Best-selling author Libby Kay romances hearts with her
sweet stories about family, friends, and love. Fans of Sherryl Woods’ Sweet
Magnolias series are finding all the feels with Old Flames,
the latest amazing story set in small town America. Don’t miss this enduring
sweet romance!
Two high school sweet hearts, one
charming small town, and flames of chemistry that are hard to deny…
Jessie “JJ” Mays has seen it all. Her job in the Peace Corps has put the world
at her feet, with adventure calling with every new assignment. Yet after a
decade of traveling, she’s become a little lonely—and unable to get over her
first love. Soon an emergency phone call from home has her on the next plane,
but will her heart survive this visit?
Malcolm “Smithy” Smith loves his smalltown life. His career as a fireman and
EMT is fulfilling, his soap opera starlet mother keeps him on his toes, and
he’s got a great group of friends. The only thing he doesn’t have—the love of
his life by his side. No matter the distractions, he still misses JJ with a
fierceness that consumes him.
When a call to a warehouse fire goes from routine to catastrophic, Malcolm is
injured and unable to perform the job he loves. The only upside of having a
building fall on him? His girl is back in Pinegrove ready to nurse him back to
health. And hopefully, this visit is for good…
With some help from the residents of
Pinegrove, JJ and Smithy will discover that sometimes, first love burns
brightest.
Libby Kay lives in the city in
the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves
reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish
her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily
ever after—she’s in love!
When not surrounded by books,
Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the
road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.
Libby cohosts the Romance
Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and
interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly
dose of romance!
Book 1 in the Burning Hearts series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD87RMRV
Publication Date: September 3, 2025
37,000 words / 137 pages
Available in Kindle Unlimited and as paperback
Perfect for fans of Susan Stoker and Zoe York.
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!
♥ firefighter romance ♥ second chance ♥ small town ♥ protective hero ♥ workplace romance ♥ she’s his boss ♥ contemporary ♥ first responder ♥
★★★★★ "This is a wonderful page turner." - Goodreads review
★★★★★ "Shawn and Becks second chance story is not without some major events which keeps the reader entranced by the story." - Goodreads review
★★★★★ "I loved this story with its second chance at love for these two." - Goodreads review
★★★★ "The characters Shawn and Rebecca are going to deliver a very entertaining book for you to enjoy reading." - Goodreads review
Excerpts
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.”
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.
