Ransom Canyon Mass Market Paperback – 25 Aug. 2015

Jodi Thomas never disappoints. You always get a good storyline, therefore a good read.

This is the first of a series and like any start, has to spend time setting up the situation. While I like the descriptive writing, I can't really warm to a widowed rancher who has taken a lover and accepts that they are never seen together or known as a couple; they don't seem to have anything in common and the woman involved, though single, is the one driving their relationship or lack of one.There's also a lot of time spent with a moody teen girl, in the awkward position of being the sheriff's daughter, who doesn't do much in or for the story; the lad she likes best, though, is a good choice as he comes to the fore during the latter half of the story. Probably the young lady will be more of a character in later books.Oddly I most enjoyed seeing a man just out of prison arrive in Crossroads where nobody knows him, finding his feet as part of the community while his thoughts go along their usual routes, until he decides that there might be some point in going straight. But will he change? Can the retirement community where he finds work help with that choice?Overall I felt there was nice descriptive writing and really good location detail, good focus on character and an edge of danger. I'll be interested to see how the series progresses.

A good read

Not for me

“Ransom Canyon” by Jodi Thomas is the first full length novel in the new Ransom Canyon Series. “Ransom Canyon” takes us to Crossroads, Texas a town so small that there is only one main street built on a beautiful yet unforgiving landscape and bordered by Ransom Canyon. Jodi Thomas has outdone herself with this first book of the Ransom Canyon Series. “Ransom Canyon” is not only captivating it is such a page turner that I literally never wanted to put the book down! In fact, I found myself wishing that I could just take a couple days off work and have my husband take care of the kids so I could lock myself in my room and read in peace!Staten Kirkland, owner of the Double K Ranch, is the “fifth generation born to this land. There would be no more Kirklands after him”. The Double K Ranch is Staten’s life and his constant focus which is part of why he has gained a reputation of being a quiet, cold, hardened man. Little do the people of Crossroads know that Staten Kirkland and Quinn O’Grady have an unlikely but very unique friendship. They would be surprised to know that Quinn is the person Staten runs to when the storms of his worst memories threaten to hit him; she is his calm in the storm.Quinn O’Grady lives 20 miles north of Crossroads on the “worthless land” her parents left her. Thanks to sheer grit, hard work, and an unwillingness to give up Quinn has turned the land into a semi-profitable lavender farm known as “Lavender Lane”. Quinn is quiet and shy; she is considered “reclusive” and very plain by everyone. As far as the people of Crossroads know Quinn has made it into her forties without ever going on a date. As much as Staten leans on Quinn to be his calm in the storm Quinn has never asked Staten for anything. In fact, she has a very big secret she has kept from everyone including Staten. When Quinn is faced with reliving her secret will she be able to open herself up and confide in Staten? Will Quinn be able overcome this part of her past and heal or will she become more reclusive and shut everyone out?Yancy Grey fresh out of prison buys a bus ticket to Crossroads, Texas a place he has never been but that he heard his mom talk about once. Yancy had “known he was low-down worthless since he was five but now and then [he wants] to forget and just think of himself as a regular person”. Te lifestyle of a criminal comes naturally to Yancy because he has been thieving since he was a teenager. Yancy hopes this small town will be just the place to start over “like he was a newborn. He’d rebuild himself one brick at a time until no one who ever knew him would recognize Yancy Grey.” Yancy knows he doesn’t want to go to back to prison which means he’s going to have to find a way to earn an honest living. But if that doesn’t work out he will move on to another town or simply steal enough stuff that he can sell for pocket money and “hitch a ride to the next town”. Will Yancy be able to turn his life around and survive the challenges heading his way? Or will he take the easy way out and fall back into his old habits?Lauren Brigman is a sophomore at the local high school her grades put her at the top of her class, she is a little shy, and she is the daughter of Sheriff Brigman which seems to be synonymous with all the boys being too scared to date her. Lauren frequently gets reminded that “some guys don’t want to date the sheriff’s daughter” as her classmate Reid Collins points out it’s not exactly a fear of the sheriff “it’s more the bullet holes they’re afraid of. Every time a guy looks at you, your old man starts patting his service weapon.” Surprisingly Lauren is okay with boys not wanting to date her because of her father “judging from the boys she knew in high school, she’d just as soon go dateless until eighteen. Maybe college would have better pickings” because if the boys she has grown up with can’t see past her being the sheriffs daughter they aren’t worth her time.Lucas Reyes is a junior in high school his father works at the Collins Ranch up until Lucas was sixteen he spent the summers and every weekend working on the Collins ranch. Once he was old enough he signed up to cowboy at the Kirkland Ranch when they needed extras. Lucas Reyes may seem like another cowhand but he has his sights set on a much brighter future that includes graduating early and going to college. In order for his plans to work “every dime [Lucas makes] is going to college [his] tuition” and Lucas will have to cowboy everyday he isn’t “in school this spring and all summer”. Lauren is surprised and impressed by Lucas’ plans he certainly isn’t like the other boys she has met in high school. One fateful night Lucas, Lauren, Reid Collins, and Tim O’Grady make a dangerous decision that could change the course of all their futures. Will this night bring the four classmates closer together or pull them further apart. Will Lucas be able to follow his dreams or will they be crushed. How will Lauren’s father react when he finds out?As an avid fan that has read all of Jodi’s books I have to say that Ransom Canyon has become my new favorite. This book is a spellbinding, masterfully written novel full of twists and turns, unlikely heroes, secrets, and surprises. Ransom Canyon is centered on characters learning how to overcome the bad things that have happened to them in the past and finding a way to continue living; while learning to trust others, opening themselves up to the chance of loving another, and opening themselves up to the risk of failure.

Very enjoyable read. Well written and edited which is a big thing for me.I loved the story and the setting. Characters were well developed - to the point that I related to them well.The only reason for 4 stars vs. 5 is I kept expecting the story to reach a crescendo I guess. It moved along with a decent pace but I kept expecting something big to happen. Yes, there were a couple surprises which is good. Don't get me wrong - very happy with the book. It's just that it has to floor me to get 5 stars.

These book is worth reading all the characters in the book are wonderful well written and I loved each character especially Yancy Grey and Staten Kirkland and I can't wait until I see the movie on Netflix. Jodi Thomas is one of my favorite authors!!!!

This is an amazing story that I couldn't put it down. The characters are realistic, loyal, and the elderly community was absolutely entertaining. This is the best Western/Cowboy romance I've read in a long time and I can't wait to read more in this series. As always happy reading.

Jodi Thomas' new series is starting out to be just as wonderful as her Harmony series!Staten Kirkland may have the best ranch in the area and is probably the richest rancher also but he is definitely the loneliest one. After the death of his wife he was able to move on but when his son is killed, he just can't handle the feelings and whenever it storms he visits Quinn O'Grady, his wife's best friend, the have moved from just spending time together to becoming lovers but only when Staten can't handle anymore. Quinn has her own demons and Quinn provides as much comfort to her as she gives him.Yancy Grey is an ex-con who is in town because his mother had mentioned it before, it was as good a place as any to be and he doubted anyone would realize he was fresh out of prison.Lauren Brigman, the sheriffs daughter, had her eyes on getting into college and while she didn't have time for most of the guys at school, Reid Collins was the son of her fathers friend, he kept trying to date her and she definitely wasn't attracted to him. Tim O'Grady was Reid's shadow and whatever Reid did, Tim joined him. Lucas Reyes was probably the smartest guy in school, his father worked on Reid's fathers ranch but Lucas planned to attend college and build a future outside of working on a ranch. In the meantime he worked for Staten Kirkland whenever they needed help.I loved this story and one of the best parts was the retirement community, the old folks are just wonderful! Funny but smart in their own way, independent but looking out for each other, they are all retired teachers, except for the retired principal. Yancy Greg finds himself working as the handyman for the small community.Jodi Thomas has the ability to layer her stories in segments that provide information on several people in one book. Later when she picks up the characters who were background you're familiar with them and enjoy learning more about them. Using the same technique in Ransom Canyon, she delivers the story of Staten and Quinn, while providing information on upcoming characters.