I think this one is my favorite out of all the Velvet books. I still hate the fact that they were separated because of misplaced honor and pride but the surrounding story is really beautifully written. I also was a little tired of all the kidnapping/rape plots (this being said after I read the whole series). Browyn and Stephan are definitely my type of romantic couple :-) Well worth the read but definitely need to read this series in order.

Highland Velvet is Jude Deveraux's second book in the 'Velvet' series. The story is revolved around the relationship between Bronwyn MacArran; a proud Scottish lair, and Stephen Montgomery; an Englishmen.

The first time I read this book, I despised it with a passion. Stephen's insecurity and lack of respect toward Bronwyn made it difficult for me to finish the book. I reread through the book recently and grew to appreciate Stephen.

Bronwyn's constant negative attitude at Stephen is too overbearing in certain scenes and she often lets her pride get the best of her, but she is a very selfless laird who only wants the best for her clan.

Meanwhile, Stephen begins as a very narrow-minded character, but as the story progresses, he changes himself to please Bronwyn.

I will not spoil the story for you, but I definitely recommend reading this book after 'Velvet Promise'.

I read this book over Christmas and New Years, almost exactly a year after I had been in Scotland for the Hogmanay New Years party and a week long tour of the Highlands. I have to say Jude Deveraux definitely got the romance Scotland brings right, it made me miss that beautiful country!! But on to the book. I really loved this book, and I thought the characters were INCREDIBLE. I loved seeing both Stephen and Bronwyn change over time through their love and what they both end up doing for each other. I had originally bought The Velvet Promise and Velvet Angel, and I'd started reading Velvet Angel before getting this as an ebook so being able to read this adn see how the Montgomery-Chatworth feud began (not counting the Alice thing in TVP) and what Miles means when he calls Elizabeth his angel. Roger Chatworth is SO EVIL I hate him so much, especially with what he does to Mary. But I loved seeing what happened to Judith and Gavin after TVP ends (she's pregnant, yeah!). Overall I'd place the love of Stephen and Brownyn on about the same par as Gavin and Judith or Miles and Elizabeth, but the romance definitely has a point about Gavin and Judith since Stephen does not rape his wife as Gavin does on their wedding night, that REALLY upset me in TVP. Definitely read The Velvet Promise first but don't skip this book in the Velvet series!

I actually liked Highland Velvet BETTER than I did Velvet Promise and if I could give it more than five stars (at least 10) I would. I found the pace of the book much faster and couldn't seem to leave the book long enough to get anything done. I didn't want to put it down until I'd read the last page and even when I had, I wanted the book to continue. I'd like to know what happened to David MacCarren and feel that he's worthy of a book all to himself.

I loved the characters of Browyn MacCarren and Stephen Montgomery. I know some reviewers didn't like Browyn because of how strong and stubborn she was but I found her delightful and with a wonderful sense of humor. Aside from the two main characters and the other Montgomery brothers, there are characters that stand out in my mind. One of these characters is Browyns devoted canine Rab. He was as much a member of the clan as the humans were and totally adored his mistress. Deveraux brought the dog to so much to life that I could actually picture the wolfhound in my head and couldn't help but chuckle at some of his antics.

There were also scenes in the book that literally drove me to tears of anguish. A part in the book that deals with the Montgomery's older sister Mary and Roger Chatworth's younger brother Brian had me literally crying buckets of tears. (Roger and Brian are Edmund's younger brothers) Even before the tragedy took place I knew what was going to happen, hoped it wouldn't but then, of course, it did. Rather than give away what did occur, I'll leave that up to the next reader to find out. Unless you have a heart of stone, you'll be moved by what happens between Mary and Brian.

As I stated, the book, in my humble opinion, is much better and faster paced than Promise. But read Velvet Promise BEFORE reading Highland Velvet so that you can get a sense of who the brothers are and can understand what the characters in Highland Velvet are talking about.

I found the first book in the velvet series, The Velvet Promise, in a pile of old books at a garage sale. Some of the minor details, like the pope can grant a divorce(Not), were wrong but the characters were compelling. I had to read the next book in the series. I was not disappointed. Many Romance novels have no plot. Pleasantly, Highland Velvet has many plots and subplots.

The main story is about how King Henry promises a wealthy Highland bride to Stephen Montgomery. Stephen, an Englishman, is hated by his new wife, Bronwyn, and her clan, of which she is the chosen leader. At first Stephen is arrogant and doesn't fit in. He tries to force his ways onto Bronwyn's clan. Stephen is infatuated and lusts after Bronwyn. Stephen doesn't understand her hostility to him. Stephen doesn't understand why he has to change his "superior" ways.

Bronwyn, for her part, finds Stephen very appealing, but he is not right for her clan and there is her dilema. She tries to fight her attraction to him, for the good of the clan. She is often quite mean, and physically violent to Stephen. Stephen tries to make the best of it considering there is probably no way he is getting out of the marriage alive. Until, in a drunken rage, Stephen declares he has had enough and will find someone who isn't cold to him. Stephen staggers off into the night. His angry words cause Bronwyn to realize she must also change in an attempt to win him back. She realizes she really does love him, and he is good for the clan.

I recommend reading this book as well as the Velvet Promise. The characters are fun to love, and the villans are fun to hate.