Title: Glory Lands
Series: A Texas Piney Woods Story
Author:Vastine Bondurant
Genre: Coming of Age/Historical
Length: Novel (146 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62798-521-5
Publisher:Dreamspinner Press (January 22nd, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: A Texas Piney Woods Story
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.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4617
Review: This is the first book I have read by this author and I can say she shot straight to my favourite authors list. This story starts out with a bang and keeps that tension going throughout the entire story. WARNING: have some tissues handy.
I love a good character and this book is full of them, both good and bad. Emory Joe is a young man and a minister’s son. He knows he is different, and knows it’s wrong, but he is sure he is safe since the small country town he lives in there isn’t any other like him he knows of. He is a very loving son and he and his father are very close.
His father, Charles, is the town minister and a pillar of society. He too comes across as a gentle loving, likeable man. His devotion to his son is admirable. Then one day Glory Lands comes to town to perform with his family and when he and Emory meet, sparks fly. Glory also is a charming character.
The town sheriff is a very bad man. The front of the book said he is based on a real man and that makes him even scarier. This character is evil reincarnate and the mention of his name gave me cold shivers.
This story is beautifully written with charm and a very classy style. I felt like I was right there in that little country town and back in that time era. Vastine paints a lovely picture with her words. The story is poignant, both happy and sad. I will definitely be looking for more of her books.
If you love historical fiction, stories based on real people, scary, evil bad Sheriffs, abuse of authority, charming romance and an all-over intriguing story this is for you.