Sophie Lark's Monarch is the second book in her Grimstone series and is a definite improvement from the first one. I liked it, but didn't love it. I will keep an eye out for her books in the future.

I requested this along with the first one. I absolutely loathed the first one and because of that almost didn’t read this one. This book pleasantly surprised me and didn’t repulse me like the first one did. However I still didn’t love the story and feel like I wasted my time.

This book had a strong concept and great aesthetic, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters or the romance. It wasn’t bad, just not as gripping as I’d hoped. Still worth checking out if you’re into dark, moody reads with power games.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting and intriguing book.

Dual POV, Spicy, Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Age Gap, Virgin FMC, Gothic Vibes, Forbidden Romance, Slow Burn, Touch Her & Die, Instalove

Monarch is a dark romance with romantic suspense as Atlas and Elena navigate their instalove feelings in the setting of the gothic Monarch Hotel. While Atlas is grumpy and surly to everyone around him but he reveals his softer side to Elena. I feel like the relationship between Elena and Atlas would have been more heartfelt had it not been instalove/instalust.

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! This was a quick and easy read for me, so I’m sure that says something. I do enjoy Sophie’s writing, and while I loved the premise of this book, I didn’t love the execution of it.

This book was a really fun time. I really liked the dark undertones through the wholebook. Atlas the man that you are 🤭

I genuinely thought book 1 and 2 would be about the same couple but it wasn't, so I feel very silly now. I was a bit unsettled at the start because of that but I quickly got back on my feet, and ended up really liking it as well.

I’m loving this series by Sophie Lark. She feeds us all the gothic, dark romance vibes. I’ll read anything she puts out.

I freaking love these books so far! I am so excited for more! I loved the characters and story. God I'm so excited for more. It drew me in instantly and I couldn't stop reading!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to review.

This was a great continuation of the Grimstone series. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book.

SOPHIE LARK THE WOMAN YOU ARE!!!!

I love sophie lark and everything she writes but this series is one of my favorites!! Everything about this, especially the theme and the scenarios were totally amazing. I reccommend it so much especially if you want to read it at halloween, such a spooky perfect read!

Sophie writes another steamy romance with some wonderfully morally grey characters.

Everyone has their own moral code; when i say grey i mean maybe more grey/black....

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.

Thank you so much to Bloom for the earc, all opinions are my own.

Bookseller Elena meets author Lorne in a bit of a mail order bride match up. After a whirlwind romance Elena moves to Grimstone, a small sea town, to finish out her engagement. They’re forced to live in a hotel as building is finished on his home. As she spends more time with Lorne she discovers his twisted ways, and hotel owner Atlas becomes a lot more welcoming.

A perfect mix of thriller and romance with a dash of gothic.

✨ Publication date: October 8, 2024✨

Monarch is the second book in the Grimstone series by Sophie Lark. Monarch is a dark steamy romance with a morally grey MMC.

Elena Zelenska is running from her past and her home in Ukraine. After meeting what she thinks I the man of her dreams she agrees to move to the US and marry Lorne. A widowed published author with a young daughter.

Elena cannot wait to start her new life but things aren’t quite what she was led to believe. Lorne has a dark side, his daughter is terrified of him and he’s building them a fortress in the woods to live out their married life.

Elena can’t go back home after what she did, she knows marrying Lorne no matter how different he now seems and how controlling he seems to be. The one bright spot is Atlas. Atlas is the owner of the hotel Lorne and her are living in until their home is built.

Atlas is always lurking in the hotel corners and keeping an eye on her. She should be scared but instead she feels safe. When Lorne’s cruel behaviour starts to become the norm, Elena turns to Atlas for safety.

Elena knows she should be faithful to Lorne, he’s the one that brought her from Ukraine but she can no longer deny her feelings and the chemistry between her and Atlas. What lengths will Lorne go to, to keep Elena for himself.

This one was better than the first. I found the chemistry between the two main characters more believable! This is a 3.75 rounded to 4 star read for me!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #sophielark #monarch

Monarch is book 2 in the Grimstone series and I enjoyed it. I love the element of mystery and I was so unsure about what was going to happen. Benjamin gave me weird vibes from the beginning and to say that I was shocked was an understatement.

I will say this one fell flat with the instalove. Atlas seemingly falls in love with Elena VERY quickly and I just didn’t find it to be believable. But I did care for Elena and hope the best for her.

Overall, not my favorite Sophie Lark, I did enjoy Grimstone a bit more, but a quick, mysterious read nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Lark and Bloom Books for the eARC of Monarch available now!

After enjoying book 1 I was so excited to get this one.

As Gothic town. Creepy hotels. Clearly Dodgy fiance. Sounds amazing
But I was unfortunately a bit underwhelmed by this one. The plot and premise were great. But it feels like it was all build up and very little ending. Like the end was over in like 3 pages and I honestly thought I'd missed something.

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.