Leather & Lark Audiobook – The Ruinous Love Trilogy, Book 2

I started “Leather & Lark” on a misty Portland morning, curled up in my favorite armchair as the rain tapped out its own nervous melody against the windowpane. The timing felt serendipitous: gray skies outside matched perfectly with Brynne Weaver’s blend of shadow and hope inside this darkly addictive second installment of the Ruinous Love Trilogy. As someone who delights in finding light amid life’s murkier edges—and who never shies from a complicated love story—this audiobook swept me right into its orbit.

What initially gripped me was how alive Lachlan Kane and Lark Montague felt, both to each other and to me as a listener. Lachlan—a contract killer yearning for escape—embodies that particular ache I’ve sometimes felt myself: wanting desperately to leave old pain behind but not quite knowing if you’re allowed happiness on the other side. His stoic silence, offset by bursts of vulnerability, made me root for him even when he was infuriating or aloof.

Lark, meanwhile, radiates sunshine and sharp wit like armor, covering her own secrets with music and laughter. I found so much of myself in her willingness to risk everything—even heartbreak—for love that feels transformative. There’s an aching honesty woven through their banter; their “marriage of convenience” trope blooms with slow-burn tension and surprisingly genuine moments of connection (and oh yes, some absolutely scorching chemistry).

Weaver excels at balancing romance with suspense—each plot twist sending new ripples through my anticipation while keeping character growth front-and-center. The criminal underworld backdrop adds grit without ever overshadowing emotional depth; instead, it heightens every stolen glance or whispered confession between Lark and Lachlan. At times I wanted to shout warnings at them (the “touch her/him and die” scenes are deliciously intense!), but mostly I just held my breath hoping they’d find trust amidst chaos.

Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan bring remarkable texture to this story as narrators—their dual performance lets us feel both sides of every argument or tender exchange. Brentmoor lends Lark a warmth tinged with steel; Nolan gives Lachlan a bruised sincerity that makes his journey toward redemption feel earned rather than easy. Their distinct voices immerse you so thoroughly that you almost forget where your world ends and theirs begins.

If there’s one small quibble from me as an audiobook devotee: there are stretches where internal monologues or lingering descriptions drag out just slightly longer than needed—but these lulls always serve the larger arc, deepening our understanding rather than stalling momentum for long.

Ultimately what left me most moved was the way “Leather & Lark” tackles healing—not as something tidy or quick but messy, necessary work done hand-in-hand (sometimes literally). It reminded me why I’m drawn again and again to stories about broken people choosing each other anyway; perhaps because none of us walk free from shadows alone.

This is more than just another dark romance—it’s witty yet heartfelt, tense yet uplifting—a listen best savored during long afternoons when you can let it unfold unhurriedly around you. If you loved “Butcher & Blackbird,” you’ll be enchanted here too…and if not? Well then friend: what are you waiting for?