Matching with Monster

by Crystal Lynn

A monster matchmaking agency…
Five sexy monsters…
And the human woman they will do anything to possess.

Sick of her dead-end job and sleezy boss who doesn’t understand the word ‘no’, Aria Quinn decides to quit her job. Unfortunately, job hunting isn’t going so well. Until one drunken night Ari accidentally stumbles across a mysterious website and fills out what she thinks is another job application—even if some of the questions are a little personal.

When she gets a call from the Red Agency and goes in for what she assumes is a job interview, Ari finds herself involved in something a little more . . . scandalous. Turns out the Red Agency is a matchmaking agency—a monster matchmaking agency.

And the agency has just the clan in mind for her. A gentleman vampire, flirtatious and incorrigible twin gargoyles, a protective yeti, and a—well no one will tell Ari what he is, but she thinks it might have something to do with tentacles.

Of course, initially no one tells Ari the five sexy men who want to share her are actually monsters. She finds that out later.

Matching with Monsters is a reverse harem paranormal romance with MF, MFM situations. This is a why choose, HEA, standalone, erotic romance where all the attention is on her.

Matching with Monsters is Book 1 in the Red Agency Series.

Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Romance, Monster Romance, Erotica, Monsters

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2023

About the author

Crystal Lynn is the wicked alter ego of a mostly normal, well-behaved schoolteacher, who wanted to write stories that her coworkers and relatives—especially her mom—could definitely not know about. Steamy romances filled with all her dirtiest fantasies. Stories about sexy monsters and the amazing, vulnerable women who grow to love them.

Crystal also writes slightly less scandalous fantasy romance under her real name as well. But secretly she might prefer the monsters.

Reviews

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read made me realize I haven’t been giving monster/paranormal romance enough attention. I had such a good time with it and can’t wait to read more in this genre and from this Author.

• Monster/paranormal romance
• Spicyyy 🌶️
• 5 M x 1 F
• Reverse harem

[Savanna Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This book was everything I didn’t know I NEEDED! Aria is one lucky gal! This story was such a great mix of plot, character development, and SPICE! Still fairly new to the Monster Romance world, this one was a wild ride with lots of different characters and monsters and yet all tied together seamlessly. I can honestly say I cannot wait to see where this series of books goes next!

[Leisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I simply couldn't put down from the moment I started reading and it simply improved with each page turned. Absolutely loved each of the characters with each holding a special element to their identity. Loved the speed of which everything unravelled with a great balance of action, mystery, paranormal romance with sensuous scenarios between characters, emotional moments that cause times of conflict both physically and emotionally.

So looking forward to reading the next story involving Cami and her Monsters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Toubob · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This book is okay, it's fine as long as you don't pay attention to all the things that don't add up. The book would have been much better off if the author would have just kept the book about the h meeting and getting together with her monsters. The author included a rival group of monsters. There isn't any reason why the rival group wanted the h or why they do what they do. In fact, the other group seems to be inserted into the book here and there in a haphazard way without any sort of substance or reason. It seems like the author felt like all books need to have some sort of climatic situation in the plot and just threw in something as a side thing without including any sort of substance.

The age of the monsters in the harem range from 50-200 years old. In that time, they have not found a mate. Yet after a week or 2 the group of monsters want to mate the mid-twenty h. Seems pretty rushed. In fact, the men don't ever explain why they want the h as a mate, or what they like/love about the h with the exception of how much they like her body and f@cking her. Personally, I would think that monsters who are rich and have human glamours that are beautiful wouldn't have much of a problem finding people to f@ck. So wanting to f@ck the h or the h's body aren't very good reasons to mate someone for life.

At the end, a monster from a different group meets the h's roommate and is instantly ensnared. I find that hard to believe. It's like there are only a couple of women in existence which is not the case.

[zthebookwormz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Aria and her monster’s!!!!

Magnus, Gareth and the twins Gabe and Lucian were so sweet and protective of Aria 🥰! They took care of her and made her feel wanted!

Rivak at the start, although he was attractive to Aria he was wary about trusting her after what happened in his past… but he eventually decided to trust her. I loved seeing his relationship with Aria develop and grow!!! He was very protective of Aria even before trusting her with who he really is!

I loved seeing all the relationships develop at their own pace! And I loved the entire story line and it was hella spicy 🥵🌶️!! Definitely recommend this book because I absolutely loved it!!!!

[Booklover83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy guacamole, this book was deliciously McSteamy!!! Ari, is out of a job, out of money, and desperately looking for a job. One drunken night she fills out an application online to the Red Agency. This leads her to a mixer where she meets a clan of monsters who know exactly what they want, Ari. Honestly, I absolutely enjoyed this book and it was one of those could not put down books. Lots of steam, loads of sweetness, and five determined monsters. I can not wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Kris Wy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness I devoured this book in just a few hours. I was lucky enough to receive this novel as an arc and as it was the first of this author's work that I've read I wasn't expecting to be sucked in so fast. The only thing I wish was that it was longer and we were able to get even more cuteness from the group.
My biggest pet peeve is when the MC leaves a misunderstanding to fester and create problems, but that is so not Aria. Aria will go after her men and demand to figure their crap out, and yet knows to communicate when she needs a break and that it doesn't mean the end but that she needs to breathe. It's incredibly refreshing. I cannot wait for the next novel to come out, and I almost cried when I saw the 2024 estimated date. Fantastic job, and I look forward to more of your work.

[Troubleinfl (Dee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great kickoff for my foray into the world of monster romance - is that really a thing? None of the monsters in this book would be under my bed or in the closet, but they're in the right room, at least. It's amazing how creative this author has been bringing the human and monster together so that it really seems as if they are recognizable in their alternative form.

There is a humorous element, but the bulk of the book is graphic sex. It shows that monsters are just like us. Good to know. There is also monster violence. Also a thing?

Monster erotic romance might just be my current favorite!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paging_Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aria is a young beautiful woman who was just recently fired from her job because her boss is a creep. She is searching for employment one while she was having a little too much to drink. She woke up the next day wondering where she applied to but got a call fairly quickly from The Red Agency. What the heck was the red agency?! She tried to get as much information as possible but she fell short. She took a risk and ended up changing her whole world. Her whole thought process. She meets some extraordinary loving people. Each with their own likes and dislikes. There is quite the book. I read it in a day and let me tell you it is Steamy! Everything my paranormal spicy heart desires. I can’t wait to read the next book !! I can say this was a fun read but I could have used a little more meat (no pun intended) to the story. I wanted to know a little more about backgrounds the others we don’t know. There seemed to be a lot of three people but not the others. I was absolutely elated while reading this. In the midst of being sick and falling asleep I would wake up just to pick back up where I left off.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this arc, booksirens and the author!!

Matching with Monsters was my first monster romance.

Now I’ve been reading romance and smut for years but I’ve never delved into the monster category because of the taboo of it all.

However, this was such a good read! It was quite short so I was able to finish it in one sitting. The plot moved along quickly and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail.

I truly loved the writing style of the author; she made it easy to fall in love with all of the characters.

I can’t wait to read more from this author. I really can’t wait to see what happens with Cami and Lyssa!

[kase · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short and basically smut with no plot. But that might be what you’re looking for!

The characters felt very 2D to me. The only real difference between them was their monster, everything else was a bit interchangeable. If the timeline was longer maybe everyone could have been fleshed out more.

Very insta lovey RH. Not the book I was in the mood for.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Acacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. Loved this book, smutty with a good plot to balance out the spice. Aria and her clan of monsters were so adorable together, loved how protective they were of her. Devoured this book in 2 hours, couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read Cami’s book, so glad I was able to arc read this book.

[Ceej · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review*

A quick, heavy on the spicy read for the monster lovers out there! These gentlemen are all equipped with some not-so-little bits and bobs that keep the fun times going (and going and going). It’s a cute and fluffy story, although it’s a little less plot heavy than I tend to prefer. For readers that enjoy frequent romance scenes though, this is definitely the book for you!

[Raven9308 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read from this author and I can say I am hooked on this series and I need more already haha. I loved reading this monster romance and how different the guys were with their shifter forms! I appreciated the detail the author took to describe their forms and special appendages haha and how we got to learn about their forms and see them trust Aria was beautiful.

I loved the ideas of glamours and how she even needed one by the end haha, I would feel they same way (I would totally forget and mess that up 🤣). I appreciated the plot in this one, even if it was predictable it didnt take away from this amazing clan and the relationship building this author did. And the steam was fabulous! This one was more spice than plot but again I enjoyed it and really loved the most her getting to know the guys and their love growing (even if it was fast). I liked Aria and her personality and turmoil, I appreciated we didnt have a huge 3rd act break-up because that does get tiring. I again liked the descriptions the author provided for the different baddies too, I could envision the creatures and forms in my head.

Ok and now the guys....I love Gareth SO MUCH! I had a thought of what he was and was totally wrong and loved that. It was refreshing (as well as what Rivak was!). I loved his purrs and his protectiveness and when he talked about his family it was over for me haha. Instantly wanted one of him in my life. I loved how he didnt feel like he could have her/he kept apologizing that the others weren’t around (the twins specifically) and she reassured him she wanted him. It made my heart melt. And every time she had to reiterate she wanted to see the guys real form made me smile. The twins were fun too, their dance and steamy scene in the beginning was a fabulous reel-in haha. I couldnt stop reading over Christmas because the story grabbed me so quickly and that scene cemented it. I loved their horns, tails, and wings too! I wish we could have gotten the scene of them flying with her, not gonna lie 😉. And Magnus was so yummy and regal and I liked when he came undone and the restaurant 😍. I also loved the baking/cooking part of the story (wish Gareth got her dirty though and licked it off her 🔥). And Rivak was the one hurt in the past so I get why he was the last one to jump on board and I kinda wish Aria had laid in to him or the guys would have with how he treated her. I didnt connect with him as much but his form and scenes were amazingly spicy so I enjoyed them 🥵.

I cannot wait for Lys and Cami’s stories. I want to meet Cami’s boss and his clan (I wonder what creatures they will be!?! I am thinking hellhound or werewolf for one based on the one we met briefly) and Luthor....swoon! Lys is in trouble hahaha and I have a feeling her horrible boyfriend will be dumped soon 😉. This was a great read and I hope the next book won’t take too long to come out since I am now fully invested in this world. Definitely recommend if you love RH and monster romances ❤️

[Moonburst · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matching with Monsters is a reverse harem monster romance heavy with erotic interludes. After leaving a job in which she was being sexually harassed, Ari is frantically trying to find a new job. She is called back by the mysterious Red Agency in regards to her application, but instead of a job, Ari is given an invitation to a meet-and-greet to meet groups of eligible males looking for a woman to charm and spoil. Despite her discomfort, Ari goes to the event where she meets the Hawthorne clan, a group of males that are intent on wooing her despite their hidden monster natures.

I struggled a lot with this book. Important details and conversations that would help grow character development and give grounding for relationship development are glossed over by and large. As a result, at the beginning of the book all I knew about Ari was that her mother was dead, she needed a job, and she wanted to go to culinary school. At the end of the book, all I knew about Ari was that her mother was still dead, she still needed a job, and she was going to culinary school. That’s not much to make someone care about a character, and she does little to nothing to continue her job search or anything, but just sits back and allows herself to be swept away by her love interests. What little tidbits of her past are given makes her actions make less sense rather than more sense. For example, Ari’s first sexual encounter with the clan is with Gabe and Lucian. Even though she was nervous about her first MMF encounter, Ari is game, and doesn’t shirk from anal sex, despite a line telling us that her only other anal encounter was a negative one. At this point she hasn’t known the men for more than 24 hrs, she’s still nervous about the Red Agency and what exactly it does, so why is she fine with this? Why would she trust them? Throughout the book Ari makes the decision to trust the men despite little reason to trust them. She also gets over the fact that the men are monsters after initially having an extreme reaction to the revelation. It would have been better for her to either struggle a bit more with the fact that they are monsters, or for her to be a little less scared during her first reaction. The erratic behavior of Ari with little basis or time spent on building the relationships between her and the men makes the sexual encounters feel more like a sexual encounter between two barbie dolls that just do what the author wants when the author wants it.

While I like monster romances and erotica, this book has just a little too much detail to be porn without plot, but lacks the character development and details to make for a true erotic romance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tab_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ 3.5🌶️
MOOD: adventurous, hopeful, lighthearted, emotional, mysterious, tense
TROPES: found family, matchmaking, mates
MAIN CHARACTERS: Ari Marie Quinn (human) and the Hawthorne clan including Magnus, Rivak, Gareth, Gabriel and Lucian.

I did enjoy this story and I think it makes a great starter for a series but it just felt like something was missing. I did read this over the course of 1 day so it's a nice easy read that can grab your attention but it took until chapter 5 for me to really care about the story. Ari gets on my nerves but that's a me problem and not a you problem. Overall, I liked the clan and the slow reveal of everyone's monster. The dynamics of this found family work and, with the exception of the twins, the characters have their own personalities. I was able to predict the whole third act, which also had elements that I don't really like in stories especially ones of this length but could have worked if the story was longer. One of the things that just didn't work for me was the descriptions of NYC and getting around. This would 100% not be an issue for anyone living outside of NYC but my brain kept trying to figure out where Aria lived, where she could afford to live, and what trains were taking her into the city. This got worse with the clan's estate being a drive away from the city but with spectacular views of said city. Yes, in a story about an agency matching humans to monster clans one of the things I found most unbelievable was the location.

CW: some violence, threats of sexual assault

NOTE ON MY RATING: I was going back and forth on how to rate this one. I ended up at a 3 instead of a 4 because there were too many times where my suspension of disbelief was broken and I was taken out of the world. Some of this was just repetition - we hear about Ari's application multiple times without gaining any new information on it - and some were mistakes i.e. a character being described with dark hair then a few chapters later he has light hair and tattoos. I went through a similar back and forth with the spice rating - it was spicy, the spice was pretty much the plot, but a lot of that felt like more of the same with very little variety. Some scenes didn't quite make sense and I questioned what direction people were facing, wasn't she wearing pants, and where'd that mirror come from... so a 3.5 instead of a 4.

DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Danielle Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had the promise to be amazing; it had some great ideas that I really liked the sound of, and for the most part, it delivered. However, there were just a few instances where it fell short, and for that reason, it has become a 3.5-star read for me rather than a 4-star read.
Having lost her job and getting drunk with her friends, Aria applies for lots of jobs online as she desperately needs to find something, only to accidentally apply to a dating agency that likes what they see and invites her to an event. This is a dating agency with a twist: it's for monsters to meet human women and find their mates.
The things I liked:
The idea of monsters being among humans—working everyday jobs and living secret lives—. I also liked the idea of a dating agency to help them find the woman of their dreams.
I loved the idea of mixed monster types being a 'clan' or found family, so to speak, and sharing a woman. I'm all for RH in books, and the added element of the different species really added to that for me. I enjoyed the different personalities of the men in the clan that chose Aria. They were different species and different in the way they acted with her, with some being overly sweet and cuddly and others being more stoic and harder to read.
Aria's friendship with Cami and Lyssa, and also the way the book leads with the suggestion that they may end up with their own clan of monsters.
The spice (although some of it was a little bit rushed) was great, and I enjoyed how the different monsters had different things that they brought to the table sexually, from tentacles to vampire bites.
 
Things I wasn't overly keen on:
I would have loved more of a back story about how the clan came together and how they all knew one another. Had the clan ever had another mate, or were they simply in sexual relationships previously? Along with the lack of a back story of the clan's origin, there is also a rivalry with another clan that isn't fully explained. The rival clan sets their sights on Aria and even attempts to kidnap her as well as traffic her friend, and we never really know the reason why, which bugged me a little bit.
Overall, it's a good book with some good ideas; it just needs a little tweaking, which I hope the author does for the next book (as I hope there is a next book with Cami or Lyssa's story).
 
 

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.

One thing, and one thing alone stopped this book getting 5 stars. Well, maybe 2, but the second thing is just me being greedy, but I'm allowed, right??

So that thing? Single person point of view. Only Ari has a say, in the first person. Now, I always want to hear from everyone, but I think HERE, in this case, I am fully justified in wanting to hear from Magnus, the vampire; Gareth, the yeti; Gabe and Lucien, the gargoyles and Rivak, but I'm not telling you what he is, it takes time for the full reveal and you do need that suspense! But it was Rivak that I needed to hear from the most. When he tells of why he holds himself back, you understand but I needed to hear from HIM, you know?

There are other points that I need to make, but I don't think these affect my star rating. The rival clan thing was never fully explained. And I would have loved more about that way this clan of 5 came to be, their history.

It's clear that Ari's two friends, Cami and Lyssa, have a story with their own clan. I hope I get to read them!

So, the other thing that's just me being greedy?? It's very much Ari and HER mates. I would have loved that they were ALL mates, you know?? Obviously, not Gabe and Lucien, since they are twins, but I would have loved some contact between the monsters as well as Ari, you know?? Greedy, like I said!

4 very good stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[Kay H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and spicy RH monster read - it delivered what it promised! The paranormal dating agency is a great setup for more books in the series. I enjoyed this book and will keep an eye out for future books in the series.

I especially appreciated that the voice of each of the monster partners was distinctly different. In many RH, I have a hard time differentiating between the partners because they all read like the exact same person but with a different hair/eye color. The voices and character attributes were distinctly different and I appreciated that.

That being said, there were typos and errors (especially in the beginning chapters) that kept pulling me out of the story. And then I kept asking "if they are only glamoured, how come their full bodies aren't interacting with the world around them? Why is no one getting smacked with a wing or going sideways through doorways?" I have a tendency to really analyze magic systems in my fantasy books, but if magic systems are generally just background noise for you then this won't affect your reading enjoyment in the least.

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MATCHING WITH MONSTERS is the first book in The Red Agency series and we start with Ari, a mid-twenties young woman who has just quit her job. Life has not taken the path she envisaged but she has the support of two best friends, Cami and Lyssa. When she gets an interview at The Red Agency, she presumes it's for a job, but it turns out to be so much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and it practically read itself! I loved Ari's open-mindedness (after the initial shock that, let's face it, would shake anyone up!) I loved how she loved her monsters no matter which face they wore. And I loved how each of them was different, with their own personalities and baggage. It was easy to see from the first word which one was speaking.

I thought Cami's boss might be one, but how that all came together was better than I had imagined. I am looking forward to both her and Lyssa's stories. Absolutely recommended for any who like Why Choose Monster Romance!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 30, 2023

[Nora Ellen (Nbbookery) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the option to review this book and read it was about a monster matchmaking agency, I couldn't sign up fast enough. Ari is down on her luck and thinks she's finally got some good on her side when she's called for an interview. Little does she know the interview is to participate in a matchmaking event. Clan. Hawthorne saves Ari from a tense encounter at the event, and he can't help but notice these delectable guys are entranced by her. A week long getaway at their place sounds like the perfect way to get to know them better. What could happen?

Ari was the resilient and downright comforting fmc to this story. She takes everything pretty much in stride. She had such human reactions throughout the story and I loved it. The guys of the clan were unique and individual. Everyone had their own traits. I wouldn't have minded some more backstory on them all, though. Love a good character development story.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, which is hinted at in this story's epilogue. I hope Cami and Lyssa both get their HEA with some monsters.

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this story. All opinions are my own.

[Sadrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, steamy read that's perfect for a palate cleanser. The writing is decent and easy to follow along with its single POV, which is the FMC's. Our FMC is also pretty smart and despite this essentially being monster erotica with very little plot, she has substance and character instead of falling head over heels with her monsters without thinking for herself. I also like the variety of monsters in this book; gargoyles (no, they don't turn to stone), yeti (they're still big and furry), vampire (classic) and the bonus hidden item (which isn't even that bad). Their chemistry was a bit lacking but enough of a foundation for a good harem. The lack of plot doesn't mess with the whole flow and pacing of the book and instead highlights the FMCs character as she navigates being the potential mate of a clan of monsters. All in all this was a fun book to get into and I could see myself reading the next installment in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute smut monster story, with different kinds of monsters & a human thrust into an unknown world. I have to agree with another review that there are some plot holes. Like why did that other group want her so much? It was never really explained, also the fact that some of them are old like 200 years but yet never found a mate? It also seems very dangerous to send a Human with no knowledge of monsters alone to meet said monsters . I also didn't really like that guy rivak, he feels like that guy that's insecure & has trauma and because of that "she needs to fix him" , I'm sorry but that's bullshit to me. He was nothing but rude to her or ignored her , & for what .. because he had tentacles? It just felt like they wanted her to not give up on him & fix him... Women should have to fix anyone , didn't care for him at all to be honest. I am intrigued however about cami, her boss & the werewolf who saved her, I think that can be very exciting to read about. I received an advance review copy for free from booksirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters 8/10.

I liked the characters but they didn’t seem to have their own voice. If it wasn’t for their monsters I don’t know if I could ever tell them apart.

Atmosphere (setting) 9/10.

Setting was good, mansion with a cool grotto? Sign me up.

Writing style 7/10.

Writing style while writing the smutty parts, fantastic. The parts that weren’t smutty lacked the ‘show don’t tell’ writing rule, in my opinion.

Plot 7/10.

There wasn’t much plot besides her bonding with all of the clan members. The bit of tension that WAS there didn’t feel very climactic.

Intrigue 8/10.

I was pretty intrigued by the premise and can’t wait to read other books in the same world.

Logic (relationships) 9/10.

Most of it made perfect sense. I liked how the author was able to make the group relationship very authentic.

Enjoyment 8/10.

I did enjoy this quite a bit. It was a nice read despite a couple of things that weren’t my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it anyways.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Ridim Buk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Sick of her dead-end job and sleazy boss who doesn’t understand the word ‘no’, Aria Quinn decides to quit her job. Unfortunately, job hunting isn’t going so well. Until one drunken night Ari accidentally stumbles across a mysterious website and fills out what she thinks is another job application—even if some of the questions are a little personal.

TBH that fact that it ended up being an application to match her up with five wealthy guys instead of a job sounds way better. Even if they did turn out to be monsters. Fuck capitalism! 😂 No but really, where do I sign up?

Looking for some monster love? Including gargoyles, vampires, yeti’s and krackens… just think of all those tentacles 🦑 Then this is the book for you. There was also a bit of action/kidnapping, but that’s not really when you’re here for, is it?

Thanks to #booksirens for the ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Format: Digital
POV: Single
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Age suggestion: 18+

[A.R. Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc copy for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Love this. Right from the get go I was sucked into the story and hoo-boy the monstrous males are already making me hot.

Definitely fast burn and high heat, which I am loving.

Such an interesting story, I love the matchmaking trope and to have some delicious monster clans looking for their one made it even better.

I really appreciate the fmc. She worked hard to try and understand things instead of get mad or storm out. I find it interesting that she accepts the monstrous parts of them but then lets societal norms affect her decision making in other aspects.

This was an excellent read! I loved the characters and really got a good sense for their different personalities. I can see the possibility for other books in this series and hope to read them in the future!

[Willow field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matching with Monsters (The Red Agency Series: Book 1) is a monster romance series that will make you think of the Tempting Monsters Series and has many lovely tropes from billionaires/monster genres but is a couple of spice levels lower and much more contemporary than the tempting Monsters Series. Crystal Lynn helped scratch an itch of Why Choose Monster romance and some of my fav. Tropes that happen with each of the monsters. I'm not even kidding, I honestly to all wanted to read a book with gargoyles and went… AH yes thank you MVP Crystal Lynn for having just what I was looking for.

And with this Why Choose you have an excellent cast of men and temperaments and while Ari isn't my Fav. FML I do love that she has a kind heart and stands up for herself.

ALSO I can't wait to see where the FML's go and if they are who I think they are for the next books.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2024
The story itself was well written but it definitely needs more work building. I found thee story moved a bit to fast for me. I liked the premise and will definitely read book 2 when it comes out.
But It took some time for me to finish. I found the MF to be a bit annoying, she excepted everything just a bit too quickly.
Most of the men were interesting, but out of all of them, my favourite had to be Gareth. He came across as the biggest teddy bear. Still completely alpha but able to show his softer side. The twins where a little too much.
Rivak was the least favourite of the men.
Way too full of angst and anger to be at all likeable. And Mangus was the typical head of the family kind guy.
Overall I liked it but didn’t love it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ro El · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as reverse harem goes, not bad. There are monsters, they're men, they need human females to breed, thus a supernatural dating agency. Not a terrible premise. The structure of each cluster of dude-monsters having one mate is a bit… odd? Like, unnecessary? I guess the author wanted to quickly run through a bunch of various sensory fetishes they have in describing the sex scenes.

Due to the monster nature, it kept the sex scenes diverse and spicy for sure.

Not a whole lot of character development, but that's generally the case with reverse harem.

Ah, especially the first few chapters could use some editing. Word repetition, overly-long sentences, etc.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Destinee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. If you are into monster and reverse harem romances then step right up and feast. I am definitely a part of the aforementioned group so I jumped at reading this book. I liked it but I found that it fell victim to the 'she has better chemistry with some of the harem more than the others' which happens in some reverse harem books. I don't like when this happens I

think that it is better to decrease the harem members than have the romantic imbalance. I also believe this imbalance was made more so by how quickly things progressed in the book. If the book was longer, more time could've been taken to develop the relationships between the FMC and MMCs. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.