A Captain for Laura Rose

With skill and ambition ahead of her time, Laura White pursues her pilot’s license and permission to captain her late father’s prize riverboat, despite gender prejudice and financial, challenges in this inspirational novel. In order to save the Laura Rose from swindlers, Laura is forced to accept the help of family friend Finn MacKnight, disreputable and untrustworthy though he is, who brings aboard drama of his own. Together they face the perils of the river and their own emotions. Whitson (The Quilt Chronicles) weaves a fine thread of faith into each relationship and plot development, giving readers a view of maturity through trials. The author also paints a vivid portrait of life on the Missouri River, from the cramped quarters of the packet boat, through the outpost settlements up the river, to the squalid docks of St. Louis. Lively dialogue keeps the story’s pace clipping along, and strong secondary characters—Finn’s sisters Adele and Fiona in particular—contribute to subplots that add depth. Despite a major unresolved subplot, the author spins an entertaining historical tale of faith, action, and romance. Agency: Books & Such Literary Management. (Mar.)