Historical Fiction Book Review: One Hundred Valleys

About the Book

Title: One Hundred Valleys

Author: Bonnie Leon

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Ashberry Lane

Release Date: March 15, 2020

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Publisher's Description

"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 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.

Accompanied by her Uncle Jonathon she sets out for the Oregon Territory in search of answers and hoping for a renewed relationship with her father. When tragedy strikes, she confronts the terrifying challenge of completing her quest alone. Faced with few options, she entrusts her life to a mountain man named Jacob Landon who agrees to transport her to a small settlement in Southern Oregon called Deer Creek, a place also known as the Land of One Hundred Valleys.

Emmalin is not prepared for the hardships of life in the Oregon wilderness. Each day presents a new challenge. Newfound friends, including the reserved Jacob Landon, come alongside to help her adapt and she gradually finds her way. Yet, she feels out of place. Should she brave the arduous journey back to Philadelphia and the life she once knew or remain and hope for something better in the Oregon wilderness?"

My Review

One Hundred Valleys, by Bonnie Leon, is a novel brimming with gripping adventure, beautiful settings, and interesting characters. This riveting historical romance offers a an intriguing story of courage, loss, faith, love, and perseverance.

Set in the Oregon Territory in the autumn of 1855 through the spring of 1856, this novel is thoroughly enriched by Ms. Leon's thoughtful descriptions. Written with engaging detail, the settings are very immersive and especially influential. From treacherous roads, to hazardous weather, to unrestrained forests, the settings provide many opportunities for unforgettable scenes that engage and inspire.

The characters in this novel are genuinely special. When faced with disappointments, dangers, hardships, and uncertainties, they display unexpected bravery, determination, and resiliency. They wrestle with forgiveness, search for their purpose, and discover the true value of friends and family. Through peril, fear, and heartache, they persevere, their faith blooms, and hope is found.

Throughout One Hundred Valleys, Ms. Leon's talent for storytelling is surely evident. She has written a novel that is truly memorable and meaningful. I gladly recommend it to all readers.

*I was given a copy of this novel through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

My Reflection

With authenticity and conviction, One Hundred Valleys draws attention to the undeniable worth of every human being regardless of race, gender, education, wealth, or background. It boldly affirms the Biblical truth that every person is worthy of love, everybody has gifts and talents to share, and no one is excluded from God's forgiveness and redemption. While taking the reader on an adventure of romance and new beginnings, this novel also encourages the reader to embrace the acceptance, mercy, and love that God wholeheartedly offers to everyone.

About the Author: Bonnie Leon

"Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-two novels, including the recently released Return to the Misty Shore, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, Poland, and even Africa. She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and mentoring up and coming authors. Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren."

More from Bonnie

Why this story?

"In the spring of 1980 my husband and I, our two-year-old son, and our infant daughter left city life in Washington state and moved to Southern Oregon. We gave up our community of friends and family along with my husband’s reliable and well-paying job. Our friends thought we were crazy, but we were determined that Oregon was where we belonged. We were scared but not deterred.

I think the change in my own life as a young woman had a lot to do with why I wrote this story of Emmalin Hammond. To be sure, Emmalin’s level of difficulty and danger is distinctly different than mine, but there are similarities. We both experienced adventures, joy, and, yes, even danger.

Oregon has been my home for forty years now, and I am glad my husband and I made the decision to move here. We’ve had a good life in this wild and beautiful country. Sometimes I wonder about the women who made that choice during the nineteenth century. Emmalin set out on her harrowing journey to Oregon in the spring of 1855. Many who began that journey did not make it across the plains and desserts of America.

When I put down roots in Douglas County, Oregon I was thrilled to be here, but the changes weren’t all easy. The old farmhouse we lived in had more broken windows than intact ones. It was mouse infested. The plumbing needed major repair. And yet I loved it. The countryside was lush and green, and the rolling hillsides were dotted with farm animals, wildlife, and broad-limbed oak trees. There were wild blackberries sprawling along the farm’s fences and fresh fruit in our orchard. It looked much the same as the Oregon Emmalin discovered in my story, One Hundred Valleys.

I loved hard work and spent a lot of time splitting logs for our only heat source—a wood burning stove—felling trees on our new property, and working alongside my husband in our vegetable garden.

I had run-ins with things like poison oak and skunks, but that did not dampen my enthusiasm as a new Oregonian. I loved picking wild blackberries, fishing the high mountain lakes, hiking mountain trails, and fishing the North Umpqua river. I cherished those days as a farm wife and mother. Those were the best years of my life. I have never regretted our move to the beautiful land of one hundred valleys in Southern Oregon.

I am thankful for the early explorers who challenged the wilderness in the Oregon Territory more than a century ago. It is their courage and determination that made it possible for me and my family to live and thrive in this beautiful place."