• Shifted My Opinion
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Shifting Dreams Book Cover Shifting Dreams
Cambio Springs (Book 1)
Elizabeth Hunter
Paranormal Romance
E. Hunter
3/3/13
271

If Jena knew anything from growing up in a town full of shapeshifters, it was this: Everything changed.

Somedays Jena Crowe just can’t get a break. Work at her diner never ends, her two boys are bundles of energy, and she’s pretty sure her oldest is about to shift into something furry or feathery. Added to that, changes seem to be coming to the tiny town of Cambio Springs, big changes that not everyone in the isolated town of shapeshifters is thrilled about.

Caleb Gilbert was looking for change, and the quiet desert town seemed just the ticket for a more peaceful life. He never counted on violence finding him, nor could he have predicted just how crazy his new life would become.

When murder rocks their small community, Caleb and Jena will have to work together. And when the new Chief of Police isn’t put off by any of her usual defenses, Jena may be faced with the most frightening change of all: lowering the defenses around her carefully guarded heart.

SHIFTING DREAMS is the first paranormal romance in the Cambio Springs Mysteries series by Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.

Someone’s Dreams are Shifting –

or are they having dreams of shifters?  Or both?  There’s so much happening in Elizabeth Hunter‘s Shifting Dreams

Mock me all you want, faithful readers, but even if I am late to the Elizabeth Hunter lovefest, I am practically the fanclub president (I even run a facebook group YOU should join!)  But what I lack in punctuality, I am certainly stefanmaking up for in enthusiasm… and after my recent semi-depression post-Elemental, I was ready for a little hit of something really great.

But…um… how can I say this without really offending some of you?

I just never got the “shifter” thing.

Ya, ya, I know.  Super hot bear man, were man, croc man makes all the girlies say, “OoOooOoO!”  But I just kinda got skeeved by the whole concept because I kept seeing people with dogs.  And I totally thought Alcide was hot on True Blood but he was rarely a “dog” and they weren’t getting all were-sexy.  I mean, I saw a “were-reindeer” book on Amazon this week – that’s wrong.

But I mean, it’s Elizabeth Hunter so as a faithful almost-fanclub president, I kinda had to read her Cambio Springs series, especially since we were talking about her newest book – Waking Hearts – hitting the shelves.  It was the right thing to do.

So along with an intrepid group of devotees, we took the plunge into the desert town of Cambio Springs with Shifting Dreams at the beginning of December.

OH-EM-GEE!  What a great read!!!

So we did this book club style, and asked questions along the way.  It was wonderful to really delve into a new series this way, discussing the characters, plot and thinking.

The main characters – Jena and Caleb – are beautifully damaged but they’re ready for one another and you’re rooting for them from the first moment they kiss at the Cave – a dive bar in town.  They don’t want one another, but they need one another.  And that’s enough to make you want to help them get through the rough stuff.  Jena’s sons lend to both the sentiment and the humor, and you experience some of the story’s heartbreak through them.

The thing you need to know is just like Pringles, once you pop, you can’t stop.  We all admitted to continuing on to Book 2, Desert Bound, ahead of schedule, because the storyline is strong but the characters are endearing and you want to know that they’ll find their way.

This series isn’t like The Irin Chronicles or Elemental Mysteries, but more the Elemental World series in that each book is about a different group of characters and their personal struggles, while still within the same story arc…and I am HOOKED.

I admit it.  I’m converted.  I may even check out some other shifter fiction! (just no were-reindeer… sorry!)

If you’re interested in checking out Cambio Springs, check out Long Ride Home, which was a great little teaser to get your appetite whet, but also to give you a little background.  Also, you get a couple easter eggs (like Jena’s love for the smell of creosote, which Caleb comments on in Shifting Dreams 😉 )