Once a Laird
An Exciting and Enchanting Historical Regency Romance
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4.2 • 121 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Bridgerton and Outlander fans as well as readers of Mary Balogh, Grace Burrowes, and Stephanie Laurens won’t want to miss this thrilling and clever new love story of a wandering laird, duty-bound but reluctant to return home to the Scottish Isles and the brave, brilliant woman he hopes to make his lady…
“Splendidly crafted…Putney brilliantly utilizes all of the key elements her readers crave—engaging characters, an expertly evoked setting, an intriguingly different story line, even a quintessential cat—and the result is another exemplary-in-every-way romance.” —Booklist
After the death of his fiancée, Kai Ramsay left Scotland to roam distant lands. He has searched ancient ruins, collected priceless antiquities, and escaped certain death after being imprisoned as a spy during the Napoleonic War. Ramsay has lived on the edge of danger for years—but everything changes the day a letter arrives for him from Scotland . . .
Signy Matheson has dedicated her life to the people of Scotland’s remote Thorsay Islands. With a fiery spirit and agile mind, she is a faithful ally to the aging laird. But now their leader is near death, and Signy must summon his successor at once. It’s time for Kai Ramsay to come home . . .
When Ramsay returns to Thorsay, he’s shocked to find that Signy has blossomed into an alluring beauty, and a force to be reckoned with. Their complicated past interferes with their unspoken desire as they work together for their people. Until a wild storm sparks first passion, then unexpected danger when a treasure trove left by their ancestors comes to light . . .
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A woman falls for her deceased sister's former fiancé in Putney's dull sixth Rogues Redeemed romance (after Once Dishonored), set in 1800s Scotland. Kai Ramsey returns to Thorsay Island to take over his ailing grandfather's responsibilities as Laird. He hasn't been back since the death of his betrothed, Gisela Matheson, 12 years ago, leaving to travel and mourn before eventually becoming a spy for the crown. Meanwhile, Gisela's younger sister, Signy, stayed behind and became Kai's grandfather's deputy. Signy has always blamed Kai for Gisela's death by miscarriage, but now that they're thrown back together, she realizes Kai wasn't at fault and the two bond over their shared love of her sister, his grandfather, and the islands. Kai is finally ready to settle down after his adventures abroad, but Signy is eager to travel and finally put herself first. Though these conflicting desires keep them from acting on their acknowledged attraction, Signy promises to stick around for at least three months to train Kai in his new role. The pull between Signy and Kai feels weak at best, more like two old friends getting reacquainted than a potential couple. Though the setting and supporting cast are well developed, the lackluster chemistry disappoints. This is one to skip.
Customer Reviews
Full of historical and geographical detail, but not much romance
It really pains me to write a bad review, because MJP is a writer I greatly admire. She has written some of my favorites romance novels. Books I have read over and over and heroes I will never forget. But this book was not one I will reread. It was well written, since she is a skillful writer. It was full historical and geographical detail. It really brings the setting to life.
Unfortunately, the setting and not the characters was the protagonist of this story. The romance was tepid at best, and if I had to estimate I would say it occupies less that ten percent of the book. Most of the time is spent describing the island, it’s inhabitants, it’s history, it’s daily life, it’s archeological ruins etc, etc. The love story and the relationship between the characters felt like an afterthought, when in reality it should be the focus of a romance novel.
There was no yearning, no passion, no conflict to overcome, no drama, not much of anything at all that would make my heart beat faster. I think Ramsay displayed more passion for the ruins that were discovered than for Signy. It was a very sedate and calm relationship. One day they kiss, a few days later they kiss again. Then literally in the last 100 pages of the book they make love. And if felt kind of forced. Thrown in just because it was expected in a romance, but not because the relationship had been built up to it, at least not in the reader’s mind. I always enjoy MJP descriptions of the places in which she sets her novels. The Silk trilogy and the Bride’s trilogy, which are partly set in the east are good examples. But even in the books set in Britain, like Thunder and Roses, or Angel Rogue, or even One Perfect Rose, I enjoy the scenery, but the focus is in the incredible characters and their relationships. Or in others of her books I have learned about art, or music or history like River of Fire, the Diabolical Baron and Shattered Rainbows. She always does a good job of bringing setting and history alive in her novels. But the key is to keep that as the background, as the foil that contains the characters’ story. In this case the setting and history took the main stage while the characters and their story seemed like an afterthought.
I dearly hope Mary Jo Putney goes back to write like she did in the Fallen Angels series. I miss that writer.