Legacy Road (edition 2012)

Legacy Road by Graham Garrison is a book about forgiveness and grace, broken relationships and healing. It's a story of a father and son reunion that will tug at your heart strings and won't let you go for a good long while!

Legacy Road is the sequel to Mr. Garrison's Hero's Tribute and while both books can be read independently of each other, I would recommend reading both books to gain the full effect of the series. The story was heart warming but incredibly sad at times. I went through the whole gambit of emotions while reading this story.

This is not light reading but it is a book worthy of being added to your reading pile. The message of grace and forgiveness in Legacy Road can be life changing!

Many thanks to Kregel publications for the opportunity to review this book. My views and thoughts are an honest representation of my thoughts and feelings regarding this book. ( )

Legacy Road has lots of good things going for it. The unfolding relationship between Wes and his father and the surprises Wes uncovered regarding his mother were very interesting, as was Emmy's past. My favorite parts of the book, by far, were the sections of Ron's letters to Wes. I was captivated by what I read as Ron's story slowly unfolded.

As I read the book, I couldn't help but think of John Donne's poem "No Man Is An Island." Wes, Emmy, and Wes's parents all tried to be independent for a variety of reasons. And in the end, they all realized they couldn't face life alone. I am someone who can tend toward fierce independence, and this book resonated with me for that reason.

Legacy Road continues the story begun in Hero's Tribute, something I wish I'd known before I read it. Still, I was able to pick up on most of the connections without difficulty, and the heart of the book can definitely be understood without having the background given in Hero's Tribute. For me, the book's only real drawback was that I couldn't connect with Wes. He was my least favorite character, even though he was the main character! 3-1/2 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Sometimes you can't just ignore broken relationships; you have to mend them, or at least try. That's the lesson Wes Watkins learns in his role as graduate assistant to Professor Paul Gavin. For the research paper Professor Gavin has assigned, Wes has asked his estranged father for his grandfather's Civil War letters. Ron, his dad, has agreed to give him the letters, no strings attached. Wes has had little contact with him since his parents divorced when he was young. His father wrote to him while incarcerated, but he refused to read the letters, keeping them in a box.

His fiancee', Emmy, has a past of her own. While she says she loves Wes, something in her past keeps the relationship from moving forward. She uses her enlistment in the National Guard to keep him at arm's length while dealing with a long-ago broken relationship. Her refusal to explain her past to Wes only fuels his imagination and makes things worse.

In this novel, a sequel to Hero's Tribute, author Graham Garrison weaves the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation seamlessly throughout the plot. The broken relationship between Wes and his father, the broken relationship of his parents, the relationship between Ron and his father, just to name a few. The need for self-forgiveness is also shown. Ron learns, as many of us do, that when we fail as parents, it is not easy to forgive ourselves. Emmy's story also demonstrates the difficulty of that task. And finally, the novel shows the most important forms of these: the miracle of man's redemption from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and our reconciliation into right relationship with God, our Heavenly Father.

I believe that this book would be not only appropriate but enjoyable for any reader. Although I did not touch on it in this review, the Civil War battlefields mentioned throughout the novel would interest anyone interested in the war or history in general.

4 stars

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Kregel Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Kregel Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising* ( )

We begin this story as Wes Watkins is taking a class from Paul Gavin on the American Civil War. Wes had given the Eulogy for Paul's son Michael...which was the first book in this series.
I so enjoyed how everything had its purpose! Some hurtful and sad, and others so giving and loving. You see God's hand in all that happens in this book. There are also many unexpected twists and turns, and this book becomes a real page turner.
After a problem turns up between Wes and Emmy and she is not sure whether to let him in....out bounces Baxter howling and jumping. Loved it!
Once you pick this one up you won't be able to put it down. Some of the decisions will really surprise you....like trading a truck, but their are great feelings of love and forgiveness that go along. Enjoy!!

I received this book from the Publisher Kregel, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

Of course, I originally was drawn to the novel because it was set in Georgia. I really enjoyed the storyline too though! I very much liked the subplots of Wes Watkins’ relationships with his parents and his girlfriend, Emmy. It’s complicated, you know? I think we can all relate to our expectations not necessarily falling into line with what God has planned for us. I’ve been in a position similar to Wes’ where everything looks so good and then it all falls apart. I think most people can sympathize with Wes’ situation – with his dad or mom or girlfriend or his experiences at work or school. At least Wes got a happy ending, mostly. Wes is truly an Everyman character for a modern time, with Facebook even! I love how Wes’ professor, Paul, is a mentor: he goes beyond the role of teacher to force Wes and his mom to confront their choices and unforgiving attitudes. It’s the catalyst needed to bring them all together and face what bitterness had done to them. Love how everything develops and the surprising choices people made or the events that forced their hand and how that affects them now and how they deal with it.

Quite a delightful novel that makes you want to mend your ways and make relationships right before it’s too late. Well written, even with lots of high school and college football references and an ending that seems a little rushed. ( )

Legacy Road is a quick and engaging read that tackles the topic of forgiveness and guilt via several flawed characters and tough situations. All of the characters share connections and must address past mistakes, old hurts, and feelings of shame and bitterness in order to heal broken relationships and/or heal themselves. The backdrop of Civil War history in the Atlanta area was interesting to me because Atlanta is my backyard and also because of the way the author wove it into the overall plot. The characters were complex and intertwined in interesting ways. They also had surprising secrets that were gradually revealed to the reader and added an air of mystery to the story. The writing wasn't remarkable and it sometimes felt a little preachy and pat, but I enjoyed it overall.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note I was provided a free review copy through Kregel Publications Blog Tours. ( )