Monstrous Intent By Alice Winters -

: Beyond the romance, there is a legitimate mystery involving the DRD (the hunter organization Declan left) and the secrets Lake is hiding in plain sight.

: The book features quirky additions like Sir Reginald (a pet fish) and Mittens (a monster), who add to the story's charm.

: The "enemies-to-lovers" vibe is strong here. Lake’s "wooing" involves constant teasing—at one point even telling Declan, "I’m not your lover, I’m your murderer. For the love of god, please get it right".

: If you enjoy Alice Winters’ other series (like The Hitman’s Guide ), this book delivers her signature fast-paced, snarky dialogue and over-the-top situations.

The story follows , a retired monster hunter who has traded his weapons for a desk as an elementary school teacher. He craves a normal life, but his plans are derailed when he meets Lake , a charming, sassy, and persistent monster who claims he isn’t a "monster" but clearly isn't human.

While Declan is a classic cynical "grump," Lake is pure "sunshine" chaos, relentlessly pursuing Declan with banter that ranges from sweet to ridiculous. Why You Should Read It