Canadian Crossings The Brightest of Dreams, Book 3, (Paperback)

Having read Carrie Turansky's, No Ocean Too Wide, which also dealt with the British Home Children, I knew I was going to love Mason's series on this same subject. Book 3 finally brings the series to completion as Quinten Aspinall heads to Canada to try and find his 2 brothers and his sister, Cecil, Harry, and Becky along with his employer's (Lord Bentwood) niece. Nothing goes easy finding the children or locating Julia. Beset by one problem after another, Quinten's faith is the only thing that sustains him. Quinten is an absolute swoonworthy hero as the cover's picture definitely depicts. Strong, faith-filled, courageous, and loyal, he is determined to do what's best for his siblings as he promised his father he would keep the family together as well as assist Julia. I loved how he supported Julia throughout the problems she faced and in helping her make the best decisions for her and her future life. Julia definitely ran into some true hardships, and it was nice to see her lean on God as she tried to find her way through them. Both she and Quinten had to learn to forgive themselves for the mistakes they made, so they could move on with their lives. This series definitely brings to life the plight of the British Home Children, how they were often mistreated and abused, and how they were taken from their parents without permission after being placed in orphanages due to a single parent's illness or inability to care for them short term. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well researched historical fiction. **I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

First of all, the cover of The Brightest of Dreams is just perfect. The hero is shown and you can almost see into his character. He looks kind, handsome, thoughtful and there is an air of anticipation in his gaze. And that's what Susan Anne Mason brings out in her story of Quinn Aspinall. In this third book of the series, Canadian Crossings, we see Quinn back from the war. He is on a mission to track down his siblings who were sent to Canada to be indentured because their ill mother could not care for them in England. His employer, the Earl of Brentwood, gives him leave to depart for Canada. The Earl asks Quinn to find his niece, Julia, who left for Canada as a caretaker to a wounded soldier. This story is full of heartache and joy, faith and folly. Told with realism and poignancy, it takes us back to a time when good intentions didn't always end up with the ideal circumstances. There are many obstacles to overcome, sometimes spiritual, sometimes physical and sometimes of the heart. And when Quinn meets Julia even motives change. This book can be read as a stand alone but in it we see fellow travelers from books one and two. The secondary characters of Mrs. Chamberlain and Reverend Burke were very sweet. They provided steadying and wise spiritual counsel, showing that if we put out trust in God, He will direct out paths. If you have read No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky, these three books by Ms. Mason will be a great complement. The Brightest of Dreams was informative about the British Home Children and a touching, romantic story as well. *I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*