In this gritty sequel to "Where There's Smoke," the past comes back to haunt Smoke Avery and Anne Phillips, and the choices they make will change their lives forever.

A father's work is never really done. Then again, neither is a lover's.

After a few ups and downs, Alec "Smoke" Avery and Anne Phillips have found a rhythm they can both groove to, and they've made a love connection. But just when they think they can finally settle down, their past comes back to haunt them in ways they never imagined.

Smoke's former flame is stalking him, and she's determined to have him all to herself. That's the last thing Smoke needs while he's trying to deal with Anne's emotional baggage and convince her that he's all the man she needs. Anne suspects that Smoke is still stepping out on her, and when things get tense, she decides to do a little stepping out of her own.

Away at Kentucky State on a basketball scholarship, their son, Isaiah, has become motivated to straighten out his life, but his nemesis, Hood, isn't done wreaking havoc. His sudden appearance on campus is jeopardizing Isaiah's scholarship, and his life.

Things go from bad to worse when, during a heated lover's quarrel, Smoke and Anne commit the perfect crime to save their son and themselves. When the smoke clears, truths will have to be told, and Anne will have to accept that she and Smoke are more alike than she cares to admit.

Terra Little takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotions in this story of a very real, very dysfunctional family.