see through little tidbits and remembrance, she naturally falled into due also to her own personality and disposition growing up.
It's just that she took it to the point where she was putting her own life on the sidelines and letting her perceived responsabilities to her family suffocate her freedom.
And Ricky helped her learn to prioritize herself as well.
This is not to say that she won't be involved in her family life again or won't manage them (again, with her personality it's just impossible!) but that she learns to have more balance.
As for the plot. Well, it was interesting. Nothing overly complex or unexpected, but still engaging.
Anyway, great book. Totally recommend it.