Here and Gone: A Novel by Haylen Beck

I knew that Here and Gone was billed as a thriller, but I naively thought mystery and suspense, not terror.  This book was extremely intense.  I actually thought I was going to have to quit reading it, that's how scary it is!  That being said, I did push through and finish it and all I can say is, wow!  If you love a good thriller, with many twists and turns, you'll thoroughly enjoy Here and Gone. Haylen Beck (aka Stuart Neville) is a masterful storyteller.  He sucks you right in and then takes you on the ride of your life, so hang on!
While this book was indeed exciting and certainly a page turner, I do have to warn the reader of two things. One: the subject dealt with in this book is very dark and evil, and two: the author uses quite a bit of profanity.  If you can't handle either of those, this may not be the book for you. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Road to Paradise: A Vintage National Parks Novel by Karen Barnett

I thought this was such a fun summer read!  It was fascinating to go back in time to when our National Parks were new and to imagine what it would have been like to tour one in your brand new Model A. The Road to Paradise is set in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington and although I've never visited the park, it was lovely to read about the beautiful scenery and the grandeur of the mountain.

The author, Karen Barnett, does a wonderful job with character development.  I loved each of the main characters and loved to hate the villain.  The story is completely clean and not cloyingly sweet.  The main character, Margaret (Margie) Lane is especially interesting.  A young socialite, she loves nature and longs to spend time at the park studying botany.  She was raised in the lap of luxury, but is ready to set that aside and get her hands dirty.  After a donation from her wealthy father, Margie secures a position at the Park as a naturalist.  She soon meets Ranger Ford Brayden and romance blossoms.  I won't give any more away, but there are all sorts of obstacles to their romance, including the aforementioned villain.

If you're looking for a something good to read and enjoy Christian historical romance, then I definitely recommend this book.  I'm hoping it will be a series about different characters in different National Parks.  Karen Barnett is a new author to me, but I will surely check out her other work. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.