Smoke Screen is a fantastic romantic suspense. The author has once again delivered a book with a plot that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. Characters are believable and relatable. I love love Ms. Blackstock’s books and this one was no exception. Fans of suspense will not want to miss this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I loved this newest book by Terri Blackstock. Nate Beckett is a fireman who fights wildfires. He is injured saving a family from the flames and goes back to his hometown to recuperate when he is told to take some time off to mend. When he gets home, he has to deal with old rumors, situations from the past that were out of his control, confronting his dad who has been released from prison and meeting up with an old high school flame (Brenna), who has situations in her own life that she is dealing with.

This was one of those stories you want to read straight through with very few pitstops along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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

I am going to need to think about my review,
normally I take notes while I am reading to help me write a review ...
well this time I read, read, and read until the read (reading while brushing teeth and getting ready
in the morning before work, reading at work at my desk - I had to finish, I did not want to stop

well maybe this is my review right now, stop everything and read this book.
I have always enjoyed Terri's books - this one amazed me
I fell in with the characters and could not stop!!

I do wish for more - maybe a sequel?!

I love Terri Blackstock stories! She did not disappoint in her latest book. This story felt real. The struggle with gaining custody of children after a divorce, the pardon of a murder, (but was he ever truly guilty?), and an unsolved arson are woven in to form a plot that will keep you turning the pages.
Breann, dealing with stress in a destructive way, Nate, a parachute fire fighter trying to heal from burns sustained on the job, and town with prejudices from the past bring you a real look in to how life can become so ugly. And yet, there can be redemption and new beginnings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was not what I was expecting at all. It was more like a depressing fictional drama than a suspense book. I could not find myself rooting for any of the characters and I really wanted more in the way of mystery, suspense, and plot in general. 90% of the book focused on Brenna’s alcoholism and custody battle. She was hard to empathize with and hard to like. I have a hard time thinking that the alcoholic needs custody of her children. I’m not sure what Nate saw in her and that made me question his judgement as well. Add in a 14 year old mystery that took a back burner to the drama and you have a really oddly plotted novel. I think Nate would have had an easier time jumping out of planes into fires than trying to figure out Brenna and her mood swings. This one wasn’t for me.

This book moved a little slow for me in the beginning. I found myself wanting to skip a few chapters to get to the action at the end. Overall it was a clean book, that i would allow my teenagers to read. The author develops her characters well and I could imagine a sequel from this plot.

This latest read of Terry Blackstock did not disappoint. She is one of my faves for Christian suspense novels!

The story is multi-layered centering around a wrongful murder conviction and arson which tore apart two highschool sweethearts a decade previous. Money, corruption, greed, and a custody battle loss seemingly will win over justice. Except God had other plans for Nate and Brenna! This book was a lovely mix of suspenseful twists and romance, and I recommend it to those who enjoy figuring out the "who dun it" so to speak!

I thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this my honest review.

This story was written in first person, which sometimes throws me off. Terri Blackstock did a good job with it, though. While I enjoyed it, I would say it’s not my favorite from her. There was definitely a mystery, but I wouldn’t consider it suspenseful. I liked the main characters, Nate and Brenna and their relationship. *spoiler alert* I’m glad the author tackled the tough subject matter of alcoholism and some tools used to combat that. I do feel like at least one story line went unresolved, though. Wondering if it’s covered in the next book in the series…? All in all a good read.

This is the first book by Terri Blackstock that I have read. I've heard such great things about her writing and I was not disappointed. This will definitely not be the last book I read of hers.
The characters were easy to relate to, they felt real and had real world problems. I loved the chemistry between them. Their romance was lovely to read and never felt mushy.
I found this very suspenseful and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Romantic Suspense.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions 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.*

I've always liked Terri Blackstock's books. This was no exception. She captures the emotional wreck(what I imagine is pretty realistic) of divorce, a custody battle, and what plays into Brenna's depression and alcohol abuse. Nate, the other main character, is the stable, logical, God-centered character that helps Brenna through the ordeal. I think Blackstock did a good job with the romance part of the novel, not making it about the two characters 'fixing' each other. The plot wasn't surprising but I still liked watching it unfold. It's always satisfying to read a story where justice is served. Well, ALMOST served- I would have liked a particular character to be punched in the face...

I actually hadn't read one of Blackstock's books in awhile and it wasn't as suspenseful as I remember her other books being. There was a bit more drama than action, which was fine, just unexpected.

The minor criticisms I have for this book are:
1) when she talks several times about Nate and his dad going through the box of murder files in order to clear his dad's name- that never ended up being how they figured out what happened. I was expecting them to come across a piece of vital information, it was misleading in a non-red-herring way. Why bother writing about them doing that if it wasn't actually going to move the plot?
2) the use of the word 'preacher'. Very rarely did she use Brenna's dad's name. Whenever ANY nonfamily member talked about him, it was always 'the preacher.' For one- do people use preacher over pastor? And two- I've lived in a small town where everyone knows everyone (similar to this book's setting) and people use names. They don't say, "Did you hear about the preacher? He must have killed the preacher. That's the preacher's house. I wonder what happened to the preacher." They would use his name. Especially a murder incident. His name would have been all over the news and papers during the trial. People would know who you are referring to. It just felt very unnatural and annoying how often the word 'preacher' was used. Just sayin.'

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

I loved this book and could not put it down. It was a heartfelt tale that included suspense, love, redemption and forgiveness. The story was a beautiful picture of grace and shed light on the complicated relationships that are often common between families. The author beautiful wove the stories of two characters who each faced their own difficulties, and how through prayer, forgiveness, and perseverance they came out stronger. The author did a great job portraying an alcoholic without completely vilifying her. A few parts of the story were predictable, but overall a great read that I would highly recommend.

This book, hands-down has been my favorite yet by this author. There’s such a deep meaning behind the story and the author was able to tell it in a way, that you connected with the characters and the storyline.

You should have an overwhelming feeling of pride for our main characters as they are both able to overcome personal struggles, defeat personal demons and come out on top!!

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

This book is typical of Terri’s blend of romance and suspense. The characters were interesting, and in some cases, heroic. The plot moved quickly, but was a little predictable. The ending was satisfying and left a few questions unanswered.

I found the main character’s vocation, a combination sky jumper/fire fighter, interesting. Brenna’s dilemma with the custody battle over her children seemed realistic. Her alcoholic tendencies seemed a little too easily overcome, however.

All in all, it was an entertaining read, but not to be compared to her If I Run series, which I found excellent. Readers who enjoy clean romantic suspense will like this book. I received a free copy from the publisher, for this, my honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Christian Romantic Suspense story. It is about long lost loves, family, and forgiveness. This book does switch point of views very frequently and I did get confused at times about who was actually talking. I did enjoy this book and this author is a favorite of many of my customers

I can't write reviews without giving away spoilers so I will just say...I've read a lot of mystery & suspense novels by Christian authors but this is one of the best.


I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Smoke Screen was an enjoyable book filled with twists and turns to keep the readers guessing. Author Terri Blackstock has a way of dipping deep into the readers’ emotions and creating an authentic story that is both relatable and compelling. Her portrayal of the contentious custody battle between Jack and Brenna was unfortunately very realistic and common with parents who have gone through a divorce. My heart broke for Brenna as she had to deal with all the ugliness and hatred from her ex-husband and his family. The murder mystery was an intriguing part of the novel.

Smoke Screen was written in first person from both the heroine and hero’s points of view, so that was confusing as I had to stop and reread several portions of the book to remember who was speaking at different points in the story.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

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

Smoke Screen is one of the best Christian Fiction books I have read recently. Nate Beckett who is a smoke jumper fire fighter who finds his life turned sideways which leads him back to home town of Carlisle, Colorado to heal his wounds. Back home he crosses paths with a past love in Brenna who is struggling in her own life situation. Will the pains of the past continue to haunt both of them or do they have what it takes to overcome?

The author takes on some storylines that demonstrate for the reader the risks that come with false assumptions, false accusations, and living with the demons of the past. How does someone remain strong in their faith when the difficulties continue to pile on top of each other? Terri Blackstock finds a way to create the picture for the reader that life is sometimes messy and Christians stumble and struggle. This book is a refreshing look at the role of heroism and standing up for what is right. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Scandals surround a family in Colorado in this powerful novel of faith and forgiveness. Nate and Brenna, at age 16 snuck out of their houses to meet on a night that tragically changed everything. Years later, Brenna is struggling from a divorce and fighting for custody of her children. Nate, a smoke jumper comes home to heal after suffering injuries when saving a senator and his family during a forest fire. Nate's father has been pardon for the crime of killing Brenna's father. The connection between many events become clear throughout. This is a very enjoyable story, though a little predictable. It's easy to figure out who was behind the events just not the motive. Recommended!

This novel is a wonderful story of forgiveness, mercy, and long-lost love. While I was worried that the plot was rather predictable, the ending surprised and delighted me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a story proving that love can win in spite of past mistakes. It follows two people going through life problems and just how devastating selfishness, greed and divorce can be on families and friends. You join Nate and Brenna on this emotional roller coaster ride, experiencing each new revelation with them.
A definite read for everyone who loves others!