
First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
- Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
- Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
- Finally… reveal the book!
First Lines:
Lucas Mandeville hesitated at the entrance to the ballroom and thought of cannonballs crushing masts and setting sails ablaze. Bellowing sailors and hand-to-hand combat with pistols and cutlasses. In his Royal Navy days, he’d fought his share of sea battles with the French, had almost died in one. And he’d rather be on a burning deck than in this ballroom.
Can you guess the book?

Hint: It’s an historical romance that due to release next week.

Still Unsure? Here’s Another Hint: It’s by bestselling author Mary Jo Putney.

The First Lines Friday Book Is:

Title: Once Dishonored
Author: Mary Jo Putney
Series: Rogues Redeemed (Book 5)
Page Length: 368
Publication Date: Sept. 29, 2020
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Synopsis: Bestselling author Mary Jo Putney’s romantic Regency-set series features soldiers, spies—and the special redemption only love can bring…
A man who has lost his honor has nothing…
London, 1816. As a Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has fought his share of battles on the high seas, followed by long years of imprisonment. But on this night, he’d rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, where it is just a matter of time before someone challenges him because of what happened on the Continent.
A woman who has lost her reputation is nothing…
When dark-haired beauty Kyla Douglas arrives, a whisper of scandal ripples through the ton. The disgraced divorcee’s entrance is an act of daring. Which is exactly why Lucas asks her to dance…
A couple who stands together has everything…
Unexpectedly, Lucas offers Kyla his aid in finding the evidence to regain her good name—and her beloved young son. Together they investigate the wicked conspiracy that destroyed her life, and in the midst of danger, find a deep love that will redeem them both—if only they can live long enough to build a future together.
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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This is such a great historical romance! Have you read it, or do you plan to? What do you think of the first lines? Comment below!
Well, no.
So far, I couldn’t exactly guess any of the books on this type of posts.
I’m definitely hoping to get my hands on this one! So glad that you enjoyed it!!
I hope you enjoy it too! 🙂
I like these first line posts 🙂 So far I haven’t guessed a single one correctly of the ones I’ve seen, but they’re fun. I need to try it!
I rarely guess them either, but it’s fun trying! lol I’ll keep an eye out in case you decide to post one! 🙂
The Rogues Redeemed series has been on my TBR for so long!
I love historical romance, and this series is great! Hope you get to read it soon. 🙂
I honestly haven’t read a lot of historical romance, so I can’t wait to read this… I still haven’t had the time with school :((
historical romance isn’t for me but I love the cover!