Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith- Ready

Let's talk about Shift, the second book in the Shade series by Jeri Smith-Ready.  This book drops on May 3rd and it is so many kinds of epic that I don't quite know where to start.  Hm.  How about first I talk up Jeri's blog tour because I believe that if a book has a profound affect on you that you need to share the experience with others.  For What It's Worth is hosting the blog tour and it starts Tuesday April 26th.  The tour will run through May 11th with Pre-Shift posts and Post Shift posts.  (Just like in the books, isn't that fun!)  There will be interviews, reviews, prizes and even a Grand Prize.  The tentative schedule is up on For What It's Worth so you can go check it out.  Word on the street is that both book boys from the Shade series will be interviewed during the tour!! Yes!  Zachary, the best (and maybe only) Scottish love interest in a YA book and Logan, one of the few teen musician ghosts out there, will be interviewed during the event and who doesn't want to know more about them?!  Just remember ladies, in the event that dibs are called on book boys, Zach is MINE- no matter what Kendra @ Books Complete Me tells you!!!  Eh hem.  Right then.  Moving on!

Here is the Shift blurb from Jeri's homepage (because I am afraid that I will let spoilers slip if I try to blurb it in my own words) :

Aura's life is anything but easy.  Her boyfriend Logan died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling.  Aura knows that he needs her now more than ever.  She loves Logan, but she can't deny her connection to the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she's not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura's search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets...and her heart.

Now, let's discuss the many reasons that Shift is epic.  One, the story is still so original.  Yes, there are other YA books with ghosts but none, that I have read, are so real and different as Shift/Shade.  Ghosts are mostly seen as something in our world, paranormal but not really anything special or different.  In Shade/Shift, however, ghosts don't just haunt their old schools or homes.  Everyone under the age of 18 (pretty much) can see them, hear them, and speak to them.  EVERYONE.  Not just a couple thousand psychics, mediums and other people with gifts.  Everyone born after The Shift can.  That means every child, infant, teen and tween has ghosts in their face all day, every day unless they are in some place that uses black box technology (like all bathrooms, you REALLY don't want surprise visits from ghosts in there).  Just thinking about life in that world is overwhelming and incredible.  How many of us wish we knew what ghosts are up to and where they haunt and why?  A lot.  In the world of Shift/Shade, the TAPS team would have a different standard operating procedure, for sure.  

Reason for epicness number two: the two love interests for Aura are, kid you not, an Irish-Punk rocker and a Scottsman.  Really.  Name one other book with that book boy combo?  Yeah.  Didn't think so.  I LOVE the references to Flogging Molly and their style of music in Shade!  I kinda wonder how many under eighteen year olds know who they are.  I remember when they were on the Warped tour back in the day.  Ah, memories!  Logan is a great character because he has different facets that only Aura sees or only his brother, Dylan, sees.  It is almost as if Logan is a different person with everyone in his life.  Logan can be a total douche but he can also be a sweet guy who only wants his best friend to be happy.  What a well rounded and cool guy!  Zach is great too because he sticks with Aura through some pretty crazy things and even when you think he has given up on her, he comes back for more.  I like that in a guy.  Every girl needs a guy who'll be there for her no matter what and I think Zach is that guy for Aura.  He also has a sexy accent, owns a KILT (one of the greatest types of male clothing!) and he has excellent manners.  Zach is lovely, all around great.  Both are real feeling characters who are yummy beyond belief.  Love it! 

Reason 3: I love the twists and turns and mystic connections that unravel in Shift.  There is SO much that Aura is learning and uncovering that could really challenge what people believe to be true about shades, The Shift and ghosts in general.  The whole book will leave your head spinning.  I could barely sleep after finishing my galley of Shift.  It literally blew my mind.  I couldn't think about anything but the ending for weeks afterward.  I even spent about 45 minutes in the car with Kendra @ Books Complete Me on the way home from an author signing discussing the intricacies of Shift and where the plot will go from here and how it will all play out.  I am dying for the next book when Shift isn't even technically out yet.  There was also a plot line that had me looking at Dylan in a completely different light.  I hadn't expected it to happen and when it did I was shocked but kinda rooting for him.  Then all the clues and insight from Eowyn in Shift was cool.  One scene reminded me of reading mysteries like the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a kid, when they had clues come in the form of a puzzle.  Very cool.  I can not wait for the continuation of the story when we see more about the place where everything started.  I have a feeling that we're all in for a wild ride.  

Now for the recommendation and disclaimer.  This book is not for younger teens as there are references to drugs, scenes of sexual shenanigans and nudity.  But for older teens and everyone else?  Read it NOW!  This book is now my go to "push" book.  I have had my friends "push" the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Hunger Games and other books on me and loved them, so now when I have a book that grabs me, it is my push book.  Right now my sister in law has my signed copy of Shade and I will be on her about reading Shift then my husband is reading them after her.  I think the Shade series will really reach out to and grab not only the teens/young adults it is aimed at but those of us in my generation of late twenty and early thirty somethings.

Shift earns 5 Fairies for general awesomeness and for hot book boys!

Now for some information on Jeri.  You can follow her on Twitter and you can check out her website to learn more about her books. If you haven't read Shade, run out and buy it now.  The cover is AMAZING and you'll love every minute of the story.  Be sure you check out the blog tour for Shift and pre-order your copy today so you don't miss out on the 3rd!