A delightful historical about the National Park System, Very enjoyable read!
ByTracey~book corner fanon June 30, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
As a fan of the National Park System, I was drawn to the appealing cover of The Road to Paradise by Karen Barnett. I started reading and I loved the setting, the characters and the story!

The setting in Mount Rainer National Park takes on a life of it's own through the detailed imagery Barnett described. I felt like I was there in the forest on nature walks examining all the plants.

The charming character of Margie as a smart an accomplished naturalist takes Ranger Ford by surprise, but he comes to care about her as they work to preserve the park and keep it from development for profit. I love that Margie conquers her mountain and helps Ford conquer his own.

Margie's faith in God is a strong example to Ford. Watching his eyes get opened as he works on his past issues brings about his own spiritual transformation and is a delight to watch. The romantic ending was a dream come true, just wonderful!

I enjoyed my first Karen Barnett book and am looking forward to the next book in this series. Many thanks to Waterbrook Press for making a copy of The Road to Paradise available for review.

The Road To Paradise by Karen Barnett is a wonderful book. This is the second book in this series that I have read from her and I love them. I hope there are many more written in this series. I adore it when I find a fun, fast read that is Christian based and suitable for many readers. I love reading historical fiction. Ms. Barnett is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine! She writes historical fiction in a way I haven't read before and I like it very much.
I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Ranger Ford Brannon and Margie Lane. I highly recommend this book to all.

Super fun read. Definitely did not disappoint this reader.

This book was about Margie, a young woman from a well-to-family working in Mount Rainier National Park. During the course of the story, she fights off her ex-fiance, Phillip and his controlling ways, especially when he wants to change the park into more of a resort. Margie finds an ally in Ford, a ranger at the park.

I really loved the description of nature. The author made it come to life and I could easily envision myself out in the woods. Margie and Ford were both strong characters in their own right, It was also very easy to hate Phillip and what he was doing to Margie, her family, and to the park.

Some of the chapters were a little choppy. I didn’t always see an obvious transition from one chapter to another. Some parts also tended to drag on.

The book did flow nicely and would recommend it to any nature lover interested in learning more about God’s creation.

As an enjoyer of national parks, I was excited to see this book. It gives you a feel of what Mount Rainer park was like as the park was getting started and some of the things that had to be work out with our national park system. I think I would have liked to have been Margie and had the chance to work at Mount Rainer. The story also has the point of view of one of the rangers, Ford Brayden. He is still working out how to best do his job and working with Margie is not one of the things on his list. They both love the simplicity and beauty of the parks though and will do all they can to preserve it. I also loved the cover of the book as it reminded me of postcards that I had purchased at some of national parks.

4.5 stars
A delightful story about a young woman and a man from vastly different backgrounds. Margie was gently raised among the best of society; Ford grew up in the wilderness. When Margie wants to escape society and become a forest ranger, exercising her favorite pursuits as a naturalist, she joins Ford's staff. He feels the need to look after her, since she's their first woman on staff and has a habit, annoying to him, of looking at nature with awe and wonder and joy rather than with respect of its meaner sides.

I think what I liked best about Margie was her pluck and her faith. She might not like what she comes across at times, and she might feel like giving up, but she doesn't melt into a puddle and stop going. She's the sort of person I would like to meet in real life.

Ford was struggling with the grief of losing his father recently, and he had loads of emotional baggage to work through. Only problem is, he's running away from God as well, so he has no reliable way to find comfort and closure after the accident that took his father's life. He's a strong man, a good ranger, and a gentleman—but he's not at peace with the world.

Favorite side characters were Luke and Mrs. Brown! And the antagonist proves himself worthy of the role.

I received a free review copy from the Blogging for Books program.

This is the first book I have read about this author. It was shingles and very well written. How to read more of heart how to read more of heart

What a thoroughly enjoyable few hours this book gave me! I’m not sure what I was expecting when I picked it up, but whatever my expectations were, the reality surpassed them. It was fascinating to explore the world of Mount Rainier National Park during the early years of the National Park Service, especially since a large part of the story revolved around the competing claims of those who wished to develop the land into a high-class tourist resort area (such as Margie’s former fiancé), and those who passionately believe the land should be preserved in its natural state for the benefit of future generations (such as Margie and Ford).

I absolutely loved Margie and Ford; especially the way in which the author gave them such distinct voices and personalities. Margie is gentile and well-spoken, poetic and book-smart (or as Ford puts it, poetry-spouting and plant-obsessed!), and yet she’s also a woman with quiet determination and backbone. Her book-learning may not have prepared her for all of the realities of living in a rustic cabin in a wilderness area, but she doesn’t shrink from the challenge, even if she does let out the occasional shriek! I can well understand Ford’s pleasure in seeing the world anew through Margie’s eyes, because I experienced that very same joy throughout this book.

Ford was born and bred in the shadow of Mount Rainier and took the position of Chief Ranger following his father’s death two years previously—something that still haunts him. Whereas Margie’s love of nature is expressed in poetic delight and an eagerness to experience it first-hand, Ford’s love of nature is tempered by a healthy dose of respect for the fact that the wilderness is a dangerous and unforgiving place. It also serves to illustrate to Margie that their beliefs are completely at odds. “She saw God in every loving brushstroke of creation. Ford saw only beautiful chaos—something to be appreciated, but not trusted.” As Ford himself says: “Any sensible fellow could see the majesty of the place—but a show of God’s love? A single careless step on this mountain would teach you how little attention God paid to the humans who walked its slopes.”

Notwithstanding Ford’s disillusionment, the author’s love of creation is evident on every page, and the setting is so alive! The climb to the summit of Mount Rainier toward the end of the story was one of the most exhilarating bookish experiences I have ever had, not just because of the way it was described in the book, but because of its significance to the story and the characters, particularly Ford's faith. And the power play made by Margie’s former fiancé (who had me picturing Billy Zane’s character in Titanic) made the story that much more engrossing.

Thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Road To Paradise by Karen Barnett is an absolutely wonderful Christian historical novel. It is the first book in the Vintage National Parks series and I cannot wait for the subsequent books.
Set in 1927, the reader is transported to a bygone age. Life is supposed to be simpler but the old enemies of the lust for money and power still ruled men's hearts. "We must fight to protect it from unscrupulous forces that would simply develop the land for the sake of the mighty dollar." In contrast there are pure characters who wish to preserve the land and its natural beauty for subsequent generations. Their joy and raison d'etre is to be found in the natural and not the power houses of Washington.
Karen Barnett presents wonderful and detailed descriptions of the beauty to be found in the great outdoors. The reader finds themselves wandering through meadows, crossing streams and scaling mountains. It is a book that is not just to be read but experienced.
God is everywhere. His greatest beauty is to be found in creation. "No jewels could compare to the majesty of God's creation." In His sunsets and sunrises, in His wildflowers and animals, evidence of God's creation is all around. Life did not 'just happen' but was designed by God.
Knowing God can sustain us through all of life's circumstances. When we know God, we want others to know Him too. Sometimes in life, people walk away from God because facing Him is just too hard in our anger and pain. "Grief still owns his heart." God waits for us to return to Him and sends others alongside us to help point us back to Him. "Maybe it was to shine the light of His love on a man who'd lost his faith."
Faith in God goes hand in hand with trusting Him. "It's not about whether you warm a pew at services that matters. It's whether you're willing to trust Him." God sees our heart and knows whether we are doing things for appearance sake or to have a relationship with Him.
The reader watches a wonderful romance blossom in the story.
One character embodies the themes of power, money, manipulation and control. Coupled with domestic violence and anger, these are ugly character traits.
The characters were all wonderfully and realistically drawn. People struggled with situations and had their own strengths and weaknesses. They were all unique and I particularly loved the two lead characters.
I absolutely adore all Karen Barnett's novels. The Road To Paradise was a wonderful escape from the realities of modern life. I really 'lived' the novel and was sad to see it end. Many more please, Karen Barnett.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

The Road to Paradise is the first in the The Vintage National Park series and my first Karen Barnett book. The fabulous cover drew me to this book, and the setting in a gorgeous National Park of Mt. Ranier confirmed my decision to read it. Margie loves nature and devoted much of her time to studying about it. However, she has little experience in nature, and that puts her in the cross hairs of head park ranger, Ford. An unsavory developer sets his sights on the village of Paradise, and it is up to Margie and Ford to join forces to stop him and preserve the wilderness of Mt. Ranier.

Karen Barnett has begun writing a new series about National Parks beginning with Mount Rainier National Park. I decided I wanted to read this book because Mount Rainier is only a three hour drive from my house. I have been to the Paradise area of the park and I have camped in one of the campgrounds. My husband has hiked the Wonderland Trail around the base of the mountain. It truly is a natural playground.

Margie has come to the park to work for the summer and to escape what is alluded to be an abusive relationship. She has studied flora and fauna of the park and wants to learn even more. Her father is a Senator who made a generous donation to the park so that Margie could work there.

Ford is the chief ranger of the park and is charged with supervising Margie. At first he believes she's nothing but an air-headed distraction, but once she gets involved in working at the park, he realizes he's very wrong about her intelligence. And then he begins to realize she's more than just a distraction.

The fly in the ointment is Philip, who thinks that Margie belongs to him and he will do anything to make it so. Unfortunately, he's unscrupulous and underhanded, and he plays dirty to boot. Nothing stands in the way of what he wants and what he wants is money.

Karen has such a way with words that her descriptions are easily imagined and feed the soul. Her characters have such a depth that make them friends to the reader. This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a bouquet of lupines, penstemons, and phlox.

My thanks to WaterBrook/Multnomah for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is the first book I read from Karen Barnett, I was not sure what to expect. Let me just tell you I was not disappointed. It is always fun finding a new favorite author, and I believe I have found one!

To start with the setting for this book is amazing. From the very first page, I felt like I was there on Mount Rainier (A place I’ve never visited, but dearly want to now). But Karen’s fantastic writing goes beyond her writing of the perfect setting. You’ll quickly get lost in the pages of this story.

Margie may have used her senator father’s connections to get the job working with the National Park Rangers on Mount Rainier, but she takes her role seriously. Margie has a strong faith, and she delights in spending time in nature and seeing God’s handiwork, and in studying His creation.

Ranger Ford Brannon expected a spoiled, pampered young woman, not the book-wise nature enthusiast. Ford was raised by a God-fearing father, but when a tragic accident took his father’s life, Ford blamed God for his loss. Ford is taken back at Margie’s strong faith and trust in God and has some soul wrestling of his own to do.

I love the thread of faith woven seamlessly thru the story. The reminders of our great Creator, and His amazing, fathomless love for us, the crowning jewel of His creation.

Karen writes such fantastic, multifaceted, realistic characters. I enjoyed the character progression and growth in this story with both Margie and Ford. I felt like I was right there with them, in their thoughts and involved in their daily lives. Hiking the trails, cautiously crossing the moss covered log bridge over the raging, river (all the while holding my breath). Of course let’s not even talk about how I nearly chewed my fingernails off (I thought I had broken that bad habit) during the mountain climbing chapters. This is one of those books that after you finish, you sit there in a happy reader’s fog, wishing there were more pages left to read.