Additionally, Bronwyn’s anti-English attitude was carried on for far too long and got a bit tiresome. Highland Velvet while enjoyable, is probably my least favorite of the four, since it is handicapped by too many sub-plots. Highland Velvet focuses on Stephen’s attempts to fit in with the ways of the Highlanders, and trying his darndest to please a wife who hates him and thinks his attempts to fit in with her people are ridiculous. Bronwyn MacArran is not only is laird of her own clan, she hates all English. Highland Velvet follows the second oldest Montgomery brother, Stephen, who is ordered by his king to take a Scottish bride. Judith must come to the realization that not all men are abusive, controlling beasts (although Gavin does possess quite a temper) and Gavin must see the deceptive Alice for what she really is and come to love and trust his bride. Throughout the book, Gavin and Judith have to overcome obstacles due to their having married as total strangers. Judith and Gavin’s initial meeting on their wedding day starts as a fairy tale but soon turns disasterous when Gavin’s conniving, deceitful former lover, Alice, turns up hoping to keep Gavin chained to her.

But when the earl threatens his wife with serious, bodily harm if Judith doesn’t go through with the marriage, she capitulates. Judith’s mother, on the other hand, has trained her to become a prioress to protect her from the same sort of abusive marriage she herself suffered. All his sons are dead, and though he’s left with this puny and worthless daughter, the least she can do is give him grandsons. Judith is the daughter of an abusive and powerful earl who sees this marriage as his way to continue the family line. Gavin sees the marriage as a way to re-establish his tarnished family name. We meet Gavin Montgomery in Velvet Promise in which he marries, sight unseen, the outrageously gorgeous, red-headed, golden-eyed Judith Revedoune. In these books, Deveraux introduces us to the wonderful, proud and gorgeous Montgomery brothers. Of all of her wonderful books, the four titles in Jude Deveraux’s Velvet series are classics and particular favorites of mine.

The Velvet Promise by Jude Deveraux