Goodreads: A Dream of Steam

Author: James W. Barry

Published: 10th December 2018 (Aloft Publishing)

Source: Copy from Author

Rating: 3/5 (Liked it)

Official Summary: “As the autumn shipping season draws to a close, Captain Thomas McGrath steps ashore to help his ambitious brother William rebuild the family sawmill. Despite Thomas’s aversion to debt, William convinces him to borrow heavily so they might convert their ailing, water-powered mill to steam. While adapting to the new technology, Thomas finds himself navigating between ax-wielding log pirates, hostile longshoremen, and his brother’s obsession with finding his estranged wife.

The newly retooled mill is ramping up lumber production when the winds of fortune turn. Thomas has set sail again when a financial crisis hits, running the brothers afoul of John Fitzpatrick, a crooked bank officer employed by their lender. Fitzpatrick’s crimes push the McGrath Brothers Lumber Company to the edge of ruin, forcing Thomas to consider a high risk proposal if he wants to save their livelihood and get out of debt.

Set in 1890s Michigan, A Dream of Steam is a story of sailing ships and lumberjacks, hope and disappointment, love and heartbreak, peopled by men and women who take control of their destinies in an era of rapid change.” – Goodreads

Review: Just to be very clear, this isn’t my go-to genre. With that said, I actually enjoyed this story. Don’t expect a lot of action, this isn’t that kind of story. It’s a slow burner but a really pleasant story none the less. It was also great to learn the history and details about how things were done back then. Always great when you learn history while reading a story.

(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)