The River Rose, A Water Wheel Novel by Gilbert Morris

Jeanne Bettencourt  is a widow raising an eight year old daughter, who is a chambermaid and lives very frugally.  Clint is a machinist who fights for a purse and and likes his women.  When they find they are very distantly related and have inherited a steamboat together, they both plan to sell it.  Then they visit it and find it's nice boat in very good condition and Jeanne wants to keep it.  It's just like the boat she grew up on...

B & H Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to download a copy of the ebook to read for review (thank you).  It was published in June, so you can find a copy now at your local bookstore.

Mr. Morris writes a good story with lots of action and a nice twist to the story.  It takes some time for Clint and Jeanne to realize they love each other.  Marvel, the daughter, gets yellow fever and almost dies.  There's gossip about having a female river captain and she gets the boat stuck on a sand bar.  The worst part of Jeanne's story is when she suddenly encounters her "dead" husband.  He's returned and he plans to claim his share of the boat (previously her share) and sell it.  He also has other evil plans, but has some trouble carrying them out.

This book has a Christian theme, both main characters have to trust in God and leave the problems in His hands.  The story is a bit too verbose.  I'd like to have seen the story in a more concise form; that's a personal preference.  

The story is well written, Jeanne has more than one love interest, and the steam boat story is interesting and educational.  All in all, it's a good story.

Happy reading.