Where There's Smoke

by Karly Lane

The best second-chance love story! One no-strings-attached, irresponsible night with a handsome stranger that ended up changing Mackenzie's life forever. Now she has to decide if she tells Ewan about that night and risk ruining his relationship and her professional reputation, or keep the truth a secret. For readers who eat up Rachael Johns, Maya Linnell and Mandy Magro.

Mackenzie Knight has her life on track. She runs a successful business and life is going pretty smoothly - until Ewan Campbell shows up unexpectedly and rocks her boat.

The last place Ewan wants to be is at a meeting with the wedding planner his fiancée had to have. He regrets coming along even more so after he realises that he and the wedding planner have an almost-forgotten history together.

Now Mackenzie faces a dilemma—does she reveal the secret that could ruin his relationship and her business reputation by telling him? Or does she choose silence and continue to go about her nice, uncomplicated life?

Whatever her decision, Mackenzie knows it will have a lasting impact on all of their lives. Could a second-chance love story be in her future?

Praise for Karly

'Perfect to read on a plane, train or beach-side holiday.' – Reading Writing and Reisling on The One That Got Away

'I absolutely couldn't put The One That Got Away down ...' – Ms G's Bookshelf

'... a compelling, fast-paced and engaging read with heart and substance.' – Better Reading

'If you are looking for a good holiday read, then definitely choose For Once In My Life.' – Blue Wolf Reviews

'A seriously wonderful book ... perfect if you are looking for something to make you smile and touch your heart.' – Beauty and Lace

'A country reading delight, Wish You Were Here is the perfect book to enjoy this summer season. You can't go wrong with a Karly Lane novel and this latest one was no exception.' – Mrs B's Book Reviews

'Heart-warming ... an enjoyable read that will be warmly welcomed by fans of Australian romance writing.' – Canberra Weekly

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grand parents were. She writes women’s fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia. She has romantic suspense titles published under Karlene Blakemore-Mowle and her latest release, Third Time Lucky is available now.

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about second chances, found family, DNA, trust, secrets and reputations.

I loved the slow burn romance and the characters. It was all focused-on Ewan and McKenzie and I cared about them and how it was going to plan out.

Karly, you have done it again. This time the book had 3 of my tropes that I love. It had me gushing and smiling. You are one of my comforts reads and I highly recommend this if you love your rural romances.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

Review to come

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold Coast, Queensland. Mackenzie Knight runs her own events and wedding planning business, things are going really well and her clients are wealthy and have a high public profile.

Ewan Campbell is engaged to Sasha, and she wants him to visit at the venue and meet the planner, who looks shocked when she sets eyes on him and goes pale.

Five years ago he and his Scottish mates were backpacking around Australia, Ewan met the girl of his dreams in a nightclub and the next morning he discovered they hadn’t swapped phone numbers and he couldn’t find her. Kenzie is torn if she informs Ewan about what happened after their one night together and the consequences, will it cost him his relationship and fiancé and possibly damage her business, reputation and livelihood? However, she been raised to tell the truth, Kenzie has to inform him and she has no idea how Ewan’s going to react or how it will change their lives.

I received a copy of Where’s There’s Smoke from NetGalley and Allen & Unwin in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Karly Lane is an award winning author who likes to write stories set in rural communities and issues that affect them, including running properties, farming and cattle.

Sam is Kenzie’s mum and Jack Cameron her step-father and while this book isn’t part of a series it does mention characters we have met before in Once Burnt, Twice Shy.

On a long car trip, Kenzie and Ewan get to know each other and despite a few stops and bumps along the way, and they find it hard to ignore the sizzling chemistry.

The narrative includes topics such as single parenthood, credibility, expectations, and blended families, stepping up, trust and other people meddling. I read the novel in a day, it made me feel warm and fuzzy, a tender and thoughtful second chance romance, I highly recommend and five stars. I would really like a sequel to be published by Ms Lane and about Brooklyn Knight finding her Mr Right.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a good second chance romance then this is one to pick up, come along and meet Kenzie and Ewan, this is one sure to keep you turning the pages, I Loved it.

Mackenzie (Kenzie) Knight lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland she is a single mum to four year old Poppy and runs a very successful event planning business and she is exceptionally good at wedding planning, all is going so good, until the man she had a one night stand with five years ago walks into the room with his bride to be, Kenzie is stunned to see the man who she thought had left the country to go home all those years ago and the man who fathered Poppy, what will she do now?

Ewan Campbell arrives to be at this wedding planning meeting even though he is busy but this meeting is going to upend his life forever when the wedding planner turns out to be the woman that has stayed in his mind for all of these years he never really forgot her and when he discovers that he is a father Ewan has some choices to make.

A meeting between Kenzie and Ewan is not easy and now Ewan is not getting married and Kenzie needs to get away for a bit and takes Poppy on a trip to her mother and step-father’s farm and Ewan comes along to get to know Poppy and soon they are talking lots and thinking about how life is going to be for the three of them, Ewan suggests a trip to his family’s property in South Australia and road trip is planned that turns out to be fun, and all is going well when they spend time at Laire-Mor their relationship is growing, Poppy is loving having a daddy and another family and then something happens that will upend everything again, will they overcome this and find love and happiness?

I loved this one so much Karly Lane has again bought her readers a story to fall into with wonderful characters and settings I loved Kenzie, Ewan and Poppy and I highly recommend this one, it hit the spot beautifully, moving, emotional and awesome.

My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie (Kenzie) Knight was a wedding planner with a very successful business. She also had a four year old daughter, Poppy, who was her whole life. The bride & groom for the wedding she was currently organising arrived with the rest of the bride's family to choose the last items needed on the day. Kenzie recognised the groom - Ewan Campbell - but couldn't remember where from. He also recognised her... When they both realised who each other was, life changed for them both, immediately.

Ewan was about to marry Sasha, but when he told her his latest news, she immediately broke it off with him. Kenzie was horrified by what had happened but knew she'd had to be honest. Kenzie & Poppy went on a road trip, leaving her staff in charge of her business, heading south to northern NSW, where her mother and step-father lived on a cattle farm. Poppy loved it there, loved her Nanny & Jack, and Kenzie knew it would bring her peace. But what would Kenzie do for the future - some decisions needed to be made.

Where There's Smoke is another excellent rural novel by Aussie author Karly Lane which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved Poppy, every inch of her cuteness, and the mention of the guinea fowl, creating havoc, just the same way they do for the author, made me laugh. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Allen & Unwin AU for my digital and hard copy ARC to read and review.

[Shelagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set partly on the Gold Coast and partly in rural South Australia, Where There’s Smoke is about second chances for wedding planner Kenzie Knight and Ewan Campbell, the father of her four year-old daughter Poppy, who was conceived during a drunken one-night stand. Meeting Ewan again at the society wedding she is planning was certainly not something Kenzie either anticiatedf or wanted. She’s quite content raising her daughter by herself and fears that Ewan will upset the applecart when she tells him about Poppy. Ewan turns out to be a thoroughly decent man though his fancée Tara is very much the bridezilla from hell, demanding that he sever all ties with Poppy. Of course the wedding doesn’t proceed, leaving Kenzie concerned that any bad publicity arising from the cause will damage her business and her reputation. Meanwhile Ewan is keen to introduce Poppy to the grandprents she didn’t know she had. There are plenty of bumps in the road as this romance progresses. Trust, or rather the lack of it, comes into play more than once aas the story progresses, ensuring the tension between Kenzie and Ewan continues to build. This is a gorgeous feel-good rural and family-focused romance packed with wonderful characters and lots to keep readers turning the pages. I enjoyed this book every bit as much as earlier Karly Lane stories I have read.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where There’s Smoke by Karly Lane

I have only read a couple of Karly Lane books, and they are all fantastic and this did not disappoint. Karly’s writing is enjoyable to read and getting drawn into the story is inevitable.

Kenzie runs a successful event planning business.
On meeting Ewan - the groom-to-be from one of her high-profile wedding clients she realises he is the man from a night years ago. They left each other without surnames or a way to contact each other.

The range of emotions due to changes both main characters are facing felt authentic. Ewan and Kenzie travel together as he goes to reevaluate his situation – providing the reader with genuine descriptions of the Australian outback – and time for Ewan and Kenzie to get to know each other better.

The story flowed so well and would have read it in one sitting if time allowed. A couple of twists at the end. A truly satisfying read.

Second chances – found family – closed door romance – Australian outback vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley, Allen & Unwin and Karly Lane for the ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Adventures with Shelle (Rochelle Kentish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mackenzie Knight has her life on track. She runs a successful business and life is going pretty smoothly - until Ewan Campbell shows up unexpectedly and rocks her boat.

The last place Ewan wants to be is at a meeting with the wedding planner his fiancée had to have. He regrets coming along even more so after he realises that he and the wedding planner have an almost-forgotten history together.

Now Mackenzie faces a dilemma-does she reveal the secret that could ruin his relationship and her business reputation by telling him? Or does she choose silence and continue to go about her nice, uncomplicated life? Whatever her decision, Mackenzie knows it will have a lasting impact on all of their lives. Could a second-chance love story be in her future?

I absolutely love Karly Lane's books and when I heard this book has characters from Once Burnt Twice Shy reappearing I could not wait to dive right in and read it. And this book did not disappoint! It's a sweet story about unexpected second changes and learning to live when plans change. Karly has a talent for making you feel as though you are sitting at the table watching the story unfold in front of you. And don't get me started on the beautiful descriptions of the country side. Karly remains an auto buy author for me and I was grateful to Netgalley and the Publisher for a chance to receive an early copy to read and review.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have yet to read a Karly Lane novel that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy, and Where There’s Smoke is no exception. I found it to be an engaging and heartwarming read about second chances and I couldn’t put down.

I love a good second chance story and there is definitely a lot to love in Where There’s Smoke. There is delicious slow burn and a heartwarming undercurrent as Kenzie has to slowly accept that things are going to change in her life forever.

Lane’s writing style is engaging and effortless which makes for a book you can’t help but devour. It’s clear there is a love for and connection to rural landscapes as it’s used to full advantage in this book to create settings you want to be a part of.

Reading a Karly Lane book is like being wrapped in a hug…it’s warm, familiar and the characters feel like friends. Definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Allen and Unwin for a copy to honestly review.

[marlin1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karly Lane never really disappoints me as an author. Some books are better than others but this one I loved and it was the perfect holiday read. Although if I wasn’t on holiday, I would have read it much faster but this story line allowed me to pick up and put down often without losing the flow of the story.
The characters were all relatable and I felt handled things in a very mature way (only once did I feel Kenzie was a bit quick off the handle) and another plus was the absence of a love triangle.
All in all an extremely enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read

[Sharyn O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one grabbed my from the first page and never let go!

Kenzie and Ewan are such wonderful characters, although there are more than a few times that Poppy steals the show. What an absolutely gorgeous second chance romance. 

I practically inhaled this one. So good. All the stars from me.

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heartwarming story from Karly Lane.

Review to follow