** spoiler alert ** 
 -I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Netgalley- 
 So, I've been salivating over another novel from Kathleen Grissom since I closed the back cover on The Kitchen House. What a riveting, gripping story of an indentured servant brought to live at Tall Oaks Plantation and put to work with the black slaves. The story bounced between Lavinia and Belle-- Master's illegitimate daughter, though few people knew it. Most, like Master's wife and his son Marshall, thought Belle was his mistress and resented the special treatment she received. 
 I always felt like there was more to tell of the story, of the rise and fall of Tall Oaks and the eventual demise of the evil that had come to rule the plantation. 
 Glory over Everything is intended to be a stand alone continuation of The Kitchen House, but I'll admit I was a little lost throughout half the book, and Grissom seems very slow in offering details to clear up the confusion. I would recommend reading The Kitchen house before this one, at the very least, the last few chapters, specifically about Belle and Marshall. 
 This story opens in 1830 and we meet Jamie, a black man living as white. He is afforded all of the luxuries and freedoms of a white man, and though he's living in free Philadelphia, there's still a class system and some of the more wealthy, well-to-do of the city wouldn't be caught doing business with a black man. So Jamie keeps his secret close to his chest... no one must know and word of who he is must never get out, because Rankin, an overseer from Tall Oaks, has been searching for him for years for the murder of his father. 
 Over the years, Jamie is taken in by a kind and benevolent silver smith, who teaches him the trade and encourages his art. He's so endeared that he's asked to become part of the family-- literally. Much to the chagrin of the black servants in the house who seem awfully suspicious of Jamie. In truth, he's not careful enough to keep his secret concealed and one of the servants steals something from him that could destroy him. 
 While working as a silversmith and an artist, Jamie meets a young-- married-- woman named Caroline. Her marriage is a sham and she and Jamie are hopelessly attracted to one another. When she turns up pregnant, Caroline is hopeful that this might mean she and Jamie could run away together, but it is not to be. Caroline doesn't know that Jamie's mother is half black and when that baby comes...all hell is going to break loose. 
 On top of this personal drama, his beloved young servant Pan is missing, suspected kidnapped by slave traders who scour cities looking for children who are alone, capture them and cart them back to slavery states. Pan's father begs Jamie to find and rescue his son. After the death of his wife, Pan is all he has left. 
 In the course of looking for Pan, Jamie's secret becomes common knowledge and if that wasn't enough.... the evil, sadistic overseer Rankin steps back into the picture. 
 I found this novel to be a slow starter and a lot of backstory, none of which I was particularly interested in... I could have used much more clarification on the Belle- Marshall- Jamie aspect, but I suppose Grissom had a story she wanted to tell and we were going to get it. 
 I felt as though the situation with Caroline was wilted drama. I expected much more to come of that story line. But the rest of the story-- the search for Pan, reconnecting with Sukey, Jamie coming to grips with his past and the legacy he must carry on-- was riveting. 
 I would not say this book was as good as the Kitchen House, though sequels rarely rise to the shine of the original. I wish I could evaluate it as a standalone but since I've read the first book it would be impossible to rate it without niblets of story from the first. I will be interested to read reviews from those who haven't read Grissom's first book. As as a followup, it most certainly stands its ground as a satisfying read full of suspense, romance and adventure.