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.
Brynne Weaver is back again with another “test my morals and ethics” novel about a contract killer and a serial killer falling in love. Again you will want to read the trigger warnings and read responsibly!
This book follows Lachlan and Lark, as they work through misunderstandings and misconceptions to get past their first impressions and harsh judgements of each other and what they find is a beautiful, messy love and genuine attraction to each other.
I am always intrigued by a good enemies-to-lover plot but this one has all the right twists in all the right ways to keep it from being cheesy and overwritten about. Brynne Weaver really knows how to get messy with her characters and I find that they are much deeper than most romance novel characters. I know many would disagree with me, as there are some very rated R scenes in this book, but I still wouldn’t consider it smut by any means.
With all of that said, I would rate this sequel to Butcher and Blackbird at a 5/5. I appreciate that each book has its completely different styles and you can clearly define between characters. They say each book could be read stand-alone, but I feel as though one will appreciate them more if read in order. I am very excited for Scythe and Sparrow to debut in February 2025!
