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Phoenix Fire aka Phoenix Fury #2
Once Bitten, Twice Burned
Ryder Duncan keeps his secrets. With a twisted scientist starving him in a 10 X 12 cell, it's not easy to conceal the abilities that set him apart from other vampires, or his plans for escape. But survival - and revenge - are worth waiting for. Until the so-called doctor tempts his appetites with something special: a woman, with a soft Southern accent and a scent like flowers. Sabine.
Sabine Acadia didn't volunteer to be dinner. She was kidnapped and tossed into the cage of a monster. A monster with fierce green eyes, a body that speaks of ruthless power--but a touch gentle as a caress. Ryder knows things about her, secrets Sabine needs to learn fast. Because while they might soon escape this prison, she's fighting an urge to set all her desires free...
Sabine Acadia didn't volunteer to be dinner. She was kidnapped and tossed into the cage of a monster. A monster with fierce green eyes, a body that speaks of ruthless power--but a touch gentle as a caress. Ryder knows things about her, secrets Sabine needs to learn fast. Because while they might soon escape this prison, she's fighting an urge to set all her desires free...
337 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
165 people are currently reading
1876 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Eden
310 books6,798 followersAward-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
May 25, 2017
3.5 my vampire stars
I liked Once Bitten, Twice Burned just not as much as the 1st book. Two reasons why. Reason 1. I didn't like Sabine as much as Eve from book 1. She was kinda naive, and she would do things that would have me shaking my head and questioning her intelligence. Now don't get me wrong I did like Sabine but at times she annoyed me. Reason 2. The book kinda dragged a bit. At times I found myself getting a tad bored. But still Ryder was sexy and OTT protective. I really enjoyed him. I also like Sabine's brother. Overall still an enjoyable read.
I liked Once Bitten, Twice Burned just not as much as the 1st book. Two reasons why. Reason 1. I didn't like Sabine as much as Eve from book 1. She was kinda naive, and she would do things that would have me shaking my head and questioning her intelligence. Now don't get me wrong I did like Sabine but at times she annoyed me. Reason 2. The book kinda dragged a bit. At times I found myself getting a tad bored. But still Ryder was sexy and OTT protective. I really enjoyed him. I also like Sabine's brother. Overall still an enjoyable read.
May 9, 2014
3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed Burn For Meby Cynthia Eden, I actually loved that book it had the perfect amount of suspense, great plot and a good dose of sexual tension leading up to some very steamy sex scenes. Once Bitten, Twice Burnedwas good but my problem with it was most probably that it was a carbon copy of the first book in the series, same characters different names if you get my meaning. It just felt like I was reading the same book.
Characters
While Ryder was pretty strong and intensely alpha male, I kind of felt lukewarm about him at first. We met Ryder in the first book, and obviously his character was over shadowed by Cain, which is to be expected since Cain was the main character. But unfortunately I found myself constantly comparing the two, and Ryder fell short every time. Ryder was portrayed as the weaker character in Burn For Me, and this did not gel with me. I want both alpha males to have equal strengths, otherwise I always compare the weaker to the stronger.
Now about Sabine, you'll never hear me complaining about how weak a female character is but I had some issues with her. It's not that she was weak, it's just that she came off as whiney. Maybe I'm being a bit insensitive but I got tired of hearing her complaining about dying over and over again, you know! I felt like shaking her and saying "dammit, you're gonna wake up again. So get over it!" She was a pleasant girl, but I can't say I really liked her.
A little bit more
Something that I love in a book I read is mystery, and Cynthia Eden is wonderful at writing that. You think you know what's going on, until you realise you don't. This book did not disappoint when it came to that aspect. But still, it didn't make up for all my issues, I just expected a little bit more
Final Thoughts
This book was quite enjoyable, I more than liked it which is why I'm giving it 3.5 Stars. But there is that gripe with it feeling like the first book. If you don't normally read Urban Fantasy, and love steamy romance with a paranormal twist, then I recommend you try this series. It's definitely worth it.
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is the second book in the Phoenix Fire Series by Cynthia Eden. Before reading this book, you'll have to read
first.
I really enjoyed Burn For Meby Cynthia Eden, I actually loved that book it had the perfect amount of suspense, great plot and a good dose of sexual tension leading up to some very steamy sex scenes. Once Bitten, Twice Burnedwas good but my problem with it was most probably that it was a carbon copy of the first book in the series, same characters different names if you get my meaning. It just felt like I was reading the same book.
Characters
While Ryder was pretty strong and intensely alpha male, I kind of felt lukewarm about him at first. We met Ryder in the first book, and obviously his character was over shadowed by Cain, which is to be expected since Cain was the main character. But unfortunately I found myself constantly comparing the two, and Ryder fell short every time. Ryder was portrayed as the weaker character in Burn For Me, and this did not gel with me. I want both alpha males to have equal strengths, otherwise I always compare the weaker to the stronger.
Now about Sabine, you'll never hear me complaining about how weak a female character is but I had some issues with her. It's not that she was weak, it's just that she came off as whiney. Maybe I'm being a bit insensitive but I got tired of hearing her complaining about dying over and over again, you know! I felt like shaking her and saying "dammit, you're gonna wake up again. So get over it!" She was a pleasant girl, but I can't say I really liked her.
A little bit more
Something that I love in a book I read is mystery, and Cynthia Eden is wonderful at writing that. You think you know what's going on, until you realise you don't. This book did not disappoint when it came to that aspect. But still, it didn't make up for all my issues, I just expected a little bit more
Final Thoughts
This book was quite enjoyable, I more than liked it which is why I'm giving it 3.5 Stars. But there is that gripe with it feeling like the first book. If you don't normally read Urban Fantasy, and love steamy romance with a paranormal twist, then I recommend you try this series. It's definitely worth it.
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is the second book in the Phoenix Fire Series by Cynthia Eden. Before reading this book, you'll have to read
first.
August 12, 2018
Most stupid heroine ever!
Sabine was a phoenix and full of power, yet she never used it. She just waited on her vampire, Ryder, to come save her. She was basically a damsel in distress through out the entire book. Her thought process was slow and she made poor decisions through out the entire book.
Sabine was a phoenix and full of power, yet she never used it. She just waited on her vampire, Ryder, to come save her. She was basically a damsel in distress through out the entire book. Her thought process was slow and she made poor decisions through out the entire book.
August 25, 2014
Poor man's version of book 1 in the series. Also, Sabine is a moron.
The ending earned it a fraction of a star towards 2 stars. Cassie and Dante seem interesting. We'll see how that plays out...
The ending earned it a fraction of a star towards 2 stars. Cassie and Dante seem interesting. We'll see how that plays out...
March 25, 2022
This took the storyline that began in Hot Enough to Burn, to a whole new level!! With each turn of the page I was pulled further and further into the danger surrounding Ryder and Sabine. I couldn’t stop reading!
Sabine’s situation was unique which had the effect of pulling me into the story pretty quickly. Her transition throughout kept me engaged as I cheered her on. I kept waiting for all that was within her to reach its pinnacle and when it did…holy heck it was an emotional moment!
Ryder captured my attention in the first book and getting his side of that particular scene was a real eye opener. Nothing as I expected and all the better for it. He was fiercely protective and once Sabine entered his cell she was all he could think of, all he wanted.
The uncertainty with the changes happening within the paranormals kept this couple, as well as myself, on edge. This has so many surprises within its many layers and laced within it all were moments so intense, so HOT, I couldn’t put it down!!! Wrapping it all up was an incredible tease for what’s coming next.
This can stand alone as it gives all info you might need from book 1. However, I highly recommend you read it for yourself.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
Sabine’s situation was unique which had the effect of pulling me into the story pretty quickly. Her transition throughout kept me engaged as I cheered her on. I kept waiting for all that was within her to reach its pinnacle and when it did…holy heck it was an emotional moment!
Ryder captured my attention in the first book and getting his side of that particular scene was a real eye opener. Nothing as I expected and all the better for it. He was fiercely protective and once Sabine entered his cell she was all he could think of, all he wanted.
The uncertainty with the changes happening within the paranormals kept this couple, as well as myself, on edge. This has so many surprises within its many layers and laced within it all were moments so intense, so HOT, I couldn’t put it down!!! Wrapping it all up was an incredible tease for what’s coming next.
This can stand alone as it gives all info you might need from book 1. However, I highly recommend you read it for yourself.
Dual POV
Safe
Triggers
May 4, 2014
I had a hard time feeling this book. I finished it because it's written by Cynthia Eden and because I'm curious about Trace but I've never liked one of her books as little as I like this one.
Cynthia Eden has written strong heroines who save themselves. The hero would show up like "I'm coming to rescue you... But... It seems like you're already safe." And the heroine would be like "What? Oh that. Don't worry I took care of it." I love that. Sabine unfortunately wasn't like that at all. The entire book she was helpless and ineffective. It made her pretty annoying. Added to that is the fact that she's a hypocrite. She hates it when Ryder uses his mind control powers except when it's convenient for her She doesn't want Ryder to kill/hurt people (close to her), but she never says anything like "We have unreconcilable differences of opinion about violence and the value of life. I don't think this thing between us is going to work out".
In the first book of this series Ryder was duplicitous and weak so in this book he would have to be extra awesome to compensate for that. Instead we learn that he's also a controlling jerk and that his feelings for Sabine are less like love and more like drug addiction. Drinking from her gave him warm fuzzy feels, euphoric highs and super powers, so of course he wants her to stay with him forever. Of course he attacks anything and anyone who threatens her. Don't mess with his crack.
Ryder learns how to appease her just enough so she won't cut him off
He also has no problem making executive decisions about her life without so much as discussing the consequences never mind asking for her consent. To me that is the trifecta of partner fails.
1: he doesn't communicate
2: he doesn't respect her boundaries
3: he doesn't respect her as an adult capable of making her own decisions about her own life.
Three strikes, this is not a healthy relationship. You're out.
There was just so much I disliked about Ryder and Sabine, she's naive and innocent and forgiving, and she never gets angry because good women, women worthy of protection and rescue are supposed to be that way. She would have been less of a stereotype if she actually changed during the book, maybe lost some of that naivete, gotten a bit angry after or if she were struggling with her pacifism because of her current situation.
If any other writer had written this book I wouldn't have finished it, but Cynthia Eden has written so many awesome books and awesome characters that I'm hoping this one's just a fluke. I really like the world she created and I'm curious about Trace enough that I'll keep reading.
Cynthia Eden has written strong heroines who save themselves. The hero would show up like "I'm coming to rescue you... But... It seems like you're already safe." And the heroine would be like "What? Oh that. Don't worry I took care of it." I love that. Sabine unfortunately wasn't like that at all. The entire book she was helpless and ineffective. It made her pretty annoying. Added to that is the fact that she's a hypocrite. She hates it when Ryder uses his mind control powers except when it's convenient for her She doesn't want Ryder to kill/hurt people (close to her), but she never says anything like "We have unreconcilable differences of opinion about violence and the value of life. I don't think this thing between us is going to work out".
In the first book of this series Ryder was duplicitous and weak so in this book he would have to be extra awesome to compensate for that. Instead we learn that he's also a controlling jerk and that his feelings for Sabine are less like love and more like drug addiction. Drinking from her gave him warm fuzzy feels, euphoric highs and super powers, so of course he wants her to stay with him forever. Of course he attacks anything and anyone who threatens her. Don't mess with his crack.
Ryder learns how to appease her just enough so she won't cut him off
He also has no problem making executive decisions about her life without so much as discussing the consequences never mind asking for her consent. To me that is the trifecta of partner fails.
1: he doesn't communicate
2: he doesn't respect her boundaries
3: he doesn't respect her as an adult capable of making her own decisions about her own life.
Three strikes, this is not a healthy relationship. You're out.
There was just so much I disliked about Ryder and Sabine, she's naive and innocent and forgiving, and she never gets angry because good women, women worthy of protection and rescue are supposed to be that way. She would have been less of a stereotype if she actually changed during the book, maybe lost some of that naivete, gotten a bit angry after or if she were struggling with her pacifism because of her current situation.
If any other writer had written this book I wouldn't have finished it, but Cynthia Eden has written so many awesome books and awesome characters that I'm hoping this one's just a fluke. I really like the world she created and I'm curious about Trace enough that I'll keep reading.
February 2, 2019
I've had a super long day so not really going to write a long review but enjoyed this second book in the Phoenix Fire series. This one is about Ryder, the oldest living vampire and Sabine, another Phoenix but unlike the first book,she had no idea of her history.
Definitely some twists and turns in this one. Some surprising reveals. Definitely liked the pace of this one a bit better than the first book. I felt a little more emotionally connected to Sabine and Ryder than the previous couple.
Definitely some twists and turns in this one. Some surprising reveals. Definitely liked the pace of this one a bit better than the first book. I felt a little more emotionally connected to Sabine and Ryder than the previous couple.
October 8, 2017
Sucks I can barely remember a book I read a month ago.
I know I liked Ryder. Sabine not as much. Mostly I was a bit bored by some of it. But overall it was ok.
I know I liked Ryder. Sabine not as much. Mostly I was a bit bored by some of it. But overall it was ok.
March 30, 2022
A rerelease with a new cover
Four and a half
Another blisteringly hot story from this author that features a Phoenix. Kidnapped and trapped by Genesis all Sabine wants to do is go home but instead she’s thrust into the cell of a starving Vampire ! Ryder doesn’t want to kill the human that his tormentors have delivered but he cannot after so long without blood control his hunger and what do you know her blood is the sweetest, most addictive he’s tasted. As Sabine dies in his arms Ryder struggles against the guards to use his own blood to save her but Sabine doesn’t need his help because she burns oh so bright and hot to rise from the ashes as a Phoenix straight out of myths.
This series is such fun to read chock full of bad guys and surprises , not to forget steamy romance. I particularly enjoy the way each book connects giving the reader a different point of view as well as a new and interesting story. Ryder is certainly perhaps the strongest Vampire I’ve read about recently but at times I found Sabine perhaps just a little too naive. That having been said they are a passionate couple who after so much do deserve happiness. The Phoenix whose book is up next is the brutal , enigmatic Dante although I cannot help but wish that a certain Werewolf from the first book had been given his happy ending .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
Four and a half
Another blisteringly hot story from this author that features a Phoenix. Kidnapped and trapped by Genesis all Sabine wants to do is go home but instead she’s thrust into the cell of a starving Vampire ! Ryder doesn’t want to kill the human that his tormentors have delivered but he cannot after so long without blood control his hunger and what do you know her blood is the sweetest, most addictive he’s tasted. As Sabine dies in his arms Ryder struggles against the guards to use his own blood to save her but Sabine doesn’t need his help because she burns oh so bright and hot to rise from the ashes as a Phoenix straight out of myths.
This series is such fun to read chock full of bad guys and surprises , not to forget steamy romance. I particularly enjoy the way each book connects giving the reader a different point of view as well as a new and interesting story. Ryder is certainly perhaps the strongest Vampire I’ve read about recently but at times I found Sabine perhaps just a little too naive. That having been said they are a passionate couple who after so much do deserve happiness. The Phoenix whose book is up next is the brutal , enigmatic Dante although I cannot help but wish that a certain Werewolf from the first book had been given his happy ending .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
July 11, 2017
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is the second book in the Phoenix Fire series, and it takes place mostly contemporaneously with Burn For Me. While the stories in the series are intertwined, I believe you could read these as a standalone if you really wanted to. However, if you start with Burn For Me, you will get more background as to the villainous plot and the phoenix supernaturals in general.
Richard Wyatt and his Genesis project is a corrupt government organization that has been experimenting on supernaturals against their will. In Burn For Me, Eve and Cain seemed to singlehandedly take on the bad guys. However we saw a headstrong vampire popping up at various times over the course of that book as he was searching for someone and generally getting in Cain's way. This is the story of that vampire and his fated mate.
Ryder Duncan is a millenia-old vampire who was betrayed and sold into Genesis' sick experiments. Being tortured and starved for an extended period of time has not killed Ryder, but has definitely served to piss him off. His captors were unable to break Ryder until they introduced a female phoenix into his cell, forcing him to drink and watch her die. From the moment he sees, and then tastes, the phoenix, he feels an undeniable pull toward her that starts to thaw his frozen heart. Her captivity and torture give Ryder the determination he needs to get them out of the situation and free from their torturers. I thought Ryder was a good hero. He was singleminded when it came to rescuing Sabine, and would go through just about anyone to get to her. He had a bit of a tortured backstory and he takes on the responsibility for the vampire species as a whole, so that made him one of the broody and slightly vulnerable heroes that I usually go for.
Sabine Acadia grew up thinking she was a normal human, but then she is captured by Genesis and Richard Wyatt. Wyatt and his doctors kill Sabine again and again, forcing her to rise and lose herself to the beast/phoenix. But Ryder is her light in the dark, and she trusts that he will someday free her from the hell she was thrown into. I felt sorry for Sabine, as she didn't know that she was a phoenix and would rise again, so she faced her death multiple times thinking it was the end (due to the memory loss that occurs with a phoenix rising). I liked how Sabine sometimes bolstered Ryder's self-esteem to help him see that he wasn't a horrible vampire... but she wasn't a perfect heroine. She was definitely naive and had to face a lot of hard truths, but I think she could have trusted Ryder a little more at times.
The fated mates trope usually moves pretty fast in the romance department, but this one unfolded at a slower pace because our couple was in captivity a good portion of the book. I liked the action and drama that was interspersed with the romance and sexytimes, and Sabine and Ryder definitely had enough chemistry to steam up my kindle. This story had a multifaceted plot conflict as there were additional villains introduced that added different twists the the plot.
Between the plot conflicts and the narrator's performance, I had no trouble paying attention to this story as I was driving. The narrator did a good job with her character affectations, conveying the appropriate emotion and inflections as she read.
I recommend this book to those looking for a unique paranormal romance - as you don't see many phoenixes in PNR. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens with our third phoenix, Dante, in the next story. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Tantor Audio.
June 27, 2017
AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 2 Story 5
This is Ryders story, an older vampire that has been imprisoned, starved and tortured all in the name of science. He’s done everything he can think of to NOT give the evil doctor a clue. And then, this starved vampire wakes to find a woman in his cell – a sacrifice that doesn’t quite smell right, but insists she is human. Sabine had been blissfully unaware of the experiments or paranormal beings as she lived her life quietly on the outside. But, now she’s been kidnapped and left in a cell… with someone.
Ryder is amazing in this story, instantly he realizes his snack of Sabine is so much more, and seeks to enlighten her as he plans to get them both out of the lab. But, finding her unharmed and alive, the doctor pulls her into the experiments, determined to discover her secrets. After meeting Ryder in the first book, I was curious to see just what he would do to break free of the torture, and if he would actually make the effort to get the other imprisoned subjects free as well. And the connection that he finds with Sabine as he explains their situation and her specialness is just marvelous. Adding the unique twist of Phoenix shifters to her stories, Eden’s characters are far more complex and nuanced than one would expect, adding the evil doctor and the various experiments paired with the red-hot connection between these two adds intrigue, drama and excitement to the story.
Narration for this story is provided by Jillian Macie again, and while I didn’t see the improvements in presentation that I was hoping for (distinct presentation of character voices, pitch and pacing changes in action and emotional situations ) again her performance did not enhance nor overtly distract from the story and plot. There were some moments that felt authentic to Sabine – particularly with her confusion, but the overall performance lacked distinction to make it memorable.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 2 Story 5
This is Ryders story, an older vampire that has been imprisoned, starved and tortured all in the name of science. He’s done everything he can think of to NOT give the evil doctor a clue. And then, this starved vampire wakes to find a woman in his cell – a sacrifice that doesn’t quite smell right, but insists she is human. Sabine had been blissfully unaware of the experiments or paranormal beings as she lived her life quietly on the outside. But, now she’s been kidnapped and left in a cell… with someone.
Ryder is amazing in this story, instantly he realizes his snack of Sabine is so much more, and seeks to enlighten her as he plans to get them both out of the lab. But, finding her unharmed and alive, the doctor pulls her into the experiments, determined to discover her secrets. After meeting Ryder in the first book, I was curious to see just what he would do to break free of the torture, and if he would actually make the effort to get the other imprisoned subjects free as well. And the connection that he finds with Sabine as he explains their situation and her specialness is just marvelous. Adding the unique twist of Phoenix shifters to her stories, Eden’s characters are far more complex and nuanced than one would expect, adding the evil doctor and the various experiments paired with the red-hot connection between these two adds intrigue, drama and excitement to the story.
Narration for this story is provided by Jillian Macie again, and while I didn’t see the improvements in presentation that I was hoping for (distinct presentation of character voices, pitch and pacing changes in action and emotional situations ) again her performance did not enhance nor overtly distract from the story and plot. There were some moments that felt authentic to Sabine – particularly with her confusion, but the overall performance lacked distinction to make it memorable.
I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
February 11, 2021
3.5 stars
I liked this one, especially Ryder! As always, Cynthia Eden’s books are action-packed, keep you at the edge of your seat and are packed with some serious heat. My only issue is Sabine, she was a bit too much of a damsel in distress. I understand she’s a baby in the paranormal scheme of things, but she has all this power that she never uses. She’s a bit too naive & rose-colored glasses-like for me.
I liked this one, especially Ryder! As always, Cynthia Eden’s books are action-packed, keep you at the edge of your seat and are packed with some serious heat. My only issue is Sabine, she was a bit too much of a damsel in distress. I understand she’s a baby in the paranormal scheme of things, but she has all this power that she never uses. She’s a bit too naive & rose-colored glasses-like for me.
August 23, 2014
4 - "I want you to see what I am." ... And to stay with me anyway. Stars.
Another solid gold winner from the imagination from Ms. Eden.
"You taste like everything I had while I walked the earth as a man, everything I wanted, and I fucking crave you."
This series just gets better and better. I recommend that you read book one before you read Once Bitten, Twice Burned as part of this book actually runs concurrently with Burn for Me. Ryder and Sabine are another strong couple, hot (literally) sexy, and not afraid to beat the crap out of anyone that gets in their way.
"I look at you and I see the one person that I want most in this world."
Once again the secondary characters really bring this book to life, Dante, Rhett and Cassie in particular. Knowing that the next book Playing With Fire is Dante's story, makes my girly parts clench!
I am kind of running out of good things too say about Cynthia Eden, now. Every book I have read by this author is superb, and this one is no exception.
"For a vampire, you aren't so bad."
Another solid gold winner from the imagination from Ms. Eden.
"You taste like everything I had while I walked the earth as a man, everything I wanted, and I fucking crave you."
This series just gets better and better. I recommend that you read book one before you read Once Bitten, Twice Burned as part of this book actually runs concurrently with Burn for Me. Ryder and Sabine are another strong couple, hot (literally) sexy, and not afraid to beat the crap out of anyone that gets in their way.
"I look at you and I see the one person that I want most in this world."
Once again the secondary characters really bring this book to life, Dante, Rhett and Cassie in particular. Knowing that the next book Playing With Fire is Dante's story, makes my girly parts clench!
I am kind of running out of good things too say about Cynthia Eden, now. Every book I have read by this author is superb, and this one is no exception.
"For a vampire, you aren't so bad."
January 13, 2016
Ryder is a Vamp in captivity, with secrets that he´s not about to let anyone torture from him, even if they try to starv him. What he never expected was the sacrificial lamb they´re throwing in with him..
Sabine can´t understand what is happening, or what they want with her, but she knows this is bad. Will she get out of it alive, or is this the last thing she´ll experience? Neither of them are prepared for what is going to happen to them...
PNR Romance, action, suspense and smutty fluff in a great combo. Love this series!
4,5 Stars
Sabine can´t understand what is happening, or what they want with her, but she knows this is bad. Will she get out of it alive, or is this the last thing she´ll experience? Neither of them are prepared for what is going to happen to them...
PNR Romance, action, suspense and smutty fluff in a great combo. Love this series!
4,5 Stars
May 6, 2014
The second book in the Phoenix Fire series is a riveting action packed read. Ryder Duncan is determined to escape the twisted scientist starving him and he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way, until the so-called doctor tempts his appetites with something special. Sabine Acadia was kidnapped and thrown into a cage with a monster – but one with a gentle touch. They need to escape he knows things about her, secrets that she needs to learn fast before she loses the fight to set all her urges free.
The fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers on the edge of their seat with lots of suspense, action, drama, betrayal, discovery and romance. The author paints the events and scenes with vibrant images and details that capture the imagination and the well orchestrated action scenes are believable and keep the adrenaline pumping throughout. The strong compelling characters are easily related to and with the spine tingling suspense of waiting to find out how the experimentation on Ryder and Sabine changes them the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into this fascinating world.
The attraction between Sabine and Ryder explodes from the pages in a fiery inferno of passion and the sex scenes burn even hotter. Their relationship grows stronger as they fight their way free from Genesis and all their enemies and with everything they’ve gone through the reader can’t help but get emotionally involved in the story. Their pain grips the reader with its intensity as they fight to survive against emotional and physical betrayal and all the changes that happen to their bodies from the experiments.
I was totally engrossed in this story from the very beginning, its gripping emotional drama and captivating characters drew me in from the very first page. The author kept me guessing with some surprising twists that I sure didn’t see coming and this fascinating world just keeps getting better. I loved the first one and this one is no different. I know that Cassie and Dante’s story is next and I can’t wait to read it, but I sure hope that Cynthia is planning on writing more in this riveting world because I want to know what happens with a certain werewolf, Rhett and a the newly made vampire Vaughn as well.
- Eva
The fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers on the edge of their seat with lots of suspense, action, drama, betrayal, discovery and romance. The author paints the events and scenes with vibrant images and details that capture the imagination and the well orchestrated action scenes are believable and keep the adrenaline pumping throughout. The strong compelling characters are easily related to and with the spine tingling suspense of waiting to find out how the experimentation on Ryder and Sabine changes them the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into this fascinating world.
The attraction between Sabine and Ryder explodes from the pages in a fiery inferno of passion and the sex scenes burn even hotter. Their relationship grows stronger as they fight their way free from Genesis and all their enemies and with everything they’ve gone through the reader can’t help but get emotionally involved in the story. Their pain grips the reader with its intensity as they fight to survive against emotional and physical betrayal and all the changes that happen to their bodies from the experiments.
I was totally engrossed in this story from the very beginning, its gripping emotional drama and captivating characters drew me in from the very first page. The author kept me guessing with some surprising twists that I sure didn’t see coming and this fascinating world just keeps getting better. I loved the first one and this one is no different. I know that Cassie and Dante’s story is next and I can’t wait to read it, but I sure hope that Cynthia is planning on writing more in this riveting world because I want to know what happens with a certain werewolf, Rhett and a the newly made vampire Vaughn as well.
- Eva
July 15, 2014
This book UNDERwhelmed me, and I soo didn't want to be underwhelmed. I got excited by the heart-pumping opening to the book, and for a while the tension between the main guy and gal kept me hooked.
But then, somewhere along the way the two main characters stopped acting like people and more like...puppets adhering to some kind of contrived plotline. There's a scene where the phoenix girl (Sabine) gets released by one of the baddies who has been torturing her in horrific ways. After the baddie releases her, the baddie tells her essentially 'Do what we tell you or we kill your brother.' Now keep in mind that their facility is under full-scale attack and she has super-powers to engulf anything she wants in FLAME.
So she could just kill them all and save her family...and yet what does she do? Probably because it worked better for the plot, Sabine agrees to do whatever they want. Even though she could stop them once and for all.
Yeah. Sorry, I don't like protagonists who are brain dead. Don't make your main character invincible and then come up with lame plot devices to make them helpless when they clearly aren't.
But then, somewhere along the way the two main characters stopped acting like people and more like...puppets adhering to some kind of contrived plotline. There's a scene where the phoenix girl (Sabine) gets released by one of the baddies who has been torturing her in horrific ways. After the baddie releases her, the baddie tells her essentially 'Do what we tell you or we kill your brother.' Now keep in mind that their facility is under full-scale attack and she has super-powers to engulf anything she wants in FLAME.
So she could just kill them all and save her family...and yet what does she do? Probably because it worked better for the plot, Sabine agrees to do whatever they want. Even though she could stop them once and for all.
Yeah. Sorry, I don't like protagonists who are brain dead. Don't make your main character invincible and then come up with lame plot devices to make them helpless when they clearly aren't.
June 29, 2014
I love the paranormals in this series, but the wimpy naive heroines are getting on my nerves sometimes.
In this one, we have a pheonix female with no clue who she is getting involved with the first ever vamp. Great potential, right? Well, the story sort of fizzled because said pheonix was a moron with such a soft heart that she got them into trouble several times by refusing to allow the guy to kill the bad people.
I mean, come on, you are being tortured and killed over and over by scientists and their guards and yet you ask for them to be left alone? Then she runs back to her family knowing they are being used as leverage against you and put them all in danger.
Also, the whole "you're a monster" thing got on my nerves - the guy has been a vamp for centuries and he's trying his best to rid the world of bad guys and she freaks out because he drinks blood?
Annoying...
I really need a story with a strong heroine next.
In this one, we have a pheonix female with no clue who she is getting involved with the first ever vamp. Great potential, right? Well, the story sort of fizzled because said pheonix was a moron with such a soft heart that she got them into trouble several times by refusing to allow the guy to kill the bad people.
I mean, come on, you are being tortured and killed over and over by scientists and their guards and yet you ask for them to be left alone? Then she runs back to her family knowing they are being used as leverage against you and put them all in danger.
Also, the whole "you're a monster" thing got on my nerves - the guy has been a vamp for centuries and he's trying his best to rid the world of bad guys and she freaks out because he drinks blood?
Annoying...
I really need a story with a strong heroine next.
December 22, 2015
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Burn for Me, and I was excited to read the second book in this series. I don’t often read books about a phoenix, and this one was just as exciting as the first book. My only complaint was the rehashing of story we already knew about because of the first book. Still, I fell in love with Ryder and Sabine. Their love story was truly epic and I loved the action, suspense and romance in this one. Another great read from Eden and a must read for paranormal fans!
April 23, 2015
Terrible. And such a disappointment after the first installment. There was hardly any character development and I didn't feel connected to them at all. They could have died and I would thought oh well, the book ends even sooner. How frustrating after a great first book!
November 20, 2020
I didn’t love Ryder or Sabine really at first. By the end, they grew on me a bit, but I still didn’t really feel too engaged with this book.
May 7, 2014
Ryder Duncan is starving! He’s been held for months at the Genesis Labs-a facility where paranormals are being studied-read: tortured and dissected. It’s getting harder and harder for him to stop himself from revealing exactly who he is and how truly powerful he is. So when the guards finally bring him a woman to feed on, his control slips and he drinks her dry.
Sabine Acadia was kidnapped and brought to the labs at Genesis. Confused and scared out of her mind, she is no match against the power of the vampire she is tossed into a cell with. Though she begs with everything she has, she can’t escape his bite.
But as the life is leaving her body, she senses him trying to help her. She can feel his concern and guilt as he tries to give her some of his blood, but it’s too late. And then she feels the burn, as flames consume her body.
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is book two in Ms. Eden’s new Phoenix Fire series. I loved the first book, Burn For Me. I thought the introduction of a new type of paranormal character, a Phoenix, was unique and fresh. At the same time, I thought the author did a great job of humanizing the paranormals, giving them emotional qualities that were believable. Unfortunately, this second book, did not work as well for me.
The first part of this book runs concurrent to book 1 and is detailed in a way that I found too repetitive having read book 1. While we learn some details about Sabine, I didn’t feel it was anything new that I had not already surmised from book one. I already knew what Sabine was and that Ryder was obsessed with her.
Once Ryder and Sabine escape the facility and are on the run, there is a lot going on. A. Lot. Neither of them know who to trust and Sabine isn’t even sure she can trust Ryder. They have this unmistakable chemistry between them, but Sabine fights it. There is a lot of focus on blood, specifically the blood exchanged between Ryder and Sabine and what exactly that means. I don’t want to spoil-but you can infer that both our main characters develop new and interesting and somewhat unique qualities.
I loved Ryder in book one. I was excited for his story, knowing he was paired with a Phoenix. I knew that this author could explore some very interesting avenues here. And she does, but the romance was flat, nonexistent. There is attraction, but it doesn’t feel like it has an emotional quality, only a chemical one. This seemed really odd for me, especially for Sabine who had thought herself human all her life until her first change.
The author introduces a new character, another Phoenix named Dante. He flits in and out throughout the book. He is extremely powerful, even more so than Cain from book one. He seems out to get Sabine-which is expected I guess. We learn in book 1 that the Phoenixes pretty much died out because of their need to kill other Phoenixes. Ryder and Sabine continue to evade him, but he shows up at the end in a pivotal scene that sets up the next book.
I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of Cain and Eve from book one, other than the very beginning of this book where the set up occurs. I was also disappointed that we didn’t get anything on Trace, a werewolf introduced in book one who had also been kidnapped by Genesis. He escapes with everyone else in book one, but the tests performed on him had changed him in a way that made him extremely dangerous to everyone.
Lastly, I struggled a lot with the dialogue in this book. The author goes back and forth between spoken words in quotes and thoughts in italics throughout this whole book. I sometimes found it difficult to follow along. Because Ryder is a vamp, I thought perhaps he was speaking via thought so only Sabine could hear him-but no, that was not the case. It pulled me out of the story several times and I had to go back and re-read it so I knew who was talking to who and what was just a ‘thought’.
This book did not work for me on many levels. The spin at the end where a man from Ryder’s past is brought forward seemed to come out of left field and since the character is killed off within the same scene it had no purpose at all and I wonder why the author felt it necessary. Other than the fact that Ryder and Sabine become a couple, I really didn’t feel that this book moved the story arc forward in any way except to confirm one secret thing about the Phoenix (which was suspected in book 1) and to introduce Dante and Cassie who are the featured couple of the next book.
I am still intrigued by the premise and the uniqueness of the Phoenix as a paranormal character, so I may give book 3 a try, we’ll see.
Sabine Acadia was kidnapped and brought to the labs at Genesis. Confused and scared out of her mind, she is no match against the power of the vampire she is tossed into a cell with. Though she begs with everything she has, she can’t escape his bite.
But as the life is leaving her body, she senses him trying to help her. She can feel his concern and guilt as he tries to give her some of his blood, but it’s too late. And then she feels the burn, as flames consume her body.
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is book two in Ms. Eden’s new Phoenix Fire series. I loved the first book, Burn For Me. I thought the introduction of a new type of paranormal character, a Phoenix, was unique and fresh. At the same time, I thought the author did a great job of humanizing the paranormals, giving them emotional qualities that were believable. Unfortunately, this second book, did not work as well for me.
The first part of this book runs concurrent to book 1 and is detailed in a way that I found too repetitive having read book 1. While we learn some details about Sabine, I didn’t feel it was anything new that I had not already surmised from book one. I already knew what Sabine was and that Ryder was obsessed with her.
Once Ryder and Sabine escape the facility and are on the run, there is a lot going on. A. Lot. Neither of them know who to trust and Sabine isn’t even sure she can trust Ryder. They have this unmistakable chemistry between them, but Sabine fights it. There is a lot of focus on blood, specifically the blood exchanged between Ryder and Sabine and what exactly that means. I don’t want to spoil-but you can infer that both our main characters develop new and interesting and somewhat unique qualities.
I loved Ryder in book one. I was excited for his story, knowing he was paired with a Phoenix. I knew that this author could explore some very interesting avenues here. And she does, but the romance was flat, nonexistent. There is attraction, but it doesn’t feel like it has an emotional quality, only a chemical one. This seemed really odd for me, especially for Sabine who had thought herself human all her life until her first change.
The author introduces a new character, another Phoenix named Dante. He flits in and out throughout the book. He is extremely powerful, even more so than Cain from book one. He seems out to get Sabine-which is expected I guess. We learn in book 1 that the Phoenixes pretty much died out because of their need to kill other Phoenixes. Ryder and Sabine continue to evade him, but he shows up at the end in a pivotal scene that sets up the next book.
I was disappointed that we didn’t get to see more of Cain and Eve from book one, other than the very beginning of this book where the set up occurs. I was also disappointed that we didn’t get anything on Trace, a werewolf introduced in book one who had also been kidnapped by Genesis. He escapes with everyone else in book one, but the tests performed on him had changed him in a way that made him extremely dangerous to everyone.
Lastly, I struggled a lot with the dialogue in this book. The author goes back and forth between spoken words in quotes and thoughts in italics throughout this whole book. I sometimes found it difficult to follow along. Because Ryder is a vamp, I thought perhaps he was speaking via thought so only Sabine could hear him-but no, that was not the case. It pulled me out of the story several times and I had to go back and re-read it so I knew who was talking to who and what was just a ‘thought’.
This book did not work for me on many levels. The spin at the end where a man from Ryder’s past is brought forward seemed to come out of left field and since the character is killed off within the same scene it had no purpose at all and I wonder why the author felt it necessary. Other than the fact that Ryder and Sabine become a couple, I really didn’t feel that this book moved the story arc forward in any way except to confirm one secret thing about the Phoenix (which was suspected in book 1) and to introduce Dante and Cassie who are the featured couple of the next book.
I am still intrigued by the premise and the uniqueness of the Phoenix as a paranormal character, so I may give book 3 a try, we’ll see.
August 17, 2014
Review posted on Got Fiction? book blog
In Cynthia Eden’s first Phoenix Fire book Burn For Me, there was a scene with a starved vampire who had been kept in the same government facility as Cain. Ryder was absolutely intriguing, so I was thrilled to get my hot little hands on his book.
At one point, Ryder is so starved that when they toss a woman in and tell him she’s his, he can’t help himself. He has to have a taste. The only problem is that he can’t stop at “a taste.” (they being the scientist Wyatt and his government lackeys–he wants to see if Ryder can resist, or if he’ll kill the woman-he’s a sick and twisted bastard)
Sabine was kidnapped and tossed into a cage with a starving vampire. She just wants to go home, but that’s no longer an option as she isn’t human. She doesn’t know that though, not until Ryder (accidentally) kills her.
As we know from the first book, when the phoenix rises, the beast is in control, and memory is spotty, or sometimes gone completely. Sabine is no different. She remembers the sexy vampire’s face, but that’s about it.
She keeps fixating on going home though, not realizing that she can never go back. Not just because maybe not everyone will accept her, but she will also bring danger to their doorstep.
But Wyatt told her to kill Cain, or he would kill her brother. So she has to try.
Of course it doesn’t go well. But Ryder not only can’t let her go, but he finds out that he doesn’t want to. He wants Sabine. And he knows she wants him, but she isn’t willing to give up her dream of staying home. Not until “home” kicks her in the teeth, that is.
Meanwhile, Sabine is scared of burning. She’s begging Ryder not to let her burn again, so instead of letting her die and come back again, he gives her his blood to heal her. And it does things to her. She’s not quite a phoenix anymore. But she’s not really a vampire either. It’s a really unique twist.
I feel like Cynthia Eden’s best stories are her paranormal ones, and this new trilogy really showcases her talents. With a new type of shifter in the world of PNR, this is a great book to pick up (although I’d read them in order).
***ARC courtesy of Kensington Brava
In Cynthia Eden’s first Phoenix Fire book Burn For Me, there was a scene with a starved vampire who had been kept in the same government facility as Cain. Ryder was absolutely intriguing, so I was thrilled to get my hot little hands on his book.
At one point, Ryder is so starved that when they toss a woman in and tell him she’s his, he can’t help himself. He has to have a taste. The only problem is that he can’t stop at “a taste.” (they being the scientist Wyatt and his government lackeys–he wants to see if Ryder can resist, or if he’ll kill the woman-he’s a sick and twisted bastard)
Sabine was kidnapped and tossed into a cage with a starving vampire. She just wants to go home, but that’s no longer an option as she isn’t human. She doesn’t know that though, not until Ryder (accidentally) kills her.
As we know from the first book, when the phoenix rises, the beast is in control, and memory is spotty, or sometimes gone completely. Sabine is no different. She remembers the sexy vampire’s face, but that’s about it.
She keeps fixating on going home though, not realizing that she can never go back. Not just because maybe not everyone will accept her, but she will also bring danger to their doorstep.
But Wyatt told her to kill Cain, or he would kill her brother. So she has to try.
Of course it doesn’t go well. But Ryder not only can’t let her go, but he finds out that he doesn’t want to. He wants Sabine. And he knows she wants him, but she isn’t willing to give up her dream of staying home. Not until “home” kicks her in the teeth, that is.
Meanwhile, Sabine is scared of burning. She’s begging Ryder not to let her burn again, so instead of letting her die and come back again, he gives her his blood to heal her. And it does things to her. She’s not quite a phoenix anymore. But she’s not really a vampire either. It’s a really unique twist.
I feel like Cynthia Eden’s best stories are her paranormal ones, and this new trilogy really showcases her talents. With a new type of shifter in the world of PNR, this is a great book to pick up (although I’d read them in order).
***ARC courtesy of Kensington Brava
July 17, 2014
Once Bitten, Twice Burned is the first book on Cynthia Eden’s Phoenix Fire series. I have to admit that I’m intrigued enough to go back and read Burn for Me. Cain and Eve have a very small role in the second installment. While I was never lost I am very curious about what went on in the first book in this very sexy paranormal series. I’m also beyond curious as to what Dante will be up to in Playing with Fire.
A malicious doctor who is performing horrific experiments on the paranormals of the world (all in the name of science, so the torture is justified *eye roll*) has caught a vampire that he is going to regret ever crossing paths with. Ryder is old and strong in ways the good doc doesn’t expect. Throwing Ryder a meal in the form of the very sexy Sabine is just one of many bad decisions the doctor makes. Ryder has full intentions of razing the building and seeking vengeance upon escape. Sabine is just another reason for him to want that freedom. It doesn’t take Ryder very long to discover that Sabine is much more than simply a meal. She will soon turn into his everything.
Sabine is experiencing horrors in ways she never dreamed possible. She has been kidnapped from her good normal life. She has been tossed into a cell with a vamp who is bordering on starvation and she is his next meal. Then to make matters far worse the doctors decide that she is much more useful as an experiment than a vampire meal. Not her best time in life. She does however get an angry vampire who vows to not only see her free, but to keep her safe from harm at any and all costs.
While doctors experimenting on paranormals are nothing new to this genre Eden keeps it interesting by bringing the phoenixes into the mix. They are a paranormal being that you really don’t see so much of. Eden’s sexy writing and clever characters kept me interested and looking forward to reading more of this series.
A malicious doctor who is performing horrific experiments on the paranormals of the world (all in the name of science, so the torture is justified *eye roll*) has caught a vampire that he is going to regret ever crossing paths with. Ryder is old and strong in ways the good doc doesn’t expect. Throwing Ryder a meal in the form of the very sexy Sabine is just one of many bad decisions the doctor makes. Ryder has full intentions of razing the building and seeking vengeance upon escape. Sabine is just another reason for him to want that freedom. It doesn’t take Ryder very long to discover that Sabine is much more than simply a meal. She will soon turn into his everything.
Sabine is experiencing horrors in ways she never dreamed possible. She has been kidnapped from her good normal life. She has been tossed into a cell with a vamp who is bordering on starvation and she is his next meal. Then to make matters far worse the doctors decide that she is much more useful as an experiment than a vampire meal. Not her best time in life. She does however get an angry vampire who vows to not only see her free, but to keep her safe from harm at any and all costs.
While doctors experimenting on paranormals are nothing new to this genre Eden keeps it interesting by bringing the phoenixes into the mix. They are a paranormal being that you really don’t see so much of. Eden’s sexy writing and clever characters kept me interested and looking forward to reading more of this series.
September 18, 2015
Ryder's book does not disappoint Some scenes were a little boring because they already happened in the first book just from a different POV but I still enjoyed reading this. Ryder's character was damn interesting and the new ones seem promising .. I'm looking at Dante here. The forgetting thing is getting a little annoying but the characters kept it going strong. Onto the next and sadly the last one .. hopefully for now.
December 10, 2014
I don't know why I was a bit disappointed that the story doesn't begin where the first bookends. Reading about the facility again was not so fun. But all the rest was good. I'm waiting for Dante and Cassie story.
January 30, 2015
I was watching Ground hogs day...
This had all of the elements to be a great read I was frustrated waiting for the heroine to "get it together". I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over ...she burns, she has the ability to be strong just not the guts...annoying.
This had all of the elements to be a great read I was frustrated waiting for the heroine to "get it together". I felt like I was reading the same scene over and over ...she burns, she has the ability to be strong just not the guts...annoying.
May 2, 2014
Quite similar to the first one, but I still enjoyed its emotionally and sexually charged scenes. Definitely curious how the third book will turn out :)
February 15, 2015
This book was soooo good!! I loved Ryder. I loved that we got a touch of Cain as well. Now I need Dante's story, and Trace's story, and Rhett's story, oh and Grayson's story........
February 10, 2016
3,5 ★
Freue mich schon auf Dante!
Freue mich schon auf Dante!
November 16, 2015
love this series. 4.5
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