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Clover Lake #3
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair
Legacies and hearts collide when a woman embarks on a film project about an extraordinary family’s rich history in this bewitching romance by USA Today bestselling author Ashley Herring Blake.
Sasha Sinclair is used to being alone. Her parents, successful documentary filmmakers, died in a car accident three years ago, leaving her with a legacy she’s been unable to live up to. Instead, she spends her time with casual hookups and odd jobs as she travels around the country. But she can’t stop thinking about her parents’ dream project and is determined to make it a the story of Alice Bishop in Clare Mountain, North Carolina.
Margot Bishop is not a witch, contrary to the town’s century-long suspicion about her family. When her ancestor Alice Bishop showed up to Clare Mountain in 1901 and opened Thornrose Apothecary, the town was flummoxed by this strange enigma of a woman, calling her the Rose Witch. Now, the Bishops also run Ghostlight, an occult-themed amusement park that fully leans into the rumors.
Despite the draw of the Rose Witch and the haunted Thornrose Woods where Alice had lived, however, the Bishops’ businesses aren’t doing well. When Margot’s mother comes up with a solution—a documentary film about their family—Margot can’t get on board, not when her family’s legacy is at stake. Even worse, she’s deemed the point person for Sasha, the charming, peppy wannabe-filmmaker. But as they spend more time together, diving deeper into the true story of Alice Bishop, the ice slowly melts and their relationship turns into a heart-fluttering rollercoaster ride, one they aren’t sure they want to get off.
Sasha Sinclair is used to being alone. Her parents, successful documentary filmmakers, died in a car accident three years ago, leaving her with a legacy she’s been unable to live up to. Instead, she spends her time with casual hookups and odd jobs as she travels around the country. But she can’t stop thinking about her parents’ dream project and is determined to make it a the story of Alice Bishop in Clare Mountain, North Carolina.
Margot Bishop is not a witch, contrary to the town’s century-long suspicion about her family. When her ancestor Alice Bishop showed up to Clare Mountain in 1901 and opened Thornrose Apothecary, the town was flummoxed by this strange enigma of a woman, calling her the Rose Witch. Now, the Bishops also run Ghostlight, an occult-themed amusement park that fully leans into the rumors.
Despite the draw of the Rose Witch and the haunted Thornrose Woods where Alice had lived, however, the Bishops’ businesses aren’t doing well. When Margot’s mother comes up with a solution—a documentary film about their family—Margot can’t get on board, not when her family’s legacy is at stake. Even worse, she’s deemed the point person for Sasha, the charming, peppy wannabe-filmmaker. But as they spend more time together, diving deeper into the true story of Alice Bishop, the ice slowly melts and their relationship turns into a heart-fluttering rollercoaster ride, one they aren’t sure they want to get off.
Audible Audio
First published September 29, 2026
About the author
Ashley Herring Blake
20 books8,833 followersAshley Herring Blake is a reader, writer, and mom to two boisterous boys. She holds a Master’s degree in teaching and loves coffee, arranging her books by color, and cold weather. She is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), the middle grade novels Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea (Little, Brown), and the adult romance novels Delilah Green Doesn't Care and Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Berkley). Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World was a Stonewall Honor Book, as well as a Kirkus, School Library Journal, NYPL, and NPR Best Book of 2018. Her YA novel Girl Made of Stars was a Lambda Literary Award finalist. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @ashleyhblake and on the web at www.ashleyherringblake.com. She lives in Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
September 18, 2026
Wow. Normally, I tend to struggle with AHB’s writing style, but this one was damn good.
This book felt different, and I liked it. It had a little bit of a creepy element to it which I haven’t seen from AHB in the books that I’ve read, and it’s not just about the budding romance between the two MC’s, but also about grief, found family, the witch trials and the pain women went through, and star crossed lovers.
After I read April Evans (and was kind of disappointed) I knew we would see Sasha’s story at some point, but I was nervous to see how this one would go.
Some things were a little cheesy such as Sasha being a “typical” masc with a big sly ego, or certain other scenes (have to keep the mystery), but I was pleasantly surprised many other times!
Sasha and Margot’s dynamic was such a nice surprise. I love a good sexy librarian look, and Margot ended up being my absolute favorite character.
The added history of Margot’s ancestor made the story feel more filled and flowed great. It was like we got to learn about two love stories in one book.
I also love the little scavenger hunt of finding the title somewhere in the story, it’s one of my favorite parts of this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the ARC!
This book felt different, and I liked it. It had a little bit of a creepy element to it which I haven’t seen from AHB in the books that I’ve read, and it’s not just about the budding romance between the two MC’s, but also about grief, found family, the witch trials and the pain women went through, and star crossed lovers.
After I read April Evans (and was kind of disappointed) I knew we would see Sasha’s story at some point, but I was nervous to see how this one would go.
Some things were a little cheesy such as Sasha being a “typical” masc with a big sly ego, or certain other scenes (have to keep the mystery), but I was pleasantly surprised many other times!
Sasha and Margot’s dynamic was such a nice surprise. I love a good sexy librarian look, and Margot ended up being my absolute favorite character.
The added history of Margot’s ancestor made the story feel more filled and flowed great. It was like we got to learn about two love stories in one book.
I also love the little scavenger hunt of finding the title somewhere in the story, it’s one of my favorite parts of this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the ARC!
October 18, 2026
I have mixed feelings, but on balance, this one didn’t quite work for me. The emotional core of the story is solid (which is unsurprising—there’s a reason I’ve read almost all Ashley Herring Blake’s novels to this point). I liked Sasha and Margot and was fully invested in their relationship, which is of course the most important thing.
But the invocation of queer history, so central to the story, didn’t quite work for me. Maybe I’ve just read too many queer novels actually written in the first half of the twentieth century, but Alice and Rose’s relationship—the early-twentieth-century love affair that quite literally haunts this novel—felt like a vague, imprecise fantasy of the queer past. It just didn’t feel real. I know, I know, it’s a fluffy fall-themed romance novel, it’s not supposed to feel real. But, you know, it kind of is, though? Also, everyone took the actual ghosts in stride in a way I found almost bewildering. Like, is no one going to freak out, here!? At least a little!?
The small town of Clare Mountain, North Carolina felt about as much like a real place as previous Ashley Herring Blake locales Bright Falls and Clover Lake—which is to say, not at all, though as in some of those earlier novels, playing up the artificiality of the setting—in this case by making it both haunted-small-town and failing tourist-trap—helps a lot.
I’m not sure if the prose here is actually less original than in Get Over It, April Evans, which I gave five stars last year—but it felt that way.
It was too much, the way her heart ached for this woman, the way it stretched and strained for her, remaking itself for her, believing it wouldn’t crack again.
But it would.
It already had…
This kind of thing never particularly moved me, but I’m feeling less and less willing to put up with it at all, these days…
Finally, maybe most importantly—maybe this is really what soured the whole thing for me—the sexual dynamic between Sasha and Margot rubbed me the wrong way. Frankly, the way Margot and Sasha—as near strangers—used kink and power play to work through their emotional needs felt a little scary, a little irresponsible, and just very… not cute, and not sexy. Obviously, plenty of people are going to feel differently.
All that said—it’s a cozy, fun read, I was never tempted to not finish it, and I really did like Margot and Sasha both, so the novel has a lot going for it. If you enjoyed the first two Clover Lake novels, I would say give it a shot and see what you think.
But the invocation of queer history, so central to the story, didn’t quite work for me. Maybe I’ve just read too many queer novels actually written in the first half of the twentieth century, but Alice and Rose’s relationship—the early-twentieth-century love affair that quite literally haunts this novel—felt like a vague, imprecise fantasy of the queer past. It just didn’t feel real. I know, I know, it’s a fluffy fall-themed romance novel, it’s not supposed to feel real. But, you know, it kind of is, though? Also, everyone took the actual ghosts in stride in a way I found almost bewildering. Like, is no one going to freak out, here!? At least a little!?
The small town of Clare Mountain, North Carolina felt about as much like a real place as previous Ashley Herring Blake locales Bright Falls and Clover Lake—which is to say, not at all, though as in some of those earlier novels, playing up the artificiality of the setting—in this case by making it both haunted-small-town and failing tourist-trap—helps a lot.
I’m not sure if the prose here is actually less original than in Get Over It, April Evans, which I gave five stars last year—but it felt that way.
It was too much, the way her heart ached for this woman, the way it stretched and strained for her, remaking itself for her, believing it wouldn’t crack again.
But it would.
It already had…
This kind of thing never particularly moved me, but I’m feeling less and less willing to put up with it at all, these days…
Finally, maybe most importantly—maybe this is really what soured the whole thing for me—the sexual dynamic between Sasha and Margot rubbed me the wrong way. Frankly, the way Margot and Sasha—as near strangers—used kink and power play to work through their emotional needs felt a little scary, a little irresponsible, and just very… not cute, and not sexy. Obviously, plenty of people are going to feel differently.
All that said—it’s a cozy, fun read, I was never tempted to not finish it, and I really did like Margot and Sasha both, so the novel has a lot going for it. If you enjoyed the first two Clover Lake novels, I would say give it a shot and see what you think.
September 29, 2026
peace love gay witches!!!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
this was the best of the series by far! the salem witch trials are my personal special interest and to see that explored in a sapphic contemporary romance was amazing. i thoroughly enjoyed seeing these two closed off women go from a mutually string-free relationship to slowly falling for each other! they never hit a conflict they couldn’t work through and this was also a veryyy steamy read!
October 2, 2026
This is for sure my fav novel of the series, first because I am a sucker for witches, second because I love and feel protective of characters that are "runners"... just like Sasha, and last... because I really enjoyed the story of Alice and Rose in it. I actually think it should be a novel by itself... I can imagine already the angst of it and how poetic and heartbreaking it could be.
The theme of witchcraft/queerness/bring different etc... is spot on, and as the author mentions very modern nowadays especially regading trans people. It a scary world right now.
On another note... I loved Sasha and Margot sexual encouters and how varied/spicy and dynamic and fluid it was. And the giving control and taking it.
4.5 stars! I enjoyed it a lot!
The theme of witchcraft/queerness/bring different etc... is spot on, and as the author mentions very modern nowadays especially regading trans people. It a scary world right now.
On another note... I loved Sasha and Margot sexual encouters and how varied/spicy and dynamic and fluid it was. And the giving control and taking it.
4.5 stars! I enjoyed it a lot!
October 3, 2026
I really loved this. Which is no surprise as I’ve loved all of Ashley’s books. But this one felt a little different but in a good way! There was a lot more emotion with the characters individually which I loved. Poor Sasha, I just wanted to give her a hug!
The spice was excellent! Who doesn’t love a femme topping a masc? It’s nice to see that a little more in sapphic books, so A++ for that! 🔥
Written in third person with. 2x POV’s. Book Three in the Clover Lake series (can be read as a standalone but they’re interconnected). Narrated by Gail Shalan. Contemporary Romance, Masc/Femme, One Bed, Forced Proximity, Small Town, Grief. 4x Spicy Scenes (there is another scene but it’s interrupted).
The spice was excellent! Who doesn’t love a femme topping a masc? It’s nice to see that a little more in sapphic books, so A++ for that! 🔥
Written in third person with. 2x POV’s. Book Three in the Clover Lake series (can be read as a standalone but they’re interconnected). Narrated by Gail Shalan. Contemporary Romance, Masc/Femme, One Bed, Forced Proximity, Small Town, Grief. 4x Spicy Scenes (there is another scene but it’s interrupted).
October 3, 2026
The Delilah Green energy is so back
Did Not Finish
October 23, 2026DNF @ 49%
I’ve usually enjoyed this author’s books but this one was just not pulling me in sadly. It sounded so good but by halfway in I was not into the plot or characters and found myself waiting for it to be over. Too many other books to get to so I called it and set it down.
I’ve usually enjoyed this author’s books but this one was just not pulling me in sadly. It sounded so good but by halfway in I was not into the plot or characters and found myself waiting for it to be over. Too many other books to get to so I called it and set it down.
June 2, 2026
I love you Sasha and I loved this book what beautiful fun witchy gay vibes
2026
July 23, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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October 26, 2026
A contemporary romance with hints of paranormal activity.
I dunno. I enjoyed it a whole lot more when Rose was introduced, but Rose and Alice's storyline wasn't enough to tip it to 4 stars for me, mainly because I just did not care about Margot and Sasha. It felt like a merry-go-round of I-don't-like-you-let's-fuck-I-still-don't-like-you-but-you're-hot and I just wanted more of the secondary Bishops, more of the town, more of the operations of an amusement park (???? random, didn't come up too much after the beginning—also like, you operate an amusement park, even as in-the-red as it is). There was also the paranormal ghost storyline, the adding of the Clover Lake characters, the living Bishop family secondary characters, Chloe and Beatrice (and Callum), and the entire filming of the this documentary—all of which fell completely by the wayside whenever Margot and Sasha hopped back on the merry-go-round of fuck-hate-angst.
It felt, in some ways, like it was trying to do too much while not doing enough. Like it needed an additional 30-50 pages to feel fully developed and have the space to make the rest of the storylines breathe.
The three stars are solely for the Alice/Rose storyline.
I dunno. I enjoyed it a whole lot more when Rose was introduced, but Rose and Alice's storyline wasn't enough to tip it to 4 stars for me, mainly because I just did not care about Margot and Sasha. It felt like a merry-go-round of I-don't-like-you-let's-fuck-I-still-don't-like-you-but-you're-hot and I just wanted more of the secondary Bishops, more of the town, more of the operations of an amusement park (???? random, didn't come up too much after the beginning—also like, you operate an amusement park, even as in-the-red as it is). There was also the paranormal ghost storyline, the adding of the Clover Lake characters, the living Bishop family secondary characters, Chloe and Beatrice (and Callum), and the entire filming of the this documentary—all of which fell completely by the wayside whenever Margot and Sasha hopped back on the merry-go-round of fuck-hate-angst.
It felt, in some ways, like it was trying to do too much while not doing enough. Like it needed an additional 30-50 pages to feel fully developed and have the space to make the rest of the storylines breathe.
The three stars are solely for the Alice/Rose storyline.
November 1, 2026
Appreciated the overall heart of this one, but could not connect with the story or the characters. I struggle with hate-to-love anyway and it's worse when they keep being incredibly rude while pursuing a relationship.
I was also getting really irritated with how redundant the writing was. (The amount of times a certain phrase was used was baffling.)
That being said, I did enjoy the historical aspects and the discussions of familial trauma. There's a lot good to this book, even if it kind of missed the mark for me.
I was also getting really irritated with how redundant the writing was. (The amount of times a certain phrase was used was baffling.)
That being said, I did enjoy the historical aspects and the discussions of familial trauma. There's a lot good to this book, even if it kind of missed the mark for me.
October 21, 2026
the best part of this book was the background story of "the Rose Witch" and just the underlying theme of how woman always have expectations that will never be lived up to. the discussion of stigma on a woman's and family reputation was extremely interesting as AHB touched on not only the family folklore/myth, but single parenthood, historical queerness, etc. this was the strongest part, not because it was realistic, but because it actually made you invested in the family impacted by it.
however, the main love story did not interest me at all. Margot, despite having her reasons, was mean to a point where I can't imagine that Sasha and her truly found love vs. just physical attraction. even then, a part of me just doesn't understand why they would be physically attracted to each other when they are constantly hurting each other's feelings. I skipped over a lot of the intimate scenes because the relationship felt extremely forced and even though they talked about trust I found it was only there when it was convenient for the plot or smut. I only finished the book because I wanted to see what happened with the Rose Witches story and the film itself.
I feel like I would have been much more invested if it spanned more time with them agreeing to be professional and just friendly. If there was mutual respect and friendship before they were jumping down each other's throats. I'm also bored with breakups that get resolved too quickly and too easily just because the book is ending in 40 pages. this one was especially egregious (driving to them is bare minimum).
however, the main love story did not interest me at all. Margot, despite having her reasons, was mean to a point where I can't imagine that Sasha and her truly found love vs. just physical attraction. even then, a part of me just doesn't understand why they would be physically attracted to each other when they are constantly hurting each other's feelings. I skipped over a lot of the intimate scenes because the relationship felt extremely forced and even though they talked about trust I found it was only there when it was convenient for the plot or smut. I only finished the book because I wanted to see what happened with the Rose Witches story and the film itself.
I feel like I would have been much more invested if it spanned more time with them agreeing to be professional and just friendly. If there was mutual respect and friendship before they were jumping down each other's throats. I'm also bored with breakups that get resolved too quickly and too easily just because the book is ending in 40 pages. this one was especially egregious (driving to them is bare minimum).
October 7, 2026
I rarely read contemporary romances nowadays (I require a secondary world setting AND a murder), but I've liked Blake's books in the past, so I thought I'd read her latest. In Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair, butch filmmaker Sasha has convinced the reclusive, witchy Bishop family to let her complete her dead parents' dream project, a documentary film about the Bishops. But Sasha has one problem: the stubborn woman she impulsively made out with at the bar is none other than Margot Bishop, who is dead-set against the film.
Blake's latest swerves from her usual grounded small-town oeuvre with this dramatically autumn aestheticized witchy tale. However, as someone who has limited patience for characters who are into astrology, I didn't like the choice to toy with the idea of witchcraft and ghosts being for-real real. Fine for urban fantasy, but not my cup of tea in contemporary. On the character side, Margot is so fanatically and irrationally set against Sasha's project that it makes her seem a bit immature at her big age of 35. However, it does make sense that Sasha initially rubs Margot the wrong way with her conviction that any woman will come running if she just whistles. Still, I closed the book thinking that it leaned too heavily on manufactured conflict, from the town's apparent ostracization of the Bishop family due to their ancestor in the 1920s to Margot's hatred of publicity despite her family desperately needing it to right the struggling finances of their amusement park and tea shoppe. And the stories and excerpts about Margot's bi witchy ancestor felt a bit forced, without a feel for the historic language. Still, while I don't feel that this is the strongest of Blake's romances, I think it will still have its audience. For one, the apple picking and special tea blends and Halloween dance will make a fantastic aesthetic themed image post for instagram.
Blake's latest swerves from her usual grounded small-town oeuvre with this dramatically autumn aestheticized witchy tale. However, as someone who has limited patience for characters who are into astrology, I didn't like the choice to toy with the idea of witchcraft and ghosts being for-real real. Fine for urban fantasy, but not my cup of tea in contemporary. On the character side, Margot is so fanatically and irrationally set against Sasha's project that it makes her seem a bit immature at her big age of 35. However, it does make sense that Sasha initially rubs Margot the wrong way with her conviction that any woman will come running if she just whistles. Still, I closed the book thinking that it leaned too heavily on manufactured conflict, from the town's apparent ostracization of the Bishop family due to their ancestor in the 1920s to Margot's hatred of publicity despite her family desperately needing it to right the struggling finances of their amusement park and tea shoppe. And the stories and excerpts about Margot's bi witchy ancestor felt a bit forced, without a feel for the historic language. Still, while I don't feel that this is the strongest of Blake's romances, I think it will still have its audience. For one, the apple picking and special tea blends and Halloween dance will make a fantastic aesthetic themed image post for instagram.
October 29, 2026
Cheap. I finished this book but I didn’t particularly enjoy it. I was lured in by the promise of a plot about witches and witchcraft in the US. I know this is a romance but I was hoping for more exploration in the actual plot. Instead I got an instalove (4 days and someone almost said the L word, WTF?) BDSM cosplay lite (a keyword salad from a Reddit search) between 2 unlikeable characters. The frustrating part is, this novel could have accomplished both things if care and time were taken but obviously this was just a rush to try out some 🌶️ scenes that sounded cool in the author’s head.
October 4, 2026
I will read anything AHB puts out, but I was especially excited to see Sasha was getting her own book.
As suspected, Sasha contains multitudes. She's dealing with a past trauma and hiding that behind her playboy attitude. Margot is all crunchy shell over a gooey center and she's also hiding behind a mask. Together these two have instant attraction, a crapload of animosity, and an interest in telling a story.
Plot wise, it was a good mix of history, romance, and a tiny sprout of supernatural. I loved reading Sasha and Margot's journey into a relationship while also researching a hidden relationship. The scenes with all of Margot's family together were some of the best and of course it's always awesome to see the previous couples.
Overall, this one was exactly what I would have wanted for Sasha's story and I can't wait to read what AHB does next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
As suspected, Sasha contains multitudes. She's dealing with a past trauma and hiding that behind her playboy attitude. Margot is all crunchy shell over a gooey center and she's also hiding behind a mask. Together these two have instant attraction, a crapload of animosity, and an interest in telling a story.
Plot wise, it was a good mix of history, romance, and a tiny sprout of supernatural. I loved reading Sasha and Margot's journey into a relationship while also researching a hidden relationship. The scenes with all of Margot's family together were some of the best and of course it's always awesome to see the previous couples.
Overall, this one was exactly what I would have wanted for Sasha's story and I can't wait to read what AHB does next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
October 4, 2026
Review may contain spoilers
When I say Ashley Herring Blake is the queen of sapphic romance, I truly mean it! I know when I pick up one of her books I am going to love it and this one was not exception!
Sasha and Margo could not be more different in multiple ways. Sasha, the only daughter of two film makers, and Margo, the eldest daughter in a long line of supposed "witches". When their worlds collide will they be on the same page? Or will one cause problems for the other?
I absolutely loved how there was some power dynamics that you would have never thought. Margo being the top? Legit go off my queen! The spicy scenes had me salivating and definitely left me wanting to reread them again and again.
And the fall vibes?!?! Going to Salem?!?! The family of "witches"?!?! All I can say is yes, yes, and fuck yes!
I truly highly recommend this book that is a must read! There are spoilers for the first two in the series which can only benefit you to reach when you read this book.
When I say Ashley Herring Blake is the queen of sapphic romance, I truly mean it! I know when I pick up one of her books I am going to love it and this one was not exception!
Sasha and Margo could not be more different in multiple ways. Sasha, the only daughter of two film makers, and Margo, the eldest daughter in a long line of supposed "witches". When their worlds collide will they be on the same page? Or will one cause problems for the other?
I absolutely loved how there was some power dynamics that you would have never thought. Margo being the top? Legit go off my queen! The spicy scenes had me salivating and definitely left me wanting to reread them again and again.
And the fall vibes?!?! Going to Salem?!?! The family of "witches"?!?! All I can say is yes, yes, and fuck yes!
I truly highly recommend this book that is a must read! There are spoilers for the first two in the series which can only benefit you to reach when you read this book.
October 1, 2026
my fave ahb in a WHILE! i loved the romance and i loved the spookiness!! so fun!!!!
September 18, 2026
Hell yeah, gay witches.
October 21, 2026
Sacha is a bit odd at times, but also sweet and charming. Margot is quite a character herself: cold, distant, uptight, and a little bitchy. Their first meeting is actually pretty fun, though.
There’s a strange but undeniable connection between these two, even as they spend a good portion of the story insisting they don’t like each other. Meanwhile, the chemistry keeps building, and somehow, they manage to bring out the best in each other.
The sex? Hot, a little rough, plentiful, and quite explicit. Definitely no shortage of steam here!
The story mostly follows a single timeline, although the characters frequently reflect at length on things that happened only moments earlier. It’s part of the author’s writing style, and it does take some getting used to. There’s also some digging into the Bishop family’s past, which adds another layer to the story.
The background storyline about making a film based on the Rose Witch adds a unique vibe to the whole thing, with plenty of strong, intriguing women. It gives the story something extra beyond the romance.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and roses. This is a fairly dramatic book, with its fair share of angst and emotional turmoil. But hey, we do get our happy ending in the end!
There’s a strange but undeniable connection between these two, even as they spend a good portion of the story insisting they don’t like each other. Meanwhile, the chemistry keeps building, and somehow, they manage to bring out the best in each other.
The sex? Hot, a little rough, plentiful, and quite explicit. Definitely no shortage of steam here!
The story mostly follows a single timeline, although the characters frequently reflect at length on things that happened only moments earlier. It’s part of the author’s writing style, and it does take some getting used to. There’s also some digging into the Bishop family’s past, which adds another layer to the story.
The background storyline about making a film based on the Rose Witch adds a unique vibe to the whole thing, with plenty of strong, intriguing women. It gives the story something extra beyond the romance.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and roses. This is a fairly dramatic book, with its fair share of angst and emotional turmoil. But hey, we do get our happy ending in the end!
September 29, 2026
A crimson rose. And a tangerine California poppy.
Sasha Sinclair has been chasing a fresh start since her parents died three years ago. When a perfect filmmaking opportunity presents itself, Sasha jumps at the chance to stop running from her grief and honor her parents in the truest way she knows.
Margot Bishop’s spent her entire life in a small town surrounded by mocking whispers and haunted by her family’s reputation. She’s used to being the steady, reliable one, but even she can’t find a way out of her family’s money troubles. After Sasha reaches out about a documentary project, the Bishops agree in an effort to alleviate their financial burdens, much to Margot’s dismay. As stubborn as ever, Margot affirms it her personal mission to make Sasha’s job impossible.
Sasha and Margot’s professional clashing blurs the lines quite quickly into something more carnal. A pull they can’t deny encourages the duo to explore their innate sexual compatibility. Insatiability turns soft as the documentary work deepens and their vulnerability comes to the forefront. Navigating their unique dynamic sparks a newness in each of them that’s quite compelling to explore.
Ashley Herring Blake’s “Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair” explores how close-minded bigotry can intersect with homophobia, misogyny, and the endlessly frustrating laziness of people rejecting those they don’t understand. A town resistant to accept an independent, passionate single mother back in the early 1900s caused generational trauma to bleed through to each Bishop woman. While the narrative is filled with heaps of hope and pathways for change, the commentary of how isolating ostracization can be really is striking. Queerness and yearning, guilt and grief all intertwine for the complexity of legacy. A matching set of intricate legacies that Sasha and Margot learn to navigate and accept together.
While the base storyline was super intriguing, there was a lot of untapped potential here. Narrative directions were chosen that led to safer, more superficial exploration of topics rather than delving into them on a deeper level. It was quite frustrating to see more interesting aspects left unexplored. Additionally, Margot’s voice in particular did not feel appropriate for her age. If she had not said that she was 35, I truly would’ve never guessed her age being anything above 26. As a result of that discrepancy, there was a disconnect between her actions and thoughts with her actual maturity level.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc!
Sasha Sinclair has been chasing a fresh start since her parents died three years ago. When a perfect filmmaking opportunity presents itself, Sasha jumps at the chance to stop running from her grief and honor her parents in the truest way she knows.
Margot Bishop’s spent her entire life in a small town surrounded by mocking whispers and haunted by her family’s reputation. She’s used to being the steady, reliable one, but even she can’t find a way out of her family’s money troubles. After Sasha reaches out about a documentary project, the Bishops agree in an effort to alleviate their financial burdens, much to Margot’s dismay. As stubborn as ever, Margot affirms it her personal mission to make Sasha’s job impossible.
Sasha and Margot’s professional clashing blurs the lines quite quickly into something more carnal. A pull they can’t deny encourages the duo to explore their innate sexual compatibility. Insatiability turns soft as the documentary work deepens and their vulnerability comes to the forefront. Navigating their unique dynamic sparks a newness in each of them that’s quite compelling to explore.
Ashley Herring Blake’s “Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair” explores how close-minded bigotry can intersect with homophobia, misogyny, and the endlessly frustrating laziness of people rejecting those they don’t understand. A town resistant to accept an independent, passionate single mother back in the early 1900s caused generational trauma to bleed through to each Bishop woman. While the narrative is filled with heaps of hope and pathways for change, the commentary of how isolating ostracization can be really is striking. Queerness and yearning, guilt and grief all intertwine for the complexity of legacy. A matching set of intricate legacies that Sasha and Margot learn to navigate and accept together.
While the base storyline was super intriguing, there was a lot of untapped potential here. Narrative directions were chosen that led to safer, more superficial exploration of topics rather than delving into them on a deeper level. It was quite frustrating to see more interesting aspects left unexplored. Additionally, Margot’s voice in particular did not feel appropriate for her age. If she had not said that she was 35, I truly would’ve never guessed her age being anything above 26. As a result of that discrepancy, there was a disconnect between her actions and thoughts with her actual maturity level.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the arc!
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September 24, 2026This was the absolutely PERFECT Sapphic fall strangers to lovers romance that sees Sasha Sinclair, a Butch filmmaker travelling to small town North Carolina to film a documentary about Alice Bishop aka the 'Rose Witch' of Stone Mountain, and her descendants. One such descendant, is Margot Bishop, an uptight bisexual woman who wants no part in the documentary initially but can't help being drawn to Sasha and her magnetic charm.
Their chemistry is off the charts, there's lots of great one bed/one tent moments, an intriguing mystery between Alice and her lover in the past that unravels through a series of letters Margot and Sasha find, beautiful female friendships and TONS of spice. I also liked the link to the Salem Witches and how timely this story is in a time when queer people are increasingly made to feel unwelcome to be out without consequences.
Excellent on audio with super fun cameos from past characters in the series. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Easily my favorite book in the series and one I will be raving about. A great choice for Sapphic September readers.
CW: death of parents (car accidents) in past
Their chemistry is off the charts, there's lots of great one bed/one tent moments, an intriguing mystery between Alice and her lover in the past that unravels through a series of letters Margot and Sasha find, beautiful female friendships and TONS of spice. I also liked the link to the Salem Witches and how timely this story is in a time when queer people are increasingly made to feel unwelcome to be out without consequences.
Excellent on audio with super fun cameos from past characters in the series. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. Easily my favorite book in the series and one I will be raving about. A great choice for Sapphic September readers.
CW: death of parents (car accidents) in past
October 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The SECOND I realized this book was out, I RAN to Chapters, bought it, and read it. Priorities, obviously.
Ashley Herring Blake, you continue to be THAT sapphic romance writer for me. I genuinely love what she writes, and this book was another reminder of why I keep coming back. The romance, the vibes, the witchiness. HELLO??? A fall romance with a little magic??? I also LOVED getting to see the other couples make appearances. I will never get tired of revisiting characters I've already fallen in love with, so getting those little glimpses into their lives makes the reading experience even better. And can we talk about how PERFECT this is for fall??? The witchy atmosphere paired with the romance was everything I wanted. This is the kind of book that makes me want to curl up with a blanket and read for hours. Ashley Herring Blake truly knows what she's doing, and I will continue showing up for whatever sapphic goodness she decides to write next. No questions asked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The SECOND I realized this book was out, I RAN to Chapters, bought it, and read it. Priorities, obviously.
Ashley Herring Blake, you continue to be THAT sapphic romance writer for me. I genuinely love what she writes, and this book was another reminder of why I keep coming back. The romance, the vibes, the witchiness. HELLO??? A fall romance with a little magic??? I also LOVED getting to see the other couples make appearances. I will never get tired of revisiting characters I've already fallen in love with, so getting those little glimpses into their lives makes the reading experience even better. And can we talk about how PERFECT this is for fall??? The witchy atmosphere paired with the romance was everything I wanted. This is the kind of book that makes me want to curl up with a blanket and read for hours. Ashley Herring Blake truly knows what she's doing, and I will continue showing up for whatever sapphic goodness she decides to write next. No questions asked.
September 29, 2026
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair is my first read by Ashley Herring Blake and I will be diving more into her backlist after this. I really liked the idea of filming a documentary on this misunderstood family and learning more about their history as well as queer history. I also really enjoyed the perspective of the eldest daughter who's protective over the family as a whole. I think where this story faltered for me was how forced proximity this was and also how the plot itself unfolded. I wanted more of each FMC doing the thing they're setting out to do, and less of the side quest-ish feeling forced proximity. I liked a lot of this story, but I felt like I'm still left wanting more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this story.
October 6, 2026
*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
What a perfect cozy romance for fall! You've got a little bit of witchiness, a touch of trauma, and a whole lot of spice! I enjoyed the enemies to lovers arc and all of the small town atmosphere. There was so much conflict between Margot and Sasha and it gave the story so much energy. Getting them together was a struggle and my god the third act HURT. I did find myself WAY more invested in the B plot than I thought I would be, so a huge credit to Ashley Herring Blake. This with all of the callbacks to the previous books? Delicious.
What a perfect cozy romance for fall! You've got a little bit of witchiness, a touch of trauma, and a whole lot of spice! I enjoyed the enemies to lovers arc and all of the small town atmosphere. There was so much conflict between Margot and Sasha and it gave the story so much energy. Getting them together was a struggle and my god the third act HURT. I did find myself WAY more invested in the B plot than I thought I would be, so a huge credit to Ashley Herring Blake. This with all of the callbacks to the previous books? Delicious.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
This was a good book. I really enjoyed finding out about Margots ancestry and history, and it really tied the story together. This one was a little more spooky with the witchy elements, and I loved that. Overall, I have really liked this series as a whole, and at some point I will probably go back and read the authors other series.
4.5 stars
This was a good book. I really enjoyed finding out about Margots ancestry and history, and it really tied the story together. This one was a little more spooky with the witchy elements, and I loved that. Overall, I have really liked this series as a whole, and at some point I will probably go back and read the authors other series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the documentary aspect of this story, especially with the connection to the Salem witch trials. Not only did we follow Sasha and Margot’s love story, but we saw the love story of great great great grandmother. This novel is full of grief, heartache, found family, and bringing to light queer relationships that were once hidden. I think this might be my favorite of the series. I also loved seeing the characters from the authors other romance books.
October 15, 2026
I'm not sure what AHB did to change some of her writing process for this book, but it worked for me. I enjoyed this story. The characters and the history/plot were interesting and well done. I enjoyed this one greatly.
October 25, 2026
I couldn't stand Margot Bishop.
October 24, 2026
Ooh so nice to curl up with #mylesbians
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