Ahhh! Lark and Lachlan! I loved Lark and Sloane’s friendship and was super interested in the little pieces of the past we got of Lark’s history in B&B. Same for the little snips of Lachlan. The banter between them was great and I loved how Lark’s character had a bit of an “underestimated” vibe. Brynne will give you everything you expect in the book… then throw on some glitter and gold star stickers … a few questionable food choices and you love this one as much as B&B. Now I can’t wait for S&S!! 🖤

Brynne Weaver has quickly become a favorite author of mine! I never heard of dark rom-com before, but it turns out I’m a fan! Butcher & Blackbird is still my favorite, hands down…nobody holds a candle to Rowan and Sloane! But this is a close second!
Lark is just adorable…almost like a Harley Quinn character, she’s bubbly and girly, loves glitter, and is a totally messed up dark vigilante! And Lachlan has that broody, dark sex appeal going for him with an Irish accent as a cherry on the sundae! LOL

One of my favorite quotes in the book was this one! “Are you a serial killer?” “No.” She scoffs. It’s entirely forced. “Of course not. No. I’m more like a . . .” She drifts off into thought as she seems to weigh several possible responses. Dread sinks into my guts as her brow furrows and then smooths. A heartbeat later, a vibrant smile erupts on her face. “I’m more like a multiple deleter.” That will be my new term from here on out…multiple deleter! 😂

If you like dark romance or dark rom-com, this is definitely a must read!

Sadly, I didn´t enjoy this one as much as the first in the series.
I loved the beginning, the meet cute (even though his humpf-ing and growling was a bit much - USE YOUR WORDS, MISTER).
All in all I didn´t have a problem with the progression of their relationship. Where I DID take issue were the spicy scenes.
(Some spoilers from here on.)
I think it´s fine to have a bit of kink in romance novels, espescially if you put thriller and romance together.
But time and place.
DON`T put S&M in a romance where the FMC was traumatized and abused in her childhood. Having the MMC basically thinking about degrading her and making her submit to whatever he wishes when she had no control over her body in her early life IS NOT OKAY.
That whole scene actually made me sick.

I also wasn´t the biggest fan of the thriller aspect in this. As a reader, knowing really quickly who the big baddy is and having him "stalk" the MCs was kind of boring and I couldn´t take the thread serious. I feel like the whole seriel killers falling in love idea was done amazingly in book 1 and that´s where it should have ended.

All in all, kind of disappointed and not sure if I want to continue with the series.

I love Lachlan and Lark. It’s such a wonderful marriage of convenience love story! I loved her aunt Ethel as well! Such great side characters. I ate this up! So many great things in this book! I love the “meet cute”! The pet names?! -so great! I also thought it was the perfect grumpyxsunshine! So many amazing aspect of this story! Now desperately waiting for the next brothers story!

Dark romance, or anything stronger than a nice moral grey, is not my forte. I was intrigued by the series, and I connected more with this one than with Butcher and Blackbird. I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it, and I'm glad that I can give personal feedback when folks ask about it!

To think I was lucky enough to get an arc from Brynne Weaver herself. I pinched my whole fucking face when I got the NetGalley email. Before I continue with this review, Brynne, if you ever see this, you're making life a tad bit bearable with your books and days end better after finishing one of your books. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE AN AUTHOR LIKE YOU IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE.

Moving on.

FUCK ME SIDEWAYS, this book has left me in a state of bookish bereavement (I don't use that word but it's Brynne's book so move on). How the hell am I supposed to go on knowing I've closed the chapter on Lachlan and Lark's heart-wrenching saga? HOW do I move on with life after this one? This shit isn't just a story; it's a goddamn masterpiece that's carved its name into my soul.

Lachlan Kane, with his broody ass, and his leather-working hands and assassin precision, is the brooding force of nature we all secretly (or not so secretly) NEED IN OUR LIVES. And Lark's a fucking ray of sunshine with a backbone of steel, hiding her own darkness behind a dazzling smile. Their hate-to-love, fake marriage was absolute dynamite. The chemistry between them is so charged, I swear I got static shocks flipping the pages.

Brynne Weaver literally reached into my chest, gave my heart a tight queeze, and said, "You thought the first book was good? Hold my beer." And she wasn't lying—the balance of dark themes with just the right amount of light. ABSOLUTE FUCKING PERFECTION. It's not as graphic as "Butcher and Blackbird," but it doesn't need to be. The thrill, the suspense, the emotional rollercoaster—it's all there, making you crave more with every word.

And now it's over. I'm sitting here, a goddamn mess, yearning for book three like Lachlan yearns for a life beyond the shadows. I know for a fact Fionn and Rose's book will leave me in shambles and so the minute I find out the release date I will request for 2 days off to recover after the read.

It was okay. I'm giving it 3 stars. I wish it followed the same characters from the first book because I really liked them and that's what I was expecting this book to do (I didn't read the synopsis). I was bored for a lot of the book, but the ending was pretty good. I wish there was more violence and less build up, but that's just my personal opinion and I get bored with books that don't have a lot going on. I also struggled with the characters as they all felt like the same person to me and I had to keep flipping to the start of the chapter to see who was actually speaking (they also seemed too similar to the characters in the first book, I needed more distinction between everyone)

"Funny thing about marriage.
Sometimes, I look at my husband and think, I can’t imagine having loved anyone as much as Lachlan Kane.
And other times, I just want to make him suffer.
In a loving way, of course.
Most of the time."

I loved Butcher & Blackbird and have been dying to read Lark and Lachlan's story.

Leather & Lark which picks up right where Butcher and Blackbird ended. As soon as I read the prologue I knew this would be the perfect book for me. I loved Lark and Lachlan's story and enjoyed learning more about them.

I just loved the creative way Lark offed people! Her use of epoxy resin and glitter was *chef's kiss*

I loved Lachlan! He is everything you want in a book boyfriend. The way he cares for Lark and looks after her even when she fights him tooth and nail on it is perfection.

Brynne has a way of writing about serial killers, so it's no wonder she has become an auto-buy author for me. She knows just what my dark, twisted heart needs in a book 🖤

I adored Ethel, she was complete perfection!

And that ending. I can't wait to read Rose and Fionn's story next in Scythe & Sparrow (book three in the Ruinous Love Trilogy)!

Thank you so much to Brynne Weaver, Zando, and NetGalley for this ARC 🖤

⚠️ * Please check the trigger warnings before reading! * ⚠️

Once again I find myself loving this series!! Lark and Lachlan were such a fun pair. I loved seeing them realize they actually didn't hate each other.

Just like the first book, there were some really gross moments that I just skimmed, but still these don't take away from how fun these books are.

I loved seeing little bits of Sloane and Rowan, as well as Rose and Fionn.

I will never get over reading the content warnings of these books and wondering how these issues will come up but they always do in the most
surprising ways.

Really looking forward to the next book!

I was so pleasantly surprised by "Butcher & Blackbird." It was so different, charming and humorous. With all that, I looked forward to "Leather & Lark." Unfortunately, it was a big letdown for me. The entire thing felt off from the characters to the pacing and the romance. The witty humor from the first one didn't translate and every plot point felt ridiculous. I found myself bored with Lachlan and Lark as I was unable to connect with them.

"Leather & Lark" lacked all the fun that made "Butcher & Blackbird" so enjoyable.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Zando for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Brynne Weaver continues to own my heart! Leather and Lark doesn’t top Blackbird and Butcher but it’s comes close!

Loved this sequel! I didn’t think I could love any of the brothers more than Rowan but Lachlan surprised me. Both close contenders though. 😊 I did feel as though the end action scene was a little rushed, but I also understand the books primary focus was Lachlan and Lark’s relationship. Cannot wait to read the next one!

“Just like in nature, the prettiest things are often the most poisonous.”
Last year I came to you, as a friend, to let you know that a book about two serial killers falling in love was my favorite book of the year in the hopes that I could get ahead of any looming questions. In a twist that I hoped for, but didn’t expect, “Butcher and Blackbird” by Brynne Weaver took the book world, including the Hive, by storm and we all fell in love with Sloane and Rowan, despite, or maybe because of, their particular sets of skill with vigilante justice.

If interested, please follow the link to my previous gushing.

https://www.thelitbuzz.com/2023/09/butcher-blackbird-by-brynne-weaver/

But today friends, I am here to talk about the sequel “Leather and Lark” in which we get the pleasure of watching Sloane’s best friend Lark, and Rowan’s grumpy brother Lachlan, dance their way around each other in what can only be described as a romcom that just so happens to include some murder-y business.

“Hope. It’s cute, really.”
As it turns out, Lark and Lachlan have a past that extends before Sloane and Rowan (re)introduced them, but they left with less than amicable feelings towards each other. When they meet again the chemistry is undeniable, but their history makes it impossible for them to give in to their connection… that is until circumstances take a drastic turn and a marriage of convenience is the only way to track down a killer and free Lachlan from the life of crime he desperately wants to leave in the past.

“Sometimes karma needs a backup bitch”
Brynne Weaver has proven once again that she is the master of the dark romantic comedy, just a quick glance at the trigger warnings and you might think that you are about to dive into a horror novel, but with her mastery of the macabre she manages to tell a story that is mostly surprisingly upbeat!

As with the first in the series, please take care of yourself and read the trigger warnings, while this is a comedy, the content is present and graphic. I must confess that she managed to get me with one of the scenes early on, I may never trust a smoothie again.

“My Feckin’ Catastrophe”
As soon as I finished “Butcher and Blackbird” I could not wait to get Lark and Lachlan’s story and while I did enjoy their banter, I felt myself wishing they would get loved up sooner, but the author knows best when it comes to Lark’s heart, and in Brynne Weaver we Trust.

I knew that I would not be the only one to dive into Leather & Lark at the soonest possible opportunity and in true Hive fashion it was a veritable swarm to get to the audiobook. There were some differing opinions on the success of the audio version, while one bee found the new narrators a success, another felt it lacked the same magic that Butcher and Blackbird brought to audiences.

One thing we can all agree on is that we are so excited for the announcement of the final book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy, “Scythe& Sparrow” set to release February 11, 2025!

Please join The Bees as we anxiously await any and all new releases from Brynne Weaver, as she has definitely secured her spot as Hive favorite. Congratulations on an amazing new release!

these books are cray but i LOVE IT!!! i loveddd lark and her multiple deleter idealology lol and lachlan and that accent!!! i cannot wait to continue this series and im so sad it's only a trilogy!

This was a decent follow up to The Butcher & the Wren. Seemed a little more rushed, but was oh so satisfying.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! Brynne can honestly do no wrong. I would read her shopping list. Lachlan and Lark are 'feckin catastrophes' and I'm here for it. Spicy, murdery, glittery and Romantic. What more could you want!

Leather and Lark is my new favorite romance!! It was funny, spicy, mysterious, and heart wrenching. Seeing Lark and Lachlan finally completely embrace themselves and their relationship- I loved it.

Be warned- it’s dark humor. If you are triggered easily- skip it or read the warning carefully

Leather & Lark

Release Date: June 4, 2024
POV: Dual POV
Genre and Sub Genre: Dark Romance, Rom-Com, Serial Killers
Main Location(s): Boston, MA
Tropes: marriage of convenience, hate to love, he falls first, touch her/him and die, contract killer/leather worker MMC, musician/serial killer FMC, forced proximity, slow-ish burn, “my wife”, no third act breakup, possessive FMC/MMC, nicknames
TW/CWs: honestly too many to list; check author’s website or warning list on the front page
On KU?: No
HEA: Yes
Rating: 3.75/5
Spice: 3.5/5 (only a few scenes but they’re explicit)
Kinks/Spice Warning: praise, dirty talk, rough sex, mild degradation, dom, sub, mistress, toys, pegging, impact play, breath play, public play, shower scene, mirror scene, sexual acts in public

Full Review to Come

I am apparently in the minority in thinking this book was better than the first. i dunno.. something about a Silago accent and a marriage of convenience.. whew lachlan kane, the man you are.
every time this man said, "my wife" i died a little inside. why is that so hot!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

despite the ~various noises~ in the audiobook, i would highly recommend it due to what i hope is the accuracy of the accents. i loved both narrators; they really immersed you into this book which since it has to do with murder wasn't super pleasing but great storytelling! the spice WENT CRAZYYYYY and i know it was good in the first one too but dammmmnnnnn that final bonus scene??? jaw on the floor. some might say this was too easy of a plot line to follow after the first one but i really enjoyed it alongside what i think was the bigger story, lachlan and lark. at times i didn't know who i wanted to be more. if i wasn't terrified of them, i would want to put them in my pocket and carry them around with me.... lil babies. anyway i'm obsessed with this book and after that ending i CANNOT WAIT to ~hopefully~ get an arc for the final book in the trilogy. either way, i'll be sat come January.

many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for granting access to this e-book!

Lark and Lachlan: the Marriage of Convivence I didn't know I needed!
Lark is a multiple delete-er who loves glitter, diy, music and falling in love with her husband.
Lachlan is a contract killer who's second job is leather work. He loves listening to romance audio books and is absolutely obsessed with his wife.

Their banter is delightful and their chemistry is smokin hot. Their first meeting didnt go so well, but only one of them know that.
Until I read Brynne Weaver I didn't realize that I loved Dark Rom-Com.
It was the perfect contemporary romance, then you added a dash of MURDER and mystery and it became a masterpiece. Lachlan being the nurturer was an enjoyable change. Hes my favorite Kane brother so far.
The vibe is different from Butcher and Blackbird, but just as strong of a story.
There is a slow burn, (which usually isn't my favorite), but after the burn, you are ignited.

There are a few side characters that we get to meet, but my favorite is Aunt Ethel. I love that we have this old, muffin making, sweet lady as the matriarch of this (mafia like) family.
I loved this book and cant wait for the 3rd Kane brother. I dont know how she will top it.