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Proud Surrender
It was the Reconstruction Era, when carpetbaggers swept across the South to plunder a defeated people. But Megan, the lovely Irish orphan who had been forced to live off the charity of relatives, had it all now. For she had married Clay Drummond. Despite the war's destruction, Clay still had his plantation. More than that he had a driving ambition, a hunger for wealth and power. And the force of his desire was matched by Megan's love, which never wavered. Even during the long separations while he was building his railroad empire, she trusted him. But secrets in the Drummond past were waiting for Megan. Secrets that threatened the marriage she cherished and the future of the whole Drummond family.
- GenresRomance
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 1983
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About the author
Diana Haviland
16 books3 followersFlorence Hershman
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Diana Haviland & Diana Browning
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Diana Haviland & Diana Browning
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 17, 2021
Love had gone into the making of her marriage to Clay along with the anger, the deception. Loss, pain, grief had all helped to mold the shape of her marriage, to make it what it was today. But there had been beauty, too, and strength and loyalty. And now? What remained for her now? The one quality left to every born survivor, she thought. Hope. A promise for the future.
I did not like this book as much as I think I would have.
I mean come on, the Reconstruction era? A love that was destined to last? Family scandals?
Not really what I want when I read about the South and Civil War topics, tangled with love stories.
So my three star rating is due to two things (it depends on what the book delivers and other good qualities it has) is for the beautiful book cover (one of the main reasons why I even got this book) and the main herione.
Thank goodness for Megan, the herione/protagonist of this book. She is the only character who seems to have her own mind. Her personality carries this story. She is the only one who is able to see through situations. I could feel for her plight, having fled Ireland for America after her family dies. She works under extended family for support. Megan is the only character in this book that I loved and rooted for.
All the other characters I wanted to slap and shake. Some were just too serious and dry, they lacked depth. Others were so soft and whiny. And then there were others who had no proper character arcs. Some characters don’t even show up and disappear without being mentioned, or feel like they aren’t there.
I didn’t like the hero Clay as I thought I would. When I read historical romances, I think the heroes would be cool and spine-tingling. Clay was broody and moody, but he never touched me like Megan did.
The story takes place in the Reconstruction era (1866-late 1870’s.) So much family drama and everything in between. Railroads, affairs, women who use men for money, the KKK, and blatant violent racism.
The plot takes a big time leap and we even see Megan’s children grow up into adults. They get married and all that. As I said, family plays a big part in the book. So we see a lot of people. The story is told from different characters POV’s as well, so it’s not just the H/h being around.
So it can get slow at times. There is a lot of description with locations and politics. I love the history, but it can get in the way of the story.
Even then, I felt like most of the story revolved around Megan, as she got a little more focus and appeared in like 87% of the scenes.
One small subplot deals with the KKK burning a school house down and whipping a few main characters. The scene was very violent. The racism in here made me blanch.
Asides from that, a nice story. Well built.
I did not like this book as much as I think I would have.
I mean come on, the Reconstruction era? A love that was destined to last? Family scandals?
Not really what I want when I read about the South and Civil War topics, tangled with love stories.
So my three star rating is due to two things (it depends on what the book delivers and other good qualities it has) is for the beautiful book cover (one of the main reasons why I even got this book) and the main herione.
Thank goodness for Megan, the herione/protagonist of this book. She is the only character who seems to have her own mind. Her personality carries this story. She is the only one who is able to see through situations. I could feel for her plight, having fled Ireland for America after her family dies. She works under extended family for support. Megan is the only character in this book that I loved and rooted for.
All the other characters I wanted to slap and shake. Some were just too serious and dry, they lacked depth. Others were so soft and whiny. And then there were others who had no proper character arcs. Some characters don’t even show up and disappear without being mentioned, or feel like they aren’t there.
I didn’t like the hero Clay as I thought I would. When I read historical romances, I think the heroes would be cool and spine-tingling. Clay was broody and moody, but he never touched me like Megan did.
The story takes place in the Reconstruction era (1866-late 1870’s.) So much family drama and everything in between. Railroads, affairs, women who use men for money, the KKK, and blatant violent racism.
The plot takes a big time leap and we even see Megan’s children grow up into adults. They get married and all that. As I said, family plays a big part in the book. So we see a lot of people. The story is told from different characters POV’s as well, so it’s not just the H/h being around.
So it can get slow at times. There is a lot of description with locations and politics. I love the history, but it can get in the way of the story.
Even then, I felt like most of the story revolved around Megan, as she got a little more focus and appeared in like 87% of the scenes.
One small subplot deals with the KKK burning a school house down and whipping a few main characters. The scene was very violent. The racism in here made me blanch.
Asides from that, a nice story. Well built.
September 1, 2023
I would have liked this a lot better if more time was spent on the relationship between Clay and Megan, the MC, and less on secondary characters, especially Samantha and Reed, who were unlikeable, to say the least. Opal and Noah's story was sad (more like tragic) and unfair, and I can't say I was all that interested in Lianne and Mark, or Jessica and Tom.
I liked the background of the Civil War and the years after, railroads, Reconstruction and its effects, and other historic details, but it wasn't enough for me to say I really liked this book.
This wasn't the first Diana Haviland novel I've read. Some were pretty crummy; others were really good. This one was just indifferent.
I liked the background of the Civil War and the years after, railroads, Reconstruction and its effects, and other historic details, but it wasn't enough for me to say I really liked this book.
This wasn't the first Diana Haviland novel I've read. Some were pretty crummy; others were really good. This one was just indifferent.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews