When I stumbled upon this hidden gem of a book while searching for some spine-tingling reads this month, it felt like fate had intervened in the best way possible. I hadn't even seen this book advertised before, but let me tell you, it's turned out to be my absolute favorite read of the year, and I've devoured a multitude of books in these past months. First and foremost, Remi Hayes is a character that resonated with me on a deep level. She's not your typical damsel in distress; she's an independent woman taking on the role of caregiver for her brother. It's refreshing to encounter a female protagonist who's not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty. As she inherits her uncle's manor, she wastes no time diving into renovations, proving she's one tough cookie. Dane Covett, on the other hand, comes onto the scene with a cloud of mystery and a heavy baggage load. Initially, I couldn't help but think, "What a jerk!" However, as the story unfolded, I found myself empathizing with Dane. He's had a rough go of it, and the town's relentless rumors only add to his burdens. His character development is a remarkable journey in itself. Every detail in this book is a meticulously placed puzzle piece that comes together in a brilliantly orchestrated symphony to deliver the most mind-bending and unexpected twist ending of the year. When I finished the book, I had to take a moment to sit and contemplate every event that had unfolded, as it left me reeling with awe. I'm not usually one to listen to music while reading due to my ADHD, but I decided to give the suggested playlist a shot. It was a game-changer. The music completely transformed the reading experience for me, allowing me to immerse myself in the mood and atmosphere that Sophie Lark had masterfully intended for this novel. It added an extra layer of depth to the story, making it an even more immersive and engaging adventure. Don't miss out on this book—it's a literary journey you won't soon forget.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (The epilogue alone deserves this rating) My first Sophie Lark book, a great way to spend spooky season and despite my mixed feelings towards the book I'm still looking forward to reading Monarch. As well as her Mafia series that has been on my TBR for a minute. I'm going to be that person for a second but Remi came off as a "pick me girl", who wears booty shorts and a crop top to work on someone's house. And when she got injured I was like don't you work in construction, did you miss safety training. I wasn't liking this book until towards the end. And not because the story wasn't good, it was fantastic actually. This book made me step out of my comfort genre, and I'm glad I trusted the process. I related to Remi wanting to belong and have control on a spiritual level. And maybe my feelings towards the book come from the fact it made me emotional 😅. I am indifferent towards Dane, which is annoying because I liked him, but as the same time found him a bit too out there. But I guess it's hard to redeem oneself when you describe your love interest as "barely pretty". But at least he thinks she's smart 🥴. However after reading what actually happened with his wife and son, I found that I just could not out right hate him. But some of his actions were unforgivable and gaslighting. However this is a dark romance fiction book, so I suppose I should not based my opinion too much on reality. I slowly started piecing things together as the story progressed but even still the plot twist at the end was amazing. And I haven't been this blown away by a plot twist since PenPal by JT Geissinger. Grimestone was different from any book I have read this year. Definitely a wild and twisted ride. And I loved it! As a therapist I'm pretty sure HIPPA would question my liking of this book 🤣🤣. Though there was a great message about the importance of avoiding energy vampires in your life. And not running from the truth. Overall this book took me through a slew of emotional and feelings. I enjoyed being on the edge of my seat, and Sophie Lark grabbed my attention making me want to dive deeper into her backlog of books. The ending was a bit anti-climatic, the build up was there but then it was just kind of over. Would have liked more of a motive explanation. Looking forward to what's to come in Monarch! There are differences in the text when compary the Kindle and Bloom paperback. I'm sure I'm just the last to know this but I felt like I was missing out on stuff and it altered the reading experience. AND it definitely changed my perspective of Dane. Plus changes my review of this book slightly. Especially since the relationship comes off as more consensual in the Bloom paperback and Dane becomes more morally grey. However it means people are reading basically two different stories and I now understand the mixed reviews.

Review ! Wasnt a huge fan of this one ( personally ) Great plot and characters Loved the art work in it Im just into darker books If you are in between or morally grey Its a fairly good read ——- based on my own opinions

I devoured this book in less than a day. The MCs are deep, and the plot is multilayered. Side characters are a bit flat, but that forgivable since they're not the main focus. Remi, who was forced into hard core adulting thru past trauma, moves into an inherited fixer upper in a small town with her younger brother. From her first interaction with Dane, our dark and brooding MC, you know their chemistry is explosive - he purposefully riles her up. As neighbors sharing an access road, their lives are intertwined; but a growing obsession pulls them closer and together they uncover sinister things happening around them. Well written intimacy and 3 out of 5 for spice. There is BDSM, but it's all consensual- though some is maybe not ethical. There is a dark SA scene that isn't between MCs, so check trigger warnings on this book. Overall well written characters and plot, a great read. I did enjoy the Playlist and the helpful scene setting with song prompts. I also like the color character artwork throughout the book. I recommend for anyone looking to read a dark, spicey thriller.

I really enjoyed this book from the get-go. Remi was a really likeable character, and her and Dane had the hottest chemistry from the very beginning, and I loved every second of it. I knew from the beginning that there was a plot twist, and I was kept guessing till the very end, I had all of these wild theories going around in my head but none of them were right. This was the perfect read to start off spooky season! I want to live in Grimstone. This story had me hooked. I loved the characters and the setting, and the storyline. Sophie Lark books are always so good, and I can't wait for more.

It's the spooky season and this book was everything, haunting and beautiful and oozing that dark sensualism, loved this story. The open ending and the twist, although it was quite visible from 60% but still I loved it, I love this author's work so whatever she writes is a definite yes for me.

É simplesmente incrível, sério! Os mistérios, o romance, a química deles exalam uma intensidade absurda! É tudo tão bem escrito que você não consegue parar de ler até tudo se resolver. Fantástico demais! Remi e Dane são meu casal do momento, no primeiro olhar, já veio a explosão de sentimentos e eu amei como eles foram construindo isso. O plot me deixou 🤯, foi ótimo ser surpreendida! Agora, meus amigos, as ilustrações e os hots 😍😍🥵 O livro é perfeito por inteiro! Apenas leiam e vocês não vão se arrepender!

Enjoyable, spooky, Halloween vibes. Spicy enemies to lovers, small town romance. Mysterious MMC, independent, strong FMC. Definitely add to your tbr

Una casa supuestamente embrujada, un asesino suelto y un sexy doctor lleno de misterios... Si por favor, lo necesito 🤭🖤.