Tag Archives: S M Reine

All Hallows Moon by S.M. Reine-a review

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ALL HALLOWS MOON (Seasons of the Moon #2) by S.M. Reine

ALL HALLOWS MOON is the second instalment in S.M Reine’s young adult Seasons of the Moon series focusing on a young bitten female werewolf and the hunters trying to take her down. This storyline is not your typical werewolf scenario-there are no glittery or easy transitions from human to wolf, but one fraught with pain, suffering, blood and loss of humanity. Rylie is a 15 year old high school student who, while away at summer camp, fought to save the life of a friend, but ended up bitten by a werewolf hoping to repopulate his decimated pack. Rylie must now endure the monthly moon shifts alone knowing that the one person who could take her life, is the one person she was willing to give up her humanity to save.

Rylie went to live with her late father’s sister, a woman she has not seen in a very long time. Aunt Gwyneth owned a working farm, and the family thought it was best if Rylie learned discipline while doing manual labor. Thinking the young teen was acting out rebelliously Rylie would find herself in trouble at school, at home and with friends. But what people did not know was that Rylie was affected by the changes of the moon, and every day life became a challenge when your inner wolf wants nothing more than to sate a need for blood and meat.

Rylie’s changes left her with no humanity. Waking up with no memory of the nights events, Rylie would discover that her wolf had devoured local livestock at a frenetic pace. The kills were drawing attention and soon the werewolf hunters would be searching for what could only be described as a killer. Although she has never killed a human, Rylie always worried that she may not be able to control the beast. But when the hunters come calling, her wolf perceives a threat and she fights to protect her life. Only this time, one of the hunters is determined to kill Rylie in human form regardless of the hunter’s code.

ALL HALLOWS MOON is an interesting look at a werewolf storyline. The heroine is your typical 15 year old teen, although more rebellious than most, due to her ‘wolf’ acting out aggressively towards perceived threats. One wrong look could produce a growl of displeasure and therefore her number of friends is limited because of her attitude and personality quirks-even her family sent her away because they were unable to handle the mood swings and aggression. Rylie’s relationship with one of hunters throws a major wrench into the storyline, when his family is willing to kill the werewolf, knowing he has fallen in love with the girl underneath. I did have a problem with the Rylie’s attitude. Yes, I know she was struggling with the assault that left her a werewolf and the painful and gut wrenching monthly changes-but the girl just never let up-the entire story was built on the attitude of a 15 year old who perceived everything as a slight against her. Sometimes it was a little too much.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Monsters: A Bloody Love Story by S.M. Reine-a review

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MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story by S.M.Reine -a review

MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story (The Bloodless) by S.M. Reine

MONSTERS: A Bloody Love Story is an urban fantasy novella released June 2012. The storyline follows Julieta Moreno, a woman who (by day) works as a detective on the metaphysical task force studying the effects of vampire venom and (by night) as an assassin of the Bloodless.

At university, Julieta fell in love with the man of her dreams. Michael was everything and more-he was a god. But Juileta had always felt unworthy-a little overweight and of mixed race she never dreamed that one day Michael would ask her to be his wife. But her life hit rock bottom, the day Michael told her they were through.

Julieta was devastated. Numb from the pain of the break-up Julieta sought out the one person who could teach her how to be a better assassin. As the years went by, Gregor was able to hone Julieta’s skills to form the perfect killing machine. But life caught up with Gregor, and he had to move on. And soon, Julieta would meet Alec- a man who reminded her so much of Michael that it hurt to even look at him. And Alec was the epitome of death. With his physical power and ability to kill the Bloodless, Julieta had found a perfect companion and partner in Alec. But the day Alec told her that he loved her, was the day she walked away.

Several years later Julieta is stunned when Alec returns. Knowing she had made an error with Alec, Julieta was willing to open her heart once again, but the reality of Alec’s true identity would force Julieta to make a decision that would nearly end her life. Finding herself tortured and close to death, the man she once called a partner, is the only person willing to risk his life for her own. But someone from Alec’s past would once again force one of them to make a decision, and Julieta would find herself alone again.

Julieta put all of her efforts into training. Recovery from her injuries was taking its’ time, but her life as an assassin was one of the things she knew best. And training for her next encounter with the person who destroyed her life, not once, but twice, fueled her determination. But another goodbye was something Julieta could no longer afford, and the ultimate betrayal would force her to choose between the person she once knew and what he had now become.

MONSTERS; A Bloody Love Story is in interesting read. Told in first person POV from the mind of Julieta Morena, the story takes the reader on a dark ride through love and the HEA to the pain of betrayal and beyond. Like most urban fantasies, there is no warm and fuzzy ending, and the knowledge that Julieta had been betrayed on so many levels, tugs at your heart and your soul.

Reviewed by Sandy

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