A Transcontinental Affair

by Jodi Daynard

A sweeping tale of adventure and danger, innovation and corruption, and two women whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways on America’s first transcontinental train trip

May 1870. Crowds throng the Boston station, mesmerized by the mechanical wonder huffing on the rails: the Pullman Hotel Express, the first train to travel from coast to coast. Boarding the train are congressmen, railroad presidents, and even George Pullman himself. For two young women, strangers until this fateful day, it’s the beginning of a journey that will change their lives.

Sensitive Louisa dreads the trip, but with limited prospects, she’s reluctantly joined the excursion as a governess to a wealthy family. Hattie is traveling to San Francisco to meet her fiancé, yet she’s far more interested in the workings of the locomotive than she is in the man awaiting her arrival. As the celebrated train moves westward, the women move toward one another, pulled by an unexpected attraction.

But there is danger in this closeness, just as there is in the wilds of the frontier and in the lengths the railroad men will go to protect their investments. Before their journey is over, Louisa and Hattie will find themselves very far from where they intended to go.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, LGBT, Romance, Adventure, Queer

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2019

About the author

Jodi Daynard is the author of the bestselling novels The Midwife’s Revolt and Our Own Country. She has also published The Place Within: Portraits of the American Landscape by 20 Contemporary Writers. Her essays and short stories have appeared in numerous periodicals, including Agni, The New England Review, The New York Times Book Review, Fiction, and the Paris Review. Ms. Daynard has taught writing at Harvard University, at MIT, and in the MFA program at Emerson College.

Reviews

[Breanne T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as a kindle first reads and read the vast majority of it on an airplane. It was solidly meh. The description makes it sound way more exciting than it was. The story didn’t pick up until way past the halfway point. I thought it sounded promising, but ended up being more of a bore.

[Julie Bozza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so happy to see an LGBTQ title among my Kindle First Read offers this month - a free ebook for Amazon Prime members. I promptly snagged it, and I wanted so much to love it. I want to encourage Amazon to offer this sort of title just as often as possible!

Alas, I wasn't madly impressed with the book itself, though. It started slowly, with far too much historical scene-setting detail layered in. There was head-hopping to the point of dizziness, especially in those first chapters. Along the way, I started to get more involved. Possibly, as with the travellers on this train, the author's focus narrowed usefully once their homes and extra characters had been left behind. I did become very engaged with the two main characters, and with another young woman character, and I wanted them all to find their happy endings by the end of the book. However, once we belatedly get into the action-adventure plot towards the end of the book, the focus is lost again. And I was left rather unsatisfied and unconvinced by several elements of the plot which didn't seem properly developed. I don't mean it felt messy in a "real life" way, which I like, but it was messy in a "needs another serious editing pass" way.

I may be being too churlish and expecting too much. I don't enjoy reading with my editing hat on, but sometimes it's inevitable. The thing is that if Amazon are doing the right thing in pushing distribution of LGBTQ titles to their Kindle audience, then it had better be titles that are good enough to capture the interest of a wide range of readers. And this wasn't, unfortunately, as good as it might have been.

Damn. And sorry. But please keep writing / reading / editing / distributing / trying!

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new Pullman Hotel Express leaves Boston in 1870, it’s has eight train carriages and is bound for San Francisco. The first train to travel from coast to coast, going westward, through the mountains, prairies and barren deserts and it draws huge crowds along the way. The train is full of congressmen, railroad presidents, and the owner George Pullman is on board.

Hattie’s happy to be gaining her independence from her parents, she’s extremely intelligent and interested in engineering. She's unconventional, drinks bourbon and sneaks off for a cigarette. Hattie’s traveling to meet her fiancé Mr Leland Durand, they have been writing to each other and courting by correspondence. Louisa’s been employed by a wealthy couple to be a governess for their two children Sheila and Frank during the train journey. Louisa grew up in the South during the Civil War, she witnessed some traumatic things and she’s a sensitive person.

During the day the passengers look at the amazing sights, eat extravagant meals, they sleep in specially designed pull out beds, and with privacy curtains. As they travel west they see abandoned graves and sod houses on the prairie, fields of wild flowers and herds of buffalo.

For Hattie and Louisa, it’s a trip into the unknown, one of self-discovery, personal revelations and they need to decide what they will do when they reach the end of the line? I received a copy of A Transcontinental Affair in exchange for an honest review, not exactly what I was expecting in the story-line and four stars from me.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

A Transcontinental Affair is my first time reading a novel by Jodi Daynard but it definitely won't be my last. This was such a great historical fiction novel, and one that I will remember for a long time to come.

A Transcontinental Affair focuses on the Pullman Hotel Express, which is the first train to travel cross-country from Massachusetts to California. Before reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about this train or even when the first train traveled from coast to coast (1870). There was such a plethora of information in this book and I really enjoyed learning about this piece of our history that I knew nothing about.

I really loved the main three young women that the book mostly focuses on which are Hattie, Louisa, and Julia. Hattie is traveling to San Francisco to marry a fiancé she has never met, Louisa is the daughter of a Reverend sent aboard to work for a wealthy family as a governess, and Julia is on board with her father who also ends up being Hattie's chaperone so to speak. Hattie was such a strong character and she was so knowledgeable and inquisitive about so many things that I loved reading from her viewpoint. It took me longer to warm up to Louisa, but in the end she was completely endearing.

A Transcontinental Affair is only the second book I have read with a LGBT theme, and it definitely wasn't too strong in this novel which might be why I didn't even know it was there until I read it. There is also some violence towards both animals and people which could end up being a trigger warning for some. This book is set in the days when Native Americans were still called 'Injuns' if that tells you anything.

Even though there was violence, there were also so many things that made me laugh and usually it was because of Hattie. Basically the only reason that I didn't give this book a 5 is because it tended to get a little confusing, especially when there were a lot of things going on. Other than that I absolutely loved the gem that is A Transcontinental Affair.

Final Thought: I think most historical fictions lovers will be a fan of this book, and if you love setting details you will definitely find them in A Transcontinental Affair. I actually felt like I was on the train while reading which was something I personally really enjoyed. I also really loved the ending and was so satisfied with what happened. I can't wait to read more books by Daynard!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Ann Creel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely novel takes readers on a journey that features the most advanced train travel of the day, and also on an exploration of the human spirit, courage, and heart. Daynard not only creates great characters, she paints them with vivid colors and light. Each one is unique and fully developed, and you will yearn to know the outcomes all along the way.

Daynard has done impeccable research, and I felt I was taking the journey along with the characters. The love story in this novel surprised me and yet unrolled naturally and believably. I found it quite moving. I also didn't see many of the plot twists coming.

I highly recommend this unique work of historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where's the disclaimer on this story. I would like to be told in advance the story is about a gay romance. I wouldn't have wasted my First Read opportunity on this book. Everybody skirts around the elephant in the room (book), but nobody has the nerve to call it like it is. I am not a homophobe. I'm just tired of having the whole gay agenda shoved down my throat or in this case snuck into my bedtime reading.

[Trinity · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I read through the reviews of this book I was surprised and disappointed by the negative response simply because it is a romance between two women. The romance is clearly stated in the description of the book, there is no secret agenda, just unobservant readers.

When I saw a book in the Kindle First Reads about a romance between two women, I was pleasantly surprised. This is a genre that is underrepresented in the mainstream so it was refreshing to see it offered by Amazon. My disappointment came in trying to read the book, I could not get through it. I wanted to, I gave it four tries, but I just could not get into it. The only reason I gave this book three stars was because of the characters. Hattie was a woman ahead of her time but not in a cookie cutter way. Yes she eschewed typical women's clothing of the time and smoked and drank which are all typical ways of creating a rebellious female character, but she was also interested in mechanics, engineering, and science. She was highly intelligent and self educated in the subjects that interested her. Louisa is a good fit for Hattie. Although not as spirited and more traditional she has an inner strength and is a survivor dealing with PTSD from the war. She provides a more traditional balance to Hattie's revolutionary personality.

The issue that I had with this book is the way that it was written. The plot is all over the place, or perhaps there are just too many plots. The book was also written in a choppy fashion, skipping around from one perspective to another and random event to random event. It almost felt more like a list than a story. Because of this I was only able to make it about a third of the way into the book before finally giving up. Although I am still debating on if I want to give it another try simply to see what becomes of the characters. Overall my dislike of this book comes down to style so it is a personal preference but I would recommend it for the characters.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I appreciate when a book reminds me in the title if it's fiction or non-.) I chose this based on the outraged reviews by some narrow-minded folks on Amazon; generally if it upsets bigots, it's a book for me, and that was indeed true in this case. I'm not sure how realistic the ending was but it gave me happy thoughts and I need those so I'm good with it.

Rating 5 stars to offset one of the uncalled for 1 stars.

[Netgyrl (Laura)]

DNF @21% This book is just not clicking for me so moving on to the next in the pile. :)

[Kara Prem · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not giving this book a low rating because of (clutch your pearls....homosexual relationships!!!) I chose this book because I thought it would be nice to read about a non-hetero relationship for a change. I find the low ratings based purely on the "Immoral" lesbian relationship to be ridiculous, as yes, lesbians existed in the 1800's. Give me a break.

Unfortunately, this book was boring. That is all there is to it. I read a third of the book and we've progressed a good distance into the country. That's all. There isn't much information being shared on the characters that is interesting, and I'm sick to death of hearing about the food. I just can't get into the book enough to finish it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction. Another great work by author Jodi Daynard. She combines the history of the Pullman Express Hotel, the first train to go coast to coast across the U.S. This was in 1865 and was greatly descriptive of the luxurious train, the beauty of the untamed United States and the frontier towns and cities of the time.
Most interesting is the same sex love interest of two of the female passengers. You'll be turning pages to discover how this turns out; each of them have different plans for when they arrive at their respective destinations.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of this more than the actual book. It has a fairly slow start, and I didn't find the plot or the romance particularly engaging. Also, some of the characters came across to me as stereotypes and/or somewhat flat.

[Peter Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

To my mind, much of historical fiction, in literature and TV, is merely contemporary drama in costume. That is because a realistic representation of a time gone past takes extensive research: it's hard work. One thing I love about Jodi Daynard's novels is that you can be sure she has done her homework and that even very minor details can be trusted as truthful. Add to that strong and well-rounded characters and a plot full of surprises, and you have a compelling read. Maybe if your taste runs to genre formulas where you pretty much know what is going to happen, (and there's nothing wrong with that) then this book might not be for you. If you are up for a challenge then I am confident that you will not have read anything quite like this book. By the way, I know that Lake Union markets primarily to women, and that is all well and good, but this is a book that would appeal to anyone who appreciates strong writing and great storytelling.

This book is not publicly available yet and my copy came directly from the author. I am related to the author and surely biased. Nevertheless, this review represents my honest opinion.

[Tonya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book started out really good and I learned a lot about traveling by train in the 1800s, but then the entire story went off the rails. I quit reading it and removed it from my device immediately. Doesn’t anyone write good clean stories anymore?

[Ana Popielnicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

In a departure from the times of her previous novels (roughly a hundred years!), in this one we still get Jodi's signature historical accuracy and vivid narrative, which pull the reader into the story in such a way one practically experiences it as real. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the extraordinary heroines, though I confess I didn't particularly like either of the two main characters. This, however, did not impact my enjoyment of the story, which is an indication of the author's amazing skill in engaging her readers.

If you have not discovered Jodi Daynard yet, hurry up!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of Harriet and Louisa and their cross-country train excursion on the Pullman Hotel Express. Harriet is a teenage rebel who, much to her father's chagrin, chooses to wear pants and doesn't want to get married unless it is for love. Louisa is a pastor's daughter with a club foot, which he left to grow unevenly for too long because of his resentment over her mother's infidelity. When the two girls end up on a train together, Harriet on her way to meet the man she is to marry in San Francisco, and Louisa as a governess to an unbearable rich man, his gold digging wife, and their ill-behaved children, they spend more and more time in each other's company and little by little, fall in love. When an incident happens on the train, they start to suspect that maybe all the glitter and glam of the Pullman Express isn't as innocent as it seems.

I received this book as an Amazon First Reads exclusive. I was delighted to see a lesbian historical fiction novel available and jumped at the chance to read it. Sadly, that was where my excitement died. The book description makes this book sound like it's going to be a raucous train ride (literally) filled with scandal and intrigue, with a love story developing throughout and culminating in a final, blow out last stand with the girls on one side and the world on the other. That is not the book that I read. At all points of conflict, when the story could have been fleshed out and made into something captivating and beautiful, Jodi chose to cash it in and make each scene as boring as possible. Even the action scenes - of which there are about two - are just . . . boring. The ending feels slapped together, like the author realized she had to end her book somehow but had left herself very few options.

I'm giving it 2 out of 5 stars because I love the concept, but hate the execution. It's not unreadable - I was just left wanting at the end of the book. This was an opportunity to bring light to the struggles of the LGBT community in the 19th century, and especially those of women who were expected and required to find husbands and bear children. This book did absolutely none of that, and fell far flat of its potential.

See more reviews on my blog at http://www.theblondeintheoffice.com

[Kenneth J. Olsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

I'm a railroad nut, have read several books on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and felt it necessary to read this one. Even though the characters and plot would be fictitious, had to find out if it had some new insights on the post construction of the Transcontinental. It did and it didn't. Since the Pullman Palace Train was real, everything about the route it travelled should have been accurate. When the train pulled into Northwestern Station (Chicago), continued on to Sterling, IL, it should have crosses the Mississippi at Clinton, Iowa, not Burlington. In fact, a RR bridge at Burlington did not exist until 1887 when the Santa Fe expanded into Chicago. Later, the train goes through Julesburg, Nebraska. Julesburg is in Colorado! Later it goes through Palisade, west of Wyoming. Palisade is in Nevada, west of Utah.

Past the geography errors, the story line is convoluted. Instead of a plot, this writing has several going off in different directions. It was like a box of odds and ends tossed onto a table. The affair? Maybe it should have been the train ride!

[Ann Creel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This lovely novel takes readers on a journey that features the most advanced train travel of the day, but also on an exploration of the human spirit, courage, and heart. Daynard not only creates great characters, she paints them with vivid colors and light. Each one is unique and fully developed, and you will yearn to know the outcomes all along the way.

Daynard also shows evidence of impeccable research, and I felt I was taking the journey along with the characters. The love story in this novel surprised me and yet unrolled naturally and believably. I also didn't see many of the plot twists coming.

I highly recommend this unique work of historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

[Mary Ellen Woods · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not object to the lesbian content at all. The problem was the writing was not very good. Lots of repetition of information and emotional telling. Transitions between characters was not well done. What made me stop reading was when the main character dreams up accordion connectors for the railroad cars in her head. Sorry, that is just cheating since we know they were later invented and not by this character to my knowledge. The history seems forced, stuffed in to build the story around and not part of the plot. Not worth paying for so I’m glad I borrowed it from Prime reading.

[Mystica · Rating 3 out of 5]

May 1870 and this is history in the making. The first train to travel coast to coast is about to begin its journey and on board are myriad characters all going to San Francisco.

Two women Louisa and Hattie are also on the train. Louisa as a governess to two children along with their strange parents, and Hattie on a mission to marriage where Leland is waiting for her at the other end. Hattie is different for her times - bold, brash, innovative and clever. Louisa is sensitive, reserved and with a club foot with a marked limp she is very conscious of tends to keep to the background. How these two women forge a bond of friendship and love amidst the travails of travelling and the excitement of this journey is the story.

Add to this accidents on the way, encounters with Indians, deaths, and a massive cover up by the train authorities themselves add to the story. The book though very factual was a bit of a slow read and you had to pursue it to the end to understand the nuances of the LGBTQ connections in this story.

Being a history buff, this part of the story interested me more.

[Thelma Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book an amazing trip back in time with A Transcontinental Affair. With complex heroines, impeccable prose, high drama and a view of the West as it was being won, this historical romance set on America's first transcontinental train trip in 1870 offers the perfect must-read novel for a long, leisurely rail journey -- or a commuter binge. Passionate, insightful, empathetic and unforgettable.

[Laura Tharrett Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this!!

This was my first historical fiction that I really enjoyed. The book follows the journey of two women from different walks of life who actually form a strong bond after a week on a Transcontinental railroad trip.

[nancy daynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodi Daynard does it again! She's woven another impeccable story of history with all the right elements to keep you enthralled, with twists, turns, and all the beauty this land has to offer to the very end.

If your looking for a slice of history told with whit, warmth and truth, you've found your next not be missed tale, you've come to the right place!

[Emi-Wan Kenobi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The tl;dr version: - boring plot, flat characters, problematic depictions of native Americans, lazy writing, very little in the way of any actual “romance”.

The one star is strictly for the attempt at making an LGBT+ book, even if it turned out badly.

The longer version:

I’m curious about what genre this is even supposed to be. It can’t be a romance, given that the “romance” didn’t even begin until over 50% of the way in and was so poorly done, abruptly introduced, and lacking in any actual romantic features. It’s not an adventure because, for all the (rather problematic) talk of “Indians”, explosions, and gruesomely described deaths (like, shot in the head, face burned off, etc described in unnecessary detail), nothing happens for 60% of the book and when it does happen it’s so abrupt and so poorly described to the point where it’s not interesting to read.

It’s just a bad book, honestly. Poorly written with no plot to speak of, and full of racist, rude, pathetic, or otherwise unlikable characters. Hattie, our main character, is rude, petty, jealous, spiteful, heartless, a bully, and honestly doesn’t ever do a single nice thing in the book that isn’t in some way selfish. Louisa is a strange perfect waif of a girl who’s resigned to everything. Julia is a polite piece of furniture. The men are all mostly idiots or villains who stare or scowl constantly.

Overall the writing is sloppy, with numerous inconsistencies, unnecessarily gruesome descriptions of death, and full of borderline-if-not-absolutely racist depictions of native Americans and appropriations of their culture (the fact that a “squaw” dubs a white female a “two-spirit” which a white man then has to define is just one example). The plot is repetitious, dull, and full of abrupt happenings, with low/no stakes anywhere, not to mentione absolutely unbelievable in so many ways. The characters range from flat as paper to utterly unlikable.

1 star, 2/10, won’t recommend or read again.

[Dorothy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novel thoroughly engaging because fictional characters were set in a real event in history. A Pullman train, filled with businessmen, entrepreneurs, and railroad officials, crosses the US on the newly completed transcontinental railway. Among the travelers is Hattie Eames, a radical tomboy who dares wear a pant dress, and Louisa Finch, a young woman with a deformed foot who wears a boot and has been retained as a nanny for a rich family's children. The two young women meet during the train trip, gradually find they are attracted to one another, and then--given the culture of the time--have to figure out what to do about it. The author did considerable research to assure accuracy with regard to the Pullman Hotel Express and to the mores of 1870 America. For anyone who enjoys the detail associated with historical fiction, I highly recommend this lesbian romance.

[OraLee Kirkham · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should have read the reviews

I got this first reads book at the very last minute, and because I like historical fiction thought this might be interesting. Little did I know I was getting into lesbian fiction. I wish Amazon would give some upfront ratings regarding language and sexual content because there are still many of us out here who like good clean fiction.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Only to know that it is your pain. You may give it to someone else, but you can’t give it away.”

2.5 stars. I feel like I have almost nothing to say about this book. It was... kinda dull!! An absolute nothing of fiction!! In my defence, I really did think I would enjoy learning about trains, and this being the first transcontinental train journey in the US but girl... I didn't. I entertained thoughts of DNFing early on, but I kept on going because I really liked Hattie! There's something about a headstrong, slightly obnoxious heroine that is very endearing to me, especially in historical fiction when women are expected to be anything but. Sometimes she was a bit too annoying, but the important thing is that she wasn't immune to growth. The romance between her and Louisa isn't front and centre, but I really enjoyed it, and the slow way they realised their feelings. That's pretty much what kept me going. I really did like their friendship and relationship. But the actual plot? I did not care. Why did we keep getting Leland's POV? Useless. And all the stuff about the mechanics of the train and then the cover-up... boring. Alas, I am not a train girlie. Also, I'm not sure I loved how the one and only significant Native character was used. 

Listened to the audiobook as read by Emily Sutton-Smith, which blessedly sped things along. Good accents as well. I'm not mad I read this book, because I am coming away from it with genuine affection for Hattie and Louisa. But also, I'm glad it's over.

Content warnings: murder, gore, decapitation, PTSD/scenes of war recounted, racism

[Mrs CKC · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, wow... some of the reviews of this book really shock me and make me incredibly sad. For a moment there I thought we were back in 1970s America when being gay was considered (to some) perverse and an atrocity. I’m so glad we’ve moved on from that (sarcasm fully intended). Well, people’s somewhat perturbing views aside, I really enjoyed this book. It was a slow burner but a nice read. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, and I always find that a good sign. It’s like watching a pleasant Sunday afternoon movie. It doesn’t have to be earth shattering to be enjoyable. The descriptions were rich and I felt I truly travelled the landscape alongside the excursionists. Finally, this book does not need to come with a disclaimer, warning, or any such other label and those wishing for one should maybe consider what it is you fear so much in reading something that does not immediately reflect your own world. And, at the very least, you’re free to simply put the book down whenever you so please.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an initial very interesting premise: a girl who takes a train across the country in the late 1800's without her father to meet a man whom she has never met and is expected to marry. This is based on an actual train that traveled during this time period and certain people within the story were based on actual passengers on the train.

However, halfway through I realized the crux of the story was based on two women who are lesbians and how they deal with their feelings in such a time period when it was considered an abomination to be homosexual in nature. This main theme wasn't executed well and I didn't feel as drawn in or attached to the characters as I could have been.

Overall, I was just okay with this story. It could have been more fascinating in the descriptions or with the emotions than it was.

Thank you Net Galley/Lake Union Publishing for my copy and honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't call it sweeping or full of adventure or danger! The vast majority of it is fairly dull and monotonous.

It was slow, surely more interesting if you're into the time period and train aspect, but it paid off well enough for me (given that it was free and I was bored). I enjoyed the narrators voice, it was appropriate for a historical. I found myself invested in the characters more than expected. I do wish that we had been able to see further on in their story to see how life works out for them. it was also a bit insta-love which I'm not a big fan of, but it was nice.
For anyone wary or curious, it's not at all even remotely explicit, just some kissing.