My Review
Where Dandelions Bloom, I absolutely loved it! I've read many civil war fiction books, it is one of my favorite historical subjects to read about, this one it is special!
The civil war was a bloody battle with so many lives lost. I live very close to Gettysburg and visit it often and have learned much about the battle there. Even though this book is about the fighting and there are lives lost it is written with compassion by an author who has obviously put in many hours of research time!
This book is different, it is written more with a woman's point of view about the war as the main character is a woman who disguised as a man enlists to escape an unacceptable marriage arranged by her father. The romance between civil war photographer, Gabriel and main character enlistee, Cassie is tender and sweet. He isn't so happy to discover she's a woman at first, he's shocked and mourns the loss of what he thought was a male friend.
I was very surprised to read how many woman actually enlisted in the civil war and were able to keep their secret the whole way through. I enjoy reading about historical things that are different and out of the ordinary and this was that but written in a way that kept my interest
while fascinating me.
The story line moves along quickly and doesn't drag at all. I also was pleased to see at the end Cassie forgives her father for past wrongs because not forgiving can eat you up. Hard as it is to do, it's the right thing to do! Told with compassion,tenderness and authenticity I can not
wait to read more by this author!
Published July 1st 2019 by Tyndale House Publishers. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Summary
Cassie Kendrick is on the run. Her abusive father arranged her marriage to a despicable man, but she's discovered an escape. Disguised as a man, Cassie enlists in the Union army, taking the name Thomas Turner. On the battlefields of the Civil War, keeping her identity a secret is only the beginning of her problems, especially after she meets Gabriel Avery, a handsome young photographer. Anxious to make his mark on the world and to erase the darkness and guilt lurking from his past, Gabriel works with renowned photographer Matthew Brady to capture images from the front lines of the war. As Gabriel forges friendships with many of the men he encounters, he wonders what the courageous, unpredictable Thomas Turner is hiding. Battling betrayal, their own personal demons, and a country torn apart by war, can Cassie and Gabriel learn to forgive themselves and trust their futures to the God who births hope and healing in the darkest places?
About The Author
Website
http://www.tarajohnsonstories.com/
TaraMinistry
Genre
Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance
Tara writes stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves. Tara is a history nerd, a passionate lover of comedy, and will happily play basketball with anyone who asks. She writes historical romance, and her favorite love is the Civil War. Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, as well as numerous other accolades. She has articles published in Plain Truth Magazine and Live It Loud Magazine and has been a featured guest on Voice of Truth radio, Enduring Word radio, television and podcasts. Tara is a member of ACFW and is represented by Janet Grant of Books & Such Literary Agency. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.
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