True to Terri Blackstock style, this is an excellent book that you can’t put down until finished! ( )

Brenna and Nate were high school sweethearts, a relationship that ended in heartache when Nate's father was convicted of killing Brenna's father. Soon after, Nate left town amid accusations that he'd burned down the local church. Fast forward almost 15 years, and Nate returns to town an injured hero, and Brenna is fighting a bitter custody battle for her two children. Nate's father has been released from prison, but most people still believe he is guilty, including Nate. While Nate tries to reconnect with his father and Brenna tries to fight her own demons while also fighting her ex-husband, Nate and Brenna realize that their flame is still burning.

This book gave me all the feels...I got angry, I smiled, and I shed some tears. Nate was incredible, Brenna was all too real, and their relationships with God were presented in a very real, positive way. I am very glad that I read this book.

The book is listed on Netgalley as a mystery/thriller, but it really isn't either of those. It's more drama & suspense, with a heavy romance. Yes, the mystery of who killed Brenna's father, as well as who burned down the local church, are addressed in the book, but they are some of the smallest plot threads, at least until near the end. One of the biggest arcs is Brenna's battle with her horrid ex-husband. That was the part that had me angry. I won't pretend that things like this can't happen in real life, but the way it all went down was just...so aggravating. And because of this situation, Brenna was struggling with alcoholism, which was a heavy element in the book as well. But it was difficult to blame her, considering how she was being steamrolled into not being able to take care of her children properly.

The relationship between Nate and Brenna was one of the sweetest romances I've read in a long time. It was not about the physical, but purely about the emotional & historical connection between them. That Nate was able to look past the effects of her currently terrible circumstances to see the real woman, and gave her a lifeline when she needed one the most, while allowing her to build her own strength, rather than relying purely on him, all makes him one of my favorite male romantic protagonists ever.

The book was told in first-person perspective, but switched back and forth between Nate's and Brenna's points of view, which I found a little disorienting. Each time we switch, or even just when there's a new chapter, we are clearly told who's perspective we're in, but I still had a difficult time with it. And I'm not sure there was really a good enough reason to do it this way.

I think that one of my biggest issues was with the predictability and contrivances that I noticed. One of the things that happened near the end I basically assumed had to happen, though weirdly, even when it did happen, it turned out to not be for the reason I thought it was necessary. And a few events were a little too coincidental, happening purely to make sure the plot went where it was supposed to.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised by how quick and easy of a read it was, and would recommend it to all fans of Christian drama, suspense, and romance.

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

Since the death of her father, Brenna's life had been extremely difficult. To make things worse her husband has replaced her with a woman barely out of college and has decided to run for mayor. He's also trying to take the kids away from her, leaving her with nothing. As if things couldn't get any worse, her father's murderer has been released from prison. Nate, his son and her first love has returned home to heal from his work injuries. Can his reappearance in her life give her the courage she needs to fight and believe God knows her struggles.

I don't usually like romance novels, but Terri Blackstock does a fantastic job of adding a mystery into the mix that draws you in right away. You're so involved you'll start cheering for the budding romance. Even though it's a religious novel, it's not in your face about God. But it does show that even a pastor's child has their own set of problems. ( )

I have been a big fan of Terri Blackstock books for a long time and Smoke Screen is a reminder of why.
She is a master of not only page-turning suspenseful plots, but also writing well-developed characters. Nate and Brenna, the main characters, were high school sweethearts that were driven apart when Nate's father was sent to prison for murdering Brenna's father. 14 years later, Nate's father has been pardoned and Nate also returns home. The big question all along is if Nate's dad didn't murder Brenna's father, then who did? Not only is the book suspenseful, but it also explores the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, divorce, depression, and addiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions stated in this review are completely my own. ( )

Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock surprised me. I’m normally not into crime-suspense-romance novels, but my local book club chose Smoke Screen as its monthly selection. I’m pleased to say that I really enjoyed this novel. It has suspense, mystery, and the expected investigative aspect, but it also has emotional depth and character development.

There were so many things I liked about Smoke Screen. First, it hooked me right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put the book down. I read it in less than 24 hours! Part of its appeal lies in how much I could relate to Brenna. My children are the same age as hers are in the story and I couldn’t imagine going through what she did. Her raw, imperfect character felt very authentic as she struggled through a difficult divorce, personal vices, and spiritual wandering. Second, I love a good second-chance love story. While Brenna and Nate’s romance wasn’t the focus of the novel, I cheered for them to get together. Third, the challenging circumstances provided depth to the story. The novel doesn’t gloss over difficult family issues and dynamics, but every issue is laced with hope for the future.

I recommend Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock to readers looking for a captivating mystery filled with spiritual themes and character growth. It’s a keeper for my bookshelf!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )