A forbidden love. An impossible dream. And a daring venture to open America . . . The year is 1810. For decades men have dreamed of reaching west of the Hudson - of unlocking the untold riches in America’s heartland. Yet, these visionaries lacked the necessary skill, willpower, and political might. Enter: DeWitt Clinton, mayor of New York City. Ignoring naysayers and cynics, Clinton vows to construct an audacious waterway through the wilderness to Lake Erie. For this he needs support from the highest echelons of New York society. And there is only one woman with the talent and connections for the job. Eleanora Van Rensselaer, an aristocratic widow, rules a vast Hudson Valley estate, but her wealth and power will vanish if a dark secret is revealed. Clinton enlists her charm and intelligence to battle his formidable opponent Martin Van Buren. When Eleanora encounters Daniel Hedges, a dashing ship captain with frontier ingenuity, she knows he is the key to this massive project. Eleanora’s social savvy and Hedges’ skills make them an ideal team - if they can fight the powerful feelings growing between them. But as America plunges into the war of 1812, they could lose all that they have built. From America’s stunning naval victory on Lake Erie to the British invasion of Washington, D.C., Daniel and Eleanora persevere through tragedy and deep personal loss. Despite Van Buren’s plot to sabotage Clinton and expose Eleanora’s secret, Daniel and Eleanora won't stop until they make their colossal dream a reality. And somewhere along the way, they might just find a love that will change them, and America, forever. Readers are Raving about this Historical Drama: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “ Loved the story. It’s a great story of the sacrifices people made to help build the country . The political ambitions of a few men drive the story but the average people are the ones that accomplish the dream. ” –Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “… what a fantastic book a truly amazing journey of history can't praise this book enough. ” –NetGalley reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I always enjoy a good historical saga with dynamic characters that teaches me something new, and “Into the Heartland” delivered it perfectly!…” –Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…There is nice closure with the epilogue and a wonderfully portrayed happily ever after …I love historical fiction , especially when I can visualize where I am…” –NetGalley reviewer "Into the Heartland ...brings alive the long political and physical struggle to build the Erie Canal and open a navigable pathway to America's heartland. [It is] [f]illed with politics, intrigue and detail of the lives led by the landed aristocracy, western settlers and impoverished immigrants [and] [w]oven into the narrative is a romance between an heiress who must choose between her wealthy status that includes a large estate, and love on the frontier. Partway through the book, I found myself searching the web for more details on the canal, its route and the politics surrounding it. Everything I read underscored how faithful Jack Casey was in his fictionized version of the story. Superbly written for historical fiction fans who want to learn about early American history." - Cynthia Spencer, NetGalley reviewer