WINTER'S CAMP is the novella that acts as a prequel for RANSOM CANYON. WINTER'S CAMP sets the stage for this new series by Jodi Thomas.

Everyone knows that it took men and women of great inner strength to civilize and tame what was a vast area of undeveloped land. There were no towns to speak of, in fact, they often popped up around forts. These amazing folk needed some basics to get their new lives started. And James Randall Kirkland was no different.

He had survived the war and now was going to follow the dream he had of owning his own ranch. First thing James had to do was file a claim for the land that just fit what he envisioned. With the money he had saved up he was going to proceed with his plans. His laundry list of needs was long and so he went shopping at camps set up by traders. Texas had a great appeal for many folk -- some good, others not necessarily. Rule number one was watch everyone and trust no one.

James is going to find something that will turn out to be very valuable to him and his dream at that trading post. Probably going to be the smartest barter he will ever make. Taming the wild is going to have a new meaning for this ex-military man.

Jodi Thomas packs quite a bit of story in this novella, which turns out to be the true introduction in her new series Ransom Canyon. WINTER'S CAMP is a great opening act for what is sure to be another winning series by this very talented author. Jodi Thomas has a great love of things western. Any fan of Thomas is going to find WINTER'S CAMP definitely the price of admission. And then set off for the next installment entitled RANSOM CANYON.