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Smoke Screen
New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a tale of corruption and betrayal, revenge and reversal - where friends become foes, and heroes become criminals in the ultimate abuse of power.
When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.
Handsome and hard-partying, Jay was a hero of the disastrous fire that five years earlier had destroyed Charleston's police headquarters. The blaze left seven people dead, but the death toll would have been much higher if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who risked their lives to lead others to safety.
Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. Though he might not have been a front-line hero, he was assigned to lead the investigation into the cause of the fire. It was an investigation he never got to complete. Because on one calamitous night, Raley's world was shattered.
Scandalized, wronged by the people he trusted most, Raley was forced to surrender the woman he loved and the work to which he'd dedicated his life. For five years his resentment against the men who exploited their hero status to further their careers -- and ruin his -- had festered, but he was helpless to set things right.
That changes when he learns of Jay Burgess's shocking death and Britt Shelley's claim that she has no memory of her night with him. As the investigation into Jay's death intensifies, and suspicion against Britt Shelley mounts, Raley realizes that the newswoman, Jay's last sexual conquest, might be his only chance to get personal vindication -- and justice for the seven victims of the police station fire.
But there are powerful men who don't want to address unanswered questions about the fire and who will go to any lengths to protect their reputations. As Raley and Britt discover more about what happened that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes, until they're not only chasing after the truth but running for their lives.
Friends are exposed as foes, heroes take on the taint of criminals, and no one can be trusted completely. A tale about audacious corruption -- and those with the courage to expose it -- Smoke Screen is Sandra Brown's most searing and intense novel yet.
398 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2008
2,953 people are currently reading
10.5k people want to read
About the author
Sandra Brown
348books18.7kfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,173 reviews
October 21, 2014
3.75 stars
When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.
5 years ago a fire destroyed the Charleston Police Department. Jay was hailed a hero that day along with three other men.
Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. He was assigned to lead the investigation into what caused the fire. He never completed the investigation because on one fateful night his world was shattered.
Raley feels that Britt is the only link that can vindicate him.
I am not sure why the characters did not grab me as much as her other books. It was still a good read but, in my opinion, not one of her better ones.
Raley doesn’t like Shelly. But the attraction is there.
As with a lot of SB books, the build up of sexual tension is palpable.
I know a lot of my friends don’t read this genre. Maybe they should give it a shot (pun intended)!
When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.
5 years ago a fire destroyed the Charleston Police Department. Jay was hailed a hero that day along with three other men.
Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, was off-duty that day. He was assigned to lead the investigation into what caused the fire. He never completed the investigation because on one fateful night his world was shattered.
She didn’t remember anything.
Lord, why couldn’t she remember?
Raley feels that Britt is the only link that can vindicate him.
I am not sure why the characters did not grab me as much as her other books. It was still a good read but, in my opinion, not one of her better ones.
He stood in front of her, unyielding and unsmiling. “Long time, no see, Ms Shelly."
Raley doesn’t like Shelly. But the attraction is there.
As with a lot of SB books, the build up of sexual tension is palpable.
His arms closed around her. His hand on her ass, he drew her up and into him. He angled his lips against hers. When he did, hers parted. Tongues touched, then his was filling her mouth, and, Jesus, he was lost
I know a lot of my friends don’t read this genre. Maybe they should give it a shot (pun intended)!
October 21, 2008
Smoke Screen was the best Sandra Brown book that I have read in quite some time. It is a terrific romantic suspense novel that focuses more on the suspense, but still manages to have a quite satisfying romance. The romance isn't given a lot of time in the book, but the hero and heroine spend most of the story in the company of one another, and there is plenty of tension and interaction between them. I found both the hero and heroine to be very likeable characters, although the actions of the hero when he was first introduced into the book made me worry that he would not be a sympathetic character. I was glad to be proven wrong. This book had a compelling storyline, and I was engrossed in the book from the beginning.
Britt Shelley is stunned to wake up in bed with policeman Jay Burgess, only to realize that he is dead. She has no memory of going to bed with him, and suspects that she has been drugged. No one is inclined to believe her, and she is soon a suspect in Jay's murder when his death is ruled as foul play. When Raley Gannon hears her story, he knows that he must find out if she is telling the truth. His life was ruined five years ago when he found himself in the same situation with a woman - in Jay Burgess' home. Raley wasn't ever charged in the death of the woman he didn't even remember sleeping with, but he lost his fiance, his job, his friends, and everything that was important to him. Since Raley was a respected fire investigator, the police department attempted to keep his embarrassing situation quiet. The reporter who made certain that the public knew of his disgrace was none other than Britt Shelley. For the last five years Raley has been barely existing in a remote cabin in the woods. Raley believes that both his and Britt's compromising situations were set up by a group of policeman that included his best friend, Jay Burgess. Raley was investigating a deadly fire that occurred at the police department and he believes that he was set up to lose his career and respectability when he got too close to the truth. Raley believes that Jay Burgess was killed because he was planning to reveal the truth to Britt Shelley after learning he had a fatal illness.
Raley takes drastic action in order to spend time with Britt and discover for himself that he believes her story. He is very resentful of Britt over her part in his public disgrace, but he believes that she can use the information about his situation to exonerate both of them. After Raley tells Britt his story, they part ways, but she encounters danger and he must come to her rescue. Britt has no one else to turn to for protection, so she stays with Raley and they work to discover exactly what happened in the fire five years ago. Raley and Britt must deal with constant danger as well as their attraction and growing feelings for one another. They know that they need help, but don't know who they can trust aside from each other.
This book was interesting and had plenty of action. The hero, Raley, was a deeply responsible, loyal, honest man whose life was shattered by those he trusted. As the novel progressed and his nature and integrity were revealed, he became more and more likeable. The heroine was a caring woman who was quick to admit that she was unfair to Raley five years ago due to her ambition. She matured in the intervening time, and she was very regretful over the part she played in Raley's downfall. Raley and Britt made a good team, and I enjoyed seeing them grow to care for one another. This book had great characters and a good storyline.
Britt Shelley is stunned to wake up in bed with policeman Jay Burgess, only to realize that he is dead. She has no memory of going to bed with him, and suspects that she has been drugged. No one is inclined to believe her, and she is soon a suspect in Jay's murder when his death is ruled as foul play. When Raley Gannon hears her story, he knows that he must find out if she is telling the truth. His life was ruined five years ago when he found himself in the same situation with a woman - in Jay Burgess' home. Raley wasn't ever charged in the death of the woman he didn't even remember sleeping with, but he lost his fiance, his job, his friends, and everything that was important to him. Since Raley was a respected fire investigator, the police department attempted to keep his embarrassing situation quiet. The reporter who made certain that the public knew of his disgrace was none other than Britt Shelley. For the last five years Raley has been barely existing in a remote cabin in the woods. Raley believes that both his and Britt's compromising situations were set up by a group of policeman that included his best friend, Jay Burgess. Raley was investigating a deadly fire that occurred at the police department and he believes that he was set up to lose his career and respectability when he got too close to the truth. Raley believes that Jay Burgess was killed because he was planning to reveal the truth to Britt Shelley after learning he had a fatal illness.
Raley takes drastic action in order to spend time with Britt and discover for himself that he believes her story. He is very resentful of Britt over her part in his public disgrace, but he believes that she can use the information about his situation to exonerate both of them. After Raley tells Britt his story, they part ways, but she encounters danger and he must come to her rescue. Britt has no one else to turn to for protection, so she stays with Raley and they work to discover exactly what happened in the fire five years ago. Raley and Britt must deal with constant danger as well as their attraction and growing feelings for one another. They know that they need help, but don't know who they can trust aside from each other.
This book was interesting and had plenty of action. The hero, Raley, was a deeply responsible, loyal, honest man whose life was shattered by those he trusted. As the novel progressed and his nature and integrity were revealed, he became more and more likeable. The heroine was a caring woman who was quick to admit that she was unfair to Raley five years ago due to her ambition. She matured in the intervening time, and she was very regretful over the part she played in Raley's downfall. Raley and Britt made a good team, and I enjoyed seeing them grow to care for one another. This book had great characters and a good storyline.
July 7, 2016
Vaya final de infarto!! Realmente me ha encantado esta historia, su trama es sumamente envolvente, y sus personajes están tan bien caracterizados, que parecen reales.
July 7, 2016
Sandra Brown rarely disappoints!
July 29, 2016
Terminado. Me ha gustado mucho, menos romántico pero la pareja creíble.... quizás al final demasiado rápida esa decisión jajaja
Sobre la trama, decir que sí, que convence, que es complicada.. pero desde la mitad del libro he sabido el tema del culpable... y eso me fastidia... pero pintaba muy claro....era demasiado obvio y tenía que dar ese giro.
Muy recomendable. La autora sabe como ir desenmarañandolo todo para mantenerte atrapada a la lectura
Sobre la trama, decir que sí, que convence, que es complicada.. pero desde la mitad del libro he sabido el tema del culpable... y eso me fastidia... pero pintaba muy claro....era demasiado obvio y tenía que dar ese giro.
Muy recomendable. La autora sabe como ir desenmarañandolo todo para mantenerte atrapada a la lectura
July 7, 2016
4,5
me ha mantenido con la intriga y el suspense todo el libro. Suspense romántico que me ha enganchado desde la primera página.
Los protagonistas Britt y Raley muy bien.
me ha mantenido con la intriga y el suspense todo el libro. Suspense romántico que me ha enganchado desde la primera página.
Los protagonistas Britt y Raley muy bien.
July 23, 2017
Love Sandra Brown. Her romantic-suspense has never disappointed and "Smoke Screen" is no exception. Her characters, plot and pacing are flawless. The twists are unexpected and just leave you saying "Wow!" I read this book as part of a "Fireman Romance" challenge. The fire was five years ago, time wise, but pivotal to the plot.
Britt Shelley wakes up next to a dead man and the life of this television newscaster is off the rails from that moment forward. After getting a call from Jay, an old flame, she meets him and goes home with him and doesn't remember a thing until waking up next to him, dead. Jay promised a career making interview, what she got is a career ending shock.
When Raley Gannon hears Britt's tale he knows that she is telling the truth, because the same thing happened to him, five years ago. He is determined to prove that his experience and Britt's are tied to a devastating fire at the police station that killed 7 people. Disgraced fire inspector, Raley, firmly believes his experience was pivotal in the derailing of the investigation of that fire.
As Britt and Raley join forces there are others who don't want them finding out the truth about that fire or what happened afterward and is killing those who would reveal the truth. They have also targeted Britt and Raley.
Britt Shelley wakes up next to a dead man and the life of this television newscaster is off the rails from that moment forward. After getting a call from Jay, an old flame, she meets him and goes home with him and doesn't remember a thing until waking up next to him, dead. Jay promised a career making interview, what she got is a career ending shock.
When Raley Gannon hears Britt's tale he knows that she is telling the truth, because the same thing happened to him, five years ago. He is determined to prove that his experience and Britt's are tied to a devastating fire at the police station that killed 7 people. Disgraced fire inspector, Raley, firmly believes his experience was pivotal in the derailing of the investigation of that fire.
As Britt and Raley join forces there are others who don't want them finding out the truth about that fire or what happened afterward and is killing those who would reveal the truth. They have also targeted Britt and Raley.
September 18, 2017
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
This was a fairly quick read that I enjoyed. I'm pretty sure I read this when it first came out (2008), but I actually didn't remember too many of the details. I liked the characters of Britt and Raley even though I wasn't thrilled with them at first. His kidnapping of her didn't really work for me, but once we got past that and they were working together to solve the murder/fire then the book was good.
This was a fairly quick read that I enjoyed. I'm pretty sure I read this when it first came out (2008), but I actually didn't remember too many of the details. I liked the characters of Britt and Raley even though I wasn't thrilled with them at first. His kidnapping of her didn't really work for me, but once we got past that and they were working together to solve the murder/fire then the book was good.
October 23, 2021
3.5/5 Güzel ve akıcı bir macera romanıydı, tahmin ettiğim gibi gelişti denebilir. Sandra'nın kitaplarını daha sık okumam gerek.
November 19, 2015
Overall rating: 5 stars!!!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Sex with om/ow:
Love triangle:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama;
HEA:
Another great read by Sandra Brown! Once I start one of her books, they are really hard to freaking put down! So many twists and turns. My heart broke for Haley in hearing about his past and what was done to him. I am glad that he and Britt was able to meet and fall in love. They are perfect for each other. I am glad justice was served for the most part, but I do feel bad for Jr's wife and kids :( That is a hard pill to swallow!
As with her books, I don't put details in my reviews really because the story needs to be read without spoilers - other than triggers, which I totally get.
Triggers:
Cheating:
Sex with om/ow:
Love triangle:
Intimate pasts:
Push/pull:
OW/OM drama;
HEA:
Another great read by Sandra Brown! Once I start one of her books, they are really hard to freaking put down! So many twists and turns. My heart broke for Haley in hearing about his past and what was done to him. I am glad that he and Britt was able to meet and fall in love. They are perfect for each other. I am glad justice was served for the most part, but I do feel bad for Jr's wife and kids :( That is a hard pill to swallow!
As with her books, I don't put details in my reviews really because the story needs to be read without spoilers - other than triggers, which I totally get.
May 18, 2020
Siempre, lo principal de una historia de suspenso, que se precie de serlo, es la credibilidad del caso y la firmeza de los personajes, Sandra Brown nos demuestra que sabe muy bien cómo lidiar con ambos. Aunque hay algunas situaciones muy de Hollywood, no me restaron puntuación.
En “Cortina de Humo� se nos presenta una trama donde al comienzo no vemos de qué va o por dónde, estamos tan perdidos como la protagonista, pero poco a poco va saliendo a la luz, mostrándonos lo complejo del asunto, en donde el principal papel lo tiene la política y la corrupción, y quiénes se atreven a denunciarla.
Los personajes brillan por sus personalidades, no están encasillados en clichés, tienen diálogos mordaces, con toques de humor, que te hacen tener una lectura fresca y pasar un rato agradable. La autora utiliza su acostumbrado estilo directo, sin descripciones ni ornamentaciones que no aportan a la historia.
“Cortina de Humo� es una novela que engancha, que no decepciona, con la mezcla justa de suspenso, intriga y romance.
100% recomendado.
“Las palabras no habían sido necesarias. Y tampoco lo eran ahora.�
En “Cortina de Humo� se nos presenta una trama donde al comienzo no vemos de qué va o por dónde, estamos tan perdidos como la protagonista, pero poco a poco va saliendo a la luz, mostrándonos lo complejo del asunto, en donde el principal papel lo tiene la política y la corrupción, y quiénes se atreven a denunciarla.
Los personajes brillan por sus personalidades, no están encasillados en clichés, tienen diálogos mordaces, con toques de humor, que te hacen tener una lectura fresca y pasar un rato agradable. La autora utiliza su acostumbrado estilo directo, sin descripciones ni ornamentaciones que no aportan a la historia.
“Cortina de Humo� es una novela que engancha, que no decepciona, con la mezcla justa de suspenso, intriga y romance.
100% recomendado.
“Las palabras no habían sido necesarias. Y tampoco lo eran ahora.�
June 8, 2018
Definitely not romantic suspense despite sex between the two protagonists. Yep, I can hardly call them hero or heroine.
The plot is a suspense story predicated on a fire five years ago and the mystery regarding the policeman and firefighters that were heroes of said fire. The two protagonists reluctantly work together to solve the mystery so they can be exonerated for misdeeds they did not commit.
They are no nice characters in this book! None. Major and minor characters run the gamut from unpleasant, vicious, treacherous, murderous and incestuous.
Three stars for a good suspense story and decent narration. Sandra Brown knows how to keep things moving even if you are afraid to overturn a rock in fear of what may lie under it.
The plot is a suspense story predicated on a fire five years ago and the mystery regarding the policeman and firefighters that were heroes of said fire. The two protagonists reluctantly work together to solve the mystery so they can be exonerated for misdeeds they did not commit.
They are no nice characters in this book! None. Major and minor characters run the gamut from unpleasant, vicious, treacherous, murderous and incestuous.
Three stars for a good suspense story and decent narration. Sandra Brown knows how to keep things moving even if you are afraid to overturn a rock in fear of what may lie under it.
April 21, 2022
What a great book! I enjoyed it very much!!
May 11, 2019
Aunque esperaba más acción por parte del cuerpo de bomberos, más trama relacionada con ellos, la novela es sublime.
Tensión durante el 80% de la novela, donde empiezan a ser casi seguras las deducciones del lector sobre quién es el cuarto actor del incendio. No obstante y a pesar de ello, la historia está muy bien elaborada, muy bien escrita e indudablemente bien trazada.
Enhorabuena, Brown, como siempre.
Tensión durante el 80% de la novela, donde empiezan a ser casi seguras las deducciones del lector sobre quién es el cuarto actor del incendio. No obstante y a pesar de ello, la historia está muy bien elaborada, muy bien escrita e indudablemente bien trazada.
Enhorabuena, Brown, como siempre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2021
Polisler yangınlar haberciler... akıcı 👍
August 6, 2010
^^PISSED ME OFF IN ALL KINDS OF WAYS!^^
Jesu, never had a book pissed me of so much, and it’s not because it sucked, but because it was totally awesome. The characters are so vile I wanted to roast them over my fire pit of hatred. Sandra Brown has true talent when it comes to writing and it is no wonder I have been a fan of hers for over 12 years. I am talking reading them at the age of thirteen, I blame her books for creating my perve personality, high praise I tell ya.
So this book is clouded in mystery and it freaking rocked. Raley is an up and coming fire investigator, he just landed his first big case. A huge fire has just destroyed a police station, a few people have died and four men just became instant heroes. Lets not pretend Raley was a little jealous because his best friend was involved in the fantastic 4, but he has it made, with his beautiful fiancé and he is about to crack something big involving the case. Well Raley doesn’t exactly get his victory, while attending a party he hooks up with a hot girl, wakes up the next morning with said girl dead, and with no recollection of the previous night, his world comes tumbling down, all earthquake and shit.
Britt Shelley gets a call to meet an old friend at the bar, because he has a story that will blow her out of the water, of course her journalism mind is already spinning the tale well�. She never gets the story because when she wakes up with a dead cop, one of the fantastic four and her perfect life just got shittier. She’s used to telling the story now she is the story. One thing though Britt can’t remember the night before and the cops aren’t buying it, because that story is played.
Well Raley comes up with a plan because this incident is sounding the same as his and something don’t smell right. Well kidnapping Britt is about to bring everything to a tumble and they begin the journey, to prove their innocence. One thing Raley kind of hates Britt, because she put the final nail in his coffin when she was reporting his story. She made him the bad guy, the cheating bastard, a figure who was to uphold justice, destroyed an innocent life. Without knowing the whole story she destroyed a man’s life, and she is regretting it in all types of ways.
This book was awesome, it will keep you guessing to the very end. I wanted exoneration for Raley, and I still don’t exactly like Britt, and that best friend turned out to be an as swipe. The ones who were to be by his side failed him, and I won’t even say but they piss me off. The fiancé she also needs to be roasted over my fire of hate. This book just irked me and I love it. One of Sandra’s best romantic suspense. Raley is a man after my heart. Britt pfffft to her, she does not deserve him.
Jesu, never had a book pissed me of so much, and it’s not because it sucked, but because it was totally awesome. The characters are so vile I wanted to roast them over my fire pit of hatred. Sandra Brown has true talent when it comes to writing and it is no wonder I have been a fan of hers for over 12 years. I am talking reading them at the age of thirteen, I blame her books for creating my perve personality, high praise I tell ya.
So this book is clouded in mystery and it freaking rocked. Raley is an up and coming fire investigator, he just landed his first big case. A huge fire has just destroyed a police station, a few people have died and four men just became instant heroes. Lets not pretend Raley was a little jealous because his best friend was involved in the fantastic 4, but he has it made, with his beautiful fiancé and he is about to crack something big involving the case. Well Raley doesn’t exactly get his victory, while attending a party he hooks up with a hot girl, wakes up the next morning with said girl dead, and with no recollection of the previous night, his world comes tumbling down, all earthquake and shit.
Britt Shelley gets a call to meet an old friend at the bar, because he has a story that will blow her out of the water, of course her journalism mind is already spinning the tale well�. She never gets the story because when she wakes up with a dead cop, one of the fantastic four and her perfect life just got shittier. She’s used to telling the story now she is the story. One thing though Britt can’t remember the night before and the cops aren’t buying it, because that story is played.
Well Raley comes up with a plan because this incident is sounding the same as his and something don’t smell right. Well kidnapping Britt is about to bring everything to a tumble and they begin the journey, to prove their innocence. One thing Raley kind of hates Britt, because she put the final nail in his coffin when she was reporting his story. She made him the bad guy, the cheating bastard, a figure who was to uphold justice, destroyed an innocent life. Without knowing the whole story she destroyed a man’s life, and she is regretting it in all types of ways.
This book was awesome, it will keep you guessing to the very end. I wanted exoneration for Raley, and I still don’t exactly like Britt, and that best friend turned out to be an as swipe. The ones who were to be by his side failed him, and I won’t even say but they piss me off. The fiancé she also needs to be roasted over my fire of hate. This book just irked me and I love it. One of Sandra’s best romantic suspense. Raley is a man after my heart. Britt pfffft to her, she does not deserve him.
December 29, 2012
I enjoyed much of it, but toward the end I realized things were missing or weak.
Raley was an arson investigator. He was drugged and set up for something that caused him to lose his job. Five years later Britt, a TV news reporter, was drugged and framed for murder. Both events had something to do with Jay. Raley contacts Britt and together they try to figure out what’s going on, as hit men are after them.
I prefer discovering clues throughout the story to uncover the mystery. In this book, almost nothing is learned until the end when bad guys confess. 95% of the book is hiding, fleeing, and wondering. They have no proof and get no proof. Then all of a sudden we have confessions and it’s over. In each case a bad guy is going to do something bad but does a tell-all to someone first. Both of these were too convenient to the plot. That was disappointing. I want to be intrigued or impressed. I wasn’t. But the author is a talent.
The bad guys were one dimensional - could have been better.
This is romantic suspense, but don’t expect emotion inducing romance. The romance needed something. There were a few sex scenes, mildly done, not much detail.
In fiction, I usually don’t mind an author making up technical things, but this was too obvious. Removing stem caps from tires does not cause flat tires.
The narrator Victor Slezak was very good.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hrs and 16 mins. Swearing language: the f word a few times. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: about 5. Setting: current day Charleston area, S. Carolina. Book copyright: 2008. Genre: romantic suspense.
Raley was an arson investigator. He was drugged and set up for something that caused him to lose his job. Five years later Britt, a TV news reporter, was drugged and framed for murder. Both events had something to do with Jay. Raley contacts Britt and together they try to figure out what’s going on, as hit men are after them.
I prefer discovering clues throughout the story to uncover the mystery. In this book, almost nothing is learned until the end when bad guys confess. 95% of the book is hiding, fleeing, and wondering. They have no proof and get no proof. Then all of a sudden we have confessions and it’s over. In each case a bad guy is going to do something bad but does a tell-all to someone first. Both of these were too convenient to the plot. That was disappointing. I want to be intrigued or impressed. I wasn’t. But the author is a talent.
The bad guys were one dimensional - could have been better.
This is romantic suspense, but don’t expect emotion inducing romance. The romance needed something. There were a few sex scenes, mildly done, not much detail.
In fiction, I usually don’t mind an author making up technical things, but this was too obvious. Removing stem caps from tires does not cause flat tires.
The narrator Victor Slezak was very good.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hrs and 16 mins. Swearing language: the f word a few times. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: about 5. Setting: current day Charleston area, S. Carolina. Book copyright: 2008. Genre: romantic suspense.
October 24, 2021
Zaman zaman gidişatı tahmin etsem de, beni şaşırtan çok etken oldu. İlk etapta karakterleri tanıma, olayı kavrama derken tempo biraz yavaştı. Hatta her bölümde yeni kişiler görünce ana karakter kimdi unuttum resmen 😂 Ama bir yerden sonra olaylar hız kazanınca aktı gitti.
Aklımda bir suç oluşum planı vardı. Büyük karakol yangını ve dört kahraman. Tüm aksilikler etraflarında dönünce, kahramanlıkları ile nam salıp popülerlik kazanınca aklımda şüphe tohumları oluştu. Ben spoiler severim ama sevmeyen olabilir diye susuyorum 🙈 Sadece ben x derken y çıkan şeyler vardı. Şaşırtmacalar beni tatmin etti.🌟🌟🌟
Konunun başlangıcına değinmek gerekirse... Britt gözlerini açtığında, mide bulantısı, başında bir ağrı, yanında bir adam ve kayıp bir hafızası vardır.Bunların hepsine okey. Ama yanında ki adam ölü olmasaydı iyiydi🤦🏻♀� Jay, polis bir tanıdık. Hemde ulusal bir kahraman. Seveni de çok. Al başına belayı. Ne olduğunu da hatırlamıyor ki 🤦🏻♀� Bu da yetmezmiş gibi kaçırılması eksikti.
Raley eski bir itfaiyeci. Eski kısmı kesinlikle kendi isteği ile olmadı. 🤔 Hayatı, kariyeri, sevdiği kadın... Elinde bir şey kalmayınca ıssızlığın ortasında bir kulübede yaşar. Ah ilginç bir komşusu vardır 🤭Bu sayede Britt ve hakkında çıkan haberleri öğrenir. Zeki bir adam şu Raley. Beklediği intikam fırsatını hemen tanır.Sonrası aksiyon dolu. 🤭
Ben sevdim. Keyifle okudum🥰Söylemek istediğim ama sanırım susmam gereken çok şey vardı. Ah ama mide bulandırıcı bir detay vardı ki 🤢 off off.
Sonu hakkında biraz tereddütteyim.Olayların sonrasını da okumak isterdim. Ama romans yerine aksiyon ve polisiye kısmı daha ağırdı.
Aklımda bir suç oluşum planı vardı. Büyük karakol yangını ve dört kahraman. Tüm aksilikler etraflarında dönünce, kahramanlıkları ile nam salıp popülerlik kazanınca aklımda şüphe tohumları oluştu. Ben spoiler severim ama sevmeyen olabilir diye susuyorum 🙈 Sadece ben x derken y çıkan şeyler vardı. Şaşırtmacalar beni tatmin etti.🌟🌟🌟
Konunun başlangıcına değinmek gerekirse... Britt gözlerini açtığında, mide bulantısı, başında bir ağrı, yanında bir adam ve kayıp bir hafızası vardır.Bunların hepsine okey. Ama yanında ki adam ölü olmasaydı iyiydi🤦🏻♀� Jay, polis bir tanıdık. Hemde ulusal bir kahraman. Seveni de çok. Al başına belayı. Ne olduğunu da hatırlamıyor ki 🤦🏻♀� Bu da yetmezmiş gibi kaçırılması eksikti.
Raley eski bir itfaiyeci. Eski kısmı kesinlikle kendi isteği ile olmadı. 🤔 Hayatı, kariyeri, sevdiği kadın... Elinde bir şey kalmayınca ıssızlığın ortasında bir kulübede yaşar. Ah ilginç bir komşusu vardır 🤭Bu sayede Britt ve hakkında çıkan haberleri öğrenir. Zeki bir adam şu Raley. Beklediği intikam fırsatını hemen tanır.Sonrası aksiyon dolu. 🤭
Ben sevdim. Keyifle okudum🥰Söylemek istediğim ama sanırım susmam gereken çok şey vardı. Ah ama mide bulandırıcı bir detay vardı ki 🤢 off off.
Sonu hakkında biraz tereddütteyim.Olayların sonrasını da okumak isterdim. Ama romans yerine aksiyon ve polisiye kısmı daha ağırdı.
August 15, 2018
Review written August 15, 2018
4 Solid Stars - You can always count on excellent SB quality
This audiobook was just great. � Smoke Screen is a thrilling suspense romance by the always entertaining and very skilled writer . This time, as so often when audiobooks, in combo with a wonderful voice, the male narrator, and my all time number #1 favorite SB narrator, .
~ I listened to the the 14:17 hours audiobook from 2008. ~
*
From the blurb:
« When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up in bed with the handsome and hard-partying Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.
Five years earlier, Jay was a hero of a disastrous fire at Charleston's police headquarters, which would have been even deadlier if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who led others to safety.
Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, had been assigned to investigate the fire, but the investigation ended in a scandal that shattered Raley's world... � For five years his resentment has festered, but he was helpless to set things right. That changes when he learns of Jay's shocking death. »
*
My big applauses; this was fourteen very enjoying hours. I’m just looking forward to the next (unread) by Brown.
I LIKE - thrilling mysteries with a bit sweet romance
4 Solid Stars - You can always count on excellent SB quality
This audiobook was just great. � Smoke Screen is a thrilling suspense romance by the always entertaining and very skilled writer . This time, as so often when audiobooks, in combo with a wonderful voice, the male narrator, and my all time number #1 favorite SB narrator, .
~ I listened to the the 14:17 hours audiobook from 2008. ~
*
From the blurb:
« When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up in bed with the handsome and hard-partying Jay Burgess, a rising star detective in the Charleston PD, she remembers nothing of how she got there...or of how Jay wound up dead.
Five years earlier, Jay was a hero of a disastrous fire at Charleston's police headquarters, which would have been even deadlier if not for the bravery of Jay and three other city officials who led others to safety.
Firefighter Raley Gannon, Jay's lifelong friend, had been assigned to investigate the fire, but the investigation ended in a scandal that shattered Raley's world... � For five years his resentment has festered, but he was helpless to set things right. That changes when he learns of Jay's shocking death. »
*
My big applauses; this was fourteen very enjoying hours. I’m just looking forward to the next (unread) by Brown.
I LIKE - thrilling mysteries with a bit sweet romance
February 7, 2018
Newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up to find herself in bed with Jay Burgess, a detective in the Charleston PD. That was quite a surprise but what was even more surprising was that he was dead. And Britt has lost her memories of what happened that night. Raley Gannon, an ex-firefighter, finds the situation eerily similar to another. The same thing happened to him years ago when he was in the middle of an investigation into the fire at the police department that killed seven.
I was flipping through the channels on TV when I came across this movie. It was already over halfway through but I love Sandra Brown's work and watched it anyway. Of course, knowing I had this book already, I broke down and got it out later that day and started reading. I liked it but I still have a few books of Ms. Brown's that I liked more.
I was flipping through the channels on TV when I came across this movie. It was already over halfway through but I love Sandra Brown's work and watched it anyway. Of course, knowing I had this book already, I broke down and got it out later that day and started reading. I liked it but I still have a few books of Ms. Brown's that I liked more.
October 25, 2021
Toplu okumalarda yüzümüz gülecek mi derken bir umutla hepimiz okumaya başlamıştık. Başta her şey çok güzel ve mükemmeldi. Böyle akıcı, insana kendini okutturan bir romandı. "Diğer sandra'ları da okurum ben ya" demiştim kendime ama sonunu beğenmedim. Tam bir hayal kırıklığı. Ya zaten bu tip kitaplarda beklenmedik kişi çıkması klasiktir ona okeyiz ama bari düzgün bir nedenden ötürü o kişi çıksaydı ya 😅 katilin motivasyonu bomboş bir şey. Mantıklı tek bir yeri bile yok. O sonla bu kitaba ciddi anlamda yazık olmuş. O son olmasaydı güzellik kraliçesi zengin bebe Mirandaya ve baş erkek karakterimiz Raley'e gıcık olduğum için bir puan kırıp bırakacaktım ama o sonla bir yıldız daha kırdım.
Kısaca başı etkileyici sonu fos olan bir kitap.
Kısaca başı etkileyici sonu fos olan bir kitap.
May 24, 2012
I've read Sandra Brown's romantic suspense novels for years,( though not in any particular order). Sometimes the story is too over the top to be taken seriously, but enjoyable all the same. This one though was really good. Britt is a popular newscaster framed for the murder of Jay Burgess, a police officer and hero of a terrible fire five years earlier that took place in police station. Raley Gannon was the investigator of that fire, and something about it was off. But, then Raley's personal and professional life was ruined by scandal, the case was closed. Now, Britt Shelley is telling a story about memory loss that is so much like Raley's he knows she's being set up. But, he hates Britt for the slanted reporting that destroyed his career. They team up, rather unconventionally, to get to the truth. The romance is on the back burner for most of the book, with only one intense scene while both were until extreme duress. The twist and turns are fast and furious with a real stunner at the end. The ending is happy, but the love scene kind of felt thrown in there at the end just because there had to be one. It was fine without it since we knew the two were going to be alright and were going to stay together as a couple. The only other complaint I had was that one plot twist that I've come across three times in the past couple of months. I forgave it in the other two novels because they were older novels and that particular plot twist had been a good one, though overused, at that time. But, now that twist has lost it's shock value, and I had a hard time believing it was the catalyst for all that happened. But, it wasn't the only twist in the book and you won't see the real shocker coming. One of Sandra's better novels IMO.
September 9, 2017
"I still have a goose egg. and the roots of my hair hurt."
"The hazards of being an uncooperative kidnap victim."
As much as I enjoyed the buildup of this book, the ending was disappointing.
If you were interested in reading but you have a huge TBR list, this is what you do:
Read the first chapter, then skip to the last 2 or 3 chapters where the bad guys - so many bad guys - explain in excruciating detail their motivation, their method, and how they plan to get away with it. Really Sandra Brown? Trust me, all the stuff in the middle won't even matter at that point.
And that was my true reason for demoting stars from my rating. The plot "twist" at the end was somewhat predictable, but even that would have been OK. It was just each bad guy's lengthy confession and mustache-twirling that ultimately shot this one down for me.
Dick Dastardly, eat your heart out.
"The hazards of being an uncooperative kidnap victim."
As much as I enjoyed the buildup of this book, the ending was disappointing.
If you were interested in reading but you have a huge TBR list, this is what you do:
Read the first chapter, then skip to the last 2 or 3 chapters where the bad guys - so many bad guys - explain in excruciating detail their motivation, their method, and how they plan to get away with it. Really Sandra Brown? Trust me, all the stuff in the middle won't even matter at that point.
And that was my true reason for demoting stars from my rating. The plot "twist" at the end was somewhat predictable, but even that would have been OK. It was just each bad guy's lengthy confession and mustache-twirling that ultimately shot this one down for me.
Dick Dastardly, eat your heart out.
February 17, 2015
Unabridged audiobook - listened to approximately five years ago. Time for a relisten.
Narrated by the incredible Victor Slezak, I listened to Smoke Screen five years ago immediately after discovering Brown through Envy (also narrated by Slezak) - my now favorite romantic suspense. Nothing could compare to Envy so I graded it 4 stars. Removed from that impossible "search for another Envy", it is now a solid 5. Excellent story and suspense. Brown has a way of making you care even for some of the more despicable characters as she exposes their human side. The villain, in the end, (good luck guessing early on) does seem irredeemable though.
Narrated by the incredible Victor Slezak, I listened to Smoke Screen five years ago immediately after discovering Brown through Envy (also narrated by Slezak) - my now favorite romantic suspense. Nothing could compare to Envy so I graded it 4 stars. Removed from that impossible "search for another Envy", it is now a solid 5. Excellent story and suspense. Brown has a way of making you care even for some of the more despicable characters as she exposes their human side. The villain, in the end, (good luck guessing early on) does seem irredeemable though.
August 3, 2018
Sandra Braun u svom najboljem izdanju; interesantno, uzbudljivo, napeto, sa neocekivanim raspletom :)
May 24, 2017
One of the best that I have read so far by her!
September 8, 2010
Another pretty good one from Sandra Brown, though I made the mistake of reading this too closely to the poorly done Standoff, which also featured a reporter and the man she (inadvertently?) harmed. There’s generally not a lot to be surprised about in these sorts of books � you know the male and female leads (Raley and Britt, in this case) are going to eventually join together both for their crusade and for their libidos � but I still enjoy the journey we’re taken on. Though I had some suspicions about what was really going on, I was still surprised by what exactly happened and who exactly was in charge. There was just one detail that bugged me. At one point, Britt decides to waylay the men who are chasing them by removing the valve covers from their tires, which then go flat as soon as the men try to go anywhere. Maybe tires were made differently (ahem) two (ahem) years ago, but I recently (inadvertently) drove for a few months with no valve cover on one of my tires, and it did not go flat. That seems like one of those details that a veteran writer and her editor should have picked up on. Sloppy!
May 25, 2013
Paced too slowly. Nothing really happened for 350 pages and then *poof* a confession and it was over. The "romance" scenes were typical rather than sexy. The ending was not shocking at all. I dragged myself through this read. Two things that bothered me: .
October 27, 2016
Raley, the hero in this book had the worst luck ever. I felt TERRIBLE for him and wanted him to get vindication. But I don't know if I believed how things were solved. Why did the villains just confessed? Raley and Britt had no proof whatsoever of anything so it was weird how the villains just folded.
I figured out pretty easily who was the person behind the assassins although I have to say the identity of Butch and Sundance came as a surprise.
After what Britt had done to Raley, I also couldn't believe the romance. I liked that it had a HFN ending because confessions of undying love would have been ridiculous at that point. I really wished though that we could see the ex-fiancee's face when she discovered that Raley had been set up and that he and Britt were together! I mean, she suffered but what she did later was a disgrace.
As usual, I had a laugh with Sandra Brown's penchant for villains with kinky sex lives. As if main characters only like it vanilla.
I figured out pretty easily who was the person behind the assassins although I have to say the identity of Butch and Sundance came as a surprise.
After what Britt had done to Raley, I also couldn't believe the romance. I liked that it had a HFN ending because confessions of undying love would have been ridiculous at that point. I really wished though that we could see the ex-fiancee's face when she discovered that Raley had been set up and that he and Britt were together! I mean, she suffered but what she did later was a disgrace.
As usual, I had a laugh with Sandra Brown's penchant for villains with kinky sex lives. As if main characters only like it vanilla.
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