I really wanted to love this book, I did. I received this arc right at the beginning of spooky season and I was sure it would hit the mark. And while I did like some of what I read, it didn’t do it for me in the long run. I needed a little more of everything it was offering.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you scroll through review sites you would see that there are people who are absolutely feral for this book, so search around a little before you settle on if you want to read it.

All in all. It wasn’t too bad and has a HEA. It hit certain marks. But I probably won’t read it again.

Tropes/About
Dual POV
Rich Guy X Poor Girl
Rivals to Lovers
Forced Proximity
Fast Burn

3.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The book was a bit of a wild ride. The concept was 10/10. Execution, not so much. There were some weird phrasings that l've seen plenty of other reviewers point out so l'll leave those out at the risk of this feeling like a copy/paste review.
There were a few slow moments as well, but just when I would start to get impatient, something would happen that drew me back in.
The ending, phenomenal. I did figure it out fairly early on but the way it came together was really good.
Overall, closed the "book" (kindle?) feeling happy about what I read, and I'm curious about the next book in the series!

This book was soooo good!! I was excited to get approved for netgalley and I came in with low expectations because I've never read from this author before. Lordy I was blown away. I'm still thinking about the characters and can't wait to read the other one with the same style cover. Monarch maybe? The covers are absolutely gorgeous ! I loved the spooky vibes this book gave. It's got everything really. Love, mystery, suspense, violence, funny moments, twisted villain, dark romance and super spicy!!!! Also a sentimental too!!!! Definitely got me a bit teary eyed with certain scenes of the ex wife, but I freaking loved every second of being in this world. I have a mini book hangover from this beautiful tale and I want more. I can't wait to read the other book !!!! 10 stars!!!

This was a spooky(ish) read and it was spicy … very spicy but I like my books spicy so that was perfect .

It was such a good read and it was one that I just couldn’t put down

I do recommend.

OOOohhhweeeee let me ust say Sophie is the queen of sexy dark novels. I loved this from the "haunted" mansion vibes to the sexy doctor neighbor who kind of sucks at first its a recipe for a page turner. 5/5

As always with these new Bloom releases of hers, I LOVE the character art included throughout the book. And while I didn't listen to the music while I was reading, I loved the idea of songs interspersed throughout the book for ~ambiance~ as well. I DO think the character art was....a choice though, because Remi is described as small chested half a dozen times, but in the art she is.....decidedly not.

Overall this is a pretty solid romantic suspense novel with some darer themes. I don't know if I would go so far as to call it a true dark romance, but it's not exactly light and fluffy rom com material either. The mix between the spice and plot was pretty good, but I DO wish there was maybe 50 more pages at the end because we go from 0 to 100 in the last 30ish pages, and I would have liked to see a little more action between the "twist" and the resolution/epilogue.

Is the twist predictable? Yeah, a bit, depending on how you vibe with certain characters. Is it still a wild reveal? Sure is. Is the story still a fun ride and gave me the urge to move to a small gothic town and flip a house at 3 am? Also yes.

This is probably my favorite of Sophie's books so far, and I'm definitely going to pick up Monarch! I recommend going into this one as blind as you can for the most fun!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Such a big fan of Sophie Lark and totally loved this dark gothic romance! Dark academia is becoming increasingly popular and I’m excited to see Sophie explore more of this world in the next installment!

ARC Review of Grimstone by Sophie Lark
* * * * *
A dark romance taking you on a mystery and a thrilling ride between erotic nights and a deadly threat looming over our purple haired badass woman.

This was not in Remi's plan, but it was all she had.
After leaving her cheating fiance, she ends up on a little town filled with gossip and secrets as she tries to restore her uncle's manor. With her genius brother at her side, even though she would prefer he were in college, she believes she can get this all sorted.
Until Doctor Death decides to give her some road troubles.
Dane is a grumpy older man carrying the death of his wife and son on his shoulders, stuck in the shadows, haunted by ghosts, and now being irritated by the tattooed, pierced, purple haired beauty that gain his attention.
As things start going bump in the night and bloody presents are left for Remi, she doesn't know who she can trust.
Her brother.
Her dead uncle.
Her new friends.
The rude sheriff.
Or the doctor.

Fantastic read!
What a spin! The massive reveal! With what Remi is also haunted by, and the troubles that follow her, of course it all comes unravelling when Dane comes into her life and starts pushing buttons. Not to mentioned Dane's burden and what he carries with him as well!
Really eager to read Monarch now!
Also, love the drawings as usual.

So I wanted to really love Grimstone, I really did. But unfortunately I found this lacking. There were aspects that were redeemable and you can definitely feel the writing style of this author. But quite frankly, when she drifts to other sub genres she isn't used to writing, the stories just feel like there is something missing and doesn't quite have her pizazz. There were some superb factors to this book. The plot was very well mastered, the world building was perfect, it capitalized on the spooky factor and is really the perfect setting for this time of year and it had some unique dynamics of the small town that is displayed. What I struggled with, the romance. The romance really suffered. Sometimes when authors switch sub genres and try something new, this is what suffers. It had a really cool set up for our pair but it just didn't quite measure up to what I was hoping for. There just wasn't quite the connection that I wanted to feel but it didn't get there. It really lacked emotional depth in their relationship aspects that could have used a bit more work.

I gave this novel 3.5 stars. I wasn't emotionally invested in any of the characters in this book. Every character in this book seemed shallow and self serving and gossiping with the possible exception of Remi's uncle who we don't learn much about, yet he seemed like a very kind, eccentric person who spent time with her, teaching her how to use power tools. It was tough getting through to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books publishing for the advanced reader copy of this dark romance.

This was such an amazing read I really enjoyed and was hooked from the first page which I seem to be from every one of her books it’s definitely a most read

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was my second Sophie Lark book. So I’m still getting to know her as an author, but I feel like anything she writes now I will pick up.

I didn’t really get horror vibes from this book. I actually didn’t find it scary at all. I found it more mysterious and I kept reading because I was very intrigued. I wanted to know what happened and who was causing certain things to happen. But I didn’t find it scary. Maybe a touch gothic though.

The insta love/insta lust bothers me a little bit but that’s just a personal preference in books I read. I know a lot of people love that trope.

All in all, I’d give it a four out of five stars. And I will be buying a physical copy for myself because have you seen how gorgeous that book is.

3.5⭐️

I have mixed feelings about this book. I thought the MCs lacked a bit of chemistry, and I thought for sure that the friend was the culprit, BUT I was nicely surprised who the person responsible was - did not see that coming!

I did enjoy the idea of the book...it's perfect for the October season. However, I was looking for a title to use for our upcoming podcast, but it's a little too titillating to use for that. I loved the opportunity of the ARC and look forward to reading more.

🏚️Romantic suspense/thriller vibes
🏚️Gothic themes
🏚️Close proximity
🏚️Small town
🏚️Neighbours
🏚️Age gap
🏚️Hate to love

⚠️ Check triggers ⚠️ previous child + spouse death, on page SA attempt and more

Wow! What a story! This was such a wild ride and I rarely knew where things were going. Remi buys a new house with her brother in a new town to renovate. But it comes with the grumpiest neighbor who has many bad rumors about him throughout town. Dane is a recluse who doesn't do much but work the night shift since losing his wife and son.

Dane and Remi start out on a bad foot absolutely hating each other. But their chemistry quickly sparks. Dane falls head over heels and there is no denying their pull. The spice.... It's SPICIN!!!

There's mystery, suspense, ghosts?!, body parts, murder, swoony moments and more!

This is absolutely my new favorite Sophie book and I can't wait to read more from this world.

Thank you for this ARC

Grimstone
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (3.5/5)

I picked up Grimstone by Sophie Lark, thinking it would be the perfect way to kick off the spooky season, and I was absolutely right. If you’re easily spooked like I am, you’ll definitely want to read this one with the lights on—I found it nearly impossible to read after dark! But then again, I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat, so take that as you will.

Dane was an intriguing and mysterious character throughout the story, keeping me guessing and wondering if there was a deeper meaning to his persona. In the end, he turned out to be just the dark, brooding type I adore, and I loved that about him. However, I struggled to feel the chemistry between Dane and Remi, which left me wanting more from their dynamic.

This book had me on the edge of my seat, but the ending truly caught me off guard. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it prompted me to reevaluate everything I had read up to that point, including the characters' actions and motivations. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that Grimstone was an interesting read and definitely not what I expected.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Neighbours
.Age gap (14 years)
.Hurt/comfort
.Forced proximity
.Spooky as hell
.Dual POV

Was this my favorite story? No. But I have to give it to Sophie Lark and her incredible writing for turning a story I wouldn't typically enjoy into a book that actually hooked me and kept me engaged. That twist at the end caught me completely by surprise, which is no small feat. What could have easily been a 3-star read turned into a solid 4-plus. She’s such a versatile writer, and it’s amazing how she can switch between different romance subgenres while still maintaining her unique voice.

This is probably the spookiest romance I’ve ever read. I’m not new to dark romance, but I usually avoid it because the characters often feel one dimensional. That’s not the case here. Dane is anything but. He’s morally grey, tortured, and possessive, like most male leads in dark romance, but he’s also kind, surprisingly funny, and attentive. He listens and empathises, which sets him apart from the typical dark romance psychopath. Remi is also not your typical princess or damsel in distress. She’s strong-willed, physically capable, and feels like a real woman.

Their relationship is explosive, and the depth of their trust in each other was incredible to read. As expected, Sophie knows how to write some seriously good spicy scenes. She always manages to introduce something unique, maybe a little kink that isn’t usually explored in romance, and I love that.

As a visual reader, the stunning artwork of key scenes really added to the experience. I read Minx by this author, where she also included art from the same artist, and I loved it. It makes the book even more immersive.

This book is definitely worth your time, especially for the spooky season. I wasn’t planning to continue the series, but now I definitely will!

HUUUUGE Perks to this author for a cool picture for the cover, fan art in the beginning of the book, and then immediately starting the book. Absolutely loved that. Loved this story and the characters. This was absolutely amazing! I hate myself for waiting so long to read this.

A woman and her brother move into their uncle's fixer upper years after his death. As she starts to fix things through the house weird things start happening. All the while things start heating up with the neighbor. The MC starts finding weird things around the house including damaged property, piano playing by itself, and a dog leg in the backyard barn. She must figure out who is the root cause of all this while protecting her brother and getting into a relationship with her next store neighbor who is rumored to be the town murderer. Was not expecting the romance scenes in this book but it was a great surprise. The ending is FANTASTIC!

Triggers: Mental Health, Animal death, Violence, Graphic Attempted Sexual Assault, and graphic scenes

Spice: 5/5

🏚️🩸🔨🩺🎹

Thank you Sourcebooks, Bloom Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! It was like mindf*ck series but less dark. I really enjoyed remi and dane's story. I enjoyed seeing them grow and accept their past and move forward together. Learning about their backstories was also very interesting. I liked how their stories differed from what others perceived them to be like, cause the rumours in the town were wild. I especially enjoyed the bad boy, mysterious vibes dane was given by the town. He definitely still has mysterious vibes but once you learn his back story, you also can't help but feel bad for him 🥺 Also the ending?!? I did see it coming but definitely not like that!! It was amazing. This book was the perfect amount of spice and plot. The story kept me on my toes and I never knew what to expect next!

This book is perfect for the upcoming spooky season! Everyone should add it to their tbr for their fall season reads!! I think it's one of my fave sophie lark books I've read! I can't wait for the next book in the series!!

Grimstone: ★★★★★ (5)

Pub date: Available now in store and on KU!

What did I just read? I wasn't expecting anything from this plot.
I had never read anything by the author, but now I will definitely read it. The only one that improved were the sex scenes I thought too much.