Book Review: Ransomed Dreams (Side Roads Book 1) by Sally John

This is a very good portrayal of PTSD in an invalid and his caretaker and life issues they face.

Ransomed Dreams (Side Roads Book 1)
by Sally John

File Size: 4545 KB
Print Length: 402 pages
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (July 16, 2010)
ASIN: B003VWBXW8
Genre: Christian Fiction, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Sheridan Montgomery leads a charmed life as the wife of Eliot, U.S. ambassador to Venezuela. But an attack on their lives cripples Eliot, and they retreat to a remote Mexican village. As Sheridan quietly cares for her husband, she sees her dreams slipping away. Luke Traynor shatters their reverie when he arrives to tell Sheridan of her father’s heart attack and the evidence implicating him in a conspiracy. Sheridan returns to Chicago to untangle the web of her father’s past and is forced to confront her feelings for Luke, a trail of deceit, and the truth about her marriage.

Review:
Sheridan and her husband are traumatized by an attack that has left Eliot crippled and in pain. They have hidden themselves away in a remote Mexican village. Sheridan serves as secretary for the few hours he works on his memoirs and as caretaker in his frustrated, angry moments. The rest of the time Eliot withdraws into his own world or sleeps for hours in a drugged state. Sheridan tries to accept the situation, but she is becoming tired of being isolated and frustrated that Eliot will rarely leave their home. At least she finds solace in prayer and talks with the wise local Padre.

Their quiet, hidden life is disrupted when Luke, the CIA agent who saved her during the attack, hunts them down. Luke and Sheridan formed a fragile friendship as her ‘angel Gabriel’ supporting her at the hospital while they waited to see if Eliot would survive and then helping her make the transition to the secluded life. Luke was not supposed to come back into her life, but he arrives with a message from Sheridan’s sister: their father is dying. Sheridan has reason to not want to go to her father’s side. Still, she cares enough to go to share her sister’s pain.

Sheridan again leans on Luke as she makes the traumatic trip back to Chicago. There she learns that her sister has uncovered evidence that their politician father has secrets of years of corruption. As Sheridan tries to regain her balance in the ‘real world’, Eliot surprisingly travels from the house with the Padre and begins to show unexpected improvement in his condition.

Sheridan doesn’t understand why her leaving has helped Eliot’s condition. Eliot is afraid that Sheridan won’t return … especially if she learns of a secret in his past. Will their marriage be able to survive the strains of their PTSD and revealed secrets?

The story circumstances lead to the need for forgiveness and restoration in several relationships. I was very impressed by the author’s clear handling of complex emotional and physical issues. She does a good job portraying both the patient and caretaker struggles and frustrations. I liked how the levels of faith of the characters helped them deal with the real-life situations and temptations they faced. The faith elements are shown through the lives of the characters and are not just preachy add-ins.

My ladies book club all agreed this was engaging fiction with good messages. I recommend this to readers who like stories that deal with family and faith issues.

Source: Kindle 2011. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Alphabet goals.