Jodi
Thomas is one of my favorite authors. Since discovering her years ago, I believe
I’ve read each of her books and novellas. In fact, many of hers are on my keeper shelf.
My
favorite of her early books is TO KISS A TEXAN, part of the McClain series.
Even though it was different, WINTER CAMP, the prequel to her current Ransom
Canyon series, reminds me of that story because of Millie, the Apache captive.
If you haven’t read WINTER CAMP, you’ll do yourself a favor to do so. You can
find it FREE on Amazon at http://amzn.com/B00U77QXI4 and at other e-vendors.
Although a fictional work, RANSOM CANYON
is named after a real location. In fact, the Ransom Canyon I know is a part of
Yellowhouse Canyon, which cuts a giant slash through the Llano Estacado. My husband
and I grew up in Lubbock, Texas where the canyon was only a mile or less from
my home and only a little further from his. Ransom Canyon is further southwest down
Yellowhouse and about twelve or so miles from Lubbock. The name is because captives really were ransomed and traded there
when white settlers were new to the area.
In RANSOM CANYON, we
are drawn into the lives of four families through an inter-twining story about
events that unite them. This book has romance, adventure, and humor woven
seamlessly into a book I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end. One of
the things I appreciated is the love of the land—the peace, the struggle, the
beauty. Sunsets in West Texas are spectacular. Jodi Thomas paints those scenes
with words that resonated with me.
Rancher Staten Kirkland is the last descendant of his ranch’s
founding father, and a good steward of the land and the people who live there.
He’s lost his wife seven years earlier to cancer and his sixteen-year-old son
in a car crash two years ago. Since then, he’s a shell who only wakes to life
when he’s around Quinn O’Grady. Theirs is a strange relationship to which each
clings for a different reason. Quinn was best friends to Staten’s wife, but she
has always secretly loved Staten. She always wondered if each time she saw him
would be the last.
Lucas Reyes is a young man with goals who is working long hours
toward achieving them. His interest in Lauren Bigman, the sheriff’s daughter,
leads him on a course he never imagined. Lauren finds this quiet, hard-working young
man to be the kind of friend she wants. Lucas, she learns, has the makings of a
real hero. Even super-critical Sheriff Dan Bigman recognizes in Lucas a man
worth trust.
Yancey Grey is an ex-con running from the past and himself. He
counts himself worthless, but he wants more than his past provided. Safety. A
family. A community. To stay out of trouble. He figures those things are beyond
a common criminal like him.
Once again Jodi Thomas
weaves her characters’ lives together into a story that draws in the reader and
keeps him or her enchanted for the entire book. I definitely don’t want to give
away anything that would spoil a reader’s enjoyment of this book. Savor each
event and hate the wait until the next book, RUSTLER’S MOON, is available. The
next release can’t be soon enough to suit me. Without doubt, I give this book 5
stars! If you shop at Amazon, the link for RANSOM
CANYON is http://amzn.com/B00SFSL8N2 and it’s available at other e-retailers.
If you prefer a paper book,
RANSOM CANYON is available in paperback and hardcover from brick and mortar
stores and online.
 |
| Jodi Thomas, Author |
In 2002, Jodi Thomas was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by
Texas Tech. A fifth-generation Texan, she is currently Writer in Residence at
the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, on the edge of Palo Duro
Canyon—an even greater slash in the flat Texas landscape than Yellowhouse
Canyon to the south. A New York Times
and USA Today bestselling author, she
has written over thirty historical and contemporary novels. She and her husband
Tom live in Amarillo where they are renovating an historic home and keeping current
with their two grown sons.
Reviews!
Here are some of the early reviews for RANSOM CANYON:
“Another winner…Tension rides high, mixed with humor and kisses
more passionate than most full-on love scenes. Fans will be delighted.” Publishers Weekly starred review
“Compelling and beautifully written.” Debbie Macomber. New York Times bestselling author
“Terrific reading from page one to the end.” Fresh Fiction
“Jodi Thomas is a masterful storyteller. She grabs your
attention on the first page, captures your heart, and then makes you sad when
it is time to bid her characters farewell. You can count on her to give you a
satisfying and memorable read.” Catherine Anderson, New York Times Bestselling author
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