Smoke River Books

“Readers will appreciate that things are a little topsy-turvy, with spiritual insights coming from unexpected places.” —Publishers Weekly Who do you listen to when every word might be a lie? Brought up in a strict religion in the small town of Smoke River, Washington, Chloe Montoya has seen the leaders she trusted disgraced and watched helplessly as her best friends rejected their faith. When radio evangelist Luke Fisher is invited to headquarter his ministry in town, Chloe is drawn to him. Against her church’s will, she joins the staff at the station as bookkeeper and, while she’s totally behind Luke’s vision for the community, she begins to realize that under the message is a sound that frightens her … Fresh out of the state police academy and assigned to the Organized Crime Task Force, Ray Harper is sent to Smoke River to investigate an underground church that seems to attract the criminal and the predatory. What he finds is a town prospering in its religious fervor—and a dark-haired, dark-eyed innocent who he’d bet his first year’s salary has never been kissed. Ray has no use for religion. She’s forbidden even to speak to him. But Luke Fisher’s growing power threatens what they both love—and sometimes you have to listen to someone … and hope that they hear you … The Sound of Your Voice is the third novel in the faith-based Smoke River domestic suspense series. The books can be read as standalones, though the characters all know one another and appear in each other's stories. No strong language, just a dollop of suspense, a loving kiss, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

“A gut-wrencher with poignant style and refreshing breaths of humor.” —Jill Elizabeth Nelson, RT Book Reviews Dinah Traynell is trapped in a life she didn’t choose and cannot leave. Since childhood, the Elect are told it’s God’s will that they serve the Shepherds, the itinerant ministers of the church. Since puberty, that service has become darker for Dinah Traynell. More physical. Unthinkable and deeply secret. Though she dreams of another life, she’s never known anything but the church, so while she submits, she still resents being forced to cast her pearls before swine. So when she answers the door one night to find a homeless man on the step, her first act of rebellion is to help him. Dr. Matthew Nicholas, disgraced university professor, had never heard of the Elect before he was robbed, left penniless, and wandered into Smoke River. He has never met a woman like Dinah, so vulnerable and yet so strong, with a capacity for love that has no outlet except in the care of her flock of chickens. As she slowly grapples with the flawed faith of the Elect, Matthew struggles with his fear of getting involved. He’s grateful for meals and a room, but he’s only the hired man. When Dinah’s teenage sister abandons her own baby, its innocence is the catalyst that forces Dinah and Matthew to trust one another … and two lost souls catch a glimpse of hope. But is it enough to dispel the darkness? Or is it already too late for Dinah to break free without being trampled? Pocketful of Pearls is the second novel in the inspirational Breaking Faith domestic suspense series. The books can be read as standalones, though the characters all know one another and appear in each other's stories. No strong language, just a dollop of suspense, a loving kiss, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

“As tragedy unravels a community and a church, a good woman is forced to face the stark truth of her own faith. Once more, [Senft] has created a compelling story of crisis and spirit.” —Mary Jo Putney What kind of mother suspects her own daughter of murder? Laurie Hale has the perfect life--and the perfect family to go with it. All she wants is for her kids to find the popularity and success in school that she enjoyed back in the day. But one night on the Smoke River bridge, a bid for popularity goes wrong and one of the teens from that weird group, the Elect of God, is found dead. When the police begin to investigate her daughter Anna, fear and suspicion begin to eat away at everything Laurie values. Anna is just one of several teenage suspects, but none of them is saying a word, and peaceful Smoke River divides along religious lines—to the point that Laurie is even asked to bow out of her prayer group just when she needs their support. Her marriage starts to crumble and her standing in town shows its shaky foundations. Laurie doesn’t want to face the truth. But it’s the job of investigator Nick Tremore, her cousin, to find it. What if Anna really was there the night that Elect girl, Randi Peizer, was killed? Why is Nick spending so much time with Randi’s mother? And what kind of person is Laurie if she can doubt her own child’s innocence? Over Her Head is the fourth novel in the faith-based Smoke River domestic suspense series. The books can be read as standalones, though the characters all know one another and appear in each other’s stories. No strong language, just a dollop of suspense, a loving kiss, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

“A brave and talented author who looks at the darkness as well as the light.” —Mary Jo Putney He’d find Kailey some day. One assignment at a time. One prayer at a time. A cult took Ross Malcolm’s ex-girlfriend and baby daughter six years ago. He’s never stopped looking for his little girl ... and now he has a sidearm, a badge, and a soul-deep commitment to protect the innocent. When the state's elite Organized Crime Task Force assigns him to Smoke River, Washington, to find out why the death rate among children belonging to an obscure religious group is so high, he’s sure it’s going to be one of the toughest cases of his career. But first, he has to find a way in … Julia McNeill is the daughter of an Elder and the almost-fiancée of a prospective Deacon in the plain church known as the Elect of God. Her future position is secure … except that she’s not sure she wants it. She’s never quite been able to fit in, to measure up in comparison with her dazzling sister, who married an Elder and produced two beautiful kids. It breaks Julia’s heart that her nephew Ryan is so close to death and no one can figure out why … but when she asks questions, the church leadership shuts her out. And then a biker with eyes that have seen too much walks into the bookstore where Julia works, and everything about her life begins to change … including her belief in God’s ability to keep her and her nephew safe … Grounds to Believe is the first novel in the faith-based Smoke River domestic suspense series. The books can be read as standalones, though the characters all know one another and appear in each other's stories. No strong language, just a dollop of suspense, a loving kiss, and a guaranteed happily ever after.