Ransom

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Summary: Ransom
Review: Loved the book!!! It is Julie Garwood at her best. Eveything you look for in her books, love, romance,and intrigue it is all there!! Can't wait until the next book. I'll have to read all her books over again until the new one comes out!!Keep up the great work Julie!!!!

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Summary: The best book I've read in a long time.
Review: This book has it all--characters you really care about, a plot that compels you to keep reading, enough twists and turns to intrigue you, and loads of smiles (and even a few out-loud laughs)for fun. All of Garwood's books are great, but RANSOM is now my favorite.

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Summary: Julie Garwood Does It Again!
Review: I have read all of Garwoods's books and I am estatic at her lastest book: RANSOM. It has all the characteristics of a great Garwood book. The writting is witty not to mention funny. Readers will surely be enthralled by Brodick's and Gillian's story.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the relationship between Ramsey and Bridgid is not as developed as I would like. Ramsey is such a great character that he should have his own book. But, having loved Ransom, I cannot complain. This book is a great buy. I recomend this book strongly.

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Summary: An exciting, humorous, sweet romance full of fun!!!
Review: All I have to say is if you are a true Julie Garwood fan you will go and get this book. I love and own all her books and this one did not disappoint. Reading it was like visiting old friends, happy to be there again laughing and crying, yet sad for the good time coming to an end. This book was so much fun to read. You should read "The Secret" first, and then read Ransom it will make the story that much more complete. My only regret is that I finished reading it so fast, but that's ok because now I can read it over again, this time slowly.

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Summary: It does not disappoint!
Review: I loved this story!!! If you are like me and you reread all her stories this will be added. It did not lack or miss anything. I came away from this book with a smile on my face. "Come the Spring" and "The Wedding" just seemed to lack the depth that I've come to expect from Julie Garwood and I was hoping and praying to see the old Julie back in evidence. It was wonderful. Now I would like to read all about Nicholas and Clare's story from "Saving Grace".

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Summary: Fantastic character development.
Review: This is the best Ms. Garwood has produced so far! The characters are great, the suspense lasts to the end and there are surprise throughout the novel. Once again Ms. Garwood has convinced me she is the absolute best!

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Summary: Julie Garwood's books are all keepers
Review: I have this book on order. Of course I haven't read it yet but I have all of her books. I read them at least 2or 3 times a month. Keep up the excellent work. Thank you for the stories that women can daydream to.

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Summary: No Secret about this sequel - supurb Medieval romance
Review: Anyone who has had the pleasure of reading Julie Garwood's classic tale, THE SECRET, will remember the two lovable rogues, Brodrick Buchanon and Ramsey Campbell. Now they star in their own story. They are matched with obstinate women who are their destinies. Adding to the overall fun is the appearances of Ian Maitland and his spouse (no SECRET as to the title of the book where they are the stars). The duo plays pivotal roles in propelling this story line forward. The plot is crisp, entertaining, and makes Medieval England seem real. Ms. Garwood's sequel is clearly a keeper.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!!
Review: Ransom by Julie Garwood is only my second book by this author (the first being Heartbreaker which is more contemporary but nonetheless very good). Overall this book is simply wonderful, heartwarming, romantic, exciting... I could go on forever. I would recommend this book to any mystery, romance, historical fiction lovers out there. Judging from my first two Julie Garwood novels, she is a very talented author and I look forward to enjoying much more of her work. I have already placed three of her novels on order at my local library.

Ransom is the story of Lady Gillian, whose father is killed and family destroyed when she is only five and Baron Alford invades her home. She is separated from her sister Christen, who flees into Scotland for protection. Gillian remains in England with her Uncle Morgan. When she grows up, her uncle is held for ransom until Gillian can find Arriana's box, King John's missing treasure that holds the clue to who killed his one true love. Gillian has reason to believe that her sister has the box, so she escapes the baron with a kidnapped Scottish boy, Alec. They head to Scotland to find Christen, and fall together with the laird and a few soldiers of the Buchanan clan. Gillian falls in love with the laird, Brodick.

Also included included in the storyline is the romance of Ramsey Sinclair and Bridgid, although it plays a disappointingly secondary role to the main romance between Brodick and Gillian. Between searching for her sister, finding a traitor in the midst of the Sinclair clan whom only Gillian can recognize, and falling in love, the plot is amazing in its complexity. The setting feels utterly real and the dialogue is witty and entertaining. (I especially love the conversations between Alec and Gillian because it makes Alec innocently lovable while being realistic - hey, all five year olds talk practically nonstop about the most mundane things and then say all the things they shouldn't!

After all my praise, I must add one tiny complaint. The first few chapters are very hard to get through. I was completely confused as to what was going on with Gillian and Alec (why was he hanging off a cliff, why was Gillian chasing him, how did Gillian come to know about Alec being held prisoner, etc.). Maybe I missed a few hidden clues about what was happening, but it took me a few chapters for everything to make sense and at the time I was getting very frustrated. Perhaps Julie Garwood was attempting to try something different by plunging right into the action, but I feel she could have started at the beginning and the effect could have been the same if not better. This might also have prevented a few readers from giving up in the beginning. However, once everything clicks into place, this book is awesome. I loved it and stayed up till 2 in the morning reading.

*****Also, I shall be going back to read The Secret, which I have discovered is the prequel to this, centering on Iann and Judith, who are the parents of Alec and minor characters in Ransom. I look forward to it!

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Summary: Love this book!
Review: This book is one of my all time favorite Garwood novels because it features one of my all time favorite characters - Brodich Buchanan. Brodich is most definitely an alpha male with a wry sense of humor. The supporting characters add to the fun. The only downside to the book was the rushed treatment that Ramsey received. The secondary romance was a bit weak for my taste. Even so, I gave the review 5 stars because Brodich is that good.