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.

Dreams of Savannah provides a thought-provoking tale with great characters worth rooting for.

It took me a while to get into this book. I’m not 100% sure why. The dialect did pull me out of the story a bit, so maybe that was it. Or maybe it’s because I just read her Codebreakers series set in WWI London and was trying to transition to Civil War Georgia. Either way, once I got about 20% in and Luther was introduced, the book held my attention and kept it.

I loved the main characters. Cordelia does come across as naïve at the beginning of the novel, but I think her character arc was my favorite. Not only are her eyes opened to the reality of what’s around her, she also learns how to cope with it. Phin also has a great arc, and I loved his dynamic with Luther. The characters were definitely this novel’s strong point.

I have to say, though, Julius made me feel icky. This feeling went beyond his role as a villain. Maybe it was his constant presence in the novel or that I had a bad feeling about what was coming. For that I had to deduct half a star. I understand, though, his place in the plot.

Speaking of plots, I found myself enjoying the subplots more than the main plot. Salina and Luther endeared themselves to me early on. But I didn’t expect them to almost steal the show. I don’t say this as criticism of the main plot because this actually enriched the main plot. Salina and Luther both influence Cordelia and Phin, and that influence affected the main characters’ arcs in a positive way.

That gave me a lot to think about, how these characters who were considered a “lower” class at the time influenced two people from the planter class. This book doesn’t just explore slavery. It also explores how the slaves’ lives sometimes intertwined with those of their “masters” in a way that the “masters” often didn’t even notice. How “friendships” often were more of a power play. To me, this wasn’t just about race but also society in general. Because even among the planters, there seemed to be an idea of who was “good” enough. Cordelia’s family’s reaction to Phin versus Julius is evident of that.

And I think that comes out the most in the spiritual arcs, especially for Phin. Phin realizes his faith was superficial at best. And as it deepens, he realizes he is just as unworthy as everyone else of God’s grace. Luther plays a large role in this transformation because of the way he models his faith. And he and Salina both highlight for Phin and Cordelia what both races have in common. I think that’s why Luther and Salina almost stole the show. Their influence is so obvious, I found myself enjoying their storyline because I knew it would positively impact the main characters in some way.

I could go on and on, but I don’t want to risk any spoilers. Suffice it to say, I think this almost eclipsed the romance. In fact, Phin and Cordelia don’t spend a lot of time together on the page. They think of each other a lot, and they do have obstacles to overcome to be together. But while I enjoyed the romance, I enjoyed the food for thought a lot more.

Overall, Dreams of Savannah is a compelling Civil War drama historical romance fans will enjoy.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

I LOVED this book. So many reasons I can’t list them all, but I will list some.

First, I love Roseanna’s books in general but I have to say I don’t think I have read one I enjoyed this much in quite awhile.

Second, it was set during the Civil War and I am Gone with the Wind fan and the first chapter has that kind of flare to it, I was smitten from the first page.

Phin and Delia’s journey is wonderful. Their eyes are gradually opened in different ways, at different time, to the complete atrocity that slavery is. Their love is so strong, they never (or hardly ever) wavered from them steadfastness.

There is even a moment that I had to blink back tears at the beauty that unfolded on the page.

I can not wait to read what will come next in this series and who will be the main character? I have no doubt it will be just as good.


A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Dreams of Savannah is a captivating story set in Savannah during the Civil War. Delia is a delightful character - a charming heroine and gifted storyteller. She is a little naive at the beginning of the story, but is forced to confront some painful truths when a shameful family secret comes to light. Phin, her sweetheart, is a member of the Confederate Navy and finds himself questioning his long-held beliefs when he is forced to rely on an unlikely hero. He and Delia are both transformed during the course the book and make some difficult decisions about the kind of people they want to be.

This story has it all - from rich historical detail, to a compelling hero and heroine, to a devious villain, to the powerful themes of faith and redemption. I found myself drawn in from the beginning and hard a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wasn't sure at first if I would like Dreams of Savannah as much as previous books by Roseanna White but turns out this is just as great as her other works!

Once I really got into the story of Cordelia and Phineas, I was totally hooked and had to find out what happened to them and their friends. I loved the whole cast of characters...well, except for Cousin Julius! The added storyline of Luther/Monty was wonderful as was Salina's. While there was adventure and romance, this is a book to make you think. It makes you look back on our past as well as think on our future and how we should be.

Kudos to Roseanna White for another great story! It was a great way to spend a rainy day. I'll read a book by her any day!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White is a wonderful story. Cordelia Owens is a story weaver and when the man she loves goes missing in action, she helps his family by keeping them hopeful of his return with the imaginative stories she tells. But her family wants to see her settled and is pushing her to marry a man she doesn't like to increase their lands. Will they force her to marry? Meanwhile, the love of her life, Phineas Dunn, who was injured is trying to find his way back to Savannah to Delia and his family.

Great secondary characters who enrich the story and interesting history surrounding the Revolutionary War, slavery and life in Savannah.

Ms. White is also a weaver of stories and this one is a great read. I enjoy all of her books. They are full of adventure, suspense and romance. I look forward to her next one.

I received this book from the author and Bethany House Publishers and all opinions are my own.

I have read four of Roseanna M White's books set in England during World War I, and loved each one. Dreams of Savannah is set early in the Civil War era; while much different than the author's previous books I had read, it was equally wonderful. Cordelia Owens' and Phineas Dunn's growing faith, and the opening of their eyes and hearts to those previously unseen will warm the hearts of readers as well as inspire them to self-reflect. Cordelia's vivid and active imagination along with her love of words and stories will resonate with book lovers. While I do not know if this is the first book of a series, I certainly hope that it is.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Dreams of Savannah from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Dreams of Savannah
by Roseanna M. White
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance
Pub Date 05 Jan 2021 | Archive Date 16 Feb 2021

This is a very serious, heavy, historical fiction. I wasn't really prepared for the heaviness of the book.
Well written! Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the ARC.
I will recommend it to our patrons.

4 star

This is a hard book for me to review. I tend toward fluffy romance reads and this was not that. Initially I was uncomfortable that the main characters that I was supposed to love were southern slave owners during the civil war. I kept thinking it was weird to be expected to root for the "enemy" as I am a northerner. Eventually the book felt less about that and more about understanding slavery and I kept thinking about how easy it would be for a child to grow up never thinking twice about owning slaves. It just was and only certain personalities would question that on their own I think. Most would just accept life as it was placed before them, just as Delia did.

I had two aspects in this book that I loved. I loved the dreams Phin's girlfriend, her slave/sister, his slave valet had all dreaming about what is happening in his life while he was away at war. They don't really understand it except it does give them the sense that Phin is still alive even when everything else points to his death. What a gift.

And I loved the relationship between Phin and Luther. It was wonderful how they grew to understand each other so well that Luther could "preach his sermons" without saying a word. Phin really learned to understand how slaves might feel and understand them better as humans. He couldn't directly free his slaves due to laws at the time but instead he worked to help them in the one way he could.

I did not like Delia's parents at all except the one redeeming thing about her father was that he actually cared about his half black daughter while most white men might not care at all. He didn't have a true understanding but he was willing to acknowledge her and try to protect her as much as he could. Mostly.

Pretty much everything about this story is difficult. Nothing goes easily. Romance, parental relationships, war, slavery etc... It was all hard stuff. Not an easy read for me. And the book is long. I think I'd have liked it better shaved down some in the middle.

The book has a lot of religious elements in it but it is written so well that one might expect it from each of the characters. It was part of their inner selves so it didn't stick out or feel like the author was trying to preach to the reader. It was just a natural part of the story.

Sex: Leering, references to white slave owners raping slaves
Language: no
Violence: war scenes, attempted rape, perilous moments
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

What a great novel! It was interesting and unique to read from the perspectives of Southerners during the Civil War as their views and beliefs become challenged during the story. I really liked the characters in the subplot in the novel as well. The history is seamlessly woven into the book, creating an interesting and intriguing setting for romance and growth. I really liked Cordelia and Phineas and loved their evolution in the novel. The spiritual truths are relatable to my own life. The plot had a few unpredictable twists and I found it hard to put the novel down! (Also, can we talk about how gorgeous that cover is?!) I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

While I am admittedly not a Civil War buff and have never really enjoyed books set during that time period, especially in the South, I am a Roseanna White buff and will read anything she writes so I was happy to read and review the complimentary copy I was sent from her publisher. I was not disappointed, but neither was I wowed. I thought this was a well-written and very enjoyable story, and I was impressed with the deft way she handled very controversial and complex worldviews. I was pleased that she did not do any sugar-coating on either side. As always, my favorite part of her book was the way she shows her characters growing because of their relationship with the Lord and His people. I also appreciated the way so many of the characters in this book demonstrated what it is to be steadfast and loyal to those you love, especially when you disagree strongly with them. I learned from them and hope I will be more like them in the future. I recommend this book without reservations, but I think those who enjoy Civil War historical fiction will enjoy it even more than I did.

Dreams of Savannah takes place in Savannah , Georgia during the beginning of the American Civil War. It follows a white privileged southern belle, her sweetheart who joins the Confederates, a free British black man, and an black enslaved woman living. While well researched, and great pains were taken to show the nuances and complicated history of the South in the 1860s , the book has an overarching glossed-over feeling, as if watching the past from the hazy glow of romanticism. It didn’t have the weight or gravity, having too much of the whimsical to really give a real view of the American South and Slavery.

But that’s okay. This book is supposed to bring awareness, romance, history, and Christianity together in one dish. And while not heavy enough to satisfy this reader, it is a light enjoyable read. I wasn’t attached to the characters enough at the beginning, but grew to like most of them and the need to witness what happened next in the plot. Luther was my favorite character, and the one I felt was the ‘realest’ and relatable.

Good read, well paced, decent characters. 4 Stars

What I loved:

Cordelia was a fun character. She was kind, compassionate, and imaginative. I loved how she turned everything into a story, and I loved the fact that she examined her biases and took the time to educate herself once she was made aware of them, and the moments when she took a stand.

She and Phin had good chemistry and completed each other well, though I feel their relationship could have used more development (more on that in a minute).

Luther was a fabulous character! LOVED him! Salina was a wonderful, strong character. I wish we could have heard even more of her voice.

My main complaint is that, while we got to know both main characters very well, their individual development was great, and they had really good chemistry when they were together...much of their relationship takes place off screen. They don't go through any of these changes together, and it's near the end of the book before they both know they're on the same page over the issue of slavery. When they were together they didn't talk about what was happening in their lives that was changing their outlook on life. I wish we had been able to see more of their relationship at the beginning of the book, and maybe some of their letters.

I think it would have also been helpful to see Phin's character and interaction with his slaves at the beginning of the book before he met Luther so we could appreciate his change a bit more.

The Civil War books I have read on the past fall into two camps: 1. The South is a villain camp 2. Humanizing the south while glossing over the issue of slavery (yeah, slavery was bad, but...*cue defense of slavery or slave owners*) camp.

As the spectrum goes, this book would fall more towards the middle. It does humanize the people of the South, but it ALSO deals with the issue of slavery. It is probably the first book I've read that includes an awakening of the slave owners to the evil of slavery. It has a clear anti-racism/anti-slavery message, while acknowledging the complexities of the day. There a challenge (albeit, subtle) to the reader to examine our own biases.

Overall, it was a very good read. This is a difficult topic to navigate, especially when writing fiction. What I think this book does well is that it does not dwell overly much on defending or villainizing the South. Instead it addresses people living in a broken system and asks them to do their part in bringing about justice.

From the beginning, I was drawn to the characters in this engaging story. I especially enjoyed the two main characters as they struggled and wrestled to establish their beliefs. The lessons of faith which included prayers and God’s Word were much appreciated. I also enjoyed the few moments of humor aptly added against the backdrop of this adventurous tale. The creativity and imagination of Delia, who wants to be a writer, is simply wonderful and demonstrates the power of words and story. Throughout the book, Roseanna White illuminates the beauty of each person’s individual life story. I found this novel to be rich in history and written with respect of the Civil War era. I highly recommend it. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Whenever I learn that Roseanna M. White has a new book coming out, it immediately goes on my must-read list. This very skilled author has an amazing talent for crafting historical fiction that makes me feel like I have stepped back in time into the era she is depicting. In Dreams of Savannah, I was transported to Savannah, Georgia, deep in America’s South, in the early part of the Civil War.
In all of White’s books, her characters are complex, multi-dimensional people with strengths and flaws, making them both believable and relatable. Her characters in Dreams of Savannah are certainly not exceptions. The story follows Cordelia (Delia) Owens, a member of the city’s high society who enjoys writing and telling stories, and her love interest, Phineas (Phin) Dunn, who goes off to fight for the Confederacy.
I enjoyed seeing the characters grow throughout the book as they came to rely more heavily on their faith in God while struggling with moral issues impacting their long-held beliefs and way of life. The book beautifully illustrates how all people, regardless of race, creed, or color, are equal in their desire for freedom and have a right to pursue their dreams.
As in all her books, White skillfully paints the setting with rich detail, in this case with vivid descriptions of the homes, trees, and gardens of the era that make you feel as if you are right there. The depth of her historical research is readily evident. The book’s pacing is also perfect, with a storyline that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
I recommend Dreams of Savannah to adults who enjoys historical fiction told from a Christian perspective. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers but was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

A moving tale set in the south during the civil war. The backdrop of events is a painful time in our history and Roseanna M. White does a good job of showing how people rose up against this to stand up for what they believed to be right. It portrays how to love your enemy and shows us how love can conquer transgressions. Cordelia captured my attention as a storyteller. Despite the darkness surrounding her, she used stories to bring hope to those around her. She clung to her faith and her devout love for Phin and as result, touched the lives of many around her. Phin, betrayed in the worst way, had to learn about forgiveness and that maybe his way of seeing things has some room to grow. All the characters are challenged and demonstrate growth as a result. A different time period than I have to come love and expect from Roseanna M. White, but the expected faith elements are still bountiful, and you will be blessed, challenged and encouraged as a result.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

*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 cliches 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!

Roseanna M. White is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction. She always writes lovely relatable main characters, dastardly villains, and a beautifully flowing story-line that draws you in and makes you want more. This book was no different. While her most recent novels took place in England during WWI, this one actually takes place in the Southern States during the Civil War. Seeing a Christian novel written from the perspective of slave owners was enlightening. I appreciated that in the author's note, she indicated getting critique and perspective from Christian author Toni Shiloh, who has been a strong voice in recent years for POC in Christian fiction. While I felt that the novel depicted history well, it does still speak to the reality of slavery in our nation's history, which felt a little bold. But it's a story that needs to be told.

This book follows Coredelia Owens, a member of Savannah's society and story-teller extraordinnaire. I loved seeing an "author" perspective within the book. While in that timeframe, Delia would not likely have ever been able to be published because she was a woman, I loved that she wrote and told stories for the love of the story and not for personal acclaim. I appreciated how she grew personally in her talent and sought to tell stories that were uplifting and honoring and not JUST entertaining (after all, that's one of the big reasons I read Christian fiction!). Our hero was Phineas Dunn, who went to fight in the Confederate navy where an incident had him convalescing south of the border while everyone thought he was missing and/or dead. While there were several plot lines that kept the book moving, this was more of a character driven novel as the main characters learned to see those enslaved in a different light.

In addition to strong character development, this book had a solid faith thread. Phin found himself convalescing in the home of a minister and he retained the scriptures that were read over him while he was unconscious. Delia learned to rely more heavily on God as she prayed for Phin's safety and well-being. They both grew spiritually throughout the book as well as personally. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of inspirational historical fiction.

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White takes place during the Civil War in Savannah, aka the South. That sure made a quite interesting point of view, as Roseanna managed to describe how complicated it actually was, instead of good versus bad. Oh now I spoiled what I liked most about this book lol! LAYERS. So many layers! And I’m not talking about female fashion in that era though that seems really complicated too…

Anyway, we have a very dreamy and imaginative heroine, Delia, who sees stories everywhere. And Phin, the hero, though he doesn’t view himself that way. They are in love, but haven’t declared anything as Phin leaves for the war, and he goes missing from his ship. Meanwhile Delia is pushed by her parents towards another man who she dislikes, but she clings to her promise to Phin. But can promises survive when reality does a backflip? As Phin washes ashore an island, a Black reverend takes him in and tries to nurse him back to health, but he’s a changed man because of what he’s seen. And he’s about to change some more when he promises to help the vicar find his illegally sold wife in Savannah.

Besides Phin and Delia, there is a third POV, of a slave girl named Salina. I liked her best actually, she cared so much for everyone and tries so hard to make everyone feel loved. She’s really close to Delia, but isn’t as naive as she has obviously seen the darkness that is slavery.

I already mentioned I loved the layers in this novel. There are many themes, and I feel like the author did a really good job to bring nuance to the story. To show how people grow both in character and faith. There was darkness, but also romance and love, and Delia is a shining light throughout the novel. The north versus south debate was very delicately handled, and it shed some light on motivations from both sides. I felt the author did justice to the complicated history, but as I’m European I can’t say for sure.

While I loved 95% of the book, one thing bothered me a bit. I felt like the trope where the father wants to marry his daughter to an evil guy to expand his fortunes was a bit… well, tropey. I felt that such a book as this, with the themes of slavery and freedom, could have had a better villain. For me it was very hard to believe how her parents turned 180 degrees where Phin was concerned. And the evil guy was truly evil, there was no redeeming quality at all, where the rest of this book is so very complicated and grey. Maybe that was needed for the story, to truly have a villain (maybe two actually) as opposite of all the people trying to do the right thing, but it didn’t work for me.

The three point of views were very well done, the pacing was very good and the action got nicely distributed this way, and when it all comes together… perfect. This is not a light read, though there is much lightness, but it is a very good read that will leave an impression.

I’ve got a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion, thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House.

Roseanna M. White continues to be at the top of her game in Dreams of Savannah. She's long been an auto-read author for me and I've read a couple of her past series multiple times. Dreams of Savannah was a bit different from some of her more recent books (all set in England), but wow, I loved this story, loved the romance, and loved the long journey with these characters. There are some very tough pieces of our nation's history included in this book, but the author handled them with care and authenticity—no romanticizing of ugly realities, which I appreciated.