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

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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

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Susan Anne Mason: The Brightest of Dreams

By Kelly Bridgewater

Quinten Aspinall is determined to fulfill a promise he made to his deceased father to keep his family together. To do so, he must travel to Canada to find his younger siblings, who were sent there as indentured workers while Quinn was away at war. He is also solicited by his employer to look for the man's niece who ran off with a Canadian soldier. If Quinn can bring Julia back, he will receive his own tenant farm, enabling him to provide a home for his ailing mother and siblings.

Julia Holloway's decision to come to Toronto has been met with disaster. When her uncle's employee rescues her from a bad situation, she fears she can never repay Quinn's kindness. So when he asks her to help find his sister, she agrees. Soon after, however, Julia receives some devastating news that changes everything.

Torn between reuniting his family and protecting Julia, will Quinn have to sacrifice his chance at happiness to finally keep his promise?  

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I really enjoy how Bethany House actually put the hero on the cover of Susan Anne Mason's latest novel, The Brightest of Dreams. So many books in the Christian fiction market always has the heroine on the novel. It was nice to see a different perspective for the cover. I have read the first two books in Mason's Canadian Crossing series, and I couldn't wait to read Quinn's story. It does have a ring of familiarity to it, but I felt engrossed in the plot, and I couldn't wait to see if Quinn actually kept his promise to his father, so I stayed glued to the story. The romance was sweet and organic. I enjoyed seeing hints of the main characters in another book in this series.  loved how the story ended. It made me smile. Overall, The Brightest of Dreams is a delightful read filled with heartfelt characters who captured my imagination. I can't wait to see what Mason comes up with next.

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

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Click here to purchase The Brightest of Dreams

Most Anticipated Books Spring 2020

By Kelly Bridgewater

I do this type of blog post a number of times throughout the year, and I enjoy doing them.

This post refers to the books coming out from January 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020.

There are a lot of GREAT books being published for the first part of the year, and I can't wait to start reading them and adding them to my shelves.

How about you? Is there any of these books that you are looking forward to reading? Is there any you would add that I didn't include?

(*All book covers come from Goodreads, unless noted.)

 The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin

The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason

Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason

Children of the Stars Mario Escobar

The Socialite by J'nell Ciesielski

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey by Abigail Wilson

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

The Way of the Brave Susan May Warren

Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig

Susan Anne Mason: The Highest of Hopes

By Kelly Bridgewater

After her beloved grandfather's death, Emmaline Moore is shocked to discover that her "deceased" father is actually living in Canada. Having no other family, Emma decides she must find him, and so embarks on a journey across the ocean, accompanied by her best friend, Jonathan. Unfortunately, Randall Moore and his well-to-do family aren't thrilled by her arrival, fearing her sudden appearance will hinder his chance at becoming mayor of Toronto in 1919. Despite everything, Emma remains determined to earn their affection.

Jonathan Rowe has secretly loved Emma for years and hopes that during their trip he can win her heart. Concerned that Randall might reject her, Jonathan is ready to console Emma and bring her home. When she informs him that she has no intention of returning to England, Jonathan begins to despair. Can he convince Emma to find value within herself rather than seeking it from a virtual stranger? And will she ever come to see that Jonathan is her true home?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Susan Anne Mason is a wonderful writer of historical romance. With her newest novel The Highest of Hopes, Mason crafted a story filled with heart, romance, and wonderful characters. Mason brought the world of 1919 Canada to life with her words and her descriptions. While the plot isn't original, I did enjoy reading it and flew through the pages of the story. The romance between Emmaline and Jonathon was one-sided for the majority of the story. I really liked how Mason created a romance from Jonathon's perspective before Emmaline came on board. This was really unique, and I enjoyed it. Jonathon's emotions rang true, even when Mason described the symptoms of PTSD from Jonathon. Overall, The Highest of Hopes was an entertaining read populated by wonderful characters. This book definitely belongs on my keeper shelf with all of Mason's other novels.

I received a complimentary copy of The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author:

From Amazon

Susan lives in a suburb near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she works part-time as a church secretary. She is a wife and the mother of two amazing kids, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA). In addition to writing, she likes to scrapbook and to research her family history on-line. You can connect with her on Facebook or on her website www.susanannemason.net. (Taken from Amazon.)

Most Anticipated Books for Spring 2019

By Kelly Bridgewater

I enjoy when the publishing companies share their covers for the next publishing season. I really love seeing the covers and reading the synopsis' of the upcoming books. Then I add the books to my wish list, so I can buy them when they come out.

Here is the list of books that I can't wait to read from March until June 2019:  (All images come from Goodreads unless noted.)

Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin

 

The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason

 

The Governess of Penwythe Hall by Sarah E. Ladd

 

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

 

Pages of Her Life by James Rubart

 

Murder in the City of Liberty by Rachel McMillan

 

What about you? Are you looking forward to these books? Is there any book you would add to this?