Ransomed by Tana Stone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trista expects her alien warrior mate to be big and gorgeous. 

She doesn’t expect him to take her hostage.

She’s already been abducted from Earth to be a tribute bride for the Drexian warriors, and Trista has finally gotten used to the idea of marrying a brawny alien warrior. Sort of. He has to be better than the awful guys from home she’s been trying so hard to forget. 

Not only is Torven a Drexian warrior, but he’s also a member of Inferno Force. That means he’s bigger, tougher, and more dangerous. When he’s falsely accused of treason, he knows his only hope is to escape and give his fellow warriors time to prove his innocence. 

Taking the pretty blonde tribute bride as a hostage wasn’t his plan, but Torven considers it a stroke of good luck. Until she shoots him and causes them to be marooned on a frozen planet. Between running from vicious ice creatures and avoiding alien pursuers, will she become more than his captive?

Ransomed

Drexian Delta Force Meets Earth’s Reluctant Bride

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Solo Narration

🛡️ Hero Spotlight: Torvin

Torvin is no ordinary Drexian—he served in the elite Inferno Force, the galactic equivalent of Delta Force or Navy SEALs. Feared across alien worlds and forged in the fires of distant battles, he’s a warrior with a code. But his latest mission hits closer to home: he’s been matched with one of the last human females, a rare and precious bond now complicated by the looming threat of the Kronock. These technologically superior enemies have made Earth too dangerous to visit, and Torvin’s match is more than a romantic twist—it’s a political powder keg.

📸 Heroine Spotlight: Trista

Trista’s been stuck on “The Boat”—a luxury space station named after the retro TV show The Love Boat—but she’s never felt like part of the crew. Dresses and makeup? Hard pass. She’s a grease-stained, engine-loving rebel who’d rather rebuild a shuttle than plan a wedding. Kidnapped from Earth as part of a government-sanctioned bride program, Trista escaped one toxic relationship only to land in another kind of captivity. Her grit and self-doubt make her stand out from the other brides, and her quiet competence is a breath of fresh air in a sea of sequins.

🚀 Plot Pulse

Torvin’s journey to claim his bride takes a sharp detour when he’s arrested for treason. Instead of champagne and vows, he’s staring down a prison cell. Betrayed and furious, he escapes—taking Trista with him. Their getaway lands them on a frozen, desolate planet, where survival becomes the only priority. As they battle the elements and each other, the real enemy remains out there, and Torvin’s innocence hangs in the balance.

💘 What Hit Home

• The premise is solid: a falsely accused warrior, a reluctant bride, and a hostile planet make for high-stakes tension.
• Trista breaks the mold—she’s not a damsel, she’s a mechanic with backbone.
• The journey trope is well-executed, and Tana Stone continues to deliver emotionally grounded alien romance.

🧐 What Fell Flat

• The frozen planet arc dragged a bit. I craved more momentum—less snow, more showdown. The emotional tension was strong, but the external stakes needed a boost.
• Torvin’s kidnapping of Trista is a major plot point, but it felt under explored once they bonded. I wanted more reckoning, more fallout.

🎧 Narration Notes

Jodie Bentley handles dual POV narration with skill, keeping the emotional tone grounded and engaging. While her performance is expressive, Trista’s voice occasionally veers into “bubble-headed blonde” territory, which clashes with the character’s grit. I typically prefer dual narrators for romance, but Bentley’s solo delivery holds up and adds value to the bundle. Stone’s storytelling remains a standout in the genre, and Bentley’s narration amplifies the emotional beats.

📝 Final Takeaway

A strong entry in the Drexian Warriors series, with a heroine who defies expectations and a hero caught in a web of betrayal. The frozen planet may chill the pacing, but the emotional core stays warm. For fans of alien romance with bite, this one’s worth the ride.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub

View all my reviews