Where There's Smoke

This was an entertaining read. The small town, one major employer setting was described well; there's the one powerful family that almost everyone is afraid to cross, there's the right side of the tracks residents and the white-trash wrong side of the tracks residents, there's the established southern Texan residents who know each other's entire family histories and the northern Yankee interloper who is treated with suspicion and shunned, and there's a charismatic good ol' boy hero and the appealing Yankee heroine. The author fleshes all of that out and brings the town and its residents to life.Some of the characters were mean and nasty, some were slutty and some were average people just getting on with their lives. Their interactions with each other and with the heroine were what drove the plot and created the conflicts. I didn't feel that anything was overdone or over the top. Everything played out naturally and at a good, even pace.The reason I am giving this book four stars instead of five was because I didn't enjoy the plot line where the heroine and hero go out of the country to find her daughter's body. It didn't spoil the story and most people probably think it was a crucial element in the story. To me, it felt a bit awkward and briefly slowed the Texas part of the story; I thought the author could have found a different way to introduce another central character.There was language and graphic sex scenes in the book, as well as teenage heavy petting. It was all pretty mild, but those who don't like those elements should avoid this book.This was a nice story to relax with and pass the time. It engaged me and I liked several of the characters. Those I disliked were necessary to the plot and made enjoyable protagonists who livened up the story. The author's descriptions and dialogue brought the characters to life, making for a very entertaining read. I recommend this book to those who like romantic suspense books, with the emphasis on the romance. This wasn't Sandra Brown's best book, but it ranked up there as a very good one. I liked it enough that I bought the Kindle version to replace my paperback.

I have written many reviews on this author, once you read one of her books your an addict and have to read more of them. But don't worry every book you buy you'll have get another and so on. So just relax and enjoy.I have a good 3\4 of them.

Great Texas oil family story with excitement and romance that everyone wants to read about. Very enjoyable book to take you away for a while

I Loved all the excitement and the Texas folk. Lots of family drama and heartache inside this small dramatic Texas town.

This was a good book and story but I thought not as good as some of Ms.Brown's books - Smoke Screen, Envy, Play Dirty, and Fat Tuesday to name a few. From my standpoint the trip to the South American country could have been trimmed down quiet a bit and still not have impaired the rest of the story. Basically the story is about the h who was accused of having an affair with a US Senator and having to live with the resulting consequences of said affair. The H was a man with a lot of issues and had a lot of difficulty opening up and sharing his feelings with the h. He compensated with stuffing his feelings by being a Jerk and Alcoholic; though at the end he does "step up to the plate" with the h.

Sandra Brown can do!! I got really bogged down on some of the fighting with Jody and all and finally the trip to retrieve Lara's baby girl. I'm sure glad I did not put it down. What an action packed finish -- surprises like Clark & Randall; poor Heather & Tanner -- she really turned the table on Fergus & Darcy and poor Jody. I really got it wrong thought Janellen & Bowie were in the honeymoon suite in Eden Pass and there they were in Louisiana! Wow that was good. And finally, the way she finished with Lara & Key was just awesome. There was a lot of good old fashioned retribution. Just the way I like it. This was a "good read."

I've read many Sandra Brown books and they all seem the same. The betrayed, down on her luck, hiding her identify to seek revenge or the love desperate woman (or close to it) and the bad boy man she knows she wants but shouldn't pursue. The strong matriarch of the family who is always a strong woman running the family by fear and temper. This book had awful characters in the Tackett family. How could you be around these people. I won't explain the story as many of the other reviewers already have. I don't know why I finished this book. The daughter Janellen was just pathetic, the son Key (really what a name, where does Sandra Brown come up with these names?), Darcy the floozy wife/barfly, the awful husband of Lara, can't remember his name but it doesn't matter and Lara herself, how could she allow herself to be in the middle of a scandal that took her down and caused such havoc to her medical career just because her husband was having an affair with another man, the other Tackett son Clark. And then Lara is just too willing to disrobe in front of Key who she doesn't even know but shows up on her door step. I often wonder where Sandra Brown gets the material for her stories and why doesn't she build her woman characters up without them always having to fall in the arms of a man.

The story line is very intriguing and motivates the reader to read on. There are surprises after surprises and that's why a person wants to keep reading and finding out what the next turn will be.

I have been hooked on Sandra Brown Novels ever since I read Mirror Image about three months ago. Sandra has a way of keeping the reader engaged on every page. I really enjoyed this one. Very deep character building, You can't help but really like the main character Lara and Key's grows on you quickly. I depend on the reviews before I buy a book so if you like it rate it.

Shipping was quick, product received exactly as described. This was purchased as a gift and the recipient was thrilled. Will order from seller In The future.

The only problem with Sandra's books is that once I start one I cannot put it down. I carry it with me and every free minute is spent reading, until I hit my couch. loved this book. A other winner.

At every turn. Love the way Sandra pulls it all together. Keep you on the edge of your seat. Then it's awwww.

Alles in Ordnung. Super. Was soll ich noch schreiben?Warum müssen wir so eine lange Bewertung machen?Danke. Und bye bye