Leather & Lark: The Ruinous Love Trilogy Paperback – June 4, 2024

Another five star read from Brynne Weaver. I swear this trilogy is going to go down as one of my favorite series of all time. I loved everything about this from beginning to end. It’s funny and sweet and of course a bit dark. Lark is strong and caring and she is not a character that internally pines and fawns all over Lachlan because he’s hot. He actually has to admit he was wrong and earn her forgiveness. Then when it was finally granted? Ugh, MY HEART.And Lachlan - he is so used to being the backbone for everyone that he’s forgotten he deserves happiness, too. I am obsessed with how he gets emotional, how he blushes, how thoughtful he is. I really, really love the two of them together.This is a slow burn but when the spice kicks in, it hits HARD. Don’t even get me started on that bonus scene. I swear I almost hyperventilated. 😭 So yeah, im obsessed with this series. Five stars, 10/10, go read it immediately.

So Butcher & Blackbird should be read before Leather & Lark.Lachlan Kane is ready to retire from contract killing, to having a quiet life in his leather shop.But when his boss sends him on a job meeting a woman who is a walking catastrophe - Lachlan's grumpy attitude gets the best of him. And screwing up that job means his boss will never get his claws out of him. Not until Lark Montague offers him a deal.Lark is sunshine and glitter, but she has dark secrets hiding beneath her bright exterior. So when her loved ones are threatened - she makes a hard decision. They may not be able to stand one another, but they are getting married in hopes to help them both.They must both navigate the dark world where they are bound together, it becomes impossible to distinguish their fake marriage for a real one. But negotiating their newfound marriage isn't the only challenge they have to face, when danger comes knocking.So, I loved Butcher & Blackbird, and couldn't wait to get a hold of Leather and Lark. I needed this book - thanks to that little teasing chapter in B&B.Plus, I love grumpy/sunshine & marriage of convenience so I was dying to see how this played out. Dark romances are my jam, & I loved how B&B was a dark rom-com.And while this also falls under the dark rom-com category... I wouldn't really call it dark. It was a bit slower paced, and had a lot of fluff to it, with just little crumbs of things making me want to read more. There wasn't as much danger and suspense as I would have hoped given the circumstances, and when we got it, it felt a bit rushed. And some of the relationship felt less "show" and more "tell". (Not all, there was some parts that SHOWED it too, but there were some parts where we were TOLD what happened with the characters).It did have great banter, great side characters, & some steamy scenes within. It was overall a good read. I loved the characters and their relationship. I loved the slow burn and tension. And overall enjoyed the story. & I'm excited for the next book in the series!4⭐ out of 5⭐.

When I told my husband that I was reading a serial k!ller romance, he gave me a side eye. When I started cackling while listening to the audiobook, I think he was a little bit concerned, lol. But the truth is that this series is kinda hysterical, even though it’s dark and gruesome in other ways. Weaver has such a skill for balancing the dark and the swoony, making me love these twisted characters. This one is a new spin on the beloved marriage of convenience trope, bringing together a “multiple deleter” and a contract k!ller. It’s also a best friend’s brother-in-law romance, with a banter-filled meet cute, tons of chemistry, and a boy obsessed. I loved the slow burn and how absolutely adorable the (anti)hero was - he was so completely gone for his girl. He knows he needs to put in the work to win over his wife after their disastrous first meeting, and he doesn’t hesitate to do so. The writing is just immensely bingeable, entertaining, and fun - I devoured this in a single day, and there was certainly never a dull moment. I loved it!I think it goes without saying that there are some dark, potentially triggering elements to the series, but even more so with this installment. The story follows Lark, a woman whose experience with SA has shaped her into the woman she is today. Namely, that she hunts down sexual predators and makes sure they can never hurt anyone again - taking matters into her own hands. You’d never know by looking at Lark that such darkness lives inside her, which is why her first interaction with Lachlan goes so awry. He sees a pretty, sunshine, self-absorbed girl who doesn’t have a care in the world, and he couldn’t be more wrong. So when Lachlan discovers that Lark is his brother’s fiancée’s best friend, it’s a shock to the system. And when Lark realizes that she needs to marry Lachlan in order to keep her friends safe, it’s sure to change the dynamic of their relationship.I remember having so much fun reading Butcher & Blackbird back when it first released, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series. I love that the books truly feel one-of-a-kind, with a great mix of dark and comedic elements, as well as plenty of heat. I liked Lark quite a bit and how she gave as good as she got, but it’s truly the smitten Lachlan who steals the show here. He quickly realizes the error of his ways, and I loved watching him try to navigate unfamiliar territory. If I have one complaint, it’d be that I wanted to spend more time with the characters without days or weeks passing in between interactions. But maybe I’m just greedy - it’s really that I wanted even more time with these characters. The slow burn was perfect for them, and things did get pretty spicy towards the end. Maybe not my preferred type of spice, but it fit the couple and enhanced the relationship in its own way. All in all, I had a fantastic time - and now I cannot wait for the final book in the series.Audio note: Highly, highly recommended in audio! If you’re the type of reader who has never understood the appeal of audiobooks, this is the perfect one to try. It’s a true performance, told in duet-style. Samantha Brentmoor’s crisp, clear voice is exceedingly easy to listen to, and she even does some singing, which was great. Eric Nolan is new-to-me, but I would definitely seek him out in the future. He brings Lachlan’s Irish swoon and swagger to life, with a gruff and grumbly voice that was perfection. The runtime (12 hours) meant it was a full day binge, but it did not drag at all. Not sure I’d recommend listening at work, but there’s minimal spice in the first half. So glad I was able to listen to this one, it was an experience for sure.