Thanks to @brynne_weaver @zandoprojects and @netgalley for the free audiobook! If you read Butcher & Blackbird, you know this is a <AHEM> unique series. If you enjoyed B&B, I think you’ll find the second book in the series equally entertaining. But, like the first book, please read the content warnings and be emotionally prepared to forego some more foods, just as you probably no longer eat cookies and cream ice cream (IYKYK).

Grumpy Lachlan Kane leads a double life. By day, he owns a boutique leather shop, and by night, he is a contract killer (he also helps his younger brother ID serial killers, but we know that from B&B). A year ago, he messed up a job and now sees no way out of the life of murderous that he wants to leave behind. Then Lark, the annoyingly sunshine, silver-spoon heiress, offers him a mutually beneficial way out - she’ll get him out of his contract, he’ll help find who is threatening her family, and they will save Butcher & Blackbird in the process. The only catch is that they will have to get married to make it work. As they navigate a fake marriage, they discover sides of the other they thought didn’t exist. Lachlan might be grumpy, but he is loyal and loves his family fiercely. Lark may be a sunshine indie singer, but darkness lurks within her and her family business.

Like B&B, this is a dark, violent, super spicy romance (although it is *slightly* tempered on both fronts from the first book). I adored the campiness of B&B, but this book, although it is still funny, puts more on the line. Lachlan and Lark are trying to save people they love while not being killed in the process, which makes the stakes feel higher and the tone a little more serious. A Little. I also thought this plot, which was teased at the end of the first book, worked well because, if you are like me, you may have found yourself thinking, ‘Don’t these actions have consequences?’ And here you see some consequences. At its core, this is a completely bingeable slow burn enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience that will cause you to never look at smoothies, beer, pizza, snow globes, or coffee tables(!!) quite the same way again.

Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan narrate the audiobook in a duet. It was my first book with either of them as narrators, and they were fantastic! Duet narration is my absolute favorite style for audiobooks, and this one was a duet narration of everything—even the content warnings.

I managed to finish Butcher & Blackbird a few days before I got the approval to listen to Leather & Lark. I adored the first book in this trilogy and I was excited to immediately jump into Book 2. It did not disappoint. I liked this one a little more than B & B but it's only slightly better. I adore all the characters we've been introduced to so far but I felt a lot more connected to Lachlan and Lark. I'm excited to see where this world goes next!

🔪 Dark Romance
🔪 Marriage of (in)Convenience
🔪 Enemies to Lovers
🔪 Forced Proximity
🔪 Everyone is a K🔪ller
🔪Slow Burn SPICY

👆🏻you may have noticed above that I left out the “comedy” from the dark romantic comedy I was expecting in this book. I found the comedic aspect missing. Maybe it was still there but on a much smaller level than the first installment of this series.

The enemies to lovers portion was really fun. The banter and animosity were great.

This was a much slower burn than I was expecting but when the spice hit… boy, did it hit. Laughlin and Lark were on fire.

Shockingly enough, I got queezy during on scene. It was listed in the CW, so it’s really on me 😅 but I normally don’t have a squeamish stomach so I wasn’t expecting to be bothered. But I was. So…. PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTENT/TRIGGER warnings please.

The narrators did a really good job. The way the read the content warnings was entertaining. The accents and emotions were really well done.

3.5-4 ⭐️

Brynne Weaver delivers another fantastic dark and twisty romance with superb dialogue and imaginative characters. I loved the marriage of convenience and tension between the main characters. The way Brynne Weaver can balance disturbing and endearing is chefs kiss. Nearly a 5 star read but it was incredibly difficult not to compare it to Butcher & Blackbird. At times, L&L felt like it was missing the same spark that the first book had.

Being dual POV, chapters were read by the assigned narrator for either Lark or Lachlan. However, no matter whose POV chapter you were in the dialogue would be read by the character’s narrator. It was different but highly enjoyable. The only bit that detracted was the inserted laughter but I still give it high marks for how unique of a listening experience it was.

Overall, if you’ve been anticipating this book as much as I was, you will not be disappointed and it is worth your time. I am swiftly becoming ride or die for Brynne Weaver and I am already counting down the days until Sycthe & Sparrow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape for the ALC.

I was blown away by this! Honestly, I was a bit nervous going into it as Butcher & Blackbird was a favourite of mine...but you actually did it! The sequel managed to build upon the fantastic storytelling of the first book and make it (somehow) even better. I loved the tension and romance between Lark and Lachlan. I loved the writing style, the humour, and I cannot get over how cute the 'husband/wife' nicknames were. I spent a good while after this finished just sitting and thinking about it.

The fact this was an audio book format made it even better for me. I loved this!

Thank you sooo sooo much to the Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC!!
I ran around fist pumping in the air when I was notified I could listen to this ARC! I loved Butcher and Black Bird so much I instantly went and pre-ordered every copy of this book I could find. I loved the multiple POV, the story, the MURDER lol....the spice wasn't bad either hehe. I also feel as though the author is out to ruin all the good foods for us! I will be making.. not asking...but making everyone I know read this book!

(4.5) Well, OKAY! The tropes in this were fan-freaking-tastic. I’ll list them below but I went into it blind and had a heck of a time being surprised. I enjoy Brynn’s writing so much. It’s funny and witty and just so enjoyable that I binged both of these books so quickly. While the story is a little bonkers, it was unique and packed with humor, emotions, and depth. It was so nice to get glimpses of the mcs from the first book. I didn’t think it was possible but I love Lark and Lochlan more than the mcs from the first book. Lochlan is so grumpy and growly, which I love in a fictional man. Lark is witty and fierce and I loved her instantly. Their journey together was just so good. The steam… my goodness! I already cannot wait for book 3!

And that bonus chapter? 👀 hello


Tropes/themes:
-hate to love
-marriage of convenience
-crawl
-nickname
-grumpy/sunshine

I really liked the first book in this series The Butcher and the Blackbird so I was excited to jump right into this one. This book was similar to the first one with everything going over the top but I liked this one so much more for a simple reason, The characters.

In Book one, I did like Sloane and Rowan, they were the main reason I was so invested in the story. I didn't think those characters were going to be topped but I was wrong. Both Lark and Lachlan were so much more likable, which is weird to say with how shitty they all are.

The book starts out interesting and just hits the gas and never slows down. I liked Lark in the first book but having her as the star made this book shine so much. Her banter with Lachlan is top notch. I appreciate that Weaver has written two books about two couples who are killers and makes them feel so different. I can’t say enough good things about the writing.

I have read books that have a fake marriage for different reasons but I never liked that idea. Lark & Leather has a fake marriage and this surprisingly worked for me. I feel this worked because of the reasons they entered the marriage. I have not been so invested in a relationship like this in a while. The excellent writing by Weaver with all the over-the-top violence and gore is excellently crafted to make this a must read series. Weaver will get you so attached to characters we all should hate.

I want to start of by saying the audiobook production for this book was phenomenal. The narrators did so well with not only the narrations but with the background noises, the songs, and all the effects. It really sounded like they were both recording in the same room.

Okay to the story part, I enjoyed this one a lot i think it was a good follow-up to the first book. The romance was cute but boy was it a slow one. I think this has less action when compared to the first book and had a lot of slower parts. Lachlan was not what I expected, he was so much softer lol. Lark also also felt a little off but I enjoyed her character and the nuance. I loved the butcher and blackbird cameos and the marriage of convenience vibes in this one led to so many my wife moments. I wish we had seen more of Sloan's friendship with Lark and more of Lachlan's relationship with his brothers. Also, the villain of this book seemed to come out of nowhere and the ending to that also seemed to be wrapped up pretty quickly. Overall it was a good read, the author's writing is good and the narrators did an amazing job of making the book even better. Thank you to Dreamscape for this ALC for an honest review.

Tropes/themes:
- Marriage of convenience
- He falls first
- Serial killer fmc
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Religious trauma
- Slow burn

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.

Thank you for this audio arc in exchange for an honest review! I thought this was so so good, however, it was missing that shock factor and magic that the first one did. No foods were ruined, and I could see the main villain a mile away.

But this was still a great read overall, and was so so soooo fun to read/listen to!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC. When I say I was over the moon excited to see this book in my email. I Couldn’t wait to read this book because the first book butcher and blackbird was my top read for 2023. This book did not disappoint. Blonde Barbie and Batman were amazing characters. I fell in love with them. They were so entertaining! Lachlan was a sexy man too!! Who wouldn’t love a book about two serial killers who hate each other then marry and eventually fall in love. What a unique storyline such a fantastic read. There were many triggers definitely a dark romance, but oh so wonderful. The narrators Eric Nolan and Samantha Brentmorr were fantastic. 5 star book highly recommend!!!

Listen! I don't know how, but I actually liked this one more than Butcher & Blackbird! I love Blonder Barbie and Batman so much! Lachlan is just so hot! I was pleasantly surprised... After being compelled to marry in order to protect the ones they care about, two serial killers who despise each other end up falling for each other. That bonus scene has me in a chokehold. I digress in the best way. Brynne really pushed the envelope on this one. Someone said get me a bucket of ice and I agree! hahaha

Lots of triggers, so if you follow me for recs, this is a smutty darker romance with abuse.

I actually listened and thought Eric Nolan and Samantha Brentmoor were chef's kiss narrating as well!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC for an honest review!

Hitman marries a serial killer? Ok I’ll give that a go!
I loved it, original, funny and gripping I couldn’t put this book down.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot because I think it’s best to go in blind but it was very unique and kept me interested throughout.
10/10 for the narrators

i wasn’t sure how brynne was going to outdo rowan and sloane’s book but she outdid them and THEN some with this book???

i would genuinely give this infinity stars if i could and i feel Empty now that i’ve finished the audiobook…

so many things about this book, the plot, the romance, the ANGST, had me so invested and so excited i got the chance to listen to this audiobook early.

lark and lachlan were so perfect and all the cameos from sloane and rowan and fionn and rose made my heart SOAR. i’m beyond excited to get my hands on this book and very excited to see where she takes rose and fionn next book 🥹🥹

this was one of my Most anticipated reads for this year and i am so glad it exceeded every expectation i had for it.

thank you brynne and zando audio for the chance to enjoy this early!!!!