Skip to main content

The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason Review

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Christmas is only two days away, and that seems so crazy. Do you feel you're prepared for the big day?

I approached it a little differently this year. I wanted to make sure and have time for Jesus, and time to spend with family and friends, and I loved every moment of it. I did the devotional this year where you read one chapter of Luke each day leading up to Christmas, and I loved getting to spend the advent season immersed in Jesus' story. I highly recommend spending December this way next year for anyone who already hasn't done so.

I also loved the many festive things that I took part in with my friends and family in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Some of my favorites were my mom's Hallmark movie viewing party, Friendmas with my bestie, a Christmas shopping road trip with my hubby, and driving around looking at lights with my sister and my toddler nephew. 

This has been an amazing season, and I can't wait to celebrate our Savior's birth in the next couple of days.

Before the craziness of the next few days starts however, I want to share a book review with you all for an upcoming release that really moved me. This is going to be a highly recommended title from me, and I couldn't wait any longer to tell you all about it.

The Brightest of Dreams by Susan Anne Mason:




Source: Publisher Via NetGalley

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: February 4th, 2020

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Series: Canadian Crossings


Synopsis:


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?
 


(synopsis from goodreads)




My Review:

This was my first experience with a novel by Susan Anne Mason, and I can guarantee it will not be my last. The Brightest of Dreams is a beautifully moving story that showcases the importance of faith no matter what the circumstances are, and how there's always light shining a way in the darkness.

One of my personal favorite things about reading historical fiction is learning about important parts of history that I wasn't really aware of prior. Being Canadian myself, I was intrigued by the synopsis of this one, and how it touches on a lesser known part of our country's history, the thousands and thousands of children that were brought over from the United Kingdom to be used as indentured laborers throughout the Canadian workforce. Reading Susan's story about the horrific conditions these children faced more often than not was eye opening and heart breaking, and I'm thankful that efforts are being made to bring out more of the truth about these darker times in Canadian history.

While the theme of her story is concerned with darker times, I loved the way it's showcased that even in those times God is still in control, and that there's always hope even when it seems hopeless. Quinn, Julia, Geoffrey and Harriet all have their own personal troubles, but each showcase an extreme amount of selflessness in the way they go about helping those suffering around them

Quinn is one of my favorite book hero's to date, as I loved his selfless nature, his compassionate heart, and the way he's determined to do whatever it takes to keep his ailing family together. Julia's bravery and determination made her stand out over the average book heroine, and I really enjoyed how her and Quinn's romance first starts out as a beautiful friendship. I also appreciated the fact that even though she'd been raised in upper society, she refused to think of herself as better than anyone else, and continued to believe that we are all equal in His eyes.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, then I highly suggest picking this one up. The story is well paced, the writing keeps the reader engaged, and the faith element is always at the forefront.

I really enjoyed this one, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Final Rating: 4/5

Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

First Line Friday: Carolina Breeze

Happy Friday Everyone :) I hope you're all having a great week! Mine has actually been pretty good. We've had some really nice days, and my husband and I were finally able to put our garden in, and various flowers and the like. We've also had a couple of lovely, rainy days as well, and I love how green everything is looking in our yard right now. For today's post, I'm excited to once again be linking up with the lovely Hoarding Books  for another edition of First Line Friday. This fun weekly meme simply consists of sharing the first line of the book you're currently reading. For this week's first line, I'm going to be sharing from Denise Hunter's recently released title that I ended up absolutely loving. Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter: About The Book: A jilted bride. A struggling innkeeper. And a romantic mountain getaway that changes everything. Rising Hollywood star Mia Emerson is looking for a safe place to land in the wake of a public breakup a

First Line Friday: Just As I Am

Happy Friday Everyone :) I hope you're all having a great week, and looking forward to the weekend. Since it is Friday, it's time once again for First Line Friday, which is hosted over at Hoarding Books. For today's first line, I'm going to be featuring a recent debut novel that I had the opportunity to read and review. About The Book: Adeline Rhodes has spent years locked away in a New Orleans apartment controlled by her criminal boyfriend. After a daring escape, she realizes just how far she has grown from the things in which she once believed. Declan King has lived a life of solitude and duty for the U.S. Army. When the deaths of his grandparents bring him home to his family farm, he is forced into contact with people who know too much about his past to simply leave him alone. When Adeline’s past catches up to her, the two strangers find themselves thrust into a fake relationship to protect Adeline from her vengeful ex. As their chance meeting begin

First Line Friday: Courting Mr. Emerson

Happy Friday Everyone :) Since it is Friday, I'll once again be participating in First Line Friday which is hosted by Hoarding Books .  For this week, I'm going to be sharing the first line from Melody Carlson's newest book, Courting Mr. Emerson. About The Book: When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process. A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them. But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The quest