This Heart of Mine

O'Malley Saga #4

by Bertrice Small

Skye O'Malley's magnificent daughter Velvet embarks on her own adventures in this sensuous bestseller.

Velvet de Marisco is the daughter of one of fiction's most beloved heroines, the hot-blooded adventuress, Skye O'Malley.

Now, in this journey into pure sensual delight by Bertrice Small, Velvet proves she's every inch her mother's daughter.

When Alexander Gordon arrives from the Scottish Highlands to claim Velvet as his bride, he must woo her body and soul before he can win her heart.

When the Grande Mughal of India receives the beautiful Velvet as a gift, he must win her heart with his patience before he can teach her every trick at his command.

And when Velvet finds herself the pawn in a political science, she must use all her wiles to reunite herself with the man she loves.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Harem, Erotica

576 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Bertrice Williams was born on December 9, 1937 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, the daughter of Doris S. and David R. Williams, both broadcasters. She studied at Attended Western College for Women and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School. On October 5, 1963, she married George Sumner Small, a photographer and designer with a History Major at Princeton. They had a son Thomas David. She lived on eastern Long Island for over 30 years. Her greatest passions were her family; Finnegan and Sylvester, the family cats; Nicki, the elderly cockatiel who whistles the NY Mets charge call; her garden; her work, and just life in general.

Published since 1947, Bertrice Small was the author of over 50 romance novels. A New York Times bestselling author, she had also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She was the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; an Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She had a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre. And in 2008 she was named by ROMANTIC TIMES along with her friends Jennifer Blake, Roberta Gellis and Janelle Taylor, a Pioneer of Romance.

Bertrice Small was a member of The Authors Guild, Romance Writers of America, PAN, and PASIC. She was also a member of RWA's Long Island chapter, L.I.R.W., and is its easternmost member on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island.

Reviews

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

...then the delighted laughter of mother and daughter filled the hall at Belle Fleurs as they shared their newfound kinship.

This was the moment when both mother and daughter realized that they both have fucked the King of France in two separate occasions.

That's the kind of thing you need to expect when you read a Bertrice Small book.

Anyway, I hate both the main characters so much. I wish them hell. All my love belongs to Francis, Lord of Bothwell. Him and only him.

[Naksed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was simultaneously so angry and sad reading this book that I was on the verge of giving it a low rating. But I reconsidered because I realized that it is far far better for a book to move me in any way, even if it is in anger or sadness, than to bore me to tears, which is what happens with most books these days. My main problem with this book is that there is a love triangle where the heroine has to choose between two big fat jerks. They both let her down. They both betray her. One was slightly less jerky than the other but guess who she ends up with? Still, this book managed to wrench some tears out of me and it is not that often I get so invested in characters or their story .

The best parts of the book were the main female character, and the historical fiction centering on real life monarchs of the sixteenth century. The impossibly named Velvet de Marisco Gordon is one of those strong resilient heroines that Small has in most of her books, which is refreshing in a genre where most female characters are doormats, idiots and/or martyrs. We are introduced to Velvet when she is a bit of a spoiled, headstrong girl and we get to know her as she matures and evolves into a truly admirable, strong heroine, rising up to the challenge when the going gets tough instead of wilting like a fragile flower. The men in the book are the ones who are cowards taking the easy way out, hurting Velvet in the process. She was so much better than the love objects she was given.

Overall, This Heart of Mine was an okay read. At 576 pages, it tended to drag on, especially towards the end. There was a sixth and seventh act that were really unnecessary, and the villains of the piece really did not get their comeuppance, which is a pet peeve of mine. Fans of Small's Skye O'Malley series would probably like it since this book is centered on one of her children. I don't regret reading it but I will not be re-reading this again.

[Suanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are six books in the Skye O'Malley series; too many words, too much gratuitous unimaginative sex, too little story, getting progressively worse through the series.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Bertrice Small does it again in the fourth exhaustive entry in the Skye O'Malley saga. I'm enjoying this series, but this book was my least favorite so far.

....
Book synopsis with spoilers:

Opening in 1588, our heroine Velvet de Marisco is not quite 15 years old. Her famous parents Skye O'Malley and Adam de Marisco are away on an extended business trip to India. Velvet receives the unexpected news that her betrothed, Alexander Gordon, the Earl of BroCairn, has unilaterally decided to move their wedding date up and is on his way from Scotland to fetch her. Velvet resents this, and maneuvers a position for herself as one of Queen Elizabeth's maids of honor to delay her marriage. Still, Alex arrives in England and the two begin a tumultuous courtship that eventually leads to an unsurprisingly rocky marriage.

A few months into their marriage, Alex fights in a duel and Velvet gets the news that he has been killed. Heartbroken, Velvet impulsively decides to travel to India, thinking that she can meet up with her parents for their return journey to England, and she departs immediately. Unbeknownst to Velvet, Alex was not killed in the duel and was merely wounded.

Velvet's reunion with her parents is not to be, as when she lands in India she is promptly kidnapped by the Portuguese and sent thousands of miles inland to be presented as a gift to the emperor, Akbar the Great. Akbar is taken with Velvet and quickly promotes her from slave to wife. Akbar admires Velvet's spirit and intelligence, and soon they are in complete wedded bliss with Alex just a faint blip in Velvet's memory. Velvet and Akbar even have a daughter together.

Back home, the O'Malley's haven't given up on finding Velvet. After 2 happy years in India, one of Velvet's uncles shows up at the palace to drop the news that Alex is still alive, and to "rescue" Velvet and bring her home. Velvet is horrified at the prospect of leaving Akbar and her daughter and begs to stay in India - even if it means living as Akbar's concubine. Alas, Akbar cannot justify living with another man's wife, and sends her back to England, but demands that their daughter stay with him in India.

When Velvet arrives home, Alex is waiting for her, ready to lord her "infidelity" over her and feel sorry for himself (never mind the fact that HE has also taken a mistress in the time that Velvet was away, and has an illegitimate daughter by her) but Velvet shocks him by refusing to play his game. She lays it out plain to Alex: she is in love with Akbar, she only returned to Alex because she was legally compelled to, she doesn't love Alex and their marriage means nothing to her. Surprisingly, this is a watershed moment for Alex. He vows to start anew with Velvet, put his jealousy aside and woo her properly this time. Velvet and Alex quickly reconcile, and Alex generously finds it in his heart to forgive Velvet and Akbar when he realizes that Akbar has taught Velvet the art of the BJ (I wish I was making that up, but that is really in the book lol)

The happy couple settles on Alex's estate in Scotland and everyone loves Velvet - that is, everyone except Alex's recently ousted mistress. The mistress teams up with Alex's brother-in-law to kidnap Velvet, in hopes of luring Alex and his politically valuable cousin into their clutches when they attempt to rescue Velvet. Velvet escapes and flees to her parents' chateau in France, living incognito. King Henry IV of France stumbles upon her, and discovering that she is a mysterious, pregnant damsel in distress, chivalrously offers to send a secret message to her husband in Scotland in exchange for sex. Velvet reluctantly agrees, and eventually is reunited with her husband and parents. Alex and Velvet's son is born and they have their HEA. The book ends with a scene of Velvet and Skye laughing over the fact that they have both had (dubiously consensual) sex with Henry of Navarre.

....

Truly, nobody does it like Bertrice Small. When she is at her best, I feel completely immersed in her writing. When she is not at her best, I feel like her stories activate my fight or flight instinct. In any case, I can't put her books down.

Velvet is basically Skye O'Malley 2.0, but unfortunately lightning doesn't strike twice. Bertrice Small earnestly portrays Skye as literally the most perfect woman on earth, and it teeters the line between absurd and endearing in a way that actually makes Skye's character work. Velvet pales in comparison to her mother, but I did appreciate Velvet's character arc and development in this story.

Alex is my least favorite Bertrice Small hero yet. The age gap between him and Velvet gave me the ick from the start, but Alex's hot and cold personality, whiny attitude, and obsession with being "master" over his wife made me actively root against him. It's made worse by the fact that Alex is directly contrasted by Akbar - an infinitely more powerful and influential man than Alex - who admires Velvet's intellect and spirit instead of feeling threatened by it. I wondered if Small genuinely expected her readers to like Alex, but sometimes it feels like she doesn't care if her heroes are likeable or not. Bertrice Small's stories are so focused on her heroines that it seems like the men in the story exist only to further the heroine's character development, and their personalities are irrelevant. This is a feature of Small's writing that I actually really enjoy - as I feel that her heavy focus on her heroines sets her apart from other bodice ripper authors of this era - but damn if it doesn't lead to some whack heroes.

The Skye O'Malley books all follow the same basic formula, and I felt that the formula was a bit off in this one. The heroine being transplanted from the British Isles to an exotic Eastern location is always the "meat" of these stories, but it felt like it took forever for Velvet to even go to India. I felt like I spent over half of the book waiting for the story to even get started. Her time in India is definitely the highlight in this book for me, and I wanted more of the book to be set there. When Velvet returns to England, Small genuinely subverted my expectations by having Alex fight to win Velvet's heart again, rather than him just sulking over her being with another man - however I still felt like that part of the plot wrapped up too quickly. The villain in this story was underwhelming and introduced too late, and the ending sequence where Velvet goes to France felt totally unnecessary.

I'm still having fun with this series, and look forward to reading the final two books in the Skye O'Malley saga.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beatrice Small is one of my favorite authors of Romance. She knows how to tell a story to make you laugh and cry all a tthe same time. She makes you fall in love with the heroes and heroines and absolutely loath the villans. She is truely amazing and you would be entranced to read any one of her books. I know I am! I can't wait for her new ones to come out!

[Jeffrey Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

From time to time I love diving into the 16th Century European world of Bertrice Small and Clan O'Malley.

I admit her books take me some time to get through (thus 3 stars). I'll read a chapter or two or a section and put it down for several weeks and then pick it up and repeat. Part of it is due to the fact that the prose can be long and overly descriptive and the font size in the older editions I read require me to triple the magnifying power of my reading glasses.

The colorful historical worlds created by this author keep me coming back despite the fact that the male characters tend to be sexist jerks and the sex scenes can be explicit. But the O'Malley women (most of them anyway) are strong and it balances out

This has a bunch of stories combined into a rather convoluted plot. It's all about Skye's youngest daughter Velvet and her misfortune and bizarre circumstances in which she's married, later thinks her husband has died, and in a weird chain of events goes to India where she's married again and falls madly in love with her powerful wealthy husband. Sadly, she learns her first husband is still alive and she must return to the Highlands of Scotland to be with him as her Catholic faith requires. But just before the book closes out she has one more unfortunate adventure. All's well that ends well

I have read some other books in the O'Malley saga but not all. Usually I pick up copies at library sales and thrift shops. But I can always escape to that historical world just for a change of pace when I'm looking for something different.

[Stephanie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly the best book in the Skye O'Malley series, this follows the same basic formula of most of Small's collection (heroine is kidnapped, escaped, comes back and is kidnapped on a milder note that always feels like an afterthought to the plot) but with the difference that the heroine didn't need to be saved.

Velvet actually got a huge upgrade by being given to Akbar, and it's a shame that she doesn't get to stay with him. Her and Alex aren't a great pairing, and the book would have done better if she has stayed there and we skipped on the pointless second kidnapping at the end.

Still though, the writing is strong, the long descriptions of clothing and food are always a lot of fun (even if skimmable at times as they add so little) and you can at least feel bad for Velvet.

A more interesting twist would have been for her to come back, divorce her husband, and return to India. But it is what it is.

[Oda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Velvet is terrible. Alexander Gordon is worse.

[Berlinda Maombitho]

nice although to much description a whole page describing a dress or what they ate loved the sex scene. its my first bertrice small and i wldnt mind reading another

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, to have a life like this- Rich, Beautiful, And wanted by every man who sees her!

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 / 3, 75 - Giunta al quarto volume, ho imparato che con la saga degli O’Malley bisogna avere pazienza. La Small, infatti, dopo il successo del primo volume, ha individuato alcuni temi chiave e li ha ripresentati, letteralmente, in ogni singolo capitolo successivo, apportando ogni volta piccole variazioni.
In sostanza, la trama ha sempre tre fatti chiave: ci troviamo in piena epoca elisabettiana e la regina stessa ci mette sempre lo zampino, vuoi come nemica, poi come alleata, e pure come madrina; la protagonista, a un certo punto, viaggia per mare e viene fatta prigioniera, imparando le “vere” arti della seduzione; gran parte del romanzo si svolge poi in un harem, su cui credo che la Small sia comunque documentata, perché questa è la parte che preferisco, ricca di descrizioni vivide e dettagliate.
La Small, inoltre, ama le storie con notevole spessore, un po’ stile feuilleton: ogni volume è corposo, e anche questo arriva a 460 pagine. Per questo ho fatto cenno alla pazienza: ci vogliono parecchie sere per la lettura, anche se devo dire che è comunque un continuo di soprese, perdite, ritrovamenti, agguati e salvataggi.
Dopo due volumi dedicati alle imprese di Skye e uno a suo fratello, non poteva non entrare in scena Velvet, la figlia di Skye. Sembrerà scontato, ma tale madre, tale figlia.
Entrambe inquiete, entrambe spregiudicate e per nulla disposte ad adeguarsi alle convenzioni del tempo, entrambe destinate a coinvolgere chi le ama in una giravolta costante di guai.
Se amate l’epoca e le eroine esuberanti, questa lettura non vi deluderà.

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exquisite reading in 1988, when I was eighteen, and the hormones, they were a-ragin'. But looking back, I realize this was more than just a series of subplots involving arranged marriages, kidnappings and hijackings at sea, the Mughal Empire, honor, sacrifice, and romantic love. This was a story rife and heavy with historical facts as much as gratuitous sex scenes. I first learned about the Spanish Armada's threat to England from this book, and read Queen Elizabeth II's speech that fateful day in August 1588. It also features two of the most formidable women I've read in fiction, Skye O'Malley and her daughter, Velvet de Marisco, both adept at using sex to further their almost always honorable causes.

Filing this under boy meets girl, girl meets adventures galore.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading this as I learnt a bit about the history of The Spanish Armada.
True to Bertrice Small books there's lots of erotic scenes which I like!
I don't like Alex Gordon's typical scot attitude.
And why does Skye laugh knowing the French king raped her daughter?? That part annoyed me in the book, how the French king knew Velvet was married and pregnant with Alex's baby and yet he still seduced her!
I loved the Mogul, now he truly loved and worshipped Velvet, it's a shame she couldn't remain with him rather than return to Alex!
Not the best of the O"Malley saga books.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will always enjoy a book by Ms.Small, and this one follows all the familiar patterns. Teenager is spoiled and cosseted. Teenager is betrothed to a handsome stranger. Teenager becomes a bride. Bride becomes a woman. Bride falls in love. Bride flees on some false pretense. Bride is kidnapped and becomes a harem resident. Bride falls in love with new man. Etc etc. Still- a good read.

[Marilyn Mcguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I have always love this series and it is as wonderful as I remember! It is a bit annoying that kindle forces you to try and say more. I said what I wanted, isn't good enough, annoying!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the O'Malley Saga

[Conniefay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the sky O'Malley series this is my favorite author.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A crazy and wild ride.

[BlueBootedBiblioGirl]

Have 1985 book club hardcover edition and paperback edition

[Ann Ciemny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the part about India during the time of the book.

[Ujjwala · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked reading the parts set in India, but did not like the final love interest.

[Susan Saxx]

I started dipping into this book for 2 reasons: it had been given to me by a friend, and it was by BERTRICE SMALL, one of the pioneers of our modern day erotica. Days later, I was still reading. This book, along with Velvet, Alex, Akbar, Alanna and Ranald (whenever I choose to visit them) is now on my keeper shelf. Thank you, Ms. Small!

[Kristina Deluise · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELIZABETH TUDOR ASKS SKYE FOR HELP
SKYE AND ADAM AGREE TO HELP.

CLAIRE BEACHAMP RANDALL FRAISER,........... YOU HAVE NOTHING ON SKYE O'MALLEY
lol
SKYE LIVES IN 1555

AFTER THEY LEAVE THE EARL OF BROC CAIR DIES AND HIS SON ALEXANDER ARRIVES TO CLAIM HIS CHILDHOOD BRIDE, BETROTHED AT 5, VELVET DOES NOT REMEMBER HIM

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEO ON THIS AIRING MAY 2

[Greyland Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
June 2025
Velvet character is so f**king annoying. I was skimming through the last quarter of this audiobook...

3 stars
May 2017
hoping we get to find out more about Velvet's daughter
Trigger Warnings: misogyny, sexual assault, violence, trafficking, drugging, birth, and kidnapping

[Verneda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first romance book i ever read and to be honest it was way out of my age level. The plot in the story was good and even though she had two love interest you loved both. i think this book was really good although it was so long.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth of the Skye O'Malley series. A Tudor era historical romance with plenty of sizzle. I like how descriptive of everything the stories in this series are. The main character was a bit too spoiled, however, she did seem to mature into a more likable person.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful & lovely story... Can't wait to read the sequal!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

been looking for this book at my library - can't find it anywhere - guess I'm gonna have to look into buying it.

[Kbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Velvet is following in her mother's step...
Kidnaped and returned home, kidnaped again dealing with King de Navarre in France etc...