Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for a #gifted galley of Silverleaf Rapids.

Silverleaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas is a great prequel to this series. Literally pulling at my heartstrings. We get to see the trials of Ransom Canyon’s people. And you’ll step away with newfound love and admiration of ranch life in Texas. I’m late to the onscreen adaption and knew I needed to read this before beginning the Netflix series.

I have read all the books and enjoyed the series so of course I had to read the prequel since this is new. The book revolves around three different couples of different ages and background. It is setting up the background for the next books and the new TV series. For me it was somewhat mediocre compared to the other books in the series but has some interesting tidbits. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you were as captivated by the Ransom Canyon television adaptation as I was, then Silverleaf Rapids is unquestionably a title to consider essential reading. This prequel provides a compelling origin story, rich with legacy, growth, and enduring love. Set amid the striking, rugged beauty of the American West—with its sweeping mountains, horses, and the unmistakable warmth of small-town life—it encapsulates all the elements that make western romance so timeless and appealing.

The narrative is exceptionally well-paced, deeply heartfelt, and imbued with genuine emotional resonance. I found the multiple points of view particularly effective, as they lend the story additional depth and nuance. Combined with a delicately rendered slow-burn romance and poignant themes of first love, this novel held my attention entirely from beginning to end.

For admirers of western romance, Silverleaf Rapids is most certainly a work to add to your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Thank you @hambrightpr for this copy of Silverleaf Rapids! I loved every character and how their journeys began and grew throughout the story. There’s learning and love and set in the rugged beauty of the West. With a slow burn romance and themes of first loves, this book got me feeling all the feels. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you hambright_pr for the gifted copy of Silverleaf Rapids! This was such a nice tale setting up the scene for the Ransom Canyon series. It was good seeing how key characters began their journeys, and the love that blossoms. I’m very intrigued now in viewing the hit Netflix series.

I love Jodi Thomas. She has great characters and they are so relatable. I’ve read the previous Ransom Canyon books and also watched the series and this did not disappoint. 5 stars.

If you loved the Ransom Canyon TV adaptation like I did, then Silverleaf Rapids is an absolute must-read. This prequel delivers a gripping origin story that’s rich with legacy, learning, and love. Set against the rugged beauty of the West—complete with horses, mountains, and that small-town charm—it’s everything I adore about western romance.

The storytelling is perfectly paced, heartfelt, and full of emotional depth. I especially loved the multiple POVs, which gave the story even more richness and perspective. Add in a tender slow-burn romance and themes of first love, and I was totally hooked.

🌄 Western romance fans, this is one to add to your list!

Huge thanks to Hambright PR for the gifted ARC of Silverleaf Rapids, the prequel to the Ransom Canyon series.

Prequels aren’t usually my thing—I tend to prefer staying in the present of the stories I love. But I made an exception for this one because, honestly, I’ve been in serious Staten withdrawal since watching the Ransom Canyon series on Netflix.

It felt good to return to the Double K Ranch and reconnect with beloved characters like Staten, Quinn, and Amalah—while meeting new ones like Peggy and Charlotte. Going back in time added emotional depth and context to the world I already cared about. That said, I’m still firmly Team Quinn (sorry Amalah, your backstory didn’t win me over).

If you’re missing the Kirklands and can’t wait for the next season, this book offers a nostalgic way to revisit the canyon and learn how it all began.

Y’all…. The prequel to the book that inspired the @Netflix series, “Ransom Canyon”, was fabulous! “Silverleaf Rapids” was such a beautiful story of growth, family, love, and the power of change. @jodithomasauthor is an expert at bringing characters to life. The imagery painted of the landscape set in a small Texas town along with the well developed histories of our main characters and their relationships brought this story to life. If you love a Western slow-burn romance, full of sweet conversations and hope, look no further! I can’t wait to read and watch the rest of this series!

Thank you so much @jodithomasauthor and @hambright_pr for this beautiful ARC! 💕

I love Jodi Thomas books so much and I’ve been reading so many of them this summer! This book is a prequel to the Ransom Canyon series.Staten was a Texas Tech student.When he found out his grandfather was dying he quit school to go home and run his grandfather’s ranch.He took on a lot of responsibility for his young age.

19-year-old Staten Kirkland is just about to start his life, and in his first semester at Texas Tech, when he has to return home to run the ranch after his grandfather falls ill.

But while running Double K might be his legacy, it could mean the end of future he'd planned.

College professor Charlotte Lane has moved to the town for a fresh start, and one teacher at the school is ready to help make that happen.

Meanwhile Peggy Warner is stuck in the town with no job and no education. Shunted from one relative to another to help out, but invisible the rest of the time, she'd lost all hope of a better life, until someone finally sees her.

******
I read this right before watching Ransom Canyon on Netflix and it adds a real depth to that story.

Like many of Thomas's books, this novel does a great job of weaving together a number of character's stories and makes for a compelling read.

Grab your sweet tea and settle in, because Silverleaf Rapids is a classic Jodi Thomas experience: big sky, bigger emotions, and a multigenerational cast that makes Ransom Canyon feel as real and rough-edged as your own hometown.

This prequel gave me Virgin River meets Yellowstone vibes in all the best ways; raw, romantic, and full of characters chasing redemption, freedom, and something like love (even if they don’t all realise it yet).

Whether it was Staten stepping into his family legacy, Charlotte confronting her life’s staleness, or Peggy daring to dream past her obligations, each storyline tugged at a different heartstring.

💙 Why I loved it:
* Strong sense of place. Jodi Thomas writes West Texas like it’s a living character.
* Found family and second chances at their finest.
* Rich, layered character arcs that feel deeply earned.

🐎 One small hitch: With multiple POVs and a slow, character-driven pace, it took a little time to settle into the rhythm, but once I did, I was all in.

Perfect for fans of heartfelt Americana, emotional growth, and stories where land, love, and legacy are all tangled up together.

This book took me back to the western romances I used to love! There's just something so amazing reading about people that have such a passion for the land! This prequel gave me a peek into the series and I can't wait to read the rest!

A nostalgic read that had me longing for life at the ranch.

I felt immersed in the story and truly loved each character. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see their impact.


In this book you will truly see the immense amount of work people had to do to keep a ranch alive and how much family means.

The heartbreak and pain within this novel truly show how important relationships are.

I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t hate this book either. It fell in the middle for me.

The story followed along 3 different characters: Staten, Charlotte, and Peggy. I could not connect with Peggy’s story and not so sure I needed it included. I also don’t feel like Amalah really was given a fair chance for us the readers to ever truly want to like her. Maybe that was the point.

Staten is a 19 year old college kid who suddenly finds himself back on his families ranch when his grandfather has a medical scare. He soon realizes that going back to college may not be happening any time soon and his life is looking a bit different.

Charlotte left her job as a college professor to teach high school English in a small town for something new. She finds herself a new friend in a fellow teacher, Wade.

Peggy is the youngest of 6 children and often finds herself being overlooked. Everyone is always wanting and expecting something from her. So when she meets the man of her dreams in a very unlikely place, she keeps him a secret.

3⭐️
1🌶️

Heartfelt family drama, can definitely see why this has done so well on Netflix! It felt like a nostalgic read, and I’ll definitely be picking up the others. I wanted a bit more grit like Yellowstone has given it was compared, but really well written.

Thank you to @jodithomasauthor and @hambright_pr for sending this heartfelt story my way. Silver Leaf Rapids was a beautiful journey through legacy, love, and second chances—and I’m so thankful I got to experience it early!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Silver Leaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas is everything I love in a small-town saga—generational legacy, heart-tugging emotion, and characters that feel like old friends.

Set deep in the heart of Texas, this story is a tribute to the strength of the Kirkland family and the people who are drawn to the land, the canyon, and each other. From Staten stepping into his grandfather’s boots to Charlotte’s journey of rediscovery, and Peggy’s quiet courage to chase long-held dreams—each storyline swept me up and made me feel right at home in Ransom Canyon.

Jodi Thomas delivers with heart, hope, and the kind of storytelling that lingers.

🤠 If you love stories about second chances, small-town charm, and the healing power of community, this one’s for you.

I really enjoyed this as a prequel! You get lots of back stories on 3 couples, and a little intro to this town. I can’t wait to continue on with this series.

This reads very old school style, but definitely leaves you wanting more and to see how these stories develop with the rest of this series and how it all connects!

Silverleaf Rapids is the prequel to the Ransom Canton Series by Jodi Thomas. I loved this book and cant wait to read the rest of the series! Jodi is a true storyteller and her love of Texas land shines through in her writing. The story follows a few different characters. Staten is 19 and when his grandfather has a stroke he is forced to leave college and his long time girlfriend to run the ranch. Charlotte is a professor at Texas A&M who decides to move to the small Texas town to find meaning and push herself out of her comfort zone. Peggy is the forgotten quiet one. The person everyone in her family can depend on to be there no matter what, even though that means she has no life of her own. Their stories all connect in some way and I can't wait to read more. This is my first book by Jodi Thomas but it won't be my last!
Thank you to Netgalley and Hambright PR for the opportunity to read this ARC and Jodi Thomas for the book mail!

I can’t pinpoint what it is with this prequel story to the Ransom Canyon series by Jodi Thomas, but I’m beyond drawn in. It’s subtle in the storyline, but the reader has no choice other than to be submerged in these small town, western vibes. The development of these characters from multiple generations is phenomenal and the detailed imagery and vivid descriptions by the author paint such a beautiful and nostalgic setting for the stories that are to follow. I hadn’t even heard of this series until I picked up this book, but it has quickly moved to the top of my list of books to drown in this year.