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?
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The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason is the third book in her Canadian Crossings series and another fantastic read. I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and the description of the story. Having read the first two books in the series, I knew I was in for a great tale. The settings in England and Canada in 1919 after the close of WWI are vividly drawn, and the subject matter involving British Home Children was obviously very well-researched. Mason is a master at creating interesting, realistic, and endearing characters and placing them in fascinating situations. I was immediately intrigued and drawn to Quinten Aspinall as a person. He was compassionate, honorable, and a wonderful hero, charged with finding his siblings in Canada and also his employer’s niece, Julia, who had gone to Canada to care for a wounded soldier. Finding Julia in a desperate situation, Quinten becomes involved in trying to help her and well as his siblings. With a stellar cast of secondary characters, this story really comes alive.
Mason has seamlessly woven themes of faith, love of family, forgiveness, and mercy into the story, which give it added depth and dimension. History, suspense, inspiration, and a dose of romance all combine to make this a remarkable and enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy well-written and well-researched historical fiction. 4.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.
This is the conclusión to the Canadian Crossings Series and it couldn’t have been a better story than this one to end a heartwrenching yet beautiful series that touched me deeply. There are three characters, Grace, Emma and Quinn, that embark on this epic journey to cross the ocean from England to Canada, all in search of family members. Grace is looking for her sister, Emma her recently discovered father, and Quinn, the hero of this story, makes this journey to find his siblings and maybe a runaway noble lady along the way… So I can’t praise enough this series! It was a compelling, deep and touching journey with each character in which they get to experience and learn many things: family bonds, forgiveness, second chances, unconditional love. It was truly inspiring, each story, and I’m still not sure, but maybe Quinn’s story is my favorite of all.
Quinten Aspinall comes back from war to an ailing mother and learns that she sent her children (his three siblings) to an orphan home because she was ill and couldn’t take care of them. These children were sent, without the mother’s permission, on a voyage to Canada, to become indentured servants to a farming family. When Quinn learns the fate of his younger siblings (Agnes, Cecil and Harry), he’s aghast and determines to travel to Canada, find them and bring them back to their mother and reunite the family. And maybe, just mybe, this could help his mother heal and fight for life again…
But this task is more than an arduous a challenge, especially when the Earl who employs him as his valet asks him to search for his niece who has runaway with a canadian soldier to Toronto. In return, if he finds her, he’ll let him have one of his tenants homes in his land, which will make it possible for him to give a stable home to his family, if he recovers them.
Julia never expected her life to be like it is now, in a foreign country, alone, and working non-stop at the Hospital as part of the cleaning staff. She can’t even make ends meet, she owes her landlord the rent, and he’s demanding undecent work from her if she doesn’t pay… But her uncle warned her to never come back if she left, so she’ll have to survive… Until Quinten comes to her rescue and saves her from her leecherous landlord, pays her debt and takes her to a safe place. Julia knows she owes Quinn so much, so when he asks her to help him find his siblings, she can’t say no… But there are secrets that will be revealed that will jeopardize this newfound friendship that is slowly growing into something more. And Quinn will find himself at odds when it seems he can’t have both: his family and a chance at true love? Will he be able to reunite his family? Will he and Julia overcome so many obstacles that stand between them?
This was a beautiful and heartwrenching story. I loved it all the more because it was based on real history. It’s so sad but true, that thousands of orphans were shipped from England to Canada, supposedly to find them a better life and future, but found themselves almost as slaves tied to their employees until they reached the majority of age, and never finding a loving family to take care of them. And some mother’s didn’t know they would be shipped across the ocean when they placed them in the British home because as widows they could no longer support them! It broke my heart to know that Quinn’s siblings plight was something real, even if this is a fictional story.
The story was beautifully crafted, intertwining Quinn’s and Julia’s difficult circumstances and making it an epic journey. The need to cling to hope and not give up, the beauty of finding friends and kind souls along the way, the need to deepen in their faith and believe that everything happens for a greater good, if you let God direct your path… There’s so much to learn in this story, about God’s unconditional love, about the force of family ties, the beauty of forgiveness and a sacrificial love, among other insights. This is a book that can be commented on a book club.
The characters felt real and relatable. I especially fell in love with Quinn, his quiet determination, his kind heart and selflessness. Julia grows throughout the story, being a girl who had everything to end losing everything, especially the loss of a person she loved and wanted to help. She becomes mature and hardworking and will eventually work through her pride and resentment. She has a lot to forgive and it won’t be easy, but her journey to love and freedom was beautiful to watch.
And finally Quinn and Julia’s love story was so sweet, unexpected to both of them. What they’ll have to go through in order to fight for each other you will have to see for yourself. I can only say that this story is so much worth it and it will leave you inspired and wanting to be a better person and to let God into your life and burdens so He can help you take care of them in the best -and often unexpected- of ways.
The historical part is rich in detail and seems well researched and accurate. I felt as if I traveled through time!
I definitely recommend this book to historical romance lovers. I wouldn’t call it a romance, because it’s so much more! This book can be easily read as a standalone, but I surely recommend the other two, even if they’re not read in order.
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.*
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.
The years of this book are post WWI, and the many hardships that widows faced trying to feed, house and hold their families together. Susan has done her due diligence in researching the situations and conditions of that era. The orphanages mentioned actually existed, and the harsh treatment of the children was somewhat based on fact. The problems were the placing agencies never had enough staff to go back to check on the children they placed to be sure they were being treated decently and fed and clothed properly. When a young man returned from the war he found his mother near death in the Workhouse infirmary and his siblings shipped off to Canada. He vows to find his family and reunite them with his mother before she dies. His journey to find them makes for a very interesting book as the conditions he finds them in is horrible. He has to steal them away. He faces much opposition but is faithful and upright in his character and quest. There is love, faith , understanding and forgiveness found within these pages. Mason has another winner in this one…… My thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
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.
Susan Anne Mason delivers a beautiful story of redemption in The Brightest of Dreams, the 3rd in her Canadian Crossings series. I was immediately intrigued by the main character of Quinten, who sets out for Canada from England to not only search for his employer’s niece, but also for his siblings, who had been sent to Canada on the British Home Children Society. I had never heard of this society before, but as Mason brought the plight of hundreds of children to life, my heart cried for the lost hopes and dreams of so many. And yet, Mason’s tale does not stop there. She creates a story that revives those lost dreams, washes away the guilt of the past, and offers hope in the midst of darkness.
This book was an easy read, one that thoroughly captured my mind and gripped my emotions. I highly recommend this novel and the other books in this series.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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?
There were parts that really took my interest and I had to finish reading that section before doing anything else. There were other parts that was slow moving. It was interesting to learn about the orphanages in England and how they shipped children off to Canada for a supposed better life. Sometimes without the consent of their parents.
I like to go back and reread books. This is not one that I will be rereading. That being said, it’s not a bad book. I just prefer mystery/suspense over this type of book.
I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Quinn and Julia’s story is interesting and well-written. Enough that I kept reading even when I could guess what would happen. But even though some parts were predictable, Mason still managed to surprise me in places.
The romance at times felt a little dry, but I did like Quinn and Julia’s relationship, especially since they knew each other before the novel. I also appreciated that the class distinctions were addressed. And I loved seeing how hard Quinn tried to do right by his siblings and Julia. Mason did a great job of making me root for Quinn, and I must admit I liked him better than Julia. But I liked her enough to want her to have a happily ending.
Mason did a great job exploring the stories of Quinn’s siblings. I had no idea that some British orphans were sent to Canada as indentured servants. The reader gets the chance to see not only the downsides of this system, but a few positives. Becca especially serves as a reminder that God can use all things for good. And the different experiences of Quinn’s siblings created a bit of tension as the reader wonders if Quinn will get them together again.
While this is the last in a series, The Brightest of Dreams serves as a standalone. I haven’t read the other two books in the series, but I was able to follow everything. I wouldn’t mind reading the other two novels. Seeing the characters’ brief appearances piqued my curiosity. I’ll have to add them to my TBR list.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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.
A family reunited
I loved this book. It tells a story of the Home Children sent from England to Canada from an orphanage. When Quinn came back from serving in the Army he found that his mother was living in a workhouse and very ill and his sister and two brothers had been placed in an orphanage because his mother could no longer care for them. When he asks his boss for the time off and an advance in wages to search for his siblings he is granted that request with a stipulation that he search for and return with his boss’s niece Julia that has run off with a wounded Canadian Soldier she was caring for.
Quinn takes on the challenge and this is the story of his quest. He arrives in Canada with no knowledge of where to look to find his siblings or the missing niece Julia. As the story unfolds within the pages of the books life will change for Quinn and Julia and he will realize what it is to be a real family. The book is well written in clean Christian writing. There is love, faith , understanding and forgiveness found within these pages.
I loved the story, the characters and how well the book is written covering a subject matter which has been mostly lost in history. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Susan Ann Mason, Bethany House Publishers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.
This is a new to me author. I was compelled by the back cover copy and not disappointed. Wonderful story of missing siblings and a lost aristocrat. I’ll be looking out for Susan Ann Mason in the future.
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.
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.
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.
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.