The place? Facebook—Avid Readers of Christian Fiction.
The thread? Got no clue. I can’t remember what the thread was about anymore. But something about it caught my attention, and I began scrolling through the pictures posted by readers who wanted to share their suggestion. Or, maybe it was one of the semi-regular posts saying, “Show me what you’re reading.”
Whatever it was, as I zipped past picture after picture of books I’d read before, seen pictures of multiple times, or some combination of the above, something hit me. One after another, shiny, happy people, or brooding, solemn, melancholy people stared back at me. Or off into the distance. If I’d seen one, I’d seen them all. Including on the fronts of my own books, for that matter.
But then it appeared and I paused. The WPA-style cover art snagged my attention. It was fresh, different. And well, I’m a sucker for that style of art. It looked like a mystery—but not. The Road to Paradise.
I made a note of it in a “must read” list and moved on. Then I circled back and looked at it once more.
That time, I zipped over to Amazon and popped it in my wishlist and put it on my “Anticipated Summer Reads List.”
And promptly forgot about it.
How I Fail at Specials
A few months later, this thing happened. Somewhere on Facebook (it’s like the Mecca of book info for authors and readers alike), I saw a deal offered. If you preordered Karen Barnett’s new book, Where the Fire Falls, and sent your receipt, the publisher would send the first book, The Road to Paradise… FREE.
At that point, I did what any reasonable and levelheaded woman would do. I rushed off and bought that sucker. I zipped my email off to Multnomah and sat back. Satisfied. I mean, after all, I got the books at half cost then, right? SCORE!
The Road to Paradise arrived fast. I mean, I was impressed with how fast. I expected six to eight weeks of waiting—long past the release of book two.
Yeah, no. Got that sucker lickety split.
Right when I couldn’t read it.
I set it on my to be read shelf and worked hard on my current obligations. But I gazed. Longingly, I gazed.
Then it happened. Release day! I knew it because pictures started showing up all over… you guessed it. FACEBOOK.
I went to check the mail. It was a fabulous day for books. I think I had six or eight packages. SCORE!
The first one I opened was Where the Fire Falls. I admired the cover, reread the synopsis that tells you nothing about the book but whets your whistle. So cruel.
And then I put it on the shelf next to its cousin. I say cousin because these stories are only connected by the series topic—not by characters at all.
After two or three other books that were review copies, I opened the next. Out popped Where the Fire Falls.
I blinked.
And then I went to work. Type in amazon.com… Click on orders… scroll down to Where the Fire Falls… scroll a bit more to grab the order number so I can tell them which one when I report that I have two books when I paid for one… and… There’s another one!
I paid for two. Insert face-palm here. Don’t know how I did it. Don’t care.
I decided it was perfect for a giveaway.
Note: links are probably affiliate links that provide me with a small commission. Furthermore, I did get Road to Paradise FREE, but as part of a purchase promotion, and not as a review copy.
What I Loved about These Books
I have a new name on my “If he/she writes it, I buy it” list. Karen Barnett. Author of the “Vintage National Parks Novels,” Karen is a phenomenal writer. Seriously.
Look, the more I learn about the writing craft, the pickier I get about writing. I can love a book with “inferior writing” if the author does his or her job right. I can. And I have.
And I will again.
However, when I read an entire book without a single line making me go, “Ooof… sounds passive,” or “Ugh… stop explaining and telling me everything.,” or even worse, “Enough with the info dumping!” then I know I’ve found gold.
Karen Barnett has an easy style. Natural, engaging, and with enough twists and turns in plots to keep them from being predictable. Even when you know what’ll happen, you don’t.
Genius right there.
She does the obvious thing—with an unexpected result. And I LOVE it.
About the book:
An ideal sanctuary and a dream come true–that’s what Margaret Lane feels as she takes in God’s gorgeous handiwork in Mount Rainier 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?
The Road to Paradise kicks off this series with more than frigid alpine air in Washington’s Cascade Mountains.
Ranger Ford isn’t impressed by his new naturalist from the get-go, and his reception shows it.
Undaunted, Margaret Lane sails into the world she loves so much—nature. As a naturalist, she knows all kinds of book facts and now has the opportunity to test them.
Either Ms. Barnett is a naturalist herself or she has done some serious homework. And here’s where her skills shine almost brightest—by dulling all that fascinating information. Seriously.
This woman looked up all kinds of facts and information about the flora and fauna and topography of the area. She knows of what she writes. And even still, as far as I can see, every single fact she added was necessary to the plot—either to show character development, help you feel like you are on the slopes of Mt. Ranier, or both.
Another thing I love is that her villain is a villain!
There seems to be a trend away from the definite bad guy. Not in this book. He’s a low-down snake. And I loved hating him.
I mean, isn’t that the glorious thing about fiction? It’s not a sin to hate these guys because they aren’t real??!!
She tied off every string with careful precision—some in knots, others in bows. But it’s all wrapped up—a mystery-slash-romance. And it’s my kind of romance, too. Not too sappy, not too caked with emotion and over-the-top kissing. I didn’t need a freezer or anything like that.
Just a really wonderful book that earned a permanent place on my shelf.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the late twenties-early thirties in American history, anyone interested in mysteries, romance, or naturalism. And for those who felt a little concerned that it might be heavy handed on the conservation side… it’s not. I am particularly sensitive to the tendency of some authors to slip into worshiping the creation over the Creator. Karen Barnett didn’t do that.
Where the Fire Falls
About the book:
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.
Yosemite has held a huge piece of my heart ever since I went when I was twelve.
There I saw squirrels stumbling around the park after getting a hold of some beer bottles with just a bit of beer left in them. I had tonsillitis, and my father religiously swabbed each one with Merthiolate every time we stopped. The pain… oh, the pain!
But those squirrels made me giggle, and after that, I could really see the wonder above me.
I saw it again in this book. Of course, the Fire Fall over Yosemite Falls had ceased a few years before I was born, but the wonder of that area is something that doesn’t need man’s additions.
And this story shows it. Once more, Karen Barnett takes the setting and uses it to weave a couple of mysteries, unravel people’s tangled pasts, and all with brilliant detail to the world of art in the Roaring 20s.
She used art terms in a way I’ve heard other artists use—little details that make me confident she did as much research on this book as her last. Either that, or she’s not only a naturalist but a watercolorist as well as a phenomenal writer and storyteller.
Because, oh, yes.
This book was possibly, if not definitely, better than the last. Again, the detail that didn’t weigh down, the respect for nature that didn’t worship, the full characterization of every person—it all culminates in a story that should not be missed.
If you enjoy a glimpse into the life of a flapper—and more than the superficial story at that—you’ll want to read this book. If you’ve ever found yourself defining yourself by your past, you’ll want to read this book. And if you love a mystery in a lesser used historical setting, grab it. I can’t imagine anyone not loving these books.
These two books have made it to my top ten for 2018.
And, I have hopes for the next being in the Black Hills National Park. There was a hint of Mt. Rushmore mentioned, so… fingers crossed!
CONGRATULATIONS Rebekah D. You won! I’ll be zipping that to you this week!
I would love to visit Glacier Bay!
I love Mt. Ranier. It is so magnificant that I could just sit and look at it. I have been to Paradise three times and would happily go back.
Big Bend National Park because—TEXAS!
MMMMWAAHAHAHA!
I’ve been on several memorable trips to the west coast and love stopping in the National Parks. I’ve been to Mt. Rainier but sadly it was too foggy that day to be able to see much.I would like to return someday.. Something that I found annoying with the National Parks is how they explain things taking millions of years to evolve when it is clearly the hand of our amazing Creator!
Well, that’s kind of par for the course. Right? Whatever it takes to remove God from the equation. Should we be surprised?
You can tell God really took his time on those ones :).
I really want to go to Glacier National Park! And I really want to read Where the Fire Falls. 🙂 I absolutely love the covers!
Aren’t they phenomenal?!
this is very generous of you. I have bought double books and given one away. I love Yosemite Park, Every year for about 10 years our family went camping there for 2 whole blessed weeks. One year my dad bought a special sausage that only he ate. It had a lot of spices in it. And he loved to cook them over an open fire. Then one night our dog went wild in the tent. We could hear a bear outside. I will never forget that mom was holding the dog with one hand and dad with the other so neither would go outside the tent. The next morning we all went outside and yup you guessed it. The bear only took dads sausage. LOL Well we followed the trails of little bits of sausage until we found where that bear left most of it mauled and filthy dirty. Boy oh Boy, I have never seen dad so hopping mad. “At least that bear could have eaten the sausage and not just tasted it” he said. He knew he had 5 little ones trailing him. So he was forbidden to curse with us around LOL
Oh, that’s a wonderful story! I hope Karen Barnett shows up to read it!
Great story! It sounds like the bear had specialized tastes! I like the image of your mom holding onto both the dog and your dad.
I have been to quite a few national parks, but I would love to visit Glacier, Denali and Arcadia.
I’m seeing a mountainous theme!
I love the Grand Canyon, but since I love to travel I want to go to Yosemite. God is amazing in his creation so I want to see as much as I can!
And Yosemite means you’re closer to me! Stop by on the way, have fries with me at Denny’s…
I don’t think I’ve ever been to a national park. My brothers love Yosemite, so I wouldn’t mind going there. My husband and I want to see the Grand Canyon. My mom and her aunt (ages 60-something and 80-something) flew in a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon during their cross-country-trip to California and back.
You have definitely made me want to read these books sometime. I love reading books where I can learn something while also enjoying the story that the author has written. (And, really, brilliant idea about having wish lists for when you want to read certain books!)
I just read the other comments, and I have been to Mt. Rainier!! My mom’s cousin lives in/near Tacoma and when I was 13, we took my great grandmother to visit her (drove from Long Beach up to Washington). My cousin took us to Mt. Rainier. I don’t remember a whole lot except that it was very pretty. And I got a t-shirt out of the deal.
I got the sweatshirt out of our San Francisco trip which kept me from freezing in Yosemite when I was 12. Similarish experiences in totally different places!
Come to the Grand Canyon! I’ll meet you over there!
That looks like an amazing story! My favorite National Park is Yellowstone, but I’ve enjoyed all the ones I’ve been to!
Yellowstone is next! I’ve got it from the scrivener’s mouth!
I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone and I really want to read these books. I’ve had my eye on them for awhile now!
I feel STUPID for waiting so long. That, however, is not to imply that you should feel stupid. I mean, they were SITTING ON MY SHELF. ARm’s reach. And I didn’t. That’s why. Just clarifying… *slinks away before her mouth gets a fungus*
Wonderful review! I’d love to visit the Grand Tetons.
OOOH! I think we went when I was little. Or we were going to and missed… hmmm I think I’ll just tag along with you, okay?
I love the Grand Canyon and the the petrified forest. There are so many amazing national parks it’s hard to choose. Zion is also gorgeous.
Zion is amazing. God has a wide and varied paintbrush and sculpting style, no?
I would love to enter the giveaway! That time period is perfect for me. 😉 I’m not one for National Parks–never been to one, I don’t think–but Yosemite sounds good. I actually know what that is. XD
CutePolarBear
Hee hee! Well, Yosemite is rather impressive, so yeah!
Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains are two of my favorite national parks.
OOOH! I love the diversity there. Rocky/craggy, misty and gentle… (by comparison, anyway)
ach what a hard question! Every visit to Yellowstone was wonderful, we’re returning to Grand Canyon next month for a two night stay in the Park, Carlsbad Caverns – nothing like it anywhere! Most memories of utter amazement and delight – Mesa Verde in Colorado! yeah so pick any of the above or the dozen or more and you’ll know – I”m a national Park GEEK!
These are the books for you, then!
I have a huge wish to visit Yellowstone. My adventurous daughter took her sons, 7and 10, there this summer. She sent us videos of them describing what they saw.
I’ve love our National Parks!
They are some amazing things, aren’t they?
I’ve not been to a national park but Yosemite is on my bucket list because I’d love to hike John Muir Trail.
We have people who hike through here on the High Sierra Trail. (we’re at the foot of them in a valley)
I don’t know for sure if I have been to a National Park although I have been to many beautiful places. We are also blessed with many beautiful State Parks here in New York State and soon we will be going on our annual campout with children and grandchildren to Allegany State Park. A week in the woods. Some of the adults are more excited than the kids.
I can’t blame you guys! And I’ve always wanted to see the Alleghenies ever since I learned “Allegheny moon… I need your light..” as a girl. I went and looked up what an Allegheny moon was and that’s all she wrote. I needed to see the mountains of New York.
First of all, I adore these covers…I’m putting both books on my wishlist thanks to your reviews (and the covers)! The only national park I’ve been to is Acadia, as a child. We’re only 4-5 hours away, so I hope to take my family there one of these days! This fall we will be visiting family out west, and hope to visit at least one national park (probably Great Basin) while we’re there. Top of my list would be Yellowstone, I think…I would love to take a camping road trip and hit several parks along the way. There’s so much of our beautiful country I haven’t seen yet!!
I know how you feel. I would really love to be able to take one trip to all the parks. Just take three months and GO. Hey, if you’re going to dream…
I love Sequoia National Park. Probably mostly because of fond memories of visiting there when I was young. I have never been to Yellowstone and would absolutely love to go there someday. 🙂
Well, you’ll be able to take a trip with Karen and her characters. It’s not the same but it’s better than nothing!
I love Voyageurs National Park. My in-laws have a cabin sorta-kinda-not-really in the park, but surrounded by the park. It is a wonderful place to get away and spend time with family. And the sound of the water and the loons as you watch the sun rise or set… My favorite.
Ooooh! That sounds delightful! I’ve not actually heard of that park. I’m learning already! 😀
I would love to see Mt. Rainier and Denali.
I’m seeing a common thread…
I have gone to few national parks. I’ve been to Yellowstone National Park and would love to go back and see it and Glacier National Park nearby.
Karen Barnett says Yellowstone is in the next book! 😀
Being from Montana, Glacier National Park is my favorite!
Oh… yes. Montana. I loved my trip across your state! That’s a good choice.
I’d like to see the Grand Canyon National park just because it’s supposed to be so amazing and magestic.
It’s just wonderful. There’s such majesty in those craggy rocks.
Chautona, what a fun review!!! Thank you so much. I’m so glad you enjoyed both books–even if you did end up paying for one twice. I’ve done that, too. We book people get so excited about ordering books! And I hate to disappoint you, but the next book is set in Yellowstone, not Mount Rushmore. Of course, Yellowstone could never truly be a disappointment, could it? The comment about Mount Rushmore came from my own experience there. When I was young, I was such a nature snob, that I never thought I would enjoy a manmade monument like Rushmore. I ended up going with a group of friends in my college days, and probably groused about it the whole way. Then I stood in front of that mountain and felt my jaw drop. The evening program where they light up the carvings and sing the national anthem–it almost brought me to tears. I was SO not expecting that. Now I understand that national parks represent so much more than nature! They are national treasures of many types.
That is a BEAUTIFUL story! Thanks for sharing it.
Yellowstone… no one could complain. I’ll just be watching for Yogi around every corner. 😉
I’ve always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon. I’ve never done much traveling, but that’s on my bucket list. Next on the bucket list would probably be Yellowstone and the Black Hills to see Mount Rushmore.
Take me back to the Black Hills, the Black Hills of Dakota…
I’d like to visit Acadia National Park- because it’s in the region where one of my favorite book series is set- “Song of Acadia” by T. Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.
OOOH! yes! Forgot about that book!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park because I grew up near there and have awesome memories and want to make more with my own children!!
It is a wonderfully beautiful area.
Denali National Park is the favorite one I’ve been to (way back one summer in college) – I would go back in a heartbeat if it wasn’t ridiculously far away and rather expensive to take the whole family!
Denali iz on my list, too!
I’m not sure if it’s a National Park–probably a National Lakeshore, or something–but I really like Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. When I was about 14 or 15, our family went there for my birthday, in October, and we were treated to the gorgeous fall colors. Then, last year when we were back in America for a visit, we went there again, with my mom and sister. Such a beautiful place!
I’ve never heard of it! OOOH! Sounds wonderful
Well, I think I might like to see the Grand Canyon FIRST. 🙂 Because I haven’t even seen that.
And I’m so close that I could meet you there! 😀
Thanks so much for opening it up to overseas 🙂 from an excited reader in balmy Edinburgh, Scotland tonight.
In my youth I flew over The Grand Canyon enroute to visiting family near San Bernadino. It was stunning and totally on my future wishlist. But 3 yrs ago we had the privilege to have a 6 week trip to the US and a huge highlight was camping at Camp Curry with my husband, 5yr old son and 3yr old daughter for a few nights. It was amazing, the scenery was incredible, an enduring memory.
I have to say though, Scotland has a few places worth visiting too ? and a recent visit to a wee Island called Kerrara led us to some stunning isolated beaches and an ancient castle.
I am putting these books on my amazon wishlist.
OOOH! You might just recognize places in this book. And San Bernadino is so close to me!
My kids went to Ireland two years ago and flew over to Edinburgh for the day. They loved it. My grandmother came over from Scotland, so it has a very dear place in my heart. 🙂
I think Rocky Mountain National Park is my favorite. The views are beautiful. Although we also went there every summer as kids, so there’s some nostalgia to it too. Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon are awesome too!
Oh, it was WONDERFUL when I went the summer I turned 8! 😀
Glacier Bay National Park
I’ve always wanted to see Alaska, period!
I was so impressed with Glacier National Park. I got to visit it 2 times and wouldn’t you know that the first time was too early in the spring and we could not go straight through. Then the second time I went there was a rock fall that closed the road again. I was just thankful we visited from a different direction each time. At least we got to see most of the park and it was awesome.
Oh, wow. Sounds delightful, though, but what a disappointment not to make it through each time.
I want to stand at the foot of Rushmore and sing America the Beautiful. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of.
I’ve visited both Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone as a young child, but wasn’t really old enough to remember much of the trip. They are both places I would love to visit again.
My favorite national park is the Grand Canyon, ever since I hiked to the bottom when I was 9. The national park I most want to visit is Zion. It’s been at the top of my list since seeing a poster in college, and while we’ve done dozens of other national parks since then, we always totally miss Utah. Some day…
I don’t remember much of Zion, but I loved it. THAT I remember. 😀
We had big plans to take our daughter horseback riding at Yosemite for her birthday a couple weeks ago. When we arrived, we were told it had been cancelled due to all the smoke from the current fire. Lord willing, once those amazing firefighters get it all under control, we’ll be able to go back and I can finally say I’ve been to Yosemite!
Oh, I’m so sorry! What a disappointment. Praying for swift fire relief for MANY reasons–including her birthday trip!
Thanks for the book review. You make books so exciting and want to take the day off and read. (No I can’t, but I can dream) I love Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Tetons. There is something so magical about big mountain rocks and how they are formed and sustain all that we put on them. I think Yosemite is still closed from the Carr fire, but I’m not sure. I went to all of these as a kid, and most of them as an adult. It is one of those cherished memories.
OOOH! You’ve been to some I’ve not yet. So green!!! Rushmore is one I haven’t been up TO… and I want to do that.
I don’t thing I’ve been to any national parks, but would love to see the Grand Canyon and the giant trees in California! Sounds like a new author to add to the list!!
Highly recommend her!
I think my favorite is Great Sand Dunes National Park. It is sort of hard to get to, but such an amazing place to visit. I went as a child with family and we took some of our kids 11 years ago. I would love to go again with the kids, but who knows if that will happen or not.
Susan
I’ll be praying you can!