The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett

 

The Road to Paradise

by Karen Barnett

About This 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?

Karen Barnett’s vintage national parks novels bring to vivid life President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision for protected lands, when he wrote in Outdoor Pastimes of an American Hunter: “There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.”

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

Margaret Lane lands the job of her dreams when she gets her job alongside Chief Park Ranger Ford Brayden, in Mount Rainier National Park. But Ranger Brayden wants nothing to do with the senator’s daughter. But as they work together, Brayden soon finds out the Margaret is indeed interested in the National Park and its beauty. And will work hard to retain that beauty. But Margaret’s ex-boyfriend has other ideas for the park and he usually gets what he wants.

I love this very interesting and charming story by Karen Barnett. The main characters, Margaret and Ranger Brayden are very likable and captured my heart from the beginning. The boyfriend, not so likeable, but necessary to spice up the story a bit. Mount Rainier National Park sounds like a wonderful place to visit and possibly work, and I would feel just as Margaret felt. Saving the beauty of the park, its animals and it’s peacefulness is essential. Thinking about Margaret’s dad, I highly respect him for wanting and allowing her to spend time in the park. Many fathers with the outstanding position he had would have wanted something more ‘high society’ for their daughter.

And Ranger Brayden, I just loved his thoughts toward the quirky Senator’s daughter from the beginning. He was so determined he didn’t have the time or patience for this addition to park job. And even more determined the park would stay as his dad left it, always wanted to honor his dad in everything he did. And he seems a bit of eye candy to the eyes too! But he had a job to do so he was off limits!

And then there is Phillip, a character who needs to be there but we all very much dislike. My heart was aching for Brayden and Margaret  as they fought to honor their National Park, and as Phillip was fighting just as much to make it into the biggest tourist attraction around. But Phillip wasn’t just in it for the money, but for the lady as well. Or did he really want her? Having her hike Mt. Rainier with no experience, non at all. How could he love her, yet want this dangerous hike in her near future?

Ok this is all I need to say about this wonderful read. I sure hope there will be more book following. I can’t wait to see what Karen Barnett has for us next. I highly recommend this book and I give it a 5 Star rating ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received this book from Blogging for Books blog Tours to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

 

 

Litfuse Presents…Through the Shadows by: Karen Barnette

Through the Shadows
by: Karen Barnette

Through the Shadows (Abingdon, May 2016)

As San Francisco rises from the ashes, an age-old battle looms between corruption and the promise of new beginnings.

The devastating earthquake is just two years past, but the city of San Francisco is still trying to recover. Destruction of this magnitude is not so easy to overcome-and neither are the past regrets shadowing Elizabeth King’s hopeful future.

Hoping to right her wrongs, Elizabeth dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, even if it means putting her own life at risk to sneak through the gloomy alleys and rooftops where dangers lurk.

Putting her life on the line for a worthy cause is admirable. But opening her heart is even more terrifying. So when Elizabeth meets attorney, Charles McKinley—a man who dreams of reforming San Francisco’s crooked politics—Elizabeth begins to doubt: Can she maintain her pretense and hide her past? Or will her secret jeopardize both their futures?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

 

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

The city of San Francisco is trying to rebuild after the devastating disaster of the earthquake two years before. Elizabeth King is also trying to forget about the dark dreaded places of her past, so she dedicates herself to helping girls rescued from slavery in Chinatown brothels, and just maybe get in God’s good graces. And maybe Elizabeth’s new friend Charles McKinley can help with some on the paperwork side of helping these young girls.

The real life story and ministry of Donaldina Cameron is the inspiration for this story, Through the Shadows. Ms. Cameron served at San Francisco’s Presbyterian Mission and because of her ministry, 3000 young Chinese girls were rescued from slavery and prostitution. This made the story much more appealing, knowing these situations and issues acted out by these wonderful characters actually happened. Karen Barnette does a wonderful job weaving together this special story to not only tell of what happened in early history, as well as making us away of what is happening in the world.

I received this book from Litfuse to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Karen Barnett is the author of “Beyond the Ashes,” “Out of the Ruins,” and “Mistaken.” Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing novels, she loves speaking at women’s events, libraries, and book clubs.

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Litfuse presents…..Beyond the Ashes by Karen Barnett

Beyond the Ashes

by Karen Barnett

Beyond the Ashes (Abingdon Press, June 2015)

Where better to rebuild and face one’s fears than in 1906 San Francisco, a city rising from the ashes?

Ruby Marshall, a young widow, is certain she’ll discover new purpose assisting her brother Robert with his cancer research, but she doesn’t anticipate finding new love.

Dr. Gerald Larkspur dreams of filling his empty home with family, but he’d always hoped it would be a wife and children. In the aftermath of the great earthquake, the rooms are overflowing with extended family and friends left homeless by the disaster. When Robert’s widowed sister arrives, the close quarters seem close indeed.

Ruby and Gerald’s fledgling romance is put at risk when Gerald develops symptoms of the very disease they’re striving to cure. Together they must ask—is it worth a second chance at love when time might be short?

Learn more and purchase a copy.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Dr. Gerald Larkspur and Ruby Marshall are two different people, with two different needs. They meet when Ruby decides to leave home and go help her brother with his research of cancer, but things changed at bit when she met her brother’s partner, Dr Larkspur. Even though they hit it off, so to say, could they have a relationship? with his house full of people left homeless from an earthquake, and the lurking illness he hasn’t found a name for, it seems to risky to let his feeling for Ruby go anywhere.

This was such a good book. Karen Barnett does an amazing job with creating characters that I grew to love, and a plot that leaves you guessing after every page. There are a lot emotions throughout the book, some good, but a lot that are difficult to deal with. The scenes were so very detailed, and sometimes tensions soar, but this is what makes the book seem more real. You will find yourself glued to the pages as you read Beyond the Ashes, to see if Dr. Larkspur and Ruby will be able to have that house full of kids that Larkspur dreams of.

I received this book from Litfuse to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

About the author

Karen Barnett is the author of “Beyond the Ashes,” “Out of the Ruins,” and “Mistaken.” Named the 2013 Writer of Promise by Oregon Christian Writers, Karen lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband and two kids. When she’s not writing novels, she loves speaking at women’s events, libraries, and book clubs.

Litfuse Presents Out of the Ruins By by Karen Barnett

Out of the Ruins | The Golden Gate Chronicles, Book 1

by Karen Barnett

Abby’s shattered faith in both God and man is challenged when the terrible earthquake hits 1906 San Francisco.

While her sister lies on her deathbed, Abby Fischer prays for a miracle. What Abby doesn’t expect, however, is for God’s answer to come in the form of the handsome Dr. Robert King, whose experimental treatment is risky at best.

As they work together toward a cure, Abby’s feelings for Robert become hopelessly entangled. Separated by the tragedy of the mighty San Francisco earthquake, their relationship suddenly takes a back seat to survival. With fires raging throughout the city, Abby fears for her life as she flees alone through burning streets. Where is God now? Will Robert find Abby, even as the world burns around them? Or has their love fallen with the ruins of the city?

Learn more and purchase a copy at Karen’s website.

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Out of the Ruins is a really great book with the setting in San Francisco in 1905/1906 during the time of the earthquake. Abby Fischer’s sister was in the hospital fighting for her life, throwing Abby and Dr. Robert King together to find a cure for her sister. Spending so much time together, the two became attracted to each other, but when separated in the earthquake, survival because their most important task.

Though I’ve heard about this tragedy, this is the first book I’ve read with the setting before and during the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. Reading Out of Ruins really gave me a feeling of what those people went through during that time. Author Karen Barnette does a fantastic job of so vividly describing the scenes throughout the book to help readers better understand the tragic events that took place.  As I read about Dr. King and Abby being separated during the earthquake, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people in real life went through the same situation. This was a most interesting read, and especially since it was centered around a real life tragic even in history.

You history buffs would definitely enjoy this read. I received this book from Litfuse to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Barnett is the author of “Mistaken” and several articles that have been published by “Guideposts” and other national magazines. She lives in Albany, Oregon, with her husband, two children, and three cats. @KarenMBarnett

Mistaken…… By: Karen Barnett

Mistaken

By Karen Barnett

About this book

Since booze and prohibition have made criminals out of every man in her world, Laurie Burke resolves to find at least one honorable man to fill her life. Convinced that handsome newcomer Daniel Shepherd is connected with her brother’s rum-running gang, Laurie quickly scratches his name off her list. Daniel has mixed feelings about returning to the dirty mill town of his youth, but grudgingly agrees to manage his grandfather’s drug store until a replacement can be found. The moment he meets Laurie on the windswept bluff overlooking the beach, he knows that if he can earn her love, he might have a reason to stay. But when Laurie pushes him away–for none other than Federal Agent Samuel Brown–Daniel wonders if Laurie really is the upstanding woman he thought her to be. The Strait of Juan de Fuca, just off the beaches of Port Angeles, Washington, was treacherous water for reckless rum-runners—and the agents who tried to catch them. So when she realizes her brother is in danger, romance is the last thing on Laurie’s mind. Yet the people she believes she can trust, may not be so honorable after all.

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My Thoughts on this book

Wow, what an awesome debut novel. Karen Barnett has quickly made her way to my favorite author’s list. I’ve been visiting Karen’s website for about a year, and following her insights on Mistaken, so it was a real pleasure for me to be able to read it! I loved the way she brought the characters to life, showing us every side of them. Karen shows the characters as real human beings, meaning that they struggled with things in their past and present, just as we all do. Even though this is a historical story, I could relate with some of the characters and the difficulties and struggles they were having. They just seemed so real, I still feel like I am involved in the story!

Ms. Barnett does a fantastic job of weaving the story together, with all of the twists and turns, showing the God is the one who is in control, and He is the only one that can change our lives.

This is Karen Barnett’s first book, and I know I loved it and can’t wait for another book from her. If you enjoy historical fiction with suspense added in, you will be thrilled with this book! It is truly a delightful and entertaining read!

I received this book from the publisher Abingdon Press to read and review.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

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About the Author

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever–and yet our human story changes daily. As a writer of historical romance, I love to explore my characters’ faith and how their experiences impact the way they view God.

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a beautiful love story and God’s devotion to His people is the best one of all. It even ends with the hero riding in on a white horse! (Revelation 19:11).

My first novel,MISTAKEN, releases in July 2013 with Abingdon Press. I am published in several nation magazines, including “Birthday Wish” which appeared inGuideposts Magazine in February 2010. I am represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Agency.

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my husband, two children, three furry felines and the newest addition–a dachshund puppy.