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Ransom #1
Beyond Ransom
My body is broken.
My life is shattered.
Everything I've ever known is gone from me, yet I've discovered something beautiful.
I didn't expect to be taken. I never dreamed that love would find me while my life was slowly stripped away. With him something new and alive stirs within me, and I am completely changed.
Though battered and broken-down, I'm not alone. The most unlikely man protects me and gives me strength.
I will survive this for him. I will find a way to save us both.
While they hold me, he holds my heart, and I'm not willing to pay the price to get it back.
WARNING: Beyond Ransom is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel intended for mature audiences 18+. It contains disturbing situations, graphic violence, strong language, and sexual content.
The story continues in Beyond Revenge, available now.
The Ransom Series has been professionally reedited in 2016.
My life is shattered.
Everything I've ever known is gone from me, yet I've discovered something beautiful.
I didn't expect to be taken. I never dreamed that love would find me while my life was slowly stripped away. With him something new and alive stirs within me, and I am completely changed.
Though battered and broken-down, I'm not alone. The most unlikely man protects me and gives me strength.
I will survive this for him. I will find a way to save us both.
While they hold me, he holds my heart, and I'm not willing to pay the price to get it back.
WARNING: Beyond Ransom is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel intended for mature audiences 18+. It contains disturbing situations, graphic violence, strong language, and sexual content.
The story continues in Beyond Revenge, available now.
The Ransom Series has been professionally reedited in 2016.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2014
30 people are currently reading
1377 people want to read
About the author
A.T. Douglas
9 books78 followersA.T. Douglas embraced her renewed passion for reading by diving into the self-publishing world in 2013. Fueled by her love of music and her addiction to the romance genre, she strives to turn daydreams and the realities of life into words the world can read. She lives in New Hampshire, USA, with her husband and sons and wishes desperately that there were more hours in the day for family, reading, and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
January 24, 2014
3.5 stars!
So it was by total chance that I found this book, and while there were stumbles here and there, overall it was a great read. The meat of the story is a good one.
Dark scale (1-10): 2
Mindfuck scale (1-10): 4
Though the female lead is kidnapped, it’s not a love my captor story. She falls for her kidnapper’s first-in-command/adopted son.
100% romantic suspense with mild gritty scenes sprinkled in. If you haven’t read too many dark reads, Beyond Ransom is a good one to start with.
The story starts off with the heroine Morgan preparing to go to college (where the NA part comes in) and can’t wait for the freedom she’ll have. Because she’s an only child and her dad is a detective, she’s been sheltered, so much that when she asks to go to the store, her dad forbids it. Morgan, the adrenaline-high and daring teenager she is, sneaks out and on her way to the store, is taken by two rough looking strangers. Hence, the entire captivity story starts from here.
“Freedom. All I wanted was a taste of freedom.”
Quick break. I had a few issues with the plot in this section.
>> Her dad forbids her to leave the house, specifically this day, so did he just know that something bad was going to happen? Morgan’s going off to college and hypothetically speaking, if she didn’t get captured today, how’s she going to live her college life?
>>Morgan lacks common sense. I attribute it to her being a very sheltered teenager who is, in many ways, an innocent doll. She calls for a cab and what she sees is a black town car and the driver KNOWS her name. Does that not ring a warning bell in your head? She never should’ve approached the car in the first place.
Captured, blindfolded, and gagged, Morgan is frightened and alone, left to deal with her kidnapper Mark’s vices. However, she does have a backbone (as small as it may be) and fights back.
Enter Leo. Second only to Mark, and considered his adopted son. Ever since he was a boy, he was brought up in the filth and danger of Mark’s organization, but inside he retains a kind heart. From the moment he lays his eyes on Morgan, he finds little ways to protect her. As a result Morgan immediately trusts him, relies on him, and sooner than later, falls in love with him.
But Leo thinks he’s broken, undeserving of redemption and all goodness so he rejects her advances.
But as the story progresses, both fall for each other harder. Both stuck in a similar situation they want to get out of. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a very shaky relationship follows, only to be discovered by Mark.
What comes after is a couple of torture scenes (there’s something wrong with me if don’t bother me) and the whole reason of Mark’s kidnapping unfolds. There were also some secrets about his relationship dynamic with Leo that’s revealed as well.
Though the story ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t see how it couldn’t. I HATE cliffhangers but I have to admit that this one was brilliantly done. The perfect mindfuck for the characters in question. I didn’t feel like the author threw in a cliffy just to reel readers in for the next book; it was very plot-oriented and flowed perfectly. The next book comes out on February 8 so not too long to wait.
>>What I had problems with<<
1. I found it hard to swallow that Morgan, who was beaten (repeatedly), abused (several times), tied up, isolated, and stripped of bare necessities to develop an instant (I mean “at first sight”) attraction to Leo and start clinging onto him. She even became EMBARRASED of herself!!
“I hate to admit that he’s attractive, and I’m instantly embarrassed to be in this position in the presence of someone as good-looking as this man.”
Maybe she got hit on the head too hard???
2. When I read a book with someone being kidnapped, I want the entire dark shebang. I want it all. I want to see the kidnapper breaking the captive, I want to see the captive’s resiliency and strength in fighting back (physically and/or emotionally), and only then can I accept some form of “hard love” developed. First the love interest isn’t the kidnapper but his adopted son who from the very start was kind to her so that was a bit of a bummer. To me, Mark wasn’t as dark as I’d thought he be; crazy and borderline psychotic YES, but not dark.
Aside from some grammatical errors and all the problems listed above, this book was still a good read. Very fast and easy to read, and I was highly entertained and now I’m waiting to see what the author has in store for Leo and Morgan in book 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey hey hey! Another dark read....mmmmmmm
So it was by total chance that I found this book, and while there were stumbles here and there, overall it was a great read. The meat of the story is a good one.
Dark scale (1-10): 2
Mindfuck scale (1-10): 4
Though the female lead is kidnapped, it’s not a love my captor story. She falls for her kidnapper’s first-in-command/adopted son.
100% romantic suspense with mild gritty scenes sprinkled in. If you haven’t read too many dark reads, Beyond Ransom is a good one to start with.
The story starts off with the heroine Morgan preparing to go to college (where the NA part comes in) and can’t wait for the freedom she’ll have. Because she’s an only child and her dad is a detective, she’s been sheltered, so much that when she asks to go to the store, her dad forbids it. Morgan, the adrenaline-high and daring teenager she is, sneaks out and on her way to the store, is taken by two rough looking strangers. Hence, the entire captivity story starts from here.
“Freedom. All I wanted was a taste of freedom.”
Quick break. I had a few issues with the plot in this section.
>> Her dad forbids her to leave the house, specifically this day, so did he just know that something bad was going to happen? Morgan’s going off to college and hypothetically speaking, if she didn’t get captured today, how’s she going to live her college life?
>>Morgan lacks common sense. I attribute it to her being a very sheltered teenager who is, in many ways, an innocent doll. She calls for a cab and what she sees is a black town car and the driver KNOWS her name. Does that not ring a warning bell in your head? She never should’ve approached the car in the first place.
Captured, blindfolded, and gagged, Morgan is frightened and alone, left to deal with her kidnapper Mark’s vices. However, she does have a backbone (as small as it may be) and fights back.
Enter Leo. Second only to Mark, and considered his adopted son. Ever since he was a boy, he was brought up in the filth and danger of Mark’s organization, but inside he retains a kind heart. From the moment he lays his eyes on Morgan, he finds little ways to protect her. As a result Morgan immediately trusts him, relies on him, and sooner than later, falls in love with him.
But Leo thinks he’s broken, undeserving of redemption and all goodness so he rejects her advances.
But as the story progresses, both fall for each other harder. Both stuck in a similar situation they want to get out of. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a very shaky relationship follows, only to be discovered by Mark.
What comes after is a couple of torture scenes (there’s something wrong with me if don’t bother me) and the whole reason of Mark’s kidnapping unfolds. There were also some secrets about his relationship dynamic with Leo that’s revealed as well.
Though the story ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t see how it couldn’t. I HATE cliffhangers but I have to admit that this one was brilliantly done. The perfect mindfuck for the characters in question. I didn’t feel like the author threw in a cliffy just to reel readers in for the next book; it was very plot-oriented and flowed perfectly. The next book comes out on February 8 so not too long to wait.
>>What I had problems with<<
1. I found it hard to swallow that Morgan, who was beaten (repeatedly), abused (several times), tied up, isolated, and stripped of bare necessities to develop an instant (I mean “at first sight”) attraction to Leo and start clinging onto him. She even became EMBARRASED of herself!!
“I hate to admit that he’s attractive, and I’m instantly embarrassed to be in this position in the presence of someone as good-looking as this man.”
Maybe she got hit on the head too hard???
2. When I read a book with someone being kidnapped, I want the entire dark shebang. I want it all. I want to see the kidnapper breaking the captive, I want to see the captive’s resiliency and strength in fighting back (physically and/or emotionally), and only then can I accept some form of “hard love” developed. First the love interest isn’t the kidnapper but his adopted son who from the very start was kind to her so that was a bit of a bummer. To me, Mark wasn’t as dark as I’d thought he be; crazy and borderline psychotic YES, but not dark.
Aside from some grammatical errors and all the problems listed above, this book was still a good read. Very fast and easy to read, and I was highly entertained and now I’m waiting to see what the author has in store for Leo and Morgan in book 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey hey hey! Another dark read....mmmmmmm
Want to read
January 20, 2014WARNING: Beyond Ransom is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel intended for mature audiences 18+. It contains disturbing situations, graphic violence, strong language, and sexual content.......
August 4, 2016
3.5 Stars!
Morgan, 19 yrs. old (give or take couple of weeks)... she's lived a sheltered life with her dad being a police detective. She can't wait to go to college and be finally free! Then a day when her father told her not to go out, she snuck out and went out anyway only to get kidnapped by one of her father's enemy, Mark Castili, leader of one of the largest crime rings in the Southwest. Beaten and tortured, she made friend with one of Mark's men, Leo, who looks sorry for hurting her.
Leo is attractive, tattooed and all, and he works for Mark. When his parents was killed, Mark saved him and took him in, raised him... but whatever Mark gives, Mark takes it all back too! His father was one of Mark's men and now he is working for Mark but he vows to never repeat the cycle and he will never start a family and involve them on that kind of life. He will do whatever Mark asks him to do but he does not condone taking someone’s kid, beating her, torturing her with mind games. So he tries to help Morgan any way he can.
I find it hard to believe that Morgan, tied up, beaten and all... the first time she saw Leo given she is instantly attracted to him.... she was embarrassed at her situation! Seriously the girl is not that scared if you can still have those thoughts!
I felt bad for what she is going through and I love that though she is stubborn, she stands to be brave. Then again, I couldn't understand, or more like I think she needs help, in thinking that she prefers her life there, captured and all, cause she finally found her voice! After what she went through?
Taking in consideration that she's only 19 and lived a sheltered life.... I'm just a bit dumbfounded...
So while Morgan is finding herself in Leo's world, Leo is trying to tell her otherwise.
I love Leo... he is in a life he doesn't want and he wouldn't chose that life for Morgan. With that said, they make a perfect couple.
Mark is a really really sick man! I want to pulverize him!
This book is not your typical abduction story, it is disturbing and gripping, and mind boggling... It is full of surprises!
Written in Morgan's POV... except for the last chapter where you will hear Leo's thoughts.
It is a cliffy and I would definitely want to know what happens next.
Review also posted here :
FB Page : Blog : https://www.facebook.com/SLiTsReaD
Morgan, 19 yrs. old (give or take couple of weeks)... she's lived a sheltered life with her dad being a police detective. She can't wait to go to college and be finally free! Then a day when her father told her not to go out, she snuck out and went out anyway only to get kidnapped by one of her father's enemy, Mark Castili, leader of one of the largest crime rings in the Southwest. Beaten and tortured, she made friend with one of Mark's men, Leo, who looks sorry for hurting her.
Leo is attractive, tattooed and all, and he works for Mark. When his parents was killed, Mark saved him and took him in, raised him... but whatever Mark gives, Mark takes it all back too! His father was one of Mark's men and now he is working for Mark but he vows to never repeat the cycle and he will never start a family and involve them on that kind of life. He will do whatever Mark asks him to do but he does not condone taking someone’s kid, beating her, torturing her with mind games. So he tries to help Morgan any way he can.
I find it hard to believe that Morgan, tied up, beaten and all... the first time she saw Leo given she is instantly attracted to him.... she was embarrassed at her situation! Seriously the girl is not that scared if you can still have those thoughts!
I felt bad for what she is going through and I love that though she is stubborn, she stands to be brave. Then again, I couldn't understand, or more like I think she needs help, in thinking that she prefers her life there, captured and all, cause she finally found her voice! After what she went through?
Taking in consideration that she's only 19 and lived a sheltered life.... I'm just a bit dumbfounded...
So while Morgan is finding herself in Leo's world, Leo is trying to tell her otherwise.
I love Leo... he is in a life he doesn't want and he wouldn't chose that life for Morgan. With that said, they make a perfect couple.
Mark is a really really sick man! I want to pulverize him!
This book is not your typical abduction story, it is disturbing and gripping, and mind boggling... It is full of surprises!
Written in Morgan's POV... except for the last chapter where you will hear Leo's thoughts.
It is a cliffy and I would definitely want to know what happens next.
Review also posted here :
FB Page : Blog : https://www.facebook.com/SLiTsReaD
January 22, 2014
Amazing!!!! 5 stars all the way OMG the end oh perfect for a cliffhanger junkie!!! I'm going to do full review of this one!!! FREAKING loved it!!!!!
January 25, 2014
Just finished Beyond Ransom by A.T. Douglas. WOW! Not my typical light hearted romance, that's for sure, but an amazing story!! A bit dark, and a subject matter that I wasn't sure I would be able to get into, but I loved it! I really thought I knew where the story was going to go, but it went completely in a different direction that kept shocking me again and again. So well written! Very thought provoking, dramatic, dark, but seeing a glimmer of light along the way. Can't wait for book 2 as this did end in a bit of a Cliff, but worth it, I promise. If you are looking for something with depth, a bit dark, and a story unlike one you've read before, I highly recommend this book. 5 stars for sure!! -Heather
April 7, 2016
After reading the blurb, I honestly thought this book/series would be great. Not so much. The plot was hella interesting, but there was a real disconnect between logic and reality.
What I liked:
- Mark. Yeah, he's the bad guy. But he was the most consistent person in the book. He was also the most interesting. I really wanted to get to know him, especially after he revealed his motives for kidnapping Morgan
- The concept. I always find time to read a good dark book and it doesn't get darker than a captive book (i.e. Captive in the Dark -- so good!)
- Leo. His story is going to be amazing I'm sure, considering
What I didn't like:
- Morgan. This chick was TSTL!! Usually I chalk it up to the fact of young age (her being 18 and all), but unfortunately, in her case, I can't. She's the daughter of a famous police detective. She's shown evidence (many times) that her father taught her well (she seems to know guns inside and out). She reminds of almost every other teenager out there who wants to grow up before it's time and plays grown up. Without any real concept of what being an adult really means. So I conclude that she's an idiot. My proof? You need more???
- time passes but there really isn't anything to show for it. It's casually mentioned, almost as an afterthought
- how unrealistic this story is. Let's be honest here. If this were "life-like",
So overall, a decent story, and because I want to see more of Leo and Mark, I will be reading book 2.
What I liked:
- Mark. Yeah, he's the bad guy. But he was the most consistent person in the book. He was also the most interesting. I really wanted to get to know him, especially after he revealed his motives for kidnapping Morgan
- The concept. I always find time to read a good dark book and it doesn't get darker than a captive book (i.e. Captive in the Dark -- so good!)
- Leo. His story is going to be amazing I'm sure, considering
What I didn't like:
- Morgan. This chick was TSTL!! Usually I chalk it up to the fact of young age (her being 18 and all), but unfortunately, in her case, I can't. She's the daughter of a famous police detective. She's shown evidence (many times) that her father taught her well (she seems to know guns inside and out). She reminds of almost every other teenager out there who wants to grow up before it's time and plays grown up. Without any real concept of what being an adult really means. So I conclude that she's an idiot. My proof? You need more???
- time passes but there really isn't anything to show for it. It's casually mentioned, almost as an afterthought
- how unrealistic this story is. Let's be honest here. If this were "life-like",
So overall, a decent story, and because I want to see more of Leo and Mark, I will be reading book 2.
January 27, 2014
I'm kinda on the fence with this one. The gal Morgan is the daughter of a police detective and she gets kidnapped for ransom by a mafia kingpin whom he wronged and sent to jail for 6 years prior. She falls for one of his right hand men and this is where it lost me a bit in terms of believability. Yes, this is fantasy and should be regarded as such BUT she fell for him so quickly after she was taken and several terrible things happened to her. Then the turn of events that lead to the cliffhanger....Oy! I'm intrigued enough to read the conclusion in book 2, I am just no quite sure of my rating for this book. Def 3.5-4 stars
February 13, 2014
Thanks Lady V for the rec. I love dark books.
December 8, 2021
This was an unripe book in my opinion.
The weird and incomprehensible reactions and emotions of the lead female didn’t make it easy to like her. At times it was even disturbing and weird, why she would do things like that or think that way. Some of the oddness was based on the character but others by author simply not providing enough background information to make it convincible. The female leads decisions at times seemed simply based to further and lead the plot and not of a sound mind and situational authentic reaction to the circumstances.
I won’t be reading the story beyond the first book. I lost my interest and barely made it even to the end of the first book, scrolling from one spoken word to the other.
The behaviour of the villain and the father of the kidnapped lead were also absolutely weird.
It makes no sense why the latter didn’t involve the authorities etc.
For the so called villain, for all his talking and a bit punching, he wasn’t much villainous in my opinion. More talk than deed.
The weird and incomprehensible reactions and emotions of the lead female didn’t make it easy to like her. At times it was even disturbing and weird, why she would do things like that or think that way. Some of the oddness was based on the character but others by author simply not providing enough background information to make it convincible. The female leads decisions at times seemed simply based to further and lead the plot and not of a sound mind and situational authentic reaction to the circumstances.
I won’t be reading the story beyond the first book. I lost my interest and barely made it even to the end of the first book, scrolling from one spoken word to the other.
The behaviour of the villain and the father of the kidnapped lead were also absolutely weird.
It makes no sense why the latter didn’t involve the authorities etc.
For the so called villain, for all his talking and a bit punching, he wasn’t much villainous in my opinion. More talk than deed.
October 4, 2014
FEIFEI'S REVIEW - 3.5 Stars
So it was by total chance that I found this book, and while there were stumbles here and there, overall it was a great read. The meat of the story is a good one.
Dark scale (1-10): 2
Mindfuck scale (1-10): 4
Though the female lead is kidnapped, it’s not a love my captor story. She falls for her kidnapper’s first-in-command/adopted son.
100% romantic suspense with mild gritty scenes sprinkled in. If you haven’t read too many dark reads, Beyond Ransom is a good one to start with.
The story starts off with the heroine Morgan preparing to go to college (where the NA part comes in) and can’t wait for the freedom she’ll have. Because she’s an only child and her dad is a detective, she’s been sheltered, so much that when she asks to go to the store, her dad forbids it. Morgan, the adrenaline-high and daring teenager she is, sneaks out and on her way to the store, is taken by two rough looking strangers. Hence, the entire captivity story starts from here.
“Freedom. All I wanted was a taste of freedom.”
Quick break. I had a few issues with the plot in this section.
>> Her dad forbids her to leave the house, specifically this day, so did he just know that something bad was going to happen? Morgan’s going off to college and hypothetically speaking, if she didn’t get captured today, how’s she going to live her college life?
>>Morgan lacks common sense. I attribute it to her being a very sheltered teenager who is, in many ways, an innocent doll. She calls for a cab and what she sees is a black town car and the driver KNOWS her name. Does that not ring a warning bell in your head? She never should’ve approached the car in the first place.
Captured, blindfolded, and gagged, Morgan is frightened and alone, left to deal with her kidnapper Mark’s vices. However, she does have a backbone (as small as it may be) and fights back.
Enter Leo. Second only to Mark, and considered his adopted son. Ever since he was a boy, he was brought up in the filth and danger of Mark’s organization, but inside he retains a kind heart. From the moment he lays his eyes on Morgan, he finds little ways to protect her. As a result Morgan immediately trusts him, relies on him, and sooner than later, falls in love with him.
But Leo thinks he’s broken, undeserving of redemption and all goodness so he rejects her advances.
But as the story progresses, both fall for each other harder. Both stuck in a similar situation they want to get out of. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a very shaky relationship follows, only to be discovered by Mark.
What comes after is a couple of torture scenes (keep in mind I read A LOT of dark books so while this was mild for me, it may be a lot for you) and the whole reason of Mark’s kidnapping unfolds. There were also some secrets about his relationship dynamic with Leo that’s revealed as well.
Though the story ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t see how it couldn’t. I HATE cliffhangers but I have to admit that this one was brilliantly done. The perfect mindfuck for the characters in question. I didn’t feel like the author threw in a cliffy just to reel readers in for the next book; it was very plot-oriented and flowed perfectly. The next book comes out on February 8 so not too long to wait.
>>What I had problems with<<
1. I found it hard to swallow that Morgan, who was beaten (repeatedly), abused (several times), tied up, isolated, and stripped of bare necessities to develop an instant (I mean “at first sight”) attraction to Leo and start clinging onto him. She even became EMBARRASED of herself!!
“I hate to admit that he’s attractive, and I’m instantly embarrassed to be in this position in the presence of someone as good-looking as this man.”
Maybe she got hit on the head too hard???
2. When I read a book with someone being kidnapped, I want the entire dark shebang. I want it all. I want to see the kidnapper breaking the captive, I want to see the captive’s resiliency and strength in fighting back (physically and/or emotionally), and only then can I accept some form of “hard love” developed. First the love interest isn’t the kidnapper but his adopted son who from the very start was kind to her so that was a bit of a bummer. To me, Mark wasn’t as dark as I’d thought he be; crazy and borderline psychotic YES, but not dark.
Aside from some grammatical errors and all the problems listed above, this book was still a good read. Very fast and easy to read, and I was highly entertained and now I’m waiting to see what the author has in store for Leo and Morgan in book 2.
So it was by total chance that I found this book, and while there were stumbles here and there, overall it was a great read. The meat of the story is a good one.
Dark scale (1-10): 2
Mindfuck scale (1-10): 4
Though the female lead is kidnapped, it’s not a love my captor story. She falls for her kidnapper’s first-in-command/adopted son.
100% romantic suspense with mild gritty scenes sprinkled in. If you haven’t read too many dark reads, Beyond Ransom is a good one to start with.
The story starts off with the heroine Morgan preparing to go to college (where the NA part comes in) and can’t wait for the freedom she’ll have. Because she’s an only child and her dad is a detective, she’s been sheltered, so much that when she asks to go to the store, her dad forbids it. Morgan, the adrenaline-high and daring teenager she is, sneaks out and on her way to the store, is taken by two rough looking strangers. Hence, the entire captivity story starts from here.
“Freedom. All I wanted was a taste of freedom.”
Quick break. I had a few issues with the plot in this section.
>> Her dad forbids her to leave the house, specifically this day, so did he just know that something bad was going to happen? Morgan’s going off to college and hypothetically speaking, if she didn’t get captured today, how’s she going to live her college life?
>>Morgan lacks common sense. I attribute it to her being a very sheltered teenager who is, in many ways, an innocent doll. She calls for a cab and what she sees is a black town car and the driver KNOWS her name. Does that not ring a warning bell in your head? She never should’ve approached the car in the first place.
Captured, blindfolded, and gagged, Morgan is frightened and alone, left to deal with her kidnapper Mark’s vices. However, she does have a backbone (as small as it may be) and fights back.
Enter Leo. Second only to Mark, and considered his adopted son. Ever since he was a boy, he was brought up in the filth and danger of Mark’s organization, but inside he retains a kind heart. From the moment he lays his eyes on Morgan, he finds little ways to protect her. As a result Morgan immediately trusts him, relies on him, and sooner than later, falls in love with him.
But Leo thinks he’s broken, undeserving of redemption and all goodness so he rejects her advances.
But as the story progresses, both fall for each other harder. Both stuck in a similar situation they want to get out of. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and a very shaky relationship follows, only to be discovered by Mark.
What comes after is a couple of torture scenes (keep in mind I read A LOT of dark books so while this was mild for me, it may be a lot for you) and the whole reason of Mark’s kidnapping unfolds. There were also some secrets about his relationship dynamic with Leo that’s revealed as well.
Though the story ends on a cliffhanger, I don’t see how it couldn’t. I HATE cliffhangers but I have to admit that this one was brilliantly done. The perfect mindfuck for the characters in question. I didn’t feel like the author threw in a cliffy just to reel readers in for the next book; it was very plot-oriented and flowed perfectly. The next book comes out on February 8 so not too long to wait.
>>What I had problems with<<
1. I found it hard to swallow that Morgan, who was beaten (repeatedly), abused (several times), tied up, isolated, and stripped of bare necessities to develop an instant (I mean “at first sight”) attraction to Leo and start clinging onto him. She even became EMBARRASED of herself!!
“I hate to admit that he’s attractive, and I’m instantly embarrassed to be in this position in the presence of someone as good-looking as this man.”
Maybe she got hit on the head too hard???
2. When I read a book with someone being kidnapped, I want the entire dark shebang. I want it all. I want to see the kidnapper breaking the captive, I want to see the captive’s resiliency and strength in fighting back (physically and/or emotionally), and only then can I accept some form of “hard love” developed. First the love interest isn’t the kidnapper but his adopted son who from the very start was kind to her so that was a bit of a bummer. To me, Mark wasn’t as dark as I’d thought he be; crazy and borderline psychotic YES, but not dark.
Aside from some grammatical errors and all the problems listed above, this book was still a good read. Very fast and easy to read, and I was highly entertained and now I’m waiting to see what the author has in store for Leo and Morgan in book 2.
September 30, 2014
All I am thinking right now is.... OMG!!!!!
I Love Story Time did a blog promo for this Series when Book 2 was released, I believe. So, since then I have had both books 1 and 2 on my kindle, downloaded, ready to read. I just have not had a chance to read it, until now. I am literally yelling at myself for waiting so long! I am so glad I was able to catch up on my scheduled ARC list that I have, and grab something that has been pushed down on my list of books that I want to read. This book seriously had me from the first chapter! I could not put it down. There are so many points in the story that I felt like I was on a roller coaster, but in a good way. It had so many twist and turns that I couldn't help but to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I loved Leo, and how feisty Morgan is. She is defiantly a fighter and is willing to do anything she can to protect Leo. Leo is the same way. They work together to get each other through what they are faced with....
"We can be strong. We can get through this, and then when the opportunity presents itself, I will kill him."
This book is very suspenseful. It kept my nose in the book, pulling me in with every turn of the page just to have to pull it away before going crossed eyed. Just sitting here writing this review and thinking about everything that happens in the book has me shaking my head, not believing what I just read, but loved. I would rate this book 5 stars and recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense with some darkness to it. Some parts are not easy to read, but if your able to view it for what it is, definitely snatch this up.
So, if you already have it on your kindle, don't be like me, read it now because it deserves to be high on anyone's TBR list! The ending!!! OMG!!! Right about now I am so happy I have book 2 to go directly to. However, I need to know when book 3 is going to be release because I'm going to need it right away, I can already tell!!
~Juls
I Love Story Time did a blog promo for this Series when Book 2 was released, I believe. So, since then I have had both books 1 and 2 on my kindle, downloaded, ready to read. I just have not had a chance to read it, until now. I am literally yelling at myself for waiting so long! I am so glad I was able to catch up on my scheduled ARC list that I have, and grab something that has been pushed down on my list of books that I want to read. This book seriously had me from the first chapter! I could not put it down. There are so many points in the story that I felt like I was on a roller coaster, but in a good way. It had so many twist and turns that I couldn't help but to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I loved Leo, and how feisty Morgan is. She is defiantly a fighter and is willing to do anything she can to protect Leo. Leo is the same way. They work together to get each other through what they are faced with....
"We can be strong. We can get through this, and then when the opportunity presents itself, I will kill him."
This book is very suspenseful. It kept my nose in the book, pulling me in with every turn of the page just to have to pull it away before going crossed eyed. Just sitting here writing this review and thinking about everything that happens in the book has me shaking my head, not believing what I just read, but loved. I would rate this book 5 stars and recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense with some darkness to it. Some parts are not easy to read, but if your able to view it for what it is, definitely snatch this up.
So, if you already have it on your kindle, don't be like me, read it now because it deserves to be high on anyone's TBR list! The ending!!! OMG!!! Right about now I am so happy I have book 2 to go directly to. However, I need to know when book 3 is going to be release because I'm going to need it right away, I can already tell!!
~Juls
October 1, 2014
All I am thinking right now is.... OMG!!!!!
I Love Story Time did a blog promo for this Series when Book 2 was released, I believe. So, since then I have had both books 1 and 2 on my kindle, downloaded, ready to read. I just have not had a chance to read it, until now. I am literally yelling at myself for waiting so long! I am so glad I was able to catch up on my scheduled ARC list that I have, and grab something that has been pushed down on my list of books that I want to read. This book seriously had me from the first chapter! I could not put it down. There are so many points in the story that I felt like I was on a roller coaster, but in a good way. It had so many twist and turns that I couldn't help but to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I loved Leo, and how feisty Morgan is. She is defiantly a fighter and is willing to do anything she can to protect Leo. Leo is the same way. They work together to get each other through what they are faced with....
"We can be strong. We can get through this, and then when the opportunity presents itself, I will kill him."
This book is very suspenseful. It kept my nose in the book, pulling me in with every turn of the page just to have to pull it away before going crossed eyed. Just sitting here writing this review and thinking about everything that happens in the book has me shaking my head, not believing what I have read, but loved. I would rate this book 5 stars and recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense with some darkness to it. Some parts are not easy to read, but if your able to view it for what it is, definitely snatch this up.
So, if you already have it on your kindle, don't be like me, read it now because it deserves to be high on anyone's TBR list! The ending!!! OMG!!! Right about now I am so happy I have book 2 to go directly to. However, I need to know when book 3 is going to be release because I'm going to need it right away, I can already tell!!
~Juls
I Love Story Time did a blog promo for this Series when Book 2 was released, I believe. So, since then I have had both books 1 and 2 on my kindle, downloaded, ready to read. I just have not had a chance to read it, until now. I am literally yelling at myself for waiting so long! I am so glad I was able to catch up on my scheduled ARC list that I have, and grab something that has been pushed down on my list of books that I want to read. This book seriously had me from the first chapter! I could not put it down. There are so many points in the story that I felt like I was on a roller coaster, but in a good way. It had so many twist and turns that I couldn't help but to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I loved Leo, and how feisty Morgan is. She is defiantly a fighter and is willing to do anything she can to protect Leo. Leo is the same way. They work together to get each other through what they are faced with....
"We can be strong. We can get through this, and then when the opportunity presents itself, I will kill him."
This book is very suspenseful. It kept my nose in the book, pulling me in with every turn of the page just to have to pull it away before going crossed eyed. Just sitting here writing this review and thinking about everything that happens in the book has me shaking my head, not believing what I have read, but loved. I would rate this book 5 stars and recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense with some darkness to it. Some parts are not easy to read, but if your able to view it for what it is, definitely snatch this up.
So, if you already have it on your kindle, don't be like me, read it now because it deserves to be high on anyone's TBR list! The ending!!! OMG!!! Right about now I am so happy I have book 2 to go directly to. However, I need to know when book 3 is going to be release because I'm going to need it right away, I can already tell!!
~Juls
October 11, 2025
With the encouragement of some close friends, I've been working on stepping out of my comfort zone with my book choices lately. I'll freely admit I like to be guaranteed the happy ending right from the start. I love the "cookie cutter" story lines - love at first site, some minor obstacle that they struggle over, and then live happily ever after. This is not that book. Not even close. But I absolutely LOVED it!
Beyond Ransom has an original, but dark, even slightly disturbing storyline at times. But it is written so well that I devoured it in one sitting and am begging for book 2.
After reading the summary, I kinda thought I'd know how the story would go (so I'll admit I didn't think it was going to be that far out of my comfort zone), but boy, was I ever wrong. This story was something I could never have imagined. It kept me guessing right until the end. I never knew which direction it was going to take next. Who do you trust? How can their love possibly survive? How could she make those choices?
This was a unique story, full of drama, dark, and dangerous situations that had me shaking my head, holding my breath, and still somehow also hoping they make it despite it all. Amazing writing, solid story, and an unusual but intriguing love match made this a definite 5 star book! Cannot wait for book 2!!
Beyond Ransom has an original, but dark, even slightly disturbing storyline at times. But it is written so well that I devoured it in one sitting and am begging for book 2.
After reading the summary, I kinda thought I'd know how the story would go (so I'll admit I didn't think it was going to be that far out of my comfort zone), but boy, was I ever wrong. This story was something I could never have imagined. It kept me guessing right until the end. I never knew which direction it was going to take next. Who do you trust? How can their love possibly survive? How could she make those choices?
This was a unique story, full of drama, dark, and dangerous situations that had me shaking my head, holding my breath, and still somehow also hoping they make it despite it all. Amazing writing, solid story, and an unusual but intriguing love match made this a definite 5 star book! Cannot wait for book 2!!
March 28, 2016
Awesome book!!!! One of my favs.
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August 11, 2016
Did i ever tell anyone i HATE cliffhangers!?!?! I am wayyyyyyy to nosy for my own good at times. I am thinking by the time the next book is out my fingers will have no blood supply left due to hanging!
Well i was after something dark to read and this book did not disappoint! A simple order from her dad which Morgan chooses to ignore and she ends up in a world of hurt with a cray cray mofo who her dad had helped to send to prison 6 year ago.... Sounds straight forward, but the twists and turns i can honestly say I was NOT expecting!!
The story sets out as Morgan is kidnapped for ransom, but further into the story, Mark the crazy guy reveals the real reason..... Well, he will have you believe it's the reason....
Well i was after something dark to read and this book did not disappoint! A simple order from her dad which Morgan chooses to ignore and she ends up in a world of hurt with a cray cray mofo who her dad had helped to send to prison 6 year ago.... Sounds straight forward, but the twists and turns i can honestly say I was NOT expecting!!
The story sets out as Morgan is kidnapped for ransom, but further into the story, Mark the crazy guy reveals the real reason..... Well, he will have you believe it's the reason....
January 27, 2014
Okay so what to say about this......well I feel like I was on a roller coaster and we kept climbing and climbing and then just plummeted to the bottom and as we are falling we wonder when we will hit the bottom and level out but we just keep falling. So many unanswered questions left me handing on begging for answers and relief oh the torture of it. Oh can not wait till the next book and yes I am counting the days.
February 3, 2014
I really enjoyed reading Beyond Ransom. I won't give out spoilers but I cannot wait to read book two!! This novel had all the elements I like in a good book from the incredible tension, intimate love to the development of characters. The main character has to grow up and face alot of unpleasant realities to survive and she does it beautifully.
November 30, 2014
What a great first in a three part serial.
A girl with loving parents, whom keep her safe as possible with the line of her fathers work. She only wants to be normal, being able to have freedom.
A vendetta put into place ripping this once resisting girls normal life into a tailspin.
In the darkest days of being abducted she found love in her only salvation.
A girl with loving parents, whom keep her safe as possible with the line of her fathers work. She only wants to be normal, being able to have freedom.
A vendetta put into place ripping this once resisting girls normal life into a tailspin.
In the darkest days of being abducted she found love in her only salvation.
January 24, 2014
This book is different than anything I've read before. It did not progress the way I thought it would at all, but I really liked it!! A.T. Douglas did an amazing job with this story. I could not put it down, even to watch my favorite show:) I cannot wait for the next book!
February 25, 2014
Loved this book! Loved how unpredictable it is and all the suspense. If you can stomach the violence, which gets pretty intense some times, you'll really enjoy this book. Romance mixed in as well to keep you completely hooked. I'll be reading a lot of Douglas in the future!
February 12, 2014
Definitely grabbed me right from the beginning. Mark is the perfect gross bad guy that makes your skin crawl and Leo and Morgan are properly f'ed by him at every turn. I liked that Morgan wasn't perfect and had her own issues and bad decisions. Great story.
February 18, 2014
Wanted to read something a little different and found this book by chance. Interesting storey of a young girl taken against her will and how a different environment teaches her things about herself she didn't know.
Violent in places but engaging characters such as Morgan, Leo and even Mark.
Violent in places but engaging characters such as Morgan, Leo and even Mark.
February 19, 2014
Really interesting...Morgan is a dark and strong female character...No matter how Leo started out, he is so sweet...he cares so much for Morgan...I am looking forward to see how this all ends at the end of Beyond Revenge...
January 22, 2014
4.5 stars! Really enjoyed this one!
It didn't get 5 stars because the ending was predictable but I'm really looking forward to the next installment.
It didn't get 5 stars because the ending was predictable but I'm really looking forward to the next installment.
January 22, 2014
Great, ending was crazy, need the next book. Twists & turns .... Fun ride!!!
January 29, 2014
Kind of reminded me of Sempre..
January 24, 2014
Whoa!!! Wait a minute!! I'm trying to catch my breath. Okay. Mafia, kidnapping, virgin 18 year old girl daughter of detective. Wow! What a ride.
February 13, 2014
Amazing read!
February 10, 2014
This was an awesome read!! I love love love this book! Have started the second book and am loving it!!
February 10, 2014
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
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