As always, I'm forever amazed at the untold stories I did not hear in my history classes. Gratefully, now they are being told in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening. The story of Nicholas Roosevelt and his wife, Lydia, is both a beautiful love story and a revelation into, yet again, a strong and accomplished woman who helped change the advance of transportation. The characters are richly crafted to help move the story forward. Steam engines and travel on major waterways like the massive Mississippi River might have been delayed were it not for the efforts of this committed couple and their engineering skills. Add the harrowing moments of danger, seismic shifts, and the stresses of raising a family and you have a winning novel. Well worth the read.

This is a book I couldn’t put down. The characters, action, scenes, narrative, and dialogue kept me engaged. Unfamiliar with Asian culture and the caste system in Mumbai and India, I was taken by the author’s ability to raise awareness and bring a new perspective to me and, I would guess, all those who read this book. The lives of the Shah family became my obsession as I woke up and went to bed with their story in my head. I highly recommend it.

Having never read Stephanie Dray I had no idea what to expect, but I have to say she is an amazing writer. I was caught up in the story of Frances Perkins immediately and couldn't put the book down. It's evident Ms Dray has heavily researched her subject, but the delight lies in her ability to bring the characters and the events to life in such a personal way. I felt I was seeing the history of women's rights and the claim for social justice for the first time and, perhaps, I was. Many of the advances women received back in the early 1900's through the 1940's were attributed to the efforts of men like the two Roosevelts, yet the real claim to fame should have been given to the strong, committed women who tirelessly worked to change minds and hearts. Dray, using the vehicle of historical fiction, shines a long needed light on a little known piece of history, and she does it brilliantly. Her writing pace matches the intense drama and passion Perkins and like-minded women who sought out justice and fair labor practices. Because of her ability to tell a good story while revealing significant facts about women in our history, the reader comes away from each chapter breathless for the next one. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about this historical time. In fact, I have suggested to the members of my book club we read "Becoming Madam Secretary" and look forward to a great discussion with other thoughtful women on a subject that has benefited us in our own life endeavors.