Susan Anne Mason is a wonderful writer of historical romance. With her newest novel The Highest of Hopes, Mason crafted a story filled with heart, romance, and wonderful characters. Mason brought the world of 1919 Canada to life with her words and her descriptions. While the plot isn't original, I did enjoy reading it and flew through the pages of the story. The romance between Emmaline and Jonathon was one-sided for the majority of the story. I really liked how Mason created a romance from Jonathon's perspective before Emmaline came on board. This was really unique, and I enjoyed it. Jonathon's emotions rang true, even when Mason described the symptoms of PTSD from Jonathon. Overall, The Highest of Hopes was an entertaining read populated by wonderful characters. This book definitely belongs on my keeper shelf with all of Mason's other novels.

I received a complimentary copy of The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This was a light read with some serious topics covered, and I loved how the emotion evoked ranged from funny to sad to inspired so many times while reading. I had never read this author before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I love her writing style! Susan Anne Mason creates realistic, flawed characters, and she inserts dialogue at the right time and also lets the scenery sometimes speak for itself. I thought the storyline was also really interesting, since it was set in the early 1900s, when many things were still old-fashioned but time were changing and becoming more modern. Women were going to college, men were seeing their wives bring home money from working office jobs, and medicine was progressing to take care of soldiers returning home with what is now recognized as PTSD. Fascinating time period, and this author described it eloquently with great accuracy!

Selling her grandfather's watch shop and sailing to Canada to meet a father she never knew, Emmaline Moore is on the adventure of a lifetime. Accompanied by her childhood friend, Jonathan Rowe, she is hoping to build a relationship with her father and finally have the family she has always wanted. However, upon arrival, she discovers that her father is currently running for mayor, and the last thing his campaign needs is a long-lost daughter showing up unannounced, seemingly abandoned at birth by her scoundrel of a father. The papers would have a field day! Despite the many obstacles, Emmaline is determined to overcome them in order to get to know her father and her newfound siblings. If only they wanted to get to know her too. Soon she is working to not only save her relationship with her father but also her budding romance with her best friend.

The first thing I will say is the one thing I noticed frequently while reading - this whole book is full of one apology after another. First Emmaline apologizes, then Jonathan takes a turn, then Randall (her father) gives it a go...everyone has a point at which they apologize. Except for Randall's wife. She is a horrid woman who really never redeemed herself. I think the main issue is how young Emmaline and Jonathan are, and they have both been thrust into adult roles so young in life. It was so inspiring to watch them work through issues and make better people of themselves, and by the end of the book, there had been an amazing amount of character development. I think Emmaline grew the most, because initially, she came across to me as very immature and impulsive. But over time, as events progressed and she had to take on a more mature role in life, she grew as a person and put others ahead of herself. Jonathan grew as well - he put too much emphasis on his love for Emmaline and not enough on what he wanted. And then he was too pigheaded to see when he made the wrong decision. It was such a roller coaster of emotion, and I enjoyed every second of it!

I will definitely read more of Susan Anne Mason's work! With the history in the story and the brilliant growth in characters, her books are rewarding reads. I am excited to see what comes next.

HIGHLY EMOTIVE
May 1919, three strangers board the SS Olympic and form a friendship before docking in Canada to search for family. Emmaline Moore is traveling with her long-time friend, Jonathan Rowe, who is suffering from horrible seasickness.

Arriving in Toronto, Emmaline is anxious to find her father. A man she believed long-dead. Having returned from the war, Jonathan is determined to share his true feelings with Emma and convince her to begin a life with him while he goes to school at Oxford. “Nobody really won in a war he’d learned. It ate at your soul long after the gunfire had faded.”
Emma has ideas of her own, and they don’t involve the man who abandoned her for the war. She is determined to surprise the father she romanticized as a sort of hero figure and stay in Canada to develop a relationship with him.
“Soon, with God’s blessing, she would embark on a new life with a family she’d never met, but who, Emma prayed would accept her graciously into their fold. Maybe then the emptiness inside her would finally be filled, and at last she’d feel whole.”
However, her new family is anything but pleased to see her and rather than welcoming her, tries to keep her true identity a secret. There is animosity, hurt and a nosy reporter determined to discredit her father.

I loved the romantic scene at the Italian restaurant – “The other man sat down on a stool and pulled out an ancient-looking squeezebox. …The music changed tempo and this time there was no doubt the man was singing a love song. The longing in his voice struck a chord deep within xxx.” (no spoilers)
I could not help but picture Disney’s Lady and the Tramp when Tony, the restaurant owner, sings Bella Notte (giggle).

While the story did not go as I expected, I was actually glad it wasn’t cookie cutter. The ending was very satisfying and I definitely teared up.

Tea Moment: “Oh, and might we have a pot of tea, if it’s not too much trouble?” “The kettle’s already on the stove.” Her landlady winked.

I enjoyed reading the author’s notes about how her own grandmother was moved from England to Canada and told that her father was dead, when he was very much alive! She discovered so while doing ancestry research.

I recommend this story if you enjoy drama and romance in a historical setting.

Thank you NetGalley and to the author and Bethany House Publishing who sent me a review copy.
My opinion is my own without expectation or compensation.

Canadian Crossings Series
1 The Best of Intentions – Grace Abernathy’s story 07/2018
2 The Highest of Hopes – Emmaline Moore’s story 03/05/2019
3 TBD - Quinten Aspinall’s story