Ransomed Dreams
Authors: Amy Wallace
Tags: #General, #Fiction, #Suspense, #Religious, #Christian, #Christian Fiction, #Forgiveness
RAISE FOR
R
ANSOMED
D
REAMS
“Ransomed Dreams
is fast-moving and suspenseful. The author has researched her facts carefully and accurately describes the difficulties that special agents from two different federal agencies face when fate brings them together in an investigation.”
J
ACK
B
RANSON
, retired federal agent
“Amy Wallace weaves an intriguing tale in
Ransomed Dreams
—a most promising debut.”
C
RESTON
M
APES
, author of
Dark Star
and
Full Tilt
“Grab a hanky with one hand and buckle a seat belt with the other when a spirit-wounded FBI agent and a woman recovering from devastating loss pair up to protect children from a vengeful killer. With main characters you’d love to call your friends and villains you’d love to throttle,
Ransomed Dreams
delivers an absorbing read from start to finish.”
J
ILL
E
LIZABETH
N
ELSON
, author of the
To Catch a Thief romantic suspense series
“Amy Wallace is a new talent to watch in romantic suspense.”
E
LIZABETH
W
HITE
, author of
Fireworks
“Ransomed Dreams
is shaped by refreshing storytelling and unique plot twists.”
C
INDY
W
OODSMALL
, author of
When the Heart Cries
“Steeped in police intrigue and rich characters,
Ransomed Dreams
entertains, educates, and captivates. Amy Wallace is a fresh, vibrant voice in the Christian market.”
M
ARK
M
YNHEIR
, homicide detective and author of
The Void
“Amy Wallace is a sparkling new
voice
in romantic suspense.
Ransomed Dreams
had me hooked from the start and didn’t let go until the deeply satisfying ending.”
K
RISTIN
B
ILLERBECK
, author of
What a Girl Wants
“Amy Wallace handles this difficult story with grace and tenderness—but let’s not forget the suspense element that keeps the pages turning. And let’s also not forget the heart of the book. Forgiveness is not a tacked-on message but lived out in the lives of these characters.”
T
RICIA
G
OYER
, award-winning author of
Night Song
and
Arms of Deliverance
To my amazing family.
Without your love, encouragement, cleaning skills,
and prayer support, this book would have remained
simply an entertaining dream.
To Jack and Mary, my favorite federal agent family
Everything good about Steven, Gracie, Clint, and Sara
is because of you two.
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
P
ublishing a book has a lot in common with birthing a baby—from conception onward it’s a team effort with God and an amazing cast of characters. Writing the Defenders of Hope series also had a lot in common with my last delivery of a beautiful eleven-pound-eight-ounce baby girl: work, tears, and incredible rejoicing! And lots of people to thank who kept me sane in the process.
A heaping helping of thanks goes to my longsuffering family who have washed, cooked, cleaned, inspired, prayed, encouraged, and loved me anyway You gave all that so I could do one of the things I know, without a doubt, God created me to do. Thank you, David, for launching my career with your proverbial boot on my backside, which lovingly moved me from typing an action-packed dream all the way to a novel I’m proud to hold in my hands.
Thanks to my precious princesses too. Elizabeth, my Sweet Song; Hannah, my Musical Laughter; and Sarah, my Sunshine: You make me want to be a better person. To be like you as you grow to be like Jesus. I love you all—to infinity and beyond.
Other awesome characters who have helped me birth this book include two of the most amazing critique partners known to man. Heartfelt thanks go to my best friend, Jen Keithley who makes me throw well-aimed rocks at my fictional people to produce a satisfying story rife with conflict and class, sans melodrama. She even allows me to clean her floor when I need a mental break and a good laugh. Then there’s Meg Moseley whose careful eye and flair for detail made my writing look far better than I ever imagined possible. Thanks, you two; I’m forever grateful.
Mom, Dad, Josh, Heidi, Zack, and the Wallace clan—thanks for keeping me grounded and giving me roots.
Julee Schwarzburg, you are an awesome editor and first-class miracle worker. Thanks for taking a chance on the first thing I’d ever written and transforming it into a story that makes me smile and cry at the same time.
A world of thanks goes to the entire team at Multnomah. Being a Multnomah author was my brass ring from the first fiction word I typed, so I thank you all for being a part of making dreams come true.
Many thanks to my Momsloop for your prayers, encouragement, and being a safe place to experience biblical correction and truth spoken in love. What an incredible group of ladies you are! Laurie, Sally, Kirstin, and Heather—you are heart-chocolate to me, my friends.
Shawn and Nathan, thank you for teaching me what whole, full, and healthy looks like. And for showing me how to talk—and listen—to our heavenly Daddy, teddy bear in hand.
Without the over-the-top, wonderful people who make up
ACFW
, I never would have learned the nuts, bolts, and heart of good writing. I’m so glad I’m part of the family.
There’s never been a finer, more beautiful bunch of wordsmiths than The Threshing Floor ladies: Jen, Mary, and Staci. Thank you for teaching me to bleed into my work by sharing my heart, holding up my hands when I am weary, and for showing me how to thank God for the wild ride of writing life. I’m so glad I get to share the roller coaster with you.
My Writers of Remarkable Design group is the best bunch of “non-normals” to hang out with on Tuesday nights. Thanks for being you and for being a vital part of my life. Lindi, Cindy, and Vicki—your friendships are gold. I’m glad we’re a team.
Thank you, Les, for believing in The Journey and helping take it all the way to a truly Ransomed Dream.
Beth White, Deb Raney Jeanne Leach, Tom Chaney, Carolyn Curtis, and Lori Mote—you all were among the first to mentor
and encourage me to walk this writing journey one step at a time. What great footsteps you’ve left for me to follow as we together follow Christ.
Forensics may not be an In Touch CSI (Charles Stanley Institute) thing, but having a passion for God and compassion for people certainly is. Thank you for your prayers and for allowing our family to be part of an incredible ministry.
I’m privileged to be a part of First Baptist Atlanta, especially our awesome student ministry. Thanks to Dr. Stanley and the great people who make up our small part of the Body of Christ. You’ve taught, equipped, and challenged me well. You’ve also been and continue to be a place I’m glad to call home.
Finally, to the One who has loved me with an everlasting love before time began and who continues to be my dream come true—thanks, Daddy. It’s all because of You.
Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
I
SAIAH
43:1-2,
NLT
ROLOGUE
G
racie’s night overflowed with promise.
Uncharacteristic Georgia snow glistened in the front yard, and a cozy fire warmed her living room. She hummed “Silent Night,” even though the memory of Christmas grew to the week-old mark. Cider sloshed in her hands as she dodged two-year-old Joshua to find her corner of the couch.
“Mommy me like da fire truck.” Joshua circled the coffee table, making siren noises, as Jake, their golden retriever, beat a quick retreat to his new bed in the corner.
“Come here, little man.” Mark flopped down on the floor and tickled the toy away from Joshua.
Gracie smiled at the scene near her feet and caught Mark looking her over. He winked. They’d soon enjoy a private celebration of their seventh anniversary, complete with chocolate, a bubble bath, and massages—after the kiddos were tucked in bed at their grandparents’ house a short drive away.
Christmas tree lights twinkled, and candles filled the air with the aromas of vanilla and peppermint. Gracie listened for the oven’s beep, indicating her famous chocolate pound cake was finished, but heard nothing except Jake’s tail thumping against his pallet.
Elizabeth snuggled up with a book and her pink blanket in the rocking chair across the room. Gracie smiled. “You going to join us, sweetie?”
Her blond curls bounced as she hurried past her daddy’s extended hand. Elizabeth preferred books to tickles any day “I readin’ the book you gaved me.” She hopped into Gracie’s lap. “See the princess? I wanna be like her when I growed up.”
“You already are a princess.” Mark rose to his knees and pretended to bow. Elizabeth rewarded him with little giggles before she disappeared into the book again.
Gracie set her empty mug down and poked at Mark’s long, muscular legs with her toes. Tonight couldn’t come soon enough.
“Penny for your thoughts, beautiful.” He slipped up on the couch and drew her close.
“It’ll cost you more than that.”
“How ’bout a kiss or two?”
Mark’s kisses would buy him anything he wanted. It was a wonder they didn’t have more than two children. “I’ll tell you, and then we’ve got to run. Kisses come later.” Heat filled her cheeks at the memory of their almost seven years. Guess God knew two little ones were about all she could manage and retain some semblance of sanity “I don’t want to keep my parents waiting, but we can hurry home after.”
“No kisses first?” Mark stuck out his bottom lip. His blond, blue-eyed, six-foot frame shrank into the back of the couch with arms folded over his chest. He looked adorable with a pout.
“Don’t start, mister. I’ll collect my payment later.”
His little-boy expression slid into a lazy grin. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “We’d better hustle then.”
“You gonna bing da chock-it, Mommy?” Joshua zoomed his fire truck across the table again.
The
cake
.
She hightailed it into the kitchen. The oven remained cold and dark. No aroma of baking cake. “I don’t believe it. I forgot to turn on the oven.”
“No chocolate?” Elizabeth hugged her leg. “It’ll be okay.”
“Elizabeth’s right.” Mark picked up their pint-sized princess and tickled her tummy “We’ll survive this one New Year’s Eve without the cake.”
“Hode me too, Daddy.” Joshua’s lobster claw hands snapping open and shut, begging to be picked up, made Gracie smile.