A new series from the author of the Moonshine Task Force Series! Laurel Springs, AL is about to be hotter than a mid-August thunderstorm. When the Moonshine Task Force is absorbed into a new entity, Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team (LSERT) new faces come to town, new love is born, old love is found again, and there’s a plethora of drama and romance happening all over the tri-county area. … over the tri-county area. LSERT puts police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, K-9 handlers, and EMT’s all in harm’s way as they work to keep the area safe from any threat.
Emotions run high, passions ignite.
Come with me, back to Laurel Springs, in what’s sure to be a wild ride!
Ransom Thompson
For years I’ve wanted two things – to be a member of the Moonshine Task Force and to be the man Stella Kepler can’t live without.
One out of two isn’t bad, or so I tell myself. Being the only K-9 handler for The MTF presents its own share of obstacles, but me and Rambo? We make it work. Life is status quo, until I’m called in to help with what appears to be a hostage situation and Stella is right in the middle of it.
This is my one chance, and I’m not going to blow it.
Stella Kepler
When I’m stuck in an examination room holding a hurt woman and a man with a gun, I do the only thing I can. I sneak out, call 911 and hope help comes quickly. It does.
In the form of Ransom Thompson.
He and I have known each other since we were babies. Our mother’s are friends, our dad’s work together, and we’ve always been friends.
Only, the last few months I’ve started to notice things. How mature he is, how alpha he can be, the chiseled six-pack, and the abundance of ink spreading across his body.
When I offer to cook him dinner for saving me, neither one of us know how that one moment will change the course of the rest of our lives.
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I absolutely freakin loved this book!!!! Ransom has always felt some sort a way about Stella but she never saw him as anything else but a friend. Stella for the past couple of months has started to notice Ransom as a man she could be interested in. He has waited patiently for Stella to notice him and once she does he isn’t going to let this chance pass him by. They begin to explore their attraction and growing feelings for one another. Both of them decide to keep their relationship to themselves for now. That changes when an accident brings their secret relationship into the light. Now that everyone knows about them….can they make it work? I love their story so much….I laughed, cried, and swooned. Their story was super sweet, definitely hot, and I loved every minute of it!!! Let me tell you this….lord have mercy Ransom is one handsome devil. I have a new book boyfriend and his name is Ransom Thompson! I highly recommend this book and this series to everyone. I can’t wait for the next book in the Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team series…from the quick glimpses we got its going to be a good one! Well done!!!!
Another winner for Laramie! I really enjoyed this book – the second generation MTF. It was great to see what happens to the original MTF kids and how they’ve grown up into their own complicated lives. Ransom and Stella have been dancing around each other for years, and it finally takes one fateful event to finally get them in sync. I’ve come to really love Laramie’s storytelling and her entertaining navigation through the complicated mire of relationships. Always a HEA and it was sure a fun ride getting there! Also, what a great set up for the next book – I can’t wait for Nick and Kelsea’s story!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Ransom Thompson is a man who works with precision. Stella Kepler knows to keep her head under pressure. This may the first in a new series but you may find that Stella’s last name sounds familiar. Her father works with the Moonshine Task Force. One thing that I found interesting is that his story, Renegade, was also the first in his series. If you haven’t read his book yet, you may want to go and check out what you missed.
They’re a little apprehensive about what happens should certain people find them out. Part of that could be due to the fact that they’ve known each other for a while and we all know about fathers and their “little” girl. It may be terrible of me but I loved to see them squirm. I think that just makes them seem more human – something we can connect with.
It’s a great cuddle book. Maybe it’s because I’m a dog person but our third main character just happens to be a dog. I loved getting to know him and see how much he cares for his people. And that’s why I wish that my cuddle buddy was still around. But if you prefer a buddy that actually says something, you could go that route too. Our author always goes the extra mile for her readers. She takes the time to create an adventure and she’s very good at not letting it overtake the underlying main theme. Plus we get just the right amount of the good stuff. Yea, and I may have let out a chuckle or two. I’m not afraid to admit that for most of the story I had a smile plastered on my face. I can’t wait to see where our author plans on taking this series. And I just may have to find the time to revisit Renegade.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Ransom is a K9-partnered officer with the Moonshine Task Force. They get a call from a clinic about a man with a gun, and since the other on-duty officers are related to both the medical assistant who made the call and Stella, the one who is being held by the gunman, Ransom is the one who goes to take care of it.
Ransom and Stella have been friends their entire lives. Their parents are best friends and their fathers work together on the same police force as Ransom. When Stella makes dinner for Ransom as a thank you, sparks fly and they decide to give a relationship a real shot.
What I liked: Being a German Shepherd owner myself, Rambo the dog is obviously my favorite character I liked Stella’s confidence and Ransom’s supportiveness. The entire supporting cast was fantastic, too. This book captured the good parts of growing up in a small town where everyone knows everyone else.
What I didn’t like: The drug operation at the family property didn’t seem to go anywhere, but since this is the first book in a series about the new task force I’m guessing will factor into those books.
Overall: A fantastic, sexy read.
I have been anxiously awaiting this new series by Laramie Briscoe and the first book doesn’t disappoint at all. Ransom is a great friends to lovers story, and I really enjoyed Ransom and Stella together. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
There are certain books that come in to my life that remind me I’m just a seething bag of emotions. This was one of those books. A book that makes me feel so deeply and care so much about the story. Because, even having read several of the teaser excerpts for this story I was still the same bawling mess reading those scenes again this time around. There are a lot of big emotions in this book, and it’s possible they feel even bigger because I’ve followed this group of characters from before Stella and Ransom were even born. I think that’s one of the things that makes this book so very special, having the chapters where we get to see what’s happening from the parents’ point of view. I have loved this ‘family’ since Renegade’s book first came into my hands. Now I just need a couple of days… (Weeks…? Months…?) to recover from my story hangover and I’ll be ready for the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
This novel did not disappoint. I loved it for a lot of reasons, one being I loved checking in on characters from the previous Moonshine Taskforce. Loved it! I loved Ransom and Stella together. I loved the slow burn. The chemistry between Stella and Ransom was so good. Once again the dialogue and banter were outstanding. I love a novel that can make me laugh out loud and cry and leave me with a smile on my face. This novel did not disappoint.
I’ve been impatiently waiting to reading this book since it was announced and as expected, it lived up to ALL of my expectations.
And then some!
I’m a huge MTF fan, along with anything Laramie Briscoe writes. I love how as her stories continue in a series, so do story lines for past characters. It is always great to see the guys with their ladies and kids.
Ransom and Stella were amazing together. The chemistry is off the charts and they have a serious connection. Laughter and love, along with some serious steam and suspenseful moments. It was amazing. Plus Rambo was legit everything. I loved everything about this book.
I cannot wait to see what LB brings in the future, and where she takes this series as well. – By Cat
This book absolutely did not disappoint! It is Ransom and Stella’s story. It’s about a love that has been years in the making between Stella and Ransom. They finally take the plunge, but are scared to come out to their friends and family for fear that if they don’t make it, it will tear their families apart. It suspenseful, action packed and steamy all rolled into one smoking hawt read! I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book and I am leaving a 100% honest review.
Ransom and Stella have known each other for their whole lives and have been friends for that long. When Stella makes him dinner as a thank you things start heating up. They keep their relationship a secret for several reasons that seem to make sense to them. Until they can’t keep that secret anymore.
I loved that there wasn’t crazy drama, just falling in love and everything that entails. These two are sweet together!
I loved seeing the crew of Moonshine Task Force (if you haven’t read that series I’d get right on that! Loved it!!!)
I was in such a book funk and Laramie pulled me right out of it. I am super excited for the LSERT series. I absolutely adored the MTF series. I can’t wait to see how the 2nd generation has grown up and reconnect with the MTF characters.
Ransom and Stella are to die for! Plus Rambo I love reading a book that gives me goosebumps. So many memorable moments. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
You are missing out on this series. So grab a copy and get comfortable with Ransom.
If your a LB or a Moonshine Task Force fan then your going to love Stella and Ransoms story!! Stella and Ransom or as I’ve been referring to them, Stelsome , is the first book in an upcoming series known as LSERT ( Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team ). Stella is Ryan and Whitney’s daughter from the MTF book #1 and Ransom is Holden and Leighton son from book #3 of the MTF and you’ll get to see some of your favorites for the MTF while getting a look at some of the kids. Ransom is a K-9 Officer with the Laurel Springs PD and comes to Stella’s rescue during a standoff at the medical office she works at, as the story progresses they decide to give into their feelings and see where it takes them all the while keeping their relationship on the DL. I promise you don’t want to miss this story and what happens with Stelsome and K-9 Rambo when secrets come to light in this first book of the new series.
Ransom is the 1st book in Laramie Briscoe’s new series, LSERT from which is a spin-off of the Moonshine Task Force series.
If you read the MTF series, the main characters for this book are Ransom and Stella- for those who remember Ransom and Stella from the MTF books– guess what? They are all grown up. Stella is the daughter of Renegade and Whitney if you read their book, you’ll know her parents story and if you haven’t – go read it before reading this one. Ransom is the son of Havoc and Leigh- if you read his parents, so good! If not, read his parents story before reading RANSOM!!
Ransom and Stella grew up together, were friends and did bout everything together. They didn’t seem to have those feelings for one another until one day when things changed. They’ve always been “friends only” until recently when things have changed; they’ve both been harboring romantic feelings towards one another. It takes a hostage situation for them to finally open up and admit their true feelings and after that, they start spending more time together and their relationship becomes more intense and beautiful. I also loved the cast of secondary characters that were introduced and I am so excited to read more in this new series. There is action, drama, tension, heat, sizzle, twists /turns romance and love that sizzles and steams across throughout all the pages.
My Rating: 4.7 stars *****
Laurel Springs, AL is about to be hotter than a mid-August thunderstorm.
Boy, Laramie couldn’t have said it better! Ransom, man oh man, he sure is an excellent way to start out the new year. He is a member of the LSERT, he is the K-9 hottie from the Moonshine Task Force. His relationship with his partner, brought me to my knees at times. His love for Bub, just leaves me in awe.
Stella, she is a wonderful leading lady. She is smart, sassy, spunky, and above all she loves to help others. Her relationship with Ransom has always been in the friend zone. Until she starts seeing Ransom for what he is, a hot, sexy, cop…..
I have read the entire Moonshine Task Force Series, and was patiently waiting for Ransom to hit my kindle. I thought that no one could out do, Menace, and if anyone can come close if not bypass him, Ransom would be the man to do it. I loved the relationship between Ransom and Stella. He treated her with so much love and respect, even when she was being sassy.
I am looking forward to what is to come in the future with this Series. I have a feeling Nick is going to break me and skyrocket past every book before him.
Ransom is the first book in Laramie Briscoe’s newest series Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team (LSERT). This is the book between Ransom and Stella, two of the kids readers fell in love with when we read the stories of their parents her series Moonshine Task Force.
Ransom is the eldest son of Havoc and Leighton, and has decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and has become a cop at Laurel Springs Police Department. He is the resident K9 handler and his partner Rambo is so cute. Stella is the daughter of Renegade and Whitney, and a medical aide at the town clinic. When trouble comes knocking, Ransom is the one to save the day, and suddenly the boy she grew up with, turns into a dreamboat with a sidekick to match.
Like everyone else of Laramie’s books, Ransom is swoon worthy. This woman knows how to write an alpha man, without making him over the top to unbearable. He knows what he wants, and is not afraid to get and get it. It is said you say you can judge a man by how he treats his animals, in that case, Ransom is the perfect man. Every dog in the world should feel the love that Ransom shows Rambo. There is no doubt, that like with a regular police partner, Ransom would lay down his life for Rambo.
Stella is everthing a woman should be in the 21st century. She is strong-willed, determined and ambitious. All the while, she just wants a man in her life to give her the love story that her parents had. She certainly gets that and more. Together these two burns up the pages with their passion and their connection makes that dreading ending to come quickly.
This book was a quick but great read, especially fans of the original series, will love to follow the kids, and to see them get the happy endings, they deserve. Ransom deserves 4 stars for making me fall in love with this K9 handler.
I just finished this book and all I have got to say is WOW!! This book just blew me away with Ransom and Stella as the next generation of MTF characters. The pair were explosive together and I could not get enough of then, add in Rambo and I was toast! Their story moved along well and unfortunately for me it was over before I was ready for it to be. I enjoyed hearing from the pair’s parents as they weighed in on events that took place in this book and being able to reconnect with them. It was a great touch and made it enjoyable. I also liked the glimpse into the next book of this series with Kels and Nick and I look forward to that when it comes. I was hooked on this book from page one and would highly recommend this book to others!
Laramie Briscoe successfully stole my heart again! Gah! I swear no one writes heroes quite as perfectly as she does. Ransom is everything I’ve come to love from her men and more! All that magnificent, sexy officer goodness combined with major swoon and of course deep family roots full of characters I love made this book unputdownable for me! I’m talking I did not budge once after I started reading until I’d reached the end. I’m not sure I blinked.
Ransom and Stella are best friends and have been their entire lives, but as they’ve both grown up Ransom has felt more than friendship for her. With Stella finally catching on to the fact her best friend is also deliciously sexy the sparks between them start to ignite. These two were both heartwarmingly sweet and so hot they set the pages on fire. That combination held me captivated start to finish.
I loved the MTF series so I was really excited when I learn we were going to get a spin off series! Boy did Briscoe deliver! A fabulous start to the series! I was hooked from the start and this one didn’t let me go until the very end, and I loved every second of it.
Ransom and Stella have known each other pretty much their whole lives. It is only since they have grown up that they have both started to notice what is right in front of them. Watching these two navigate from friends to lovers was beautiful to watch.
This one is full of sweet romance and steamy heat. It will leave you swooning and fanning yourself and you will love every single second of it! I highly recommend you pick this one up. I for one will be anxiously waiting to see what comes next with this series!
Ransom Thompson and Stella Kepler have always known each other, having grown up together. Both being over twenty-five now might have something to do with it but whatever it is they are finally really noticing each other. He has bulked up, has tattoos and is a K-9 handler..what more could a girl want?
The type of job Ransom and many of both of their relatives and friends have is extremely dangerous at times and stressful. This book, and all of the others actually, helps to highlight this but more…just how important these roles are in a community. However they also can and do create an enormous amount of give and take in a relationship with an emergency worker, if nothing else this understanding is paramount after reading this series. A message well written by this author and received very clearly by the reader.
The lead characters are once again easy to like because they show they have vulnerabilities too. They are both caring towards others and fun to be around as well. Oh and did I mention hot? Sorry…very hot! Their passion is too as they burn up the sheets!
I enjoy humour in stories and although this is really a lighter sweet romance with a touch a drama and action, it has a great fun side too. There are many times you find yourself chuckling with the antics and comments of the characters. (The ending is one example!)
The mix if serious and lightheartedness is well balanced in the story and once again creates an enjoyable escape into Laurel Springs.
I absolutely loved the Moonshine Task Force series by Laramie Briscoe, so when I heard she was doing a new spin-off series, LSERT (Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team), I was all over it. In Ransom we get a sweet and sexy friends-to-lovers story that will leave you smiling.
Ransom Thompson is part of the Moonshine Task Force, one of the two things that mattered to him. The second? Long-time friend Stella Kepler. Though she had never seen him as more than a friend she has known all her life, things have been changing and when he saves her, it changes everything between them!
I loved the chemistry between Ransom and Stella. They are friends who evolve into more with ups and downs as they get to know each other as more than just friends. I loved how strong and caring Ransom was and his relationship with his K-9 was so charming. Stella was sweet, compassionate and understanding. Together they shared a strong connection you could feel from every page.
Though Ransom by Laramie Briscoe is a part of a spin-off series, it can be read on its own, though the Moonshine Task Force series is really good and one I recommend reading. This book does feature interconnected characters and families from the previous series. This was such a charming and sweet read and one I can easily recommend.
Read and reviewed for Review From The Heart.
Happy reading.