Happy Tuesday Bookworms!
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Through Smoke and Secrets by Rebecca Hemlock, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Through Smoke and Secrets
Series: Dangerous Heirlooms #1
Author: Rebecca Hemlock
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: January 21, 2026
Genre: Mystery Suspense
A century-old secret. A relentless enemy. One Locket that was never meant to be found.
When antiques dealer Annie Whitaker buys an unremarkable locket at a routine estate sale, she expects nothing more than a quiet ride home through the Smoky Mountains. Instead, a shadowy vehicle sends her car skidding off a cliffside road—and she realizes the attack was no accident. Hidden inside the locket is a key, a cryptic letter, and the first thread of a mystery tied to the disappearance of Eleanor Blackwood, a woman who vanished over a hundred years ago.
Someone has killed to keep that secret buried.
And now they’ve set their sights on Annie.
Her shop is ransacked. Her inventory destroyed. Her building intentionally set ablaze. With no phone, no transportation, and nowhere safe to go, Annie is forced to seek refuge in the only place left: the remote mountain ranch of Detective Jack Calloway, a man who once shared her obsession with cold cases—and who may be the only person she can trust.
As Jack digs into the evidence Annie uncovered, the danger spirals. Break-ins, threats, shadows stalking the ranch at night—each clue reveals a darker truth. The locket isn’t just a forgotten keepsake; it’s the final piece in a long-buried murder. And someone with power, reach, and generations of secrets will do whatever it takes to silence the truth forever.
With Annie marked as the next victim, Jack races to unravel a century of lies before time runs out. Every revelation tightens the noose around them both—and with Annie constantly in his line of fire, Jack’s focus fractures between the case and the woman he’s never been able to forget. The closer they come to exposing the killer, the more Jack realizes he may lose her long before the truth sees daylight. And every step forward draws them toward a final, deadly confrontation neither of them may survive.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author| Amazon | BookBub
My Review
“Truth is stronger than fear. Love is stronger than death.”
I ended up reading Through Smoke and Secrets in one sitting, and man did it pack a powerful punch. The intensity and engaging writing made it impossible to put down. This is the first novel I’ve read by Rebecca Hemlock, and I enjoyed her engaging writing style. She has a way of connecting her readers to her characters in a way that feels natural.
A dark secret of the past is about to be unearthed, and someone is doing their best to silence the truth once and for all and man, did the narrative get dark. The plot ended up being a lot deeper than I had anticipated, and I was living for it. I was not expecting the intensity to escalate so quickly or so violently. What could be so important that it requires an entire operation to keep it dormant?
My favorite part of historical mysteries is seeing the past and present come together. I appreciated both the prologue and epilogue as they brought the story full circle and gave a brief glimpse into the mind of such a courageous woman. I don’t know if I would ever have the courage to do what Eleanor did.
I really enjoyed this novel. It was a great balance of past and present, had some pretty dark moments without being overtly graphic, and it was nice having a satisfying, albeit heartbreaking, conclusion. Reading about such marred corruption will never not make my skin crawl, and knowing that this is a series starter makes me excited to see where Dangerous Heirlooms will take us next.
Also Available
About the Author
Rebecca Hemlock is an award-winning Christian Fiction author whose love for mysteries began in childhood when she first fell in love with all things Nancy Drew. That early spark grew into a lifelong passion for crime-solving stories, complex puzzles, and characters who must fight for truth even when the world around them is dark and uncertain.
Her novels are known for realism, emotional depth, and suspense that stays tightly wound until the final pages. Rebecca creates characters who face danger, trauma, and moral crossroads — moments that either test their faith or ignite a brand-new relationship with God. At the heart of every story lies her guiding verse and creative compass, Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Before writing fiction full-time, Rebecca spent four years as a freelance journalist, where she honed her ability to spot the thread of a story, ask the right questions, and build tension from real-world details. That experience sharpened her voice and laid the foundation for the 15 books she has now published, ranging from romantic suspense and mystery to historical-tinged thrillers. She also writes children’s fiction under the pen name R.C. Burch.
Rebecca is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime, and she’s passionate about uplifting stories that blend danger, courage, heart, and hope. With a Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing — plus an Appalachian Studies certificate — she brings layered settings, emotional authenticity, and cultural richness to her work. She continues to pursue further writing education, always seeking to grow as a storyteller.
When she’s not writing, Rebecca enjoys traveling, reading mysteries, exploring historical places, and spending time with her family. Her work is written for readers who love suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat — and faith that keeps you anchored through the storm.
Connect with Rebecca by visiting rebeccahemlock.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a book-themed prize bundle, including a tote, a mug, a kindle dust protector, a bookmark, and a $25 Amazon Gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 23, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 30, 2026. Winners 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.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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