Silverleaf Rapids is the prequel story to the Ransom Canyon series, where we’ll go back to where it all began, exploring the early backstories of several key couples.

If you have enjoyed the Ranson Canyon series, either in book form or the Netflix adaptation, then the prequel will touch your heart, and perhaps fill in some information you wanted to know about your favorite characters in this series. If you’re coming into this world with the prequel, then you’ve got an emotional, realistic, and addictive series to look forward to.

Over the years that I’ve read her work, Jodi Thomas has always given me rich characters, a compelling story, and managed to take me away to a fictional place that felt real. Silverleaf Rapids ticked all of those boxes and a few more. You’ll find history, loss, fear, determination, love lost and found, and characters growing and adjusting to new life expectations. I loved every moment spent back in this world, and if you love a well-written, emotional, believable story that will touch your heart, then Silverleaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas is perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Another utterly charming story of Ransom Canyon from Jodi Thomas. It's a prequel to her Ransom Canyon series and has all the hallmarks of a Jodi Thomas story. Texas in all its glory, along with hardworking cowboys, quaint and wonderful characters and a good story.

We meet three main characters in the book, first of all Staten who at nineteen is thrust into being the Boss at the ranch when his grandfather has a stroke. Staten has help from his crew and his grandmother, but still he has to step up, while being heart broken at having to let go his desire for higher education. And then his girlfriend Amalah seems to be growing away from him.

My favorite is Peggy, who is overlooked and invisible to her family. She is the general dogsbody of the family with no life of her own. That is until Duke steps in and life takes an upward turn.

Charlotte or Dr. Lane as she corrects you if you call her Miss Lane. She is an English teacher arrived in Crossroads to take over the English teaching at the high school. Oh and to be the coach of the football team. She takes it all on, looking to change up her life and Jake another teacher at the high school turns out to be a promising addition to this goal.

While three characters could be annoying it really works out because their lives are integrated in interesting ways and I really enjoyed seeing it all play out.

If you haven't read the Ransom Canyon series I do recommend it, and starting with this prequel could be a good idea. It's made me want to reread the whole series over again. But in the meantime it worked well for me as a prequel to the Ransom Canyon series on Netflix.
4.5 stars rounded to 5.

Silverleaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas is a romance, well, three, really, all taking place simultaneously. One, Staten and Amalah, had been happening since second grade, but was now hitting a rough spot. The others, one between two high school teachers, Charlotte and Wade, and the third, between two very shy people who kept out of the spotlight, was Peggy and Duke. Duke was a Cowboy at Staten’s ranch and Peggy was everyone’s go-to, and she hated it. The two latter unfolded slowly and were fun to watch, although I kept waiting for Wade to be a bad guy. Peggy and Duke are the perfect couple and it does one’s heart good to see two deserving people, not all that attractive, but good people, find one another. Charlotte and Wade were both in the their early forties, and Charlotte, for sure, had put any hope of love behind her.

Thomas always finds unlikely people to bring together and she does it seamlessly. Staten is only nineteen years old when his grandfather has a stroke and leaves the running of the ranch to him. Staten has to man-up and he does. His grandparents are there to help as are all the hands on the ranch, supporting him at every turn. He is proving himself to be worthy while facing the reality that while he wants to learn, he also is not cut out for school. This opens an apparent rift between he and Amalah that he misinterprets. Good story. Fun, enticing characters, well-written, which is Thomas’ forte. The plots are relatively simple, with just a little bit of possible death thrown in for good measure. Great read, comfortable. Looking forward to more of this Ransom Canyon series.

I was invited to read Silverleaf Rapids by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #JodiThomas #SilverleafRapids

I really enjoyed this book. It was heartwarming and romantic. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and watching the show. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Silverleaf Rapids by Jodi Thomas is a prequel to Ransom Canyon Series. I have read and loved each book in the series. I had to read this book.
I really love the why Ms. Thomas had several characters who have stories that intertwine – in this book there are three.
Staten Kirkland at the beginning of his life. His first love and the life he had planned out.
Peggy is the youngest in the family and is always taking care of the rest of the family.
Charlotte is the new English teacher who is yearning for adventure and hopes to find it in Ransome Canyon.

Learning the past story of Staten and his girlfriend was really good. I loved his love interest in the first book but was glad to find out more about their past.
I enjoyed the other two stories as well – Peggy breaking free from her family and Charlotte finding adventure searching for the legendary cave the first Kirkland’s used to hide in.
Jodi Thomas is a great writer, and I love all her books and series. Highly recommended

After only reading the first book in the Ransom Canyon series, I loved being able to go back in time with this prequel to learn more about Staten. There's also two other couples featured in this story and I was just as invested in their stories as well! Great world building and I was nervous about which characters I could trust. Definitely makes me more excited to read more in the series now!

This is the prequel to the Ransom Canyon series which has now been adapted to a Netflix series. Staten Kirkland is excited to be in college with his whole life ahead of him. He has his life with his girlfriend all planned out. However, soon after classes begin, he is informed that his grandfather had a stroke and he must go home to take over the day to day operations of his family’s ranch temporarily - or so he thinks. Charlotte is the town’s new English teacher and she is longing for new direction and adventure in life. Peggy is the youngest child in her family and for all her life has followed in her mom’s footsteps. She’s been tasked with taking care of everyone but herself. Throughout the book, we find out how Staten, Charlotte, and Peggy grow and adapt to the kind of people they want to be. This story is heart warming and sweet. It lays the perfect foundation for the rest of the series. It was interesting and relevant. I liked how the reader gets a glimpse into the lives of several characters and the story wasn’t just focused on one couple. The romance aspect is more of a slow burn rather than spicy. Reading this book makes you want to binge the rest of the series and move out west to find your happily ever after. It’s perfect for Hallmark movie lovers with a western twist.

This prequel to the Ransom Canyon series was very enjoyable. It was great to read earlier history of Stanton and get to know some of the other characters who are involved or work at the Double K Ranch. This was a quick read and the characters were very likable. If you have already read the series, then it fills in some early gaps, however if you haven't read the series, I suggest you pick this book up and read it before you start the series.

Oh this may be one of my favorites this year! I enjoyed the fast moving stories of several couples. When family calls you answer that call and do all you can to help. Few twists and adventure. Some romance that's well done. Definitely a keeper

Silverleaf Rapids is the prequel to the Ransome Canyon series with Staten at the lead. By Jodi Thomas, I am glad this is the first book in that series that I have read. I won’t give any spoilers but as soon as it finished this I started reading the first book in the series today. You will want to do the same to see what happens to this twenty-year old. If you have read the first book written several years old, don’t let this stop you from going back to the beginning of Staten story of running the Kirkland Ranch.

While this book has two other subplots, it is always a sweeping story of family, love and a connection to the land. I had only planned to start this story but at 2 AM I was finishing it, not able to tear myself away from it to sleep. Highly recommend to one and all.

I was super nervous about where this prequel would go and who I would like and dislike in the story. I read Ransom Canyon first and then went back to Silverleaf Rapids. I was super hesitant about a lot of parts of it, but loved getting the new characters and getting some BTS of Staten. I didn't even need to be nervous because everything was much calmer than I expected. The stakes were low and the story was high. The world that Thomas has built here is robust and full of people that I want to know and this just gives us even more.

After having read this whole series I was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of this and it certainly didn’t disappoint! I love this whole setting and all of the characters. Fans of Virgin River would love this. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

Silverleaf Rapids was a good book! I definitely was confused a bit because I read the first book before reading this and wasn’t sure who Charlotte and Peggy were.

Love Staten’s character!

Tropes:
🤠 Western Romance
🤠 The brooding stranger
🤠 Feisty heroine

Pros:
- Love the dual POVs

Cons:
- I read the first book before reading this book and Peggy wasn’t even in the first book so I was confused who she was at first

This heartwarming novel weaves together three romantic stories set in a Texas ranching community.

Statin Kirkland returns home from college to take over his family’s ranch after his grandfather falls ill. As he adjusts to his new responsibilities, he struggles with the distance growing between him and his girlfriend, Amalah, who is still caught up in college life.

Peggy, the youngest of six siblings and often taken for granted, meets Duke while doing a chore no one else wanted—cleaning the cemetery. Their unexpected connection leads to a gentle, genuine romance.

Charlotte, a former college professor, and Wade, a former military man, both begin teaching at the local high school. Their friendship slowly deepens during a search for a historic cave on the Kirkland ranch, revealing a strong emotional bond.

Each story is filled with emotional growth, small-town charm, and second chances, making this book a touching and uplifting read.

Staten Kirkland is just nineteen when his grandfather has a stroke and he returns to the ranch to take over. He is not ready to be Boss of the ranch. When he leaves college he leaves behind his childhood girlfriend. He has to learn to take over the ranch and run it now.
This is a wonderful story of the younger Staten and his becoming the man he is now.
If you have read the other Ransom Canyon books you will love this book.
I'm currently watch the series now streaming.

I think I'm a little behind. I had no idea this book is a prequel to a television series already showing on Netflix. So...my review will be just on this book and not on any of the things that the overview of the series says or previous books written by this author in this series.

This is essentially 3 stories that are equally interesting.

Statin Kirkland comes home from college to take over the ranch since his grandfather had a health issue and can't work the ranch any longer. Lots of angst between Statin and Amalah, his love interest, since she's still in college and is getting way too comfortable without him. Statin takes the reins of the ranch and is becoming the 'boss'. Amalah finally comes to her senses and realizes what she and Statin have is worth more than college activities.

Peggy is the youngest of six children and now as an adult falls into the caregiver role. Everyone wants her to do something for them without realizing she has dreams herself. When doing a cemetery cleaning chore that has fallen to her, she meets the man of her dreams. Duke works for the Kirkland ranch, although he has a home and some land from his parents. They fall into each other since both never thought they would find their soul mate.

Charlotte gave up a college teaching position because she felt stagnant, to take up residence in Ransom Canyon and continue to teach at the high school level. She begins the same day as Wade who was formerly working for the military and is now also a teacher at the high school. They begin as a friendship. When they get the opportunity to search the Kirkland ranch for a cave that is mentioned in historical documents, the situation they find themselves in makes them realize they belong together.

Sometimes the book seemed to move right along, other times it felt a bit stagnant. I enjoyed it and as always, Ms. Thomas begins slowly then pulls it all together so the whole book fits together.

An origin story for an existing series. I read it as a standalone and enjoyed starting what I know will be a journey in the Ransom Canyon area. There's Staten, Charlotte, and Peggy, all of whom are at different stages in life but all of whom find a love interest. It's good clean and genial fun. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Now I'm off to find the other novels and the Netflix series.

Sinopsis en español:
En lo profundo del corazón de Texas, cinco generaciones de Kirklands construyeron el extenso rancho Double K, luchando contra el fuego y las heladas, los forajidos y la enfermedad. Se dice que la suciedad fluye a través de sus venas con la seguridad de que Silverleaf Rapids fluye a través de Ransom Canyon. Pero el cañón también tenía una forma de convertirse en parte de casi cualquier persona que aterrizara allí...


Staten Kirkland, de 19 años, estaba estudiando en Texas Tech cuando recibió la noticia de que el abuelo que lo crió, J.R. Kirkland, estaba luchando por su vida. Ahora Staten tendría que dejar atrás la universidad, sin mencionar a la chica que amaba. Y él tendría que crecer de la noche a la mañana. Más que eso, tendría que convertirse en un jefe, el jefe, dirigiendo miles de acres de rancho. Siempre había odiado el cambio. Pero el cambio se acercaba a él...

Sin raíces y atrapada en la rutina abatida que era su vida, la profesora universitaria Charlotte Lane escapó a la ficción. Pero ahora estaba inquieta para variar, en forma de ser la nueva maestra de secundaria en el pequeño pueblo que bordea el Cañón Ransom. Aún así, en este punto de su vida, ¿y si no pudiera cambiar, o incluso recordar cómo? Tal vez encontraría a otros que le mostraran el camino...

La más joven de seis, Peggy Warner, llegó la última en todos los sentidos, ni siquiera vale la pena enviarla a la universidad. Ahora tiene 27 años, nunca ha salido de casa y vive al servicio de sus padres ancianos y a las crecientes familias de sus hermanos casados. Pero todavía tiene sueños, y bajo el gran cielo con vistas a Ransom Canyon pueden hacerse realidad...

Reseña: No he leído los otros libros por lo que no tenía idea de que iba ya verdad reo que fue lo mejor porque ahora con la serie (de televisión) que la vi después de leer esto, se me quitaron las ganas porque ya sé que Staten quedará viudo y saldrá con la mejor amiga de su esposa y la verdad no me gustó. Por lo que me quedaré aquí donde todos son felices.

Silverleaf Rapids is the first book that I’ve read by Jodi Thomas. This book is a prequel to the Ransom Canyon series and consists of three different storylines.

After Staten Kirkland’s grandfather, J.R. Kirkland, suffered from a sudden health issue, Stanton decided that he had to leave college at Texas Tech to help out at his family’s ranch. Double K Ranch had been in his family for five generations, so he knew that he needed to step up and become the boss.

Charlotte Lane was a college professor who wanted a change in her life and decided to move to Ransom Canyon for a fresh start.

Peggy Warner always did what was best for everyone else and put her dreams aside. It wasn’t until she met the love of her life that she realized that she deserved to fight for her own dreams.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I especially loved reading this prequel because I had just watched the Netflix tv show Ransom Canyon, so it was nice to read what happened previously to Staten Kirkland, Amalah, and Quinn.

I loved this story. There were a few sub stories that all fit together somehow into an awesome read. The characters are all real, with struggles and obstacles to face and overcome. The plot is full of love, friendship, family, and new beginnings. A must read for all looking for a feel good story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.