The Velvet Promise

Montgomery/Taggert: Publication order #2

by Jude Deveraux

All of England rejoiced on her wedding day. But Judith vowed that her husband would get only what he took from her!

At the flower-bedecked altar, the first touch of their hands ignited an all-consuming passion. Gavin Montgomery looked deep into her golden eyes and burned with desire for her...but his heart had been pledged to another.

Humiliated and alone in a strange castle, Judith resolved to hate this husband who took her body, but rejected her love...never admitting her fear of losing him.

But destiny held another fate for Judith...a fate that would keep at last...The Velvet Promise.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Historical Fiction, Medieval Romance, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Jude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.

She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.

Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.

Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.

Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.

Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.

Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.

Reviews

[Lucy Qhuay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was too heavy for me!!! -.-
First, the "hero" is a total dick, who is obsessed with some evil blonde slut and doesn't recognize that he is her puppet. He fails to recognize the evil in the bitch and totally mistreats the heroine, his wife, because of said slut.
The heroine just wants his love and approval, which he constantly denies.
She is physically and psychologically abused. She ends up pregnant and risks her life and the life of her unborn child to save him, going to the house of some psycho weirdo that holds him hostage.
The hero thinks that the heroine and the weirdo are lovers and that the child she is carrying is not his.
He treats her badly, once again but as he desires her body, that's ok.
Then, I don't know why, he decides that he loves his wife and doesn't care about the blonde slut. Blonde slut plots to destroy the poor heroine and she ends up losing her unborn child!
At this point, I'm completely out of my mind! -.-'
The loss of the child was the last straw! Were I the heroine, I would happily impale the sucker and beat the blonde bitch until her face was goo! -.-'

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars!



I don’t know how I gave this book 4 stars before. Granted, the overall story is elaborate and entertaining to read but I really wanted to bash the ASSHOLE HERO with a brick. Make that a pile of bricks.

Kickass heroine

+ Awesome side characters

+ Rich and well-researched story

+ Asshole hero?
_______________________________________

1.5 stars

It’s a weird math equation but that’s how much I HATED the hero Gavin.

Strike one: Slaps and rapes the heroine on their wedding night
Strike two: He’s in love with another girl Alice who happens to be the biggest bitch alive and refuses to treat Judith right.
Strike three: Hero is stupid enough to be drunk and caught in bed with Alice (a trap set up by her), heroine sees it and that causes her to lose their child.

Like, WTF????????????? After that, nothing Gavin says or does could redeem him in my eyes. Of course, I am leaving out a lot of details – smaller, minor ones where he treats Judith like shit until the end of the book.

I’m too angry for words to even write a review. These kind of bodice rippers may have appealed to me in the past, but now this book was simply atrocious to read. No matter how much I adore Gavin’s other brothers, Gavin himself needs to be tar-and-feathered before I’ll consider forgiving him for treating Judith the way he does here. The series as a whole is fantastic; it's just too bad that in order to read the other brothers' books, you need to suffer through Gavin's assholery.

I want to make it clear that I rarely give out 1 star ratings. When I do, it means the book struck a deep nerve in me, pissed me off to the infinite degree, and makes me believe that no amount of groveling or sweet talk can redeem a character.

Thanks Camaro for re-reading this book with me!! Here’s hoping our re-read of Stephen’s book will go much better! xoxo

[Megzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I refuse to finish reading ANY story that involves rape, abuse, or involuntary sexual servitude by the "so called hero" as an erotic act. Even if you have a physical reaction to the abuse, the emotional damage that results is something you never get over. You do not fall in love with your rapist, and you certainly cannot have a healthy relationship with your rapist, and suggesting otherwise is demeaning to sexual abuse victims AND irresponsible.

[Vintage]

This "hero" may be the dumbest hero in Romanceland. Gullible and fatheaded to the bitter, bitter end.
If the evil OW climbing into your bed naked, bribing a servant to bring your pregnant wife to see you resulting in a miscarriage doesn't convince you the OW is a bad seed then nothing will.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have loved this book had I not wanted to murder the hero. Gavin Montgomery should be tied to two tons of bricks and dropped off a very high cliff.

[KatieV · Rating 4 out of 5]

2/26/14 ETA: Okay I upped this from 3 to 4 stars, because I did really like it and it's much better than a lot of the 3 star books I have out there. It kept me engaged. I didn't skim, etc. I have a tendency to do this when a character or plot point irks me so bad I can't see the bigger picture. I think I did the same thing with Lily and The Demon Lover. Maybe I should wait a week before writing my reviews. However, I do so love to rant when I'm in the moment :)

***original review***

This is my very first Deveraux and I definitely had a hard time coming up with the rating. Part of me feels like I should give it a 4, because the writing is certainly far superior to other things I've given 3's to. But in the last few chapters the hero lost the book that extra gold star.

From some of the reviews I've read, I expected to have problems with the hero because he was violent. Actually in the world of medieval romance, I didn't find him too bad. He slaps the heroine at the beginning of the book and rapes her on their wedding night. Granted, not a great start to a relationship, but he didn't seem to get any sadistic enjoyment from hurting her. After that he wants her willing and doesn't rape or hit her again.

Most of my problem was with Gavin's attitude. He acts like a class A jerk a lot of the time because he's very jealous (Judith is extremely beautiful and every man who sees her wants her). That's rather par for the course though in many romances. My problem was his attitude when it came to that crazy ex-lover of his that everyone but him could see through. It was because of that witch that their wedding night went awry. He was thrilled when he saw how beautiful Judith was and they were both making googly eyes at each other until Alice (the ex) turns up and cries crocodile tears while attempting a fake suicide. Judith witnesses this and is understandably not happy to hear her brand new husband swearing undying love to another woman on their wedding day. Gavin handles this by slapping Judith for daring to be angry and say something unkind about the sweet homewrecker Alice. Then he ends up raping Judith that night because she won't just 'get over it already' and go back to being the warm, attentive wife she was before she witnessed that scene with Alice. He reminded me more of a spoiled, petulant child than a true alpha hero. Plus, he's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Gavin never actually cheats with Lady Alice (there is a kiss, which she initiated), but he keeps her on a pedestal as this vision of how a real lady should behave. He does quickly realize he desires Judith more than he ever desired Alice. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to really pine after her either or I'd have given up. I don't think he ever loved Alice to begin with. He's all about Judith from day one. It's "Lady" Alice who continues to seek him out. Problem is, he never seems to get it that she's trying to cause trouble in his marriage and is the #1 reason the two of them are often at odds. He always blames Judith for being unreasonable, shrewish, and jealous. He thinks she should have compassion for Alice since she had to go through the horrible devastation of losing him :P Dude really likes the idea that this woman is so hopelessly in love with him that she'll got to crazy lengths to cause trouble. His ego was only rivaled by his stupidity. Up to the very last chapter, he still couldn't believe that gentle, demure Alice would actually try to harm his wife. Surely she was just misunderstood.

However, despite my issues with the hero, the writing was good and the story engaging. I really liked Gavin's brothers who seemed to have inherited all the brains in the family. I'm holding out hope that their stories will be better.

[chaity · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.05 star. Wow I love it when I'm being generous.

[*TANYA* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to scream and shout at Gavin for being so dense and stupid, he was not deserving of Judith. Perhaps I was suppose to swoon over this “love story” but I hated the back and forth between them.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

UNREDEEMABLE MALE LEAD SPOILERS AHEAD

I'm really trying to resist having a rant about this book. I've heard much about this author and being a lover of historical romances I'm not sure how I've not read anything by her before, needless to say this is my first and last book by her.

Gavin Montgomery is in love with Alice Valence their secret meetings cannot go on, marriage is what he wants to the beautiful and doe eyed Alice. But what Gavin doesn't realise is that she has no intention of marrying him, she wants a title, money and lands. But with little or no dowry she must rely on her beauty. So she coaches her drunken father to refuse Gavin's request for her hand then plays the tearful victim to his face. She's cold and manipulative, but Gavin is blind to this. When a rich Earl asks for her hand she's ecstatic.

Gavin in turn is offered the hand of Judith Revedoune, she's the daughter of an Earl and will bring many riches and lands to the marriage, no one knew that she existed she has been hidden away from the outside world as her father despises females. But with the death of his two sons he will rely on her to give him grandsons. Judith who had always been meant for a covent is devastated that she is to be married

Judith does not lay eyes on Gavin till the day of their wedding, but is pleasantly surprised at this tall handsome man who is to be her husband. In turn Gavin is overwhelmed by Judith's beauty. Things look bright till during the wedding festivities she overhears Gavin promising his undying devotion to Alice. Judith confronts him, but all she gets for her trouble is a backhander and to be forced on her wedding night.

My goodness this book is awful. The villainess Alice was OTT and better suited to a part in a pantomime. Judith was a better character, but even she grated on my nerves, even after he had forced her on their wedding night she melted into a puddle every time he touched her. But it was Gavin that I hated the most, he was as thick as two short planks. How on earth he didn't see Alice for what she was beggared belief. It never seemed to occur to him that giving it up to him without marriage meant that she was doing the same with numerous other men was so annoying. Worse when others tried on many occasions to set him straight he wouldn't hear a word against her. I kept hoping he would fall off his horse and break his neck.

[Cc · Rating 1 out of 5]

No,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,
no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,no,yes, ha! Threw that one in there to fool you. NO

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️ 2 stars
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖 3 books
Feels: 🦋 1 butterflies
Romance: 💞 1 hearts
Sensuality: 💋 1 kisses
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 3 broken hearts
Sexual Tension: ⚡️ 1 lightnings
Sex Scene Length: 🍑 1 peaches
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥-🔥🔥 really struggling how to rate this. There’s 5+ sex scenes but they are very, very short. They aren’t explicit. So I'm putting it as a 1-2 for open door sex scenes, but definitely not super steamy feeling.

So I’ve been reading the chronological order found on Deveraux’s website. I’ve read The Black Lyon and The Maiden and think you can pick this up and read it on it’s own easily.

Content warnings: cheating, physical abuse of numerous characters (bones broken, slaps, marking of face from force), rape of multiple characters including rape of heroine by hero, talk of committing suicide and suicide of another character on page, talk of abortion (remembered), death of characters on page, torture of multiple characters, death of a parent, miscarriage on page…

Classic old school style – lots and lots of drama, plenty of plot devices, consent is not a focus.

This story focuses on Judith, who was set to give her life to the church. Her father remembers her existence after his sons’ deaths and marries her off the Gavin. Gavin thinks he’s in love with another, Alice, so he hopes to be able to have both, Judith as a bride and Alice in his bed.

This book is definitely the most frustrating I’ve read by her so far. I didn’t find much redeeming at all about Gavin. He was utterly annoying and selfish throughout the entire book. Content warnings aren’t a bother for me, even domestic violence but Gavin to me was just irredeemable. He talks about how he has never hurt and could never hurt a woman and then immediately afterward is so enraged at Judith he slaps her so she falls down and leaves marks on her face. I didn’t have much hope for him after that and he really just got worse and worse.

I’m still not sure when exactly this book takes place? I think it’s 1501. King Henry is mentioned.

Now, I know many love this book. I respect that. I think if I had read this during my HR initiation phase (I will always have a soft spot for McNaught after all) I would be more attached to them. But looking at them through my current lens, I am left with annoyance and zero emotional attachment to the characters.

I give 2 stars because it has provided me with entertainment, nonetheless, perhaps in some morbid way and I also enjoyed the part where Judith was extra sassy to Gavin after this return to his castle where he dumped her days after the marriage.

And here’s some random snippets that drove the book into the ground for me.



“But Alice did not turn because she knew that Ela was too fat to mount the horse by herself.”
“They sit in their upstairs solars and sew and gossip while they eat honeyed fruit and grow fat. They are lazy and stupid; they have had everything they ever wanted.”
“If I remember correctly, I just saw a hideous dwarf of a woman with rotted teeth and an incredibly fat backside.”
“Alice Valence sat beside the fat, dozing figure of her husband to be, Edward Chatworth, and stared at the bride with all the hatred in her soul”

I noticed a bit of fatfobia in the book The Black Lyon, but this book truly was obsessive with it. It really, really turned me off. I had someone search the ebook for me (thank you!) and it comes up 14 times! Each times is used in a negative way and it’s about multiple people. I just see no reason to discuss someone being fat like it makes them a bad person when they all seemed to have plenty of personal flaws that could have been used instead.


“He did not make love to her, but used her body. He was beyond thinking of her as anything but what he desired and so desperately needed. He moved on top of her, on thigh forcing hers apart. He kissed her again, hard. When Gavin felt the tiny membrane that stopped him, for a moment he was bewildered. But he plunged on, oblivious to the pain he caused Judith. When she cried out, he stopped her lips with his and continued. After he finished, he rolled from her, one heavy arm across her breasts. It had been a release for him, but for Judith there had been nothing resembling pleasure.”

“...but was relieved that she was still with him. She seemed to be in another world and did not hear him turn onto his back. The sheets were liberally sprinkled with blood and Gavin frowned at them. He knew he’d hurt her, but he didn’t understand why.”

“It was true he had no love for her but he had used her harshly. A maiden did not deserve rape”

At least he calls it what it is.

“But Gavin did not fall asleep immediately. He knew that this was the first time for this soft woman he held, but in a way he felt as if he had just lost his virginity, too.”

How ridiculous. Of course he would make this about himself.

“He’d raped her once, used the pain of her hair twisted around his arm to command her to him the second time. Even the third time, he had had to act against her initial protest. Yes she laughed and gave his brothers gold ribbons – gold like her eyes. If she gave such passion to him whom she freely admitted she hated, what would she be like with a man she liked?”

Oh yes, since she’s had sex with you because you forced her, I’m sure she will have much more sex with everyone else! Of course, she’s had such amazing sexual experiences I’m sure she can’t wait to do it with everyone!

“He knew Judith had no idea how she affected a man. She was like a child. Everything was new to her. She looked up at the man with nothing hidden, nothing held in reserve. She laughed openly at what he said, and Gavin could see the man took her friendliness for more than she meant it to be”

Of course, laughing at a joke, or simply smiling and being polite will make the man assault her, a married woman. SHE must of course change her behavior, guard herself from every expressing something that could be taken as interest.

“He found Judith, minutes later, sitting beside Miles on a bench in the garden, Gavin ignored his younger brother’s maelvolent scowl. He didn’t want to argue. All he wanted was the be alone with Judith, to hold her as they had last night. Perhaps then his head would stop throbbing.”

Another selfishly motivated behavior. Absolutely clueless to anything Judith is going through.

“Perhaps Judith did have a reason to be cool to him. Their marriage had started on the wrong foot. It was too bad he had had to strike her on their first night, too bad she had entered his tent at the wrong time”

Perhaps she did have a reason to be ‘cool’. Perhaps it was because you’re an absolute idiot Gavin. Perhaps it’s because you raped her. Perhaps it’s because you don’t believe anything she says. Perhaps it’s because you are cheating on her. Perhaps it’s because you hit her so hard she fell down and marked her face. BUT of course you can’t take responsibility for that either. It’s too bad you had to hit her. She made you do it, I’m sure.

“A woman is like a hawk. You must starve it until it is eager for food; then it will be easily tamed.”

Just oozes romance…

What did it matter if he raped Judith again? Hadn’t he enjoyed it the first night? He undressed quickly and slid into the empty bed. He didn’t want to rape her again. He fell asleep remembering the way she’d clung to him when she’d been frightened

It’s all about him. His enjoyment. He never, ever thinks about her.

“Women were created to tempt men. They are the devil’s own”

Literally Judith has just been passed from man to man being abused, hurt and all she wants, I’m sure, is to be left alone. But whatever you have to tell yourself so you don’t have to take responsibility for any of your actions..

And as she lays there miscarrying Gavin’s child that he refused to believe was his he comforts her repeatedly by saying, “There will be more children”. I. JUST. CAN’T. Then, after he says he loves her, Judith is shamed by everyone into forgiving him. “Because you are wrong. That man loves you, has told you so, yet you won’t listen to him. I have been on your side throughout your marriage, but now I’m not” REALLY he’s literally beaten her, raped her, cheated on her, been repeatedly cruel to her, even played a part in her falling and having a miscarriage but he finally says he loves her once and she better forgive everything or she’s the asshole. “Can’t you forgive him? You make great demands on him” SHE’S LITERALLY STILL BLEEDING FROM MISCARRYING HIS CHILD THAT HE REFUSED TO BELIEVE WAS HIS!! “How can you hold him responsible?” “Why don’t the two of you stop fighting and make some more babies?” Just...wow.

Also, wasn’t divorce super rare in the 1500s??? “Divorce was not uncommon, but Judith and Gavin had been married only a short while” Not uncommon? Not a big deal?

And towards the end of the book “You are my wife and my property, and I plan to treat you as such. There will be no divorce.”

And the book ends with a ridiculous kidnapping plot that doesn’t even feel complete.


Sex (I had the large print version so page numbers are off)

p 25 – hero has sex with his mistress
p 105 – rape
p 115 – sex
p 142 – sex
p 242 – sex
p 360 – Judith’s mother has sex
p 459 – sex
p 515 – sex
There’s at least one more but I stopped noting them.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Sassy’s love for historical romance began…

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a young girl called Stacey. On a day like any other, she was walking through her local shopping centre doing a little browsing. What does she see before her, but a magical *BARGAIN BIN* announcing *4 PAPERBACKS FOR $10.00*. Well, Stacey, she was a remarkably canny young lady and had saved all her spare dollars for a day like that day. She looked into the barrel and her eyes lit up. Gleaming, silky covers tempted her senses. She must look, touch, feel and read…



…and that was Stacey’s first introduction to sexy books and the beginning of her love of historical romance.

Wow, I can’t believe that was 28 years ago. I can still remember my gratitude afterwards, that Bookworld had those books on sale that day. At 16, there was no way in hell I would have stood in the romance section and checked out what was what. My love for Jude Deveraux and Julie Garwood started with that discount book bin.

The Velvet Series was one of my most re-read historical romance series when I was younger. Highland Velvet is my very favourite (Bronwyn, the heroine, had dark curly hair like I did at the time) but The Velvet Promise was a close second. The first time I read The Velvet Promise, I admit that I found it a little hard to take. As time went on and I matured, I flipped and flopped between loving it and absolutely hating it.

Gavin Montgomery, the eldest of the four boys is an absolute DOUCHEWAFFLE!! If any reader can get through the book without wanting to kick him in the shins at least once, I’ll eat my hat. I mean, the guy went to his wedding day loving another woman, for goodness sake. That still makes my blood boil!! Especially considering the insipid, simpering, nasty Alice was not a woman worthy of love.

Anyways, Judith, well she’s the kind of heroine that every historical romance heroine should aspire to be. She’s strong, courageous, beautiful and kind. The nicest thing (OR STUPIDEST BLOODY THING) she did was forgiving Gavin and his stupidity. She was young and inexperienced though, and their physical attraction made it hard for her to push him away.

Honestly, there are some VERY hard things to deal with in this story and some readers would probably run for the hills in a few scenes. When they first marry, Gavin takes her virginity (as was his husbandly right) which some would see as rape. Their physical attraction to each other eventually kicks in and Judith comes to enjoy it as much as Gavin. Judith also miscarries a baby at the hands of Alice’s treachery.

But, I am a devoted fan, and seeing as I’ve read it in Paperback and read it on my kindle, it was time to experience the audiobook. Last year I looked it up and listened to a sample and was a little shocked that it was an American narrator. I found it strange that they didn’t use an English one, to be honest. I decided to give it another go and I’m happy to say that I enjoyed it. If I had one issue, it was probably that Gavin’s “voice” could at times get a little nasally.

If you’re looking for a step back in time (both historical and an 80’s bodice ripper) The Velvet Promise is a great example. I am definitely going on with Highland Velvet. I can’t wait to see the fiery Bronwyn conquer Stephen Montgomery.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

Overall Opinion: Whew. This was a doozy. I still read it though! I was intrigued by how this was all going to turn out. I don’t have many triggers and I don’t typically have huge issues with OW/OM drama, but this had it out the wazoo and not in a good way! I struggled because of the almost even ADD feeling to the different POVs going on too. It was all over the place! Why did we need to focus on these side romances?! Maybe because the actual mc’s story wasn’t all that romantic?! I couldn’t get past the initial rape of the h by the H and how he slapped her. I don’t care if she did a 180 and then was sexually aroused and into it for their second round! Yeah, no...overall this felt like a mess.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Judith and Gavin’s story. Gavin is heartbroken when he finds out that his love, Alice, is going to marry another and that the King has arranged for him to marry Judith. Judith has been raised to join the church but once her brothers die, she has to marry a stranger to pass her father’s title and property on to their potential heirs. They connect instantly, but Alice is still a major figure in their lives and causes some major roadblocks for them. There are some suspenseful scenes, some mild sexy times, and a few sweet scenes...and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Judith, Alice and Gavin in 3rd person narrative with some focus on other side characters.

Overall Pace of Story: Alright until the abrupt ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise. As stated above, it was weird with the different POVs.

Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H (Hero) rating: 2 stars. Gavin. He was hard to like because of how blind he was and how he was even abusive towards the h at times. I did like him when he was playful and sweet to the h though.

h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Judith. I liked her but I wanted her to be stronger in the face of the H’s sexual appeal. When she gave in sexually it felt as though she also crossed that line into doormat status.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away and I’d say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (at least sexually)

Heat level: Low. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not super descriptive and not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Not quite fade to black, but also not super descriptive either.

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes The H has OW that causes lots of drama that he is in love with up until the end and there are OM that make the H jealous

Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes There is a scene with the H and OW at the beginning before he is with the h. The h also kisses OM when married.

Cheating: Yes IMO The H is in love with other woman up until the end. He doesn’t sleep with her but he does care for her and holds himself back from the h and kisses this OW

Separation: No

Possible Triggers: Yes Domestic abuse/rape/violence/murder (on page), h was a virgin, and miscarriage (on page)

Closure: This ends rather abruptly with what I would still call a HEA ending but there could have been better closure.

Safety: This one is probably either Not Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences

- Does have cheating
- Does have a (somewhat) descriptive sex scene with the H and OW
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does have abuse
- Does have a HEA ending

[Grecia Robles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Siento que este tipo de libros no son para mí.

Es demasiado machista comprendo la  época en la que está ambientado y también la fecha en la que fue publicado que es un romance de antaño pero eso de degradar a la mujer no va conmigo.

Fue muy frustrante hubo escenas que me dieron ganas de molerlo a golpes.

Por ejemplo cuando ella lo descubre con su amante el día de su boda, ella le reclama y éste la abofetea WTF? ? 😬 y en la noche de bodas la viola o sea motherf...
Yo necesitaba que pidiera perdón

Igual me entretuvo pero si no son para mí y si algún día vuelvo a leer uno de estos libros again es por masoquista.

[Ivy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot many years ago. The heroine was wonderful but the hero had too much of a stupid crush on a very evil woman called Alice. Alice also had bad teeth that the stupid hero never really noticed because the witch had a special way of always hiding her teeth while she smiled. WTF? Correct me if I am wrong but eventually the guy should have noticed right?
The very best thing about this novel is that Alice the OW gets her face disfigured by hot oil. The irony of that situation is that the OW had intended to use the hot oil to disfigure the heroine. The bitch obviously didn't know that karma sometimes works out very well in the end.

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh man… this was well on its way to being a 5-star for me… but the (delicious) OW drama situation was not resolved in a way that was completely satisfying. The OW does get what she deserves (I guess 😈) but the situation is taken out of the hero’s hands and he never REALLY has to confront his stupidity wholly and completely. He’s still suffering under a ridiculous delusion about the OW until the very last page despite all proof presented and literally every singe person telling him that he is a blind stupid man when it comes to her. At the end her viciousness is just pinned on “mental illness” and he leaves her to stew in her misery…. But there’s never a real moment of clarity, beyond that he finally sees her yuck mouth. 🤡 I wanted him to ground her under his heel as he tells her exactly what he thinks of her and then I wanted him on his knees groveling at the heroine’s feet in front of the OW. That didn’t really happen, but the h and H are very much in love and riding into the sunset at the end.

I don’t agree with some of the reviews claiming he loved the OW for the whole book. He obviously starts to fall for the h as soon as he meets her and it becomes more and more obvious as the book continues that his feelings for the OW are greatly diminished, if not forgotten. Yes, she continues to be able to manipulate him, and he holds on to his delusions of her, for FAR too long, but I did not feel he loved her any longer fairly early in the book, even if he doesn’t recognize it yet.

I typically close books where the H has truly been in love with someone else… but I felt like the author left PLENTY clues at the opening to show you that all is not as it appears (ahem *yuck mouth* ahem 👀🤡💀 - the line where he says he’s dying to see her smile… I died. Dead. 💀💀💀💀) . She creates a perfect evil OW you can love to hate. This is my JAM. 😍😍😍

Anyway, this was loads of fun, and up until the last chapter I had my 5 stars ready. But I’m a petty vindictive b*tch, and I want the Evil Cackling Whore OW to bleed out emotionally at the hand of the H and a grovel for putting his Sweet Angel h through a single moment of angst. This ending didn’t quite get me there. So it gets 4.5 stars




⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️

- cheating? Depends on your definition. 🤷🏼‍♀️ - the H kisses the OW twice - once after the wedding (before sex or feelings with the h) and once as a “goodbye” (after sex and feelings with the h) - both times are initiated by the OW

- loads of OW drama - the h assumes the H sleeps with the OW after they are married but he does not - the OW sets up a scenario where he’s drunk and she climbs in bed and the h walks in - he’s passed out and doesn’t know this is happening.

- OM drama - all the men who meet the h become besotted with her and it drives the H crazy 😈

- no sharing

- noncon and dubcon

- domestic abuse - the H hits the h at the beginning of the book. He’s just lost his sh*t on her father for hitting her right before this, so it’s obviously out of character, but it does happen 🫤 - there are several instances of female characters being abused physically by men

- miscarriage

- attempted rape by OP

- h is a virgin - H is experienced but we don’t get much info on his activities beyond the OW

- one sex scene between the H and OW at the beginning of the book, before he meets the h - it’s not too terribly detailed

[Dana Al-Basha | دانة الباشا · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm having a very hard time digesting the book, it's short, so I thought it was going to be a fun quick read but by chapter 8, the hero has hit, raped, almost cheated on the woman who is supposed to be the love of his life by the end of the book and they only met on their wedding day.



Just to keep it realistic, no woman, especially a virgin, can be raped then made love to by the same man no less and feel above the clouds in love with the guy. I think the female body and mind works differently in intimate moments. Maybe if I was younger I would have bought this relationship, but I'm not. I think women should stop writing stories about such men and call them raged and broody, these are tyrants and criminals.

[Célia Loureiro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here's why I tried it in English on e-book and just couldn't...

Starting once again with the cover, which sets the book like three centuries away from its real time. I believe the book was meant in late Middle Ages - at least in the country it takes place in, hence why the brute male lead and the roughness of behaviours. But the cover of the Portuguese edition takes us to Barroque society and the lack of morals of a court like Louis XIV's. Just why?

The plot exploits the portrait of an abuser, thankfully handsome enough for the author to pull out a romantic novel around his sickness and try to make it look exciting:

Gavin drew back his arm and slapped her. An hour before he would have sworn that nothing could have made him harm a woman.

Gavin was instantly contrite. He was sick at himself and what he had done. He knelt to help her stand.

Gavin grabbed a handful of Judith’s hair and jerked her to him. “I will take whatever I want whenever I want, and if I take it from you, you will be grateful."

And, in the same night this woman was raped by her husband (right after the wedding, and by a man she had just met), the author throws this at their encounter, once he insists on a second round of what he had just had:

Before long she could bear no more kissing. She ached all over, and she pulled
his hair to better meet his mouth. She fastened on his lips hungrily, with greed.

No, seriously. I cannot tolerate anything romantic coming in the aftermath of a raping. I was disgusted while reading it. I cannot imagine how on Earth it might be sexy that two people just met, and attraction is overwhelming, but he lets her down, so she doesn't want him, or is not ready, so she clearly says "I don't want to", and he raped her, and a few hours later the woman who's virginity was brutally taken by the man who she just overheard saying that he loved another woman (also hours before) is so bewitched by him that she wants to bring him closer and kiss him deeper. It's just not believable. Also, it perpetuates the idea that woman must endure man's worst behaviour in order to find true love, either they're able to change him or not. What I read is criminal. Ok, it was 1501 (the dawn of Renaissance), but still, even if he could not be charged, or if other woman like the maids would be indulgent towards his deed, how would the victim be so willing to experience such brutality again?

I mean, this could be a novel on sick people, but it is supposed to be a love story.
The author is fully aware of what this is about:

He’d raped her once, used the pain of her hair twisted around his
arm to command her to him the second time. Even the third time, he had had to
act against her initial protest. Yet she laughed and gave his brothers gold ribbons—gold like her eyes. If she gave such passion to him whom she freely admitted she hated, what would she be like with a man she liked?

This foolish idea that women play hard to get, and that in the end of the day we just want a passionate man to force himself on us, has made many victims throughout the years. This has to stop. There's no way rape can be romanticized in any way. It is an abomination which makes the rapist into a criminal and the raped individual into a victim. No lovebirds in this scenery. And there's no point and blaming the year of the events, since the book was written in 1981, and also I believe there were good men in every time of History. This Gavin simply isn't one of them.

Please, enough.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full thoughts in my next vlog

Not terrible as far as bodice rippers go but also not great. I do see the appeal for the audience it was published for.

[Raffaella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really pissed. This is what happens when a very good potential is wasted.
The book could have been a 4 stars.
The writing is good, the characters are well defined, the story is intriguing.
But there are two unforgivable mistakes.
-The hero is in love with another woman for the 80% of the book.
-The ow is an evil bitch, a psychopath, and everyone understood it but him.
So we have a hero who until the very last pages, when ow is trying to murder his wife under his eyes, defends an evil ow who, during all the book, tried - and succeeded - to hurt his wife, even physically more and more times.
He turns out to be stupid, dumb, as well as without honour, since he often thinks he's lucky because he had a beautiful wife for sex and ow to love.
If we must have a hero who is in love with ow, two are the choices:
-ow is evil, so the very first time she hurts the heroine the hero must be furious and protect the heroine.
- ow is not so evil, but gradually the hero realizes he loves the heroine instead.
Here the man is entirely stupid, because all the people around him understood the bitch, even his brothers, and I don't know how many times I've already said, but apparently writers doesn't understand this thing: Stupid.is.not.sexy.
Never.
Ever.
I couldn't face a man who is shamefacedly two-timing his intelligent, beautiful, smart, kind wife for another woman, a woman who should be locked up in an asylum.
Actually all the abuses the heroine had to endure by the hero were because of ow.
He slaps her, rapes her, confines her, insults her and humiliates her- repeatedly-because of ow.
Sorry, no, never.
I gave two instead of one stars only for the heroine, who I loved to distraction.
This book was a lost cause.
So, so sorry.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

15% DNF
I'm weird but not this fucked up. No, thank you.

[KatLynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After doing a re-read, I'm sorry to find The Velvet Promise didn't quite make my original 5 star rating. There were aspects of the heroe's thoughts and actions that took away from my enjoyment.

All in all, still an enjoyable medieval romance featuring four Montgomery Brothers with the spotlight on the oldest brother, Gavin, and his new bride, Judith.

This is an older HR, first published I think in 1981. The version for my re-read was a re-issue in 1991 and includes a scene of forced sex on the wedding night.

Deveraux's Montgomery men are some of my favorite heroes and her books have provided many pleasurable hours of escapism. I highly recommend this author to all those who enjoy this genre.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! so much drama and angst! Don't read this if you hate cruel heroes. Hero slaps and rapes heroine, his ex lover is a slut who kills heroine's unborn baby and she is determined to ruin their marriage along with other villains. I adored all the angst and passion but sadly the ending was way too abrupt!

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I struggle to give this two stars because the hero rapes the herione, really, can you do that in a romance where they still end up together? Then there is "the other" women aspect. Which I know for the formula you have to have something that causes a riff and a way for them to come back together but I'm never a fan of it being another woman. Then, back to the rape thing, I know he was suckered by the other woman and didn't really know about the "bedding of a virgin" but really - rather she is a virgin or not it's not ok to rape her. And the rape isn't an assumption on my part, it's talked about in the book by both characters and they never resolve it w/a discussion or anything. It's just kind of swept under the rug and they live happily ever after (eventually). How can anyone live happily ever after w/a man who raped her? What does that say about his character? I really like Deveraux but I wasn't feeling this book at all. Sorry!

[☘Katie☘ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance is not a genre I usually read-- in fact before this book, I'd only read two romance novels. So, the Romance section in the bookstore is one I've usually avoided. I have no idea why now.... this book was gripping! It has been awhile since I have read a book I couldn't put down and couldn't wait to pick up again to see what happens next!

The characters are wonderfully crafted. I have read others reviews and I have to say-- I have no problem with Gavin. I enjoyed his character immensely. His affections for the conniving Alice are a classic 'love is blind' theme until he 'sees' the real version of Alice. I had no qualms with his rape of Judith on their wedding night. I know a lot of people do... but, in the 16th century this was common. You cannot look at this with modern ideals. Women back then were their husband's property and he could do whatever he wanted with her. It's just the way it was. But,... he grows up and regrets his rape of her.

I loved the dialogue between Judith and Gavin-- so passionate is their love/hate relationship! Judith is a strong willed woman, and it is easy to sympathize with her as Gavin mistreats her.

Gavin's brothers were all likeable as well. To me, especially Stephen and Raine. Stephen seemed so much more mature than Gavin even though he is younger. Raine just seems like a sweet, humerous guy. I look forward to reading about them in the next books in the series.

In all, this book has made me reconsider my avoidance of Romance novels. This one is so good, it earned 5 stars (rare for me) and a place on my favorites shelf.

Highly recommended!

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of the male protagonists in this series are dicks.

[Hanife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu yorum aynı zamanda Romancekolikte yayınlanmıştır.

This review also shared in Romansholic.

English Review;

Story begun with besotted hero knowing his lover soon to be marry.
That shrew girl is like an actress and fool him that she marry by force.
Our besotted hero believes her. But he asked for a marriage an earl daughter.
So hero accept. He think with him marrying too he could accept the fact his lover soon to be marry.
Wedding took place and our hero was surprised to see such a lovely wife he had.
He fan over her trough to feast and even let himself with his wife to escape for a minute from feast.

But this precious moment interrupted by heroines father. He strike her in front of her husband because she made laughed him by all the crowd for she let her affection seen by everyone. But hero is most angry and hit father-by-in-law. And say him he will never touch what is his. Heroine come to the conclusion that our hero is never strike a women. He fears such act because her mother abused by her father all the years.

But this lovely moment interrupted again by Alice. Ex-lover to our hero. She is greedy. She must have all men. And she cry for he couldn't ever love her anymore. Even act false suicide. Our fool hero believe her and take oath what she want. He shan't love anyone but her. And our heroine watch the scene.

When Alice is off she come to through to tree with claps her hand. Accuse her husband for treacherous word he spoke of. But that went really wrong, hero accuse the women then strike her. Heroine is make an oath. She will never willingly give anything other than he take. Hero say she will do what he says. And she must prepare this night. Then he took of. Etc. etc. etc. story continue like this.

I really love this book :) Even when screaming for anger or ate my nails for the distress! :) This book make feel lot of thing. Anger, happiness, sadness... I sad about the Joceline and his lover. This extra story made me cry. Because they haven't united, she suicide when learn her lover trow deep inside the hole for the reason he save her. And then again I'm curious about the new book. Lets look what happens Stephen with the new bride of him!

Türkçe Yorumum;

Kitaba bayıldım. Beni sinirden patlattı hop oturtup kaldırttı ama kendini bana sevdirdi! Hem ağlattırdı hem güldürdü :)

Hikayemiz oğlumuz olan Gavin'in gidip cadoloz bir kadını sevmesi kalbini ona vermesi ve bu cadolozun gözünün aç olmasından adamın evlenme teklifini geri çevirip zengin bir av aramasının sonuç vermesiyle başlıyor. Oğlanımız bunu öğrenince kızıyor ama kız öyle bir oynuyor ki of adam karşısında duramıyor. 2 yıldırda sevgililer. Kız adamı bakire diye kandırmış birde. Neler neler.

Efenim oğlanımız gerçeği ne kadar erken kabul edersem o kadar iyi diye düşünerek ona teklif edilen kızla evlenmeyi kabul ediyor ama ta ki evleneceği güne kadar kızı görmüyor. Görüncede güzelliği tarafından başı dönüyor. Kıza çok iyi davranıyor ta ki bizim kız bahçede kocasıyla eski sevgilisini görene kadar. Cadoloz kadın adama öyle bir oynuyor ki hatta onun başkasıyla evlendiğinin ve bir daha onu sevmeyeceğinin verdiği acıyla yalandan intihara kalkışıyor. Oğlanımızda onun dediğini yapıp yemin ediyor ondan başkasını sevmeyeceğine.

Cadoloz gittikten sonra bizim kız ortaya çıkıyor alkışlayarak. Kızın performansına adamın laflarına yorum yapıyor. Kız için söylediği laflar yüzünden kocası tokat atıyor ona. Kızda yemin ediyor ona zorla alacağı dışında istekli olarak bir şey vermeyeceğine. Adamda onun karısı olduğunu istediğini istediği yerde istediği şekilde yapacağını. Akşam için hazırlanmasını söylüyor derken evlendiklerinden iki gün sonra çiftimiz evlerinin yolunu alıyorlar. Oğlan kızın bu isteksizliğini cezayla giderebileceğini sanarak, yeni gelini evinde bırakıp çekip gidiyor. Birkaç gün sonra kızımızın kaldığı kaleye oğlanımızın 3 kardeşinden ortancası geliyor. Bir avda yaralanmış.

Oğlanımız 1 hafta ormanlarda, yağışlı havada kızımıza ders vermek adına kalırken eve gittiğinde kollarına koşup merhamet dileneceğine başı dik bir eş buluyor. E birde kardeş Oğlanımız acayip kıskanç bir karakter. Erkek kardeşin orda olması iç güdülerini uyandırmıştır. Olmadık yerde işler arar. Zaten kardeşte bir iki güne yollanır gider. Evli çift tuhaf bir durumda kalmıştır. Aradan bir süre geçer. – en fazla bir ay – Kızın ailesinden haber gelir. Babası öldürülmüş, anneside rehine tutulmuş. Oğlanımız işe el atar. Hemen gider kaleyi kuşatır. Baya bir süre sonra kıza kocasının ele geçirildiği haberi gelir. Kız artık eli kolu bağlı kalamayacaktır. Zaten kocası ve annesini kaçıranın tek istediği kızı ele geçirmektir.

Hemen kaleye giderler ve adamın hafif salaklığından ifade etmeye çalışırlar. Ama bu adamın vekili pek kurnazdır. Kızdan baştan şüphelenmiştir. Kız buradaki günlerinin sayılı olduğunu bildiğinden hemen işlere girişir. Önce kocasını bulur. Zavallı Gavin’i bir çukura atmışlardır. Berbat bir durumdadır. Adama gizli şekilde yemek sağlarlar. Sağlığı kaçışına uygun durumda olmalıdır. Yalnız bu arada vekil bizim kötü adamın beynini yıkar ve kızı sınamaya çalışırlar. Kocasını yemek masasına o perişan halde getirip kadının tepkisini ölçerler. Tabi kız kocasından nefret ediyor gibi davranmak durumundadır. Bu yüzden kocasının yüzüne şarap fırlatır.

Ama Gavin bu bir oyun değilde kişisel olarak algılar. Bu arada kızımız allem eder kalem eder bizim oğlanın temizlenmesi, traş olmasını sağlar. Odada artık daha fazla duramayacağından iznini ister ve odasına çekilirken birden biri onu köşeye çekip boğazına bıçak dayamıştır. Kızımız ilk başta bu kişinin kimliği konusunda emin olmasada sonra bu adam Gavin’in kardeşi çıkar. Onları kurtarmaya gelmişlerdir. Yalnız Gavin’in kardeşi Stephan kızın masumiyetine inanmaz. Kız buraya kocasını kurtarmaya geldiğini, kendi ve çocuğunun canını ortaya attığını söyler.

Sonuçta Stephan inanır ve yakında olacak kurtarma için hazır olmasını söyler. Kızımız ertesi gün gizlice kocasını görmeye çalışır ama biri kimliğini tanımış ve hemen vekile haber vermiştir. Vekil ise kızla bir pazarlığa girişir. Judith ona toprak vericektir. Adamda karşılığında onların kurtulmasına yardımcı olacağını söyler. Judith adama aynı zaman hamile olduğunuda bildirir. Bu konuşmayı vekilin yatağının altında saklanan casus direkt bizim salak sandığımız ama yeri geldiğinde acımasız bir psikopata dönüşen adama haber verir. Vekil ilk iş kötü adamın odasına transfer olmuştur. Kızımızda oda hapsine. Ertesi gün kız kötü adamın odasına götürülür. Kötü adamımız ona bütün gece adamı ne hale getirdiği gösterir. Kız fenalaşır. Ama ayakta durabilmiştir.

Ama kötü adamımızın işkenceleri bitmez. Sıra Gavin’e gelmiştir. Kızımız çıldırmış gibi hareket eder ama kötü adam uslu olmasını yoksa değerli kocasının bunu canıyla ödeyeceğini söyler. Kızı kocasının önünde taciz eder, kıyafetlerini soyar. En sonunda elini kızın karnına getirerek onun çocuğuna hamile olduğunu söyler. Ondan sonra Gavin üzerindeki işkenceye girişirken kızımız adamı öldürür. Gavin hemen işleri ele almıştır. Kız hemen üstüne bir şey alır. O arada kapı açılmış ve kapıda Stephan belirmiştir. Hemen oradan çıkarırlar. Olay mahalinden uzakta bir yerde kamp yaparlar. Gavin Judith ile tek kelime bile konuşmuyor. Çocuğun babasının kimliğini sorgulamıyordur. Judith ise gurur yüzünden ne yalvarır ne de açıklama yapar. Kralın emri dolayısıyla saraya gitmeleri lazımdır. Hep beraber yolculuğa çıkarlar.

O arada hikaye oğlanımızın metresine geçiyor Metres evlenmiş ama kocasını avucunda oynatacağı planları hayal olmuştur. Adam kızın karıştırdığı her halttan haberdardır. Kızımızın çeyiz diye yeni evine getirdiği sevgililerden bir kaçını katletmiştir bile. En sonuncusu olan saf müzisyenimizdir. Bir gün kızın odasından çıktıktan bir süre sonra Kont karşısına çıkar. Kellesinin gideceğinden korkan adam Kontun onu odasına çağırmasıyla dahada korkmuştur. Ama Kont ona ölesiye dövülmüş bir kadın cesedinden kurtulmasını ister. Karşılığındada parasını verir. Bu kadın Kontun metresidir. Genç müzisyen kızı odasına götürür. Yarın gömecektir. Ama keşfeder ki kız zorda olsa yaşıyordur. Orada odasında kıza bakar, birbirlerine aşık olurlar. Ama durum şu ki bizim oğlan tam bir çapkındır eskiden.

Uzun zamandır onunla ilgilenmediği için şikayetçi hanımlar onun ilgisini neyin çektiğini öğrenmek için odasını karıştırıp metresi bulduklarında kızı Kont’a verirler. Müzisyende yakalanıp bir çukura atılır. Kızımız ise o çukurda bir insanın bir gün bile yaşayamayacağını, kendisininde aşkı olmadan hayatta kalamayacağını bildiğinden canına kıyar. Gecenin körü müzisyen biri tarafından kurtulur. Oradan kaçması istenir. Ama müzisyen sevdiği olmadan kaçmaz. Kötü haber verilip, sevdiğinin mezarı gösterilir. Müzisyende eline kılıç aldığı gibi Kont’u öldürür. Böylece bayan akrep olan Alice serbest kalıp asıl karakterimize kabuslar yaşatmaya başlar.

Çiftimiz saraya yeni gelmiştir. Alice karşılarına çıktığında Judith çok bozulur. Ortamdan uzaklaşır. Kocasının başka kadına olan ilgisini - kendi düşüncesi, gerçekler elbette öyle değil – görmeye dayanamayacağından ortamdan kaçar. Alice her fırsatta Gavin’e ulaşmaya çalışıyordur. Bir gün Gavin’e avdayken mesaj gelir. Kardeşi tarafından çağırılıyordur ve karısına bunu söylememelidir. Gavin oraya gidince bu kişinin Alice olduğunu görür ve kıza onu sevmediğini, karısını sevdiğini, her şeyin bittiğini söyler. Ama Alice bu anlar mı hiç! Gavin’in kardeşini yollarken yaptığı kutlamadaki sarhoş durumundan faydalanır.

Oğlumuz ilk boş bulduğu yatağa konmuştur. Alice’te yanına. Judith’e bir mesaj uçurtulmasınada sebebiyet verdimi hah buyurun cenaze namazın Judith sahne karşısında şok olmuştur. O kadar ki merdivenleri görmez ve patır kütür düştüğü gibi bütün bebek umutlarınıda kaybeder. Acil bir şekilde odasına çıkartılır ve bebeği ölü doğar. Kocasıyla ne konuşur, nede onun girişimlerine karşılık verir. Gavin hala Alice’i savunuyordur. O öyle bir şey yapmaz diye! Gerçekler ortaya çıkınca da bir şey yapmadı ya neyse.

Kızımız bir hafta yatakta kaldıktan sonra krala gider ve boşanmak istediğini söyler. Kral hemen acele etmez ve bunu Gavin’e bildirir. Gavinde sinir küpü bir şekilde Judith’e patlar ama sonuç değişmez. Sarayda herkes Gavin’e bir karısına bile mukayet olamıyor diye gülüyordur. Ama genç adam sesini çıkarmaz. Sanki bekarmışlar gibi genç kadınlar Gavin’e erkekler ise Judith’e kur yapmaktadırlar. İki tarafında kıskançlık içlerini için için yemektedir. Bir gün kız hayranlardan biriyle bütün gününü ormanda gezerek geçirir. Adam kızdan bir öpücük çalar. Ama sahneye Gavin’in dalması ve bu öpücük çaldığına pişman olacak adamı yere çalması tamamen kriz yaratır. Gavin kızı alır oradan götürür. Judith sadece ona aittir ve öyle kalacaktır tipinde bir tirat yapar.

Akabinde bu topraklardan ayrılıp evlerine dönerler. Bizim kızı öpen adam aslında iyiliğini isteyen biridir. Alice’inde ne mal olduğunu bildiğinden onları takip eder. Yolculukta Judith kaçırılır. Kaçıran bu adamı bayıltırlar ve geride bırakırlar. Kızı kimin kaçırdığını söylemesi için. Gavin öğrenir öğrenmez hemen kaleye gider. Alice’te kızı bir kuleye götürüp kızın yüzüne kızmış yağ gibi bir şey fırlatıp güzelliğini yok etmeye çalışmaktadır. O arada kapı kırılır. Gavin ve o savaşçı odaya girer. Alice kızı bırakmamaya yeminlidir. Uçuruma gittikçe yaklaşır kızla beraber. O arada ilgisini onu seven dadısı dağıtır. Kadın uçurumdan aşağı düşmesiyle bizim alice’in suratınada kızgın yağ gelir mi? Judith kocasına koşar Böylede bir mutlu son olur. Bol entrika söz konusu anlayacağınız. Baya anlattım umarım kitabı benim kadar beğenmişsinizdir.Özetle süper kitap Jude Deveraux'un yazımını ilk kitaptan daha iyi anladım bu kitapta ve bayıldım.

[★ Larissa ~ book crusher ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

********** 4 Stars **********


First, a little background: I read this book back in high school and loved it to fervent death. It was my first experience with a proper romance (other than Harlequin Presents) and I fell in love with this epic tale involving knights and ladies and all sorts of sprawling medieval goodness. I was in heaven. Jude Deveraux became my hero and I declared romance my favourite genre. I pulled out pencil and paper and began to write my very first novel (which sucked of course) and declared I wanted to be a romance author just like Jude when I grew up.

Fast forward to present day, many years later. My girl Feifei and I are hanging on GR talking about A Knight In Shining Armor by this same author, and we realize we'd love to BR the Velvet saga. Will it live up to the love we both professed for it?

And the verdict is:

Yes.... and no. LOL. I Know Feifei nearly hated it this time around and I totally get why. I didn't hate it as much but this wasn't the perfect read I remembered from back then. Gavin, who I used to declare as my favourite out of the four Montgomery brothers, stood out stark and clear this time around for being a total scumbag douchecanoe. What clearly impressed my young 15 year old, 90's self, today felt annoying and horrifying at the very least. This dude, for all his sexy, hot, knight self never truly redeemed himself after the despicable way he treated Judith, the heroine. Enter Ye ol' Gavin Montgomery rant fest ahead, come all ye! (tagged with Spoiler tags for the Super Spoilery Spoils within):

He beats her and rapes her during her wedding night, he constantly utters sexist slurs at her, acting like an oaf and a bully asshat, he constantly defends his beautiful, innocent ex-mistress Alice, who he never really saw for the awful bitch she was until the very end, even after she tricked Judith into catching her in bed with his too-drunk ass and causing her to nearly break her neck by falling down some stairs and losing her baby. Did he cut her a new one? You'd think he would right? After all, what that bitch did was heinous and murderous, but no, it took the idiot a while to realize the extent of her evil, and even then... let her go easy, thus precipitating a final bit of drama where she kidnapped and nearly disfigured Judith. To all that I say:




But let's just stop there, because it's hard not to slag off Gavin without giving away the whole damn story. The point is, I doubt there will be many readers who will consider this hero swoon worthy and will not end up wanting to cut up his nuts, fry them in butter and serve them to him on a platter.

Don't get me wrong, this book is still good as far as well written, well paced epic historical medieval romances go. If you like high drama and a flair of soap opera with your romances, this will be a hit. Gavin may be hard to take, but Judith Revedoune, the heroine is mostly a delight to read about (if a bit Mary Sue-ish by the end). Truth is I couldn't put this down and the premise itself intrigued the hell out of me. The ending though, left much to be desired. Seriously, too much drama for it to end in the literary equivalent of a deflating balloon.

The other Montgomery brothers are delicious and I cannot wait to read their story.

Thank you, Feifei!! xoxoxo... unearthing and rereading these classic romances is fun as hell. On to Stephen! *crosses fingers*



Buddy Read 23/06/14 with the awesome Lady Vigilante (Feifei). Can't wait!!

[Fatimama · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved it when I was younger and didn't know any better. I can't stand Gavin now. I'm really sad that he was the reason why they couldn't have children anymore, I wanted Judith to find someone else

[Obsidian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this series eons ago. I think my mom got me this one and then I got the other ones after that. Fair warning that this book was written in the 1980s so yes there is rape in this story-line and it feels a little jarring to read it and have others kind of ignore it. I have to say though that I ended up as a whole disliking this series. You don't really get to see the "women" in any of the series shine. The Montgomery men are just off-putting and don't listen for the most part and the hero in this one, Gavin, I had a hard time with.

"The Velvet Promise" takes place in the 1500s. Heiress Judith Revedoune wants to be a prioress. She doesn't want to marry and knows that being a prioress would give her more freedom than she would ever have as a wife. Gavin Montgomery though ends up being her betrothed. Judith starts to have "feelings" for Gavin and wonders if maybe this marriage will work. Until she spies Gavin with his mistress, Alice and then when she rightfully loses it he punishes her throughout their marriage and ends up feeling torn between Judith and Alice.

Look, Gavin sucks. Him being torn between Judith and Alice was just ugh. She's awful and he doesn't see it. Judith is punished again and again by Gavin and you just hope she can escape him. Judith if she had been born in another time and place would have been a pioneer. She is really smart, knows what she is doing, and how to run a household. I honestly was baffled that Deveraux set it up like Judith was just overcome with love for Gavin. I kept wondering why/how she was.

We get the other Montgomery's popping up in this one and some other characters that will re-appear in the later books.

When the book finally comes to an end as some other reviewers said it was abrupt and made zero sense.