Veena’s review of Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders, Book 4) by Christine Feehan
Urban Fantasy published by Berkley 04 Jun 19
The Ferraro crime family uses their unique shadow-riding abilities to mete out vigilante style justice when the system fails. There is a lot of pressure for shadow riders to marry and create more shadow riders so the line continues, but there is also the rare chance of love and happiness when a shadow rider finds that one other person capable of riding shadows and whose shadow merges with theirs. Dominant Vittoria despairs of finding happiness since he needs a submissive woman who’s also a shadow rider. Imagine Vittorio’s surprise when he saves a woman from being trafficked by the Ferraro enemies, only to find that her shadow merges with his. Now he needs to know if she can put up with his dominant ways…Grace Murphy has grown up in the foster care system with all the attendant pain associated with such an upbringing. She now runs one of the most successful event management companies in Chicago. The only hold-back to her freedom and happiness is her foster brother Hayden. But a fatal line is crossed when Hayden tries to sell her to human traffickers. Fortunately for Grace, Vittorio Ferraro arrives in the nick of time to save her and then she, in turn, saves his life when she takes a bullet for him.
Vittorio immediately knows that Grace is the one for him and quickly spreads the mantle of the Ferraro family over her as she recovers in the hospital and later in his home. As is prevalent in the author’s novels, we get a lot of hot and erotic scenes as Grace and Vittorio explore the sexual side of their relationship. The Ferraro siblings are extremely close-knit and we get some family bonding and drama as well.
The Ferraros and the Saldis have been at peace for many years, but something is definitely afoot, given the doings at the Ferraro club which Vittorio interrupted and the nasty set-down from the Saldi heir to Emmanuelle Ferraro. I actually have a soft corner for the two of them, thinking of them as a Romeo and Juliet, but the story does not appear to be progressing in that direction. Potentially this is not over and we’ll see this as an ongoing thread in future books.
Hayden Phillips is the hidden dark surprise in this story, given the reconstruction of events in Grace’s growing years with him and his stalking of her. Could he be a serial killer? Get ready for some nice chills and thrills as this thread is explored in the story.
I am enjoying this series and look forward the rest of the Ferraro siblings and cousins find their HEAs.
Grade:B
Summary:
Vittorio Ferraro is a man whose family loyalty knows no bounds. He would die for his siblings and the people they love, but what he really wants is to start a family of his own. Deep down, Vittorio has always known finding a woman who could ride shadows would be nearly impossible—let alone one who could accept his particular needs—and he never expected to find her in the middle of a kidnapping.…
Grace Murphy has always been drawn to Vittorio Ferraro—or at least to the billionaire’s public bad-boy persona. Now that she’s under his protection and the sole focus of his intense caring, she can’t help wanting to get as close to him as possible. But Grace knows her presence is putting the entire Ferraro family in danger. Her monster of a brother will never let her go, but Vittorio has no intention of losing the woman whose shadow matches his own.
Other Books in this series:
