Where There's Smoke

Where There’s Smoke by Aricka Alexander is one of those romances that just settles right into your chest. It’s tender, sexy, and full of heart. You know those books that feel like comfort food but still make you blush a little? That’s this one.

Phoenix, or Phee, is a firefighter with that steady, protective energy that makes you feel safe just reading about her. Angel is a plus-sized bakery owner with a personality as warm and sweet as her pastries. Their chemistry is immediate, but it’s not just about attraction. It’s about two women seeing each other fully and falling for everything they find there, flaws, fears, and all.

The story’s conflict doesn’t come from unnecessary drama. It comes from something deeply human. Phee has trauma tied to hospitals, and when Angel accidentally falls asleep in her bakery, causing a fire that lands her in one, it shakes Phee to her core. Seeing someone she loves hurt and in a hospital triggers every memory she’s tried to bury.

Angel, being the soft-hearted and emotionally intelligent woman she is, recognizes that. She doesn’t push Phee away in anger or fear. She tells her, lovingly, that she needs to take a little time for herself, to step back and breathe. It’s an act of care, not distance. Phee listens, and that space between them becomes part of their healing. It’s rare to see conflict handled like this, where love stays present even in separation. You never doubt that they’ll find their way back to each other because the foundation is that strong.

I really loved how this book treats love as something nurturing instead of chaotic. The women communicate, they take care of each other, and they make space for vulnerability. It’s refreshing to read a sapphic romance that celebrates emotional maturity and softness without losing the spark.

The Tucker community is another thing that stood out. It’s queer-normative, cozy, and full of people you instantly want to know more about. The side characters add so much life that you start hoping for their stories next.

And yes, the spice is perfect. Aricka Alexander knows how to write scenes that are passionate but still full of tenderness. The intimacy between Phee and Angel isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, grounded, and affirming.

Where There’s Smoke is about love that heals, love that gives you room to grow, and love that feels like home even when life gets messy. If you’re craving a story about Black sapphic joy, softness, and desire wrapped in a small-town setting, this one’s the perfect read.