WHERE THE FIRE FALLS By Karen Barnett

Karen Barnett is a new author for me but she will go on my list of authors to read and recommend. This is part of a series but the stories are meant to stand alone. They are a series because of the setting which is one of our great National Parks.

Ms. Barnett does a great job setting a scene and describing the views. You can almost hear, feel, and smell as well as visualize the surroundings. It is spectacular and I've never been. It is on my bucket list, however. But I digress. The story of an avant-garde artist and a Park Ranger Guide meeting and falling in love, though quite unusual, is very romantic. Clark Johnson is every woman's rugged hero even as he is a man of faith. Olivia has many flaws but don't we all. She slowly sheds her facade and the woman underneath is a sweet and trusting soul who needs a champion.

Olivia has come to Yosemite on contract for Scenic Magazine to paint scenes of Yosemite National Park. She doesn't really want to come but she has two sisters to support and get to college. She has a dark secret in her past that still haunts her--her father has murdered in this very park.

Clark Johnson is the guide the Magazine has contracted to show her around Yosemite. He knows the park almost better than anyone as he came here to escape his own dark past. Clark is a former Pastor who lost his church due to false accusations. He has an opportunity to become an official Park Ranger but feels God may have other plans.

As the relationship between Clark and Olivia heats up, they encounter many obstacles. The rich husband of the couple who accompanied her on her assignment accosts Olivia; and when she refuses his advances, he destroys some of Olivia's paintings. Later someone she trusted kidnaps her and plans her demise. Will Clark get to her in time?

This is an excellent book that I highly recommend especially to those who enjoy books of faith and romance combined. Thanks to Waterbrook and Multnomah for allowing me to read Where the Fire Falls through Netgalley.

STORM FRONT By Susan May Warren

Susan May Warren is at the top of my all time favorite authors list. Her series are suspenseful, romantic, realistic, and fun. I've not found a series by her that I didn't love and want all for my keeper shelf; but enough of that. Suffice it to say, Storm Front is another keeper. It can stand alone but works better with the series because you come to love all the characters and want to know their stories.

In Storm Front, you meet Ty Remington and Brette Arnold. From the opening scene you are catapulted into the world of storm chasers as Brette and Jonas chase one down. Brette taking pictures at the risk of her life almost gets killed right off the bat; however, you soon find out why she doesn't care. She has survived the ravages of breast cancer--a double mastectomy, and chemo. She's afraid the cancer will come back as her mother's did, so she ran from Ty who wanted a relationship because she didn't want to hurt him and drag him through her suffering and because he always wants to rescue her.

Ty works for the Peak rescue team.  When a tornado hits close to home, among the missing is his mentor and friend Chet. Ty is a helicopter pilot but one who doesn't want to fly anymore. He has his own issues but he's still part of the Peak Team and he pushes them to follow his hunches which often are right.

Circumstances bring Brette and her team home to Minnesota and sparks fly because Ty still wants to rescue her and she doesn't feel she can trust anyone not even God. But trusting and loving Ty may be the medicine she needs.

The novel is chock full of angst, romance, rescues, and a great cast of supporting characters. I give it 5 stars and recommend it for your keeper shelf. Thanks to Revell for allowing me to read Storm Front through Netgalley.