Description
by Bonnie Leon
After the death of her mother, Emmalin Hammond discovers she is not the heiress she’d always assumed she’d be. The revelation exposes her fiancé’s true intentions when he withdraws his marriage proposal, leaving Emmalin heartbroken and humiliated. When she discovers the father she believed to be dead is still alive and living in the Oregon Territory she decides it is time to meet the man who has been hidden from her all of her life.
Paula Shreckhise –
From the stunning cover of One Hundred Valleys, to the picturesque settings, you will be captured by the story of wealthy Emmalin Hammond as she makes her arduous journey to remote Deer Creek, Oregon in 1855. Emmalin sets out to find her estranged father but doesn’t know what to expect when she arrives. Can she trust Jacob Landon, the rough, backwoods guide who leads her to her destination?
Emmalin has an immature faith but it grows in spite of the hardships that confound her. In Deer Creek, she gets to know her father and makes a friend in Margaret a widow and owner of a cafe, who becomes her mentor. As they talk of tragedies that have befallen Emmalin, Margaret counsels: “God didn’t promise to protect us from all harm, but he did promise to walk with us as we struggle in the hard times and to help lead us through life. When it feels the darkest is when His light shines its brightest. And He uses every bit of the good and bad times to mold us into people who will honor Him.”
After much soul searching, Emmalin finally realizes where she belongs and “that what the enemy meant for evil, God always intended for good.”
For a story of reconciliation and finding your worth in God, be sure to pick up a copy of this book.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through WhiteFire Publishing. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
mindyhoung –
“They understood there can be no mountaintops without valleys.”
3.5 stars for this historical romance set near Oregon City in 1855.
This is the first book by Bonnie Leon that I have read and I’ve been wanting to read her books for a while. Set during the time when the west is exploding with miners, the backdrop of the untamed wilderness is stunning and the in-depth look at the Native American’s lifestyle and culture is fascinating and educational. The harshness of making a living in the wilderness is tangible and daunting but the tenacity, faith, and loyalty of the people forging a new life for themselves out in the vastness are admirable and noteworthy.
Jacob has only known the west as his home and is kind, skilled, and guided by faith. He finds himself helpless as the war against the Native Americans intensifies because he spent a good part of his life with kind-hearted and generous group when his biological family perished. Emmalin is a well-bred Philadelphia socialite who finds herself without money and fiance after her mother’s death and feels compelled to go out west looking for a father whom she never knew. Her journey is fraught with danger and trials and even when she arrives at her destination, she is still surrounded by danger and trials.
Though a sweet story, I did not connect fully with the characters and wished Jacob had more of a voice. Some parts of the plot were a bit slow for my taste and other parts seemed to skip a bit too quickly. I am sure those who enjoy historical romance, especially those stories set in the west in mid-1800s, will enjoy the book.
I received a copy of the book from WhiteFire Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
litteraegaudium –
“Her father was her only chance at a new beginning—if she could find him.”
Growing up, I was an avid reader and fan of “Little House on the Prairie” and anything about pioneers, with a special fondness for Oregon Trail stories. Although I’ve broadened my reading horizons since then, the nineteenth century will always be my first love, and I remain on the lookout for opportunities to read and review historical fiction whenever possible. From the first time I glimpsed the cover of “One Hundred Valleys”, I knew I had to read it; I didn’t even read the synopsis, although I was thrilled when I found out it was set in Oregon in the mid-1850s. No matter how many historical fiction books I read, I never grow tired of them, and this book is a great example of diversity within the genre.
From the first page of “One Hundred Valleys”, it became apparent that this was going to be a different kind of pioneer adventure. Author Bonnie Leon creates a unique story by merging common elements in a distinctive way. Rather than an Oregon Trail account, although details of the journey are scattered throughout the narrative, Emmalin Hammonds’ story opens in Oregon City after she and her Uncle Jonathon have made the trek. Moving on from a tragic past in search of the father she had been told was dead, Emmalin ends up making the last leg of the journey alone with a hired guide named Jacob Landon. For Emmalin, the travails of the journey are becoming more and more overwhelming as she finds everything stripped away from her.
Emmalin’s character is interesting in and of itself. I have to admit that initially I found myself unimpressed with her, and at times downright annoyed. However, Leon writes her this way for a reason. Back in Philadelphia, Emmalin was a member of the upper class and led a privileged life, which made her completely unprepared to live in a rather uncivilized wilderness. She seems quick to judge and complain, but then she surprises readers with her strength and determination. As her newfound friend Margaret tells her about courage: “It’s being afraid and trusting God enough to do whatever it is He’s called you to do that shows how brave you are.” She slowly softens her heart toward people and things that seem absurd compared with her old life, including the issue regarding the Indians, whom she has previously considered to be lower class. Her journey demonstrates how we all tend to categorize people, yet to God none of those things matter; He loves us all and yearns for us to enter into a personal relationship with Him. As Emmalin’s time of spiritual deliverance unfolds, it is worth noting that no matter how far away she felt God was, He never left.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.