Dreams of Savannah was a story that to me shouted hope. Cordelia Owens and Phineas Dunn are two people who love much and fight for that love. Especially in a world where their country is being torn apart by the Civil War.

Both have lived with the shadow of slavery in their lives and I do think since they were raised in the South, that they both were a little naïve about it. But we get to watch their characters rise above their circumstances and even open their hearts up to change. Especially with those they already have in their lives and those they meet on their journey.

Their are many cherished characters that come alive in this story and their stories are just as memorable. Many twists and turns, times of peril, and important social changes. From the way men treated women, the slavery dilemma, to the brotherhood or not of soldiers, and familial obligations. Above all this neither gave up. Even when all hope seemed lost, and others had walked away- Cordelia did not nor would not believe that she and Phineas would not be united. And after what Phin went through, I am just glad that the one who found him was able to show him the Way and a better way.

This story was rich in historical detail, especially concerning the the South's naval battles which I had not read about before. I also think it showed a clear picture of what living in Georgia at that time was like especially in the attitudes of society.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Dreams of Savannah is a stand alone historical romance by Roseanna M. White. Set in Savannah, Georgia toward the beginning of the Civil War, it primarily follows Cordelia Owens and Phineas Dunn as war and family expectations keep them apart.

Cordelia is an idealistic storyteller. But when the man she wants to marry is lost at sea, her dreams begin to shatter. Cordelia’s maid/slave, Salina, is her biggest support, especially when Cordelia’s family wants her to marry another. But Salina harbors her own secret pain and a future dependent on who Cordelia marries.

Phineas washes up in Cuba and is taken in by a black man from England. Luther is on a mission of his own, but cannot leave Phineas to die. Even as Phineas fights to return home, his experiences change him into a different man than the one who left Cordelia with promises of a future together.

There’s so much to say about this story, it’s difficult to put to words. First off, I found Dreams of Savannah a great story. I loved Cordelia’s whimsical nature and my favorite scenes showed the relationship between Phineas and Luther. But the nature of the story means it is not the easiest book to read. It does not shy away from hard questions nor the horrible realities of Confederate Georgia in the early 1860s. Because of that, I would add a caution and trigger warning.

I have long believed in the power of story and believe it is an important aspect of communicating across cultural barriers. Dreams of Savannah is an excellent example of that in so many ways. As we begin to see others’ stories, we begin to see them as fellow humans and can then give them the dignity they deserve.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

I have absolutely loved every Roseanna White book I've read, and I've read most of them. She has a gift for pulling you into the story, her details of the past are impeccably researched. I have learned so much history by reading her books. And her characters are so well written. I've loved them all. So I wish I could say I loved this book. But for me, it was a book that I could lay down at anytime. I never felt an attachment to the story or the characters.. The story seemed to move slowly and I just could not get invested in it. I hope it is just me at the place and time I'm in right now.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

It is the early 1860's, and our heroine Cordelia Owens is a privileged daughter whose talents and imagination are not especially appreciated by her traditional family. Phineas Dunn loves Cordelia but is bound to his duty as a recently enlisted member of the Confederate navy. When his mission goes south and he is badly injured (by a friend, no less) he is given up for dead.

Cordelia never loses hope - and she is not wrong; however, when Phineas does not return in a reasonable time frame (and is presumed dead) she is pressured to marry someone else. Phineas is a changed man, both inside and out. Will he be able to feel whole again? Will Cordelia bend to the family expectations, even though it goes against the core of what she believes?

With many sub-stories (the war, the evil cousin, abolitionists, the search for a missing person) there is a lot here. This is one of my favorite authors and it is a bummer to say this book wasn't also my favorite of theirs. It was challenging to feel engaged but I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact reason.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Normally, I avoid books set during the Civil War like the plague. We have enough racial divide still in our world, and it seemed like 2020 was especially filled with racial strife. And since I read to escape a lot of times, I don't enjoy books that focus so much on subjects like this. Somehow I missed that this would be such a prominent topic when I was deciding to request Dreams of Savannah. Maybe I was sidetracked by the fact that Roseanna M White is the author and I just finished her Codebreakers series.

Dreams of Savannah had a slow start for me. I prefer books that are driven by relationships and romance. And considering Phin and Delia were apart for the first 50% of this book, I feel like the plot was the main driving force. Plot-driven books aren't always bad, they're just not my favorites usually. And so I struggled through the beginning and didn't have trouble putting this book down up until the 50% mark. From there I read much faster even though, the characters were still often apart.

There is much to say about the plot, but I find that I don't want to discuss it. For the most part, I don't want to spoil anything for potential readers. But I will say that I always appreciate it when authors do a good job showing that all of us humans are simply varying shades of grey. None of us are 100% good and rarely are we 100% bad. And yes even in a war that seems to have such an obvious moral issue at its core, there are still good people and bad people on both sides.

Favorite quotes:
-She might miss him, and in that way not want him to go— which was fine by him. But she’d have no use for a man not willing to fight for his country.

-“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, Luth.” “Nonsense. It and I are the dearest of friends.”

-"I see now that faith is more than the church to which one belongs.”

-“I will never understand you, Cordelia Penelope Owens. But somehow . . . somehow, despite that, I think perhaps you are the best of us.”

Dreams of Savannah wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. I found the first half of the book to be quite slow because so much of it was about setting up the plot. I prefer books driven by the characters' relationships, but since the main two characters were apart for this entire part of the book, I struggled to keep moving forward. The last half went much quicker. Either way, I feel, for my reading preferences, Dreams of Savannah gets 3 Stars. Have you read Dreams of Savannah? What did you think? Let me know!

What's better in a book than a character that loves and creates stories? This book is so unique. I've never read a story that used the creation of a story in it's plot in this way...and I really enjoyed it! I really liked the Civil War time period and reading about it from the perspective of people that live in the South was interesting. I also enjoyed that the characters are flawed people, who've made mistakes, but want to do better. Cordelia, the story creating southern belle, has a best friend who is also her servant. When her eyes are opened and she begins to see that each of these people who take care of her household have a story of their own, she thinks thoughts she never thought she'd think. When Delia's sweetheart, Phin, who is in the Confederate Army, gets injured by a friend gone rogue, she fears the worst, but hopes for the best. Their love story is so incredibly sweet. I loved how they each went on a journey separately, at the same time. Phin's was not only physical, but mental and emotional. Their stories tie together so very well. This book deals with a topic that is incredibly difficult to read and imagine, but Ms. White does a fantastic job of being real and delicate at the same time!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Phineas did a lot growing in this book. Growing from a naive young man who was the product of the society he lived in—and probably one of the better products of it. He wasn’t harsh to his slaves. Yet he did see them as a different class than himself … until the blinders were removed. Slowly. But effectively.

Cordelia (Delia) was a fun character and she too did a lot of growing in the novel. But she almost lived in another world—constantly imagining stories about the people around her. Her stories encouraged and brought joy to others. And she had spunk, which is one of my favorite qualities in a character.

I won’t get into ‘Luther’ due to spoilers. But he was my favorite character.

Roseanna brought to life the stories of the slaves well. The heartbreaking reality of their lives and what they lost. What they loved. And what they craved. Most of all: freedom.

I don’t think I’d recommend younger readers for this novel. There’s quite a bit of difficult themes that make it more of an adult read. Even though I found the novel to be done in great taste, there’s some heavy topics. Topics you can’t shy away from when you’re writing about the civil war. I thought Roseanna did it well.

And the faith thread was spot on. One of the neatest things about it was the way Phineas’ POV changed from the beginning of the book, to the middle, and then of course the end. It was humorous, as well, as he shocked himself with his new and improved thought life.

Of course, everyone wants to know about the love story, right? It was sweet, it was forbidden, it was patient. It had no choice but to be patient—war and all.

Although I quite enjoyed this novel, I hope she’s not done with England anytime soon.

The man Cordelia Owens has set her heart on goes off to serve in the Confederate navy. Her creative storytelling helps keep up her spirits as well as those of her loved ones as she longs for the day when Phineas Dunn will return and they can marry. But it seems too many obstacles arise to prevent that dream from coming true. And their future together isn’t the only thing at stake. Their beliefs and way of live are also challenged as war rages and its effects bring changes and danger to their door. This tale is one to experience and mull over as well as enjoy the great storytelling and all the plot twists and surprises. It took me a little while to connect with these vulnerable, true-to-life characters and their experiences, but they drew me in and made me care deeply. Plus, it made me think about the tragic history in our nation and how slavery and people’s attitudes toward one another still cause problems today. This would make a good book to discuss in school or a book club. I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Dreams of Savannah was so different than I thought it would be. I loved the journey that White took me on, and had a hard time putting the book down. White created a picture of another place and time, and I enjoyed every moment of it. The characters were intricate and unique, and I found myself enchanted by them. This story was so much more than just romance. It has just the right amount of suspense, mystery, and action mixed in. I loved seeing Cordelia’s passion for people, no matter their color of skin or station. Her love for Phineas was true and stood the test of time. I loved the way the Bible was mentioned through out the story, but I won’t give anything away. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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.

Set in Savannah during the Civil War and populated with colorful, realistic, and engaging characters, Roseanna M. White’s latest novel grabbed my interest from the first page and wouldn’t let go. I liked Delia’s spunk, her penchant for storytelling, her slightly unconventional ways for her time, and her disregard for wealth and status. Phineas was an appealing hero with his honesty, his regard for others no matter what their status was, and his courage. The stellar cast of secondary characters showcases White’s talent for creating riveting and intriguing people for her books. I thought the title Dreams of Savannah is interesting as it can be taken more than one way.

With a perfect blend of action, suspense, romance, adventure, and inspiration, this story will appeal to those who enjoy reading fascinating historical romance. I enjoyed the historical detail, and the inspirational messages of courage, hope, and the brotherhood of man. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House. All opinions are my own.

I’ve always been a fan of Roseanna M. White’s books, especially her series set in England, so this was a change, being a standalone story, set in the Civil War between the States Era, in Savannah, Georgia. I’m used to reading books from this era from the Unionists -Yankee- view, so I was eager to learn more about the southern point of view and to find out if it could be as good as her previous books with so different setting, and characters, and it truly was! I was totally immersed in this novel and the deep growing of characters and absolutely loved it!
Cordelia (Delia) Owens is a beautiful blonde southern belle, who you could say she has everything, and is spoiled by her Daddy. Thank God, she has a huge heart, and her friendship with Salina, her “slave” companion, is of a big help to her. First, I thought she was a Scarlet O’Hara type of character, but as the story progressed I was proven wrong. She has fallen in love with Phinneas (Phin) Dunn, a handsome gentleman that has stolen her heart for some time. The story begins when he says goodbye to Delia before joining the Confederate Army, and asks her to wait for him, which Delia sweetly accepts.
But things will not be easy for neither as they navigate the war efforts and its consequences. The theme of racism during this place and era is so well described and it helped me so much understand better the southern part, their errors, as well as the good people that didn’t share the view of treating black slaves like a merchandise without dignity or soul. Delia came to me as a wonderful heroine: she was not superficial, and even with her overprotective background, she has her own mind and determination to do what is right for the people that were being abused. Her writing of slave stories was a generous and courageous thing to do in the circle she moved in, but she did it in an honest and compassionate way. The way she and Phin interact with the slaves was inspiring, with love and compassion, as one treats a friend. They both have some growing to do in the story. Delia wakes up from her constant dreams, which made her optimistic and magnanimous, to face a harsh reality. But this makes her act, instead of hiding under her protective family. Phin faces the consequences of war: injuries, trauma, nightmares, but he also has a progressive and struggling conversion to understand what was wrong with the Confederacy’s principles, but made it all the more inspiring. The faith elements were beautiful and never came out as preachy to me. The story has a beautiful message about love, kindness, freedom, forgiveness and bravery to upstand to what’s wrong.
The romance was truly sweet and genuine, not the typical easy going relationship. I loved this two characters, they were really made for each other. And the ending was so good and touching!
A beautiful soul searching and deep historical romance that you won’t easily forget! Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White is a stand-alone story centered around the city of Savannah, Georgia during the early days of the Civil War. Cordelia Owens loves to create stories to entertain her friends and family. When her sweetheart, Phineas Dunn goes missing during a raid on a Yankee ship, she weaves stories of his heroism to help his mother and sister cope. Can Delia and Phin’s love overcome all that the war stands for and bring them a happily ever after? Stories from this time period are always hard for me to read. But I loved Delia. Her ability to turn everything into an adventure was very amusing. And Phin’s change of outlook was certainly commendable. The romance throughout the story was very sweet but predictable; although I felt that after Phin’s return, he and Delia never really got to know each other again. The political issues that were part of the time period were handled in a truthful way that didn’t detract from the story itself. I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt and rushed though.


I received this book from the author for my honest review.

This was a book very rich in historical detail and it is one of those that I felt like I learned from.
I really appreciated the way the author explored the motivation and growth of the characters.
I will say that the two main characters really never spoke to me. I felt like I came into the story halfway and I would have loved to see how their relationship came to be. They were separated for so much of the book and I craved the interaction and romance I hoped for.
However, I adored Luther! Seriously I would have loved to have a book just about him and his devotion to his love! Likewise with Selina, I found myself more invested in the side characters then the main ones.
This book may appeal more to those who want more historical drama than romance.
Well written and it did feel like I saw the other in a new light.

Roseanna White is one of my favorite authors. Her writing style always immerses me in the story and the character’s lives. Her last two series contain some of my favorite books and characters. She is definitely one of my few auto buy authors.

While Dreams of Savannah is well written, as usual. I just didn’t connect with the characters and the storyline was heavier than I was expecting. I missed the elements of humor that are normally in her stories and the lightness that humor can bring to a story set in a difficult time in history. I’m sure that this story is historically accurate, which also made it harder for me to read.

While this is not my favorite Roseanna White story, I am sure those that like this time period and a historically accurate read will enjoy this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Title: Dreams of Savannah
Author: Roseanna M. White

Ch: 26

Pg: 400

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Bethany House

While Dreams of Savannah is out of my historical fiction wheel house I did however this new historical from Roseanna M White. It did start out slow but picked up after a few chapters. I loved Cordelia Delia from the very first page but it took me a while to Phineas Phin. But throughout the book as he grew and changed he grew on me.



What I loved about the novel was both Delia and Phin both realized that they had a lot to learn about themselves, each other and the world around them. And it changed both of the them. Delia’s love or story and wanting to tell others stories really hit home with the history nerd and genealogist in me. She felt like a kindred spirit. Though I think Luther is my favorite character from the book. I loved his wisdom and the fact that he tells Phin what he needs to hear even if he doesn’t want to hear it.


While Dreams of Savannah is set during the civil war Roseanna M. White handles the subject with grace and truth. It is a timely book with a message that is still needs to heard today. And it shows that we still have a lot to learn.



I received a complimentary copy Dreams of Savannah from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Dreams of Savannah is a completely different time and place than the other books I’ve read by this author, but it is a stunning story nonetheless.
Before I begin on my review, I have to say, though, one thing that captivated me about this book right from the start is it's beautiful cover! I just love it, and it goes so well with this story.
This is Delia's story. One might expect her to be a spoiled, southern belle. After all, that is rather what is expected of her, expected of any young lady from a genteel southern household and family, back in the days of the civil war, when the Confederacy was trying to take over the South.
But, Delia is not your typical heroine. In spite of her mother's desires and aspirations for her life, she wants nothing more than to be able to sit and write stories to her heart's content. Well, that and to be reunited with her love, Phin, who is off fighting in the war.
Delia, along with her maid Salina, keep having unusual dreams. Delia is convinced these are a way for her to know that Phin is still alive, even if he might not be doing well.
With Phin away, Delia's parents keep pressuring her to 'make a good match', and by this they mean they want her to forget about the promise she made to Phin and become betrothed to Julius James, a man she really can't stand.
This story is a delight, and has lots of unexpected twists and turns. I kept reading with bated breath....not daring to put the book down, and yet, hardly daring to keep reading.
In addition to Delia's main storyline, there is also the issue woven in of racism, of slavery in all its gory awfulness. Seeing these characters in the midst of all of it, the deep hurts, the feelings of superiority, and much more, well, it really did make me aware in a new way how thankful I am to not be living in those days. And yes, I am aware we deal with racism in some ways in our time period today, but it is not to the same extent as it was back then. It makes me realize more than ever how precious each and every life is in God’s eyes.
Roseanna White has written a beautiful story that brings to life the days of the Civil War as never before. Lovers of historical fiction will be especially drawn to this one.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I LOVED this book, as I do most Roseanna M. White novels. It was an interesting read as it reflected a bit on the times we find ourselves in now, though I don’t know that that was her intent.
Cordelia is such a fun character. Her love for stories and creating them in her imagination was so much fun to read about, and a real look into an author’s mind. Phineas is a strong character as well, and the transformation that occurs in both of their hearts was really well done. The issue of slavery and seeing their slaves as they are—human beings with hopes and dreams just like they have—was a real turning point in the book. The spiritual journey they both go on was meaningful and authentic and one I enjoyed reading and learning from.
I liked that there were several points of view that this book was written from, particularly Salina’s. I thought Roseanna handled all of those dynamics well, and looking at the Author’s Note, I could tell she put a lot of thought into honoring the stories of the real people who lived during that time.
The plot was engaging and compelling, the villain a man I loved to hate, and the complex issues addressed handled well. In all, Dreams of Savannah is another great historical read from this prolific author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Dreams of Savannah
By Roseanna M. White

Cordelia "Delia" Owens dreams up stories, stories of heroes doing deeds of daring, of knights coming to the rescue of a maiden in need of rescue. She apparently doesn't see the darkness in the world around her if her stories are any indication, but the light and lightness she brings to those around her is why so many enjoy her presence. Delia's secret wish is to be rescued by Phineas "Phin" Dunn and be swept away in a romance. But war is upon them and Phin is on the eve of his joining up.

With Delia's promise to wait for him forever Phin joins up with the Confederate's Navy, but war opens his eyes to new horrors. And when he is betrayed he is feared lost. But the promise of "Forever" gives him something to live for. And Luther's care opens his eyes even further to the evils of slavery - Luther, a free black man, whose wife was stolen and sold as a slave.

With her family pressuring her to marry, Delia struggles to cling to her belief that Phin will come back to her. But can a man who has seen and experienced what he has, truly return as the same person? As the world she knows begins to crumble around her Delia must decide what she believes and where her loyalties lie - is it with the South, her family, or the people she has come to know and love?

Dreams of Savannah offers a glimpse it the world that was the South, a world divided but what freedom truly means. Is it for a few or for all? Everything worthwhile comes with a cost and sometimes that cost is fighting for what is right even in the face of opposition This is the lesson that both Delia and Phin must learn as they see beneath the world of privilege that they grew up in - a world that has been built on the backs of those held in bondage.

Dreams of Savannah is a departure from what one has come to expect from Roseanna M. White. Rather than setting her book in England, we are taken to Savannah, Georgia, at the height of enthusiasm for the Southern cause. Should Phin and Delia have been more aware of the plight of those enslaved in their households? Probably, but all too often, even in today's world, we are blinded to the sins of the world around us until it directly impacts our personal or professional lives. This is, unfortunately, a sad truth that most people have fallen into - we need to see with empathy beyond our own known world, to try to see the other side and hopefully gain a small measure of understanding.

This book while touching on the horrors of war and slavery does not get into all the gritty and gruesome evils that one might expect. This book is on the clean/gentle reads side of the spectrum of the genre. This is a good read and the discussion question at the back of the book offers the reader a chance to think deeper about the subjects touched on. Good for reading on your own or as a book club selection.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - All thoughts expressed are my own.

Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White is a unique look at the civil war from the eyes of slave owners and slaves themselves. I applaud the author for being brave enough to take on such a sensitive issue, especially during the times we live in.

Cordelia Owens is a typical Southern Belle with a flair for telling stories. When her sweetheart is lost at sea her stories keep him alive in her heart and in the hearts of his family. As she continues to weave her tales, however, she becomes aware of other stories that need to be told and she secretly begins to meet with the slaves her father owns, to write an accurate account of all they have endured. The more she listens the more she questions her life and she turns to God for direction.

While Cordelia is listening to stories and writing them, Phineas Dunn, her intended, washes up (barely alive) on a beach in Cuba. He is saved by a free English black man, Luther, a minister who is searching for his wife who was kidnapped and illegally sold as a slave. He agrees to help Phineas get home if Phineas will help him find his wife. But first, Phineas needs to stay alive for that to happen.

At the same time, Cordelia's eyes are opened to how she has viewed and treated the slaves in her home, Phineas' eyes are also opened as Luther tends for him and prays for him. More importantly, Phin begins to seek a relationship with God and with His help, he attempts to make it back home to Cordelia.

This story has lots of layers. There is the question of how Southern Christians could justify owning slaves. And how many who owned slaves were forbidden by law to set them free. There is the perspective of the slave owners and the perspective of the slaves as well. There is also the spiritual aspect of how Southern Christians justified themselves before God. Amid all these heavy topics there is a romance in danger of being lost forever because Cordelia's father wants her to marry someone she absolutely despises. There is also a hunt for a free woman sold into slavery. So many stories inside this story!

The journey Phin and Cordelia take in uncovering their own prejudices and their journey back to God and to each other are well worth reading. I highly recommend this book!

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley.