Lovelier Than Daylight - A Review

On a visit to her sister, Susanna Hanby discovers that her sister has disappeared and her children with her. Susanna goes on to her uncle and aunt's home in Westerville, and enlists their help in finding the children. The Hanbys discover that the children have been placed in orphanages. When a saloon opens in Westerville, Susanna feels very strongly about the dangers of drinking and crosses paths with Johann Giere, a German brewer from Columbus. Despite the attraction she feels for him, her judgement is clouded because of his family's profession. As tensions rise in Westerville and the Hanby's determination to claim the children, both Johann and Susanna must work together and learn to put their differences aside.

This is the third and final book in the Saddler's Legacy Series. I'll admit it was hard to say goodbye to Will & Ann Hanby after following them through the other two books. While this one was not my favorite of the series, I still found it to be very good. Susanna's determination to reclaim the children that she loves was touching. Yet what made her seem more human was the fact that when she realized that her strong opinions could possibly have contributed to the destruction of a family's livelihood, she learned the value of holding her tongue and seeking the advise of her wise uncle and aunt. Johann recognized a choice he'd have to make. He prayed hard about both opportunities that presented itself, both which seemed to be of God, before he made a decision. He's a strong man with a strong faith. Hard topics such as temperance, abuse, and even to some extent prejudice are brought up in the book and dealt with beautifully.

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Colleen Coble, Cathy Gohlke, Jody Hedlund, Julie Klassen

Rating - 4 stars

Coming up in November

Happy November! I love all of the fall decorations and all of the baking and things associated with fall and Thanksgiving. Of course my favorite season is Spring, but Fall's a close second.

I've got a lot planned for this month. I'm planning on getting really busy on my Christmas gifts. I've already gotten part of my Mom's present. And most of my best friend's. Of course there are still several more I need to get or to make. Including figuring out what soup mixtures to make to give my friends.

I'll be hosting my first ever author interview around the middle of the month. I'm excited about it. Rhonda Gibson will be joining me and we're going to have a nice chat. I hope everyone will stop by and chat with Rhonda.

My monthly giveaway is planned with four of the Love Inspired Historicals.

Now for what I'm planning on reading (sorry no pictures tonight. Didn't want to take the time to find them). It's a slow month for me with one of the publishers so I can catch up on some of my other reviews.

All of these are for reviewing.

Two Christmas novellas -

Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

Christmas Roses by Amanda Cabot

Other fiction books on my list -

Lovelier Than Daylight by Rosslyn Elliot

Deposit Slip by Todd Johnson (finally getting to this)

Whispers in the Wind by Lauraine Snelling

And to read for fun.

Light in the Window - Julie Lessman

Widow of Saunders Creek by Tracey Bateman

Band of Sisters by Cathy Gohlke

For some reason, there are more books on my Kindle to read this month than paper copies.


Let me tell you about some of the Christmas gifts I'm working on. My best friend just had her second baby, so I'm working on Abi's baby blanket. I've got one that I hope to finish for my cousin's daughter she adopted last year. There's a scrapbook I'm working on. So between scrapbooking, crocheting, and the very special project for my mom, I'm going to be spending evenings being very crafty!

Sweeter than Birdsong - A Review

Kate Winter has her heart set on graduating from Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio. The problem - she is terrified of speaking in front of others. She knows she can be free of her family and her mother's determination to marry her off to a wealthy man. Despite her fear, she agrees to sing in the musicale production that fellow student Ben Hanby, a musical genius, is directing. Ben's also got a secret - he works for the Underground Railroad. When an accident force Ben and Kate to work together, both of their secrets are threatened. Somehow, Kate must find the courage to sing a song of freedom.

This is the second book in the Saddler's Legacy Series by Rosslyn Elliot. Set in the years prior to the Civil War, I was drawn into the story and the historic Underground Railroad. Freedom is a theme I found in the book. What is the price of freedom? For the slaves, it's quite possibly their own lives? For Kate and Ben, it's the willingness to go and do whatever it is that God calls them to do. Being based upon a real life family, the Hanbys, I enjoyed being able to get into their world and to read some about them. I love the time period of the Civil War. The drama of the Underground Railroad and feeling the emotions that the slaves, Ben, Kate, his mother, and others had while attempting to shelter the passengers gave me a new impression of the time period. I've never had to live in fear like the slaves. This is an excellent book, and I'm delighted to have read it.

Rating - 5 stars

I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson's booksneeze program for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.