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Dreams of Savannah
Cordelia Owens can weave a hopeful dream around anything and is well used to winning the hearts of everyone in Savannah with her whimsy. Even when she receives word that her sweetheart has been lost during a raid on a Yankee vessel, she clings to hope and comes up with many a romantic tale of his eventual homecoming to reassure his mother and sister.
But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him. Matters of black and white don't seem so simple anymore to Phin, and despite her best efforts, Delia's smiles can't erase all the complications in his life. And when Fort Pulaski falls and the future wavers, they both must decide where the dreams of a new America will take them, and if they will go together.
But Phineas Dunn finds nothing redemptive in the first horrors of war. Struggling for months to make it home alive, he returns to Savannah injured and cynical, and all too sure that he is not the hero Cordelia seems determined to make him. Matters of black and white don't seem so simple anymore to Phin, and despite her best efforts, Delia's smiles can't erase all the complications in his life. And when Fort Pulaski falls and the future wavers, they both must decide where the dreams of a new America will take them, and if they will go together.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2021
145 people are currently reading
3443 people want to read
About the author
Roseanna M. White
60 books3,818 followersRoseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White
see also Roseanna White
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
March 23, 2021
It's impossible to rate and and review a book in a vacuum, apart from things like previous knowledge of the author and her works, apart from personal experience and other books read.
It's impossible not to compare and contrast or to feel culminating weight, and I'm feeling this tension especially strongly with this review.
Dreams of Savannah is very honest and well researched, and I liked that it felt less biased, less black and white about what was a very complicated war than some Civil War novels are. This book more than most showed subtle nuances in perspectives, and I give it props for that. It had a lot of ingredients that I look for and love in a story: honest history, solid theology, and a happy ending. But this time, for me, the right ingredients did not a loved book make.
One of my struggles with this book was a weariness with Civil War novelists in general feeling the need to be gritty, which I believe is a direct reaction against the romanticization of the Old South. But to put it plainly, I'm tired of Civil War books being about rape and attempted rape. So much of this book was about the fear of rape, the evil man with the leering gleam in his eye ever present and the selfish father pushing his daughter into that man's suit, making the reader so tense for so much of the book until the attempted rape did happen, that it made the book a journey that I did not enjoy, a volume that I do not close the cover and think, "Now THAT is a story I must have on my shelves and revisit from time to time."
No. Once was too much.
Secondly, I can push through painful books when I truly enjoy the characters' company, but I was not hooked at the beginning and came to like the characters far too late in the story for it to redeem the stress of the rape foreshadowing and selfish, controlling parents (I hate books with selfish, controlling parents). Roseanna White has written some of my very favorite fictional characters of all time. Few can compare with the charm and lovability of Brooke, Brice, Rosemary, Lukas, Peter, Barclay, and Philip. Had characters of that level been in Dreams of Savannah, I might have been more willing to plow through the difficult storyline. But since they weren't, I found myself flipping pages to get it over with, not because I couldn't put it down, and that's just not a position that I as a reader want to be put in. I very much regret having to say that by the time the happy ending came, I was skimming and did not care anymore. I wish this wasn't true of such a beloved author.
I had a strong sense for most of this book of the fact that it is editorial and the author spent more effort on her message than anything else. It was perhaps too obvious. And I wish I wasn't saying it about a message I agree with.
There were some good lines about writing and story that I appreciated. The book was not in any way graphic and actually had low violence, for all its discussion of violent topics. I give the book four stars because I cannot review it in a vacuum and I know how subjective my opinion is. It did have the right ingredients, but unfortunately most of the Dreams of Savannah I am left with from this book are unsavory ones.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the publisher but I was not compensated for my views and all opinions are my own.
It's impossible not to compare and contrast or to feel culminating weight, and I'm feeling this tension especially strongly with this review.
Dreams of Savannah is very honest and well researched, and I liked that it felt less biased, less black and white about what was a very complicated war than some Civil War novels are. This book more than most showed subtle nuances in perspectives, and I give it props for that. It had a lot of ingredients that I look for and love in a story: honest history, solid theology, and a happy ending. But this time, for me, the right ingredients did not a loved book make.
One of my struggles with this book was a weariness with Civil War novelists in general feeling the need to be gritty, which I believe is a direct reaction against the romanticization of the Old South. But to put it plainly, I'm tired of Civil War books being about rape and attempted rape. So much of this book was about the fear of rape, the evil man with the leering gleam in his eye ever present and the selfish father pushing his daughter into that man's suit, making the reader so tense for so much of the book until the attempted rape did happen, that it made the book a journey that I did not enjoy, a volume that I do not close the cover and think, "Now THAT is a story I must have on my shelves and revisit from time to time."
No. Once was too much.
Secondly, I can push through painful books when I truly enjoy the characters' company, but I was not hooked at the beginning and came to like the characters far too late in the story for it to redeem the stress of the rape foreshadowing and selfish, controlling parents (I hate books with selfish, controlling parents). Roseanna White has written some of my very favorite fictional characters of all time. Few can compare with the charm and lovability of Brooke, Brice, Rosemary, Lukas, Peter, Barclay, and Philip. Had characters of that level been in Dreams of Savannah, I might have been more willing to plow through the difficult storyline. But since they weren't, I found myself flipping pages to get it over with, not because I couldn't put it down, and that's just not a position that I as a reader want to be put in. I very much regret having to say that by the time the happy ending came, I was skimming and did not care anymore. I wish this wasn't true of such a beloved author.
I had a strong sense for most of this book of the fact that it is editorial and the author spent more effort on her message than anything else. It was perhaps too obvious. And I wish I wasn't saying it about a message I agree with.
There were some good lines about writing and story that I appreciated. The book was not in any way graphic and actually had low violence, for all its discussion of violent topics. I give the book four stars because I cannot review it in a vacuum and I know how subjective my opinion is. It did have the right ingredients, but unfortunately most of the Dreams of Savannah I am left with from this book are unsavory ones.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the publisher but I was not compensated for my views and all opinions are my own.
December 18, 2020
When Cordelia Owens’ sweetheart Phineas enlists to fight against the Yankees, she tries to keep up hope by writing heroic stories. Phineas gets wounded in a raid on his vessel and struggles for months to make it home to Delia. They both have to get real on the issue of keeping slaves as well as deal with the future of their relationship.
Dreams of Savannah is the standalone novel written by Roseanna M. White, published by Bethany House Publishers. Setting of the plot is Savannah, Georgia 1861 and we get to follow Cordelia Owens as her sweetheart Phineas Dunn has gone off to serve in the Confederate navy. He gets shot, swept aboard and lost, but in spite of bad news, Cordelia writes heroic, hopeful stories and does not accept he is dead. Seriously wounded, Phineas gets washed ashore in Cuba where free black, British Vicar Luther Bromley, agrees to nurse him back to health in return for Phineas’ help finding his illegally sold wife. As war rages ever closer to Savannah, increasing numbers of slaves run away to join the Yankees and be declared free. Cordelia and Phineas have to get real on the issue of keeping slaves as well as deal with the future of their relationship.
Main character is Cordelia, Delia, Owens, enjoys a super privileged lifestyle. She has an impressive imagination she uses to raise funds for Confederacy and keep up hope in others. Her character shows a healthy set of values as the plot progresses.
British Vicar, Luther Bromley, is my favorite character of this story. He finds himself in a very challenging position as a free black in an area where people like him are slaves. Description of the relationship developing between Phineas and Luther were my favorite part of the plot.
As a European, this is a very interesting plot from a new to me author. I loved the amusing and lighthearted writing and dialogue. I particularly found the written Gullah-English of the slaves very entertaining and felt this added uniqueness to the plot. I loved how the Lucas Bromley character taught me more about the difference between a free black and a slave.
Delia’s cousin Julius contributed drama to the plot as he was a threat to both Delia and her lady’s maid slave Salina, while trying to present himself as a worthy suitor for Delia. He made my skin crawl every time he was present in the plot. For this, I found his character both excellent and believable if not exactly likable.
Anyone who enjoys who enjoys historical romance, specifically set in the Civil War would enjoy this one. Fans of Roseanna M. White would definitely love it, I think. Similar author to explore might be Tamara Alexander.
Thank you to #Bethany House Publishers, @roseannamwhite and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: Dreams of Savannah is the captivating novel by Roseanna M. White about Delia and Phin’s privileged life as war breaks out. He enlists, everything changes and she tries to keep up hope by writing heroic stories. They both have to get real on the issue slavery and deal with the future of their relationship.
Dreams of Savannah is the standalone novel written by Roseanna M. White, published by Bethany House Publishers. Setting of the plot is Savannah, Georgia 1861 and we get to follow Cordelia Owens as her sweetheart Phineas Dunn has gone off to serve in the Confederate navy. He gets shot, swept aboard and lost, but in spite of bad news, Cordelia writes heroic, hopeful stories and does not accept he is dead. Seriously wounded, Phineas gets washed ashore in Cuba where free black, British Vicar Luther Bromley, agrees to nurse him back to health in return for Phineas’ help finding his illegally sold wife. As war rages ever closer to Savannah, increasing numbers of slaves run away to join the Yankees and be declared free. Cordelia and Phineas have to get real on the issue of keeping slaves as well as deal with the future of their relationship.
Main character is Cordelia, Delia, Owens, enjoys a super privileged lifestyle. She has an impressive imagination she uses to raise funds for Confederacy and keep up hope in others. Her character shows a healthy set of values as the plot progresses.
British Vicar, Luther Bromley, is my favorite character of this story. He finds himself in a very challenging position as a free black in an area where people like him are slaves. Description of the relationship developing between Phineas and Luther were my favorite part of the plot.
As a European, this is a very interesting plot from a new to me author. I loved the amusing and lighthearted writing and dialogue. I particularly found the written Gullah-English of the slaves very entertaining and felt this added uniqueness to the plot. I loved how the Lucas Bromley character taught me more about the difference between a free black and a slave.
Delia’s cousin Julius contributed drama to the plot as he was a threat to both Delia and her lady’s maid slave Salina, while trying to present himself as a worthy suitor for Delia. He made my skin crawl every time he was present in the plot. For this, I found his character both excellent and believable if not exactly likable.
Anyone who enjoys who enjoys historical romance, specifically set in the Civil War would enjoy this one. Fans of Roseanna M. White would definitely love it, I think. Similar author to explore might be Tamara Alexander.
Thank you to #Bethany House Publishers, @roseannamwhite and #NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: Dreams of Savannah is the captivating novel by Roseanna M. White about Delia and Phin’s privileged life as war breaks out. He enlists, everything changes and she tries to keep up hope by writing heroic stories. They both have to get real on the issue slavery and deal with the future of their relationship.
January 9, 2021
White's works are like the finest tapestry's, the words are woven together so seamlessly.
It takes a talented author that can write about more than one time period so effortlessly.
I will admit I was drawn to the cover of this because yes, I do judge a book by it's cover.
The book covers just get better and better all the time.
The book has chaos and turmoil ,hope,failures but perseverance. A strong faith message that I did enjoy reading. It was heartwarming to see Phin go from being a man of privilege who thought he was entitled to being down to earth and humbled after spending time with Luther.
The romance was sweet and gentle and OH MY.......
I thought all was lost in that romance but at the very end........ Let's just say get your tissues ready you're going to need them.
I really appreciate all the research the author put into this it always makes for an entertaining read.
Published January 5th 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
It takes a talented author that can write about more than one time period so effortlessly.
I will admit I was drawn to the cover of this because yes, I do judge a book by it's cover.
The book covers just get better and better all the time.
The book has chaos and turmoil ,hope,failures but perseverance. A strong faith message that I did enjoy reading. It was heartwarming to see Phin go from being a man of privilege who thought he was entitled to being down to earth and humbled after spending time with Luther.
The romance was sweet and gentle and OH MY.......
I thought all was lost in that romance but at the very end........ Let's just say get your tissues ready you're going to need them.
I really appreciate all the research the author put into this it always makes for an entertaining read.
Published January 5th 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
July 26, 2022
3.5 stars
Dreams of Savannah is a well written novel set in the Civil War time period. While I found myself loving the Southern setting and most of the characters, I never felt attachment to our main character, Cordelia and felt the book itself was a bit too long. I enjoyed some things and was not engaged with others. I enjoyed the side romances better than the primary couple in this story.
I think if you love the Civil War time period, southern settings and a lot of discussion involving the War itself, with an added Christian fiction romance, you would enjoy this.
About the book:
Cordelia Owens (Delia) is in love with Phineas Dunn (Phin) and is waiting for him to return from the war. Unfortunately, a tragic accident delays Phin’s return home to Delia and Delia’s world as she knows it has changed as she awaits his hopeful return.
What I liked:
- The faith content was beautiful. We had some great scriptures, prayers to God. My favorite 2 faith content pieces I highlighted are:
- “There you are, Lord. There you have always been. If I take on the wings of the morning and make my home in the sea, you are there.”
- “I’ve wanted, Father God, you know how I have. All my life, seeking that next great adventure. …… But I don’t want all that anymore, Lord. I just want to be in your shadow. Help me want what you want.”
- Luther and Salina - plus their corresponding relationships in the story. I found their characters much more engaging than Cordelia. I also loved his responses regarding slavery. Powerful statements. I could have read an entire book about Luther or Salina’s story and it would have probably been 5 stars. Loved them that much.
- Phin - I felt like he went through some very hard times and his journey was a challenging one. His character had more depth than Delia. He has a spiritual transformation and I loved it. I didn’t necessarily care about his relationship with Delia, it wasn’t anything special to me, but I liked him as a character and seeing his journey.
- The southern setting - we have descriptions of ball gowns and the language in this was great to listen to, it’s written in dialect so I recommend the audiobook because some of the words can be difficult to understand if written out. The narrator for this story did a fantastic job.
What I didn’t like:
- Cordelia - our main female character. She just wasn’t anything special that stood out to me. She wasn’t memorable and didn’t have the depth like many of the other characters. She also seemed like she was always not in touch with reality. She was “just fine” and there.
- The length of this book - I felt like this book could have been 50-100 pages shorter and it would have been fine. It was too long for me.
- While listening, I got bored with the war time discussions, historical details or what I will call “war/historical jargon” or “political intrigue”.
If you are someone who doesn’t like war details or war time periods, you probably wouldn’t enjoy this one as it is historically rich. I enjoy historical fiction reads, but this one just had me bored or drifting off from the narration sometimes. In general this book was just fine.
I enjoyed some of it and was bored in other parts. I felt like the story moved slowly and just wasn’t as invested or engaged as I have been with other Christian Historical Romance books. I think Roseanna M. White writes very well, definitely does her historical research for her books and I will read more of her books in the future.
Dreams of Savannah is a well written novel set in the Civil War time period. While I found myself loving the Southern setting and most of the characters, I never felt attachment to our main character, Cordelia and felt the book itself was a bit too long. I enjoyed some things and was not engaged with others. I enjoyed the side romances better than the primary couple in this story.
I think if you love the Civil War time period, southern settings and a lot of discussion involving the War itself, with an added Christian fiction romance, you would enjoy this.
About the book:
Cordelia Owens (Delia) is in love with Phineas Dunn (Phin) and is waiting for him to return from the war. Unfortunately, a tragic accident delays Phin’s return home to Delia and Delia’s world as she knows it has changed as she awaits his hopeful return.
What I liked:
- The faith content was beautiful. We had some great scriptures, prayers to God. My favorite 2 faith content pieces I highlighted are:
- “There you are, Lord. There you have always been. If I take on the wings of the morning and make my home in the sea, you are there.”
- “I’ve wanted, Father God, you know how I have. All my life, seeking that next great adventure. …… But I don’t want all that anymore, Lord. I just want to be in your shadow. Help me want what you want.”
- Luther and Salina - plus their corresponding relationships in the story. I found their characters much more engaging than Cordelia. I also loved his responses regarding slavery. Powerful statements. I could have read an entire book about Luther or Salina’s story and it would have probably been 5 stars. Loved them that much.
- Phin - I felt like he went through some very hard times and his journey was a challenging one. His character had more depth than Delia. He has a spiritual transformation and I loved it. I didn’t necessarily care about his relationship with Delia, it wasn’t anything special to me, but I liked him as a character and seeing his journey.
- The southern setting - we have descriptions of ball gowns and the language in this was great to listen to, it’s written in dialect so I recommend the audiobook because some of the words can be difficult to understand if written out. The narrator for this story did a fantastic job.
What I didn’t like:
- Cordelia - our main female character. She just wasn’t anything special that stood out to me. She wasn’t memorable and didn’t have the depth like many of the other characters. She also seemed like she was always not in touch with reality. She was “just fine” and there.
- The length of this book - I felt like this book could have been 50-100 pages shorter and it would have been fine. It was too long for me.
- While listening, I got bored with the war time discussions, historical details or what I will call “war/historical jargon” or “political intrigue”.
If you are someone who doesn’t like war details or war time periods, you probably wouldn’t enjoy this one as it is historically rich. I enjoy historical fiction reads, but this one just had me bored or drifting off from the narration sometimes. In general this book was just fine.
I enjoyed some of it and was bored in other parts. I felt like the story moved slowly and just wasn’t as invested or engaged as I have been with other Christian Historical Romance books. I think Roseanna M. White writes very well, definitely does her historical research for her books and I will read more of her books in the future.
July 23, 2022
I liked:
- the faith was really prominent
Bored/Didn't like:
- the characters especially Cordelia
- the writing...just too much description and not interesting to me
- the faith was really prominent
Bored/Didn't like:
- the characters especially Cordelia
- the writing...just too much description and not interesting to me
January 1, 2021
*Warnings*
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You'll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which will mean some spoilers, so watch out. #3—additional warning reserved only for this review—I’m trying something different. Again. We’ll just see how this works. Hopefully I can contain the stream of consciousness…
First Thoughts
I’ve had a lot of experience with Civil War era fiction, and not all of it has been good. As a born and bred Southern girl who comes from a long line of Crackers (aka, poor white trash) who picked cotton and fought for the Confederacy, my opinions on the Civil War are, shall we say, skewed. Because of that, I don’t see the war as everyone else sees—and writes—it. So I’m very picky about my antebellum, Civil War, or Restoration era fiction. I don’t want to read something that stereotypes Southerners as heartless, racist jerks, or something that glosses over slaves (and Crackers) to focus on a bunch of highfalutin Southern belles. I want the grit, the emotion, and the truth behind the war—not propaganda.
Therefore, I wasn’t too sure going into Dreams of Savannah. Everyone nowadays is very much a “Yankee,” regardless of where they live, so portraying all Southerners with including clichés is very difficult. I know I enjoyed reading White’s Circle of Spies, but if it’s not Gone with the Wind or Eugenia Price, I’m not interested.
Roseanna’s last novel, A Portrait of Loyalty, hadn’t particularly been my favorite and though I really like her last two series (Shadows Over England and The Codebreakers), something in her voice has changed. Her stories haven’t been the same.
That being said, I was very wary about DOS. I’ve found that when I’m wary about reading something, the book is pretty much fantastic. This is true for Dreams of Savannah.
We open with a ball just before the boys leave for war, and at first the story is light and our main girl, Cordelia, is daydreaming about her soon-to-be beau, Phineas Dunn. This doesn’t seem to leave a lot of room for grit, darkness, and a well-formed argument for the South, if you know know what I mean. Another belle of the ball and her adventurous, rich, pampered boyfriend. But you throw in a traitor or two and an Englishman? You got yo’self a story, dat’s what.
The Plot
In her earlier works (not including her biblical fiction; they’re on a whole ‘nother level), I could easily describe Roseanna as a “plot-driven” writer. Now, I’m not so sure. I’m beginning to see how she has a vague plot or an inciting incident that she employs on the first page, then a novel that’s carried to The End by the characters. This system has worked pretty well for her in the past—like with On Wings of Devotion, where in the aftermath of Ara’s abduction, not much happens that isn’t, well, drama.
However, I’m not sure if that’s the best way to go. For her previous books, we already knew the characters—like Camden, who we met in The Number of Love. The character has already be established and, at least a little bit, fleshed out. We understand from Page 1 why Camden kidnapped Ara, simply because we knew the sort of bloke he was. Right?
Not so for Dreams of Savannah. We’ve never met Cordelia or Phin before, so when we immediately dive into him leaving for war and Delia promising to wait for him, we’re not quite certain what kind of characters we’re dealing with. The main event of the plot is carried through ‘til about the halfway point, where we begin to see the characters (both main and secondary, like Delia’s dad, Julius James, etc.) use their drama skills to keep the story going. It’s not a bad idea, but I was left wondering halfway through, who are these guys? That left the rest of the novel kind of flat, I guess.
Still, I enjoyed the storyline. Roseanna stuck with a simple method—war + shipwreck + missing person + scoundrel for a cousin = happily ever after. She managed to stay away from politics and bloody fighting without glossing things over. She stayed true to the South, the Cause, and honor without conforming to the image most people today have of Southerners and Confederates (i.e., sexist, racist white jerks)—and that made for a very interesting, enjoyable read.
The Characters
Remember what I said about not really knowing who Phin and Delia were? Well, that’s what will keep this section pretty short. Phin is describe as adventurous, but he didn’t have much “screen time,” at least as his “old self.” His new self is even harder to pinpoint. I couldn’t get a definite read on his personality. He didn’t seem quiet or reserved, but he wasn’t necessarily talkative and outgoing. He wasn’t rakish, but he was apparently quite the catch. Not really an alpha male but not a beta either. *shrugs* He wasn’t a bad character, but let’s just say he won’t be added to my “Best Hero Ever” shelf.
As for Delia, I actually liked her. She’s not my type of heroine, I guess. She had a little more personality than Phin, but I would’ve liked the simple questions answered—not the difficult ones. It was easy to figure out that she liked people, was curious, and loved to dream. She’s optimistic, but also has a lot of deep-seated fears. But what kind of sister is she? Would she rather be gathering inspiration by socializing with her friends or putting it to paper holed up in her room? Why does she get along with everyone but not her mother? On that note, I would’ve liked to have seen more of her family, Phin’s included. Lacy was a great little sister until suddenly...she’s not. Ginny’s never present in the book. Delia’s relationships with her parents are, to say the least, crazy.
This is what I was saying. We jumped right into the plot, the story, without first coming to understand the main characters and what makes them tick.
Because of this, I really liked Salina and Luther more than Delia and Phin, and I would’ve loved to have seen more of them! Their motives and personalities were pretty clear, and they were so unique (or at least Luther was) and had more interesting storylines of their own.
I would’ve liked a lot more romance. Because Phin and Delia were all but engaged by the first chapter, their first kiss wasn’t all sparks and fire. The conflict surrounding them wasn’t as...conflicting as it would’ve been had they just met or fallen in love. As for Salina, her relationship with River just *poof* happened all of a sudden. I would’ve liked to have watched them fall in love, probably more so than Phin and Delia.
Luther was fabulous, though. A story about him and Eva when they met and fell in love would be SO AWESOME! He had a lot more personality than Phin did, in my opinion, and so seeing only a few scene here and there of him was kind of disappointing.
I was beyond happy when White put in four POVs. Her earlier series usually included four—from the villain to the two love interests to the “other guy,” whether that be the villain’s accomplice or the third point in a love triangle. Even though Phin and Delia weren’t the best characters, Luther and Salina more than made up for it!
The Subject
Speaking of romance, I’m not entirely certain Roseanna was going for a romance when she wrote Dreams of Savannah. Most romance writers don’t dare go for the story where the characters have already fallen in love and everything seems on the fast track to success. The first kiss and meet cute are almost always nonexistent, and that’s pretty much what makes a romance. Because of the way White wrote this book, I’d probably be more inclined to call it just plain historical fiction than a romance.
Without a doubt, it’s more philosophical than anything. And I appreciate that. When one pays too much attention to romance or action, one misses the depth of it all. White’s always been a very thoughtful writer, and even if I may not agree with all of her opinions, I like that she’s not afraid to express them in her writing and carefully craft characters who discover those thoughts and opinions for themselves. It makes the story that much more authentic.
I was so terrified that the Civil War was going to be presented as a bunch of heartless white men fighting for slavery and a group of patriots fighting against it. However, White was very mindful of the Confederates’ and the Union’s true agendas, that the war wasn’t just about slavery—that it was a war of honor. She tackled that subject so well and portrayed Phin’s change without a hitch. Instead of embracing racial equality with unrealistically open arms, he struggled with his views and what he’d been taught, without being a jerk. Make sense? I think the transition was really good. It’s difficult to pull off a realistic transition into anything in fiction, so I more than appreciate the care White put into writing that aspect of Phin’s story.
The Prose
I’ve always loved White’s prose. Her style is unique without being overly so, if you know what I mean. I’d actually say she’s got two separate voices—the one she’s used for her Shadows Over England and Codebreakers series, and the one she’s used for everything else.
The latter has visibly grown since A Stray Drop of Blood debuted in 2009, but it has always retained its sense of balance—between emotion, action, dialogue, and narrative. The flow has always been measured and even, not quite melodic but not at all choppy. Perfect, you could say.
The first, her “new” voice, is choppy and abrupt, like a clipped London accent. Her one or two word sentences make for a sudden jar—not an unpleasant one. An emotional one. I like both styles. I’ve tried them both in my own writing, and I’ve seen where they fit certain characters and situations better than others.
But...I’m really glad she reverted back to her voice. Maybe it’s because she wrote Dreams of Savannah years ago, in 2011, or maybe it’s because she saw that her American accent (not the clipped London one) fit well for her Georgia girls and boys.
Speaking of Georgia, can I just say that I LOVE my state? I know nothing’s perfect (and Georgia certainly isn’t), but DOS release day also happens to be the date for the run-off election for senate, so...prophesy, maybe? For those of y’all who enjoyed (or think they will enjoy) Dreams of Savannah, I HIGHLY recommend reading Eugenia Price’s Savannah. You’ll suddenly understand why Delia dreams of Savannah once you read Price’s take on this historic port.
Long Story Short…
To summarize, Dreams of Savannah wasn’t a perfect book. But it was a perfect reading experience. Not only was I uncertain about White’s novels, I was also uncertain if I could get sucked into anything again. I haven’t been reading like I should (or used to, that is), and I’ve had to force myself to get through some things, so I wasn’t certain if I’d be able to breeze through Dreams of Savannah. (Was it possible that *gasp* I was coming to not love reading as much as before?) But then I got sucked in, page by page, until I was walking around with my face in this book and putting up with the sun through the trees whilst riding in the car just to finish one more chapter. You know how it is.
The highlights of DOS are definitely Luther and Salina and the way White wove everything together like a dream. It could have been better, and Delia and Phin could’ve had more personality—or just more. Maybe the book should have been longer to allow their characters more…“fleshiness.” But…(there’s always a but, you know)…it was worth it. I enjoyed it, I really did. And if you were to ask me if I’d read it all over again, I would. Would I recommend it? I would. Would I rate it five stars?
Yeah. I would.
BookWorm
Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed above are my own.
Obviously.
PS: I think I actually managed to contain the stream of consciousness this time! Hooray!
#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You'll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which will mean some spoilers, so watch out. #3—additional warning reserved only for this review—I’m trying something different. Again. We’ll just see how this works. Hopefully I can contain the stream of consciousness…
First Thoughts
I’ve had a lot of experience with Civil War era fiction, and not all of it has been good. As a born and bred Southern girl who comes from a long line of Crackers (aka, poor white trash) who picked cotton and fought for the Confederacy, my opinions on the Civil War are, shall we say, skewed. Because of that, I don’t see the war as everyone else sees—and writes—it. So I’m very picky about my antebellum, Civil War, or Restoration era fiction. I don’t want to read something that stereotypes Southerners as heartless, racist jerks, or something that glosses over slaves (and Crackers) to focus on a bunch of highfalutin Southern belles. I want the grit, the emotion, and the truth behind the war—not propaganda.
Therefore, I wasn’t too sure going into Dreams of Savannah. Everyone nowadays is very much a “Yankee,” regardless of where they live, so portraying all Southerners with including clichés is very difficult. I know I enjoyed reading White’s Circle of Spies, but if it’s not Gone with the Wind or Eugenia Price, I’m not interested.
Roseanna’s last novel, A Portrait of Loyalty, hadn’t particularly been my favorite and though I really like her last two series (Shadows Over England and The Codebreakers), something in her voice has changed. Her stories haven’t been the same.
That being said, I was very wary about DOS. I’ve found that when I’m wary about reading something, the book is pretty much fantastic. This is true for Dreams of Savannah.
We open with a ball just before the boys leave for war, and at first the story is light and our main girl, Cordelia, is daydreaming about her soon-to-be beau, Phineas Dunn. This doesn’t seem to leave a lot of room for grit, darkness, and a well-formed argument for the South, if you know know what I mean. Another belle of the ball and her adventurous, rich, pampered boyfriend. But you throw in a traitor or two and an Englishman? You got yo’self a story, dat’s what.
The Plot
In her earlier works (not including her biblical fiction; they’re on a whole ‘nother level), I could easily describe Roseanna as a “plot-driven” writer. Now, I’m not so sure. I’m beginning to see how she has a vague plot or an inciting incident that she employs on the first page, then a novel that’s carried to The End by the characters. This system has worked pretty well for her in the past—like with On Wings of Devotion, where in the aftermath of Ara’s abduction, not much happens that isn’t, well, drama.
However, I’m not sure if that’s the best way to go. For her previous books, we already knew the characters—like Camden, who we met in The Number of Love. The character has already be established and, at least a little bit, fleshed out. We understand from Page 1 why Camden kidnapped Ara, simply because we knew the sort of bloke he was. Right?
Not so for Dreams of Savannah. We’ve never met Cordelia or Phin before, so when we immediately dive into him leaving for war and Delia promising to wait for him, we’re not quite certain what kind of characters we’re dealing with. The main event of the plot is carried through ‘til about the halfway point, where we begin to see the characters (both main and secondary, like Delia’s dad, Julius James, etc.) use their drama skills to keep the story going. It’s not a bad idea, but I was left wondering halfway through, who are these guys? That left the rest of the novel kind of flat, I guess.
Still, I enjoyed the storyline. Roseanna stuck with a simple method—war + shipwreck + missing person + scoundrel for a cousin = happily ever after. She managed to stay away from politics and bloody fighting without glossing things over. She stayed true to the South, the Cause, and honor without conforming to the image most people today have of Southerners and Confederates (i.e., sexist, racist white jerks)—and that made for a very interesting, enjoyable read.
The Characters
Remember what I said about not really knowing who Phin and Delia were? Well, that’s what will keep this section pretty short. Phin is describe as adventurous, but he didn’t have much “screen time,” at least as his “old self.” His new self is even harder to pinpoint. I couldn’t get a definite read on his personality. He didn’t seem quiet or reserved, but he wasn’t necessarily talkative and outgoing. He wasn’t rakish, but he was apparently quite the catch. Not really an alpha male but not a beta either. *shrugs* He wasn’t a bad character, but let’s just say he won’t be added to my “Best Hero Ever” shelf.
As for Delia, I actually liked her. She’s not my type of heroine, I guess. She had a little more personality than Phin, but I would’ve liked the simple questions answered—not the difficult ones. It was easy to figure out that she liked people, was curious, and loved to dream. She’s optimistic, but also has a lot of deep-seated fears. But what kind of sister is she? Would she rather be gathering inspiration by socializing with her friends or putting it to paper holed up in her room? Why does she get along with everyone but not her mother? On that note, I would’ve liked to have seen more of her family, Phin’s included. Lacy was a great little sister until suddenly...she’s not. Ginny’s never present in the book. Delia’s relationships with her parents are, to say the least, crazy.
This is what I was saying. We jumped right into the plot, the story, without first coming to understand the main characters and what makes them tick.
Because of this, I really liked Salina and Luther more than Delia and Phin, and I would’ve loved to have seen more of them! Their motives and personalities were pretty clear, and they were so unique (or at least Luther was) and had more interesting storylines of their own.
I would’ve liked a lot more romance. Because Phin and Delia were all but engaged by the first chapter, their first kiss wasn’t all sparks and fire. The conflict surrounding them wasn’t as...conflicting as it would’ve been had they just met or fallen in love. As for Salina, her relationship with River just *poof* happened all of a sudden. I would’ve liked to have watched them fall in love, probably more so than Phin and Delia.
Luther was fabulous, though. A story about him and Eva when they met and fell in love would be SO AWESOME! He had a lot more personality than Phin did, in my opinion, and so seeing only a few scene here and there of him was kind of disappointing.
I was beyond happy when White put in four POVs. Her earlier series usually included four—from the villain to the two love interests to the “other guy,” whether that be the villain’s accomplice or the third point in a love triangle. Even though Phin and Delia weren’t the best characters, Luther and Salina more than made up for it!
The Subject
Speaking of romance, I’m not entirely certain Roseanna was going for a romance when she wrote Dreams of Savannah. Most romance writers don’t dare go for the story where the characters have already fallen in love and everything seems on the fast track to success. The first kiss and meet cute are almost always nonexistent, and that’s pretty much what makes a romance. Because of the way White wrote this book, I’d probably be more inclined to call it just plain historical fiction than a romance.
Without a doubt, it’s more philosophical than anything. And I appreciate that. When one pays too much attention to romance or action, one misses the depth of it all. White’s always been a very thoughtful writer, and even if I may not agree with all of her opinions, I like that she’s not afraid to express them in her writing and carefully craft characters who discover those thoughts and opinions for themselves. It makes the story that much more authentic.
I was so terrified that the Civil War was going to be presented as a bunch of heartless white men fighting for slavery and a group of patriots fighting against it. However, White was very mindful of the Confederates’ and the Union’s true agendas, that the war wasn’t just about slavery—that it was a war of honor. She tackled that subject so well and portrayed Phin’s change without a hitch. Instead of embracing racial equality with unrealistically open arms, he struggled with his views and what he’d been taught, without being a jerk. Make sense? I think the transition was really good. It’s difficult to pull off a realistic transition into anything in fiction, so I more than appreciate the care White put into writing that aspect of Phin’s story.
The Prose
I’ve always loved White’s prose. Her style is unique without being overly so, if you know what I mean. I’d actually say she’s got two separate voices—the one she’s used for her Shadows Over England and Codebreakers series, and the one she’s used for everything else.
The latter has visibly grown since A Stray Drop of Blood debuted in 2009, but it has always retained its sense of balance—between emotion, action, dialogue, and narrative. The flow has always been measured and even, not quite melodic but not at all choppy. Perfect, you could say.
The first, her “new” voice, is choppy and abrupt, like a clipped London accent. Her one or two word sentences make for a sudden jar—not an unpleasant one. An emotional one. I like both styles. I’ve tried them both in my own writing, and I’ve seen where they fit certain characters and situations better than others.
But...I’m really glad she reverted back to her voice. Maybe it’s because she wrote Dreams of Savannah years ago, in 2011, or maybe it’s because she saw that her American accent (not the clipped London one) fit well for her Georgia girls and boys.
Speaking of Georgia, can I just say that I LOVE my state? I know nothing’s perfect (and Georgia certainly isn’t), but DOS release day also happens to be the date for the run-off election for senate, so...prophesy, maybe? For those of y’all who enjoyed (or think they will enjoy) Dreams of Savannah, I HIGHLY recommend reading Eugenia Price’s Savannah. You’ll suddenly understand why Delia dreams of Savannah once you read Price’s take on this historic port.
Long Story Short…
To summarize, Dreams of Savannah wasn’t a perfect book. But it was a perfect reading experience. Not only was I uncertain about White’s novels, I was also uncertain if I could get sucked into anything again. I haven’t been reading like I should (or used to, that is), and I’ve had to force myself to get through some things, so I wasn’t certain if I’d be able to breeze through Dreams of Savannah. (Was it possible that *gasp* I was coming to not love reading as much as before?) But then I got sucked in, page by page, until I was walking around with my face in this book and putting up with the sun through the trees whilst riding in the car just to finish one more chapter. You know how it is.
The highlights of DOS are definitely Luther and Salina and the way White wove everything together like a dream. It could have been better, and Delia and Phin could’ve had more personality—or just more. Maybe the book should have been longer to allow their characters more…“fleshiness.” But…(there’s always a but, you know)…it was worth it. I enjoyed it, I really did. And if you were to ask me if I’d read it all over again, I would. Would I recommend it? I would. Would I rate it five stars?
Yeah. I would.
BookWorm
Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed above are my own.
Obviously.
PS: I think I actually managed to contain the stream of consciousness this time! Hooray!
January 4, 2021
This story has all the elements of a fairytale set amid the Civil War. Damsels in distress , a dastardly villain and a flawed hero who returns in time to save the day.
I liked Cordelia Owens from the start. She is not quite the perfect Southern Belle. She has a vivid imagination and writes stories to help keep folks entertained during a dark time in our history. “We need happy stories in the midst of trials. They keep us going . Remind us of what we are struggling for.”
I could say the same for the purpose of Christian Fiction, and this book fits the bill nicely.
Delia comes to realize that all people have a story to tell and she seeks to help them tell it. “Stories of heartbreak and injustice, sometimes. Stories of love and family, always. Stories of redemption and sacrifice, more often than not. Stories of humanity. Stories that had changed her as she heard them, as she wrote them.”
Phineas Dunn is off to war after Delia promises to wait for him. Crisis comes and he finds himself recovering far from home. Luther Bromley, an English free black preacher in search of his kidnapped wife, Eva, nurses Phin back to health. Phin’s flagging faith is rekindled and he searches his soul on the position of slavery.
This is so much more that a great story. It is one to make you ponder a person’s role in this world, and how we can follow God’s purpose for us.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
I liked Cordelia Owens from the start. She is not quite the perfect Southern Belle. She has a vivid imagination and writes stories to help keep folks entertained during a dark time in our history. “We need happy stories in the midst of trials. They keep us going . Remind us of what we are struggling for.”
I could say the same for the purpose of Christian Fiction, and this book fits the bill nicely.
Delia comes to realize that all people have a story to tell and she seeks to help them tell it. “Stories of heartbreak and injustice, sometimes. Stories of love and family, always. Stories of redemption and sacrifice, more often than not. Stories of humanity. Stories that had changed her as she heard them, as she wrote them.”
Phineas Dunn is off to war after Delia promises to wait for him. Crisis comes and he finds himself recovering far from home. Luther Bromley, an English free black preacher in search of his kidnapped wife, Eva, nurses Phin back to health. Phin’s flagging faith is rekindled and he searches his soul on the position of slavery.
This is so much more that a great story. It is one to make you ponder a person’s role in this world, and how we can follow God’s purpose for us.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
July 19, 2022
3⭐️ (maybe lower? We’ll see)
I’m not the audience for this book as I do not like books set in real historical war and this had a complete war-time focus.
If you like wartime books, you’ll probably love this!
I like Luther though…
Also, I felt a bit like this book was tooooo looong 🤷🏼♀️
I’m not the audience for this book as I do not like books set in real historical war and this had a complete war-time focus.
If you like wartime books, you’ll probably love this!
I like Luther though…
Also, I felt a bit like this book was tooooo looong 🤷🏼♀️
December 31, 2020
4.5 stars
"Cordelia bolted upright in her bed . . . . What a terrible dream. Hissing flames and acres of water, darkness pressing in on every side. Then - what had it been? More water. A storm. Something bad, something dangerous. Pain, searing and throbbing. Then the gritty taste of sand in her mouth."
Troubled by re-occurring dreams after her barely intended young suitor, Phineas Dunn, takes to the seas on behalf of the Confederate Navy, Cordelia Owens is terrified that Phin has experienced life-threatening circumstances. Living in their Savannah, Georgia home while Yankee troops encroach closer and closer along the coast, Cordelia's family encourages her to pursue a match with a wealthy cousin whose attentions Cordelia continues to spurn. Using her gift of story-telling , Delia chooses to regale Phin's family with her combinations of delightful words, conjuring up grand adventures before his eventual return as a celebrated hero. Thankfully for everyone, Phin does return home, but as an entirely different type of hero than Delia could have ever imagined.
"The water enfolded him, warm as a dream, and silenced the thunder of traitors."
When a mutiny aboard his ship goes terribly awry, Phineas Dunn finds himself sinking to the bottom of the sea, his last thoughts being those of a beautiful blonde belle promising to wait for him, forever. He can only pray that it won't take that long. Washed up upon an unfamiliar shore, barely clinging to life, Phin is at the mercy of an imposing black British freedman, Luther Bromley, whose search for his beloved wife had stalled on this remote Cuban island. Luther has the means to give Phin aid, but he asks a nearly impossible favor in return.
Ushering in a panoramic view of the complexities of the Civil War's impact upon the South, "Dreams of Savannah" debates the moral issues of the day using the thoughts, dreams and actions of its characters as a landscape. And what wonderful characters they turn out to be; each allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to mold their thoughts and intentions, while wielding the sword of courage and carrying the banner of compassion. Phin and Cordelia allow their less than ideal circumstances to change them for the better, so that they too might echo those words hummed that day along the sandy shore, "O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come. Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home."
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
"Cordelia bolted upright in her bed . . . . What a terrible dream. Hissing flames and acres of water, darkness pressing in on every side. Then - what had it been? More water. A storm. Something bad, something dangerous. Pain, searing and throbbing. Then the gritty taste of sand in her mouth."
Troubled by re-occurring dreams after her barely intended young suitor, Phineas Dunn, takes to the seas on behalf of the Confederate Navy, Cordelia Owens is terrified that Phin has experienced life-threatening circumstances. Living in their Savannah, Georgia home while Yankee troops encroach closer and closer along the coast, Cordelia's family encourages her to pursue a match with a wealthy cousin whose attentions Cordelia continues to spurn. Using her gift of story-telling , Delia chooses to regale Phin's family with her combinations of delightful words, conjuring up grand adventures before his eventual return as a celebrated hero. Thankfully for everyone, Phin does return home, but as an entirely different type of hero than Delia could have ever imagined.
"The water enfolded him, warm as a dream, and silenced the thunder of traitors."
When a mutiny aboard his ship goes terribly awry, Phineas Dunn finds himself sinking to the bottom of the sea, his last thoughts being those of a beautiful blonde belle promising to wait for him, forever. He can only pray that it won't take that long. Washed up upon an unfamiliar shore, barely clinging to life, Phin is at the mercy of an imposing black British freedman, Luther Bromley, whose search for his beloved wife had stalled on this remote Cuban island. Luther has the means to give Phin aid, but he asks a nearly impossible favor in return.
Ushering in a panoramic view of the complexities of the Civil War's impact upon the South, "Dreams of Savannah" debates the moral issues of the day using the thoughts, dreams and actions of its characters as a landscape. And what wonderful characters they turn out to be; each allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to mold their thoughts and intentions, while wielding the sword of courage and carrying the banner of compassion. Phin and Cordelia allow their less than ideal circumstances to change them for the better, so that they too might echo those words hummed that day along the sandy shore, "O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come. Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home."
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
June 5, 2021
Dreams of Savannah was my first Roseanna M. White book, and as the stars suggest, I liked it. Immensely.
I wasn't sure what to expect, of course, except that it would be more of a romance... and then it wasn't really, I found out, and perhaps that made me like it even more. To be sure, it dealt with love between a man and a woman - this story belongs to them in many ways. But I was surprised with how rich it was in other themes besides the romance, woven into their lives both individually and as a couple. This was to me a very complete book, exploring hearts and minds that grappled candidly with the Civil War, and with the entwined issues of duty and slavery. Yet also, in the midst of the larger conflict and harsher realities, we learn what it means to love truly and honestly, to respond in the face disappointment and bitterness, to see people for who they are... in the pages of this beautifully-crafted book, in more ways than these, we learn in a fresh way what it means to live well.
I would be pleased to own a bound copy of this lovely book on my shelf. It's a worthy contribution to the world of books... at least, I found it so : )
I wasn't sure what to expect, of course, except that it would be more of a romance... and then it wasn't really, I found out, and perhaps that made me like it even more. To be sure, it dealt with love between a man and a woman - this story belongs to them in many ways. But I was surprised with how rich it was in other themes besides the romance, woven into their lives both individually and as a couple. This was to me a very complete book, exploring hearts and minds that grappled candidly with the Civil War, and with the entwined issues of duty and slavery. Yet also, in the midst of the larger conflict and harsher realities, we learn what it means to love truly and honestly, to respond in the face disappointment and bitterness, to see people for who they are... in the pages of this beautifully-crafted book, in more ways than these, we learn in a fresh way what it means to live well.
I would be pleased to own a bound copy of this lovely book on my shelf. It's a worthy contribution to the world of books... at least, I found it so : )
January 5, 2021
Roseanna White's books always find their way to the top of my TBR and this should be no exception. I found this book to be very different from her other books, yet still at the high standard, if not higher, that her readers expect. To me a sign of a great author is that they can shift to different historical settings or genres with ease. This stirring tale is a satisfying blend of a fast-moving plot filled with danger and a developing romance that will satisfy every romantic heart.
Under White's skillful pen, it is the individual spiritual journeys that the hero and heroine undertake that is centerstage, as they face moral dilemmas that questions their way of life. As the foundation of their world is crumbling, they each learn to rely on God's will, guiding them to make a difference in the lives of others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Under White's skillful pen, it is the individual spiritual journeys that the hero and heroine undertake that is centerstage, as they face moral dilemmas that questions their way of life. As the foundation of their world is crumbling, they each learn to rely on God's will, guiding them to make a difference in the lives of others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 1, 2021
Everything about this book was so extraordinarily brilliant. The characters, the romances, the arcs, the themes... GAH. Roseanna’s done it again. However, the main thing that stuck out to me was the whimsy. The color. The vibrancy. The magic. Somehow, someway, Roseanna was 100% able to make Savannah both real & whimsical at the same time.
I so recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes history, anti-slavery, whimsy, romance and just a hint of sparkle. ;)
Thx to Roseanna & Bethany House for the bookie. All thoughts expressed are my own.
I so recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes history, anti-slavery, whimsy, romance and just a hint of sparkle. ;)
Thx to Roseanna & Bethany House for the bookie. All thoughts expressed are my own.
September 12, 2021
1861-1862 Georgia
This novel started off a little slow for me, but once it captured my interest, I was turning pages.
Southern Belle Cordelia is a bit different from the norm with her love of reading and propensity to create stories. She's madly in love with Phineas Dunn.
There were a couple of secondary story lines that were as compelling as the main one.
Another winner by the talented Roseanna M White.
This novel started off a little slow for me, but once it captured my interest, I was turning pages.
Southern Belle Cordelia is a bit different from the norm with her love of reading and propensity to create stories. She's madly in love with Phineas Dunn.
There were a couple of secondary story lines that were as compelling as the main one.
Another winner by the talented Roseanna M White.
January 2, 2021
Dreams of Savannah had a good message in the book, and I enjoy watching characters grow throughout a book-especially as they come of age. The main characters need to grow in this book so that was nice to see. I also liked the morals portrayed in this book...the fact that we are all people that have a story, all equal in wanting freedom to pursue love and dreams.
The leering and untrustworthy men that are in the story...and their stories made for a difficult book to read. It makes it hard to dwell on the book once it is finished. Will the meaning of the message of the book and what the main characters learned throughout the book outweigh the constant difficult subject of untrustworthy, unfaithful men harassing women? I’m honestly not sure. I do know that occurred, but it felt as if that outweighed the love in the story. I’m hoping as I process this book that the good will outweigh the bad...and that perhaps I can put it on my forever shelves to reread or loan.
I did like the way the difficulties were fleshed out as to Confederate verses Union. Not everyone fought for the same purpose. That was a portrait that was well painted in this book. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and I found their stories just as interesting. The plot was well done, and the story very well written and researched.
The faith theme is very strong in this book, and it is probably what I liked most about the book-scriptures quoted, scriptures that affected the characters actions and heart, and scripture that had an effectual change.
The Civil War is something I’ve always seen both sides. My parents are Yankees, and from a place with very strong Union ties. I grew up in a place that has Southern ties and sympathies. The author handled the difficulties of the Civil War very well...I’m still thinking through somethings in the story. Though the back states it’s a “glowing love story” ...it is really much more than that...and much that has nothing to do with love at all. It gives the reader much to ponder, but a couple subjects are things that are difficult to ponder. It is not at all graphic, but it is definitely a book with adult themes.
This author produces thought inspiring books. This one is no different.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The leering and untrustworthy men that are in the story...and their stories made for a difficult book to read. It makes it hard to dwell on the book once it is finished. Will the meaning of the message of the book and what the main characters learned throughout the book outweigh the constant difficult subject of untrustworthy, unfaithful men harassing women? I’m honestly not sure. I do know that occurred, but it felt as if that outweighed the love in the story. I’m hoping as I process this book that the good will outweigh the bad...and that perhaps I can put it on my forever shelves to reread or loan.
I did like the way the difficulties were fleshed out as to Confederate verses Union. Not everyone fought for the same purpose. That was a portrait that was well painted in this book. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and I found their stories just as interesting. The plot was well done, and the story very well written and researched.
The faith theme is very strong in this book, and it is probably what I liked most about the book-scriptures quoted, scriptures that affected the characters actions and heart, and scripture that had an effectual change.
The Civil War is something I’ve always seen both sides. My parents are Yankees, and from a place with very strong Union ties. I grew up in a place that has Southern ties and sympathies. The author handled the difficulties of the Civil War very well...I’m still thinking through somethings in the story. Though the back states it’s a “glowing love story” ...it is really much more than that...and much that has nothing to do with love at all. It gives the reader much to ponder, but a couple subjects are things that are difficult to ponder. It is not at all graphic, but it is definitely a book with adult themes.
This author produces thought inspiring books. This one is no different.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2021
To preface my review, I'll admit that I was born and raised in New York and have spent less than three weeks of my entire life south of the Mason-Dixon line and in anything related to the Civil War have a strong Northern bias. I've also been making concerted efforts in the past year to become more aware of and involved in issues of social justice, so I'm probably extra sensitive currently to anything race-related. I'm also a character-driven reader, so if you don't give me characters I can love, I'm probably not going to like your book. So, with that background, I might not be the author's ideal audience for a book where the main characters are slave owners during the Civil War, but having quite enjoyed all of Roseanna M. White's previous books, I was eagerly awaiting the chance to read Dreams of Savannah. Unfortunately, I didn't like it at all.
Not only did I not love ANY of the characters, but I struggled to even find someone I LIKED. At the outset of the book, when I didn't really like either Cordelia or Phin, I hoped that they'd enough growth throughout the book that I'd come to like them. They DID grow somewhat (not enough, in my opinion), but it also came really slowly (particularly for Cordelia). While the slow growth and awareness of enslaved people actually BEING human beings. with hopes and dreams and talents beyond forced servitude might be realistic, it was torturous to read.
There honestly were times that I felt sick to my stomach as Phin expressed thoughts such as slavery nothing being "a situation his family particularly liked but there was nothing they could do about it" or Cordelia's treatment of Salina (whom she's supposed to care for so much--but whose true well-being she doesn't really consider very often) and things such as (even at the end of the book, when she has supposedly had some growth), asking Luther, a black minister, who has just been reunited with his wife, who had been illegally kidnapped and enslaved, to pray for her father--the same father who forced Salina's mother to be his mistress and is adamantly pro-slavery. Cordelia's first thought, even at the end of the book, is always for HERSELF and her family, not for the people who have been enslaved and oppressed.
And Phin, even though he has experienced some growth as well, at the end of the book still remains more concerned about his sense of honor and defends his cause by telling Luther not to "make the mistake of thinking the Yankees are any fairer toward your people than Southerners are. They might oppose slavery, but they don't consider you equals." Um, I will readily admit that Northerners had a LONG way to go toward treating blacks equally, but to equate Northern treatment with Southern slavery is wrong, and if your way of life includes enslaving others, you need to change it--and it's really difficult to like characters who can't see that.
Secondary characters weren't any better; Cordelia's parents and sister Lacy were awful. Even Salina, who serves as Cordelia's "maid" seems to exist just to support Cordelia--she cares more about Cordelia staying "innocent" and not realizing that they share a father and helping her than about her own well-being. (It was a little easier to read Salina's POV, considering she'd been oppressed her whole life, than Cordelia's ignorance, which came from her being a spoiled little princess, but it was still hard to her sacrificing herself instead of fighting for herself).
So, I reiterate that I didn't like this book at all. Maybe the author's intent was to share a message that she wrote in the author's note at the end: "There were heroes--and villains--on both sides of the conflict. Most of all, there were people. People, as Cordelia discovered, with stories to tell." However, given that many of the people involved in the conflict--and even their descendants today--weren't allowed to share their stories, I found it to be insensitive to racial and social issues in our day. A story about a couple of Southern white people who sorta-kinda start to see that slavery might be wrong isn't the sort of book that I think the world needs now or that I can recommend to anyone.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Not only did I not love ANY of the characters, but I struggled to even find someone I LIKED. At the outset of the book, when I didn't really like either Cordelia or Phin, I hoped that they'd enough growth throughout the book that I'd come to like them. They DID grow somewhat (not enough, in my opinion), but it also came really slowly (particularly for Cordelia). While the slow growth and awareness of enslaved people actually BEING human beings. with hopes and dreams and talents beyond forced servitude might be realistic, it was torturous to read.
There honestly were times that I felt sick to my stomach as Phin expressed thoughts such as slavery nothing being "a situation his family particularly liked but there was nothing they could do about it" or Cordelia's treatment of Salina (whom she's supposed to care for so much--but whose true well-being she doesn't really consider very often) and things such as (even at the end of the book, when she has supposedly had some growth), asking Luther, a black minister, who has just been reunited with his wife, who had been illegally kidnapped and enslaved, to pray for her father--the same father who forced Salina's mother to be his mistress and is adamantly pro-slavery. Cordelia's first thought, even at the end of the book, is always for HERSELF and her family, not for the people who have been enslaved and oppressed.
And Phin, even though he has experienced some growth as well, at the end of the book still remains more concerned about his sense of honor and defends his cause by telling Luther not to "make the mistake of thinking the Yankees are any fairer toward your people than Southerners are. They might oppose slavery, but they don't consider you equals." Um, I will readily admit that Northerners had a LONG way to go toward treating blacks equally, but to equate Northern treatment with Southern slavery is wrong, and if your way of life includes enslaving others, you need to change it--and it's really difficult to like characters who can't see that.
Secondary characters weren't any better; Cordelia's parents and sister Lacy were awful. Even Salina, who serves as Cordelia's "maid" seems to exist just to support Cordelia--she cares more about Cordelia staying "innocent" and not realizing that they share a father and helping her than about her own well-being. (It was a little easier to read Salina's POV, considering she'd been oppressed her whole life, than Cordelia's ignorance, which came from her being a spoiled little princess, but it was still hard to her sacrificing herself instead of fighting for herself).
So, I reiterate that I didn't like this book at all. Maybe the author's intent was to share a message that she wrote in the author's note at the end: "There were heroes--and villains--on both sides of the conflict. Most of all, there were people. People, as Cordelia discovered, with stories to tell." However, given that many of the people involved in the conflict--and even their descendants today--weren't allowed to share their stories, I found it to be insensitive to racial and social issues in our day. A story about a couple of Southern white people who sorta-kinda start to see that slavery might be wrong isn't the sort of book that I think the world needs now or that I can recommend to anyone.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 21, 2022
Well written, likeable characters that I was rooting for. Luther was my favorite. His faith was inspiring. I loved how Cordelia told her stories. The ball scene had me on the edge of my seat!
February 24, 2021
“There’s only one man’s blood in all of history that can make us better than we are—and you are not Him.”
I don’t believe, of all the books I’ve read by Roseanna M. White, that I haven’t enjoyed even one. Somewhat strange way of saying I really like this author.
Switching from her novels set in England to Civil War in Savannah, GA, Ms. White hit this one out of the park. History, romance, conflict, and growth in the main characters were central, and sooooo well done.
I felt Cordelia (Delia) Owens was quite unique; making up stories to entertain and brighten the lives of all around her, even in the midst of a terrible war and loss. What a fun young lady.
And her love for Phineas (Phin) Dunn? Oh my! And his love for her? Yes...oh my! They were separated by war and tragedy, yet even when he came home, family obligations and expectations meant they rarely saw each other, but their love only grew.
Delia's parents wanted her to marry well, but the cousin they chose for her? Well, the only "Oh my" involved here would have included head-shaking and cringing.
The story was delightful. Luther Bromley, a free-born, well educated, black man from England was my favorite character. What a wonderful addition to this story. Then there’s Salina and River with their separate struggles... also an amazing part of the storyline.
Sometimes the faith content was somewhat generic (God instead of Christ), but other times it was so poignant, heartfelt and true to the Word of God that I wanted to just bask in the moments and enjoy their conversations.
Good book I did not want to put down.
I don’t believe, of all the books I’ve read by Roseanna M. White, that I haven’t enjoyed even one. Somewhat strange way of saying I really like this author.
Switching from her novels set in England to Civil War in Savannah, GA, Ms. White hit this one out of the park. History, romance, conflict, and growth in the main characters were central, and sooooo well done.
I felt Cordelia (Delia) Owens was quite unique; making up stories to entertain and brighten the lives of all around her, even in the midst of a terrible war and loss. What a fun young lady.
And her love for Phineas (Phin) Dunn? Oh my! And his love for her? Yes...oh my! They were separated by war and tragedy, yet even when he came home, family obligations and expectations meant they rarely saw each other, but their love only grew.
Delia's parents wanted her to marry well, but the cousin they chose for her? Well, the only "Oh my" involved here would have included head-shaking and cringing.
The story was delightful. Luther Bromley, a free-born, well educated, black man from England was my favorite character. What a wonderful addition to this story. Then there’s Salina and River with their separate struggles... also an amazing part of the storyline.
Sometimes the faith content was somewhat generic (God instead of Christ), but other times it was so poignant, heartfelt and true to the Word of God that I wanted to just bask in the moments and enjoy their conversations.
Good book I did not want to put down.
February 23, 2021
An amazing story! Delia and Phin's love story runs a long course, fraught with danger amid the civil war in Savannah, Georgia.
January 13, 2021
tw // rape and sexual violence
This was an interesting book! I have read many of Roseanna's books before (and have even met her in person once!) and loved them, so I was excited to read her new release. It was very different from her previous books, and while this one was also good, it wasn't my favorite.
First of all, this book was set in the Civil War era, in the Confederate states. The main characters, Cordelia and Phineas, are members of two families who own slaves/plantations, who have liked each other since before the book started, and get into an "understanding" fairly early on into the book. Since Phineas, or Phin as he likes to be known, is a Confederate soldier, most of this book details the time that they are apart, and the individual struggles and growth that they go through.
With that premise, it makes sense that this book is very white focused: both Cordelia and Phineas have slaves (although they call them servants), and despite being more open to the fact that black people aren't merely animals, they still treat their servants as below them for the vast majority of the book, which is my main concern with this book. Despite the main characters being more sympathetic to the black people working for them, they still treat them in a "less than" fashion. With that, I did like the parts of the book narrated by the black people in the story, as well as their portrayals in general: as the story develops, the humanity of the black people comes to light. Although I understood why this story was told the way it was, I'm kind of wondering what a black reader would feel like reading this book.
Moreover, this book felt quite "preachy" for a lot of it. There were a lot of "spontaneous" sermon-conversations, a la characters randomly breaking into song during a musical. There were some really /interesting/ conversations meant as "the message" that was intended to be conveyed, such as one at the beginning where Phineas asked a tall black man, essentially, "if you weren't made to work in the fields, why do you look like that?" Again, as the story progresses, both the main characters (as well as some of the white side characters) begin to learn the value and importance of black people, which somehow wasn't really made clear in the beginning? As someone who is not black, I can't say whether or not that is a fair portrayal, and I understand why the story was told how it was, but at the very least, it bears mentioning.
Not only that, there was a LOT of just . . . violence. Nothing actually portrayed, but there was a lot of suggestions towards sexual violence, especially towards slaves. There was one particularly sleazy character, who was very interested in (marrying) Cordelia. While Cordelia understood that he did not have good intentions, she didn't really try to do anything about it, other than pawning her sister off on him (since she already had a love interest)??? SO that was something that bothered me, although it was only mentioned once. Someone important to the story had also taken advantage of a black slave woman, and the resulting child was also not treated well by the man. There was also several scenes where aforementioned sleazy character pulled a girl into a secluded room and attempted to kiss her (and it is suggested that he would go farther than kissing, although it never happened). There was just a LOT of implied sexual violence that was not only unnecessary, but also A Lot to read.
As for the characters, I was honestly not a fan of the main (white) characters. The protagonist, Cordelia, was simply unlikeable, not in any particular way, but I never really connected with her. She had a very vivid imagination, and wrote a ton of stories, but that was pretty much her only character trait. Her parents were also selfish and generally terrible people (both to her, as well as to their slaves), and she really did not question it until the very end of the book. Phineas was a slightly more likeable character: his growth development was incredible, and more noticeable starting midway through the book. He did start out the book being very much a "woo confederacy" type, being excited to go into the Confederate army and kill the "Yankees that are ruining everything." His view on slavery was very much 'it's bad but there's nothing I can do about it' and he used the excuse that Georgia didn't allow people to free their slaves as the reason why he kept them so that was . . . Not Great. He was more likable than Cordelia, and I connected more with him in general, but he's nowhere near my favorite fictional male characters.
The black side characters--Selina, Luther, River, and all the servants--really made the story much more enjoyable. Their characters were somehow more fleshed out than Cordelia and Phineas, and their motivations, personalities, and beliefs, were significantly more enumerated, and thus, relatable. I found myself more invested in them than the main characters, and their story was just . . . better (than overcoming racism, which was what Cordelia and Phineas were going through).
The spiritual content was very well done: there was a lot of mentions of God, and references to prayer, and just an overall spiritual focus throughout the book. Scripture was quoted several times, and in that regards, I do like it.
Overall? This was a very deep and heavy story. It meant to cover both sides of the Civil War, and to tell the story of humanity on both sides. I think it did achieve that purpose, however, I think the way it did so was lacking. There was a lot of violence and unsavory characters and situations, and while it is mostly resolved in the end, it does not mitigate the generations of suffering of black people at the hands of white people, and this portrayal is more harm than good in my opinion. Quite honestly, as I was starting this book, I expected that I would not like it as much as the author's other works (which are among my favorite books), and I was right.
My Rating-
3/10
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
This review first appeared on: https://losingthebusyness.wordpress.c...
This was an interesting book! I have read many of Roseanna's books before (and have even met her in person once!) and loved them, so I was excited to read her new release. It was very different from her previous books, and while this one was also good, it wasn't my favorite.
First of all, this book was set in the Civil War era, in the Confederate states. The main characters, Cordelia and Phineas, are members of two families who own slaves/plantations, who have liked each other since before the book started, and get into an "understanding" fairly early on into the book. Since Phineas, or Phin as he likes to be known, is a Confederate soldier, most of this book details the time that they are apart, and the individual struggles and growth that they go through.
With that premise, it makes sense that this book is very white focused: both Cordelia and Phineas have slaves (although they call them servants), and despite being more open to the fact that black people aren't merely animals, they still treat their servants as below them for the vast majority of the book, which is my main concern with this book. Despite the main characters being more sympathetic to the black people working for them, they still treat them in a "less than" fashion. With that, I did like the parts of the book narrated by the black people in the story, as well as their portrayals in general: as the story develops, the humanity of the black people comes to light. Although I understood why this story was told the way it was, I'm kind of wondering what a black reader would feel like reading this book.
Moreover, this book felt quite "preachy" for a lot of it. There were a lot of "spontaneous" sermon-conversations, a la characters randomly breaking into song during a musical. There were some really /interesting/ conversations meant as "the message" that was intended to be conveyed, such as one at the beginning where Phineas asked a tall black man, essentially, "if you weren't made to work in the fields, why do you look like that?" Again, as the story progresses, both the main characters (as well as some of the white side characters) begin to learn the value and importance of black people, which somehow wasn't really made clear in the beginning? As someone who is not black, I can't say whether or not that is a fair portrayal, and I understand why the story was told how it was, but at the very least, it bears mentioning.
Not only that, there was a LOT of just . . . violence. Nothing actually portrayed, but there was a lot of suggestions towards sexual violence, especially towards slaves. There was one particularly sleazy character, who was very interested in (marrying) Cordelia. While Cordelia understood that he did not have good intentions, she didn't really try to do anything about it, other than pawning her sister off on him (since she already had a love interest)??? SO that was something that bothered me, although it was only mentioned once. Someone important to the story had also taken advantage of a black slave woman, and the resulting child was also not treated well by the man. There was also several scenes where aforementioned sleazy character pulled a girl into a secluded room and attempted to kiss her (and it is suggested that he would go farther than kissing, although it never happened). There was just a LOT of implied sexual violence that was not only unnecessary, but also A Lot to read.
As for the characters, I was honestly not a fan of the main (white) characters. The protagonist, Cordelia, was simply unlikeable, not in any particular way, but I never really connected with her. She had a very vivid imagination, and wrote a ton of stories, but that was pretty much her only character trait. Her parents were also selfish and generally terrible people (both to her, as well as to their slaves), and she really did not question it until the very end of the book. Phineas was a slightly more likeable character: his growth development was incredible, and more noticeable starting midway through the book. He did start out the book being very much a "woo confederacy" type, being excited to go into the Confederate army and kill the "Yankees that are ruining everything." His view on slavery was very much 'it's bad but there's nothing I can do about it' and he used the excuse that Georgia didn't allow people to free their slaves as the reason why he kept them so that was . . . Not Great. He was more likable than Cordelia, and I connected more with him in general, but he's nowhere near my favorite fictional male characters.
The black side characters--Selina, Luther, River, and all the servants--really made the story much more enjoyable. Their characters were somehow more fleshed out than Cordelia and Phineas, and their motivations, personalities, and beliefs, were significantly more enumerated, and thus, relatable. I found myself more invested in them than the main characters, and their story was just . . . better (than overcoming racism, which was what Cordelia and Phineas were going through).
The spiritual content was very well done: there was a lot of mentions of God, and references to prayer, and just an overall spiritual focus throughout the book. Scripture was quoted several times, and in that regards, I do like it.
Overall? This was a very deep and heavy story. It meant to cover both sides of the Civil War, and to tell the story of humanity on both sides. I think it did achieve that purpose, however, I think the way it did so was lacking. There was a lot of violence and unsavory characters and situations, and while it is mostly resolved in the end, it does not mitigate the generations of suffering of black people at the hands of white people, and this portrayal is more harm than good in my opinion. Quite honestly, as I was starting this book, I expected that I would not like it as much as the author's other works (which are among my favorite books), and I was right.
My Rating-
3/10
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion; I was not required to write a positive review.
This review first appeared on: https://losingthebusyness.wordpress.c...
August 15, 2022
Story Rating: 10/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3
Roseanna M White always writes such interesting characters. I enjoyed and identified with Delia's daydreaming and story creating. Although Luther was my favourite character. His story mirrors one of Jesus' parables and then later the life of Jesus himself. There was a good amount of faith content.
Roseanna M White always writes such interesting characters. I enjoyed and identified with Delia's daydreaming and story creating. Although Luther was my favourite character. His story mirrors one of Jesus' parables and then later the life of Jesus himself. There was a good amount of faith content.
August 11, 2022
DNF- I really wanted to finish this book but it’s just not capturing my interest. I really don’t enjoy books set in this time period.
June 24, 2022
This story swept me away from the very opening lines. I loved that Delia was a storyteller at heart, and chose to focus on the hopeful while still being open to seeing the difficult things, and learning from them. I also loved that Phin chose to let his experiences soften his heart as well.
There were 2 additional perspectives that I wasn't expecting that made the narrative that much more rich, but I'm not going to spoil who they are/turn out to be. I will say that I grew to love each of them just as much as Delia and Phin though.
I think what stood out to me the most was the desire that these characters had/developed to truly follow what God wanted of them with their whole hearts.
4.5 stars
There were 2 additional perspectives that I wasn't expecting that made the narrative that much more rich, but I'm not going to spoil who they are/turn out to be. I will say that I grew to love each of them just as much as Delia and Phin though.
I think what stood out to me the most was the desire that these characters had/developed to truly follow what God wanted of them with their whole hearts.
4.5 stars
August 15, 2022
This was a read where I was influenced by others reviews and also reading two war books at once. Not the best idea 🤦♀️
I will say the faith in this story was wonderful and I did enjoy the storyline. I agree with the others that it's 100 or so pages too long. I don't mind the war jargon because I'm a history buff but the parts in Savannah with the families seemed a bit repetitive to me. Overall a good book, it was just me and the timing I read it.
I will say the faith in this story was wonderful and I did enjoy the storyline. I agree with the others that it's 100 or so pages too long. I don't mind the war jargon because I'm a history buff but the parts in Savannah with the families seemed a bit repetitive to me. Overall a good book, it was just me and the timing I read it.
January 23, 2021
Roseanna White is known for writing excellent historical fiction and Dreams of Savannah is no exception! A Georgia plantation is the setting for this book that covers the early years of the Civil War and I won't soon forget the fascinating characters and their moving story. Cordelia Owens dreams of a life that she and Phineas Dunn can share once he returns from the war. She is both a romantic and optimist and I love that, even though she has always lived with slaves, she truly believes that no one should be judged by their skin color. A startling revelation changes her life, deepens her convictions, and increases her desire to change the world through the stories that she loves to write. I so admire the hope and strength that sustains her as she waits for Phin but his return isn't what she thought it would be. He has changed physically and emotionally, and he questions the cause that he has been fighting for. Has this war forever crushed Delia's dreams?
There are many other wonderful characters in this story and White vividly relates the heartaches and struggles of Salina, River, Luther, and Eva. She says that this standalone novel won't turn into a series but I would love to know how their lives change over the years!
To say that I loved this book is an understatement! It has sweet romance, an inspiring faith message, and a poignant reminder that the issue of racism that plagued our nation in 1861 is just as relevant today. Oppression still exists and we must continue to fight it in any form!
I highly recommend Dreams of Savannah to all who enjoy Christian romance and historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
There are many other wonderful characters in this story and White vividly relates the heartaches and struggles of Salina, River, Luther, and Eva. She says that this standalone novel won't turn into a series but I would love to know how their lives change over the years!
To say that I loved this book is an understatement! It has sweet romance, an inspiring faith message, and a poignant reminder that the issue of racism that plagued our nation in 1861 is just as relevant today. Oppression still exists and we must continue to fight it in any form!
I highly recommend Dreams of Savannah to all who enjoy Christian romance and historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
August 3, 2022
I loved this book! I hope that she writes a second book to tell us how Cordelia and Phins friends faired after the war. Historical romance is one of my favorites. I listened to this one and just adored it.
July 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book by Roseanna M. White. I read this was her first book she wrote set in America instead of England. And I think she did a great job with the setting and the characters and time period.
Delia is in love with Phineas, but when he goes off to war against the northern Yankees, she promises to wait for him forever. But he is lost at sea and injured. Will she wait for him to return?
I really enjoyed the audio narrator, and how she brought the story to life. The characters in this story were so well thought out. I loved Luther, I think he was my favorite. A kindly black freeman who helped Phin to return home, and helped kindle his faith in God.
Delia is in love with Phineas, but when he goes off to war against the northern Yankees, she promises to wait for him forever. But he is lost at sea and injured. Will she wait for him to return?
I really enjoyed the audio narrator, and how she brought the story to life. The characters in this story were so well thought out. I loved Luther, I think he was my favorite. A kindly black freeman who helped Phin to return home, and helped kindle his faith in God.
February 1, 2022
At first it was hard to get into the story. I somehow wasn't aware of the setting so I was shocked with the first chapter. Thankfully I enjoyed both characters journey during US civil war first year. There was a lot of history that I'm not familiar with nonetheless I found interesting.
I teared up many times, some scenes were really touching. And I think this happened with every Roseanna M White book I've read so far: at the beginning I don't care much about the characters or plot, they are usually different from what I was expecting but I get so attached to them afterwards. She makes me care for the story, you know.
I teared up many times, some scenes were really touching. And I think this happened with every Roseanna M White book I've read so far: at the beginning I don't care much about the characters or plot, they are usually different from what I was expecting but I get so attached to them afterwards. She makes me care for the story, you know.
July 29, 2022
I really had to think about what to rate this book… I originally gave it 4 stars but after sitting on it for a few days I would say it’s definitely more of a 3-3.25 star book.
December 6, 2020
Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White is an excellent historical fiction novel that has it all: history, action, suspense, romance, obstacles, beautiful landscapes, and faith.
I loved the beautiful images and descriptions of the trees, gardens, landscapes, buildings, plantations, and homes that made up the richly historic Savannah, Georgia in 1861. The author was impressive in her ability to place the reader within that time and into that location.
I love that Ms. White places us within the lives, minds, and thought processes of the people that make up the Confederate. One does not have to agree with the mentality of those one reads about to appreciate experiencing their way of thinking. Many were brought up within this society and through multiple generations, accepted this way of life. In no means am I condoling this acceptance of ideals and customs, and neither is the author, but in placing oneself into the thoughts of another, one can see how it is not black and white for anyone. There were decent, hardworking people caught up within the South that were lumped together with those that were wrong. There were families that were afraid, that had inner battles of their own of what was right and was wrong, that were also caught up in circumstances not of their choosing. While I will be supporter of the Union without a doubt, it was interesting to read about characters from the Confederate and how they felt what they felt to justify and rationalize their beliefs.
I really like Cordelia (Delia) and Phineas (Phin). They were wonderfully depicted and complex characters that were flawed, imperfect, and realistic. They were down to earth, like able and had a moral compass that helped guide them toward one another, growth, and towards the right paths as the book progresses. Their passion, love, and faith was evident throughout the story.
My personal favorite characters were Salina and River. They were strong, positive people that were able to find one another and help others during this horrific time of oppression and of limited opportunities in the South. They were able to use their education to help others and find happiness for themselves. I would love to read a book that followed them from this book onward. That would be truly enjoyable.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/5/21.
I loved the beautiful images and descriptions of the trees, gardens, landscapes, buildings, plantations, and homes that made up the richly historic Savannah, Georgia in 1861. The author was impressive in her ability to place the reader within that time and into that location.
I love that Ms. White places us within the lives, minds, and thought processes of the people that make up the Confederate. One does not have to agree with the mentality of those one reads about to appreciate experiencing their way of thinking. Many were brought up within this society and through multiple generations, accepted this way of life. In no means am I condoling this acceptance of ideals and customs, and neither is the author, but in placing oneself into the thoughts of another, one can see how it is not black and white for anyone. There were decent, hardworking people caught up within the South that were lumped together with those that were wrong. There were families that were afraid, that had inner battles of their own of what was right and was wrong, that were also caught up in circumstances not of their choosing. While I will be supporter of the Union without a doubt, it was interesting to read about characters from the Confederate and how they felt what they felt to justify and rationalize their beliefs.
I really like Cordelia (Delia) and Phineas (Phin). They were wonderfully depicted and complex characters that were flawed, imperfect, and realistic. They were down to earth, like able and had a moral compass that helped guide them toward one another, growth, and towards the right paths as the book progresses. Their passion, love, and faith was evident throughout the story.
My personal favorite characters were Salina and River. They were strong, positive people that were able to find one another and help others during this horrific time of oppression and of limited opportunities in the South. They were able to use their education to help others and find happiness for themselves. I would love to read a book that followed them from this book onward. That would be truly enjoyable.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing for this arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/5/21.
December 31, 2020
This was a different sort of novel after coming off of the codebreakers series. I think this story was very authentic to history, even though at times that made it hard to read. The storyline was pretty intense and serious. I think it would be hard to read this book and not be sympathetic for so many of the characters and their difficult situations, which unfortunately are historically accurate. I don’t think I was expecting how heavy this book felt.
The different points of view in this book we not my favorite, but they do allow the reader to experience the thoughts and feelings from several perspectives which offered a lot of depth to this story. I did not like either of the main characters. I wanted to really love one of them and have someone to root for, however they were just too hard to like. Delia was immature and oblivious to the hardships of life and I just could not handle her imaginative daydreams. I wanted Phin to really stand for what was right after his near death experience and I felt that he changed somewhat, but never really fully grasped the gravity of what real change meant. My favorite character was Luther. Luther and Phin’s unlikely friendship was the heart of this story for me. I think readers who like a more serious and emotional story will really be impacted by this novel.
The different points of view in this book we not my favorite, but they do allow the reader to experience the thoughts and feelings from several perspectives which offered a lot of depth to this story. I did not like either of the main characters. I wanted to really love one of them and have someone to root for, however they were just too hard to like. Delia was immature and oblivious to the hardships of life and I just could not handle her imaginative daydreams. I wanted Phin to really stand for what was right after his near death experience and I felt that he changed somewhat, but never really fully grasped the gravity of what real change meant. My favorite character was Luther. Luther and Phin’s unlikely friendship was the heart of this story for me. I think readers who like a more serious and emotional story will really be impacted by this novel.
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