Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair

Clover Lake #3

by Ashley Herring Blake

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 Blair Mountain, North Carolina.

Margot Bishop is not a witch, despite the town’s century-long suspicion about her family. When her ancestor Alice Bishop showed up to Blair 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.

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 29, 2026

About the author

Ashley 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.

Reviews

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads]

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!

[Mai H.]

Pride TBR

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley

[Ali Graham]

I love you Sasha and I loved this book what beautiful fun witchy gay vibes

[Michelle’s Library]

Hell yeah, gay witches.

[j.j.]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the Advanced Reader Copy!

I’ve been feeling a little wary of Herring Blake’s “Clover Lake” series, as I had felt that it wasn’t giving me what I really loved about the previous trilogy. However, this one really won me back. I loved the context of this meet-cute. I loved both MCs finding their voice and working through their pasts to find each other more authentically. I found myself swept up in the romance of it all. The rose and poppy in the ending scene? Absolutely gave me those romcom butterflies. I did enjoy the unlikely historical B-plot of Alice and Rose, though I knocked a star off for historical inaccuracies and the letters/journal entries that did not read at ALL like they were written in circa 1901. I mean, that was laughable. Overall, though, this is my favorite book in this series. It’s a very good cozy autumn read, great to read around Halloween. Would recommend picking up a copy this fall!

[Jeimy]

Ashley Herring Blake has always excelled at writing characters who are searching for where they belong, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair may be one of her strongest explorations of that theme yet. At its heart, this is a story about legacy. Margot Bishop has spent her entire life haunted by her family’s legacy in Clare Mountain, a town that has spent generations mythologizing the Bishop women. Meanwhile, Sasha Sinclair has spent the last three years trying to outrun the grief left behind by the death of her parents, never staying in one place for long and avoiding anything that might require her to put down roots. When she decides to take on the documentary project her parents always dreamed of making about the Bishops, she believes she is honoring their legacy. Instead, she finds herself becoming part of one. What unfolds is also a story about what happens when people stop running and allow themselves to want things. For Margot, that means loosening her grip on a carefully structured life, giving herself permission to explore her sexuality in a way that goes beyond casual hookups, as well as opening up and telling her story. For Sasha, it means opening herself up to being seen and loved after a lifetime shaped by movement and impermanence. The door to her heart may have cracked open when she became friends with April Evans, but it is the Bishops who ultimately show her that the rewards of love and family outweigh the risks that come with caring deeply for someone.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the way Blake weaves generations of queer women into the Bishop family history. Alice Bishop’s story—and her relationship with Rose Halyard—forms the emotional backbone of the documentary, but the novel never treats queer history as something confined to the distant past. The family tree is filled with women who loved women, resisted expectations, and carved out lives for themselves despite the limitations of their times. I especially loved learning about Birdie’s history: how her mother took her to the 1963 March on Washington, protested Jim Crow, and advocated for desegregation, experiences that shaped Birdie into the outspoken advocate she becomes later in life; which includes her speaking out against book bans in front of the school board she ws once a part of.

The novel repeatedly returns to the idea of “queer women trying to make it in a world that was not made for them,” and the power of that theme is evident when Margot and Sasha dance together at the town’s Halloween celebration. Margot reflects on how Alice and Rose never had the opportunity to share a moment like this publicly, while Sasha thinks about all the queer people whose resistance and sacrifices made that dance possible. It is a beautiful scene, but it is also quintessential Ashley Herring Blake: deeply romantic while remaining conscious of the larger history surrounding her characters. Blake has an incredible talent for crafting moments that land with emotional force, and there were several passages that made me stop reading just to sit with them. The one that hit me hardest was Adeline’s heartfelt acknowledgment of what Margot had been carrying all these years. Her reminder that Margot deserves not only strength but softness—deserves to hurt, cry, and fall apart when she needs to—felt like something every queer child wishes they could hear from a parent. Reading that scene during my lunch break was a mistake because I had only a few minutes to pull myself together before returning to work.

I also had a great time with the romance itself. Blake clearly delights in allowing Margot to explore parts of herself she has never fully embraced, and the intimacy between Margot and Sasha reflects that sense of discovery. Their chemistry feels playful, warm, and rooted in trust, and I appreciated that Blake gave them room to experiment and have fun together. The only portion of the novel that pulled me out of the story was the inevitable breakup. Miscommunication is one of my least favorite romance tropes, and Sasha knowingly says the one thing she understands will hurt Margot the most. Even so, the aftermath allows both characters space to grow, and that growth ultimately makes their reconciliation more satisfying. If I have one lingering complaint, it is that I could have done without the final chapter set a year later. What I was most curious about was the long-term impact of the documentary on the Bishops, Thornrose Apothecary, and Ghostlight. I wanted to know how Clare Mountain responded to the truths that were uncovered and whether the film changed the family’s fortunes. Still, that is a relatively small quibble in a novel that gave me so much to think about and feel. By the end, I found myself reflecting on grief, family history, queer resilience, and the courage it takes to stop running long enough to build a life with other people.

[Amber D’Ambrosio]

Ashley Herring Blake remains firmly planted on my auto-buy, auto-read, auto-"cancel my plans because I have priorities" list, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair is exactly why. The woman simply refuses to miss. Give me sapphic romance, complicated family dynamics, a cozy small town with suspiciously witchy vibes, and emotionally unavailable women learning to communicate, and I am already sold.

I have been waiting for Sasha's book ever since she swaggered into the Clover Lake series, and I am thrilled to report that she was absolutely worth the wait. Sasha and Margot had fantastic chemistry from the start, and I loved watching their relationship develop alongside the mystery surrounding the Bishop family and the legend of the Rose Witch. Honestly, if someone offered me a trip to Clare Mountain, I'd pack my bags immediately. Cozy? Check. Magical? Check. Haunted by generations of queer women and family secrets? Even better.

One thing Ashley Herring Blake consistently does better than almost anyone else is write characters who are trying to figure out where they belong. Margot has spent her entire life carrying the weight of her family's legacy, while Sasha has basically made a career out of emotionally speed-running grief by never staying anywhere long enough to put down roots. Naturally, forcing these two into each other's orbit works out exactly how you hope it will.

The Bishop family completely stole the show. I loved how Alice and Rose's story was woven throughout the novel, and I especially appreciated that the book celebrates queer history without treating it like something frozen in the past. Every generation of Bishop women added another layer to the family's story, making it feel rich, emotional, and deeply lived in. The Halloween dance scene? Yeah... good luck getting through that one without getting a little emotional.

And then there's the romance. It was sweet, playful, and full of the kind of emotional intimacy Ashley Herring Blake writes so well. Watching Margot slowly let herself want more than the life she'd carefully planned for herself was incredibly satisfying, and Sasha finally allowing herself to be loved felt equally rewarding.

Now, would it even be a romance if there wasn't a breakup that made me want to lovingly shake both characters? Probably not. Miscommunication remains one of my least favorite tropes, and there was definitely a moment where I wanted to yell, "Absolutely not. We're using our words today." Thankfully, the payoff was worth it, even if I would've happily traded a little less third act drama for a little more time seeing how the documentary changed Clare Mountain and the Bishop family afterward.

At the end of the day, this book has everything I want from an Ashley Herring Blake novel: lovable characters, emotional depth, a romance worth rooting for, found family, queer joy, and just enough witchy folklore to make me wonder if I, too, should go open an apothecary in a tiny mountain town. If cozy sapphic romances are your thing, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your shelf.

[Caroline]

Well this complicated. First third I just loved the story, two women with strong complex personalities and back stories meet. Sasha is a film maker, Margot works in the struggling family business. Margot’s mum agrees to the film on the basis of Margot agreeing. Lots of arguments and misunderstandings, harsh words that i could tolerate as there was reasonable character development and explanations made. A back story of a couple thwarted in love in a time before gay people were accepted was a welcome focus but also sad because we do seem to be sliding backwards. The magical aspects were subtle and while i would have welcomed more what we did have was beautiful.
I also loved the last third again I loved the characters, some people’s behaviour was questionable but as they were a side character I tolerated it. I looked forward to reading and couldn’t put it down at the end. I was sad it finished and the characters stayed in my mind all day and even days after finishing. I can absolutely visualise the characters and the settings which is always a good sign. So these sections 5 ⭐️ for me.
Where, for me, it absolutely falls down, is the sex scenes, I have no problem with sex scenes. I’ve read erotic books and everything is pretty mainstream these days, think Bridgerton. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s two women so maybe is more explicit but I actually thing it’s not that, I think it’s one of the settings, a toilet, and one of the words, repeated in only one scene, I think, “tits” 🤢🤮 is definitely a very icky word for me. Now this might be a British thing, it just felt like another author came in and wrote these scenes. If it wasn’t an ARC I would have just skipped those scenes, usually books I read have one or maybe two scenes and I thought it would be over with soon but, well it felt like, there were lots. Now I do think sex in a book is very individual and very personal and what I find unpleasant could be something that others find a turn off. I think if you love the concept I think you could skip the more explicit scenes and whilst you would miss some of the power dynamics of the relationship you would still have a good understanding of the relationship. I did love the tone of sex positivity throughout the family and the wider characters of the book so decided only to drop 1 and it would not put me off reading more from this author.
The book is far better than the cover suggested, for me, there is excellent character development and so much romantic generational magic that was so charming. As I said Sasha and Margot absolutely are alive in my head as are the woods and the flowers, I’m missing details here to avoid spoilers but I loved the final touches with the flowers.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.

[The Sapphic Nerd]

*** Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! ***

I had so much fun reading this that I hardly took any notes while reading. I just got on the ride and let it take me. The dialogue is quick and fresh. I didn't come across anything that made me cringe or roll my eyes. Most of the time, I was grinning. Some of the banter even made me chuckle out loud.

A lot of romances jump the gun, and the characters have sex right away. I enjoy that, too, if it makes sense for the story, but I absolutely love that this book edges us - more than once - before giving us more. It's teasing the audience that makes us obsess, and I am so here for it. And when it finally happens for real, we're treated to plenty of steamy scenes. In my opinion, we don't get enough dry humping/sex with clothes on in sapphic fiction. I am so glad we got this. It's a little kinky too, which is a pleasant surprise! Very beginner-friendly kink because it's something just first being explored by Margot, so don't be intimidated.

Because the book doesn't rush into the sex, I feel like we get more time for the characters to get to know each other (and also build up some of that delightful chemistry and sexual tension). We get to see that Sasha and Margot can match each other in snappy back-and-forth when they're sparring, but also in care and ability to relate to and understand each other. There's a bit of that Lady and the Tramp dynamic with Sasha's charm and Margot's hesitance to break the rules. Sasha is dealing with grief and learning she doesn't have to avoid her big feelings, and Margot is learning about who she is beneath everyone's expectations and the walls she's built to protect herself from a world she expects to be hurt by.

I'm happy to say the author's writing has improved as well. While I found Delilah Green sometimes relied too much on tropes, I didn't have that issue with Sasha Sinclair. I haven't read the previous books in this series, but it's not necessary to enjoy this. These side characters just make me curious about their stories, too.

This is a lovely fall romance read. Think sapphic Practical Magic with shared themes of family, romance, witches, and a little bit of magic. It's also about the historical experience of queer women and how it's changed over time. The characters are conscious of things like isolation, the wariness of witches, and homophobia in a small town, but they also live their own lives and have happiness. The Bishop women are unique from each other and full of life, and I adore seeing this matriarchal family interact. It's also about healing from trauma, identity, found family, and home. Sasha Sinclair is a delightful read.

[Jazelle]

Take a Chance, Sascha Sinclair Book Review 🦇

Do you believe in magic?❓

After Sasha Sinclair's parents, successful documentary filmmakers, died in a car accident three years ago, she's been trying to live up to their legacy and the dream project they never completed: the story of Alice Bishop, the Rose Witch, in Clare Mountain, North Carolina. The Bishops own Ghostlight, the town's occult-themed amusement park, and Thornrose Apothecary, run by Margot Bishop, and both businesses aren't doing well. Unfortunately, Margot isn't interested in an interloper (even one as charming as Sasha) controlling their family's narrative. Can they work together, or will their legacies (and hearts) collide in the process? 🦇

My Thoughts 🦇
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair is my first Ashley Herring Blake sapphic romance, and it won't be my last. The first page will send a rushing wind to cool your summer-kissed skin, instantly inviting the crunch of fall leaves, the sweet cinnamon scent of pumpkin spice, and that goosebump-popping sensation of magic in the air. Blake excels at capturing that fall feeling, dumping you straight into Clare Mountain, NC, and inviting you in for a long stay.

Though this is more contemporary than fantasy, there's that lingering wonder from start to finish: what if? The small hints of magic (the magic we experience in our everyday lives as well fall in love, yes, but also something more, something inexplicable) add to the story's ethereal atmosphere.

As for the characters, Sasha Sinclair is one of those FMCs you'll instantly claim as a book girlfriend. She's smooth and charming, yes, but layered as well. Margot, on the other hand, is sexy, stubborn, and steadfast in her convictions, making them an opposites-attract pairing that crackles with tension and possibility. And their banter? Aces.

Though I haven't read the previous books in the Clover Lake trio, there's an instantaneous, undeniable, lock-and-key sensation as Margot meets the others: that only a queer found family can create. I adored meeting every character from the last two books, loved seeing their impact on Sasha and Margot, and felt like every member of the group complemented the other.

The generational legacy/trauma (because one certainly invites the other) is such a big part of the story that shouldn't be overlooked. It adds a layer to the story for both women: Sasha, trying to live up to her parents' legacy by bringing their dream project to life, and Margot, trying to define herself despite the haunting legacy a would-be witch left behind. Seeing both characters come into their own and recognize who they are outside of their family histories was absolutely stunning.

And Alice's story? A perfect mirror image to Sasha and Margot's. Stunning.

Recommended for fans of Learning Curves by Rachel Lacey and The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur. 🦇

The Vibes ✨
Insta Hate / Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy x Charming
Queer / Sapphic ( Bisexual / Lesbian )
Small Town Romance
Autumn / Spooky Season / Witchy
Dual POV
Only One Tent
Road Trip
No Strings Attached
Forced Proximity
Interconnected Standalone
Found Family
Generational Trauma/Legacy

Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #TakeaChanceSaschaSinclair 🦇

Quotes 💬
“I think sometimes people mistake my strength of invisibility. And I don’t think that’s what strength truly is."

[Serena]

Read This Book If…you’re still figuring out where you belong!

Legacies and hearts collide when a woman embarks on a film project about an extraordinary family’s rich history in this bewitching romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair by Ashley Herring Blake

Genre: Queer romance
Series: Clover Lake # 3
Setting: small towns in NC, MA, NH
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes, kink introduction
Tropes: insta hate, forced proximity, one bed, road trip, no strings attached, “good girl”

My Thoughts:
What a lovely send-off to the Clover Lake crew! I wasn’t sure how this book was going to work since Sasha was just passing through in book 2, but I loooooved how it was handled!

Documentary maker Sasha is used to being on the move (one might say to the point of running away) and is happiest when alone. Or so she thought. Enter apothecary shopkeeper Margot and everything is flipped on its head.

All of AHB’s books have emotion, but this may have the most! Both ladies are struggling with the legacies placed upon them and haven’t quite found where they belong. The answer is, of course, together!

The witchy town of Clare Mountain was fun, although I would have loved even more scenes there. The cast of characters was very interesting, but I would have loved a Bishop family tree - there were a lot of ladies to keep track of!

The spice in this series has leaned kinkier than her previous books and I really enjoyed it! While this one didn’t get too far into that world, Margot is exploring her kinks for the first time and Sasha is more than willing to help.

While I wouldn’t classify this as a witchy or paranormal romance, there’s definitely a touch of magic and plenty of love!

Memorable Quote: “I think sometimes people mistake my strength of invisibility. And I don’t think that’s what strength truly is.”

Thank you to Berkley for my advance copy! This book will be available September 29!

[Parker]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the free book.

Ashley Herring Blake weaves together a romance with current sapphic love while also exposing the heartbreak of women who loved women in the early 1900's. Sasha and Margot's relationship is the focus, but in her unique way the author was able to bring in themes of feminism, civil rights, and how people are treated if they don't comply with societal expectations.

What do you do when the only person standing in the way of achieving the documentary your family dreamed of producing is the woman you had sex with the night before?

Sasha comes to town to carry on her family legacy and make a film about the (in)famous Bishop family, where the lore is they are a family of witches. Margot is the current generation of Bishop's she runs the apothecary and despite her lineage, doesn't believe in sorcery.

The inclusion of the Salem Witch trials and how women, more than anyone else, were targeted. Not because they were actually magical, but because they provided answers or solutions to problems that weren't recognized by leaders (men). This helped to bring depth to the story and also give a reason why the Bishop family has always been feared, persecuted, yet also respected.

The Bishop family, and of course it is a matriarchy, is written with warmth and wisdom. I enjoyed how I discovered more of their history at the same time the characters did and had the opportunity to see how they reacted to each new piece of information.

I will say I liked Sasha more than Margot, who I just found overly suspicious of Sasha even though she did everything Margot asked, like the good girl she is.

If you are a fan of the two previous books in this series and enjoy AHB's style you'll fall right into Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair like your pulling on an old sweater before settling in with friends you haven't talked to for a bit.

Please take note of the trigger warnings as there are some heavy topics in the book.

[Lizzie]

I’m slowly catching up on Ashley Herring Blake’s sapphic romances, and when I saw she had an autumn-themed novel coming out I jumped at the chance to read it!

It didn’t disappoint; I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours, I was so hooked. Both Sasha and Margot were incredibly compelling characters in their own right, and combined, it was impossible to look away. Add in a wonderful supporting cast of family for Margot and friends for Sasha, and we’re onto a winner!

Sasha is a documentary film maker, which not only brings her to Blair Mountain in the first place, but her presence exposes some tensions and secrets in the Bishop family. I really enjoyed all of the storyline about Margot’s family and ancestors, and I loved how they wove into the main romance. There was also a little spooky twist, which was a lovely touch.

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Something I especially loved is how AHB played with femme/butch stereotypes. Sasha and Margot aren’t afraid to explore the dynamics between them, which was really fun and added an extra dimension to their relationship. Nothing about their relationship, from the way they met to the way their feelings developed, was conventional, but the chemistry was leaping off the page from the get-go. I also loved that, over the course of the novel, they both learned how to look after each other, what the other one needed, and how to be there for them.

This was such a wonderful romance, I was gripped the whole way through, and it’s the perfect way to kick off the autumn season. I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a comfort re-read in the future!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Dawn]

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing, for the ARC of this book.

Sasha Sinclair's story is a standout in the plethora of witchy books for Autumn 2026. Not only does it have Ashley Herring Blake's fantastic characters and very steamy sexy scenes (and there are some VERY steamy ones in this book), but she steps outside her usual realism (at least as real as contemporary romance can be) to add a dash of witchy magic. It works beautifully within this story. Seems like Sasha Sinclair wasn't the only one willing to take a chance that paid off wonderfully.

Sasha is determined to complete the one project her documentary filmmaking parents wanted to before their untimely death. There is one big problem, however. Her name is Margot. She's the eldest daughter of the Bishop family who are rumored to be witches and generally avoided by the community. It doesn't help that Margot's many time great grandmother lived deep in the nearby woods and supposedly still haunts them. But Sasha isn't worried about winning Margot over to agree to the film project, at least she wasn't until she met Margot and the sparks started flying. When their story begins to share elements of Margot's ancestor, both women have very few options but to allow themselves to open their hearts to one another, no matter how scary it may be.

As a long time lover of Ashley Herring Blakes' books, I was excited to read this third Clover Lake installment. It surpassed my already high expectations. What a beautiful, inclusive, women-focused, family-focused, love story Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair is, and a perfect autumnal read!

[Beth]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and PRH Audio for the gifted physical ARC and ALC!

This was such a fantastic read. The care that the author took to highlight the Salem Witch Trials and how horribly unjust they were, was so well done. And the way that they also showed how far gay relationships have come in terms of being accepted openly, but still showing how far there is still to go for open acceptance and love of everyone, was also amazing. The audiobook was also really well done, the narrator, Gail Shalan, did a great job. I loved the tone that she gave to Sasha and how easy she made it to distinguish between each character. The tone and pacing was fantastic, I listened to this at 2x speed and it was phenomenal.

Sasha and Margot were absolutely perfect together. They had the best balance of personalities and their romance was steamy. This was a very spicy book (I'm not a huge spice reader so this was high on my scale, it might not be for others), but the spice didn't feel forced or extra. It felt like it was necessary to the relationship and to bring them closer together.

This felt like it was a mix of the atrocities of the Witch Trials and also showing that women have loved women for a very long time, whether it was acceptable at the time or not. I thought this was really great, it has some big emotions woven in while keeping it a really fun and addictive read. This releases September 29th!

*This ARC was given by Berkley Publishing Group and the ALC was given by PRH Audio, all opinions are my own.*

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads]

[arc review]
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair releases September 29, 2026

2.75

“She felt as though they’d swiped their hands through a watercolor painting that hadn’t quite dried, mixing every color and removing every line, everything that made the picture what it was.”

Sasha’s late parents’ dream project as documentary filmmakers has brought her to one of the most haunted towns in America: Clare Mountain. This small town unabashedly feeds off the lore of the Rose Witch — a descendant of the Salem Witch Trials.
While it’s rumoured that Alice Bishop’s ghost still haunts the area, Sasha hopes to be the first to uncover the Bishop family legacy by compiling their interviews into a documentary. But will Sasha be able to charm the eldest daughter who wants nothing to do with the film?

Cozy, seasonal, and sapphic. The sexual chemistry between Sasha and Margot was hotter than the Sahara Desert, but I fear the plot relied too heavily on the use of forced proximity. Going from one tent, to a road trip, followed by only one bed in such a short time frame was extreme and kind of took away from the emotional resistance and enemies-to-lovers vibe that I was hoping to get more of.

Overall, a fun romp, though I’m left feeling like the kink overshadowed the finer development of the Bishop lore and the day-to-day that comes with filming a documentary in a small town.

[Gabby]

I had tears running down my face several times during this one. We all know Sasha Sinclair had a gooey heart underneath that tough facade (especially April Evans!).

I loved how this one explored queer love stories in a a generational way. It was heartbreaking and hopeful. Love persists. This theme really was a highlight of the book.

While I loved both Sasha and Margot, I found their relationship sometimes to be very frustrating and hard to root for. They were just so horrid to each other, Margot especially to Sasha, and I hated the back and forth. They’d have these massive arguments, with cutting words and then five minutes later would be holding hands and throwing the word ‘trust’ back and fourth. While I get they found a safe place in each other to hash all of it out, initially this was not that and I think the book suffered because of it. I’d have liked to have had these conversations developed more, not then just brushed over.

As always, I love seeing the characters from the previous books return and it was a delight to have them quite present in some parts of the book. I do hate how it’s become the royal ‘we’ though, particularly with Ramona, who, like in the last book just seemed to become one with Dylan.

Overall, I enjoyed this and I look forward to the next trilogy that Blake (hopefully) writes.

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Piatkus for the e-arc via Netfgalley

[Lauren]

Dare I say this might be tied with Astrid Parker as my favorite book from AHB?! Oh how I loved this book and what an incredibly beautiful, deeply emotional journey it was. I felt like my heart was in my throat and there were tears threatening to spill over the entire time. AHB seamlessly weaves together paranormal and historical fiction elements within this contemporary romance that centers around love, grief, loss, and found family, while also celebrating queer joy and love and honoring those who broke barriers and paved the way so we could love out loud today.

This book is incredibly special as it contains multiple love stories - familial, sibling, friendship, and romantic - and will have your heart bursting with ALL THE FEELS. Something I love most about AHB’s books is how there is always a kick-ass found family full of queer women ready to rally for the family they’ve chosen and built, and to see April, Daphne, Ramona, and Dylan support and surround Sasha with love took my breath away.

Like with AHB’s previous books, sex plays an integral part in character work and Margot’s journey of self discovery while exploring kink, was flawlessly executed, and I loved seeing her blossom and learn to embrace her voice and come out of the shadows.

I have loved spending time with the queer badass women of Clover Lake and hope we get to see them in future AHB universe books!

[Stephanie (stephreadsallthebooks)]

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Review: Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair
Pub Date: September 29, 2026

Gosh what a PERFECT fall read!! There's an air of magic in the form of ancestral spirits and the perfect small town backdrop. Sasha Sinclair is determined to finish the final documentary that her parents wanted to film before their deaths in a car accident. That documentary surrounds Alice Bishop, aka the Rose Witch. But to get approval for the documentary, she has to convince Alice's family - and Margot Bishop has no interest whatsoever in broadcasting her family's story. Sasha has to prove that she's the right person to help tell this story and as Margot spends more time with her, she seems to be coming around.

I really loved how the relationship with Sasha and Margot unfolded and how they learned to be vulnerable and open with each other. I loved Margot's family and Sasha's found family. I think this is my favorite of the series and I've really liked the other books too! I loved the historical B plot and the slight mystery of how Alice Bishop lived. And as can be expected, there's a lot of queer joy!

Definitely pick up this book for the fall for some light magical realism and the small town setting.

[Lexi]

I absolutely loved this! There was such a nice mix of steamy chemistry between Sasha and Margot, interesting backstories for both characters, believable conflict, and a compelling story outside of the main romance with the uncovering of Margot’s family history. The book was full of wonderful fall ambiance, the witchy vibes added to the cozy atmosphere of the story.

Despite their initial chemistry, I enjoyed how it took a while for Margot to warm up to Sasha and the idea of Sasha making a documentary about her family history. It was interesting to learn about Margot’s feelings about the legacy of her family and the struggles with being infamous in a small town. The history of witches, queer people, and bigotry added a lot of depth to the story.

Overall I had a blast with this. I can’t wait to read whatever Ashley Herring Blake puts out next. She just does an excellent job at creating characters full of depth, giving them interesting conflicts, and having steamy scenes that feel informed by their personalities and specific dynamics. Definitely check out her sapphic romances if you haven’t yet!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Jen]

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This is the autumnal read this year. It’s perfect. It’s got beautiful woodland (that’s haunted), witchy family with long rooted history, visits to Salem. The autumnal atmosphere is just spot on.

So the draw initially was the ghosts/witches/autumnal setting for me. But I really liked the characters too. Sasha is hurting which has led to her being guarded and unable to stay in one place too long. She’s trying to make a documentary which was her parents’ dream and that leads her to a family who are fiercely protecting their legacy and secrets.

I liked both characters here. I did think Margot was excessively rude early on the Sasha. But I really liked that Sasha called her on it, and refused to be spoken down to. Sasha is in a lot of pain, but she does have friends who care about her and are there when she needs them. Margot is part of a very close knit family who she is fiercely protective of, but this can be stifling for her as well.

I loved the family legacy, the secrets that came out about Alice, and the small echoes on the supernatural we see in the book. There’s some really beautiful imagery that comes out through this.

This is the third book in a series. I hadn’t read the other books but it didn’t have any effect on me being able to follow the story here. This can definitely be read standalone.

[Bbecca_marie]

Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair🍂✨Review✨ thank you @berkleyromance for the free book! #berkleypartner #berkley #berkleybookstagram

Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair
by Ashley Herring Blake
out 9.29.26!

Sasha Sinclair is determined to finish her late parents’ dream documentary about Alice Bishop, the mysterious woman who arrived in Clare Mountain in 1901 and was branded the “Rose Witch.” Now Alice’s descendants run an occult-themed amusement park, but their struggling business—and Margot Bishop’s resistance to exposing her family’s past—complicate Sasha’s plans.

Forced to work together, Sasha and Margot dig into Alice’s mysterious history, only to uncover a connection of their own. What starts as reluctant collaboration quickly turns into a heart-fluttering romance neither of them expected.

My thoughts 💭:

I loved this book so much! This is the third book in the series, but it can totally be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first two books yet, but I will 100% be going back to read them because if they’re anything like this one, I know I’m in for a treat! Sasha and Margot swept me off my feet. I loved them individually, but I loved them even more together. Their chemistry and banter gave me all the butterflies. This book is the perfect combination of cozy, swoony, and HOT. I have to say that I really loved the family aspect. There’s something about the history, complicated relationships, and love at the center of this story that really did it for me. I’m honestly not sure I’m going to get over this one anytime soon, and I’m excited for everyone else to read it! If you’re looking for a cozy and romantic read to curl up with this autumn, put this one at the top of your TBR!

What to expect👇🏽
🍂 Cozy autumn vibes
💗 Sapphic romance
🦋 ALL the butterflies
🏡 Small-town
🕯️ Mystery & intrigue
📖 Can be read as a standalone

Happy reading 📖 🍂✨🥀

[Theresa Kelsey]

Thank you Berkley hub for underrepresented voices for the advance copy of this book.

Here's the thing. If Ashley Herring Blake writes it, I will read it. Every AHB book asks the question, "what if there was a world where 90% of people are women and they are all at least a little gay". The answer is always a good time.

I was really excited for Sasha's book the moment we met her in April Evans. I loved Sasha's flirty chaotic energy and was so excited to see her find love. I was not ready for how sad her backstory would be. I really just wanted to give her the biggest hug. Margot was also a pleasant surprise. Getting to know her and the entire Bishop family was giving Practical Magic vibes. It seems silly to explain this book as practical Magic, except the characters don't do magic and there are no men, but that's how it felt. This book is full of sisterhood, whimsy, and mystery.

Overall, this was a good time. Cozy, autumnal, romantic, emotional, and a little kinky with a dash of paranormal flair.

[Emily]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Herring Blake is basically an auto-read author for me, and Take a Chance, Sasha Sinclair reminded me why. This book gave me everything I love about her writing: sapphic romance, complicated family dynamics, small-town charm, and characters trying to figure out where they belong.

Sasha and Margot had great chemistry, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow while digging into the mystery surrounding the Bishop family and the legend of the Rose Witch. The setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. Clare Mountain felt cozy, magical, and like a place I would happily spend more time in.

The story also explores grief, family expectations, and legacy in a way that felt emotional without becoming too heavy. Ashley Herring Blake always does a great job creating characters who feel real, messy, and easy to root for.

If you enjoy cozy sapphic romance, you will enjoy this book!

[Jess]

Ashley herring blakes biggest strengths are always her characters, and the depth of the relationships, so I loved sasha immediately when she was Introduced in April's story, and was so excited to find out more about her and see her shine in her own story, but unfortunately was underwhelmed by it.

The Autumnal, witchy vibes were really fun, and the history of the Rose witch had potential to be such an interesting plot point, but that was overshadowed by how much I disliked Margot, and the relationship.

There wasn't much focus outside of their conflict, even the documentary, the project that had so much meaning for sasha's parents, and sasha had repeatedly said was her reason and motivation for everything, was barely focused on outside of the occasional letter and a visit to a relative for more letters.

The book had its signature humour, and conflict, but as a firm miscommunication hater, this wasn't my favourite in the trilogy.

[Cam]

I’d heard plenty of great things go about Ashley Herring Blake but hadn’t read any of her books yet, so this ARC was the perfect opportunity to discover her work. It was such a perfect, sweet story, at the same time emotional, fun and intriguing.

I loved Sasha and Margot, how they compliment each other so well, helped each other overcome what was holding them back, and their relationship was so heartwarming. It didn’t start off so well, and there was a very delicate balance of professionalism and attraction, but it worked so well for their story.

I also adored the element of witches, feminism, and being queer both through various times in history and today. It was so great and added so much to the book, without ever taking away from the romance between Sasha and Margot.

I already previously bought a few of the author’s other books so I’ll definitely be reading them sooner rather than later now!

*I received an ARC of this book, this is my honest opinion*

[Kirstin ♡⚔]

☆ℕ𝕖𝕥𝕘𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕪 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨☆
Hands down my favourite of the Clover Lake series!! All of the books are so good, but I loved the witchy, magical, mystery that was the baseline of this story.
I absolutely adored "fuckboi" Sasha in GOIAE, she was unapologetically flirty and fun but I knew she had some depth to her, and it definitely came through here. She has such a heartbreaking history and i just wanted to hug her and let her flirt with me with one of her signature crooked smiles 🤭
Margot was her perfect match, immune to her charms and finally making her face her demons and finally fall in love.
I loved how AHB delves into the history of witches in America, and gave us a badass family of women! I also loved the slightly paranormal, spooky side of Alice helping out her family using the roses and a few scary shouts in the dark.
Just absolute perfection 🤌🏼🩷

[Samantha]

Rating: 4.25 stars

Sasha has been on the run since she lost her parents 3 years ago, never staying anywhere long enough to love or be loved. Margot grew up in the shadow of a legacy that made her feel isolated and alone in her small town, but with a severe case of oldest daughter syndrome, she learned to lock her heart up and put one foot in front of the other. Enter Sasha into Margot's life and their ability to keep each other at arm's length is put to the test. Their chemistry is undeniable and I was invested from the start.

The story revolves around fall and witchiness and I loved the hint of the paranormal. It's cozy and charming and tender. It also weaves together generations of queer love in different forms, which provided a background plot that I loved watching unfold.

Thank you Berkley for the arc!

rep: lesbian fmc | bi fmc

[Jessica]

Thank you for the free arc, Berkley Romance!

In this sapphic romance, Sasha travels to Blair Mountain to create a documentary about the Bishop family and the rumors of a witchy past that surround their history. Margot Bishop is unhappy to be involved with the documentary at all, but finds charming Sasha hard to resist.

This is my second book from Ashley Herring Blake, and I have enjoyed both books I’ve read from her. This book is part of an interconnected series, but could be read as a standalone (just expect mentions of past characters). I didn’t feel lost reading it without having read the other two books. I really enjoyed the cozy autumn vibes within its pages, and the connections to Salem witches and the past history. It really made this feel like a great choice to cozy up with for a seasonal read! Sasha is a really likable character and I enjoyed this book so much.

[Lesia]

Thank you to Berkley publishing for the free advanced copy of this book!

Oh I reallllllllly, really loved this one! Possibly my favorite of the Clover Lake series... and also maybe the spiciest??? I just loved both Sasha and Margot so much and didn't want to put this one down!!!

Both Sasha and Margot are strong, fierce women who aren't afraid to take what they want, but the way Sasha is absolute putty in Margot's hands was utter perfection to me, and I loved their dynamic both in and out of the bedroom. The addition of some paranormal witchy-ness was also so fun, and I loved the way it was integrated into the story! There was such a clear celebration of queerness (especially with the bisexual and lesbian rep!) and it just felt like such a powerfully feminist read, touching on things like grief and generational trauma.