Absolutely excellent. I cannot believe I have waited this long to pick up and read Smoke Screen. I have now been introduced to a very talented author I have never read before. The characters were exceptional and the plot moved very quickly. There was never a dull moment. I will definitely be picking up more Terri Blackstock books in the future.

I loved this book! I was engrossed in the story almost right from the beginning. The characters of Brenna and Nate pulled me in. Their lives were forever changed with the murder of Brenna’s father and they ended up in two separate directions. Now 14 years later they are both back in the same community but nothing is the same.

Brenna is going through an ugly custody battle while Nate is trying to heal with from 3rd degree burns and the reuniting of his family. The portrayal of the custody battle with all the ugliness and hatred felt very realistic (unfortunately). I hurt for Brenna with everything she was going through and the way she was trying to cope with it. I quickly fell for Nate, the way he was stood up to his father, the way he looked out for Brenna, and the way he treated Brenna’s children all had me loving him.

While the custody battle and the reconnection of Brenna & Nate may feel like the main storyline, there was mystery of trying to figure out what really happened to cause the murder that changed the lives of two families.
I went through so many emotions during this read. I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) put this book down.

Smoke Screen is Terri Blackstock keeping you on edge as you dare not put it down until all the lies and secrets are revealed as Brenna and Nate unite to find answers. This novel is a great example of why Terri is one of favorite storytellers.

I have seen author Terri Blackstock's name around bookstores and friend's shelves, but I've never tried them out before. And now that I have, I'm sad I didn't start reading Blackstock earlier. What a captivating and well told story. The romance was slow paced, but the chemistry was done well. The mystery was a little faster pace, and played out interestingly enough. The best part, for me, were the characters. I felt like they drove the story even more than the plot did. I really enjoyed Nate's story, and the connection between his family and Brenna's. That was the highlight to me. Brenna was a little too whiny for my taste. I get that she was stressed and dealing with so many family issues, but she just wasn't as strong as I wanted her to be...even to the end. I wanted to her to rise up and take control, and I didn't feel like I ever got her big climactic scene I wanted from her. And goodness gracious, her ex's family was HORRIBLE. Written very well, because I HATED them. Like wanted to jump through the pages and strangle them...which is probably why I wanted Brenna to do that too. Alas, it was very well done book and I will certainly be reading more from Blackstock in the future.

I have heard good things about Terri Blackstock, but this was the first book of hers that I have read. I will definitely look at her backlist as I really enjoyed this faith based suspense story. This is the story of Brenna Strickland and Nate Beckett. Nate left his Colorado hometown years before amidst rumors and the story that his father shot and killed Brenna's father Pastor Stickland. Nate ended up becoming a skilled hotshot fire jumper, but is injured in a wildfire while rescuing a US senator and family. He returns home to recuperate and face his father who has been pardoned and released from prison. His ex-girlfriend, Brenna is recently divorced and in a battle with her ex-husband and his father for custody of her two children. Nate is there to support Brenna and possibly rekindle their feelings for each other. With a wildfire raging, her children yanked from her home until a custody hearing and Nate's father trying to prove his innocence, there is a lot happening in this small town.

I loved Nate and how he turned his life around. His life as a hotshot was interesting, and I felt so bad for him and how he had been treated in the past by the town he grew up in. Brenna was a well-written character. I felt so bad for her, she has so much to deal with and her ex-father-in-law was such a bully. I am glad that Nate was there for her before she self-destructed with alcohol. She was a wonderful mother and just wanted the best for her children. She had some baggage to deal with as well, and watching her and Nate become aware that their feelings were more than just friendship was wonderful. The mystery as to who really killed the pastor and who set fire to the church. Terri Blackstock did a wonderful job of integrating this storyline into the relationship stories. I will say that I did figure out who was responsible before the final reveal, but not much before and it made for a satisfactory conclusion to that part of the story. This book is a Christian romance, and a good story. It is about forgiveness, standing up for yourself and your family, honesty, courage, faith in God all rolled in to a second chance romance.

Smoke Screen is a beautiful novel about reconciliation, love and faith.
I loved Nat and Brenna's relationship and how Nate showed her how to fight for her children and also helped her rediscover her faith in God. Brenna character was written with such sensitivity and understanding. This is definitely worth a read. Thanks netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this arc.

I love just about every book that I have read from Terri Blackstock. She is a fantastic writer and I always love that her books are masterly written and generally have a great faith theme throughout the entire book. Smoke Screen is about a single mom, Brenna, who is in a custody battle and battles with alcoholism. Nate is an injured fireman who has a history with Brenna. This book is a suspenseful, yet romantic read. This story intrigued me from the beginning of the book and I felt like I was in the story or watching it unfold as I read it. There are several different intricate stories being told at once and it is so easy to follow. You could feel the tension and healing within relationships. God can transform lives and Terri Blackstock has an excellent way of writing that within her story. Smoke Screen is full of family drama, secrets, jealousy, faith, and romance. Excellent story and enjoyed the way it ended.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Terri Blackstock has long been one of my favorite suspense writers. Her new release "Smoke Screen" takes you through the lives of Brenna and Nate. Each dealing with their own pasts and present troubles. Brenna struggles with one of the heart-breaking scenarios for a mom, fighting to keep custody of her kids. All while watching her ex's father calling the shots. Nate returns after being away from the town he grew up in to face his own haunts from the past. Did his father really kill Brenna's father? Is Nate a arsonist? What does Brenna fill her time with when her children are with their dad? This story is so full of who's guilty of what, restoring relationships if possible, encouragement and of course, sleuthing. You'll not want to miss this book!
Blessings,
Karen Hadley
Rating: 5*
I received this book as a gift and all opinions are my own.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one. Way to go!!

Terri Blackstock is one of my favorite Christian suspense writers. This story quickly grabs your attention and draws you into it's intriguing plot.The main characters, Breanna and Nate, were involved in their youth and Breanna is now a single mother who is coping with her life through alcohol use. Another great read by Terri Blackstock !
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.

Terri Blackstock does it again with a captivating story and characters. It pulls you in from the beginning and makes you care about what happens to everyone involved. I was disappointed when I got to the end!

Nate and Brenna have more than enough reason to want to dread ever coming face to face with each other again in their lives. With Nate's father having been imprisoned for 14 years, allegedly for killing Brenna's father, and with Nate himself having been accused of setting the local church on fire before leaving home, their small Colorado hometown has given them both only bad memories. Now when life forces them to return back with physical and emotional injuries, they have nobody else but each other to turn to, for strength and support.

I loved how Blackstock wove in the suspense element of who killed Brenna's father into an otherwise heartwarming tale of lost and refound love, hope, and trust. The narration was awesome. The words are deftly used and keep the reader engaged throughout. I thoroughly cherished reading this brilliant book.

I'm very thankful to the Partners in Crime Tours PR firm, the publishers Harper Collins - Thomas Nelson, and the author Terri Blackstock for gifting me a copy of this book for an honest review.

I will always love anything that Terri Blackstock writes. She keeps me on the edge of my seat always wondering what’s going to happen next. This book was amazing. I loved all the characters and how they interacted with each other. The ending wow never seen it coming. Can’t wait to see what Terri Blackstock writes next. Thank you Netgalley for the early copy.

Single mother Brenna Strickland struggles with alcohol as her ex-husband works to take everything she holds dear. Injured firefighter Nate Beckett returns home to recover—and reacquaint himself with his father, the man accused of murdering Brenna’s father. Family, reputations, secrets, jealousy, faith, romance, and truth all tie into the obstacles that Brenna and Nate must overcome, making for quite an emotional story.

Terri Blackstock’s Smoke Screen proves to be a quick, intriguing read. Getting to know Brenna and Nate is a pleasure (even as their circumstances—and choices, too, at times—frustrated me), making me want only the best for them. I just had to keep reading to find out where their story would go, and thankfully, its progression is quite satisfying.

Smoke Screen tells the story of Brenna, who after losing her husband to a younger girl (okay - woman), is now being fought for full custody of her children. This struggle is getting to Brenna, who finds - or rather hopes to find - solace in drinking.

Fighting battles of his own, along comes Nate, a childhood sweetheart, who offers Brenna comfort

Smoke Screen was a captivating story that I just had to finish in one day. It was filled with mystery which made this an exciting and suspenseful page turner.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, though NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading her books for years now and this one was no different. I will be able to post more once I have my review fully written but this is worth reading.

So good!

I hadn’t read a Terri Blackstock book in awhile and will now have to go find some of the other books of hers that I missed. This might just be the best one. The story starts with a bang but actually didn’t hook me for a couple chapters. So much going on right now with the Shelter in place and COVID-19. But suddenly I was IN. I loved how real Brenna & Nate were. The struggles so true. The questions Brenna had with God and the coping mechanisms she used were real. So many Christian authors won’t go there or can’t. Well done Terri! Mystery, romance, inspiration, a great story line & people. I throughly recommend this book.

I received an advance copy of this book for reviewing purposes. This is my honest opinion.

Terri Blackstock was the first Christian suspense novelist I ever read. Now twenty years later, I found her latest novel SMOKE SCREEN as engaging to read as the first. Fire jumper Nate Beckett returns to his hometown to heal after receiving extensive second degree burns while rescuing a family. Within hours he finds himself enmeshed in problems he left behind 14 years earlier. First, he must meet his father, newly released from prison by the governor. While his mother has always believed her husband was innocent of the murder he was convicted of, Nate only remembers his father's drunkeness and meanness. How can they build a new relationship? Is it necessary for Nate to believe is innocent for them to begin again? Then Nate finds that his former girlfriend, now newly divorced, lives across the street from his brother's modest house where Nate is crashing. It only takes one encounter for Nate to realize that Brenna is still as lovely as ever, but that her recent divorce and oppressive husband has left her shattered. Can they put aside what happened in the past and rekindle a young love that went so wrong? And most importantly, why did a simple teenage romance end in the murder of Brenna's father? Although much of this novel is predictable, the story flows easily and the messages are solid. I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

Terri Blackstock's suspense never disappoints!

Years ago, Nate Beckett and Brenna Strickland fell in love. Nate was the son of the town drunk, and well on his way to a permanent spot in jail, but Brenna saw the hurt he hid behind the bravado. When her father is murdered, Nate's dad is convicted of the deed, and the church Brenna's father pastored is burned to the ground. Nate leaves town to begin a career as a smoke jumper, leaving the town to believe what they want about him.

Brenna and her family have spent the intervening years believing the worst about Nate and his father. After Nate left, Brenna married the son of the richest man in town. Her life should have been wonderful, except her husband was a serial cheater, and instead of relying on the faith she learned at her father's knee, she dove into a bottle. Now that her husband has dumped her for someone half his age, she's in a custody battle for their daughter. Can she stay sober long enough to prove that her home is the best place for her daughter to grow up?

Injured on the job, Nate returns home. His father has been pardoned after spending years in prison for a crime he has claimed all along he didn't commit. When Nate discovers that the house he is renting is across the road from where Brenna is living, he does his best to stay away but it becomes obvious pretty quickly that she needs his help. Can the two of them work together to find her father's real killer? Can working together give her the strength she needs to stop drinking, and stand strong against her ex-husband's manipulations?

I am such a fan of Terri Blackstock's writing. She is probably in my top five as far as suspense writers, and since that's my favorite genre, I have quite a list! I absolutely recommend Smoke Screen to anyone who loves romantic suspense. Blackstock is right up there with the best!