Recommendations based on Heaven and Hellby John Jakes

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Love and War

    by John Jakes
    Epic saga of a family divided by the American Civil War.

    The Hazards and the Mains – the first fatal shot fired at Fort Sumter divided them irrevocably with loyalties more powerful than family ties. The young would clash on the bloody battlefields of Bull ... (Goodreads)

  2. North and South

    by John Jakes
    A story of two families divided by the Civil War and their journey to reconciliation and understanding.

    Part history, part novel, this book chronicles two great American dynasties over three generations. Though brought together in a friendship that neither jealousy nor violence could shatter, the ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Bastard

    by John Jakes
    Epic journey of a young man searching for his identity amidst the chaos of the American Civil War.

    The story begins in November 1770 in Auvergne , France , near Chavaniac . Philippe Charboneau, a seventeen-year-old boy, is living with his mother, Marie, in an inn inherited from her deceased ... (Wikipedia)

  4. A Woman of Substance

    by Barbara Taylor Bradford
    The rags-to-riches story of Emma Harte, who overcomes poverty and adversity to build a retail empire.

    One of the top-ten bestselling novels ever written. “An extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death and passion.” —,The New York Times, Barbara Taylor Bradford’s The Emma ... (Barnes & Noble)

  5. The Fiery Cross

    by Diana Gabaldon
    Epic saga of a time-traveling couple navigating the dangers of 18th century Scotland.

    Claire, the heroine of Outlander , figures in The Fiery Cross as a reluctant oracle and wife to Jamie Fraser, her 18th-century partner, and faces the politics and turmoil of the forthcoming American ... (Wikipedia)

  6. Centennial

    by James A. Michener
    Epic journey through the history of the American West, painting a vivid picture of its people and culture.

    Written to commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976, James A. Michener’s magnificent saga of the West is an enthralling celebration of the frontier. Brimming with the glory of America’s past, the story ... (Goodreads)

  7. A Dangerous Fortune

    by Ken Follett
    A tale of murder and intrigue set in 19th-century England, revealing a family's dark secrets.

    In 1866, tragedy strikes at the exclusive Windfield School. A young student drowns in a mysterious accident involving a small circle of boys. The drowning and its aftermath initiates a spiraling ... (Goodreads)

  8. Fall of Giants

    by Ken Follett
    Epic historical fiction recounting the tumultuous events of World War I and its aftermath.

    The novel begins with the thirteen-year-old Billy Williams, nicknamed 'Billy With Jesus', going to work his first day in the coal mine underneath the fictional Welsh town of Aberowen in 1911. Three ... (Wikipedia)

  9. The Mummy

    by Anne Rice
    A young woman's quest to uncover the secrets of an ancient Egyptian tomb, risking her life to save her loved ones.

    Henry murders his uncle Lawrence with a poison found in the mummy's tomb. When Henry tries to poison Julie in the same manner, Ramses comes to life and attempts to kill Henry, but succeeds only in ... (Wikipedia)

  10. The Thorn Birds

    by Colleen McCullough
    A powerful tale of forbidden love, set in rural Australia in the early 20th century.

    The story begins in New Zealand on 8 December 1915, the fourth birthday of Meghann "Meggie" Cleary who is the only daughter of Padriac ("Paddy"), an Irish farm labourer, and Fiona ("Fee"), his wife. ... (Wikipedia)

  11. World Without End

    by Ken Follett
    Epic tale of love and war, tracing the lives of two families over centuries.

    The novel begins in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, England in the year 1327 . Four children - Merthin, Caris, Gwenda, and Merthin's brother Ralph - head into the woods on All Hallows Day . ... (Wikipedia)

  12. The Green Mile

    by Stephen King
    A prison guard discovers the power of redemption, and miracles, when he meets a mysterious inmate.

    Featuring a first-person narrative told by Paul Edgecombe, the novel switches between Paul as an old man in the Georgia Pines nursing home writing down his story in 1996, and his time in 1932 as the ... (Wikipedia)

  13. Voyager

    by Diana Gabaldon
    A grand adventure across time and space, filled with romance, danger and mystery.

    Voyager opens on the battlefield at Culloden , where Jamie Fraser finds himself gravely wounded and his rival Jack Randall dead. Jamie is carried to a nearby farmhouse where 18 Highland soldiers have ... (Wikipedia)

  14. These Happy Golden Years

    by Laura Ingalls Wilder
    A young girl's journey of self-discovery as she moves through adulthood.

    As the novel begins, Pa is taking Laura 12 miles from home in the dead of winter to her first teaching assignment at Brewster settlement. Laura being only 15 and a schoolgirl herself, is apprehensive ... (Wikipedia)

  15. The Brethren

    by John Grisham
    Three former judges, imprisoned for different crimes, hatch a daring plan to scam millions.

    The "Brethren" are three former judges who are incarcerated at Trumble, a fictional federal minimum security prison located in northern Florida . The trio embark on a scam to deceive and exploit ... (Wikipedia)

  16. The Sunne in Splendour

    by Sharon Kay Penman
    Historical fiction about the life of King Richard III, from his childhood to his death on the battlefield.

    The story begins in 1459 with Richard as a young boy, and ends in 1485 with his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field . When their father is killed, Richard's older brother Edward leads the House of ... (Wikipedia)

  17. Ross Poldark

    by Winston Graham
    Tale of a man's struggles to restore his family's fortunes amidst the backdrop of 18th century Cornwall.

    Ross Poldark is a heartwarming, gripping, and utterly entertaining saga that brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters and one of the greatest love stories of our age. Ross Poldark returns ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Last Full Measure

    by Jeff Shaara
    Epic story of the battles of Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chickamauga as told through the eyes of the soldiers and officers who fought them.

    Librarian's note: An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here . In the Pulitzer prize-winning classic The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara created the finest Civil War novel of our ... (Goodreads)

  19. Drums of Autumn

    by Diana Gabaldon
    A romantic family saga set in 18th century America, of the struggles of an immigrant family.

    The heroine of the bestselling, Outlander, , Claire, returns in Drums of Autumn , reunited with her husband Jamie Fraser and facing a new life in the American colonies . As the preceding novel, ... (Wikipedia)

  20. War and Remembrance

    by Herman Wouk
    Epic saga of a Jewish family's journey through WWII, facing the struggles of a war-torn world.

    War and Remembrance completes the cycle that began with, The Winds of War, . The story includes historical occurrences at Midway , Yalta , Guadalcanal , and El Alamein as well as the Allied invasions ... (Wikipedia)

  21. The Billionaire Wins the Game

    by Melody Anne
    A billionaire falls for a woman who is not interested in his wealth. He must win her heart without relying on his money.

    Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN: B005HXFVGS. All newly published with deleted scenes and an additional 25 thousand words. See the first book of the Anderson Series. ... (Goodreads)

  22. Wild Irish Heart

    by Tricia O'Malley
    A young woman discovers her Irish heritage and magical powers while navigating a romance with a mysterious man.

    From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Tricia O'Malley, comes a romance series set on the rocky shores of Ireland.It is time...An ancient book, a power untouched, and a heart unloved ... (Barnes & Noble)

  23. Absolute Power

    by David Baldacci
    A power-hungry President, a daring thief and a determined investigator collide in a thrilling tale of manipulation and murder.

    An experienced burglar, Luther Whitney, breaks into a billionaire's house with the intent of robbing it. While there, he witnesses the President of the United States and the billionaire's wife having ... (Wikipedia)

  24. The Winds of War

    by Herman Wouk
    The story of a family caught in the middle of World War II and their struggles to survive.

    Like no other masterpiece of historical fiction, Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II is the great novel of America's Greatest Generation. , Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of ... (Barnes & Noble)

  25. What Dreams May Come

    by Richard Matheson
    A man's journey of resurrection and redemption, discovering a spiritual afterlife.

    The prologue is narrated by a man telling of his visit from a psychic woman, who gives him a manuscript she claims was dictated to her by his deceased brother Chris. Most of the novel consists of ... (Wikipedia)

  26. Lonesome Dove

    by Larry McMurtry
    Epic tale of two former Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.

    It is the late 1870s. , Captain Woodrow F. Call and Captain Augustus "Gus" McCrae, two famous retired Texas Rangers , run the Hat Creek Cattle Company and Livery Emporium in the small Texas border ... (Wikipedia)

  27. Clear and Present Danger

    by Tom Clancy
    CIA analyst Jack Ryan uncovers a covert war against drug cartels in Colombia, leading to a dangerous mission to stop the violence.

    The President of the United States , who is running for reelection, finds a fierce opponent in Ohio Governor J. Robert Fowler, who has rallied the American public behind his administration's failures ... (Wikipedia)

  28. Here Be Dragons

    by Sharon Kay Penman
    Epic story of love, war and betrayal set against the backdrop of 13th century England.

    Here Be Dragons is the first of Penman's trilogy about the medieval princes of Gwynedd and the monarchs of England. , England's King John uses his out-of-wedlock daughter Joanna as a negotiating tool ... (Wikipedia)

  29. The Racketeer

    by John Grisham
    An imprisoned lawyer discovers a sinister plot, using his knowledge of the law to uncover the truth.

    Malcolm Bannister is an African American attorney in a small-town Virginia law firm. A real estate transaction which he undertook in good faith turns out to have involved the purchase of a secluded ... (Wikipedia)

  30. The Rainmaker

    by John Grisham
    A young lawyer's quest to bring justice to a family in need.

    Rudy Baylor is about to graduate from Memphis State Law School . He secures a position with a Memphis law firm , who then loses his job when the firm is bought out by the large Memphis law firm ... (Wikipedia)