Love and War

Jakes is a wonderful author. The story line has so many "true" historic references woven with love stories and family issues. It triggers all kinds of emotions -- laughter, tears, anger, sorrow. It carries right over from North and South. I have the feeling that I actually know the characters and am looking forward to Volume 3, Heaven and Hell. His books are easy reading, hard to put down. You don't have to read 50-100 pages to get into the story.

This book is a very good book!! It starts where the first book North and South left off. This book lets readers find out about the Mains and the Hazards from the first shots fired at Fort Sumter and during the four years of the Civil War. While it is quite a large and long book, it is definitely worth reading!! All the characters are in this book from George Hazard to the very evil Bent. If you are a fan of the North and South trilogy you will love this book!! Read it and transport yourself back to a time of great turmoil in our great nations history. You will fall in love with many of the characters and will be sad and miss the characters when you are finsihed with the book!!

Love and War is an excellent book. It picks up where North and South left off. From the moments before the Civil War to the days after the South's surrender this book takes a close look at the Mains and Hazards and their trials throughout the four years.This book, while rather long, is fantastic. It definitely is thought provoking. Mr. Jakes writes from the male standpoint and also the female standpoint. I also thought he conveyed the thoughts and dreams of the slaves in a realistic way. There were characters I loved, such as Billy and Brett and ones I hated, like Ashton and James Huntoon. The ever-evil Bent pops up in the story from time to time wreaking havoc everywhere he goes.While Gone with the Wind (one of my all time favorite books) is a great book in itself it romanticizes the Civil War. Love and War in absolutely no way romaticizes the events of the war. This is a very realistic book with very believeable characters. One can almost believe these two families did exist. Any fan of North and South will enjoy Love and War. It is a rather long story but well worth the time reading it.

The second book in the trilogy is a wonderful addition. It is an indepth look at the trials and tribulations the Mains and the Hazards had to bear. It is a moving and exciting piece and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first.

Jakes does a fabulous job of describing the turbulent civil war and also the love of the two main characters. It puts closure to the seemingly never ending torment of Justin La Mont and brings peace to Orey & Madeline. It is John Jakes at his finest. A must read!