Book Review: Glory Lands by Vastine Bondurant

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Glory Lands
Author: Vastine Bondurant
Series: Texas Piney Woods #1
Heroes: Glory Lands & Emory Joe Logan
Genre: M/M Historical Romance
Length: 146 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: January 22, 2014
Available at: Dreamspinner Press
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Rural East Texas, 1931. Preacher’s son Emory Joe Logan and a fiddler from Shreveport, Glory Lands, meet and form a tender bond. When they are caught and arrested for homosexual acts by Sheriff Elihu Bishop, the lawman’s sanctimonious bigotry threatens to rip the young men from their families.

Emory Joe’s father, Pastor Charles Logan, is brought to his knees in terror, confusion, and anger. He still regrets not standing up against Bishop when the lawman murdered a youth in cold blood nine years ago.

Now there’s no longer a choice for the preacher to stand up to the lawman. Cold-blooded justice, bigotry-disguised-as-religion, and hatred take on a whole new meaning when they’re standing on his doorstep, ready to take the son he loves.

Review:

Oh.My.God! I am wrenched! I just finished this book and have to get some kind of closure before I can sleep. I have literally been crying NON-STOP for the last two hours it took me to finish the second half of the book!  I’m still a little weepy, but I need this done. DONE!

It’s 1922, in a small East Texas town, where the law is unjust and led by the sadistic murderer Sheriff Elihu Bishop.  A young musician by the name of Glory Lands, from Shreveport, Louisiana, walks into the lives of nineteen year old Emory Joe Logan and his father Pastor Charles, and sparks the fire that will change all three men’s lives forever…and will dangerously test the strength of a devoutly, religious man’s love for his son.

Told from alternating POVs between Glory, Emory Joe, and Charles, this story gripped me from the very first HORRIFIC scene, until the very last line.  I was fooled into believing the sweet, beautiful romance that was blossoming between Glory and Emory Joe would easily move into a wondrous, long distanced love affair. I was WRONG!!  I failed to factor in the importance of the opening scene.  And if I thought THAT was horrific, I quickly learned that I had no idea of the true meaning…and the horrors one man could do to an innocent person.

I felt like I was truly being told this story by the characters themselves.  The voices were distinct and engaging.  And yeah, some of the descriptions were a little flowery, but it worked for me in this story. It fit in right along with all the religious bits. To me, the author did a great job of capturing that place and time…and I certainly know it’s a world I never want to be.

I would have liked to see another POV from Charles in the end.  Even though I know how his story turns out, I feel like his HEA was equally as important as Emory Joe and Glory’s…and I DO believe they will get that HEA they deserve.

Highly recommended…you know? When you feel it’s time to empty out that brand new box of Kleenex? I will definitely check out more work from this author.

Overall Impression: I loved it!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*