Lark has a hobby that she keeps to herself….even from her best friend Sloane. She also has grown up in a family of well, killers. When people close to the family start showing up dead, Sloane’s new BIL is considered a suspect. In order to protect him, even though she really can’t stand him, Lark decides she must marry Lachlan. He is also the only one that can help her protect her family. Will their sham of a marriage start to feel like something more or will they remain locked in a battle of dislike?

Like the first book in this series there is a lot of killing, some gore, and eventually some intense 50 Shades type stuff. I’ve never read anything quite like these books! I’ll definitely pick up the third one when it comes out because I’m now pretty dang invested with this family!

This book started right where Butcher and Blackbird ended. The story was engaging from start to finish. While it didn't have the complete "attention grab" that the first one did, I thoroughly enjoyed learning far more about Lachlan and Lark. After the ending, I can't wait to see the conclusion of this trilogy in Scythe and Sparrow (unless Brynne Weaver decides to surprise us with more).

My initial thoughts - this was very bingeable - I finished it in 24 hours. I adore Lachlan Kane & their romance was very swoon worthy. I love unconditional love, despite all the skeletons in the closet.

When Brynne releases a TW full of insane things, like “I might have ruined pizza and beer…also smoothies” and “You might have new thoughts about crafting with epoxy resin” some people might be like nah, but I’m sitting there just waiting for whatever chaos she is choosing to bring. I love a twisted book, and the particular flavor Brynne brings to her books is one of my favorites.

Leather & Lark follows Lachlan Kane and Lark Montague, who absolutely despise each other, but suddenly find themselves in a predicament that forces them into a marriage of convenience. Chaos ensues.

If you are a fan of the “my wife” trope, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Lochlan Kane, who not only says it a million times, but in the audiobook…with an accent. Every time he said it, I just melted a little on the inside. Rowan and Lochlan are not comparable, but I do love the particular brand of broody Lochlan embodies.

If I were more psychotic, I’d want to be Lark. Her “glitter parade of vengeance” was one of my favorite things in this book. Only she could take gruesome things and make it sparkle. The snow globe took me out. I absolutely loved the dynamic these two had and I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters.

Overall, the plot was steady, the characters were lovable, there were many hilarious things that should not have been as funny as they were, an all over great time. My only real issue was that it felt a bit rushed toward the end, but I still enjoyed the book!

I was so excited to read this second book in the series! I think this concept of killers (serial or assassins) falling in love with one another is so creative and interesting. Especially at a time where both romance novels and true crime are at a high!!

I did think this book would start from where the last one left off, since it left off on a cliffhanger. I was disappointed that it didn’t and it definitely confused me at first.

I loved the idea of taking secondary characters from the first story and putting them at the forefront of this one. There was still the same elements that I loved from the first book like romance, crime, and lovable characters! She has a way of writing such dark concepts with relatable and real characters that I find fascinating.

I think she does a great job of showing different kinds of love and love stories. She is still using the same dark and crime tropes she did for the first one while attaching them to different characters with different ambitions and objectives. She has a great way of pairing different characters.

To have the secondary characters come to life the way they did was so exciting and still having the main characters from the previous book be a part of the story was all I wanted!

Ultimately I think it was a great addition to this trilogy. And I will be reading the last book!

I think the way the covers all mimic one another’s art while incorporating the individualism of each story is great!

This book was so fun - I didn't expect to love this series as much as I do. We get the grumpy x sunshine and marriage of convenience tropes. I love how this series also has some sort of mystery plot woven into the books - thats what really makes these books glow - they keep just as much plot as they do romance.
I can't wait to read the third book!

This was pretty much exactly what I expected from the follow-up to Butcher & Blackbird — a fun, quick read.

I liked Lachlan and Lark's dynamic, though I felt like it was a bit rushed at the end. I liked Ethel so much (and Bently, always a big fan of a dog in a story).

The main thing I didn't care for was the seemingly random religious storyline. I understand it was necessary for there to be some conflict for the plot to work. But, going into a book like this you have to suspend your disbelief about morality to enjoy it, and I think trying to bring this kind of serious note into this book hindered my enjoyment during certain sections.

Still, I'm looking forward to Rose and Fionn's story, probably more than I was for Lachlan and Lark's.

Leather & Lark was the fun sequel Butcher & Blackbird promised. Following Sloane’s best friend, Lark, a glittery unicorn of a girl and Rowan Kane’s older brother, Lachlan, a broody leather worker.
The novel begins with a bang (literally ;)) and Lachlan and Lark don’t meet under the best circumstances, beginning a very sultry enemies to lovers romance.
This book handles some really hard topics due to the nature of Lark’s past traumas and the romance between the two characters is a lot more tender than expected.
This book is neither as gory or wacky as the first installment, but a lot more heartfelt. The romance was a sweet slow burn and the sexy scenes took a while to come to fruition, but they were worth the wait…
Overall, a lot different from Butcher & Blackbird but not in a bad way. Will be reading the third book next year.
4 stars

This review will be published immediately to Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I didn't think anything could top B&B, and while the arranged marriage aspect was a little shaky (who wouldn't marry their best friend's husband's brother to prevent their family from murdering him?), and could've used more serial deleting (never thought I'd write this sentence), I loved every moment of this novel. I was smiling the whole time, laughing out loud, and about 70-75% of the way through, had to stop reading this in public... IYKYK. I can't wait to see what comes next in this series, and know I will be coming back to this story again and again.

⁝⁝ ARC BOOK REVIEW ⁝⁝

✦ MY THOUGHTS

⚜ Type of book: Series / Trilogy / Second installment in the Ruinous Love Series.

I recently finished reading this book and found myself with mixed feelings. While I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the overall story, there were several elements that I genuinely enjoyed and appreciated.

Firstly, the appearances of Rowan and Sloane added a nice touch and provided a sense of continuity that fans of the series will undoubtedly appreciate. Additionally, as a huge fan of Keanu Reeves' "Constantine," I was thrilled with the references to the film and all the nods to "John Wick".

I also found myself charmed by Lark and Sloane's friendship, loving their dynamics since B&B. In addition to this, the presence of Lark's aunt, Ethel, added a refreshing dynamic to the story, but I do wish I could've seen more of her. The Kane brothers' relationships were another highlight for me; their interactions were hilarious and added depth to the narrative that I absolutely adored. I should also mention that one of my favorite moments was Lark and Leather's first kiss—beautifully written and emotionally resonant. I simply wish I could've felt the same way about their relationship afterwards.

I postponed reading this book for a while, fearing I might not find the right mood to fully appreciate it. Unfortunately, it seems that that's what happened, indeed. Perhaps it wasn't the right time for me to read L&L, so I plan to give it another try in the future. The seeds for everything I love are definitely there, I adore Brynne's writing, and I appreciated many of the scenes and ideas in the story.

In summary, while I struggled to fully immerse myself in the characters and the plot, there were many bright spots that kept me going. I'll definitely revisit this book again at some point.

✦ DETAILS

🔞 18+ read due to explicit content. Trigger warnings can be found at the beginning of the book.

◈ Dark Romance Comedy / Dark RomCom
◈ Hate to Love
◈ Slow Burn
◈ Marriage of Convenience
◈ "She's My Wife"
◈ Morally Grey MCs
◈ Broody, Tattooed, Protective, Handsome MMC
◈ Bubbly, Music, Movie and Glitter Lover FMC
◈ Grumpy / Sunshine
◈ Forced Proximity
◈ He Falls First
◈ Touch Her & Die
◈ Hand Necklace
◈ Human Shield for the FMC
◈ Dual POV
◈ "That's my Girl"
◈ Praise & Mild Degradation Kïnk
◈ Crawl To Me
◈ Ice Play
◈ Orgâsm Control

✦ SCORES

Plot development: 3/5
Characters development: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Spicy content: 3/5
Spicy quality: 4/5
Overall Score: 3.5/5

Thank you to the author, Zando and Netgalley for the ARC.

ʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ… ɪ ɪɴʜᴀʟᴇᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀʀᴋ ꜱᴏ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ꜱɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴜᴍʙꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙʀʏɴɴᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴠᴇʀ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴋ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʙᴜᴛᴄʜᴇʀ & ʙʟᴀᴄᴋʙɪʀᴅ. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ꜱᴀʏ, ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀʀᴋ ᴡᴀꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴊᴀᴡ ᴅʀᴏᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴀᴛ-ᴛʜᴇ-ʜᴇᴄᴋ-ᴀᴍ-ɪ-ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙ&ʙ ᴡᴀꜱ. ɪꜱ ɪᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀꜱ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴᴅɪᴇ? ᴡʜᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ. ᴡɪʟʟ ɪᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ᴍᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʙʀʏɴɴᴇ.. ʜᴇᴄᴋ ɴᴏ. ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴡɪꜱʜ ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀꜱ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴇᴛ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀꜱ ɢᴏ ᴀʙꜱᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ʙᴏɴᴋᴇʀꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʙʀʏɴɴᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ɪᴛ!!! ᴀɴʏᴡʜᴏ, ʙʀʏɴɴᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅᴀʀʏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴏɴᴇꜱ… ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ᴀᴜɴᴛ ᴇᴛʜᴇʟ! ᴏʜ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴀɴ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ᴀ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ꜱᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʙʀʏɴɴᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴠᴇʀ. ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ, ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ꜱᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ!!! ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ, ᴛʜɪꜱ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ɪꜱ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ— ɪ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢɪᴢᴇ. ɪɴ ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ, ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ. ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ.

Leather and Lark follows best friend of Sloane and Brother of Rowan, the main characters for Butcher & Blackbird. In this story, Lark's family has been seeing a steady increase in deaths of those close to them, and they suspect Lachlan Kane (Leather) is the man behind it, as his behavior 2 years prior with Lark cost his 'clean-up' company Lark's families contract. Lark, not willing to risk her best friends happiness and new marriage to Lachlan's brother, decides the only appropriate course of action is the marry Lachlan and prove to her family that they are madly in love, therefore he could not be the killer.

This plot was all over the place. I don't understand why they had to get married. I don't understand why Abe was targeting Larks family when it was Rowan and Sloane that caused the initial issue to begin with? That makes no sense at all. I wanted to see more of vigilante Lark but got so little. Their love story together was cute and I really enjoyed the progression and felt like that worked really well. But then I was SO disappointed by the ending. Like it all just magically worked out fine and was over in a LITERAL gun shot. Like no one thought to do that sooner. I saw the bad guy coming from the second he was introduced. It wasn't mysterious and unseen the way B&B played out at all.

I loved B&B SO SO much, I recommended it to everyone. And now I'm questioning why I did that. This was subpar. I just didn't enjoy this at all. What a let down.

dark romance is not for me. Ick. I do love the aspect of two serial killers falling in love. I think the first book in the series was a bit better, but overall wasn't impressed.

Another darkly funny romance by Brynne Weaver. Leather & Lark is the perfect mix of a rom-com and a crime thriller. Lark marries Lachlan in order to protect her best friend. Someone is targeting Lark's family business and it's up to her and Lachlan to figure out who. This marriage of convenience turns into something more when Lark starts opening up to Lachlan and learning to trust him as they work together to uncover the killer.

Ok…not as good/addictive as book 1. The characters and the story just were not as captivating. These serial killers didn’t click with me. Strong start though, moody, asshole start MMC that is 🔥. A worthy read, for sure. Likely a 3.5 ⭐️.

I received this book from the publisher & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I'm saddened to say that I really didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped to. It almost felt like a more watered down, tame version of the first book. I still loved the characters, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping for even more gore and murder than we had in the first book. Maybe it's because of the arranged marriage and almost mafia-like family drama that turned me off, I tend to not enjoy those types of books. I wouldn't go as far to say that it felt like it was written by a different author but it definitely felt more watered down. The spice was great (that bonus chapter at the end though!) and I loved the relationship between Lark and Lachlan, I just wanted to be more surprised and wowed by some of the gore and grotesque things the author can dream up. I will say a huge bonus for me was how fast this read, I basically finished it in one sitting. I'm very excited for the next book and hopefully there's a lot more grossness.

Many thanks to Zando/Slowburn for the gifted copy for my honest review!

Every time I read a Brynne book, I just want to crawl inside her brain to see how she comes up with these stories, and L&L was no different. Like how on earth do you write an FMC who turns 🥣🔪 into an arts & crafts project, but still manage to make her lovable and not creepy af?!

The enemies to lovers was really enemies to lover-ing in this book and the anticipation of it crossing to the lover side was torture! Such a slow burn, but the witty banter was enough fun to hold me over. Lachlan’s character was always hot even when he was being a grump (I need a man to call me duchess 🥵). Even though they were like oil & water, I still adored them together.

I knew going into this that the magic of Butcher was going to be near impossible to top, and while it wasn’t the perfection of B&B, it was still a really enjoyable read.

4.5 Stars 🌟

First off, oohh slow burn ouch. Where Rowan was fast and hot, Lachlan is slow and sensual (only in romance alone, because the actual spice is as hot as it can get. Especially that bonus chapter) This story is less like Butcher & Blackbird with the unaliving meet ups. There is unaliving, and some is done by both Lark and Lachlan, but mostly it is the Phantom that owns the award for most bodies collected this story. It was fun to hear where Rowan and Sloane needed up in this story, and it was even better having a glimpse into Fionn and Rose (can't wait for their story) Lachlan is amazing and even though he starts out bad, you quickly fall for him, maybe faster than Lark herself. Lark is a force to be reckoned with but is still no match to my favorite character of the whole book, Aunt Ethel. That old lady has my heart I swear. The book is about protecting those you love and finding love in the odd circumstance. It was an amazing read.

What's more thrilling than enemies turned lovers?
Picture this: two foes, tying the knot to rescue their loved ones, only to end up falling head over heels for each other. It's like a romantic rollercoaster!
Fans of the first book are in for a treat!
I live for sequels that match the magic of the original! I gobbled up this gem right up and now I'm torn-did I enjoy it even more?
Brynne Weaver's imagination is a wild ride, flipping everyday items and hobbies into pieces to weave into the twisted narrative.

I enjoyed this second foray into the Ruinous Love trilogy.

"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."

Much like "Butcher and Blackbird" this book dives right into the gore and the back and forth with our fated pair.

I enjoyed seeing things from Lark's perspective after learning some elements of it in the first book. I did want a little more fleshing out of some of the back story, but being familiar with the first book helped.

It was a good read if you have the stomach for it.