Susan Anne Mason: A Feeling of Home

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Can she set aside the pain from the past to embrace a new love?

Isabelle Wardrop's well-to-do life has completely unraveled. Within months, she's lost both her parents, her fortune, and her home. With nowhere else to turn, she and her younger sister move in with a trusted former servant in an impoverished area of the city. Desperate for work but having no qualifications, Isabelle is forced to accept help from Dr. Mark Henshaw, the very man she blames for her mother's death.

Mark Henshaw has admired Isabelle for several months, but after the tragic death of her mother, he vows to make amends for the past and help her find her way. But when Mark learns his younger brother has formed an undesirable friendship with Isabelle's sister--one that brings a whole new set of problems into their lives--he doesn't know if Isabelle will ever forgive him.

When startling developments begin to take place, both within Isabelle's heart and their siblings' relationship, her future looks very different than anything she could have imagined.

 

My Thoughts:

A Feeling of Home by Susan Anne Mason returns readers to Canada and the house owned by Ruth and Olivia, whose stories are told in the first two books in the series. With the lose of their parents and their lifestyle, Isabelle and her younger sister Marissa are thrown into a world they have never encountered before. The plot is sweet and moving while the romance is a typical romance for a historical romance or any genre for that matter. Deny the feelings. Reality check. Someone does something to make the other person upset, then the romance goes to the side. But then they reconcile and everything moves back toward the happily-ever-after moment. The strongest point of the novel is Mason’s idea of being nice to everyone no matter what situation they find themselves currently in because you do not know what happened to put them in that position. Everyone deserves another chance or 70 because it is everyone’s duty to love others. Overall, A Feeling of Home by Susan Anne Mason is a sweet story that reminds readers that home is not the physical place you reside in, but where the love and support of others develop and encircle you. Definitely a delightful story filled with a memorable lesson.

I received a complimentary copy of A Feeling of Home by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:   4 out of 5 stars

Purchase A Feeling of Home

Susan Anne Mason: To Find Her Place

 By Kelly Bridgewater

In the midst of WWII, Jane Linder pours all her energy and dreams for a family into her career at the Toronto Children's Aid Society. As acting directress, Jane hopes for a permanent appointment so she can continue making a difference in the lives of troubled children. But if anyone were to find out she is divorced, everything would change.

Garrett Wilder has been hired to overhaul operations at the Children's Aid Society. He hopes to impress the board members with his findings and earn the vacant director's position. A war injury ended his dream of taking over his parents' farm, but with the security of the director's job, he'd be able to contribute financially and help save the family business.

Despite their competing interests, feelings begin to blossom between them. But then Jane's ex-husband returns from overseas with an unexpected proposition that could fulfill her deepest desires. Suddenly at a crossroads, can Jane discern the path to true happiness?

 

My Thoughts:

To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason is a delightful look at the Toronto Children’s Aid Society during World War II. Mason did a wonderful job at crafting believable and heartbreaking realistic characters. Jane Linder was a motivated woman with a heart for the unloved children in Toronto, especially little Martin. While tons of families did not want him, Jane loved him and tried her best to find him a home. Then enters Garrett Wilder, a hero from the war who has medical issues, dives into the story as a search for truth, but as the story progresses, he starts to fall in love with the children and Jane. The romance moved along at a slow pace, which I enjoy. As for the plot, it was handled nicely. It kept my attention, and I flew through the story. Even though I really did enjoy reading the story, I had one issue with the plot. The World War II setting. I do not know much about Toronto during World War II, but the story really did not reflect much about the destruction of the war. There was mention of her rationing meat and sugar and Jane’s brother and ex-husband off to war, but other than those two things, this story could have happened in 1909 or 1887. Overall, To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason was a different story filled with rememberable characters. I can’t wait to see what else Mason comes up with next. Will she continue this series or move onto another idea? I guess readers will have to wait and see.

I received a complimentary copy of To Find Her Place by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Purchase To Find Her Place