Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett

Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett ISBN-13: 9780735289567 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: WaterBrook Released: June 5, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from NetGalley:
Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shet 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 her 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 hides her father's connection to a murder in the park's past.


My Review:
Where the Fire Falls is a Christian romance set in 1929 in Yosemite National Park. Though this book is a part of a series, it works as a standalone. The series is about the early years of the various national parks.

I was interested in the story because the heroine is talented at watercolor painting. Sadly, the author seems to have simply looked up some art terms and scattered them throughout the story as she doesn't convey an accurate understanding of watercolor painting. She spent more time researching the park, though, so we got vivid descriptions of the park as Olivia toured it while painting the sights.

The hero is a guide in the park. He's leery of women because untrue accusations by one got him fired by his church. He's uncertain what to do with his future as he wants to be a minister but feels he can no longer be one. Olivia wants to be a famous artist and is pressured into acting like a jerk to fit in with her rich clients. She has to decide what is most important to her and what she's willing to compromise. These two fall in love as she works on her paintings. We get a suspenseful ending when people start to do unethical things to make money off of her paintings.

The Christian theme was about understanding where your identity comes from as a child of God. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, it was an enjoyable romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.