The Forbidden Love of an Officer is advertised as book 7, the final book, in Jane Lark's The Marlow Family Secrets Regency romance series, but apparently it's actually a prequel, and it's not a romance.

Seventeen year old Lady Eleanor believes herself in love with Paul, a twenty-one year old army captain, but her father, a duke, refuses to let the two of them marry. He is insisting she marry a duke, an older man whom Eleanor does not want to marry.

Now, I feel for Eleanor, she seems like she's in a difficult situation, but the decisions she makes are the kind that you would expect of an immature teenager infatuated with a young man she knows little about. And Paul came across as a selfish, more worldly character (he has been in battle so he's seen some bad things), who doesn't seem to care about the things he's going to expose the naïve, young Eleanor to, as long as he can finally have her in his bed. Honestly, I didn't even feel like he really cared about Eleanor, at the beginning of the novel when we were in his thoughts, he kept thinking of her as "the girl", not as "Eleanor".

The worst thing about this book though is that it breaks the cardinal rule of romance; there was no happy ending. In fact, spoiler alert, not only does Paul die, but after his death, Eleanor's naivety allows her to be taken advantage of, and she is eventually assaulted and abused.

When I pick up a romance I expect to read about a couple that may face many difficulties, but in the end find happiness together, and this book did not do that so I can't recommend it. Maybe if it had been advertised in another genre I could have recommended it, but it wasn't. I will not read this author again, and will not recommend her to other readers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed from the Marlow Family Secrets series, it had that element that I was wanting from the world and from Jane Lark. Jane Lark was able to weave a strong writing style and was able to create characters that worked in this universe and time-period. I enjoyed the overall feel of this and how everything worked to conclude the storyline. It had that historical fiction element that I want in a romance genre. I'm excited to read more from Jane Lark and can't wait for more.

I thought the first part of this book was beautifully written— in particular, Ellen and Paul’s love for each other and their hopes for each other.

But this book became much darker than expected. Some content warnings, in particular for sexual assault, should have been included. And I really disliked the way the book ended for Ellen. Overall the last half was extremely frustrating to read.

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of read this book. I really appreciate it.

This review isn't a very great review to be honest. Through a little searching I realized that this book is a renamed, re-editted, version published though with Boldwood Books of her previously written book 'The Lost Love of a Soldier' The 1st book in her Marlow Intrigues series published with Harperimpulse 11 years ago. This book is not technically new. If you've previously read that book, and the one after it, I don't believe you need to read this one.

This is not a romance novel, and it's really not even an actual historical novel. The romance is already preestablished, what you end up finding here is basically a man convincing a girl to run away and marry him. The running away is about 20 percent of the book. The war related aspects last for another 25% with truly not much happening other than them bedding and her needing to be brave. The war lasts about 5%. It is set in a historical time period, it features true historical moments, but truthfully other than stations, the dress, and battle chosen there's not much true history here. The battle and it's moments are quickly glossed over honestly there's more battle history at the end in the authors note, then there truly is in the actual story.

This book is mainly just the original prequel for the original series, which in turn completely transformers what this story could have been if so much changed making it actually new instead of just the original rushed backstory on how an original character ended up being forced to be a working girl who then finds love and everything else. A girl who could have sold her pearls and ran away (very easily might I add) and freed herself instead (very easily despite the time period), that would have made a fantastic story. What I know to come next and onwards in subsequent books really doesn't.

I know I've said a lot of my disappointment with this book but I am extremely disappointed with this book. I love history, I love romance, I love a good historical romance, I love a good dark story, but I'm left with truly nothing here. I was really enjoying the beginning 30 pages after that it just really fell off and I really wanted to love this. However If you're looking for a quick tragic read this would be that.

Thank you very much again from the bottom of heart for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I really appreciate it.

There was no sugar coating with this story. A dukes daughter refuses her father’s wishes to marry an elderly duke and elopes with an army captain and she then follows the drum. There then follows a vivid description of the battle of Waterloo and tithe heroine has to face the consequences of her life choices to be an army wife. Those were brutal, not least from the treatment of her father who completely disowned her. It was good to see a book with its roots in realism rather than having a fairy tale, romantic ending. An excellen5 read

She’s 17, he’s 21, and they’re running off to elope. Babies. From the start, their “love” is based entirely on how handsome/beautiful they find each other—zero depth beyond looks. He’s drawn to her innocence and naivety (ick), keeps thinking about how young and sheltered she is, but still insists on dragging her into a soldier’s life because he wants her.

Eleanor has almost no agency—she just sits around waiting for him. And when things fall apart, the story takes a dark, ugly turn I did not want to read. It’s marketed like a swoony Regency romance but instead leaves the FMC abandoned, exploited, and betrayed by multiple people in her life.

On top of that, this is marketed as the end of the Marlow Family Secrets series but is actually a prequel with a cliffhanger ending. Very misleading. Overall, a disappointing, unpleasant read that left me frustrated.

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

BOOK: THE FORBIDDEN LOVE OF AN OFFICER
AUTHOR: JANE LARK
PUB DATE: AUGUST, 2025
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REVIEW- 2.5 stars
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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As I finished this book, my first thought was how disappointed I am. It was falsely advertised and marketed and it didn't really feel like a romance to me, especially with the sad, unfinished ending.
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However, I liked the beginning and the relationship between the MCs was okay, although they were a bit young, especially the FMC. But, that was normal then. Both of them just started their married life and were eager to start. That was the only good part of the book.
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I wouldn't recommend this book because it ended on a cliffhanger, something really sad happened and it's a prequel to a series

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.

I just picked up what was marketed as "The stunning conclusion" to The Marlow Family series, a "passionate Regency romance," and let me tell you, I'm absolutely fuming. This book is about Lady Eleanor running off with an army officer, battling family disapproval and the terrors of Waterloo, hoping for a happily ever after. Except, spoiler alert: there's no happy ending! For a "romance," that's a cardinal sin. Turns out, this isn't a conclusion at all, but a republished prequel. The story itself was interesting, if a bit stiffly written, but the false advertising left such a sour taste. Ending on a cliffhanger when it's sold as a finale? That's just plain cheeky. My only real complaint is how utterly misled I felt by the publisher.

#TheForbiddenLoveofanOfficer #NetGalley

I’m extremely disappointed in the misleading description of this book. The publisher calls it “The stunning conclusion to The Marlow Family Secrets: an emotional, passionate Regency romance.” That’s simply not accurate. There is no happy ending here which is required for a romance. After some research, I discovered it’s actually a republish of a prequel. If I’d already read the series, I might have known there wasn’t going to be a HEA, but a reader shouldn’t have to do detective work to avoid being blindsided.
The story itself was interesting, though at times the writing felt a bit stilted. But the false advertising left a sour taste. If it had been marketed honestly as historical fiction, I would have rated it 3.5 stars. It could have been a 4, but ending on a cliffhanger—especially for a book advertised as the conclusion to a series—was just off-putting.

Honestly my only complaints are with how the book is presented

The.love story is well told, a kind and caring heroine who falls for a Captain who is as enthralled with her as she is with him. Following a rapid trip to Gretna Green where the author manages to show their love for each other as well as the fear of not knowing if they will make it on time, the continent and warfare awaits. The book is interspersed with letters between england and the family and Ellen herself who writes home of news and asks for news of England and family and whether her father has calmed down yet,
The last chapter is a bit of a surprise and the book ends on a cliff hanger which I didn’t know was coming and left me cross whilst wanting more,

I loved this book but I warn you now it is pretty harrowing.

I’ve read two books in this series and I believe this is the 7th so I need to fill in some gaps.

This story focuses on Ellen, daughter of the Duke of Pembroke, and her marriage to Paul, an army Captain and sixth son who is not considered good enough for the daughter of a Duke. Ellen runs away and she and Paul are heading for his new posting in the Americas when Napoleon escapes from Elba and Europe is once again at war. We see their marriage in the build up to, and aftermath of Waterloo.

If you are hoping for a lovely light happy book then this is not for you. I love regencies that cover this battle and the time around it but I did finish this book feeling pretty crushingly sad so … due warning!

Received an ARC and this is my unbiased review.

A great finish to this series. Lots of romance which I don't mind from time to time, not usually a book I read but now and again a change is good. Light-hearted and cosy. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.