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

Signy Matheson has dedicated her life to her island, and the people of Thorsay. She's worked closely with the laird, and when his health fades, Signy must summon his heir and successor, sooner rather than later. But Kai Ramsay declared that when his fiancee died, he wouldn't be back, and his time in captivity during the wars has changed him. Nonetheless, on his return, he's shocked that his fiancee's sister has blossomed into a beautiful young lady, who is the driving force behind his island.

When I realised this would be the last book in the Rogues Redeemed series, I was sad, but also loved that Once a Laird was the finale. This book, in my opinion, was the best of the series. Signy and Ramsay's relationship was tense and fraught with grief to begin with, but when a storm forces them to hunker down together, and they both want the best for their island, they talk. Ramsay has a lot to contend with now he faces his grandfather's passing, and becoming the laird, but Signy is on hand to support him, and he her. The epilogue where all of the Rogues, now married, arrive on Thorsay, was the perfect ending to the series. I'll be on the look out for more of Mary Jo's books in future!

I just found this one a bit slow and bland to be brutally honest. I won't remember it in a week plotwise or charcaterwise.

Some of this may be on me, I prefer funnier, wittier, steamy Regency romances in general while this one is more cosy and gentle.

Historical romance set in the North of Scotland.. Kai and Signy, unusual names but a fairly typical story. Hero meets heroine,sparks fly and after a few fights they get together.

I love the author’s books and loved them since I was a teen to be honest. And that’s over 30 years ago. Somehow, this one didn’t hit the same mark for me. Maybe I have other expectations or just I didn’t enjoy the characters at all.
I will continue to read her books and support in the future nevertheless.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

A sweeping, emotional and beguiling Scottish-set historical romance, Once a Laird is the latest beautifully crafted novel by one of the genre’s most talented writers: Mary Jo Putney.

After his fiancée had died, Scotland had been the very last place Kai Ramsey had wanted to be in. Having bid farewell to his old life, Kai had gone to explore distant lands and ended up living on the edge of danger for years. Although he had been imprisoned as a spy during the Napoleonic Wars, Kai had no intention of returning back home – until he received a letter that left him with no other choice but to make the journey back to Scotland.

The well-being of the people of the Thorsay Islands has always been uppermost in Signy Matheson’s mind. Her entire life has been dedicated to ensuring that the community is well-treated and well looked after. Devoted to the old laird, Signy knows that he isn’t long for this world leaving her with no other choice but to summon his successor and ask him to do his duty and return back to Scotland. Yet little does the fiery and determined Signy realise that Kai is going to ignite a fire deep within her and a passion that refuses to be tamed.

Kai is shocked to find that Signy has blossomed into a beautiful and resolute young woman. Her intelligence, loyalty and dedication to the people of the islands inspires and enthralls him yet a future between the two of them is out of the question. Despite of their attraction to one another, Kai and Signy cannot act on the desire that has flared between them – until a wild storm and the discovery of an ancestral treasure trove puts them both in jeopardy and pushes them closer than they’ve ever been before.

With everything to lose, can Kai and Signy defeat a common enemy and find a way to be together? Or is their love simply not meant to be?

When reading a historical romance by Mary Jo Putney, readers are left in no doubt that they are reading a book from a master storyteller who effortlessly draws them into the world she has skillfully created. In Once a Laird, this outstanding writer of historical romance has once again created a superb tale full of danger, drama and passion featuring two exquisitely drawn characters that will feel real to the reader.

Kai and Signy will steal everyone’s hearts and their fiery, tempestuous and poignant love story will keep readers riveted to the page and enthralled until the very last word.

A spellbinding historical romance from an exceptional talent, Mary Jo Putney’s Once a Laird is not to be missed.

Two and a half stars.

Kai Ramsay has spent years away from his home in Scotland's remote Thorsay Islands being a spy and an archaeologist. Then he receives a letter to tell him his only living relative, his grandfather the Laird of Thorsay, is dying and he must come home. The letter is sent by his dead fiancé's little sister Signy, who has blossomed from a child to a beautiful woman (Nordic goddess is mentioned far more than necessary). Signy has been the Laird's estate manager and general support for years and still blames Ramsay for her sister's death.

Despite their rocky start, Ramsay and Signy soon bond over their love for the Laird and the islands, together they discover an ancient settlement which has been uncovered by a strong storm, but the financial burden of years of hard winters puts Ramsay in a difficult situation.

I'm sorry but I'm bored just writing this summary. There are two half-hearted attempts at binging some dramatic tension to the story but frankly they are both damp squibs. Everything interesting seems to happen off-stage so the reader is simply presented with a fait-accompli - like they used to say at school, show your workings!

This is the sixth (possibly last) book in a series and (not having read the other five books) it feels as though Mary Jo Putney had to write a book for the final member of the group but wasn't feeling the love ... and neither was I. I felt that Mary Jo Putney had read a lot about ancient sites on remote Scottish islands and wanted to put it in a book. As a consequence neither Ramsay nor Signy felt like fleshed out characters, their 'romance' was laughable and the tension was non-existent. (view spoiler)

Okay, I was under the impression that I liked Mary Jo Putney's books and that this was an aberration but looking at Goodreads my highest rating was only a three, so maybe this is me persisting in requesting an author who doesn't really work for me.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review

I truly wanted to love this book. The cover is just beautiful, soft and ethereal; the writing was enjoyable and easy to digest, the blurb sounded great. As did the setting, the strong female character, the promise that I possibly had another 5 books to read with the same band of rogues…but then I started reading.

The first section grabbed me. It was an interesting setting, something different to what I expected. We’re introduced to an antagonist in Signy, someone who is instantly at odds with Kai’s character, and I was excited to see Kai blunder, Signy overcome her hatred and help him…see that he’s grown, and was innocent of the crime she attests to him.

But the theme of the book now starts – instant conflict resolution. She immediately crumples and forgives him. He immediately does well with his people. The painter immediately joins them. The friends immediately come to his rescue. This is one of my biggest pet peeves, immediate conflict resolution. I want to worry. I want to be on the edge of my seat, wondering how on earth they’ll band together to get out of this situation, but instead, it’s a cosy read, with no real danger.

Kai himself is the perfect example of this. In my Goodreads review, which I use as notes for these reviews, I likened him to a labrador, but actually, he might be more jellyfish. He was perfectly lovely at all times, smiling and helping and saving and offering help to the people holding him at gunpoint during a fumbled theft. This is a man who’s been forced to return from a life he loves and chose for himself to his small home island and all of the responsibility that comes with it. I would have liked to see a bit of grit. A habit of having a gun to protect dig sites from thieves, a frustrated outburst about the situation, shouting at the man who comes to collect an angry debt. Something other than just placidity and faint worry with a can-do attitude. I loved that he was so positive, not another grumpy angry alcoholic protagonist, but he needed just a bit of anger.

I liked Signy, that she had her own goals and dreams, but was sad that they were then immediately forgotten for the sake of their handfasting and marriage. I would have preferred that she left, and they had an epilogue showing her return.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you like cosy, easy reads with a pretty instant romance and no conflicts – which is a definite thing I know people love. For me though, I wasn’t gripped, and struggled to keep with the book. I want to say, however, that the writing is good. It flows, the scenes are beautifully set, and the dialogue feels real

I have read a couple other books in this series but not all of them and love the idea of them all meeting up. This was a bit more of a slow burn romance and a it more steady and safe romance than i had hope for but enjoyable none the less

DNF

I would like to thank netgalley and Canelo for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Liked that it was set on the Scottish isles, but too much info dumping.

This story moved along at a good pace and had engaging characters. Ramsey was back home on Thorsay after 12 years, as circumstances meant he had to take his place as laird. Signy was such a talented and capable woman. They had known each other since childhood but could anything more come of it. It was interesting to read about life on the islands and the hardship that the weather caused. There are a few surprises, heroic deeds and a villain to thwart. I hadn’t read any of the previous books but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. I found it to be an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A historical romance according to my heart: riveting, well written and featuring two very interesting characters.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
A well plotted story, an interesting romance, vivid historical background.
The author is a talented storyteller and the story kept me hooked till the last page.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I haven't read Mary Jo Putney in a few years, I saw this on netgalley and it sounded like something I would enjoy.
It was an engaging and interesting read, with a few plot twists. This is set on a Scottish island , with the hero an avid archaeologist. And the heroine is feisty and intelligent, with a good understanding of business. The romance is slowburn and the chemistry between the two is apparent from their first interactions.
The description of Thoray and it's archaeological sites and finds was appealing and was based on a well known location and somewhere I've wanted to visit for a long time, it's reignited my interest in the history of the early settlers too.
Recommended.

This is the last book in a series but stands alone very well. I haven't read the previous books.
I liked the local colour provided and the way real items, culture and events were woven into a fictional place.
I'm glad the author mentioned that this particular archipelago does not exist as the story makes it seem like a potential place to visit - if you like wild storms and long winters that is.
I was interested in the ponies mentioned as it is true that Icelandic ponies (they are too small to be called horses), do indeed have 5 gaits. The Tolt is where they keep one foot always on the ground which makes it a smooth and bounce free ride. It is almost as fast as a gallop and can reach 20mph. The Flying Pace is faster - the pony uses both legs on one side of the horse (think dressage) as it races and then all 4 are off the ground. At up to 30mph.
The other interesting true item is Bere. A type of early barley which was cultivated in Orkney and now often used in beer making as it has a high protein count after malting and fewer carbs than normal barley.
The stuff 'borrowed' include the Neolithic houses (Orkney) the ship burial (Sutton Hoo); and the Fire Festival aka the Shetland 'Up Helly Aa' which was introduced during Victorian times for tourists.
It is written well, stylistically and grammatically good, with enough detail to really help you feel the wilds of this part of remote Britain.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had enough excitement to keep me interested.. As it was set in Scotland which l enjoy visiting. There was a good story and do recommend it to be read

This was a good read. A real work of fiction but enjoyable nonetheless. A quick read for a free evening.