Book: Chasing Smoke by Piper Rayne
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4/5
Chasing Smoke by Piper Rayne
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Collins and Ansel have a beautiful love story, proving that you can find love after loss.
Ansel is perfection—a sexy firefighter with a huge heart who sees Collins drowning in grief after losing her husband and offers to help her move forward. He's still processing his own grief over losing his best friend, but he feels that being a good friend means helping his best friend's widow. He joins her in activities she's comfortable with, even when they aren't his cup of tea, and never complains. Instead, he brings the fun and keeps the focus on her. This man is absolutely husband material.
I love that Collins shows herself a lot of grace as she processes her husband's death and adjusts to her new life as a widow. She moves at the pace she feels comfortable with, opening herself up to new experiences when she's ready, not when everyone else thinks she should be. Her journey felt authentic, though I've (thankfully) never been in her shoes.
The romance between Ansel and Collins is very much a slow burn, which feels appropriate for a best friend's widow love story. I like that their initial relationship is closer to acquaintances than friends, and their feelings don't develop until they get to know each other beyond the surface. It keeps the relationship from ever feeling icky, especially because neither of them rushes into anything. Watching them slowly find happiness together while still honoring the person they've lost is really beautiful.
Then came a twist that honestly made me feel sick to my stomach, but I think that was the point. My heart broke for Collins all over again. It's impossible to discuss in depth without spoiling the book; just know my heart fell out of my butt, and the way Collins handles everything made me see her in an even more positive light.
I'm super excited for the next book in the Mercer Family series. I was already getting vibes between Sutton and Fowler, and I can't wait to see sparks fly.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for providing an ARC!