An extremely well written historical fiction account of the war between the US and Mexico, 1846-1848, more rightly termed as an invasion by Mexico, where the Texas Rangers and the US army fought for possession of Mexican territories. Framed by the Mexican nurse Ximena and Irish fighter, John Riley, and the heroism of the St. Patrick's Battalion, this is a look at a little written-about part of Mexico and its history. Highly Recommended reading.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is set during the Mexican American War. I appreciate that this is not an event often explored by story tellers, and was interested to learn more. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. She writes beautiful, poetic descriptions.

Ultimately, however, this book fell short for me. I prefer a focus on characters and personal events, and A Ballad of Love and Glory was more focused on battles. I also felt like the characters were somewhat stereotypical and not fully developed.

Reyna Grande is an incredible writer. There was so much history to learn reading this book. I had no idea that in 1846, the US wanted to expand Texas and take land that belonged to Mexico. Ximena’s life is changed so much. Her husband Joaquin is killed tying to fight to stop the aggression toward his beloved country. An Irish man, John Riley had originally joined the US Army, but is appalled by their actions. He decides to defect and help save Mexico.

It was hard to read this at times since the enemy was the United States being aggressive due to greed and power. We like to think of ourselves as The Good Guys, but of course this has proven not to be the case many times. The story flows well and I really cared about Ximena who has lost so much because of this war. It shows how people react and feel during such a turbulent time. It is an absorbing story that will stay with me, but also a story where I learned a much needed piece of history.

Thank you NetGalley, Reyna Grande, and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book.

I have just read A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande in the year 1846.

The storyline focuses on the Mexican American War and is part Historical Fiction part romance.

The US army provokes war with Mexico over the boundary of the now California/Texas border and the Rio Grande.

The main characters are Ximena Salomé, and John Riley, an Irish immigrant. Ximena is a Mexican healer, whose husband is killed. John Riley is in the Yankee army. He crosses over the river and joins in the Mexican army.

This was very interesting to me, and I learned a lot about this war. I had not known anything about this battle at all.

I did however find that it really took me awhile to get into the rhythm of the story, but once I did, I was glad that I read it through

3.5 Stars

Thank You to NetGalley, Author Reyna Grande and Atria Books for my advanced copy to read and review.

#NetGalley

I don’t usually reach for historical fiction but I’m so happy I did. Not only was I interested in the subject, but I also really enjoyed Reyna Grande’s writing. She wrote the characters in a way that made me both interested and invested in their lives while constantly feeling like I was learning about the experiences of different people during this war (and I mean constantly learning in the best way possible).

Reyna Grande was asked about the Saint Patrick's Battalion during a book reading. Until then, she had never heard of them and curiosity led her to research the San Patricios and the Mexican American War. A Ballad of Love and Glory was born. It is apparent that Reyna did extensive research.
Reyna Grande based A Ballad of Love and Glory on real historical figures: John Riley and Ximena. John Riley being an Irishman who ended up commanding his own battalion on the Mexican side of the Mexican American War. Ximena's character was inspired by a poem written about Ximena, the woman who tended to the wounded.
I didn't know about the San Patricios until I read this book. Growing up in Texas, I was taught about Houston,
Bowie, Crockett, and the Alamo. The Mexican American War was a bit of an afterthought, although some of my teachers did elaborate. I didn't really learn about the Mexican American War until college. Reading about it in the novel, brought this war to life.
I live along the Rio Grande border and am familiar with most, if not all, of the locations talked about in this book. Reyna Grande does an excellent job of describing them. I pictured them as they were back in the 1800s.
I would say that A Ballad of Love And Glory is a historical fiction with romantic elements sprinkled in. It is more about the war, political figures, battles, sentiments, and the San Patricios than it is about the romance between John Riley and Ximena. Do not start reading this book expecting it to be primarily a romance. However, it is a great read.

What would you do for love of family or love of country? In this historical fiction account of the Mexican-American War, we hear the POV from an Irishman, John Riley who has come to America to find his fortune in hopes of bringing his family over from Ireland. He enlists in the United States Army and ends up in the dispute of land at the Rio Grande. Promises made for a better life and decent treatment are broken as all immigrants like him are denigrated by most of the officers and mistreated at every chance they get. Imagine getting branded on the forehead or tied to a post like cattle. But John Riley is still honorable and committed to uphold the contract that he made, even if the Yankee Army has broken theirs with him and his countrymen. The Mexican Army entices the foreigners to join them and there are many deserters. After the murder of his tentmate, Sullivan, John Riley decides to join up with the Mexicans in promise for land and a rank. As he fights alongside the Mexicans, he forms The St. Patrick’s Battalion, made of his countrymen. Unfortunately, the Mexican leadership is not that great nor is the army well equipped in comparison to the Yankee Army. Riley meets Ximena, widow of a Mexican rancher, who was killed by Texas Rangers. She is a gifted healer and is helping the Mexican Army in their hospital at the battlefields. Ximena is a force to be reckoned as she and John Riley are drawn to each other. Will they and their love survive?

I thought this was an interesting book, having never known about the Mexican-American War. It was very sad to hear the account of a country losing their homes and families all because the Americans felt their Manifest Destiny to stretch across the continent from the Atlantic and the Pacific. I did not realize that the exploration of that area did not mention that it was already inhabited not only by indigenous people but by a country. Many of the battle scenes were very detailed and I tended to fast pace through them as they really didn’t add to the plot. But I do commend the author in her details and to tell a tale that is quite lyrical and makes the reader feel the impact of battle on those around. This was a story that needed to be told.

Many thanks to #netgalley #atriabooks #theballadofloveandglory #reynagrande for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Every time I have read a book by Reyna Grande, it has been impossible not to feel at home, her writing is so unique, so warm, even if the topic is question is not necessarily a happy one, but it is really easy to immerse yourself in the story, and just let you be carried away in the character's world, and what they want to tell us.

I also always appreciate how much research and effort and care the author puts into her work, and A Ballad of Love and Glory is not the exception. A very different book from her others, but the same beautifully written and well thought, and for being considered historical fiction, personally it was fast-paced and hard to put down.

Thank you to the Publisher Atria Books and Netgalley, for the Advanced Free Copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this historical fiction recounting of the border battles during the Mexican-American war, but ultimately the characters didn’t come alive for me. The good guy/bad guy clichés were extreme, and I wasn’t willing to stick with the novel, even for its apparently well-researched historical value.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm surprised i finished this, as there were many times i skipped over pages filled with battle logistics and details of no interest to me. The story of John and Ximena kept me going though. They were strong characters and likeable people. I learned alot about the U.S. invasion of Mexico and the resulting acquisition of the areas that are now Texas, New Mexico and California. We took from the Mexicans brutally and its ironic that Mexicans in these three states are now scorned for being foreigners when the land had rightfully belonged to them.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is an epic story of the Mexican-American war. Ximena is a healer and a Mexican nationalist while John Riley is an Irishman and deserter from the American army for he felt more aligned with the Mexican army and also the Catholic religion. I love historical fiction and enjoy learning new pieces of history. Reyna Grande tells a wonderful story of this time period which I am not familiar with. At times it was difficult to read about the horrors of war, but it was heartening to read about such brave and good people.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A historical fiction and romance set in the Mexican-American War in 1846. A time period I am not very familiar with, so reading this was like a breath of fresh air. Inspired by true events and real people, this served as an eye-opener. But despite these, I failed to connect with the story and characters.

The writing wasn't bad per se, maybe it wasn't just for me. I think the dialogue ruined the atmosphere more than anything, it could fall on the cliché side now and then. I also wasn't a fan of the characterization. The characters didn't feel real to me and because of this, the events that were supposed to make me emotional on their behalf failed to do so which may be the reason why I couldn't connect or sympathize with the characters at all; things weren't believable for me as a result. I found this book really dry in a lot of aspects, including the romance. It's what bothered me most of all.

I stopped reading this a little past 40% and from what I've read, I don't think anything outside the premise or the blurb has occurred. I don't mind slow-paced books, but this one did drag so I had to set it aside otherwise it would take me forever to get through.

A Ballad of Love and Glory
by Reyna Grande
Pub Date: March 15, 2022
Atria
Thanks to the author, Atria, and NetGalley for this ARC.
A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande was a very well-researched historical fiction novel about the United States and Mexico’s chilling story of the war between 1846-1848. I knew little to nothing about the Mexican- American War before I read this book. This was also the first book I have read by Reyna Grande but she impressed me very much with her talent for storytelling.
I highly recommend this book.
4 stars

A Ballad of Love and Glory is an epic tale of the hardship and heartbreak endured by two people, Ximena Salome and John Riley, whose lives and future are interrupted and intertwined by history. A love story set during the Mexican-American War, this novel beautifully portrays the romance between Ximena and John, who both sacrificed so much for their cause.

When Ximena’s husband is killed and their house is burned to the ground by Texas Rangers attempting to ignite the flames of war, she decides to serve as a nurse to heal and help the Mexican Army defending her homeland.

Meanwhile, John Riley is driven to desertion from the US Army by the torment and torture the American officers inflict upon the Irish immigrant soldiers in their ranks. He crossed the Rio Grande and became a Captain in charge of the Mexican artillery.

From the opening salvos of the war in 1846 to the surrender by Mexican President Santa Ana two years later, Reyna Grande provides a detailed and descriptive view into this almost forgotten war.

Fans of historical fiction and grand, sweeping novels that depict figures from history and the circumstances they faced, should enjoy this deliberately paced and emotionality moving tome.

The synopsis for this book immediately drew my interest. There is so much about history that was glossed over in school and the St. Patrick’s Battalion was one of these things. While a fictional account, the details the author includes are reflective of her research and knowledge of this historical period.

Reyna Grande’s prose is beautiful. The artful details paint an elaborate picture and convey the characters’ experiences in such authentic ways.

I would classify this as a true historical fiction novel and clarify that the romance plays a secondary role in the book overall. While I would normally be disappointed about this, I found myself so enthralled in the story Reyna Grande wove that I did not mind at all.

After reading this novel I feel enriched and better connected with my history. I also feel an ache to think that we have come so far and yet learned so little as a human race. During once scene in the novel, the main character (Ximena) sees a wildcat and a wolf fighting over a corpse in a battlefield that is littered with human remains. She has the following thought:

“Don’t they understand there is no need to fight? Don’t they see there is plenty here for them all to gorge their fill?”

This observation encapsulates so much of the meaning in the novel and also feels so relevant to our world today. It made me both sad and hopeful that some day we may learn this lesson ourselves.

Overall, this is a beautiful, meaning novel that I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction!

Rating: 4.5

A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande

A beautiful historical saga with a rich and vivid setting in Mexico in 1846, it is a moving story inspired by true events and historical figures. A piece of history I quickly realized I knew little of, I was fascinated by both seemingly heavily researched historical elements showcased, as well as the gripping storyline. The story alternates points of view between Ximena, a healer recently displaced from her ranch, and John Riley, an Irish immigrant discontent and maltreated in the Yankee military. Their situations are so different and yet so similar, as both have lived with war and yearn to see their homelands free.

There were so many elements that I loved - the landscape, scenery and vivid imagery of the scenes of both battle and tranquility were fantastic. So many of the characters were so rich and realistic - both heroes and villains alike. I do feel that the supporting characters were at times more compelling than Ximena and John themselves - in the midst of so many battles their character development felt lost a bit, and their whirlwind romance dramatic.

This saga did drag a bit for me, as there was a decent amount of telling rather than showing and I was cognizant of the length, especially in the middle. Overall though, I really enjoyed this historical fiction and getting a glimpse of a time I knew little of. I was invested in Ximena and John’s stories, and those of Saint Patrick’s Battalion. I am definitely interested in exploring more from this author. Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for access to a free e-copy of this book. It is available March 15, 2022! All opinions are my own.

Grande has written an story that is quite unique. The Mexican-American War played a significant role in 19th century history fior both Mexico and the US. However, the Mexican perspective is often overlooked or not explored. A Ballad of Love and Glory is an interesting take on how the war impacted Mexico, in particular a nurse who loses her husband. It also pairs her with an Irish soldier, an unlikely duo.
I found the voices unique and I had not heard about the St. Patrick’s Brigade before. I enjoy Learnimg about new angles of history thst I’m unfamiliar with.
Crack open this book and learn a thing or two.

As the title aptly suggests, this is part a sweeping saga of the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848 and part a love story. The story chronicles the events of the war particularly from the viewpoint of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion, a regiment comprised of Irish immigrant soldiers founded and headed by John Riley. Ximena, a Mexican healer, becomes intertwined with the battles and John Riley after her husband is killed fighting the Yankees alongside the Mexican guerillas.

I learned so much about the little-known history of the time. The war (or invasion as the Mexicans call it) eventually resulted in the annexation of large Mexican territories now forming part of California and New Mexico. Inspired by real events and real historical persons, the author tells the story in a lucid easy-to-read style. I found the novel a page-turner, unputdownable to the very end.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC.

As a fan of historical fiction, I enjoyed learning more about the invasion of Mexico and liked the strong female character at the center of the story. The novel dragged at times because the descriptions of battle were so lengthy and the romance between Ximena and Riley was melodramatic.

It was a good story and I would have enjoyed it more if the pace was faster, but as this is the author’s first work of fiction, I imagine she wanted to include all the details of her thorough research. In future novels she will surely find a way to describe the experiences of her characters with the same depth as she masterfully writes her own in previous works.

The Saint Patrick Brigade

In the year of 1846 the Mexican-American war was fought over the Annexation of Texas and the boundary of the Rio Grande River. This is a forgotten war, but it was fought all the same.

In the American army were many immigrants from foreign countries fighting as soldiers for the Americans. They were treated very cruelly over ever minor incident, beaten, branded and other inhumane treatment. One soldier, John Riley, an Irish immigrant fighting in the American army defended the army until his friend was murdered trying to escape the cruel treatment. He then escaped and joined the Mexican army. After he joined the Mexican army he recruited fellow Irishmen to leave the American army and join the Mexican army. When there were enough men Santa Anna gave John Riley his own brigade called the Saint Patrick Brigade. They were gunners and manned the large cannons.

This is a story of the war, the two armies and the men who fought on both sides. The Mexican people living in the towns where the war was fought and even the resistance fighting outside the army itself. It was a horrible time of hunger and bloodshed.

John Riley met a Mexican war nurse named Ximena and fell in love. They both fight to su
rvive the war and to survive their love for each other. Will they live or will the war take their lives.
It was interesting to read about a war I never even knew about. Everyone knows about the Alamo, but this is a different war after the Alamo. I love learning new historical facts and it was quite interesting about the Irish fighting in this war as they neither belonged to the U.S. nor to Mexico.

I think all war is bad and a horrible experience, but it goes on even today. How nice it would be if there were no more wars. Sadly that will never happen as long as there are power hungry men in the world. My wish would be for peace and acceptance for everyone.

I really did enjoy reading this book, it took me longer than most as I kept having to look up places and facts but that made me more informed about the history of our country and that of the countries of Mexico and Ireland as well. I love to read and if I can learn something while enjoying my read that is an inspiration for me to read more.

I would definitely recommend this book as a great Historical Fiction read.

Thanks to Reyna Grande for writing a great story, to Atria Books for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.