When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions Book #1): A Novel

Lynette Eason

Feb 2012 · Deadly Reunions Book 1 · Baker Books

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

Alexia is a firefighter who almost dies because of an equipment malfunction. She's told to take time off so goes to her mother's place and to her high school reunion. Things aren't much better for her there when she's involved in a murder and arson. On the bright side, the detective on these cases is her old high school flame. I enjoyed this story. The mystery was really good with lots of twists so I never figured out who the person after Alexia was. I really liked how competent a detective Hunter was and how he was able to keep his feelings for Alexia under control. I think I expected more of Alexia because she was a smokejumper. I pictured her not only physically strong but mentally as well. Since she didn't clue in as to what was going on, I was disappointed in her. I was expecting more firefighting scenes because she is in the North Cascades Smokejumpers but this was more about her personal life not professional. This was an enjoyable Christian romantic suspense though it was short on romance and high on suspense. Be prepared for the ending. The story does wrap up but there's a big cliffhanger so you need to get the next book to find out what happens.

Interesting characters and plot which really keeps you guessing. Nice love connection between main character and the boy who got away. Interesting ending and I will not spoil it of course but it will want you to keep reading as in the next book which I do like. Not boring, page turner and nicely defined characters. I love Dee Henderson books and similar in many ways (which is good). I'm on to book 2 in the series! !

The story is laced with religious references (God loves you. Let God into your heart. God will help you.) and there was no resolution at the end of the book. Had I known the story would be continued in L Eason's next book I never would have begun reading this one. Very disappointing.

About the author

Lynette Eason is the author of several romantic suspense novels, including Too Close to Home, Don't Look Back, and A Killer Among Us. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. A homeschooling mother of two, she has a master's degree in education from Converse College. She lives in South Carolina.