Book: Chasing Smoke by Piper Rayne
Reviewed by Desi Disassociates
Rating: 4.5/5
A year and a half after the death of his best friend, Caleb, Ansel still forgets at times that he's gone. But when he sees Caleb's widow, Collins, a shell of who she used to be, he's determined to get her out of her house and start living again. In the 18 months since Caleb's death, Collins has been going through life as a shell of her former self. His things are still in their closet, she hasn't gone in his office in six months, and the book he was reading when he died is still on the bedside table.
When Ansel decides they're going to do things around town together, she was rightfully hesitant. Even though so much time had passed, she wonders if she's ready to enter a new stage in her life. But when she starts to uncover things she never knew about her husband, she's pushes back into her grief while also coming to terms with the fact that there will always be things about Caleb now that she'll never get answers to or understand.
The more Ansel and Collins spend time together, the more they stop thinking of each other as something to Caleb and start recognizing that they're something to each other. I love all Piper Rayne books, but this one had my stomach dropping right there with Collins and Ansel at times. It really makes you think about the people around you and whether or not they have things they're keeping from you, too.
I personally don't read triggers for books because I like to go in very blind, and in doing so for this book, I was very emotionally attached to what Collins was going through. This book is one of love, hurt, anger, and at the very end understanding and new beginnings.
I love the Mercer family. I loved Collins. I can't wait for the next book!
Audio feedback:
Story 4.5/5
Narrators: 5/5
I immersive read this one again and the audio was sooooo good. Connor Crais's Ansel dirty talk? Good LORD. Seriously these two had great chemistry and I highly recommend for the audio listeners.