Dance of the Dandelion

Summary: Love's quest leads her the world over.
Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion... with more.
Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William's predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache.
From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings.
Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance... or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?

My Take : This book was a total surprise for me. When I saw the cover I thought it was going to be a fluffy read. It wasn't at all. This was one of the most ... "true" books I've read. 

Dandelion (again a kind of ... fluffy name) is a character yearning for more. More romance, more security, more adventure, more education, more ... of everything than she thinks she can get from the little village she lives in and the people in it. She dreams of a knight to ride up, swoop her into his arms, and carry her away from all her troubles and into a happily ever after. What happens is a lot more complicated than that. She learns that the castle is not all she expected and money doesn't always bring the happiness or even the security she had been expecting. All along there is this emptiness that no amount of fancy clothes can fill.

The story really revolves around Dandelion turning from a dreamy-eyed girl into a mature woman who is willing to accept the consequences for her actions and, even more importantly, is concerned about what other people might need and want and how she can best meet those needs. It's an amazing transformation and how it happens is so gradual and realistic that it resonates with you the whole way. Part of you totally relates to her dreams and desires in the beginning -- and you can also relate with her as she makes her journey (though I admit to screaming at the book, "Talk to him!" more than once. :o) 


Characters make the story -- and this book was populated with very complex and genuine people. I believed in them. I enjoyed spending time in their world. The faith aspects were important to the story, but you never felt like you were being beat over the head with them. It just felt like an integral part of the lives of these - flawed, but evolving characters. 


This one is going on my list to choose favorites of the year. I want to thank the publisher, White Fire Publishing, for providing my copy in exchange for my honest review.