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Welcome to the Blog Tour for Aftermath<\/i><\/b> by Terri Blackstock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours<\/a>!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Aftermath.jpg” title_text=”Aftermath” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”MY REVIEW” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n Terri Blackstock has long been on my list of favorite suspense novelists and she far exceeded my expectations with Aftermath<\/em>. Readers will want to carve out several hours of time for reading this one because they will not want to stop reading until they reach the very end.<\/p>\n This emotionally charged narrative included several different characters who each played an important role. It was easy to empathize with each of them although some of them made very poor choices. It is a story about friends who have your back and those who betray you, the desire for revenge and forgiveness. I could understand the desperation that drove one character but could not excuse the choices made.<\/p>\n A fast-paced tale with more than enough action, danger, and suspense to satisfy the most avid fan, Aftermath<\/em> also includes excellent character development and the perfect touch of romance for those who like it.<\/p>\n I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and eagerly anticipate what Ms. Blackstock has in store for us next. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy for yourself.<\/p>\n I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”ABOUT THE BOOK” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n Title: <\/b>Aftermath<\/p>\n Author:<\/b> Terri Blackstock<\/p>\n Publisher: <\/b>Thomas Nelson<\/p>\n Release Date:<\/b> May 11, 2021<\/p>\n Genre:<\/b> Christian Romantic Suspense\/Thriller<\/p>\n This gripping new thriller from <\/b>New York Times<\/i><\/b> bestselling author Terri Blackstock will leave you on the edge of your seat.<\/b><\/p>\n A devastating explosion.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Three best friends are at the venue just to hear their favorite band . . . but only one of them makes it out alive.<\/p>\n A trunk full of planted evidence.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n When police stop Dustin with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows it\u2019s just a mistake. He\u2019s former military and owns a security firm. But he\u2019s horrified when they find explosives, and he can\u2019t fathom how they got there.<\/p>\n An attorney who will risk it all for a friend.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin\u2019s best friend growing up. They haven\u2019t spoken since he left for basic training, but she\u2019s the first one he thinks of when he\u2019s arrested. Jamie knows she\u2019s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she\u2019d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?<\/p>\n PURCHASE LINKS:<\/b> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n EXCERPT:<\/strong><\/p>\n AFTERMATH<\/strong> Taylor Reid\u2019s phone flashed as she snapped the selfie with her two friends, their heads touching and their backs to the stage. The shot from the third row, with the lead singer in the background and the three of them in the foreground, was perfect. No one would believe their seats were so close.<\/p>\n They turned around to face the band, dancing to the beat of the song they\u2019d been listening to in the car on the way to Trudeau Hall.<\/p>\n Taylor quickly posted the pic, typing, \u201cEd Loran targets nonpoliticals for his rally with band Blue Fire. Worked on us!\u201d<\/p>\n She put her phone on videotape and zoomed onto the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want it to end!\u201d Desiree said in her ear.<\/p>\n \u201cMe either!\u201d Taylor yelled over the music.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they\u2019ll play again after his speech,\u201d Mara shouted.<\/p>\n The song came to an end, and the crowd went crazy, begging for one more song before the band left the stage.<\/p>\n But an amplified voice filled the auditorium, cutting off the adulation. \u201cLadies and gentlemen, please welcome the next president of the United States, Ed Loran!\u201d<\/p>\n The crowd sounded less enthusiastic as the band left the stage and Ed Loran, the Libertarian celebrity magnet, made his entrance. Taylor kept cheering and clapping, letting her enthusiasm for the band segue to him.<\/p>\n It happened just as the candidate took the stage. The deafening sound, like some confusing combination of gunshot and lightning bolt, a blast that blacked out the lights and knocked her to the ground. Smoke mushroomed. Screams crescendoed\u2014shrieks of terror, wailing pain, shocking anguish . . . then sudden, gentle silence, as if she were underwater. A loud ringing in her ears filled the void.<\/p>\n She peered under the seats, choking for breath as dimmer lights flickered through the smoke. Even from here, she could see the fallout of whatever had happened. Blood pooling on the ground, people hunkering down as she was, feet running . . . What was happening? An explosion? A crash? She looked around and couldn\u2019t see her friends.<\/p>\n She clawed her way up and looked over the seat. Smoke and fire billowed from the stage into the crowd, and heat wafted over her like some living force invading the room. Muffled, muted sounds competed with the ringing.<\/p>\n Get out! Now!<\/span> She dropped back down and crawled under two rows of seats until she came to someone limp on the floor. She felt herself scream but couldn\u2019t hear her own voice. Scrambling to her feet, she went to her left to get to the aisle, but her foot slipped on something wet. She grabbed the seat next to her to steady herself, then launched into the frantic crowd in the aisle. The room seemed to spin, people whizzing by, people under her, people above her, people broken and ripped and still . . . She stepped and fell, crawled and ran, tripped and kicked her way to the bottlenecked doorway, then fought her way through it.<\/p>\n The ringing in her ears faded as she tumbled downstairs, almost falling into the lobby below. The sound of crying, coughing, wretching, and the roaring sound of pounding feet turned up as if some divine finger had fiddled with the volume. Fresh, cool air hit her like freedom, but at first her lungs rejected it like some poison meant to stop her. At the bottom of the steps, on the sidewalk, she bent over and coughed until she could breathe.<\/p>\n After a moment, the crowd pushed her along toward the parking garage until she remembered that her car wasn\u2019t there. She had parked on the street, blocks away. She forced her way out of the flow of people and ran a block south. Where was it? Sweat slicked her skin until she found her silver Accord. There!<\/p>\n She ran to it and pulled her keys out of her pocket, wishing she hadn\u2019t lost the key fob. Her hands trembled as she stuck the key into the passenger side lock and got the door open. She slipped inside on the driver\u2019s side, locked it behind her. Instinctively, she slid down, her head hidden as if someone were coming after her.<\/p>\n What just happened?<\/p>\n One minute they\u2019d been taking selfies and videotaping the band, and the next they were on the floor . . .<\/p>\n Where were Mara and Desiree? She hadn\u2019t even looked for them! Should she go back for them?<\/p>\n No, that would be insane. She could smell the smoke and fire from here. They would know to come to the car when they got out.<\/p>\n Call the police!<\/span><\/p>\n She tried to steady her hands as she swiped her phone on.<\/p>\n \u201c911, what is your\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn explosion!\u201d she cut in, her voice hoarse. \u201cAt the Ed Loran rally at Trudeau Hall!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you now?\u201d the woman asked in a voice that was robotically calm.<\/p>\n \u201cI got out. There\u2019s fire . . . People are still in there. Please send ambulances!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2019am, did you see what exploded?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo . . . the stage area, I think. I don\u2019t know where my friends are. Please . . . hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve already dispatched the fire department and police, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n She heard sirens from a few blocks away and cut off the call. She raised up, looking over the dashboard for the flashing lights. She couldn\u2019t see any, but the sirens grew louder.<\/p>\n She knelt on the floorboard, her knees on her floormat and her elbows on her seat, and texted Desiree.I\u2019m at the car. Where are you?<\/p>\n No answer. She switched to a recent thread with Mara and texted again.<\/p>\n Got out. At car waiting. Where are you?<\/p>\n Nothing.<\/p>\n She dictated a group text to both of them.<\/p>\n Are you all right?<\/p>\n They were probably running or deaf, fighting their way out like she had. She tried calling them, but Mara\u2019s phone rang to voicemail. When Desiree\u2019s phone did the same, she yelled, \u201cCall me! I\u2019m waiting at the car and I\u2019m scared. Where are you?\u201d She was sobbing when she ended the call.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”ABOUT THE AUTHOR” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n CONNECT WITH TERRI:<\/b> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”GIVEAWAY” _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n TOUR GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n (3) winners will receive a print copy of Aftermath<\/i> by Terri Blackstock!<\/p>\n Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 11, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 18, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.<\/p>\n Giveaway is subject to the policies found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/divider2.png\")
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Goodreads<\/a> | Amazon<\/a> | Barnes & Noble<\/a> | Book Depository<\/a> | IndieBound<\/a> | Christianbook<\/a> | Bookbub<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Chapter One<\/strong><\/p>\n
She set her sights on the glass doors to the outside and pushed forward, moving through people and past the security stations they\u2019d stopped at on the way in. She made it to the door and burst out into the sunlight.<\/p>\n
She turned the corner. Her car was here, on this block. Near the Atlanta Trust Bank. Wasn\u2019t it? Or was it the next block?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Terri-Blackstock.png\")
Terri Blackstock<\/strong> has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She\u2019s the author of If I Run, If I\u2019m Found, and If I Live, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, Moonlighters, and the Restoration series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Website<\/a> | Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Aftermath-giveaway.jpg\")
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