Jane Lark's 'The Secret Love of a Gentleman' is an absorbing Regency romance that skillfully intertwines passion, redemption, and emotional complexity. As the third book in "The Marlow Family Secrets" series, it sweeps the reader through the journey of Lady Caroline Kilbride, a woman devastated by scandal and heartache in her history, fleeing the scrutiny of society.

Her reclusive existence is interrupted by the arrival of the gorgeous Rob Marlow. Initially suspicious, Caro finds herself drawn to Rob, a man who elects to see past her shrouded history to the intelligence and courage she harbors. Their blossoming friendship soon evolves into a passionate romance, but when Caro's dark history looms over her once more, the couple has to decide whether their love is strong enough to overcome social disapproval and personal fear.

The author is fantastic at crafting characters that feel awfully real, and Rob, a newly divine good guy and beyond-a-doubt sexy hero, is not an exception. The novel is sensorially rich and emotionally rewarding, with its potential to wring out readers' hearts and then provide a satisfying amount of healing and love. This is an unputdownable, engrossing read for anyone who enjoys steaming hot historical romance with true emotional substance.

I am still trying to decide how I feel about this book.
I have not read the previous books in the series. Would reading them help me like this book better? I’m not really sure.
I can say the pacing seemed a bit slow. Then, it seemed to speed up way too fast! Then, back to slow again.
And, the main female character drove me crazy. I realize she fled an abusive situation and I do feel for her.
The decisions made by all were just a bit “off.”
All in all, this was a ok regency style book that others may enjoy more than me.

Romance with complications

This is the first book I have read by Jane Lark but it will not be the last. Although it is the 3rd in a series, I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. While it is a romance, it also presents the issues of women who have been married to abusive men and women who are divorced. Definitely worth reading.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Whilst Robert Marlow is spending the summer with his sister and brother-in-law, he meets the enigmatic, Lady Caroline Kilbride. That Caroline is frightened of something and hiding away in the country is obvious and Robert, intrigued by this beautiful young woman, is determined to bring her out of her shell and bring some warmth back into her life.. This is a beautifully described romantic novel with just enough spice to keep the passion alive. It's story of intrigue and danger, sly gossip and innuendo and yet is fuelled by a love story which will not be defeated by those who think that Robert and Caroline don't belong together.

This is the third book in the Marlow Family Secrets series and whilst it is possible to read as a standalone story, those readers of the previous books will be delighted to become reacquainted with the characters we have already met. It was especially interesting to meet with Andrew and Mary Marlow who featured so strongly in The Dangerous Love of a Rogue. I have enjoyed stepping once again into this Regency world which the author recreates so well and The Secret Love of a Gentleman is a delightful romantic read and a great continuation of the series.

Since its original publication in 2015 the book has now been recently re-published by Boldwood Books, with a delightful new cover.

This book needs a content warning for domestic violence. The cute illustrated cover doesn’t match the content at all. This reads like dark romance. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

BOOK: THE SECRET LOVE OF A GENTLEMAN
AUTHOR: JANE LARK
PUB DATE: JUNE, 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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If you're looking for a fast, easy, cute, no drama romance, this is one for you. Once I started, I couldn't stop! It was engaging from the first page to the last. The storyline, characters, setting and pacing was perfect, loved it!
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The FMC, Caro was a divorcee, which is rare during that time. Her husband was abusive and she suffered from miscarriages. She was deeply traumatised and didn't deal well with men. It was really nice to see her move on with her life, seek closure and deal with her trauma. I liked the anazing people around her. I also loved that she got the HEA she deserved
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The MMC, Rob was amazing, one of my favorite MMCs ever, he was a even a virgin and never engaged in any vices. In addition to that, he had big dreams and was determined not to rely on his family status and wealth. I admired him and I liked him a lot. He was younger than the FMC too. He was a perfect man
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I liked the MC's relationship, it was very cute and it didn't happen at once. They were friends first before they got together. And I liked how both of them protected, worried and loved each other, especially Rob. They had a lot of chemistry too and a hint of forbidden romance.
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This book was anazing and I liked reading it. I would definitely recommend it

I did enjoy this story, although I did find the first half moved along at quite a slow pace. The second part had much more happening. Rob was such a lovely character and truly cared for Caroline. Caroline’s fear of trusting men was completely understandable, after her experience with her first husband. With Rob’s help, Caroline eventually started to mix in society. However, her ex-husband is also on the scene and is causing trouble. I enjoyed seeing how Drew ( Caroline’s brother) and Mary were progressing, along with their children. George was a poppet. This is an engaging series and I look forward to reading about more members of the family. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found this book very realistic and original. This forced proximity – friends to lovers kept me up reading very late at night. The heroine’s traumatic story is treated seriously, not lightly but neither too dramatically. The hero’s journey into maturity is engaging and relatable. I truly enjoyed this reading and can’t wait to read more from the author.

The characters have a lot of depth. I liked Rob's introspection and reading his thoughts about himself. I enjoyed the antics of George as he adds humor to the story. Caro is a tragic heroine. This book is the first I've read in the series so it was easy to get lost with all of the family members which made it a little harder to understand who was speaking. A nice story with a happy ending.

It’s part of series there is 6 books in total and this one is 3rd one

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?

Caroline Kilbride is the talk of the ton. Shw divorced her abusive husband and is now hiding in her brother Drew's home. She obviously suffers from PTSD and has left over trauma from her physically abusive ex-husband. Here, she meets Robert Marlow, her brother's in law. Rob does everything in his power to show Caro kindness and wants to be her friend. As the friendship grows, so does their love for each other.
Caro and Rob are such sweet and adorable couple who, through healing, are able to open themselves to love. Sure, there are those who have stronf opinions about them two being together, there is even a duel involved. But, according to Caroline and Robert, love does conquer all.
Thank you, Netgalley and Boldwood Books, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

This book was not for me. I feel that Rob was disrespectful and didn't have enough compassion for Cora who was struggling with anxiety and PTSD. He was forceful and the entire story made me feel icky. Man saves woman trope without any of the heart and compassion that makes those stories loveable. I would not recommend.

I read this one without reading the other books in the series, but it didn't cause many problems. An easy regency read. Nothing too groundbreaking but fun nonetheless.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

3.5/5 This was my first book by this author. Very nice easy read. I enjoyed the characters and have always enjoyed a Regency era type book. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

Robert "Robbie" Marlow is an untitled younger son who wants to be a politician. He falls in love with Caroline Kilbride, an older divorcee who is his brother-in-law's sister. They have a rocky road to love, due in part to Caro's experiences with her ex-husband which have left her shaky and afraid. This was a sweet slow-ish burn romance but ultimately I don't think I was the right audience for this book. This Regency romance is part of a series but I had not read the previous books. I didn't feel lost although there are quite a few characters to keep track of. That said, I didn't fully connect with the story and I probably would have felt more invested if I'd read the previous books. The pacing was uneven and there were parts of the plot that felt overly simplistic. There's quite a bit of "damsel in distress who needs a man to fix her" vibe that I didn't enjoy. Robbie felt immature and gently over-bearing at times, especially in his initial push to try to befriend Caro. They were sweet together, though, and their relationship was ultimately satisfying. Caro's history was explained fairly early on, which was helpful since it avoided drawing out the tension that was already there from her current issues. And it was kind of refreshing that the MMC isn't rich or titled and is on the younger side. It was also a change of pace to have the age gap going the other way since Caro is older than Robbie. Please note that there is a LOT of sensitive and potentially triggering content so please pay attention to content warnings. While this wasn't the book for me, I think that readers who have read the previous books in the series will like it, as well as readers who enjoy melodramatic age-gap Regency romances. Publishes June 30, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

This book had all the ingredients for a compelling historical romance (second chances, emotional healing, and a slow-burn love story) but unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. There were some sweet moments between the main characters, and I appreciated the attempt at depth and redemption.

However, the pacing felt disjointed, with major emotional and plot developments happening too quickly or without enough buildup. The structure was choppy, characters’ motivations felt inconsistent, and many key moments lacked the impact they should’ve had. Instead of a cohesive story, it often read like a series of disconnected scenes. Overall, it struggled to hold my attention, and by the end, I felt more frustrated than satisfied.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a very sweet Regency era novel. It tells the story of Caroline who seems to have been unlucky her whole life. One day she is fed up with her abusive husband that her brother develops a plan and puts her in a safe house. Later she moves in with her brother and his wife. Eventually her husband divorces her. From there she vows to live a life of solitude until a kind and handsome stranger arrives. Will she allow herself to love again.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

The Secret Love of a Gentleman opens slowly with a shy Caroline, whose timidity that frustrated me in start. But her abusive past later evokes empathy, enriching her arc. Rob’s staunch independence feels misplaced in Regency society, making him somewhat one-dimensional despite his work ethic. His tender devotion to Caroline weaves a charming romance, redeeming the uneven narrative and bumpy start.
I received ARC from NetGalley and Boldwood Books, all opinions are my own.

i appreciate coming to this book with alot of themes that are still horrifically and sadly relevant to today's world. and how what happens ripples through the life of someone a victim to it. but also i know in the regency era a lot of the abuse or attitudes to woman going through it would definitely have been different. but it makes me said that its not different enough.
i also love how Caroline and how she feels about herself echo so much of what we can,or others can relate to if they have faced similar things. the loss of self. the complete wiping out of confidence. and somehow some very hard and complex feelings towards someone that hurt you in the worst ways. and again that would have been made far more complex in the era.
i also loved how meeting someone who cared, who was good, who showed her how to trust, was a supporting block in an ability to heal. and Rob tried to instil that in Caroline. although at certain times i did want to ask him to just halt a bit please dont push her! you can see how invested i was in Caroline. she immediately had my heart.
i love how we meet the strength of the Marlow family in this book too. they really are a great gang to follow. and if you haven't read the series id suggest doing so. they are a series you want to feel involved in and i cant wait to see who or what will come next.

A lovely regency style romance covering many topics that are still current today. A nice read with good characters and of course a happy ever after.