"Happiness feels like chasing smoke, it’s right there, I can see it, but when I reach out to grab it, it slides through my fingers.” This line really got me. I'll admit, there were plenty of parts of this book that made me choke up and cry. But it was totally worth the read. There was so much heartwarming emotion and love. I was not one bit sorry that I read it. In fact, totally the opposite.

Ansel is a firefighter. When his best friend, Caleb, dies fighting a fire along side of him, his world comes crashing down on him. He makes the notification to Caleb's wife, Collins.

18 months later, Collins is still a shell of herself and Ansel isn't much better. He vows to help her to feel better. He spends time with he, helps her around the house. He does things with her. In the process, he feels better too.

But as they work through their grief and other issues, they start to develop feelings for one another and they don't know what to do with that.

This is definitely a do not miss book. I read the book and listened to the audio. This is a full-cast audio in duet. The main characters are performed by one of my favorites, Connor Crais, and the great Maxine Mitchell. You definitely don't want to miss it.

I've really been loving this series! Ansel and Collins are such a great couple. I really love all of the characters in their small town. There were so many unexpected turns and my heart hurt for Collins in so many ways. Ansel showed up for her like no one else ever had. Their chemistry was amazing and they really tried to not cross that line. Collins is a widow to Ansel's best friend. You really feel how good they are together and that they were always meant to be even the road that got them there was seemingly impossible. I loved these teo, Echo Lake and all the Mercer's! Very special thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR for the ARC!

Chasing Smoke is Collins and Ansel’s emotional and sweet, small town romance. It’s book two in The Mercer Family Series and I loved everything about this book from the Collins and Ansel to the camaraderie this group of friends share.
Ansel has always been there for Collins, he was best friends with her husband Caleb and after Caleb’s death he became the friend she needed to get through the days. But he knows she needs to move on so he starts planning things to take her out of her comfort zone and it’s not long before they both realise they want more than just friendship…….
So will they cross the line and risk the special bond they share.
I fell hard and fast for Ansel and I want Collins as my new buddy but it was watching Ansel help Collins move in a healthy way that took this book to another level. From the moment I picked this book up I knew there would be no putting down, the characters are easy to love, their story has depth and there are twist and turns I didn’t see coming. This book touched me on so many levels and even when I had read the last line I still wanted more.

Chasing Smoke is Collins and Ansel’s emotional and sweet, small town romance. It’s book two in The Mercer Family Series and I loved everything about this book from the Collins and Ansel to the camaraderie this group of friends share.
Ansel has always been there for Collins, he was best friends with her husband Caleb and after Caleb’s death he became the friend she needed to get through the days. But he knows she needs to move on so he starts planning things to take her out of her comfort zone and it’s not long before they both realise they want more than just friendship…….
So will they cross the line and risk the special bond they share.
I fell hard and fast for Ansel and I want Collins as my new buddy but it was watching Ansel help Collins move in a healthy way that took this book to another level. From the moment I picked this book up I knew there would be no putting down, the characters are easy to love, their story has depth and there are twist and turns I didn’t see coming. This book touched me on so many levels and even when I had read the last line I still wanted more.

Chasing Smoke is the second book in The Mercer Family series by Piper Rayne. I was in this story from the very beginning and it is one of my favorites from this duo.

Collins lost her husband, Caleb, in an accident at work and she is still actively grieving. She is learning to find a new normal and trying to figure out how to navigate a life that she never asked for. The one person who has been there for her is one of Caleb's best friend's Ansel. He helps her with things around the house and in an effort to get her out and about more, he offers to accompany her to different things around town as she finds her footing again.

What neither Collins or Ansel ever anticipated was having feelings for one another. They truly were connecting as friends and over their shared loss of Caleb, but over time, those feelings grew into something much bigger. Watching the two of them navigate what their feelings meant was both beautiful and heartbreaking. They had shared joy, grief and struggle as they worked to figure out what their new normal was going to look like.

This truly is one of my favorite Piper Rayne books that I have ever read. There was something about it that made me feel so many things and I was pulling for Collins and Ansel from the start. I highly recommend picking up this title!

So obsessed 🥰

I loved Chasing Smoke, book two in The Mercer Family series from the characters to the storyline this book had me completely engaged. I also had the added benefit of listening to the audio version of this story and the cast of narrators did an amazing job that absolutely added to my enjoyment of this book!
Collins and Ansel have known one another for such a long time and they have both been grieving the loss of Caleb, her husband and his best friend. What they didn’t expect was to find something growing between them and the additional guilt that came with that. What they also didn’t expect was for Caleb to have had a big secret that was now coming to light. Coming to terms with it all and finding a new normal for each of them but doing it together solidifies their new relationship and opens their future to so many wonderful possibilities.

Piper Rayne, you’ve done it again! Chasing Smoke is a beautifully moving story about loss, friendship and finding the courage to love again. Collins and Ansel stole a little piece of my heart, and watching them find their way towards their HEA was worth every single tear.

If you love your romance with heart, soul, a little laughter and ALL THE FEELS, then this one needs to be on your TBR. Just make sure you have those tissues ready!

WOB65 Verdict: A heartfelt, emotional, tissue-worthy romance that reminds us it’s never too late to find love again. 💜📚

Chasing Smoke finds it's voice in the vulnerability of it's characters. Ansel and Collins take emotions on a traumatic dance with destiny. From a beautiful mess to a pillar of strength, Rayne appeals to the humanity of the soul. Crais and Mitchell are a master class of heart. A captivating, powerhouse that brands it's beauty on your soul.

Chasing Smoke finds it's voice in the vulnerability of it's characters. Ansel and Collins take emotions on a traumatic dance with destiny. From a beautiful mess to a pillar of strength, Rayne appeals to the humanity of the soul. Crais and Mitchell are a master class of heart. A captivating, powerhouse that brands it's beauty on your soul.

Chasing Smoke finds it's voice in the vulnerability of it's characters. Ansel and Collins take emotions on a traumatic dance with destiny. From a beautiful mess to a pillar of strength, Rayne appeals to the humanity of the soul. Crais and Mitchell are a master class of heart. A captivating, powerhouse that brands it's beauty on your soul.

Talk about a heartbreaking situation, a guy in love with his best friend’s widow. 😭
I knew this was going to make me cry, and it did! I can’t imagine going through grief like Collins and Ansel did. But, these two also made me laugh, sigh and swoon.
This was so relatable and realistic. These characters felt pain, tension, chemistry, desire and guilt - everything you’d expect in their situation. They grew, healed and learned from each other; watching their relationship develop organically was beautiful.
I loved the small town of Echo Lake and catching up with characters from the previous book and the wider community.
I’m looking forward to more Mercer Family romance.

I absolutely LOVED everything about this romance! It is so very full of many real life issues and this book handled them in the best ways!

I laughed, I cried….a lot, I felt it all as Collins and Ansel moved thru this journey of heartbreak to come out the other side and realize it was NEVER on them and finally get that once in a lifetime love! ❤️❤️❤️

Absolutely loved this book and the packaging in which was delivered! Felt so personal and unique!

Absolutely love this series so much!! I loved every character, I can’t decide who my favorite is!!