-
5 out of 5
by
Michelle
from
Fort Worth, TX | Aug 19, 2009
The Original Review - Here!
In a time where so many stories carry the “mortal and immortal” element, The Pace distinguishes itself by knotting two topics that have been debated and constantly separated: science and X spiritual themes. Who said both couldn’t get along? Certainly not Shorts, who has gotten them together in order to create a novel that involve elements like: suspense, mystery and romance. The story’s narrated by Sophie after moving to California with her mother. There she meets Weston and thanks to this her life and “existence” take a new meaning. Sophie’s character is molded in a delightful way since there is a truthful balance in her personality. Unlike other “heroines” we are finding in this subdivision, she is decided, says what she thinks, not afraid to ask for explanations or giving ultimatums, but most surprisingly, she knows when to stop feeling sorry and move on. On the other side, we have Weston, a handsome boy, intelligent, adorable and does not keep a single secret, but several. As a vivid reader, I could appreciate that a pattern I have been observing in this category is broken and the author creates something new, interesting and captivating. For instance, the couple gets to know themselves in a peculiar situation, not on scholastic environment since each attend different academic grades; Sophie studies with an online program and Weston goes to college (not Biology class … Yes!). Readers will have the opportunity to see the relationship blossom, and by this I mean Shorts does not exclude the couple’s dating process and does not limit it to the main character’s room (Thank You!). The complexity of Weston’s emotions towards Sophie is much emotionally deep, tender and loving than just attempting to: eat her, sacrifice her or kill her. This is the character’s charm and bright. These factors, instead of making the story less interesting, can be outstanding and involve readers in its mystery that will be unveiled further on. In order to know who Weston is, how can he be an “immortal” and what role Sophie plays in this complex situation, make sure you read The Pace, a novel where science, love, destiny and time pace are tied in a magnificent way.
8 people found this review helpful
-
4 out of 5
by
kari
from
Greencastle, IN | Oct 10, 2009
The Pace has a lot of surprising twists and turns which kept me involved up to the last page.
The story of Sophie and how she meets Wes is very well told and I liked these characters very much, hoping they remain together and find their happily ever after.
I did like that Sophie was very intrigued by Wes and looked for answers instead of simply accepting that he was different and that she didn't accept him not giving her the answers she was seeking.
Wes is a very sympathetic character as well. I knew he had some kind of secret but he actually has more than one, not only who/what he is, but regarding how he knows Sophie as well.
Two things that bothered me a bit.
One, that they can't be together because he'd lose track of time, seemed a bit odd and reaching for a reason, which didn't truly make sense to me. It felt like a created conflict that was manufactured only to add sexual tension and I just didn't care for it. Second, I very much don't like reading a book that is part of a series without being given a heads up before starting it AND leaving the ending on a cliffhanger just isn't okay in my opinion.
For those two reasons, it's not a five star for me, but otherwise I thorougly enjoyed the story, was captivated byt the story of Wes and Sophie and I'm looking forward to the next book, which hopefully won't be too long a wait.
1 people found this review helpful
-
4 out of 5
by
Danny
from
Munich , Germany | Jul 29, 2010
4.5 Stars!
Well that was a surprising lovely and wonderful book! She created such wonderful characters that you just have to love and adore.
Sophie is a independent, strong, determined 18 year old girl that meets Immortal Wes. (Well she doesn't know that when she meets him... ) Wes is the usual male protagonist: handsome, wealthy, sweet, smart and lovely and ... *does a little squee* he drives an black Maserati *died*. I really liked Wes right from he beginning, he wasn't creepy, he was just lovely but oh so lonely and my heart aches for him!
What I liked most that Sophie didn't take his lies and she didn't just pretend everything is fine, that he cannot be evil. No - Our Girl discovered his lies and then took some days avoiding him to think about it and get clear about how to go on from there since she obviously hates being lied at.
She confronts him and forces him to tell her!
I also liked very much her idea about Immortal Wes ( no worries I won't spoil it) and I think it is a very smart idea and definitely something new. Love creative new ideas and hers has exactly that!
The only thing I didn't like that in between Wes does something extremely stupid and it just seemed forced to develop the story. It came out of the blue...
Can't wait to read the next one! Great Book, creative ideas and wonderful characters!
2 people found this review helpful
-
3 out of 5
by
Maria
from
Stockholm, Sweden | Apr 3, 2010
I had such high hopes for this book and I was expecting something unpredictable.
The characters were very boring, especially Sophie, the main character. She was so dull and not at all what I thought she would be. She was very clingy and also very childish with her constant pouting of the lower lip. She also let Wes, the main male character, dictate everything. She was a complete push-over.
The story was very slow and not much happened until a couple of chapters in to the book. I was bored after the first couple of pages.
Wes was also very dull and the secret he keeps from Sophie is so ridiculous and unbelievable that I almost shut the book right there. I would have preferred something less “made up”, something that actually might be true.
In reference I really did like the book “hush hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick. I guess it is somewhat similar to this book, at least the boy meets girl theme with a hint of the supernatural to it.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who likes real stories or even books that are well written. I would only recommend this book to teens with a soft spot for love stories.
-
5 out of 5
by
Chioma
from
San Jose, CA | Nov 9, 2009
Review: I would just like to start out by saying I really really loved this book. The topic of immortality is really becoming widespread in the YA community. Shelena Shorts is adding to that genre, but with a new original twist that has not tey been explored. The Pace combines a truly orignial plot with an enthralling romance that will keep your nose in the book from the first pages to the very last (which ends with a killer cliffhanger by the way).
The topic of immortality usually comes with the use of paranormal characters such as vampires, werewolves, fairies, the whole shabang. But in this book the immortal character is human. Weston's current state of being is due to a medical experiment that didn't go as planned and now causes Weston to age 1 year every 30 years. This was a new way to go about exlaining the topic, and with the scientific backup the give in the story, I actually found myself thinking as if the story was true, that something like this could occur in real life (yeah its that good).
Sophie is such a loveable character. She is very shy and content with just being herself by herself. But don't let the shyness cloud your judgement of her, she is a very strong-willed character who shows it in many aspects in her relationship with Weston and the lifechanging discoveries she encounters along the way. Weston is the smooth, smart, good looking, college boy. He is a great leading male character that I couldnt help fall in love with as the story went on.
The plot, the plot, oh the undescibeable plot. The plot of this book was just great. The immortanlity and the issues that come with it on Westons part is very fun to read. And as the story goes on and Weston's and Sophies lives start to become more and more intertwined, the plotline just grows adding more twists that I hope to be unravelled in the next book in the series. The best part of the plot for me was the romance. I really liked how the romance between Sophie and Weston didn't feel rushed at all. It wasn't that undeniable instant attraction that is so common in books nowadays (dont get me wrong I love it) but in this book, you can actually see how their relationship blossoms and how Weston begins to trust Sophie with more and more of his sercrets as they fall in love.
The ending was an added pleasure to the book. Just as some questions are beginning to be solved, new ones come up. The ending was added a suspenceful and thrilling aspect to the book that I was not expecting. It goes to show how a book can pull you in from the front cover to the very last page. And the ending was also a great way to set up for the next book which I am anticipating to be just as good as this one.
All in all this was a great read. I reccommend it to all fans of romance, and paranormal readings.
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 10/10
Total: 9.3/10
www.blackandblueink.blogspot.com