Epic Book Launch: To Speak His Name by Tara Johnson

About the Book

Book Title: To Speak His Name
Author: Tara Johnson
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: March 4, 2024

Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp.

Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of.

When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution?

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Book Excerpt

Swallowing the dread settling like a noose around my throat, I hurried out the door, ignoring the bustle of servants and the scents of the midday meal preparations. I tossed the cold ashes onto the heap outside the pig pen, barely hearing their grunts as they rooted in the mud. Heat warmed my shoulders and danced across my cheeks. I raised my face to the sun, longing for … what? Something elusive. Something I had no words to describe.

“Ah, there she is. The Red Bird of Paradise.”

My smile grew at the mention of my old nickname. Dear Matias. His white teeth flashed and he stopped next to the sty, taking a moment to wipe his stained shirtsleeve against his sweaty forehead. Gray peppered his springy curls.

“It’ll be a hot one today, eh, Red Bird?”

I nodded and smiled at the old nickname. Matias had called me Red Bird of Paradise ever since I had been brought to the island, declaring that my red hair reminded him of the tropical bloom. Only Molly and Master Cyrene remembered my real name. To everyone else, I was that girl.

I didn’t mind being invisible. Invisible was safe.

revolution?

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All Excerpts

Excerpt One: https://lakesidelivingsite.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/to-speak-his-name-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Two: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2024/04/celebrate-lit-presents-epic-book-launch.html

Excerpt Three: https://coverloverbookreview.blogspot.com/2024/04/to-speak-his-name.html

Excerpt Four: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/to-speak-his-name-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Five: https://www.guildmaster97.com/posts/to-speak-his-name-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Six: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/04/epic-book-launch-to-speak-his-name-by.html

Excerpt Seven: https://www.fictionbooklover.com/posts/to-speak-his-name-epic-book-launch/

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About the Author

Tara Johnson is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.

Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. Tara has been published by Tyndale House, Annie’s, and Guideposts. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.

First Line Fridays: Where Dandelions Boom

Happy Friday!

First Line Fridays is hosted by Hoarding Books and participants share the first line from a nearby book.

Today I'm sharing the first lines from Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson:

"Gabriel Avery hit the unforgiving pavement with a grunt."

Have you read this book? I read it in August with an online book club and it was my first time participating in an online one. Read my review here.

I received this book as part of Tyndale's My Reader Rewards Program. If you're interested in completing activities to earn free books, sign up using my referral link to start off with some bonus points!

What are you reading this weekend?

Have a great weekend! Happy reading!


About the Book:

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?

Book Review: Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson

About the Book:

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?

My Thoughts:

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. 

If you are interested in earning free books, use my referral link to join the My Reader's Reward Program!