Stevie‘s review of Once a Scoundrel (Rogues Redeemed, Book 3) by Mary Jo Putney
Historical Romance published by Zebra 25 Sep 18
Lady adventurers number amongst my favourite historical heroines, and this book gives us not one but two bold Englishwomen abroad. Lady Aurora Lawrence and her companion and illegitimate cousin Constance Hollings are returning from a trip to India when they are captured by pirates and held for ransom. Unfortunately, Rory is all to aware that the price demanded for her and Constance – and the sailors captured along with them, whom she won’t leave behind – is far too steep for her land-rich, cash-poor father: assuming he even wants her back after all the scandal she caused by refusing to marry. Fortunately, there’s one man who might be able to rescue all of them from their current predicament.
Captain Gabriel Hawkins should be known to readers of this series from the two previous books, although so far we’ve learned little of his backstory. The grandson of a renowned Admiral in the Royal Navy, Gabriel’s own naval career came to an abrupt end when he stood up to a cruel senior officer and was sent home in disgrace. Since then, his adventures have made him a relatively rich man, with his own ship to command, as well as friends he can call on for help – and who can rely on him to help them – all over the globe. Hired to rescue Rory, Gabriel is surprised and taken aback to find their captor is one of his former allies, who appears to have gone back to his old piratical ways after supposedly taking up more honest means of making a living.
All is not entirely as it seems, however; Gabriel’s friend is himself at the mercy of the men holding his own family hostage and needs the money for Rory to ransom them. With a large shortfall in the money needed, Gabriel agrees to join the second rescue mission – along with the Englishwomen, who may still be sold into harem slavery if a better solution can’t be found – and also a menagerie of exotic beasts, yet more offerings to exchange for the second group of captives. While travelling to their destination, Gabriel strikes up a flirtation with Rory, while his second in command is equally taken with Rory’s cousin.
I loved all the twists and turns this story took and wanted to cheer on both the main couples. I also appreciated the way the book’s theme kept coming back to the overarching theme of the series: that of family, both those joined by blood and those made through choice. A couple of the subplots were maybe less developed than they could have been, always a problem in series with large casts, but I’m generally happy with the way these books are bringing in new characters without completely forgetting any of those we’ve already met and who give the series its title. If the hero of the next book is who I expect him to be, we should be in for another fun time in that one as well.
Grade: B
Summary:
The son of a proud naval dynasty, Gabriel Hawkins was born to command the sea, until he leaves the Royal Navy in disgrace and is disowned by his family. As captain of his own ship, 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—and who will do anything to free Rory. Together they undertake a dangerous mission through troubled waters—and encounter another kind of danger as attraction burns hot within the close confines of his ship. But even if they endure the perils of the sea and enemy lands, can their love survive a return to England, where the distance between a disgraced captain and an earl’s daughter is wider than the ocean?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
