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Shifter Lords #1
Shift of Heart
In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.
After a terrible divorce left her blindsided, all Evie Quinn wants is a relaxing girls' trip to Scotland, not a fight for her life with a Chimera shifter—an ancient, secretive enemy with the power to shapeshift into anything with a pulse.
Surviving the attack is a plus, but her goddess mother drops a bomb on Living will change everything.
And…it does.
Now she's hiding out in a small town running a popular flower shop, doing her best to resist the urge to gnaw on raw meat every chance she gets, and badly pretending she's the same ol' lovable hedgewitch she always was.
Except, spoiler - She's not.
When a foraging trip reveals a dying shifter in the woods, Evie breaks all the rules to heal him and vanishes before he wakes up. Cue immediate panic when that dangerously attractive shifter walks into her shop a few weeks later, and she finds out he's the Alpha of every single shifter in the state.
Eep.
Fortunately, he's only looking for a florist, not Evie. Not yet. But divine magic brews in the skies, and the wild gods are on the prowl, searching for the source of a long forgotten ancient magic they sense stirring once again.
As Evie's secrets claw their way to the surface, she realizes she may have to team up with the one man who can save her life.
If he doesn't destroy it first.
After a terrible divorce left her blindsided, all Evie Quinn wants is a relaxing girls' trip to Scotland, not a fight for her life with a Chimera shifter—an ancient, secretive enemy with the power to shapeshift into anything with a pulse.
Surviving the attack is a plus, but her goddess mother drops a bomb on Living will change everything.
And…it does.
Now she's hiding out in a small town running a popular flower shop, doing her best to resist the urge to gnaw on raw meat every chance she gets, and badly pretending she's the same ol' lovable hedgewitch she always was.
Except, spoiler - She's not.
When a foraging trip reveals a dying shifter in the woods, Evie breaks all the rules to heal him and vanishes before he wakes up. Cue immediate panic when that dangerously attractive shifter walks into her shop a few weeks later, and she finds out he's the Alpha of every single shifter in the state.
Eep.
Fortunately, he's only looking for a florist, not Evie. Not yet. But divine magic brews in the skies, and the wild gods are on the prowl, searching for the source of a long forgotten ancient magic they sense stirring once again.
As Evie's secrets claw their way to the surface, she realizes she may have to team up with the one man who can save her life.
If he doesn't destroy it first.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
818 people are currently reading
1564 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Babin
86 books389 followersS.E. Babin has a passion for writing books with a paranormal twist. Whether it's romance or mystery, she loves taking the norm and turning it into the extraordinary. Her love of reading turned into a curious exploration to see whether or not she could write her own novel.
Beginning with random, terrible poetry and a slightly popular reimagining of Beowulf's Grendel in her high school English class, Sheryl spent way too much time in the library, killing any chance of her becoming a cheerleader or anything even remotely cool. Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SEBabin. She loves to hear from readers!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
October 9, 2025
3.5 because I enjoyed this book, but it could have been so much better with better writing.
It's very .. disjointed. I felt like this was book two or even a spin off of another series where we should have more info.
Things don't get properly explained or described for first timers, so we're left kind of bumbling along trying to figure out what's what.
I'm honestly pretty confused by multiple things at the end and I'm tempted to jump into the next book just to see if we get anymore info.
Really I just have a hundred questions, some of which should have been explained/described.
Like, how old is Evie? What does she look like? What the fuck is a Chimera? Literally zero descriptions except for the Ruby color of magic.
The magic is also super confusing. The shifter lord is a shifter, but also has magic enough to hide his presence? Evie, though I understand she's still not sure all the things she can do, practices spells, charms as well as the plant magic?
I have to say I really like the plant stuff. It's very cool, different and heart warming. Overall I also enjoyed her character, though again the big gaps in knowledge are annoying.
I don't really understand the addition of Ben, why he mentions asking her out and goes to see her after we're just told that Ben and Simone were making doe eyes at each other. It's strange. Evie also seems to like him?
Not really sure where that's going or why it's in there.
The book ends on a... drama cliffy, with the introduction of the Shifter Lord getting married, presumably to another women?
Again with the questions. This is not the way to intrigue the readers, it's actually just really annoying and I'm not even sure if I want to read book two at this point.
It's very .. disjointed. I felt like this was book two or even a spin off of another series where we should have more info.
Things don't get properly explained or described for first timers, so we're left kind of bumbling along trying to figure out what's what.
I'm honestly pretty confused by multiple things at the end and I'm tempted to jump into the next book just to see if we get anymore info.
Really I just have a hundred questions, some of which should have been explained/described.
Like, how old is Evie? What does she look like? What the fuck is a Chimera? Literally zero descriptions except for the Ruby color of magic.
The magic is also super confusing. The shifter lord is a shifter, but also has magic enough to hide his presence? Evie, though I understand she's still not sure all the things she can do, practices spells, charms as well as the plant magic?
I have to say I really like the plant stuff. It's very cool, different and heart warming. Overall I also enjoyed her character, though again the big gaps in knowledge are annoying.
I don't really understand the addition of Ben, why he mentions asking her out and goes to see her after we're just told that Ben and Simone were making doe eyes at each other. It's strange. Evie also seems to like him?
Not really sure where that's going or why it's in there.
The book ends on a... drama cliffy, with the introduction of the Shifter Lord getting married, presumably to another women?
Again with the questions. This is not the way to intrigue the readers, it's actually just really annoying and I'm not even sure if I want to read book two at this point.
October 18, 2025
I didn't expect to like this very much but I found myself speeding through the story because it was giving me classic urban fantasy vibes that I think I've been missing. Between Evie, her motley crew of special paranormals as well as the politics in the Shifter Lord's territory and it was a fun ride.
Evie owns a floral shop and advertised herself as a floromancer but she's actually much more. In addition to Evie, she has Moira, a very powerful vampire, Ash, a dryad and Tess, a banshee, who all support Evie, keep her secret and help run the floral shop in their own ways. Because Evie has so much magic, she really tries hard to fly under the radar but she chose to save a wolf one night and has become the center of attention for a lot of people, good and bad.
I will start by saying the flow of the story didn't 100% make sense at first. the description says one thing but the order in which information is revealed does not follow that. I actually feel like I was spoiled between the description and when I started reading but I really loved the dialogue and the interactions between these people that I let that part float to the back of my mind. Evie, Moira, Tess and Ash would definitely be my friends in real life if they existed. I was unsure about Caelan at first because he's your typical super alpha but he grew on me by the end and I'm almost 50% into book 2 and I think he's delicious.
I'm excited to continue with the story and see where the author takes us especially Evie's encounters with different beings but also her journey with her evolving magical abilities.
Evie owns a floral shop and advertised herself as a floromancer but she's actually much more. In addition to Evie, she has Moira, a very powerful vampire, Ash, a dryad and Tess, a banshee, who all support Evie, keep her secret and help run the floral shop in their own ways. Because Evie has so much magic, she really tries hard to fly under the radar but she chose to save a wolf one night and has become the center of attention for a lot of people, good and bad.
I will start by saying the flow of the story didn't 100% make sense at first. the description says one thing but the order in which information is revealed does not follow that. I actually feel like I was spoiled between the description and when I started reading but I really loved the dialogue and the interactions between these people that I let that part float to the back of my mind. Evie, Moira, Tess and Ash would definitely be my friends in real life if they existed. I was unsure about Caelan at first because he's your typical super alpha but he grew on me by the end and I'm almost 50% into book 2 and I think he's delicious.
I'm excited to continue with the story and see where the author takes us especially Evie's encounters with different beings but also her journey with her evolving magical abilities.
August 22, 2025
I hate Unannounced cliff hangers!
I wanted to give 1 star but its a good story. If you write cliff hangers you just suck as an author. If you feel the only way to ensure the person buys your next book is to end a story this way then you should have announced it in the blurb. I would've Waited til the series was completed to start it. As it is I'm not sure I will finish it. You just lost yourself what may have been an excellent review and word of mouth sales.
Next time advertise cliff hangers
I wanted to give 1 star but its a good story. If you write cliff hangers you just suck as an author. If you feel the only way to ensure the person buys your next book is to end a story this way then you should have announced it in the blurb. I would've Waited til the series was completed to start it. As it is I'm not sure I will finish it. You just lost yourself what may have been an excellent review and word of mouth sales.
Next time advertise cliff hangers
January 10, 2026
It was good right until 90%.
*Bewildered* what happened?
Also, I keep having a real hard time seeing mmc as a love interest. Alpha a-hole! The only reason he was tolerable was because fmc didn't roll over.
*Bewildered* what happened?
Also, I keep having a real hard time seeing mmc as a love interest. Alpha a-hole! The only reason he was tolerable was because fmc didn't roll over.
November 5, 2025
I did not love this one. The magic is cool. the MMC is very toxic and controlling, with no signs yet of redemption. the MFC is also not the best. She's powerful, but not open to self-improvement and working through problems like an adult, and doesn't listen to good advice. maybe there will be some character growth in the next one?
September 10, 2025
it’s got me fully engaged in the series and process, and this group of characters.
Rating: 4.25⭐️
S.E. Babin is an author I’ve read before with mixed feelings. Some series I’ve really connected with and others not so much.
Shift of Heart, the first in Babin’s Shifter Lords paranormal romance series, is one I’m excited about and currently enjoying.
The description of this book drew me in but, now headed to the next book in the series, I feel that it’s a bit misleading. And needs clarification to begin with on an element that should come with trigger warnings.
Here’s the lead in.
“In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.”
That last bit? No accident but a horrifying assault, vividly captured, and for some, as it’s a reoccurring part of the story and a traumatic experience for the character, a element I think should have a trigger warning. Assault and potentially death. FYI.
Onto the other aspects of Shift of Heart. The world building is one that’s being assembled as part of the process of storytelling. So we don’t know how humans and nonhumans cohabitate separately as well as they do. Especially as humans aren’t supposed to know about the paranormal beings. And readers just get an understanding of otherworldly politics and governance as events happen.
It’s a characters that make the story. Especially the found family that exists around the main character of Evie Quinn, a Flouromage who runs a flower shop with her best friends, a vampire, a banshee, and a dryad. With a main goal of being successful while trying to stay hidden from the horrors she’s fled from. As well as her Mother.
The best friends, are beautifully crafted. Each one has a unique personality as well as fascinating otherworldly qualities due to their species and history. And they’re all very close to Evie. They know her secrets, her past.
For me they are fantastic and support the story even when I feel that the author has Evie being self destructive and close to a TSTL character.
Most of that is due to her involvement and interactions with the Alpha of all Shifters in her area. Toxic relationship is how most people would describe it.
Although it’s a staple of some romance tropes. Outlooks are changing.
The Alpha is all “everything/everyone is mine” rawr! If I don’t like it or get it. Let’s destroy it. So of course, things around Evie are destroyed.
He fixes it. She tries to or pays for it. Pattern says that it continues.
To be fair. Caelan, the Alpha, recognizes that there is a problem with his approach. And her friends and a mentor are the ones who will tell Evie that she’s jeopardizing herself and them in this situation.
But it’s that relationship and story so it’s going to continue on this path. If you find it as frustrating as I did be warned.
What is worth continuing forward is the multiple mysteries, the mythology and the interwoven relationships between the gods, current events and the characters. That’s intriguing and suspenseful.
And it’s got me fully engaged in the series and process, and this group of characters.
Check it out! Especially if urban fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing.
Cover design by Covers by Christian
Shifter Lords :
Shift of Heart #1
Shift of Morals #2
Power Shift #3 - Oct 26,2025
Shifting Winds #4 - Feb 10,2026
Shifting Resolve #5 - March 31,2026
Shift of Rule #6 - May 26,2026
Shift of the Wild #7 - July 28,2026
Rating: 4.25⭐️
S.E. Babin is an author I’ve read before with mixed feelings. Some series I’ve really connected with and others not so much.
Shift of Heart, the first in Babin’s Shifter Lords paranormal romance series, is one I’m excited about and currently enjoying.
The description of this book drew me in but, now headed to the next book in the series, I feel that it’s a bit misleading. And needs clarification to begin with on an element that should come with trigger warnings.
Here’s the lead in.
“In-hiding hedgewitch florist by day. Powerful demigoddess by blood. Shapeshifting immortal by accident.”
That last bit? No accident but a horrifying assault, vividly captured, and for some, as it’s a reoccurring part of the story and a traumatic experience for the character, a element I think should have a trigger warning. Assault and potentially death. FYI.
Onto the other aspects of Shift of Heart. The world building is one that’s being assembled as part of the process of storytelling. So we don’t know how humans and nonhumans cohabitate separately as well as they do. Especially as humans aren’t supposed to know about the paranormal beings. And readers just get an understanding of otherworldly politics and governance as events happen.
It’s a characters that make the story. Especially the found family that exists around the main character of Evie Quinn, a Flouromage who runs a flower shop with her best friends, a vampire, a banshee, and a dryad. With a main goal of being successful while trying to stay hidden from the horrors she’s fled from. As well as her Mother.
The best friends, are beautifully crafted. Each one has a unique personality as well as fascinating otherworldly qualities due to their species and history. And they’re all very close to Evie. They know her secrets, her past.
For me they are fantastic and support the story even when I feel that the author has Evie being self destructive and close to a TSTL character.
Most of that is due to her involvement and interactions with the Alpha of all Shifters in her area. Toxic relationship is how most people would describe it.
Although it’s a staple of some romance tropes. Outlooks are changing.
The Alpha is all “everything/everyone is mine” rawr! If I don’t like it or get it. Let’s destroy it. So of course, things around Evie are destroyed.
He fixes it. She tries to or pays for it. Pattern says that it continues.
To be fair. Caelan, the Alpha, recognizes that there is a problem with his approach. And her friends and a mentor are the ones who will tell Evie that she’s jeopardizing herself and them in this situation.
But it’s that relationship and story so it’s going to continue on this path. If you find it as frustrating as I did be warned.
What is worth continuing forward is the multiple mysteries, the mythology and the interwoven relationships between the gods, current events and the characters. That’s intriguing and suspenseful.
And it’s got me fully engaged in the series and process, and this group of characters.
Check it out! Especially if urban fantasy or paranormal romance is your thing.
Cover design by Covers by Christian
Shifter Lords :
Shift of Heart #1
Shift of Morals #2
Power Shift #3 - Oct 26,2025
Shifting Winds #4 - Feb 10,2026
Shifting Resolve #5 - March 31,2026
Shift of Rule #6 - May 26,2026
Shift of the Wild #7 - July 28,2026
December 30, 2025
Intriguing, fast-paced with various characters and plants with emotions, it pulled me in and didn't let me out in till I finished. Really well written and I can't wait to read about next Evie's journey.
September 21, 2025
Exactly what I’ve been wanting to read for a while now, it just hit the exact fucking right spot for me!
October 11, 2025
Bored.
It took me several days to get to 30%, and well, it's boring. The conversations are cringey.
The blurb was interesting. But I had been expecting this to start off before she was attacked.... instead, it was 5 years later, and it badly referenced back to the event we weren't privy to, yet acted like it happened recently with how her magic is being impacted. It felt like I was reading a book in the middle of the series, and I just lost interest, and now I keep putting it down.
I'm moving on.
It took me several days to get to 30%, and well, it's boring. The conversations are cringey.
The blurb was interesting. But I had been expecting this to start off before she was attacked.... instead, it was 5 years later, and it badly referenced back to the event we weren't privy to, yet acted like it happened recently with how her magic is being impacted. It felt like I was reading a book in the middle of the series, and I just lost interest, and now I keep putting it down.
I'm moving on.
December 28, 2025
This one is hard to rate. It has so many good elements, but there are just as many issues. I loved the cast of characters, and the unique assortment of magical abilities. But the book is filled with inconsistencies and underdeveloped world building.
Another review mentioned the book feeling like a sequel or a spinoff because it seemed as if you were already supposed to know how the magic system and power structures of this universe worked, and that is exactly how I felt as well.
This book would have been much improved by more thorough editing (not for mechanics, but for plot and consistency) or a good beta reader.
Inconsistencies that were infuriating:
1. At the start of the book she rides a bicycle everywhere and even comments that it saves her the expense of a car note. When she does drive (the company car), we see she has a nearly debilitating fear of driving. Then partway through the book the bike disappears, and she has a car she drives to and from work (with no fear) and it is written as if she’s always driven the car and there’s never mention of the bike again.
2. It is revealed that all shifter Lords take the name of the animal they shift into as their last name, but then when the other shifter lords are introduced the only one we get a last name for is Halvar who says his last name is Aster. Are they trying to say he shifts into a flower?
3. They introduce a cursed bouquet that they need to deal with, the fridge it’s placed in has the door broken and they are concerned about what it could do, and then the bouquet is never mentioned again!!! They made it seem like the poor bride whom it belonged to had unsuspectingly married a monster and might be about to be murdered, and then just dropped that plot? Is it coming back up in a future book? Months have passed since it was dropped off at the store for preservation.
4. At the beginning of the book it seems as if the Shifter Lord is a brand new arrival to the town, but then they make it as if he and his court have always been there.
Other things I found infuriating:
The lack of explanation of power structures (are the shifter lords just over the shifters, or are they also the leaders of all supernaturals in their area?) how do the Kings and Queens of the different supernatural races fit into that power structure? How are the different species categorized? One character is described as Fae, a goddess and queen of the Banshees. Does that mean that all the gods and goddesses are a subcategory of Fae? Are Banshees fae?
Are we ever going to learn more about who attacked the Shifter Lord at the beginning of the book, or what poison they used on him? It seemed very odd that wasn’t a bigger plot point, is it just being saved for a different book?
Is the magic bird egg plot also being saved for another book?
Despite all of that, I did really enjoy the story, and hopefully those issues won’t persist through the rest of the series.
I’d say over all I’d give it 3.5 stars; which given the myriad of errors, shows how strong the rest of the story is.
Another review mentioned the book feeling like a sequel or a spinoff because it seemed as if you were already supposed to know how the magic system and power structures of this universe worked, and that is exactly how I felt as well.
This book would have been much improved by more thorough editing (not for mechanics, but for plot and consistency) or a good beta reader.
Inconsistencies that were infuriating:
1. At the start of the book she rides a bicycle everywhere and even comments that it saves her the expense of a car note. When she does drive (the company car), we see she has a nearly debilitating fear of driving. Then partway through the book the bike disappears, and she has a car she drives to and from work (with no fear) and it is written as if she’s always driven the car and there’s never mention of the bike again.
2. It is revealed that all shifter Lords take the name of the animal they shift into as their last name, but then when the other shifter lords are introduced the only one we get a last name for is Halvar who says his last name is Aster. Are they trying to say he shifts into a flower?
3. They introduce a cursed bouquet that they need to deal with, the fridge it’s placed in has the door broken and they are concerned about what it could do, and then the bouquet is never mentioned again!!! They made it seem like the poor bride whom it belonged to had unsuspectingly married a monster and might be about to be murdered, and then just dropped that plot? Is it coming back up in a future book? Months have passed since it was dropped off at the store for preservation.
4. At the beginning of the book it seems as if the Shifter Lord is a brand new arrival to the town, but then they make it as if he and his court have always been there.
Other things I found infuriating:
The lack of explanation of power structures (are the shifter lords just over the shifters, or are they also the leaders of all supernaturals in their area?) how do the Kings and Queens of the different supernatural races fit into that power structure? How are the different species categorized? One character is described as Fae, a goddess and queen of the Banshees. Does that mean that all the gods and goddesses are a subcategory of Fae? Are Banshees fae?
Are we ever going to learn more about who attacked the Shifter Lord at the beginning of the book, or what poison they used on him? It seemed very odd that wasn’t a bigger plot point, is it just being saved for a different book?
Is the magic bird egg plot also being saved for another book?
Despite all of that, I did really enjoy the story, and hopefully those issues won’t persist through the rest of the series.
I’d say over all I’d give it 3.5 stars; which given the myriad of errors, shows how strong the rest of the story is.
July 25, 2025
This story is phenomenal!! The outside world ceased to exist for me while I was caught up in it's almost 300 pages after the blurb caught my attention and the author delivered on that promise in spades.
As S.E. Babin is a new author to me I had no inkling of how quickly I would find myself bespelled by her writing. A smoothly flowing narrative, lovely phrasing, clever yet subtle worldbuilding, unique characters and the ability to turn each sentence into a captivating image in my mind all combined to make this a charismatic reading experience!
Evie, the FMC, was a delight and kept me on my toes. In fact, all the characters were masterfully created - personality in abundance, magic that was explained well and then consistent, and banter that was snappy and often worthy of some serious eye rolls or giggles. It's dual POV too, which I liked; I loved seeing what the FMC thought of the MMC and his shenanigans and vice versa.
The storyline was everything I love and need to elevate a reading experience to top shelf. There was a cosy feel to some scenes, intrigue and contemplation to others, life or death in yet others. And they all flowed together seamlessly to carry and direct the narrative in a way that made me want to put aside adult responsibilities and just remain immersed in this appealing story.
I loved the use of the found family trope as it is my absolute favourite. Evie, Moira, Tess and Ash are all people I would happily spend more time with. There's also some sort of enemies to something going on that added so much energy and gleeful (malicious??!!) spectator appreciation to the mood of those pages. Got to love that!
One thing I did find unusual was how the author drip-fed character backstorys. I initially thought I'd missed a prequel but it became obvious that that was the author's writing style. Some things might have been held back for book 2 but everything I needed to cement a good foundation for the characters was delivered.
I really cannot speak highly enough of this book. It's a mesmerising story told in accomplished prose. I tore through it and now have to wait a month for the next installment in the series - but who needs fingernails?! I highly recommend Shift Of Heart to readers looking for a layered, amazingly well-crafted urban fantasy tale with riveting magic and magical beings, a spirited FMC who doesn't take any nonsense and a good dose of mystery.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
" 'Magic beats from you like a furnace, Evie.' "
As S.E. Babin is a new author to me I had no inkling of how quickly I would find myself bespelled by her writing. A smoothly flowing narrative, lovely phrasing, clever yet subtle worldbuilding, unique characters and the ability to turn each sentence into a captivating image in my mind all combined to make this a charismatic reading experience!
Evie, the FMC, was a delight and kept me on my toes. In fact, all the characters were masterfully created - personality in abundance, magic that was explained well and then consistent, and banter that was snappy and often worthy of some serious eye rolls or giggles. It's dual POV too, which I liked; I loved seeing what the FMC thought of the MMC and his shenanigans and vice versa.
The storyline was everything I love and need to elevate a reading experience to top shelf. There was a cosy feel to some scenes, intrigue and contemplation to others, life or death in yet others. And they all flowed together seamlessly to carry and direct the narrative in a way that made me want to put aside adult responsibilities and just remain immersed in this appealing story.
I loved the use of the found family trope as it is my absolute favourite. Evie, Moira, Tess and Ash are all people I would happily spend more time with. There's also some sort of enemies to something going on that added so much energy and gleeful (malicious??!!) spectator appreciation to the mood of those pages. Got to love that!
One thing I did find unusual was how the author drip-fed character backstorys. I initially thought I'd missed a prequel but it became obvious that that was the author's writing style. Some things might have been held back for book 2 but everything I needed to cement a good foundation for the characters was delivered.
I really cannot speak highly enough of this book. It's a mesmerising story told in accomplished prose. I tore through it and now have to wait a month for the next installment in the series - but who needs fingernails?! I highly recommend Shift Of Heart to readers looking for a layered, amazingly well-crafted urban fantasy tale with riveting magic and magical beings, a spirited FMC who doesn't take any nonsense and a good dose of mystery.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
" 'Magic beats from you like a furnace, Evie.' "
October 28, 2025
I almost made it to the end (83%)
only to finally give in to that constant itch to check some GR reviews, which among other things confirmed my suspicion of a cliffy ending.. absolut dealbreaker in my book.
It's a shame really that she (the writer) doesnt trust herself, her characters, her story more and has to resort to such cheap gimmicks like OTT high drama a lot of which was clearly just for the sake of it, love triangles/ quadrangles, cliffhangers..
all of which was completely unnecessary, cause she had some likelable, endearingly quirky characters, good story, with some interesting powers/ ideas and such.
Her writing is still all tell very little show. too much focus on insignificant details.. like a whole paragraph spend describing an ice cream flavour
or its all hippy dippy flower power stuff, but then when she comes across an injured person She spents 4 pages internally debating whether to help or not!!!!
the constant " hints" at her hidden power / some mysterious past event can't really be called hints either as that would suggest at least a smidgen of subtlety whereas her hints are more like giant screaming neon flashing billboards or as Evie once described the black magic marketing tactics less gentle nudge more a punch in the face...
oh and don't forget the blatant riff of the OG Beast lord... and I guess she was trying to emulate Kate and Curran's banter/fight/mating games shenanigans?!? ... having only recently reread the entire series it just couldnt even being to hold a candle to...
so despite of some elements that had me quite intrigued... I am out
only to finally give in to that constant itch to check some GR reviews, which among other things confirmed my suspicion of a cliffy ending.. absolut dealbreaker in my book.
It's a shame really that she (the writer) doesnt trust herself, her characters, her story more and has to resort to such cheap gimmicks like OTT high drama a lot of which was clearly just for the sake of it, love triangles/ quadrangles, cliffhangers..
all of which was completely unnecessary, cause she had some likelable, endearingly quirky characters, good story, with some interesting powers/ ideas and such.
Her writing is still all tell very little show. too much focus on insignificant details.. like a whole paragraph spend describing an ice cream flavour
or its all hippy dippy flower power stuff, but then when she comes across an injured person She spents 4 pages internally debating whether to help or not!!!!
the constant " hints" at her hidden power / some mysterious past event can't really be called hints either as that would suggest at least a smidgen of subtlety whereas her hints are more like giant screaming neon flashing billboards or as Evie once described the black magic marketing tactics less gentle nudge more a punch in the face...
oh and don't forget the blatant riff of the OG Beast lord... and I guess she was trying to emulate Kate and Curran's banter/fight/mating games shenanigans?!? ... having only recently reread the entire series it just couldnt even being to hold a candle to...
so despite of some elements that had me quite intrigued... I am out
July 30, 2025
good
I wouldn’t call this a cliffhanger precisely, but there is a definite book-hook for the next book, and it’s got its own traumatic punch; I’d rate it a 4/5 on my scale.
A traumatic event some years ago, left Evie changed, and more powerful than her natural magical heritage (fairly strong anyway) had been originally.
Now she’s a florist in a magical town, trying to keep her head down and out of trouble.
Unfortunately for her, a run in with a shifter lord, brings a lot of attention down on her, and it’s not the good kind!
Evie is a strong woman, with a dangerous heritage, and a bad habit of denying herself and who she is. She’s fortunate enough to have several magical friends, and a supportive mentor, all more than willing to call her on her antics.
Caelan, our shifter lord, is a bit more of a mystery. His pack on the other hand seem like some lovely people, although I don’t think they exert much of a tempering influence on him as may be warranted!
This is an enjoyable book, with a very intriguing set of characters, and it evolves at a fairly steady pace, as we are introduced to this new magical world. I enjoyed many of the characters, as well as the unusual magical natures of them, but one in particular (maybe two) really made me mad by the end of the book, and I am kind of looking forward to the fireworks that will surely ensue.
A enjoyable read, this is for urban/contemporary fantasy lovers, as well as fans of the fae and shifters.
I wouldn’t call this a cliffhanger precisely, but there is a definite book-hook for the next book, and it’s got its own traumatic punch; I’d rate it a 4/5 on my scale.
A traumatic event some years ago, left Evie changed, and more powerful than her natural magical heritage (fairly strong anyway) had been originally.
Now she’s a florist in a magical town, trying to keep her head down and out of trouble.
Unfortunately for her, a run in with a shifter lord, brings a lot of attention down on her, and it’s not the good kind!
Evie is a strong woman, with a dangerous heritage, and a bad habit of denying herself and who she is. She’s fortunate enough to have several magical friends, and a supportive mentor, all more than willing to call her on her antics.
Caelan, our shifter lord, is a bit more of a mystery. His pack on the other hand seem like some lovely people, although I don’t think they exert much of a tempering influence on him as may be warranted!
This is an enjoyable book, with a very intriguing set of characters, and it evolves at a fairly steady pace, as we are introduced to this new magical world. I enjoyed many of the characters, as well as the unusual magical natures of them, but one in particular (maybe two) really made me mad by the end of the book, and I am kind of looking forward to the fireworks that will surely ensue.
A enjoyable read, this is for urban/contemporary fantasy lovers, as well as fans of the fae and shifters.
December 30, 2025
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that the book blurb gave so much reference to events that predate the beginning of this story. It was so specific and detailed I assumed I was going to read from the moment she was attacked and then go forward. Instead, it felt like I missed a prequel/novella and was starting in the middle of a story and the attack is only hinted at in internal dialogue and then in the last 5% we kinda learn something. I’m all for progressive disclosure and learning about someone as I read, but the blurb was its own story and didn’t prep me for what to expect in the book.
The writing was disjointed and felt in need of a consistency edit. We read that the MC has to overcome some trauma that makes her afraid to drive (hence her love for her bicycle) and then we proceed to have no more bike rides, it’s all driving and it’s not a problem ever again. There was also a ton of repetition, sometimes because the author would show us and then tell us what was just shown.
I do love the cast of characters that work in the shop, the banshee especially felt like the author developed her personality. Loved her.
The premise and world are interesting, I really wanted to read the rest of the series until I hit about 50% of the book. After finishing, I’m undecided if I’ll continue with the series. It felt like a lot happened and yet I didn’t experience much. And also don’t feel any chemistry between the MC and her potential love interest.
The writing was disjointed and felt in need of a consistency edit. We read that the MC has to overcome some trauma that makes her afraid to drive (hence her love for her bicycle) and then we proceed to have no more bike rides, it’s all driving and it’s not a problem ever again. There was also a ton of repetition, sometimes because the author would show us and then tell us what was just shown.
I do love the cast of characters that work in the shop, the banshee especially felt like the author developed her personality. Loved her.
The premise and world are interesting, I really wanted to read the rest of the series until I hit about 50% of the book. After finishing, I’m undecided if I’ll continue with the series. It felt like a lot happened and yet I didn’t experience much. And also don’t feel any chemistry between the MC and her potential love interest.
July 23, 2025
Wow, what a great book. An extremely enjoyable read.
Evie is a floramancer, her magic helps plants grow and do things you would never expect. But she is more, half fae, half something else and damaged by a Chimera attack that she barely survived. The attack is mentioned but never fully explained.
This book starts with Evie running a magical flower shop with her assistants – Moira the vampire, Tess the banshee and Ash the dryad.
Things are going well until the local Lord Shifter, Caelan, comes in and demands that Evie does some work for him. That doesn’t go over well.
She does the work but adds some magic to the displays much to the embarrassment and anger of Caelan.
This book has a lot of interaction between Evie and Caelan, whether fighting their mutual attraction or trying to prove who’s the boss. The turmoil between them also draws in the other Lord Shifters just making the matter worse.
There is some action, lots of different magic, mystery, possible romance, and a fair amount of humour. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger/surprise.
This book drew me in from the first word and I definitely didn’t get enough of this world. But now I have to wait until September for the next installment.
In the mean time I will read some of her other books.
Evie is a floramancer, her magic helps plants grow and do things you would never expect. But she is more, half fae, half something else and damaged by a Chimera attack that she barely survived. The attack is mentioned but never fully explained.
This book starts with Evie running a magical flower shop with her assistants – Moira the vampire, Tess the banshee and Ash the dryad.
Things are going well until the local Lord Shifter, Caelan, comes in and demands that Evie does some work for him. That doesn’t go over well.
She does the work but adds some magic to the displays much to the embarrassment and anger of Caelan.
This book has a lot of interaction between Evie and Caelan, whether fighting their mutual attraction or trying to prove who’s the boss. The turmoil between them also draws in the other Lord Shifters just making the matter worse.
There is some action, lots of different magic, mystery, possible romance, and a fair amount of humour. It also ends on a bit of a cliffhanger/surprise.
This book drew me in from the first word and I definitely didn’t get enough of this world. But now I have to wait until September for the next installment.
In the mean time I will read some of her other books.
November 13, 2025
I enjoyed parts of this. However, many parts of it were pretty frustrating. The premise of Floromancy and all of the neat things the fmc (Evie) did with the plants were quite interesting. I also liked her friends and coworkers. I wasn't as drawn in with the back and forth between her and Caelan, mmc. Actually, I didn't get relationship vibes as much as junior high temper tantrums, bullying, and one-upping. Evie's constant inability to shut up and stay under the radar was really immature. Everything she did for Caelan was one way to beat him or prove something - it didn't make a lot of sense. Maybe it was supposed to be some level of flirting that just didn't work? There are also a large number of threads that are so obscure or just not addressed that I felt like I was reading a mid-series book or even a spin off. Lots of references to previous occurrences that "make her a monster/Chimera" but nothing is really explained. A small reference with not a lot of details was frustrating. The term Chimera can mean many things and so far, it just seems to freak everyone out and come with an expectation of Power. Not certain I'll continue with the series. Maybe I'll try book 2 at a later date to see if anything at all is explained.
July 31, 2025
The table arrangement by the female lead, and the response from the male lead really grabs the reader. Till then, I assumed the plot was going to unfold in a relatively generic way, but this book is imaginative, and the author is creative with the story and the world-building. Their interactions were wild.
I think Caelan, the male love interest suffers a little with the arrival of the Shifter Lords (although that dress!). I'd describe him as a bit messy, and I find it interesting the author chose to write him that way.
I really like the female lead Evie, and look forward to the next book in the series. the reader moves with her through a period of transformation in her life, and that makes for a fascinating read, the story dropping hints like breadcrumbs.
I know the series is called Shifter Lords but I do find them the most uninteresting of the assembled characters. The other support characters feel more vibrant, especially Tess and Simone. These just felt like old dudes drunk on boring power structures, and in that sense, a bit dull, compared to how fascinating every other character is. Even the plant Seymour was more engaging!
I think Caelan, the male love interest suffers a little with the arrival of the Shifter Lords (although that dress!). I'd describe him as a bit messy, and I find it interesting the author chose to write him that way.
I really like the female lead Evie, and look forward to the next book in the series. the reader moves with her through a period of transformation in her life, and that makes for a fascinating read, the story dropping hints like breadcrumbs.
I know the series is called Shifter Lords but I do find them the most uninteresting of the assembled characters. The other support characters feel more vibrant, especially Tess and Simone. These just felt like old dudes drunk on boring power structures, and in that sense, a bit dull, compared to how fascinating every other character is. Even the plant Seymour was more engaging!
September 24, 2025
"One wasn’t a daughter of the gods without believing in Fate and all its fickle tendencies. A demi-goddess did not believe in coincidence."
A hedge witch, a banshee, a dryad, and a vampire run a flower shop, shenanigans must inevitably follow. I think Tess is by far my favorite, her random bouts of moaning, and declarations of weirdness make me so happy.
“What does death sound like exactly?”
“Kinda like that noise when you stub your toe really bad. Like a sharp intake of breath before the inevitable wail, followed by a lot of screaming.”
I did enjoy learning about Evie's magics and the charms she puts on her plants. The fact that she doesn't back down to ANYONE, let alone a bossy alpha gives me such joy. Her automaton made me cackle out loud! She is the queen of malicious compliance 🤣
"Everything about him screamed restrained violence, and he stood with absolute stillness. The Shifter Lord was a storm in waiting, barely held together by human skin."
I do adore Caelan. He's a big bossy man, but the fact that he talks to plants, knows how to apologize, and reads Evie like a book melts my heart.
A hedge witch, a banshee, a dryad, and a vampire run a flower shop, shenanigans must inevitably follow. I think Tess is by far my favorite, her random bouts of moaning, and declarations of weirdness make me so happy.
“What does death sound like exactly?”
“Kinda like that noise when you stub your toe really bad. Like a sharp intake of breath before the inevitable wail, followed by a lot of screaming.”
I did enjoy learning about Evie's magics and the charms she puts on her plants. The fact that she doesn't back down to ANYONE, let alone a bossy alpha gives me such joy. Her automaton made me cackle out loud! She is the queen of malicious compliance 🤣
"Everything about him screamed restrained violence, and he stood with absolute stillness. The Shifter Lord was a storm in waiting, barely held together by human skin."
I do adore Caelan. He's a big bossy man, but the fact that he talks to plants, knows how to apologize, and reads Evie like a book melts my heart.
July 23, 2025
Evie is living as a floromancer, which is a mage whose powers harmonize with and originate from flowers and plants, but in truth she’s much, much more. She’s been living in relative anonymity as a florist in a paranormal town when she catches the interest of the local Shifter Lord. From there things seem to snowball and her safety and her safety is jeopardized as more and more powerful Lords take an interest in Evie.
I really enjoyed this book! Evie is a sweet florist who’s hiding her true strength for fear of what those in power would do if they knew the truth. I liked the chemistry between Caelan and Evie, but I liked Ben too, and I’ve read enough of the author’s book to know that the first MMC we meet isn’t always the one who sticks around, so it’ll be interesting to see how things play out. The book was a great start to the story, but there are a lot of mysteries yet to be revealed, so I am excitedly awaiting the next book in the series!
I really enjoyed this book! Evie is a sweet florist who’s hiding her true strength for fear of what those in power would do if they knew the truth. I liked the chemistry between Caelan and Evie, but I liked Ben too, and I’ve read enough of the author’s book to know that the first MMC we meet isn’t always the one who sticks around, so it’ll be interesting to see how things play out. The book was a great start to the story, but there are a lot of mysteries yet to be revealed, so I am excitedly awaiting the next book in the series!
October 4, 2025
Entertaining story and yet uncertain about it… 3.5 Stars!
I am not quite sure what I feel about this series going by this first book. The story is different from many supernatural books out there, which is really refreshing and very intriguing. The FMC Evie is truly an enigma, though I really liked her as well as her friends. There are many unanswered questions at this point so I find myself wanting to know more. I will say that this book needs much more world building and character depth. I am also uncertain about the MMC being Caelan from the way the story ended. The author did a great job of creating an enticing story that leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen next, but I do hope the next books of this series prove to be more enlightening. I would recommend it for now if you are into magic, mystery, hints of romance, dark undertones and much more. Enjoy 🥰
I am not quite sure what I feel about this series going by this first book. The story is different from many supernatural books out there, which is really refreshing and very intriguing. The FMC Evie is truly an enigma, though I really liked her as well as her friends. There are many unanswered questions at this point so I find myself wanting to know more. I will say that this book needs much more world building and character depth. I am also uncertain about the MMC being Caelan from the way the story ended. The author did a great job of creating an enticing story that leaves the reader wanting to know what will happen next, but I do hope the next books of this series prove to be more enlightening. I would recommend it for now if you are into magic, mystery, hints of romance, dark undertones and much more. Enjoy 🥰
January 4, 2026
Fun universe, cool magic, loveable side characters, so it got an extra star. But otherwise this book suffers from the same romanticization of 'playing hard to get' and 'the man knows your desire better than you do' as 50 shades. If it was just sexy non-con that's one thing, but it was hard to suspend my disbelief and enjoy the spice. I wish the author was more consistent about the main character's character - one minute she has a backbone and would do anything for her friends, and the next she doesn't care about someone stepping all over her or about risking her friends lives? If she's going to be a shitty mess, that can be fun, but don't set her up in the first half like she's a saint. I feel like you can keep it just as spicy without being lazy in how you set up the power dynamic between the leads as well. Multiple eyerolls and eventually had to admit I lost interest. I'll be sad to leave this world but the lead writing annoyed me so much that I'm tapping out.
July 29, 2025
This is the first book in the new Shifter Lords series by S. E. Babin. We meet our FMC, Evie, who is a floromancer (& more). She has a flower shop in a mostly magical town that has some human residents & tourists coming through. Her nurturing heart & sassy attitude put her in a bit of hot water. Never fear, she has a delightful crew of side character to help her along the way. We collect clues about her mysterious background throughout the story. There are a couple of plot twists I didn't see coming. It ends in a cliff hander that makes you want to beg for book #2 to be done immediately. If you liked Violet & Clara's stories you will hop right on board with Evie's story as well. Try it out, you won't regret it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 26, 2025
Hmmm, I'm still not sure how I feel about this one. On the one hand, I liked the premise and the small-town-florist-with-a-secret vibes, however... the male lead is a walking talking red flag for most of the book. His emotions flip from one extreme to the other - it's a wonder he didn't give himself whiplash - and he is the typical alpha asshole stereotype. Still, there were some amusing moments, especially when Evie uses cunning to get the upper hand in their private little war.
So, will I continue on? Yeah, I think so. I loved Evie's florist shop, and her connection to the flora (especially her hybrid Venus Fly Trap... he's amazing!), and the ending had enough of hook that I want to see how it all plays out in the next book. Fast paced, fun (in places), and with a mystery that kept my attention.
3.25 stars
So, will I continue on? Yeah, I think so. I loved Evie's florist shop, and her connection to the flora (especially her hybrid Venus Fly Trap... he's amazing!), and the ending had enough of hook that I want to see how it all plays out in the next book. Fast paced, fun (in places), and with a mystery that kept my attention.
3.25 stars
November 20, 2025
Started this book on a whim, and so glad I did! I really enjoyed it. Something about the writing, the pacing, the characters- it all just worked.
At first, I thought it might be a spin-off from another series; then I realized that we just weren’t privy yet to all of the sordid events from Evie’s past, which frankly, I am fine with. This was obviously the first book in a series and never claims to be a stand-alone!
I am really liking Evie’s character so far, as well as the rest of her friends at the shop. I am hoping in the next book we get a little more character development from Caelan. I love a good slow burn romance and it seems like that’s what we are headed to here.
Were all my questions answered in this book? No… but that just increases my excitement to read the next one! I think this is gearing up to be a great series.
At first, I thought it might be a spin-off from another series; then I realized that we just weren’t privy yet to all of the sordid events from Evie’s past, which frankly, I am fine with. This was obviously the first book in a series and never claims to be a stand-alone!
I am really liking Evie’s character so far, as well as the rest of her friends at the shop. I am hoping in the next book we get a little more character development from Caelan. I love a good slow burn romance and it seems like that’s what we are headed to here.
Were all my questions answered in this book? No… but that just increases my excitement to read the next one! I think this is gearing up to be a great series.
December 14, 2025
Talk about a cliffhanger!
Well-written, fast paced, enticing “romance” about magic users of all kinds, but especially Shapeshifters. The story begins as if you already know a great deal about the main character Evie and the magical world in which she lives. We learn a little about her background, and how she accidentally draws the attention of the magical town in which she lives and runs a little florist shop. She has an amazing group of people who surround her and are her “family” and to care about her, but then she runs into the Lord of the local shapeshifters, and the world begins to change around her. Her secrets begin to be revealed, which leads to an amazing cliffhanger at the end of this first book. Will the romance blossom? I’ll have to read the next book to find out more. Enjoyable great on a rainy night such as the one I’m in tonight.
Well-written, fast paced, enticing “romance” about magic users of all kinds, but especially Shapeshifters. The story begins as if you already know a great deal about the main character Evie and the magical world in which she lives. We learn a little about her background, and how she accidentally draws the attention of the magical town in which she lives and runs a little florist shop. She has an amazing group of people who surround her and are her “family” and to care about her, but then she runs into the Lord of the local shapeshifters, and the world begins to change around her. Her secrets begin to be revealed, which leads to an amazing cliffhanger at the end of this first book. Will the romance blossom? I’ll have to read the next book to find out more. Enjoyable great on a rainy night such as the one I’m in tonight.
July 18, 2025
I just finished this book, and I’m happy, sad, angry, and so many more emotions. Evie is such an interesting character, along with Moira, Caelan, Tess, and all the others. We are introduced to Eve as a florist with the magic of growing plants, but she does have a little extra. She gets on the radar of the local Shifter Lord, and many intriguing things happen from there. At the end, I was left agape because of a couple of things, and now I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one to see how all of this is going to shake out. I’m hoping this series lasts a long time because I can see so many questions left hanging that would make so many wonderful books. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
July 23, 2025
If you are a fan of slow burn paranormal romances, the fae, and paranormal communities that exist parallel to the mundane then this is a solid pick. Evie is an interesting and powerful main character who you want to know more about and her friends are charming and have a lot to offer to the story as well.
Shifter romances are a popular genre and it's easy to follow a basic recipe and write just another generic romance that plays out exactly like dozens of other books. Shift of Heart does not do this, the story manages to be unique and keep you interested and wanting to read more through the whole book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shifter romances are a popular genre and it's easy to follow a basic recipe and write just another generic romance that plays out exactly like dozens of other books. Shift of Heart does not do this, the story manages to be unique and keep you interested and wanting to read more through the whole book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 28, 2025
A quick, fun, cozy read. Evie and her found family are an interesting bunch, just going through life. Insert powerful shifters,will they/won’t they tension, a dangerous secret and mysterious past.
We get lots of day to day details, but light on the backstory, which seems pretty standard for the author’s style. I enjoyed the pacing and storyline, though the ending feels a bit abrupt, however there are plenty of open plot points to hook you in for the next release. I found the romantic interests /relationships a little forced, but it has shifters, so instant possessive males is pretty standard.
Overall I enjoyed the book, something I could read easily just for fun. I will keep an eye out for the next book when it is released.
We get lots of day to day details, but light on the backstory, which seems pretty standard for the author’s style. I enjoyed the pacing and storyline, though the ending feels a bit abrupt, however there are plenty of open plot points to hook you in for the next release. I found the romantic interests /relationships a little forced, but it has shifters, so instant possessive males is pretty standard.
Overall I enjoyed the book, something I could read easily just for fun. I will keep an eye out for the next book when it is released.
August 23, 2025
Much More Than a Florist
Evie is a florist, a healer, a demigoddess—and a woman with a dangerous secret. If the truth comes out, it could cost her life. When she saves Caelen, a powerful shifter lord, she draws far more attention than she ever wanted. But Caelen isn’t about to walk away, and soon the two of them are pulled into an adventure filled with peril, secrets, and undeniable sparks. Could what’s building between them be romance? Perhaps—if they don’t destroy each other first.
This first book ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you eager for the next installment. It’s my first read by this author, and I look forward to more. A great pick if you enjoy fantasy with shifters, adventure, and a dash of romance.
Evie is a florist, a healer, a demigoddess—and a woman with a dangerous secret. If the truth comes out, it could cost her life. When she saves Caelen, a powerful shifter lord, she draws far more attention than she ever wanted. But Caelen isn’t about to walk away, and soon the two of them are pulled into an adventure filled with peril, secrets, and undeniable sparks. Could what’s building between them be romance? Perhaps—if they don’t destroy each other first.
This first book ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you eager for the next installment. It’s my first read by this author, and I look forward to more. A great pick if you enjoy fantasy with shifters, adventure, and a dash of romance.
October 8, 2025
I liked the story and want to know what's next, but a couple u explained and unresolved issues bugged me--the possibly cursed bouquet brought in by a bride's mother, and the question of who dealt with the poisonous plants when Caelan destroyed the shop. My assumption is that Caelan dealt with the latter, but it really didn't say and I suspect there is more to be told about his witchy surname. The bridal bouquet thing? I don't know. The other thing that really bugged me was Evie's use of the fox/wolf fable. For someone as smart as she seems, it just seemed off. That said, I really want to know how the dryad/banshee situation works out, meet Hazel, figure out who the "dangerous" woman is, and see more of Cernunnos. Yep. I guess I am invested.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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