Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Winter break from St. Vladimir's Academy is supposed to be fun, but with Strigoi attacks on the rise, even a ski holiday at a luxury cabin isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Especially when Rose's mother unexpectedly shows up to provide extra guardian protection.  Rose and her mother have never gotten along, and their relationship is still strained.  As is Rose's relationship with Dimitri.  He's been asked to become guardian to Christian's aunt Tasha, and Rose is sure he'll take the position.  She's jealous of Dimitri and Tasha's friendly bantering, but knows that Dimitri will have a good life with Tasha.  She just wants him to be happy, and thinking that Dimitri will go on to be happy without her, Rose decides to try a relationship with her friend Mason, who has a serious crush on her.  The alluring and mysterious Adrian Ivashkov also piques Rose's interest.  But Rose can't get Dimitri off her mind.

Feeling rejected by Rose, Mason gathers his friend Eddie and mean-girl Mia, and the trio sneaks off campus to hunt down a rumored Strigoi colony in Spokane.  Rose is the only person who knows where they may be, and she and Christian follow them.  They are in way over their heads, though, and their lives are all in peril.  The enemy this time around is much more dangerous than Viktor Dashkov.

Frostbite was a better read than Vampire Academy, with much more action.  Rose has matured a little bit in this second book, but her temper can still get the best of her.  I love the romantic build-up between Rose and Dimitri, and while a part of me knows how wrong it is for them to be together (he's 24 and she's 17, after all), a bigger part of me can't help but cheer them on.  Like any good mentor, Dimitri tries really hard to keep his emotions in check, but Rose is so passionate that she sometimes breaks through his cool veneer.  (I love when that happens!)  She still has a long way to go, but the last few chapters of Frostbite show that she's clearly on her way toward becoming an amazing guardian.

4/5