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.

“The Dangerous Love of a Rogue” was just not the book for me. I disliked the MMC pretty much from the start what with his gambling and bowing to peer pressure even though he knew he shouldn’t. The interactions between Mary and Drew ran hot and cold at first they couldn’t stop bickering but Mary couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Drew just seemed really immature and the dynamic between Drew and Mary’s family was off putting and left Mary caught in the middle. I hated the ending, I hated how Drew treated her towards the end because of his own insecurity and then how the other left off the story was disappointing for me. I would say the fact that I finished this book was a miracle and I had to set small reading goals daily to finish. I rarely do this but I have to be honest in my review and rating and this book just wasn’t for me.

Unfortunately I did not love this. I found the main male character Drew a little shallow and I did not enjoy being in his head at all. I felt like the love story moved way too fast. The writing was not bad but I disliked the way the story was planned out, I felt like I would’ve been a bit more authentic if it had progressed in another way, I was also a bit bored at times, but that was mainly due to the characters, which I did not connect with at all. I appreciated the short chapters because the story was lacking.

I thoroughly enjoyed this regency tale of Mary and Lord Andrew. The way they fall for each other was sweet and I loved watching them fight to be together.

Oh how I wanted to enjoy this...

I love a regency fic, I love the supressed emotion, I love misscommincation, dashing rogues, the full scope. I felt a little tinge of alarm when the opening line was a mockery of Jane Austin, but powered through. And really wished I hadn't.

The MMC is possibly the worst MMC I've read. He comes across as arrogant, rude, selfish and more than a little... yeah. He thinks he owns her, he's mad that she loves her family, he never once thinks about how things will affect her or hurt her. And he hurts her over and over again. He all but forces himself on her at times, wants her to be loyal to him - in his defence he stopped sleeping with people the day they met but does he tell her this? Or does he allow and encourage her to think he's still sleeping around?

He had countless chances to prove to her that he wasn't the blackguard people said he was, and all it would have cost him was swallowing his pride once. But no, he acts like the person people claim he is and then he gets mad at her, for believing that. How dare she trust her family. and all this internal thoughts about how she 'belongs' to him now, she his, its less romantic and more creepy.

And don't even get me started on the ending, this would have gone to at least a two star if it at least had a good ending. Hell, I would take 'an ending' but instead we just got another metaphorical slap in the face.

This was easy to read but I was a bit lost. Especially when I read its book 5 in a series I’ve never heard of? The MMC is quite arrogant in a way that doesn’t work today. And the FMC was juvenile, it wasn’t a great one imo

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I'm slightly disappointed I can't give this book less than one star. The MMC is despicable- he's an indebted poor man who wants a rich, pure, and innocent (gag) wife who won't bore him. Reading his POV was akin to torture. The FMC - of course being innocent and pure and young and rich - finds herself completely obsessed with this rogue (though I truly don't understand why since there's little to no development between these two characters) and can't resist his manly charm (gag x2).

This whole book felt extremely misogynistic - the MMC constantly love bombing and manipulating the "fragile, pure" lady into a marriage who just cannot resist him? There's absolutely no grounds for any of it and it just made me pissed off.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. I love dual POV stories and this one does not disappoint. I almost felt sorry for Drew, Lord Framlington, a notorious rake in his pursuit of pretty, innocent Mary Marlow, sister of a Duke and an heiress. Drew uses all his wiles to convince Mary that he loves her, taking her along a path of seduction that few women would be able to resist. But Mary knows she is risking losing the love of her family if she gives in to Drew. They constantly warn her against him, but that only makes his attraction stronger. There are so many facets to Drew's nature. Is he the rogue everyone says he was? Or is there a glimmer of a decent, caring man buried beneath the many layers he shows to the world? This is the first book in the 'Marlow' series and I will definitely be reading book 2, which continues the story of Drew and Mary.
Thank you to @BoldwoodBooks for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review. #NetGalley