Smoke & Ember

by Jenny Beth Hall

I was sent to fight the fire. I didn’t expect to find her in its path.

I was supposed to parachute into Blacktail Ridge, cut a fire line, and get out.

But the woman standing in the smoke is Ember Greene, my best friend’s little sister, and the one girl I was never supposed to fall for.

Five years ago, Ember lost everything in a wildfire that rewrote both our lives. She disappeared, but I never stopped wondering where she went. Now I’ve landed in her burn zone, and she’s back at the ranch she swore she'd never return to. She's still grieving, angry, and more stubborn than ever.

The flames aren’t the only thing we’re battling.
She doesn’t trust me. Doesn’t trust God.
But I see the girl I used to know buried under ash and armor, and I would walk through fire to bring her back.

We’ve got a fire bearing down on us, one last chance at something real, and no guarantee we’ll make it out.

Smoke and Ember is a clean, emotionally charged romance

Best friend’s sister

Second chances & slow-burn chemistry

Montana ranch life & wildfire suspense

A protective hero and a heroine in healing

Faith, forgiveness, and finding your way home

Perfect for fans of clean romance with heart, heat (the wildfire kind), and hope.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Jenny Beth is a mom, wife, and lifelong military dependent who has called more places "home" than she can count. She grew up riding horses, hiking, and camping in the mountains of Alaska, Colorado, Montana, and Tennessee, where big skies and big‑hearted people shaped her love of small towns and storytelling. A seasoned traveler who's moved around the country, she writes clean, faith‑forward romance about resilient women, steadfast men, and communities that show up when it matters. Her stories are inspired by her own faith journey and by the ordinary heroes-family, friends, and strangers-who've left fingerprints on her life. When she isn't plotting porch‑swing kisses and wildfire sunsets, you can find her chasing kids, planning the next trip, or hunting down the nearest bookstore.

Reviews

[RoseVE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strength to go on

Ember Green was on a cruise ship with her college roommate. She was surprised to see her brother's best friend, Rex, on the ship. They reconnect with lunch and agree to meet for dinner later. When she sees Rex running down the stairs toward her with a panicked look on his face, she is frightened. He said that she had to call the hometown fire chief. The Chief told her that her family's ranch was in the path of a raging fire and there were no survivors. Rex and Katie stay with her when she went back for the funeral. She went back to school. Rex tried to keep in touch, but she didn't return calls, she sent back his letters, so he quit trying. She returned and rebuilt the barn and house with the help of Katie and her parents. She had a safe room built in the barn. She told no one that she was back. Rex found out when he was sent to jump for a civilian evacuation. It was Ember. He helps with a fire line around the house and barn. When the wind switched, they ran to the safe room to ride out the fire. They finally share their feelings for each other and Rex helps her to trust that God has a reason for her to be here, and the family would not want her to carry guilt about still living and they would want her to live her life. This is a beautiful story of unconditional love that continued even when it was rejected. It's a great story.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great faith based romance book. im so glad I read this. as someone who turned from God because bad things kept happening and I kept asking where is God in these events and am slowly getting back to my faith this book was so powerful. I cant wait for the release of the next one.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smoke & Ember

I liked this beautiful friends to more romance between Rex and Ember. This book was so interesting I had trouble putting it down. Rex became a fire jumper after he completed his military tour of duty. His best friend, Tommy, growing up in Montana was the brother of Ember. When Ember lost her whole family and their Montana ranch to a wildfire when she was on a cruise with her college roommate, Rex was on the same cruise so was there for her. After the funerals, they didn't see each other for six years. Their reunion was because a wildfire was headed to Ember's ranch and Rex was the fire jumper sent to rescue her. Did she lose her ranch and livestock? You will have to read the book to find out and I highly recommend it as a clean Christian romantic suspense. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fast-paced read was so good. I enjoyed the story. It is written with deep emotion and scenery. The prologue in this story really added to the depth of the characters journey. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Alicia Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first faith based romance book and I love it! It’s very fast paced and I love that it answers the hard questions through grief. As you can see I read this in one day lol. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I just wish there were more filler chapter where I could fall more in love with the side characters. I wish I had more of Mitch’s and Rex’s friendship and I wish Rex would have confided in Mitch during the grief so I can see and fall in love with Mitch before this next book. I believe this is the first book this author has made and put out and I can’t wait for the next one!! I can truly see this author being used strongly by God and she will create even better books in Jesus Name!! Amywaysss thank you Jesus to this author because I have been trying to get away from spice books and any book that will plant demonic seeds and God lead me to this book and I am not disappointed I am ecstatic because I stopped reading for a while because it was taking me from God and those books weren’t filling me up. Sooo I started praying and asking God if I can get back to reading but if it’s not in his will it’s ok, I want Jesus above everything!!

Anywaysss that goes to say I love this book and I can’t wait to see this author grow

[Tessa Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny Beth debut book is a powerful emotional story of off-limits love interests who encounter a devastating life event. Time apart leaves them both scarred, but when they end up in each others proximity to face a deadly wildfire, they have to face some truths.

Bring your tissues for this one.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Contemporary Christian fiction book. The story was believable and the characters were heartwarming. I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series! **Parent Guide: due to some situations and difficult topics, (death, grief, wildfire), I would encourage you to pre read this book before sharing with your older teens and above. I was able to read a copy of this book via HOOPLA, but it did not in any way affect my review. All opinions are my own.

[Raylene Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so great how the past can hold you back on living until there comes a point where you can feel again. For Ember this is what she has todo to find herself again, when she is on the ship with her roommate Kate she meets Smoke from back home. Ember is finishing her last year of college before going to Vet school and Smoke is now going to go to Smoke jumper school. Ember has finished her Vet school and has come back home after losing all her family to the Montana fire, she only tell one person she back. Smoke is back home to help his mother and works for the fire department and now send out to stop it. Guess his surprise when he finds out she back home. Read and see what happens.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi Stutzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had the feel of a Job retelling, I loved how important faith was in it. I do feel like there could have been alot more in the story, however if intimidated by bigger books then this is a perfect quick read. Beautiful story.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Strike Team Faith series is a strong start to the collection. The story follows Ember Green, who reunites with her brother's best friend, Rex, on a cruise just before learning her family ranch was destroyed by a fire with no survivors. After cutting off contact to rebuild the home in secret, Ember is rediscovered by Rex during a civilian evacuation from another fire. While seeking safety, they share their true feelings as Rex helps Ember navigate her grief and survivor's guilt through faith. This is a beautiful story of unconditional love and resilience that I highly recommend. I enjoyed listening to Samantha Silvia narrate their story. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Renan Axelord · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story hit me right in the heart. Smoke & Ember is a beautiful mix of danger, emotion, and redemption. Rex’s quiet strength and Ember’s broken spirit made me root for them from the first page. The wildfire scenes were intense, but what really burned was their shared history and pain. I loved how faith and forgiveness were woven in naturally. It’s clean but still so full of spark and emotion.

[Hailey Froster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a breath of fresh air. It’s a clean romance that still manages to be passionate and full of heart. The “best friend’s sister” angle was handled so well and gave the story an extra layer of tension. The faith themes were comforting and honest, not forced. I cried, smiled, and finished the last page with my heart full. Can’t wait for the next in the series.

[Brittany Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smoke & Ember: A Smoke Jumper Second Chance, Off Limits by Jenny Beth Hell is a great clean second chance romance. Samantha Silvia did a great job with the narration. The story is entertaining, clean, wholesome, enjoyable, slow-burning, heartwarming, heartfelt, and more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachel Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the story , but little sad and loved, faith , griefs.