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 … 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?
more
Step back in time to the Civil War and take a firsthand look at what it was like for those involved in this life-impacting conflict. Tara’s characters were realistic, and I felt deeply connected to them as I read this story, especially Cassie. If you enjoy well-written novels set during the Civil War, I recommend Where Dandelions bloom to you.
Tara Johnson is a new-to-me author but I will be finding her other books. She did a masterful job of writing Cassie as a woman posing as a boy to join the war. When I first read the concept of the book, I thought, no way! But her scenes were so well written and believable. You were right there with Cassie as she marched, and fought and tended the wounded.
And Gabe was everything a reader looks for in a hero…down to his faults. It was completely understandable how he felt betrayed when he discovered Henry (Cassie) was really a woman. And how he thought it was terrible that a woman would do what Cassie did.
But Cassie really didn’t have another choice. If she stayed with her father, she would have to marry a horrible man she couldn’t stand. She was young and unmarried, so she couldn’t be a nurse; she didn’t have enough education to be a school teacher, but she had what it took to be a soldier–she was a crack shot and she didn’t give up and was willing to work hard.
The supporting characters were great–her grandmother, the men in her company, Jonah. Tara Johnson’s writing is lyrical–the words flowed with a rhythm that drew me in. It’s a book that I won’t soon forget…and even though I’m not a re-reader, I’ll probably re-read this one!
“Where Dandelions Bloom” is a well-written story of love and loss, bitterness and forgiveness; a reminder of the price of slavery. However, it is also a great reminder that God is with us in all circumstances which He uses for our good although it may not seem like it at the time. It is a reminder of God’s love and that “hope springs eternal.” I shall make Tara Johnson another one of the many authors that I will read again.
This book was absolutely wonderful. After reading what the book was about I was so excited to read the story and I was not disappointed! I loved the characters. They were so realistic and likable. I also enjoyed how realistic this historical fiction story seemed. It was just such a REAL story with no fluff. I love Tara’s writing style.
This was a different kind of read for me. Although I have read books about the Civil War, I don’t usually read fiction books with some truth. I absolutely loved it. The story telling is so vivid and real. You can feel the fighting going on around Cassie/Thomas and the pain of loss. There were 2 incidents that crushed me. The story is researched very well and follows the Civil War time line quite well. I did some of my own research as well, out of curiosity. There were over 400 females that disguised themselves as men during the Civil War. You don’t hear much about them and you can be sure that this reader, because of this story, will find more books about them to read.
The love that grows between Cassie and Gabe is very pure and believable. I say pure because Gabe knew her as Thomas for so long that he knew her and how she thought. There was no fake courting or attempts to impress. Even though Cassie continues to push him away you know that it’s upsetting her. She’s just protecting herself and it takes Gabe too long to figure that out. He wants to protect her, but does eventually realize that he can’t.
This is a delightful, well written book that I was upset to have end. Even though the ending is as expected, the future of the two is heartwarming.
I loved Tara Johnson’s new novel. I got to go on many adventures in this book. Tara has done an amazing job of bringing these events to life. Wow!! The way she wrote made me feel like I was right in the middle of this story.
She has brought the bloodiest battle to life and I could “see” and “hear” what was going in around me.
Cassie learns many lessons along the way and the most important one was forgiveness. Forgiveness is important for your soul. For if you don’t it will eat you up and give you no peace until you do!!
I loved Cassies stamina courage and ability to do what is right.
Whenever I read Civil War stories it was usually from the Southern View. In this book it is completely from Northern view. Really though, for both sides it was terrible.
I loved the historical aspects of this book because I’ve learned many things.
I’m especially intrigued by the photography part of it. If it weren’t for the bravery of these people we wouldn’t have pictures of the Civil War that we do today.
I love the way the author shows us that friendship can come from different backgrounds and it’s the heart that truly matters.
She also offers hope at the end of the tunnel so to speak.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who loves to read for you are in for a real treat!!
This is the best Civil War book I’ve ever read!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book with no compensations received. All opinions are my own!!
Cassie Kendrick is willing to do anything to get away from her abusive father and her arranged marriage to a man just as horrific. Seizing her one opportunity, she cuts her hair and enlists in the Union army as the Civil War ensues. Though she goes to excruciating lengths to keep her disguise intact, eventually her secret is discovered by Gabriel Avery, a handsome photographer who has befriended Cassie’s alter ego, Thomas Turner, while traveling with the troops taking images of the war.
Facing dangers on every side, Cassie learns the one greatest threat comes from within through an unforgiving heart. As her relationship with Gabe blossoms, it opens the door not only to forgiveness, but love.
Full of history and heroics, Where Dandelions Bloom is a memorable tale of the realities of war and the value of forgiveness.
Johnson gives readers a glimpse of a whole other side of the Civil War in Where Dandelions Bloom. It’s more than just a girl playing the part of a soldier. It’s more than a photographer capturing the images of war. It’s even more than the story of two people coming together in unfortunate circumstances, and yet having to learn how to let their guards down and feel something. This is a story of forgiveness. It’s a story of putting your past behind you, and moving forward. It’s a story of learning to lean on the Creator for everything that life throws at you. It’s a story that will touch your heart, and have you reaching for the tissues every now and then.
I’m not even sure where to begin. How about my favorite characters? Believe it or not, they happen to be secondary characters. First is Cassie’s grandmother. She imparts such wisdom to Cassie, even during the difficult situations. She reminds me of the kind of grandmother I want to be. One who can effortlessly offer sound, Godly advice. One who is comforting, and always has an open door. Then there was sweet Jonah. His enthusiasm just brought a smile to my face. He fit right in with Cassie and Gabe, kind of like a family of their own. Each time he entered the scene, I knew he was either going to make me chuckle or smile. Don’t get me wrong – Cassie and Gabe are wonderful main characters. They had strengths, weaknesses, growth, maturity, and everything I wanted them to have. But it was truly the secondary ones that stole my heart. That right there is what good authors do – make the secondary characters so wonderful and memorable, that they don’t really feel like secondary characters at all!
Not only does Johnson bring her characters to life, she also brings the setting to life. Without being grotesque at all, she manages to write the details of the war, the Whatsit, and Cassie’s home so vividly that I could see it playing out in my head like a movie. And what a wonderful date night movie that would be! Although I already know the movie would never do the book justice – it just wouldn’t capture the essence of the war the way Johnson did. Yes there was pain and suffering, but she somehow managed to make me almost forget that and instead focus on the excitement, the spying, the chase, and the frustrations that the soldiers felt. She made me focus on the hope that these soldiers were there to fight for the good guys, and the “brotherhood” they had that couldn’t be broken. It was inspiring to read.
Historical fiction fans will find themselves engrossed in this novel until they reach the very end, and even then finding themselves wanting more. I highly recommend this wonderfully written novel! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was excellent! Tara Johnson did such a great job writing a vivid and beautiful story! She captured the darkness of the Civil War, but did it with grace. I absolutely loved Cassie and Gabe! I also loved Jonah too! These characters have stuck with me since I finished reading. I really enjoyed the message of forgiveness throughout the whole book. It spoke to my heart. I highly recommend this book!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
“We learn who we were to decide who we want to be.’”
Such a heart-gripping novel! This is the first novel by Tara Johnson that I have read and I am totally hooked on her writing! The author uses a well-loved trope of a woman disguising herself as a man to enter the army during the Civil War but puts a twist to the plot by making the hero of the story a wartime photographer and not a soldier. The story is well-written and easy-to-read, with a well-paced plot and beautifully broken characters.
Cassie is a woman with gumption and grit, yet lives in fear and hatred of her father which leads to her fleeing her home and enlisting in the Union army. Gabe is an immigrant, a self-made photographer, and a loyal, compassionate, ambitious man who believes in the Old World idealism of women being frail and needing protection. He’s given an opportunity to photograph the war while traveling with a Union regiment. When their worlds collide on the battlefields during the Civil War, they form a friendship but all is threatened when her true identity is revealed to Gabe and secrets infiltrate their tentative bond. Their friendship and blossoming love are so real and tender, as is their struggle for forgiveness – both extending and receiving that sacred of all gifts.
Truly this book will touch your heart, especially if you’re a fan of historical romance/fiction. The well-researched details and events that make up the backbone of the story are shown in realistic albeit gruesome light, and they will bring you right into the heart of the war that tore up our nation. Yet even in the midst of the atrocities of war, dandelions bloom and “where dandelions bloom, hope remains.”
I received a copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
This would make a fabulous mini series. There’s so much to this story, and much is based on the life of a real woman who served in the civil war, without revealing that she was a woman. She performed so many tasks, and was excellent at it. Chosen because she was excellent for many duties, trusted and respected. Gabe is a Scot who raised himself up from the slums of N.Y. and became a photographer in the war. Their story winds through many paths, lined with faith. They both came from nothing and were important to the war. They have a bit in common, and were drawn to each other as friends right away. Excellent read, both learning to believe in themselves and each other and to have faith while working through the struggle of war. A get lost in in it book with never a dull moment.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#WhereDandelionsBloom #NetGalley
5 Stars
Congratulations to Tara Johnson on her second outstanding novel evidencing extensive historical research that captures and portrays the Civil War Era. The main characters Gabe and Cassie come to life through prolific descriptive imagery that transports the reader to the battlefields to see, hear, smell, and feel the action. Character development of the secondary characters is also excellent. Where Dandelions Bloom is a story of hope, courage, perseverance, and forgiveness as Gabe and Cassie put aside their painful past memories and learn how to forgive others and themselves. I would love a sequel that continues their story as they embark on their new life on the Western Frontier. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and this author especially for those who love historical Christian fiction set in the Civil War Era.
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher but was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Tara Johnson is a new author to me, and I’m so glad I discovered her! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is odd for me because I don’t usually gravitate toward historical novels. Cassie is such an incredible, likeable character. You can’t help rooting for her all the way to the end. As a fellow writer, I want the author to put me there in the scenes, and Ms. Johnson doesn’t disappoint. The details of battle are truthful and graphic, which only helps to paint the story in such vivid brushstrokes. I look forward to future novels from this very talented writer!
This is the first book I’ve read of Tara Johnson’s. I’ve yet to read her debut novel, Engraved on the Heart, but I definitely look forward to it. I loved Where Dandelions Bloom. The novel tells the story of Cassie and Gabe, and I’m fairly sure I will think of this book whenever I see dandelions in the future. Anyone who loves Civil War novels or historical fiction should read this fantastic book!
I was immediately captured by the plight of Cassie and Gabe. Cassie, a young woman suffering from her father’s alcoholism, decides to disguise herself as a man to enlist in the Union army. Gabe, poor immigrant turned photographer, is hired by Matthew Brady (historical figure) to document the destruction of the war.
Tara Johnson captures the magnitude and severity of the Civil War through the violence, death, and tragedies that Cassie and Gabe experience. I thought the book historically accurate, with a few added battles here and there. Johnson narrates the North’s optimistic view of the beginning of the war, when many Northerners believed that it would be over within a few skirmishes. She also includes the North’s struggle for adequate leadership, General McClellan’s reluctance to fight, and the immense amount of life lost on both sides. In addition, I like how Johnson conveyed what it would be like to be a photographer during the war. I enjoyed learning about early photography and Matthew Brady’s operations.
Cassie faces one continual struggle after the next. She struggles to keep her composure amidst exploding cannons and flying bullets. She struggles with concealing her identity. (At first I thought the ease with which Cassie concealed her identity entirely too unrealistic. Even if she did grow up on a farm, I can’t help but think she would have been questioned by the men of her regiment about her lack of facial hair growth, lack of a deepening voice, and her small stature. In addition, she would have had to have been extra diligent when covering up her monthly courses. However, as the book progressed, the facade became harder and harder to maintain.) Cassie also faces courier and spy missions, sharpshooting endeavors, her own personal nightmares, and the daunting task of forgiving her father.
Gabe is a noble and honorable man, one set on capturing the evidence of the Civil War’s brutality and protecting those he loves. He is talkative, makes friends easily, and manages to befriend Cassie (aka Thomas Turner) before he discovers her true identity. However, he struggles with control and often finds himself taking on other people’s burdens, which become quite heavy as the book progresses.
Where Dandelions Bloom has a satisfactory ending. Not only does it finish the romance between Cassie and Gabe (complete with a happy-ever-after ending), but Cassie and Gabe both learn to trust and surrender their burdens to God. I loved how Cassie developed the ability to forgive her father and abandon the facades and fears she had been maintaining for years. I also loved how Gabe grew to surrender his need for control to God, thereby developing a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Overall, I would recommend this book and I look forward to any of Tara Johnson’s future books.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
My attention was engaged from line one of the prologue. I immediately wanted to figure out what was happening and once I did, I wanted to see how it played out. Gabriel Avery snared my heart from the first scene as a brave young man struggling to stand (literally and figuratively) in a harsh world he couldn’t control.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Gabriel Avery– A young man from humble beginnings shadowed by the guilt of youthful choices and a strong sense of duty to those who’ve blessed him. He sees the world in a unique way that provides a different lens through which the reader experiences the events of the story.
Cassandra “Cassie” Kendrick a.k.a. Thomas Turner – This young woman is made of sterner stuff than I, no question. The circumstances she overcomes and the experiences she endures take her on an incredible journey both physically and spiritually. Not without her faults and certainly not exempt from terrible errors in judgment, Cassie is a character you want to see succeed and won’t soon forget.
EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT & PACING OF THE STORY:
The pacing of this novel was spot on. Not a moment was dull. In fact, several places had me literally holding my breath, yet I was unwilling to skim a single word. I wanted to savor every second of the experience.
Easily one of the most moving novels I have read this year, this story had me running the gamut of choking back tears and giggling like a giddy school-girl. Long after I turned the last page, these characters and this world stayed with me, calling me back.
ELEMENTS I ESPECIALLY LIKED/DISLIKED:
I especially loved the mistakes both the heroine and the hero made in the course of the story. It made them more relatable and real.
I’ll be the first to admit that Civil War stories are not usually my first choice. It just isn’t a period of time I typically enjoy dwelling on. However, I thoroughly appreciated the accuracy and realism of the war experience as portrayed in this novel. I truly felt I wasn’t just reading about these characters and what they went through–I was living through it alongside them. The horrifying, the heartwrenching, and the heart-lifting–every moment was well written and deeply felt.
THEME:
Withholding forgiveness doesn’t hurt the unforgiven–it hurts the one holding onto the anger.
ENDING:
I do admit to having mixed feelings about the ending for one of the secondary characters, but I can’t argue against it logically. It made sense, even if it wasn’t what I was hoping for, and it was handled perfectly by the author. Other than that minor issue, I found the ending to be refreshingly surprising, unique, and satisfying. After reading the last word, I spent several moments just sitting there, pondering the events of the story, revisiting the character’s world and imagining what might come next for them. It was definitely one of those books where I felt the story had come to its best conclusion and yet I was a little sad that it was over.
Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
This book was on my top ten of 2019 list!
Where Dandelions Bloom is a beautifully crafted story. There are wonderful characters and an interesting plot and vibrant settings and engaging themes. The author’s literary artistry paints a word masterpiece worthy of the tears shed on its behalf.
Poverty, abuse, war, and suffering play an important role in this book but the shining stars are hope and redemption. May the beauty found blossoming in the ashes of brokenness inspire and encourage you through this story! As I place this book on my “all-time favorites” shelves, I strongly encourage my fellow readers to experience Where Dandelions Bloom.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Can you imagine a young woman enlisting in the army to escape her father and being forced into a marriage she doesn’t want during the Civil War? Tara Johnson has written a realistic story of life for Cassie “Thomas” Turner. You will admire Cassie as she faces many dangers which she considers better than facing her father! In the midst of everything, Cassie learns about forgiving. I recommend Where Dandelions Bloom to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I won my e-book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson piqued my interest from the first chapter and carried it through the novel. The story was easy to read and entertaining. At first it had a Mulan-like vibe with Cassie disguising herself as a man to join the army, but the story really moved into its own as it progressed. As expected, there is a substantial amount of violence and blood. The author does not gloss over these aspects of war as experiencing the war and fighting is part of Cassie’s character development.
I appreciated the deep character development in both Cassie and Gabe. Forgiveness, gender roles, and deception are a few of the themes that both characters wrestle with as they find themselves drawn to each other and, ultimately, toward their God. Though their romance is off and on throughout the story, somehow the author wove in a pleasant level of romantic tension that I enjoyed.
A favorite quote: “We learn who we were to decide who we want to be.” (Page 47)
I recommend Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson to fans of historical romance, especially readers who like Civil War fiction. 4 Stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book through the publisher’s My Reader Rewards Program. I was not required to write a review and all opinions in this review are my own.
This book showed another view of the horrible civil war, women serving alongside men. Forgiveness and faith was woven through the story. It is Christian historical fiction at it’s best. Good book!