Shelly Laurenston has gifted readers with not one, but two, incredible stories filled with love, laughter, and characters who positively leap off the pages in THE MANE EVENT.

Christmas Pride
New York - Present Day

I know, I know, nature shows have led you to believe that lions are incapable of committing to one female. It’s just not true. Well, it’s probably true for pure lions, but not so much for lion shifters with their much longer life spans. Take Mace Llewellyn for example, he’s not interested in taking care of a troublesome bunch of lionesses for years on end, not when there’s one special woman who positively begs to be lavished with care and devotion. Okay, so Desiree “Dez” MacDermot really doesn’t beg for Mace’s attention, in fact, she’s pretty determined to avoid him. But if Mace can just get past Dez’s preconceived notions of his family, her own fears of commitment, and the revelation that he has a few quirks, including a bit of purring, then this duo will surely share a lifetime of love and adventure.

Mace and Dez attended the same school for a time in their youth, as best friends, they each also had a crush on the other. Circumstances changed and the two were parted, but not before Mace’s family made it clear to Dez that her Bronx-born self isn’t good enough for their brother. But the time away from each other was probably for the best, Mace served as a Navy SEAL, and Dez served as a Marine before becoming a cop; those experiences helped form them both into the tough individualists they are. They also gave both of them friends for life, friends who feature in their story, and will hopefully have stories of their own one day. Dez is not exactly ready to commit to any man, but as she says in the story, Mace is one “tricky cat” and he’s not about to lose her.

Shaw’s Tail
New York - Present Day

Brendon Shaw may be a very wealthy man, a lion shifter with all of his paws planted firmly on the ground, but that doesn’t mean he can’t stumble into trouble. While looking for his troublesome younger brother, Brendon gets caught in the snare of a hyena Clan with a taste for blood, his blood. Luckily, some new friends come to the rescue; surprisingly they include a wolf Pack, as well as an N.Y.P.D. cop. You’d think that the lionesses of his pride would watch over Brendon while he recovers from his injuries, but no, that’s not their way; instead, a long, tall, Sally by the name of Ronnie Lee Reed, a wolf shifter, is guilted into the task. Ronnie Lee can’t believe she got talked into watching over this cat. Why, he’s pure trouble and then some. Really, he is. I mean, do you know what a bad fever does to a shifter’s libido, not to mention his common sense? Well, she’ll watch over his furry Yankee butt for now, but as soon as he’s well, Ronnie Lee is heading for greener pastures, regardless of her newly acquired instincts to plant roots and claim Brendon for her very own.

Brendon always knew that he wanted to settle down with one woman after producing a couple of cubs for his Pride, he just never figured she’d howl at the moon and have such a long muzzle. But hey, he’s not prejudiced. Despite the odds that their cubs will look a little different, he knows that sassy, Southern girl Ronnie Lee is the only woman for him. Ronnie Lee would give most men the shudders, and she knows it. The girl is actually banned from some countries due to some of the stunts she and Pack mate Sissy Mae pulled. And her family has beaten men for looking at their sister the wrong way. Truthfully, Ronnie Lee has encouraged such shenanigans in the past; some men just need to take a hint that their time with her is over. But when her brothers focus their attention on Brendon, she discovers a heretofore unknown protective streak. If this Southern gal can rest her boots a while, she’s sure to find the love she never knew she craved.

Both of these wonderful stories have secondary characters in common. People like Smitty, one of Mace’s ex SEAL friends and head of Ronnie Lee’s Pack, his story is next up in this great new series. Smitty’s sister Sissy Mae is wild as they come and promises to provide a challenge to her future mate. Then there are Mace’s Pride members, the rest of Ronnie Lee’s Pack, the local hyena Clan, and many others. All of these characters are well developed and made me eager to learn more about them.

For a book that will make you laugh out loud, sigh with happiness, and generally just improve your week, don’t miss THE MANE EVENT. And keep an eye out for the next of the Pride Stories, THE BEAST IN HIM (due out April 2008). Thanks, Shelly, for providing readers with another fabulous paranormal series!

Lori Ann