The battles for a free and independent Texas is woven into and around the events in the life of a man named Hunter Grant. It begins with Grant in Texas seeking contracts for cotton produced in Louisiana and he gets involved in the Battle of Gonzalez that sent Santa Ana packing back to Mexico to get serious about kicking the Americans out of Texas.
Upon returning to his home in New Orleans, Mister Grant gets stuck in a duel with a Mexican Colonel, a friend of the family of the girl he plans to marry, and things begin getting complicated when the Mexican doesn't show up for the duel and Grant's best friend is required to stand in for Colonel Sanchez. Another friend of Grant's, Sam McCord leaves for Texas, and unbeknownst to McCord, leaves a pregnant woman behind.
Grant is hired to find the young woman and bring her back home after she takes off to find McCord and marry him. And the situation tends to get further complicated as Santa Ana is building up his forces to make a run on the Alamo and Colonel Sanchez is with him. And the fight takes place at the Alamo and again in the Battle of San Jacinto afterward. Grant falls in love with the young woman, but cannot talk her into returning to New Orleans and she marries McCord who is killed in the Alamo.
Mister Vaughan writes a detailed and compelling story of the Texas confrontation and the love affair that maintained my interest throughout even though I found it to be a little long and wordy in the details. I would still recommend it to all readers of the Western genre and give it four stars. I liked Brandywine's War better, but it takes place during the Viet Nam war..
Another writer I have not tried. Seems like I find a few I like and keep reading all their stuff before moving on. Nice review
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil. I'm trying to catch a few of the more recent writings and writers.
DeleteNot the actor, Robert Vaughn, I take it?
ReplyDeleteAfraid not, Charles, Last name is spelled "Vaughan".
DeleteI see so many posting the number of books they read last year. Do you keep a running tally? I never have, but decided I would record each one this year. I am off to a slow start, half way through number one.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't know how many I read last year or anytime. I used to remember the ones I did read, but even those are becoming less sure. I sorta wish I had kept tally just to see what they would add up to now.
DeleteThanks for spreading the word on another writer, Oscar. And I hope your year is off to a bright start, sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David, and smooth sailing in 2016!
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