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Feuriger Rubin
Thirteen years ago, Alex Greysteel Montgomery, an Earl and double agent-now working to restore King Charles II to the throne-was betrothed to the impetuous Velvet Cavendish. Their parents saw the engagement as a business opportunity-and although Greysteel has always had an affinity for Velvet, she has not returned his affections.
Once reunited with Greysteel, Velvet is determined to break their bond-for she has her sights set on none other than King Charles II himself. But Greysteel is equally determined to wed the fiery beauty who has stirred him like no other. Now he'll do anything to conquer-and rule-her heart.
Once reunited with Greysteel, Velvet is determined to break their bond-for she has her sights set on none other than King Charles II himself. But Greysteel is equally determined to wed the fiery beauty who has stirred him like no other. Now he'll do anything to conquer-and rule-her heart.
Paperback
First published September 6, 2005
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About the author
Virginia Henley
66 books636 followersVirginia Syddall was born on December 5, 1935 in England, where her father, Thomas Syddall, taught her to love history. She obtained a degree in History in the University. In 1956, Virginia married Arthur Henley. They moved to America, and now they live most of the year in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they spend the hot summers in Ontario, Canada, where they have their two adult children and three grandsons.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
Virginia Henley is a New York Times bestselling writer of historical novels. Her work has been translated into fourteen languages. She is the recipient of more than a dozen writing awards, including a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award, a Waldenbooks' Bestselling Award, and a Maggie Award for Excellence from the Georgia Romance Writers.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 23, 2025
okay, it's not like i expect a lot from bodice rippers but this one was truly bad, even for this genre. if i had learned one more characters' star sign i probably would have had a breakdown.
May 4, 2011
I enjoyed this book mostly because of its unusual setting in Restoration England, which was a nice change of pace from the multitude of Regencies I usually come across. Some of the misunderstandings that keep the hero and heroine apart until nearly the end seemed contrived, and could easily have been solved with a few words of conversation. I'm not usually fond of books where the main problem between the hero and heroine is a lack of honest communication, but the interesting setting and characters made up for any annoyance I may have had with the plot. Overall, I did like the book, but it's not a keeper for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2017
I do not like the characters in this story AT ALL!!! So much so I am quitting at 26%!
Montgomery is an awful hero and Velvet is a pathetic heroine. I just CANNOT bring myself to read any more about them. And since I find the two main characters atrocious I DO NOT want to read about them getting it on.
Awful, horrid, nasty characterisation!
And the paragraphing in the snook was disturbing and disruptive as there was not do much as a paragraph between one scene and another completely new one???!
I hated this. So disappointing!
Montgomery is an awful hero and Velvet is a pathetic heroine. I just CANNOT bring myself to read any more about them. And since I find the two main characters atrocious I DO NOT want to read about them getting it on.
Awful, horrid, nasty characterisation!
And the paragraphing in the snook was disturbing and disruptive as there was not do much as a paragraph between one scene and another completely new one???!
I hated this. So disappointing!
May 19, 2013
This one is set against the English Restoration. Robert Greysteel Montgomery and Elizabeth (Velvet) Cavendish were betrothed very young. Even then, Velvet didn’t like the idea—he had a "thang" for Prince Charles.
Years later, Velvet is in exile with Charles II, and Greysteel is spying for George Monck, as Cromwell’s health fails. Velvet comes to stay with an aunt in London, and the two meet again. It’s love/hate at first (second) sight.
Lots (lots) of misunderstandings follow.
The good: I always like books that are rich in historical detail, and this one was clearly well-researched. (though the author does, as usual, take some liberties with the facts).
OK, so I didn't love this guy. Despite all my grumbles, the HEA is pretty good. 3.5 stars
Years later, Velvet is in exile with Charles II, and Greysteel is spying for George Monck, as Cromwell’s health fails. Velvet comes to stay with an aunt in London, and the two meet again. It’s love/hate at first (second) sight.
Lots (lots) of misunderstandings follow.
The good: I always like books that are rich in historical detail, and this one was clearly well-researched. (though the author does, as usual, take some liberties with the facts).
OK, so I didn't love this guy. Despite all my grumbles, the HEA is pretty good. 3.5 stars
August 27, 2014
Surprise, surprise...yet another asinine heroine and hero.
#ugh #spareme
#ugh #spareme
January 28, 2014
This book is actually a sequel or continuation of "A Woman of Passion". It features the great granddaughter of Bess Hardwick.
May 21, 2013
Enjoyed this but still not my favorite.
October 26, 2011
novel khas virginia henley :
1. nama para tokoh2nya banyak yg sama (aq heran ini apa VH yg terlalu irit nama ya??trus apa ga bingung dia milah2 begitu banyaknya nama yg sama???)
2. tokoh2nya buanyak amat (udah banyak nama sama pula hhhhhhh)
3. selalu nongol Mr. Burke (pecinta mr. burke nih)
4. jaman kegelapan & peperangan....
terlepas dr ke 4 diatas sebenarnya di novel enak dibaca.
lady elizabeth cavendish, putri satu2nya earl of newscatle (well bokap elizabeth gelarnya puanjang & buanyak & karna aq paling parah disuruh nginget nama ga penting ya mana ku ingat :p), sejak usia 7 tahun lizzie sudah dijodohkan dengan robert "graysteel" montgomery, heir dari earl of eiglinton (bener ga ya namanya?)
ayah graysteel karna ingin memiliki properti keluarga cavendish karna itu ngotot memaksakan perjodohkan tersebut.
lizzie dari kecil tidak suka namanya & hanya akan menyahut jika dipanggil velvet, lizzie ngotot jika montgomery saja bisa membuat namanya mjd graysteel kenapa dia tidak??!
sejak pertama bertemu baik velvet maupun graysteel sudah lgs berlawananan.
apalagi velvet dengan jelas menyatakan ketertarikannya pd charles stuart, calon raja masa depan.
saat king of charles I & kaum royalist kalah dr cromwell, keluarga kerajaan & pengikut2 setianya terpaksa harus merelakan segala kekayaan & kemewahan yg mereka punya & mengungsi ke luar negeri.
kebanyakan hidup serba sederhana di paris karna ratu england adl adik or anak king of france.
termasuk diantaranya adl velvet sekeluarga.
hidup di pengasingan kehilangan segalanya terasa lebih berat bagi ibunda velvet yg kesehatannya lgs down.
tp bagi velvet dia percaya suatu saat charles akan kembali bertahta. & walo hidup serba apa adanya tp velvet bahagia.
kebahagiaan yg terpecah karna kematian sang ibu & disusul oleh sang ayah yg menikah kembali dgn lady margaret pdhl sang ibu blm lama meninggal.
hal itu ditambah lady margaret yg selau mengkritik segala hal ttg velvet membuat hubungan velvet dengan sang ayah mjd renggang.
membuat velvet memutuskan untuk menerima bantuan keluarga cavendish & kembali ke inggris tinggal bersama dowager countess ellizabeth cavendish (again, nama yg sama)
di inggris velvet belajar hal2 baru. dowager countess adl wanita yg baik hati yg adl sahabat nenek velvet & sangat mengagumi nenek velvet.
di inggris pula velvet kembali bertemu dgn "tunangannya".
percikan2 langsung bertebaran.....
graysteel mendapati gadis kecil bermulut pedas & manja telah berubah menjadi wanita jelita & mempesona, wanita yg lgs ingin dinikahinya bagaimanapun caranya.
tp tampaknya velvet masih belum melepaskan perasaannya terhadap charles.
apapun perasaan velvet tp bukankah mereka sudah bertunangan jd wajar saja kalau mereka mulai menyusun rencana menikah bukan?? velvet & charles pun tak mungkin bersatu, charles pasti menikah dgn seorang putri yg membawa keuntungan lebih padanya bukan???
& tampaknya charles sudah mendapatkannya dr kerajaan portugal.
velvet sendiri merasa aneh, dia merasa dirinya terbagi diantara 2 pria.
diantara charles, pria yg selama ini menjadi curahan cintanya & graysteel, pria yg sanggup menawan tubuhnya & memenuhi pikirannya.
ketambahan graysteel memiliki 2 kastil yg sangat diinginkan velvet, tp velvet bisa mendpatkan jika mau menikah dgn graysteel.
hmmmmmmm gimana enaknya ya????
kayaknya mereka memang harus nikah deh, lha charles gt berhasil kembali naik tahta hal pertama yg disabdakannya adl pernikahan velvet & graysteel.
graysteel sbnrnya ga mau charles ikut campur tp tanpa ikut campur charles akan sangat mustahil baginya untuk bisa menikahi velvet.
walau bgt graysteel tetap ingin velvet menikah dgnnya dgn keinginannya sendiri.
hal yg berhasil didapatnya. velvet memang bersedia menikahinya tp skrg graysteel jadi bertanya2 velvet bersedia menikah dgnnya karna 2 kastilnya ataukah karna keinginannya sendiri (dasar graysteel bingungi karepe dhewe, pengen nikah sama velvet gitu berhasil malah terbingung2 sendiri)
pasangan newlywed earl & countess eiglinton membuat tiap orang iri.
yg pria tampan & gagah, yg wanita cantik jelita, 22nya memiliki hubungan yg dekat dengan king charles II & merupakan orang terdekatnya.
graysteel pun terlepas dr segala pertanyaan2nya menikmati hubungannya dgn velvet.
velvet yg di luar terlihat kuat & mandiri sbnrnya lemah & penuh ketakutan, hal yg hanya diketahui oleh 2 orang, ibunda velvet & graysteel. graysteel ingin melindungi velvet dr apapun.
tp gimana mo nglindungi kalo graysteel selalu terbakar api cemburu???
graysteel masih menganggap dirinya adl pilihan ke 2 & hati velvet masih berada di charles, tanpa graysteel menyadari sejak menikah dgnnya velvet tidak pernah lagi membayangkan menikah dgn charles.
ketambahan dengan william cavendish, cucu dowanger countess cavendish, yg kurang ajar & over pede & ingin memiliki velvet dengan sengaja menyebar lukisan nude velvet yg sebenarnya dilukis khusus untuk graysteel.
graysteel makin cemburu....
lalu tanpa menerima penjelasan dari velvet, graysteel menarik kesimpulan sendiri saat mengetahui velvet menghabiskan waktu seharian hanya ber 2 bersama charles.
pdhl velvet hanya saling berbincang dgn charles perihal calon istri charles.
kalo menurutku baik velvet maupun graysteel sama2 ga ada yg percaya satu sama lain.
yg graysteel ga curigaan & cemburu tingkat tinggi begitu pula dgn velvet yg ga percaya sama sekali pd graysteel.
herannya mereka udah ga percayaan juga ga saling komunikasi or sekedar marah2 sambil saling melemparkan tuduhan2 mereka kek.
ini malah diam2an, saling membisu sambil bercuriga2 ria.
apa ga oon tuh??????
udah gitu masing2 udah diujung kematian baru saling terbuka & berjanji untuk saling percaya....
duhhhh pleaseee deh...lebay mode on....
tp aq suka gaya velvet. dia berani banget.
terutama ga sudi ditindas margaret.
dia juga ga sudi disingkirkan sang ayah yg ternyata baru ketahuan lebih mementingkan anak laki2 & tidak pernah memikirkan tentang velvet.
bayangin dr sekian banyak tanah & castle yg dimiliki sang ayah masa velvet ga dpt bagian 1 pun??? udah gitu dowry velvet mo ga dikasih.
wuihhhh.....
walo graysteel menolak dowry tersebut tp velvet tanpa basa basi langsung meminta untuk keperluan pribadinya.
bravo velvet.........
1. nama para tokoh2nya banyak yg sama (aq heran ini apa VH yg terlalu irit nama ya??trus apa ga bingung dia milah2 begitu banyaknya nama yg sama???)
2. tokoh2nya buanyak amat (udah banyak nama sama pula hhhhhhh)
3. selalu nongol Mr. Burke (pecinta mr. burke nih)
4. jaman kegelapan & peperangan....
terlepas dr ke 4 diatas sebenarnya di novel enak dibaca.
lady elizabeth cavendish, putri satu2nya earl of newscatle (well bokap elizabeth gelarnya puanjang & buanyak & karna aq paling parah disuruh nginget nama ga penting ya mana ku ingat :p), sejak usia 7 tahun lizzie sudah dijodohkan dengan robert "graysteel" montgomery, heir dari earl of eiglinton (bener ga ya namanya?)
ayah graysteel karna ingin memiliki properti keluarga cavendish karna itu ngotot memaksakan perjodohkan tersebut.
lizzie dari kecil tidak suka namanya & hanya akan menyahut jika dipanggil velvet, lizzie ngotot jika montgomery saja bisa membuat namanya mjd graysteel kenapa dia tidak??!
sejak pertama bertemu baik velvet maupun graysteel sudah lgs berlawananan.
apalagi velvet dengan jelas menyatakan ketertarikannya pd charles stuart, calon raja masa depan.
saat king of charles I & kaum royalist kalah dr cromwell, keluarga kerajaan & pengikut2 setianya terpaksa harus merelakan segala kekayaan & kemewahan yg mereka punya & mengungsi ke luar negeri.
kebanyakan hidup serba sederhana di paris karna ratu england adl adik or anak king of france.
termasuk diantaranya adl velvet sekeluarga.
hidup di pengasingan kehilangan segalanya terasa lebih berat bagi ibunda velvet yg kesehatannya lgs down.
tp bagi velvet dia percaya suatu saat charles akan kembali bertahta. & walo hidup serba apa adanya tp velvet bahagia.
kebahagiaan yg terpecah karna kematian sang ibu & disusul oleh sang ayah yg menikah kembali dgn lady margaret pdhl sang ibu blm lama meninggal.
hal itu ditambah lady margaret yg selau mengkritik segala hal ttg velvet membuat hubungan velvet dengan sang ayah mjd renggang.
membuat velvet memutuskan untuk menerima bantuan keluarga cavendish & kembali ke inggris tinggal bersama dowager countess ellizabeth cavendish (again, nama yg sama)
di inggris velvet belajar hal2 baru. dowager countess adl wanita yg baik hati yg adl sahabat nenek velvet & sangat mengagumi nenek velvet.
di inggris pula velvet kembali bertemu dgn "tunangannya".
percikan2 langsung bertebaran.....
graysteel mendapati gadis kecil bermulut pedas & manja telah berubah menjadi wanita jelita & mempesona, wanita yg lgs ingin dinikahinya bagaimanapun caranya.
tp tampaknya velvet masih belum melepaskan perasaannya terhadap charles.
apapun perasaan velvet tp bukankah mereka sudah bertunangan jd wajar saja kalau mereka mulai menyusun rencana menikah bukan?? velvet & charles pun tak mungkin bersatu, charles pasti menikah dgn seorang putri yg membawa keuntungan lebih padanya bukan???
& tampaknya charles sudah mendapatkannya dr kerajaan portugal.
velvet sendiri merasa aneh, dia merasa dirinya terbagi diantara 2 pria.
diantara charles, pria yg selama ini menjadi curahan cintanya & graysteel, pria yg sanggup menawan tubuhnya & memenuhi pikirannya.
ketambahan graysteel memiliki 2 kastil yg sangat diinginkan velvet, tp velvet bisa mendpatkan jika mau menikah dgn graysteel.
hmmmmmmm gimana enaknya ya????
kayaknya mereka memang harus nikah deh, lha charles gt berhasil kembali naik tahta hal pertama yg disabdakannya adl pernikahan velvet & graysteel.
graysteel sbnrnya ga mau charles ikut campur tp tanpa ikut campur charles akan sangat mustahil baginya untuk bisa menikahi velvet.
walau bgt graysteel tetap ingin velvet menikah dgnnya dgn keinginannya sendiri.
hal yg berhasil didapatnya. velvet memang bersedia menikahinya tp skrg graysteel jadi bertanya2 velvet bersedia menikah dgnnya karna 2 kastilnya ataukah karna keinginannya sendiri (dasar graysteel bingungi karepe dhewe, pengen nikah sama velvet gitu berhasil malah terbingung2 sendiri)
pasangan newlywed earl & countess eiglinton membuat tiap orang iri.
yg pria tampan & gagah, yg wanita cantik jelita, 22nya memiliki hubungan yg dekat dengan king charles II & merupakan orang terdekatnya.
graysteel pun terlepas dr segala pertanyaan2nya menikmati hubungannya dgn velvet.
velvet yg di luar terlihat kuat & mandiri sbnrnya lemah & penuh ketakutan, hal yg hanya diketahui oleh 2 orang, ibunda velvet & graysteel. graysteel ingin melindungi velvet dr apapun.
tp gimana mo nglindungi kalo graysteel selalu terbakar api cemburu???
graysteel masih menganggap dirinya adl pilihan ke 2 & hati velvet masih berada di charles, tanpa graysteel menyadari sejak menikah dgnnya velvet tidak pernah lagi membayangkan menikah dgn charles.
ketambahan dengan william cavendish, cucu dowanger countess cavendish, yg kurang ajar & over pede & ingin memiliki velvet dengan sengaja menyebar lukisan nude velvet yg sebenarnya dilukis khusus untuk graysteel.
graysteel makin cemburu....
lalu tanpa menerima penjelasan dari velvet, graysteel menarik kesimpulan sendiri saat mengetahui velvet menghabiskan waktu seharian hanya ber 2 bersama charles.
pdhl velvet hanya saling berbincang dgn charles perihal calon istri charles.
kalo menurutku baik velvet maupun graysteel sama2 ga ada yg percaya satu sama lain.
yg graysteel ga curigaan & cemburu tingkat tinggi begitu pula dgn velvet yg ga percaya sama sekali pd graysteel.
herannya mereka udah ga percayaan juga ga saling komunikasi or sekedar marah2 sambil saling melemparkan tuduhan2 mereka kek.
ini malah diam2an, saling membisu sambil bercuriga2 ria.
apa ga oon tuh??????
udah gitu masing2 udah diujung kematian baru saling terbuka & berjanji untuk saling percaya....
duhhhh pleaseee deh...lebay mode on....
tp aq suka gaya velvet. dia berani banget.
terutama ga sudi ditindas margaret.
dia juga ga sudi disingkirkan sang ayah yg ternyata baru ketahuan lebih mementingkan anak laki2 & tidak pernah memikirkan tentang velvet.
bayangin dr sekian banyak tanah & castle yg dimiliki sang ayah masa velvet ga dpt bagian 1 pun??? udah gitu dowry velvet mo ga dikasih.
wuihhhh.....
walo graysteel menolak dowry tersebut tp velvet tanpa basa basi langsung meminta untuk keperluan pribadinya.
bravo velvet.........
January 11, 2019
Unmasked is a steamy romance story set in a turbulent period of England's history. King Charles I was executed, his heir was in exile, and the country was solidly under the Puritan thumb of Oliver Cromwell.
Velvet Cavendish and Greysteel Montgomery were betrothed as children. Montgomery was now a soldier fighting to restore Charles I I to the throne, and Velvet and her parents were Royalists living in exile until such a time as it would be safe to return to England.
The romance which blossoms amidst this hostility and war is the focus of the story, and the periods of happiness and heartache will keep you spellbound.
Velvet Cavendish and Greysteel Montgomery were betrothed as children. Montgomery was now a soldier fighting to restore Charles I I to the throne, and Velvet and her parents were Royalists living in exile until such a time as it would be safe to return to England.
The romance which blossoms amidst this hostility and war is the focus of the story, and the periods of happiness and heartache will keep you spellbound.
June 22, 2020
This was pretty good read. The characters were great. The h fell in love with the hr early on in story but was critical of the hr because she did not. The hr was very likeable but her love of Charles was annoying. Though not as good as some of vh other books I TV was still a nice read.
December 25, 2020
Unmasked
Court intrigue and gossip was common with the English Court. Velvet and Charles had been friends as long as she had been betrothed to Greysteel. Marriages were made for gain on both sides and rarely was it a love match.
Court intrigue and gossip was common with the English Court. Velvet and Charles had been friends as long as she had been betrothed to Greysteel. Marriages were made for gain on both sides and rarely was it a love match.
September 17, 2019
A fun historical romp, set in my favourite time period for historical romances: the seventeenth century.
However, whilst I emphasis the "fun" element of this romance, it has strong historical research behind it
However, whilst I emphasis the "fun" element of this romance, it has strong historical research behind it
January 12, 2010
Interesting twist in this novel...not the norm for a Henley novel. Loved it though!
January 21, 2010
A breezy read with a little "heat".
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews