#NewRelease from Ella Braeme - REKINDLED FLAME
- Sep 5
- 5 min read
Today I'm featuring a #NewRelease from Ella Braeme - REKINDLED FLAME. This slow burn, second chance romance with a cast of fire fighters, is book 1 in Ella's new Burning Hearts series and released on September 3, 2025. Welcome Ella!
Second Chances in Romance: Why We Love the 'One Who Got Away' Trope
There's something irresistible about the idea that love gets a second chance to get it right.
In romance novels, few tropes capture readers' hearts quite like the "one who got away" story. These tales of rekindled romance consistently top bestseller lists—but what makes second-chance love so compelling?
The answer lies in something we all understand: the bittersweet wisdom that comes with experience.
The Emotional Pull of "What If?"
Everyone has a "what if" person—someone who might have been perfect if the timing had been different, if we'd been more mature, if life hadn't pulled us in different directions. Second-chance romance taps into that universal longing to rewrite history with the benefit of hindsight.
In my novel Rekindled Flame, fire captain Becks Schwartz and lieutenant Shawn Miller were perfect for each other at twenty-five—except for all the ways they weren't. His protective instincts clashed with her fierce independence, leaving both heartbroken.
When they reunite nine years later, they're no longer the same people who couldn't make it work the first time. They're seasoned professionals who've learned hard lessons about communication, trust, and what they actually need in a partner.
How Life Experience Changes Everything
The beauty of second-chance romance lies in the transformation between "goodbye" and "hello again." Real life teaches us lessons we weren't ready to learn at twenty-five.
Young Becks thought accepting help meant weakness. Experienced Becks understands the difference between support and control. Young Shawn expressed care through protection without asking what Becks needed. Mature Shawn has learned to ask before acting.
The person you couldn't make it work with in your twenties might be exactly who you need in your thirties—not because they've changed, but because you have.
The Appeal of Earned Love
Second-chance romance feels more substantial than instalove because it's built on shared history and deliberate choice. These couples aren't falling for potential—they're choosing each other with full knowledge of flaws, growth, and capacity for change.
These aren't hormonal twenty-somethings swept away by passion. These are adults making conscious choices about the kind of love they want to build.
Why We Root for Round Two
Second-chance romance satisfies our belief that people can grow, mistakes don't have to be permanent, and love can mature into something stronger than what we initially thought we wanted.
The "one who got away" trope endures because it offers hope: that our past doesn't define our future, that growth is possible, and that sometimes the best love stories begin with "Once upon a time, we tried again."
After all, isn't the most romantic thing of all the idea that love can learn from its mistakes?
In Rekindled Flame, Becks and Shawn discover that second chances at love require first chances at forgiveness—especially of themselves. Their story proves that sometimes the most beautiful relationships are built not on who we were, but on who we're brave enough to become. Available now wherever books are sold.
Ella Braeme writes steamy small-town romance where protective heroes and the women who capture their hearts find love in the mountains and marshlands of Georgia. Connect with her at https://ellabraeme.com
Blurb:
When old flames reignite, sparks fly.
Volunteer firefighter Shawn Miller thought he had his life figured out in small-town Elken Grove. His print shop pays the bills while his real passion—fighting fires—keeps him connected to the community he loves.
Then his new Captain walks through the station doors: Rebecca "Becks" Schwartz, the woman who walked out of his life nine years ago. Now she's his superior officer, and someone in the department is determined to drive her away—or worse.
As danger closes in, Shawn must balance protecting Becks with respecting her authority. But when sparks fly hotter than ever between them, he realizes some flames aren't meant to be extinguished—they're meant to be stoked.
Get REKINDLED FLAME today and feel the heat of this slow-burn second chance romance!
Excerpt:
“There’s something else you should know before you leave.”
Something in the chief’s tone made Shawn sink back into his chair. “Sir?”
“The new captain is a woman,” Washington said carefully, clearly bracing for resistance. “Rebecca Schwartz from the Charlotte Fire Department. Goes by Becks, according to her application. She’ll be arriving Thursday next week for an informal meet-and-greet at Mr. Jones & Husband, then coming by on Saturday to meet the volunteers during training before officially starting on Monday.”
Shawn nodded, unfazed by the gender revelation. “A female captain? That’s fine by—“
But the words died in his throat as the full name registered. The folder slipped from his suddenly numb fingers, papers spilling across the floor. Rebecca Schwartz. The name echoed in his head like the aftershock of an explosion.
“Rebecca Schwartz?” he repeated, his voice sounding distant to his own ears.
Washington’s eyebrows rose slightly at Shawn’s reaction. “You know her?”
Know her? Shawn almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. He’d known her as Becca back then—sweet-faced but determined Becca with her infectious laugh and fierce ambition. He’d known the curve of her smile and the scent of her skin. Known her dreams and fears. Known the sound of her voice first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
Until he hadn’t.
“We trained together,” he said finally, the understatement of the decade. “At the North Carolina Fire Academy. When I knew her, she went by Becca, not Becks.”
Washington frowned, clearly surprised by this information. “I didn’t connect the dots when reviewing your files.” He leaned forward, suddenly concerned. “Is this going to be a problem?”
Shawn bent to gather the scattered papers, grateful for the chance to hide his expression. Memories he’d buried years ago resurfaced in vivid detail—Becca’s fierce determination during training exercises, her infectious laugh during rare moments of downtime, the devastating fury in her eyes the last time they’d spoken.
“I never want to see your face again, Miller. Keep six feet away from me for the rest of our lives.”
He straightened, clutching the reassembled folder, his knuckles white against the manila paper. “No, sir. No problem at all.”
Buy Links:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/rekindled-flame
Author Bio:
Ella Braeme writes steamy small-town romance where protective heroes and the women who capture their hearts find love in the mountains and marshlands of Georgia. Whether her characters are running toward danger or running from their past, they always find their way to happily-ever-after. When she's not dreaming up new ways for couples to fall headlong into danger (and love), she's in her garden, supervised by a dog who firmly believes digging holes helps the flowers grow. Her quick, satisfying reads deliver the perfect escape, whether you're sneaking in a chapter during lunch or staying up way too late to reach that happily-ever-after.
Connect with Ella:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ellawritesromance
Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/ellawritesromance
Sign-up to her emails and get a free novella https://ellabraeme.com/newsletter-signup.htm
Author Website: https://ellabraeme.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ella-Braeme/author/B0BKL79CSM
Also By Ella Braeme:
Elken Grove Mountain Men series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPL86ZSM/
Married in Windfall series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBS76NN4
Thanks for being my guest today, Ella!