'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Everything in life is writable only if you as a staunch writer have the guts to do it and the imagination to improvise because the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt..'

Interesting read!
I have to confess to all interested readers that I did not read the previous 'Fog City' books in this ongoing series but because of the alluring blurb of this book #4, I just could not let it pass me by. Was sucked in from the first paragraph and never let up until i got to the ending -- not disappointed in the least because the plotline was well written and good for my fictitious mind.

With it's vivid storytelling of the basic close knit family dynamics, the ongoing high-tension drama that involved other crime families & drug dealers and those neighborhood wannabe bad guys -- add the portrayal of these different relationships, whether emotionally draining for a few or the romantic side for others. Ms.Reyne never held back on how she weaved each stressful aspect and issues that pertains to all the different relationships mention.

Apart from the action, ever so often there was this intermingling of the two main families involved;- the two sisters from each family having this complex friendship while trying to figure out these feelings and this underlying attraction for each other. Helena, the boss of her family business, is ruthless, intimidating and has her own unique brand of justice but have this soft side to everything Celia, who is now trying to get her life back on track, is also kind-hearted and can defend herself when the time permits.
Overall, 'QUEEN'S RANSOM' can be read as a standalone with all the intimate moments between each couple, the culminating hard-hitting action, the many family interactions and support from close friends do result in order being restored when everything is said and done in this thrilling ongoing series.
Highly recommend!

Queen’s Ransom is my first book by Layla Reyne. It will not be my last.

Celia And Helena are very well written. Helena learns how to balance her life with being head of a “family” and allow love into her life. Celia finally resolves to allow herself to open to love while accepting the risk that comes from loving a woman who’s life revolves around dangerous choices. The story is well crafted and I look forward to reading the next sequel.