I like to read historical fiction because it not only entertains but I learn at the same time. This book, The Winds Of Fortune is set in 1882 in a place called Fayette, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Fayette was, and still is, a real place. Only now it's a ghost town and a Michigan State Park.
The town was found in 1864 to turn raw iron ore from the rich Michigan mining fields into pig-iron before it was shipped "down-lake" to a steel mill to be made into steel. The story is woven around historical events, like when the women in the town got together and burned down the brothel outside of town, down on the beach, or the mysterious burning of a schooner and sawmill near the marble quarry and two bodies were found. Foul play was suspected. Carrie Grey, the heroine is a rich character and -- well, it's just a great book.
There is a website with lots of pictures of the beautiful townsite.(I can't get the link thing to work, copy and paste: www.historic-fayette-michigan.com )
Fayette has a small deep harbor formed by high limestone cliffs. There are about 14 restored buildings to the town-site and this weekend (August 7) is Heritage Days there. Lots of fun!
The book, The Winds of Fortune, is available on Amazon.com