Dream Tracker

The Trackers #1

by Jenna Kernan

DREAM TRACKER #1
The Trackers series

Native American Michaela Proud thinks her nightmares mean she is going mad, but the truth is far worse.  She is being stalked by Nagi, the Ruler of the Circle of Ghosts.  His attack tears the fabric of her soul and marks her for death.  But she is saved by a Skinwalker -- a shape shifting grizzly bear!

Sebastian does not meddle in the affairs of men, but he will not stand-by and let Nagi steal the soul from a living woman.  Once he discovers she has sustained a Spirit Wound, he cannot return her to her people without revealing the Supernatural World to humanity.  As he tends her, he discovers he experiences her thoughts...and desires.  This emotional connection reveals her as his soulmate, but will she accept him when she discovers the truth?

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Harlequin, Harlequin Nocturne, Native American

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Thank you for finding me on GoodReads.

Find my social media links here: https://linktr.ee/jennakernan

Here's a bit more about me...

Publishers Weekly bestselling author, Jenna Kernan has written over forty novels, most recently penning domestic thrillers. Her debut thriller, A Killer's Daughter, won the bronze medal in popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards in 2021. Jenna’s 2022 domestic thriller, The Ex-Wives, won the gold medal in the same category. The Nurse, was released in 2023, The Patient's Daughter released in 2024, and The Fake Mother in 2025. Her thrillers are intense, unsettling, and gripping with unexpected twists and turns.
Jenna began her writing journey penning historical romance, paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Find them here: https://www.jennakernan.com/books-1
A member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Florida Mystery Writers and Novelists, Inc. and a natural redhead living with her husband on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Jenna has recently increased her sunblock to SPF 50.

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Reviews

[Hannah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest...I started reading this book because of it's description and am really glad I took a chance. The cover does not do this book justice and neither does the title. This is a book that has a kind of myth quality to it, and the author did a really good job of immersing readers into the world of the myth. Or in this case, Native American myth. The reasoning behind the 3.75 star rating isn't necessarily the romance, the romance was okay and I wanted more from Sebastien. And the "enemy soulmate" idea was underdeveloped as the enemy part was lacking (at least in terms of history behind it) as was the soulmate part (it was more a chosen imprint thing). I thought the enemy thing was kind of stupid actually because it made me think Sebastien wasn't all in as he should have been while also making me think it was an unneeded problem the author added into the plot. Where this book really shined, however, was within the myths, plot, and the author's unique ideas. This included thunderbird transport, spirit wound, skin walkers, etc. I enjoyed reading this and learning more about all the different characters (some mythical) but I did desire both less and more from other aspects of this book. Would I recommended this? Maybe. Romance wise, there needed to be more talking between the two love interests, they needed more......depth of feeling. And the final "accepting" moment if you know what I mean just didn't make me satisfied. But the other aspects of this book are well worth reading. The description, plot, characters, gifts, and other world stand on its own.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoilers minor * This first book in the series of dream trackers, is a definite must read. I could not put it down from the moment I started reading it into the last page. With the suspense & danger to ghosts. The unknowing & trusting what you know & some of what you don’t. Michaela Proud, a Native American haunted by Nagi, a powerful ghosts is saved by a grizzly bear, that is actually Sebastian, a skinwalker. Together the must learn to trust each & in the unknown to find why Nagi is after Michaela. This story is definitely one worth picking up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Gunnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, enjoyable read. The mythology was based on Native American skinwalkers, which admittedly I know little about, but it's interesting to read about a different kind of shapeshifter.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoilers minor * This first book in the series of dream trackers, is a definite must read. I could not put it down from the moment I started reading it into the last page. With the suspense & danger to ghosts. The unknowing & trusting what you know & some of what you don’t. Michaela Proud, a Native American haunted by Nagi, a powerful ghosts is saved by a grizzly bear, that is actually Sebastian, a skinwalker. Together the must learn to trust each & in the unknown to find why Nagi is after Michaela. This story is definitely one worth picking up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michaela awakes from a dream in which she is being haunted. It's been happening since her accident months before. She goes out to gather blueberries and is attacked by a bear. She is saved by a spirit warrior. Now he has to save her from the Nagi and the poison he released into her. He takes her into his world and now they must discover why Nagi he wants her now and will not wait till her death.
Fantastic story with elements of Native American elements.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in this series called The Trackers, I could not stop reading. There is danger, suspense, drama and the evil Nagi, the Ruler of the Circle of Ghosts that is trying to harm Native American Michaela Proud but she is saved by Skinwalker Sebastian a shapeshifter grizzly bear. Why Nagi is after her kept my interest in this book.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I had also bought the paperback copy of this book.

[DianaRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Jenna Kernan and I am impressed with her writing style in Dream Tracker.  She has brought Native American myths to life with characters that seem alive, both the good and evil ones. 

In this story we are introduced to Michaela who is tortured with dreams that frighten her, and now she thinks the thing from her dreams is real.  She always disregarded teachings of her clan's way, now she us wishing she hadn't.

When Michaela is attacked by a bear with the glowing eyes from her dreams, she is saved from certain death by another, bigger bear.  

Sebastian is a Skinwalker who spends more time as a grizzly bear than as a human.  When he recognizes evil in his woods he rushes to save the bear possessed by an evil spirit.  Until she moans, he doesn't even realize a human is present.  Sebastian had recognized the Spirit Nagi, but why is he attacking a living human?  Nagi presides over of all ghosts who once led evil lives and he has no power over living humans. 

When he realizes she is injured with a Spirit Wound from Nagi that will eat way until it kills her, he is moved to help her, even though protecting humans is not his responsibility.

Together, with help from Raven and the Thunderbird, they try to find answers and help to remove Nagi's poison from Michaela before it kills her.  Along the way they both learn more about each other and why Nagi wants her.

I was intrigued from the beginning, and couldnttr stop turning the the pages - so 5 stars for this first book in a series must  read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Native American Michaela Proud is having horrendous nightmares but they aren’t just nightmares, she’s a dream Tracker and everything she see’s is very real. Michaela is attacked by Nagi - the ruler of the circle of ghosts and he marks her for death. A skinwalker named Sebastian who is a shape shifting grizzly bear saves her, as Sebastian heals her he can hear her thoughts and feel her feelings but skinwalkers can only do that when they find their soul mates. This is a fantastic read and I’ve never read anything like it before, there’s plenty of action, danger and suspense enough to keep you turning the pages. I loved the characters even Nagi he was a pretty evil guy. I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read, I loved it and you will too.

[Laura C. Gargiulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman is attacked by a bear, and saved by another. But, all is not as it seems. Nicholas is a Skinwalker, a shifter, part of the Bear clan. Michaela is not just an ordinary human either, but she doesn't know that. There is a great deal of Native American folklore woven into the story, and, while occasionally confusing, the author does a pretty good job of explaining how all the folklore fits into what is happening.

Both hero and heroine are attracted to each other, but their painful pasts keep them from trusting their feelings. They both grow quite a bit over the story, which I always enjoy. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tami Laplante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michaela is having nightmares and thinks she is going crazy. She doesn't know she is being stalked by the Nagi and is marked for death. She is attacked by a bear but is saved by another bear. Sebastian is a bear shifter who doesn't want the Nagi to take Michaela's soul. So he saves her but then realizes he can't return her to her world. But he soon realizes she is his mate as he can see and hear what goes on in her head. Very good start to this series. There is good suspense and paranormal intrigue to keep you guessing. Great storyline as well. Definitely want to read the next in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mom2three · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only the first book I have read by this author, it is also the first romance I have read that circles around Native American myths. I have read many UF stories that incorporate these ideas, but never a romance, and I must say that I am very impressed. The story is fantastic! Ms. Kernan's writing style is captivating and it kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The story has a wonderful flow, is full of danger and action, and the heat level was just perfect. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is scary when you can't understand what is happening to you. Then you have someone who seems to know and won't tell you. You're mind makes up what you can't understand and that can be more frighting than not knowing. You can feel the fright and frustration on her. Sebastian can't understand what is going on ether. A very good story and well written. I really enjoyed this story and I hope you will also. I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

she is having nightmares which she thinks mean she is going mad. is she going mad? the truth is far worse. she is being stalked by the ruler of the ghosts.his attacks tear her soul and so is marked for death. will she survive? she is saved by a skinwalker in the shape of a bear. see how she will deal with this new situation. where will she go? see where this will go

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will captivate you from the beginning, the characters were fascinating and well written, the plot is filled with romance and suspence and has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream Tracker - The Trackers Book 1 by Jenna Kernan is a wonderful story to read. This is a wonderful story to read by a brand new author for me. This is book number one in the series and I am so in love with this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book I’ve read written by Jenna Kernan; she has done a good job at writing a good book. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melissa Verseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was the first time reading for this author and I really enjoyed this story.Has a great storyline and great characters to read about.I couldn't put it down til I finished it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Urszula · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is well written and composed paranormal story. Great reality and interesting background. Well created characters and relationships among them. All together pleasurable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nadea Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has action packed scenes, when Michaela was rescued by Sebastian twist as obstacles surface while healing insecurities take hold he realized that she is his soulmate.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting read and the characters were thrilling. The storyline was superb and kept you gripped throughout. I couldn’t put the book down. I recieved a copy via Booksprout and this is my honest review

[Justen Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from this author. I enjoyed reading this book and it was really well written.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read. The storyline is well-crafted, intriguing, suspenseful, has drama and steam. The characters are defined, and likable with sizzling chemistry. I liked it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing paranormal shifter romance story, it has drama, suspense, and danger. Hot chemistry with the characters. It is written well. It was a pleasure to read this book.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting: Wilmore Wilderness Park, Albera Canada – cabin; forest; wild place in Brooks Range, near the Arctic Circle; whirlwind/Thunderbirds/Thunderhorses; Seattle; whalebone house;

Theme:
Falling in love in spite of many obstacles…

Characters:
Michaela Proud: Niyanoka; daughter of a human and a Niyan, Seer of Souls; powers bound by her father to protect her… ; raised by aunt (thinks is her mother), as both parents taken by Nagi; car accident, heart stopped, Nagi can see her, and is invading her dreams;

Sebastian, son of the Great Spirit Bear: Inanoka; when came into his powers, his mother and wife rejected him… he spent 100 years more in bear form than human form, avoiding humans, protecting animals;

Nagi, Ruler of Ghosts: recognizes power of Michaela, and wants to snag her before she comes into her powers…attacks her, giving her a spirit wound that will drain her life from her;

Kanka: Inanoka; mentor to Sebastian; sharp teeth; ‘wrestled/hunted’ a whale until she captured it; medicine woman;

Nicholas: wolf shifter; Inanoka; Sebastian’s friend;

Bess, raven bird shifter: Inanoka; Sebastian’s friend;

Summary:
Sweet story, set in Indian traditions of a spirit world; the Inanoka and Niyanoka – children of different kinds of Spirits and human unions, are at odds with one another because one sides with the animals, and the other with humans;

Sebastian rejected by the humans in his life, he has lived mostly as bear; when he steps in when Nagi attacking Michaela, his life takes on a new way … he is pulled to help her, but does not understand her… he is trying to keep his secrets… he cannot let her go…

And though she is frightened and confused, she feels safe with him… and grows strong as she comes into her powers, and claims him in spite of the division of their peoples… and together they defeat Nagi…

Memorable scenes:
“He found himself looking forward to her companionship. For so long he had eaten all his meals alone. It was a choice. He preferred his own company and could think of no one with whom he wished to share his time, until now.”

“Somehow she had fallen through Alice’s looking glass into a world that seemed familiar, but was not. The rules she had followed all her life were now turned upside down and she was lost.”

“’So …. What the heck are you?’ She scowled. ‘Cause you’re nothuman.’ ‘Says who?’ “Well, you keep calling me human, so I figure that means you’d check ‘other’ in the species box.’ ‘My mother was human.’ ‘Than’s less reassuring than you might imagine.’

“Why did he even want to tell her?’ True, she was the first human to ever show him compassion and the first to cause him to revealhis tender side. And she was brave throughout this ordeal. He admired her courage. And there was no denying the heat between them. It pulsed with life whenever he got within sight of her.”


“You best set him from you mind, child. You’re a fine Niyanoka, and he’s just a bear that knows how to walk on his hind legs. You’re not Michaela could not contain her rage. … Well, well, now. ‘Never been’ don’t mean ‘never will be,’ do it, girl?” Kanka rubbed her nubby chin as she studied Michaela. Her muttered words seemed more for her own benefit than for her guest’s. “Things is about to get real interesting round here.”

[HTS · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, the horribly truncated summary: Half-Bear-Man steals woman via tornado to cure evil infection.

Next vehicle I get, I’m naming it Tornado. I can’t keep the inside of a car neat.

Paranormal romance meets Native American myth.

I should share this story first. I received this book via Goodreads First Reads, as well as the other three books in this series. I tried to get into the first book, but couldn’t because it’s in paper format.

Don’t look at me like that. I’ve grown attached to the Kindle.

Anyway, to remedy this, I decided to see if the library had a digital copy of the books. It did not, but the parent company Overdrive did, so I ordered the books for the library. The books come in, I select the first one… and I’m already on the waitlist. Yay for indirectly spreading the books to new readers. That, coupled with my penchant for not getting reviews out lately (sorry!), means that this book took a while to review.

As for the book itself, I liked it. I didn’t love it or think I should write home about it, but I was entertained with a good romance.

I am also seeing a pattern in romance books, now that I’m reading more of them. All male leads are tall. Obscenely tall. Over-the-top tall. “Nearly seven feet tall” in this case. I find this hilarious because my husband is 6’3”. He fears ceiling fans and historical buildings. My mother’s office doorway nearly took him out once. Legroom is more than a selling point and cheap airplane tickets are a nightmare. I can’t imagine a man being taller and comfortable. However, height translates into shoe size and shoe size translates into pleasure (apparently), so we accept that our male will always be tall and move on.

Michaela Proud, a modern day Lakota woman, is suffering from bad dreams ever since her near-death experience. Still recovering from the death of her mother, she goes outside to pick blueberries and get over the sense that someone is watching her. A possessed bear attacks and wounds her, but she is saved by Sebastian, our shape shifter. Her wound is infected spiritually and threatening her soul, so he takes her away to mend it while trying to figure out why the spirits want her dead in the first place.

The rest of the book is him keeping his nature away from her while they figure out the mystery. Oh, and sex. And travel via thunderbird tornado. And other types of shape shifters.

Good stuff.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michaela Proud has been having nightmares about an evil spirit, but when she sees it in real life, possessing a bear to attack her, she feels like she's gone off the deep end...all that ancient stuff her mother had taught her couldn't be real, could it? She's saved by Sebastian, a being she knows isn't human, but she's not sure what exactly he is. In reality, he's an Inanoka, a skinwalker or shifter and son of a demigod. He needs to keep his skinwalker ability hidden from Michaela, as those are the rules of his kind. And as much as he'd like to keep himself distant and protect his heart from Michaela, he can't - she's just too intriguing. Michaela for her part is equally unable to stay away, even though she's terrified of learning exactly what Sebastian is. They'll have to work together to keep Michaela protected from the evil Ruler of Ghosts, Nagi.

Don't believe ANYTHING from this blurb...I mean, the names are wrong and Michaela is being hunted because she technically died and Nagi learned of her identity. Nor is Michaela a shifter. In fact, I'm pretty sure this is the blurb for a later book in this series. But blurb aside, this was a highly enjoyable book. I love the world building and all of magical elements...especially the fact that it isn't all fairytale kind of stuff, some of it is straight out of nightmares (I'm talking about that witch who healed Michaela's spirit wound - eek). Loved their romance and the angst of whether Michaela could accept Sebastian for who and what he was. This was quite an enjoyable story and I do believe I'll be hunting down the paperbacks for the other stories in the series...too bad it isn't on Kindle.

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series based on Native American lore: shape-shifters - called the Trackers.

A healer and shape-shifter, Sebastian, has rescued a female from the god of death. Michaela has just had a severe accident that had medical professionals announcing her dead twice. Having "been dead" is what set the god of death, Nagi, attention to her. Her mother tried to get Michaela to understand the way of the people, but Michaela wasn't interested. Now her mother has died, Michaela is still recuperating and now she needs to stay alive. While at her mother's home a bear attacks her - she notices just before it attacked that it had gleaming yellow eyes, she screamed as it attacked her and that is what brings Sebastian into the picture - thing is he spends more time in his bear form than in human form and as a bear he saves her. While he was just going to make sure that Michaela gets medical attention, he notices that the bear has given her a "spirit wound" meaning that the bear was possessed by a demon to create such a wound and this wound would drain away her life force unless he can get her to a spiritual healer.

Unknown to either of them, Michaela has some secrets that were to remain hiding until her 25th birthday, but with her accident and the spirit wound, some of those secrets are starting to make themselves known to both Sebastian and Michaela... Naga has guessed the main one and that's why he wants to kill her.

I found this book interesting on several levels. Enjoy.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

This. Was. Awful.

And I don't mean the sex, though, not exactly sexy but maybe that's just me? The love story, the I'm-just-going-to-go-along-with-this-forced-plot thing, the flat characters, the whole lotta I-don't-give-a-shit, it's all crap.

Quick summary, so girl is walking around her home giving us mental backstory about seeing spirits or whatever, and then leaves her house in the middle of the woods and night, because nothing is going to happen right? Then evil spirit tries to kill her, man that turns into bear saves her, and she just kinda is okay with staying at his house, eating his food and wine, and meeting neighbors, and oh yeah he can read her mind but that's cool. Yeah. Ugh.

Also, can I read one of these "types" of books without someone being described as "sensual"???

Seriously!

[Whittney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really well developed story. After a near death experience, Michaela begins having nightmares about a shadowy figure who wants her dead. When this figure attacks her during the day, she is saved by Sebastian, a shape shifter in the form of a bear. Sebastian doesn't usually take interest in human dealings, but recognizes the figure as the god of death, who should be forbidden from interfering with the living. Sebastian decides to protect Michaela and try to help her uncover why the god of death wants her so badly. At the same time, he recognizes the unnerving draw towards her and his desire for companionship and acceptance in an otherwise lonely and unforgiving existence.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

DREAM STALKER by Jenna Kerman is a romantic fantasy set in present day Alberta,Canada. It is a fast paced romanctic adventure with shapeshifters,stalkers,romance,supernatural, native american healers,skinwalkers,myths,and a ghost stalker. If you enjoy supernatural,and Native American myths,demon stalkers,a strong hero,and a strong heroine. You will enjoy this one also. This is from the Harlequin Nocturne series.