Rosslyn Elliott

Fairer Than Morning is the first book in The Saddler's Legacy. From the book cover: "The Saddler's Legacy Series is a work of fiction inspired by a real family in American history - the Hanby family, who are to this day the most celebrated citizens of Westerville, Ohio."

In 19th-century Ohio, Ann Miller is helping her widowed father raise her younger sisters. She's been courted for years by the "perfect" man, and is convinced God has brought them together. Then she meets Will, a saddler's apprentice, and starts to wonder if she's really doing what God wants her to do with her life. Meanwhile, Will has problems of his own.

Some books are hard to review simply because I don't want to say too much and give away any of the story. Fairer Than Morning is one of those books. This is romance, but it's also about finding God, and obedience, forgiveness, and grace.

There were some parts that made me want to hit certain characters over the head, but that just means I was involved in the story. :-) I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

I won this book in a Goodreads First Read giveaway.… (más)

This is the second book in The Saddler's Legacy series. Sweeter than Birdsong is a fictionalized account of the relationship between real-life abolitionist songwriter Ben Hanby and Kate Winter, one of the first women to graduate from Otterbein College in Ohio.
Painfully shy Kate is dominated by her overbearing mother and confused by her absent, alcoholic father. Her quiet beauty attracts the attention of several suitors, and her inability to express herself makes one wonder if she'll ever be able to take control of her life.
Ben Hanby wants to end slavery in America, by helping escaped slaves, by teaching children, and by songwriting. He especially wants to help Nelly Gray, a slave whose husband died in his home while trying to get to freedom. His obsession with helping Nelly causes a string of events that tie Ben and Kate together.
The relationship of Kate and Ben is charming, and their prayers to God for help are well-placed and not over-done. They develop nicely as characters, and the romance in the novel will please readers of Christian romance.… (más)