Once a Laird


Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
1
Narrator
1
Release Date
October 2021
Duration
8 hours 32 minutes
Summary
'He yearns to escape his past...
After the death of his fiancée, Kai Ramsay left Scotland to roam distant lands. He has searched ancient ruins, collected priceless antiquities, and escaped certain death after being imprisoned as a spy during the Napoleonic War. Ramsay has lived on the edge of danger for years—but everything changes the day a letter arrives for him from Scotland...

She’s determined to protect her future...
Signy Matheson has dedicated her life to the people of Scotland’s remote Thorsay Islands. With a fiery spirit and agile mind, she is a faithful ally to the aging laird. But now their leader is near death, and Signy must summon his successor at once. It’s time for Kai Ramsay to come home...

Together, they discover ancient treasures and disturbing attraction...
When Ramsay returns to Thorsay, he’s shocked to find that Signy has blossomed into an alluring beauty, and a force to be reckoned with. Their complicated past interferes with their unspoken desire as they work together for their people. Until a wild storm sparks first passion, then unexpected danger when a treasure trove left by their ancestors comes to light...'
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Molly W.

One a Laird is an impeccably written story about finding happiness while fulfilling one’s duty. It is the sixth book in Mary Jo Putney’s Rogues Redeemed series, wherein the "rogues" of the series met and bonded after being imprisoned as spies in Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars. The “rogue” in this book is Kai Ramsay, who after attending college, was given the freedom from his grandfather to explore the world until it was time for him to come home to Scotland’s northern islands. For over a dozen years, Kai researched ancient ruins, collected priceless antiquities, and spied for England. While Kai satisfied his wanderlust, Signy Matheson, the younger sister of Kai’s deceased fiancée, became indispensable to Kai’s grandfather, the Laird of Thorsay (think Orkney Islands). Signy was the eyes and ears for the aging Laird and traveled to the remote islands on the Laird’s behalf getting to know the people and their needs. She was also the one who requested Kai come home so he could assume the role of Laird. Thankfully, Kai returned home just in time to say goodbye to his grandfather before he died in grand fashion, befitting his Viking ancestors. Mary Jo is extremely talented in writing likable characters. Both Kai and Signy are filled with depth, understanding, and compassion. Kai always knew he would be laird and he never resented coming home to assume the role of laird (too often heroes are written as whiny privileged brats at the beginning of books). I truly appreciated how Kai and Signy didn’t immediately fall in love, but only did so after observing each other’s empathy concerning the plight of their community and its residents. They worked together in an attempt to find a solution to the deplorable condition of the estate's finances, and their bond and love for each other grew out of mutual respect and admiration for each other. I also appreciated the details provided of the location where this novel is set. For example, the prehistoric village of Skara Brae ("Finona Brae" in the book) was described perfectly! I visited the Orkney Islands in 2019 and was amazed by this stone-built Neolithic settlement, which was discovered in 1850 and is older than the Great Pyramids of Giza. Besides Skara Brae, Mary Jo blended her knowledge of the area into the story in a seamless fashion, including St. Manus Cathedral, the Standing Stones of Stenness, and the viking burial grounds. I listened to the audiobook version of Once a Laird narrated by the highly talented Beverley A. Crick, who was simply sublime. Her narration flows naturally at an even pace and she uses differing voices and accents for all characters. She also exhibits the right amount of urgency, disappointment, and yearning in all the right places. Simply put, I can't recommend this audiobook and the entire series enough. Brava!

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