A sea captain rescues an aristocratic beauty from Barbary pirates in a Regency romance that “sizzles with passion” by the New York Times bestselling author (Publishers Weekly). Dismissed from the Royal Navy for a rebellious act of heroism, Gabriel Hawkins is now the captain of his own ship. Having earned his living on the high seas as a blockade runner, he is now employed to rescue Lady Aurora … employed to rescue Lady Aurora Lawrence, who is being held captive on the Barbary coast. The pirate Malek Reis demands a small fortune in ransom, but he’s dealt with Captain Hawkins before—and knows to expect the unexpected.
Lady Aurora is truly shocked when the handsome, steely captain refuses to pay the ransom, and instead agrees to take her and her captor on an even more dangerous mission. But soon Gabriel and Aurora face another kind of danger—an attraction that burns hot within the confines of his ship. Now, even as they endure the perils of the sea, they wonder if their love can survive a return to England, where the distance between a disgraced captain and an earl’s daughter is wider than the ocean.
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Lady Aurora Lawrence faces a horrific future as a harem slave unless her family ransoms her. Disowned by his grandfather, Gabriel Hawkins is a ship’s captain willing to do almost any kind of work, like rescuing privileged aristocrats who haven’t the sense to avoid pirates. Gabriel has no idea exactly how difficult rescuing Rory will be until he arrives in Algiers and meets a despised enemy. Mary Jo turns the traditional Regency on its head with this high-stakes action plot and exotic setting. Page turner and keeper!
I love this book! It was fast paced with complex characters. I couldn’t put it down.
When Lady Aurora “Rory” Lawrence’s parents learn their youngest daughter has been captured by pirates and being held for an outrageous ransom, her father washes his hands of her, but her mother isn’t willing to let her be sold into slavery. She contacts Lord Kirkwood, who is referred to Gabriel Hawkins by a mutual friend (Gordon).
Gabriel is familiar with the Barbary Pirates, having been captured and escaped himself. He agrees to try and rescue the girl. He is shocked when he finds the man holding her is none other than the man he escaped from years ago. Malek Reis wants 50,000 pounds for Rory, which is an astronomical sum for one woman, but Gabriel learns that she refuses to be released without her cousin, Constance and the entire crew of the ship she was traveling on. When Rory and Gabriel see each other for the first time, she is nearly naked and being displayed to potential buyers. There is an instant connection between them and Gabriel knows he will do whatever is necessary to free this woman.
When he learns why Malek needs so much money, he offers his services to help him get back his wife and children who were taken by Malek’s evil cousin Gurkan. Malek doesn’t have the full ransom, but hopes to tempt Gurkan with exotic animals and if necessary Rory and Constance. Malek promises Gabriel that if they are successful, he will release all his captives.
They set out for Constantinople, with high hopes, but both knowing that Rory could end up enslaved in a harem if things do not go well. Gabriel and Rory grow closer, but neither can make promises for the future, nor can they fully explore what it between them without endangering Rory’s life. When they arrive in Turkey, things take a really bad turn and Gabriel calls upon the British Embassy for help. He is delighted to find one of his “Redeemed Rogues” is working at the embassy and is willing to help. But when Gabriel learns the women have been taken, it might be too late and Rory may be lost to him forever.
This was a good story, well written and action packed. The characters are likable, the imagery is well done, there are tense moments, a little heartache, a charming secondary romance and happy endings all around. The heat level of the book is on the low side, but as you read, you will understand why. I don’t really know why Gabriel was considered a “Scoundrel”, because in my opinion there was nothing “scoundrelly” about him, he was an absolutely wonderful hero and I was delighted for him at the end. This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title with no problem at all.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.”
3.5 Stars
The son of a proud naval dynasty, Gabriel Hawkins Vance was born to command the sea, until he leaves the Royal Navy in disgrace at the age of eighteen and is disowned by his family. As captain of his own ship The Zephyr, he’s earned his living in ways both legal and illegal, and his experience makes him the best choice to ransom an aristocratic beauty captured by Barbary pirates.
Having avoided the traps of convention and marriage, Lady Aurora Lawrence is horrified by the prospect of spending her life as a harem slave. Her only hope of escape is a quiet, steely captain who has a history with her captor. Together they undertake a dangerous mission through troubled waters.
This is the third book in the series but could easily be read on its own. I’ve read nearly all the author’s books & she’s one of my must read authors, I was looking forward to reading Gabriel’s story but I was a little disappointed as in my view it wasn’t as good as her usual books. I enjoyed the story of captured English ladies being rescued & then the mission to rescue Malek’s family, the pace was good & although some parts seemed rushed, the time spent in Constantinople flowed really well. The characters were well portrayed, I liked Gabriel, Constance, Jason & even Malek however I didn’t like Rory at all. I would have left her in the harem! She was far too brash, so much so that she grated on me & spoiled my overall enjoyment of the book.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This story takes place largely at sea and the author has to be credited for the great way she kept the action moving. The characters is individually very interesting and there are three love stories taking place at the same time. Rory is magnificent. Spook is something special.
Not the typical historical romance you find available every day. I liked the characters, references to past books, although you’re not lost if you haven’t read them, and learning something new about places I’ve never been to and bold descriptions of them that made me feel like I was there.
A delightful story that takes the reader far and wide! Lady Aurora Lawrence has been captured by pirates and is being held as a slave. Her frantic mother contacts Gabriel, Lord Kirkwood, to try to rescue her. Gabriel had been captured by the Barbary Pirates once himself and agrees to find her. But with shock he recognizes the pirate holding Rory is the same one that held him years ago.
Demanding a large sum of money for her rescue or she will be sold in an auction, Gabriel realizes the pirate needs money badly.
Of course as Gabriel and Rory meet, there is definitely and attraction. This adventure takes them on a journey to far lands in Turkey and things do not seem to turn out well. Can He get her out of this situation and can they make it back home?
A good story that is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Prepare yourself for a fast paced journey that will have you turning the pages as fast as you can!
Once a Scoundrel by Mary Jo Putney is book 6 in the Rogues Redeemed series. This is the story of Gabriel Hawkins and Aurora ‘Rory ‘ Lawrence. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Rory was taken hostage by pirates when she was sailing. It appears that she will be sold if her family doesn’t come forward with a ransom. Gabriel is sent to rescue Rory who not so long ago was in a similar situations. But when he sees her, he knows that he must save her. Gabriel learns why Malek took Rory to save his own family, Gabriel offers to help in exchange for Rory safety. This put them on an adventurer that leads them to love.
I enjoy all her books
I love this series & how it ties to her other books & series. Her characters are realistic & I love getting to know them. I’m always ready for the next book to come out.
Swashbuckling 1815 Regency romance filled with exciting adventures on the high seas
Thirty-year-old Gabriel Hawkins Vance, known to the world as Gabriel Hawkins, is the disgraced grandson of a British admiral. He was cashiered out of the British Navy at age 18 after six years of service during which he worked up the ranks from a cabin boy to an officer. His stiff-rumped grandfather disowned him, refusing to allow Gabriel to justify an act that the Navy labeled dereliction of duty (it would be a spoiler to reveal what Gabriel did that got him into trouble). As a result, Gabriel has spent the past 12 years attempting to redeem himself by captaining his own merchant ship and using it to run blockades during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 in America, both of which have recently, in 1815, come to an end. His most recent mission took him to America to rescue a stranded English widow (a previous book in a series of books that this novel is part of which is called, “Rogues Redeemed”). At loose ends with the declaration of peace in Europe and America, Gabriel is pondering what he will take on as his next challenge when he is approached for an errand of mercy, rescuing the daughter of a British Earl from captivity in Algiers, where she is being held by Barbary pirates.
It seems to be a nearly impossible mission, because the ransom demand is an extortionate 50,000 pounds. The woman’s family have scrounged together less than half that amount, and worse, Gabriel has a dangerous past history with Barbary pirates and has no desire to go anywhere near their strongholds. Thus, Gabriel is on the verge of refusing to help, until he is presented with a miniature portrait of the captive and feels such an immediate, powerful attraction to the golden-haired, young beauty, that he cannot bear the thought of leaving her to a terrible fate. If no one rescues her, she will be sold as a slave and live out her life imprisoned in a harem.
Twenty-five-year-old Lady Aurora Octavia Lawrence, is called “Rory” by her friends and family, and is notorious among the British ton as “Roaring Rory Lawrence” due to her unconventional, hoydenish ways. She has spent the past four years traveling the world with Constance Hollings, a widowed female relative, as her sole companion, utilizing an inheritance from a great uncle to fund her adventures. In addition to traveling, Rory and Constance have written multiple romantic novels together, featuring intrepidly self-sufficient female protagonists. Unfortunately, as they were heading back home to England, they and the entire crew of the sailing ship they were on were captured by pirates. Months have passed since their captor sent a ransom request to England, and Rory and Constance have almost given up hope of rescue when Gabriel Hawkins arrives.
To Gabriel’s dismay, he has a dubious history with Rory’s captor, Malek Reis, known as “master of the Middle Seas.” And it is initially dangerously unclear whether the pirate will kill Gabriel for a past transgression against Malek or make a deal with Gabriel for Rory’s release.
This is a fast-paced and engaging read. For readers who love stories involving brave sea captains fighting off pirates, this book will be a real treat. The pirates are Barbary corsairs from the Ottoman Empire, operating out of North Africa and based primarily in the ports of Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, an area referred to in Europe at the time as the Barbary Coast. The setting is colorful and authentic and extremely well drawn.
Overall, the plot poses a series of story questions that keep the reader racing forward through the pages to discover the answers. The odds seems impossibly stacked against a positive outcome in this story–a vital element of any well-done action-adventure plot–and the ultimate resolution of the action-adventure plot is extremely satisfying and well written.
As for the romance portions of the book, Rory and Gabriel are sympathetic, admirable and very strong protagonists. They are well matched as to integrity, compassion, intelligence and backbone. I loved this classic, romantic conflict dramatically stated by Gabriel to Rory soon after they meet:
“Whatever is between us may be fleeting and sparked by circumstance, but it is real. And it is impossible for us to act on it.”
There is a lovely, secondary romance between Constance and Jason Landers, Gabriel’s 26-year-old, American first mate. These two are also extremely sympathetic and admirable characters.
For romance fans who prefer non-raunchy, slow-burn sexual relationships, this book fills the bill. The sex scenes for both of the romantic relationships are tenderly sensual.
I particularly enjoyed a delightful subplot involving a gaggle of exotic, miniature animals, and Gabriel’s affectionate and hard-working, rat-killing ship’s cat, Spook, is also a terrific addition to the story.
All in all, this is an extremely enjoyable historical romance.
I have had the opportunity to experience this terrific novel both in its Kindle version and as an audiobook. The latter is narrated by a British voice talent named Beverley A. Crick, who does an outstanding job. Her voice is melodious, and she convincingly portrays both genders, all ages, and many different national and regional accents.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Romance Plot (Main Romance): 5 stars
Romance Plot (Secondary Romance): 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
I truly enjoyed both characters in this book and was loath to put it down.
I enjoy reading Mary Jo Putney’s books especially the ones that are connected through their characters. They are all such wonderfully strong personalities and have great adventures – most of which I would never want for myself. Reading about them and seeing them through to the end, living happily ever after, is a wonderful adventure for me.
Excellent book with plenty of action to go along with the romance. Aurora, aka Rory or “Roaring Rory” was touring the world with her cousin Constance, avoiding marriage and satisfying her need for adventure. They were on the way home from Greece when their ship was attacked by Barbary pirates, and they were taken hostage. A demand for a huge ransom was sent to Rory’s family. Unable to pay the ransom, Rory’s father washes his hands of his troublesome daughter, but Rory’s mother doesn’t give up so easily. She calls upon a friend who helps her find someone to negotiate Rory’s release.
Gabriel is the captain of his own life and boat. A humane gesture caused him to be booted out of the Royal Navy and disowned by his family. Since then, he made his own way in the world doing things that were both legal and illegal. He played a significant role in the previous book, Oncea Rebel, using his skills to assist in the rescue of a British woman. Now his experience along the Barbary coast is called on to rescue another woman. His memories of the coast are not good ones, and he is reluctant to accept the charge until he sees a miniature of Rory. Something about her draws him in.
I liked both Rory and Gabriel. Rory is unconventional, independent, and intelligent. Knowing that she was not ready to get married, she used an inheritance to travel the world. She and her cousin Constance use their adventures to write stories about intrepid female explorers. When they are captured by the pirates, Rory’s sense of honor makes her insist that any ransom include her cousin and the crew of their ship. Rory is also practical in that she knows she must cooperate with their captors until they are ransomed. Gabriel was also fantastic. He is determined, honorable and cunning. He will do whatever he must to return Rory safely home. I loved seeing him use his experiences to get them out of trouble.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Rory and Gabriel. There were sparks between them from the moment they met. I was very impressed with Gabriel and the way he kept his focus in spite of Rory’s state of undress. Beyond the sparks, there was also a deeper connection that was immediately apparent. I loved the way they spoke honestly of what was developing between them, and also realized that there was a chance that things would not go their way. The scenes on the ship from Algiers to Constantinople were sweet and sexy as they used the time to get to know each other. The attraction between them also grew. Gabriel’s strength and honor were in full force as he resisted the pull in order to protect Rory in case everything went wrong. The resolution was exciting, and I loved how they came together at the end. There was a satisfying wrap-up with both Rory’s family and Gabriel’s that brought the book to a wonderful conclusion.
The story was packed full of action from beginning to end. The descriptions of the time in the two harems were vivid, and I could effortlessly picture what Rory and Constance experienced. Their fears and frustrations were easily understood. The tension mounted when Gabriel arrived to find that he had a history with Rory’s captor. Malek became a slightly more sympathetic character as his reasons for the vast ransom were revealed, but his intentions remained unchanged. I was wholly invested in the story as it moved from Algiers to Constantinople. The pirate attack was vividly described and kept the tension high as they dealt with the unexpected complication. Their arrival in Constantinople was met with treachery and deceit, putting them all in extreme danger. I was on the edge of my seat as Gabriel worked from his side to effect a rescue, and Rory and the others declined to play the victim and fought back. There were exciting twists and turns and an unexpected surprise for Gabriel.
There was also a secondary romance between Constance and Gabriel’s second-in-command, Jason. I enjoyed seeing the quieter and more practical Constance emerge from a bit of a shell and find a love she had given up on. I liked Jason’s steadfast support of Constance and acceptance of her past. I especially enjoyed the scene as Constance sketched Jason with the goats; it was fun and sweet with an underlying simmer of attraction.
I always look forward to reading Mary Jo Putney book. Once a Scoundrel does not disappoint. Gabriel Hawkins has appeared in previous offerings in this series. He is one of the five men who escaped from the firing squad (book one), and was the ship’s captain who helped Callie and Gordon leave the colonies during the War of 1812. He meets his match in Lady Aurora Lawrence. She would be considered a female adventurer today, but in 1815, her behavior is frowned upon. He is hired by the lady’s grandmother to secure her freedom from being sold into a harem. Gabriel views her image in a miniature and knows her spirit should not be stifled by harem slavery. It turns out her capture is an old enemy/friend. However, Malek has his own reasons for wanting the ransom and the highly prized fair haired virgin. As the attraction between Rory and Gabriel grows, how can they deal with what may be her inevitable fate. This read is filled with action, intrigue, and danger with a bonus romance between Rory ‘s cousin, Constance and the First Mate, Jason. This is my mind of read and have already started the next book in the series. You can read them as standalones, but I suggest you start from the beginning of the seires. You don’t want to miss any of these delicious books and characters. I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
Mary Jo Putney always delivers a well written historical romance.
Love anything by Mary Jo Putney. Her characters are well drawn out although this is not my favorite book by her, which is One Perfect Rose.
I Finished this book and found it to be a good story. I have read many of her books and find them entertaining.
Love the strong female characters in this book! Very smart, but astute enough to follow the male characters when necessary
good read