Jennifer Rardin (1965–2010)

Wherever ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY is shelved (I picked it up in the sci-fi/fantasy section), don't be deceived: it's really chick-lit. And the worst kind of chick-lit, where there's a whole lot of "defining the relationship" and not a lot of action or romance. The book starts six months after protagonist Jaz is partnered with vampire assassin Vayl, and their relationship is already completely unprofessional. We miss out on all the fun, getting-to-know-you, tension-building parts of their show more relationship and pick up when they start to trudge glumly through the Swamp of Complicated Emotions. Rardin tries to convince us that Vayl is an uber-alpha male, but he spends so much time talking about his feelings it's really hard to buy. He also lets Jaz push him around a lot...and not in that "I'm humoring her" sort of alpha-male way, more in a "I'm totally whipped" sort of way.

The fact that one of villains the duo have to face is Vayl's late wife (she's a vampire too) means that even when Jaz and Vayl head out to kick some ass, they always end up right back at that Swamp of Complicated Emotions. The super-villain plot is drenched in Eau de Catfight.

The urban fantasy/paranormal elements are poorly realized and confusing. The growth of Jaz's "Gifts" is pretty botched - each new development is greeted with less explanation than the last. I never got a clear handle on what it meant to be a vampire in Rardin's alternate reality. And Rardin was trying to do a techno-mystical fusion with her uber-villain plot, something to do with a cult of demon-worshippers and a biological WMD (these basic elements are revealed early on), but devoted very little time or effort to explaining either.

The other main plot point is the slow reveal of Jaz's tortured past to the reader. We are informed a number of times that there is a HUGE TRAUMA in Jaz's past, and then we start to get hints about what it is, and eventually we learn the whole story. This just made me think, again, that this book starts after all the real action is over. I was also kind of annoyed by the way that the story came out - she blabs the whole thing in pieces to totally random people, and actually seems over-eager to talk about it, but when she's not in chatter mode she goes on about how her HUGE TRAUMA is too huge and traumatic to talk about, or even think about. It's exactly the kind of drama queen behavior that makes you wonder how this girl ever got a job in the CIA. show less

"Biting the Bullet" is the third installment of the Jaz Parks series- and it does not disappoint! Jennifer Rardin really brought an enthralling, thrilling adventure into this book. (Read reviews of the first two books here.) Jasmine (Jaz) and her new crew are sent to Iran to assist Dave's special ops troop assassinate the Wizard and weed out a mole. Oh- and the Wizard just happens to be one of the most badass terrorists and has eluded entrapment for over 20 years.

Jaz has finally come to show more terms with her past- but is it too soon to face her twin brother, Dave? Jaz really discovers if she has dealt with her past when it slaps her back in the face. What happens when one of the people that you care about the most becomes an enemy? This book literally makes Jaz focus on some of her personal issues, which is a great addition to the CIA mission. When Vayl sneaks off on his own personal mission with a new Seer, Jaz is also slapped in the face with her own emotions. She may finally realize how much she cares about Vayl, and how much (or how little) he cares about her.

This book was hard for me to put down, I read it in two days. (I probably would have read it in one if I wasn't visiting relatives that weekend!) Rardin delivers a plot twist around every corner with more than enough obstacles to keep Jaz on her toes. I love that each of these books has a single mission that is completed accompanied by sub plots that are stretched over the course of all three. My favorite subplot is the relationship between Vayl and Jaz. They seem to know there is something going on and that they should have taken this relationship to the next step- but there is always something that holds them back.

I was banking on Cassandra and Bergman, but it seems it isn't so in this book... I really don't know who I want with who anymore! Cole and Jaz? Jaz and Vayl? Cassandra and Dave? Bergman and Cassandra? I just can't figure myself out- no wonder the characters have such a hard time making a decision ;o)

This book was really funny. I laughed a lot- the situations, the dialogue between characters... This series is really maturing and becoming addictive. I can't wait to read books 4 - 6. show less

It's the final adventure for Jaz Parks in this 8th installment of the series, published posthumously after the untimely death of the author last year. It's an ending to a series (and a life), finished too soon.
I don't want to spoil the satisfying end to the series so I am choosing to be a bit vague in this review, I would expect that you would want to savour the finale for yourself.
Rardin neatly ties up the ongoing story arcs but manages to maintain the tension throughout and throw in a few show more unexpected twists. Jaz and Vayle are enjoying a few days of relaxation as they try to figure out how to unlock the Rocenz and evict Brude when they are rudely interrupted by an attempt on Vayle's life. There is no time to consider the implications though, Jaz's headaches and nosebleed's are getting worse and unless she can carve Brude's name on the Gates of Hell she will lose everything. With Jack and Astral in tow, the entire gang, plus a few surprising extra's collected along the way, head to Romania for a final vicious showdown in the pits of Hell.

Jaz is at her best with her with quick witted sarcasm and kick ass attitude, but it's balanced with her recognition and acceptance of her fierce passion for Vayle, friends and family. She finally recognises that love can transcend all (though a sharp sword and a hand gun don't go astray) and it gives her a new strength, both physically and emotionally. For Vayle there is closure, it may be bittersweet but it means he can finally stop searching for his soul. The rest of the team also find the best of themselves, there is a wedding, a baby, a soul mate, a fledgling romance and an act of astonishing bravery (you decide which belongs to whom).

The Deadliest Bite is a fast paced, action packed final installment that leads to a definitive and satisfying culmination for the series. I am sad to see it all end, but happy with the bittersweet conclusion, and I believe fans will be too. show less

I've been wanting to start the Jaz Parks series for a while. Jennifer Rardin's unexpected death in 2010 led to a resurgence of interest in her series, and with the final book to be posthumously published in June, I am determined to get up to date by then.Once Bitten, Twice Shy introduces Jaz Parks, a CIA assassin who enjoys her job but is struggling with the recent loss of her team, and fiance, in a mission gone awry. At his request, Jaz is paired with Vayl, a 300 year old vampire. The show more partnership is unusual but Vayl see's potential in Jazmin's abilities and so far it's been successful, despite Jaz's tendency to crash cars and drool over Vayl's bare chest. Their latest mission involves tracking down a terrorist who plans to unleash a plague on the population but the operation is complicated by a corrupt senator, Vayl's ex wife and an ancient evil.The plot contains a good mix of mystery, action and humor and moves along at a strong pace. There is quite a lot happening but it doesn't feel crowded, perhaps because there is no elaborate world building or rules to be concerned with. This leaves room for the story and character relationships to unfold without distractions which I appreciate. Jaz's sarcastic sense of humor contributes to the flow of the book, but that isn't to say the plot is without depth. Jaz is recovering from real heartbreak and dealing with a cantankerous father. There is a subtle complexity that sits just below the surface of this book, that may be overlooked. While the relationship between Jaz and Vayl is part of the story it doesn't overwhelm the plot - their attraction is hot but I'm satisfied to watch it build slowly. The secondary characters that will perhaps create a core team in the series are also appealing with their own quirks and ability to contribute to the story. Bergen is the socially inept computer expert, Cassandra a witch and I expect Cole, a private investigator, will continue to be involved in further story lines.I can see that I am going to enjoy reading the Jaz Park's series. Once Bitten, Twice Shy is an entertaining and engaging read and I look forward to starting [b:Another One Bites the Dust|1820174|Another One Bites the Dust (Jaz Parks, #2)|Jennifer Rardin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1188793686s/1820174.jpg|1819754] show less