When the Smoke Clears is the personal journey of author Catherine Jean Schoenbauer-Humphrey as she survives her firefighter ex-husband's infidelity with his co-worker. After learning of her husband's affair, she couldn't find enough information to help her feel that she wasn't alone. She offers her own intimate account to help others who have been betrayed by the one they love. With engaging prose and an authentic voice, Catherine describes her experiences, through the initial suspicions, to the devastating confirmation, to the years of reconciling and healing. When the Smoke Clears pulls no punches in examining why affairs take place and why they are so common in the firefighting industry. While Catherine's journey is a painful one, readers can find solace in the fact that she emerges a strong, driven woman, able to share her story and look to the future ahead.