Series: Revolutionary Heart
Volume: 3/?Publisher: Janice Jarrell
Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: -
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮
After the drama of recent months, Colin and Josh finally got on their feet and prepare for their wedding ceremony. While Colin focuses on a full recovery to reach the altar without a walking stick, Josh struggles with stress caused by both the ceremony and the meeting of his beloved's family. At the same time their live is slowly changing, just as they change, as if they were preparing for their wedding like nature gets ready for the arrival of spring.
"Love's Glory" is the third volume of the "Revolutionary Heart" series, which closes a chapter in the lives of two of our beloved characters, Josh and Colin, and at the same time opens a completely new one. I really like the fact that in the case of some plot threads, Janice Jarrell dots her i's and cross her t's, because that's how she gives herself, the readers and the characters a chance for a new start in the following volumes of the series. To be honest, until now we've seen the depth of Josh and Colin's feelings from so many different sides and in such different situations that I really can't wait to see the next face of their love, this time the marital one. After reading this volume, we have no doubts that the feelings of our leads will change in a certain way, as they will be marked by this magical change of the marital status. What's more, the author starts to openly weave into this story threads which refer to another significant couple of "Revolutionary Heart". I liked it very much and it made me look forward to the following volumes with even greater anticipation.
Reviewing this installment of the series we undoubtedly should focus on the fact that it differs significantly from the previous one. "Love's Trials" was dominated by the drama that was making us cry to such an extent that it was impossible to read that novel without a box of tissues at our fingertips. With that book the author smashed my heart into pieces and was unhurriedly putting it back together. As for "Love's Glory", it has a completely different vibe, because after an intense, fierce battle for life, health and relationship, the characters finally collect the fruit of that extremely difficult fight. Thus, this volume of the series is dominated by optimism, joy, calmness, and is full of positive emotions. In other words, "Love's Trials" was a storm, at the end of which the sun came shyly out from behind the clouds. That is why in "Love's Glory" beautiful weather is back, the exhausted, still damp after the storm world comes back to life and its full strength, and there's a beautiful, colorful rainbow in the sky. This is how I would describe this volume of "Revolutionary Heart" series.
Now let's take a look at some clearly defined topics that Janice Jarrell raises in "Love's Glory", because they really deserve our attention. The positive atmosphere of the novel is just a background for what's really important here. Let's start with the subject of a family that dominates this novel from the very beginning to the end. I really like the fact that the author emphasizes the importance of relatives in human life, with particular emphasis on the past and present. On the one hand, we see the close family, biological and "chosen", which is close, at one's fingertips, which is directly involved in the daily life of the individual person. The most important thing, however, seems to be the fact that in "Love's Glory" the distant relatives (distant in terms of blood ties and distance), who in the past played a huge role in the life of a given person, and thus helped shape this person are also presented. I think that in this case it is absolutely wonderful that the emotional connection between the aforementioned individual and their distant relatives is shown. In the series the main characters' origins are of great importance, and now the author shows the importance of the said family in a similar way. It really moved me because it shows that you can be emotionally close to someone, even if you don't always stay in contact with that person.
Another matter I want to write about is a marriage. There is no doubt that nowadays its importance is losing its value more and more. In fact, due to the approach to this topic of the people who surround me, I've gradually stopped thinking about what marriage should symbolize. Well, it's hard to be faithful to your ideals when you hear comments like: "I want to get married because I want to feel like a princess!" (thanks to the wedding dress) or (in response to congratulation the day before the wedding) "I hope there really is a reason to congratulate me. But it's not a death sentence, there's always a divorce!" - these are real-life examples. That's why I really liked the fact that in "Love's Glory", the author reminds us of what the marriage is really about, shows the inner and outer joy of the union between two loving people. She presents the whole range of deep emotions that accompany this occasion and in a sense presents the marriage as the last phase of love. In a nutshell, in "Love's Glory" Janice Jarrell shows us the true magic of marriage!
In conclusion, "Love's Glory" is a really good novel that reminds the reader what true love is, how magical it is to be married and what the meaning of marriage is. What's more, it shows us in a great manner that in life not only the present, but also the past that shaped us and people close to our heart are really important. In short, "Love's Glory" is a story about the union of two people, two hearts, two cultures, two families. It is a story about the true beauty of love.
Headcanon: Josh stays in constant touch with Colin's family in Ireland.
Fanfiction idea: As a gift, Trent organizes a week-long training camp for Colin, but all their friends take part in it so that the Irishman can impress them.
AU idea: High School!AU, Colin, a school troublemaker, runs away from a janitor and hides in a school gym. That's where he sees Josh practicing boxing. Colin is so impressed that he starts watching the boy every day. However, one day Josh is late for his training and finds Colin peeping through the window to the gym, and that's how their friendship begins.
Here's some more about:
My name is Janice Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA. I have two children and three grandsons. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifty’s, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knewthat there was somethinghot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.
I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.
Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my owncharacters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.
My second contemporary gay romance novel, Love's Trials followed Colin and Joshua on their journey as men and as a couple. The readers who fell in love with them in Love’s Magic were thrilled to see their romance continue to grow and blossom, but were forced to watch our beloved boys go through some pretty traumatic trials in this book, trials which nearly shattered their relationship. But their love proved stronger than any troubles in the end and they now move forward into the happiness they know they deserve.
In Love’s Glory, my newest release, Colin and Joshua bask in the happiness that eluded them in Love’s Trials. If you’re looking for a book filled with anger, fear, and anxiety... look elsewhere. Love’s Glory is about just that... the glory of love and the continued growth of these two extraordinary men and the amazing friends who are a large part of their lives.
I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving, and enjoying my life here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
Book Title: Love’s Glory (Revolutionary Heart series)
Author: Janice Jarrell
Cover Artist: Robin Vuchnich / mycustombookcover.com
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Release Date: June 29, 2010
They did it all for the glory of love.
Blurb
In October of 2017 cocky, alpha-male Irishman, Colin Campbell, Sergeant in Charge of the Special Assault Unit of the University of Virginia Campus Police Force, dove in front of a bullet meant for a University of Virginia student. The bullet shattered his thigh and severed his femoral artery, a wound which nearly took Colin’s life and left him temporarily disabled. His infirmities robbed him of the strength and athletic prowess which had been his for most of his life leaving him humiliated and bereft.
When Colin was shot, his partner, Joshua Abrams, a Doctor of Psychology at the Rainier Clinic in Charlottesville, never once left his side. He poured every ounce of strength and love he possessed into healing the magical Irishman whom he adored and was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude when Colin was taken off the critical list. Thinking that they had survived their trial, he took Colin home, believing that their happiness was now assured.
But like many injured police officers, Colin subsequently withdrew from his partner. Overwhelmed by feelings of shame and embarrassment, he devoted himself almost obsessively to the physical therapy with which he hoped to rebuild his strength and reclaim the life he had lost. Unable to share his pain and feelings of inadequacy, he shut Joshua out, leaving him to cope alone with the post-traumatic stress he suffered as a result of Colin’s shooting.
In the following months Colin and Joshua fought to keep their relationship alive. Although deeply in love, they felt powerless to cope with the after-effects of Colin’s injuries both to his body and to his pride as a man, and to heal the emotionally devastating PTSD with which Joshua suffered.
Love’s Trials tells the story of this painful and challenging time in Colin and Joshua’s life. As we join them now, Colin is still walking with a cane and still suffering the physical after effects of his injuries. But he and Joshua are both in therapy and are now dealing positively with the emotional and psychological damage they both endured.
They face their future side by side, determined to stand or fall together, as soul mates and lovers. This book follows them on their journey as they move toward the happy future they both long to share. You can count on a happy ending. In fact, you can count on a happy read. In this book, Colin and his beloved Joshua have left their trials behind and now revel in Love’s Glory.
When Colin was shot, his partner, Joshua Abrams, a Doctor of Psychology at the Rainier Clinic in Charlottesville, never once left his side. He poured every ounce of strength and love he possessed into healing the magical Irishman whom he adored and was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude when Colin was taken off the critical list. Thinking that they had survived their trial, he took Colin home, believing that their happiness was now assured.
But like many injured police officers, Colin subsequently withdrew from his partner. Overwhelmed by feelings of shame and embarrassment, he devoted himself almost obsessively to the physical therapy with which he hoped to rebuild his strength and reclaim the life he had lost. Unable to share his pain and feelings of inadequacy, he shut Joshua out, leaving him to cope alone with the post-traumatic stress he suffered as a result of Colin’s shooting.
In the following months Colin and Joshua fought to keep their relationship alive. Although deeply in love, they felt powerless to cope with the after-effects of Colin’s injuries both to his body and to his pride as a man, and to heal the emotionally devastating PTSD with which Joshua suffered.
Love’s Trials tells the story of this painful and challenging time in Colin and Joshua’s life. As we join them now, Colin is still walking with a cane and still suffering the physical after effects of his injuries. But he and Joshua are both in therapy and are now dealing positively with the emotional and psychological damage they both endured.
They face their future side by side, determined to stand or fall together, as soul mates and lovers. This book follows them on their journey as they move toward the happy future they both long to share. You can count on a happy ending. In fact, you can count on a happy read. In this book, Colin and his beloved Joshua have left their trials behind and now revel in Love’s Glory.
Excerpt
"I can change, Josh."
"I'm sure you can."
"In fact, I'm changing already."
"I'm fully aware of that."
"Does it worry you?"
"Well, of course, it worries me."
"Why?"
Joshua sighed. He scooted higher then dipped his head to kiss Colin's chest. "Because maybe the new Colin won't…," he faltered, "won't likeme."
"Different Colin. Not new."
"Still." Joshua pressed his face to Colin's body, his warm breath caressing the solid muscles beneath his lips.
Colin's hand cupped his chin and lifted it. "Josh, right now I'm a kite in the wind flip-flopping all over the sky. The only thing keeping me sane is that I know you're holding the string."
Joshua bowed his head, his lips pressed to Colin's skin. The breath he drew in trembled in his throat. "Glad to hear it," he murmured. "Real glad."
"You're my bedrock, Josh. My oak."
Joshua met his eyes and stared into their honeyed-green depths. The frown had disappeared from Colin's face, replaced by an expression of profound love. He smiled down at Joshua, then bent and hooked one powerful arm around him, lifting him until his body was sprawled on top of Colin's, molded to him down their entire length.
"You worry too much," Colin murmured then dragged his tongue across the crook of Joshua's neck.
"It's an ethnic problem," Joshua replied, and felt Colin quiver with laughter.
"I'm not buying that, " Colin said, still chuckling. "I've seen you eat pork. You're a piss-poor Jew."
Joshua lifted his head and grinned at his partner. "I'm not a piss-poor Jew," he protested. "I'm a genetic Jew who doesn't keep kosher."
"Semantics," Colin muttered, pulling Joshua down into his kiss.
Joshua moaned as their mouths molded together in a passionate echo of their bodys’ intimacy. He felt the shape of Colin's mouth pressed softly against his and his breath caught in his throat. His lover's kiss was filled with tenderness, and within the fervor of that kiss Joshua felt Colin's desire that he feel secure in the love of his magical Irishman.
When their mouths parted, Joshua slid his lips to Colin's ear. "You know," he whispered, "you should never mistake my momentary bouts of insecurity as a sign that I don't believe in us." He lifted his head and, again, his eyes met Colin's. "Because I do."
"You'd better," Colin muttered. "Or you're gonna feel pretty damned silly fifty years from now."
Joshua nodded, his face against his lover's shoulder, his body nestled against Colin's as they lay pressed together, filling in Colin's every muscular ridge with the planes and contours of his own physique. "My god," he whispered, "you feel so fucking good."
"So do you," Colin replied. He slid his fingers into Joshua's dark curls and tugged, lifting his face until their eyes were inches apart. "I chose you," he murmured, his voice rough-edged. "Don't ever forget that, Joshua. I could have had any guy I wanted… all of the gays and quite a few of the straights, far as that goes. But I chose you."
Joshua smiled. "I know. Seeing you sitting at my dining room table that day was the biggest shock of my life."
"And I had no intention of leaving until you agreed to come back to Virginia with me." Colin's fingers moved to Joshua's cheek, tracing the angles of his face. "I would have been back, pounding on your door, every single day until you said 'yes'." He relaxed onto his pillow. "I went to Glencoe to get you and I wasn't leaving 'til I hadyou."
Joshua laughed. "It's not like you had to struggle much. I caved pretty quickly."
"Yeah. A real time-saver, that, because, believe me, I wasn't going anywhere."
About the Author
I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.
Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my owncharacters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.
My second contemporary gay romance novel, Love's Trials followed Colin and Joshua on their journey as men and as a couple. The readers who fell in love with them in Love’s Magic were thrilled to see their romance continue to grow and blossom, but were forced to watch our beloved boys go through some pretty traumatic trials in this book, trials which nearly shattered their relationship. But their love proved stronger than any troubles in the end and they now move forward into the happiness they know they deserve.
In Love’s Glory, my newest release, Colin and Joshua bask in the happiness that eluded them in Love’s Trials. If you’re looking for a book filled with anger, fear, and anxiety... look elsewhere. Love’s Glory is about just that... the glory of love and the continued growth of these two extraordinary men and the amazing friends who are a large part of their lives.
I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving, and enjoying my life here in the heart of the Pacific Northwest.
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