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.
