Gunsmoke & Grit: 'A Colorado Christmas' by William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone

As the holiday season approached, I had grand ambitions to read and review the collection of Christmas Westerns penned under the Johnstone name. I even had copies of each one waiting for me. But alas, life had other plans. After enduring a nearly month-long illness, my reading hopes were dashed, and my energy levels were on par with a hibernating bear. Still, I managed to saddle up for one ride—A Colorado Christmas.

The story unfolds at the Sugarloaf Ranch, where Smoke and Sally Jensen are eagerly preparing to welcome their friend Preacher home for the holidays, blissfully unaware that he’s followed by a storm brewing with trouble. Picture it: an old trapper named Eagle-Eye, driven by a thirst for vengeance, gets rescued by the Jensen brothers, Ace and Chance, from a band of ruthless outlaws. Then there’s Luke Jensen, a relentless bounty hunter hot on their trail. Add to that mix, Jim Bleeker—a freshly liberated criminal mastermind scheming to settle his score with the sheriff of Big Rock, Colorado. Now that’s a recipe for chaos!

With a snowstorm howling outside, a community on the brink of disaster, and a showdown simmering just beneath the surface, these stubborn pioneers find themselves united by fate and fury, ready to forge a semblance of peace on Earth. But they plan to fight for it—with guns, grit, and a whole lot of glory. Because this Christmas, the greatest gift of all may just be… survival.

Yet, amid all this whirlwind of action, I find myself pondering the authorship of A Colorado Christmas. It’s credited to J.A. Johnstone, the niece of the late William W. Johnstone. To my dismay, there’s no handy “publisher’s note” shedding light on whether a ghostwriter was lurking in the shadows. Was it J.A. putting pen to paper, or someone else entirely? 

The tale unfolds with a dizzying number of subplots and a cavalcade of characters, some of whom are familiar faces from the Johnstone universe—yes, even Frank Morgan, “the last gunfighter” himself, saunters in for a cameo.

Now, some of the subplots felt downright ludicrous—take Eagle-Eye’s vendetta against Preacher. Spoiler alert: it fizzles into oblivion because, after all, it's Christmas! This particular plotline could have been tossed aside without a second thought.

On the flip side, the revenge arc involving Bleeker and his gang, while as predictable as a sunrise, held a certain charm. You know the formula well: bad guys, good guys, a showdown. Yet, even in its familiarity, it managed to entertain.

Then there's the orphan train from New York, stranded in Big Rock by the fierce snowstorm. This felt like it belonged in a completely different narrative. At times, the story seemed forced, but I’ll grant it this much: it was far more engaging than the Preacher and Eagle-Eye drama.

The holiday festivities at the Sugarloaf Ranch came across more like scenes lifted from a nostalgic episode of The Waltons than the thrilling gun-slinging Western I had hoped for.

Finally, we have an elderly gentleman in 1926 recounting the entire saga to strangers with revenge on their minds—a curious narrative choice that weaves in yet another layer of complexity.

Overall, A Colorado Christmas felt somewhat overwhelming, drowning in its own abundance of plots and characters. The pace was often sluggish, but the allure of returning characters from Johnstone's expansive Wild West universe kept me invested. It wasn't the finest read I’ve encountered, but it certainly wasn’t the worst either. In the grand tapestry of holiday Westerns, it’s a bustling saloon stop—worth a visit if you’re in the mood for a bit of chaotic cheer amidst the snow drifts. ╌★★★½✰

⁓B.J. Burgess