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Lethal Ransom
A kidnapper with deadly intentions
…and a US marshal who must come to the rescue
The carjacking that ended with Kristen Lang running for her life—and her federal judge mother kidnapped—was a nightmare. The ransom, however, is Kristen in exchange for her mother. Deputy US Marshal Nick Sandoval will do almost anything to safely recover the judge—except trade Kristen. But can he shield the woman he’s falling for and bring her mother home?
…and a US marshal who must come to the rescue
The carjacking that ended with Kristen Lang running for her life—and her federal judge mother kidnapped—was a nightmare. The ransom, however, is Kristen in exchange for her mother. Deputy US Marshal Nick Sandoval will do almost anything to safely recover the judge—except trade Kristen. But can he shield the woman he’s falling for and bring her mother home?
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 2, 2019
75 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Alice Eakes
56 books363 followersLaurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories withothers; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, four books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that has taken her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.
You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.
You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 11, 2019
A consume-in-one-gulp kind of suspense so stock up on chocolate and get comfy for a marathon read. The pursuit is relentless, constantly putting Kristen in danger and we can't figure out why! Love the intrigue and the desperation leaching from every page. I was afraid to blink for fear of missing something! Kristen is so overwhelmed but also determined to do right by her mom despite what the US Marshals think! Love the clashing wills and gentle fireworks (that must be resisted at all cost) between this heroine and her hero! The best kind of read for romantic suspense lovers!
June 2, 2019
I think the passion could be a bit stronger. YOu didn't really get a sense that he was falling for her as you do in other Love Inspired books.
July 29, 2021
A friend gave me this book and I chose to wait to read it until I needed a gripping diversion.
It was fast-paced and it did the job I wanted it to do, which was to distract me from other matters for a short while. The stories of their escapes and adventures had me hooked.
I did wonder about Kristen's sore feet. I don't see how those injuries didn't cripple her more. She stood cooking when she didn't have to, (Cooking!!! She needed to put her feet up!) and she jumped down 12 feet to land on those sore feet and then proceeded to run all over those woods and marshy places and swim in unsanitary waters. At one point Nick noticed her feet were getting infected, but that infection was never mentioned again. I know that doing all that on hurt feet was supposed to show her determination and desperation, but it just seemed to me as if the author forgot at times that her character was injured, rather than Kristen suffering continuously with it or being painfully mindful of the impact of her decisions on her physically. (I myself have had hurt feet off and on from a variety of injuries over the years.)
I liked the main characters and the cover picture of Kristen. I like how Kristen always thought of solutions, but ummm, I didn't like how Nick dispensed with protocol so freely. It was there for a reason, and dispensing with it did cause further problems.
The mother's character was too controlling. It was a good reminder to never become that way myself, but just enjoy and appreciate my own kids rather than trying to arrange their lives. In the end, though, the mom did get her way on some of the issues. I wish Kristen had just told her they valued different things and that she enjoyed her life as it was. Not that her mom would've listened initially, but that, over the long haul, it would've made her expectations for Kristen more reasonable.
Also, I would've taken Kristen's dad's change of heart with more of a grain of salt. Yes, he'd had an epiphany, but it remained to be seen as to whether he'd live up to it or whether old behavior patterns would win out in the end. But Kristen just accepted his change as complete and made concrete plans around that. After a lifetime of him behaving differently, I found Kristen's acceptance of his change not just hopeful but gullible. It's good to be hopeful and encouraging. It's not so good to be gullible.
I loved the intro quote, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear ..." 1 John 4:18 I wanted to see the characters apply that to their story or incorporate that into their story somehow, but they never did seem to reach an awareness of it. It could've fit in at several points.
That, actually, is one of the passages I've always wondered about. HOW does perfect love cast out fear? What about it calms us even during the horrific? How is it capable of calming us then? And if I am still afraid, I must not have perfect love yet. It's a mystery to me because someone can love another to the depth of their being and still be afraid of pain or death. Or is that not perfect love?
I've finally noted, over the years, that only God has perfect love, and that His perfect love, not our own, can and does calm us - if not perfectly here on earth, then He will in heaven. "He will quiet you by His love..." Zephaniah 3:16
But this book, despite being Christian romance, or Christian romantic suspense, did not mention God at all. Or at least I don't remember the reference, if it did. In fact, there was not much thought or introspection at all, Christian or otherwise.
I have one friend who would say that the characters marry too quickly, before they really know each other, but that is common to the genre.
One of the other reviewers liked the book because no one "did anything excessively stupid." That made me laugh, and it's low bar for a book to fulfill.
However, it was a light, enjoyable read, and I plan to pass it along to my sister.
Favorite quote:
"If someone had to tell her he was good, he was probably drawing attention away from too many parts of him that were not."
It was fast-paced and it did the job I wanted it to do, which was to distract me from other matters for a short while. The stories of their escapes and adventures had me hooked.
I did wonder about Kristen's sore feet. I don't see how those injuries didn't cripple her more. She stood cooking when she didn't have to, (Cooking!!! She needed to put her feet up!) and she jumped down 12 feet to land on those sore feet and then proceeded to run all over those woods and marshy places and swim in unsanitary waters. At one point Nick noticed her feet were getting infected, but that infection was never mentioned again. I know that doing all that on hurt feet was supposed to show her determination and desperation, but it just seemed to me as if the author forgot at times that her character was injured, rather than Kristen suffering continuously with it or being painfully mindful of the impact of her decisions on her physically. (I myself have had hurt feet off and on from a variety of injuries over the years.)
I liked the main characters and the cover picture of Kristen. I like how Kristen always thought of solutions, but ummm, I didn't like how Nick dispensed with protocol so freely. It was there for a reason, and dispensing with it did cause further problems.
The mother's character was too controlling. It was a good reminder to never become that way myself, but just enjoy and appreciate my own kids rather than trying to arrange their lives. In the end, though, the mom did get her way on some of the issues. I wish Kristen had just told her they valued different things and that she enjoyed her life as it was. Not that her mom would've listened initially, but that, over the long haul, it would've made her expectations for Kristen more reasonable.
Also, I would've taken Kristen's dad's change of heart with more of a grain of salt. Yes, he'd had an epiphany, but it remained to be seen as to whether he'd live up to it or whether old behavior patterns would win out in the end. But Kristen just accepted his change as complete and made concrete plans around that. After a lifetime of him behaving differently, I found Kristen's acceptance of his change not just hopeful but gullible. It's good to be hopeful and encouraging. It's not so good to be gullible.
I loved the intro quote, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear ..." 1 John 4:18 I wanted to see the characters apply that to their story or incorporate that into their story somehow, but they never did seem to reach an awareness of it. It could've fit in at several points.
That, actually, is one of the passages I've always wondered about. HOW does perfect love cast out fear? What about it calms us even during the horrific? How is it capable of calming us then? And if I am still afraid, I must not have perfect love yet. It's a mystery to me because someone can love another to the depth of their being and still be afraid of pain or death. Or is that not perfect love?
I've finally noted, over the years, that only God has perfect love, and that His perfect love, not our own, can and does calm us - if not perfectly here on earth, then He will in heaven. "He will quiet you by His love..." Zephaniah 3:16
But this book, despite being Christian romance, or Christian romantic suspense, did not mention God at all. Or at least I don't remember the reference, if it did. In fact, there was not much thought or introspection at all, Christian or otherwise.
I have one friend who would say that the characters marry too quickly, before they really know each other, but that is common to the genre.
One of the other reviewers liked the book because no one "did anything excessively stupid." That made me laugh, and it's low bar for a book to fulfill.
However, it was a light, enjoyable read, and I plan to pass it along to my sister.
Favorite quote:
"If someone had to tell her he was good, he was probably drawing attention away from too many parts of him that were not."
August 16, 2020
When Kristen picks up her mom from her job, she has no idea her life is about to change. A black SUV follows her; kidnaps her mom, and sends Kristen running for her life. Nick was supposed to keep the Kristen's mom safe but now he is fighting to keep Kristen alive, find her mom, and keep his job. A good Love inspired Suspense story.
April 5, 2019
First book I have read by this author, and I loved it. Non stop action and suspense, and great plot and characters
May 15, 2019
My review today is on the Love Inspired Suspense, Lethal Ransom. Laurie is a fairly new author for LIS but I do really enjoy her work. This story is well written, action packed, and full of faith. I know you are going to enjoy it.
Social Worker Kristen Lang is driving her mother, the Honorable Julia Lang, home when she notices a gray SUV. The same SUV she had seen twice before on the way to the courthouse to pick up her mother. She struggles to get away from them but they stay on her tail. Her mother calls someone as the men ran her off the road. They grabbed both women but Kristen gets away. Kristen runs down the road as one of the men kidnap her mother and the other chases after her.
US Marshal Nick Sandoval is driving down the freeway when he gets a call from his boss. The judge called and thought they were about to be carjacked. He finds the accident and he sees a man chase the judges daughter. He is able to rescue her but is unable to get to the judge. Police officers chase after the SUV. Nick must help the girl.
A horrific journey to rescue the judge only to find it is Kristen that they want. Their ransom demand is to trade the judge for Kristen. They must learn to trust each other and to trust God. God has a plan for these two, a good plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. You might not be running for your life but you do have an enemy out there trying to steal, kill, and destroy. Give God your heart and watch Him move in your life.
Social Worker Kristen Lang is driving her mother, the Honorable Julia Lang, home when she notices a gray SUV. The same SUV she had seen twice before on the way to the courthouse to pick up her mother. She struggles to get away from them but they stay on her tail. Her mother calls someone as the men ran her off the road. They grabbed both women but Kristen gets away. Kristen runs down the road as one of the men kidnap her mother and the other chases after her.
US Marshal Nick Sandoval is driving down the freeway when he gets a call from his boss. The judge called and thought they were about to be carjacked. He finds the accident and he sees a man chase the judges daughter. He is able to rescue her but is unable to get to the judge. Police officers chase after the SUV. Nick must help the girl.
A horrific journey to rescue the judge only to find it is Kristen that they want. Their ransom demand is to trade the judge for Kristen. They must learn to trust each other and to trust God. God has a plan for these two, a good plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. You might not be running for your life but you do have an enemy out there trying to steal, kill, and destroy. Give God your heart and watch Him move in your life.
April 6, 2025
I like my heroines to be brave, quick thinking, and wise. Kristen and Nick are the main characters. Nick is a Marshal and Kristen is a Social Worker, whose mother is a federal judge. Kristen and her mother are attacked; Kristen's mother is taken, and Kristen escapes. Kristen is not wise and puts a family at risk because she won't go into protective custody as a witness. She acts as if it would be a jail sentence. As she and Nick escape through the woods they meet up with a family barbequing and then the potential bad guys show up. I found her selfish and uncaring about the other people in this story.
June 12, 2020
As Kristen Lang and her mother, a federal judge are on their way home they forced off the road and her mother kidnapped. Kristen escapes and rescued by a US Marshall. However, when the ransom request comes it is for the release of her mother in exchange for her. Kristen doesn't know who could want her but is determined to help and not get locked into protective custody. Nick sticks with her to protect her. There is plenty of time on the run and danger to move the plot along. Good suspense and no one acts excessively stupid.
June 10, 2020
Sometimes I make a snap decision early in a story about not wanting to read farther. However, this one I read to 60%. I just didn’t love the characters and didn’t believe their relationship and attraction. This is DNF.
March 7, 2022
Went 1/2 way. Boring and repetitive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book.
July 28, 2025
Good read. There were many twists and turns, and it was sometimes impossible to tell who was on the right side.
July 14, 2024
Fantastic book. Very exciting, don't want to give anything away but Wow, Kristen was driven!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews