A gripping new novel from New York Times bestselling suspense author Terri Blackstock.One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but … back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.
Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.
Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.
As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.
Praise for Smoke Screen:
“Full of secrets, lies, and with a visceral impact that grabs from the first sentence, Smoke Screen is Terri Blackstock at her finest.” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author
“Terri never fails to deliver a plot that moves, well-developed characters who are real, flawed, and relatable . . . Just a word of warning if you decide to pick up this book—don’t plan to do anything else until you finish it.” —Lynette Eason, bestselling, award-winning author
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Smoke screen
I could just feel the characters in this book. Especially the emotional pain the Brenna suffered with her ex husband trying to take her children away. Her children were suffering so much too.
Then there is Nate, who is a firefighter. His father was just pardon from prison for a murder he did not commit. But will they find out who really did it?
I loved Nate so much. He gave so much support to Brenna.
I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.
I have loved Terri Blackstock’s books since I first read her Restoration series many years ago, so I was looking forward to reading Smoke Screen and was not disappointed in the least. Blackstock is a master at writing suspense.
And woven into the suspense and action in this book is a thread of faith–a faith that trusts God to bring about second chances. Blackstock has permeated her story with drama, and emotional tension as she expertly and realistically deals with the family dramas that arise with the issues of alcoholism and child custody. She also tackles the gritty subject of the wrong imprisonment for murder and subsequent pardon and how that effects the family members involved on both sides of the crime. And if the falsely accused person didn’t do it, who did? Nate and Brenna’s teenage love began the tragedies that ensued. Would they find love again or would the unfolding dramas of their lives draw them apart again? I enjoyed the tidbits of information regarding firefighting that the author wrote about. I was quickly drawn into the story and my interest was held high through the entire story. Readers who enjoy intense family drama and suspenseful romance stories will not want to miss Smoke Screen.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.
After reading If I Run, I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a couple of months! I’ve only recently begun reading Christian suspense, and it didn’t take long for Terri Blackstock to make it onto my list of favorite suspense authors.
Nate and Brenna’s story is definitely full of page-turning suspense. Issues from the past are brought to the forefront as Nate and Brenna fight through new and emergent crises together. Choosing to stay together despite disapproval from their families, Nate tries to help Brenna remember who she is and how she used to trust God. While Nate tries to prove himself in the face of rumors surrounding him and his family.
I loved the innocent and pure way Nate could see Brenna for who she was despite all the pain she carried and the destruction she brought to her own life, and how determined he was to help her find herself. He is a true hero in so many ways, one of which is helping Brenna discover her true worth.
I will admit to getting frustrated with Brenna. Being a mother, I can understand how distraught and desperate she had to be, but turning to alcohol seemed counter-intuitive in the middle of a custody battle. However, I know that it is easy in moments of weakness to seek worldly comfort instead of seeking the comfort and wisdom of God.
I enjoyed the discussions Brenna had with Nate about her faith and her attitude toward God. Brenna’s story brings to light how it can feel when we’ve strayed from our faith, and how welcoming God is when we return to Him. Her fight for her faith was quite encouraging!
There’s plenty of suspense in Smoke Screen to keep you turning the pages, whether it is Brenna’s custody battle, Nate’s fire fighting, past crimes being revisited or the rekindling of Brenna and Nate’s relationship, you will not want to put this book down. If you are a fan of Christian suspense, authors like Colleen Coble and Dani Pettrey, then you will enjoy this book.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a story of two young people whose love ended because of the objections of their parents but it is so much more. It is also a story of mistaken guilt, infidelity, a custody battle, and alcoholism. Author Terri Blackstock spins a tale filled with suspense and corruption and it is hard to put it down. Brenna Strickland Hertzog’s fight to keep her children is a situation that happens much too often and I suffered along with her as she battled her ex-husband, his new wife, and her wealthy ex-father-in-law. As her life spirals out of control, Brenna seeks to numb herself with alcohol. Nate Beckett has returned to his hometown to recuperate from work injuries and as I learned more about smoke jumping, I could understand why all these brave people need to be named American heroes.
It soon becomes apparent that Nate’s feelings for Brenna never really ended but Brenna’s only focus is keeping her children with her. As Nate steps in to help, they both struggle and their faith is often tested. Author Terri Blackstock proves her amazing ability to show their doubts and uncertainties and we readers are
reminded that God is ever present in our lives, even when we don’t understand His plan and His timing. Brenna goes from a doubting belief: “The best I could do was hang on and pray like mad. But I doubted that God was listening to me anymore” to unwavering faith: “God had answered my prayers. He was still listening. He did care.”
Smoke Screen is heartwarming, it is exciting, and it is inspiring. It is also a book that requires tissues–lots of tissues! I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic suspense and Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. A favorable review was not required and all opinions are mine.
Although many of the books I review fall into the historical fiction and nonfiction genres, I have always loved mysteries and suspense. I grew up with The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Mandie, so when a review opportunity for Christian suspense comes along, I don’t even have to think twice. I read Terri Blackstock’s “If I Run” series as it was released and enjoyed all three books, and I was excited to see “Smoke Screen” hit shelves. I was also happy to note that it does contain discussion questions at the end to facilitate conversation and reflection.
By the time “Smoke Screen” reached the top of my stack of books to read for review, I was ready to dive in. After reading chapter one, I began to doubt whether I was going to like this book. The mystery angle was fairly interesting, if predictable, but the family drama honestly grated on my nerves. Even though I’m not much of a romance reader, I did enjoy Brenna and Nate’s blossoming relationship. The firefighting aspect was informative and interesting to learn about. Nate was my favorite character not only because of what he had overcome since his teenage years, but also because of the way he overcame—by going to therapy and to church. Romans 8:37 rang in my mind: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Jesus has already won the ultimate victory, and when we ask Him into our hearts, that victory becomes ours, too, no matter what we face in this life.
Many of the reasons that I didn’t engage with this book as much as I was expecting to are my issues and not the author’s. Alcoholism and divorce both play a major role in this story, and I am not a fan of reading about either, but they are undeniably prevalent in society today, and Blackstock writes about these issues well and in a clean manner, which I think is so important. Brenna’s ex-husband and his family had me shaking my head every time they entered the narrative, which was no doubt the author’s intent. Blackstock creates convincing characters and situations that evoke empathy and are thought-provoking. By alternating between Brenna and Nate’s first-person viewpoints, she gives readers insight into how trauma affects our reasoning and our faith—sometimes for the better, sometimes not. I appreciated how, in one scene, Brenna helped Nate to see his mom in a different light. One particular conversation between them, though, really tugged at my heartstrings:
“But I’m not the same person I used to be. You probably won’t like me once you get to know me.”
“Oh, you’re still the same,” he said. “You’re just a little burned. But trust me. Burns heal.”
The underlying message of “Smoke Screen” is one of perseverance and hope, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. With a faith element that is gentle, this story speaks to the everlasting love of God and His pursuit of us, drawing us into relationship with Him and through the cleansing refiner’s fire.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
I have been reading author Terri Blackstock’s books for years and love her clean, suspenseful novels. From chapter 1 until the end, this story captivated me with the characters, story line and tragic drama that took place in the town of Carlisle.
I liked the main character Nate and his bravery and I liked reading about his job as a smoke jumper and what was involved. He was a strong, kind character and I liked how compassionate he was with Brenna and her kids.
Brenna frustrated me at times with her drinking and “poor me” attitude but as a former single mom, I could relate to alot of her anger and feelings of hopelessness and sadness. Sometimes I wanted to yell at her to get it together for the sake of her kids because I knew the ex-husband was just using his kids for show and it would just be a matter of time before he got bored with them and sent them home.
I liked the twists and turns and relatable characters. Although tragic events took place, forgiveness and love helped heal them which was a nice story element. This story wasn’t as suspenseful as some of her other stories (it had more drama with some mystery), but I still loved it!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Being back in his home town in Colorado, Nate wasn’t especially excited about how the town folks would receive him. But with Brenna living across the street from his brother, with whom he was staying, he was about to find out. Issues between the two families have been strained for many years, with no show for then to ever be any different.
I love, love this story! Terri Blackstock is one of my favorite authors, her books exceed all of my expectations for a book! Smoke Screen is so professionally written, the characters seem like old friends, the plot is so realistic, it’s like a story that can be found in anyone’s town or community. Nate and Brenna quickly stole a piece of my heart, because of the past they could have had, if not for their fathers. Their supporting characters were honest, but sometimes a little difficult on the two.
I was quite intrigued about Nate’s job of being a smokejumper. And I enjoyed the detailed information about the job included in the story. Ms. Blackstock did well in her research. And as far as Brenna, her situation is too familiar these days. My heart hurt for her so much. And her ex was a good for nothing conceded jerk, to put it nicely. With this part of the story, as well as how people acted was very well thought out and described in vivid detail as well.
There really wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. The mystery behind who the real guilty person was, the misunderstanding of the people, and the romance added in was enough for a really amazing story and Terri Blackstock did not disappoint at the end either. She gave her readers an Heartwarming ending that will sure stick with me for a while.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
“Innocent until proven guilty.” If only those words were true for Nate Beckett, who left his high school sweetheart behind when Nate’s dad was accused of killing Brenna Strickland’s dad. When the church where Brenna’s father pastored burned down shortly after that, townspeople whispered Nate was responsible.
Terri Blackstock is one of the best voices in Christian suspense. I always start her books thinking, maybe I won’t like this one as much as her others. But each time Ms. Blackstock proves me wrong, whipping up the tension into high winds, my reading satisfaction spreading like wildfire as I navigate (in this case) through the very realistic, sad mess that two families have made of their lives once tragedy strikes. I loved the twists that Blackstock incorporates, as well as the strong, solid faith message she projects. Blackstock’s remarks about faith are clear and concise, not preachy. I questioned an event at the end, but then again, people can be unpredictable and don’t always make the decisions one might expect. If you love faith-filled suspense, this is a great book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. This is no way influenced my opinions, which are solely my own.
Author Terri Blackstock has written a contemporary Christian novel unlike her others in Smoke Screen. It is a suspenseful, romantic Christian mystery that had me on the edge of my seat flipping pages to see what would happen next. Blackstock is a talented wordsmith indeed.
I was immediately drawn in to the story and felt the characters’ emotions. It is the tale of a love gone wrong where parents never wanted their children to be together. Smoke Screen deals with gritty real life issues so I would only recommend it to adults.
The characters are well defined and relatable. Some have many flaws and it is hard to read about them but not unimaginable. Conversations were realistic. Even the chats with the children rang true.
This is the tale of Brenna, newly divorced, and Nate, her high school sweetheart. Brenna is going through so extremely difficult trying times. Her struggles make her seek solace in a bottle of alcohol. There are many sides to this character. Nate is a complicated guy, too. I loved that he encouraged Brennan to lean on God and trust Him.
I would recommend this is adult readers that enjoy suspense and mystery. There are many life issues and timely life lessons faced in this book. I rated it a 5 out of 5. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
My Thoughts on Smoke Screen:
Wow. I love this author so I knew I was going to love this book but I didn’t expect it to be quite this good! The style it’s written in often makes me give upon a book if it’s not truly engaging. The back and forth tends to give me a headache when I’m just reading for pleasure.
But I definitely did not stop reading this book. In fact, I could not stop reading. I had to know what came next and how it ended!
Smoke Screen is captivating and definitely gives you a level of suspense. It’s not suspense where you can’t breathe but more of slow steady burning suspense that you know something is going to happen at any moment.
I think that I’d be like Brenna if I ever lost my children. I’d be in a sea of depression with no anchor and nowhere to turn. But lucky for her, Nate comes back to town at just the right time to help her navigate the divorce and child custody battles.
But what if this is more than just her fight for her children? What if this is a fight for her life? And what if it’s all somehow tied to one fateful day year ago?
Great read! Highly recommend this book. And it’s one I’m okay with reading when I’m home alone too so that’s always a good thing!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Phew, in Smoke Screen, Terri Blackstock delivers a book filled with hurting and flawed people. Some are sabotaging themselves, some have paid for their (and others’ mistakes), and a few are given justice.
Even though I’ve never had any of Brenna’s issues, I sure empathized with her. Nate is just the kind of person she needs in her life. Someone who sees her value and strives to show it to her.
While the family drama and relationships take the front seat for the majority of the book, there are some crimes (old and new) that are slowly being solved as the story progresses too.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I have read many Terri Blackstock books through the years. While many have tended to have themes of redemption, this one seems to take that concept to a whole new level. The main character is a mess at the beginning. Many of the reasons involve what was done against her. Yet the book is not focused on her being a victim. Instead the focus is on the steps that she needs to take to turn her life around. The same is true of many of the characters. This is a story about choices. Blame is a part, yet resorting to that is not glorified or excused. I think this is an extremely powerful Christian fiction because the lives of the characters are far from perfect. Yet God still helps them to write new chapters. One part I would change – the ending feels slightly rushed. So much time was spent on the development of the story, and I felt like some of those words should have gone toward a lengthier conclusion. While there was resolution, it almost felt forced. That being said, the book still needed a five star review in my opinion. Glad that I could read this book on #netgalley. All stated opinions are my own.
What a story of lies, secrets, young love, murder, fire and convictions on circumstantial evidence! He said, she said, what the evidence pointed to… how do you prove your innocence when you can’t? Twists and turns that give you the evidence until you think you know who is guilty but do you really? Kept me guessing until the end!
WOWIE!!! This is my first read by this author but it definitely won’t be my last! With plot twists and turns, Ms. Blackstock packs a punch in this story!
From adult children bearing the stigma of their parents’ actions to bearing the brunt a sibling’s behavior, old ghosts haunt both Brenna and Nate—including their feelings for each other.
I appreciated the ugly reality of Brenna’s drinking; this reviewer knows the heartache of watching the crippling effects of alcohol. As a mother, my heart broke for Brenna’s battle for custody of her kids, but I also knew Nate’s struggle to balance between helping and enabling… Ms. Blackstock portrayed both exquisitely.
The dialogue, and the interactions and reactions of the characters were genuine and believable. The journey of the story moved naturally and easily to a perfect conclusion.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Smoke Screen, Terri Blackstock, Celebrate Lit
From the murder of one father to the imprisonment of another father to a heated custody battle, this book kept me reading. The characters are well-developed, the storyline moves along and kept me wondering how the book would turn out.
I enjoyed getting to know Nate and Brenna and her children. In some ways, I felt sorry for Jack, Brenna’s ex-husband. He seemed to be caught by the destructive tendencies of his father. But the ones who seemed to suffer the most were Brenna and Jack’s children.
I was glad how the story came to an end, but I still would have loved to read more about these characters. Being the wife of a Primitive Baptist preacher, I can appreciate what life must have been like for Brenna having a preacher for a father.
I can not imagine the devastation that both families felt when Nate’s father was imprisoned for the death of Brenna’s father. I loved how the two families were eventually able to put the past behind them and move forward.
So if you want a book that includes themes of redemption, family, and second chances check out this book for yourself.
I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review.
I loved learning about these special firefighters that fight by being dropped from planes in to the fires. Brenna and Nate each have many obstacles to overcome before they can help each other with there problems. Brenna May lose her children in a custody battle and Nate is trying to learn to forgive his father for many things that happened years before in his childhood. I did not want to put this book dow, I laughed and cried. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
The author has once again done a masterful job of leaving you guessing throughout the whole book. I must admit I had decided the guilt lay with others before the actual perpetrator was discovered. Nate has been a Smoke Jumper for several years, in fact, he has his own crew to work with. The job of these professional Hotshots has much danger associated with it, but it is one that the world certainly cannot do without. While getting burned is not something that happens regularly, it can happen and the healing requires a great deal of patience.
Brenna is a single mother who is in an ugly custody battle. Unfortunately her faith, that has always been a strong point in her life, has left her with many doubts. Why is God out to get her? Why did He let her dad get murdered? Many questions but all seem to put the blame on God. But who created the distance? Once she realizes that this chasm is her own creation, she can start to bridge that gap. But will it be enough to maintain custody of her children?
I highly recommend this book! This ARC was received through Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
A gripping story!
Some books just tear me up inside while I’m reading them. Sometimes it is the circumstances of the characters’ lives. Sometimes it’s the choices they make. With Smoke Screen, it was both!
Brenna and Nate’s families were both against seeing the two of them together. Brenna’s because they believed his father guilty of murdering hers, Nate’s for the same reason. While this alone would have been tension enough to make a great story, the added drama of the custody hearing pushed it over the top.
Nate was something wonderful! Despite the accusations of the town he grew up in, he came back to heal from injuries sustained fighting wildfires. And even though Brenna had reason for not wanting to see him after what his father had allegedly done, he couldn’t stay away. His heroic mindset – not seeing anything amazing in what he had done – was such a deep part of who he was. And his concern for Brenna and desire to help her get out of the pit she was in was very touching.
I loved the secret that Nate was willing to keep, and his reason, especially because of the impact it had on the way he was perceived. His clear thinking helped Brenna provide her attorney with valuable information for the hearing. Moreover, his faith helped Brenna to turn her eyes back on Jesus, the source of that faith.
While my heart went out to Brenna for her deep grief over the custody battle and her ex-husband’s infidelity, I was torn apart each time she turned to alcohol. It made for painful reading and I was glad for the breaks I had to sleep and go to work. When Nate walked away from her when she chose to drink instead of dealing with her pain, I wanted to cry and cheer at the same time! Keep in mind, the author wrote this in a way that was fitting and appropriate – it is simply that my heart broke at the pain and poor choices made as a result.
The overall tone of the story is suspenseful and somber. There are some moments of dry humor and the ending is satisfying. If you enjoy serious suspense that brings glory to God, I encourage you to read Smoke Screen.
Read my review of Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Suspense is definitely something I read a TON of Terri Blackstock is also an author who I have read everything she has written. So when I heard Blackstock was writing another book, I couldn’t wait to get my hand on it. With her newest novel, Smoke Screen, I wouldn’t really classify it as a suspense novel. There was an element of surprise in the plot, but it didn’t have the spine chilling chase from something or someone that Blackstock’s stories usually do. Smoke Screen reminded me a lot of Center of Gravity by Laura McNeil. A story where the main heroine is trying to cope with the loss of a marriage and what it does to her. While the suspense element, trying to find out who really killed the preacher, was there, it didn’t really capture the whole story. There was romance between the heroine and hero. Something that started fourteen years ago and tried to resume in the pages of the story. I really liked how Blackstock created a safe and honorable hero who didn’t take advantage of a weak woman as she moaned the lost of her marriage. Overall, Smoke Screen reminds me of a contemporary woman’s fiction with a hint of suspense. Not a bad novel but not what I was expecting.
I received a complimentary copy of Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock is a marvellous Christian contemporary suspense that will have you glued from the start.
The novel revolves around old and new crimes as characters try to prove their innocence. As their worlds come tumbling down, it feels like even God is absent. “The best I could do was hang on and pray like mad. But I doubted God was listening to me anymore.” God never leaves us. He hears our prayers and He always answers them but in His way and in His timing. God sees our end from our beginning. It is only when we look back that we can see His hand on our lives.
Crises will either draw you towards God or propel you away as you feel abandoned. “I wanted to pray but I was still mad at God.” God can handle our emotions. He wants us to be truthful and to be real. “Where are You?… Why didn’t He fight for me?” God fights battles we may be unaware of.
When we know God, we can experience a peace no matter what life throws at us. “Mama ran on… a power that gave her a peace I couldn’t fathom.”
We all need our church family. In times of crisis they will lift us up and intercede for us even when we have no words. We need the support of prayer warriors. “Church. It was where I needed to be.”
There are the themes of revenge and forgiveness. Feelings of revenge will drag us down. Feelings of forgiveness lift us up and free us from our prisons.
There is the subject of alcoholism. When we lose ourselves in the bottom of a bottle, we will still have problems to face. We need to admit we have a problem and get help to beat our addiction. In times of crisis, it is far better to turn to God in prayer. Our circumstances may not change but our perspective will.
The tale is written in the first person from two alternating points of view. The reader becomes acquainted with the lead characters who are both realistic and easy to empathise with. I felt the novel was reminiscent of Romeo And Juliette at times.
Terri Blackstock has written another cracking suspense that consumed my every waking moment. It is a novel that is impossible to put down.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.