Litfuse Blog Tour -- Sweeter Than Birdsong

To celebrate, Rosslyn and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up for a fun iPod Nano giveaway (2/9-2/28) and "sweet" facebook party on February 28th. (You could walk away with a Downton Abbey Prize Package!) See below for all the details!

The first book in the series, Fairer than Morning, gained Rosslyn muchacclaim and this release is shaping up to be even better!

Author Elliott (Fairer than Morning) creates a pleasing blend of fact and fiction in this second installment in the Saddler’s Legacy series. Hanby is best known for his song “Up on the Housetop,” and slave rescuer John Parker is a real figure large enough to seem legend. Readers will appreciate the well-told tale as well as its historical basis. Publishers Weekly

Elliott’s second Saddler’s Legacy book contains remarkable storytelling about the abolitionist movement. The author graces the pages with imaginative accounts of people living during these precarious times. She delves deeply and intimately into the lives of the brave people who risk all for the Underground Railroad. Romantic Times Book Reviews

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.

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. Visit www.rosslynelliott.com for more information.

Party!

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 atSweeter 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, Seasons 1 and 2 of Downtown Abbey and a soundtrack DVD, 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!

---

The Review:
My Ranking: 9 out of 10
Ages 15 & up

Some of you may have read my glowing review of Rosslyn's book, Fairer Than Morning, which I wrote a few months back upon it's release. In case you haven't, I must say that I absolutely loved it. You can read it over here.
Once again, Rosslyn's deep and intriguing characters immediately captured my attention. Kate's excessive shyness really made it excellent for Ben's pursuance -- she was hard to get, and he really had to try to get to know her at all. The fact that book was largely surrounded by music made me personally really like it because I, in case y'all didn't know, love music and am very involved in it, playing both piano and guitar and planning on taking up violin soon and loving to sing(though I won't claim to be any good at it!). Some of the ways Rosslyn described the music was amazing. Her incredible talent at evoking sensation from her readers really shone through this novel for me.

There were a few things that I have to point out briefly, the first being that I absolutely loved how Rosslyn kept the characters desiring to obey their parents. Even though they failed in some ways, they recognized this and corrected the situation. I absolutely loved this. Bravo Rosslyn! Too many authors let disobedience and disrespect pass by and become "okay" on the basis of two people being passionately in love.
Another was, once again, how much history was packed into this book. I love how Rosslyn simply writes a story around real people in history and the things they did.

Sensuality:


A man kisses the wrist of his fiance.
A girl feels the breath of her fiance on her neck and it says it causes her to anticipate her wedding day.

Overall, I really loved Rosslyn's second book in the Saddlers Series and am already eagerly anticipating the next one. All historical fiction lovers should definitely get their hands on this one. An amazing novel packed with history, music, a hint of adventure and peril, and a sweet love story; You won't want to miss this one!