3/5
Sophie Lark continues her Grimstone series with the release of Monarch. Monarch is marketed as a standalone, but i would argue that it should be read in the publication order. Monarch is a dark thriller romance following essentially a mail in bride name Elena, coming to America and living out the american dream...
ARC provided by Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books publishing house
Review is my full honest opinion of my reading experience!

This book was wonderful! Sophie lark is an amazing author and she did not disappoint with this book! The story kept me on my toes.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS bloom books and Sofie lark for giving me the opportunity to arc read this book.

3⭐️ .5🌶️
This book is a gothic style thriller romance, centered around a mail order bride and a walking green flag hotel owner that her “fiancé” has them residing in while his castle is being built. Lorne (the fiancé) is supposed to be this mysterious bad guy, but it isn’t specified as to why. He has a daughter that doesn’t speak, which isn’t explained either. The nanny to the daughter is rather rude, also not explained. There’s several things in that book that aren’t touched on. I wasn’t a fan of the style of this book, in fact I was rather confused for most of it.
Tropes include-
•dual pov
•forced proximity
•strangers to lovers
•age gap
There’s also character art scattered throughout!

This book wasn’t my cup of tea, but if your into mysterious gothic thrillers give it a go!

Devilishly dark, with some creepy undertones, and sinful temptations. Loved this unique storyline and well built characters. I ate this baby up pretty quickly and would def read more by Sophie Lark. I didn’t even know there was a Grimstone series—what a great idea! 😆📚🤘

I really need to start with Book 1 of this series because I absolutely loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down, especially because I had a different deadline I needed to get to first. 😫. But I got through it and could focus on this one, which was amazing.

I'm still thinking about it days later.

It is the perfect mix of suspense, horror, and romance. Perfect for #spookyseason which is my favorite season of all. I might have to do an annual re-read from now on, I loved it that much.

Elena and Atlas are 🤤 together. I even loved Ivy. She was cute and my heart went out to her throughout the book.

Sophie Lark has a way of adding in just enough darkness to make you double-take as it occurs in that scene in chapter 14. I'm still thinking about 'that' scene and gagging. #iykyk
Way to go Ms. Lark.

I will absolutely be checking out more of her works.

What do you get when you combine a mail order bride, a dark Gothic castle, and a beach town that gives major Grimstone vibes?

Monarch by Sophie Lark is the romantic thriller you didn’t know you needed. This book is a wild cocktail of mystery, romance, and spine-tingling suspense that’ll have you turning pages well past midnight.

Elena Zelenska is about as far from your typical bride as you can get, she’s a book-loving, fantasy-obsessed underdog who signs up to be a mail-order bride to escape her humdrum life. Her fiancé, the handsome writer Ben Wittacker, seems like the real life fairytale she’s been dreaming of.

But this “fairytale” quickly takes a dark turn when Elena moves into Ben’s eerie, unfinished castle. Secret rooms? Check. Sinister vibes? Double check. And Ben? Well, let’s just say he’s no Prince Charming…

Enter Atlas Covett, owner of the equally mysterious Monarch hotel. Brooding, powerful, and seriously swoon-worthy, he’s the only person who might be able to help Elena escape her crumbling dream. Their connection is as electric as it is unexpected, and Atlas soon becomes her one shining light in Grimstone’s creepy underbelly.

With its Gothic atmosphere, slow burn romance, and pulse racing twists, Monarch will keep you guessing, and maybe a little spooked, till the last page.

Lovers of dark fairytales, spooky seaside towns, and “protective hero meets feisty heroine” vibes, this one’s for you.

4 Dark Room Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level 🌶️.5/5

I enjoyed this way more than Grimstone, but I think Grimstone is almost to thank for that because I already knew about the town, I knew about the Monarch and I knew the vibes - so I didn't need that foundation and could just enjoy the vibes... AND BOY DID THIS BRING VIBES...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Elena Zelenska is desperate to flee Ukraine, so when the opportunity arises for her to become a mail-order bride, she seizes it. At first, Lorne is everything she hopes and dreams of, a successful author and “devoted father” to his daughter. She expects the perfect American dream, but once she arrives and learns she’ll be staying at the Monarch while his house is being built, his actions and mannerisms start to change and become more sinister and manipulative. All her preconceived notions are questioned as Lorne’s lies start to unravel, shattering the picture he painted of their future life.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I enjoyed Elena’s personality because of how much she grows, but it’s more about realising who she’s been all along as you spend more time in her mind. Initially, she comes off as simplistic, innocent, and naive, but that stems from living a cloistered and sheltered life, not from a lack of intelligence. She’s actually very clever; it just takes her a bit of time to arrive at the answer. I loved how curious and brave she was, standing up for little things with her small, rebellious FU actions towards Lorne were so feisty! She initially tries to be the perfect wife, but the more time she spends with Atlas Covett and the more freedom she gains to express herself, the more she opens up and comes into her own. That simplicity evaporates, revealing her complex character beneath.

Atlas is the classic surly, grumpy man in Grimstone, and in Monarch, he’s still surly and grumpy. But MY GOD, does he have a literal heart of gold. He’s so sweet, caring, and compassionate. While he doesn’t say much and keeps his grumpiness intact, he’s incredibly soft underneath. I initially expected him to be a bit darker because the overall vibes of the book are quite dark, but with Lorne being so awful, Atlas’s goodness balances it out. He’s the ultimate sweetheart and everything you could hope for in an MMC. LIKE A WALKING GREEN FLAG!

The writing is haunting and spooky as you try to piece together what’s happening. Although there’s dual POV, most of the story is from Elena’s perspective, and because she’s still figuring things out, you’re with her every step of the way, trying to discern what’s real and what’s not.

Sophie Lark has a compelling way of telling a story, and the more of her books I read, the more I appreciate how she puts together her narratives. She has a knack for getting into your head and messing with your mind. You don’t see the twists coming, and when they do, you’re left reeling, wondering how you missed them! Her writing draws you in, captivating your attention with spooky Halloween vibes.

There were a couple of aspects that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me...
[
1. I didn't necessarily understand Lorne's "villain narrative". It's never really explained why he is doing what he does and why he wants to torture and abuse Elena. His purpose is not explored as its glossed over and you just have to accept he is a "bad guy".
2. It's never explained why Mrs Cross (the nanny) is such a bitch and why she treats Ivy so badly. You can only guess she is jealous of Elena and Lorne's relationship or something but why she's basically The Trunchbull is never explained...
3. The ending WAS SO quick. I am a dark romance reader so I wanted to see a little bit more of the tension of the end and developments of her kidnapping being explored a bit more. It gets resolved very, very quickly, with an almost "Scooby Doo Villian Speech" and then it's wrapped up too neatly in a few pages.
4. It's also never really explained why Ivy doesn't speak. It's inferred it's due to some trauma relating to her mother's death and how she is coping with it, but it's not ever discussed. It's just something that you have to inherently guess based on part of the plot.
5. It's never explained why Lorne needed to marry her. Was he just looking for someone to murder or was there another reason?
(hide spoiler)]
Something that I do love in Sophie Lark's books is the embedded art in her chapters. It's always a special surprise when you turn the page and it's a picture of something that happened or something that is going to be happening. I love it and recommend opening the ebook on a colour Kindle App (on your phone, iPad or desktop) to see their magnificence in colour. It's not just like one or two character pictures but interwoven into the story. I wish more authors incorporated more art into their books.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Age Gap
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Gothic Vibes
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Touch Her You Die

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ He Brings Her Food
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Tending to Injuries

Overall, I had a really good time with Monarch. I love the vibes, I love the characters, and I love the story. If you're looking for a little bit of a lighter psychological romance, I would recommend picking this up.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Sophie Lark for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own

I loved it the characters the plot I loved the writing it was really beautiful and Sophie Lark you did a great job on this book I give it 10/10 stars all the way

I have to say this was a perfect pre-Halloween read for me. Just enough of the creep/horror factor to make this a spooky season read.
I’m not a huge fan of insta-love but it works in this book. There are a lot of triggers in the book. So going in just be aware. I know one of the hardest parts for me was the treatment of Ivy, who is so obviously on the spectrum as written and throughly neglected and mistreated. Just know abuse of all kinds take place in the romantic relationship between Lorne and Elena. So please read accordingly!
I received a ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

Reading a Sophie book is always a sure guarantee that you will read a good story. I love her mafia books, but this twist on gothic romance I am loving with all my being.

Ever since she placed us in this new universe with the Grimstone book, I was totally captivated with the characters and from that moment on I wanted to read an Atlas book.

I must say that it did not disappoint, Elena's story was a surprise because of the way she arrives in town, I don't think I had ever read that mail order bride trope and for me it was something new, but from the beginning I could feel compassion for her, that Atlas was the kind face she needed I loved it.

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️

Series: Grimstone (2)

Book genre: dark contemporary romance 🥀

I really enjoyed this book, and the gothic setting is refreshingly unique.

I hope Sophie Lark will write more stories like this series—it's truly amazing.

If you enjoy contemporary romances with a dark theme, this is a must-read!

Elena Zelenska arrives in America after a 9,000-kilometer flight from Ukraine. She's set to marry her fiancé, local writer Lorne Ronson. He has a nine-year-old daughter named Ivy, and they currently reside in the Monarch, a luxurious hotel in Grimstone.

Elena and Lorne met only once before. After exchanging forty-two emails and a few phone calls, they decided to take their relationship to the next level.

As Elena discovers that nothing is as it seems, she finds herself drawn to the hotel owner, Atlas Covett, who wants to protect her from the famous writer…

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Lark, and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced readers copy of Monarch, in exchange for an honest review.

"Sophie Lark's 'Monarch' will take you on a journey into the dark and enchanting world of Grimstone. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the intricate twists and mysteries unfolding throughout the story. Following the story of Atlas Covett, the owner of the Monarch Hotel, and Elena Zelenska, a woman with a haunting past who finds herself drawn into the depths of Grimstone, 'Monarch' weaves together suspense, romance, and a touch of the supernatural with masterful precision.

What truly sets 'Monarch' apart is the depth and complexity of the characters. Atlas Covett's brooding charisma and Elena Zelenska's compelling backstory instantly drew me in, and I found myself rooting for their unlikely connection. The sweet young Ivy, Atlas's daughter, added a tender and heartwarming element to the story, making her presence felt in every chapter.

One aspect that truly stood out to me was the exquisite attention to detail in the illustrations. Every character came to life on the pages, their expressions and mannerisms beautifully depicted. It added an extra layer of depth to the story, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in Grimstone's world.

I can't forget to mention the brewing chemistry between Elena and Atlas. It crackled off the pages, their interactions filled with tension and longing. When a tall and broody man like Atlas is willing to go to great lengths to protect the already badass female main character like Elena, you can't help but be swept away by their emotional connection.

If you're in the mood for a spooky, atmospheric, and utterly captivating gothic romance, 'Monarch' is the book for you. Sophie Lark's storytelling prowess and the intricate world-building of Grimstone will leave you craving for more. I highly recommend diving into this series and letting yourself get lost in its bewitching pages."
4.5 Stars!

If you are a fan of Sophie Lark, you have to add Monarch to the list to read.

When you need a book to hit after a few misses, this one is it.

Atlas, loved loved him. Monarch captivated me from the get go and knowing the town from book really helped and it's always nice seeing past characters which add to that element of spooky suspicious vibes of the town, it doesn't take away from Atlas and Elena's story at all. A very good read especially during the fall season!

A very good dark gothic book for the autumn and darker times. Elena was interesting and Atlas was such a good MMC!
Loved him so much.

Ok business out of the way first: read the trigger warnings.

I know I'm biased (Brutal Prince jumpstarted my dark romance journey) but if you're a fan of Sophie Lark at ALL read this book immediately. For me this is her best piece of work. Within 20 pages she had me fantasizing about how the villain might cease breathing. By 50 Atlas had my cheeks red and my toes wiggling. In the end it was the cozy HEA I needed. Also apparently I really like slow burns? Who knew!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I had a great time with Monarch. Atlas is the perfect big protective teddy bear that I love to read about. I think this was a huge improvement from book one, and I loved revisiting the characters we met in Grimstone. The spooky setting is fun to read about and it's perfect for the Halloween season. I would gladly read another book in this series.

I really-really like Sophie Lark books!
This however did'nt live up to the hype ;) Dark romance indeed, and perfect for spooky season!
The spice is spicy - and it was easy to read.

And oh how I love the pictures in her books <3

Elena Zelenska moves to the United States somewhat as a mail-order-bride from Ukraine. She is engaged to Lorne, a famous author who swept her off her feet during a chance encounter in a coffee shop. Lorne is building Elena the house of her dreams and while doing so, she, along with Lorne and his daughter, reside in the Monarch hotel. Atlas Covett is the massive and stern owner of the hotel. He begins to grow feelings for Elena and recognizes that something is off with Benjamin. He definitely has his secrets. However, Elena, despite having similar feelings, is steadfast in her decision to marry Ben due to an incident that happened before her move that Lorne somehow knows about.
This story is the second book in the Grimstone series. It was one of mystery, darkness, and forbidden love. I really enjoyed Atlas’ character, and I liked that he was the one seeking Elena’s love. Elena comes to the States as a naive character looking to start a new life to get away from her past and she evolves into a strong woman who knows what and who she wants. The chemistry between Elena and Atlas is one of perfection. Even though he is not the warmest person, Atlas has a heart of gold and is a teddy bear for Elena. I love the protectiveness that he has for her, even when he knows he can’t have her.
I really enjoyed this book, and the ending happened really fast, but I enjoyed the twist. I was hoping to see more come out about Lorne’s daughter, but I enjoyed how her story ended in the epilogue. I enjoyed the dark gothic setting of this book as it was perfect for an October read. Sophie’s writing keeps the reader entertained which makes it difficult to put the book down. Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Lark, and SOURCEBOOK Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy and allowing me to provide my honest feedback.

The premise of Monarch had the potential to deliver a gripping, dark fairytale full of twists and tension. A naïve bookstore nerd turned mail-order bride, a mysterious castle, and a dangerously charming fiancé? It should have been an atmospheric, nail-biting read. Unfortunately, it fell short.

From the start, the plot felt all too predictable. The twists were telegraphed from miles away, making it hard to feel any real suspense. The moment the “perfect” fiancé, entered the scene, it was clear what direction his character would take. The supposed surprise of his darker side felt more like checking off a box in the predictable “groom turns villain” trope rather than a shocking revelation.

Elena’s bond with Atlas Covett also followed a familiar trajectory, offering no real depth or complexity to their connection. The development of their relationship felt rushed, making it hard to fully invest in their dynamic.

The atmosphere of the story, while initially promising, never quite captured the creeping dread it aimed for. As a result, the stakes felt low, and Elena’s struggle to escape Lorne’s control didn’t evoke the urgency the plot demanded.

The book had an interesting setup, however, the execution was far too predictable which made it ldifficult to stay invested in the story or the characters. For those who enjoy dark romances or thrillers, there are better options out there.

A creepy fiance, a secret past, and a broody MMC combine for the perfect romantic thriller!

Elena is essentially a mail-order bride, and the longer she stays in Grimstone the more she realizes that things are not what they seem. While their new mansion is being built, Elena and Lorne stay at the Monarch. The owner of the Monarch, Atlas Covett, takes a special interest in Elena and the two become unlikely allies as strange things occur at the hotel.

Sophie Lark has a way of creating characters that the reader wants to root for despite their darker tendencies. The suspense in this novel kept me intrigued as I felt I was on Elena's journey with her, hoping for a happily ever after.

Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy for review consideration.