I enjoyed catching up on the next book from the Ben Savage, Saloon Ranger series. The second installment The Devil's Boneyard does not disappoint and deserves five stars.

I love a well written western. Those that have lines between the good guys and the bad guys but the lines sometimes get crossed. They are set in communities that rely on the bravery of a few men to keep their home and families safe. The back stories are authentic, people moved west to get away from something or to run towards something, the journey was grueling and often deadly so it was not for everyone. Yes, I'm describing the Johnstone books. The only reason to read the jacket synopsis on a book with a Johnstone author is to see which of their famous characters is telling this story.

THE DEVIL'S BONEYARD features Ben Savage, former Pinkerton agent, former Texas Ranger, current bar owner and a man not afraid to protect what is his. A bank robbery concludes with the shooting of the sheriff and the theft of Ben's horse, both actions sure to cause Ben to act. The book is set in the Texas desert and the chase a long one, so the action will keep coming until the last bad guy bites the dust and Ben's horse is back in the stable.

Pick any Johnstone series and they are an entertaining read. Each book can be read as a stand alone but the stories are so much richer if you've been following the characters as they settle the west.

A novel approach to the standard hero. A Texas Ranger who becomes a saloon owner but still does some rangering. It's actually really good although in this one I think he spends not enough time in his saloon. I think the parts where he is in his new hometown are the funniest and the best. I understand that if he is going to keep up his ranger status he has to move about. Still it is a western and I like those. I have to as usual thank #Pinnacle #Netgalley and #KensingtonBooks for giving me this copy.

Loved it! Great classic western, well developed characters. Fast paced and witty writing, with just a touch of humor, easily envisioning to dusty Wild West in my minds eye as I read this great story.

Retired Texas Ranger, Ben Savage is a force to be reckoned with....especially if you steal his horse, ”Cousin”. There’s good guys, outlaws, bank robbers, horse thieves, a underhanded-greedy sheriff, and oh, a special woman who is Ben's business partner back in Buzzard’s Bluff at a saloon called the Lost Coyote. Yes, Ben does indeed have his hands full, especially when a couple of the wrong types of fellas come to town to try to even a score with the town’s Sheriff, Mack. But they should of followed the rules and took off their guns, before trying to get something eat. Now all heck is gonna break loose!

What an enjoyable read! If you like Western genre, then you won’t be disappointed in this one. I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"Bar owner Ben Savage won't let a few bad customers ruin a good time. And he's got the guns to prove it."

Second in series, a great continuation of the Ben Savage saga. I recommend this to those who love stories with lots of action. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are really bad. I'm looking forward to the next book.

3.5☆

Johnstone's The Devil's Boneyard (Pinnacle Books 2020), Book 2 in the Ben Savage Saloon Ranger series, is another good story in this series, my current favorite in the Johnstone Universe. Outlaws shoot the Sheriff in Ben's small hometown of Buzzard's Bluff and then escape on Ben's horse, Cousin, because he is not only handy but speedy. That's their first mistake because it assures them that Ben will chase them until he catches them. Ben's had Cousin for, well, a long time. Stealing this horse is like kidnapping a member of Ben's family. He dogs their trail until he catches them, recovers Cousin, not knowing that these particular outlaws also stole $20,000 from a local bank. He captures whoever remains of the outlaws (they resisted arrest), recovers the money, and leaves the rest to the US Marshall's. But, as things often work in the Old West, the last remaining outlaw escapes with the money and again, with Cousin. Ben doesn't care about the money but once again, he's not giving up his horse.

I’m sad to have finished it this in record time. Now I have to wait for the next. Highly recommended.