Book 1), Once Burned (Night Prince

Not happy with the excerpt from the third book thrown in right at the end of this one BEFORE the epilogue. I want to read the second book without knowing anything about the third. Ugh! Other than that, the book was great!! Loved the circus act element! Loved Vlad. Loved the feel of the story. This is exactly how I like my vampire stories! Similar almost to Sookie stackhouse but still quite different.

I started this book the day it was released and I had to finish it before I went to bed. It was excellent. I loved learning more about Vlad and Leila was his perfect match. This series is off to a great start and I can't wait for the next book, since we were left hanging! AGH!!!

I know I read the book. I did. I just have no recollection. I read the description and think, "Oh, that sounds like it could be good!" Well, clearly it's so trite that it's utterly forgettable. Ok. I'm rereading it read quick and yeah, I'm remembering it. Yeah, it's pretty much mind-candy, forgettable, predictable mind-candy.

I loved this book as well as the all of the Night Huntress series. Vlad is a favorite character from the NH series and did not fail to entertain in this book. I do hope Jeanienne plans to continue with some more tales of Vlad and his own cast of characters. Terrific read!

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!!
It was amazing. I loved reading it. And of course, twists and turns are part of the natural writing structure of the amazing Jeaniene Frost! Everything about it was amazing. Vlad and Leila are just perfect for each other. Both have a guilty and depressing past. Not to mention the fact that Vlad is immune to Leila's ability. And on top of both of those, they are both ruthless and determined. At the end Leila realizes that about herself. The pair both had great character progression, and even though we wont find out until the next book, I truly feel that Vlad loves her or is either in the process. Jeaniene just couldn't help herself by making us wait until the next book which is brutally not until next year! (I hope that changes to EARLIER instead). There are so many things left unsaid between the amazing couple and surrounding people. So much more to read and learn! Vlad is just amazing in a way by his sardonic humor (which I love) and Leila is smart and becomes courageous. PERFECT! This book is a must read especially if you are a Night Huntress fan! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Anyway, can't wait until the next! Now it's down to Ian; which honestly if he has a love story, he still has to be that arrogant, perversion, ruthless guy, but at some point (not too soon, because that would be cliche) he should have a romance story- or something.
P.S: Got this book at midnight of the 26th and couldn't stop reading it, but I forced my self to so I could I guess, savor? the book!
Team Frost!

If you have fallen in love with Cat and Bones from Jeaniene Frost's series, you will love this spin-off series featuring the Night Prince. If you haven't read the other series, you will devour it after you get a taste of her captivating storytelling. This is one author not to be missed!

I never made it past the first book in that other series of Ms Frost's but this one sounded interesting so I tried it and wow. Loved it. For once there's an unrepetent vampire. About time. Can't wait to see where this goes.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. This is my first book by this author. I don't know what was I expecting before picking up the book, but I got much more and then some. Story was suspenseful and interesting.

I have to admit that I found cover a bit scary:). After reading the story I thought that the cover was very fair representation of his character. He was like a definition of alpha male.

From time to time I like reading about posessive males with attitude "mine". I did like the story and don't regret reading it, but there were some scenes where he came across as to intense for my taste. But I'm not mad at the readers who have given this one 5 stars. I understand why they liked it.

I'm certainly be reading the next book by this author.

I am slightly surprised at how much I loved this book; primarily because I had ambivalent feelings about her other related vampire series. The heroine was awesome but the shining star in my eyes was the hero Vlad otherwise known as Dracula. He was perfect in the over the top bad boy way. I felt that anyone else's Dracula will forever pale in comparison with this one...that's how much I loved him, but thats not to say the Heroine is a slacker; she's very much independent and angsty without being annoying. The heroine had a childhood accident and has her own psychic ability which brings her to the attention of the not so nice vampires. The storyline complete with a villain was very perfect. The only complaint I have is things aren't wrapped with a bow because its of course a series, but it means we see more Vlad which I'm all for in the long run.

Wonderful vampire romance.

This book is very promising for a series beginner. I wish I had known more about Jeaniene Frost and that her books are series books and tie in to one another. This book has a conclusion, but no ending, as the story will continue throughout the following books. So now I have to wait for the next ones to come out. Until then, I'll try out her completed Night Huntress Series.

Maybe I'm just too old for this kind of business, but I thought the characters were contrived, and the spontaneous romance between the lead characters was predictable and overly melodramatic. I didn't hate it, but it did inspire me to not read any of the other books by this author.

I absolutely loved Vlad and Leila. They are so great together. This series by Jeanine Frost is just as good as the Cat and Bones series. But if you are looking for Cat and Bones they really aren't in it much at all but that shouldn't stop you from reading. You will surely enjoy it.

Ok, let me start of with I am a huge, HUGE, fan of Bones and Cat. I have also very much enjoyed the night huntress books. I am just quite hung up on the book. Leila is a complex and interesting charactor and being told from her point of view we know alot. I just kind of felt like we were robbed on Vlad's charactor... a boat load of arrogance and attitude yes. However, something was missing for me. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed the book. As a matter of fact I devoured in a few shorts hours. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series. I truly hope these two have as much to offer as Bones and Cat.

this book series did not let me down. I love Jeanene Frost books! I have read her other series, as well as the books that have trailed off of them and I keep wanting more. I can not wait until spring when the next book comes out!

Oh my god, this book is great. The tension, the plot, the characters are all amazing. I had started by reading the Night Huntress series, but find I am enjoying these spin offs even more, and I am sure the look on my face when I reached the end of the book and realized that Ms Frost had left me hanging til next spring was priceless.

My only gripe is that it was not very well copy edited, but I am like that.

I am not a huge romance novel reader these days, but this is well worth reading. The sex is super steamy but appropriate to the plot and story line, the female characters are strong and realistic, not all wilty and timid (I'm looking at you, Bella). Man, I wish it was already Spring of 2013.

And maybe, if we are all very good, we'll get a novel with Ian as the lead?

This book was long awaited. I have loved Vlad since I first 'met' him. I really liked Leila as well, she is so his perfect compliment. I cannot wait to finish their story. BTW the cover was soooo hot!!

This is a great book. I had waited a long time to read the story of Vlad. It has been worth the wait. I loved it. I don't want to give away the story. The story is great. It is a romance and has a lot of action in it. You will love it and if you haven't already read the Night Huntress books, you need to go and get them right now. The story of Cat and Bones is terrific. All of the characters are so real you forget you are reading about creatures that don't exist...or do they. You will find no better way of spending your time than buying this book and the Night Huntress books.

This book is worth reading but the leads are no Cat and Bones. I am looking forward to the other books in the series to see if the characters are fleshed out a bit. I have to say the series seems like it has potential

Vampires! Gotta love 'em. Vlad is no exception... a man a woman couldnt help but get involved with plus want as her protector. Cant wait for the next book to be released. I wanted a vaca from the highlander books and this was a good pick!

Ahhh. I can't wait until next spring!!!! I really love the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. And I enjoyed reading the other books involving the side characters in the series. So I was really looking forward to when Vlad's story came out. And I wasn't disappointed other then the fact that it left me hanging and now I have to wait until next spring for the sequel.
Vlad's and Leila's story was told from Leila's point of view like the Night Huntress series was told from Cat's point of view. Though I was kind-of hoping it would be from both Vlad's and Leila's point of view, I still really enjoyed it. I like reading more about Vlad's history and I liked how Ms. Frost portrayed his character. Leila was an interesting character and fits in with the kick-butt girls of Ms. Frost's vampire books heroines. I thought Leila had interesting abilities and very curious how she was able to obtain them do to that incident that occurred when she was younger, if they powers she originally had that was just jump started with the power cable or if something else occurred during it that we get to look forward to in the sequel.
I liked the pace of Vlad's and Leila's relationship and how they got to know each other and were able to talk about their pasts. And I am looking forward to how their relationship develops. I am looking forward to next spring and any other books in the vampire series!!!

I really liked Vlad's character from first reading about him in the Night Huntress novels so I really couldn't wait for his story. He is a character of extremes which makes the novel so intriguing and difficult to put down. The story is told in Leila's point of view and as she gradully gets to know him, she realizes that she cannot stay away from him as much as she wants to. This book exceeded my expectations and will be counting down for the next novel in this series!

I had preordered Once Burned as soon as I could. I'm a huge Jeaniene Frost fan. I love the Night Huntress Series along with the two books about Mencheres. This one was GREAT! I started reading it yesterday and couldn't put it down till I was finished. It is a rarity that I finish a book in a day but this one was a page turner. I cannot wait till Spring of 2013. Vlad and Leila's story is wonderful. It almost competes with my love of Cat and Bones, which I never thought would happen :)

This book was quite enjoyable, especially if you followed the Cat & Bones series. I would have liked to have more of those charactors in the book but this series carried itself. I'm not always happy with spin offs but she did good on this one.

Wow what a book!!!!!! Frost never disappoints! Who knew Vlad could be sexy, brave and loving. The only thing I disliked was it left you hanging at the end but that makes a great book series right! -grin-

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Frost is back. I didn't care so much for the last Cat and Bones book but she definitely made up for it with this one. The only thing i didnt care for was the short/non-existent love scenes. I wish there was more but now there is something to look forward to in the next book!

This book was well worth the wait. As usual, Jeaniene Frost has hit the mark. This book wouldn't allow itself to be put down until the last smoking page (no pun intended). I love the action, the history, the romance, the adventure, and most of all the ever-present wit and sarcasm from Mrs. Frost's books. I personally can't wait 'till the next one! Keep up the good work, Mrs. Frost and please write faster!

I had reservations purchasing this book. The last few "Night Huntress" books have left me with a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth and Vlad wasn't one of the characters I could see myself reading a whole book about. I saw all the positive reviews and decided to take a chance. Needless to say, I really, really enjoyed this book! I laughed out loud at Leila and Vlad both! I didn't want to put it down and I can't wait for the next book in the series! This was reminiscent of the first few Night Huntress (aka Cat & Bones) novels that I hold near and dear to my heart.

I`ve been waiting a long time for this book, having been intrigued by Vlad from the first time he was mentioned. It was therefor a great disappointment to see him written as such a bland and boring character and Leyla was just plain annoying. None of them were credible characters or had any kind of depth.

I remember the thrill of reading the first Cat and Bones book and expected something similar with this book. I expected sizzles and emotional explosions and what I got was two characters who - for some reason the book never explained - were attracted to one another and therefor chose to have the most boring physical relationship ever. There was never any reason given as to why Vlad, who apparently hadn`t had very many women in his life, would want Leyla almost from the first moment he saw her. And, as a reader, it was also hard to understand why Layla fell in love with Vlad because the only thing she ever found positive about him was his looks.

Their relationship was basically him being annoyed with her - and yet, he still wanted her. And her thinking he was cruel and dangerous - and yet, she was turned on by him. Absolutely NO explanation for this mutual attraction was given.

It seems to me Jeaniene Frost has become afraid of taking risks. With Cat and Bones she let Cat hate Bones in the beginning because that would be the natural reaction for her to have. That made the love that grew so much more believable. But in this book it seemed as if she was afraid her readers would cry out in annoyance if she didn`t let her hero and her heroine fall for each other instantaneously - as incredible as that would be - and she therefor skipped that very interesting build-up and ended up with a boring book.

The action in this book was also lacking. Given all the action-layers in Cat and Bones, the action in this book was so clearly just an excuse to have Vlad and Leyla end up in bed.

I had expected so much more but I have to say that I would have been disappointed even if I hadn`t had high expectations.

I love the Cat & Bones series, love the books about Mancheres and Spade. All five stars. Maybe my expectations were too high on this one? I've always loved Vlad, but realized that I'd been looking at him through the interactions with others. I found it tougher to like him in this book. He didn't seem like the same Vlad who cuddled with Cat when she was sad, who risked his life to protect the characters from the other books. I think this story would have benefitted by featuring more of these others so readers could see him through his relationships with people he's not torturing or threatening to impale. I'm hoping the next in this series makes Vlad easier for readers to love. And while all of the books have some type of unfinished business, this cliff-hanger was more like it just stopped. I love the fact that Leila was strong like the other females in Ms. Frost's books,and both chracters were interesting and well-developed. And the story was an easy read and enjoyable. But my expecations may have been too high, so this book was a "really liked it" rather than a "loved it." I can't wait for the next one, though, and for the next Cat & Bones book, and I'm still waiting for the book on Ian! :)

Other reviewers have summarized the plot very well so I don't think it is necessary to repeat it. What I would like to say is that I enjoyed this book very much and I think it is a great start to a wonderful new series. I did not want this book to end and I can't wait for the next. That is the same feeling I get when I read about Cat and Bones. So good job Jeaniene! If you haven't read any of the other books in the Night Huntress series you will enjoy this book but if you have read the other books you will love this book!

I love the Night Huntress series and have enjoyed all the spinoffs (some more than others), but this one is my favorite. Since the character of Vlad was first introduced I hoped she would write his story. And I was not disappointed. My only complaint is really a compliment - I can't wait until the 2nd book!

The Good:
Overall I'd have to say I loved the book. It was for the most part as engaging as Cat/Bones were in the beginning.

The Bad:

I've always liked Vlad even more than Bones but he's a bit boring on his own and the heroine's powers seem to surpass his abilities at times a bit emasculating to his character.

The Ugly:

I was completely disappointed with the ending. Although as an earlier review said I can't see him falling head over heels in love leaving it in a cliff hanger with a year wait feels like a betrayal.

The long awaited book from Jeaniene Frost was everything I had hope for. The character developments and plot had me reading this book in one sitting. I like the fact that the author was able to concentrate on the main characters and not intersperse the story line with secondary characters. This is by far the best book since Half Way to the Grave.

Pre-ordered on Kindle!!

Once Burned was my most anticipated read in 2011 and Vlad didn't disappoint me.

The first thing that comes to mind while thinking what I should write in this review is that I really missed Jeaniene's writing!!! I have read all of her Night Huntress series over almost three years and never re-read since then. Jeaniene has a special way with words, her writing is delicate when she is describing a beautiful building or a beautiful person, colorful when she is describing emotions or impasses and she can be very vibrant when her MC's are fighting or loving each other. In a few words there are a few things you cannot love when Jeaniene is writing!

Plus I love the world she has created in NH and in this book she stays true to this world with no unexpected turns. I love the "green in the eyes", the "rush of the bite", the sire-master dynamic and the "you belong to me" dynamic!!!

In her Night Prince spin-off series we get a foul on Vladislav Thepesh the Impaler! Dracula himself! And we get him with no restrictions, no softening up, and we have him in his natural environment Romania! Just the vampire everybody fears.

Leila is a girl with a tormented past and a very difficult power. This power has deprived her of the most basic things such as touch and intimacy and when she comes across a being that can handle her she finds herself unable to restraint. But she is no coward, she doesn't back down from a fight nor she is willing to "jump when he claps".

I love the way Vlad and Leila interact, but I would be furious if someone could read my mind (even if he was deadly handsome).

The main story line is that a really bad guy is doing bad thing to the girl we like (Leila) and Vlad is getting pissed that someone is trying to harm her and then hell breaks loose.

The thing I had serious issues and serious objections was the use of torture. I can understand the violence and cruelty during medieval times or during wars and hostilities but the use of torture in the 21century to you own people as a mean of punishment was totally unnecessary, let's hope that it's going to be Vlad's character development in the books to come.

Overall it was a very good book with lots of romance, steamy smex and lots lots of interesting characters. A must read if you are a fan of the genre!!!

This book is awesome! Jeaniene Frost has succeeded in makIng me fall in love with another male character. Honesty, I wish the book was longer!! I am excited about part two. I can't WAIT to see what she writes about Ian. Thanks Jeaniene!

Vlad is Sexy, Scary, and Unforgiving! I want one is all I can say ;-) He protects what is his at all costs, and will not stop until it's done! Frost pulls me in every time with her style of writing. Love Love Love It!!!

I love jeaniene Frost's books. As always she delivers a wonderful story with great characters. I am looking forward to Leila and Vlad's next book. My only complaint is the absence of Ian. But that makes totally sense given Ian and Vlad's backgrounds.

First, don't buy this book unless you've read Frost's previous Night Huntress books--it does not stand alone (and I wonder if all these 4 and 5 star reviews are holdover feelings from Frost's previous novels). Second, if you have enjoyed Frost's previous books, you KNOW you're going to buy this one, but prepare to be disappointed--so, just suck it up, I guess.

Why I'm disappointed:
This book would have benefited from an extra 100 pages. The basics of the plot were there--woman with paranormal ability is in danger from a bad guy so she must turn to a somewhat less bad guy for help--but detail and dialogue were lacking. (Cat, Bones, Mencheres, and Kira make a brief, gratuitous visit, and as much as I like them, Frost could have used those pages for development of something else.)

There is a noticeable lack of detail concerning the backstory of Leila, the female lead, and considering the novel's told from her point of view that's a problem. For example, Leila's best friend, Marty, with whom she lives and works, is a vampire (convenient since she doesn't have to go through that whole vampire-revelation thing), but there's no real explanation of how she met him. And it's not an obvious relationship that doesn't need explaining. This lack of detail would be fine if Leila were a character like Denise (First Drop of Crimson) that Frost had introduced in prior books, but she's not. I have a hard time caring about Leila or believing her acceptance of her new life.

One of the things I loved about Frost's earlier Night Huntress series was the interaction between Cat and Bones. She talks, he talks, and there is a sense of their relationship developing over time--even in the first book. In this book, however, the timeline is only a matter of days which makes it hard for me to accept the interaction between Vlad, the male lead, and Leila. In fact, I don't think they actually spend that much time together--Vlad is away a lot. Also, Vlad has the ability to read Leila's mind. This little plot device didn't come up until at least a couple of books into the Night Huntress series, and in this novel it's downright annoying. It just feels like a cop out so that Vlad's character doesn't have to say much. In fact, there are several scenes where he just stares at Leila. This uneven ability would really hinder a developing relationship and the interaction between Leila and Vlad would be more interesting without this little twist.

Ultimately, it just seems like Frost is depending on her previous stories to make this novel work. There seems to be a lot of Frost winking at the reader as if to say, "You've already got this and I don't really need to develop it, right?" I'm sure I'll buy the next Night Prince novel (Vlad and Leila don't have a resolution and the next one is due out next spring), but I'll be hoping that Frost steps it back up.

I've read all the Cat and Bones books, enjoying them immensely so I eagerly looked forward to Once Burned. However, I must say I was somewhat disappointed. The characters did not engage me as much as I expected, the plot had an element of being contrived in several spots, and the ending was no ending at all, not even of the decent cliffhanger variety. And this will seem an odd quibble, but I took offense at the reference to Cat and Bones' (cameos) as 'Ken and Barbie' (ouch, especially Bones!). I'm not sure this is a series that will grab and keep my loyalty given the rather poor start.

I have read all of Jeaniene Frost's books and loved them - this one, not so much. Vlad was cold and arrogant. Leila was often annoying. And the non-ending was so disappointing! To have to wait nearly a year to learn the outcome is more than my patience can bear. This story just seemed rushed to me and the book was too short. I just didn't "feel" the characters the way I did in the previous books, which were so satisfying. I understand that Ms Frost is writing another "Cat and Bones" book for release soon and I truly look forward to their continuing adventures.

I've read all of Frost's books, and Keep them on a pre-order when the new ones come out, She is one of FAVORITE authors! the down side to this book is I have to wait a year to see what happens.
Vlad &Leila's story has be begging for more, the perfect amount of everything!
If you are new to her books, start at the beggining with Cat & Bones and work your way down, you won't be sorry!!

The cover and Vlad seem to go hand in hand. Vlad is hot and steamy and oh so bad. I loved his character from the Night Huntress books, so I was super excited when Vlad got his own book. Can't wait for the next one next spring.

I loved this book (well except for the cliff-hanger ending!) Vlad is sooo hot (literally) and sexy! I also wish this book had more Cat and Bones in it too, maybe the next one will?? I cannot wait for the next book!

I sincerely wanted to like this novel and in fact was looking quite forward to reading it. After finishing the book, I kept wondering where the Vlad from the other novels of A Night Huntress and Night Huntress World was. He seems to have had a complete character make over! This Vlad was moody, cruel and sadly even narcissist. I wanted to get to know the Vlad who sat with Cat, on a cliff, giving her astute advice. I did however like the characters of Maximus and Marty.

I ordered this while waiting for the next Bones/Cat book. I am in love with Vlad and Leila now, too! I could not put this book down! Cannot wait for another Night Prince Novel - can't get enough of Vlad.

First off, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Jeaniene's other books. Her Cat & Bones books are especially good. Being introduced to Vlad through her previous work has really built up my anticipation about getting to know him better.

I had a hard time reading this book. This is not the Vlad that was so intriguing in the Cat/Bones series. He's like a completely different personality. His relationship with Leila is not fleshed out. He came across as incredibly arrogant and repulsive. I wasn't so thrilled with Leila either, who was weak, immature and did some really stupid stuff. (Sure, Cat was immature at first, but we got to see her character develop, and with Bones' guidance and maturity it all gelled nicely. Not here.) Sorry, but the bit when she went clubbing - when she was allowed to go clubbing while her life was in danger, was ludicrous. This, after Vlad arrogantly assured her that "nothing bad" would ever happen to her while she was under his protection. I scoffeth! He seems pretty incompetent for such a badass vamp. Credibility wanes.

I had a real problem with Vlad being able to read her mind, too. This totally takes away all her privacy and leaves her exposed at all times. It removes the element of mystery. It detracts the personalization of Leila's character. Things move too quickly. There's no slow 'getting to know you', no real 'thrill of the chase, no romantic suspense, etc. To make matters worse, even despite the fact he's totally in her head, it doesn't feel like they make a connection beyond the physical. When things got intimate, it felt more like porn than romance, because it wasn't based on anything. yawn! Also, his dare for her to go out with other vampires under his roof was ick-worthy, and the results totally predictable.

I don't like the storyline either. It's ponderous and lacking.

I highly recommend all of Jeaniene's other books, but not this one.

I actually couldn't finish this book.....There was no chemistry between the main characters who absolutely loathed each. We are expected to believe that they fall for each other, with him having a powerful male ego of "I take care of what's mine" and her being abused and then healed by his blood. This is not how people would fall in love.! The heroine thinks she is indestructable and goes around doing dumb things. Male hero is just plain macho and insensitive. Bedroom scenes are the only ones that show feeling and those seem to be thrown in just to show that both characters have softness to them. The things the characters do are for certain reasons, but still would be unforgiving and intolerable in the real world. Don't waste your time...I read to 86% and got so aggrevated by the stupidity that I just shut it down.

while this Vlad is certainly likeable, he is not the Vlad we know and have come to love in the Cat and Bones series. In his own story, his character fell a bit flat. It's still a fun read, but I was anticipating him in a relationship that had more "spark" and fire(yes, pun intended). In this book, there isn't the witty and amusing banter that you have in the previous Cat and Bones series/books. I would borrow but not buy this book.

Loved this book!! One of the best that Jeaniene Frost has written. I love the night Huntress series also, and always looked forward to more on Vlad. Can't wait until the next Night Prince series comes out next March!!

WAS A GOOD BOOK I DONT THINK IT LIVES UP TO CAT AND BONES STORIES BUT THE AUTHOR IS STILL BETTER THAN ANY OTHER OUT THERE EXCEPT MAYBE FOR KAREN CHANCE AND LAURAL K HAMILTON WITH EITHER OF THEIR TWO SERIES EACH DEFINATELY WORTH THE MONEY

I enjoyed Once Burned: A Night Prince Novel much more than the Cat and Bones stories. Vlad is the ultimate bad boy vampire and Leila is his perfect match. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

The accident scarred Leila but also allows her touch to kill as she controls electricity and can do psychometric readings. She works the carnival circuit until four vamps kidnap Leila because they need her uncanny ability to find Vlad Tepesh the firestarter vampire. Their plan is to kill him.

Leila applies her psychometric skills but finds herself telepathically communicating with an irate Vlad. He kills her abductors, but wonders who was behind the plot. Vlad also recognizes the mortal's uniqueness so he refuses to free her as he feels he can use her in his search. Leila, who has missed touching, finds he survives her touch so puts up little an argument.

This is the first Night Prince urban fantasy starring a fascinating Cat & Bones secondary character with quite a history. Leila brings the electrical charge to this fast-paced action thriller as she and the first person she can touch without electrocuting them since the accident team up to try to find the villain behind the assault on the vampire who one must never call Dracula. Jeaniene Frost has started an offshoot series with a winner.

Harriet Klausner

I had preordered this book and was really looking forward to its release. The caracters were weried and wonderful and a great take on Dracula. Everything flowed until the ending, then it just stopped. it did not ease into the ending , it almost felt like it stopped in the middle of a sentence. If that was supposed to be a cliff hanger Ms Frost needs to take a refresher course in cliff hanger 101 cause that just sucked. I love books with caracters that spin off into series but that was too obvious a ploy to make the reader pay again for an ending that we should have gotten in this book.

First and foremost, this is my first J.Frost novel. I picked it up while browsing for a "decent" horror/romance novel. The sample I got on my kindle made the novel sound way more interesting and well-thought out than it truly is. Honestly, I regret purchasing this novel.

While the female antagonist initially started out as strong-willed, intelligent and sassy she eventually, like many female characters in these types of novels do, succumbed to overly-emotional and irrational behavior. It's as though the author started out writing one fierce female character only to accidentally end with an entirely different character altogether; both characters are named "Leila" but pre-page-100-Leila was 100x more interesting than ending-Leila. It was quite disappointing. As for the male antagonist, he's pretty much like every other vampire riding the high on this vampire-mania that's gripping the nation. "Arrogant, deadly, dangerous, sexy," seems to be the four requirements for being so irresistible, the ladies swoon when you show up. While I was forgiving of his singularly harsh nature since the premise of the novel is that he is THE Vlad "the Impaler" Tepesh, towards the end when his character didn't flesh out, it got not only tiring but annoying. You're hot (literally). OK. I get it. Must you beat me over the head with the concept?

Then there is that "ending." Does no one know how cliffhangers work anymore? What sort of ending was that? A non-ending I would say. I understand the author wants to create suspense for the sequel but I don't think that's how it's done--or at least I didn't enjoy reading it done that way. One star for the semi-impressive heroine (even though she fizzled out at the end). Another star for the mildly amusing plot.

I would not recommend this book. Besides Leila (whose backwards life-threatening logic borders on suicidal insanity) and maybe Marty, there isn't much characterization. The plot is non-existent and the villain isn't really a villain; just some old dude blowing stuff up for the "lols" as my brother would say.

I was extremely disappointed in the latest Nighthuntress novel. I mean it wasn't even a complete story and had a very drab ending. I get authors need to make money, but shouldn't they be concerned with the quality of their product? Don't get me wrong, I loved all the previous books and I love the characters, but this was ridiculous. Vlad was one of the most mysterious of the characters and this is the story he was given. It does not live up to the Cat and Bones story, it was a very pale comparison even to the spin off stories with Spade and Mencheres. All I can say is that I hope the next book is better and ACTUAL reaches an ending.

Jeaniene Frost is back. Not that she went anywhere, really. But the last couple of Cat & Bones books didn't quite knock it out of the park for me. This book most assuredly did.

Once Burned is the long awaited Night Huntress spinoff, featuring Vlad. Right off the bat, I have to tell you that he makes this book sing. Not every cocky hero is a winner. In fact, most of them are downright off-putting for me. But Vlad finds just the right balance of swagger and depth. He is arrogant, but his walk matches his talk. And perhaps most importantly, he is never a jerk to his heroine. It isn't love at first sight. He doesn't write her sonnets or pick her flowers, but I could see respect there. I could believe it when I watched her fall in love with him.

Leila is human, but she isn't normal. An accident with electricity in her childhood left her with serious side effects. Now, she can not touch others without discharging power. She also carries the gift of psychometry. She can touch a person or a thing and see past, present, and future events tied to it. And whenever she touches someone for the first time, she always sees their darkest moment.

As the story begins, Leila accidentally gets a vision of a murder about to take place. She manages to prevent it, but in the process, she ends up calling some unwanted attention to herself. A group of vampires kidnaps her, planning to use her gifts to track down Vlad for his enemy. What they never expect is for her to reach out to him psychically instead. She makes a deal with Vlad to turn over her kidnappers in exchange for a rescue. And it works! But Vlad isn't quite willing to let her go after that. He hopes to use to her find the mystery man who ordered her kidnapping, in exchange for keeping her safe from future attacks. It's as they work together and grow to know one another that the two move beyond a business arrangement.

I like Leila. She is genuine and loyal, smart and pragmatic. I enjoyed watching her fight her feelings for Vlad. It made it even sweeter when she eventually succumbed. The sex is really hot. Nothing kinky, just really sensual and satisfying. The plot is interesting, the writing is conversational, and the pacing was so good that I didn't want to put down the book, even hours past my bedtime.

Night Huntress fans will be happy to know we get cameos from some familiar faces. Make no mistake, though. Vlad is the star of this book. He is sexy and complex. He is possessive and protective. But he doesn't give his heart easily and that bears mentioning. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Very, very good.

Jeaniene Frost continues to suck me into the Night Huntress Universe. Of course I devoured this one too. I’m convinced I’ll never get tired of this world and I dread the day when I have no more books to read.

As I’ve come to expect from Jeaniene Frost, Leila was a great heroine. She was strong and capable and she didn’t back down easily. I do admit though that I really need her to see the vampire world for what it is. I’m torn on this, on one hand I get that this world is new to her and she doesn’t know the ins and outs, but on the other hand I know what this world is like already and it’s frustrating to see her fight it. Also sometimes she needs to just let the vampires handle it. I get that you are strong and capable, but sometimes your help isn’t actually help. Listen to Vlad! And this isn’t a men vs women thing; I’m all for girl power. This is a “you are a human navigating a world you do not understand so let the people who do understand handle it” thing. At the end of the day though I did love Leila and I loved how she pushed Vlad’s buttons and stood up to him.

Vlad has always been an interesting one, so I was excited for a story with him as a hero. Vlad is super intense though and sometimes I was super exasperated with him, so I’m glad Leila was willing to put him in his place. He needs someone to keep his ego in check because it really knows no bounds. I liked Vlad but he has a ways to go before he catches up to Bones, Spade, and Mencheres. I think the thing with Vlad is that he is very closed off. With Jeaniene’s other guys, they were straightforward and knew what they wanted and went after Cat/Denise/Kira whereas Vlad has walls up that still need to come down, so that’s a bit different.

I do have to say though that I’m glad I read the Night Huntress books the way I did, one series at a time as opposed to the order the books released. Even though all the Night Huntress Universe books intertwine and contain spoilers for each other, I just can’t imagine having to step away from Cat and Bones to read a book with other characters in between. Reading it this way has definitely improved it for me- instead of rushing through the spin offs to get back to Cat and Bones, I now get to revisit a world I fell in love with.

Once Burned was a great read and I’m really intrigued with this series. I know I’ll be diving into Twice Tempted ASAP to see where it all goes.

I adored the Cat and Bones books, and I'm a lover of pretty much all cliched romance novels, so I bought Once Burned with high to middling expectations.

My one and only tip for potential buyers is this: if you are an advocate of women's rights, WALK AWAY NOW.

Sadly, this book read a little bit like a manual of how to get into an abusive/controlling relationship. Leila, while appearing ballsy and blunt at first, pretty much sits back and passively accepts all of Vlad's really problematic behavior over the course of 300 pages.

I have to agree with a lot of other reviewers that Vlad seemed way off from the small snippets we'd seen of him in the Night Huntress series. Gone was the snarky and slightly mischievous vampire with a soft side for Cat. In his place was a wildly arrogant and almost disgustingly controlling man. Seriously, if I were dating this guy, I'd slap him with a restraining order so fast his head would spin.

There's a lot of "I know best, be quiet, Leila" type of behavior that really put me on edge. Not to mention the multiple instances of Vlad treating her like property, i.e. others aren't allowed to touch her, she's not allowed to leave without permission, etc. The entire relationship just felt incredibly weighted in his favor to the point where eventually Leila's own personality sort of disappears in favor of catering to Vlad's weird and domineering control issues. Don't even get me started on the way her treats her family. The worst part is that his behavior is supposed to be seen as sexy and romantic. Protective rather than possessive. We're one step away from 50 Shades of Abuse here...

Needless to say, if you're looking for a hot, fun read about a smoldering vampire and his virgin lover, then this is a great mindless beach read. Full speed ahead! If you're looking for a real romance with subtext and equality and give and take... maybe look elsewhere.

I was excited to finally delve into Vlad's story and see who Jeaniene Frost would create to pair such a formidable character... I must say that Leila was a complex and dynamic choice to balance Vlad's strong and intimidating personality; with her own unique abilities and stubborn (strong in her convictions) but kind and vulnerable personality she certainly challenged the alpha male... The overall storyline was action packed and intense twisting and turning me through the scenes leading me in some emotional directions without fully knowing the outcomes... I look forward to the ways in which this story will continue to develop and the ways this couple will triumph over their many obstacles... 4 Stars:)

Leila was a great character to read from. She has some snark but not so much that it got irritating. Due to the fact that Vlad can read minds, her musings weren’t just for her and the reader to share, but Vlad was in on it too and never pretended like he couldn’t hear her. So even though there may have been inner dialect, she might as well have been having a spoken conversation. Leila wasn’t a character to cower either. When Vlad saves her from one vampire set on using her gifts, she doesn’t just meekly sit in his castle. She’s not afraid to speak up and take charge, and I really liked that about her character.

Vlad was a pleasure to read when he made appearances in the Night Huntress Series. So when I found out that he had his own book… I was ecstatic! Even though the book is written in Leila’s point of view, there is a lot of face time with Vlad. He shows his softer side as well as a playful side that we didn’t get to see too often in the other series. There’s even a part in this book where he lets it be known that his men can pursue Leila if they so choose and if she is willing. He does this because Leila is convinced that he thinks just because he’s immune to her electric touch, that she will fall at his feet and be his. So to prove to her that not only will he not force her to be his lover but that she really does want him, he lets his men court her. This really stepped Vlad up for me. He wasn’t just a egotistic man, he was willing to gamble on what he wanted.

There were a lot of funny moments in this book that had me breaking into a smile. The author definitely knows how to write funny stuff. My only complaint on this book is that nothing gets accomplished. There was no ending to it. No concussion or closure. Granted, it wasn’t a cliffhanger but still, I felt like there was no point to it other than to bring these two character together and to have them begin to trust each other. Sure there was humor and sexy scenes but I like to feel like I read a complete story when I finish a book, not a snippet of a series. It just felt like the author wrote this in a way so that people would have to purchase the next book in order to get anywhere in the story. I may still pick up the next book but I won’t be purchasing it like I did with this one. I will borrow it from the library.

Meet Vlad Tepesh the one and only Count Dracul?......Don’t make the mistake of adding that “A” on the end of Dracul.

In Once Burned the beginning of the Night Prince Series by Jeaninene Frost, who weaved a romantic tale about the Vlad the impaler. Vlad was a man of many secrets, and few will try to go toe to toe with him. But one person will try and tame him. Let me introduce you to Leila.

Just one tragic accident that taken her mother’s life, left her dreams in ruins, and left her scarred. Leila never thought that after losing so much, her life couldn’t get in worse. It has to her chagrined …when it got out that just by a single touch, she could see a person’s darkest secrets it brought out beings that we though were imaginary.

Kidnapped by creatures of the night, forced to use her gift to find and spy on the world’s most infamous vampire. Who knew that the powers she gained that tragic day would change Leila life for the worst or maybe for the better.

Once Burned was a fast pace paranormal romance with well developed characters, and a wonderful plot that sets up this series beautifully. Though this series is written in the first person narrative, the story itself will captivate you and will leave you gasping.

Genre: paranormal romance

Recommendation: absolutely recommend!

Age: 18+( grown and sexy only)

Type: multi-book series, one to be released

Summary: I love this book and I love this series. A must read for paranormal romance lovers. Jeaniene Frost is a goddess. + passion + action +fully developed characters +awesome plot- it is an all around great read.

"Being a member of a circus sideshow wasn't what I'd dreamed of doing when I was a kid, but that was before I started frying the circuits of every electrical device I touched, not to mention shocking people by casual contact."

Full Review:

Once Burned is the first of four novels in the Night Prince series by Jeaniene Frost. Let me start by saying that this is one of the best vampire romance series that I have gotten my hands on. I have read all three of the released books and I am waiting ever so impatiently for the fourth. Seriously..come on with it!

The series follows Leila Dalton, a girl who has spent her life being different. After suffering a childhood accident, she acquired a special set of abilities and a wicked looking scar that have earned her the nickname Frankie. While working as a carnie, Leila is taken by a group of vampire assassins with the aim of using her skill set to obtain the whereabouts of a powerful enemy. While under duress she is forced to use her abilities and encounters Vlad, the vampire they seek but things don't go the way her captors had planned. Through a series of events even she couldn't expect, Leila finds herself a guest in his compound and the two of them combine their efforts to keep her safe and find out who is behind the attempts on his life.

Enter Vlad. He is mysteriously scary, ridiculously strong and not one to mess with. Vlad stands in as Leila's protector whether she likes it or not. He controls his people by using torture and fear to keep them in line and Leila finds herself feeling a mixture of apprehension, fear and of course..intense attraction.

"Very slowly he turned his head. When those burnished copper eyes seemed to land on me, I fought my instinct to drop the link and run like hell."

"'Oh it's too late for you to run,' he said coldly."

This series gives you wicked action, intense romance and a hilariously sarcastic banter that brought a smile to my face and made me laugh out loud enough times for my husband to look at me crazy. Jeaniene Frost is a magician when it comes to writing. This series is a must read for those that like romance, vampires, a BA male lead and a female lead that is a force to be reckoned with. Definitely for the grown and sexy!

I enjoyed the first book in Vlad's spin-off series, but it didn't grab me as much as I expected it too. I've always liked Vlad, he's got that rough around the edges appeal and we've seen his devotion to friends with Cat and Mencheres in the Night Huntress series. However, I never felt like we got a deeper understanding of him. I expected to find out more about him and be further entranced by his character, but it felt pretty two dimensional with less oomph than when he's featured in the Night Huntress books. I did like Leila and thought her story was interesting. They fit well together as a couple, and the action scenes were great. However, something was missing, they lacked that "wow" effect Cat and Bones had immediately. I'm hoping the Night Prince series builds as it goes.

This is the first book I have read by Frost. It is classified as a romance, but it was so gruesome, I could not get in the mood.

The aspect of the book that I appreciated most was that Vlad never offered to remove her scar. He found her beautiful as she was.

I also enjoyed some of the humor, where Vlad was amused by Leila..

Also, I liked Marty, her father-figure vampire friend.

The book held my interest fairly well, but some parts I rushed through.

Bottom line, I sorta liked the book, but with some caveats:

The main characters were plagued by guilt ( cliche 1, not again!). The H had lost at love once before and would never love again (cliche 2). Nope, not in all his eternal days. Now where have I heard this before?

I found Vlad to be sexy, but also repugnant. What's with the impaling of your own people and Leila's friend?? I was turned off from the time he impaled Marty. Then, he nearly impaled Maximus!? Sheesh! What's lovable about that? Why not lead by fraternity, loyalty, brotherly love?

Hard to cozy up to such a nasty character.

A bit repulsive, all the burning, charring, bleeding, beheading, impaling. I was grossed out by touching the bones all the time, even putting them on the table where Leila just had breakfast. Yuck. All this ickiness made it hard to get into the book as a developing romance.

Because Vlad was the only one who could touch Leila without getting shocked, the love affair felt less authentic. Almost like, "Hey, I'm a virgin, and always will be since nobody can handle my voltage, so I better take this chance for sex."

And the sex was hot and steamy! I like!

In my view, referring to Vlad as the true historical figure was just wrong. The historic Impaler was one psychotic mess (due to torture in his youth). I sympathize with old Vlad, but NO WAY can I place him in a romantic context-- not in my mental schema. Hello!! It was jarring.

Also, I'm not crazy about first person point of view, even though it was actually okay here.

Hard to feel the tension build in a romance where HE knows everything SHE is thinking.

I could not get into the whole family drama with Gretchen and Pop. Just did nothing for me. Could have been left out.

Maybe I have not read enough vampire lore, but I did not buy into the references to Cain. Exactly where in Genesis does a vampire notion arise? I realize it's not true, but I'm curious to follow the logic.

Finally, the ending was so ... NOT an ending. Frost and publisher should respect the readers more than that. Smarmy salesmanship. Wait for book 2!! The book was not sold as Part 1. It is a stand-alone book, yet part of a series.

I've never read anything from this author but I figured for 2.99 I will try it because I was bored. I have to say I am really happy with what I read. Leila isn't some whiny annoying heroine who is to scared to protect those she loves. I actually enjoyed the slow development of love she has for Vlad, it wasn't just some instant meet and love each other like other paranormal books, but although it wasn't instant it also wasn't drawn out like other contemporary romances or other non paranormals books. The way Ms. Frost writes is truly amazing it makes you feel captivated from the beginning of book I had to finish in one sitting then went and bought the audible book too, I highly recommend the audible. I for one Love sagas and am very happy with this story I will buy the rest and read the huntress series next.

4.5-5 stars

This was a great book. I love Vlad! He's now been added to my book boyfriend list. I already liked Vlad from the Night Huntress series but now I love him as the hero in his own book. Leila is pretty cool and I thought she was a good match for Vlad.

Leila is a circus performer. She has a trampoline act that she performs using skills she earned as a gymnast when she was young. Leila has unusual power that she got after being electrocuted as a child. She almost dies but after she recovered they found that she stores energy in her body and releases it at a touch. She also gains visions of the past, present or future from items. Unfortunately, she also sees the person's worst sin when she first touches a person so Leila has been subjected to more darkness than most would believe in her young life.

Vlad is the friend of Cat and multiple other vampires from the main Night Huntress series (although not Bones...he and Bones have a mutual enmity between them). Vlad is the real Vlad Tepesh (as in Vlad the Impaler from Romania). He was turned in to a vampire 600+ years ago and has cut a bloody swath through history in order to protect his people and defeat his enemies. Regardless of his ruthlessness, Vlad is actually a decent guy with a bit of a soft heart at times but buried so deep it's hard to see and only comes out at rare times. Vlad is a very powerful Vampire and has the ability to read minds and is pyrotechnic.

Leila is in Florida on the carnival off-season when she accidentally learns (through her powers) that a man is planning to kill his wife. She saves the wive's life but the story gets thrown around in the papers and Leila gets some unwanted publicity. This becomes a problem when it brings Leila to the attention of a vampire that decides to kidnap her in order to force her to use her abilities to find Vlad in order to carry out his dastardly plans. Leila does get kidnapped and forced to help the bad vamps. Unfortunately she's already seen that they plan to kill her once they're done with her anyways so she's trying desperately to figure out how to get out of this situation. While trying to link to see Vlad through the items she's provided, she ends up getting through to him and is surprised when he seems aware of her presence (not something that usually happens). They end up talking through the link and Leila gets Vlad to agree to help her escape in exchange for her telling him where to find his enemies. Vlad does free her from the bad vamps but it becomes apparent that they're just lackeys and Leila will still be in danger of being kidnapped again. Vlad convinces her with his brutal logic, that she needs to stay with him while this issue is worked out. Leila is shocked to find that she can touch Vlad for long periods of time without harming him. This is something she hasn't had...not even with her one vampire friend, Marty (who is her partner in the circus act). Leila is also surprised at her attraction for Vlad and is embarrassed because with his mind reading abilities, Vlad is very aware of it. Because of her inability to touch others without electrocuting them, Leila has no experience and is sure that Vlad isn't a good person to become lovers with but yet she can't seem to find an attraction to anyone else.

It's interesting to see Leila and Vlad become lovers. Vlad is arrogant and seems to decide pretty quickly that Leila was meant for him and will be his. He's willing to give Leila some space to figure this out for herself and she has mixed feelings when she does but eventually accepts that a relationship between her and Vlad is going to happen. The attraction is strong between them and Vlad makes it clear when they take that step that she's his but I don't think that Leila understands the depth of the territoriality of vampires. Thus they tumultuously start their relationship. Vlad makes it clear that he'll be good to her but that his ability to love died long ago and he can't give her that. Leila agrees to it but as time goes by (and her feelings for Vlad deepen) she wonders if she can deal with that and if his ability to love truly is dead. I have to admit that Vlad does make some great strides and gives Leila some definite latitude when she gets pissed at him and does some things she probably shouldn't have. Although she knows Vlad is ruthless, she doesn't hold her tongue around him and is quite ready to speak her mind and argue with him (something that shocks the hell out of most everyone else). While they start their relationship, they also try to find the bad guy that kidnapped Leila to use against Vlad. The bad guy attacks more and Leila is able to find some clues but they lead to someone that should have been dead centuries ago. There's a lot that goes on in the action plot as Vlad and Leila get closer to the bad guy. Leila ends up in danger but kicks some butt herself before the end. Unfortunately as things end, there's a possibility that the bad guy got away and Leila is still unsure of where she stands with Vlad, especially after an unexpected development.

This is a great book. I love Vlad and Leila and really enjoyed seeing Vlad start to come out of his shell and Leila not backing down from him. I really enjoyed the story. Frost did a great job at balancing the action and romance story lines, all while keeping things interesting so I didn't want to stop reading. It does end in with a bit of a cliffhanger since the bad guy is unaccounted for and the relationship status is more of a maybe HFN so I can't wait to read the next installment of the series. I'd recommend this book. 2 thumbs up. :D

* note - I listened to the audiobook of this and Tavia Gilbert did a great job on the narration. She does so good on Vlad's voice!

This book could be read alone if you aren't familiar with Frosts world of the supernatural. This is a spin off from her Night Huntress Series. This book focuses on Vlad and the woman with supernatural abilities, Liela who enters his life because someone from Vlad's past is seeking revenge.
I enjoy Frosts world of The Night Huntress, and fell in love with Cat and Bones. Then the spin off books of The Night Huntress World, which delved into the past of several other vampires I have fallen for, Spade and Mencheres. I enjoyed the tales on how they met their wives.
Once Burned still has the Vlad "Dracula" I love, but Leila at times got my nerves. Fights are natural in any relationship but she gets mad at Vlad for being himself, its like at times she has rose colored glasses on and expects Vlad to fit her idea of who he should be but most of the time, she deals with reality, thankfully, and how a person who knows vampires exist, can;t believe that Vlad is Dracula, when in the book First Drop of Crimson, Denise, meets Vlad and knows as much as Leila does, and believes he's Vlad the Impaler, Dracula. What self respecting vampire would go to the extreme of impersonating a notorious figure from history? Most want to make a name for themselves and not have to hold up to someone that infamous.
This book, over all wasn't bad. Its a pretty good read but not one of Frost's better stories. I think the next one will be better, because, hopefully, Leila will have put the rose colored glasses up for good, and be the woman she became at the end of the tale.

This was the book that got me hooked on Jeaniene's books. I listened to them via audible (highly highly recommend) and own almost every single one of her books. I've read the Night Prince series 2-3 times in the last year. I only discovered her books in the Summer of 2017. If you love sexy romances, deep connections, and endless plot twists, you'll love it. And if you love audiobooks, get it that way. Talia does such a phenomenal job at narrating the characters. You feel like you're right there.

Leila has an extraordinary power. She can harness electricity and when she touches people or objects, seh can read their past. But once her secret is revealed, she is kidnapped and forced to go against the most famous vampire of all time – Vlad.

Vlad is somewhat taken by this woman and her abilities. But can she be trusted? He’s one of the oldest and most feared vampires around, and he didn’t get there by being warm and fuzzy. But there’s something about Leila he can’t stay away from. Can they figure out who hired to kidnap her? And can he protect his heart and hers in the process?

So much fun.

I’ve been having a little bit of a hard time concentrating on any one book recently. Could be because of traveling, or work, or a number of other things. But this is the first book in a couple of weeks that I was happy to focus solely on. I have to admit, I was even disappointed that I had some lunches this week and couldn’t read during lunch like I planned to.

I loved Vlad from the Cat and Bones series so for him to get his own book is like this:

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SCORE!

And I was so not disappointed!

Vlad is dangerous, deadly and oh, very rough around the edges. Most of the time, Leila and I wanted to kiss him, slap him, then kiss him some more. Stubborn vampires.

Leila is a great heroine to get behind. She’s feisty without being annoying. She’s brave without being stupid. Her inner monologue is funny and their conversations made me smile. And she’s got some baggage to her but luckily, it doesn’t make her this really depressing and hard to love character. It toughens her up, makes her lash out and gives her some depth but doesn’t control her. I really liked this because a lot of characters these days can wallow in guilt and depression, losing their personality in the process. But not Leila. This is Frost at her best with two different, well drawn characters in a deadly game and a lot of humor.

The book moves fast and if you’re a fan of her Cat and Bones series, you’ll be happy to see some cameos. Vlad’s storyline is more fleshed out which is pretty awesome. There are so many re-tellings and stories about Vlad out there. Frost does a fine job making this Vlad her own. I liked Maximus a lot too, Vlad’s second in command. He’s so different from Vlad!

There’s some steamy you know what and though it’s been a while since I read a Frost book (maybe a year), I had no problem jumping into her world again! Enjoying every minute of it.

Overall, a great start to an exciting series. In fact, I’ve started book two as soon as I was done with book one. What can I say?

Love me those vampires!

Rating: 9 Ridiculously Awesome like Cookies and Ice Cream

This is book 1 of a series spinoff from Night Huntress. It’s on Vlad and Leila! Once again, we have a girl who kicks [blocked] Due to an accident when she was a teenager, her right hand has electricity coming out of it. So she can’t touch people or she hurts them. This ends up turning her into a loner and she only has one friend, Marty, who is a dwarf vampire. She can also touch objects and get impressions of the past or future from it. When she touches someone, she also witnesses their greatest sin.

So you can tell why someone like that is bound to be kidnapped to be used for some evil vampire’s purposes. Our evil vampire is Mihaly Szilagyi. Let’s just say he is NOT a fan of Vlad for at least a couple of centuries because he’s a power hungry [blocked] who ends up stabbing Vlad in the back and has been trying to kill him for a lonnnnng time.

I like Vlad’s character. He is the macho man “I refuse to love you Leila” yet everything he does speaks volumes on his love for her. He comes out as very cold and regal (but of course, since he’s THE Dracula) and he has a flare for dramatics when it comes to torturing people and showing your strength to your enemies.

Pretty good book but not a must read before you die. Leila and Vlad’s romance goes slowly (which I like) and

Don't know how to hide spoilers on an the store review, so see my profile's website link for spoilers.

Jeaniene Frost is one of my favorite picks when I want a little "bite" to my romance. I love her Cat and Bones series. I didn't love Vlad when I first met him in the earlier books. I found him to be very arrogant with an extremely large chip on his shoulder. With Once Burned, readers are given an inside and very in depth look into Vlad's life. He's not the typical vampire hero that readers will instantly fall for, but without realizing that it's happening, readers will find themselves drawn to him, wanting to know more and get to know him better. I'm still annoyed that Ian has not gotten a story yet and still hoping for one, but by the end of this book, I found myself firmly a fan of Vlad.

Leila is also not your typical heroine. I really liked that she thinks quickly on her feet and makes the most of a bad situation to turn it around. I knew Leila would be an interesting character as soon as she is kidnapped in the beginning of the book, Instead of being a blubbery and withering victim, she turns the tables on her kidnappers. I found her gifts of telepathy and electricity very intriguing as well. Ms. Frost does an excellent job of bringing in the background of both of these characters to give the reader a better idea of who they are without digressing too much from the main story.

A lot of new characters are introduced that I really liked, especially Maximus, a vampire who works for Vlad and who befriends Leila. This story has a great mix of action, passion, intrigue and even some funny moments. Cat, Bones and Mencheres also make an appearance so there really wasn't anything I could complain about too loudly. The story ends with a big unfinished twist that I hope will be addressed in the next book, Twice Tempted.

My Final Verdict: I found this to be a very good start to an interesting series that should appeal not only to fans of Cat and Bones, but also to all fans of vampire romance. Vlad and Leila are very strong willed characters that I enjoyed getting to know and look forward to what they face next.

I'm really a little surprised at myself for reading this. The only other Jeaniene Frost books I've read were the first of the Night Huntress series, and I really didn't care for them. But I found a paperback copy of this at the charity shop for pennies, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Surprisingly I liked it. I especially appreciated Frankie's strong personality. She stood up for herself again and again. Vlad lacked warmth of any sort, but he was supposed to, so it was pretty easy to overlook. Still, this made him a little hard to like. I managed it though. He made a good alpha male. Plus, it would be pretty much impossible to not love Marty and/or at least like Maximus.

I thought it was interesting that Cat and Bones showed up here. I haven't read past book two of the Night Huntress series, but I get the distinct impression that there may be more overlap between these series than I know about. I think that's cool and all, but it leaves me wondering if I'm missing out on something. Is this a spinoff series?

I read a lot and a lot of the books I read come from the the store free list. This means that many, if not most of them are from Indie houses or self published authors. When I review them I often feel compelled to mention the editing. Anyone who has read many such books knows that the editing can be hit or miss. Well, I find myself similarly inspired to mention editing here too. These books are published by HarperCollins, a fairly big name publisher. But I noticed a ton of editing mistakes in it. I can't honestly say it was any better edited than some of the good Indie/self published books I've come across. Just one more example of the three publishing methods coming closer together, I suppose.

All in all, this book encouraged me to give the author more attention in the future. Many of the things I previously disliked in her writing (what of it I had read anyway) weren't present here. So I can honestly call this a fun PNR that kept me interested enough to seek out the sequel.

I'm normally a huge fan of Frost's work and an even bigger fan of Tavia Gilbert, as I think she's one of the more talented narrators out there. Somehow though, Once Burned seems to fizzle more than it sparks.

There is enough here to where fans of Frost's work and of the Night Huntress world as a whole will enjoy the ride. It's a decent enough work and the characters here aren't awful. Leila (also referred to as "Frankie" by some characters) is a likable enough heroine, although at times she seems to be a little bit of an amalgam of the various heroines seen so far in the NH series. Her abilities are interesting, but at times she just feels a little bit too much of a generic Frost character. It's hard to get as excited over her when we've seen much of the same, only with more buildup and payoff.

Vlad is great and the sex scenes are nice and smoldering, showing that Frost's strongest point will always be how she manages to make each sex scene feel like it's the first time we've read her work. This is also one of the places Gilbert especially succeeds as well. The combination of the two when they're both in their element is really hard to beat.

Story-wise, this is your average Frost work. It's not terrible, but there are points here and there that just seem to sag rather than thrill. I couldn't help but feel that Frost could have done more with this villain, as it feels like he was brought in more to introduce the characters and setting than anything else. I also got a little frustrated at the "blink and you'll miss them" cameos with Bones and Cat. They seem to have been added more to remind the readers that we're reading a spin-off book than to serve any true purpose. Bones does give Leila some advice, but it was the type that she could've gotten from anywhere or come up with herself. It just seemed a little extraneous and I'd rather have had the time served building up Leila or tweaking the plot a little more.

Overall this isn't an awful book and I'd still recommend it to fans of the series, but I wouldn't recommend it to new readers. That may seem like it'd be an obvious recommendation, but this can be read as a standalone text, although you'd benefit more if you know the backstory. Because of that I'd recommend new readers start with the far more interesting Halfway to the Grave. I'd also recommend that people maybe get this one from the library. It's nice and I don't regret listening to it, but this is perhaps the first book I've listened to by the Frost/Gilbert combo that didn't make me want to purchase the series outright.

It's so good to be back in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress World and it's been a while - probably almost a year since the last Cat and Bones story and that was just a novella. I had to spend a few moments reacquainting myself with the rules. Can the vamps go out in the sun - yes unless they're newbies. Does a wooden stake kill them - no. Do they sparkle in the sunshine - nope!

It only took a few minutes with Vlad for it all to coming back but we'll start with Leila.

After touching a live power cable, Leila has been left scarred and with unusual abilities - she can channel electricity and, with a single touch, she can telepathically read people - things that were, things, that are and some things that have not yet come to pass. (Just had to get in a LOTR quote there!). She works as a carnie with her partner Marty, a dwarf vampire. After an accidental encounter in the street, Leila garners some unwanted publicity by saving a passer-by's life after seeing a vision of her murder.

Before she can say "Listen to them - the children of the night." she is abducted by a gang of vamps hired by Vlad's enemy in an attempt to coerce her into using her telepathic skills to locate him. She does and he can sense her instantly and they talk and he comes to her and what an entrance he makes - he explodes onto the scene like a Rock Star in a stadium. Be still my beating heart!

Vlad takes her under his protection and takes her to his castle and their relationship begins. Vlad has centuries of hurt buried beneath that sardonic exterior and, even though he cares for Leila, he says he can never love her but Leila is falling in love with him.

Vlad is very much the Vlad that we've known for several books - grimly mocking, stern, brusque, deadly and still in the impaling business if anyone crosses him. He rules his people with an iron fist but they respect him as well as fear him. Leila is a good partner for him - she's fiercely loyal (something Vlad values above all else), brave and a little vulnerable. With her electric personality and Vlad's fire-starting capabilities you'd expect their sex to be hot and they don't disappoint, positively setting fire to the pages. Not quite the vaunted heights of Chapter 32 but almost!

There's a great host of secondary vamps and I developed a great fondness for Maximus and I do hope he finds love soon - as Vlad points out, he's muscular, virile and single. With Shrapnel and Marty, there's plenty to flesh out a whole series.

Vlad's enemies are closing in and there's a very thrilling climax to the story when we get to see Vlad at his very most deadly - angered by the threat to Leila. After the big showdown, things are left very unresolved between Vlad and Leila and I think it pays to remember how we left Cat and Bones at the end of Halfway to the Grave and remember this is just the first of a series and that there is a long way to go yet - got to keep that sexual chemistry fizzing for the next one.

Nice but short cameo from Cat & Bones and Mencheres & Kira with Bones antagonising Vlad, as ever.

Vlad fans this one is for you.

"I'm the only authentic Vlad. Everyone else is merely an envious imitation."

Vlad was one of my favorite characters from the Night Huntress series and in this book I don't think he disappoints. JF did a great job of making Vlad completely likable while still impaling people who fail him on stakes. You could read this book without reading the Night Huntress Series but I think that it wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable.

Leila has the unusual talent of generating and conducting electricity. This makes dating impossible when a mere touch can electrocute your date, even if `sparks flying' is supposed to be a good thing. She can also see the past and the future when she touches objects and/or people. This has been the burden she has carried over the last ten years it also makes her a hot commodity once it is discovered.

Someone is trying to ambush and kill Vlad and Leila has agreed to help him figure out who his enemy is. But sparks really do fly when they start spending time together. He is the first man able to touch her without dire consequences. Add to that he is deadly sexy and just admit it resistance is futile.

"Vlad Tepesh, former voivode of Wallachia and the most arrogant, deadly, frightening man I've ever met."
His lips curled with disdainful amusement. "Compliments won't sway me any more than the word please, Leila."

I enjoyed the pacing and getting to know Vlad a little better although I would have loved to see a few chapters from his POV. The sexy deadly vampire who lost his ability to love long ago, or did he? Still the story was engaging and there are a few pretty hot scenes thrown in for good measure. Definitely entertaining, even though Vlad and Leila are no Cat and Bones the dynamic is still strong. Here is hoping the next book in this series is just as fun.

A tempting new trilogy from Jeaniene Frost. Leila a young human with a little something extra in heavy romance with our favorite Vlad from the Night Huntress series also from Jeaniene Frost.
Frost starts of with Once Burned. This exiting first installment kept me up till late at night. Fantastic book with even better world-building and amazing characters. Leila is a character you will love from the start. And with the teasing of Vlad in the Night Huntress Series a warm welcome, he finally got a chance to have his own book. Also the returning of the characters from the Night Huntress series was a surprise. Can't have enough of Cat and Bones. After finishing this book late at night it didn't stop me to turn the e-reader off and go to bed.... No of course I had to read the first pages of the second book Twice Tempted before I could rest.
This was not a wise plan. It ended of course a few hours later when my tired body won from my over eager reading mind. First I thought that I missed something when I started this book. It didn't quite started where Once burned had ended. For a few pages I wondered if I missed a 1.5 version of this series. The transfer from book 1 and 2 could have been smoother. Also the characters and world-building of book one where missing some edge in second book.

The second part of Twice tempted was a little shallow, as if all the attention of Jeaniene Frost was already on the third and final book before she was done writing this one. I think a few chapters of the first part of the book and a larger part of the second could really have used a little more attention and character details or maybe the editors of the first book?!

Neverless all two of them big in the rating stars. 5 stars for once burned, 4 1/2 for Twice Temped. But only because I wanted to know how the Leila and Vlad story would continue if I have to honest I don't think Twice tempted is really worth 4 stars. Still we hopefully anticipating the final book of this addicting series

As a huge fan of Jeaniene Frost, I am upset with myself for falling so behind on her books. I've owned the Once Burned audiobook since the day it release, and own a paperback, but just kept putting it off. Maybe it's because while I've always liked Vlad Tepesh as a secondary character, I wasn't sure that I was super excited to see him as a leading man?

Whatever the reason, I'm glad I finally listed to Once Burned. It always takes me a while to get fully invested in the spin-offs of the Night Huntress series, especially when each hero (Mencheres, Spade) gets only one book. But knowing that Vlad and his new lady Leila get three books helped me latch on to their story. Honestly, I liked this story, but only the basics stuck with me. I'm not sure if that's because I listened over a long period of time, was easily distracted, or I just didn't fall overly in love with the story. This story basically goes along the same path as the Night Huntress World series books, vampire meets human, she's in danger, he takes her in, there's something physically "different"about her that makes her more adaptive to the supernatural world, they fall in love while battling the bad guys. In Leila's case, she can shock other's and can read thoughts. But still, this is Jeaniene Frost here, and I always enjoy her books.

I have to say, Tavia Gilbert is by far my favorite narrator. She always brings a sense of enthusiasm and life to the stories she narrates. She does a great job of differentiating the characters with her voice. Listening to Gilbert makes the audio even more enjoyable than physically reading the books, and that is rare.

Even though I didn't love love Once Burned, I did like it, and as soon as I finished, I opened up Twice Tempted.

I'm a massive fan of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and I enjoyed the spin off stories about Spade and Mencheres but Vlad has always been a favourite of mine so I had high hopes for the first book in his series. I'm so pleased to say that Once Burned didn't disappoint, Vlad has found a worthy heroine in Leila and the story contains the great mix of romance and action that any Jeaniene Frost fan will already know to expect. Although this story fits into the overall Night Huntress time line after One Grave at a Time I would actually say that this series can be used as a starting point even if you haven't read any of the other books. Personally I would recommend reading them in order though because Cat and Bones will always be one of my favourite fictional couples and you don't want to miss out on meeting them.

Once Burned is narrated by new character Leila, a human woman with some very interesting abilities. When she was a teen Leila suffered a severe electric shock after touching a power line and ever since then her body has held onto an electrical charge that shocks anyone who she touches. Along with conducting electricity Leila also developed the power to touch an object and get a glimpse into the lives of people connected to it. Leila is aware that vampires exist, in fact her only friend is a vampire who is able to survive the effects of Leila's electric shocks without permanent damage but she has done her best to stay off the radar of anything supernatural. Unfortunately for her she hasn't succeeded and she is kidnapped by a group of vampires who want to use her ability to track down Vlad and ambush him. Leila is left with only 2 choices, she either helps the vampires who she knows are planning to kill her or she warns Vlad of their plans and hopes that he will help her.

Vlad is sexy, arrogant and scary as hell - he didn't inspire the legend of Dracula for no reason after all! His fierce reputation has been earned and he doesn't flinch away from dealing out harsh punishments when they are needed. As much as he is prepared to be brutal to his enemies he does it because he cares about the people who are under his protection. He wants his enemies to know that he will stop at nothing to keep his people safe and if anyone crosses him or those he considers his then they won't live long but they'll still suffer enough to make them regret it. Vlad has spent hundreds of years ruling with an iron fist but he obviously has the respect of the people in his line and they know that as long as they don't betray him he will give them anything they need. Although he is incredibly pushy and arrogant he does have a softer side that Leila is only just starting to uncover and I want to see more of that side to him.

Leila's abilities make it very difficult for her to be around people so she has become quite a loner but because Vlad is immune to her power she finally has the option of being close to someone. The chemistry between them is fantastic but I really liked the fact that they are both wary of building a relationship and are taking things slowly. Things are definitely moving in the right direction for them but I'm glad their story hasn't been crammed into one book and that we're going to spend more time with the pair. Vlad and Leila don't quite manage to beat Bones and Cat to become my favourite couple in the series but they are definitely a fun pair to spend time with and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them.

As with the rest of Jeaniene Frost's books Once Burned is a great read full of action, romance, hot sex, humour and great side characters. It was nice to see a brief appearance from Cat & Bones but I'm glad that their presence didn't overwhelm the story and take away from the main couple. This is Vlad and Leila's book and too much of the other characters would have spoilt that. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending to this one so I'm glad I waited until the release of Twice Tempted before reading it and I can't wait to get started on the next book.

I have read this book three times. Once from paperback, twice by audio. And I think it is AMAZING.

Leila is a circus performer--the only job left after an accident makes her prone to shocking people because of excess electrical voltage. Kidnapped by vampires she finds herself in the hands of Vlad the impaler. He intrigues her and frightens her, but he is the only who can withstand the electrical currents she has no control over. With him, she'll find the sweetest pleasure and the greatest pain.

Vlad is unyielding and unbending and states he can never love Leila, but will do everything in his power to protect her. Together they test the limits of her abilities and pursue an age old enemy.

Jeaniene wrote Vlad in a way that I adored--he never changed, but he did make concessions only to Leila. She wrote these characters who dealt with deep seated pain and the strength that kept them both from going mad. This is a story with great depth and kept me turning the page. She was unflinching about bringing pain to her characters and even I gasped a time or two.

Tavia Gilbert was the narrator. She brought to life Vlad and Leila. I was completely and utterly transfixed the first time listened (Ok, both times). She has amazing ability to take these characters and make them real, as if they are sitting next to you. How she juggles all the voices especially in scenes with many people--shows her skill and creativity.

This was an outstanding book. I adored it. I highly recommend it.

I think one of my favorite phrases from Vlad was "Do you think Please will work with me?" No. My type of hero if you ask me!

In the Cat and Bones books, Vlad is a peripheral character who appears now and again. Like Mencheres, I wasn't overly fond of Vlad in those books, but I was curious to learn more about him and his back story. Unlike with Mencheres, reading Vlad's story did not make me a much bigger fan of him. I know all of the vampires are violent and ruthless and protective of what's theirs, but Vlad just seems to go overboard with it.

I liked Leila, and felt terribly sorry for her and what her life had become since she was electrocuted. When we meet her, she and her only real friend, Marty, work for a carnival. Marty happens to be a vampire, so Leila already knows all about them.

Leila can't have a relationship with anyone because she can't touch anyone without shocking them. She keeps her right hand in a rubber glove or tight against her side, because if she even brushes against someone with that hand she has a vision of their worst sin, and relives some of their memories, and sometimes gets a glimpse of their future. She can also touch an object, and see flashes, memories, of the person who touched it before her. If she gets a glimpse of a future vision, she knows where that person will be at that time.

Leila is kidnapped by a group of vampires who force her to use this ability to track Vlad. But Vlad's own abilities are strong enough that he is aware of Leila peeking inside his head. Thus, that is how they meet for the first time.

Vlad is well known among the vampire community for being able to produce fire from his hands, which is how he conquers his enemies - burning them to death. Leila's touch seems to have no affect on him, other than lust.

Vlad and Leila go well together. But Vlad told Leila right off the bat that he will never love her, that he no longer has that capacity. Bones loved Cat from the start. Spade and Denise had a love story, Mencheres and Kira had a love story. I expected a love story for Vlad also, but this was all action. Yes, there was sex, but no romance. And there wasn't as much humor as I've become accustomed to. Leila tossed off some funny lines, but Vlad didn't toss them back like the others do. I'm trying to remember if he had a better sense of humor in the Cat and Bones books - maybe I expected to much from him.

This is the first in a new series, and the second book releases in April. Even though I didn't love this one as much as previous Frost books, I didn't dislike it either, and I still look forward to the next book.

I hesitated to pick up this book, but after my e-reader malfunctioned and downloaded Once Burned to my library and charged it to my credit card, the decision was made for me.
I was sceptical at first because I lost interest in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series after finishing the third installment. Although I enjoy the author's writing style, there was just not enough character development for me to continue, and Cat's adventures with Bones felt very repetitive.
Needless to say, I was pretty surprised when I finished the first chapter of Once Burned.
The background story of Leila, the heroine, and her current living/working arrangements are very interesting and not something you usually find in UF/PR books.
Due to a childhood accident, Leila possesses the ability to glimpse parts of other people's lives (past, present, and future) through touch, albeit a significant drawback, and once her secret gets out of her trusted circle, certain people from the vampire world take an unfavorable interest in her.
Since I only read up to the third book in the Night Huntress series, I was not familiar with Vlad, Leila's ultimate love interest, so I didn't have any preconceived notions about his personality.
To me, however, Vlad came across as a cocky bastard with a soft spot for Leila, and I think that's exactly what J. Frost intended. So don't expect to be swept off your feet by Vlad, who, for the most part, thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread.
Overall, the plot is very interesting, and the characters are different, but the romance aspect of it is still very cliche. Frost likes her "loins" and her "husky" voices.
The book didn't end in a cliffhanger. In fact, it was so lackluster that I can only describe it as weak. It seems like Frost could have added one more chapter to bring it all together.
Overall, I would rate Once Burned 3.8 stars!

I loved Vlad when he showed up in the Night Huntress series. It helped that by the time I read about him, his book was already announced. So like any Night Huntress fan, I couldn't wait to read about him. His book did not disappoint at all! It's another Jeaniene Frost book that I couldn't put down and read through in 2 days.

When she was younger, Leila had an accident that left her with a strange and freaky power. She shocks whoever touches her with electricity and she can see the past, present, or future of whatever she touches. It requires more than a bit of suspension of disbelief to accept that one, but I quickly moved on. When the book begins, a group of vampires kidnap Leila and forces her to spy on Vlad, looking for a way to ambush him.

I instantly liked Leila. Despite her dark past, she doesn't let it drag her down. Instead, she's stronger for it. I also loved the way she changed throughout the book. At first, she hated her power and thought of herself as a freak. Once she meets Vlad, she grows to accept herself for who she is and uses her power to help him. I can't think of a stronger or more courageous woman who can take on the infamous Dracula!

Vlad Tepesh, otherwise known as Dracula (call him that if you want to die), is one of the most feared vampires in the world. He can wield fire and burn whatever he touches, or has touched. While we see his ruthlessness in the Night Huntress books, we really get to see just how complicated he is in this book. He would do anything to protect his people, even if other people label him as dangerous and ruthless. He's arrogant and possessive to a fault, but I can't help but swoon at his feet when he turns up the charm. There's just so much to him that we didn't know before and I can't wait to find out more! It's clear that he has strong feelings for Leila though he won't admit it yet.

While I loved this book, the ending felt a bit too abrupt, or maybe I just read the book too fast lol. I also miss Bones. He shows up for a little but not long enough! There're plenty of humor in this one, but I'm just so used to Bones' British way of speaking so this one just didn't come across as funny, but I still loved it from beginning to end. I wish Ms. Frost would've done more to explain the vampire world. If you're new to this world, then the vampire world rules might confuse you because it's assumed that Leila already know these things about vampires.

If you're a Night Huntress fan, then I shouldn't have to tell you to read it. If you haven't experienced this paranormal world Jeaniene Frost had created, then I suggest you get this one or Halfway to the Grave immediately!

See more reviews @ Darkest Addictions Book Reviews

While Vlad Tepesh lends himself as a fantastic supporting character in the Night Huntress series, his personality has the word "lead" written all over it, and Jeaniene Frost was smart to take advantage of it.

He gets his own storyline that introduces his potential better half, Leila. Though mortal, a freak accident as a child leaves her with the unusual ability to channel electricity into psychic powers. Her powers are attractive to a group of vampires with malicious intentions who need her abilities to reach out to Vlad, the most infamous of them all. His power to wield fire gives him a significant upper hand, but everyone has a weakness and his adversaries may have found his through Leila. However when they meet, you don't need chemistry lessons to know that fire + electricity = one dangerous combo.

On the heels of a Vlad-less Night Huntress book #6, I wasted no time getting to this spin-off to get my fix. Though this series is the Night Prince, the story is told from Laila's POV, so we can't get into his mind quite as much as fans were likely hoping. I didn't mind it much because I actually liked Laila's character. Though tragic and sympathetic, she's not helpless. I look forward to the evolution of her powers over the course of this series. Sparks were certainly flying between her and Vlad, and so far I approve. There appears to be substance to her which I'll take any day over the typical disposable heroine. Her powers at times reminded me of Rogue from X-Men, who also wears gloves to protect those close to her. She is one of my favorite characters and Rogue/Gambit is one of my favorite all-time fictional ships. It's just that while Gambit couldn't handle Rogue's power; Vlad can handle Laila's, allowing them to be more tactile.

Vlad himself is everything I wanted and then some. I feel like Frost wanted to let loose a bit more with him here. He's sexy, hilarious, frustrating, and terrifying all at the same time. I love those types of dynamic characters in literature. However, this book was written making it clear that there would be more to come. Vlad is extremely private and even though he heats up the sheets, it's a taller order to heat up his heart. With centuries of success comes centuries of pain, so I'm glad it may take multiple books for this resolution. I like it when my characters truly earn their happiness, and standalone books rarely cut the mustard or me when it comes to that.

There could have been a bit more development with the story, but the characters carried it enough that I found the read satisfying and refreshing from Cat & Bones's world. It's part one of a trilogy after all. I'm just glad I don't have a long wait for the next one.

I am a huge Night-Huntress series fan. I have read each of the Cat and Bones books, as well as the Night-Huntress world books, and I am hooked. I was so excited for Vlad's series, and overall, I really did love Once Burned.

Leila is a great heroine, she has abilities that make her a human with "extra's," if you will. Because of her abilities, she is fairly isolated and lonely. However, when enemies of Vlad Tepesh kidnap her, Leila's world get turned topsy-turvy and she learns that the sexy, pyrotechnic vampire can take all she can dish out. Leila is a good counter to Vlad, she is not wowed by his history or wealth. Her abilities give her insight into people's hearts and true selves, so she knows that there is more to Vlad than the deadly vampire. However, Vlad has a dark, vicious side that Leila struggles to come to grips with. What's more, as Leila is put in more and more dangerous situations, she finds that she, herself, has a bit of a dark side as well.

As for Vlad, he showed a caring side of his personality with Cat in the Night Huntress series, so I knew it was there. But, I loved learning more about Vlad, he is such an intriguing, complex character. He begins to open up with Leila, but he never allows himself to get too close. Vlad and Leila's story is not wrapped up all nice and tidy by the end of the book. Their story is open-ended, with the promise of much more to come.

I listened to the audio version of Once Burned, and here is where I struggled. There are a lot of accents in Once Burned, and I was not feeling the accents from the narrator. I was distracted by the accents, and the narration for the characters did not match the narration in my head. This may be, in part, because I read the actual books from the Night Huntress world, so the characters already sounded their own way in my head. My versions did not match the narration, especially Bones (for the brief cameo he made in Once Burned). So, I don't believe that I will be listening to the audio in the future, I will be sticking to my e-books.

Despite my distraction by the narration, I loved the story in Once Burned. I am excited to see what comes next for Leila, and how both Leila and Vlad will move forward (or not). I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in the Night Prince series, Twice Tempted. If you are a paranormal romance fan, you really can not pass up Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and world, including the Night Prince series.

Why yes readers, some things are well worth waiting for. The first book in Jeaniene Frost's Night Prince Series definitely falls into that category. How could it not? With Vlad as the main attraction, Once Burned had no choice. ;)

Although this is Vlad's book, it is written from Leila's POV. I think this may have thrown some readers, at least from some of the reviews that I skimmed through that's the impression that I've gotten. I had no problem with getting the story from another character. The fact that it was written from her POV helped the reader not only to get to know her a little bit better than you might have otherwise, it also leant a little extra mystery to Vlad. In the Night Huntress books, you get hints of Vlad from people who have known him forever... (quite literally for some.) Getting a fresh perspective on Vlad was interesting. Even though we've seen him in many of the previous books, other than knowing about his loyalty to his friends and his power there isn't a whole lot that we know about him personally. Given that this is a series, it's fair that by the end of Once Burned we're still left in the dark about him to some extent.

Leila's story is heartbreaking, but her strength and what she has done with the hand she has been dealt is amazing. I really liked her a lot. She seems to be a good match for Vlad, in so many ways. The other characters that were introduced were great too. I loved Maximus and this book has made me hope that we get to see more of him in the rest of the series.

As expected from this world Frost has created, there was plenty of action, mystery, tension and romance *cough* Chapter 36 *cough* (You know there always has to be at least one chapter that deserves a couple of re-reads - umm... just to make sure you read it right the first time ;) )

Vlad was perfect from the perspective he was written. He is guarded and he takes his responsibility to those he considers 'his' very seriously. In some ways, he was all business in Once Burned. He is honest and shielded and after hearing more of his back story, that's totally understandable. I now understand why Vlad's story is a series instead of just an installment of the Night Huntress World Series.

Speaking of the Night Huntress World, a few of our lovable characters made a quick appearance in Once Burned. Bones was true to form. Leila's description of him was great, even better was the fact that he knew what she was thinking. The mind reading aspect was both a curse and a blessing throughout most of the book. I've always thought that is not a power I would want to have. I am now positive that I don't want it and don't want to run into anyone who has it. *shivers*

Once Burned didn't end in a cliff hanger exactly, but you are definitely going to be wishing for the next installment once you finish. Spring 2013 can't come soon enough. *sigh*

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

One of my favorite vampires from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost now has his own series!! Once Burned is the first installment of the Night Prince series starring the conceited and hot (literally) Vlad Tepesh, or as I like to call him, the Vladiator:)

Leila was in a bad accident involving a downed power line when she was thirteen that left her with a few side-effects. She now has electricity flowing through her body and nobody can touch her without getting zapped. She also has psychic abilities. If she touches anybody or anything with her right hand she sees visions from the past, present, and future. Leila makes the best of the hand (no pun intended) that was dealt to her and she now works as a traveling side-show freak with her friend and vampire, Marty.

But after she stops a husband out for revenge from killing his wife thanks to a vision she saw, everyone now knows her abilities are the real deal since it made the newspapers. The widespread knowledge ends up getting her kidnapped by a group of vampires that are hunting the infamous Dracula aka Vlad.

But Leila never expected for Vlad to be able to hear her in his head when she linked to him through items her kidnappers gave her. She is able to relay to him where she is all through thoughts and he comes to her rescue, only to rush her off to his castle in Romania.

Leila and Vlad are on a mission to discover who hired Leila's kidnappers so that they both can be safe. Leila will never be able to live in peace until the person that wants Vlad is disposed of and Vlad is not about to let someone after him to keep walking the Earth.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me the same I can't put this book down feeling I got when I read the first Night Huntress book, Halfway to the Grave. It was a welcome feeling that I haven't felt while reading a book in some time.

But I must say that it was a good thing that I already liked Vlad from the times I met him during the Night Huntress novels because he was so cocky that I'm not sure I would have liked him otherwise. If I was Leila I would have avoided him from the moment he declared she'd end up in his bed, no matter hard it was to resist. But by the end of the book I've come to enjoy his conceited ways and know that it's just who he is.

Also, I like Vlad because he's not a copy of Bones. I remember reading Frost's short story, Happily Never After, about Chance. I enjoyed the story, but Chance was so much like Bones that I had to remind myself it was someone else. He would even say some of the same things that Bones says, including calling his love interest `luv' all the time. So I'm happy to see that Vlad is completely his own person and the conflict between him and Bones makes this new series that much more enjoyable.

Leila was an OK character. I wasn't too hip on the electric girl hooking up with fire boy because it seemed a little too matchy-matchy where I'm more of an opposites attract kind of girl (if only I could get that Paula Abdul song out of my head now). But in the end the two of them work out pretty well, despite the fact that Vlad won't admit his feelings even though we all know what they are. And, the sex scenes are smoking hot....heck even that premonition Leila had of Vlad was steamy!

"I was sitting cross-legged in bed, trying without success to pretend I'd misunderstood the image I'd glimpsed. Yeah, right. Because Vlad had been between my legs looking for a set of keys he'd lost."

Like I previously stated, this was a book that I devoured and could NOT put down, I just loved it that much. Until the ending that is. I felt everything was building and then it just dropped over a cliff all of a sudden. I was expecting so much more so saying I was disappointed is a vast understatement. You know that Vlad and Leila are going to be together and have their HEA (happily ever after), but it was postponed with this mediocre conclusion to this book. I would have been much happier if the epilogue had just been completely omitted and we ended with Vlad saving Leila with his aura. We could always wait to define their relationship later, but then we could have walked away carrying a happy loving feeling with us... not a `Vlad, I will have you one way or another' witch cackling feeling I got from Leila's end statements.

But overall this was still a great start to this exciting series and I can't wait for book #2, Twice Tempted. In the meantime I think I need to go look up the real Vlad on google and read up on the character that this Vlad was based on.....a book making me want to read history....you know something is wrong there. It's a sign of a really good book in my world!

This review and more at openbooksociety dot com

Most of the books I read, I consider "just for fun", and I went into this series thinking it would be just another fun book. If I get bored, I don't bother finishing the book. I can be pretty demanding.

However, this is a series that I've read more than once. It's deep enough that it sticks with me long after I put it down, and I can't help but read it again. If I get disappointed in another book, it's because I compared it to this! I LOVE the characters, love the plot twists, love the world Frost has created. Sorry, but I even like Vlad -more- than I like Bones (another character, different series by the same author)! Can't wait for Book 4 to come out, so... I'll just keep reading the first three!

I've read part of Jeaniene's Night Huntress series, and being that Vlad is a character from that series I was intrigued with wanting to read more about him. And, well that's face it that synopsis alone sold me on picking up this book. Talk about an electrifying romance! Vlad is definitely one of those characters that one, you don't cross and two, who could make you cower in the corner. There's something about him that also draws you to him like a moth to a flame. He's a character who has this commanding presence both in the vampire world and through out history. I loved that it took a fire cracker like Leila to get under his skin, in a good way. The fact that there was not an insta-love between these two made me enjoy the book that much more exciting, and addicting. There's a big difference between chemistry and attraction vs an insta-love and this book definitely has a lot of that first element. It was well written and executed, but once these two got together, holy crap the fire works ignited.

Being that this is an adult book you can definitely expect to find a few sex scenes and some minor language in this book. I know that seems silly to mention, because that's expected, but I don't want someone reading this thinking that it's the kind that you'd find in a YA book, because this is truly an adult/romance book. Aside from the hot romance, there's also a great paranormal story with an alluring historical twist on Vlad, and a breathtaking setting. I'm a huge suckers for romance, and paranormal elements and Jeaniene delivered both of these to me on a silver platter. I don't know which I enjoyed more, the romance/character chemistry or the history, and paranormal elements to this story.

The characters themselves were well written, especially Vlad. Leila for me was a little bit harder to really like. I mean, I liked her, I just didn't like being in her head for the entire story. I wanted a bit more from Vlad, but I won't complain too much, because I did get a few glimpses into his past via one of Leila's unique abilities. I also loved Bones and Cat's cameo in the story! I loved these two from the Night Huntress series, and it was great to see them appear in this book.

This is one action packed, sizzling summer read that Frost fans will devour. There's plenty of danger, romance and that little bit of humor I've come to except and enjoy in Jeaniene's books. Once Burned has all the makings for a series fans won't get enough of. There's something about Vlad that will leave you wanting more. This book's ending will definitely leave fans wishing that Vlad's sequel was already out, instead of having to wait another year. *Being that this is an adult book I'd definitely recommend it to mature, older readers. There's a few sex scenes, and a few uses of the f word and mentions of sex in this book.

* Side Note: Mundie Moms is strictly a YA book review site, but every now and then I do branch out and read adult books, though I don't post my reviews on here, just like I don't post my reviews for other books I read outside the YA scene on here. When I say every now and then, that really translates into rarely, but again, I do get into those moods where I want to sit down with an adult book.

This is the first book that I have read by Jeaniene Frost, and I think it's a spin off so maybe I should read the other series?! But anyways, I absolutely loved this book! At first I was like, 'Dracula?! Ha!', but then the book continued to amaze me :) I am dying for the release of book 2.

The thing I liked most of this book was, of course, Vlad! Just swoon worthy. The man was to die for. Every characteristic from his past, to his attitude, to his smile, to his bad ass authority makes him the perfect character. All I wanted to do when reading this book was find out more and more about Vlad. I really loved the fact that he was pretty much consistent in the way he acted. He wasn't this loving vamp in one section of the book and then a killer in another. He was pretty much bad ass throughout the entire book! He was so enticing :) I also liked Leila too. She was an awesome female heroine and I thought her abilities was something really creative from the author. Even though the characteristic have been seen before, the way the author uses them in this book was different, which is a plus.

I seriously could not put this book down. The romance had me loving the characters and the action kept me turning the pages. I just couldn't get enough. The romance between Vlad and Leila turned up the heat! And doesn't love suspense action?

Overall, I thought the book was amazing! From the beginning to the end, I loved every moment of it. I can't wait for the next installment and I will definitely be checking out the Night Huntress series! I highly recommend the book if you love this genre.

Confession- I kept waiting for Vlad to admit to at least one affair with a man at some point in his nearly 600 years. (it is 600, right?) I blame this on my gay romance binge because this is something that doesn't happen in het romance books. Still, now I really want gay Dracula. Are there any books out there like that? There should be. There should be. Guys, I really did keep expecting that to happen and I had to keep reminding myself that it was a het romance book. *sigh*

Anyway. This was a super fun read. There were points were Vlad pissed me off, but it's so rare for a romance hero to not piss me off at lest once. Why are they always so arrogant? Ugh. Still, I expect things like that to happen so it really doesn't bother me too much.

I am very unhappy about a certain death of a certain adorable character.

I love Maximus. I want more of him. I always fall in love with characters who die so I worry about his fate in the next two books.

Jeaniene Frost has a new fan and now I have to go start from the beginning with Bones. I already love him.

This was the first Jeaniene Frost book that I've listened to on Audio instead of actually reading.

I was really excited when this series was announce, I couldn't wait to focus on Dracula!
Vlad doesn't seem as quick witted in his own book as he did appearing in Bones & Cat's books, but he was still quite charming. Lelia's character grew as the story went on, gaining confidence and taking control of her life instead of hiding from the world behind her 'freak' status.

There was plenty of action to keep you interested, both in the bedroom and out. I'm really interested to see what happens in the next book with several characters, not just the main couple. Will Leila win Vlad's heart? I can see Maximus becoming a stronger part of the story if Jeaniene decides to go in that direction.

I can't wait for the next book! This is a definite must read, especially if you've already read Bone's & Cat. Though, don't worry if you haven't - this would be a stand alone series not giving anything away. I did enjoy them stopping in for a visit though

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sex: :):):) ** A little light but what's there is hothothothothot!

Vlad Tepesh... THE Vlad Tepesh. I have loved Ms. Frost's version of this character since he was introduced early in the Night Huntress series. I am a sucker for scars and manly arrogance, so when I finally read this book I was worried that he would lose some of that when the focus was solely on him. I worried for nothing!!! Apparently Leila has a thing for scars and manly arrogance, too. He is super intense, very focused on getting what he wants, and all about the torture. Leila is an ex-spoiled brat that got hit by a downed power line when she was 13. Since then she has developed a (wait for it...) SHOCKING personality, Lol. I'm horrible. In short she is a conductor of electricity that can pick up past, present and future psychic visions with her right hand. She is kinda awesome, and I didn't want to slap her at any point in the story, that's why I love reading Jeaniene Frost! I love her awesome female characters as much as her male characters. I love the Night Huntress books as well as the Night Huntress World books, read them in order (Google it) it is a series that STILL hasn't gotten old or repetitive. There is something very special about that to me!

Here's what I thought of Once Burned: A Night Prince Novel by Jeaniene Frost:

I gave it 5/5 stars.

Enticing Yet Again

I am a giant fan of Mrs. Frost's work. I'm on a mission to read all of her work in fact. So far every book by her has been worthy of the highest rating.

Vlad is a darkly sexy vampire with the added ability to summon fire at his will (he's also the real Dracula). When the Prince of Darkness (Vlad) meets Leila, phsycicly intruding in his life for other vampires who want to find out where Vlad is, Vald's life is upturned into a new battle.

Leila had a terrible accident when she was young and now her right hand is full of electricity and the power to get pshycic impressions of what she touched. Although, Leila tries to make it clear she won't ever sleep with Vlad, she can't deny her attraction to him for long. A long the way Leila makes new friends and mends some of her old relationships.

This book will have you rooting for Vlad the whole time!

Ok so first off PLEASE do not let the negative reviews steer you away! This book is amazing (honestly all of J.F.s books are).

I started years ago skimming audio books on Audible.com for something in the genre and listened to a sample of the first Night Huntress novel... I was hooked (best series ever)!

About 3 books into the series enter Vlad Tepesh! He is sassy, smart, witty, cleaver, sexy and so much more. You are just drawn to him and even though he can be a butt (in nice terms) you can't help but like him.

This is where I think most people are getting hung up... some of the people who read/listened to the N.H. series are used to the Vlad in those books. He is still the same person but in this series you see his other side! That is what all of this about... it is his really story! Not what he is like in the N.H. series.

You get to see the real Vlad and his life. His love interest I guess got people upset as well... yes she yo-yos from strong to dependent but it's all about how you interpet the book.

As much as I love the Vlad from the N.H. series I love that we get to see the real Vlad in his series. I am so glad that J.F. made this a whole series and not just a side story like she did with Mancharies and Spade in their books. Vlad is such an amazing character that he needed his own series and I had been saying that for years.

I just started the second book (Twice Tempted) and its just as awesome. Oh yeah and for all of you Cat and Bones fans they do make a brief appearance in Once Burned :)

If you find this book appealing pick it up and keep an open mind you won't regret it! And make sure to pick up Twice Tempted out now if you enjoy you some Vlad!

Vlad, a character we have gotten to know and love in her Night Huntress series, finally gets the spotlight he deserves in this thrilling beginning book of the Night Prince series and meets his match in the electric Leila. This book had me hooked from the start; caring about the intrepid Leila and revealing Vlad as more than the fun and sarcastic character I have learned to love, but an unapologetically ruthless hero that was layered and complex.

I adored the character building in this book; showing Vlad in all his dualistic nature and introducing Leila as a strong and stubborn counterpoint that is up to the task of dealing with both his ego and ruthless nature. The plot was somewhat basic, but kept me guessing enough to be engaging, and suspended my disbelief to have me gleeful. The only negative I found about this book was the ending...it left many loose ends to be tied up in the next book. As with all of Ms. Frost's books I am sure it will be well worth the wait, but until then I will wonder what happens next.

All-around I give this book five stars.

I enjoyed this one. Overall it was a brilliant read that kept me immersed in the story until the final page. I liked Leila from the beginning. she's fierce but vulnerable which made her a compelling character. we also saw a different side to Vlad in this one... he can be soft :) unbelievable I know lol. frost makes you want to find out more about him, dig in his head for his secrets and make yourself the one to break the cold exterior and turn him to mush. I'd like to see more of maximus too, maybe his own story... I dont know but theres something about him.
I thought vlad and leilas "relationship" happened quite quickly though. I thought it would be more drawn out. and some parts of the book seemed rushed. I was annoyed by the end..... I got to the last page thinking I had another chapter but no....now we'll have to wait a year to find out...grrr.. I know that's the idea of a series, to make you want to get your hands on the next one sooo badly BUT doesn't mean I have to like it. Roll on the next 12 months :)

This was pretty good paranormal romance. I wasn't expecting the POV to come from someone other than Vlad, but I guess he'd be pretty tough to write. Leila was one of the more likeable female PNR protagonists. One huge thing that was missing was the funny Vlad from the Night Huntress series. I guess with the plot, it was understandable, but Vlad's sense of humor is one of his best qualities. Without it, he's just an arrogant jerk, actually. A hot jerk, but still. Hopefully, the humor is back in the second book. There were some predictable plot devices used and some tell-don't-show, but overall, it was pretty enjoyable.

Perhaps I have read too many vampires novels. I was hoping to see some Vlad's pov but the most I got was his flashback to the past through Leila's eyes. There are some moments of romance but it's just not very satisfying compared to Cat and Bones. Maybe it's because of the issue of avoiding love. So it's a good read, I just got bored after awhile and skimmed the book to see how the romance developed and didn't care much about the bad guy suspense.

Frankie/Leila was involved in a horrible accident which left her scared and electrifying. Vlad rescues her from evil vampires who want to use her supernatural powers to to kill him. Under his protection she gains self esteem, forgiveness, love, and discipline. A truely fantastical tale, but not silly like others that I've read.
Leila can be hard headed when she thinks she's right, but Frost does not drag it out. I liked her because she's loyal to her friends and she easily admits when she is wrong. Vlad is typical Alpha male---arrogant, strong, protective, and sensual. Great book with lots of action, some sex but mostly sensuous awareness, and interesting vampire lore.

Review of Audible Version: 1-star

While I will admit that Ms. Gilbert didn't have much to work with in terms of the plot and characters, her performance of this audiobook took a mediocre book and plunged it firmly into the 1-star category.

The main character, Leila, sounds like an angsty teenager, and in all honesty, she comes across that way in the books as well. The problem is that all the characters came across in this fashion. No maturity to any of them, they all acted like teenagers with too many hormones ruling them. However, like I said, the main fault with that lay with the author. The real "nail in the coffin" with the audiobook was Ms. Gilbert's rendition of Vlad.

I can't do a Romanian accent and I would not attempt to do one. However, that doesn't mean that I can't tell a really bad one from a good one. And this one is just terrible. Vlad sounds like an idiot. He sounds like some American small-time criminal who thinks that he's the king of the sharks when he's really nothing more than a small-time loser that the real sharks will swim over and use as bait. That's how bad his Romanian accent is. The character, as written, is incredibly flawed, but Ms. Gilbert's portrayal of him just kills him completely and catapults him into the ridiculous.

I almost wonder if the author agrees with my assessment as I noticed that in Book 2 (I believe) the author states that Vlad has only a hint of an accent. Hint, hint. But, I guess Ms. Gilbert didn't pick up on the subtle hint (if that's what it was supposed to be) because Vlad continues to sound like a ridiculous wannabe crime lord.

Review of Kindle Version: 3 stars
I started this book because I had just finished powering through another paranormal urban fantasy romance and was looking for something similar. The author of the other series gave positive reviews of this author, I thought this would be a good series to tide me over. Boy, was I wrong.

You know what I hate? Books written by adults that read as though they were written by middle school students. Not even high schoolers because this book reads like something I would have written in the 6th grade when my English teacher made us honor students write a mini-novel. The characters are one-dimensional, completely unbelievable, and the plot has so many holes that you really can't take it seriously any longer.

The other problem with the Night Prince series is that it's a continuation and not so much a series. No new plot or enemies. Rather, it's the same thing again and again and again. And by the time you reach Book 3 (Bound by Flames), the characters are nothing more than caricatures and you wonder how Vlad managed to survive as long as he did.

Excellent read! Loved It! I've read some stories from this author before and I just think her writing is, fantastic! This is the world of the Night Prince and no one is badder than Vlad, Lol. He meets his match in Leila and the sparks literally fly between the two. Great read! 5 stars...

So I am a crazed Jeaniene Frost fan, I love and am thoroughly addicted to her Night Huntress series. When I found out Vlad was getting his own branch off series I died, death by excitement of course. Vlad is one of my favorite characters in The Night Huntress series. I fell in love with Vlad as soon as he broke onto the scene in Jeaniene Frost's novels. Frost does a great job of taking Dracula and bringing him into this century as Vlad but still keeping him the impaler.

Once Burned starts off really strong, and wastes no time throwing readers into the story. Leila the love interest in this book is an ordinary girl who was in an accident that caused her to have some shocking abilities. I had mixed feelings throughout the story about Leila's abilities. Early on in the story Leila had to worry about touching people, and couldn't get on airplanes, and couldn't use electrical devices. I was worried Leila's abilities weren't going to play out smoothly with the story during the latter half of the book and it turned out I was right.

First in the beginning of the story Leila has to expel the electrical currents before she showers on lightning rods, but then later she jumps right into the shower for a hot and heavy sexy scene with Vlad. I may have missed something, but I'm pretty sure she needed the electrical expel before she could get wet. Leila also later uses a cell phone to call Vlad for help but it was okay apparently because she was wearing some guy's gloves, not the special gloves Vlad made for her. I just think this particular ability was complicated and was difficult to work into the story. I think Leila's psychic-ish abilities are awesome; I loved that she could touch objects and read past, present, and future from the human essence left behind. I think the psychic abilities alone would have been perfect, but the electrical thing got complicated.

I also kind of missed the old Vlad in this story. Vlad in The Night Huntress series was comic relief. Vlad always had a smart butt reply, and his banter was hilarious. In Vlad's new series he is a different guy almost, very serious but that could be because the entire book someone is out to kill him. I would have liked to see the chemistry between Vlad a Leila a bit stronger, but I think this is going to get stronger as the series progresses. Now the sex scenes between Vlad and Leila did have chemistry, and in fact was incredibly hot in more way than one. Sweat worthy if I don't say so myself.

All and all I did enjoy the story. I easily would read a hundred pages at a time without realizing it. Other than the few hick ups above that distracted me, I loved the story. I am definitely going to be picking up book two in the series. I want to see if the electrical abilities are explained better in the next book, and of course I want to see the chemistry intensify. I've read the great work Jeaniene Frost puts out, and I can't wait to see her take this series and make it as amazing as The Night Huntress series. This book is recommended to adult readers only, and is best for lovers of the Paranormal Romance genre.

Spoilers here, so don't read if you're sensitive. I am a huge Jeaniene Frost fan and have read all her books more than once, as well as listened to the audio books. I expect a lot from her, I admit it, because she HAS delivered in the past. But Once Burned left me feeling meh.

Vlad was made more attractive than originally described in the Night Huntress books. He's charismatic, but I don't recall him being this handsome devil with chiseled jaw and six pack abs. He is actually described in Destined For An Early Grave (Night Huntress #4) as: "Vlad Tepesh wasn't a classically handsome man like some of the hunks who'd played Dracula in the movies. His face was oval; lips thin, with deep-set eyes, a wider forehead, and a tight beard. He was lean, too, and he stood an even six feet tall. But none of those actors had Vlad's presence. What he might have lacked in perfection of features he made up for in sheer magnetism." But hey, I get it Jeaniene--hot guys sell better. So Vlad got a makeover.

I kept wondering if it would be revealed that Vlad was putting his mental mojo on Leila because of the immediate way she responded to him, but that never happened. There was no flow to the story and the relationship seemed contrived, rushed and lacking depth. Vlad saves virginal Leila from the bad guys, takes her home, they talk, he reads her mind a lot, all of a sudden they're discussing her being his lover, and not much later they're having sex. Oh, and of course she's in love with him already.

Vlad seemed a little creepy and I didn't like him as much--his non-romantic relationship with Cat Crawfield was much more interesting and his wicked wit was missing. I was hoping for more from Ms. Frost and this book did not have her usual character development and magic. For the first time I will probably not read one of her sequels. Btw Miss Frost, when is Ian going to get his own book?

Frankie has secrets and when they get out she becomes a divining rod for some very ruthless vamps. Vladimir puts his people and his duty above all. What happens when a little spark goes up against a wall of fire. Explosive ( puns intended ) if you enjoyed bones and cat you will love Vlad's story . I read the series years ago and am enjoying it once again .

I can't believe that the majority of my friends haven't read this series, it's so amazing. Humor, adventure, and hot at the same time. I'd write a real review but I'm too lazy.

Vlad was cool, Leila was awesome.

That is all.

12 yrs ago Leila got shocked by a downed power line and this somehow led to her becoming a clairvoyant with the ability to see the past, present, and future in addition to having the power to manipulate and conduct electricity. Even though she's been suffering from crippling visions and walking around with a giant electricity-proof glove while terrified of touching anyone or anything for the past 12 yrs, it's apparently only now that people have noticed her abilities. Now that she's suddenly become a valuable commodity in the supe world she needs Vlad to save her.

I've always liked this author's Night Huntress series (like even after Bones and Cat got their HEA) but I had low expectations for this one bc, for whatever reason, I can't ever get into her other books (and indeed, this one turned out to be no exception). I gave it 3 stars because the audio version did manage to hold my attention enough that I eventually finished it and I did try to go on to the 2nd one.

There might be some minor spoilers ahead: What ruined the whole story for me wasn't that the plot didn't make much sense (cause it didn't) it was that I felt like Vlad and whats-her-name fell in love--or rather in bed, way too fast and their relationship felt way too contrived and forced to me.

Considering the circumstances under which they've just met, it seemed completely out of place and character for Vlad to start ordering one of his men (who just so happens to fall instantly in love with Leila) to "date" Leila so she can see that she's attracted to Vlad and only Vlad. On top of this, within like a few days of meeting each other Vlad and Leila are already sleeping together and negotiating the terms of their relationship (monogamy etc).

Neither of these people had much of a personality either. Vlad--who I always liked from the other books btw--is stoic to the point of being redundant and one-dimensional here. The audio version also has him sounding a little hilarious in his Russianess....I love this narrator but Vlad always sounds like someone with major case of indigestion in desperate need of a good burp, or like someone who has just taken a massive hit off a bong and is trying really hard to hold it in.

Leila seemed to start out with a personality but as soon as she meets Vlad she sort of loses it and turns into a pushover. Or maybe it's just that she stopped developing as a character--really, I'm not sure what went wrong here but as the book went on I started to find her more and more annoying and because of this I probably paid more attention to the plot then I should have (there are a lot of holes in there). Since I had it, I listened to a lot of the 2nd book too and it only made me dislike both of these characters even more so I would really only recommend this series as a library read and only if you liked the author's other non-Cat and Bones books.

Leila, a performer in a traveling circus has unique powers that cause her to live a lonely life. She is unable to touch anyone without transferring an electric shock. This can be deadly if she is not cautious. That isn't the only reason people try to avoid her though. She is also able to touch objects and see their owner's past, present and future depending on how much of the owner's essence is left behind.

The book starts out with action and did not disappoint. Leila is kidnapped by vampire goons which she lovingly dubs Pervert, Psycho, and Twitchy. The goons are after information on where Vlad Tepesh (Dracula) is and will be in the future. While attempting to find that information out Leila is surprised to connect with Vlad and he comes to her rescue. Vlad whisks her away to his mansion and that is where things start to get interesting.

Their relationship starts with a bumpy distrust and grows to be smoking hot. For Jeaniene Frost readers, you are probably aware of what steamy scene that happens in Chapter 32 with Bones in One Foot in the Grave. Well Bones now has some competition, Vlad's scene in Chapter 23 is scorching hot.

The book wraps up in a way that left me happy but wanting more. The second book in the series will be released in Spring 2013, and it cannot come fast enough. This book is a must read if you like anything in this genre!

This new spin-off series is my most anticipated reads of the summer; I've been obsessed with Vlad ever since his first appearance in Jeanine's Night Huntress series. The cover of this book might do his physique justice but it's his cocky personality that really completes the package. Once Burned sheds some light on the real Dracula's past, features Leila who does a superb job of holding her own against this ultimate alpha male and tells an awesome story to boot. A brilliant start to a promising new series; I'm already craving the next installment!

I'm completely goo-goo eyes for Tepesh. Ridiculous, I know because for one he's fictional and two, he's a complete ass! But there's just something about his bad boy persona that I find irresistible. He pops in and out of the Night Huntress series but never really stays long enough for readers to be able to get their fill. That's definitely not a problem with this book. Vlad is front and center and boy does he love the spotlight! He's arrogant, presumptuous and his abilities are downright terrifying. I was a little worried that Jeaniene wouldn't succeed in doing his character justice but she quickly put my fears to rest with her exceptional writing. I really need to learn to stop doubting her and to just let her do her thing because she's just so darn good at it!

The plot line of this book just keeps on giving. The characters and world are expertly developed, the pacing is relentless and the ending gives us just enough to leave readers wanting more. I simply could not turn the pages fast enough! I adored the way that Frost portrayed Vlad's telekinetic abilities. Often times I find that characters with this gift only seem to hear other people's thoughts when it's "convenient" and helps the story progress. That wasn't the case in this instance. Tepesh heard every single one of Leila's thoughts and reacted accordingly. She obviously didn't appreciate the invasion of privacy but I'm happy that Jeaniene built the story around his abilities instead of selectively including them. I think Frost deserves a pat on the back!

Leila is the perfect ying to Vlad's yang. Not only was she able to hold her own against this legendary vamp but she actually managed to outshine Tepesh on several occasions. I liked her backstory, the way her abilities left most of the preternatural world in awe and her smart mouth. Considering she's only human, I think she did a bang-up job of knocking the vampires down a peg or two. The chemistry between Leila and Vlad is explosive; I guess that's what happens when you combine fire and electricity!

When Vlad and Leila are center stage who needs side characters? Not me but when Cat, Bones, Kira and Mencheres make appearances I couldn't suppress my little happy dance. I really liked how Jeaniene ended this book. The cliff hanger's not brutal so you won't be left cursing about the injustice of it all but it is enough to leave you begging for more. Once Burned is all that I'd hoped it would be and then some. You don't need to read Frost's other series' in order to be able to fully appreciate this one. So... read it, read it, READ IT!

Vlad Tepesh has been a staple of the Night Huntress series for several books, often providing comic relief along with unrepentant womanizer Ian to keep us in stitches as he pushes all of Bones's buttons and then smiles when he succeeds in eliciting the reaction he set out for. Now in the first of his own spinoff series we see a slightly different side of him, a darker, more violent side that forces us to remember just how brutal vampires of this world can be, and even more so, how the vampire with so legendary a reputation came by his infamy. Though the world of the Night Prince series is a familiar one, Ms. Frost delights us with an almost entirely new cast of characters, Vlad's most trusted advisors and Leila's closest vampire friend effectively branding themselves in our memories with their tangible presence while never detracting from the strength of Vlad and Leila as a couple, instead they act as additional unbreakable threads binding us emotionally to their story.

As mentioned above, Vlad has previously been a source of amusement as a secondary character to Cat and Bones, his typical dry humor never failing to bring a smile to our faces as he charms Cat and irritates Bones to no end. In this first book of his series though, that humor is largely absent, and though we can't help but miss it, it's also nice to see how the vampire with the terrifying history still inspires fear in those around him. We finally get a taste of the true extent of his control over fire, as well as a glimpse at the cruelty that exists side by side with his sense of loyalty and desire to protect his people, making it clear in no uncertain terms just how lethal he can be. While we knew some of his past based on his honesty with Cat in previous books, we get a few more details in Once Burned, snippets that paint a rather bleak picture and lend an unmistakable ring of truth to his words when he tells Leila he will never be able to love her, but his declaration only serves to strengthen our bond with our heroine, rooting for her to show him just how wrong he is.

Leila is a heroine almost as intriguing as Cat, a desirable combination of unusual strength and innocence instantly drawing us into her corner as she finds herself in the middle of both a sensual battle as well as a violent and bloody one. She possesses a fascinating psychometric ability--able to touch certain objects and glean past, present, and future information about those who touched it previously--and a bizarre electrical gift that causes her body to constantly thrum with energy and practically electrocute anyone with whom she comes in contact. Because her touch carries with it a possible death sentence, her sense of loneliness is one that tugs on our hearts, waiting with breath held for the moment when she discovers Vlad's proclivities with fire also protect him from the pain that would typically accompany her embrace. While the force of Vlad's dark personality in this story is intimidating, she is never cowed, standing her ground without ever coming across as a woman with something to prove, and instead radiating an endearing genuineness that just happens to accompany a backbone of steel.

Overall, Once Burned is a deliciously entertaining start to what will hopefully turn out to be more than a two book series, the ending leaving us vibrating with tension thanks to certain unresolved elements (though there's thankfully no cliffhanger). Ms. Frost cannot write book two of the Night Prince books quickly enough.

Rating: 4.5/5

When I picked this up I was expecting another adult supernatural book that focused more on the adult content then on the story line. I guess I didn't do my homework. If I would have looked up Jeaniene Frost before I would have recognized some of her other work and realized that I was in for an actual story. Yup...Jeaniene knows how to write a sexy vampire, but she also knows how to write a good supernatural story too. THANK GOD! This story was interesting to say the least. I have so many questions but I guess/hope that some of those will be answered in the next book which is set to come out in 2013. When I finished I thought "how rude" because it leaves you hanging and wanting to read the next one. Now, I picked this up because everyone was talking about how in love with Vlad they were. I will admit that I actually had a hard time falling for him. If you read the summary you know that Vlad is pretty old...and he's inspired a pretty iconic character which means that Vlad has done some things....so I found it hard to get over those thing, but then he says things like I protect what is mine and I consider you mine and it gets your blood going. But, he's cocky and at first I was like slap that smile right off his face but you don't slap Vlad. That is just a no no, but then you find yourself quite alright with his cockiness, in fact it starts to make you smile. And of course with a girl like Leila how can you not like her. She is strong, independent, and protects those that are hers. Ou....this is going to be a good match.
Good:
Leila: Olympic gymnast, powerful, cocky, independent, determined, caring. Kick-butt.
Vlad: straight up sexy and he knows it. Not to mention protective and jealous.
Maximus: Loyal. Hot. Awesome. Need to find him a girl so Vlad doesn't kill him for looking at Leila like that
Vlad's men: Hot. Loyal. Awesome.
Bad:
Like I said I questioned Vlad in the beginning and I couldn't seem to fall for him so easily. I still wouldn't say I've fallen for him although he is starting to appeal to me. But, I believe that my not being able to like him from the get go is what stops be from being able to give this book the full five.
Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):
Overall the writing was very well done. The action was fast, but easy to follow and the humour that was there was easily and well done. The characters were also very easy to picture and understand their motives. The story line was very interesting and I loved how it intertwined with all the history behind the Vlad story. All in all I will be continuing with this series and I recommend that you pick this book up if you are not afraid of some adult content.

View more of my review and others at my blog: mynotsovacantshelf.blogspot.com

This is the first book in the Night Prince series by Jeaniene Frost. Last I read there were two books planned for this series with the second book, Twice Tempted, scheduled for a March 2013 release. This book is in the same universe as the Night Huntress series but tells Vlad's story. While not as excellent as the Night Huntress books it was still a very good read.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was exceedingly well done. Tavia Gilbert (who has narrated all of Frost's audiobooks) is the narrator again and she does an excellent job. This is a series I can recommend listening to on audiobook if you are a fan of audiobooks.

Leila was hit by lightening when she was younger and it left her with the ability to channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets with a single touch. Her inability to control her electrical shocking ability has lead her to a life of solitude as a circus performer. When she is kidnapped by vampires seeking revenge on Vlad Tepish, she is forced to call out to Vlad for help. Of course Vlad is more dangerous (in many ways) than Leila expected.

Leila is an interesting character. The whole thing about her gaining her abilities by being hit by lightening is un-creative and a bit corny...but let's be honest here that's just the back story to get Leila isolated so that Vlad and her can connect. So I am willing to be a bit lenient on the crazy unbelievable back story. That being said Leila's past as an Olympic worthy gymnast and circus performer are interesting and make her a character with an interesting history of experiences to draw upon. I enjoyed Leila, she is more light-hearted and fun than Cat and yet is still one tough cookie.

Vlad is well...he's Vlad. I love him, he is one of my favorite characters of the Night Huntress series and I was thrilled to learn more about him. We do get to learn a lot about Vlad's past and what makes him tick. It is an intriguing read. I love Vlad's cockiness and love reading about how he controls fire; it's an interesting power and watching it mix with Leila's electrical abilities was fun.

The biggest disappointment for me with this book was that the whole book is told from Leila's point of view. Leila is fine and fun to read about but I am more interested in Vlad...and we never get to hear what he thinks. I wish that viewpoints had switched between the two...or even better that the story had been told from Vlad's point of view.

The back story is pretty good; basically Vlad and Leila have to figure out who is trying to take out Vlad and why they are using Leila to do it. There are some awesome fighting scenes, torture is referenced, and there is lots of burning and zapping people. The book is fast paced and engaging.

Let's face it though this is mainly a paranormal romance, even more so than the Night Huntress series. The plot is mainly a vehicle to get Leila and Vlad togehter. Most of the story is focused around Leila and Vlad getting to know and trust each other...oh yeah, and have some really steamy scenes together. Frost does an excellent job writing high tension steamy scenes and that holds true for this book as well. The scenes are always very well done, never too much described but always enough. The chemistry between Vlad and Leila crackles and was fun to read about.

The book ends with a couple large issues unresolved and I am eager to read the next book in this series.

Overall a fun read. This is more paranormal romance than urban fantasy. The back story for Leila is a bit corny and the surrounding plot is mainly focused on getting Leila and Vlad together. I was disappointed that none of the story was told from Vlad's point of view. Frost writes paranormal romance very well and the chemistry between Vlad and Leila is awesome, as are the sensual scenes between them. I definitely recommend to fans of Frost's Night Huntress series as well as to fans of vampire paranormal romance. I am looking forward to reading Twice Tempted when it releases next year.

Our Review by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

I've been a Jeaniene Frost, Night Huntress fan since day #1. I love Cat & Bones, and have a soft spot for Spade, but I have been in love with Vlad since he was first introduced in the series and would anxiously await any parts in the novels where he would be called in for one reason or another. That all being said, I was anxiously awaiting this book and actually feared I may have been expecting too much since I was so excited for it. I needn't have feared, Jeaniene delivered and then some!

Once Burned gives us Vlad (THE man that ALL of the Dracula myths were based upon) in all his sexy, cocky, powerful, undead glory, and introduces a loveable, relate-able heroine and some villains that you will absolutely love to hate.

Leila is human, but with some 'extras'. She is able to conduct electricity through her body, and is psychometric. In attempting to deal with her 'additions', she's sequestered herself in a small town with a family of traveling carnies and is working as a trapeze artist. After being snatched up by some bad guys, she's thrown into a world that she knew existed, but never thought to be immersed in, and finds herself directly linked to a powerful vampire who's apparently #1 on everyone's hit list.

Vlad, having his mind reading abilities in addition to his pyromania, realizes when he's being spied upon psychically by Leila. The 2 are inevitably thrown together to sort out the wicked plot that is not only jeopardizing Vlad and Leila's lives, but that of their friends as well.

Leila is a great strong heroine and in my personal opinion, a wonderful match for Vlad. The two together are dynamic and explosive and the best part is that Leila's no damsel in distress. She's definitely her own woman, and while Vlad doesn't change for her either (thank goodness - he remains the same arrogant, sarcastic, sometimes merciless but never without a reason Vlad we've come to know and love), he accepts her feisty side and even encourages it.

Take these two utterly fantastic leading characters and throw them into the Night Huntress world that never fails to amaze with an action packed storyline full of intrigue, danger, twists, turns, and surprises around most corners, etc and you end up with one incredible read!

The first installment of the Night Prince series spin-off was an amazing addition to the Night Huntress World.

My only complaint was the abrupt ending because dang it... I want the next book NOW!

LITERAL ADDICTION gives Once Burned 5 Skulls and is eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Oh, Vlad, you are the epitome of the Alpha male and I. Love. It!

Okay, I'll be honest, the first few chapters were rough for me. I'm not sure if it was because I was getting back into the swing of reading a first person POV or if my brain just wasn't cooperating (it's been a looong day) but after around the 30 page mark things slammed into place. Somewhere between Vlad and Leila's explosive relationship, a revenge seeking vampire, a few tense 'meet the family' moments, and the struggle to save a beloved friend I become completely enthralled. I glanced at the clock and was shocked to realize I had been reading for almost 3 hours straight! Talk about getting caught up in a book!

Just a quick rundown because I hate spoilers!

During a storm Leila was electrocuted by a power line and almost died. When her body started to heal she realized she wasn't quite the same anymore. Her body started storing electricity that could literally kill a person by a simple touch, not to mention the pesky ability to see past/present/future when handling objects. Somehow her abilities come to the attention of a very old and very peeved vamp bent on revenge against Vlad. Some of his goons kidnap her and force her to track him. In her desperation for survival she reaches out to Vlad and promises her help in exchange for his protection. His idea of protection is to whisk her away to his stronghold in Romania where they work together to unravel the mystery of who wants him dead. So begins Leila's adventure into a wold of murder, torture, and ,most frightening of all, a romantic relationship with Vlad!

The end of Once Burned is slightly open, but I wasn't left with an incomplete feeling. There was nice balance of enough resolve to leave me happy, but enough tension to keep me chomping at the bit for the next installment of the Night Prince series. (At least two more books are expected. The next is scheduled for a 2013 release)

So, even though I had a rough start I quickly remembered why Jeaniene Frost has a special spot on my bookshelf. I can't recommend Once Burned or any of her other titles enough!

This paranormal read had so many wonderful qualities!! The character depth was incredible, the plot was fast and exciting, and I could not put this read down!!!! I also very much appreciated its original paranormal approach. I was burned out on overly cliché plots in other vampire and paranormal books. This one was one of a kind. My only complaint is that I wasn’t pleased with the ending. I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger necessarily but it did leave much to be desired. I'm pretty sure I'll check out next book in this series and see how it goes from there.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of Jeaniene Frosts books, having read several of them more than once..This book did hold my interest, but it was alittle disappointing..The main thing I didnt like was it was written in the 1st person perspective..Before this one, only the Cat and Bones books were written this way, from Cats perspective..Because it was written this way, I had to keep reminding myself that this character was Leila, not Cat.. They seemed similar in alot of ways..The other 2 "spin off" books, First Drop of Crimson and Eternal Kiss of Darkness (amazing book, my favorite) were not written this way and we were able to understand how each character felt..Vlad is one of my favorite characters, but he seemed to lack depth in this book, possibly because it was written entirely from Leilas point of view..Maybe Ms Frost meant to add depth by adding the fact that Leila could read Vlads mind and he could read hers also, but I am not sure this idea worked..The book did end alittle abruptly, as many reviewers have stated, but of course, we all know that there will be another book..Overall, it was a good book and a fast read, but I really wish that Ms Frost had kept Cat the only character in the 1st person perspective...

Loved it! I loved Vlad from when we first met him way back when. He is the most arrogant SOB ever but we love him for it. This is going to be just as great a series as THE NIGHT HUNTRESS series.

Leila is a young human woman who as a teen had an accident with a power line. She was fried but lived. Her mother died of electrocution trying to help her after the electricity threw her across the street. When she awoke she contained electricity w/in her body and would shock (possibly kill) those that touched her. When her right hand touches people or objects they have touched she could see their worst sin, link to them in the present and often see future events.
To cover for her abilities she works as a performer in a travelling circus. Her partner is a vampire little person. He has treated her like a daughter and loves her as she does him. Her own father and sister she rarely speaks to.
Leila is kidnapped by vampires because of her ability to link into others by means of objects. They want her to find Vlad and know where he WILL be so they can kill him. She able to tell right away that when they are done with her they will eat her. So she makes a connection with Vlad but was surprised when he linked back. That had never happened before. Taking the knowledge that those who kidnapped her will kill her she trusts in Vlad to save her. He does but he also takes her. He tells her it's for her safety as well as the fact that she can help him figure out who the master is in the plan to kill him. He will then be able to take this person out and then let her be.

What follows is full of action and has a few sad moments. Enjoy the read! Let's see, we have to wait until spring for the next book. I will be anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

All Leila wanted was to be a gymnast but after a terrible accident, that dream ended and she was left with the power to electrify a person with just a touch and see their deepest secrets. She's come to terms with living life alone but everything changes after she's kidnapped by a gang of dangerous vampires and told to find the vampire who can control fire and has no mercy for his enemies. Vlad Tepesh, yes that Vlad Tepesh, doesn't like being spied on and when he gets his hands on Leila, he realizes that she's not the enemy but a beautiful and strong woman who calls to him like no one before. Using Leila's extraordinary ability, they work together to locate Vlad's enemy before he finds and destroys them both.

Leila fears her powers and what they can do. Having the potential to severely harm someone by touching, Leila has to keep everyone she cares for at arm's length. Her life is turned upside down after she's kidnapped and forced by a group of vampires to find Vlad. I liked Leila from the beginning. She has a good reason to feel sorry for herself but she doesn't. She just makes due with the cards she's been dealt and does her best not to hurt anyone. After she meets Vlad, I really enjoyed watching how he taught her not to be afraid of her powers and to use them as a weapon. Vlad has a very strong presence and a weaker person would have given in to his demands but not Leila. He doesn't change who she is at the core but rather helps her improve and become a stronger and more confident woman. There were a couple instances where I thought she made a questionable decision or said something she should have kept to herself but overall, I thought she was a solid heroine.

Vlad is very much the master vampire we've come to know: powerful, lethal, arrogant and caring when it comes to his people. Leila is not what he expected to find when he went searching for the person who was spying on him. She surprises him and keeps him on his toes because unlike just about everyone else around him, she doesn't bow to his commands. Watching them spar were some of my favorite moments because I was never sure what the outcome would be. Sometimes it would be emotional and at other times it would be hilarious. Either way, as the reader I was the winner because they were the most entertaining moments of the book.

You get bits and pieces of his history from previous books he's in but in Once Burned, we learn more about the vampire behind the legend as he searches for the person who's after him. I liked the history but then I also liked the spin that was put on it for it to make sense for his character. Jeaniene Frost puts a lot of work into Vlad's history and how it ties into the current story and I loved every bit of it.

A spin-off of her Night Huntress series, Once Burned had everything I've come to expect and thoroughly enjoy from a Jeaniene Frost book while having its own identity. The action is bloody and fierce and the suspense will have you glued to the pages but I think it was Vlad and Leila's developing relationship that's the highlight of this book. Vlad is centuries old and after everything he's been through, there's a part of him that he locked away and only Leila is capable reaching him. As a warning to all my fellow paranormal romance fans (this is more urban fantasy with a strong romantic element) there is no HEA wrapped perfectly in a bow waiting for you at the end of this book but I did think there's enough to keep you satisfied until the next book in the series is released. Which unfortunately is next year.

This was my first read by Ms. Frost and I found it at first to be a good try at a mediocre novel. Typical vampire quasi-romance, entertaining, easy to digest, amusing.

But then I saw the TV show "Angel" particularly season 4. You know...the one where Gwen the girl hit by lightning and now electrical and dangerous to all those around her discovers she can touch a vampire without hurting him and a quasi-romance ensues?

There are just too many similarities, and clearly Ms. Frost either willingly or unknowingly (hah) stole the premise and then twisted her own story from it. The problem is the story she spun from the premise is a weak mystery, a barely-there romance, and a pitiful coming-of-age. Other than vampires, there is nothing to define a genre.

If you want good vampire fiction...well, stop reading vampire fiction, almost none of it is good. But if you want better-than-this vampiric romance, read Sherrilyn Kenyon, or if you want actually good supernatural urban fantasy fiction read Kim Harrison.

If you really enjoyed all the crappy teen vampire books that came out in the wake of Twilight and want to read basically the same thing but with a few scenes of sex thrown in, this'll do.

...but, it's still no Cat & Bones! Which is a shame, because Vlad has always been my favorite side character and I've been looking forward to his story for a long time. This is definitely far superior to her past few books, and i still love Vlad. Ouchhhh that man is sexy, a little arrogant but he has the stuff to back it up. Our female protagonist, however, isn't nearly as interesting or as well defined as Cat. I felt like, after reading just Halfway to the Grave, I knew Cat. If you threw her into some random situation and asked me what she would do, i would have some idea because i felt like i knew her. With this woman, i'm not so sure. I don't really feel her personality, and that bothers me. It makes it difficult for me to connect with her, and therefore makes the story less exciting than it could be. I really hope i like her more in the next book.

All and all, this book was exciting and I adore Vlad. I hope the next book defines Leila better and has some more sexual tension than this one. I will, of course, be looking forward to the next book and i recommend all her novels!

Leila ended up with telepathic and electrical powers following an accident as a young girl that also left her scarred. The experience changed her life forever, relegating her to a life of loneliness and solitude until the night she was kidnapped and asked to channel the world's most famous...and dangerous...vampire, Vlad Tepesh, known as the Prince of the Night.

Vlad is his typical arrogant, intimidating self in this story and as always, he has the goods to back all that attitude up! He becomes intrigued by the innocent but plucky Leila, enough to keep her around until he has a chance to determine her usefulness and if she's being straight with him. Someone is trying to get to Vlad and Leila's powers provide assistance in identifying and tracking the foe. The interplay between these two sizzle with electricity...literally and figuratively and Vlad seems to have found someone up to the challenge of being with him.

I've looked forward to this book since it was announced and it delivered. Leila is an interesting young woman and she seems to be holding her own with the difficult Vlad. He's not sure of his feelings because it's been a long time since he's had to or wanted to care about anyone so Vlad's not on sure footing. Their romance is erotic and charged and I liked them together. The action is exciting and the characters surrounding them are equally interesting (anyone else pulling for a separate story for Maximus?).

This is a great start to this spinoff series and there's promise that there may be more than one or two books going forward. If so, I'm in.

Holy crap Dracula falls for a Carny!lol At first I was like what the hell is going on, why is there bearded ladies and all that. But then we see what Leila is and you can see why she fits into this crowd. They don't judge her and they are generally nice people. I really wasn't so sure I was going to wrap my head around Leila's "ability" and think it could happen but I really did. Plus she proved to be someone that I just really liked. Vlad he is arrogant and cocky and well he just oozes sex me vibes. I was surprised at how fast he started pursing Leila but so not disappointed that he did.

Leila has had a pretty hard life after her accident she really can not touch anyone. But when she is kidnapped by vampires to try and use her special power she meets Vlad and he can touch her. How could a girl who hasn't been touched not fall for a sexy vampire who can actually touch and be touched by her? And when she does finally decides to stop resisting temptation, (which had me applauding) the sex was hot hot hot!! I have missed Jeaniene Frost's sexy scenes.

We see some characters from the other books (but not my Ian boooo. lol) Plus there is a lot of action to keep you anticipating what is going to happen next. I loved it.

My only disappointment is waiting until 2013 for the next book. Vlad has promised Leila everything, well everything except love and that is just not good enough for me! I can not wait to get to the next book and hopefully wear him down. Any fans of the Night Huntress series is surely going to love this one!

I'm not sure what to say about this book. I like the story and the vampires and such, but because it is an adult book they have to put the "F" word in it and lots of vulgar stuff that I don't like. I think the story would have been just as good without it. You can have sex without it being so graphic. Guys and girls can be tough without swearing and being vulgar, so I don't think I will continue the series even though I would love to know what happens in the rest of the story.

I freak'n LOVED it! Loved loved loved it! I read it all in one sitting and could not put it down, the sky was turning pink and I was all hyped up when the book was finally coming to a conclusion and man I did not want it to end! If I could still be reading this book I would be. LOL Dare I say one of the best of the year, if not the best so far? Hmmm, tho the competition is stiff. Vlad has been my man since book 3 of the Night Huntress series (when he was introduced to us), everyone else wanted Bones and I said you all can have him, I want Vlad! So I was, so excited when I found out his sexy ass was getting his own series, I knew Jeaniene Frost wouldn't let me down and I was right. This book has everything you come to expect from a J. Frost book: action, sarcasm, emotion and erotic as hell.

So let's start with Vlad, we already know Vlad we've met him before several times within the Night Huntress world. He loves to provoke Bones in any way he can just be an ass; however, he has another side, which you see when he is with Cat. He's a good loyal friend to Cat bailing her out of scrape after scrape and he lets her see a softer side to him. You get different glimpses of Vlad and all the different facets of his complex personality over the previous books. In this book you get a fuller picture of just how complex Vlad can be, the cruel, the loyal, the caring, the sensual and every other aspect you can think of. Vlad is in turn cruel and thoughtful, just when you are like damn what a ... he goes and does something for Leila that is so incredibly thoughtful and sweet you are like how is this the same man? But, while he is doing those cruel things it is with the single minded focus of his people protection in mind, he knows the minute he is perceived as weak, all that he has built all those under his protection could come under attack and he's not willing to risk those lives under his protection, including Leila. With that in mind even as he is doing what he has got to do, you can't hate on him because he's protecting what is his. His relationship with Leila, is quite intriguing, circumstances bring them together, but you would never expect these two to connect, but somehow they do. He's dark brooding, complex centries old and experienced. She's young, sarcastic and a bit naïve when it comes to life experience. Yet, he's incredibly patient with her and surprisingly funny, they end up being really well suited.

Leila is completely new to this complex world of Vlad's, but not to vampires. Due to her unusual abilities she cannot live a normal life, the only person she can even touch without fear is her partner in the circus in which they perform and only then because he is a vampire. Through touch Leila relives some of the most horrific deaths you could ever imagine along with any number of other horrifically bad things, this has made this young woman grow up fast and has led to an often lonely existence, but she tries to live the best that she is able. Leila might have lots of death experience but she doesn't have a whole lot of life experience and dealing with Vlad becomes a crash course in how to bargain with a Master Vampire and not get taken to the cleaners and she learns pretty quickly. What I liked about Leila is how she holds her own with Vlad, she doesn't let him just trample all over her, she's young and she's inexperienced, but she hangs in there. She goes toe to toe with Vlad, every step of the way; she has a fiery temper and a wicked sense of humor. She constantly had me and Vlad laughing. She was also smart, she had back up plans and thought things through for the most part (She did have one run off moment) and admitted when wrong. So often when reading action type books like these the heroine goes running off on some stupid half thought out idiotic "plan" that just about gets her killed and its sheer luck that she doesn't and that drives me nuts! Leila, thinks about it, she discusses it with Vlad and others, they go through it together. Quite simply I adored Leila, she is quite possibly my new favorite heroine and I think worthy of Vlad!

The story line itself is all a J. Frost novel should be, action from being to end with Frosts sarcastic humor and steamy sexual scenes seamlessly woven in for a thoroughly entertaining ride, I could totally see this book as a movie. Sex, blood, sarcasm and violence does it get better than that? Jeaniene Frost is one of my favorite authors; she just knows how to write a novel that pulls you in and does not let you go until the end. Her novels read like watching an action film your on the edge of your seat wait to see what will happen next and this is no exception. Something else I adore about J. Frost is she is consistent, when you sit down to a Frost novel you aren't thinking which J. Frost novelist am I going to get this time, is this one going to be good or am I going to want to throw this book out the window, you know you are going to get a quality novel that will entertain the entire way through. Now, I can't leave this review without leaving at least a bit of a warning on the ending, you will want to curse Ms. Frost for leaving you like that! It's like leaving you at the edge of an orgasm and then walking away and now I have to wait 9 months until the next book, oh so cruel, oh so cruel! If I didn't love you so much I'd be so mad at you right now! The ending isn't so much of a cliff hanger as it is unfinished business or "a to be continued"... I am not a patient person by nature so this wait is going to kill me!

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Oh Vlad how I lust for thee... Action-packed and intriguing characters, you just can't go wrong with a Jeaniene Frost novel.

Opening Sentence: I parked my bike in front of the restaurant, wiping the perspiration from my upper lip.

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Leila Dalton has one heck of a problem on her hands. She can electrocute someone just by touch but her right hand is a real troublemaker. When a woman accidentally brushes her hand, Leila sees the woman's murder. Always wanting to do the right thing Leila stops the murder even though she knows she will be seen as a freak but being a freak is something she can handle ever since she touched a power line. She has the scars to show for it running from her right temple down to the all-seeing right hand. Leila knows she is in for some trouble when her heroics make the news.

In order to hide her secrets, Leila travels around in a carnival performing gymnastic tricks with her vampire partner, Marty. (Marty is more like a father figure to Leila.) Unfortunately it is the winter season, so no traveling for Leila, as she is kidnapped by a group of vampires while she is training. These vampires want to use Leila's powers to track down one scary vamp in Vlad. But Leila already knows they will kill her once they have their information so when Vlad knows he is being spied upon Leila makes a deal with the devil. In this case, better the devil you don't know than the devil you know especially when you know they will kill you once your usefulness is done.

Vlad flies in to the rescue, literally, wanting to know who is spying on him. He also plans to use Leila to find out the information. Vlad is surprised by Leila's abilities and is intrigued by her. When Leila foresees herself in an intimate situation with Vlad, she wants nothing to do with him. She has been warned that Vlad will only break her heart, but she also knows how arrogant and self-absorbed he is, so she does her best to stay away from him. But when she finds that she wants to be in his company whenever he is around she cannot hide it anymore. It really doesn't help that Vlad can read her thoughts so he knows exactly how she feels.

Leila gets torn into the vampire underworld, where two sides want her power. She has to decide whether being held by Vlad is really such a bad thing because either way she will never be free. She will always be hunted for her power. She doesn't mind helping Vlad but she doesn't like how her father, her sister and Marty have been turned into pawns for her cooperation. Vlad really only uses Marty against her but he makes her realize what could happen to her family. Leila decides to follow her heart and the path that will keep her with Vlad.

I am a HUGE Jeaniene Frost fan, so it didn't take long for me to devour Once Burned. I love her characters and Vlad and Leila are no exception. Vlad is dark, self-obsessed and overly macho. He knows he is a big baddie in the vampire world and he does what is takes to keep his reputation. He wants to make sure everyone is scared of him. Leila understands Vlad's act but she doesn't want to believe it until it affects her. She is strong and impetuous, running into situations that realistically should have gotten her killed. Thankfully, tall, dark and handsome runs to her rescue.

The vampire world is revealed in small doses which is nice and refreshing for fans of the series so they don't get dumped everything in the world but Once Burned doesn't really show the complexity of the world that Jeaniene has created especially for new readers. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading the Night Huntress series first so new readers can see why fans of this series love Vlad so much.

Once Burned is told strictly through first person with Leila as the narrator. This is what throws this story, for me, from being paranormal romance into being more urban fantasy even though the setting isn't in an urban area. The plot is action packed and gripping from start to finish.

Overall, Once Burned is a thrilling read. There is a bit of an open ending with the book regarding the villain but there still is a bit of a satisfactory ending. I absolutely can't wait for the next book in the series Twice Tempted and know what is next for Leila and Vlad.

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins/Avon Romance provided me with a copy of Once Burned. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

They say no good deed goes unpunished and for Leila, aka Frankie, it could never have been more true. She can sometimes see a person's past or future with just a touch. When she bumped into a woman named Jackie, she learned she'd been having an affair and was going to leave her husband. She also learned Phil, the woman's husband, had learned of the affair and was going to kill her in a most methodical way, so that no one would have any chance of identifying her in the unlikely event her body was found. Knowing what she did, Leila couldn't let the man get away with his perfectly planned crime. So without much thought about her own future she spoke, "Stop them...He's going to kill her." She didn't realize that her actions had just started a snowball of trouble that would keep getting bigger finally gaining the attention of some ruthless supernaturals who saw her curse as a tool they could use. A tool to finally bring down one of the baddest and most notorious vampires ever to walk the face of the earth--"Vladislav Basarab Dracul", also once known as Vlad the Impaler and more popularly as Dracula.
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I always enjoy Ms Frost's books and this one is no different. In Once Burned, we meet Leila Dalton. She's smart, strong, sassy, resourceful, loyal and tells it to you straight. She acquired special abilities when she came in contact with an electric power line that should have killed her. Not only can she see a person's past and future, but if she comes in contact with an object she can also find where they are at present or will be in the future. She also has a much more "shocking" talent that she picked up that day. She emits electricity when touched. She's the equivalent of a human taser gun, but she can't control it. She shocks anyone who comes in contact with her. This effect makes for a very lonely life. Luckily for her, she met Marty, a vampire whom the voltage didn't affect unless she has contact with him for more than an hour. The two had become friends and created an act for a carnival. While Leila was looking for Marty at a local restaurant she'd encountered Jackie, the woman she'd bumped into. That was the day her life would forever be changed. By a slight quirk of fate Jackie's sister was a TV news reporter. Lelia (aka Frankie) and her talent had been outed.

We also get to learn more about the mysterious Vlad and his background. We've all heard the stories of Dracula, but do they depict a true picture of the man? We get to see two very different sides to Vlad and get some insight as to what molded him into the man he is today. The two halves that make the whole of Vlad up are like night and day. On one hand he is a gentle, tentative lover and on the other a cold ruthless killer and a man to be feared.

While you would think that Leila and Vlad would end up enemies, especially since she's forced to find him for his enemies, the two end up on the same side--Team Vlad. Part of what I believe attracts Vlad to Leila is that she's not too afraid of him to speak her mind. Additionally, with her talents she'd be quite useful to him. The big problem for Leila is she doesn't want to get involved with Vlad. Everyone she know warns he'll break her heart. That he's incapable of love. Even Vlad states, "I can give you honesty, monogamy, and more passion than you can stand, but not love. That emotion died in me long ago, as I suspect you already know." But when you're extremely attracted to another individual who knows your every thought, he's got the advantage. When that other individual is Vlad, well, your fate is probably already sealed before you know it. The man does not play fair.

Some (there were oh so many it was hard to whittle it down) of my favorite moments:

- "You think my blood is the only tie between us?"
His voice was low, yet edged with palpable hunger. It seemed to rub me in places I'd only ever touched before, making my anger fade under a flash of desire. Vlad was so close that his hair was a shadowy veil all around me, and when he began to caress my face with light, sure strokes, it was all I could do not to close my eyes in bliss.
"This is our true tie. You're meant for me, and I will have you."

- "Give me a break. Another reasonably good-looking dead guy would rev my engine, too, so don't break your arm patting yourself on the back."
"You're deluding yourself, but as I told you, I don't run away from challenges." Vlad said, stroking the tight stubble along his jaw. I refused to follow the movement; staring at his mouth would only lead to more thoughts of that vision.
"Let's put it to the test..."

- "If I felt nothing more for you than lust, Maximus would be on that pole for a week, and you, my lovely interloper, would not be here right now."
Hardly the words you'd find on a Hallmark card, but they caused a glow of happiness nonetheless.

- "What other surprises do you have in store?" I asked, adding dryly, "Let me guess: Your the real Roman commander that Russell Crowe portrayed in 'Gladiator'."
He chuckled, running his hand along my arm and not drawing away as the currents that flowed into him.
"No, but with the right incentive, you could get me to wear that short leather skirt and pretend to be."

Why the name Once Burned? Well, there are many possibilities, but I didn't see any definite moment in the book that clearly spelled it out. It could be I was so enthralled that I just missed it. I'd venture a guess it had to do with Vlad having bad experience with people and hence getting "burned" by them. He even warns Leila to remain frightened of him and never to betray him. The second possibility is that Leila has a scar which ran from her temple to her right hand where she was burned from the electricity. The third possibility is that someone Vlad literally once burned to death might be what the title is referring to. With so many possibilities, this book was very appropriately named.

Overall, I could not help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. I'm really loving the story line and Vlad. I fell in love with the world Jeanine Frost created after reading her first book Halfway to the Grave and have been a big fan every since. I've been waiting for Vlad's story since Ms. Frost first mentioned it would be forthcoming and Ms. Frost delivered all that she promised. Can't wait to read the next book in this spin off from the Night Huntress series.

If you're a fan of the Night Huntress series this is a MUST READ. There are cameo appearances by Cat, Bones, Mencheres, and Kira, but everything else is all Vlad and Leila. The majority of book takes place in Vlad's home country of Romania. The heat between Vlad and Leila is electric and smoking hot. The pages sizzle with the sexual tension and energy these two transmit. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Silly side note: The only thing that may have taken away from the rating is the fact I now have Culture Club's song 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me' repeating over and over again in my head and no sexy vampire to annoy. Gah! Thanks a lot Ms. Frost. lol

First in the Night Prince urban fantasy series that is a spin-off from Frost's Night Huntress series (Bones and Cat).

My Take
Yes, it is a spin-off based on a minor character in the Night Huntress series and that's as close as it gets to resembling it. I suspect that Vlad and Leila will progress into the sort of "law-enforcement" partnership that Bones and Cat have if only to maximize their combined powers. Characters from Night Huntress do make an appearance. It would be silly for them not to since they do know Vlad. But it's only an appearance.

Frost is setting us up with the series in this book. Building the background of both protagonists and having quite an adventure along the way.

I do like Leila. She's feisty and doesn't hang about waiting to see what happens. Oh no, our girl is making use of her gymnastic skills and is on the run. Her and Vlad's first meeting is too funny because, naturally, she thinks he's just using the name Vlad. It's a snark-fest with Leila hurling `em at Vlad like there's no tomorrow. And there might not be at the rate she's going.

Part of her reaction is his statement that she will be in his bed sooner or later. Frost certainly does provide a twist on "courtship".

It's kidnappings and rescues, family reunions and the forming of new ones. I do like how she left it. As much as I enjoy the happy-ever-afters, I also enjoy the cliffhangers. Even tiny ones like this.

The Story
A freak accident has left "Frankie" feeling freakish. Enough so that she's joined a carnival. And one night, her life turns even stranger when she saves a woman's life in front of too many strangers.

They've found her and they won't stop coming. Luckily, Frankie's first "client" is seeking the man who can save her.

The Characters
Frankie's accident has left her alone. So very alone. She can't even consider casually touching someone let alone taking someone into her bed. They'll die. She also is a touch-sensitive, psychometric, and vampires everywhere are coming after her. Her real name is Leila Dalton, Frankie is simply short for Frankenstein. If kids were going to call her one, she'd be one. Her father is Hugh Dalton, a retired lieutenant colonel, and her sister Gretchen and she are on the outs. Aunt Brenda is the woman who raised Leila and Gretchen after their mother died.

Marty is a dwarf, a vampire, and her partner in their circus sideshow act. It's perfect since he can withstand her touch. And she reminds him of his dead daughter, Vera. Turns out he's been keeping a very important secret from her.

Vladislav "Vlad" Basarab Dracul is known in popular fiction as Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. Yup, that one. He's a vampire, a firestarter, and a mind reader with an interest in Leila. Maximus and Shrapnel are some of Vlad's vampires. His live-in donors include Ben, Joe, Damon, Tom, Angie, Sandra, and Kate. Hunter is one of the staff.

The Night Huntress Characters include:
Mencheres and Kira and Bones and Cat --Bones teaches Leila a useful trick as part of his war against Tepesh.
Jillian is a sketch artist who contrives a portrait from Leila's images in the bones. Gabriel Tolvai is one of Vlad's allies and provides an important clue.

Jackal, Twitchy, Pervert, Rend, and Psycho work for Mihaly Szilagyi, a vampire whom Vlad killed centuries ago.

The Cover
The cover is menacing with a bare-chested Vlad--he obviously hasn't let himself go over the centuries--looming out of a purple mist.

I can't help it, every time I read the title I want to finish it with "twice shy".

*** Previously posted at ReadingDiva's Blog***

It is not surprise to anyone that I am a big fan of Jeaniene Frost. What is a surprise is to be a bit disappointed at one of her books. Once Burned is the spin off story to the Night Huntress Series (Cat & Bones). When I purchased Once Burned I was eager to start reading, and though I didn't do it right away it was in the back of my head always pushing it to the top of my reading pile. When I was finally able to read it I went head first into the story.

Needless to say, I was in for a big surprise. This is the story of Vlad Tepesh (Dracula), the egotistic, insufferable and extremely sexy vampire who has sneaked into our hearts little by little.

Let's move along now, while I enjoy reading the story, I was a bit disappointed at how the story flowed. Leila is an electrifying (literary) young woman who possessed an amazing gift. When she was little she had a terrible accident that left her with an ability many would kill for. As the story flows we are presented with Leila and the reason she is important to the villain. She works in a circus where others "freaks" are shown and where she isn't judged by her ability. While I think her character was nice, I didn't get the "awesomeness" I have come to expect from other character created by Frost. Leila becomes the weapon needed to eliminate one of the most dangerous vampires of all times - Vlad.

Vlad as we know is an insufferable, egotistic vampire who believes he is the most extraordinaire vampire in existence and whose ego is bigger than his "personality". Of course I liked him; I am usually biased when it comes to vampires. Though I have to give Frost credit, she always manages to bring us great characters with funny and strong personalities who can stand alone in their own right. I liked how well Frost developed these characters, and how normal and easy their dialoged felt.

Leila struggles didn't feel "real" and her inability to accept her mistakes was frustrating at times. Though she had an amazing ability, sometimes it felt as if she would struggle forever and would never come to accept herself and her "gift".

There is passion, and a lot of sexual tension, but there wasn't love. These two characters had a connection, one that went beyond love. They learned to coexist and need each other in a carnal/passion level but were disconnected in matters of the heart.

I am not sure if my disappointment has to do with the no HEA or because I felt cheated by my high expectations. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I would totally go nuts again for any of Frost's books. I am just hopeful that her next book brings the most needed satisfaction I crave for.

I really enjoyed this book. Of course the cover caught my attention first...but the summary really sealed the deal. I've really been in to PNR and UF genres for a while now, so of course I had to check it out. The synopsis seemed promising and it delivered.

First let me point out what's probably obvious! Vlad is one sexy bad ass vampire. I rarely drool over male characters, but he has the drool factor for real! Even with all his hotness, he has a lot of issues. I mean seriously, the man impales people... tortures people all in the name of due diligence! He is very old, so that probably plays into his no nonsense and mean persona. That also lends as to why he's so controlling with everything, including Leila.

Leila was the perfect counter weight to Vlad. He's so off the wall, his significant other must be not only smart and witty but also strong willed and can stand up to him. Leila is able to do just that. I really liked that Leila was not just your ordinary human. Her abilities probably are what make her more of an match with Vlad. She can protect and take care of herself and the people she cares about. I like that. As I always say, I like strong female characters. To me, nothing is worse than reading about a little helpless woman.

I also like that the story had many layers. We see that both Vlad and Leila have had a rough past and that contributes to them being who they are today. Leila and her accident, her family and other guilt issues. And Vlad with his constant state of being un-trusting because of how many times others have tried to kill him.

My one gripe would be the ending. I feel that it was sort of "blah". It was obviously left open ended for the next book but nothing had closure. Usually at least one story line is concluded, while another story lines continue on. Not in this case. It kind of felt like it was just abruptly cut off. Not only that, there was no real cliff hanger.

Despite the ending, I'm looking forward to the follow up Night Prince Series book due out in spring 2013. In the mean time, I've noticed Ms.Frost's other series, Night Huntress, and I'm definitely adding those books to my TBR list!

A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
"That one tickled. If electrocution is your way of flirting, I commend you on your originality."
"No, I do my torturing in the dungeon like any other respectable castle owner,"
"My body is the only thing that's truly mine, so I don't give it away as though it's worthless."
"We are all more than the sum of our sins,"

"That one tickled. If electrocution is your way of flirting, I commend you on your originality." - Once Burned, Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned stars the reoccurring character Vlad from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series and a complete new female lead. Now, I will confess that I'm not a big fan of the Night Huntress series. Don't get out the pitchforks yet...I don't dislike the series at all. I'm just not a fan of Vampires in general. So, why did I read Once Burned? I really liked the premise of female heroine for this series that wasn't a vampire but is still paranormal. Yes, I am aware that First Drop of Crimson has a similar premise. This book is so much better than First Drop of Crimson!

Leila was struck by lightning as a child and was forever altered. She is unable to touch anyone without killing them from electrical shock and is also able to read the past of someone just by touch (also known as Psychometry). Vlad Tepesh first appeared in the Night Huntress series as ally of Bones. Since then, I would argue that he's a fan favorite of the series. In this series, Leila is rescued by Vlad when she is kidnapped by a group of vampires that plan on using her powers for their own means. They mean to use her to kill off Vlad. Leila manages to connect with Vlad mentally and he decides to save her. Vlad brings her back to his own in Transylvania where she assists him with finding out who is out to kill him.

One of the my favorite aspects of this series is the connection that Vlad and Leila have. I enjoy their mental bond because it gives the reader a unique view into Vlad's mind that wasn't available previously. I loved how Leila stood up to him and made him treat her on equal ground. Probably my 2nd favorite quote in this book is after Bones teaches Leila the secret to keeping Vlad from reading her mind. She uses this on another Vampire with the same mind reading powers.

"I'd forgotten to keep blasting a song in my mind. I remedied my mistake, but the lyrics to "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" seemed too close to home at the mo-ment.

"Culture Club?" Now his mouth curled downward. "And you accuse me of practicing cruel and unusual punishment."
― Once Burned

The romance between Leila and Vlad is built up very nicely. There's a lot of good relationship building and they don't immediately fall into a physical relationship. Of course, when they do it's up to par with the Night Huntress series. Once Burned is a standalone novel but, I would highly recommend reading the Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) and One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 2) first. Hot romance, great dialogue, and a fast paced plot... this is one of my favorite books for 2012!

"'You think my blood is the only tie between us?' His voice was low, yet edged with palpable hunger. It seemed to rub me in places I'd only ever touched before, making my anger fade under a flash of desire. Vlad was so close that his hair was a shadowy veil all around me, and when he began to caress my face with light, sure strokes, it was all I could do not to close my eyes in bliss. 'This is our true tie,' he whispered, his breath falling hotly onto my lips. 'You're meant for me, and I will have you.'"

Once Burned is the first in Frost's new Night Huntress spinoff. If you're like me, you jumped up and down when you learned that Vlad was not only getting his own book, but his own series! So far the Night Prince series has two books scheduled with the possibility for more in the future. After reading Once Burned I sure hope we will be getting more than two books worth of Vlad!

Vlad is a strong vampire, perhaps the strongest of all time, and he rules his people with an iron fist. He doesn't take any shit from his servants and won't hesitate to torture friend or foe. His people adore him and serve him loyally. It was great to finally see Vlad as the leader we knew he was. We had a small glimpse of his life at home in one of the Cat and Bones books when Cat retreated to his home for a bit, but other than that we haven't really gotten to see Vlad being Vlad.

"'I want you afraid of me for the same reason I want my people to fear me,' he said, his voice as much of a caress as his fingers on my hand. 'Then you won't attempt to cross me. In the future, someone may try to betray you to persuade me. If that happens, remember this: I find and kill my enemies no matter how long it takes.'"

Leila is a good match for Vlad, she is strong-willed and tough but at the same time womanly and sexy. The story is told from her point of view, so its a good thing I found her very likable! She is the survivor of an electrocution accident when she was younger that left her with electrical current constantly running through her body. When people touch her they get a small shock and when she touches people with her right hand she can injure them with a stronger current of electricity. She also has another ability, when she touches people with that same right hand she can see visions of their past or future, and often when she sees their past she sees their greatest sin.

Even though her gifts are very cool and I like how they grow as she learns just how powerful she can be as the story continues, I did have a little bit of a problem with them. Its almost like "comic book style" how she acquired these powers: electrocution leads to electricity power and the ability to see people's past and future? How are those connected? I really liked Leila's character, but I could have used some sort of other explanation for her gifts. It was a little unbelievable, even for a paranormal novel.

Vlad and Leila are definitely attracted to each other when they first meet, but there is not insta-love here. You might remember from previous books that Vlad has always suffered from a sadness over the loss of his first love. Vlad warns Leila before anything ever even happens between them that he can't ever fall in love with her, and Leila has some conflicting emotions over her feelings for Vlad. But, of course, that doesn't stop them from eventually getting it on! Vlad doesn't disappoint in the hot and sexy department, that's for sure. He is just as steamy in the bedroom as we all thought he would be. One of the things Frost excels at is her ability to write seriously steamy bedroom (and shower. . . . .) scenes.

"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.'"

For all my love of Vlad and how much I like Leila as his match, I cannot give this five stars like I want to. Partially for my issues with her powers but also for another reason. One of my favorite things about Vlad in all the Cat and Bones books was his sarcasm. The way Frost balanced sexy, scary, and snarky was really wonderful and made him one of my favorite side characters in the world of UF and PNR. But in Once Burned, Vlad lacks much of that dark wit. Where did it go? Perhaps without Bones to bounce his snark off of, he has no snark? I felt like that was really missing from this book. Hopefully, we will get to see more of Vlad old personality as the series continues and his and Leila's relationship grows.

Overall I really loved this book. Even with its minor flaws I still highly recommend it!

Recommended for fans of: Vlad (duh), the Night Huntress series, paranormal romance, vampires, strong heroines, midget vamps.

I listened to this one. I had downloaded it to cd's from Audiobooks.com. I found myself driving the speed limit and (shuddering) taking my time getting places in order to continue listening to this novel.

SYNOPSIS:
A human girl was in a grave accident which gifted her with amazing abilities. It also left her `electrified' and able to connect with and locate people in a creative and unique way. Four vampires kidnap her, and force her to locate a vampire. She contacts the vampire for whom they are searching, and finds herself under the protection of the original `Vlad' or Dracula. He's ticked that someone is trying to kill him, and finds himself attracted to Layla.

Pretty much the whole novel is Vlad trying to figure out who is trying to snuff him, and Layla falling for the enigmatic invincible and sexy vampire.

I found myself skimming audible.com for more Jeannine Frost, and picking up her novels at the book store. This author is talented and very CREATIVE. She writes events, but mostly she concentrates on relationships, which is imperative in a romance right?

NEGATIVES IMO:
1) the ending. Obviously, we'll have to get the next book to see what happens next!
2) one of my pet peeves, is when people are injured, the vamp says boo, give `em a drop of blood, and `BAM!', not only is their grievous wound healed, but they seem to forget all about the pain and fear associated with the incident. No one seems to have ordinary anxiety after such a horrific event. (You should read how poor Holly in the Artemis Fowl series is always getting banged up, and 2 seconds later after magically healing, it's all forgotten). I was bitten by a dog when I was four, and even now, I can't stand a dog to lick my face, so I'd like to see some more of characters working through their problems.

I listened to this book as a stand alone, but am going back to order more of her books and enter into the delightful world of Frost.

4.5stars actually!
Without a doubt my favorite throughout all the series and the first Jeaniene Frost book that I've loved. Definitely no need to rehash the synopsis - it is intriguing enough to go on with. Also I don't think you really have to read the Night Huntress or Night Huntress World books before reading this one. They would add texture and context but this book could stand apart from them because it is a great origin story for the new series. I found it hard to not sit and inhale in one sitting because the writing is that good this time around and the characters so engaging.

When Vlad rescues Liela from a vampire gang determined to kill him, Leila is feisty enough to bargain with him with her own life on the line. His opulent lifestyle which screams I will not be ignored as loudly as stone and oak can manages to "wrong-foot" other side of the tracks Leila for about 2seconds as she decides she might be able to rough it there for a few weeks while partnering with Vlad. I enjoyed Vlad's household and his cadre of vamps and his life in "Vladsville", Romania. Vlad's world is complete with new and different vampires from the rest of this overall world although there is the obligatory cameo by Cat & Bones and Mencheres & Kira. There are plenty of quotable lines and the mechanics here are all top notch. I liked the action, the romance and Vlad's world with a little distance from the Night Huntress/World series. Leila was a delight from the moment she entered, I laughed out loud at her inner monologues and snarky asides. Vlad oozed sex appeal through the digital pages and it was great to see this side of him. Together they were fiery goodness.

I'm definitely on board for the entry to this series. Hey look at me anxiously awaiting a Jeaniene Frost book!

Ok, so I admit it...I have not read the Night Huntress series. I know. I've been meaning to, and I even own the first three, but I have just never gotten around to reading them. But, I have been hearing so much about Cat and Bones and Vlad...how yummy and sexy he is, you know? So, when Once Burned came out, a story about Vlad, of course I had to check it out...

Leila has lived her life pretty much a freak of nature. She has basically been forced to live a life of solitude. Vlad is the sexiest vampire in the world (that's my opinion, not necessarily Leila's). He is also one of the oldest and most feared vampires in the world. When Leila and Vlad cross paths, sparks fly...literally.

Leila was a strong character. Even though she had been shunned her whole life, she was still proud, stubborn, and stood up for herself rather than just letting the big, strong, sexy vampire come to her rescue. Vlad was...Vlad. Really not much else to say. Mysterious, sexy, dangerous.

The story was great, fast-paced and action packed with just the right amount of steamy romance. The writing style was great, with touches of humor thrown in to keep you chuckling. And yes, I will now be reading the Night Huntress series. Bring on more Vlad!

I can't say I was disappointed in the quality of writing or story telling, which this author is very good at. I just didn't get the warm and fuzzy feeling with the hero and heroine.

We met Vlad in pervious books and this Vlad in Once Burned doesn't appear to be the same character. Of course he is the most feared vampire with the ability to control fire but his relationship with Leila was cold and at times detached. There was no fire and explosions with their romance. I really liked Leila's character and with her special abilities she is the perfect mate for Vlad.

The whole time reading this book i didn't realize this would be another Cat & bones type series. I sure hope that in the next book Vlad and Leila have a better romantic connection. There is plenty of action and suspense to keep you interested in the book and some colourful secondary characters I hope we get to know better.

I rate this book 3.5 stars.

Leila tries to hide her powers by traveling with the circus. She had an accident when she was younger which gave her some unique psychic abilities, along with an electrical current that runs through her body and shocks those that touch her. Leila figures that the safest place for her is the circus; her fellow performers accept her, and if any circus patron ever gets suspicious, the circus is always on the move.

Leila is practicing her circus routine when she gets ambushed and kidnapped by a few vampires. They force her to use her psychic powers to locate the vampire named, Vlad. Something different happens when she locates Vlad however; he can see her, and he's not too happy about being spied on....

I love Jeaniene Frost's Cat and Bones series, especially the first few books. Ms. Frost also wrote a few books with the secondary characters from that series, but this one is much better. I've always been interested in Vlad, especially because he is the original Dracula. I loved the fast pace of the book, it flowed beautifully and I never got bored. I wish there was a little more leading to Vlad and Leila getting together, but that's my only complaint.

So if you enjoy the Cat and Bone's series then definitely pick this up. If you've never read the other series, you can still read this one first; it's the first book in a new series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Happy reading!

~Pam

Although it's not my favorite Frost book, I thoroughly enjoyed and will at some point, on a lazy day, reread. The one thing that I found different (but not necessarily bad) was Vlad's persona--in the Night Huntress series he's always been a favorite because of his dry witticisms. Yes, he has his moments in Once Burned, but there was something about him that felt different. Maybe it's just me...

Leila has spunk, grit, and all things one would want in a leading lady, and I loved Marty. Because of Leila's relationship with Marty, she was aware of vamps and other creatures that go bump in the night--this was good. The pacing is all right, but there are a few lulls. I didn't quite understand why Mencheres, Bones & the wives made their appearance other than for the sake of pulling the "gang" back together again, and I felt the scenes between she, her sister, and her father were a bit forced and too smoothly handled.

As far as the ending, I expected more. I know this is the start of a new series, so Frost is going to leave answers for later, but the ending was a disappointment. Really bland, boring, and full of vexing questions by Leila--"Does he love me?" "Have his feelings changed?" Ugh! I really hate endings like this, but look at the awful ending in the first Night Huntress book--great book, sucky ending. Oh well, at least the entire book couldn't be classified as sucky, not in my opinion anyway.

Once Burned may just be one of the most anticipated vampire books of the year. While Frost has always provided us with fantastic books in the Night Huntress and Night Huntress World series, I believe everyone wanted more Vlad! This first book in the Night Prince series was remarkable to say the least. Frost has created the perfect partner for Vlad in Leila. Her strong-willed personality, along with a wicked high-voltage touch, are certainly needed to deal with Vlad's pyro tendencies and his universal sized ego. We certainly get to see a much clearer picture of Vlad in this book and I wasn't disappointed in the least. He's powerful, sexy, and well, a little bit scary.

As with everything Frost writes, the action is nonstop and emotionally charged from the very beginning making for very late nights of reading because I just couldn't wait to see what happened next. I was very excited at the end of the book to see that it didn't "end" so much as left us with a "to be continued in 2013". I have a feeling this series, with Vlad and Leila, is going to rock the genre the same way Cat and Bones have in the Night Huntress books. Even if you haven't read any of the other books in the previous series (have you been living under a rock?), you can read Once Burned with no problem. This is a must-read for any and every vampire romance and urban fantasy lover.

*ARC provided by publisher*

Loved the characters, plot and humor, which after reading oodles of books in this genre, is hard for me to find. There are so many vampire romance novels, which sound good and I download a sample onto my Kindle, only to erase them after a couple pages, because the writing style is so poor and/or the plot so obvious, that I don't want to read them. It was totally refreshing for me to find a book with an unusual plot, combined with a lot of humor. I had to laugh out loud frequently while reading it the first time and think I laughed even more the second read through, if that's possible.
Anyway after reading this one and the sequel, "Twice Tempted," I started reading the Night Huntress series, but stopped and reread the Night Prince books, because I missed the characters.

Ironic that Vlad is the fire starter... cause this book lacked the heat that's so addicting in Frost's other books/characters. I love the Cat & Bones series. And enjoyed Vlad's dark banter as a secondary character in those books. But this book did nothing to endear him to me. I get it... Vlad is guarded, internalizes EVERYTHING, and claims not to be capable of love. But the downside to this character handicap is that he just came off too aloof.

I wish the author would have given us a better glimpse into his internal thoughts/struggles, etc. That would have "hooked" me. But this really left me feeling "that's it?" I needed a reason for Leila's affection towards him - and Vlad didn't deliver (besides saving her life and being good in the sack).

I hope the continuation of this series is a bit more revealing. And yes, I'm sure I'll buy book 2 - simply because I liked Frost's Night Huntress series so much.

Vlad is one of my favorite paranormal characters and I was eagerly awaiting this book for months.

I'm sorry to say that I was a tad disappointed in the book for one main reason: we get nothing from Vlad's POV- it's all from Leila's. I was fully expecting more Vlad- his thoughts and feelings- but we only get a glimpse into what he's feeling when he's reading Leila's thoughts. I think this made the romance less believable. Also, there are so many other characters around (Vlad had a huge entourage plus Leila's relatives show up halfway through) that the two main characters hardly get any alone time- that cut down on the intimacy and made the romance less believable too.

This is the beginning of a series so I knew there would be no real conclusion- but the ending was so abrupt and anti-climactic that I was a little surprised.

I know this sounds like I didn't like it, but I actually did- I just had high expectations and didn't "love" it as I had expected to. Jeaniene Frost's characters, as always, are well written, funny and compelling. And Vlad is still awesome.

Now I have to wait another 9 months for the next installment- I feel a little cheated. But I will definitely be reading the next book. Twice Tempted: A Night Prince Novel

This fabulous new series rivals the Cat and bones novels and the Night Huntress World books. The series sequence is not different from the other books in the Night Huntress Universe.

This story captivated me from the very first page and until the very last. I was so engrossed and invested in the characters, I only put this book down when I was forced to and counted the time down until I could pick it back up again. The chemistry between Vlad and Leila was fierce and intense. I also loved the nice treat of having the characters interact with Cat, Bones and the Gang.

For those wondering what genre this series falls into, I would put it in the same category as the other Night Huntress series, a romantic dark urban fantasy.

I highly recommend his series to fellow dark urban fantasy readers and I can't wait for the next book Twice Tempted due out March 2013.
I also recommend:
Once Bitten
Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance)
Shadow's Fall (A Novel of the Shadow World)
Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)

"You're hot, big deal," I shot back, refusing to let his knowledge of my most intimate thoughts daunt me. "I'm attracted to a lot of hot guys. If Chris Hemsworth were here, I'd light him up like a firecracker with his fast I'd jump on him."

"And that would kill him," Vlad noted.

Oh wow!! Once again Jeaniene Frost has blown my mind!! While reading Once Burned I had the same euphoric feeling I had while reading Halfway To The Grave for the very first time. Although Bones and Vlad are completely different, right now I can easily say that Vlad has stolen my heart and Bones has some serious competition!! Once Burned is a spin-off series to The Night Huntress series, and now that I've read it I'm already eagerly anticipating the next installment. While luxuriating in this romantic story it was easy to imagine the arrogant and rightfully earned Vlad Tepesh looking as stunning as the cover model Paul Marron with his chiseled body and jaw dropping features. I'm in complete and un-remorseful Fangirl mode about yet another well deserved fictional male character.

"That one tickled. If electrocution is your way of flirting, I commend you on your originality."

Meet Leila an outcast who also goes by the name Frankie.I absolutely adored Leila and I couldn't picture any other heroine playing her role. She's has had a dark and dreary past full of heartbreak and tragedy. What I admired most about Leila was that she embraced her nickname Frankie, shortened from Frankenstein and didn't let her disfigurement prevent her from living a fulfilling life of her choosing. Her freakishly horrific accident as a young girl occurred when she touched a downed power line that left her with a tragic yet awesomely cool disability. That disability came with consequences though because she is left scared and disfigured, yet still stunningly beautiful inside and outside. Not only must she avoid touching those she comes into contact with because she may electrocute them with her touch, but she also has the fascinating gift of Psychometry. One of the most prolific character traits about Leila is that she doesn't allow her tragic past to dictate her future. She is strong willed, sassy and is determined not to live in fear of rejection or shame of her abilities that I found freakishly awesome. Wow, electrocuting an unsuspecting person with one touch, or reading anther's past or future with one brief passing, how fascinating!

Bones nodded. "Better, but still not slit-your-own-throat annoying. Come on, Leila. Do you want this or not?" "Perfect. Repeat that whenever Tepesh is around you, and he'll run screaming in no time."

With the unforgiving gift of Psychometry, with one touch Leila can sense the persons most unforgivable sin, or regret or future and therefore she avoids contact with everyone she encounters at all cost, except her work partner Marty. Luckily Marty can withstand the electric shock much easier than the average human, well because he's not a human, he's a vampire. When Leila joined the circus as an entertainment act her partner given to her was Marty, and through their father daughter like relationship they truly have an endearing and charming family bond I enjoyed.

Auburn Hair's name was Jackal, according to what his friends called him. Their names sounded equally made up, so I mentally referred to them as Pervert, Psycho, and Twitchy since the last one couldn't stay still.

Shortly into Once Burned Leila is kidnapped by vampires looking to seek her services to destroy a powerful vampire and when she glimpses the brutal vampire they look to kill she finds herself frightened because whereas these men seemed scary they in no way can compare to the fire wielding merciless killer she viewed that smiled with glee while watching the death of another at his hands. Another shock Leila/Frankie discovers is that while using her gift of voyeurism Vlad senses she's watching him and when he demands to know her identify, she quickly must chose whether to trust the vampire who is as gorgeous as he is frightening or the relentless vampire kidnappers that are holding her hostage.

"If you betray me with another man, I'll burn him to death in front of you."

When Vlad first showed up in the Night Huntress series, I was instantly mesmerized by his character and when I heard he was starring in his own spin-off I was certain that I was going to get a charming, soft hearted loyal vampire. Hot Damn was I wrong!! The best thing about Once Burned is that Jeaniene Frost saves all his delicious and ALPHA glory for his Night Prince series. He's her best kept secret, even though I said that with Mencheres in his own book, but seriously Vlad has so much depth and character to him that it's almost like reading about an entirely different character.

"It must be important or he wouldn't dare disturb me now," he murmured. Then he drew away to look at me. "if it's not, I'll kill him and return to you directly."

He's ruthless and demands loyalty, he's possessive with what he deems "his", his witt kept me laughing while reading, his charm had me swooning his every word, his mysterious side left me yearning to know more about him, and his arrogance that made him such an ass has pushed me into full Fangirl obsession mode with Vlad. Tepesh is simply intoxicating, and days later I'm still thinking about him washing his rock hard aroused body in a icy cold shower. Squuueeeeee!

"Good, because I wouldn't enjoy killing you. Thus far you're not boring or irritating; a rarity. I also reward those loyal to me, Leila, but know this-you need not fear anyone else asking as your under my protection."

From the moment I started reading it was difficult to put the book down because with every page I kept saying to myself one more chapter, but there wasn't even a chance to stop because the pace was exhilarating, exciting and I was eager to discovery the face behind the kidnapping. I enjoyed the setting in Romania at Vlad enormous compound with all his eccentric antiques and loyal staff, antiquated timepieces, and abundantly rich living arrangements.

"We all belong to Vlad," he said, patting my knee in a comforting way.

Maximus's gaze went from gray to bright green in an instant. "Not like she does, so remove your hand or I will remove it from your body. No one touches her except Vlad."

Together with Leila's Psychometry help, Vlad and those loyal to him set out to discover the true identity and location of the person desiring to use Leila's gift to ultimately draw an unsuspecting Vlad out and kill him. But Vlad Tepesh is a brutal force to be recognize with because he's so powerful beyond other supernatural beings that he's not easily killed. Not only is he immune to Leila's electrical shock but he's also a mind reader, immune to fire, Telekinesis wielder and a Voracious warrior in and out of the boudoir.

I shivered at the graze of his mouth and his seductively growled words. If he used that same tone of voice in bed, he could probably get away with skipping foreplay.

He laughed. "I very much enjoy foreplay. Didn't your vision show you that?"

Once Burned is a must read for fans of paranormal romance and especially Jeanine Frost fans!!! This book was amazing, and while this book has plenty of spark for romance lovers, the action scenes were flawless with plenty of flames erupting on the battle field as well as behind closed doors. Whereas Leila is sassy, brave and strong willed, Vlad is protective, masculine, Alpha and oozing sexual appeal. My only Disappointment is that now I must wait for the next installment in the exhilarating romantic adventures of Vlad and Leila. Read this book immediately!!!!! I loved it. SHOUTY capitals!!

"I've let few people touch me in friendship, fewer still as a lover, but none in anger without extracting my vengeance......yet you struck me, and I did nothing." His voice deepened. "If you don't find sufficient apology in that, then you don't know me at all."

ARC provided for review courtesy of Avon

Once Burned
(Night Prince, Book #1)
by Jeaniene Frost

Rating: 4
Genre: Dark Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

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...

He's the Prince of Night...
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.

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**Review property of Books To Bury Yourself In - The following review is my opinion and not a paid review.**

MY REVIEW: Since young, Leila (aka Frankie) has shied away from the normal public. Anywhere that she can fit in with her special "condition" is where she yearns to stay, so when the traveling circus needed more performance acts--she readily jumped at the opportunity as their trampoline/gymnastic performer. In hopes of a better lifestyle in which she does not feel like the odd-one-out, Leila unfortunately continues to be treated by her fellow Carnies with caution and avoidance. And, after years of struggling with loneliness, she still burns inside while witnessing simple displays of affection (ex. holding hands, small caresses, etc.)--something that she both begrudgingly lacks and longingly craves. Yet, when Leila's shocking abilities become known by the wrong crowd, she finds herself dragged into a darker reality than she ever expected--full of vengeful vampires, gruesome deaths, and a well-known historical figure. As much as she may desire to escape this sinisterly attractive vampire's grasp, Leila quickly discovers a strong physical connection with him that she has never shared with anyone. But, can she live up to this Legends expectations of love and war?

Vlad is as famous as he is feared and most significantly can control fire--a trait developed from his long-lost vampire sire. He can also be strongly egotistical, frightfully dominant, outrageously sophisticated and to some extent amusingly charming, especially toward his newest captive who he finds both fascinating and intriguing. But when he comes to Leila's rescue after a cruel kidnapping, he inadvertently draws her into his mysterious world of danger and death. When sparks literally fly between the two, Vlad makes a decision to take things further with no plans of emotional attachment. Yet, Leila's feisty spirit and persistent curiosity continues to peak his interest, especially in regards to her growing power which can be very fatal towards vampires. And, when his past comes back to haunt him with vengeance, Vlad tries his hardest to keep Leila clear of the action...unsuccessfully.

If you are a big Jeaniene Frost fan, like myself, you will highly enjoy the beginning of her new (blend-over from the Night Huntress) Night Prince series. Vlad is as hot as ever and the underground opulent world created around him really adds to his sizzling appeal. Leila is a complex character with a lot going on in her life that really pushes her towards her current predicament. Together they instantly complement each other; Vlad helping to boost her confidence while Leila slyly begins to soften his sharp edges. Their relationship was heated and pleasurable overall, but almost predictable with the male lead not wishing to "love" again because of a tragic history...a subject repeated throughout many books in this genre. Throughout the tale, the reader is treated to past favorite characters (yes, that includes Bones) as well as some new rather interesting ones. Plus, the story by and large flowed smoothly, but the ending was not quite as emotionally thrilling as I had hoped...yet...that will not discourage me from checking out Book # 2 in the series, Twice Tempted, coming out March 19th, 2013.

Likes: The sexual tension in this story was very nice. Not too overwhelming or forced, with just enough spark to keep both characters on their toes and the reader excited about where their relationship was headed.

Dislikes: For me, Leila's "unusual abilities" were all over the place with no real similar connection between them (ex. telepathy, divination, retro-cognition/clairsentience, electrocution, etc.). It would have been nice for her to have maybe one main talent and slowly grow into the others, because she really came out with so much at once that it was overwhelming to keep track in regards to who could do what when during the action sequences.

Chapter One/Paragraph One: I parked my bike in front of the restaurant, wiping the perspiration from my upper lip. It was unseasonably warm this January, but sweating during a Florida winter was better than freezing in a Northern one. I twisted my hair into a knot, my neck cooler once the long black swath was off it. With a final swipe at my forehead, I entered the restaurant, ignoring the tables in favor of the patrons seated at the bar.

Favorite { Scene, Character or Setting }: Scene

Gotcha, I thought, torn between relief and dismay at finding him in what I knew was the present.
I 'd only seen him before through the grayish tones of past memories, by spying on him in the present was different. No one else was in my head by me. Free from other people's perspective, I took my time studying the fire start.
At first, he looked like a normal, well-built man in his thirties, but then hints of his uniqueness showed. His espresso-colored hair was past his shoulder--longer than most men dared, but on him it somehow looked supremely masculine. Black pants and an indigo shirt draped over muscles that appeared far harder than a gym membership usually accounted for, and though no flames clung to his hands, they were crisscrossed with scars that looked like former battle wounds. His high cheekbones were accented by stubble somewhere between five o'clock shadow and a beard, yet instead of coming across as unkempt, it was rugged and enticing. I hadn't seen a man pull off that look so well since Aragorn in Lord of the Rings, and his eyes...
Opened, a rich copper shade encircled by rings of evergreen. I would have thought they were beautiful, but at the moment, they looked as though they were staring right into mine.
It unnerved me, but I reminded myself it was only coincidence. No one ever knew it when I used my abilities to establish a link. I could be the world's biggest voyeur if I wanted, but my most fervent wish was to know less about people, not more--
"Who are you?"
I jumped. If I hadn't seen his finely shaped lips move, I would've thought I'd imagined the words. Coincidence, I reminded myself again. Any second someone would come into my line of vision and I'd see who he was really talking to--
"I'll ask a second time," his deep, slightly accented voice said. "Who are you, and how the hell are you inside my head?"
That scared me into dropping the link at once.

I listen to the audio. I like the story. I found it to be very funny. And I like Vlad. The character Leila, I thought she was a cool character, but as you go long, she becomes REALLY annoying. You wonder why Vlad is in love with her. I find her immature. In the audio version she has Valley Girl accent and the narrator always says the name Vlad wrong. The history which the author took the time to gather up is impressive, even though a lot of historical facts are wrong, she made an interesting story.

I don't like the cover of the book the guy looks too much a super model.

I've loved all of Frost's previous works so this is a tough review to write but this one just didn't have IT - that vitality that made the other books so special. After reading the great stories featuring Cat and Bones, Spade, and Mencheres it was almost painful to read this book. No plot, no characterization, no romance, and an abrupt ending made the story dull and lifeless.

Heroine - Leila was powerless from beginning to end making her a victim instead of heroine. Vlad was able to read her every thought leaving her completely powerless to plan or take control of anything. Her inability to touch anyone because of her special powers made her hook up with Vlad look more like desperation than anything. But that didn't keep her from being cold and uncaring - especially when others around her were being tortured and/or killed including her friend Marty and Vlad's people - mostly by Vlad's own hands.

Hero - Vlad was barely recognizable as the same character from previous books. He was an uncaring, unemotional azzhat with a makeover that manipulated Leila for his own purposes. His "Mine" stick was laughable - when he said "you're meant for me and I will have you" my thoughts were - gee, that's great for you but Leila's not getting much out of this deal. She should have give Maximus a chance.

Romance - wasn't an issue here because there wasn't any. There is no reason beyond some initial physical attraction between them to foster a romance. It came off as this may be Leila's only chance to get some so she better hit that while she had the chance or remain a virgin forever and Vlad was just proving a point. The love scenes weren't much - they were rushed, unemotional, and unimaginative. You would expect more from a guy Vlad's age.

The plot has already been expounded upon so I won't bother, but long story short - both Leila and Vlad were irritating and unlikeable. Leila may have been made the mess she was to allow for future personal growth and Vlad may have been presented as he was to allow him an emotional reawakening featuring Leila but honestly - I don't care - they both deserve each other just as they are. Neither was likeable or interesting enough to make me care where their story takes them.

Vlad Tepesh - the Dracula himself - is a vampire with a long history and a seemingly long list of enemies. Leila is a human that channels electricity and is able to learn each person's secrets through touch. Moreover, she can also contact people using her powers and has tried to control them most of her life. Vlad's enemies think she might be the missing weapon in their fight against Vlad, but Leila is not so sure about it. And then comes along Vlad and saves her, which makes her a willing prisoner of the infamous vampire.

Vlad is the main character of this story and how he deserves it! He's been one of my favourite characters and sometimes I even liked him more than Bones. But even though there are some funny dialogues between Vlad and Leila's thoughts, I have to say most of the humour I relate to Vlad in Cat's books is nowhere to be found. I particularly liked how fierce Leila is and how she balances her options, but the end was so predictable!... This book is full of adventure and has a bit of romance, but ends without a real ending so I look forward to the next book in this series.

This may not be the fairest review- but the most important thing that readers of Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress universe should know- THIS IS NOT A STAND-ALONE BOOK.

See, her Bones & Cat books are an on-going series. But, each title has a solid stand-alone story and a larger story arc that runs through the series. In each book, you are left in a mostly comfortable stop-off point- in the action and in Bones' & Cat's relationship.

Each of her other Night Huntress Universe titles (excepting this one) are stand alone stories within the larger universe: Spade's and Mencheres' stories & romances are told and completed. They may come back in another story as secondary characters but I wouldn't expect Mencheres to start having serious marital problems in the middle of a Bones & Cat story.

This book- Argh. The cliffhanger was way too abrupt and "Marjorie Morningstar" to be comfortable. Vlad and Leila's relationship is pretty much hanging off a cliff clinging to the root of some shrub. Is it even a relationship? Are they just sleeping together? That leaves the end of the book somewhere slightly distasteful.

Leila is far too good for Vlad- that was a significant imbalance. She was a fully-fleshed out character who was sympathetic and warm. He was made much more cold, manipulative, and aloof than he has been in past appearances. He was a little unlikable. His "wooing" of her was a little distasteful- she was pretty much prey he ran down and cornered. She didn't stand a chance and it left a pretty unequal relationship dynamic. He read her thoughts, sicced his other employees on her, and pretty much mocked & dared her into hooking up, and kind of tricked her into exclusivity. They were not equals within the relationship. And he kind of made that a point she had to see the inequality- so he was a little cruel, too.

We got into her head and were able to understand her motivations. He's hot, she's untouchable by just about everyone but him, and she felt one of his emotional memories so she knows he feels deeply. But his head? Kind of unfathomable. He is so shallow in this book- surface charm, surface emotions, not a lot of his thoughts on his motivations entering into this relationship or on Leila.

And what is particularly annoying is that Jeaniene Frost is a dynamo with male characters. Her male characters are larger than life and INTENSE and emotional. Vlad, in his other appearances, was a lot more sincere and genuine with his emotions. His relationship with Cat is about a 1000 times more moving than this burgeoning one with Leila. He was lonely, affectionate, wise, warm, and grateful for Cat's friendship. So, is he just sleeping with Leila? Frost's characters are committed to each other- so, the lack of any commitment from Vlad feels like a glaring problem. He's committed to Cat, in previous books, so his profound lack of commitment- even rejection of commitment- to Leila feels icky. Like she is being cheapened.

It was such a supremely unsatisfying place to end the first installment. I can hope and expect that they'll continue to negotiate their relationship and, since there is a strong romance component to the book, that they will fall mutually in love and live happily ever after. But, what if not? I have lost some of my happy expectation for Frost's books. Is she going elsewhere with this new series? I've watched Kresley Cole and JK Ward and multiple authors take their series into directions I would have never even guessed when I read the first book. And, I'm a little less likely to pick up each new installment as they get further and further away from what made them my go-to authors.

Granted, I realize that matters not a whit. Her books, her stories, her prerogative. And, what I like in a book is not what other readers like.

I have been lusting after this book since I first heard about it last year and then in January when the cover was released, well hell, I hungered for it.

Vlad has been one of the reoccurring characters in Jeaniene Frost's The Night Huntress series that has held my attention with his smart sexy mouth and heated sexy glances, his soulful sexy eyes and drop dead gorgeous sexy body...you get the idea!

Vlad Tepesh exudes primal sex, and yet this book, does not :(

Before I complain, I'll start with what I did enjoy.

The story flowed well, it had plenty of action and intrigue to keep me guessing.
Leila has an interesting gift, and she's a bit ballsy, although we don't get a lot of background on her other than a brief look at how she got her injury.
Vlad and Leila's journey together has a good amount of attraction, and they have to work together in order to solve a mystery and save the lives of their friends.

Had I not read any previous books by Jeaniene Frost I probably would have given this book a 4 Star rating.

However there are some things that I just couldn't get past.

It says right there on the front cover 'A Night Prince Novel'
So I was expecting a book based around Vlad, from Vlad's point of view.
Not so.
Its a book based around Leila, and written from her POV.
I initially didn't mind, but as the story progressed I got bored with the constant self berating and 'oh darn, he can hear that/knows what I'm thinking' commentary.

Vlad and Leila's attraction was well...dull.
Vlad has to be one of the most lusted after vamps of all time with extraordinary powers, a body to die for, and hundreds of years of experience under his belt.
He knows how to lure a lady, how to turn on the charm, but I found his pursuit of Leila stilted and awkward.
And when they did finally come together, it was pretty average.
I was hoping for fireworks, not unlike those of Cat and Bones in book #1 *wink wink* but what I got was safe and (dare I say) lacklustre.

Speaking of Vlad; the Vlad in this book is different from the one I know from TNH books.
The Vlad I know is a tease, darkly sexy and broody, has a wicked sense of humor and flirts mercilessly with all females.
This Vlad was moody and arrogant, and I really didn't care for him all that much.
I actually felt bereft.
Who was this impostor because it sure as hell wasn't my Vlad?
Maybe that's what was missing, not enough Vlad.

And the ending - what kind of ending was that?
Yes, I know it the first book in a series but what the hell?
I don't think it made sense to end it so abruptly, so half arsed!

Perhaps I would have enjoyed Once Burned more had it been written from Vlad's POV...
or if there had been more heat, more great sex...
or maybe I would have enjoyed it more if the ending had been more complete...
I'll never know.

What I do know is - I was left feeling angry, bitterly disappointed, and almost had a throw-it-against-the-wall moment!

I couldn't with good conscience give Once Burned anything more than 2 Stars :|

Oh heck yes. This book had me smiling through most of it. I enjoyed the action, the sexiness, the supernatural element of it all. Layla is a great addition to this group of people. I love her abilities, and I love her with Vlad! YUM!

Okay, I listened to the audio, like the rest of this series. Let me just fangirl over Tavia Gilbert right now. Jeaniene Frost writes some seriously great books, but good lord sweet baby kittens does Tavia Gilbert ROCK as these characters!! Her voices are all so distinct, creative, and sexy! She makes them all come to life. And I can't even explain the smile on my face when Bones showed up. Another fantastic job well done by a tag team not to be messed with. Loved it!

I don't have much else to say. There's a problem, some sex, and a solution, but this one leaves us with a cliffhanger that I was just not ready for. I can't wait for the next installment of this spin-off (and the next one of the original series, for that matter!) because I just need to know how it all works out!! Gah! :o)

The only thing I am hating about this book is that the 2nd in the series isn't released yet... (Bah!) Thinking about having to wait almost 2 months until book 2 is released, Kills Me.

---Other than that---

This is a great action story with a really great romance blooming all throughout. I love that the lead male character has his own mind and doesn't sell himself out just to get the girl like so many other romances. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes in the next book. Although it isn't an epic romance, it ranks pretty high up on my list of great reads.

As far as the author goes, I read the first 8 chapters of Night Huntress and hated every last bit of it - I just couldn't read another word of that book. Bones was nice, but Kat just grated on my last nerve. Thankfully reviews for "Once Burned" overrode my inclination to skip reading another Jeaniene Frost book.

I'm relieved the author went a different direction with a female lead who isn't such a dominate wreck as Kat was in Night Huntress. The author has completely redeemed herself in my eyes. Well done in writing "Once Burned" Jeaniene!

this book is great if you enjoyed the huntress series. The same great ideas and sprinkle of humor mixed with some heated scenes make this a great read.
The only complaint I have, and its small mind you, is how the book ends. Its a bit too rushed with a distinct cliff hanger feel which to me feels like a cheap way to make people buy the next book. Mind you this is a small problem, and more just a personal like, and in no way makes the book less enjoyable.

This was a great series opener. It immediately made me fall in love with both of our main characters and I couldn't wait to see where their adventures would taken them. I read the first three books in under two days and am so sad i have to wait till 2016 for the next book. What will happen to these two next? I must know.

I'm a Frost fan, so some may think I'm being biased, but if a book makes me want to forget all the things on my to-do list just so I can keep turning the page, then it's a goooood book.

I agree with some reviewers; I wasn't too thrilled about the 1st person point of view at first, but Jeaniene has a knack for showing the reader what each character is feeling even if it is in 1st person. Vlad is just how she presented him in the Cat and Bones book and I love that Leila isn't a whiny helpless heroine.

The fact that Vlad can read her mind is hilarious (I actually laughed out loud during many scenes) because it gets rid of the stupid, age old theme that resides in a lot of romance; misunderstandings and lack of communication. Frost uses other types of conflicts to ratchet up the tension and that's what makes the book appealing to me.

Definitely worth reading because in the end it is pure entertainment, which is the point after all.

I just finished reading Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost. Overall, I liked it. The hero Vlad was shrewd, ruthless, diabolical, a bit scary, and sometimes sweet. The heroine Leila was scarred, feisty, and funny at some points. I did like how she stood up to Vlad all the time. She seemed to excel at making the best out of bad situations. It was also nice to have a heroine described as a B cup boob size. Thank you Jeaniene Frost for having an average boob sized heroine.

But the end of the book felt very unfinished. Nothing really gets resolved. I know there is supposed to be a second book but I feel the ending could have been much better. The ending was not a cliffhanger, but I reached the last page and said, "That's it?"

A lot of the dialogue was funny. I laughed out loud a few times. I want to post something funny from the book but am resisting the temptation because you should experience it as you read the book. Vlad says funny stuff, Leila says funny stuff, and there are a few scenes with Vlad mind reading what Leila says and her reaction to him knowing what she was thinking that are priceless.

I did have a huge problem with the overuse of the word loins. I am tempted to go back and count how many times the word loins was used, but am too lazy. Suffice it to say the editor was sleeping on the job. I would not be surprised if the word loins was used 6 times in 5 pages. It was ridiculous. "My loins shuddered" "I felt a clenching in my loins" etc.

I thought the sex scenes were well done (except for the overuse of the word loins) Vlad and Leila had chemistry. Sadly, it does not approach the infamous Chapter 32 with Cat and Bones.

I think the ravenous fans who have been waiting for Vlad's book will be pleased, but hungry for more. Once Burned is going on my keeper shelf. I look foward to book 2 with Vlad and Leila.

Nope nothing blah this start of the Night Prince series, if Bones and Cat are extremely exciting , Vlad and Laila are explosive literally ; each of them on their own way laila with electricity Vlad with fire and both are a deathly combination.
Loved it all the way till the end.
Jeaniene Frost doesn't disappointed with her writing of the undead.

I waited impatiently for this book to come out and when I finally got it, I was so disappointed. First off, I think it was a huge mistake telling the story from the 1st person POV of the new character. I just couldn't connect with Leila whatsoever and JF just really didn't give her enough personality to make her endearing. I think it should have been told in third person POV like some of the other books were. I would have like to known what Vlad was thinking or doing when he wasn't around Leila.

I also found the plotting to be lazy. Nothing much happened in this book and you spend a great deal of time seeing just when Leila decides to jump Vlad's bones. There's no romance whatsoever. For all the "seduction" that was there, Vlad might as well have told her that he was her only hope of getting laid so let's get started. No need to bother with pretenses. You're mine.

He actually tells her "I'll never love you". Now I don't know about you, but I don't want to "belong" to a man who tells me he can give me monogamy, honesty and loyalty, but love is out of the question. Why was it out of the question? Why did he want a woman who he could never love? And why would she want a man who'd never love her? Another reviewer mentioned how their relationship just felt forced and desperate on Leila's part and I couldn't agree more.

I didn't like that Vlad could read her mind all of the time. It made it seem like JF didn't want the trouble of actually having to build the relationship by having the characters talk to each other to get to know one another.

It took me two weeks to read this book, I forced myself to finish because I've never left a JF book incomplete. But the lack of character development and above all, plot made this book damn near unbearable for me.

Once Burned
Reviewed by Francesca & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

An ode to Vlad...

Because you are fierce as few others
Because you are caring to your friends and your people
Because you are a protector amongst villains
All that raw passion, sensuality and heat
You make me melt with just a touch, just a look or a simple word
There is no other like you
I bow to thee
You have my love, my heart, and even though you've found The One know that you will always be number one for me

~Love
Francesca

What can I say? I'm in love! But I already knew that from the first moment I laid eyes on Vlad in the Night Huntress series. My love for him has only grown with each of those books to the point that when he's not around I feel his absence. When I found out that Ms. Frost was giving my boyfriend his own series, well... You can only imagine the fangirl screaming that caused. Of course with any book that I go into with such high expectations I'm always scared. And all I can tell you now is this book rocked my world!

But before I continue telling you all about Vlad, lets talk about Leila. She wasn't what I expected in a very good way. Her background is very interesting and she has some powers while she's still very much human. Having worked and traveled with the circus because of an accident that left her in the predicament of shocking the ever loving mind out of anyone she comes in contact with and being able to see their darkest, deepest secrets by just a touch. Tough to live with, yes, but very cool. And oh the possibilities! I also thought her personality was great! Vlad needed someone with some spice and some kick. I think she's the perfect blend. She's funny, she's strong, she's independent. But she's also vulnerable and soft. The perfect female for Vlad...well, after me of course.

"Beautiful and diabolical. You make me impatient indeed to claim you." ~ Vlad

And I have to mention that my heart was beating faster when I started reading and the heroine was going by the name of Frankie. I know, I know, her name is Leila, but when everyone was calling her Frankie I could just pretend that's how Vlad would call her and even though I've only had one person use that nickname for me, I'd take it gladly for Vlad. See? Just another point that he really should've ended up with me!

The story was full of action and intrigue as Vlad is being targeted by his enemies and he has to not only protect himself and his people, but protect Leila since she's the one that revealed the plot to him. I thought this was a job well done all around.

Especially with mixing enough romance in with this urban fantasy. Ms. Frost has always been one for straddling that line between genres and I decided to go with an urban fantasy category for this book but just know that the romance is a big part of this story. And oh what a wonderful part. Vlad is smooth even when he's extra cocky about his own self (pun intended). I wasn't expecting any less from Vlad because he just knows how to heat things up.

"I want to know what your end game is first." ~ Leila
Another flash of teeth, this time showing his fangs. "To have you screaming my name within the hour." ~ Vlad

At the same time though, there was a tenderness and vulnerability to him that I always knew was there. He's been hurt, he's guarded himself. He's not an easy man to get close to and he lets Leila in. It was beautiful and sweet to watch him change for her and show her the attention, care and respect her always gave her. Always believing in her and not pushing her aside but wanting her to be better. Vlad can make Leila stronger and she can make him whole.

"You're not just versatile and complex - it's like you're a schizophrenic!" ~ Leila

And then there's the Night Huntress cast. Fun cameo appearances by Cat and Bones, as well as Mencheres and Kira. Bones is just too much sometimes and the banter between him and Vlad is comical. Yes, there's quite a bit of humor in this book as well.

Did I mention how perfect it was? OK good because in case you didn't realize it yet, you have to get this book because it will leave you breathless and aching for more. More story, more Vlad, just .... more!!!!!

"We are all more than the sum of our sins." ~ Vlad

"I' am so Googling 'Vlad Dracul' once this is all over," I stated. "Wikipedia knows more about his past than I do." ~ Leila

*ARC provided by publisher

Amazing new start to the series! Awesome story! Can't wait for the next. Great add to the series! Fell in love with Vlad from the other books so a series all about him is a plus! Side characters and story were perfect!

I am a pretty big fan of Jeaniene Frost's, haven't read all the Cat & Bones books only because I get bored after a while with the same characters but I enjoyed some of them and her stand alone books in the series as well. One giant quibble with this book: Because Vlad canb read Leile's mind, it takes away a ton from any mystery between them!!! I hated that he knew everything she was thinking!!!! Part of the fun of these books is the misunderstandings, etc, that occur when a romance is ensuing. I will probably read the next book because of the plot twist at the end, but I didn't like this as much as her other books. Still a good read, though.

First I have to say is that I could not put this book down. I read it in 12 hours. It was that good. Vlad is a great character to have his own series. He is wonderfully complex and his behavior is to solve his problems by himself so it limits the other characters from the Night Huntress world from coming and going to much. He is funny with his dark sense of humor and Jeaniene nails his character very well. The character she gave him makes you understand why any one would follow Vlad Tepash into a losing battle on the Romanian front. Even being dark and ruthless, he is very considerate and thoughtful to his people (though there in ery subtle ways and you have to squint very hard to see it) and protects everyone under him. He rewards well for loyalty. Jeaniene gave him a very good partner.

Leila is surprisingly relatable to me. She is a woman with a scar (physically and mentally) and she pushes through her insecurities and gets what she needs done. What makes her so relatable is that she is very human (redundant since she is human). She's not a character who has always fiesty or is completely naive to how unfair the world can be. She didn't make the best choices, she had a low, and she had lost a person she cared about and blamed herself for a long time. What makes her awesome is that she comes back stronger and learns from her mistakes.

Yes this is a romance novel and Leila and Vlad get together eventually, and it is amusing the whole time. I had to stifle my laughs to keep my roommates from thinking I lost it. I will not give any other information about their relationship because it is best left to be read, but the plot is good in itself. The antagonist I feel is what I would like to call a mirrored version of Vlad. They think very alike and the antagonist I feel is what Vlad could have been. There is a very thin line on what seperates them. That is my opinion on the antagonist and many good battles are sure to come in future books. It does have action in the novel. The heroine doesn't do much at first in theses action sequences unlike Cat but she is human so she gets a pass. Overall, I loved the book, and I can't wait for the second one.

At last, a version of Vlad Dracul that is the way women would like him to be. Most vampire stereotypes don't apply here. I would like to have seen a little more tenderness in Vlad, but I understand why the author left it out. The book ends well enough with ( of course) a hint of a future story.

Okay, while I love, love, love Kat's series, I didn't really like the last book (Mancheres) in the off shoot of Kat's series. But this one was great! I just loved the heroine's issues and how they meshed so well with the hero's shtick. Also, the hero is such a great combo of arrogant, bad-assedness that made this such an enjoyable read. I tend to go more for alpha guys but he really worked for this story. Can't wait for the next book.

I love the Cat and Bones series so now that one of my favorite characters has his own spin off series, I had high expectations, which were not let down! Vlad has a way of capturing your heart while exploring an awesome plot! Great book for vampire lovers everywhere!!!

Vlad uses fear and torture to keep the ones around him loyal. So when he realizes he is being spied on he does what Vlad does best he threatens to kill that person. But what he never expected is that that spy is going to ask him for help, ask him to save her and in doing so will change both of their paths forever.

Leila just wants to live in peace or what little peace she can find. But it is really hard to do that when you just got kidnapped by three very nasty and hungry looking vampires. Forced to use her power to try to get answers for them, Leila finds herself connecting to another vampire. And this vampire may be her only hope to make it out of this room alive.

I wanted to give this 5 stars maybe even 4 1/2 but it was a 4 for me. I guess I have not been paying attention to the Frost world. I was totally shocked that Vlad's story is told by the heroine (just like all of Cat & Bones stories are from Cat's point of view) Lelia. I was hoping for more insight on the man we have all come to love.

I enjoyed this story. I am very happy that Vlad finally gets his story told. We do learn more about the man behind the myth of Dracula. Although I would have loved to have seen many parts of this story through Vlad's point of view.

Vlad & Leila make a great team. Both are stubborn, determined and will do anything for the people close to them. I loved that Leila challenges Vlad every step of the way. I can't wait to see where Jeaniene takes us next on Vlad & Leila's journey. Sadly we have to wait until Spring of 2013 for the next Night Prince novel to come out. But I think it will be worth the wait.

At times, it was hitting the 3.5 star mark, but fleetingly. Someone mentioned loins? Yeah, like Jimmy Fallon with his word moist, loins has the same effect on me. I am not overly fond of the word. 'Loin' is too biblical and too pork related for me. Yes! I confess, I would have a flash of a cylinder shaped log of beautifully golden roasted pork meat, trussed up with twine and rosemary sprigs going through my mind. I take the responsibility of this imagery being a personal quirk.
The book started great and it was FUN to read, hitting a good stride in the middle. We've seen many sides of Vlad from previous books, and I've enjoyed his character immensely. I do not feel I saw anything new or more personal in this story. Remember when Cat thought she needed pain to summon the remnants? And Vlad knocked her loving day lights out a few times in the cemetery? I was shocked and horrified and thinking this guy is the meanest friend ever, this is fabulous! There were no moments like that here, he needed no reevaluation in this book. He's no less and no more than you expect.
Leila is not a wimp! And she is not so brave or head strong she is coming off as stupid and unlikable. She seemed just right. Her relationship with Marty is endearing, hope there is more in the next book of those two interacting.
I did not like the ending 100%, because I was left thinking that I am SUPPOSED to be thinking their relationship is in jeopardy??? Yes we expect a happily ever after later, but I'm not even remotely on edge about it. I'll be looking in the next book eagerly for the "oh, no! whatever shall they do to reconcile!???" moment.

Admittedly, my enthusiasm for the Night Huntress series has waned over the years, but this first book of Vlad's story has brought me back into this world with a bang. Appropriately gruff and stand-offish (at least outwardly), Vlad is an entertaining character that is easy to invest in. Mix that with love-interest Leila who tends to take him to task for his attitude, and you've got a read that will keep your attention and make you wish the follow-up book was out NOW! :)

..."Vlad Tepesh, former voivode of Wallachia and the most arrogant, deadly, frightening man I've ever met."

His lips curled with disdainful amusement. "Compliments won't sway me any more than the word please, Leila."

"You take those as compliments?" Gretchen was incredulous.

"Of course." His smile bared his fangs. "She named all of my best qualities."
**********

Leila's leading a very solitary, lonely life, as a circus performer. I mean really, how can you not smile and like her a little bit right off the bat? After a childhood accident resulted in her being electrocuted, she's now able to zap people with electricity, whether she wants to or not. Also, with one touch she can sense a person's past, find them in the present or sometimes see their future. These freaky gifts haven't allowed her to get close to too many people. Her best friend and father figure, Marty, a vampire, is her partner in the circus and her closest friend. After one incident that forced her to use her abilities outside the cover of being a circus performer, her abilities get out to the public and she's captured by a group of vampires wanting to use her gift (or curse) of touch to find a very powerful vampire. She inadvertently connects mentally to the vampire while touching an object of his, and it's her first introduction to Vlad.

Vlad helps her escape and keeps her with him in order to figure out who sent these vamps after her in order to locate him. The book centers around this search and takes place primarily at Vlad's home in Romania. We're introduced to the people in Vlad's inner circle, which consists almost solely of his staff. He doesn't keep close friends, Cat and Mencheres are probably his closest and he is completely and utterly arrogant A badass. Ruthless. Unapologetic. And the best part, he doesn't change one bit from page 1 until the end. I loved that.

I found Leila as a heroine to be so charming. She starts the story with this curse of an ability that put her in the "freak" category when she was growing up, including a long scar from her face down one arm. She never got close to anyone, she's on the outs with her family, and living and working with the other performers is the only place she feels somewhat accepted. She's avoided touching people for most of her life, but Vlad doesn't hear of that. He wants her touch, demands it and makes his home more "touch" friendly for her while she stays with him during their time together. She stands up to Vlad, even though she acknowledges how stupid that is, but she can't help it. Their conversations when they're mentally linked had me laughing, along with the fact that Vlad didn't hide the fact that he constantly read her mind. Leila has no thought filter and I was smiling throughout at not only her thought process but knowing that Vlad was hearing it all too, since most of her thoughts were sarcastic and about him. I liked seeing her progression from not accepting what her touch can do to fully embracing it and even learning what can enhance it.

Vlad. What a sexy man. For as much as I liked Leila's growth throughout the book, on the flip side, I liked how Vlad's personality didn't change. He wanted Leila, and in some ways he softened a little where she was concerned, but if someone needed impaling, then, they got impaled. He made no apologies for how he lived and his actions. He does what he needs to do to keep the fear of him in people. But I will say, the reason my rating is 4.5 and not 5 is because I still don't feel like we know Vlad. It makes sense in a way because he's a man not to be messed with and he won't give out any information to anyone. Period. What we do learn about him is mainly through Leila and the objects of Vlad's she touches. We get glimpses of his past, his most devastating moment, bits and flashes from people he's murdered, but we don't know him. I hope that's one focus in book 2, Vlad on a more personal level...if that's even possible.

**********
He stalked over, his eyes glowing with emerald highlights. Now that I got my first look at him, I saw that his cuffs were undone and the top buttons of his black shirt open, the V of hard flesh entrapping my gaze even as I backed away. The most I'd seen of his skin before was when he rolled up his sleeve to give me his blood. I found myself wondering if his chest had the same crisp dusting of hair as his arms, or if the hint of darkness I glimpsed was from the firelight's shifting shadows.

His teeth bared in something too predatory to be called a smile. "You'll soon find out."

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."
**********

Vlad wants Leila and so he claims her. She doesn't just fall into bed with him, but he knows it will happen and confidently tells her so. Of course it does and it's just another small way that Leila starts falling in love with this man. Vlad states flat out that he will never love and even though his shell might be cracking ever so slightly where she's concerned, the ending is certainly not a happily ever after, yet. Normally, I can't wait to see the hero fall head over heels for the heroine, and I just don't see that, or really want that happening here. I think it's obvious that Vlad cares deeply for Leila, and it'll be very interesting to see just how far this man falls and if he lets himself go completely in an emotional way for her.

I really enjoyed this opening book to Vlad's series. I'm glad he's getting more than one book. I don't think there's any way a deep relationship could have been formed and believable in just one story. It's going to take time for these two to really come together, and I'm all for a nice long set up. It makes their relationship have deeper meaning and leaves me wanting more.

Blog rating: 4.5/5

Loved this twist on Dracula, oops! I mean Vlad Tepesh. If you loved the stories about Cat and Bones you will want to read the new spin off about Vlad and Leila. Ms. Frost has developed a character in Leila that is well matched to Vlad. Looking forward to see what happens next!

I was not as impressed with Once Burned as I was with Eternal Kiss of Darkness. I started reading Once Burned immediately after finishing Mencheres' book and it fell short for me. It read too simply and more like a true romance for my tastes. I got this one from the library---and would read book two if I could get it from the library as well---but I won't be buying the next one in the series.

Absolutely loved this story of the enigmatic and implacable Vlad Tepesh and Leila, the unusual woman he ahs chosen for his lover. This book had everything - mystery, heat, suspense, steam. My only (very small) complaint is that it is rather a cliffhanger. No problem - I ready to dive right into book #2.

I loved this book. I started with the Night Huntress books, then went to the Night Huntress World book and onto to this book. It is the first in the Night Prince books. I hope there are several more to come. I can't wait until the 2nd installment Twice Tempted comes out in March. Go to Jeaniene Frost's webpage and find the reading order for these books and get started on a wonderful read! (Still here? GOOOOOOO)

I loved this book so much that I bought five copies and gave away as Christmas/Yule gifts. Each person called me back and hated me because they loved it so much and hated having to wait for the second in the series. LOL. I then read the Cat and Bones books but still think this one is so much better and Ms. Frost gets better with every book she writes so I can't wait to read the new one.

After reading the first 2 chapters I had to come back here and re-read the reviews. Why am I reading about carnie folk?!? But then I got past that and kept reading. I couldn't put it down. I loved this book. I was looking forward to reading about Vlad months ago but had moved on to other series and forgotten all about it. What a beautiful reminder. The book had the right amount of plot, love scenes (not just sex) and character development to make me what more. Not so much a cliffhanger but unfinished business. I just about died. I hadn't realized that like Cat and Bones this would be a series of its own. I look forward tor reading many more.

Awesome book w/ very subtle intelligent foreshadowing. The end leaves you with lots of questions, but that's to draw you into and want to read the next book. Loved all of the characters but wanted more on the one who betrayed Vlad as didn't understand the reason(s). Of course Bones and Cat made an appearance. Can't wait for next one. Hope the two series get interwoven

A nice fun read. I liked this better that the Cat and Bones books - by book 3 there Cat was driving me nuts. It was nice to see that world from the eyes of some different characters. Nothing spectacular, but a enjoyable romance novel.

But I was. The re-envisionment do Vlad the Impaler and his new psychic human lady love was engaging and fun to read. Frost doesn't bowdlerize (sp) the Tepes character's viscous streak, while still managing to portray him as a being of honor and integrity. Frankie is a strong heroine and her breakneck impetuous embracing of both Tepes and her own darker side leave you wanting more even as you turn the last page. Woo Hoo! And you have to love the walk on with Mencheres, Cat and Bones.

What is the book about?

Leila is cursed with a dark power after being electrocuted years ago. It scarred her body and made her unable to touch anyone with her right hand. She has a terrifying ability to channel electricity into objects and people, as well as touch people and see their past, present, and future. She can see peoples most horrific acts and it has jaded her. Now she has been resorted to working with the traveling circus with other non-humans who can handle touching her.

When vampires get wind that she has these powers they use her to find Vlad Tepesh through objects he has touched. When she finds him in his present state, something happens that has never happened before, he could see her, talk and communicate with her. Vlad needs her to find out which vampires had kidnapped her, and Leila needs Vlad to come and rescue her from the kidnappers.

Vlad Tepesh is the greatest vampire in history. His name may sound like trying to sound like Dracula, but what people don't usually know, is that he is the original Vlad, but the books and myths don't always tell the truth.

Together they conquer the evil vampires and find love they never thought they could find.

What did I think of the book?

It's Jeaniene Frost's book, so therefore I love it. Its as simple as that. She is so amazing! Her books always revolve around violence, and amazing love stories.

Leila is now one of my favorite series, she is so strong despite all that she has gone through in her past, with her mom dying and her inability to touch others with her right hand. She couldn't even drive a car due to the currents that travel off her body.

Vlad comes in and their first encounter is to save her from the perverted group of vampires. From the beginning he was winning her over and making Leila fall for him hard. Since he's vampire, they make the perfect couple, as he is able to handle her electric touch. He supports her differences in buying her lightning poles and feeding her his blood.

So next to Cat and Bones, my next favorite couple is now Leila and Vlad. Sorry Mencheres and Kira, you are now in third place. I love all Jeaniene Frost's characters. This was a great book, which isn't surprising since they're all so amazing!
Everyone should read Frost's books. Start from the beginning. You must read them in the order they were written in. I have them listed here if you want to check it out. Or go to the top of my page and click the Reading Order/Reviews page and it'll be listed under Jeaniene Frost.

[...]

Once Burned and Twice Tempted are the first of this genre that I have really gotten into. I'm slightly embarrassed, but really enjoying being enertained! It's like Romance/ Fantasy/ Suspense. I don't normally read Romance but boy, am I giving it a second and third thought. Plan to read book 3 soon.

I have been a very loyal fan of Ms. Frost since she first came out with her Cat & Bones series and I have followed each and ever novel from start to finish thinking that Cat & Bones; you really could get no better, but then the author started coming out with other novels with side-characters as the main theme and I must, absolutely must admit that I have fallen in love with these characters just as fully as I have the original Cat & Bones.

This new novel, staring our brooding vampire, Vlad, as in Vlad the Impaler, or otherwise known as Vlad Tepesh, brings the reader fully into the world of this long ago vampire of legend and really tells you the true story of his life and how he has become the lethal predator he is today. The book from start to finish was unable to be put down until I was finished reading and I completed this novel within 24-hours, which tells you how very good this new novel truly is.

The only small, bad, item that I have to say for this novel is that it ends on a 'cliff' hanger, which is something this author has never done before. All Ms. Frost other novels wrap up at the end and each book is stand-a-lone, but this new book, in this new series, doesn't end this way and I it lets you know that the story shall continue in the new book coming out Spring 2013. I do NOT like 'cliff' hangers at the end of novels, I prefer them to wrap up nice and tight at the end, but so long as you push past this one draw-back I recommend this novel for anyone who LOVES vampires as the good 'dark' guy of the story.

I hope the next book is better because this one just didn't give enough. I just wasn't feeling the the couple at all. I like Vlad but I'm not sure at all how he feels. The story doesn't feel complete but I suppose that's why this is a serie. I guess I won't really know much of anything between this couple until so much books later, or 2 to 3 years later. I like bone and cat better. But overall, this book isn't that bad. Just missing a lot of romance and the heroine can be pretty irritating at times but I guess they all are. Always wanting to save the day though they get in the way only.

I, like many others have been waiting for Vlad's story and after this book, well I am still waiting. This was Leila's story, not Vlad's. I kept reading and reading but Vlad was nothing but a secondary character in this book. I loved the other spin off books Frost did, the stories focused on the men we knew from reading the Cat and Bones books. I assumed, wrongly as it turned out, that this book would star Vlad and in my opinion it did not. The female character, Leila, never grew on me and from the synopsis I read of the next book, well that seems to once again focus on her. This is one series from Frost I won't continue to read.

This series extends from the Night Huntress series. The story of Vlad and Layla has us seeing into the life of Glad and his newly discovered consort. I look forward to the next book. Recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the paranormal/vampire genre.

Vlad is one bad--- vampire that lives up to & then some to the famous Vlad the Impaler in Romania's history. Leila is a woman coping with the death of her mother & splitting the family up not to mention her new ability after her accident. I think it is funny how she is able to put Vlad in his place a few times in the book. I like Leila's description of Vlad in the showering & would definitely join him to see if he needs any help washing the hard to reach areas. The ending leaves you wanted more --- will Leila's powers return? / is Szilagyi truly dead or plotting for revenge again? / will Leila & Vlad continue their relationship? / will Leila be turned? Can wait for the release in spring 2013 to find out!! In the mean time, I'm going to read the series from the beginning again starting with Cat & Bones --- love them!! I was hooked on the series by the middle of the first book. HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading the whole series!!

I knew I liked it when the story started off in a Carney Town with a bearded lady and a dwarf. Granted the bearded lady only had a short part, but who could beat the fact that the dwarf ended up being a vampire!

Absolutely great book that is more original than most books or than you would imagine with a hero named Vlad.

Don't you love it when a 10 character meets another 10? He's not perfect, but he's pretty close. Leila is her own full package of beauty, bravery and passion. These two characters are destined for tragedy and sweet reunion and I look forward to seeing how Jeaniene Frost makes that happen. My favorite book of hers by miles.

I love the Night Huntress series, and I was excited about this book because Vlad is a great supporting character in that series. Unfortunately he really fell flat as a lead character. He wasn't as funny or charming without Cat and Bones to interact with. I thought Leila was not particularly interesting, and really didn't understand what either saw in the other. She was insecure and annoying. Maybe that's what Vlad likes in a woman. I found myself just wanting this book to be over so I could read something more interesting.

I love it! A great book. I was going to wait to read the 2nd book... but no, I'm going to start it now. I loved the characters and the story line was super unique and it really worked! I very much enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.
I haven't read her "Night Huntress" series yet, but I plan to start that soon!

Oh my Vlad!!!! I have loved this character, so deeply that I completely flipped when I found she was to creating a series solely for him. Once Burned started very differently from other Frost novels leaving me wondering if this story would have the splendor that every other Jeaniene Frost novel is known for. No longer than it took for this thought to process the pace of this novel took off like a bullet. While Leila and Vlad are no Cat and Bones this has started another incredible journey that Frost readers will be desperate to explore. Uncharacteristically to Frost Novels it appears love will be a struggle for the Night Prince novels. Fans will sympathize with Leila future battle to overcome Vlad memories and carefully constructed walls. This has also been the first human to have such incredibly unique powers, and I can wait to see if the future will hold a transformation for her as well. Like so many other times with Frost novels we are left in suspense til spring of 2013. I absolutely do not know how I will survive this time!

Loved it! Fast-paced, full of action and suspense and enjoyable characters. I didn't realize it was a vampire book beforehand or I might not have read it.....I'm kinda burnt out on vampires. But, this guilty pleasure was a really nice break for me from some of the more ho-hum novels I've read lately.

This was a really good read. Took me some time to adjust my opinion of Vlad. Still not sure about his character. I loved Leila. Her character and all she went through to become what she is or was however you want to look at it. The one thing I'm definitely happy about is how close the cover resembles Vlad, scars and all. I would recommend this book to anyone into vampire romance, but have a strong stomach. Also the romance between Vlad and Leila is great. This definitely a shelf keeper. Also I agree with a lot of others about how long we have to wait for the second book!

I really enjoyed Once Burned, But the editing mistakes were very distracting. Normally I can look past spelling or errors with wording, but there were too many of them in this book to be ignored. They were quite annoying. Hopefully the next night Prince novel is edited thoroughly.

This was more mystery adventure than romance. In fact the romance was nil because Vlad was arrogant and cold and showed no affection. It was more ownership. Don't read if you want a warm fuzzy, this will leave you cold and unsatisfied about the status of their relationship.

This was my first foray into Frosts' Night Huntress/ Dark Prince world and I loved it. I couldn't stop reading and even though I was left with a tiny amount of angst, it only left me wanting more. I'm so glad I read this book because it introduced me to Cat and Bones which I am currently enjoying.

Well, I tried to start reading this book twice. At first, I could not go further than 2 first chapters. Third time, I got over the first two chapters and got lost in this book. I finished it in two days....good writing style, good story (even I am not a vampire fan).

I've read the first 3 books on Cat and Bones, the Menoch & his mate, Spade and his mate. This one is my favorite. Good sexy naughty bits, well crafted characters and an intriguing plot.

I just finished re-reading this before diving into the sequel. So we'll see if Lelia and Vlad's story line holds up! :)

I am not a big reader of Jeaniene Frost but I must say I am truly enjoying her books..First Mencheres book, then Spade and now Vlad and I can't wait for the second book in Vlad series.I love him and Leila as a couple and how they seem to grow together as the book goes on...

I have long been a big fan of Jeaniene Frost and she delivered again. I loved Vlad's story and my only negative remark is that I have to wait until next year to find out how his story will end. He has been one of my favorite character in the Cat and Bones saga and I am glad he found Leila who might just make him love again. And those two sure know how to steam up a shower, that is for sure. Anyway I highly recommend this book, can't wait until 2013!

Liked it very much. Been waiting awhile for this one to come out. I liked how we got to know more of Vlad. Could have used a bit more here and there. I felt like some scenes were cut short. On the whole I liked it.

I really enjoyed the story in this book. From start to finish I was entertained and invested. Frost is a great story-teller! The love story was also believable and exciting. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of supernatural!

After reading as much young adult para romance books as I could (Twilight, Hush hush series, Fallen series) it was refreshing reading this adult novel. The twists are creative, I finished reading the book in a day, it was that captivating.