As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother’s home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be … following her, and within hours of arriving home she’s involved with murder, arson–and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she’s been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.
Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.
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Fast paced. Did not want to put down. Even though it was a series they were also good stand alone books. Was not expecting the ending to the series
This was my first book to read by this author. I will buy more! I love the intrigue of this book. It also had the inspirational element. It was very well written. Now I want the other books in this series!
I downloaded this book mostly because the cover was incredibly eye catching. It did not disappoint in the least bit. I started this Thursday night and knew I would finish it long before Saturday, I simply could not put it down.
After enjoying both this book and Working Fire by Emily Bleeker it makes me think maybe I need to pick up more fire-related books.
Thank you for this wonderful read.
Loved the suspense and the intrigue… had me guessing.
Lynette Eason’s suspense filled Christian novels never disappoint. This was a page-turning novel filled with twists and turns.
I loved how the romance between Hunter and Alexia developed and I loved how forgiveness is focused on in the book.
Umm . . . wow. For a romance, that was phenomenal.
The upsides:
-The female protagonist, though determined to solve the mystery, wasn’t the stubborn, do-it-all-myself type, which was fabulous. Because I tend to, um, highly dislike those. XD
-Chad. I mean, (SPOILER) I suspected him of the murders almost from the beginning, but when he actually sobered up, I liked him almost more than Hunter. And I was so glad he ended up not being the killer. (END SPOILER)
-The real murderer completely blindsided me. I mean, I guess the clues were there and really pointed to it, but…idk, maybe I’m just unobservant. But it all made sense. And it was fabulous.
-The love triangle. Before you start shaking your head or rolling your eyes at this, let me tell you that I’m not a fan of love triangles either. But idk, maybe it was because I actually liked all the parties involved that it didn’t bother me…? Anyway, I thought it was pulled off really well, and everyone’s attitudes about it—*SPOILER* especially poor Chad’s *END SPOILER*—really impressed me.
-Um…all the characters?? I just loved them all. I mean, Hunter almost seemed…idk…shallow sometimes? But his faith was there and it made the whole thing better.
-Alexia’s vulnerability. I know that sounds kinda cruel, but I could relate to her y’all!!
-The couple didn’t start out disliking each other!! I’m so stinkin’ tiredof couples falling in love after being mortal enemies. They let each other know about their mutual attraction pretty much right away, which I could’ve done without, but it was definitely better than hating each other. MUCH, much better. I can’t even describe how refreshing that was. XD
The downsides:
-The romance. Ugh, please, please don’t give me so many details about a kiss. I don’t want to know that it starts out lightly, exploringly, then turns deeper. I don’t want to hear about kisses all over eyelids. *shudders* spare me plz. I mean, I guess some people like that kind of thing. But there’s SO MANY romance books out there, can there please, please please be just ONE intense book out there with amazing cops in it without all the romance?? Pleeeeeeease?! I think this book would’ve been amazing without it.
But *coughs* that’s just my humble opinion.
-And yeah, that’s it…? Like I said, it was amazing, and the only thing I didn’t like about it was the romance. It was okay when the couple wasn’t kissing. I could handle that (except I don’t wanna hear about how you think each other smells plz)
good read and a great mystery but the story is not done and continues into the next book with no warning. It’s hard to tell these days which series have to be read in order and which are standalones with carryover characters. I really don’t mind too much but it is frustrating none the less. I probably will not be reading the rest of the series which is too bad because I was ready to put this author on my list of go to authors.
Actually I love most books by this author. I try to read them as soon as they release so it’s been awhile since I read tjis one. It kept me engaged and eager to read what would happen next.
I love Lynette Eason’s books. Strong, vivid writing without a lot of extraneous stuff to detract from the story. Characters become people you know and care about. The mystery and suspense elements are strong. Definitely an author on my “always read” list..
The older I get, I read it and then generally forget what I read just remember that I liked this.
This was a constantly moving a changing plot. It was hard to put down. This author does not disappoint.
I absolutely love reading Lynette Eason’s novels for each one is a delicious mystery waiting to be opened up and explored! The suspense that she provides from the first word to the very last keeps you on the edge of your seat hoping for more and more. I have now read over five of her works and I look forward to reading more to come.
“When the Smoke Clears” by Lynette Eason is a fabulous tale about the brave firefighting Alexia Allen and the handsome Detective Hunter! These two had met in high school, always afraid to admit their true feelings for one another, and now fate has provided them a deadly opportunity to meet up again 10 years later.
There is a possible killer after them, with the chance of it actually being two. Can they survive long enough to find the one behind all of the recent attacks? Will they find the one responsible for the attack on the air hose, the bomb, and the fires? What about the dead bodies? It seems this reunion will be one for the record books!
Couldn’t put it down, and it left me wanting more.