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Heart's Surrender
FORBIDDEN LOVE
When young, blond Andrea Sanders moved to the hills of Georgia, she was terrified that she lived next door to the Cherokee. But when she first saw the muscular, handsome warrior Adam, she was even more afraid of the turbulent passions he aroused in her. Every waking moment she yearned for the provocative brave to make her a woman; each night she tossed alone in bed, craving the fulfillment only he could bring. It was impossible to consider ever becoming the Indian's wife ... but all Andrea needed from him now was the satisfaction they could find clasped together in the most intimate embrace!
DEFIANT DESIRE
Even though some of his people had married white women, the proud and fierce Cherokee Adam swore he would never be so weak as to take a paleface. Then he met the sky-blue gaze of Andrea Sanders -- and his dreams were a haze of invading ivory skin and caressing corn silk hair. As his fantasy flared into uncontrollable need, Adam swore he'd possess her once, then be rid of her. But the moment he sampled her luscious lips and fondled her ripened curves, he was helpless to deny their pleasure. Now he wanted her for all time, forever relenting to her body's magic, forever giving her his Heart's Surrender.
When young, blond Andrea Sanders moved to the hills of Georgia, she was terrified that she lived next door to the Cherokee. But when she first saw the muscular, handsome warrior Adam, she was even more afraid of the turbulent passions he aroused in her. Every waking moment she yearned for the provocative brave to make her a woman; each night she tossed alone in bed, craving the fulfillment only he could bring. It was impossible to consider ever becoming the Indian's wife ... but all Andrea needed from him now was the satisfaction they could find clasped together in the most intimate embrace!
DEFIANT DESIRE
Even though some of his people had married white women, the proud and fierce Cherokee Adam swore he would never be so weak as to take a paleface. Then he met the sky-blue gaze of Andrea Sanders -- and his dreams were a haze of invading ivory skin and caressing corn silk hair. As his fantasy flared into uncontrollable need, Adam swore he'd possess her once, then be rid of her. But the moment he sampled her luscious lips and fondled her ripened curves, he was helpless to deny their pleasure. Now he wanted her for all time, forever relenting to her body's magic, forever giving her his Heart's Surrender.
Paperback
First published February 1, 1988
136 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Rosanne Bittner
85 books623 followersI am a USA-TODAY best-selling author with 41 years, 76 books, and numerous writing awards behind me. My major genre is historical romance. I have always written for standard publishers but am now writing strictly for Amazon so I have more freedom to write real history. My most recent publication is SHADOW TRAIL, the 6th book in my Outlaw Hearts series. I also wrote and published my first full-length contemporary story, DANCING BENEATH YOU, in September 2022, a romance involving mystery and a depiction of reservation life in the Badlands of South Dakota. My best sellers are my SAVAGE DESTINY series (7 books) and my OUTLAW HEARTS series. See my website (www.rosannebittner.com) for details on all my books - most available for Kindle and in print. I am known for great love stories filled with real history and high emotion. I have also written many Native American stories, all based on real history.
I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.
National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.
Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!
I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.
National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.
Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 23, 2011
Very hard, tragic story, and emotional to read, but that is why I wanted to read it and it didn't disappoint. I loved the history in the book it didn't slow it down, you could really feel all the conflict and hatred between the native americans and southern whites. The hero and heroine love story was beautiful and I just wanted everyone to leave them live and be happy. It was unbelievable all the hardships they had to endure, I almost don't know if it was worth it. The villains, and there were many, were so mean and ruthless, I hated them so much it was surreal. The story might have a HEA, but the H/h were so beaten down in the end I just couldn't feel good about it. I wish it would have ended it 6 years earlier, it was very hard to take the last 6 years they endured. Am I glad I read it? Yes! Would it be a reread? It would take years before I could if I could.
October 15, 2023
В края на 30-те години на 19-ти век южният щат Джорджия най-сетне успява да избие и изсели посредством военизирана си милиция (да не се бърка с редовната федерална армия) племето Чероки. За разлика от други, водещи по-номадски начин на живот индиански племена, сред чероките има мнозина уседнали и заможни фермери и образовано за тогавашните щатски стандарти съсловие. Чероките се борят в съда, правят кампании във Вашингтон и дори печелят делото срещу щата Джорджия. Но на щата Джорджия не му пука - той просто не желае да ги признае нито за граждани, нито за американци и пуска милицията на граби, пали, избива и изнасилва. Това е напълно целенасочена, умишлена политика на хладен, обмислен терор, наредена от щатския губернатор и от мнозина в самото федерално правителство, които забогатяват от “прехвърлянето” на големи обеми чужда собственост. Струва им 10 години, но и Джорджия, и почтените и бели жители успяват. Всички ферми и бизнеси на чероките са отнети, а те са изпратени да умират от глад, холера и студ по дългия над 1000 мили Път на Сълзите на Запад.
Геноцидът на САЩ срещу коренното население е изключително брутален и нечовешки ужасяващ акт. Холивуд десетилетия наред бълва по поръчка уестърни с Джон Уейн (самият той тъп и убеден расист по лични убеждения), където червенокожите са единствено диваци, нападащи дилижанси с невинни бели клетници. Е, чероките например са били фермери, бизнесмени и съвсем нормални, даже образовани и “интегрирани” жители. Това не ги е спасило от смърт, само е удължило агонията им. И ако някой вземе да ми философства на тема диваци - да бъде рака добър да почете и малко факти.
С две думи, това не е точно любовен роман, а по-скоро историческа фикция с този път добре проучени исторически факти. Фактите именно са книгата, а доста тъжната, на моменти сантиментална, но пълна с трагедии история на един смесен брак е просто инструмент за поднасяне на несериозната дамска аудитория.
От една страна се чувствам направо измамена, че лековатото ми четиво взе, че се оказа адски сериозно на моменти. От друга страна - ами никой не може да избяга от историята. И такъв геноцид се случва лесно на всяка малка, уязвима общност, плувнала сред море от убедени в расово/религиозно/етническо и каквото друго там превъзходство изпитват алчните и ентусиазирано невежи човечета от заобикалящото мнозинство. Тревата на комшията винаги е по-зелена, по-апетитна и по-желана, и затова умират нации.
За хепи енда… Ох, какъв хепи енд! Да де, уж има. Ама все едно няма. Авторката е превъртяла тотално в самия край, вкарвайки пълни безмислици и нелепици. Явно гъбите и халюциногените са и дошли в повече, и направо е опропастила сюжета. Но какво пък, поне историята чероките си заслужава.
3,5⭐️
Геноцидът на САЩ срещу коренното население е изключително брутален и нечовешки ужасяващ акт. Холивуд десетилетия наред бълва по поръчка уестърни с Джон Уейн (самият той тъп и убеден расист по лични убеждения), където червенокожите са единствено диваци, нападащи дилижанси с невинни бели клетници. Е, чероките например са били фермери, бизнесмени и съвсем нормални, даже образовани и “интегрирани” жители. Това не ги е спасило от смърт, само е удължило агонията им. И ако някой вземе да ми философства на тема диваци - да бъде рака добър да почете и малко факти.
С две думи, това не е точно любовен роман, а по-скоро историческа фикция с този път добре проучени исторически факти. Фактите именно са книгата, а доста тъжната, на моменти сантиментална, но пълна с трагедии история на един смесен брак е просто инструмент за поднасяне на несериозната дамска аудитория.
От една страна се чувствам направо измамена, че лековатото ми четиво взе, че се оказа адски сериозно на моменти. От друга страна - ами никой не може да избяга от историята. И такъв геноцид се случва лесно на всяка малка, уязвима общност, плувнала сред море от убедени в расово/религиозно/етническо и каквото друго там превъзходство изпитват алчните и ентусиазирано невежи човечета от заобикалящото мнозинство. Тревата на комшията винаги е по-зелена, по-апетитна и по-желана, и затова умират нации.
За хепи енда… Ох, какъв хепи енд! Да де, уж има. Ама все едно няма. Авторката е превъртяла тотално в самия край, вкарвайки пълни безмислици и нелепици. Явно гъбите и халюциногените са и дошли в повече, и направо е опропастила сюжета. Но какво пък, поне историята чероките си заслужава.
3,5⭐️
June 22, 2010
What a hard, hard, hard book to take in. This was my early reading days and all I wanted was happy good, romantic reads and then I chose this one, it knocked the hell out of me emotionally. I wanted to stop reading it, I wanted to put it down, but I couldn't, I had to finish it. This is not your typical everyday light-weight romance, it sends you into heartbreak to have to read what happens the the heroine. Read it, only if you can take it, because it will knock you back a it.
December 9, 2019
I just finished this book. This is definitely one of those books that you cannot put down and you will be so emotionally invested in it. This is not a light romantical read. If you want to read something that’s just all fluff this may not be the book for you. So far of all the books I’ve read by this author which this was the fourth book I’ve read of hers,This one is my favorite. She was able to pull you into this story. I don’t want to give too many things away and spoil it, but if you’re looking for a good book with a great storyline that’s going to pull you in and put you through emotions this is the one. This is the kind of book that once you read it you will never forget it. I hate that I have finished it because I am going to miss Adam and Andrea!
June 7, 2024
Just did a reread …, Heart’s Surrender (1988) is one of Rosanne Bittner’s finest books.., a beautiful, epic, heart grabbing love story that spans almost 30 years.
💦 A young white girl, Andrea has moved to northern Georgia, and while out exploring the high ridge of land behind her family’s new farm accidentally meets Adam Chandler… also a teenager, who lives with his wealthy family in the nearby valley. He’s a Cherokee. They continue to meet secretly… eventually their families find out.
💦 The story revolves around the cruel and heartless forced removal of the Cherokees from northern Georgia, and other southern states (1830s), to their relocation west of the Mississippi River… what is known as the Trail of Tears.
💦 There are passages of time in the story, and two lengthy heartbreaking separations for Andrea and Adam, as both are ravaged by injustice and horrific cruelty.., but thru out the years they continue to find strength in their deep abiding love for each other.
💦 One of the most painful, brutal and deeply emotional HRs that I’ve ever read …it’s challenging, richly rewarding, and it defines true sacrificial love, a love of redemption and forgiveness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
On the cover of the first edition a NA man is embracing a blond haired woman in a blue dress. The cover is by the artist John Ennis…. for almost all the story the hero is not dressed as a Cherokee … he wore typical clothes of the era.
💦 A young white girl, Andrea has moved to northern Georgia, and while out exploring the high ridge of land behind her family’s new farm accidentally meets Adam Chandler… also a teenager, who lives with his wealthy family in the nearby valley. He’s a Cherokee. They continue to meet secretly… eventually their families find out.
💦 The story revolves around the cruel and heartless forced removal of the Cherokees from northern Georgia, and other southern states (1830s), to their relocation west of the Mississippi River… what is known as the Trail of Tears.
💦 There are passages of time in the story, and two lengthy heartbreaking separations for Andrea and Adam, as both are ravaged by injustice and horrific cruelty.., but thru out the years they continue to find strength in their deep abiding love for each other.
💦 One of the most painful, brutal and deeply emotional HRs that I’ve ever read …it’s challenging, richly rewarding, and it defines true sacrificial love, a love of redemption and forgiveness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
On the cover of the first edition a NA man is embracing a blond haired woman in a blue dress. The cover is by the artist John Ennis…. for almost all the story the hero is not dressed as a Cherokee … he wore typical clothes of the era.
February 4, 2017
This review is of “Heart’s Surrender” by Rosanne Bittner.
The Story: The year is 1826, the setting is Georgia, and two young people are about to fall in love. Andrea Sanders, 14 at the beginning of the book, is the heroine. Adam Chandler, 16 at the beginning, is the hero. There’s more to the story; Andrea is white. Adam is Cherokee Indian. Andrea and Adam fall in love and become lovers.
Unfortunately, bigotry, hatred and racism rear their ugly heads, and Andrea and Adam’s relationship is affected. Their relationship is found out, and Andrea is shipped off to a “Christian” school, where she suffers emotional, mental and physical abuse for her “sins”. She also has a baby, who she is told is dead, when in fact, the baby-a son-is very much alive. Adam, meanwhile, continues his studies, goes to Harvard and graduates. Despite their enforced separation, Andrea and Adam are still very much in love with each other.
More problems occur when the Indian Removal Act is passed. Cherokee family homes are raided, women are raped and beaten by militia members-including Adam’s mother, Rose, and his sister, Ruth. His father, Jonas, is beaten and has a heart attack and dies from watching his female family members abused. Adam and Andrea do find a little bit of a silver lining in this black cloud, as Andrea gives birth to two sons, Jonas and John Ross. Later, Andrea and Adam are rousted; Adam is beaten badly and Andrea is raped by a man from her past, whom Adam later kills.
More trials and tribulations befall the Cherokee Nation, Andrea and Adam, but eventually they find each other again, and their firstborn son, and have their Happily Ever After (a rarity in Ms. Bittner’s books!)
Upside: As she always does, Ms. Bittner marries historical research with her characters and seamlessly blends them together. The result is a highly emotional story that made me feel every emotion on the wheel, both good and bad.
Downside: Ms. Bittner’s writing style is highly formulaic. In the hands of a lesser author, it wouldn’t be good. See above comments for why it works for me.
Sex: “Heart’s Surrender” is a bit more graphic sexually than Ms. Bittner’s earlier work. It’s still not erotic or exciting, though.
Violence: Any long-time readers of her work know Ms. Bittner’s predilection for violence, and that’s still the case here, although “Heart’s Surrender” is a little less violent than Ms. Bittner’s usual fare.
Bottom Line: “Heart’s Surrender” is yet another exceptional book by Ms. Bittner. Not every reader will love it, but those who are conditioned to and are fans of Ms. Bittner-as I am-will.
The Story: The year is 1826, the setting is Georgia, and two young people are about to fall in love. Andrea Sanders, 14 at the beginning of the book, is the heroine. Adam Chandler, 16 at the beginning, is the hero. There’s more to the story; Andrea is white. Adam is Cherokee Indian. Andrea and Adam fall in love and become lovers.
Unfortunately, bigotry, hatred and racism rear their ugly heads, and Andrea and Adam’s relationship is affected. Their relationship is found out, and Andrea is shipped off to a “Christian” school, where she suffers emotional, mental and physical abuse for her “sins”. She also has a baby, who she is told is dead, when in fact, the baby-a son-is very much alive. Adam, meanwhile, continues his studies, goes to Harvard and graduates. Despite their enforced separation, Andrea and Adam are still very much in love with each other.
More problems occur when the Indian Removal Act is passed. Cherokee family homes are raided, women are raped and beaten by militia members-including Adam’s mother, Rose, and his sister, Ruth. His father, Jonas, is beaten and has a heart attack and dies from watching his female family members abused. Adam and Andrea do find a little bit of a silver lining in this black cloud, as Andrea gives birth to two sons, Jonas and John Ross. Later, Andrea and Adam are rousted; Adam is beaten badly and Andrea is raped by a man from her past, whom Adam later kills.
More trials and tribulations befall the Cherokee Nation, Andrea and Adam, but eventually they find each other again, and their firstborn son, and have their Happily Ever After (a rarity in Ms. Bittner’s books!)
Upside: As she always does, Ms. Bittner marries historical research with her characters and seamlessly blends them together. The result is a highly emotional story that made me feel every emotion on the wheel, both good and bad.
Downside: Ms. Bittner’s writing style is highly formulaic. In the hands of a lesser author, it wouldn’t be good. See above comments for why it works for me.
Sex: “Heart’s Surrender” is a bit more graphic sexually than Ms. Bittner’s earlier work. It’s still not erotic or exciting, though.
Violence: Any long-time readers of her work know Ms. Bittner’s predilection for violence, and that’s still the case here, although “Heart’s Surrender” is a little less violent than Ms. Bittner’s usual fare.
Bottom Line: “Heart’s Surrender” is yet another exceptional book by Ms. Bittner. Not every reader will love it, but those who are conditioned to and are fans of Ms. Bittner-as I am-will.
August 18, 2020
2020 reread
I still absolutely love this heartbreaking and breath-stealing story! One thing that stood out for me more this time was how Adam saw and loved Andrea. (and vice versa) The words and actions he poured out over her melted me over and over again. Their deep abiding and intense love carried them through some heavy times, which made their love story all the more beautiful.
======
Original review
What an epic, beautiful, heart grabbing story written by Rosanne Bittner! I had a feeling this would be an intense story, and I was not wrong. I learned more about the Trail of Tears (such a tragedy), than I knew before and I was sucked onto the story that fully brought history to life. Lots of twists, but such a fulfilling ending. Definitely not a story to be missed.
I still absolutely love this heartbreaking and breath-stealing story! One thing that stood out for me more this time was how Adam saw and loved Andrea. (and vice versa) The words and actions he poured out over her melted me over and over again. Their deep abiding and intense love carried them through some heavy times, which made their love story all the more beautiful.
======
Original review
What an epic, beautiful, heart grabbing story written by Rosanne Bittner! I had a feeling this would be an intense story, and I was not wrong. I learned more about the Trail of Tears (such a tragedy), than I knew before and I was sucked onto the story that fully brought history to life. Lots of twists, but such a fulfilling ending. Definitely not a story to be missed.
February 6, 2012
It was an unforgettable adventure reading about INDIANS... I loved it so much... From then on... I searched for Rosanne and hope to grab another copy of her inspiring historical book...
June 17, 2017
This book was NOTHING like that I expected. NOTHING. I thought it would be just like the other Native American romances, but this one is much more heart-breaking, much more redemptive, much more challenging, and had much more heart. This book truly defines what true, sacrificial love is. It really helped that the author is a Christian, or at least I believe she is, because it can be awkward when non-Christians define love in a secular way, because it is usually based on naive notions of feelings and pleasure. But this book tells us that love, true love, conquers all trials. True love flows from redemption and forgiveness. True love shines through the darkest parts of ourselves, after we find strength in God and not in our own power. Our Mains, Andrea Sanders and Adam Chandler, truly do define what real, selfless love is.
Andrea Sanders is a young 14-year old white girl who is new to the area, now living in the southern region of rural Georgia in the early 1800's. Across the nearby ridge is New Echota, a thriving town of Cherokee who are well educated, speak English, do honest business, and farm their land like any other Georgian would. Andrea sneaks away one day to take a peek at her neighbors and comes across a beautiful oak tree. While she admires it, she meets 16 year-old Adam Chandler, a Cherokee boy from the other side of the ridge in New Echota. There, they strike up a friendship that would eventually grow into young love.
But Adam and Andrea's love is ruthlessly battled by the wrath, greed, and ignorance of her parents and those around her. This is the first of the book's several passages of time. When done right, passages of time can really grow a character, and this book does it beautifully. The characters really do grow and heal from their different ordeals in their different passages of time, the first one being a 3-year separation, and the next being a 7-year separation. In between those separations was a period of about ten years or so of Adam and Andrea just LIVING. The lovely family they have together, the legal proceedings of the state of Georgia in regards to Indian Removal, and the terrible atrocities done to Adam's loved ones.... the book really takes its time with all of it, drawing it out so that the characters can struggle and cope the best they can while taking solace in one another.
There are three sections of the book. Part one is dedicated to the young love and the union of Adam and Andrea, amidst prejudice and injustice. Part two is dedicated to the legal fight of the Cherokee, led by men like John Ross and Elias Boudinot, in an effort to push against the illegal Indian Removal bill and gain support from Northern sympathizers. Part three is post Trail of Tears, full of despair and loss of hope for all surviving Cherokee as they are forced onto new land that is barren and strange to them. Each part is important to the Mains, and each add an important piece to the entire puzzle.
This is the first book in a long time that made me cry almost throughout the book, especially starting at the middle. Everyone you come to know and love in the story is in danger, simply for being Cherokee, or being associated with the Cherokee.
"What was the crime in being an Indian? Yet with all its bills and acts, the government had declared it a federal offense to be an American Indian."
The horrors done to these good people... the book is so impactful, so heart-wrenching, because these things actually happened. The Cherokee were truly a proud, civilized, and Christian people that were made into nothing as they were taken from the land of their ancestors, most by force. We see through Adam Chandler's eyes how much these Cherokee lost. And even today, the American government cannot right the wrongs done to these proud Indian nations because the damage has already been done.
"If anyone had a reason to weep, it was Adam Chandler."
The redeeming love of the two Mains really made the book timeless, really made it special. There are two events in particular that come to mind when I think about the healing power and strength of unconditional and selfless love. SPOILERS The first event is the entire year in which Adam lost himself to whisky, falling deep into depression, anger, and bitterness that pushed him towards vengeance. In a fight between Adam and Andrea, Adam hit her in a moment of anger. That moment broke him and spurred on a tense time in which Andrea decided he had to choose to fight for their love, or leave and lose himself in drink. After he hit Andrea and was forced by Andrea to make a choice between his despair or his love for his family, he left for six weeks to detox himself and find a reputable job as an attorney's assistant in Independence, Missouri. Adam decided to fight for love, to fight for his wife and children, and to fight to pull himself out of despair. That is something I admire and respect because it is not easy to do that, especially not on your own. But the love Adam had for Andrea was true, sacrificial love, and he fought for it by giving up drink and anger in order to embrace it fully once more. I adored the fact that Adam was never perfect, and his many actions and words demonstrated this while the love that bound him to Andrea continued to redeem him, and redeem her.
SPOILERS CONT. The second event that made this book timeless to me is the seven-year absence of Andrea in which she was presumed dead. In a way, I would have been okay with her being dead because of how Adam endured and thrived after her death. He knew Andrea would have wanted him to keep living, and he knew he had their kids to raise to become good, Christian Cherokee men. Adam was able to keep living, according to Andrea's own wishes, honoring her memory. John Ross, Jonas, and Stephen/ Nathan really became such wonderful young men that I knew that, if Andrea had really died, Adam would have been able to look at his boys and smile a sad smile, knowing how proud Andrea would have been of them.
And that is where the timeless nature of the book comes in. A book that has some sort of passage of time, whether it be a flashback to a innocent and lively childhood or youthful past, or a period of time in one era vs a period of time at an older age to look back on the other period, these stories become beautiful because memory is beautiful. This book lets readers see into the lives of two characters from ages 14 and 16 all the way until they are in their late 30's. The book continually refers back to how Adam and Andrea met at the oak tree, even making love at the oak tree. That love, symbolized and immortalized by the oak tree, became something unbreakable, but tested and challenged throughout the book. The fact that it survives so much for so long really makes this book incredible and wonderful.
"She would do it all over again if she were taken back and knew what she knew now. For she was the wife of Adam Chandler, and that was all that mattered."
May 25, 2023
“I have come home.”
🪶
Review: Heart’s Surrender
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
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This is classified as a historical romance novel, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an epic family saga that spans multiple generations of Cherokee. We follow a young Cherokee boy who falls in love with a white girl. Their love blossoms under a beautiful oak tree while the world is slowly ripping apart. This book is brutal and gut-wrenching, showing the history behind the Trail of Tears and shines a light on the mistreatment and disgusting things this country has done. The love story between Adam and Andrea is beautiful, and seeing the horrible things they go through to be together was hard to read. I loved this book so much, and I don’t understand why it doesn’t have more reviews and ratings online. Bittner has become a favorite author after finding this novel. I’m happy I got to experience it and look forward to reading more of her work!
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Review: Heart’s Surrender
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
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This is classified as a historical romance novel, but it’s so much more than that. It’s an epic family saga that spans multiple generations of Cherokee. We follow a young Cherokee boy who falls in love with a white girl. Their love blossoms under a beautiful oak tree while the world is slowly ripping apart. This book is brutal and gut-wrenching, showing the history behind the Trail of Tears and shines a light on the mistreatment and disgusting things this country has done. The love story between Adam and Andrea is beautiful, and seeing the horrible things they go through to be together was hard to read. I loved this book so much, and I don’t understand why it doesn’t have more reviews and ratings online. Bittner has become a favorite author after finding this novel. I’m happy I got to experience it and look forward to reading more of her work!
April 28, 2020
Historically magnificent
This story of Adam and Andrea’s love center around broken treaties and lies and mistreatments by the Americans. I had no idea the Cherokee suffered mercilessly over and over again by the state of Georgia and other territories. Once again Ms. Bittner has put into prose the suffering of the Native Americans by the land and gold hungry white man. This struggle for power continues on to this day.
This story of Adam and Andrea’s love center around broken treaties and lies and mistreatments by the Americans. I had no idea the Cherokee suffered mercilessly over and over again by the state of Georgia and other territories. Once again Ms. Bittner has put into prose the suffering of the Native Americans by the land and gold hungry white man. This struggle for power continues on to this day.
August 12, 2012
this is about a young woman who meets and marries a young cherokee man and the things they face including the infamous trail of tears in which hundreds of native americans were forcibly moved from their homes and moved to indian country in the western part of the united states, and this is the story of how their love eventually triumphs over everything hard lives throws at them
February 22, 2016
OOOH MY GOSH!!! What a page turner!!! I loved all the history in this book with the Cherokee and the Trail Of Tears and what a truly heartbreaking story for Adam and Andrea!!!
July 17, 2019
this story is about Adam a 16 year old indian boy and Andrea a 14 year old white girl who meet and fall in love. At first they keep their relationship hidden because there is alot of turmoil between the indians and whites. The white government is trying to make Georgia force their indian population off their land and move them to indian territory, but not everyone is on board with that small minded idea. there is a divide starting between the north and the south that will eventually lead to the civil war.
Andreas parents find out about her relationship with Adam so they send her away to a boarding school that no one knows where she is. at first she bucks the system wanting desperatly to get bck to Adam but it dont work. she soon discovers she is pregnant. They allow her to carry the baby to full term and when she gives birth they drug her deeply and tell her that her son died when in fact they took him and gave him away. Andrea hears the midwife say its a healthy baby boy before she passes out, so she knows they are lying to her about her son.
eventually Andrea finds her way back to Adam but they have many obsticles that try to break them. eventually they lose everything and Georgia succumbs to the government pressure to remove all indians. so the journey that would later be called in our history books as the trail of tears begins.
This story really pulled at my heart strings, the struggles that Adam and Andrea went through really got to me. I have to say I didnt like them so deeply involved at 14 and 16, I thought it was a bit to young. I have been wanting to read the book Trail of Tears, after reading this story I think the next time I get to the library im going to check it out. Im even thinking of looking up the location and going to see some of the route in person.
overall this story was a very good read. thank you Rosanne Bittner
Andreas parents find out about her relationship with Adam so they send her away to a boarding school that no one knows where she is. at first she bucks the system wanting desperatly to get bck to Adam but it dont work. she soon discovers she is pregnant. They allow her to carry the baby to full term and when she gives birth they drug her deeply and tell her that her son died when in fact they took him and gave him away. Andrea hears the midwife say its a healthy baby boy before she passes out, so she knows they are lying to her about her son.
eventually Andrea finds her way back to Adam but they have many obsticles that try to break them. eventually they lose everything and Georgia succumbs to the government pressure to remove all indians. so the journey that would later be called in our history books as the trail of tears begins.
This story really pulled at my heart strings, the struggles that Adam and Andrea went through really got to me. I have to say I didnt like them so deeply involved at 14 and 16, I thought it was a bit to young. I have been wanting to read the book Trail of Tears, after reading this story I think the next time I get to the library im going to check it out. Im even thinking of looking up the location and going to see some of the route in person.
overall this story was a very good read. thank you Rosanne Bittner
July 22, 2024
What an arduous adventure! In the building of our country, many mistakes were made and among them, was the removal of Indian Tribes from their long-held homes to places unknown by much of mankind. Would it be desert, dry, wooded, or would it be an area where they could farm and raise families? History proves that government, both national and statewide, made horrible errors that removed Indians from their homes, and it became the Cherokee Indian Trail of Tears that is an embarrassment today. It was cruel and evil as militia, government soldiers and others, ransacked homes, beat American citizens, tortured and killed thousands who just wanted to live peacefully as they had for generations. This book will bring it all back to the front of the mind of the reader and fans of this author. Yes, bring Kleenex.
July 20, 2022
Trail of Tears.....
I have heard about the trail of tears through reading historical books lime this one but didn't Know what it meant until this book. It's sad that I didn't learn about this in history class in school, do they even have history any more? Anyway emotional rollercoaster romance, lots of prejudice and racism towards Indians in this book, makes me very angry that there are still people like that today. Need tissues for this read, too many sad Parts.
I have heard about the trail of tears through reading historical books lime this one but didn't Know what it meant until this book. It's sad that I didn't learn about this in history class in school, do they even have history any more? Anyway emotional rollercoaster romance, lots of prejudice and racism towards Indians in this book, makes me very angry that there are still people like that today. Need tissues for this read, too many sad Parts.
March 27, 2018
Hearts Surrender
I could not put this book down! The Kindle showed 20 hours in this book, I wish it had been 30 hours. The story of f this family was such a delight to read, there is crying and joy all through the read. Thank you Rosanne Bittner, I look forward to the next book. This was excellent, in my opinion .
I could not put this book down! The Kindle showed 20 hours in this book, I wish it had been 30 hours. The story of f this family was such a delight to read, there is crying and joy all through the read. Thank you Rosanne Bittner, I look forward to the next book. This was excellent, in my opinion .
June 23, 2022
Great love story plus a lot of history which should be brought out in the open to show that the Indians were not always the bad people it is shame ful when you read about what the so called white people did It is one of the best stories I have read in a long time I cried in a lot of places in this book thank you for writing this book about the history that really happened
June 18, 2017
Read it when I was 14 yrs old. Quite traumatic! Loved it but will not have the heart to read it again. What a haunting read, even after decades I couldn't forget the abuses that the heroine suffered through..
July 11, 2020
Beautiful love story!
This is an amazing and beautiful love story. It is very sad how the Native American people were treated almost two hundred years ago. I was so immersed in the storyI felt like I was there Rosanne Bitter this was an outstanding book!
This is an amazing and beautiful love story. It is very sad how the Native American people were treated almost two hundred years ago. I was so immersed in the storyI felt like I was there Rosanne Bitter this was an outstanding book!
June 9, 2023
I always enjoy a good Rosanne Bittner book. But I agree with another review that said it should have ended 7 years earlier. I don’t think it added anything to the storyline. It was too violent (even for me)!
October 18, 2019
Great book
It was s good book many up and now, About a white girl falling love Indian and being treated bad
It was s good book many up and now, About a white girl falling love Indian and being treated bad
June 1, 2022
Andrea didn’t have any critical thinking skills or character development
October 23, 2022
This is more of an historical novel of the Cherokee Indians between 1820 & 1830 with an inter-racial romance thrown in. Very well written.
January 1, 2017
**Spoilers**
If I were to rate these books on authenticity of history itself, this book would get the highest rating. Indigenous history is sadly forgotten in American history (but is something that is commonly learned in Canadian schools), and the history does need to be told.
However, the story itself between the two characters is very hard to read. I mean really, how much can one heroine go through in a book?
Let's see... she was kicked out of her house for sleeping with Adam (granted, the time period itself wasn't very kind to women), kidnapped, abused, forced to give birth under heinous circumstances, her child was given away. She makes her way back to her "true love," only to suffer through rape, another kidnapping, being sold into the sex trade, and addicted to drugs.
This was one of those books that I couldn't finish just out of the pure ridiculousness of it.
Oh, and if you want to play a drinking game, pull out this book, pick any chapter and take a drink every time the name "Adam Chandler" is used. I think I'm still hungover.
If I were to rate these books on authenticity of history itself, this book would get the highest rating. Indigenous history is sadly forgotten in American history (but is something that is commonly learned in Canadian schools), and the history does need to be told.
However, the story itself between the two characters is very hard to read. I mean really, how much can one heroine go through in a book?
Let's see... she was kicked out of her house for sleeping with Adam (granted, the time period itself wasn't very kind to women), kidnapped, abused, forced to give birth under heinous circumstances, her child was given away. She makes her way back to her "true love," only to suffer through rape, another kidnapping, being sold into the sex trade, and addicted to drugs.
This was one of those books that I couldn't finish just out of the pure ridiculousness of it.
Oh, and if you want to play a drinking game, pull out this book, pick any chapter and take a drink every time the name "Adam Chandler" is used. I think I'm still hungover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2014
Through all the hard times and even the "Trail Of Tears", one Cherokee Indian and one beautiful blue eyed blond, are tested beyond their fiercest imaginations. Hearts Surrender is a very emotional, heart felt journey of the cruelty the Cherokee endure at the hands of the Georgia militia and the US Government. But the love Adam Chandler and Andrea Sanders Chandler have is a true test of how love conquers and endures all. Great story, be ready to have some tissues handy.
August 17, 2014
This book is one of my all time favorites. It was so well written, I laughed, I cried and I was emotionally connected with these people. Because this was so interesting due to my heritage and the historical significance, I took a trip to New Echota.
December 15, 2013
It's a keeper
April 17, 2016
Cherokee trail of tears was presented in a truthful and loving way
I loved this book. It was so haunting and real. Could not put it down bittner is an excellent author
I loved this book. It was so haunting and real. Could not put it down bittner is an excellent author
April 6, 2019
This was a very emotional roller coaster. I am horrified with our history after reading this book. We all have heard of or read our history but to read it in a way that seems so real and how it showed how it affected people I came to see as real was mind blowing. It makes a person sick just thinking of it. This family had to go through so much just for a love that started in their teens. Andrea went through things no women should every have to go through and to go through them more then once, I just don’t know how she found her sanity. Adam also went through things that he never should have had to go through. But it seemed together these two could find light in any dark place they encountered. The love they had that seemed to complete them only when they were together is not something you find often or at all. You might think you have that long but in most cases you are not even close to it. Her three sons are also the glue that will hold this family together. A mothers love is something you will always see fight for anything. The love between this couple was a greater love but it had a close second to a mother’s love.
But saying all that I would 100% want others to read this book. I feel in love with this couple and the struggles they had to endure was so empowering. This will be one of those books that will haunt me for a long time but I will 100% read this again.
But saying all that I would 100% want others to read this book. I feel in love with this couple and the struggles they had to endure was so empowering. This will be one of those books that will haunt me for a long time but I will 100% read this again.
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