CURRENT OF LOVE by SANDRA LEESMITH

Most of this novel, CURRENT OF LOVE by SANDRA LEESMITH, takes place on a steam boat paddler. The journey begins and ends in New Orleans. The rest of the journey is down the Mississippi River. The novel is pretty predictable, but it's a nice escape from the daily routine. Janelle and Rett meet on the steamer. Both are carrying anxieties about heavy issues of Life. Rett is striving to become less of a workaholic. He begins trying to do better by staying at his father's side on the steamer. His father is in a wheelchair. When not on the boat, Everett, the father, lives in an assisted living facility. Rett is feeling guilty because his priority has always been work, work, work. It's even worse now. Because of technology he can carry his work with him wherever he goes. So in his hands a cell phone, lap top are a big temptation to forget the people around him and keep doing his work.

Janelle's concern is men. She is recovering from a bad relationship which destroyed her trust in men. She has decided not to get in another romantic relationship for a long, long time. However, when she and Rett meet one another their concerns change, and they fall in love. I guess there is no control over when love comes and when it leaves. Both Janelle and Rett strive hard not to get involved, but the stars are against them. It seems they must fall in love.

I really enjoyed reading about Everett's fun relationship with Grayce. Everett meets her on the steamer. They laugh together and just seem made for one another. Grayce even likes Janelle, and Janelle likes her. However, in all happy relationships a little rain must fall. There is a catastrophe waiting to happen which will test each of these strangers who have met on a steam boat paddler on the Mississippi.

Sandra Leesmith adds a little history throughout the novel. I have always heard of Huey P. Long. Didn't know about his character of where he stood in American Politics. I have always heard of Baton Rouge. Didn't knows anything about the place. I have ridden a steam boat with my husband for a day of lunch. So I could literally catch that slow, lazy feeling of a steam boat ride.

Sometimes predictability is all that is needed in a novel. The mind is exhausted and just wants to relax. This is why this novel worked for me at this time. Predictability doesn't mean the novel is necessarily shallow. The author picked hot button issues to deal with in her novel. This is a quote. Rett's feelings about wasting life is the issues. This is an issue that is constantly on my mind lately.

"Rett reached for her hand again and clasped her fingers. His touch warmed her hands as color rushed into her cheeks. He smoothed his thumbs along the palm of her hand. "'Pop is right. I've wasted so much of my life spinning wheels, and what do I have to show for it?'"  Janelle answers Rett by sharing her concerns. Then, she rounds up her thoughts in this way. "'We run from those feelings too, don't we?'" Now that I'm safely home in my town and away from my friends on the steam boat I miss them. I really enjoyed myself.sandraleesmith, Montlake Romance