What do you think?
Rate this book
Girls Wearing Black #3
The Rose Ransom
Relieved that the Date Auction was a success for Nicky, Jill Wentworth already has a plan for the next event in the Coronation contest: The Rose Ransom.
A strange ritual with a sordid history, The Rose Ransom sends the entire class on a hunt for a girl who has been kidnapped. Jill is certain she knows which girl will be taken and how she can locate her once she’s gone.
But minutes after she sets her plan in motion, Jill gets an alert that something strange has happened at the Bloom mansion. Hacking into the mansion’s security cameras, she finds a horrible scene of carnage. Three agents and one vampire were murdered during the Date Auction.
With Nicky on the other side of the world and the entire mission in jeopardy, Jill uncovers a conspiracy that could tear the Samarin clan apart, and learns that for this year’s class, The Rose Ransom is much more than a game.
A strange ritual with a sordid history, The Rose Ransom sends the entire class on a hunt for a girl who has been kidnapped. Jill is certain she knows which girl will be taken and how she can locate her once she’s gone.
But minutes after she sets her plan in motion, Jill gets an alert that something strange has happened at the Bloom mansion. Hacking into the mansion’s security cameras, she finds a horrible scene of carnage. Three agents and one vampire were murdered during the Date Auction.
With Nicky on the other side of the world and the entire mission in jeopardy, Jill uncovers a conspiracy that could tear the Samarin clan apart, and learns that for this year’s class, The Rose Ransom is much more than a game.
421 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
18 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 30, 2016
After picking up The Homecoming Masquerade for free, I just had to get Festival of the Moon and The Rose Ransom. The Rose Ransom was amazing! I couldn't put it down! The Rose Ransom picks up after the events of the date auction, with Nicky and Ryan on a plane going to the other side of the world, leaving Jill to deal with the aftermath alone. It's at this point that their plans begin to fall apart, leaving both, as well as everyone around them, in grave danger! I genuinely didn't see the ending coming, and loved every second of this book! Spencer Baum has created a world filled with characters that you can't help but to feel caught up in their world. I highly recommend this book, and the entire series, to anyone who enjoys a good spy thriller/vampire novel!
July 26, 2013
Hold onto your Kindle because you're in for a thrilling tale from the author of the Girls in Black series. Plenty of twists, clues, puzzles, encryptions, and intrigue in this latest in the series. I did nothing but read the story from beginning to end in two days and am now waiting impatiently for the next story in this YA series which features an underground group of humans trying to outwit and repel the immortals (vampires) who have overtaken the world. Kudos Spencer Baum! Keep on writing!
May 24, 2014
I give this book 3.5 stars, but since most sites only allow whole numbers I'm stuck at a 3 star rating for those sites.
The plot thickens as the Network and it's agents race against the clock and various Immortals in an effort to obtain their ultimate goal - have Nicky Bloom win the Girl Wearing Black contest so that she can get close enough to über-reclusive Immortal, Sergio Alonzo. But it appears that the plan is unraveling faster than Jill and the other operatives can knit it back together.
With Nicky and Ryan headed off on their week-long date, it's now up to Jill to handle all of the work. And she's added something to her agenda; Jill is determined to find some way to have her mother deprogrammed. Carolyn is a computer genius, which is where Jill inherited her phenomenal skills as a hacker. But Jill just wants a mother.
While a Jill is juggling things to ensure that the Network knows who will be selected as the Rose Princess, she also needs to continue to manage Annika Fleming, and keep gathering data for the Network. On top of that she's recently begun dating a guy she really likes. No pressure for a girl who, until recently, was a social loner unless she was hacking. Especially now that Renata is onto their plans, or at least part of them.
It seems that Renata has discovered Melissa's plan to take the reigns of the Samarin clan since it seemed painfully obvious that Daciana wasn't coming back. So Renata is bust taking care of Melissa and her companions, getting the sabotaged Farm running smoothly again, planning for the Rose Ransom, and trying to finish the work she and another Immortal are doing that, once completed, will allow them to rule the entire world. Since she's also learned all about Nicky's plan, she turned the tables and now Nicky and Ryan are being held captive.
The students have until Christmas break to decipher the three consecutive clues and rescue the kidnapped Princess, with the student that finds her first getting to determine which of the Girls Wearing Black will get the ransom money added to their account. But Renata doesn't want anyone to find the Princess this year, she wants to kill the un-rescued Princess and use the money to fund her secret project.
Jill and her father were grilled by one of the Immortals, so she had very wisely hit the emergency broadcast to let everyone in the Network know she was in danger and listen in to the cross examination. Miraculously she is able to keep from spilling all her secrets, yet no one in the Network has responded to a single message she's sent out since then. But then she's heard nothing from anyone ever since she sent the Code Orange to let everyone know they'd all been compromised and had the disappear. Her frantic messages to Nicky went unanswered, but there was nothing she could do about it at the time. Since the Network's plan to determine who was selected as the Rose Princess failed its absolutely crucial that she solve the riddles. For she must win so that she can back Nicky with the ransom money.
Suddenly Jill is approached by an agent that has infiltrated Renata's mansion as a Slave. She's so relieved to not be on her own again, to have another Network agent to rely upon for assistance. Though Tarin is odd he has a good new project for Jill, which is to hack into Renata's phone so they can find out exactly what she's up to. While doing that Tarin also helps Jill by solving the first two clues. But Tarin disappears for a good while and Jill panics over solving the final clue.
These are just a few of the things going on in this densely packed story. The action is nonstop, the energy is high, and you can almost taste the suspense. Throughout both Jill and Annika do some growing up. Jill grows much more than Annika, but Annika remains true in the face of almost certain disaster and death, surviving thanks to Jill. And in turn Jill survives thanks to a surprise player that no one saw coming.
Will Jill be able to solve the final clue to save the Rose Princess and be able to designate the ransom to Nicky? Will Nicky be rescued in time for the conclusion of the Rose Ransom and be at the party to discover who won? What is Renata's ultimate plan for Nicky? Much will be revealed in this book, along with new questions and answers in book four. Who knows, maybe everything will come full circle in book four, making it the final book in the series. Only Mr. Baum knows for sure, and he may not even know, yet. . .
Relieved that the Date Auction was a success for Nicky, Jill Wentworth already has a plan for the next event in the Coronation contest: The Rose Ransom.
A strange ritual with a sordid history, The Rose Ransom sends the entire class on a hunt for a girl who has been kidnapped. Jill is certain she knows which girl will be taken and how she can locate her once she’s gone.
But minutes after she sets her plan in motion, Jill gets an alert that something strange has happened at the Bloom mansion. Hacking into the mansion’s security cameras, she finds a horrible scene of carnage. Three agents and one vampire were murdered during the Date Auction.
With Nicky on the other side of the world and the entire mission in jeopardy, Jill uncovers a conspiracy that could tear the Samarin clan apart, and learns that for this year’s class, The Rose Ransom is much more than a game.
The plot thickens as the Network and it's agents race against the clock and various Immortals in an effort to obtain their ultimate goal - have Nicky Bloom win the Girl Wearing Black contest so that she can get close enough to über-reclusive Immortal, Sergio Alonzo. But it appears that the plan is unraveling faster than Jill and the other operatives can knit it back together.
With Nicky and Ryan headed off on their week-long date, it's now up to Jill to handle all of the work. And she's added something to her agenda; Jill is determined to find some way to have her mother deprogrammed. Carolyn is a computer genius, which is where Jill inherited her phenomenal skills as a hacker. But Jill just wants a mother.
While a Jill is juggling things to ensure that the Network knows who will be selected as the Rose Princess, she also needs to continue to manage Annika Fleming, and keep gathering data for the Network. On top of that she's recently begun dating a guy she really likes. No pressure for a girl who, until recently, was a social loner unless she was hacking. Especially now that Renata is onto their plans, or at least part of them.
It seems that Renata has discovered Melissa's plan to take the reigns of the Samarin clan since it seemed painfully obvious that Daciana wasn't coming back. So Renata is bust taking care of Melissa and her companions, getting the sabotaged Farm running smoothly again, planning for the Rose Ransom, and trying to finish the work she and another Immortal are doing that, once completed, will allow them to rule the entire world. Since she's also learned all about Nicky's plan, she turned the tables and now Nicky and Ryan are being held captive.
The students have until Christmas break to decipher the three consecutive clues and rescue the kidnapped Princess, with the student that finds her first getting to determine which of the Girls Wearing Black will get the ransom money added to their account. But Renata doesn't want anyone to find the Princess this year, she wants to kill the un-rescued Princess and use the money to fund her secret project.
Jill and her father were grilled by one of the Immortals, so she had very wisely hit the emergency broadcast to let everyone in the Network know she was in danger and listen in to the cross examination. Miraculously she is able to keep from spilling all her secrets, yet no one in the Network has responded to a single message she's sent out since then. But then she's heard nothing from anyone ever since she sent the Code Orange to let everyone know they'd all been compromised and had the disappear. Her frantic messages to Nicky went unanswered, but there was nothing she could do about it at the time. Since the Network's plan to determine who was selected as the Rose Princess failed its absolutely crucial that she solve the riddles. For she must win so that she can back Nicky with the ransom money.
Suddenly Jill is approached by an agent that has infiltrated Renata's mansion as a Slave. She's so relieved to not be on her own again, to have another Network agent to rely upon for assistance. Though Tarin is odd he has a good new project for Jill, which is to hack into Renata's phone so they can find out exactly what she's up to. While doing that Tarin also helps Jill by solving the first two clues. But Tarin disappears for a good while and Jill panics over solving the final clue.
These are just a few of the things going on in this densely packed story. The action is nonstop, the energy is high, and you can almost taste the suspense. Throughout both Jill and Annika do some growing up. Jill grows much more than Annika, but Annika remains true in the face of almost certain disaster and death, surviving thanks to Jill. And in turn Jill survives thanks to a surprise player that no one saw coming.
Will Jill be able to solve the final clue to save the Rose Princess and be able to designate the ransom to Nicky? Will Nicky be rescued in time for the conclusion of the Rose Ransom and be at the party to discover who won? What is Renata's ultimate plan for Nicky? Much will be revealed in this book, along with new questions and answers in book four. Who knows, maybe everything will come full circle in book four, making it the final book in the series. Only Mr. Baum knows for sure, and he may not even know, yet. . .
January 8, 2018
This one was longer than I expected it to be--I think each book of this series is longer than the last, which makes me worry about Book 4. As always, lots of plotting and intrigue as various characters try to take control of the Coronation contest, and feuding vampires playact as civilized beings while committing atrocities. Which, btw-our body count is getting quite high! I wonder who will be alive at the end of the series?
Some thoughts:
-I was not particularly happy about what Baum did with Raquel.
-On the other hand, I love that this book is basically all about Jill. Sure, Nicky's on a quest to discover her past and she's in imminent danger and in love with Ryan and all that, but Jill is center stage. She's the one who'll have to pull through with a win for this Rose Ransom , and her emotional plot arc is no less involving--her mother's programming is one of the main issues of this book, as Jill is determined to remove said programming and set her mother free.
-The end really pulled things together nicely, threads from all over the place, bringing all the characters to a satisfying conclusion. That's especially impressive to me because there's still another book to go. You'd expect a little more middle book syndrome, but nope. This story is good in itself as well as part of the series. In addition, while there were certainly twists, they were all well foreshadowed and didn't come out of nowhere.
-I am ready for the next book. I am ready for the dystopian vampire system to collapse. And for Jill to hopefully live happily ever after with fame, riches, a deprogrammed mother and Zack.
-Also I'm happy I bought this series. It was kind of an impulse buy after reading the first book for free, and I might easily not have read it. Having read only the first book would be, I think, a little bit sad.
Overall, good book. I'm ready for the next but I guess I'll give it a couple weeks first to percolate.
Some thoughts:
-I was not particularly happy about what Baum did with Raquel.
-On the other hand, I love that this book is basically all about Jill. Sure, Nicky's on a quest to discover her past and she's in imminent danger and in love with Ryan and all that, but Jill is center stage. She's the one who'll have to pull through with a win for this Rose Ransom , and her emotional plot arc is no less involving--her mother's programming is one of the main issues of this book, as Jill is determined to remove said programming and set her mother free.
-The end really pulled things together nicely, threads from all over the place, bringing all the characters to a satisfying conclusion. That's especially impressive to me because there's still another book to go. You'd expect a little more middle book syndrome, but nope. This story is good in itself as well as part of the series. In addition, while there were certainly twists, they were all well foreshadowed and didn't come out of nowhere.
-I am ready for the next book. I am ready for the dystopian vampire system to collapse. And for Jill to hopefully live happily ever after with fame, riches, a deprogrammed mother and Zack.
-Also I'm happy I bought this series. It was kind of an impulse buy after reading the first book for free, and I might easily not have read it. Having read only the first book would be, I think, a little bit sad.
Overall, good book. I'm ready for the next but I guess I'll give it a couple weeks first to percolate.
March 6, 2019
Awesome!!!!
July 15, 2022
Another amazing instalment in the 'Girls Wearing Black' series. So much happened and there were so many twists and turns. I struggled to put it down.
I can't wait to read the last book.
I can't wait to read the last book.
August 10, 2013
(3.5 Stars)
From the moment I first read the first book in the "Girls Wearing Black" series I was intrigued. I loved the world building, characters, mystery and clever plot. While I truly enjoyed "The Rose Ransom" I do feel that Spencer Baum over reached in this book by rushing the story by providing way too many plots and subplots and bogging the book down with too many chess game references that basically were minutia.
This is a difficult review to write due to all of the subplots. However, the story is viewed basically through the eyes of Jill Wentworth allowing the reader to learn so much more about her troubled personal life. While Nicky and Ryan are on a flight to Italy, Jill is left to help the Network prepare for the upcoming Rose Ransom event. The group has manipulated the contest so that Kamela will be the one who is kidnapped and held for ransom. Jill's job is to replace Kamela's family heirloom ring with a decoy that has a tracking device making it easy to solve the mystery of where she is. Unfortunately, all does not go as planned and someone they least expected will be up for ransom.
Meanwhile, Nicky comes under the control of Falkon. She will discover important information about her nightmares and her mother. Shannon's existence has been discovered and she is now in danger in Rio. Annika will have to become creative if she is to keep her safe. Renata is as evil as ever and is planning to implement her devious plans for the Immortals. The real question in this book is "Who is controlling who?" The answer may surprise you.
There is a lot of running around trying to ferret out clues, some limited action, and in the end some of the characters will not survive. If I am sounding rather vague it is because I cannot say too much without revealing spoilers and I refuse to do that. At times, there is just too much going on! Additionally, I will confess that the ending left me confused. On one hand, there was a feeling that some of the characters will go underground and not be heard from again; but, then again, we know this is not the end of the series because there are still some unanswered questions.
If I had Mr. Baum's ear, I would tell him to slow down and not pack so much into one installment of the series. This series is good enough to be savored but with so much going on it is overwhelming/tiring for the reader. If you are new to this series, do yourself a favor and do not start by reading this book. Go back to the first book in the series so that you will truly understand what is going on.
From the moment I first read the first book in the "Girls Wearing Black" series I was intrigued. I loved the world building, characters, mystery and clever plot. While I truly enjoyed "The Rose Ransom" I do feel that Spencer Baum over reached in this book by rushing the story by providing way too many plots and subplots and bogging the book down with too many chess game references that basically were minutia.
This is a difficult review to write due to all of the subplots. However, the story is viewed basically through the eyes of Jill Wentworth allowing the reader to learn so much more about her troubled personal life. While Nicky and Ryan are on a flight to Italy, Jill is left to help the Network prepare for the upcoming Rose Ransom event. The group has manipulated the contest so that Kamela will be the one who is kidnapped and held for ransom. Jill's job is to replace Kamela's family heirloom ring with a decoy that has a tracking device making it easy to solve the mystery of where she is. Unfortunately, all does not go as planned and someone they least expected will be up for ransom.
Meanwhile, Nicky comes under the control of Falkon. She will discover important information about her nightmares and her mother. Shannon's existence has been discovered and she is now in danger in Rio. Annika will have to become creative if she is to keep her safe. Renata is as evil as ever and is planning to implement her devious plans for the Immortals. The real question in this book is "Who is controlling who?" The answer may surprise you.
There is a lot of running around trying to ferret out clues, some limited action, and in the end some of the characters will not survive. If I am sounding rather vague it is because I cannot say too much without revealing spoilers and I refuse to do that. At times, there is just too much going on! Additionally, I will confess that the ending left me confused. On one hand, there was a feeling that some of the characters will go underground and not be heard from again; but, then again, we know this is not the end of the series because there are still some unanswered questions.
If I had Mr. Baum's ear, I would tell him to slow down and not pack so much into one installment of the series. This series is good enough to be savored but with so much going on it is overwhelming/tiring for the reader. If you are new to this series, do yourself a favor and do not start by reading this book. Go back to the first book in the series so that you will truly understand what is going on.
November 11, 2013
This book picks up where Festival left off, after the incredible success of Nicky's Date Auction her and Ryan are heading off on their week long date, following her dreams and suggestion from Sergio they're heading to Italy where Nicky hopes she can find some answers to her questions, information about her mother and unravel her dreams, dreams which have plagued her ever since she danced with Sergio at the Homecoming Masquerade.
Nicky sets off having no idea of the carnage she leaves behind, after killing Gia, Dante and Kendall at the Bloom Mansion, Melissa is then killed by Renata all this leaves the Network scrambling and Code Orange is called.
This book finds Jill isolated and battling alone, will she ever be able to help her mother, Kim is furious with Nicky and Jill to the extent where she spends her week away at home plotting, Shannon, will her and Annika ever get their happy ever after, will Frankie and Nicky find each other before Renata feeds on him, it just goes on and on so many characters and so many stories.
So much happens in this book, I'm really glad I went back and re-read the first two otherwise I'd never have remembered all the characters and histories, everything links in, nothing is forgotton it's truly amazing and you really have to read it.
I don't know why I expected this to be the last one in this series, a trilogy was never mentioned but I just assumed, I'm so glad I was wrong can't wait for the next book.
Nicky sets off having no idea of the carnage she leaves behind, after killing Gia, Dante and Kendall at the Bloom Mansion, Melissa is then killed by Renata all this leaves the Network scrambling and Code Orange is called.
This book finds Jill isolated and battling alone, will she ever be able to help her mother, Kim is furious with Nicky and Jill to the extent where she spends her week away at home plotting, Shannon, will her and Annika ever get their happy ever after, will Frankie and Nicky find each other before Renata feeds on him, it just goes on and on so many characters and so many stories.
So much happens in this book, I'm really glad I went back and re-read the first two otherwise I'd never have remembered all the characters and histories, everything links in, nothing is forgotton it's truly amazing and you really have to read it.
I don't know why I expected this to be the last one in this series, a trilogy was never mentioned but I just assumed, I'm so glad I was wrong can't wait for the next book.
July 28, 2013
"The Rose Ransom" is the third instalment in the "Girls Wearing Black" series. I greatly enjoyed portions of this book, certainly as much as the first two volumes, however there is a lot more "vampires being vampires," and that tends to make my eyes glaze over. There are some scenes that seemed tedious and repetitive to me, mostly those around "mind control," but the action and plot twists managed to keep my interest none-the-less. I would have rated the book somewhat less had I not begun reading the series with the knowledge that it involved vampires; in fairness to the author, the storytelling is good and the plot has enough hidden curves that I rated it four stars. If vampires are your thing, I suspect you will find this book well worth the read, but please, start at "The Homecoming Masquerade" to get the full effect.
January 11, 2016
holy crap this series is amazing. ive read all three in all night marathon sessions because i just could not put them down. This one held so many surprises my head is still spinning. It was so awesome seeing jill find her feet and take on a leadership role, though i dont necessarily like some of the plot choices made for her (thus the -1 star). As always the book was superbly written and this one kept me guessing til the very end. Nicky finally gets some insight into her past which was interesting though a bit drawn out perhaps. i almost dont even know where the series can go from here surely no book could be more exciting than this and it seems to be getting about time to wrap the series up sad as that makes me.
overall this is a fantastic series and if you arent reading it you should be! the first book is free on the nook market so theres no excuse for checking it out :P
overall this is a fantastic series and if you arent reading it you should be! the first book is free on the nook market so theres no excuse for checking it out :P
August 24, 2014
THE ROSE RANSOM ( The Girl Wearing Black, Book 3) by Spencer Baum
In the third novel, the third stage of the Coronation the Senior class must find two of their own classmates that have been kidnapped. The Immortal, Renata has given three clues. Once the first clue has been found the student must find the Rose emblem to find the following clue. Once all clues have been found then the ransom money is put towards the contestants whose wearing the Black Dresses. If the students do not find the classmates in the time duration which is from Sept - December the students will loose their lives.
Can the students figure out the clues in time to save their friends? Read the book to find your answer.
The author does not disappoint, this book is a complete page turner. Once you think something has been solved then another issue complicates things.
In the third novel, the third stage of the Coronation the Senior class must find two of their own classmates that have been kidnapped. The Immortal, Renata has given three clues. Once the first clue has been found the student must find the Rose emblem to find the following clue. Once all clues have been found then the ransom money is put towards the contestants whose wearing the Black Dresses. If the students do not find the classmates in the time duration which is from Sept - December the students will loose their lives.
Can the students figure out the clues in time to save their friends? Read the book to find your answer.
The author does not disappoint, this book is a complete page turner. Once you think something has been solved then another issue complicates things.
September 3, 2016
While Nicky is on the other side of the world, Jill is trying to figure out who is the girl that is going to get kidnapped for the Rose Ransom. Things do not go as planned for Jill and a vast amount of conspiracies and secrets are uncovered.
There was so much going on with the book it was confusing. There was so much information thrown at the reader, everything just seemed like Baum was trying to throw it in. Most of the information was surprising and unexpected which I did find intriguing to the story.
There was so much going on with the book it was confusing. There was so much information thrown at the reader, everything just seemed like Baum was trying to throw it in. Most of the information was surprising and unexpected which I did find intriguing to the story.
March 29, 2016
Very interesting book. SO MUCH HAPPENED. The clues added part of a mystery genre, the love between Nicky and Ryan added romance and the vampire bit was just cool. One of the best Girls Wearing Black Books because it focuses more on the vampires than the school.
August 21, 2013
What!? This series isn't a trilogy and now I have to wait for book four!? Not fair. Not fair at all! Imagine my surprise when I got to the end...
December 1, 2013
This book is just great.I loved every part of it.Can't wait for the next one !!! <3
October 30, 2014
It just got better and better
I read the first book, then I had to buy the next three. This one kept camping up the tension. I loved it.
I read the first book, then I had to buy the next three. This one kept camping up the tension. I loved it.
July 14, 2015
Still going strong
While I was anticipating the conclusion in this book, and that didn't happen, the story is still gripping me and I'm enjoying the ride.
While I was anticipating the conclusion in this book, and that didn't happen, the story is still gripping me and I'm enjoying the ride.
January 27, 2015
wonderful. can't sleep to find out what is happening
Can't wait to go yo the next book. Great series. Never had read this author. Have really liked it great read
Can't wait to go yo the next book. Great series. Never had read this author. Have really liked it great read
March 13, 2015
Excellent
A great read as always. I recommend this whole series thus far. I like every thing about these books! R
A great read as always. I recommend this whole series thus far. I like every thing about these books! R
June 17, 2015
Always unexpected twists and turns
Such a great series. It's well written and I can't wait to find out how it ends. Hopefully with a happy ending.
Such a great series. It's well written and I can't wait to find out how it ends. Hopefully with a happy ending.
May 7, 2022
I wish that they release the alternate ending of the story and actually continue the story with the alternate ending that would actually be good I would love that
April 1, 2015
These stories keep getting better! I am all caught up and waiting patiently for the next one
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews