This is the first novel I’ve read by Ann H. Gabhart. It is one both heartwarming and heartbreaking, full of hope and yet doesn’t shy away from difficult topics (marriage troubles, illness, and death, to name a few). What Gabhart manages to do so effortlessly is weave in real-life trials while not perseverating on them. A mistake some Christian fiction authors make is glossing over trials, thus making their books unrelatable, or painting Christians as exempt from the sins of this world. I appreciated Gabhart’s discretion in highlighting the pains many people walk through while not glorifying them.

The reason I didn’t rate this book higher was because I felt like the ending was tied up too perfectly and quickly. There were still some glaring trials that weren’t completely addressed at the end, leaving me wondering what became of the characters. I also think the character of Dirk could’ve been fleshed out better. His motives seemed conflicting and unbelievable at times. Why would a man who doesn’t like company, isn’t a practicing Christian, and who had a bad relationship with his brother, so quickly decide to take in his sister-in-law and her two daughters, and give all the money he earned from an article he wrote to them? I think some readers can overlook these inconsistencies, but for me, I thought they hindered my experience reading what was otherwise a well-written novel.

'Prayers were simply empty words. What could prayer do for him?

As soon as I started this book, I knew it was going to be a 5 star read. Ann H. Gabhart is a natural born storyteller, the kind you'd like to sit with on a rainy day by a crackling fire and just listen to her tell stories for hours. Or go for a long walk with her in early fall and hear her tell stories along the way. Maybe sit down on a fallen log and listen eagerly for each word. She has such a wonderful way with telling stories, her words flow sweetly as our hearts are filled with each character and their problems, joys, and love.

This precious story, set in 1925, is one that I won't soon forget. A widow burdened with tuberculosis must let her two darling daughters go to an orphanage because she has to live in a sanitorium to be healed of this dread disease. These girls are not in the best place and situations arise that they call upon their father's brother, a man who is scarred and lives in seclusion. Can they count on Dirk to rescue them? Will his heart open to their plight? Hearts are closed and broken, fears run deep, old secrets cause pain. Will the meadow ever bloom again in these hearts?

Gabhart has a winner here, one for the keeper shelf, as once again, our hearts are filled to the brim by this amazing storyteller. Well done!

My thanks to Revell for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is entirely my own.

“When the Meadow Blooms”, by Ann H. Gabhart (Revell), is a sweet, gentle story about love and loss, sisters and family ties, featuring a wounded hero full of sadness and longing.
I liked the unconditional love between sisters and mother and daughters, the recluse, scarred hero who is so kind in spite of all the aloofness, and the way Nature also plays a role in the story.
I also liked the depiction of poverty and the bleakness of the future for the widow and her daughters in the uncertain circumstances they’ve been facing.
Watching the girls blossom after such hard times is endearing. Lincoln is a great character, too.
I felt the healing for Dirk and him opening up to Anneliese and the girls came a bit too easily.

Ann H. Gabhart is among my favorite authors and was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release, When the Meadow Blooms. This one is no different. As a widow with young children and recently lost her husband during a pandemic, I instantly felt an instant connection to Rose. I could understand her heartache and struggles as she tries to navigate life without her husband. Her story is one that made me want to keep reading and gave me inspiration and a send of hope and peace. Such a sweet and heartwarming story of love and faith.
When the Meadow Blooms will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean historical romance. As always, I will be looking forward to more by Ann H Gabhart in the future. Love her books.

I received a copy of When the Meadow Blooms from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

This is a fantastic book. The story is about Rose Meadow and her two children. Rose loses her husband Frank to a influenza epidemic in 1918. She then gets tuberculosis and has to stay in a sanatorium. She believes it will be just a few weeks and places her daughters in a orphanage. The children end up there for two years. Rose wants to leave the sanatorium but she is afraid of where she will have to go. Rose writes a letter to her brother-in-law for help. This is a beautiful story of forgiveness and trust and love. Ann H Gabhart did a wonderful job in this book. It was a book of Hope and new beginnings for the family. I totally enjoyed it. I received a free copy from the publisher and Net Galley this is my own opinion on this book.

Rose Meadows is in a sanitarium because she has tuberculosis. Her daughters are in a Home for Girls and Rose wants nothing more than to be reunited with her girls. Rose's late husband's brother has a farm with large meadows which would be perfect for the girls. What Rose doesn't know is that the headmistress of the Home for Girls is mistreating the children in her care. She just knows she wants her daughters back.

Calla, Rose's elder daughter, sees the abuse her younger sister is experiencing in the home and finds the address for her father's brother. She writes and asks him to rescue them from the home. At the same time, Rose writes to her brother-in-law asking for assistance so that she can leave the sanitarium.

Dirk Meadows is a reclusive, wounded man who relishes his privacy, but understands the needs of his brother's family. He steps up and brings Rose and the girls to his home called Meadowlands. His rules are few and Calla, especially works hard to keep his house neat and chores done to thank him for rescuing them.

This book takes on some spiritual issues and shows through the characters how they are resolved in such a satisfying way. While taking place during the 1920s, Ann H Gabhart has included such issues as acceptance, looking beyond outward appearances to see the heart, forgiveness, healing, and acknowledging God's presence even when He seems far away. She weaves these emotions and ideas into her story seamlessly and those are engaging traits for a book to have. She is a masterful author who works hard at her craft to bring satisfying tales to her readers.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a Meadow full of wild flowers.



Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a beautiful story of strength, forgiveness, perseverance, trust, and faith. My reviews don't provide spoilers, but I loved getting to know each character. Each have such unique qualities which make you love each one. I would actually like to see this continue in a series to continue into their lives, but possibly one just for Callie as she grows up and closer to the age to marry, but then might as well have one more book to discuss Sienna as she grows up as well. Sienna was just the cutest. I could just picture her running around the meadow with her unique gift she has with nature and animals especially. I truly felt sad for Dirk as well as Rose and their difficult lives, but thankful for the heartfelt ending. This was a 5 star book for me.

Rose is in a sanitarium with tuberculosis and had to leave her two daughters, Callie and Sienna, at the orphanage. Her brother-in-law, Dirk is a recluse after being scarred due to burns many years ago.



This story was truly touching about a mother's love for her kids. I especially enjoyed young Sienna who has such a special relationship with creatures, especially Stanley and Josephine.



Dirk and Lincoln both have been through so much and continue moving forward with their lives.



This was a wonderful story that has stuck with me for days!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own.