Review – When the Smoke Clears

In When the Smoke Clears, Lynette Eason’s latest romantic suspense offering, we find firefighter Alexia Allen struggling to remain alive in a fire after her oxygen hose has been tampered with. She’s forced to take a leave of absence while the situation is investigated and she uses the time to travel to her hometown and visit her ailing and estranged mother. While there she also plans to attend her ten year class reunion.

But the moment she arrives in town, she finds herself in danger. Yes, she not only discovers someone has been killed in her mother’s basement, but the killer comes after her in a relentless pursuit. In steps homicide detective Hunter Graham, a man who was interested in Alexia in high school, but Alexia didn’t notice him at all. Well, she’s noticing him now as the chemistry heats up between them while they work together to catch the killer.

Eason has become known for her romantic suspense novels that keep the reader turning the pages and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s chock full of action from beginning to end and makes it a book you cannot put down. As a fellow romantic suspense writer, I am always amazed how many books Lynette not only thinks of great plots for, but finds the time to write.

As always, her characters in When the Smoke Clears are realistic, real and flawed with troubled pasts that won’t leave them alone until they resolve them. The spiritual message is well integrated and never preachy. So if you like a page turning romantic suspense novel, then pick up the first book in the Deadly Reunion series. You’re sure to love it.