Rating: 3.6
Spice: 4.0

Read if you like:

🥀 Dark spicy romance
👻 Eerie haunted house
🖤 Mystery’s to be uncovered
☕️ Hot doctor-next-door
🍂 Spooky fall vibes

My review:

This was my first Sophie lark novel and I am quite interested in picking up her others, as I have heard really good things about the brutal birthright series!

It starts off eerie and odd as you’re trying to navigate what is haunting the house Remi inherited from her late uncle, in the gothic and peculiar town of Grimstone. Plus there is a hot-doctor-next door that just can’t seem to get off her mind.👀

Personally I wish the romance was more slow burn instead of quick with the plot, with a few spicy scenes here and there that arn’t specifically for me, but may be for you! Overall I enjoyed this novel and it was a quick spicy read perfect for fall spooky vibes!

Many thanks to Sophie Lark, NetGalley and Bloom publishing for a free ARC!

First of all, thank you Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and the author for the opportunity.

What so say about this book? I could say I’m traumatised but I have read worse.

Over all I liked it, it’s a dark romance, but not THAT much you know? Either way it has all the necessary things: charismatic characters, romance (for some people could not be for their liking), a good storyline (the main characters’ stories) and a plot beyond the romance with mystery and plot twists.

Well, I already felt something strange toward that person BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT COULD THAT BAD. It was worst than I imagined.

The writing is very addictive and I wanted to read more and more because of this and the way the author ended the chapters.

I also lover the draws in some chapters and the playlist who had music in some of the scenes to look more cinematic.

Overall it’s a very good book for those who like dark romance or want to begin reading the genre.

Grimstone by Sophie Lark is the perfect mix of spine chilling mystery and steamy dark romance, set against the eerie backdrop of a crumbling mansion and a town full of secrets. If you love your romance with a side of ghostly thrills and sizzling chemistry, you’ll want to dive into this standalone story.

Remi Hayes is having the worst luck, her fiancé cheated on her, her brother is a constant headache, and now she’s stuck flipping a decaying, possibly haunted mansion she inherited from her uncle. Enter Dane Covett, the town’s dangerously attractive doctor with a dark past, a murder accusation, and enough heat to make Remi’s troubles a little more… interesting.

Dane is the ultimate brooding bad boy. The town gossips claim he murdered his wife, and his mysterious aura only adds to his allure. But when Remi gets injured and he stitches her up, sparks fly……literally. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the way he demands a kiss as "payment" will have your heart racing. Let’s just say, the heat between them is enough to raise the dead (if Blackleaf Manor’s ghosts don’t do that first).

But Grimstone isn’t just about scorching romance. As Remi renovates the mansion, strange and dangerous things start happening, making her question if it’s truly haunted, or if Dane is hiding something much darker. The plot twists keep you on edge, blending mystery, ghostly encounters, and sizzling tension in a way that feels deliciously addictive. The gothic atmosphere of the beachside town, mixed with Halloween vibes, creates the perfect setting for this hauntingly hot romance.

Sophie Lark weaves together the eerie and the erotic. Both Remi and Dane are damaged, each with skeletons in their closets, sometimes literally, and their journey to healing and connection feels raw and real, even in the midst of all the supernatural suspense. You can’t help but root for them to find peace and redemption, even as you wonder if you should be trusting Dane along with Remi.

And the spice? Be warned, this book brings the heat, with some scenes that will definitely get your pulse pounding. But it’s also not for the faint of heart, with triggering content that makes Grimstone dark, edgy, and a little dangerous.

If you’re in the mood for a sexy, spooky read where the romance burns hot and the atmosphere gives you all the gothic chills, Grimstone will deliver. It’s the perfect Halloween-season escape, full of mystery, passion, and a haunted love story you won’t soon forget.

SOPHIE LARK! 👏🏼 MAAM👏🏼 This book was so good! I’m not a gothic romance girly usually, but I know I can trust Soph to write a fun story and Grimstone was certainly one! We get some enemies to lovers, fast paced spice 😘, and some gothic vibes with a romantic thriller storyline (or is it ghosties?!) I was hooked to this book by the 25% mark and then binged it, which was great cause it’s helping pull me out of a book slump! I liked the relationship dynamic even if their paving was off at time - each of their individual stories kept me intrigued and so invested

“I love your work drive and your stubbornness. I love how you understand me and how hard you work to understand yourself. I love that you’re brave, and you’re bold, and you want the truth…”

🖤 Gothic Romance
💜 Age gap (41 MMC - 27 FMC)
💚 Romantic Thriller
💜 Insta Lust
⚠️Check out the CW! Some heavier topics included!

And the ending?! What?! I can’t wait to go read Monarch now!

Thank you NetGalley, Hambright PR and Sophie Lark for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review!

I definitely had my frustrations with this book. Occasionally a simile or adverb would catch me a particularly unpleasant way or something else along that vein. But that being said I genuinely enjoyed the story. Two misunderstood people taking solace in each other, saving each other AND THEMSELVES rather than the usual trope of him saving her, was a nice change of pace. And I can't lie; I did NOT expect that ending.

WOW!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I didn’t figure it all out till it was too late! Holy smokes was this book a total Mind play!! I seriously felt like I was losing my mind right along with Remi and Dane, fans self, is so much more than a hot, broody man hiding in the forest!

This book starts off tense and as Remi and her brother Jude adjust to life in their new town you start to learn that the town has dark secrets and just might be the siblings undoing. The darkest secret lives just next door and is the night doctor. Dane isn’t impressed with Remi when they first meet but something keeps him wanting more time with the fiery woman and as they get to know each other both have to decide if more could ever be.

Lark’s writing is superb and this book serves as a reminder at how dynamic and thrilling she can be in her books. She is also so good at writing characters that are layered and you won’t get to know them and who they truly are until you uncover their truths as you read. So many surprises and some memorable steamy moments that will live with you long after the last word is read!

Remi + Dane

-neighbors to lovers
-gothic romance
-small spooky town
-age gap
-hypnosis 👀

dude ill tell you what! this book gave me a mindfuck there do a while & i was really scared about how i thought the revelations were going…but that plot twist?! i did NOTTTT freaking see that coming omg!!

Another amazing book by Sophie Lark! This book absolutely sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. The story was interesting and the illustrations were stunning. I definitely didn't expect the twist at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloombooks for the ARC!

Alright…. I tried. I really tried. My second book by this author and neither have been for me. I think they will be for some people, but just not me. The MC in this was gross immediately. The similes were just too much. His thoughts were too much. Dnfing.

Grimstone
by Sophie Lark

Grimstone by Sophie Lark is the perfect blend of gothic romance and suspense, set in the eerie, atmospheric Blackleaf Manor. Remi’s journey, from dealing with her troubled past to uncovering the secrets of her new home, is gripping, and the creepy haunted house vibes make this a great fall read. While I loved the suspenseful plot and the chemistry between Remi and Dane, I wasn’t a fan of how their relationship began with blackmail, which felt off for me. Despite this, Lark’s writing shines, combining romance and mystery beautifully. Perfect for fans of spooky romance and thrilling mysteries!

Set against the backdrop of the foreboding Blackleaf Manor, the story follows Remi Hayes, a young woman grappling with a streak of bad luck that seems almost cursed: a cheating fiancé, a bothersome brother, and now the weight of an eerie inheritance that may or may not be haunted. With a premise that effortlessly combines gothic elements with contemporary romance, Lark pulls readers into a world where love and danger intertwine in the most tantalizing ways.
Remi is a relatable and well-drawn character, her flustered emotions grounding the story amidst its more outlandish elements. As she navigates the daunting task of renovating her uncle's dilapidated mansion, readers witness her growth from a woman beleaguered by her past to one who takes charge of her future. The depiction of Blackleaf Manor as a character in its own right adds an atmospheric layer to the narrative, filled with creaks, shadows, and a lingering sense of the supernatural.
The introduction of Dane Covett, the enigmatic doctor-next-door and local pariah, spices up the plot considerably. Lark crafts Dane with a delicious complexity; he’s not simply a romantic lead but a figure shrouded in scandal and intrigue. The chemistry between Remi and Dane crackles off the pages, especially highlighted during intimate moments that are as charged as they are tender. Their flirtation begins with a desperate act of first aid that quickly turns into something more personal, setting the stage for a romance that is both steamy and fraught with tension.
This is definitely a delightful read that skillfully merges the eerie and the romantic, making it a perfect pick for fans of contemporary paranormal romance. Lark invites readers into a world where love can be just as frightening as it is exhilarating, and where one's deepest fears may just lead to unexpected redemption. Whether you’re a fan of gothic romance or just looking for a thrilling escape Grimstone is a must-read!

If you ever want a book you can’t put down, pick up a Sophie Lark book! This was the perfect spooky book for the fall season. it gave you the creepy haunted house and town vibes. I love the fact that every character she writes has a battle they’ve faced or they just have a tragic past. Loved this perfect little romance and mystery story!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

oh grimstone. where do i begin with you?

this was one of my least favorite sophie lark books i've ever read. the premise? AMAZING
the execution? so SO dang weird

it was a lot of things but overall extremely weird.

Grimstone is a great fall read, perfect for spooky season because of the creepy haunted house vibes. Unfortunately I didn't really care for the male lead/love interest. I don't like stories where blackmail is the basis for beginning a relationship. He also doesn't believe in consent, apparently. I do think that this book should have trigger alerts at the front, and I hope the final, published version does.

major spooky vibes alert!!! this is a perfect book for sept and oct!! this is a dark spooky romance and i enjoyed it!

This is genuinely THE PERFECT book for fall/spooky season. My mans is delectable and the tension is UNREAL.

Absolutely love anything and everything Sophie writes and this is no exception!

This book was so good! Remi is just trying to make ends meet. When her parents die she must take care of her brother on her own. When flipping the house she inherited in the small town of Grimstone some strange occurrences happen. What she first thinks could be supernatural phenomenon turns out much worse. Her neighbor is dark and dangerous, at least the whole town thinks so. However, he might be the only one who can save her when the people closest to her betray her in every way. This book is full of suspense, thrill, and leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This books is about Remi and Dane. Remi has had a hard life, stuck raising her little brother from a young age. They are left an old manor house, Blackleaf, in the small town of Grimstone. This is an odd town, full of odd characters, one being the Doctor next door.

I really enjoyed this book! Sophie Lark has a way of blending romance and suspense like few other authors. I loved the relationship between Dane and Remi. I would recommend this book to fans of dark romance as well as romantic suspense!

That was nothing for me

I was really in the mood for a book with a spooky vibe and a darker atmosphere and Sophie Lark's "Grimstone" jumped straight into my head.

Grimstone has so many great tropes and the atmosphere was really dark, but unfortunately the story of Remi and Dane didn't convince me.

For me, there were just so many parts that really cringed or even turned me off a bit. For example, "When she closes the door, she doesn't bother to run the water it the fan, so I hear the distinct sound of her hot piss hitting the bowl. My cocktail hardens". That is something I really won‘t to read.

I really didn't like Dane at all. He was super creepy, a bastard and just a walking big red flag.

I didn't really like Remi either. She was just far too naive for raising her brother and taking on the responsibility.
For me, the plot was unfortunately very predictable and a lot of things weren't resolved properly or there were simply far too easy solutions. Unfortunately, there were no real conflicts.

That's why "Grinstone" unfortunately only gets 2 out of 5 stars from me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Perfect autumn/halloween read!!
Definitely a spooky and spicy read! I had a fun time with these characters and unraveling the hero and his past. I was completely obsessed!! This is also the first book in a trilogy, I can't wait to get back to Grimstone!! I adored this book so much, I did not see any of that coming oh my gosh!!

Sophie Lark is an automatic buy or read!!