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Review – Smoke Screen

January 8, 2011 By
Stephanie Newton continues her series set in Sea Breeze, Florida with the January release of Smoke Screen featuring Jake Rollins, ex-firefighter turned pastor. Jake was sidelined from fire fighting due to an injury incurred while trying to rescue his fianc?e from a fire. Sadly she perished in the fire, but it was ruled an accident. When a female friend of Jake’s is murdered in a similar situation, the fire is deemed an arson and FBI agent Chloe Davis is brought in to solve the murders.

As Jake works alongside Chloe to find the killer who continues to threaten women Jake befriends, they develops feelings for each other. But Chloe, used to being alone and trusting only herself, finds it hard to trust Jake’s feelings for her. Whether Chloe will give in becomes as much of a mystery as the arsonists identity and the reader is treated to a quick moving story that has them racing to the end to find the answers.

Stephanie Newton, one of my new favorite authors, has released another winner in Smoke Screen. She has proven that the reader can expect certain things from her and she will deliver. The plots and characters change, but Newton’s ability to draw us into her make believe world and thoroughly enjoy each and every minute in that world doesn’t change. Her characters are varied and different but all have a depth that I immediately connect with. Their struggles become my struggles, and I soon think of them as new friends.

All of this is important, but I am also looking for a strong spiritual message in the books I read. Newton is a master at weaving a message into her work. A message that is never forced or contrived, but is as at home in the story as her wonderful characters. If you like romantic suspense and haven’t read any of Newton’s books, I encourage you to pick one up. You will be glad you did.

Smoke Screen (Love Inspired Suspense)
Smoke Screen (Love Inspired Suspense)
by Stephanie Newton
List Price: $5.50
Sale Price: $11.97
Buy from Amazon.com
Review – Smoke Screen
Reviewed by Susan Sleeman
Stephanie Newton has rocketed to the top of my list as one of the best romantic suspense writers in the inspirational world.
Stephanie Newton continues her series set in Sea Breeze, Florida with the January release of Smoke Screen featuring Jake Rollins, ex-firefighter turned pastor. Jake was sidelined from fire fighting due to an injury incurred while trying to rescue his fianc?e from a fire. Sadly she perished in the fire, but it was ruled an accident. When a female friend of Jake’s is murdered in a similar situation, the fire is deemed an arson and FBI agent Chloe Davis is brought in to solve the murders.

As Jake works alongside Chloe to find the killer who continues to threaten women Jake befriends, they develops feelings for each other. But Chloe, used to being alone and trusting only herself, finds it hard to trust Jake’s feelings for her. Whether Chloe will give in becomes as much of a mystery as the arsonists identity and the reader is treated to a quick moving story that has them racing to the end to find the answers.

Stephanie Newton, one of my new favorite authors, has released another winner in Smoke Screen. She has proven that the reader can expect certain things from her and she will deliver. The plots and characters change, but Newton’s ability to draw us into her make believe world and thoroughly enjoy each and every minute in that world doesn’t change. Her characters are varied and different but all have a depth that I immediately connect with. Their struggles become my struggles, and I soon think of them as new friends.

All of this is important, but I am also looking for a strong spiritual message in the books I read. Newton is a master at weaving a message into her work. A message that is never forced or contrived, but is as at home in the story as her wonderful characters. If you like romantic suspense and haven’t read any of Newton’s books, I encourage you to pick one up. You will be glad you did.
Reviewer Info

Susan Sleeman


Susan Sleeman SUSAN SLEEMAN grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com and writing romantic suspense and mystery novels.

Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder and mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it. Don’t worry, she’d never follow through on it.

Her GARDEN GATE MYSTERY series featuring landscape designer Paige Turner, debuted in October 2010 with NIPPED IN THE BUD in Barbour Books Hometown Mysteries line. The second book, READ BETWEEN THE TINES released in e-book format in the Spyglass Lane Mystery series in February of 2012.

Her first romantic suspense novel, featuring the Morgan Brothers, released with Ryan’s story in HIGH-STAKES INHERITANCE , Russ’s story in BEHIND THE BADGE and the Reid’s story in THE CHRISTMAS WITNESS.

This year Susan’s latest series about five adopted siblings who leave law enforcement to form a private investigations firm called the Justice Agency will debut with DOUBLE EXPOSURE in June and in November, DEAD WRONG will release.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. In her spare time, you can find her traveling to Oregon to visit her children and grandson, reading, gardening or working on TheSuspenseZone.com. To learn more about Susan, please visit her website, or follow on Twitter and Facebook.
 
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