This review is not going to be long. I am not a huge fan of a review rehashing the entire plot and spoiling it for everyone.

I have previously read other books by Mary Jo Putney. She did a wonderful job of making her characters come to life. This book is suspenseful, romantic, and keeps your interest to the very end.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A different sort of historical romance

I really enjoyed this one because of its originality. The characters had a lot of depth and worked extremely well together. Having a divorced heroine in a Regency romance is not a simple task to pull off and I think Mary Jo Putney did a remarkable job with it. The hero also had an intriguing background as an escaped POW. When the two meet and start working together, both find the trust and love they never believed could be theirs. A wonderful story of fighting back against the strictures condemning them both, of restoring reputations, and finding happiness against all odds.

Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney (Rogues Redeemed #5) 4 stars

This is an ongoing series about men who met under extraordinary circumstances and their lives after the Napoleonic Wars. We met Lucas Mandeville in last years "Once A Spy". A cousin to Simon Duval, he was declared dead after being imprisoned by the French. Simon tracked him down and brought him home. However, he had a scandal attached to his name because of the way he escaped the prison. He is considered persona non grata in some quarters. Enter Kendra Douglas, a scandalous divorcee, the former Lady Denshire who has been wronged by her dastardly ex husband. Two individuals mired in scandal - a fated match. The villain of this book was obvious from the start and the story fairly predictable. Kendra has some advantages because she has money, but the lack of rights for women is a theme throughout. I enjoyed this book because it is like a cozy blanket, a nice read on a day that you stay inside.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney is the fifth book in her Rogues Redeemed series, but the first book of hers that I've read. It works well enough as a standalone, although there is quite a bit of backstory that is missing, but Putney does an admirable job of filling in the gaps enough to follow the story.

Once Dishonored focuses on Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, who has returned to London after the war in dishonor. There he immediately meets Kendra Douglas, a recent divorcee' whose scandalous trial has made her a pariah. Lucas recognizes a kindred soul, and sets out to help Kendra regain what is most important to her - her son.

Overall this book was enjoyable. There was a twist midway through the book that was unexpected and felt a little shoehorned, and I really felt the romance between Kendra and Lucas wasn't given enough room to breathe, I had a hard time believing they were truly in love as for most of the book they just seemed like friends. The book was very plot-driven, and featured lots of characters from previous books.

Lucas doesn't want to go back into society, but knows that he must. His reputation is tarnished because of something that happened during the war and he know that he will be snubbed. Once at the ball, he notices someone else that seems to be in the same situation that he is. What else is he to do, but to ask her to dance...

Since Kendra's divorce, she has also been snubbed by society. Having done nothing wrong, other than deciding not to put up with her husband any longer, she decides to brave the censor of the ton by attending a ball. She is not surprised to find that everyone is still giving her the cut direct, that is until Lucas asks her to dance.

Being treated similarly by the ton, Kendra and Lucas develop a friendship. When Lucas learns what Kendra has been going through with her husband and that she can no longer see her son, he jumps at the chance to help her. In their quest, will they find their own HEA?

I loved Lucas and Kendra's story!! I loved that Kendra would do anything to be back in her son's life including going to the ball where she knew that she would get the cut direct from everyone. It just shows how determined a momma can be! I loved watching theses two together. They were there for one another and helped to lift the other up from where they had been from each of their past experiences. This was a great addition to the Rogues Redeemed series and I hope that Putney is not done, as I've throughly enjoyed this series!

I received an advance reading copy of this book from Kensington Books via Netgalley. These are my honest opinions of the book.

This book takes place after the Napoleonic Wars, and is book 5 in the Rogues Redeemed series. The two main characters are Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, and Kendra Douglas, Lady Denshire. Lady Denshire was divorced by her husband for adultery in unusually scandalous circumstances and is being ostracized by polite society. Her husband has custody of their child and refuses to let her see their son. Lucas is also in disgrace for breaking parole, although his escape was a matter of life or death.

Kendra is desperate, and goes to a ball, where she meets Lucas. Before he went to war, they had met at social occasions and been attracted to each other. Lucas approaches her when everyone else at the ball has drawn away from her, and asks her to dance. He escorts her home, and later takes her to meet some of his friends who also accept her and offer their help.

I have read other series by Mary Jo Putney and enjoyed them. I enjoyed reading this book as it has an unusual cast of characters with experiences not usually found in a Regency romance. However, there were several things in the book that stretched my credulity, beginning with Kendra's reason for attending the ball. This book can be read as a standalone book but readers will probably enjoy it more if they have read other books in the series.

London, 1816. As a Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has fought his share of battles on the high seas, followed by long years of imprisonment. But on this night, he’d rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, until dark-haired beauty Kendra Douglas arrives, a whisper of scandal ripples through the ton. The disgraced divorcee’s entrance is an act of daring. So Lucas asks her to dance. Kendra finds herself telling Lucas of her downfall & unexpectedly & surprisingly Lucas offers his aid in finding the evidence to help her regain her good name and her beloved young son Christopher. Together they investigate the wicked conspiracy that destroyed her life, and in the midst of danger, find a deep love that will redeem them both
This is the fifth book in this lovely series, it could easily be read on its own, however I love series & personally have to read from the start. We met Lucas in the previous book, which was Simon’s story when Lucas has been presumed dead but he's now back in London but still feels he's dishonoured, the reasons as to why are gradually revealed. I loved Lucas who was so calm & caring. Kendra has suffered through a divorce where, as was the law, she couldn't defend herself, my heart went out to her & the book brought out very succinctly how women & children were the property of the husband no matter how cruel he was. I loved how the chemistry between the pair grew & how they placed their trust in each other. There were some surprises on the way to their HEA & at times I really did wonder whether they would find it. I also loved that there were cameo appearances not only from other characters from this series but also from the Lost Lords series. A well written engrossing read that I found very hard to put down & I look forward to the next in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I’m fairly new to the genre of historical romance and hadn’t fully appreciated the literal army of authors there are in this genre. That is until I saw on social media the #stepbacksaturday hashtag where people share pictures of the step backs from vintage historical romance novels. I’ve discovered so many authors I want to try and Mary Jo Putney was definitely one of these. So when the opportunity to review one of her books presented itself, I was thrilled.
This story deals with a titled lady who has been wrongfully shamed and divorced by her husband who is a Lord. He’s taken her child away from her and has tried to acquire her wealth (his aim in doing all of this) but her Grandfather has cleverly tied up and protected her money so Lord Denshire has failed to access it. She is however ruined in her reputation.
We see (ex) Lady Denshire befriend another Lord and he instantly believes her account of the divorce and the abuse she had suffered at the hands of her ex husband, and agrees to help her re-establish her good name.
The novel touches on some very taboo and scandalous subjects for the Regency period- divorce was almost unheard of and was social ruin for the women concerned, which usually meant financial ruin as well. In the afterward to this book, the author discusses her research into this subject and I did find that interesting.
There were a few times when I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit and question whether that particular thing would have been done or said in that era, but it did not distract from an enjoyable and engaging read. I will definitely be investigating Mary Jo Putney’s extensive back list.

This was a GREAT book. The plot pacing was excellent. I really adored how kind the hero was during this entire, fairly epic tragedy that the heroine was surviving. The end was suitably gruesome and a little unexpected, which kind of took a left turn from the rest of the book. The characters were engaging and I really hope that some of the side characters show up again in other novels! Loved it.

Safety warnings attached at the end.

This is my first book of the series and I felt it's fine read as a stand alone. You probably get more character introduction and death by reading the series in order though. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything though.

This book, as you can probably guess from the title, is about two people who have lost their honor according to society. Our hero, Lucas, was an officer in the navy and a prisoner of war. The heroine, Kendra, is a scandalous divorcee. They come together at a ball and sense each other's vulnerability and protect each other.

Kendra is a very strong character. Independent, fierce, and determined to get back what is hers. Society has been cruel to her since her divorce but she still holds her head up proudly.

Lucas is very sweet and caring. He's been through a lot, emotionally and physically, but hasn't let that damage his personality. He's very steadfast and willing to help Kendra and protect her.

Give this a try if you're in the mood for:
-A regency time period novel – this takes place in 1816
-A novel with darker themes (lots of emotional turmoil, loss, abuse)
-An experienced heroine – she's been married and divorced
-Soldier hero – the hero was a soldier in the navy
-Lots of things going on – there are lot of factors in play here, things the couple are trying to resolve
-Lower to mid steam – kisses and sex happen and it's open door but it's pretty short

I wasn't a huge fan of this story. It was rather dark, but without the emotional pull and angst of, say Kerrigan Byrne's work. There's a lot of loss, struggles, hurt from the past going on and not a lot of romance. I didn't really understand the characters attraction to each other. I wasn't getting butterflies. And the sex was very short and lackluster. I haven't read much of Putney's work, but I do remember Thunder and Roses. WHERE was that heat and fire? There's a scene from that book that had me breathless when they are playing billiards. I felt no remnant of that heat and sexiness here.

Safety warnings (spoilers)
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Miscarriage, adoption, physical/verbal abuse

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney is the fifth book her Rogues Redeemed Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I do recommend reading at a minimum book four as the hero of this book features prominently in that one. Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton and Kendra Douglas, formerly Lady Denshire, first met during her first season, but she was looking for a husband and he was heading off to a career in the navy, so while they enjoyed each others company, the time was not right. Many years later, Lucas is scorned as one who has broken parole, and Kendra is a scandalous divorcee who arouses his protective instincts. Determined to redeem both her good name and retrieve her son Kendra is quite willing to accept his help, and the attraction between them grows, but as a divorcee, she can never remarry, and their relationship, if known, would only add the scandal. I enjoyed reading this book and finished it in less than a day. Medium Steam. Publishing Date: September 29, 2020. #OnceDishonored #MaryJoPutney #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #KensingtonBooks #ZebraRomanceNovels #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

Two amazing dishonored people join together to right a wrong, but both come out winners! Putney surprised me with this one – I did not see this story line coming! Not only is there a sneak surprise, there is an unusual mixture of sex and faith.

I loved the strength of Foxton and Kendra; together they are a force. Divorce was not the norm during the regency period, so it makes for a great scandalous romance for Kendra to try to get her child back and, if possible, her reputation. Kendra and Foxton are meeting for the second time. The first, several years prior, was not the right time for either of them. This is their time!

I laughed out loud when Kendra was asked if there were more like her! She is strong and fiercely loyal. Foxton is determined to help her, but she, in her own way, helps him.

What a great story, highly entertaining and gripping.
I loved the vivid and well researched historical background, the great characters that made me root for them, and the tightly knitted plot full of twists and turns.
It thoroughly enjoyed this story, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Lucas Manderville, Baron Foxton is back from the dead and trying to reacclimate himself into society, but by escaping his parole while a prisoner of war has brought his honor into question and made him a bit of a pariah. He is floating on the edges of the ballroom when a beautiful woman in black arrives and the whispers start. Feeling a kinship to her, he asks her to dance and realizes that he knows her or rather knew her years ago when he was getting ready to ship out with the navy.

Kendra Douglas, formerly Kendra Hawthorne, Lady Denshire is a divorcee and out for justice. Her ex-husband George, Lord Denshire told vile lies about her to gain a divorce and has taken her son from her all because her grandfather left her fortune in her hands and she refused to give him free reign. She wants to clear her name and get her son back, but has no idea where to begin. Dancing with Lucas opens a world of opportunities and when he offers to help her, it is a godsend!

While they are trying to clear her name, he too will have to face his past and come to terms with his actions. As they work together and shocking secrets are uncovered and memories are recovered, they grow closer, but thanks to her divorce decree, Kendra cannot remarry while Denshire lives, so HEA many not come for years – if ever.

This was a great slow burn, friends to lovers romance, with wonderful lead characters and lots of cameos from the Lost Lords and Redeemed Rogues and their wives. The book has a bit of everything, lies, scandal, intrigue, surprising twists and turns, familiar faces, grudges, forgiveness, a dash of paranormal, warm love scenes and a wonderful and sweet ending. And if that wasn’t enough, I found the author’s notes about Regency divorce and POW parole absolutely fascinating. This is the fifth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. I really enjoyed this installment and am happy to recommend this title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Divorced and disgraced, Kendra was struggling alone for support and justice until Lucas asked her to dance with him at the ball. As they shared their pains and decide to support each other, they discover deeper aspects of their life and form a lasting bond. Lucas is supportive enabling Kendra to reunite with her children. The plot is constructed to suit the times. The characters are too flawless and eager to help each other. Not sure if the cooperation was because she was a heiress. All conflict is focused on one person and other interactions are conveniently supportive. Certain expectations of today's society and status of women seems to have invariably crept into the book.

What a totally wonderful read from (I’m embarrassed to admit) a new author to me. I was hooked from the beginning of this enchanting story. There is so much to tell but I don’t want to give away any spoilers. The scenes were vidid. The characters evolved so dynamically. The storyline was a powerful one.
When disgraced divorcee Kendra Douglas shows up at a ball, the whispers begin as the ballroom clears a path for her to enter.
Royal Navy officer Lucas Mandeville, (Lord Foxton) would rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, he knows it’s just a matter of time before someone challenges him again.
Can Lord Foxton help Kendra help restore her good name and get her son back? Will all this closeness find them falling in love?
Oh, this is such a gripping story of deception, lies, abuse, redemption, forgiveness, and love. It runs you through it all. I even had tears in my eyes.
I will definitely be reading more books from this author.
Thank you to #ZebraBooks and #NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Kendra and Lucas are both thoroughly nice people. All the drama in their relationship is focused outwards as they stand shoulder to shoulder to fight their demons. A chance encounter at a ball has the pair of social pariahs meeting again as experienced adults. Lucas, slightly less of a pariah than Kendra, offers her a dance, and a friendship is kindled. With the support of Lucas’s ‘almost brother’ and his social standing, it is clear than reputations can be restored, but can Kendra regain her son and her life?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is an ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Our protagonist, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, is a former military man who, at the beginning of history, had recently returned to England and was at a party full of English aristocrats when Kendra, our heroine, appears, causing great commotion.

Kendra Douglas is a woman who was unjustly accused of adultery by her then husband, who subsequently filed for divorce and obtained complete custody of their only child. However, Kendra is not willing to give up her son (which is the only good thing resulting from her marriage), and although nobody in the whole aristocracy seems to belive in her version, she is determined to fight for him.

Shortly after meeting her, Lucas is immediately fascinated by Kendra, and it doesn't take long for Kendra to tell her heartbreaking story to him. Lucas then, to Kendra's surprise, decides to help her prove her innocence and get her son back.

In general I’ve read few books that address divorced mothers in historical novels, and I really liked that this story addressed that. Another point that I also liked is that, despite the clear attraction between the main characters, Lucas and Kedra developed their relationship gradually, first becoming friends and, later, lovers. There were some things that bother me a little, like some twists that I found too crazy to be credible, but overall, it was a good read.

Royal Navy officer Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, and Kendra Douglas, former Lady Denshire, come together as two society outcasts. Lucas escaped French capture and is considered dishonorable for breaking terms of prisoner parole. Kendra is a divorcee, set up and accused by her husband of adultery. Lucas, disdained but accepted because of his title, agrees to help Kendra clear her name and restore her reputation so she can get her son back.

This is the fifth book in the Rogues Redeemed. It's helpful, but not completely necessary, to read the series in order. Lucas is introduced in previous books, and many characters from the series appear. Lucas's "almost-brother" Simon is the hero of the previous book, and he and his wife Suzanne feature heavily.

This was an enjoyable story, but my rating reflects the fact that the romance took a major backseat. Kendra's journey was the real front-burner and a majority of the book centered on revealing details that led to her divorce, regaining her confidence, finding out secrets, and getting her revenge. I felt like there were too many things along the way that clicked into place too easily. Lucas also had his own side plot as a healer that took up a lot of space, as well as a couple of encounters with numerous characters in a co-ed fencing facility. When it did come around to the romance, it was a bit plug-and-play and didn't draw me in at all.

Tropes: Second Chance, Revenge, Redemption

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #OnceDishonored #Netgalley

Once Dishonored the story of a wronged divorcée, and a man trying to redeem his honor after disgrace. It’s an intense, dramatic love story with improbable twists and turns, adventure, and visits from old friends. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read, though readers may have trouble suspending their disbelief at the plot twists.

Following spousal cruelty and the traumatic birth of her son, Kendra Douglas has resigned herself to living separately from her husband, Lord Devonshire, and is happy to raise her son in the country. However, her husband isn’t happy with that arrangement, especially given that Kendra has legal control over her own fortune.

When Devonshire comes to the realization that Kendra will never relinquish her funds to him, he puts together a scandalous divorce. He accuses her of a night of debauchery with four of his friends - a night that (of course) never happened. Unable to speak for herself in court, and condemned by the testimony of Devonshire’s allies, Kendra becomes a pariah amongst the ton; her husband is granted a divorce, and takes custody of their son. While she has financial resources, Kendra is all alone in the world, with no sure path forward to regain her child and her reputation.

Lucas Mandeville is a titled gentleman recently returned to society after years of self-imposed exile. Haunted by what he perceives to be a dishonourable action in his past, he feels himself out of place in – even ostracised by - the world he left years before, and when he encounters Kendra, he feels the need to help her, saving her from social humiliation and offering his assistance in restoring her reputation.

At first, neither sees the space for romance. Lucas is still finding his feet in England, while Kendra is forbidden to ever remarry after her divorce, and is focused on the retrieval of her son. The two of them work together to uncover the truth about Kendra’s divorce trial, her husband’s schemes, and where her son is being kept. Throughout their travels, they grow closer, despite an uncertain future, and discover many secrets that will change Kendra’s life forever. With the help of some characters from Putney’s previous works, our heroes seek the truth and to put things right.

Kendra is an independent, interesting lead, with a plucky attitude despite the dire straits in which she finds herself. She’s not too proud to ask for help, or to accept people’s kindness when they offer it. While her situation feels improbable, she handles it with aplomb and it doesn’t take the reader out of the story too much. Lucas is a winning leading man, with admirable courage and empathy for a fellow outcast. His wish to help another comes across as both selfless and honorable, while his love is unselfish and derived from mutual respect. They are a great couple and fun to read about. Both characters have excellent internal conflicts, and are motivated by regaining what has been taken from them, and restoring their honor.

There are, however, a lot of improbable moments in this story. The circumstances around Kendra’s divorce are unlikely to say the least, and the ending is a little too neat and easy. Her problems all get resolved without too much trouble, despite how byzantine they appear at the beginning of the book. It’s fun to visit old friends from previous books in the series and in the Lost Lords series, but it’s a little gratuitous. There are too many characters making cameos, and it just gets distracting and feels unnecessary. These issues do detract a little bit from the book - but speaking as a Putney fan, it still works. All of the things readers love about her books are present here, and while the premise is a tad busy, it’s still one of the best historical romances out this year. One of the hallmarks of Putney’s books is the somewhat idealized happily ever after - not an ordinary HEA, but one where absolutely everything turns out perfectly for our heroes. While elements are exaggerated and the callbacks to previous works are a little gratuitous, I would still recommend this book to any reader who loves historical romance. If you can suspend your disbelief slightly, Once Dishonored will provide you with a wonderful read.

~ Rachel Finston

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