Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 26 Apr 22
Elie Archambault has settled for an arranged marriage, determined to do his duty and forget the woman whose shadow once entwined with his. Imagine his surprise when his arranged bride turns out to be Brielle Couture, the woman he once desired. Can they work through their troubled past to find a happily ever after?
The interview with Stefano when Brielle requests her marriage to be annulled gives readers insights into the back story between Elie and Brielle that has been hinted at before. Elie is definitely ready to apologize for his part in alienating Brielle, but can Brielle work past the betrayals that she has suffered from her family and Elie himself?
Soon it’s business as usual with Brielle and Elie working on the sexual side of their marriage, exploring their mutual desires in domination and bondage. However, Brielle is a trained investigator, in addition to being a shadow rider, and brings information about sex trafficking and child exploitation with the crime families who are responsible, targeting the Ferraros but more specifically the Saldis. The shadow riders dispense justice and take no prisoners.
I am equal parts enthralled and repelled with the series. I enjoy the warmth and family relationships just as much as I’m vested into the characters and my desire to see them find their HEAs. At the same time, I abhor the growing darkness in the series that keeps the stories from being the wonderful escape from reality that I prefer them to be. Elie and Brielle are great characters, and I am happy to see them find their happily ever after.
Grade: B
Summary:
Shadow Rider Elie Archambault has been called many things: domineering, brash, loyal, but most of all fast. And there’s nothing faster than choosing to marry a woman you’ve never met. All he has is a signed contract and a list of his new bride’s expectations for their arranged marriage. He’s not expecting love or some happy ever after, just a partner that knows exactly what she signed up for. He’ll be faithful because he’s a man of honor, but she’ll never have his heart….
Elie knows who he is. A privileged member of the Archambault family. A skilled rider and fighter. A man who’s always had things easy for all the wrong reasons. He’s made his mistakes and lost his chance at real, true passion with his other half thanks to his own careless arrogance. Now he just wants to do his duty as a Shadow Rider and leave the past behind.
But Elie has no idea that his choice is about to spark a blaze that will burn all his carefully laid plans to the ground….
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