Karen Barnett Books In Order

Publication Order of Golden Gate Chronicles Books

Publication Order of Redwood National Park Books

Publication Order of Vintage National Parks Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

With many of her books being faith based historical romances, the American Christian author Karen Barnett has been writing for some years now. Understanding her audience well, she has a clear and perceptive style that has resonated with readers on a worldwide scale. Taking the genre forwards, she writes with a high level of accuracy, conveying stories and characters that chime with audience that’s growing day-by-day.

Early and Personal Life

Growing up in America with a passion not only for both reading and writing, but her faith as well, Karen Barnett always had a clear set of goals. With her love of faith as well as literature inspiring one another, they both allowed her to transform herself into the writer that she currently is today. Establishing both her style and her tone, she was able to craft her voice over the years, something which she has constantly been doing all the way from childhood into adulthood.

Learning always, she keeps coming back to the core tenets of her life; faith and literature, factors which have never faded. Graduating from Valparaiso University along with Oregon State University as well, she built up her repertoire of tools, all of which would later serve her well. This all allowed her to fully articulate herself, finding her own niche in the market as a writer of Christian and romance fiction.

Prior to becoming a writer full-time she was also a park ranger, something which gave her a fresh perspective on both her and her work. Along with this she also worked at the Mount Rainier National Park for some time too, whereby she was a naturalist there. This then lead to becoming a stay-at-home mother for her children, as she turned to professional writing as a full-time novelist.

Still living with her family in Oregon, she resides with her two teenagers and husband, along with their dachshunds. Keeping herself active constantly she attends church regularly, along with spending a lot of time outdoors still, engaging in hiking and museums. This is something that looks set to continue for some time yet, as her writing career grows from strength-to-strength for years to come.

Writing Career

Bringing out her first novel in 2013, Karen Barnett made her way onto the literary scene with the book ‘Mistaken’. This was a stand-alone title, as it established her presence as a fully fully fledged writer and author, setting up her style for her audience that has grown ever since. It also quickly won her praise, thus ensuring that her status as a serious writer was fully grounded and set for her readers.

Since then she has done a lot more work, along with a collection of different series as well, all within a relatively short amount of time. This has allowed her to become highly prolific through work such as that of her ‘Golden Gate Chronicles’ series, which consists of four in total, and her ‘Vintage National Parks’ series, which has one so far. These have cemented her position as one of the leading figures within her field, being the clear advocate for her craft that she currently is.

Winning the ‘Writers of Promise’ award in 2013 by the Oregon Christian Writers for her novel ‘Mistaken’ she was fast gaining the critics seal of approval. Not only that, but the general public were also beginning to flock to her work as well, with more and more discovering her novels. Not only a critical success, but a commercial one too, she also won the ‘Writer of the Year’ award in 2016 from the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference.

A highly noted speak as well, Barnett has spoken at a number of different events on topics surrounding her craft and her faith. From libraries to churches, and women’s groups to book clubs, she has managed to cover a whole variety of different events. Speaking about her craft at writing conferences as well, she has also imparted her learning from over the years to other up-and-coming authors.

Maintaining an active presence within the industry, Karen Barnett continues to write full-time to this day. Living with her children and husband, she also spends a lot of time with her family keeping active, something which also feeds back into her work. With a lot more to come yet, this will carry on into the foreseeable future, as there’s plenty more planned on the horizon.

Mistaken

First brought out in 2013 through Abingdon Press, this was to be the debut release Karen Barnett as an author. Initially released on the 2nd of July, 2013, this also went under the full title of ‘Mistaken: First Impressions Are Never What They Seem’. The book is ideal for anyone hoping to see her development as an author, as it sets up a lot of her long-term ideas and themes that would return over time.

Looking for an honorable man is harder than Laurie Burke initially thought, what with most of them succumbing to alcohol and prohibition. That’s when she meets Daniel Shepard and she becomes convinced that he’s involved with her family of rum-runners. Pushing him away she gets herself involved with Federal Agent Samuel Brown, the handsome agent tasked with stamping down on the illegal alcohol trade. Who is the right man for her? What are they all really like? Is she mistaken?

Through the Shadows

Originally brought out through the Abingdon Press publishing label once again, this was set to be the third book in the ongoing ‘Golden Gate Chronicles’ series of books. Following on directly from the last it manages to recapture a lot of what made the first two titles work so well. Released on the 3rd of May in 2016, this managed to capture the attention of its readers, as well as that of critics at the time.

Starting out in the wake of the San Francisco earthquakes, this period piece sets itself in the aftermath of the devastation as the city tries to pull itself together. In the midst of all this Elizabeth King is the eponymous hero of the story, as she stalks the streets by night attempting to save the women who’ve been thrust into a life of servitude within the Chinese brothels there. That’s when the attorney Charles McKinley aims to clean up the streets, something which threatens to unmask King’s identity as she looks to aid him in his quest. Will she be able to save the city? Can McKinley help? What will come through the shadows?