Ransomed Hearts: The Resurrection of Ransom Connor

by Steven J. Clark

Someone is killing beautiful young women. All are dressed in expensive evening gowns when found. Can Cass Rosier, a thirty-one-year-old single mom and the first female deputy ever hired by Nicholas County solve the mystery? The answer to the question may determine whether she succeeds or not in her unexpected appointment as the acting sheriff.
When Samantha (Sam) Martin, a highly successful New York attorney and Cass's best friend since childhood, suddenly shows back up in Summersville fleeing a nasty divorce, Cass recruits her as a special investigator on the case.
Together Cass and Sam must deal with Sam's abusive ex-husband, Ricky, Cass's budding new romance with Dr. Gary Coleman, and at the same time unravel the harrowing twists, turns, and surprises they encounter as they try to solve the perplexing mystery of Nicholas County's evening gown murders.
All The Pretty Dresses was recently awarded a top-ten finish in the prestigious 2014 'Critique My Novel' Book writer's competition

Genres: Mystery

374 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2014

About the author

Award-winning author, Steven J. Clark, is a former businessman and newspaper publisher who resides in the mountains of Central Utah. His fourth novel, Ransomed Hearts, a Contemporary Romance/Romantic suspense story was released on Amazon on 10/19/2019.

Ransomed Hearts is written in a female POV and features MC Carrie Bringsworth, a 32 yr. old Colorado widowed mother of two who is the sole witnesses to a horrific motorcycle accident. She rushes to the rider's aid not knowing that her act of mercy will dredge up her most painful memories of the past and make her future completely uncertain.

Prior to writing Ransomed Hearts, Clark penned a two-book Native American Fiction series. Book 1 is Wages of Greed and book 2 is Fountains of Fire. Both feature Danny Whitehorse, a young Navajo attorney and his cousin/investigator, Chaco. Readers of Tony Hillerman will find both book have a very familiar feel.

Clark's first book entitled, All The Pretty Dresses, is the story of Cass Rosier, the first female sheriff elected in conservative NIcholas County, WV. She is immediately confronted by the mystery of a serial killer who leaves his victims elegantly dressed in beautiful scarlet evening gowns.

Mr Clark loves hearing from his fans and invites everyone to contact him at authorstevenjclark@gmail.com, and to visit his website at www.stevenjclark.com.



His latest novel, Fountains of Fire (FOF) hit the bookshelves on December 10th, 2016. FOF is Clark's third novel, and the second in the Danny Whitehorse/Jason Stevens series.

The first novel in the series (Clark's second novel) is called Wages of Greed. This series is focused on the Navajo (Dine') reservation and features a liberal dose of Navajo history, tradition and contemporary culture.

Clark's first novel, All The Pretty Dresses, is a gritty police procedural with strong female protagonists that is set in West Virginia. It was published in Feb, 2014, and earned a top ten finish in the 2014 international Critique My Novel book competition.

Clark's publisher is New Horizons Press/Publishers, LLC.

Mr. Clark resides in a beautiful, high-mountain valley in Central Utah with his wife, Lauri.

Reviews

[Evon]

I loved this book! I highly recommend it! I was sad to see it end, and hope for a sequel to this book! The characters came alive to me, and the book thoroughly kept me entertained, and waiting to see how it would end!!

[Amy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

All The Pretty Dresses follows underdog Sheriff Cass Rosier as she nabs neighborhood pedaphiles, serial killers, and cheating husbands. Once her best friend (and recent divorcee) Sam Martin joins her, it's double the fun in a romping serial killer mystery that includes gorgeous dresses, hot and heavy love scenes and plenty of womanly sass to combat a murderer and Sam's idiotic ex-husband. Sam and Cass are smart, dignified women who put their "women's touch" into high gear to catch a murderer who sexually tortures his victims before putting their dead bodies on display in magnificent evening gowns where all the townspeople can see them. The strength, sass, and integrity of Sam and Cass is very refreshing and instead of reading love scenes that were slapped on merely to add thrills, each scene was carefully calculated to add information about the mystery and move the plot forward. The descriptions in this book are wonderfully detailed (sometimes a little TOO detailed) and create a relaxed, kick-back-your-heels adventure in a charming, backwoods Virginia town. The pacing lags a bit when Sam arrives in town, and it's frustrating how long the killer runs loose, but after the middle of the book, it ramps back into high gear as the serial killer gets more and more eager to find beautiful victims to add to his collection. The serial killer scenes put me off because of the gruesome brutality and the detailed descriptions of the killer's torture, but Steven Clark is a skilled new writer and I expect the next Sam and Cass adventure to be just as exciting.

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left me confused about its intended genre. Parts of it are an epic police procedural about the hunt for a serial killer. Parts are a Thomas Harris esque reveal of the serials killers actions that are quite disturbing. Then parts are heavily tinged with a Christian message; both protagonists are divorced but for the most egregious reasons. Yes the story is compelling, albeit a little far fetched. But there isn't enough of something to make it great.

The setting in rural West Virginia is all well and good but the locals are almost stereotypes and there is a scene where a teen says 'my dad would take his razor strop to me' Okay I am over 50 and I don't know anyone from my childhood who had a razor strop and I suspect that the threat of violence against a minor even in rural WV would result with a visit from CPS not a chuckle. The scene where the sheriff goes on a date and necks in a car at a drive in was silly and the details regarding the prior sheriff's problems were just bizarre. The action by the sheriff & Sam at the dance we preposterous.

[Catherine Putsche · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all – An exceptional ingredient of suspense, mystery, and thriller all in one go.
I'd challenge anyone to try and put this book down when you start to read the opening chapters – As I definitely couldn’t.
Cass Rosier, is a well developed character who I felt I could instantly relate to. She is strong with a good methodological approach using her analytical and critical eye in narrowing down the when and where. She has all the qualities of a real life heroin, while struggling to establish herself in a male dominated environment.
This is crime fiction at its best and I will recommend it to everyone I know as a truly addictive read.

[Martha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book to support a local author. It was a very suspenseful book but I was shocked and disgusted by the vulgar language and unthinkable violence and perversions. Granted those things happen, but it doesn't have to be written in a book that can be purchased by just anyone. It should be in an adult bookstore. The spelling, grammar and editing were horrific. I've read books with typos but this book had so many errors on every page it was unbelievable. I've read better rough draft manuscripts. This could have been a good book without all the smut! Don't waste your time.

[Sue A. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Pretty Dresses was set up with great suspense. Later it became more explicit in "how" beautiful women had been treated by this serial killer and the steps it took to catch him. The female sheriff is good at her job and knows how to use her people to get the job done. The added romance helped to take the edge-of-your seat suspense out for a breather while worrying about their safety. It hit all the angles of a great Steven Clark book. It's in a must read category.

[Rashmi Pant · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serial killer is on the loose.. a new female Sheriff has to prove her mettle and a civic lawyer (coming out of a bad marriage) plays amateur investigator. All in all, while there is nothing that I can point out as wrong with the book, it failed to captivate me. I wonder therefore, if it was just my flunky mood or the book?!!

[Peggy Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the characters and the way they worked together to figure out who the murderer was. I also liked the twist at the end. The only thing that detracted a little from the story was the spelling errors.

[Geof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific. Well done Steven. You have a new fan. I absolutely loved your characters and cannot wait for the next adventure.
Sorry folks, no spoilers here but I urge you to read this book. It has everything that a good thriller should heve.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

Readers can be assured of some nail-biting moments.

Read full review in the 2016 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Patricia Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story. Was a little surprised with some of the detail. Steven Clark is an exceptional person I am looking forward to the next book.

[Patti Delight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the book. It was a really good read. Waiting for the sequel.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It kept me fully entertained wanting to know what was going to happen next. I fully recommend it. I can't wait for his next book.

[Alicia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, highly recommended can't wait for more!!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. I was very enchanted with the story. It had great ebbs and flows. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

the way the murders happen it seems as there are no clues untill things come to getter.the ending is all about police work.

[Mary Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

This book was exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Excellent who done it story. I would highly recommend.