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The Cornwall Collection
The Viscount Claims His Bride
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!
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!
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 25, 2008
19 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Bronwyn Scott
348 books170 followersBronwyn Scott writes historical romances for Harlequin, Mills and Boon. She has 50 titles currently in print with them.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
Bronwyn's 2018 release, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was RITA finalist.
Bronwyn's 2009 novel, The Viscount Claims His Bride was a RomCon finalist for best short historical, as was her 2011 release, A Thoroughly Compromised Lady.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 21, 2011
Reading a 2nd time 8/20/11
Valerian St. Just is in love with Philippa Statten. They were neighbors and friends. Along with Beldon Statten, Philippa's older brother, the three did spent much time together. Valerian had been carrying a ring for two weeks and planned on asking for Philippa's hand when her father told him he had agreed for her to marry another. It seems the families finances were in deep trouble and Valerian would not come into his inheritance for six more years. He had no choice but to let the love of his life go. He broke it off that evening but he had to get cruel to push her away. And then he left broken hearted.
Nine years later Valerian is back. He has met Beldon in London and invited him along to a party where Philippa was helping a friend host it. She was now a widow and Valerian had new hope for renewing their love. He had to show her how much he loved her and why he had left her nine years ago and also tell her of the past nine years.
Lucien Canton had other ideas. He had been helping Philippa since the day her husband died three years ago. Valerian seen the man had other motives for wanting Philippa. He did not act like a man besotted. When Philippa turned down his proposal he set things in motion to get Valerian out of the way.
Philippa could not believe the guest with her brother was Valerian. She had to remind herself how he cruelly told her she was only a passing affair and also of his womanizing reputation she had heard about. And yet her heart and body reacted to him as if their love was real.
A story of a love that lasts nine years, forgiving the past and dealing with the present, knowing who you can and cannot trust.
The second book is Beldon and Lilya's story (Lilya and Constantine are wards of Valerian).
Valerian St. Just is in love with Philippa Statten. They were neighbors and friends. Along with Beldon Statten, Philippa's older brother, the three did spent much time together. Valerian had been carrying a ring for two weeks and planned on asking for Philippa's hand when her father told him he had agreed for her to marry another. It seems the families finances were in deep trouble and Valerian would not come into his inheritance for six more years. He had no choice but to let the love of his life go. He broke it off that evening but he had to get cruel to push her away. And then he left broken hearted.
Nine years later Valerian is back. He has met Beldon in London and invited him along to a party where Philippa was helping a friend host it. She was now a widow and Valerian had new hope for renewing their love. He had to show her how much he loved her and why he had left her nine years ago and also tell her of the past nine years.
Lucien Canton had other ideas. He had been helping Philippa since the day her husband died three years ago. Valerian seen the man had other motives for wanting Philippa. He did not act like a man besotted. When Philippa turned down his proposal he set things in motion to get Valerian out of the way.
Philippa could not believe the guest with her brother was Valerian. She had to remind herself how he cruelly told her she was only a passing affair and also of his womanizing reputation she had heard about. And yet her heart and body reacted to him as if their love was real.
A story of a love that lasts nine years, forgiving the past and dealing with the present, knowing who you can and cannot trust.
The second book is Beldon and Lilya's story (Lilya and Constantine are wards of Valerian).
February 6, 2016
Well, I was surprised by this book, my first by Bronwyn Scott, and it was a wonderful surprise.
It had everything I like in a romance novel: strong characters who actually feel like real people, an interesting plot and a believable villain. I liked that the heroine isn't foolishly proud or inclined to silly behavior and the hero isnt' the usual cynical rake who doesn't believe in love.
This is a story you most definitely shouldn't miss.
PS: I saw a comment about this book where there is a complaint that the villain's true nature is obvious and why doesn't anyone see it. But I must point out that this is obvious to us because we "see" scenes and know facts that the characters have no way of knowing. And from this perspective the plot doesn't seem like a forced thing to me at all.
It's not uncommon to be in the dark about the real motivations or feelings of people we call "friends" and one day to find out they really aren't what they seemed to be. I'm sure it happens to all of us (it has happened to me, anyway)and we are ashamed and angry afterwards that we didn't see the falseness. But I think this is because most people need affection and friendship and we don't analyze our lives like a story in a book. We just live it.
PPS: Returning to the book, there actually was one thing I didn't like: the title. I think it deserved a more romantic one, Lisa Kleypas style.
It had everything I like in a romance novel: strong characters who actually feel like real people, an interesting plot and a believable villain. I liked that the heroine isn't foolishly proud or inclined to silly behavior and the hero isnt' the usual cynical rake who doesn't believe in love.
This is a story you most definitely shouldn't miss.
PS: I saw a comment about this book where there is a complaint that the villain's true nature is obvious and why doesn't anyone see it. But I must point out that this is obvious to us because we "see" scenes and know facts that the characters have no way of knowing. And from this perspective the plot doesn't seem like a forced thing to me at all.
It's not uncommon to be in the dark about the real motivations or feelings of people we call "friends" and one day to find out they really aren't what they seemed to be. I'm sure it happens to all of us (it has happened to me, anyway)and we are ashamed and angry afterwards that we didn't see the falseness. But I think this is because most people need affection and friendship and we don't analyze our lives like a story in a book. We just live it.
PPS: Returning to the book, there actually was one thing I didn't like: the title. I think it deserved a more romantic one, Lisa Kleypas style.
November 21, 2011
I loved this book! A true story that shows how true love literally concurred all...
February 26, 2025
i LOVED this book so much better then the last one i read. i could not put it down. i love the hero and heroine in it. i would like to have seen the story between the heroine brother and the hero ward i feel that would have been good. i really enjoyed this book loved it
March 30, 2019
Προδομένες Υποσχέσεις....
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November 8, 2024Valerian and Philippa - he pretended their early romance meant nothing so she wouldn't fight an arranged marriage to a different man to financially rescue the family. 9 years later, she's a widowed duchess and Valerian needs to prove he not only loves her now, but never stopped. it's a long road to forgiveness with a bunch of unnecessary drama plots thrown in for thrills. they didn't add much to the story and had me thinking "is it over yet?" multiple times with chapters still left
July 8, 2017
Good story
April 26, 2018
A fairly standard story, it does have its moments, but usually I expect more from Bronwyn Scott. I liked the characters though.
July 31, 2011
Bronwyn Scott is becoming a favorite author for me. While I enjoyed this book, it doesn’t have the flare that, say, Pickpocket Countess has. The characters are very likable and well written. It’s just the story itself that doesn’t quite live up to her earlier titles.
I remember how much I liked Valerian, Viscount St.Just, in Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss and really looked forward to his story. Compared to the storyline in that book, I think that’s why I’m just a tad disappointed in this one. There isn’t the action, the same connection between the hero and heroine as in the previous story. I’m not sure if that’s because of the friends-become-lovers factor or what. I actually liked that part of the story, though. The opening pages gives us some wonderful emotion when Val must break Philippa’s heart as he steps aside for her marriage to another that will save her family financially.
Val leaves England that night, becomes a spy and diplomat for the next nine years before he’s had enough and wants to come home. Philippa does marry her duke, whose money saves her family, and she enjoys a nice but passionless marriage until his accidental death. Once Val finds upon his return home that Philippa is free, his goal is to win her love again. He plans to tell her the circumstances surrounding his previous behavior, but things keep getting in the way, the worst of which is another suitor of Philippa’s. He finally does tell her and that’s when things begin to perk up. So the first half of the story just doesn’t move like Ms. Scott’s previous books.
The second half is much better, Val and Philippa getting to know one another again, their love re-blossoming, but unexpected danger lurks in the form of her former suitor, who hatches a plan to remove Val from the picture. He does a credible job of that, but I was a little irritated with Philippa’s lack of faith in Valerian. A man she’s known most of her life, even though he’d been gone for nearly a decade, a man who is honorable to the core, a man who’s just confessed his love for her while her doubts are instigated by the man she’s known only a few years and who has more to gain with Val gone, which she acknowledges only a few pages later. The only thing that kept me from really going to town on Philippa is she doesn’t let doubt cloud her logic when working out for herself the difference between Val and a madman. This state of mind doesn’t go on forever as it does in some books, so I forgave her a little for that.
Even though things do pick in this part of the book, it still doesn’t shine as much as Ms. Scott’s aforementioned books. Though Philippa is a fairly strong heroine, I enjoyed Nora from Countess and Sophie from Libertine Lord much more. I wanted more out of Val’s trial; Lilya and Constantine’s testimony would have been heartwrenching in that scene. We do get back to the emotion felt in the first chapter when the villain is finally taken down, but it was a long wait. But this is still a nice story. And I will still be reading Ms. Scott in the future.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
I remember how much I liked Valerian, Viscount St.Just, in Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss and really looked forward to his story. Compared to the storyline in that book, I think that’s why I’m just a tad disappointed in this one. There isn’t the action, the same connection between the hero and heroine as in the previous story. I’m not sure if that’s because of the friends-become-lovers factor or what. I actually liked that part of the story, though. The opening pages gives us some wonderful emotion when Val must break Philippa’s heart as he steps aside for her marriage to another that will save her family financially.
Val leaves England that night, becomes a spy and diplomat for the next nine years before he’s had enough and wants to come home. Philippa does marry her duke, whose money saves her family, and she enjoys a nice but passionless marriage until his accidental death. Once Val finds upon his return home that Philippa is free, his goal is to win her love again. He plans to tell her the circumstances surrounding his previous behavior, but things keep getting in the way, the worst of which is another suitor of Philippa’s. He finally does tell her and that’s when things begin to perk up. So the first half of the story just doesn’t move like Ms. Scott’s previous books.
The second half is much better, Val and Philippa getting to know one another again, their love re-blossoming, but unexpected danger lurks in the form of her former suitor, who hatches a plan to remove Val from the picture. He does a credible job of that, but I was a little irritated with Philippa’s lack of faith in Valerian. A man she’s known most of her life, even though he’d been gone for nearly a decade, a man who is honorable to the core, a man who’s just confessed his love for her while her doubts are instigated by the man she’s known only a few years and who has more to gain with Val gone, which she acknowledges only a few pages later. The only thing that kept me from really going to town on Philippa is she doesn’t let doubt cloud her logic when working out for herself the difference between Val and a madman. This state of mind doesn’t go on forever as it does in some books, so I forgave her a little for that.
Even though things do pick in this part of the book, it still doesn’t shine as much as Ms. Scott’s aforementioned books. Though Philippa is a fairly strong heroine, I enjoyed Nora from Countess and Sophie from Libertine Lord much more. I wanted more out of Val’s trial; Lilya and Constantine’s testimony would have been heartwrenching in that scene. We do get back to the emotion felt in the first chapter when the villain is finally taken down, but it was a long wait. But this is still a nice story. And I will still be reading Ms. Scott in the future.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
May 14, 2015
The ending seemed realy rushed but other than that it was good.
Edit. So I ended up rereading this book by accident after buying it in a 2in1 book. I didn't even remember the book until a scene right at the very end. It also did my head in second time around.
Edit. So I ended up rereading this book by accident after buying it in a 2in1 book. I didn't even remember the book until a scene right at the very end. It also did my head in second time around.
July 27, 2016
Valerin and Phillipa are a couple--always were, always will be, just circumstances did not allow them to be together. Editing is bad in that the author/editor forgets son's name from this book to the next.
February 3, 2009
Part of series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews