Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver Narrator: Samantha Brentmoor, Eric Nolan
Series: Ruinous Love Trilogy #2
on June 4, 2024
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Length: 12 hours, 15 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
I had so much fun reading Butcher and Blackbird, I could hardly wait to begin Leather and Lark, the second installment in Brynne Weaver’s The Ruinous Trilogy. It is just as dark, just as swoony, and I loved it just as much. The trigger warning was, again, hilarious, and should definitely be heeded, because, as before, this type of dark romance is not for everyone.
In the midst of burgeoning fame and familial notoriety, Lark is a young woman navigating her identity and relationships in a world that often feels at odds with her true self. She’s hiding some major secrets and past trauma, the weight of which is threatening to break her; the added pressure of keeping her closest friend Sloane, aka Blackbird, safe and happy might be the last straw. Rather than confront the demons of her past, she’s doing what she can to rid the world of baddies, one sexual predator at a time.
But she’s coming apart at the seams, and murder or arts-and-crafts are no longer helping her deal with the stress. Enter Lachlan Kane, brother to Rowan, aka Butcher, Leather Craftsman, Fixer. He’s worked for years to pay off his family’s debt to a psychopath, and the only thing keeping him sane is that he’s almost free.  When a job-gone-wrong results in his liberation being postponed indefinitely, he holds the spoiled princess who made him look like an incompetent fool responsible.
What I really appreciate about Brynne Weaver’s writing is that she takes some pretty standard tropes in romance but twists and combines them to feel fresh. This story includes some popular ones, like marriage-of-convenience and Grumpy/sunshine, but it begins with a classic enemies-to-lovers. However, it is false impressions and conjecture that is the basis of Lachlan and Lark’s ‘war’; and I was highly motivated to keep reading to find out how they manage to overcome the misunderstanding. The drastic differences in their characters make for some amazing chemistry, but it is really their common desire to protect those they love, no matter the cost, that enables them to look past their assumptions and fall for each other.
Leather and Lark takes time to explore the back stories of the leading characters and really dives into the circumstances that shaped Lachlan and Lark.  The situation seemed a little hopeless at times and I definitely felt my heart wrench. However, Ms. Weaver managed to find a balance of introspection and interaction without getting bogged down. The result was a fast-paced story that still had enough substance for the reader to connect with the characters emotionally.
I have to applaud the author’s amazingly twisted imagination. In all of the true-crime documentaries I’ve watched, I’ve yet to find an instance of a ‘multiple deleter’ with as creative method for preserving their trophies. I’ve been inspired to explore crafting with epoxy resin, although I’m starting smaller than a coffee table!
Where I’d easily consider the previous installment in the series to be a Dark Comedy, and despite some hilarious situations and great banter, I think Dark Romance is a more accurate descriptor for Leather and Lark. Learning about the trauma that linked Lark and Sloane as well as the events that shaped the Kane brothers resulted in a deeper empathy and emotional investment in the story that is sure to carry through to the final installment.
Narration:
I think I’ve found my new favorite type of audio book – Duet Style. I love the conversation-like style it gives, and is especially engaging where there is a lot of dialogue. The performances of both narrators really added to the overall ambiance of the story. Both were easy to understand and performed with the right amount of emotion. Given Lark is a pop-star, I applaud Samantha Brentmoor‘s performance reading and singing. Eric Nolan‘s deep Irish brogue was particularly swoon-worthy and would be my number one reason for recommending the audiobook over the print version.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
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I've developed a preference for audiobooks over the last few years, which allow me to complete chores, run carpool, or work on my many building and craft projects while 'reading.
My all time favorite selections include Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and all of Robin Hobb's books set in the Farseer world. Â Honorable mentions to Elle Kennedy, Penny Reid, Meljean Brook, Ann Aguirre, Krista and Becca Ritchie, Jeaniene Frost, and Kristen Callihan.
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- 🎧 Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver @brynneweaver.bsky.social@ms-brentmoor.bsky.social #EricNolan #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjude - April 4, 2025
- 🎧 Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver @brynneweaver.bsky.social@ms-brentmoor.bsky.social #EricNolan #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjude - March 7, 2025
- 🎧 Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver @brynneweaver.bsky.social #JoeArden #LucyRivers #BlueNosePublishing #LoveAudiobooks @4saintjude - February 7, 2025
I had a blast listening to this series. Glad you are enjoying them too 🙂
Shoot. I still need to read book 1 lol. Collecting dust!
These sound really good! I also love duet style narration. Great review!