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The Seductive Love of a Lady

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A sizzling Regency romance for fans of strong heroines, brooding heroes, and love that defies the odds.

She was supposed to be the conquered… but she became the conqueror.

When Mary Marlow elopes with the infamous rogue, Lord Andrew Framlington, the scandal sets society against them. Her family, too, are quick to condemn their union. Was falling for Drew worth the risk of losing the life she knew?

Hardened by the rejection and scandal, Drew seems to pull away from his new bride. But he is unprepared for the passionate fight this genteel young woman puts up to win his heart, as Mary turns the art of seduction against the man who once seduced her.

Is love the most dangerous, reckless game of all?

The second novel in the addictive Regency romance series The Marlow Family Secrets , for fans of Beverley Watts, Eloisa James and Bridgerton . Perfect for readers who love STEAMY, SPICY historical and regency romance.

'Beautifully descriptive, emotional and can I say, just plain delicious reading?' My Devastating Reads

'What a brilliant read!! Jane Lark has an incredible talent to draw the reader in from the first page... It's a display of raw emotion, drama and intimacy.' Cosmo Chicklitan

232 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2025

19 people want to read

About the author

Jane Lark

48 books151 followers

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.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,640 reviews140 followers
August 24, 2025
The Seductive Love Of A Lady by Jane Lark is the second book in the Marlow family saga and the second part of The Dangerous Love Of A Rogue. Mary and Drew are still having issues and Mary decides to turn the tables but it will be a move and come to Jesus moment that changes everything. I really enjoyed these books although I think they could’ve been one book maybe it was something Jane Lark was testing IDK I wouldn’t do it again. Still really loved the book especially the ending because does Drew have a redemption? Will Mary finally get the husband she yearnss for? You have to read the book to find out. #NedGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JaneLark, #TheSeductiveLoveOfALady,
50 reviews10 followers
June 2, 2025
Breaking this review up into my thoughts on the story and my thoughts on the publishing choices...
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The Story:

I really enjoyed the story that Jane Lark told over the course of both books. If you like a "but daddy, I love him" kind of romance with a broken hero, then this is a great book for you. I am willing to pick up my sword in defense of Drew. The struggle for Drew and Mary to get their HEA is HARD. Mary's love for Drew ran deep, even when she could not understand it. He wanted her goodness, but loved her so much, he was afraid to ruin her light. So yea, he made terrible decisions, but would have been believable if he was well-adjusted after everything he has gone through?

What I found interesting in this half of the story was that the role of Mary's family became more nuanced. Yes, they care about her deeply and do have some heroic moments, I almost wonder how many of her marital problems were worsened by their meddling. I think Mary and Drew would have had a happier time if they had moved to the country sooner. They both needed room to breathe.

I always love with a couple gets to solve a problem together once they've decided to stay together. It gives a little bit more insight to how their relationship will be when you're no longer wondering how they will make it work. I enjoyed that part of the story, and it gave time for Drew to repair his relationship with Mary's family.

This was an emotional, angsty rollercoaster and my heart was completely invested. I would consider reading the rest of this series. I think Jane Lark is talented at writing complex characters and realistic romance.

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The Publishing Choices:

I still do not like that Drew and Mary's story was split into two books. It feels very obvious that it was written as one book and then chopped into two pieces. It cannot be read as a standalone, which is not typical for historical romance. I think some readers will be very confused.

Secondly, unlike other series where subsequent books include little plot and character reminders, this book does not. Since I had to wait a couple weeks for this book to be released, I had to keep searching character names in The Dangerous Love of a Rogue just to remember what was going on.

The covers of this series are really mismatched to the vibe of the books. While they are cute, this love story was not cutesy. It is angsty and dark. Judging from the blurbs of the other books in the series, I think they all have some tough themes. This is the second series I've read from this publisher where these cartoon covers just don't work... I think some people who would enjoy this type of story won't pick it up due to the covers, and some people who want a fun histrom are going to be put off.

Since this series is being republished in a different order than the original, I am confused how they are going to approach Kate and John's story. It's supposed to be book six...but they were already married in this book.

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Profile Image for AnnMarie.
1,304 reviews34 followers
August 6, 2025
This book is described as the second novel in the addictive Regency romance series The Marlow Family Secret. I would say that it is the second part of book 1 in the series. The latter ended abruptly with no conclusion to the story. This book takes off exactly where that one left off, as if the author split one book into two. You couldn't read this one as a standalone. That said...I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until the end. Part of that is because I had already become invested in Drew and Mary's story in the first book. I found the story so much more emotional than that one. We find out exactly why Drew is as insecure as he is and why he earned his Rogue's reputation. I cried a few times as Mary and Drew suffered through trials and tribulations in their bid for a true and happy marriage. Mary earned my ire a little in book one, but she more than makes up for that in this book. She matures and learns to see more than surface deep. Her family come up trumps when necessary, too, which more than atones for their early behaviour towards Drew.

Apart from all of the emotional parts of this story, once again, there are some seriously hot love-making scenes. Not over the top, or crude, just beautiful. If you prefer sweet romances with those scenes left out, you might want to give those scenes a quick read past. You won't want to miss this wonderful story by being put off by those particular parts of the book.

This book ticks all the boxes for me, including a proper ending and an indication that the next book in the series will be about Drew's half sister, Caroline. I am very much looking forward to reading it because there is a woman who needs a happy ending. I just hope it will all be in one book and not split into two like Drew and Mary's story.
Profile Image for Стефани Николова.
27 reviews
July 11, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I adored this book despite the actual romance, haha.

The MMC, Drew, wasn’t for me. He came off immature, emotionally unavailable, with major “pick me, choose me” energy, anger issues, and just overall not someone I’d root for. I honestly felt like Merys deserved better. Even though my hopeless romantic heart kind of accepted them as a couple around the 2/3 mark.

I give it that rating because I truly connected to the world of the book. The writing style was lush and effortless, the pacing flowed beautifully, and Mary and Kate as characters absolutely won me over. I adored their personalities .The Marlow family dynamic was one of the highlights — warm, supportive, and deeply loving. That kind of emotional connection is what keeps me reading.

I also appreciated Drew’s support system. Even if I didn’t love him, the people around him like Peter added depth. Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of miscommunication trop,e but here it felt believable and in line with the first book’s tone.

I did suspect the story might go in a slightly different direction, and honestly, part of me wishes it had. Still, I was engaged the whole time plus that lake scene caught me off guard.

Overall, this was a quick (under 250 pages!) and charming regency read. If you’re in the mood for something light, immersive, with a wounded MMC who’s trying to grow and a strong FMC you’ll root for, give this a try. I’ll definitely be continuing the Marlow family series to see what comes next!
180 reviews3 followers
August 7, 2025
Debt ridden Lord Andrew Framlington and heiress Miss Mary Marlow have eloped, much to the shock and disappointment of Mary’s loving and supportive family and the complete disinterest of Andrew’s family. They struggle to live as a married couple; bed was no problem at all, it was just the rest of married life that was a bit bewildering! Andrew has a group of loyal friends that he continues to spend his evenings with and Mary spends most of her time with her family. Being so close to her own family, Mary desperately wanted to meet and know more about Drew’s family. Drew eventually relents, despite his better judgement. It’s from this point that we learn much more about Drew’s upbringing, what made him the cold person he is and giving him a distrust of people, other than his friends and his sister Caroline.

Misunderstandings abound, Mary and Drew love each other but don’t believe their love is returned. Mary realises that this is her life now, so she decides to seduce Drew to make him love her. But it doesn’t go according to plan.

Now, a confession. This book picks up straight from where ‘The Dangerous Love of a Rogue’ ends. I really didn’t enjoy that book because Drew Framlington came across as a really unpleasant character and irritated me so much! In this book learning about his background gives more insight into why he is the person he is, but I still don’t like him much! This is a more enjoyable book than the first one though.
Profile Image for Meg Pearson.
391 reviews9 followers
August 30, 2025
Jane Lark’s The Seductive Love of a Lady picks up seamlessly where The Dangerous Love of a Rogue left off, continuing the passionate and turbulent journey of Drew and Mary. Having eloped in haste, they now face the reality of married life—misunderstandings, family disapproval, and old wounds that threaten to undo their fragile happiness.

This installment dives deeper into Drew’s painful past and the insecurities that fuel his brooding, reckless behavior. At the same time, Mary’s growth is one of the highlights of the novel—she learns to stand up to her family, fight for her marriage, and challenge Drew to face the truth about himself. Their love story is tempestuous, sometimes heartbreaking, but ultimately rewarding.

Lark’s writing captures both the lush drama of Regency society and the raw intimacy of two people learning to truly know each other. There are moments of angst, tender reconciliation, and sensual romance that will satisfy readers who enjoy their historical love stories with both heat and heart.

While it’s clear this book is really the second half of one larger story (and best read after The Dangerous Love of a Rogue), it provides the closure, emotional depth, and redemption arc that the first book set up. Fans of Bridgerton-style drama and character-driven romance will find this a captivating continuation.
Profile Image for Sandra.
445 reviews6 followers
August 29, 2025
The Seductive Love of a Lady carries on from where the previous book, The Dangerous Love of a Rogue left off. They were originally published as one volume and would have been better left that way. Having said that, I enjoyed both books very much.
The main characters, Andrew and Mary, change and develop as the narrative unfolds. Having eloped and then married in haste, things are not going well at all. We learn more about Andrew’s family and how he was treated growing up. This goes a long way to help us understand his behaviour. Mary’s family is numerous, too many to easily keep track of, but despite their initial disapproval eventually come to Andrew’s aid when he needs it most, as do his good friends.
When Andrew withdraws from her, Mary has to step up and convince him that their relationship is worth saving. She stands up to her family and starts to think for herself. Poor decisions and bad communication are at the heart of this story.
The characters are well drawn and the period setting is vividly evoked. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and hope none of the other books have been split in two. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Profile Image for Lily.
1,453 reviews12 followers
August 31, 2025
In the second book in this emotional Regency romance series from Jane Lark, readers revisit Mary and Andrew Framlington as they struggle to handle marriage and the condemnation of their families and society. Haunted by the rejection of Mary’s family, Drew starts pulling away from Mary, but she’s determined to make their marriage happy and make him fall in love with her however she can. As they try to make the best of their situation even as their enemies make life difficult, Mary and Drew must see if happily ever after is still in the cards for them as society’s most scandalous couple. Emotionally intense and with high stakes, readers will love the intense chemistry and ridiculous drama in this new novel from Jane Lark. The alternating perspectives between the two characters really allow their sides of the story to develop and lets readers see both sides of the relationship. The emotional intensity of the many relationships in this book will pull readers into the story and whether their marriage lasts. The main characters are brilliantly written and detailed, and their relationships with other characters are key to their character development and decision-making processes in ways which readers will love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
4,195 reviews22 followers
September 30, 2025
This installment in The Marlow Family Secrets series is a steamy Regency romance filled with passion, scandal, and a heroine who refuses to be underestimated. When Mary Marlow elopes with the dangerously charming Lord Andrew Framlington, she doesn’t just spark gossip — she ignites a firestorm that threatens to consume her family, her reputation, and her future.

But Mary is no passive debutante. What begins as a romantic escape quickly becomes a battleground of wills, pride, and hidden vulnerabilities. Drew, the classic tortured rake with a dark past, tries to push Mary away to protect them both — but Mary won’t go quietly. Her transformation from genteel society girl to a woman fighting (and seducing) for her marriage is bold, empowering, and completely addictive to watch unfold.

The chemistry is off the charts, the emotional stakes are high, and the tension — both romantic and societal — keeps you turning pages long into the night.

If you like your historical romance with smart women, flawed but redeemable men, and love that defies expectations, this one definitely hits the spot.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Profile Image for Deidre.
561 reviews10 followers
August 9, 2025
Okay, it needs to be noted better on Goodreads and everywhere else that this is the second book in a two-part series. I guess I'm reading them backwards then (which is going to be pointless.) I like the characters and picked up on enough to enjoy the story without having read the first book, but dang I felt cheated out of a great part one.

So, I guess this is the CONTINUING story of Drew and Mary after they marry and face the reality of their relationship without having ever had a truthful sharing of their pasts or feelings. Misunderstandings devolve into full-on crisis, and you can't help but keep listening for the inevitable reunion. The narrator was fab with a wide range of voices that brought the book to life in my imagination. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Andrew who has a perfectly WRETCHED family and hope for him to get out of his own way enough to find happiness with Mary. I can see why these books are compared to Bridgerton - it was certainly uber-dramatic and steamy.
55 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2025
Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, i was delighted at being invited to read and review the second. It picks up from where the first book leaves off, with Drew and Mary struggling to come to terms with their marriage and the things her family have revealed about Drew. At times it seems they only things they share are games of chess, and their bodies! But Mary is determined to make the most of their marriage, even when Drew seems distant and withdrawn. The course of true love never runs smooth, and throw in some gossip and scandal and you have the makings of another, brilliant love story. I throughly enjoyed the ups and downs, the despairs and triumphs of this tale and have no hesitation in awarding 5 stars. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley.
Profile Image for Bernadine.
209 reviews7 followers
August 29, 2025
The Seductive Love of a Lady is Book 2 of the 4 book series The Marlow Family Secrets and must be read in order. For continuity sake Book 2 should have been included in Book 1.

Book 2 is a continuation of the elopement of Mary Marlow and Lord Framlington. They are forced to confront the aftermath of their impulsive actions and lack of communication and faith in each other.

Mary’s wealthy family has the upper hand financially and her extended family is overbearing and overwhelming for Andrew who had no family life. Their marriage has lots of trials, tribulations and obstacles to overcome.

This was a quick read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion..
Profile Image for VickydpBooks.
595 reviews7 followers
July 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book its second boook in the series the family marlow secrets


She was supposed to be the conquered… but she became the conqueror.

When Mary Marlow elopes with the infamous rogue, Lord Andrew Framlington, the scandal sets society against them. Her family, too, are quick to condemn their union. Was falling for Drew worth the risk of losing the life she knew?

Hardened by the rejection and scandal, Drew seems to pull away from his new bride. But he is unprepared for the passionate fight this genteel young woman puts up to win his heart, as Mary turns the art of seduction against the man who once seduced her.
471 reviews3 followers
July 12, 2025
This was not your usual regency romance and had plenty of gritty reality in it. Picking up the story where the two leads are dealing with the consequences of their elopement they question whether the other person is in love and why they got married. Was he a mercenary marrying for money? Would she escape back to her family? In an engrossing plot the book explores the nature of love within a family and why one family rejects their offspring while another covers their child in love. You then see how this impacts the offspring and contributing to the formation of their character. All in all an excellent read.
Profile Image for Gloria Pastorino.
Author 82 books59 followers
July 1, 2025
This is the second part of The Dangerous Love of a Rogue, so we really dive into Mary and Drew’s story. Drew’s character is better defined here and I really, really felt for him and what he went through during his childhood. I’m happy Mary decided to fight for their marriage and their HEA, because he deserved to be loved like she had been loved by her family all her life. I also loved Mary’s family and their protectiveness toward each other. A great book.
Profile Image for Margaret.
3,219 reviews33 followers
September 10, 2025
The continuing story of Mary Marlow and Andrew Farmlington. Now man and wife it's a difficult adjustment. Andrew's anger and insecurity comes between them. Once Mary meets his family she begins to understand his demons. Yet, Andrew continues to sabotage their relationship, until his life is in danger. Emotional and heartbreaking. Very descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Profile Image for Jenny’s Book Corner.
89 reviews2 followers
June 19, 2025
4.5 stars! The second book of Mary and Drew’s story was exactly what I needed after feeling like we were left wanting more from the first book!
Found family plays a huge part in this book and it was heartwarming to read!
Profile Image for Sarah.
363 reviews3 followers
July 17, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This book picks up where "The Dangerous Love of a Rogue" left off, and it was incredibly satisfying to read. Jane Lark does Regency romance so well and I'm all in on the Marlow family.

#TheSeductiveLoveofaLady #NetGalley
Profile Image for Lyn D Rose .
1,171 reviews17 followers
January 12, 2026
This second book in The Marlow Family Secrets series was a very passionate, emotional, and engaging spicy Victorian historical romance. I recommend you read book one. I really enjoyed how beautifully everything works out and how lovely the ending was. I highly recommend reading!
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