A great read

This was such a good read. It was a bit of a different spin on angels and demons, but I enjoyed it.

Secret Monsters captivated my attention from the beginning. This has a fast pace and plenty of steam, action and emotion. Sharen is a strong character and I can't wait to read more of her story.

Sharen, a demon hunter, mission goes wrong and her team encounter three level 10 demons, Alec, Kade, and Ryder, the rest you will have to read to find out this book was just amazing

Secret Monsters by Lacey Carter Anderson is part one in her “Her Demon Lovers” Reverse Harem series. In this book we are introduced to Sharen. Sharen is a demon hunter training students to enter the demon realms and take on the demons there, killing them so that they cannot possess humans and wreak havoc. Sharen is going through some issues in her personal life, with her ex-husband cheating on her and taking liberties with her life. She’s hurt, angry, and feeling alone and neglected. When she and her students enter a realm looking for a minor demon, what they end up finding is more than what they bargained for.
Secret Monsters is a story but one that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The story starts off with a character that does not reappear but it quickly sets into play many questions. Sharen encourages her own questions. She resents her ex-husband for what he has done but she still wears her wedding band. Why? I like how she is a take no mess kind of woman. She’s tough on her students but it’s because she knows the dangers of what it is that they do. She’s strong but then you see that she has a vulnerable side as well.
I love that this story builds up to the steamy scenes and that doesn’t just happen out of the blue. The story telling is so well done with this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The sex scenes are steamy and give you just the right amount of heat without going overboard. I love the elements of surprise that the author uses in this story. There are a couple predictable moments but they do not detract from the story itself.
I am rating this story 5 out of 5 stars. I am looking forward to the next part of this series. I’m eager to find out what happens next and for the truth to come out concerning the demons.

*2.5 stars

This was just so meh to me, which was disappointing because I have read and really enjoyed some of this author's other works. I actually borrowed the series collection on K.U. since it was so short, but stopped at this first book.

I felt like the whole book was rushed - it just jumped into the smut and was very insta-lovey. I didn't really have any time or reason to develop any connection to the characters, nor did it feel like the characters themselves had any development.

The plot too felt rushed and there was no real nuance. You start out with from Elaina's POV thinking she is the focus of the story, but no the story immediately switches and Elaina's apparently just the impetus for Sharen to let the demons she just fucked stick around instead of killing/turning them in as a good demon-hunter should. A lot of the plot seems to take place behind the scenes without any real narrative to support it.

All in all, I was pulled in by the concept but was really disappointed in the execution and will not finish this particular series by the author.

The book felt rushed and I did not really care about the plot of the characters.