Sabine Acadia's life is going really nicely, she has her parents and brother then one night she is kidnapped and winds up a prisoner. She's been poked and prodded and then she is tossed into another cell. It's all just hallucinations ... she's been drugged right ... because there is no such thing as vampires. Sabine is about to find herself ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED and nothing will ever be the same.

Ryder Duncan has been trapped in a living hell, betrayed by his own kind and he's ready to escape. Genesis is suppose to be a testing ground for volunteer paranormals but he did not volunteer and he's sure that most did not. If he could get enough blood he would escape and wreck havoc on those who have tortured him. Then Sabine is tossed into his cell, he can't help himself. She is a real live Phoenix ... he watches her die, though he does try to save her, then she burns before miraculously is back again. There is no way he is leaving her behind when he gets out.

When they escape and Sabine rushes to warn her brother that his life is in jeopardy she finds that like Ryder she too had been betrayed. Together they try to right the wrongs done to them as they also work to find a way to stay together. With so much against them will their love be strong enough to hold them.

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED is a roller coaster ride of action, sensual pleasures and a good bit of necessary retaliation. Author Cynthia Eden's second Phoenix Fire book is just as amazing as the first one. We meet up with the caged Ryder and see quickly that this vampire is a fighter and once he has someone to fight for there is no stopping him. Not that it was really necessary, he was always planning to escape but to end the torture that Sabine was going through he works even harder. I liked him right away and I adored Sabine who was typically in denial but when push came to shove she was ready. I've said this a number of times in reviews but this book is one the reader will not want to put down. The action is packed and as the storyline moves on Ms. Eden gives quite a bit of background on both Ryder and Sabine making you feel as if you know them and are right there with them as they struggle to survive and love. I look forward to the next Phoenix Fire book as I put ONCE BITTEN, TWICE BURNED on my read again shelf.