There are two main elements of A Ballad of Love and Glory that piqued my interest in it story. One is that it highlights such an important (and under-discussed) time in history. Like Reyna Grande herself, who describes not learning about the Mexican-American War until college, I don’t believe I learned about it until college either. My first memory of hearing much about it was in a novel I was assigned during my junior year, George Washington Gómez by Américo Paredes. However, my knowledge of of the war was still lacking, and I’ve always found fiction to be an immersive way of learning.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is set during a real event, and it stars two real-life people, fictionalized here. As Mexico faces a looming war with the United States, Ximena is a curandera – a healer – who wants to help her country as she can. Dangerous as it may be, she works to heal the soldiers injured in battle. John Riley, an Irish immigrant, was fighting on the American side until he decided to switch and fight on behalf of Mexico. He was joined by numerous other immigrants – from Ireland, Germany, Poland, and more – who deserted the U.S. Army in favor of Mexico.

The second element that drew me to A Ballad of Love and Glory is that it highlights an intercultural, interracial couple. Ximena is a Mexican woman and John is an Irish immigrant, yet they bond over their shared beliefs. Both are Catholic, both believe in Mexico’s right to freedom from oppression, and both believe in their duty to serve their countries. I love seeing how two people who seem so different can have so much in common. (This is like my husband and me: He’s Peruvian and I’m an American woman of mainly English and Irish descent.)

In some ways, A Ballad of Love and Glory is a love story, but that romance generally takes a backseat to the war between Mexico and the U.S. Indeed, much of the focus is on the soldiers, battles, strategies, weapons, and so on. While we follow John and his role during battle, we also follow Ximena and her efforts to save and heal as many soldiers as she can. The reader gets plenty of detail on the different battles, who was leading the Mexican army during each one, and the politics of the war. We also get John’s perspective as an Irishman whose own country has been controlled by England for far too long. He draws comparison between Ireland and Mexico and their respective fights against the English and the Americans.

Early on, it was painful to read about how terribly John and his fellow immigrants were treated by the American soldiers they fought alongside. The Americans were so hateful and unforgiving, treating the immigrants with immense disrespect, hatred, and violence. Sadly, the U.S. does have a history of racism and aggression, something we still see to this day. It was no wonder when John and his immigrant compatriots deserted the U.S. Army to fight alongside people who gave them respect and kindness. Further, Mexico was more in line with John’s Irish beliefs and morals.

In the midst of all this hardship, John and Ximena do find solace and love in each other. It is a bit taboo at first. Ximena’s husband dies shortly before she meets John. However, John still has a wife and son back home in Ireland. He feels guilty for his growing feelings for Ximena, delaying a relationship between them. Is it wrong for him to find comfort in Ximena? His guilt plays a large role in A Ballad of Love and Glory – not just in his potential relationship with Ximena, but also in his role in leading his fellow immigrants to desert the U.S. Army and fight alongside Mexico. Is it his fault if they get killed in battle?

Although the book explores a lot of emotional depth and the turmoils of war, something about A Ballad of Love and Glory does also feel a tad distant, like we’re always kept just at arm’s length. I found myself wishing it was a bit more involved with the characters’ inner lives and feelings. Getting a first person narrative rather than the third person used in the novel may have made it more connective. This is no slight against Reyna Grande’s writing; she’s clearly talented and offers a contemplative novel here. But my personal preference is generally for something more immersive in the characters.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is ultimately a bittersweet novel. Given its wartime setting, and given the outcome of that war, you should go into this book knowing that it will dive into sadness, pain, and suffering. Some beloved characters won’t survive to the end; seeing Mexico torn apart, bit by bit, is horrible. But despite all of that, the novel also offers hope and love, and it ends with a light at the end of the tunnel. There is some happiness to be found even in the harshest of circumstances.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Ballad of Love and Glory, from its setting in Mexico to its intercultural examination. I learned a lot about the Mexican-American War, and I discovered eye-opening comparisons between two seemingly disparate countries. This is a book worth reading as soon as it’s available.

5 stars
Not at all what I expected. I do feel there is a audience for this book. It is not for me. Thanks for the ARC of this book.

This is a richly told historical-romance fiction that reveals some little known facts about the Mexican-American war. The time and setting are 1846 at the border of the Rio Grande where Mexico and the US are battling for control. The two main characters are Ximena, a Mexican healer and John Riley, an Irish immigrant. John is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the cruelties enacted by the Americans against the Irish in what he views as an unjust war. He swims across the river to Mexico and eventually meets up with Ximena on the front. This is where their story begins. He ends up forming the St. Patrick's Battalion......a band of Irish soldiers willing to fight for Mexico's freedom.
What surprised me the most was learning that John Riley and the existence of his mexican army were true. Knowing how cruel some Americans were(and still are) to immigrants it shouldn't shock me at all. The author's researched must have been deep and thorough. I really enjoyed the beautiful prose and the pace of the story. A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
4.25*

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A Ballad of Love and Glory by Reyna Grande is a fantastic historical fiction and romance set during the Mexican-American War in 1846. The story revolves around Ximena, a Mexican nurse, and John, an Irish immigrant and soldier. Ximena has enlisted to serve as a nurse following the death of her husband at the hands of the US army. John enlisted in the army to help his family who are enduring the Irish famine, but ends up deserting and joining the Mexican army. How will Ximena and John's relationship develop? And will their love survive the war?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 that sets up the setting of the novel:

"When the three steamships came into view, undulating on the shimmering open waters of the gulf, the villagers grew quiet and still, in the way Ximena had seen meadowlarks freeze when hunted by a hawk. Standing on the shore of the Laguna Madre, the water soaking into her skirts, she squinted from the glare as she watched the ships passing through the entrance of the inlet, the smoke rolling out of their funnels dark as storm clouds. She trembled inside. These vessels were not traders or merchants bringing goods to market.
...
As the steamships anchored in the harbor, she caught flashes of red and blue in the air and something glinting on the decks in the afternoon sunlight. Though she couldn’t see clearly what they carried, an image formed in her mind: bronze cannons and blue-clad soldiers."

Overall, A Ballad of Love and Glory is an amazing historical romance that will appeal to fans of Velvet is the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. One highlight of this book is the immense amount of research that the author must have done in order to write this book. I was astonished by the author's note that reveals that John Riley was a real person in history and not just a made-up character. I had never learned about an Irish battalion that fought for Mexico against the US before. I am so happy to have learned something from reading this book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of historical fiction, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

I really enjoyed this book. The history of the battle for the border between the US and Mexico. The people, the fighting,, the blood, and the sacrifices that were made. I believe the way the immigrants were treated and, why they would want to desert the US military. I believe that the people of Mexico treated the immigrants so much better. I cringed and wanted to cry for what happened to the people of Mexico and the immigrants who proudly fought for them. I kept wanting more and more of this love story. It is love story wrapped in a historical story of war. I didn’t want it to end.

I think this would be a hit for those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing. That said, I was not one of those folks. Some interesting historical notes, for sure. The romance took center stage, but I prefer my romance contemporary. An enjoyable read.

This story is set between 1846-48. Ximena is a Mexican healer whose life was practically destroyed in the Spring of 1846. The dispute lead to a full-out war over a strip of land between the Rio Grande and the Rio Nueces Her husband was killed by Texas Rangers, her home ruined and with no placed else to go she becomes an army nurse going from battlefield to battlefield. This is her contribution to help Mexico and honor her late husband.

John Riley is an Irish immigrant serving in the U.S. army. However, dealing with the horrible and disgusting treatment of his fellow immigrant soldiers, he deserts the army and joins the Mexican cause. He is not the only deserter, there are more Irish who follow him into Mexico to fight the Yanquis. So determined were these soldiers they were actually honored by Santa Anna with their own unit, Saint Patrick's Battalion. For John it was a war similar to that of his native land, Ireland, a place where loyalty was questioned, where the English treated the Irish harshly with false promises.

Together John and Ximena meet on one of the battlefields and are quickly drawn to one another. Their love slowly evolves. Each one giving Mexico their loyalty...for her wanting to keep Mexico out of foreign hands; for him the freedom to eventually live in peace and wanting a piece of land to call his own.

This story is filled with emotions...friendships, loyalty, courage and love...not just romantic love, but the love of your fellow compatriot, especially in the time of war and peril. When I picked up the book I wasn't quite sure what I would find inside... how it was written, would I enjoy it. It has left me with a story that will resonate with me, filling me with a bit of history I haven't explored before. This is an outstanding novel and beautifully written, one that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is a great historical fiction novel that has it all: history, action, suspense, and romance wrapped up into one book that kept me engaged and entertained.

I have to admit that I did not know a lot about the Mexican and American battles and events around 1846. Through the author’s gifted talent of storytelling, she was able to inform and introduce me to an area of American history that is sometimes glossed over, misunderstood, and missed. However, with the gripping plot and character cast, I did not for one moment feel as if I was in a classroom.

It was real, raw, and honest. We can see events often missed by seeing it all from the eyes of Ximena, a Mexican army nurse, and John, an Irish American that ends up experiencing a sobering realization that what he was involved in as part of that segment of the American Army was at odds with his conscience and heart. The stakes are increased with the relationship that develops between the two. What then follows is a gripping and suspenseful story that truly captivated me until the end.

I most certainly will be following this author in her future endeavors and will be researching this time period to learn more.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Atria for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am only posting this review to NG at this time and will post it to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/15/22.

A Ballad of Love and Glory is inspired by actual events and explores the conflicting meanings of courage and loyalty.

Gulf of Mexico, 1846. Ximena, for eight months, has been hearing rumors of war between US and Mexico, after the Republic of Texas became the twenty-eighth state in the Union, thus leading to a dispute over this strip of land between the Rio Grande and the Rio Nueces. As long as they remain away from her and don’t disrupt her daily life, then life feels normal. But things change when her husband dies from the hands of Texas Rangers and she sees a deserter risking his life and fighting for her country. She feels as she needs to contribute to the same cause by caring for soldiers with her gift of healing.

Fort Texas, Rio Grande. John Riley has been enlisted for seven months during which time he’s seen his Irish countrymen suffer all manner of punishments at the hands of the Yankee officers. As Yankee’s ambition grows to capture the Mexico’s northern lands such as Upper California and New Mexico, John Riley sees leaflets claiming US government’s aggression against the Mexican nation and enticing men to desert. Riley quickly realizes that the US Army treats him exactly the same way as English one. They would never advance him. He’d always be a common solider. The leaflets put notions into his head.

The story is very rich in historical background, bringing many interesting facts. Half of the US Army is filled with immigrants, who are promised of a wholesome diet, comfortable quarters, and the finest medical care. None of it happens. What really happens is a lot of bullying from Yankee officers toward the immigrant soldiers. In turn, desertion follows. Who will make it across Rio Grande, how the battles will turn out and its effects keep a reader in suspense.

It was interesting to read about the formation of The Saint Patrick’s Battalion. Riley gets an opportunity to organize a battalion which is composed of foreigners and with its standards attracts more deserters. But even with the superb training, Riley knows that his crew’s equipment is no match for the range of the Yankee guns.

With poignant storytelling, the buried pieces of history come alive, weaving the lives of Irish men who just wanted to have a piece of land to call their own and not be indebted to foreign landlords on their own land. It’s also a story of a courageous woman who didn’t want her land to go under control of a foreign power. Those two colliding stories question what courage and loyalty truly mean. There is also a love nuance to the story, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story.

There are some moments when it feels as there is some telling, but at the same time there are some hooks and tensions that make it an interesting story. However, I found the first half of the story to be stronger and having a faster pace. The second half has a lot of bottles and with that it offers action, but I still found the pace slower. I wished that among all those battles, it continued with character-development to make it more engaging.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

A novel about a little-explored era of USA history, this is a real gem. Read it for the love story, read it for the exposure of American "nativism" in the 1840s, and read it to better understand the events of what is called in our history books "The Mexican-American War." But definitely read it.

This was the first book I have read by this author. And I must say, I enjoyed reading a historical fiction book set at the Mexican-US border (which is not my normal area of focus). All in all it was a good story, a love story with excellent research detailing the life of an army nurse in the 1800s when medicine wasn't the greatest...and it was even worse on a battlefield. A little slow at times, but it did keep my interest. 4 stars