Shelly Laurenston will forever be on my autobut/autorent/autoARC. I love everything about the shifter series she built out. It has all the workings of the perfect contemporary paranormal genre with out loud laughs and steamy moments sprinkled in.

Tock Meyerson-Jackson is the no nonsense honey badger who's mission is to find and exterminate the people who are trafficking humans for prey. Shay Malone, one of the infamous Malone tiger brothers, hops along for the ride and the entertainment along the way. What ensues is a bunch of badger chaos, big cat antics, and hilariously crazy situations and one liners that keep the reader both chuckling and wondering how funny Laurenston is in real life.

One other thing I will say about the world Laurenston built out, it is wonderfully inclusive. If you haven't added this to your TBR, please do! If you're looking for a light-hearted quick read, add this to your list! Thank you thank you NetGalley & Kensington books for giving me this ARC. Please let me have the next LOL!

Born to Be Badger is a fun action-packed romp that might be a little too episodic for readers who haven’t followed along closely. This fast-paced adventure has comedy and romance. Long-time fans will be delighted. Newcomers may find themselves struggling to keep up.

The next chapter of the Honey Badger Chronicles does not dissapoint... more thrills, more fights, more rage baking - what moer culd you ask for!

This tells the tale of Tock and Shay Malone but also continues the existing story and the troubles of the McKilligan sisters... this book very much leaves me waiting for the next in the series

Honey Badgers Forever! Here's to the best dysfunctional pack of honey badgers ever! I have never had as much fun as I have read about the McKilligan sisters and the girls of Max's Shifter basketball team. Every book in this series is more exciting, funny, and touching in its own weird way. Tok the time-obsessed honey badger from the basketball team is the focus of this book along with Shay Malone of the Amur tiger Malones we have met previously. Shay is the middle Malone brother, single father to math-obsessed Dani, and clueless owner of three Tosa Inus (a very very large Japanese Mastiff). Someone is trying to kill our honey badgers and they have got to find out who. To do this all the top honey badgers are going to have to work together to make it happen. All of this works together trust me. But be prepared from page one to be on one exciting honey badger-fueled adventure of super tough women, very large tigers, and very dastardly evil shifters who really underestimate the honey badgers' resiliency and toughness to kill. I really hated for this book to end but it's been worth the wait for this installment in the Honey Badger Chronicles. I can't even pick a favorite in this series because they are all so delightfully funny in their own way you can't pick a favorite. Now the wait begins for the next one...but it will be worth it.

Gave a ARC copy for an honest review. Shelly Laurenston always blows us away. This was a different pace the first half of the story was a lot of background and scene setup. Didn’t really get into the couple and their dynamic until half way through. But once you get in there she has you totally captivated. I love the honey badger series. Shay and Tock were amazing and I love the family dynamic with Tock and Danni, Shay’s daughter.

I always love Shelley laurenston she’s such a comfort author. Her books are always fun and lighthearted. It was a quick easy read that tied into the the rest of the badger books like usual. We get introduced to some more psycho family characters but we expect that. The romance didn’t happen for over half of the book but it was still cute. All in all a solid feel good read.

No, no, NO, you did not just end it that way!

Ah, but she did. I love Shelly Laurenston's shifter books, especially the Honey-Badger series. I call them "palate cleansers" and love to read them between other books to just shake my brain loose again. They're just good, irreverent fun. A solid addition to the series.

Shelly has outdone herself again. The newest badger book is outstandingly funny. All your favorite characters come out to play in this book as well as new ones. Secrets are discovered/revealed and more are to come.

Another laugh out, can't put down chaos fueled honey badger adventure. This time featuring Emily “Tock”
Meyerson-Jackson and football Shay Malone. Plenty of cameos from the series will make this a fan fav. My only issue is the ending. I won't spoil but it's a wee bit shocking.

It begins with mystery and action, and of course the humour this author is characteristic for, and continues the whole book.
Shay and Tock are acquaintances, then friends and finally lovers. It’s a building romance. They’re both great apart but together they’re the best, I liked them more than the previous couple. Shay has a 10 year old daughter that loves maths. Tock gets along with her great, and the mother is not a problem (there’s no drama at all with her).
The main characters are Shay and Tock but there’re several POV more.
We get more Malone's brothers, more Charlie, Stevie and Max, and also Nat. And the Team! We meet more family from each side of the main characters, and discover who killed the Black Malone's patriarch and why.
There’s lots of mystery. We get some answers but also more questions. The main story ends on a cliffhanger, but the romance is HFN.
Can’t wait for the next book! (Pretty sure what couple is next and I'm eager to read that).

Safety: safe, neither virgins, no details on their pasts, no OP drama.

"Born to Be Badger" by Shelly Laurenston is a riotous addition to the Honey Badger Chronicles, offering an engaging mix of witty humor, a captivating storyline, and a standout cast of characters. Laurenston's comedic prowess shines as the book delivers laugh-out-loud moments, quirky one-liners, and hilarious situations that make it a sheer joy to read. The characters are expertly developed, with distinct personalities and compelling backstories that draw you in. Their interactions create a close-knit community filled with found family, making the story both heartwarming and comical.

Laurenston's world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of a paranormal world where honey badger shapeshifters and other supernatural beings coexist. The attention to detail enhances the overall experience and adds depth to the narrative. The plot is full of unexpected twists and turns, with well-paced action, romance, and humor, making it a well-rounded and engaging read. The chemistry between the main characters, Emily “Tock” Lepstein-Jackson and Shay Malone, adds depth to the narrative. Moreover, the happily ever after ending neatly ties up the story, leaving readers with a sense of satisfaction. "Born to Be Badger" is a must-read for fans of paranormal romance with humor and memorable characters, promising a book hangover that will have you eagerly anticipating the next installment.

This was so much fun I love it love the series it was you laughing at the craziness that’s happening but holding your attention that you can’t put down or look away I enjoy this book so much it makes you want to reread the whole series again

Rated 4.5 Stars

What a crazy trip Born to Be Badger was. There were no dull moments just action, action and more action. There was also suspense, a little bit of romance and a whole heap of craziness mixed in with chaos. These honey badgers know how to entertain. They had me laughing out loud and snort laughing at their antics. This book was an absolute joy to read. I loved it and so cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment. I definitely recommend it as well as the previous books in the series.

I received this book from Netgalley for a honest review.

This the fifth book in the Honey Badger series by Shelly Laurenston, this is Tock's story. I laughed a lot with these gals and I was sad when it was over. But not too worry I know there is at least one one more, fingers crossed. I have reread this series numerous times and I always come away smiling.

I still don’t understand why people haven’t learnt to leave badger shifters alone 💀, BUT anyway, thanks to them we get to laugh.

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: Badgers and Watches
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿: Dani
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Normal
𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: Novel
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Adventure shifter romance
4.3/𝟱

🌱THE EXCELLENT
~ Wild shifters with flirting
~ Adventure & high stakes action
~ A cozy-ish mystery feel in a few big cities
~ Single but SPICY instance
~ Found family
~ Sibling & friendship loyalty
~ Amusing banter on many levels

“Tock”, the time obsessed, only child, responsible badger shifter with the scary gangster grandma, is being targeted by some people who REALLY know no better. Not only does she have her own gang of psycho thieving badger shifter sisters, is friends with Max, sister of the freakishly strong & determined Charlie, & a love interest of an Amur tiger shifter — but her badger sisters are related to violent freaks & she also happens to be her psycho manipulative gangster granny’s fav 😬 = ALL dumb ways to die for the people targetting her.

🌿 Reading Shelly Laurenston is a guaranteed chuckle & delight for me, & this was no different. The world these characters exist in is broad & although these books can be read as standalones, I recommend getting to know the backstory of the other characters, it makes it that much more enjoyable.

✨𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱.

🌱THE MEH
~ The chosen ‘island’ :( ruined that expectation for me 😭
~ An in-between story that makes me want to know more NOW (although SL does try to leave it settled)

♡🌱 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲 ;)

Shelly Laurenston is the queen of romantic comedy paranormal romance. While this book didn't have as much romance or heat as her others, the comedy is gold! I highly recommend this series.

3.5 stars

This latest entry into the honey badger chronicles was witty and fun but I don't know if it fully delivered the plot and romance that the previous books delivered. I like our main characters, I liked the general story line, I just felt like it seemed clunky at times, like it was unpolished and not fully formed. I would still recommend this book for those who have enjoyed the others I just don't believe this is her strongest work

The In the beginning of this series we learn that Shay's Malone father was killed and both he and his brother are looking into the killing. No one in the shifter community is talking to the brothers. Emily “Tock” Meyerson-Jackson is on a mission to rid the world of shifters trafficking humans for hunting and cash. With her team they are seeing a connection between the human traffickers they are after and Shays father Killer. Love, Laughs and blood what more can we asked for in this new book by Shelly Laurenston.

What can I say , this Author just keeps giving and giving - producing works of the highest quality , works that make you laugh out loud , works that keep you entertained throughout .

This latest book features yet the latest in the Author's Honey Badger basketball team - Emily “Tock” Lepstein-Jackson.
Tock uses her obsession with timekeeping to keep her team to a schedule and from getting caught during their extracurricular activities .
Tock and her team have found out that a brutal Lion coalition are behind the trafficking of humans for hunting and cash ......... the same coalition who were responsible for the death of the Malone brothers father , a death that the shifter coalitions won't investigate . But the Malones and now the honey badgers will never give up no matter the obstacles in their path .
Shay Malone has somehow found himself attached to Tock for the investigation and its is great to see how their attraction grows - with lots of help from Shay's 10yr old , maths obsessive daughter , Dani. I loved the involvement of Tock's family , especially her grandmother .

This is another easy read , full of laugh out loud moments ,plenty of action , a gentle romance build up and a focus on what is happening in their world from the Author - she is always one of the 1st on my TBR list
I cannot wait for the next in the series - well I will have to mark my diary so I don't miss the publication date

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Paranormal Steamy Romance about a honey badger and an Amur tiger shifter who team up to stop a coalition of shifters trafficking humans and were also behind his father's death.

5/5 stars: I have been a longtime fan of Laurenston's shifter universe and this fifth entry in The Honey Badger Chronicles doesn't disappoint. Laurenston's writing and distinctive character work makes for an engaging and hilarious read. I love the complexity of the world building which began way back with Pack Challenge and hit it's stride with the Pride series, which starts with The Mane Event. It's always a joy to read what everyone's doing and the various high-jinks that everyone's gotten involved in. So If you enjoy this world and want to learn more about how the characters connect be sure to check out Laurenston's backlist. Additionally, Laurenston's OPS scenes are hotter than Hades. While this is an incredibly snarky and humorous read, Laurenston's does tackle some tough topics, so take care and check CWs. While you could pick this up as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more if you start at the beginning and pick up Hot and Badgered, book one.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books, Kensington in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.