William Johnstone's The Texas Hill Country (Kensington Books 2025) tells the story of the Baxter heirs, European royalty who must flee the gambling debts of one brother and unwelcome advances to the sister from a lecherous higher-ranking royal that turned into a nasty fight. They pick their refuge as Texas' Hill Country, far enough away from their European ancestral home they hope no one will find them. Though it leaves them mostly impoverished, it does relieve them of some of their past, only to run into more problems in the present. Despite that, as a family, they continue to struggle to start a new life in the famed Land of Opportunity.

It’s a good story though somewhat predictable. Sister is chased by unwelcome suitors and is almost captured by Indians. One brother becomes enmeshed with a bad sort that endangers the family. Another brother accepts the responsibility for pulling the family through their travails. There are some plot highlights that could come to fruition, but don't, at least not quickly. For example, a young commoner boy joins their grand adventure to America. Their old coach driver helps them as a servant but also wise friend. The sister is spirited and fearless, but seems constrained by her upbringing. Because these take a long time to turn into plot pieces, I am tempted to hurry past the predictable to find the gold nuggets. One other shortfall is that because the main characters are European foreigners and the story is through their eyes, there isn't a lot of the usual Johnstone Old West culture that warms up any story. Overall a good enough read but I probably won’t continue if this becomes a series. 4/5

Note: blog publication not until a later date

This novel is comprised of several sections. It begins with a noble family in a little-known grand duchy in Europe. The noble family is on its last legs as there is little money to maintain the nobility expectations. There are three brothers and a sister who are carrying on the name..

One of the brothers, the youngest, is a gambler and seems intent on rejecting the expectations of the family. Because he cannot meet his gambling debts there is a dangerous situation brewing. The sister is expected to become the plaything of visiting English nobility, which she refuses to do.

Because of these external influences, the family decides to embark to the New World and settle where others of their class have--Texan Hill country. Crossing the ocean without much money presents problems especially as their belongings are reduced to the minimum because of space limitations on the ship. The gambling brother once again gets in trouble. The second brother becomes embroiled in maintaining his sister's honor and a murder occurs. Trial at sea is not done since they are near shore and the captain decides to wait until landfall.

The local sheriff decides that the crime did not occur on shore, so it is up to the ship's rules. The charged brother jumps ship in the bay and disappears in shark-infested waters and is not seen by the siblings. Their grief is strong, but they decide to continue to their destination without the brother.

Lots of happenings including good growth on the ranch property, another event with the gambling brother, the sister asserting her freedom and riding a horse wearing male clothes are among the many things that happens to the family. There is a lot of resilience, and the family gets embroiled in attempting to make a life in the great state of Texas.

The happenings are somewhat unexpected and there are a few twists and turns in the story. It is not the typical story of the Johnstone syndicate but is interesting after the first chapters set in Europe.