I thought the premise of this novel was interesting: The husband is in love with another woman who is using him, but he marries for money, to a woman who is forced into the marriage by her abusive father. It's not your typical premise.

However, I got as far as the scene where the husband rapes his wife on their wedding night, started to cry, and closed the book. Intimate partner rape is a real life issue that devastates people's lives, not a technique of erotica.

I had high hopes for this book after reading other reviews but I'm disappointed to say that I didn't like it. I had a hard time with Gavin (yes, though he is all handsome and muscular) because he had such a blind eye when it came to his mistress. He also treated Judith (whom I loved) very badly on their wedding day and especially their wedding night. She came to him, ready to offer real love and he cast it away for dross. This plot has also been done many, many times by other historical romance writers and I totally skimmed the whole section when Gavin was taken prisoner by the evil man who was in love with Judith because it was so stupid. I'm reading Highland Velvet right now and it's a MUCH better book...thank goodness!!

I love all four of the Velvet books. I can't decide which Montgomery brother I love. I could not put these books down. The first one I read, Highland Velvet, was so sexy and exciting. Then I realized there was more to this saga. So I bought all four books and now I am reading them all over again.

I am always on the hunt for A book that has A jealous mistress involved in it because I find that theme very interesting, and I just love the drama that another woman brings to the story, but even though this book had my favorite concept, I was very disappointed in it. I was expecting A much better book with much better writing. The writing was just too simple with the characters having no realistic thoughts before saying or doing something, and the plot was all over the place. It jumps from one place to another without any sequence or logic, from different men plotting to kidnap the heroine, to the capture of the hero, to the jealous mistress trying to kill the heroine, and even more conflicts that seemed like it did not belong. It was all too much and overbearing! Also, the excitement that the jealous mistress usually brings to the story for me was not there because her behavior was too unbelievable and all she did for the story was make Gavin look like A fool without any sense.

A Little secret, I am a voracious reader and growing up I would read romance novels too, tee hee!! I have to say that Ms. Deveraux is one (actually the only) all time fave Historical Romantic novel authors. The "quadrilogy" - the velvet books are amazing...
Its the author as her best. And yes, I know a whole bunch of folks will say "whatever" but, this tale involving 4 brothers is amusing, entertaining, insightful and varied...
Enjoy