"Smoke Screen" by Sandra Brown

Smoke Screen
Author:  Sandra Brown
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published:  August 12, 2008
Format: Audio Book; (read by: Victor Slezak)
Source: Library




TV reporter Britt Shelley wakes up unsure of what's happened.  The last thing she remembers is she was meeting Charleston PD detective Jay Burgess at a local bar, except now she's naked and Jay is lying next to her, dead.

A horrific fire in the police station 5 years earlier made Jay Burgess and 3 other notable city figures heroes, as only seven lives were lost due to there quick actions.  It was a fire that launched careers except Raley.  Firefighter Raley Gannon, arson investigator for the case, was found next to Suzie Monroe, apparent drug addict, much the same was as Britt wakes up next to Jay.

Raley and Britt team up, as more similarities pop up between their cases, to clear both there names.  But the closer to the truth the get, the more someone wants them out of the picture.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Brown's books so far; and this one did not disappoint.  What I thought was going to be a common plot had so many twists and turns I stopped trying to guess who the bad guy(s) were.  There are so many great characters in this book and everyone for me was well developed.  The story line alone is enough to make me recommend it, but the surprises Brown has for us, makes me love it.  If you love trying to figure out who did it, I highly recommend this book, because you will most likely be wrong (more than once.)

This was an audio book version read by Victor Slezak, as most of hers seem to be.  I would describe his time of voice as being Wilford Brimley-esque but in a good way.  As well Slezak quite capably gives each character their own voice.


***Have you read any Sandra Brown novels? If so what was your favorite?***

“Demon Rumm” by Sandra Brown

If you didn’t already know, one thing I do a lot of these days is listen to audio books.  At work it allows me, on some days, to finish or get halfway through a book while I’m at work.  And since we’re not really aloud to talk it helps to have some background noise. Last summer that’s how I got through most of the Evanovich series knowing which book I was looking for; as of late I’ve taken the more scientific approach of Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo.  That is how I found Sandra Brown.  I mentioned on Friday I had just finished “Rainwater” which I LOVED and so I went on the shelf search for more (let me just say I’m at the library more often then the gas pump); picking "Demon Rumm".  It was the third Brown novel I’d “read” (as they’ve all been audio books), and by far the most “harlequin romance type” yet.  I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.  The description on Amazon says,

From the Inside Flap
When Rylan North flashes Kirsten Rumm his heart-stopping smile, she knows she can't refuse him...even if letting the actor share her home for a week will force her to relive the last terrible days before her stunt pilot husband fell prey to his own daring acts. Rylan is the perfect choice to play "Demon" Rumm in the movie about his life: no one is more brash, bold, or demanding. But before Rylan immerses himself in Kirsten's world, he must exorcise the explosive secrets that haunt her dreams...and gamble she'll find the courage in his arms to risk loving again... --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

There seems to be more internal dialog from Rylan on his need to “get in her pants” then really digging for any secrets.  If Brown had put more “substance” into the story line and less “harlequin” I would have liked it much better; and the explosive secrets, though worked alright in the context of what they were, for the one, I wish she had gone a different route.
I did enjoy this book and look forward to her others (she is the author of sixty…wait for it…New York Times bestsellers).  Though I’m still thoroughly impressed with “Rainwater”; it was able to make me want to cry during the sad parts and smile in the happy ones. I think that is what I most judge a book by; when I’m finished and I want to know more- a sequel, something, anything, or if the authors written other books. [Note to Self: Create personal rating system.]  I may not put it at the top of the list but I also wouldn’t count it out either.

Sandra Brown, "Demon Rumm", "Rainwater"

It’s been awhile

It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to post as my daughter spilled Sprite© on my last laptop, but luckily my parents decided it was time for an unnecessary upgrade, and we are back in business. I took a bit of a hiatus from reading for awhile but picked it back up a few weeks ago. By the time summer reading at the library comes back around I won’t have much to choose from. I haven’t yet set my goal for how many books I want to read but look forward to it. One of my new favorites is the series, though they stand alone, by Joanne Fluke. It’s a murder mystery cookbook so too speak. Hannah Swenson owns the local cookie store aptly named, “The Cookie Jar”, and much to her mother’s dismay she is constantly finding dead bodies. But in it all she continues to run her cookie business and shares her recipes as she goes. Every month a recipe can be found on Joanne Fluke’s web page as well as information about each of her books. For me personally it has many comparisons to Evanovich’s series though Hannah Swenson seems to be quite a bit more wholesome then Stephanie Plum. But I will continue to read both series. Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swenson mysteries can be read alone but as with most others they tend to be much better read in order.

Another new favorite of mine is Sandra Brown. I just finished, “Rainwater” which is set in a bigoted 1930’s. It’s a heart-wrenching story with an ending I wasn’t at all expecting, but worked almost as well as the one I hoped for. Because as well all know fairytale endings are just that.