Shine (Shade #3) – Jeri Smith-Ready

Shine is the perfect final chapter in the Shade series! I loved how things progressed throughout the narrative, and both Aura and Zach had me cracking up quite often. Shine starts with a very big scare! And our favorite YA protagonists  have to jump through hoops before things finally settle down for them and they can get together again. They walk through the same paths they parents walked through 19 years ago, and it is really great to see everything they discover on this new adventure.

The bad guys are everywhere, but Aura has a knack for finding tails when needed, and it amazes both Zach and the bad guys in question.

It didn’t take me long at all to be extremely happy to continue reading. Aura is a great protagonist; she’s strong, smart, funny, independent and loveable. I also love her friends, and of course, I really, really love Zach 😀 The fact that Aura stays friends with Logan’s family is something that says a lot about her in my opinion.

Of course, there was a whole lot of heartbreak in this volume, and it wasn’t only about the very first chapter when I was cursing my tired eyes. Beware, there will be spoilers, because there are some things I don’t know how to explain if I don’t share what is up.

Zach being captured and kept is awful, and Aura’s reaction is wonderful. She never gives up, even when things are at their bleakest, and she feels like there really isn’t all that much she can do. Aura and her friends’ rescue attempt is awesome, and for once in my life, I am actually happy about snakes! Good thing there was one so they didn’t all walk into the invisible eletric fence. And good thing they managed to leave before the guards were able to capture them all.

Even if this installment focused mostly on Zach and Aura, other characters were of course a part of the story as well. And they all grew in the aftermath of Logan’s death and his passing on becoming the light.

It is also heartbreaking that Zach and Aura only got a few minutes together between his release and when he had to leave the country, but oh how I loved their chats and their video chats 😀 So funny, and at the same time so touching and completely, you know, them!

I think what I actually preferred in the whole story was their time in Ireland, the romance, their tentative lovemaking, their love shining through every single time they even thought about each other. I think their first time is one of the most beautifully written scenes I have ever read! It was so sweet and filled with love, and even if they both felt a little insecure, they trusted each other comptelety. It was beautiful that they could share such a moment, and I loved the whole build-up, the actual love-making and afterwards. They shared something so special, and it seemed so real to me! And I think I love it even more because this book is for older young adults – it is important that sex can be described in books, and the way it happened here was both emotionally and literally beautiful. Even being so much in love, and wanting each other so much, they were also both conscious about being safe, and that is extremely important as well.

I also loved how they continuously taught each other new things, to look out for strangers following them, to pick up on strange things, to share their feelings and fears, I loved every single chapter every single page, every single word, and every single punctuation.

Every single reader should read and savour this series – it will stay on my ‘fave’ shelf forever!

And just because I can, here are some quotes :

* I got the feeling Dylan was forming his plan of attack based on TV shows, movies and video games. Still, what he said made sense.
* No one said anything. Mickey and Megan stared straight ahead, fozen, as if one movement would shatter them. i reached for her hadn to comfort her, but she moved it, patted mine quickly, then crossed her arms so I couldn’t try again.
* But in the depth of Zachary’s weary, determined eyes, I saw more than a desperate longing, I saw a future.
* “I knew it! This isn’t about safety, it’s about sex. Guess what, Gina? I’m almost eighteen and still a virgin. Zachary and I could’ve done it before he left. Bt we dcided to wait. Just like Logan and I waitend and waited until it was too late, and then he was dead.”
* His fingers twitched. “You don’t make anything easy, do you?” “Nope.” I licked my lips. “I try to make everything hard.” Zachary groaned and rolled on his back. “Now I absolutely can’t show you, because it would be pornographic.”
* Even the second time around, the lyrics and melody reached through my ears, bypassed my brain, and went straight to my heart, where they wriggled around, causing a hundred different pains.
* “Zach, I have a slight packing issue. What do you like girls to, you know. wear?” He angled his head, clearly confused. “Whatever they want.” “I mean” – my face heated – “in bed.” “Oh!” He blinked rapidly, probably imagining government guys in bad suits listening in. “Dunno. Never spent the night with anyone.” At least our nervousness wasn’t being faked. “But what do you think is attractive?” He paused. “Nakedness?” 
* Zachary peeled back my shirt, one shoulder at a time. Even as my skin met the chilly air, it was wared by the swelling fire and this never-ending kiss.

So, if you haven’t read this already, how come you’re still reading my review? Go! Run! Get the book, find somewhere comfy, and just read 🙂

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About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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