Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney is book five in her Rogues Redeemed series. Though part of a series, it reads as a standalone.

Lucas “Foxton” Mandeville and Kendra Douglas are both being shunned by the ton. Now they’re doing it together. Why wouldn’t the two most scandalous individuals join forces? Can they regain their reputations and discover each other in the process?

5 out of 5 stars. The plot is well-conceived, well-executed, and intriguing. The characters are well-rounded and believable. I enjoyed all aspects of Once Dishonored and highly recommended it to readers of historical romance.

My thanks to Kensington Books, Zebra, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Following her divorce, Kendra Douglas is disgraced. She has lost everything, including her child, and the scandal follows her wherever she is. At ton events, she is unwelcome, and ignored, though Lucas Mandville recognises her strength and bravery, and asks her to dance. For his own part, Lucas would rather be anywhere but a ball, and his time in the military has changed him. Working together, they fight to return Kendra's good name, and prove that her former in-laws are lying. If they also happen to fall in love, well, that's just a bonus.

When we meet Lucas in the previous book, there's so many questions surrounding his time acting as a healer, and Once Dishonoured really covers just why that came to be. He broke parole while a French prisoner, and as a gentleman, broke his oath and vow. He's full of grief over it, and just waiting to be called out for his actions, and seeing Kendra's strength in the face of scandal, he wants to help her, and perhaps atone for his sins. Kendra's own story is far more tragic, and I'm glad she was able to find someone who believed her, and had the connections to truly help. She was capable herself, but with Lucas' support, it was easier to face her tormentors. Another great book!

I really wanted to like this book. It started out so good with a very interesting set of characters that were totally different from any other historical romance that I have ever read. Then it just went off the rails and I just could not put the amazing start with the middle. Basically, we follow two main characters, one is a Kendra who has been shunned from society because she apparently cheated on her husband which led to him divorcing her and taking her child and the other is Lucas who has just return from the war front to take up an aristocratic title. Both similarly outcasts from society but in different ways. When Lucas decides to strike up a conversation with Kendra who everyone is avoiding like a plague, he realises that there is more to her story than everyone thought.

At this point, I was hooked, call me a fish because I took the bait. But as the story progressed, it was the tone changes and the characters no longer sounded themselves. it was like the author changed their mind half into the book. Maybe it is just me and my short attention span but I was so lost, I thought I was in the movie Finding Nemo! But I will give this book 3 stars because the part that I really enjoy deserve it.

Once Dishonoured by Mary Jo Putney

Lady Kendra Denshire is scandalous divorcee as her abusive ex husband destroyed her reputation by lying in court to get her fortune held in trust for her. When this fails he blackmails her by stealing their son. Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, was respected Naval Officer until he became a prisoner of war during the napoleon war. He escapes thus dishonouring himself by breaking his parol. They both meet while attending a ball where she is being ostracised by everyone. Whilst trying to get support to clear her name but being a gentleman Lord Foxton asks her to dance. Lucas discovers whilst dancing they have met before when they were both young and they subsequently endeavour to help each other.


A well written book. That does get you engrossed by the many twists and turns and interesting characters.

On the whole the book is a well balanced story but seems very rushed at the end in comparison to the rest.

Some parts are a little far fetched but an enjoyable read none the less.

This felt a little bit like a trauma off. Instead of connecting the two characters, I felt like the author was just trying to make each character's life more miserable than the other. So, to me, this wasn't great.

I am not a fan of the cover art of this book and I put off reading it for some time, but once I started I couldn't put it down! This book has great characters and an interesting plot. At times I felt it got a bit repetitious but overall it was very enjoyable.

Ms. Putney is fabulous as always! Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Once Dishonored is a friends-to-lovers romance between a former soldier, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, who supposedly dishonored himself by “breaking” his parole from a French prison, and Kendra Douglas, formerly Lady Denshire, a scandalous divorcée whose reputation has been destroyed by her scheming, abusive ex-husband. When these two meet, they form a fast friendship, recognizing kindred spirits and a need to seek justice. As they work together to find witnesses to clear her name and return her son to her, they can’t fight their growing attraction. There’s drama, some pleasant revelations concerning children, and the support of the close-knit group of friends from previous books in this series as well as the earlier Lost Lords series. It’s well-written and fun to revisit the afore-mentioned couples, but there’s nothing that makes this story unique and unforgettable. Fans of Regency romances will probably enjoy this, but I’d only recommend purchasing it if your library has the earlier books in the series.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Zebra through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A pleasant read as is any Mary Jo Putney book. Good guys, bad guys, romance, all that and more in this romance-adventure.

The fifth book in the Rogues Redeemed series a well written story with a very good storyline, I was not putting this book down until I had finished reading it. Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, and divorcee Kendra Douglas' story of adventure as they search for the truth and redemption for both of them. I enjoyed reading. I received a copy of this book via Net Galley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was my first Mary Jo Putney novel, and....idk if she's the historical romance author for me.

I really liked how well rounded the two main leads were. In most historical romances, the story very much surrounds their love story and not much else. Putney strays away from the norm with success and some fails. She tackles important issues for the time as well.

Even though I liked the deviances it took from the norm, I did wish there was more romance in the novel. I didn't feel a strong spark/chemistry between the love interests, which I really need from a romance novel. It's not a bad book by any means, but it's also not great IMO.

My first contact with Mary Jo Putney's writing and I really liked it.

Lucas and Kendra are considered two outcasts in London society. She for being accused of adultery and he for treason. Right at the beginning of the book, they meet at a ball and Lucas is able to see beyond her appearance and realize that he can help her recover everything that she unjustly lost.

They live many adventures among swords, fights, discoveries in the countryside and finally find love in each other's arms.

I found the way the story was built quite interesting but I think it ended up getting a little warm for me because everything was resolved in a simple and too fast way taking some of the emotion out of the twists.


But that did not take the highlight off the focus on female strength with Kendra choosing how she wanted to dress for fighting classes and how she set the right tone in the fight against the prejudices she had been suffering. Lucas was also not behind, along with Simon and Kirkland, form a defense and support squad for the women in their lives.

3,5/5 stars

Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has an exemplary record of service as an officer in the Royal Navy. Taken Prisoner by the French, he now has a ruined reputation due to breaking his parole and is treated badly by society as a result.

He is at his first ball since his escape and its not going well, when he meets a beautiful woman who is cut by everyone at the ball. He dances with her and find out she has been scandalously divorced by her cruel husband who has set up a hideous scenario to blacken her reputation and has taken her son from her. Lucas realises he had met Kendra before he went off to war. Feeling a sense of connection and affinity for her pain, Lucas vows to help her try and clear her name and find her son.

I loved the way Kendra found her power, and built her confidence, through fencing, through meeting Lucas's friends, through finding her son and confronting her demons and also because of Lucas himself

What a lovely read. I read so many average romances, but Mary Jo Putney is a reliably good writer, and doesn't disappoint. The mature characters behave well, communicate properly and support each other, they develop a lovely relationship, and it is just a joy to read.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Kendra Douglas, Lady Denshire was divorced by her husband on false charges. Unable to get the money in her trust, he takes their son to blackmail her for money. Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton is considered to be dishonorable for escaping a French prison during the Napoleon War. After the war, he stayed in France and lived a Franciscan life following a priest who was a bonesetter. Returning to England, he and Kendra work together to find her son and restore her reputation. For Lucas he needs forgiveness. The right hero and heroine combination for an interesting book and a passionate romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

The book was an easy read but I was not able to connect completely to the characters. I did enjoy the story.

I received a copy of this from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. While I have read and loved books by this author in the past, this one left me wanting. I am not one to like insta-lust but there was just not enough chemistry between the main characters - granted, they were going through a lot but still, if it's a romance novel, I need the love. The beginning seemed rushed and not very plausible - I think there's a set number of pages that editors (at the readers' request) prefer and Mary Jo Putney had to choose where to cut from. It felt like she picked the start of the story and that did not help my engagement with it. It was well written but not overly entertaining or memorable

Could not seem to get into this one, slow build maybe? Just was not for me. Cover is gorgeous though.

Another wonderful story of courage, redemption, and of course love by Mary Jo Putney. I love The Rogues Redeemed Series. Mary Jo's stories glide along at a wonderful pace, her characters are first-rate. She knows how to pull the reader into her stories with action, adventure, and surprises that will leave you gasping and satisfied to the very end. Her love scenes are erotic and sensual without being crude or offensive. I have been reading her books for a long time and will always anticipate the next in her wonderful series. My favorite is The Fallen Angels Series and The Silk Trilogy. I have never read a book by her that I wouldn't recommend. She is one of my go-to authors and the diversity and volume of her work stand the test of time.

This book was amazing! I've read all of the Rogues Redeemed books, and this one does not disappoint! This book has a good mix of romance, mystery, justice, and some unexpected surprises! This book can be read by itself, but as there are many appearances from the characters from the other Rogues Redeemed books, it is nice to know the background of the other HEAs.

I wanted to learn fencing after I read this book LOL. Enjoy!

Kendra Douglas is living as a disgraced divorcee after a scandalous past she did not commit. She needs to prove the scandal did not happen in order to get her son back. Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton has faced his own share of scandal and a dishonorable past. He feels for Kendra and offers to help her unravel the mystery and replace her standing and reputation in society so she can regain custody of her young son. The two are perfect for each other, both are wounded by society but are unwilling to give up and live a life of shame as society dictates. They fight together to right the wrongs and find a love worth fight for too. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent book.