Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as “pervaded with divine light.”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 … 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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SUPERB!
Where the Fire Falls (A Vintage National Parks Novel Book #2) is superb! Barnett is at her best when taking her readers on an adventure through one of the National Parks. This novel is set in vintage Yosemite and involves two people who are trying to find themselves. What better place for soul searching than in the splendor and grandeur of Yosemite National Park when it was still extremely new and vastly unspoiled by hordes of visitors? A beautiful young woman is running from her past and trying to paint her way to a wonderful new future for herself and her younger twin sisters. A ruggedly handsome man and former pastor, has been serving as a wilderness guide. As such, he is still helping people find their way and he definitely realizes that the young painter is desperate to find find her way both professionally and spiritually. Each of them have their own struggles but they discover that shared burdens are lighter burdens. This novel is jam packed with everything you want in a great book – excellent, realistic characters, creative plot line, incredible descriptions of the spectacular details of major scenic areas in Yosemite and a dark mystery that runs throughout the book. It is superb! I was provided an ARC of this book by WaterBrook and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
4.45 stars
This was my first book by Karen Barnett and I am thrilled. I am not usually a reader of historical fiction or romance but this story was fantastic.
Being a big outdoor fan I loved the descriptions of Yosemite National Park with its sights and attractions. The characters were lovely and the writing pulled me right into the story and made me feel like I was right there experiencing the adventure together with Olivia and Clark. I had a hard time putting this book away when life got in the way of reading.
In my humble opinion there could have been even more camping and hiking in the story … it was just so much fun!
I appreciated the additional historical facts that the author added at the end of the book about locations and persons that were included in the story.
I requested this book on Netgalley and would like to thank WaterBrook Multnomah and the author for providing me an advance copy.
You’ll feel like you are visiting beautiful Yosemite Falls in person! I loved the main characters: Clark, a former pastor who is searching for God’s will for his life and is working as a guide in Yosemite. Olivia is attempting to earn a living as a painter and to overcome her childhood by pretending to be someone she is not. Both learn to seek God’s will in their lives. I recommend Where the Fire Falls to anyone who enjoys the outdoors. I won a copy of Where the Fire Falls in a Kathleen Denly Giveaway. This is my honest opinion.
I am loving this series by Karen Barnett. I enjoy her real but poetic style of writing. The reference to the outdoors and the park settings feed my nature loving side. Her descriptions of the place put me right there.
The plot is well laid out but keeps you guessing. The right amount of romantic tension presents itself in this clean, inspiring read.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I couldn’t wait to rejoin life in Yosemite. This adventure made me so anxious to plan my next vacation there! The vivid word pictures painted by this talented author, Karen Barnett made me feel like I was there in person.
Loved it so much I bought the other two books in this series!
Really great book. Would read again!
Where the Fire Falls took me by the hand and led me through the wonders of Yosemite National Park with an engaging storyline. I don’t read romance often, but Karen’s combination of an emerging artist protagonist with her secret and painful personal life and the historical setting of the national park gifted me with a great escape for a while. I highly recommend this book. I have also read The Road to Paradise and loved it. I look forward to reading the next book in this vintage national parks series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, as well as the other books in the author’s Vintage National Parks series. Was thrilled to see this one was just named a finalist in the prestigious 2019 Carol Awards from American Christian Fiction Writers. Well deserved.
Did not want to put this book down. I loved the flow of the story and all of the characters. I love the descriptions of the land in the national park. This makes me want to visit this area. I loved the use of art and some religion through this story. I love how people grow throughout the story. I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Yosemite National Park is a leading character in and of itself. It’s beauty, it’s fragrance, it’s scenic wonder, and adventure comes to life! Where the Fire Falls is the second book in Karen Barnett’s Vintage National Park Series and it does not let down the first! Olivia Rutherford is a starving artist, carrying a huge burden, and trying desperately to financially care for her younger twin sisters. She gets an opportunity that could launch her into the world of success, but she must decide what she’s willing to give up, what she’s willing to risk, and if constantly trying to hide who she really is, is worth it. There’s a theme of discovering who we really are as God’s children and being free in that, that runs throughout this story. It’s beautifully done and very well written! And the sweet love story that blossoms between Olivia and her tour guide, also former minister, Clark Johnson is delightful. Clark has his own struggle to work through and they are able to help each other. Bravo Karen! Can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!
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.