To the Rivers End: A Novel of the American Frontier by William W. Johnstone

To the Rivers End: A Novel of the American Frontier Reviews

• 
  Laur

  Just a couple of good old mountain boy wanting to trap beaver on their own terms, then the idea becomes reality and turns into a heap of trouble from the get-gp! The Mountain men vs. Blackfoot Indians, vs an opposed fur company man named Bloodworth intent on killing him, vs trouble in cold snowy frozen mountain weather..... all the while getting use to a new trapping partner, being hunted down, and saving an Indian woman who needs his help from a vicious and fierce Blackfoot chief named Bloody Hand.
  
  Amongst all this action, they need to survive, eat, and capture beavers so the pelts can be sold, and they can make a living for next year.
  But situation after situation, brings a challenge. The two mountain men hunting are being hunted themselves and attacks are imminent.
  
  Let the traps be set, and bullets, arrows and axes fly.
  
  Great characters, plenty of action, storyline moves at the right pace, and a touch of humor as the bonds of friendship grow. I really enjoyed this one!
  
  Thanks to NetGalley for ADRC in exchange for my honest opinion.
  5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• 
  Christy

  I received this as an advanced reader copy through #GoodreadsGiveaways.
  
  I thought this was a fantastic read full of adventure and tense moments between the beaver trappers and American Indian tribes at the time. It was a quick pleasant read with beautiful landscape imagined from the great writing of the authors. I plan to look up more books written by this author & team. I like his style of writing and the easy flow of it.
• 
  Abibliofob

  I recently read To the River's End by William W. johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. I don't know if it will be a new series or just a stand alone adventure, but it was good. We get to follow Luke Ransom a young mountain man and trapper on his latest quest for beaver pelts in blackfoot country. The book is set in the end of the era of beaver pelts, the prices are sinking due to hats made of silk. In this western we get everything, all the struggles that we can think of in this setting and also a lot of humor. The book is out in store September 28th. I must thank @kensingtonbooks @netgalley for giving me this advance copy and @williamw.j.a.johnstone for writing it. #NetGalley #Kensington #ToTheRiversEnd
• 
  Barnabas Piper

  I didn’t actually finish this book. I gave up about a quarter of the way through. It was so poorly written, like a middle schooler trying to write a western.
• 
  Sherrie

  ***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***
  
  This is maybe the 3rd actual western I've ever read in my life. It's just not a genre that pops up often for me. That said, the tropes and stereotypes are well known enough that I had a pretty good idea of the direction this book would go within the first 50 pages. That's not a bad thing, though. Sometimes a book an be delightful even if it's not surprising.
  
  I was worried there'd be some nasty racism in this novel because of the genre. I'm not going to say there was none because shoot outs between the cowboys and natives is kind of a major plot point and that has issues...but I will say that it was handled deftly. The good guys judged people by their character and did not kill maliciously. The bad guys did.
  
  This book is escapism and if you want to read about Luke Ransom (what a name!) and Jug Sartain (another awesome name!) being heroes and fighting bad guys, this is good escapism.
• 
  Annette

  This isn’t my typical genre to read but I was looking for something different. It was surprisingly good! It had a good story, lots of action and a little light romance.
  The two main characters Luke and Jug are likable guys just trying to trap some beavers. Willow joins their group and the threesome become an unlikely family.
  Definitely recommend!
  Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
• 
  Karen M

  When I was kid Saturdays did not mean cartoons. Saturdays were Gene Autry, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Cisco and Pancho and Hopalong Cassidy. Perhaps this is why I loved to read Westerns or maybe because my Dad read Westerns along with Mickey Spillane
  
  Well, this book did not have cowboys but I was introduced to Mountain Men. Trappers who risked their lives and their scalps to trap beaver in the Montana Territory which the Blackfoot claimed as their hunting ground.
  
  Young Luke Ransom happens upon a trapper being attacked and instinctively saves the life of Jug Sartain, an older feisty mountain man. This is the beginning of a friendship and partnership to trap in the Blackfoot territory together where other trappers chose not to risk their lives. After surviving the dangers and being rewarded with fine beaver pelts, they weren’t to know that the greatest danger would lie back at the rendezvous where they would sell their beavers and resupply for the coming season.
  
  Through their adventures there are fights, a rescue of an Indian girl, injuries, and horses, lot of horses and I grew to really like the contrast between the old trapper and his love of telling tall tales and drinking from his jug and the young trapper who jokes with the older man and proves he is just as skilled at trapping as Jug.
  
  This was such a good story that even if you feel you don’t like Westerns it is still a very good read and one that I really enjoyed.
  
  Thank you to #Between The Chapters, #Kensington Publishing Corp. For the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
  
• 
  Maxine

  Thank you to the publishing house for hosting the giveaway, from which I won a copy of this book.
  
  I don't think I've read anything from the Western Frontier genre, and this book was a good introduction for me. The story follows Luke Ransom, a beaver trapping white man, who works hard for a living and also gets into plenty of trouble with a Blackfoot tribe. I especially liked the inclusion of Willow, a Crow woman who was kidnapped during a raid on her people, and how she learns to better defend herself while under the tutelage of Luke and his trapper partner Jug.
  
  Like I said, I'm not very familiar with this genre, so I don't know how this book stands against others of its kind, but I think it's a good story with good characters, and that it's a fine book for a first foray into the Western Frontier world.
• 
  Larry

  Anther good read from the Johnstone family, hopefully this is the first book of an up coming series..
• 
  Tony Parsons

  Luke Ransom (18) answered a St. Louis newspaper ad that William Ashley submitted stating that the American Fur Company needed 100 men to travel up the Missouri River to hunt & trap for furs.
  His partners: Rex Gorden (AFC trapper) & Charlton Lewis (AFC trapper) parted ways.
  Luke heard a shot & went to investigate
  Jug Sartain (seasoned trapper) had been shot by some Blackfoot injuns.
  Luke had taken care of the injuns, but he was quite sure there’d be more.
  Shoshone, Flathead, Crow, & Nez Perce were camped out there somewhere also.
  Green River Valley. Horse Creek. American Fur Company. Jim Frasier (AFC trapper) & Fred Willis (AFC camp tender) had been killed.
  
  Boutwell’s Tradin’ post. Andy Cruze (bartender) filled Jug’s jug with whiskey.
  Jug & Luke went to eat at the Chinaman’s cookhouse that was owned by Lee Wong.
  Red’s Saloon. Zeke Singleton & Ike hopper greeted Jug & Luke when they arrived for a couple of whiskies.
  Dan Bloodworth (AFC trapper) & Lonnie Johnson (AFC trapper) were notorious for causing trouble.
  
  Dan called Luke out.
  Knives it was.
  Dan would have a grudge forever against Luke for embarrassing him in front of a crowd.
  Back at campsite Jug & Luke were aware they had Blackfoot company: Hears the Wind, Two Bears & Iron Pony.
  Luke saw them approaching 1-by-1 they were shot/killed.
  Once again, there would be more.
  Little Belt Mountains. Jug & Luke who was starting to heal from his wound set traps.
  
  Standing Elk (Iron Pony’s brother) was concerned why his warriors hadn’t returned yet.
  Lame Foot went to find Hears the Wind, Two Bears & Iron Pony.
  Luke outsmarted Standing Elk; he was killed also.
  Jug & Luke checked traps several times a day, they were doing quite well, beaver pelts.
  Jug had to try out his famous pan biscuits on Luke.
  
  Luke had to take the horses to feed on Cottonwood tree bark, & clean fresh creek water.
  Little Belt Mountains. Surprise, Willow Blowing in the Wind (Blackfoot) wondered into their camp.
  She was from down by the Yellowstone River campsite.
  Chief Bloody Hand & his band of Blackfoot warriors would be looking for her.
  
  What does the future hold for Jug, Luke, & Willow Blowing in the Wind?
  
  I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
  
  An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written American West historical fictional saga book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great American West saga movie, a classroom PP presentation, or better yet a mini-TV series or even a documentary (A & E; History channel; Frontline; PBS). There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.
  
  Thank you for the free author; Penguin Random House LLC. (Kensington Publishing Corporation); Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; AUCP paperback book
  Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
  
• 
  Lisa Johnson

  Title: To the River’s End (Jake Ransom, Man of the Mountains #1)
  Author: William W Johnstone and J. A. Johnstone
  Pages: 272
  Year: 2021
  Publisher: Kensington
  My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
  Luke Ransom is a young man making a living on the American Frontier by working for the American Fur Company with a couple of other men. Luke lives off the land and annually meets with other adventurers while supplying up for another year in the wilderness. As the tale begins, Luke is on his way to the yearly rendezvous with his partners when he hears gunshots and decides to go investigate. When Luke finds the source of the sound, he quickly lends a hand to a man he has never met, Jug Sartain.
  When Luke sets out again, after the rendezvous, he is now partnered with Jug and hoping he doesn’t have any more trouble with Dan Bloodworth. Dan and Luke had a run-in during the rendezvous and while Luke just wants to move on, Bloodworth doesn’t. Some might look at Luke and think he is too young and untested, but they would be wrong. There is more to this young man than meets the eye.
  Jug takes Luke to a mountain region where few dare to go as the area is inhabited by Blackfeet, who are fierce defenders of their land. The pair runs into trouble from the outset, and their fight for survival increases when they come across a young woman who was taken captive but has escaped. Now, the race is on to finish the trapping season successfully and get out of the mountains before the young woman’s captors locate her and the men who are protecting her so she can be free.
  In this first novel of The American Frontier series, readers will travel back to a time where life was extremely precarious and exciting. Luke Ransom is a man with many talents, lots of knowledge and quick reflexes that save his life many times. Jug is an older man who sees something in Luke that others may not have seen, and their relationship is filled with mutual respect, admiration, and fun. Many times, while reading the straight-faced sarcasm they exchanged a smile was brought to my face.
  Here is a story that highlights survival, bravery and friendship against the backdrop of the untamed lands. Grab a copy and enjoy the newest addition to Johnstone country! Visit the authors’ website and see what other adventures await your discovery:
  https://williamjohnstonebooks.com
  Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
  
• 
  Nancy

  I won this book from the publisher! The subtitle is A Novel of The American Frontier, and it is. The story takes place in 1833 in the wild west, where frontiersmen and beaver trappers are constantly fighting Indians and just trying to survive in the wild.
  Luke Ransom has been on his own since he was a teenager, abandoned by his parents, and now with the American Fur Company for five years. He is ready to leave the company and try being an independent trapper. But when he saves a man from Indians trying to kill him, he and Jug become partners. They form a plan to ride out to Montana, Blackfoot Indian territory, where they think they will find an abundance of beaver to catch.
  Basically the gist of the story is life in the West in the early 1800's is wild and fraught with danger. Johnstone presents a pretty accurate portrayal of just how hard life was back then, with Luke and Jug's particular lifestyle. The chapters mostly alternated with trapping beavers and fighting off and killing all the Indians they ever came in contact with. They didn't kill Blackfoot unless they were being attacked, but that seemed to always be the case.
  I am pretty sure that this is a typical Western, which I rarely read. It was just so violent, which life was then, that I felt sorry for the Indians. But that is reading the book with current day sensibilities, and probably not the right perspective. Just beware, and if you read this book, know how much the authors probably researched the life of beaver trappers back then.
  Towards the very end, there is a love story and a vengeance plot, again most likely typical in this genre. And even though I will probably not be reading another Western for a long time, and I didn't think the writing was very literary, it was a quick read and fairly enjoyable for an escapist plot. If you are a bigger fan of Westerns, you will probably like it. The authors seems quite prolific, so they must be popular.
• 
  Audrey Ashbrook

  To the River's End by William Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone is the story of Luke Ransom, a trapper who quits the American Fur Company and decides to join an older trapper, Jug Sartain, to trap beaver in the wilderness. 
  
  This novel sounded super interesting. It is not. Luke Ransom kills dozens of Native Americans that find him trapping in their territory, and this "plot" is recycled over and over for the entire novel. Native Americans happen upon Luke. Luke kills them, no matter if it is a group of two or twelve. More come for revenge. Luke kills them and takes their horses. Over and over and over.
  
  This novel is third person omniscient, which didn't work at all. Why are we seeing and hearing what the Native Americans are thinking or doing minutes before they are slaughtered, every time? Very weird jumps/transitions between characters. The writing style was not for me. This novel didn't illuminate anything about this period in history (nor about trapping or mountaineering, the alleged focus of this story) which is what I want out of historical fiction novels. The main characters- Luke and Jug- hardly even get any kind of backstory. Their dialogue is mostly repetitive and uninteresting, and adds so little to their characters, so that they both just seem like these strange hollow caricatures "tall, good-at-everything 'honest' man" and "old wisecracking man who likes biscuits and alcohol" who just slaughter Native Americans over and over and constantly expect the next part of the "plot" and then it happens exactly as Luke and Jug suspect it will. Exactly.  
  
  Move over In A Dark, Dark Wood, there is a new king in the castle of bad, poorly written books. I read the entire 268 pages waiting for this novel to surprise me and it let me down. To the River's End was not for me. 
• 
  Elwin Kline

  "It was amazing." - 5 out of 5 star rating.
  
  This is now hands down my all time favorite wild west / old west book. Officially sits on top of the throne as of time now.
  
  To the River's End is an amazingly gripping, exciting, couldn't-put-it-down status, and a wild west ride of a life time. There's a reason why nearly every review platform (Goodreads, Amazon, etc.) has this been sitting at a 4.5, with page after page of 5 star reviews. From the very beginning to the end, this is absolutely masterpiece status.
  
  Life in the 1800's was hard, to put things extremely lightly. This is a tale about a beaver trapper who faces adversity like no other. If trying to survive in such harsh times wasn't enough, our protagonist Luke has to also deal Native American tribes defending their territory and natural resources, one of the very best nemesis story arcs I've ever read from a "same team" (fellow trapper) rival known as Bloodworth, and even a little romance sprinkled in that is just delivered perfectly with just the right amount. The author is so good, he can even make sections of the book about mundane tasks like making meals extremely interesting and making the reader really immerse into the tough times back then.
  
  Easily under $10 for a paperback at the time of this review or free at your public library, To the River's End is a must read for any Wild West / Old West fan. And even if you are unfamiliar or unsure about this genre... this book could be the one that gets you hooked.
  
  1000% recommend.
• 
  MARY

  I finished this book in the early hours. This was the 14th book I have won from Goodreads and I won it last October, 2021. It was a very interesting and a good read. It was as western as it could be. It was about a trapper who lost his friends in a Indian attack and also helped another trapper and saved his life. Then Luke and Jug team up/partner up together as Luke had decided that it was time to quit working for the company that he was working for. Now these 2 men team up to trap beaver's they are attacked and kill Blackfeet Indians, save the life of a Crow Indian woman, in the mountains of where their winter camp is. They also gain several horses from all the Indians that were killed. As they get back to the meeting/gathering point of all the trappers Luke and Jug sell their Beaver pelt's. Willow and look to get married. But she is taken by his enemy who in the end gets killed and they gain another horse and his weapons. All in all this was a very good book that I liked reading I like this author very much.
• 
  Jacqui

  In Johnstone's latest, To the River's End (Kensington Books 2021), Luke Ransom and his partner risk their lives in the wild and feral mountains of the American West to trap beaver that is then sold to fur companies. In this story, we live a year with them and experience each peril as though we are there--capturing beaver whose home is always in the freezing waters of ponds and rivers, fighting Indian attacks, defending against wild animals that see this land as theirs, finding shelter for the frigid winter, living off the land, surviving with only two of them to do everything necessary, and ultimately, bringing their bounty to the iconic Rendezvous where they hope to make enough money to buy supplies that will get them through another year.
  
  Mountain men are my favorite western story and no one tells these better than Johnstone. Before reading this book, Johnstone's Preacher series was my favorite. Now, this one is. I hope this is the start of a new series. 
• 
  Renee ☔️

  I won this book on Goodreads - thank you.
  
  My husband and I have a nightly ritual where we read to each other before calling it a night. He wanted to read this one to me. This book was right up his alley, with all the trapping and the western theme. He gives it a high 5.
  
  Luke Ransom had been with the American Fur Trader Company. As he was going to the rendezvous, his partners got killed by Blackfeet Indians. Luke decided to go on his own. He partnered up with his friend, Jug. They help save a young "Injun" woman, Willow, from being killed by Blackfeet. She becomes an integral part of their lives. They trap beaver and come back for the next year's rendezvous, and met up with the person who wanted to kill Luke the year before. Luke was about to get married, but another guy tried to kill Luke. Jug saved Luke this time. Jug reveals his real name toward the end and all the loose ends get tied up.
  
  If you like Louis L'Amour books, you'll like this one.
• 
  Patricia

  Luke Ransom and Jug Sartain partner up to go beaver trapping in the Montana territory which is also the home of the Blackfoot Indians. They thought the area would be safe as it would largely be unpopulated since it hadn't been trapped before and the Indians would have finished their fall hunting would have gone back further north for the winter. But Luke and Jug run into trouble around every bend. A young Crow woman stumbled into their camp ultimately spending the winter with them as they don't want her to fall prey to the Blackfoot. Other trouble: another trader known to be a bully, a Blackfoot who is looking for the Crow woman, the freezing weather in the Montana mountains, more Blackfoot, some seeking to get their horses, their guns, their pelts .
  This is a fun tale largely because of the japing between the two trappers. And despite the suspense in every chapter, it ends on a funny note!
• 
  April

  Thank you to Kensington Books, A Between the Chapters Facebook Group, Willam W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone for a copy of To the River's End. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
  This is the first Western novel I've ever read. I liked the blurb and cover and decided to branch out from my typical historical fiction, crime, mystery, etc reads. I am really glad I did.
  The main character, Luke is easy to like - he's kind, honest, hard-working. The setting is beautiful with the descriptions of all the woods, rivers and animals - especially the horses.
  Luke comes across a fellow trapper - Jug - and he partners up with him in their beaver trapping. Jug is an older man who is funny and adds humor to the storyline.
  I don't want to give away any spoilers. I will say To the River's End was a tense, exciting adventure filled with trappers, Indians and nature. I am excited to pass it on to a Western book lover of a friend, knowing he will love the story.
• 
  Melody Kitchens

  This is the first western book I’ve read, and I’ve got to say I was impressed. I won this book off Goodreads giveaways and I’m so glad I did as it has opened a new genre to me. Luke and Jug have to be two of the most likable characters I have even read. They were solo beaver trappers who decided to partner up for a season and what a partnership it was. Mostly, Luke saving Jug’s hide, but it worked out in his favor in the end. The way they had such luck taking out so many Indians what a little far fetched, but I didn’t mind to much. It’s nice to read a book with a happy ending once in a while. I do think it would have been more believable if maybe it had just been the one group of Bloody Hand’s warriors and they just spread out the attacks. But like a said, it was a minor issue. I still enjoyed the book. An awesome story of two fun, likable characters and their adventure in the wild, wild, Indian territory of the west.
• 
  Kristi Richardson

  “If I find out you lied to me, I’ll spend the rest of my life, if I have to, to track you down and kill you.”
  
  Fans of Zane Grey and Louis L ’Amour will enjoy this story of one season in a mountain man’s life. Luke Ransom is a young trapper with five years experience ready to go out on his own. He saves a cantankerous older trapper named Jug and they decide to team up.
  
  I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
  
  I love westerns and this frontier story has all the action you can ask for. The two men find a great spot near a waterfall and isolated from other trappers. They meet up with several Indian tribes and have to fight to keep their spot. There are also some mean trappers that want Luke killed.
  
  This is a fast-moving story that will keep you reading to the end. I have added new authors to my reading list.
  
• 
  Cavak

  I'm dancing around two or three stars here because on a technical level, the writing is fantastic. Pacing works well, and the characters move without too much meandering. Think '30s escapism for a Western with a damsel in distress, and you're in the right boat of how the story will go. Without having to read the entire book.
  
  To modern audiences who are repulsed by racism or sexism of the era, or even the "mighty Whitey" Hollywood trope, then this book will offend. It's like the authors were aware of the criticism they would receive. I got a cheap laugh from how many times Jug or Luke would say something to the effect of, "You know, we could've easily avoided all this senseless killing and violence, but meh. They had it comin'." So, at least there's that to keep the narrative from being completely ruthless.
  
  Depends on you whether it excuses it or not.
  
  Read the summary for To the River's End, and that's what you get. Not groundbreaking, but that's not its promise to you. Frontier life and roughing it in the wilderness were my favorite parts, surprisingly.
  
  I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways