Once a Laird by Mary Jo Putney

Brief summary: Recently retired spy Kai Ramsay is summoned home—after twelve years wandering the world and working on special projects for the British Embassy—by Signey, the younger sister of his late fiancée. Signey, whom he remembers as a knobby-kneed, pleasant child has turned into an independent, fiery goddess who knows far more than he about his remote island home of Thorsay and the struggles of the people who live there. Not sure he is the right person to take the place of his dying grandfather, who had been the island’s beloved and trusted laird for the past forty years, Kai entreats Signey to give him three months to help him forge this new path and at least begin to sort out the myriad of problems threatening to overwhelm him and destroy the Thorsay way of life before she leaves to find her own way as an artist. Unbeknownst to both Kai and Signey, fate has her own plans for them. 

With Once a Laird, the last of the Rogues Redeemed series, author Mary Jo Putney enchants with a delightful, fun, sweet romantic read. (No steamy love scenes here; more of the fade-out version.) Strong characters, a couple of irresistible animals—including a one-eyed cat called Odin—all have their own significant role and the well-structured plot has an ending that left me satisfied. Not to mention the captivating setting of the island, which made me want to travel to the islands off the northern coast of Scotland. Although there are recurring characters who appear in this tale, this book can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy historical romance set in Scotland, I highly recommend this book.