A Death Valley Christmas

Christmas #11

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

From William W. and J.A. Johnstone, the bestselling masters of the American West, comes a special holiday entry in the Jensen family saga. This time, they’re risking their lives for peace on earth—and for a piece of hell called Death Valley...

A JENSEN CHRISTMAS SHOWDOWN
A JOHNSTONE TRADITION

Ace and Chance Jensen usually spend Christmas at the Sugarloaf Ranch. But this year, the brothers are heading to Death Valley to claim Chance’s prize in a poker the deed to a silver mine. Sure, the mine is probably dried up and worthless, but what they don’t realize is that half the deed belongs to a ruthless outlaw named Foxx, a rich vein of silver hasn’t been tapped yet, and another wealthy mine owner is trying to crush the competition—by killing every miner in the valley...

The Jensen boys didn’t plan on a Christmas gunfight. But when they show up at the mine—and learn that a charity worker is using the silver to fund an orphanage—Ace and Chance can’t help but get into the holiday spirit. ’Tis the season of giving, after all. But instead of gifts, they’re swapping bullets. And instead of Santa Claus, there’s a surprise visitor coming to town. A man named Luke Jensen—Ace and Chance’s gunslinging father—and he’s here to spread peace and joy. With a double-barreled dose of holiday cheer—gunsmoke.

Genres: Westerns, Christmas, Holiday

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 26, 2021

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly misleading title as most of the story takes place in the mountains outside Death Valley. Still it is entertaining adventure starring the Jensen brothers, Ace and Chance. The brothers set out toward Death Valley after winning the deed to a silver mine in a poker game. Hoping to strike it rich they instead dig up a town full of corruption and ruthless outlaws. How will they save the town, a mission full of orphans and their own necks before Christmas Eve? With a double-barreled dose of holiday cheer - gun smoke and lead!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleased to win a copy of A Death Valley Christmas from a Goodreads giveaway. It's a good Western adventure story with a nice Christmas feel-good touch. Ace and Chance Jensen win a silver mine in a poker game and go off on something of a lark to see it for themselves. They find a gruff but lovable old miner and his three "Scandahoovian" associates have moved in, thinking it's abandoned, and soon learn that the rapscallion from whom they won it had a partner whom he cheated out of his half. The rapscallion and his prostitute girlfriend show up, the cheated partner (who's now the local nasty bigwig boss) want it back, and there's a lot of grand conflict that gets the whole town involved. There's a sweet young lady who's running a mission to help the local unfortunates that the boys and their new curmudgeonly miner friend want to help, and she's being courted by the local doctor. Can Ace and Chance make the Christmas spirit prevail, vanquish the evil black hats, and save the season for the law-abiding locals? The story is told with an interesting framing as a story told by another Jensen on Christmas Eve many years later, on the front in France during WWI. There have been hundreds of Westerns published under the Johnstone name, many of them featuring Jensen protagonists (and at least nine others with Christmas in the title), and this is another fine one. I had a little difficulty accepting the arrival of one main character very late in the story, but what the heck. It's not great literature, and action takes precedent over character development, but it's very good action entertainment for Western fans. Merry, merrry and hohoho!

[Abibliofob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's christmas time again for the Jensen family. In A Death Valley Christmas by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone it's all about the adventures of Ace and Chance Jensen and even their faher Luke Jensen. It all starts with a cardgame with a deed for a silver mine but it soon evolves to a five party struggle as to whom the mine belongs to. We have most of the usual stuff with bare knuckle fights and gunslinging, a maid in distress or two and some bad guys and some good guys. All in all a good western.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action from start to finish. This is a frontier justice themed Western that wraps things up with a joyous Christmas Eve celebration.

My thanks to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for a copy to review.

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeehaw! I won me a Western. A real Western that takes place in the 1800’s. Ace and Chance Jensen know their way around a gun but at heart are a couple of good guys. Their Pa is a gunslinger and as the saying goes these two acorns did not fall far from that tree. They are twins in their twenties when Chance wins a silver mine off a fellow in a saloon and that’s the beginning of their adventures.

Yes, there was lots of shooting, some killing, good deeds and even an almost hanging and a reunion but the twins survived to hit the trail once again.

The twins are written as likeable and honest, especially with each other although there is a bit of teasing going on during the story. This was a good storyline and I really enjoyed the read. Okay, so we know the boys will survive but that’s only to be expected but they are impulsive when it comes to rescuing those in danger, even if it puts them in danger.

This was my first Jensen family story but not the first Johnstone book I’ve read and I look forward to reading more.

I won this book in a First Reads giveaway. Thank you to Pinnacle Western, Kensington Books and the authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone.

[Derek Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about Ace and Chance Jensen, twins on another adventure. Chance wins a silver mine in a poker game. There is action from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading this well written western. Ace and Chance are in the fight of their lives but someone unexpected comes to their rescue.....none other than Luke Jensen, their gun slinging father. This is filled with action, deceit, betrayal and plenty of surprises. Thank you for the opportunity of receiving this book. I have already passed it on.

[Deby Beran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Giveaway here on Goodreads. I don't usually read westerns but I registered because I like Christmas themed books in December.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read with colorful characters and an exciting situation for the heroes and the friends they make along their journey. I would definitely recommend this book and would like to read more about these twin brothers and their bounty hunter father.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun adventure story with lots of drama and tension. There were lots of moving components and you really don't know how each one will pan out. There is the callousness towards human life but it's clear the killing is not the favorite part of the author writing it.

I didn't read any of the books beforehand and I really didn't need to in order to enjoy the plot, though some minor details may have made more sense had I read the earlier works.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My usual Christmas "oater." As long as the Johnstones write 'em, I'll be reading them. This time around, Chance and Ace Jensen are entangled in a silver mine claim that involves "purty" women, snow (is this about Death Valley?), Valhalla, the obligatory spending of vast amounts of ammunition and a surprise visit from another member of the Jensen clan.
Another Johnstone thumbs up!

[Ljohnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from the great western writer W. W. Johnstone. Not much Xmas in this one though the story does take place around that time of year.Jensen boys on an adventure again running into trouble and of course in situations to help others. It is Xmas time and a time for giving. Who knew it can blizzard in Death Valley.

[Vera Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won a copy of this. Chance won a deed to a silver mine. Him and twin brother decided to check it out.
This is where trouble begin. Seems greed has lots of interest in the mine, and will go to any length to own themselves. Lots of action.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read. I grew up with Louis L’Amore books and have read most of them several times. Johnstone is a worthy successor. It was entertaining and full of action. I thought character development was well done, too. I will definitely look for, and read, other books by this author.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh!

Entertaining story, yet not a true team up. It's all Ace and Chance as narrated by Duece during WW I. He is the son of One of our heroes.

Luke does not appear until the book is almost done and just to save the day.

It's a Ace and Chance book, not a Jensen family Christmas book as promised.

[Kathie Loch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Jensen!

I rather like that the author takes a Jensen family member to tell a story if !omg ago that happened at Christmas and near Death Valley. UT was a good story, you will need to read it to find out more!

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, solid Western, complete with lots of action, a variety of interesting characters, all with a Christmas theme. The writing and storyline were engaging, so I found this book an enjoyable and entertaining read.

[Jennifer Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I enjoy a good western, if you like them then this fits into all the old traditional westerns. I liked that this had a little Christmas in it, and there was a lot going on. As with all of these types, it's a good 'yarn' with some unbelievable shoot outs, fun.

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely a very loose Christmas setting for sure, ha. I love Ace and Chance, but this one had different GA voices and just didn't have the same feel as the rest of their stories. Oh well. Finished the Christmas adventures in January.

[Staci Suhy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion.

[Ray Ratliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read at this time of year.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read win. I’m not much of a cowboy story reader. This was a pretty good read. A cowboy wins a mine during a game of cards. They have their hands full as one is accused of murder.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I missed catching up with Matt and Sally, as well as Preacher; still good though.

[Des · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good hook. Brothers inherit a mine, and an accusation of murder is afoot...

[LeeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out rather slow, and although it did pick up a bit, it just wasn't very exciting.

[Martha Peebles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Death Valley Christmas

Another great read from the Johnstone’s as always I really enjoy 😊 reading these books. Look forward to the next one. Thank you for a awesome read.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story from Mr. Johnstone. I especially liked his postscript. Worth reading.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun end to the series. I’ve really enjoyed this format.

[Morgan Batty · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF... super boring

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Ted Cartier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Johnstone is a favorite author of mine but i was disappointed in this one. it was formulaic and predictable.