Writer Phyllis Dugan says, "Marsha Ward has the ability to grab readers by the lapels, yank them into her stories, and make them care deeply about her characters. In her newest novel, she combines joy and pathos with revenge and redemption, adding enough satisfying action and surprises to keep readers breathlessly looking forward to the next page. I thoroughly enjoyed Ride to Raton."

After losing the heart of his fianceé to his brother, James Owen leaves home to make a new life for himself. The turbulent world of post-Civil War Colorado Territory is fraught with danger and prejudice that increase his bitter loneliness as personal setbacks threaten to break him. Then James's journey brings him into contact with another wayfarer, beautiful young Amparo Garcés, who has come from Santa Fe to Colorado to marry a stranger. Through a twist of fate, their futures are changed forever, and James and Amparo undertake a hazardous horseback trek over Raton Pass to Santa Fe, battling their personal demons, a challenging language barrier, and winter's raging storms.

"Marsha Ward has one foot in the 21st century and one in the 19th. Her characters hew closely to those wild days, portraying their lives and times. Readers love her for that."
--Gary Svee, two-time Spur Award Winner
Western Writers Newsletter, Sep. 2003

Book 2: The Owen Family Saga.