Follow the Stars Home By Diane C. McPhail

"The First Lady of the Steamboat" by Diane C. McPhail is a captivating biographical novel that reimagines the extraordinary journey of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt, a woman who defied the odds in 1811. Eight months pregnant and with a toddler by her side, Lydia embarks on a perilous voyage aboard the steamship New Orleans, the first of its kind to conquer the mighty Mississippi River. Daughter of one of the architects of the U.S. Capitol, Lydia is fiercely independent and accustomed to challenging societal norms, having married her much older husband, inventor Nicholas Roosevelt, against her father's wishes.

The stakes of their journey are immense: if Nicholas’s untested steamboat successfully reaches New Orleans, it will revolutionize travel and trade, opening the West to expansion and securing their future. Lydia, who used her architectural skills to design the flatboat's interior, is prepared for the physical and emotional challenges of the trip—violent earthquakes, treacherous waters, and the turbulent Falls of the Ohio, a daunting sixty-foot drop.

However, the journey presents unforeseen trials that will test Lydia’s strength and resolve, transforming her in ways she could never have anticipated. As the steamship navigates the unpredictable waters, Lydia's courage and determination will be crucial in not only surviving the journey but also altering the course of American history.

Fans of Paula McLain, Gill Paul, and Allison Pataki will be drawn to this lush, evocative tale of a little-known but intrepid female adventurer who helped shape the nation's future against all odds. 📚❤️