I received an ARC of this book to read and I am so glad I did! ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through Netgalley. All opinions are my own. Once A Laird by Mary Jo Putney is the sixth book in her delightful Rogues Redeemed series. It can be read as a standalone, but I think you will enjoy it more if you read the other books in the series.
Kai Douglas Ramsey has always had a turbulent relationship with his grandfather, the Laird of Thorsay Islands. When his betrothed died tragically, he did not return to the islands, and his grandfather told him he could travel and feed his wanderlust until such time that he was needed at home to take over as laird. After a dozen years, he is called home by his grandfather's deputy Signy Matheson the younger sister of his betrothed, now grown up.
He arrives just before his grandfather dies and finds that things are in turmoil after several difficult seasons for the islanders. Signy is a wonderful heroine, feisty, intelligent, talented, one who is not afraid to tell the hero when he's wrong. As always, with a Mary Jo Putney novel, there is adventure, drama, villainy, and a lovely romance. I enjoyed this book very much and do recommend reading it. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 26, 2021. ( )

Interesting plot vividly drawn.

Kai Douglas Ramsay left the remote Thorsay Islands in Scotland when his sweetheart died. His life was one of danger and adventure and a restless pursuit of antiquities. When the tale begins Kai is with the British Embassy in Constantinople acting as the Under Secretary for Special Projects. Read spy and problem solver!
Kai is one of five men held captive in a cellar in Portugal during the Napoleonic wars. They were to be executed by one a French colonel as spies. They managed to escape and made a pact to meet after the war. Their stories move forward and this is Kai’s.
Kai’s childhood friend and sister to his dead fiancé, Signy Matheson calls him back to the Islands, back home. His grandfather the Laird of Thorsay is dying. (BTW I’m inclined to think that how the fair Gisela died whilst true, was overacted.)
I must say I enjoyed Kai’s story. Putney’s prose had me visualising the landscape, the various Viking artefacts Kai and Signey uncovered. I swear I could smell the sea air. There’s lost treasure, looters, danger and love.
The flow between events was not as smooth as I’d hoped for but a captivating work despite this.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley ( )

Terrific conclusion to the Rogues Redeemed series. From the time he was a child, Ramsay's fascination with the past infused him with a desire to travel. Though the heir to the Laird of Thorsay, after the death of his fiancée Ramsay left Scotland to roam the world, promising to return when necessary. During his travels, he barely escaped death as a spy in Portugal (where he met the other Rogues), explored ancient ruins, and served his government in unnamed ways in Constantinople. It was there that a letter from Thorsay finally caught up with him and summoned him home. Though sad to leave Constantinople, he knew it was time and hoped to reach home before his grandfather died.

Ramsay's arrival home gets off to a rough start when he is confronted by Signy, his late fiancée's younger sister. Signy harbored some deep anger toward Ramsay, but they worked through it quickly. Signy spent the last several years serving as the old laird's assistant, devoting herself to the health and welfare of the island's people. Intelligent, compassionate, and a gifted artist, Signy can't wait to turn her duties over to Ramsay and start living the life she wants. She tells Ramsay it's her turn to travel, and she'll start with training with a woman artist in London. But first, she'll fulfill her promise to the old laird to help Ramsay settle into his new responsibilities.

I loved watching the relationship develop between Ramsay and Signy. Blown away by her transformation from a gangly schoolgirl to a Viking goddess, Ramsay can't deny the attraction he feels for her. Encouraged by his grandfather to marry Signy, Ramsay also realizes that pushing will only drive her away. Signy also feels the sparks between them, but she has plans and won't give them up. They haven't seen each other in more than a decade, but their former friendship grows stronger as they get reacquainted. I loved seeing them work together to bring Ramsay up to speed.

I loved the scenes all around Thorsay as Ramsay and Signy carried out his tour. The details of the kelp burning and the people who did it brought that facet of island life into sharp focus, along with the dangers that went along with it. The descriptions of the land and the ruins that occupy it were vivid and made me feel as though I was there. I liked how Ramsay appreciated Signy's insights and advice when it came to both people and places. I loved watching their feelings for each other grow while at the same time they are careful not to rush into anything, but wait until the time is right. There was no great drama, just the realization that they belonged together.

I ached a bit for Ramsay at the beginning as he gave up his explorations to fulfill his promise to his grandfather. I loved when Signy pointed out to him that the islands had enough ruins to keep him busy for a long time. His excitement leaped off the page when a storm uncovered a Viking ship and an ancient village. At the same time, Signy is torn between her plans and her growing feelings for Ramsay. I loved the surprise he planned for her and how it showed his love for her.

However, trouble looms on the horizon for Ramsay and Signy. The disasters that rocked Thorsay in the past created tremendous strain on the laird's finances. Ramsay's grandfather took out a loan that's about to come due, and Ramsay has no way to pay it. The loan's owner is a particularly nasty piece of work. I was glued to the pages as I waited to see how it would turn out, knowing that Ramsay and Signy would manage however it turned out.

In keeping with their promise in that Portuguese cellar, the book reunited all the Rogues and their ladies. I loved the timing of their arrival and their words of gratitude for Ramsay. I would have liked to see a bit more of their time on Thorsay, but overall it was fantastic.

My favorite secondary characters were the animals. The one-eyed cat, Odin, belonged to Ramsay's grandfather and later attached himself to Ramsay. Like his namesake, Odin has a strong personality and makes his presence known in many ways. Signy's dog Fiona is loyal and intelligent and proves to be a lifesaver at a crucial time. I also loved the horse Thor (the Fifth) and laughed at the scene where he insisted on visiting Signy.

#netgalley ( )

This delightfully told tale quickly ensnared me with the wonderful characters and the vivid descriptions of life in the northern islands of Scotland. You quickly come to understand that life on those islands is never easy, but it gets in the blood of the inhabitants and they can never truly leave it behind.

Kai Douglas Ramsey was born with a wandering soul. He always longed to explore the world and investigate its antiquities. When his fiancé, Gisela, died while he was away at university, he just didn’t return home. Luckily, his grandfather, the laird, understood his needs and allowed him that freedom of travel. He served his country, of course, and helped defeat Napoleon – and still undertakes a few clandestine missions for the crown. He always knew he’d have to return home, and he always intended to do just that, but not yet – because that would mean his grandfather was ill and Ramsey would have to take on the role of laird to his clan. That word finds him in Constantinople, and he quickly resigns his position and heads home – praying the entire time that he will arrive in time to say goodbye to his grandfather.

Signy Matheson, younger sister to Gisela, was a gangly young woman when Ramsey left nearly twelve years ago. She certainly isn’t that young woman anymore. Now, she’s tall, beautiful, and blessed with all the womanly curves a man dreams of – and she looks at him with total disdain and loathing. What happened? Why does she loathe him? They were friends when he left.

After the death of her sister left Signy totally without family, the old laird took her in, and in return for that, she became his right hand. That has been especially true over the last couple of years since his health started to decline. Now, she knows enough and could easily take on the role of laird herself – except she wouldn’t want to do so. Her dream is to travel and to study under a gifted painter. She’ll definitely do those things after the old laird dies and his grandson returns.

This is a delightfully entertaining, straightforward romance. The main characters are both mature enough to know that they should not jump straight into a marriage or love relationship. Ramsey knows he has a lot to learn from Signy since he wasn’t there for tutelage under his grandfather’s hand. This isn’t any great angsty tale filled with navel-gazing and negative internal thoughts. It is two people growing to love each other and learning to overcome the grief each of them feels for the losses in their lives. There are no exciting cross-country chases, no intense stress, etc. There is a villain, but our intrepid duo takes whatever steps they can to deal with him, but if he wins, they are prepared for that as well.

There is a lovely epilogue where the ‘Rogues’ (and their lovely wives) show up on the island and I loved seeing them and their comradery again. The author's notes are wonderful, be sure to read them! I also loved meeting Ramsey’s friend, Broc MacKenzie, and I hope there is a budding romance between him and the artist, Sophie MacLeod. Maybe we will be treated to that story in the near future. I’d also like to see what happens with Ramsey’s cousins Axel and Anabel. However, since none of those are part of the original ‘Rogues’ story, maybe there will be a spin-off series featuring those lovely, lovely islands that the author described so well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )