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The Ruinous Love Trilogy #2
Leather & Lark
Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.
And they can’t stand each other.
Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.
As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.
There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.
And this one has come for blood.
And they can’t stand each other.
Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.
As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.
There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.
And this one has come for blood.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,555 reviews
June 6, 2024
this book felt like being thrown a monkey with rabies straight at my face, and i was present for every second of it 🤩
Lachlan Kane, i need to curl my fingers in your shirt IMMEDIATELY!!! if i was his wife: the house would be spotless, dinner on the table (im the dinner) ill have as many kids as he wants! i’ve never wanted to be called Duchess by an irish man until this book. “whatever my duchess wants” GIRL I NEED HIM TO COME TO MY HOUSE NOWWW!! the way he so effortlessly protects Lark. the acts of service this man did for Lark had me punching a wall in my room like a 2008 emo boy from a disney channel show. he is majestic. he is emotional. he is tall. he is pretty. he brings the beast outta me. 😖
“whenever she leaves the room, it’s as though the warmth disappears. It’s like returning to a version of myself that isn’t me anymore.” LACHLAN IF YOU DONT KISS ME !! 🔫🔫
Lark Kane. this iconic multiple deleter while also having her man wrapped around her finger!! the fact that she introduces herself as Lark Kane every time, slammed her updated drivers license to the family dinner table, and corrects anyone that calls her by her maiden name. she was standing on BUSINESS!! my favorite scene was the last epilogue for various reasons.
Marriage of convenience will always be a superior trope for things like this said, “whether our vows were real or not, whether she believes them or not, whether she uses her name or mine, she’s deftly reminded me of the ultimate truth: for better or worse, we are stitched together.” the barrel of my gun has never looked so good until now🧍🏻♀️🔫
also the fact that “Geallaim a bheith i do fhear céile dílis, fad a mhairimid le chéile” translates to "I promise to be your faithful husband, as long as we live together” Lachlan saying this little extra thing in the vows made me melt 🫠
butcher and blackbird is definitely far superior to this but i’m no hater. i’m nothing if not a girl entertained by killers in love.
Lachlan Kane, i need to curl my fingers in your shirt IMMEDIATELY!!! if i was his wife: the house would be spotless, dinner on the table (im the dinner) ill have as many kids as he wants! i’ve never wanted to be called Duchess by an irish man until this book. “whatever my duchess wants” GIRL I NEED HIM TO COME TO MY HOUSE NOWWW!! the way he so effortlessly protects Lark. the acts of service this man did for Lark had me punching a wall in my room like a 2008 emo boy from a disney channel show. he is majestic. he is emotional. he is tall. he is pretty. he brings the beast outta me. 😖
“whenever she leaves the room, it’s as though the warmth disappears. It’s like returning to a version of myself that isn’t me anymore.” LACHLAN IF YOU DONT KISS ME !! 🔫🔫
Lark Kane. this iconic multiple deleter while also having her man wrapped around her finger!! the fact that she introduces herself as Lark Kane every time, slammed her updated drivers license to the family dinner table, and corrects anyone that calls her by her maiden name. she was standing on BUSINESS!! my favorite scene was the last epilogue for various reasons.
Marriage of convenience will always be a superior trope for things like this said, “whether our vows were real or not, whether she believes them or not, whether she uses her name or mine, she’s deftly reminded me of the ultimate truth: for better or worse, we are stitched together.” the barrel of my gun has never looked so good until now🧍🏻♀️🔫
also the fact that “Geallaim a bheith i do fhear céile dílis, fad a mhairimid le chéile” translates to "I promise to be your faithful husband, as long as we live together” Lachlan saying this little extra thing in the vows made me melt 🫠
butcher and blackbird is definitely far superior to this but i’m no hater. i’m nothing if not a girl entertained by killers in love.
June 25, 2024
4.5 stars!! Not asssss good as Butcher & Blackbird but still SO GOOD!!! I loved Lachlan & Lark. Lachlan is a contract killer which was interesting to read about & Lark has her own murderous side ☺️
Honestly, tho this is 100% a 5-star series. Murder meets romance is so god-tier! I'm obsessed! I love that we get 1.) fantastic binge-worthy romance 2.) the characters are murderous🔪 3.) the characters also have a mystery of their own to solve. All of those elements make the series so fast-paced & unique which I LOVE.
Honestly, tho this is 100% a 5-star series. Murder meets romance is so god-tier! I'm obsessed! I love that we get 1.) fantastic binge-worthy romance 2.) the characters are murderous🔪 3.) the characters also have a mystery of their own to solve. All of those elements make the series so fast-paced & unique which I LOVE.
June 22, 2024
2.5 ⭐️😞
Read
June 26, 2024dnf 43%
I would have never in my life believed that I would put this book on my 'dnf' shelf, but unfortunately that's what happened. The Ruinous Love Trilogy had so much potential to become one of my most beloved series because a series about a group of friends/brothers that could easily be described as "When your circle small but y’all serial killers"? It sounded like so much fun, but the second book turned out to be the complete opposite for me.
Leather & Lark was one of my most anticipated reads this year after completely falling in love with the first book about Sloane and Rowan — who were the best part of this story for me
I need to read their book again this year because I miss them.
— but all Lachan and Lark left me feeling was boredom. I just couldn't connect with these two at all. In the Butcher & Blackbird I felt this instant connection with the main characters and giggled and kicked my feet during their interactions but here I felt nothing. I literally made a plan in my head of how many chapters I had to read per day to get to the end, and that's a really bad sign for me because it usually means I just don't like the book, so unfortunately I have to say goodbye to it.
I would have never in my life believed that I would put this book on my 'dnf' shelf, but unfortunately that's what happened. The Ruinous Love Trilogy had so much potential to become one of my most beloved series because a series about a group of friends/brothers that could easily be described as "When your circle small but y’all serial killers"? It sounded like so much fun, but the second book turned out to be the complete opposite for me.
Leather & Lark was one of my most anticipated reads this year after completely falling in love with the first book about Sloane and Rowan — who were the best part of this story for me
"SLOANE: You think I’m just going to cough up my best friend’s history on a platter for you? Lachlan Kane, be so fucking for real right now.
ROWAN: Hey dickhead. My wife wants to know why you’re such a dickhead.
ROWAN: Should I give her the long version or the short version?
SLOANE: Do you honestly think I would tell you that? Seriously? GO FUCK YOURSELF.
ROWAN: Secure your eyeballs. Repeat. Secure your eyeballs.
ROWAN: If you can find insurance for eyeball enucleation, now would be a good time …"
I need to read their book again this year because I miss them.
— but all Lachan and Lark left me feeling was boredom. I just couldn't connect with these two at all. In the Butcher & Blackbird I felt this instant connection with the main characters and giggled and kicked my feet during their interactions but here I felt nothing. I literally made a plan in my head of how many chapters I had to read per day to get to the end, and that's a really bad sign for me because it usually means I just don't like the book, so unfortunately I have to say goodbye to it.
June 24, 2024
Dnf @47%
Unfortunately the book couldn't hold my interest. It started off okay but lost me pretty early on. The plot is very boring and I couldn't careless about it.
Am disappointed by the way the characters have been written. They seem so bland. Like sure they do dark, gruesome things but their true self is just so boring. If that makes sense 😅 I remember really liking Lachlan in the first book and he's just not that impressive in his own book. Lark is slightly better than Lachlan but not enough to save the book.
I thought there was hope when they got into a marriage of convenience but turns out not really. Am done with the series.
Unfortunately the book couldn't hold my interest. It started off okay but lost me pretty early on. The plot is very boring and I couldn't careless about it.
Am disappointed by the way the characters have been written. They seem so bland. Like sure they do dark, gruesome things but their true self is just so boring. If that makes sense 😅 I remember really liking Lachlan in the first book and he's just not that impressive in his own book. Lark is slightly better than Lachlan but not enough to save the book.
I thought there was hope when they got into a marriage of convenience but turns out not really. Am done with the series.
April 4, 2024
At the moment it’s 3.75⭐️ for me but I might reread it so that may change I feel like I was so distracted with so much this weekend idk if I gave it the proper attention LOL
June 13, 2024
How did we go from Butcher & Blackbird to THIS?!?!
I had been looking forward to this book for almost a year and it just let me down completely. The pacing and romance was off, Lachlan and lark were great separately but I honestly don't know how they fell in love. Butcher & Blackbird was laced with humor and charm but this had none. Where was the gore, where was the killing, where was the fun? Not to mention, the villain was so easy to spot from a mile away and so far-fetched. I am truly devastated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This can't come out fast enough! I need it ASAP.
I had been looking forward to this book for almost a year and it just let me down completely. The pacing and romance was off, Lachlan and lark were great separately but I honestly don't know how they fell in love. Butcher & Blackbird was laced with humor and charm but this had none. Where was the gore, where was the killing, where was the fun? Not to mention, the villain was so easy to spot from a mile away and so far-fetched. I am truly devastated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This can't come out fast enough! I need it ASAP.
Read
June 14, 2024self care is dnfing since this is just like the first book except the novelty has worn off
June 12, 2024
Well... I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one. I think my main issue here was I didn't feel the chemistry between Lark and Lachlan. He kind of had the personality of a wet rag and she's kinda fun in a manic Harley Quinn type of way.
Why would he be a basic Batman when he could have had The Joker vibes?
Sigh... bit of a let down here.
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Hate-to-love
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Marriage of convenience
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Grumpy / sunshine
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 He falls first
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪Groveling, but make it psycho
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Touch her/him and die
“Sometimes, you need to carve the things you’ve lost right into your skin so you remember what you left behind.”
Why would he be a basic Batman when he could have had The Joker vibes?
Sigh... bit of a let down here.
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Hate-to-love
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Marriage of convenience
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Grumpy / sunshine
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 He falls first
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪Groveling, but make it psycho
*⁀➷ 🩵🔪 Touch her/him and die
“Sometimes, you need to carve the things you’ve lost right into your skin so you remember what you left behind.”
June 28, 2024
3.9/5 ⋆˚☆˖°
ˋ°•*⁀➷ My initial thoughts are this was very bingeable - I finished it in 24 hours. It was over the top and ridiculously detailed - in a good way. I adore Lachlan Kane & their romance was very swoon worthy. I love unconditional love, despite all the skeletons in the hypothetical closet.
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I felt like it lacked plot - or the plot was very shallow, in my opinion. Compared to Butcher & Blackbird, I'd say I liked the romance in this one more but the plot in the first one more.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Plot:
A fake marriage of convenience is always a creator of tension and a lot of fun. This was less convenience fake dating though, this was like 'we need to marry or you die.' I loved being in this universe again though, two morally grey characters that hate each other and end up married.
I will say, this was more character driven than Butcher & Blackbird. There's no fun murder games this time and even though this book followed the same formula as the first one, it felt a little more lacklustre.
There is plenty of gore and serial killer madness, as well as some very sufficient spice scenes. I'm not typically a reader of spice, but I'm a fan of Brynne Weaver's depictions.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Characters:
I liked Lark and Lachlan wayyyy more than I liked Sloane and Rowan. Lachlan is the broody older brother and is definitely attractive in a bad boy that you want to have a soft spot for you kind of way. He's not all sex, he has such a caring, nurturing but leading masculine vibe. 10/10.
Lark is bubbly and fun. She's the golden retriever to Sloane's black cat personality. I found her just fun to follow, and she was complex. A little bit of childhood trauma mixed with a fierce protector - leads her to make life altering decisions. I was a bit surprised that
ˋ°•*⁀➷ World/Setting:
This was where I didn't really notice anything special. It's set in... Boston? or Rhode Island? I'm genuinely not sure because it was never really relevant to the story in my opinion. The graphic scenes where described in great detail, and were so incredibly uncomfortable that I visibly cringed - exactly like they were intended to make you feel.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Pacing:
I finished this in less than 24 hours - so it was for sure easy to flip the pages. It felt like the romance was developing more and more at a good pace - the plot though was never really at the forefront so I can't really comment on that.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Enjoyment:
I did love reading this - mainly because I just adored the romance and felt my heart flutter during all their tense pining. The plot is a fun premise and I enjoy reading about serial killers. In no way is this a thriller though. I saved a bunch of quotes that I wish I could hear in real life.
Would I recommend this? Yes - especially if you've read the first one! ᥫ᭡
╔═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╗
score card:
plot: 3.5/5
characters: 5/5
world/setting: 3/5
pacing: 4/5
enjoyment: 4/5
total: 3.9/5ੈ✩‧₊˚
╚═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╝
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── reading log
07/06 12:13am ʚɞ
» it's midnight and i can't put it down help
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── pre-reading
I have never been so excited for a release to come out this year - as I completely adored butcher & blackbird I have been impatiently awaiting this book and I have such high expectations but I am so certain this will deliver
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
june tbr:
ಇ.first lie wins
ಇ. the only one left
ಇ.leather & lark
ಇ. if something happens to me
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ. the warm hands of ghosts
ಇ. a court of silver flames
ˋ°•*⁀➷ My initial thoughts are this was very bingeable - I finished it in 24 hours. It was over the top and ridiculously detailed - in a good way. I adore Lachlan Kane & their romance was very swoon worthy. I love unconditional love, despite all the skeletons in the hypothetical closet.
The only thing I didn't like about this book is that I felt like it lacked plot - or the plot was very shallow, in my opinion. Compared to Butcher & Blackbird, I'd say I liked the romance in this one more but the plot in the first one more.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Plot:
A fake marriage of convenience is always a creator of tension and a lot of fun. This was less convenience fake dating though, this was like 'we need to marry or you die.' I loved being in this universe again though, two morally grey characters that hate each other and end up married.
I will say, this was more character driven than Butcher & Blackbird. There's no fun murder games this time and even though this book followed the same formula as the first one, it felt a little more lacklustre.
There is plenty of gore and serial killer madness, as well as some very sufficient spice scenes. I'm not typically a reader of spice, but I'm a fan of Brynne Weaver's depictions.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Characters:
I liked Lark and Lachlan wayyyy more than I liked Sloane and Rowan. Lachlan is the broody older brother and is definitely attractive in a bad boy that you want to have a soft spot for you kind of way. He's not all sex, he has such a caring, nurturing but leading masculine vibe. 10/10.
Lark is bubbly and fun. She's the golden retriever to Sloane's black cat personality. I found her just fun to follow, and she was complex. A little bit of childhood trauma mixed with a fierce protector - leads her to make life altering decisions. I was a bit surprised that
ˋ°•*⁀➷ World/Setting:
This was where I didn't really notice anything special. It's set in... Boston? or Rhode Island? I'm genuinely not sure because it was never really relevant to the story in my opinion. The graphic scenes where described in great detail, and were so incredibly uncomfortable that I visibly cringed - exactly like they were intended to make you feel.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Pacing:
I finished this in less than 24 hours - so it was for sure easy to flip the pages. It felt like the romance was developing more and more at a good pace - the plot though was never really at the forefront so I can't really comment on that.
ˋ°•*⁀➷ Enjoyment:
I did love reading this - mainly because I just adored the romance and felt my heart flutter during all their tense pining. The plot is a fun premise and I enjoy reading about serial killers. In no way is this a thriller though. I saved a bunch of quotes that I wish I could hear in real life.
Would I recommend this? Yes - especially if you've read the first one! ᥫ᭡
╔═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╗
score card:
plot: 3.5/5
characters: 5/5
world/setting: 3/5
pacing: 4/5
enjoyment: 4/5
total: 3.9/5ੈ✩‧₊˚
╚═════ ❀•°❀°•❀ ═════╝
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── reading log
07/06 12:13am ʚɞ
» it's midnight and i can't put it down help
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── pre-reading
I have never been so excited for a release to come out this year - as I completely adored butcher & blackbird I have been impatiently awaiting this book and I have such high expectations but I am so certain this will deliver
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶
june tbr:
ಇ.
ಇ. the only one left
ಇ.
ಇ. if something happens to me
ಇ. the familiar
ಇ. the warm hands of ghosts
ಇ. a court of silver flames
June 6, 2024
An assassin who blushes, wears reading glasses and does the longest grovel I’ve ever read? Yes please. 🍕
Was it contrived to fit every reader expectation? Obviously. Were ‘My Wifes’ thrown around to pander to lovers of MOC? You betcha. Was it highly entertaining and fun? Absolutely.
This was a pretty amusing book overall and I read it in a day, so props for keeping my attention so well but it lacked the wow of the first book and felt kinda like it was scrambling to recapture that energy but I still liked it quite a bit.
I loved Lachlan, the grumpy Irish cinnamon roll, tortured caretaker hero. I loved Lark, the deceptively sweet deleter of humans, heroine. They were great together and the romance in this was almost cozy (except for the explicit degradation kink-filled sex scenes). But I dunno if it’s that my expectations were too high, but the shock factor, murderyness and promises of the ruining of pizza was kinda meh. The content warnings were long and complete but the actual content wasn’t a gross-out to the level of the first book. That might be good news for many, but I wanted more gross *pouts*. This made it drag just a bit for me, especially considering this was such a slow burn. It had some good momentum at the beginning but the middle didn’t have enough action to really keep me on the edge of my seat.
But this was sweet and fun and the banter was great. The audiobook was duet narration and very well done (I skipped the cringey singing) and the voice actors did such a good job, so I highly recommend listening to this one.
*************
Ok I’m ready, let’s do this! 🍕
Was it contrived to fit every reader expectation? Obviously. Were ‘My Wifes’ thrown around to pander to lovers of MOC? You betcha. Was it highly entertaining and fun? Absolutely.
This was a pretty amusing book overall and I read it in a day, so props for keeping my attention so well but it lacked the wow of the first book and felt kinda like it was scrambling to recapture that energy but I still liked it quite a bit.
I loved Lachlan, the grumpy Irish cinnamon roll, tortured caretaker hero. I loved Lark, the deceptively sweet deleter of humans, heroine. They were great together and the romance in this was almost cozy (except for the explicit degradation kink-filled sex scenes). But I dunno if it’s that my expectations were too high, but the shock factor, murderyness and promises of the ruining of pizza was kinda meh. The content warnings were long and complete but the actual content wasn’t a gross-out to the level of the first book. That might be good news for many, but I wanted more gross *pouts*. This made it drag just a bit for me, especially considering this was such a slow burn. It had some good momentum at the beginning but the middle didn’t have enough action to really keep me on the edge of my seat.
But this was sweet and fun and the banter was great. The audiobook was duet narration and very well done (I skipped the cringey singing) and the voice actors did such a good job, so I highly recommend listening to this one.
*************
Ok I’m ready, let’s do this! 🍕
June 5, 2024
i support women’s rights but most importantly i support women’s wrongs-
i’m just kidding
lark kane can do no wrong💅🏻
this is lark. she loves glitter. she plays guitar. she smiles easily and very sunshine-y. she also loves deleting people. if you look at wrongly to the people she loves, lark will delete you🔪
this is lachlan. he’s a contracted killer. his job is leather(he’s like ken). he looks very grumpy, broody, asshat-y. and he loves lark. he blushes sometimes. he watches his wife’s favorite movie 12 times. he’s a pookie bear when he’s near his wife🧸
here is the actual representation of them
this was a lot tamer than the first book. more fluff, more love, more domestic. not that i’m complaining because lachlan was so whipped it was so fun to read. also did i mention, he blushed a couple of time🤭 and he wears glasses🤭 also lark is my icon.
but honestly…
i was expecting this to be more gross😔 she couldn’t ruin pizza and beer for me like she did with ice cream…autocannibalism? pfft where😒 sex scenes…let’s say some of us prefer praise kink and some of us *points at lark* prefers degradation🫣ending was also rushed imo✋🏻😬🤚🏻
💌 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞.
𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.
~~~~
IT’S TIIIIIIME🔪🔥💣 let’s kill some people, get traumatized by more food for life and fall in love yet another serial killer🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
i’m just kidding
lark kane can do no wrong💅🏻
this is lark. she loves glitter. she plays guitar. she smiles easily and very sunshine-y. she also loves deleting people. if you look at wrongly to the people she loves, lark will delete you🔪
this is lachlan. he’s a contracted killer. his job is leather(he’s like ken). he looks very grumpy, broody, asshat-y. and he loves lark. he blushes sometimes. he watches his wife’s favorite movie 12 times. he’s a pookie bear when he’s near his wife🧸
here is the actual representation of them
this was a lot tamer than the first book. more fluff, more love, more domestic. not that i’m complaining because lachlan was so whipped it was so fun to read. also did i mention, he blushed a couple of time🤭 and he wears glasses🤭 also lark is my icon.
but honestly…
i was expecting this to be more gross😔 she couldn’t ruin pizza and beer for me like she did with ice cream…autocannibalism? pfft where😒 sex scenes…let’s say some of us prefer praise kink and some of us *points at lark* prefers degradation🫣ending was also rushed imo✋🏻😬🤚🏻
💌 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞.
𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞.
~~~~
IT’S TIIIIIIME🔪🔥💣 let’s kill some people, get traumatized by more food for life and fall in love yet another serial killer🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
July 13, 2024
such a let down from the first book🥲
June 18, 2024
2.5 ☆
”There’s power in finding secrets and blowing them up in a beautiful, bright light.”
chemistry? can’t find any
plot? dumb so don’t ask lmao
audiobook? secondhand embarrassment
chapters? longer than a giraffes neck
sex scenes? ate it up ngl
the last quarter was a bit better than the boring beginning, but i still didn’t enjoy this as much as b&b.. (Sloane & Rowan you’ll always be famous).
⇢ shout out to my boo Daniella for suffering through Lark’s singing with me👯♀️💚
”There’s power in finding secrets and blowing them up in a beautiful, bright light.”
chemistry? can’t find any
plot? dumb so don’t ask lmao
audiobook? secondhand embarrassment
chapters? longer than a giraffes neck
sex scenes? ate it up ngl
the last quarter was a bit better than the boring beginning, but i still didn’t enjoy this as much as b&b.. (Sloane & Rowan you’ll always be famous).
⇢ shout out to my boo Daniella for suffering through Lark’s singing with me👯♀️💚
May 24, 2024
this had alll the iconic vibes & energy from butcher & blackbird — but the plot did not plot as hard & the spice did make me want to crawl into a cocoon and reevaluate my decisions that got me here sometimes … if you’ve read butcher & blackbird, READ IT! still so good if we’re ranking it’s #2 in this trilogy for me so far 🤍 3.75/4♡
Want to read
June 17, 2024dnf at 45% 😭
too much grunting and growling and i'm just bored 😢😔 (might pick it up later), also it has so many inner jokes ??? which is GIVING 'duo in a trio' vibes! 😭
too much grunting and growling and i'm just bored 😢😔 (might pick it up later), also it has so many inner jokes ??? which is GIVING 'duo in a trio' vibes! 😭
Read
July 26, 2024DNF @ 75%
this book was a feckin’ catastrophe— i can’t do it anymore, i tried y’all😭
this book was a feckin’ catastrophe— i can’t do it anymore, i tried y’all😭
June 9, 2024
Why yes I did sit and listen to this entire 12hr 15min audiobook in one go at 1x speed.
Review to come.
Review to come.
July 3, 2024
These books are unhinged, and I love them with my whole soul.
June 14, 2024
I just found the trope list for this book and I want to read it even more now, this sounds literally perfect
Tropes:
Hate-to-love
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy / sunshine
He falls first
Groveling, but make it psycho
Touch her/him and die
Tropes:
Hate-to-love
Marriage of convenience
Grumpy / sunshine
He falls first
Groveling, but make it psycho
Touch her/him and die
June 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ OKAYYYY SO I LIKED IT BUT I DIDNT LIKE IT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST ONE. I feel like it was a bit draggy at times and not much was going on, idk it just wasn’t as good as the first one and that’s all imma say
June 23, 2024
3.5 🌟!!! This book was my most anticipated read, yet it fell slightly short of my expectations. However, it was still a good read that kept me hooked .Lachlan was grumpy and broody on the outside, but on the inside, he was a softie who always put others' needs before his own❤. The small gestures he did for Lark, were so heartwarming and made him incredibly admirable.😭♥️. Lark, a sunshine character with so much depth, made me want to give her the tightest hug and protect her at all costs😭🤍. Aunt Ethel was a hilarious yet cunning and twisted character in her own way who stirred up drama and kept things interesting😂💕.Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it didn't quite reach the same level as Butcher and Blackbird which was a great read.
June 6, 2024
Ohhh I'm probably in the minority with this one!!! I want to start off by saying I absolutely fell in love with Sloane and Rowan and adored Butcher and Blackbird. This was one of my most aniticpated reads of the year and unfortunately this did not give me the same feels as the first one which was so dissapointing. I devoured the first one but this one I struggled through at times. I felt the characters weren't as intriguing and the plot was just blah!!! With that being said all 3 of these stars go to Lark and Lachlan. This was much more soft and fluffy than the first one. I am so sad about it 😭😭and this bonus chapter....Ummmmm👀👀
I hope the next one goes back to giving me the same vibes as the first book.
🔹Marriage of Convenience
🔹Grumpy/Sunshine
🔹Hate to Love
🔹He falls first
🔹Touch her/him and die
🔹Slow burn
Adding a 4th book to my currently reading...ABSOLUTELY!
This one just arrived and I can't wait to start it!😍😍
I hope the next one goes back to giving me the same vibes as the first book.
🔹Marriage of Convenience
🔹Grumpy/Sunshine
🔹Hate to Love
🔹He falls first
🔹Touch her/him and die
🔹Slow burn
"I don't just want to hear her laugh, I need to earn it. Every time I gain a little ground, I want more. I want to break out of the shade and back into her light. Without even realizing it, I've become addicted to it. To her."
An angelic devil, so wickedly innocent, her sweet and welcoming features contrasted by the lethal coldness in her crystalline eyes.
"I'll kill him before he lays a finger on you, I promise you that. Understand?"
Adding a 4th book to my currently reading...ABSOLUTELY!
This one just arrived and I can't wait to start it!😍😍
June 13, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 & 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥
🔪marriage of convenience
🔪grumpyXsunshine
🔪Dual POV
🔪dark humor, gore
OMG!!! Brynne has done it again!! While I liked Butcher and Blackbird more this was still a great read. I would say this is somewhere between a 3.5-4⭐️ I’m still deciding
Lachlan aka Budget Batman is so grumpy and broody. I would KILL for him to growl in my ear and call me duchess 🫠 This grump was such a simp for Lark. He watched her favorite movie 12 times. I repeat he watched her favorite movie 12 times!!! Also, he listened to romance novels and wore glasses..what more could a gal want in life.
Lark I absolutely adored her!! She’s sunshine, sparkles and unicorns. She is so caring and puts others first no matter what she’s going through in her personal life. But don’t get it twisted she’s FIERCE and will stab you or light you up with fireworks.
While I liked the book a LOT the pacing was slow. It wasn’t a lot of action it was more centered on the character’s development which I didn’t mind. The pace picks up the last 100 ish pages and it ALL WENT DOWN!!!! The bonus chapter had my jaw on the floor.
Overall thoughts: this book/series is a great start to darker romance. If you’re able to listen to true crime details but want a fluffyish romance this is the perfect book. I recommend and love this series!!
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 & 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥
🔪marriage of convenience
🔪grumpyXsunshine
🔪Dual POV
🔪dark humor, gore
OMG!!! Brynne has done it again!! While I liked Butcher and Blackbird more this was still a great read. I would say this is somewhere between a 3.5-4⭐️ I’m still deciding
Lachlan aka Budget Batman is so grumpy and broody. I would KILL for him to growl in my ear and call me duchess 🫠 This grump was such a simp for Lark. He watched her favorite movie 12 times. I repeat he watched her favorite movie 12 times!!! Also, he listened to romance novels and wore glasses..what more could a gal want in life.
Lark I absolutely adored her!! She’s sunshine, sparkles and unicorns. She is so caring and puts others first no matter what she’s going through in her personal life. But don’t get it twisted she’s FIERCE and will stab you or light you up with fireworks.
While I liked the book a LOT the pacing was slow. It wasn’t a lot of action it was more centered on the character’s development which I didn’t mind. The pace picks up the last 100 ish pages and it ALL WENT DOWN!!!! The bonus chapter had my jaw on the floor.
Overall thoughts: this book/series is a great start to darker romance. If you’re able to listen to true crime details but want a fluffyish romance this is the perfect book. I recommend and love this series!!
June 4, 2024
I liked the first book in this series, Butcher and Blackbird, so I was super excited to read this one and dare I say I like this one better than the first. I love Lark and her humor is top notch but the real masterpiece here is Lachlan. I love their flirty banter and the buildup to the sexy bits. That stage performance was just the buildup we needed before the actual deed took place. It was hot. The ending of this book did feel a tad rushed but that's ok with me and the epilogue was amazing. Definitely recommend this one to readers, but especially to listeners as the audiobook was to die for (pun intended). 4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
The narrators Eric Nolan and Samantha Brentmorr were fantastic. And Eric Nolan's accent does his part justice to say the least. I'm blushing and swooning.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select | Zando and Brynne Weaver for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
~~Happy Release Day~~ Pub Date: 6/4/24
The narrators Eric Nolan and Samantha Brentmorr were fantastic. And Eric Nolan's accent does his part justice to say the least. I'm blushing and swooning.
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select | Zando and Brynne Weaver for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
~~Happy Release Day~~ Pub Date: 6/4/24
August 9, 2024
3⭐️
Okay hear me out...I actually really enjoyed this book OKAY SUE ME 😙 I realize I am in the minority of people that actually had a good time and enjoyed this book, but that's okay because everyone's going to have a different opinion.
There is one big reason I think that this one was for me and B&B was not: this book is almost NOTHING like the first book. It's one of the huge reasons why everyone liked B&B and hated this one. For me, though? It was the opposite. I LIKED that this was different from the first book. Yes we get the same characters from the first book, but B&B was more focused on the serial killer aspect and this book was more character-trait driven.
That being said, I absolutely loved Lark and Lachlan's characters and their relationship. The chemistry was so good and their tension? Amazing. I think the romance aspect of this book was done really well and it was cute. I had a good time giggling after their post-murder sesh. 😌
While the characters were done really well, in my opinion, I had some problems with the plot. The pacing and some of the actual aspects of the plot fell flat for me at some points. The writing flows really well and I am a fan of that. However, I felt like while this was 360+ pages, what the hell actually happened? 200 pages in and I felt like the plot didn't advance in any way and it seemed like nothing of substance was actually said even though so many words were on the pages.
Overall, it's best to go into this book with lower expectations and not to take this book so seriously. It was funny and fun to read, but it's soooo un-serious, and that's okay! B&B was the same way, but that one just wasn't for me. This one, though, hit more of the marks for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hated B&B, but I'm willing to give this series one more shot. Maybe I'll end up liking this one more 😅
Okay hear me out...I actually really enjoyed this book OKAY SUE ME 😙 I realize I am in the minority of people that actually had a good time and enjoyed this book, but that's okay because everyone's going to have a different opinion.
There is one big reason I think that this one was for me and B&B was not: this book is almost NOTHING like the first book. It's one of the huge reasons why everyone liked B&B and hated this one. For me, though? It was the opposite. I LIKED that this was different from the first book. Yes we get the same characters from the first book, but B&B was more focused on the serial killer aspect and this book was more character-trait driven.
That being said, I absolutely loved Lark and Lachlan's characters and their relationship. The chemistry was so good and their tension? Amazing. I think the romance aspect of this book was done really well and it was cute. I had a good time giggling after their post-murder sesh. 😌
While the characters were done really well, in my opinion, I had some problems with the plot. The pacing and some of the actual aspects of the plot fell flat for me at some points. The writing flows really well and I am a fan of that. However, I felt like while this was 360+ pages, what the hell actually happened? 200 pages in and I felt like the plot didn't advance in any way and it seemed like nothing of substance was actually said even though so many words were on the pages.
Overall, it's best to go into this book with lower expectations and not to take this book so seriously. It was funny and fun to read, but it's soooo un-serious, and that's okay! B&B was the same way, but that one just wasn't for me. This one, though, hit more of the marks for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hated B&B, but I'm willing to give this series one more shot. Maybe I'll end up liking this one more 😅
July 5, 2024
1⭐️
🎧📖🎧 An audiobook and a physical book read along!!! 🎧📖🎧
Oooh how I am in tears right now. HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED???
This was supposed to good. Possibly great. Maybe even better than Butcher & Blackbird. And yet…
⚡️I was bored (even when the book picked up in the middle, IT DID NOT LAST LONG)!!!
⚡️The plot was missing (If someone were to ask me what this was about, I couldn’t even string two sentences together).
⚡️The narrator for Lark Montague’s voice made her sound whiny, caused her laugh to sound both cringy and out of place, and she played the victim way too much for me. I just could not bring myself to like her!!! Plus, I felt severely catfished about who Lark really was from B&B. Just “an Indie singer-songwriter”??? NOPE!!!
⚡️The words: “asshat, “feckin’ hell,” and “Christ Jesus” were overused. And when other curse words were said, they felt out of place.
⚡️The smutty scenes were just weird and too cringy. And why there so much saliva involved?!?! GROSS!!!
⚡️Then there was the unnecessary attitude that both Sloane & Lark had toward Lachlan that made ABSOLUTELY no sense. Lachlan was labeled an asshole (even by Rowan & Fionn) without any ACTUAL evidence. Personally, he felt like Cinnamon Roll but, was given a hard time by Sloane for just wanting help to connect with Lark. NOTHING ABOUT THIS MADE SENSE!!!
My experience with this book was a HOT MESS!!! Thank goodness this was a library book or I would be crying harder over just the idea that I own this!!!
😔😔😔. 🥺🥺🥺.
I am beyond thankful to have buddy read this with my girlie Getlyn. She kept me alive these past several days and brought the entertainment that I needed to prevent myself from DNF’ing whatever this was supposed to be. 🥰🥰🥰.
🎧📖🎧 An audiobook and a physical book read along!!! 🎧📖🎧
Oooh how I am in tears right now. HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED???
This was supposed to good. Possibly great. Maybe even better than Butcher & Blackbird. And yet…
⚡️I was bored (even when the book picked up in the middle, IT DID NOT LAST LONG)!!!
⚡️The plot was missing (If someone were to ask me what this was about, I couldn’t even string two sentences together).
⚡️The narrator for Lark Montague’s voice made her sound whiny, caused her laugh to sound both cringy and out of place, and she played the victim way too much for me. I just could not bring myself to like her!!! Plus, I felt severely catfished about who Lark really was from B&B. Just “an Indie singer-songwriter”??? NOPE!!!
⚡️The words: “asshat, “feckin’ hell,” and “Christ Jesus” were overused. And when other curse words were said, they felt out of place.
⚡️The smutty scenes were just weird and too cringy. And why there so much saliva involved?!?! GROSS!!!
⚡️Then there was the unnecessary attitude that both Sloane & Lark had toward Lachlan that made ABSOLUTELY no sense. Lachlan was labeled an asshole (even by Rowan & Fionn) without any ACTUAL evidence. Personally, he felt like Cinnamon Roll but, was given a hard time by Sloane for just wanting help to connect with Lark. NOTHING ABOUT THIS MADE SENSE!!!
My experience with this book was a HOT MESS!!! Thank goodness this was a library book or I would be crying harder over just the idea that I own this!!!
😔😔😔. 🥺🥺🥺.
I am beyond thankful to have buddy read this with my girlie Getlyn. She kept me alive these past several days and brought the entertainment that I needed to prevent myself from DNF’ing whatever this was supposed to be. 🥰🥰🥰.
July 4, 2024
⇢ ˗ˏ∞/5 ࿐
Going into this year, the excitement for this book was sky high and I'm thrilled to report that it not only matched the expectations, it exceeded them. This book distinguishes itself as the most outstanding installment of the trilogy to date(in my opinion, at least).
Lark and Lachlan have captured my heart as my favorite characters and duo, surpassing all others in recent memory. Their depth, evolution, and chemistry are unmatched, making them the highlight of this series.
Bentley, the embodiment of 'good boy,' is not just a side character; he's a top-tier presence, providing moments of joy and loyalty that resonate deeply.
And then there's Ethel, the auntie whose feisty demeanor adds a delightful spark to every page she graces. Her character is a treasure, and her scenes are some of the most memorable.
Admittedly, the villain was so obvious but I have to say, I still found myself enjoying the story regardless.
In sum, this book is a triumph, and I can't recommend it enoughᡣ𐭩.
Going into this year, the excitement for this book was sky high and I'm thrilled to report that it not only matched the expectations, it exceeded them. This book distinguishes itself as the most outstanding installment of the trilogy to date(in my opinion, at least).
Lark and Lachlan have captured my heart as my favorite characters and duo, surpassing all others in recent memory. Their depth, evolution, and chemistry are unmatched, making them the highlight of this series.
Bentley, the embodiment of 'good boy,' is not just a side character; he's a top-tier presence, providing moments of joy and loyalty that resonate deeply.
And then there's Ethel, the auntie whose feisty demeanor adds a delightful spark to every page she graces. Her character is a treasure, and her scenes are some of the most memorable.
Admittedly, the villain was so obvious but I have to say, I still found myself enjoying the story regardless.
In sum, this book is a triumph, and I can't recommend it enoughᡣ𐭩.
June 8, 2024
I loved the first book, so I had high expectations for this. Sadly, this just wasn't it for me.
This felt bland to me compared to the first book. I just wasn't as invested. I was pretty bored throughout.
I thought the plot could have been crazier, especially with a killer going after them. But they weren't even that scared or worried.
The whole reason for marriage didn't even seem like a big deal in the end.
The killer that was going after them was introduced and it was so obvious it was this person and it was the only reason they were introduced. I wish it was someone that they knew or something but it was just this random person.
I know I am complaining. Sorry. Overall, this was just okay. It was fun being in the same world as Sloane and Rowan. But this just felt like a mess.
♪ ♪ ♪
⚬ Insta-lust
⚬ Marriage of convenience
⚬ Dislike to love
⚬ Touch her/him & 💀
⚬ Both are killers
♪ ♪ ♪
Main Characters
Lark - Serial killer… sorry “multiple deleter”. Randomly sings like even in front of strangers. She would just start belting out lyrics. It embarrassed me.
I wish we got more of her and Sloane. They were supposed to be best friends, but she never told her about her killing. I wanted to see more of their friendship.
Lachlan - Contract killer. Supposed to be grumpy, but he wasn't. I don't have really anything else to add.
I did not feel the connection between Lark and Lachlan. I feel like the first 200 pages there was no real conversation between them. Then suddenly Lachlan needs to know everything about her and has been pretty much in love with her from the start or at least her appearance.
I, also, wish we got more of both of their pasts. I wasn't connected to them as people.
♪ ♪ ♪
We did not get a SINGLE feather scene. Bruh. How do we get a scene where Lark literally f🦆 his booty, but we didn't get a feather? I feel robbed😭.
This felt bland to me compared to the first book. I just wasn't as invested. I was pretty bored throughout.
I thought the plot could have been crazier, especially with a killer going after them. But they weren't even that scared or worried.
The whole reason for marriage didn't even seem like a big deal in the end.
The killer that was going after them was introduced and it was so obvious it was this person and it was the only reason they were introduced. I wish it was someone that they knew or something but it was just this random person.
I know I am complaining. Sorry. Overall, this was just okay. It was fun being in the same world as Sloane and Rowan. But this just felt like a mess.
♪ ♪ ♪
⚬ Insta-lust
⚬ Marriage of convenience
⚬ Dislike to love
⚬ Touch her/him & 💀
⚬ Both are killers
♪ ♪ ♪
Main Characters
Lark - Serial killer… sorry “multiple deleter”. Randomly sings like even in front of strangers. She would just start belting out lyrics. It embarrassed me.
I wish we got more of her and Sloane. They were supposed to be best friends, but she never told her about her killing. I wanted to see more of their friendship.
Lachlan - Contract killer. Supposed to be grumpy, but he wasn't. I don't have really anything else to add.
I did not feel the connection between Lark and Lachlan. I feel like the first 200 pages there was no real conversation between them. Then suddenly Lachlan needs to know everything about her and has been pretty much in love with her from the start or at least her appearance.
I, also, wish we got more of both of their pasts. I wasn't connected to them as people.
♪ ♪ ♪
We did not get a SINGLE feather scene. Bruh. How do we get a scene where Lark literally f🦆 his booty, but we didn't get a feather? I feel robbed😭.
April 10, 2024
Ok, I liked this. I didn't necessarily LOVE it... BUT Butcher & Blackbird is so incredibly hard to beat. I feel like I'm comparing the two books but it's so hard not to. I genuinely loved Lark and Lachlan, but their story didn't have the same oomph as Sloane and Rowan in my opinion. On a side note, I'm going to re-read it once exams are done because I feel like I am so distracted right now and can't even enjoy reading.
That being said we've basically got the holy grail of tropes:
1. Marriage of convenience
2. Enemies to lovers
3. He falls first
4. Touch her/him and die
I also spent 90% of the book grinning like a fool every time they called each other husband or wife.
Thank you to Zando for the ARC :)
That being said we've basically got the holy grail of tropes:
1. Marriage of convenience
2. Enemies to lovers
3. He falls first
4. Touch her/him and die
I also spent 90% of the book grinning like a fool every time they called each other husband or wife.
Thank you to Zando for the ARC :)
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