Shade & Shift {Jeri Smith-Ready}

Jeri Smith-Ready {Shade - Book #1}

{Synopsis}
Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.
Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Jeri Smith-Ready {Shift - Book #2}

{Synopsis}
Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with 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.

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Now, I'm a sucker for anything remotely romantic so when I read the jacket of Shade while "just browsing" my favorite book store, I decided to make the purchase give it a read.  Upon completing it, I learned there was a sequel (Shift) and I only had about a month to wait for it to be released so I pre-ordered it online.

{My Review}
I found that Smith-Ready was able to keep the characters young and slightly immature for the sake of their ages yet, she has a unique way of keeping the storyline from falling into the "corny" category (as it easily could).  I enjoyed the love triangle part (obviously), however I was surprised to find myself drawn to the same questions that pulled the characters, What caused the Shift? How can Logan turn from Shade back into a ghost when no other ghost has ever been known to do so?  What's so special about Aura & Zachary's unspeakable connection?  I guess I'll have to complete the trilogy with a Shine in 2012 (tentatively, May)!