Ransomed Dreams
by Amy Wallace
Published by Multnomah
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Reviewed by Amanda Schafer
(Defenders of Hope Series)
Ransomed Dreams immediately throws us into a tragic scene of death. I had tears just reading the prologue! But quickly, Amy Wallace created a guidebook of sorts to moving on with life.
Gracie is moving on after the death of her entire family at the hands of a drunk driver, and Steven is moving on after the 'death' of his marriage when Angela walked out five years ago. Each of them has to deal with the lies they have told themselves all these years--the lies that held them ransomed and kept them from moving on and truly living their lives.
Slowly they move towards each other during this process. While they are trying to work through their issues, Steven and Gracie are faced with the twisted minds of two criminals who are also figuring out how to move on with their own lives.
Author Wallace does a fantastic job of keeping it real. While this book is a fiction and romance book, bad things happen in this book, just as in the real world. The characters offer great examples of how you can wrestle with your beliefs and question why bad things happen without letting it consume you. And the friends/family of these people show how being the gentle voice of reason and a constant spiritual support can bring comfort and help to those who are struggling in their faith.
My favorite part was when Gracie is thinking of her parents' home, she equates the feeling of peace and comfort she receives from this place with chocolate. She calls it: "Heart-chocolate. ...what her parents provided without even trying. A safe place. Kind words. Gentle hugs. Happy memories. Hope. The kind of chocolate nourishment that didn't line her hips and thighs."
I'm ready to read the next in this series about Clint and Sara!
Armchair Interviews says: An excellent book and an easy read.
Author's Web site: http://www.amywallace.com