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shannonlangton's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kuglar's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointing; the other books I've read by Putney were much better. I was looking forward to the mysterious Gordon's story, too.
-Too many names. Pick one for the hero and one for the heroine. Whatever the author was attempting here with the multiple names failed.
-The weirdness with the stepchildren and their grandparents. It kinda felt like these folks were there as "Magical Negros" - there to make Callie look virtuous for being an abolitionist before her time, offer advice and support, and then fade away.
-No way in hell was a prominent family going to allow their son to marry an ex-slave in 1814, no matter how beautiful she was. They wouldn't even have allowed a son to marry the daughter of someone in trade, for pete's sake.
-The villains were dispatched within a page or two. Bad guy? Shoot him and his evil cronies. (And be sure to have the villain's gun go, ricochet off something else, and kill an evil crony.) Move on. Oh, another bad guy? And he's your brother? Shoot him. Then be ok with that because he was a one dimensional cartoon villain.
-Remind us who the folks from other books are. It's hard to keep them all straight. So, Kirkland is the spymaster but who was Lady Kirkland again?
-The FS Key meeting was big-platter-of-nachos cheesy. And with the current attention to the later, racist verses of the song, rather tone deaf.
-Lots of telling, not showing.
In the end, it was just boring. Maybe the next one will be back to her normal standards.
-Too many names. Pick one for the hero and one for the heroine. Whatever the author was attempting here with the multiple names failed.
-The weirdness with the stepchildren and their grandparents. It kinda felt like these folks were there as "Magical Negros" - there to make Callie look virtuous for being an abolitionist before her time, offer advice and support, and then fade away.
-No way in hell was a prominent family going to allow their son to marry an ex-slave in 1814, no matter how beautiful she was. They wouldn't even have allowed a son to marry the daughter of someone in trade, for pete's sake.
-The villains were dispatched within a page or two. Bad guy? Shoot him and his evil cronies. (And be sure to have the villain's gun go, ricochet off something else, and kill an evil crony.) Move on. Oh, another bad guy? And he's your brother? Shoot him. Then be ok with that because he was a one dimensional cartoon villain.
-Remind us who the folks from other books are. It's hard to keep them all straight. So, Kirkland is the spymaster but who was Lady Kirkland again?
-The FS Key meeting was big-platter-of-nachos cheesy. And with the current attention to the later, racist verses of the song, rather tone deaf.
-Lots of telling, not showing.
In the end, it was just boring. Maybe the next one will be back to her normal standards.
lashea677's review against another edition
4.0
With a flair for the dramatic and a love for the romantic, Ms. Putney knows how to make a splash in the world of historical romance. Her tales of battle scarred heroes and fierce women of courage are as thrilling as they are healing. Once a Rebel is an epic story of love that spans war, betrayal and years. George and Callista's path to happily ever after was long, heartbreaking and dangerously intriguing but it was worth all the obstacles that they had to face.
lalawoman416's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed parts, was really bored by parts. Yet, I think this is such a good read b/c it's a friends to lovers story and there's something so refreshing of telling the story of people who KNOW each other who fall in love. Also, I loved that the conflict was external. The two weren't crazy people finally getting it through their blockheads that they belong together. They knew. They accepted. And, finally it's worth the read b/c this doesn't continue to fight their love after they realize their love. They live. They actually live life.
dianed's review against another edition
5.0
Mary Jo Putney does an amazing job of bringing old friends together against the backdrop of the War of 1812's burning of Washington and the battle in Baltimore Harbor. Callie and Gordon grew up together but when they tried to elope to prevent Callie's marriage to a older Jamaican plantation owner both fathers tracked them down and almost killed Gordon (aka Lord George). Callie went off the Jamaica and Gordon was thought dead when he was sent to Australia as a thief and kidnapper.
Years later, Gordon is a man of many talents and he is asked to sail to Washington to save a British widow caught in the war zone.
Watching old feelings mix with new ones is heart warming. In addition to Callie, she now has a family of former slaves that she cares about and they must be rescued from Baltimore. The most exciting scenes take place as Francis Scott Key is watching to battle and writing him poem.
The plot moves quickly, you can't help but love the characters and the history is interesting to read from the perspective of people on the ground.
Years later, Gordon is a man of many talents and he is asked to sail to Washington to save a British widow caught in the war zone.
Watching old feelings mix with new ones is heart warming. In addition to Callie, she now has a family of former slaves that she cares about and they must be rescued from Baltimore. The most exciting scenes take place as Francis Scott Key is watching to battle and writing him poem.
The plot moves quickly, you can't help but love the characters and the history is interesting to read from the perspective of people on the ground.
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
3.0
This was a nice romance, but I felt it lacked dramatic tension much of the time. I think my favorite things about it were that the women rescued themselves from would-be rapists, and the perspective the reader gets on what was happening in D.C. and Baltimore while the British attacked the cities during the War of 1812. It's not a war I know very much about, so I found that part fascinating.
I also liked that Calista's family in America were mixed race, although I did wonder whether the scion of the prominent (white) family in the area would really be allowed to marry her beautiful "quadroon" stepdaughter. Maybe he would? Although there were laws against interracial marriage, there were apparently also communities where it was legal at that time.
For readers' advisors: setting doorway is primary. A few sex scenes, a little violence, mild swearing. Not too graphic but not chaste either.
I also liked that Calista's family in America were mixed race, although I did wonder whether the scion of the prominent (white) family in the area would really be allowed to marry her beautiful "quadroon" stepdaughter. Maybe he would? Although there were laws against interracial marriage, there were apparently also communities where it was legal at that time.
For readers' advisors: setting doorway is primary. A few sex scenes, a little violence, mild swearing. Not too graphic but not chaste either.
kristakp's review against another edition
The topic of race was approached in a white savior context. I felt uncomfortable continuing to read a romance between white people with the backdrop of slavery.
suzysuzy34's review against another edition
4.0
I loved book one, so I was a little disappointed with the second book in the series. I didn’t connect to Callie or Richard (aka George Gordon- good how many names did that man have!). My main problem was I just didn’t feel their connection at all like I did with the characters in book one.
I did enjoy the story overall though and was worth reading as I was able to borrow it for free from my library. Will definitely be trying more books by this author, I just don’t think you can possibly love them all.
I did enjoy the story overall though and was worth reading as I was able to borrow it for free from my library. Will definitely be trying more books by this author, I just don’t think you can possibly love them all.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
2.0
I keep trying Putney's new books, hoping to find a spark of that storytelling magic and character development that was so central to her earlier books. But every time, I come away disappointed. Flat writing, flat characters, and a storyline with very little tension, despite being set in the midst of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, make this a dull as ditchwater read.
ilaurin's review
3.0
While the plot was OK, it failed to capture my interest and I had to force myself to read this book. As it took place in America mostly, it was not per se a regency. I did enjoy finding out more about the war of 1812 and how the American anthem came to be.