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Dangerous Shift
HE IS MR. BY-THE-BOOK, WITH A SECRET...
Shapeshifters live among us but remain unknown to most people except for the highest echelons of law enforcement, the military, science, and medical fields--until now.
SHE IS A LOOSE CANNON WITH AN ATTITUDE...
When a fatal virus strikes Shapeshifters all over the West coast, including members of the Shapeshifter Task Force in San Laura, California, reinforcements are called in from around the United States.
TOGETHER, THEY JUST MIGHT CATCH A KILLER.
Lt. Nikki Hill of Missouri comes to San Laura and is partnered up with Lt. Sean Evans. They quickly butt heads on everything from proper police procedures to the moral ethics of euthanasia. They can't seem to get a lead on the serial killer even as members of their own families are stricken with the virus. In their grief they turn to each other and hope they have time to discover if their relationship stands a chance or if they might just be the next victims of the species extinction disease.
Shapeshifters live among us but remain unknown to most people except for the highest echelons of law enforcement, the military, science, and medical fields--until now.
SHE IS A LOOSE CANNON WITH AN ATTITUDE...
When a fatal virus strikes Shapeshifters all over the West coast, including members of the Shapeshifter Task Force in San Laura, California, reinforcements are called in from around the United States.
TOGETHER, THEY JUST MIGHT CATCH A KILLER.
Lt. Nikki Hill of Missouri comes to San Laura and is partnered up with Lt. Sean Evans. They quickly butt heads on everything from proper police procedures to the moral ethics of euthanasia. They can't seem to get a lead on the serial killer even as members of their own families are stricken with the virus. In their grief they turn to each other and hope they have time to discover if their relationship stands a chance or if they might just be the next victims of the species extinction disease.
254 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2012
11 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Jill James
32 books96 followersJill James didn't start out wanting to be a writer. Along the way, she wanted to be a doctor, a lawyer, president of the United States, and an astronaut.
Life happened and she discovered she could be all those things; in the pages of her books.
Her debut novel, Tempting Adam, came out February 2011 from The Wild Rose Press.
In October of 2011 she decided to start self-publishing.
Jill writes contemporary and paranormal romance with a dash of urban fantasy from time to time.
Find out what Jill is doing next by getting Jill James News at: http://eepurl.com/hvtn-/
Life happened and she discovered she could be all those things; in the pages of her books.
Her debut novel, Tempting Adam, came out February 2011 from The Wild Rose Press.
In October of 2011 she decided to start self-publishing.
Jill writes contemporary and paranormal romance with a dash of urban fantasy from time to time.
Find out what Jill is doing next by getting Jill James News at: http://eepurl.com/hvtn-/
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 11, 2016
1.5
The way shifting is presented here is one of the reasons I didn't completely hate this story. The main idea is that shifters do exist but it's not common knowledge. Each shifter has two forms - male and female, one being more dominant. And someone seems to hate them enough to create a virus that causes constant shifting. The victims don't have enough time to hydrate or refuel.
Dangerous Shift is not a mystery since you know almost from the start who is doing it. A couple of chapters in you find out about their motivation too.
The rest of it drove me crazy. I can't remember a heroine less deserving of happy ending than this one. It is so hard to continue reading when one of the main characters is a bigoted speciesist almost right from the beginning. I wasn't surprised when none of the things that happened later in the book managed to redeem her. It tells a lot when you don't want the leads together and you want one of them dead.
I don't mind strong female characters, of course. I do mind when that goes into a I'll be as stupid, rude, narrow-minded and horrible as much as I like territory. Just because. Since when does that equals strength?
Sean as a character was a bit better, but more story was told from her point of view than his. And I hated her.
The ending and the epilogue are cheesy as hell.
Now when I think about it, the only things I liked seems to be the shifting and the way the shifters were being killed. It's not the first time I see it in a book though, but it was fine.
The way shifting is presented here is one of the reasons I didn't completely hate this story. The main idea is that shifters do exist but it's not common knowledge. Each shifter has two forms - male and female, one being more dominant. And someone seems to hate them enough to create a virus that causes constant shifting. The victims don't have enough time to hydrate or refuel.
Dangerous Shift is not a mystery since you know almost from the start who is doing it. A couple of chapters in you find out about their motivation too.
The rest of it drove me crazy. I can't remember a heroine less deserving of happy ending than this one. It is so hard to continue reading when one of the main characters is a bigoted speciesist almost right from the beginning. I wasn't surprised when none of the things that happened later in the book managed to redeem her. It tells a lot when you don't want the leads together and you want one of them dead.
I don't mind strong female characters, of course. I do mind when that goes into a I'll be as stupid, rude, narrow-minded and horrible as much as I like territory. Just because. Since when does that equals strength?
Sean as a character was a bit better, but more story was told from her point of view than his. And I hated her.
The ending and the epilogue are cheesy as hell.
Now when I think about it, the only things I liked seems to be the shifting and the way the shifters were being killed. It's not the first time I see it in a book though, but it was fine.
July 28, 2018
Great premise for a shifter story. I enjoyed the tense romance combined with a truly awful villain dead set on getting unjustified revenge. Would have liked more world building regarding the shifters themselves. This is one of those books that should be read in our current time to make humanity realize we are one race, regardless of genetic makeup.
October 5, 2019
Loved it!
Jill James did a fantastic job of creating this world. I'm hooked! It was easy to feel the deep emotions of these characters and see the sights portrayed here. I enjoyed every minute.
Jill James did a fantastic job of creating this world. I'm hooked! It was easy to feel the deep emotions of these characters and see the sights portrayed here. I enjoyed every minute.
September 9, 2012
My Review:
This book takes a completely different take on the shapeshifter world and I liked it...after I grasped the intricacies of it. In Jill James shapeshifter world, the shapeshifters have complete control over their appearance. They can control whether they are male or female, can change their proportions, and can shift to look like other people. Each shapeshifter has a natural male and female form although one of those is always their dominant form...the one that they are most at ease in. The two forms have different personalities though...i.e. if the female form is more happy-go-lucky, the male version will be more straight-laced. The two sides are a kind of yin/yang of an entire person. It's a really interesting premise and one that I wouldn't think could work for a romance novel, but it really does! I'm really impressed with this book.
The premise is that someone is killing shapeshifters by infecting them with a horrible disease. It's a really gruesome horrible way to die as the disease makes them shift faster than their body can accommodate until their body literally gives way. So far, the disease has been centralized on the two coasts and there is a task force on the West Coast trying to track it down. But in their investigations, the task force has taken a hard hit of its personnel, so Nikki has come in from Missouri to help out. She's paired up with Sean and they don't mesh well at first. Nikki has a laid-back personality...always cracking jokes. Sean is at his limit with the stress of watching his friends die these gruesome deaths.
As they work together, these two start to develop a deep respect for each other as well as an attraction. But when they act on that attraction, well then things just become a WHOLE LOT more complicated. From that point on in this book, I could not put it down. It's a great suspense book because you never know what's going to happen around the next corner. I liked the intricacies that developed from the whole male/female side of shapeshifters. When Nikki couldn't deal anymore with Sean, then Nick showed up. He's a much more restrained, tough-guy version of Nikki and I liked him too, but my heart hurt for Nikki that this was the only way she could deal with Sean. And I hurt for Sean because that's how Nikki chose to deal with him. Lots of great emotion here.
There's a lot to this world that is unknown even within the population. There aren't that many shapeshifters in the world and they are trying to save their civilization. Issues of human/shapeshifting matings appear along with the bigotry of that. There's also bigotry between humans and shapeshifters....on both sides. It was a great book that offered both viewpoints. There's a lot of emotion to the book...both from the trauma of the disease and with simple life issues. It's an extremely well-rounded read and I highly recommend it!
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book takes a completely different take on the shapeshifter world and I liked it...after I grasped the intricacies of it. In Jill James shapeshifter world, the shapeshifters have complete control over their appearance. They can control whether they are male or female, can change their proportions, and can shift to look like other people. Each shapeshifter has a natural male and female form although one of those is always their dominant form...the one that they are most at ease in. The two forms have different personalities though...i.e. if the female form is more happy-go-lucky, the male version will be more straight-laced. The two sides are a kind of yin/yang of an entire person. It's a really interesting premise and one that I wouldn't think could work for a romance novel, but it really does! I'm really impressed with this book.
The premise is that someone is killing shapeshifters by infecting them with a horrible disease. It's a really gruesome horrible way to die as the disease makes them shift faster than their body can accommodate until their body literally gives way. So far, the disease has been centralized on the two coasts and there is a task force on the West Coast trying to track it down. But in their investigations, the task force has taken a hard hit of its personnel, so Nikki has come in from Missouri to help out. She's paired up with Sean and they don't mesh well at first. Nikki has a laid-back personality...always cracking jokes. Sean is at his limit with the stress of watching his friends die these gruesome deaths.
As they work together, these two start to develop a deep respect for each other as well as an attraction. But when they act on that attraction, well then things just become a WHOLE LOT more complicated. From that point on in this book, I could not put it down. It's a great suspense book because you never know what's going to happen around the next corner. I liked the intricacies that developed from the whole male/female side of shapeshifters. When Nikki couldn't deal anymore with Sean, then Nick showed up. He's a much more restrained, tough-guy version of Nikki and I liked him too, but my heart hurt for Nikki that this was the only way she could deal with Sean. And I hurt for Sean because that's how Nikki chose to deal with him. Lots of great emotion here.
There's a lot to this world that is unknown even within the population. There aren't that many shapeshifters in the world and they are trying to save their civilization. Issues of human/shapeshifting matings appear along with the bigotry of that. There's also bigotry between humans and shapeshifters....on both sides. It was a great book that offered both viewpoints. There's a lot of emotion to the book...both from the trauma of the disease and with simple life issues. It's an extremely well-rounded read and I highly recommend it!
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
September 9, 2012
As a fan of the paranormal who has read many shapeshifter stories it's difficult to find an author who can put a unique spin on a well-used theme. Jill James is that author, who with her release Dangerous Shift, has put a new spin on the tried and true shapeshifter myth. Her shapeshifters can morph into the opposite sex with each sex having their own personalities. For the characters in this story who are cops, this kind of change can be quite useful and plays a vital role in bringing the villain to justice.
Nikki, in her female form, is one tough cookie who needs no man to protect her. She can be flippant at times and jumps the gun before thinking but she's serious when the case gets deadlier and hits home. Her other half Nick is calm and full of zen and he's useful to have when Nikki needs a calming influence. She wasn't interested in relationships until she met Sean. He's the exact opposite of her but something clicks between them immediately and their first encounter binds them in an unexpected way that Nikki fights every step of the way. Not until heartache strikes her and her mortality closes in does she admit the truth about her feelings and I wanted to shake her silly for waiting so long.
Sean is a serious man who's been surrounded by death with the loss of his partner, friend, and relative. These losses weigh heavily on him, as does the truth of his lineage which when discovered by Nikki puts their relationship in jeopardy because of her prejudices. We don't really see his other half Shauna but a clever plan to trap the villain shows just how talented Sean is in shifting into other people. Sean is extremely loyal and devoted and won't let Nikki push him away no matter how hard she tries. When he literally puts his life on the line for her you know we have the quintessential hero and I was completely in love with him.
The villain in this story is truly vile by thinking that their act of genocide is justice. We see early on who the villain is and their reason behind their deeds, but it's a connection to a secondary character that's most surprising and takes the story to an even more emotionally intense level. Also intense is the sexual interludes between Nikki and Sean. There's sexual tension from the start and once they hit the sheets they connect on an unexpected mystical level that very few of their kind experience.
This was a very satisfying read that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. With two headstrong lead characters you know that their HEA won't come easily, which makes the story's culmination even more satisfying. With a credible villain and unexpected deaths, the reader is on an emotional roller coaster that speeds along to its heartwarming conclusion. Fans of the paranormal will find this book a wonderful addition to the genre and here's hoping this isn't our last visit to this intriguing world Jill James has created.
Nikki, in her female form, is one tough cookie who needs no man to protect her. She can be flippant at times and jumps the gun before thinking but she's serious when the case gets deadlier and hits home. Her other half Nick is calm and full of zen and he's useful to have when Nikki needs a calming influence. She wasn't interested in relationships until she met Sean. He's the exact opposite of her but something clicks between them immediately and their first encounter binds them in an unexpected way that Nikki fights every step of the way. Not until heartache strikes her and her mortality closes in does she admit the truth about her feelings and I wanted to shake her silly for waiting so long.
Sean is a serious man who's been surrounded by death with the loss of his partner, friend, and relative. These losses weigh heavily on him, as does the truth of his lineage which when discovered by Nikki puts their relationship in jeopardy because of her prejudices. We don't really see his other half Shauna but a clever plan to trap the villain shows just how talented Sean is in shifting into other people. Sean is extremely loyal and devoted and won't let Nikki push him away no matter how hard she tries. When he literally puts his life on the line for her you know we have the quintessential hero and I was completely in love with him.
The villain in this story is truly vile by thinking that their act of genocide is justice. We see early on who the villain is and their reason behind their deeds, but it's a connection to a secondary character that's most surprising and takes the story to an even more emotionally intense level. Also intense is the sexual interludes between Nikki and Sean. There's sexual tension from the start and once they hit the sheets they connect on an unexpected mystical level that very few of their kind experience.
This was a very satisfying read that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. With two headstrong lead characters you know that their HEA won't come easily, which makes the story's culmination even more satisfying. With a credible villain and unexpected deaths, the reader is on an emotional roller coaster that speeds along to its heartwarming conclusion. Fans of the paranormal will find this book a wonderful addition to the genre and here's hoping this isn't our last visit to this intriguing world Jill James has created.
September 9, 2012
Reviewed on my blog: http://queenofthenightreviews.blogspo...
Dangerous Shift by Jill James is based on a unique and interesting premise; what if shapeshifters were real, had different dna and could shift into different genders without having to shift into an animal form. How would humanity deal with that in general and specifically when fear and anger turn into bigotry? With interesting characters, a touch of romance and enough suspense and action to keep the story moving, Ms. James provided a fascinating tale.
Sean Evans, secretly a mixed blood shapeshifter, is a no nonsense cop working the toughest case of his life. A deadly virus has been attacking the West coast and has almost decimated his special task force. Forced to ask for additional shapeshifter help, Sean in unprepared for the officer he's sent. She's tall, beautiful and his complete opposite. Trying to make the best of the situation, he never planned on his new partner being his "Mari Kei" or pure mate. He also hadn't planned on having to deal with her own version of "anti-normal" bias.
Nikki Hill, a tall, leggy shapeshifter from the Mid-West, was pleased to be picked to join the special task force in California dealing with the deadly virus attacking her kind. One of the youngest Lieutenants on the force, she's determined to solve the case and get back to her life at home. She never planned on falling for her boss or on discovering he's a mixed-blood shapshifter; he's half human. Something most shapeshifters didn't know could exist and that most would look down on.
As Sean and Nikki investigate this new terrible disease, they discover it's specifically being target to just their kind. Unable to discover how the disease is being delivered or how the targets are being selected; the case becomes more complicated and the number of death's keep rising. Just when it looks like there's no hope, a member of Nikki's family becomes infected and is able to give provide them with a clue.
Will Sean and Nikki be able to stop the killer before another shapeshifter becomes a victim? What will happen when one of them becomes infected? You'll have to read Dangerous Shift to find out.
Dangerous Shift by Jill James is based on a unique and interesting premise; what if shapeshifters were real, had different dna and could shift into different genders without having to shift into an animal form. How would humanity deal with that in general and specifically when fear and anger turn into bigotry? With interesting characters, a touch of romance and enough suspense and action to keep the story moving, Ms. James provided a fascinating tale.
Sean Evans, secretly a mixed blood shapeshifter, is a no nonsense cop working the toughest case of his life. A deadly virus has been attacking the West coast and has almost decimated his special task force. Forced to ask for additional shapeshifter help, Sean in unprepared for the officer he's sent. She's tall, beautiful and his complete opposite. Trying to make the best of the situation, he never planned on his new partner being his "Mari Kei" or pure mate. He also hadn't planned on having to deal with her own version of "anti-normal" bias.
Nikki Hill, a tall, leggy shapeshifter from the Mid-West, was pleased to be picked to join the special task force in California dealing with the deadly virus attacking her kind. One of the youngest Lieutenants on the force, she's determined to solve the case and get back to her life at home. She never planned on falling for her boss or on discovering he's a mixed-blood shapshifter; he's half human. Something most shapeshifters didn't know could exist and that most would look down on.
As Sean and Nikki investigate this new terrible disease, they discover it's specifically being target to just their kind. Unable to discover how the disease is being delivered or how the targets are being selected; the case becomes more complicated and the number of death's keep rising. Just when it looks like there's no hope, a member of Nikki's family becomes infected and is able to give provide them with a clue.
Will Sean and Nikki be able to stop the killer before another shapeshifter becomes a victim? What will happen when one of them becomes infected? You'll have to read Dangerous Shift to find out.
October 8, 2012
I thought this was a really great story. The author has created a world just like ours but that contains a breed of Shapeshifter. These are not you typical shifters. They do not turn into wolves, cats or other animals. Instead they commonly shift from a male to a female or otherwise alter their human looking appearance.
There is a crisis going on in their world though. Somehow shifters are being attacked by a virus. There is no rhyme or reason behind who get sick. But it does prove fatal to whoever is infected.
When Nikki comes to San Laura there is instant chemistry between her and Sean. However they are both strong willed characters. They each have their own strict beliefs that do not always agree. Many of their opinions are based on their past histories and environments. So it is interesting to watch how they have to learn to get along and respect each others beliefs. They have to learn to work together and be a team in order to help solve this growing crises.
The only real problem I had with the story was that I thought their relationship progressed at a good speed and level, until the point that they make the first move towards more. I just didn't quite get the place in the story and it wasn't clear why it was happening then and there. After that one part though it went back to a progression that made sense. The other thing that really got to me and I wont give details as to not spoil the story for anyone. I was just shocked towards the end with what happened that lead to their main breakthrough. I understand how it worked for the story and how it help the conclusion come about. But it was upsetting and I really was not happy emotionally.
This really was a great story. I am glad I got to try this author and am looking forward to reading more of her work. I also would like to have the chance to revisit this world in the future.
There is a crisis going on in their world though. Somehow shifters are being attacked by a virus. There is no rhyme or reason behind who get sick. But it does prove fatal to whoever is infected.
When Nikki comes to San Laura there is instant chemistry between her and Sean. However they are both strong willed characters. They each have their own strict beliefs that do not always agree. Many of their opinions are based on their past histories and environments. So it is interesting to watch how they have to learn to get along and respect each others beliefs. They have to learn to work together and be a team in order to help solve this growing crises.
The only real problem I had with the story was that I thought their relationship progressed at a good speed and level, until the point that they make the first move towards more. I just didn't quite get the place in the story and it wasn't clear why it was happening then and there. After that one part though it went back to a progression that made sense. The other thing that really got to me and I wont give details as to not spoil the story for anyone. I was just shocked towards the end with what happened that lead to their main breakthrough. I understand how it worked for the story and how it help the conclusion come about. But it was upsetting and I really was not happy emotionally.
This really was a great story. I am glad I got to try this author and am looking forward to reading more of her work. I also would like to have the chance to revisit this world in the future.
December 4, 2012
Ms. James has created an interesting and original world where shifters are known to humans. Each shifter individual has the ability to shift into either male or female, although each shifter has a dominant sex or a preference. While humans and shifters rub along together, both sides of the fence are guilty of prejudices. I thought the world building and shifter aspect of the book was very well done and different from other shifter books I’ve read. It made for a fascinating read.
Lt. Sean Evans has lost his partner to the deadly toxin that is killing shifters and sending them to a terrible and painful death. When Nikki Hall arrives as his new partner, he’s not very welcoming and they have a mutual dislike of each other. This gradually changes as the story advances and their relationship evolves to more. The aspect of true mates or Mari Kai comes into play, yet Nikki fights fate and her own prejudices before a happy ending.
I enjoyed the original world, and thought the plot worked well. My only quibble was the main characters since I didn’t warm to the hero and heroine straight away. I felt they were a bit standoffish, especially the hero. While I understood his surly mood at the start, because of the loss of his friend and their lack of progress in finding the culprit, I never really connected with him.
For those who enjoy a shifter paranormal story, I think you’ll enjoy the thought this author has put into making her world original and different.
Lt. Sean Evans has lost his partner to the deadly toxin that is killing shifters and sending them to a terrible and painful death. When Nikki Hall arrives as his new partner, he’s not very welcoming and they have a mutual dislike of each other. This gradually changes as the story advances and their relationship evolves to more. The aspect of true mates or Mari Kai comes into play, yet Nikki fights fate and her own prejudices before a happy ending.
I enjoyed the original world, and thought the plot worked well. My only quibble was the main characters since I didn’t warm to the hero and heroine straight away. I felt they were a bit standoffish, especially the hero. While I understood his surly mood at the start, because of the loss of his friend and their lack of progress in finding the culprit, I never really connected with him.
For those who enjoy a shifter paranormal story, I think you’ll enjoy the thought this author has put into making her world original and different.
November 27, 2012
My thoughts:
Interesting and original.
Jill James has created a story based on a type of shifter I have not encountered before; female/male dominated shifters who can shift between their own female or male form but have lost the ability to shift into animal form.
Into this would be bright, California set story, the author has brought some of the worst of our "real-world" problems: racism, sexism, bias, bigotry, fear and hatred. But she hasn't forgotten to include a host of fantastic characters armed with love, dedication, honor, courage, and hope to counteract those problems.
Jill James has added science, ingenuity and a deadly, terrifying virus to this mixture of characters and emotions . The story that swells from this combination is clever, insightful, and unique.
Interesting and original.
Jill James has created a story based on a type of shifter I have not encountered before; female/male dominated shifters who can shift between their own female or male form but have lost the ability to shift into animal form.
Into this would be bright, California set story, the author has brought some of the worst of our "real-world" problems: racism, sexism, bias, bigotry, fear and hatred. But she hasn't forgotten to include a host of fantastic characters armed with love, dedication, honor, courage, and hope to counteract those problems.
Jill James has added science, ingenuity and a deadly, terrifying virus to this mixture of characters and emotions . The story that swells from this combination is clever, insightful, and unique.
December 20, 2012
If you enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris or the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, then "Dangerous Shift" might be a good book for you. I liked how, just as in the Sookie Stackhouse books, James presented the "other" (shapeshifter in this instance, vampire in the Sookie books) also as a victim of human prejudice, not necessarily as an evil creature (though in the Sookie books it is of course more of a two-way street). This was an enjoyable read and a nice change from the amount of vampire and werewolf novels out there. I received this book free from the author from the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
September 22, 2014
This book was okay. It was an interesting story and premise, but I don't like it when the couple dislike each other and hate it when it takes over 100 pages for them to bam - dig each other. But other readers eat that up, so it's only my opinion. However, the book did drag in spots, enough to get only 3 stars instead of 4.
Want to read
September 2, 2012I plan to read it and it looks interesting. The only thing I am not sure about is the cover, it has the same man and woman picture that is on Hungerstorm by Amber Kallyn. Hers was published before this one so I am not sure if they draw from the same bank of images or what.
February 12, 2014
I'll write down my thoughts after I stop crying!POWERFUL! EMOTIONAL! A REMARKABLE NOVEL!THE CHARACTERS ARE MEMORABLE!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews