by admin | Nov 17, 2020 | Books, Historical, National Parks, Romance, Yellowstone
MY REVIEW:
This must be the season of National Park novels. I have read and enjoyed several and have noticed a few more I’d like to add to my list. Nothing Short of Wondrous definitely lives up to its title and is a worthy addition to my collection. Set during the early days of Yellowstone National Park, the narrative covers many of the trials and hard work involved in establishing Yellowstone.
Both Lieutenant William Prescott and widow Kate Tremaine are strong characters who captured my imagination from the beginning. Kate especially was a hard worker, determined to make her hotel a success in order to obtain the lease she needed to continue the dream of her late husband. William needed Kate to help him and his team learn their way around the vast acreage they had been assigned to patrol. Faced with danger in every direction that included the wild animals, poachers, and even competitors, William and Kate found themselves fighting side-by-side more than once. Naturally their close working relationship was bound to develop into even more as time progressed.
With plenty of action, danger, light-hearted moments, humor, faith, and romance, Nothing Short of Wondrous also contained vivid descriptions of the wonders of Yellowstone that made me want to visit. As always, the author Regina Scott has provided me with a few hours of enjoyment as she helped me to step back into history through the pages of her book.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Set against the splendid backdrop of Yellowstone National Park, this book will delight readers with its poignant story of love, hope, and the possibilities of second chances.”
–Jen Turano, USA Today bestselling author
It is 1886, and the government has given the US Cavalry control of Yellowstone. For widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine, the change is a welcome one. She knows every inch of her wilderness home like the back of her hand and wants to see it protected from poachers and vandals.
Refused a guide by Congress, Lieutenant William Prescott must enlist Kate’s aid to help him navigate the sprawling park and track down the troublemakers. But a secret from his past makes him wary of the tender feelings the capable and comely widow raises in him. As they work together to protect the park and stand firm through injustice and tragedy, they may just find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Regina Scott is the author of more than 45 works of warm, witty historical romance, including A Distance Too Grand. Her writing has won praise from Booklist and Library Journal, and she was twice awarded the prestigious RT Book Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of 30 years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.
by admin | Jun 15, 2019 | Books, Historical, National Parks, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed Karen Barnett’s Vintage National Parks series so much that I hate to see it end. I supposed it could continue for a few installments because there are more National Parks her readers might like to visit but most series have three books. Whatever the case, I have loved all of this author’s previous books so I am confident that her future books will also be to my liking.
Ever Faithful takes place in Yellowstone National Park and features Elsie Brookes, a ranger’s daughter and Nate Webber, a New York native who travels to Yellowstone as a member of the new Civilian Conservation Corps. Elsie loves the park but dreams of attending college and becoming a teacher. She sees Nate as an intelligent man with a bright future but he is hiding a big secret.
Vivid descriptions of the park’s scenery and structures sparked my imagination. It was fun reading about the history of the park and its early days, particularly the humorous names the park staff had for the different employees. Several unique supporting characters added depth and interest to the story. This historical romance was riddled with danger and suspense, especially in the form of more than one suspicious fire that kept me turning the pages quickly. A subtle message of faith was woven through the narrative and I found the ending to be most satisfying.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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.
Visit Karen’s website HERE.
by admin | Mar 16, 2018 | Books, Historical, National Parks, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I have enjoyed each and every one of Karen Barnett’s books since I had the opportunity to review “Mistaken” back in 2013. With each succeeding book I have grown to appreciate this author’s skill in developing fresh plots and engaging characters. As long as she continues to write books, I will read them!
“Where the Fire Falls” is the second of Barnett’s Vintage National Parks Novels. Although these books are part of a series, each stands easily on its own with new characters and story lines. This particular volume is set in Yosemite National Park and features a young artist sent there to paint a series of watercolors for a travel magazine. Somewhat fearful that even being in the park might reveal family history she would like to keep hidden, Olivia knows that the income from the paintings is necessary to help care for her younger sisters. Back country guide Clark Johnson is not very impressed with the flapper Olivia appears to be but soon catches glimpses of and falls in love with the real Olivia that she attempts to keep hidden.
A wonderful story of two wounded people searching for meaning in their lives, “Where the Fire Falls” is filled with drama, suspense, betrayal, and romance that is woven together against the majestic backdrop of mountains, waterfalls, and wilderness of historic Yosemite. It was fun experiencing the park through the eyes of Olivia and Clark, especially the Firefall event each evening. I was actually able to find an old video of the phenomenon from the 1960s that gave me a tiny idea of what campers may have experienced during the early years in the park. I especially liked watching Clark and Olivia’s relationship as it grew as well as how each of them grew in their faith and discovered the plans God had for them.
I hope everyone will pick up copies of “Where the Fire Falls” and also the first book of the series “The Road to Paradise”. I enjoyed both and highly recommend them.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Blogging For Books. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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 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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
KAREN BARNETT, author of Mistaken, Out of the Ruins, and Beyond the Ashes, is a former park ranger. She worked as a ranger naturalist and outdoor educator at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Silver Falls State Park, and Mount Rainier National Park. When not writing, Karen enjoys photography, hiking, and public speaking. She lives in Oregon with her family.
