Where There's Smoke: A Texas Love Story

Mae Whitaker left her small Texas hometown years ago, trading rolling hills and slow-smoked barbecue for the fast pace of New York City. But when her mother's illness calls her back to Twinsdale, she finds herself at a crossroads—one that forces her to rekindle lost connections and question everything she thought she wanted.
As Mae navigates grief, family, faith and the uncertainty of her future, she crosses paths with Jim Carter—the boy she once knew, now the man who has built a life of his own in the heart of Texas. But with her time in Twinsdale meant to be temporary, Mae resists the growing pull of a place, and a man, that feel more like home than she ever expected.
With the unwavering support of her best friend Jenny, the quiet wisdom of her parents, and the warmth of a community that refuses to let her go, Mae must decide: does she return to the life she built in New York, or embrace the one waiting for her in the town where her heart has always belonged?
Filled with heartwarming moments, small-town charm, and the rich scent of smoked coffee and slow-cooked meat, Where There's Smoke is a story about love that lingers, the ties that bind us, and the courage to follow the path that's been waiting for us all along.
Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Tif Marcelo, this novel is a soulful, slow-burn romance wrapped in the warmth of family, friendship, and the undeniable magic of home.
Readers who enjoy the emotional journeys of Virgin River by Robyn Carr, the tenderness of The Notebook, or the depth of Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins will find themselves right at home in this moving tale of grief, rediscovery, and second chances. This contemporary Western romance blends the sweet ache of lost love with the quiet hope of something new, set against the vivid backdrop of small-town Texas life.
Where There's Smoke is a heartfelt addition to the world of women's fiction—woven with themes of healing after loss, returning home, and choosing love in unexpected places. If you're drawn to uplifting stories like The Secret Life of Bees, Things We Never Got Over, or Me Before You, you'll want to linger in the pages of Twinsdale long after the final chapter.
With lyrical prose and emotionally grounded characters, Where There's Smoke captures the kind of love that grows slowly—like embers beneath ash—until it ignites something lasting. Whether you're a fan of deeply human stories like Before We Were Strangers or drawn to novels that explore the bittersweet intersection of past and present, this is a tale that reminds us how loss can shape us—but it's love that ultimately defines us.