For her entire life, Judith was prepared to enter the church and make her vows before God. When her father informs her that she will marry Gavin Montgomery, she refuses. When her father threatened her mother, Judith knew that she had no choice. When he sees her husband on their wedding day, everything her mother told her about not trusting men flew right out of her head.
This is a typical medival romance, where the man first looks at the woman as property, then learns that she won't be treated like a thing that is owned. I felt so frustrated with Gavin's obession with Alice, but it truly would not be the same without the conflict Gavin was feeling. To the reader it is obvious how devious Alice is. It is obvious to everyone but Gavin, who hold her in a high regard to the end. I'm always bothered by a woman getting hit or raped in a book, but in the 1500's it wasn't the same as now. I'm not saying that it's any less wrong, but it showed what kind of character Judith had. She was a great heroine.
If you like medival romance, you will enjoy this first book of the Montgomery brothers.
Judith is a worthy heroine. And it was fun to read her seduction of Gavin. There is an softness and innocence about their love for each other. However, my heart went out to Judith for her lost towards the end of the book. Get out the hankies! A great read, a worthy JD classic!
Lealing
Eh, after a while of not reading much of Deveraux's books, because a Knight in shinning Armor dissapointed me, I picked up Heiress and Rememberence & completly read the book in one 6 hour sitting. I then found I had this book stashed away in my closet. I read the back and the story sort of scared me. I don't like unfaithful heros or stories of unhonorable men and thought this book might have that. So, eh, silly me went to the end and read a bit and then felt a bit better that this doesn't really have that at all.
For one, this has to be my favorite novel of ALL time next to the Heiress! Thank you Jude for putting more AMAZING Love Scenes into this book!! I greatly loved this book sizzled! Sex almost every other page, but it wasn't trashy and it wasn't boring. Done WELL! Thank you!
Gavin, an amaing hero character--I think the reviewers who diss him and give this book a low score do NOT understand the story at all! Gavin--YES, was played for a fool! How can you not hate Alice and smack Gavin up-side the head for being so dumb? Eh, so even though he "thought" he was in love or whatever with Alice, a cold non-loving person who used Gavin, he ends up marrying Judith, a warm passionate carring and smart woman. The book is not over-done with telling how lovely Judith is where it becomes annoying. I've read other novels that do and just want to throw away, but this never becomes too much. It was done well. Gavin's fate was good, stupid Alice lost him because of her greed. He marries Judith to get back at Alice for hurting him. Alice pretty much lies to Gavin in this whole book, using him by using his feelings for her. SO, maybe some think he was blind, but he was and he was being used. I sort of feel sorry for Gavin for being dumb, but anyone could have if they were being used like that. It took TRUE LOVE for him to be free from Alice of course, which I LOVED how the story works out with a completly amazing ending! I guess this story also shows how Gavin thought all women were angels until he met Judith and he could not keep his hands from her. Maybe at first sight, his soul felt a pull to her. Her love and companionship was true and not fake. It wasn't perfect, but what relationship is perfect? They had their fights, great ones and times of pain and great times of passion and love and understanding of one another. Gavin was allowed to hold her after making love to her, which he thought was amazing because Alice never gave him such a thrill. Judith was warm when I believe he needed that.
Of course people are human beings so they make mistakes and Gavin does make his mistakes in the begining by hurting Judith's feelings, but love has it's ups and downs.
I loved was that Alice never was in the picture mostly throughout the whole book. She sort of got what she deserved for marrying that slime of an Earl. And GOD! That poor poor sad story near the end of love pain and lose. I cried my eyes out. I won't say any more.
It seemed to me Gavin didn't have Alice on his mind at all when he got married. Maybe on Gavin's mind only when Judith brought her name up, but when Gavin was with Judith, all he could think of was Judith. Gavin got a chance to be with his wife and know her and love her. Thank you Jude for making such a perfect plot and story with a wonderful perfect ending. I went and bought the other 3 books to the series the other day and I LOVE Stephen! OH, thoe Montgomery brothers are so fun!
Gavin and Judith got time alone together to learn to fall in love with one another without Alice personally getting in the way, so I was glad he never had ANY affairs. (Which I was afraid of, but it never happened) He married for money and etc. to begin with, but he soon learned what TRUE LOVE was, based on the person and who they are. I thik Judith was amazingly beautiful because she WAS on the inside. Maybe why men saw her and just were stunned. Her inner beauty brought out her outer beauty. All in all, the best book I've read so far in this series and in my life!