Grim, president of the death riders mc! Leia the woman that can see death! When they meet, she sees the death Shadow on his shoulder. Can she save him?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This was a really interesting story. I was fully invested in the premise of this one. What if you could see when someone would die. What would it mean for your relationships. Fantastic chemistry and a great ending made this a winner for me.

It was a short fun read and the fact that it intertwined paranormal and motorcycle clubs was something I enjoyed immensely. The characters were great and I loved how Leia started as a shy girl that didn't want to be seen by anyone because of her curse, and Brim from the beginning was as blunt and outgoing as can be. Wish there was another smut chapter but other than that, thoroughly enjoyed it! 5/5 stars for me ◡̈

Thanks Evernight Publishing, Beth D. Carter, and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of this book seemed fascinating to me and I love this of being able to see the death of others through a shadow that the protagonist sees on her shoulders. I love that and I think it has a lot of potential.

But I didn't get to connect so much with the story, I think it needs about 200 more pages, but that's something very personal, I like that everything is very developed. The characters, the plot, everything! And while it's not 100% focused on romance, what I was most interested in seeing was how the big case was resolved, it ended up being pretty weak and I didn't like that.

I would like to read the next one because the truth is that they are entertaining, interesting and I actually liked how the protagonist changed. Although I also would have preferred it to be more gradual.

The last part that allows us to see that there will be something else other characters (I think) with the same gift as our protagonist was a bit rushed and meh. But I liked it because it allows us to dream a bit about what is to come.

Good read! The writing flows well. It's easy to keep reading until you have finished the book! The paranormal aspect is intriguing. The story seems quick, but somehow, it is not rushed.

While the plot was somewhat predictable at times, overall, a good steamy read. The characters are relatable and there are some thriller elements that keep it flowing. Definitely good option for a quick read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to be able to review this book.

the perfect quick read! this story was unique & intriguing—a.k.a. the perfect combo. i found myself pulled into the story line right off the bat and was unable to put the book down. the only thing is that the story was so good, i wish it were longer! overall, i really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

I've been on a bit of an MC novel kick lately, and this fit the bill. Paranormal additives just made this all the more gritty and intriguing, and really helped to move the plot line forward. The characters were believable and well-developed, and each held their own role in the story.

Recommended for 18+. Shadow Touched was published in early December 2022. Thank you to Evernight Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the Advanced Reader's Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shadow Touched is the first book in the Death Riders MC Series written by Beth D. Carter.

Leia is running from something sinister. She lives her life unable to form attachments due to her special gift. You see, her gift is that she sees the shadow of death resting on people’s shoulders… And if that wasn’t bad enough, she has the ability to touch the fog and see the details of said death before it happens. So when Brim, the president of the Death Riders Motorcycle Club shows up at the bar she’s working at with the shadow of death over his shoulder, she does something she’s never done before, she touches the shadow and warns him of his upcoming death.

Brim has been riding Nomad for the past couple months after a tragedy struck his life. He never imagined the worst tragedy of his life could very well lead him to his greatest blessing. But meeting Leia in the bar that night was the blessing he never thought he’d come across. When he sees someone getting handsy with her at the bar she’s working at, he does what any red blooded man would do, he interferes. Little does he know, he just saved his own life by saving hers.

And that’s where I’m going to end this portion of my review, due to spoilers in the context.

My Thoughts:

In all honesty, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I requested an ARC of Shadow Touched on Netgalley… All I knew was the blurb caught my attention and this book sounded like something unlike anything I ever read in the MC world. Beth D. Carter happens to also be a new-to-me author. Bottom line, I’m addicted! I loved the paranormal aspect to Leia and Brim’s story. There has only been one other MC romance novel where there was a paranormal aspect included, that I’ve read. And I remember thinking to myself, I need more novels like this one! Thank you Beth D. Carter for bringing my obsession for Motorcycle Club romances to the next level!!

Now let’s discuss these characters starting with Brim first. So Brim was an anomaly to me. This man was a bit on the older side of the age scale, he lands at forty-five years old. I’ve never really been one for reading books with older characters in them. The few I have read, the characters didn’t really act the age they were supposed to be representing. Don’t get me wrong, there were also romances I loved with older characters… but it seems the few books that I didn’t like really soured me on the older character trope. HOWEVER, Brim really did a number on my heart. I loved the fact that this man acted his age and I loved the rugged older man theme in this novel!! But in all honesty, I wouldn’t classify 45 as being ancient. One thing I loved about Brim was his dedication and devotion towards his family and those he truly loves. He’d do everything to protect them, even when he’s drowning in his own grief. So bottom line, I loved this man and everything he stood for! He’s definitely a character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

And now onto my favorite Character of Shadow Touched!! Leia!! I loved everything about Leia from her special gift to her fierce protection! I also loved the fact that throughout this novel, Leia’s character takes on a slight mysterious vibe. As a reader, I wanted to dive into her head and uncover all of her secrets. She’s definitely the one that had me second guessing the way this novel was going to end. I could sit here and read three more books based strictly on this woman and her ability to save people with her gift. It’s been a while since I last felt this much intrigue from a character. I loved watching her evolve into someone with a purpose in life. She was sent to protect Brim from death, and there is no doubt about it, she accomplished that mission….. And then some!
I loved this book. However, there is a reasoning behind why I had to drop a star rating. I gave Shadow Touched a 4 star rating because, and this may sound a tad bit selfish, but I needed more! I wanted more Brim and Leia one on one time. I wanted to see these two grow and evolve with each other more. I wanted to witness more passion and more love! I felt like there were moments that felt rushed and a bit too fast paced. I could have settled for a slowdown filled with more heart and more heat.

If you’re looking for an MC novel that is a bit outside the normal trope, I highly recommend you pick up this novel and give it a try! I really did love this novel and everything that is Leia and Brim! I can’t wait to see what Beth D. Carter has up her sleeve with this series!

I enjoyed this new series by Beth Carter. It wasn't as steamy as I'd anticipated, but there was a lot of focus on developing the relationship between Leia and Brim. I loved the mix of the paranormal with the MC romance. Leia started off hesitant, hiding her abilities but as Brim and his friends accepted her she came out of her shell and stood up for herself. I thought it was an interesting take on Brim to have him dealing with some pretty significant trauma as well and it doesn't get pushed aside. Leia helps him deal with it in a healthy manner and the development of their relationship made it more believable that he would open up to her.
Overall, a really enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

The book was more than good. It contained one of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers which already made it amazing. I usually choose to avoid age differences in books but the way the two main characters where presented, made it feel right and beautiful. Having a gift like that was definitely hard for Leia but finding Brim gave her a little hope. I would have definitely loved to see more of their life in the book but the mystery of it makes the book ten times better.

Leia has been touched by death and sees when one is marked to die. Needless to say this does not lead to having normal relationships. When she saves the life of Brim, a MC president she sets her life on a new course. Gullible Brim is not, but when a beautiful woman says she sees his death he finds himself listening and getting a new lease on life. This book has your typical MC action, as Brim and Leia race to find the enemy, quite a bit of steaminess, with a touch of the paranormal, I mean Leia sees death, that keeps you wanting more. Those familiar with this author will be happy to catch up with some familiar faces, but Brim and Leia themselves are intriguing. He’s the gruff, silent MC prez and she’s the funny and sweet angel that seems to melt Brim’s alphaness. I am hoping that there’s more to come and soon. I voluntarily read and reviewed an arc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I highly recommend if you want a new twist on biker romance. 5 stars must read.

The concept behind this book is solid. I loved the idea of Leia being able to see the shadow of death and figuring how to live with her gift/curse. The execution needs work. Things were resolved too quickly and simply from the mystery to the romance. There is also a fair bit of copy editing that needs addressed.

Thank you Beth D. Carter, NetGalley, and Evernight Publishing for an advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 2
Character Development - 2
Personal Bias - 3
Final Score - 2.5

This was an extremely fast read that I felt could have been expanded for a meatier story. It also had an interesting touch of the paranormal since Leia has the Sight. I liked both MC’s – Leia had some snark that I loved and Brim was a caring alpha male mourning the loss of his son. There was a smidgen of a dangerous threat that was quickly resolved and the ending came about rather abruptly. Interesting story but I would have liked more. Loved the cover!

I know this book was short and therefore not a lot of pages to cram in a love story but it still felt so very fast paced and insta love. I'm all for a "fall fast and hard" romance but my line goes at insta love which this very much felt like. I loved the concept of the story and that the ending left it pretty open about there being others like our FMC. I would love to see this get bigger and to meet more characters and maybe meet our couple again.

Even though it was fast past a little bit too insta love for me it was still a good story and I did read it in less than 24 hours.

This tale was an interesting balance of clever snark, angst, fragile facades, edgy humor, toxic drama, and the every ratcheting sense of impending doom. The characters were uniquely obnoxious yet oddly endearing, I couldn’t help but care about them – even when they were annoying me. The storylines were gritty and tense and kept me intrigued yet on edge.