Sunday, July 02, 2017

Review: Shadow Reaper by Christine Feehan


Book Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan returns to her scorching-hot series starring a Chicago crime family that has built its empire in the shadows...

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...


My Review

Ricco and his five siblings are shadow riders, meaning they are able to turn into shadows and quickly move anywhere shadows are. Ricco hasn't been the same since he was sent for training in Japan when he was 14 years old and had some awful things happen to him. While he might not be suicidal, he hardly cares if he lives or dies these days. After crashing his car, he confesses that he needs something to do and hopes to find his one true love. So he holds auditions for a rope model for his photography book. 

Mariko shows up for the rope model job and Ricco instantly knows that she's the one for him. She's excited and nervous when she gets the job because that means she's going to be working closely with him for the next few months. 

There's a new threat to the Ferraro family which brought a couple of interesting twists to the story along with a family mystery that gets solved. 

While there was a romance, action and lots of blood shed, I didn't find this book quite as exciting as the first book in this series. I really didn't feel the passion between Ricco and Mariko even though they had quite a few passionate love scenes, the passion just didn't feel real, it fell flat for me. I understand that part of the story revolves around Ricco finding a rope model that he can practice his shibari skills on and take pictures for his book, but there was way too much time spent on the shibari aspect. Too much time telling the reader how, what and why he was using this knot, this rope or this pattern. I found myself really bored with a lot of that and for the last shibari scene I just glanced over it as I was reading. 

All in all it was a good second book and I will continue to read this series but it wasn't as good as the first book. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. 

25 comments:

  1. Hi Mary!

    Thanks for the introduction to this book and your views of it. Sounds intriguing and interesting!

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  2. Great review. I get a little frustrated sometimes when an author uses a novel to be a "how-to" book. Like they are trying to teach a person the correct way to do something. Glad you still enjoyed it, even if it wasn't as much as you'd hoped.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads

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    1. I do too. It was still good just not as good as the first one.

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  3. Sometimes the first book can sure set the bar high

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  4. I've been a serious fan of Ms. Feehan's work for years, but have to admit the Carpathian series is my fave. She still does a good job with the Shadow series, too. Her characters always have so much depth. Great review! Hugs...

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    1. The Carpathian series is my favorite too.

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  5. I have never read Feehan, one day then

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  6. Sometimes follow ups are hard to write...and read too!

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  7. Sorry this one wasn't that good for you. I haven't read her stories yet, but my mom is a huge fan. Nice review! :) ~Aleen

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    1. Thank you. It wasn't as good as the first one but still good.

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  8. Hello Mary are you ok?

    Good review.

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    Replies
    1. Hey you, I'm doing good. Glad to see you again. I couldn't find your blog for a while.

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    2. I had to finish blogging for a while, but now I've got a new one.it's a bit different from the last one.

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    3. Understandable. I like the new one.

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  9. Always disappointing when the second book doesn't live up to the first in the series, but at least it was interesting enough for you to give book 3 a try. I think I'd be bored with the explanation of the knots and such too. Ugh!

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    1. I like the characters and the first book was great so I'm hoping # 3 will be good too.

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  10. Yeah when you just don't feel that chemistry/passion it can be a book damper. Hope the next one is better.

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  11. Yes the first one was pretty exciting. Shibari sounds interesting, but yeah, pages and pages of description about it in a paranormal romance wouldn't do it for me, either. :)

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    1. It was a good story and had good points but too much descriptive shibari talk for me.

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