What do you think?
Rate this book
Canadian Crossings #3
Tel je zegeningen
Engeland 1918. Quinten Aspinall is vastbesloten om zich te houden aan de belofte die hij zijn vader op zijn sterfbed deed: het gezin bij elkaar houden. Terwijl Quinten vocht in de Eerste Wereldoorlog, werden zijn jongere broertjes en zusje naar Canada gestuurd om daar te werken. Nu reist Quinn hen achterna om naar hen op zoek te gaan. Zijn werkgever vraagt hem om ook uit te kijken naar zijn nichtje Julia, die is weggelopen met een Canadese soldaat. Als het Quinn lukt om Julia terug naar huis te brengen, zal hij genoeg verdienen om zijn moeder en zijn broertjes en zusje te onderhouden.
Sinds Julia Holloway naar Toronto vertrokken is, is haar alleen nog maar ellende ten deel gevallen. Wanneer Quinn haar uit een benarde situatie redt, vreest ze dat ze zijn vriendelijkheid nooit zal kunnen vergoeden. Dus wanneer hij haar vraagt om hem te helpen zijn zusje te zoeken, stemt ze toe. Totdat Julia kort daarna vreselijk nieuws ontvangt dat alles verandert.
Quinn staat in tweestrijd: moet hij doorgaan met het samenbrengen van zijn familie en daarmee wellicht zijn enige kans op geluk verspelen? Of breekt hij zijn belofte en kiest hij voor Julia?
Sinds Julia Holloway naar Toronto vertrokken is, is haar alleen nog maar ellende ten deel gevallen. Wanneer Quinn haar uit een benarde situatie redt, vreest ze dat ze zijn vriendelijkheid nooit zal kunnen vergoeden. Dus wanneer hij haar vraagt om hem te helpen zijn zusje te zoeken, stemt ze toe. Totdat Julia kort daarna vreselijk nieuws ontvangt dat alles verandert.
Quinn staat in tweestrijd: moet hij doorgaan met het samenbrengen van zijn familie en daarmee wellicht zijn enige kans op geluk verspelen? Of breekt hij zijn belofte en kiest hij voor Julia?
383 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2020
60 people are currently reading
1388 people want to read
About the author
Susan Anne Mason
22 books525 followersSusan writes both contemporary and historical Inspirational romances. She describes her writing style as “Romance sprinkled with faith” and loves themes of forgiveness and redemption!
She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and a former member of the Romance Writers of America. M
Susan lives near Toronto in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two adult children. She loves chocolate and wine and isn't partial to snow even though she's Canadian!
She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and a former member of the Romance Writers of America. M
Susan lives near Toronto in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two adult children. She loves chocolate and wine and isn't partial to snow even though she's Canadian!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 14, 2020
Dealing with tough and sad issues involving children, I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I ended up doing. To be fair there were parts of the plot describing appalling conditions for the children working on Canadian farms, which I found thoroughly disturbing, but other parts were about how a close relationship between Julia and Quinn got room to develop in the middle of all the drama as well as descriptions of their life in Canada. We also got to follow Julia when she dealt with her very own problems. Secrecy, pride and stubbornness seemed to be at the core of the entire plot. I found descriptions of all the restraints society put on women of the time interesting.
War veteran, family man and Earl’s of Brentwood’s personal valet Quinten Aspinall – Quinn, has made a very big promise to his father before his death to keep the family together. He has made it through the war with minor injuries and seems a level headed and well put together man who believes in the guidance of God and generally trying to do the right thing.
He is asking for leave of absence to travel to Canada in order to bring siblings Becky, Cecil and Harry, 18, 16 and 12, home. The earl hires him to find his niece and bring her home with them.
I enjoy following his though process as he is dealing with the tough experiences of this story. He gets very concerned along the way when he is told appalling stories of children having been gravely mistreated as free labor on farms. Quinn has to get creative to get information about his siblings whereabouts. He trusts God to guide him and keep him safe on his quest. His faith helps him through his hardships and descriptions of this runs strong through the story. Throughout the story he is met with experiences that challenge his view of life as well as his values, and he needs all his strength and down-to-earth personality traits to carry him through the events he encounters. I found him a thoroughly nice guy. He impressed me. Well done for creating such a likable and well rounded up character.
Julia Holloway, earl’s niece, went off to Canada as personal caregiver to Private McIntyre. Following his suicide, she lives in dire straits in Toronto. When Quinn inquires after his “fellow soldier”, he finds Julia scrubbing floors at the military hospital for a pittance.
She harbors secrets she feels vital to keep from Quinn and the earl. She expects to feel even further disgraced, so she refuses to speak to him. The earl has dangled a very tempting «carrot» in front of Quinn, making it essential for him to keep Julia safe and bring her back to England. I was relieved to see the relationship between Julia and Quinn develop in spite of all the constraints within themselves and in society.
I enjoyed the writing a lot as it managed to draw me into the plot and make the reading quite captivating. It was probably not the best idea to jump right into installment #3 of Canadian Crossings. I anticipated encountering some short comings in my knowledge about a storyline running through all the books, but felt there were no issues at all reading this as a standalone. It was a quick and easy read I was sad to see end, but still there is the option of reading books #1 and 2, which I look forward to.
I recommend The Brightest of Dreams in the Canadian Crossings Series for fans of Susan Anne Mason and for readers of historical romance fiction. Thank you to publisher Bethany House and NetGalley for this eARC, which gives me the chance to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
War veteran, family man and Earl’s of Brentwood’s personal valet Quinten Aspinall – Quinn, has made a very big promise to his father before his death to keep the family together. He has made it through the war with minor injuries and seems a level headed and well put together man who believes in the guidance of God and generally trying to do the right thing.
He is asking for leave of absence to travel to Canada in order to bring siblings Becky, Cecil and Harry, 18, 16 and 12, home. The earl hires him to find his niece and bring her home with them.
I enjoy following his though process as he is dealing with the tough experiences of this story. He gets very concerned along the way when he is told appalling stories of children having been gravely mistreated as free labor on farms. Quinn has to get creative to get information about his siblings whereabouts. He trusts God to guide him and keep him safe on his quest. His faith helps him through his hardships and descriptions of this runs strong through the story. Throughout the story he is met with experiences that challenge his view of life as well as his values, and he needs all his strength and down-to-earth personality traits to carry him through the events he encounters. I found him a thoroughly nice guy. He impressed me. Well done for creating such a likable and well rounded up character.
Julia Holloway, earl’s niece, went off to Canada as personal caregiver to Private McIntyre. Following his suicide, she lives in dire straits in Toronto. When Quinn inquires after his “fellow soldier”, he finds Julia scrubbing floors at the military hospital for a pittance.
She harbors secrets she feels vital to keep from Quinn and the earl. She expects to feel even further disgraced, so she refuses to speak to him. The earl has dangled a very tempting «carrot» in front of Quinn, making it essential for him to keep Julia safe and bring her back to England. I was relieved to see the relationship between Julia and Quinn develop in spite of all the constraints within themselves and in society.
I enjoyed the writing a lot as it managed to draw me into the plot and make the reading quite captivating. It was probably not the best idea to jump right into installment #3 of Canadian Crossings. I anticipated encountering some short comings in my knowledge about a storyline running through all the books, but felt there were no issues at all reading this as a standalone. It was a quick and easy read I was sad to see end, but still there is the option of reading books #1 and 2, which I look forward to.
I recommend The Brightest of Dreams in the Canadian Crossings Series for fans of Susan Anne Mason and for readers of historical romance fiction. Thank you to publisher Bethany House and NetGalley for this eARC, which gives me the chance to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
February 21, 2020
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
I just recently have heard of the British Home children but wasn't aware some of them had been sent to Canada as indentured laborers, mostly to work on farms.
British home children were said to be orphans but many in reality were not but came from homes where through sickness or death of one of the parents, had fallen on hard times.
From 1860 up until about 1948 over one hundred thousand children were sent from the United Kingdom to Canada. These same children rarely if ever spoke of this when they grew up.
I am grateful for the intense research the author has put into this book as she so accurately portrays
what the children went through and the struggle it was to try to retrieve some of these children home.
Quinten Aspinall makes a promise to his father to always take care of his mother and younger siblings and keep them together. He'll do everything in his power to keep this deathbed promise.
Upon returning from war he finds his siblings split up and had been sent to Canada as indentured workers.
Before he leaves to cross the ocean to find his siblings his employer offers him a deal to can not pass up, a tenant farm of his own for his ailing mother and siblings to be reunited on. There is a slight catch to this offer though his employer wants him to bring his wayward niece back home who ran off with a Canadian soldier.
In Canada, Quintin finds Julia but she's just received devastating news and doesn't feel like going home to her uncle is the right thing to do.
With Julia's help will Quinten be able to find his siblings and what about the feelings developing between the two of them as they closely work together?
Inspirational messages of God's unconditional love and forgiveness are what the author adds to her stories.
This is by far my favorite book of the Canadian Crossing series!
Published February 4th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you
All opinions expressed are my own.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
I just recently have heard of the British Home children but wasn't aware some of them had been sent to Canada as indentured laborers, mostly to work on farms.
British home children were said to be orphans but many in reality were not but came from homes where through sickness or death of one of the parents, had fallen on hard times.
From 1860 up until about 1948 over one hundred thousand children were sent from the United Kingdom to Canada. These same children rarely if ever spoke of this when they grew up.
I am grateful for the intense research the author has put into this book as she so accurately portrays
what the children went through and the struggle it was to try to retrieve some of these children home.
Quinten Aspinall makes a promise to his father to always take care of his mother and younger siblings and keep them together. He'll do everything in his power to keep this deathbed promise.
Upon returning from war he finds his siblings split up and had been sent to Canada as indentured workers.
Before he leaves to cross the ocean to find his siblings his employer offers him a deal to can not pass up, a tenant farm of his own for his ailing mother and siblings to be reunited on. There is a slight catch to this offer though his employer wants him to bring his wayward niece back home who ran off with a Canadian soldier.
In Canada, Quintin finds Julia but she's just received devastating news and doesn't feel like going home to her uncle is the right thing to do.
With Julia's help will Quinten be able to find his siblings and what about the feelings developing between the two of them as they closely work together?
Inspirational messages of God's unconditional love and forgiveness are what the author adds to her stories.
This is by far my favorite book of the Canadian Crossing series!
Published February 4th 2020 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you
All opinions expressed are my own.
February 15, 2020
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really loved this book! Its book 3 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The story is about people after war. They’re trying to put their lives back together, and unforeseen circumstances have separated them. Children were shipped off to Canada and can’t be found.
The Quinten was honorable and godly and the Julia was brave and determined. I loved their story.
The writing was very good. And the side characters added a pleasant layer to the story.
The romance was wonderful, which is always super important to me. And I enjoyed reading about the history of the orphanage. I had no idea!
I highly recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it has much as I did. ♥️
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
I really loved this book! Its book 3 of the series but can be read as a stand-alone. The story is about people after war. They’re trying to put their lives back together, and unforeseen circumstances have separated them. Children were shipped off to Canada and can’t be found.
The Quinten was honorable and godly and the Julia was brave and determined. I loved their story.
The writing was very good. And the side characters added a pleasant layer to the story.
The romance was wonderful, which is always super important to me. And I enjoyed reading about the history of the orphanage. I had no idea!
I highly recommend this book and I hope you enjoy it has much as I did. ♥️
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
February 19, 2020
I listened to the audio version of The Brightest of Dreams and really enjoyed the story! The characters captured my heart, and I was eager to keep listening and find out what happened to them. I'm very interested in British Home Children, and thought this story brought out many interesting points about what happened to children who came to Canada as indentured workers. Well done!
March 12, 2020
Woooshhhhh!!!! That's the sound of a very satisfied bibliophile sigh. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that! lol Love it when an author delivers so much more than I could ever imagine. And I listened to every exquisite minute of it. Susan Boyce is a favourite narrator of mine so she made me feel right at home -- all ready to settle in for a marathon listening session. I am such a happy reader...er listener!
The Brightest of Dreams is the third and final (sob) book in Mason's Canadian Crossings series but it also makes a wonderful standalone read. If you've been following the series you'll be super excited over the epilogue. :-) So many great characters to share a last hurrah with! So while I'm super sad to see this series end, I'm awash with too many warm fuzzies for that harsh reality to sink in just yet.
Absolutely loved Quinn and Julia's story. So much heartache and angst but so many tender moments too. Even some humourous ones. Mason draws out the tale with impeccable pacing. Plot threads pulled taut then slackened just a bit to give a reader some breathing room then -- snap! -- tension rolled over me in waves.
Pretty sure this is my favourte Susan Anne Mason book ever...though maybe I should re-read them all to make sure of that. :-)
The Brightest of Dreams is the third and final (sob) book in Mason's Canadian Crossings series but it also makes a wonderful standalone read. If you've been following the series you'll be super excited over the epilogue. :-) So many great characters to share a last hurrah with! So while I'm super sad to see this series end, I'm awash with too many warm fuzzies for that harsh reality to sink in just yet.
Absolutely loved Quinn and Julia's story. So much heartache and angst but so many tender moments too. Even some humourous ones. Mason draws out the tale with impeccable pacing. Plot threads pulled taut then slackened just a bit to give a reader some breathing room then -- snap! -- tension rolled over me in waves.
Pretty sure this is my favourte Susan Anne Mason book ever...though maybe I should re-read them all to make sure of that. :-)
April 8, 2020
What I found particularly unique about this series is that all three novels take place at very close to the same time. The focus of each is a different young adult traveling from England to Canada. In the Brightest of Dreams, it's Quinn's turn. His objective in Canada is to find his siblings that were sent there to serve as indentured workers. This is my second book this year that focuses on the British Home Children. Tragic and fascinating.
February 6, 2020
First of all, the cover of The Brightest of Dreams is just perfect. The hero is shown and you can almost see into his character. He looks kind, handsome, thoughtful and there is an air of anticipation in his gaze. And that’s what Susan Anne Mason brings out in her story of Quinn Aspinall.
In this third book of the series, Canadian Crossings, we see Quinn back from the war. He is on a mission to track down his siblings who were sent to Canada to be indentured because their ill mother could not care for them in England. His employer, the Earl of Brentwood, gives him leave to depart for Canada. The Earl asks Quinn to find his niece, Julia, who left for Canada as a caretaker to a wounded soldier.
This story is full of heartache and joy, faith and folly. Told with realism and poignancy, it takes us back to a time when good intentions didn’t always end up with the ideal circumstances. There are many obstacles to overcome, sometimes spiritual, sometimes physical and sometimes of the heart. And when Quinn meets Julia even motives change.
This book can be read as a stand alone but in it we see fellow travelers from books one and two. The secondary characters of Mrs. Chamberlain and Reverend Burke were very sweet. They provided steadying and wise spiritual counsel, showing that if we put out trust in God, He will direct out paths.
If you have read No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky, these three books by Ms. Mason will be a great complement. The Brightest of Dreams was informative about the British Home Children and a touching, romantic story as well.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
In this third book of the series, Canadian Crossings, we see Quinn back from the war. He is on a mission to track down his siblings who were sent to Canada to be indentured because their ill mother could not care for them in England. His employer, the Earl of Brentwood, gives him leave to depart for Canada. The Earl asks Quinn to find his niece, Julia, who left for Canada as a caretaker to a wounded soldier.
This story is full of heartache and joy, faith and folly. Told with realism and poignancy, it takes us back to a time when good intentions didn’t always end up with the ideal circumstances. There are many obstacles to overcome, sometimes spiritual, sometimes physical and sometimes of the heart. And when Quinn meets Julia even motives change.
This book can be read as a stand alone but in it we see fellow travelers from books one and two. The secondary characters of Mrs. Chamberlain and Reverend Burke were very sweet. They provided steadying and wise spiritual counsel, showing that if we put out trust in God, He will direct out paths.
If you have read No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky, these three books by Ms. Mason will be a great complement. The Brightest of Dreams was informative about the British Home Children and a touching, romantic story as well.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
February 10, 2020
The cover drew me in, then the title, and I smiled when I saw this was written by Susan Anne Mason. I had enjoyed books by this author, so I was thrilled to read her newest novel. I read the first page in the prologue, stopped and looked at the cover of the book again. Yes, I was reading the correct book. I had read No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky last year and it had a similar beginning, I was a little confused (things were made clear in the Author notes to readers). When the prologue ended the similarities did too.
Quinten said his farewells to his family and was off to war. Now he was home to discover his family had been scattered about. Quinten told his employer he was off to Canada to gather his family together. His employer the Earl (who he worked for years prior to the war) had a proposition for him. The Earl would gladly hold his position, give him some spending money, if he would also search for Miss Julia Holloway, his niece. He does the only thing he can do, he says,”..You have my word, sir. I’ll do everything in my power to bring your niece back to you.”
This is in author notes to readers, “When the subject of the British Home Children in Canada was suggested to me as a possible topic for a book, I confess I’d never heard of them. Not in all the time growing up in Ontario – where a large majority of these children were sent – and never in any of the educational studies…. So, to find out about these children and the role they played in our country’s history was indeed surprising.”
This was a remarkable, fun, fascinating hard journey Quintin and his family took. The characters are endearing, this story had the reader think about loyalty, trust, love, honor, compassion, family and forgiveness. It’s a wholesome romance story sprinkled with faith. Even though this was book three in the series I didn’t feel lost in this gripping, heart-felt novel I couldn’t put down that was full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
I highly recommend this novel for a book club pick. There is much to discuss.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Quinten said his farewells to his family and was off to war. Now he was home to discover his family had been scattered about. Quinten told his employer he was off to Canada to gather his family together. His employer the Earl (who he worked for years prior to the war) had a proposition for him. The Earl would gladly hold his position, give him some spending money, if he would also search for Miss Julia Holloway, his niece. He does the only thing he can do, he says,”..You have my word, sir. I’ll do everything in my power to bring your niece back to you.”
This is in author notes to readers, “When the subject of the British Home Children in Canada was suggested to me as a possible topic for a book, I confess I’d never heard of them. Not in all the time growing up in Ontario – where a large majority of these children were sent – and never in any of the educational studies…. So, to find out about these children and the role they played in our country’s history was indeed surprising.”
This was a remarkable, fun, fascinating hard journey Quintin and his family took. The characters are endearing, this story had the reader think about loyalty, trust, love, honor, compassion, family and forgiveness. It’s a wholesome romance story sprinkled with faith. Even though this was book three in the series I didn’t feel lost in this gripping, heart-felt novel I couldn’t put down that was full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming.
I highly recommend this novel for a book club pick. There is much to discuss.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
February 1, 2020
This is the third book in this series that I have read and enjoyed, saying that I do feel that you could read this one by its self, but the others as equally good!
This story is fiction, as the author’s notes states, but it is based on fact, and it happened to so many families. This time the author focuses on a family with three sons and one daughter, while the older son is fighting in the great war, the family falls on hard times and put into an orphanage in England, only to completely lose the children to Canada.
We are given a desperate young man searching for his sister and two younger brothers, but also looking for his employer’s niece! What a journey we embark on and all the while you wonder if he will find his family in time. What of the niece, well that is another story, one that could almost be another book.
A beautiful job the author does of wrapping up this series, and give closure to all the characters we are or have been caring about!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
This story is fiction, as the author’s notes states, but it is based on fact, and it happened to so many families. This time the author focuses on a family with three sons and one daughter, while the older son is fighting in the great war, the family falls on hard times and put into an orphanage in England, only to completely lose the children to Canada.
We are given a desperate young man searching for his sister and two younger brothers, but also looking for his employer’s niece! What a journey we embark on and all the while you wonder if he will find his family in time. What of the niece, well that is another story, one that could almost be another book.
A beautiful job the author does of wrapping up this series, and give closure to all the characters we are or have been caring about!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
April 26, 2020
I am mad. So mad about this book. And here is your fair warning that there are spoilers.
I have been waiting a year for this book… You hear my but coming? Well, it is!
I liked the beginning of The Brightest of Dreams but I was flipping through since it was going slowly and I wanted to stay interested … and I found out that Julia was drugged by a doctor after her friend died and that the doctor raped her.
It's after WWI so there is still a lot of stuff with rich dudes getting away with stuff and women not going to the ploice when stuff happens to them so you can assume that she doesn't tell anyone but the love interest when he notices that she was pregnant and she says that it was rape.
Since I found this out I skipped ahead some more...
And found more discouraging content … The bad dude tries to take the baby she's pregnant with after the attack, she goes into early labor at court, goes to the hospital, they stop labor until later and then she has the baby after Quin gets there again. Once again bad dude comes in, at the hospital! He wants to see his kid!!!! Um, big no no to me, he deserves to be thrown in jail and the key lost and that's the nice version! But no, they talk, he kinda feels bad, and THOUGHT THAT SHE WANTED *IT* SICK SICK SICK SICK… No one was with them until the pastor came back in, and she forgives bad dude saying if he really is sorry he'd let her keep the baby. So, of course he does … And she thinks it's a good thing Quin didn't come in since he'd do something to bad dude, uh, yeah! He'd better do something!
Plus her uncle doesn't want her home after he finds out about the baby. Well, she can come "home" but has to stay hidden until her cousin is happily married to some rich titled guy and she can come somewhat out of hiding.
Now that we have that out of the way may I say how much I nearly loved it? Quinten's story is so heartbreaking … I wanted to see what happened with his siblings and I skipped through and found out. I loved it! Such a bittersweet story idea but the author ruined it with everything that she threw at Julia, I honestly feel like she did it just to give the heroine angst. Like the hero couldn't have all of the drama, no sir … That wouldn't work. *eyeroll* I will not be finishing The Brightest of Dreams and I won't be doing another book from Mrs. Mason.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I have been waiting a year for this book… You hear my but coming? Well, it is!
I liked the beginning of The Brightest of Dreams but I was flipping through since it was going slowly and I wanted to stay interested … and I found out that Julia was drugged by a doctor after her friend died and that the doctor raped her.
It's after WWI so there is still a lot of stuff with rich dudes getting away with stuff and women not going to the ploice when stuff happens to them so you can assume that she doesn't tell anyone but the love interest when he notices that she was pregnant and she says that it was rape.
Since I found this out I skipped ahead some more...
And found more discouraging content … The bad dude tries to take the baby she's pregnant with after the attack, she goes into early labor at court, goes to the hospital, they stop labor until later and then she has the baby after Quin gets there again. Once again bad dude comes in, at the hospital! He wants to see his kid!!!! Um, big no no to me, he deserves to be thrown in jail and the key lost and that's the nice version! But no, they talk, he kinda feels bad, and THOUGHT THAT SHE WANTED *IT* SICK SICK SICK SICK… No one was with them until the pastor came back in, and she forgives bad dude saying if he really is sorry he'd let her keep the baby. So, of course he does … And she thinks it's a good thing Quin didn't come in since he'd do something to bad dude, uh, yeah! He'd better do something!
Plus her uncle doesn't want her home after he finds out about the baby. Well, she can come "home" but has to stay hidden until her cousin is happily married to some rich titled guy and she can come somewhat out of hiding.
Now that we have that out of the way may I say how much I nearly loved it? Quinten's story is so heartbreaking … I wanted to see what happened with his siblings and I skipped through and found out. I loved it! Such a bittersweet story idea but the author ruined it with everything that she threw at Julia, I honestly feel like she did it just to give the heroine angst. Like the hero couldn't have all of the drama, no sir … That wouldn't work. *eyeroll* I will not be finishing The Brightest of Dreams and I won't be doing another book from Mrs. Mason.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2020
While this is the third book in the Canadian Crossing series, this story can easily be read on its own. With that said, fans of this series will enjoy glimpses of characters from the other two books and enjoy finding out where those characters are now.
Quinten is quite a dynamic hero, he is sure to capture your heart. Time and again he was put in impossible situations, and faced with difficult decisions. As a youth, he is charged with the heavy responsibility of taking care of his family. Quinn takes this responsibility seriously and does his very best to fulfill the promise he made to his dying father. Little did he know the lengths he would have to go to, to ensure that he keeps that promise. He starts out taking on responsibilities and making decisions without first taking the time to go to God in prayer. We see Quinten grow as a character throughout the course of this story, in not only his relationships with others but also with God.
This story takes place in the early 1900s, just after World War I and focus on a family that unfortunately got wrapped up in the event that came to be known as “The Canadian Home Children”. Children who were sent to Canada from Great Brittan as orphans. Children who were often treated as indentured servants at best. Fans of Carrie Turansky’s “No Ocean Too Wide”, will enjoy delving into this story and the history.
I enjoyed my time reading this story and felt pulled into the drama and the lives of the characters. Susan Ann Mason has written a beautiful story that wrapped itself around my heart.
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Quinten is quite a dynamic hero, he is sure to capture your heart. Time and again he was put in impossible situations, and faced with difficult decisions. As a youth, he is charged with the heavy responsibility of taking care of his family. Quinn takes this responsibility seriously and does his very best to fulfill the promise he made to his dying father. Little did he know the lengths he would have to go to, to ensure that he keeps that promise. He starts out taking on responsibilities and making decisions without first taking the time to go to God in prayer. We see Quinten grow as a character throughout the course of this story, in not only his relationships with others but also with God.
This story takes place in the early 1900s, just after World War I and focus on a family that unfortunately got wrapped up in the event that came to be known as “The Canadian Home Children”. Children who were sent to Canada from Great Brittan as orphans. Children who were often treated as indentured servants at best. Fans of Carrie Turansky’s “No Ocean Too Wide”, will enjoy delving into this story and the history.
I enjoyed my time reading this story and felt pulled into the drama and the lives of the characters. Susan Ann Mason has written a beautiful story that wrapped itself around my heart.
(I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
February 10, 2020
Having read Carrie Turansky's, No Ocean Too Wide, which also dealt with the British Home Children, I knew I was going to love Mason's series on this same subject. Book 3 finally brings the series to completion as Quinten Aspinall heads to Canada to try and find his 2 brothers and his sister, Cecil, Harry, and Becky, along with his employer's (Lord Bentwood) niece. Nothing goes easy finding the children or locating Julia. Beset by one problem after another, Quinten's faith is the only thing that sustains him.
Quinten is an absolute swoonworthy hero as the cover's picture definitely depicts. Strong, faith-filled, courageous, and loyal, he is determined to do what's best for his siblings as he promised his father he would keep the family together as well as assist Julia. I loved how he supported Julia throughout the problems she faced and assisted her in making the best decisions for her and her future life. Julia definitely ran into some true hardships, and it was nice to see her lean on God as she tried to find her way through them. Both she and Quinten had to learn to forgive themselves for the mistakes they made, so they could move on with their lives. This series definitely brings to life the plight of the British Home Children, how they were often mistreated and abused, and how they were taken from their parents without permission after being placed in orphanages due to a single parent's illness or inability to care for them short term.
I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well researched historical fiction.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Quinten is an absolute swoonworthy hero as the cover's picture definitely depicts. Strong, faith-filled, courageous, and loyal, he is determined to do what's best for his siblings as he promised his father he would keep the family together as well as assist Julia. I loved how he supported Julia throughout the problems she faced and assisted her in making the best decisions for her and her future life. Julia definitely ran into some true hardships, and it was nice to see her lean on God as she tried to find her way through them. Both she and Quinten had to learn to forgive themselves for the mistakes they made, so they could move on with their lives. This series definitely brings to life the plight of the British Home Children, how they were often mistreated and abused, and how they were taken from their parents without permission after being placed in orphanages due to a single parent's illness or inability to care for them short term.
I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well researched historical fiction.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
June 17, 2020
The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason, read by Susan Boyce
At one point, I almost put this book down. There are explained scenes that were hard to read. Children taken from England to work on farms in Canada, mistreated, slept in barns, taken advantage of and even committing suicide from maltreatment.
Although some of this may depict similarities to true Canadian child indenture, this was fiction and I had to bear that in mind when my feelings got the better of me.
I persisted and I'm glad I did. What a gentle, clean love story between our two main characters. Quinten Aspinall and Julia Holloway are so kind, patient and proper.
Story:
After Quinn completed his service in the war (WWI) he returned to England to find his mother quite ill in a workhouse infirmary and his siblings shipped off to work on Canadian farms or in domestic work. At every turn his search for them was thwarted, either by the organizations that took them, or by the Canadian organization that sold their service, or by the locations that paid to take them.
Meanwhile, his employer, for whom he was a valet, gave him traveling money to locate his niece who had left England as a caretaker for an injured Canadian soldier, and hadn’t been heard from. Finding four people in Canada was quite a task for Quinn.
There were many ups and downs in his pursuit, disappointments and surprises, much of it satisfying.
My thoughts in the end:
I think this may be my favorite Susan Anne Mason book. I loved the depth of the characters. The way each one fit with the others was so well done.
The narrator for this audiobook really made it. Her depiction of each character was seamless; conceptualizing children, older women, men, especially Quinten Aspinall...perfection...so proper and British.
Very good book.
At one point, I almost put this book down. There are explained scenes that were hard to read. Children taken from England to work on farms in Canada, mistreated, slept in barns, taken advantage of and even committing suicide from maltreatment.
Although some of this may depict similarities to true Canadian child indenture, this was fiction and I had to bear that in mind when my feelings got the better of me.
I persisted and I'm glad I did. What a gentle, clean love story between our two main characters. Quinten Aspinall and Julia Holloway are so kind, patient and proper.
Story:
After Quinn completed his service in the war (WWI) he returned to England to find his mother quite ill in a workhouse infirmary and his siblings shipped off to work on Canadian farms or in domestic work. At every turn his search for them was thwarted, either by the organizations that took them, or by the Canadian organization that sold their service, or by the locations that paid to take them.
Meanwhile, his employer, for whom he was a valet, gave him traveling money to locate his niece who had left England as a caretaker for an injured Canadian soldier, and hadn’t been heard from. Finding four people in Canada was quite a task for Quinn.
There were many ups and downs in his pursuit, disappointments and surprises, much of it satisfying.
My thoughts in the end:
I think this may be my favorite Susan Anne Mason book. I loved the depth of the characters. The way each one fit with the others was so well done.
The narrator for this audiobook really made it. Her depiction of each character was seamless; conceptualizing children, older women, men, especially Quinten Aspinall...perfection...so proper and British.
Very good book.
March 10, 2020
The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason is the third novel in the Canadian Crossings series. It can be read as a standalone if you have not read the other two Canadian Crossings novels. If you have read Best of Intentions and Highest of Hopes, you will be delighted with this final story. Grace and Emmaline are in included, so we get to find out how they are faring. I thought The Brightest of Dreams was well-written with developed characters. I can tell the author did her research for this novel. It is heartbreaking that hundreds of children were sent to Canada as indentured servants. The working conditions for some of them were intolerable as we see in this story. Quinn Aspinsall is searching for his two brothers and sister in Canada so he can return them to England. He hopes that when his mother sees all her children once again, she will begin to recover. The Brightest of Dreams is an emotional story that captures the time period beautifully. Christianity is woven into the story making it an integral part. The characters pray to God for help on their journeys and with their lives. Quinn and Julia become a part of a charming church community that includes Mrs. Chamberlain and Reverend Burke. My favorite phrase from The Brightest of Dreams is, “God’s timing was always perfect.” It is can be hard to turn our worries over to Him and leave them in His hands. The romance plays out sweetly and slowly which suits the time period and the story. The Brightest of Dreams allows us to glimpse into the past in this multifaceted novel. I especially appreciated the epilogue. The Brightest of Dreams is a story that draws you in and holds you until you finish the very last page.
February 17, 2020
Ah, such a sweet conclusion to The Canadian Crossings series. Susan Anne Mason writes another fluidly moving story filled with hope, love, romance, and faith. This is book 3 in the series but can be read as a stand-alone; the three books are not sequential but simultaneous in timeline.
I really enjoyed getting to know Julia and Quinn. Julia is a strong but broken woman, trying her best to survive even when her circumstances are terrible. Quinn is a determined, loyal, and tender man who crosses the ocean to Canada to find his siblings who were sent over from England as indentured servants during WWI. The mistreatment and abuse of those children sent to Canada are real and heart-breaking, the love of Quinn for his younger siblings powerful and heart-warming. Some gentle twists and turns in the plot heighten the emotion in the second half of the book.
If you like historical romance, you will love this book and the entire series. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I really enjoyed getting to know Julia and Quinn. Julia is a strong but broken woman, trying her best to survive even when her circumstances are terrible. Quinn is a determined, loyal, and tender man who crosses the ocean to Canada to find his siblings who were sent over from England as indentured servants during WWI. The mistreatment and abuse of those children sent to Canada are real and heart-breaking, the love of Quinn for his younger siblings powerful and heart-warming. Some gentle twists and turns in the plot heighten the emotion in the second half of the book.
If you like historical romance, you will love this book and the entire series. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
February 5, 2020
Amazing third book in the Canadian Crossings series and my absolute favorite. With characters and situations that capture your heart and hold on so tight that you never want it to end. I want more. This author is captivating and I’m so thankful I discovered her books, as they never disappoint. I definitely needed tissues as my heart was torn in pieces as Quinn searches for his siblings and finds the not pleasant atrocities of being an indentured servant. I recently watched a documentary on this and the research is spot on. When you add Quinn finding Julie and learn her story you will be swept away in discovering how to find forgiveness for others and yourself. I also loved the lesser characters of Mrs. C and the Reverend Burke. You will find that family includes not just blood relatives but the ones that aid you in your attempt to find them. I find that words fail me in this review as I don’t want to put in spoilers. I guess I will wrap it up by saying you will be gobsmacked as it is a complete package. Take time to curl up with this one, as it can also read as a stand-alone also.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
August 24, 2020
I was so sad to leave this series! It was the best I've read in a long time!!
I was a little bit disappointed in this one, hence why I only have it 4 stars. I loved Quin and Julia, but I did not care for Julia's story. I didn't realize before reading this book that it was going to be a "marriage of convenience." And in my opinion, those rarely go right. This one wasn't too bad....but it did have a few parts that I did not appreciate.
I fell in love with Julia from the beginning! She was so sweet, so kind and unselfish. But her background story started to slowly come out, what happened to her when she went to Canada, and that's when I started to not enjoy this as much.
Quin, as well, was amazing! I like the male characters in the previous books better, but he was still great. I loved his passion for his family and devoutness for what was right.
So while I didn't 100% approve of the book, I still enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it, but probably not for younger readers.
I was a little bit disappointed in this one, hence why I only have it 4 stars. I loved Quin and Julia, but I did not care for Julia's story. I didn't realize before reading this book that it was going to be a "marriage of convenience." And in my opinion, those rarely go right. This one wasn't too bad....but it did have a few parts that I did not appreciate.
I fell in love with Julia from the beginning! She was so sweet, so kind and unselfish. But her background story started to slowly come out, what happened to her when she went to Canada, and that's when I started to not enjoy this as much.
Quin, as well, was amazing! I like the male characters in the previous books better, but he was still great. I loved his passion for his family and devoutness for what was right.
So while I didn't 100% approve of the book, I still enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it, but probably not for younger readers.
June 2, 2022
Enjoyed this third and final book in the Canadian Crossings series. The stories of four people who meet on a ship bound from England to Canada just after WWI, quickly captured my imagination. Each book in the series follows one or two of the four passengers. This book is Quinten’s story and offers a great conclusion to the series.
After fighting in WWI, Quinten Aspinall returns to a sick mother and missing siblings. He’s journeying to Canada to find his brothers and sister who were shipped there to work when their mother could no longer care for them. He’s also going to find the wayward niece of his employer who ran away with a soldier. If Quinn can find her and bring her home, he’ll be given his own tenant farm and a way to support his mother and siblings.
Julia Holloway thought running away to Canada would be an adventure. Unfortunately, the former debutante has encountered nothing but problems and heartache. She’s too stubborn to contact her uncle for help and tries her best, barely surviving. When Quinn shows up at her work, she can hardly believe her uncle’s handsome employee is really there. He rescues her from unlivable circumstances and she offers to help him find his sister. As the two work together, they grow closer. However, devastating news threatens their new relationship and Quinn is forced to make a choice between the woman he is coming to love and his promise to his mother.
This story really drew me in and I loved listening to the audiobook version. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing each character to life. She distinguished them in a way that was easy and enjoyable to listen to. I liked the relationship between Julia and Quinn. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two that was a little frustrating especially because the secrets they kept were pretty life changing. It does create for some great drama and kept me anxiously listening to see how things would work out. The side characters were endearing and brought even more depth to the story. There’s also an enjoyable romance between two of the older side characters.
If you like marriage of convenience stories with plenty of drama and romance, you’ll enjoy this story. It’s Christian fiction with spiritual messages of forgiveness and repentance deftly woven into the story. The religious aspects are a natural part of the characters’ lives and do not come off as preachy. Content warning: there is an incident of rape mentioned in the story, however there are no graphic details. Though part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Those familiar with the series will enjoy seeing characters from previous books.
After fighting in WWI, Quinten Aspinall returns to a sick mother and missing siblings. He’s journeying to Canada to find his brothers and sister who were shipped there to work when their mother could no longer care for them. He’s also going to find the wayward niece of his employer who ran away with a soldier. If Quinn can find her and bring her home, he’ll be given his own tenant farm and a way to support his mother and siblings.
Julia Holloway thought running away to Canada would be an adventure. Unfortunately, the former debutante has encountered nothing but problems and heartache. She’s too stubborn to contact her uncle for help and tries her best, barely surviving. When Quinn shows up at her work, she can hardly believe her uncle’s handsome employee is really there. He rescues her from unlivable circumstances and she offers to help him find his sister. As the two work together, they grow closer. However, devastating news threatens their new relationship and Quinn is forced to make a choice between the woman he is coming to love and his promise to his mother.
This story really drew me in and I loved listening to the audiobook version. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing each character to life. She distinguished them in a way that was easy and enjoyable to listen to. I liked the relationship between Julia and Quinn. There was a lot of miscommunication between the two that was a little frustrating especially because the secrets they kept were pretty life changing. It does create for some great drama and kept me anxiously listening to see how things would work out. The side characters were endearing and brought even more depth to the story. There’s also an enjoyable romance between two of the older side characters.
If you like marriage of convenience stories with plenty of drama and romance, you’ll enjoy this story. It’s Christian fiction with spiritual messages of forgiveness and repentance deftly woven into the story. The religious aspects are a natural part of the characters’ lives and do not come off as preachy. Content warning: there is an incident of rape mentioned in the story, however there are no graphic details. Though part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Those familiar with the series will enjoy seeing characters from previous books.
April 9, 2020
This is a fantastic finale to the Canadian Crossings series and my favorite of the set. The story line was so engrossing, it kept me reading to find out what was going to happen to these characters and how they would get their happy ending. Quinten and Julia were very likable characters and I loved seeing Mrs. C again and learning more of her story. Really enjoyed this book!
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
June 29, 2020
This book was super interesting! The topic isn’t something I’ve read before, but I’m interested in reading the other books in the series!
I enjoyed the characters, and their growth the made throughout the book!
4/5 stars!
I enjoyed the characters, and their growth the made throughout the book!
4/5 stars!
June 18, 2020
3.5stars
"Because one way or another, he would come up with a means to persuade her."
Quinten Aspinall's future and that of his family, hangs in the balance, while his employer's lovely runaway niece decides whether or not to return to England. Providentially, Quinten found Julia Holloway living and working in Toronto, Canada under pretty dire circumstances; her original plans having gone terribly astray.
But Quinten has more to worry about than Julia Holloway, his main concen involves the welfare of his three younger siblings; placed in an orphanage by their mother while Quinten served in the war, only to be shipped off to Canada as indentured workers. He promised his father to look after their family, but at this point it will take a miracle. In the meantime, as Julia becomes more entwined into his thoughts and feelings, he learns of a secret that she painfully bears, one that will change everything between them . .. forever.
This sweet romance softens the blows of the stark realities associated with the British Home Children in Canada's sad history. The truth was, according to the author, "that countless parents did not realize that their sons and daughters would be shipped off to another country". Readers will sympathize, empathize, and grieve the loss of innocence that these children suffered, along with encouraging Quinten and Julia to follow the path that God had lovingly set before them.
I received a copy of this book from author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
"Because one way or another, he would come up with a means to persuade her."
Quinten Aspinall's future and that of his family, hangs in the balance, while his employer's lovely runaway niece decides whether or not to return to England. Providentially, Quinten found Julia Holloway living and working in Toronto, Canada under pretty dire circumstances; her original plans having gone terribly astray.
But Quinten has more to worry about than Julia Holloway, his main concen involves the welfare of his three younger siblings; placed in an orphanage by their mother while Quinten served in the war, only to be shipped off to Canada as indentured workers. He promised his father to look after their family, but at this point it will take a miracle. In the meantime, as Julia becomes more entwined into his thoughts and feelings, he learns of a secret that she painfully bears, one that will change everything between them . .. forever.
This sweet romance softens the blows of the stark realities associated with the British Home Children in Canada's sad history. The truth was, according to the author, "that countless parents did not realize that their sons and daughters would be shipped off to another country". Readers will sympathize, empathize, and grieve the loss of innocence that these children suffered, along with encouraging Quinten and Julia to follow the path that God had lovingly set before them.
I received a copy of this book from author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
January 10, 2020
After mustering out of the Great War and returning to his post as personal valet to a member of Britain's aristocracy, Quinton Aspinall learns his mother is in the workhouse and his three siblings have been shipped to Canada to work there as indentured servants. He is determined to find them and bring them home so their family can be whole again. His employer agrees to Quinton going as long as he searches for and brings him his own wayward niece who has run off with a Canadian soldier, promising Quinton a free and clear tenant farm.
Julia Holloway's dreams have been shattered after going to Canada with a soldier. Now she is working as a maid and her life is about to turn upside down again. She meets, quite by chance, Quinton, and agrees to help him find his siblings. As they start on the journey to reunite his family, they discover shocking truths about how these so called orphans have been treated.
Susan Anne Mason has given her readers a good lesson in history with a fact-based story of the many children shipped to Canada for a better life. Combined with her ability to tell a good story, this is a book to settle in with and enjoy.
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Julia Holloway's dreams have been shattered after going to Canada with a soldier. Now she is working as a maid and her life is about to turn upside down again. She meets, quite by chance, Quinton, and agrees to help him find his siblings. As they start on the journey to reunite his family, they discover shocking truths about how these so called orphans have been treated.
Susan Anne Mason has given her readers a good lesson in history with a fact-based story of the many children shipped to Canada for a better life. Combined with her ability to tell a good story, this is a book to settle in with and enjoy.
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
February 7, 2020
The Brightest Dreams is the third and final installment of the Canadian Crossings series. I really enjoyed it and all the historical facts I learned. Particularly the orphans who were shipped to Canada to work on farms from England. This is a sweet romance and very inspirational too. This could easily be read as a stand alone, but readers would appreciate it more if read in order.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher and this my honest opinion.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author and publisher and this my honest opinion.
February 12, 2020
I enjoyed this book! I think it was a very satisfactory ending to the series. We got to see some old friends from the other books and to see how their lives have changed. We also got to meet new characters. I loved joining Quinn and Julia on their journey. Quinn is so noble and likable. I really enjoyed this series and story!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
January 6, 2020
The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason is the third book in the Canadian Crossings series, but it can be read independently, I didn’t read the previous books and had no problems (it did mention the main characters of the other novels, and I think it would be nice to see how they all faired if I’d read the previous books). I’m now very curious after the other books and I have made reservations at the library, as there is a waiting list for all Susan’s books!
In this novel we follow Quinn and Julia with the occasional POV of Mrs. C., a wonderful boarding house lady. It’s 1919, and Quinn has returned from the war only to find that his family was torn apart. His mother is in the working house, and his 3 siblings went to an orphanage and ended up in Canada, where they became contracted laborers. Quinn made a promiss to his dying father he would keep the family together and feels like he has totally failed his promise, and sets off to Canada to bring them all home. But first he visits his former employer to ask if he can get his job as valet back after he finds his siblings. The earl sees an opportunity as his niece is in Canada as well, and he’d like her to return. If she indeed returns, he will reward Quinn with what he truly wants: a farm of his own. With this incentive Quinn really can’t say no and sets off to Canada.
This book literally kept me up at night. There were so many twists and turns and the plot thickens so much! There were quite a few side stories which I really loved, but of course the main plot of whether the siblings would be found was very intruiging. And haunting, too. To imagine that so many children (100,000 as the author explains in the end) were shipped off to a new country, often with relatives still in England, and forced to work under often dire circumstances with no protection and no way to escape the contract, it broke my heart. I had never heard of this, and it was appalling. I applaud the author for tackling such a heavy subject that should not be overlooked. Because you can see what happens to the siblings, and how powerless even a brother is, it really hits home. Thank goodness there was a lot of kindness too! I love how fiercely protective Quinn is of his family, and is literally 24/7 busy creating a right future for everyone and making sure everyone is safe. He can be a bit overprotective at times, because often the reality is different than he imagined in his head, and to adjust to reality is a bit hard for him. But he always does the honorable thing and is a true gentleman.
Julia has left her privileged life to care for wounded soldiers, and then went back to Canada with a soldier who needed her help. However, bad things have happened and she is forced to take a job that barely pays and live in a hovel with a leering landlord, and is down to her last penny. I kept yelling in my head for Quinn to arrive and help her out of this terrible situation, and thankfully he did. Shouldn’t have been a day later. Quinn already made some new friends who can help, and Julia ends up in a boarding house with Mrs. C. who is a true gem. She has her own story to tell, and how she practices faith is really inspiring. I really loved the subtle themes of forgiveness, mercy and justice and I also really admired how Julia, with her privileged background, really trusted in God and that He would care for her day by day. That was very inspiring, especially as she teached Quinn this lesson by example. There is talk of faith in this book, but it’s not preachy and not in your face, which I personally really like.
I really loved all the characters (except one lol, but he made an excellent villain and his arc was really good), they were all fleshed out and had their own motives. The romance was top notch and exciting and the writing style impressed me, I just couldn’t stop reading. And those twists and turns were amazing! I absolutely loved this book and I could go on and on with this review, which already turned out a bit too long. This is a story everyone will love, with a lot of depth and richness and you simply can’t stop reading because you need to know what happens next.
I received a free e-copy from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In this novel we follow Quinn and Julia with the occasional POV of Mrs. C., a wonderful boarding house lady. It’s 1919, and Quinn has returned from the war only to find that his family was torn apart. His mother is in the working house, and his 3 siblings went to an orphanage and ended up in Canada, where they became contracted laborers. Quinn made a promiss to his dying father he would keep the family together and feels like he has totally failed his promise, and sets off to Canada to bring them all home. But first he visits his former employer to ask if he can get his job as valet back after he finds his siblings. The earl sees an opportunity as his niece is in Canada as well, and he’d like her to return. If she indeed returns, he will reward Quinn with what he truly wants: a farm of his own. With this incentive Quinn really can’t say no and sets off to Canada.
This book literally kept me up at night. There were so many twists and turns and the plot thickens so much! There were quite a few side stories which I really loved, but of course the main plot of whether the siblings would be found was very intruiging. And haunting, too. To imagine that so many children (100,000 as the author explains in the end) were shipped off to a new country, often with relatives still in England, and forced to work under often dire circumstances with no protection and no way to escape the contract, it broke my heart. I had never heard of this, and it was appalling. I applaud the author for tackling such a heavy subject that should not be overlooked. Because you can see what happens to the siblings, and how powerless even a brother is, it really hits home. Thank goodness there was a lot of kindness too! I love how fiercely protective Quinn is of his family, and is literally 24/7 busy creating a right future for everyone and making sure everyone is safe. He can be a bit overprotective at times, because often the reality is different than he imagined in his head, and to adjust to reality is a bit hard for him. But he always does the honorable thing and is a true gentleman.
Julia has left her privileged life to care for wounded soldiers, and then went back to Canada with a soldier who needed her help. However, bad things have happened and she is forced to take a job that barely pays and live in a hovel with a leering landlord, and is down to her last penny. I kept yelling in my head for Quinn to arrive and help her out of this terrible situation, and thankfully he did. Shouldn’t have been a day later. Quinn already made some new friends who can help, and Julia ends up in a boarding house with Mrs. C. who is a true gem. She has her own story to tell, and how she practices faith is really inspiring. I really loved the subtle themes of forgiveness, mercy and justice and I also really admired how Julia, with her privileged background, really trusted in God and that He would care for her day by day. That was very inspiring, especially as she teached Quinn this lesson by example. There is talk of faith in this book, but it’s not preachy and not in your face, which I personally really like.
I really loved all the characters (except one lol, but he made an excellent villain and his arc was really good), they were all fleshed out and had their own motives. The romance was top notch and exciting and the writing style impressed me, I just couldn’t stop reading. And those twists and turns were amazing! I absolutely loved this book and I could go on and on with this review, which already turned out a bit too long. This is a story everyone will love, with a lot of depth and richness and you simply can’t stop reading because you need to know what happens next.
I received a free e-copy from Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2020
Wow, I just closed the cover of The Brightest of Dreams. I really enjoyed this book! I honestly have loved each one of Susan Anne Mason’s books. She has a wonderful way of making her characters feel so real. As I dive into their stories, I experience their ups and downs, I laugh out loud and other times warm tears will Flow down my face.
Quinn was a great man of integrity, determination, so honest and hardworking. Follow him as he strives to make his late father proud and his dying mother’s last wish come true- Finding his siblings and bringing them home to England.
I have always had a heart for orphans and have read many books on the Orphan Train and experiences like this. I have never read or heard about the British Home Children. It breaks My heart to think of all these children taken from Families as indentured servants and sent to another county. I wanted to reach into the book and pull these kids Out and love them. I cannot imagine my own family members being in this situation. It angered me to read of their unjust treatment. We don’t realize how blessed we are, and reading history can remind us to be grateful.
Julia spoke volumes to me. I have gone down a similar path and she did it with such grace. Reminding me how important forgiveness and God’s love is. He brings us through and never leaves us. We don’t see that big picture, but He does! Thankful for a loving God that holds me in His hands.
Susan did a wonderful Job of weaving God’s mercy and love through this book. The sweet romances were enjoyable and I Loved Mrs. C. Each character had their own stories and they wrapped a precious message to my heart. I’m thankful for those that write books and include God’s salvation story of love in them. They really minister to me and I am grateful for the privilege of reading The Brightest of Dreams.
Quinn was a great man of integrity, determination, so honest and hardworking. Follow him as he strives to make his late father proud and his dying mother’s last wish come true- Finding his siblings and bringing them home to England.
I have always had a heart for orphans and have read many books on the Orphan Train and experiences like this. I have never read or heard about the British Home Children. It breaks My heart to think of all these children taken from Families as indentured servants and sent to another county. I wanted to reach into the book and pull these kids Out and love them. I cannot imagine my own family members being in this situation. It angered me to read of their unjust treatment. We don’t realize how blessed we are, and reading history can remind us to be grateful.
Julia spoke volumes to me. I have gone down a similar path and she did it with such grace. Reminding me how important forgiveness and God’s love is. He brings us through and never leaves us. We don’t see that big picture, but He does! Thankful for a loving God that holds me in His hands.
Susan did a wonderful Job of weaving God’s mercy and love through this book. The sweet romances were enjoyable and I Loved Mrs. C. Each character had their own stories and they wrapped a precious message to my heart. I’m thankful for those that write books and include God’s salvation story of love in them. They really minister to me and I am grateful for the privilege of reading The Brightest of Dreams.
March 18, 2020
Susan Anne Mason is a master of the family drama; in both this series and her previous, we have been treated to following several different families as their members learn what it means to love unconditionally. This final book of the series is an excellent conclusion and I highly recommend it.
The book explores how the prescribed roles for women were undergoing some shifts, both for the common person, and for the aristocracy. While in England, changes were slower, but because this book takes place in Canada, those ideas are shifting more rapidly out of necessity as well as a new environment for many of the characters. It was intriguing to me how thought patterns had to be adjusted in order to accomplish many daily tasks, as well as to experience a fulfilling future.
This is a good family drama; with multiple families represented, the reader is allowed to feel the emotional pull and tug of parental expectation, personal wishes, and the desire to be valued and loved, for more than one character and situation. For both the hero and heroine, at least one parent has passed away, so there is the unfulfillable dream of making that person proud after they are gone, and there is no way for the parent to correct any mistaken impression that the child may have been carrying for many years.
The spiritual thread is a natural component of the storyline, as well. Characters rely on God, prayer, and have to realize at various points that, despite their best efforts, things may not always turn out the way that they think they should. The decision becomes whether or not to trust that God is truly in control, even when it seems like things are not going to turn out in a happy manner.
While this is the concluding book of the Canadian Crossings series, it can easily read as a standalone. The three novels are linked, but they do not cross over into the others except in minor ways that will not harm readability. Of course, I do recommend each of the books as riveting reading, especially for those who enjoy family dramas with romance, set in an interesting time in history, in a different setting (at least for those of us who often read books set either in America or England). At times heartbreaking, at other points inspiring, this is a book well worth the read and a reminder of what is important when everything seems to be falling apart.
I received a review copy of this book from the author and publisher but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
The book explores how the prescribed roles for women were undergoing some shifts, both for the common person, and for the aristocracy. While in England, changes were slower, but because this book takes place in Canada, those ideas are shifting more rapidly out of necessity as well as a new environment for many of the characters. It was intriguing to me how thought patterns had to be adjusted in order to accomplish many daily tasks, as well as to experience a fulfilling future.
This is a good family drama; with multiple families represented, the reader is allowed to feel the emotional pull and tug of parental expectation, personal wishes, and the desire to be valued and loved, for more than one character and situation. For both the hero and heroine, at least one parent has passed away, so there is the unfulfillable dream of making that person proud after they are gone, and there is no way for the parent to correct any mistaken impression that the child may have been carrying for many years.
The spiritual thread is a natural component of the storyline, as well. Characters rely on God, prayer, and have to realize at various points that, despite their best efforts, things may not always turn out the way that they think they should. The decision becomes whether or not to trust that God is truly in control, even when it seems like things are not going to turn out in a happy manner.
While this is the concluding book of the Canadian Crossings series, it can easily read as a standalone. The three novels are linked, but they do not cross over into the others except in minor ways that will not harm readability. Of course, I do recommend each of the books as riveting reading, especially for those who enjoy family dramas with romance, set in an interesting time in history, in a different setting (at least for those of us who often read books set either in America or England). At times heartbreaking, at other points inspiring, this is a book well worth the read and a reminder of what is important when everything seems to be falling apart.
I received a review copy of this book from the author and publisher but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
January 25, 2020
I've long been a fan of Susan Anne Mason's work, right from the when I read Irish Meadows and all the books following in that series! I think after thinking about all of them I've read so far, this is my favorite. Quinten, bless him, has such good intentions and such a noble heart, while struggling with a promise he made to his father and his desire to keep it. Deeply rooted in Canadian history, this story brings these events to life and helps us understand what the children shipped over from Britain as indentured workers endured.
Seeing cameo appearances from characters from the first and second books in the Canadian Crossings series brings it all to a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book. My opinion is my own.
Seeing cameo appearances from characters from the first and second books in the Canadian Crossings series brings it all to a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book. My opinion is my own.
February 22, 2020
Faith Makes Dreams Come True
Ms Mason is my favorite author of the Edwardian Era and her latest book didn’t disappoint. Beautifully written narrative with well-developed characters makes this a page-turner to the end. I received a paperback from Bethany House and this is my honest opinion.
Ms Mason is my favorite author of the Edwardian Era and her latest book didn’t disappoint. Beautifully written narrative with well-developed characters makes this a page-turner to the end. I received a paperback from Bethany House and this is my honest opinion.
March 14, 2020
Susan Anne Mason is one author whose books I await with eager anticipation and am never disappointed! With multifaceted, colorful characters, opulent mansions of the elite, and the terrible plight of the lower class...Mason has once again crafted a beautiful, heartrending novel.
Quinn Aspinall is one loyal hero, a man on a mission, and kind to a fault. Many of his motives are driven by guilt which is continually in the forefront of his mind—but also of honor. A man of his word, Quinten is one swoon-worthy hero! Julia Holloway is also driven by self-afflicted guilt as a result of her disastrous decisions and being taken advantage of by malevolent people. Can this pair of star-crossed lovers find the road to happiness—and each other's arms?
Not just a fluffy romance, The Brightest of Dreams is a haunting story of workhouses, cruelty to child laborers, and sexual assault...but also one of so much joy and strength in between the dark times. Grab your tissue box and get ready for an emotive journey to Canada—and love.
*I was given a complimentary copy of this novel from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.*
Quinn Aspinall is one loyal hero, a man on a mission, and kind to a fault. Many of his motives are driven by guilt which is continually in the forefront of his mind—but also of honor. A man of his word, Quinten is one swoon-worthy hero! Julia Holloway is also driven by self-afflicted guilt as a result of her disastrous decisions and being taken advantage of by malevolent people. Can this pair of star-crossed lovers find the road to happiness—and each other's arms?
Not just a fluffy romance, The Brightest of Dreams is a haunting story of workhouses, cruelty to child laborers, and sexual assault...but also one of so much joy and strength in between the dark times. Grab your tissue box and get ready for an emotive journey to Canada—and love.
*I was given a complimentary copy of this novel from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews