Shadow Rider (A Shadow Riders Novel) by Christine Feehan (Epub)

Description

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…

User’s Reviews

Review Praise for Christine Feehan and Shadow Rider“I love everything she does.”—J. R. Ward“Book after book, Feehan gives readers emotionally rich and powerful stories that are hard to forget!”—RT Book Reviews“A dark, gritty, edgy but magical contemporary that will hold you spellbound.”—Fresh Fiction“The family that Feehan introduces to us is freakin’ AWESOME!! I loved each and every sibling.”—Addicted to Romance“Edgy, inventive and steamy, this deliciously dark, often grim story featuring deadly and graceful characters who literally slip through the shadows is a standout for the creative Feehan and launches another well-conceived series.”—Library Journal

Reviews from Amazon users, collected at the time the book is getting published on UniedVRG. It can be related to shiping or paper quality instead of the book content:

⭐ Just finished reading Shadow Rider and I’m left feeling angry and confused. What did I just read? Why did I waste hours of my precious time on such a disturbingly bad book? This is supposed to be the start of a great new series by Christine Feehan, of the Carpathian fame?Because unlike the Carpathian series, this one left very little to like. In fact, I could barely finish the book and half the time, had to force myself to get through a chapter. Even after rushing to finish the book, I’m still at a loss for how to describe what a shadow rider is and what the series is all about.Basically, the focus is on the Ferraro family, headed by Stefano Ferraro. Stefano and his family are rich, powerful and naturally handsome/beautiful. Oh, and also they have some shadowy powers (whose purpose and existence were never explained). Since the age of two (yes really 2), they have been training to fight. They protect (bully is a better word) the people in their neighborhood, and people are fearful of them because they act like they are above the law. Their interactions with others remind me of poorly written, wanna-be mobsters. Take for example how Stefano had a girl taken for questioning by his cousins or how they can storm into people’s houses and do what they want with them.But they are the heroes of the series for some reason. And Stefano, when he sees the weak heroine Francesca decides he wants her because there is something in her shadow that connects to his shadow. And it supposedly gives his other family members hope that they can reproduce other shadow riders to continue the line. But how Stafano treats and talks to Francesca (“F” curses means I love you apparently) and how Francesca just takes it all because he is this manipulative, rich guy who holds the purse strings (so it’s ok that he treats her like a brainless object). This is just a recipe for disaster, not romance!This storyline, mixed with really bad, eye-rolling dialogue, no world building (shadow what again) and horrible, unlikable characters makes for a dull series. I’m appalled at all the top reviews. This book is so bad I already deleted it from my kindle, though I wished I could return it instead for a full refund. It was a sad waste of my time. I’m sorry for giving such a harsh review but this really deserved it. There is nothing to recommend this book at all.

⭐ She knew he would never hurt her, but…There are many different kinds of abuse. Just because this guy’s abuse is mental and emotional instead of physical doesn’t make it okay. When the protagonist says “she knew he would never hurt her, but” at least twice a chapter, there’s a problem. When the protagonist feels like she can’t:- Have her own opinion- Have a job- Do anything her love interest disapproves of- Dance with/even touch other men- Talk to other men- Do anything but be treated as a possessionThere’s a problem, lol. The book is well-written, but I found her submission and his abuse very distracting. I know it’s a popular trope in romance, though, so I’m keeping it at two stars instead of one.

⭐ This new series is going to be like all her latest series: 70% sex; 30% actual story….. I must be gettng too old for this stuff, I just found myself skipping a lot of pages to get to the story part….getting rid of the bad guys.

⭐ Note: this is a dark romance, with dark themes and events. If those things bother you, then you won’t like this book.Francesca is a woman on the edge. Running for her life, she ends up in the area of Chicago controlled by the Ferraro family, an extraordinary group with an unusual talent.Stefano is the eldest brother, and head of the family. One look at Francesca, and he knows she is his…This dark paranormal romance epitomizes the shadows that are a central theme to the book. Stefano is as grey a character as it gets, his job as a vigilante assassin has him straddling the line, just as his dominant, controlling personality does the same.In the story, the male characters are overly controlling and seemingly chauvinistic in their attitudes. Coming from backgrounds that are harsh, they’ve adapted controlling ways to compensate, and excessively protective traits.This doesn’t mean the female characters are weak, instead even the weakest exude a quiet strength that is only apparent later.The reason I mention this, is because so many reviews complain about the traits of the male characters, and miss the nuances of the story, that in a way, this controlling and protective attitude also reflects their shadowy abilities. These are people of the shadows, they are as dark as the shadows themselves, and while it might not be completely politically correct, it is the world they inhabit.It’s a complex story too, with an almost mafia like family, and an ability to travel through shadows- that is only lightly described, leaving it as shadowy as the way they travel. In fact, the whole story is just that… a product of the shadows.It makes for a gripping read, that is appropriately murky and entertaining at the same time.If you’re a fan of paranormal romance, or just a Christine Feehan fan, and you enjoy the darker romance types, then this is the book for you.

⭐ Shadow Rider is the first of a new series by Christine Feehan and I really liked it. This book introduces us to Stefano Ferraro, and his family who are Shadow Riders, with the ability to manipulate light and dark and travel in the shadows. Being a Shadow Rider carries a huge responsibility, and at the same time is so necessary to let no one know about it. They mete out justice when the police do not and in Stefano’s family, aside from him, he has 4 brothers and one sister who are also Shadow Riders. They have legitimate businesses, the whole neighborhood worships them, and in turn, Stefano and his family keep all bad things and people from coming into their borders. Stefano, just like all his brothers is a human, and handsome, as well as having the typical alpha persona! His sister is also beautiful, and she is also very able to take care of things just like her brothers.Into this city comes Francesca Capello, a young woman on the run from a gangster and she hopes Chicago will be safe for her. Her friend from school, Johanna lived in this place and she brings Francesca to a deli to get her a job. Francesca is hungry, and also cold as she gave her coat to a homeless woman, she is that awesome, putting other’s needs first.Stefano happens to be there when he sees Francesca for the first time and he is stunned. It is not her beauty that he notices first, but the way his shadow merges with hers, and this is a very significant thing. It is almost unheard of to find a mate, it can only be a Shadow Rider, however he also realizes she does not even know about her abilities! He walks up to her and demands to hear where her coat is, and he notices her shoes are wet and she is shivering. Stefano gives her his coat and a wad of cash to get shoes, and a coat of her own.This book has a great plot, physical and emotional angst, and there is a lot of danger! I loved Stefano and Francesca’s story and can’t wait to read the next book in this new series!I gave this book 5***** emotional stars!

⭐ This book was so bad and so demeaning to women. I used to like CF but as she is aging she has lost sight of what’s good and what’s just plain trash. I would have never bought this book had I known of the abusive nature of the main character, Stefano. I don’t care how good looking a man is or how much money he has, it is so wrong for him to treat a women like she is a possession and he can do anything he wants to her both sexually and emotionally. Most men pay good money for getting all of their sexual fantasies taken care of but Francesca just does it for free. Her motto in the book seems to say, “use me anyway you want and whenever you want because I love you.” So sad.

⭐ i am a reluctant fan of christine feehan and by that i mean i was a english lit major and devoted to what is classically considered ‘good lit’. romance, fantasy, paranormal, scifi are normally disregarded by the genre. however, i have found ms feehan’s carpathian series to be engaging with an interesting premise, often well-developed characters, and real heart. of course the very chauvinistic orientation is sometimes galling, but in some books in the series the main male character is actually workable or with great perseverance by the female can become so. in this new series, again i find the premise very interesting. in fact i wish ms feehan had spent more time describing in detail the whole shadow riding capability and process. the characters are also interesting, but naturally since this is an italian family business’, the men are excruciatingly chauvinistic. the erotica in this series as with all ms feehan’s work is sometimes extreme and too frequent and drawn out to the extent of compromising the plot — i really appreciate plot- and character-driven books. that said, however, i very much enjoyed the first book in this series and am very much looking forward to the next. that all said, the real key to ms feehan’s books is unconditional love. in each book there is a struggle to overcome prejudice, conflict, and resistance in order to surrender to love. a lot of trust and intimate knowledge of the other person’s character has to be developed before this surrender can happen. what is the bottom line is whether they each can be willing to consider the happiness and well-being of the other more than their own and to work in true partnership to achieve this. Bravo ms feehan, you have discovered the key to peace in the world.

⭐ I was disappointed in the read. As many readers have stated, there is way too many pages dedicated to sex scenes. I also hate the direction she took in regards to the type of sex, and ultimately the relationship, that develops between the main characters. I strongly disliked all of the rough, bondage type sex scenes and the over the top domineering behavior of any of the male characters. I also began skipping pages just to get past the sex scenes.Finally, I was also a bit confused with the writing at times. In some places it seemed like a less seasoned writer than CF was writing this story. It was repetitive at times. There are also times when she seems to forget that info was already revealed to Francesca that she reacts to and accepts, only to later have her learn of it again and react differently. There were also other things that left me wondering what happened to CF’s writing in this book. Clearly she is capable of writing good books as she has done so in the past. In my opinion, on this one she has dropped the ball.Regretfully, this book left me reluctant to want to read the next one in the series. Am I in for more sex scenes like those found in book one? Are all of the men into the bondage and super rough sex? Will it be all “dominating men”, “scared and submissive women” and rough, bondage sex? Based on hints of what Ricco likes in this book, it would seem so. Which, unfortunately, makes me not want to read the next book. I like the idea of “shadow riders” and them helping folks when the justice system fails to do so. Too bad the storyline focuses so heavily, and often, on highlighting the dominant/submissive relationship and rough sex.Overall, the book was a bit of a let down. Sad…I thought I was in for a good read as I have enjoy reading some of CF’s books over the years.

⭐ I enjoyed reading this first book in the Shadow Rider series. It was about Stefano Ferraro, the head of the Chicago shadow riders, meeting his fated love, Francesca. Shadow riders can travel from place to place in the shadows and they were basically vigilantes, who dispensed justice to bad guys who the police/justice system couldn’t touch. They used a system that made sure the targets really did do the awful things they were accused of before they were killed. Stefano had 4 brothers and 1 sister, all shadow riders. They didn’t have the best upbringing because their parents were pieces of work, the mother’s only interest in them was that they were shadow riders and although she claimed to love them, she never acted like she did, and the father never had any time for them. So Stefano basically raised his siblings.Stefano meets his fated love when he has a feeling that he should wait where he was instead of going to a job and then noticed two women walking towards him. One of the women’s shadow reached for his, that’s how he knew for sure she was the one for him. There’s a lot going on after that their first meeting–what she thinks of him, how he wants to protect her from a bad guy who’s looking for her (the bad guy killed Francesca’s older sister & Francesca walked into the apartment right after she was killed & the guy was still there) because he fell in love with her right away and wants to make her his wife, his thoughts on how to tell her what he does, etc.I liked both main characters and the secondary ones–the siblings and Stefano’s cousins. His mother, Eloisa, was a hot mess and not very likeable. I thought the story dragged a bit after Stefano & Francesca met because the author repeated some of both main characters’ thoughts several times (which was redundant) but it got better towards the end. Francesca was very annoying at times. First she was very attracted to Stefano and realized she couldn’t live without him, then she would go the other way when she thought he might be in the mafia. Then she thought that wouldn’t matter, then she thought it might…back & forth, back & forth. She was also a little bit of a snob because Stefano was rich, plus she equated him with the bad guy, who was also rich. She was also annoying when she kept thinking he shouldn’t see where she was living because it was in an unsafe area & was shabby and it would show how much she didn’t have. Stefano was only concerned about her safety & protecting her at all costs, but did she ever consider this? Why no. When she finally finds out that Stefano is very protective over everyone in his neighborhood, she thought that’s why Stefano was interested in her (even though he has said otherwise). Then she finally decided she’d stay with him no matter how rich he was or what he did for a living, then she ended up questioning him again about what he did for a living. Make up your mind already! Oh, she also got on my nerves when she was working at Pietro’s deli and thought she saw one of the bad guy’s (the guy who murdered her sister) henchmen outside the deli. She thought this meant that the bad guy had found her. So she decided to run & in order to do that, she texted Stefano to ask for money. Stefano told her to stay there, he was coming right over. Of course she tried to go out the back before he got there and was stopped by his cousins, Emilio & Enzo, who had been protecting her while she worked at the deli. When she & Stefano got back to his place, he asked her what happened to make her want to run. Did she tell him that she saw this guy? Why no, no she did not. She just said he, his siblings & cousins and Joanna (her friend) & her uncle Pietro could be hurt by the bad guy. She thought this guy, who just made a gesture of dragging his finger across his throat at her may not be a bad guy. When she thought that & didn’t tell Stefano about the guy, I started to think that she was TSTL. It all finally works out in the end. I still thought it was a good book. I’ll be reading the other books in the series.

⭐ Like others, this book has left me angry and annoyed. The writing style is good and the only reason I got 2/3 through the book, but as I kept going, the relation became more abusive and not entertaining. Once he says “you’ll never be independent”, I was done. I don’t care if this is a soul mate story and they are meant to be – the female character should be allowed to say whether she wants kids, a career, or anything that is hers. This is an abusive relationship without the physical beating, but terrible nonetheless, and we’re supposed to cheer for them to come together? No thank you. I will continue my journey to find a good series that doesn’t make me feel like an accessory to domestic violence.Also, dear lord, “tubes”? That is the word choice for shadows? Tubes? It’s such a horrible word to read repeatedly. Threads, tendrils, branches… there are other words please.

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