Dream of Love

This book and the rest of this series are very interesting to read. Michael Phillips does good research for his historical facts. Very moving!

This book was a great way to end the series. It ended the way I would have wanted it to. It is a wonderful series. I am so glad I found the series and read it.

As a twenty-five-year fan of Michael Phillips, I know I can always count on him for an enjoyable read; and the conclusion of the American Dreams trilogy did not disappoint. It arrived this week (finally!), and I couldn't put it down. With the thorough research and mature writing his readers expect, Phillips introduces new characters and plot twists, while tying up the storylines from the previous two novels. I heartily recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, but the novels must be read sequentially. Don't skip the introduction in which the author explains both the origins of the series and his general theory of why stories and genealogies matter; it's very interesting! Also, though I found the novel engrossing, this is not the book for those in the mood for light historical romance. It requires and deserves more attention than that. Like all Phillips' novels, it explores the meaning of living a life of faith, this time in the context of the American Dream. The theology challenges and inspires. The wrenching backdrop of the American Civil War reminds me of the cost of freedom and the American Dream, and of our frequent failure to live up to either one. History, mystery, romance, high ideals are all here. I only wish I could start the books again for the first time!