Claimed by Shade: MC Nightshade Riders Book One

by Holleigh Rae

She thought she was human—until a shadow-wielding Alpha claimed her.
Now the monsters hunting her don’t realize…
she’s the most dangerous one of all.



🖤 Tropes

Fated mates / destined bondAlpha male / possessive hero“Touch her and die” energyMotorcycle club (MC) / found familyHidden powers / awakening heroineShadow magic / dark abilitiesInstalink / soul bond pullProtective, dominant heroStrong heroine coming into powerSupernatural war (shifters vs vampires)He falls first / she resists (light)Forced proximityRide-or-die loyalty

⚠️ Content & Trigger Warnings

This is a dark paranormal romance and contains mature themes that may not be suitable for all readers.

Violence and graphic fight scenesBlood, gore, and deathVampire attacks and predatory behaviorPossessive/controlling romantic dynamicsAbduction/forced relocation (by love interest)Power imbalance (alpha/pack hierarchy)Emotional distress and sensory overwhelmMentions of trauma and fear responsesStrong languageExplicit sexual content

363 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2026

About the author

Holleigh Rae is a Southern small-town romance author based in Mississippi, known for stories rich in heart, strength, and the unmistakable warmth of country living. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she finds endless inspiration in her rural upbringing and the tight-knit communities that helped shape who she is today.

Her passion for storytelling took root in middle school, when she began crafting characters and building imaginary worlds that would later evolve into full-length novels. Before stepping into the role of full-time caregiver for a disabled family member, Holleigh dedicated 13 years to teaching mathematics in Southern Mississippi. During that time, she nurtured not only her students’ understanding of numbers but also their love of reading, often sharing books from her personal collection.

Now, she pours her lifelong love of literature into romance novels that honor love, family bonds, resilience, and the simple beauty of small-town life. Her heartfelt stories with a distinct Southern spirit are available on Kindle for readers who crave emotionally rich, character-driven romance.

Reviews

[Jaime Cantrell]

Claimed by Shade by Holleigh Rae was such an addictive mix of paranormal romance, motorcycle club vibes, fated mates chaos, and protective alpha energy that I honestly flew through it. This book fully embraces the darker side of paranormal romance with shadow magic, supernatural war, possessive dynamics, and a heroine discovering she’s far more powerful than anyone realizes and I was completely hooked by the atmosphere of it all.

Shade absolutely delivers on the intense “touch her and die” energy. He has that dangerous, hyper-protective alpha presence that dominates every scene he’s in, but underneath all the control and intimidation there’s this constant undercurrent of obsession when it comes to her. The soul-bond/fated mate connection between them adds this immediate emotional and physical intensity that keeps the tension high from the very beginning. Even when she resists him, you can feel how inevitable their connection is.

And honestly, I really enjoyed that the heroine doesn’t instantly fold into the situation despite everything happening around her. She’s overwhelmed, confused, emotionally overloaded, and thrown into a world she never even knew existed, but there’s still this strength underneath all of it that slowly starts surfacing as her powers awaken. Watching her shift from vulnerable and uncertain into someone potentially more dangerous than the monsters hunting her was one of my favorite parts of the story.

The paranormal MC atmosphere worked really well for me too. The Nightshade Riders have that found-family loyalty mixed with danger, violence, and ride-or-die devotion that makes MC romance so addictive, but layering supernatural politics and shadow powers over it gives the story an even darker edge. Between the vampires, shifters, alpha hierarchy, magic, and looming conflict, there’s always this feeling that everything could explode at any moment.

The chemistry between Shade and the heroine is intense right from the start. This definitely leans into possessive alpha dynamics, forced proximity, emotional overwhelm, and that consuming paranormal mate-bond pull. The romance feels primal, emotional, and chaotic in the way paranormal romance fans will probably love, especially if you enjoy heroes who fall hard and become completely feral about protecting their person.

I also appreciated that the story doesn’t shy away from the darker emotional elements that come with suddenly losing your sense of reality and autonomy. There’s fear, confusion, sensory overload, and emotional conflict woven throughout the romance, which gives the story more emotional weight underneath all the action and spice.

Overall, this felt like a fast-paced, emotionally charged start to a paranormal MC series filled with shadow magic, dangerous loyalty, possessive protectiveness, supernatural conflict, and a heroine stepping into her power while the world around her burns.

As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading! ✨📚

[Maelle C]

I have pretty mixed feelings about this book.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the story. The combination of motorcycle club romance and paranormal fantasy worked surprisingly well, creating a world that felt both dangerous and addictive. Between the action, the angst, the supernatural conflict, and the emotional intensity, there was always something happening to keep me turning the pages.

One of the book's greatest strengths is definitely its atmosphere. The Nightshade Riders have that strong found-family dynamic that makes MC romances so compelling, while the paranormal elements add an extra layer of mystery and danger. I also enjoyed the heroine's journey as she slowly discovers that the world—and her place within it—is far more complicated than she ever imagined.

However, my biggest issue with the book was the lack of information regarding the world itself. When I read fantasy, I like to fully understand the rules, the lore, and the larger picture. Here, I often felt like I was missing pieces of the puzzle. Even after finishing the book, I still found myself questioning certain aspects of the worldbuilding. Some important concepts are introduced, but I never felt like they were explored deeply enough for me to fully grasp their significance.

The same applies to some of the larger plot elements. There are hints of bigger mysteries and prophecies that clearly play an important role, but I would have loved more details and context. At times, it felt as though the story assumed the reader already understood things that I was still trying to figure out.

I also think a few key moments would have had a much stronger emotional impact if they had happened on-page rather than being summarized afterward. Some events felt important enough that I wanted to experience them alongside the characters instead of hearing about them later.

That said, despite these frustrations, I was still thoroughly entertained. The pacing is fast, the romance is intense, the emotional stakes are high, and the blend of MC and paranormal romance is incredibly engaging. This was a strong start to the series, and I'm definitely curious to see where the story goes next.

[Charlene's Bookish Archives]

Claimed by Shade completely pulled me in! 🖤

I went into this one expecting a dark paranormal romance, but I wasn’t prepared for just how addictive it would be. The combination of shifters, vampires, shadow magic, fated mates, hidden powers, and an awakening heroine gave me everything I wanted and then some.

I really enjoyed watching the heroine discover that she is so much more than she ever believed herself to be. Her journey from thinking she’s human to uncovering what she’s capable of was one of my favourite parts. She’s strong, but she’s also learning, adapting, and figuring out where she fits in a world that suddenly becomes far more dangerous than she imagined.

And then there’s Shade. 👀 The protective, possessive Alpha energy was definitely there, and his touch her and die attitude had me hooked. The bond between them brings that delicious push-and-pull dynamic, especially with her resisting while he seems to fall hard.

I also loved the MC/found family element. It added another layer to the story and made the supernatural world feel bigger than just the romance. Add in the vampire threat and the brewing war, and there was plenty of danger and action to keep things moving.

There are some seriously dark moments, and the content warnings are definitely worth checking before diving in, but if you enjoy dark paranormal romance with powerful characters, supernatural battles, fated bonds, hidden abilities, and a heroine discovering exactly what she’s capable of, this is one to add to your TBR.

Claimed by Shade gave me danger, mystery, supernatural chaos, and a heroine who is only just beginning to realise how powerful she really is. And honestly? I’m very ready to see what comes next. 🖤

[Liz Bumpous]

I loved this book so much and cannot wait to read book 2. I have already recommended it to a friend. I love what a strong FMC Vie became and am so excited to see her continue to grow in her power. I will say that I was a little unsure of her at the beginning of the book, but I really love her development. Vie and Shade are great together. It is awesome that he wants to protect her, but also wants her to stand on her own two feet and that he supports her growth.

I thought that Vie's powers gave a really fun twist to the paranormal genre and was excited that I guessed correctly what animal Vie shifted into. I cannot wait to learn more about this world that Holleigh is building.

The other members of the pack are great, and I cannot wait to get to learn more about all of them. I'm so excited for Nyx's book.

[Daniel Still]

Werewolves v. vampires gets turned on its ear! In this one, the shape-shifters can morph into all sorts of individual animals, but while in human form, they run a motorcycle gang deep in the Mississippi swamps.
I found the motorcycle gang elements to be fantastic and realistic. It reminded me of Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell’s Angels. I loved the fantasy elements too because they made sense! It was not just using powers every time there was trouble and, whammo, problem solved. It was restrained and much more nuanced.
I loved the character development. It felt very natural and each character had their own voice. Strong lead female character and lots of found family elements.
Overall, it was well written and a very enjoyable escape.

[Lisa]

Vee works in a cafe at night alone she’s always feared the shadows felling like there alive and they follow her she just doesn’t know why
One night at work she hear a lot of motorbikes park outside and then he walks in in telling her she has to go with him for her own safety and she can feel his telling her the truth
Shade walks into the cafe and as soon as he he sees her he knows he had to rescue her he can feel she’s the umbra he feels her power but also knows she’s his mate
I really enjoyed this book can’t wait for book 2

[Lila Blackwood]

I couldn’t put it down!

11% in and I was hooked! I loved the fast pace of this story! The FMC (Vee) was an absolute badass and I was here for it! The MMC (Shade) was the perfect blend of possessive alpha and partner. When he finally recognized Vee’s power and just let her use it, he stood by her side and supported her every step of the way. I would have loved to see some more spicy scenes but that’s just me. Nothing worth taking any stars away. I can’t wait for the next nightshade book!

[Jordan Fiest]

Claimed By Shade is book one of the MC Nightshade Riders Series.

There was a lot to this story and I enjoyed delving into this mystical world. It is a mix between a lot of genres and I was here for all of it. There isn't a moment where you won't be invested in the story as there was always something going on. I loved how once Shade met Vee, he knew he was not going to let anything come between them or hurt her. He was protective, loving and caring towards her.

[Ann L]

This is a new author for me and also the first book in a series.

Vee is a diner waitress and Callan (Shade) the Alpha of the Nightshade Riders MC, on a ride back with his pack he rescues her from the Red Court and finds she’s not only his mate but also an Umbra. A very powerful being, now the Leeches have something they want and a Shade protects what’s his and together they will win.

Fantastic from the start.

[Kurtins R]

Well this was a story

Intense, gritty. A new PNR series that is definitly going to be hard to step away from. Shade and Vee the Kibg and Queen of Nightshade.
The Alpha and Umbra both embracing the shadows and gunning for the Red King.
Great story. CAN'T wait for book 2.