≡ Libro Gratis Once a Soldier Rogues Redeemed Mary Jo Putney 9781420140927 Books

Once a Soldier Rogues Redeemed Mary Jo Putney 9781420140927 Books

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Once a Soldier Rogues Redeemed Mary Jo Putney 9781420140927 Books

Once a Soldier is the first in Mary Jo Putney’s new Rogues Redeemed series. The opening of the book sets up the premise of the series. A group of men who are to be shot at dawn as British spies following a battle with the French forces in Portugal vow that if they were to somehow survive, they would redeem themselves for their past sins. They then miraculously find a way to escape their prison, leaving each of them to act on their vow.

The hero of this book, Will Masterson, may be the least roguish of the bunch. (He is also the brother of Damien Mackenzie, the hero of Putney’s Nowhere Near Respectable.) Will blames himself for his wife’s death, but he’s an all-around nice guy, and an English lord, to boot. Because he’s such a good man, when he’s asked to check on conditions in San Gabriel, a small kingdom between Spain and Portugal, after Napoleon’s abdication, Will goes without protest. In San Gabriel, Will finds a country that has suffered greatly from the depredations of the French and is now vulnerable to attack by anyone looking to prey on the population. He also finds Athena Markham, an Amazon of a woman acting as advisor to the young princess Sofia, who stands to inherit the throne after her father and brother disappeared during the war. Will is struck with Athena, and Athena finds herself drawn to him as well. Athena is the bastard daughter of a courtesan, though, and she knows she has no future with an English gentleman. However, as Athena and Will work together to rebuild and strengthen San Gabriel, they may be unable to resist the attraction drawing them together.

This book probably won’t work for readers who like a lot of drama and passion between the H and h in their romances. While the romance between Will and Athena is sweet, Putney spends a lot of time on the conditions in San Gabriel and Will and Athena’s work there, rather than on building their romance. As a history buff, I didn’t mind that so much, but then I’m more likely not to get impatient with a conversation about how to rebuild a bridge using pontoon boats or a discussion of the wine trade. Other readers might not be so willing to become immersed in those kinds of details.

A secondary romance also distracts from Will and Athena’s story. That romance is between Princess Sofia and Justin Ballard, a Scottish wine trader in Portugal who is a friend of Will’s from school. (That school is the Westerfield Academy, which ties both heroes back to Putney’s Lost Lords series.) I liked their part of the novel, but it seemed like they got almost as many scenes together as Will and Athena did.

So, there are some strikes against the central story being told here of the relationship between Will and Athena. What elevated the story for me is Putney’s experience as a writer. That shows through in her ability to create four likeable characters to carry the action. Putney also knows her history, which is a real plus for me. I can’t stand historical romances where the period feels like mere window dressing, and that’s never the case with Putney’s writing.

While this won’t be the right book for everyone, readers who like their historical romances with likeable characters and a strong focus on history might want to give it a try.

An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Tags : Once a Soldier (Rogues Redeemed) [Mary Jo Putney] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Putney's endearing characters and warm-hearted stories never fail to inspire and delight. --Sabrina Jeffries <b>Rogues Redeemed</b> As heir to a title and great wealth,Mary Jo Putney,Once a Soldier (Rogues Redeemed),Zebra,1420140922,Romance - Historical - Regency,Romance - Military,Historical fiction,Love stories.,Man-woman relalationships,Man-woman relationships,Regency fiction.,Romance fiction,Soldiers,Soldiers;Fiction.,AMERICAN LIGHT ROMANTIC FICTION,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Romance Action & Adventure,FICTION Romance Historical Regency,FICTION Romance Military,Fiction,Fiction - Romance,Fiction-Romance,FictionRomance - Action & Adventure,FictionRomance - Military,General Adult,Great BritainBritish Isles,Historical - General,MASS MARKET,Military; Women's Fiction; European; Europe; Genre Fiction; Series; Woman's Adventure; Woman; Dress; Sword; War; napoleonic war; peninsular wars; regency era; capable woman; english woman; regency romance; war hero; royal family; historical romance; napoleon's generals; french force; wine trade; maria sofia; fictional kingdom; princess sophia; princess maria; english duke; san gabriel; princess sophie; lord william; british spies; royal princess; action adventure; french troops; hangman's noose; tiny country; english lord,Military;Women's Fiction;European;Europe;Genre Fiction;Series;Woman's Adventure;Woman;Dress;Sword;War;napoleonic war;peninsular wars;regency era;capable woman;english woman;regency romance;war hero;royal family;historical romance;napoleon's generals;french force;wine trade;maria sofia;fictional kingdom;princess sophia;princess maria;english duke;san gabriel;princess sophie;lord william;british spies;royal princess;action adventure;french troops;hangman's noose;tiny country;english lord;romance,Monograph Series, any,PUTNEY, MARY JO - PROSE & CRITICISM,Regency fiction.,Romance - Historical - Regency,Romance - Military,Romance fiction,RomanceRegency,Romance: Regency,Soldiers,Soldiers;Fiction.,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Romance Action & Adventure,FICTION Romance Historical Regency,FICTION Romance Military,FictionRomance - Action & Adventure,FictionRomance - Military,Historical - General,Fiction - Romance,American Light Romantic Fiction,Fiction,Romance: Regency

Once a Soldier Rogues Redeemed Mary Jo Putney 9781420140927 Books Reviews

FINAL DECISION This was an enjoyable read but not particularly compelling a re-read. I enjoyed the characters and the story and was glad that I read it. I thought that the hero was really sweet.

THE STORY Will Masterson went to war despite being heir to a title. He was running from his past but years of war have made him yearn for home in England. Now that the Peninsular Wars have ended, Will has one last mission to complete before he can return home. Will escorts a group of soldiers back to their home in San Gabriel in order to see how the kingdom fares. In San Gabriel, Will meets an Englishwoman Athena Markham. There are sparks between Will and Athena from the beginning, but Athena's past makes her distrust men especially titled gentlemen.

OPINION This story is heavy on the action as Will and Athena work to save San Gabriel. The romance between them is slow and steady and wrapped in their duties toward the kingdom. I didn't feel that the romance was intense and sparkling but rather of two people who have the same values and loyalties finding one another.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I didn't feel that there was a deeply compelling romance between Will and Athena. I thought they were a match, but their story didn't have the intense interest for me that I consider a requirement for a 5 star book. On the other hand, I did believe that the book had a good overarching story (including a secondary romance) and likeable characters that I cared about.

Because the characters met in unusual circumstances, their behavior did not rely on convention which made their characters more interesting. Because the action of the book takes place far from the ballrooms of London, the characters are not as restrained and seem more free and real. I liked how modern Athena feels (not improper for the times, just strong and independent) and how Will is drawn to Athena because of those attributes.

I think this book is a good kick off to the new series and I hope we see more of Will and Athena in the future.

WORTH MENTIONING This new series follows a group of men who met by chance when they were sentenced to die as spies and then escaped together.

CONNECTED BOOKS ONCE A SOLDIER is the first book in the Rogues Redeemed series. The hero in this book also appears as a secondary character in the Lost Lords series. One doesn't have to read that series, however, to enjoy this book.

STAR RATING I give this book 3.5 stars.
I've anticipated Will Masterson's story since he was introduced in 'Lords' series. He is a loyal friend and steadfast brother. A true,selfless protector of those he cares about. Ms Putney remained true to these characteristics but she was more focused on the wonder and struggles of her fictitious kingdom than on developing the characters of her book therefore never drawing her reader into the story; it read more like a sweet, fairytale, news magazine account with tidbits of byplay between characters to classify it as a romance. Athena was a character worth knowing but I never got the chance for her to be more than an acquaintance. Sofia and Justin deserved a book of their own.

I like Ms Putney's series so I will continue to read Rogues but I hope she does a better job of developing her characters. They have too much potential to be glossed over as she's done in this one and Lord Kirkland's story. It seems she enjoys developing their environment more than the characters.
Once a Soldier is the first in Mary Jo Putney’s new Rogues Redeemed series. The opening of the book sets up the premise of the series. A group of men who are to be shot at dawn as British spies following a battle with the French forces in Portugal vow that if they were to somehow survive, they would redeem themselves for their past sins. They then miraculously find a way to escape their prison, leaving each of them to act on their vow.

The hero of this book, Will Masterson, may be the least roguish of the bunch. (He is also the brother of Damien Mackenzie, the hero of Putney’s Nowhere Near Respectable.) Will blames himself for his wife’s death, but he’s an all-around nice guy, and an English lord, to boot. Because he’s such a good man, when he’s asked to check on conditions in San Gabriel, a small kingdom between Spain and Portugal, after Napoleon’s abdication, Will goes without protest. In San Gabriel, Will finds a country that has suffered greatly from the depredations of the French and is now vulnerable to attack by anyone looking to prey on the population. He also finds Athena Markham, an of a woman acting as advisor to the young princess Sofia, who stands to inherit the throne after her father and brother disappeared during the war. Will is struck with Athena, and Athena finds herself drawn to him as well. Athena is the bastard daughter of a courtesan, though, and she knows she has no future with an English gentleman. However, as Athena and Will work together to rebuild and strengthen San Gabriel, they may be unable to resist the attraction drawing them together.

This book probably won’t work for readers who like a lot of drama and passion between the H and h in their romances. While the romance between Will and Athena is sweet, Putney spends a lot of time on the conditions in San Gabriel and Will and Athena’s work there, rather than on building their romance. As a history buff, I didn’t mind that so much, but then I’m more likely not to get impatient with a conversation about how to rebuild a bridge using pontoon boats or a discussion of the wine trade. Other readers might not be so willing to become immersed in those kinds of details.

A secondary romance also distracts from Will and Athena’s story. That romance is between Princess Sofia and Justin Ballard, a Scottish wine trader in Portugal who is a friend of Will’s from school. (That school is the Westerfield Academy, which ties both heroes back to Putney’s Lost Lords series.) I liked their part of the novel, but it seemed like they got almost as many scenes together as Will and Athena did.

So, there are some strikes against the central story being told here of the relationship between Will and Athena. What elevated the story for me is Putney’s experience as a writer. That shows through in her ability to create four likeable characters to carry the action. Putney also knows her history, which is a real plus for me. I can’t stand historical romances where the period feels like mere window dressing, and that’s never the case with Putney’s writing.

While this won’t be the right book for everyone, readers who like their historical romances with likeable characters and a strong focus on history might want to give it a try.

An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.