I will begin by saying that I really did not like the main male character and for me that was just a no from the start, I need to really love the main characters to help me enjoy the novels I read. I found him to be cocky, irritating and just overall ew, in so many respects. I could not warm to him and I could not feel bad for him. Furthermore, the fmc Mary was incredibly foolish at times and also very aggravating, and I just feel this could have been such a better book than it was. The plot was very fast paced so you fly through the book but it just didn’t match up to my expectations, especially with it being matched to Bridgerton.

I know this is part of a series and the other books may be better, especially re the mmc, but for me this book just didn’t do anything. I am so disappointed because I was really looking forward to reading it.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGallery for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lord Framlington is in need of funds and also a wife. The known rogue has fixated on Mary, the sister of a duke, as the one he will marry and goes about making it happen. I found this book rather problematic due to the character of Lord Framlington. I never get a real feeling he has any love for Mary but he is definitely obsessed. As for Mary's love for Framlington, it seems to be a naive interest, possibly mixed with rebellion since her family doesn't approve of him. And at the end, I don't feel any more hope for this relationship than I did earlier on. It looks like a miserable life for both is ahead and they really don't suit each other. Andrew Framlington just seems to be a spoiled rich kid who has squandered his money and is not even the rogue alluded too. At least Mary seems to have some decency to her but her character is pretty flat and there really is no character development for either of them.

I will point out this is part of a series of books and it's possible the others are more enjoyable. As it is I struggled to finish this book and was more disappointed than expected at the end of the book. As such, I can only rate this 1.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I have provided my feedback for free.

I really struggled with this one - it should have been a hit for me but I found the writing too stilted and I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue is a complete winner in my book :0 :) . This was a first read by this author for me even though some of this series is a reprint. the story between the hero and heroine was paced accordingly and the non main characters that were intertwined within the story did not overtake the story. Although the ending left you hanging for the next read, I cannot wait to read it! Free ARC for hones review.

The Dangerous Love of a Rogue by Jane Lark is the fifth book in a series called Marlow Intrigues. The novel is an historical fiction piece meant to be a love story. The two main characters are Mary and Drew.

Drew is Lord Andrew Framlington. He is broke and has been relying on his friends to help keep him in the lifestyle. He is a rogue in that he doesn’t follow the rules of society and will do most anything. However, he has decided he is going to marry Mary, the sister of Pembroke. He has never been introduced to her and has decided on her nonetheless.

Lady Mary Pembroke is naive and has a large dowry. Her father and brother have warned Mary to stay away from Drew. They have noticed Drew’s interest in her and know he is a rogue. Drew finds ways to speak with her and peaks her interest.

The book is a romance, so we know what is going to happen. I didn’t find Drew (arrogant ass) and Mary (naive and clueless) likeable. I was curious how the book was going to come together and finished reading it. The ending is what you would expect, but without liking the characters, it was okay. The Dangerous Love of a Rogue was an okay read, perhaps if I read the prior books I would be more all in with the storyline.

Set in the Regency era, "The Dangerous Love Of A Rogue" follows Lord Andrew Framlington, a notorious rogue in desperate need of wealth. With his financial future at stake, he sets his sights on Miss Mary Marlow, the innocent sister of a duke, who comes with a substantial dowry. Despite Drew's dubious reputation, he finds himself genuinely captivated by Mary's charm and purity. Mary, aware of Drew's untrustworthy nature, is drawn to him despite the risks. As their chemistry intensifies, both grapple with societal expectations and personal desires. The romance blossoms amidst scandal and temptation but leaves readers questioning whether Drew can truly change. This first installment in the Marlow Family Secrets series explores themes of redemption and love, ultimately leading to an ambiguous ending that hints at future developments in their relationship.

This story ends on a hopeful note, but not the HEA that I was waiting for. It didn't seem like a reconcilation happened with Drew and Mary's family. Family was so important to Mary, that it seems like I was missing something. Andrew had me convinced that he really wanted the marriage to work and he was ready to leave his past behind. But then that doesn't explain the calling cards he left behind at all the stops so they could be found. So, I don't know. I kept reading that book. The spice level has potential for some fun bedroom games, but there is some past trauma that did not make it possible in this story.

The Dangerous Love Of A Rogue is a love story that surpasses society's expectations and brings together two lovebirds who are definitely soulmates. 💫💫💫💫💫

Lord Andrew (Drew) Framlington is a rake. He is a handsome man who wants all the women of the ton but also needs their money. So, he must find himself a very wealthy bride. He lays his eyes on sweet and pure Mary Marlow. She is the sister of the Duke of Pembroke and, therefore, must come with a large dowry. Mary is sweet, genuine, innocent, smart, and all together a great match for anyone, except Drew. Mary knows to mistrust Drew and his approaches, but they have real chemistry, and there is room for Mary to bring out the good in Drew. Together, they will have to prove to the ton and themselves that Drew can be a good match for her and that their love can surpass it all.

Thank you, Netgalley and Boldwood Books. All opinions are entirely my own.

This book delivered perfectly as a Regency romance, and I loved returning to The Ton. When I discovered this was part of a series, I considered not taking the offered place, but took a leap of faith.
Lord Andrew Framlington is a definite rake and preys on women for financial support and carnal pleasures. As we are given access to his thoughts, it soon becomes apparent that he is more than ready to change his ways and seek a match with Mary. Of course, changing his ways is not the same as offering a love match. I wanted to warm to him, but the writing did a solid job convincing me that he was untrustworthy.
Mary was a delightful character. Her determination to follow her own path was a revelation, and I totally loved her adventures. She was intrigued as soon as Andrew – Drew – caught her eye. Despite his reputation, she began to find ways to encounter him. I could understand her desire to break from the restraints of family expectations, and was pleased when she struck out independently.
The brewing attraction between Drew and Mary felt believable despite my still not trusting his motivation. I truly wanted them to find a way to find happiness. Their chemistry was never in question, and I welcomed the details of their liaisons.
I avoid including spoilers, so I will ensure that I go no further with my recap, but be assured that despite the ending feeling a little like a cliffhanger, reflection has allowed the story to sit with me. I genuinely believe that the conclusion is perfect.

Lord Andrew Framlington is a rogue who has set his eyes on Miss Mary Marlow. I enjoyed this story. It was a quick read but I also couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the characters and storylines.

Miss Mary Marlow, the sister of the Duke of Pembroke, had been warned that Lord Andrew Framlington was a rogue. Drew is initially drawn to Mary’s goodness, and the more he is told to stay away from her, the more she becomes appealing to him.
I really like the character of Mary, who is honest in her feelings. Yet Drew was a challenge where I wasn’t ever certain that his feelings for Mary were sincere. The plot is fast-paced, and I am also keen to read the other books in the series, as I felt that whilst this was a stand-alone book, I would have benefited from reading about the other Marlow’s.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Drew, Lord Framlington, is in need of money. An inveterate rogue, mired in sin, in debt and with no other avenues must marry rich, and soon. Miss Mary Marlow, an innocent with a large dowry, is his choice.

This was a quick read. The main characters felt in love almost immediately. The path to marriage is fairly straightforward, and the book ending oddly abrupt. It’s an easy, if unsatisfying read.

This was such a fun historical romance book! The story is so easy to read and packed full of tension. Highly recommend

I love the light-hearted tone of this book, but I’m not a fan of the MMC. He seems to blame everyone but himself for the fact that his empty, hedonic life has left him unhappy. He admires the FMC’s innocence, yet without any sense of honor, he toys with her as if she’s a more experienced woman. He’s more villain than hero to me. I’m sure others will enjoy this book, but I’m not the target reader. DNF ~10%.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This book felt more like a prequel than a complete story—almost as if its main purpose was to introduce characters for future books rather than tell a fully developed tale of its own. The plot left a lot of questions unanswered, with vague backstories and unresolved threads that made the ending feel abrupt and unsatisfying.

Since this was an ARC, I’m holding out hope that the final version might include some added chapters or polish. But as it stands, I don’t see myself picking it up again once it's released. It had potential, but ultimately, it just didn’t come together for me.

I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this book! I mean, sure, it was absolutely compelling, and for some reason I was desperate to find out the ending, even though I was very sure it would be an HEA. However, I really struggled with the characterisation - both Mary and Drew had absolutely zero depth or personality to them. There was no world building, no expanding on their characters at all - it was as though they only existed in relation to one another. So whilst I was, for some reason, absolutely hooked on their story, it just wasn't for me I'm afraid.

Jane Lark's "The Dangerous Love of a Rogue" is a heart-pounding Regency romance that transports readers to a realm of societal norms and unescapable attraction. Being a part of "The Marlow Family Secrets" series, it introduces Lord Andrew Framlington, a scandalous rogue and fortune hunter, and Miss Mary Marlow, the pure and intensely guarded sister of a duke.

From the beginning, their chemistry is real, even in defiance of warnings and norms of their era. Drew is attracted to Mary, not only for her fortune, but for something more—a connection that goes against his very being as a rogue. Mary, even aware of Drew's notorious past, is drawn to his charisma and forbidden kisses, fighting between obligation to her family and the growing desire in her soul.

The author is a master of writing emotionally fraught stories, and this book is no different. It's an angst and tension-filled story, as Mary struggles with the possible devastation that being with Drew would cause. The novel guarantees a hot and sexy ride, with a tormented hero and a heroine torn between duty and an emotion so strong that she can't help but give in. For "Bridgerton" fans and those who love a historical romance with plenty of emotional undercurrent and engrossing character dynamics, "The Dangerous Love of a Rogue" is a compelling read.

Set in the Regency era, this romance follows Drew Framlington, a man in desperate need of a fortune. With no financial support from his family, Drew is unable to secure a military commission or a position in the church. Instead, he has scraped by on the patronage of older women and the goodwill of his friends. Tired of living on the fringes of society, he sets his sights on marrying a wealthy woman—and his target is Mary Marlow, a sheltered young woman surrounded by a loving and protective family.

Initially, I was encouraged by the characters' refreshingly direct communication. Drew is upfront with Mary about his need to marry for money, and when Mary witnesses him leave a ball with another woman, she confronts him as soon as he returns. Unfortunately, this promising start marked the high point of their communication, which rapidly declined thereafter.

As the story progresses, Drew begins to realize that he values Mary’s innocence and her devotion to family just as much as her fortune. This shift could have laid the foundation for a meaningful redemption arc—but it never quite materializes. Despite remaining celibate for a year after deciding Mary was the one, Drew shows a surprising lack of effort once he wins her. His emotional growth feels stunted, and the resolution falls flat.

The ending is ambiguous and somewhat unsatisfying—perhaps a sequel is planned to further develop Drew and Mary’s relationship. If so, one can only hope it offers the emotional payoff that this installment lacked.

Truly enjoyable Regency romance. Well written with endearing characters & a well thought out plot. Must admit it's created an addiction nd am now reading more by this talented author.

Oh. My. God. The predator…got the girl??

This book is insane. A guy stalks a girl, pushes her boundaries, takes “no” as “yes”, treats her terribly, and then they get together?? This was a disaster. Not a romance novel—this is a book about abuse.

I just—I can’t even. It was so unbelievable, boring, and strange. All the characters suck. The story is super dumb and makes no sense.


Our buddy Drew is LITERALLY a predator and the book is from his POV mainly. So like…we’re in his head and KNOW he’s a predator.

Jane Lark, stop writing books. This isn’t gonna go anywhere for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I guess it’s being republished or something.

I had a hard time deciding how many stars to give this book. If it was based on story alone, I would give it five stars, however, I have to remove a star because I don't yet have the complete story. That, in my opinion, is a huge publishing/marketing blunder that has left a bit of sour taste in my mouth.

The Story

Okay, after reading other reviews for this book, I was ready to pick up my sword for this story, especially for Andrew.

Andrew was born in an awful, and I'd argue, abusive/neglectful situation. As a secret bastard, he has only ever seen the sinful side of the ton. His biological father is unknown, and his mother's husband (a Marquess) claimed him just to avoid gossip. Since he was a teenager, his mother's social circle has used him basically as a boy toy. He is tired of this life and wants to get out. Despite his intentions to change, the whole of the ton sees him as nothing but a dangerous rogue.

He is in debt and needs wealth. However, he is completely captivated by Mary Marlow, the half-sister to a Duke. While her dowry will help him obtain a simple, country life, and help his sister, he is completely enchanted by her "innocence."

Witnessing her goodness and righteousness, he is determined to marry her. She is warned away from him by her family, but over the next year, she cannot stop looking for him at every social event. She doesn’t know why, but she is completely captivated by Andrew and not interested in any other suitor. Mary struggles with feeling like she has to betray her loving family in order to become independent and choose her own future.

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In defense of Andrew…

A lot of other reviewers took Andrew's description of Mary's "innocence" to mean some type of gross purity innocence, but I think the author makes it fairly clear that it is innocence in terms of "goodness." She is not part of the dark side of the ton that Andrew grew up in. He has only been around people who use each other for their own selfishness. She is a light to his life and provides the hope for his escape. She is showing him that there is another way.

Because of his past, he doesn't want an adulterous marriage. So yes, he is attached to the idea that she would be faithful, but he has also been faithful AS SOON AS HE DECIDED TO MARRY HER. It has been over a year since he flirted with her and since then he has not slept with anyone. I do not think it is predatory for him to choose a wife who does not show an inclination for being intimate with multiple people, especially when all the women in his life have abused him in this way.

Andrew's concept of love is extremely stunted by his upbringing, so he will not be perfect in pursuing this relationship. He is out of his element. His feelings for Mary completely overwhelm him, but he wants to share his love with her even before he completely understands it. He is vulnerable, not manipulative. Several times in the book, he is absolutely crushed when he thinks Mary might not want him, but he still asks her and gives her the choice. Mary is equally vulnerable with a fear of only being married for her fortune, and she expresses this many times. I thought the author made it clear that both of them care for each other.

Furthermore, Andrew feels like he is up against the world. He has no family to support him, and even his friends don’t understand that he is trying to be a different man. Of course he is upset when Mary’s family tells her not to believe him. No one has ever believed him. Should he have reacted better? Probably. But would that have been realistic?

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Publishing/Marketing

What in the world happened here?

This book was originally published in 2015 and was 458 pages. Now, in this new edition, it is 248 pages. They cut it right after what seems to be the third act break up.

You want a resolution to the story? Then you must buy The Seductive Love of a Lady which will also be released on May 31.

I am quite bitter that a reader would have to purchase two books to get one complete HEA. As an avid historical romance reader, I can say it is an expectation that one book will tell the whole story of a couple’s romance. If there are other books in the series, then they will tell ANOTHER couple’s romance with maybe a few fun glimpses of the previous happy couples. (Unless it is a mystery HR series, but that’s not the case here.)

Perhaps I would be a bit less bent out of shape if it was clear that this is just Part One of Andew and Mary’s story. That absolutely must be on the cover somewhere or made very clear, or there are going to be a lot of angry readers.

Something about this publishing choice just seems off and money grabbing. Please don’t try to make this a thing. Boldwood Books publish some great authors and I don’t want to have to avoid them in the future.

If it was not intentionally shady, then I hope the publisher does something to correct this. It really is a good story and I would hate for it to be missed because of how it is published.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley. This is my honest review.