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This one is a hard book to rate. I waffled between 3 and 4 stars and I'm going with 3.5 rounded up. Ms. Deveraux is a longtime favorite author of medieval romance, and this book takes place in the early Tudor era though it sometimes feels earlier medieval. It's also one of her earlier books, a 1990s bodice ripper.
Judith is destined for the convent until her father loses both his sons and decides he needs Judith to produce a grandson to inherit his lands. The Montgomerys produce lots of male babies, so he settles on Gavin, the eldest of four men. Unfortunately, Gavin is in love with another woman, Alice, who's a stereotypical schemer, only out for money and power, though she wants to keep Gavin on the side as a lover.
Judith is strong-willed and independent (the author does a nice job of explaining that her prioress training gave her skills that most women of that period didn't have). Gavin wants a meek lady like Alice (he thinks) until he realizes that he's in love with Judith. But he's naive about women and can't seem to see Alice as everyone else does until the bitter end which is why I have a hard time with the rating. He really makes it hard to like him with his stubborn adherence to the OW.
The writing is excellent with detailed historical descriptions of clothing, food, and daily living. It's and interesting historical period, after the Wars of the Roses, when England was recovering from those civil wars under the first Tudor king. There are three more books in the series and I look forward to what happens to the rest of the Montgomery men. ( )

Inglaterra, 1501. Todo el país se recogió con la boda de Judith Revedoune y Gavin Montgomery. Aunque Judith se había prometido que su esposo sólo la poseería por la fuerza, el primer contacto entre ambos, ante el florido altar, enciende la llama de una pasión inocultable. Cuando Gavin se asomó al fondo de aquellos ojos dorados, se sintió consumido por el deseo... Pero ya había entregado su corazón a otra. Humillada y sola en un castillo desconocido, Judith resuelve odiar a ese marido que toma su cuerpo pero rechaza su alma. Pero sabe que lo ama y que teme perderlo...

Jude Deveraux is an author I first read many years ago and while some of her books definitely do not age well I do think the Velvet Montgomery Annuals Quadrilogy books do continue to be basically enjoyable to read. I have always enjoyed the interactions her characters have had and the places she sets the story. The plot can be a bit thin but overall I think it's a good beach read. ( )

I like the character of Judith already; she rather become a prioress (high ranking nun) than get married and "become a servant to a man". I sense the beginnings of a strong woman character.

Judith is turning out to be quite a woman! When she accidentally spies Gavin, newly her husband, and Alice (vindictive, crazy, lover of Gavins) talking she tells Gavin exactly what is on her mind. Judith doesn't run away crying instead she claps and says Alice put on quite a performance and basically how dumb Gavin is for falling for it.

The author does a commendable job with the time period and setting. Ms. Deveraux actually describes the type of dress, housing, and culture she is writing about to help the reader get a good feel for the time, instead of just say "hey it's the 1500s and everyone rides horses, the women wear dresses, and the men carry swords".

I can definitely tell this book was written awhile ago (1981) and their marriage night is less than desirable reading. N.O.W. would probably have some issues with how Gavin treats Judith from time to time, however, considering the time period I can't fault Deveraux too much.

This is decidedly Judith's story, her force of will and strong personality overshadows poor Gavin many times.

For the last half of the book I was practically salivating waiting for Alice to get her comeuppance. It started to get a little ridiculous how blind Gavin was to Alice's true personality (psycho bitch). Hard to have respect for a guy who was pretty oblivious/dumb throughout most the book. In fact it wasn't until the last 5pgs that Gavin finally realized Alice was ka'raaazzzy. Alice snarls and he sees for the first time she has crooked teeth; crooked teeth apparently coincides with evil woman in Gavin's mind.

The ending was so completely abrupt I think I was still like wtf for 10 mins after. This book had some good moments but for the most part I think it is past its prime.


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