Rustler's Moon: A Small Town Cowboy Romance – A Second Chance Western Now a Netflix Series (Ransom Canyon, 2)

My feelings about this book are mixed. I found it didn't hold my interest enough to want to keep reading, but I did enjoy the story and the twists and turn as each of the people learned that who they thought they were changed, or perhaps expanded, to include seeing their true selves through someone else's eyes. The story included 3 distinctly different mysteries. That was the part of the book I couldn't get interested in. I'm not sure exactly why, but I didn't care about the outcome of the main mystery - and the other question of the old falling down house or whether or not a cave could be found seemed, to me, superfluous.Once again, as I read this book. I am struck by how much more straightforward our lives would be if we could bring ourselves to say what we think and how we feel, instead of being ashamed or embarrassed. Perhaps that is the old lady in me, but we would be happier that way. Of course, it would make for a dull romance novel if the author wrote stories that way.

“Rustler’s Moon” by Jodi Thomas is the second full length novel in her newest series, Ransom Canyon. “Rustler’s Moon” takes us back to Crossroads, Texas, a small town, with a beautiful yet unforgiving landscape and bordered by Ransom Canyon that Thomas’ readers have grown to love. Jodi continues to make Crossroads feel like home to her readers by introducing new characters and building on the ones we already know. Sheriff Harold Brigman is as dedicated as ever to keeping “his” town and the residents of it safe. Yancy Grey still lives and works as the handyman at the retirement community but he has become troubled by the distinct feeling that the old Gypsy House is “drawing” him to it and the many questions regarding his past that are swirling around in his head. I don’t know how Jodi Thomas but she delivers another home run with “Rustler’s Moon”.Angela Harold, a museum curator by trade finds her world turned upside down when her father suddenly dies and leaves a note he knows only she will find. The note simply states “Run, Disappear, Vanish”. Her only remaining family is her Uncle Anthony and his third wife Crystal. Angela’s father worked as Anthony’s bookkeeper but constantly disagreed with him and didn’t trust him. As far as Angela is concerned she has no family left and quickly realizes the importance of following her father’s instructions. Angela applies for a curator job at a museum in a small Texas town that her father had previously suggested and is surprised when the Board President, Staten Kirkland, tells her she is the only applicant they have had and offers her a three month trial position. Angela accepts the offer and heads out on what will become the adventure of a lifetime.Wilkes Wagner is a cold hearted shell of a man, he has a college degree in history and he served in the Army for three years. After his stint in the Army Wilkes then drifted from one end of the United States and back yet, he has “nothing” to show for it. The ranch has been in the Wagner family for generations but his father shares no interest in ranching. Wilkes is an only child and has always known his path was to come back home and run the Devil’s Fork Ranch. So when Wilkes returned home from drifting across the U.S. his parents packed up and left Wilkes charge of the ranch – that was six years ago. “The rule was whoever ran the Devil’s Fork also had to keep an eye on Vern”. So that is exactly what Wilkes does – his life is ranching and keeping an eye on his aging uncle.Vern Wagner has lived at Devil’s Fork Ranch his entire life and as far as Uncle Vern is concerned Wilkes needs to get his priorities straight. He has decided Wilkes first priority is to find the “right kind of girl to marry” and start having babies as soon as the nuptials are over. Vern’s list of qualities for the “right kind of girl” are interesting to say the least but how would Uncle Vern he may consider himself to be a ladies’ man but he never even married. Wilkes was in love once to Lexie Davis and when he left for the Army she promised to wait for him for a couple months after his deployments he received a “goodbye” letter from Lexie saying she had met someone else. Wilkes has no interest in finding “the right girl to marry” or getting married for that matter. Yet, Wilkes can’t deny the fact that from the first time he meets her there is something irresistible about Angela, something that draws him to her and makes him want to protect her.Lauren Brigman has just started her freshman year of college at Texas Tech University. Lauren is excited to be going to the same school as Lucas Reyes and looking forward to Lucas’ promise that “when she joined him at Tech it would be different. They would be together, a real couple”. Yet Lauren has been at Tech for a month and nothing was different in fact Lauren had seen less of Lucas than when she lived in Crossroads “college wasn’t turning out to be what she planned”. From Lauren’s roommate, Polly Pierce, with black and red streaking hair whose only interests seem to be boys and alcohol to going to Homecoming as Reid Collin’s date nothing about Tech is quite what Lauren had expected. It seems the one and only thing she can count on is her long time friend Tim O’Grady. Was Lauren’s expectation of dating Lucas and finally having a boyfriend something that was really possible? Or were her expectations merely the hopes and dreams of a teenage girl with a crush?“Rustler’s Moon” is a real page turner filled with mystery, romance, and the beautiful Texas landscape. I don’t know how Jodi Thomas does it but she continues to deliver in each book stories that draw you in, characters that you feel like you know, and books that you simply don’t want to put down. I love this 2nd book in the Ransom Canyon series and can’t wait for the release of the 3rd book.

I started reading Jodi Thomas' Harmony Series and I really enjoyed it. I'm delighted that this new series follows in the same tradition. This is the third book in the series and there are definitely at least two stories in each book. One is the lead with two adults who don't know that they need each other or feel that there is no hope for them, the second which is a continuing storyline, is about younger community members who are transitioning from teens, growing into young adults with all the angst of love and misunderstandings. This book follows the standard set in the first novel and it works for me.

This book is an easy read, perfect as an entertainment on a rainy day. The plot is predictable, however there is some suspense, enough to make you want to read the whole story in one day. I loved the humor, especially when it comes to seniors, and how caring and giving the people in Crossroads are, no matter how long a person lived among them. I will definitely buy the next book in Ransom Canyon series which is due at the end of April. I do hope Jodi Thomas will show us what life has in store for Yancy, Lauren, Polly and Tim.I am taking one star off my review because of the poor editing that gives a feeling that it was rushed to spit the book out into print. There are repeating words in at least two places as if the wording was changed but the old version wasn't removed. There is an annoying mistake of "you're" instead of "your"; once Carter Mayes is called Carter Hayes; and the correct name of the island in Florida near Bradenton from which Angela escaped is Anna Maria, not Anna Marie - maps show that plus I know that area well. I think a NY Times bestselling author deserves much better editing.

I really the small town story because it is true how everyone knows everything and always comes to the rescue when neighbors need help.

I have read 4 out of the 6 Ransom Canyon series and I've enjoyed everyone. It's refreshing to read books that have happy endings. I'm usually not a big romance fan but these are great. They are not too corny nor are they pornographic. They are just good love stories with a little mystery. On to #5.

Great romance and just the right amount of suspense! I am relatively new to the romance and western-y genre, usually I stick to mysteries, but I decided to take a chance on this book. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I will definitely be picking up more books by this author.

I thought this book was a paper back and was very surprised when not only got here a week early, but was also a hardcover book. Thank you so much for everything!

A good start to the new series. Good characters and interesting storylines. I love the way Ms Thomas draws the reader into her worlds. You feel you are there with the folks who inhabit them. I hope this will be as good as the Harmony series which I loved.

Love all Jodi Thomas books, this was no exception great story,interesting characters. can't wait for next book in the series

I enjoyed this story. I like the idea of a town taking a stranger in as one of their own and make her feel like she had come home. I loved the connection Carson made with Vern and the adventure they embarked on together. Thank goodness Wilkes finally clued into wha5 his feelings were all about. Great book

very good tyvm

Awesome again