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Christmas #8
A High Sierra Christmas
JOHNSTONE JUSTICE. MADE IN AMERICA.
A Jensen family holiday takes a dark and dangerous turn—on the infamous Donner Pass—in this thrilling epic adventure from the bestselling Johnstones . . .
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the High Sierras. But Smoke Jensen and his children, Louis and Denise, won’t let a little snow stop them from heading to Reno for the holidays. There are two ways for them to get there: the long way, going around the Sierra Nevada Mountains, or the short way, going right through them. Smoke decides to take a gamble. They’ll follow the trail that, decades earlier, brought the legendary Donner Party to a gruesome, tragic end . . .
And so the journey begins. The Jensens share a stagecoach with a stranger who’s planning to rob a bank. Smoke wants to stop him, as well as his notorious gang of outlaws. But he’s outgunned and outnumbered. And when a blizzard traps them in the mountains, he’s out of luck too. Like the Donner Party before them, the Jensens will be forced to do whatever it takes to survive. This time, they’re hoping history doesn’t repeat itself. But sometimes, the ghosts of the past just won’t stay
buried . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
www.williamjohnstone.net
A Jensen family holiday takes a dark and dangerous turn—on the infamous Donner Pass—in this thrilling epic adventure from the bestselling Johnstones . . .
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the High Sierras. But Smoke Jensen and his children, Louis and Denise, won’t let a little snow stop them from heading to Reno for the holidays. There are two ways for them to get there: the long way, going around the Sierra Nevada Mountains, or the short way, going right through them. Smoke decides to take a gamble. They’ll follow the trail that, decades earlier, brought the legendary Donner Party to a gruesome, tragic end . . .
And so the journey begins. The Jensens share a stagecoach with a stranger who’s planning to rob a bank. Smoke wants to stop him, as well as his notorious gang of outlaws. But he’s outgunned and outnumbered. And when a blizzard traps them in the mountains, he’s out of luck too. Like the Donner Party before them, the Jensens will be forced to do whatever it takes to survive. This time, they’re hoping history doesn’t repeat itself. But sometimes, the ghosts of the past just won’t stay
buried . . .
Live Free. Read Hard.
www.williamjohnstone.net
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
237 people are currently reading
1214 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,055 books1,402 followersWilliam 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 31, 2022
An intriguing Christmas series—this episode as is refreshingly clean and full of insightful morality. The plot is helped along by a wonderful cast of narrators. The story rivets readers and the series is as enjoyable. 👍🏼🎄👍🏼
December 29, 2018
I have not been disappointed yet in any of the novels of the Christmas series. This tale is no exception. The kind of realism that leaves you with a feeling of the snow in your face, the powder smoke in your eyes and who the good/bad guys and girls are. Add to that the usual cast of characters that make these novels an excellent read, like an old western with an excellent cast of "character" actors. In this case "Salty Stevens", an old "jehu" (stagecoach driver) who is right alongside Smoke Jensen as Smoke and his children brave the blizzard choked Donner Pass to get home in time for Christmas.
I also love the references to the old TV westerns, whether intentional or not. "Salty" reminisces: "When I was workin' on the borax wagons down in Death Valley, sometimes we'd have twenty mules hitched in a team, I sure remember them ol' Death Valley days." (325) For you youngsters, Death Valley Days was a popular Western when I was growing up. It was hosted by actors like Robert Taylor, Dale Robertson and someone else you may have heard of, Ronald Reagan. Still on Starz/Encore.
Enjoyable read for the holiday season.
I also love the references to the old TV westerns, whether intentional or not. "Salty" reminisces: "When I was workin' on the borax wagons down in Death Valley, sometimes we'd have twenty mules hitched in a team, I sure remember them ol' Death Valley days." (325) For you youngsters, Death Valley Days was a popular Western when I was growing up. It was hosted by actors like Robert Taylor, Dale Robertson and someone else you may have heard of, Ronald Reagan. Still on Starz/Encore.
Enjoyable read for the holiday season.
January 11, 2019
The Jensen's are getting together for Christmas. That is no easy task as they are scattered all over. All of them with their own adventures along the way. Smoke, Denny and Louis are in San Francisco visiting a heart specialist for Louis. They get as far as Sacramento by train, but snow in the High Sierra has prevented the train going further. It is 1901 and stage coaches are a thing of the past. Or are they? There is a route the stage coach used to take that wouldn't be blocked by snow and Smoke knows where to get a stage coach. Unfortunately, all the passengers he takes with him are not who they seem to be and smoke is forced to take a route through Donner Pass that almost gets them all killed. Action at every turn of the bend!
December 14, 2020
I've read all but 2 of the author's Christmas novels. This one was probably my favorite so far. While Smoke Jensen still played a large role in the story, it was an unexpected change of pace to see someone get the best of him in the early chapters and how he figured out another approach to set things right again. As usual, he came out on top in the end, but that's why we read these types of stories, isn't it? To know that good wins out over evil in the end? I enjoyed the way Mr. Johnstone intersected the story about the Donner Party into the story and eventually made it a pivotal part of the plot. Earl was a nice addition, as well, (can't say more without giving spoilers!) and his storyline went just as you'd expect with Smoke Jensen involved. I did miss Cal and Pearlie. Over the course of the Last Mountain Man series, they've become two of my favorite recurring characters, but it was nice to see the Jensen children, albeit grown adults in this story, as well as Matt, Luke, Ace and Chance again. It seems like Denise (Denny) could eventually spin off into her own series of novels. I guess we'll just have to wait and see where that takes us. Looking forward to more Jensen family stories and more Mountain Main adventures.
January 9, 2020
Christmas or bust
This is about a family gathering for Christmas. 3 Uncles an Aunt and four cousins. Each of them could have been a star in his own time novel. The travel went well for most of them except for Smoke and his kids. They left San Francisco hoping to beat a storm. An avalanche stopped them in Sacramento. Smoke thought he could could get around the blockage by using an old stagecoach trail. His friend still had a stagecoach and helped him get a driver and 2 teams. An article in a newspaper got him 6 more passengers just what filled the coach. They were on there way to Reno. The trials and tribulations followed them. With the help of the Dinner Devil the made it to the Midway hotel
This is about a family gathering for Christmas. 3 Uncles an Aunt and four cousins. Each of them could have been a star in his own time novel. The travel went well for most of them except for Smoke and his kids. They left San Francisco hoping to beat a storm. An avalanche stopped them in Sacramento. Smoke thought he could could get around the blockage by using an old stagecoach trail. His friend still had a stagecoach and helped him get a driver and 2 teams. An article in a newspaper got him 6 more passengers just what filled the coach. They were on there way to Reno. The trials and tribulations followed them. With the help of the Dinner Devil the made it to the Midway hotel
July 30, 2020
Another fine tale about the Jenson Clan made famous by William W Johnstone. The whole crew plans to get together for Christmas at the Sugarloaf ranch but Smoke and his son & daughter were in San Francisco and planned to return home by train via Donner Pass but the Pass was closed because of an avalanche so they borrow an old stagecoach to make it to Reno Nev and made alternate plans for the family to meet up there for Christmas. The word got out about the run to Reno and several people talked their way into joining them. One thing led to another and it turns out to be a nightmare of a trip.
I've said enough so if this interests you I recommend you read it yourselves. I rated it a 4 out of 5 .
I've said enough so if this interests you I recommend you read it yourselves. I rated it a 4 out of 5 .
August 16, 2019
Crossing the Sierra Nevadas high mountain in the wake of a terrible blizzard to meet with the whole family is a daring privy on a Jensen can afford to. With the infamous Donnar Pass blocked by a strong snowstorm Smoke Jensen determines to join his family at Reno with his kids Denny and Louise by the help of a stagecoach. Partnering with old friend Salty Stevens as the stagedriver Smoke begins his journey accompanying him a reporter, a cutthroat criminal recently released from prison, an embezzler and a widow with his young son. Along the way the most unusual incidents happen and incidents that prove the Jensens are a very different kind of breed.
October 30, 2018
In this one, Smoke is older but he can still come up with the solutions and the fortitude to carry them out. The story begins with Smoke, Denny and Louis leaving San Francisco for their ranch in Colorado with only a week until Christmas. There is an avalanche in Donner Pass, so the train is no longer an option. They come up with a plan to use another route and a stagecoach but run into trouble right off when other people also want to make the trip ... others that include an outlaw that has to get to Reno on Christmas Eve. Another great story; very entertaining.
December 18, 2019
3.5 stars lowered to 3 stars for Goodreads. I read this series every year; around Christmas , I read the book that came out the previous year. The last few books in the series I was slightly disappointed in the last coupld, compared to the first few, which hooked me . I do enjoy getting together with the Jensen family every Christmas, but I do have to admit that these books seem to be getting formulaic and the various book don’t differ that much from the previous book. I wish my library system would offer them as a kindle book, like they use to.
November 3, 2018
This was amazing! I selected it to review on NetGalley thinking it would probably be a classic Christmas fluff piece (which I am in no way disapproving of 😉 ) but what a pleasant surprise awaited me! This was real cowboy struggles with strong people everywhere you turned. Horses, stagecoaches, trains, avalanches, bank robbers and gunslingers! This book was a true gift to read.
March 11, 2019
I loved this series of books. Although there is some gore in parts that wasn’t really necessary I think it’s just the authors style. I am going to miss the Jensen family. I may have to look up the other stories about them. I wished there had been something about them revisiting Earl before the end.
December 14, 2019
Even Smoke Jensen has to take a break from killing off the bad guys. Of course, there are the bad guys and good guys but Smoke felt like a pushover too many times. The part about the Donner party survivor was too crazy for me. I don't think this has the 'feel' that the old William Johnstone stories do.
December 25, 2020
Another good Christmas western read by W.W. Johnstone. Plenty of gunslinging and sharpshooting by the Jensen clan. Mostly Smoke and his two children in the read with another snowstorm to almost cancel Christmas gathering by the entire Jensen clan.
Plenty of different story lines built and all wrapped up by the end of the book.
Plenty of different story lines built and all wrapped up by the end of the book.
December 30, 2018
Another awesome western from the Johnstone's. Really enjoyed how Smoke was determined to be with his beloved Sally for the Holidays. Glad to read the Jensen twins know who their father is, I need to find the book where they find out who their father is. Thank you for an awesome heartwarming read.
February 3, 2019
Another great Western. I love the characters in this book. I could feel the cold and smell the smoke in the descriptions of the book. Even though Christmas is in the title not much about how Christmas was celebrated during this time period.
December 27, 2019
An entertaining plot with a Christmas feel. It lays it on a bit thick to ensure the book sounds like a western. Standard problem with sexual assault of women only being addressed in so far as it affects the men in their lives. Just OK overall.
September 3, 2018
Entertaining, but predictable.
October 8, 2018
A High Sierra Christmas is book 8 from William W Johnstone‘s Christmas series. I thought it was great and am giving it four stars.
October 20, 2018
Excellent book!!!
November 11, 2018
Very exciting piece of history, taking place at some of my favorite places. You can feel the blizzard chill your bones, and almost give you frostbites as you turn the pages in this one.
November 23, 2018
3.5 stars. A bit predictable but I still found plenty to enjoy in this annual gathering of the Jensen clan.
January 2, 2019
Love the Christmas series
January 4, 2019
Classic Western fun with bank robbers, a stagecoach stuck in the snow, and the whole Jensen clan. Fun read.
February 21, 2019
One of my mothers favorite authors. Nice western with a bit of romance.
November 5, 2019
Great Series
On to the next book in this great series. Such wonderful stories. Each book has a series of situations that are tied together at the end. Highly recommend this author.
On to the next book in this great series. Such wonderful stories. Each book has a series of situations that are tied together at the end. Highly recommend this author.
January 16, 2020
Good book! I don’t normally read Westerns so something different for me. I didn’t realize when I started it that it was part of a series which was unfortunate for me.
February 22, 2020
always a awesome read or listen.
March 21, 2020
I started this as a Christmas read, but things came up and it kept getting pushed aside. I really enjoyed the book. It was complete with gunfighter turned rancher and the villain. Very enjoyable rea.
January 3, 2022
A good old fashion western Christmas. Love the characters and country action.
October 5, 2020
My favorite of the Johnstone Christmas books. The Jenson family are first class.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews