The Scandalous Love of a Duke

Marlow Intrigues #4

by Jane Lark

Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a ballroom and is drawn closer.

The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet caresses her neck and lures his eyes to the spot he'd most like to kiss.

Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him…

“A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine's heart into her limbs. It was so long since she'd seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.”

THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE is book three in Jane Lark's Kindle best-selling Regency romance series.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Adult, Regency Romance

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance, and a Kindle top 25 bestselling author.

She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write.

Now Jane is writing a Regency series and contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others' imaginations at last.

You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality.

Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots.

'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.'

Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life.

Reviews

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep, emotional, romantic read, The Scandalous Love of a Duke was a fantastic historical romance. I absolutely loved this book. After liking the previous books in the series so much, I had high hopes for this one, and it definitely didn't disappoint.

Katherine was a lovely heroine. She was strong and wouldn't take crap from anyone, not even a high and mighty duke. But, she was also kind and willing to see the best in others and forgive. I really liked her and I thought she was great.

John was also wonderful. I just love the depth of his character. In the beginning, to be brutally honest, he was an ass. An arrogant, cold-hearted ass. After having his childhood controlled by his autocratic grandfather, he couldn't shake the effect that the unkind man had on him, and it showed. Not to mention that he was haunted with questions as to why his mother didn't stay with him during his first 10 years. But, over the course of the book, he struggled to shake the influence and become the sweet man he truly was. It happened slowly and realistically, with John realizing what he was becoming, understanding that he didn't want to be that person, and finally committing to change. Underneath the mask of the cold duke, he was very sweet and devoted to those he cared about, though it was a small group because he had a hard time letting himself care. He was a deep, wonderful character and I totally adored him.

The romance was lovely. Katherine and John were such a perfect match. They were exactly what the other needed and they balanced each other out. And, the chemistry between them was sizzling from the moment they reunited. There were certainly steamy scenes with these two. I thought they were a wonderful couple.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. I loved seeing the characters from the previous books and seeing how things turned out for them. I really enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely. I don't know if there will be more books from this series coming up, but I really hope so because I adore this series!

The Scandalous Love of a Duke was a fantastic historical romance. I absolutely loved this book! It was deep, romantic, emotional, and a truly enjoyable read. Romance lovers, this book is a must read.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for John Harding,the Duke of Pembroke's, story to be told by the indomitable Jane Lark.
Her story lines are exciting, deliciously romantic and original.

John is a charismatic, beautiful, young man but badly emotionally affected by events in his early life. He trusts no one and feels himself to be unloveable and incapable of loving, even worse, he believes he doesn't deserve to be loved. His domineering, cold, ruthless grandfather, the previous Duke of Pembroke, has brain washed him, withholding love and affection, with beatings and isolation from his Mother, to be as ruthless as he was himself. John has become austere, arrogant and belligerent as a result of his time spent with this cold unloving man, although the frightened, bewildered little boy still lurks below the veneer

John, sent away as a young man on his grand tour by his grandfather, to sow his wild oats, chooses to remain away from all who love him for a period of seven years, reluctant to return to his tormentor. He only returns after being informed that his grandfather is close to death and knows that he must, therefore, take up the position he has been trained for all of his young life, he feels the pressure and oppression of his status keenly.

At his grandfather's funeral he meets up with childhood friends, brother and sister Phillip and Katherine Spencer. He is immediately drawn to Katherine's quiet, understated beauty, although far beneath him in social station he cannot resist pursuing her, lustfully, but also with an underlying feeling he cannot name.

Katherine has secretly loved John Harding for most of her life, although he hardly noticed her as the younger sister of his school friend. John ruthlessly uses Katherine's love for him, to seduce her. She can see traces of the lovely boy he was and loves him regardless of his cold exterior. Katherine in turn is a quiet, calm oasis in John's turbulent, solitary life. His lack of trust, even for his close family, make all who come in contact with him afraid of his displeasure, but Katherine begins to chip away the ice surrounding his heart.

Suffice to say, Jane Lark has woven another moving love story, with very human, flawed but beautiful characters. There are many twists and turns and a quite surprising turn of events that I did not see coming. Katherine is John's salvation, and how this is achieved is quite lovely and moving.

Although nothing compares to Ellen's story (because it was so original and beautiful) it is unfair of me to keep comparing Ms. Lark's books, her first will always be special. Nevertheless it was the start of this great saga and as such sets the scene for all of the following stories. John's Mother's unfortunate earlier life (she too was manipulated cruelly by her Father) has had a profound affect on him, and his behaviour towards others affected adversely by his Grandfather. Katherine is determined to break through John's reserve and Jane Lark manages this with her usual clever, imaginative talent for beautiful story telling.

A gorgeous, romantic, sensual page turner, keep it up Jane Lark, I'm already looking forward to your next. 4.5 stars

[Jaclyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get very far into 'The Scandalous Love of Duke' before I knew it wasn't for me. The moment for me was when John is re-acquainted with Kate at his grandfather's funeral and he falls immediately into lust with her. Kate's had feelings for John for a long time as they knew each other as children; however, John's connection for Kate develops based on nothing more than her looks: "She was an English rose among orchids, the sort of woman he had seen nothing of abroad."

I could have gotten past this instant relationship had I actually liked the hero. I honestly cannot believe his reasoning for distancing himself from his family for years, it makes him seem selfish and I was confused as to why he would punish his mother and step-father and step-siblings for his grandfather's behaviour. Throw in a offer to Kate to become his mistress and I couldn't respect the hero. Yes, having the hero redeem himself is a big part of the romance genre, but this one just rubbed me the wrong way. Ultimately, this one wasn't for me and I wasn't able to finish the book.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on Romancing the Dark Side:

Jane Lark has rekindled my love of historical romance with THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE!

Being the cover hussy I am, I will admit I was instantly drawn to this book’s cover while browsing through NetGalley, needless to say I was ecstatic when I was approved. Historical Romance is a comfort genre for me when I’m in the mood for a pick me up or have series burnout. It’s been a while since I read one that I didn’t want to put down but THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE had me glued to my Nook for an entire day! Jane Lark has penned a beautiful forbidden romance with a brooding, but swoon-worthy hero and a strong leading lady. The story drew me in early on and kept me turning the pages in anticipation. I’m not one to pick up a book mid-series so I was a little worried when I noticed this is book three in the Marlo Intrigues series but it easily stands alone. That being said, I can’t wait to read the previous installments and find out what I’ve missed!

THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE is the story of John Harding and his journey of self-actualization and love. Taken from his mother at an early age and raised by his grandfather, the Duke of Pembroke, John Harding grew up privileged but longing for the real love of a family. Searching for an escape he travels abroad in hopes of freeing himself of the demons of his past. When he receives a letter with news of his grandfather being on his deathbed, John decides to return home to face his family and assume his new role as the new Duke of Pembroke. What he wasn’t expecting was to fall into a world-wind romance with the one woman he can’t have, his childhood friend Katherine Spencer.

The sweet but complicated romance between John and Katherine is anything but predictable. Both characters have had their share of a tough past that has left them emotionally scarred, making them a perfect match. They have undeniable chemistry which makes for some steamy but romantic scenes. Katherine isn’t always a brave heroine, but I love that she doesn’t let her social status or lack thereof define her, she knows what she wants and never plays the victim. She’s loved John since she was a child and knows that his roguish ways will only get her burned, but she can’t resist him. John on the other hand is very guarded and has some inner turmoil due of his upbringing, but ultimately wishes to be a better man than his grandfather. Katherine’s understanding and tenderness brings out the best in John but even she has a long road ahead of her when it comes to changing his ways.

Their romance starts off as a sexy forbidden affair but I love that John never treats Katherine as inferior, even though he knows he can’t be with her. It was great to see this arrogant, charming ladies man transform into a man of worth with the love of a forbidden woman. Katherine’s pregnancy was not a favorite element of the story for me, I thought it made it their HEA a little too easy, but was glad when John stepped up to the plate before knowing about it…it shows he truly loved her and that he would just marry her out of some obligation. I really enjoyed this couple and the struggles they experienced before the happy ending, it wasn’t too perfect and is realistic for the time period.

Elegantly written, THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE is filled with intense passion and intrigue. The story’s third person narrative really captures the raw emotion and growth of the characters. Jane Lark transports you back in time and makes you fall in love with her rich world and relatable protagonists. John and Katherine’s story is a fantastic introduction to this wonderful series (even if it’s out of order) and I can’t wait to go back and read the first two books. If you’re looking for a new historical romance to add to your reading list I’d highly recommend you give Jane Lark’s Marlow Intrigues a go!

*eARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I picked this one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, because of the cover. I'm pretty disciplined about reading the description before choosing books to read, but, hell, the cover of this one is just delicious. Check out those eyes...

And then I read the little introduction in which the author explains how the book was partially inspired by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and my heart just sank. Bless 'em, I'm sure they're a nice couple, but very few people know them, or are qualified to comment on their relationship (and those that do would never, ever say a word), and it just gives me the creeps, quite frankly, when too much is read into the carefully managed glimpses we get of their personalities or lives.

But then, I started reading, and I JUST COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. OK, I had a low-grade migraine all night, which meant when I tried to sleep all I could feel was my throbbing head, and, honestly, I find reading my kindle is quite soothing, so the straight-through reading was helped a bit, but this was a wonderful read anyway, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It surprises me actually how much I enjoyed it.

- It has a hardened hero, who is emotionally disengaged from everyone, and, who, quite frankly is a jerk.

- The heroine is rather on the frail side as heroines go. She cries more than average, and she reminds me of Mansfield Park's Fanny Price (you know the real one in the book, not the feisty one all the film/TV adaptations seem to go for). Much of her life is done to her, and she has practically no control, almost drifting with the tide, and coping. I guess she could be mistaken for a bit of a drippy heroine.

- It has some real, old-fashioned tropes, with few twists.

But yet, (1) by giving us access to the hero's thoughts and feelings as much as the heroine's we understand why he behaves like a jerk and feel incredibly empathetic, (2) I actually like Fanny Price (the real one) - there is a wonderful novelty in a heroine who is not feisty and is a far more normal representation of how women were expected to behave than most historical romances portray, and (3) it just really works.

Oh, and the writing is excellent. I felt more engaged in this romance and the main characters than I usually do, and even though it was the 3rd of a series, it didn't diminish my enjoyable one iota. So 4 stars. I really liked it.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d read the first in this series earlier in the year and quite enjoyed it so I was excited to give this one a go as well. John Harding is the son of the main characters of the first book, Ellen and Edward. Theirs was quite an angsty tale and John and Kate were not a disappointment in that department.

I didn’t quite get why John was so emotionally closed off given that his mother and her then, new husband Edward, took him into their care when he was ten from his grandfather and though it was stated often in the story that the time apart had been what informed him most, I just had a difficult time buying him as this unloved, tortured soul. Most especially because the distance he put between his family and others was self-imposed. And he took such a put upon tone so often, I found I lost sympathy and patience with him often. I especially didn’t like him issuing orders at her and it really took away from the romance for me. Kate had the patience of some sort of saint. And if I am honest, I recollect feeling the same with Ellen and Edward, so perhaps John came by it honestly as his mother could be a bit tiring in that was as well. Still, there’s something about the way the story weaves and wends that pulled me in again and in spite of myself, I was pulling for John and Kate.

I did feel Kate was too sacrificial in the beginning but she did begin speaking up for herself with John a bit more as the story went along and for that I was grateful. She also had her own challenges which for the most part, I understood but there were times where she annoyed me a bit as well. Still though, I rooted for them and kept turning the pages because I was interested. As in the first book, the B-plot really pulled me in and I was very much interested in Wareham and I liked the twists and the tie up of that thread in the story. I’d sussed out Kate’s parentage early on but I was not disappointed in the reveal though I did hold a grudge against her father and had absolutely no more use for her mother. I very much enjoyed seeing Edward and Ellen happy in their lives but also having to deal with the facts of their lives up to meeting and how Ellen’s life in particular had informed John’s childhood.

Overall, I enjoyed this as I did the first in the series. I appreciate the author’s skill at making me care about the characters in moments that otherwise I would roll my eyes and toss my Kindle across the room. I still care in those moments and I want to press on. I admit even to being caught up in the angst and emotion of the story far more than my logical side would like. This is a quick, enjoyable read and definitely a good one for vacation or a weekend. Also, I did receive a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

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The Scandalous Love of a Duke is book three in the acclaimed Marlowe Intrigues. Moving forward to the next generation this is John's story.

John's vulnerability hidden by arrogance makes him a tortured hero so worth saving groomed from an early age to become the next Duke of Pembroke John's life has always been about duty, pride and emotional detachment. With the incumbent Duke of Pembroke close to death John knows he must return from his extended Grand Tour and accept the role he was born to. Haunted by his barren childhood John would rather remain alone in Egypt among the tombs of long dead Kings but his life is not his to control and he bows to the inevitable and returns to England and his family.

Katherine is a wonderful heroine courageous and loving despite her inadequate family. Katherine loves John but knows her love will remain unrequited because she is the illegitimate daughter of a servant taken in by the local gentry but treated more as a servant than an adoptive daughter

John and Katherine's sensual attraction is unexpected for John and rekindled for Katherine. Katherine is John's addiction but is the attraction physical or something deeper. Katherine knows she is playing with fire but she loves John and will give him anything whatever the cost to her reputation and heart. John knows Katherine has the power to heal him but will he sacrifice his pride and overcome his fears of rejection to let her? The love and support of John's family is recurrent theme in the Marlowe Intrigues and a stark contrast to Regency Society's brutal prejudice and disdain.


Well paced and full of intrigue this beautiful emotional love story is full of passion, anger, misunderstanding and vulnerability.

I received and ARC from Harper Collins UK Harper Impulse via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Jane Lark

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of his grandfather, John becomes the new Duke of Pembroke. Although he knew all his life that this title will be his after his grandfather’s passing, it is nothing he especially looked forward to. The former Duke was very much a tyrant and not well loved. Will John face the same fate or will he be able to come out of his cold and dark deamenour with the help of his new wife Katherine?

The Scandalous Love of a Duke is the third part in this series and I LOVED it just as much as the other two parts The Illicit Love of a Courtesan and the Passionate Love of a Rake. All of these books can be read as a stand-alone, although they all have reoccurring characters, each book focuses on a different member of a vast family.

The Scandalous Love of a Duke is set several years after the first two parts and features the story of John (who was only a child in the previous parts). John is now all grown up, but feels isolated and alone having to fulfill the duties that are attached to his title. Although his grandfather trained him into this role early on in life, John never felt loved by him (for the first ten years John was raised by his grandfather rather than his mother – which is not his mother’s fault, but you will need to read the story to find out what happened).

Just like the other two parts, this book is full of emotion, friendships and raw love. I just adore the way in which Jane is able to portray her characters! They almost feel real and are so easy to relate to.

The Scandalous Love of a Duke is a superbly written historical romance novel that sees its main character go through so much emotional turmoil and forces him to face fears that stem from his childhood. In order not to lose the love of his life John will need to change dramatically, but is this at all possible?

[Jennifer Ellision]

DNF review posted to The Bevy Bibliotheque:

Okay, so upon reading the above summary, I probably could have guessed that The Scandalous Love of a Duke by Jane Lark would not work for me. But I was in the mood for some historical romance, it was “Read Now,” and so (without reading the blurb– BIG MISTAKE) I added it to my list.

And now I’m two for two with DNFing my latest reads.

It was just so… GAH. Guys, I’m not even sure that The Scandalous Love of a Duke by Jane Lark was proofread. Why am I having such bad luck with editing of all things? There are commas in the dialogue where there should have been periods. There’s subject-verb confusion. There’s awkward, stilted rhythm to the words in some places and in others, the prose was beyond purple. It was magenta. It was indigo.

In short, it was bad.

To be fair, I’m not sure there’s an editor that could have saved this book. The opening scene with giggling girls spying on boys frolicking naked in a lake had me rolling my eyes so hard I feared that they’d roll across the room. The drama and central conflict felt incredibly contrived, and some of the wording was incredibly anachronistic.

And lord, the info-dumps. WOE BETIDE YOU, INFO-DUMPS.

I made it 6% into The Scandalous Love of a Duke by Jane Lark and going even that far was pushing my patience. Life’s too short for bad books.

I hold no scandalous love for this book.

DNF at 6%

[Debbie McCreary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine's heart has belonged to John Harding, the Duke of
Pembroke, since she was a young girl. Several years older, John allowed Katherine to follow behind him and her brother. Philip when they played. He was the heir to a dukedom and her a daughter of a milkmaid. When John returns after the death of the prior duke, Katherine has grown to a strong and kind woman. .There is still the class difference between them, however they want each other. His childhood was not pleasant and he carries those memories with him still. When the pressure of him being a duke causes him to lose Katherine, he realizes what he has lost. Can they problems then each bring to a marriage make them stronger or tear them apart? And there is the threat hanging over them from the ex-steward of his property. This is a most enjoyable read. The adjustment of marriage between people from 2 different classes of society, yet love each other. Ms. Lark writes so smoothly and weaves a story that ends in HEA. This is the third of the series, but each can be read alone. I absolutely loved this book. It is a romantic, emotional read. It draws you in as you read, and you won’t want to stop.

[BestChickLit.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve already read The Illicit Love of a Courtesan and The Passionate Love of a Rake then you’ll absolutely remember John as a small boy. Well that small boy has gone and grown up to be the filling in the Marlow men sandwich I know all you Jane Lark fans are dreaming about. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Jane’s other historical romances, you’ll have no trouble reading this as a standalone novel, although I guarantee you’ll end up downloading the rest of the Marlow Intrigues series.

John himself is a much more intense character than any Jane has written before. He seems to feel everything on a deeper level than most, even if he does try to bury it, thanks to the scars of his childhood. Having run away from everyone and everything, I enjoyed the fact that his emotions seemed to explode, especially where Katherine was concerned. Her love for the Duke burns as bright as it did when they were children and her truer nature is an excellent contrast to John’s darkness.

As always the passion and tension is incredible and you can’t help but root for a happy ending.

Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com

[Claudia237 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very needy heroine and an idiotic hero!!

I get it. She had loved him since forever but still, would you not give in to him that easily, especially when he was clear about not offering a futur with you? And then after they marry, she turned into a very nagging wife. She was basically crying over her husband not being showy about his love in public like he was in private (can't a man not like PDA?!!) and for working too much.

As for the hero, he hated his grandfather and spent most of is adult life abroad to escape his hold on him. And still after he died, he decided to follow his order (not to marry a woman of low birth and walk on his steps.

[Cc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changed my rating

3.5

Mild spoilers

If your a stickler for historical "society" correctness, a few things may bother you (they jerked me out of the story a few times). A heavily pregnant woman would not attend a ball, a Duchess would not attend a ball with a sling on her arm from a gunshot wound and a few more that I don't have the time to list. Still, this was well written with an interesting plot and was enjoyable within those parameters.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Jane Lark and I really enjoyed it. I am going to go back and read the first in the series. The emotion in this story is wonderful.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angst Ridden Regency Romance💔💘💔💘

This is a well written Adult Regency Romance💞, but for me the angst was completely over the top.
Love💘 from Afar Just Gets You Lost
Katherine💃💋, a Squire's adopted daughter is neighbor and playmate to a large family with John🐺, an heir to a dukedom, the eldest. His father died, and John went to live with his grandfather for some years. Eventually, his mother remarried a Viscount, so all of his siblings are step siblings.

John's grandfather is the stern, unfeeling Duke of Pembroke, and although John hates and fears him, he has grown up just like him! Or is he?

Katherine💃💋💘 loves John🐺, the young man, but eventually he becomes the cold, calculating Duke his grandfather was, and John, the man, is pushed into the background. It's as if he is two people.

John🐺, the man, is afraid to admit he loves💘 Katherine💃💋. John🐺, the Duke, feels he must marry a daughter of a titled man, that Katherine💃💋 is beneath his station.
The Duke in him offers her a position as his mistress. Katherine💃💋💔, who loves💘 John🐺, not the Duke, refuses, and vows to never see him again. Her heart💔 can't take the endless torment!

There is also an underlying story of blackmail to John's grandfather that the blackmailer transfers on to John🐺 after his grandfather dies. John🐺, the Duke, is determined to put an end to it.

If you can get through one angsty scene after another, you will love💘 this very long story! This is the first book I have read by this author.

Can anyone tell me why Amazon refused to post this review?

[Eileen Dandashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3, The Scandalous Love of a Duke

Synopsis

Book three in Jane Lark's Kindle best-selling Regency romance series!
Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach. The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he'd like to kiss. She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him.

A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine's heart into her limbs. It was so long since she'd seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood
between them.

Excerpt

A glass of red wine balanced in one hand, the stem dangling between his fingers, he joined another group of guests, fulfilling his duty. He trusted no one here.

God, this was his life now, duty and falsehood. He missed Egypt, he missed adventure and peace and simplicity. He was already bored with people’s endless supplication. Everyone seemed to want something from him. They sought to attach themselves to either his wealth or his power.

His grandfather had warned of this.

John had had enough. He was seeking his family to escape it for a little while, and looking for Mary particularly. He knew his vibrant sister would bring him back from the cold darkness crowding in on him.
He’d passed his mother and Edward in the hall, they’d been speaking with Richard and Penny, they’d directed him in here.

His gaze swept about the room then stopped.

There was a young woman standing amidst his family, like a blonde beacon of light amongst his dark-haired black-clad cousins. She was an angel in a pale mauve dress.

Lust gripped had and firm in his stomach, an intense physical attraction. He’d never experienced anything so instant before. But it was a long time since he’d bedded a woman – far too long.

Her figure was a sublime balance of curves and narrow waist. Her spine had a beautiful arch as it curved into the point where her dress opened onto a full skirt.

Wheat-blonde hair escaped a dull dove-grey bonnet, caressing her neck and drawing his eyes to a place he’d like to kiss.

She was speaking with animation her hands moving.

He moved closer and as if she sensed his gaze the stranger turned and looked at him. In answer a lightning need struck his groin, a sharp sudden pain. She was an English Rose among orchids, the sort of woman he had seen nothing of abroad. Her skin was pale, with roses blooming in her cheeks, and her eyes were a vivid beautiful blue, like the bluebells which bloomed in spring, in the woods at Pembroke Place.

She was what he had longed for abroad and not even known he’d been lacking.

His attention wholly captured, desire slipped into his blood as his groin grew heavy with hunger.

This was what came from abstinence he supposed. He’d never had a fancy for fair, fay women before. He did now.

She did not look the sort for a fling though, certainly not the she-wolf type who stalked the foreign fields. His mind began rattling through his guest list, but no name fit her, and her dull grey bonnet and shawl did not speak of affluence. Who was she?

He smiled as he grew nearer, then realised he was staring and shifted his gaze to the others in the group. It was then he noticed Phillip as they turned to towards him. “My God.”

“Your Grace.”

“Phillip.” Lord, John hoped Phillip had not come here with a motive. John did not wish to hear oily grovelling from an old friend. His heart thumped in cold anger, not gladness. Then he looked at the blonde and his breath caught as recognition whispered in his head. Kate.

My Thoughts: As a reviewer, I step away from the story and look at it in its entirety. I ask what makes a book an outstanding one, that is simply AMAZING, what makes it an excellent read, but doesn’t blow me away, what makes it likeable, or what makes a read just plain unappetizing. There are many elements and structure one has to consider when evaluating a book.

I go through this process after I finish each book noting what jumps out at me as well done or not. In every case in Jane Lark’s novels, I’m always left satiated.

This is the third book I’ve read and reviewed of Jane Lark’s. Her style of writing is unique and soul satisfying charming the reader with its eloquent turn of phrase and seemingly effortless skill into a world of intrigue, fear, anguish and love. As I read, I feel I’m sipping a full-bodied red wine even more intoxicating as the story thickens; there is nothing shallow in her portrayal of events. She is consistent in the intriguing way her stories unfold and captures the reader with eloquent turn of phrases and seemingly effortless ease of writing.

Her characters are riddled with flaws sometimes painfully so. Jane Lark creates very likeable heroes and heroines and truly villainous antagonists and we are not always aware who the true villain is or how truly wicked. In this story, trust and its counterpart play a vital role in the misunderstandings and hurt between Katherine and John. John had been taught not to show his emotion, but to bury it to protect himself from those who would destroy him or his reputation. And Katherine was light to his dark.

Katherine has a past that she must overcome as does John. I enjoy the way that Katherine is compassionate fortified with strength, having loved John since she was a girl. She provides the solace and love John craves-- even in the face of John’s stoicism as he draws is ducal mask over his features. She is determined to free John from whatever bedevils him, but finding the real John is hard because he buried it long ago.

Yes, reader, this one was entirely worth the read. I also encourage you to begin with her other two books in the series, but they are not absolutely necessary to thoroughly enjoy this one.

[Heidi Meaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

To think, I nearly didn't read it.

It's true! I usually loathe second generation characters. Only Sara Donati seemed to get it right. Pamela Belle didn't and neither did Diana Gabaldi, but Jane Lark has.
John, the new Duke of Pembroke we find originally in the first of this saga as a boy used by his mother's protector and trained by his mother's father. A puppet on both counts. This takes its toll on the adult John.
A moving account of the detrimental effects of a unloved childhood on the bigger child. How secrets are destructive and how falsehoods prevent true happiness.
Thank goodness for Katherine, who really owes nothing to anyone. Mistreated and overlooked, but still keeps giving- mostly to the young man who has held her heart for years.
Enjoy.

[Naima · Rating 5 out of 5]

mempunyai awal yang bagus dan mulai berkembang steamy ketika H bertemu dengan h, tapi aku sempat mandeg karena kupikir h terlalu gampang menyerah dan murahan. Mandeg lumayan lama gara2 curiga, ini novel erotis yang melulu cuma nyeritain yang begituan aja apa yak? Ternyata setelah kutelateni lagi, ceritanya bagus. Keduanya sama2 punya masa lalu yang tidak bahagia di masa kecil hingga ke masa dewasa mereka. Dua2nya sama2 belajar bagaimana mengatasi masalah mereka. Dan yang bikin melting adalah perhatian yang diberikan oleh H nya pada h.

Meski bagus dan mendapat bintang 5 tapi aku belum tertarik membaca buku lain dari seri Marlow Intrigues.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, romantic and truly unpredictable

Best romance I've read all year. 4 stars is the most I ever give but wish this could have been given 4.5.
There was:
Angst
Romance - and I mean real emotional type romance but not soo much your constantly crying
Hot scenes
Twists you don't seem coming
GREAT character development
None of those endless pages and paragraphs explaining what a hallway or particular room looked like, but enough you can picture exactly what the characters were seeingI
And it was told in dual POV (which is all I read)

The length was more than enough, where most novels feel barely long enough or cut short, this one did not.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read. I purchased it as a Bookperk deal. I did not read the other books in the series, so perhaps I would have discovered more of the characters' backstories that I needed to truly enjoy this.

I had a hard time with John's egotistical and overbearing pursuit of Katherine. I felt like he took advantage of her from the beginning, toying with her emotions.

I am sure John was portrayed this way so the reader could watch his redemption as he came to terms with his past, but it was hard to watch as Katherine's heart was continually bruised and battered.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just meh…. There were some really sweet moments in this book but overall the hero annoyed me. Greatly. But then again he was overcoming his past and an autocratic grandfather that basically abused him. So there’s that element. Quite a few steamy love scenes which I just skip over, sometimes it’s just too much!! The romance was pretty good. Good supporting characters that help flesh out the story…. So yeah… meh. I probably won’t read anymore of this series.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gem

Sometimes you stumble upon a gem on the bargain apps and can't believe your luck. This is one of those gems. Do yourself a favor and get this book and read this book. John and Katherine are perfect and John's family is lovely. I'd not known of the series before so of course I doubled back to get the previous ones. New author to me, but with a great first impression. 5 ⭐

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a really great story!

This story touched my heart. Two hurt people. Some selfish people. Good siblings. Katherine is lovely and strong. She loves John, the Duke. But John's childhood was hell, and he doesn't believe he can love.

Story is well written with wonderful characters. Read it, you will love it.

[Joy Lobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE MAKES A MAJOR CHANGE IN THIS DUKE

This book kept my interest from beginning to end. I found it on my I phone and had trouble putting it down. Appeared to be full length to me. Love does conquer all. Look forward to reading other books by this author. Hope you read it and enjoy it as much as I did.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although, I enjoyed this book, I would have given it a higher rating but the hero was a little too brooding and the story went on a little longer than it should have. I kept checking how long I had left to read it (on my Kindle) because it kept going on and on. But all in all, I was satisfied with the ending and it was a good read and I might check out more books in the series.

[shawna lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Augh. Horrible just horrible.

If you have a taste for the ridiculous I definitely recommend this series. I didn't finish this or the other one i tried reading, that's how stupid they are 😂 I don't even know how many times I rolled my eyes. The whole thing has left with me with an ick sort of feeling.

[L JONES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining

This is a very well written and complex book with very unusual characters and a different kind of plot. It also carried from the first book which gave the impression of HEA but that was not quite right

[N HF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming!

This book really pulled me in another layer in the Marlow series- kept me interested and entertained from start to finish!

[Claudia Schaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting love story

The story was very interesting, the characters are well written. I love stories that surprises me. This one did that.

[Sarah Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Definitely a re-read.