Her Christmas Flame: A Second Chance Firefighter Contemporary Romance

by Kaylie Newell

The prodigal daughter returns to Christmas Bay

With a secret daughter of her own! 

Cora Sawyer could never forget the small-town sweetheart she left behind, not with her daughter—their daughter—as a reminder. Back then, she doubted Neil Prescott was ready for fatherhood. She’s still not sure, but the choice is out of her hands when she returns to Christmas Bay…and Neil learns the truth. The boy Cora left behind is now a hunky firefighter who’s as good as ever at making her heart skip a beat. But when he looks at her, he can’t see past his anger. It may just take a little holiday magic to lead them to forgiveness…and love. 

From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Hearts on Main Street

Book 1: Flirting with the Past
Book 2: His Small-Town Catch
Book 3: Her Christmas Flame

Genres: Category Romance, Romance

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Kaylie Newell lives in Southern Oregon with her husband and two daughters. She’s the proud author of over a dozen romances, including the RITA® finalists, Christmas at The Graff and Tanner’s Promise.

Reviews

[Annabelle (annabelles.shelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️

[Asheley T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this! It's #3 in the Hearts on Main Street miniseries, a second-chance romance between Cora and Neil that is made complicated by a secret daughter that Neil never knew that he had. The previous two books in this miniseries have led up to Cora finding her HEA, and eleven-year-old Mary has been featured heavily throughout each installment. (I love her!) It's a heartwarming Christmas-themed romance story, which is my very favorite kind. Despite Cora and Neil having a complicated past and all of the hurt and grief they bring to this new iteration of their relationship, they are able to work thru their issues while also giving Mary the space to grow accustomed to finally having her biological father in her life. Watching young Mary grow to love Neil's parents is especially wonderful.

Bonus points for not only a great dog in this installment-Roo-but also for the tiny rescue kitten Neil takes in for Mary.

I just realized Ms. Newell has another miniseries set in the same town as this one-Christmas Bay-and I'm very excited to read those too.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the Hearts on Main Street series, in which widow Cora Sawyer comes home to help run her late grandfather's antique store per his will. Her 11-year-old daughter is Cora's primary love, but then she finds out the girl has looked up the man who is her biological father and wants to meet him. Cora isn't at all sure that's a good idea, but what Mary wants, she will make sure that Mary gets.

Is Neil Prescott up for this shocking situation? Not really, nor are his parents, who never trusted or liked Cora. But after a heart attack that puts Neil's father in the hospital, the older folks want to meet the granddaughter they never knew existed and things begin to change.

Trouble is, the change that Neil wants and Cora is afraid of is going back to where they were as teenagers. Is that even possible? And what if Mary doesn't want her parents to get back together? What are they going to do now?

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was my first novel by Kaylie Newell. This was a sweet Christmas story and a very clean romance, not much spicey scenes at all other than kissing and a small bit of yearning between the main couple. There was more time spent on family and trying to forgive past mistakes in order to move on into the future together. I felt this one would have worked well as a Hallmark movie because of the lack of romantic scenes.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Christmas Flame is an apt title. I cried at the end of this story because we all know I’m sensitive 😆. It’s a good ending - a little rushed, but it’s a holiday romance.

“Thank you, Harlequin, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Harlequin Books]

Holiday Romance, Siblings, Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Family Life Fiction, Small Town & Rural Fiction
Miniseries
Hearts on Main Street (Book #3)

[Judy Hedrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book