Customer Reviews

When He Was Bad

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

MISS CONGENIALITY by Shelly Laurenston
Professor Irene Conridge had been a childhood prodigy who excelled academically but never learned any people skills. She's brutally honest and has absolutely no interest in making friends or entering a romantic relationship. The one little glitch in her workaholic life is Van. He doesn't seem to understand that she has no interest in him.

Niles Van Holtz is extremely sought after by the females of the Seattle area. However, he's set his sights on Professor Conridge who obviously wants nothing to do with him. She's so button down serious and unemotional that he wants nothing more than to break down her barriers and unleash the passionate woman he's sure is lurking just beneath the surface.

Van doesn't believe that marking a woman makes you mated to her for life so when Irene accidentally comes to the attention of other shifters in the area, the only option he has to save her is marking her as `his.' Irene has no intention of becoming Van's anything and no way does she have any intention of engaging in intercourse with him. All that sweaty exchanging of body fluids - GROSS! So why is she suddenly consumed with thoughts of him and all the sinfully wicked things they can do together.

Shelly Laurenston had me laughing out loud at the deadpan reactions and comments Irene has throughout this story. She's so deadly serious that I absolutely adored her! Van's self confidence is challenged by the simple fact that she really doesn't want him. Hisis vulnerability makes him absolutely lovable. MISS CONGENIALITY fit my mood perfectly when I read it and really brightened my day - especially when we discover exactly when the concoction she created that leads to her downfall is revealed.


WICKED WAYS by Cynthia Eden
Miranda Shaw isn't having any luck finding a man through the normal channels so she's resorted to the internet to help her find Mr. Right. Unfortunately the man she chooses turns out to be very wrong - in fact, he's a vampire, far more interested in draining her than dating her. Too bad she didn't consider her new neighbor Cain as potential dating material.

Cain Lawson moved in next door to Miranda five days ago. He has every intention of making her `his' but he was trying to be gentlemanly and give her a chance to get to know him. After rescuing her from an undead bloodsucker he's decided to step up his plan a little bit. If Miranda's looking to take a walk on the wild side then he's just the guy for her.

After having been attacked by the vampire, Miranda is force to admit that there are paranormal beings walking amongst the living. Cain has a feral side that she's positive isn't simply human possessiveness. Amanda caves into her craving for Cain but soon finds herself immersed in putting a stop to the bloodthirsty vampire who's apparently been using the internet to pick up vulnerable women. She's determined to stop a killer and Cain's going to do everything in his power to protect her. Cain's afraid to fully unleash his wild side because he thinks that Miranda won't love him if she sees him in all his furry glory - he may just be surprised at her reaction.

Cynthia Eden grabs your attention from the very first page and keeps you immersed in the storyline until the very end. Miranda and Cain have vulnerabilities and personalities that really endear them to the reader. I loved how perfectly they seem to `fit' together and the unique relationship they form that transcends their differences - especially since they need each other if there's any hope of them stopping a killer. WICKED WAYS brings out the sexiness in the truly Alpha male while still presenting the evilness that lurks in the hearts of others.


Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden team up to give readers two intensely satisfying paranormal tales with the anthology WHEN HE WAS BAD. There's nothing more satisfying than an Alpha male who wins your heart and both authors successfully present heroes well worth drooling over. If you enjoy your paranormal stories a little off the norm then this is definitely a book you'll really enjoy!

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

As with all multi-author books, a good one is joined with a so-so one. This book introduced me to Ms Laurenston and I love her. Cynthia Eden is not so bad but it was the Laurenston book that I re-read over and over again. It is the kind of story that I regularly use before bed to insure a nightmareless sleep. She always leaves me in a good mood because her stories are full of funny characters.

'When He Was Bad' consists of two novellas featuring shapeshifters - a werewolf in the first story and a werejaguar in the second.

'Miss Congeniality' is another of Laurenston's stories about the shapeshifter groups, this time wolves of the Van Holtz pack. The Van Holtzes are rich and important people and are consequently much in demand at fundraisers for the local University. Dr Irene Conridge is a child prodigy Professor at the university, a lady who feels little emotion and whose relationships with men have been mostly pointless. When she bumps into Niles Van Holtz, Van, as he's known, she assumes he's nothing special, just another handsome womaniser from a rich family. However when Irene gets herself in trouble, being attacked by a pack of hyenas, Van wades in to rescue her - in his wolf form. Irene actually already knew about shapeshifters because her flatmate Jackie is a jackal, and this means that when Van realises he has to mark Irene for her own safety she's reluctant. However Van gets his way and they assume their lives will continue as normal - separately - after this.

But Van begins to discover the truth of his family's claims about marking and Irene also finds that despite Van being completely different to her, he can bring out the best in her and they can laugh together. When Irene is threatened by people who want to make use of some of her exceptional knowledge, she needs the assistance of the Van Holtzes and the other shapeshifters to keep her safe.

This was a reasonable story although the plot felt rather thin at times and most of the action consisted of sex scenes between Van and Irene, rather more than strictly necessary. It was difficult to warm to Irene because of her cold nature and this reader wondered, along with her, what Van saw in her. It was a passable read but nothing special at all.

The second story in this book, 'Wicked Ways' by Cynthia Eden, was notably better. What struck me, after finishing this story, was that it didn't feel like a novella or short story but had enough going on to feel like a full-length book. The characters also felt rounded and well portrayed and the plot had a fair amount of depth.

When Miranda Shaw finds herself under attack from a man she's met over the Internet she's rescued by her new neighbour, Cain Lawson. Her date was decidedly odd, mainly because he tried to drink her blood from her neck, but her rescuer didn't seem entirely human either. Miranda soon discovers that Cain is something different and that he's a former FBI agent - and that the man who attacked her has killed other women and might well try for her again. Miranda is pleasantly feisty and decides to help Cain and her cousin Sam, the local deputy, to catch the vampire. But Miranda doesn't know everything about supernatural creatures and it might be harder to keep herself safe than she thought.

The relationship between Miranda and Cain is one of instant attraction/lust but Cain has to overcome his reticence about human women disliking his animal state. Miranda seems fairly self-confident and centred in this story, she is just slightly prone to doing her own thing at the wrong times. The story was overall very enjoyable and Cynthia Eden's writing style is good with excellent pacing and some varied characters.

In conclusion the best story by far is the second story but 'Miss Congeniality' also makes for a reasonable read and this book is worthwhile for whiling away a rainy afternoon.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Both of the stories in this book were excellent!
Of course, Ms. Laurenston made me laugh & made me get all hot & bothered. Van was a great hero, totally alpha all the way, and Irene was the quirky heroine that I've come to expect and love from Ms. Laurenston.
This was my first read from Ms. Eden, and I'll have to admit, it won't be the last. Her characters are great, and her way with words is a definite winner. Cain was a hot, yet sensitive hero (and my first jaguar), and Miranda was the strong, sexy heroine that I enjoy reading about.

An anthology of shapeshifters, When He Was Bad by Laurenston and Eden was an enjoyable read.

Laurenston's story was downright fabulous. Laugh out loud funny, it had wonderful characters, lots of action and suspense. I especially loved the leading characters Van Holtz and Irene. A handsome, wealthy playboy, Van Holtz is in line to be the next alpha of the werewolf pack. A D&D and risk playing genius, Irene is a prominent Doctor, professor and researcher at a university. They are as opposite as can be. I also love Shelly Laurenston's Pride Stories series as well as her Dragon Kin series written under GA Aiken. She's nudged ahead of Lynsay Sands as my favorite humorous paranormal romance author.

It was my first time reading something by Cynthia Eden. While fighting an evil vampire, a shapeshifter and human fall in love. It was well written and entertaining, but a bit predictable. I'm going to give one of her full length books a try.

If you are on the hunt for more books with shapeshifters, check out my list of favorites...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R3RRBZ0PV9G1AI

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When He Was Bad by Cynthia Eden and Shelly Laurenston

Paperback Paranormal Shifter Romance - June 1, 2008
4 ½ Stars

This is a fabulous book for lovers of paranormal romances and for those readers seeking to try the paranormal genre for the first time! When He Was Bad contains 2 stories about alpha shape-shifters and warning...they are HOT! In both stories we revisit the worlds that Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden have created. (So those familiar with their older books will feel right at home.) These short stories are easily stand alone and extremely well written. In many cases stories in anthologies can be underdeveloped, I am happy to state this is not the case!

The first story by Shelly Laurenston is a story about romance of opposites attract. Niles Van Holtz is a playboy who simply loves women. Professor Irene Conridge can't see what the big deal is about sex. The problem Van has after he meets Irene is why the cold professor is getting him so hot. The personalities of the main characters and their interactions make for fast and fun reading. I always marvel at Shelly Laurenston's ability to weave humor and passion into an explosively, satisfying combination.

Cynthia Eden writes another great shifter romance. Her heroes are always: strong, sure and irresistibly attractive. Cain is a shifter who has just moved next door to a sexy neighbor, who he suddenly has to save from a blood-thirsty vampire. Miranda has just been attacked, but instead of being traumatized, all she can think of how much she wants Cain to kiss her! Both characters are wildly attracted to each other which lead to some pretty erotic scenes.

Both of these stories kept me up. They were easy reads that I highly recommend! Although it is an oversize book and more expensive than the mass market books, I think it is well worth the price.

Reviewed by Steph from Bookaholics Romance Book Club

"Miss Congeniality": I love Irene & Holtz! The two of them are seriously funny. Irene kind of reminds me of Brennen on "Bones" but even more brutally honest. Holtz is your classic alpha male with a sweet center. The 2 of them are hot and entertaining and just plain fun.

Irene is one of those child prodigy types who is a genius. Holtz, the only son of the local wolf pack alpha, has been intrigued by Dr. Irene since he met her. She figures men don't really notice her and would just banter back and forth with Holtz not thinking anything of it. Since she's a genius, her brilliant mind gets her in trouble. She creates a little something that has quite a few governments after her invention and decides to dispose of it in the woods. Oops, how was she supposed to know it was the Rubicon where the various shapeshifter clans hunted, fought, etc. Of course her being there causes some issues and it's up to Holtz to get her out of it. Irene is one of those smart, funny women who doesn't necessarily need the hero to rescue her. Just in those instances where blowing out the wall of a building isn't an option. And even more hilarity, action and very hot love scenes ensue. If you want a funny story with some very steamy scenes and very likable characters, pick up this book.

"Wicked Ways": This one was OK. The first story was my favorite, but I would give this story a score of about 3 1/2 stars. Nice and steamy. Fairly likeable characters. It wasn't bad. Just liked Irene and Holtz more.

Overall, I would give Ms. Laurenston's story 5 stars and Ms. Eden's story 3 1/2. The book is definitely worth reading.

Shelly Laurenston's Miss Congeniality did not disappoint. Fast paced, funny and characters you want to hear from again. I'll be looking forward for her next book.
Cynthia Eden's Wicked Ways was much darker but interesting none the less. It was not as fast a read as Shelly Laurenston's and I would only give it a 3 out of 5. This was the first of her writings that I have read, I will hold out futher judgement till I read the next.
C.Moore

This first novella Shelly Laurenston Miss Congeniality was great and delivered the witty dialogue that Laurenstons has in all her books, and I couldnt but it down. Van was hilarious. and the leading lady was weird an wonderful at the same time.

The second story I struggled to finish. It just jumped to fast for me, neighbors who seem to fall in love within hours, and then the evil vamp serial killer.Just to much.

Overall it is still a worthy purchase even if just to read Laurenston's story.

you can't stop loving these stories. they are wonderful, excitting,funny,creative can't put down,one of the best reads I have ever read & I've told everyone I know to read them. don't ever stop them coming!