Customer Reviews

Glory

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the fifth book in a soon-to-be six book series. The entire series is too-good-to-put-down-right-now good. As with the other books Ms. Graham has written, "Glory" is infused with humor and drama. I couldn't help but admire Rhiannon and Julian for their loyalties to their beliefs. Ms. Graham insists in reminding her readers that the Civil War was fought from two sides. She takes great care, particularly in this series, to show the "other" or Rebel side of the war. She also does something I never seen other authors do: she reminds readers that even though Florida did not have battles like Gettysburg, it was deeply embroiled in the war and as torn by it as states such as Virginia. I look forward to reading her next book "Triumph" set to be released in January, which I'm sure will be about the fourth cousin, Brent. You really must read all five books, and in order if possible: Runaway (Jarrett and Tara), Captive (James, Jarrett's brother, and Teela), Rebel (Ian, Jarrett's eldest, and Alaina), Surrender (Jerome, James' eldest son, and Risa) and Glory (Julian, Ian's brother, and Rhiannon).

Glory is yet another of the books I could read two or three times. Heather Graham puts out a terrific performance about the love of the rebel doctor Julian McKenzie and a woman branded a witch becuase of her healing powers and her ability to see. It also starts out the good parts of Sydney & Jesse, and Brent & mary. I like the fact that she uses the battle of Gettysburg as the peak of the book. I live a few minutes from Gettysburg and it was neat to compare the book with the information I could find there. I suggest everyone read the McKenzie saga and the Cameron saga, both are about the Civil War and the Seminole War.

I first read Glory and then read Rebel. I loved both of them. I can't wait to start from the first and read to Heather Grahams latest of the MacKenzie family "Triumph". Each are so accurate in history detail during the civil war. The detail of events make you feel as if you are standing right there while it happens. And the romance just make you want to swoon. Lordy me!

You have to read these books!

I have read all of the McKenzie stories and have really loved them. Glory was excellent but it ended too soon. WHat happens to all the McKenzies?? I know there was supposed to be only 5 books to the series, but who lives, who dies- how does the story end at the end of the war? what about Brent and Tia?? What about the girl Sam who was in love with Julien and promised to end up in Florida? THere are many stories left to be told in this saga and I only hope that Ms. Graham intends on continuing the saga.

This time, the doctor and the psychic meet. "Glory" is Julian McKenzie's story. Julian is Ian's brother, Jerome's cousin, James' nephew, and Jarrett's son. Oh hhh, the McKenzie men are fine!!

"Glory" is about Julian and the woman he falls in love with, Rhiannon Tremaine. There story is delightful and romantic. Julian certainly equals the standard of the McKenzies.

Disappointing is a very gracious word! Heather Graham usually pens a more vibrant heroine and hero. Yet for some reason I could not come to terms with Rhiannon. She was 'bland', depicted as etheral, mysterious, yet, nothing about her character exemplified those traits in the novel. She constantly wore mourning black even while married to a very live and viral man. The way Graham describes her, I always seem to picture 'Morticia' of the 'Adams Family', particualy when Angelica Huston portrayed the character 'Morticia' in the movie. It was very difficult for me to 'like' Rhiannon. There were several other heroines of Graham writing 'Shannon Drake' that I didn't particularly enjoy, however, Graham's 'McKenzies' normally married sensuous Rebel or Yankee 'spitfires', and Rhiannon failed to fit into this catergory. The novel itself was a combination of several novels. There were too many stories combined to make up 'Glory'. The story of Jesse and Sydney, which was introduced in 'Surrender', was fiery enough to create a novel of their own tumultuous affair. And Jesse's character changed in 'Glory'. In 'Surrender', Jesse was a 'a typical' hero, strong, possessive, reckless with his own life, but protective of those he cared for. In 'Glory', Jesse seemed 'too young', too soft in my opinion. I kept expecting him to say to someone that he assisted putting Sydney in 'Old Capitol' prison to keep her safe during the war and that is where she should have remained. Yet he claimed he had an undying love for her, but where did it develop? If I was the author of 'Glory', Sydney and Jesse's affair would have began the moment he kidnapped her in 'Surrender' and of course, a spin off of their own novel, commencing with Jesse forcing Sydney to leave Jerome and her later awaking on his couch after being kidnapped. I failed to see how sending Brent McKenzie to a veneral disease research center could be considered interesting enough to the readers. It failed to interest me. Yes, I'm aware that veneral disease killed many soldiers during the Civil War and it is still running rampant today, however, a valuable talented physician wasted his talent being sarcastic to a woman whom was just as sarcastic to him, while caring for very ill patients, one of whom was her father! If Brent and Mary are going to be the next major characters in the McKenzie saga, I can't see where his experience in an 1860s CDC will spin off a romantic sequel. And where is Jennifer? Has she recovered from grieving for her spouse, or was she on the verge of becoming slightly mentally unstable - or will she ever experience love and friendship with a male again. On the positive side, Heather Graham gave graphic details of the medical units responsibilities and the conditions that existed during the Civil War. The military strategic maneuvers of both Generals Lee and Meade were outstanding. And Julien was a likeable hero, even though he was portrayed harder and colder than either Ian or Jerome. All and all, 'Glory' lacked the excitement and sensuality of both 'Rebel' and 'Surrender', but again, gave valuable historical insight into the daily lives of medical units under fire. My favorite line from the book is where Ian questioned Julian's position as a physician under fire and Julian responded, "they shoot at me, I shoot back"!

I have read all previous books to the McKenzie family saga and have been totally captivated by each story. So, it is with great enthusiasm that I found, "GLORY," to be equally, if not, better than Ms. Graham's pervious books to this series. Ms. Graham delivers an extraordinary romance novel with a compelling depiction of the civil war era. It's as though she places her characters, including a beautiful romantic tale, in the middle of a civil war history book. While, "GLORY" was wonderfully written, I do not see how it is a fitting conclusion to this family saga. I felt Ms.Graham's readers are left with too many loose ends for "GLORY" to be a concluding book. I hope to see a continuation to this wonderful family series in which readers will be sated regarding the other McKenzie characters: Bent, Sydney and Tia.

I've read each book in the MacKenzie series and loved them all. The story of Rhiannon & Julian is unique and beautiful. Rhiannon is wonderfully human and her struggles to overcome the grief over the loss of her husband & her subsequent dependence on opium are sure to touch the heart. I can only imagine the research that must have gone into this novel, as well as the rest of the books in the series, and think Heather Graham has done an amazing job of bringing the Civil War and the feelings of both sides to life. I would love to see another installment about Brent, as suggested by another reviewer.

This is the 5th in Graham's 19th century Old Florida's McKenzies series--romances that tell the stories of the men and women who shaped a great state. Graham takes care to give us the history of the times (it's her home state after all!) as she weaves tales of love in the Eden that was early Florida.

As this story opens, presumably in 1863, the Civil War continues and Julian McKenzie, the younger brother of Ian McKenzie (Ian's story is told in Rebel) is still part of the Florida militia bringing essential and gifted medical treatment to the wounded Confederate (and sometimes Union) soldiers, even though his father and older brother are confirmed Unionists. Promoted to Colonel and leading a group of men, he comes upon Rhiannon Tremaine, Union supporter and widow of Richard, a Union soldier whom she loved and still mourns. Rhiannon is also rumored to be a "white witch" as she "sees things" and is gifted with herbs and potions.

In book 4 (Surrender) we had Risa kissing Jerome thinking it was Ian. Glory begins with Rhiannon, high on opium, making love to Julian thinking she is dreaming of making love to Richard. Once they touch, it seems their hearts are forever changed. When Julian leaves her house, he takes her captive in order (ostensibly) to save her from falling into drug addiction and to make use of her healing talents. But he doesn't keep her long.

Like the others in the series, we have a Reb and a Yank (and one is a McKenzie) and a shotgun wedding. I liked finding out more about Sydney and Brent (Jerome's siblings). If you've read all the books thus far (see below), then like me you are probably at the point of skipping some passages that recount the debate behind the Civil War. I suppose Graham had to do that to make them "stand alone," novels but one could have hoped for a series would written as a whole without the need for repetition. (Dream on, right?) She does the restatements pretty well so it's not unbearable.

The romances will hold your attention and you will find yourself fascinated not only with the time in American history but with Florida, a land unlike any other in America.

The series in order:

Runaway
Captive
Rebel
Surrender
Glory
Triumph

While I totally love Heather Graham, and this series inparticular, there was something missing in this book. I thought she could have explored Julian and Rhiannon's relationship better. It sort of felt like the book was written because she had to put something in with Julian to continue the series. I just think it could have been way better. There were parts of this book that explained a few things from other books in the series for me (I didn't manage to read them in order of course!) , it still did not draw me in the way that Rebel and Triumph, and basically the rest of the series, did. I do however love the way she describes the scenes as if you were there. She is probably one of the best authors regarding Civil War Romance. Just not this particular book.