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Montgomery/Taggert: Publication order #15
Mountain Laurel
Bestselling author Jude Deveraux spins a rollicking story of a mismatched couple who unearth a sparkling, irresistible passion across the rugged West!
Captain Ring Montgomery was handsome, a skilled rider, a crack shot, popular with the men and their ladies. That was reason enough for a jealous, surly colonel to saddle Montgomery with a most peculiar to escort an opera singer into the Colorado gold fields.
Ring’s plan was to scare the little lady enough so that she’d hightail it for home. After all, a Civil War was brewing! But LaReina, The Singing Duchess—as Maddie was called—didn’t scare easily. And she didn’t intend to explain her reasons for coming West to any high and mighty soldier. Captain Montgomery might be smart enough to figure out that she was no European duchess, and gentleman enough not to take advantage of her. But he’d have to go on thinking she had some insane desire to sing opera to a bunch of ragtag miners—for she didn’t dare trust him with the truth…
Captain Ring Montgomery was handsome, a skilled rider, a crack shot, popular with the men and their ladies. That was reason enough for a jealous, surly colonel to saddle Montgomery with a most peculiar to escort an opera singer into the Colorado gold fields.
Ring’s plan was to scare the little lady enough so that she’d hightail it for home. After all, a Civil War was brewing! But LaReina, The Singing Duchess—as Maddie was called—didn’t scare easily. And she didn’t intend to explain her reasons for coming West to any high and mighty soldier. Captain Montgomery might be smart enough to figure out that she was no European duchess, and gentleman enough not to take advantage of her. But he’d have to go on thinking she had some insane desire to sing opera to a bunch of ragtag miners—for she didn’t dare trust him with the truth…
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1990
247 people are currently reading
1700 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,051 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
September 21, 2022
5 Stars for Mountain Laurel (audiobook) by Jude Deveraux read by Judith Light and Richard Ferrone.
This was a happy surprise. This is a hate to love romance set in the Colorado gold fields. Captain Ring Montgomery is ordered to escort an opera singer on her travels from gold camp to gold camp. And this service wasn’t appreciated at all.
This was a happy surprise. This is a hate to love romance set in the Colorado gold fields. Captain Ring Montgomery is ordered to escort an opera singer on her travels from gold camp to gold camp. And this service wasn’t appreciated at all.
June 25, 2020
2015 Reading Challenge: A book by an author with the same initials as me.
I read about half of this, and then skimmed the rest. It was about as cheesy and clichéd as you'd expect a romance novel from 1990 to be.
Still, I gave it two stars because it was at least an easy read and it actually had a plot, albeit a far-fetched one.
Oh, but I have to add that the sex scene was completely ridiculous. Even more so than most. He tackled her to the floor and then went full insertion in the same motion? How is that even possible? And then scooted (yes, the word "scooted" was used) her across the floor until her head hit the wall. In a frontier shack. Are we talking dirt floor or splintery wood floor? Neither sounds great. Scenes like this make me wonder if the author has ever had sex herself.
I read about half of this, and then skimmed the rest. It was about as cheesy and clichéd as you'd expect a romance novel from 1990 to be.
Still, I gave it two stars because it was at least an easy read and it actually had a plot, albeit a far-fetched one.
Oh, but I have to add that the sex scene was completely ridiculous. Even more so than most. He tackled her to the floor and then went full insertion in the same motion? How is that even possible? And then scooted (yes, the word "scooted" was used) her across the floor until her head hit the wall. In a frontier shack. Are we talking dirt floor or splintery wood floor? Neither sounds great. Scenes like this make me wonder if the author has ever had sex herself.
February 1, 2010
I do believe I continued to read this just to irritate myself. Why else would I suffer through an insufferable arrogant alpha-man who whines, complains, and dresses up in an itty bitty leather thing and war paint in a piss-poor attempt to frighten off the heroine? Silly man. And all this happens within the first several pages of the book.
Apparently, Mr. Ring Montgomery has PO'd not only me but his colonel who has forced him to escort an opera singer safely into the dangerous gold mines. He thinks this job far below his puffed up self and decides to be a complete jerk to Maddie Worth (whose stage name is LaReina, The Singing Duchess). She doesn't immediately simper and fall at his feet so I continue to listen along.
A little later:
This book was written in the late 80's/early 90's, if I'm not mistaken, and for that reason I am not going to be as critical as I would be if it were a recent release. Though there isn't all that much happening besides lots of chatter and wandering about the wilderness, the alpha hero isn't quite as bad as I'd initially feared and the story was mildy amusing though not at all "freakin' hilarious" as an Amazon reviewer promised. But I'm a grouch so you have to take that into consideration.
I particularly liked the fact that the heroine was an opera singer and that her voice was almost a character in itself but overall this isn't a keeper sort of book that I'd reread. It's very slow and gets a little odd towards the end when lust begins to override all commonsense. .
Apparently, Mr. Ring Montgomery has PO'd not only me but his colonel who has forced him to escort an opera singer safely into the dangerous gold mines. He thinks this job far below his puffed up self and decides to be a complete jerk to Maddie Worth (whose stage name is LaReina, The Singing Duchess). She doesn't immediately simper and fall at his feet so I continue to listen along.
A little later:
This book was written in the late 80's/early 90's, if I'm not mistaken, and for that reason I am not going to be as critical as I would be if it were a recent release. Though there isn't all that much happening besides lots of chatter and wandering about the wilderness, the alpha hero isn't quite as bad as I'd initially feared and the story was mildy amusing though not at all "freakin' hilarious" as an Amazon reviewer promised. But I'm a grouch so you have to take that into consideration.
I particularly liked the fact that the heroine was an opera singer and that her voice was almost a character in itself but overall this isn't a keeper sort of book that I'd reread. It's very slow and gets a little odd towards the end when lust begins to override all commonsense. .
December 5, 2021
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and the Tartans facebook group.)
Should I read in order?
Still not sure how this series should be read lol. I am going by her chronological list on Deveraux’s website (So far: The Black Lyon, The Maiden, The Velvet Promise, Highland Velvet, Velvet Son, Velvet Angel, The Heiress, and The Raider.) This seems to be the first with this setting and from what I’ve read so far would be fine to pick up as a stand alone. There are some references to the Mongomery men that you might get better if you’ve read the prior novels but it’s only a line or 2.
Basic plot
Give this a try if you want:
- Rocky mountains setting in 1859
- Low steam – I believe there is 1 full scene, and it’s a bit longer than what I’ve read from her before (It’s a few pages long instead of 1 paragraph, but it’s still not super explicit)
- Enemies to lovers feel
- Forced proximity and road trip – they are traveling to various camps out West and there’s lot of sleeping under the stars
- Soldier hero, heroine that sings
- I had this marked under ‘full figured heroines’ but I didn’t really find that? There’s like 1-2 mentions of her being ‘ample’ I guess, and in the beginning a character says “I hope she’s fat.” I was hoping for a novel redeeming Deveraux from the mountains of fatfobic comments I’ve read in her other works but it was kind of not addressed either way.
- I believe we have a virgin hero here!
My thoughts:
This one wasn’t quite as….intense as the other works of hers I’ve read.
It has a western setting, visiting various gold mining camps. That’s usually not a setting I read, and I did end up finding it a bit boring. The heroine is hiding a secret that she keeps from the hero for most of the story – it did frustrate me that she wouldn’t tell him so they could actually work together.
The beginning of the book just kind of set a tone that I didn’t like. When they meet, the heroine doesn’t fawn over him, so he gets pretty offended. He dresses in a loincloth and war paint that night and goes to show her a lesson – he ties her up and takes care of her guards. The scene was just strange, I had no idea the purpose of it.
There’s also a scene a bit later that was probably meant to be comedic relief – she is running from him all around town. It just got ridiculous to me though – she runs and knocks people over and hides in barrels. She goes through a bar and takes a shot of something and when he comes in yells “He’s buying!”. He catches her and she starts screaming “No, don’t hit me again!” and men come and beat him up while she laughs. It was just….yuck.
And after that, it wasn’t much better. It had nothing that really gripped my heart, and I ended up not really caring about either character.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and the Tartans facebook group.)
Should I read in order?
Still not sure how this series should be read lol. I am going by her chronological list on Deveraux’s website (So far: The Black Lyon, The Maiden, The Velvet Promise, Highland Velvet, Velvet Son, Velvet Angel, The Heiress, and The Raider.) This seems to be the first with this setting and from what I’ve read so far would be fine to pick up as a stand alone. There are some references to the Mongomery men that you might get better if you’ve read the prior novels but it’s only a line or 2.
Basic plot
Give this a try if you want:
- Rocky mountains setting in 1859
- Low steam – I believe there is 1 full scene, and it’s a bit longer than what I’ve read from her before (It’s a few pages long instead of 1 paragraph, but it’s still not super explicit)
- Enemies to lovers feel
- Forced proximity and road trip – they are traveling to various camps out West and there’s lot of sleeping under the stars
- Soldier hero, heroine that sings
- I had this marked under ‘full figured heroines’ but I didn’t really find that? There’s like 1-2 mentions of her being ‘ample’ I guess, and in the beginning a character says “I hope she’s fat.” I was hoping for a novel redeeming Deveraux from the mountains of fatfobic comments I’ve read in her other works but it was kind of not addressed either way.
- I believe we have a virgin hero here!
My thoughts:
This one wasn’t quite as….intense as the other works of hers I’ve read.
It has a western setting, visiting various gold mining camps. That’s usually not a setting I read, and I did end up finding it a bit boring. The heroine is hiding a secret that she keeps from the hero for most of the story – it did frustrate me that she wouldn’t tell him so they could actually work together.
The beginning of the book just kind of set a tone that I didn’t like. When they meet, the heroine doesn’t fawn over him, so he gets pretty offended. He dresses in a loincloth and war paint that night and goes to show her a lesson – he ties her up and takes care of her guards. The scene was just strange, I had no idea the purpose of it.
There’s also a scene a bit later that was probably meant to be comedic relief – she is running from him all around town. It just got ridiculous to me though – she runs and knocks people over and hides in barrels. She goes through a bar and takes a shot of something and when he comes in yells “He’s buying!”. He catches her and she starts screaming “No, don’t hit me again!” and men come and beat him up while she laughs. It was just….yuck.
And after that, it wasn’t much better. It had nothing that really gripped my heart, and I ended up not really caring about either character.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
August 12, 2018
Reread #1
I have decided to enjoy Jude’s books again. I believe I have them all.. what better way to spend my 82nd year.
I have decided to enjoy Jude’s books again. I believe I have them all.. what better way to spend my 82nd year.
May 27, 2014
This was a nice little historical romance novel, and I enjoyed it up until the point of 'Ring and Maddie discussing their life when they would be married. I think 'Ring's suggestion of moving to Warbrooke and building her an opera house where she could sing for audiences who wanted to hear her was a great idea. But Maddie wanted her way of traveling around the world and not "singing in a cage." In the end, I guess they made a compromise, but Maddie really just got her way. I think it will be happily ever after for Maddie and 'Ring will be constantly making sure she's happy...or else!
October 11, 2021
I had a feeling that I had already read this book and maybe I have but I still loved it. It made me laugh a lot and squeal at the cute parts. I was disappointed that there wasn't more at the end but the ending was so fulfilling. Though I won't mind if it was continued.
May 17, 2020
Another nostalgic favorite on my bookshelf. Time to let it go, but enjoyed the reading of it again.
April 13, 2009
I am going to write the same thing for the Taggart and Montgomery series of Jude Deveraux. First, I can't believe that I read these books because they are so blatantly bodice rippers (not my style at all). And second, and more importantly, I devoured them all! Here is the scoop: We stopped at a friend's house in Tennessee on the last leg of one of our cross country trips about 11 years ago and I had run out of books. She gave me three of Deveraux's books in the Montgomery series and I kindly took them never expecting to read them (my God the covers alone were ridiculous!). Well, I gave in and read them because I needed something to do on the ride home. By the time we got home, I had already called the library and asked them to reserve all of the Taggart and Montgomery series books they had! I devoured them all and loved them? Here's the funny thing - I have never read any more Deveraux since that time (not even the last Taggart book or the last two Montgomery books). I can still vividly remember scenes from the books I read so many years ago!
September 27, 2011
Years ago I read The Virginian by Owen Wister and I think I still prefer that to this. The original premise is possible since commanding officers did misuse their personnel in this way, but I don't know about Toby. There are a number of passages which are written for the purpose of titillation, but then the cover of my copy is pink, so I should have known. She does her research, that's for certain since most of the background sounds right except that no gentleman, and 'Ring is a gentleman, would keep a young lady out after dark, let alone for three days, alone with him. Her reputation would be non-existent and as for the three days at the end, there is absolutely no way at all. I only read it because it was the last book left with the bookcrossing stack.
January 8, 2015
Hurray for independent women!
Reading a Jude Deveraux book is like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. She never fails to create characters that can tug on her readers' heartstrings.
I especially loved this part:
He smiled at her in the darkness. I just have to make you more aware of me, that's all, he thought. I have to make you see me as a man. I want some of that passion that you give to your music. He stretched his free hand across the space between them and touched her fingertips. She curled her fingers around his like a baby would. Smiling, he went to sleep. (page 188)
This is a light and highly enjoyable historical romance novel that can make you forget your worries for a while.
Reading a Jude Deveraux book is like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day. She never fails to create characters that can tug on her readers' heartstrings.
I especially loved this part:
He smiled at her in the darkness. I just have to make you more aware of me, that's all, he thought. I have to make you see me as a man. I want some of that passion that you give to your music. He stretched his free hand across the space between them and touched her fingertips. She curled her fingers around his like a baby would. Smiling, he went to sleep. (page 188)
This is a light and highly enjoyable historical romance novel that can make you forget your worries for a while.
December 11, 2012
I sort of liked this book, but honestly I just never ... got it. The story felt very convoluted, leaving me with a bunch of, "Huh? Okay, why?" It would have been nice to take these fairly likable characters and transplant them into a better story.
October 23, 2014
Jude Deveraux is the queen of betas, and I forgive much of the silliness of her books because I enjoy the heroes she writes. This one was just too much. Too over the top. I rolled my eyes so often, I almost DNFd this twice.
July 28, 2019
Parts of this story entertained me, but more parts annoyed me. The two main characters floated on the annoying side of the river. He's dashingly handsome and conveniently available and she the damsel in distress. I digress...
September 11, 2021
Romance novel from the 1990's that was clearly lacking something. Cheesy and a bit too sophomoric for my tastes when I was into reading romances 30 years ago. Now I'm dating myself for sure...
June 17, 2015
Not the best
For me this book dragged. The story didn't have the feeling of "can't wait to see what happens next" her other books have been much better.
For me this book dragged. The story didn't have the feeling of "can't wait to see what happens next" her other books have been much better.
September 1, 2016
Found Maddie very irritating at times especiall when she acts like she's God's gift to Earth.Still has a somewhat fairytale ending but overall flat like the land they traveled.
August 29, 2019
This was one of the only audiobooks of Jude Deveraux I could find that wasn't freaking abridged!!! I hate abridged books. Not worth it at all. Anyway, this book was hilarious. :D
July 5, 2023
Ms Deveraux is an amazing talent. This book is a work of art. It is done very precisely and it does exactly what it should. It entertains.
LaReina is an opera singer. She is a duchess from Lanconia. She has a voice that is once in a generation. Now she is in a large coach traveling through the mining country of the western part of the United States. She will sing for the miners in small communities all through the mountains.
In reality, she is Maddie Worth , and she is American.
Ring Montgomery is a captain in the United States Army. He has been assigned to be the bodyguard for an opera singer who will be traveling from one mining community to another. He intends to get out of that duty. He is a hero, an Indian fighter and a leader of men. He does not have time to waste on an opera singer. He figures he can scare her about the dangers of the West. He is wrong.
This is an adventure story. This is a story about relationships and family. This is a story of learning to trust and understand others.
Maddie is on a mission. Her younger sister has been kidnapped and she has been told that unless she does exactly as she is told, her sister, Laurel, will be killed. There is a schedule and Maddie must sing in six small mining camps, deliver a sealed letter and move on to the next camp before her sister will be released.
Maddie and Ring are not besties. She does not trust him as far as she could throw him. He does not believe a word that comes out of her mouth. And then of course there is the fact that she has drugged him in order to put him to sleep.
Obviously, this is a match made in heaven.
Maddie has a giant sense of her own value. I got rather tired of her constant patting herself on the back for her “gift”. But, she is brave and courageous and has a strong sense of family loyalty. She is willing to give her life to get her little sister returned safely.
Ring is a man who has lived his entire life being responsible. He is the oldest child in a large family and he has been in charge of things since he was very young. It is impossible for him to not take charge and give orders to everyone around him.
Ms Deveraux creates characters who have entertaining conversations. Maddie and Ring have some wonderful arguments.
There are several secondary characters who add humor to this story. They also add atmosphere and texture. Toby is a man who has been with Ring since before he was in the Army. When he is in a scene, there is wisdom as well as humor.
This is a fun read. Although it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone read. But, it does make me want to read other books in this series.
LaReina is an opera singer. She is a duchess from Lanconia. She has a voice that is once in a generation. Now she is in a large coach traveling through the mining country of the western part of the United States. She will sing for the miners in small communities all through the mountains.
In reality, she is Maddie Worth , and she is American.
Ring Montgomery is a captain in the United States Army. He has been assigned to be the bodyguard for an opera singer who will be traveling from one mining community to another. He intends to get out of that duty. He is a hero, an Indian fighter and a leader of men. He does not have time to waste on an opera singer. He figures he can scare her about the dangers of the West. He is wrong.
This is an adventure story. This is a story about relationships and family. This is a story of learning to trust and understand others.
Maddie is on a mission. Her younger sister has been kidnapped and she has been told that unless she does exactly as she is told, her sister, Laurel, will be killed. There is a schedule and Maddie must sing in six small mining camps, deliver a sealed letter and move on to the next camp before her sister will be released.
Maddie and Ring are not besties. She does not trust him as far as she could throw him. He does not believe a word that comes out of her mouth. And then of course there is the fact that she has drugged him in order to put him to sleep.
Obviously, this is a match made in heaven.
Maddie has a giant sense of her own value. I got rather tired of her constant patting herself on the back for her “gift”. But, she is brave and courageous and has a strong sense of family loyalty. She is willing to give her life to get her little sister returned safely.
Ring is a man who has lived his entire life being responsible. He is the oldest child in a large family and he has been in charge of things since he was very young. It is impossible for him to not take charge and give orders to everyone around him.
Ms Deveraux creates characters who have entertaining conversations. Maddie and Ring have some wonderful arguments.
There are several secondary characters who add humor to this story. They also add atmosphere and texture. Toby is a man who has been with Ring since before he was in the Army. When he is in a scene, there is wisdom as well as humor.
This is a fun read. Although it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone read. But, it does make me want to read other books in this series.
May 24, 2020
I'm finding that one of my least favorite romance tropes involves characters who refuse to tell each other pertinent information. The setup, which while ludicrous, is amusing enough at the beginning, but once I realized that Maddie had stupidly failed to acquire help from oh, I don't know, all of her living family whom were conveniently forgotten until the latter half of the book, I was furious. 'Ring himself was annoying from page one so disliking both main characters ruins the read for me. Part of the problem is that he is presented as the perfect Army officer. He isn't. The beginning from Col. Harrison's POV is supposed to show a shiny paragon resented by his bumbling superior, but instead there is blatant insubordination and refusal of a direct order. The colonel might be a disaster but 'Ring is a greater threat to good order and discipline. After all, he thinks nothing of galivanting on a three day camping trip with a handcuffed Maddie.
Overall, I never connected with the characters, thought the writing was lazy, and was happy it was only 312 pages so at least I didn't waste a lot of time on this.
Overall, I never connected with the characters, thought the writing was lazy, and was happy it was only 312 pages so at least I didn't waste a lot of time on this.
June 25, 2021
I was looking forward to this book, and boy did Jude deliver. “Mountain Laurel” has earned a place on my list of favorites from Deveraux. Maddie Worth, a talented opera singer, has to travel through the Colorado gold fields performing for minors in hopes of finding her kidnapped sister. Ring Montgomery, the well respected army captain, is responsible for protecting her on the journey despite how tedious he finds the task. Ring quickly discovers that escorting Maddie on her trip is harder than he originally thought. Between the blackmailing kidnapper, theaterical operatic performances, drunken gold minors and being handcuffed to Maddie alone in the woods with no supplies, this assignment was far from boring. I loved Ring and Maddie together. Ring had never been tempted by the pleasures of life, he’d been a disciplined man running the Montgomery shipping business since 14. Likewise Maddie dedicated her entire life to singing and never strayed from her demanding schedule. The two of them found freedom together and discovered a newfound passion in life, each other. I appreciated how even till the end Maddie refused to give up her singing, and they had to compromise their lives for one another. I lovedddd the western setting, with a similar vibe to “Stagecoach” which is one of my favorite movies. There was a ton of fun, eccentric characters in this story, and a myriad of references to other books. There was allusions to the Taggerts, mentions of very famous locations like Warbrooke and Laconia, and even a reference to Ghost Island from “The Raider”! All in all very sweet, entertaining and fun. A+ for gold minors , A++ for traveling in a stagecoach.
April 22, 2024
If like me you are reading Jude's books about the Montgomery/Taggert family in chronological order, this would be the 9th book in the series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone book.
In this wonderful story, we meet the Montgomery in the family Ring. Ring is an honorable, steadfast man. He follows the rules. Everyone likes him because he is fair and knows how to lead. Every that is expect his new commanding officer. When a job comes up escorting an opera singer across the west Ring is sent to do so. Ring isn't happy so he tries to scare Maddie. One problem Maddies doesn't scare easily.
Maddie is an opera singer hailed for being LaReina, The Singing Duchess. She is known for her voice across the world but what people don't know is she was raised in the wild west. So when Maddie sets out to rescue her sister Laurel she doesn't want to be hindered by Captain Montgomery.
What I loved about this book was that Maddies was just as stubborn as Ring. They were perfect for each other because they were so alike. Raised in a large family but mostly on their own they are both lonely and searching for something. Together they find it but not without a lot of fighting, miscommunication, and let's not forget tricks like slipping drugs into the whisky.
Once I started reading this book I remember how much I loved it and how Jude did a wonderful job describing the West as it once was wild and untamed.
In this wonderful story, we meet the Montgomery in the family Ring. Ring is an honorable, steadfast man. He follows the rules. Everyone likes him because he is fair and knows how to lead. Every that is expect his new commanding officer. When a job comes up escorting an opera singer across the west Ring is sent to do so. Ring isn't happy so he tries to scare Maddie. One problem Maddies doesn't scare easily.
Maddie is an opera singer hailed for being LaReina, The Singing Duchess. She is known for her voice across the world but what people don't know is she was raised in the wild west. So when Maddie sets out to rescue her sister Laurel she doesn't want to be hindered by Captain Montgomery.
What I loved about this book was that Maddies was just as stubborn as Ring. They were perfect for each other because they were so alike. Raised in a large family but mostly on their own they are both lonely and searching for something. Together they find it but not without a lot of fighting, miscommunication, and let's not forget tricks like slipping drugs into the whisky.
Once I started reading this book I remember how much I loved it and how Jude did a wonderful job describing the West as it once was wild and untamed.
November 18, 2024
The story was intriguing and roped me in. Good character development. Didn’t bore me with pages of descriptions or backstory. But then it got all sappy about half at through, and a little weird. It went from I hate you, into, we’re attracted to each other but neither of us want to admit it and then BOOM, our souls were always meant for each other, I want you to have my babies. Woah there, slow down a minute. What happened to the nice slow progression? Between that and the weirdness, (hello story about his naked sister, and then the two main characters getting chained to each other…) yeah, they lost me.
I liked Maddie in the beginning. She was smart, knew her mind, and wasn’t a pushover. But then it turned out she was incredibly vain when it came to her singing voice. She could be mad about something and all you’d have to say was, “You have a beautiful voice,” and all would be forgotten. She’d be all fanning herself, falling all over you, “Truly? You do? Tell me ten more times before I’ll believe you.” Yawn.
I gave it three stars because it started out so strong. I wish authors would have some consistency, it’s like they rush the story, losing patience or something.
I liked Maddie in the beginning. She was smart, knew her mind, and wasn’t a pushover. But then it turned out she was incredibly vain when it came to her singing voice. She could be mad about something and all you’d have to say was, “You have a beautiful voice,” and all would be forgotten. She’d be all fanning herself, falling all over you, “Truly? You do? Tell me ten more times before I’ll believe you.” Yawn.
I gave it three stars because it started out so strong. I wish authors would have some consistency, it’s like they rush the story, losing patience or something.
March 5, 2025
2 stars.
This was the first book I read from Jude Deveraux. I think I read it when I was a teenager and I was very impressed (as in, "so romance books can be so swoony??"). However as I read it now, it was... a bit irritating. I guess it's kinda old now, almost as old as me... 😬
WHAT I LIKED: Some banter was good, the tension too. Wild West vibes were fun.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Both main characters were stubborn and they were so bad at communicating... Lying and keeping secrets were their main skills.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Pov: dual, 3rd person
Heat: I'd say closed doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: miscommunication
Third act:
Ending:
Main characters:
* Alpha Hero
* Damsel in distress
* Enemies to lovers
* Millionaire
* Opposites attract
* Physically very different
What?
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
Where?
* Wild West
* Traveling together
Drama?
* FMC's sister has been kidnapped
Other vibes:
* Mystery
* ”Touch her and die”
* ”Who did this to you”
This was the first book I read from Jude Deveraux. I think I read it when I was a teenager and I was very impressed (as in, "so romance books can be so swoony??"). However as I read it now, it was... a bit irritating. I guess it's kinda old now, almost as old as me... 😬
WHAT I LIKED: Some banter was good, the tension too. Wild West vibes were fun.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Both main characters were stubborn and they were so bad at communicating... Lying and keeping secrets were their main skills.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Pov: dual, 3rd person
Heat: I'd say closed doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: miscommunication
Third act:
Ending:
Main characters:
* Alpha Hero
* Damsel in distress
* Enemies to lovers
* Millionaire
* Opposites attract
* Physically very different
What?
* Forced proximity
* He falls first
Where?
* Wild West
* Traveling together
Drama?
* FMC's sister has been kidnapped
Other vibes:
* Mystery
* ”Touch her and die”
* ”Who did this to you”
February 8, 2022
This HR takes place in America during the GoldRush in 1859. Number nine on Jude Deveraux’s series order. The H is Captain (Ring) Montgomery of the US Calvary and the h Maddie Worth a famous Opera singer. He had orders to be her escort while she sang in mining towns from General Yeltson. Her sister Laurel was kidnapped to ensure she sang. She was supposed to hand notes to different people along the way. Ring and his brother Jamie helped her get Laurel back. They fell in love remaining in a cabin for three passionate days. He asked her to marry him and offered to build a theatre for her in Warbrooke Maine where he and his brothers ran Warbrooke shipping the largest shipping company on the Eastern seaboard. She said no but after 3 weeks of misery without one another, he came back for her. They compromised and he said he would travel with her for half the year and she said she would spend half the year in Maine with him at Warbrooke Shipping. This Character Hring was like the Lone Ranger.
January 25, 2025
I think it's time I be honest with myself...
I have stacks of Jude Deveraux books because I cut my teeth on her and other authors of her (ahem) generational writing style, but I have these books more for nostalgia than actual enjoyment. I think my reading style has simply evolved. That's not to say I don't sometimes still enjoy these OTT historical romances, but they are no longer my go-to.
With that being said, I promised my husband I would read what remained on my shelves, and Mountain Laurel was part of that ongoing process, and though it wasn't the worst of the old school novels I've read during this project, it also wasn't the best. There was lots of pining, lots of over the top heroics, lots of the typical "unusual" woman with a mouth and a mind of her own, you know the sort.
Having finished Mountain Laurel, I have reached my required "old school" read of the month and can move on to something more contemporary, more my "new" reading style.
Happy Reading, y'all
I have stacks of Jude Deveraux books because I cut my teeth on her and other authors of her (ahem) generational writing style, but I have these books more for nostalgia than actual enjoyment. I think my reading style has simply evolved. That's not to say I don't sometimes still enjoy these OTT historical romances, but they are no longer my go-to.
With that being said, I promised my husband I would read what remained on my shelves, and Mountain Laurel was part of that ongoing process, and though it wasn't the worst of the old school novels I've read during this project, it also wasn't the best. There was lots of pining, lots of over the top heroics, lots of the typical "unusual" woman with a mouth and a mind of her own, you know the sort.
Having finished Mountain Laurel, I have reached my required "old school" read of the month and can move on to something more contemporary, more my "new" reading style.
Happy Reading, y'all
October 12, 2022
The opera singer and the shipping mogul
The Montgomery and Taggert families are different from most. I thought I had read all the books about them until I found this one. Maddie is on a mission to save her younger sister who has been kidnapped. She is traveling to the gold fields. If anyone finds out what she is doing it will put her sister in danger. When Ring Montgomery is ordered to travel with her to insure her safety it makes him angry. He begins planning to frighten her to get her to give up the crazy idea to tour mining camps and go home. He soon learned she is not the mild mannered miss he expected. These two clash constantly and still manage to fall in love.
There are any number of colorful characters her sister Lauren being the most unexpected. I enjoyed reading it. It makes me want to go back and read the rest again.
The Montgomery and Taggert families are different from most. I thought I had read all the books about them until I found this one. Maddie is on a mission to save her younger sister who has been kidnapped. She is traveling to the gold fields. If anyone finds out what she is doing it will put her sister in danger. When Ring Montgomery is ordered to travel with her to insure her safety it makes him angry. He begins planning to frighten her to get her to give up the crazy idea to tour mining camps and go home. He soon learned she is not the mild mannered miss he expected. These two clash constantly and still manage to fall in love.
There are any number of colorful characters her sister Lauren being the most unexpected. I enjoyed reading it. It makes me want to go back and read the rest again.
December 8, 2022
After reading the blurb, I was hesitant about this book but decided to give it a try. Maddie is known as the opera singer LaReina. She's determined to go on tour in the gold fields of Colorado for reasons of her own. Captain 'Ring Montgomery is assigned to escort her, and romance ensues.
The plot is okay, good with historical details, but unrealistic as far as the story goes. Maddie and 'Ring are fine in an enemies-to-lovers trope, but can I just say that calling the hero 'Ring with that apostrophe drove me crazy?
The plot is okay, good with historical details, but unrealistic as far as the story goes. Maddie and 'Ring are fine in an enemies-to-lovers trope, but can I just say that calling the hero 'Ring with that apostrophe drove me crazy?
August 6, 2017
The story was nice. It was quite good that it gave importance in the development of the characters' relationship before they fell deeply in love with each other. Maddie's attitude was in par with 'Ring's strong sense of honour and I find it adorable. The plot was not as dramatic as the other books of Jude, but there are times that it felt slow-paced and not enough, especially on how the case of the kidnapping have ended.
September 19, 2018
Maddie, an opera singer of some reknown, meets Ring Montgomery, an army captain assigned to escort of her western tour. While Maddie tries to ditch him in order to comply with the orders of her sister's kidnappers, Ring, not knowing the situration, sticks like glue. There are funny moments, ridiculous moments, and sad moments but the overriding worry about Maddie's 12-year-old sister Laurel keeps the reader from relaxing until the situation is resolved.
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