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Jaz Parks #5
One More Bite
It's Jaz Parks. I've already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA's you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by the death of Edward "The Raptor"Samos, a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies.
The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves.
So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves.
So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
325 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2008
38 people are currently reading
2003 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Rardin
19 books891 followersI’ve spent all my life in the Midwest, which has certainly shaped my perspective on all kinds of issues, from the question of whether or not we really have an accent, to the many and varied uses of corn.
I was born in Evansville, Indiana on April 28, 1965. Mom tells me almost every year what crappy weather it was that day. However I like to think of my birthday as the first frost-free date for my planting area. See what happens when you grow up around farmers? Scary, huh?
After a youth spent up to my eyeballs in fairy tales, nordic myths and supernatural legends I made the solid and practical decision to go to college and major in English. After which I never really held a well paying job until this gig came along! Which is why my kids love to sing that song to me from the musical “Avenue Q.” The one that begins with the line, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?”
Once I figured out the answer to that question, I wrote Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Now my laptop is my constant companion. We reside in an old farmhouse along with my husband and our two teenagers. No pets since the cat died last winter, but the birds seem to appreciate his absence. They come to feast at the feeders while I write on the back porch in the cool of the morning. Lovely.
I was born in Evansville, Indiana on April 28, 1965. Mom tells me almost every year what crappy weather it was that day. However I like to think of my birthday as the first frost-free date for my planting area. See what happens when you grow up around farmers? Scary, huh?
After a youth spent up to my eyeballs in fairy tales, nordic myths and supernatural legends I made the solid and practical decision to go to college and major in English. After which I never really held a well paying job until this gig came along! Which is why my kids love to sing that song to me from the musical “Avenue Q.” The one that begins with the line, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?”
Once I figured out the answer to that question, I wrote Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Now my laptop is my constant companion. We reside in an old farmhouse along with my husband and our two teenagers. No pets since the cat died last winter, but the birds seem to appreciate his absence. They come to feast at the feeders while I write on the back porch in the cool of the morning. Lovely.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
March 21, 2011
This installment of the Jaz Parks series finds Jaz, Vayl, Cole, Jack the dog, and Jaz’s father Albert on a “trip” to Scotland. Their mission: Attend Ghostcon at a creepy haunted castle, stay at an equally haunted but charming B&B, and find out who is Bea, the Medusa assassin. Of course, this isn’t the only mystery…
Cue the Scooby Doo theme music…
Come on, I couldn’t resist. Ghostcon? Haunted Castles? Scotland? Witches? Hidden identities? Did I mention that there were ghosts?
All kidding aside, this is one of the funniest Jaz Parks books I have read. Jaz clearly has daddy issues and her father continues to irritate her. Albert really doesn’t have a clue as to what his daughter really does for a living. He spends a lot of time embarrassing Jaz by showing off her baby photos, telling her to fetch coffee for the team, and telling her who she should date. Albert also announces that he has been sent to observe and report on her team by the CIA’s Oversight Committee.
Albert adds a lot of comic relief to the story. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. Albert has this ability to be perceptive but still remain totally oblivious. He has no idea that Vayl is a vampire. He has no clue as to Jaz’s role on her team. He does sense that Vayl would make an ideal romantic partner for Jaz and tells her so. I also liked seeing Albert’s creative side, calling Jack the dog a seeing-eye dog when he clearly was not.
Jaz’s relationships change in this book. Cole professes his love for her in the most heartfelt way. Jaz’s hostility towards her father is tempered once she explains her abuse at the hands of her mother. Jaz realizes that she is in love with Vayl, and Vayl is in a rush to tell her father. There is a lot of verbal foreplay in this book. Something about whipped cream, a bathtub and strawberries was memorable. Too bad that the bad guys kept interrupting our lovely couple.
Jaz seems to attract the worst villains ever. I loved the ghostly Brude, a bad king with an attitude equal only to Jaz. Brude is right, he and Jaz would make a great pair as evidenced by this quote:
Other baddies included a coven of witches, assorted ghosts, and a face from the past.
Action, mystery, humor. I was thoroughly entertained by this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Cue the Scooby Doo theme music…
Come on, I couldn’t resist. Ghostcon? Haunted Castles? Scotland? Witches? Hidden identities? Did I mention that there were ghosts?
All kidding aside, this is one of the funniest Jaz Parks books I have read. Jaz clearly has daddy issues and her father continues to irritate her. Albert really doesn’t have a clue as to what his daughter really does for a living. He spends a lot of time embarrassing Jaz by showing off her baby photos, telling her to fetch coffee for the team, and telling her who she should date. Albert also announces that he has been sent to observe and report on her team by the CIA’s Oversight Committee.
Albert adds a lot of comic relief to the story. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. Albert has this ability to be perceptive but still remain totally oblivious. He has no idea that Vayl is a vampire. He has no clue as to Jaz’s role on her team. He does sense that Vayl would make an ideal romantic partner for Jaz and tells her so. I also liked seeing Albert’s creative side, calling Jack the dog a seeing-eye dog when he clearly was not.
Jaz’s relationships change in this book. Cole professes his love for her in the most heartfelt way. Jaz’s hostility towards her father is tempered once she explains her abuse at the hands of her mother. Jaz realizes that she is in love with Vayl, and Vayl is in a rush to tell her father. There is a lot of verbal foreplay in this book. Something about whipped cream, a bathtub and strawberries was memorable. Too bad that the bad guys kept interrupting our lovely couple.
Jaz seems to attract the worst villains ever. I loved the ghostly Brude, a bad king with an attitude equal only to Jaz. Brude is right, he and Jaz would make a great pair as evidenced by this quote:
”And Brude shall take unto himself a queen of unsurpassed skill, strength, and beauty, whose astonishing wit will find itself outmatched by the sharpness of her tongue.”Yup, that sounds like Jaz to me.
Other baddies included a coven of witches, assorted ghosts, and a face from the past.
Action, mystery, humor. I was thoroughly entertained by this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
February 11, 2009
It would be pretty hard to top book 4 in the series (Bitten to Death) without breaking from the genre; One More Bite doesn't try. It stays firmly in the "good, fun romp" and advances the relationship(s) more than the characters, although we get a lot of very good info on the Eldhayr--the society of revenants she joined--and interact with one other than Raoul, her mentor/boss/whatever.
The story is convoluted, even compared to Bitten to Death; the team is protecting one enemy from an assassin so she (the one they are protecting) maintains a balancing power keeping two other enemies from acting rashly. Sort of a Kissinger/Brzynsky strategy. For reasons not at all clear her father is bankrolling the mission, the Senate has refused the team some extremely critical resources, and Rardin feels a need to include some goody Wiccans to balance the notion of evil witches. Maybe she has Wiccan friends and didn't want to offend them (not that any of my Wiccan friends would be offended by anything other than the oversimplification and misrepresentation of the faith and practice).
The setting is a convention/con of ghost fanatics, adding a layer of confusion to the mix with random ghost attacks and sitings; these are handled quite well but read like the unrelated red herrings they are. I wonder if one, a very fun fight against three crazy ghosts in a crowded convention hall, was written as a short story that didn't sell. The items related to the plot are easily separable and the main plot-related, non-team character at that point is sent away to the bathroom--without her bodyguard(!).
There is a side story involving a powerful ghost (who claims he is not a ghost, and may be right in some way) who takes a liking to Jaz in a very creepy and unnerving way. It might reappear in another book, but I found it more distracting than pleasant and seemed like a set-up to explain away a "ghost(?) ex machina" in the final act.
On the relationships front, Cole does a lot of growing up and his fixation on Jaz seems to undergo some nice changes.
Seeing Jaz' father in person makes him much more interesting and opens a lot of possibilities as well as letting Jaz start to change the nature of her relationship with him. Some of his backstory seems out of keeping with the earlier books (Jaz and he seem to know too much about one another's careers and seem too comfortable with that knowledge) and the ambiguity around his prior field experience is either interesting or annoying, depending on subsequent books.
The re-connection between Jaz and her father over her painful childhood might read false to some, but it matches the experience of adults I know who have revealed childhood abuse to one parent when the abuser is no longer in their lives. The revelations about her parents' relationship history seem pretty rushed and seem to have too much impact on her father's current biases, but not so much as to annoy horribly.
Where the book really falls down, though, is the Vayle/Jaz relationship. The talk is all (or mostly) of love, at least from Jaz' side. The content is all sex, and boy is there a lot of almost-sex. We get the expected sex+blood connection from the vampire (what book in this genre doesn't have that? And only Kim Harrison has made it work, so I don't ding Rardin for giving it short, but icky, shrift) and loads of "wait until I get you alone"/"I wonder how loud your screams will be"/etc. The earlier books had dialog, both internal and external, about emotional attachment, especially as it relates to trust and their vampiric relationship; this book is all about getting them humping.
The set-up for the next book (Jaz vs. unknown moles overseeing her group--which we've already done in the previous books) is a little concerning. It seems kind of hackneyed and I am not sure it's going anywhere good, but I'm hoping it pulls out and works.
It's a solid three stars. Read it if you're reading the series. It is a passable way to start the series, although I'd still recommend book one. It's a very, very quick read with lots of action (ahem). And it's pretty fun. Enjoy it and hope for more at this level and above. Rardin has proved she's capable and the characters can sustain.
The story is convoluted, even compared to Bitten to Death; the team is protecting one enemy from an assassin so she (the one they are protecting) maintains a balancing power keeping two other enemies from acting rashly. Sort of a Kissinger/Brzynsky strategy. For reasons not at all clear her father is bankrolling the mission, the Senate has refused the team some extremely critical resources, and Rardin feels a need to include some goody Wiccans to balance the notion of evil witches. Maybe she has Wiccan friends and didn't want to offend them (not that any of my Wiccan friends would be offended by anything other than the oversimplification and misrepresentation of the faith and practice).
The setting is a convention/con of ghost fanatics, adding a layer of confusion to the mix with random ghost attacks and sitings; these are handled quite well but read like the unrelated red herrings they are. I wonder if one, a very fun fight against three crazy ghosts in a crowded convention hall, was written as a short story that didn't sell. The items related to the plot are easily separable and the main plot-related, non-team character at that point is sent away to the bathroom--without her bodyguard(!).
There is a side story involving a powerful ghost (who claims he is not a ghost, and may be right in some way) who takes a liking to Jaz in a very creepy and unnerving way. It might reappear in another book, but I found it more distracting than pleasant and seemed like a set-up to explain away a "ghost(?) ex machina" in the final act.
On the relationships front, Cole does a lot of growing up and his fixation on Jaz seems to undergo some nice changes.
Seeing Jaz' father in person makes him much more interesting and opens a lot of possibilities as well as letting Jaz start to change the nature of her relationship with him. Some of his backstory seems out of keeping with the earlier books (Jaz and he seem to know too much about one another's careers and seem too comfortable with that knowledge) and the ambiguity around his prior field experience is either interesting or annoying, depending on subsequent books.
The re-connection between Jaz and her father over her painful childhood might read false to some, but it matches the experience of adults I know who have revealed childhood abuse to one parent when the abuser is no longer in their lives. The revelations about her parents' relationship history seem pretty rushed and seem to have too much impact on her father's current biases, but not so much as to annoy horribly.
Where the book really falls down, though, is the Vayle/Jaz relationship. The talk is all (or mostly) of love, at least from Jaz' side. The content is all sex, and boy is there a lot of almost-sex. We get the expected sex+blood connection from the vampire (what book in this genre doesn't have that? And only Kim Harrison has made it work, so I don't ding Rardin for giving it short, but icky, shrift) and loads of "wait until I get you alone"/"I wonder how loud your screams will be"/etc. The earlier books had dialog, both internal and external, about emotional attachment, especially as it relates to trust and their vampiric relationship; this book is all about getting them humping.
The set-up for the next book (Jaz vs. unknown moles overseeing her group--which we've already done in the previous books) is a little concerning. It seems kind of hackneyed and I am not sure it's going anywhere good, but I'm hoping it pulls out and works.
It's a solid three stars. Read it if you're reading the series. It is a passable way to start the series, although I'd still recommend book one. It's a very, very quick read with lots of action (ahem). And it's pretty fun. Enjoy it and hope for more at this level and above. Rardin has proved she's capable and the characters can sustain.
November 19, 2009
A great edition to the Jaz parks series. Like the rest of this series, ONE MORE BITE was a fast and great read that I couldn't put down.
One More Bite is narrated in first person by Jaz and is the tale of her latest mission. Jaz and Vayl are onto there next assignment to the Scottish Highlands when a Valencian Were agent discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven of Inverness' leader. They have to identify and kill the assassin known only a Bea, who has been contracted to kill Floraidh, the evil leader of a coven of Scottish witches. So Jaz, Vayl and Cole soon get down to business, bugging and monitoring Floraidh’s B&B hoping to discover anything to help them about the assassin. Jaz and Cole have a talk that will either bond or break their friendship and Jaz finally speaks out to Vayl of her feelings.
And if that wasn't enough Jazs not so close father is contracted to go on this trip as well. Albert, Jaz’s father, is the source of much of her irritation on this mission and gives her plenty of opportunities for both witty and sarcastic banter.
It's a great Urban Fantasy read, I recommend this series to those who haven't yet read it!
Synopsis:
It's Jaz Parks. I've already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA's you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by the death of Edward "The Raptor" Samos , a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies. The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves. So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
One More Bite is narrated in first person by Jaz and is the tale of her latest mission. Jaz and Vayl are onto there next assignment to the Scottish Highlands when a Valencian Were agent discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven of Inverness' leader. They have to identify and kill the assassin known only a Bea, who has been contracted to kill Floraidh, the evil leader of a coven of Scottish witches. So Jaz, Vayl and Cole soon get down to business, bugging and monitoring Floraidh’s B&B hoping to discover anything to help them about the assassin. Jaz and Cole have a talk that will either bond or break their friendship and Jaz finally speaks out to Vayl of her feelings.
And if that wasn't enough Jazs not so close father is contracted to go on this trip as well. Albert, Jaz’s father, is the source of much of her irritation on this mission and gives her plenty of opportunities for both witty and sarcastic banter.
It's a great Urban Fantasy read, I recommend this series to those who haven't yet read it!
Synopsis:
It's Jaz Parks. I've already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA's you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by the death of Edward "The Raptor" Samos , a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies. The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves. So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2011
First Read: JAN 25/2011
Spoilers
It just keeps getting better! I adore Jaz and Vayl, they are incredibly hot together. Here's a bit of background on the mains and supporting cast.
Jasmine is a smart, sassy, short fused, emotionally disturbed, crazy CIA agent. She feels responsible for the loss of her old team, including her fiancé, and her sister-in-law and continues to punish herself by keeping the people in her life at an arm’s length. Jaz has a little sister named Evie and a twin brother named Dave. Dave is Special Ops and Evie is the exact opposite of her family. Evie is married with a new baby girl named EJ. Jaz's childhood was rough; her father was in the military and spent much time away from home while her mother was a cruel and abusive woman...who's now in hell. Jaz is a sensitive who's died twice and was brought back by her spirit guide to help fight evil. In past missions, she's given Vayl blood twice which has increased her sensitivities, was given tears by a special other who's name I can't remember, and gave blood to a werewolf to help save his from after a silver bullet shot which has helped to open her spirit eye even further.
Vayl is a strong, controlled, intelligent, 290 year old, CIA vampire Agent, who's perfection on the eyes. Vayl lost his two boys and has been tormented by their through his entire life. He's spent his life hiring seers to help him find his reincarnated sons. When Vayl lost his boys, he didn't truly mourn their death. Between book four and five, Vayl went home to Romania and finally said goodbye to his children.
The couple has been working together for the past six months and their partnership turned into something more. Until the couple laid their past issues to rest, they couldn't more forward as a couple. They've both made progress and are now ready to be together.
The supporting cast gets better with every book. Bergman is the nerdy tech who worked on his inner strength and is no longer a cowarding wimp. Yeah Bergman. Cassandra is the sophisticated psychic who’s in love with Dave, Jaz' twin. Bergman and Cassandra are mentioned in this book but are not on the mission.
Cole is a new CIA agent, who met Jaz and Vayl in book one when he assisted the couple with a mission. Cole is a sensitive, although his powers are not as strong as Jaz' although his skill for languages cannot be beat. In this book, Jaz finally talks to Cole about his feelings for her and lets him down easily.
Albert, Jaz's father, pushed himself into this mission with a hidden agenda. Albert believes he's going to die and seeks Jaz to help save his life.
Our newest addition to the supporting cast is Jack, recently stolen and then adopted by Jaz from Edward Samos. Jack's full name is Jacket Humper due to a very funny story in the last book. His name prior to this Jack was Ziel.
This mission has multiple missions within the mission. There are ghosts, demons, witches, vampires, and sensitives. There are hearts pounding and hearts breaking, confessions of love, tears of sadness, and even a crazy mother escaped from hell. Jaz and Vayl travel to Scotland to stop an assassin from killing the leader of a coven.
This is a fabulous book and I hope you read the series. I can't wait to start on the next one.
Spoilers
It just keeps getting better! I adore Jaz and Vayl, they are incredibly hot together. Here's a bit of background on the mains and supporting cast.
Jasmine is a smart, sassy, short fused, emotionally disturbed, crazy CIA agent. She feels responsible for the loss of her old team, including her fiancé, and her sister-in-law and continues to punish herself by keeping the people in her life at an arm’s length. Jaz has a little sister named Evie and a twin brother named Dave. Dave is Special Ops and Evie is the exact opposite of her family. Evie is married with a new baby girl named EJ. Jaz's childhood was rough; her father was in the military and spent much time away from home while her mother was a cruel and abusive woman...who's now in hell. Jaz is a sensitive who's died twice and was brought back by her spirit guide to help fight evil. In past missions, she's given Vayl blood twice which has increased her sensitivities, was given tears by a special other who's name I can't remember, and gave blood to a werewolf to help save his from after a silver bullet shot which has helped to open her spirit eye even further.
Vayl is a strong, controlled, intelligent, 290 year old, CIA vampire Agent, who's perfection on the eyes. Vayl lost his two boys and has been tormented by their through his entire life. He's spent his life hiring seers to help him find his reincarnated sons. When Vayl lost his boys, he didn't truly mourn their death. Between book four and five, Vayl went home to Romania and finally said goodbye to his children.
The couple has been working together for the past six months and their partnership turned into something more. Until the couple laid their past issues to rest, they couldn't more forward as a couple. They've both made progress and are now ready to be together.
The supporting cast gets better with every book. Bergman is the nerdy tech who worked on his inner strength and is no longer a cowarding wimp. Yeah Bergman. Cassandra is the sophisticated psychic who’s in love with Dave, Jaz' twin. Bergman and Cassandra are mentioned in this book but are not on the mission.
Cole is a new CIA agent, who met Jaz and Vayl in book one when he assisted the couple with a mission. Cole is a sensitive, although his powers are not as strong as Jaz' although his skill for languages cannot be beat. In this book, Jaz finally talks to Cole about his feelings for her and lets him down easily.
Albert, Jaz's father, pushed himself into this mission with a hidden agenda. Albert believes he's going to die and seeks Jaz to help save his life.
Our newest addition to the supporting cast is Jack, recently stolen and then adopted by Jaz from Edward Samos. Jack's full name is Jacket Humper due to a very funny story in the last book. His name prior to this Jack was Ziel.
This mission has multiple missions within the mission. There are ghosts, demons, witches, vampires, and sensitives. There are hearts pounding and hearts breaking, confessions of love, tears of sadness, and even a crazy mother escaped from hell. Jaz and Vayl travel to Scotland to stop an assassin from killing the leader of a coven.
This is a fabulous book and I hope you read the series. I can't wait to start on the next one.
November 30, 2020
I like this one best so far. The plot rolls along more smoothly and the italics isn't shared across numerous purposes. It works. Plus the characters seem more refined, especially Jaz, she's coming into her own.
March 27, 2015
Originally posted at The Book Nympho
I almost gave up on the series after the last two books, Biting the Bullet and Bitten to Death. But not even 2 chapters into One More Bite I was glad I decided to read one more book. This installment of the Jaz Parks series is definitely my favorite.
Jaz is at her top sarcastic form and Cole, her sexy sidekick is back in full force with his hilarious stories and commentary.
In One More Bite, Jaz, Vayl and Cole finds themselves with a tang along to their current mission; Jaz’s dad, Albert. So while they have Albert in toe the gang head over to Scotland to a haunted B&B to help keep a believed Medusa named Bea, from killing owner of the B&B; even though Jaz wouldn’t mind the owner biting the big one.
Jaz and company go undercover as ghost hunters and while they attend GhostCon they meeting some interesting characters. One being King Brude, Satan’s Enforcer, I could see him coming back in the series; especially with the obsession he has with Jaz being his Queen.
Finally we see Jaz and Vayl come together as a real couple and I can’t wait to see where that goes in the following books.
Like I said in my reviews of the last two books, they were not my fave but I’m glad I decided to stick with the series for One More Bite. It had action, mystery, romance and some laugh out loud moments.
I recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of the series. I can’t wait to start Bite Marks, the 6th installment of the series.
I almost gave up on the series after the last two books, Biting the Bullet and Bitten to Death. But not even 2 chapters into One More Bite I was glad I decided to read one more book. This installment of the Jaz Parks series is definitely my favorite.
Jaz is at her top sarcastic form and Cole, her sexy sidekick is back in full force with his hilarious stories and commentary.
"When do you think they'll let me get my cell out?: Cole asked. "I promised Mom I'd text her as soon as we land. I'm going to stick my phone up some guy's kilt, flash a picture, and then challenge her to guess what she's seeing."
"That is so disgusting."
"What? I'll get the his permission first."
"Sending dirty pictures to your mom?"
"She'll laugh so hard her teeth will probably fly across the dinner table. She lost them in a car accident, you know."
In One More Bite, Jaz, Vayl and Cole finds themselves with a tang along to their current mission; Jaz’s dad, Albert. So while they have Albert in toe the gang head over to Scotland to a haunted B&B to help keep a believed Medusa named Bea, from killing owner of the B&B; even though Jaz wouldn’t mind the owner biting the big one.
Jaz and company go undercover as ghost hunters and while they attend GhostCon they meeting some interesting characters. One being King Brude, Satan’s Enforcer, I could see him coming back in the series; especially with the obsession he has with Jaz being his Queen.
Finally we see Jaz and Vayl come together as a real couple and I can’t wait to see where that goes in the following books.
Like I said in my reviews of the last two books, they were not my fave but I’m glad I decided to stick with the series for One More Bite. It had action, mystery, romance and some laugh out loud moments.
“No. They look like apparitions to me. Except now they’re floating. Hey”—he smacked me on the thigh with the back of his hand—“I just thought of a new game.”
“What’s that?”
“Splat the Specter.”
“Rules?”
“You can help me make them up. Right now all I know for sure is that it involves water guns filled with grape Kool-Aid and two ferrets named Biff and Chlamydia.”
Vayl’s voice filled our ears. “Why ferrets?”
“Really?” I asked. “You want to know about his choice of pets when he’s named one of them after an STD?”
I recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of the series. I can’t wait to start Bite Marks, the 6th installment of the series.
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March 17, 2011
Now that Samos is dead, those left standing are scrambling to gain power. Jaz and Vayl's bosses feel that the balance should be kept, so their latest assignment is to stop the assassination of one of the rising powers. Posing as a bunch of ghost hunters they set off to stop a very gifted female assassin with some nasty powers of her own. To make matters more complicated, Jaz's dad has somehow wormed his way into the mission and for the first time ever, Vayl was denied a request by the CIA. The force they are up against needs a warlock's magic to contain it but the new oversight committee gave them Cole instead. Something fishy is going on, so Jaz and Vayl will have to keep a wary eye out if they are to have any hope at surviving this one intact.
In my review of the last book I said I would do a happy dance when Vayl and Jaz finally get together. I am very happy to say that they are definitely on the right track as they pretty much are an official couple now. Of course there still are some issues between them and I'm sure the road will never be completely smooth. That being said, they have taken things very slow, so they should be stable enough to last. There were several points in the book where Jaz is overcome with emotion. As we all know, emotion is not something she is very comfortable with, so it really was monumental for her to be able to show these feelings for Vayl.
The mission for this book was a little confusing at times as it wasn't really the main focus. Much more time was spent on Jaz's personal growth, her relationship with Vayl, and her issues with her father. Another main issue was this new oversight committee that seems to be meddling in their affairs. I got the sense that they were supposed to be a big potential threat, but I just wasn't feeling the danger. I'm wondering if they will be more of a problem in the future as it seemed like things were being set up for more later. Even if things escalate with them, I'm not sure how much of a threat they can possibly be. Jaz is always paranoid at losing her job because it's practically her entire life. However, I don't think it would hurt her too much in the long run as she could always go "private," like a mercenary, but only for good causes. I guess will we just have to wait and see where things are heading.
Sometimes it can surprise me how much I'm enjoying a series, especially when the fifth book is as good as the first. This series isn't slowing down at all, if anything it is picking up steam. The characters are great and I can't help but to feel everything right along with them. Each new book is harder to put down than the last, and this one is no exception. Be prepared for one heck of ride with plenty of character development along the way. I cannot wait to dive into the next book to see what more trouble is in store for Jaz and the gang. Definitely a top rated Urban Fantasy series!
February 29, 2016
When this book started, I was already wondering what had happened to the series as I had loved the first two books and had not enjoyed the next two offerings. Thankfully this was a much better story.
A were assassin is planning to kill a coven leader which could start a supernatural war and Jaz and the team are sent in to stop it happening. They go undercover as ghost hunting experts at a big convention where they expect the assassin to strike. Jaz and Vayl also have to try and repair their relationship under extreme pressure and that is not easy when working with Cole and Albert.
One of the things I most enjoyed about this book was finally having a book set in Scotland where we are not portayed as a bunch of miserable tightwads living in a wet, cold and dreary climate. I was pleased that the author avoided this dreadful book cliche about my country! The storyline itself was interesting with the events around the guesthouse and the convention. The ghost groper incident was quite funny and I wanted Jaz to just shoot the idiot! She deserves to have some fun after all! Another plus point is that all the stupid angst we have had to endure between Vayl and Jaz was finally sorted...yea! I think we've all been wanting the two of them to sort themselves out at last!
Another plus point that I wasn't expecting was the grumpy bugger moments featuring Albert! He is driving Jaz mad on the flight over and I'm surprised that she didn't actually attack him. He continues to cause her angst through the mission with his grumpy and stubborn attitude and it does add a nice bit of humour to the plot. He is much more interesting than the blandness that is Dave. More Albert please!
There just had to be one thing to spoil the book and that was the continued immaturity from the idiot that is also known as Cole. What the hell is wrong with this guy? How many times does Jaz have to tell him that she isn't interested in him? How many times does she make it clear that she loves Vayl? Why can't he get it through his thick skull? He acts like a sulky five year old when he can't get her attention. He goes in a mood when he can't force her to fall in love with him. Yet he keeps making the sexual comments and trying to undermine her relationship with Vayl and the whole mission. It takes 194 pages before he starts to finally get the message! I hate him so much. When we first met him he was a funny and intelligent man who joins the CIA and now he is a whiny and immature moron.
Still overall it was a good book if you could forget about Cole. Hopefully this means an overall upswing for the series in the last three books!
A were assassin is planning to kill a coven leader which could start a supernatural war and Jaz and the team are sent in to stop it happening. They go undercover as ghost hunting experts at a big convention where they expect the assassin to strike. Jaz and Vayl also have to try and repair their relationship under extreme pressure and that is not easy when working with Cole and Albert.
One of the things I most enjoyed about this book was finally having a book set in Scotland where we are not portayed as a bunch of miserable tightwads living in a wet, cold and dreary climate. I was pleased that the author avoided this dreadful book cliche about my country! The storyline itself was interesting with the events around the guesthouse and the convention. The ghost groper incident was quite funny and I wanted Jaz to just shoot the idiot! She deserves to have some fun after all! Another plus point is that all the stupid angst we have had to endure between Vayl and Jaz was finally sorted...yea! I think we've all been wanting the two of them to sort themselves out at last!
Another plus point that I wasn't expecting was the grumpy bugger moments featuring Albert! He is driving Jaz mad on the flight over and I'm surprised that she didn't actually attack him. He continues to cause her angst through the mission with his grumpy and stubborn attitude and it does add a nice bit of humour to the plot. He is much more interesting than the blandness that is Dave. More Albert please!
There just had to be one thing to spoil the book and that was the continued immaturity from the idiot that is also known as Cole. What the hell is wrong with this guy? How many times does Jaz have to tell him that she isn't interested in him? How many times does she make it clear that she loves Vayl? Why can't he get it through his thick skull? He acts like a sulky five year old when he can't get her attention. He goes in a mood when he can't force her to fall in love with him. Yet he keeps making the sexual comments and trying to undermine her relationship with Vayl and the whole mission. It takes 194 pages before he starts to finally get the message! I hate him so much. When we first met him he was a funny and intelligent man who joins the CIA and now he is a whiny and immature moron.
Still overall it was a good book if you could forget about Cole. Hopefully this means an overall upswing for the series in the last three books!
August 29, 2020
One More Bite is the fifth book in the Jaz Parks series written by Jennifer Rardin. It centers on CIA operative Jasmine "Jaz" Parks, who is regularly partnered with her boss, the enigmatic vampire Vayl. They are tasked with stopping paranormal or mythological beings who've taken criminal roles in human society, or humans engaged in related activities.
With the death of Edward Samos, a power vacuum is created and the CIA feels that balance must be maintained, which means choosing the person that the CIA feels is the best person for them. To this end, Jaz Parks is tasked to identify and kill the assassin known only a Bea, who has been contracted to kill Floraidh, the evil leader of a coven of Scottish witches, who is to take the place that was left empty by the death of Edward Samos.
This mission doesn't sit well with Jaz's conscience since it is usually her job to kill supernatural bad-guys, and Floraidh definitely qualifies for a bad-guy death by her usual moral standards. Still, Jaz is a professional so if her boss says that Floraidh must not be murdered then she will put her personal feelings aside and kill Bea, the mysterious snake-wielding assassin, instead.
Since there is no shortage of suspects who could be the unknown assassin, Jaz, Vayl, and Cole Bermont soon get down to business, bugging and monitoring Floraidh’s B&B hoping that one of the paying guests will be revealed as the assassin. Armed with their usual supply of spy gadgets, a little magic, and a solid cover as professional ghost busters attending GhostCon there are plenty opportunities for mayhem even before Jaz's family issues are added into the mix as her father managed to tag along for the ride.
One More Bite is written rather well. The narrative is non-stop action, filled with family and relationship drama, and humor galore as Rardin delivers another caper fuelled with high octane fantasy thrills, superspy intrigue, and sharp wit. The romantic development between Vayl and Jaz has made another small leap ahead in this installment, while more of Jaz's childhood is revealed with her relationship with her father – Albert Parks.
All in all, One More Bite is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
With the death of Edward Samos, a power vacuum is created and the CIA feels that balance must be maintained, which means choosing the person that the CIA feels is the best person for them. To this end, Jaz Parks is tasked to identify and kill the assassin known only a Bea, who has been contracted to kill Floraidh, the evil leader of a coven of Scottish witches, who is to take the place that was left empty by the death of Edward Samos.
This mission doesn't sit well with Jaz's conscience since it is usually her job to kill supernatural bad-guys, and Floraidh definitely qualifies for a bad-guy death by her usual moral standards. Still, Jaz is a professional so if her boss says that Floraidh must not be murdered then she will put her personal feelings aside and kill Bea, the mysterious snake-wielding assassin, instead.
Since there is no shortage of suspects who could be the unknown assassin, Jaz, Vayl, and Cole Bermont soon get down to business, bugging and monitoring Floraidh’s B&B hoping that one of the paying guests will be revealed as the assassin. Armed with their usual supply of spy gadgets, a little magic, and a solid cover as professional ghost busters attending GhostCon there are plenty opportunities for mayhem even before Jaz's family issues are added into the mix as her father managed to tag along for the ride.
One More Bite is written rather well. The narrative is non-stop action, filled with family and relationship drama, and humor galore as Rardin delivers another caper fuelled with high octane fantasy thrills, superspy intrigue, and sharp wit. The romantic development between Vayl and Jaz has made another small leap ahead in this installment, while more of Jaz's childhood is revealed with her relationship with her father – Albert Parks.
All in all, One More Bite is written rather well and is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series, which I plan to continue in the very near future.
August 22, 2009
Ah, Ms. Rardin. You have finally delivered unto me an action-packed story with a plot that makes sense and characters that possess depth. And with One More Bite, my reading this series feels justified.
This book is filled with twists and discoveries that kept me reading well through the night. Jaz's menagerie of imaginary friends only interjected when necessary or for brief amusement, Vayl finally seemed more real, and Jaz is swiftly pulling herself out of the mists of denial. Having Albert along for the ride gave us a chance to get to know both Jaz and her father better, and Cole adds his customary humor to the mix. Even Jack shows himself to be a valuable and endearing member of the team, as he offers both comfort and clues. The whole book is a vast improvement when compared to earlier installments.
If the tempo of One More Bite is indicative of where Rardin is taking the series, I'll definitely be along for the ride.
This book is filled with twists and discoveries that kept me reading well through the night. Jaz's menagerie of imaginary friends only interjected when necessary or for brief amusement, Vayl finally seemed more real, and Jaz is swiftly pulling herself out of the mists of denial. Having Albert along for the ride gave us a chance to get to know both Jaz and her father better, and Cole adds his customary humor to the mix. Even Jack shows himself to be a valuable and endearing member of the team, as he offers both comfort and clues. The whole book is a vast improvement when compared to earlier installments.
If the tempo of One More Bite is indicative of where Rardin is taking the series, I'll definitely be along for the ride.
June 18, 2010
I love the characters in this book, all of them are so interesting. Not the best writing, nor the best story line, but the characters, they carry the book fantastically ! I could read it many times and not get enough. JR's novels just get better and better.
Fav Quote from book-""When I bite you, it'll be because I want to make your toes curl and your hair stand on end. And you won't need stitches afterward. You'll need crutches.""
Jaz, Vayl, Cole and her Jaz's father head off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among ghosts, demons and crazed relatives.They are there to prevent the assassination of a nasty coven leader. Albert, Jaz’s father, gives her plenty of opportunities for both funny and sarcastic banter. Jack (the dog) is along and brings nothing but humor to his part. The growing relationship between Jaz and Vayl, is twisting nicely along. Non stop action, and kept me guessing. A UF book.
Fav Quote from book-""When I bite you, it'll be because I want to make your toes curl and your hair stand on end. And you won't need stitches afterward. You'll need crutches.""
Jaz, Vayl, Cole and her Jaz's father head off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among ghosts, demons and crazed relatives.They are there to prevent the assassination of a nasty coven leader. Albert, Jaz’s father, gives her plenty of opportunities for both funny and sarcastic banter. Jack (the dog) is along and brings nothing but humor to his part. The growing relationship between Jaz and Vayl, is twisting nicely along. Non stop action, and kept me guessing. A UF book.
November 28, 2011
Just as good as the first time I read it.
I didn't pick up on how quickly everything happens in this book, it all takes place over the course of a couple of days. The Ghost-Con was great fun and I developed a real soft spot for Albert and Jack (especially Jack).
Cole finally accepted Jaz isn't interested in him - that boy needs a good woman. But I did miss Cassandra and Bergman (and to a lesser degree Dave), regardless of the non-stop action.
I didn't pick up on how quickly everything happens in this book, it all takes place over the course of a couple of days. The Ghost-Con was great fun and I developed a real soft spot for Albert and Jack (especially Jack).
Cole finally accepted Jaz isn't interested in him - that boy needs a good woman. But I did miss Cassandra and Bergman (and to a lesser degree Dave), regardless of the non-stop action.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2015
Loved it and I once again can't wait to get my hands on the next one. This is a fun series!
June 8, 2019
fast and furious; a little disjointed, but clever
Lots of action, a little hard to follow
Lots of action, a little hard to follow
December 28, 2018
Though the story was interesting enough i found the book to still drag on maybe it was because it was the holidays and i couldn't focus on it but either way def not my favorite in the series.
Off to Scotland the team races to defend a high witch of a coven from an unknown threat which sounds scary like medusa. The small team they have assembled goes undercover as ghost hunters, to ghost-con no less. Albert is even in attendance which irritates our main character to no end! I mean who would want their military father lurking about while on a undercover mission?! Never mind trying to hide the fact she's into a vampire and has "other world" powers now. Plus uncover the medusa like foe and deal with spirits and a pushy old spirit who keeps insisting shes' the one for him. As if love wasn't complicated enough this "king brude" wants to drag to into a veil .. umm naw i don't think so!
Jaz is certifiably up to her eyeballs in this mess, in a love diamond with foes unknown from all angles plus trying to not kill her father and keep their cover. Only she could muddle through those waters.
Will jaz find the medusa?
Will she figure out her love life? or be dragged off by sold old moldy spirit?
Can she survive a mission with her father in tow?
Stick around and find out...
Off to Scotland the team races to defend a high witch of a coven from an unknown threat which sounds scary like medusa. The small team they have assembled goes undercover as ghost hunters, to ghost-con no less. Albert is even in attendance which irritates our main character to no end! I mean who would want their military father lurking about while on a undercover mission?! Never mind trying to hide the fact she's into a vampire and has "other world" powers now. Plus uncover the medusa like foe and deal with spirits and a pushy old spirit who keeps insisting shes' the one for him. As if love wasn't complicated enough this "king brude" wants to drag to into a veil .. umm naw i don't think so!
Jaz is certifiably up to her eyeballs in this mess, in a love diamond with foes unknown from all angles plus trying to not kill her father and keep their cover. Only she could muddle through those waters.
Will jaz find the medusa?
Will she figure out her love life? or be dragged off by sold old moldy spirit?
Can she survive a mission with her father in tow?
Stick around and find out...
January 30, 2019
Overall a good book. I just had a really hard time getting into this one. I read the other books in just a few days, but this one just seemed to drag for me (3 months!). I really didn't get into the book until the end.
June 22, 2020
This is book 5 in the Jaz Parks series. Jaz and her team this time are off to Scotland to prevent a murder. People new to this series would find it very hard to follow the characters in this book and not understand what was going on. This story holds everything from action, guns, romance, gadgets and different types of paranormal creatures - something for everyone.
July 6, 2021
I read the entire series back to back so one review for all. Great characters, lots of action and a decent overall storyline. I suspect Rardin had more planned but she passed away in 2010. Fortunately, the last book gave a solid ending.
June 13, 2018
Another good work read. Onto book six. :)
August 29, 2021
3.5 stars
March 31, 2025
This one was more lighthearted.
November 21, 2010
Jaz, Vayl, Cole, and we can’t forget Jack, head off to Scotland and GhostCon to intercept an assassin before she can make the hit on a powerful coven leader and guess what? Jaz’s dad, Albert, is along for the ride! Which is a major buzz kill when flames finally start to ignite between Jaz and Vayl. Do some people have the worse timing or what? Then come to find out the coven leader they are suppose to protect is one evil old witch, literally, so do Jaz and Vayl want to stick with the original mission or do some improvising? Hmm…hard decision. But first they must figure out who the assassin Bea really is; the cheapskate jewelry storeowner or his disgruntled wife, the shy mute girl who survived a horrific assault, her aloof friend & interpreter, or her ghost obsessed mother? It’s like playing the game of Clue!
One More Bite is a well-written, fast-paced, character-driven plot that’s a good addition to the series. I especially like Rardin’s world building because there is not an overabundance of it, just enough to put you in that place and not get overwhelmed.
The suspense keeps you guessing because you see some points that could make these new side characters assassins, all of them have oddities, and then you see another side and you’re like, no she couldn’t do that.
Smart and funny with interesting creatures; demons, ghosts, witches and Eldhayrs (Which every time I read that I think of Charmed.)
Like I said, things start heating up between Jaz & Vayl, their relationship finally starts progressing and I would just like to say, it’s about damn time! Geesh, anticipation much! Vayl definitely gets the uber sexy on in this book; you could practically melt on the floor at his feet imagining the look on his face and his eyes. Mmm….
Cole is still sweet, funny and loveable but he seems to finally be accepting the fact that Jaz will never be his. Cassandra and Bergman are absent in this book, which was a bit disappointing because they were pretty much absent in the last one as well and I love them but I guess Rardin thought they needed a break. Maybe so they wouldn’t get old or something but I couldn’t see that happening with the way she writes, she seems to have a knack keeping all of her characters interesting.
One More Bite is filled with Rardin’s classic catchy phrases and funny one-liners like this one on page 56, “Not killing the annoying one. Some days that’s the hardest part of this gig.”
LOL scene, pg 59-60
“I just thought of a new game”
“What’s that?”
“Splat the Specter.”
“Rules?”
“You can help me make them up. Right now all I know for sure is that it involves water guns filled with grape Kool-Aid and two ferrets named Biff and Chlamydia.”
Vayl’s voice filled our ears. ‘Why ferrets?”
“Really?” I asked. “You want to know about his choice of pets when he’s named one of them after an STD?”
The ending was sweet and left you feeling good about the characters and looking forward to the next book in the series. There were also some interesting points that if you catch kind of foreshadow what’s to happen in upcoming books.
Favorite quote, pg 123 “When I bite you, it’ll be because I want to make your toes curl and your hair stand on end. And you won’t need stitched afterward. You’ll need crotches.”
February 9, 2015
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Its taken me days to get up the courage to write this review because I know it’s going to be a hard one. I always have a much harder time writing about books I love than books I hate and the fifth installment in the Jaz Parks series most definitely falls into the love category. One of the greatest books in the series so far (and dare I say in the PNR genre!?) One More Bite totally blew me away and left me absolutely desperate for the next novel!
Jaz and Vayl took sexual tension to a whole new level in this novel. From whispered words when nobody was listening to making out behind closed doors I was swooning the entire novel. I’ve been waiting for this novel since I read the second book in the series and Rardin is a true master at building sexual tension. She built it up to the point that I was freaking out a little bit more with each book and by the time things finally started happening between Jaz and Vayl I was basically squealing in excitement. One of the things I love most about the relationship between Jaz and Vayl was how, instead of throwing themselves into a relationship, they took the time to put their pasts to rest so they could be truly together. I can feel the chemistry between them and that makes each interaction just that much sweeter.
The action side of the plot was a little slower in this novel as it wasn’t the main focus this time around. With the death of Samos Rardin has to set up for a new villain (it looks like the Oversight Committe may be playing a role here?) and the development of a relationship between Jaz and Vayl took a definite lead. With Jaz’s father, Albert, paying a bigger role we finally got the chance to learn a little bit more about Jaz’s childhood and her home life and figure out a little bit more about why she hates him so much. One More Bite was an emotional one for Jaz and it was interesting to see a new side of her personality. I really enjoyed learning more about her and watching her deal with emotions she isn’t used to dealing with.
I’m really happy the little love triangle with Cole is finally over. It was always obvious the entire time who Jaz was going to end up with and it looks like Cole has finally accepted that. I’m also super happy about Vayl putting his boys behind him. I know it was a big part of the story but it was holding him back and I’m happy to see that he’s finally started to put that part of his past behind him. I have a feeling that he’s going to reconnect with his sons when we least expect it and that moment will be all the more exciting because Vayl isn’t trying so hard to make it happen.
One More Bite was hand down the best novel (so far!) in the Jaz Parks series and I am absolutely dying to get my hand on the next novel! I would highly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance or fantasy; one of the strongest series in the genre these books are winners.
Its taken me days to get up the courage to write this review because I know it’s going to be a hard one. I always have a much harder time writing about books I love than books I hate and the fifth installment in the Jaz Parks series most definitely falls into the love category. One of the greatest books in the series so far (and dare I say in the PNR genre!?) One More Bite totally blew me away and left me absolutely desperate for the next novel!
Jaz and Vayl took sexual tension to a whole new level in this novel. From whispered words when nobody was listening to making out behind closed doors I was swooning the entire novel. I’ve been waiting for this novel since I read the second book in the series and Rardin is a true master at building sexual tension. She built it up to the point that I was freaking out a little bit more with each book and by the time things finally started happening between Jaz and Vayl I was basically squealing in excitement. One of the things I love most about the relationship between Jaz and Vayl was how, instead of throwing themselves into a relationship, they took the time to put their pasts to rest so they could be truly together. I can feel the chemistry between them and that makes each interaction just that much sweeter.
The action side of the plot was a little slower in this novel as it wasn’t the main focus this time around. With the death of Samos Rardin has to set up for a new villain (it looks like the Oversight Committe may be playing a role here?) and the development of a relationship between Jaz and Vayl took a definite lead. With Jaz’s father, Albert, paying a bigger role we finally got the chance to learn a little bit more about Jaz’s childhood and her home life and figure out a little bit more about why she hates him so much. One More Bite was an emotional one for Jaz and it was interesting to see a new side of her personality. I really enjoyed learning more about her and watching her deal with emotions she isn’t used to dealing with.
I’m really happy the little love triangle with Cole is finally over. It was always obvious the entire time who Jaz was going to end up with and it looks like Cole has finally accepted that. I’m also super happy about Vayl putting his boys behind him. I know it was a big part of the story but it was holding him back and I’m happy to see that he’s finally started to put that part of his past behind him. I have a feeling that he’s going to reconnect with his sons when we least expect it and that moment will be all the more exciting because Vayl isn’t trying so hard to make it happen.
One More Bite was hand down the best novel (so far!) in the Jaz Parks series and I am absolutely dying to get my hand on the next novel! I would highly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance or fantasy; one of the strongest series in the genre these books are winners.
April 11, 2019
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98 points, 5 STARS!
Edward "The Raptor" Samos has been killed by none other than Jaz and Vayl. Only, his death has lead to a power vacuum. One of The Raptor's allies, a coven of witches in the Scottish Highlands, is now being threatened and the CIA has decided that they need to survive to maintain the order that exists now. Evil witches, ghosts, demons and Jaz's father are all things Jaz and Vayl will have to contend with on this mission.
One More Bite is so funny it hurts. Between Jaz, her dad, and Cole, this was an absolute riot. I love this one so much. Especially while Jaz desperately tries to keep the fact that her and Vayl are sort of into each other hidden from her dad. Also while she desperately tries to keep the specifics of her job hidden from him. It doesn't really go well. Especially since her dad is always getting in the way and pissing her off, since she has gotten a new super power and is setting things on fire every time she gets angry.
Because that's exactly what one of the most angry creatures in the world needs. Fire to accompany their anger.
The overall plot to One More Bite is fantastic, too. There are these creepy evil witches in a coven, and Jaz has to save them because if she doesn't it will throw the world powers into chaos again. Adding in the ghosts was just pure genius on top of the coven. I love how Rardin was able to continually add new things to this series without anything clashing or feeling out of place. Everything just works (even if I can't figure out how the world itself works with all these weird things in it, mucking shit up).
Jaz and Vayl are getting closer in this book and oh my god do I love it so, so much. I love both of these characters to pieces. Now that both of them are finally healed enough to sustain a relationship, they are trying things they didn't have the wherewithal to handle before. It makes me so, so, soooo happy. Even if it took until the fifth book of the series to happen. It just makes it work even better, that it took so long to set up. The only thing that makes this annoying is actually Cole, because he is still hung up on Jaz and it is getting a bit old.
I thought the previous book wrapped up a bit too easy, and this one feels a bit of the same. Actually, all of the endings feel a bit easy, and I think I've just gotten used to that over the years. Especially since I know what is going to happen next. And I cannot wait to read it again.
98 points, 5 STARS!
Edward "The Raptor" Samos has been killed by none other than Jaz and Vayl. Only, his death has lead to a power vacuum. One of The Raptor's allies, a coven of witches in the Scottish Highlands, is now being threatened and the CIA has decided that they need to survive to maintain the order that exists now. Evil witches, ghosts, demons and Jaz's father are all things Jaz and Vayl will have to contend with on this mission.
One More Bite is so funny it hurts. Between Jaz, her dad, and Cole, this was an absolute riot. I love this one so much. Especially while Jaz desperately tries to keep the fact that her and Vayl are sort of into each other hidden from her dad. Also while she desperately tries to keep the specifics of her job hidden from him. It doesn't really go well. Especially since her dad is always getting in the way and pissing her off, since she has gotten a new super power and is setting things on fire every time she gets angry.
Because that's exactly what one of the most angry creatures in the world needs. Fire to accompany their anger.
The overall plot to One More Bite is fantastic, too. There are these creepy evil witches in a coven, and Jaz has to save them because if she doesn't it will throw the world powers into chaos again. Adding in the ghosts was just pure genius on top of the coven. I love how Rardin was able to continually add new things to this series without anything clashing or feeling out of place. Everything just works (even if I can't figure out how the world itself works with all these weird things in it, mucking shit up).
Jaz and Vayl are getting closer in this book and oh my god do I love it so, so much. I love both of these characters to pieces. Now that both of them are finally healed enough to sustain a relationship, they are trying things they didn't have the wherewithal to handle before. It makes me so, so, soooo happy. Even if it took until the fifth book of the series to happen. It just makes it work even better, that it took so long to set up. The only thing that makes this annoying is actually Cole, because he is still hung up on Jaz and it is getting a bit old.
I thought the previous book wrapped up a bit too easy, and this one feels a bit of the same. Actually, all of the endings feel a bit easy, and I think I've just gotten used to that over the years. Especially since I know what is going to happen next. And I cannot wait to read it again.
June 24, 2011
Since Jaz and Vayl's team managed to destroy the Raptor his allies have been fighting amongst themselves to see who is going to take his place. The CIA are trying to maintain the balance so when they discover that someone has hired a hit woman to take out the coven leader of one of the main groups they decide to send Jaz and Vayl to stop the hit. So the team is going on a trip to Scotland and they're going to have their work cut out if they want to stop the mercenary in time.
I was a little bit disappointed with the last book in this series (Bitten to Death) so I was pleased to find that things are getting back on track in One More Bite. I still missed having Cassandra and Cole in this installment, I really love it when the whole team is together so I'm hoping to see that happen in the next book. I have to admit that this was more than made up for by the fact that Albert (Jaz's dad) was with them on the mission though. He had me laughing out loud with his antics and I really enjoyed the bickering between him and Jaz. I was glad we got to find out more about Jaz's family background, things have been alluded to in the previous books but we never had too much information about why she hates her mother so much so it was good to get some clarification on that. I understand Jaz's reactions to certain things a lot better now.
I'm so relieved that things still seem to be going well between Jaz and Vayl, I was hoping for a little more relationship development but they are still slowly moving in the right direction. I was worried when I realised that Cole was going to be playing a major part in this installment, he annoyed me just from the sidelines in the last book and I really wasn't looking forward to having to put up with more of him this time. I was actually pleasantly surprised though and he didn't irritate me anywhere near as much.
The story line was well written, included a lot of humor, plenty of action and added some new supernatural elements to the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
I was a little bit disappointed with the last book in this series (Bitten to Death) so I was pleased to find that things are getting back on track in One More Bite. I still missed having Cassandra and Cole in this installment, I really love it when the whole team is together so I'm hoping to see that happen in the next book. I have to admit that this was more than made up for by the fact that Albert (Jaz's dad) was with them on the mission though. He had me laughing out loud with his antics and I really enjoyed the bickering between him and Jaz. I was glad we got to find out more about Jaz's family background, things have been alluded to in the previous books but we never had too much information about why she hates her mother so much so it was good to get some clarification on that. I understand Jaz's reactions to certain things a lot better now.
I'm so relieved that things still seem to be going well between Jaz and Vayl, I was hoping for a little more relationship development but they are still slowly moving in the right direction. I was worried when I realised that Cole was going to be playing a major part in this installment, he annoyed me just from the sidelines in the last book and I really wasn't looking forward to having to put up with more of him this time. I was actually pleasantly surprised though and he didn't irritate me anywhere near as much.
The story line was well written, included a lot of humor, plenty of action and added some new supernatural elements to the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.
May 18, 2010
Series Rating: 4 out of 5 starts!
This is a Series Review:
A kick-ass heroine, a hot vampire boss, quirky and fun sidekicks and a lot of action and adventure… What else can you ask of an Urban Fantasy series? The Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin definitely has all that and so much more.
Jaz is an assassin’s assistant for the CIA. She works for Vayl, a Vampire who was killed by his Vampire wife almost 300 years ago. From the start we get to see that they have a great working relationship that has a lot of potential for more.
Jaz is sarcastic, smart, strong and stubborn; she is great at what she does and it’s impossible not to love her, specially for her flaws.
Vayl is a mystery, there is much we get to find out about him throughout the series and so much more question we get to ask and wait for it’s answers. Vayl is also a kick-ass assassin that would be scary if he wasn’t so charming.
As the series go along we get to know great side characters that just make things more interesting.
One of my favorite things about the series is Vayl and Jaz’s chemistry, they are perfect for each other, but Jennifer definitely has a talent to give us a compelling “will they, won’t they” scenario throughout the books and the wait is well rewarded towards the last couples books.
The only down side of this is that Rardin does not elaborate on any smexing that happens or that might happen, for smut fans that can be a let down. However personally, even though I’d love to get to witness some more explicit loving action between Jaz and Vayl, i love them just the way they are and the plot of all the novels is extremely well written, full of action and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The Jaz Parks serie sis definitely a great one fore any Urban Fantasy out there, I just wish i saw more people talking about it. If you haven’t read this series yet, you seriously have to right away.
This is a Series Review:
A kick-ass heroine, a hot vampire boss, quirky and fun sidekicks and a lot of action and adventure… What else can you ask of an Urban Fantasy series? The Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin definitely has all that and so much more.
Jaz is an assassin’s assistant for the CIA. She works for Vayl, a Vampire who was killed by his Vampire wife almost 300 years ago. From the start we get to see that they have a great working relationship that has a lot of potential for more.
Jaz is sarcastic, smart, strong and stubborn; she is great at what she does and it’s impossible not to love her, specially for her flaws.
Vayl is a mystery, there is much we get to find out about him throughout the series and so much more question we get to ask and wait for it’s answers. Vayl is also a kick-ass assassin that would be scary if he wasn’t so charming.
As the series go along we get to know great side characters that just make things more interesting.
One of my favorite things about the series is Vayl and Jaz’s chemistry, they are perfect for each other, but Jennifer definitely has a talent to give us a compelling “will they, won’t they” scenario throughout the books and the wait is well rewarded towards the last couples books.
The only down side of this is that Rardin does not elaborate on any smexing that happens or that might happen, for smut fans that can be a let down. However personally, even though I’d love to get to witness some more explicit loving action between Jaz and Vayl, i love them just the way they are and the plot of all the novels is extremely well written, full of action and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The Jaz Parks serie sis definitely a great one fore any Urban Fantasy out there, I just wish i saw more people talking about it. If you haven’t read this series yet, you seriously have to right away.
July 6, 2010
I went ahead and re-read the first four books because it had been so long between when I originally picked them up and when I was getting to this one. Plus I had number six on order and was excited to refresh my memory with all the characters.
Unfortunately, I did not find this one to be as good as the first four. The plot was a bit slow (after I picked it up and started reading I realized I'd made it 1/3 of the way through when I got the book last year but put it down and never made it back). Things heated up a bit after the first few chapters, but the story line didn't really draw me in like some of the other ones.
Then there were the characters which felt just a little too...similar, stock, one-linered this time around. The zippy and quick dialog was one of the things that drew me into the series in the first place. As I was reading through this book though, I started to see them as gimmicks. That could have been a result of me reading so many in a row or because Rardin ratcheted it up too far in this story. Either scenario is not a good place to be as a reader. I can imagine this to be a very hard line to walk with series. People want to learn more about the characters, go back and find out more about the world and hear new and exciting stories, all while feeling the "comfort" of the world/characters/plots they liked from the previous books. The previous books stuck a nice balance. This one felt more like it had an irregular heartbeat.
But you know, I hung in there. The story was entertaining enough to keep me going along with the allure of what might be in next installment in the series.
Unfortunately, I did not find this one to be as good as the first four. The plot was a bit slow (after I picked it up and started reading I realized I'd made it 1/3 of the way through when I got the book last year but put it down and never made it back). Things heated up a bit after the first few chapters, but the story line didn't really draw me in like some of the other ones.
Then there were the characters which felt just a little too...similar, stock, one-linered this time around. The zippy and quick dialog was one of the things that drew me into the series in the first place. As I was reading through this book though, I started to see them as gimmicks. That could have been a result of me reading so many in a row or because Rardin ratcheted it up too far in this story. Either scenario is not a good place to be as a reader. I can imagine this to be a very hard line to walk with series. People want to learn more about the characters, go back and find out more about the world and hear new and exciting stories, all while feeling the "comfort" of the world/characters/plots they liked from the previous books. The previous books stuck a nice balance. This one felt more like it had an irregular heartbeat.
But you know, I hung in there. The story was entertaining enough to keep me going along with the allure of what might be in next installment in the series.
December 30, 2010
This is the fifth book in the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin. I thought it was a good addition to the series and I really enjoyed reading it.
In this book Jaz and Vayl are sent to a Ghost Convention to stop the assassination of one of the heads of a coven in the area. Jaz's dad ends up tagging along on the mission and Cole is also part of the party. Jaz gets dragged into some interesting situations with the local demons, ghosts, and witch coven. You learn a lot more about Jaz's history.
This was a great book. It is well-written and fast paced. It was nice to have Jaz and Vayl finally make some progress in their relationship. I do love that these books manage to have some sexy scenes but no explicit sex; it's nice to have the element there and it's even nicer that it doesn't take up all of the plot. Bergman and Cassandra were noticeable for theirabsence ; although there were plenty of interesting characters at the Ghost Convention to keep the reader occupied. There weren't as many nifty gadgets as usual but the story didn't suffer from that either. I still think Vayl is my favorite character; he has the coolest vampire powers ever. Jaz is continuing to develop interesting strengths of her own with her use of fire.
I continue to really enjoy this series. It is in the top five for paranormal series that I really love. I love that these books continue more focused on action and adventure, than on romance. There os a bit of something for everyone in this series; action, adventure, guns, gadgets, ghosts, demons, vampires.
I look forward to the next book "Bite Marks" which is scheduled for an October 2009 release.
In this book Jaz and Vayl are sent to a Ghost Convention to stop the assassination of one of the heads of a coven in the area. Jaz's dad ends up tagging along on the mission and Cole is also part of the party. Jaz gets dragged into some interesting situations with the local demons, ghosts, and witch coven. You learn a lot more about Jaz's history.
This was a great book. It is well-written and fast paced. It was nice to have Jaz and Vayl finally make some progress in their relationship. I do love that these books manage to have some sexy scenes but no explicit sex; it's nice to have the element there and it's even nicer that it doesn't take up all of the plot. Bergman and Cassandra were noticeable for theirabsence ; although there were plenty of interesting characters at the Ghost Convention to keep the reader occupied. There weren't as many nifty gadgets as usual but the story didn't suffer from that either. I still think Vayl is my favorite character; he has the coolest vampire powers ever. Jaz is continuing to develop interesting strengths of her own with her use of fire.
I continue to really enjoy this series. It is in the top five for paranormal series that I really love. I love that these books continue more focused on action and adventure, than on romance. There os a bit of something for everyone in this series; action, adventure, guns, gadgets, ghosts, demons, vampires.
I look forward to the next book "Bite Marks" which is scheduled for an October 2009 release.
August 2, 2010
Plot Summary: Jaz Parks has already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA's you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by the death of Edward "The Raptor" Samos , a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies. With power suddenly up for grabs, various paranormal factions begin a struggle for supremacy. In the interests of keeping things balanced, Parks and Vayl must step in to protect one of the world's leading witches from assassination. It appears that the assassin, however, is a woman whose skill rivals that of Jaz
The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves.
So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Review: Jaz's dad ends up tagging along on the mission and Cole is also part of the party. Jaz gets dragged into some interesting situations with the local demons, ghosts, and witch coven. You learn a lot more about Jaz's history. Valencian Weres have taken out a contract on the Coven's leader Floraidh Halsey; it becomes the job of Jaz's team to prevent the killing from happening. The change of scenery to Scotland was a great idea, especially if you've ever visited there.
The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven's leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves.
So it's off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Review: Jaz's dad ends up tagging along on the mission and Cole is also part of the party. Jaz gets dragged into some interesting situations with the local demons, ghosts, and witch coven. You learn a lot more about Jaz's history. Valencian Weres have taken out a contract on the Coven's leader Floraidh Halsey; it becomes the job of Jaz's team to prevent the killing from happening. The change of scenery to Scotland was a great idea, especially if you've ever visited there.
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