Grace Abernathy and Andrew Easton are the perfect leading pair from Susan Anne Mason's latest novel. I love how real this duo feels as they wrestle through their grief from the war, making decisions that fade into grey rather than a clear black and white, and repeatedly lay themselves and their hearts on the line.
Honestly, I'm so over novels where the couple falls head over heels at first sight and never looks back. I love how Andrew and Grace's friendship feels natural and how, when secrets are revealed they react like actual human beings that have been hurt. I may have been yelling at the page during their confrontation but had to admit it made sense.
That's what I love about Mason, she doesn't shy away from having her characters wrestle through emotional situations where there isn't a clear cut answers. The Eastons aren't villains, Grace isn't an above reproach heroine, each family has their own motives, pains, and hurts that muddle up their views. This gives Mason's work and honesty and interest that is exciting and refreshing.
That said, I also appreciate how Mason doesn't leave her characters alone and unresolved in her pain. The Best of Intentions has a lovely theme of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the importance of family that runs through the entire novel. Her "sermons" within the novel felt natural thanks to Rev. Burke and Mason's attention to secondary characters.
The only negative I found is the setting. Now, I enjoy Canadian history and actually have been to Toronto many times (not to mention Murdoch Mysteries is set there - a family favourite) it felt, however, that with a few name changes the story could have taken place anywhere. I'm hoping further outing in the Canadian Crossings series make further use of the variety present in Canadian landscape and landmarks
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."
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