Shadow Flight

*4.5 stars*

Strength, love and family…

I didn’t know whether to lock the doors and dive right in or savor Nicoletta and Taviano’s story one chapter bite at a time. Of course, you know which way I went!

Haunted by shame and a feeling of powerlessness, Nicoletta, after a rocky start with her new family, was devoted to the future. To getting stronger, mentally and physically, able take care of herself and those she loved. And that included Taviano… From the moment they met, he knew she was his one. Their road was rocky but now was their time and it was all I’d hoped it could be. Fighting old demons didn’t stop them from finally acting on their feelings. Instead it gave them an opportunity to show their love and support for each other and their family because family was important to them both.

I love this author’s stories of devotion, family and good vs evil. They don’t gloss over the hardships or the sometimes gritty bumps in the road. Instead, they embrace them as part of life and allow the characters to live them, the chance to overcome and become more… So true of Nicoletta, who instead of being a victim, fought for her strength and her ability to stand with Taviano as an equal. Their story was steamy and suspenseful, full of heart-touching (and funny!) camaraderie and family moments. Everyone has a moment to shine as brothers, sisters, cousins, spouses all want a part of the drama played out. If I needed a scorecard to keep straight newly introduced relatives, well, I hope that means even more happily ever after’s to come. Another great read!

*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
**Thank you to NetGalley

In this installment of the Shadow Riders series, we’re introduced to Nicoletta Gomez and Taviano Ferraro’s romance. We were introduced to the two in book one when Taviano and others rescued Nicoletta from her uncles and the possibility of being sold into a sex trafficking ring. Now she’s older, and more comfortable in her skin. She’s had a couple of years of being part of the “family”, she’s had self defense training and gotten her partying out of her system. Now though, a weekend away with friends, with Taviano as bodyguard, has placed her back into a precarious position. The same man she was rescued from has found her and wants her back. But, there’s something different about this book.
Yes, she’s an abuse victim that’s being protected by the mafia. But she’s now stronger and wiser, able to protect herself and no longer a helpless victim. There’s something more though. The Ferraro’s aren’t your typical mafia family, they have a secret. They can travel through shadows to dispel their brand of justice. That’s how they rescued Nicoletta in book 1. After they were alerted to her case, they used the shadows to travel to her, kill her abusers, and get her to safety. Nicoletta doesn’t really remember this, until after the man who wants her sends others to get her and bring her back. Taviano and Nicoletta use the shadows to not only get away, but to protect her friends and deal with the men out to get her.
This book focuses on their relationship and the fact that Nicoletta is also a “shadow rider”. Something no one in the family knew. She and Taviano were destined to be together and the story explains not only how they travel, but also what happens if they don’t stay together after their shadows meld.
It’s an interesting story, lots of action, paranormal facets, and of course romance. This book just wasn’t for me though. With great writing and characters, I have to give it 4 stars, but this just wasn’t something that stuck with me and I had trouble finishing the book. I had to keep putting it down and walking away. Something that’s pretty unusual for me.
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance with lots of peril, check out the Shadow Rider series.
*I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

SHADOW FLIGHT is the fifth instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult. SHADOW RIDERS erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on the Ferraro family. This is Taviano Ferraro and Nicoletta Gomez’ story line. SHADOW FLIGHT 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. 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.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers. Nicoletta was first introduced to the readers in book one Shadow Rider.

Told from several third person perspectives including Tatiana and Nicoletta, and Ricco and Mariko (Shadow Reaper #2) SHADOW FLIGHT focuses on the building relationship between soon to be twenty-one year old Nicoletta Gomez and Taviano Ferraro. Years earlier, following the death of her parents, Nicoletta found herself in the custody of her step-uncles, who ritually raped and abused our heroine. At the age of eighteen, Nicoletta was rescued by the Ferraro family, and placed in the hands of a loving foster family, where she began to act out against the people in charge. Fast forward to present day wherein, a now almost twenty-one year old Nicoletta, once again, finds herself struggling to survive when her past, in the guise of Benito Valdez, the leader of the gang who call themselves the Demons, specializing in human sexual trafficking, sets a plan into motion to reclaim our heroine, as his personal $ex toy. What ensues is the quick building relationship and romance between Nicoletta and Taviano, and the potential fall-out as the Demons come searching for Nicoletta Gomez, and Taviano’s actions and claiming of Nicoletta are called into question by the family leadership.

Taviano Ferrera has known Nicoletta Gomez to be his mate from the moment of her rescue by the Ferraro family, three years earlier. With their shadows entwined, and continually tightening with each encounter, Taviano knew it was only a matter of time before he claimed Nicoletta as his own but trying to outrun Benito’s men found Taviano pulling Nicoletta into the shadow world, a world she knew very little about, but had begun to experience a few times on her own. Using the shadows to travel causes immense pain and anguish for those not ready and untrained in the world, and for this reason, Taviano is called to task for exposing Nicoletta to potential harm, and revealing the truth about the world in which they lived.

Meanwhile, matriarch Eloisa Ferraro continues to cause problems for the Ferraro family with her ongoing hatred of her sons’ mates. The vitriol and anger directed at the females, who will produce the much needed heirs to the world of the shadows, is called into question as Eloisa struggles with her sons’ choices, and the loss of her power as the Queen of the Chicago Underworld. Secrets will be revealed that will affect everyone involved.

The relationship between Taviano and Nicoletta began as a rescue but Taviano quickly discovered that Nicoletta was a shadow rider when their shadows entwined. Refusing to claim his underage mate, Taviano watched from the sidelines as Nicoletta acted out, all the while, continuing to protect the woman with whom he would fall in love. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

If you are a fan of Christine Feehan, you will notice the many similarities between Taviano and Nicoletta, and Dimitri and Skylar (Dark/Carpathian). Both females had been raped and abused; the heroes bide their time before claiming their under-aged mates; and their treatment of their mate is gentle and loving.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of the Ferraro siblings, their mates, their mother Eloisa Ferraro, numerous cousins from all over the world, as well as Nicoletta’s foster parents Lucia and Amo. The shear number of members of the Demons is overwhelming- naming every member about to face his death was unnecessary and time consuming.

I did have a couple of other issues including the authors need to reveal Taviano’s continuing relationship with other women knowing Nicoletta was his mate-apparently just knowing someone is your mate does not guarantee monogamy or faithfulness in the world of the Shadow Riders ;and Ricco and Mariko’s need to perform Shibari sexual rope play, on the roof of a diner, immediately before and after killing several members of the Demos gang-although the author explains the overwhelming sexual need and excitement over the kill, but on the roof of a dirty diner, in the middle of a killing field, is questionable on so many levels but I suspect added to the story for the titillation factor 😉

SHADOW FLIGHT is a story of family and blood, obsession and determination; retribution, murder and revenge. The slow building premise will captivate your attention; the characters are numerous, colorful and energetic; the romance is seductive and impassioned. If you are a fan of Christine Feehan, sit back and enjoy the world of the Shadow Rider.