What do you think?
Rate this book
Christmas #9
A Jensen Family Christmas
The legendary members of the Jensen family gather together at the Sugarloaf Ranch for one Christmas homecoming they'll never forget"€"if they live through it . . . Smoke Jensen looks forward to spending a quiet holiday with the family. But an unexpected arrival from south of the border has him reaching for his guns, defending his land"€"and risking everything he loves . . .
Sally Jensen strikes up a friendship with a lovely Mexican woman"€"who turns out to be married to the mysterious stranger plotting to steal her ranch . . .
Ace and Chance prepare to fight a gang of outlaws trying to kill the man who raised them"€"but they're going to need the help of the father they never knew . . .
Luke Jensen rescues three young children orphaned in a shootout"€"and heads home for a surprise reunion with children of his own . . .
Preacher catches the eye of a beautiful and beguiling widow"€"but he can't decide if she wants to marry him, kill him, or both . . .
Every Christmas season, the Jensens pray for peace on earth. But then, for the Jensen family, danger is just another holiday tradition.
Sally Jensen strikes up a friendship with a lovely Mexican woman"€"who turns out to be married to the mysterious stranger plotting to steal her ranch . . .
Ace and Chance prepare to fight a gang of outlaws trying to kill the man who raised them"€"but they're going to need the help of the father they never knew . . .
Luke Jensen rescues three young children orphaned in a shootout"€"and heads home for a surprise reunion with children of his own . . .
Preacher catches the eye of a beautiful and beguiling widow"€"but he can't decide if she wants to marry him, kill him, or both . . .
Every Christmas season, the Jensens pray for peace on earth. But then, for the Jensen family, danger is just another holiday tradition.
362 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2019
161 people are currently reading
1538 people want to read
About the author
William W. Johnstone
1,040 books1,390 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 21, 2019
The good:
It was fun seeing a lot of Johnstone's characters together in the same novel.
There was some interesting character development here and there.
The not so good:
It didn't really start to feel like a Christmas story until near the end.
Instead of having all of the characters share one big story, this was really just three or four separate stories smashed together. Many of the characters aren't even together until the end.
It was fun seeing a lot of Johnstone's characters together in the same novel.
There was some interesting character development here and there.
The not so good:
It didn't really start to feel like a Christmas story until near the end.
Instead of having all of the characters share one big story, this was really just three or four separate stories smashed together. Many of the characters aren't even together until the end.
August 20, 2019
my August Christmas read, and this was a new book, just out at our library.
December 25, 2020
Just in time for Christmas! This story is hilarious, sad, romantic, and action packed all in one as the Jensen’s prepare for Christmas. Johnstone did a great job bringing all the characters from the Jensenverse into one amazing tale.
February 8, 2022
By the title I wasn’t sure if there’d be enough action to hold my interest. I should have known that if the Jensen family is involved, there is always suspense , twists , fast draws , and plenty of action.
November 8, 2019
A Jensen Christmas
As always an awesome read. I love the Christmas books on the Jensen family. They always have a lot of excitement. But they also enjoy their large family and always have room for more Jensen’s. Thank you Johnson’s for an awesome read.
As always an awesome read. I love the Christmas books on the Jensen family. They always have a lot of excitement. But they also enjoy their large family and always have room for more Jensen’s. Thank you Johnson’s for an awesome read.
October 29, 2019
A Jensen Family Christmas by William Johnstone is a traditional cowboy novel about the extended family of Smoke and Sally Jensen making their way to the Sugarloaf Ranch in Colorado, under the guise of Ace and Chance explaining to their cousin Denny (Denise) how they discovered that her uncle Luke was their father. It has all the essential requirements: horses, bad guys, guns, lies, heroes, and a solid home to which they can all return. Smoke is the fastest gun in the West and although he is trying to live down the reputation, it still comes in handy now and then. He allows no one in his family or close friends circle to be hurt or frightened, although he tries to go through the law first. This is an exciting book with lots of stories that come together early in the morning on Christmas Day.
A Jensen Family Christmas is a traditional cowboy story, which is exactly what I was looking for. Sometimes it reads like Star Wars in cowboy dress. There is a lot of fighting and killing, but isn't that what Westerns are for? Smoke and Sally read as a lot older than they apparently are, because their daughter, Denny, is born after this story takes place, at which time her cousins, Ace and Chance, are at least twenty. Their mother died at their birth and they were raised by substitute father, who not only did a great job, but carries the secret of their birth father's identity. Luke Jensen is a grizzled old bounty hunter, but by killing his latest bounty, he has inherited the man's three young children. Quite a job getting them to Sugarloaf Ranch in one piece. Don Juan Sebastian Aguilar and his lovely wife, Mariana have arrived in town intending to lay claim to the entire valley with an old Spanish land grant in hand. They play their parts with aplomb. All in all, a terrific read. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of A Jensen Family Christmas from Netgalley. #netgalley #ajensenfamilychristmas
A Jensen Family Christmas is a traditional cowboy story, which is exactly what I was looking for. Sometimes it reads like Star Wars in cowboy dress. There is a lot of fighting and killing, but isn't that what Westerns are for? Smoke and Sally read as a lot older than they apparently are, because their daughter, Denny, is born after this story takes place, at which time her cousins, Ace and Chance, are at least twenty. Their mother died at their birth and they were raised by substitute father, who not only did a great job, but carries the secret of their birth father's identity. Luke Jensen is a grizzled old bounty hunter, but by killing his latest bounty, he has inherited the man's three young children. Quite a job getting them to Sugarloaf Ranch in one piece. Don Juan Sebastian Aguilar and his lovely wife, Mariana have arrived in town intending to lay claim to the entire valley with an old Spanish land grant in hand. They play their parts with aplomb. All in all, a terrific read. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of A Jensen Family Christmas from Netgalley. #netgalley #ajensenfamilychristmas
August 9, 2020
Well, I have now completed my first Western. I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, so of course I had to read it! My winning the book however dies not have any reflect on my review of this book.
I wasn't sure what I'd find as I'd never read a Western before. The genre isn't really my thing. I will say though, the writing for the most part was solid.
If you like conspiracies, gun brawls, and a hint of holiday cheer, then this book is for you. A Mexican is after Smoke Jensen's ranch, a man named Malkin who stole money in a train robbery wants his identity kept secret, three children must be kept safe on the way to the Jensen's by the bounty hunter who killed their father, an older woman is on the run from her grandson whom she claims wants her dead or alive, and two young brothers are trying to make it to the Jensen ranch all at Christmas time.
I'm not sure I liked the book, but I didn't hate it. It certainly had it's twists and turns. I even learned a couple of things.
Thank you Goodreads for the book. I may try another Western in the future.
I wasn't sure what I'd find as I'd never read a Western before. The genre isn't really my thing. I will say though, the writing for the most part was solid.
If you like conspiracies, gun brawls, and a hint of holiday cheer, then this book is for you. A Mexican is after Smoke Jensen's ranch, a man named Malkin who stole money in a train robbery wants his identity kept secret, three children must be kept safe on the way to the Jensen's by the bounty hunter who killed their father, an older woman is on the run from her grandson whom she claims wants her dead or alive, and two young brothers are trying to make it to the Jensen ranch all at Christmas time.
I'm not sure I liked the book, but I didn't hate it. It certainly had it's twists and turns. I even learned a couple of things.
Thank you Goodreads for the book. I may try another Western in the future.
December 20, 2019
Anytime you are looking for a good book to read, look for the Johnstone name and you are guaranteed an exciting western/frontier story line built around a strong family ethic where characters from all of their series join in to keep the peace and save the day. This installment of the Jensen family saga has many of the series' regulars coming together to celebrate Christmas. Of course, along the way they must prove again that the law will prevail, and if it doesn't, the Jensen's reputation for speedy dispatch of criminals will keep you reading. Along the way, you'll find the Johnstone's have written accurate accounts of life as it was. Hardships are to be borne along with good times and the Jensen family will come out ahead in the end. I'll keep reading Johnstone books as long as they keep writing them.
November 22, 2019
I’ve never read any books in the Jensen family saga but that did not stop me from enjoying this Christmas novel. The book started out jumping all over the place with a flashback sort of story telling and then jumped all over the place. I almost put the book down, but then it became clear that all the characters were converging on the same location for Christmas. Usually the historical novels I read are written by women, so this was a bit different for me. The thing I noticed was that men provide a lot more description of the weapons used and the damage they inflict. It had an exciting, satisfying conclusion. I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads.
July 18, 2023
There is always action on the Sugarloaf Ranch in Colorado and Christmas is no exception. Smoke Jensen is married to Sally, and she wants everyone home for Christmas, so Smoke tries to make that happen. Sally is the love of his life, special to all who know her and stands by his side no matter the situation - guns or no guns. This book is filled with special moments of family, friends and those that want to take away what the Jensen family has. Loved the beginning of the book where this author brings us up to date on the Jensen men, where they fit in the family and the reminder that the name alone can bring smiles and fear. I smiled and yes, I cried over loss and the ways of the west.
October 12, 2019
Despite it coming early I love these christmas themed westerns by the Johnstone family. I must thank both #Netgalley and #KensingtonBooks for letting me read A Jensen Family Christmas. This is I think one of the biggest gatherings of the Jensen family ever. Such a treat. Some things will be revealed but I will not spoil the fun. If you like cozy, western and action combined with gunplay this is for you
January 2, 2021
Another excellent Christmas western read. The Jensens are a tough bunch of cowboys to tackle. There seems to be no obstacle to stop them. The bullets come eerily close to ending one or several of the Jensen cowboys but never find the mark. Couple get wounded and we do see a fine characters life end but a Christmas reunion cannot be stopped.
December 28, 2024
Enjoyed this book. It was one of many that i borrowed from the library but when i looked it over & read that it was a Western that takes place in Colorado, had to try it.
Glad i did. Sure there was a lot of shooting & killing, but a lot of interesting characters.
Might check the other books in the series.
Glad i did. Sure there was a lot of shooting & killing, but a lot of interesting characters.
Might check the other books in the series.
September 30, 2019
Jensen Christmas stories are usually a lot of fun. 5 Jensen's and Preacher together. Sort of a western Justice League. ;)
Gun fights
Fist fights
Good v. Evil
And...... A mystery revealed!
Well worth the read
Gun fights
Fist fights
Good v. Evil
And...... A mystery revealed!
Well worth the read
November 3, 2019
Not The Best But Passable!
This certainly isn't the best book released by the Johnstone duo, but then it's probably not the worst. Overall this story line is just way too busy with too many story lines competing with all the others.
This certainly isn't the best book released by the Johnstone duo, but then it's probably not the worst. Overall this story line is just way too busy with too many story lines competing with all the others.
December 16, 2019
In keeping with a holiday tradition the latest of the Jensen holiday sagas doesn't disappoint. Saddle leather, gunsmoke, snow, "owlhoots", and family all contribute to a good, readable Western story. I hope they keep coming.
August 12, 2023
Wow, so much action and surprises that those Jensen's seem to bring. These Christmas westerns are addicting. I did have one unanswered question which is unusual, but satisfied by the end of this gripping story. Anxiously awaiting the next Christmas book that follows.
October 18, 2019
Very good! Action packed!
October 31, 2019
Another wild Jensen Christmas
I like the way the author was able to get more story's in. As always a great book. I can't put them down
I like the way the author was able to get more story's in. As always a great book. I can't put them down
November 23, 2019
Loved this, William is a very talented author and I devour anything he writes.
November 26, 2019
Not my usual genre ,by any stretch. Picked this one up ,and before I knew it I was done. Great little piece of western storytelling here !
December 10, 2019
4stars. Another enjoyable addition to the Jensen Christmas stories, one that gives us the story of Chance and Ace finding out who their biological father is.
January 1, 2020
Loved this book has love, suspense, danger and good hearted people.
January 27, 2020
A Jensen Family Christmas is a great story. It is what I expect by this author. I am giving it five stars and highly recommend it.
February 7, 2020
Good
Good story as usual. not too much violence but enough to keep it interesting fast paced and we'll told story.
Good story as usual. not too much violence but enough to keep it interesting fast paced and we'll told story.
February 12, 2020
This was a great series ....very enjoyable to read, can't wait for #10 ,......
February 22, 2020
always a awesome read. or listen.
January 31, 2021
There is a lot of drama in this and many revelations about the Jensen family that, if you have been following the family for a while, will be satisfying.
November 30, 2021
The graphic audio narration was done well, in a very old fashioned way. However, once a western, always a western. Guns, fighting, bandits, and cowboys to the rescue.
December 13, 2021
Best one yet in the Christmas series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews