Monarch by Sophie Lark on October 8, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Pages: 349
Format: eBook
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“Because there it is, in black and white, captured forever on film…. how desperately
I want her.”
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. Lorne is no Prince Charming. In fact, he might just be a monster. Isolated far from home, Elena’s only ally is Atlas Covett, the owner of the Monarch hotel. Massive and stern, even Atlas’ employees are terrified of him. He becomes Elena’s unexpected protector, offering solace and 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…
I enjoyed this way more than Grimstone, but I think Grimstone is almost to thank for that because I already knew about the town, I knew about the Monarch and I knew the vibes, so I didn’t need that foundation and could just enjoy the vibes. The writing is haunting and spooky as you try to piece together what’s happening. Although there’s dual POV, most of the story is from Elena’s perspective, and because she’s still figuring things out, you’re with her every step of the way, trying to discern what’s real and what’s not. This was also a very slow burn, which makes sense for the set up and Elena being a virgin, but I don’t think our couple got enough time to “be” together and that’s a personal want of mine.
Four stars for this book. Overall, I had a really good time with Monarch. I love the vibes, I love the characters, and I love the story. If you’re looking for a little bit of a lighter psychological romance, I would recommend picking this up.