Elena Zelenska is desperate to leave her hometown but what can a 27-year-old virgin bookstore clerk do but become a mail-order bride to America? She gets lucky when Lorne Wittacker, a single father and author answers her prayers. Now she expects her life will become a good one as she arrives and stays at the MONARCH Hotel. The home her future husband plans for them is being built and not yet finished. When she meets MONARCH owner, Atlas Covett, she doesn’t find the large man frightening, in fact, she might even regret becoming engaged to Wittacker. The fiancé might not be the prince in her new fairytale after all. As her feelings for Atlas become stronger Wittacker’s jealousy and controlling tenancies become darker and more frightening.   MONARCH is a romantic thriller by author Sophie Lark set in the beach town of Grimstone. Aptly named, readers will find that the more you read the darker it all becomes. Elena’s saving grace is indeed Atlas. He is described as massive and stern, but he becomes Elena’s protector as his instincts immediately know something about the so-called (called that by Wittacker) bride feels wrong.   To me, though it is in a modern setting, the feel of MONARCH is reminiscent of a gothic romance. You know the ones where the naive young woman arrives to marry or is married to basically a stranger and strange things happen to her until the hero comes to the rescue. Before you get the wrong idea, I absolutely love those books. And so MONARCH falls in the category for me.  In this more modern look, you have the young somewhat naïve girl coming to America from the Ukraine to marry a stranger, but things do not quite add up and in steps her protector. And just in time because … oh sorry I cannot say more as spoilers are frowned upon … just think Edgar Allen Poe and his scary writings.   Aside from the instant attraction Atlas has for Elena – who honestly doesn’t think much of her fiancé – and quite a bit of interesting dialogue about his surprising feelings, there are some appealing supporting characters. Included among them are Atlas’ brother, Dane, Dane’s girlfriend Remi, and Wittacker’s young daughter, Ivy (whose mother had mysteriously disappeared). Turns out that for years she had been mistreated by her father and the housekeeper. If anyone deserved to be happy it is certainly this little girl.

You might be able to guess the evil that is trying to hurt Elena right away, but getting to the finale will have you on the edge of your seat. The dark and somewhat dreary town of Grimstone is the perfect setting for MONARCH. But after reading this book you might want to find your own MONARCH and enjoy a little spooky time.