Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

When faced with the prospect of reading a new author I usually feel equal parts excitement and trepidation as I embark on a journey that I have no clue as to how it will end.  Will I like them? Will they be as good as all those reviews said they were? Having come across a few doozies lately - I feel I might be a bit more skittish than usual.  Yet, I'm now on a role.  The last two new authors have been splendid!

Hello, Nicole Peeler!
Ms. Peeler takes us to the world of Jane True. Jane, while your typical urban fantasy, female character - thrust into a world that she had no idea existed, is a little more than the usual unsuspecting supernatural.  Her character is a bit neurotic, a lot of funny, incredibly smart and just all around a very likable heroine.

Jane True lives in a tiny little town in New England, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.  Jane is also the town pariah. At the ripe old age of 26, Jane has resigned herself to the life of a hermit. Destined to care for her father and amuse her self with her "naughty" drawer. Which the author hints that she might only open it to look - not to play. Poor Jane.  Jane's hermitage gets thrown off track though, with a dead body and a vampire named Ryu.

Part murder mystery, part paranormal romance - Tempest Rising is a fun, enjoyable and refreshing read, stuffed full of witty remarks, hot vampire love and intense supernatural battles. Jane's inner turmoil and almost schizophrenic mental battle between her libido and common sense was hilarious and scarily relatable.  Definitely a must-add to your TBR list if you are fan of the fanged.

Fans of the Sookie Stackhouse series will love this book.  And what a unique cover! The talented and inspiring artist is Sharon Tancredi.  Her illustration gives the book a very unique look that I think people will either go "huh" or jump up and down and clap - saying "I want one, I want one."

To continue the series of Jane True. Tracking the Tempest is scheduled to be released in July of 2010. Can't wait.  Here is the synopsis from Nicolepeeler.com.

Tracking the Tempest begins four months–and one eyebrow sacrificed to magical  training–after the close of Tempest Rising.  During that time, Jane’s been busy  honing her supernatural powers and enjoying her newfound sense of confidence.    Rockabill may  not yet be heaven, but she’s realized it’s home.  Valentine’s Day is  fast approaching,  however, and Ryu–Jane’s bloodsucker boyfriend–can’t let a  major holiday go by without  getting all gratuitous.  This time his shenanigans  involve a last-minute ticket to Boston  and a hefty dose of direct interference in her  life. But Ryu’s best laid plans inevitably create  more upheaval than even he can  anticipate, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of  gruesome killings committed by a being of  tremendous power . . .

 

. . . who, much to Jane’s surprise, happens to be another halfling.