Review: Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer is an interesting story centered around steamboats especially the boilers that run the boats. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres because of all the things I can learn from the past. Needless to say, this book was a big hit with me. Now I want to read more about steamboats!

Nicole Renard has been called home to Galveston, TX from school since her father has become seriously ill. When her papa asks her to go New Orleans to find a husband who can immediately run his shipping company, she is dismayed but determined to make her father proud. Once she finds a suitable candidate, she'll tell them of her dowry, the Renard family legacy, the Latiffe dagger. But before Nicole leaves she takes the dagger unbeknownst to her parents and sets sail with one mission on her heart. Make her father proud even though she isn't the son he always wanted. But because of unforeseen circumstances, Nicole has to detour and travels instead to Liberty, Texas where she finds a secretarial job with an eccentric scientist.

Ever since the boiler explosion on board the Louisiana, Darius Thornton has been hiding away at Oakhaven doing experiments on boilers and trying desperately to figure out what causes them to explode. He hires Nicole to transcribe his notes until he finds out that she could also be a valuable asset in his workshop. Can they solve the problem together?

I really enjoyed this book. Nicole is a wonderful character full of feistiness, smarts, and gumption, and Darius is fun to read about because of his unconventional ways and bluntness. They were so well rounded with a lot of depth, and I loved finding out all the nuances in their lives that led up to this moment especially Darius with his bitterness toward God. The interactions between Nicole and Darius were so fun to read, and for that alone I can recommend this story. But it is also filled with historical facts that will make history buffs happy. Give this book a try. :-)

I was given this book free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

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Full Steam Ahead