Legacies

American Dreams #2

by Janet Dailey

The love between a Union officer’s daughter and a Cherokee man is threatened by the Civil War in this sweeping romance by a New York Times–bestselling author.   A “passionate tale of Native American history, family feuds, and romance,” this saga by a multimillion-selling author begins in Springfield, Massachusetts, in May 1860 (Booklist). The Civil War looms as nineteen-year-old Diane Parmelee, spirited daughter of a Union officer, reunites with her former childhood sweetheart, the broodingly handsome Cherokee Lije Stuart. Passions flare once again between the blond beauty and the accomplished Harvard University law student. But as two hearts come together, the promise of marriage is short-lived. Despite her undying love, Diane can’t bring herself to accept Lije’s conditions for their future.   Lije expects them to build a life where his proud allegiance on the plantations of his Cherokee family, and in turn, the Confederacy. But for Lije and Diane, it’s just the beginning of a conflict that will tear families apart and reopen the wounds of violent rivalries born out of the historic Trail of Tears—and will end only when divided loyalties and revenge threaten to shatter the meaning of heritage and honor. Through it all, only true love can hope to survive.  Legacies was previously published as American Destiny.  

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Civil War, Historical, War

406 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.

She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.

Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.

Reviews

[Debra]

Ms Dailey writes romance with a lot of history included. This was an unusually good book, based on the aftermath of the "Trail of Tears" and the lives of the Cherokees that followed. We read about this horrible time in history, but Ms Dailey gives us her version of what followed.

[Ann]

Very good for learning about history of Cherokee Nation during Civil War. Mediocre novel otherwise.

[Cherie]

This is a romance/Civil War novel. Even though it contains the usual North vs South love story, it was a bit different in that the main characters were members of the "Cherokee Nation," and wanted to remain neutral. I was rather confused in the beginning, not understanding how Cherokees who had been forced from their homes in Georgia 30 years earlier could be plantation owners with slaves in the "Indian Territory" west of Arkansas in the 1850's and early 1860's.So I googled "Cherokee Nation," "Indian slave owners," "Indians in the Civil War" and anything else I could think of to help me learn more about the situation I was reading about. I learned that the Cherokees were considered on of the five "civilized" tribes because many of them had adopted European ways, including many of them owning slaves just like their fellow Southerners. I was also surprised that many of them had become wealthy and were land owners! Yet when the law was passed to move all the indigenous tribes out of the states, they had to leave! That is very hard to imagine! I can't believe that with all the American history that I have learned about and read about, I have never come across this before. Anyway, this story was about a very wealthy part-Cherokee family living in the Indian Nation, yet very much associated with Americans from both sides. It really opened by eyes to a part of American history that I did not know much about.

[Hannah Price]

Read this for an independent reading book freshman year of highschool. So cute, I highly reccomend if your looking for a romatic period peice.

[Priscilla]

Desculpem, mas não dá para falar bem desse livro.

Janet Dailey tenta nos convencer que uma rica família de índios se envolve na Guerra da Secessão mesmo já estando adaptada ao "mundo dos brancos". Só isso já merece um aparte, os Parmelee e os Stuarts - sim, os indígenas - são caracterizadas de uma forma tão fraca, que se tivessem mudado o nome dos personagens principais para John e Jane, nem perceberíamos.

Toda a migração forçada e problemas sociais são reduzidos a algumas linhas. É como se a proposta de recontar o período perdesse força frente a história romântica de Lije e Diane e dos outros personagens.

Dispenso.

[Pat]

I had not realized how much the Cherokee Nation was dragged into the Civil War, even though they wanted to remain neutral. This book gives some idea of how those living in Indian Territory, black and white as well as Native American, were affected. It gave me a lot to think about.

[Heidi]

Interesting take on the divisions within families and communities caused by the American Civil War, set in the Indian territories. Part of a series of books but quite readable as a stand-alone novel.

[Patt]

This was an interesting historical fiction/romance. The story takes place in the Cherokee nation during the Civil War. I learned a lot of history that I never learned in school about the Cherokees and their part in the Civil War.

[Debbie Nicolosi]

All the historical facts that surround this fictional love story is what really pulled me into this book. Historical romance has long been my go to read.
I feel this story is well written and well researched. I found myself looking up facts to see if it was true.

[Partridge Public]

Dailey, Janet

[Cws]

F Dai

[Sylvia]

Civil War

[Chard]

xD

[Julie]

could not really get in to it

[Jane Maloney]

Actually liked and learned some new things!

[Ruth Turner]

A very fine read