Title: The Pace
Author: Shelena Shorts
Pages: 302
 

Ok, first I didn’t like the cover. Frankly, it’s not pretty. But I was curious when I read the summary that the guy was not immortal yet he doesn’t aged. Then I give it a try and maybe people are right, don’t judge the book by its cover will redeem it’s lack of elegant book cover. The hourglass is nice but not really nice enough for me to think it was…well… very nice? It could be prettier, I’m pretty sure of it.

The book like any other YA, it starts of with the girl, Sophie meting the guy, Weston – through a car accident. And obviously that was the start; they begin seeing each other but when Sophie decided to look into his background she found that Wes lie to her. Furious she confronts him and Wes decided to tell her the truth about his existence. But unknown to Sophie, he isn’t the only one with a mystifying secret, she too have secrets of her own.

Weston is by far the richest guy I have ever read. Pietr was (oh maybe Edward too) I didn’t expect he’ll topple in the list immediately. I check his car Maserati online and was freak out how much it cost and he’s giving away $500 away to accident he didn’t even inflicted. If his expensive sports isn’t enough, he owns seven race cars, sports car and vintage cars. WOW. I’m not really a car fanatic but I do appreciate good cars. Anyway, there’s a lot of interesting stuff going on The Pace. Weston is like a complete package – good looking, not almost human, kind, caring, rich and the list goes on. I really like him. He often reminds me of Edward because he is very calm and collective and maybe they both lived in the early 1900’s. In my humble opinion, this book is a mashed up of Twilight and Fallen – Twilight because of Weston and living through the years and Fallen because of the reincarnation thing. But unlike any YA genre his immortality (he’s not really immortal) isn’t by bite (vampires) or punishment (fallen angel) and definitely not by genes (wolves or weres, or fairies). He is immortal by… science. I was waiting for the revelation and expecting supernatural reasons behind his very slow aging. Turned out he is an outcome of a medical experiment. He was hemophiliac and was dying (just like Edward) the doctor tried his cold blood serum on him and it was successful. Although the reason behind the success wasn’t disclosed yet, since some died when it was tested on them. But there’s an after effect on his body; like he can’t regulate his body temperature, he age once every 30 years and for someone who age so slow, time speeds so fast to him. He must concentrate to sense the right time, in which Sophie and Wes referred to as ‘clarity.’ I’m not puzzled by the fact he act so matured since technically he is 109 years old but I really like his personality regardless. The only time that I was a bit pissed on him when he broke up with Sophie all of a sudden, then he show up every time. It’s kinda reminded me of Ben (from Touch) they are cryptic, like Sophie said he can’t have both ways. So they immediately reconciled.

It’s sci-fi and supernatural/paranormal mixed together. The element of reincarnation of Sophie was good bonus to their relationship. Sophie is actually ok, I’m not really that convinced that she was childish for her age (I think I’m probably more immature than her when I was at that age). I like how candid she is, she like Wes so she told him, playing hard to get is not on her book. She is honest but not desperate, speaking her mind but not disrespectful. But most of all she is certain on things she wanted and that’s what I like the most of her. I also love that Wes and Sophie’s relationship is build on trust, yes there is an immediate attraction. But Sophie is firm to herself that they wanted their relationship to work, that they need to trust each other. And beside there is already an instant connection between them since she a reincarnation of her self.

I love the book more than I expected it’d be. While I still firm to my stand that book covers should be taken seriously by publisher, guess that old saying of not judging the book is true. I learn my lesson but please, book covers is important too as the story itself. It somehow justifies the value (not the price, not in the literal sense) book.

Wonderful book, just so you know I’m half way past the second book because the author apparently knows how to cut a climax and make her readers anguish in anticipation. Hope the second book wasn’t like that at all (though chances are pretty big). Let’s see.