Ransome's Quest

Title: RANSOME’S QUEST
Author: Kaye Dacus
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
August 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2755-0
Genre: Inspirational/historical/pirate/romance

Charlotte Ransome is outside with her intended, but she doesn’t want to marry him, having found out that he’s only after her fortune. She breaks up with him, sending him away amidst threats, and then agrees to marry Ned Cochran. But they barely seal their agreement with a kiss when they are set upon by strangers and Ned is left bleeding and helpless on the lawn while Charlotte is spirited away.

Captain Salvador is a pirate—and he didn’t intend to kidnap Charlotte. Instead, he’d planned to kidnap Commodore William Ransome’s wife—not his sister. The plan work work enough to lure William Ransome out and possibly to his death, but most of Captain Salvador’s plans were toward William’s father-in-law. A man who would have no interest in someone like Charlotte. But Salvador has no other option at this point but to sail away to avoid what is likely to be a bloody battle until he figures out how to put his original plan back into motion—and kidnap the right woman.

But someone else has a vendetta against the Ransome’s. And both the pirates and the other party are determined to win…

RANSOME’S QUEST is the third and final book in the Ransome Triology by Ms. Dacus. It easily stands alone, but readers might want to read the first two books so they are up to date with stories of all the Ransome’s family. Fast paced and engaging, this historical series is clearly a time period and story that the author is passionate about as there is a life and liveliness in it that was absent in the contemporaries she’s penned.

Charlotte is no fainting female, instead she is smart, sharp-witted, and quick to take care of herself. The male characters pale somewhat in comparison, but they are still well developed. RANSOME’S QUEST is a very interesting story, and I hope to see more historicals along this nature by Ms. Dacus. $13.99. 352 pages.