Winter Shift

Shock Collar #1

by Elizabeth Otto

He’s not just a vampire. He’s not just a bear shifter.

He’s both.

And no shock collar in the world will keep him from the woman who owes him her blood.

And her heart.

Republished extended and expanded edition, 2020, Liz Paffel

Genres: Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Novella

165 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Elizabeth writes steamy contemporary and paranormal romance by day, and works as an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate by night. The night shift provides never-ending fodder for plots, characters and story lines! When not creating characters or saving lives, she wrangles three demonic children and tends to her heirloom garden in the beautiful Midwest.

Watch for Elizabeth's Paint River Cowboy series, coming from Entangled Indulgence, October 2013.

Reviews

[Emily Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally gripping and equally exciting beginning

I got into this story from the first page. The pace was fast and the story flowed pretty quickly. I read it straight through, it was hard to put down honestly. There were some repetitive parts, maybe an overstressing of a thematic element without the right background information to substantiate its value to the story arc. I mean, I get that she's dying and I get that she's going to a secret place ,but it was a little overstated, in my opinion. There is a lot of exposition, but since it's the first book in the series, it's kind of expected, isn't it? However, that one criticism is countered by the excellent descriptiveness of the rest of the story. I almost felt Isla's pain, her emotional pain of knowing she's dying and the physical pain of when her body brings that knowledge home. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Fiona McGier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great start to what I hope will be a new series. I'm a sucker for tortured paranormal creatures that are sexy men with issues. Gavin is just such a man. He's a shifter-vampire hybrid, known as an Ahpret, and he lives on a reservation set aside for others of his kind. He was trained and used by the US as a soldier, to use his special powers to defend the country. But when the war was over, he was discarded, and his people are being hunted for their special abilities--to either heal, or make death bearable for those with no other choice. In this future world, medicine is impossible to get, and even Tylenol is unavailable. So when paranormal creatures can heal with their saliva? They're hunted as useful, and not regarded as humans.

Isla is a doctor, but she's got an incurable terminal cancer. Even her doctor brother can do nothing more for her. So he sends her into the Ahpret reservation, to seek out his old friend Gavin--they knew each other back when the war was raging. She's hoping for a peaceful death, instead of the torture and pain she's been dealing with. Her brother has sent along the injections he's been giving her, of a special formula he says will help keep her cancer at bay. But it's not working anymore.

The meeting between Gavin and Isla is fraught with danger. And they don't trust each other, even as they both fight to deny a growing attraction between them. Both have to fight obstacles to stay alive, and both are strong enough to survive--if given the chance. Will they be able to fend off their enemies long enough to seek a HEA? Read and discover the start of a new series that will have you anxious for the next book!

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Shift After Dark" has the potential to be a much better book, but it's not bad as it is.
Originally issued as "Winter Shift" this version has been expanded, presumably because the writer figured it could be improved. Unfortunately it is marred by poor proofreading and an annoying end - one moment it's revelling in a HEA, the next it's all over.
Isla is dying from a brain tumour, she has little time left. She comes to seek a painless death from shifter-vampire Gavin. He, in turn, must find a Mate pretty damn quick or he'll lose his powers and rapidly decline. Of course he is also being hunted by humans seeking his blood for its healing qualities.
Once the parameters of the plot are set out it is very clear how it will eventually work out, which lessens from the drama.
I reckon, had it been at least half as long again, it might have allowed the characters and the story to acquire some depth. As it is both are tissue thin.
Like I noted at the start it is not a bad read.
2.5 Stars, raised to 3 Stars

[Alisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story line is not bad, although it stops VERY abruptly. It felt like it stops mid-chapter. It is missing a lot of back story for me. My biggest complaint is it is in SERIOUS need of proofreading and editing. SOOooo many mistakes--one long duplicated passage, wrong words, misspellings, missing words, fragments, etc. "Slacked" and "Slaked" are NOT the same thing at all, though spell check won't identify the mistake. It really interfered with the story. The premise is interesting, so I hope the author will look into some editing in the future. Amazon bills it as the beginning of a series, so the lack of back story is confusing. If it is not the beginning, or there is a previous book that is important to read first, I hope the author will correct that in the blurb.

[Raina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m new to this author and really loved this paranormal romance. It seems the world has changed. Even giving an acetaminophen to someone can get you arrested. When one doctor who has helped others is now the one dying of a terminal cancer, she decides to go to a wilderness. She will either die from the cancer or from the vampire shifter hybrids who live there. By the end I’m not sure if she isn’t the hero who saves a hybrid or if he is. A very different type of paranormal story that is very exciting. Hope to read more from this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book.

[MJM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Otto is a new author to me but I was so impressed with her writing that I am already looking for more of her stories!  Written with great imagination and feeling.  Brilliant characters that are believable and interesting so much so that I was rooting for them getting their HEA.  I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Definitely recommended

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First let me state, I received an Advance Reader Copy, (ARC), but this in no way influences my review. I always leave an honest review. Also, this is a new author to me, and it won't be my last.

Holy shiznet!!! Wow I really enjoyed this story. I couldn't put it down. I was so sad for Isla and Gavin. Here he's found his mate and she's dying. I can't wait to read the next book. I recommend this read. 5 Thumbs up.

[Brynn Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this is more of a novella-length book, and it shows with the lack of plot development. Also, the lack of relationship development… and of world-building (especially world-building…

Don’t get me wrong, this was a relatively well-written book and had the bones of a good story. The concept of vampire-assisted suicide was actually really unique. I think with, like, two hundred more pages, this could’ve been really good.

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gavin Perry is an alpha vampire / grizzly bear shifter. Isla goes to Gavin because she knows that there is no cure. Isla would rather have Gavin kill her than have the agency that is after her. I enjoyed reading this book. I loved the storyline and plot. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

This was a completely different type of shifter story for me to read but OMG. It's fantastic. Full of action, intrigue, lust, fear, love, and sex. Wow. I can hardly wait for book number two to arrive!!!!!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla left for help and with strange noises she finally meets Gavin. Her brother Bjorn best friend. Together they help each other. This is a really good book.

[Tay Callahan]

It was okay.. not for me 😅

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced shifter storyline of a Dr who will die from cancer unless she can shift.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, let me say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. It took me about 2 hours to complete and it left me wanting to know more about the characters developed. I like the premise of a hybrid shifter, especially when the fusion to the animal is a vampire. I think this story can easily be made into a full-length novel, and I look forward to reading other works by this author.

When Isla and Gavin meet, sparks fly. Not in a good way.

Gavin and Isla both have secrets. They both want a form of torment to end, and they are willing to do the unthinkable to relieve their suffering. Gavin is ex-military and a force to be reckoned with, beautiful, lethal, and full of rage. Isla is a doctor in a post-war setting where medical aid given to the sick will land her in prison. Isla embarks on a journey to escape the chaos of the government and live out the rest of her life in peace.

The rest of her life, however long that may be.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sydney M Neblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Passing the crown

Such an amazing new take on shifters and vampires. These characters have already stolen my heart, they are rough and gruff and completely alpha, and yet underneath it all is an unexpected softness reserved for those that hold their hearts. The author kept the book high energy and fast paced with an intensity that carries through to the end whetting my appetite for more. I hope there are many more books to come in this series because their are so many characters that need to find their own HEA.

[Debra Lamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance with a difference.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me reading all night. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes shifters and exciting romance. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Kathy Zuercher Diveley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla

A Dr with inoperable brain cancer, has debilitating pain. Hoping for a pain free euthanasia, her brother sends her to his old military buddy.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.