⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - teeth and tooth products (forced cannibalism / autocannibalism), human ornaments, enucleatipn (on page, graphic), numerous weapons and sharp objects (incl darts, scissors, guns, saws, knifes, grinders, an edger, enucleation spoon, fireworks), severed fingers (on page) / finger tips (past), vehicular collisions, drowning (sc, on page), cancer (aunt, terminal, throughout incl death on page, aftermath and grief), parental neglect (mentioned), child abuse (mentioned), child SA (implied), religious trauma, blasphemy, injured dog (cause not depicted), serial killers, death & murder (on page), cheating (sc on the FMC), predators / pedophiles (their crimes are mentioned / loosely recounted, FMC targets them throughout), drug dealers (fentanyl, sc), blood and gore, parental death (mentioned, recounted, incl murder), parental death (home invasion, recounted incl other injuries and trauma), torture (on page), claustrophobia and panic attack (on page), drugging of multiple characters, insomnia, bomb threat, stalking, kidnapping

CW - toys, choking, mild degradation, public play, pegging, light edging, temperature play

Tropes - "my wife", marriage of convenience, jealousy, serial killers, grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, slow burn

Reading the next book in a series after an author gets picked up by a publisher is always nerve racking and for me, this book was no different...

I will say that I am very happy that, despite being picked up by a publisher, Brynne wanted to honour her original ARC readers and guarantee us an ARC which was nice. However, Netgalley will not be seeing me for other books outside of this world because the way this was formatted was so criminal it took me 3 weeks to start this after receiving the ARC.

Lark (FMC) wasn't for me. It felt like she was trying far too hard to be that girl and I was over it very early on. Her and Sloane being best friends didn't really come across in this book. She doesn't want to tell Sloane that she is a serial killer because she doesn't want to put her in danger. Idk about you, but that didn't make any fucking sense to me because Sloane is a notorious serial killer and Lark knows that.

Lark and Lachlan (MMC) didn't have much chemistry in this book imo which was annoying because I did like Lachlan's character; you could tell that he had a spark, she just didn't have the fuel. There were defo parts of this book I enjoyed and there were moments with Lark and Lachlan that I felt was cute but overall, the story was mid for me which was a shame after having read and enjoyed B&B.

The entire conflict in this book didn't make much sense to me because the villain wanted vengeance for something that had nothing to do with Lark and Lachlan and would have made more sense if this arc happened in B&B or a continuation of their story and was justified as an eye for an eye - this wasn't a strong enough story arc for me and left me basically like:🧍🏾‍♀️🧍🏾‍♀️🧍🏾‍♀️. Not only did the conflict not really make much sense to me, it was wrapped up quite quickly.

side note, loads of Keanu Reeves references and no Matrix? 👎

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

I'm going to preface this by saying I have LOVED all of Brynne's prior work. B&B and Marrow are high on my list of all time favs. I had *high* expectations for this one. Especially after meeting Loclan and Lark in B&B I was SO. EXCITED. for their dynamic together.

That being said.... this unfortunately fell WAY flat for me. The magic of their personalities and dynamic from B&B didn't translate into this book after the initial scene. It felt like the story wasn't even about the same people we'd previously met. In addition, the entire book felt rather disconnected. The characters would act one way and then think something else. It was very confusing and made it hard to get a true read on what their personalities were supposed to be. Also I felt like it was very wordy and there was alot of "telling us" instead of "showing us" moments.

Unfortunately it also was missing the shock value and magic factor we saw in B&B. No foods were ruined IMO and the gore wasn't like super shocking? It felt very tempered in comparison to B&B. And the conflict at the end wrapped up SUPER quickly while the middle of the book kind of dragged.

Things I did like:
Ethel. She was just *chefs kiss* and the highlight of the whole book.
The spice. It was a slow burn but the spice was hot af if you ignore the fact that I'm not sure where Loclan's Dom side came from 😬

I am so excited to finish this book, but for now I'm going to wait until it's finalized! Reading it on my Kindle the flow was off without having paragraph indents, which could be a fault of my own Kindle I'm honestly not sure. I put the book down about halfway through just for that reason because I know I'm going to love it, and I don't want this feature to discredit any of it.
Overall though I LOVED the banter between these two characters. The understanding too. The one thing I did feel that was missing a bit from the story was the background of Lark's family. I may have just missed a paragraph or so, or maybe it gets into more detail in the back half of the book, but I was a little confused as to why they even had to get married. All in all though, still can't wait for the rest of the story and will absolutely be carrying in my store!

This was fun but not as unhinged as I was expecting or as B&B. I really enjoyed Lark and her “sparkly” personality in contrast to how ruthless she could be (multiple deleter lol). Lachlan did a good job at winning me over as the book progressed and he started to show how caring and sweet he could be. Pretty slow burn but it made sense for the story and once it got going, IT GOT GOING and that was definitely worth it. Loved the scene where they had to take that guys eyeball and they kept being grossed out and saying they needed Sloane because it was definitely a nice little callback to B&B.

This one didn’t fully work for me. I just never connected with the characters or the plot, and I found it less engaging than Butcher and Blackbird. Yay for pegging though!

I was so excited to find out I was approved for an eARC of Leather & Lark via NetGalley as I was chomping at the bit for June 4th to get here.

Leather & Lark picks up shortly after the events of Butcher & Blackbird and features the best friend of Sloane, Lark Montague and the oldest Kane brother, Lachlan.

What starts as a marriage of convenience, or more accurately, a marriage of protection, slowly builds into something neither Lachlan nor Lark can really comprehend.

Someone is killing off members of Larks shady family and there's the shadowy Phantom from the end of Butcher & Blackbird skulking around.

I loved every minute of this. The banter between Lachlan and Lark had me laughing out loud. There were some special guest appearances of The Boston Butcher and The Orb Weaver, and Fionn and Rose (forthcoming Book #3: Scythe & Sparrow) and some really incredibly well written raw moments between Lachlan and Lark that had me getting misty eyed..

These two characters truly could not stand each other in the beginning, and rightfully so once you find out why. It was so gratifying to watch them slowly realize they have a lot more in common than they realize and that when someone truly sees you? Nothing can beat it.

This story revolves more around Lachlan and Larks relationship and the murder subplot really took a backseat with this one. Slow burn, Mutual pining and murder galore. If you liked B&B, you'll love Leather & Lark

BRYNNE WEAVER - LEATHER & LARK ✨️

ARC COPY - RELEASES 4TH JUNE.

Let me preface this review by saying this series won't be for everyone. It is dark dark but full of humour in true @brynne_weaver style so you forget just how twisted some of the things are you're reading. Check triggers, there is a menu of them. 👌🏻🤣🖤

I absolutely adored Rowan & Sloane so was really looking forward to getting my hands on this next one as we meet both main characters in Butcher and Blackbird so whilst you could read this as a standalone I'd highly recommend you read them in order for full impact.

Lachlan is Rowans brother whilst Lark is Sloanes' best friend. Lachlan is working on a job when he meets Lark in an unfortunate position, its safe to say they do not hit it off from the beginning for sure but find themselves in a marriage or convenience situation. I don't want to go too much into the plot and give anything further away but if you've read Butcher and Blackbird you'll know what to expect, instead of cookies and cream ice-cream Brynnes chosen violence and gone after pizza this time instead 🤣💀

Whilst I think I still prefer Butcher & Blackbird, that was always going to be hard to top for me, I absolutely ADORED Auntie Ethel and the comedic value she brings to this story. She was hilarious and had some absolute crackers. 👌🏻😆

Am I now on countdown for the third book before this ones even released? Yes. Yes I am

This book was really good! I loved the characters and seeing sloane and rowan happy! The marriage of convenience trope always just does it for me. The only reason this book is getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending felt rushed.

Leather and Lark is a sadistically twisted, laugh-out-loud funny, and strangely heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance featuring two serial killers, a marriage of convenience, and a killer hunting the killers. When someone begins murdering members of Lark Montague's family, she enlists the help of Lachlan Kane, a contract killer, to help find the person targeting her family and framing Lachlan for the crime. Despite despising each other, Lachlan and Lark marry to keep each other safe from the killer and Lark's family. However, what started out as a marriage of convenience becomes something more as the killer gets closer to Lachlan and Lark.

She's a musician that appears to be sunshine incarnate but has a darker side to her and he's the brooding contract killer that is determined to get discover everything about her... and being in a marriage of convenience while trying to avoid a killer is the perfect way to do so. Lark is an indie singer-songwriter who has had a hard past but has tried to hide all her pain behind her sunshine demeanor... and her extracurricular activities of hunting down predators and "deleting them" and making them into her own little home decor. Lachlan Kane is a contract killer who wants to get out of the business, he just wants to be left alone and to be freed from his psycho boss. One halloween Lachlan and Lark's paths cross and now a year later his brother is marrying her best friend. Lark and Lachlan can't stand one another, they get under each other's skin... but Lark is determined to keep her best friend's happiness in tact and that means protecting her best friend's husband's family. When a killer starts targeting people in Lark's family business and her parents think it's Lachlan's family... they'll kill him and his brothers, but to protect her best friend and her best friend's new husband Lark decides to enter into an arranged marriage to protect Lachlan and his brother from her family. Lark and Lachlan will have to work together to find out who this killer is and why they are targeting Lark and framing Lachlan.... but this new arranged marriage means both Lark and Lachlan will have to face each other and spend time together. Lachlan is beginning to realize that he judged Lark too soon and that everything he ever thought, that she was a spoiled princess, couldn't be more wrong and soon he finds himself falling for his new wife... if only she would let her guard down and let him prove to her that he's in this marriage for real. This was such a fun sequel to the first book and I was excited to see Lachlan and Lark's relationship play out in this one. Lark and Lachlan were such a fun couple and I enjoyed their constant back and forth, I loved how Lark just got under Lachlan's skin so much and how he was so determined to love her. Lark is a girl after my own heart ( plus she loves Constantine and calls Lachlan Budget Batman and is into crafts?!?!??? We might have to fight for her hand Lachlan). This was a fun sequel and I am so so excited for the next book in the trilogy( Rose x Fionn sounds so so angsty and amazing). This was really a delightful read and this entire series has been such a fun chaotic romance read!

*Thanks Netgalley and Zando | Slowburn for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

"Leather & Lark" totally blew my mind! Brynne Weaver just knows how to keep the epic vibes rolling! This book is like a rollercoaster of feels that you never want to get off. Seriously, I couldn't even handle how amazing it was!

Lachlan Kane is the epitome of brooding charm. With a past shrouded in mystery and a present filled with leatherwork, he's like a modern-day knight trying to atone for his sins. But don't be fooled by his gruff exterior—underneath all that tough guy armor beats the heart of a fiercely loyal and surprisingly caring individual. And then there's Lark Montague, the indie sensation whose glittering facade hides a world of secrets. She's like a burst of sunshine in Lachlan's dark world, bringing with her a whirlwind of chaos and color.

Their dynamic is like watching a fireworks—explosive, breathtaking, and impossible to tear your eyes away from. The hate-to-love trope is executed flawlessly, with every barb and banter building up to an electrifying climax that had me on the edge of my seat. And when they finally give in to their feelings? Let's just say I needed a moment to catch my breath because the chemistry between them is off the charts!

But it's not just Lachlan and Lark stealing the show. Aunt Ethel deserves a standing ovation for her meddling ways, and the cameos from the first book felt like catching up with old friends over a cup of coffee. Brynne Weaver has a knack for creating characters that feel like they could jump off the page and join you for brunch, and the world she's built is so vivid and immersive that you'll find yourself lost in its depths long after you've turned the final page.

"Leather & Lark" is a masterpiece, with twists and turns that will leave you breathless and begging for more. From heart-stopping action sequences to tender moments of intimacy, this book has it all. And the ending? Let's just say I may have screamed into my pillow in frustration because I need the next book like yesterday. Rose and Fionn better be ready because I am already counting down the days until their story rocks my world!

ugh i really thought i would love this as much as the first one but i didn’t hit !! not saying that it isn’t good i think i just went into to high of expectations and it fell flat like something was missing!!! NOT SAYING IT ISNT GOOD BUT STILL WORTH THW READ

Marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, he falls first, serial killers, spice.... I mean, what's not to love?! This book gets four gold stars. Why are the stars gold you ask? You'll understand once you've read the this! ;) This is a slow burn romance with spice at the end, and yes, Weaver ruins more foods for us. I loved Butcher & Blackbird. Leather & Lark didn't quite live up to it, but it was nonetheless an enjoyable book. There were a couple of narration and editing decisions that didn't work for me, and the big climactic event was rushed. The banter and the quirky characters were excellent. Overall if you liked Butcher & Blackbird then you'll like Leather & Lark. Publication date is June 4th and I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of it!

THANK YOU to Zando for providing me with an advanced copy via NetGalley.

if someone told me serial killer romances would be my niche i would have laughed BUT boy oh boy does Brynne Weaver have a way with words!!!! the way i was giggling, kicking my feet, just loving every moment of this one. not going to lie i was nervous because of how much i LOVED Butcher and Blackbird but hehehe lachlan kane is the LOVE of my LIFE!!!! there is nothing better than a gumpy man who really is just a big softy for the ones he loves. like where is my gumpy Irish man that will fall in love with me and read me to sleep ??? like the little moments between him and lark were so good.

Butcher & Blackbird is one of my favorite books of the year and I was worried it couldn’t be matched but Brynne DELIVERED. In the words of Lachlan Kane, this book is “fan-feckin’-tastic”! Just as murdery as B&B but, because it’s Lark, add a ton of glitter and a few well-placed gold stars and we have ourselves another instant best seller. If you’re on the fence about preordering, take this as your push over the edge and add this to your cart immediately!

- Lachlan is bigger, broodier, and more badass than Rowan but at this point, I cannot choose a favorite Kane brother so don’t even ask. 😂

- Lark is a ball of sunshine covered in glitter so when she proposes a marriage of convenience to Lachlan to save him from danger, how could he say no? Except Lark hates his guts and is only doing it for her bestie, Sloane. Their marriage starts off rocky but in true Brynne Weaver fashion, all we need is a sprinkle of murder before the fireworks ignite. (That may or may not be an Easter egg, you’ll just have to read it to find out.)

- The snark is top tier and comes from all angles. Lark’s elderly aunt is a top contributor but she’s not the only side character with a saucy side! Expect to giggle to yourself throughout this entire book!

- Check the trigger warnings. Brynne is out to ruin all foods for us before this trilogy is complete and this time it’s pizza! And possibly beer. Definitely also smoothies. You can check her website for all trigger warnings, both serious and silly.

In summary, you need this book. If you’re a fan of hate to love, grumpy/sunshine, touch her and d!e, and he falls first…this book is definitely for you!

I received a gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Another banger direct from Brynne Weaver! She knocked it out of the park with Butcher & Blackbird and did it again with Leather & Lark.

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, touch him/her and die, grumpy/sunshine

Brynne Weaver does it once again! This book gets five gold stars (iykyk) and had me hooked from two chapters! Leather and lark is a smashing sequel to the hit butcher and blackbird. This book featured a marriage of convenience trope along with an enjoyable slow burn. Which says a lot, considering I am NOT a slow burn girly. On the gruesome scale, this book is way more tame in comparison to book one, but also more unique in their killing methods! I also adored the third POV featured in a handful of chapters that kept me on the edge of my seat. Also the spice was IMMACULATE! Brynne Weaver is now an auto-buy author for me :) This title is for anyone who loved Butcher and Blackbird or someone wanting a more chill serial killer romance.

Final rating: 3.5/5
Heat: 1.5/5

Following up on Butcher and Blackbird, Leather and Lark focuses on Rowan's older, surly brother, Lachlan Kane, and Sloane's ride-or-die bff, Lark Montague. With a great setup to a very contentious and sexually tense enemies-to-lovers, the middle third of the book nearly lost me with all the focus on Lark's love of glitter and Lachlan's Irish grumblings. I also missed all the fun and crazy gore we got in Butcher and Blackbird (and also ruined foods), but alas, Lachlan/Lark are their own people with their own styles.

Still, what spurred me on was diving back into Brynne Weaver's lovely and lively writing style. For me, the story and characters really come to life with her carefully chosen words, and even though I may have gotten a little bored watching these two try to navigate and one-up each other, their constant bantering made me smile and giggle. The best part, for me, was when the walls FINALLY came tumbling down and being able to watch the glorious aftermath of Lachlan having his "a-ha" moment. Perfection.

Truly, this series and all these characters have a special place in my heart. Rowan and Sloane are one of my favorite couples, and when Lachlan and Lark can finally get their shite together, they're a really lovely and loving duo as well.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Contract killer Lachan and singer/song-writer Lark are back! I loved Butcher & Blackbird and I've been anxiously waiting this book. I must say, it did NOT disappoint. In fact, I think I liked it even more! Lachan was this adorable, brooding idiot and Lark is a glittery ball of sunshine with a dark, vindictive center, and I loved every second. While I loved B&B, it was much more of an instant-connection,while this was definitely a hate-to-love scenario.

However, if you are expecting the Lark from B&B, you might be let down. We just get small glimpses of her, where she is doing what she does best-hiding herself for those she loves. The beginning of the book starts over a year before the end of B&B, so we get to see what was going on while Sloan and Rowan were falling in love. Personally, I loved this version of Lark, but be prepared going in.

I will definitely be buying this book and can't wait for book 3!

Absolutely adorable Lark and Lachlan! I adore their story and the mix of their history as well as little peeks of what Rowan and Sloane are up to now! No questions, if Brynne writes it I will read it!