Into the Valley: The Settlers [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Rosanne Bittner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2007

Into the Valley is the moving story of one woman torn between two brothers who have drastically different visions of the future of their country.

In 1780, during the turbulent days of the American Revolution, Annie Barnes is engaged to stable, loving Luke Wilde, an Ohio Valley farmer who is satisfied with his life and not at all sure that it's right or advisable to fight the British crown. But because of a life-changing experience in her childhood, Annie also has strong feelings for his brother, Jeremiah Wilde, a wanderer who becomes deeply involved in the patriot cause and ends up bringing the war a little too close to Annie and Luke's settled life. As the brothers become dangerously embroiled in the fighting, Annie's relationships with both of them are twisted, tried, and tangled beyond recognition. As Luke and Jeremiah face unimaginable dangers, Annie must confront her feelings about the future-both of the land she adores and the brothers she can't live without.

The second novel in Bittner's ambitious Westward America series, chronicling the history of the settling of America through the stories of its brave pioneers, Into the Valley is a story of war's unexpected effects on the lives of ordinary citizens, and of the courage of the early patriots showed in gaining America's independence.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bittner is one of those writers whose talent has grown over the years; that talent truly blossoms."-Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Rosanne Bittner and her husband, Larry, live in southwest Michigan and have two grown sons. Ms. Bittner is the author of more than fifty books about the American West of the 1800s and Native Americans. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Western Writers of America, Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association, Nebraska Historical Society, Oregon-California Trails Association, the Council on America's Military Past, and Women Writing the West. She has received numerous writing awards and several of her books have been published in translation in France, Italy, Norway, Germany, Taiwan, and Russia.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 270 pages
• Publisher: Center Point Publishers (January 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585478806
• ISBN-13: 978-1585478804
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,139,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome! I'm glad to be in touch with you, especially if you love American history and America's Old West of the 1800's. I hope you enjoy stories about that time period, as well as Native American stories. It's what I love to write and currently I've had 57 novels published over the past 28 years. I am still writing and won't stop until the Good Lord requires it. Please check out my web site at www.rosannebittner.com for all the information you could ask for about my books. You can also visit me on Facebook.

I grew up on westerns. They dominated television - shows like The Big Valley, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, Rawhide, Bonanza, Have Gun/Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wanted - Dead or Alive, and of course the famous Gunsmoke, which I still watch today on TV Land as well as on the Western Channel. I love the big western stars like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and James Stewart. When I was a teen my idol was James Arness (Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke) instead of Elvis and the like. My all-time favorite western movies are The Guns of Josie Wales, Pale Rider and Hang 'Em High (all starring Clint Eastwood) - The Searchers, Rooster Cogburn and The Shootist (John Wayne). When I was eighteen and watched How The West Was Won, I knew that some day I would write stories about that glorious time period of America's history. Books that deeply impressed me are A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, and The Proud Breed, by Celeste de Blasis.

No other nation has exploded in exploration and settlement like America, and to this day our Native Americans still suffer culture shock. When I read Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (a must read for anyone who wants to know the truth about America's natives and how they suffered as we settled the West), I knew I also had to tell stories of America's growth through the eyes of the Native Americans, because so much of what we were (and still are) taught in school is completely slanted and mostly untrue. It certainly was NOT all Indian/bad-guy and Soldier good-guy. Many lies were told, many promises broken, and our government horribly abused the Native Americans. But that is another story, and I try to get some of it across in my books.

I also strive to tell an abiding love story between two people whose love holds them together through the trials and tribulations of settling America's frontiers. It took grit and bravery to head into rugged, unknown territory, knowing you will leave family behind whom you will probably never see again. Free land, gold and a better life were strong temptations for men, as well as for many brave-hearted women. I think the best books you can read for a truthful depiction of this country's growth and its affect on Native Americans is Dee Brown's book mentioned above, and the book Disinherited, by Dale Van Every. Also, the true and powerful history of this country as faced by red man and white alike is cuttingly depicted in any book you can get your hands on written by Allan Eckert.

I have lived in Michigan my whole life, but I truly believe that somehow I have a past spirit who lives or lived in the Old West, especially perhaps Colorado, which I love more than any other place in America. I yearn to be there, and I feel I "belong" in the Rocky Mountains. When I go there I feel so "at home." However, the family business as well as our two sons and our grandsons all live close by here in Michigan. I wouldn't leave them. But my husband and I have traveled the West for years and I have visited just about every place mentioned in my books. I am also very active here with fund-raising community projects and am Treasurer for our Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America. Be sure to look them up on the internet, especially in late winter, for news about our group's annual Retreat from Harsh Reality. It's a wonderful experience for any writer.

As I mentioned above, watch my web site and Facebook for news about any new books coming, and about many of my past titles that will soon be printed in trade paperback and as e-books!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time, August 3, 2006

By 

S. Burdick (Columbus, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Valley: The Settlers (Hardcover)

I find it hard to believe that this is the same author who wrote _Song of the Wolf_. I'm starting to believe that she must have been truly inspired for that book because none of her other books come close to measuring up.

I completely agree with a previous reviewer--the writing is dumbed down. I was bored, bored, bored. Not even the dialogue felt authentic. None of the characters seemed real and I never felt invested in the plot or the time period.

If you're looking to read a Bittner novel, don't waste your time on this one--get a copy of _Song of the Wolf_!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars powerful trek to 1780 in the Ohio Valley, March 27, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Valley: The Settlers (Hardcover)

In 1780, the American Colonies close to the ocean are embroiled in hostilities with the English military. Further inland in places along the Ohio River, the locals barely feel the war. Most residents are neutrally ambivalent or lean towards loyalty to the crown with few freedom fighters. In Willow Creek, like most of the Ohio Valley settlements, the Revolution takes a back stage to farming and family. Luke Wilde works the land whether he is an English subject or an American citizen. However, his brother Jeremiah has wandered the wilderness and thus has a wider perspective so he desires freedom at any cost.

After being away for three years, Jeremiah returns to Willow Creek on the eve of his sibling's marriage to Annie Barnes. Jeremiah loves Annie, but knows she is better off with his brother, which is why he left in the first place. His arrival brings the British army to previously peaceful Willow Creek forcing the two brothers to join in arms against the oppressor while Annie remains wild about both men.

THE SETTLERS is an exciting historical tale that looks closely at a segment of American Revolutionary War society often ignored by textbooks. The vivid story line brings to the forefront the varying feelings including internal conflict towards the war and the crown. This leads to deep characterizations, at least on the colonial side. The English come across as caricatures because they appear as abusive brutes rather than concerned individual with some doubts about fighting their Anglo brothers. Fans of strong Americana novels will appreciate Roseanne Bittner's powerful trek to 1780 in the Ohio Valley.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dumbed-down writing, December 5, 2003

By 

K. Canary "Avid Reader" (Ballston Lake, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Into the Valley: The Settlers (Hardcover)

For years I was a staunch fan of Bittner's books, but moved on to other authors when some of her later books lost their appeal. I just recently returned to this author with "Into the Valley" and found even greater disappointment. Bittner has so dumbed down her writing that there is no depth to the characters, let alone the plot. I find this a common style amongst many romance writers - the writing seems to be geared to no more than a 6th grade level. I cringe to think that the book editors and publishers are advising authors along this line of thinking, but I fear it is so. The result is that I couldn't find any emotional attachment to the characters. And the "living history" that was supposedly conveyed was a very narrow window. The sad thing is that Bittner had a potentially interesting plot revolving around the love triangle of Luke, Jeremiah, and Annie. Fleshed out, this could have made for interesting writing, but noooooooooo, sadly, that didn't happen. Some parts were almost funny - the "coupling" scenes were similar to two dolls that some omniscient hand places face to face, they couple, they roll apart. The whole book made me feel like Bittner couldn't decide whether to write a romance or an historical novel, found she had time for neither, so churned out this weak no-brainer. It's time she retires; her heart is no longer in it.