The Best of Intentions - Canadian Crossings Book 1 - Susan Anne Mason

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

She Swore to Protect Her Nephew at Any Cost. But What if That Price is a Chance at Love? 
In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite her family, crossing an ocean to convince her widowed sister to return home to England. Yet, in Toronto she discovers more tragedy--her nephew Christian in the custody of his paternal relatives, the formidable Easton family, who rejected Grace's sister because of her low social status. 

Unconvinced the Eastons can be fitting caretakers, Grace uses an assumed name to secure the position of Christian's nanny and moves into the Easton estate. There she can observe the family up close, while ensuring Christian's well-being. In the course of her new role, she is shocked to find herself falling in love with Andrew Easton, the boy's guardian. Unfortunately, Andrew is promised to a spoiled socialite who is sure to make a terrible stepmother for Christian. Will Grace be able to protect her nephew . . . and her heart? (Bethany House)

My Thoughts

This story is filled with so many emotions! Grace's life has been filled with so much heartache. When she finally finds her nephew, she is determined to keep him in her life, at any cost. The need to protect him and reunite her family drives Grace to a place she never thought she would go. But is she really just running from forgiving herself for the past?

Andrew Easton has spent his life serving to please others. But what about his own dreams and desires? Will he sacrifice everything he longs for just to please his family? Or will he stand up for himself and take the path for the future HE wants?

There are so many interesting characters in this story. The layers of personality are lovely. Virginia is one of my favorite people and I am so glad we get to follow her story too! 

Set in the beautiful city of Toronto, it is wonderful to get a new perspective of history in the early 1900s.

I received a complimentary copy of The Best of Intentions from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. Also a member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. 

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More Books by Susan Anne Mason

      

Coming Soon

A Most Noble Heir - Susan Anne Mason

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

Will gaining the world cost him everything he holds most dear?

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 his dreams for tomorrow and his father's demanding expectations.

Forces work to keep the couple apart at every turn, and a solution to remain together seems further and further away. With Nolan's new life pulling him irrevocably away from Hannah, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Such a fun and unique story! Tensions are high as we begin this story and don't release until the end. I just had to know how it was all going to work out. Hannah has severe insecurities, and although relatable, a couple times I thought I was going to have to purse whomp her. Nolan...while sweet and charming, was a bit pig-headed on a couple of occasions. Watching Hannah and Nolan work through their insecurities and fears was real and heartbreaking. But I love, LOVE, how the author infuses the situation with GOD! It is truly amazing what can happen when we let HIM lead us, heal us, and strengthen us.

Set in the Victorian era, Susan Anne Mason brings to life the upstairs/downstairs aspects and the brilliance of them intertwining in an unexpected way. Conflicted between his heart and duty, will Nolan become the heir worthy of his father's praise and Hannah's heart? Can Hannah adjust to the changes in life now demanded of her? 

Filled with surprises, excitements, devastations, and romance...This is a perfect book for reading on vacation this year! So grab your copy from the library or bookstore now.

I received a complimentary copy of A Most Noble Heir from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Susan Anne Mason's debut historical novel, Irish Meadows, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest from the Mid-American Romance Authors Chapter of RWA. Also a member of ACFW, Susan lives outside of Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children. 

Blog // Facebook // Pinterest// Website

More Books by Susan Anne Mason

    

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 

First Line Friday - A Most Noble Heir

Happy Friday!

Eeeep! I finally get to read this book! Look for my review coming soon! P.S. I LOVE that the HERO is on the cover!!!

Today’s first line is from...

A Most Noble Heir
Susan Anne Mason

Derbyshire, England

March 1884

Nolan Price scanned the fields of newly budding greenery that stretched as far as he could see and slowly inhaled the scent of grass, soil, and freshly spread manure.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Do you like when the hero is featured on the cover of a book?

Head over to Hoarding Books to link up with your own FLF post! (Please keep it family 

friendly...Or note otherwise in the link up)

Top Ten Tuesday - Reasons I Pick Up a Book

Thanks to the wonderful Carrie from Reading is my SuperPower and the brilliant minds from The Broke and the Bookish...I have finally decided to jump into the Top Ten Tuesday posts! Yay! It only took me about a year to finally get around to it. Better late than never right? This week's topic will hopefully be enlightening for you...and I am curious to know your answers. So comment below before you skedaddle. 😊

As an avid Bookworm (or dragon) with a TBR pile that is threatening my existence on a daily basis (read more about this struggle on Paper Fury)...It can be a HUGE challenge to decide what books are worthy of my immediate time. However, between the "Hmmming" and "Hawing", I do have a sort of system that I TRY and stick to. Of course there are times when I abandon all reason and pick up a book spontaneously just because I want to. In no particular order...I give you....my Top Ten Reasons I Pick Up a Book!

A Friend's Recommendation

My Review

I have several bookish friends that read WAAAAY more than I do. They KNOW my style and the kinds of books that I swoon over. Hence, when they tell me I NEED to read a book (sometimes they go so far as to actually sending me the book...) I KNOW I have to move it to the "Very Tippy Top" (Nicole Coley) of my list. I am referring to The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof in this particular instance. And it is now one of my TOP FOUR FAVORITE BOOKS EVER!!! 

The Cover

I admit it...I DO judge a book by its cover. Now, I won't pass up a book just because the cover doesn't call to me...However, if the cover is beyond swoon-worthy...I will put it on my list in a heartbeat! Here are A FEW of my VERY favorite covers (in no particular order)! #coverlove 

Click the titles below to learn more about these fabulous books!
The White Feather Murders | Close to You | A Worthy Heart | The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest
At Your Request | Can't Help Falling | Not by Sight | The Lost Girl of Astor Street

The Genre

I am a SUCKER for Historical Romance (clean) and Young Adult Fiction...If the covers above didn't tell you that already...I have a hard time passing up anything in these two genres. I am slowly adapting to a wider variety...But I will ALWAYS have a soft spot for Historicals. And if it comes down to it, I am more likely to choose Historical or YA over any other genre. (The Thorn Keeper is one of my very favorite books of all time.)

Follow the links below to learn more about these books
The Thorn Keeper | Leviathan

A Unique Setting

While the genre has a lot to do with the setting of the book...I am talking about WHERE this book takes place. I am currently reading All of You by Sarah Monzon and WOW! Talk about UNIQUE! Not only is it a split timeline book, jumping back and forth between present day and WWII...But our main female characters are pilots...YES a WWII FEMALE PILOT! I have NEVER EVER read a book with this type of setting and I am COMPLETELY IN LOVE!!! (Granted I had NO idea about the setting when I picked this book up...but that is beside the point.) And this is only ONE unique aspect of this book. You will have to check it out for yourself! You can pre order All of You HERE. Pepper Basham also has wonderfully unique books. Especially her most recent one Just the Way You Are. A Britallachian book that clashes British and Appalachian cultures in a Romantic Comedy! (My Review)

Critical Reviews

As a rule...I don't read reviews on retail sites or Goodreads. But there are times when I do, and if I run across critical reviews that are (to be blunt) pathetic...It immediately makes me want to read the book. While I wholeheartedly agree with everyone having a right to their own opinion...I will NOT stand for people completely tearing down and trashing an author or their book. ESPECIALLY in the Christian Book world. We should instead, state our opinion in a way that allows the author to grow and learn. We should be encouraging and uplifting...Not destructive. Unfortunately, this happens more times than it should. One book that I have bought and read because of this...was For Such a Time by Kate Breslin. This book is now one of my favorites! My Review

The Author

I am VERY LOYAL to "My Authors" and it is very likely that I will read ANYTHING published (or not published) by certain authors. A few of those FABULOUS people are listed below. Chances are I would read their grocery list written on a napkin if it came down to it. In fact Pepper Basham DID write a grocery list...(items inspired by her books of course)...

Click on the author's name below to learn more about their books.
Jen Turano | Pepper Basham
Jody Hedlund | Kate Breslin | Kristy Cambron

Publishing House

I will 100% read a book from a different publishing house or an Indie published book. But THESE houses tend to produce the majority of the books I am drawn to. I trust the quality and the content wholeheartedly.

Bethany House Publishers | Revell

Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction

Author Recommendation

While I do consider many authors personal friends of mine...Their opinions are usually held at a different level for me. Not higher necessarily, but their insight is simply from a different point of view. Recently Rachel McMillan kept talking about The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill. And I adore Rachel's books (Herringford & Watts Mysteries)! Therefore, even though I was swamped with reviews and life and adulting, I disregarded all reason and I decided I should give this book a try. I AM SO GLAD I DID!!! Check out my review HERE. 

The Title

Sometimes you just find a title that SPEAKS to you...Saying "YOU MUST READ ME!!!" Kristy Cambron's books do that to me...I mean how can I say no to The Ringmaster's Wife or The Illusionist's Apprentice? A book I recently bought purely because of the title (well and cover...and possibly the general theme...) is Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly. I know nothing about the book...except that it is an original story based off of Beauty and the Beast. (The 2017 movie is INCREDIBLE by the way...I am currently listening to the soundtrack for the 500 millionth time since I saw it in theatres a month ago. My review can be found HERE.) I look forward to getting lost in THIS book SOON!!! 

The Tag Line

I do NOT read book blurbs...you know the synopsis on the back of books? Ya...avoid them like the plague. (I apologize to authors everywhere, because I know how much work you put into writing those.) I can not abide spoilers...of ANY kind! I would rather jump in blind and sort things out as I go. I much prefer an unbiased, unspoiled opinion as I go in. HOWEVER, a good tag line is ALWAYS fun! Like with Mikal Dawn's upcoming book Count Me In (see below)! THAT combined with the AMAZING cover...and the fact that I ADORE Mikal...This book went on my TBR faster than my little fingers could type this sentence.

And there you have it my friends! Typically it is a combination of these items that will cause me to want to read a book IMMEDIATELY. But there are times when a book just stands out to me a screams my name! (Seriously, I hear it saying, "RAAAAAAACHELLLLLL......REEEEEEEEAAAAAAAD MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!" How do you say no to that?) What about you? What makes you decide to read a book? I would love to hear your thoughts below! 

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva.