Parajunkee's View

 Assassin's Heart by Monica Burns
Review copy provided by author.
Publish date: Sept 7th, 2010

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PJVs QUICKIE POV: Definitely head over heals for this series, Burns plummeted me into another smoking hot read stuffed full of sexy Italian warriors, to tempt that libido and historical tid bits to exercise the mind. Expand your paranormal romance library with Assassin's Heart, you won't be disappointed.

REVIEW: Lysander, a Sicari assassin, scarred, tormented and stoic has been haunted by an encounter with a sadistic Praetorian {the mortal enemy of the Sicari} that has forced him to reevaluate his heritage and his option to get close to anyone in the order, especially Phaedra DeLuca.

Phaedra, one of the most gifted healers in the order, is still confused by Lysander's rejection, but after an assignment that puts them in close quarters together, she is on a mission to find out just what feelings Lysander might be harboring for her - and to maybe even enact a little seduction to get what she wants.

Assassin's Heart is unique in the fact that it pairs modern day Sicari life with glimpses of the past and ancient Roman life, whom the Sicari are descended from. I thought the blending of both the historical romance and the modern romance were very well played and gave a sense of depth and history to the order that we hadn't really learned about in the first novel, Assassin's Honor.

Another thing I really like about this series is that while these powerful assassin's possess telepathic powers, which makes them paranormal, they are also very human and non-immortal, so they don't have anamilistic, or cold personalities like other paranormals tend to have in PNR novels. These are just humans, with a little extra oomph.

Overall I found this book, romantic, touching and the relationship building was completely believable - frustrating at times, but believable. Sometimes you just want to lock these characters in a room together and say "Stop sniping and get to spit swapping!" I can't wait for the third in the series, and I'm really tempted to purchase Assassin's Heart when it releases since I sent my copy to Emily. This is a definite reread.  Speaking of Emily... in her review {here} she compared Lysander and Phaedra to Bella and Zsadist and I have to say, I totally agree. The series is on line with the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, and I recommend if you are liking some BDB - give this series a try, it won't disappoint.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is an adult novel with violence and hawt sexual encounters. Not recommended for younger audiences.