Double Review Shade Series & Shift Giveaway!

Title: Shade (Shade #1)
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Publish Date: May 4, 2010 by Simon Pulse
Pages: 292, paperback
Read & Reviewed By: ISALYS
Purpose: Provided by publisher for review purposes.

Shade Review:
This is one of those books that I've walked past a dozen or more times.  I would sneak a glance, pick it up, contemplate it and then not buy.  Why? Heck if I know!  And the kicker is that I love me a great ghost story.

I was contacted and offered the chance to read and review both Shade books and I'm so super, über glad that I did because I have fallen in love with this series...and with a certain hottie Scottie ♥ *le sigh*

The world experience a "shift" of some kind that resulted in everyone being born after the event, including Aura, has the ability to see and communicate with the ghosts of those who have not moved on.  It has now been over 16 years and ghosts are so commonplace that laws have been set in place to help seek justice in the event of a wrongful death.  The real mystery is that no one know why or how "The Shift" occurred.

Everything is going great for Aura; she's working on a school project that will hopefully shed some light on "The Shift" and she's madly in love with her musician boyfriend Logan.  Logan is incredibly likable despite being pretty self-absorbed. He also has high hopes for a future as the mega-famous front man of a band he has with his siblings.  Unfortunately, Logan's future is cut very short when he accidentally dies leaving his violet-hued, ghostly presence behind.  Aura is crushed by this but how can she truly move on when Logan can't?

In walks in Zachary, the hottie Scottish exchange student {and my new YA book crush!}. He is a pre-shifter and cannot see ghosts, but he definitely noticed Aura right away.  He is assigned to help her with her school project but ends up giving Aura some much needed comfort & friendship in the wake of Logan's death. During the course of their project and growing attraction, they learn that they are more connected than they could have ever expected to be.  Unfortunately, that connection may also put them in serious danger. 

I absolutely devoured this book; I'm talking walking-while-reading, hoping for a red light so I can sneak in a few sentences and staying up til the wee-hours because I couldn't put it down!  Aura is such a great character.  She's smart and sassy, compassionate, fiercely loyal and all around genuine teenage girl. The concept of the love triangle has been done and re-done, but Jeri gave it such a refreshing and gut-wrenching new twist that made it a delight to read about.  With Twilight, you were Team Edward or Team Jacob, no questions. With Vamp Academy, it was always about Dimitri.  However, the two boys in this series were much harder to choose between.  They both had so much to offer that I could understand why Aura would feel so torn. Yet, she didn't beat it into the ground which was great.

I have become an instant fan of Jeri Smith-Ready and her ability to tell us an interesting, compelling story that's laced with humor, sweetness, bone-deep emotion, dynamic characters, and a mysterious plot!

Who loves Shade?  This girl

Title: Shift (Shade #2)
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Publish Date: May 3, 2011 by Simon Pulse
Pages: 367, hardcover
Read & Reviewed By: ISALYS
Purpose: Provided by publisher for review purposes.

Shift Review:
I'm not sure how to review this book because all I really want to do is gush about all its emotional awesomeness.

If I thought Shade was emotionally intense, then Shift left me stupefied.  We're left with a pretty gnarly cliffhanger in the end of Shade and Shift picks up right where it left off.  I don't want to spoil it for anyone so pardon my cryptic-ness *made up word* but something happens to Logan's ghost that flips Aura's world yet again and makes it even more difficult to choose between her first love and her new love!  Oh, these two boys...they make it hurt so good!  There were so many moments where I wanted to alternate between hugging them or bitch-slapping them!

Meanwhile, Logan's family is still reeling from his death and older brother Mickey is taking it especially hard.  While he's only a secondary character, you can't help but feel so much compassion for him.  (I would probably die if anything ever happened to one of my younger brothers! Perish the thought!)  Dylan, the youngest sibling is the only other person who can see Logan so he has his share of emotional struggle as well.  He quickly matures in this book and although I personally didn't care for the interesting turn his relationship with Aura took, I can certainly understand their need to seek comfort in each other as the only two people who can still communicate with Logan.  Oh and the prom scene, I totally wanted to high-five him too!

But wait, there's more!  We finally learn more about Aura's mother and her mysterious father (this will make sense WHEN you read it).  Unfortunately, while Aura is desperate to know about her mother's connection to "The Shift", some very powerful people are desperate to keep her from learning those secrets. Her and Zachary's lives become more threatened and even more entangled.

So there you have it folks - I pretty much loved everything about this book.  The writing was just stellar and JSR did a fantastic job of tying all these elements together without making it feel convoluted or over-bearing.  I probably felt some version of every emotion with this book: happiness, awe, irritation, concern.  It's a beautiful thing when an author can deliver a story that makes you feel so much!

In a nutshell my friends, Shift was the perfect follow up to Shade and I eagerly await the arrival of Shine!



Giveaway!
June 8 - June 15


Thanks to Big Honcho Media and Simon Pulse, we have a Shift prize pack for ONE lucky winner!  Winner will get a A Ghost Bead Bracelet and a copy of Shift!

Shift (Shade, Book 2)

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER GIVEAWAY


Rules:
• To enter the giveaway you must complete the form linked above and leave a comment indicating that you've entered.
• Prize will be delivered directly from the publisher so the giveaway is only available for U.S. residents. No P.O. boxes please. Note: It may take several weeks to receive your prize so please be patient!
• Winners will be drawn after the contest ends and posted soon thereafter.
• Winners will be chosen using random.org!

Feel free to contact us via email at booksoulmates[at]gmail[dot]com if you have any questions.



22 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway!! :P

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  2. Ooohhh I've hears great things about this book. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!

    Diana :)

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  3. Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I've been thinking about picking this up for awhile. [:

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  4. These books sound good. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  5. Hottie Scottie, indeed! I think he might be next week's Book Boyfriend candidate. However, I cannot think of someone who looks like him...help me out! The only real Scottish celebs I know of are too old to play him too...*sigh*

    Great reviews, Isa! Shift was emotional intensity from front to back!

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  6. I completed the form and would love to read Shift :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

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  7. I've heard AWESOME things about these! I can't wait to read them!!

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  8. I filled out the form *fingers crossed*. Thanks for the awesome review! I'm so excited to read them now!

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  9. Thanks for the Giveaway! I've just entered. :)

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  10. Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to read this.

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  11. Reading while at red lights? Sounds nerve raking, i could never do it lol

    Thanks for the giveaway =D

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  12. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity. I have not read these and would love to.

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  13. Thanks for the giveaway. I have entered. Can't Wait to read the series. Tore923@aol.com

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to win these books. I entered!
    Angela
    adsanders77 at gmail dot com

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  15. Awesome giveaway! I would love to win! I know so many people have said it's amazing!

    TaraTagli at gmail dot com

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  16. I entered. Thanks for the chance.

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