Canteen Dreams

Cornhusker Dreams #1

by Cara C. Putman

In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Audrey Stone wants to help in the war effort. But what's a young schoolteacher from Nebraska to do? When her community start a canteen at the train station, Audrey finds her place. She spends nearly every spare moment there, offering food and kindness to the soldiers passing through. Despite her busyness, Audrey does allow some time to get to know a handsome rancher. Willard Johnson worries about his brother who joined the navy to get off the ranch and see the world. When Willard's worst fear is confirmed, he feels he must avenge by enlisting himself. But will his budding relationship with Audrey weather the storms of war? Or will one of the many soldiers at the canteen steal her away from him?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Christian, Historical Romance, Fiction

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 1, 2008

About the author

Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She is a clinical associate professor in law and ethics at Purdue University's School of Business. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. She loves bringing history and legal romantic suspense to life.

An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska, George Mason University School of Law, and Krannert School of Management, Cara left small town Nebraska and headed to Washington, D.C., to launch her career in public policy.

Cara is an author chasing hard after God as she lives a crazy life. She invites you to join her on that journey. She's currently writing her 46th book with more on the way. Please check out her website to learn more about her books and read first chapters.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable quick read set on the home front in WW2. I liked Audrey, though it took me awhile to warm up to Willard, with his struggle with his temper. The faith thread is gently woven in, and the romance is squeaky clean. A nice lighter read that leaves behind a cozy retro feeling.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

by Andrea Renee Cox

What a delightful tale! I learned about the North Platte Canteen many years ago, but this book brought it to life in a brand-new way. I felt like I was right there, serving at the Canteen alongside Audrey. Canteen Dreams is an emotional and sweet story that tugs at the heartstrings and leaves the reader sighing in contentment. A must-read.

I'm so thrilled for author Cara Putman, who will soon be re-releasing this book. Keep your eyes out for it, y'all! You won't want to miss this self-published bit of loveliness.

This is my unbiased and honest review.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read set during WW2 - how the Americans at home had to face the Pearl harbor and subsequent events. I really loved the growth the characters had to go through, especially Willard with all his questions about God and his anger towards God - I appreciated this honesty of his struggle. The romance was so sweet and innocent.

Narrator: I listened to the audiobook version. At first I wondered about the narrator because it was an older voice, but she quickly won me over, especially at how well so narrated the emotional parts.

Very enjoyable. Recommended to fans of historical fiction, clean romance and faith filled stories.

[Katja Labonté]

Free on Amazon! (28.5.22)

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read. I already knew some about the Canteen in North Platte, Nebraska, so reading a story about it was fun. The main characters were real, with real troubles and real emotions. I appreciated that the attractions between the guy and girl wasn't all about the physical as so many books are these days. While not a really long story, it took me a few hours to read and didn't rush or drag. All in all, this is one I would recommend if you enjoy books set in the 1940's.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canteen Dreams was a cute read. I liked the characters and felt like the story moved along quickly. The romance was okay, but not a favorite. I enjoyed the setting and getting a glimpse of how the canteen worked.

Sometimes the characters and their actions were a little annoying, but their flaws made them realistic and I liked how they grew throughout the story...even if some of their actions I didn't like. Lol.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I thought the way both Audrey and Willard were portrayed was just right . . . they were flawed enough to seem human (and to need to grow in their character arcs), but generally nice enough that you wanted to cheer them on. I liked how they each had a separate need that God needed to show them so they could each find peace in the midst of the war. I REALLY loved knowing that this book was based on the love story of her grandparents. Too sweet!
4.5 stars

[Erika Mathews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the historical flair of this fictional work as well as the realistic characters. I also appreciated the cleanness of the romance.

[Joleen Devens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very easy and quick read for me. I enjoyed the story line. I did see some juvenile emotions in the main characters. I kept reminding myself that they were in their late teens or early 20's. Although I loved the time period and the theme of the story, I was disappointed that the arthor didn't take more time to develop the characters. I guess that's why I would recommend this to young adults. I did love the Christian aspect of the story. It is a great reminder to me of how to accept things we cannot change, to be honest and forgive others.

Here is the Amazon description of this book:
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Nebraska schoolteacher Audrey Stone wants to support the war effort in any way she can. When her community starts a canteen at the train station, Audrey spends nearly every spare moment there, offering food and kindness to the soldiers passing through. She never expected to fall for a local boy…or face the challenges of budding love in the face of war.

Rancher Willard Johnson admires Audrey’s passionate nature, but when his brother is killed in action, he feels he must avenge by enlisting himself. His father insists he stay, but Willard knows he must go. Reality intrudes, and he never expected the jealousy he experiences when he sees those in uniform.

Can Willard’s budding relationship with Audrey weather the storms of war? Or will one of the other soldiers at the canteen steal her heart?

[Amie Geyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book for free on booksbub. It was cute and light. It turned out to be more of a christian romance then historical fiction.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance that takes place in North Platte, Nebraska at the beginning of the US's involvement in World War II--about the time of the time of the attack at Pearl Harbor. I can imagine how people were affected at this time, especially after how we felt after the attack on September 11th. As the townspeople are gathered around their radios listening to President Roosevelt addressing Congress and declaring a state of war against Japan, everyone was very touched by the event.

Audrey Stone and Willard Johnson meet at a dance just a day before the attack and develop a friendship that could turn into something more if it is God's will. Willard's brother was on a ship at Pearl Harbor when it was hit. Both Audrey and Willard want to get involved in the war effort. Audrey and others in the small town start a special service project where they work a canteen at the train station where thousands of troops go through the city. They serve food, drinks and encouragement to the young men. Willard wants to enlist but his father is against it since he is needed on the ranch his family owns.

This is a story about listening to what God's plans are for us versus what we want to happen. Audrey and Willard both struggle in this respect and sometimes it causes problems between each other. Once we are able to see His way in a situation, we can have a measure of peace. This is a lovely story that Cara Putnam writes as an wonderful tribute to her grandparents that the story is based on.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, easy-to-read historical romance set in North Platte Nebraska at the beginning of World War II. The citizens of North Platte open up a canteen at the railroad station for the military men going through to different posts. A good blend of interesting characters and personal spiritual challenges. This is one romance where you hang on til the end to see how it turns out.

FAVORITE QUOTES: "In the midst of whatever storm we find ourselves in, whether man-made, war-made, or self-made, Jesus stands in our rocking lives and says, 'Peace, be still.' "

"When I get to heaven, all these questions I'm collecting here on earth will be answered with one look in Jesus' face. And that has to be enough right now, because I don't always get the answers I seek."

"Let the sure hope we have in Christ build a bedrock of faith in your life. It's the only way to survive a storm like the one your family has entered."

[Caitlyn Santi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Avigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though there are interesting parts in the book, it is the first time that I felt it is too much Christian-fiction for me. The truth I didn't know that this book is Christian fiction that is a genre that
I have rad before, but this time it wasn't something that drew me to pick up the book.
I wanted to like this one, the time period is one that I usually enjoy, but I felt like the book made Willard seem "selfish" for wanting to enlist and praising Audrey for backing away from her volunteer work. I didn't think she had the wrong motives; she enjoyed the work and felt like she was making a difference... I was also confused by their relationship. I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.
The story was just okay for me. It did a good job of creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that was true for this time. But it was more a squeaky clean romance than historical fiction, and the writing was very simplistic.

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I read a story set during WWII, so it was nice to get back into that setting/genre with “Canteen Dreams”. Very well written, with a captivating story line. And the faith-strand was quite excellent, weaving in sound truths that the characters learned. I thought that was beautiful. :)
“Canteen Dreams” was a very sweet story, with real characters, and real lessons. And the romance was believable, and pretty cute. ^.^ Not all simple and roses, but definitely good.
It was interesting to see how the War affected a smaller town, and what they did to pitch in.
If you’re a fan of WWII fictions, or even just good, sweet stories, be sure to pick up a copy of “Canteen Dreams”. :)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I stumbled across this book title in a blog post .... kept me wanting to read more and later into the night ... good moral value and love!

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5 stars}

This was a nice gentle read to boost me back into the reading mood. I loved the setting and could picture everything (just mention she grabbed a coke bottle and I see the 40s :D)! I was amazed that the author gave the message that honoring parents is so important. At first I was a little frustrated with Willard and his attitude toward his father, but things improved in that area. Also, I loved that Audrey's parents wanted to pray about the marriage and give their blessing if they believed the man was the right guy for her. That isn't found in many books :)

Sometimes both Audrey and Willard acted a little silly and childish, and I do prefer books that have a storyline besides the couple getting together. But all in all this was good and I definitely recommend it :)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audrey Stone enjoys teaching her 2nd grade class very much and her world gets brought up short when Pearl Harbor is bombed. She feels that she needs to do something to help the soldiers so when someone suggests setting up a canteen Audrey is all in. Then she meets local farmer Willard Johnson at a dance and Audrey and Willard are smitten with one another but they are split when Willard’s brother is killed in the war and he struggles with not being able to fight in the war himself. Willard wrestles with God as well as having trouble with his feelings for Audrey.

These two characters Willard and Audrey really struggle with God and themselves and I wanted to shake some sense into them. Good story! I liked it!

[DeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this audible book to review.

This story has been on my TBR list for a very long time and I was thrilled when the audible version came available. The story is narrated beautifully!

Audrey and Willard are the central characters in their early adult (working) years in Nebraska when the Japanese strike Pearl Harbor and the US enters the war. The characters struggle with real emotions around enlisting or not, moving forward with life in uncertain times, and serving God and country from where you are. The resolution of Audrey and Willard’s story is sweet and leaves me wanting to hear Lanie’s story.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy WWII era stories, that take me back to the time my grandparents dated. But this book wasn't much of a story. It depicts a rather bland courtship, marred with a lot of jealousy and immaturity from one side. Nothing romantic. Nothing dramatic. The first couple chapters started strong and painted a lovely setting. I was hopeful and interested. But by the end I only stuck with it to complete one more book before the end of the year.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a quick, inspiring, uplifting read- this is your book. I enjoyed following the love story and the historical aspects of the book kept my interest. The story has lots of references to the relationship between God and the characters, and I enjoyed that also.
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

[Staciy Wilson Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing!!!

Cara Putman keeps me enthralled every time! If you want love and romance, this is the real deal. She writes real stories, not what I call fluff-&-stuff!

[Tisha Martin]

Excellent weave of WWII, history, and romance. Putman's story that mirrored her grandparent's is one to cherish forever.

[Barbara Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canteen Dreams is a novel based on author Cara Putman’s own grandparents. It was her first book, released eleven years ago. But Cara wanted to fine-tune and re-release it. This edition came out on 2017.

The story opens December 6, 1941. Audrey Stone attends a dance in her home town of North Platte, Nebraska, and is asked to dance by local rancher’s son, Willard Johnson. Willard is interested and wants to get to know Audrey better.

Then Sunday morning, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, and everything changes.

Willard’s brother, Andrew, was in the Navy. While the family waits to hear about Andrew, Willard would like nothing better than to enlist immediately.

But Willard’s father won’t let him. Farming and ranching are exempted occupations, since the country needs their work. Willard’s father feels he needs Willard’s help more than the military needs him.

Since North Platte is a railroad hub, and lots of troops come through on their way to service, someone gets the idea to offer the boys food and coffee during their brief stop. The young men are so encouraged and appreciative of the effort that the train stop refreshments grow into a canteen, with a nearby building, music, sandwiches, and a friendly atmosphere.

Audrey throws herself into working the canteen, on top of her full-time job as a teacher. She has little time for anyone or anything else, which doesn’t help her budding relationship with Willard.

Willard’s dissatisfaction with not being able to enlist grows into resentment and jealousy of the young soldiers at the canteen, which further impacts things with Audrey.

Both Willard and Audrey are believers and struggle with seeking God’s will for their lives. I liked their pastor’s counsel, especially these bits:

Let the sure hope we have in Christ build a bedrock of faith in your life. It’s the only way to survive a storm like the one your family has entered.

He is the vine, and we are the branches. We cannot expect to have the strength to lay down our lives, our rights, for others until we are firmly growing in a deep relationship with Christ. A superficial relationship is not sufficient. Without more, we will fail every time in our attempts to die, because we attempt to do it without the strength and love God gives.

This was a sweet story in itself, but knowing it was based on a real couple made it even more enjoyable.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, Nebraska schoolteacher Audrey Stone wants to support the war effort in any way she can. When her community starts a canteen at the train station, Audrey spends nearly every spare moment there, offering food and kindness to the soldiers passing through. She never expected to fall for a local boy…or face the challenges of budding love in the face of war.Rancher Willard Johnson admires Audrey’s passionate nature, but when his brother is killed in action, he feels he must avenge by enlisting himself. His father insists he stay, but Willard knows he must go. Reality intrudes, and he never expected the jealousy he experiences when he sees those in uniform.Can Willard’s budding relationship with Audrey weather the storms of war? Or will one of the other soldiers at the canteen steal her heart?The North Platte Canteen (aka the Service Men's Canteen in the Union Pacific Railroad station at North Platte) was a railroad stop done by local citizens of North Platte, NE, US, that operated from Christmas Day 1941 to April 1,1946.Located along the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad, its purpose was to provide refreshments and hospitality to soldiers who were traveling through the area on the way to war during their 10-15 minute stopovers.It began on December 17, 1941,when the 134th Infantry Regiment of the state's National Guard were on their way from Camp Joseph T. Robinson,AR, to somewhere.When they came, at least 500 close associations of local servicemen had shown up at the depot.The crowd cheered, but the soldiers weren't members of the 134th. The crowd gave them the gifts and food that was originally meant for their own and wished them off.26yo Rae Wilson, a drugstore salesgirl witnessed the hospitality. Her brother supposedly was to be on the troop train as a company commander. As she walked away from the train that evening, she had an idea to meet all the trains that went through North Platte and give the soldiers the same type of sendoff. The next day she suggested that the meeting of soldiers become a permanent occurrence.The goodness of random strangers helped to keep up the canteen.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Canteen Dreams by Cara Putman is a WWII Homefront Romance and the first book in the Cornhusker Dreams series. It opens on December 6, 1941 as Audrey Stone attends a local dance in which she catches the eye of local rancher, Willard Johnson. The next day, news breaks about the Pearl Harbor attack which throws the Midwest town of North Platte, Nebraska into a state of shock. As Audrey joins the local war effort, Willard struggles with his desire to serve his country and his sense of obligation to stay on his family’s ranch. The two begin a friendship which blossoms into something more. Will Willard stay or will he enlist? What will happened with his relationship with Audrey?
Canteen Dreams is a sweet wartime love story. A quick read, it takes the reader through the months following the Pearl Harbor attack and the nation’s wartime efforts. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get invested in the characters. I found Audrey too good to be true. Willard was whiny and I thought the whole time, “Oh my god, just make a decision.” I didn’t like the flow of the story. For the first half of the book, the Johnson family seemed to be Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and their sons, Willard, and Andrew. Then suddenly, there are three sisters! Where did they come from? They were not mentioned before. If you enjoy WWII era romance, you may enjoy Canteen Dreams.

Canteen Dreams
is available paperback, eBook and audiobook

[Linda Matchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Canteen Dreams is a warm, feel-good story. The story is set in Kansas, an area of the country I know very little about. I liked learning about ranching and small town life in the plains states. The author did a nice job of including historical tidbits such as song titles, radio shows, rationing, and other aspects of the war to give a flavor of the era. Audrey and Willard are likeable characters with realistic struggles as their world is turned upside down by the attack at Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into the war. At one point Audrey is told to wear dungarees to visit the ranch, and I loved her internal dialogue about how she feels about wearing them – something she had never done. Their on again/off again relationship dragged a little bit for me, but was realistic as they dealt with life changing issues. The ending scene (before the epilogue) brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed Audrey’s friend, Lainie, and am glad to know she gets her own story in the next book of the series.

[Tara Kolker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Pearl Harbor era story by Cara Putman captured the fear and uncertainty that came with news of the attack. It painted a good picture of the patriotism, enthusiasm, courage, and even jealousy of those on the home front. I found myself contemplating aspects of the war that I hadn’t thought as much about prior to listening to this book… so I felt like I learned from it.

Canteen Dreams was a sweet romance amid the turmoil of the war. While I found it predictable, this story was still enjoyable… although honestly, through most of the book I found myself wanting to slap Willard. He was kind of jerkish and self-absorbed.

If you want a war time story but still want a light book, this would be a good option. I’d compare it with whipped cream in a can… airy and sweet, and you know what you’re getting.

Laural Merlington did a good job with the recording – she struck me as sounding like a woman looking back at the war, telling the story.

[Trudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I learned something I had not known: a canteen was set up at the North Platte, Nebraska train station in Dec. 1941. It served coffee and food to soldiers traveling through on their cross country troop trains. It operated until April 1946 and was run by volunteers from many communities in the area.

The story was just okay for me. It did a good job of creating the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty that was true for this time. But it was more a squeaky clean romance than historical fiction and the writing was very simplistic. The story was about a bland courtship between Audrey Stone and Willard Johnson as Audrey becomes dedicated to working in the canteen and Willard fights his grief over losing his brother at Pearl Harbor. Although they were 20 and 24 years old, there was a juvenile feeling to their relationship, reflected by too much jealousy and insecurity. Not sure I will read the sequel.

[Kim Paulus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Romance

A story of finding oneself and growing up. Two young people affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor. Audrey a second grade school teacher and Wallace a son of a rancher. Both pray that they will be able to help in the fight, but not knowing how. Audrey volunteers at a canteen set up at a train station after a troop of soldiers pass through. They are greeted with food and warm wishes during December. Because their little town is a through fare for the traveling soldiers the canteen is established. Audrey is their number one volunteer. Willard struggles with the desire to enlist and must contend with his father's wishes to stay and help on the ranch. Audrey and Willard are attracted to each other but must come to terms with all their inter struggles first. This is the first book in the series and can be read as a stand alone. I will be reading the rest of the series though.