The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason is Full of Hope and Inspiration

...from the publisher...

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?

...my thoughts...
Susan Anne Mason's The Brightest of Dreams is an incredible story.  With incredible odds, one young determined man, Quentin Aspinall undertakes to reunite his two brothers and sister.  His goal was to restore them to his mother, who, in poor health and dire straits, gave their care temporarily over to Dr. Bernardo's Homes.  Little did she know that they would be put on a boat for Canada.

I can't imagine how difficult this situation would be. Although this is a work of fiction, the children in this story could have been a handful of over one hundred thousand children shipped off from Dr. Thomas Bernardo Homes. The British Home Children were sent to Canada and worked under contract on farms, as housemaids or other jobs as indentured servants. Many, as in the case of Quinn's brothers Cecil and Harry, who were sent to separate farms, were ill treated and especially, like little Harry, malnourished.

The plight of the young, who don't have the resources to stand up for themselves in poor conditions is an unfair fight. Not only children, but also young women, like Julia Holloway, who was preyed upon unethically, had little voice when people in authority could determine their future at will.

Julia's faith helped her endure the difficult circumstances she found herself in with grace and dignity.  Quinn, who became a constant in her life also possessed a strong faith.  He trusted God as  he forged ahead with his plans that at times were so difficult.  Yet, he was stalwart, patient and loved his family fiercely for one so young. I liked this book.  The elements of faith woven throughout made this poignant story all the richer. The characters were well developed, coming alive as the story unfolded.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I recommend The Brightest of Dreams for your reading list. The children who became the British Home Children, along with the children in America who were sent on Orphan Trains became a part of the history of North American.  For when they grew up and out of their situations, they emerged, after all, as the men and women who helped settled North America.

I was pleased to receive an advance copy of this book for review.  Although I have enjoyed other books by this author, my opinions are mine.

A Most Noble Heir

Publisher's Notes

When stable hand Nolan Price learns from his dying mother that he is actually the son of the Earl of Stainsby, his plans for a future with kitchen maid Hannah Burnham are shattered. Once he is officially acknowledged as the earl's heir, Nolan will be forbidden to marry beneath his station.

Unwilling to give up the girl he loves, he devises a plan to elope--believing that once their marriage is sanctioned by God, Lord Stainsby will be forced to accept their union. However, as Nolan struggles to learn the ways of the aristocracy, he finds himself caught between pleasing Hannah and living up to his father's demanding expectations.

At every turn, forces work to keep the couple apart, and a solution to remain together seems further and further away. With Nolan's new life pulling him irrevocably away from the woman he loves, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together.
my thoughts....

This is not the first book I have read by Susan Anne Mason so I wasn't surprised to find myself easily getting into the story.  Her style is engaging and her characters are well developed.

I found Nolan interesting because even as a stable hand he wasn't unhappy in his circumstances. He worked hard and had solid plans to forge a wonderful life with the woman he loved. He was an easy character to like because he thought of others and how he could improve their lot in life. 

The determination of Hannah was also inspiring because she was adamant that she would be Nolan's wife only if she were truly the wife of his heart. She would not be his wife solely as an obligation fulfilled as a result  Nolan's youth, later to be regretted in his new life.  

Just when the author has masterfully gotten us hooked and believing there is no resolution to new found wealth and love with the kitchen maid, the story, just as in life, takes a turn where a little faith is applied.  All is not lost when a crumpled up note from Hannah's mother becomes an ace in the hole and a knock on a door produces a wonderful lifeline. Alas, one cannot give everything away but here is where the story becomes all the richer and those breaths of faith are rewarded.  The outcome proves that one person, or perhaps a couple can impact the lives of many. 

Well written with inspiring characters, I heartily recommend A Most Noble Heir for the reader who enjoys uplifting Christian Fiction. 

I enjoyed reading Love's Faithful Promise by Susan Anne Mason.  Discovering a new to me  author is exciting. It opens the door to new experiences and new people. Although this is book three in the Courage to Dream series it stood on its own quite well. 

Our heroine, Deidre O'Leary is a young woman who dreamed of becoming a doctor in a time when women were supposed to marry well and raise a family. She completed her nursing studies and was about ready to take a well-fought for seat in medical school. God's will or fate if you will, intervened when her beloved mother was stricken with a stroke. Unwilling to see her strong mother suffer the loss of mobility and on the verge of deep depression, she searched for any means of restoring her mother to health. 

Deidre traveled to meet with Dr. Matthew Clayborne, whose innovative methods in physical therapy worked wonders with critically wounded war veterans.  She worked hard to convince the doctor that she and her family were not simply a rich family entitled to services that any amount of money could buy.  Dr. Clayborne, a widower with a young daughter had trials of his own and didn't need or want anything to do with the O'Leary family. However, Deidre convinced him to bring his young daughter Phoebe to her family compound and treat Mrs. O'Leary.  What Matthew couldn't know was how his own life was on a path to healing.

Even the most hopeless situations can turn around and this story of courage and determination proves that. Love and faith can heal many things. Deidre had her life planned ahead for many years. We may plan our lives  all we want but along the way life happens. In this book a life well lived can be better than a life well planned. Love finds a way to open even the staunchest bitter heart. Well written story with characters who come to life, I recommend this book without hesitation.