As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.
Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.
Growing up in a dysfunctional, abusive family, Alexia left home the day she graduated from high school. Ten years later, after an accident at work, she somewhat reluctantly takes some time off to see her mother and attend her high school reunion. Yet, once she arrives home, murder and mayhem follow her. Reunited with old friends,she finds herself attracted to the detective handling her case, a man she knew in high school.
As she gets reacquainted with her mother, Alexia begins discovering answers to life long questions and learns that God does have a plan for her. And, as she realizes that the incident with her equipment failure might not be a complete accident and is related to the new events surrounding her arrival at home, Alexia must face the fact that someone is trying to kill her.
I haven't read Lynette Eason before, but what a roller coaster. From beginning to end, this is one wild ride. I loved these characters. I enjoyed the tension and suspense and was surprised at the ending. The growth in Alexia from beginning to end as she comes to understand her mother and her childhood is touching. I am anxious for the next novel in the series and discovering the senator and how his life relates to Alexia and Serena.
Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Donna Hausler of Baker Publishing Group for the opportunity to review this book. You can learn more about Lynette Eason here. You can purchase your own copy here
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4/5 Stars
My mom read Lynette's first suspense series last year, so I will no doubt be getting this one for her to read. She just loves her suspense novels, I on the other hand, have as yet to read most of the ones we've collected and been given as gifts. ;D
ReplyDeleteIt seems like every book you review attracts me. This one sounds great.
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