My Review:

Genre: Historical fiction, Christian fiction.

My Rating: 4 and 1/2 stars.

Recommendation: 13 up for romance.

My favorite character is: Emma is a sweet girl and I loved following along with her as she searched for her family and even though I felt that at times she was naive I still loved reading about her.

My Verse for Emma is Psalm 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. (King James Version.)

My thoughts: Aw, this book is so sweet even if a good bit sad for several reasons. The story was so cute and adorable because of Jonathan and Emma's relationship and I also liked how this book and the previous one were connected and I look forward to reading more from Mrs. Mason!



Slight spoilers!



Warnings: Slight scandals because of politics and an unwed pregnancy.

(I received this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it.) ( )

Title: The Highest of Hopes (Canadian Crossings #2)
Author: Susan Anne Mason
Pages: 377
Year: 2019
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Jonathan Rowe has recently returned home after serving in WWI. His best friend since childhood, Emmaline Moore, has no idea that he has loved her for years. He has kept his true feelings hidden as she has shown no romantic inclinations toward him. He is now faced with a journey overseas to Canada with her as her companion. There is no way he was willing to have her travel alone across the ocean to meet a family she has never met before. He secretly hopes that he will be able to woo Emma, declare his intentions toward her and their future, and bring her home to England to begin their lives together.
Emmaline Moore’s grandfather has died. He was her only remaining family, or so she thought. She finds some letters in a desk drawer that reveal she isn’t an orphan as she had always been told. Her father is still alive and living in Canada. She has always dreamed of having the love of a parent and sets out to gain just that. She sells her grandfather’s watch business and sets out with her best friend, Jonathan, to join the father she always wanted. She has no doubt that he will be overjoyed to see her and embrace her with love. She arrives and discovers dreams aren’t reality, but she is determined to earn her father’s love. She decides to stay in Canada to do just that, but at what cost?
Susan Anne Mason has a wonderful talent by writing in such a way as to draw the emotions of the reader to her well-crafted characters. I was feeling the angst, grief, fear as well as love, friendship, and genuine affection of the characters as they faced trials in their relationships. I also enjoyed the personal acknowledgment at the end of the story, detailing how some of the book was part of the author’s own history. I can hardly wait for the next book from this author’s pen! ( )

It is June 1919 when Emmaline Moore boards a ship in England and sets off for Canada in the hopes of finding the father that she had presumed dead until six weeks earlier. Her best friend Jonathan Rowe travels with her and it is very apparent that he considers Emmaline (Emma) to be more than just his friend. Jonathan knows that Emma often acts without thinking things through but he loves her and he wants to protect her as she begins this life-altering journey.

Susan Anne Mason has a way of creating very realistic characters and Jonathan may just be my favorite character. I admired him for his strength and his loyalty and even though he had his own problems, he considered Emma's needs above his own. Emma was a little more self-centered and I found myself being impatient with her tendency to take him for granted. The other characters are also multi-faceted and they often exhibit the many sides of human nature. This story spans about one year and we are shown bitterness, selfishness and downright meanness but we are also allowed to see genuine goodness and witness what love and forgiveness can do. Redemption is a positive outcome for many of these people and isn't that what all of us hope for?

There are many twists and turns after Emmaline Moore finds her father and we are reminded that it is easy to overlook our blessings while seeking other goals. Emmaline's longing for a father and a family overshadows just how fortunate she was to have been raised by loving and supportive grandparents. It wasn't until later that she realized how blessed she had always been and "How ironic that she'd traveled thousands of miles, searching for home, for love and acceptance, when it had been with her all along."

Emmaline had the highest of hopes that she would find a traditional family and Jonathan's hopes were centered around his love for her. Hopes for an "everlasting love, forged from a common childhood, solidified by friendship, and strengthened by the challenges that had come their way."

The Highest of Hopes is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and Christian romance and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House but I voluntarily chose to share this review. ( )

Fantastic! I had a hard time putting this book down. I loved the history and the romance. The story had many twists and turns. I was surprised by some of the revelations. I did feel that Emmaline was a bit selfish at times. I loved Jonathan. It is interesting to read about Canada. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

4.5 stars for this newest release from Susan Anne Mason! This book is book 2 in Canadian Crossings series but can be read as a stand-alone. I did not read the first book and was able to follow the storyline without any problems. It seems that this book actually parallels the timeline set in the first book (Best of Intentions) so going back to read the first book shouldn't cause any confusion. With her trademark fluidity and skill, Susan Anne Mason weaves a story of hurt, longing, mistakes and blunders that are triumphed by grace, repentance, forgiveness, healing, and unconditional love set in 1919 Toronto. The thread of faith and real trust runs throughout the story; multiple characters in the story grow tremendously in their faith and trust. If you enjoy well-written historical romance, you will really enjoy this one.

There are several characters in the story that lend their voices to bring the plot together. The main characters are Emma, who leaves her home in England to find her father in Toronto whom she had believed had died, and Jonathan, Emma's childhood friend who is secretly in love with her. Emma is quite obstinate, blunt, impulsive, careless, and a bit selfish as she enters her father and his family's life with the force and surprise of a hurricane. Jonathan is industrious, level-headed, loyal, tender, and loving though he suffers from PTSD after the war. Then there is Emma's father Randall, who basically abandoned his infant daughter in England to be raised by her grandparents, and his younger daughter Corinne, who is spiteful, conniving, and cruel in her selfishness. Though the only person whom I really liked was Jonathan at the beginning, Emma and Randall and Corinne all realize redemption and forgiveness and love are possible even in the midst of human bungling and became quite likable.

I am hoping there is a third book in the series and can't wait to be able to read it! I was given a copy of the book by Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own. ( )