Recent Release Review- The Scandalous Love of A Duke by Jane Lark

Title: The Scandalous Love of a Duke(book #3, The Marlowe Intrigues Series)

Genre: Historical Romance

Author: Jane Lark

Publisher: Harper Impulse, april 2014

Source: Free for review from the publisher

Rating: 4.5

Sexy Rating: 5

Description from Amazon.com:

Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach.   The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he’d like to kiss.   She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him. A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine’s heart into her limbs. It was so long since she’d seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.

**

The characterization of these two star-crossed lovers is spot on. They are flawed; both have deep problems. Jane Lark gives us a deeply moving back story for both John and Kate. We are treated to all the societal taboos against this union and yet as they long for each other we long for their happily-ever-after.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely will not be my last. Her writing is eloquent and moving. She brings this 19^th century scene to life and this reader felt like I was there in this restrictive time that actually fosters passionate liaisons because of the taboos. I fell in love with John in spite of his flaws and I felt sympathy for Kate and her devotional love.

This is a wonderful historical romance and I highly recommend it. Although it is #3 in the series it is a standalone novel.

Deet’s note: Don’t you love that great cover???!!!