Once Bitten, Twice Burned

Eden’s second Phoenix Fire paranormal (after Burn for Me) continues with sex scenes that elevate the otherwise unexceptional characterization. Vampire Ryder Duncan has been captured by the Genesis Group for military experimentation. After months of starvation, he nearly kills the woman they give him to feed from, only to be astonished when her body spontaneously combusts and she revives unharmed. Sabine Acadia is furious, with no memory of dying and completely unaware of her abilities until Ryder clues her in. Despite Sabine’s apparent immortality, the pain of death and side effect of amnesia has her desperate to stay alive—so Ryder turns her into a vampire, foreshadowing more interesting developments that never quite materialize. A rather standard adrenaline-driven romance follows, with sex scenes that surprisingly have more fire than the characters themselves. The twisting betrayals and complicated intrigue are summarily taken care of, making this installment less satisfying than the first. (May)