I thought that the author did a fabulous job of writing a Civil War era story with characters in the South who must do some soul searching about their stance on slave owning. Roseanna M White does a wonderful job of bringing about topics of morality and challenging the reader to think. I highly recommend this one!

There are many takes on this time period, but I felt this one captured much of the conflict that was within it so well. There was the romance side of it, but each party felt unworthy of the other, for one reason or another. It was so good to see the build of sacrifice, but also dedication that they had to ideals, while being willing to learn.

Beautifully written historical romance. Plot and characters are compelling and the descriptions are beautifully done.

A novel set in the South during the Civil War that explores questions of faith , identity, love, and family.

This was a slower read to start, and much of the beginning 40% lends itself to laying the groundwork and developing the characters, but if you hang in there it is all worth it. This book was different from others that I've read by this author, but not in a bad way. The plot was more character driven, and I think that she handled so many difficult subjects of racism and fighting for your family very well.

I liked how Phin is challenged by his friendship with Luther to take a deep look at his beliefs and his faith, and even though he is a good man to start he becomes and even better man as he gives himself over to the Lord's work. Delia is fanciful and loves to make up stories of daring and heroism. I was pleasantly surprised by her maturity over the course of the book, and I loved how she stood by Selina. Luther was easy one of my favorite characters and I loved his dry sense of humor throughout.

Overall, this book has a slow build, but don't let that fool you. It is a poignant read with strong themes of faith and fighting for what is right, that all came together in a satisfying ending. A worthwhile read for sure!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a big fan of Roseanna’s writings. Having read most if not all of her books, I look forward to reading whatever new books she has written. I started Dreams of Savannah and was not convinced in the beginning that I would like it. It seemed to start off as a stereotypical book of the South set during the Civil War, with characters that lean into those stereotypes. I was glad, however that I continued reading and my initial thoughts of the book were proven quite wrong! Cordelia seems to start out as a typical Southern Belle with a bit of fluff and not much substance. She is living in Savannah Georgia and is the daughter of a well to do family who host parties and seemingly turn a blind eye to the fact that all is not going well for the Confederate army. Cordelia is pining for her beau Phin who has been called up to fight for the Confederacy. She dreams of him and their future together. This is where the “fluff” ends. Cordelia is actually a deep emotional person who struggles with what is right and wrong as far as slavery is concerned. She is a writer of fantastical stories- much to her mother’s dismay, and a lover of books. She loves her family fiercely, even if they don’t approve of her love for Phin. She wants to do what is right and tries to rise above what is expected of her, determined to make her own path in life. Phin is also a character who seems to fit the typical Southern gentleman role. His thoughts of slavery and his role in it seem to be typical of that era. However, when Phin is betrayed and ends up on an island where Luther, a mysterious, educated, and Godly Englishman, who happens to be African, nurses him back to health, his thinking starts to dramatically change. During his recovery and with the help of Luther, Phin begins to realize that maybe what he thought about God, slavery, and his life’s purpose are perhaps not correct. Luther is on dangerous mission to find his wife who was illegally sold and bring her back to him and the relative safety found in England. He makes Phin promise that in return for his care for Phin during his recovery, that Phin would help him get back into Savannah to find his wife. Salina, Cordelia’s maid (and friend), carries a secret that will change Cordelia’s life forever. Cordelia’s cousin is not what he appears to be, and nobody can see it except for Cordelia. Not even her father who is determined to set up a match between the two. When Phin finally finds his way back to Savannah, he is not how Cordelia remembers him. Can Cordelia and Phin’s love for each other be enough to survive all the changes that have come upon themselves and that are coming to Savannah? This book was hard for me to get into a first but the more I read and the more I watched the characters develop and mature, it became a compelling story that I wanted to finish. I found the weaving of the all the character’s lives into each to be profound. The diversity of characters, beliefs, ideas, etc., that are portrayed in this book is a testimony to Ms. White’s gift to take history and write about it in such away that is impactful and real. Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Savannah, Georgia isn't a typical setting for a novel by Roseanna M. White. And the Civil War era isn't one I read a lot of fiction about these days (I think I read too much when I was younger!). But in Dreams of Savannah, Roseanna set a plucky heroine in the South at the beginning of the Civil War. And it was delightful.

Phin was a worthy hero, but my favorite character was definitely Luther. And I can't help but think that in Delia's active imagination, we've caught a glimpse of the way the author's own mind works, as well.

Any war is awful, civil war especially so. In this book, Cordelia Owens comes face to face with the reality of this world versus her talent for weaving stories and daydreaming about heroes. It's a coming-of-age (or coming to one's senses) book for many of the characters, not just the teens. I found the war scenes to be realistic but not gory or graphic. Not an easy or enjoyable read given the subject, but I found myself wanting to read on.

I gratefully received this free ARC ebook from NetGalley and the author in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I think Roseanna White's book are loosing their appeal for me. At one point I voraciously read anything that she published with excitement. Now, I find myself struggling to really enjoy her stories. Either they lack passion or soul. No, they lack rhythm. The rhythm that keeps me connected to the book. It pulls me in with intrigue and excitement. This one was lacking.

I love how this book was set in Civil War time. I am a huge Gone with the Wind fan. I love the dresses and the era. I love this part of history it was such an amazing time for the United States. I really enjoyed This book!

As a fan of Roseanna White, I have read many of her books set in England and was surprised with this one being set during the Civil War in the South. White tackles the complex issue of a slaveholder fathering a child with an enslaved person, and the strain that complex relationship puts on his family as well as exploring shifting perspectives on slavery. In typical fashion, White has crafted a historical fiction romance that draws the reader in until the very last page.

Dreams of Savannah is yet another example of Roseanna M. White's skill in creating a riveting. clean romance that is thoroughly researched and rooted in strong faith. I am particularly impressed how this novel highlights that the Civil War was brought about by more than just an desire to end slavery in the United States. I love the depth of faith than humanity that she imbues into each character, and the sub plots that have you rooting for multiple characters, and moments of faith that make you pause and reflect on your own personal faith and prayer life. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and I am willingly offering this honest review.

Though Dreams of Savannah wasn’t the kind of book I generally read, I did enjoy my escape into its world recently. It’s a beautiful romance, and when you combine that with the beautiful historical flavor and the wonderful storytelling, it’s a gripping book. One thing I especially enjoyed was the main character’s love of stories. Watching her use that to help herself and others through a difficult time really impressed me, and I love how she chose to use it to help others, too. The whole part about how to walk through making old wrongs right was also interesting. In all, I loved this glimpse into an already somewhat familiar setting, and I’m looking forward to more by this author.

I requested a free review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

It's like Roseanna M White can write in any time period <3 Honest and well researched, I didn't expect this book to challenge me as much as it did. The stories linger with you after the last page.

The topic of the Civil War (especially coming from a Southern perspective) is one that is, for lack of a better term, loaded at the moment. I truly appreciate that Roseanna White doesn't romanticize the era or what was happening and that this novel portrays the dilemmas that faced many of those living in the South at the time of the Civil War who were slave owners but who also had differing views/opinions that many of their friends at the time. There were people who were quietly fighting for rights of their slaves, who treated them well, etc... and in that, Roseanna White does a wonderful job sharing that perspective. Her writing is thought provoking and she shows the heart change of one of the main characters extremely well.

Essentially, this is a very difficult topic to write about and it isn't a book that you fly through in one sitting because of the complexity of the issues involved (i.e. not a poolside read). Roseanna White's books do tend to go much deeper than other typical Christian fiction novels which I appreciate. Her characters are extremely well written and show continual growth with each other and in their maturity relating to life and their current situations. The secondary characters in this book were WONDERFUL (Luther and Salina).

Roseanna White is one of my favorite authors - truly. Her books are some of the few that remain on my bookshelves over the years, so I'm a bit mixed in how to write this review because it's honestly the first four star review I've given to one of her books, but that isn't due to the writing as much as how Dreams of Savannah just felt more "disconnected" for me somehow. That's not necessarily her fault by any means. This book did take me longer to get into and through, but again, that could tie into the timing of the book's release and what is happening in our country at the moment.

A solid 4 stars.

Note: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Another masterpiece by Roseanna M White. Thought provoking. Beautifully written. Excellent character development and dialogue. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful historical romance!

I love the main characters. They are very well developed. The author did a great job of including what it was like for the slaves as well as the children of the slave owners at the start of the Civil War.

I enjoyed seeing how Delia and Phin both matured and grew as the story progressed. It was interesting to see who influenced each of their lives.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Let me start by saying that Dreams of Savannah is not a light read, and I am totally okay with that. White tackles some areas of history in this story that really make a reader stop and ponder things for a moment. What's truly right versus what your surroundings say is right. Treatment of others based on their skin color or societal class. Even a father who still treats a daughter differently just because she looks different (sorry don't want to give away too much on that). Some of it was hard to read, but I think necessary. I like it when authors stay true to history, and that's exactly what White did here.

Delia and Finn are not your average main characters. Delia has such an imagination, but really I think at the end of the day, her heart is in the right place with her story telling. She finds some shocking news later on in the book as well, and I was curious how her character was going to handle it, and let me say that White wrote it perfectly. She was naive in so many ways, and this information really kind of forced her to grow up a smidge, and I thought it did a lot for her character.

Then we have Finn. Oh poor Finn. Betrayed by someone he trusted, and then forced into a role reversal situation if you will. I have to say I think my favorite part of the story was watching Finn and Luther's friendship evolve. It surprised me in so many ways, and cut straight to my heart. I think this book is exactly what readers need right now. There is so much we can learn from it.

White pens a beautiful novel about love, friendship, sacrifice, and how people can come together no matter their race or class. This is a story I could see myself reading over and over and over again. I'm so glad it was my first read of 2021. It's already on my favorites list! Highly recommend this historical novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Roseanna M. White's intricate story telling and great depth of character development in her stories, and this is no different. I wasn't sure quite what to expect with this story since it's such a contrast to the setting and time period of her other stories, but once again the author transports the reader to the setting of the story, this time the south in the Civil War era, and completely immerses the reader into the story. I really enjoyed the creativity of this story as well as the opportunity to learn about naval warfare during the Civil War (which I didn't even know existed until I read this book!). I cared about Cordelia and Phineas from chapter one and felt invested in their romance from start to finish. I enjoyed the variety and uniqueness of the third perspective of the narrative and enjoyed seeing the world from her view since it was such a contrast from the worldview of the main romantic duo. I'll admit that this setting and this story felt a bit slow for me at times, the pacing dragged a bit (or perhaps the content felt a bit sadder, a bit heavier for me personally?) so for whatever reason it took me longer to read through this story than it has for other books of hers. Still, I loved her storytelling, the romance, the great growth and character development that the MCs go through during the story and enjoyed seeing how the story unfolded.

I have read other books by the author so was interested to read one taking place in a location and era so different from her previous ones. Although those differed, the excellent writing and great story did not! From the beginning I was completely engrossed with the tale and had a hard time putting it down. I so enjoyed reading this book!
Dreams of Savannah is the story of a young Southern Belle at the beginning of the Civil War and how her eyes open to what slavery really means. The author took pains to not only show the bad slave owners but also the good ones, but yet how even the good ones were not good enough, as freedom is a priceless commodity. She also wove in details about life in pre-civil war Savannah as well as a sweet romance. I found myself cheering on the good guys and hoping the bad guy would get what he deserved. I highly recommend this book and hope my book club reads it soon. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I am freely writing a review - all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m a big fan of Roseanna M White’s historical romances. I’ve enjoyed her series of spy novels, set against the backdrop of various US conflicts. I especially enjoyed her trilogies set in and around World War I London. So I was on the lookout for her next series.

But I wasn’t expecting a series set in the South during the American Civil War. It’s not my favourite setting in terms of time or place, because while they claimed the South claimed the war was over the state’s rights to govern themselves, it comes back to their right to own slaves. If the war was merely around state’s rights, there would have been white slaves as well as black slaves, and we wouldn’t still see the effects of slavery and racism 150 years later.

As such, I found it difficult to empathise with either of the main characters. Cordelia is a nice enough young lady, but she is sheltered and naïve (to the point where she’s noticed she and her slave have similar unusual features, but hasn’t realised her slave is actually her half-sister).

Phineas Dunn is a nice enough young man, but has completely bought into the Southern lie that black slaves are somehow subhuman (despite the presence of mixed-race slaves and apparent acceptance of how mixed-race slaves are conceived).

I guess both characters were products of their upbringing. Neither had ever been put in a situation where those beliefs might be challenged. As a result, I wasn’t interested in either character at first. But I was interested in two of the black characters, Selina and Luther, and the main reason I kept reading was to find out what happened to them.

I’m glad I pushed through, because the second half of the Dreams of Savannah was excellent. Delia and Phin changed and grew as people, there was a solid underlying Christian message, and I realised I was interested in finding out whether Delia and Phin would get their happy-ever-after, against the wishes of Delia’s father.

While this is never going to be my favourite Roseanna M White story, the writing is excellent, the story has a strong and worthy message, and is worthwhile reading.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.