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rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
Elizabeth and Ben’s marriage is strained. After years of marriage, they are planning to divorce. The morning after they decide, they wake up to a fire threatening their house and their community of Nelson.
As the community is in danger, Elizabeth, as a private investigator, tries to investigate the cause of the fire. When the accusations point to the teenage son of her former friend, Elizabeth is torn. Couple that with all the emotions swirling between herself and Ben and the encroaching fire, tension is high.
I liked this story, but there were some gaps that I don’t feel were adequately explained. The ending was an interesting twist.
As the community is in danger, Elizabeth, as a private investigator, tries to investigate the cause of the fire. When the accusations point to the teenage son of her former friend, Elizabeth is torn. Couple that with all the emotions swirling between herself and Ben and the encroaching fire, tension is high.
I liked this story, but there were some gaps that I don’t feel were adequately explained. The ending was an interesting twist.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine McKenzie returns following Hidden with SMOKE — a town in the Rockies, raged by fire and destruction; and the burning secrets and lies, of its characters’ personal lives igniting; losing control at the same time.
A fast-spreading ground fire has ignited at the edge of the Cooper Basin in Nelson County. Housing structures and lives are threatened. Temporary shelters, school suspensions, warnings, and evacuations.
No stranger to fires, Elizabeth Martin (Beth), has worked with wild land fires for ten years, since she was twenty-six years old. She worked her way up to arson investigator for the regional fire district. She had to go where she was needed. As her husband, Ben would say, “anywhere, but here, with him”.
She had trained, studied and gotten strong, and was ready to go where the fires were. She had spent a great deal of time away from Ben. After ten years, she felt as if she had spent most of her life waiting. Waiting to get back to him. Waiting to start a family they had always wanted. A job she loved and a marriage. Her life was about waiting for something.
Just as waiting for a fire to spark. From the first bolt of lightning or careless cigarette to set off a telltale white plume above the horizon. She traded it, for a quieter life with her husband Ben, and now they were getting a divorce- after ten years of marriage and six years of dating. What did they have left?
She has to go back to Nelson where she has a feeling things will get worse before they get better. She has to help, since she cannot seem to control her own personal life.
There is Mindy, another family. The two women met years ago in a Welcome to the Nelson Group, at 26 and 32. However, both different personalities-- Mindy was afraid of her own shadow; whereas Beth got a thrill from running into deadly situations. They were both new, yet felt like outsiders in the town. Their husbands fit perfectly into the town as a pair of comfortable slippers. Whereas the two of them, had trouble making new friends.
They had something to learn from one another at the time, and despite their differences, they had gotten pretty close. However life moved on and Mindy had her family to care for, and her desperate attempts at having a family. She had loved Ben, wanted to be a mom, but loved what she did. When Beth could not seem to get pregnant, but having her best friend around with the perfect family, was torture. Ugly things were said and disagreements--they went their separate ways. Beth feels her old life has followed her.
44 yr. old Mindy is married to Peter with, two children; 16-yr old son, Angus, and 14 yr. old daughter, Carrie. Busy with things of life and kids, and not a lot of time for herself. She puts her efforts into trying help out in the community with the devastation. Attempting to be the perfect wife on the exterior. She had never thought of herself as one of those stay at home moms. After layouts and budget cuts, she found herself helicoptering over her kids, as if her constant attention could keep them safe.
As the fires rage out of control, there is suspicion as to arson. Fingers are pointed. Accidents. Juvenile Offenders. Cover ups. Secrets. Lies. Consequences. Reactions. Simmering. Who is the source? Then comes more secrets. Pictures. Blackmail. A Girlfriend, and a parent’s worst nightmare, suspicions, guilt or innocence? Everything has consequences.
While people are losing their homes and lives, their personal lives are like a raging fire destroying relationships, families, friendships, and marriages. Over the course of six days, Elizabeth is there to help protect the town, while helping with the investigation. Plus attempting to re-kindle her relationship with her husband. and her former best friend.
There are many suspects, from John Phillips, a widow who has lost his foreclosed home to the blaze, Tucker a high school student, Angus, Mindy’s teenage son, and Tucker’s classmate, and a girlfriend.
Catherine delivers a creative, yet complex suspenseful tale of relationships and friendships filled with stunning metaphors, with both positive and negative connotations. From the "burning" strong desire for motherhood, careers, and family; as well as the "ignited" enthusiasm for a successful marriage. On the other hand; there is the destruction and devastation. The igniting of fire to destroy, the entrapment, and the spark combustion, left smoldering ---ruining lives, homes, and communities. Will this town and the lives find hope after the devastation?
SMOKE explores tragedy and conflict, extreme situations, with strong emotional dynamics, trust, and bonds which tie…. With smoldering tension, and rising temperatures—suspense from the first page to the last, with characters you will come to care for— her best book, yet!
JDCMustReadBooks
Catherine McKenzie returns following Hidden with SMOKE — a town in the Rockies, raged by fire and destruction; and the burning secrets and lies, of its characters’ personal lives igniting; losing control at the same time.
A fast-spreading ground fire has ignited at the edge of the Cooper Basin in Nelson County. Housing structures and lives are threatened. Temporary shelters, school suspensions, warnings, and evacuations.
No stranger to fires, Elizabeth Martin (Beth), has worked with wild land fires for ten years, since she was twenty-six years old. She worked her way up to arson investigator for the regional fire district. She had to go where she was needed. As her husband, Ben would say, “anywhere, but here, with him”.
She had trained, studied and gotten strong, and was ready to go where the fires were. She had spent a great deal of time away from Ben. After ten years, she felt as if she had spent most of her life waiting. Waiting to get back to him. Waiting to start a family they had always wanted. A job she loved and a marriage. Her life was about waiting for something.
Just as waiting for a fire to spark. From the first bolt of lightning or careless cigarette to set off a telltale white plume above the horizon. She traded it, for a quieter life with her husband Ben, and now they were getting a divorce- after ten years of marriage and six years of dating. What did they have left?
She has to go back to Nelson where she has a feeling things will get worse before they get better. She has to help, since she cannot seem to control her own personal life.
There is Mindy, another family. The two women met years ago in a Welcome to the Nelson Group, at 26 and 32. However, both different personalities-- Mindy was afraid of her own shadow; whereas Beth got a thrill from running into deadly situations. They were both new, yet felt like outsiders in the town. Their husbands fit perfectly into the town as a pair of comfortable slippers. Whereas the two of them, had trouble making new friends.
They had something to learn from one another at the time, and despite their differences, they had gotten pretty close. However life moved on and Mindy had her family to care for, and her desperate attempts at having a family. She had loved Ben, wanted to be a mom, but loved what she did. When Beth could not seem to get pregnant, but having her best friend around with the perfect family, was torture. Ugly things were said and disagreements--they went their separate ways. Beth feels her old life has followed her.
44 yr. old Mindy is married to Peter with, two children; 16-yr old son, Angus, and 14 yr. old daughter, Carrie. Busy with things of life and kids, and not a lot of time for herself. She puts her efforts into trying help out in the community with the devastation. Attempting to be the perfect wife on the exterior. She had never thought of herself as one of those stay at home moms. After layouts and budget cuts, she found herself helicoptering over her kids, as if her constant attention could keep them safe.
As the fires rage out of control, there is suspicion as to arson. Fingers are pointed. Accidents. Juvenile Offenders. Cover ups. Secrets. Lies. Consequences. Reactions. Simmering. Who is the source? Then comes more secrets. Pictures. Blackmail. A Girlfriend, and a parent’s worst nightmare, suspicions, guilt or innocence? Everything has consequences.
While people are losing their homes and lives, their personal lives are like a raging fire destroying relationships, families, friendships, and marriages. Over the course of six days, Elizabeth is there to help protect the town, while helping with the investigation. Plus attempting to re-kindle her relationship with her husband. and her former best friend.
There are many suspects, from John Phillips, a widow who has lost his foreclosed home to the blaze, Tucker a high school student, Angus, Mindy’s teenage son, and Tucker’s classmate, and a girlfriend.
Catherine delivers a creative, yet complex suspenseful tale of relationships and friendships filled with stunning metaphors, with both positive and negative connotations. From the "burning" strong desire for motherhood, careers, and family; as well as the "ignited" enthusiasm for a successful marriage. On the other hand; there is the destruction and devastation. The igniting of fire to destroy, the entrapment, and the spark combustion, left smoldering ---ruining lives, homes, and communities. Will this town and the lives find hope after the devastation?
SMOKE explores tragedy and conflict, extreme situations, with strong emotional dynamics, trust, and bonds which tie…. With smoldering tension, and rising temperatures—suspense from the first page to the last, with characters you will come to care for— her best book, yet!
JDCMustReadBooks
ashleybhaley's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. My only complaint is that I took too long to finish it. I've never highlighted text on my kindle to remember later, but the metaphors that this author used were so perfect at times, that I just had to share them.
"We’ve had this kind of standoff about alot of things lately, communicating through the things not done, the words not said, our inaction as loud and grating as an unfixed faucet’s slow drip."
"smoke. It’s a fragrance that works its way into your skin, your hair, and even now, two years away from it, I still catch its scent clinging to me every once in a while, like a lover who doesn’t want to let go."
"We’ve had this kind of standoff about alot of things lately, communicating through the things not done, the words not said, our inaction as loud and grating as an unfixed faucet’s slow drip."
"smoke. It’s a fragrance that works its way into your skin, your hair, and even now, two years away from it, I still catch its scent clinging to me every once in a while, like a lover who doesn’t want to let go."
susanthebookbag's review against another edition
5.0
I always love Catherine's stories because she writes about human relationships. She shows us the good as well as the bad. Smoke starts off pretty intense, with a fire that could quickly become out of control. We also see Elizabeth's relationship with her soon-to-be ex-husband starting to spiral out of control as well.
'We've had this kind of standoff about a lot of things lately, communicating through the things not done, the words not said, our inaction as loud and grating as un unfixed faucet's slow drip'
Smoke takes us into the lives of those who live near Copper Basin, where a fire has started. Was it intentionally set? Or was it merely an accident? As the firefighters try to contain the fire and as the members of the community form their opinions of the cause, people start to question how well they know their neighbors and friends. And they start to discover what really is important.
'"You always do what's right. That's who you are." "What if I don't want to be that person anymore?"'
The story is full of wonderful people and, as I mentioned before, relationships. Husband and wife, friends and former friends, nice people trying to do for those who are struggling, some not so nice people trying to make themselves appear to be nice.
'Mindy and I wouldn't have been friends in other circumstances.'
But most of all, there is the fire and the impact that it will have on this community. It will either bring them together or drive them apart.
'The fire goes as quickly as it came leaving nothing behind but ash and wisps of smoke.'
Catherine is one of my must read author and I love it when she has a new book out. Smoke is another wonderful story that captured my attention and my heart.
'We've had this kind of standoff about a lot of things lately, communicating through the things not done, the words not said, our inaction as loud and grating as un unfixed faucet's slow drip'
Smoke takes us into the lives of those who live near Copper Basin, where a fire has started. Was it intentionally set? Or was it merely an accident? As the firefighters try to contain the fire and as the members of the community form their opinions of the cause, people start to question how well they know their neighbors and friends. And they start to discover what really is important.
'"You always do what's right. That's who you are." "What if I don't want to be that person anymore?"'
The story is full of wonderful people and, as I mentioned before, relationships. Husband and wife, friends and former friends, nice people trying to do for those who are struggling, some not so nice people trying to make themselves appear to be nice.
'Mindy and I wouldn't have been friends in other circumstances.'
But most of all, there is the fire and the impact that it will have on this community. It will either bring them together or drive them apart.
'The fire goes as quickly as it came leaving nothing behind but ash and wisps of smoke.'
Catherine is one of my must read author and I love it when she has a new book out. Smoke is another wonderful story that captured my attention and my heart.
ejoyce246's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up as a Kindle Daily Deal, expecting it to be a quick read about friendships between women. What I got was a unput-downable book that had romance, mystery and kept me on my toes. I will definitely pick up another book by this author!
nonnalita's review against another edition
5.0
To say this book is a page-turner is an understatement--I couldn't put this book down until the end. I've read Catherine's other books and have always been captivated by her stories. Smoke is no different. From the very first introduction to Elizabeth's life and struggling marriage I felt like I knew her and was willing to offer an ear to help her work through her personal issues. Catherine has a knack for creating very believable characters. If you're looking for a great read, definitely check this one out. I would recommend this book in a second! I'd like to thank Catherine and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
problemreader's review against another edition
5.0
I was lucky enough to get an advance reading copy of Catherine McKenzie's Smoke (in return for an honest review) and I loved it. It was fast paced and hard to put down. Her best book yet. Highly recommend!!
whaney's review against another edition
3.0
So-So book. Too much whining and not very strong woman characters IMO. Still finished it, but can't say I'll go looking for more books by this author.
losco's review against another edition
5.0
*I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I could not put this book down! Ok, yes, I had to go to work and I had to sleep at some point, but other than that I was riveted to this story and to these characters. Well written dialogue and a well thought out plot came together and kept me interested. No gratuitous drama for the sake of pulling on the heartstrings, just characters that are flawed enough to seem real and good enough to be likeable. The ominous fire looming and threatening the town provided plenty of tension as there is a race to extinguish the fire and figure out how it was set and by whom. The conclusion is immensely satisfying and I recommend giving this a read.
I could not put this book down! Ok, yes, I had to go to work and I had to sleep at some point, but other than that I was riveted to this story and to these characters. Well written dialogue and a well thought out plot came together and kept me interested. No gratuitous drama for the sake of pulling on the heartstrings, just characters that are flawed enough to seem real and good enough to be likeable. The ominous fire looming and threatening the town provided plenty of tension as there is a race to extinguish the fire and figure out how it was set and by whom. The conclusion is immensely satisfying and I recommend giving this a read.
napkins's review against another edition
2.0
I don't actually know how I finished this.
The jumps in the point of view, the switches of tense, voice, and character, were bad enough. Add in that I just couldn't connect with the characters or their motivation at all, and I'm amazed I dragged myself through this as quickly as I did.
The writing isn't bad, and that's the main reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. It could have been a better story, in my mind, if McKenzie had stuck to one narrator and told one story. Many of the same goals could have been accomplished, but without the strange disconnect that kept me from really connecting to either narrator. The resolution of the mystery was easily enough discerned from early on, so it's not so much a mystery as the resolution of two women, two mothers, in a small town.
The jumps in the point of view, the switches of tense, voice, and character, were bad enough. Add in that I just couldn't connect with the characters or their motivation at all, and I'm amazed I dragged myself through this as quickly as I did.
The writing isn't bad, and that's the main reason it gets 2 stars instead of 1. It could have been a better story, in my mind, if McKenzie had stuck to one narrator and told one story. Many of the same goals could have been accomplished, but without the strange disconnect that kept me from really connecting to either narrator. The resolution of the mystery was easily enough discerned from early on, so it's not so much a mystery as the resolution of two women, two mothers, in a small town.