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Shift
Librarian's note: There are Alternate Cover Editions for this edition of this book here (Original) and here.
When twenty-year-old Sandy Carpenter agrees to baby sit Cassie Johnson, she has no clue that Cassie has a peculiar talent. In fact, Cassie's own family is unaware what she can do. Over the following months, Sandy enjoys five-year-old Cassie's quirkiness and grows to love the enigmatic prodigy.
Reading together in Sandy's cozy Ventura living room, an unexpected warm breeze brings forth a feast of scents although no doors or windows are open. Cassie appears to be in some sort of “state” until Sandy snaps her out of it. Cassie exclaims that a handsome winged angel in a toga told her that something big is about to happen.
That Friday, Sandy and Cassie are able to have a sleepover and give the Johnsons a night out. Thunder and pouring rain awakens them to a dark house. The power is out and the radio will only emit a hiss of static. Although well into morning, there is not even the faintest gray of sunlight. There is only the occasional punctuation of lightning.
Hungry, they decide to venture out in hopes of breakfast and to assure the Johnsons that Cassie is okay. Sandy finds the car will not start. Meanwhile, strange sounds outside the garage door draw Sandy closer. Someone or something begins banging on the roll-up door with enough force to severely dent it. Sandy leaves nothing to chance and pushes the car against the door to prevent its opening. With Cassie embedded as deeply into an overstuffed chair as possible, Sandy paces, heart thudding, realizing they are not safe in her home. Why doesn't whoever is out there just come crashing through the picture window? Is he simply toying with them? She must protect Cassie at all cost.
Sandy remembers that her beloved Danny, now lost to her in this life, was Mr. Super Prepper and had prepared an emergency drum in the garage. Flashlight in hand, Sandy makes three trips and now has a backpack and gear. Prepared and resolute, Sandy takes Cassie in hand and sloshes through freezing rain for the local Sheriff's Annex a few short blocks away.
An otherworldly, shadowy attacker manages to separate Sandy and Cassie. Lost in the dark and pouring rain, all Sandy can do is pray that Cassie can run fast enough to evade capture, or worse. Frantic and choking back sobs, Sandy is nearly paralyzed with the thought that the choices she must now make could mean Cassie's life.
Meanwhile, outside their their bubble of alternate reality, the military, physicists and engineers puzzle ways to bring the survivors back, even as politicians work to cover the mess up...for good!
When twenty-year-old Sandy Carpenter agrees to baby sit Cassie Johnson, she has no clue that Cassie has a peculiar talent. In fact, Cassie's own family is unaware what she can do. Over the following months, Sandy enjoys five-year-old Cassie's quirkiness and grows to love the enigmatic prodigy.
Reading together in Sandy's cozy Ventura living room, an unexpected warm breeze brings forth a feast of scents although no doors or windows are open. Cassie appears to be in some sort of “state” until Sandy snaps her out of it. Cassie exclaims that a handsome winged angel in a toga told her that something big is about to happen.
That Friday, Sandy and Cassie are able to have a sleepover and give the Johnsons a night out. Thunder and pouring rain awakens them to a dark house. The power is out and the radio will only emit a hiss of static. Although well into morning, there is not even the faintest gray of sunlight. There is only the occasional punctuation of lightning.
Hungry, they decide to venture out in hopes of breakfast and to assure the Johnsons that Cassie is okay. Sandy finds the car will not start. Meanwhile, strange sounds outside the garage door draw Sandy closer. Someone or something begins banging on the roll-up door with enough force to severely dent it. Sandy leaves nothing to chance and pushes the car against the door to prevent its opening. With Cassie embedded as deeply into an overstuffed chair as possible, Sandy paces, heart thudding, realizing they are not safe in her home. Why doesn't whoever is out there just come crashing through the picture window? Is he simply toying with them? She must protect Cassie at all cost.
Sandy remembers that her beloved Danny, now lost to her in this life, was Mr. Super Prepper and had prepared an emergency drum in the garage. Flashlight in hand, Sandy makes three trips and now has a backpack and gear. Prepared and resolute, Sandy takes Cassie in hand and sloshes through freezing rain for the local Sheriff's Annex a few short blocks away.
An otherworldly, shadowy attacker manages to separate Sandy and Cassie. Lost in the dark and pouring rain, all Sandy can do is pray that Cassie can run fast enough to evade capture, or worse. Frantic and choking back sobs, Sandy is nearly paralyzed with the thought that the choices she must now make could mean Cassie's life.
Meanwhile, outside their their bubble of alternate reality, the military, physicists and engineers puzzle ways to bring the survivors back, even as politicians work to cover the mess up...for good!
- GenresScience FictionEbooks
356 pages, ebook
First published April 16, 2011
8 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
D. Doyle Reynolds
1 book1 followerAKA David D. Reynolds
For the author's non-fiction see: David Reynolds.
For the author's non-fiction see: David Reynolds.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 16, 2020
Angels and Others, Indeed!
Hard to be minimal for Shift ...
This is both a captivating, edge of the seat fantasy, and a delightful Sci Fi interlude. The plot is well defined, the characters are delightful, or not, as the plot developed.
I hesitate to call this an allegory but given the author's credentials, it probably is.
And a Child shall lead them.
Enjoy where that Child - Cassie - goes and go with her. You will love it.
Hard to be minimal for Shift ...
This is both a captivating, edge of the seat fantasy, and a delightful Sci Fi interlude. The plot is well defined, the characters are delightful, or not, as the plot developed.
I hesitate to call this an allegory but given the author's credentials, it probably is.
And a Child shall lead them.
Enjoy where that Child - Cassie - goes and go with her. You will love it.
November 14, 2019
Great story
Its so refreshing to read fiction that incorporates God, Jesus and Angels. This work was so good I did not put it down until it was finished. Can't wait to read future novels by David and Doyle Reynolds.
Its so refreshing to read fiction that incorporates God, Jesus and Angels. This work was so good I did not put it down until it was finished. Can't wait to read future novels by David and Doyle Reynolds.
September 18, 2011
A SHIFT from Kansas' Oz to Ventura's "Dark Cloud"
Move over, Dorothy and Toto; make way for Cassie and her little dog, Pip! With SHIFT: The Spiritus Chronicles: Book One, Author D Doyle Reynolds crafts a technical, paranormal tale of one precocious and gifted five year old, Cassie, who begins seeing obscure visions from an angel. Cassie's sitter and mentor, Sandy, begins to detect Cassie's otherworldly experiences, and as Cassie describes her angelic encounters, the story unfurls and is brought to light.
When a government plane crashes over Ventura, California with its classified cargo- a weather changing device marked "Dark Cloud"- a portal is suddenly opened to another dimension, and all hell breaks loose, quite literally. Creatures soon begin to infiltrate planet Earth, construed by some as demons while others perceive them as aliens, and the government is in up to its neck to find a cover-up for its top secret mission gone haywire.
Sandy relents that Cassie has had previous visions about the whole fiasco and, with their little dog, Pip, it's up to Cassie to save the day as prompted by the messenger sent from The Almighty. The little girl has no dreams about traveling somewhere over the rainbow, rather she teleports through circular rings she sees around Earth's sphere, each telekinetic ride drawing her closer to danger.
Teleport through SHIFT with Cassie and Author D Doyle Reynolds, hang on to your seat, and enjoy the thrill-ride!
Teric Darken
<><+><>
Author of Wickflicker, U-TURN KiLLuR, and KILL FM 100
Move over, Dorothy and Toto; make way for Cassie and her little dog, Pip! With SHIFT: The Spiritus Chronicles: Book One, Author D Doyle Reynolds crafts a technical, paranormal tale of one precocious and gifted five year old, Cassie, who begins seeing obscure visions from an angel. Cassie's sitter and mentor, Sandy, begins to detect Cassie's otherworldly experiences, and as Cassie describes her angelic encounters, the story unfurls and is brought to light.
When a government plane crashes over Ventura, California with its classified cargo- a weather changing device marked "Dark Cloud"- a portal is suddenly opened to another dimension, and all hell breaks loose, quite literally. Creatures soon begin to infiltrate planet Earth, construed by some as demons while others perceive them as aliens, and the government is in up to its neck to find a cover-up for its top secret mission gone haywire.
Sandy relents that Cassie has had previous visions about the whole fiasco and, with their little dog, Pip, it's up to Cassie to save the day as prompted by the messenger sent from The Almighty. The little girl has no dreams about traveling somewhere over the rainbow, rather she teleports through circular rings she sees around Earth's sphere, each telekinetic ride drawing her closer to danger.
Teleport through SHIFT with Cassie and Author D Doyle Reynolds, hang on to your seat, and enjoy the thrill-ride!
Teric Darken
<><+><>
Author of Wickflicker, U-TURN KiLLuR, and KILL FM 100
February 7, 2013
Due to a crash of a secret military project called Dark Cloud, a small town is cast out of the material dimension in which we live into a spiritual world of Demons and Angels. The towns’ residences wake to the horror of the end of days type of vicious demons who are out to attack them.
Some of the town citizens realize what is happening due to the visions of a young child while others fail to understand what is actually happen believing they are in the middle of an alien invasion.
The survivors must gather together to figure out how to survive and how to return the town back to our material dimension.
The story idea was interesting, but I felt the writing of this story is choppy, repetitive and lack luster.
There are times when the story moves so slowly that it seems rambling. So many details not needed. Too many times the author repeats the characters back story.
The thoughts of our main character Cassie go from child like (she is 5 years old) to sage like. Making the character unbelievable.
The author does get a bit preachy at times but that is to be expect in this genre.
While I was interested in this story enough to finish reading it, there were times when I had to push myself to do so.
Some of the town citizens realize what is happening due to the visions of a young child while others fail to understand what is actually happen believing they are in the middle of an alien invasion.
The survivors must gather together to figure out how to survive and how to return the town back to our material dimension.
The story idea was interesting, but I felt the writing of this story is choppy, repetitive and lack luster.
There are times when the story moves so slowly that it seems rambling. So many details not needed. Too many times the author repeats the characters back story.
The thoughts of our main character Cassie go from child like (she is 5 years old) to sage like. Making the character unbelievable.
The author does get a bit preachy at times but that is to be expect in this genre.
While I was interested in this story enough to finish reading it, there were times when I had to push myself to do so.
April 12, 2012
“Shift” is nothing short of spectacular. Great story, and great characters. Every moment of this book was put together masterfully and the build up to the end was perfect. The epic battle in the end had me so on the edge of my seat that when the battle was over, I found myself letting out a breath of relief. It was that awesome – worthy of the Big Screen battles that people talk about for days. I look forward to reading more books from D. Doyle Reynolds and I really pray that this is not the last we hear of Sandy, Cassie, Pip and the rest of the crew.
March 2, 2021
There are more reader comments on the site http://www.DDoyleReynolds.com with comparisons to the styles of Koontz, Peretti, Crichton among others.
August 21, 2011
Great, tense, exciting story! I hope there are more adventures for Cassie and Sandy to come!
August 21, 2011
For a first time author this story is fantastic! truely something for everyone and with a pace to keep you turning pages. I sincerely hope this isn't the last we hear from him.
January 29, 2014
Interesting concept. It could have used editing.
July 22, 2015
Religion takes a shift sideways
Interesting intersection between religion and science where good and evil battle it out. Ends with a lead for a second book.
Interesting intersection between religion and science where good and evil battle it out. Ends with a lead for a second book.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews