An Exciting Story Based on Real Life Events

Sweeter Than Birdsongby Rosslyn Elliott

Sweeter Than Birdsong is the second book of The Saddler’s Legacy, but don’t worry if you haven’t read the first one, Fairer Than Morning, this story stands on its own.  This is a fictionalized account of actual events that took place in the lives of a real couple from Westerville, Ohio, Ben Hanby and Kate Winter.

Ben, the son of a former slave, is making his way through college and deciding where his future lies.  At the same time, Ben also helps his family with their work with the Underground Railroad.  When Ben recognizes Kate Winter for her talent and the good heart she has, he is smitten.  But he is not rich enough to please Mrs. Winter, nor does he want to involve Kate in the dangers involved with the Railroad.  Ben learns to trust God with the matters of his heart.

Kate Winter is a brilliant student at Otterbein College, except for the fact that her extreme shyness threatens to keep her from graduating.  Determined to escape her overbearing Mother and alcoholic Father, Kate plans to run away and start a new life.  She makes haste when the opportunity to leave presents itself, but things do not go as planned.  Instead of making her way to freedom, she gets caught up in the escape of a slave family, which will forever change Kate’s life.

This is a great story and the fact that it is based on real people and the events is their lives make it so much more intriguing.  Notes at the end of the story fill you in on what happened in real life and what was added to the story for this family.

For more information about this story, click here or the title above.

I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.