Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

4 out of 5 Stars

My Review:
"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" was better than I expected! The first two? chapters I pushed through a little, but once I got into the book I really got into it. I'm really happy there are already four other books out and the sixth due out 10/29/09. I'm reading the second now- so maybe the 29th will be around by the time I'm finished with the 5th =)

Jasmine (Jaz) Parks is an assassin for the CIA. Before joining the CIA,she led a Helsinger team. (Helsinger team is a special ops group formed to kill high profile vampires and terrorists.) Her entire team is wiped out by a group of badass vampires- Jaz being the only survivor. This is when she joins the CIA as an assassin so she can work alone.

Now, Vasil Nicu Brancoveanu (Vayl) is a three hundred year old vampire and sixty years ago, he became an assassin for the CIA. He is their best assassin and gets to choose mostly the who, what and where of every mission. He has taken Jaz as his assistant out of the blue- blindsiding Jaz. She accepts- after all, who better to learn the tricks of the trade from?

Mohammed Khad Abn-Assan (Assan) is a "plastic surgeon" of Pakistani origin. Assan holds massive charity affairs for New Start to raise money for disfigured children. However, the majority of the funds that is raised are deposited into an account for the Sons of Paradise terrorist group. Vayl and Jaz need to take him out and almost do when they're slapped in the face with a plot twist. (Remember, nothing ever goes as planned! I believe Jaz's military father taught her this.)

Our Jaz has many psychological problems throughout the book- such as blacking out and memory loss. A big thing that our heroine needs to overcome is the fact that she was the only surviving member of her Helsinger team... It may have been easier for her to move on if her best friend/brother's wife and her fiance weren't apart of those that died. Also, there is obvious sexual tension between Jaz and Vayl. Can't wait for these two to hook up- they have to eventually, right? I'll be reading the next novels to find out! Jaz struggles with her sexual attraction towards Vayl because it has only been a little under 2 years since her fiance was murdered. The more she considers lovin' up on her boss- the more guilt builds up over the death of her fiance.

This novel has many twists and turns, with lots of action. I liked this book a lot, but it is a one time read. Don't let that turn you away! I definitely think anyone who loves vampires, confused assassins, covert operations and sexual tension should read this one!!

Book Details:

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; October 8, 2007
  
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031602046X
• ISBN-13: 978-0316020466

Books in the Jaz Parks Series in order they should be read:

1. Once Bitten, Twice Shy
2. Another One Bites the Dust
3. Biting the Bullet
4. Bitten to Death
5. One More Bite
6. Bite Marks (10/29/2009)