Waiting on Wednesday (313) Reckless Road (Torpedo Ink #5) by Christine Feehan

      

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Reckless Road (Torpedo Ink #5) by Christine Feehan

Refuel your passion with a new installment of the Torpedo Ink series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

While Gedeon "Player" Lazaroff is one of Torpedo Ink motorcycle club's roughest members, he's also one of the calmest. Little rattles Player, except for the times his gift gets the better of him. When that happens, he has to just lie down in the dark and hope for the best. But on a night when he's on the verge of losing it, he meets a woman who manages to soothe his fractured mind.

Zyah is a striking, ethereal beauty who seduces him with every word and move. Their night together is one of pure, exquisite bliss. But when Player gets confused and thinks their intimate encounter was nothing more than a dream, his careless dismissal leaves her humiliated and angry.

Now, Player will have to devote his every breath to convincing Zyah to give him a second chance. Because she might be the only one who can save him from himself.... (Blurb via Goodreads)

Release Date: February 9, 2021

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (304) Leopard's Rage (Leopard People #12) by Christine Feehan

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Leopard's Rage (Leopard People #12) by Christine Feehan

The next book in the electrifying Leopard series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

Syvastian Amurov has lived his whole life with a rage inside of him, but something about her is so intoxicating, and he soon realizes she is the only one who can tame the leopard within.

Release Date: November 10, 2020

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (270) Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to meditate when you're murdering someone”

Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesday (262) Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“She probably should have been afraid of him, but he brought her such a sense of well-being that fearing him was impossible.”

Shadow Warrior by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesday (251) Toxic Game by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

"Brains, humor or looks?"
For a moment she lost her train of thought and could only stare at all his muscles with her mouth open. When he burst out laughing, she did too.
"Ordinarily, I would say your intellect. Right now, we need brains to figure out how to get out of the mess we're in. I don't much care for turning to mush as a way to die. On the other hand, since we're probably going to suffer endlessly while we're dying, I'd say a sense of humor, because who wants a whiny partner when you're suffering? Then you take your shirt off like that, so the choices are ridiculously tough."
His white teeth flashed at her again with his perfect smile.
"Do women just walk up to you and say they want to have your baby?"
"Why? Are you considering it?"
She nodded. "Absolutely I am. I think you have a duty to the human race to procreast."
"Take your clothes off."

Toxic Game by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesday (247) Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“These are men like us with nowhere to go. They need what we have to survive. A brotherhood. A family. They need a leader. They need Torpedo Ink.”    

Vengeance Road by Christine Feehan

Waiting on Wednesday (259) Dark Illusion (Dark #29) by Christine Feehan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Dark Illusion (Dark #29) by Christine Feehan

A mage and a warrior must see beyond their facades and embrace the bond that links their souls in this powerful Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

At any other time, Julija Brennan would find solace in the quiet of the Sierra Mountains, but now the mage is in the race of her life. Having broken free from her controlling family, Julija's attempts to warn the Carpathians of the coming threat has failed and put a target on her back—and those who hunt her are close behind...

After centuries locked away in a monastery in the Carpathian Mountains, Isai Florea can't believe he's finally found his lifemate—the missing half of his soul. The second he sees Julija his world blazes with color. But despite their explosive connection Julija rebels against what she sees as Isai's intent to control her and rejects the bond that would prevent him from becoming a monster.

As their unfulfilled bond continues to call to them both, Julija and Isai aim to complete the task that brought them together. They are used to facing danger alone, but now the mage and the ancient warrior must learn how to rely on each other in order to stop a plot that threatens all Carpathians... (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: September 3, 2019

What are you waiting on?

Waiting on Wednesday (257) Toxic Game (GhostWalkers #15) by Christine Feehan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Toxic Game (GhostWalkers #15) by Christine Feehan

On a rescue mission in the heart of the Indonesian jungle, Dr. Draden Freeman and his GhostWalker team need to extract the wounded as quickly as possible—or risk spreading a deadly virus unleashed by a terrorist cell. When Draden gets infected, he forces his team to leave him behind. He won’t risk exposing anyone else. He intends to find the ones responsible and go out in a blaze of glory....

Shylah Cosmos’s mission is to track the virus and remain unseen. Her enhanced senses tell her that the gorgeous man eradicating the terrorists one by one is a GhostWalker—and his lethal precision takes her breath away. When he’s hit by a lucky shot, she can’t stop herself from stepping in, not knowing that by saving his life she’s exposed herself to the virus.

There’s no telling how much time Draden and Shylah have left. Racing to find a cure, they quickly realize that they’ve found their perfect partner just in time to lose everything. But even as the virus threatens to consume their bodies, they’ve never felt more alive. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: March 5, 2019

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (240) Shadow Keeper by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“Has the world gone insane? This kind of thing didn’t happen in Wyoming. The horses or cattle never got jealous or murderous.” She slid into the backseat of the car, and he followed. “Well, occasionally, one did, but it was easy enough to stop them. We ate the steer that gave us trouble and worked with the horse until it behaved.”
Giovanni laughed. “Well, I don’t think Aaron or the hit man would like it if we ate them.”  

Shadow Keeper by Christine Feehan

{eARC Review} Bound Together (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart #6) by Christine Feehan

Bound Together (Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart #6) by Christine Feehan

For five years, Viktor Prakenskii has put his life on hold in order to take down the world’s most feared motorcycle club from the inside. But carrying out the insane violence and seeing the club’s exploitation of the innocent has brought his traumatic past roaring back. And there’s only one cure: to see the wife he left behind...

Blythe Daniels thought she’d never see Viktor again after he murdered her stepfather and left without a word. She rebuilt her life without him, becoming a personal trainer and physical therapist...becoming strong enough for others to lean on. But when Viktor comes back to Sea Haven, he’ll make Blythe question everything she thought she knew about good and evil—and the dark desires of the heart... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Published 

March 21st 2017 by Jove

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review}

Bound Together wraps up the Sisters of the Heart series as well as tying up some loose ends from the Sea Haven series. I'm sad to leave these series behind but also excited to be introduced to the new series, Torpedo Ink, and the characters populating that world.

I've read this book twice now but I'm still struggling to write a review and I'm not sure why. I'm a huge Christine Feehan fan. Over the last two or so years I've read/listened to almost every Christine Feehan book I could get my hands on. I've really enjoyed the Sisters of the Heart series, I'm currently re-listening to Earth Bound, to show how much I love it.

While all the Sisters of the Heart series have their dark moments - a lot of bad things have happened to both the heroes and the heroines - Bound Together is definitely the darkest. Blythe has been the 'mother' of the Sisters, the caretaker and level headed one, and finally we get to see the past that made her into the woman she is. I liked Blythe even more after learning of her past, the heartache and heartbreak, her huge heart, her capacity to forgive. Viktor was hard to like but easy to understand once you see everything he's endured. He sacrificed so much to protect both the family he was born into and the family he created.

I was engaged in the story from the beginning, cried along with the characters, celebrated with them, shook my head when Viktor did something stupid (he's a serious alpha male who is not used to being questioned or challenged and Blythe is no pushover), and smiled when they finally got their happily ever after.There's lots of action and drama, we get to see all the sisters and all the brothers together and using their various gifts to battle their enemy.

{eARC Review} Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan

Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan cuts straight to the heart of a man who stalks the shadows in an intoxicating Leopard novel.

Though born into a leopard’s lair in the bayou, Joshua Tregre’s fighting skills were honed in the rainforests of Borneo. Sleek and deadly, he’s the perfect man to take over a crime syndicate back home in Louisiana’s lush swamplands. His razor sharp instincts give him an edge in the violent underworld he knows so well, but even the watchful leopard inside him isn’t prepared for the danger that comes from the girl next door…

She is a woman who can create beauty out of thin air—and out of the ruins of her own life. The games that dangerous men play have taken their toll on her, but she is bent, not broken. And it’s her fierce spirit that’s like a lure to Joshua, a temptation he can’t resist—even if it means bringing his true nature into the light… (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details}eARC, 304 pages. Published October 24th 2017 by Piatkus. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I liked it

{Review}

I'm a huge Christine Feehan fan, I'm working my way through all of her series. I was thrilled to see a new addition to her Leopard People series and dived in. Right away things are hot and intense between Joshua (who we've seen through the previous books in the series) and Sonia. Their leopards are determined to be together but Sonia is NOT. Sonia has a sad backstory, has been hurt by men, and wants nothing to do with him so Joshua has a had road ahead.

Sonia is very independent. She's got a huge heart, is there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. I liked that she wasn't a shrinking violet, she was willing to jump in and defend the people she loved without a second thought. Joshua is a typical Christine Feehan hero. He's commanding and strong willed and determined to get his way. He's had a hard childhood too and it made him strong and protective and he knows what he's found in Sonia.

Super steamy, strong willed characters and an exciting storyline, Leopard's Blood is another winner from Christine Feehan.

{eARC Review} Judgment Road (Torpedo Ink #1) by Christine Feehan

Judgment Road (Torpedo Ink #1) by Christine Feehan

An outlaw motorcycle club sets up shop next door to Sea Haven in the dangerously sexy new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
As the enforcer of the Torpedo Ink motorcycle club, Reaper lives for riding and fighting. He's a stone-cold killer who turns his wrath on those who deserve it. Feelings are a weakness he can't afford--until a gorgeous bartender gets under his skin...

Near Sea Haven, the small town of Caspar has given Anya Rafferty a new lease on life. And she's desperate to hold on to her job at the biker bar, even if the scariest member of the club seems to have it out for her. But Reaper's imposing presence and smoldering looks just ratchet up the heat.

Anya's touch is everything Reaper doesn't want--and it brands him to the bone. But when her secrets catch up to her, Reaper will have to choose between Anya and his club--his heart and his soul. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, 304 pages. Expected publication: January 23rd 2018 by Piatkus

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

I was very excited to see a new series, Torpedo Ink, from one of my favorite authors, Christine Feehan. The cast of the Torpedo Ink series was first introduced in Bound Together, the last book in the Sea Haven/Sisters of the Heart series, and are Viktor's (not biologically related) brothers and sisters. In Judgement Road we get to see a lot more of the Torpedo Ink crew - and a lot more of their horrible upbringing.

I was engaged from the beginning, seeing the mysterious Reaper - overprotective, quiet, dangerous - taking care of his family, trying desperately to ignore the mysterious new bartender, Anya. Growing up in the school he did, with the abuse and deprivation, without seeing anything normal Reaper has no idea what to do with his feelings for Anya. He doesn't even know he likes her. He makes a lot of mistakes but Anya couldn't find a fiercer champion, or one more determined to love her and make her happy.

Anya hasn't had an easy upbringing either, she and her mother bounced from shelter to shelter, but she was determined to make a life for herself, to make a home and build a family. She was working on her great life plan but her life has taken a dramatic left turn, sending her fleeing, and she has found safety at Torpedo Ink's bar. Reaper isn't the guy she imagined herself falling for but she can't stop thinking about him, and when they get close, she can't resist him.

There are quite a few tense moments in the story, both with his relationship with Anya (he's thisclose to blowing it with her multiple times), and with Torpedo Ink's fight against another club that is targeting women.

I like that this book shows you that people are more than their upbringing, that you can come from the worst of circumstances and make your life what you want it to be. There are a lot of members of Torpedo Ink so I'm looking forward to many, many years of books featuring these strong, scarred, men and women. 

--Trigger warning--

Teaser Tuesday (190) Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“He kissed her with everything he was. Man. Beast. Killer. Biker. Hers. Every cell in his body belonged to her.”

Judgment Road by Christine Feehan

{eARC Review} Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan is “one of the best storytellers around” (RT Book Reviews). Find out why as two lovers surrounded by greed and corruption discover there’s no telling whom you can trust—or who will come out on top...

When members of a United Nations joint security force are taken hostage by radical terrorists in Indonesia, Captain Ezekiel Fortunes is called to lead the rescue team. Part of a classified government experiment, Zeke is a supersoldier with enhanced abilities. He can see better and run faster than the enemy, disappear when necessary and hunt along any terrain. There are those in the world willing to do anything for power like that...

A formidable spy genetically engineered to hide in plain sight, Bellisia rarely meets a man who doesn’t want to control her or kill her. But Zeke is different. His gaze, his touch—they awaken feelings inside her that she never thought possible. He’s the kind of man she could settle down with—if she can keep him alive... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 464 pages. Published January 24th 2017 by Berkley. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I have to make a confession: I'm reading the GhostWalkers out of order. I do not read books out of order but I saw a sample at the end of Shadow Reaper (her Shadow series - go read it too) and was completely sucked into the story and couldn't help but skip ahead to Power Game.

The book puts us right into the action with Bellisia. She's on a job and with that we see the type of person she is, her skills, the life she's trying to escape and what she'll do to accomplish that.

As I had skipped a few books there was a bit of a learning curve, getting to know Zeke's team, but things made sense even without that background. Zeke is the typical Feehan alpha male, a little over the top but everything he does is to protect those he cares about. Bellisia is one of Feehan's stronger female leads and one of my favorites. She's been trained and used as an asset, and she's good at her job, we see that right off the bat. She's strong, courageous and more than once she saves the day.

I like how the story moved forward, Violet pops up in this one, but the Ghostwalker's eternal foe is still out there, leaving me, as always, anxious for the next installment.

Waiting on Wednesday (194) Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Leopard's Blood (Leopard People #10) by Christine Feehan 

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan cuts straight to the heart of a man who stalks the shadows in an intoxicating Leopard novel.

Though born into a leopard’s lair in the bayou, Joshua Tregre’s fighting skills were honed in the rainforests of Borneo. Sleek and deadly, he’s the perfect man to take over a crime syndicate back home in Louisiana’s lush swamplands. His razor sharp instincts give him an edge in the violent underworld he knows so well, but even the watchful leopard inside him isn’t prepared for the danger that comes from the girl next door…

She is a woman who can create beauty out of thin air—and out of the ruins of her own life. The games that dangerous men play have taken their toll on her, but she is bent, not broken. And it’s her fierce spirit that’s like a lure to Joshua, a temptation he can’t resist—even if it means bringing his true nature into the light… (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: October 24, 2017

What are you waiting on?

{eARC Review} Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2) by Christine Feehan

Shadow Reaper (Shadow #2) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan continues her sexy new series, as the Ferraros—a Chicago crime family—use their power as shadow riders to protect their empire and the ones they love…

Billionaire playboy Ricco Ferraro knows no other life. Being a shadow rider is in his blood - but so is a haunting desperation stemming from the secrets of his dark past. His recklessness puts not only his life at risk, but also the future of his entire family. To save them all, he must find a woman who can meet his every desire with a heat all her own...

Just when Ricco has given up hope, he meets her - a mysterious woman whose shadow connects with his. She's someone looking for a safe haven from the danger that has stalked her over the last several months. In Ricco's embrace, she finds one. But the darkness in which they so often find sanctuary can also consume them... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 480 pages. Expected publication: May 30th 2017 by Jove. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Review} 

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.

{eARC Review} Leopard's Fury (Leopard People #9) by Christine Feehan

Leopard's Fury (Leopard People #9)by Christine Feehan

With her own bakery in San Antonio, Evangeline Tregre made a new life far from the brutal lair of shifters she was born into. Though she is all too aware of her leopard-shifter blood, she never felt the sensation of a wild animal stirring inside her. Not until Alonzo Massi walked into her bakery. The powerful shifter is as irresistible as he is terrifying, but his icy demeanor tells her to keep her distance.

Alonzo knows better than to let himself get involved with someone like Evangeline. She doesn’t deserve the type of danger that follows him, or the threat of his Amur leopard. But even with his lean muscle and iron will, Alonzo isn’t strong enough to stay away from the one woman who can make him feel at peace. And when their secret lives draw a mortal threat, Alonzo unleashes the feral passion he keeps pent up inside himself. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it

{Details} 352 pages. Published November 8th 2016 by Jove. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Review} 

The latest addition to the Leopard People series is classic Christine Feehan: alpha males, strong women, violence, passion, family, drama and a happily ever after.

Evangeline's childhood was terrible. She was neglected, tortured, terrified, but she survived. She's put herself back together, she's created a life she loves, doing something she loves. And then a man walks through her door and turns her life upside down. She's may be young and innocent but she's also fierce, determined, and protective.

Alonzo can't stay away from Evangeline. His leopard is difficult - scary difficult - but around sweet, innocent Evangeline he calms. I felt for Alonzo. His childhood was horrific, he's seen and done things that would break the strongest of people, but he survived. He's still got his demons, lives a dangerous life, and doesn't think he deserves a woman much less one like Evangeline and it's a battle to get him to give in.

I liked Alonzo and Evangeline. He goes all alpha male but she's not afraid to stand up to him, he cares and protects her like no one in her life ever had before. I also liked that Evangeline has always known about her leopard, that it was been her companion, her protector, even if they haven't always been in agreement. I loved Alonzo's relationship with his brother and cousins and how they brought Evangeline into the fold, teasing and bantering with her.

As always, when I reach the end of one of Christine Feehan's novels I'm eager for another.

Dark Carousel (Dark #30) by Christine Feehan 

In the new Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, a woman falls prey to the seductive allure of the past—and a vampire warrior’s intoxicating embrace...

The moment Charlotte Vintage walks into his club, Tariq Asenguard’s blood is set on fire. The ancient Carpathian had given up hope of finding his lifemate, but now he will do anything to make Charlotte his own. What Tariq doesn’t know is that Charlotte is using herself and her best friend as bait—to try to draw out the bloodthirsty killers who have already murdered Charlotte’s brother and mentor.

Charlotte is familiar with Tariq. Not only is he one of the richest and most eligible bachelors in the city, but he’s also a renowned collector of old carousel horses, which Charlotte restores. Their shared passion opens Charlotte up to trusting him with her life and with the desire she can no longer control. But it also makes her vulnerable to a centuries-old curse that will unite her and Tariq in a war against the enemies of humans and Carpathians alike... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 432 pages. Published August 2nd 2016 by Berkley. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 3/5 - I liked it!

{Review}

I'm a big fan of Christine Feehan - I'm working my way through all her series - and while I liked her latest installment in the Dark series, I didn't love it.

What I liked:

Charlotte. She's strong, loyal, determined, courageous. She's got a huge heart, she welcomes all these children into her heart, and will do anything for them.

Tariq. I love the way he loves the children he's taken into his care, how he looks out for the people under his protection, his determination to defeat the vampires.

The friendship between Charlotte and Genevieve, the children, seeing the other Carpathian hunters, and the action of the Carpathians versus the vampires.

What I didn't like:

Right from the beginning I felt like I had missed something, that there were a lot of characters and situations that I should have already known about.

The instalove to instasex. While instalove is a big component of the Carpathian mythology usually there is more development in their relationship before they end up in bed together.

All in all, I enjoyed Dark Carousel and was really intrigued with the secondary characters and hope to see their own stories play out in future installments.

{eARC Review} Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

The #1 New York Times bestselling “queen of paranormal romance”* is back with a sexy new series starring a Chicago crime family that hides a dark, mystical secret...

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 480 pages. Expected publication: June 28th 2016 by Jove. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

Over the last year I've been devouring Christine Feehan's novels. A prolific author, she creates strong alpha males - sometimes too alpha - equally strong women, unbreakable bonds of family both of blood and the family you choose, dramatic storylines and danger and suspense. The first installment in Shadow, her newest series, Shadow Rider, is everything I've come to expect from Feehan.

I loved the way Stefano looked out for his family and friends, for everyone he considers under his protection. He's a dictator but there is a reason for it. He grew up in harsh circumstances, has endured loss, has the weight of many lives on his shoulders and his past has molded him into the man that can bear the weight.

Francesca has been through hell. She's lost everything, been betrayed, she's hungry, she's just dollars away from being back on the street, but she's also the kind of person who would give the coat off of her back to a homeless woman because at least she has a roof over her head. She's generous, kind, stubborn and willing to stand up for herself even when facing off with the head of the Ferraro family.

I liked Stefano and Francesca together, the way they balanced each other, filled in empty spots, and their very awe at finding each other when neither expected something so wonderful. Their journey isn't an easy one, Stefano is overbearing and dictatorial, Francesca is afraid of losing another person she loves and feels like there is too big a gap between their financial circumstances.

This installment has a lot of exposition and setting the stage for the rest of the series - explaining the how and whys of the Ferraro family and their abilities as well as introducing tons of new characters but there's room for action and suspense. I'm already a fan of the Shadow series, I can't wait to see which Ferraro sibling is featured next.

Teaser Tuesday (123) Conspiracy Game by Christine Feehan

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“And of course I'm a chauvinist, but it isn't my fault."
"It isn't?"
"No, Jack was born first and I share his genes. I can't help it if he infected me inside the womb."
Briony burst out laughing. "I should have known that would be your excuse.”

Conspiracy Game by Christine Feehan