I just received a special gift which is the book titled "Great Ranches of the West" by Jim Keen and Ami Reeves. The book provides a beautiful array of photo's and stories around working ranches in the 17 western states. As you open past the publisher's page of KM Media Inc you begin to find yourself on an adventure featuring the first of 30 family ranches each with a story.

The travel starts in Montana at the Salmond Ranch. As you read through the pages, you begin to fill as part of the families as you read their daily events, their history and family names. You will experience the daily sweat working the ranch in every aspect of operation.

Generation after generation you come to know the members who continue to work these many ranches. Grandfathers to grandson, son in law to daughters, mom and pop each living their dream in that unique western cultural lifestyle of the working ranch. As you turn the page you leave knowing a new friend and ready to meet the next ranch. You might even travel back just to once more reflect into the pictures in this well put together coffee table book.

Through the superb art of Jim's photography you view the cattle, the working horse to breaking horse. You find a sheep ranch, wild game and scenic sights as one explores page to page. The photography is so detail, you might believe you walked the fence lines with your pant leg tucked into your boot, leather work gloves on hand as you inspect post by post. Perhaps the aroma of breakfast and that hot black coffee seems as if you just finished your second cup or the feeling of accomplishment after mucking the stalls at the barn. Each page filled with another event, another place and another story. Each filled with sights that might catch you from reading as you examine each piece of art captured by Jim's camera. The barn wood, to leather saddles, farrier tools to tractors....each page endless as your trip continues.

You will move across mountains, through snowy valleys, head into the Pacific Northwest and down along the gold coast. From the Dakota black Hills to the Texas Gulf or across into the desert and back around into the great plains, you will be moved as you turn each page. Every part sharing its majestic beauty from the grass which blows by the summer breeze through the plains, the chill of light snow among the pastures or the geography of rivers, streams, sunsets or sunrise; Each leading you through as you turn the page.

Jim Keen spent five years researching these ranches snapping thousands of color photos. The hardback book is available at many book stores but you can also order on line at www.greatrancheswest.com as this book makes for a special gift to any person that enjoys the American west. It will leave you as if you have now been there and if you are not there, you will find yourself with the desire to climb back into the cover of this book and become a part of the Great Ranches of the West.

Book reviewed by Roger Edison