I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Beautiful cover. Great historical fiction/romance/drama. Highly recommend

This was an enjoyable story. I liked reading about American history in the 1800s along with the rest of the story. It is well written. I learned more about the time the Erie Canal was built, which was interesting. The romance between the characters was a nice addition as well. It had many elements in this book, which is a good book if you want a relaxing read. It is detailed and interesting.

Interesting look at the machinations and politics behind canal building in a very young America. Unfortunately the story failed to get me engrossed.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction but I didn't finish readit. The plot had interested me but the writing style was wasn't for me this time. Would try another book by this author.

INTO THE HEARTLAND is historical fiction based on the building of the Erie Canal and all the politics and arguments that went with it from historical author Jack Casey. Having been to many of the areas mentioned in the book and growing up in New York City, I found the story fascinating.

It started a little slowly for me as I got the lay of the land and all the characters straight in my mind. Once it picked up, the story had a nice flow, and I was utterly immersed and didn’t want to put it down until the final page.

The story begins in 1810 and is primarily set in New York. The characters have a depth to them, and Eleanora and Daniel are just two of many. When they meet, there is an attraction, but Eleanora can’t act on it for reasons she is unwilling to share. Eleanora and Daniel work together over the years on committees to get the canal built, and she’s cold one minute and hot the next. For me, Eleanora was a difficult character to like. She definitely was more involved in politics than most women for that time period.

Daniel rose to the occasion on anything he put his hands or mind to, and he was honorable and trustworthy for the most part except for a few activities he was involved with to make money. Many characters were actual people who lived in that time and had something to do with the canal. The descriptions of the lands, the homes, the sea, and the politics made me feel like I was there. There are dreams, wheeling, and dealing, back-breaking work, the war, and its battles, politicians, servants, prisoners, travel, illness, death, sadness, tears, anger, elation, happiness, family and friends, and some love and romance too.

The author did a fantastic job weaving many storylines together from various places along the east coast. There is nice closure with the epilogue and a wonderfully portrayed happily ever after. I liked that the book was broken up into sections, and I liked the cover.

Mr. Casey is a new to me author. I love historical fiction, especially when I can visualize where I am. I may give other books he’s written a try.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

It was interesting to find out about American history, specifically the building of the Erie Canal in the 1800s which took a decade. It really makes you think about the efforts, costs and hardships of such a venture. Interlaced with this journey is the romance between an heiress and a ingenious creator/ship's captain. A book of war, loss, love and endurance. It's not a speedy read, and the detail and pace are fairly slow, but nice for a leisurely summer's day, or a winter night by the fireside.

Into the Heartland by Jack Casey is a re-publication of a previous book and is all about the building of the Erie Canal, a 10-year project in the early 1800s. It is all about the politics involved, including lots of big names in American history, and even a little romance. It was hard work, on many fronts: hundreds of laborers died, mostly Irish released from debtor's prison for the work. It was more a saga than a story, but was enlightening and interesting. Interesting to note that at this time, Buffalo was considered the heartland. I recommend it for anyone interested in American history or in a good story.

I was invited to read Into the Heartland by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #intotheheartland

With Into the Heartland, Jack Casey brings alive the long political and physical struggle to build the Erie Canal and open a navigable pathway to America's heartland. Filled with politics, intrigue and detail of the lives led by the landed aristocracy, western settlers and impoverished immigrants, the reader is immersed in the drama of building the canal. Woven into the narrative is a romance between an heiress who must choose between her wealthy status (that includes a large estate) and love on the frontier. Partway through the book, I found myself searching the web for more details on the canal, its route and the politics surrounding it. Everything I read underscored how faithful Jack Casey was in his fictionalized version of the story. Superbly written for historical fiction fans who want to learn about early American history. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC copy.
Four and half stars.

Brilliant historical book, thank you for an Advanced readers copy. Never read the author before but I will definitely read more

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Not read this author before what a fantastic book a truly amazing journey of history can't praise this book enough.