One of my favorite storytelling methods is a dual timeline story. I really enjoy seeing how history impacts the present and this type of story is good at helping us to see that, and showcases how decisions made by our ancestors impact us in modern times. This story follows Rosie McCauley in the past timeline and Kieran Lucas, Rosie's great-granddaughter, in the present. Kieran seeks out Rosie's story as it is part of her own personal history, of which she has very little understanding. This book was a very enjoyable story set in a familiar-to-me backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. The mountains were a favorite vacation spot for my family as I was growing up, and so it was fun to "see familiar sights" in both the past and the present in this way.
Having been a park ranger in the past, author Karen Barnett has several books that take place in our nation's national parks and this one was a lovely addition to that listing. One thing I'd not been aware of is that unlike some of the older parks, The Smokies was not public land prior to the park's acquisition, but rather, much of the land was owned by individuals who lived with fantastic views each day. This story tells of one such family whose land was purchased by the park and how that impacted them and their future generations. This story-line was riveting, with both mystery and romance, character growth and development, and a solid message of faith. Here's a little bit about the book:
Uncovering a long-lost family story is the only way to bring her grandmother peace
Kieran Lucas’s grandmother is slipping into dementia, and, when her memory is gone, Kieran’s last tie to the family she barely knows will be lost forever. Worse, Granny Mac is being tormented by flashbacks of her mother’s death and the loss of their home.
In 1931, Rosie McCauley’s Smoky Mountains home is threatened by the Tennessee Great Smokies Park Commission as they create a new national park. But Rosie vows the only way they’ll get her land is if they haul her out in a pine box. When a compromise offers her and her disabled sister the opportunity to stay for her lifetime, it seems too good to be true.
Ornithologist Benton Fuller arrives to conduct a bird survey for the park and the two form a tenuous bond. But their friendship broadens a rift between her and the other mountain folk who are suspicious of any government connections. Then the discovery of an illegal still in the woods near her cabin leads to a violent clash between sides that could destroy them all.
Eighty-five years later, Kieran heads back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to find answers to her great-grandmother’s mysterious death and bring peace to Granny Mac before it’s too late. Park Historian Zach Jensen may be the key to locating both the answers and a precious family heirloom. But just as in the past, Kieran’s needs clash with government regulations. Will Zach block her from recovering what she needs and solving this family mystery?
This one released on June 14, 2022 and it's one I can give a solid recommendation for. Be sure to check it out!
For more information, check out the following links:
Karen Barnett's website: https://karenbarnettbooks.com/
Karen Barnett's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KarenBarnettAuthor
My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4786362526?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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