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.

When two opposing soldiers in the Civil War meet in a one-on-one battle near the end of the War, each is seriously injured by the other; but necessity to survive causes them to be pulled together. Their previous beliefs get strained through the sieve of friendship and melded into a mixture of a deep, true, and enduring friendship. These friends do a lot of traveling post-War and work together on various odd jobs. They are always good naturedly poking fun at each other about being a Reb or a Yank or about how they talk, sleep, etc. They've come to admire and overlook things from each other -- just as brothers often do. Sometimes they want to get closer to the same woman and this has the potential to cause conflict.

These quips do not deter from their deep affection and a feeling stronger than mere brotherly love. The storyline in this novel "The Best of Enemies" is about helping a widow keep her shipping business and serving a group of miners who are struggling against the moneyed interests from back East. Lots of rights and wrongs in this story line but their determination and a little luck might be able to help the Widow survive.

This latest battle over shipping to the miners is just as bloody and deadly as that last Civil War Battle of Deadeye Gap and Private Chaw (Reb) and Private Trace (Yank) are deeply involved. Just fewer overall people involved. Will their attraction to the Widow cause a split or will their deep affection for each other overcome?

Definitely recommend this book. It is a quick read and one that keeps the reader's attention.