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When the Smoke Clears
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100 copies available
U.S. only
From USA Today bestselling author Jewel E. Ann comes a bittersweet second-chance romance about deferred love, impossible timing, and the courage of choosing happiness after devastating loss.
Everleigh Reichart and William Landry fell hard—and far too fast. Their weeklong romance ended the moment Will, a twenty-nine-year-old firefighter, learned the Everleigh was seventeen. He walked away to protect them both. Destiny had other plans.
Eleven years later, Will is still running into burning buildings, while Everleigh has become a brilliant psychiatrist. When a house fire strands her on his land, their old feelings ignite like patient embers. But she’s desperate to keep concealing the childhood trauma that has shaped her life, and he’s struggling under the weight of his father’s terminal illness. Too soon, the strain snaps their fragile reunion, flinging them farther apart than ever before.
Now Everleigh must face her past to salvage a future with Will…if he can accept that loving her includes the broken parts too. But first, he needs to come and find her—this time by faith, not fate.
Everleigh Reichart and William Landry fell hard—and far too fast. Their weeklong romance ended the moment Will, a twenty-nine-year-old firefighter, learned the Everleigh was seventeen. He walked away to protect them both. Destiny had other plans.
Eleven years later, Will is still running into burning buildings, while Everleigh has become a brilliant psychiatrist. When a house fire strands her on his land, their old feelings ignite like patient embers. But she’s desperate to keep concealing the childhood trauma that has shaped her life, and he’s struggling under the weight of his father’s terminal illness. Too soon, the strain snaps their fragile reunion, flinging them farther apart than ever before.
Now Everleigh must face her past to salvage a future with Will…if he can accept that loving her includes the broken parts too. But first, he needs to come and find her—this time by faith, not fate.
331 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Jewel E. Ann
61 books11k followersJewel is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today best selling author with a quirky sense of humor. When she's not saving the planet one tree at a time, you can find her role modeling questionable behavior to her three boys, binge-watching Netflix with her husband, and writing mind-bending romance.
Her newest release is The Homemaker, a contemporary romance.
Upcoming Projects: The Muse, book 2 in the Chain of Lakes Series coming in May.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
Her newest release is The Homemaker, a contemporary romance.
Upcoming Projects: The Muse, book 2 in the Chain of Lakes Series coming in May.
Stay in the loop by subscribing to her newsletter!—> Sign up here!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25⭐
This book is a spin-off of the Wildfire series, which I absolutely love! I had been waiting for Will’s story for almost two years (since I read From Nowhere), but I have to admit that I expected something a little different.
I adore the author’s humor, and I don’t think anyone writes banter as well as she does, but there was a bit too much of it for me here. After the halfway point, I was hoping for more serious conversations and angst, and there were some, but they were mostly caused by the MMC’s father. It was sad, but I would have preferred the drama to be more focused on the main characters themselves. Honestly, I think Will was overreacting, and the reasons he had for not being with Everleigh weren’t as serious as he thought they were.
But the main reason I didn’t rate this higher was Everleigh. She pushed Will and his friends too hard. It was fun during the first half, but it started to get annoying after a while. I’m convinced they wouldn’t have ended up together if it weren’t for Everleigh wanting it so badly. Also, her behavior, in my opinion, didn’t really fit her age or profession.
But despite the flaws, I devoured this book in a day, sacrificing my sleep and putting everything else on the back burner. I was also so happy to see the main characters from Wildfire, especially Jamie and Fitz. They were so sweet here!
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is a spin-off of the Wildfire series, which I absolutely love! I had been waiting for Will’s story for almost two years (since I read From Nowhere), but I have to admit that I expected something a little different.
I adore the author’s humor, and I don’t think anyone writes banter as well as she does, but there was a bit too much of it for me here. After the halfway point, I was hoping for more serious conversations and angst, and there were some, but they were mostly caused by the MMC’s father. It was sad, but I would have preferred the drama to be more focused on the main characters themselves. Honestly, I think Will was overreacting, and the reasons he had for not being with Everleigh weren’t as serious as he thought they were.
But the main reason I didn’t rate this higher was Everleigh. She pushed Will and his friends too hard. It was fun during the first half, but it started to get annoying after a while. I’m convinced they wouldn’t have ended up together if it weren’t for Everleigh wanting it so badly. Also, her behavior, in my opinion, didn’t really fit her age or profession.
But despite the flaws, I devoured this book in a day, sacrificing my sleep and putting everything else on the back burner. I was also so happy to see the main characters from Wildfire, especially Jamie and Fitz. They were so sweet here!
Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 12, 2026
The queen of rollercoasters.
Jewel e Ann has a way of making me dislike a character for almost the entire book and then bam. Uno reverse.
Will.
I’m so glad he got a book.
Single bachelor.
Firefighter.
Boy can be dumb.
Everleigh
Prodigy / genius
Psychiatrist
In love with Will. Hard.
Odd duck she is.
There’s an age gap. 28/40
There’s a situation revolving losing her virginity at 17.
I never know where one of JEAs books are going to take me. She’s just one of those authors I just hop in the car with and pray we make it our destination in one piece.
There was a huge grief aspect to this book.
Parental death.
I lost my dad so some sucker punching happened.
Nothing more to say without spoiling/hinting things.
Arc review ✨
Jewel e Ann has a way of making me dislike a character for almost the entire book and then bam. Uno reverse.
Will.
I’m so glad he got a book.
Single bachelor.
Firefighter.
Boy can be dumb.
Everleigh
Prodigy / genius
Psychiatrist
In love with Will. Hard.
Odd duck she is.
There’s an age gap. 28/40
There’s a situation revolving losing her virginity at 17.
I never know where one of JEAs books are going to take me. She’s just one of those authors I just hop in the car with and pray we make it our destination in one piece.
There was a huge grief aspect to this book.
Parental death.
I lost my dad so some sucker punching happened.
Nothing more to say without spoiling/hinting things.
Arc review ✨
August 12, 2026
When the Smoke Clears is a stunning story of deferred love,grief, and second chances that are hard earned.
Everleigh and Will’s book is one that I’ve agonized over and waited for since I first read “From Air”.
I expected angst and unresolved feelings,but I couldn’t have imagined the depth of emotions that the entirety of their relationship would bring out in me.
I lost my grandmother to Alzheimer’s,less than two months ago, and this book perfectly depicts the gamut of emotions one goes thru,sometimes in a single hour, when watching your loved one lose every memory and memento of their former self.
It’s a cruel and heartbreaking disease to experience,and I can’t thank Jewel enough for adding a bit of levity into Will’s Dad’s diagnosis and story arc.
There are joyous moments in the midst of suffering,and reading that was so true to life that I both laughed,and cried while sitting with my own thoughts and memories.
Everleigh is such a multilayered character, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms to hug, and protect her kind heart,and beautifully misunderstood soul.
Will is the epitome of eternal bachelor and fun-uncle.
He desperately needed to be challenged and held down,and Everleigh provided the spunk and sass he fought so hard to reject.
These characters and their friendships have been so meaningful and so rich to experience, I’m sad to see the end of this series.
I’m doing so while smiling and enjoying the happiness in the midst of grief because as this trilogy shows,life is made up of a million moments, and those on the journey of experiencing them with you ,are the most important parts of that life.
Everleigh and Will’s book is one that I’ve agonized over and waited for since I first read “From Air”.
I expected angst and unresolved feelings,but I couldn’t have imagined the depth of emotions that the entirety of their relationship would bring out in me.
I lost my grandmother to Alzheimer’s,less than two months ago, and this book perfectly depicts the gamut of emotions one goes thru,sometimes in a single hour, when watching your loved one lose every memory and memento of their former self.
It’s a cruel and heartbreaking disease to experience,and I can’t thank Jewel enough for adding a bit of levity into Will’s Dad’s diagnosis and story arc.
There are joyous moments in the midst of suffering,and reading that was so true to life that I both laughed,and cried while sitting with my own thoughts and memories.
Everleigh is such a multilayered character, and I wanted to wrap her in my arms to hug, and protect her kind heart,and beautifully misunderstood soul.
Will is the epitome of eternal bachelor and fun-uncle.
He desperately needed to be challenged and held down,and Everleigh provided the spunk and sass he fought so hard to reject.
These characters and their friendships have been so meaningful and so rich to experience, I’m sad to see the end of this series.
I’m doing so while smiling and enjoying the happiness in the midst of grief because as this trilogy shows,life is made up of a million moments, and those on the journey of experiencing them with you ,are the most important parts of that life.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.9 / 4 Stars
Everleigh + William
We all remember them from the previous books.
Everleigh is a 28 year old child genius turned psychiatrist and Will is a 40 year old firefighter.
Eleven years ago Will spent one week with what he thought was a 25 year old med school friend of his childhood buddie's future wife leading up to their wedding weekend.
He spent years scared that he'll be arrested for that last night!
Now they're working in the same town, trying not to run into each other too much.
And suddenly - after her house burned down - she's also kind of his new renter. LOL!
══════════════════
Well.
I loved it. I would've adored it completely, but I just can't get over the cringey age-gap situation. And yes, I know, he didn't know she was only 17 and it was only a month until her 18th birthday. But still.
I might've been okay with it all if we had just mentioned it once and then spent the rest of the book in the present time. But nope - we go back in time and re-live every second they spent together back then. And that is just way too pedo for my tastes. It makes us hate Will for being attracted to her - even though he didn't know. It's just disgusting that Jewel is concentrating on the past so much. And it's even worse that Everleigh is a genius - that makes her emotional age even younger, because she never really had a childhood. Ugh. It was just so cringey disgusting for me. I mean, there are sexy age-gap books with a hot 30 year old professor and a 22 year old student. Then there are sexy taboo things... and then there's this really weird and illegal thing here.
Also. I hate when people get fake boobs for no medical or psychological or trans reasons. I hated that Everleigh got fake boobs and that he liked them. Ew. Red flag. But that's just me.
But I still loved both Everleigh and Will and I loved their banter and flirting and arguing. This could've been an amazing second chance love story.
It was so funny and sparky and adorable and a bit sad and heartbreaking.
I really enjoyed the parts that made me forget the age gap thing!
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS was a sweet and funny and sparky and emotional second chance love story... with an unfortunately way too cringey (illegal!) age-gap situation.
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August 13, 2026
The From Air series by Jewel E. Ann has easily cemented itself as a top JEA series for me - and let’s be real, i love them all, so this is an accomplishment!
When I read book 1, I was immediately obsessed, book 2 came along and the love grew and I knew through both books that I had to know more about Will. Enter book 3 and there could not have been a more perfect match than Everleigh. This angsty, slow burn, second chance romance is another absolute must read from JEA and I really hope this is not the last we’ll see of these special characters.
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
When I read book 1, I was immediately obsessed, book 2 came along and the love grew and I knew through both books that I had to know more about Will. Enter book 3 and there could not have been a more perfect match than Everleigh. This angsty, slow burn, second chance romance is another absolute must read from JEA and I really hope this is not the last we’ll see of these special characters.
I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
August 19, 2026
Trying to work through my feelings with this book. It is ultimately about love between partners and the love between a child and their parent.
Everleigh, a child genius met Will, the man she loves, when she was 17. She didn’t tell him she was 17 - he was 29 at the time and he ran when he found out which I’m sure many in the same situation would.
Eleven years later Everleigh is living in Wills’ house (not his idea) after she loses everything in a house fire. He still has a lot of anger and resentment towards her but the attraction is still there.
On top of dealing with the emotions that Everleigh has brought into his life, Will is also dealing with the fact that his father is dying.
Everleigh is a psychiatrist and tries to analyse every situation. I actually found her quite forceful and at times manipulative with some stalker tendencies and found it quite hard to relate to her or like her although I did end up feeling a little bit sorry for her as well.
I really liked Will, he seemed loyal to his friends and was a good son. The only person he was a little mean to was Everleigh.
I enjoyed the friendship interactions and would like to read more about the other characters featured and their stories which I will look into.
I found this book quite emotional as it deals with the topic of a parent’s death. This resonates strongly with me especially at the moment as it’s the 4th anniversary of my stepfather’s passing tomorrow and he was taken by an aggressive form of cancer in a short period of time.
The book also had some humorous moments which were needed to balance it out. It was overall a good story but I wish I could have liked Everleigh more.
Thanks to Valentine PR for the advanced copy.
Everleigh, a child genius met Will, the man she loves, when she was 17. She didn’t tell him she was 17 - he was 29 at the time and he ran when he found out which I’m sure many in the same situation would.
Eleven years later Everleigh is living in Wills’ house (not his idea) after she loses everything in a house fire. He still has a lot of anger and resentment towards her but the attraction is still there.
On top of dealing with the emotions that Everleigh has brought into his life, Will is also dealing with the fact that his father is dying.
Everleigh is a psychiatrist and tries to analyse every situation. I actually found her quite forceful and at times manipulative with some stalker tendencies and found it quite hard to relate to her or like her although I did end up feeling a little bit sorry for her as well.
I really liked Will, he seemed loyal to his friends and was a good son. The only person he was a little mean to was Everleigh.
I enjoyed the friendship interactions and would like to read more about the other characters featured and their stories which I will look into.
I found this book quite emotional as it deals with the topic of a parent’s death. This resonates strongly with me especially at the moment as it’s the 4th anniversary of my stepfather’s passing tomorrow and he was taken by an aggressive form of cancer in a short period of time.
The book also had some humorous moments which were needed to balance it out. It was overall a good story but I wish I could have liked Everleigh more.
Thanks to Valentine PR for the advanced copy.
August 23, 2026
Will and Everleigh had such an interesting and complicated background. Their dynamic irked me a tad at times, but I was still invested in their story. Everleigh’s dry, witty personality had me laughing, and I loved Will’s blue-collar character and what he added to the story.
This was also such an emotional read. Everleigh’s career had me thinking about how many psychologists enter the field because of their own trauma but who helps them?
In the end, this was a beautiful story about love and healing, and the found family aspect made it even better.
This was also such an emotional read. Everleigh’s career had me thinking about how many psychologists enter the field because of their own trauma but who helps them?
In the end, this was a beautiful story about love and healing, and the found family aspect made it even better.
August 20, 2026
Where do I even begin? This is the kind of love story that's going to put your range of emotions through the wringer. The intense emotions of both Will and Everleigh were written and expressed so well that when I was reading their POVs, I would agree with the one I was in and then turn around and agree with the other. They really, ultimately, push that “both things can be true” feeling.
The yearning and the right people, wrong everything else (place, time, emotional capacity) make this a read that I couldn't put down. Will and Everleigh are trying to find their way to each other while navigating all of the things that make wanting someone and actually being able to have them two very different things. On top of their beautiful, heartfelt story, there are also eloquently written themes of grief. If you have ever lost a parent, I think the layers of this storyline may strike a deeper chord. I know they did for me.
I laughed, I teared up, I held my breath as I read, and I exhaled deep, deep sighs (of relief, of joy, of sadness) as I went on this journey with Will, Everleigh, and their friends.
Dual POV, forced proximity, age gap, angst, a dash of unreliable narration, and everything in between. Once again, Jewel E. Ann has taken me on an emotional journey and reminded me exactly why I keep coming back for her books.
The yearning and the right people, wrong everything else (place, time, emotional capacity) make this a read that I couldn't put down. Will and Everleigh are trying to find their way to each other while navigating all of the things that make wanting someone and actually being able to have them two very different things. On top of their beautiful, heartfelt story, there are also eloquently written themes of grief. If you have ever lost a parent, I think the layers of this storyline may strike a deeper chord. I know they did for me.
I laughed, I teared up, I held my breath as I read, and I exhaled deep, deep sighs (of relief, of joy, of sadness) as I went on this journey with Will, Everleigh, and their friends.
Dual POV, forced proximity, age gap, angst, a dash of unreliable narration, and everything in between. Once again, Jewel E. Ann has taken me on an emotional journey and reminded me exactly why I keep coming back for her books.
August 21, 2026
5⭐️
2🌶️
10/10🎧
What a beautiful and compelling love story… 🥹
I swear, every Jewel book I read leaves me with this unique feeling of, “I have never read anything like this, and I don’t think I ever will.” This one was no exception.
Everleigh was such a wonderful character from the very beginning, and she completely stole the show for me. I love flawed characters, and she was this incredible child prodigy psychiatrist who was completely obsessed with her first and only love.
She experienced 11 years of unrequited love and never once blamed Will for it. She was so strong, but all she really wanted was a soft place to land. I was so happy when Will finally got his shit together and became that place for her. 🥹
Everleigh brought a little madness into his life, and I think that was EXACTLY what he needed.
Will sucked lol, but at least he knew he sucked and actually worked on becoming better. 😂
I really think this is one of those stories that is 100% worth reading.
I received this book as an ARC.
2🌶️
10/10🎧
What a beautiful and compelling love story… 🥹
I swear, every Jewel book I read leaves me with this unique feeling of, “I have never read anything like this, and I don’t think I ever will.” This one was no exception.
Everleigh was such a wonderful character from the very beginning, and she completely stole the show for me. I love flawed characters, and she was this incredible child prodigy psychiatrist who was completely obsessed with her first and only love.
She experienced 11 years of unrequited love and never once blamed Will for it. She was so strong, but all she really wanted was a soft place to land. I was so happy when Will finally got his shit together and became that place for her. 🥹
Everleigh brought a little madness into his life, and I think that was EXACTLY what he needed.
Will sucked lol, but at least he knew he sucked and actually worked on becoming better. 😂
I really think this is one of those stories that is 100% worth reading.
I received this book as an ARC.
August 22, 2026
The epitome of right-person-wrong-time with an age gap and second chance enemies to lovers feel.
Everleigh is a child prodigy who’s thrust into her education at such a young age. She was such a quirky unique character but I felt so sorry for her. I can’t imagine missing out on so many things as a child that she did because she is a genius.
Will is a firefighter, and soooo grumpy. I didn’t realize he was a side character from other books by this author. But it didn’t really make me feel like I was out of the loop.
There’s some sadder and more serious topics around mental health, like how he watches his dad’s health decline. I sadly know too well how it is to watch a parent slowly wither away with dementia.
The banter was good and while I did devour this book pretty quickly, I didn’t fully feel the chemistry between these two. I do think if there were more “11 years ago” chapters to make me believe these two fell in love within a week then I would’ve felt a bigger emotional impact.
Thank you Valentine PR for the early copy.
Everleigh is a child prodigy who’s thrust into her education at such a young age. She was such a quirky unique character but I felt so sorry for her. I can’t imagine missing out on so many things as a child that she did because she is a genius.
Will is a firefighter, and soooo grumpy. I didn’t realize he was a side character from other books by this author. But it didn’t really make me feel like I was out of the loop.
There’s some sadder and more serious topics around mental health, like how he watches his dad’s health decline. I sadly know too well how it is to watch a parent slowly wither away with dementia.
The banter was good and while I did devour this book pretty quickly, I didn’t fully feel the chemistry between these two. I do think if there were more “11 years ago” chapters to make me believe these two fell in love within a week then I would’ve felt a bigger emotional impact.
Thank you Valentine PR for the early copy.
August 16, 2026
ALC 2 ⭐
I reeeeeeally wanted to love this. Parts of it was really drawing me in & I could feel the emotions of the characters.. but there was parts I just couldn’t get past.
Firstly, I love an age gap. But this was done all kinds of wrong.
It was made to be wrong in the book but they kept going on & on about it and revisiting the past. It was the main part of the book!!
The FMC was a psychologist.. but why did she act like a teenager in this? It was so juvenile it made the age gap feel even more prominent 🫣🫣
There was a very big aspect of grief & parental loss in this, which is the part that got me the most. This part was written really well and I really felt the emotions of the characters.
Then the twist at the end with the FMC absolutely lost me. It felt completely unnecessary. And sadly the audio wasn’t greats the FMC sounded AI for majority of it. I think this could have been such a good second chance romance but it just didn’t hit for me sadly!
I reeeeeeally wanted to love this. Parts of it was really drawing me in & I could feel the emotions of the characters.. but there was parts I just couldn’t get past.
Firstly, I love an age gap. But this was done all kinds of wrong.
It was made to be wrong in the book but they kept going on & on about it and revisiting the past. It was the main part of the book!!
The FMC was a psychologist.. but why did she act like a teenager in this? It was so juvenile it made the age gap feel even more prominent 🫣🫣
There was a very big aspect of grief & parental loss in this, which is the part that got me the most. This part was written really well and I really felt the emotions of the characters.
Then the twist at the end with the FMC absolutely lost me. It felt completely unnecessary. And sadly the audio wasn’t greats the FMC sounded AI for majority of it. I think this could have been such a good second chance romance but it just didn’t hit for me sadly!
August 18, 2026
ᴀʟᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
When the Smoke Clears
The layered emotions of this story hooked me from the start. As always, Jewel E. Ann makes you FEEL. From start to finish, Will had my heart. I was so happy that he got his own book in this series.
Everleigh. While its wasn’t constant, she was uncomfortably immature. A genius psychiatrist that could not process and work through her own issues had my eye twitching at times.
Told in dual narration by Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel. Sean was a dream and the perfect choice for Will. If I am being honest, I struggled with Natasha; at times the cheerfulness worked for our quirky FMC while others times it was a total miss.
Overall, it was ok.
“You were the best week of my life.”
Thank you to JEA and Valentine PR for the gifted ALC of When the Smoke Clears.
When the Smoke Clears
The layered emotions of this story hooked me from the start. As always, Jewel E. Ann makes you FEEL. From start to finish, Will had my heart. I was so happy that he got his own book in this series.
Everleigh. While its wasn’t constant, she was uncomfortably immature. A genius psychiatrist that could not process and work through her own issues had my eye twitching at times.
Told in dual narration by Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel. Sean was a dream and the perfect choice for Will. If I am being honest, I struggled with Natasha; at times the cheerfulness worked for our quirky FMC while others times it was a total miss.
Overall, it was ok.
“You were the best week of my life.”
Thank you to JEA and Valentine PR for the gifted ALC of When the Smoke Clears.
August 19, 2026
I’m so glad we got Will’s story! He and Everleigh have fantastic banter and I love how she enjoys driving him insane while also making him rethink everything. Their past is sprinkled throughout this book to help give a clearer picture on how it all went wrong/right all those years ago. At times I did feel bad for Everleigh because she was really hanging on to nothing but crumbs at times and put up with a lot from Will. The backstory Will has to deal with adds even more complications and made me feel bad for what he was going through too. Basically this book has all the feelings and you just need to read it!
Read
August 23, 2026“You’re killing me William Landry. I’m the dumbest genius in the world for loving you.”
Heartbreaking at times but laced with humor.
I cannot stress this enough, but JEA books have the most amazing twists and this is not an exception!
My Full Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heartbreaking at times but laced with humor.
I cannot stress this enough, but JEA books have the most amazing twists and this is not an exception!
My Full Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📚When the Smoke Clears by Jewel E. Ann
🎤Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel
DUAL NARRATION
Thanks to Jewel E. Ann, Brilliance Publishing and Valentine PR for a #gifted copy of the ALC. All thoughts are my own.
Oh, my heart!🥹 Jewel is the QUEEN of rollercoaster rides when it comes to writing and she takes you on a delightful and emotional ride with this one. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I am still thinking about it days later. This couple is absolutely one of my favorites from 2026 without question. Will and Everleigh absolutely stole my heart!
I literally felt every emotion in this book. I laughed so dang much, I was kicking me feet over Will, I ached for them both and cried!😭 This is the whole enchilada people and it's absolutely delicious! The dialogue between Will and Everleigh is SO, SO good.👋🏻 The banter? PERFECTION!🤌🏻 Their inner thoughts, hysterical. The pining and longing for each other, NEXT LEVEL! 🙌🏻 Like I said, I ADORED these two.
Will and Everleigh fell hard and fast for each other years ago. One week spent together was everything but when 29 yr old Will finds out she's only 17, he runs away so fast to protect them both. Eleven years later, Will runs into a burning house and saves a woman only to find out that it's Everleigh. She's now a psychiatrist in the same town he lives and is firefighting, unbeknownst to him. Born a prodigy and genius, she moved through school quickly and started college when she was 12, thus the age gap.
Everleigh is trying desperately to hide the childhood trauma she experienced that has shaped her life. Will is dealing with an ailing father suffering from dementia and now has cancer. The two of them couldn't be more different expect once that spark is reignited... it's like a freaking wildfire ya'll and the pining these two have over each other is absolutely crazy!
I loved Everleigh so much! Her mind worked so beautifully. Because of her intelligence, she viewed the world so literally and as such, expressed her thoughts that way too and man, she cracked me up! At the same time, she's dealt with always being "left behind" in a sense. Never really experiencing life the way most young girls her age do. Mental health plays such a HUGE role in this story and Jewel handles it absolutely beautifully and with such care! ⚠️(Please mind your triggers before starting.)
Will, oh this man! He stole my ever lovin' heart! At first I couldn't stand the guy. He was gruff, insensitive and honestly a little rude but then I started to like him and eventually I just fell in love with this man and then I fell a little harder. The journey he goes on with his father is hard and emotional and it hit VERY close to home. NGL! Having lost both my own dad and FIL to dementia. It was heartbreaking to read and I just wanted to hug the man. The way Jewel writes his story, you just feel the pain he's experiencing right along with him.
Jewel's writing is just amazing and completely captures your attention and heart! I felt all the happiness, joy, love and pain these two experienced an I'm ready to do it all again. I literally can't wait to listen to this audio again!
🎤Let's talk audio: Sean Masters!!!! Crimeny! There wasn't a second of this audio he narrated that didn't melt my heart in some way. He was able to capture Will's character so perfectly and we can absolutely hear it in his performance. Not only do we see Will grow but you can hear it in Sean's tender performance. He had me laughing so many times as he performed the inner monologue of Will. He shows off the grumpy and broody side of Will but gives you every bit of emotion, vulnerability and tender thought this man has. UGH! I loved him in this and he performs the majority of the book and it's just absolutely OUTSTANDING! Natasha is a new narrator to me and she easily captured the quirky, lovable and sweet side of Everleigh. The "literal" responses from Everleigh were perfection!
This will definitely be one of my favorite audios of the year! This angsty, slow burn, second chance is just an ABSOLUTE MUST! There were so many times, I totally forgot about their age gap. (28/40) These characters are flawed and layered with all the goods but we also get to see each of them grow and become the person they need in each other! This has the most beautiful HEA too. 🥹 Guys, just read this, get up all in your feels with me. I beg you!
🎤Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel
DUAL NARRATION
Thanks to Jewel E. Ann, Brilliance Publishing and Valentine PR for a #gifted copy of the ALC. All thoughts are my own.
Oh, my heart!🥹 Jewel is the QUEEN of rollercoaster rides when it comes to writing and she takes you on a delightful and emotional ride with this one. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I am still thinking about it days later. This couple is absolutely one of my favorites from 2026 without question. Will and Everleigh absolutely stole my heart!
I literally felt every emotion in this book. I laughed so dang much, I was kicking me feet over Will, I ached for them both and cried!😭 This is the whole enchilada people and it's absolutely delicious! The dialogue between Will and Everleigh is SO, SO good.👋🏻 The banter? PERFECTION!🤌🏻 Their inner thoughts, hysterical. The pining and longing for each other, NEXT LEVEL! 🙌🏻 Like I said, I ADORED these two.
Will and Everleigh fell hard and fast for each other years ago. One week spent together was everything but when 29 yr old Will finds out she's only 17, he runs away so fast to protect them both. Eleven years later, Will runs into a burning house and saves a woman only to find out that it's Everleigh. She's now a psychiatrist in the same town he lives and is firefighting, unbeknownst to him. Born a prodigy and genius, she moved through school quickly and started college when she was 12, thus the age gap.
Everleigh is trying desperately to hide the childhood trauma she experienced that has shaped her life. Will is dealing with an ailing father suffering from dementia and now has cancer. The two of them couldn't be more different expect once that spark is reignited... it's like a freaking wildfire ya'll and the pining these two have over each other is absolutely crazy!
I loved Everleigh so much! Her mind worked so beautifully. Because of her intelligence, she viewed the world so literally and as such, expressed her thoughts that way too and man, she cracked me up! At the same time, she's dealt with always being "left behind" in a sense. Never really experiencing life the way most young girls her age do. Mental health plays such a HUGE role in this story and Jewel handles it absolutely beautifully and with such care! ⚠️(Please mind your triggers before starting.)
Will, oh this man! He stole my ever lovin' heart! At first I couldn't stand the guy. He was gruff, insensitive and honestly a little rude but then I started to like him and eventually I just fell in love with this man and then I fell a little harder. The journey he goes on with his father is hard and emotional and it hit VERY close to home. NGL! Having lost both my own dad and FIL to dementia. It was heartbreaking to read and I just wanted to hug the man. The way Jewel writes his story, you just feel the pain he's experiencing right along with him.
Jewel's writing is just amazing and completely captures your attention and heart! I felt all the happiness, joy, love and pain these two experienced an I'm ready to do it all again. I literally can't wait to listen to this audio again!
🎤Let's talk audio: Sean Masters!!!! Crimeny! There wasn't a second of this audio he narrated that didn't melt my heart in some way. He was able to capture Will's character so perfectly and we can absolutely hear it in his performance. Not only do we see Will grow but you can hear it in Sean's tender performance. He had me laughing so many times as he performed the inner monologue of Will. He shows off the grumpy and broody side of Will but gives you every bit of emotion, vulnerability and tender thought this man has. UGH! I loved him in this and he performs the majority of the book and it's just absolutely OUTSTANDING! Natasha is a new narrator to me and she easily captured the quirky, lovable and sweet side of Everleigh. The "literal" responses from Everleigh were perfection!
This will definitely be one of my favorite audios of the year! This angsty, slow burn, second chance is just an ABSOLUTE MUST! There were so many times, I totally forgot about their age gap. (28/40) These characters are flawed and layered with all the goods but we also get to see each of them grow and become the person they need in each other! This has the most beautiful HEA too. 🥹 Guys, just read this, get up all in your feels with me. I beg you!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was an emotional one from Jewel E Ann,but when are they not from Jewel she always writes books that make you really think and catches you in the chest.
Will Landry is a 40 year old Firefighter.
Everleigh Reichart is 28 years old ,she was a child genius and now she is a psychiatrist...But there story began 11 years ago when the age gap was much more frowned upon.
The thing is Will didn't know about the age difference back when Everleigh was only 17 and Will was 29.
They spent a week together,getting to know one another and falling for one another..Will took her V- Card and then reality punches him in the gut when he discovers her age,and he runs for the hills..
11 years go by,and fate has put them in eachothers lives once again..Everleigh's house burns down and she ends up living with Will...Thanks to his friends who move her in when he is out of town,as you can imagine Will is mad.
Their relationship is a strange one I can't even explain it,there is animosity between them but also and attraction and sexual tension..The past has to be resolved for them to move on..The story does go into the past and we discover all the events that happened 11 years ago.
Will is finding it very hard to let go and forgive Everleigh for not disclosing her age at the time..Everleigh is in Love with Will even after all the years that have past..and she makes no secret about the way she feels for Will.
Will has definately met his match with Everleigh she is brave,bold,and sassy she catches him off guard all the time with her honesty and she makes no apologies for who she is.
Will is so flustered its amazing and fun watching him get annoyed.
I did feel bad for Everleigh she just wants to fit in,she wants friends and to be liked..Because she is so smart she has struggled to make friends and to connect with people....She wants to be loved and for Will to love her..it gave me heartache for her.
I didn't like the way she was treated sometimes ignored and left out,I did become frustrated with Will at times..He was in so much denial with his feelings for her..but his dad was dying.
The scenes with Will's dad were both sweet and heartbeaking,it really upset me and made me think of my Mum who passed away and how life is so fragile and so are we.
I loved Everleigh I really liked her she is so quirky and some of the things she said really hit me,yes she did a bad thing,but she did not do it out of malice and I resonated with her a little...I would be her friend.
I did doubt if there would be a Happy ending because Will just keeps pushing her away..and they LOVE eachother and it was frustrating the living daylights out of me...lol.
The narration is EXCELLENT Because squeeee Sean Masters is the male lead and you know how much I Love him..his deep gravelly voice just makes me stupid !!!..
Natasha Chandel is new to me and I enjoyed listening to her voice it was sweet and fit Everleigh perfectly,there was a maturity and and innocence to her voice,and it was so so so good.
I loved their storytelling and enjoyed listening to it.
Jewel E Ann made me cry,her words were so profound and my heart did break more than once,it wept for Everleigh because she loved Will so much and I felt her pain.
I wept for Will and his grief losing a parent is never easy and I thought about my Mum alot listening to this story..Some Moments just crushed me,and were difficult to hear.
The ending made up for all the heartache though it was wonderful and unexpected,beautiful and romantic...and I cherished the light hearted moments too.
When The Smoke Clears is another Superb book by Jewel E Ann.
LOved it,
5 Stars.- Cat W.
Will Landry is a 40 year old Firefighter.
Everleigh Reichart is 28 years old ,she was a child genius and now she is a psychiatrist...But there story began 11 years ago when the age gap was much more frowned upon.
The thing is Will didn't know about the age difference back when Everleigh was only 17 and Will was 29.
They spent a week together,getting to know one another and falling for one another..Will took her V- Card and then reality punches him in the gut when he discovers her age,and he runs for the hills..
11 years go by,and fate has put them in eachothers lives once again..Everleigh's house burns down and she ends up living with Will...Thanks to his friends who move her in when he is out of town,as you can imagine Will is mad.
Their relationship is a strange one I can't even explain it,there is animosity between them but also and attraction and sexual tension..The past has to be resolved for them to move on..The story does go into the past and we discover all the events that happened 11 years ago.
Will is finding it very hard to let go and forgive Everleigh for not disclosing her age at the time..Everleigh is in Love with Will even after all the years that have past..and she makes no secret about the way she feels for Will.
Will has definately met his match with Everleigh she is brave,bold,and sassy she catches him off guard all the time with her honesty and she makes no apologies for who she is.
Will is so flustered its amazing and fun watching him get annoyed.
I did feel bad for Everleigh she just wants to fit in,she wants friends and to be liked..Because she is so smart she has struggled to make friends and to connect with people....She wants to be loved and for Will to love her..it gave me heartache for her.
I didn't like the way she was treated sometimes ignored and left out,I did become frustrated with Will at times..He was in so much denial with his feelings for her..but his dad was dying.
The scenes with Will's dad were both sweet and heartbeaking,it really upset me and made me think of my Mum who passed away and how life is so fragile and so are we.
I loved Everleigh I really liked her she is so quirky and some of the things she said really hit me,yes she did a bad thing,but she did not do it out of malice and I resonated with her a little...I would be her friend.
I did doubt if there would be a Happy ending because Will just keeps pushing her away..and they LOVE eachother and it was frustrating the living daylights out of me...lol.
The narration is EXCELLENT Because squeeee Sean Masters is the male lead and you know how much I Love him..his deep gravelly voice just makes me stupid !!!..
Natasha Chandel is new to me and I enjoyed listening to her voice it was sweet and fit Everleigh perfectly,there was a maturity and and innocence to her voice,and it was so so so good.
I loved their storytelling and enjoyed listening to it.
Jewel E Ann made me cry,her words were so profound and my heart did break more than once,it wept for Everleigh because she loved Will so much and I felt her pain.
I wept for Will and his grief losing a parent is never easy and I thought about my Mum alot listening to this story..Some Moments just crushed me,and were difficult to hear.
The ending made up for all the heartache though it was wonderful and unexpected,beautiful and romantic...and I cherished the light hearted moments too.
When The Smoke Clears is another Superb book by Jewel E Ann.
LOved it,
5 Stars.- Cat W.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
This was an emotional one from Jewel E Ann,but when are they not from Jewel she always writes books that make you really think and catches you in the chest.
Will Landry is a 40 year old Firefighter.
Everleigh Reichart is 28 years old ,she was a child genius and now she is a psychiatrist...But there story began 11 years ago when the age gap was much more frowned upon.
The thing is Will didn't know about the age difference back when Everleigh was only 17 and Will was 29.
They spent a week together,getting to know one another and falling for one another..Will took her V- Card and then reality punches him in the gut when he discovers her age,and he runs for the hills..
11 years go by,and fate has put them in eachothers lives once again..Everleigh's house burns down and she ends up living with Will...Thanks to his friends who move her in when he is out of town,as you can imagine Will is mad.
Their relationship is a strange one I can't even explain it,there is animosity between them but also and attraction and sexual tension..The past has to be resolved for them to move on..The story does go into the past and we discover all the events that happened 11 years ago.
Will is finding it very hard to let go and forgive Everleigh for not disclosing her age at the time..Everleigh is in Love with Will even after all the years that have past..and she makes no secret about the way she feels for Will.
Will has definately met his match with Everleigh she is brave,bold,and sassy she catches him off guard all the time with her honesty and she makes no apologies for who she is.
Will is so flustered its amazing and fun watching him get annoyed.
I did feel bad for Everleigh she just wants to fit in,she wants friends and to be liked..Because she is so smart she has struggled to make friends and to connect with people....She wants to be loved and for Will to love her..it gave me heartache for her.
I didn't like the way she was treated sometimes ignored and left out,I did become frustrated with Will at times..He was in so much denial with his feelings for her..but his dad was dying.
The scenes with Will's dad were both sweet and heartbeaking,it really upset me and made me think of my Mum who passed away and how life is so fragile and so are we.
I loved Everleigh I really liked her she is so quirky and some of the things she said really hit me,yes she did a bad thing,but she did not do it out of malice and I resonated with her a little...I would be her friend.
I did doubt if there would be a Happy ending because Will just keeps pushing her away..and they LOVE eachother and it was frustrating the living daylights out of me...lol.
The narration is EXCELLENT Because squeeee Sean Masters is the male lead and you know how much I Love him..his deep gravelly voice just makes me stupid !!!..
Natasha Chandel is new to me and I enjoyed listening to her voice it was sweet and fit Everleigh perfectly,there was a maturity and and innocence to her voice,and it was so so so good.
I loved their storytelling and enjoyed listening to it.
Jewel E Ann made me cry,her words were so profound and my heart did break more than once,it wept for Everleigh because she loved Will so much and I felt her pain.
I wept for Will and his grief losing a parent is never easy and I thought about my Mum alot listening to this story..Some Moments just crushed me,and were difficult to hear.
The ending made up for all the heartache though it was wonderful and unexpected,beautiful and romantic...and I cherished the light hearted moments too.
When The Smoke Clears is another Superb book by Jewel E Ann.
LOved it,
5 Stars.
Will Landry is a 40 year old Firefighter.
Everleigh Reichart is 28 years old ,she was a child genius and now she is a psychiatrist...But there story began 11 years ago when the age gap was much more frowned upon.
The thing is Will didn't know about the age difference back when Everleigh was only 17 and Will was 29.
They spent a week together,getting to know one another and falling for one another..Will took her V- Card and then reality punches him in the gut when he discovers her age,and he runs for the hills..
11 years go by,and fate has put them in eachothers lives once again..Everleigh's house burns down and she ends up living with Will...Thanks to his friends who move her in when he is out of town,as you can imagine Will is mad.
Their relationship is a strange one I can't even explain it,there is animosity between them but also and attraction and sexual tension..The past has to be resolved for them to move on..The story does go into the past and we discover all the events that happened 11 years ago.
Will is finding it very hard to let go and forgive Everleigh for not disclosing her age at the time..Everleigh is in Love with Will even after all the years that have past..and she makes no secret about the way she feels for Will.
Will has definately met his match with Everleigh she is brave,bold,and sassy she catches him off guard all the time with her honesty and she makes no apologies for who she is.
Will is so flustered its amazing and fun watching him get annoyed.
I did feel bad for Everleigh she just wants to fit in,she wants friends and to be liked..Because she is so smart she has struggled to make friends and to connect with people....She wants to be loved and for Will to love her..it gave me heartache for her.
I didn't like the way she was treated sometimes ignored and left out,I did become frustrated with Will at times..He was in so much denial with his feelings for her..but his dad was dying.
The scenes with Will's dad were both sweet and heartbeaking,it really upset me and made me think of my Mum who passed away and how life is so fragile and so are we.
I loved Everleigh I really liked her she is so quirky and some of the things she said really hit me,yes she did a bad thing,but she did not do it out of malice and I resonated with her a little...I would be her friend.
I did doubt if there would be a Happy ending because Will just keeps pushing her away..and they LOVE eachother and it was frustrating the living daylights out of me...lol.
The narration is EXCELLENT Because squeeee Sean Masters is the male lead and you know how much I Love him..his deep gravelly voice just makes me stupid !!!..
Natasha Chandel is new to me and I enjoyed listening to her voice it was sweet and fit Everleigh perfectly,there was a maturity and and innocence to her voice,and it was so so so good.
I loved their storytelling and enjoyed listening to it.
Jewel E Ann made me cry,her words were so profound and my heart did break more than once,it wept for Everleigh because she loved Will so much and I felt her pain.
I wept for Will and his grief losing a parent is never easy and I thought about my Mum alot listening to this story..Some Moments just crushed me,and were difficult to hear.
The ending made up for all the heartache though it was wonderful and unexpected,beautiful and romantic...and I cherished the light hearted moments too.
When The Smoke Clears is another Superb book by Jewel E Ann.
LOved it,
5 Stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up ⭐⭐⭐💫
I have loved Jewel E. Ann books in the past and had high hopes for this one. Don't get me wrong -- this is a well-written book and there is all the angst that Jewel is known for, but I just disliked the characters so much that it was hard for me to enjoy the book.
Will was a firefighter who fell for a beautiful, quirky girl he met at his friend's wedding. He loved everything about her until he found out she was only 17. Then he bolted, literally, after spending the night with Everleigh, leaving her alone and wondering what happened. After their one night together she fell hard and pined for him for years. He, on the other hand, assumed she was going to try to trap him and would probably claim statutory rape if things didn't go her way. They end up in the same town 10 years later and run into each other when her house burns down and Will is one of the firefighters on the scene.
At this point they are pretty much thrown into each other's paths constantly but it's really tragic because Will hates her and makes no bones about it, even telling his friends about what she did and causing them to see him as the victim. The thing I hated so much was that Everleigh was just willing to do ANYTHING to get Will's attention and make him fall for her again. I was cringing at some points where she seemed to have no self-respect and threw herself at him, and he says some awful things to Everleigh. Meanwhile, we learn that he's sort of a man whore, not really mean to women but not using them for anything other than casual hook-ups. He still feels a spark for her but it's hidden down deep so far under years of disgust that it takes a long time for him to recognize it.
There's also a really heavy theme of losing a parent. Will's dad is dying and that plays a big part in the story. Everleigh is a brilliant psychiatrist and was a prodigy (she was in her second year of medical school at the age of 17 when she met Will the first time) and growing up with no friends her own age and without her father around really messed with her and that is also a tragic theme in this book.
Anyway, there's a great twist at the end and we get to see Will fight for his girl once he figures out what an idiot he's been. I guess I felt like his grovel wasn't enough and we didn't get to see enough "good guy Will" during the story to make him a reliable hero by the end. And Everleigh was so damaged and had so little self respect during so much of the book that it was hard to relate to her.
Long story short, Jewel E. Ann writes amazing stories and they always have loads of angst. I just couldn't get around the character flaws of the two main characters in this book enough to really enjoy the story. That said, the audio performance was really good. I thought the performers both did a good job with voicing the characters. Have I heard better performances? Yes, but I still enjoyed listening and found them to be believable. I always applaud a male narrator who can read female voices and not make me cringe and that was the case here.
If you're a Jewel fan and are geared up for a rough ride to get to a HEA for your main characters then you'll love this story. I just wasn't looking for so much sad to get to the happy.
I have loved Jewel E. Ann books in the past and had high hopes for this one. Don't get me wrong -- this is a well-written book and there is all the angst that Jewel is known for, but I just disliked the characters so much that it was hard for me to enjoy the book.
Will was a firefighter who fell for a beautiful, quirky girl he met at his friend's wedding. He loved everything about her until he found out she was only 17. Then he bolted, literally, after spending the night with Everleigh, leaving her alone and wondering what happened. After their one night together she fell hard and pined for him for years. He, on the other hand, assumed she was going to try to trap him and would probably claim statutory rape if things didn't go her way. They end up in the same town 10 years later and run into each other when her house burns down and Will is one of the firefighters on the scene.
At this point they are pretty much thrown into each other's paths constantly but it's really tragic because Will hates her and makes no bones about it, even telling his friends about what she did and causing them to see him as the victim. The thing I hated so much was that Everleigh was just willing to do ANYTHING to get Will's attention and make him fall for her again. I was cringing at some points where she seemed to have no self-respect and threw herself at him, and he says some awful things to Everleigh. Meanwhile, we learn that he's sort of a man whore, not really mean to women but not using them for anything other than casual hook-ups. He still feels a spark for her but it's hidden down deep so far under years of disgust that it takes a long time for him to recognize it.
There's also a really heavy theme of losing a parent. Will's dad is dying and that plays a big part in the story. Everleigh is a brilliant psychiatrist and was a prodigy (she was in her second year of medical school at the age of 17 when she met Will the first time) and growing up with no friends her own age and without her father around really messed with her and that is also a tragic theme in this book.
Anyway, there's a great twist at the end and we get to see Will fight for his girl once he figures out what an idiot he's been. I guess I felt like his grovel wasn't enough and we didn't get to see enough "good guy Will" during the story to make him a reliable hero by the end. And Everleigh was so damaged and had so little self respect during so much of the book that it was hard to relate to her.
Long story short, Jewel E. Ann writes amazing stories and they always have loads of angst. I just couldn't get around the character flaws of the two main characters in this book enough to really enjoy the story. That said, the audio performance was really good. I thought the performers both did a good job with voicing the characters. Have I heard better performances? Yes, but I still enjoyed listening and found them to be believable. I always applaud a male narrator who can read female voices and not make me cringe and that was the case here.
If you're a Jewel fan and are geared up for a rough ride to get to a HEA for your main characters then you'll love this story. I just wasn't looking for so much sad to get to the happy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rate: 5 amazing /5 ⭐
When the Smoke Clears tells the amazing, emotional, difficult, painful, and beautiful story of Everleigh Reichart and William Landry. And let me tell you, I have been waiting for this book because the Wildfire Series is one of my favorites by Jewel. So, if you haven't read it yet, you definitely should!
I cried just as much as I laughed while reading it. The dual-timeline plot was incredibly well written. I truly felt like I was there, from the beginning to the end of their story. The dialogue is so, so good, and the inner thoughts? Those made me laugh out loud more than once. I must say that, just like in real life, there were many times when I couldn't find any evidence of an age gap (28/40). 😉😁
I just love Dr. Everleigh Reichart, our young psychiatrist, beyond words, the way her mind works is just beautiful to sail. This amazing prodigy of a woman, with gigantic capabilities and a mind that could help change the world, is so much older than her young years, and at the same time, she is just a girl like all of us, with a fragile mind and a heart searching for love and acceptance. Mental health is such a huge part of what makes us who we are and how we navigate the unexpected waves of the ocean that is our life, and I just can't tell you how proud I felt of her.
“Loving William Landry is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s probably the dumbest thing too.”
William Landry, our firefighter... ohhh! How can I even start describing all the feelings this man made me feel? I liked him, then I hated him, then I wanted to hug him, and finally, I loved him, and then I loved him some more, fiercely. His journey was amazing and excruciating to read. I cried with him, I felt his pain, and even though he is the older of the two, I grew up with him.
“I hang on her every breath even when I pretend that she’s the bane of my existence.”
The writing was just amazing. I laughed so hard, I cried, I swooned, I felt like slapping someone, and I fell in love. I felt every bit of the pain and the happiness. And that is the biggest compliment I can give an author.
So, thank you, Jewel, for taking us on such an amazing journey. I keep saying that my life as a reader would be so much poorer and grayer without your gift.
So, beautiful readers out there, If you, just like me, love:
Age Gap
Firefighter
Genius Gamer Doctors
Small Town
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Second Chances
Secret Romance
Angst
Emotional
…then you NEED to add this to your TBR immediately, I guarantee you will not be sorry, at all!
Favorite highlights:
“I’m sorry,” I say as she approaches the back door. “Eleven years ago, I should not have left you the way I did, because . . . it did mean something. It was the best week of my life. You’re the best week of my life.”
“I want to fuck her and love her, hate her and forget about her, yet remember her until the day I die. None of it makes sense.”
“Lie to me with your lips on mine and our bodies entwined. Just . . .” She closes her eyes. “Lie to me for a little longer.”
“Everleigh,” (...) “Let me in, baby.”
When the Smoke Clears tells the amazing, emotional, difficult, painful, and beautiful story of Everleigh Reichart and William Landry. And let me tell you, I have been waiting for this book because the Wildfire Series is one of my favorites by Jewel. So, if you haven't read it yet, you definitely should!
I cried just as much as I laughed while reading it. The dual-timeline plot was incredibly well written. I truly felt like I was there, from the beginning to the end of their story. The dialogue is so, so good, and the inner thoughts? Those made me laugh out loud more than once. I must say that, just like in real life, there were many times when I couldn't find any evidence of an age gap (28/40). 😉😁
I just love Dr. Everleigh Reichart, our young psychiatrist, beyond words, the way her mind works is just beautiful to sail. This amazing prodigy of a woman, with gigantic capabilities and a mind that could help change the world, is so much older than her young years, and at the same time, she is just a girl like all of us, with a fragile mind and a heart searching for love and acceptance. Mental health is such a huge part of what makes us who we are and how we navigate the unexpected waves of the ocean that is our life, and I just can't tell you how proud I felt of her.
“Loving William Landry is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s probably the dumbest thing too.”
William Landry, our firefighter... ohhh! How can I even start describing all the feelings this man made me feel? I liked him, then I hated him, then I wanted to hug him, and finally, I loved him, and then I loved him some more, fiercely. His journey was amazing and excruciating to read. I cried with him, I felt his pain, and even though he is the older of the two, I grew up with him.
“I hang on her every breath even when I pretend that she’s the bane of my existence.”
The writing was just amazing. I laughed so hard, I cried, I swooned, I felt like slapping someone, and I fell in love. I felt every bit of the pain and the happiness. And that is the biggest compliment I can give an author.
So, thank you, Jewel, for taking us on such an amazing journey. I keep saying that my life as a reader would be so much poorer and grayer without your gift.
So, beautiful readers out there, If you, just like me, love:
Age Gap
Firefighter
Genius Gamer Doctors
Small Town
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Second Chances
Secret Romance
Angst
Emotional
…then you NEED to add this to your TBR immediately, I guarantee you will not be sorry, at all!
Favorite highlights:
“I’m sorry,” I say as she approaches the back door. “Eleven years ago, I should not have left you the way I did, because . . . it did mean something. It was the best week of my life. You’re the best week of my life.”
“I want to fuck her and love her, hate her and forget about her, yet remember her until the day I die. None of it makes sense.”
“Lie to me with your lips on mine and our bodies entwined. Just . . .” She closes her eyes. “Lie to me for a little longer.”
“Everleigh,” (...) “Let me in, baby.”
August 15, 2026
What an absolutely delightful, soulful and heart wrenching story! The tears are worth it, the journey is amazing, sprinkled with wisdom and some of life’s biggest questions and some amazing insights.
The characters mistakes and emotions are relatable yet, the characters are so genuinely unique. This writer has such a raw honesty in her writing, I love her slightly dark humor, it’s honest, entertaining and intelligent.
Her characters are reckless, flawed and ultimately, so lovable.
Everleigh is such a beautiful, messy woman. She stole my heart as did, William. William notices and remembers details about Everleigh that gave me butterflies and let me know he was a good man despite him trying and almost proving otherwise.
I didn’t expect this to be such a tear jerker for me. I am in a very emotional state personally, this was good therapy for me.
I felt such a protective way about Everleigh, her intelligence didn’t mean she could handle big emotions as well as a lot of people. I felt tenderness towards her, like she’s someone very special to protect. We all know that feeling of wanting to be included and feel special, her vulnerability made me want to be her protector and friend.
Will, oh, he challenged me and honestly, Everleigh probably handled him better than I would and I’m in my late 40’s, and definitely not a prodigy or genius like she is. I felt he was stuck in a comfortable limbo state, yet not connected or happy. His friends and family all have big things happening and he’s working his very respected job as a firefighter, but he’s just kind of existing. Once, I saw more interactions between him and Everleigh, then knowing his thoughts afterwards, I fell for him slowly but surely.
This book takes a few really interesting and unexpected turns that are highly emotional and I felt I was being gifted important life lessons in the process.
I never want to stop questioning, wondering or discovering new things. I suspect this talented author feels this very much. She writes with empathy, and she isn’t afraid for the characters or story to be messy. I absolutely loved every single moment of this book.
I have DNF’d about 5 books in a row previous to starting this book, I think I may need to reread a favorite book before I can move on from these wonderful characters.
The last few chapters made my heart ache in the most profound, soul stirring way.
*To the author-Please never stop writing books. You have touched my soul in ways that have changed me in ways that are so real. On a more personal note, this story reminded me of a beautiful soul taken from this world too soon, Cleida. She inspired me as she fought to have a beautiful, meaningful life and she spread joy to everyone lucky enough to have contact with her. She and I were book acquaintances because of this author. Thank you for bringing her to my life through our love of your books, I’m forever grateful and changed by you both.
The characters mistakes and emotions are relatable yet, the characters are so genuinely unique. This writer has such a raw honesty in her writing, I love her slightly dark humor, it’s honest, entertaining and intelligent.
Her characters are reckless, flawed and ultimately, so lovable.
Everleigh is such a beautiful, messy woman. She stole my heart as did, William. William notices and remembers details about Everleigh that gave me butterflies and let me know he was a good man despite him trying and almost proving otherwise.
I didn’t expect this to be such a tear jerker for me. I am in a very emotional state personally, this was good therapy for me.
I felt such a protective way about Everleigh, her intelligence didn’t mean she could handle big emotions as well as a lot of people. I felt tenderness towards her, like she’s someone very special to protect. We all know that feeling of wanting to be included and feel special, her vulnerability made me want to be her protector and friend.
Will, oh, he challenged me and honestly, Everleigh probably handled him better than I would and I’m in my late 40’s, and definitely not a prodigy or genius like she is. I felt he was stuck in a comfortable limbo state, yet not connected or happy. His friends and family all have big things happening and he’s working his very respected job as a firefighter, but he’s just kind of existing. Once, I saw more interactions between him and Everleigh, then knowing his thoughts afterwards, I fell for him slowly but surely.
This book takes a few really interesting and unexpected turns that are highly emotional and I felt I was being gifted important life lessons in the process.
I never want to stop questioning, wondering or discovering new things. I suspect this talented author feels this very much. She writes with empathy, and she isn’t afraid for the characters or story to be messy. I absolutely loved every single moment of this book.
I have DNF’d about 5 books in a row previous to starting this book, I think I may need to reread a favorite book before I can move on from these wonderful characters.
The last few chapters made my heart ache in the most profound, soul stirring way.
*To the author-Please never stop writing books. You have touched my soul in ways that have changed me in ways that are so real. On a more personal note, this story reminded me of a beautiful soul taken from this world too soon, Cleida. She inspired me as she fought to have a beautiful, meaningful life and she spread joy to everyone lucky enough to have contact with her. She and I were book acquaintances because of this author. Thank you for bringing her to my life through our love of your books, I’m forever grateful and changed by you both.
Review of advance copy received from Author
August 16, 2026🎧 AUDIOBOOK / BOOK REVIEW
When the Smoke Clears
Title: When the Smoke Clears
Author: Jewel E. Ann
Narrators: Sean Masters & Natasha Chandel
Narration Style: Dual
Format: Audiobook
Pub Date: 08/25/2026
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3🌶️
ALC: Yes
📖 My Thoughts
Quick Take:
Can two people find love after a tumultuous beginning? I have always enjoyed the emotional storytelling of Jewel E. Ann and I knew this one would not disappoint.
What I Loved:
• The chemistry between Everleigh and William is there from the beginning
• A less than perfect beginning filled with a tough emotional journey
• Jewel E. Ann always makes me cry. She isn’t afraid to place the reader in tough environments. The nursing and care of a parent arc hit home and deeply resonated with me.
• This novel grabs you. The ending seems a little rushed.
• I loved seeing William’s emotional maturity develop as the story progressed.
• What really stood out was just how much this book makes you feel. Jewel E. Ann doesn’t shy away from the difficult or uncomfortable emotions. She takes you from sadness and heartache to hope and joy, sometimes when you least expect it.
Everleigh and William’s story begins with undeniable chemistry, but the timing is anything but right. After a tumultuous beginning sends them down separate paths, life brings them back together and forces them to confront the emotions, grief, secrets, and past trauma that still linger between them. When the Smoke Clears is an emotional second-chance romance about imperfect people, personal growth, healing, and discovering whether love can survive even when the journey to happily ever after is anything but easy.
💕 Tropes / Themes
Second Chance Romance
Right Person, Wrong Time
Firefighter MMC
Forced Proximity
Healing from Past Trauma
Hidden Past / Secrets
Grief & Loss
Emotional Romance
He Falls Hard
Personal Growth / Healing Journey
🎙️ Narration
Sean Masters was perfect as William, bringing the right depth and emotion to the character. Natasha Chandel delivered an equally believable performance, capturing Everleigh’s immaturity when needed while also giving her the cadence and confidence of a highly intelligent person who, at times, seemed almost detached from her emotions. That contrast came through beautifully in her performance.
Did the audio elevate the book?
Yes
Read if you like:
💕 Catherine Cowles
And Rebecca Yarros
💕 For Lucy by Jewel E. Ann
💕 Emotional second-chance romances
💕 Stories about grief, healing, and finding love after loss
⭐ Final Thoughts
Story: 4 / 5
Narration: 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4 / 5
Would I recommend it? Absolutely
Would I listen to these narrators again? Yes
Thank you to Jewel E. Ann for providing me with an ALC of When the Smoke Clears for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
When the Smoke Clears
Title: When the Smoke Clears
Author: Jewel E. Ann
Narrators: Sean Masters & Natasha Chandel
Narration Style: Dual
Format: Audiobook
Pub Date: 08/25/2026
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3🌶️
ALC: Yes
📖 My Thoughts
Quick Take:
Can two people find love after a tumultuous beginning? I have always enjoyed the emotional storytelling of Jewel E. Ann and I knew this one would not disappoint.
What I Loved:
• The chemistry between Everleigh and William is there from the beginning
• A less than perfect beginning filled with a tough emotional journey
• Jewel E. Ann always makes me cry. She isn’t afraid to place the reader in tough environments. The nursing and care of a parent arc hit home and deeply resonated with me.
• This novel grabs you. The ending seems a little rushed.
• I loved seeing William’s emotional maturity develop as the story progressed.
• What really stood out was just how much this book makes you feel. Jewel E. Ann doesn’t shy away from the difficult or uncomfortable emotions. She takes you from sadness and heartache to hope and joy, sometimes when you least expect it.
Everleigh and William’s story begins with undeniable chemistry, but the timing is anything but right. After a tumultuous beginning sends them down separate paths, life brings them back together and forces them to confront the emotions, grief, secrets, and past trauma that still linger between them. When the Smoke Clears is an emotional second-chance romance about imperfect people, personal growth, healing, and discovering whether love can survive even when the journey to happily ever after is anything but easy.
💕 Tropes / Themes
Second Chance Romance
Right Person, Wrong Time
Firefighter MMC
Forced Proximity
Healing from Past Trauma
Hidden Past / Secrets
Grief & Loss
Emotional Romance
He Falls Hard
Personal Growth / Healing Journey
🎙️ Narration
Sean Masters was perfect as William, bringing the right depth and emotion to the character. Natasha Chandel delivered an equally believable performance, capturing Everleigh’s immaturity when needed while also giving her the cadence and confidence of a highly intelligent person who, at times, seemed almost detached from her emotions. That contrast came through beautifully in her performance.
Did the audio elevate the book?
Yes
Read if you like:
💕 Catherine Cowles
And Rebecca Yarros
💕 For Lucy by Jewel E. Ann
💕 Emotional second-chance romances
💕 Stories about grief, healing, and finding love after loss
⭐ Final Thoughts
Story: 4 / 5
Narration: 4.5 / 5
Overall: 4 / 5
Would I recommend it? Absolutely
Would I listen to these narrators again? Yes
Thank you to Jewel E. Ann for providing me with an ALC of When the Smoke Clears for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
August 21, 2026
A second chance, a grumpy firefighter, and a heroine who is anything but ordinary.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Dual
Series: Wildfire, interconnected standalone
HEA: Yes
When the Smoke Clears is a spin-off from the Wildfire series and can be read as a standalone. This was such an emotional, character-driven second-chance romance with a great balance of heavier moments, humor, and heart.
The pacing worked well for me. It takes its time with the characters and their emotional baggage without ever feeling too slow. The romance is definitely more focused on the emotional connection and healing than the spice, which suited the story really well.
Everleigh was easily my favorite part. She is one of the most unique FMCs I've come across, and I absolutely loved her quirky personality and literal way of looking at things. She had me laughing more than once.
Will is the perfect contrast to her. He's grumpy, broody, and protective, but underneath that is a surprisingly tender and emotional character. Watching both of them work through grief, trauma, and everything standing between them made their second chance feel earned.
🎧 Narration
Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel were fantastic together.
Sean Masters absolutely nailed Will. He captured his grumpy exterior perfectly while bringing so much tenderness and emotion to the character. His delivery of Will's inner thoughts had me laughing, while the more emotional moments genuinely got to me.
Natasha Chandel was wonderful as Everleigh and perfectly captured her quirky, lovable personality. Her delivery of Everleigh's literal responses was especially fun.
What I Loved
✔️ Unique and quirky FMC
✔️ Grumpy firefighter MMC
✔️ Strong character development
✔️ Emotional second-chance romance
✔️ Great balance of humor and heavier moments
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Firefighter MMC
✔️ Small Town
✔️ Genius FMC
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ Right Person, Wrong Time
✔️ Healing from Past Trauma
✔️ Grief & Loss
✔️ He Falls Hard
✔️ Dual POV
Final Thoughts
When the Smoke Clears was a really enjoyable and emotional second-chance romance. Everleigh's unique personality completely won me over, while Will's grumpy-but-tender personality made him an easy hero to root for.
This is definitely more emotional romance than spicy romance, but the chemistry, character growth, humor, and emotional journey kept me invested.
If you enjoy age-gap romance, grumpy firefighters, quirky heroines, second chances, and stories about healing from the past, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Dual
Series: Wildfire, interconnected standalone
HEA: Yes
When the Smoke Clears is a spin-off from the Wildfire series and can be read as a standalone. This was such an emotional, character-driven second-chance romance with a great balance of heavier moments, humor, and heart.
The pacing worked well for me. It takes its time with the characters and their emotional baggage without ever feeling too slow. The romance is definitely more focused on the emotional connection and healing than the spice, which suited the story really well.
Everleigh was easily my favorite part. She is one of the most unique FMCs I've come across, and I absolutely loved her quirky personality and literal way of looking at things. She had me laughing more than once.
Will is the perfect contrast to her. He's grumpy, broody, and protective, but underneath that is a surprisingly tender and emotional character. Watching both of them work through grief, trauma, and everything standing between them made their second chance feel earned.
🎧 Narration
Sean Masters and Natasha Chandel were fantastic together.
Sean Masters absolutely nailed Will. He captured his grumpy exterior perfectly while bringing so much tenderness and emotion to the character. His delivery of Will's inner thoughts had me laughing, while the more emotional moments genuinely got to me.
Natasha Chandel was wonderful as Everleigh and perfectly captured her quirky, lovable personality. Her delivery of Everleigh's literal responses was especially fun.
What I Loved
✔️ Unique and quirky FMC
✔️ Grumpy firefighter MMC
✔️ Strong character development
✔️ Emotional second-chance romance
✔️ Great balance of humor and heavier moments
Tropes & Vibes
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Firefighter MMC
✔️ Small Town
✔️ Genius FMC
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Grumpy/Sunshine
✔️ Opposites Attract
✔️ Second Chance Romance
✔️ Right Person, Wrong Time
✔️ Healing from Past Trauma
✔️ Grief & Loss
✔️ He Falls Hard
✔️ Dual POV
Final Thoughts
When the Smoke Clears was a really enjoyable and emotional second-chance romance. Everleigh's unique personality completely won me over, while Will's grumpy-but-tender personality made him an easy hero to root for.
This is definitely more emotional romance than spicy romance, but the chemistry, character growth, humor, and emotional journey kept me invested.
If you enjoy age-gap romance, grumpy firefighters, quirky heroines, second chances, and stories about healing from the past, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
INFINITY STARS!!
Wow oh wow. I went through every possible emotion with this book. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet feeling giddy, I was annoyed and in the end I felt so much closure and happiness. I felt like I could relate to Everleigh in so many ways throughout the book, experiencing a loss of someone that is supposed to be a big part of your life but essentially was never a part of your life is a loss that is hard to grasp and fully understand unless you have been through it yourself. I don't know how, but the author was able convey those emotions to the reader and I really have a lot of appreciation for being able to achieve that. I also relate so much to Everleigh by always feeling like you are behind everyone else in your life, like you're in a room full of people yet no one sees you, being the odd and weird kid while actively being so much more mature and having to grow up so much quicker than your peers. While Everleigh was a kid genius and was forced to grow up fast in that manner, I still relate to essentially having to grow up so quickly in comparison to those around you and really being younger than you portray. To be fully transparent, the first chapter I was not remotely convinced that I would enjoy this book at all I was thinking to myself I cannot deal with this man that is gonna be a drama king and bring the vibes down, but as time went on I too fell for the MMC, William and understood why Everleigh was so infatuated as well. I got through this book in less than a day and I truly believe it because of how real it felt. It felt like you, as the reader were a part of the friend group, like you were in Everleigh's shoes and trying to navigate life and love. I really can't compliment this book enough. I loved it so so much, it had character depth and background, it had the emotion and the banter, the sadness, love and happiness. This may potentially be my top read of 2026.
I did receive this as an ALC from Valentine PR and Netgalley, so I quickly wanted to touch on the narration. At first I felt like William was too growly and gruff but again as time went on I enjoyed him more and more, as for Everleigh overall I enjoyed her, BUT there were times that the voice came off very much as sounding robotic and almost like siri which I didn't love. I feel like it was okay ish though simply for the fact that Ever is a genius so with this voice it helps to convey her "smarts?" if that makes sense. I still would have just liked her to have a bit more emotion throughout the narration, honestly that is my biggest critique and I feel like the story itself overpowered how I felt about that.
Wow oh wow. I went through every possible emotion with this book. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet feeling giddy, I was annoyed and in the end I felt so much closure and happiness. I felt like I could relate to Everleigh in so many ways throughout the book, experiencing a loss of someone that is supposed to be a big part of your life but essentially was never a part of your life is a loss that is hard to grasp and fully understand unless you have been through it yourself. I don't know how, but the author was able convey those emotions to the reader and I really have a lot of appreciation for being able to achieve that. I also relate so much to Everleigh by always feeling like you are behind everyone else in your life, like you're in a room full of people yet no one sees you, being the odd and weird kid while actively being so much more mature and having to grow up so much quicker than your peers. While Everleigh was a kid genius and was forced to grow up fast in that manner, I still relate to essentially having to grow up so quickly in comparison to those around you and really being younger than you portray. To be fully transparent, the first chapter I was not remotely convinced that I would enjoy this book at all I was thinking to myself I cannot deal with this man that is gonna be a drama king and bring the vibes down, but as time went on I too fell for the MMC, William and understood why Everleigh was so infatuated as well. I got through this book in less than a day and I truly believe it because of how real it felt. It felt like you, as the reader were a part of the friend group, like you were in Everleigh's shoes and trying to navigate life and love. I really can't compliment this book enough. I loved it so so much, it had character depth and background, it had the emotion and the banter, the sadness, love and happiness. This may potentially be my top read of 2026.
I did receive this as an ALC from Valentine PR and Netgalley, so I quickly wanted to touch on the narration. At first I felt like William was too growly and gruff but again as time went on I enjoyed him more and more, as for Everleigh overall I enjoyed her, BUT there were times that the voice came off very much as sounding robotic and almost like siri which I didn't love. I feel like it was okay ish though simply for the fact that Ever is a genius so with this voice it helps to convey her "smarts?" if that makes sense. I still would have just liked her to have a bit more emotion throughout the narration, honestly that is my biggest critique and I feel like the story itself overpowered how I felt about that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Everleigh and William’s story is about love and yearning, loss and grief, and finding acceptance and grace. Everleigh and William met eleven years ago when she was 17 and he was 29. A child prodigy, she was in her second year of medical school, well on her way to becoming the brilliant psychiatrist. The one week they had together left an indelible impression on both of them. He couldn’t run away from her fast enough, however, when he learned she was under 18 and refused any further contact with her. William believed that she had deliberately deceived him and he had thought that charges would be forthcoming because he gave into his desire for a girl who was not legally an adult.
Now Everleigh is in the same town where William lives and works as a firefighter. A fire at Everleigh’s house means she needs another place to stay and somehow, while he’s out of town taking care of a family crisis, she becomes his tenant. William is horrified and determined evict her. His friends learn his side of the story, treat him like a victim, and Everly like a villainess or predator. The situation is chaotic and confusing for everyone concerned. Everly finally gets a chance to tell her side of the story. Her feelings had been very real and she did not set out to deceive him. She had assumed that he already knew her age, given that their mutual friend was well aware of it.
William gives Everleigh a bit of time to find a new place, but having her so close is slowly driving him crazy and testing his control. He can now admit that he had deep feelings for her years ago, and has never found anyone else who sparked those feelings in the years since. She was gorgeous, sexy, and desirable as a teenager and is even more so now. Everleigh is slyly testing him, flirting and hinting at the sexual tension and sparks between them. They are just beginning to edge toward starting anew when William’s life blows up. His father is terminally and he is leaving his job and home in Missoula to be close to his parents. His focus has to be on his family, not starting a new relationship, no matter how he feels about Everleigh.
Once again, life is tearing them apart and will continue to test their feelings for each other, their inner strength and their resilience. The journey ahead of them is turbulent, twisty and painful. It leads to self-reflection, internal conflict and a new resolve for them both. Fortunately, they also learn to support and lean on each other, letting love lead the way. This book is both heartwrenching and heartwarming, inducing tears, laughter and sighs throughout. It has my wholehearted recommendation.
Now Everleigh is in the same town where William lives and works as a firefighter. A fire at Everleigh’s house means she needs another place to stay and somehow, while he’s out of town taking care of a family crisis, she becomes his tenant. William is horrified and determined evict her. His friends learn his side of the story, treat him like a victim, and Everly like a villainess or predator. The situation is chaotic and confusing for everyone concerned. Everly finally gets a chance to tell her side of the story. Her feelings had been very real and she did not set out to deceive him. She had assumed that he already knew her age, given that their mutual friend was well aware of it.
William gives Everleigh a bit of time to find a new place, but having her so close is slowly driving him crazy and testing his control. He can now admit that he had deep feelings for her years ago, and has never found anyone else who sparked those feelings in the years since. She was gorgeous, sexy, and desirable as a teenager and is even more so now. Everleigh is slyly testing him, flirting and hinting at the sexual tension and sparks between them. They are just beginning to edge toward starting anew when William’s life blows up. His father is terminally and he is leaving his job and home in Missoula to be close to his parents. His focus has to be on his family, not starting a new relationship, no matter how he feels about Everleigh.
Once again, life is tearing them apart and will continue to test their feelings for each other, their inner strength and their resilience. The journey ahead of them is turbulent, twisty and painful. It leads to self-reflection, internal conflict and a new resolve for them both. Fortunately, they also learn to support and lean on each other, letting love lead the way. This book is both heartwrenching and heartwarming, inducing tears, laughter and sighs throughout. It has my wholehearted recommendation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When the Smoke Clears is Jewel E. Ann’s third installment in the Wildfire series. Each standalone book features one of three roommates, all firefighters in one capacity or another. I loved the first two books in the series, so I’d been eagerly waiting this one, especially since it features Will, who has been a favorite character of mine.
Will Landry is a firefighter in Missoula, Montana. He owns the house where the roommates live(d) and sets the house rules. He’s strong, supportive, and dependable with his family, friends, and station crew, but he has always shied away from romantic monogamy.
Enter Everleigh Reichert. She’s brilliant, having completed college before turning twenty, and for some reason chose to start her practice as a child psychiatrist in Missoula rather than at a prestigious hospital. That reason might have something to do with a one-week fling with Will twelve years earlier, when she was seventeen. For Everleigh, it was love at first sight. For Will, it was a nightmare involving deception by an underage girl.
An early development gives Everleigh a reason to rent a room from Will, and predictably, Will isn’t particularly good at following his own rule about no roommate hanky-panky. The setup didn’t feel entirely organic to me, although it is a useful plot device for moving the romance forward. Adding another layer to Will’s story is his need to help his mother as his father’s health declines in a town a couple of hours away.
Will’s family situation tugged at my heart and kept me invested through much of the book. Unfortunately, I wasn’t nearly as compelled by the romance between Will and Everleigh. I struggled with a love story focused on a woman who continues to chase a man based on a one-week fling twelve years earlier. I understand that Everleigh’s characterization is intentional, but she was simply too much for me.
Everleigh comes across as far too immature for her age. Her emotional development seems arrested at a teenage level, and that not only makes her age difference with Will feel much greater than it actually is, but also made it difficult for me to believe that a forty-year-old man would find that degree of immaturity attractive in a partner of any age.
As a longtime fan and reader of Jewel E. Ann’s work, I wanted more from this book. When the Smoke Clears had many elements I enjoyed, particularly Will’s family storyline, but overall, it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
Will Landry is a firefighter in Missoula, Montana. He owns the house where the roommates live(d) and sets the house rules. He’s strong, supportive, and dependable with his family, friends, and station crew, but he has always shied away from romantic monogamy.
Enter Everleigh Reichert. She’s brilliant, having completed college before turning twenty, and for some reason chose to start her practice as a child psychiatrist in Missoula rather than at a prestigious hospital. That reason might have something to do with a one-week fling with Will twelve years earlier, when she was seventeen. For Everleigh, it was love at first sight. For Will, it was a nightmare involving deception by an underage girl.
An early development gives Everleigh a reason to rent a room from Will, and predictably, Will isn’t particularly good at following his own rule about no roommate hanky-panky. The setup didn’t feel entirely organic to me, although it is a useful plot device for moving the romance forward. Adding another layer to Will’s story is his need to help his mother as his father’s health declines in a town a couple of hours away.
Will’s family situation tugged at my heart and kept me invested through much of the book. Unfortunately, I wasn’t nearly as compelled by the romance between Will and Everleigh. I struggled with a love story focused on a woman who continues to chase a man based on a one-week fling twelve years earlier. I understand that Everleigh’s characterization is intentional, but she was simply too much for me.
Everleigh comes across as far too immature for her age. Her emotional development seems arrested at a teenage level, and that not only makes her age difference with Will feel much greater than it actually is, but also made it difficult for me to believe that a forty-year-old man would find that degree of immaturity attractive in a partner of any age.
As a longtime fan and reader of Jewel E. Ann’s work, I wanted more from this book. When the Smoke Clears had many elements I enjoyed, particularly Will’s family storyline, but overall, it didn’t fully meet my expectations.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
Review of advance copy received from Author
When the Smoke Clears is the final book, a spin off, in the Wildfire series. In my opinion, although characters from the other two books feature prominently, this can still be read as a standalone.
Will’s story is one I was very much looking forward to, but as I always say with this author, expect the unexpected, and Will was not at all what I expected. His story what not what I expected.
There has always be a cloud hanging over the circumstances surrounding Will and Everleigh’s past, alluded to but not fully explained until now. Once we got Will’s side of the story, his point of view and how he’d worried about the consequences of their actions some eleven years previously, I completely understood where he was coming from. It was quite eye opening actually and gave some perspective to anyone, his friends included, who thought he was over reacting, or it was something to joke about. I don’t think anyone had the right to tell him to get over it but I did feel as though he should either accept her apology or leave her alone. It seemed as though he was repeatedly punishing Everleigh. He constantly gave mixed signals to her and I’m sad to say I was quite disappointed with his behaviour towards her at times. He certainly was conflicted.
He is, however a good, loyal friend and the best son to his parents. I found his words and thoughts over the situation surrounding his father deeply emotional, again in a way I hadn’t anticipated. It all hit very close to home, having been in a similar scenario myself a few years ago. In particular, a conversation Will had with his mum about 70% in wrecked me. A major focus of the overall storyline was the chain of events involving his dad and for me these scenes were very emotional.
Everleigh does not react to situations in what could be called a conventional way, switching from grown up insightful professional, to naive socially deprived young woman frequently. I found her endearing and witty and I loved the back and forth banter between her and Will. I also had great sympathy for her in those awkward and vulnerable moments when she was desperately seeking a connection with Will and his friends. Her desperation was a little sad at times, especially as I wasn’t totally sure of Will’s commitment to Everleigh had it not been for her tenacity.
This book was a tough one for me for lots of reasons; expectations versus reality being one, dealing with the same tough life situation regarding a parent being another. Overall, I’m glad we got to hear Will’s story, even if it went in a direction I didn’t anticipate.
Will’s story is one I was very much looking forward to, but as I always say with this author, expect the unexpected, and Will was not at all what I expected. His story what not what I expected.
There has always be a cloud hanging over the circumstances surrounding Will and Everleigh’s past, alluded to but not fully explained until now. Once we got Will’s side of the story, his point of view and how he’d worried about the consequences of their actions some eleven years previously, I completely understood where he was coming from. It was quite eye opening actually and gave some perspective to anyone, his friends included, who thought he was over reacting, or it was something to joke about. I don’t think anyone had the right to tell him to get over it but I did feel as though he should either accept her apology or leave her alone. It seemed as though he was repeatedly punishing Everleigh. He constantly gave mixed signals to her and I’m sad to say I was quite disappointed with his behaviour towards her at times. He certainly was conflicted.
He is, however a good, loyal friend and the best son to his parents. I found his words and thoughts over the situation surrounding his father deeply emotional, again in a way I hadn’t anticipated. It all hit very close to home, having been in a similar scenario myself a few years ago. In particular, a conversation Will had with his mum about 70% in wrecked me. A major focus of the overall storyline was the chain of events involving his dad and for me these scenes were very emotional.
Everleigh does not react to situations in what could be called a conventional way, switching from grown up insightful professional, to naive socially deprived young woman frequently. I found her endearing and witty and I loved the back and forth banter between her and Will. I also had great sympathy for her in those awkward and vulnerable moments when she was desperately seeking a connection with Will and his friends. Her desperation was a little sad at times, especially as I wasn’t totally sure of Will’s commitment to Everleigh had it not been for her tenacity.
This book was a tough one for me for lots of reasons; expectations versus reality being one, dealing with the same tough life situation regarding a parent being another. Overall, I’m glad we got to hear Will’s story, even if it went in a direction I didn’t anticipate.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Lonely is IHOP.”
William Thatcher Landry - 40 years old. Firefighter. Humble hero. Fun uncle. Perpetual bachelor.
Everleigh Reichart - 28 years old. Psychiatrist. Prodigy. Privately tutored through grade school, started college at 12, and was a second year med student by the time she turned 18. “She was effortlessly persuasive and contagiously optimistic.”
If you’ve read the first two books in the Wildfire series (HIGHLY recommended, simply because they’re fantastic), then you already know the basics of Will and Everleigh’s history. Their brief interactions in those books made it pretty evident their story was going to be good, but JEA doesn’t simply write “good” stories…
I knew the banter would be top tier, but the number of times I laughed out loud? It’s safe to say I haven’t laughed my way through a book like this in a while.
———
W: I slide into the passenger’s seat. “I’m a terrible liar. They’ll never believe that.”
E: “You’re right. You are terrible.” She starts her car and turns up the music.
———
W: “Stop shrinking me.”
E: “Stop saying that. It sounds like you’re getting smaller.”
———
E: “I counted to fifty. How long did you want me to count?”
W: “At least a hundred,”
E: “Because you’re old and you need a longer head start.”
W: “If you’re going to bust my balls, at least fondle them first.”
———
So again, the banter is TOP tier, but of course it wasn’t only the humor that made this book so enthralling. JEA has perfected the art of infusing emotion into her already brilliant words, inevitably making me cry.
And boyyy did I.
———
“I’m so in love with William Landry, but I don’t know if his heart feels anything, even when he’s inside me. He wants a release, a chance to let go. I want a connection, a chance to hold on.”
———
Everleigh embodies the all encompassing feelings of a first love while also reminding you why romance novels are so addictive: “. . . the escapism and exhilarating dream state overflowing with heartachingly beautiful love and the satisfaction of a happily ever after.”
And Will… well, it’s been 10 years since I had to live through a version of what Will goes through in this story. Reading how his feelings unfold through it all while carrying the weight of my own alongside his felt like a balm to my soul.
So as a lover of books… this story is the ultimate reading experience 🥹💚.
And if none of the reasons above have convinced you to read it, then you should at least pick it up to find out what a nappuccino is!!
To JEA: I can never thank you enough for sharing your words. I can’t wait for what comes next!
William Thatcher Landry - 40 years old. Firefighter. Humble hero. Fun uncle. Perpetual bachelor.
Everleigh Reichart - 28 years old. Psychiatrist. Prodigy. Privately tutored through grade school, started college at 12, and was a second year med student by the time she turned 18. “She was effortlessly persuasive and contagiously optimistic.”
If you’ve read the first two books in the Wildfire series (HIGHLY recommended, simply because they’re fantastic), then you already know the basics of Will and Everleigh’s history. Their brief interactions in those books made it pretty evident their story was going to be good, but JEA doesn’t simply write “good” stories…
I knew the banter would be top tier, but the number of times I laughed out loud? It’s safe to say I haven’t laughed my way through a book like this in a while.
———
W: I slide into the passenger’s seat. “I’m a terrible liar. They’ll never believe that.”
E: “You’re right. You are terrible.” She starts her car and turns up the music.
———
W: “Stop shrinking me.”
E: “Stop saying that. It sounds like you’re getting smaller.”
———
E: “I counted to fifty. How long did you want me to count?”
W: “At least a hundred,”
E: “Because you’re old and you need a longer head start.”
W: “If you’re going to bust my balls, at least fondle them first.”
———
So again, the banter is TOP tier, but of course it wasn’t only the humor that made this book so enthralling. JEA has perfected the art of infusing emotion into her already brilliant words, inevitably making me cry.
And boyyy did I.
———
“I’m so in love with William Landry, but I don’t know if his heart feels anything, even when he’s inside me. He wants a release, a chance to let go. I want a connection, a chance to hold on.”
———
Everleigh embodies the all encompassing feelings of a first love while also reminding you why romance novels are so addictive: “. . . the escapism and exhilarating dream state overflowing with heartachingly beautiful love and the satisfaction of a happily ever after.”
And Will… well, it’s been 10 years since I had to live through a version of what Will goes through in this story. Reading how his feelings unfold through it all while carrying the weight of my own alongside his felt like a balm to my soul.
So as a lover of books… this story is the ultimate reading experience 🥹💚.
And if none of the reasons above have convinced you to read it, then you should at least pick it up to find out what a nappuccino is!!
To JEA: I can never thank you enough for sharing your words. I can’t wait for what comes next!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jewel is the queen of high octane emotions set in small towns and this one exceeded my expectations by sweeping me off my feet.
“A story of first love. A story of first heartbreak. A story of chasing that love forever ”
This book wrecked me in the best possible way, bedazzling with shiny, multi faceted emotions. When a chance encounter happens between firefighter William Landry, whom we've met in wildfire series earlier as the homeowner in Missoula AZ, and a still underage child prodigy psychiatrist- EverLeigh Reichert, neither of them know how devastatingly beautiful this fateful love would become.
Everleigh's Heart gets shattered, stomped on, abandoned and she picks up the pieces and stumbles on, but never forgets. She wants to chase that high forever like an elusive kite soaring in the sky
Years later A second chance gives them an opportunity to grieve and heal together. But there are demons to be fought with, past hurts to be healed, some blockages to be torn down.
William is the quintessential alpha protector, a family man, a good son but his hangups are enveloping his heart . It takes Everleigh's adorably vulnerable presence to clear that.
Everleigh's is personality is a genius but soul craving for childhood simplicity. Weaving stories into cloaks a gift. I wanted to cuddle her like a kitten.
The banter is outstanding, their chemistry sparks like fireworks throughout.
Jewel has put her entire heart in the story. Between the sizzle and yearning, I was swooning hard. Utterly addictive and unputdownable book
“5 stars for kite flyers”
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻 TikTok 🌻 StoryGraph 🌻 YouTube 🌻
“A story of first love. A story of first heartbreak. A story of chasing that love forever ”
This book wrecked me in the best possible way, bedazzling with shiny, multi faceted emotions. When a chance encounter happens between firefighter William Landry, whom we've met in wildfire series earlier as the homeowner in Missoula AZ, and a still underage child prodigy psychiatrist- EverLeigh Reichert, neither of them know how devastatingly beautiful this fateful love would become.
Everleigh's Heart gets shattered, stomped on, abandoned and she picks up the pieces and stumbles on, but never forgets. She wants to chase that high forever like an elusive kite soaring in the sky
Years later A second chance gives them an opportunity to grieve and heal together. But there are demons to be fought with, past hurts to be healed, some blockages to be torn down.
William is the quintessential alpha protector, a family man, a good son but his hangups are enveloping his heart . It takes Everleigh's adorably vulnerable presence to clear that.
Everleigh's is personality is a genius but soul craving for childhood simplicity. Weaving stories into cloaks a gift. I wanted to cuddle her like a kitten.
The banter is outstanding, their chemistry sparks like fireworks throughout.
Jewel has put her entire heart in the story. Between the sizzle and yearning, I was swooning hard. Utterly addictive and unputdownable book
“5 stars for kite flyers”
Follow me on:
Email🌻 Bookbub 🌻 Twitter🌻 Instagram🌻 Blog🌻 Facebook🌻 Amazon 🌻 TikTok 🌻 StoryGraph 🌻 YouTube 🌻
Review of advance copy
Welp…Our girl has done it again!!!! This is one of my most favorite series Jewel E. Ann has done! I knew it was shaping up to be perfect early on. Little did I know that this 4th and final installment was gonna tie it all up with the perfect little bow!!
I think one of the things that I love about Jewels books is the sensitive material that she always tackles. She does it in such a beautiful way and in one minute you are crying and in the next you could be laughing! She never fails to touch my heart in every book she writes.
As I said, this is the 4th and final book in the series and we have met our main characters in the previous books. Dr. Everleigh Reichert and firefighter William Landry. When we previously met them we found out that they knew each other over a decade ago and there is a lot of not hatred but it certainly wasn’t good feelings. It doesn’t help that Everleigh is a psychiatrist and a young prodigy and just a little strange.
The beginning finds Everleigh in crisis and Will having to leave to visit his parents a couple hours away and since his previous roommate’s, Jamie, Fitz and Maren, have all found love he needs to rent out his she shed as well as a room or two. He leaves Maren in charge of finding said roommate. This leads us to what, in my opinion, is a true fairytale. One that is perfection for our heroine and truthfully perfect for Will.
The thing is we have a MMC that has never been in love with anyone. We have a FMC that has had to grow up way faster than anyone should have to. They each bring things to the story that are both heartbreaking and refreshing as well as hilarious! I also loved the group as a whole!
This book was not without its hardships😢so much happens and a lot of it was something I didn’t see coming.
I loved every single thing about this book and this series. This can be read as a standalone BUT you might be just a little lost because I feel like there are things in the first 3 books that make this book make sense.
If you haven’t ever read a JEA book I don’t know what you are doing with your life because she is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of storytelling!!
This was more than a 5 star read and I wish I could read it for the first time again!
Thank you to ValentinePR for allowing me to read an early copy!!
I think one of the things that I love about Jewels books is the sensitive material that she always tackles. She does it in such a beautiful way and in one minute you are crying and in the next you could be laughing! She never fails to touch my heart in every book she writes.
As I said, this is the 4th and final book in the series and we have met our main characters in the previous books. Dr. Everleigh Reichert and firefighter William Landry. When we previously met them we found out that they knew each other over a decade ago and there is a lot of not hatred but it certainly wasn’t good feelings. It doesn’t help that Everleigh is a psychiatrist and a young prodigy and just a little strange.
The beginning finds Everleigh in crisis and Will having to leave to visit his parents a couple hours away and since his previous roommate’s, Jamie, Fitz and Maren, have all found love he needs to rent out his she shed as well as a room or two. He leaves Maren in charge of finding said roommate. This leads us to what, in my opinion, is a true fairytale. One that is perfection for our heroine and truthfully perfect for Will.
The thing is we have a MMC that has never been in love with anyone. We have a FMC that has had to grow up way faster than anyone should have to. They each bring things to the story that are both heartbreaking and refreshing as well as hilarious! I also loved the group as a whole!
This book was not without its hardships😢so much happens and a lot of it was something I didn’t see coming.
I loved every single thing about this book and this series. This can be read as a standalone BUT you might be just a little lost because I feel like there are things in the first 3 books that make this book make sense.
If you haven’t ever read a JEA book I don’t know what you are doing with your life because she is one of the greatest storytellers in the history of storytelling!!
This was more than a 5 star read and I wish I could read it for the first time again!
Thank you to ValentinePR for allowing me to read an early copy!!
August 21, 2026
Jewel E. Ann truly is the queen of unexpected twists, but this time… she also gave me ALL the tears. Puddles of them. It has been so long since I’ve had a good cry while reading, and this is only the second book EVER to make me cry so hard that my dog was concerned and had to come over and lick my face.
This book gave me every single feel in the best possible way.
Two unlikely souls finding their way back to each other and discovering love the way they did was absolutely beautiful to watch unfold. I loved getting both sides of their story through the flashbacks and seeing how the same events affected them in completely different ways. Jewel slowly peels back each layer of their past, and by the time you understand the full picture, your heart is already completely invested.
Everleigh was EVERYTHING. I genuinely think she may be one of my favorite FMCs I’ve ever read. She is quirky, brilliant, complicated, and such a force, but there are so many layers underneath her personality. She’s a psychiatrist and a prodigy who is desperately trying to hide the childhood trauma that has shaped so much of her life. Watching her grow into herself while carrying all of that was incredibly moving.
And then there’s Will. He’s dealing with an ailing father suffering from dementia and cancer, while also trying to navigate this undeniable connection with Everleigh. These two couldn’t seem more different, and yet once that spark is reignited… it’s like a freaking wildfire, y’all.
The PINING. The tension. The push and pull. The yearning. Jewel absolutely nailed it. Every little moment between them had me holding my breath, and the emotional payoff was SO worth the wait.
I laughed. I cried. I held my breath. I sighed deeply...of relief, of joy, of sadness, and somewhere along the way, Jewel E. Ann completely wrecked my heart.
Everleigh and Will’s story is a beautiful, emotional deep dive into love, heartache, gut-wrenching loss, and finding the courage to choose happiness. My heart broke more than once, especially for Everleigh, because you could feel just how deeply she loved Will.
Gosh, Jewel. You are GOOD. Too good at this craft.
This book made me feel everything, and honestly, isn’t that exactly what we hope for when we pick up a book?
This book gave me every single feel in the best possible way.
Two unlikely souls finding their way back to each other and discovering love the way they did was absolutely beautiful to watch unfold. I loved getting both sides of their story through the flashbacks and seeing how the same events affected them in completely different ways. Jewel slowly peels back each layer of their past, and by the time you understand the full picture, your heart is already completely invested.
Everleigh was EVERYTHING. I genuinely think she may be one of my favorite FMCs I’ve ever read. She is quirky, brilliant, complicated, and such a force, but there are so many layers underneath her personality. She’s a psychiatrist and a prodigy who is desperately trying to hide the childhood trauma that has shaped so much of her life. Watching her grow into herself while carrying all of that was incredibly moving.
And then there’s Will. He’s dealing with an ailing father suffering from dementia and cancer, while also trying to navigate this undeniable connection with Everleigh. These two couldn’t seem more different, and yet once that spark is reignited… it’s like a freaking wildfire, y’all.
The PINING. The tension. The push and pull. The yearning. Jewel absolutely nailed it. Every little moment between them had me holding my breath, and the emotional payoff was SO worth the wait.
I laughed. I cried. I held my breath. I sighed deeply...of relief, of joy, of sadness, and somewhere along the way, Jewel E. Ann completely wrecked my heart.
Everleigh and Will’s story is a beautiful, emotional deep dive into love, heartache, gut-wrenching loss, and finding the courage to choose happiness. My heart broke more than once, especially for Everleigh, because you could feel just how deeply she loved Will.
Gosh, Jewel. You are GOOD. Too good at this craft.
This book made me feel everything, and honestly, isn’t that exactly what we hope for when we pick up a book?
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