I was thrilled to see that Atlas was going to get to tell his story. Monarch is so much more than I anticipated. I love experiencing a broody, strong and unaffected man find a woman who takes his breath away and knocks him down a few pegs.

Atlas and Elena are each other’s other half but she’s set to marry another man! These two had so much to overcome but through it all and I mean a lot of craziness, they find refuge and love in each other. I couldn’t get enough of their friendship that blossomed into a beautiful love!

I truly enjoyed how strong and independent Elena is and how Atlas only built her up. He wanted to see her succeed and be by her side. A perfect Fall romance!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sophie Lark for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Monarch coming out October 8, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I was really intrigued by the castle in the woods and mail order bride plot. I think this book was perfectly spooky and dark, perfect for Halloween spooky time. I really loved that Elena and Atlas were flawed characters. I enjoyed their chemistry. I loved the writing and the back history of the book. I haven’t read Grimstone, so I definitely want to go back and read it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gothic stories!

Grimstone #2
Rating: 4/5

Spice: 2.5/5

Primary Genre: Romantic suspense

Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, assault, alcohol use, drug use

Favorite Quote: I’m with you. I love you. I’ll protect you, I’ll take care of you. Carry me with you always and keep me in your heart. Because you are in mine.

Plot 5/5:

Elena is a 90 day fiance who had been desperately looking to leave Ukraine. She has just arrived in Grimstone, Oregon to marry her fiance Lorne. He’s a famous, wealthy thriller author. When they met in Ukraine he seemed like was a sweet, loving father and a kind/nerdy guy. Once she arrives, his behavior begins to change and not in a good way. Lorne is having a castle built for them to live in but there have been multiple construction delays so they are staying at the town’s historic hotel, The Monarch. The owner of the Monarch, Atlas, tries to protect Elena as Lorne get more twisted and vicious.

The Good:

* The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous. This is my first Sophie Lark book, so I’m not sure if she frequently includes illustrations within the book but I loved the aspect of a visual reference for the main characters. These are sprinkled throughout the book between chapters and they are incredibly well done.

* I haven’t read a mail-order-bride/90 day fiance plot yet and this one had the twist of thriller vibes, I really enjoyed it. There was the mystery of what direction Lorne’s character would take and they mystery of why Elena needed to get out of Ukraine.

* The chemistry between Atlas and Elena was top-tier. I loved their banter.

* I appreciated the neurodivergent representation-at least that’s what I’m assuming Ivy’s character is. I have a stepson with autism so I appreciate Elena’s caretaking and defense of Ivy and her quirky habits.

The Meh:

* Call me crazy but I really would have liked some sort of battle royale scene between Atlas and Lorne at the end.

* While the book takes during Halloween, the characters rarely venture out into the town and take in the fall/Halloween scenery/vibes. It would have been nice to get a little bit more of that.

* It would have been nice to see the nanny pay just a teensy bit for her crimes at the end (just me, complaining about a lack of revenge again).

Bottom Line:

This book has made a Sophie Lark reader out of me. I was under the impression that she was more of a dark romance author but perhaps this just isn’t a dark romance series. Or it could be that my version of dark romance is unhinged, haha. Regardless, the touch her and die trope is strong here and she’s serving it well. I really enjoyed the Halloween/spooky vibes setting of the hotel and the town (it gave off a little bit of a Bates Motel vibe), making this a perfect October suspense read. The love story is tumultuous and wrought with anxiety, at the same time it’s incredibly sweet and passionate. You find yourself rooting for Elena while questioning some of her actions and choices. Later on you find yourself thinking, well whatever. You do you, sis. In summery, I loved this book. The creepy vibes are immaculate, the romance is like a twisted little fairy tale. The main reason that I gave this 4 stars is because I have a rotten little vengeance streak and I wanted to see some key characters get their just desserts. Mainly just my own character flaw but it is what it is.

Elena came to the US from Ukraine to marry Lorne, who is absolutely rich and dreamy, a famous writer AND a sigle dad. But the more Elena spends time in Grimstone, the more uneasy she feels. Lucky for her, she meets Atlas, who owns the Monarch, the hotel where she is currently staying, awaiting her wedding and the end of the construction of Lorne's house. He will do anything for her and for Lorne's daughter, Ivy. But he needs to act quickly, because the wedding is coming up shortly...
This dark romantic suspense with thriller vibes is book 2 in the Grimstone series and all I have to say is: where the heck was I when book 1 came out? I will definitely go back to read it! They are interconnected standalones, so you don't need to have read it to understand what is happening in this one, but this was so good I just need more! Although I was not a big fan of Elena in general (we get it, she's a virgin, but she could also be something else, being a virgin CAN'T be her entire personality), I adored Atlas and the entire vibe of the story.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dark romance suspense. I could not stop turning the pages, a slow burn so good. This is the level of thriller I can handle any higher and I will bounce.

“Truth and safety walk hand in hand, and some of us have rarely felt safe enough to tell the whole truth.”

“Monarch,” by Sophie Lark

Wow, this book was so much more than I thought it was going to be. First, the mail order bride aspect of the book was really unique and interesting. And second, the entire spooky and weird vibe of the book and the mystery was so cool. The hotel, castle, and entire town had the perfect Halloween creepy vibe. The two main characters were so perfect, I loved how they interacted with each other and the tension was chef’s kiss. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Abuse
-Mail Order Bride
-Forbidden Love

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

“I think of the wounds inside of families. The hurt done to one that impacts the others.”

This was my first Sophie Lark book and I really enjoyed it. Her writing was great and I loved the Gothic romantic suspense. . This book was dark, creepy, romantic, and painfully beautiful in a way you can’t stop reading and simultaneously never want it to end. I will definitely be reading more.

This book follows Elena, a woman who travels from Ukraine to the US as a mail-order bride. At first, her fiancé seems like every girl's dream: rich, an immensely successful author, and a devoted father. However, as she spends time getting to know him better, she begins to uncover a web of lies and a more sinister side to his character.
Elena's only ally is Atlas, the owner of the Monarch Hotel where she’s staying. He is determined to do anything to protect her and to win her over. But their clock is ticking. Once Elena marries her fiancé and moves into their new home, there is no turning back.
I wish our two main characters had more time to just be together before the end of the book, but I can understand the pacing since this book is a very slow burn. I’m addicted and will be reading Grimstone next!

She's a mail order bride escaping a crime she committed while he's the mysterious owner of the hotel that she and her new fiancee are staying in... he's completely off limits yet the more she falls for him the more her fiancee's darker true nature begins to appear and put them all in danger. Elena Zelenska is desperate to escape her home after a crime she committed... and as a twenty seven year old virgin and bookstore nerd... she doesn't have many options until she meets the man of her dreams who not only offers to marry her but to help her get a visa to move with him to the gothic town of Grimstone. Yet when Elena arrives at Grimstone everything her fiancee promised is false and when he moves her into the Monarch, a gothic hotel run by slightly terrifying man named Atlas... Elena begins to question things. It also doesn't help that Atlas is temptation itself as he is caring, kind, handsome... and everything that Elena's husband is turning out not to be. As Elena grows closer to Atlas her fiancee becomes more twisted... and if Elena wants to escape she'll have to find a way out before it's too late. This was a gothic romance and a fun one to read. I really liked the romantic build up between Atlas and Elena. Theres also a very sweet family dynamic between Elena and Ivy, the little girl that her fiancee has. It's a fun read and the perfect modern day gothic romance!

Release Date: October 8,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I’ve been wanting to dive into a Sophie Lark book for a minute now ‘cause I’ve heard nothing but good things, and let me tell you... I was not disappointed! 🤩🔥

Elena is a mail order bride from Ukraine. The love she gives to little girl Ivy? So sweet and pure. 💖

Then there’s Atlas... sigh, this man! 😮‍💨 He’s all protective over Elena from the jump. Not only is he the owner of the hotel where they're staying, but he’s also got those strong alpha vibes, always looking out for her. The tension between them is real, and the way they connect is everything.

This was my first thriller romance, and I gotta say, I am hooked. It’s got all the elements... the suspense, mystery, and that forbidden love. You can feel the danger, but also the chemistry. It had me on the edge of my seat, flipping pages like crazy! 📖💥

Big thanks to Bloom and NetGalley for the ARC! You guys hooked me up with a gem, and I can’t wait to read more Sophie Lark. 🙌✨

Elena + Atlas

-romantic thriller
-mail-order bride
-protective mmc
-the shining vibes

ooohhh this was spookyyyyy & the suspense with lorne & ivy were EVERYTHINGGGG! omg he's the worsssttt omgggg but atlas is everything!!

I liked this book so much!!

I was a little nervous bc I’m not typically a big suspense/thriller reader but I love Sophie Lark. She nailed the mix of romance, tension, and suspense so perfectly. With about a 3hr read time, it’s the perfect binge read to get you into a spookier spirit.

Perfect for readers of romance who want to sip their toes into suspense/thriller.

This book was perfect and just in time for the upcoming spooky season! This is the second book in the Grimstone series. This was so suspenseful and creepy. It had a perfect ratio of romance and plot. Another fantastic thriller romance from Lark!

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

Monarch was the perfect October read. This is a book with all of the creepy, eerie vibes. You start reading and just know something is off. I absolutely loved it. To start, I want to mention the art of this book. The cover is absolutely stunning. I also love the artwork depicting scenes of the book throughout. The FMC, Elena, is desperate to get away from her current situation so she leaps at the chance to come to the US and marry successful author Lorne. That alone should be a tipoff that something isn’t quite right. Thankfully for Elena, she meets Atlas who already suspects something is off and wants to keep her safe. I really enjoyed the dark romance meets thriller vibes of this book. The chemistry between Elena and Atlas is off the charts. Atlas is the definition of getting a man that can do it all. More than that, I loved the relationship between Elena and Ivy. For everything that Ivy has been through, she deserved someone who was on her side. The castle/house monstrosity of Lorne’s dreams is going to haunt me in my nightmares. The plot was fairly fast paced making this a really quick, easily bingeable read. I did find some of the plot elements to be fairly predictable, but Lark executed them in a surprising way which I really appreciated. Overall, if you’re looking for a romance book to get you in the spooky spirit, look no further than Monarch.

Sophie Lark is the most addicting author. I think it's the mix of suspense, a little thriller, the completely unexpected and the steamy romance. Her books have a little hint at things that I wouldn't usually enjoy but then I DO. This follow up to Grimstone is completely different but also just as page turning. Elena is a mail order bride and what seems to be a perfect situation gets out of hand before she realizes. As they wait to move into their "new house", they stay at the Monarch. Where the owner is more than she thought to find in America. I loved the Rebecca vibes that I got from this story. But its definitely darker than my norm.

One of my favorite books is Grimstone by Sophie Lark, so as you can imagine I was ecstatic when I received the arc for Monarch. This is the second part in the series where a new character get involved in a love triangle with Dane's brother, and a "known" author. The new character is targeted in Ukraine and then brought to the US for a new life with her husband who quickly isolate's her and starts controlling her every move. Not only does her happy ending unravel quickly, but she must save a child and herself from the situation or will she be doomed in the death castle forever?

The story builds great, and the ending is pretty predictable but there are some surprises. However, the narcissistic boyfriend who had to outsource his girlfriend because no one else was pretty predictable. It did talk in circles at times and rather than just pushing forward with the story, the author added another round of violence or disaster dinner (which was old by the second time it happened).

I loved the graphics in this book, but I wish there was more than the two main characters.

The Romance scenes were good! There are some other graphic scenes where the main character is being forced or touched without her consent so be aware of that. Spice level is around 3 or 4 out of 5.

This was generally an enjoyable read, and I really enjoyed Grimstone! But this one fell flat for me in a lot of ways, and I was pretty disappointed with that.

I'm not 100% sure how to explain it, but nothing at all happens even though a lot happens? It feels like the plot moves forward in 2-3 sentences and skips ahead quickly and then we get 20 pages of inner monologue, rinse and repeat. I really loved Lorne's character and the direction she took with it, but I just felt like there was something missing to get us from where we were at the start of it to where we are at the end. The slow escalation was great, but we definitely go from like 30 to 100 in the span of two pages. I really wanted there to be a big event that really let the terror sink in before we got to the end, and it just wasn't there.

I also didn't find Elena particularly compelling as a character. She didn't really have much of a personality outside of Atlas and Lorne's existence. Oh and being a 27 year old virgin. We hear about that a lot. I definitely think it was important to the story, but it's brought up A LOT to the point that it was really pulling me away from the events that were happening. And the way she goes from 27 year old virgin to goddess in bed basically immediate was just too much for me. There's a lot of unbelievability around this part of her character that didn't work for me.

But as with all Lark novels, the vibes were vibing!! She's got the gothic atmosphere and creepy factor NAILED in everything of hers I've read. I think the dual POV worked really well here (not as well as in Grimstone, though), but I think adding in Lorne's POV here and there would have made for a really twisted and dark novel while giving me the escalation I wanted.

Overall this was a fast and interesting read and you'll definitely love it if you wanted more of Atlas after reading Grimstone! But if you're looking for the same level of smut/darkness/character depth, you'll be a little disappointed.

I’ve never been so happy in my life to get a NetGalley ARC copy of a book as I was when a SOPHIE LARK BOOK landed in my NetGalley shelf. Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Sophie Lark. She is one of the best authors out there, and this book is no exception. I actually liked Monarch more than Grimstone, although I enjoyed both thoroughly. The spooky vibes were prominent in this book, but it was still a heartwarming romance story between our two leads. I only wish I could have engorged on another one hundred or two hundred pages because I never want to leave this universe.

“I’ve always felt there’s another Elena … a sneaky little shadow who lives inside my head. She likes all sorts of things she’s not supposed to like and whispers terrible thoughts. That Elena wants to be chased through a dark hotel by Atlas. She wants to feel those huge hands seize her body and wrap around her throat. Which is wrong on many levels”

“But now that I’m not longer thirsty … I’m fucking hungry. Ravenous, even. And Elena looks like a ten-course feast”

Slow burn, forbidden romance, and forced proximity. It was really good. I really enjoyed it!!! I have to admit that after reading Grimstone, this book was less twisted and more romantic. It was still a bit dark to be completely honest with y’all but as always with this author I tend to have an amazing time all throughout the experience. And this was no exception. The thing I love the most though, is the amazing illustrations present in the book. Between chapters and sometimes more than one per chapter, they are what makes the narrative so much more real and exciting. Elena and Atlas share some trauma from their past that only allowed them to connect more and find solace in one another in a way none of them thought was deserved. I loved their dynamic and despite it being sweeter than Remi and Dane’s one, I can’t say I complain !!!

“… she’s punishing herself. But here’s the problem: the punishment she’ll get … will be more than she can handle”

“Because there it is, in black and white, captured forever on film … how desperately I want her”

“I saw you and you saw me. And we both knew it. We knew what happened. We knew what we felt”

A dark romance with a creepy/spooky Halloween vibe!

Elena is a 'mail order bride'.. She met Lorne her fiancée and thought he was the answer to all her prayers... but is he really what he seems? He brings her back to the States, to a spooky as hell town called Grimstone. Lorne is currently building their new home so they have to stay at the local motel called Monarch with his 9 year old daughter. Here she meets the owner Atlas, and they are both attracted to each other instantly.
This is where things start to go downhill for Elena, weird things start happening with her room, and Lorne is a lot more controlling and possessive than he originally let her believe... but Atlas.... he makes her feel safe.

What a creepy dark romance read. I couldn't put this down because I just couldn't wait to see how it finished. Atlas has this 'touch her and die' vibe radiating from him, and definitely gives you all the feels.

Elena did come off naive at the beginning, but I think that is due to her being from a different country. I constantly wanted to yell at her!

Monarch is the second book in this series, but definitely can be read as a standalone.

I've read a few books by Sophie Lark and have enjoyed each one so far.