Monday, October 7, 2019

Ever Faithful

GIVEAWAY
BARNETT, KAREN
EVER FAITHFUL

Yellowstone's iconic geyser is fairly predictable. Elsie's future is anything but.

It's 1933 and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal shines like a light against the dark despair of the Great Depression. The government gives unemployed young men an opportunity of a lifetime, but it will mean leaving his family by signing up for the untamed West.

Nate Webber takes a chance to help his family by signing up for the new Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Although he hides a shameful secret, Nate exchanges the harsh Brooklyn streets for the wilds of Yellowstone National Park, curious to see if the Eden-like wonderland can transform him as well.

Elsie Brookes was proud to have grown up as a ranger's daughter but 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 for her college tuition. A second job, teaching a crowd of rowdy men in the CCC camp, might be the answer. Elsie is drawn to the beautiful spark within Nate, but she knows the scars she carries are for too ugly for any man to love.

When tragedy strikes the park, threatening to undo all she's done to leave her past behind, can Nate and Elsie uncover the truth before all their dreams go up in smoke?

My Review:

"When you hold yourself separate from the world, you cheat others of the light God has placed inside you." (p 156)

Love the park setting, the depression era history and the shadow of mystery! Ever Faithful is another wonderful addition to Barnett's Vintage National Parks series -- and I'm praying it's not the last though it is the dreaded third book in the series which likely means it is. :-(

The author brings both setting and characters to life and I've enjoyed the glimpse into the desperate realities of the 1930s. Not only do I feel like I've actually visited Yellowstone Park but I feel like I have a better understanding of the hardships of the time. Particularly through Nate's eyes as he's plucked off the crowded Brooklyn streets and deposited in the wilds of a national park.

Loved this city slicker's learning curve and how his new situation brings his innate leadership skills to the forefront. In just a sentence or two, Barnett manages to point out poignant contrasts between the bleakness of city life and the relative bounty Nate experiences in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Talk about making an emotional impact on a reader! And when he meets Elsie -- well, let's just say the course of true love never did run smooth!

Then there's the mystery. Starts off quietly unsettling and grows into something so much more. This 'professional' armchair sleuth did not see that end coming. At all! Score one for the author who stumped me. :-)

Ever Faithful is the kind of page-turner that held my rapt attention right to the very last word.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Ever Faithful, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 12 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

33 comments:

  1. Happy Oct morning Kav! Oh I do NEED this one! Okay, the truth is I want this one, where is the line drawn with want and need when it's a book?

    Ever Faithful is the last one in this series I have not read and I need (there's that word again) a virtual armchair trip to a National Park. If you need another one, I can recommend A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott if it's not already on your list. You can look up my review on amazon for my POV, she wrote a good story. I have been to the Grand Canyon, and felt like I was there again :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    tracey14567 at gmail dot com

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    1. lol -- yes, you really need it, Tracey! I've enjoyed the National Park locations in this series too. I sure hope there are more. I have A Distance Too Grand on my radar thanks to our last Reader's Choice week but I didn't know it was a National Parks series as well. Woot! Good luck, Tracey!

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  2. Not entering but do have a copy of this book. Have not read it yet.

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  3. Enjoyed your review and, in particular, the comment contrasting the bleakness of Nate's city life to his current locale and opportunity. I have been blessed to visit Yellowstone, and it is so amazing......flora, fauna, geology, etc. Wonderful setting for a historical novel. Thanks!

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    1. There's one scene in particular that shows that contrast between Nate's life in New York (where his family is still struggling -- though not as much now thanks to his pay) and what passes as sport for the park guests. It took my breath away. And an insiders look into the CCC was really interesting. Good luck, CC!

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  4. Heard much about these. Great. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  5. I love the featured quote! This book sounds great! I've been wanting to check out this series for a while now. Great review too!

    usedtextbooks5(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. It's a great quote, isn't it? Good luck, Chanel!

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  6. This series is so darn cute! I love the covers and I loooove the national park theme!

    dmandres5 at gmail dot com

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    1. I covers are so distinctive -- love the retro vibe. Good luck, Melissa!

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  7. Great book and series. This one was my favorite. Book twinning dance.

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    1. Yay -- twinning a fox trot around the library with you. :-)

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  8. These Books of Karens sound great Thanks for the chance to win a copy 😃💖😍💗
    iamabho AT gmail DOT com 💜💙💜

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  9. I've wanted to read "EVER FAITHFUL" by Karen Barnett ever since I first heard about it - more so after our visit to the park.

    Sounds like a wonderful book and I love the cover.

    Thank you for your review, which makes me want to read it all the more, and for the opportunity to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Lucky you to have actually visited the park. That will make this book all the more special for you. Good luck, Kay!

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  10. I've read some of Karen's other books and have this series on my "want to read" list. Thanks for the chance to win Ever Faithful.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  11. Great review! I have the first two so I really need to complete the series! Thanks so much for the chance and the review.

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    1. Yes, you need to complete the series. Good luck, Pam...W?

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  12. You have me at Karen Barnett!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  13. These vintage covers are awesome! KAV, thank you for the wonderful review.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. I really love the cover art too. Good luck, Caryl!

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  14. Would love to read this one. Include me, please, Kav! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  15. I would love to read this book! Our family visited Yellowstone when I was a kid and I have always wanted to visit again.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It sounds amazing! I enjoyed armchair traveling there. :-) Good luck, Patty!

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  16. I'm so intrigued by the national park setting of this book! I haven't had the opportunity to visit Yellow Stone yet so I definitely want to read about it.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

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