A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason is a fictional story about a fictional character based on some of the real-life experiences of Velma Demerson in the 1930s in Canada. The experiences upon which it is based are autobiographical and not easy to read. Part of what makes this story so genuine and sad is realizing the most unpleasant parts really happened to many women.

This piece of historical fiction follows the experiences of Olivia Rosetti following her release from the Mercer Women's Reformatory. This is a story of redemption and rising above one's life circumstances. Olivia has the opportunity to recognize her own value in God's eyes and to show others that unwed mothers deserve to be treated a people who matter.

The parallel story of Darius Reed brings up many interesting points and questions. What is a person willing to sacrifice for money and is it worth it? Following his story really makes one appreciate the value of forgiveness and compassion.

There is a great deal to be learned in this book as the historical events are chronicled in fictional format. The author does a nice job of describing the challenges without becoming so lost in the details that the reader is overwhelmed with facts. This is a heart wrenching and painful story in many ways, but it is also a story of love and renewal.

This is a compelling story of overcoming and forgiveness for a past mistake. We all make mistakes, none are perfect………. This story is about Olivia Rosetti who made a mistake and her father had her put in prison.
Upon her release from a woman’s reformatory in 1941 in Toronto, she wants nothing more than to forget the horrors of her time there and the loss of her baby and return to normal. She goes home to find her father unforgiving and her old room cleaned of all her possessions, even her clothes. With her family unwilling to forgive her for having a child out of wedlock and learning her love had been killed in the war, she is desolate and has no one to turn to. Thus begins a heartwarming story of how women in this predicament struggled with shame and having no place to go. Mason has created strong and believable characters that will cause one to stop and examine their life and mistakes. A beautiful and heart breaking novel that will show if we trust in Him, God can work it out for our good…….Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for letting me read and review.

I enjoyed most of A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason, but some parts were a little sad or hard to read because while they were based off of real historical experiences, they were so heartbreaking. I really enjoyed the time period because it is one of my favorite time periods to read about. The romance was very sweet and was my favorite parts of the book. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Haven for Her Heart
by Susan Anne Mason
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 13 Oct 2020



I am reviewing a copy of A Haven For Her Heart through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:



Olivia Rosetti is homeless after being released from a Woman’s Reformatory in 1939. She is taken in by Ruth Bennington, who becomes her Angel of Mercy. The two find out they both had painful pasts and together they decide to open a Maternity home for troubled Women.






The home is a success but Olivia is haunted by her inhumane treatment at the reformatory and the way her newborn son was taken from her. She can’t help but feel she is undeserving of love, until she meets businessman Darius Reed. Though his attention makes her heart soar, he can never learn of her past.





Darius Reed , a Greek Widower is determined to protect his daughter from the prejudice that killed her mother. He is going to ensure her safety by marrying a woman from a respected Toronto family. But after Darius meets Olivia, he founds that he is immediately drawn to her, beauty as well as compassion.




Can there love overcome prejudices and past mistakes? Or will the secrets Olivia secrets to destroy any chance at a future together?





I give A Haven for Her Heart five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This is a very deep, thought provoking historical romance.

Both Olivia and Darius are incredibly well developed and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know both of them. The heartaches that they each carried into the beginning of their relationship were palpable. I desperately wanted each of them to grow past the pain and reach a place where they weren’t bogged down by it.

I love the fact that they both included times of prayer and seeking God to help them on their journey. It was wonderful to see them both talk with older adults to help with the process also.

The subject matter of this book is much heavier than any book that the author previously wrote. She has done a marvelous job of handling it throughout the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

#A Haven For Her Heart# by Susan Anne Mason is the first book in the Redemption's Light series. Susan Anne Mason is from Toronto , Canada. This book is an historical fiction book. The setting is Toronto, Canada. The narrator is Olivia Rosetti who was pregnant and homeless in the beginning of the book. She was a troubled person and alone. She learned how hard it is to be pregnant with her fiancé away at war. Olivia has courage and perseverance. Her character is to be admired for her heart for others, her mercy and kindness. I liked seeing how she overcame her difficult circumstances. The themes of the story are loss, turning tragedy to triumph. The characters and ,setting are well described. Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read and review this book. i hope it is very successful.

Heart wrenching yet redeeming:
This book highlighted the injustices and prejudices faced by unwed pregnant young ladies. It was quite difficult to read at times due to the subject matter yet the information was presented in a respectful and informative manner. What was especially troubling was that this was based on a true story and these practices continued for such a long period of time. The double standards that exited between men and women was also so frustrating, also as this occurs to some degree around the world yet today.
I admired Olivia's determination and resilience and was so pleased that she was able to finally find healing and love. Darius had his own issues to work through yet I really liked how he remained true to his faith. His young daughter Sofia brought much needed joy and light to what otherwise could have been a very heavy story.
I enjoyed the message of forgiveness, compassion and how the Lord is able to use our pain and past experiences for the furtherance of His kingdom and to help others.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This book handled some very sensitive subject matter with grace and integrity. I fell in love with Olivia and wept at her unfair circumstances. She took what satan meant for evil and allowed God to turn it into something meaningful and beautiful! A hard book to put down, well done Susan Mason!!

If you are looking for a book that will simultaneously break your heart and fill you with a sense of hope, look no further than A Haven for Her Heart!

In this story, author Susan Anne Mason takes on some rather difficult topics. We are introduced to Olivia, a young woman who after finding herself pregnant out of wedlock is sent to a reformatory where unspeakable horrors were commonplace. With no place to go, she meets Ruth who takes her in. Together, they decide to open a maternity home to help women have better options. What follows is a beautiful story of hope, forgiveness and redemption... with a beautiful romance story mixed in too.

The topic is certainly a delicate one, and sadly one rooted in truth. I feel like the author did such a beautiful job of sharing that reality, while also keeping it rather PG. Nothing was sugar coated by any means, however, while much was alluded to, the gory details were not given. It was enough that as the reader I could understand what had gone on and fill in the blanks as to the specifics. Even with this, it was still absolutely heartbreaking to think about the horrors that so many women had to face in that time. It was quite eye opening.

While times have certainly changed since these days, the feeling of shame and guilt and feeling unworthy of grace and forgiveness are issues that so many of us still struggle with. This story was a beautiful reminder of just how great that redemption is and how we are all worthy of it.

Overall, this was a fantastic read and one that I cannot recommend enough. I cannot wait to see what comes next in this new series.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

Susan Anne Mason delivers another stellar book with A Haven for Her Heart, the first book in the Redemption's Light series.

The author has opened my eyes to the horrors some women endured in Canada during the '30s. That we even had such a law in place that encouraged arresting women on the charge of being "incorrigible" (unmarried, pregnant, and under the age of 21) angered me more than I can say.

Olivia Rosetti is the main character in this moving story based on a real person who endured the horrors of prison, medical experimentation, abuse and starvation, all while pregnant. Sent to the Mercer Reformatory for Women by the hands of her father, Olivia endured so much at the hand of others she feared her child would die before it was born. Instead, he lived, but was taken from his mother without her consent. As a Toronto native, I found it shocking to discover that a place like Mercer Reformatory for Women existed until 1969! I was so angry for Olivia (and the real person she was based on) that I immediately began researching Mercer Reformatory.

Fortunately, Olivia takes her horrible experience and turns into something useful. With God's intervention, she is sent a rescuer by the name of Ruth Bennington. Together they open a maternity home to help women who find themselves homeless, pregnant and without options.

At first, everything seems like an answer to prayer, but then Darius Reed shows up, representing his boss, who wants to buy Ruth's house and will stop at nothing to get it. Of course, he is immediately attracted to Olivia, whom he thinks is a volunteer with the maternity home. The attraction is mutual, but how will Darius react when he learns Olivia's full story?

This is a redemption story that will move you to tears for so many reasons. I look forward to the next book in this series and highly recommend it.

Forgiveness, Compassion and Understanding

Wow! This book packs a powerful message. We so often look down on those in unfortunate circumstances. We do not know their story, we have no right to judge. It makes you really think about society and how uncaring and hurtful people can sometimes be toward others.

I really felt Olivia's pain and cried throughout the book. Her character was so brave to go through what she went through and still have the courage to push through her pain and confront her past. I do not understand how a father could be so cruel to his own daughter. It was sad that there was even a law that allowed someone under 18 to be arrested and thrown in jail for the simple act of making a mistake and becoming an unwed mother. Nor do I understand how the nurse at the facility she was sent could treat anyone so horribly. I was glad when Darius was there for her. Sofia was just the most adorable character.
The character of Ruth was a very motherly type character. The two of them were perfect for running a Maternity home for those mothers in need. They were compassionate and understanding in holding out a hand to help those with nowhere to turn and needing help so desperately. We could use more people like that in the world.

I loved how the book was written with such clean language and had a Christian influence . A good clean romance, with compassion and understanding. I think everyone should read this book. It would really make you think. I recommend this book to all.

Thanks to Susan Anne Mason, Bethany House and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book.

God wouldn't want you to remain a prisoner of your own shame, Olivia. Be brave enough to claim the life and happiness He has in store for you.”

Set in 1939 when attitudes towards women labeled as unsavory & incorrigible due to situations caused by no fault of their own, Susan Anne Mason takes us on a journey of healing, forgiveness, and seeing ourselves through the eyes of the Father who redeems us & makes us whole again!

I knew in history that women's reformatories like where Olivia was sent existed, but I had no idea the atrocity & living conditions these women had to endure! The author doesn't sugar coat some of these horrors Olivia faced in the book, but she also didn't go too far in explaining them either. She balanced it so that the reader could use some of their own imagination in “seeing” these things happening. It's awful to think that women endured such pain & humiliation in real life so many years ago! By the end of the book, what I loved is how Olivia was able to open her heart and allow the Lord to heal her & find her worth, purpose, and new love in Him! Ruth was a tremendous help to her along the way and also found new purpose in her own life.

“You are a child of God, just like everyone else in this world. We all make mistakes, and we are all worthy of redemption.~ Ruth”

Darius was a great compliment to her, I think. He also has had his share of pain when he lost his beloved wife & is finding his way while raising his daughter Sofia. He faces many challenges in this story and sticks to his integrity as a Godly man. And little Sofia is the highlight in my opinion! She's a delightful girl full of spunk, sparkle, and everything nice! She also plays a huge role in helping Olivia heal & I loved how she brought laughter in her life again. I enjoyed how God used these two as a healing balm & reminded Olivia of His truths.

“With Darius, she'd found not only the security and the respectability she craved, but a true haven for her heart. She had no doubt he would cherish it always and do everything in his power to keep it safe.”

I loved everything about this book! Susan Anne Mason never fails to write heartfelt stories of love, faith, and journeys of healing for her characters. She also challenged me with this book as a reader to see beyond myself to God, who deems me worthy in spite of my past because HE has called me worthy! My favorite part is when an author can speak Biblical truths into my own life and give me those to ponder long after the last page is turned!

I highly recommend this to historical Christian fiction readers who want to be challenged to reach beyond their own lives to help others, and to realize their worth is in God and not mankind. He loves us beyond what we think we deserve and He calls us His own!

*I received a complimentary copy via Bethany House publishers on the authors’ behalf. I was not obligated to leave a favorable review & all opinions expressed here are my own. *

Once again, Mason doesn't shy away from tackling hard, weighty issues. In this book, she highlights the plight of women who found themselves in a crisis pregnancy around 1939. The lack of support from family and the ostracism from society were bad enough. But the horrors in the reformatory system took me by surprise. I hadn't heard about this before. I appreciated the note before the story began that told of the book's basis.

I really liked Ruth, Olivia and Darius. They were each so special. Ruth's generosity, hospitality and sacrifice, Olivia's desire to make a better way for others in a similar situation, and Darius' desire to protect his little girl and to do the right thing were beautiful. I hope they are a part of the next book in the Redemption's Light series.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A Haven For Her Heart is a story that actually had me in tears multiple times. I know this sounds weird but most readers will know this is definitely a good thing ;) I recently discovered Susan Anne Mason’s work this year and I have been devouring her backlist, as she is an amazing author. But if I’m honest, this book is next level good. And I’m gonna tell you all about the why, but first, let’s see what it’s about!

We meet Olivia as she is homeless, recently released from a rehab prison, where she had to live through unspeakable horror and had her baby taken away without her consent. She is broken, her fiancee is away at war and her father cast her out. She is taken in by Ruth, an elderly Christian lady who has not been the same since her husband died. Olivia is extremely strong and kind, and she decided she wants no woman to be treated like she was, and together they open a maternity home. However, the road is bumpy, when neighbors are in an outrage and the big boss of a company wants the land the maternity home is on, and sends his employee Darius, a widower with an adorable little girl, to see this through – no matter the cost… but it might just cost his heart.

This story was amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. I think many Christian novels brush over horrors, it’s not really mentioned, but this book definitely had a bit of darkness that is real and raw and painful. And I think this is something that we need, as our lives are no fairytales, there is pain. But rest assured, the story itself is a happy one, full of hope and healing, just not negating the bad things and being honest about it. If you’re worried, rest assured that it was written very nicely, there are no graphic pictures or anything like that, and there is a slow build up to the reveal. What makes me very sad, is that Olivia’s story actually is a real story. In the 1940s you could actually get locked up in a prison for having a child out of wedlock if you’re younger than 21 (on account of being incorrigible). It’s so painful to read how they were treated and the horrors of the prison, knowing this happened not even that long ago. But Olivia gets out, and she does something that shows her true character: she turns her pain into gold. She works day and night to assure other people won’t have to go through that horror again. And yes, it’s inspired and wonderful, but you also see the scars and how difficult it is for her. Ruth, the woman who takes her in and then remodels her own house into a maternity home, is a force to be reckoned with, too. She’s an amazing character, fierce and Christian grace in one. I really loved her. This story also captured many women’s struggles too, and it is done so well, with empathy, perspective and forgiveness.

But of course there is hope and love, because that’s why we read stories, right? Ok, the romance is very important too, at least for me. And we have an epic romance! Darius, a Canadian with Greek roots who tries to be as Canadian as possible, especially to give his little girl Sofia all the advances in life. He is willing to go far for that goal, and his love for Sofia and his parents is heart warming. He is far from perfect and this story starts as an enemies to lovers trope (yay!), but he grows so much and you grow to love him!

I have a feeling I could go on a lot more, but as this review already is way too long, I’ll end by saying this is a must read book if you like a lot of depth in your stories, next to a lovely romance.

I received a free e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Haven for Her Heart
by Susan Anne Mason
Back of the Book: “Homeless after being released from a women's reformatory in 1939
Toronto, Olivia Rosetti is taken in by an angel of mercy, Ruth Bennington. The two discover they share a painful past and together decide to open a maternity home for troubled women.
Despite the success of the home, Olivia is haunted by her inhumane treatment at the reformatory and the way her newborn son was taken from her. She feels undeserving of love--until she meets businessman Darius Reed. Although his attention makes her heart soar, he can never learn of her past.
Greek widower Darius Reed is determined to protect his daughter from the prejudice that killed her mother. He'll ensure her future by marrying a woman from a respected Toronto family. But when Darius meets Olivia, he's immediately drawn to her beauty and compassion.
Can love prove stronger than prejudice and past mistakes? Or will Olivia's secrets destroy any chance at a future together?
Impressions: This is an amazing and well-written story based off Velma Demerson’s life.
Liked: I love to learn about the past and the people who lived through it. This book was right up my alley.
Disliked: Nothing to make note of.
Learned: We are all sinners. After reflection, I realize how similar people are regardless of the era or generation. We all make mistakes and need lots of grace. Also, we all have fears, and we have a choice in how we cope with those fears. Unfortunately, it seems that time has not taught us well how to deal with fear, as it seems we still tend to struggle with what we don’t understand.
Quotes:
“As I’ve discovered, you never know what you’re capable of until faced with an impossible situation.” - Can you think of a time when you felt this way? Motherhood has me facing these moments frequently.
“For someone who claims to be a Christian, I sometimes fall short of the ideal.” - All the time! Thank you, God, for your grace and forgiveness!
“God wouldn’t want you to remain a prisoner of your of your shame, Olivia. You are His beloved child, forgiven and redeemed. Be brave enough to claim the happiness He has in store for you.” - Why is it so hard sometimes to claim the forgiveness God gives us?
“We are fulfilling our mandate as Christians to help the less fortunate and to act out of love and compassion, not fear or hatred.” – I think this is an intentional mindset that not enough Christians share. We are not here to just live our lives but to be sharing God’s character with others. We need to act more on the love we have been given. I mean this for myself as well. I easily get caught up in my own world I forget to look beyond my home. When I do venture out, I need to have an attitude such as in James 1:19-20.

A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason is a phenomenal story. I was immediately hooked into the storyline and hated when I had to put this book down. I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book like this before. This novel illustrates Mason’s signature storytelling and smooth, flowing prose, but she throws her readers for a severe emotional loop through the history she chose to center her novel around. Her topic is one I’ve never read before and it completely wrecked me. My heart broke a 100 times for Olivia — all I wanted was to hug her and punch all the meanies who hurt her. When you read this book, and you really must, have a BIG box of tissue nearby. But, I don’t want you to read this review and think this book is just a big downer. It is absolutely not. It’s complicated, it’s frustrating, it’s super amazing, it’s romantic, it’s inspirational, and it’s incredibly encouraging. Truly, A Haven for Her Heart is a remarkable must-read novel.

Life is complex. Sometimes it’s amazing and full and good. There’s friendships and romances and babies and food and love. But sometimes life is awful and evil and unbearable. There’s pain and hate and suffering and death. In our lives, we will come upon times that knock us off our feet and steal our very breath. Sometimes these moments happen because of bad choices or actions we have made and sometimes because of the bad choices or actions of others. Olivia Rosetti goes through a two-year nightmare because of a choice she made and a reaction her father had. When Olivia’s nightmare ends, she is a completely broken and scared young woman who is sure her life will never be good again. She feels shame and guilt and anger and a little bit of hate. As a Christian, she knows she needs to forgive, but forgiveness does not come easy. Olivia has to work hard at it, and more often than not gets stuck in her struggles. There is a moment in the story where Olivia’s brother, Sal, compassionately tells her, “God wouldn’t want you to remain a prisoner of your shame, Olivia. You are His beloved child, forgiven and redeemed. Be brave enough to claim the happiness He has in store for you.” I LOVE this notion. Forgiving others can be hard, but forgiving ourselves is often the hardest. When our nightmare moments in life happen because of things we chose or did the shame we feel for being so stupid or ignorant or just plain human can seem like a mountain too difficult to overcome. Sal is correct, there is a level of bravery inherent in forgiveness. Forgiveness means accepting the past and trusting God with the future. It’s knowing that something bad happened to me but having compassion to accept what could be and choosing to move forward. Olivia has a lot in her past she must overcome and forgive, but with God’s help, and the love and support of her good friend, her brother, and her romantic interest, Olivia comes to realize that true happiness comes when we break the shackles of shame and guilt, forgive ourselves, and grab hold to the goodness God has waiting for us all.

A Haven for Her Heart is a highly engaging story that rips at the reader’s heartstrings. Reading this book is an escape into a painful, difficult, beautiful, and loving journey that should not be missed. If you are a fan of excellent Historical Romance, and you’re not afraid to feel all the feels, then I highly recommend A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason.

I received a copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, via NetGalley in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Set during WWII and in Toronto Canada the reality of what some obscure laws that were used to hurt people. Different times, but this story is loosely based on truth.
I have trouble with a father doing what he did to his daughter, but this is a different time, but having her put in a reformatory?
When you hear the facts of what happened here, with some never leaving, there are people who should go to jail, but that would be another book, although I don't know if anyone ever was held accountable.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time, two hurting woman, and each filling a need for the other, I believe a God Thing, but in the end these two helped others with no where to turn.
The reality of their not being help offered out there, is the death of another young woman, and sadly we get to know her.
We see prejudice upfront here, and we hope that they do not win, but we also see the embracing of a family and the folding in of a hurting young woman, and then the unconditional love of a child!
I for one cannot wait for the second book!

I received this book through NetGalley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

A Haven for her Heart is a great story loosely based on a true story. Olivia, as a young girl, finds herself in a terrible situation. Her fiance is fighting in World War II , but she discovers she is pregnant. Her father is not happy about this, and calls the authorities, due to a little known law and she goes to prison because of it. She suffers atrocities there, and when her baby is born, he is taken away immediately and given up for adoption against her wishes. When she is released, she finds she can't return home, because her father will not allow it. She meets Ruth who takes her in. As their friendship grows, they begin to have a maternity home, providing a safe home for unfortunate girls. She meets Darius, who is trying to obtain the property, but is unsuccessful. Their friendship grows and becomes more as time passes. Olivia has many doubts about their relationship. Will she overcome her fears?

A gripping story with a wonderful background. That being said, some characters were not expatiated on well enough, and although the story began in a wonderful, beautifully-paced way with some elements of intrigue and mystery, as the story progressed, the plot became very predictable. Some points and backstories from the beginning, like Olivia's parents and friend from the Reformatory, were not well explained or reflected upon through the rest of the story as well. All in all, A HAVEN FOR A HEART, has the potential to be a great read.

A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason takes a dark look at the world of pregnancy during World War II. The story is definitely different. I have heard of the dark side of the past where pregnant women were sent to relatives out in the country or away from town, but I have never heard of the mistreatment of them in prison. This was distasteful. Yes, some of them made bad decisions. I totally agree with that, but the punishment for this was wrong. It is still a woman carrying a real life baby, and for that reason, they should both be valued and treasured. Too bad even in today's culture we have still not learned this concept. Overall, I loved seeing Olivia as she tried to make amends for the hurt that has been caused to her by losing her son without any choice of her own. Darius was a wonderful hero who stood up for what he believed, and for that reason, I actually enjoyed him as a hero. Mason does a wonderful job at crafting strong heroes who may not have the best job, but they always come out looking like a hero in front to the women, and I really liked this concept. Mason does a terrific job at inviting American readers into the world of Canada. I have never been to Canada, but she always bring Canada home to the readers. I'm delightful to see the story take place in unfamiliar settings. Overall, A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason is a delightful story of fear and learning to move on from the hurtful past. I recommend this story to fans of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of A Haven for Her Heart by Susan Anne Mason from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.