Ransomed Dreams

( 51 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Paperback
$11.20
BN.com price
$13.99 List Price (Save 20%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$1.99
$13.99 List Price (Save 86%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (26)  
Used (11)  
New (15)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 26 (3 pages)
$1.99
(Save 86%)
AtlantaBookCompany
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(8060)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Good
Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the ... Atlanta Book Company. Our mailers are 100% recyclable. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Atlanta, GA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 86%)
Yankee Clipper Books
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(3923)

Condition: Good
Book shows a small amount of wear to cover and binding. Some pages show signs of use. Sail the Seas of Value

Ships from: Windsor, CT

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$1.99
(Save 86%)
thriftbooks-com
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(5902)

Condition: Good
Purchasing this item supports the North Central Regional Library of Wenatchee, WA. Thriftbooks and NCRL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. ... Ex-Library book - will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Auburn, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.19
(Save 70%)
Extremely_Reliable
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(3184)

Condition: Good
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$4.35
(Save 69%)
Bookbyte-OR
Seller since 2002

Feedback rating:

(10216)

Condition: Very Good
Has minor wear and/or markings. SKU:9781414327853-3-0

Ships from: Salem, OR

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$4.78
(Save 66%)
Enjoy It Again
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(123)

Condition: Good
2010-06-21 Paperback Good Clean pages/first few pages have light damp wrinkle that does not interfere with text/not stained, no spine or page creases, no writing, minor ... shelf-wear to cover, front cover is creased, ships with Delivery Confirmation Number! Read more Show Less

Ships from: Holt, MI

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$6.65
(Save 52%)
u-pick
Seller since 2011

Feedback rating:

(240)

Condition: New
2010 Paperback New

Ships from: san francisco, CA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$7.97
(Save 43%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4793)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$7.97
(Save 43%)
ExpeditedBooksUS
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(887)

Condition: New
Shipped from US. Express shipping in 3 to 6 business days. Standard shipping in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$7.98
(Save 43%)
kbooks
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(132)

Condition: Very Good
2010 Paperback Very good Shows some edge rubbing and some handling. () Sheridan Montgomery leads a charmed life as the wife of Eliot, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. But an ... attack on their lives cripples Eliot, and they retreat to a remote Mexican village. As Sheridan quietly cares for her husband, she sees her dreams slipping away. Luke Traynor shatters their reverie when he arrives to tell Sheridan of her father's heart attack and the evidence implicating him in a conspiracy. Sheridan returns to Chicago to untangle the. Read more Show Less

Ships from: Niagara Falls, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 3
Showing 1 – 10 of 26 (3 pages)
Close
Sort by

Overview

Sheridan Montgomery leads a charmed life as the wife of Eliot, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. But an attack on their lives cripples Eliot, and they retreat to a remote Mexican village. As Sheridan quietly cares for her husband, she sees her dreams slipping away. Luke Traynor shatters their reverie when he arrives to tell Sheridan of her father’s heart attack and the evidence implicating him in a conspiracy. Sheridan returns to Chicago to untangle the web of her father’s past and is forced to confront her feelings for Luke, a trail of deceit, and the truth about her marriage.
... See more details below

More About This Book

Overview

Sheridan Montgomery leads a charmed life as the wife of Eliot, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. But an attack on their lives cripples Eliot, and they retreat to a remote Mexican village. As Sheridan quietly cares for her husband, she sees her dreams slipping away. Luke Traynor shatters their reverie when he arrives to tell Sheridan of her father’s heart attack and the evidence implicating him in a conspiracy. Sheridan returns to Chicago to untangle the web of her father’s past and is forced to confront her feelings for Luke, a trail of deceit, and the truth about her marriage.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
John (Safe Harbor series) sets her new novel in the world of diplomacy. Sheridan Montgomery is the wife of Eliot Montgomery, ambassador to Venezuela. When an assassin’s bullets cripple Eliot and wound his wife, the traumatized couple retreats from the world to an off-the-map hamlet in Mexico. Sheridan is called from there when her father, a U.S. congressman from whom she is estranged, is dying. She returns to her family home in suburban Chicago to confront her past and make some decisions about her present, which includes her atrophied marriage to an invalid. The tangled relationships are engrossing and evolving, especially between Sheridan and her sister, Calissa, and between Sheridan and Luke Traynor, the government man who saved her life in Venezuela and returns to complicate her life. The criminal elements in the plot are less compelling than the human elements. The religion element required in Christian fiction is unobtrusive and natural to a story about healing. A thoughtful and engaging novel. (July)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781414327853
  • Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
  • Publication date: 6/21/2010
  • Pages: 416
  • Sales rank: 541,953
  • Series: Side Roads Series , #1
  • Product dimensions: 8.26 (w) x 5.66 (h) x 0.99 (d)

Read an Excerpt

RANSOMED dreams

By SALLY JOHN

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 Sally John
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2785-3

Chapter One

TOPALA, MEXICO EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

Like everything about the small village tucked into the foothills of the Sierra Madres in central Mexico, sunrise was a leisurely event.

Sheridan waited for it, tea mug in hand, shawl over her cotton nightgown, bare feet chilled against the tile floor of the second-story balcony. Alone, she listened in the dark to the squawk of roosters and clung to their promise that the world would once again know light.

"Oh, good grief," she murmured to herself with a groan. "That is so maudlin. Truly and hopelessly maudlin. You might try something more chipper. Something like ... Something like ..." Her foggy brain offered nothing.

She scrunched her nose in defeat. The morning had shuffled in on the heels of a sleepless night. Chipper was not going to happen, no matter how hard she tried to talk herself into it.

If she could turn the calendar back eighteen months, she would not be talking to herself. No. Eliot would be right next to her, responding, most likely pointing out a dozen chipper thoughts in that funny way of his.

Nostalgia and regret hit her, a powerful one-two punch that still took her breath away. She clenched her teeth, waiting for it to pass, mentally spewing forth a verbal attack at the counselor who had promised her that time healed all wounds, that month by month they would see improvement.

What drivel that was! Eighteen months-or to be more precise, seven teen months, three weeks, and two days; but who was counting? All that time had passed and only one thing was healed: Eliot's gunshot wound. His other wounds, the invisible ones, still oozed like toxins from a waste dump site. He was not the same man she had married.

Sheridan took a deep breath and let the bitter argument go. Nostalgia and regret settled back down into whatever corner of her heart they'd found to hide out in. Their impact, though, lingered.

Would time ever erase her longing for the Eliot she had married? The animated one, the one others adored, the one who was engaged in every detail of life, whether simple or complex, with every person who crossed his path. The one from B.C.E., Before the Caracas Episode. Now, in their A.C.E. days, he might as well be a deaf-mute for all the interest he showed in the world around him.

Sleep deprived, she totally blamed him. She didn't mean to. It wasn't like he had much of a choice. The bullet that shattered his nerves shattered their life. Everything about it was over. Health, career, home, friends. All gone. Kaput. Some days she barely recognized herself and Eliot. Where were the Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery she once knew? These routines, hometown, health, acquaintances, and even personalities seemed lifted from the pages of some stranger's biography.

"Oh, honestly. Get over it already, Sher." She forced a swallow of tea and focused on the scene before her.

A lone sunbeam pierced between two mountain peaks and sliced into the distant mists. Another followed. And another and another until finally pure light broke free. Valleys and canyons burst into sight. Loud birdsong erupted. Then, as if God had uncurled His fist, long fingers of sunlight shot forth and touched the wrought-iron railing where she stood.

It was achingly gorgeous.

Sheridan flicked at a tear seeping from the corner of her eye. "You should have stayed in bed, you foolish, stubborn woman."

Sunrises were the worst because they represented the best of what had been.

Most days she could ignore that thought. Evidently not today. She and Eliot were morning people. Had been morning people. Their daily ritual of tea and conversation at an east-facing view, awaiting dawn, was seldom missed. With crazy-full schedules, they needed such a time to relate on the deepest levels. Some days their hearts positively danced and sang in union. Naturally, through the years the tune changed now and then, the tempo sped up and slowed down, but the music never stopped. It never stopped. They always talked. They always connected.

Until that day in Caracas.

Now she watched sunrises by herself.

"You really should've stayed in bed."

But it was so beautiful. And it went on and on like a slow waltz. At the bottom of her street now, purple haze still shrouded the town square. The sky brightened in slow motion above it, the fiery ball itself still hiding behind a peak.

Something moved in the semidarkness below. A person. Early risers were not uncommon, but she was startled. Something felt off about this one.

Or was that just her hypervigilance? Compliments of the incident in Caracas, it kicked into gear at times without warning, filling her with anxiety and suspicion.

Now she could see that it was a man. He passed the bandstand, his strides too deliberate for a villager, too American. He headed straight for the steep incline that led up to her house. In city terms, the distance was perhaps a block. In Topala terms, it was simply up beyond the sculptor's shop.

The sun overtook the peaks and the man came into view.

"No way." Her heartbeat slowed, but not quite to normal.

Even with his face concealed by a ball cap, his body clothed in a generic khaki jacket and blue jeans, a city block separating them, she recognized him. She recognized him simply because the air vibrated with him.

Luke Traynor owned whatever space he occupied.

Sheridan set the mug on the table beside her, tightened the shawl around her shoulders, and massaged her left arm. She felt no surprise at his unannounced arrival nor at the early hour. It was as if she had always expected him to show up sooner or later.

But as he climbed the narrow street, an uneasiness rose within her. Her muscles tensed. Why was he here? He had promised not to come. Sixteen months ago he promised. Not that she was keeping track....

The sound of a soft whistle drew her attention back toward the square. Javier, the young sculptor, stood on the porch steps outside his shop. Behind him, the handicraft shop owner emerged from his door.

Javier raised his chin in question.

Sheridan gave a half nod. They needn't be concerned. The stranger was, so to speak, a known quantity. Not that she felt the least bit glad to see Luke. Eliot would most likely be severely distressed at his arrival.

Wishing Luke were an apparition did not make it so. He continued his steady pace, arms swinging gently, head down as if he studied the cobblestones, making his way to her house.

Since that day in Caracas-the day her husband died in every sense except physically, the day this man saved her life-Sheridan had understood intuitively that Luke would always be a part of her life. And there he was, out of the blue, ascending her street in the middle of nowhere on a spring day as if he visited all the time.

She suddenly remembered the date. "Good grief."

It was Annunciation Day, a day of remembrance, of celebration for when the angel Gabriel visited Mary and announced her future. How apropos. Luke appeared without warning. He would not have come unless he had something to tell her, some message that would irreversibly change her future.

Was this his joke or God's?

Luke neared and looked up, straight at her.

She saw not the man whose presence had always triggered apprehension in her, but rather the guardian angel who had saved her life.

Sheridan turned and made her way inside, down the stairs, and through the house.

* * *

Sheridan opened the front door and stopped.

Luke Traynor stood less than six feet away, at the low gate in the stone wall where her front terrace met the steep hill.

She returned his steady gaze, knowing full well her own expression did not mirror the one before her. While dread, relief, and excessive gratitude rearranged every muscle on her face, his remained perfectly composed. The sharp nose, thin lips, and deep-set eyes could have been made of the same cobblestone he stood on.

He flashed a rakish grin. "I was in the neighborhood."

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

He cocked his head, somber again. Always the gentleman, he waited for her to make the first move.

Sheridan clutched her shawl more closely and resigned herself to riding out the emotional disarray rumbling through her. She both loathed and loved this man. Of course he knew that, so it didn't matter how she reacted to him except that she'd like herself better if she were polite.

With a quiet sigh, she walked to him, planted a kiss on his scruffy, unshaven cheek, and eased into his embrace. Nestled against the rough collar of his jacket, she smelled the familiar scent of him, an indescribable mix of earth, sun-drenched air, and confidence that bordered on lunacy. She felt the hardness of his body, always unexpected given his average height and build.

"Sheridan. How are you?"

"Fine." She backed away, crossing her arms.

"And Eliot?" he said. "How is he?"

"Fine."

Luke blinked, a slow movement of lids indicating he could take the truth.

She wanted to shriek obscenities at him. The disconcerting thing about angels, though, was that it was impossible to keep up any sort of pretense. Like an angel, Luke had stayed close beside her for long weeks after the shooting. He had gone with her to the edge of hell, holding on to her until she came back. He knew her better than she knew herself. Glossing over answers was a waste of time with him.

She tried another phrase. "We're doing about as well as could be expected."

He nodded.

"Eliot is still asleep."

"It's early. Perhaps I can greet him later."

The resistance drained from her. Yes, Gabriel had come to deliver a message, and he would not leave until he'd done so.

She had no inkling how to shield Eliot and herself from this unexpected source of distress but gave a lame attempt. "I don't suppose you're passing through town and simply must be on your way right now, this very minute?"

"Sorry."

She inhaled, her shoulders lifting with the effort, and blew the breath out with force. "Coffee?"

"Love some."

(Continues...)


Excerpted from RANSOMED dreams by SALLY JOHN Copyright © 2010 by Sally John. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 51 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(23)

4 Star

(17)

3 Star

(5)

2 Star

(4)

1 Star

(2)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 51 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 22, 2011

    The Ultimate Story of True Love.

    I'm far from being into politics and religion but this story was completely moving. I would recommend this book to absolutely ANYONE; especially if you are:

    1. Looking to forgive someone
    2. Interested in reading about true love

    There is so many emotions that are in this book that it is just incredible.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 24, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Roller Coaster

    These days, couples face problems and pull apart. I enjoyed this novel with the theme of a long-term marriage and forgiveness. As a wife of fifty-two years(!), I know that marriage is like a roller coaster: it goes up and it goes down. I believe that one of the secrets to longevity is to hang on until it levels out.

    Sally John, a best-selling author, took this premise, mixed in some cloak and dagger intrigue with a smidgen of temptation to illustrate how believable characters might react to some down-turns on their married roller coaster ride. The characters were carefully scripted, and the plot kept me curious. I must say that I had no idea where the story would lead or what decisions would be made.

    Thank you to Vicky Lynch at Tyndale House Publishers for my copy of this Contemporary Fiction. This is a good one. I recommend it!

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2011

    Recommend higly

    Had a hard time putting this one down. Another good read with great characters. Good illustration of how faith enables one to handle life changes, shattered dreams, and hope for new ones. Look forward to reading more by this author.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 7, 2011

    Real life...

    The story is very interesting involving several characters with different problems, tragedies, betrayal. Sally tells the story of Calissa, Sheridan, Eliot, and Luke, their stories grabbed my heart. I felt like these were my real friends. Sheridan's life will make you thankful and may bring a few tears. Real life troubles. Trying to heal the hurts.
    There's tension and intrigue. Everything to make a great book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted March 11, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Strong writing

    I didn't know this was considered Christian Lit before I read it. The characters are interesting but often times their actions are a bit too sedentary for my taste so it slowed the pace of the book. Chapters are often very short and there is no sexual explicitness in this book. Anyone who has been married for awhile and having gone through a life-changing event can appreciate the premise of this novel.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 8, 2012

    JOIN DRAGONCLAN!

    Join us! More info at erin hunter result 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 3, 2012

    Everpaw

    Hi

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 2, 2012

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 1, 2012

    Deathwish

    "Okay. Thank you." He doesn't bother to ask why Lanistar's name ends with star if she's leader. In the Gray World the leader's name ended with moon (unfortunate for the leader of BlackClan, Sunmoon); he figured that Color World leaders' names ended with star.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2012

    Pie to lanistar

    Hi. Missed me? I was kicked from immirtal

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2012

    Mistypaw

    Hola.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2012

    Kolyei to mystery

    Answer at boremeer result two. Do u have access to a puter full time?

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 28, 2011

    Slow beginning-good read

    It took awhile to get into this book. In the beginning, we seem to be part of a past it's difficult to get a handle on but as the book goes on, it gets more suspenseful and interesting. I would purchase another book by this author. This is Christian fiction so expect to hear about God and people's relationships with Him. The main character has a lot to work through and it turned out to be a book I didn't want to put down.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 25, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Enjoyed story

    Great read

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 12, 2011

    Very Good

    Enjoyed this book.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 3, 2011

    Good read.

    Interesting, and a good, clean read :)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 21, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Recipe For Ransom, Grace, Forgiveness and Love

    Sally John in her new book, "Ransomed Dreams" Book One in the Side Roads series published by Tyndale brings us to the world of politics and the people who live in that world.

    Sheridan Montgomery is the wife of Eliot Montgomery, U.S. Ambassador to Caracas, Venezuela. An assassination attempt leaves Eliot crippled and Sheridan traumatized. The two abandon everything and escape to Topalaa small out-of-touch city in Mexico; no phone service, no paved roads, no Internet. Sheridan feels her life and marriage are over and she is only going through the motions as a companion/nursemaid to her husband who is in chronic pain and cannot bear to be touched.

    Luke Traynor shows up with a message from her sister that their dying father would like to see her. Now she has to travel to Chicago and deal with seeing her estranged father, her domineering sister, her emotions for Luke and all sorts of information about her family that are just coming to light.

    The dictionary defines ransom as "a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity". Sheridan Montgomery has dreams that are taken in captivity and it takes God's grace, forgiveness and love to ransom those dreams back. Ms. John weaves a captivating story with wonderful characters that breathe. I was glad to spend the time with these characters and look forward to more from Ms. John in this exciting series.

    If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

    To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station Kingdom Airwaves

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 5, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Mediocre

    Sheridan Montgomery lived a picture perfect life. As the wife of the United States ambassador to Venezuela, she was able to live out her heart's passion of reaching out to underprivileged women. In love with her husband and satisfied with her work, her world was a beautiful place.

    In a moment, that world was violently ripped apart. When Ambassador Montgomery was shot, the couple could only do what seemed natural to them: they went into hiding, running from the world into the safety of a quiet Mexican village. Sheridan's life consisted of caring for her now crippled husband, a man she hardly knew anymore.

    When a visitor from the States arrives with news of the impending death of Sheridan's father, she is forced to leave her cocoon of safety and face the chaos of family secrets. Along the way she discovers how deep deception runs and begins to question her own marriage. With her reality crumbling, Sheridan must confront hard truths about herself, her husband, her father, and her faith.

    --

    Ransomed Dreams is Christian fiction targeting women older than I, women in their late thirties and forties. Throughout the story, Sheridan struggles with her feelings for another man. Though this is a part of life, even for Christian women, I was a bit uncomfortable with the way it was handled. Neither party seemed to have much remorse over their relationship bordering on darkness. The story is fast-paced at times, but seems to drag along in other places. The characters are a bit too exaggerated to be believable and were, in fact, often whiney to the point of annoyance.

    I did enjoy the culmination of the story, but I cared little for most of the book. Perhaps it is because I am growing weary of repetitive Christian fiction, for Sally John is a revered author in Christian circles, but I would not recommend this book as a great read.

    I was provided a free copy of Ransomed Dreams by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted July 24, 2010

    First in Side Roads series is compelling and thought-provoking

    Ransomed Dreams by Sally John is the first book in the Side Roads series. Sheridan Montgomery's life was shattered by an assassin's bullet that nearly killed her ambassador husband, Eliot, on their assignment in Caracas, Venezuela. Now they live in a remote village in Mexico trying to put back together the pieces of their lives. Eliot, who was a suave and eloquent gentleman is almost mute in his struggle with constant pain and the loss of independence. Sheridan gave up her charity work in fear that another bullet could come from any quarter. A year after the shooting, Luke Traynor arrives at their home to announce that Sheridan has been summoned home to Chicago by her sister Calissa because their father is dying. Luke cared for Sheridan in the days and weeks after the attack until she came to depend on him too much and asked him to never come back. John has rendered a world in which a life can be completely changed in a single moment and forces the reader to consider how their own life would survive. Sheridan, Eliot, and Calissa also seem to live with sunburned emotions; even the slightest touch causes flinching and pain. There's also a story of terrible family secrets, the lies we tell to conceal them, and how we move forward from our parents' history. Ultimately it's a story of hope and learning to thrive where God puts you. John's writing is multi-layered with fully fleshed characters and well worth the read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 30, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    A Great Read!

    Ransomed Dreams is a novel written by Sally John, best-selling author of more than fifteen novels. It is a true love story, life at its messiest. For those of you who can't stand mushy unrealistic romance, this book carries a little more depth and reality.

    The story paints a picture of Sheridan and her husband Eliot Montgomery, the perfect couple. They were deeply in love, he a U.S. Ambassador, she an altruistic "amby" wife. Until a horrific assassination attempt threw everything sideways. In a desperate attempt to maintain their sanity, Sheridan and Eliot hide out in a small Mexican town, Topala, giving no one their true address or contact information. This is where the story begins. Eliot, recovering from a terrible gunshot wound, is in constant pain and emotionally completely turned off to Sheridan. The loss of her friend, love, conversationalist, and companion puts a heavy toll on Sheridan and when her sister sends for her to come home for their dying father, Sheridan goes.

    The primary conflict in the story is whether or not Sheridan will stay with Eliot after the year and a half of not being there for her. She misses her old life, she misses the city, another man cares for her deeply, and her loyalties are tried and tested. A story about faith in the midst of incredible trials, raw betrayal, forgiveness and perseverance, Ransomed Dreams will hold you captive.

    **I received a free copy of this book through tyndale house publishers

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 51 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit