Books for Christian Girls: "Where the Fire Falls" by Karen Barnett

About this book:

“A beautiful piece of art. A stunning cathedral of trees. Both perfect for keeping truth hidden in the shadows.

Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford believes an avant-garde persona is key to becoming wildly successful in California’s 1929 art scene. When she lands a lucrative contract to paint Yosemite Nation Park for a travel magazine, she reluctantly takes on the project, hoping the money will keep her past hidden from anyone traveling in the nouveau riche art circles.

When Olivia meets backcountry guide Clark Johnson, she assumes he is the rugged mountain man he appears to be. But Clark has secrets of his own and isn’t sure if becoming a national park ranger is answering the call of the wilderness or fleeing God’s divine guidance.

As Clark opens Olivia’s eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers that people are as vital to the park’s story as are its vistas—and that the gap between who she is and who she pretends to be could mean the difference of life and death.”

Series: Book #2 in the “Vintage National Parks” series. Review of Book #1 Here!

Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & talked about; Many Prayers & Thanking God; Church going, a sermon & singing hymns; Witnessing; Many Talks about God, His creation, His will, faiths, & callings; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Olivia doesn’t believe in God & believed He turned His back on her family *Spoiler* But does try praying halfway through and continues few times later *End of Spoiler*; Clark was a pastor; Many mentions of God, His creation, His will, & callings; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of faiths & witnessing; Mentions of churches, church going, ministries, pastors, sermons, & hymns; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A few mentions of blessings & being blessed; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of hymns; A couple mentions of sins;

*Note: A mention of hellfire; A mention of personal demons; A mention of a devilish scheme.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, two forms of ‘blast’, and four ‘stupid’s; A but of eye rolling; Being held hostage & at gunpoint; Fighting & a Gunshot (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a murder, the murderer, & the body; Mentions of (the possibility) of people falling to their deaths & a (possible) suicide; Mentions of crimes, criminals, & the disappearance of one; Mentions of someone held hostage & gunshots; Mentions of blood/bleeding & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of blackmail & threats; Mentions of fires; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors, gossip, & gossip rags; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; A few mentions of suicides, the bodies, & the reason why they happened; A few mentions of a body; A few mentions of jails; A few mentions of drinking & drunks; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of screams; A couple mentions of thinking that you might be murdered (doesn’t happen, it’s a passing comment); A couple mentions of an illnesses & a death; A couple mentions of wars; A couple mentions of con-artists; A mention of hunting;

*Note: Mentions of painters, actors, & actresses; A few mentions of a book & its characters.

Sexual Content- a fingers-to-lips touch, two cheek kisses, two forehead/head kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed unwanted kiss, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (up to semi-detailed); Wanting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, & Warmth (up to semi-detailed); Noticing, Nearness, & Smelling (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); a ‘vamp’ and two ‘harlot’s; A married man unwantedly touches & kisses Olivia (up to semi-detailed, she smacks him away); Mentions of a married man having a casual interest in Olivia, his roving eyes & advances; Mentions of a married woman having an attraction for her pastor; Mentions of kissing & kisses; Mentions of reputations & chaperones; Mentions of blushes; A few mentions of affairs, wondering if a couple is having one, & scandals; A few mentions of secret lovers & crimes of passion; A few mentions of dates & a boyfriend; A couple mentions of married couples kissing; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of crushes; A mention of a couple spooning; A mention of a man trying to steal a kiss; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;

*Note: Mentions of adding a woman’s curves to a picture; A mention of drawing someone & feeling like it’s a little voyeuristic; A mention of a girl acting like a Jezebel; A mention of a man being uncomfortable when a woman rolls up her pant legs.

-Olivia Rutherford

-Clark Johnson
P.O.V. switches between them

Set in 1929-1930
344 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

As I really enjoyed the first book in this series, “The Road to Paradise”, this sequel was added to my anticipated books list for 2018 at the beginning of this year. This one had some great faith content that I loved seeing and I found Olivia’s career to be fascinating. I have to admit that I enjoyed the first book better, though. “Where the Fire Falls” had some sweet moments in it, but, personally, it did get a bit kissy for my tastes at time and I didn’t like that we had a married man trying to get close to Olivia. I was very, very glad when he left. There was some other drama that felt a bit forced at times, but I did like the descriptions of Yosemite. I have never been there, so while reading, I would pause and look up pictures of the places. I think the author did a lovely job describing them and the emotions.

So, even while this one didn’t quite meet my expectations because of some of the content, I did like some of aspects and hope to read the third book when it releases. :)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!