Jeri Smith-Ready

Okay, this one was even better than the first, and that kept me up all night.

Colin and Andrew completed each other, nothing in this book went how I thought it was going to--I'd predict something and they're rapidly do the opposite, I LOVED it--and I loved all the layers in this book. With each story in this series, I learn more of Scotland, and of different issues, and this one had my favorite tropes, but in new and unexpected and beautiful ways.

I believed in every minute of this book and show more everything the characters did, and I can't wait to read more.

*goes to see which couple the next book features* show less

I loved Shade! So naturally, I couldn't wait for Shift to come out! I dove right in when it came and then in the shuffle of moving and all of that Shift got lost among the clutter of books surrounding my bed and packed up with my treasured YA books that I didn't trust the moving company with. So it took a while for me to find it again. And it sat here with a couple of dozen other books needing to be read. But then the YA Crush Tourney came about and Zachary and Aura and yes even Logan called show more to me. So I picked Shift up and started right where I left off and was instantly in the story again.

I love Jeri Smith-Ready's characters. They all have a serious side, but seem to be able to make a joke even at the worst of times. And they show their vulnerability. Aura had the worst of it in the last book, but in this one too, she gets a hard time. And she admits that she was hurt. Zachary still has to fight for Aura against the ghost of Logan. Hard to do when he's still hanging around! And then there is Logan. He's such an enigma. Do ghosts have feelings? Can he still love Aura? Or is it just memories of what they had?

But there is plot and plot drives this one very quickly. Always at their backs, Aura, Logan and Zachary have the DMP. And Aura and Zachary are afraid they will find out their secret. Logan knows and ghosts can't lie. What if he tells them? And something weird happens with Logan while he's with Aura. Something impossible. We get a lot of information about Aura's past in this sequel and the plot, especially the last half, is full of chases, surprise clues to Aura's past, and some very sexy love scenes. Had me blushing! That last half goes by so fast feels like you've only been reading an hour or so. Maybe that was all I was reading. I don't know I'm just glad there's a third book!

The characters were just as full and entertaining as before. I was yelling at some and pulling my hair out at the antics of others. And "as the plot thickened" as they say, I swear I was jumping up and down encouraging my two favorite characters.

If Shade was good, Shift was even better. I've been told that the second book is harder to write, but you couldn't tell it by Shift. It's a terrific sequel and surpasses Shade. Just waiting for Shine....

Anxiously waiting

Heather show less

4.5 Stars!!

Truly in the top favorites of the friends-to-lovers trope, this takes the #1 spot for me in this series so far!!

Robert has come to a place in his life where he’s finally ready to admit his attraction to men. Truthfully, it’s really all about one particular man and that’s Liam, his best friend since they were 6 years old. Robert’s all set to take the plunge but is scared that Liam’s personal hangups might prevent their ultimate happiness. However, he’s determined for show more Liam to be his first in all things M/M - being with him is simply natural, logical, inevitable.

Liam is quite stunned by Robert’s revelation. He’s always been attracted to Robert but knowing he was straight, he never entertained such thoughts. Liam doesn’t want to get too attached - he’ll gladly be Robert’s guide to the wonderful world of smex, but anything more is off the table due to his distrust of relationships and commitment in general. He wouldn’t dare think they could have something more, stubbornly believing the “friends with benefits” route is the way to go. However, it’s that very friendship that’s on the line, despite him not wanting to risk it. A relationship with Robert is his worst fear and greatest hope - will he make up his mind before it’s too late?

What made this so enjoyable was that both Robert and Liam were wholly likeable, with relatable fears and insecurities. It doesn’t hurt that this had great progression as they slowly learn each other in all the new wonderful ways. *waggles brows* What pushed this beyond most stories of this trope, was the evolution of these two. I’ve not subtly complained about the realistic need for a protracted introduction to sexy first times. For me, many have failed this miserably, but this right here, excelled - and it was hot, hot, hot, interspersed with some real tenderness, vulnerability, and intimacy. Oh yeah.

As my good friend Meags perfectly said, this series has it all. Topical angst, unbelievable sexy times, characters that are genuinely earnest, and feels that are so heartfelt. Definitely a standout series and one of my favorites! show less

Rating: 4.25/5

I never thought that one day I would say this, but I think that I'm having a serious case of "Sympathy For The Devil".

This book... Seriously, I have no idea how to write down my feelings about it. It tricked me so many times that I don't trust myself with my thoughts right now; the author did a fine job misleading me everytime I thought I knew which way the story was going, but then she would take an entirely different path, leaving me breathless and gasping until the very end. show more

And my GOD, what was that ending?! It should have been predictable, and yes I was rooting for him to have his way and for his plan to work, but he is the Devil, so why should he...

See? even now I'm confused..

It goes without saying that the story of Lucifer "Lou" and Gianna is one I'm not ready to forget anytime soon. show less