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Gold Dust and Gunsmoke: Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen, and Vigilantes Review

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(More customer reviews)A Review from Wild West Magazine, October 1999:
It is an odd twist of history. Hollywood created the gunfighter myth and placed its heroes primarily in Texas, with overlapping gun-toting cowboys in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, Oklahoma and the Dakotas. Yet, when we think of California in terms of the Wild West, we usually think of someone salting a gold mine...period. It's high time, on the 150th anniversary of the Forty-Niners' rush to the far coast, to rethink Old California.
San Francisco attorney and historian John Boessenecker has done as much as anyone to change and illuminate California's Wild West image. With intense research and fine writing skills, Boessenecker brings us gunfighters, thieves, assassins, gamblers and highwaymen, the likes of which one seldom reads about. And these are not just ordinary ruffians and ne'er-do-wells; these people stole from other folks in a wide variety of ways and made an art out of shooting and cutting up friends as well as enemies.
So while we have plenty of biographies of Billy the Kid and lots of reruns on the OK Corral, it's refreshing that Boessenecker presents solid information on interesting but mostly overlooked California characters and events. The author says that the decade of turbulence and bloodshed that followed the discovery of gold "has not been equaled before or since in the history of peacetime America." In the epilogue, Boessenecker presents some murder-rate figures that lend support to that statement. He concludes that the gold seekers' ready resort to violence "left an enduring mark on our nation's history."
If you would like a good read (367 pages) about how gold fever ignited a rush not only of families, but of prostitutes, feuds, lynchings, duels, bare-knuckle prize fights, and vigilantes, then this is the place to start, the book to open.
Leon Metz

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Judgement Day (A Town Called Fury, Book 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)Two years have passed since the little town of Fury sprung up from the Arizona desert and to everyone's surprise Fury has doubled in population despite the harshness of life. The town has battled the Apache and Mexican bandits, but living is a little easier knowing there's a wall surrounding the town, protecting it from intruders.
But according to Ward Wanamaker, the Apache are growing restless and a band are headed straight for town. With the alert raised in time, Jason Fury--the Marshal--orders everyone into town, the gates closed and the men to their weapons. The Apache are caught off guard, not expecting the town to be gated and leave after a disheartening battles which wounds or kills many on both sides. Even with the Apache retreating, Jason knows they haven't seen the last of them so he orders the men to dig a moat around the perimeter of the town and to fill it with whale oil and kerosene.
The Apache attack again two days later, and when the moats are lit, they are astounded by how the ground could catch fire but are not deterred. They decide if they can't get into town they'll split up and begin burning the buildings outside of town, starting with Matt and Jenny MacDonald's. Jason and a few other men go to the houses on the outskirts of Fury and warn the residents, telling them to pack up and move into town. But will all these efforts succeed in thwarting the Apache and keep the settlers of Fury safe? Or will Lone Wolf lead his tribe to victory?
Judgment Day, third in the A Town Called Fury series, is a high-velocity novel, full of danger, edge-of-your-seat suspense and even a little romance. Not to be missed! Looking forward to the fourth book in July.

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Wrath of the Mountain Man Review

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(More customer reviews)this book had excitement and danger. could have been the old west for sure

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A USA Today Bestselling AuthorOn the frontier, a man's word is his bond, and only fast guns and good friends can save your life. So when Smoke Jensen trusts his gravely injured comrade to the care of a small-town doctor, the last thing he expects is an act of betrayal - and a call for revenge. Somewhere in his past, Smoke crossed paths with a lowlife who has now built a little kingdom as a frontier sheriff - and holding Smoke's friend hostage is his way of luring Smoke into a death trap.

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The Family Jensen #1 Review

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(More customer reviews)I really liked this book and enjoyed reading it. I did get a little bit lost because it is actually 4 stories in one. The stories are related but jump around in time. I have read most of the Eagle series and loved that series. I have read a few of the Mountain Man series. If I had read more of that series I don't think I would have gotten lost. Even if you get lost, it still an enjoyable read.
I give it a 4 star rating just because I didn't think it was as good as the Eagle books. I am look forward to future Family Jensen books and plan on purchasing them as soon as they come out.

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Trapped in a remote cabin, surrounded by ruthless gunmen, Matt Jensen and his adoptive father Smoke Jensen join forces with their old friend, Preacher, in the greatest fight of their lives. A ruthless cattle baron has waged an all-out war against the peaceful native tribesmen who have become Preacher's friends. In a bloodthirsty bid for land, power, and wealth, the baron's drafted an army of professional killers to destroy the homesteaders - among them the Jensens are the only men brave enough to stand in his way. Now, Matt, Smoke and Preacher face their ultimate and most deadly challenge - and share their hopes, fears, secrets, and dreams - in what could be their final, most desperate hour. No matter what happens, they are the family Jensen. Surrender is not an option.

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Ambush Of The Mountain Man Review

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(More customer reviews)Don't read this book....unless you're prepared to read the ton of other
books in the "Smoke Jensen and Preacher" series. This author writes a book
before breakfast and another just before dinner. They're plentiful and
highly addictive. Suspend belief and enjoy.
Smoke Jensen, in particular, shoots or fist fights around a hundred
hard cases per book and they all highly deserve the mayhem he delivers.
In spite of this high fiction (most famous old West gunfighters only
killed 3 or 4 men in their entire lives) you'll soldier on with the
series because Smoke Jensen is the stuff heros are made of and the
writing is crisp and moving.
Just don't say you weren't warned when you find that you spent your whole
summer (or winter) in a comfy chair with 50 or so of these read books
strewn around you.

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Smoke Jensen never wanted to kill, but fate had other plans, and the Mountain Man has left plenty of blood, tears, and fury in his wake. Angus MacDougal, the father of one of Smoke's victims, wants revenge. Riding up to Big Rock, Colorado, MacDougal has decided that killing Smoke won't be enough. He intends to bring him back to Pueblo and hang him before a crowd. It's a bloodthirsty plan that might have worked, except for a beautiful young woman, and the small knife she slips into Smoke's hand. Suddenly Smoke is on the run in the Colorado wilderness with no gun, no supplies, and twenty armed men in pursuit. Once, a man named Preacher taught Smoke how to survive in this wilderness. Now, as a brutal winter bears down, the Mountain Man will use those lessons well - not only to fight his way out alive, but also for vengeance of his own...

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Savagery of The Mountain Man (Mountain Man 37) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished reading Savagery of the Mountain Man. I really think it is one of the best in the Johnstone series about Smoke Jensen. Many of the books about Smoke focus on his ability to defeat large groups of outlaws using his mountain man skills. This book is a little different in that it has more of a bent toward Pearlie, Smoke's longtime friend and boss of his horse ranch. Pearlie lost his wife in a previous book, and finds that he needs time alone. In this book we find out what happens during Pearlie's travels away from the Sugarloaf ranch. In the meantime, Smoke and Sally have a story of their own, and the two tales come together nicely in the end. Even if you have never read a book about Smoke and his friends and family, I think you will enjoy this one. There is enough background provided that you will know the characters. Lots of action, more insight into other characters, and the fact that it's not just another trek into the High Lonesome with Smoke make this a great read.

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Longarm 340: Longarm Holy Smokes Gang Review

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(More customer reviews)I never heard of the Longarm titles until recently. So, this is my first one to read. And it certainly won't be the last. This is one hell of a western yarn! It's an extremely well-told, fast-paced story that has lots of characters, and loaded with action, adventure, scenery, violence, and sex. Deputy U.S. Marshal Custis Long, (Longarm), is one cool character, who has a great sense of humor, even in the most dire situations. His dialogue is wonderful. I found myself smiling repeatedly, and even laughing aloud several times. This is a fun read.
Try it. You'll like it.
I'm going back for more. I hear Longarm & The Wolf Women is even better...

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GOING UP IN SMOKEThe Haughton Brothers-better known as the Holy Smokes Gang-have broken free from the grips of the law. With wild ideas of overthrowing the government, they're wreaking havoc in the Rockies, preying on ore trains taking gold to the U.S. Mint. Longarm has low tolerance for greedy men and plans on making them pay-with their lives, if necessary. With the assistance of some holy-rolling dames who have a few tricks up their petticoats, the Holy Smokes Gang better look out, because they're in for some holy hell...

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Violence of the Mountain Man Review

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(More customer reviews)The books by Willima Johnstone are some of the best ''western'' books ever written. My neighbor started me reading them and now I just want more and more ! I got her this book to add to her collection , she keeps a list of all of them she has

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Smoke Jensen has seen the worst that men can do on the lawless frontier. But even the mountain man is not prepared for the outlaw band that strikes Smoke's ranch, kidnapping Sally and the daughter of Smoke's neighbor. Now, the women are gone and a ranch hand and his young daughter are dead...Outlaw Reece Van Arndt is mastermind behind the attack, and he thinks he has Smoke where he wants him: Van Arndt will give back the women if Smoke is willing to cut a deal...It's a ploy no sane man would ever attempt. What Van Arndt doesn't know is the lengths Smoke Jensen will go to find his wife. And when he does, no money or promises will be exchanged: only bullets-and lives...

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The Dust Rose Like Smoke: The Subjugation of the Zulu and the Sioux Review

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(More customer reviews)Please disregard the 2 of 5 rating from the sleep deprived person from North Carolina. This 5 out of 5 work of comparative history will keep you turning the pages. It may actually disturb your sleep with its effective demolition of the historiography of American exceptionalism when it comes to imperialism towards indigenous peoples.
More importantly, this is NOT a narrative about the Sioux or the Zulu as "victims." Although many scholars have noted the impact of Western imperial expansion on indigenous peoples throughout the world, it is only recently that historians have begun to employ the ill-defined and problematic methodology of comparative history to understand the similarities and differences of these diverse colonial encounters.
Gump's book integrates two major themes. One theme is that indigenous societies and cultures are dynamic. This means that they are characterized by intentional action and change. Whether the forces of change are internal or external, indigenous societies are not static.
The second theme is that societies and cultures are components of particular times and actual places. There is a dynamic interrelationship between attitudes, values, beliefs, behaviors and the specific circumstances of historic events. Examining two of these 19th century interrelationships provides us with an understanding of the dynamism of indigenous peoples' cultural adaptation and resilience. The Sioux and the Zulu were as involved in the historical process of change over time as any other people. In spite of their economic and cultural marginalization, adjusting to these circumstances did not necessarily diminish their cultural values.
For a good introduction to the comparative frontier history of the United States and South Africa see Leonard Thompson and Howard Lamar's chapter, "Comparative Frontier History" in their book, The Frontier in History: North America and South Africa Compared, (Yale University Press, 1981), 3-13.
For a comparative study in race relations consult George M. Frederickson's book, White Supremacy: A Comparative Study in American and South African History,(Oxford University Press, 1981).

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In 1876 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors annihilated Custer's Seventh Cavalry on the Little Bighorn. Three years later and half a world away, a British force was wiped out by Zulu warriors at Isandhlwana in South Africa. In both cases the total defeat of regular army troops by forces regarded as undisciplined barbarian tribesmen stunned an imperial nation.The similarities between the two frontier encounters have long been noted, but James O. Gump is the first to scrutinize them in a comparative context. "This study issues a challenge to American exceptionalism," he writes. Viewing both episodes as part of a global pattern of intensified conflict in the latter 1800s resulting from Western domination over a vast portion of the globe, he persuasively traces the comparisons in their origins and aftermath.

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