Shadow Reaper

Shadow Rider, Book #2

By Christine Feehan

ISBN: 978-0399583957

Author Website: http://www.christinefeehan.com

***Possible Spoilers***

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Synopsis:  

Billionaire playboy Ricco Ferraro knows no other life. Being a shadow rider is in his blood – but so is a haunting desperation stemming from the secrets of his dark past. His recklessness puts not only his life at risk, but also the future of his entire family. To save them all, he must find a woman who can meet his every desire with a heat all her own…

Just when Ricco has given up hope, he meets her – a mysterious woman whose shadow connects with his. She’s someone looking for a safe haven from the danger that has stalked her over the last several months. In Ricco’s embrace, she finds one. But the darkness in which they so often find sanctuary can also consume them… (Goodreads)

Review:

The Shadow books is one of Christine Feehan’s new series where fans are just starting to meet the Ferraro family and all of their cousins (believe, me they have A LOT). The first book centered on Stefano Ferraro’s story, how he is the head of the Ferraro family, takes care of his own, and finds his love interest.

In book two, fans find themselves knowing more about another sibling within the Ferraro family, Ricco, the playboy and car racer. Ricco has a dark past and secret he keeps hidden from his siblings in order to protect them. Then along comes Mariko, a shadow rider from Japan who has an agenda of her own to follow.

There are a couple of aspects that I liked that the book focused on: 1) Mariko’s story, particularly how she was physically, mentally, and emotionally abused by her adopted family, making her think that she wasn’t good enough as a person and female, worth anything, or beautiful. Throughout the book she goes through the process of finding and learning to love and accept herself, just like accepting Ricco’s love for her and in any case another person in general caring for her. 2) The strong family bond between the Ferraro’s and everyone around them. There are several scenes where the Ferraro’s are in need of a helping hand and in exchange they receive many helping hands. The bond they share with those they protect and care about is present in who they least expect.

I liked the flashbacks that detailed Ricco’s past just like Mariko’s in order for the reader to understand the events that lead to the Ferraro’s present problems. The main fight/action scene was one of my favorite parts of the book. It’s divided in different POVs of the Ferraro siblings and it is perfectly sequenced, something I have really come to like about Feehan’s fight scenes. One more thing I really enjoy are scenes with several characters interactions, like family dinners, you get a lot of information from those scenes.

As much as I’m trying to predict the next book’s main character, I just can’t guess, but I do have my eye on Giovanni or Emmanuelle. I don’t know if my predictions are right about these characters, but if they are, it would be really interesting to see how their stories develop. But time can only tell.

If you’re new to Christine Feehan I recommend you start the Shadow series from book one, there are several characters to keep track of and even I would get confused at times, but if you’re a fan then you know what you’re getting yourself into: hot guys, romance, and drama, and Shadow Reaper has it all.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*