Lovelier Than Daylight

Susanna Hanby is ready to go off to college soon but plans to spend some time with her sister and her children on her way to Westerville, Ohio and Otterbein College.  Upon arriving at her sister's home, she finds the house in total disarray and her sister and children gone.  Her husband claims she has left (with another man) and put the children in an orphanage but only his drunkenness could drive her to do such a thing.  George had been a good man until whiskey claimed him.

Back in Westerville, Mr. Corbin is attempting to open a saloon in perhaps the town in Ohio where the temperance movement has been the strongest.  Having seen the destruction of her own sister's home due to alcohol, Susanna will stop at almost nothing to keep the liquor away from Westerville.  However, she is befriended by Johann whose family supplies the new saloon.  Johann even offers to help Susanna find her sister and rescue her "orphaned" children but can she put aside her feelings for Johann's family business to accept his help and his friendship?  Can she also ignore the attraction that begins to develop between the two?

This is the third book in the Saddler Legacy Series by Rosslyn Elliot.  All the books center around the Hanby family of Westerville who truly lived there.  Lovelier Than Daylight centers around the Westerville Whiskey War of 1875 which is also an actual historic event. This is the second of the series I have read but don't let the fact that it is part of a series prevent you from reading it.  Each of the books is set in a different time period and stand alone even if there is that family connection.  Ms. Elliot's treatment of the time period and attitudes about temperance are, in my opinion, well researched and accurate.  I can find some of my self in the main character of Susanna which is unfortunate because she does come across as a bit self-righteous and judgmental.  But, again, from my understanding, this is exactly the way the women of the late 1800s would have reacted and felt.  I found this story to be an excellent mix between romance, historical accuracy, and suspense. 

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was in no way obligated to write a positive review.