Once a soldier

Major Will Masterson knows war is hell. So when Napoleon finally surrenders in 1814, Will could not be happier. However, before he can return home to England, he must undertake one last mission: lead a troop of soldiers from San Gabriel back to their home. Once there, Will also needs to assess any wartime damages endured by the small kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, an important ally of the British government. When Will arrives in San Gabriel, he discovers that things would have been much worse if Athena Markham had not been present. As the English companion and governess to Princess Maria Sofia, Athena helped hold the country together during the war, and now she is equally determined to help San Gabriel rebuild for the future, which may mean working very closely with Will. RITA Award-winning Putney (Not Always a Saint, 2015) begins her new Rogues Redeemed series on a high note with an impeccably written book that realistically integrates the costs of the Napoleonic Wars into a compelling story that neatly balances dangerous adventures and passionate romance.--Charles, John Copyright 2016 Booklist

Putney begins her Regency-era Rogues Redeemed series (a spin-off of the Lost Lords series) with a man who survived the horrors of war meeting a most unconventional heroine. Several years after nearly being executed as a POW, Will Masterson agrees to undertake his last wartime mission, leading a small troop of cavalry to the tiny country of San Gabriel, an ally of the English located between Spain and Portugal. Once he arrives, Will meets Lady Athena Markham, a very tall and stunning Englishwoman who is a companion to Princess Maria Sofia of San Gabriel. Will is attracted to Athena's bravery and beauty, and she's not immune to the handsome and charming soldier. But Athena is reluctant to get involved with a man for a brief fling and especially unwilling to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a famed courtesan. Working together to help protect San Gabriel, Will and Athena begin to realize that their initial attraction has led to greater emotions. Putney's multifaceted and well-developed characters add depth to this romance, which is complete with the trials of war and the promise of future series installments. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

With Napoleon's abdication and impending exile, Major Lord Will Masterson is ready to leave the battlefield and head home to England to take up his neglected responsibilities. However, a request takes him instead to San Gabriel, a tiny, war--ravaged kingdom in the mountains between Portugal and Spain, where he is caught off guard by his attraction to the magnificent Athena Markham (who greets him at gunpoint!) and is dragged into the vulnerable country's problems. A strong, independent, sometimes stubborn heroine who considers love beyond her reach and a fearless, risk-taking hero discover each other amid chaos and danger in a beautifully rendered romance that deals poignantly with the issues of self-worth, illegitimacy, and social class, as well as the cruel aftermath of war. VERDICT Exquisitely developed characters, a stunning setting, and the perfect amount of history and engineering detail make this an excellent start to what promises to be another of Putney's insightful, riveting series. Here, spies bond (and then escape) on the eve of their scheduled execution. Putney (Not Always a Saint) lives in the -Baltimore area. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Major Will Masterson knows war is hell. So when Napoleon finally surrenders in 1814, Will could not be happier. However, before he can return home to England, he must undertake one last mission: lead a troop of soldiers from San Gabriel back to their home. Once there, Will also needs to assess any wartime damages endured by the small kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, an important ally of the British government. When Will arrives in San Gabriel, he discovers that things would have been much worse if Athena Markham had not been present. As the English companion and governess to Princess Maria Sofia, Athena helped hold the country together during the war, and now she is equally determined to help San Gabriel rebuild for the future, which may mean working very closely with Will. RITA Award–winning Putney (Not Always a Saint, 2015) begins her new Rogues Redeemed series on a high note with an impeccably written book that realistically integrates the costs of the Napoleonic Wars into a compelling story that neatly balances dangerous adventures and passionate romance. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

With Napoleon's abdication and impending exile, Major Lord Will Masterson is ready to leave the battlefield and head home to England to take up his neglected responsibilities. However, a request takes him instead to San Gabriel, a tiny, war-ravaged kingdom in the mountains between Portugal and Spain, where he is caught off guard by his attraction to the magnificent Athena Markham (who greets him at gunpoint!) and is dragged into the vulnerable country's problems. A strong, independent, sometimes stubborn heroine who considers love beyond her reach and a fearless, risk-taking hero discover each other amid chaos and danger in a beautifully rendered romance that deals poignantly with the issues of self-worth, illegitimacy, and social class, as well as the cruel aftermath of war. VERDICT Exquisitely developed characters, a stunning setting, and the perfect amount of history and engineering detail make this an excellent start to what promises to be another of Putney's insightful, riveting series. Here, spies bond (and then escape) on the eve of their scheduled execution. Putney (Not Always a Saint) lives in the Baltimore area.

Putney begins her Regency-era Rogues Redeemed series (a spin-off of the Lost Lords series) with a man who survived the horrors of war meeting a most unconventional heroine. Several years after nearly being executed as a POW, Will Masterson agrees to undertake his last wartime mission, leading a small troop of cavalry to the tiny country of San Gabriel, an ally of the English located between Spain and Portugal. Once he arrives, Will meets Lady Athena Markham, a very tall and stunning Englishwoman who is a companion to Princess Maria Sofia of San Gabriel. Will is attracted to Athena's bravery and beauty, and she's not immune to the handsome and charming soldier. But Athena is reluctant to get involved with a man for a brief fling and especially unwilling to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a famed courtesan. Working together to help protect San Gabriel, Will and Athena begin to realize that their initial attraction has led to greater emotions. Putney's multifaceted and well-developed characters add depth to this romance, which is complete with the trials of war and the promise of future series installments. (July)