From USA Today Bestselling Author comes a standalone in the Sweet Sin series.The lives of Dean Wagner and Tatum Fields have been ruled by the hand of fate.The past six years of my life have been consumed by guilt. Since we lost Landon to a fire, I’ve done everything in my power to protect my daughter, Leila, from finding out the truth about how her twin brother died. Nothing in my life means more … my life means more to me than her.
Not my band, not my reputation. Nothing.
Until I see Tatum, the woman I saved on the beach the same night she dealt with a loss of her own.
~
The daily routine I’ve settled into is what keeps me going. Work at my chocolate shop, pay the bills, repeat. I don’t date. I don’t trust. And I have never forgotten the man who walked away from saving my life without allowing me to thank him.
I know how to reach him, but I avoid him at all costs.
Until fate decides to make another appearance.
This is a story of how destiny ends up bringing these two souls back together, and how fate, the word very little people believe in is really their friend, after all.
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I have been a fan of Kathy Coopmans since discovering her three years ago. This book is by far my favorite story of hers. Cain, Roan and the rest of that crew have been my boys but look out guys, here comes Dean. He will knock your socks of. He is such a tortured soul but he is so fierce in his love, his passions and his family. Tragedy molds him but does not define him. Tatum entered his life so briefly that day but she left a lasting impression on him as well as him on her. Then they are thrusted together again in the most unexpected way.
One thing that I really loved about Dean is how much he wants to protect his family and his family’s history from the media. That whole part of it was insane. I was glued to my ereader to know how it would end up. But I think the one amazing thing about this book, is how easily it flowed. How Dean and Tatum just meshed together. It was utterly brilliant. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a Coopmans fan or if you have never read her books, this one is the one for you. I am honestly still at a loss for words at how much this book hit me with the emotions. I was left raw and bare reading this book and you will too. Read it. You will not be disappointed!
Slow burn romance with intense heartbreak, pain, anger, angst, remorse and fate that brings two damaged souls together. great performance,
Lacy great performance as always, Lorenzo that was an intense performance.
Reviewed for Audiobook Obsession
This is a story of how 2 broken souls, destined to meet thru adversity finds love. Dean the ever protector of friends and family. Keeping the truth to himself about the death of his son, Landon. His guilt, wishing he could have helped him more. Leila his daughter, Landons twin,. Keeping the truth from her , is eating at Deans soul. Dean didn’t think he would find love again, until he met Tatum. Tatum, a strong woman, expressive, full of love. Finds the type of man she wants in her life in Dean, protective, a good listener, and great sex. He is so unlike her former fiance, Sam. A gossip reporter who would destroy anyone just to get a story. He was stalking Dean trying to find out the real cause behind Landon,’s death, and anything he can find out about his bandmates.
Kathy Coopmans story is intense, steamy, and a lot of soul searching for Dean.
The narrators Lacy Laurel and Lorenzo Matthews were awesome. They both captured the essence of the characters and gave each one their own voice and personality. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the story. audiobookobessionreview ,
Omg this is part 2 of the sweet sin series and what a book it is. There is drama love joy angst and lots of emotion. This can be read as a standalone but i highly recommend you read the the first book the right direction before hand.
This book follows band member Dean and his love for his daughter, guilt of his son and hatred for there mother. You dont want to miss reasing this book.
Kathy coopmans you rock cant wait to dig in to book 3 right now
5 Star review of Where There’s Smoke (Sweet Sins #2) by Kathy Coopmans
Audio Review:
What an emotional roller coaster of a book this was to listen too. Having read and or listened to a few books by Kathy Coopmans, I was intrigued by this story. Narrated by Lacy Laurel and Lorenzo Matthews, who did a great job of bringing this story to life. Full of emotion, angst, loss, grief and pain this was a story that really got to me.
Drawn together again by fate, will this be the beginning of something wonderful for Dean Wagner and Tatum Fields? Or will it bring the nightmares, tragedy and loss from the past back to haunt them?
Can they move forward together or are they destined to remain two lost souls tormented by the past?
My heart just about broke for Dean, his pain and suffering was palpable. It was fitting that Tatum ended up being the woman who brought Dean to life again and through love she brought happiness and light into Dean and Leila’s lives.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Kathy Coopmans has always managed to entertain me. Each one of her books has me happily reading along in a fog or in this case…smoke.
Where There’s Smoke is a slow burn but the spark is electric. Each with a history that is heartbreaking, Dean and Tatum are stagnant. They aren’t living; they are just existing. With family/ friends that make life full, they are just getting by. Until they meet again…
The smoke may get in your eyes while reading this story. I blame the smoke for my glossy red rimmed eyes. (I’m pretty sure you can even smell it on me.)
I am late to the party because I haven’t read The Right Direction yet. (Hangs head in shame and toes the floor) But I had no trouble jumping in at this point and it only made me more intrigued. I may have begged Kathy to give me the 411 on who is next and I think we will all be excited to read his story.
Of course, you need to read Where There’s Smoke to know who I’m talking about…
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
This review is for the audiobook version.
We start this story with a father remembering his children. You would think that would be a happy moment for any parent but in this one we share some sad memories. I think you will find that this will keep your attention as the rest of the story unfolds. It’s good at showing how that’s a hard job especially when the parent has a very public job.
As a reader, we rely on the narrators to help us feel the emotions of the characters. Mr. Matthews is good in portraying Dean Wagner. With an audiobook, you have no visuals to help you understand what these people are about. You seem to concentrate more on the spoken word when sight is taken away. With this book I found that trying to work while listening became too much of a distraction. I wanted to concentrate on everything that was going on.
Ms. Laurel does a good job with portraying Tatum Fields. She’s a character with her own set of issues. Can two broken people find happiness with each other? I rely on Ms. Laurel to show me what Tatum is going through as she tries to find her way to a happier place than where she started.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end – that includes all the emotional ups and downs. It made me hungry for one of my favorite treats. I’m just not sure if a proprietor of a sweet shoppe would mind if I spent the day just sitting there as I listen to this story again. Yes, this is a story that I would listen to more than once. And because I’ve listened to one book out of the Sweet Sins series I’m not sure that I would read any of the other books. Listen, yes. But read? Not so sure because of the satisfaction I had with this one.
Ms. Coopmans creates two characters that are far from perfect. They are characters that some people may be able to relate to – they seem very realistic. She shows that sometimes fate steps in and stops us from doing something that could be toxic to our happiness. But the road to that happiness can be a rocky one. Our author also creates one character that if I had the chance would probably want to punch – he’s a real jerk, and that’s being nice. Then she has another character that you have to really feeling sorry for. And I was happy to find out that his story comes next – good thing I already have it in my TBR list. If I want continuity of this series I may just have to bump his position up on the list so that I listen to it sooner rather than later.
I voluntarily reviewed an Audiobook copy of this book.
Dean proves secrets can eat you alive
Everyone has a past but not everybody’s past eats them alive every second of every day! Except for Dean, his past is something no parent can even imagine. Add that to the secret of his past that he kept from his daughter; this man is completely hollow inside.
Even when he saw Tatum on that beach and saved her when her own fiance wouldn’t. But Tatum has never forgotten that moment, even years later. And as fate would have it, they have the same friends, so avoiding him is becoming harder to do. Until she decides she doesn’t want to avoid him anymore. The more time they spend together the more they realize life has a funny way of bringing people together. They bring out the best in each other, break down the walls they have built up toward any other person and let them in.
They are there for each other when Tatum’s ex comes back into their life to stir up old problems with Dean.
Can their feeling for each other and those around them that they love overcome the problems others try to entangle them in?
This book has all the feels! Within the first few pages you are dragged right into Dean’s heartache. Dean’s secrets that we were teased with in The Right Direction are brought to light.
Then there is Tatum. Can 2 broken souls mend each other? This is a must read.
4 Smoking Stars!!!
This is the second book in this series. And, just like book one I had such a hard time connecting with the characters. I love the storyline and characters though.
Dean Wagner loves his twin children Leila and Landon more then anything in the world. He’d do anything to protect them and keep them safe. When Landon died in that fire Dean lost apart of himself. Dean will do anything to make sure Leila never learns the real reason on how her brother died.
A year after Landon’s death Dean goes to the beach where he feels the closest to him. That’s when he sees Tatum on the beach. She’s at her rock bottom. Dean saves her life and walks away without a word. But, her eyes have haunted him. Five years later when Roman and Joslyn give birth to their son Dean goes to see them and comes face to face with the girl behind the eyes that have haunted him. Dean refuses to let her get away again.
An hour before Tatum Fields was to get married to the love of her life, she found out her fiancé had been lying to her. Tatum was blindsided and just wanted out. Out of the wedding dress. Out of the relationship. Tatum ran to the beach and went into the water. She wanted to wash everything about her fiancé off her and emerge new. Except a wave grabbed her. Then, the guy behind the eyes that have been haunting her for years got her out of the water.
Five years later and Tatum thinks of Dean. She knows who rescued her. But, she doesn’t know how to say thank you to him. Tatum knows how to get a hold of him. She’s become friends with Joslyn and Roman. Roman’s the lead singer of their rock band Trained In Black. Tatum never told them about her and Dean’s encounter on the beach all those years ago bc she doesn’t want them feeling sorry for her. But, Tatum is tired of hiding from Dean. She spends her days working at the chocolate shop she took over after her moms passing. She’s ready to start living again. Tatum wants to live hopefully getting to know Dean more. What Tatum wasn’t expecting was her ex-fiancé to comeback after all these years and learning he’s the same reporter whose had it out for Dean since before his son died. Now he plans on going after Dean and Tatum.
I really do like Dean. He’s the perfect man, father and friend. Dean wants to keep his daughter safe from the reporters who hound them 24/7 and from her finding out how her brother down. He’s afraid it’ll kill her. He loves his bandmates. They’re his family and he’s hating that 2 of them are hurting. Dean’s also falling for Tatum. He wants her happy and loved.
Tatum I really liked too. I was super glad she got away from the slim ball when she did. I never once faulted her for not telling Roman and Joslyn the truth. I prob wouldn’t of either. I also loved her relationship she had with Leila.
As much as I loved the storyline and the characters I have the same issues as book one. There’s too much inner dialogue and hardly any talking between characters. The dialogue between characters is usually what makes me fall in love with them the most. There was also times where one sentence or paragraph would end and the next pick up days,weeks later. It was hard to follow at times. I couldn’t connect with the characters like I hoped. Miles and Brock stories are next and I’m looking forward to them. They sound like they’re going to be heartbreakers.
This is one of those heavy emotional, rip your heart out series… Most of the characters have been through some deep heartbreaking stuff and have to fight to stay above water. Some do better at that than others. Dean Wagner and Tatum Fields are two that manage that feat with the love and support of each other.
Oh my sweet baby jesus! This author has totally blown me away with this book! My heart was shredded within the first three pages, tears and tissue! I was pulled in from the very first page, Dean and Tatum’s story gripped my heart and squeezed every emotion from me. They first meet each other at one of the darkest times for them both. Not realising they were a balm on each others souls. Leaving a last impression on them both. Five years later it appears fate is done waiting and they meet again. Their connection is instant, beautiful, soul soothing. I don’t think I can describe adequately, their connection! They are like two pieces of a beautifully battered puzzle.
I could not put it down until I had finished it……and then I sat there trying to absorb and calm the storm this book had created. But a storm I gladly embrace. You all need to read this book!!
This is the second book in the Sweet Sin series and this one will have you feeling every ounce of guilt, pain, heartache and loss that these characters have suffered. Where There’s Smoke would have to be one of the most powerful and emotional books that Kathy Coopmans has written to date in my opinion. Dean and Tatum’s story will cut you to the core and will have your heart so full of grief at times as these two pull themselves from the emotional torment that they have suffered for years. You will find yourself attached to these characters so quickly and have you feeling an addiction to their story like no other. This second book in the series is heart wrenching, romantic, full of angst, drama filled and the chemistry between these two characters is off the charts. If you have to pick one book only by this author to read this year Where There’s Smoke would be my suggestion.
How do people go on in their lives when darkness surrounds them? When as a parent, your biggest fear happens. The death of your child. Something no parent should ever have to go through.
Dean Wagner, a drummist for a very successful band has lived this life of suffering for the past 6 years. It’s very hard for anyone to go through what happened.
Tatum Fields a chocolate shop owner, who has tried to move on in life after walking out of her wedding just one hour before it was to happen. Realizing that her soon to be husband was never in love with her. He held a huge secret from her.
Could fate have brought these two together, that one encounter on the beach that neither would forget?
Now 6 years later, the two meet again. Will they be able to survive together? Or will that reporter who has been a constant in both Dean and Tatum’s life finally get the job he has been working so hard for?
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Heartbreaking, beautiful, and unbelievably sexy. Where There’s Smoke is a book that you won’t be able to put down. I certainly couldn’t. It hit me right in the feels from the very first page and kept pulling me in deeper and deeper the further I read. I cried, I swooned, I fell madly in love with this book and the characters.
Dean absolutely gutted me. Then pain he’s endured, tragedy that no one should ever have to go through, yet still continuing to give as much of himself as he can to those he loves. He’s truly an incredible man. Seeing him fall in love with Tatum and begin to heal is pure beauty. Tatum was equally hurt by her past, and living a shell of a life before Dean came into her life.
The chemistry between them is immediate and has sparks flying off the pages. Their romance was not only scorchingly hot, it’s was also incredibly sweet. These two lost souls finding their way together made for a story that is magnificent.
Where There’s Smoke by Kathy Coopmans is the second book in the Sweet Sin Series. This was a sweet, sexy and heartbreaking story that I fell in love with. Make sure you have some tissues next to you before you start reading this book.
Tatum Fields is the sweet chocolate shop owner and Dean Wagner is the dirty talking drummer. Both are each other’s knight in shining armor; Tatum is by Dean side while he works thru things that have been weighing him down for far too long and Dean is there for Tatum when her ex-fiance stirs up trouble for them and the band.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and this woman has the power to keep me burning” – Dean Wanger
Dean and Tatum are perfect for each-other. The secondary characters are awesome and bring just if not more drama to this story. I’m hoping we get the story behind Miles and Leila next.
Wanna get devoured to your fullest then this is the stop with characters that will eat at you bit by bit. This one is centered around Dean and Tatum with nothing left out about them. By now I know the unexpected is what I will get from this author with this one being no exception. Dean is one that you wish you could help melt away the guilt but you will see why Tatum is what was needed soon enough. You get every juicy morsel getting pulled in deeper and deeper. You also though have a certain someone that you would love to wipe up the dirt with because that is all he is good for. A working relationship is shown here on how it starts and grows. By the time you are done though you wish you would of taken a bit longer but oh it was so good.
Dean and Tatum had me not wanting to put this down! If not for daily life getting in the way, I would have finished this book in one sitting. Heartbreaking and emotional. SOOO emotional. Second chance romance that keep you turning the pages, like all of this author’s books. Don’t pass it up!
Kathy takes us on an emotional journey with Where There’s Smoke. The heartache and passion overwhelm the pages as Tatum & Dean find their way back together and mend each others’ broken souls.
O! M! G! This woman can write the “FEELS”!!! I was gifted with a copy of Kathy Coopmans soon to be released Where There’s Smoke. I started this book yesterday and if not for work, I also would have finished it yesterday. I picked it back up on every break, and my meal time as well. I could not voluntarily put it down. I loved every emotional word. Weeellll, maybe not every word… “Sam”. That word brought up another strong emotion, HATE!!! Ladies, have your tissues ready, this is a VERY emotional book.
Dean and Tatum… what a couple, two injured souls, needing to heal. Both, being caused further pain by the same irritant. I could not even conceive the pain that Dean is going through. To have that donkey hole (sorry, need to keep this PG) harping on Dean abou……. Oops Sorry folks not giving any spoilers. I will say this, I would not have been bothered if a certain irritant was found in a dark alley….
Ok, so, there are many, many reasons why I loved this book. The way Dean and Tatum learned how to trust the other. The way of Tatum’s protective instinct was always there. The sense of “family” and the fact that “family” are not always related. I could go on and on, but I will not, because I do not want to accidentally give anything away.
The more I read from this author, the more I fall in love, and respect her writing. She deals with many issues that curse a lot of people in society.
Thank you, Ms. Coopmans for sharing your phenomenal talent with the world.
Thank you for reading my review.