Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan – Review & Giveaway
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Description:
As the head of the New York City Shadow Riders and his branch of the Ferraro family, Geno bears the weight of dual responsibilities on his broad shoulders. There’s nothing more important to Geno than protecting his territory and his famiglia. So when his own parents become the latest victims in a string of vicious murders, Geno is ready to go scorched earth. He thinks he has the assassin in his sights, but he’s unprepared for the firestorm their connection ignites….
Amaranthe Aubert’s lithe dancer’s body conceals a spine of steel. Even held captive and faced with the threat of lethal interrogation, she’s not about to cave under pressure. She had nothing to do with the murders, no matter what the ruthless man in front of her believes. But before Amara knows what’s happening, Geno connects to her in the shadows, stripping her bare of all artifice. Now, she has no way to hide her true reason for being in New York–and nowhere to run from the man who’s very presence steals the very breath from her lungs….
Barb’s Review:
Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan is the 8th book in her fantastic Shadow Riders series. I have note that I loved this book, as we got to meet the New York Ferraro family, and throughout the whole book we spend so much time with all of our favorite Chicago family. So much fun and entertaining. Refresher: Shadow riders have the ability to blend themselves to the shadows wherever they are, making themselves invisible to anyone. The Ferraro family runs a legitimate business; they use their ability to help others in need to solve various problems and dispense justice. They are an extremely powerful and close-knit family that is totally loyal to one another, also protecting the people that in live in their community.
We meet Geno Ferraro, the head of the New York Shadow Rider family. He protects his territory, and his two brothers. Geno senses something is amiss, with a number or murders against shadow riders all over the US & Europe. He thinks he has found an assassin, and calls Stefano to help him interrogate this person.
We meet Amaranthe (Amara) Aubert, our heroione, who is a famous dancer, now in New York to perform in the upcoming Romeo and Juliett show. Amara, is captured by Geno, as he threatens her, thinking she is one of the murderers. But soon he realizes with Stefano’s help, that she is a shadow rider working for the Archambault family to secretly find the enemies. Amara knows that she needs to reveal her true reason for being in New York, especially with two powerful Shadow Riders leaders. Geno realizes that Amara is the one for him, and their attraction to each other is immediate, though Amara will not open up her heart, as she is determined to complete her mission. In a short period, Amara begins to fall hard for Geno, as well as his two fun brothers. The romance between Geno and Amara was fierce and inspiring, as they were fantastic individuals, with Amara also being a powerful shadow rider. Everything changes for both of them, as Geno never thought he would find the woman of his dreams, and Amara never had a family.
As noted above, all the members of the Chicago Ferarro’s played such a big part in helping fight the enemy, as well as other riders from various states. I just loved seeing all of my favorites, and the fun they had teasing each other. Amara was an amazing heroine, with her fast-moving ability within the shadows, including at one time saving Stefano’s life.
Shadow Dance was an emotional story on many levels; the danger and threats from the evil shadow riders, as well as the sizzling romance between Geno and Amara, not to mention the wonderful bond all the Ferraro’s have for each other. Geno wasn’t thrilled that Amara wanted to continue be a shadow rider, but he knew that any fears he had, resulted in her own fears for him. I will not give spoilers, as I do not want to ruin it for you; especially since this was a masterpiece.
Shadow Dance was a captivating, exciting, suspenseful, action-packed from start to finish; especially the fantastic last third of the book; where all the Ferraro family was is in danger. Their romance was sizzling and I did love Geno and Amara together. This was an awesome addition to this series, and I was very happy that we will get more Shadow Riders stories from other families.
Christine Feehan once again gives us a fabulous story, which was so very well written. This is a fantastic Paranormal series (quickly becoming my favorite series). If you have not read this series, you need to start with the first book. If you have read them all, you will love this one.
Sandy’s Review:
SHADOW DANCE is the eight instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult SHADOW RIDERS paranormal, erotic, romance series focusing on the Ferraro Crime Family. This is Shadow Rider Geno Ferraro, and ballet dancer Amaranthe “Amara’ Aubert’s story line. SHADOW DANCER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
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. People with the ability to ride the shadows are few and far between, and future generations are at risk if no mates are found with the shadow-riding gene. The Ferraro’s are also part of the Chicago Underworld-a crime family linked to both legal and criminal activity.
Told from third person perspectives SHADOW DANCER follows in the aftermath of the murder of Geno’s parents Eugene and Margo Ferraro. Someone is killing Shadow Rider couples, and Geno is about to discover the Ferraro family has been targeted. Enter ballet dancer and elite investigator Amaranthe Aubert, the woman with whom Geno will fall in love. As Amara and Geno begin investigating a series of attacks against anyone connected to the Ferraro family, our couple will discover that all is not well in the world of the Shadow Rider, past sins are about to reveal a darkness that has targeted the Ferraro family. What ensues is the building relationship between Amara and Geno, and the potential fall-out as Geno’s need to protect Amara threatens their future and their own happily ever after.
The world building continues to focus on the world of the Shadow Rider: their ability to ‘ride the shadows’, and those who are trained to serve justice when a ‘rider’ cannot be sentenced through regular law enforcement. As each member of the Ferraro finds their own happily ever after, secrets will reveal a past haunted by neglect and abuse.
The relationship between Geno and Amara is one of fated mates but Amara has been tasked with investigating the people or person’s responsible, having been lead to believe the Ferraro’s may be the key. When Geno’s ‘shadow’ entwines with our story line heroine’s, Amara knows immediately that separating from Geno could mean death to them both. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and powerful secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the previous story line couples, even if just by way of mention of total involvement. We are reintroduced to Geno’s brothers Salvatore and Lucca, and Dario Bosco, a non-rider who is aware of the Shadow Rider’s existence. The requisite evil has many faces.
SHADOW DANCE is another dramatic story of family and relationships, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, fate and love. The premise is edgy, detailed, complex and dark; the romance is spirited and provocative; the characters are impassioned, desperate, powerful and determined.
His smile was slow in climbing to his eyes, but when it reached them, it lit up the deep blue until her stomach began to perform loops and somersaults.
“You’re lethal to women, Geno.”
“Just to you, I promise.”
He cupped the back of her head gently and bent to brush his lips across hers, featherlight, before she could protest that she was wearing lipstick. As kisses went, it was fairly virtuous. It shouldn’t have made her heart pound like a drum out of control, but it did. He didn’t stop there. He shifted her, easily bringing her onto his lap, urging her to straddle his thighs.
Amaranthe knew better, but she couldn’t help herself. He mesmerized her. Large hands at her waist, he lifted her, and she settled one knee on either side of his thighs. His lips moved on hers again and again. Barely there. Whispering. Never hurrying. So light. Coaxing her with tenderness as if he knew everything she said was bravado. She was still afraid to go into his world with him.
Geno had kissed her with fire, but not like this. Not with tenderness. Not so she could taste raw emotion. He was giving her a gift—showing her how he felt. Her lips trembled beneath his. This was a terrifying moment even as she reveled in it. His chest was hard as it rose and fell against the softness of her breasts. His tongue slid along the seam of her lips, and her heart contracted.
I want you for myself, Danzatrice Ombra. You’re the only thing I’ve ever wanted for me. The only woman I’ve looked at and known I had to have, or it would be no one. If you turn me down, there will be no arranged marriage. No children with another rider. You are my partner, Amaranthe. I feel it with every breath I take. Feel it, too. Want me the way I want you.
He whispered poetic words like that into her mind, and she knew she would never be able to resist him. It didn’t matter that he was so far out of her league, and she had no idea how to be with a man like him, she knew she couldn’t walk away from him.
She saw his absolute resolve. He meant every word he said. His life had been dictated to him, his every path, his every breath and step. He was done with giving every aspect of his life to everyone else. He would choose his wife. The woman he would marry. If he couldn’t have the woman he loved, he would choose to be alone. She saw that determination in him. When Geno made up his mind, he was absolute steel.
I’m so afraid I’ll embarrass you, Geno. I have no idea what to do or say around these people. I don’t belong with them.
His mouth brushed across her lips again. Gently. Coaxing. So tender her stomach did a slow somersault and her sex clenched. She held herself very still, frozen in place, but the need for flight was paramount. Every inch of the front of her body was pressed tightly against him. His masculine scent enveloped her so that each time she inhaled, she took him deep into her lungs.
You don’t need to belong with them, Amara. You belong with me. I’m the one who needs you, not them. I don’t belong. Haven’t you noticed? I’m not the same as the rest of them and I make them uneasy. I’ve never minded, but I don’t want you to feel that way. I don’t want you uneasy around me.
How could he think that? Did she make him think it was him? She slid her palms up his chest and linked her fingers behind his neck, her mouth moving under his in answer.
It isn’t you I’m afraid of, Geno. I love being with you, and I’m comfortable with you. It’s the others in your world.
His teeth teased at her lower lip, tugging very gently while his palm curled around the nape of her neck and his thumb swept along her cheek.
Give yourself to me, la mia danzatrice ombra. I swear, you’ll always be safe with me. I’ll make you happy.
There was no resisting him. She didn’t even want to resist him. He was right.
I want you to know you will always come first. Always.
Excerpted from Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan Copyright © 2023 by Christine Feehan. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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