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Stand Your Ground

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National bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone know what it takes to fight for the red, white and blue. When the battleground is Texas, the outcome is sure to be explosive. . .

Freedom Is Never Free

After the President closes Guantanamo Bay to hold civilian trials for the terrorists, some of them are relocated to Hell's Gate Prison in West Texas. Until a group of fanatical sleeper-cell shock troops launch an all-out assault to "liberate" their jailed comrades. There's just one they don't know that Army Ranger Lucas Kincaid is working at Hell's Gate.

With the town's high school team held hostage and in danger of being executed one by one, Kincaid assembles a ragtag band of survivors and aging hardcore cons into a lethal fighting force to keep the unholy warriors from their deadly mission. And Kincaid and his men are on their own--everyone, from the President on down, orders Kincaid to give in to the terrorists' demands.

But warrior Lucas Kincaid, out-numbered and out-gunned, won't back down.

One thing's for when the enemy gets to Hell, they'll know America sent them.

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

64 people are currently reading
110 people want to read

About the author

William W. Johnstone

1,040 books1,390 followers
William W. Johnstone is the #1 bestselling Western writer in America and the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of hundreds of books, with over 50 million copies sold. Born in southern Missouri, he was raised with strong moral and family values by his minister father, and tutored by his schoolteacher mother. He left school at fifteen to work in a carnival and then as a deputy sheriff before serving in the army. He went on to become known as "the Greatest Western writer of the 21st Century." Visit him online at WilliamJohnstone.net.

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5 stars
156 (53%)
4 stars
66 (22%)
3 stars
35 (12%)
2 stars
13 (4%)
1 star
19 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Rob Smith, Jr..
1,289 reviews35 followers
May 26, 2015
'Stand your Ground' is a speeding train of a book full of well fleshed out characters and bad guys that you have to hate. Well written with the Johnstone Clan touch of not knowing what happens next or who lives or dies makes this a crackerjack true thriller.

I've been having a clunky time with good and bad Johnstone Clan books and this volume harkens back to the first of the Last Mountain Man series that started my reading so many of the Johnstone books over two years ago. This one is well plotted, written and with intriguing characters. A few characters have appeared in other Johnstone Clan thrillers and converge here per chance.

Though i share the political views represented in the book, the politics run too thick throughout this book. The political asides slow down the narrative and become irritating as the asides become repetitive. Of course, I have to read through plenty of the opposite side in the bulk of contemporary novels today that is more than heavy handed, irrational and repetitive. I'm opened minded and don't mind reading both sides. I well know the bulk of those who hold the opposite political view of me would have a great deal of trouble getting through the first chapter of this book. That shouldn't be the case.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 of 10 points.
6 reviews
March 27, 2018
We have to stand our ground !

An amazing book with so many similarities to the progressive liberal democrat agenda, and the leader of the Muslim brotherhood that took up residence in the White House. Obama wanted to fundamentally change our great Country. This book, which was yet another great book written by Mr. William Johnstone, should be made into a movie with the goal of opening the eyes of American citizens to what could take place in the United States if we don't wake up.
Profile Image for Jerry Blackerby.
Author 5 books10 followers
August 20, 2014
Another W. W. Johnstone with J. A. Johnstone. This book has the character John Howard Stark, who has been in several other similar Johnstone books. I loved the book as I have most of his books. This one left an open question at the end so apparently there will be at least one more in this current series, which is not identified as a series but has continuing characters. Looking forward to another.
12 reviews
June 25, 2016
Excellent read! Thoroughly enjoyable for a " right wing nut " (me); a must read four left-wing progressives , although I doubt they could withstand the pain of reading this material . It is an exaggerated? Forewarning of what could happen in this country if we continue on our current path . Any patriotic American would enjoy this novel .

This is the first time I have read this author. I will check out more of his books . Excellent!
Profile Image for David Carraturo.
Author 4 books111 followers
October 15, 2014
This book was really good, and one of the few "I can't put it down" novels I have read in a long time. The topic was correlated to the number one current event, the growth of ISIS and what they could do if they get onto US soil. This story was not for the liberal mindset at all, but if you are a conservative, you will love it. I do not say "Must Read!!" often, but this novel is a must read!!
Profile Image for Ron.
955 reviews5 followers
May 28, 2019
Modern western with the return of John Howard Stark and plenty of radical Islamic terrorists.

In an distopian Near future America, radical Islamic terrorists have infiltrated our government media. Conspiracies galore.

Meanwhile in Texas terrorists strike in Mass, but Texas fights back.

There is a bit of Red Dawn plus enough gun battles to give you tinnitus.

Over all it's entertaining.
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,240 reviews8 followers
September 30, 2014
Like many of Johnstone's books this book is a little long on the setup, but the payoff is well worth it. The last half of the book flew by, and I continue to be impressed with this series. I'm looking forward to more of these books.
Profile Image for Steve Foley.
17 reviews
February 11, 2017
I have really enjoyed Wm Johnstone's westerns and mountain man books, but this is Old West justice meets modern day liberals. Kinda fun. A little too close to the truth, and about time someone wrote it. He has written over 200 books, and I own about 25, I'll keep buying them.
Profile Image for Ryan Hillis.
739 reviews18 followers
July 24, 2014
Great thriller about the next 9/11!!! Read this book in two hours straight. This was a very scary thrilling read. Can't wait till the next one in the series!!!
2 reviews
February 5, 2015
Good

Always liked the Authors so read most of his work. Fast paced puts Texas in a strong anti-government world but still good read
1 review
November 19, 2016
Great story

Very fast moving and gripping story. Recommend any book by this author. Never sure how it would end. Makes for good reading.
244 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2018
Extreme

This book makes me glad that Donald Trump is the president as this may have been our reality under Hillary Clinton. Crazy right?
534 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2014
Sadly to say when I was reading this I felt that the Author mentioned Obama as being a ring leader in the destruction of the United States.Although as the start of it all. However later Presidents were the real cause of the demise of the Country. In this book the Democratic Party has come into full power and Texas is the last Republican State in the United States. Gitmo is closed and all of the inmates are sent to a Texan Prison and then Islamic terrorists invade. Interesting story of corruption and it painted a story that in reality could really happen. Although the possibility of it is small.
19 reviews
May 15, 2025
While I enjoy Johnstone's fiction novels, I COMPLETELY disagree with his cockeyed politics!!

Trump, the Republican, nearly destroyed the USA, so the far right SUCKS!!!

Therefore - the ONE Star book rating.
Profile Image for Jim.
25 reviews8 followers
August 21, 2014
Good read. I look forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for Randy Funk.
2 reviews
September 16, 2014
Good read. Fast paced and thrilling. I got a little tired of the political odds it put the democrats and republicans at.
Profile Image for Penny.
622 reviews14 followers
December 7, 2014
Good story as long as you skip read to get past all the political trash.
5 reviews1 follower
February 14, 2016
Okay

Good, fast paced story. Too predictable and about a 7th grade level. Entertaining and easy to read. The good guys win and the bad guys lost. Simple
111 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2019
Good read

Overall very good. Enjoyed front to back. You will too. Looking forward to the next one. On to the next.
547 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2025
Words escape me. I have never tried harder reading a book as this one. The authors view on politics and his obvious Republican Party stance is blatantly obvious and obnoxious. This author cares more about getting his slams in at the Democrats than the plot ! I don’t support either party but I can see why the US is in such a mess.

This author is probably on Trump’s Top Ten Bestseller list !

I only gave it one star just so it would register and hopefully prevent someone actually spending any good money or their valuable time on this rubbish. Lucky for me I only spent a $1 from a charity shop ! I would normally pass this on to another bibliophile or back into the charity shop stream BUT this book is going the way of Fahrenheit 451
Profile Image for Toni Garrison.
247 reviews
January 30, 2022
scary

Scary that this book seems so realistic that it could really happen. First book I have read by the author. The book kept me engaged all the way. Lots of action. Will read more from this author.
76 reviews
January 1, 2022
almost too scary to enjoy

Is it prophetic? Is it timely? Read it and draw your own conclusions. I haven’t done so as yet. But I will read the next one!
Profile Image for Mike Mackey.
332 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2022
USA saving

William. Johnstone, has created some great Bad and Good characters. His Story was as good as ever!!
A Very Good Read!
Santa Mike
Profile Image for Don.
15 reviews
August 23, 2019
Only a conservative could get past the first few pages of this book. I am a political and cultural conservative, but this book was too much even for me. It is clear from the outset that the author (J.A. Johnstone) will be anything but reasonable, balanced or even rational in his hatred of the left - especially Obama and Democrats. I thought that Obama was a disaster, but I do not think that he totally destroyed our country (after all, he only had 8 years to do it.) I do think that Democrats in general do not believe in the first amendment, and do bow down to those who hate our country.

BUT the liberal "true believers" in Stand Your Ground are so ridiculous and cliche quoting that they are not believable, in the slightest. Ms Devereaux, the tv personality/reporter (who represents all the mindless liberals in the U.S.) spouts typical liberal excuses:that the sheriff was "racial profiling" when the attackers in the book are identified as Middle Eastern terrorists OR she quips: "Islam is a religion of peace" as she witnesses a terrorist decapitate a caucasian teenage. It was ridiculous - not even the hardest core liberal would react this way. The ideas attributed to the far left in the book are ones that not even the latest gaggle of yahoos running for the Democratic nomination would embrace . . . . well maybe with the exception of Bernie!!!!

The point is, the book is so unbalanced that it lacks credibility. If J.A. Johnstone were not riding his Dad's reputation, he would have no future as a writer. This is the last book of his for me. I'm amazed that the reviewers liked this book (makes me pretty sad).
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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