ROMANCE/CONTEMPORARY/SECOND CHANCE
She’s the wedding photographer.
He’s the best man… and her first love.
Author: Renee Monroe
ISBN: 979-8-234-11797-7
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: August 24, 2026
Pages: 402
List Price: $17.99
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Briar Burke has spent years behind the camera, capturing love stories as a full-time wedding photographer. With an eye for all of the moments that matter, she's seen it all–runaway brides, cheating scandals, objections, etc. When a couple inquires with a photography emergency and asks Briar to shoot their destination wedding in Switzerland, it's a turning point in her career. With a camera bag filled to the brim and a stomach full of jittery nerves, she accepts and jumps on a plane.
Enter Heath Hayes. A selfless firefighter, the groom's best man… and Briar's first love.
With his best friend's wedding looming, he's determined to make sure it's the perfect weekend. Not only for the groom, but also for the maid of honor–his girlfriend. Their failing relationship is his top priority and he will do whatever it takes to save it.
Forced to spend hours on end together, the photographer and best man take drastically different approaches to the series of unfortunate events unfolding. During the weekend they couldn't plan for with the person they never expected to see again, all of the feelings they tried to bury for years make their reappearance.
There is little more romantic than knowing something might blow up in your face, because it has before, and having the faith to go after it anyway. Find out if Briar and Heath are picture-perfect or if they will miss their shot.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING…
“This is my favorite book of 2026 and I will be telling EVERYONE to read this book. A Second Shot is beautiful love letter to first love and finding your way back to each other. The chemistry between Heath and Briar could be felt as soon as they literally crashed into each other eight years after seeing each other for the last time. The movement from the current to the past was done so smoothly and flowed so well that it pulled the story together in a very seamless way. I was pulling for Heath and Briar immediately after reading the first chapter of them as teenagers. The cast of characters was perfection and I was swooning pretty much the entire book from the emotions taking place in each chapter. The epilogue was the chef’s kiss to this book, and I was literally bawling with happy tears. Amazing book, amazing story, amazing characters and the way Renee captures emotions is just so beautifully done.” -Kerry, Goodreads Review
“The dual timeline worked really well and gave us the insight into their past that I desperately needed. The writing pulled me in, and I felt ALL the emotions. Briar’s heartbreak was palpable, and Emerson? Loved her. Those truth bombs were everything… A messy second-chance romance that had me angry, emotional, and turning the pages because I needed to know how it would all play out.” -Kris, Goodreads Review
“The dual timeline is perfect for this story and Renee does an amazing job tugging at your heartstrings from an angsty wedding scene to a sweet hs scene to a can they even work this out this time around scene. Aside from their love story, we are given the best supporting characters (Deb & Haven being my personal favs). Without giving tooo much away, this book is for anyone who loves a second chance romance with a man who YEARNS!!! I had been dying to get my hands on this book since I stumbled on Renee’s TikTok a few months ago. I am so so proud of Renee for taking a chance on herself and delivering one of my favorite debut novels. Can’t wait to see whatever else you put out in the world! Forever one of your biggest fans!” -Sam, Goodreads Review
“This was such a fast paced, easy, and fun read! It reads like a 2000s romcom! Briar and Heath’s relationship is so full of love, forgiveness, and care. It did touch on harder topics like parental death, body image, and anxiety which I felt was handled with care.” -Kaitlynn, IG Review