Terri Blackstock tells a sweet love story of second chances and combines that with solving crimes that happened years ago. The crime ans suspense factor isn't very high, but the Christian theme of relying on God's good plans is told very well.

Title: Smoke Screen
Author: Terri Blackstock
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4 out of 5

Nate Beckett is a smoke jumper. He’s always busy fighting wildfires, and he certainly doesn’t have time to come home to the town that believed the worst of him. Fourteen years before, Nate’s father and the preacher got in a very loud, very public argument, and when the preacher was murdered that night, everyone believed Nate’s dad killed him. When the church burned to the ground, everyone believed Nate did it—and rather than stay and fight, he just left.

Fourteen years ago, Nate and the preacher’s daughter, Brenna Strickland were in love—until the night his father was accused of killing her father. After that night, Brenna thought things couldn’t get worse, but now she’s fighting an ugly custody battle with her ex-husband and his younger trophy wife—and his daddy’s money and influence. Brenna turns to alcohol to cope, but when the custody battle grows heated and new information about the murder years before comes to light, Brenna and Nate must work together to find out the truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed Smoke Screen. The things Brenna struggles with are enough to drive anyone to drink—even the preacher’s daughter. Her ex-husband and his daddy were enough to make me want a drink sometimes. The growth of her character through this novel was inspiring. Nate, too, grows a lot in this book. Being the son of a convicted murderer cannot be easy, but he handles himself with class and strength through it all.

Terri Blackstock is a USA Today- and New York Times-bestselling author. Smoke Screen is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Terri Blackstock is a new to me author but definitely one I will need to read more of. Smoke Screen tells the story of how young love goes terribly wrong and the life-long consequences for two families. Nate and Brenna walked away from each other after the fateful night where her father was murdered and his dad was accused of the crime. Now they are both back home and facing not only their pasts, but the present as well.

What is real and what is not? While dealing with the release of the man accused of killing her father, she is also dealing with a nasty custody battle. While at the same time, Nate is trying to find answers from the past. Can they learn to trust each other and find what was lost so long ago? I have actually never read or heard of the genre Christian fiction, but to me this was more a suspenseful read that touches around faith and beliefs, as well as second chances and fixing wrongs.

I read the blurb and thought this was right up my alley. The story is good but based on the blurb, I expected it to be a bit more darker. That aside, I did enjoy the story. Both the story and the characters are well written. There are some feels moments and I admit to tearing up at some. I really liked what the author did with Brenna. Nate is pretty awesome! I enjoyed the author’s writing style and look forward to reading more. Grab some tissues and snacks because you won’t want to put this down! I give this 4 stars.

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.

Smokescreen by Terri Blackstock was my first time reading a book by this author. I loved her writing. She has an amazing ability to draw out emotion in a reader, whether happy, sad, or mad.

Brenna Strickland is a single mother fighting her ex for custody of her children. Nate Beckett is a smokejumper who is home for the first time in over a decade after suffering burns while fighting a wildfire. They're relationship is about as complicated as it can get.

You see, Brenna and Nate are childhood sweethearts. Until Nate's dad was convicted of murdering Brenna's father. Brenna and Nate broke up, went their separate ways; Brenna married Jack and Nate escaped town after it was insinuated that he burned down the church.

Fast forward to today. Brenna has turned to alcohol to manage her pain and Nate has to face his father who was just pardoned by the govenor. Is there too much history between them or can they help one another face what's coming?

Like I mentioned, Terri Blackstock is a master at pulling out emotion. Never have I wanted a character to lose or be the bad guy as much as I did when Brenna fought her ex. Though she was not my favorite character, I was rooting for her children and their happiness Nate, however, was a great character. I liked everything about him, from his humility to his willingness to wade into messy situations.

While I admire Terri Blackstock's writing, the story itself wasn't my favorite. It was hard to follow the changing point of view because they were both in first person. But more, Brenna's struggle with alcohol seemed to take over the story and Nate's firefighting and investigating action not given enough attention.

Overall, I can't give this story as high marks as I'd like, but I will definitely be checking out other books by Terri Blackstock. Her writing is great and I hope I can find a plot that matches her skill.

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I received this book free from NetGalley in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

When I picked up Smoke Screen and started reading I had high expectations and as usual Terri Blackstock met them! From the very first chapter I was hooked. There was not as much suspense as I thought there would be, but the characters are so well developed I was completely enthralled in their story.



Fourteen years ago Nate was in love with the preacher's daughter. When Brenna sneaked out to be with Nate the preacher confronts Nate's drunk dad, a fight ensues and later that night the preacher is found murdered. Everyone blames Nate's dad and he is convicted and sent to prison. Not long after his conviction a church burns to the ground and everyone thinks Nate did it. Nate decides to let rumors fly and leaves town.



Nate is now working as a fireman and after being injured he heads back to his home town. His dad has just been pardoned and his mom insists that he has changed, but Nate and his dad are still not getting along. Nate decides to give him the benefit of the doubt and begins looking into what really happened the night the preacher was killed.



Brenna is going through an ugly divorce and her life is in shambles. She turns to alcohol to help her cope, but it's just making things worse. Nate walking back into her life was the last thing she expected, but she needs him now more than ever. No one is happy that they are seeing each other again and Brenna is not sure she's ready to let him back into her life. As secrets begin to be revealed will time heal all wounds, or are some scars just too deep?



As I read this my heart just broke for Brenna. Her helplessness over what is going on with her children is just heart wrenching. She wants to be a good mom, but her situation is so out of control she begins to make bad decisions. Nate's love for her is so pure and noble. He truly wants to help her, but she has to want to help herself too. There is a lot of family fractures that need to be healed in this story and perseverance and love always wins!

In Smoke Screen, Terri Blackstock gives us a novel of second chances, romance, faith—and mystery. It’s not a high-suspense story, but the emotional tension will keep readers turning pages.

Nate’s father has spent 14 years in prison for the murder of Brenna’s father, all the while claiming he’s innocent. If he is, then there’s a killer in town. Nate himself, now a smoke jumping firefighter, is thought by many to be responsible for burning down the dead man’s church. Even his father thinks he did it—but he didn’t. So who did?

Brenna and Nate were childhood sweethearts until tragedy scarred both their families. Now Brenna’s in a losing battle for custody of her kids after her husband left her for a younger woman. Her children are her life. When they’re gone on the weekend, not even alcohol can numb the pain.

What I appreciated most about the story is the compassionate and honest portrayal of a Christian struggling with drinking. It happens, and as in Brenna’s case, the faith aspect can increase the shame and guilt. I hope her example can bring hope to others who fight this battle in real life.

For more about the book and about New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock, visit terriblackstock.com.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

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 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.

This book starts off with a bang. And right away you must get through this story. Because we all want to know what will happen when Nate returns home. As I read this book it got more and more involved with who was right and who was covering up what happened. When Brenna got to the point of losing her children to her ex-husband I couldn't put the book down. Very well written and not only suspenseful but also a warm loving story about how people cope with the obstacles of life. #NetGalley

It's been awhile since a novel has raised my blood pressure like Smoke Screen did. The author was able to paint a portrait of pure evil that had my blood boiling from start to finish. Terri Blackstock is one of my favorite authors and her novels just get better and better! How she is able to build such rich, deep characters with real life issues, drawing you into their pain and suffering, while at the same time showing small glimpses of hope amid the hardest of circumstances is just incredible.

Nate's character is a wonderful man that is a hero through and through, but the author wasn't afraid to show his shortcomings as well. The custody battle that plays a major role in the story hit very close to home and brought up a lot of my own personal emotions and memories of one of the hardest times of my life.

The end was satisfying and though it was predictable it still brought tears to my eyes. Incredible story and a must read for anyone and everyone!

As soon as I read the premise for this book, I knew I had to have it. Young love thwarted by angry parents, a murder, and now the murderer is set free is enough to make any romantic suspense reader salivate.

Nate’s work as a smoke jumper is instant hero material while Brenna’s fight for her kids and subsequent alcoholism sets up enormous conflict and a redemptive arc.

I had great sympathy for Brenna at times, but I also wanted her to try a little harder. There were moments when it felt like she’d given up, and I can understand she felt it was pointless. But you don’t quit on your kids, no matter how high the obstacle. That is part of what kept me turning pages. I needed to see Brenna succeed. That aha moment where it all comes together and she realizes that she is not enough…but God is.

As I said, Nate is classic hero material, but with that brokenness we all love to read. He’s spent his life saving others in an attempt to prove his worthiness after his father’s conviction. There are a lot of people who can relate to that, the desire to prove themselves apart from the sin of their parents.

There was a single moment where the theology fell apart for me. It was nothing more than a comment Brenna made, but I disagreed with it in every fiber of my being. I can’t say that she believed what she was saying, and that’s why I didn’t immediately close the book. Am I glad I didn’t stop reading? Yes, without a doubt. The story’s arc made up for that moment.

Overall, I thought Smoke Screen was well-written, the characters were flawed yet redeemable, and the setting spirited me away.

Secrets hid around every corner and people hide behind their own smoke screens, hoping no one will look close enough to see the truth.

While I found this book to be quite predictable, I still enjoyed it. I found it to be much more of a domestic drama than a suspense novel. There were also quite a few unlikable characters, some over the top, but Nate was a great humble hero! I appreciate that Blackstock writes faith based stories that tackle tough subjects.

Smoke Screen opens with Brenna, a recently discovered single mom, trying to make her relationship with her ex-husband work for the benefit of their children. A custody battle ensues as Brenna struggles with depression, alcohol, and her relationship with God. When her childhood boyfriend re-enters her life, her broken heart aches to be loved. Blackstock weaves in murder, arson, and a wrongful conviction to add suspense and depth to the story.

Smoke Screen by author Terri Blackstock is a stand-alone Christian mystery which is a delight to read, Brenna is a newly divorced mother of two young children. He ex-husband is using a custody conflict to further his appeal to the public for an upcoming mayoral race. Brenna is having problems dealing with her failed marriage and the threat of losing custody of her children. She loves her children and has been a very good mother. In order to cope with the stress of her problems, she has been drinking alone on the weekends while the children are with her ex. Has she totally lost control of this situation? She feels she has lost her faith but life has dealt her some unimaginable blows. She blames herself for the death of her father who was a preacher. No, she didn't actually cause his death, but the first love of her teenage life was Nate, and his father has been in prison for 14 years for the murder of her father. She remembers how her father did not want her around Nate because his father was an angry drunk. Brenna has many regrets and uncertainties as she opens her door one day to see an injured Nate standing before her.
Nate is an honest man who decided to leave home at age eighteen after his father is sentenced to prison. The local church had burned to the ground the day before Nate left home. Many people in the community felt he burned the church as revenge for his father going to prison for the murder of the church pastor. It was only a coincidence of the timing. Nate and Brenna had not talked again after her father was killed. Now that Nate is off work healing from burns he sustained in a wildfire event, he decides to talk with Brenna and let her know he still cares about her. He is surprised at how he finds her and feels compelled to try and help her.
Many people from their past have secrets that can affect Brenna and Nate. Will Nate be able to uncover those secrets and motives which have held him from pursuing the love of his life?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Terri Blackstock offers up a new story that is gripping and heartbreaking all at the same time – can all this tragedy end in peace and forgiveness?

Terri Blackstock has an incredible ability to write books that make every reader question their beliefs on a given topic. It may not be that those beliefs are wrong but perhaps they are not strongly held until challenged. This book challenges what it looks like when someone has lost so much they think they have no where else to turn but a source of numbing for the pain. Brenna had so much hope for her future, a loving family, a set path for life, and a sweet boyfriend named Nate – even if he isn’t the guy her father wants her to date. That all falls apart the night her father is killed and Nate’s father is accused of the murder. Further tragedy comes with the conviction of Nate’s father and Nate supposedly burning the church in revenge. With the loss of all she holds dear, Brenna tucks away her pain and forges her way into a new life where she shows no one the brokenness within. Fast forward 14 years and Brenna is stuck in a vortex of loss and pain once again. Her ex-husband is trying to gain permanent custody of their children through money and influence of the judge and given her lack of support, Brenna is secretly drowning her pain in alcohol. Things take an even worse turn when she finds out the man who killed her father is released from prison. Fighting despair and deep wounds, Brenna seeks to find the truth in all the lies. How can a man convicted of such a crime be released? She makes it her mission to find the answers to that question but that will mean facing the man she once loved and now despises. Nate has been running from the hurt his father caused for 14 years and only his recent injury will give him time to face it. Returning home means taking a good look at his past and what Nate finds is shocking – there is evidence his father didn’t kill Brenna’s father. But how can they find the truth when so much points to Roy’s guilt? Their fight for the truth will reveal the darkest parts of their hearts and bring the healing they both need so desperately if they will surrender all their anger and hurt to the One who wants to give them peace. This book was a tough read because it shows the reality of letting pain and un-forgiveness grow deep in your heart and soul. Anyone who thinks they are strong enough to carry that bitterness and not hit rock bottom at some point is seriously deluded. It will poison your life to the point you won’t recognize yourself and will take a miracle from God to release it. Oh, how you hurt for the lives that were so tragically altered by that devastating night. You long to shake the main characters and point them in the right direction to find the pain release they need. At times you might hate them for their selfishness and meanness but people who are hurt strike out at others from that hurt, not from a place of sense. If you want a book that challenges you and makes you consider all sides of hurt and bitterness, this is the book for you. It’s fiction but that makes no difference; these characters carry such an air of reality you cannot help but think and consider life alongside them. I will certainly be recommending this book as one to provide a excellent conversation starter. Perhaps this book may help families and friends deal a little kinder with those around them who are looking and feeling lost in this broken world.

I received this complimentary and temporary E-book from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley in order to provide a review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Terri Blackstock’s novels get better and better. She’s had some hits and misses for me in the past, but the If I Run series was excellent, and Smoke Screen is even better.

Brenna is unhappily divorced from Jack, who is now remarried to Rayne. Brenna now has to work, and Jack gets their children at weekends, which means she barely gets to see them … and so she drinks away her sorrows, and worries about Jack’s latest threat, to seek full custody of the children.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Roy Beckett, the man convicted of murdering her preacher father, is out of jail. And his son, Nate, Brenna’s first love, is back in town … and as handsome as ever. Nate has grown up, and he’s now a strong Christian, even more of a reminder how far Breanna has fallen.

Smoke Screen is full of tension right from the first page. Jack alternates between selfish and stupid, as he is influenced by his domineering father. There is also the mysteries of Roy and Nate Beckett. Roy was convicted of murder but has always claimed he was innocent. But if Roy Beckett is innocent, who killed Pastor Strickland? And Nate was found guilty of arson by the court of public opinion. Again, if he is innocent, who did burned down the church?

I have to admit that there were a few times when the tension got a bit much and I had to put the book down. But it was compelling, and I had to keep reading—no matter how much I wanted to purse-whomp Jack and his father (I actually had a little sympathy for Rayne, who was completely out of her depth).

It was also fascinating to read a Christian novel where the main character—Breanna—had obvious problems.
Let’s not mince words: divorce has turned the preacher’s daughter into an alcoholic with possible mental health issues. There are good and not good ways to react to a nasty divorce, and turning to hard liquor is definitely one of the not good ways. That meant there were times when I found it hard to sympathise with Breanna, because she was partly her own problem. But that made the story even more compelling.

Nate was an excellent hero—truly heroic. But he’s not perfect. He still resents his father for ruining his teenage romance with Breanna (well, having your father accused of murdering your girlfriend’s father will put a damper on the relationship). So there are family issues there that Nate has to get over as well.

Smoke Screen is an excellent novel, with plenty of tension, and a solid dose of romance. Another great new release from Terri Blackstock. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Terri Blackstock has done it again with another thrilling story that pulls at the heart-strings in the most suspenseful ways! Smoke Screen had all the right moments that kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime!

After his father is convicted of murdering the preacher, and father, of the girl he has been dating in his hometown, Nate Beckett leaves the lies and rumors behind. It’s been fourteen years and his father has been released from prison. After an injury, Nate takes a break from his work as a smoke jumper, which brings him back home. Coming back home means he will have to face the girl he left behind, Brenna. When his father was accused of the murder, their relationship changed. Brenna is having a hard time dealing with the news that her father’s killer is free and her ex-husband is suing her for custody of her kids, which threatens to send her over the edge. Turning to alcohol to get through the hard times she runs into Nate at her lowest. The spark between the two is still there. With wildfires breaking out across the state and close to home, things have become much more complicated. Nate and Brenna work together to find out the truth from the past and keep her family from falling apart.

Terri Blackstock brings a different type of suspense with Smoke Screen. This is a mystery with a romantic suspense angle, but the suspense here comes more from the drama within the families. Nate with his father coming home and his feelings for Brenna with her problems with her ex coupled with the possibility of losing her kids brought up the suspense. As the story progressed and we see Brenna struggling and dealing with hardships, my heart was in my throat with anticipation. This was such a different form of suspense than most, which made it more special to read. So many characters in this book where unlikable, but they were supposed to be that way and Blackstock wrote them so perfectly. Even so, many of the same characters were very relatable which is hard to do. Making one or two characters is relatable is one thing but being able to fill the pages of a book with so many of them is difficult. Each twist and turn was perfectly placed and the story flowed so well I couldn’t put it down. This is one of my favorites by Blackstock, and I seem to say that after each one which I don’t see that changing anytime soon with the way she always seems to surprise me. I recommend this book to fans of a great mystery with a little bit of romance thrown in at all the right times.

This reminded me of Blackstock’s earlier books she would write. It has romance, some intrigue mixed into the pot. This second chance at love will leave with all the good feels we crave. Nate comes home after being away for fourteen years, as a hero, with the burns to prove it. Except, everyone still believes he burned the church down. Brenna, Nate’s Hugh school love, still lives in their hometown and has two kids and a divorce under her belt. These two cannot be together because his dad killed her dad, right?!? Well this is where the intrigue comes in, Nates dad, the town drunk, says he did do it. Nate wants to see if him and Brenna will work, but she has a child custody case going on and drinking too much. Will this couple have a happy ending, or will the past come in and destroy it?

I wasn’t sure if this book would be good. It sounded good in description... but I absolutely loved it! Once I started reading this, I couldn’t put it down. The author really knows how to keep you hooked.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

This was a wonderful book! Kept you intrigued every page you turned.
Brenna Strickland Hertzog had a million reasons to be bitter by her ex-husband and his billionaire controlling father.
"In tough times, you rely on what you know, not what you feel." Words Brenna remembered her father who was a preacher had told her.
Will she choose to let Nate Beckett in her life after all these years of being gone and the events surrounding his family?
You won't be sorry you picked this book!
The author has done a great job! I will be reading more from her.

Thank you to author, publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.