Elena thought that Lorne was the answer to all of her life’s problems. He was handsome, a devoted father, a wealthy author, AND he wanted to marry her and bring her to the US. Prince Charming didn’t mention that his castle wasn’t finished so they would be living at the Monarch Hotel for a few weeks until they could move in and get married.

Atlas ran the Monarch like a well oiled machine, at least until Lorne’s fiancé showed up and turned his world upside down. He didn’t like how Lorne treated her, and he decided that she was his responsibility to protect (as a hotel guest, of course).

This was a fun read full of suspense, romance, mystery, and a cute 9 year old that stole the show.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC.

Sophie Lark was a new author to me and this book was a great choice because now I can’t wait to read more books from her and have already picked up Grimstone (same universe as Monarch but a stand alone title). The only thing that I didn’t find perfect about this book for me was that the ending seemed a smidge rushed, not in any way that I thought some resolution was missing just rushed. If half stars were a thing it would maybe warrant rating 4.5 stars but since half stars aren’t a thing it gets all 5 stars because only giving 4 would be a disservice to the novel.

This is a semi dark gothic romantic thriller (I say semi dark because while dark things are mentioned and hinted at they don’t happen on page in the story). I think gothic romance is one of the harder ones to really capture the gothic vibes without falling too heavy into troupes and Sophie does an amazing job of it. You almost feel like you are have been pulled into the world reading by candlelight sitting in a bay window of a tower overlooking a stormy grey sea.

The author does an excellent job of creating three dimensional characters whose flaws you can relate to in the good ones and the evil in the bad ones is something that is real and human. The story starts like a fairy tale with a mail order bride from the Ukraine moving to a small isolated town and slowly the darkness creeps into her life. I won’t say more to avoid any spoilers but trust me the hero is delicious and the princess gets a happy ever after.

🦋 Spooky
🦋 Forced proximity
🦋 Forbidden Romance
🦋Thriller

Bravo Sophie!!! && thanks to Net Galley, Bloom Books, & the Queen Sophie Lark for this absolutely beautiful ARC.

This is a creepy, spooky, forbidden romance. The whole vibe of this book is perfection. Sophie made me feel like I was truly inside the town of Grimstone and the gorgeous hotel Monarch.
🦋MMC Atlas is this massive man 🥰🥰🥰🥰 who quite literally is her savior.
🦋Tiny FMC Ivy literally stole the show 🥺🥹🐇
🦋FMC Elena 🥰🥰 was our amazing star !
The tension in this book was off the charts. Havent read a book with tension like this in a while.
🌶️. 5
This one’s a quick little read for fall👻

i was excited about this one and it did not disappoint. i actually enjoyed this more than the first one. i like that it has thriller and romance elements!!! fun read for october being spooky season.

Yes. This whole book was a vibe and I can't wait to recommend it. I read Grimstone after receiving this ARC from the publishers and netgalley so I could get a feel for the authors writing. I was honestly nervous going into this book since I didn't care for Grimstone... but...

Monarch was so, SO much better. It felt put together with the story, the characters, and the writing.

Elena and Atlas are everything I want to read for a book couple. They have the banter, the chemistry, and he created a darkroom for her to develop her pictures! They were sweet and supportive and I could've read more about them. Elena was so sweet with Ivy (her fiancé's daughter) and Atlas was the biggest cinnamon roll that I just smiled when they interacted.

There was a little spice but I didn't feel like this story needed a whole bunch anyway. It was more about the emotional connection and I really appreciated that.

I'm so happy with this book and it's going to be one I definitely recommend to others.

SOPHIE DOES IT AGAIN EVERYONE. I absolutely fell in love with the town of Grimstone in the last book. I was so excited that Atlas was getting his own book!! The bond between Elena and Ivy was actually my favorite part of the whole story. Most everyone can be understood if given proper care, attention, and nurturing. Obviously we come for the romance of Elena and Atlas even though we first get introduced to Lorne ( 10/10 don’t love him). And we stay for the mother daughter like bond between Elena and Ivy. I believe that Atlas was exactly the right person for Elena to love. And I absolutely adored this!!! Can’t recommend enough. Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC!!

Great installment super Gothic and semi spice level, with a great batch of characters i live reading about keep it up

5 ⭐ 2 🌶

This is everything I was hoping for in a spooky season romance from Sophie. While I was a touch disappointed in Grimstone, all of that faded as we stepped into Monarch.

I absolutely adored Elena, Atlas and Lily. Elena and her secret past and hopeful future was a fascinating combo. She wanted so badly to make her relationship with Lorne work, at first for herself and then for Lily. But here comes Atlas and the chemistry was palpable. The more red flags (and not the good kind dark romance friends 😂) Lorne showed, the more green flags (and a few good red flags) Atlas showed and I loved watching these two forbidden friends fall in love.

I really enjoyed the little twist. Not sure about anyone else but I absolutely didn't see that one coming. As for Lorne and the Haunted Mansion, I felt like I saw that coming a mile away and still loved every moment.

The epilogue was everything I wanted for their happily ever after. If only we get to see Mrs. Cross thrown off those cliffs in some kinda bonus short, pleaseandthankyou.

This is book two in the Grimstone series. I have not read the first book, but it can be read as a standalone.

Elena Zelenska, 27 years old, is about to move to Oregon from the Ukraine, to marry best selling thriller/horror author Lorne Ronson. At first things seem to go well, but after meeting his daughter Ivy and the caretaker, Mrs. Cross, Elena is certain somebody’s hiding something.
After meeting Atlas Covett, the owner of the Monarch Hotel they are staying at, while Lorne is building his castle outside of Grimstone, Elena’s life is being turned upside down.

Atlas Covett doesn’t like Lorne Ronson. There is something fishy about him. It’s the eyes that look dull, like there’s no life behind them. But the woman, this fiancé Elena, is intriguing to Atlas. He feels like she is safe with him and he’ll do everything to prove to her that Lorne isn’t the right man for her.

I immediately fell in love with Atlas. He’s 6”7, 30 years old and built like a linebacker. He’s a “could k!ll you, but is a cinnamon roll” type with Elena and his POV chapters where 🥰😍!

The ending felt a bit rushed, but other than that, I enjoyed this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, NetGalley and SourceBooks Bloom Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed being back in Grimstone, Sophie did a great job setting the scene of this creepy little town, perfect for an October read.
This was insta-love, with some suspense elements and a sweet little girl who definitely deserved better.
Whilst this is the second book in the Grimstone series, it can be read as a standalone, as although we do get some Dane/Remi cameos, this isn't a large enough part of this story to cause confusion.

Monarch by S. Lark, published by Sourcebooks Bloom, is the second book in the Grimstone Series.
Blurb: In a desperate bid to get out of town, bookstore nerd Elena becomes the most unlikely bride. She's swept off her feet by Benjamin Wittacker, handsome single father and published author. Her life is turning into a fairytale, especially once Ben starts building her a castle in the woods. But when Elena arrives in Grimstone, her fairytale turns unfairytaily.
The castle in the woods is a labyrinth of chambers, and Ben is no Prince Charming.
Far from home, Elena's only ally is Atlas, the owner of the Monarch hotel. He becomes Elena's unexpected protector, offering solace and sanctuary.
An intriguing read with dark elements that had me in suspense til the last page.

Sophie Lark does it again with *Monarch*! Having loved *Grimstone*, I knew this was going to be a banger, and it did not disappoint. Elena’s journey from sheltered bookstore nerd to mail-order bride had me hooked from the start, and the tension ramps up as she’s swept into a dark, twisted fairytale. Benjamin starts off as the dream guy, but the layers of his character slowly unravel, turning him into a true monster. The gothic vibes of the castle, with its eerie hidden chambers, were perfectly unsettling.

Atlas Covett, the brooding owner of the Monarch hotel, quickly became a favorite. His fierce yet protective nature provides the contrast needed against Ben’s growing malevolence, and the chemistry between him and Elena is electric. The tension, the dark twists, and the slow-burn romance made *Monarch* a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat read. If you loved *Grimstone*, you’ll absolutely devour this!

I'm reading first book from Sophie lark and enjoyed her writing. Who wants to read romance with thriller please go for this one. It's perfectly suspenseful and creep you out.

This story starts with Elena—mail order bride from Ukraine. She came in search of her fairytale and she thought she got one until she learns that things are not exactly as they seems.

This is 2nd in series I know but I not felt first missing. If you like dark Gothic romances this is totally for you.

Monarch by Sophie Lark

Monarch is the second book by Sophie Lark to take place in Grimstone. It follows the story of Elena, essentially a mail-order bride from Ukraine, as she meets Lorne, an American author, and relocates to the Monarch hotel in Grimstone with him. There she meets Atlas, the owner of the Monarch, and sparks fly between the two pretty much immediately which makes Lorne deeply unhappy. Lorne is a horror/thriller novelist and eventually it is difficult to determine how much of his books are from a character’s perspective and how much is actually his, which makes him seem more unhinged as a character.

I finished this book in about 6 hours and was super excited about it because I really enjoyed Grimstone. Despite loving the setting of the Monarch and Grimstone again, this book really fell flat for me. While Lorne was a frightening villain, there were situations with him that felt rushed and plot holes that I couldn’t get past. The relationship between Atlas and Elena was enjoyable, but again, there were situations that didn’t make sense based on the temperament of the villain and how he would have reacted to their developing feelings. While there were aspects of the book that were enjoyable, this one didn’t draw me in like Grimstone did. Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I read this is one day because I ATE IT, I'm a huge sophie lark fan and I loved Grimstone so it was a no brainer I was gonna enjoy this, this was a perfect blend of gothic thriller/mystery and spicy dark romance, Sophie has created a genre all of her own "sexy thrillers", kinda like Shirley Jackson but less melancholy and more banter 😅 this is a great read for the Halloween months (all the months right?) I hope we get another installment in this series!

This book was a trip.
It is an emotional trip.
You go from not trusting anything because you know it’s a dark romance, to falling in love with the FMC and the daughter.
This book is great, it gives murder mystery vibes.
It keeps you on your toes the whole time.
Highly recommended!

I liked this so much more than Grimstone! I am obsessed with Elena and Atlas. This was dark and eerie with a satisfying HEA.

I read Sinners Duet and the first 2 books from Brutal Birthright series so I expected something dark.

What I did not expect was the perfect blend between thriller and dark romance. As a mostly romance reader, I love an HEA, which doesn’t happen in thrillers. But I still like the mystery and suspense.

We have Elena, a 27 years old from Ukraine. She worked in a bookshop before she met Lorne, a 44 years old single dad and author, at a wife swap Sunflower Brides event. He seemed by the Prince Charming she needed to escape her current life when he proposed after a few months.

But after she gets to America, the prince turns out to be a liar and a dangerous man.

They live in a hotel, the Monarch, owned by Atlas.

There is an instant attraction between Elena and Atlas which became quickly an obsession from his part.
He also does everything he can to protect her.

I liked the way Elena cared for Lorne’s daughter Ivy, even if I would have liked her to be more protective.

The atmosphere is dark, with gothic vibes and a lot of mystery and suspense. I also liked the descriptions and the writing.

Also, the book has illustrations that help you visualize the characters.

The romance between Elena and Atlas is a forbidden slow burn with a lot of tension. There are not may spicy scenes, which I think is better in this case.

What I did not like was the way we were constantly reminded that Atlas is very big. We get it, he is tall, large, with dark hair and darker eyes. At least Elena is not petite.

There are many things I highlighted and my favorite parts are:

“That’s why I love books so much—they’re a whole entire world I can absorb at my own pace, sinking into them like a warm bath and soaking.”

“How generously Atlas feeds me is in the top five things I like about him so far.”

“In a strange way, it only made her lovelier, like how the Japanese kintsugi artists believe a crack enhances the beauty of a teacup.”

This is the 2nd book in the Grimestone series, but can be read as a standalone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

📘Monarch- Grimstone Book #2 can be read as a standalone

✍🏾 By Sophie Lark- read her Brutal Birthright series gave it 4/5

✨Rating: 4/5 

Format: eBook 320 pgs. 

🌍Setting: Lviv, Ukraine to Portland, Oregon (beach town Grimstone)

📅Publication 10/8/24, Read 10/1/24 

👆🏾POV: Multiple-Elena, Atlas, Lorne 

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks/Bloom Books, and Sophie Lark for this ARC!  I voluntarily give an honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🤔What to Expect: Dark/Gothic, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, love triangle, single parent-H, mail order bride-h, arranged marriage

⚠️ TW: virgin h, h-drugged/passed out, child neglect, attempted SA/murder, cheating-h on H, physical/mental abuse-H on h (spits in her mouth), h has PTSD

💭 Summary: Elena needs to escape Lviv, so she signs herself up to be a mail order bride. Her and Lorne meet once and correspond via letters until he pays for her to come to America. Lorne is building a castle in the woods with hidden chambers, but Elena is a little leery. Atlas meets Elena while she waits for the new house and becomes her protector. Jealousy comes into play with Lorne and Atlas, and Elena thinks Lorne had an affair with a waitress- Olivia. 

🎭 The characters

🚺Elena Zelenska- 27, loves photography, ran a bookstore for 8 years. Joins a wife swap Sunflower Brides, parents died in car accident

🚹 Lorne Ronson-40's. published author; calls daughter stupid because she doesn't talk

Vivian-Atlas's cousin, owns a dress shop

Atlas Covett-owns Monarch hotel, attracted to Elena. He has a br0ther -Dane

Mina-Elena's cousin in Lviv

Ivy- Lorne's 9-year-old daughter, neurodivergent. Her mother Linda Lovelace is deceased. The housekeeper Mrs. Cross abuses her

🤔My Thoughts: I didn't read Grimstone but didn't feel like I missed anything. Elena learned Lorne wasn't her "Prince Charming" with all the red flags she saw. He talked bad about Ivy, was sexually aggressive towards her, and was super jealous of Atlas. The hotel and castle gave a gothic feel furthering Lorne's turn into a predator.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc of this book. Monarch is book two in the Grimstone series. This book is set at the Monarch hotel in Grimstone. The story is told through the point of view's of Elena and Atlas, Dane's brother from book one in the series. This book is a gothic thriller with some spice. As with the first book in the series, I did not want to put it down once I started reading. I hope this series gets another installment.