Ransomed Dreams by Sally John

Eliot Logan Montgomery III and his wife Sheridan are living their dream life. He is US Ambassador to Venezuela and she is involved in helping abused and battered women start a new life. It is opening day of their new Women's Shelter in Caracas. Eliot is getting ready to cut the red ribbon. Shots rang out. At exactly 12 minutes 35 seconds past 10 o'clock in the morning Venezuela time Sheridan's world ceased to exist. Her best friend is killed and Eliot is seriously wounded. She is lying face down on the sidewalk, injured but it's not life threatening, something heavy is on top of her. She can't breathe and someone is screaming. The screams are coming from her. Finally the weight lifts and she is being pulled to her feet in the shelter of two strong arms. He is getting her away from the pandemonium. Her rescuer is none other than Luke Traynor whom she believes to be a spy for the US government. Luke is constantly protecting her through her long days at the hospital during Eliot's slow healing. Sheridan dubs Luke "Angel Gabriel" (or Gabe) after the famous Archangel Gabriel in the Bible.

The couple retreat to a small quaint village in Topala, Mexico, to hide from the world - a place far off the beaten path - no phone service or other modern amenities. Eliot is barely surviving - he has good days and bad days. He is withdrawn, moody, afraid and sometimes spaced out - not hearing or seeing anything. One day, out of the blue, Sheridan's Angel Gabe (Luke Traynor) arrives on their door step. How in the world did he find them and what does he want? No one is suppose to know where they are.

This is where the novel becomes interesting. Sheridan's sister Calissa has hired Luke to locate Sheridan and bring her back to Chicago. Her estranged father, Representative Harrison Cole, has suffered a severe heart attack, a stoke and is dying. Sheridan is reluctant to go with Luke. She doesn't want to see her father and doesn't care if he lives or dies. She cannot forgive him for his treatment of her. She is afraid to leave Eliot and her safe world. After much debate and probably such to spite Eliot (who does want her to go) she leaves with Luke for Chicago.

Ms. John is an excellent writer of general fiction. She puts the reader right in the midst of Elliot and Sheridan's world - you feel their pain, fear and their lost dreams. I found the book refreshing, intriguing, sometimes sad, sometimes uplifting. It is one you will stay up late reading so as not miss one minute in the daily lives of Eliot and Sheridan.

Highly recommended.

This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.