Sweeter Than Birdsong ~ Book Review

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~ Book Review

Sweeter Than Birdsong
by Rosslyn Elliott
ISBN: 978-1595547866
$10.98 (Paperback)
$ 9.99 (Kindle)


About the Book:
Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter.

In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

My Thoughts:

I reviewed Rosslyn Elliott's first book Fairer than Morning (click here) in September and loved that book. I don't read a lot of historical fiction anymore so it was very nice to see strong characters and to see how a parent can teach their young child about faith and how leaning on God will help us get through hard times.


Sweeter Than Birdsong is the 2nd book in The Saddler's Legacy series. The story continues with the historical events of the Slave Trade and those who attempt (and some succeed) to escape and those who help them. Kate is a very shy young woman when the story opens. She is in the final years of her university education and one of the requirements to graduate is getting in front of a group of her peers and giving a speech - for someone as shy as Kate is that is a daunting task that she can't complete. It doesn't help that her mother is overbearing, puts her down and Kate as an adult is still afraid of her.


One of the interesting connections in the book is Kate's friendship with the Hanby family. Ben Hanby was a teacher at the college that Kate attended and his focus was to include Kate in a musical that he was producing - helping her to complete the requirement of being in front of her peers. He also helped runaway slaves (fugitives) escape and it was through this friendship Kate learns that others have worse problems then she does and life is much more difficult than dealing with an ambitious mother and debilitating shyness.


Rosslyn Elliott is a wonderful author to add to your family library. You can purchase  Sweeter Than Birdsong  &  Fairer than Morning  on Amazon - keep in mind if you purchase $25 in most books that you can usually get FREE shipping - and many of their books and other products are discounted so you can afford to create that perfect family library. =D

About the Author:

Rosslyn Elliott is the award-winning author of Fairer than Morning, the first in the Saddler's Legacy series. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue writing fiction. Elliott lives in Albuquerque, where she homeschools her daughter and works in children's ministry.

For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com

Read an excerpt from Sweeter Than Birdsong and follow along on the blog tour!

Parties & Giveaways:

In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."

So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)
• Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott
• Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th. Winner will be announced at Sweeter than Birdsong Author Chat Facebook Party on 2/28. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, season 1 of DowntownAbbey, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.)

So grab your copy of Sweeter than Birdsong and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclaimer: This book was provided to me as a review copy. I was not required to provide a positive review and no money exchanged hands. At the time of this post these prices were accurate and may have already changed, please keep that in mind.