Publisher’s Overview:
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?
The Formal Stuff: Thank you to Waterbrook Press for my complimentary Uncorrected Proof of Ever Faithful.
First Thoughts:
I am delighted to be selected as a reviewer for Waterbrook & Multnomah’s Summer Launch. I’ve read the previous two Vintage National Parks novels and I also have an interest in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
My Take:
Three young women find their lives transformed forever in this coming of age tale set in Yellowstone National Park during the Great Depression.
Karen Barnett’s third novel in her Vintage National Parks series explores what happens when young men from the big cities find themselves in the middle of nowhere. There’s little to entertain them except for the female workers they meet and, as expected, nothing goes smoothly. One woman has recently broken up with her boyfriend, while another has relationship problems. The third – Elsie – doesn’t have time to focus on finding a beau; she’s determined to start university at the end of the tourist season. But Nate and the others are a breath of fresh air. Everything appears great on the outside, but everyone has insecurities, and there’s more than one secret being kept. Throw in a spate of suspicious fires, and who knows how everything will turn out in the end?
The Vintage National Parks novels have looked at three different National Parks on the west coast, and can each therefore be read on their own. Presumably, Ever Faithful is the last in the series. While Barnett has focused on parks she probably knows best (she worked as a park ranger for a time), I do wish she’d ventured further east in her settings to other locations that were either open or designated as National Parks during the same time period. While I consider Ever Faithful to be the weakest of the three books it is, nevertheless, an enjoyable read.
Do you plan to read Ever Faithful? Let me know your thoughts.
Publisher: Waterbrook (an imprint of Penguin RandomHouse)
Publication Date: 18 June 2019
Page Count: 352
Read more on: Waterbrook’s Website Karen Barnett’s Website Yellowstone National Park
Purchase on: Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-million Christianbook.com
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