Karen Barnett: Where the Fire Falls

By Kelly Bridgewater

Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shed her humble beginnings to fashion her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine, including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.

    After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the opportunity to become a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?

    As Clark opens Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas--a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.

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My Thoughts:

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett is the second book in her A Vintage National Parks Novels series. I have enjoyed the first book, The Road to Paradise, and I couldn't wait to dive back into a story in a setting that I haven't explored. The characters of Olivia and Clark jump off the page. Right from the beginning, I wanted to know more about the back story of Olivia. She intrigued me. Clark was a little different. I didn't learn a lot about his back story or the lack of one right away, which was okay for me. The plot captured my attention and had me flipping through the story. I had a hard time putting the novel down. I loved how Barnett showed her love of this setting through the eyes of Clark. I felt like I was right there with Clark and Olivia as they traveled to scenic parks of the park to paint. A mystery appeared toward the end of the novel, and I loved it. It didn't feel out of place. I actually felt like Barnett wrapped her mystery in the historical novel without any faults. The romance sparkled but bloomed toward the end during the mystery element.

In conclusion, Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett is a captivating story taking place in the Yosemite National Park with loveable characters. This story kept me up, and I eagerly await the third book in the series. Fans of historical romance, I believe, will love this story. I sure did!

I received a complimentary copy of Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett from Waterbrook Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars