Fairer Than Morning (Saddler's Legacy #1) - Rosslyn Elliott

I have had this one on my Kindle for a while and decided to give it a chance.  This is my first time reading this author.  This book appealed to me because of the uniqueness of the saddler profession and also because I grew up in Ohio.  I don't think I've ever been to Rushville specifically, but it is close to my old stomping grounds!

Ann has the task of taking care of her two sisters while her father is away a lot of the time. He is a circuit preacher and makes saddles to make ends meet.  Ann doesn't like when he's away since her mother died during one of his trips.  When he is asked to go to Pittsburgh to make a saddle, Ann convinces him to allow her and her young siblings along for the trip.  Ann needs to get away for a while and she has found some letters that she would like to find the owner of.

Once they arrive, her father is going to work at a fellow saddler's workshop next door to where they are staying.  The problem is that the saddler is a cruel and harsh man who beats and abuses his apprentices.  Ann sees firsthand the effects of the man's cruelty, but according to law, there is nothing anyone can do.

Will has learned how to survive under the hand of his master but longs for escape.  He sees Ann while she's visiting and thinks highly of her.  She tries to return his letters, but he asks her to keep them until he can be free of his master.  If his master were to find the letters, they would be destroyed.  Will feels that he won't be good enough for Ann and tries to forget her.

With the help of some good Christian people, Will begins to see that no man can take your soul unless you let them.  Ann begins to realize that her childhood dreams may not be what she really needs.  It's possible that they need each other, but can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way?

I couldn't put this book down!  The originality really intrigued me and I enjoyed reading it. The next book in this series, Sweeter Than Birdsong, is the story of Will's son, Ben. These were real people that the author based her series off of and I think that's great.  I have done a lot of research into my own family history and I like to find out everything I can about their stories.  I think that's one reason why this series appeals to me so much.  I don't have the second book in the series, but I do have the third, Lovelier Than Daylight, which appears to be the story of Will's niece.  I have been tracking the second book for some time and I plan on waiting a little longer before skipping it and reading book 3.  It doesn't appear that I would miss much, but I'd like to read them in order if possible.  Good Book!