Review: I missed that aspect of the story because I'd really liked to have known what was going on inside Wick's ...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 28, 2014
SHIFT HAPPENS by J.C. McKenzie is an action packed paranormal romance novel set against the urban Vancouver cityscape. The story is fresh in so many ways, especially the shifter heroine who has three animal forms–mountain lion, wolf and hawk–instead of just one. Throw in a whole lot of intrigue and a sexy Alpha werewolf who's bonded to a master vampire, and you have a tale that will keep you on your toes to the exciting conclusion.The story is told in first person narration from the point of view of Andy, the heroine. The hero's thoughts/emotions are never clearly presented to the reader. I missed that aspect of the story because I'd really liked to have known what was going on inside Wick's head.  The up side is that the hero definitely maintained his aura of mystery throughout.I loved the fact that Andy is a powerful shifter in her own right and doesn't immediately swoon at the Alpha's feet as soon as he crooked his finger. She challenges him, and it's a blast for the reader, watching as she drives him up the wall and then around in circles on the ceiling. Kudos for girl power!The prose was solid and well-edited. The plot flowed right along with good pacing, and characterization was excellent. I really liked several secondary characters who were members of Wick's pack.  The villains were effective and creepy. (That said, I felt like there were simply too many members to the cast.) I wanted more time spent on developing the dynamic between the hero and heroine.Andy and Wick share great chemistry. I loved how the author balances mistrust with sexual tension in conjunction with their prisoner/warden relationship. Their attraction builds slowly with plenty of missteps along the way. The heroine's emotional issues due to a past abusive relationship also add a wonderful source of internal conflict. Love scenes are spicy, richly described, and full of vivid sensory detail.SHIFT HAPPENS is a top choice read for lovers of paranormal/ shifter romance. Happy reading!