Cover Image: Shadow Warrior

Shadow Warrior

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Member Reviews

Vittorio never thought he would find a woman for him but when Grace erupts from the trunk of a car he realizes that she is his. Part of the Shadow Riders series. ARC from NetGalley.

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There is something about the Ferraro siblings that is addicting. Hot men, strong woman and a plot that keeps the reader engaged throughout, this book is a great addition to Feehan’s Shadow series.

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Christine Feehan always writes a good book. They have a bit of a formulaic feel to them but I enjoy them all nonetheless. The Shadow series is just different enough to hold my interest and I love learning about all of the new characters.

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Shadow Warrior is the fourth installment in Christine Feehan’s Shadow series. The series chronicles the Ferraro family, perceived crime organization, but actual supernatural assassins for hire. The family is a tight-knit, fiercely furtive, protective group. Despite their image, the family is benevolent and just, dispatching only the worst of offenders. The supernatural aspects of this series are quite subtle. The so-called “shadow riders” dissolve into and ride shadows as tiny expressways to their desired location completely unseen. Their reputation is a smokescreen for their vigilante work. Anyone brought into the family is brought in for life.

Each book in the series has unpacked the romantic story of one Ferraro brother and his burgeoning relationship with a woman. The Shadow Warrior is Vittorio. Not much differentiates the brothers, really. They’re all tall dark and handsome with a dangerous edge. They’re all domineering, wishing to absolutely consume their women. They all whisper sexy Italian phrases in their lovers’ ears. For the most part, I’ve been okay with this. Variety is created with the female characters well enough.

Grace Murphy, the object of Vittorio’s affection, is a woman running scared. When Vittorio Ferraro intercepts her kidnapping, the connection is immediate and over-the-top dramatic. Feehan, while not exactly original, expertly crafts a love story. The mounting tension and ultimate release are always abundantly entertaining.

What sets Shadow Warrior apart is its plot. I found it to have a menacing, more tension-filled, thriller vibe. The big bad in the story, Grace’s foster brother, is beyond dark. His psychopathic actions lend a darkness to the book I found both disturbing and intriguing. Feehan is a safe bet, every time, for paranormal romance fans and the Shadow series is no exception.

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Because of this book, I had to go and read the entire series from Ms. Feehan. It was such a unique idea and had me totally enthralled. I encourage people highly to read this novel and the whole series!

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The fourth book in the shadow rider series, Feehan has masterfully created a creepy villain to pit against her wonderful hero. If you enjoyed the first three this is another exciting adventure into the Ferraro family.

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Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan is a continuing story about the Ferraro family. This is the fourth book in the series and while you don’t have to have read the others in the series, it does help you understand the dynamics of the story if you have.
Vittorio doesn’t think he will ever find love and then along comes Grace. They meet under unusual conditions, but HE knows she is the one. Then she is shot trying to protect him and all bets are off. The person that shot her was someone that she grew up with in the foster system, but come to find out he is not what he portrays himself as being. Grace recovers and comes to know Vittorio, but is still unsure of their relationship. He has a way to go to convince Grace that they are meant to be together. There are elements of BDSM as well as romance in this story. It is intended for mature audiences. It is a good story, but sometimes I felt that it was a little outlandish on the expectations of the characters.
I have been reading Ms. Feehan for years and with only one exception have always enjoyed her series.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to give an honest opinion.

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Anyone who likes Ms. Feehan's books will enjoy this as well, however I feel that their are too many liberties taken in what is and is not okay in society in this book as well as too many repetitions of the exact same thing just written in a different order throughout. It felt like the author was reiterating herself to make the pages longer.

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I love learning more about the Ferraro family and SHADOW WARRIOR lets us dive deeper into Virrorio's life.

As with the previous books, SHADOW WARRIOR was heavy on romance and relationship development. The chemistry between Vittorio and Grace was there. There was a lot of BDSM and other adult scenes. I felt the whole "You must obey me in everything" theme was a bit much. I understand that was the way Vittorio was, but the way it was explained at like every single turn made it seem forced and uncomfortable. If it hadn't been overly explained, reasoned and talked about in every single moment of the book it would have read better.

The plot outside of the romance was a bit lacking. It's there, but totally in the background and I don't feel like it was as strong as previous books. Not a lot of action and mystery involved. It felt more like an afterthought.

I have seen many reviews for this series mention that these books can be read as stand-alone. While I guess that is true, I don't see why you would want to. We meet and get to know different parts of the Ferraro family with each book and knowing them and the overall continuous background storyline makes each book more enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and start from book one.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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The Shadow Riders is such a unique series that I feel refreshed and get sucked in every time I pick up one of the books. With all the travel I've been doing, I was stoked to get to this one in the line up right before a hellish day of delayed flights and being squeezed into the tiny rows and uncomfortable seats of turbulent airplanes.

Our shadow-riding hero of this installment is Vittorio Ferraro, a strong and silent alpha male who fears he will never find his fated woman. Vittorio is demanding, protective, and knows exactly what he wants and requires from his partner. His need to be with his woman for all things could have seemed needy, but was instead worked into his dominance and alpha nature. I really liked Vittorio, and reading things from his point-of-view helped me put my own relationship in perspective at a time when I'm learning to balance my independence with being part of a couple.

Vittorio's perfect woman is Grace Murphy, an event planner with a troubled and tragic past. Grace lucks out when her abduction lands her in the path of Vittorio, as he was the one man capable of fixing her life and making her ridiculously happy. Our inexperienced and vulnerable heroine was balanced by her healthy self-esteem, intelligence and work ethic She truly seemed to be the yin to Vittorio's yang, and they complemented each other very well. I typically do not go for the inexperienced heroine, but I developed a good emotional connection with Grace in this story.

As a fated mates trope, this relationship was necessarily a insta-love situation... but one that I loved. I liked seeing the instant attraction and fascination between our couple, and really enjoyed the building of their relationship as the story progressed. The romantic plot was balanced with the serial killer targeting those close to Grace, and a possible war brewing between the Ferraro and Saldi families. The action sequences and suspense woven into the relationship-building and sexytimes kept me enthralled during the 15 hour travel day (yes you read that right!).

If you haven't started the Shadow Riders series, I don't know what you are waiting for. I can't wait for the next installment and have become very invested in some of these characters! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher.

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This is book four in Feehan’s Shadow series. I find this series very fascinating. This is my favorite Feehan series at the moment. Riding shadows is just so unique and unlike anything paranormal that I’ve read. I didn’t really care for the second book in the series, but I have really enjoyed the other three.

Vittorio Ferraro is a shadow rider. He rides shadows to deliver justice when the system has fails. He is not judge, jury, and executioner. He is only executioner. So he’s basically a murderer, but it’s all for a good cause yo. But really, there is an extensive process that a person(s) must go through to get help from the Ferraro family. Vittorio has never doubted that what he does is right until Grace Murphy explodes into his life. Like really explodes out of the trunk of a car, then takes a bullet meant for him.

Grace was such an amazing heroine. The life she has lived up to the point she meets Vittorio has been horrific. She has no friends and no family. Her foster brother doesn’t count as family because it is he that has isolated her from everyone. If she lets someone new into her life, he kills them. It’s as simple as that. Grace learned a lot time ago not to get close to people. Then comes Vittorio who just won’t let her go.

There are two things that Vittorio is worried about telling Grace. The first one is that he needs to be the dominant in their relationship. Not just dominant in bed, but dominant in life. The second is that he’s a shadow rider. He’s never thought of himself as a man that murders people until Grace comes into his life. Now he wonders if that is what will separate them for good.

Grace isnt’t a pushover by any means. She might accept Vittorio’s dominance, but when she’s running her company, she is a ballbuster. I loved that about her. She is strong enough to admit that she loved Vittorio taking care of her. That didn’t make her less of a woman. It just made her a woman that was perfect for Vittorio.

The whole storyline with her foster brother actually made the whole book better. I really enjoyed it (well, not the murdering of innocent people part). I just enjoyed Grace’s reaction to the Ferraro family. Overall, I was very satisfied with this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Shadow Warrior is book four in the Shadow series by Chrisine Feehan. It features this family who can travel through the shadows and use their skills in a kind of vigilante way.

This book features Vittorio who has pretty much accepted that he will never find his mate on his own and will be destined for an arranged marriage. That is until he is drawn to the family's club by this impending sense of doom. There he stumbles upon what appears to be a human trafficking deal and his mate.

Grace Murphy has been terrorized by her foster brother since she was young. She knows no one is safe because he is capable of so much more than everyone gives him credit for. Grace is worried her presence will endanger the Ferraros but Vittorio is very convincing. Grace allows Vittorio to take care of her, even though she is a little freaked that he has told everyone she is his fiancée since she first laid eyes on him!

Shadow Warrior was so good! I loved Vittorio and Grace. Grace is a strong character that has gone through so much. I couldn't imagine what she said her brother was capable of was true. She made him sound so creepy! When things start happening, we see just how menacing he is. The danger to everyone becomes so clear, upping the tension wondering what this guy is going to do next!

I had a hard time putting Shadow Warrior down. The danger to everyone from Grace's brother and the possibility of a family war kept me glued to the pages. I'm excited to see who gets the next story and what the Ferraro family will face. So much has been set up, not cliff hangers, but there are enough plot lines left out there that you know the next books are going to be amazing. I can't wait for them!

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Suspenseful, sexy romance…

Ahh... I was so happy to get back in the middle of the Ferraro clan! Sexy, confident, using their extraordinary abilities to right injustices – yeah, they are ALL that and more. Sophisticated, driven, with alpha tendencies, each story in this series has been about family and love and finding your one. Grace and Vittorio’s story started with a jolt and never eased up…

Grace and Vittorio came together by lucky accident. Grace, with no family - or none you would want - was embraced by Vittorio and quickly brought into the family fold. With a tense backdrop of danger and suspense, convincing Grace they were meant to be together was an uphill battle. One he doggedly was determined to win. Yeah, that is as HOT as it sounds! With his natural protectiveness, and a hint of arrogance (that he could completely back up) his full court press was irresistible. But Grace was no fragile flower, so she made sure she was strong when she needed to be and always pressing for the honesty she demanded…

If their story was a bit slow as it repeated itself in spots, I’m completely addicted to this author’s words and the Ferraro clan! Love, loyalty, passion and danger are addictive elements in these well written reads. The lone Ferraro sister’s story has been percolating for a while and the tension ramped up to high gear here as her love life threatened to blow up their world. Please, please be the next story! ~Diane, 4.5 stars

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Great addition to the Shadow books! Loved seeing Vittorio find his mate, his fellow Rider. He’s had a long struggle and this book really did him well.

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4.5 stars--SHADOW WARRIOR is the fourth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult SHADOW paranormal, erotic romance series focusing on The Ferraro family- a group of ‘Shadow Riders’-who are able to ‘use and ride’ shadows, to move about in secret. This is Vittorio Ferraro, and events planner and business owner Grace Murphy’s story line. SHADOW WARRIOR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Shadow rider male must find his mate –a woman who is capable of riding the shadows-or at the very least with the ability to bear children with the shadow-riding gene. Within the family, the Ferraro siblings are tasked with finding a mate, fated by DNA, who is capable of continuing the family line. The Ferraro’s are also part of the Chicago Underworld-a crime family linked to both legal and criminal activity.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Vittorio and Grace) SHADOW WARRIOR follows in the wake of Grace Murphy’s abduction and her desperate attempts to protect the man with whom she would fall in love. Used as a bargaining chip for payment of a debt, Grace Murphy would find herself in a hostage situation but a gun fight at a local club owned by the Ferraro family finds our heroine placing herself in danger in order to prevent another death. Enter Vittorio Ferraro, a shadow rider and a member of the Ferraro Crime family, and the man with whom Grace would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Vittorio and Grace, and the potential fall-out as Grace’s past targets everyone she loves including our story line heroine.

Vittorio Ferraro knows Grace Murphy is his fated mate the instant their ‘shadows’ merge and entwine but Grace is unaware of her own family history having spent most of her life in an abusive foster care situation. Hoping to prove to Grace he is not the playboy of reputation and media stories, Vittorio plans a slow seduction of our story line heroine, a seduction that is hindered by family secrets, his mother’s attitude, and Grace’s need to recover and heal. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. Unlike many of the author’s other series, this story line does not focus primarily on the $ex-in fact, our couple do not make love or engage in $ex until the 61% mark of the story.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of Vittorio’s siblings-Emmanuelle, Taviano, Stafano (Francesa), Giovanni (Sasha), Ricco (Marika) and their mother Eoisa Ferraro, as well as a number of cousins, all of whom are shadow riders, working as security, assassins, and business specialists. The requisite evil has many faces including Grace’s foster brother Haydon Phillips, and the Saldis crime family, who may or may not declare war against the Ferraro family.

SHADOW WARRIOR is a story of family, loyalty, secrets, power and control. The premise is intriguing, imaginative and entertaining; the characters are intelligent, energetic and colorful; the romance is spicy and hot. There were some issues of repetition but such is the style of Christine Feehan, repetition that she uses to reiterate some facts and information.

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Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Review:

Grace Murphy couldn’t find herself in a worse situation. She is currently in the trunk of a car while her brother is negotiating her in exchange of money in a gambling debt. What kind of brother does that? The one that isn’t really your brother but a foster kid you grew up with. All of this is happening in the parking lot of the Ferraro’s night club and the only one to notice it is Vittorio, who has recently arrived from work as a shadow rider.

Haydon, Grace’s brother, is making deals with the Saldi, the Ferraro’s enemies. What he doesn’t know is that Vittorio has witnessed everything and he won’t let him have Grace kidnapped. After an intense fight, Haydon has no alternative but to shoot Vittorio but Grace is caught in the fire. Now that Vittorio has a clear view of Grace, he immediately noticed that she has been the one he has been looking for for years and he won’t let her die. The rest of the Ferraro arrive in time to help Vittorio with Grace and the Saldi men but too late to catch Haydon, who turns out to be more dangerous than just a gambler.

As the story progresses, Grace gets to know Vittorio more while her wounds heal, and at the same time Vittorio learns about her traumatizing past and her passion for her job as an event planner. Even though Grace is afraid of Haydon and doesn’t get close to anyone or go out much, she is very good at her job as an entrepreneur and independent person. Once she starts her relationship with Vittorio she lays down her own rules and informs him that she plans to keep her work life the same, which is something that I liked about Grace.

There are several details and information in this book that I was really excited for! So much information:

My favorite, Emmanuelle and Val’s on and off relationship finally coming to an… end? I am really looking forward to what the future has prepared for these two!
Taviano and Nicoletta’s soon-to-be relationship. This is another couple I’ve been waiting for since the beginning.
Eloisa and her feelings towards her children. We kind of see her change a little and with the events that happened at the end of the book, her kids might be slightly closer to understanding her.
The pending fight between the Ferraro and the Saldi families. What is going on here? Is there a third enemy?
And, of course, the arrival of baby Ferraro. I can’t wait for Francesca and Stefano to have their baby. Knowing Feehan, she’s going to give the fans a very special birth scene 😉

I am really excited for the upcoming books and the direction the story is taking. The suspense is building up like no other. In this book we got to see the life of another Ferraro sibling and more of his gifts, not just his shadow rider ones. All the siblings we have seen so far have different private lives out of the spotlight, and I can’t wait to see Taviano and Emmanuelle’s true colors!

If you’re a fan of Christine Feehan and her books and you’re not reading the Shadow Riders series, you’re still in time to catch up. From this book on things start to get intense with a war in the near future that could leave some casualties. Get your copy of Shadow Warrior and start preparing yourself.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

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Shadow Warrior was one of the best books I have read this year. The writing was captivating and seductive in developing one of the most sensual male heroes I have ever come across in this riveting paranormal series. Vittorio Ferraro is a dominant man and doesn’t hold his breath in finding his ideal woman to handle his specific needs. Purely by accident he sees something odd happening in the nightclub and investigates to find a woman being abducted. Thrown into a fight, he ends up being saved by the woman herself when she takes a bullet meant for him. His instincts kick in and tells him that she’s the one and now he needs to make it so.

Grace Murphy enters the scene fighting mad when Haydon Phillips tries to sell her into prostitution in order to pay off his gambling debts. Stepping in front of a bullet to save Vittorio from being killed by Haydon was a no-brainer, but then to find out she’s engaged to Vittorio after surgery, really threw her for a loop. They’ve never officially met but she knows a whole lot about it since she arranges fundraiser events and he’s there with family. She watches from afar and he’s become her fantasy dream man. Vittorio turned her world inside out when he took her to his home and cared for her like she’s never known before. Growing up in foster care, where she met Haydon, was bad and made worse as Haydon terrorizes her life to this day. Being with Vittorio, making her feel safe and loved, for the first time in her life can be a dream come true for the taking. But is that too big of a risk for her to take?

Shadow Warrior is a seductive read that draws you in and won’t let you go. Vittorio took the art of seduction to a whole new level and used patience, his care, and his love, to show Grace how her life would be with him if she accepted all of him. The search for Haydon, her stalker, kept the story on edge until the final conclusion. Vittorio, and all his siblings, are larger than life characters and take being a shadow rider seriously. When they are afforded a chance at happiness in their life, they are all in to make happen. Christine Feehan outdid herself with Shadow Warrior and future stories are highly anticipated.

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I really enjoy this series! I love the entire Ferraro clan—except Eloisa, for obvious reasons. Book 4 is Vittorio’s and he’s ready for his own happily ever after. He finds his possible future in the lovely Grace. Vittorio stumbled upon the botched kidnapping of Grace and she is injured trying to protect him. Vittorio brings Grace home to take care of as she convalesces, despite her many protests. Close quarters help develop chemistry and soon sparks are flying! The Ferraro clan rally around Grace to protect her just as burgeoning tensions with an enemy family come to a head. Danger lurks around every corner but it’s business as usual for The Ferraros.

The story is fast-paced and exciting with those uber-sexy Ferraro men! They can sure wear those dangerously tailored pin-striped suits, can’t they? What I really like about the series is that it’s full of tough women. Grace is strong and refuses to be rolled over by Vittorio’s overbearing alpha-male protectiveness without giving as good as she gets. The couple paired well together. My favorite character is the only Ferraro sister, Emmanuelle. She’s in love with the son of the enemy family. Years earlier, he broke Emmanuelle’s heart and her trust. I really hope her story is next!

Another exciting read from Christine Feehan!

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Christine Feehan flies into the best Shadow Ridler paranormal thriller yet in Shadow Warrior. Vittorio Ferrero saves a women from trafficking outside his family's club in Chicago. Grace Murphy is his perfect partner but she is threatened by a psychotic stalker and members of a crime family. Vittorio and Grace explore their new relationship in the shadow of a possible gang war and Vittorio's unusual talents as a shadow rider. Enjoy a wonderful romantic thriller.

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With the creation of Vittorio, Christine Feehan has officially earned a spot on my must-read list! This was my first time reading from this author and I can finally understand what all the hype is about. This story had intrigue and suspense, but it was heavily layered in sensuality and love. And the strong ties of family were hard to miss. All parts of this book made it an entertaining read. From the insidious ways that the serial killer taunted them to the uniformity of the Ferraro family, I was captivated by what I held in my hands.

I'm in love with the unique powers that the Ferraro's wield. Shadow walking sounds so cool! And then they all have characteristics that are unique to each of them. Vittorio's power is in his voice. He can use it to compel people to do as he wishes or defuse a tense situation or calm down the woman he loves. He also has a seductive undertone that leaks through no matter what he's doing. He's fierce and loyal and kind and cool under pressure, and in his heart of hearts, he's a dominant looking for a woman of his own to take care of. When Grace falls into his lap, he can't believe his good luck. Now all he's got to do is convince her to give in.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Although it's the fourth in the series, I was never lost. It can be read as a standalone, however, I will be going back to read the previous three books and hope to continue with the rest. I'm curious about the relationship between Val and Emme and don't judge me for wanting them to find their happy ending too. I'm recommending this to anyone who loves a sexy paranormal romance with an edge.

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