My Review
Mary Jo Putney is one of my favourite writers, when it comes to Romance or Historical Romance. I love her writing, I love her stories and her characters, so I was expecting a lot from this book. It is my first from the series, but I had no issues understanding the context.
Best friends come together after years apart. History repeats itself when Lord George Gordon Audley rescues his childhood friend Callista Brooke. In a time when America and England are at war, Callie tries to do the best for her new family and the people around her, while Gordon does whatever is needed to solve problems, as he puts it. They connect on a level that exceeds the friendship area, facing their attraction… and war.
When it comes to history, the author has very well documented the events from that time and has combined the war against two countries with the war against slavery. I admired Callie and her determination to fight against abuse and how she treated everyone equally, be they slaves or people of color.
The two best friends start to explore the physical attraction that is quickly building. Gordon is offering her away out of all her problems if she marries him. Yes, his request is not based on love but on a long friendship and this should be enough, since neither of them has the illusion of love. Still, their story has some bumps along the way that will keep the reader focused.
However, there are some items that did not stand well with me. At some point, the action felt dragged and there were some pages sort of unnecessary. As well, all the name changing between Gordon and Richard (the name that Callie calls him, is a bit confusing. I was expecting a lot more emotions between them, a deeper connection, but it never came.
With all my complaints, I did enjoy „Once A Rebel” almost as much as other books by Mary Jo Putney. It had some funny moments and kept me quite engaged.
and delight.”
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.
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.
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….
a New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author who has written over 50 novels and novellas. A ten-time
finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won the
honor twice and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She
has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four
NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for
historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical
romance, she has also published contemporary romances, historical
fantasy, and young adult paranormal historicals.
Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne, Patricia Rice, Nicola Cornick, Cara
Elliott, Anne Gracie, Susan King are the ladies otherwise
known as the Word Wenches. These eight authors have written a
combined 231 novels and 74 novellas. They’ve won awards such as the
RITAS, RT Lifetime Achievement award, RT Living Legend, and RT
Reviewers Choice award. Several of them are regulars on the New
York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
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Thanks for sharing and for the lovely review! -Janet @ Silver Dagger Book Tours
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Thank you as well for the lovely opportunity 🙂
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