Mae Whitaker traded her small Texas hometown for the bright lights of New York City years ago—but when her mother’s illness calls her back to Twinsdale, old ties and unexpected feelings begin to surface. As Mae navigates grief, family, and the pull of a life she thought she left behind, she finds herself drawn to Jim Carter—the boy she once knew, now a man rooted in the heart of Texas.

With the quiet strength of her parents, the fierce loyalty of her best friend Jenny, and the warmth of a community that never forgot her, Mae faces a life-changing choice: return to the fast pace she built or embrace the home she never truly left. Where There’s Smoke is a soulful, slow-burn romance filled with heart, hope, and the undeniable magic of finding your way back to where you belong.