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Rating: 
Summary: John Jakes comes out as the finest American History author
Review: At over a 1,000 pages, you may wonder if you want to invest that many reading hours into only the 2nd of 3 books in this trilogy. The answer is Yes, Yes, and again, Yes!
The historical accuracy and research only is worth the read. Add together the gripping stories woven through out the history, You have magic.
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Summary: John Jakes Is Awesome
Review: 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!
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Summary: An excellent 2d installment of the North and South trilogy
Review: Jakes' "North and South" trilogy is a well-written, entertaining, and historically insightful series dealing with America from about 1845 (Mexican War period) through the post-Civil War period. This novel deals with the Civil War from its outset to the conclusion. The story traces the activities of the Hazard and Main families, great families deriving from North and South respectively and bound by friendship and marriage, through the nation's bloodiest conflict. This is an engaging and entertaining story. Jakes does a good job of showing the reader that the Civil War was probably inevitable given the intractable differences between the North and South, and the stubborness on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. The story also shows how it came to be that despite the North's numbers and industrial might, it took years for the North to successfully overwhelm the South. This is not a perfect novel. Despite the overall taut storyline and good prose, Jakes has a tendency to produce exaggerated characters who are almost caricatures of the way people really behave. While there are doubtless real-life examples of Elkanah Bents, Victoria Hazards, and Justin LaMottes (three principal characters in this series) such exaggerated personages abound in Jakes' world. Well, it is after all a novel. Overall, this is the second best novel in the series; perhaps not as good as "North and South" but better than "Heaven and Hell" which is the third installment. This novel is well worth reading, and provides an entertaining and insightful look at the Civil War and how it affected ordinary people and the nation as a whole.
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Summary: An excellent 2d installment of the North and South trilogy
Review: Jakes' "North and South" trilogy is a well-written, entertaining, and historically insightful series dealing with America from about 1845 (Mexican War period) through the post-Civil War period. This novel deals with the Civil War from its outset to the conclusion. The story traces the activities of the Hazard and Main families, great families deriving from North and South respectively and bound by friendship and marriage, through the nation's bloodiest conflict. This is an engaging and entertaining story. Jakes does a good job of showing the reader that the Civil War was probably inevitable given the intractable differences between the North and South, and the stubborness on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. The story also shows how it came to be that despite the North's numbers and industrial might, it took years for the North to successfully overwhelm the South. This is not a perfect novel. Despite the overall taut storyline and good prose, Jakes has a tendency to produce exaggerated characters who are almost caricatures of the way people really behave. While there are doubtless real-life examples of Elkanah Bents, Victoria Hazards, and Justin LaMottes (three principal characters in this series) such exaggerated personages abound in Jakes' world. Well, it is after all a novel. Overall, this is the second best novel in the series; perhaps not as good as "North and South" but better than "Heaven and Hell" which is the third installment. This novel is well worth reading, and provides an entertaining and insightful look at the Civil War and how it affected ordinary people and the nation as a whole.
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Summary: Worth the time
Review: 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.
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Summary: Dalton's Reading List
Review: Remains top of list great author.
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Summary: Amazing
Review: 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.
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Summary: Larger than life
Review: This book spans the American Civil War. It is grusome, compelling and thought provoking. The story covers the private lives entwined with the beuracracy of war and politics. Whilst a long book it will keep you reading to the end.
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