Smoke Screen

September 9, 2019
Brenna Herzog faces a difficult divorce, the release of her father’s murderer, and long-standing rumors that surrounded her father’s death in this exciting inspirational thriller from Blackstock (If I Run). During a long custody battle with her soon-to-be ex-husband, Brenna’s once-strong faith begins to fade as she drowns her sorrows in vodka. When Nate Beckett, her high school boyfriend, returns to town, Brenna feels her depression lift. Nate’s father, Roy, has been in prison for 14 years for the murder of Brenna’s father, pastor Strickland, but Roy has always maintained his innocence. Strickland had objected to Brenna’s relationship with Nate when they were caught sneaking out together, and, after he was shot to death, a fight the pastor had had with Roy became the primary evidence for Roy’s conviction. As Nate attempts to patch up his relationship with his father, who had been an abusive alcoholic, Nate assists his father in searching for the real killer—despite his belief in Roy’s guilt. As Nate stays in town, he spends time with Brenna, and they realize the love they had as teenagers is still strong. Nate is determined to help Brenna keep her children, and also to discover the truth as new information emerges about the night of Strickland’s death. Blackstock’s intense and twisty story will please fans of her faith-grounded crime dramas.

November 8, 2019

Fourteen years ago, Nate Beckett's father was convicted of murdering the father of Nate's high school girlfriend, Brenna Strickland. Shortly after, a fire at Pastor Strickland's church and rumors that Nate set it caused him to leave Carlisle, CO, in search of a new life. There he becomes a smoke jumper and finds notoriety when he saves a prominent politician's life. Sustaining damage from the fire and scarred in more ways than one, he comes back to his hometown to heal. Returning to Carlisle means facing both his old flame and his father, who was recently pardoned and released from jail. Brenna has turned to alcohol to numb the pain of a brutal custody battle. She and Nate seek solace and healing together until a wildfire ignites once again, threatening the town, and secrets come to light about the night many years ago that changed the course of all of their lives. VERDICT Plot twists and likable characters light up this latest romantic suspense from best-selling author Blackstock ("Run" series). Themes of redemption and grace mark this love story that will be a hit among fans of Christian fiction and clean romantic suspense.--Julia M. Reffner, North Chesterfield, VA

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