Save It for Sunday

Taylor Callahan #2

by William W. Johnstone, J.A. Johnstone

From the greatest western writers of the 21st century, the second adventure featuring circuit rider Taylor Callahan. a mysterious man in black who rides from town to town with a bible in hand and guns in his holsters, delivering the word of God and hard-fought justice…

From Confederate marauder to rebel gunfighter to repentant preacherman, circuit rider Taylor Callahan’s road to perdition has been a hellish ride. Sinners beware.

After riding with Missouri bushwhackers, Taylor Callahan vowed to never take another life. He’s making good on it in Peaceful Valley. By day, swamping a saloon. By night, preaching the Good Book. But this little settlement is about to become anything but peaceable. When the marshal takes a bullet in a sheepman-cattleman skirmish he pins a badge on Taylor leaving the circuit rider open to whole new world of hell . . .

A railroad engineer building a line from Laramie to Denver is cutting across Arapaho land starting a war on Peace Treaty Peak. If that’s not enough to set the county on fire, Taylor’s trigger-happy past comes calling. The revenge-seeking Harris boys are hot on his tail. With the marshal down, Peaceful Valley is ripe for the taking—and blasting Taylor to kingdom come is part of the deal. If keeping the peace means breaking Taylor’s vow so be it. He’s looking forward to strapping on his Colt .45 again. That’s the gospel truth.

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published March 28, 2023

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

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like this new series about the Circuit riding preacher by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Save it for Sunday is the second book and we get to know a little more about Callahan and his past. The troubles in Peaceful Valley is not the best story ever but there was some surprises I didn't see coming. Overall it's an entertaining western and it's a new type of hero. I must thank Kensington Books , Pinnacle and Netgalley for making this advance copy available to me.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taylor Cavanaugh has been a bully in outlaw but now since moving to peace Valley he’s a savior and wants to save men from the life he escaped. He’s ridden with Confederate outlaws and done some dastardly deeds but he wants only to bring man’s spirit to the Lord and not because he ended the life but when the marshal is killed in a dispute over feeding ground DEX Kavanaugh to take the job and although reluctant he eventually agrees. All is well until the railroad wants to put tracks over a piece of land that’s thing occupied by Native Americans but that’s not all he hast to worry about his past soon comes calling and unfortunately it’s looking for revenge. It comes in the form of brothers who are out to get some outlawed justice and by killing Kavanaugh can make a name for their self at the same time. I love books by the John stones but I will be honest and say it took me a few chapters to get into this one but once I did I was all Lynn. I thought Cavanaugh was a great western figure in love his dilemma of keeping the peace or taking up a gun and as always I really enjoyed the sport. I have never given a Johnstone book less than five stars and I am not going to start now. I received this book from NetGalley and pinnacle and Kensington but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Taylor Callahan novel, and it easily surpasses his first appearance. Where the first book had a great character in a mediocre story, “Save it for Sunday” succeeds with both elements. This book features plenty of adventure, but continues to develop its strong lead character. “Save it for Sunday” is well worth a read, and hopefully the series will continue.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Johnstone's Book 2 in the Taylor Callahan series, Save it for Sunday (Pinnacle Books 2023), follows the journey of a circuit riding preacher who spreads the good word to anyone who will listen long enough to tithe whatever they can afford. Callahan doesn't care how much that is, even if it's only bed or breakfast. He has lost everything important including his will to achieve what used to be important to him, except one: a fundamental sense of justice. On his way to one more wayward town, he comes upon a dying stage coach driver, flagged down another stage coach to assist., but the injured driver dies before they can get him to the closest town, Peaceful Valley. It seems as good a place as any for Callahan to preach the good book until the sheriff is shot and Callahan is called to replace him. What happens next puts the former Confederate soldier, retired rebel gunfighter, now peaceful preacher in the middle of a fight he can't avoid and shouldn't lose.

Save it for Sunday is a sometimes meandering story much like Callahan's life, but with each of his decisions to do what's right, we the readers find ourselves caring more about him and wanting to see him succeed. Though a bit slow to start and occasionally confusing (not unlike Callahan himself), in the end, it is a good and worthy story.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no such thing as a bad Johnstone western. Each series is built around main characters whose belief in the law and family is absolute, even if they've had to be reformed to get there. From Preacher, the original mountain man to the Jensen family to Perly Gates, to.....well, you get the point. Many times, characters from one series will show up in another as supporting hands. The communities are true to the era, clothing, guns, food and troubles are all what you'd find if you looked them up in the history books. No two stories are the same, each character or set of characters is unique and so are their stories. The writing is skillful, readers are pulled into the story and you will laugh and cry right along with the characters. I made the mistake of picking up a Johnstone western my uncle was reading. Ive been hooked ever since. Now I share them with my reading family and will continue as long as new Johnstones are released.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the Johnstone Clan series of books, I believe this Taylor Callahan has edged The Loner and Preacher series to the top. Helping are better written and plotted novels.

This second entry continues the great writing of the previous. This one even better thought out. A tale with many bumps and potholes in the trail Callahan takes. I really like the surprises that pop up and resolutions. The references to the "Major General" are perfectly placed and gies a very strong foundation of the main character. Though, also has the reader wondering how Callahan will get out of his fixes thanks to the "Major General".

How this book starts involving a wagon accident and propels into a wagon race, bad guys, indians, sheep and assorted characters continuing the Johnstone brand of strong characters, gives what readers look for: A thorough story that has the reader exiting the book thoroughly satisfied.

I do hope the Johnstone Clan do not let this writer loose from their corral!!

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Taylor Callahan novel, and it easily surpasses his first appearance. Where the first book had a great character in a mediocre story, “Save it for Sunday” succeeds with both elements. This book features plenty of adventure, but continues to develop its strong lead character. “Save it for Sunday” is well worth a read, and hopefully the series will continue.

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot going on in this story but was still slow paced and kind of boring some of the time.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bumped it up to a 4 star. Wasn’t as impressed as I’m normally with a Johnstone western.