When the Jessamine Grows

by Donna Everhart

From one of the most powerful and authentic voices in Southern fiction comes a historical novel with an unforgettable heroine—the extraordinary Joetta McBride, who defiantly opens her North Carolina home and farm to soldiers from both sides during the Civil War.

Talk of impending war is a steady drumbeat throughout North Carolina, though Joetta McBride pays it little heed. The small farm she tends with her husband, Ennis, and their two sons provides all they need. Those who want to fight can fight, but Joetta considers her family to be neutral.

That opinion isn’t shared by Joetta’s father-in-law, Rudean. A staunch Confederate supporter, he fills his grandsons’ heads with stories about the glories of soldiering, and insists that owning land and slaves is the only measure of success. When fifteen-year-old Henry, impressed by his grandfather’s stories, runs off to volunteer, Joetta insists Ennis go and search for him.

Weeks pass without word from either father or son, though other soldiers pass the farm, growing ever gaunter and hungrier. Joetta offers food and shelter to all, regardless of which uniform they wear. Her actions are deemed treasonous by townsfolk and the Home Guard, but Joetta won’t be swayed. After all, the wealthy find ways to stay away from battle. Why should poor men suffer and die on their behalf?

Though shunned and struggling, Joetta remains committed to her principles, and to her belief that her family will survive. But the greatest tests are still to come, for a fractured nation and for Joetta and those she loves . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Civil War, Historical, Book Club, War, Audiobook

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2024

About the author

Donna Everhart is a USA Today bestselling author known for vividly evoking the challenges of the heart and the complex heritage of the American South in her acclaimed novels When the Jessamine Grows, The Saints of Swallow Hill, The Moonshiner’s Daughter, The Forgiving Kind, The Road to Bittersweet, and The Education of Dixie Dupree.

She is the recipient of the prestigious SELA Outstanding Southeastern Author Award from the Southeastern Library Association and her novels have received a SIBA Okra Pick, an Indie Next Pick, and two Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books selections.

Born and raised in Raleigh, she has stayed close to her hometown for much of her life and now lives just an hour away in Dunn, North Carolina. Please visit Donna Everhart online at DonnaEverhart.com.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This has to be one of my favourite books so far this year. I have read every single book by Donna Everhart and she has never disappointed me. Historical Southern Fiction is one of my favourite genres and Donna Everhart is the Queen. I am not a history buff but Ms. Everhart makes me a fan and leaves me wanting to learn more. Her writing style is captivating and the internal thoughts of our protagonist made me feel like I knew her personally. The best part of this book is our leading lady, Joetta. She is one strong woman I tell you and the losses she experiences I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Although this story revolves around The Civil War it is mostly about staying true to one's self and your convictions. Joetta refuses to take a side, she finds the war a useless endeavour and because of this, she loses friends and the respect of her youngest son, who can't even look her in the eye. The research was impeccable and I learned a lot about the war, farm life and what it was like to live in the South during that time period. All. The. Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The civil war. The union and the confederates. A fight to abolish slavery dividing a country. There is no place for neutrality. Either in or out.

Joetta, a woman who won’t compromise her principals and wishes to remain neutral, discovers the hard way that being neutral is seen as being disloyal. Her husband has left to look for her eldest son who has enlisted. She’s left to take care of the farm, her young son, and a cantankerous father in law who doesn’t hold her views.

This wasn’t so much about the war but rather how relationships change when views differ and the damage to the closest ones without realizing their vulnerability.

Everhart paints a picture of the desolation and isolation in these towns during this time. Heartbreaking yet this character demands recognition for her strength, courage & bravery, even at the cost of devastation and loss.
4.5⭐️

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Everhart has once again crafted an historical fiction that both educated and tugged at my heart.
The McBrides own a small farm in North Carolina. Self sufficient, they believe the succession of the southern states has no bearing on their lives as they own no slaves. But their elder son, fifteen year old Henry, has had his head filled with tales of glory and adventure by his grandfather. He runs off to volunteer. Jonetta is distraught, not proud. But that’s just the beginning of her troubles. Her husband goes off to find him and ends up enlisting as well. Their neighbors see her neutrality as treason to the southern cause. Even the minister singles her out for rebuke. And her father-in-law goes out of his way to put her in harm’s way.
This is a story of the juggling act of standing up for one’s beliefs vs keeping family and self safe. Hart shows there are no easy answers. She also does a great job of showing how both armies decimated the area, leaving the civilians with nothing. There is no honor here.
Hart has done a great job of creating a realistic heroine. But even more, I was so impressed with her depiction of Robert, her younger son. Watching him grapple with his emotions, fear and beliefs was the highlight of the book for me.
It’s a wonderful story about “loyalty, betrayal and family” as Hart herself says. This would make a wonderful book club selection as it’s a very meaty, well researched book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.

Update - I just re-read this for my book club discussion. It feels especially timely now.

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the Civil there are men and boys on the battlefield pitted against one another and “somewhere near Whiteakers Nash County”, North Carolina “ in 1861 in a small town , neighbors are pitted against one another as they choose sides or not and remain neutral. Joetta McBride is dedicated to the family she loves and the life they have on their small farm, true to her beliefs and convictions even though not in line with those around her. But others were committed, too and would do harm to those who did not agree or were neutral, which was the same to them. She finds herself the target of this ill will, at odds not just with her neighbors, but often with her mean spirited father in law and her young son. She has to defend herself and their farm as her husband leaves to find her older son, who is not old enough, but goes off to enlist. It’s heartbreaking to witness the losses, the near starvation, her sorrow that her husband and son are away. However, it’s heartening to witness her resilience and determination. This is not only a Civil War story, but about family and true friendship. I’ve read five of Everhart’s six novels - one to go. Highly recommend them all !

I receive a copy of this book from Kensington through Edelweiss

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 4 out of 5]

'One either believes in one's morals and convictions, or they do not'.

For Joetta McBride life is good. Life is peaceful. Life couldn't be any better. As subsistence farmers, they work hard and reap their own bounty. She could not want for anything more - except for her curmudgeonly father-in-law's incessant talk with her sons over impending war with the North to cease. As far as Joetta and her husband are concerned, there is no need to take sides and become involved in a war. After all, there are no winners in war. However, when her eldest son disappears in the middle of the night, and her husband chases, desperate to find him, their family is suddenly forced into the fray. As distressing as this is, Joetta remains steadfast in her neutrality. But sitting on the fence is not something the community tolerates, and as one war is fought away from her home, Joetta's war has begun at her gate. 'The divide of the North and South was like a great crack in the earth, a gaping maw of distrust, and the self righteousness and determination that grew with each passing conflict only served to expand the difference'.

I enjoyed reading Joetta's journey of self-discovery and grew to admire her determination in spite of all the adversity and hardship she faced. I also appreciated gaining an understanding of how the Civil War may have affected not only everyday life but also conflicted border states. I have not read anything from Donna Everhart before but she certainly has a way of slowly building stories, and developing characters, until you've become very vested in the outcome.

Readers of historical fiction, particularly American history, and strong women characters will appreciate this book.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 / 5 stars. When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart was a captivating historical Southern fiction novel. It was the first book that I have read by this author. Her research for this book was quite thorough and detailed. It took place in Nash County, North Carolina just before the onset of the Civil War and then during the long, hard and violent years that the war was fought. Even though it took place during the Civil War, When the Jessamine Grows was more about one very strong woman’s determination to stay true to her convictions. I listened to the audiobook of When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart that was well narrated by Tiffany Morgan. When the Jessamine Grows was well written and kept me immersed throughout.

Joetta and Ennis McBride owned a small farm in Nash County, North Carolina. They lived on the farm with their two sons Henry and Robert. Their farm, unlike many of the plantations in North Carolina, was self sufficient. Joetta, Ennis and their two sons worked in the fields to harvest their crops. They had some animals as well. Unlike many of their neighbors, the McBride’s did not own slaves. They performed the work that was required of them themselves. Therefore, when talk began to circulate about the possibility of war and succession, Joetta and Ennis McBride remained neutral on the issue of what side they supported.

Ennis’s father, Rudean, lived in a separate cabin on the property. Rudean was a stout believer in all that the confederacy stood for. He supported the confederacy and let everyone know it. Rudean shared his beliefs and convictions with his grandsons. Henry and Robert listened eagerly to his grandfather’s stories and news that he heard from his trips into the town about the real possibility for war. At fifteen, Henry was very impressionable. He listened to the stories that Confederate soldiers told him as they passed by his family farm. Between his grandfather’s stories and the information Henry gathered from the soldiers passing through, Henry was determined to sign up. He left the farm one night without telling anyone his plans. He took off in the middle of the night. Henry was determined to become a soldier for the Confederacy. He simply disappeared one night. Joetta was distraught when she realized what her oldest son had done. She tried very hard to persuade Ennis to go after him and bring Henry home but Ennis believed that the army would make Henry come home. He was just too young to volunteer. Each passing day that Henry remained missing was more than Joetta was able to tolerate. Finally, Ennis agreed to go after Henry, find him and bring him home. Weeks went by though and neither Ennis nor Henry returned. Ennis had also signed up. Joetta and her younger son, Robert, were left to run the farm. Now Joetta had to worry for the safety of her husband and her son.

Even though all of Joetta’s friends and neighbors had taken the stance to support the Confederacy, Joetta remained neutral. She and Ennis owned no slaves so the war that was being fought did not affect her and her farm. As Joetta openly expressed her neutrality, her neighbors began to mistrust her, shun her and warn her that by not supporting the Confederacy she was committing an act of treason. When either Confederate soldiers or Union soldiers found their way to Joetta’s farm, she treated them the same. Joetta provided food and water to any soldiers passing through. As the war progressed, Joetta found that she had to take precautions to keep herself and her family safe. Although she never wavered from her convictions, she became less vocal and kept her thoughts to herself. Through this journey, Joetta discovered who her real friends were. There were not very many of them.

I really admired Joetta’s courage and determination to stick to her convictions. She was such a strong woman with an unbending attitude about what she believed was right. Even when threatened, Joetta did not back down from her convictions. I really enjoyed how her and her younger son, Robert’s relationship, evolved over time. I even came to like Rudean by the end of the book. He was not very nice to Joetta during most of the book but he did come around near the end. The relationship Joetta forged with young Charlie was really special as well. Although she discovered Charlie on her property wearing a Union uniform, she did not see the uniform. Joetta saw a young, scared and frightened boy. Everyone else saw a Union spy. To Joetta, he was a boy, just a boy who needed help.

When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart was about a very sad time in the history of the United States. It spoke about family, loyalty, trust, friends, staying true to one’s beliefs and convictions, betrayals and the treatment of others. I really enjoyed Joetta’s character. She was so strong, level headed and determined. This was the first book that I read by Donna Everhart but I will look forward to reading more books by her, both older ones and new ones. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of When the Jessamine Grows and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of When the Jassamine Grows by Donna Everhart through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anti-war story where the futility and repercussions of war are to the fore. I was really pulling for the strong willed Joetta whose high moral values meant more to her than winning any war, but who was persecuted by the majority due to her neuatrality. At times I was hoping she might compromise to make life easier for herself and family. But she stood by her principles and clearly has a stronger moral compass than me. Well done Joetta.

[Krishel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to stand firm in your beliefs, even when your entire community turns against you? When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart is a character-driven novel set during the Civil War era in North Carolina. The story follows Joetta McBride, a woman who refuses to take sides in the war despite increasing pressure from her community.

📍 Historical Fiction - Civil War
📍 Strong Female Protagonist
📍 Family and Survival
📍 Neutrality in Conflict
📍 Moral Complexity
📍 Isolation and Community Tension
📍 Mother's Love and Sacrifice

A Story of Love and Loss
While the first half of the book felt slow, the novel ultimately explores the unbreakable bonds of family and Joetta's unwavering commitment to her principles. Everhart creates moments of both tenderness and heartbreak as Joetta navigates the tumultuous period.

A Timeless Message
Despite its historical setting, the themes of When the Jessamine Grows feel timely, reminding us of the importance of standing firm in our beliefs, even when it's unpopular. Though the pacing is uneven, the strong sense of place and time, as well as the thought-provoking exploration of character, make this a worthwhile read for those who appreciate character-driven stories of resilience.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story begins in North Carolina, as the country is becoming more divided over the issue of slavery, and as the war is just beginning and men are leaving their homes and their families, setting off to fight for the side they believe in.

Joetta McBride and her husband, Ennis, have lived in their home long enough to have settled into their comfortable lives along with their two sons, the oldest, Henry, who at fifteen is four years older than their youngest, Robert, who is eleven. They live a relatively quiet life on their small farm, and raise enough crops and enough animals to provide them with food.

They live in a Confederate state, and while they do not own slaves, nor do they wish to, they do not openly oppose the right for others to do so. Still, there are many neighbors, including her husband’s father, who shares a more ‘romantic’ view of war, the fighting for the glory of it all. Listening to his grandfather’s stories, Henry decides to leave home and join the fight his grandfather has made to sound glamorous. He leaves in the middle of the night, knowing that his parents would not approve. When his parents realize that he is gone, his father leaves to find him.

Time passes, and Joetta waits for their return, but is also left with being the one to keep the farm running, and as the war ramps up and neither return, she also struggles with the talk of war around her, as her former friends and neighbors increasingly turn their back on her. A young boy enters her life, a boy who has endured much loss, and she opens her home to him, despite her father-in-law’s opinion and the opinions of others.

There’s a journey that follows, one she is determined to take, and so she heads to the home of her parents. Once there, she sees how much things have changed, and yet, she realizes that someone is watching over her, in a protective sense, but she doesn’t know who.

This is a story of war, loss, and family, both those we’re born into and those that become family by virtue of compassion and love.


Pub Date: 23 Jan 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Kensington Books/Kensington

[Taury · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart. So much hype around this book. It just did not grab me like i was hoping it would.
Centered around the Civil War in N Carolina. Joetta McBride finds her compassion growing beyond her need alliance. She finds herself helping both sides of the war. When she runs into 11 yo Charlie, those around her accuse him of being a spy and accuses Joetta of harboring the enemy. The towns people set out to kill Charlie and take Joetta down.
I found the story incredibly slow, almost boring. The characters lacked full development. The writing lacked depth with too much receptiveness.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joetta McBride lives on a small farm in Nash County, North Carolina, with her husband Ennis, sons Henry and Robert and her father-in-law Rudean lives in a cabin on the property.

Rudean is interested in the talk of a war between the states, he visits town to buy tobacco, catch up with the latest news and afterwards shares his opinions with his grandsons. When it starts, Rudean considers fighting in the war to be the correct thing to do, an adventure and if only he was a few years younger and he supports the Confederate side.

When fifteen year old Henry, influenced by his grandfather’s stories, runs off to volunteer, Ennis wants to wait, he thinks Henry will be sent home due to his age and Joetta doesn't agree and in her opinion he should leave straightway and search for him. Weeks go by without word from either father or son, Joetta and Robert do their best to take care of the farm, feed the animals and get ready to harvest the sorghum and make syrup. All the time gazing down the road looking for Ennis and Henry and both are exhausted.

Joetta offers water and assistance to all, regardless of which uniform they wear, her actions get her into trouble with her neighbours, townsfolk and the Home Guard. Joetta is neutral, she doesn’t own a large plantation and slaves, and their farm has only ever produced enough to feed the family and their animals and as far as she's concerned it has nothing to do with her. Joetta is not welcome anymore, in town and none of her friends will speak to her. She struggles on the farm, determined to keep it going, Robert becomes sullen and unhappy, it’s too much work for a woman and a young boy and it only gets worse. The war, over work and the worry all takes it’s toll on Joetta, food becomes scarce, and everyone in the South are starving.

I received a copy of When the Jessamine Grows from Kensington Publishing and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. Donna Everhart looks at the American Civil War from a different perspective in her latest novel, from that of a wife and mother who doesn’t want to take sides and this makes her very unpopular and a target.

Joetta is my favourite character from the book, she was steadfast in her beliefs, her urge to mother and take care of anyone sick or injured was an admirable trait, and especially Charlie and she's a woman that couldn’t ignore her natural instincts. Five stars from me, looking at the war from a lesser known opinion and of course not everyone would have believed in the cause and I like how the author explores this concept.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt this book was like watching the movie Ground Hog’s Day. Everyday we had Joetta cooking, Joetta scraping to make do, the father-in-law being grouchy, the young son being insolent, the community being down on Joetta. It was dull, monotonous and predictable.

[Camie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book featuring Joetta McBride who lived in North Carolina with her husband Ennis and two sons when the civil war broke out. Her story is that if a strong woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for her vow of neutrality between the two sides, especially because of her views on slavery. Of course that caused immense problems for herself and her family which they struggle to overcome.
5 stars read for Senior Bookworm Club.

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. I absolutely loved the story this book tells. The reason it’s not 5 stars is bc it’s just too long. I think the story of the civil war and the question of “what happens if you don’t pick a side” is so important but in the case of this book perhaps about 50 pages too much.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For several reasons, this is going to be a long review, because I have so much I want to say! If you don’t want to read the whole thing, I will tell that When the Jessamine Grows is the best book I’ve read all year. I can’t go any further without talking about the book’s author, Donna Everhart. I have read every word she’s written since her debut novel, The Education of Dixie Dupree, was published 7 years ago. Her books are a unique blend of women’s fiction and historical fiction, and the trademark of her books are incredible main characters—young girls and young women with extraordinary strength who face the hardest of times. Now I need to mention the importance of this book, which is set during the Civil War. In my opinion, there aren’t nearly enough books written during that time frame—but what a treasure trove there is to mine the stories of this tumultuous, heartbreaking era. Donna Everhart has helped fill that void with this gripping novel. Set in North Carolina, Joetta McBride, her husband and two sons lived a quiet life on their farm, until the winds of war change their lives forever. I was immediately pulled into this story, rich in characters and emotions. Joetta was not just a character to me, she was a true person, one who I walked alongside in the fields and in her kitchen, and feeling all she was going through. Joetta’s stance on the war caused additional conflict for herself, robbing her of friendships, even putting her life in danger. I admired her honesty, her backbone, her steadfastness to all she believed, even when—especially when—it cost her dearly. I loved that she just kept putting one foot in front of the other, never giving up, never questioning if she were doing the right thing, her love for her family and her convictions the driving force of every decision she made. Would that we are all as brave and loyal and dedicated as Joetta McBride. Thank you, Donna Everhart for giving us her story.

[Rex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once again, a writer offering a new novel in the genre of "historical fiction" has fooled me. I was drawn to this book for several reasons, one of the most prominent ones being the setting - the early days of the American Civil War. Life on the home front...should be interesting, despite me having no clue was a jessamine is!

At the beginning of the book there is an important plot point and some serious, interesting drama unfolds. I was getting hooked. But almost 100 pages later, literally nothing has happened other than the protagonist agonizing over everything you can imagine, including a messy kitchen, dust on the floor and what to make for supper. Oh yeah, she worried quite a bit over that major plot thing I mentioned, mixed in with tending the crops, feeding the livestock and agonizing - so much agonizing.

In too many ways, this book is a lot like the silly reality shows, such as The Real Housewives of Atlanta, set in 1861 rural North Carolina. Catty women bickering, trying to outdo each other, hurl veiled insults at one another and judge every detail of someone else's existence. Yep, that is this book - at least as much as I could take before I abandoned it.

I know the author is quite popular and successful, and she obviously knows her readers. It's extremely well written, but I feel she could have made it much more intelligent, for lack of a better word.

Obviously I'm not the audience for this type of novel, despite its historical setting. It seems too many authors and publishers today are seeking to benefit from the fame of Diana Galbaldon's Outlander.

[BrandyD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, but it’s too bad the narrator was not up to par. The book, itself, was heart wrenching, as most Civil War fiction tends to be, but the characters’ journeys truly touched my heart.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the narration, was able to clearly understand at 2.0.

Did find the beginning a little slow but the last 1/3 made up for it!! Made me gasp, surprised me, warmed my heart and brought a tear or two to my eye. All the makings of a moving great heart warming southern historical fiction novel. Loved the characters and really enjoyed Joetta and her strength during such a despairing time. Mr McBride, ornery character for sure but he did add depth to the story!

My first by the author and truly enjoyed! Thanks to Netgalley and RB media for my advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Mary Fabrizio · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tale filled with woe that was too slow paced for me. Way too much hand-wringing as well.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Everhart always writes books that I learn so much from each page. This is a must read.

[Kim Deutschman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed the author's other novels, but the pace of this one just dragged and dragged.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern storyteller Donna Everhart returns following The Saints of Swallow Hill with her sixth novel, WHEN THE JESSAMINE GROWS —a compelling tale exploring a difficult time in our nation's history through the eyes of Joetta McBride, a courageous woman bound by the neutral values of her family's lifestyle.

Set in North Carolina Nash County 1861:

Joetta McBride does not like conflict. She and her husband, Ennis, have built a modest, happy life for themselves, raising two sons, 15-year-old Henry and 11-year-old Robert, on their small farm.

They do not support the Confederacy's position on slavery, and Joetta considers their family to be neutral and not their fight.

However, her opinionated father-in-law, Rudean, a Confederate supporter, starts filling her son's heads with stories of battle and the Southern cause until one night, Henry runs off to join the war. They are frantic, and Joetta sends Ennis to find their son and bring him home.

But then there is no word from her husband or son, and she runs a farm alone with little help from her younger son. She finds herself at odds with those around her, and things worsen.

Joetta McBride's beliefs pit her against the majority, leading to danger and complications. While she suffered greatly and lost much, she remains steadfast, a heroic, resilient woman with strong convictions and a deep love for her family. Readers will root for her to the end!

Everhart dazzles with her meticulous historical research, vivid descriptions, and well-developed characters. As she mentions in her Author's note and discussion questions, The Civil War was one of the most complex and contentious times in our nation's history, with both sides resolute in their beliefs. The McBrides were an exception and took a position of neutrality.

When Joetta allows Union soldiers access to her well, her father-in-law resents it and stirs up trouble. There is strife among the family, and Robert resents his mother.

When Joetta steps up and takes in a young Union soldier, she becomes a substitute mother for him, helping her simultaneously.

The war affected Joetta and her family in many ways, from multiple losses and setbacks. WHEN THE JESSAMINE GROWS explores strong themes of loyalty, betrayal, community, and family, all prominent in the novel.

I always learn something when reading one of Donna's books with a vast knowledge of North Carolina history. (a native) Some of us need to remember about the Border States; many had secret, unbiased views.

I enjoyed reading about the breakdown of the population during this time. It was vastly rural, with almost a third of the population being white with slaves, and only three percent was considered upper-class. (doctors, lawyers, or business leaders who lived in plantations and owned slaves). Another twenty-five percent were middle class as farmers, merchants, traders, and suppliers. They would have owned less than twenty slaves.

Then there were the families like the McBrides. They comprised- the remaining percentage of NC's population, 60-65% of yeoman farmers or skilled laborers. The subsistence farmers grew enough to feed themselves and their livestock. They were not slaveholders. Some of these people never wanted to be a part of the fight. I enjoyed how the Author skillfully wrote the novel from this perspective.

I highly recommend the novel if you enjoy good historical fiction, especially since it is set in North Carolina. I have read all her books, and she always surprises you with something fascinating. Thank you, Donna, for this beautiful story—a reminder when people turn against one another during these horrible times. I love books featuring strong women, especially during historical times.

I had the pleasure of reading the e-book and the accompanying audiobook narrated by Tiffany Morgan.

Thanks to Kensington Books, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted digital reading copy and advanced listening review copy for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024
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[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is so beautifully written that you will have yourself immersed into Joetta McBride’s world during the impending Civil War.
She is a wife, mother, daughter-in-law, friend and hard worker. She helps run a farm with her husband Ennis without slaves, while most of her neighbors have slaves. Ennis and Joetta have been happy raising their sons with core values and running the small family farm.
As news of the impending war heats up her father-in-law is telling his grandsons things about the war and sadly one of them decides to do something that worries his parents. Ennis ends up in the war and Joetta struggles to run the farm and angst from her neighbors about her beliefs.
The struggles this family endures are what a lot of families had to go through during this time of unrest.
Thank you Suzy Approved Books for this compelling novel which is available January 23, 2024.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Southern Authors, Donna Everhart, has written a masterpiece about the Civil War, Historical Fiction, and Family. I loved everything about ‘When the Jessamine Grows” In this well written novel, the author vividly describes the landscape, scenery, plot, and the dramatic and colorful characters. When is talk of an impending war between the North and South, the protagonist of the story, Joetta McBride tends to a small farm and prefers to stay neutral. As a mother and planner, Joetta knows that the cost of human life, property, and family can have tragic circumstances. Her father in law is a believer in war, and slavery and the economy and tries to have her sons believe that the Confederate lifestyle is the best way.

Joetta’s older son signs up, and Joetta convinces her husband to go and bring him home. Some of the neighbors, feel that Joetta is a traitor to the cause, and there is damage, threats, secrets, and betrayals.

Joetta is courageous and principled and sticks to her guns, at great cost and sorrow. I appreciate how the author provided the research and reminds us of the tragic consequences of war. Donna Everhart also discusses the importance of families, neighbors, friends, and love and hope. I highly recommend this amazing novel.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The blurb claims the heroine is unforgettable. I guess? But despite her self-described “convictions” as a southerner during the civil war, those convictions are only for maintaining staunch neutrality about all matters concerning slavery and the war. Is this admirable?

It’s disappointing, actually, that even in the 2020’s someone wants to write a fictional story lauding the virtues of neutrality in the face of the harsh abuses of the American slavery system. And it’s not as if the character isn’t aware. She is, and at one point does speak about the problem of the harsh overseer of her “friend’s” plantation.

That’s it. That is the extent of her moral clarity and boldness about people who bought and sold other people. It’s as if she and her husband are set up to be heroic because they work their farm themselves, as if it is enough to be abstainers from the slavery system while they do nothing at all to oppose it. Seriously? This reads like it is an apologetic for people on the present who do nothing in the face of continued racism and injustice, but they want to claim virtue because they “don’t hate anyone.”

All Joetta’s determination is channeled into staying strong for her declared neutrality about the war and all the South’s reasons for secession. She suffers anyway. She’s ostracized anyway. She’s deemed a “traitor” to the confederates anyway. I kept waiting for the moment where the hatred, irrationality, and moral bankruptcy of her neighbors would lead her to realize she might as well be an abolitionist, and that her conscience should dictate it. SHE NEVER DOES. She remains a white woman in the slaveholding, seceding south whose only concern is her own family and herself. And while she ends up in dire straits, it never becomes a reason to abandon her unwillingness to side with the Union or with emancipation. She acts like it doesn’t matter, and she doesn’t care. She never works for the freedom of others. She doesn’t even leave the South for a free state when she moves at the end—just leaves her state for another secession state! One much further than the North, since she lives in North Carolina.

If you’re hoping for a justification of narrowed concerns and self-interested morality, this might be the read for you. If you have any sense of concern for the love of neighbor, for engagement in the pursuit of justice or righteousness or freedom, you can read a nicely-told story here about the kind of people who will take pride in the fact that they’ll sit on the fence and refuse to do anything if it does not directly concern or involve them. And it will preach at you about their virtue and integrity while they sit that fence.

I guess if it were WRITTEN in 1880, I would understand. But 150+ afterward, if we can’t look back and see the narrowness of a set of values like this, what on earth is wrong with us?

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is Donna Everhart's most powerful book to date. I've got them all, and while the characters were certainly memorable and I cared about them, this book is a masterpiece. I read the five previous books as an observer, but in this book I was aligned with Joetta McBride as she tried to remain neutral with the Civil War in the offing. She and her family had a small farm and "they wanted for nothing and they owed no one." Her desire to remain neutral during the conflict made her friends suspicious, an item of gossip and led to far more serious consequences. As always, Donna gives us a clear description of where we are, the weather, the plants, animals - I never read one of her books where I feel like I'm floundering around trying to figure out where I am or what's going on. The characters are well developed and the dialogue realistic. We are made aware of Joetta's feelings and worries as she continues on trying to survive every day. No spoilers here, but this book had me fully involved. If I had been standing while reading, there were a few times that my knees would have buckled and I'd have hit the ground. It was hard seeing how she was treated by people she thought she could trust and how others she showed kindness to treated her and the farm. Bravo, Donna. This is one serious historical novel.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The repercussions of war. Let them see what this war did. Let them look upon her and see no one was spared, despite favorable opinions or objections, or neither." A well-researched novel set during the Civil War years that is told from a female perspective. Thought-provoking and memorable, it would be a great book club selection.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Everhart just may be my new favorite author. This is just the kind of historical fiction I love. It’s hard to read a book set during a war due to the extreme hardship people suffer, but authors like Everhart make it easier when they give readers fully developed characters who grow with the story.

Main character Joetta McBride lives on a farm in North Carolina with her husband Ennis and her two sons. Her cantankerous father-in-law lives on the property and eats all his meals with the family.

I have to admit, at first I wanted Joetta to smack him and make him shut-up! He went on and on about the war and was a die-hard confederate, unlike his son Ennis and Joetta, who were neutral about the war. He glamorized soldiers to the point Jetta’s son wanted to join up and fight. Even though they were both too young, the older son ran off and joined.

As time went on, Ennis ends up fighting for the confederacy, leaving Joetta and their younger son to take care of the farm. Because North Carolina was a border state, there were many conflicting opinions about the war, but being a traitor to the cause was abhorrent.

Because Joetta wasn’t taking a side, she becomes labeled as a traitor and suffers many hardships because of it. In spite of that, she stands by her convictions. Her father-in-law also grows as a character throughout their experience, allowing Joetta to see a more positive side to him.

What I loved about the story was that it focused on the hardships of those at home and it did not gloss over some of the pain they suffered. The ending, while not perfect for Joetta, was one that left her full of hope for the future.


Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I loved the story and am happy to give my honest review and recommend this to other readers.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read written by Donna Everhart but it definitely won't be my last! She writes with such description and engaging character development. When the Jessamine Grows is set in North Carolina in 1861-at the very start of the Civil War. Joetta McBride and her husband Ennis, along with their teenage sons Henry and Robert, while not wealthy are a contented subsistence farming family. Joetta and Ennis take an impartial position in terms of the unrest that is beginning to be felt between the North and the South, despite the fact that Rudean (Joetta's father-in-law) is a staunch Confederate, along with almost everyone else in their community. Soon Henry secretly leaves to fight in the war and in a few days, Ennis is sent to bring him back home and thus the story really begins. This is a story not so much about the Civil War itself but more about the hardships that families face during times of war--loss of life as well as material goods, the fear, and the divisiveness. It's also about remaining true to your values while rising out of despair and the feeling of betrayal and yet to find healing during desperate times. The special connection to the jessamine vine mentioned in the title is revealed at the end but I won't give that away. Also, I love Donna's closing words in her Author's Note: "While Joetta suffers a great deal, and loses much, she remains steadfast, a woman with strong convictions and an abiding love for her family." To me, it's a book that begs to be discussed in a book club because it's such a different perspective in regards to not only the Civil War, but to war in general. A big thank you to Kensington Books for this beautiful paperback!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The background is set to a small town in North Carolina on the heels of the Civil War. Joetta and her husband Enis have a small farm where responsibilities are shared with their two sons and Enis' father. Their son Henry decides he wants to be a part of the war and takes off in the middle of the night to join the cause. Enis and Joetta are devastated by this because neither believe the war is worth all of the commotion it is getting. Enis decides to also go join, but only to find Henry and bring him home. Enis leaving is hard for Joetta to bear because it leaves her tending to the farm. She is also seen as an outsider due to her being vocal over not picking a side for the war.

Left almost on her own Joetta must keep things going to provide for her family. Things start to get tighter and harder once the war rages on. The rations are limited. Money is scarce. The obstacles are mounting up, especially when the soldiers come to the farm to claim stake on what they think is owed to them.

Overall, I did enjoy the read. It was nice to read something of historical fiction that is not set around World War 2. I did think the middle was overly filled with things that did not add value to the story. It was a little too much filler. The ending was semi-problematic and left some unanswered questions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.