One angry, grieving boy. Chase DeWitt is fourteen when his mother dies and he stumbles into the woods beyond his home, angry and heartbroken. He didn’t know that it would change the course of his life. Two broken, lonely men. Tyler Reid is twenty three, grumpy and angry, trying to take care of his injured brother, while rebuilding a life blind hatred destroyed in one night. But he understands the … in one night.
But he understands the boy who stumbles out of the woods and into his life, understands the grief in his eyes and the rage that makes him shake. And there is something in that familiar grief that makes Tyler trust Chase, when trusting humans has only ever lead to disaster.
And a falling down house they make a home.
As the summer passes and the years turn, as Chase cares for Tyler’s brother, as he helps rebuild the house in the woods–as they help each other rebuild a life beyond the little house, Chase realizes two important things: these men matter to him, could be family.
And they are not nearly as human as they seem.
more
Wow! I fell in love with Nazarea Andrews with her Reiver Street Bar series and I was so excited to be able to read this one! Slow Shift is nothing like I expected, it was SO MUCH MORE!! This was such a beautiful coming-of-age with a paranormal twist. To see the love bloom between Chase and Tyler was so beautiful! FIVE HUGE STARS!!
Chase DeWitt is 14 years old and an angry boy after the death of his mother and he meets Tyler and Lucas Reid while out walking in the forest one day and a friendship develops between them. Chase’s dad, John, is the Chief of Police and doesn’t want Chase anywhere near the Reid men but soon realizes that they truly care.
Tyler Reid is 23 and takes care of his brother Lucas after an accident claimed the life of his parents. He struggles with finding his place but there is something about Chase that brings him peace.
As a friendship develops between them all they must deal with what they are up against and find their way. When secrets are revealed will Chase stand by the Reid men or will he run?
There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed and other parts that I struggled to get through. I found the book quite long and some parts just didn’t seem to flow as well as others.
I liked Chase and felt bad with everything that he was going through after the death of his mom. It was clear how much he struggled with his dad’s drinking and also he was struggling with his identity a lot.
I did really like Tyler right from the beginning and it was obvious how much he cared about Chase yet he didn’t act on his feelings and let Chase live his life and was just there for him. He was there for his brother Lucas and it was sad seeing Lucas so injured from the car accident.
I enjoyed seeing John change with his opinion of Tyler especially when he understood that he truly cared and wasn’t taking advantage of him.
The end was good and I was definitely expecting it.
I struggled with keeping interested in the story at times and I found myself drifting and losing interest. I would like to try reading the author again as I did really enjoy the premise of the story but I just couldn’t keep interested in it.
I have to admit that I enjoyed this book. Although this is my first time reading an M/M romance, this one was beautifully written. The story wove a complex tale of growing up and friendship with a subtle hint of magic and/or mysticism. With its third person point of view, Slow Shift gave the feel of “seeing” the story from the outside, as if witnessing everything that these characters are going through and what they are feeling. However, it has been a while since I read in third person that it took me a while to get into the flow of this story; but, it did not take away from the overall feelings that this story evoked. With the various elements of storytelling intertwined into this story, it allowed me to feel for and understand these characters.
Furthermore, it would be difficult to just categorize Slow Shift in any one particular genres when it touched on a variety of such. I think that’s what made it work, too. Yes, there’s a coming-of-age element. Yes, there’s a romance element. Yes, there’s also a paranormal element, too. And, it worked! I would have to say that this is a beautiful and emotional story of love and friendship that will touch any readers’ heart.
So this one is a struggle for me to review for two reasons. One, I loved the concept of this book. I love the emotions, I love watching this family grow and change over time. Two, and this is where the but comes in. I struggled to read this story, particularly in the beginning as it has a very slow start. But more for the fact that it feels very stream of consciousness on the writer’s part. I had challenges at times keeping up with who was talking and more the when of it all. Time jumps ahead at a pretty good clip in the story and things are obviously said that we aren’t privy too (for instance when ever Chase told Tyler about the death of his mother. We never see that happen but from a later conversation it is clear that at some point Chase has told Tyler and Logan about what occurred.) and that throws me way off.
There is a dramatic shift that occurs (though it is a slow road to get there, perhaps that is why the title is Show Shift?) about midway through the book when we change from a bit of a contemporary coming of age story to more of the paranormal/urban fantasy feel. Once that shift occurs and the action begins the book really picks up and you find yourself flipping pages faster than your brain can maybe process the words on the page. I love the man that Chase grows into and the length he is willing to go to protect those that he loves, that all plays out the second half of the book and is well worth the slow beginning.
The thing is though, I can’t not like this book regardless of all the little things that might make my head twitch, and cause me to give it 4 instead of 5 stars, because the fact is this is just plain and simple a beautiful story about acceptance. About finding a family that completes you (yes, that sounds corny but it’s true), about discovering who you are, who you were meant to be, and about love…most of all about love.
I think it is important that you know going in that this isn’t your typical paranormal read. This is a book that lives in a realm of cross genres, one where it is hard to pin point exactly what type of book this is. It is a book that becomes more than it’s genre, it is a book that is the story itself and you have to let that story guide you. What I want to say is, don’t give up! Keep reading and you will find that the reward of knowing these characters and the depth of their love out weighs all imperfections.
*Sidenote* I truly hope that Nazarea puts this one out in Paperback because I am in LOVE with this cover and need it on my shelf!
Slow Shift is Chase DeWitt & Tyler Reid’s story. This book caught my attention from the beginning. This book was so good that I had to read it while at work at every free moment that I had.
Slow shift is a shapeshifter story. With Werewolves, witches and druids, oh my! I thought that this story was told in an original way.
Chase’s mother dies when he is 14 years old. He is grieving his mother when he finds an old home in the woods. Chase worms his way into Tyler’s life when he was only 14 years old and he was a grieving young man after his mother died.
Tyler also had family die and he was taking care of Lucas, his brother who was in a catatonic state. Ever since the accident that killed Tyler & Lucas’s family.
Slow Shift tells a very good story and I hope that there will be more books. I loved this story. 5 stars for sure!