Review – Smoke Screen

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.