Ransom

by Julie Garwood

Paperback, 1999

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Publication

Pocket Books (2003), Paperback, 546 pages

Description

Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:Travel to medieval Scotland in #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood's beloved classic�??a "rip-roaring romp, full of humor, romance, sword fights, and crisp dialogue...so much fun, it begs to be read in one sitting" (The Cedar Rapids Gazette). In the dark days after the death of Richard the Lionheart, lives and lands fell into upheaval at the hands of the power-hungry King John and his violent minions. One victim was innocent Gillian, who was just a child when the cruel and ambitious Baron Alford, determined to recover for the despotic king a jeweled box that slipped through his fingers, slaughtered her father and tore her family apart. A decade later, Gillian once again crosses paths with the nefarious baron, but instead of losing everything like she had as a child, she finds the key to resolving her past in two handsome Scottish chieftains. With the cunning and courage of the daring Scotsmen and the friendship of a new ally named Bridgid KirkConnell, Gillian at last has she what needs to reclaim her home, her family, and her father's reputation. But in the presence of the mighty warriors, Gillian and Bridgid discover that desire can be a weapon of conquest, betrayal can slay trust in a heartbeat, and the greatest risk of all is to surrender to unexpected lo… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member avernon1

When writing a review, I usually have a method to my madness. I start with some kind of hook to get the reader interested. Then I move into a brief synopsis of the plot. I then move on to some personal anecdotes outlining why I loved the book. Finally, I wrap it all up with some sweet thought that

leaves the reader contemplating the values of humankind. Voila, my review! However, this time, I am doing things a little different. I'm just going to tell it like it is....I'm going to lay it on the line and just say WHY I liked this book. Somehow, I need to let you know what made me say, "Sorry, son, I can't make dinner right now. Mommy's reading. Go ask Daddy." or even "I can't help with your homework right now, can't you see I'm trying to finish this book? Go ask your dad." Wow....it's shameful, but it's the truth. Now why???

Reason 1: The setting. I've said this before and I'm sure I'll say it again, there is something about the Scottish Highlands that sweeps me away. I don't want to leave that magical, romantic place. Yes, it's cold and blustery, but it is also serene and epically beautiful with rolling mountains and heather-covered fields. Simply breath-taking.

Reason 2: The humour. I couldn't help but laugh out loud many times in this tale. The banter between the lovers had me giggling and I especially enjoyed the "talking to" that Brodick and Ramsey had to endure from dear old Uncle Morgan. Gillian's dear uncle was old and crotchety and very dear to Gillian. He had to endure the hysterics of both Gillian and Bridgid when the two women believed their men were not going to pledge their forever love. Uncle Morgan took his frustrations out on the two warriors, letting them know that they better be good to these women because he couldn't take their whining any more!

Reason 3: Hunky men. God....this book is filled with them! Iain Maitland is back. I fell in love with him in book 1 (The Secret). His dark, imposing figure sent me swooning then and now. And then there's the breathtakingly beautiful Ramsey Sinclair, described even by other men in the book as an "Adonis". Women flock to him in hordes, and I am sure that I would have been one of those fair maiden's chasing after this beautiful beast. And of course, our main hunk, Brodick Buchanan. His sheer size blocks out the sun and his long, flaxen hair and tanned skin take your breathe away. What more could a women want....beautiful, strong men and all of them wearing kilts, riding on horseback and carrying dirks!

Reason 4: Great female leads. I loved Gillian. She was a formidable woman, with a will to survive and a genuine love for others. She protected the young Alec Maitland from the evil Baron Alford with nothing other than courage and strength. She's my kind of gal....tough enough, yet gentle and knowing. The second strong female character that I enjoyed was Bridgid KirkConnell. She was a fiesty young beauty who was in love with Ramsey, but of course, kept her feelings a secret, until she befriended Gillian. I loved the way she would mutter how stubborn and arrogant Ramsey was one minute, and then suck in her breathe when she looked into his eyes. She sees his flaws, and still loves him. I know where she's coming from!

Reason 5: Action and mystery. This was a fast-paced book full of action and a bit of mystery that keeps the reader thinking. Who has that jeweled box and what is in it? I enjoyed the plot and the immediate adventure one takes from the very turn of the first page.

Reason 6: Love. Yes, I am a sucker for a good love story. Gillian finds herself unwittingly falling for a brute of a man, and even questions how she could fall so quickly. Love isn't supposed to happen so suddenly. Is it? The following quote is a question I have even asked myself. Can love grab you by the throat and leave you breathless.....or is it only a feeling that is nurtured with time? What do you believe?

"Love wasn't supposed to happen this suddenly. Gillian spent most of the ride to Ramsey's holding thinking about Brodick and wondering how in heaven's name he had managed to capture her heart so completely in so little time. The man had all but robbed her of her senses. She was well aware of his flaws, most of them anyway, but she still loved him all the same, and how was such a thing possible? Love was supposed to be nourished. It was a slow realization that occurred afer months and months of courting, and sometimes that awareness took years. Love certainly didn't strike like lightning."

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LibraryThing member cindyloumn

good book, good strong characters. Alittle bit of exaggeration on descriptions of the men.

6/30/98

LibraryThing member blingtastic

sequal to The Secret. A wonderful tail; she takes the reader yet again into the highlands with a bit of mystery, adventure, clan-loyalty, and romance. a definite re-read!

LibraryThing member ForeignCircus

I've been a fan of Garwood's work for years, and rate several of her novels as among the best ever written in the genre. I love The Secret and was eager to read this sequel and to learn more about Ramsey and Brodick's quest for true love. Unfortunately, for me at least, this book fell pretty flat.

The plot was needlessly complicated (I feel like a lot of explanatory details were left on the cutting room floor) and I think would have worked best as two separate stories. The entire Ramsey-Bridgid plot had a lot of potential, but to me was never satisfactorily fleshed out. A separate book would have allowed for some expanation of Gideon's motives, of Ramsey's rise to power, and of Bridgid's early life; I think they (and we) deserved that story.

Ransom deserves 3.5 stars (oh Amazon, give us half stars) and even a luke-warm Garwood is better than many of the other romance novels out there. Her trademark humor and steamy scenes make this novel well-worth the read, but I recommend following it up with some of her earlier, 5 star works (The Bride is my personal favorite).

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LibraryThing member Lola27

This is my favorite silly historical bodice ripper. Garwood's great sense of humour, strong (to a point) women and oafish, bumbling Liards are all in fine form. I often just open it up to a random page for a few minutes of sillines. As long as you can divorce yourself from realistic history, it is

well worth the read!

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LibraryThing member lexi1022

This is an amazingly well written book. Julie Garwood knows how to write historical romances that will suck you right in. The characters were ones that are still some of my favorites even several years and hundreds of books later. This is the second Romance noval I ever read. If mystery, intrigue,

and love is what you crave this book is for you!

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LibraryThing member bakersfieldbarbara

Julie Garwood is an author that I just discovered and each book is better than the last. In this book, the author kept me spell-bound until the ending, with romance, intrigue, wars between Scottish clans, Kings, and lairds. A child is kidnapped, but it is the wrong child and our heroine, Gillian

has misadventure after misadventure in helping the child be returned to his parents. At the beginning of the novel, Christian and Gillian are in trouble, as their dad is murdered; separated for years, the novel follows Gillian, and the ending puts Christian and Gillian back together. But with a twist on that ending, as only Ms. Garwood is able to do without insulting the reader. Again, another book that kept me up until 2AM. A wonderful way to lose sleep, and a book to be read with the intent to be fully entertained on every page.

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LibraryThing member theresahope

Favorite Garwood book and I love all her books. Strong lead characters. Enjoyed interactions between clans and friends as well. Humor in parts and a mystery to be solved. Great fun read.

LibraryThing member lara.elio

I've read this book at least ten times. I love the characters and the humor Garwood brings to this Medieval period mystery/romance. Ransom is my perfect comfort food book. This book = Chocolate.

LibraryThing member Darla

I read this while I was really, really sick, so my first complaint is that the book (I have the hardcover) was WAY too heavy. LOL But that does lead me to an actual complaint--it was a good story, but it dragged on too long, and got repetitious in spots. I loved the interaction between the h/h, but

they had the same argument with nothing resolved too many times--I accept that people do this in real life, but in a book, showing it to the readers once should do the trick. It was also two romances in one, and the two stories weren't well intertwined. Although we're told that the two heroes were friends, and we see the two heroines become friends, there's not much interaction between the pairs. My other complaint is that, oddly though it seems from my complaint that the book was too long, there was a lot left out. For example, we jump from the heroine's escape to someone informing the hero's men that his bride has arrived. It yanked me out of the story for a page or two while I surmised that that must have been the heroine's plan to enlist his aid, though why or how she came up with that plan is never explained, and since the rest of the story hinges on that, it's a real weak spot. That's not the only time I felt that way, either. It's obviously a sequel, because when several characters were introduced, I swear I could read "pause for applause" between the lines. Complaints out of the way, it was a good story. A little too complex to easily sum up here, but the main heroine is strong and brave and honorable and never once disguises herself as a boy, and the hero just makes me grin. Clueless, gruff, and--get this!--he falls in love with her because he's impressed with her, not because she's "the most beeeyouteeful woman he's ever seen." For that, I'll forgive a book a lot. Like her sister, who just disgusted me no end--I couldn't believe they shared genes. The secondary story was cute and predictable, and could have been developed better, IMO.

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LibraryThing member cranberrytarts

For me this book has to be broken into two parts. I adore the first part, but the second half annoys the crap out of me. The traits I love most in Gillian during the first half become way too much in the second. And Brodick's behavior goes from being sweet and funny in the beginning, it just pissed

me off in the second.

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LibraryThing member aznstarlette

Set in medieval Scotland, this captivating story about loyalty, revenge, and finding love is one of my all-time favorites. I first read 'Ransom' when I was in sixth grade, and I have cherished it since then, reading it time and time again. Feisty Lady Gillian is the perfect match for imposing but

noble Brodick, Laird Buchanan. Their adventure brings them from England to the Scottish Highlands with plenty of action, sensual scenes, and lighthearted moments.

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LibraryThing member MyaB

One of my favourite books - Brodick is great leading man. I have read this book many times and will read it again.

LibraryThing member MyaB

Ransom By Julie Garwood (Audiobook)
Narranted by: Susan Duerden

5 Stars! I love this book. It's such a good romance. If ever someone is asking me what book to read or if they are new to romance I always offer up this book.

Brodick is a great leading man, and presents many sigh worthy moments.

Gillian is a wonderful, strong woman who is a perfect match for Brodick. I even love the secondary characters Ramsey and Bridgid. They add to many of the laugh out loud moments.

The narrator Susan Duerden did a wonderful job. I enjoyed her voices and enthusiasm during the story. She gets right into the roles and makes it a very enjoyable experience.

This is a definite keeper and reread/relisten for me. It still stands as a book I measure others against.

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LibraryThing member Lauren2013

Ransom
4 Stars

The plot has the right mix of romance, mystery and suspense up until the climax and resolution. Unfortunately, it falls a little flat at this point and the ending is quite sudden and abrupt. Moreover, perhaps I'm too bloodthirsty, but the fighting/action scenes are not as exciting and

spectacular as they could have been.

While the dialogue and behavioral mores do not fit the medieval time period, the story and characters are engaging nonetheless. Gillian is a spirited and kick-ass heroine with an ingrained sense of honor and fair play. Brodick is a strong, sexy, barbaric highlander who falls fast and hard. He does have a tendency to keep secrets, which leads to one or two annoying and unnecessary misunderstandings, but the banter and chemistry between him and Gillian more than make up for this.

The secondary characters are also appealing. The updates in the lives of Iain and Judith from The Secret are a highlight, and the romance Ramsay and Bridgid is sweet albeit underdeveloped. The villains are suitably despicable although somewhat exaggerated and caricature-like.

In sum, a lovely read and the pages just fly by.

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LibraryThing member spinsterrevival

Loved this a ton. I’m glad it focused on one couple because the blurb made it sound like dual which seemed weird. Gillian is an amazing heroine, and I’m so glad that Brodick also got his HEA.

LibraryThing member Lost_Lenore

Julie Garwood creates an incredible lovely story that kept you enthralled until the very end.
In the second book of the trilogy we get to know Brodick and Ramsey a little better and, although the historical accuracy is not the important point, we can get an idea.
When Alec, the son of Ian Maitland

disappears, everyone is heartbroken and thought him dead but the boy was taken by a traitor among Ramsey's clan. Lady Gillian, a prisoner of the Baron, takes Alec under her wing and they manage to run and search for Brodick for help.
Everything goes well, everyone is happy for Alec's return and they even start to like the spirited and sassy English lady, everyone except Brodick...

I loved it. It's filled with humor and funny twists and some light steamy scenes. I definitely recommend it.

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LibraryThing member JorgeousJotts

This story skipped ahead a couple times over scenes I wouldn't expect to be skipped. To the point I checked the audiobook to make sure I hadn't actually skipped a section. The scenes weren't entirely necessary obviously, but it just wasn't as seamless as it could have been. I really liked that the

heroine was resilient. The hero made some sketchy choices without much regret and only the slimmest of apologies, which I wasn't crazy about. I'm glad I read it but I won't likely read it again.

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