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Zeitenlos. Der Anfang (The Pace #1)

by Shelena Shorts (Goodreads Author), Anja Sieg (Übersetzer)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 1,066 ratings · 227 reviews

Sophie ist gerade mit ihrer Mutter nach Kalifornien gezogen und eigentlich ganz zufrieden mit ihrem Leben. Doch dann rammt sie beim Ausparken das Auto eines Jungen, der unglaublich charmant und gut aussehend ist. Sophie kann nicht aufhören, an ihn zu denken, aber als sie Weston wiedersieht, merkt sie schnell, dass er etwas vor ihr verbirgt. Warum lebt er allein in einem ri...more

Taschenbuch, 366 pages

Published April 7th 2012 by Baumhaus Verlag (first published August 1st 2009)

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Feb 06, 2010 Arlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Arlene by: Goodreads Book give-away winner!

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways, read-2009, paranormal, autographed, ya-paranormal, young-adult

Goodreads Book give-away winner!

The Pace by Shelena Shorts is a great read that’s full of suspense and constant action. The book does a great job of keeping the reader engaged because just when you think you’ve figured out the details, the novel turns and brings to light a whole new angle to the story, which keeps you captivated the whole way through.

I enjoyed this novel for several reasons. One, the two main characters, Sophie and Wes, are well developed and extremely likeable. As a reader, I w...more Goodreads Book give-away winner!

The Pace by Shelena Shorts is a great read that’s full of suspense and constant action. The book does a great job of keeping the reader engaged because just when you think you’ve figured out the details, the novel turns and brings to light a whole new angle to the story, which keeps you captivated the whole way through.

I enjoyed this novel for several reasons. One, the two main characters, Sophie and Wes, are well developed and extremely likeable. As a reader, I was drawn into their lives immediately, and came to care for what happens to them from the onset and throughout the story. Second, I liked the narrative and Point of View (POV) of the story, which was in Sophie’s perspective. She is considerate, smart, sincere, yet emotionally vulnerable. Third, I like how the back-story revealed itself slowly throughout the novel as the details became important in the storyline. Overall, Shelena Shorts pulled together an intriguing plot and wrapped it around carefully created characters, a well chosen setting and angled it in a perspective that keeps the reader drawn to the events from beginning to end.

Sophie, age 18, is in her senior year in High School. She’s chosen to complete her final year through an online program, as her and her mom have moved around the states several times, which has made it difficult for Sophie to acclimate to the school setting. Sophie and her mom meet every Thursday for lunch at Berkeley University, where her mom works as a medical technician.

One fateful day as Sophie is leaving the school, she crashes her car into a guy named Wes who is a 19 year old student at the university. Wes is not your normal guy. His past is filled with mysterious events that Sophie can’t quite seem to figure out, but his gentle and caring ways has her falling head over heels for him none-the-less. As they develop a love for one another, they realize that fate has played a hand in bringing them together, and it’s not their first encounter. They struggle to understand how they can come to grips with that past and the events that have changed Wes’ life forever.

I enjoyed the book and the ending left me craving for more. I look forward to Shelena Shorts’ sequel to The Pace, The Broken Lake, as I can’t wait to see how Wes and Sophie’s journey continues.(less)

22 likes · like · see review

Jul 08, 2009 Shelena added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

I'll leave out my personal rating, but I will say it has been truly amazing to bring Sophie and Weston to life. I hope you all enjoy. They have an awesome story to tell!

25 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2010 Michelle Flores rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 We...more 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.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2009 April rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, fantasy, own, ya, signed, paranormal

The Pace by Shelena Shorts is a YA book, written through the first person perspective of Sophie. Sophie is an 18 year old homeschooled girl who falls in love rather quickly with a 19 year old named Weston. Weston has everything a girl could ask for, he's nice, smart, rich, and easy on the eyes. However, Weston has a secret.
Read the rest of my review here

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Oct 07, 2010 Ashleigh Paige rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, a-whole-new-level-of-boring, unmemorable, don-t-need-my-clairvoyance-for-this

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker.

Eighteen-year-old Sophie Slone is an average sort of girl, excluding the fact that she takes her high school classes on he computer instead of at a school.When Sophie goes to eat lunch with her mother at her college workplace one day, she crashes her car into another person's. Weston "Wes" Wilson III, the guy she crashed into, is rich, (supposedly) hot, sweet, and determined to get to know Sophie. As the two embark on a relationship, she picks up inaccurac...more Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker.

Eighteen-year-old Sophie Slone is an average sort of girl, excluding the fact that she takes her high school classes on he computer instead of at a school.When Sophie goes to eat lunch with her mother at her college workplace one day, she crashes her car into another person's. Weston "Wes" Wilson III, the guy she crashed into, is rich, (supposedly) hot, sweet, and determined to get to know Sophie. As the two embark on a relationship, she picks up inaccuracies in his past and she's not going to let anything stop her from finding out who he really is and her past with him.

I actually didn't get this book myself; my best friend read it and completely lost her mind over it, then demanded that I read it and fall in love too. I'd seen The Pace around, but didn't get it because I wasn't interested. That friend has good taste in books most of the time, so I borrowed it from her. Kayla, if you ever read this: this book is to me as Eyes Like Stars (Lisa Mantchev) was to you: a book that one praised as awesome to the extreme, but that the other found to be severely lacking.

I applaud Mrs. Shorts for some of her more unique ideas. It's refreshing that Sophie takes her classes online instead of going to high school (I've never seen virtual school used in a novel before and it rules out the cliche possibility of the two meeting at high school). I also thought that making Wes "immortal" by making him cold-blooded was a great idea; it took some suspension of disbelief, but that's a given when reading fantasy and science fiction. Sophie's ultimatums to Wes when he lied to her were nice because way too many fantasy heroines seem to have no problem when their significant other is keeping secrets from them.

Sadly, that's where my praises of the book stop.

One issue I had with this book was that I just didn't care. I didn't care about Sophie, Wes, Sophie's mom Gayle or any other character in the book, nor did I care about seeing how the story would work out. I never got drawn into the story when I normally dive into books with ease and had to force myself to finish it. I was so disinterested that I read an entire other book (my previous entry, Paranormalcy) while I was reading The Pace. I almost never do this because I hate to split my attention, but The Pace didn't have enough of it to keep me away from other books. I don't even care that the plot was Sophie and Wes falling in love; I can read books like that and still jump in easily, but I couldn't this time.

My biggest problem with this book was that one of the Big Secrets was too predictable to me. (This is where the worst spoilers are.) Within the first fifty pages, there are two instances that suggest reincarnation plays a major role in this book: one is when Sophie crashes into Wes and he asks how she found him again (or something like that); the other is on page 47, when he gets a book about people remembering their past lives. Page 47 is when I figured out Sophie was the reincarnation of someone Wes loved because the author wouldn't have made Sophie ask about the book if it wasn't important. The "big secret" isn't revealed until page 221, which left me going, "Okay, okay, when are you going to reveal that Sophie is a reincarnation of the girl Wes loved?" for about 170 pages.

I like to think that I'm a seasoned fantasy novel reader because I've read about 200-300 books of that genre in about three years (which might not be that impressive to some). As a reader, I have one problem: most of my reader radars are broken, including my Mary Sue Radar (which tells me when a character is a Mary Sue) and Foreshadowing Radar (helps me pick up foreshadowing). Details that stick out to more attentive readers fly right over my head because I'm too involved with the story. That last person you want to figure out the Big Secret 170 pages away is me because that's not a very good sign.

Wes's behavior after he broke up with Sophie didn't help my opinion of this book either. Following a girl around after breaking up with her? Getting another girl to act like your girlfriend so that the girl you like (but that you want to make think you don't like her) will see it, be heartbroken, and get over you? That don't fly with me, buster. I don't count "it was for your safety" and "I did it because I love you" as valid reasons to do stuff like that. To me, true love means sticking with the person you love and enduring any dangers that might come together, even when you suspect/know you're the reason why the bad things will happen. Threats of death and harm won't break up two people who truly love each other. (Not in my idealistic eyes, anyways.)

Plus, "romantic stalking" pisses me off. I was that girl who secretly followed the boys she liked when I was younger and I still know some of the boys I "romantically stalked;" they seem uncomfortable around me and don't like talking to me. I don't know why anyone thinks stalking someone you like is romantic. You can ask me, those boys, or anyone who's ever been stalked and we'll tell you it's creepy, not romantic.

As unique as some of the ideas were, a book automatically falls to three stars if it's unable to make me care about the characters and/or the story. The combination of the predictability and Wes's Sophie-following take away another star. My recommendation is to skip this book, but if you really want to try it for yourself, go ahead. In case you read it and like it, there is already a sequel out called The Broken Lake.(less)

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Oct 02, 2010 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: clean-enough, read-in-2010, seriously-didn-t-like, what-the-heck, so-not-impressed, addicted-to-ya

Hmmmmm, well I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't like it. At one point I wanted to stop reading but I decided to keep going since the book wasn't that long. It wasn't worth it.

I just didn't think it was very interesting. The first 4/5 of the book is them pining after each other. I didn't get it. Really, nothing happened. I might as well have been reading her diary about Sam this, Edward that... whoops! I meant Wes. Wes!

Speaking of Wes, I couldn't help compare him to Sam from Shiver. He w...more Hmmmmm, well I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't like it. At one point I wanted to stop reading but I decided to keep going since the book wasn't that long. It wasn't worth it.

I just didn't think it was very interesting. The first 4/5 of the book is them pining after each other. I didn't get it. Really, nothing happened. I might as well have been reading her diary about Sam this, Edward that... whoops! I meant Wes. Wes!

Speaking of Wes, I couldn't help compare him to Sam from Shiver. He was kind of weak and boring. I know that once or twice we get told kind of that he's strong but I think I was lied to. He was just not what I look for in rich and handsome men.

There was no way I could read this without thinking about Twilight. I couldn't help it. When she described his cold and impenetrable skin I just couldn't stop picturing that brooding sparkly vamp. Plus, he drove a nice car, was filthy rich, kind of antisocial, and had a funky shaped house (that I still don't understand why he had it. Little cozy log cabin too tiny for you??)

Sigh... and Sophie, I don't know what to do with her. I didn't think that she suffered from low self-esteem but I wanted to shake her and remind her that her life should not revolve around a dude. (Remind you of another character, too, huh?). I liked that she got mad, but it doesn't work if you're going to pine right after that.

So, like I said, nothing happens. They hang out, they talk, they make out, they talk, they go to the overlook, they talk. I predicted nearly everything that happened. I hope I am wrong about what will happen next. Did anyone know the point of the party scene? The only action in the book happens right near the end where you get hit with a cliffhanger and the title to the sequel. Just great.

Aside from all those complaints, it was a fairly clean book. I liked her mom. I liked that Sophie was willing to accept responsibility for her actions and take the steps necessary to correct her wrongs. I also liked reading her struggle with what to do after the pier scene. I also loved that Wes was a really good guy and was willing to make tough decisions (to his detriment) for the benefit of others.

I still think you should read it and form your own opinions. Even though I didn't like it, I could see this will be a book that many others will enjoy. obviously, we don't all use the same criteria to judge books (t'would be a sad, sad, world). (less)

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Apr 07, 2011 Lacey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First Thoughts:

What do I say about this book? It was beyond anything I had imagined. I have been wanting to read this book for some time now but kept putting it off because of all the other books pushed my way but finally due to a mishap of not getting "Lemniscate" on time I decided to finally read this and boy am I glad I did! I Loved Weston and Sophie, their relationship is beyond anything I could ever hope for in my life but it sure is good to read about it in books....

Summary:

Alright it's go...more First Thoughts:

What do I say about this book? It was beyond anything I had imagined. I have been wanting to read this book for some time now but kept putting it off because of all the other books pushed my way but finally due to a mishap of not getting "Lemniscate" on time I decided to finally read this and boy am I glad I did! I Loved Weston and Sophie, their relationship is beyond anything I could ever hope for in my life but it sure is good to read about it in books....

Summary:

Alright it's going to be short because there's a lot of mystery in this book and I think it's better if you discover it on your own but I'll give you a brief summary.

Sophie has moved a lot in her life, her mom drifting them from one town to another till they finally settle in California. Sophie is estatic because she found an online school where it invovles no face to face interaction with teachers or students. But her mother fears of her being without friends so she makes a deal with Sophie that she has to meet her every thursday on campus of a university for Lunch and she can take the online school, of course our dear Sophie agrees.

But one of the times she is leaving from one of their lunches she gets a call from her friend from the last place she came from and it startles her causing her to back into a very sleek black maserati, she instantly freaks but then comes face to face with a very handsome guy who happens to look around her age. She immediately panics at see the damage to his car she tries offering the guy her information but he says he has it covered and smiles at her. she can do nothing but stare dumbstruck. He then leaves and as does she. She arrives home and tells her mother who then calls the accident into the insurance agency where they come out and determine that it would cost 500 dollars to fix. So Wes, which was the guy's car she ran into insists he pay for the damage but he refuses...but he somehow gets her car fixed without her knowing and soon she finds herself in a world of udder confusion. They soon grow close and one thing leads to the next until Wes reveals not only something unusual about himself but about Sophie.

Last Thoughts:

I really am glad I finally got around to reading this book and have already bought the "Broken Lake" on my kindle. Weston and Sophie definately already have me wrapped around their fingers. I fell in love with them instantly not only for their great character development but for their total mysteriousness. I definately give this book 5 stars!! (less)

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Feb 01, 2010 kari rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, ya

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 kn...more

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Mar 28, 2012 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

I bought this series at the Virginia Book Fair in Charlottesville, VA on the author's recommendation. You could tell that Ms. Shorts really loved her characters and her story.

It is a typical boy meets girl story, but ends up being multiple times. Weston and Sophie are likable characters that are just the girl/boy next door. Only Wes is seemingly immortal (ages very slowly (view spoiler)...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Misty Baker rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What would you do if you found your true love? Cling to him/her with all of your might? Run away scared? What if after weeks of pure bliss with this new love you found out that everything he’s told you is a lie… or is it?

I found this book out of pure happenstance. I wanted a change of pace so I did what most mentally unstable people would do and I “Googled” “Books…change of pace” and viola’ guess what popped up… a book called “The Pace.” Now…I wasn’t expecting Google to quite so specific (or sma...more What would you do if you found your true love? Cling to him/her with all of your might? Run away scared? What if after weeks of pure bliss with this new love you found out that everything he’s told you is a lie… or is it?

I found this book out of pure happenstance. I wanted a change of pace so I did what most mentally unstable people would do and I “Googled” “Books…change of pace” and viola’ guess what popped up… a book called “The Pace.” Now…I wasn’t expecting Google to quite so specific (or smart-ass) with my request, but since I technically asked for it, I thought it was only right to give this particular book my undivided attention.

Sophie was stuck in a rut, after moving to many times to count and being the “new girl” more times than she would like, her mother finally gave in and let her join Online High School. While this particular option would have most 18 year old girls cringing from lack of girlfriend/boyfriend interaction, Sophie was in heaven. This is of course until her mother, who worked at the Berkley campus, decided her daughter spent way to much time in her room. Hoping to do nothing more than to pacify her mother and keep her easy life of “school in pajamas” in tackt she agreed to weekly lunches on campus, what she didn’t agree to however was running her Jeep into a particularly hot guys car. After several awkward meetings and a declarations on both sides Wes and Sophie decide to date, but after an impromptu interrogation with her mom, Sophie starts to suspect that things are exactly what they seem. In a quest to seek the truth Sophie finds more than she can handle…is Wes who he really says he is? Was she wrong to jump so quickly? And what is it about 1916 that has everybody such a flutter?

“Shorts” writing was actually a tad bit baffling. The first half of the book was almost unbearably choppy and progressed at an uncanny pace (0-60 in 3 chapters), but once I hit the 50% mark it all sorta took an abrupt halt and solidified into a pretty decent read. The plot although jumpy at points what intriguing and amazingly original (which is kinda hard to find these days) and even though there were times when I was sure that I wasn’t going to like where it was going, the ending had me exactly where the author wanted me…eager to read it’s follow up.

There were dented Maseratis, loads of mysterious cash, a pissed off boyfriend with a broken hand, lots of “Say what?” moments, and an amazingly written torture scene that had me unconsciously holding my fingers.

If you are tired of reading the same thing over and over and need a change of pace like I did…jump on in, the water is fine, but if you don’t want to get wrapped up into another series (which in truth…if I had known this was a book 1, I wouldn’t have touched it) then steer clear because there is no way to recover from the ending without reading book number 2.

Happy reading my fellow Ageless and remember: wind + funnel cake = an unexpected opportunity.(less)

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Dec 30, 2010 Skye rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

Weston is a one-of-a-kind immortal, thanks to an experimental blood transfusion. Sophie is an anti-social online student. The unlikely pairs' worlds will collide - literally - when she crashes her car into his.

After she finds out about his nature, she thinks things can't get any weirder, but that's until she realises that she belongs in his world.

The Pace never really hit the spot, for me. I've read rave reviews for this semi-obscure book,...more

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Jul 29, 2010 Danny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: july-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 lov...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Maria Panteli rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series, romance, paranormal, fantasy

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...more

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Nov 09, 2009 Chioma rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more

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Oct 24, 2009 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story is a nice departure from the typical vampire, werewolf, fairy, etc romantic YA book. Wes is a real human being that due to a scientific experiment has developed a prolonged life span and abilities that some would view as supernatural. Wes is a sweet guy who Sophie slowly realizes is much more complex than she first thought. One thing that I found interesting was the lack of supporting characters. While Sophie does have a best friend that she occasionally calls or texts we don't see mu...more

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Nov 18, 2009 ~Tina~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, immortality-or-reincarnated, own, signed

Living in Canada, this book as not been released here and Shelena-the sweetheart that she is- kindly sent me a copy of this Amazing novel!
Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story!!!

THE PACE is a gorgeously written story about a couple who's lives intertwined through out time.
Not only is this story about immortality, it's about reincarnation and how true love can never die!

I can't say I've read to many books about immorality but I never expected this mind boggling plot! I was...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, word-vomit, boring, other-supernatural, sick-of-trilogies

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 14, 2012 Lauren Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book starts out when Sophie's mom is tired of living in the same place so they move back to Califonia. Her mom can easily move her job wherever she goes, and Sophie is tired of starting school every time they move. She conivinces her mom to let her take online classes for her senior year, in exchange, she has to have lunch with her mom at the collere where her mom works every Thursday. After eating with her mom, Sophie is texting her friend, Kelly (who lives in Virgina) and Kelly is talking...more

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Mar 15, 2010 Flo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you're decided to read The Pace just make sure to turn off your phone and to close yourself in your room before you do, because you won't want anyone disturbing you after you've begun it. You won't be able to put it down.

I really liked Sohie's character, I felt close to her by certain aspects of her personnality, the distance she keeps with others (she attended an online high school rather than going in class among her peers). She was a really likeable girl and I particularly enjoy her relati...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-and-fantasy

Sophie knows that Weston has a secret. Somehow, he’s different from other boys his age, and she wants to know why. She’s new to California, and there’s something about Wes that resonates, and it’s something she’s drawn to discover. He’s attractive, yes, but there’s more. As Sophie gets to know Wes, she starts to realize that Wes doesn’t have a singular secret, but several. As Sophie discovers more about Wes, she grows closer to him, and a relationship begins to bloom, but the secrets might be to...more Sophie knows that Weston has a secret. Somehow, he’s different from other boys his age, and she wants to know why. She’s new to California, and there’s something about Wes that resonates, and it’s something she’s drawn to discover. He’s attractive, yes, but there’s more. As Sophie gets to know Wes, she starts to realize that Wes doesn’t have a singular secret, but several. As Sophie discovers more about Wes, she grows closer to him, and a relationship begins to bloom, but the secrets might be too much to conquer. And time might be to twisted to keep their budding romance alive.

The Pace was completely and utterly refreshing in a sea of YA that is so formulaic. Usually, we get these “Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall madly in love. Boy and girl can’t live without one another.” Blah. Yawn. The Pace, however, took your average YA formula, turned it on its end, added two dynamic and powerful characters, and threw science, destiny, love and time into a beautiful and haunting story. Author Shelena Shorts has redeemed your YA love story with a rich plot, endearing characters and a powerful message that stays with you.

Sophie was truly a fantastic character. I loved that she was strong and independent, and she wasn’t the least bit wishy-washy! Her voice was honest and had hints of vulnerability, but she never seemed weak – just approachable. Wes was your handsome YA male, but he had depth (thank the Lord!). He had this honest demeanor despite his secrets, and I loved watching the actual relationship between the two characters develop. Most of all though, time was a character, and single action in The Pace had a legitimate reaction. I could actually see the first events in the novel lead to the last, twirling the characters on this mysterious and tumultuous roller-coaster ride.

I am absolutely blown away by The Pace. I expected a pretty good read from the premise, but I didn’t expect it to be that good, and the ending just killed me. I can’t wait to read book two, The Broken Lake. I give The Pace a 4.5 out of 5 (the only deduction being the mildly average premise), and I’d recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy fantasy and sci-fi.(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Lena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: band-1

3,5 Sterne

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Nach einem erneuten Umzug beschließt Sophie, nicht noch einmal die Strapazen als neue Schülerin auf einer High-School auf sich zu nehmen. Daher absolviert sie ihr letztes Schuljahr an einer Onlineschule. Sophies Mutter ist besorgt, dass sie den Anschluss an Gleichaltrige verliert und bietet sie daher, ein Mal die Woche mit ihr auf dem Campus der Universität ihres Wohnorts essen zu gehen.
Nach einem Mittagessen fährt Sophie beim Ausparken aus Versehen in ein anderes Auto und so le...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Orchid rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, contest-wins

So I really liked the story and the characters in The Pace, but I almost gave up on finishing it (I'll get to why I nearly didn't finish it later), but I'm glad that I didn't, because I now I want to read book two.

I wasn't too sure if I was going to end up enjoying reading The Pace, especially since I very nearly gave up on it when I was only about forty pages in. I found that what kept me plugging away at the book was the actual story; I was fascinated by the mystery behind Weston's past and t...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Kristin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This review has major spoilers!I usually don't like talking about the plot this much but since the problems I had were with the plot points, I have to basically spill all of the beans. So this review is only for people who've already read the book or who don't care about finding out everything about it!

Little torn about how to rate this one. It was actually a fast read, I never got bored with it, I liked all of the characters and it was nice to read something with just a hint of the supernatural...more This review has major spoilers!I usually don't like talking about the plot this much but since the problems I had were with the plot points, I have to basically spill all of the beans. So this review is only for people who've already read the book or who don't care about finding out everything about it!

Little torn about how to rate this one. It was actually a fast read, I never got bored with it, I liked all of the characters and it was nice to read something with just a hint of the supernatural in it (that didn't involve fangs of some sort).

However, I found the cause of Wes' longevity to be so simplistic I have to wonder if one of the author's kids came up with the idea. It would've been better if it was just some undefined serum/cure for another disease instead of a mix including alligator blood that can cure hemophilia, which almost killed Wes as a teenager. I could also see the whole reincarnation thing coming from a mile away and I have to say that I found the idea off-putting, probably because I don't believe in it. Yeah, I don't believe in fairies either and I can suspend disbelief long enough to read a book of fiction, but I just have a hard time with this one.

The whole story is about Sophie and Wes. Sophie and her mom recently moved to California and Sophie, who is about to begin her senior year via an online high school and who will soon be turning eighteen, hits a car after visiting her mom at the UC Berkeley campus (where her mother works in the medical center as a radiologist). Turns out it's Wes' car and after Sophie gets out to exchange insurance information with him you get the sense that he somehow knows her (cue instant attraction on her end, though the reincarnation thing does explain their immediate attraction to each other). They eventually meet up again and begin dating and after Wes jumps into the ocean to save a girl's life, we find out that he can't become too cold, which for most people isn't cold at all, or else he'll lose consciousness until he is warmed up again because of what was done to save his life back in 1916, as he is now truly cold-blooded. We also discover that the transfusion he was given as a sixteen-year-old allows him to age only one year for every thirty years, so he's only currently nineteen, and has given him enhanced hearing, vision and strength. Also, it appears that he cannot die, at least not due to the normal things like bacteria and viruses.

Throughout the book we find out that Wes owns different companies which are trying to replicate his cure so that others might live when normally they wouldn't, though without the side affects that changed his life so drastically. One thing that is disturbing Wes throughout is that someone has been breaking into his labs and stealing things, things which may lead the thief to Wes and which may reveal his secrets.

It is also revealed that Sophie is actually the second reincarnation of Amelia (the first being Lenny, a teenager from the 1960s), a nurse who worked with Dr. Thomas, the man who saved Wes' life. Wes became infatuated with Amelia before he was injured and it was actually when he tried following her one day that he fell and required medical attention due to suffering from hemophilia. Amelia took Wes to Dr. Thomas, who had been experimenting unsuccessfully with cold-blood transfusions, helped Wes get through the transfusion and stayed with him while he mourned for his mother, who died of influenza, before she eventually succumbed to the same illness as his mom. For some reason, both Amelia and Lenny do not live to see the age of twenty, meaning if history repeats itself, Sophie has less than two years to live.

There are other things going on in the book as well, Sophie's old friend Kerry occasionally makes an appearance, Sophie gets a job at a bookstore where she makes a new friend, her mom gets a mostly unseen boyfriend and Wes eventually breaks up with Sophie for reasons unbeknownst to her, and she has to try to understand and deal with this loss.

I did have a problem with the book's ending, which was rather abrupt and didn't really resolve anything. Sophie ends up being kidnapped and almost killed by Andy, a boyfriend from another life, who attempts to drain all of Sophie's blood, mistakenly believing that her blood is part of the cure Wes received. After being rescued by Wes, whose fight with Andy we don't really see but hear via a nearly passed out Sophie, she drifts off, passing out apparently from the loss of blood, just as she's swept up into Wes' arms. End of story.

Obviously there's more planned for Wes and Sophie as they have to try to figure out how Sophie (or whoever she is, Amelia, Lenny) can manage to live past the age of nineteen (maybe third time's the charm) and, I'm assuming, on how Wes' secret can remain just that. Though I have to wonder what will happen to their relationship if she does make it past twenty and she's eventually sixty-five and dating someone who looks to be about twenty-one.

Finally, I didn't really get the whole "hours to you could seem like a minute to me, I have to struggle to control the pace of time" thing. I found that to be sort of ridiculous and lacking a good explanation.

All of that being said, I will at least check out the next book (I get the feeling there may be something going on with Sophie's mom's boyfriend), I just hope the plot becomes a bit more complex and we actually get some answers. And I must say, if she comes back as another chick for book three, I'm done!(less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Jackie -Sated Faery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Loved this story!! I'll admit, I would have been a little hysterical about the ending if I didn't already have Broken Lake on the table next to me! :) I also really like the explanation of how Wes came to be the way he is - very unique!

Just re-read this book & I still absolutely love it!! Wes's history is so unique & he is just amazing. And I love that Sophie is so strong and knows what she wants.

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Jan 14, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

This book was good. I think that if you like teen romance, then you should read this book. I personally think Wes is one of the best characters I have read.

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Aug 04, 2010 Dwayne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads

Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf.

The Pace is a very peculiar book. It was an interesting read, romantic and intriguing with it's fresh new take on conventional plots. However, while I enjoyed this book very much, I felt it lacked the sparked that I was looking for in its pages.

The Pace is fundamentally about Sophie Slone's relationship with Weston Wilson (III). After crashing into him and finding herself with a very odd young man, she becomes drawn to his chivalrous ways and gentlemanly beha...more Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf.

The Pace is a very peculiar book. It was an interesting read, romantic and intriguing with it's fresh new take on conventional plots. However, while I enjoyed this book very much, I felt it lacked the sparked that I was looking for in its pages.

The Pace is fundamentally about Sophie Slone's relationship with Weston Wilson (III). After crashing into him and finding herself with a very odd young man, she becomes drawn to his chivalrous ways and gentlemanly behaviour. She finds Wes intriguing and every bit mysterious. When Sophie starts seeking answers, that's when the story really unfolds. From hence the readers are taken into a journey of finding and seeking, of understanding Wes and his real connection to Sophie.

Unlike other male protagonists, Weston is gentle, physically strong but emotionally vulnerable. Sophie is really the character that stood out in this book, and the stronger of the two. She is also more action and less thoughts; hence, Sophie's narration focuses a lot more on actions than on her reflections. I did not mind at all, and Sophie is a very comfortable character do spend some time with. It's fine with me, but I'm not sure it won't drag for other readers. I'm not sure there were other very substantial characters, as another peculiar trait of this novel is the tendency to surprise you with the importance of a passing character.

I have to admire the author for her creativity in the age-old concept of immortality. It has been made clear from the description that Wes is indeed immortal; so my reading experience consisted mostly of attempting to seek the answers to Wes' immortality. I was surprised about how it was handled in the book; it is a very scientific explanation and though I found it very intriguing, I was not sure I followed thoroughly. It was both understandable and slightly vague. I would have liked a lot more elaboration.

I found The Pace saturated with romance and tender moments, but sadly lacks suspense. It gets better towards the end, but as it stands, I did not particularly think that there was enough suspense built up within the previous pages. Because I was looking eagerly for one, I found several subplots that is not accomplished fully towards the end. There was also a sense of predictability in the romance, although like always, Sophie surprises me.

Just a note, the ending had me scratching my head, because it did not make any sense to me at all. No matter, it seems the sequel will fill in all the gaps. Despite the flaws of this book, I really can't let go of it and am itching to get my hands on The Broken Lake.
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Jun 20, 2011 Asma rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

s she starts her final year in high school, Sophie expected a pretty monotone year, that is, until she crashes into Weston's car. Despite his enigmatic personality, Sophie is drawn to him. She finds out that being around Wes is not easy, especially since he is a scientifically made immortal.

There really isn't much to say about this book, because honestly, I still don't know what it's about. I don't understand how a book could have a character outside of the plot. It's just... why create that ch...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Tara SG rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

* * 1/2

--This book in 6 words:

felt like I read this before

--Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I first came across this book for Blog with Bite, but I didn’t get around to reading it in time. So it sat on my Kindle until I received the second in the series for review. When I finished this I was not glad I read it, HOWEVER, I liked the second book more so I’m am glad I started the series. I had a lot of issues with this book. The pacing was slow. The “science” wasn’t real enough for the ner...more

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May 09, 2010 Sophie Riggsby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book has been on my TBR List for a while. You know, it's one of those that you keep picking up and thinking, yes, I need to read this and yet you don't seem to get around to it? I know you have them, too.

Well, stop waiting. Seriously. The book suffers from endless comparisons to Twilight but in my opinion, those comparisons are not merited -- at all.

Yes, there's a mysterious boy, Wes, and a new girl in town, Sophie. But that's where the comparisons end. Sophie arrives in Berkeley, CA becau...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Becca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off, there was definitely a TWILIGHT atmosphere while reading this. You can see lots of similarites in character and profile between Edward & Bella and Wes & Sophie (which I won't list in case I spoil something). There are some similarities between the two plots, too. It makes you wonder if Shelena Shorts wrote this book as soon as she finished with TWILIGHT.

Shelena Shorts has lots of talent. She puts lots of voice into her writing and makes her characters seem believable, but they...more

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About Shelena Shorts

Shelena Shorts graduated from George Mason University with a degree in English and Education. Her passion for igniting a spark in teens led her to teach American literature in both traditional and online classrooms. When she's not in the realm of teaching or reading, she's writing novels geared toward young adults and the "young at heart," and spending time with her family.

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Quotes from Zeitenlos. Der Anfang

“...I realized that happiness could be more—something that elevates from the inside. Butterflies in the stomach, a smile that won't go away, and it's like an addiction that makes a person yearn for more. It‘s not something one thinks about, it‘s something that‘s felt, involuntarily.
I had always been a thinker, trying to find happiness and comfort in thoughts and ideas. It was only now that I realized happiness begins in the heart...” — 11 people liked it

“You keep finding me. And I don't know how or why." "You're the one who showed me where you live.” — 5 people liked it

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