Once a Soldier

Terrific start to the new series. The book begins with Will a prisoner along with five other men, awaiting execution by the French. Thanks to a bit of luck brought on by a thrown wine bottle, Will discovers a way for all six men to escape. Drawn together by their experience, they make a pact to stay in touch.

Five years later the war is finally over and Will looks forward to going home to England. Before he leaves, his commanding officer asks him to escort a group of soldiers from San Gabriel back home and to check on the conditions in the small country. Upon his arrival, he discovers a country heavily damaged but determined to recover. Their king and prince are missing, having been taken prisoner by the French, and the country is led by show more their young princess, Sofia, aided by her friend and companion, Athena.

I loved the meeting between Will and Athena, as he is held at gunpoint until she is sure he is not another marauding soldier. Will is immediately smitten by the tall and fiercely protective Athena. Athena is attracted to him, but thanks to her past feels she is too far beneath him for anything but friendship. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. First comes a deep friendship, aided by their work to help the people of San Gabriel. I loved their ability to talk honestly with each other. The scene where they shared the trials of their pasts was fantastic. Learning of Athena's past does nothing to dim Will's determination to win her heart. The attraction between them heats up with the sharing of some pretty intense kisses. I loved Will's patience as he works to overcome Athena's fears. There were a few times I wanted to shake her for letting her mother's reputation keep her from accepting Will's love for her. The danger of their situation brings some clarity to Athena's thinking and their attraction moves ahead. Their HEA is artfully engineered by Princess Sofia when Will and Athena nearly lose each other, though Athena still has her doubts. There is a delightful twist at the end that finally ends her fears.

There is a secondary romance between Princess Sofia and Will's friend Justin Ballard. Justin has come to help Will with the rebuilding of San Gabriel. He and Sofia experience the lightning bolt of love at first sight, but know that nothing can come of it. Sofia is a princess and will be Queen if her father and brother are not found. Justin is a Scottish merchant with great wealth but no pedigree. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other, deepening their feelings for each other yet accepting the reality of their circumstances. I couldn't wait to see how things were going to work out for them and I was not disappointed. It was especially fun to see Sofia take the lead in that scene.

The setting was a very important part of the whole story. I loved reading a Regency romance that did not take place in the ballrooms of London. Instead, we are treated to the Peninsula during and after the war. There is a realistic look at the ravages of the war upon the land and the people as we see how the people of San Gabriel coped with the devastation caused by the French. The descriptions of the land and the people were vivid, and I could easily picture them as I read. I could feel the hope blossoming after Will's arrival and the promise of the supplies they needed. The various repairs and projects were interesting and worked well to further the connections among the main characters. There was also the growing tension as Will felt the sense of impending danger. The scene by the river was fast-paced and exciting as Will, Athena, Sofia, and Justin faced down the French scouts. I loved seeing Sofia and Athena take the lead in a solution quite different than Will would have come up with. As Will discovers that his instincts were right, I was enthralled reading of their plans and preparations. The final confrontation was intense and felt realistic in the way it was portrayed, including the injuries. show less

Once a soldier is the first book in a new series by Mary Jo Putney. I didn't know that it's a spin off series, but I didn't care. I was able to read and enjoy the book as the standalone it is and I am glad for that. A couple of hours after finishing the book, when I picked up my E-reader to read a book I wondered what I was reading at the time and I had the feeling that whatever I had read before putting my e-reader down was a great book. I still feel that way. It was a great book. I had a feeling that the book didn't portray the time period as it should have, but since I am more used to the strict rules of the English society and this book isn't set in England I believe it was my fault.

I love that we practically get three happy show more endings, by the time the book ends. I wanted to see another couple getting a happy end as much as I wanted Will and Athena get one and they did so I was extremely satisfied with that. I was torn the moment Justin and Sophia met because I wanted them to be together, but Sophia's rank and Justin's lack 9of one was an obstacle. I wanted to see Sophia rules as a queen because she could be a great one, but I also wanted to see her marrying Justin.

I liked the book and the author's writing style. And I loved how the cover represents Athena and her character. Good job to whoever was responsible for that! I will have to make sure to keep an eye for the next book to see if I am going yo like it as a much as I did with Once a soldier. It was a lovely way to spend my day and I will be recommending it. It also will get a nomination for my top 10 2016 reads. show less

What a wonderful historical romance! It captured me and kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I felt I was back in the early 1800’s with all of the characters and what well-crafted, delightful people they were! There were many that I would have enjoyed spending time with or having as friends.

Will Masterson and Athena Markham make a splendid couple. Both were multi-faceted people formed by their circumstances to become almost bigger than life though still humble. Not wanting to give the story away I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed their romance and how it all played out. Throw in Princess Sofia and Justin Ballard who fall in love at first sight but had little chance of having a happily ever after since one was royalty and the show more other a Scottish merchant and you have two romances for the price of one.

I loved the setting, the well-crafted characters, the slow build of the story, the fast-paced war scenes, the supporting characters and…well…I really enjoyed this story and found it had everything I look for in a historical romance.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it will not be my last. I am eager to find books she has written already as well as read more of the Rogues Redeemed series as it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. show less

Athena is who I aspire to be. Not the conventional beauty, she focused on her strengths: character, smarts and the freedom to make her own way and decide for herself what direction her life took. I applaud Ms. Putney for creating a character that was inspirational and not a victim. She was not a damsel in distress, did not need to be rescued. That was not who she was she thrived on the element of surprise and her sense of adventure. Will was harder to figure out. He was a loner through and through. Ms. Putney is an author that marches to the beat of her own drum. Her characters are full of fire and her stories are built on suspense. That sometimes makes me wary of her work but Once a Soldier is a story that has intense spirit and will show more be an asset to any book shelf. show less

A wonderful read!

The minute I started this I was swept away. It certainly helped that I am a huge Shape's War fan and I could immediate picture the battles and areas that Will Masterson goes through. And I loved the idea of the fighting goddess Athena, sweeping into action, so reminiscent of the Contessa, Teresa Moreno. I loved Will and Athena's story.
The story opens in the town of Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal 1809. Imprisoned in a cellar by the French, due to face a firing squad, Lord Will Masterson, along with five other men escape death by a near to miraculous route. They make a pact. Having escaped death, they would look to right wrongs from their past once the war is over. And so the Brotherhood of Rogues Redeemed is born.
1814. show more Athena Masterson, illegitimate daughter of an English Duke has found rest in the small kingdom of San Gabriel between France and Spain. Athena is acting as advisor for Princess Sofia when Will comes to call enroute back to England as a favour for Ducal (one of his prison acquaintances). He is temporarily leading the Gabrileno cavalry, part of the Anglo-Portuguese army, back to their home and will review the situation there for the authorities. Napoleon has abdicated and the worry is that the kingdom may be a prime target for rogue ex-French troops or Spanish guerrillas. Will finds the court stable, but unprepared for any attacks. The king and his son are missing presumed dead and Princess Sophie is ruling in their absence with Athena acting as Sofia's regent.
Will and Athena are immediately attracted to each other. Athena however has set her sights on a single life. She doesn't want the reputation of her mother to be cast over anyone she might come to care for. The story of Will and Athena's coming together is really quite wonderful.
Meanwhile Will quickly assesses the dire needs of the kingdoms and advises actions.
All is not helped by the threat of invasion from renegade a French force looking to make the kingdom of San Gabriel into their fiefdom.
Once more a son of Westerfield Academy is a central and interesting force to be reckoned with.
I am so looking forward to the remaining rogues' stories!

A NetGalley ARC show less

I drifted off twice while reading this.



The hero and heroine meet and because insta-lust would be too exciting, they just kind of really like each other. Ok, so they are quite lovely together and talk and share and calmly talk some more.
My kingdom for a scorned other woman, devious uncle, or some other over-the-top villain! I bemoan these tropes but at least they give the story some life.

Also, I love myself some wine but reading over and over about how this fictitious country has the best and how were they ever going to recover the buried wine had me wanting to throw my bottles out. (JK! JK! I would never)

I loved the beginning with the captured men escaping and loosely forming the Rogues Redeemed but the numerous mentions of the show more heroine's Amazon height (and I'm an Amazon myself!), wine, and extremely mellow romance that was pushed to the side in favor of discussing how the fictitious country could rebuild from the war, was bland as naked toast. show less

A great way to pass the time, this romantic tale of the Napoleonic wars checkmarks all the boxes of a good romance, not a great one, but a good one. It keeps the readers tuned into the lives of our leads and their relationship, even if we aren’t sucked in completely. I wouldn’t say no to more of this series.

The author gives us a unique setting amongst the horrors of war. The fictional country of San Gabriel is really Andorra with a very slim veil. It’s a perfect, hidden-away setting for a dramatic tale of war, ruffians, and suspense during the Napoleonic Wars, given its out-of-the-way nature. How the author uses that setting to flesh out our leads and romance also pleases the palette.

I liked our leads as individuals. Athena’s a show more strong woman who knows her own mind, isn’t afraid to pick up a gun in defense of her adopted country, yet vulnerable when it comes to her emotions and position in society. Will, also, stands as an honorable man with a strong mind for strategy and a deep well of emotion in his heart. He’s bound and determined to win her heart and she’s just as determined to give up a love for the ages for his position betterment.

It’s the main relationship where this book falls a bit short. Make no mistake; this is still a romance one can get behind. I loved how Will and Athena played off each other. Their love and emotional attachment are evident for all to see. Yet, there were times when that special spark was missing. Some scenes read flat emotionally, and the whole “Athena is a bastard” stick was used far too often. There was never a time where I stopped rooting for these two. But I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I have been for other relationships.

Great leads, sweet romance, and a detailed setting make this a great read. While it didn’t resonate emotionally with me as much as I would have wished, it might be a different story for someone else. This is the start to another series so things look promising. Give this one a gander! show less