My Review
Genre: Christian Fiction,

My Rating: 4 Stars.

Recommendation: 15 up.

My favorite character/s: Virginia was my favorite character, I loved how she cared for her family and made the choices she did even if they were hard ones to make.

My Verse for Virginia is Proverbs 11:28
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

My thoughts: This was an interesting and enjoyable book, and I'll be on the lookout for more of Susan Anne Mason books.
(I received this book from NetGalley and all of the thoughts are my own.) ( )

I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more by this author. ( )

Title: The Best of Intentions (Canadian Crossings #1)
Author: Susan Anne Mason
Pages: 352
Year: 2018
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
The First World War has just ended and Grace Abernathy eels that it is now safe to leave her home and mother in England and travel to visit her sister and newborn son in Toronto, Canada. Her sister’s husband was killed in action during the war. She makes the journey and arrives at the address of her sister’s last letter only to find the house empty. She is directed to the local church for information about her sister. Upon arrival, she is informed of her sister’s death. Her sister had begged Grace to take care of her son if anything should happen to her and not to let her husband’s wealthy family to raise her son. Grace made a promise to her sister and she aims to keep it. She discovers that indeed the husband’s family has taken in the baby and the husband’s brother has been made legal guardian of the child. Grace is desperate to see the baby and make sure he is being well treated. She comes up with a plan and carries it out, but it comes with a cost.
Andrew Easton will do anything to keep his family together after the estrangement between his brother and the family and then his brother’s death. He hires a nanny to take care of his nephew and develops a love for the boy as if he were his own. He also develops a love for his nephew’s nanny, but knows she is beneath his social station. He has been strongly encouraged by his father to marry a particular woman. Andrew doesn’t love her but feels he must marry her to keep the family together and earn his father’s approval. Andrew aims to put the child’s welfare before his own, but does his future bride feel the same? His attention toward the nanny is noticed by his bride-to-be, so she sets out to put a stop to it. The situation comes to a peak with an unexpected outcome.
I enjoyed the setting and time period of this story. I especially liked the scene at the amusement park with the fireworks. The love Grace and Andrew showered on the baby was special and sweet. The trust in God to see her through another difficult situation in her life was something Grace showed repeatedly, even when she made impulsive decisions and brought the difficulty on herself. I look forward to book two in the series set in picturesque Canada! ( )

As I read this book the title became more and more obvious of the, little white lies, or big ones, I could understand the author putting Grace in the position of wanting to fulfill her sister’s wishes and also wanting to be in life of this young child.
I found myself quickly page turning as we become involved in these characters lives, some you will quickly come to love and others, the old saying “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”, sure comes to mind.
It has been one hundred years since WWI and the horrible Spanish Flu, and it is quickly fading from memories, I love that there are stories that help keep alive what this past generation went through and thank the author for bringing it to the forefront.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series, and hope to catch up on the lives of those we have already met.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

I can always count on Susan Anne Mason for a beautiful book, both inside and out. The covers of her books are gorgeous and show the beauty of her characters and setting. The Best of Intentions is no different. Set after World War I in Toronto, Canada, a young Irish immigrant falls in love with the scion of one of the most powerful families in the town. I know what you’re thinking, “Class conflict and romance. I’ve been reading that since Cinderella.” This is no Cinderella story.

A horrible tragedy in the backstory colors most of the main character’s decisions. Grace Abernathy’s sister Rose died after she was widowed and left her son an orphan. Grace makes desperate decisions to ensure her nephew has the best care but one that nearly proves disastrous for both of them. I love that her name is one of the continuing themes. It’s extended to her more than once throughout this lovely story or redemption and romance.

If you enjoy reading historical romances with class conflict (think Cinderella, Pride & Prejudice, etc.) that also has a Christian message, you’ll enjoy The Best of Intentions by Susan Anne Mason. Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Best of Intentions in exchange for my sincere and honest review. This is it. ( )