Review: The Passionate Love of Rake by Jane Lark

by Jewels E 11/08/2013 2 comments

Kindle Edition, 342 pages

Published November 7th 2013 

by HarperImpulse

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The only woman who had power over notorious rake Robert Marlow was now walking away from him, again.

He'd heard Sutton had died, and known Jane was free, but he'd always thought his desire would only be for revenge, not her. Yet here he was, unable to deny what he felt for her…what he’d never felt for any other woman before…



My Thoughts

Delectable. I had been looking forward to this novel for a while and I was not disappointed. Robert was...le sigh. Admittedly, it took me time to understand him, but once I did, I feel head over heels like a schoolgirl. 
The Marlow Intrigues are just the right blend of romance, mystery and are seriously compelling historical romances novels.

Robert: A rake of the worst kind. This man pursues women, beds them and then cuts them lose after one night. In modern terms, he's a player. The sort most women would want to tame for their very own just to be able to flaunt before others that he could be a devoted one woman man. I ought dislike him. And at times, I did because he even though he loved Jane with all of his heart, with a devotion that had withstood his best efforts to eradicate, he sometimes had so little faith in her. It seemed at odds with the good hearted man I knew him to be.  People are such paradoxes at times, so it's wonderful to encounter book characters with those sorts of complexities. I loved that when Robert finally pieces together all the little bits of Jane's life with the Suttons that he rides to the rescue like the proverbial white knight.  It's just uber romantic and I can't help but adore that. I also love how proud and stubborn he is at times, and yet he's smart enough to let others help him and Jane when Sutton tries to ruin them. Robert is just about perfect in soo many ways that I'll all I say now is, read this wonderful romance to discover him for yourself. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Jane: Another complex character. Proud, strong, you'd never take her for a woman who's afraid. And yet, she's spent most of her adult life in fear of her husband and his cruelty. The late Duke of Sutton was not a violent man, but he was twisted. And Jane was his plaything. He delighted in isolating her, tormenting her with his "what ifs" and just generally terrorizing her emotionally. Even after his death, he's arranged it so that Jane continues to be terrorized by his actions, and now by his son's. It's twisted and vile and that Jane has any gumption to throw caution to the wind and stand up herself as she does is astounding. Mind you, she caves in at times, too afraid to ask for help, too afraid to trust her friends or even her girlhood sweetheart, Robert. It made me cry for them both. When she finally accepts Robert's help, his protection, I was so glad, but even then Jane was so worried Robert would be ruined because of her that I worried about their future together because Sutton was such a black hearted soul, I had no idea what he'd stoop to next. Thank goodness for happily ever afters!

I cannot wait to read more of this series. I can't guess this time who the next novel might be about--perhaps Ellen's son, he seems the logical choice, but whoever it is, I am once again on pins and needles for another of Jane Lark's novels. I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

5 glittering stars