This is a great book, I’ve already read it several times. Cassie has always loved Dante. My heart broke for her, as he frequently forgets her after each shift. He’s a Phoenix shifter and his tears are healing. But would he cry for Cassie? Can he love? Will she find a cure for the paranormals? No worries, there’s a very happy ever after. I highly recommend this book.

This is the third book in the series and while it can be read on its own it is so much better if you have read the first two books. This is a great paranormal read and is action packed right from the start it was well written and had me absolutely hooked right from the start. I really liked both Cassie and Dante and enjoyed getting to know them a bit better. I just loved this book it was a super addition to the series

I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book

Dante and Cassie, unfortunately for Cassie, Dante suffers from a condition that makes him forget her over and over again.

Can Cassie convince Dante to help her save the world when he barely remembers her and has no clue if he can trust her? Read and find out!

Overall this book was really good, unpredictable and a little bit long...but overall a action packed paranormal romance!

Cassie Armstrong is the daughter of the most immoral researcher ever to use a scalpel. She is determined to use her intelligence and abilities to undo everything her father did to the paranormals, especially when she meets Dante. At first he doesn't trust her, but all he knows is that she's his. She ends up saving him and gets him out of her father's crutches and they work together to try and bring him down.

Like all other Cynthia Eden books, this is a must read. The entire series is awesome and definitely worth taking the time to enjoy.

I’ve been a fan of Cynthia Eden’s writing for years and this is another fantastic read. It has all the hallmarks of her work — passion, intensity, amazing characters, and a richly created world. I devour her books, and “Playing With Fire” was no exception. Highly recommended.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

So I haven’t read the first or second book in the series. I did feel I was missing a little bit of the background story, but I still enjoyed the book. The story seemed a little ridiculous in places but it was still interesting enough to keep going and reading.

I think I will go back and start at the beginning and see if that fills in a little of the details.

Overall I did enjoy it and I really liked the relationship between Cassie and Dante. They burned up the pages!

I requested an advance reader copy of this novel based on the author, and on how much I've come to enjoy her novels in the past year, not realizing that I was starting to read the final novel in a trilogy, not to mention that it's a paranormal romantic suspense novel, since I haven't read one in that sub-genre in several years, and what a fascinating and exciting read this was! It gets 5 stars from this reader.

Playing With Fire is also my first encounter with the sheer number of mythical characters within it. I've been an avid student of Greek mythology since I first read Edith Hamilton back in junior high school, and I never expected to encounter both a phoenix and a siren in this novel, not to mention vampires, primal vampires, wolf, dragon and half-dragon shifters, and with a bit of a nod to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, because there was a mad scientist, the heroine's own father, introduced, I assume, at the beginning of this series, who was creating genetically modified humans in the hopes of creating super-soldiers for the military, and he was insane enough to even perform terrible experiments on his own daughter. In this novel, she's working feverishly to try to atone for her father's sins and undo the damage he'd done. Thankfully, I wasn't as lost as I first feared I might be because Ms. Eden took into account what might have been any initial confusion about the wide cast of characters, who they were, what they were, and their inter-relationships, by providing some background information on each character as they were introduced.

At the core of this novel is Cassie, the genetically modified daughter of the now deceased mad scientist, and Dante, captured and experimented upon by Cassie's father, and whom she first met at the age of 8, when she encountered the caged and tormented phoenix in her father's lab. As she grew older, she helped her father with his experiments, not thinking that she had any chance of refusing him, but as she grew into adulthood she realized that her father's experiments amounted to torture and she eventually freed Dante, for the first time, since anyone who understands the mythology of the phoenix knows that after they die, they burst into flames and are then reborn to live again, and Dante has lived more lives than he can count, But and each time he dies and is reborn, his memory of all that came before is almost always completely wiped clean.

The plot intrigued me, the mythology on which this novel was based utterly fascinated me, the characters were well-drawn, and Ms. Eden's pace and plotting in this novel were exciting, sexy, and emotional. In short, it was a fabulous read, and I've already ordered copies of the first two novels in this utterly gripping series and I cannot wait to read them. Kudos to Ms. Eden for this exceptional and extremely original read. If you've not read the first two novel in this series, I suggest you read them in the order written, but this novel worked just fine as a standalone too.

More than 5 stars.
This is, unfortunately, my first book of like it seems amazing series. An amazing paranormal story full of passion mystery, action, suspense, and twists. The story is amazing both Cassie and Dante great characters author beautiful describes their complicated relationship. So many things happen and I loved how unpredictable all was and that I could see what will happen next. I really enjoyed reading it. Recommended for all paranormal lovers.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly.

I did a search for "sizzle" on giphy and came up with this.
Bacon. I'll take it.
Even though, technically, I don't believe bacon was mentioned anywhere in this book.
But that's ok. We'll use it anyway.
Because much like my feelings for bacon... I loved this book.
4/5 stars.
Book generously provided by Netgalley for my opinion.

Plan to purchase for my library as an ebook.

3.5 Stars


Playing with Fire was my first Cynthia Eden book and not having read any other books in the series, I found the story easy to follow. It encompasses humans and paranormal beings brought together by Cassie’s quest to undo the damage her father had created.

There’s more to Cassie than even she is aware of. Her strong sense of social justice is spurred on because she too has experienced the trauma of being one of her father’s study subjects. The insight provided by her father’s insane obsession with creating enhanced humans was disturbing and left me with no doubt as to why Cassie was hell-bent on making up for her father’s legacy.

Dante is a phoenix shifter and his connection to Cassie goes back years but he has no recollection of Cassie nor why he can’t ignore her. His ability to disappear into a pile of ashes was a great escape but left Cassie at risk each time it happened. It meant Cassie was a survivor and her main problem was getting Dante to accept her ability to look after herself.

The paranormal focus is predominantly between vampires and shifters. My shifter reading preference leans towards wolves so to meet a phoenix shifter was an interesting twist. With each burning, Dante emerges anew but not always intact with his memories of Cassie. What he knows is that he can’t hurt her and he will destroy anyone who threatens her safety.

Although her father is no longer a threat, his legacy is. Cassie soon finds she is running out of time as she attempts to beat the clock in her fight against an unknown entity. The challenges she faces are ongoing, ever-changing and the chances of her finding a solution are fading rapidly. I struggled with the numerous convenient fixes they found themselves in. The proverbial handy vehicles on hand just when they needed them had my eyes rolling. Another scenario left me wondering if I had missed a vital sentence after a Lazarus feat from a character who shouldn’t have been able to survive what they had experienced.

While I had no trouble keeping up with the story, I am wondering if the situations I considered too convenient were aspects of a world building set up in earlier books. Cassie’s strength and focus on saving others kept me turning pages while reading Playing With Fire. All the way through, I was haunted by the knowledge that when you play with fire, there is a good chance of getting burnt.

This is the third book in Cynthia Eden's phoenix series. I loved that the heroine is a doctor. This is a rich and beautiful paranormal world. I am happy I read the whole series because, while this book stands alone, the world Ms. Eden creates is complex and this book has been building throughout the entirety of the series.

The sex is hot and their love is passionate. I loved this book and I didn't want the series to end.

.Cassie Armstrong feels she has a lot to atone for not only for her herself but to repair the damage her family has done to the paranormals. Dante doesn’t know what Cassie’s story is. He almost doesn’t care. The minute he sees her, all he can think is mine. Half the time he doesn't even know who she is. It's a complicated story but well worth the ride, I enjoyed both Cassie and Dante and found the story with them and around them intriguing, So much so that this being the 3rd book in Phoenix Fire Series, I Went and read the others since I never have, Couldn't put it down and was sad to see it end.

I didn’t read the other two books in the series, but it was fine. The book is a stand alone novel, with enough backstory into the other characters to keep you from being lost. The story wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. It was the typical overbearing alpha male constantly rescuing the formally capable damsel in distress. The insta love was explained, but it was still two people who had spent a few days together (including their past brief encounters) declaring their love for each other. The world building was good, and I would be interested to see what happens to the characters who haven’t had their HEA yet, but I doubt I would go back an read the other two books in this series. This is the kind of book I would read while while waiting on my fav’s to come out. Entertaining, but not outstanding.

It always nice to read something with a completely new twist to it. I loved reading about Phoenix shifters and how the author introduces them, with their unique abilities and their backstory, it was out of the ordinary and unique. Playing with Fire is action packed and fast paced. With a crazed villain and a complicated past, our MCs have an angsty road full of unexpected detours. I definitely fell for Cassie and Dante and the ending was worth it all :)

Cassie was a great heroine and I loved her, she was strong, brave and kindhearted. She had a really dark past and has lived through a lot of heartbreak, first at the hands of her psychotic father who experimented on her and when she lost her brother to her father's ideology and then again when she falls in love with a powerful phoenix who seems to forget her every time he dies and rises again. But she doesn't stop trying to help others, even with it seems everyone is against her she never backs down.

Dante was a man of few words but his actions spoke for him. He was protective of Cassie but also wary of her. With gaps in his memory, he fought his feelings for her because he didn't know if he could trust her or not.

I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more in the series. I think phoenix shifters have become my new dragons, lol!

I like that a strong female-controlled this story. The action and storyline were original a lot of twists and turns. What woman wouldn't like to control men with their voice?

It’s always a bittersweet moment for me when I finish the final book in a series or trilogy. And Playing With Fire is no different in that feeling. I think bittersweet is also a good word to describe this story. Cassie has loved Dante for so long, she’s tried to help him over the years but she couldn’t save him from her father’s mad deeds. As a phoenix Dante is reborn when he dies, but he isn’t remembering Cassie or her love for him. She is determined to help and cure all the horror and harm that her father has done, but Dante might be her biggest puzzle yet.

This is one of those stories that I think it’s best if you read it firsthand. A lot of threads come together, answers are given and a love is reborn for the last time. You “could” read Playing With Fire on its own, but there are threads, events and characters in the first two books that really should be experienced in order for the best entertainment value, in my opinion.

I have enjoyed this series, it feels like there could have been more… to be frank, I was expecting more. But if this is where the journey ends then I’ve enjoyed the trip and the experience of Phoenix Fire immensely. If you love Paranormal Romance then this is a story and series that I’d recommend.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Playing with Fire by Cynthia Eden is book Three in the Phoenix series. This is the story of Cassie and Dante. I haven't yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
We learn that Dante is a Phoenix that Cassie's father was doing experience on along with herself. Cassie had tried to help him as best she could and has always loved Dante. Dante when he would come back to life would sometimes not remember her which leads to Cassie feeling that he doesn't return the same feelings. Dealing with the aftermath of the death of her father and what has been done to them...can they find a happy ended?
Exciting read!

Title: Playing with Fire Series: Phoenix Fire Book #3 Author: Cynthia Eden Genre: Paranormal/Romance Blurb: Cassie Armstrong has plenty to atone for. The daughter of the most immoral researcher ever to pick up a scalpel, she's determined to use her own brilliance in genetics to repair the damage her family has done to the paranormals. Especially Dante, the first of the phoenixes, the one they call the Immortal. He's been haunting her dreams since she was a little girl, and she's been trying to ease his pain for almost as long. If only he remembered any of it. . .
Dante doesn't know what Cassie's story is. He almost doesn't care. The minute he sees her, all he can think is mine. But there's more to the pretty little doctor than meets the eye. And Dante isn't the only one to notice. He can't trust her, but he can't stay away--and if he wants to learn her secrets, he's going to have to fight like hell to keep them both alive. . .
Thoughts: The storyline for this one was very original, and the fact that it dealt with the elusive 'phoenix' was a plus - something you don't see a large amount of in paranormal books. This is the third installment in this series, but it was the first that I have read. I found no issues with reading it as a standalone, however, and I didn't get that irritating, niggling feeling that I was missing something while I read it from having missed out on the first two books. The characters were likeable, the story was engaging, and all in all it was just a good solid story. My only complaint would be how many times Dante is killed and resurrected throughout the book - it was perhaps a tad excessive (the poor guy!). Well, and perhaps Cassie's naivety and one-track mind on saving people - even when it puts themselves in more danger. Eden manages to keep you on your toes, however, with this book, and it is definitely an enjoyable read.
Rate: B+

3.75 stars-- PLAYING WITH FIRE is the third and final instalment in Cynthia Eden’s contemporary adult PHOENIX BURN paranormal, romance series focusing on a group of enhanced supernatural and humans. This is scientist Cassie Armstrong, and phoenix Dante’s story line. PLAYING WITH FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, an experiment to make the perfect super soldier went horribly wrong when the people in control when above and beyond their designated tasks. The Phoenix Burn series focuses on the continuing experiments and on-going problems of the affected supernaturals and humans.

NOTE: Due to the story line content including torture and bloodshed, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from several third person points of view including Dante and Cassie PLAYING WITH FIRE follows the second chance (of sorts) relationship between scientist Cassie Armstrong, and phoenix Dante. Years earlier Cassie Armstrong, the daughter of a brilliant but insane scientist saved Dante, on more than once occasion, but with each incarnation Dante remembered little about his past. Fast forward to present day wherein Cassie will continue to track down the man that she loves in order to help others who have been affected by the cruel and unusual experiments. What ensues is the rekindling friendship, and building love between our leading couple, and the potential fall-out as betrayal and heartbreak continue to follow in their wake.

PLAYING WITH FIRE is a story of power and revenge; betrayal and pain; destiny and love. Cynthia Eden brings together an odd assortment of supernatural beings including purebreds and hybrids, all of whom must work together to protect themselves from the ultimate evil. Vengeance, deception, dishonesty and lies are around every corner as Cassie tries desperately to help the people she loves but in doing so hurts the man that calls to her heart. The premise is dramatic; the romance is fated; the characters are numerous, intense and energetic. There are a number of characters whose story has yet to be told-I am hoping the author considers picking up where the series left off.

Copy supplied by Netgalley


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Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire, #3) by Cynthia Eden is a fantastic finale to this PNR series. This is a re-release of the third book in this completely addictive series. Burn For Me (Phoenix Fire, #1) was the first book I read by this author and she has been a one-click buy for me ever since. The writing and story flow is always excellent. Playing With Fire rounds out the Phoenix Fire Series with Dante and Cassie. It's a compelling story of turmoil and suspense that has the reader fully engaged in the outcome. Dante is the first "Immortal" in which Cassie is determined to fix the damaged inflicted by her father. I definitely recommend this book as well as the others in this series.