Chasing Smoke (The Mercer Family #2) Audiobook
Chasing Smoke (The Mercer Family #2) Audiobook
Piper Rayne
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- 8 hrs and 8 mins
- Connor Crais, Maxine Mitchell
Book two in USA Today Bestselling Author Piper Rayne's new small town romance series.
I've been running toward burning buildings for a decade. Then my best friend's widow smiled at me for the first time in two years, and I knew right then I was in trouble.
After Caleb died, I made a promise—I’d take care of his wife. Keep an eye on her. Check in on her. Make sure she kept on living.
Collins insists she’s fine. She’s not.
So when she finally agrees to let me help pull her out of her grief, I vow to stand beside her however long she needs me, no matter how much it costs me.
Collins isn’t supposed to smile at me like she does. She’s not supposed to let me in. And she definitely isn’t supposed to be the best part of my day.
She was Caleb’s. I know that.
The problem is, I can't stop wondering what it would be like if Collins wasn't just someone I was meant to protect.
But mine.
Tropes:
- small town romance
- best friend's widow
- firefighter MC
- forbidden love
This audiobook features full-cast narration performed by this top-tier ensemble:
- Connor Crais
- Maxine Mitchell
- Jason Clarke
- Callie Dalton
- JF Harding
- Aaron Shedlock
- Stephen Dexter
- Jill Smith
Here's what readers are saying...
"Five stars. I loved Collins. I adored Ansel. I loved the emotional complexity, the friendship-to-lovers progression, and how carefully their relationship was handled. Highly, highly recommend—especially on audio." - HolleeJane
"Holy emotional roller coaster!! This book brought it in soo many ways... This was a perfect addition to a series that I am truly enjoying…bring on the next book." - Reading In the Red Room
"Leave it to Piper Rayne to have me completely obsessed with these two! I cried, I kicked my feet, I swooned, I was angry and I fell in love with these two so dang hard. If you’re looking for a book to give you literally every single emotion..look no further! Ansel and Collins are pure perfection and I will accept ZERO criticism 😍 This one wrecked me and then put me back together in the best dang way possible!" - Kristina A
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Okay, I didn't see Ansel and Collins' story heading this way but it turned out to be sooooo good.
Like Piper and Rayne told us in their Cockamamie Unicorn Ramblings that they'd never taken on the trope of best friends' widow, I hadn't read the trope as well. Or... if I used to read, it didn't feel this good as I couldn't remember reading it (- -')
The story is very easy reading with Ansel and Collins' slow burn romance. Their relationships started with Ansel trying to be a friend to Collins after her husband passed away for almost 2 years. Gosh, I can feel Collins' grief but I also understand Ansel's point of view. Collins needs to start living her life again and he is a good friend who tries to help her accomplishing this mission.
I thought I would feel awkward with their relationships but nope, I didn't feel it at all. But I understand if someone feels that way because in real life, it would make you doubt about their relationships before everything happens too.
And after what Collins has been through, I'm so glad that she has Ansel by her side. She deserves to be happy and lives her life with someone who loves her.
Can't wait for Sutton and Fowler's story because every Mercer kids have their own issues but I know less about Sutton than anyone because she just came back to town so I want to know her more :)
Format: Audiobook - Full cast in duet narration by Connor Crais and Maxine Mitchell with Jason Clarke, JF Harding, Aaron Shedlock, Callie Dalton, Stephen Dexter and Jill Smith
Page/Time: 8 hrs 8 mins
Series / Standalone: Standalone (The Mercer Family, Book 2)
Tropes: Small Town, Best Friend’s Widow, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn
Thanks to the authors for this gifted audiobook - all opinions are my own
Ansel and Collins
📚This may be my favorite Piper Rayne book yet! The layers upon layers of emotional tension had me mesmerized. The story had all the makings for an angsty romance and just as I felt things evening out, I set an end of chapter timer so I could get some sleep. Big mistake! I just reset and reset and finally gave up and cancelled it because there was no way I was stopping this before the end. The relationship progression was so smooth. I felt every step from awkward acquaintances to friends to more and it was all believable. As the story started amping up, I was hooked until the end! Be ready to run the gamut of emotions with this one.
🎧This audiobook is beyond good. Connor Crais and Maxine Mitchell absolutely nailed every emotion in this story and I felt it in my chest. Add in a so many talented narrators to voice side characters and this is easily a 10/10 audio production. Highly recommended!!
"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 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.
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.