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Shade #3
Shine
In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed.
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.
As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.
As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.
399 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
38 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Jeri Smith-Ready
28Ìýbooks1,588ÌýfollowersJeri Smith-Ready has been writing fiction since the night she had her first double espresso. A steady stream of caffeine has produced twelve published novels for teens and adults since 2001.
Jeri lives in Maryland with her husband and two cats, who often play tag-team "sit in the author's lap and keep her from writing." (The cats, that is, not the husband. Though, actually...)
Jeri lives in Maryland with her husband and two cats, who often play tag-team "sit in the author's lap and keep her from writing." (The cats, that is, not the husband. Though, actually...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 477 reviews
December 26, 2016
by
Spoilers (Kind of)
I finally finish this book; it took me almost three years to finish this book LMFAO. Like I bought this book in 2014, started on it in 2014 and stopped reading the book and bought it on Audible still bored. Lol! Because the book was so LONG I wasn't able to finish it and here in December 2016 the day after Christmas I finally finish it. Smh!
Good book, though, I felt so bad for Zachary because he been through hell and back from being captured to being let go to being stabbed twice, run away to being shot. Like he couldn't catch a break.
My heart was racing while listening to this book on audible. I'm like he better not die. Glad he didn't because I would've been one mad girl lol.
PS:
The narrator did a good job with narrating the story.
by
Read
June 13, 2013
So is Logan in this one or what?!?!?!??!?!?!
Please would one of my lovely goodreads friends let me know once they read it? If it is Aura & Zach the whole book I'll pass...I don't feel like barfing into a bucket the entire book! Thank you!
So far from what I've heard I'll be passing on this one. It won't be good for my health. In fact I think eating glass and nails would be better for my health than the pain this book would cause.
November 4, 2011
Love--obviously!
Merged review:
LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! One of all my time favorite series, favorite characters and stories. You guys are going to adore SHINE. And trust me, the love story is better than ever!!!
Merged review:
LOVE LOVE LOVED this book! One of all my time favorite series, favorite characters and stories. You guys are going to adore SHINE. And trust me, the love story is better than ever!!!
August 28, 2012
So I'm at a loss. What do you say about the ending to a series that has provoked tears from experiencing every possible emotion that exists? (And possibly some that don't even have names yet.) What is there to be said about a book whose characters have infiltrated your heart and mind and made you sigh wistfully and reflectively at a song that sparked a memory or a moment that didn't happen to you but DAMNIT, you feel like it did. What do you do when you know how it ends? And now there's no more room for speculation because it's all laid out there already?
But then on second thought, why would I be sad that I can't internally speculate on the ending? Because Jeri Smith-Ready has concluded this series in the most beautiful, perfect way possible. There are tough realities to face and moments when you seriously question your bladder control. And might I suggest checking yourself into a hospital beforehand. You'll need access to medical professionals and a code cart with defibrillator after the first chapter. And also potentially after THIS ONE PART. And then the other part. I propose that JSR is the crowned ruler of YA relationships, because this book is straight up sexual. (Remember the River Scene in Shift? Yeeeahh, you haven't seen anything yet.)
Aura has always been a strong female lead, but she really (get ready for the horrible pun!) shines in the conclusion. Quick-thinking, wily, masterful Aura kicks mass amount of ass. I feel this needs to be said: wine bottle weaponry. But she's not ashamed to show her vulnerable side, either. She's such a real, relatable protagonist, so it's no wonder two amazing guys are in love with her. As a female fan of this series, it's easy to get caught up in Logan and Zachary, but Shine is Aura's book. And JSR establishes that well. (Okay, okay, and there's plenty of love for the boys, too.)
See, books like the Shade trilogy make it really hard to read any other books. I compare the lack of character development and complexity of other novels to the likes of these and they pale in comparison. These are books I'll be revisiting numerous times in my life. I'm not ready to let these characters go, nor will I ever be. The raw emotion, sadness, pain, and LOVE in these books is paramount. This series, these characters, these words... they are true loves of mine and they don't just go away when the book covers are closed. (I have a Logan playlist, if that tells you anything.)
What JSR just did here, THAT is epic romance.
But then on second thought, why would I be sad that I can't internally speculate on the ending? Because Jeri Smith-Ready has concluded this series in the most beautiful, perfect way possible. There are tough realities to face and moments when you seriously question your bladder control. And might I suggest checking yourself into a hospital beforehand. You'll need access to medical professionals and a code cart with defibrillator after the first chapter. And also potentially after THIS ONE PART. And then the other part. I propose that JSR is the crowned ruler of YA relationships, because this book is straight up sexual. (Remember the River Scene in Shift? Yeeeahh, you haven't seen anything yet.)
Aura has always been a strong female lead, but she really (get ready for the horrible pun!) shines in the conclusion. Quick-thinking, wily, masterful Aura kicks mass amount of ass. I feel this needs to be said: wine bottle weaponry. But she's not ashamed to show her vulnerable side, either. She's such a real, relatable protagonist, so it's no wonder two amazing guys are in love with her. As a female fan of this series, it's easy to get caught up in Logan and Zachary, but Shine is Aura's book. And JSR establishes that well. (Okay, okay, and there's plenty of love for the boys, too.)
See, books like the Shade trilogy make it really hard to read any other books. I compare the lack of character development and complexity of other novels to the likes of these and they pale in comparison. These are books I'll be revisiting numerous times in my life. I'm not ready to let these characters go, nor will I ever be. The raw emotion, sadness, pain, and LOVE in these books is paramount. This series, these characters, these words... they are true loves of mine and they don't just go away when the book covers are closed. (I have a Logan playlist, if that tells you anything.)
What JSR just did here, THAT is epic romance.
August 7, 2015
As much as I have loved this series, and loved Logan, I was super excited to get a chance to have a book with just Aura and Zach in it. I adored Logan, but I have always loved Zach and his Scottish brogue.
It has taken me forever to finish this trilogy and I couldn't even give you a good excuse as to why other than in the madness of blog tours, ARCs, and everything else, I had completely forgotten about it, which is s shame because this is a fabulous series. So well written and so much fun.
Even though this last installment was a bit more serious than the others, it was also my favorite of the bunch. I loved seeing Aura grow up and even though she will always love Logan, it was nice seeing her move on and see what was real and tangible right in front of her. It was nice to see her finally picturing her future and wanting it. To maker her wishes and dreams a reality while still trying to solve the mystery behind the Shift and look out for those she loves.
A lot is discovered, a lot happens, and a lot of changes occur for everyone, not just Zach and Aura. We meet some new people (loved Martin!), and of course see some very familiar faces.
All in all this was a fabulous conclusion to the trilogy and I am so sad that it is over but happy at the same time because I got exactly what I wanted from it and left the series with a smile on my face.
It has taken me forever to finish this trilogy and I couldn't even give you a good excuse as to why other than in the madness of blog tours, ARCs, and everything else, I had completely forgotten about it, which is s shame because this is a fabulous series. So well written and so much fun.
Even though this last installment was a bit more serious than the others, it was also my favorite of the bunch. I loved seeing Aura grow up and even though she will always love Logan, it was nice seeing her move on and see what was real and tangible right in front of her. It was nice to see her finally picturing her future and wanting it. To maker her wishes and dreams a reality while still trying to solve the mystery behind the Shift and look out for those she loves.
A lot is discovered, a lot happens, and a lot of changes occur for everyone, not just Zach and Aura. We meet some new people (loved Martin!), and of course see some very familiar faces.
All in all this was a fabulous conclusion to the trilogy and I am so sad that it is over but happy at the same time because I got exactly what I wanted from it and left the series with a smile on my face.
June 13, 2012
Quick review:
Cover: Eye catching color
Rating: PG-17
Thumbs Up: 4.5
Overall: A satisfying conclusion to a series!
Characters: Very Well Written
Plot: Hearth Thumbing, can’t breathe at times and emotional story.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Series Ender
Recommend: YES
Book Boyfriend: Zach but I might to Dylan for my pic?
SUMMARY (60 words or less)
Oh man, I’ve been disappointed with YA series sequels and enders in the last year. But finally someone does it right. After the first chapter, I couldn’t breathe for not knowing. I think I took my first breath when I had actual face time with my guy. But I couldn’t ask for a better conclusion to a series.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
Audio Review
I’m glad they used the same narrator, Khristine Hvam, throughout the series for me. That I am so grateful for. It makes it easier to get into the story without having to adapt to a new voice. I really enjoyed this audio book. I love her impression of Zachary. Gosh, I’m going to miss this series but will look forward to more from this narrator.
Cover: Eye catching color
Rating: PG-17
Thumbs Up: 4.5
Overall: A satisfying conclusion to a series!
Characters: Very Well Written
Plot: Hearth Thumbing, can’t breathe at times and emotional story.
Page Turner: Yes
Series Cont.? Series Ender
Recommend: YES
Book Boyfriend: Zach but I might to Dylan for my pic?
SUMMARY (60 words or less)
Oh man, I’ve been disappointed with YA series sequels and enders in the last year. But finally someone does it right. After the first chapter, I couldn’t breathe for not knowing. I think I took my first breath when I had actual face time with my guy. But I couldn’t ask for a better conclusion to a series.
To see my full review and yummy pic, check out my blog post below.
Audio Review
I’m glad they used the same narrator, Khristine Hvam, throughout the series for me. That I am so grateful for. It makes it easier to get into the story without having to adapt to a new voice. I really enjoyed this audio book. I love her impression of Zachary. Gosh, I’m going to miss this series but will look forward to more from this narrator.
May 28, 2011
3.5 stars The story is back on track after the messy affairs in book two, though I didn't enjoy this quite as much as book one. Although there are interesting developments, some genuine surprises, and all the icky scenarios of the last book are a thing of the past, I think I just disengaged myself too much from the story to really enjoy this one. An overall satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, however. I just kind of wish book two didn't exist.
May 31, 2012
I'm seriously not good at writing reviews for the final book. It's like I don't know what to say even though I enjoyed and loved it. I just wanted to sit down, think of everything that happened and let out a contented sigh and a satisfied smile. Then be at peace. lol! But for Logan, Aura and Zachary who had all been a very fascinating and lovely characters, who made me swoon and grin so much it hurts and who provided me so much entertainment and happiness I guess it's just fair to share everyone how much I enjoyed this series.
Shine was a really great book and I would say that it brilliantly concluded this wonderful series. I love how everything was revealed, resolved and finally fulfilled. The characters were well developed, the discoveries and truths about the myths were amazing and the ending was just stunning and fantastic.
Aura on the previous book, to be honest, had me really worried and anxious in every action she did or decisions she made. But in this book I seriously loved her and trusted her. She was more sure, more determined, stronger and braver. I love how how much she cared for Zachary and how committed she was to him. Her determination to stop the Shift and help Shades to become ghost and passed on even if it was risky was amazing and impressive. She definitely grew up in here and now I can totally say she's pretty kick-ass heroine!
Zachary. I just seriously love this guys so so much. Not because he did some kick-ass stunts and tricks and beat up all the bad guys but because I saw a very vulnerable side of him in here. He went through some pretty serious sh*t that almost had me bawling my eyes out and my heart ached for him. Still he never gave up, for Aura. He was a very impressive and remarkable character and I was just really touched by his dedication and love for Aura.
I was very much touched and moved by this two. They went through a lot of things here but they always overcome it together. It was heartwarming and also very sweet. And I thank Jeri Smith-Ready for giving us so many lovely, cute, steamy and sweet scenes and making me swoon countless times before finally wrapping everything up.
The other thing that made me enjoy this book so much was the mystery about the Shift and Shine, the myth in Newgrange in Ireland.It has always fascinated me since I started reading this series and I really loved discovering the truths behind it.
And one more thing that I really really loved Jeri Smith-Ready did here was she made Logan present, I mean, his memories were always present. He was always remembered and I even appreciated his character more. It was very heartwarming and touching.
I really loved this series, it was beautifully written, remarkably unique and very captivating. Jeri Smith-Ready is a very wonderful and talented writer. I so encourage you guys to read this series, you'll never regret it. :)
This review is also posted at
Shine was a really great book and I would say that it brilliantly concluded this wonderful series. I love how everything was revealed, resolved and finally fulfilled. The characters were well developed, the discoveries and truths about the myths were amazing and the ending was just stunning and fantastic.
Aura on the previous book, to be honest, had me really worried and anxious in every action she did or decisions she made. But in this book I seriously loved her and trusted her. She was more sure, more determined, stronger and braver. I love how how much she cared for Zachary and how committed she was to him. Her determination to stop the Shift and help Shades to become ghost and passed on even if it was risky was amazing and impressive. She definitely grew up in here and now I can totally say she's pretty kick-ass heroine!
Zachary. I just seriously love this guys so so much. Not because he did some kick-ass stunts and tricks and beat up all the bad guys but because I saw a very vulnerable side of him in here. He went through some pretty serious sh*t that almost had me bawling my eyes out and my heart ached for him. Still he never gave up, for Aura. He was a very impressive and remarkable character and I was just really touched by his dedication and love for Aura.
I was very much touched and moved by this two. They went through a lot of things here but they always overcome it together. It was heartwarming and also very sweet. And I thank Jeri Smith-Ready for giving us so many lovely, cute, steamy and sweet scenes and making me swoon countless times before finally wrapping everything up.
The other thing that made me enjoy this book so much was the mystery about the Shift and Shine, the myth in Newgrange in Ireland.It has always fascinated me since I started reading this series and I really loved discovering the truths behind it.
And one more thing that I really really loved Jeri Smith-Ready did here was she made Logan present, I mean, his memories were always present. He was always remembered and I even appreciated his character more. It was very heartwarming and touching.
I really loved this series, it was beautifully written, remarkably unique and very captivating. Jeri Smith-Ready is a very wonderful and talented writer. I so encourage you guys to read this series, you'll never regret it. :)
This review is also posted at
June 3, 2012
The first two books had amazing covers, this one....sucks.
After I finished book
What Aura knows could end the Shift forever...will she Shade out? Or will she Shine?
Before leaving for his flight to Scotland, Zachary is detained by the DMP and taken to Area 3A for unknown purposes. Aura fights to break him free, and when he finally is, something about him has changed. Something that haunts him and he refuses to talk about.
As the DMP start putting out drafts for kids over 18 years old, Aura and Zachary leave the country with fake identities in order to escape the DMP and their lies.
When they land in Ireland, Aura must face acts of desire, love, fear, and secrets to end the Shift, once and for all.
I was so freaking tired after I finished this book.
I have no idea why.
It took some time to get into the story, but once it did it was a roller coaster of emotion. After I finished it, I wanted to scream, cry, sleep, eat, sleep some more, all at once.
Even though I'm still Team Logan, I really loved Zachary in this book. I did notice the absence of Logan, and the story paid for it but it truly was an epic conclusion to the trilogy
Wait....there's no more?
That's the end?
No more Logan?
Or Zachary?
But let's be serious, guys. It ended perfectly, and they really couldn't make more of a story out of it.
But I still want more.
After I finished book
What Aura knows could end the Shift forever...will she Shade out? Or will she Shine?
Before leaving for his flight to Scotland, Zachary is detained by the DMP and taken to Area 3A for unknown purposes. Aura fights to break him free, and when he finally is, something about him has changed. Something that haunts him and he refuses to talk about.
As the DMP start putting out drafts for kids over 18 years old, Aura and Zachary leave the country with fake identities in order to escape the DMP and their lies.
When they land in Ireland, Aura must face acts of desire, love, fear, and secrets to end the Shift, once and for all.
I was so freaking tired after I finished this book.
I have no idea why.
It took some time to get into the story, but once it did it was a roller coaster of emotion. After I finished it, I wanted to scream, cry, sleep, eat, sleep some more, all at once.
Even though I'm still Team Logan, I really loved Zachary in this book. I did notice the absence of Logan, and the story paid for it but it truly was an epic conclusion to the trilogy
Wait....there's no more?
That's the end?
No more Logan?
Or Zachary?
But let's be serious, guys. It ended perfectly, and they really couldn't make more of a story out of it.
But I still want more.
June 17, 2012
Spoilers
Things are finally looking up for Aura - Logan has said his final goodbye and is at peace, she and Zachary are officially together and Aura finally knows the truth about her father and the part she played in the Shift. Aura’s brief period of happiness is shattered when she finds out that Zach has been taken into custody by the DMP/government for being a suspect in the bombing of a plane. Aura is unable to visit Zach, so she starts to investigate the bombing in the hope of freeing Zach. Aura is determined to unravel the truth behind the terrorist attack and is soon swept up in conspiracies, espionage and corruption. When Zach is let go by the authorities, Aura and Zach go to Ireland in the hope that they can put an end to the Shift.
Aura spends the first half of the book moaning and whining about Zachary. It’s understandable that she’s upset that Zach’s locked up and in danger but her complaining never stopped. I was frustrated with her attitude and I would have liked for Aura to have been stronger and to have tried to stay positive. Zachary is depressed for most of the book because of how he was treated when he was in DMP custody, again I could understand why he was miserable but reading about two angsty teenagers who are constantly down in the dumps doesn’t make for thrilling reading. I’ve never really taken to Zachary; I’ve always preferred Logan over Zach. Logan might not have been perfect but him and Aura were friends since childhood and loved each other for years, whereas Zach and Aura didn’t really share anything real and the only thing that tied them together was Zachary being the last of the pre shifters and Aura being the first of the post-shifters.
In previous books, Zach acted like Aura was treating him like crap because she was confused about her feelings as she was still grieving for Logan. Logan wasn't just her boyfriend he was her best friend since childhood and not only did he die he came back as a ghost, yet Zach still gave her hard time, how was she suppose to properly grieve for Logan when he was still there as a ghost.
Zach acted like he was all patient and understanding but he was just a whiny bitch and he even had the nerve to compare Aura losing Logan with him 'losing' his ex-girlfriend because she moved to another country - seriously Zach your girlfriend of a few months moving to another country is nothing like your first love and lifelong best friend dying.
I was disappointed that Gina never found out about Aura’s father, she had a right to know even if it would hurt her. I would have liked to see Gina move on from Anthony. It’s a shame because Gina’s been mourning him for over 18 years and hasn’t been able to move on as she still loves him yet he had no problem at all falling in love and sleeping with Gina’s little sister. I felt sorry for Gina being betrayed by her sister and Anthony � I think she deserved her own HEA. Anthony just came across as an awful person - sleeping with a married woman, then haunting her so much that she ended her marriage and then having sex with her younger sister. I was actually more interested in Gina/Anthony/Gina’s sister’s story than I was with Aura and Zach. I wish that the author would write a prequel/novella that would shed some light on their story.
I thought Megan was a good friend to Aura, I wish Aura would have been more supportive when Megan and Mikey broke up. I wasn’t impressed with Dylan once again going after his brother’s girlfriends � honestly it’s like the guy can’t date a girl who hasn’t already dated one of his brothers.
I was pleasantly surprised that Zach turned out to be a virgin, I can’t even remember the last YA book I read where the hero and heroine were as sexually experienced as each other. It’s beyond tiresome and irritating reading about the whole wide-eyed, blushing virgin heroine with the ‘bad boy� slutty hero � so kudos to Jeri Smith-Ready for not inflicting that unwelcome trope on readers.
I was quite bored with the first half of book because nothing much of significance happened. Things picked up once Aura and Zach went to Ireland; there was more action and the storyline actually felt like it was going somewhere. I did think there were a few too many bad guys � the DMP, SecuriLab, Nighthawk and the Children of the Sun cult � I just thought it was a bit too much. The resolution with the Shift was satisfying, I was worried that everything with the ghosts/shades and the Shift would just magically go away but there was realistic and gratifying end to the Shift.
Shade was by far the best book in the trilogy, I wasn’t very impressed with Shift but this instalment was an improvement but it didn’t quite reach the standard of the first book.
Things are finally looking up for Aura - Logan has said his final goodbye and is at peace, she and Zachary are officially together and Aura finally knows the truth about her father and the part she played in the Shift. Aura’s brief period of happiness is shattered when she finds out that Zach has been taken into custody by the DMP/government for being a suspect in the bombing of a plane. Aura is unable to visit Zach, so she starts to investigate the bombing in the hope of freeing Zach. Aura is determined to unravel the truth behind the terrorist attack and is soon swept up in conspiracies, espionage and corruption. When Zach is let go by the authorities, Aura and Zach go to Ireland in the hope that they can put an end to the Shift.
Aura spends the first half of the book moaning and whining about Zachary. It’s understandable that she’s upset that Zach’s locked up and in danger but her complaining never stopped. I was frustrated with her attitude and I would have liked for Aura to have been stronger and to have tried to stay positive. Zachary is depressed for most of the book because of how he was treated when he was in DMP custody, again I could understand why he was miserable but reading about two angsty teenagers who are constantly down in the dumps doesn’t make for thrilling reading. I’ve never really taken to Zachary; I’ve always preferred Logan over Zach. Logan might not have been perfect but him and Aura were friends since childhood and loved each other for years, whereas Zach and Aura didn’t really share anything real and the only thing that tied them together was Zachary being the last of the pre shifters and Aura being the first of the post-shifters.
In previous books, Zach acted like Aura was treating him like crap because she was confused about her feelings as she was still grieving for Logan. Logan wasn't just her boyfriend he was her best friend since childhood and not only did he die he came back as a ghost, yet Zach still gave her hard time, how was she suppose to properly grieve for Logan when he was still there as a ghost.
Zach acted like he was all patient and understanding but he was just a whiny bitch and he even had the nerve to compare Aura losing Logan with him 'losing' his ex-girlfriend because she moved to another country - seriously Zach your girlfriend of a few months moving to another country is nothing like your first love and lifelong best friend dying.
I was disappointed that Gina never found out about Aura’s father, she had a right to know even if it would hurt her. I would have liked to see Gina move on from Anthony. It’s a shame because Gina’s been mourning him for over 18 years and hasn’t been able to move on as she still loves him yet he had no problem at all falling in love and sleeping with Gina’s little sister. I felt sorry for Gina being betrayed by her sister and Anthony � I think she deserved her own HEA. Anthony just came across as an awful person - sleeping with a married woman, then haunting her so much that she ended her marriage and then having sex with her younger sister. I was actually more interested in Gina/Anthony/Gina’s sister’s story than I was with Aura and Zach. I wish that the author would write a prequel/novella that would shed some light on their story.
I thought Megan was a good friend to Aura, I wish Aura would have been more supportive when Megan and Mikey broke up. I wasn’t impressed with Dylan once again going after his brother’s girlfriends � honestly it’s like the guy can’t date a girl who hasn’t already dated one of his brothers.
I was pleasantly surprised that Zach turned out to be a virgin, I can’t even remember the last YA book I read where the hero and heroine were as sexually experienced as each other. It’s beyond tiresome and irritating reading about the whole wide-eyed, blushing virgin heroine with the ‘bad boy� slutty hero � so kudos to Jeri Smith-Ready for not inflicting that unwelcome trope on readers.
I was quite bored with the first half of book because nothing much of significance happened. Things picked up once Aura and Zach went to Ireland; there was more action and the storyline actually felt like it was going somewhere. I did think there were a few too many bad guys � the DMP, SecuriLab, Nighthawk and the Children of the Sun cult � I just thought it was a bit too much. The resolution with the Shift was satisfying, I was worried that everything with the ghosts/shades and the Shift would just magically go away but there was realistic and gratifying end to the Shift.
Shade was by far the best book in the trilogy, I wasn’t very impressed with Shift but this instalment was an improvement but it didn’t quite reach the standard of the first book.
May 2, 2015
This review is also available over at
_________________________
Actual rating is 4.5 stars.
So. That's it then. This series is over. You know, before I read the first book, I never had high hopes for the series. I thought it would be like all those other overrated paranormal romances out there in the YA world, and I thought this would be a "meh" series at best. But I will say it right now: I. Love. This. Series.
I so loved how this book wasted no time and just jumped right into action at the beginning. There's a certain event the first few chapters that causes shit to hit the fan, and I was immediately pulled. Zachary is captured by the DMP, and Aura has to fight to get him out of there, and they'll have to find out more about Aura's past and the secrets of the Shift—and possibly a way to end it.
Throughout reading the book, I felt a pang of emptiness from time to time, like something was missing. Probably because something was missing. :c For those of you who have read the second book, you'd know that Logan passed on, and there was a point where I was hesitant to read this because I didn't think it would be the same without Logan. I love him so much, and I'll always stay on his team.
Most of you who've read my review of the second book know that I was so pissed about Aura and Zachary being together. Like, I was not here for it at all. But I've definitely warmed up to them in this book, and think they're a pretty decent couple. They did have a lot of very cheesy moments, though, and most of them made me chuckle even though they were meant to be taken seriously.
I expected a very explosive finale, but this book kind of let me down in that aspect, because the climax wasn't all that explosive. There are still questions unanswered for me. And at the end of the book, it still felt...unfinished to me. You know that sense of completion you feel after finishing a series, how you just know that it's really truly over? I didn't feel that with this one.
It's safe to say that this series is definitely one of the few YA ghost series' out there that I really really love. I do wish that it had a more climactic and satisfying ending, though, and for some people it might have, but unfortunately not for me. But I adore this series as a whole and definitely recommend it. :)
P.S. I love you, Logan.
_________________________
Actual rating is 4.5 stars.
So. That's it then. This series is over. You know, before I read the first book, I never had high hopes for the series. I thought it would be like all those other overrated paranormal romances out there in the YA world, and I thought this would be a "meh" series at best. But I will say it right now: I. Love. This. Series.
I so loved how this book wasted no time and just jumped right into action at the beginning. There's a certain event the first few chapters that causes shit to hit the fan, and I was immediately pulled. Zachary is captured by the DMP, and Aura has to fight to get him out of there, and they'll have to find out more about Aura's past and the secrets of the Shift—and possibly a way to end it.
Throughout reading the book, I felt a pang of emptiness from time to time, like something was missing. Probably because something was missing. :c For those of you who have read the second book, you'd know that Logan passed on, and there was a point where I was hesitant to read this because I didn't think it would be the same without Logan. I love him so much, and I'll always stay on his team.
Most of you who've read my review of the second book know that I was so pissed about Aura and Zachary being together. Like, I was not here for it at all. But I've definitely warmed up to them in this book, and think they're a pretty decent couple. They did have a lot of very cheesy moments, though, and most of them made me chuckle even though they were meant to be taken seriously.
I expected a very explosive finale, but this book kind of let me down in that aspect, because the climax wasn't all that explosive. There are still questions unanswered for me. And at the end of the book, it still felt...unfinished to me. You know that sense of completion you feel after finishing a series, how you just know that it's really truly over? I didn't feel that with this one.
It's safe to say that this series is definitely one of the few YA ghost series' out there that I really really love. I do wish that it had a more climactic and satisfying ending, though, and for some people it might have, but unfortunately not for me. But I adore this series as a whole and definitely recommend it. :)
P.S. I love you, Logan.
May 3, 2012
Review courtesy of
From the beginning, the Shade series has had a strong sense of direction, a clear endgame that has allowed readers to fully immerse themselves in Aura’s ghost filled world. In a word, Jeri Smith-Ready established trust between herself and her readers, and in SHINE, she rewards that trust with a completely emotionally and intellectually fulfilling conclusion. I loved every single moment.
One of the many things that makes the Shade series so fantastic is the very honest and occasionally messy portrayal of teen characters. So often in YA fiction, issues get sanitized or glossed over. Neither SHINE nor the preceding books in this series shy away from the raw and emotional scenes that give these characters breath and life. There is nothing gratuitous about anything in this book, but when characters screw up, we see it. When they have to face the unpleasant consequences of their actions, we see it. Likewise when new experiences occur, we don’t get the everything-is-perfect-right-away scene. We get the pain, the awkwardness, the shyness, which makes the whole thing more tender, more sweet.
How good is a book when you’re already bemoaning the fact that it’s the last one by the end of the first page? Expect emotions to run wild while reading SHINE. Outrage at the increasingly totalitarian actions taken by the DMP, exhilaration when Aura and Zach are finally reunited, grief filled heartache at last moments and remembered memories of Logan, bittersweet goodbyes, tragic losses, and hope so bright and shiny you can almost taste it. SHINE is everything I wanted it to be and more. I only wish it didn’t have to end.
Very few YA series earn readers love so completely with a debut, fewer still take that love and fan it into a blaze of emotion so intense that it burns a permanent place in your heart. The Shade series does that. Every page is better than the last and SHINE is the almost painfully perfect ending to one of my all time favorite YA series. Make plans to hit the bookstore on May 1st. You won’t regret it.
Sexual Content:
A non graphic sex scene, several implied sex scenes
From the beginning, the Shade series has had a strong sense of direction, a clear endgame that has allowed readers to fully immerse themselves in Aura’s ghost filled world. In a word, Jeri Smith-Ready established trust between herself and her readers, and in SHINE, she rewards that trust with a completely emotionally and intellectually fulfilling conclusion. I loved every single moment.
One of the many things that makes the Shade series so fantastic is the very honest and occasionally messy portrayal of teen characters. So often in YA fiction, issues get sanitized or glossed over. Neither SHINE nor the preceding books in this series shy away from the raw and emotional scenes that give these characters breath and life. There is nothing gratuitous about anything in this book, but when characters screw up, we see it. When they have to face the unpleasant consequences of their actions, we see it. Likewise when new experiences occur, we don’t get the everything-is-perfect-right-away scene. We get the pain, the awkwardness, the shyness, which makes the whole thing more tender, more sweet.
How good is a book when you’re already bemoaning the fact that it’s the last one by the end of the first page? Expect emotions to run wild while reading SHINE. Outrage at the increasingly totalitarian actions taken by the DMP, exhilaration when Aura and Zach are finally reunited, grief filled heartache at last moments and remembered memories of Logan, bittersweet goodbyes, tragic losses, and hope so bright and shiny you can almost taste it. SHINE is everything I wanted it to be and more. I only wish it didn’t have to end.
Very few YA series earn readers love so completely with a debut, fewer still take that love and fan it into a blaze of emotion so intense that it burns a permanent place in your heart. The Shade series does that. Every page is better than the last and SHINE is the almost painfully perfect ending to one of my all time favorite YA series. Make plans to hit the bookstore on May 1st. You won’t regret it.
Sexual Content:
A non graphic sex scene, several implied sex scenes
October 3, 2015
A book full of danger, intrigue, pain, isolation, anguish, friendship, determination, sacrifice and love. A wonderful end to an amazing trilogy.
Stepping into the book was like taking a trip with friends. You feel the emotions rolling around like thunder hitting the world, the need to solve the riddle keeps the book glued to your hands, the want to heal the wounds has you reaching for the emotional first aid box and all you really want to do is wrap your arms around the book to hug them and keep them safe.
I really enjoyed this book. Jeris' writting brings everything to life whether it be the pain and loss or the love and joy, you feel it all.
It was a diiferent experience reading this book than any other book I have ever read. "Knowing" Aura, Zach and Logan made it like reading an autbiography of a friend. This was made more real when Aura stepped of the plane. I walked through the airport with her and out along the M1. The drive to Newgrange, walking through the arch arbour, the bridge over the River Boyne and the bus ride leading us to the focal point of all 3 books, Newgrange itself. I am looking forward to getting hold of the Audio book and being able to listen to this part and the Hill Of Tara with my eyes shut so i can REALLY picture it. Her disciptions of the places are beautiful and real. (Mind you she didn't mention that at the Hill Of Tara the rain goes horizontally where it is so windy.)
Aura and Zachs struggle to be with each other is a beautiful modern day fairytale revolving around a land that is still steeped in fairies and mythology. Let's hope that they find there happy ever after. It's what they deserve.
Thankyou Jeri.
FOR WHAT IS SEEN IS TEMPORARY, BUT WHAT IS UNSEEN IS ETERNAL
we will love and hold these books in our hearts. Always
Stepping into the book was like taking a trip with friends. You feel the emotions rolling around like thunder hitting the world, the need to solve the riddle keeps the book glued to your hands, the want to heal the wounds has you reaching for the emotional first aid box and all you really want to do is wrap your arms around the book to hug them and keep them safe.
I really enjoyed this book. Jeris' writting brings everything to life whether it be the pain and loss or the love and joy, you feel it all.
It was a diiferent experience reading this book than any other book I have ever read. "Knowing" Aura, Zach and Logan made it like reading an autbiography of a friend. This was made more real when Aura stepped of the plane. I walked through the airport with her and out along the M1. The drive to Newgrange, walking through the arch arbour, the bridge over the River Boyne and the bus ride leading us to the focal point of all 3 books, Newgrange itself. I am looking forward to getting hold of the Audio book and being able to listen to this part and the Hill Of Tara with my eyes shut so i can REALLY picture it. Her disciptions of the places are beautiful and real. (Mind you she didn't mention that at the Hill Of Tara the rain goes horizontally where it is so windy.)
Aura and Zachs struggle to be with each other is a beautiful modern day fairytale revolving around a land that is still steeped in fairies and mythology. Let's hope that they find there happy ever after. It's what they deserve.
Thankyou Jeri.
FOR WHAT IS SEEN IS TEMPORARY, BUT WHAT IS UNSEEN IS ETERNAL
we will love and hold these books in our hearts. Always
June 9, 2012
There will be spoilers! This and other reviews can also be found on my blog :
Oh my sweet goodness! The first chapter almost killed me!
Shine is the perfect finale to the Shade series! Oh my sweet goodness! The first chapter almost killed me! I was sitting on the edge of my couch, my eyes as big as saucers, my reaction the same as Aura’s : ‘No! No, that just can’t be true! Not Zach! No!!!!� *sob* I almost did a Joey and put my book in the freezer, but that just wouldn’t do! For two reasons � one- I had to know what was going to happen, even if I was devastated � two � I have a kindle, and I don’t think it would have taken it kindly if I had left it in the freezer.
It didn’t take me long at all to be extremely happy to continue reading. Aura is a great protagonist; she’s strong, smart, funny, independent and loveable. I also love her friends, and of course, I really, really love Zach :D The fact that Aura stays friends with Logan’s family is something that says a lot about her in my opinion.
Of course, there was a whole lot of heartbreak in this volume, and it wasn’t only about the very first chapter when I was cursing my tired eyes. Beware, there will be spoilers, because there are some things I don’t know how to explain if I don’t share what is up.
Oh my sweet goodness! The first chapter almost killed me!
Shine is the perfect finale to the Shade series! Oh my sweet goodness! The first chapter almost killed me! I was sitting on the edge of my couch, my eyes as big as saucers, my reaction the same as Aura’s : ‘No! No, that just can’t be true! Not Zach! No!!!!� *sob* I almost did a Joey and put my book in the freezer, but that just wouldn’t do! For two reasons � one- I had to know what was going to happen, even if I was devastated � two � I have a kindle, and I don’t think it would have taken it kindly if I had left it in the freezer.
It didn’t take me long at all to be extremely happy to continue reading. Aura is a great protagonist; she’s strong, smart, funny, independent and loveable. I also love her friends, and of course, I really, really love Zach :D The fact that Aura stays friends with Logan’s family is something that says a lot about her in my opinion.
Of course, there was a whole lot of heartbreak in this volume, and it wasn’t only about the very first chapter when I was cursing my tired eyes. Beware, there will be spoilers, because there are some things I don’t know how to explain if I don’t share what is up.
January 27, 2021
We were linked, for the endless now that felt every bit like forever.An overall decent conclusion to this trilogy which was like a pack of sour gummy worms, a type of candy I enjoy but that I can't have too often.
August 5, 2011
Jeri did it again! You're going to love, love, love SHINE! Wonderful conclusion to the trilogy.
April 12, 2018
This was a great finale, the author prioritised the story over the romance I feel and I really appreciated that.
I think it was so important that Aura let herself open up to Zachary about how special Logan was to her and I really feel that was such an important part of the story and that it's okay to move on from your first love.
I think it was so important that Aura let herself open up to Zachary about how special Logan was to her and I really feel that was such an important part of the story and that it's okay to move on from your first love.
May 14, 2012
(Warning: I normally try really hard to keep my reviews brief, but I completely abandoned that philosphy in the following review. You have been warned.)Ìý *deep breath*
SHINE is one of those books that, while you are reading it, the rest of the world disappears. While you are reading, you keep thinking to yourself that there has never been a book this good written before, ever. It is books like SHINE that keep us readers breathing.
One of my most favorite things about SHINE is Aura. She felt even more real to me. It’s amazing to go back to SHADE and see how she’s grown and changed,
and she has some personal reflection on this in SHINE that I loved. I love,
love, love that Aura has extraordinary characteristics that are just her.
She doesn’t need to be a warrior princess or sex goddess or whatever.Ìý Aura is a great character because of her personality and her voice and her
heart, and I love her!
Of course my other favorite thing about SHINE are those Shade Boys!Ìý You Logan Lovers, don't worry.Ìý Although he definitely passes on at the end of SHIFT, Logan still has a way of stealing your heart in SHINE.Ìý Someone like Logan will never fade away, and the way Jeri integrates him into SHINE is perfect.Ìý For you SHADEboys Twitter followers, you will definitely understand why Logan and Zachary are so chummy online.
Speaking of Zachary. SPEAKING OF ZACHARY!! I just can't. If I start, I won't be able to stop, and then I'd spoil everything. But everything Zach does and says in SHINE reemphasizes the rightness of every second I spent fighting for Zach in the YA Sisterhood's Crush Tourney last summer.Ìý I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. I have so, so much to say about that first night in Ballyrock Castle, fmfmfmmmjushfjbhkjksbfkakl!!! (<----That's me putting tape on my mouth.) Okay, I will say it not only made my heart melt, but it was the first time I’ve read a
really well-written love scene from the female POV in a YA book. Seriously.
Plus, it was really hot.
Although no one wants to see the Shade Series end, Jeri makes it little less painful by writing some really great scenes with the other characters.Ìý I particularity loved Dylan, Mickey, Siobhan, and Conner in SHINE.Ìý In fact, I'm rooting for a Siobhan and Conner spin-off! (This will never happen in real life, but it's sure happening in my head!)
I'm not gonna lie, Zach and Aura go through hell in this book, but on the whole, SHINE has the perfect mix of humor, suspense, love, sadness, and heart. This, to me, is where Jeri Smith-Ready shines (heh heh) as an author, because this balance is so hard to find (at least it seems that way in a lot of the books I read). Brilliant. Heartbreakingly, joyously brilliant.
I’m serious when I say that SHINE was my favorite in the series. There were moments while reading that my heart wanted to burst and I sighed and cried and hugged my book to my chest.
It was all the nuances and the funny lines, and just the rightness of how everything turns out. I really, truly loved how Jeri ended Aura, Zach, and Logan's story (or their written story anyway!). And I am so honored and overjoyed that our little blog has been along for the ride.
SHINE will be released Tuesday, May 1st. And if you haven't preordered it yet, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DO IT NOW!
SHINE is one of those books that, while you are reading it, the rest of the world disappears. While you are reading, you keep thinking to yourself that there has never been a book this good written before, ever. It is books like SHINE that keep us readers breathing.
One of my most favorite things about SHINE is Aura. She felt even more real to me. It’s amazing to go back to SHADE and see how she’s grown and changed,
and she has some personal reflection on this in SHINE that I loved. I love,
love, love that Aura has extraordinary characteristics that are just her.
She doesn’t need to be a warrior princess or sex goddess or whatever.Ìý Aura is a great character because of her personality and her voice and her
heart, and I love her!
Of course my other favorite thing about SHINE are those Shade Boys!Ìý You Logan Lovers, don't worry.Ìý Although he definitely passes on at the end of SHIFT, Logan still has a way of stealing your heart in SHINE.Ìý Someone like Logan will never fade away, and the way Jeri integrates him into SHINE is perfect.Ìý For you SHADEboys Twitter followers, you will definitely understand why Logan and Zachary are so chummy online.
Speaking of Zachary. SPEAKING OF ZACHARY!! I just can't. If I start, I won't be able to stop, and then I'd spoil everything. But everything Zach does and says in SHINE reemphasizes the rightness of every second I spent fighting for Zach in the YA Sisterhood's Crush Tourney last summer.Ìý I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. I have so, so much to say about that first night in Ballyrock Castle, fmfmfmmmjushfjbhkjksbfkakl!!! (<----That's me putting tape on my mouth.) Okay, I will say it not only made my heart melt, but it was the first time I’ve read a
really well-written love scene from the female POV in a YA book. Seriously.
Plus, it was really hot.
Although no one wants to see the Shade Series end, Jeri makes it little less painful by writing some really great scenes with the other characters.Ìý I particularity loved Dylan, Mickey, Siobhan, and Conner in SHINE.Ìý In fact, I'm rooting for a Siobhan and Conner spin-off! (This will never happen in real life, but it's sure happening in my head!)
I'm not gonna lie, Zach and Aura go through hell in this book, but on the whole, SHINE has the perfect mix of humor, suspense, love, sadness, and heart. This, to me, is where Jeri Smith-Ready shines (heh heh) as an author, because this balance is so hard to find (at least it seems that way in a lot of the books I read). Brilliant. Heartbreakingly, joyously brilliant.
I’m serious when I say that SHINE was my favorite in the series. There were moments while reading that my heart wanted to burst and I sighed and cried and hugged my book to my chest.
It was all the nuances and the funny lines, and just the rightness of how everything turns out. I really, truly loved how Jeri ended Aura, Zach, and Logan's story (or their written story anyway!). And I am so honored and overjoyed that our little blog has been along for the ride.
SHINE will be released Tuesday, May 1st. And if you haven't preordered it yet, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DO IT NOW!
April 9, 2012
A few weeks ago, the best thing happened. I was stalking twitter, minding my own business (or everyone else’s), and the very best person offered to share her ARC of Shine. (You know who you are, and YOU ROCK.) I couldn’t believe it! Here was a chance to read this book that I have been anticipating for an ENTIRE YEAR. How could I pass that up? It arrived while I was in TX looking for a place to live. I was DYING because I couldn’t put my hands on it right then. I got home and immediately had to leave for a Spring Break trip to Florida. I COULD NOT TAKE IT TO THE BEACH. I mean, what if something happened to it? I would never forgive myself. So, seven more days of torturous waiting.
Finally, two days ago after arriving home from the beach, I tore into the package. There it was, all pretty and shiny like I knew it would be. I stared at it for about half an hour, running my hand over the cover. I’m pretty sure my teen & tween-aged daughters were rolling their eyes, but I couldn't help it. There’s nothing like the moment when you finally open a book you’ve been waiting for like this one.
What I quickly learned is that no amount of anticipation could measure up to the story inside. Shine hits the ground running, and there’s non-stop action, angst & Aura (my three favorite A’s in YA). Aura Salvatore is a rare kind of heroine; she’s loyal, dedicated, & determined. Her vulnerable moments don’t make her weak, instead they show great strength of character. She manages to handle all the conflict thrown at her without seeming whiny. She’s so complex - I love how Jeri Smith-Ready manages to show all her facets. Her relationship with Zachary Moore was sweet in Shift, but in Shine...there really are no words to describe it. You just need to read it and see for yourself.
While this truly is Aura’s book, the Shade Boys, Zachary & Logan, are ever present. Our favorite Scot is back but not without obstacles of his own. One of the things I absolutely love about Shine is the chance to glimpse Zach’s personal life. Seeing him interact with his friends is so much fun, and I can’t tell you how many times his wit had me laughing out loud. When he’s with Aura, you do get a sense that all’s right with the world. As for Logan, well, I cried many tears over my favorite Keeley. Pieces of him turn up at the least expected times, and they’re woven into the story in such a way that I finally made peace with him - SHIFT SPOILER! - moving on. It’s so cliche, but he really is gone but not forgotten.
Shine is the most perfect, amazing, beautiful story to finish one of my favorite YA series. Jeri Smith-Ready is a writing goddess, and I will forever read anything she writes. I continue to be in awe of all the time, energy and detail she puts into the stories she crafts. Just wait, read her books and you’ll be searching for songs on iTunes, watching YouTube videos and plotting trips to Glasgow in no time. ;)
Finally, two days ago after arriving home from the beach, I tore into the package. There it was, all pretty and shiny like I knew it would be. I stared at it for about half an hour, running my hand over the cover. I’m pretty sure my teen & tween-aged daughters were rolling their eyes, but I couldn't help it. There’s nothing like the moment when you finally open a book you’ve been waiting for like this one.
What I quickly learned is that no amount of anticipation could measure up to the story inside. Shine hits the ground running, and there’s non-stop action, angst & Aura (my three favorite A’s in YA). Aura Salvatore is a rare kind of heroine; she’s loyal, dedicated, & determined. Her vulnerable moments don’t make her weak, instead they show great strength of character. She manages to handle all the conflict thrown at her without seeming whiny. She’s so complex - I love how Jeri Smith-Ready manages to show all her facets. Her relationship with Zachary Moore was sweet in Shift, but in Shine...there really are no words to describe it. You just need to read it and see for yourself.
While this truly is Aura’s book, the Shade Boys, Zachary & Logan, are ever present. Our favorite Scot is back but not without obstacles of his own. One of the things I absolutely love about Shine is the chance to glimpse Zach’s personal life. Seeing him interact with his friends is so much fun, and I can’t tell you how many times his wit had me laughing out loud. When he’s with Aura, you do get a sense that all’s right with the world. As for Logan, well, I cried many tears over my favorite Keeley. Pieces of him turn up at the least expected times, and they’re woven into the story in such a way that I finally made peace with him - SHIFT SPOILER! - moving on. It’s so cliche, but he really is gone but not forgotten.
Shine is the most perfect, amazing, beautiful story to finish one of my favorite YA series. Jeri Smith-Ready is a writing goddess, and I will forever read anything she writes. I continue to be in awe of all the time, energy and detail she puts into the stories she crafts. Just wait, read her books and you’ll be searching for songs on iTunes, watching YouTube videos and plotting trips to Glasgow in no time. ;)
April 15, 2012
It's been quite a long journey for readers of this series and the wait for the final book in the trilogy has been a long time coming. I dove right in the second I received SHINE, and I wasn't satisfied until I had finished it all. Words cannot express how absolutely perfect SHINE is. It far surpassed my expectations.
I have been waiting so long for Aura's happy ending and for all the mysteries surrounding the Shift to be solved, but the way it all played out just made me beyond happy. After SHADE and SHIFT, I knew how crafty Smith-Ready could be and what phenomenal writer she was, but SHINE really showcases Smith-Ready's talent.
There is the perfect amount of Zach and Aura time. Some of their moments were heart-breaking, while others made my toes curl. This is their story and while they have been through so much, together they complete each other and make everything okay. I can only hope that I will find a love like Zach and Aura's.
I don't have a single negative thing to say about SHINE. If I could, I would run around singing praises at the top of my lungs for this amazingly awesome book. Everything comes together at a perfect pace and Smith-Ready leaves no questions unanswered by the final page. Smith-Ready has proved herself to be one heck of an author with the SHADE trilogy.
I have been waiting so long for Aura's happy ending and for all the mysteries surrounding the Shift to be solved, but the way it all played out just made me beyond happy. After SHADE and SHIFT, I knew how crafty Smith-Ready could be and what phenomenal writer she was, but SHINE really showcases Smith-Ready's talent.
There is the perfect amount of Zach and Aura time. Some of their moments were heart-breaking, while others made my toes curl. This is their story and while they have been through so much, together they complete each other and make everything okay. I can only hope that I will find a love like Zach and Aura's.
I don't have a single negative thing to say about SHINE. If I could, I would run around singing praises at the top of my lungs for this amazingly awesome book. Everything comes together at a perfect pace and Smith-Ready leaves no questions unanswered by the final page. Smith-Ready has proved herself to be one heck of an author with the SHADE trilogy.
Read
April 2, 2012Full disclosure: I am friends with the author.
Shine, the conclusion to the Shade trilogy, will leave your heart breaking one moment and have your heart soaring in the next.
Your questions will be answered, and your heart will melt when fans get their long awaited castle scene.
As a rabid Logan fan I was so happy with his overwhelming presence throughout this book. Jeri handled Logan's journey in a way that had me in tears but left me completely happy & satisfied.
There are a few new characters to love and some surprising twists to old relationships. O_O
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dylan. That boy almost stole the show! I do believe he needs his own book or maybe a novella!
Definitely a satisfying conclusion for fans of the series!
Shine, the conclusion to the Shade trilogy, will leave your heart breaking one moment and have your heart soaring in the next.
Your questions will be answered, and your heart will melt when fans get their long awaited castle scene.
As a rabid Logan fan I was so happy with his overwhelming presence throughout this book. Jeri handled Logan's journey in a way that had me in tears but left me completely happy & satisfied.
There are a few new characters to love and some surprising twists to old relationships. O_O
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dylan. That boy almost stole the show! I do believe he needs his own book or maybe a novella!
Definitely a satisfying conclusion for fans of the series!
May 24, 2012
::POSSIBLE SPOILERS::
~I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
Shine is the conclusion to the Shift series by Jeri Smith-Ready. It follows the continuing journey of Aura and Zachary on their search for the truth behind the event known as the Shift, which gave everyone under a certain age the ability to see and communicate with ghosts.
I am very pleased to say that this book was much, much better than Shift. I read this book in two days, half one day and half the next. I was really able to get into the story much like I did with the first book of the series. This is another series where I really feel like the third book should have been the second book instead, but oh well. I am just glad that I did not let my dislike of Shift keep me from finishing the series. All in all, it was a pretty good series. It had a decent storyline and it was neatly tucked into three books instead of a ton of books. Without further ado, I will start with my thoughts on the plot then get into my thoughts on the characters.
My biggest problem with the plot of the second book in the series was that the relationship drama almost drowned out the underlying, and in my opinion more important, plot of the characters trying to solve the mysteries of Newgrange and the Shift. In this book, there was little relationship drama. Everyone had their significant other and stuck with them for the most part. New relationships were forged and old ones were rekindled. So that was nice. So long, love square, you will most definitely not be missed. I was really worried that a certain someone might come back into the picture even though at the end of Shift it seemed like they were finally gone for good. Luckily that also did not happen. Instead of focusing on how many people one girl could mess around with in about 400 pages, the story turned back to the mystery of the Shift and Aura and Zach’s abilities. There was a lot of action and spy work and chases and fight scenes. I have to say though that I was very disappointed with the amount of sex that was in this book. I do not think that that kind of thing is necessary in a young adult novel. Also, I feel like sex is not necessary for a meaningful relationship especially when the people are so young! I could go on and on about this topic, but I will just say that I wish that there was not so much emphasis put on sex in young adult books. Aside from that, I liked the plot a great deal and found it refreshing after the disappointment of Shift.
My feelings for the characters have not changed much since the last book. I do like Zachary a tiny bit more, but I am still not entirely in love with him. I like that he seems to really care about Aura and wants to do what is best for her. I just sometimes feel like he is a little TOO in love with her if that makes sense. It was a little sickening at points to hear them going on and on about each other. I dislike Aura, but that is not surprising. More often than not I dislike the main girl character of the books that I read. I don’t really know how to describe how I feel about her. I think she is way too full of herself. She could stand to get a little humility. I was annoyed by her constant thoughts of how hot she looked in certain colors and how much Zach needed and cared about her. Ugh. The other characters pop in here and there, but they do not have a huge, huge role in the over all story. Mostly it focuses on Aura and Zach, which is fine.
I have mixed feelings about this series. I love, love the plot idea about the Shift and the ghosts and everything, but I just cannot quite get passed the relationship dramas and the sex scenes and the not very memorable characters. That being said, I think that the books are a decent and easy read. If you like books with lots of romance and underlying themes of paranormal, then you’ll like these books!
~I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review~
Shine is the conclusion to the Shift series by Jeri Smith-Ready. It follows the continuing journey of Aura and Zachary on their search for the truth behind the event known as the Shift, which gave everyone under a certain age the ability to see and communicate with ghosts.
I am very pleased to say that this book was much, much better than Shift. I read this book in two days, half one day and half the next. I was really able to get into the story much like I did with the first book of the series. This is another series where I really feel like the third book should have been the second book instead, but oh well. I am just glad that I did not let my dislike of Shift keep me from finishing the series. All in all, it was a pretty good series. It had a decent storyline and it was neatly tucked into three books instead of a ton of books. Without further ado, I will start with my thoughts on the plot then get into my thoughts on the characters.
My biggest problem with the plot of the second book in the series was that the relationship drama almost drowned out the underlying, and in my opinion more important, plot of the characters trying to solve the mysteries of Newgrange and the Shift. In this book, there was little relationship drama. Everyone had their significant other and stuck with them for the most part. New relationships were forged and old ones were rekindled. So that was nice. So long, love square, you will most definitely not be missed. I was really worried that a certain someone might come back into the picture even though at the end of Shift it seemed like they were finally gone for good. Luckily that also did not happen. Instead of focusing on how many people one girl could mess around with in about 400 pages, the story turned back to the mystery of the Shift and Aura and Zach’s abilities. There was a lot of action and spy work and chases and fight scenes. I have to say though that I was very disappointed with the amount of sex that was in this book. I do not think that that kind of thing is necessary in a young adult novel. Also, I feel like sex is not necessary for a meaningful relationship especially when the people are so young! I could go on and on about this topic, but I will just say that I wish that there was not so much emphasis put on sex in young adult books. Aside from that, I liked the plot a great deal and found it refreshing after the disappointment of Shift.
My feelings for the characters have not changed much since the last book. I do like Zachary a tiny bit more, but I am still not entirely in love with him. I like that he seems to really care about Aura and wants to do what is best for her. I just sometimes feel like he is a little TOO in love with her if that makes sense. It was a little sickening at points to hear them going on and on about each other. I dislike Aura, but that is not surprising. More often than not I dislike the main girl character of the books that I read. I don’t really know how to describe how I feel about her. I think she is way too full of herself. She could stand to get a little humility. I was annoyed by her constant thoughts of how hot she looked in certain colors and how much Zach needed and cared about her. Ugh. The other characters pop in here and there, but they do not have a huge, huge role in the over all story. Mostly it focuses on Aura and Zach, which is fine.
I have mixed feelings about this series. I love, love the plot idea about the Shift and the ghosts and everything, but I just cannot quite get passed the relationship dramas and the sex scenes and the not very memorable characters. That being said, I think that the books are a decent and easy read. If you like books with lots of romance and underlying themes of paranormal, then you’ll like these books!
July 2, 2012
I have to say that I absolutely loved the first two books of this series the first one more so than the 2nd. I loved Aura and really connected with her. Her relationship with logan was relatable and I cried in the first book so many times. I have to say that I really liked Logan more than Zachary so since she ends up with Zachary I could never have given the final book 5 stars, but to only give it 3 had to do with the fact that I feel like Ready created unneccesary problems in the book that she could have finished the series in 2 books instead of 3 and left me with a happier feeling towards the books. I think that megan ending up with dylan was totally unbelievable that would be way to awkward after her dating Mickey. I also hated that the whole story felt like a detective story. Ready had already created a believable world for me in the past books I didn't need her to try reinforce it to me. I loved the note at the end from Logan (I still was hoping that their was a way he could come back) and I liked what happened with the shift, but I felt bad for the Ghost because what are they supposed to do once all the post shifters who can still see them are gone I guess the ones who could see them before the shift would go back to seeing ghosts again. I Guess my main problem with this book was that I had such high hopes for it and that I felt like the whole book was Aura and Zachary just trying to be together and then when they finally are the book ends and I'm left with more questions. I would have really enjoyed an epilogue, for years down the road finding out if Zachary and Aura are still together. I still enjoyed the book and I am glad that I read it and one that I still suggest for people to read because of the uniqueness of the story itself.
November 9, 2014
This was a really good book. The whole series was wonderful.
The only thing that made me like the book less was the details about Brigit Murphy - the entries seemed so "spot on" and detailed that I found it hard to believe. Also I really wanted to understand Anthony and his relationship with Gina. Other than that the romance in the book was very nice, the book felt very complete and wrapped up a ton of loose ends. I think Jeri Smith-Ready has a wonderful writing style and I love her characters.
The only thing that made me like the book less was the details about Brigit Murphy - the entries seemed so "spot on" and detailed that I found it hard to believe. Also I really wanted to understand Anthony and his relationship with Gina. Other than that the romance in the book was very nice, the book felt very complete and wrapped up a ton of loose ends. I think Jeri Smith-Ready has a wonderful writing style and I love her characters.
Want to read
August 9, 2011Summer 2012? Ughhh!
November 12, 2017
Good conclusion to the series. The start sucks you straight back in to the series and holds on tight. I read the first 150 pages in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.
I liked that all the questions were answered and there were no more love triangles.
It also made me want to travel to Ireland and Scotland even more than before.
I liked that all the questions were answered and there were no more love triangles.
It also made me want to travel to Ireland and Scotland even more than before.
May 11, 2012
My review can also be found on Reading Lark:
I can easily label this book one of my favourites because I cannot stop thinking about it. Jeri Smith-Ready wrote the most PERFECT ending to an already awesome trilogy!
Shine begins literally 5 minutes after the conclusion of Shift with such intensity and emotion, I honestly didn't think I could deal with so much drama so soon. No easing into it... just BOOM! With my heart in my throat, I just had to keep reminding myself... 'it's not what it seems... it's not what it seems'... BREATHE!
Wow........
The journey that Aura and Zachary took to get to this conclusion included death, ghosts, music, conspiracies and espionage, cosmic mythology and a love story that left me purring with contentment! Perfection with a capital "P"! No mystery was left unresolved in Shine. We got the answers we have been craving since this story began.
As much as I loved Aura as a heroine, and I will get to her in a minute, I HAVE to talk about Zachary first. He became such an incredibly dimensional character, and let me tell you, he went through some serious stuff. My heart broke for Zachary for all he went through but I was estatic when good things happened to him because he was soooo deserving. I was already Team Kilt in the previous two books (despite Logan always having a small piece of my heart, too) but Zachary really stepped it up in this last installment. In Shine, Zachary was as central a character as Aura was and I loved that he always had a presence... even when he wasn't physically there. Zachary was everything you want in a leading man. He was incredibly thoughtful and sensitive and he always put Aura first. And don't get me started on that Scottish accent of his. He is sexiness personified.
And Aura. What can I say but our girl has surely grown up! She has finally sorted out her life. She has Logan secured to a little corner of her heart and she will never forget him. Logan, as flawed and dead as he was, was her first love. Aura finally makes the commitment to herself that Zachary is who she wants and she's determined to make this happen despite several road blocks thrown her way. I love her resolve as well as those little hints of insecurities that still remain. That grounds her and makes her real. She has a great sense of humour and injects it at all the right and not-so-right times... but that's what is charming about her too.
Aura and Zachary together... well... you can certainly feel the electricity that sizzles between them. I can't imagine either of these two belonging with anyone else. They are each other's priority first and foremost. Two favourite quotes about Aura and Zachary from Shine:
"He turned his head to face me, but stayed on his back. "You look beautiful."
I glanced at my live shot in the corner. My features were as dim as his. "You can barely see me in the dark."
"I don't need to see you to know that you're beautiful."
It was my turn to emit a whimper and twist the sheets. He could still slay me with the simplest statements." ~ p. 211
""Aura, that's almost unbelievable. Except, I know you two, and I know about the power-mingling and the First and Last thing. I felt your connection the first time you met in the courtyard at school."
"You felt that?"
"Please. I wanted to give you guys bibs for your drool." ~ p. 320
No truer statement exists when I say that they are definitely a couple written in the stars...
They both went through some really tough stuff in this book and I was rooting for them every step of the way!
Shine was everything I expected and more!! The pace of the story was just perfect! The details have all been revealed and resolved about Aura's parentage, the Shift, the Shine, Aura's and Zachary's significance to it, and how it tied to the mythology of the Newgrange megalith in Ireland. We also learned exactly why the DMP were interested in Aura and Zachary and it wasn't all what I expected.
I do have to note that some of the content in this installment, in my opinion, is meant for more mature young adults.
Shine was perfect... anguish, heart-break, triumph, and a complete and utterly heart-melting love story. And as I turned the last page, I felt both sad that this journey with Aura, Zachary, Logan and company was officially over but at the same time, perfectly content with how it ended. It exceeded my expectations ten-fold! But no sooner did I close the book when I heard from the author that a novella will be released from Zachary's perspective on July 31st! I'm not entirely sure what the short story will be about but I have my suspicions and simply cannot wait!!
And one last thing... I'd like to thank the author for publicly noting all the supporters of "Team Kilt" in the Acknowledgements! That was just a little bit awesome seeing our individual names in print... and there were MANY names!
February 9, 2021
i mean not much to say.. or anything to write home about
July 2, 2012
Read more of my reviews at
Shift, the sequel to Shade, was an utter disappointment for me because I really did enjoy Shade. I was a little wary to start the final book in the trilogy, Shine, but I still decided to give it a shot. I'm happy to say that Shine was a vast improvement from the disaster that was Shift.
I was incredibly irked by all of the characters in the previous book. In this book however, I fell in love with all of them all over again. The beautifully crafted characters that I had grown to love in Shade, were finally back. I've always admired Aura and the astonishing strength that she possessed. In Shine, we get to see her strength grow even further. Her loyalty and fierce protectiveness over Zach was clearly visible. The girl was ready to really fight hard to save him and I loved her for that. Even when she ended up being separated from Zach, she proved to be a courageous and strong-minded girl capable of making smart decisions. Although she was doused with grief over their separation, her sorrow never turned to a state of depression where she couldn't do anything but cry. In fact, I'd say that her grief made her even more powerful and determined to take revenge on the DMP and not let anything happen to Zach. I truly admired and loved this fire that was previously concealed inside of her, but sprouted out once her boyfriend faced danger. Zachary didn't appear until a few pages, but he,too, had really grown throughout the series. His experience with the DMP had left me in a devastating state. The love he had for Aura was even more eminent in Shine. Even when he was the one suffering, he kept getting worried for her. Technically, Logan was not present in the book in a physical sense, but his memories and sayings lingered throughout the story in a way that showed that he hadn't been forgotten and he was still very much appreciated. He ,indirectly, was of great help to Zach and Aura and I was very happy to see that Jerri Smith-Ready didn't allow her characters to eradicate Logan from their thoughts even though he had passed on. Now, the few characters that I wasn't happy with were Dylan, Megan and Mickey. I kind of felt like they weren't very well-developed and they were left in the side-lines. Also, I'm kind of mad with Dylan. I honestly didn't approve of what he did at the end even if everyone else in the book was okay with it.
Plot-wise, I was very satisfied. The entire mystery surrounding the Shine and Newgrange was thoroughly explained by the author so that the reader is not left in the dark, disgruntled by the outcome of the story. I honestly felt like I got the closure I want in all my final books. Everything was wrapped up beautifully and I was left feeling completely happy with the ending. At first, the pace was quite slow and I found it a little difficult to get into the book, but around the middle there was a lot more action and thus, things started picking up. Jerri-Smith Ready threw some unexpected events here and there that surprised in a positive way.
I simply adored the romance in Shine. Aura and Zachary took a step forward in their relationship this time and the bond that they shared felt genuine and very heart-warming. They got physical in this book and I thought Jerri Smith-Ready dealt with those hot,but sweet scenes in a tactful manner. At the end of the book, Aura and Zachary were closer than they had ever been and I was glad that they had each other to stand by each after everything they had to endure. Jerri Smith-Ready is undoubtedly a very skilled author. Her writing, like in the previous books, is simply beautiful. Shine , in general, was an emotionally-wearing read, that left me utterly exhausted after experiencing a rush of feelings.
Shine, as the final book of a trilogy, was an outstanding conclusion according to me. The charming characters, the intriguing concept and the formidable romance will ,beyond a shadow of doubt, appeal to a lot readers craving for a good paranormal romance series with a unique story line. Shine was a definite winner for me !
April 14, 2012
Okay, since Shine does not officially come out until May Uno, I will not be giving away too much here. I love surprises and refuse to blow it for those who have not had the pleasure to read Shine yet.
Those of you who have read the Shade Trilogy, from the uber lovely and infinitely talented Miss Jeri Smith-Ready, already know the master-crafter she is with story-telling. Shine is no exception. Since it had been eons after reading Shift--- Okay, so maybe not that long, but sure felt like it. Have been impatiently waiting for this book for sooo long... Anyway, I felt like I had just finished reading Shift. Like no time had passed. Shine picks up right were we left off. Well, kinda.
If any of you follow Jeri you will have read the Chapter 1 tease she released not too long ago. You know how the story starts, and instantly hated Jeri for such an awfully wonderful tease! If you have NOT read the Chapter 1 teaser I will simply say this: Jeri will leave you with a gaping mouth, cinched heart, and an endless stream of "no-no-no-no-no-NO!"
As for the rest of Shine, you will have to be this side of out-of-your-mind crazy to not read this final installment. And by that I do mean my side of crazy, the not right, borderline unhinged kind of crazy. *giggles*
No seriously, this was a great read and I am glad overjoyed ecstatic -- dammit I can't find a strong enough adjective to describe how happy I am to have received this advanced copy! Miss Jeri, once again, takes us on a wild ride of laughs, tears, giggles, blushes, fear, sadness, and heart wrenching decisions. But she does so in such a way you keep begging for more. You laugh with Aura, you cry with Aura, and you want to jump into the pages, push up your sleeves, and seriously box some baddies with Aura when she gets to being frisky. And we all know Aura can get some serious frisky on!
Shine will leave you breathless in more ways than one. Sure, there are some really steamy scenes with, my other husband, Zachary. How could there NOT be? Come ON! But there are so many wonderful moments of 'almost' you cannot sit still. Whether Zach and Aura almost get caught, or almost die, or almost catch the bad guy, or almost save the day, you are left with no other option than to flip to the next page!
Miss Jeri's characters are so real you feel like you could really befriend them. Aura is eternally this feisty Italian chick who will seriously kick your butt even if she doesn't know how; she will freakin' find a way. Her heart is ten times bigger than you expect and she grows in Shine in such a way that you can't help but adore her.
Of course, we also have Zachary. Oh how I love me some Hottie Scottie.... But we see a side of Zach in Shine that we have not before. In previous books he acted as the pillar of strength for Aura as she dealt with some major stuff. In Shine the tides shift and it is he who needs the pillar. It makes Zach so much more enjoyable to read and you fall in love with him all over again.
Shine is truly action packed and will keep you guessing down to the last pages. The love that Aura and Zachary have for each other is something we all probably strive to achieve. It is pure, it is all-encompassing, and it is truly romantic and soulful. Shine is filled with the characters we have come to love (or hate, but in the good literary way), mysteries, resolutions, good guys, bad guys, feisty Baltimore-ians, even feistier Scots, and everything else you could ever want from a novel.
As with any closing book, be it trilogy or series, there is a sense of loss because you know this is it. But I am damned glad I made the journey. Miss Jeri is a wonderful author and an even more wonderful person. I adore her writing and the love she has for her characters as well as her fans. She is truly a diamond in the literary rough. The Shade Trilogy is one of my favorites and I will continue to suggest Miss Jeri's books to other readers. Shine was, quite possibly, the most perfect conclusion to an awesome set.
Did Shine rock my world? Beyond words - I have to say the entire series is off-- the-- charts!
Those of you who have read the Shade Trilogy, from the uber lovely and infinitely talented Miss Jeri Smith-Ready, already know the master-crafter she is with story-telling. Shine is no exception. Since it had been eons after reading Shift--- Okay, so maybe not that long, but sure felt like it. Have been impatiently waiting for this book for sooo long... Anyway, I felt like I had just finished reading Shift. Like no time had passed. Shine picks up right were we left off. Well, kinda.
If any of you follow Jeri you will have read the Chapter 1 tease she released not too long ago. You know how the story starts, and instantly hated Jeri for such an awfully wonderful tease! If you have NOT read the Chapter 1 teaser I will simply say this: Jeri will leave you with a gaping mouth, cinched heart, and an endless stream of "no-no-no-no-no-NO!"
As for the rest of Shine, you will have to be this side of out-of-your-mind crazy to not read this final installment. And by that I do mean my side of crazy, the not right, borderline unhinged kind of crazy. *giggles*
No seriously, this was a great read and I am glad overjoyed ecstatic -- dammit I can't find a strong enough adjective to describe how happy I am to have received this advanced copy! Miss Jeri, once again, takes us on a wild ride of laughs, tears, giggles, blushes, fear, sadness, and heart wrenching decisions. But she does so in such a way you keep begging for more. You laugh with Aura, you cry with Aura, and you want to jump into the pages, push up your sleeves, and seriously box some baddies with Aura when she gets to being frisky. And we all know Aura can get some serious frisky on!
Shine will leave you breathless in more ways than one. Sure, there are some really steamy scenes with, my other husband, Zachary. How could there NOT be? Come ON! But there are so many wonderful moments of 'almost' you cannot sit still. Whether Zach and Aura almost get caught, or almost die, or almost catch the bad guy, or almost save the day, you are left with no other option than to flip to the next page!
Miss Jeri's characters are so real you feel like you could really befriend them. Aura is eternally this feisty Italian chick who will seriously kick your butt even if she doesn't know how; she will freakin' find a way. Her heart is ten times bigger than you expect and she grows in Shine in such a way that you can't help but adore her.
Of course, we also have Zachary. Oh how I love me some Hottie Scottie.... But we see a side of Zach in Shine that we have not before. In previous books he acted as the pillar of strength for Aura as she dealt with some major stuff. In Shine the tides shift and it is he who needs the pillar. It makes Zach so much more enjoyable to read and you fall in love with him all over again.
Shine is truly action packed and will keep you guessing down to the last pages. The love that Aura and Zachary have for each other is something we all probably strive to achieve. It is pure, it is all-encompassing, and it is truly romantic and soulful. Shine is filled with the characters we have come to love (or hate, but in the good literary way), mysteries, resolutions, good guys, bad guys, feisty Baltimore-ians, even feistier Scots, and everything else you could ever want from a novel.
As with any closing book, be it trilogy or series, there is a sense of loss because you know this is it. But I am damned glad I made the journey. Miss Jeri is a wonderful author and an even more wonderful person. I adore her writing and the love she has for her characters as well as her fans. She is truly a diamond in the literary rough. The Shade Trilogy is one of my favorites and I will continue to suggest Miss Jeri's books to other readers. Shine was, quite possibly, the most perfect conclusion to an awesome set.
Did Shine rock my world? Beyond words - I have to say the entire series is off-- the-- charts!
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