The Monster's Den

A Monstrous World, Book 1

By: Jillian West

Narrated by: Melissa Moran, Michael Gallagher

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Emerson Parker is exhausted.

She spends her days chasing around her high-energy, half-shifter toddler and her nights working full-time trying to make ends meet.

Oh, and add in the absolute cluster of a situation her ex dumped in her lap on his way out? Well, that's just icing on the cake.

With virtually no options left, Emerson heads for Haven, a sanctuary city for monsters and humans alike. Survival means taking a job at The Monster's Den—a club that caters to the inhuman residents of her new home.

But freedom comes with complications of its own: delusional monsters dead set on inserting themselves into her life and her bed.

With the North American Alpha hot on her heels and monsters standing in his way...

Will it be enough to keep Emerson and her daughter safe?

©2023 Jillian West (P)2024 Podium Audio

Excellent start to this paranormal series.

I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved this book. This was also a new to me author, and I really enjoyed her writing. This is the type of read that has low angst, a fun borderline light plot, intertwined and a lot of spice. Definite fluffy-rom com vibes with a paranormal twist. So if you’re in the mood for that kind of thing, definitely pick this up. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. This is an interconnected standalone series and I will definitely be picking up the rest of them eventually. This is a why-choose romance. Emerson and her men were great.

Ember, Emerson’s daughter has so much sass, I hope we eventually get 2nd generation stories.

Fantastic duet narration from both narrators involved. I believe the female narrator Melissa Moran, is new to me and she did an excellent job narrating this story. Michael Gallagher was great as usual.

What’s not to love?

Found family, single mom romance, strong/surly/protective monsters, action, mystery, and beautiful spice. An amazing book. The narrators did a fantastic job making these characters shine even more. This is an amazing read and an even better one to listen to.

Love the story, love the narrators!

I adored this book, and I adored it in audio! I’m absolutely looking forward to more of this world in the future! I love the world she built and I’m invested to see more from these characters! I hope we get the kids stories some day because I need more details 😂 100% looking forward to more of the club. This book did have some deeper plot than some of her other books, but the relationships between Emerson and her men are still AMAZING 🥹❤️❤️ her men take a beat to realize the bond they share, but they get all aboard that train pretty quick! I just love Jillian’s books ❤️❤️❤️

yes yes yes

I can honestly say that this was a very good book I can't wait for the next one to come out!

Yes!!

I loved this story. I really like how all the guys in this have their own personalities. I’m not sure which one is my favorite but the love they have for the MFC and her daughter melts my heart. I can’t wait for next audiobook from this author.

Amazing!!

Okay so I already had read and loved this book so when I heard the Audiobook was coming I knew I needed it! It did not disappoint the narrators did an amazing job! Highly recommend I love this book it’s one of my favorites.

Good story but lacked a little balance

This book was about a single mother with a run away dad. She is in the worst case scenario and things just keep getting worse. Picking up a few new jobs she meets some lovely men whose personality’s are all different.
I like the characters pretty well but the female lead bugged me at times. Not all decisions were the smart choice and made you want to face palm.
The story all together was good but lacked balance with the sex scenes. Came off as a porno at times and not getting back to the story itsself. I sure do like a book with some sexy times. But seemed a little drowned in it at times. Like what happing with the bad guy cause the last 30 min was sex or talking about sex.
The story did outshine and I wished they spent more detail on it. This is a good book.
Readers did a wonderful job. I could tell the difference between characters and could feel the emotions coming through.

5++ stars

This has always been a favorite book. One I re-read often, my comfort food lol. I've been impatiently waiting for the audio to be released and they both deserve nothing but five star rave reviews. Monsters Den was on my TBR for so long and I wanted to kick myself for waiting so long to read it. I devoured the series once I did and they're all Soo good. I highly recommend reading/listening this one as well as the other in the series. I really enjoyed the narrators. Rave reviews for them as well. Dive in, you won't regret it! ❤️

Very enjoyable

A great story line easy to fallow story was told very well excited for the next book

Sweet PNR Romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️½
"It's quite the deal, isn't it?" Arsyn muses. His hands fall to my hips, leading me to grind against him with the beat of the music. "Never-ending support and men dead set on giving you as many 0rgasms as your tender little human body can handle."

📚 Book Review 📚
I loved Jillian West’s first foray into the paranormal romance genre! The Monster’s Den is a light-hearted, high-heat monster lover’s dream with a mixed pack of obsessed and possessive males, and a kind-hearted, curvy, down-on-her-luck, human single mother. It is a low-angst read that is sure to bring a smile to your face, from the FMC, Emmerson’s accidental bonding of her lust demon, to the pack’s HEA.

I really enjoyed the way Jillian wrote Emmerson’s character. She is strong, doing anything and everything to raise her daughter in the absence of her father, but she is still emotionally vulnerable. Emmerson worked through the insecurities many women face with their bodies, and the men in her life repeatedly told her how amazing and beautiful they thought she was. She was perfect for them; they were perfect for her.

The males in her pack were all wonderful characters. Each was obsessed with Emmerson, fighting that initial pull to her until they gave in and acknowledged the bond. They claimed her and her half-shifter daughter, vowing to protect them from all harm, taking on the roles of father figures and protectors. And they brought love into their lives that the girls were severely lacking.

This is a high-steam, fast-burn story. Emmerson is entering employment as a s*x worker to support her daughter when she becomes intimate with the pack. There are multiple bonding scenes, some public claiming, bites with blood sharing, and knotting. Emmerson’s lust demon is well-equipped to assist with enhancing pleasure. All scenes are MF or MF+, without sword crossing.

The Monster’s Den was a great stand-alone, and I look forward to future books in this universe following some side characters we met here. I hope Jillian continues exploring paranormal romance alongside her omegaverse stories.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧
Melissa Moran is a new-to-me narrator but has earned herself a spot in my favorites with her performance here. She played Emmerson perfectly, exactly how my inner voice heard her while reading the ebook.

Michael Gallagher, once again, was impressive. He is already one of my top male narrators, able to infuse different voices and personalities in the characters he reads. I adore his possessive growls, and the way he says, “Good Girl,” makes my insides spark.

I loved the duet-style narration. A first for one of Jillian’s books. I hope she keeps this format in future audiobooks, as it enhances an already spectacular story.

Genre: Paranormal Monster Romance
Tropes/Features: Why Choose, Monster romance, Multiple-species pack: vampire, hell hound, gargoyle, lust demon, Curvy FMC, Single Mother, He Falls First, Obsessed/Possessive MMCs, Exhibition/Voyeurism, Mate Bonds/Bites, Knotting
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Narration Type: Duet-style
Narrator(s): Melissa Moran & Michael Gallagher
Relationship Type: Why Choose, Fast Burn
Book Type/Ending: Standalone with HEA