Karen Barnett: Ever Faithful

By Kelly Bridgewater

Vibrant historic Yellowstone National Park comes to life in this romantic mystery about a man hiding the truth, braving the west to become something more--and the woman who must confront his deception.

A man who can't read will never amount to anything--or so Nate Webber believes. But he takes a chance to help his family by signing up for the new Civilian Conservation Corps, skirting the truth about certain "requirements." Nate exchanges the harsh Brooklyn streets for the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, curious if the Eden-like wonderland can transform him as well.
 

Elsie Brookes was proud to grow up as a ranger's daughter, but she longs for a future of her own. After four years serving as a maid in the park's hotels, she still hasn't saved enough money for her college tuition. A second job, teaching a crowd of rowdy men in the CCC camp, might be the answer, but when Elsie discovers Nate's secret, it puts his job as camp foreman in jeopardy. Tutoring leads to friendship and romance, until a string of suspicious fires casts a dark shadow over their relationship. Can they find answers before all of their dreams go up in smoke?

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett is a thrilling conclusion to her National Parks series. Elise and Nate jump off the pages as they are allowed to tell their love stories and their transformation stories. I really enjoy how this series takes place in the historic National Parks. As someone who has never been out west, Barnett invites me into the setting without ever leaving my living room. Barnett does a wonderful job at bringing the outdoors alive with her description. Then she invites a story to shine from within these national treasures. Elise and Nate have transformed and sparked into stronger and not so timid characters from the characters we meet in the beginning of the story. There is plenty of tension with the element of forest fires. The conclusion to this I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed this series, and I anxiously await to see what else Barnett creates next. Fans of Elizabeth Camden or Lorena Seilstad might want to pick up this series.

I received a complimentary copy of Ever Faithful by Karen Barnett through Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Ever Faithful

About the Author:

From Amazon

Karen Barnett is the award-winning author of The Golden Gate Chronicles (Out of the Ruins, Beyond the Ashes, and Through the Shadows) and Mistaken. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two kids, and three mischievous dachshunds. When she's not writing, Karen enjoys photography, hiking, public speaking, decorating crazy birthday cakes, and dragging her family through dusty history museums. Oregon Christian Writers (OCW) honored her with the Writer of Promise Award in 2013 and a Cascade Award for her debut novel, Mistaken, in 2014. In 2016, she was named Writer of the Year by the prestigious Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Karen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Oregon Christian Writers (OCW) and has been published in Guideposts and other national magazines. (Taken from Amazon.)

First in Series

By Kelly Bridgewater

Have you ever picked a book that happened to be the first book in a series and loved it, anxiously waiting for the second or third or even more to be published?

I have.

Below I have attached images of the books that are the first in a series that had gotten me hooked on the author's writing. (All covers come from Amazon unless noted.)

Hazardous Duty by Christy Barritt



Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman

 

Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason



Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren

 

The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett



A Cry from the Dust by Carrie Stuart Parks

 


 Submerged by Dani Pettrey



For Such a Time by Kate Breslin

 
Thanks!

Feel free to add some more authors who their first books in a series captured your imagination.

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.

From Amazon

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

Karen Barnett: The Road to Paradise

By Kelly Bridgewater

An ideal sanctuary and a dream come true–that’s what Margaret Lane feels as she takes in God’s gorgeous handiwork in Mount Rainer National Park. It’s 1927 and the National Park Service is in its youth when Margie, an avid naturalist, lands a coveted position alongside the park rangers living and working in the unrivaled splendor of Mount Rainier’s long shadow.

But Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is still haunted by his father’s death on the mountain, and the ranger takes his work managing the park and its crowd of visitors seriously. The job of watching over an idealistic senator’s daughter with few practical survival skills seems a waste of resources.

When Margie’s former fiancé sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, the plans might put more than the park’s pristine beauty in danger. What will Margie and Ford sacrifice to preserve the splendor and simplicity of the wilderness they both love?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I enjoy reading historical romance novels. Especially novels that take place during the twentieth century. Historical novels allow me to experience the past even though I'm living in the twenty-first century. With Karen Barnett's newest novel, The Road to Paradise, is a great historical novel that sheds some light on the national parks. With a historical novel, I expect to be interacted with the time period and the circumstances affect the lives of the character and the plot to be interesting enough to carry me through.

Barnett's writing is clear and concise. While she had the characters of Margie and Ford Brayden wander through the Mount Rainer National Park, I felt like I was right alongside them as they explored this untamed wilderness. She brought the wild into my imagination, allowing me to explore with the characters.

As for the characters of Margie and Ford, I really enjoyed spending time with them. Margie is a strong heroine who wants to explore the wilderness, which is totally out of character for that time period. While Margie has went against her parents' wishes, I admire her on how she stands up for what she believes in. She really doesn't care what others think. She wants to protect the wilderness, and nothing will stop her. As for Ford, he is the character who really transforms in this novel. He changes from someone who doesn't really believe in God to a character who surrenders his life to God. Ford admires Margie and learns a lot about his home from her joy in the smallest plant.

The plot captured me from the first chapter and kept my attention. I enjoyed how I this story was original. I don't know of any other story that takes place in the historical national park. I know of a couple of suspense novels that have murders happen in national parks, but nothing that takes place around this time period. I enjoy the twist with Philip and Margie's past coming back into the forefront of the novel.

Overall, The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett is a gripping story with a unique setting and lovable characters. I enjoyed spending time with them, and I can't wait to see the next two installments in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett from Waterbrook / Multnomah Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars