The Monster: Boston Belles, Book 3

I'm honestly tired of L.J Shen repeating the same stories over and over again. It's always the same story the hero is a manwhore/treats the heroine like trash until the last 5% of the book, where he magically realizes he's been in love with the heroine this whole time. And the heroine can't help but love him no matter how badly he treats her. Unfortunately, this book seriously lacked everything, a plotline. The relationship was flimsy at best, and I couldn't get past how Sam treated Aisling in this book (he treats her like trash and uses her for sex throughout the book, and she continues to go back to him repeatedly). In addition, the Mafia aspect was handled poorly in this book. I know Shen can write good Mafia romances because she has written Sparrow, but this book did not live up to expectation, which is sad because I liked the first two books in the series.

Honestly how many times does she have to repeat a story over and over again? Someone please get her a writing prompt book!

Oh wait.....Another BOY OBSSESSED trope. Yeah no. This author has been there and done that already, we didn't need it again, especially after the last book. Ash/Nix/Ainsling whatever you want to call her was pathetic, pawning over a man who didn't even like her company 80% of the book. Horrible that in 2021 women are still being written this way. So much lost potential for some great angst in this book. It didn't even feel like a proper forbidden romance. Pass on this one.

God! This is the most absurd book I ever read from her. Either she doesn’t know how to write mafia romance or she completely didnt like sam and ash. She killed the romance between them. Zero connection. All her earlier heroes and heroines even though they are bullies still maintained a connection. This book is awful. I skipped pages it never happened with me with her other books. There was literally zero connection. I used to think hunter is the bad book this takes the cake. If you want to read author’s future books please skip this one. This one lost shen’s touch.

I’ve waited for this like I had waited for broken knight and both epically was a disappointment.Oh...only if these characters were given even an ounce of justice! The characters had so much potential. Their stories could have been epic - but this writer had failed them.DISAPPOINTING!Need much less hype for Lj Shen.

So far, I have loved the Boston Belles series and, well pretty much almost all of LJ Shen’s books. However, nothing irks me more than a weak female lead. I love alpha males, or as she dubs them “alphaholes,” but a strong male lead needs an even stronger female lead that brings him to his knees and makes him work for it. Aisling was not that female lead. It seems as if LJ Shen was trying to make her seem strong, but fell flat each time Sam told her to jump and she’d ask “how high?” , even when she claimed to be mad at him. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Sam, I just hated how Aisling fell at his feet time and time again. She was in love with him from a couple kisses they shared ten years ago, and never moved on, which is crazy. She would let him push her over and every time she claimed to be “done” she’d go right back to him. However, I enjoyed the book and the banter between them. I will most definitely be reading the next book because I already know Emmabelle is going to be that strong female lead I have been wanting for so long. I’m very excited for her story. And I’m sure, I will stay up all night reading it, like I did with this one just because of my eagerness. So, good night (or good morning I guess) and thank you, Ms. Shen for another wild ride. Can’t wait for The Rake!

Gah!!! After reading The Monster I am 1000% certain that there will never be an author like L.J. Shen who will sweep the rug out from under your feet with every new story. The Monster was another amazing story that will completely own you from the very first page! The sizzling chemistry and spitfire banter was out of this world fabulous but the one-two combination of nail-biting angst and gutpunching emotions takes the cake!! Sam and Aisling were unbelievable. They will own your heart and imprint themselves on your soul for a lifetime!What I loved more than anything about this story was how different it really was. Shen is not afraid to take chances and to completely reinvent herself and the kinds of characters we can usually expect from her. You will NEVER see the unexpected direction she takes with this story until you are left breathless with shock and awe. Sam and Ash were not perfect by any means but they were beyond perfect for one another. They were two lost and broken souls who found a kinship and connection in one another that withstood the test of time. You felt their raw and powerful emotions coming right off the pages. I was nothing less than spellbound while reading.Overall this story was nothing short of remarkable. Shen has proven herself time and time again why she is the best at what she does. Her stories leave an indelible impression on our hearts and souls. This story was absolutely life changing! Bravo! 6 stars! ~Ratula

⚠️could contain spoilers⚠️Perfection! That is the first word that comes to mind when I think about The Monster.I have absolutely loved every book in Leigh’s Boston Belles series, and The Monster was no different! After a long wait and lots of anticipation, it is safe to say that The Monster out did all my expectations (which were very high).I loved reading about Aisling and learning more about her character throughout the book. She always came across as a timid and meek, people pleaser. She was basically the term ‘good girl’ personified (that what I thought of her). But I was wrong, so very wrong. She is actually a really strong and fierce woman who is a ‘monster’ through and through, or should I say Nix? But that doesn’t mean she is heartless, no quiet the opposite. Which seems very contradictory. Because how can someone be a monster, but also be a kind and loveable character at the same time? I don’t know, but that is Aisling Fitzpatrick for you. And I adore her!I have been gunning for Sam from the start. He captured my attention straight away and made me want to know everything about him. And I knew from the get go that his story was going to be amazing, and it was! I loved learning about Sams background, one that made him who he is. One which made his personality and coldness much more understandable. I definitely felt sorry for Sam because of his past, but I am also glad it happened. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the man he is and this book wouldn’t be the same!Lastly, I want to say thank you to Leigh. Thank you for writing this book and taking me on the rollercoaster that is The Monster. I enjoyed every twist and turn, and every loop that made my tummy flip. This book is so beautifully written, with great characters, lots of action and the perfect amount of spice!STARS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️SPICE: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶

I generally love LJ Shen's writing style. No one can write angst quite like her and she is a master of creating a whirlwind around the obligatory bad boy and a feisty heroine. Her last 2 books however have left me a little cold. The bad boys are a little too bad with few redeeming features who i couldn't connect with at all. I wanted the female leads to tell them to jog on. Thankfully Aisling did put her foot down eventually but there was still too much acceptance of pretty deplorable behaviour. BUT, on the flip side I also kind of like that the male lead stays true throughout. He's bad and he makes no apologies for it. So i'm torn.This was not one of my faves but i will read more from this author. Just please make the characters slightly more appealing

POV:DualSam & AislingI've wanted Sam and Aisling's book since Hunter's book.Loved it!This is not a typical fairytale.This is two different types of monsters.The well-to-do heiress and the orphan, adopted son of Boston's best 'fixer' and he also happens to be on Aisling's Father's payroll.Aisling has been infatuated with Sam since she was 17, the age gap between them didn't bother her. She's tried everything to get his attention, even for a minute was a win for her, but he didn't seem to be bothered about her.This goes on for nearly ten years.When did Sam start seeking Aisling out?He doesn't do emotional feelings.Sure he cares about his adoped Mother and Sister, they're the exception to a point.He's a monster, killer.There's something about Aisling that has him all worked up.There's also something Aisling is keeping from everyone.Can he figure it out?He should really stay away from her, she's to good, innocent for the likes of him.There's something that calls the two of them to each other.They have this cat and mouse game going on.Will she come to terms with the fact that they'll never be?Such a great read. My heart went out to them.Well worth the wait.

I do love reading an LJ Shen story, so I was pretty excited by the release of this third book in the Boston Belles series, and I am absolutely delighted with this one.We have briefly met the two main characters in this novel in the two earlier books in this series - Sam Brennan and Aisling Fitzpatrick - and while I thought I kind of knew where this story would be heading, it definitely surprised me and was quite unpredictable (all in a very good, gripping and absorbing way).Sam is a crime boss and Aisling an heiress from a fairly disfunctional family, while they have some history together, they seem to be a mismatched pair on the surface but from here a simmering battle of wills begins.This book has oodles of chemistry, charm, passion and emotion. There's genuine moments, hard won realisations, difficult times and major ebbs and flows in this couples journey. Sam is a difficult and bad man, who does some difficult and bad things, but through the course of this story he is able to find himself.I found this story to be everything and more I hoped it would be. I thought it was different and refreshing, it was engaging and heartwarming while also gritty and raw. A book I will definitely re-read again soon, and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a well written, unpredictable romance story, with strong characters who melt your heart and set your emotions on fire.This is a complete standalone story, so it isn't necessary to read the two previous books to enjoy it.

This is book 3 in a set of interconnected stand alones.Aisling and Sam are complete opposites on paper. She's a doctor and he's a mafia head. Aisling has always been in love with Sam, while Sam has always distanced himself from her for numerous reasons.When they finally start to give into their attraction for each other new information comes to light connecting their families. This leaves Sam hell-bent on revenge even if Aisling might get caught in the crossfire.I was pretty excited about Sam and Aisling's romance. For me though, it just didn't reach the scorching heat levels of Hunter and Sailor or the heartbreaking angst of Killian and Persephone. I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it as much as I expected.Best partsSeeing into Sam Brennans mind and learning the history that lead to his mafia rise.Troy Brennan as a fatherAisling making him work for it.All the hidden touches, looks and words.