This story is told in first person by Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, the wife of investor Nicholas Roosevelt, who embarked on a steamship from Pittsburgh to New Orleans eight months pregnant with a toddler, to prove that the power of steam could travel both down and up the Mississippi River. This is historical fiction inspired by real people and their historic journey. The boat descended the Ohio and Mississippi River from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 14 days. Roosevelt navigated the New Orleans steamboat not only down the river but back in places to show that travel back up the river was possible with steam. Prior to this time, boats descended the river and traveler’s road by horseback or carriage back upriver.

I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading this story. The audiobook was narrated by Jessica Marchbank. This was my first audiobook listen by this narrator and I found her voice for the main character to be compelling, genuinely guiding me through the story in an absorbing manner.

I enjoyed parts of this story. The beginning setting the scene read slow for me. While I enjoyed the introduction of the characters, the first half of the book was a little heavy on Lydia’s pregnancy, subsequent childbirth, parenting and other people’s opinions on those subjects and how Lydia was doing it wrong. However, she was determined in her path and would let no one, including her husband at times, dissuade her.

Once the book moved into adventures with the steamship, I was very intrigued by the harrowing events of river travel, especially at that time since I was unfamiliar with the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812. Lydia’s rah-rah attitude concerning her older husband was at times inspiring and others annoying. She was determined to remain at his side no matter the cost or danger. She did at times make other decisions about their children. Mothers with high-risk jobs will probably relate to Lydia.

While I admit that I probably would have enjoyed this historical adventure more from the point of view of Nicholas, others may enjoy Lydia’s strong female character in supporting her husband and raising her children all the while jumping in where needed to aid the success of the project and defying conventions of the time.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books, and HighBridge Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

A welcome trend in historical fiction is to present little-known figures who play significant roles in history. Development of the steam engine included women such as as Lydia Roosevelt, daughter of an architect and married to man very much her senior. She shared the work with her husband on an experimental travel on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
This book is billed as a re-imagined story of their most important voyage. By re-imagining Lydia, the book creates a character dedicated to the work and her family and a determined colleague to her husband. It is written almost as a diary, detailing daily problems and solutions.
The novel contains an interesting story, but the repetition of affectionate displays between the husband and wife quickly became a bit tiresome. It is true that Lydia Roosevelt began the voyage while eight months pregnant and with a young daughter as well and faced many challenges. While the voyage, its successes and difficulties provided the core of the story, the daily family life and the affection continually expressed were prominent and without much emotional depth.
I would recommend this book for general readers who would like to learn about a little-known part of history but also remind readers that it is a re-imagining of the character and not a biographical retelling.

A compelling and beautifully written historical novel that explores themes of resilience, love, and independence. I loved reading of Lydia’s journey along with the many perils she faced on this inaugural trip. She was a formidable woman and I am happy to know of her place in history.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Stories of boat journeys along America's wild waterways have always fascinated me. From rafts on the Mississippi to steamboat on the Missouri to kayaks on the rapids of the Colorado, I love finding novels of these unique adventures.

Follow the Stars Home is a perfect choice. And I hadn't heard this tale before, so bonus points for that.

I loved Lydia, her love of family and architecture, but especially her love of the rivers.

"Memory meanders however it will, in its own directions, serving functions entirely its own. Like this river I so strangely love, it may transport bits and pieces, both large and small for long distances, strange items long submerged bobbing now and then to the surface of awareness... Memory is like that..."

McPhail's writing style is lovely and flowing, much like the river.

Thank you, Partner Bibliolifestlye and Kensington Publishing for the book in exchange of my honest review of Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail
Follow the Stars Home is a reimaging of the adventurous woman who braved so many things while being on the first steamboat voyage to conquer the Mississippi River and redefine America. This was my second time reading this author and I was not disappointed. The book was a great historical read that had me turning pages until the very end. Overall this was an interesting read that I enjoyed reading and would recommend to any reader who likes historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this read in exchange of my honest review of Follow the Stars Home by Diane C. McPhail.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this arc.

The book is told in present tense from Lydia’s POV. Lydia is intelligent and has been trained by her architect father. She and Nicholas spent their honeymoon floating down the Mississippi River on a flatboat two years ago so Lydia knows what she’s getting into. But this time she’s got an active toddler with her as well as plans to stop in Louisville, KY to have her baby. Due to her personal history, it’s important to her that she and her husband not be separated from their children for Valid Reasons. Something we will hear about a lot.

Soon Lydia realizes that her nursemaid and one of the crew are exchanging glances. Bessie and Baker are both fine people and Lydia is delighted to help further their courtship. Something we will hear about a lot. Much time and effort have been devoted to not only building this marvelous new means of travel but also decorating it and outfitting it to appeal to the wealthy clientele whom the Roosevelts anticipate will book travel or cargo space on “The New Orleans.” Every care has been taken, every detail attended to. Something we will hear about a lot.

Although Lydia has rock solid reasons for wanting her children with her, Lydia worries and frets all along the way especially after all the problems and issues start piling up. Her daughter is a bundle of energy but toddlers do take a lot of time to look after so having not only Bessie the nursemaid and Sarah the maid but also Tiger the Newfoundland help a lot. We hear about all this. A lot.

Nicholas is a visionary and both he and Lydia know that this steamboat will revolutionize river travel and open up this new land. Lydia thinks about this and worries because of the Indians but the story stays true to how most settlers probably felt about Manifest Destiny. The skirmishes that would turn into the War of 1812 are kicking off and at one point, those aboard the steamboat were afraid that Indians stirred up by Tecumseh might be after them. Modern opinions on all of this will probably not match those of the Roosevelts and other settlers of the time.

The book isn’t that long and yet it reads very slowly. Lydia has to think and overthink everything. There is a lot of repetition. So much repetition. At times it got tedious. Lydia and Nicholas also both read as very modern in their views on women. Was this true? I don’t know. I think I might have enjoyed a non-fictionalized account better but I did learn a lot about this voyage, early steamboats, and the horrific earthquakes of 1811/1812. C+

This plumbs a bit of history I'd not known - the story of steamboats on the Mississippi. Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt as much as her husband Nicholas was responsible for this innovation which was so important, McPhail details the first journey, when Lydia was pregnant and managing a toddler. While parts of the novel are slow, it's got good storytelling and I appreciated the opportunity to learn. Thanks to netgalley for the aRC. A good read.

I love this cover!
This was a good historical fiction story. It’s a bit slow moving like the trip down the river. I did think it was a bit repetitive too. I did like the characters and their desire to improve the way things were done.

I enjoy when historical fact is woven into a fictional story. Follow the Stars Home by Ms. McPhail, gave me that fact/fiction vibe.

This story of Lydia, a young pregnant woman with her much older husband, Nicolas with their toddler, making their way from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in his newly designed steamship. Most everyone thought it couldn't be done and blasted Lydia and Nicolas for putting themselves and their child in danger. Such things happen when someone has a new idea...

Told in the first person, this read like a diary of what Lydia was thinking and what was going on around her. The issues in the book, the birth of their baby, a need to charge for tours of the boat, the river not rising, the possibility of Indian attacks, and the New Madrid earthquake were all told and many of the stories piqued my interest so much that after finishing this book, I took some time to see what was fact and what was fiction! I like a book that makes me think!~

On the downside, was the repetitive dialogue and actions by Lydia. It seemed there was always a crisis, she would talk about it and worry about it, then Nicolas would talk her down.

All in all a book that told me something I hadn't known before.

I like the premise of the story and the time period. It's about the first journey of a steamboat, This book is very slow paced though and some parts feal repetititive. Especially the first half of the book. They keep referring to a trip on a flatboat. I think that story might have been more interesting. Overal it was an okay read. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been shorter.

Follow The Stars Home by Diane C McPhail is a fantastic historical fiction about the first steamboat the New Orleans and it's maiden voyage from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. The story is told from the viewpoint of Lydia Roosevelt, who braves the journey while nine months pregnant with a toddler, all to support her husband's vision. Lydia is a strong formidable woman who stands up to her father and to society's view to not only help and advise her husband but to travel the adventurous and treacherous river with him. She steps out of societal expectations to prove that she is a vital to her husband and to their voyage as he is.
The story was a bit repetitive at times but it was very informative. I was aware of the steamboat and it's voyage but I was not aware that it occurred at the same time as the earthquake of 1812. Follow The Stars Home brought to life a part of history in a wonderful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

I loved every word of this story. The adventures of a woman who is 8 months pregnant and with a toddler. She boards a steam ship on the Mississippi River that is headed to New Orleans. Many surprises. It may be the best book I've read this Spring.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In 1811 Lydia Roosevelt accompanied her husband on his first steamship down the Mississippi, ending the trip in New Orleans. I love historical fiction where the author presents a historical character and events that we would not usually know about. I am sure I didn’t ever think about the first steamship voyage and what it entailed. The author provides very well written descriptions of the boat, the people on the boat and the landscape they see. This author always writes a well researched and thought out novel. I recommend this book to anyone who likes American historical fiction. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Follow the Stars Home was delightful to read. The author, though, has me confused. In her preface she says the story is a work of fiction. Reading the bibliography of her research she has given her characters names of real people. I hope the book is based on true story.

It's 1811 Steamboats are untested. Nicholas Roosevelt and his wife , Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt have designed and built a steamboat fitted to carry passengers and cargo. The boat is the first to attempt sailing the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Pittsburgh to New Orleans.

Lydia relates how her young family's journey met challenges of Indians, fire, earthquake and "doubters'> and changed water travel forever.

A momentous adventure story based in truth full of uncharted territory and danger in untested waters. An enthusiastic steamship inventor and his family undertake the voyage of a lifetime as they embark on the maiden voyage of their steamship on the mighty Mississippi the full length ending in New Orleans in 1811. Lydia Roosevelt is very pregnant and along with their toddler daughter make this journey with unwavering faith that her husband's ship will make the voyage showing the world what is possible and wowing investors and travelers along the way. This journey would have been arduous for anyone but they weathered hostile people, waterfalls, earthquakes and countless other dangers while Lydia remained at her husband's side. This is an adventure story with a rugged determined woman at its center. Diane C. McPhail does an admirable job balancing the extreme danger with the joy of discovering what was just around the bend and experiencing it with the ones you love at your side. If Mark Twain were a woman this is the story they would have penned. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

I love when historical fiction opens up a new world to me. Diane C. McPhail’s new book, Follow the Stars Home, does just that.

Lydia is an intrepid adventurer who longs to be with her husband as they become the first steamboat to traverse the Mississippi River in 1811. With a toddler and baby on the way, Lydia ignores social norms and well-meaning advice, taking the children on the months-long journey with unknown dangers lurking around every bend of the river. From earthquakes to Native Americans, Lydia and her family must battle the elements and their own fear to achieve greatness.

I love books where women break out of the mold expected of them and defy societal norms to follow their heart. Lydia is a formidable woman - taught to be that way by her famous father, Benjamin Latrobe - and her intellect and skill shines brightly throughout the book. I enjoyed the interactions between her and her little family, especially her daughter. I cannot imagine taking a toddler on a boat down the Mississippi in modern times, much less in the early 19th century! And to start the trip eight months pregnant, knowing you would have to give birth along the way seems foolhardy but also brave.

McPhail’s writing shines in the small scenes with great historical details and the exciting scenes of near-death and danger. I felt like I was riding on the boat with them, smelling the thick smoke and seeing the wide-eyed settlers pass by on the shoreline. As the first steamboat down the Mississippi, I can only imagine how scary it must have been for those who saw it go by.

The book’s title is a little deceiving and the cover made me think it was a historical fantasy rather than fiction. But overall this book was exceptional!

I enjoyed getting to know Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt and believe her story should be one that every American should study! What an amazing woman!

In Diane C. McPhail's latest book, "Follow the Stars Home," the reader is introduced to an enterprising young family attempting to travel the Mississippi River on one of the first ever steam paddleboats. The story is narrated by Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, the matriarch, as the family begins their travel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a planned destination of New Orleans, Louisiana.

"Follow the Stars" starts out a bit slow, and Lydia spends a fair portion of her narration bemoaning her father's disapproval of her marriage to her much-older husband, Nicholas. She is also eight months pregnant and mother to a toddler, Rosetta. However, the adventures they encounter along the way keep the story moving and provide intrigue to the reader. I was particularly fascinated their travel over the falls in Ohio, and by the earthquakes in 1811-1812 that devastated the lower Mississippi region, especially the town of New Madrid (now Missouri).

Overall, it was a good read, but the story would benefit from less repetition and more spice. The major historical events that took place were somewhat over-shadowed by Lydia's insecurities and self-indulgence in her controversial marriage.

Having spent several years on a houseboat up and down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers I did appreciate the descriptions of the, river towns in those days . While the towns have changed the scenery and to an extent the along with the perilsIt of water travel were familiar. The first paddle boat to traverse was, indeed, a triumph and deserved a better venue than this book afforded.

It has come to pass that over half of my reading is historical fiction. This booked, in my opinion more like a memoir and, at that, needed eating. While documenting the day by day journey many of the personal asides were repetitive. This style was, to me, boring and created a sluggishness. Due to the fact I always finish what I start I did read the book in its entirety with the hope it would pick up.

All the above being said I applaud anyone who writes a book and is successful in having it published.

Title:
Follow The Stars Home, A Novel


Author:
Diane C. McPhail


Genre:
Historical Fiction



If you're looking for a book that tugs at your heartstrings and keeps you hooked, "Follow The Stars Home" by Diane C. McPhail is a gripping historical fiction novel based on a true story of Nicholas Roosevelt’s first maiden steamboat voyage on the New Orleans. The fictional narrative is written through his wife’s Lydia’s perspective. She is truly a remarkable, courageous woman, whose strength and determination shine through in every chapter.
Set during 1811 in the American South, McPhail brings the era to life with her vivid writing. You can almost feel the fear that the river presents and hear the echoes of bravery of the crew and Lydia’s husband. Lydia’s story is one of incredible resilience and courage as she faces challenges protecting her children and deeply loving her husband, although the love theme was a little overdone.
Lydia is a character you can't help but root for. She's strong yet vulnerable, and her journey is both inspiring and relatable. As she navigates her way through the rivers’ challenges, the relationships she forms with those around her add depth and authenticity to the story. Readers will find the details about the natural disaster they face incredible.
McPhail beautifully explores themes like family, love, and courage. The emotions are raw and real, capturing what it means to hold onto hope and strength even in the toughest times.
I think a book club would enjoy this book, but I would suggest using an atlas as it is read, as I didn’t know the geography. A book club would enjoy discussing the strength that women have in times of distress.
"Follow The Stars Home" is more than just a historical novel; it’s a powerful story about hope and resilience. Diane C. McPhail has crafted a tale that’s both moving and uplifting, perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction with a strong, relatable heroine.
Lydia’s journey of courage and finding her way through chaos is a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
My only suggestion would be to not name it after another book already published.

Fascinating story told through too modern a lens
The true story of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt and her husband, inventor and steamboat pioneer Nicholas Roosevelt, is fascinating. However, I found myself distracted by the very modern points of view the author gave Lydia.

Despite facing numerous challenges, such as a dangerous boat journey along the Mississippi River, including navigating through the Falls of the Ohio, potential attacks from Native Americans, and a destructive earthquake and its aftershocks, just after giving birth to her second child and taking care of a toddler, Lydia frequently reflects on her significance in history. In Chapter 19, she writes, " I am part of this history, this wild adventure. Will anyone remember that I was? Are women never remembered unless they happened to have been a queen?" This seems far-fetched. I'd expect her to focus on survival, not worry about being excluded from history books because she's a woman.

In addition, Lydia comes across as a modern woman who is an equal partner in her marriage and muses about the roles we assign men and women. I know there were feminists in the early nineteenth century, but I don't think their thoughts about women's rights were as nuanced as today's. For example, after a crew member apologizes for using the word "hell" in front of her, she muses to herself, "What a shame that men cannot simply be themselves in front of women!"

There were several unresolved storylines, too. For example, Lydia worries about food and fuel shortages, but the steamboat floats past earthquake-destroyed settlements for several days without running out of food or fuel.

The story was interesting, but I expect more realistic details about cultural attitudes and roles than I found here.