"fairer than morning" by rosslyn elliott

About the Book:
Will Hanby is an apprentice to saddle maker Jacob Good, a hard, demanding man. Just as Will is losing all hope for his future, he meets Samuel Miller and his daughter, Ann. Samuel is also a saddle maker, and he not only teaches Will to become a better saddler, but he teaches him to become a better man. When Will realizes he must escape from Master Good, he flees to the Millers' home in Ohio. Samuel is thrilled to see Will again--but will Ann be?

My Take:
Fairer Than Morning is one of those novels that you don't want to end. In the beginning, I wasn't too into it. (This is basically because of Ann--every man she met seemed to fall for her. That's not really a girl I can identify with!) But as Will's story progressed--through his horrible time with Master Good to his harrowing escape to his involvement with the Underground Railroad--I found that I couldn't stop reading! (I also began to like Ann--which is good, since the main romance was between Will and Ann.) Fairer Than Morning is much more than what the cover implies, and I'd argue that Will is actually the focus of the story, not Ann. Will is an incredibly believable character, and the abuse he faced at the hands of Master Good was heart wrenching. Will is the heart and soul of this story, and I can't wait for his family's journey to continue in book two!

I give Fairer Than Morning 4-1/2 out of 5 stars. If you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy this book!

***Side note: Don't you just love the cover? True, it reflects Ann, not Will, but the cover is what made me want to read this book in the first place. And doesn't Ann look just like Rachael Leigh Cook?***

About the Author:
Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocated so often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. With the help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University, where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as a schoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. She lives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches in children's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com
See what other bloggers are saying, read an excerpt, or buy your own copy.

Giveaway Information: 
To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic.

Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well-written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here.

Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 

One winner will receive:

* Kindle with Wi-Fi

* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.

Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!) and historical fiction, testing your trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."