This book downloaded to my Kindle and I started reading it at once. Pining for an adventure, I was desperate for an escape as I often am when I pick up a romance novel. Thankfully, Mary Jo Putney delivered on the adventure. Even though Once a Rebel is published and marketed as a romance, I actually think it is a better adventure/historical than it is a love story.

I'll start at the beginning--the prologue was lovely and promised a lively and interesting path for Callie and Gordon. I liked both hero and heroine well enough, but the sparks just weren't there for this reader. Unfortunately Gordon was a bit pushy in his pursuit of Callie, so that put me off. Persistence is one thing, but ignoring the wishes of the other party in a relationship concerning intimacy and taking a relationship further is just wrong.

That said, I don't think I've read many historicals set in both England and in the United States. They all tend to be one or the other. The War of 1812 isn't usually the historical event these types of books feature. I actually really loved that! I wish more romances were this varied! I think Mary Jo Putney has a good thing going with this series and I'm really looking forward to the next story.

~ My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ~

This romance just wasn't for me. Putney's writing felt lackluster and was very elementary. The beginning was especially melodramatic. In order for me to enjoy a book, the characters have to be compelling and/or the plot has to pull me in and grab my interest; this book did neither for me.

This story had so much potential! Based on the description, I was really excited to read this book. It promised action, mystery and romance. And the plot was exciting, childhood friends sadly torn apart only to be reunited during the war of 1812 when he is sent to rescue a widow, who ends up being his long lost friend.

Unfortunately, the dialogue comes across as stilted most of the time, just really unnatural. It detracts from the story so much and it made me so much less invested in the characters. And I really wanted to like them.

The hero also goes by 3 different names and it took me forever to get to the point where I wouldn't have to stop and think about who I was reading about.

After the action in America is over, the heroine starts getting these 'feelings', which apparently she used to have all the time but we don't hear about them until over half way through the story but they end up playing a not insignificant part of the book, seeing as it means she can basically see the future.

Really, the whole last 1/4 of the book felt so rushed and there were all these details that were just thrown in with no apparent purpose.

Publisher's Description:

A ROGUE REDEEMED

As Washington burns, Callista Brooke is trapped in the battle between her native England and her adopted homeland. She is on the verge of losing everything, including her life, when a handsome Englishman cuts through the violent crowd to claim that she is his. Callie falls into her protector's arms, recognizing that he is no stranger, but the boy she'd once loved, a lifetime ago.

Lord George Gordon Audley had been Callie’s best friend, and it was to Gordon she turned in desperation to avoid a loathsome arranged marriage. But the repercussions of his gallant attempt to rescue her sent Callie packing to Jamaica, and Gordon on a one way trip to the penal colony of Australia.

Against all odds, Gordon survived. Finding Callie is like reclaiming his tarnished soul, and once again he vows to do whatever is necessary to protect her and those she loves. But the innocent friendship they shared as children has become a dangerous passion that may save or destroy them when they challenge the aristocratic society that exiled them both . . .

My Thoughts:

I had problems with keeping up with all of the events that affected this story. What started as a sweet telling of a young lady forced into an unwanted marriage by her autocratic father turned into a convoluted, long drawn out story of rediscovery of a lost friendship that ends up as a lost then found love.

I felt that all of the historical details were maybe too much in this book. The inclusion of so many well known factual rather than fictional characters distracts from the actual story.

I gave this book 3.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 2.5 of 5.0 flames. There is little in this book that leads the reader to believe in the attraction between our hero and heroine.

This is a sweeping tale with just too much actual history.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I have read and reviewed voluntarily.

Lord George Gordon Audley and Callista Brooke have been were best friends since childhood. When Callie’s father wanted to marry her to a man three times her age Gordon suggested they elope to Gretna Green. They were caught and Callie ended up married and Gordon to never be seen from again. Gordon has accepted a mission to bring home a British lady by the name of Mrs. Audley who is far from home in America with a war going on. Little does Gordon know but she is his long lost childhood friend and finding her is like reclaiming his tainted soul. He once again he vows to do whatever is necessary to protect Callie and those she loves. Callie is a strong, independent woman who has been looking to have a family since her own abandoned her. Will these two childhood friends realize how much they love each other in time to find their HEA!!! The adventure is all encompassing with romance between two friends who both have deep wounds from their pasts. What an adventure these two have I loved this book it’s a fast read and totally captivating adventure!!!
I voluntarily read and this is my honest opinion reviewed this ARC copy from Net Galley.

Book two in the Rogues Redeemed series. Lord George (or Gordon as he prefers) is a member of the group of men that were trapped together in the Spanish prison waiting to die. After their escape they all swore to reform and so far each has in their own way. Gordon is hired to travel to America during the war of 1812 in order to locate and save a widow who's family is concerned. What he has no way of knowing is that the widow is his long lost childhood friend that he has been searching for for quite some time. Callie was told that he was dead so when he shows up (just in time to save her from some British soldiers) she is in shock to find he is alive. As they travel together to reach her family and decide how to proceed from this point on they get to know one another again which is how they find out they really always loved each other even if they did not know it. I have to admit this book was quite fun. It involved English characters as usual but the bulk of the book takes place on American soil which is a nice change of place even if there is a war going on. The two have to tackle quite a few obstacles together which just serve to reinforce their relationship. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical romance because Putney has written an excellent novel yet again. I really enjoyed it so it gets 4/5 stars.

The book starts off with a gripping chapter that gives us an initial insight on the relationship between the hero, Richard and the heroine, Callie. The plot is based in a war torn America which is a little unusual than the rest of this series. This book has really interesting characters and a well written story until about seventy percent into the book. I wish the author would have ended the book at this point as the rest of the book seems redundant and irrelevant to the actual plot. It also felt like the author really dragged the end to reach the required word limit on this book. If this would have been a shorter book, it would have made a much more gripping and thrilling story albeit with romance running secondary to the war story in the book.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Once a Rebel is set in England and Colonial America. Ms. Putney has certainly researched the events of the War of 1812, specifically in Washington and the Baltimore area. This is sweet story of a second chance for Callie (Catkin) and Gordon (Richard). While young, Gordon offered to elope to Scotland to keep Callie from having to marry a stranger. Their fathers caught up to them before they reached Scotland. Callie was married off and went to live in Jamaica. She thought Gordon had died while being sent to a penal colony for trying to help her. (I loved that they gave each other special nicknames).

Through a series of events, he was able to escape and made his way back to England eventually and now works for the crown. Unknown to him, his current mission is to go to the States and rescue an English widow who happens to have the same last name as himself. There is finds his childhood friend – Callie. Having grown up as friends and fellow troublemakers, they did not recognize they were of the opposite gender until he rescues her during the war. What follows is not your typical romance but a story with some surprising elements.

Callie had made a good life for herself in spite of her circumstances. She loved her deceased husband’s illegitimate children and their grandparents. Callie was in the wrong place at the wrong time adding to her troubles. She has come to love her new home and is not sure she wants to leave with Gordon to return to England, where her father basically sold her to a man old enough to be her father.

Ms. Putney weaves a charming story of love and betrayal throughout these two star-crossed lovers lives. She uses historical events so as to make the characters appear to being a real part of the war. Definitely, there is a bit of poetic license here, but it only adds to the story. She includes aspects and characters from previous books, but this is still great as a standalone book.

I loved Callie and Gordon’s story. Thank you for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent historical fiction! I especially liked that the heroine was just as brave, strong and courageous as the hero. Also, there was a good build up of the romance with a friends to lovers theme.

With a flair for the dramatic and a love for the romantic, Ms. Putney knows how to make a splash in the world of historical romance. Her tales of battle scarred heroes and fierce women of courage are as thrilling as they are healing. Once a Rebel is an epic story of love that spans war, betrayal and years. George and Callista's path to happily ever after was long, heartbreaking and dangerously intriguing but it was worth all the obstacles that they had to face.

I am giving a fair and honest review in return for being given this ARC. A very good story from a different perspective about the battle between the British and Americans in Washing DC and Baltimore. This is not a "war" story but instead of the people that might have been affected by the fight. Nice read

Callie and Richard's story was so easy to love. For lovers of Colonial America this is the book for you. I couldn't wait for them to get together. The easy relationship between them was what kept me reading.

Although this is part two in a series, you do not need to have read novel in order for this story to make sense. The author manages to write this story in such a way that even though characters from the first book do make an appearance, nothing from the first book is spoiled for you.

I very much enjoyed reading this story! The author provided something that I have not seen very often - the War of 1812 (specifically the burning of Washington DC and the seige on Baltimore), from the "eyes" of the people living it. The author managed to capture the horrors and uncertainties of war while also managing to show just how far the people of Baltimore would go to to protect what was theirs.

Callista was hands down my favorite character of this story. It takes a very strong woman indeed to live the life she had dealt to her. Not many women of that time period would have accepted certain things that were thrown her way (I can't go into too much detail without spoiling it), and I admired her backbone.

However, she was just one of the many characters to be enjoyed in this story. All of them unique with a strong will, and unyielding sense of loyalty. I hope to see more of the secondary characters show up in later stories, just to see how they fared after the war was over, and the rebuilding began.

This story has just the right amount of romance and drama to keep it interesting, and in some cases, from the places you would least expect.

Overall, I do think this novel will appeal to those who enjoy a "friends to lovers" historical romance. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Enjoyable historical romance. Good, interesting characters and unusual historical background.

Catherine Callista Brooke & Lord George Gordon Richard Augustus Audley were best friends & had been since they were young children. When Callie’s father wants to marry her to an aged plantation owner she runs to Richard & they decide to flee to Gretna Green & be married. However they are soon caught, Callie stops her father from killing Richard by agreeing to wed the older man. The repercussions of their escape attempt has Callie going to Jamaica, and Gordon on a one way trip to the penal colony of Australia. Callie believes Richard perished on the journey.
Now fifteen years later Callie is a widow & living in Washington & she is on the verge of losing everything, including her life, when a handsome Englishman cuts through the violent crowd to claim that she is his. Callie falls into her protector's arms, recognizing that he is no stranger, but the boy she'd once loved, a lifetime ago.
This is the second in the Rogues Redeemed series which in itself is linked to the Lost Lords series where Gordon had featured, however the book could be a standalone read but I’m a fan of the author so only added to my enjoyment that Gordon has his own story. The redeemed lords are five men who were held together in Portugal & the night before their execution they all swore if they escaped then they would redeem themselves. This is a fast paced book that travels from London to America & back to England, I was particularly fascinated by the Battle of Baltimore, which I was unaware of. The characters were well developed & very likeable. I usually enjoy a story of best friends to lovers & this was no exception. There are trials & tribulations on the way to their HEA which all made a very enjoyable read. I look forward to the rest of the series

I liked that the story had an unconventional setting and provided interesting details of an overlooked portion of American history. The action and danger that Callie and Richard faced also made for a compelling read. However, the biggest detractor is that I didn't feel invested in them as a couple. Instead of digging in on the angst and drama of the situation (she thinks he died years ago because of what she did, then he shows up out of the blue to rescue her; he is returning to his roots for the first time since being shipped off to Australia for a non-existent crime; there's a literal war being waged all around them for much of the book -- just to name a few), they both act relatively unfazed about everything. Their feelings throughout feel superficial and lack any spark. Callie's insistence on claiming her dead husband's illegitimate and nearly adult-aged offspring as her own was also bizarre. I should note that this is the first book by Mary Jo Putney that I've read so I don't know if this is reflective of her overall style or just a mis-hit.

Thank you to Kensington and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Lady Callista "Callie" Brooke found herself married at the tender age of sixteen to a man three times her age. Because of a very grave error, she lost her very best friend, Lord Gordon Audley, or Richard to her, in the process. For Richard's death, Callie will never forgive herself. Sadly, life goes on so she had to make the best of her situation. After Callie's husband's death, she moved off and started anew under a new identity. Things seemed to be going well up until the English decided to wage battle in the one place she calls home... Washington.

Callie's life is turned upside down when the English burn down her home. Things escalate and she finds herself facing a terrible situation when an Englishman interrupts to come to her aid. Imagine her shock when she discovers that the friend she left behind is still alive and well. Callie has mixed feelings toward Richard. She does wants his friendship desperately, but is confused about the attraction between them. If she gives in, will their love be the life or death of them?!

Very close to a 4 star rating, but I have to give it a 3.5. I love second chance stories or stories where friends/lovers are re-united and author Mary Jo Putney's ONCE A REBEL did not disappoint. The awful situations the hero and heroine are made to face and they each had the most awful fathers. To survive all that and come out as strong as they are is a miracle. I am so happy Callie found her rock again, Richard, and so glad Richard found the calm to his storm, Callie. I look forward to going back and reading book one in the ROGUES REDEEMED series by Ms. Putney as well as the third upcoming novel.

This is a terrific story of a woman and man who were childhood friends, torn apart by heinous fathers, reunited sixteen years later. The two people, Gordon and Catherine, now adults, are attempting to survive while traveling through a war torn Washington DC during a British attack in the War of 1812, and onward to an embattled Baltimore during the siege of Fort McHenry. The book has a wonderful plot, filled with interesting characters, plenty of intrigue and a lovely romance between two people who had lived through lives of disappointment but survived.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the historical facts that were included, as well as the fascinating descriptive scenes. I would highly recommend this book to romance readers, especially those who enjoy historical romances, and stories that include action and adventure with their happy endings.

For the most part well-written (some anachronisms aside) but the underlying structure of the book differs from the usual layout of a romance, unfortunately to its detriment. The hero and heroine are childhood friends separated by cruel fate -- ok, I'm with you so far. The hero shows up to rescue the heroine years later and immediately begins pressing her to marry him even though she repeatedly tells him she loves him as a friend but isn't interested in more -- not ok. The first half of the book is this dude relentlessly "nice guy"ing the heroine into marrying him while everyone around her agrees that he's a nice guy and also rich so she really should just give in, and even though the heroine also has POV sections, we aren't given any evidence that she secretly loves it and has been holding back for a different reason. She likes him, he's her childhood best friend... she gives in and the sex is good, all of which would be fine if it weren't for the way the hero keeps pressuring her rather than her deciding what she wants organically. When at the end of the book she finally decides she loves him ~like that~ it's presented as something she has realized about herself rather than something that has changed, with the implication that the hero knew what she wanted better than she did for a significant portion of the book. It's a less than nice implication. The series of suddenly appearing and suddenly defeated antagonists in the second half of the book isn't problematic on the same level, but it's sloppy narrative-wise. And I'm not sure that the heroine's white savior complex about her stepchildren and their grandparents is sufficiently dealt with, which is a whole other issue. It's a weirdly ambitious book that doesn't quite live up to its pretensions, and honestly I think at least some of the problems would have been solved by sticking closer to genre narrative expectations. (The racial issues needed a sensitivity reader and an end note, that has nothing to do with genre.)

Not one of her best. Didn't much like the setting or the characters. Overall, I'd recommend reading one of her earlier works which I generally have enjoyed.