Dreams of Savannah

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! He was strong, he battled his feelings, he showed grace but did not hold back or glaze over the truth for the purpose of making Phin feel comfortable. I really appreciated that. Salina was also a wonderful, strong character. She had every right to feel resentful of Delia but chose love instead. I wish we could have heard even more of her voice. While we got to know both Phin and Delia very well, their individual development was great, and they had really good chemistry when they were together…much of their relationship takes place off-page. 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 in 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 is a challenge 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. I received an advanced copy for the purpose of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

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 wonderful inspirational historical fiction romance set during America's Civil War period and is perfect for all of those who love that period of history. The war changed so many things in the states. It divided a country, families and friends. It changed peoples' values, economies, way of life, morality and fundamental beliefs. Cordelia and Phineas are not the same two people they were when it all began and aren't sure when Phineas returns a very different and wounded man if they are meant to be together in this new America. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by this author in the future. I was given an ARC from the author/publisher All conclusions are mine and mine alone.