When The Meadow Blooms

– Ann H Gabhart –

Revell

Published 3 May 2022

♥♥♥♥

Ann Gabhart has crafted a heartwarming story of overcoming loss and grief and finding a place to truly live and love in When The Meadow Blooms.

Calla and her younger sister have been living in the Home for Girls for two years while their mother recovers from Tuberculosis in an sanitarium. For two years they have endured abuse, waiting for the day they can go home. Scared they will be separated, Calla is lead to reach out to her uncle, rumoured to live in isolation on the family farm, Meadowland. When Dirk receives a letter from his niece asking for rescue, he throws caution away and hurries to retrieve the two girls and their mother. Taking them back to Meadowland requires a change in his habits, it might even mean opening his heart to the women, big and small, who have entered his world. But secrets from the past bring up grief and hurt he’s never let go. If he can’t heal, will he risk losing his new family?


This historical novel is a story of family and love. I so enjoyed the story of Calla and her sister and their bravery. They have a horrible time in the orphanage but hold out hope of one day being reunited with their mother. I loved that Calla features so much in this story. In fact, it was more her story than her mother’s. Her courage and determination to protect her younger sister brings the heart to this story. Sienna is equally important to the story of finding home. Her love of animals and zest for life are invigorating.

The romance didn’t play out quiet like I expected. Instead of blooming feelings between Dirk and Rose featuring, I felt like the romance of the past between Dirk and his young sweetheart are the real love story of this book, along with a sweet romance between young Calla and a young man who neighbours the farm. Dirk and Rose do build a friendship and companionship, but it’s not a spine tingling romance in any way. Instead of swoon and sparkles, it is safety, warmth and a steadfastness that bring about love and healing in this novel. So, while the romance I expected to feature didn’t, instead we really get three romances for the price of one, and the way Gabhart weaves them together is brilliant, at once remembering the past but also looking to the future.

Along with a just a touch of mystery, When The Meadow Blooms is a delightful historical novel about family and moving on to a hopeful future.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Adult fiction.

Genre: Christian historical

Themes: Romance, family, grief, mystery, children, illness, science, orphanages

Advisory: Child abuse, illness, murder, injury.

Published: 3 May 2022 by Revell

Format: Paperback, ebook. 376 pages.

ISBN: 9780800737221

Find it on Goodreads