Sunday, February 5, 2012

Review: Shift [The Protector #2] by M.R. Merrick

Shift
The Protector #2
M.R. Merrick
Released: February 1st 2012 by M.R. Merrick
( Amazon / Goodreads )
Devastated by the loss of his mother, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else–a monster threatening to tear her apart. 

As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.
*An eARC was provided to me by the author for review purposes*

Thoughts/Review:
Wait. Could you just give me like 2 seconds? I can’t catch my breath from all the sheer awesomeness that I just witnessed. Yeah, that’s right, I said witnessed. Because what I just experienced wasn’t just reading. I don’t know how M.R. Merrick does it but he took me on an all-out thrill ride with this one folks. It’s no surprise to you, if you have read his first book Exiled, that we are dealing with an action guru and [I didn’t think it was possible] he stepped up his game. I am always a bit nervous reading the second book in a series. It’s a make or break kind of thing and M.R. made it his bitch. Sorry for the language, I am just all pumped up! Blame Merrick!

Shift starts right where Exiled left off, which I loved. Because to be honest, I was a tab bit [okay, a huge bit] scared of how Chase would cope with all that happened to him. Chase has this wall around him and I was scared he was going to let it crush him. So, this book had me biting my nails like, the whole time. If not worrying about Chase I was freaking out about Ryan [who is a badass heroine if I EVER saw one. Seriously. She is the shit.] or having my mind blow at the changing roll Willy [my dear dear Willy] endured. I really wish I could go on this big long ramble about what I am actually trying to say to you guys, but really. You HAVE to read this book and see for your own eyes. I want you to feel what I felt when I was flipping these pages!

If you ever read my reviews, you might get the hint that I LOVE books that have character building. Most books do, I know, I know. But I was already super in love with Chase from Exiled and getting to see him open up and trust people was just like, awegasmic. The character building wasn’t the only thing that took my breath away in this book. It was the sense that the whole time I was reading I was seriously right there with them. And with Shift focusing on these characters finding out about and facing all these demons within themselves it blew me away. I seriously wonder if Merrick doesn’t have some kind of portal that allows him to travel to these people. Honestly, M.R. is there something you’re not telling us?! I’m on to you. [And if you really do have said portal, can I come with you?!]

Overall, I think it is pretty safe to say this book blew my mind. I couldn’t have dreamt of a better way of continuing not only Chase’s story but those around him and I can’t wait to see where we will be taken next. But, let me warn you. Once you pick it up, you truly can’t put it down. So turn off the television put the kids to bed and buy this book. Have your coffee ready in the morning though, you will need it after that all night reading binge.  

Rating:
★★★★★
Five Action Packed Stars
[I warned you people]
**** **** **** ****
People. If you have not read Exiled yet then you need to head on over to my review page, check it out and go buy it! In fact, I think it is still on sale over at Amazon. So I will even make it easy for you. Click here to nab that sucker up! Then when you are done you can enjoy all the epicness that is Shift. Happy reading all!

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