Aftermath by Terri Blackstock is a suspense with a bit of romance about a man who was wrongfully accused of making a bomb and setting it off at a Presidential rally. The hero calls on a childhood friend he hasn't spoken to in years to represent him. There are many layers to this story and because of the key characters in it, it made for an enjoyable read. In fact, I stayed up way past my bed time to finish it.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.
4.5 stars

This book was soooooo addictive!!! This was meant to be a buddy read, but I couldn’t stop myself from reading it in one sitting!

So, this is the story of Dustin, who gets framed for a bombing and seeks help from his childhood best friend who is now a lawyer. I was always going to love this one. I love it when the main characters already have a history and a frame-up always makes for an intriguing story! As far as the case is concerned, this was a fairly straightforward plot, not too many surprises on that front... but that didn’t take any of the suspense out of it, because we are thrown the extra point of view of a victim of the bombing who is struggling with mental health issues and makes some worrying choices! I really enjoyed the uniqueness of approaching it in that way. It’s certainly a different take on the romantic suspense genre and I haven’t read anything else like it!

Highly recommend!!

Thanks @thomasnelson @tnzfiction and @netgalley for the ARC. I was only required to provide an honest review in return, and I honestly loved this one!!!

Terri Blackstock is a go to author for suspense. She doesn't disappoint in Aftermath!

The novel kicks off with action at a bombing at a rock concert. What comes after is the focus on the novel.

Attendee Taylor's mental instability understandably worsens following the bombing. Security firm owner Dustin is wrongfully accused of committing the crime. Dustin's childhood friend Jamie is a lawyer and after many years of no contact, Dustin reaches out to her for help.

The crime happens at the beginning of the novel and the suspense is in figuring out who is behind the bombing. There is also secondary threads of Dustin and Jamie reconnecting, Taylor's struggle with what happened and Dustin's co-owner Travis is holding on tight to his wife that has terminal cancer.

This suspense novel delivers action, likeable characters and an engaging and plausible story line. Add the loveable canine Duke to the mix and this all adds up to all that you want in suspense.

Fantastic book! This is the first book I've read of Terri
Blackstock's but it sure will not be the last. This is an
incredible story falling in line with what we are dealing with
day after day.
It starts out good from page one and keeps getting more and more
interesting. You must not miss out on this one!

This book is great! I needed a book that I could get into to
take me away from everything happening around me and this
one did the trick.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, the writer, and publisher for
giving me the chance to read and review this amazing book!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

This book is a study of the human condition and how people react to different situations. There are three story lines that are interwoven by a single event - the bombing of a political rally. The three situations expose us to what a person would do when desperation takes over our lives. It leaves you asking, "What would I do in that situation? How would I react?" The author does not disappoint us in the telling of this story. She does not tie everything into a neat bow at the end. Instead, she shows us the how and why her characters behaved the way they did.

Wow! I could not put this one down! Blackstock starts this book off with a bang - literally, with a bomb exploding in the midst of a concert and political rally. We are then introduced to Dustin, who claims he has been set up for the bombing when police find explosive chemicals in the trunk of his car. He calls childhood friend, Jamie Powell and together, the two of them seek to discover who truly planted the bomb and why Dustin was framed for the catastrophic event. Unique to this story is the additional perspective of this story told by Taylor, a young girl who was at the concert and political rally, but who also experiences OCD. Sharing Taylor's story not only provided the perspective of a victim but also gives a small peek into how a person with OCD may cope with trauma and the loss of two friends as a result of that trauma.

I could hardly put Aftermath down. I loved the characters' past history and how that played into their interactions throughout the story. I also really enjoyed reading the story from the perspective of a victim, and the person framed for the story. I feel it's not a perspective often written in the suspense novels that I read and It brought a fresh feeling to the telling of this story. I also enjoyed the glimpse into a character who struggles with a mental health diagnosis. Again, not often something I see written about. I did find myself wondering how true the writing of Taylor is to the struggles of a person diagnosed with OCD, but that did not overwhelm the actual telling of the story.

I read aftermath pretty much in two sittings because I wanted to see the outcome of the story. I did figure out some of the ending about halfway through the story, but it did not take away from the overall arch of the story for me.

Terri Blackstock’s Aftermath takes us on an incredible adventure. Attorney Jamie Powell gets a phone call from her childhood friend, Dustin Webb, asking for her help. He has been arrested for planting explosives that killed twenty-six people at a political rally. Then there is Taylor Reid, a young woman who escaped alive but lost two of her friends. Jamie has her work cut out for her. I loved this book. Terri Blackstock never lets me down. Her stories are always thrilling. I always appreciate that there are characters who really live their faith. Dustin was a testament to faith. He never gave up on God while he was going through these tough times. There may be romance but it is never the main focus. I also appreciated that Jamie was so loyal to Dustin. She never once questioned that he might be guilty. I highly recommend; this story was hard to put down last night to go to sleep! Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book literally starts with a bang when an explosion goes off at a political rally. Taylor and her besties only went because they wanted to see their favourite band open the gig, but now Taylor has to deal with the aftermath. Her OCD had been under control, but she's in danger of spiralling down again as she becomes obsessed with bringing those responsible to justice.

Meanwhile, Dustin Webb is pulled over by the police and found to have explosives linked to the bombing in his car. He used to be a troubled foster child, but he's pulled his life together and now has a successful business. He calls the one person he's been avoiding for years, his childhood friend Jamie Powell who is now a lawyer. She believes he's innocent, but can they convince others and find the real culprit before it's too late?

I enjoyed this romantic thriller from Terri Blackstock. Dustin and Jamie are both likable characters, and you can feel for them as they battle the tide against them. Taylor's OCD adds another dimension to the story. It wasn't too hard to work out who set Dustin up; and Jamie and Dustin also work it out early, so that took some of the tension out for me. However, I still thought the way it played out was interesting. The romance is a little lighter on, compared to some of Blackstock's other books, but I still enjoyed it. The faith element was also interesting, as Jamie and Dustin had to work through issues that had been blocking them from going forward.

If you like Christian romantic suspense, you will probably enjoy this book. I didn't like it quite as much as her 'If I Run' series, but still a good read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Terri Blackstock's books are always a good read. Her characters are interesting and well developed, and relationships are realistically formed and broken. Jamie receives a request for help from an old friend, Dustin, who's been framed for a violent crime. He has no idea who or why anyone would want to set him up for conviction while causing a tragedy, and he needs Jamie's legal skills to help him. Excellent book!

I’ve read several Terri Blackstock books over the years. Usually they are real page-turners (a good example would be the If I Run series).
This book was enjoyable but rather predictable.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Suspense novels can leave out the romance storyline in my honest opinion. If I want a romance story, I would read a romance novel. An I intriguing storyline, realistic plots, action and re-action are all good in this book, just leave out the love story next time and it would be even better.

Great story reminding us that citizens of the US are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Three stories converge around a bombing that kills a 3rd party presidential candidate. Dustin is accused of setting the bomb and calls on his childhood friend Jamie (now an attorney) to represent him. Taylor and her friends are at the concert/rally and her friends are killed in the explosion. Dustin’s business partner, Travis, is spending all his time at the hospital watching his beloved wife die from cancer. There are many layers in the story including survivor’s guilt and PTSD, abandonment, mental health issues, loyalty, and more. Each layer is woven into the story in an interesting and thoughtful way. I must admit that I had pretty much figured out the mystery—just not how it would be solved. Even then, it was a great story from an accomplished storyteller.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

5 out of 5 stars. Definitely pick this book up. I love Terri Blackstocks writing, especially her suspense books. This book made me go back to some of her older books and read them because I remembered how much I loved her writing.

Jamie Powells friend contacts her after he has been accused of setting bombs. Even though it has been years since Jamie has been in contact with Dustin, she still believes him and wants to help him.

This book takes you on so many twists and turns of their journey. While it was pretty easy to figure out who the real criminal was, the journey along the way was the best part.

I highly recommend picking up this book if you love intense suspense but without the gruesome sometimes keep you up at night images. 5 starts Terri Blackstock!

Aftermath is a very well written romantic suspense. The plot is a real page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. Terri Blackstock has written another winner. I highly recommend this book.

Another winner from Terri Blackstock! This book kept me invested from the dramatic beginning to the satisfying ending. An exciting, smoothly flowing plot; well-developed, realistic characters; meaningfully infused spiritual truths; and a little romance combine to make an intriguing, entertaining read. Detailed descriptions of the bombing and other confrontations are vivid but not disturbing. I enjoyed this book although the outcome was a bit predictable. I recommend this book especially for lovers of Christian romantic suspense.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jamie Powell, a criminal defense attorney, is called by a childhood friend, Dustin who has been arrested for stolen bomb parts in his car on the same day that a bomb went off in a political rally in a large venue in town. The bomb was made with other components that were stolen at the same time. Dustin and his partner have a successful security business and the components were stolen from a business they had set up security for. He is obviously being framed, and Jamie is determined to help him through this process and find the real criminals. This was full of suspense and action. It was well written and a great read.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I enjoyed reading this book! I have been a Terri Blackstock fan for years, and this was a good addition to her books! The main characters were interesting, and I really liked their backstory. I did guess who the bad guy was fairly early on, but I was still intrigued to find out the motive and how it would all end. The last few chapters were intense, and I couldn’t put the book down until I finished, even though I needed to get my kids ready for the day. I’m glad I read it, and I look forward to more books by Terri Blackstock in the future!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Aftermath" is a Christian romantic suspense. Dustin had a troubled childhood after his parents died, but he thrived in the Army and later created his own successful security firm. Only, someone has set him up as a clear suspect in a political rally bombing. He needs the help of an old friend who always believed in him and who's now a lawyer. Jamie fights to uncover the real culprit behind the bombing while protecting her client.

The suspense was created by the physical danger and emotional upheaval created by the bombing situation. The characters were interesting and reacted realistically to events. Jamie and Dustin worked together to prove his innocence and solve whodunit. They grew closer as they built upon their past friendship and acknowledged how much they cared for each other. While whodunit seemed like an obvious suspect to me and Jamie also suggested that person, it was understandable that Dustin needed further proof. I was frustrated, though, that Dustin didn't even try to not implicate himself when he found and was searching through evidence of the crime (and leaving his fingerprints all over it).

Some of the characters struggled to understand why God allowed some to live and others to die. There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting novel.

Terri Blackstock is an incredible author and this new novel is one of her very best. I read this book very quickly and enjoyed all the twists and turns to the end.

In Aftermath by Terri Blackstock, our hero, Dustin, appears to have been framed for a crime he did not commit: setting off a bomb at a political rally that killed over twenty people. Who is the first person he calls? His childhood best friend, Jamie, who happens to be an attorney. In the three-hundred-plus pages that followed the explosion, they must figure out who actually committed the despicable act and why. Meanwhile, most everyone else believes Dustin is responsible. Terri Blackstock presents an exciting tale that will draw you in from the first page. And then it will demand your attention—even when you’re not actively reading—until you finish the final page.

Though I can’t be certain, I’m pretty sure I dreamed about Aftermath after I finished it. Being a speed-reader, I finished the novel in a day, and it was time well spent. The characters drew me in from the very first chapter, when readers meet Taylor and her two friends. They’re taking selfies and screaming as their favorite band performs onstage. Before the bomb turns the world into smoke, blood, and bodies. I’ve always heard if you don’t grab your reader’s attention within the first few pages, he/she probably won’t read the entire novel. Aftermath blew up on the second page, and I was completely hooked.

Twists fill Aftermath. For a romantic suspense novel, it had very little romance, which I appreciated. The book focused on solving the crime. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat…as long as you don’t overly contemplate the plot, like I did. Before writing this review, I read a few others’ thoughts. I disagree with many, who all said the book was unpredictable. As soon as Blackstock revealed the concert was part of a political rally, I had a vague idea how the plot would unravel. While the author surprised me with a few things, for the most part, I knew the motives of the antagonists. I knew when Blackstock introduced a particular character, that individual was somehow going to be involved. In the end, I was right.

I also had a lot of issues with Taylor, who suffers from OCD. I like knowing characters’ ages. The beginning of the novel led me to believe she was maybe in her late teens, but later, she discusses talking to her friend’s fiancé. Being in a sorority. So maybe early twenties instead? I didn’t know, and that bothered me. Taylor’s sister, Harper, also came across as overbearing and controlling at times versus the concerned older sister. Third, where were their parents?! If my child almost lost her life in a bombing, I’d rush to her location to ensure her well-being. At first, I thought it was because maybe their parents had died, but Harper mentions their mom and dad in a conversation.

The parents never call. Never talk to their daughter. Never seem to show any worry or care about her almost dying, besides Harper casually saying something along the lines of, “I promised Mom and Dad I’d look after you.” So are they alive? Are they dead? That really bugged me, and it’s still annoying me after finishing the book.

Overall, Aftermath by Terri Blackstock is very good. It’s no “insta-romance,” and affections don’t distract the characters from their purpose. The plot is complex and well developed in a classic Terri Blackstock style. But many elements in the novel bugged me, and they took away from my overall enjoyment. Aftermath is still thrilling and very exciting, and I will recommend it to my friends. It just isn’t the most memorable novel I’ve read this year, and nor does it stand out among them.

*Note: I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.