Review & Giveaway: Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan

Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

Publication Date: June 28th 2016 by Jove

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

The #1 New York Times bestselling “queen of paranormal romance”* is back with a sexy new series starring a Chicago crime family that hides a dark, mystical secret...

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her...

My Thoughts:

Francesca is on the run from a very powerful man, Barry Anthon, who brutally murdered her sister and got away with it. She lost everything thanks to him, her home, and reputation. Thankfully, her best friend, Joanna, was able to help, because otherwise she’d be living on the streets. The minute she gets to Joanna’s town, though, she captures the attention of Stefano Ferraro, a powerful, gorgeous man with a dangerous edge. 

Stefano Ferraro is a shadow rider, a person able to ride shadows, traveling undetected, and endowed with other psychic gifts. He’s from a long family line of shadow riders trained from infancy to perfect their abilities and use their gifts for justice when the law fails to serve it.  When Francesca gets to his town, penniless and frightened, he immediately senses her presence and intense pull.  Every cell in his body is drawn to her, and there’s no way he can let her go even if that means involving her in his dangerous world.

This is my first Christine Feehan book and I’m impressed by how HOT it was! Stefano and Francesca’s romance intense! It was almost like the absolute pull mates have in shifter stories, which kind of applies here, too; that powerful bond resulting partly from the paranormal aspect of their relationship.  I will say the first 35% or so sort of dragged for me and it took me a while to get past that point. Shadow Rider is a 480 page book, so it was a hefty amount, but once I did the story was quite steamy and addictive.  This is a case of a dark, possessive, Alpha-guy who in real life would be considered stalker-ish and scary, but somehow in fiction he’s super hot and delicious, lol! Although, I must admit, Stefano kept dibs on Francesca for protection, and she definitely needed it! She was in danger at every turn.  Barry is crazy obsessed with finding, punishing and killing Francesca, but he’s way out of his league when it comes to the Ferraro family.  I love how the family pulls together to combat this thug!

This was a great introduction into the world of Shadow Riders! I’m wondering what will come next, a story with Nicoletta and Stefano’s brother, Taviano? My heart aches for what that poor girl went through!

3.5 Suns

The lovely people of Jove generously provided a Paperback copy of Shadow Rider to giveaway to one Waves of Fiction follower.  The giveaway is open to US and CA residents only. 

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