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    Once a Rebel
    Once a Rebel
    Once a Rebel
    Audiobook10 hours

    Once a Rebel

    Written by Mary Jo Putney

    Narrated by Beverley A. Crick

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    "Putney's endearing characters and warm-hearted stories never fail to inspire and delight." -Sabrina Jeffries 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. Praise for New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Jo Putney's Rogues Redeemed series "RITA Award-winning Putney begins her new Rogues Redeemed series on a high note with an impeccably written book that realistically integrates the cost of the Napoleonic Wars into a compelling story that neatly balances dangerous adventures and passionate romance." -Booklist "A thrilling, romantic tale." -Bookpage, Top Pick of the Month "Putney's multifaceted and well-developed characters add depth to this romance, which is complete with the trials of war and the promise of future series installments." -Publishers Weekly
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateAug 29, 2017
    ISBN9781501977770
    Once a Rebel
    Author

    Mary Jo Putney

    Mary Jo Putney was born in upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she became a ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, has published over forty books, and was the recipient of the 2013 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

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    Reviews for Once a Rebel

    3.5/5

    46 ratings7 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Cute, but not up to Putney's usual emotional depths.
    • 4/5
      This was a good friends to lovers story in a setting not often seen in Regency romance. Callie and Gordon were best friends growing up. When her father planned to marry her off to a Jamaican planter three times her age, Callie fled to Gordon for help. His idea for them to escape to Gretna Green did not go as planned, and they were quickly caught. In a heartbreaking scene, Gordon was nearly beaten to death, and Callie submits to save Gordon's life. She is sent off to Jamaica and Gordon ends up sent to the penal colony in Australia.Fast forward fifteen years. Callie is a widow who fled from Jamaica to Washington DC to escape her brutal stepson, taking her late husband's illegitimate quadroon children and their grandparents with her. She created a successful life there as a dressmaker, but as the story opens, she is caught in the British invasion of Washington. Unfortunate timing places her in the midst of danger when an unexpected savior arrives just in time to save her life. Callie is stunned to see Gordon, who she believed was dead.After many years and adventures, of which we get only hints, Gordon made it back to England. He now spends his time helping people out of tricky situations. He was asked to go to America and track down a widow for her family. They would like her to return to England, or if not, to be sure that she is safe and happy. The last thing he expected was for Callie to be that widow.I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Callie and Gordon. Once they recovered from their surprise, they slipped easily back into their old friendship. But they are no longer children, and there is a new tension simmering under the surface. I loved seeing them get to know each other as adults. Callie has become a beautiful woman who is intelligent, independent, and determined. She doesn't trust easily and has no plans to marry again. Gordon is a man with many facets which comes in handy during this book. His happiness at finding Callie again made him realize that he wants to keep her in his life. There are two main obstacles. One is her determination not to marry, and the other is her reluctance to return to England. Because of their dysfunctional families, neither Gordon nor Callie has any real experience with love.Gordon is the first to realize that what he feels for Callie is more than friendship and decides to use his time to woo Callie to his way of thinking. He also isn't above using little tastes of passion to show her the benefits of marrying him. Though adamantly opposed at first, changing circumstances and growing passion cause Callie to reconsider. I loved Gordon's patience as he slowly brought Callie to realize that they belonged together. I liked their support of each other on their return to England, where several surprises awaited them. But it took a near-tragedy for them to realize the depth of their feelings for each other. I liked the ending and seeing them accept the full measure of their love.One of my favorite things about this book is the setting. Placing this book in Baltimore during the War of 1812 gave an added layer of drama to the story. It was fun to see Callie and Gordon jump back and forth between being British or American as the need arose. Gordon was especially good at exhibiting just the right attitude for the situation. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of life in Baltimore as they prepared for the possible arrival of British soldiers. The vividness of the bombardment of Fort McHenry made me feel as though I was there. The identity of Callie's lawyer was unexpected and a nice touch.There were two bits of mystery and danger that added to the tension of the book. The first was the reason that Callie fled Jamaica. Her husband's legitimate son was a greedy bully and his actions made it clear she and her adopted family were not safe. With the steps she took, she never expected Henry to pursue them, but was proved wrong. The confrontation with him was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. The second was the surprise inheritance that Gordon received on his arrival back in England. His trip back to his childhood home was emotional and full of both good and bad memories. Unexpected danger had me glued to the pages as once again Gordon was called on to save them from danger. I ached for him as he confronted the culprit to save himself and Callie.I would have liked an epilogue to see their lives a few years down the road. I'm curious to see how things go for Callie's Baltimore family. Since this is part of a series, hopefully there will be updates in future books.
    • 2/5
      Three (three!) separate villain plots and so! many! exclamation! points! There was so very much plot that it ended up feeling a bit like a throwback to the Romance novels of the 80s and 90s, only without the rape that was found in a lot of Romance at the time. It wasn't bad, it was just...a lot and my brain just wanted to get to the HEA without yet another side trip to deal with one more horrible person from one of the protagonists' pasts.
    • 5/5
      Masterful!The research by Putney gives a solid background to a story that spans some years and encompasses betrayal, heartache, the 1812 British Invasion of Washington and Baltimore, race relations, slavery and courage.When sixteen year old Catherine Callista Brooke was being forced into marriage with a man old enough to be her father, her best friend "Lord George Gordon Richard Augustus Audley, third and most worthless son of the Marquess of Kingston", suggested elopement to Scotland.What followed was a horrendous tale that forced the two apart and set them upon very different paths.Now, fifteen years and many life changes later, Gordon, called Richard by Callie (one of two people only ever to do so) is asked to go to America to find a Mrs. Audley. Curiously he wonders if they are related somehow as Audley is his name. Richard arrives as the British are attacking Washington, and just as Mrs. Audley is being seized upon by looters. A kindly death seems the best of options being presented her.Imagine his surprise when the mysterious Mrs. Audley is the Callie of his youth. Callie is even more astonished when the friend she'd been told had died appears back from the dead effecting a dramatic rescue.And this is less than a quarter of the way into the story. I found the moments throughout of Callie dealing with what the future might hold for her and the letting go insightful.This a gripping tale that had me reading over breakfast, on the subway and in between various appointments until I'd finished.Explosive stuff! A fitting follow up in the Rogue Redeemed series.A NetGalley ARC
    • 3/5
      Once a Rebel by Mary Jo PutneyRogues Redeemed #2I was expecting so much more from this book and though it is well researched and the writing fine the story seemed more a way to give a history lesson or two that included the evils of slavery, the war between England and America, the power of men through law over women, children and slaves and other such things. There was much violence, attempted rape, war, sibling rivalry and a bit of romance. The fifteen years without seeing one another was glossed over in some ways as Callie and Richard picked up almost as if nothing happened in between their last encounter and his trip to find Callie in America.This was a full length novel that will appeal to some more than others and a solid read but not what I was looking for today – I had trouble relating to either of the characters and can’t put my finger on why… Anyway, thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – this is my honest review. AND, though I rate this lower than the five I gave the first book in the series I would gladly read book three when it comes out.
    • 4/5
      Despised by their respective fathers, Callie and Richard are best friends growing up, exploring and getting into scrapes together. When 16-year-old Callie's father decides to betroth her to a planter three times her age, Richard offers to elope with her to Scotland instead. But they are quickly caught and separated; Callie's father beating Richard savagely with his father's approval.Fifteen years later, in 1814, Richard is sent to Washington to rescue a widow from the British invasion. He has no idea that it is Callie; she has no idea that anyone in her family still cares. She is entirely ready to be rescued, but she has family--step-children and their grandparents--that must be seen to first. Soon they are in Baltimore under siege, and growing closer every day.Winning characters, gripping history, an entirely satisfactory romance.
    • 4/5
      A very nice entry in the Rogues Redeemed series. Well-written and neatly plotted. It didn't have as much angst as some of her books have but that's OK. I also liked that there was some nice detail about the war of 1812, particularly the events in Baltimore.