Monarch

By: Sophie Lark

Narrated by: CJ Bloom, Aaron Shedlock

In a desperate bid to get out of town, twenty-seven-year-old virgin and bookstore nerd Elena Zelenska becomes the world's most unlikely mail-order bride. Her gamble pays off when she's swept off her feet by Lorne Ronson, handsome single father and (gasp!) actual published author. Elena's new fiancé seems almost too good to be true. Her life is turning into a fairytale, especially once Lorne starts building her a castle in the woods. But when Elena arrives in Grimstone, her fairytale turns darker.

The castle in the woods is a macabre labyrinth of hidden chambers, and Lorne is no Prince Charming. In fact, he might just be a monster.

Isolated far from home, Elena's only ally is Atlas Covett, owner of the Monarch hotel. Massive and stern, even Atlas' employees are terrified of him. He becomes Elena's unexpected protector, offering sanctuary from the darkness that threatens to consume her.

As Elena's bond with Atlas deepens, her jealous fiancé exerts his control in increasingly twisted ways. Elena must find a way out before the castle he's building becomes a prison she'll never escape…

Lark Notes:
Halloween is my favorite time of year. Even though I'm a huge baby, I can't seem to resist true crime, thrillers, and movies that keep me up all night. Monarch is my love letter to Spooky Season, a romance-thriller mashup for those of us who crave the dark and scary, as long as we know there's a happy ending somehow. – Sophie

"Monarch" is a dark contemporary romance and a complete standalone. Listener beware: it has spicy scenes and triggering content not suitable for all.

©2024 Sophie Lark (P)2024 Sophie Lark

Yep, Romantic thriller

This book goes right along and then takes some sharp turns. Then towards the end jumps right off the cliff and as the reader I just follow along. This was a little lighter on the spice.

Perfect Spooky Season Read

Sophie Lark is an auto-buy author for me. She does the dark, creepy and gothic vibe so well. And Aaron Shedlock is one of my favorite MMC narrators. This story is one that will stick with me for a while and will definitely be a relisten this time of year, Elena's biggest fear is also my own. I loved her and Atlas' story and the addition of Ivy. 5/5

Captivating

I really loved this book. Great October read. It kept me captivated. the voice actors did a great job

Loved it!

I’m loving this series. Just the right amount of everything and perfectly revealed. So much fun to read.

Love!

I really enjoyed this! I think the first was still my fave but this was such a wonderful story. The narration was also amazing! I loved the deep growls voice of Atlas too!

A staple for Spooky Season!

Sophie Lark's latest installment in the Grimstone series is a chilling delight. I devoured the audiobook, but following along with the Kindle edition, with its captivating illustrations, only enhanced my reading experience.

The storytelling is beyond masterful, as the author draws you in with a seemingly straightforward plot, only to twist it in unexpected ways that leave you both awestruck and perplexed.

This series will become a yearly tradition for me, offering the perfect blend of suspense, tragedy and dark romance. If you're looking for a spooky read to curl up with this Halloween season, look no further!

A Perfect Blend of Romance and Chills

As the veil between worlds thins and the air turns crisp, there’s something undeniably magnetic about curling up with a book that brings both a flutter to your heart and a chill to your spine. If that is what you are looking for, this book is exactly that—a masterful concoction of eerie suspense wrapped in the warmth of a blossoming romance.The romance is rich, simmering with an almost irresistible tension. Sophie Lark has an undeniable gift for writing characters whose chemistry leaps off the page, entangling you in their emotions. There’s a delicious slow-burn to the suspense of this story. The balance between romance and horror is meticulously crafted, ensuring that neither overshadows the other but rather complements perfectly. I have enjoyed listening to other books by Sophie Lark and this book doesn’t disappoint. Sophie has a knack for infusing each scene with emotion—whether it’s fear, passion, or hope. The storytelling feels effortless and the characters real. The narration was spot on. Definitely worth the credit.

The story line

I loved this book! Well written! Couldn’t put it down! Definitely recommend this book! Hoping for another in this series

Better than the first book!

I think the characters and the story are better in this book. Narrators were great as well.

Gothic Vibes

3.5⭐️
Like book one Atlas and Elena are a Gothic/Thriller/Romantic suspense perfect for spooky season! Elena is a mail order bride fleeing her country out of fear and Lorne has presented himself as her Prince Charming. When he turns out to be her worst nightmare in comes Atlas to save her. Through their push and pull and a little unaliving they find their HEA!

Read: 🎧/📱EARC
MMC: Atlas Covette
FMC: Elena Zelenska
Daughter: Ivy Ronson
Spice: 2🌶️
Tropes: Small Town, Mail Order Bride, Gothic/Romantic Suspense, Age-Gap, Touch Her and Die, Slow Burn, Thriller