A review by katiev
Highland Velvet by Jude Deveraux

4.0

Overall, I liked this one better than the first book: [b:The Velvet Promise|251966|The Velvet Promise|Jude Deveraux|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349064785s/251966.jpg|2419583]. There were times, particularly in the 1st half of the book where I would have liked to have slapped Bronwyn. She was just so immature. She was 'almost twenty' when the book began, but I think this is one of those cases where the author should have made her younger. I'll have to admit to finding it a bit squicky when you have an older hero and someone younger than the modern 'age of consent' in a historical, even though I know it was common practice for women to be wed much younger than that. 18 is considered an adult here in the U.S. and 17-18 tends to be the youngest most HR authors will go. In this case, she should have gone for the 17. It would have made Bronwyn's impulsiveness and know-all attitude more palatable. I didn't tag her as TSTL, even though she did do some things that qualified her for the position. I felt it wasn't fair, because there were areas where she was very capable and intelligent. She just needed to grow up. I also sympathized with the situation she was put in and how difficult it must have been to have all that responsibility and be forced to wed an Englishman when she had every reason to hate/mistrust the English. She does grow up quite a bit over the course of the story though - thank heavens.

Stephen was a very loveable hero and a great guy. At first he was arrogant and stubborn about his English ways, but he also grew and changed over the course of the novel. It was refreshing to see a H take on a new way of life for once. Usually, it's the h who has to do that. But, Stephen also had his stupid moments too. Like the prank he played on his childhood "friend" that got so out of hand. And his jealousy certainly made him act like an ass at times. However, I was glad for the whole prank mess, because it made Stephen seem less perfect and Bronwyn less of a shrew. In other words, neither of them were perfect.

I also liked the emphasis on how little the older Montgomery brothers actually knew/understood about women and the problems that caused. It made sense. Historically speaking, I'm sure men of their station rarely had the friendship type of relationships that help us to understand one another. They were raised doing manly things and women were either subordinates who were there to serve or protected ladies who were kept at a distance from them and only seen formally. Of course they are all expert lovers nonetheless. That I don't buy, but am willing to let that go in the name of romance :)

The villain, Roger Chatworth, was sort of interesting and I'm curious to see how his story will play out in the next 2 novels. He had some redeeming characteristics alongside being a raging SOB. It made him more believable. Very few people are totally good or totally evil. However his actions in the end were horrible. Major spoiler:

He got blind drunk and raped Mary Montgomery who he was holding captive along with Bronwyn just to piss off the Montgomerys. She, being practically a nun, and internalizing all the shame (as was appropriate to the time) threw herself out of a window to her death. That was a very tough part to get through.

I'm afraid at this point, Roger is going to follow the path of continuing to blame the Montgomerys for all his problems rather than look in a mirror. I don't see him having the courage to truly face what he's done.