Fairer than Morning (book review)

Fairer than Morning

By Rosslyn Elliott

Published by Thomas Nelson

List Price $15.99

Paperback: 400 pages

Book Description: Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor—until she meets a runaway apprentice who knows what a truly noble man is.


In 1826, Ann Miller travels to Pittsburgh with her widowed father and two young sisters, only to find that a mysterious man has pursued them all the way from Ohio. Is Ann’s father just a circuit minister, or is he hiding something that may endanger them all?


Will Hanby indentures with a Pittsburgh saddle maker, only to discover that his master is a cold-hearted tyrant. After years of abuse, Will becomes a prisoner of his own mind. But then lovely Ann Miller comes to stay next door and her compassion lights a long-dark part of Will’s soul. His renewed courage puts his life in jeopardy as he begins to assist fugitive slaves.


Will's murderous master and Ann's questions about her family may keep both of them bound in the shadows forever. Or will they find freedom—together?

My take: Before writing this review, I read an interview the author did where she described the book this way:  "Fairer than Morning is the first novel of my series called The Saddler’s Legacy from Thomas Nelson Publishers. This series of historical romances is based on a real minister’s family in nineteenth-century Ohio. In Fairer than Morning, a saddler’s daughter dreams of marriage to her poetic, educated suitor—until a runaway apprentice shows her that a truly noble man will risk his life to free the oppressed."

My first thought? I can't WAIT for the next novel in the series!  Why did I think that?  Because I was absolutely floored by how much I loved this novel.   I was astonished that this is a debut novel - Mrs. Elliott has crafted a truly beautiful story (based on real people no less) of hope, despair, faith, love and overcoming the very worst life as to offer. 

I have to say, I've been reading a TON of Christian Historical fiction lately - I downloaded the Kindle app. on my Droid phone and a lot of the free books are of that genre - and Mrs. Elliot's "Fairer Than Morning" is one of the best I've read.   Her characters are fleshed out in such detail, I felt I knew them on a personal level.  And it was refreshing to have a character (namely Will) who was not sinless, but was a real person with real faults and real sin like the rest of us.  Reading of his "faith awakening" was awe inspiring.  Cheering for him and Ann as they discovered their love truly touched my heart.  And their story is more than just romance - the suspense of her father's story as well as Will's predicament will keep you on the edge of your seat.  If you love books of this genre, I highly encourage you to pick up "Fairer Than Morning." 

About the author: As the child of a career military man, Rosslyn Elliott lived in four states and two foreign countries before she graduated from high school. She attended Yale University, where she earned her BA in English and Theater Studies. After five years working first in corporate New York City, then as a schoolteacher, she entered the Ph.D. program in English at Emory University and finished her dissertation in 2006.  Her study of American literature spurred her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. Rosslyn lives with her husband and daughter in the southwestern United States.

This review was sponsored by Book Sneeze (Thomas Nelson) who provided the book for review. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.