I had looked forward to reading the Velvet series for the longest time but was reluctant to read The Velvet Promise because I was told that there was some violence against the heroine on the hero's part. So, with much wariness, I began to read the first installment of the series that began the Montgomery family saga. The year is 1501. Judith Revedoune is an independent woman who dreams of becoming a prioress, a position in the nunnery that is highly respected for women. But her abusive father has other plans. He forces her to marry Gavin Montgomery. Gavin isn't thrilled with the prospect of marriage himself. His heart belongs to Alice Valence, but she is to marry another. So he marries Judith, mainly because she is the Revedoune heiress. He is attracted to the beautiful redhead with the golden eyes from the moment he sees her, and it would not be difficult for him to fall in love with her, but Alice does whatever is possible to hold on to Gavin. Alice wants her cake and eat it too, and she won't allow another woman to take away Gavin's devotion to her. There are many twists throughout the novel.

This is one intense, emotionally-driven novel full of twists and intrigue. I couldn't put it down. Alice is one of the most cold-blooded villainesses I have read in a historical romance. The way she seems to have a hold on Gavin, that he is unable to see through this sharp, scheming woman, is amazing if a bit over the top at times. I do marvel at her keen intelligence and conning ways. She even murders quite a few people, so this woman is a villainess through and through. I hated Gavin at first. I just wanted to shake the bloody idiot and slap some sense into him. It is obvious to me that he denies himself his growing feelings for Judith because of this romantic notion he has of Alice. And the fact that he rapes and hits Judith because of Alice leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (That last part isn't a spoiler per se, for many reviewers have already revealed that this happens in the novel.) I have said before that the hero raping the heroine isn't romantic, no matter how integral that storyline may be, and that is why I give this four stars instead of five. I just don't like to read about violence against women, period. I know this was written during the bodice ripper craze in the seventies and eighties, but still. Anyway, Judith is a great heroine, a fighter who doesn't yield to Gavin no matter how much he tries to break her spirit. She is strong and determined and has become one of my favorite Deveraux heroines. The Velvet Promise is a wonderful start to the Velvet series and I look forward to reading the three other books. Jude Deveraux has become one of my favorite authors and she has once again delivered a novel so engrossing it is impossible to put down once you start reading it.

I love JD and have most of her books on my bookshelf. This one let me down. I tried not to let other reviews influence my judgment and so purchased the digital edition. After a few chapters, I found myself scanning and skipping a page then two.

If you love historical romance and JD, I recommend WISHES, COUNTERFEIT LADY, THE RAIDER, THE PRINCESS, THE CONQUEST.

If you have no preferences, I recommend Jill Barret (WONDERFUL, THE HEART'S HAVEN, JUST A KISS AWAY, IMAGINE...) and Catherine Coulter (MAD JACK, LORD HARRY, THE DUKE, the SONG and MAGIC series). Other great reads are HANNAH'S HALF BREED (Heidi Betts), A PIRATE OF HER OWN, THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS (Christina Dodd), EVERYTHING AND THE MOON (Julia Quinn), MARRYING MISCHIEF, A MARRIAGE BY CHANCE (Carolyn Davidson), LIONHEART & THE ROGUE AND THE HELLION (Connie Mason), FORBIDDEN & BEAUTIFUL DREAMER(Elizabeth Lowell), SO SPEAKS THE HEART (Johanna Lindsey), SILK and STEEL & SECRET WAYS (Kat Martin), LORD OF MY HEART & DARK CHAMPION (Jo Beverly)