Leather & Lark
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“I don’t just want to hear her laugh, I need to earn it. Every time I gain a little ground, I want more. I want to break out of the shade and back into her light. Without even realizing it, I’ve become addicted to it. To her.”
From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird comes the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a hate-to-love dark romantic comedy packed with danger, chaos, and heat.
Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.
And they can’t stand each other.
Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.
As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.
There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.
And this one has come for blood.
Tropes: Hate-to-love / Marriage of convenience / Grumpy x sunshine / He falls first / Groveling, but make it psycho / Touch her/him and die
“I don’t just want to hear her laugh, I need to earn it. Every time I gain a little ground, I want more. I want to break out of the shade and back into her light. Without even realizing it, I’ve become addicted to it. To her.”
From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the genre-breaking international TikTok sensation Butcher & Blackbird comes the second book in the Ruinous Love Trilogy—a hate-to-love dark romantic comedy packed with danger, chaos, and heat.
Contract killer Lachlan Kane wants a quiet life working in his leather studio and forgetting all about his traumatic past. But when he botches a job for his boss’s biggest client, Lachlan knows he’ll never claw his way out of the underworld. At least, not until songbird Lark Montague offers him a deal: use his skills to hunt down a killer and she’ll find a way to secure his freedom. The catch? He has to marry her first.
And they can’t stand each other.
Indie singer-songwriter Lark is the sunshine and glitter that burns through every cloud and clings to every crevice that Lachlan Kane tries to hide inside. The surly older brother of her best friend’s soulmate, Lachlan thinks she’s just a privileged princess, but Lark has plenty of secrets hiding in the shadows of her bright light. With her formidable family in a tailspin and her best friend’s happiness on the line, she’s willing to make a vow to the man she’s determined to hate, no matter how tempting the broody assassin might be.
As Lachlan and Lark navigate the dark world that binds them together, it becomes impossible to discern their fake marriage from a real one. But it’s not just familiar dangers that haunt them.
There’s another phantom lurking on their doorstep.
And this one has come for blood.
Tropes: Hate-to-love / Marriage of convenience / Grumpy x sunshine / He falls first / Groveling, but make it psycho / Touch her/him and die
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Community Reviews
Loved Lachlan’s story more the Rowan. I enjoyed these characters and their backstory’s more than the first book for sure!
It was a wild ride! I still insist that it’s an audiobook only. I’m sorry I just can’t get through the book, the voice actor for the Kane brothers is absolutely phenomenal! The book was interesting to me, her bond with her aunt and best friends was so cute.
Definitely a slow burn, I always love the marriage of convenience trope, where they end up falling for each other. I’ll eat it UP every time.
I love his drive to earn her forgiveness and stopping at nothing to get it.
Because when you read this types of books, you sort of start off thinking they’re bad people. They’re jerks, obviously the entire concept is that they kill people, so having some redemption in there, seeing how the author shows Lachlan being a good man and devoted husband who adores his brother saves the entire book for me.
I liked seeing both their POVS. Overall a fun read!
It was a wild ride! I still insist that it’s an audiobook only. I’m sorry I just can’t get through the book, the voice actor for the Kane brothers is absolutely phenomenal! The book was interesting to me, her bond with her aunt and best friends was so cute.
Definitely a slow burn, I always love the marriage of convenience trope, where they end up falling for each other. I’ll eat it UP every time.
I love his drive to earn her forgiveness and stopping at nothing to get it.
Because when you read this types of books, you sort of start off thinking they’re bad people. They’re jerks, obviously the entire concept is that they kill people, so having some redemption in there, seeing how the author shows Lachlan being a good man and devoted husband who adores his brother saves the entire book for me.
I liked seeing both their POVS. Overall a fun read!
Book two did not disappoint! I still love how there is a list of fairly comical trigger warnings at the front and the playlist guide is such a cool addition. These books just seem so unique to me - it isn’t just the concept but its also things like these that make me love the overall book so much more. Lark made me laugh a lot in this book and I felt her pain and wanted better for her. I didn’t see her being a “multiple deleter” in book one but getting her dark side in her story made me love her even more. And then there’s Lachlan.... HOLY HELL! I thought I loved Rowan but Lachlan blows him out of the water for me! I am obsessed with everything about him. He is strong and sexy and seeing him fall fall for Lark made my heart melt. The phantom part gives a good twist to the plot and had me wondering the entire time. I cannot wait for the third book but I also don’t want it to end! As long as you are comfortable with the triggers, you need to pick this trilogy up because I guarantee you’ll love them.
I was not expecting to fall in love with this even more the first. The forced relationship seems A typical for this kind of genre but it is anything but. There is an actual relationship that builds to the point that you almost can’t breathe. The emotional toll this story will leave you beautifully ruined in the most glorious of ways.
After thoroughly enjoying “Butcher and Blackbird”’ I eagerly anticipated “Leather and Lark”, and I’m happy to say it lived up to my high expectations. This instalment offers a different plot, which is refreshing. While some readers may hope for a similar story, I encourage them to embrace the unique narrative.
The story revolves around the main characters who marry to protect their loved ones, despite some initial animosity. It features various engaging tropes, a good amount of spice, and a relatively fast-paced plot that keeps readers entertained.
I particularly loved Lark as the female lead; she’s a badass with a touch of sparkle, making her hard not to adore. The male lead, Lachlan, is dark and mysterious, becoming increasingly obsessed with making Lark happy. While I wished for more depth to his character—specifically regarding his brooding nature and backstory—the existing portrayal leaves room for personal interpretation, which I find satisfying.
Not as good as the first book in the series, Butcher and Blackbird. Plot didn’t make any sense. Hard to finish
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