Abused in her first marriage, Lady Caroline Kilbride, is afraid of being around a lot of people. Rob Marlow known in the family for his compassion and kindness is drawn to Caro. He makes it his mission to help her come back to the living. What they didn't expect was to fall in love. But Rob has not established him self with a profession and has no way to support a wife. How can he wait to marry her. Enter her abusive ex husband. Rob must protect her at any cost. A reverse age gap. Very descriptive sex. I recommend reading these books in order because of an overlap of characters.
Reference to miscarriage and violence.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is an emotionally rich, character-driven novel that delves deep into the wounds we carry—and the unexpected people who help us heal them.

Caro is a woman marked by rejection, still reeling from a loveless marriage and years spent hiding her heart. Rob Marlow is her opposite in many ways—idealistic, principled, and utterly unprepared to fall for the one woman he shouldn’t want. Their connection is slow-burning, tender, and tangled in layers of emotional complexity.

This isn’t your typical sweeping romance. It’s intimate, introspective, and quietly devastating in places, with prose that lingers and characters that feel painfully real. A story about second chances—not at love alone, but at rediscovering self-worth.

If you crave thoughtful, mature love stories with flawed, deeply human characters and a touch of melancholy grace, then this is the book for you!

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Jane Lark delivers another heartfelt Regency romance in the Marlow Family Secrets series with The Secret Love of a Gentleman, a story that balances passion, healing, and quiet resilience.

Lady Caroline Kilbride, having escaped a deeply troubled marriage, has retreated to her brother Drew’s estate in search of peace. Instead, she finds herself captivated by Rob Marlow, the younger brother of her sister-in-law. Unlike the typical alpha heroes of the Regency world, Rob is thoughtful, respectful, and surprisingly vulnerable—his own struggles with self-worth mirroring Caro’s inner scars.

Their relationship is a slow-burn delight, founded on empathy, trust, and the possibility of second chances. Caro’s journey out of the shadows of her past is tenderly written, and Rob’s steadfast presence makes him an unexpectedly swoon-worthy hero. Together, they not only confront the lingering ghosts of abuse and scandal but also discover a love that feels both healing and defiant against society’s harsh judgments.

The romance unfolds against a backdrop of whispers, rivalries, and social intrigue, with appearances from familiar Marlow family members that fans of the series will appreciate. While this is the third book in the sequence, it can easily be read as a standalone, thanks to the strong emotional core of the story.

Lark has a gift for creating characters who feel layered and real, and for weaving plots that mix tenderness with just enough tension to keep the pages turning. If you enjoy Regency romance that blends emotional depth with heartfelt passion, The Secret Love of a Gentleman is a deeply rewarding read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for the review copy.

4⭐ 3🌶️

This is a re-release and I was happy that the publishers released this entire book and not in two volumes, as the past two books in this series. I have only recently discovered this author and I'm so glad I have! These books are deep and thoughtful and this one really had my heart in a hold around the past relationship of the FMC and how the MMC helped the FMC get out of this hold her past had on her.

The slow burn and the FMC getting the MMC to move ahead with his life without her was heart-wrenching. I love how the MMC kept a candle for the FMC - without spoiler the ending and how everything sorted itself out was so satisfying.

Big thanks to netgalley and Jane Lark for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

I did enjoyed this regency inspired romance more than I thought I would despite it being a little on the spicy side.

I thoroughly enjoyed the third book in The Marlow Family Secrets series. I love reading and watching Regency romances, so this book was right up my alley. It is beautifully written, and I was hooked from start to finish—so much so that I didn't want to put it down! I also really liked the characters. Thank you to Jane Lark, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I like the way Jane Lark writes, and of course they have been right in this story, that Rob was too young at 21. But considering they thought that girls should marry at 16 or 17 and that 20 was too old, that was pure discrimination.
Divorce in this era was always about adultery, whether truthful or not, but the reasons behind tended to be more about money and heirs. They were also the reasons for marriage of course. Especially when childbirth and pregnancy were so dangerous.
And then syphilis was rife amongst all classes, and caused miscarriages and birth defects too, both of which were blamed on the female involved even though it was usually introduced into a marriage by the male.
A story with a moral perhaps?

The premise of the book sounded good. I had a hard time with the writing style. Good back stories.
This is the first of the series I’ve been able to finish and I think perhaps this author’s overall style isn’t for me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much. I have loved every book I have read by this author!

In this fun new Regency romance novel (the third book in Jane Lark’s Regency romance series about the Marlow family), readers follow Lady Caroline Kilbride as she lives in self-imposed exile in her brother’s home after a past scandal broke her heart. She has no desire to have contact with others from outside the family, but the arrival of handsome newcomer Rob Marlow shakes up her quiet life. Determined to make his own way in life, Rob finds himself surprisingly drawn to Caroline and decides to become her friend until her painful history resurfaces. Both Caroline and Rob are complex and uniquely detailed characters, and their chemistry with each other is undeniable. Their backstories are detailed, complex, and emotional, and readers will find the depth of detail in Caroline’s backstory in particular to be rewarding (though readers should be mindful of some potentially triggering topics). The historical setting is packed with detail, and the events and locations are great backdrops to the larger romance and storyline. The characters’ chemistry pulls readers into the story, and the evolution of Rob and Caroline’s characters really draws readers into the story. Readers will love the latest Regency romance novel in this entertaining and spicy series from Jane Lark.

I am not sure how I feel about Jane Larks books. Her writing style and pacing always gets to me and not in a good way. It often to slow and verbose and I tend to tune out quite a bit.

This book about Drew's sister Caro was decent. Caro has seen a lot of abuse and setting her get her own sweet man to love was very fulfilling. Rob was a gem and he does not even get it. Their dynamics were meaningful and convincing. Their romance was well written.

Overall a decent book, but after reading 3 books now by this author I am not sure there may be more on my list.

#TheSecretLoveofaGentleman #NetGalley

⭐ 3.25
🌶️ 2.5
🥵 Spicy chapters: 4, 19, 25, 26, 29, 41
📚 Tropes/Themes: slow burn, historical, regency, reverse age gap, divorced fmc, trauma/healing, he takes care of her
👀 Dual POV 3rd person
💔 Triggers: DV, CA/neglect, miscarriage, dub-con

💬 This book was okay but it was kind of a struggle for me to get through. I think part of the issue is I've only attempted to read one other book in this series and I'm pretty sure that I dnf'd it. Along with that there are a lot of characters and I found it kind of hard to keep up with them. (Again, this may have been due to not reading the prior books in this series)

Caro's backstory is absolutely heart breaking (something for sensitive readers to be aware of) but I loved how she learned to trust Robert, and how he helped her heal. Their romance was sweet, and I especially loved the ending and what was included in their HEA.

I guess my biggest issue is that it just felt really long and I just struggled to connect with the characters or stay focused.

In 'The Secret Love of a Gentleman', Caro and Rob are not the archetypical 'Regency Ton' couple, for many reasons, including a disparity in their ages. Caro has fled a troubled marriage and now survives as a dependent of her brother, Drew. Rob is a younger son who is desperate to make his way in life, and he lives in the shadow of his elder step-brother John, the Duke of Pembroke.
In common with some of the main characters in the 'Marlowe Intrigues', Caro is a victim of abuse. Her story is sad and colours her future life. Many of Rob's problems derive from low self-esteem. He is not an arrogant, alpha hero. Nevertheless, he possesses many fine qualities, such as intelligence, loyalty and respect for women, which were uncommon in Regency society, making him a likeable hero.
The plot has enough twists to make it engaging, and Caro's former husband is a well-written antagonist. The secret antagonist in the story is the inner battle; both Caro and Rob fight to justify their feelings and actions. There is plenty of overt action to accompany the internal battles and a real flavour of the two sides of Regency society.
Familiar characters from other stories in the series make frequent appearances, so this book is easy to read as a standalone. I enjoyed the characters, plot and vivid details in this original historical romance series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

What a remarkable story arc for Caroline. I loved that she slowly came out of her shell and found love in the process. The characters are beautifully written and the spice is excellent.

This one just didn't get me hooked for some reason. It could have been the writing style or something else, but I just couldn't get through it.

*"The Secret Love of a Gentleman**"
Marlow Intrigues #6
by Jane Lark

This enchanting Regency novel tells the story of Caroline Kilbride, a woman who courageously escapes an abusive marriage, seeking refuge in her brother's grand estate. In this tranquil setting, she encounters Robert Marlow, her sister-in-law's charming brother, who gradually inspires her to shed the emotional shackles of her past and embrace the possibility of a brighter future filled with untainted moments to cherish.

What I particularly appreciated about Caroline and Robert’s relationship is how it blossomed from a foundation of trust and unwavering emotional support. Caroline’s backstory is heart-wrenching, capturing the despair and resilience that accompany her journey towards healing. Robert's kindness acts as a balm to her troubled spirit, infusing their romance with a gentle yet palpable warmth. However, I found the plot's beginning a bit sluggish, and Robert's persistent reluctance to seek help from his family became somewhat tiresome as the story progressed.

The characters themselves are richly developed, bringing layers of depth to the story. Initially, I was a bit hesitant about Rob Marlow being a few years younger than Caroline, as this age difference can sometimes add an awkward dynamic. But as I delved deeper into the story, I realised that their connection transcended any societal norms, ultimately rendering the age gap insignificant.

This historical romance offers a delightful blend of unexpected twists and turns, evoking a range of emotions from smiles to heartbreak—all while presenting us with dashing heroes who remind us of the enduring power of love. The journey of Caroline and Robert is a testament to resilience, showing that even after experiencing profound pain, one can rediscover joy and love in the most unexpected places.

Searching for purpose...

I rather liked this book. In many ways, it reminded me of a Mary Balogh book.
Robbie is from a wealthy, titled family, but he is title-less and is search for his own path, perhaps in government. He meets the shy, always hiding Lady Caro. Caro is a divorcee (scandalous at the time) as her husband was abusive. She's dealing with her trauma by hiding out. Robbie is someone she never thought she'd meet. They are both quite young and new adulting in regency times.
Recommend.

An emotional reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The main protagonists, Caro and Rob, are lovely. The secondary characters, Caro’s brother and Rob’s siblings, are also charming and important in the plot. This story addresses some sensitive subjects. They are important in the plot, and the author was able to describe them subtly and delicately. There is a special connection between Caro and Rob. It comes from friendship and progresses slowly to love. I found this romance refreshing and its characters endearing.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

3.5/5 stars
An unputdownable Regency romance filled with passion, redemption and the healing power of love.
Can he convince her to risk her heart again?
A past scandal and a broken heart have left Lady Caroline Kilbride hiding away from the world, in the safety of her brother’s home. But when a devilishly handsome newcomer arrives for the summer, she finds herself surprisingly drawn to him.
Rob Marlow, a man determined to carve his own path in life, never expected to be intrigued by his brother-in-law’s dependent sister. Yet in Caro he sees courage, intelligence and a spark of the woman she once was.
Friendship blossoms into something more passionate, but when the truth of Caro’s painful history resurfaces, will she retreat into the shadows or fight for her happy ever after?

Review:
This was again a good regency romance by Jane lark! I really like her books if I want a fun romance for inbetween!