• The Best of Intentions

  • Canadian Crossings Series, Book 1
  • By: Susan Anne Mason
  • Narrated by: Susan Boyce
  • Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (241 ratings)

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The Best of Intentions  By  cover art

The Best of Intentions

By: Susan Anne Mason
Narrated by: Susan Boyce
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Publisher's summary

In the aftermath of WWI, Grace Abernathy is determined to reunite with her family, crossing an ocean to convince her widowed sister to return home to England. But Toronto holds more tragedy and her nephew, Christian, is now in the custody of his paternal relatives, the formidable Easton family, who rejected Grace's sister because of her low social status.

Unconvinced that the Eastons can be fitting caretakers, Grace jumps at the chance to become Christian's nanny and to observe the family up close under an assumed name. In the course of her new position, she is shocked to discover herself falling for Andrew Easton, the boy's guardian. Unfortunately, Andrew is promised to a spoiled socialite who will make a terrible stepmother for Christian. Will Grace be able to protect her nephew...and her heart?

©2018 Susan Anne Mason (P)2018 Dreamscape Media, LLC

What listeners say about The Best of Intentions

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Touching post WWI Family Drama

This book is a very touching drama with a romance. When Grace first meets Andrew, she does not know who he is except that he is a nice gentleman offering her assistance. There is a bit of a spark. Their second meeting is different, and more unbidden sparks ignite. Both try to deny their feelings given the circumstances of her being his employee now. There are some tender moments to be savored. I loved Andrew's sister Virginia (Ginny) and the things she is dealing with trying to make her family happy. That girl has spunk, no spoilers but she does learn how to make the right choice. I loved the deep friendship she developed with Grace.
I felt bad for Andrew, spending his whole life trying to earn his father's approval. He does whatever it takes to make his father happy, even at the cost of his own happiness.
Grace carries the guilt of her brother's death and her mother's blame with her.
It is with the best of intentions that both Grace and Andrew make some rash decisions. Some, life-changing. Other's are heartbreaking.
The villainess, Cecilia, is wonderfully written! I despised her from the moment we meet her.
There are many surprises. My heart was pounding for a while but very happy by the end.
I highly recommend this Susan Anne Mason book!
*The narration was good, though I did feel Grace's British accent sounded a little Irish at times.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Easy and predictable read

I would have given this novel a higher rating but for 2 things.
I was disappointed that the narrator, although a good voice performer in her own right, was not the right fit for this particular narrative. It is easy enough these days to expect to get a voice actor who is either a native British speaker or an actor/performer who is proficient in British or Scottish accents. Right? Since from the very start the story begins with a English woman on a ship bound for Canada, is distinguished many times by people she encounters as being from England, and, at one point, there is even a reference made to how likable the British accent is to the non-British ear. So why not have a narrator that speaks with an English accent? Am I making a big deal about it? Sorry, but it was distracting from the story line for me.
Secondly, I have no argument against religious contexts, or religious or biblical references, or even spiritual or moral angst that the author uses to explore and experience as contextual themes in character development and furthering the plot. But with all due respect to pious sensibilities, it felt overmuch and excessive bordering on proselytizing. If these are the intended themes please let it drive the story otherwise it sounds preachy or sappy.
I dont like giving harsh sounding reviews, and I certainly do not want to belabor the point. This author obviously writes well. She did her research of the times and the place. I enjoyed reading about the Toronto of the turn of the century. (in fact that's what kept me reading, believe it or not) Characters were well developed and personable. Interesting story line and good dialogues. I think if she were to lighten up a bit I wouldn't have felt like Ive been to a church service.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Weak narration

I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Honestly, I feel that the narrator was lacking some in her British accent. She did not do too bad with the Irish and Scottish accents but the British accent was not there at all. Considering that the main character in the story is British, it was disappointing not to hear the accent.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • AJ
  • 01-22-23

Beautiful story

A beautifully written story about family set in Canada after World War I. The characters take you on their journey of love, heartache and how God's plan for our lives can work miracles.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Nice story

I liked this book. Just like I like Hallmark movies, but I wish they'd get away from the cookie-cutter template more often. This story was cookie-cutter in the template, although it was a good tale. Good characters, good lessons.

I don't know if I got used to the narrator, or if she got better as she got into the book. At first it was more like she was reading lines than acting. Her t9nexwas pleasant and I thought she did the voices very well, but needs improvement on the accents. The main character comes straight from Britain, yet the accent was very subtle and sounded more Scottish or Irish than British. The Scottish and Canadian accents were good. The acting improved after the first chapter, or so, but lacked some of the intensity of emotion the manuscript called for.

Overall a good book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fine, But Little Charisma

The book was fine and the story moved well. Grace and Andrew were uninteresting as characters. I kept picturing Andrew as spineless and shallow. My mind at times said, “What a jerk.” Not even a very interesting jerk. I never felt any reason for a distracting attraction between them.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved this love story

I really enjoyed this love story which challenged marriages made for purposes other than love. I liked Grace who was a lovely woman determined to do what was best for her sister. I put this book in my favorites and will read it again sometime. The performance was very well done by Susan Boyce. It was heartwarming. The best book I have read for sometime.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spellbinding

Excellent story. One of the best I’ve heard in awhile. I was so enthralled I stayed up most of the night listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story and performance! Without smut!

Beautiful storyline! Performance was also great, however accents were off, British accent sounded like Irish accent, after the first few chapters the narrator stopped trying to do the main characters British accent, which was better than doing it wrong. But other than that she was pleasant to listen to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This book is a MUST have!!!

Such a good story and wonderful narration! I loved it, loved it, loved it

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