Corpus Christi, Texas – Present Day

Jaz Parks is back in another adventure that seems to be a cross between James Bond and Scooby-Doo. Jaz works with her vampire boss, Vayl, for the CIA as an assassin and investigates cases that have paranormal origins. Jaz is still dealing with guilt because she was the only survivor in a shootout that killed her old team, but Jaz was changed. She did die that night, but somehow was brought back to life. Now she has awakening Sensitive powers that allow her to detect those supernaturals who usually blend into the regular population, like Reivers. Along with those powers, Jaz experiences strange occurrences, always happening when she falls asleep. She has been sleepwalking, dreaming of those who died. When she wakes with her gun pointed at her head by her own hand, she realizes she can no longer ignore what is happening; she is not only a danger to herself but to her mission and innocents who might be caught off guard.

Author Jennifer Rardin brings us another fast-paced original adventure that combines both pathos and humor. Jaz is a top-notch assassin, but she has issues ranging from a sexual attraction to her boss that has her vibrating like a tightly strung violin, to breaking in a new team member, and a sister who needs her help in dealing with a colicky baby. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Doesn’t that sound just like real life? Your life? I don’t know about you, but I can relate to that. Rardin creates a plot full of unexpected twists and turns, horrendous disasters alleviated by humor, and a group of tightly knit characters. The team working with Jaz is becoming her new anchor, and Vayl is more interesting and sexy than ever, a hero with a wounded soul. One of the things I like most about this is that Jaz and her team can let go and laugh, so I laughed too. That was invaluable. I was not completely convinced when I read ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY, but now I am convinced, JENNIFER RARDIN FOR PRESIDENT! Listen folks, it’s going to be another tough year, read ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST, it will make things more bearable. It’s a keeper. Expect another great story in February with BITING THE BULLET.

Lisa Baca