Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Viscount Claims His Bride by Bronwyn Scott
Historical romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 Jan 09
After years of suffering from crippling burn-out on the subgenre, I’m just now starting to dip my toes back into the English historical waters. I’m finding the return visit with our comrades across the pond to mostly be refreshing. However, every now and then a certain plot device turns up to remind me of why I suffered from the burn-out in the first place.
Valerian Inglemoore, Viscount St. Just has finally returned home to England after serving abroad as a diplomat for many years. When he learns that the girl he left behind is now a widow, he quickly formulates a plan to win back the heart of Philippa Stratten. Their family estates neighbor each other, so naturally Val and Philippa grew up as friends, which quickly blossomed into full-fledged love by the time Philippa was of age for her first Season. Many stolen moments and passionate kisses followed, only for Val to have his hand smacked when he approached her father for her hand in marriage. The Stratten family was in dire financial trouble, and Philippa needed to marry well. A prospect with a worthy title and even worthier wallet was already on the hook. Val needed to step aside; and he does so by breaking Phillipa’s heart. Now with her husband and father dead, Val sees this as his chance to start anew with his long lost love. However it’s not smooth sailing. For one thing Phillipa hasn’t forgotten her broken heart, plus there are secrets and a villain lurking in the background.
The problem with this sort of conflict is that it doesn’t hold much water. All the misunderstandings between Val and Phillipa could be cleared up with a five minute conversation. “Your daddy made me step aside, so sorry, I still love you.” That’s it. Of course, this being England, and everyone being so bloody proper, no one can actually talk to each other. Heaven forbid! This is why I tend to gravitate towards plain-spoken cowboys.
Luckily the author doesn’t wait for the final chapter for this misunderstanding to be revealed. Still, the reader has to wade through the first half the novel. That leaves our dastardly villain to fill the conflict void, and this was actually pretty interesting. The man wants to gain control of Phillipa’s mining interests and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. The problem is that the villain conveniently turns inept towards the end when Phillipa uncovers extremely convenient evidence of his treachery. It’s more Scooby Doo than Agatha Christie.
The best part of the story is easily the second half, after the reason behind Val breaking her heart is revealed to Phillipa. Prior to that I just wanted to shake him senseless for not telling her immediately once he sets eyes on her again. I also enjoyed quite a bit of dialogue. The propriety that kept the characters from effectively communicating about their pasts did have a way of breeding some interesting confrontational scenes between Val and Phillipa.
Unfortunately between my impatience with Val’s inability to immediately blurt out the truth to Phillipa, along with an easily thwarted villain during the final chapters, The Viscount Claims His Bride was only a lukewarm reading experience. That said, the author appears to be setting quite an interesting stage for Phillipa’s brother to get his own romance in a future book.
Grade: C
Summary:
For years Valerian Inglemoore, Viscount St. Just, lived a double life as a secret agent on the war-torn Continent.
Returning home, he knows exactly what he wants—Philippa Stratten, the woman he gave up for the sake of her family….
But Philippa isn’t the naive debutante he left behind. His rejection stung deeply, and now she is suspicious of his intentions. Valerian realizes he must wage a tough battle if he is to finally claim her, once and for all, as his bride!
Very early on, the hero thought/said in his internal monologue that what he was doing (breaking the heroine’s heart) was for her own good. For her own good! I hate that. Please, could you be more patronizing?
So this book went back to the library that same day.
No offense to Ms Scott, whom I don’t think I’ve ever read, but I think you made a bum choice for getting your toe back in the historical water! There is gold in the dross! Try Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas,The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne, To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt, Caroline Linden’s A Rake’s Guide to Seduction, or Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter
Willaful: I actually read Private Arrangements last year! So there’s one off your list – LOL. Sigh, I really, really need to get to Elizabeth Hoyt. I think I own her entire backlist, and I haven’t read one of them yet. Geez.
D’oh, I didn’t read very carefully. Well anyway, yeah, no denying there’s still plenty of tired plotlines out there waltzing at Almacks. Even tireder medievals, which I barely try anymore. I’m reading Duke of Shadows right now and it’s terrific, but you probably knew that.
I’m kind of bummed the ducks didn’t like the book. Of course, there’s been other 4 star reviews in other places, so it just goes to show there’s something for everyone and not everyone likes the same thing. I did have a good chuckle when I looked at the list Willaful provided–with the exception of the awesome Madeleine Hunter I don’t personally enjoy the other authors listed there, so that’s just how it goes, everyone’s got their niche. I’m a Jo Beverly , Julia London, Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens girl when all is said and done.
I was really proud of the backdrop for the book, the cornwall community, the geography, the cartel and banking politics, the non-standard setting of the Negush uprising in Valerian’s past—they don’t go to Almack’s at all and they don’t do any of the standard in town things that can wear regencies out. So I was disappointed that didn’t configure higher here. I was thrilled when Romantic Times wrote, “a nice overview of post-Napoleonic Europe” I’ve got a big history background so, it meant a lot.
Pleasured by the English Spy is the next e-book undone out for me Feb 1st, featuring Julian Burke’s friend Andrew Truesdale who finds love in Italy. But remember, it’s short but I did slow down the pacing alot compared to Libertine Lord Pickpocket Miss!
All my best,
Bronwyn
Remember that a “C” grade isn’t a “bad” grade here. It just means “average” and not horrible. Could be a simple matter that that book wasn’t that reviewer’s cuppa tea.
Have no fear, Bronwyn. We’re all very different ducks and aren’t afraid to disagree with each other. Odds are very much in favor of one of us reading your book and loving it to pieces – AND saying so! This is one of those review places where civilized disagreement is encouraged. Makes things interesting around here when we do.
Thanks for having the class to not take it personally.
What Gwen said 🙂
Hey Browyn,
What gwen said a C isn’t bad just average. yes yes I know some authors think average is horrible ::shakes head::
Thanks for stopping in, stick around! And when you are past deadline do feel free to send us a guest review! We should have some authors do that for vday *g* week for something. 😉
Hey,
I’d love to stick around and guest review/blog. I just finished the last of the three books in the Ramsden Brother’s series and I have a proposal due Feb. 27th but after that, I’m good for March. The Ramsden Brother’s starts with Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady which was out last spring 2008. The second book comes out May 1 this year (The Earl’s Forbidden Ward).
Bronwyn