M

I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Book Review-Blaze of Glory by Rosanne Bittner

by | Nov 27, 2021 | Book Reviews | 4 comments

Book Review-Blaze of Glory by Rosanne Bittner

Book Review-Blaze of Glory by Rosanne BittnerBlaze of Glory by Rosanne Bittner
Also in this series: Outlaw Hearts, Do Not Forsake Me, Love's Sweet Revenge, The Last Outlaw
Series: Outlaw Hearts #5
Published by Self Published on November 23 2021
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 530
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
Goodreads
AmazonLiteral Club
five-stars

A man haunted by his outlaw past.
The woman who loves him.
A tight-knit family he holds dear.
Old enemies out to kill him.
Jake Harkner loves hard. He fights hard, too, determined to protect the woman and family he believes he doesn't deserve, feeling unworthy of their love. They are the light to his inner darkness. The times are changing and the new laws don't allow him to inflict his kind of justice with the guns that made him infamous. His passion for the woman who understands him fully may be the only the only thing that's keeping him alive.
Gritty. Erotic. Old West. An unforgettable love story.
Outlaw Hearts Series:Outlaw Hearts (Book 1)Do Not Forsake Me (Book 2)Love's Sweet Revenge (Book 3)The Last Outlaw (Book 4)Blaze of Glory (Book 5)
Praise for Bestselling Historical Western Romances by Rosanne Bittner:
"A hero to set feminine hearts aflutter...western romance readers will thoroughly enjoy this." ―Library Journal
"Fans of such authors as Jodi Thomas and Georgina Gentry will enjoy Bittner's thrilling tale of crime and love in the Old West." ―Booklist Online
"One of the most powerful voices in western romance." ―RT Book Reviews
"This is a tale of tragedy and triumph and the undying power of family to overcome all odds. Bittner at the top of her form."―RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars TOP PICK!

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Blaze of Glory is the fifth installment in the Outlaw Hearts series and another and finale of the story between our beloved Jake and Randy. Now I do want to share that this isn’t the end of the Harkner family. The author has released she will be writing stories of Jake and Randy’s son Lloyd and his adventures and also we will get books featuring Jake’s namesake grandson (who by the way is a hoot and one of my favorite side characters) Personally I would love more with Evie too, but we shall see what the author decides to take on. This book has been long in the making and I didn’t even know it was being released until the month of its release date. This was self-published and while I understand the reasoning that the publisher she had been working with had been wanting her to write in a way that wasn’t her style, I admire this author for sticking to her guns and writing what she wanted. And I do respect her for doing all she could to match this cover to the previous books. It’s not a Jon Paul type of artwork but it works. This was a hard one for me to read knowing this would be the last where Jake and Randy would be at the forefront but it’s also exciting to see more depths to other members of the family as well. And Rosanne Bittner will deliver a thrilling adventure you can all get behind especially if Jake and Randy have captured your heart.

Blaze of Glory is a stunning portrayal of a deep abiding love that features

  • Jake-60+ years old, ex outlaw, ex law enforcement, husband, father, grandfather and beloved by all those who know him
  • Miranda -50+ years old, passionate, fierce, unconditionally loving, wife, mother, grandmother and revered by all those you know of her.

Blaze of Glory starts off with our beloved couple living the best years of their lives with their family. Jake is still recovering from his almost-death experience from “The Last Outlaw”, Miranda is doing her best to be all she can be for Jake. Jake and Miranda are planning on getting away from it all and finding the break that they both deserve and a “honeymoon” that they never had and to explore the massive city of Chicago and visit with their closest friends Jeff and Peter who have been with them on this journey for years. But with Lloyd’s wife struggling with her latest pregnancy, a range war about to break out, tensions are rising within the Harkner family. But they are all determined to see that Jake and Randy get their trip, but there is an enemy out there, stirring trouble wanting to bring an end to Jake Harkner and doesn’t care who they have to hurt to bring him down. Jake and Miranda will be finally tested in a way that they haven’t experienced, and the cost of such a battle will either tear the family apart or unite them in a way that has never been done…..

Blaze of Glory was such a powerful read and honestly, I couldn’t wait to jump into this one. It did take me a bit longer to read than normal as this was Thanksgiving weekend (so I had all the family going on’s) but I was able to get to it and what a BOOK this turned out to be and I am so grateful for this story. As many of you know, Jake and Randy are by FAR the ultimate pairing. They win hands down among all the competitions that you can ever imagine. I don’t know what it is that Rosanne Bittner does with this couple, but it’s magic as far as I am concerned. I guarantee that their story will touch you on the deepest recesses of your heart and soul. In the previous books, we have seen thirty years of their marriage and what a journey Bittner has carried us on. I found in this book that Jake and Randy will be tested once again. I knew that this author would tear me apart and she definitely succeeded but she also brought healing and growth and joy amongst its pages as well.

“Who do you belong too?”

“Jake Harkner!”

“Always remember how much I love you. You are my life.”

We get so many fun times with the family and of course some touching moments between Jake and Randy. And then, of course, we have some of our old favorites like Jeff and Peter whom I have loved seeing in the series. And seeing Jake and Randy go on a well-deserved honeymoon away from it all and just be together and explore the city But then, of course, we have the battle that comes forging into the story, and like with all the previous books, its one that pushes the limits of this family and everything they hold dear. And boy this author really puts the reader through the wringer in some of these moments. But seeing their strength and resolve to stand by each other and not give up was so beautiful. The way this family just accepts one another in a way I rarely see in romance is worth all the pain and tears of getting there.

Overall I found Blaze of Glory to be an enthralling addition to this captivating pair, a story of sacrifice, love, and most of all…..true generosity of the heart. It’s a book that will curl your toes, escalate your tension, and strap you in the ride of your life!

About Rosanne Bittner

For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800's and feature vividly-described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I must be doing something right, because more and more men are writing to tell me how much they enjoy my westerns, too. Louis L'Amour has always been one of my favorite writers, and I am very flattered that my male readers compare my books favorably with his!

As many of you already know, I was selected as the September 2013 Spotlight Author on fellow romance- writer Winnie Griggs' website, "Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace." Winnie writes inspirational historicals for Love Inspired, and she conducted a very extensive interview with me about my life and my writing. If you missed it, you can still read the interview here!

Recently we lost an icon of TV westerns, James Arness, better known as Matt Dillon of the longest-running TV western ever, GUNSMOKE. I was very saddened to hear this, partly because Matt Dillon was my hero in my teens, and also because there are so few TV heroes left — actually, none that I can think of. TV sets no good examples of a strong line between "good" and "bad" any more. The old westerns did that. Cheesy sometimes, but kids understood that if you did something "bad" you had to pay for it. Respect, honor, manners — very little of any of that on TV any more. GUNSMOKE survived as long as it did because it had several characters with whom one could identify and empathize — like Doc Adams, Chester Good, Festus, and Matt Dillon's long-time "girlfriend" Kitty. The only western hero left as far as I can see is Clint Eastwood. When he is gone it will be a HUGE loss for quality movies as well as another icon of western movies and also TV (remember Rowdy Yates of RAWHIDE?). I always wanted to be able to meet James Arness in person, but now that will never happen. Still, he remains "alive" to me through continued re-runs of GUNSMOKE, which I watch every evening.

You May Also Like…

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

About The Book In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures… A London season is the chance of a...

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

About The Book New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost...and found…as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of...

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

About The Book The next exhilarating Leopard novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. In this pulse-pounding novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Leopard series, animal instinct unites two elite shifters whose heads are at war...

4 Comments

  1. Sophia Rose

    Had no idea there was more coming. I’ll be jumping on this one and the next generation stories.

    Reply
    • Lover of Romance

      Yes I had no idea either until I saw something on Facebook about it. But excited that there is. I thought of you when I saw it.

      Reply
  2. Natalie

    I love when you just can’t let go! The main characters OWN you, the side characters OWN you, the continued story OWNS you… I’ve never read from this author, but the love you have for her alone makes me want to try. Fantastic review!!?

    Reply
  3. Rosanne Bittner

    Can’t express deeply enough my appreciation for this great review! Just watch my Author Facebook page and my website at http://www.rosannebittner.com for news about all my 70(+) books that are available and for news of new books to come! Watch for my first big contemporary story coming sometime this summer! Rosanne Bittner

    Reply

Leave a Reply to NatalieCancel reply