Review: Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Tracking the Tempest
Nicole Peeler
Pub date: July 1, 2010
I purchased this book
4 stars based on how much fun this series is and the laugh out loud moments!

Tracking the Tempest is the follow-up to Tempest Rising, which I absolutely adored! It was hilarious and had lots of action, romance and heart so I was really looking forward to the next installment.
Tracking starts out with Jane working on developing the supernatural powers she discovered she had in book one. In true Jane fashion, there is quite a bit of bumbling going on in her efforts. I was laughing by the end of the first paragraph where she is working on mage lights (little balls of energy) and mentioned how she would NOT burn off her eyebrows again...too cute! And there were lots of other moments that had me giggling out loud.
Tracking focuses on Jane, her vampire lover Ryu, and some new supes trying to solve the mystery of several mysterious deaths and what they could mean to the supernatural community. There's lots of danger and lots of action but to be honest it was kind of apparent who was behind the murders and I was a bit frustrated that Jane couldn't put two and two together. I was also frustrated by something else in the story and I'm about to drop some spoilers here so if you don't wanna know what happens, this would be the time to "X" out =)
There has been a lot of backlash about the whole Bella choosing Edward the controlling vampire and lately authors seem to be jumping on the bandwagon of making their characters NOT choose the vamp. I think this is supposed to come off as refreshing and we're all supposed to go "Yay, our strong female character stuck up for herself" but it's really just coming off as a planned plot device. This happened in another vampire book I read recently and it happens here as well. In the first book, there was a great romance between Jane and Ryu the vampire. Here, he comes across as a controlling and condescending lover that we are not supposed to like as much because he doesn't have very much faith in Jane's abilities. Well, sorry to say it, but he kinda has reason not to have so much faith and as someone who cares about Jane, I think he has the right to try to keep her out of danger. Jane ends up spending more and more time with Anyan, a barghest who shifts into the form of a dog, and it's obvious she is starting to develop feelings for him. Which is fine because I DO like his character more and am rooting for them to get together, I'm just not really fond of the way it's happening. At the end of the book, Ryu is wanting Jane to come away with him but she doesn't want to give up her small town life or leave her dad alone (comparisons to Twilight galore...felt like I was reading a "what Bella should have done" book...)
All that being said, I DID really like the book. The supernatural characters are unique and interesting, the humor is still laugh out loud funny, and Jane is one incredibly likeable character (but maybe not AS likeable as she was the first time around.) I love how she has gained more confidence in herself from the last book. I only wish she didn't have to CHOOSE between romance and strength. I want her to have it all!