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Saddler's Legacy #1
Fairer Than Morning
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 hiding something that may endanger them all? Will Hanby indentures with a Pittsburgh saddle maker, only to suffer years of abuse. Ann Miller's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Will his murderous master and her questions keep them both in the shadows forever?
554 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
25 people are currently reading
1990 people want to read
About the author
Rosslyn Elliott
8 books93 followersRosslyn Elliott is a professional writer, researcher, and editor. Her chief joys include learning new things, getting past small talk to the real human being beneath, and writing pieces that move others to laugh, think, or just feel better. She believes in peace, dignity and opportunity for all people. Rosslyn works in many kinds of writing, including novels, journalistic features, copywriting, academic writing, stage plays, audio and video scripts, white papers, corporate communications, and more. Her novels have won awards and critical acclaim for their writing quality and depth of research. Rosslyn is an accomplished public speaker who has often performed her own work and the work of others onstage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
April 30, 2011
3.5 stars for this book.
When I picked this book up to read it, I thought I was getting a historical romance. The back blurb led me to believe that. I will say there was a little bit of romance that finally came to realization the last chapter of the book. Otherwise, this was mostly a historical fiction, which I really enjoyed. It’s one of my favorite genre’s of book. Set in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the 19th-century, this story deals with the real time issues of slavery, indentured apprenticeships, and abuse and cruelty at the hands of their masters. Elliott has based her story and main characters on the lives of real people who lived at the time. This story evoked emotions of disgust, disbelief and empathy. This world can be cruel and unkind but thankfully there are and were people who showed forth kindness and help others. I think this book does a good job at showing this.
Christian fiction, squeeky clean read. I received this book courtesy of BookSneeze for my honest opinion.
When I picked this book up to read it, I thought I was getting a historical romance. The back blurb led me to believe that. I will say there was a little bit of romance that finally came to realization the last chapter of the book. Otherwise, this was mostly a historical fiction, which I really enjoyed. It’s one of my favorite genre’s of book. Set in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the 19th-century, this story deals with the real time issues of slavery, indentured apprenticeships, and abuse and cruelty at the hands of their masters. Elliott has based her story and main characters on the lives of real people who lived at the time. This story evoked emotions of disgust, disbelief and empathy. This world can be cruel and unkind but thankfully there are and were people who showed forth kindness and help others. I think this book does a good job at showing this.
Christian fiction, squeeky clean read. I received this book courtesy of BookSneeze for my honest opinion.
February 10, 2018
I love stories based on the real lives of historical figures! And while Rosslyn Elliott has taken some poetic license with Ann and Will's romance she has stayed true to all the important parts. And the author has a beautiful writing style which makes the words flow so smoothly that it's easy to be drawn in and held captive.
Both Ann and Will are at a crossroads in their lives -- but for very different reasons. Other than the untimely death of her mother, Ann has lived a comfortable and safe life. Though she is raising her younger sisters, she has the support and protection of a loving father. She has strong opinions, a thirst for knowledge and the desire to see more of the world than their farm and the small town nearby.
Will's life experience starts out similar to Ann's but a ravaging illness wipes out most of his family and he finds himself indentured to a cruel master. Starved and beaten, his future looks bleak...if he is even able to survive the years before he will finally be free. They are drawn together in an incredible way and as their lives intersect so do their hearts...but oh, it's so complicated! Nigh on impossible, actually. A thrilling read right to very the last page.
Both Ann and Will are at a crossroads in their lives -- but for very different reasons. Other than the untimely death of her mother, Ann has lived a comfortable and safe life. Though she is raising her younger sisters, she has the support and protection of a loving father. She has strong opinions, a thirst for knowledge and the desire to see more of the world than their farm and the small town nearby.
Will's life experience starts out similar to Ann's but a ravaging illness wipes out most of his family and he finds himself indentured to a cruel master. Starved and beaten, his future looks bleak...if he is even able to survive the years before he will finally be free. They are drawn together in an incredible way and as their lives intersect so do their hearts...but oh, it's so complicated! Nigh on impossible, actually. A thrilling read right to very the last page.
August 7, 2013
Incredible. Simply breathtaking! From the moment I opened this book and started to read I was captured by the rich characters and the author's beautiful style of writing. Like a modern Charles Dickens, Rosslyn Elliott has brought to life the nitty-gritty in a period of American history that I found myself unfamiliar with, yet fascinated by! I felt like I was reading a classic, yet with a strong Christian pull to it! The romance between the hero & heroine was gentle and subtle, leaving the reader trying to help dear Mr. Miller in bringing them together! The plot was a nail-biting affair, and the villain was...Disgusting & Vile. I honestly finished this book, clutching the binder and thinking "This was good! This was good!" *Squeal of delight*
I was concerned with how the book would deal with one character's falling into temptation, afraid that the situation would be forgotten and all would move on as if nothing had happened. However I was pleased to read on and find that it was addressed, dealt with, and resolved in a beautiful way. Because of this issue in the story, along with the villain treating others with abuse, I would recommend it be read by older and mature readers. However, I will say that these same issues (and worse) are addressed in many of our beloved classics, and those from a non-Christian perspective. So...
I absolutely loved this book. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I was concerned with how the book would deal with one character's falling into temptation, afraid that the situation would be forgotten and all would move on as if nothing had happened. However I was pleased to read on and find that it was addressed, dealt with, and resolved in a beautiful way. Because of this issue in the story, along with the villain treating others with abuse, I would recommend it be read by older and mature readers. However, I will say that these same issues (and worse) are addressed in many of our beloved classics, and those from a non-Christian perspective. So...
I absolutely loved this book. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
July 15, 2015
Sweet Read
This book had a sweet spirit about it. I am happy to know there were people who showed kindness in such a dark time in our history. Although they were far and few between they made a big difference. I loved the characters and can't wait to see what book two has in store.
This book had a sweet spirit about it. I am happy to know there were people who showed kindness in such a dark time in our history. Although they were far and few between they made a big difference. I loved the characters and can't wait to see what book two has in store.
March 22, 2017
3.5 out of 5 stars
February 10, 2020
Fairer than Morning was an overall very good read. I enjoyed the characters and the overall feel of the story. I was on the fence of rating a 3 or 4, as there were parts of the story that I felt were drawn out and didn’t keep my attention. However, the good points of this book, including the great historical details and the examples of slavery the book deserved a 4.
I feel as though I really got to know Will and Mr. Miller, but Ann still puzzled me some. I wish at some point in the novel Ann had shared her mother’s death with Will. That would have been powerful and made their connection to one another even deeper.
The ending of the story was excellent- tied up loose ends and was to the point. I really appreciate that in a novel!
This is my first novel Elliott, Looks like book #2. The Saddler’s Legacy has better reviews, so I look forward to reading it.
I feel as though I really got to know Will and Mr. Miller, but Ann still puzzled me some. I wish at some point in the novel Ann had shared her mother’s death with Will. That would have been powerful and made their connection to one another even deeper.
The ending of the story was excellent- tied up loose ends and was to the point. I really appreciate that in a novel!
This is my first novel Elliott, Looks like book #2. The Saddler’s Legacy has better reviews, so I look forward to reading it.
May 22, 2012
FAIRER THAN MORNING by Rosslyn Elliott threw me for a loop and took me by surprise. I felt as though I was taken back to the early 1800's with Ms. Elliot's amazing description and play on words. With three possible hero's, I was kept guessing who would end up with the heroine, a unique twist from the stories I'm accustom to reading.
Ann Miller is pursued by Elie Bowen, a man any woman would be proud to marry. But there are lingering concerns, and when Ann travels with her father to Pittsburgh on business, she encounters two other men. Allan Burbridge, obviously smitten with her, but it's Will Hanby that captures her curiosity.
Will, a saddle-maker's apprentice, has suffered from loss of his family and abuse from his master. Upon his meeting Ann, the compassion he sees in her ignites in him hope that he long thought was dead. When Will is no longer able to endure the abuse of his master, he flees in hopes of finding Ann and her father.
The compassion of a few good Christians as well as Will's growing faith was one to be admired. Ms. Elliott did a wonderful job conveying the hands and feet of Jesus in a natural and convincing way. I was truly humbled to read of their acts of Christianity as well as Will's determination and faith despite his horrific circumstances.
As is often the case with me, I failed to read the back cover of FAIRER THAN MORNING, for if I had I would have realized the shocking information revealed in the final pages. I won't give it away in case you're like me, and love a good surprise.
Ann Miller is pursued by Elie Bowen, a man any woman would be proud to marry. But there are lingering concerns, and when Ann travels with her father to Pittsburgh on business, she encounters two other men. Allan Burbridge, obviously smitten with her, but it's Will Hanby that captures her curiosity.
Will, a saddle-maker's apprentice, has suffered from loss of his family and abuse from his master. Upon his meeting Ann, the compassion he sees in her ignites in him hope that he long thought was dead. When Will is no longer able to endure the abuse of his master, he flees in hopes of finding Ann and her father.
The compassion of a few good Christians as well as Will's growing faith was one to be admired. Ms. Elliott did a wonderful job conveying the hands and feet of Jesus in a natural and convincing way. I was truly humbled to read of their acts of Christianity as well as Will's determination and faith despite his horrific circumstances.
As is often the case with me, I failed to read the back cover of FAIRER THAN MORNING, for if I had I would have realized the shocking information revealed in the final pages. I won't give it away in case you're like me, and love a good surprise.
June 10, 2015
5 stars. I was split between 4 and 5, but it deserves 5, since the story will definitely stay with me for a long time.
First of all, the description was a bit misleading. Not completely, but a bit. It makes it sound like a lighter read than it is, plus some details seem a bit different in the story.
But that doesn't matter much, it was still a wonderful book. The first 25-30% is all nice, but then some darker stuff happens and completely changes the story. I loved how the characters dealt with their situations, and how God was a big part of the story, how He guided the characters through different situations and how they learned to trust Him and give themselves completely to Him. The transformation was well done and convincing!
I did smile a lot at the happy parts and I almost shouted in frustration at the "villain" of the story, as I'm sure it was meant to be in those parts.
The characters were very real, reacting as one would expect them to.
A few things were left unexplained and I somehow doubt they will be explained in the next book, since they are companion books and not sequels. For instance, and this is only a minor, minor spoiler, how exactly did those letters end up in the barrel and why did Ann and Will not actually talk about them? Also there is one person, whose part was left incomplete. We never find out what happens to this person.
Even so, it was quite a powerful read. The message was very clear and inspiring and I am excited to read the next in this series!
First of all, the description was a bit misleading. Not completely, but a bit. It makes it sound like a lighter read than it is, plus some details seem a bit different in the story.
But that doesn't matter much, it was still a wonderful book. The first 25-30% is all nice, but then some darker stuff happens and completely changes the story. I loved how the characters dealt with their situations, and how God was a big part of the story, how He guided the characters through different situations and how they learned to trust Him and give themselves completely to Him. The transformation was well done and convincing!
I did smile a lot at the happy parts and I almost shouted in frustration at the "villain" of the story, as I'm sure it was meant to be in those parts.
The characters were very real, reacting as one would expect them to.
A few things were left unexplained and I somehow doubt they will be explained in the next book, since they are companion books and not sequels. For instance, and this is only a minor, minor spoiler, how exactly did those letters end up in the barrel and why did Ann and Will not actually talk about them? Also there is one person, whose part was left incomplete. We never find out what happens to this person.
Even so, it was quite a powerful read. The message was very clear and inspiring and I am excited to read the next in this series!
July 13, 2011
A well-written story of young love! This book took me in a different direction than I expected. It does not follow the usual structure of a romance novel since the two main characters are apart for the majority of the tale, but the characters were so compelling, that I enjoyed following their separate stories, eagerly waiting for them to intertwine.
Will endures such harship and cruelty, yet his heart remains malleable, and when God steps in, this beaten-down boy grows into a man of character and conviction. He has a few moments that are less than heroic, yet his story shows the way God can work through his people despite their shortcomings.
Ann is young and leans heavily upon the men in her life and can be a bit uppity at times. However, when the surface is stripped away, her inner character shines. She is willing to set aside propriety to do what is right when necessity demands action. She listens to the Lord's leading and in the end, finds the man who captures her heart.
Readers who enjoy sweeping historical sagas will love this story. Rosslyn Elliott writes with great skill and elicits deep emotional reactions in the reader. I would have enjoyed more time with Will and Ann together, and would have loved to see their relationship grow a bit more after they finally admit their feelings to one another, but on the whole, I found the story engaging and would gladly recommend it.
Will endures such harship and cruelty, yet his heart remains malleable, and when God steps in, this beaten-down boy grows into a man of character and conviction. He has a few moments that are less than heroic, yet his story shows the way God can work through his people despite their shortcomings.
Ann is young and leans heavily upon the men in her life and can be a bit uppity at times. However, when the surface is stripped away, her inner character shines. She is willing to set aside propriety to do what is right when necessity demands action. She listens to the Lord's leading and in the end, finds the man who captures her heart.
Readers who enjoy sweeping historical sagas will love this story. Rosslyn Elliott writes with great skill and elicits deep emotional reactions in the reader. I would have enjoyed more time with Will and Ann together, and would have loved to see their relationship grow a bit more after they finally admit their feelings to one another, but on the whole, I found the story engaging and would gladly recommend it.
March 30, 2012
Pursued by three men, one of them apprenticed to a cruel master, Ann Miller is also responsible for her younger sisters and the running of her father's farm. She has been in charge since her mother's death. Falling back on faith, she works through the failures of human nature, the courage of one man,the perseverance of another and her father's faith in her ability to make her own decisions.
The plot in this book is well thought out and the characters well developed. Faith in God also has a place in this book but the author is not trying to convert anyone. Growing up at a time when many novelists routinely included faith in their writings, I saw it vanish in the 70's. Then another category developed, that of spiritual romance. The spiritual side of this book did not bother me as the plot and characters drew me in. It was a rapid read. I enjoyed it very much.
I fail to see how faith in the characters in a novel or the quoting of bible verses should bother some readers especially if a novel like this one has such a good story line and deeply drawn characters.
The plot in this book is well thought out and the characters well developed. Faith in God also has a place in this book but the author is not trying to convert anyone. Growing up at a time when many novelists routinely included faith in their writings, I saw it vanish in the 70's. Then another category developed, that of spiritual romance. The spiritual side of this book did not bother me as the plot and characters drew me in. It was a rapid read. I enjoyed it very much.
I fail to see how faith in the characters in a novel or the quoting of bible verses should bother some readers especially if a novel like this one has such a good story line and deeply drawn characters.
June 7, 2011
This is a debut romance from Rosslyn Elliott and the first in a series. The story begins in the early 1820's in the area where Ohio and Pennsylvania meet. It follows a young girl growing up on her father's farm paralleled by the life of a young man who is an indentured apprentice to a saddler near Pittsburgh. The girl's father is also a saddler by trade as well as a circuit minister. There's plenty of history woven through this tale including the beginnings of the Underground Railroad. It is labeled a "romance" but there is substance here. Faith in God in very trying times comes through and the conversion of the young man is very uplifting. I would recommend this novel to any historical fiction fan -- the characters are real people as indicated in the Afterword. Don't be put off by the "romance" genre, there's plenty of action and adventure and, in my opinion, it is very well-written.
April 3, 2015
A New favorite! It's a keeper.
September 15, 2017
Rosslyn Elliott's name first crossed my radar about 5 years ago while I was working at the library and in charge of organizing the Christian fiction section. I remember being impressed with the quality of her cover design (I was a bit of a sap over pretty covers at that point). I wanted to read her work, but made the mistake of picking up Sweeter than Birdsong first. I'm not sure how I missed that it was the 2nd in a series, but somehow I did, and it just did not hold my attention.
God works miracles, no matter how small. As my family prepped for our latest family vacation, I hopped out my local library's collection of ebooks and checked out at least a dozen for the trip; determined to give myself a decent selection because I never know what will appeal to me when. Fairer Than Morning happened to be one of my choices and on the flight back home from one of the longest layovers of my life, I decided to start reading it.
Life has intervened a time or two which is why it's taken me a good couple of weeks to finish it, but one thing I do know is that Rosslyn Elliott impressed me. I didn't realize until the afterword that her book was based off the real lives of William Hanby and Ann Miller, but that little tidbit of information only made me love their story all the more.
Fairer Than Morning is beautiful. Not quite perfect in execution, or at least what I consider perfection, but still quite beautiful. And even though I've included the summary, know that the story is much deeper than the summary implies. I loved how faith really was a natural part of the character's lives. Preaching wasn't a part of the story, the Lord just wove His way in and out of the tale. That's my favorite element of faith-filled storytelling. It should feel natural, and Rosslyn Elliott captured that authentic feeling for me.
Will and Ann were both likeable and yet flawed in ways that I can relate to. I loved Will. Watching him grow from a teenager to a young adult, overcoming the hardships of being apprenticed to a brute, and discovering the Lord was amazing. I also appreciated his struggles with lust and vengeance. Both of those are very human feelings, very tied to our fleshly desires. Will wasn't perfect, just like Ann wasn't perfect. She had her fair share of petty moments, of weakness, of blindness towards beauty and intellect. But she also came to a profound understanding of who she wanted to be as a woman and what type of man she would be suited to marry. And it turned out that neither of the romantic heroes she had been considering were actually suited to the steady life of service her heart desired. It's not that I disliked Eli or Allan. But neither of them were of a nature to give back, to love others, and to protect the weak. Will's nature developed into a man who cannot simply stand by and watch a wrong being done without standing against it. Ann loved that in him and so do I.
Like I said, there were a few elements that didn't quite work for me. A few sappy, soap-operaesque moments that cropped up from time to time. But the real meat of the story, the progression in faith and knowledge of God and the maturing of a young man to adulthood, all of those elements stood strong and firm. So, bravo, Rosslyn, for your authentic story. I'm not sure when I'll get to the 2nd book in the series, but it is now on my list to be read.
God works miracles, no matter how small. As my family prepped for our latest family vacation, I hopped out my local library's collection of ebooks and checked out at least a dozen for the trip; determined to give myself a decent selection because I never know what will appeal to me when. Fairer Than Morning happened to be one of my choices and on the flight back home from one of the longest layovers of my life, I decided to start reading it.
Life has intervened a time or two which is why it's taken me a good couple of weeks to finish it, but one thing I do know is that Rosslyn Elliott impressed me. I didn't realize until the afterword that her book was based off the real lives of William Hanby and Ann Miller, but that little tidbit of information only made me love their story all the more.
Fairer Than Morning is beautiful. Not quite perfect in execution, or at least what I consider perfection, but still quite beautiful. And even though I've included the summary, know that the story is much deeper than the summary implies. I loved how faith really was a natural part of the character's lives. Preaching wasn't a part of the story, the Lord just wove His way in and out of the tale. That's my favorite element of faith-filled storytelling. It should feel natural, and Rosslyn Elliott captured that authentic feeling for me.
Will and Ann were both likeable and yet flawed in ways that I can relate to. I loved Will. Watching him grow from a teenager to a young adult, overcoming the hardships of being apprenticed to a brute, and discovering the Lord was amazing. I also appreciated his struggles with lust and vengeance. Both of those are very human feelings, very tied to our fleshly desires. Will wasn't perfect, just like Ann wasn't perfect. She had her fair share of petty moments, of weakness, of blindness towards beauty and intellect. But she also came to a profound understanding of who she wanted to be as a woman and what type of man she would be suited to marry. And it turned out that neither of the romantic heroes she had been considering were actually suited to the steady life of service her heart desired. It's not that I disliked Eli or Allan. But neither of them were of a nature to give back, to love others, and to protect the weak. Will's nature developed into a man who cannot simply stand by and watch a wrong being done without standing against it. Ann loved that in him and so do I.
Like I said, there were a few elements that didn't quite work for me. A few sappy, soap-operaesque moments that cropped up from time to time. But the real meat of the story, the progression in faith and knowledge of God and the maturing of a young man to adulthood, all of those elements stood strong and firm. So, bravo, Rosslyn, for your authentic story. I'm not sure when I'll get to the 2nd book in the series, but it is now on my list to be read.
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July 7, 2024Of course when I saw that a historical romance was coming out by a gal with my same last name (spelled correctly even!), I couldn’t say no! Fairer Than Morning was one of the most interesting books I’ve read recently. One of the things that I really enjoyed about it is that it was far from cookie-cutter, which is really hard to do in a historical romance! The characters were deep, multi-facted, and the story line was very unpredictable and kept throwing twists and surprises at you. Her delving into the darkness of grief and abuse was also rare and unusal in a Christian romance, and there was even a bit of a scandal in it. Everything got so complicated I was at a point in the book where I was saying to myself, “I don’t know if I’ll like this book because I don’t know HOW everything could possibly be resolved in a way that I would like by the end!” Rosslyn pulled it off quite nicely, however! The only part of the book that I didn’t enjoy was during the “scandalous” part. Though I understand the logic behind it I honestly felt it was a bit much for a Christian novel, and think the storyline wouldn’t have been hurt in anyway had it been left out. That’s just my own little 2 cents worth. The story is definitely worth reading and I have already lent this to my mom, and now my sister-in-law, to read. As mentioned some of the content is just a tad on the adult side, and I wouldn’t be loaning it to my single, teenage sister for example
November 24, 2017
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
Based on a true story, the historical aspect was very interesting. She writes very well and keeps you turning pages. I did not like all of the story she tried to wrap around the historical parts though. The main characters spend more time with other love interests than each other so there is not very much romance. In the end they are still able to fall in love with each other despite never having had a decent conversation. An instance of attempted rape and another of fornication, though not too detailed, are never the less very disappointing to read. Especially when I read they weren’t part of the known history. I strongly disagree with taking such liberties with real historical people! Usually an author would skip or gloss over such real facts of real people, not add them in to make them seem more human. So in the end, I was a little disappointed. I felt that she has a lot of talent for writing, but she could have done a better job creating the story of Will and Anne.
Based on a true story, the historical aspect was very interesting. She writes very well and keeps you turning pages. I did not like all of the story she tried to wrap around the historical parts though. The main characters spend more time with other love interests than each other so there is not very much romance. In the end they are still able to fall in love with each other despite never having had a decent conversation. An instance of attempted rape and another of fornication, though not too detailed, are never the less very disappointing to read. Especially when I read they weren’t part of the known history. I strongly disagree with taking such liberties with real historical people! Usually an author would skip or gloss over such real facts of real people, not add them in to make them seem more human. So in the end, I was a little disappointed. I felt that she has a lot of talent for writing, but she could have done a better job creating the story of Will and Anne.
October 30, 2018
Very good book! I couldn’t decide what rating to give it but decided on 3 stars just because I’m not sure if I will reread the book. But I would definitely recommend it to my friends. It was well written and helped me envision what the United States looked like in the early 1800’s. Slavery and indentured servitude are common practice but there are a few men and women dedicated to helping the mistreated.
Samuel Miller is one of those men. He is benevolent almost to a fault which is why he helps slaves escape and takes on Will Hanby as an indentured servant when Will’s master beats home within inches of his life. It is during this time Ann Miller, Samuel’s daughter, falls in love with Will. But Master Good cannot simply let Will run away and puts out a wanted poster for the return of the servant. It’s incredible how people are willing to treat one another in the name of greed. It was heartbreaking what people had to endure living in the poorhouse and trying to make something of themselves when life had handed them hard things. Definitely gave me a new perspective!
Samuel Miller is one of those men. He is benevolent almost to a fault which is why he helps slaves escape and takes on Will Hanby as an indentured servant when Will’s master beats home within inches of his life. It is during this time Ann Miller, Samuel’s daughter, falls in love with Will. But Master Good cannot simply let Will run away and puts out a wanted poster for the return of the servant. It’s incredible how people are willing to treat one another in the name of greed. It was heartbreaking what people had to endure living in the poorhouse and trying to make something of themselves when life had handed them hard things. Definitely gave me a new perspective!
June 10, 2023
When I first started reading this book I honestly did not expect, it to be so deep and realistic. Don’t get me wrong it’s a wonderful book I loved it very much! But wow! The harshness that Will and his fellow servants had to endure under the cruel Master Good, was so real feeling, you could feel every cruel word, every beating, all of it cutting into their souls. The way this author writes it you can feel, the character’s depression, and desperation, their hurt. And Anne, what a sweet girl she is, but the horrible things she had to endure, witnessing her Mother’s death while her father was away when she was a young girl..so sad.
But when the two of them finally meet…it’s like their souls are instantly connected, and somehow tied together, and Anne brings life into Will’s darkest parts of his heart and soul, and Will does the same for Anne.
Their romance is not like everyone else’s, it’s not even super grand and big, like some, but it’s slow, gentle, sweet, a bond of understanding, and friendship that binds them together so wonderfully that they can’t live without each other!
And then when I found out that this was based on a true story and that all these things really did happen! I couldn’t believe it, and I love the story even more with that knowledge!
This is such a beautiful story, I don’t know how anyone couldn’t love it!
But when the two of them finally meet…it’s like their souls are instantly connected, and somehow tied together, and Anne brings life into Will’s darkest parts of his heart and soul, and Will does the same for Anne.
Their romance is not like everyone else’s, it’s not even super grand and big, like some, but it’s slow, gentle, sweet, a bond of understanding, and friendship that binds them together so wonderfully that they can’t live without each other!
And then when I found out that this was based on a true story and that all these things really did happen! I couldn’t believe it, and I love the story even more with that knowledge!
This is such a beautiful story, I don’t know how anyone couldn’t love it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2017
This was such a good book. Ann is very unsure of the man she wants to marry, so when a young man named Will Hanby meets her, she is very cautious. He starts trying to make her fall in love with him, but Ann doesn't take the leap.
Ann's mother is dead, and Ann misses her throughout the book. She thinks of her mother all the time. Her father keeps trying to get Ann to meet one of the fine gentlemen he finds, but Ann doesn't like any of the men. Then, she meets Will, and everything changes.
As the book goes on, Ann starts to see Will in a different light. Will helps a man named Tom out of some trouble. This was a great book!!!
Ann's mother is dead, and Ann misses her throughout the book. She thinks of her mother all the time. Her father keeps trying to get Ann to meet one of the fine gentlemen he finds, but Ann doesn't like any of the men. Then, she meets Will, and everything changes.
As the book goes on, Ann starts to see Will in a different light. Will helps a man named Tom out of some trouble. This was a great book!!!
March 15, 2020
This book was recommended to me. I didn't realize until after I finished it that it was based on real people and true events. That changed my evaluation. I have a hard time reading books that show lots of human cruelty and this certainly does because of the issues of indentured servitude and slavery in the story line. On the flip side Mr. Miller shows incredible kindness in the face of very bad circumstances as both as a friend and abolitionist. Ann Miller is caught in the middle of potential suitors as well as abolitionism. This is not a fun read but perhaps a good one.
May 28, 2011
The lives of farmer’s daughter Ann Miller and indentured apprentice Will Hanby collide in the first novel in the Saddler’s Legacy series, igniting early nineteenth century Pittsburgh with adventure and romance. When Ann travels to Pennsylvania with her father and younger sisters, she doesn’t expect to experience anything more exciting than travelling on a boat and shopping in a busy city. But as she and her sisters embark on their trip to visit their father’s business associate in Pittsburgh, Ann begins to realise that they’re being followed. But why would anyone wish to stalk her father, a mere saddle-maker and travelling preacher? It is only when she sees her father arguing with their mysterious stalker that Ann begins to wonder whether her father is doing more than preaching on his trips away from the family farm. But when Ann arrives in Pittsburgh, a chance encounter with saddler’s apprentice Will takes her mind off her father’s troubles, as she sees someone riddled with abuse and physical and emotional turmoil at the hands of a merciless master. Ann vows to help Will and enable him to escape from his life of neglect and maltreatment. Will himself has long given up on plans to leave his master, and has settled for living out his indenture, but gradually finds himself retreating into his pain-riddled mind, no longer able to see any beauty in the world. Will Ann be able to rescue him, or is he beyond redemption?
Expecting another standard historical romance, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Rosslyn Elliot combined various elements into her novel that aren’t commonly found in Christian historical fiction. While romance did have a part to play in the story, I felt that it was secondary to the development of the characters and other aspects of the plot. This is definitely a book for those who like their historical romances to delve deeper into the contemporary issues of the period and witness characters engaging with them.
Ann struggles with the same problems that many young women in her position in the period would have encountered, particularly that of a suitor who appears to have lost interest. And just when he begins to pay more attention to her, Ann finds herself given the opportunity to escape to Pittsburgh with her family, where she will decide whether to pursue the path of marriage or wait until her motherless sisters are older before she leaves the family farm. I found Ann to be a very relatable character, although she is younger than I typically prefer my heroines to be.
Will was a slightly more distant character, and while I praise Rosslyn for allowing her readers to witness the true brutalities that mistreated apprentices suffered, I didn’t feel quite as connected to him as I did to Ann. Will suffers greatly under his master, not only physically but also mentally, and he retreats into dark places in his mind in order to escape his abuse. More sensitive readers may feel uncomfortable in a few places in this book, but I did feel that the details were necessary in order to express the truth of the characters’ situations.
I would have to say that the aspect of this novel that I felt wasn’t quite as developed was the romance between Ann and Will. Perhaps this is an error in the marketing, as I got the distinct impression that this book was a romance, yet the characters didn’t meet each other until over a third of the way into the novel, and even then they barely speak to each other. Ann is courted by two other men; a suitor from her home town and a man that she encounters while in Pittsburgh. While Rosslyn clearly made the first beau unappealing, so that the reader would root for Will instead, I actually quite liked the second one, especially when he fought to protect Ann’s honour. While Ann evidently dislikes the idea of a man fighting on her behalf, I really felt that any attacks on the second suitor were a bit weak, up until the end of the novel when he makes a derogatory remark about belief in God. For a decent part of the novel, when Will was going through his dark period and engaged in an act which would make any Christian romance reader dislike the apparent hero, I actually found myself wondering why the author had made a secondary character so appealing at a point in the novel when Will was making himself less attractive. I may be in the minority with this opinion, but the romance just didn’t develop in the way I’d prefer. Will did eventually redeem himself and the romance between him and Ann gently develops, but not until close to the end of the novel.
Despite my qualms about the romantic aspect of this novel, it is still a wonderful story about redemption and freedom, exploring so many issues that I’ve not yet encountered in Christian historical fiction. Rosslyn Elliot’s debut already sets her apart in the genre, and I encourage historical fans to look out for her work. I fear that her novel may merely have been marketed wrongly, in which case, those expecting the hero and heroine to encounter each other on the first page and swoon because of their passion-filled chemistry may be disappointed. This is not merely a romance peppered with history, but a character-driven novel that will enlighten even the most dubious of readers.
8/10
Expecting another standard historical romance, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Rosslyn Elliot combined various elements into her novel that aren’t commonly found in Christian historical fiction. While romance did have a part to play in the story, I felt that it was secondary to the development of the characters and other aspects of the plot. This is definitely a book for those who like their historical romances to delve deeper into the contemporary issues of the period and witness characters engaging with them.
Ann struggles with the same problems that many young women in her position in the period would have encountered, particularly that of a suitor who appears to have lost interest. And just when he begins to pay more attention to her, Ann finds herself given the opportunity to escape to Pittsburgh with her family, where she will decide whether to pursue the path of marriage or wait until her motherless sisters are older before she leaves the family farm. I found Ann to be a very relatable character, although she is younger than I typically prefer my heroines to be.
Will was a slightly more distant character, and while I praise Rosslyn for allowing her readers to witness the true brutalities that mistreated apprentices suffered, I didn’t feel quite as connected to him as I did to Ann. Will suffers greatly under his master, not only physically but also mentally, and he retreats into dark places in his mind in order to escape his abuse. More sensitive readers may feel uncomfortable in a few places in this book, but I did feel that the details were necessary in order to express the truth of the characters’ situations.
I would have to say that the aspect of this novel that I felt wasn’t quite as developed was the romance between Ann and Will. Perhaps this is an error in the marketing, as I got the distinct impression that this book was a romance, yet the characters didn’t meet each other until over a third of the way into the novel, and even then they barely speak to each other. Ann is courted by two other men; a suitor from her home town and a man that she encounters while in Pittsburgh. While Rosslyn clearly made the first beau unappealing, so that the reader would root for Will instead, I actually quite liked the second one, especially when he fought to protect Ann’s honour. While Ann evidently dislikes the idea of a man fighting on her behalf, I really felt that any attacks on the second suitor were a bit weak, up until the end of the novel when he makes a derogatory remark about belief in God. For a decent part of the novel, when Will was going through his dark period and engaged in an act which would make any Christian romance reader dislike the apparent hero, I actually found myself wondering why the author had made a secondary character so appealing at a point in the novel when Will was making himself less attractive. I may be in the minority with this opinion, but the romance just didn’t develop in the way I’d prefer. Will did eventually redeem himself and the romance between him and Ann gently develops, but not until close to the end of the novel.
Despite my qualms about the romantic aspect of this novel, it is still a wonderful story about redemption and freedom, exploring so many issues that I’ve not yet encountered in Christian historical fiction. Rosslyn Elliot’s debut already sets her apart in the genre, and I encourage historical fans to look out for her work. I fear that her novel may merely have been marketed wrongly, in which case, those expecting the hero and heroine to encounter each other on the first page and swoon because of their passion-filled chemistry may be disappointed. This is not merely a romance peppered with history, but a character-driven novel that will enlighten even the most dubious of readers.
8/10
November 22, 2017
Interesting story with well-formed characters. I really enjoyed this book, though it does have a couple scandalous scenes which should have been edited out. Apart from that, it was well-written and kept me interested.
November 23, 2017
So, actually a little more than 3 stars. I enjoyed the story, but there are a few scandalous moments that took at least a star off for me. That and I felt there were other irrelevant twists in the story that didn't add, but took away from the main plot.
May 30, 2022
I really enjoyed the storyline, but just struggled with how long it was. I kept trying to push through to the end instead of enjoying it. I probably won’t read book 2, but did enjoy learning a bit about historical Pittsburg, the plight of an indenture and the craft of saddlery.
May 30, 2016
Klappentext
Ohio 1826. Ann Miller träumt von einem Leben an der Seite von Eli, der Arzt werden will und Literatur und Poesie genauso liebt wie sie. Doch als er ihr einen Heiratsantrag macht, verspürt sie nichts als Panik. Sie weiß, dass ihr Vater gegen eine Eheschließung ist, zumal sie sich seit dem Tod ihrer Mutter um die zwei kleinen Schwestern kümmert.
Eine Reise nach Pittsburgh soll Ann auf andere Gedanken bringen. Und tatsächlich stellt diese Reise ihr Leben auf den Kopf. Sie kommt hinter lange gehütete Geheimnisse ihres Vaters, lernt einen jungen Mann kennen, der tagtäglich ums Überleben kämpfen muss, und gerät in Lebensgefahr. Mit einem Mal stellt Ann alles infrage, was ihr bisher wichtig war. Worauf kommt es im Leben wirklich an?
Die Autorin
Rosslyn Elliott studierte Literatur- und Theaterwissenschaften an der Yale University. Zusammen mit ihrem Mann und ihrer Tochter lebt sie im Süden der USA.
Meine Meinung
Story
Bevor ich anfange muss ich noch schnell loswerden, dass das Buch, überall wo ich geschaut habe, fünf Sterne bekommen hat. Auf diesen Zug kann ich aber nicht so ganz ohne Kritik aufspringen. Mich hat das Buch zwar gut unterhalten, aber dennoch gab es bei mir mehrere Kritikpunkte, die ich euch jetzt näher erläutern werde.
Wir lernen im Enddefekt zwei Protagonisten kennen, die jeweils der Hauptcharaktere eines Handlungsstrangs sind, die nach und nach zusammenlaufen, was aber wie ich finde nicht immer ganz nachvollziehbar für mich war.
Anne ist 15. Jahre jung als sie von ihrem Freund Eli einen Heiratsantrag bekommt, den sie aber zu Zeit nicht annehmen kann, oder will, weil sie sich um ihre kleinen Schwestern kümmern muss, da die Mutter verstorben ist. Annes Vater ist Sattler und nebenbei noch Wanderprediger. Durch Zufall entdeckt Ann in einer Lieferung ihres Vater Briefe einer sterbenden Mutter an ihren Sohn Will.
Eben dieser Will ist der zweite Hauptcharakter. Dieser wird von seinem Meister körperlich und seelische gequält und gefoltert. Durch eine Anhäufung gewisser Umstände, ( was ich persönlich ein wenig weit hergeholt fand,) Treffen Anne und Will aufeinander. Und eine Odysse beginnt.
Ich persönlich fand einiges etwas merkwürdig und nicht ganz logisch nachvollziehbar. Die ersten 3/4 des Buches wurde keine Liebesgeschichte aufgebaut. Es gab zwar drei Kandidaten für Anne, aber das Knistern und der Funke sprang nie über. Immer wieder dachte man der ist es jetzt und dann war es doch wieder nichts. Zum Schluss geht es wieder knall auf Fall und die Liebesgeschichte nahm erst in den letzten 30- 40 Seiten seichte Formen an. Als man sich gerade daran gewöhnt hat, ist das Buch zu Ende. Mehr möchte ich euch von der Handlung auch nicht vorweg nehmen.
Rosslyn Elliott baut vieles in diese Geschichte mit ein. Sie spricht die Thematik der Versklavung, deren Misshandlungen und vor allem der Glaube an Gott und seine Güte an, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Im Nachhinein habe ich dann sogar im Nachwort entdeckt, dass viele Charaktere und deren Handlungen auf wahren Begebenheiten beruhen.
Zum Ende hin wird das Buch wirklich spannend und als es beendet war hätte ich gerne noch weiter gelesen, wonach es ja nach der ersten Hälfte überhaupt nicht aussah.
Schreibstil
Rosslyn Elliott hat einen schönen, leicht zu lesenden Schreibstil. Sie schreibt sehr einfach ohne großes drumherum Gerede, dennoch sehr bildhaft, so das man sich die Schauplätze sehr gut vorstellen konnte. Das Buch wird zum größten Teil aus Anns und Wills Sicht geschrieben. Die beiden Handlungsstränge führen später zusammen. Leider kam dieses mir ein wenig zu spät. Aber wenn man weiß, dass es sich um einen Mehrteiler handelt, bekommt man eine andere Sichtweise darauf.
Charaktere
Anns Wankelmütigkeit in Punkto Männer hat mich ein wenig geärgert. Ich fand es schade, dass man als Leser nie so recht wusste für wen ihr Herz wirklich schlägt. Wie oben schon erwähnt kam dieses zu spät und dann auf einmal zu schnell. Dennoch mochte ich ihre Kraft und Stärke und ihren unerschütterten Glauben an Gott.
Will war ein lieber Kerl. Aber ich konnte mir ihn nie so wirklich an Anns Seite vorstellen.
Auch Anns Vater ist mir sehr sympathisch gewesen. Vor allem seine Taten, den Sklaven und den Armen zu helfen wo es nur geht, machten ihn zu meinem Favoriten.
Alle anderen Charaktere hatte ich nie wirklich auf meinem Schirm. Sie blieben mir zu blass und ich habe sie auch schnell wieder vergessen.
Mein Fazit
Bei diesem Roman hatte ich zu Beginn einige Probleme. Rosslyn Elliott hat die ersten 3/4 des Buches eher so vor sich hindümpeln lassen, und dann im letzten 1/4 alles raus gehauen, was es an Spannung so gab. Mir kamen mache Handlungen etwas überzogen vor, andere konnte ich nicht logisch nachvollziehen. Dennoch hat das Buch eine gute Handlung, besonders wenn man im Anhang liest, dass vieles auf Tatsachen beruht und einige Protagonisten wirklich so existiert haben. Die Lovestory kam für mich zu spät in die Gänge, aber ich hoffe es geht im zweiten Band dort weiter. Ich freue mich auf die beiden Folgebände.
Ich vergebe knappe vier von fünf Sternen und eine Leseempfehlung für alle die solche Romane gerne lesen.
Ohio 1826. Ann Miller träumt von einem Leben an der Seite von Eli, der Arzt werden will und Literatur und Poesie genauso liebt wie sie. Doch als er ihr einen Heiratsantrag macht, verspürt sie nichts als Panik. Sie weiß, dass ihr Vater gegen eine Eheschließung ist, zumal sie sich seit dem Tod ihrer Mutter um die zwei kleinen Schwestern kümmert.
Eine Reise nach Pittsburgh soll Ann auf andere Gedanken bringen. Und tatsächlich stellt diese Reise ihr Leben auf den Kopf. Sie kommt hinter lange gehütete Geheimnisse ihres Vaters, lernt einen jungen Mann kennen, der tagtäglich ums Überleben kämpfen muss, und gerät in Lebensgefahr. Mit einem Mal stellt Ann alles infrage, was ihr bisher wichtig war. Worauf kommt es im Leben wirklich an?
Die Autorin
Rosslyn Elliott studierte Literatur- und Theaterwissenschaften an der Yale University. Zusammen mit ihrem Mann und ihrer Tochter lebt sie im Süden der USA.
Meine Meinung
Story
Bevor ich anfange muss ich noch schnell loswerden, dass das Buch, überall wo ich geschaut habe, fünf Sterne bekommen hat. Auf diesen Zug kann ich aber nicht so ganz ohne Kritik aufspringen. Mich hat das Buch zwar gut unterhalten, aber dennoch gab es bei mir mehrere Kritikpunkte, die ich euch jetzt näher erläutern werde.
Wir lernen im Enddefekt zwei Protagonisten kennen, die jeweils der Hauptcharaktere eines Handlungsstrangs sind, die nach und nach zusammenlaufen, was aber wie ich finde nicht immer ganz nachvollziehbar für mich war.
Anne ist 15. Jahre jung als sie von ihrem Freund Eli einen Heiratsantrag bekommt, den sie aber zu Zeit nicht annehmen kann, oder will, weil sie sich um ihre kleinen Schwestern kümmern muss, da die Mutter verstorben ist. Annes Vater ist Sattler und nebenbei noch Wanderprediger. Durch Zufall entdeckt Ann in einer Lieferung ihres Vater Briefe einer sterbenden Mutter an ihren Sohn Will.
Eben dieser Will ist der zweite Hauptcharakter. Dieser wird von seinem Meister körperlich und seelische gequält und gefoltert. Durch eine Anhäufung gewisser Umstände, ( was ich persönlich ein wenig weit hergeholt fand,) Treffen Anne und Will aufeinander. Und eine Odysse beginnt.
Ich persönlich fand einiges etwas merkwürdig und nicht ganz logisch nachvollziehbar. Die ersten 3/4 des Buches wurde keine Liebesgeschichte aufgebaut. Es gab zwar drei Kandidaten für Anne, aber das Knistern und der Funke sprang nie über. Immer wieder dachte man der ist es jetzt und dann war es doch wieder nichts. Zum Schluss geht es wieder knall auf Fall und die Liebesgeschichte nahm erst in den letzten 30- 40 Seiten seichte Formen an. Als man sich gerade daran gewöhnt hat, ist das Buch zu Ende. Mehr möchte ich euch von der Handlung auch nicht vorweg nehmen.
Rosslyn Elliott baut vieles in diese Geschichte mit ein. Sie spricht die Thematik der Versklavung, deren Misshandlungen und vor allem der Glaube an Gott und seine Güte an, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Im Nachhinein habe ich dann sogar im Nachwort entdeckt, dass viele Charaktere und deren Handlungen auf wahren Begebenheiten beruhen.
Zum Ende hin wird das Buch wirklich spannend und als es beendet war hätte ich gerne noch weiter gelesen, wonach es ja nach der ersten Hälfte überhaupt nicht aussah.
Schreibstil
Rosslyn Elliott hat einen schönen, leicht zu lesenden Schreibstil. Sie schreibt sehr einfach ohne großes drumherum Gerede, dennoch sehr bildhaft, so das man sich die Schauplätze sehr gut vorstellen konnte. Das Buch wird zum größten Teil aus Anns und Wills Sicht geschrieben. Die beiden Handlungsstränge führen später zusammen. Leider kam dieses mir ein wenig zu spät. Aber wenn man weiß, dass es sich um einen Mehrteiler handelt, bekommt man eine andere Sichtweise darauf.
Charaktere
Anns Wankelmütigkeit in Punkto Männer hat mich ein wenig geärgert. Ich fand es schade, dass man als Leser nie so recht wusste für wen ihr Herz wirklich schlägt. Wie oben schon erwähnt kam dieses zu spät und dann auf einmal zu schnell. Dennoch mochte ich ihre Kraft und Stärke und ihren unerschütterten Glauben an Gott.
Will war ein lieber Kerl. Aber ich konnte mir ihn nie so wirklich an Anns Seite vorstellen.
Auch Anns Vater ist mir sehr sympathisch gewesen. Vor allem seine Taten, den Sklaven und den Armen zu helfen wo es nur geht, machten ihn zu meinem Favoriten.
Alle anderen Charaktere hatte ich nie wirklich auf meinem Schirm. Sie blieben mir zu blass und ich habe sie auch schnell wieder vergessen.
Mein Fazit
Bei diesem Roman hatte ich zu Beginn einige Probleme. Rosslyn Elliott hat die ersten 3/4 des Buches eher so vor sich hindümpeln lassen, und dann im letzten 1/4 alles raus gehauen, was es an Spannung so gab. Mir kamen mache Handlungen etwas überzogen vor, andere konnte ich nicht logisch nachvollziehen. Dennoch hat das Buch eine gute Handlung, besonders wenn man im Anhang liest, dass vieles auf Tatsachen beruht und einige Protagonisten wirklich so existiert haben. Die Lovestory kam für mich zu spät in die Gänge, aber ich hoffe es geht im zweiten Band dort weiter. Ich freue mich auf die beiden Folgebände.
Ich vergebe knappe vier von fünf Sternen und eine Leseempfehlung für alle die solche Romane gerne lesen.
February 8, 2018
The historical elements were descriptive, however I don't prefer to read about immorality or immoral thoughts. Unfortunately this wasn't worth my time.
September 12, 2018
Excellent, kept me interested the whole time
May 17, 2019
Great book.
June 4, 2019
3.5 / 4 stars.
December 16, 2020
Not bad - good young man indentured servant mistreated escapes and falls in love with someone who had expect to marry rich doctor
January 15, 2021
Another great book♥️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews