Shadow Reaper was fast, fun and full of some really steamy romantic scenes. 

Ricco, playboy, racecar driver has become a serious topic of concern with siblings. Recently, he barely survived a deadly crash and they aren’t sure he did it on purpose.

Mariko’s brother was kidnapped and the only chance she has at saving him is to carry out the worst crime by a Shadow Rider, kill another Shadow Rider, Rico. 

Unfortunately for the both, they are destined mates. Rico must uncover Mariko’s secrets before it’s too late. While Mariko must choose between Rico and saving her brother.

This is second book in the Shadow Rider series, and I feel like we are barely scratching the surface of this “Shadow Rider” world.

Feehan fan girl here. I've read everything that she has written and that is no lie.

To say I was pumped about a new Shadow Rider series installment would be an understatement, so with greed anticipation, I delved right back into the Shadow world with Ricco's story.

I love the family dynamic of Ferraro family and highly enjoyed the romance. 

My only complaint, I did find the telling a little repetitive. I mostly found the character's emotional/internal issues caused this hangup. 

Pushing that little issue aside, I can't wait for more and didn't want the book to end...with it being over 400+ pages that is saying something.

I received this ARC copy of Shadow Reaper from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review. Shadow Reaper is set for publication May 30, 2017.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Christine Feehan
Series: Shadow Riders Novel, A (Book 2)
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Berkley; Original edition 
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
ISBN-10: 0399583955
ISBN-13: 978-0399583957
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/shad...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Reaper-...
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For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com

 

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Now that eldest brother and head of the Ferraro family Stefano has found the one woman meant to be his there is hope for his generation of shadow riders.  Next up is dark, smoldering, troubled Ricco Ferraro with his love for Shibari and his desire to find a rope model to help soothe his spirits. 

Ricco had almost given up hope of find the perfect rope model when she walked in. With her Asian features she soothed something deep in Ricco's soul and most importantly her shadow connects with him.  Can both of them find a way to handle the blackness of their past and find a future together? 

It's quick apparent that she's the little girl he once sold his soul to save. Unfortunately her life has not exactly been a bed of roses. Brought up in hate, deprived of her true name she has survived against all odds with a sweetness of spirit and compassion.  She's been planted in Ricco's home to search for his vulnerability and taken him down but it soon turns out that she truly is a white hat and determined to save Ricco. 

This story takes unexpected twists and turns as Ricco finally deals with the darkness of his past and confronts old enemies in order to free himself to walk in the light with his rightful mate by his side.  Readers will enjoy how the story unfolds and of course in true Ms. Feehan style there are enough steamy erotic scenes to keep readers happy along the way.

Shadow Reaper continues the story of the Ferraro family, and in this case playboy race car driver Ricco Ferraro. Ricco, recovering from a horrible racing accident has realized that he has nothing to live for. His reputation as a playboy is a sham, and he can’t seem to care for anyone or anything anymore. When looking for a model to practice the art of Shibari (more on this later), he meets Mariko and his shadow immediately connects with hers and he knows he finally has finally found someone worth living for. He also knows that she has come to kill him and his past has caught up with him and his family and the women he now cares deeply for may be in danger.

As with the first book, Shadow Rider, Christine Feehan creates a really interesting dark and dangerous world. One I can’t help but feel fascinated by. The Ferraro family, although mafia like as a comparison, may be more super hero. They fight for the unprotected and underprivileged, and kill to make their people safe. The Ferraro’s  use a particular skill, shadow riding, that enables them to use shadow’s as a means of traveling quickly from one place to another. Also using those same shadows to hide in and step out to fight or kill when necessary. It’s really a neat creation and I wish the author had not gotten sidetracked into the art of Shibari because to me that was a distraction from an otherwise good storyline. Part of the distraction was in trying to figure out the descriptions I was reading. I’ll admit to stopping while reading and googling Shibari, looking at photographs, reading about it and internally going “huh”. Then skipping those pages which were supposed to be a dramatic romantic hook to the storyline just to get to the good parts where the Ferraro’s were fighting for their brothers honor, Mariko’s life and their own lives.

Now, on to Shibari. In layman terms  and skipping the history lesson, Shibari uses rope to create erotic imagery and is considered an art form. In some cases, I’ll agree, it can be quite lovely, but also kind of scary. Because I found the visuals helpful, here are a couple of pictures on either end of the spectrum. 


You can tell by these photos that I was a little confused by what I was supposed to be visualizing when Ricco was tying up Mariko. Although she did seem to like it, it just wasn’t my thing. However, I am positive that there will be huge fans of what Ms. Feehan was trying to achieve in this book. In fact I bet there are a few of you who will google Shibari right after your done reading this blog. You’re welcome! However, it just kind of got lost in the translation for me. I did enjoy the other portions of this book. The storyline was great and I love the imagery of shadow riding. 

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review, and it was honest.

Shadow Reaper is Christine Feehans’ second installment in the Shadow series.
Ricco, one of the Ferraro brothers, has been dealing with issues stemming from some seriously horrific bullying that happened when he was a teenager. This happened during his time in Japan while undergoing schooling & training. The end result was a violent incident covered up with lies & threats.
Mariko has been belittled all her life by her foster family & her instructors. She is also a shadow rider who attended the Tokyo shadow rider school some years after Ricco.
Ricco & Mariko meet. The sparks fly, secrets are revealed & they work together to right the wrongs of the past. They help each other heal from the wounds inflicted in the past. They start trusting each other emotionally & in their shadow rider skills. You see the love between them slowly build.
I enjoyed the first book and found the world interesting. I liked Shadow Reaper much better. The world was fleshed out more. I enjoyed the interaction & depth of the main characters, Ricco & Mariko. This story worked on all levels for me. Thanks Net Galley!

Welcome Rockie to the blog with her first review... Yeah I might've chosen this one for her on purpose but... look below for a treat...

I had the ability read an ARC for Shadow Reaper! I really love this series! Shadow Reaper is the continuation of Shadow Rider and Ricco's story! I fell in love with Ricco and his family in the first story.

Shadow Reaper is a fast paced story, Christine Feehan is a master at what she does. This story flows through. There are several times during the story to fall deeper in love with Ricco! The art of shibari is interesting and to see it through Ricco’s eyes when he ties up Mariko. To see how he feels about Mariko throughout the book is amazing. Ricco was in a downward spiral that almost killed him.
Enter Mariko who was sent to kill him, because she is going to lose her brother if she doesn’t. Ricco’s past is about to make a jump into his present because someone is trying to kill him and his family. Ricco knew Mariko was sent to kill him, but he knew she was the love of his life and he didn’t know how to keep her without shibari and knew that they could do shibari together and live out their lives together.
If you haven’t picked up Shadow Rider and want to read Shadow Reaper go ahead, you don’t have to read the first book to read this. You should go ahead and pick up these books and read them! Christine Feehan is simply amazing.



Now I quite enjoyed this one as well so I agree that the darkness Ricco is in at the start was disturbing but as we read this story we get the reasons behind it... it will make you fall in love with him as he comes out of the darkness.  Now... to win a copy of the book in paperback... Welcome Rockie to the blog by saying hi and if you have any suggestions for her reading pleasure.  Just post a reply here on the blog by 11:59 pm Central on June 6th to have a chance to win...

Yeah, this book was just so great! This is only the 2nd book in the series, and it opened up to me, at least, the possibility of this book starring more than just the siblings of the Ferraro family and their significant others being the stars of future books!

It was mentioned Shadow Rider of Ricco's rope tying. I had to look it up, because I hadn't heard of it before these books. But that Ricco and Mariko together, as Rope Master and his subject, they both worked really well together!

They were both connected by an event that scared both of them, emotionally and physically, though she didn't actually remember, because she was a small child, while he was 14. And it's something that's dominated Ricco's life. So it was really great to open that wound up and let it heal properly in this book!

Who the bad guy was, well, guys, since there was more than one, was sad. I also wish it could've been a bit longer, because a great deal of time was spent focused on rescue, and identification as a means to the end, instead of the end itself. So we didn't really get to know the bad guys! 

Really fantastic book, I enjoyed it so much, and I can't wait for more from this fantastic series!

✦Review & Giveaway: SHADOW REAPER (Shadow Riders Series, Book 2) by Christine Feehan http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-8RS
►Enter Facebook Giveaway (Paperback Copy of SHADOW REAPER) ➢ http://bit.ly/2qjlFcI
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Genre: Romantic Suspense/ Paranormal Romance 
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 5 Stars

Wow! I loved this installment in the Shadow Riders series. It started fast and never let me up for air. Wild, heart thumping action; tempered with a sensual and hot romance. Ricco is a hard man to describe, there were so many enticing layers to him. I liked Mariko from the start. Strong, intelligent and loyal. She had so many obstacles in her life, yet she wasn’t bogged down by them. I really wanted them both to be happy, so they could go on enjoying that big family of his. I like how the Ferraros banter, then get down to scary business. I think this is one book that I’ll be reading again, just so I can get psyched up for the next one.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle $7.99 http://amzn.to/2nUK2uX 

✦Check out Book 1: SHADOW RIDER (The Shadow Riders Series, Book 1) by Christine Feehan 
Review 5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-5yq | Kindle http://amzn.to/1QUqzAy

I loved this book from beginning to end.  Christine Feehan has a unique way of drawing you in and capturing your attention.  I could barely put this book down to sleep.  It had me guessing and every time I thought I had it all figured out the characters threw something else at me.

Ricco was everything I thought he would be.  Everyone thought he was a reckless playboy that only had eyes for fast women and fast cars but there was so much more to him.  In book #1 (Shadow Rider) Stefano warns him of his ways and what might happen if he did meet the one woman that he was supposed to be with for the rest of his life.  He has his secrets that he has keep from his family. As everything starts to come out that's when all hell breaks loose.

Mariko is perfect for Ricco.  She is mysterious and in the beginning she had me guessing at every turn.  I love her appearance of innocence and honesty. She gives something to Ricco that no one else can.  She also has many secrets and there is also a mystery that she is unaware of.

I love this family.  Once a Ferraro has taken you in they are going to protect you till the end.  Stefano, of course, still serves as the head of the family and offers support to everyone even when they don't ask for it.  The bothers are extremely protective and Emmanuelle is the sister that everyone wishes for.  This family has made this neighborhood it's own community and they will protect everyone in it.  This book has so many good scenes in it and a particularly good battle and I can't wait for the next installment.

I really want a Ferraro of my own! So much happens in this book that left me speechless! I was up late in the night reading and thinking about the book when I wasn't!
Many think the untouchable Ferraro family are criminals that are above the law, but they are something all together different. More lethal. For hundreds of years their family have protected the innocent by traveling through the shadows. They are assassins that make right the wrong and seek justice for evil.

Race car driver, Ricco Ferraro is a celebrity of sorts. He is not only known for his family name, but for his fast cars and even faster women. His brothers have always warned him that his wild ways would one day come back to haunt him. It finally happens, when he sets his eyes on the beautiful Mariko. She is interviewing to be his rope model for his rope art. That is the first time he has regretted his past. When their shadows connect he knows without a doubt she is it for him. The only catch, he is pretty sure she is there to kill him.

Mariko is a deadly shadow rider. She was raised with her brother in Japan by a woman whom hated her. Even after surviving her horrific childhood she has somehow kept her moral compass in tact. Even with all the shame and lies thrown at her by the ones that should have protected her. When her brother is kidnapped, the only way to save him is for her to kill Ricco Ferraro.
Mariko didn't know what to expect when she met Ricco, but she didn't think she'd feel desire coursing through her veins for the first time in her life. Ricco and his shibari brings out all the emotions that she long ago buried deep. He makes her feel beautiful. Best of all she sees herself as beautiful.
Ricco is a great man. Reckless but great. How could she possibly trade his life for her brothers.
All hell breaks loose for the Ferraro family and they lose one of their own! Ricco's has secrets and his past is coming back to wreak havoc. Danger is lurking and unknown enemies seek to destroy all that they hold dear. Now that Ricco has finally found Mariko, he will not give her up. He just has to convince her, that he is the marrying kind. That his past does not define him. He wants her and only her. She is his everything and he will have her even if he has to take matters into his own hands!
I said this at the beginning and I'll say it again! I want a Ferraro in my life!

It's hard to say much about the plot, the book blurb is really mysterious - it doesn't even say the heroine's name - but I'll do what I can to show how I enjoyed the book without giving too much away. 

I really enjoyed Shadow Reaper, I loved seeing more of the Ferraro family, I liked Ricco even more after learning about his past, I thought the heroine was a strong character, damaged but kind, compassionate, and courageous, and there was quite a bit of action and excitement.

The relationship between the heroine and Ricco was my favorite part of the story. They have both endured terrible trials in their past, have been scarred by what they've survived and those scars still influence who they are today. I enjoyed how Christine Feehan used Shibari to develop their relationship; it was about sex but more than that it was about trust. 

This is the second installment in the Shadow series and I do think you would enjoy it better if you read book one first to understand the world of shadow riders and get to meet the characters but it isn't strictly necessary. Shadow Reaper has confirmed that I'm a definite fan of this series and can't wait to learn whose story comes next.

Ms Feehan has hit her stride with this series.
 
What I liked: I fell in love with the first book in the Shadow series, Shadow Rider, which gave us Stefano and Francesca’s story but also introduced us to the Ferraro family and it’s a huge family especially counting cousins. Ms Feehan has hooked me on a series with a first book before and then I slowly began wondering what type of book I would get. I love her imagination but am not a huge fan of sex scene after sex scene. Her last 3 books have impressed me all over again. I know she wasn’t listening to me but suddenly I found more substance to her characters and stories. Thank goodness.
 
Shadow Reaper is Ricco’s story and boy it’s a good one. We know from Shadow Rider that something changed Ricco when he was sent to Japan to train as a “shadow rider”. He came back completely changed and up until now neither we as the reader, nor his family knew why. Ms Feehan provides the complete story and interweaves it with the heroine’s story. It’s fascinating to me and caught and held my attention. I’m not going into the complete storyline because you should enjoy it firsthand.
 
There’s a plot to wipe out the Ferraro family and they, their cousins, their community are all in the line of fire. When Ricco finally comes clean, the family pulls together to find the culprits. Sounds pretty straight, forward doesn’t it? It’s not. There is so much action I felt like I was watching a movie. Shadow Reaper is not a quick read. You must pay attention and watch the characters and more importantly the interactions between the characters. Yes, this is Ricco and Mariko’s story but in the background, you can see how Ms Feehan is laying the foundation for future stories and boy, I can’t wait.
 
Yes, there is some spice but it’s not overdone as some of her books I’ve read. I could also tell she did a lot of research for the Japanese art of roping tying a person, Shibari. I don’t know that I could stand it but I think I would like to actually see a rigger due his art. It’s not portrayed as BDSM but more of an erotic art form. They did get turned on but it didn’t take away from what Ricco was feeling and needing.
 
I loved the heroine, Mariko. She could have been so damaged by her past but she’s too smart in some ways to be fooled, especially as it pertains to her being a shadow rider. She has a code and she will live or die by it. On the other hand, as a woman, she is very insecure. That’s where her relationship with Ricco shines. She’s not a doormat to him either. He’s very dominant but caring of her and she is not a submissive in any way. She’s smart, tough, an excellent fighter and shadow rider but has a care for those around her.
 
What I didn’t like: I thought at first the repetition of Ricco’s back story was not necessary but quickly changed my mind. It was from two different viewpoints and needed to be told that way. I did get a bit tired of reading about “her sex clinched” but it didn’t distract me enough to become irritated. I mean in a book with sex scenes, there are only so many ways to describe them.

I'm actually very surprised at the e-book price of $7.99 as Shadow Reaper is listed as being released in large print hardcover on Amazon (not Barnes & Noble) so I'm not sure what's up with that. Anyway, in my opinion, this is one time I agree with the pricing EXCEPT the mass market paperback on Amazon is selling cheaper at $6.79. 

I was provided an ARC to fairly review by NetGalley.
 
Overall, I was enthralled with this addition to the Shadow series and can’t wait for the next. I hope the quality, research, and characters remain in line with the first two books!
 
Highly Recommended!!

Book two in the Shadow series. We met the oldest brother Stephen in book one so this one follows Ricco as he almost destroys himself before he finds the right woman to make life worth while for him to live. Then Mariko shows up only she is supposed to kill him. After making her investigation she instead recruits him to her side to find the bad guys. There is a lot of shadow family politics in this book as Ricco uncovers events from years ago that some tried to hide altogether. The new shadow parts of the story added more development to the arching story line of the last book which I really enjoyed. I will admit that I had no idea what a Japanese rope model was before reading this book though I definitely know more now. I look forward to the next installment in the series to see which sibling will be next. I give it 4/5 stars.

Another great novel by Christine Feehan!  This series quickly became a favorite - can't wait for the next one in the series.  Thank you NetGalley & Berkley!!

This is the second entry in the Shadow series and I truly think that it is necessary for you to read the first book in the series to know what is going on in this book. In fact, even though I read and truly enjoyed the first book, I wish that the author would have spent more time explaining the role of the Shadow Riders and their abilities. Instead, she left it to readers to remember everything from the first book. And frankly, if your an avid reader, you may have read lots of other books since that one. Although perhaps the author feared that the story would have simply been too long with the explanation of the Shadow Riders since it was well over 400 pages.
That said, this was still an enjoyable story featuring Shadow Riders, Ricco and Mariko, who may either be his salvation or his destruction. This book had plenty of action, at one point every member of the Ferraro family is under attack with no guarantees that any would survive. However, the action did not surpass the romance as Christine Feehan also brought Shibari into this novel. Definitely a strong entry into the Shadow Rider series as more of the back story of all of the Ferraro family was also included.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Christine Feehan has created such a unique series with her Shadow Riders... a sect of humans with the paranormal ability to "ride" shadow tubes, which allows them to travel place to place very quickly and undetected. The purpose of the supernatural Shadow Riders is to mete out justice to the derelict and deserving, usually those operating in the underbelly of society. In this second installment of the series, the Ferraro family finds itself the target of a dangerous plot which will see them suffering injuries and death before all is said and done.

If you have read Shadow Rider, you will remember that Ricco Ferraro was the darker and more mysterious of the Ferraro clan. He was broody and dangerous and reckless. After a near-death experience (one of many it appears), Ricco's family lays down the law that he has to shape up or Stefano will take him off the Rider rotation. This drives Ricco to look for a rope model that will allow him to lose himself in the art of Shibari. Ricco was the Ferraro whom I was most drawn to in Shadow Rider, as I have always had a thing for the dark and broody bad boy. I liked the amount of character development that we had for Ricco. The things he went through as a teenager, and the level of stress and responsibility he felt thereafter definitely created a level of despondency and desperation for our hero. I am impressed that he he held it together for as long as he did. But when Ricco finds his matching Shadow Rider, things are not going to be smooth sailing - especially as she has come to kill him.

Mariko Majo is a tortured heroine who has sought Ricco Ferraro out of desperation. The victim of a terrible tragedy at a young age, Mariko was raised by a woman who loathed her. She is looked down up on in Japan due to her gender and mixed heritage, and is treated abominably by a bitter and somewhat mad harpy. Luckily Mariko was allowed to train as a Shadow Rider so at least she has a small outlet for her stress, which was necessary given the self-esteem and self-worth issues that were created by her childhood. I understood Mariko's issues and my heart went out to her... but sometimes I wish she would have considered Ricco's words and actions instead of getting caught up in her own head. Otherwise, she was a sympathetic heroine and you feel bad for her most of the book.

This series falls into the fated mates trope, so once our couple finds each other, the relationship proceeds forward at a steady clip. I do think that Ricco was patient with Mariko and allowed her to become used to him instead of pushing her into something she wasn't ready for. There was a good amount of sexual tension between the couple, which was only amplified by the Shibari sessions. I thought the art and bondage aspect of the story was interesting, and got my curiosity involved enough to be Googling the various Shibari terms, poses and rope patterns.

At times, I found the plot conflict to be more interesting than the romance. In fact, I thought some of the Shibari sessions and sexytimes were a bit too long and I started skimming them to get back to the storyline. Mariko was sent to find the Ferraros on a pretense, and I liked solving the puzzle and conspiracy along with the characters. The investigation into past events and present problems was broken up by bouts of action and danger, which helped advance the plot and keep it from dragging overmuch. 

I continue to like the inner workings of the tight-knit Ferraro family. I like to see them get together to argue, tease and bond with one another. I am eagerly anticipating the next book, and wonder which Ferraro Feehan will deliver next.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

What a wild ride this book was and NOT what I was expecting. I really wasn't sure how this one would compare with book one which I fell in love with. In Shadow Reaper, we have Ricco's book. Ricco is a bit of a mystery, so I was pleased to see that this was his book. At the beginning of this book, Ricco is in big trouble with his siblings. He ends up in a car accident and almost dies from it. So he is slowly recovering from it, but Ricco is also struggling with his past from his training he had to go to in Japan, when he was only 14 years old. And he goes through some life changing events, events that leads him haunted and threatens the life of himself and his family. Our heroine of the story is a fellow rider. Mariko Majo, was lied to growing up and even though she was trained as a rider, she was made to feel by her adopted family weak and incompetent.  When her brother is kidnapped, and she it told to kill Ricco to get her brother back, she goes to investigate Ricco. But posing as a rope model for him, she realizes what a good man Ricco is, and she can't trade his life for her brothers ,especially when she doesn't know if killing Ricco would mean getting her brother back.


What I truly liked about this story was seeing a more backstory to the characters. Both Ricco and Mariko, have a strong bond to each other and its just not in the present. They have an important past together, and even though this story was a bit more slow going than book one, I still had a blast with this book and seeing these characters come together. And we get some plenty of fun action between the family members here. We get a bit of a teaser between the sister and Val (I have a feeling that will be a whopper of a read when we get it) and I did love seeing Stefan and Francesca again. And the way they welcome Mariko into the family, despite her not so honorable intentions from the beginning. And I do feel that this book was more exciting in some of the action scenes that are written. I felt as if I was on a roller coaster, and it was very thrilling. The dynamics of the story overall is what really kept me intrigued. It was so wonderful to see this book come together, with the family drama and intrigues, the more complex and depth of characters and the spicy romance. Now I do feel that the romance could have used a bit more juice to it. There was plenty of sex scenes, but I really wanted more of the emotional intimacy between these two, it felt a bit less than book one. Of course, there was quite a bit going on in this book and if you enjoyed book one, I do think you need to pick this one up and fall in love with this fun and thrilling family and I can't wait to see which sibling will be book three. Overall I found Shadow Reaper to be a thrilling adventure of rich Japanese culture, thrills and chills to keep you on the edge and a epic filled romance to give you all the feels!!

Shadow Reaper is book two in the Shadow series. I love a good paranormal romance and was really intrigued by the powers explained in book one so I had to grab this installment. This series revolves around a very tight-knit crime family that has the power to ride shadows. 

We start off with Ricco Ferraro, one of the Ferraro brothers we met in book one in the hospital after a car accident. He's kind of lost his way and after he heals a bit and is out of the hospital he tries to look for his mate. He has a bit of a kink and is looking for a rope/Shibari model. After a long day of interviews, he finally comes across a woman, Mariko Majo that stops him in his tracks. He knows immediately that she is a fellow shadow rider and she's the girl he's been looking for. They wind up signing a six-month contract, but he knows Mariko has an ulterior motive for being with him. Attacks quickly begin to happen to friends and family of the Ferraros and Ricco and Mariko's past quickly come to light. They team up to figure out who is behind the attacks before it's too late. 

Shadow Reaper really kept me on my toes while reading. I was trying to figure out the whodunit aspect while watching Mariko and Ricco's romance blossom. Things get a bit hot during the rope scenes which was a bit of a surprise for me, I didn't know that was going to be in this book but it suited the story. Something I was really glad to see in this installment was more details on the rigorous training the shadow riders go through. It really affected Ricco from childhood and Mariko's life was changed during that time as well and it kind of broke my heart. I thought they were well suited for one another and I really loved the whodunit aspect. All in all, if you're looking for a unique Paranormal Romance and haven't tried this series I think you'd enjoy it.

The second installment of the Shadow Rider series, Shadow Reaper is about Ricco Ferraro, a shadow rider with a dark secret, and passion for rope art. I have to say that this book was completely unexpected. If the first one was fast paced and action packed, this second one was even more so. I loved this book from start to finish. If Stefano is the leader the Ferraro's turn to, Ricco is the protector of this whole clan. I love how Feehan created him, how his past shaped him, and how his redemption was found in Mariko. I loved this story from start to finish, and I'm incredibly curious about the Shibari art form now. Just as in the first book, there were plenty of action sequences, and they did not disappoint. I do appreciate that we see some character development aside from the Ricco and Mariko, especially for Eloisa. At times, it seems like this novel was taking a breakneck pace, but if you take a step back and admire the book as a whole, you can see why this pace is necessary. I'm excited for this to release so I can go out to buy it!!

Awww Ricco could be so sweet, “how is it you aren’t with a man? You’re beautiful. You’re intelligent. You’ve got an amazing voice. I could listen to you talk forever.” Ricco has his woman pegged, “there it is. The other thing women say that is total bul*****. If it was ‘nothing’ you wouldn’t have gotten that particular look in your face.” I liked this book, I found Ricco to be one sexy man.

Actual 4.5 stars 

Ricco Ferraro is a new addition to my list of favorite male leads! He's a shadow rider with an artist's soul. (Basically, a shadow rider uses actual shadows to travel to and from destinations and mete out justice when necessary. It's actually a pretty cool and unusual concept) He's loyal, protective, and loves fiercely when he lets someone get close. He's also a well trained fighter and spirited daredevil, constantly seeking the next thrill to bring something lively to his lonely existence. 

 Mariko Majo was a conundrum.  She could be shy, awkward, easily intimidated and full of so many self doubts, she made me want to pull my hair out! She was also intelligent, highly trained in fighting and had a quick wit. And the best part! When baddies threaten someone she cares for, this chic could open a can of whoop a** in no time and leave the enemy dead and buried before you could blink an eye-I loved her! 

I was in book heaven with the amount of fighting action happening and it was nicely balanced with Rico and Mariko's relationship. Because of Ricco's artistic outlet choice, he and Mariko hit an emotional rapport fairly quick, but I liked how Feehan let the sexual chemistry build up over a longer duration than usual. It made the relationship more believable and enduring, especially after the emotional knocks Mariko and Ricco both taken as children and adults. 

Book two in the Shadow series, Shadow Reaper  is loaded with action and suspense, twisted humor, and family quality time-killing mercenaries totally counts in the quest for vengeance and justice! We also get to know more about the Ferraro siblings and I'm hoping Emmanuelle and Valentino Saldi's story is next! Talk about chemistry.. woohoo! Now back to Ricco and Mariko, their book had a strong storyline, great romance, and I would happily recommend this book to paranormal suspense readers! 

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the Berkley via NetGalley.