Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock is a thrilling read. A single mother on the brink of collapse, a firefighter benched for injuries— the characters in this novel are deeply characterized with full backstories that add great dimension to this novel. Even so, the author is quite adept at weaving their stories together so that the reader never experiences an overwhelming amount of information at once. I absolutely loved the plot of the story— I could not tell where it would go but found it a satisfying read in the end. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who likes well developed novels with great emotion and tension throughout. I think it would appeal to men and women alike. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

What an adventure this story is. It has all the element for a movie of the week with intrigue, secrets, deceit and high volume action. The story is not just about forgiveness but about learning to trust God. It was easy to like Brenna because even though she had flaws, she still tried to overcome her weaknesses. For years she has had to live with the death of her father who was murdered. I understood how hard it was to be a preacher's kid and knew her dating Nate went against everything her father believed in.

Nate is a wonderful character with a dangerous job as a smoke jumper. Can you imagine jumping from a plane into a blaze that was out of control? I enjoyed the turmoil between him and his father. We have often heard of people in prison who are innocent but cant prove it. Nate struggled with his dad being locked away for years knowing that he still doubted his dad's innocence. The author does an excellent job of writing scenes where Nate and his dad have to find a way to communicate again. What I liked was Nate's bravery in rescuing a family in danger of being in the line of a fire overtaking their home. Most people would have not gone back into the fire, but Nate wouldn't be able to live with himself he he didn't try to save them.

The relationship between Nate and Brenna is not welcomed by some and it took the story in a direction where we see how God works. Brenna is at a breaking point with fighting for custody of her children, coping with the release of her father's killer and maintaining a semblance of control in her life. There is much to learn in the story from how to treat an asthma attack, discovering secrets about a murder and learning to forgive. It is a fast paced story that will have you on the edge of your seat as secrets are revealed. I liked how Nate's father never gave up hope and drew closer to God during his time in prison. Nate and Brenna are dynamic characters each searching for truth and healing. Don't miss this story from a gifted author that delivers intriguing stories surrounded by faith.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Terri Blackstock  has written another great book about ever burning forest fires, as is prevalent even today.  This book is different from the "If I Run series" but still a good suspense. Alcoholism is discussed with sensitivity and dignity. Grace and forgiveness are major topics and shows how our Heavenly Father can put back together the broken pieces of broken lives. Then one can learn to to forgive and accept those who have hurt us. A great story of how love and forgiveness can bring healing. I highly recommend this novel to those who appreciate well-written Christian fiction, mystery, and drama.  I have enjoyed every book I’ve read written by Terri Blackstock! She is truly a great writer.........I was gifted this E-book by the publisher via NetGalley and these are my own words.

I heard a writing teacher say once that it’s much harder to write a truly good character than to write a flawed one. She said that readers would dislike the “perfect” people. I thought I’d feel that way about the hero of Smoke Screen. After Nate nobly saved an entire family (and their dog) from their burning home, then worried more about his team than about his own injuries, he was looking a little too good to be true. Ho hum. But then the the author did her trademark thing: she made his life messy. She gave him a very complicated family. She gave him a bad reputation. Now, he was a genuinely good and likeable guy, but he was interesting, too. Terri Blackstock is really good at that!

The heroine was easier to dislike – a weak woman with a drinking problem, when she should have been stronger and stayed sober, if she really wanted to keep her kids. Instead, she wallowed in self-pity and hopelessness. So irritating. But… just as she has in so many other books, Terri Blackstock took that character and made her real. She was still doing all the wrong things, but now I cared about her. I wanted her to succeed. I could identify with the attitude of her sister,,, I wanted to shake Brenna and then dump out all her hidden bottles of alcohol.

The other characters are solid, too. I like where she went with Brenna’s ex-husband at the end of the book. I have a feeling we’ll see more of the siblings in future books.

This book reminded me of Ms. Blackstock’s earlier series, Moonlighters and Intervention, with their complex family relationships and “real life” problems. The plot is creative, and the relationships feel natural. The Christian content is good. with the characters asking hard and honest questions about God and their lives. I was glad to see a return to the author’s previous style, too – It’s written in alternating first-person past tense, which I greatly prefer to her more recent present-tense stories.

Readers who are looking for her usual suspenseful stories might be disappointed. This one is good, but it’s more of a romance and mystery, with hints of women’s fiction in the family relationships, which are a major element of the book.

This is not your typical Terri Blackstock read, however that is not a bad thing. When I see Blackstock’s name on a book, I immediately think of suspense, action, and books that are going to keep me on my toes. This was totally different – it was full of drama, broken characters, redemption, and inspiration. I was still hooked, just in a different way.

My absolute favorite character was Brenna. She was a Christian, yes, but she was flawed – aren’t we all? Blackstock was not afraid to bring in a **gasp** big sin into this storyline. I know some readers may have issue with that, but I welcome it. We’re all sinners in some way, shape or form. Maybe we don’t know what Brenna struggled with, but her story can certainly represent a sin that we are dealing with. A sin that just won’t undo it’s grasp over us. One that easily besets us. Brenna just needed help, as do we. I found her character to be a breath of fresh air if I’m honest. I don’t always want to read about prefect characters. I want to read about the Brenna’s of the world, and how they come out of their mess, and how they learn to rely on the Lord again and remember that He never left them in the first place.

There was a little mystery in trying to figure out who actually killed Brenna’s dad and set the church on fire, but I didn’t feel like that was the main part of the story. It was really about Brenna’s growth, both as a person and as a Christian. As for Nate? Well he had some flaws himself, mainly forgiveness. I could see the wall he put up whenever he was around his father, and I was just waiting for that “aha” moment where he realized he needed to put all his anger and fears aside, and see his father for the man he was today. Just as it wasn’t easy for Nate, it’s not easy for us to do with some people. I think seeing Nate progress through the course of the story will inspire people as well.

Was this a typical Blackstock novel? For me, no. But honestly, it was so much more. I encourage you to dive in, get inspired, and learn from these flawed characters. I think you’ll find yourself encouraged and thankful you picked it up. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel offers an exciting, suspenseful story filled with devastation and loss as well as love and the hope of redemption. Can people really get a second chance at life? The compelling story unfolds the past in a new light, but some things remain unclear, as if behind a smoke screen. Can healing come to an injured smokejumper whose father was convicted of murdering his former girlfriend’s pastor father years ago? Can she find healing in the midst of a custody battle with her former husband and his wealthy, controlling father? Can they overcome all the hurts of the past and forgive those who crushed them? The people and their struggles seem so real in this novel. Your heart will ache but also long for good to somehow come through, even though it looks impossible. The author did a fine job at bringing the tale to life—it jumps off the page and into your heart. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Terri Blackstock is a go-to author for me. Her suspense-filled novels always touch on the personal struggles of the characters while providing a mystery to solve for the reader. Smoke Screen is a little different from the usual Blackstock novels. There is definitely a mystery — the long ago murder of a pastor everyone thought was a closed case — but the tension, which is palpable from the first page, is mostly from the train wreck life of main character, Brenna. The suspense doesn’t come from car chases, sniper fire, or explosions, but from the very real and bad choices made by the characters. Years before, Brenna and Nate had a high school romance that had to be hidden from her family. When it was finally revealed, tragedy overshadowed the relationship. Brenna’s family was devastated, Nate’s father was convicted of murder, and Nate left town seeking to escape the stigma of his father’s crime and the whispers about alleged wrongdoing on his part. Years later, the two are reunited despite the odds of years apart and the objections of both families. Nate is determined to discover just who the real killer is while seeking to help Brenna battle alcoholism.

Brenna is a complex character — a good and loving mother, who turns to alcohol to numb the pain of a custody battle. I didn’t like her very much at first, but Blackstock allowed me to get into the head of this character. I began to appreciate the very real struggles she faced. Nate is a hero’s hero, although he never seeks the limelight. On the job as a smoke jumper and in his personal life as a friend, he goes above and beyond — you will love him! I didn’t have any trouble figuring out who was behind the murder, but there were a few twists on how it happened.

Not action-packed, but filled with raw emotion and tension, Smoke Screen will appeal to Blackstock fans as well as those looking for a story filled with real life situations.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

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 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.

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.

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

ADRENALINE OVERLOAD!

SMOKE SCREEN is the latest evidence of Terri Blackstock’s Award winning writing skills. She continues to be masterful in the art of creating characters that are believable, plots that are dynamic from beginning to end, descriptions of setting that make you feel as though you’re right where the action is taking place and subject matter that is timely, easily understood and relatable.

This is the story of uncontrolled wildfires - 1) the kind involving REAL FIRE that scorches absolutely everything in its path and 2) the kind involving FIRE FROM THE TONGUE that also scorches absolutely everything in its path. Both are horrible. One takes years to recover from. One may never see restoration from the devastation that has taken place. Most everyone is familiar with the old English-language children’s rhyme that says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones But words will never harm me.” We also know that nothing can be further from the TRUTH! Some things can be said about you when you’re young and you can’t outlive the LIE! The characters in Smoke Screen deal with both types of these Wildfires. Blackstock showcases her writing skills as she cleverly weaves her plot around these Wildfires. She shows the effects on individuals, their families and their town. She shows the effects many years later. Blackstock writes of greed, power, insensitivity, hatred, misplaced loyalty, deceit and also shows how love NEVER fails.

I was provided an complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Smoke Screen is a very quick Christian contemporary. It involves Brenna, a single mother struggling with a court battle to keep custody of her children. It also involves Nate, whose father is out of prison having served time for killing Brenna's father. I ended up enjoying the romance. Brenna and Nate's past history really added to their relationship. It was definitely not a light read as it deals with struggles of faith in God, family and friends. It also deals with the struggles of alcohol abuse. So...definite trigger warnings. I was really rooting for Brenna. I thought her struggle with drinking came across as realistic. The story also sends a good message about the crisis of faith and what you can do to let go. There is a little bit of a mystery because Roy (Nate's dad) swears he is innocent. I liked how that story line was wrapped up nicely. I do recommend trying this one out.

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.

3 Stars: 3/5 Stars


This was not my favorite book. It was very well-written though. It was slow for me to get into and then did not leave me gripping my seat as I anticipated from the description. I do enjoy other books by the author and others may well enjoy the slower pace of this novel, it just wasn't for me.

I received a digital version of this book from netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Terri Blackstock never disappoints. And the smoke screen she describes has many layers and players. The depth of each character is as deep as the smoke from the fires they must put out. This novel kept me guessing from the first page to the last.

I love Terri Blackstock’s stories. She is a master at writing romantic suspense and I absolutely loved her Christmas novella Catching Christmas. I was so excited to read this story, but sadly, it just did not work for me - on any level.

I have to be able to root for a character to feel invested in a story, and I just struggled to find someone to root for. For me, it was really hard to root for Brenna or her ex-husband when it came to their kids. I felt like neither option was good. I also felt like the tag line - One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. And all because their children fell in love- set up for an awesome story, but sadly, that part was really just background material. I wanted so much more from this story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Brenna and Nate both have complicated lives due to prior events. High School sweethearts, Nate has returned to his hometown because his father has been released from prison and pardoned from his murder charge, and Nate is also recovering from burns received in his fire fighting job. But Nate is not sure he can ever forgive his father for his past actions and his attitude towards him. He's trying to find his answers in his faith. Brenna is reeling from a divorce and now a suit for custody of her 2 children. She's trying to find answers at the bottom of a bottle. This book was so interesting as as Brenna and Nate work together to find answers to the mysteries of the past that were setting the present happenings in motion.

The twisting solutions to all the past and present events taught both Brenna and Nate mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love. I appreciated how Nate did not reveal who set the past fire that he found himself accused. It showed his understanding that it was truly an accident and not intentional.
Another great read from a super suspense author.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

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.

I’ve never read a novel by Terri Blackstock before. If I’m honest, it’s because I’m a baby. Her covers scare me. I am a super sensitive woman. If I read or watch anything scary before bed, I will have nightmares. Since I work full-time during the day, most of my reading gets done at night, which means a lot of suspense novels never make it to my TBR pile. But, my husband adores Blackstock’s novels and encouraged me to read this one, and the premise did sound really excellent, so I took a risk. Boy, am I glad that I did! Smoke Screen is a very well-written story: the plot is highly engaging, the characters have depth and are very relatable, and the conflicts are so frustrating I flew through the pages to get to the end because I had to know everything would turn out OK for Nate and Brenna. All in all, Smoke Screen is a seriously good read I highly recommend.

I found so much to love about this novel, but my favorite aspect is the illustration of corporate prayer. I am a BIG believer in prayer. I believe with my whole heart that God hears and answers prayers. And, I know that praying with others makes prayers super powerful. As stated in Mark 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I among them.” I’ve read hundreds and hundreds of Christian fiction books over the years, so I’ve seen characters pray. I’ve seen characters gather together at church to pray during Sunday sermons and masses. But I’ve not read a Christian novel where Christian characters go on red alert, immediately gather together, and corporately pray because a member of the congregation needs help ASAP. This moment in Smoke Screen is AMAZING — prayer warriors going to battle with God in order to help a member of their team. And God moves mountains for the character because of this corporate prayer. It’s one of the most awe-inspiring moments I’ve read in a book.

My review, I fear, doesn’t do Smoke Screen justice. I found this story to be sweet and romantic, frustrating and encouraging, and action-packed. If you are looking for a well-written novel filled with suspense, romance, and timely themes, then Smoke Screen is the story for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

“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.