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The Dark Duology #1
A Dark Fall
DARKER THAN LOVE . . .
From the outside looking in, Dr. Alex Marlowe has it all. A comfortable middle-class upbringing, a great job as a GP, a picturesque cottage in a quiet village, and all the support she could need to get over her cheating ex-fiancé. So, when dark and dangerous Jake Lawrence appears bleeding on the doorstep of her late-night surgery in London’s East End, she isn’t prepared for the myriad of feelings he leaves behind.
DEEPER THAN LUST . . .
Respected and feared in London’s violent criminal underworld, Jake lives the furthest life from Alex’s safe suburban existence, yet he can’t get the classy doctor out of his mind. He’s forged his reputation from nothing on these streets, but no amount of fancy cars or high-end apartments can make him feel as if he belongs. Could Alex finally be his key to redemption, or will his growing obsession only lead them both into greater danger?
A FALL SO HARD THERE’S NO COMING BACK.
One thing’s for sure: Neither of them want to let go. But with so many secrets lurking in the shadows, Jake’s relentless pursuit of Alex starts to attract some unsavory attention. With all eyes on them and no clear way out, Alex soon realizes she hasn’t just fallen in love…but into something much darker.
From the outside looking in, Dr. Alex Marlowe has it all. A comfortable middle-class upbringing, a great job as a GP, a picturesque cottage in a quiet village, and all the support she could need to get over her cheating ex-fiancé. So, when dark and dangerous Jake Lawrence appears bleeding on the doorstep of her late-night surgery in London’s East End, she isn’t prepared for the myriad of feelings he leaves behind.
DEEPER THAN LUST . . .
Respected and feared in London’s violent criminal underworld, Jake lives the furthest life from Alex’s safe suburban existence, yet he can’t get the classy doctor out of his mind. He’s forged his reputation from nothing on these streets, but no amount of fancy cars or high-end apartments can make him feel as if he belongs. Could Alex finally be his key to redemption, or will his growing obsession only lead them both into greater danger?
A FALL SO HARD THERE’S NO COMING BACK.
One thing’s for sure: Neither of them want to let go. But with so many secrets lurking in the shadows, Jake’s relentless pursuit of Alex starts to attract some unsavory attention. With all eyes on them and no clear way out, Alex soon realizes she hasn’t just fallen in love…but into something much darker.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2021
103 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 31, 2022
This was better when it was on Wattpad. This time around, Jake sounded like such a gaslighter, if it wasn't for the fact that we as an audience knew that he wasn't lying.
March 22, 2022
My dumbass forgot again that this is part of a series and not a standalone. So yes, it ends on a cliffhanger.
But!
I'm still so glad I read it (again). One of my favourite all time reads on Wattpad. I couldn't be happier when it came out in paperback.
Alex and Jake always had a special place in my heart. I've thought about them often in the past years. Their chemistry is every-fucking-thing.
I've always loved how Alex isn't your typical naive woman, but instead doesn't put up with Jake's shit and actually calls him out on his lies and omissions.
There's a lot to say about Jake. Yes, he's in a lot of ways a fucking bastard. But, he loves, he absolutely loves Alex with his whole heart, with his whole soul. He'd do everything for her. And I mean that in the literal sense, he will do absolutely anything for her.
I can't wait for the next book. It's been a while since I read that and I know it's gonna be just as epic as the first one.
But!
I'm still so glad I read it (again). One of my favourite all time reads on Wattpad. I couldn't be happier when it came out in paperback.
Alex and Jake always had a special place in my heart. I've thought about them often in the past years. Their chemistry is every-fucking-thing.
I've always loved how Alex isn't your typical naive woman, but instead doesn't put up with Jake's shit and actually calls him out on his lies and omissions.
There's a lot to say about Jake. Yes, he's in a lot of ways a fucking bastard. But, he loves, he absolutely loves Alex with his whole heart, with his whole soul. He'd do everything for her. And I mean that in the literal sense, he will do absolutely anything for her.
I can't wait for the next book. It's been a while since I read that and I know it's gonna be just as epic as the first one.
January 25, 2022
I read A Dark Fall years ago when it was still an unpublished work in progress on Wattpad and it remains to this day in my top 3 favorite romances of all time. Even as a teenager when I first read it, I knew Scarlett Drake had something special. She was thoughtful and deliberate in her writing, a diamond in the rough just waiting to be discovered. I recently had the itch to go back and reread Jake and Alex's story but I panicked when I saw it was gone! When I learned it had been published, I ordered a hard copy right then and there. It was surreal holding it in my hands all these years later! A few things had been changed from the original but it was still every bit as sexy, provocative, gritty, and spicy as I remember! A huge congrats to Scarlett on her first publication! I can't wait for Into the Dark to follow it soon.
September 26, 2022
Everyone NEEDS to read this DARK STEAMY ROMANCE!!!
Doctor Alex Marlowe meets bad boy Jake Lawrence when he appears on her surgery doorstep bleeding out.
After that first encounter, neither of them can ignore the hot physical attraction and the want to know more, even if it means a dark fall along the way…
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this book grow from its first appearance on Wattpad to being published! And I couldn’t be prouder of Scarlett for this journey she’s been on!
Doctor Alex Marlowe meets bad boy Jake Lawrence when he appears on her surgery doorstep bleeding out.
After that first encounter, neither of them can ignore the hot physical attraction and the want to know more, even if it means a dark fall along the way…
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this book grow from its first appearance on Wattpad to being published! And I couldn’t be prouder of Scarlett for this journey she’s been on!
dnf
January 2, 2022This book contains one of my least favorite tropes, when the . And the heroine and reader don't learn about it until well into the book. It's just never a HEA I would want so this book is not my cuppa tea.
However, the quality of writing was good and much better than I was expecting for Wattpad. Definitely a case of me and not the book.
However, the quality of writing was good and much better than I was expecting for Wattpad. Definitely a case of me and not the book.
December 3, 2023
3.5 stars
This duet was an easy read.
It had its goods and its bads.
I really enjoyed Jake. He’s the type of MMC that I love: obsessed, desperate to change for her, but also ruthless in his ways.
This duet was an easy read.
It had its goods and its bads.
I really enjoyed Jake. He’s the type of MMC that I love: obsessed, desperate to change for her, but also ruthless in his ways.
December 20, 2021
As a fan of PNR and horror, I was initially dubious as to whether A Dark Fall would be my thing, but having heard a real buzz around this book, I decided to give it a go and was blown away to be hooked from the first chapter. The author hits you with Jake Lawrence straight off the bat: London bad-boy and gangster who fills the page with his presence in a way I've rarely seen in a book, where the primary POV is from the main female protagonist's perspective. Jake feels larger than life and it was his voice which captivated me instantly. It was like being thrust straight into a film or cool Netflix series - raw, gritty and a whole lot of tension.
In contrast, when we meet Dr. Alex Marlow, her voice and indeed, her life, couldn't be more different. She's refined, classy, but with enough realness in her thoughts and emotions, that we can't help but identify with some of the complexities of her every day life.
When Jake and Alex's world collide, on paper (pardon the pun), we know this is a relationship that shouldn't work. They couldn't be more different, but the attraction is instant and it's an attraction that leaves Jake determined he needs to have her and leaves Alex questioning how much she's willing to risk to be with him.
The pages simply sizzle when these two characters are together, and while there's no doubt that the author can write scenes so hot that it'll leave the reader needing more than one cold shower, what I loved about this story is how well their relationship is written outside of the bedroom too. This is no one-dimensional smutathon. This is what happens when two people from completely different worlds meet and how they deal with the aftershocks of their collision.
Do opposites attract? Of course, but can opposites weather the storm and stay together despite life fighting to keep them apart? You'll have to read and find out!
All I can say is that I credit this book, and this author, for turning my head and encouraging me to leave my genre snobbery behind. Before I read A Dark Fall, I'd decided I could never read a romance book unless there was a vampire or two thrown into the mix (I'd tried before and failed trust me), but Alex and Jake completely changed my mind!
I utterly loved this book. It was tense, raw, effortlessly beautiful and of course.... HOT!
If you love your romance with a touch of darkness, a whole lot of tension and enough sexual attraction to blow your socks (and everything else) off, then I would thoroughly recommend this.
A five star blistering hot read!
In contrast, when we meet Dr. Alex Marlow, her voice and indeed, her life, couldn't be more different. She's refined, classy, but with enough realness in her thoughts and emotions, that we can't help but identify with some of the complexities of her every day life.
When Jake and Alex's world collide, on paper (pardon the pun), we know this is a relationship that shouldn't work. They couldn't be more different, but the attraction is instant and it's an attraction that leaves Jake determined he needs to have her and leaves Alex questioning how much she's willing to risk to be with him.
The pages simply sizzle when these two characters are together, and while there's no doubt that the author can write scenes so hot that it'll leave the reader needing more than one cold shower, what I loved about this story is how well their relationship is written outside of the bedroom too. This is no one-dimensional smutathon. This is what happens when two people from completely different worlds meet and how they deal with the aftershocks of their collision.
Do opposites attract? Of course, but can opposites weather the storm and stay together despite life fighting to keep them apart? You'll have to read and find out!
All I can say is that I credit this book, and this author, for turning my head and encouraging me to leave my genre snobbery behind. Before I read A Dark Fall, I'd decided I could never read a romance book unless there was a vampire or two thrown into the mix (I'd tried before and failed trust me), but Alex and Jake completely changed my mind!
I utterly loved this book. It was tense, raw, effortlessly beautiful and of course.... HOT!
If you love your romance with a touch of darkness, a whole lot of tension and enough sexual attraction to blow your socks (and everything else) off, then I would thoroughly recommend this.
A five star blistering hot read!
March 14, 2023
A Dark Fall, is very much a story of "if we'd met in another lifetime..." Jake Lawrence and Alex Marlowe are in very different sides of the world when it comes to how their lives have been. So being together doesn't seem to be right.
After one drastic encounter, Alex and Jake cannot stop thinking about one another. To Alex he's a mystery man who was stabbed and needed to be stitched up. She did so and at his request never told a soul, not knowing why she listened.
The chemistry builds as the story goes on, and it's very much focused on their love story.
Jake Lawrence knows he's bad news and tells Alex to stay away but that invisible pull doesn't allow that to go far.
After Alex finally gives in, there's no holding back. I loved that despite us knowing Jake has secrets and is hiding a huge part of himself, he goes out of his way to do nice things and date Alex.
But once those secrets to unravel, it's up to Alex to decide if he's still worth it, and if it's too late for her heart to back out now.
After one drastic encounter, Alex and Jake cannot stop thinking about one another. To Alex he's a mystery man who was stabbed and needed to be stitched up. She did so and at his request never told a soul, not knowing why she listened.
The chemistry builds as the story goes on, and it's very much focused on their love story.
Jake Lawrence knows he's bad news and tells Alex to stay away but that invisible pull doesn't allow that to go far.
After Alex finally gives in, there's no holding back. I loved that despite us knowing Jake has secrets and is hiding a huge part of himself, he goes out of his way to do nice things and date Alex.
But once those secrets to unravel, it's up to Alex to decide if he's still worth it, and if it's too late for her heart to back out now.
October 17, 2022
This book had potential. He gets stabbed in the neck and goes to a nearby doctor's office to get stitches. They are both attracted to each other. Somehow even though he is getting stitches, he gets aroused.
He sends her VIP tickets to his club's opening and kisses her. She didn't know his name or that it was his club.
He keeps telling her she's the only woman who ever made him work for it. He sends her white roses. He tells her he'll take her to dinner and walks away before she can answer. She had a date already scheduled that night with a co-worker so she texts him and cancels. He sees her kiss the other guy (he was waiting for her to come home) and complains again she makes him work to see her.
So at that point, she's like, ok let's sleep together. It felt like a complete 180 and I was irritated the hero kept complaining she made him wait.
He sends her VIP tickets to his club's opening and kisses her. She didn't know his name or that it was his club.
He keeps telling her she's the only woman who ever made him work for it. He sends her white roses. He tells her he'll take her to dinner and walks away before she can answer. She had a date already scheduled that night with a co-worker so she texts him and cancels. He sees her kiss the other guy (he was waiting for her to come home) and complains again she makes him work to see her.
So at that point, she's like, ok let's sleep together. It felt like a complete 180 and I was irritated the hero kept complaining she made him wait.
January 29, 2026
This doesn’t really compare to Drake’s other books, like how is this the same author who wrote Oleander and Hamarita?! But persevered because I know what she’s capable of.
So like nothing really happens? I enjoyed the level of obsession but after the first chapter being from Jake’s POV the rest is all Alex’s and we never hear anything else about his shady criminal connections until the end. There’s a lot of petty arguments and she literally knows nothing about him but falls in love. Ok girl sure. It’s giving toxic. Also I’m fairly sure she’s an alcoholic with how much she chugs the vino. He’s a bit gaslighty. She’s a lot naive.
I will be reading book 2 because I like a pretty boy with tattoos.
So like nothing really happens? I enjoyed the level of obsession but after the first chapter being from Jake’s POV the rest is all Alex’s and we never hear anything else about his shady criminal connections until the end. There’s a lot of petty arguments and she literally knows nothing about him but falls in love. Ok girl sure. It’s giving toxic. Also I’m fairly sure she’s an alcoholic with how much she chugs the vino. He’s a bit gaslighty. She’s a lot naive.
I will be reading book 2 because I like a pretty boy with tattoos.
December 26, 2022
3 maybe 3.5 stars
I’m a little irritated with this one. It dragged for 85-90% of it then revs up at the very end. Seriously!?! I guess that’s how a series gets you, but it irritates me when I’m left contemplating rather I should read the next book. I’m not a huge fan of DNFing books. I’ll admit I almost did with this one. I’ll have to think about rather or not to read book two. This one had good qualities it just really didn’t have anything going on. I know they were trying to establish the relationship but the H obvi had some exciting stuff going on but we aren’t privy to it. Then it gives the assumption he’s a tough guy but comes off as a pansy in the relationship.
I’m a little irritated with this one. It dragged for 85-90% of it then revs up at the very end. Seriously!?! I guess that’s how a series gets you, but it irritates me when I’m left contemplating rather I should read the next book. I’m not a huge fan of DNFing books. I’ll admit I almost did with this one. I’ll have to think about rather or not to read book two. This one had good qualities it just really didn’t have anything going on. I know they were trying to establish the relationship but the H obvi had some exciting stuff going on but we aren’t privy to it. Then it gives the assumption he’s a tough guy but comes off as a pansy in the relationship.
March 9, 2022
Amazing book
This is hands down the best book I’ve ever read and I have read a lot of books. I feel I don’t have the words to explain how much I loved this book. I have re-read it so many times and every single time I read it’s like the first time. Every book I have read after this book I want to be as good as this book, but they never are. So it always makes me go back to this book and read it again.
Thank you Scarlett Drake. I’m such a big fan of yours and this book. I look forward to more books from you in the future.
This is hands down the best book I’ve ever read and I have read a lot of books. I feel I don’t have the words to explain how much I loved this book. I have re-read it so many times and every single time I read it’s like the first time. Every book I have read after this book I want to be as good as this book, but they never are. So it always makes me go back to this book and read it again.
Thank you Scarlett Drake. I’m such a big fan of yours and this book. I look forward to more books from you in the future.
September 1, 2021
Love it!
I'm a big lover of the OG Wattpad version and couldn't wait to get my hands on this. I like the subtle changes that were made to this version. They haven't taken away from the story, merely added to it. I'm obsessed with Alex and Jake, and their story. It's real, gritty, and romantic without being unbelievable. Scarletts writing is perfect. I'm obsessed and cannot wait for part 2.
I'm a big lover of the OG Wattpad version and couldn't wait to get my hands on this. I like the subtle changes that were made to this version. They haven't taken away from the story, merely added to it. I'm obsessed with Alex and Jake, and their story. It's real, gritty, and romantic without being unbelievable. Scarletts writing is perfect. I'm obsessed and cannot wait for part 2.
June 24, 2023
I remember reading this on wattpad and being absolutely obsessed. Jake is my perfect book boyfriend. I love how hard he falls for Alex and the emotional turmoil of wanting to be the man he thinks he has to be with her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2021
10 out of 10 - will read again and again and again.
September 20, 2021
Thrilling!
Jake & Alex’s story is one that completely captures your heart, impossible to put down, their love story is beautifully written. These two will melt you….❤️
Jake & Alex’s story is one that completely captures your heart, impossible to put down, their love story is beautifully written. These two will melt you….❤️
November 26, 2021
One of the best books I love in a long time. The hero and heroin are HOT HOT.
June 17, 2023
Guess I should have paid more attention to the blurb. I'm not interested in a H that's a flippin' psychopath.
April 5, 2024
proballllllllyyyy 2.5ish?
May 27, 2024
DNF 22%
A very successful doctor cannot keep her mind and body in check and succumbs to repeated instances of "body betrayal syndrome."
A very successful doctor cannot keep her mind and body in check and succumbs to repeated instances of "body betrayal syndrome."
February 6, 2025
Tags: betrayal, damaged-broken_hero, hero-has-kid-or-kids, hero-hurts-heroine, hero-loved-or-loves-ow, heroine-loved-or-loves-om, mafia-cartel-romance, manwhore-philanderer, om_drama, ow-drama, read
June 4, 2025
DNF. Te makkelijk en veel te dierlijk? Easy? Idk heeeel oppervlakkig
October 25, 2021
I read this on Wattpad forever ago and I was so excited this was being published so I could read it again.
I really fell in love with Jake and Alex again. The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars and not 5 is because I’m not a huge fan of insta love. This book happens in like 5 or 6 weeks. I think the love story was drawn out in a good way and written really well but the time frame was always stuck in the back of my head.
Highly recommend.
I really fell in love with Jake and Alex again. The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars and not 5 is because I’m not a huge fan of insta love. This book happens in like 5 or 6 weeks. I think the love story was drawn out in a good way and written really well but the time frame was always stuck in the back of my head.
Highly recommend.
October 1, 2022
6⭐️ read! Superb! This book had it all! Excellent writing, plot, character development, suspense, action, STRONG chemistry between main characters, alpha/OTT hero, smart feisty heroine and plus a dirty talking filthy sexy Hero!
I can’t wait to read book 2!
Top 5 read of the year and definitely top 5 dark duet EVER! Yep I said it! 🎤drop
I can’t wait to read book 2!
Top 5 read of the year and definitely top 5 dark duet EVER! Yep I said it! 🎤drop
November 5, 2022
I’ve read this book twice now and could just keep rereading it! I bloody loved this book!! Jake and Alex’s story captured my heart and I didn’t want to put the book down!
I thought the story was great and written amazingly. This has me so excited for Into The Dark! Scarlett is so talented!
I thought the story was great and written amazingly. This has me so excited for Into The Dark! Scarlett is so talented!
February 23, 2025
Review coming soon.
December 3, 2022
I really liked this, dark, sexy, well written, great book!
And, fortunatelly, the second book is already released, so that's great.
I recommend it!
Writting 4/5
Plot 2.5/5
Spice 3.5/5
And, fortunatelly, the second book is already released, so that's great.
I recommend it!
Writting 4/5
Plot 2.5/5
Spice 3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews