The Devil's Bondsman

by Sylvia Thorpe

They called him the Devil's Bondsman because, so men said, he had pledged his soul to the devil, and in return, could be harmed by no mortal hand. His real name was Captain Valentine Storm, a man without fear who seemed deliberately to court the dangers that other men shied from. Even his band of cut-throat buccaneers did not know the secret that haunted him all his life--the memory of a young boy who had run away rather than die avenging his father's murder. When Felicia first met him he was facing a murderous crew in order to save her from rape and death. He was both frightening and fascinating, a pirate and yet a gentleman. She owed him her life, and she could not forget him and neither could Valentine Storm forget her, for she was a Clandon, daughter of a house he had sworn to hate... child of a bloodline that had been his family's enemy for generations.

Genres: Historical Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

June Sylvia Thimblethorpe was born in 1926 in London, England. Educated in London at a school in Brondesbury, Kilburn High School for Girls, Slade School of Fine Arts, and University College. She worked as secretary from 1949 to 1952 and later she worked as school teacher.

As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.

Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

And yet another fun read by Sylvia Thorpe. This one takes place in Tortuga during the 1680's and features the buccaneer captain Valentine Storm (an alias, of course) and a run-away bride. Thorpe always manages to entertain (at least she does me) and I love her historical romances and adventures for their wonderful sense of period detail and outright readability.

Like a Lays potato chip, I can't eat just one.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvia Thorpe reread #10. Sylvia returns to the mid/late 17th century and the buccaneers who sailed the Caribbean. Full of adventure, vengeance, hidden identity and romance. Valentine Herne, aka Captain Storm of the White Falcon, had always hated the Clandon name as that family many years previously had taken his home and more recently murdered his father. How was he going to react when Lady Felicia Clandon, sister of the man who had murdered his father, was rescued by him after her ship was destroyed in a storm? This novel follows the twists and turns of their rocky road to a hopefully happy ending.
I again read a Corgi paperback but as this was not available on Goodreads had to review on this Fawcett edition.