Review: Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden

Title: Moonlight Bleu
Author: Renee Rearden
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon
Series: Series
Received By: Author for Honest Review

~*~Book Blurb~*~

Saari Mitchell sees a psychologist in order to understand why-500 years later-she's still dreaming of her dead lover. Her shrink isn't helping, the nightmares come every time she closes her eyes, and the lack of sleep is interfering with her job at Sacred Heart Hospital. With her psychic ability to heal the human spirit on the fritz, her auric radar becomes as reliable as her spotty cell phone service.

By day, Dhelis Guidry works as a detective for the New Angeles Police Department investigating the missing or murdered women in the Full-Moon Killer case. In his spare time he hunts rogue vampires as a Tueri executioner.

Brogan Vincent is a Tueri healer. Though he could offer his miraculous talents to the rich and powerful, he has chosen anonymity and peace by only using his psychic abilities among the Tueri.

One look into Saari's tri-colored eyes and both men realize she is Tueri. One touch tells them each she's their soul mate. But can either of them protect her from the Full-Moon Killer?

When I first opened up Moonlight Bleu, I honestly wasn't sure how I would like it. I think that's a common feeling in readers. But I will say that this debut author, and book, exceeded my expectations! 

Even though the very first paragraph completely piqued my curiosity, I will admit that I wasn't sure where things were going during the first few pages. But, wow, was I slowly sucked into this story. It was very different in terms of the books that I personally read on a regular basis, so it was wonderful for the author to bring me into a new world, with new possibilities, and new characters. Lovers of urban fantasy will thoroughly enjoy this, as well as paranormal romance fans. Although, PNR fans will not have the trip-over-your-feet-lust-induced-groping-sexcapades that I tend to read the most of. What? You do too! In fact, you won't find any smexin' here. Just a brief kiss and lot of 'electricity'--literally! 

Instead, you are taken on a ride in the future within a semi-closed paranormal world, that has an unique species of characters living amidst humans, some of which are known, others not. So let's start with the setting and world-building, shall we?

New Angeles, Nevada, 2032. The geographic western side of the United States has undergone a dynamic shift in appearance. We've all wondered what would really happen if California 'broke' off during one of its massive earthquakes, right? Well this book explores something similar, but you will just need to read it to find out. 

Due to an outcome of natural events, a new species evolves from humans, gifting them powerful gifts ranging in ability and power. This is what makes them more of an outcast amongst humans, but also makes them valuable in their services. The world building is done seamlessly. Integrating the present in which we know, with the evolutionary characters, while still having other characters remain unknown to humans. And the plot contains a sub-plot that weaves the importance and drive for keeping some of these unknown creatures, vampires and lunates (unique to the book) in particular, away from human awareness. There is also some tension amongst species, which makes for some dynamic situations.

Ms. Rearden has created both an equally balanced character and plot driven book, which will appeal to readers that crave either one, or both. The hunt for the Full Moon Killer is THE driving force for the duration of the action-packed book, along with the interaction and bringing together of all the main characters. I, myself, spent the majority of the book trying to be an investigator, wondering what-happens next. 

The setting takes place over the course of a few days, with each chapter giving us a time stamp of sorts, which I found extremely beneficial in the way the book and plot was laid out! The pace was consistent and moved along.

The heroine, Saari Mitchell, is what I kept thinking of as, lost. She's seeing a psychiatrist to help her overcome her sudden reoccurring nightmares of the death of her fiancé from nearly five hundred years earlier. She's immortal, which is one of her greatest well kept secrets, with only two people, the vampire leader of Nevada, and his child, her best-male-friend, Mag, knowing the truth about her. But, they also know the real truth of what she is, which Saari herself doesn't even know about. As the truth finally comes to light after some unfortunate events, Saari finds a little peace in knowing some of the reasons behind her differences. But, it's her deep sense of loneliness over the course of centuries, that allows her to find quick acceptance to both her new identity, and what it means to be instantaneously mated to not just one stranger, but two.

The two men that grace Saari's life are opposites in both looks and personalities. Dhelis Guidry is the man, or I should say Tueri, that is present throughout the entire duration of the book. He's the detective assigned to track down the Full Moon Killer. He answers to both the human police and the Council of the Tueri. After waiting a long time to find his true Tueri mate, he finally does in Saari. But, when Saari is injured, he takes her to his species healer, Brogan Vincent, to heal her. He's none-to-pleased to find that Brogan and Saari also share a bond that only means they, too, are true mates. Despite neither one of them liking the idea of sharing Saari, both are bent on keeping her safe when her life is put in jeopardy when she finds she's become the target as the Full Moon Killer's next victim.

As for the antagonist...beautifully crafted. This is an antagonist that you will all love to loath! I honestly don't want to say too much in fear of giving away major spoilers, but he is a true villain!


Overall, the author did a great job at creating the characters and their differences. However, because of the strong action-plot, there wasn't a primary focus on the in depth character building you see in just character driven books. That's why I've mentioned that the character formation is equally shared by the drive of the plot. But, both are well written. Does that make sense? :) In fact, there are more than a couple secondary characters that I want to see more of in future books!! Especially Mag!

There were a few things I wished were different about the book. Sometimes I felt as though there were questions and future situations brought up that never had any closure. For example, I was hoping for more of a backstory to some of the heroine's past, and I don't mean the part that's a focus during the story. I really wanted more about her mother/origin, and what it truly meant to be a Predecessor and why she was one. The romance part of me wanted more at the end when the three main characters finally came together in a romantic relationship. I felt like so much was leading up to that moment and then it just quickly came to a closure. 

I'm really hoping that Ms. Rearden does a sequel to this story, because I feel like there were additional characters and elements of the story that I needed, and would love to see expanded upon!

~*~The Opening of the Story~*~

Late Afternoon, Thursday, May 22, 2032 -- New Angeles

Everything changes, whether you want it to or not. The world changes. People change. Relationships change. Change lurks below the surface, waiting for you to be at your weakest. And the moment you least expect it, change destroys everything you've ever known.

After five hundred years, Saari Mitchell knew that better than anybody.

 ~*~Saari's 1st Inspection of Dhelis~*~

His nostrils flared, as if in direct response to her inspection. She couldn't tell if his reaction indicated a sin of irritation or anticipation. Either possibility was a bit alarming. His energy wrapped itself around her, vibrating the very air she breathed. Her nerve endings hummed.

Steeling her riotous emotions, she forced her chin up and stared into the stranger's eyes. Time slowed down. Everything except the stranger faded from her awareness. Her vision narrowed further still, and this man -- more specifically, his ees--became the pinpoint of her attention.

They were the most amazing color. Not violet. Not amethyst. Not silver. They were some amazing combination of all three, and yet not any of them. The most astounding point about his eyes, they were the exact color of eyes that peered back at her every time she looked in a mirror.

She had only seen one other living soul in the last 510 years with the same color of eyes as herself, and he dies the night she was cursed. In all her searching, Saari had yet to discover who she was and where she came from. The fact she and this man shared the same eye color and some crazy psychic connection was no coincidence.

~*~Final Thoughts~*~

I would recommend this book to any urban fantasy lover! PNR fans will love the premise of a good relationship, but if you're looking for any smexin' or even strong relationship building in a romantic sense, you may not be satisfied. The relationship between the tri-relationship is at its infancy in the book, with the characters coming to terms with their new relationship and feeling towards one another. 

This book could easily turn in to a series. It's a whole new world, literally, with new characters and dynamics. Both plot and character driven readers will enjoy this one. Even though this is a much stronger urban fantasy book, me being the romance character driven reader that I am, was still very much engaged and really enjoyed this. 

Like I said this was action-packed, 'Law In Order' type of book (just without the courtroom LOL), with some fantastic paranormal/fantasy elements. I applaud Ms. Rearden on her debut book. She obviously put a lot of development in to the alternative world and plot.

Author's Website | Amazon