Bakers Dozen 12

Ransom by Julie Garwood

So this was probably one of the first historical romance books that I had read, or at least in the wave of historical romance that I started.  And you might find it weird but I remember clearly how I came about getting this book.  I had read a little snippet of another book by this author, Mercy, in a Cosmo magazine.  I hadn't bought that book but I found this book in the bargain book section at Borders for around 2 dollars.  This book didn't have a cover wrap (it is a hard cover book) so there was no synopsis.  But I figured for 2 bucks I can take a gamble.  I think this was one of the first book that I fell in love with because it was about Scotland, and it totally made me think about a hunky Scottish warrior (I know kind of dorky, but hey I was like 15 when I got the book.)

The story starts off with Lady Gillian as a child and she is trying to escape from her manor with her sister after their father is killed by a greedy baron.  The story then time warps to about 15 years later where Gillian is ordered to find her sister whom she hasn't seen for that time.  She finds out that her sister is now living in the highlands and she must go to find her.  She also sees that the greedy barons captured a boy that they plan to kill.  But instead they escape and go into the highlands to bring the boy to his family.  Gillian pretends to be the boys Uncle's, Laird Brodrick Buchanan's, bride in order to insure a safe return for the boy and to also get help finding her sister.  Brodrick, feels the need to protect Gillian and soon sparks fly and they become married.  There are so many plot twists and turns that keep you interested and I honestly couldn't put the book down.

This story is in theory a sequel to The Secret but the book has enough detail to stand on its own and you can read it with out reading The Secret first.  I love how Julie Garwood mixed in the humor and to romance together and it seemed so seamless that they humor didn't feel out of place in the setting and time period of the novel.

Again, I just love this book.  I have read several of Julie Garwood's other books and I have to say, I have never been disappointed by what I had read.  If you're in the mood for a book that has a romance, humor and some action, I definitely suggest one of her novels.