*No Giveaway for this Celebration Tour
 | One father was murdered, and another 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 home town. His mother begs him to come to Carlisle 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. Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna had defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down, people assumed it was Nate getting even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left Carlisle without looking back. |
Now, Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and she’s dealing with a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. She’s barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.
As they deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—their past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.
As they deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—their past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.
Genre: Christian Suspense
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Release Date: November 5, 2019
My Review
Their past has come full circle...
While I can't say that I even remotely begin to understand Brenna's choices, specifically turning to liquid 'help' when life got tough. But, what I can say is that it's about time someone peels back our plastic Sunday faces and dare to shine a little light of reality into fiction. Author Terri Blackstock has bared the unmentionable before in her Intervention series, where a mother deals with a child addicted to drugs, and, she has done it again in Smoke Screen. Life is not guaranteed to be perfect...even for Christians...
Despite the rather heavy topics I found myself unable to put the book down, finishing it in a single evening. I enjoyed it immensely! It was the perfect blend of psychological drama and suspense, with a decent helping of romance. I've been a fan of Terri Blackstock since I started reading her books as a teenager. I'm pleased to say that I seem to like each one more than the last. This held true with Smoke Screen, which is going to wind up being one of my favorite books read this year.
I loved Smoke Screen and it's one I would definitely recommend, whether you are a longtime reader of Terri Blackstock or if this is your first. Don't miss out on this emotionally moving and suspense filled story!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock a 5 Bark rating.
While I can't say that I even remotely begin to understand Brenna's choices, specifically turning to liquid 'help' when life got tough. But, what I can say is that it's about time someone peels back our plastic Sunday faces and dare to shine a little light of reality into fiction. Author Terri Blackstock has bared the unmentionable before in her Intervention series, where a mother deals with a child addicted to drugs, and, she has done it again in Smoke Screen. Life is not guaranteed to be perfect...even for Christians...
Despite the rather heavy topics I found myself unable to put the book down, finishing it in a single evening. I enjoyed it immensely! It was the perfect blend of psychological drama and suspense, with a decent helping of romance. I've been a fan of Terri Blackstock since I started reading her books as a teenager. I'm pleased to say that I seem to like each one more than the last. This held true with Smoke Screen, which is going to wind up being one of my favorite books read this year.
I loved Smoke Screen and it's one I would definitely recommend, whether you are a longtime reader of Terri Blackstock or if this is your first. Don't miss out on this emotionally moving and suspense filled story!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock a 5 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Excerpt from
Smoke Screen
I woke up in a blinding bright room, my clothes off and something clamped to my face. I tried to reach it, but I couldn’t bend my right arm, and my hand stung. An IV was taped to my other hand, but I moved carefully and touched the thing over my face.
An oxygen mask. I tried to sit up. “What happened?”
T-bird came to my bedside, a sheen of smoky sweat still soiling his face. “Nate, lie back, man.”
“The fire,” I said. “Need to get back. My men.”
“They’re still there. Making progress. But you’re not going anywhere near a fire for a month or so.”
I took the mask off and coughed a little, but managed to catch my breath. “A month?”
“Yep. Second degree burns on 20 percent of your body. Some of the burns are deep.”
It came back to me, the event that had gotten me here.
“The family. Were they injured?”
“Not a scratch or burn. Turns out it was a U.S. Senator from Kansas. He says you’re a hero.”
“You know I had no choice. They were in the path—”
“Take the praise where you can get it, man. We don’t get that much.”
I looked at my right side. My right arm was bandaged, and so was my side and down my right leg to the point where my boots had stopped the flames. Second degree wasn’t so bad, I told myself. Third degree would have been brutal. I’d be able to leave the hospital soon. I’d heal.
“I won’t need a month,” I said.
“Yes, you will. They can’t let you go back. Doctor’s orders. You’re grounded until he releases you.”
I managed to sit up, but it was a bad idea. The burns pulling on my skin reminded me why I shouldn’t. “I can’t be grounded during fire season. Are you crazy? I need to be there. You don’t have enough men as it is.”
“Sorry, Nate. It is what it is. Why don’t you go home to Carlisle for a while? Take it easy.”
Go home? Pop had just been pardoned, and he and my mom were trying to navigate the reunion. Though she would love to have me home, I didn’t know if I was up to it. My father could be challenging, and fourteen years of prison hadn’t done him any favors.
An oxygen mask. I tried to sit up. “What happened?”
T-bird came to my bedside, a sheen of smoky sweat still soiling his face. “Nate, lie back, man.”
“The fire,” I said. “Need to get back. My men.”
“They’re still there. Making progress. But you’re not going anywhere near a fire for a month or so.”
I took the mask off and coughed a little, but managed to catch my breath. “A month?”
“Yep. Second degree burns on 20 percent of your body. Some of the burns are deep.”
It came back to me, the event that had gotten me here.
“The family. Were they injured?”
“Not a scratch or burn. Turns out it was a U.S. Senator from Kansas. He says you’re a hero.”
“You know I had no choice. They were in the path—”
“Take the praise where you can get it, man. We don’t get that much.”
I looked at my right side. My right arm was bandaged, and so was my side and down my right leg to the point where my boots had stopped the flames. Second degree wasn’t so bad, I told myself. Third degree would have been brutal. I’d be able to leave the hospital soon. I’d heal.
“I won’t need a month,” I said.
“Yes, you will. They can’t let you go back. Doctor’s orders. You’re grounded until he releases you.”
I managed to sit up, but it was a bad idea. The burns pulling on my skin reminded me why I shouldn’t. “I can’t be grounded during fire season. Are you crazy? I need to be there. You don’t have enough men as it is.”
“Sorry, Nate. It is what it is. Why don’t you go home to Carlisle for a while? Take it easy.”
Go home? Pop had just been pardoned, and he and my mom were trying to navigate the reunion. Though she would love to have me home, I didn’t know if I was up to it. My father could be challenging, and fourteen years of prison hadn’t done him any favors.
Taken from “Smoke Screen” by Terri Blackstock. Copyright © 2019 by Terri Blackstock. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.
 Terri Blackstock | Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, and the Restoration Series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com; Facebook: tblackstock; Twitter: @terriblackstock |
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Simple Harvest Reads, November 17 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
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Blessed & Bookish, November 18
Older & Smarter, November 18
For the Love of Literature, November 18
Inklings and notions, November 18
Lights in a Dark World, November 19
amandainpa , November 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19
Pause for Tales, November 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 20
For The Love of Books , November 20
Hallie Reads, November 20
Cathe Swanson, November 21
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, November 21
All 4 and About Books, November 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21
Batya’s Bits, November 22
Livin’ Lit, November 22
Texas Book-aholic, November 22
janicesbookreviews, November 22
Sara Jane Jacobs, November 9
CarpeDiem, November 9
Christian Bookaholic , November 9
Fiction Aficionado, November 10
KarenSueHadley, November 10
Quiet quilter, November 10
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 10
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 11
Among the Reads, November 11
Genesis 5020, November 11
A Reader’s Brain, November 11
Robin’s Nest, November 12
All-of-a-kind Mom, November 12
Bigreadersite , November 12
Blogging With Carol , November 12
Betti Mace, November 13
Spoken from the Heart, November 13
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 13
Emily Yager, November 13
By The Book, November 14
For Him and My Family, November 14
A Baker’s Perspective, November 14
Splashes of Joy , November 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 15
Through the Fire Blogs, November 15
Andrea Christenson, November 15
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 16
The Christian Fiction Girl, November 16
Just the Write Escape, November 16
Mary Hake, November 16
Remembrancy, November 17
Simple Harvest Reads, November 17 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
EmpowerMoms, November 17
Bloggin’ ’bout Books, November 17
Blessed & Bookish, November 18
Older & Smarter, November 18
For the Love of Literature, November 18
Inklings and notions, November 18
Lights in a Dark World, November 19
amandainpa , November 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19
Pause for Tales, November 19
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 20
For The Love of Books , November 20
Hallie Reads, November 20
Cathe Swanson, November 21
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, November 21
All 4 and About Books, November 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21
Batya’s Bits, November 22
Livin’ Lit, November 22
Texas Book-aholic, November 22
janicesbookreviews, November 22
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