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Ransom's Redemption

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At first it seemed harmless enough, then came the photographs…intimate details of her life laid out in glossy black and white. Next they came into her home, leaving a single black rose, each thorn painstakingly painted blood red.

The threat was clear. Victoria Carrillo had to find a place of safety from her unknown stalker.

Ransom Greathouse had found her place of sanctuary away from the world. After a harrowing experience during her last deployment, she was sent home, wounded and broken. The past wouldn’t let her go, but she was determined to find peace in her own way.

She never expected to be thrown back into her old job again. Protecting another human being was the last thing she needed, and she should have said no…but when Victoria Carrillo showed up at her doorstep, another past showed up with her. One she couldn’t turn away

Ransom will do whatever it takes to keep Victoria safe, even it kills her.

The sparks fly and so do the bullets in this psychological thriller.

In the end, the only option is failure or redemption.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2016

73 people are currently reading
142 people want to read

About the author

Rhavensfyre

26 books136 followers
Rhavensfyre is the collaborative pen name used by two writers, Roxanne and KL, who have been partners since 2000 and were finally legally married in Washington D.C. in 2012. They have a small farm in Pennsylvania where they raise and breed horses. KL is a horse trainer and has shown western pleasure in the past, now her focus is more on pleasure riding and breeding. She is an avid cyclist, and when she is not on four hooves she is on 2 wheels. Roxy works as a nurse by night and an artist by day. A military veteran, she has seen a good bit of the world and now enjoys the quiet country life immensely. “Switching Gears” is their first book.

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5 stars
147 (41%)
4 stars
118 (33%)
3 stars
64 (18%)
2 stars
21 (5%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for AnnMaree Of Oz.
1,510 reviews131 followers
September 1, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. It brought up so many feelings and emotions for people who struggle with issues after returning from war zones. But it also dealt with the fact that these people don't want pity, or to accept help, even if they need it.
The responsibility the character feels for her circumstances and the dichotomy of people thinking she is a hero, while she feels like she has done very un-heroic things that no one would want to hear about, is palpable. Then add in she is living in a more conservative area, where the conservative values have her looked down upon for her being a lesbian. There's so many deep themes and layers to take in with this book, that I am still reeling. I really think it's Rhavensfyres best work.

Ransom is such a damaged yet still strong character after the hardships she has been through and seen in war. She suffers with PTSD and lives her life swallowing down all emotions, and not truly living. Just existing. She is departed from life and reality, and people, because she thinks it's easier, and she can't get hurt that way, plus she doesn't have to be responsible for others, either. Living on a huge farm estate with a sanctuary for deer she oversees, and only going to town once a week for canned soup and peanut butter and jelly for sandwiches, is just fine to her.

Victoria had the opportunity to know Ransom before she was shipped off. It's been 3 years since their first encounter before her deployment, and it breaks her heart to see the confident chivalrous woman she never got over, be so shut down and broken, and unwilling to even remember their beautiful weekend together, because even remembering the good causes her pain.

You really feel the connection between the two, and the frustration from Victoria (who is a therapist that became disillusioned with social services, and is being stalked) at trying to get through to the stubborn Ransom. Victoria herself is stubborn, too though. But she knows when to push, and not to push. But she isn't perfect either. She gets upset, sulky, and mad, and lets Ransom know it.
Ransom isn't all sexy brooding either, she shows her playful and relaxed side too, in taunting Victoria with her discomfort at the situation of being stuck in the middle of "podunk" town as she calls it.

Both have sizzling chemistry in the bedroom, and out of it. But the connection they have emotionally and the trust they build in sharing their 'damage' with eachother is at the forefront.

I liked that even in the ending, although it's wonderfully happy in it's romantic ever after - it's clear Ransom still has work to do in order to grow and maintain that relationship, and accept help, to be challenged in her new goals in life with re-entering society. I love that they both find community and purpose in the town and eachother.

A highly recommended read, that just left me quite taken. On kindle unlimited.
Profile Image for Kate.
76 reviews13 followers
November 15, 2016
I was torn between a 4* and a 5* for this one but I feel it's closer to 5 so that's what I'm going with.

I really liked this book, the romance was perfectly told, the chemistry between the two was really well written. The mystery and story of the stalker kept me guessing throughout. This will be going on my to read again shelf.
Profile Image for Ameliah Faith.
859 reviews43 followers
May 23, 2016
Ransom and Victoria spent a glorious weekend together before Ransom left for war. Three years have passed and now Victoria has a stalker who is escalating in his behaviour. Her business partner takes her to a safe place under the protection of a sailor home from the war, a changed and damaged woman. Maybe they can help each other out, only the sailor is Ransom and she not only doesn't want help, she doesn't remember Victoria. Somewhere out there, not too far away lurks a very real and deadly danger headed right for them. Can Ransom keep the therapist safe or will the PTSD prove to be too much?

“Oh my goodness”, that (or something a little less G rated) is what you will say when you finish this book. I'm so blown away I'm not really sure where to start. I've read it twice now and its even better the second time around. Its dark and dangerous, full of suspense, deception, lies and misdirection. You will read many parts of this incredible story sitting on the edge of your chair as you worry about Victoria and Ransom.

I loved how bravely Ransom battled her demons so she could save Victoria. Ransom was in so much pain but she really tried (eventually) her best to meet Victoria half way when it came to their relationship. Victoria was no slouch either. It was an uphill struggle to bring Ransom out of the prison her mind and soul were held in. She bravely pushed or comforted her when she needed it, never once afraid of the nightmares, walls and barriers Ransom had erected, all the while knowing her life was in peril. They are an amazing couple with SO much chemistry. The delicious and sensual love scenes will leave you hot and wanting yet blissfully satisfied. The ending was superb, full of drama, it was totally perfect.

Kudos to Rhavensfyre. This one is sure to be an award winner!!
Profile Image for XR.
1,980 reviews106 followers
September 3, 2020
PTSD sucks major gonads.

I quite enjoyed the chemistry between Victoria and Ransom, and was happy to see them working through their issues. Or at least, Ransom giving things a chance on her end. It was a nice twist, getting an insight into the stalker's thoughts too.
Profile Image for Loek Krancher.
1,042 reviews66 followers
March 27, 2016
Absolutely fantastic!

She experiences flashbacks of horrible events and is going through hell. She is living her daily trauma over and over, feeling suffocated and lonely. Can she get her sanity and her life back? Someone from her past walked back in her life. Someone she must protect. Danger is lurking in the shadow, watching her in a creepy way and intervening in her life. The unmasking was mind blowing, shocking and very surprising. I feel the adrenaline rush, my breath quickens and my heart races. I couldn't put this book down. What a read! This book deals with the reality of a vet suffering from PTSD. It gives you insight to their struggle. It's a vivid story about survival, pain, strength, hope and a passionate beautifully intense love story. It is a brilliant, captivating and emotional read. Rhavensfyre did an excellent job with describing the PTSD without going overboard. This book is definitely at the top of my reading list.
Profile Image for Blink51n.
115 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2016
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. It certainly wasn't a bad story at all, in fact it was well written, but there's something too familiar with these characters; a little more cookie-cutter than I like.
Also, I pegged the who in the whodunnit as well as motive way too early. There were too few characters outside Ransom and Victoria not to guess. Again, it's a good villain, but I would have liked that explored a little deeper also.
Profile Image for Kennedy.
1,173 reviews80 followers
March 8, 2017
I like both women and their strength of character. Victoria Carrillo has a mystery person after her and Ransom Greathouse is ex-military and dealing with various issues. Although reluctant, Ransom is called upon to look after her. I enjoyed how each character brought out the good stuff in the other. I thought the read did a good job of articulating the after effects of actively serving in the military.
Profile Image for Char Dafoe.
Author 28 books193 followers
February 24, 2021
A 4 star upped to a 5 star

This was my second time around reading this book. When I originally read it, it sat or more like felt differently with me than it did this time around. I enjoyed it much more, and that's not the authors fault, that's me and my kooky brain. Rhavensfyre has come to be a favourite of mine and quite reliable. Everything I've read of theirs hasn't once let me down. They have a talent at weaving a story that leaves you entertained, intrigued, sometimes breathless and always on the edge of your seat. There is such beauty in their words and the way they string a sentence together makes you think you're reading edgy poetry or something without the flowery non-sense.

Ransom, herself, was a conundrum to me. Sharp and precise at times, and so quick she'd cut you off at the knees before you even could comprehend what just happened. Other times she was loose and lively in a way that had you lowering your guard only to get smacked in the face when she reined herself in. Ransom was a disarming woman, someone who oozed authority and order, but naturally and sometimes unknowingly, drew people in with her natural prowess. She performed her job well at keeping Victoria safe and alive. Rhavensfyre expertly wrote Ransom in a way where I could see her actions, the way she took care of the land she lived on, her quick and sure movements with a gun, how she made love. All of it was so easy to see in my minds eye. Victoria, on the other hand, drove me to drink at times. Her outbursts got under my skin. However, it was easy to see that she and Ransom meshed well, complemented one another. I liked that Victoria's character didn't act like a psychiatrist toward Ransom even if she tried a few times after being harshly shut down by Ransom. I liked that Ransom came to her own conclusion over her own ptsd and feelings about letting people in, and finally relented into helping herself to heal. I enjoyed the little twist at the end and how Ransom got her "man" and saved the damsel.

Another hit, another recommendation
Profile Image for Hess.
315 reviews8 followers
May 20, 2023
This started off decent and then lost my interest completely towards the end.

What it's about: Ransom is a former soldier with PTSD.

She has been hiding from the world in an old country manor, waiting for the inevitable.

Then one day, her friend Sam shows up with a beautiful woman in tow. Victoria is being chased by a stalker, and she needs help.

Except Ransom's already failed to protect her squad once. Can she really go through this pain again?

What I thought: I have been on a streak of DNF's lately. My partner has a library of former Kindle Unlimited books (most of them awful) and I sighed a breath of relief when I picked this one up. The story starts strong and Ransom's headspace was judgy but interesting. The early was sudden but I was willing to roll with it, especially after the time-skip. I also liked the stalker monologues, which made me want to lock my doors and windows.

Unfortunately, the authors drop the ball about halfway through the book. The identity of the stalker becomes obvious, sucking the suspense right out of the story. Worse, they drop the ball on the stalker monologues, who stops being a credible threat. Rather than develop the villain (who had the potential to be very interesting), the authors instead force the romance to carry the story.

Except it can't. The attraction between these two mains just didn't feel real to me. There was nothing here to suggest a deep emotional connection beyond post-coital bliss. Their dialogue was stunted, going from 0 to 100 in about two sentences. There was no build up. Ever.



And while I liked the notion that Ransom and Victoria are both survivors of their own personal wars, the authors didn't do enough with it. Instead we get a lot of moping from Victoria, and a lot of suffering from Ransom.

Good rep on PTSD, otherwise a missed opportunity.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,300 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2020
Another great Rhavensfyre book

“You can’t live in the past, Ransom. I’m not saying you can’t honor the memory of your friends and family, but you can’t use the past as an excuse to keep running from your future.”

“People died every day because someone wanted something you had, or simply because they had to have something to hate or demonize and you were the most convenient target.”
+ • + • + • +

An entertaining story with all the excitement, emotion, intimacy & intensity, conflicts & characters as expected from a Rhavensfyre book. I could definitely see this becoming a good series someday, but its satisfying all on its own.
Profile Image for Ceh131973.
554 reviews5 followers
May 29, 2018
This book had everything! Romance, action, even humor. The characters were deep as were the issues they dealt with. I love when authors choose not to have the "perfect" character but rather one that has flaws and struggles. This just makes it more realistic. Rhavensfyre does not seem to shy away from the tough issues which keeps me coming back for more.
Profile Image for Linda.
Author 5 books40 followers
October 8, 2023
I would really like to see this book made into a series. The characters were deep, especially Ransom, and I hated to see the story end. The story line moved right along at a smooth pace. I like stories with strong female characters who don't take crap. I want more of Ransom. Rhavensfyre has a knack for writing solid stories.
7 reviews
December 4, 2018
Virtually entertaining. Plenty of intimate moments. Lots mental challenges for the reader to ponder who is the mysterious stalker . And in my personal opinion everybody has to feel Ransom's misery! Wow what she journeyed through . KUDOS for Rhavensfyre
Profile Image for Stefanny.
14 reviews
June 25, 2020
Great read!

It's a very real yet intriguing story. Anyone who wants to understand PTSD this story will give you a bit of an insight as to what the person goes through. It's also a great read, with adventure, love, funny and sad moments.
144 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2021
Wow

What a story. I was so engrossed I took my phone into my work bathroom just to keep me enthralled into this story and amazing characters. Off to find more of your work and thank you, this could be a great series.
816 reviews8 followers
January 22, 2021
I enjoyed the well written story. Ransom's PTSD as a woman veteran is well done. Victoria did a good job in drawing Ransom out plus dealing with her stalker.
Profile Image for Coldwonderland.
366 reviews
June 24, 2025
Honestly, I had a hard time following the characters at first, but as the story progressed, I felt the atmosphere more and more.
I will continue to read this author's books
32 reviews1 follower
August 10, 2016
So after seeing the stellar reviews I knew I had to read this book. The story looked to be really interesting with characters I thought I could really enjoy. I loved Switching Gears so I figured between that and the reviews it was a no brainier. Well I was wrong. The mystery was pretty obvious and it seemed to me that the characters weren't natural. Sort of when you watch a movie and can tell the actor is just acting the part instead of really becoming the character they are playing. I'm sure I'm not explaining myself well but I felt the characters, especially Ransom, was "forcing it." I've read books on character with PTSD and I believed it. I just wasn't feeling it with this book. Again it felt too forced. Like the author kept telling us instead of letting the character show us.

I usually read a book in one or two sitting but I became bored with this one. I just kept hoping it would get better or feel more real. It didn't. I'm sure this may just be due to my own preference because like I said many have given this book stellar reviews. I just didn't feel the same way.
45 reviews
July 1, 2016
Ex Soldier gets a second chance

First and foremost, congratulations to another fanfiction author for publishing their work! There are so many talented writers in the fanfiction community. It makes me happy when I see them get their work out to the masses. Kudos.

This story was partly or mostly inspired from the author's earlier work in the OUAT fandom. I liked reading it back then, and I'm happy that the author adapted it into a novel. Both characters were fleshed out and stood on their own, completely independent. A nice balance of the light and the dark.

The pace was good, and I liked the ending, even though I figured out the mystery early on. Finding out the "why" and getting the whole backstory was better. Nicely done.
284 reviews7 followers
December 14, 2025
I thought the book was good. And the story was amazing. I had a little trouble connecting with the characters. I am not sure why I just felt like I wanted to feel more for them.
If you love a protective h and broken h this book would be good to read.
I would go more a 3.5
There were a few spicy scenes but it wasn't anything too overdone. Spice level for me was 2-3
and slow burn. Although it does start off with a bang. But for them to share how they really feel it takes one a little longer than the other.

Profile Image for Nolly  Frances Sepulveda.
383 reviews23 followers
April 5, 2016
Loved it

Yes! Another great story by this wonderful duo. I loved Ransom's character and strength and Victoria's determination and grit. This was a very well written suspense/romance that also had good secondary characters, I would love to read more about Ransom and Victoria, I think there's more to their story.
1,149 reviews15 followers
April 11, 2016
Loved this book.

Great book. Your heart goes out to Ransom immediately . Then to Victoria struggling to keep her life intact. I did not see the ending coming. Held my attention all the way thru.
Profile Image for 2mmommy.
779 reviews
May 30, 2016
Ransom

I enjoyed this story. It was my first read in this genre. I liked Ransom, and I found her to be a vey complex lady. I figured out the bad guy pretty early, but I enjoyed the banter between a Ransom and Victoria.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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