Where the Fire Falls - by Karen Barnett (Paperback)

About the Book

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?

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Written with an artist's sure strokes, Where the Fire Falls captures every hue of adventure, romance, and danger."
--Regina Jennings, author of Holding the Fort

"Karen Barnett has fashioned a story filled with color, complexity, and rich imagery. Readers of Where the Fire Falls will not only find friends in Olivia and Clark but they'll become enamored with the enchanting Yosemite National Park. Barnett has given her readers the gift of a story with heart that is delightful and hard to put down. I can't wait to read what she shares next!"
--Susie Finkbeiner, author of A Cup of Dust, A Trail of Crumbs, and A Song of Home

"Yosemite National Park is as stunning and unforgettable as this book's leading lady, artist Olivia Rutherford, in this lush, atmospheric blend of visual and natural art. Karen Barnett's deft prose sweeps each page with the same delicate touch as Olivia's brush so that the 1920s-era park comes to life. Armchair travelers will sense every sight, smell, and touch thanks to Barnett's inimitable spirit of place."
--Rachel McMillan, author the Van Buren and DeLuca series

"Capturing the grandeur of Yosemite National Park with words is a bit like harnessing the wind. Yet this talented author does just that. Karen Barnett's story drew me in on the first page, her descriptions of Yosemite took my breath away, and her well-developed characters kept me turning pages until the end. I loved Where the Fire Falls!"
--Ginny L. Yttrup, award-winning author of Words and Flames

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.