“Putney’s endearing characters and warm-hearted stories never fail to inspire and delight.” –Sabrina JeffriesRogues RedeemedAs heir to a title and great wealth, Will Masterson should have stayed home and tended his responsibilities. Instead he went to war. Now, after perilous years fighting the French, he intends his current mission to be his last. But all his plans are forgotten when he arrives … forgotten when he arrives in the small mountain stronghold of San Gabriel and meets her.
Knowing herself to be too tall, strong, and unconventional to appeal to a man, Athena Markham has always gloried in her independence. But for the first time in her life, she finds a man who might be her match.
Two of a kind, too brave for their own good, Athena and Will vow to do whatever it takes to vanquish San Gabriel’s enemies. For neither will back down from death, and only together can they find happiness and a love deeper than any they’d dared imagine. . .
Praise for New York Times Bestselling Author
Mary Jo Putney’s Lost Lords series
“Exquisitely and sensitively written.” —Library Journal, starred review
“Rich with historical detail and multifaceted characters.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Intoxicating and not-to-be missed.”–RT Book Reviews (4 ½ Stars, Top Pick)
“Classic Putney–engaging characters, entertaining story, a delightful read!” –Stephanie Laurens
more
Mary Jo Putney’s Lost Lord series continues in a new series of Rogues Redeemed. As always her characters are wonderful. This time I feel so strongly for her heroine who’s had a hard life. It’s a good thing the hero is there to make everything better (in that sense, he’s a little too wonderful, but I’ll forgive him for that!).
I loved how they were able to save the town and castle from the invaders.
Wow, what an adventure! Having seen Will on the fringe of the Lost Lords, he’s always been likeable and interesting. Athena is a grand heroine, with her scandalous background, her battle experience, and her position in a foreign royal court. She’s tremendous, and quite the match for Will. Hope they pop up in future books of this series.
Some emotional ups and downs, like most Mary Jo Putney. This series is a very serious one, but the romance keeps up throughout. It’s nice to meet characters from previous books and know how their story intersects with this one. Historical details to round out the action. As always, reading in order for the series makes things a bit more understandable as one books leads into the next.
Most Regency-era novels take place in England, so it is a refreshing change of pace for this book to be set on the continent. The tiny country of San Gabriel gives an up-close view of the devastation of the Peninsular Wars. A French general, Baudin, retreating through the country left a large swath of destruction in his wake and took the king and crown prince as prisoners. This devastation makes a magnificent backdrop for Will Masterson and Athena Markham’s growing relationship.
Read my full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-mary-jo-putney-once-a-soldier/
Review of audiobook version of this exciting, fast-paced historical romance
Lord Will Masterson is a 32-year-old, wealthy, British aristocrat who could easily have chosen to sit out the Napoleonic wars, safely at home. Instead, he spent many dangerous years on the continent fighting the French. And now that Napoleon is finally vanquished, instead of returning home to England, he takes a dutiful detour by accepting one final mission, which leads him to the fictional, micro-nation, San Gabriel, located high in the mountains near Portugal. Once he arrives there and encounters beautiful, fascinating Athena Markham, Will immediately decides to postpone his return to England indefinitely.
At 28 years of age, Athena has led an unconventional life from the moment of her birth as the illegitimate daughter of two high-born parents. In the company of her eccentric mother, she has had opportunities to travel extensively and have many adventures. Since her mother’s death, her life has ultimately led her to settle in San Gabriel, where she has become a close friend and advisor to Princess Sophia, the future monarch of this nation. Because Athena believes she is not the type of woman who will ever be able to achieve a desirable marriage with a worthy mate, Will’s strong, romantic interest in her both fascinates and worries her. Trust is not something she gives lightly to anyone, especially a man.
In the midst of Athena’s slowly growing respect and regard for Will as she gets to know him, San Gabriel is threatened by dangerous enemies who put the very survival of this small, vulnerable kingdom at risk. Athena and Will, together, vow to do everything in their power to help keep the citizens of San Gabriel safe—and to keep each other alive.
This is a very unique historical romance. Athena is well named! The Greek deity Athena is a goddess of strength, wisdom, courage, law and justice, and strategic warfare—and I see all of these admirable qualities on display in this wonderful heroine. She doesn’t sit back and get rescued. She rides to the rescue herself on multiple occasions in this exciting book.
Will is also a wonderful hero. Like Athena, he is truly heroic. He is honorable, compassionate, brave, and a wonderful warrior.
This book has a strong romance plot, a fun secondary romance, thrilling battle scenes, and there is a slam-bang, satisfying ending which rounds out the story extremely well.
All in all, this is a satisfying read both as to the romance plots and the action-adventure plot. The historical details are also extremely well done, and the setting of San Gabriel really comes to life.
I experienced this novel as an audiobook, which is narrated by Beverley A. Crick, a New York–based actress and accomplished voice-over artist. She does an excellent job acting out all the parts, capably portraying male and female characters of all ages, and many different accents.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Action-Adventure Plot: 5 stars
Historical Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
It seems I am like a number of other readers and reviewers of this book. I love Mary Jo Putney, and I cannot tell you why this book didn’t just suck me right in as her other books do. I read all of the Lost Lords books and loved them. I always wanted Will Masterson’s story to be exceptional – but – it is just – well – ordinary. The book starts off exciting and it ends with excitement, but the middle of the book just plugs along. It takes place in a fictional country, which is fine, but the things the characters did are against ALL of the rules of Regency times – and probably any other country of that time. I mean, can you imagine any place, during that time period, where it would be acceptable for two couples to go on an overnight ‘camping’ trip alone – totally unchaperoned? Yep – me neither.
What an exciting beginning. Our hero, Will Masterson, along with several other men have been captured by the French and are awaiting execution by hanging. They are locked in a cold, damp basement with no way to escape. What will they do! Never fear, Will figures out a way — after all — if he didn’t, there wouldn’t be any more story! 🙂
After that exciting beginning, the story goes into some descriptions of the end of the war and Will’s orders to escort a contingent of soldiers to their home in San Gabriel (a fictional country between Portugal and Spain). Besides escorting the soldiers, Will is to evaluate the situation in San Gabriel and report back. This portion of the book moves along slowly with the hero meeting the heroine and others in San Gabriel. He arranges for a friend to bring much-needed supplies to San Gabriel and then there are many discussions with the heroine, the friend, etc. talking about San Gabriel’s defenses, planting grapes, making wine – all sorts of things. It is a way they are getting to know each other. Will and Athena are instantly attracted, but they let their attraction grow slowly.
Then, we reach the conclusion where it gets exciting again with an attack by a renegade, retreating French general who wants to rule San Gabriel by conquering them and then forcing their ruling Princess to marry him.
Will is injured while defending San Gabriel – and – then – like magic – all of Athena’s objections, angst, etc. disappear and she decides all will be wonderful.
BTW – there are three romances in this book and all three get their HEA’s.
Bottom line is that the story idea was a good one, but the book was a bit slow and didn’t just suck me in and keep me up all night reading it. I had no trouble putting the book down and taking a break from the story. I had really hoped for something more spectacular for Will.