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Velvet Promise
"I'd rather not discuss your ex-husband!"
Jordan St James had never concealed his contempt for Willow. He believed that she'd trapped his wealthy cousin into marriage--and then walked out on him.
So when Willow returned to Jersey three years later, she was completely unprepared for Jordan's passionate and determined pursuit of her--or for her own equally passionate response.
If only she could tell Jordan the truth about her marriage--that it was her ex-husband who had trapped her. And that he was a man who would stop at nothing...
Jordan St James had never concealed his contempt for Willow. He believed that she'd trapped his wealthy cousin into marriage--and then walked out on him.
So when Willow returned to Jersey three years later, she was completely unprepared for Jordan's passionate and determined pursuit of her--or for her own equally passionate response.
If only she could tell Jordan the truth about her marriage--that it was her ex-husband who had trapped her. And that he was a man who would stop at nothing...
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
33 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 22, 2016
This is a hard one to rate. There aren't any warm fuzzy feelings at the end, but there is justice for the hyper-possessive ex-husband, so there's that. I found this interesting because in a different HP, the ex husband who was obsessed with the heroine could have been the hero and could have had his second chance. But here, his obsession is destructive and the heroine's fear of him is real and justified. The mystery of the heroine's marriage isn't cleared up until the end, but the reader certainly knows something is up, which sets up a nice tension.
I'm not keen on triangles and this one was uncomfortable . The hero is the cousin to the ex-husband and he is verbally abusive to the heroine at the beginning (to hide his true feelings, of course). However, when the heroine needed a champion, the hero stepped up beautifully.
This is another entry for the evil family list. Thankfully, the hideous in-laws realized how wrong they had been and believed the heroine's side of the story. The heroine's family who pressed her into marriage with the ex had already been written off, so that felt right.
I'm not keen on triangles and this one was uncomfortable . The hero is the cousin to the ex-husband and he is verbally abusive to the heroine at the beginning (to hide his true feelings, of course). However, when the heroine needed a champion, the hero stepped up beautifully.
This is another entry for the evil family list. Thankfully, the hideous in-laws realized how wrong they had been and believed the heroine's side of the story. The heroine's family who pressed her into marriage with the ex had already been written off, so that felt right.
April 26, 2022
A very delightful exciting contemporary romance with a interesting title.Combined with a obsessive ex-husband,hot in pursuit hero who are the ex-husbands cousin and a lot deal of angst i greatly enjoyed "Velvet Promise".
Not to brag,but i have read over 80 books by Carole Mortimer,and i find her a very wonderful author who delivers Exciting and unforgettable Romance in all kind of flavors.
We watch the heroine Willow care for her daughter and trying to push the velvet-eyed cynical Jordan St James away who openly admits to wanting her,and all the while her obsessive ex-husband refuses to let her go.
I really felt sorry for our heroine her.God the hell Russel put her through!Jordan really insulted her a lot from the beginning but i warmed up to him when i saw that he was beginning to see the real Willow,and his seducing Willow was really hot.Really liked the dramatic scene when he demanded a explanation from her if she was going to re-marry his cousin.
Not to brag,but i have read over 80 books by Carole Mortimer,and i find her a very wonderful author who delivers Exciting and unforgettable Romance in all kind of flavors.
We watch the heroine Willow care for her daughter and trying to push the velvet-eyed cynical Jordan St James away who openly admits to wanting her,and all the while her obsessive ex-husband refuses to let her go.
I really felt sorry for our heroine her.God the hell Russel put her through!Jordan really insulted her a lot from the beginning but i warmed up to him when i saw that he was beginning to see the real Willow,and his seducing Willow was really hot.Really liked the dramatic scene when he demanded a explanation from her if she was going to re-marry his cousin.
June 25, 2016
Re Velvet Promise - CM takes a ride on crazy train with an h who gets reluctantly seduced by the H, who happens to be the cousin of her demented ex-husband.
This one starts with the h and her daughter eating dinner in a restaurant in Jersey (the island), the H comes in while the daughter is sneaking a drink from her mum's wine and he immediately attacks her for being a bad mother. We find out the h is now a wealthy fashion designer with several shops, the newest one being opened in Jersey for it's proximity to Paris and the fact that the h's ex-inlaws live there, so it will be easier for the daughter to visit her grandparents.
The H also berates the h for not staying with her in-laws, surely she isn't such a gold digging tart and so contemptuous of them that she wants to punish them for not accepting their son's marriage to herself.
The H implies that the in laws were the nicest of people, while the the h was a gold-digging, scheming witch. The h angrily asserts that the H knows nothing, that she had to endure plenty of torment from her ex mother in law and that nothing on earth would compel her to stay with them.
The H is very much a bully and yet there is an attraction there too. He shows up the next day for the visit with the grandparents and tries to distract the h while her daughter is with them. The grandmother, in particular is very derisive of the h, but the H manages to successfully distract the h by telling her he wants her in his bed. The next few days are the H imposing himself on the h and the h fretting because the H announces her ex-husband is returning to Jersey for a visit.
We know there is some big mystery behind the h's marriage, she is obviously perturbed about her ex showing up. The H gradually manages to seduce her after telling her he doesn't believe she was a gold digging tart or a bad mother anymore, but before a final consummation can occur, the ex shows up at the H's home. The ex pretty much drags the h out of there and tells her he has given her a year after the divorce and that they will be remarrying.
The h, for some unknown reason that has to do with a threat against her daughter, agrees to the remarriage, but is obvious she REALLY doesn't like her ex-husband. There is an almost forced rape scene on the beach between the ex and the h, but she manages to put him off and goes back to her daughter and her daughters nanny/bodyguard at the hotel. The nanny, who is also now a friend to the h after working for her for so long, tells the h she needs to tell the truth and get the ex out of her life.
The h doesn't feel she can do that, but she does go for one night of splendid passion with the H and then dumps him. The H is happy with the night of lurve, until he finds out the ex has announced his remarriage to the h the next day. This shocks everyone as the ex husband had shown up to his parent's home with a woman who makes no bones about being the ex's mistress and the mother in law in particular is disgusted.
The h puts the H off on continuing the relationship and the h returns to London with her daughter. She also tells the ex she won't remarry him and the ex is strangely accepting about it. The h is very worried tho, and is proven right to worry when the ex husband hits the bodyguard nanny while the h is working, and kidnaps the daughter. The h calls the grandparents and the H and then the whole story comes out.
Five years ago, the h was 17 and had been on three dates with her father's employer who was 28. He asked her to marry him, but she did not like him and said no. He raped her, got her pregnant and then her greedy parents forced her into marriage.
She had to live on the husband's family estate where he continued to rape her for several years while telling her if she left, he would tell the world her daughter was a product of rape. The h endured as long as she could to avoid having that stigma attached to her child, and also endured his families contempt for being socially unacceptable and a gold digger.
It seems the H had a gold digger in his past too, but when the pregnancy of the gold digger did not result in the H marrying her, she aborted the child and married another wealthy man. This has prejudiced the family towards pregnant women forcing the male members of the family to marry them, and they assumed the h was the same way. So the mother in law in particular made sure that their social set continually berated and insulted the h.
The h finally got her divorce and the ex's silence about the circumstances of the daughter's birth by agreeing to see him for rape once a week. After the divorce was final, the ex had little interest in the child and for some reason never made the h keep to her weekly visits. He later says it was that he wanted to give the h time to miss him, cause he supposedly loves her, but she was very happy without him and yet not strong enough to tell him to wander off.
Now that the ex knows there is a thing between the H and h, he tried to force a remarriage, but the h turned him down-- so he kidnapped the daughter. No one can figure out where he took her, and his mother collapses after hearing the whole story. The mother in law says she doesn't believe the h, but the father of the ex does and backs her up.
The H leaves with a look of murder in his eyes and the h is now worried about her child and H's rejection. We also find out that the mistress of the ex-husband was actually hired to follow the h around and report back to the ex, she supposedly loves him but had no idear that he meant to kidnap the daughter.
The H shows up later with the daughter in tow, the ex had taken her to his business offices. The little girl is fine and when the h rejoins the H and father in law, the ex is there and proclaiming his innocence. The the mother in law wakes up and slaps the ex husband, calls him an animal and insists on calling the police. She now totally believes the h and the H has beaten the ex husband up a bit.
The ex tries to intimidate the h into saying he had permission to take the daughter, but the H stands firmly beside her so the h tells the ex off. (Finally!) The ex husband leaves and the in laws apologize and give their blessing to the H and h being together.
The H avows undying love and the h avows back, tho she doesn't want to marry the H because the ex will always be a problem. The H convinces her it will be alright and they are happily contemplating the future, when the police show up to let the family know the ex husband wrecked his car on a patch of oil and is now dead.
The evil ex now conveniently disposed of, the H and h marry and the HEA is year or so later when the bodyguard nanny, the daughter, the H and h are happy together celebrating a new baby boy's birth for the ultimate HEA.
This one is a hot mess of crazy trainwrecking angst, especially since CM puts off the whole story and reasons for the h's behavior until the last 30 pages of the book. The H's mean behavior is never quite redeemed over the course of the story, especially when the h's backstory completely comes out, but the h is happy and he does care about her, so in terms of HPLandia - you kinda just go with it.
This one is sorta hard to buy into in terms of HEA believabiliy, I had a hard time with the huge boulder that the h was wealthy, successful and yet so worried about her daughter being outed as a product of rape that she kept giving in to the ex. Surely she realized that the ex announcing he had raped her into compliance would have been enough to get a permanent restraining order of protection, if not outright jail time.
Yet I also have to keep in mind that in the HP universe, the rules of law and behavior are different, and once I accepted that - it was an okay little jaunt with an almost decent HEA and everybody but the bad guy wins in the end - and the gratuitous OW of the ex, who pretty much just got off with a broken heart - which in HPlandia terms is probably punishment enough.
This one starts with the h and her daughter eating dinner in a restaurant in Jersey (the island), the H comes in while the daughter is sneaking a drink from her mum's wine and he immediately attacks her for being a bad mother. We find out the h is now a wealthy fashion designer with several shops, the newest one being opened in Jersey for it's proximity to Paris and the fact that the h's ex-inlaws live there, so it will be easier for the daughter to visit her grandparents.
The H also berates the h for not staying with her in-laws, surely she isn't such a gold digging tart and so contemptuous of them that she wants to punish them for not accepting their son's marriage to herself.
The H implies that the in laws were the nicest of people, while the the h was a gold-digging, scheming witch. The h angrily asserts that the H knows nothing, that she had to endure plenty of torment from her ex mother in law and that nothing on earth would compel her to stay with them.
The H is very much a bully and yet there is an attraction there too. He shows up the next day for the visit with the grandparents and tries to distract the h while her daughter is with them. The grandmother, in particular is very derisive of the h, but the H manages to successfully distract the h by telling her he wants her in his bed. The next few days are the H imposing himself on the h and the h fretting because the H announces her ex-husband is returning to Jersey for a visit.
We know there is some big mystery behind the h's marriage, she is obviously perturbed about her ex showing up. The H gradually manages to seduce her after telling her he doesn't believe she was a gold digging tart or a bad mother anymore, but before a final consummation can occur, the ex shows up at the H's home. The ex pretty much drags the h out of there and tells her he has given her a year after the divorce and that they will be remarrying.
The h, for some unknown reason that has to do with a threat against her daughter, agrees to the remarriage, but is obvious she REALLY doesn't like her ex-husband. There is an almost forced rape scene on the beach between the ex and the h, but she manages to put him off and goes back to her daughter and her daughters nanny/bodyguard at the hotel. The nanny, who is also now a friend to the h after working for her for so long, tells the h she needs to tell the truth and get the ex out of her life.
The h doesn't feel she can do that, but she does go for one night of splendid passion with the H and then dumps him. The H is happy with the night of lurve, until he finds out the ex has announced his remarriage to the h the next day. This shocks everyone as the ex husband had shown up to his parent's home with a woman who makes no bones about being the ex's mistress and the mother in law in particular is disgusted.
The h puts the H off on continuing the relationship and the h returns to London with her daughter. She also tells the ex she won't remarry him and the ex is strangely accepting about it. The h is very worried tho, and is proven right to worry when the ex husband hits the bodyguard nanny while the h is working, and kidnaps the daughter. The h calls the grandparents and the H and then the whole story comes out.
Five years ago, the h was 17 and had been on three dates with her father's employer who was 28. He asked her to marry him, but she did not like him and said no. He raped her, got her pregnant and then her greedy parents forced her into marriage.
She had to live on the husband's family estate where he continued to rape her for several years while telling her if she left, he would tell the world her daughter was a product of rape. The h endured as long as she could to avoid having that stigma attached to her child, and also endured his families contempt for being socially unacceptable and a gold digger.
It seems the H had a gold digger in his past too, but when the pregnancy of the gold digger did not result in the H marrying her, she aborted the child and married another wealthy man. This has prejudiced the family towards pregnant women forcing the male members of the family to marry them, and they assumed the h was the same way. So the mother in law in particular made sure that their social set continually berated and insulted the h.
The h finally got her divorce and the ex's silence about the circumstances of the daughter's birth by agreeing to see him for rape once a week. After the divorce was final, the ex had little interest in the child and for some reason never made the h keep to her weekly visits. He later says it was that he wanted to give the h time to miss him, cause he supposedly loves her, but she was very happy without him and yet not strong enough to tell him to wander off.
Now that the ex knows there is a thing between the H and h, he tried to force a remarriage, but the h turned him down-- so he kidnapped the daughter. No one can figure out where he took her, and his mother collapses after hearing the whole story. The mother in law says she doesn't believe the h, but the father of the ex does and backs her up.
The H leaves with a look of murder in his eyes and the h is now worried about her child and H's rejection. We also find out that the mistress of the ex-husband was actually hired to follow the h around and report back to the ex, she supposedly loves him but had no idear that he meant to kidnap the daughter.
The H shows up later with the daughter in tow, the ex had taken her to his business offices. The little girl is fine and when the h rejoins the H and father in law, the ex is there and proclaiming his innocence. The the mother in law wakes up and slaps the ex husband, calls him an animal and insists on calling the police. She now totally believes the h and the H has beaten the ex husband up a bit.
The ex tries to intimidate the h into saying he had permission to take the daughter, but the H stands firmly beside her so the h tells the ex off. (Finally!) The ex husband leaves and the in laws apologize and give their blessing to the H and h being together.
The H avows undying love and the h avows back, tho she doesn't want to marry the H because the ex will always be a problem. The H convinces her it will be alright and they are happily contemplating the future, when the police show up to let the family know the ex husband wrecked his car on a patch of oil and is now dead.
The evil ex now conveniently disposed of, the H and h marry and the HEA is year or so later when the bodyguard nanny, the daughter, the H and h are happy together celebrating a new baby boy's birth for the ultimate HEA.
This one is a hot mess of crazy trainwrecking angst, especially since CM puts off the whole story and reasons for the h's behavior until the last 30 pages of the book. The H's mean behavior is never quite redeemed over the course of the story, especially when the h's backstory completely comes out, but the h is happy and he does care about her, so in terms of HPLandia - you kinda just go with it.
This one is sorta hard to buy into in terms of HEA believabiliy, I had a hard time with the huge boulder that the h was wealthy, successful and yet so worried about her daughter being outed as a product of rape that she kept giving in to the ex. Surely she realized that the ex announcing he had raped her into compliance would have been enough to get a permanent restraining order of protection, if not outright jail time.
Yet I also have to keep in mind that in the HP universe, the rules of law and behavior are different, and once I accepted that - it was an okay little jaunt with an almost decent HEA and everybody but the bad guy wins in the end - and the gratuitous OW of the ex, who pretty much just got off with a broken heart - which in HPlandia terms is probably punishment enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2019
What I loved most about this story was how the story unraveled. It kept me guessing constantly. I remember opening this book then finishing it. Totally hooked!
Characters were unpredictable and heroine, she was the gem of the story. Such a courageous and strong willed woman. And hero matched her in every aspect. Also I’m glad villain got his comeuppance.
Recommended.
Characters were unpredictable and heroine, she was the gem of the story. Such a courageous and strong willed woman. And hero matched her in every aspect. Also I’m glad villain got his comeuppance.
Recommended.
July 12, 2011
As I started reading this book I wasn't quite sure what to think of the story. It was written in such a way I questioned the heroine's feelings until the truth was revealed. It was done well. This is a vintage Carole Mortimer. She doesn't write like this anymore. I miss it.
The truth was quite a surprise and it was quite the reveal. I think the ex mother-in-law's swift reversal was odd but I still liked it. The ending was very sweet and I liked Jordan as a hero. My biggest complaint with this book was the font was super huge which made this a shorter story than normal, at least IMO. However, it was still a good read and quite dramatic and not in the silly way that many of the more recent HP books are written.
This is a quick read and a good book.
The truth was quite a surprise and it was quite the reveal. I think the ex mother-in-law's swift reversal was odd but I still liked it. The ending was very sweet and I liked Jordan as a hero. My biggest complaint with this book was the font was super huge which made this a shorter story than normal, at least IMO. However, it was still a good read and quite dramatic and not in the silly way that many of the more recent HP books are written.
This is a quick read and a good book.
December 4, 2019
"Velvet Promise" is the story of Willow and Jordan.
Our h is a divorced single mother, who now runs a successful business. When she brings her daughter to meet her paternal grandparents, the H who is the ex's cousin is there to meet her. He then judges her parenting skills, questions her intentions while simultaneously wanting her in his bed. At the same time, her psycho ex returns. The h then enters a tug of war between the ex and H, and this idiot LISTENS to her crazy ex instead of believing the courting hero. She then sleeps with one while being blackmailed by the other.
Honestly, WOMAN, grow a backbone, learn to communicate, stand up for yourself, learn to dial 999 and stop being a martyr.
Stupid ass heroine.
Unsafe/SWE
1/5
Our h is a divorced single mother, who now runs a successful business. When she brings her daughter to meet her paternal grandparents, the H who is the ex's cousin is there to meet her. He then judges her parenting skills, questions her intentions while simultaneously wanting her in his bed. At the same time, her psycho ex returns. The h then enters a tug of war between the ex and H, and this idiot LISTENS to her crazy ex instead of believing the courting hero. She then sleeps with one while being blackmailed by the other.
Honestly, WOMAN, grow a backbone, learn to communicate, stand up for yourself, learn to dial 999 and stop being a martyr.
Stupid ass heroine.
Unsafe/SWE
1/5
November 19, 2012
This one had the potential to be a pretty gripping book but just missed it somehow. We didn't find out the heroine's horrible story until the very end which made poor use of the angst potential. I also felt like I didn't get a sufficient helping of the hero's reaction which was lost angst and romantic remorse potential. It was there I just wanted more. Decent book but could have been so much better.
February 9, 2016
Someone mentioned this book on social media and I couldn't ever remember reading it, despite the author being one of my favourites.
This has very mixed reviews and I can see why. The heroine, Willow, comes across as a devoted mother, but terribly weak when it comes to her ex-husband. Her real devotion is to her daughter Dani.
Willow was only seventeen when she married Russell and the family despised her for getting pregnant to trap a rich man. Her family did well out of the deal as well, gifted with a new house and a top level job for her father.
Jordan is Russell's cousin and he has been consistent in his contempt for Willow since he met her shortly after the shotgun wedding.
Now a successful clothing designer, Willow is visiting Jersey to inspect the new store she opened recently and also for Dani to visit her grandparents who live on the island. Jordan is the first person she sees and he makes it very clear that now she isn't with Russell, he'd like to see what it was that so captivated his cousin.
He's really mean to Willow despite his physical attraction, but sweet to her little girl Dani, who he mentions looks just like her mum. *nods* Methinks Jordan has a little secret.
But there is still Russell to contend with and the strange relationship she still has with him, even a year after their divorce. Because of that, it doesn't matter what her feelings might be for Jordan, there can be no future.
The ending came in a burst of revelations, some shocking but not totally unexpected. The final HEA is satisfying.
This has very mixed reviews and I can see why. The heroine, Willow, comes across as a devoted mother, but terribly weak when it comes to her ex-husband. Her real devotion is to her daughter Dani.
Willow was only seventeen when she married Russell and the family despised her for getting pregnant to trap a rich man. Her family did well out of the deal as well, gifted with a new house and a top level job for her father.
Jordan is Russell's cousin and he has been consistent in his contempt for Willow since he met her shortly after the shotgun wedding.
Now a successful clothing designer, Willow is visiting Jersey to inspect the new store she opened recently and also for Dani to visit her grandparents who live on the island. Jordan is the first person she sees and he makes it very clear that now she isn't with Russell, he'd like to see what it was that so captivated his cousin.
He's really mean to Willow despite his physical attraction, but sweet to her little girl Dani, who he mentions looks just like her mum. *nods* Methinks Jordan has a little secret.
But there is still Russell to contend with and the strange relationship she still has with him, even a year after their divorce. Because of that, it doesn't matter what her feelings might be for Jordan, there can be no future.
The ending came in a burst of revelations, some shocking but not totally unexpected. The final HEA is satisfying.
May 29, 2016
An ok emotional read. The ex-husband was a jerk but I couldn't understand why she still kept giving in to him even if they were already divorced. Supposedly he was blackmailing her, but the reason in the end was too flimsy to be good enough. The hero Jordan loved her ever since he met her, but since she was the pregnant wife of his cousin, she was forbidden to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2011
The heroine Willow is finally beginning to enjoy her freedom after he divorce, thinking that she may finally be free from the clutches of her ex husband. She is shocked and nervous when her ex-husband's cousin Jordan, the hero, comes to see her. Willow has always felt that Jordan does not like her, and that is proved right by some of the barbs her throws at her, although after when she experienced in her marriage Jordan's insults have very little effect on her. But she is not expecting him to admit that her wants her, and she finds herself feeling very confused over her feelings towards Jordan and her fear of her past. When her ex-husband returns Willow is very upset and runs into Jordan's arms and they slowly begin to get to know one another. But Willow knows she can never tell Jordan the heartbreaking truth of her marriage and therefore he will never love her thinking what he does about her.
This book started off very slow, the story was a little dull and I couldn't really sympathise with either character especially the hero, whom I thought was a bit too cruel for my liking. The suddenly it all clicked and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The heroine had so much pain and so many secrets that I was really drawn in to the story, wanting to know more.
But the truth isn't revealed until the closing pages, and it is simply horrendous. I feel that by revealing it right near the end made the whole thing seem trivial and it most definitely is not. In my opinion it would have been better if it was revealed (at least to the reader) earlier in the book, and that way we could see and experience the journey that the heroine goes on in order to come to terms with both her ordeal and relationship with the hero.
I did like the way the relationship between the hero and heroine developed, it felt almost desperate and that added to the whole atmosphere of the story.
This is a very provocative, yet enjoyable romance, very much a 'classic' style Mills & Boon.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
This book started off very slow, the story was a little dull and I couldn't really sympathise with either character especially the hero, whom I thought was a bit too cruel for my liking. The suddenly it all clicked and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The heroine had so much pain and so many secrets that I was really drawn in to the story, wanting to know more.
But the truth isn't revealed until the closing pages, and it is simply horrendous. I feel that by revealing it right near the end made the whole thing seem trivial and it most definitely is not. In my opinion it would have been better if it was revealed (at least to the reader) earlier in the book, and that way we could see and experience the journey that the heroine goes on in order to come to terms with both her ordeal and relationship with the hero.
I did like the way the relationship between the hero and heroine developed, it felt almost desperate and that added to the whole atmosphere of the story.
This is a very provocative, yet enjoyable romance, very much a 'classic' style Mills & Boon.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
December 22, 2015
I Found This Book Disturbing In So Many Ways ***Spoiler Warning***
"But he didn't really know her, or about the things that had happened in her life to make her a woman of strength and character, a woman who at only twenty-three was one of England's most successful fashion designers while still managing to be what she loved best of all, an attentive and loving mother to Dani."
FINAL DECISION: I could not like this book. The discussion and consequence of rape was too dated to be acceptable to me. In addition, for a woman who claims to be so strong, Willow felt entirely dominated by her rapist husband.
THE STORY: Willow Stewart is a fashion designer with a young daughter. Recently divorced, Willow has dark secret that is painful and shameful to her. When her ex-husband's cousin, Jordan St. James begins to want to spend time with her, Willow knows that Jordan hasn't forgiven her because he believes she trapped his cousin into marriage. Yet Jordan is attracted to Willow himself.
OPINION: This book fails on many levels. Willow was raped by her ex-husband in order to force her into marriage. The fact that she then tries to justify herself staying with him and wanting him to have a relationship with their daughter made me sick. Her justification of this behavior is that she didn't want her daughter exposed has being the product of rape. But she wants her daughter to love a rapist as her father. In addition, she claims to be so strong from her past, but she folds immediately when her ex-husband begins to threaten her again. The truth is that Willow is weak and needs some serious therapy to deal with her violation. This subject is just too serious to be handled in a book of this length. The romance completely fails because Jordan doesn't even know about the rape until the end and then everything is resolved in a couple of pages. For me, this is a book that might speak of the time it was written, but would never be acceptable today.
WORTH MENTIONING: I did appreciate that the hero and the villain's parents believed Willow when the rape was revealed.
CONNECTED BOOKS: VELVET PROMISE is a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this book 1 star.
"But he didn't really know her, or about the things that had happened in her life to make her a woman of strength and character, a woman who at only twenty-three was one of England's most successful fashion designers while still managing to be what she loved best of all, an attentive and loving mother to Dani."
FINAL DECISION: I could not like this book. The discussion and consequence of rape was too dated to be acceptable to me. In addition, for a woman who claims to be so strong, Willow felt entirely dominated by her rapist husband.
THE STORY: Willow Stewart is a fashion designer with a young daughter. Recently divorced, Willow has dark secret that is painful and shameful to her. When her ex-husband's cousin, Jordan St. James begins to want to spend time with her, Willow knows that Jordan hasn't forgiven her because he believes she trapped his cousin into marriage. Yet Jordan is attracted to Willow himself.
OPINION: This book fails on many levels. Willow was raped by her ex-husband in order to force her into marriage. The fact that she then tries to justify herself staying with him and wanting him to have a relationship with their daughter made me sick. Her justification of this behavior is that she didn't want her daughter exposed has being the product of rape. But she wants her daughter to love a rapist as her father. In addition, she claims to be so strong from her past, but she folds immediately when her ex-husband begins to threaten her again. The truth is that Willow is weak and needs some serious therapy to deal with her violation. This subject is just too serious to be handled in a book of this length. The romance completely fails because Jordan doesn't even know about the rape until the end and then everything is resolved in a couple of pages. For me, this is a book that might speak of the time it was written, but would never be acceptable today.
WORTH MENTIONING: I did appreciate that the hero and the villain's parents believed Willow when the rape was revealed.
CONNECTED BOOKS: VELVET PROMISE is a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this book 1 star.
July 23, 2018
Not sure I can give this full stars or even four because this story was bizarre.
I cannot imagine anyone having been raped would marry their rapist or father of their child no matter the situation but who knows, anything is possible and as she was barely over age she could have been scared into marrying him. I imagine any age would have married him if he was that awful.
I couldn't get into their romance, one minute they were trading insults with each other and the next they were declaring their love and that seemed a bit of a jump. Having this side story of her ex husband being obsessed with her was a little off putting. Not awful but off putting. I really wanted to like them as well, but their romance felt strange.
I cannot imagine anyone having been raped would marry their rapist or father of their child no matter the situation but who knows, anything is possible and as she was barely over age she could have been scared into marrying him. I imagine any age would have married him if he was that awful.
I couldn't get into their romance, one minute they were trading insults with each other and the next they were declaring their love and that seemed a bit of a jump. Having this side story of her ex husband being obsessed with her was a little off putting. Not awful but off putting. I really wanted to like them as well, but their romance felt strange.
July 26, 2011
Who would have thought that the simple motherly scene at the beginning of the book would prefigure the story arc of the book, but it was well done indeed. Her close bond with her daughter portends to the larger plot of rape and spousal abuse, and her capacity to love again. Far from despising this child whose existence was forced upon her by her rapist-turned-husband, the heroine Willow nurtured and protected her little one. This love augurs well for her own relationship with the hero because it shows that she’s none so bitter nor tainted that she cannot rebuild a new life.
The hero was okay. He was obviously a foil to that scumbag of an ex-husband so he was everything the ex wasn’t: kind to children, caring of the elderly, protective, understanding, etc. I find it a little unsettling that their first sexual encounter was like an act of desperation. Again, it was obviously a ploy to contrast their time together to her unhealthy past. I wonder how things could have been if they had met each other under different circumstances, i.e., he wasn’t a much feted/envied cousin of the ex.
What I cannot stand in this book however is the treatment of rape. I don’t think Willow’s stoicism in her encounters with her rapist/husband is valiant. On the contrary, I think it’s foolhardy. True, she’s heroic because she survived the traumatic ordeal. But I cannot condone her quiescence to rape, her tardiness in denouncing the evil acts done to her, and her almost-placatory stance toward evil-doer. It may sound like blaming-the-victim, but I think that because she didn’t reject the blackmail outright and expose his guilt to all and sundry, she enabled him to prolong his hold and torture.
It was such an eviscerating moment to hear her accounts of nightly sexual abuse that I feel that the book required a Public Service Announcement to reiterate the one important point left unsaid in the story: there is absolutely no reason to stay in a marriage when spousal rape has occurred. None. Just take the children and flee.
The hero was okay. He was obviously a foil to that scumbag of an ex-husband so he was everything the ex wasn’t: kind to children, caring of the elderly, protective, understanding, etc. I find it a little unsettling that their first sexual encounter was like an act of desperation. Again, it was obviously a ploy to contrast their time together to her unhealthy past. I wonder how things could have been if they had met each other under different circumstances, i.e., he wasn’t a much feted/envied cousin of the ex.
What I cannot stand in this book however is the treatment of rape. I don’t think Willow’s stoicism in her encounters with her rapist/husband is valiant. On the contrary, I think it’s foolhardy. True, she’s heroic because she survived the traumatic ordeal. But I cannot condone her quiescence to rape, her tardiness in denouncing the evil acts done to her, and her almost-placatory stance toward evil-doer. It may sound like blaming-the-victim, but I think that because she didn’t reject the blackmail outright and expose his guilt to all and sundry, she enabled him to prolong his hold and torture.
It was such an eviscerating moment to hear her accounts of nightly sexual abuse that I feel that the book required a Public Service Announcement to reiterate the one important point left unsaid in the story: there is absolutely no reason to stay in a marriage when spousal rape has occurred. None. Just take the children and flee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2012
3.5 stars. This wasn't a fabulous romance, but it did keep me in suspense wondering what the heroine's secret was. It turned out to be what was basically my best guess, but I was thrown off by the strange way she and her ex-husband talked about it, so I wasn't sure about my guess at all. Anyway, an extra half star for keeping me reading so I could find out what had happened.
May 8, 2013
This novel was crazy but overall, very good. I couldn't believe the drastic measures and abuse that occurred in this novel. It had my stomach twisting in knots sometimes.
Want to read
June 9, 2017"Promesas de placer"
February 24, 2021
2.75 stars rounded up
Trigger warning/Spoiler Alert:
Spoiler filled review
I couldn't put the book down. The story got me hooked. But I read with dread and disappointment. The love story wasn't at the forefront of this book but I think we need to stop the narrative of romantic love being the solution to abuse. If the H of this story was also abusive, the h would be a victim again because she never learned how not to be.
Trigger warning/Spoiler Alert:
Spoiler filled review
I couldn't put the book down. The story got me hooked. But I read with dread and disappointment. The love story wasn't at the forefront of this book but I think we need to stop the narrative of romantic love being the solution to abuse. If the H of this story was also abusive, the h would be a victim again because she never learned how not to be.
October 20, 2024
This one brought me out of my vintage HP hiatus. It’s a pity that Carole Mortimer doesn’t write like this anymore.. The angst and passion in this plot kept me guessing on who on the heroine really wanted and this was certainly not a paint by numbers HP. I’m inspired enough now to hunt for more vintage gems. Any recommendations are most welcome
February 10, 2021
Is the hero that much better than the villain? They were vastly similar!!! So the heroine, her daughter and bodyguard need to distance themselves from this family, cause damn! They are all nuts. Skip. Not romantic and not a fun read.
April 6, 2021
This was an extremely well written book that portrayed a lot of sensitive topics in a very realistic manner. Although the main passionate love story took a backseat but it was a different aspect of mills and boon that I loved . Cheers .....
Read
March 11, 2023DNF
First she is making out with her ex-husband's cousin and then telling her ex husband how she missed him and kept thinking about him and he is not the ML....Nah not gonna delve further into this mess...
First she is making out with her ex-husband's cousin and then telling her ex husband how she missed him and kept thinking about him and he is not the ML....Nah not gonna delve further into this mess...
September 5, 2017
An author I have always loved
But... The twists and turns of this book were too much for me to digest.
Liked Claire's review.
But... The twists and turns of this book were too much for me to digest.
Liked Claire's review.
February 17, 2018
Πλάκα έχει να πλακώνονται 2 άντρες για μία γυναίκα!!!
July 26, 2019
The ex-husband's death seems unnecessary and the mother-in-law's condemnation of her son too contrived.
May 11, 2022
I love reading Carole Mortimer. It makes my day! Lovely story. 4☆
July 16, 2023
"3.5/5.00"
February 1, 2024
Grow a backbone! I suffered through this story! Not one of her best stories! The heroine was so pathetic! Grow up!
December 23, 2016
Great book lots of twists and turns
April 7, 2011
very romantic
October 15, 2012
Loved it!!
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