Title: Once Burned (Night Prince, Book One)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Reviewer provided copy of book
She's a mortal with dark powers...
After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...
Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.
Links to purchase book:
Amazon / B&N
Links for author:
Website / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads
Book Review
I must say that the wait for Once Burned was long and I was a wee bit disappointed in its story. I cannot put my finger on specifics, it just felt...I dunno...like it was missing something. Maybe the waiting and the build-up had my expectations too high. I'm always a bit scared to read a book after gnawing the hell out of my nails while waiting for it to be released.
Don't get me wrong; Once Burned is an amusing, sexy read--and I will forever keep reading Frosts's books as long as she continues to write. Maybe it caught me on a bad day because looking back now, I see that Vlad was just as snarky, just as lovable, as I remembered. (Yeah, I take notes when I review a book--it's the only way my Swiss cheese brain can retain anything.)
Or maybe I have just put Chapter 32 in such an unachievable ranking in the stratosphere that everything else seems to pale in comparison (I'm talking about Book Two of Frosts's Night Huntress Series).
Leila is a heroine deserving of Vlad in all aspects. She kicks ass in her own right and has the backbone to put up with the stubborn vampire. He's crotchety in his old ways, lol. Her loyalty to her true friends is just as fierce as Vlad's. They are a couple that will fight hard and play harder. **waggles eyebrows.
I am glad that there will be more books in this new series. I am eager to see how this unique couple handle their newly-developed relationship.
Quotes I liked:
“That one tickled. If electrocution is your way of flirting, I commend you on your originality.” --Vlad “No, I do my torturing in the dungeon like any other respectable castle owner,” -- Vlad
“If I didn’t want you so much,” he said in a deadly purr, “I’d let you keep fucking me with your gaze, but you make me impatient.” --Vlad
"I simply must meet whoever has out you in your place so thoroughly, Tepesh," an unfamiliar British voice stated. --Bones
“I stretched out my hands as if to ward him off. “Not yet. I want to know what your end game is first.”
Another flash of teeth, this time showing his fangs.
“To have you screaming my name within the hour.” --Leila and Vlad
Yeah--Bones. That smexy vamp wiggled his way into Vlad's book and is still the charmer.
