Book One
Heartbeats
A story of grief, healing, and discovering that love can find you even when you’re not ready to be found. Emmy never expected Julian — and that’s exactly when he showed up.
Read it on
A story of grief, healing, and discovering that love can find you even when you’re not ready to be found. Emmy never expected Julian — and that’s exactly when he showed up.
Read it on
Rebecca Elder's Heartbeats is a heartfelt, emotionally immersive debut that skillfully blends contemporary romance with profound themes of grief, fate, and healing. This story delivers both romantic chemistry and emotional catharsis, leaving a lasting impression long after the last page.
At 27, Emmy is a freelance photographer in Chicago, a hopeless romantic at heart, yet haunted by the grief of losing her father as a teenager. No matter how much she longs for the kind of love her parents once shared, she can't shake the feeling that she doesn't deserve it.
Fresh off a bad breakup, Emmy is ready to swear off men indefinitely, until a chance encounter at a hockey game leads to a whirlwind, rom-com-worthy moment with a charismatic stranger, Julian. Their connection is instant, electric, and then, just as quickly, lost.
Fate isn't finished with them yet. When Emmy and Julian unexpectedly cross paths again, what starts as a second chance soon turns into something deeper than either of them expected. Julian offers Emmy a love so real, so undeniable, that it begins to challenge everything she's told herself about what she deserves. But as their bond grows, so does the weight of her past trauma threatening to unravel them.
And just when Emmy finally allows herself to believe in love again, an unfathomable truth comes to light, one that could break them apart forever, if they let it.
A story of love, loss, grief, and the undeniable beauty of human connection.
If you’re someone that loves the depth of contemporary fiction and you love a swoon worthy romance, you’ll really love this book!! Love how this story touches on grief and all of its complexities. Found myself getting emotional with this one. So good!
— Goodreads
This story really captured the waves of grief from losing a loved one, from the highs and lows that fluctuate to the tiny, little things that trigger a memory. It tackles the question everyone has asked themselves at least once: accepting yourself and believing you are worth something.
— Goodreads
10/10 Would Cry in Public Again. This book wrecked me in the best possible way — packed with heart, humor, and raw emotion. The writing is gorgeous without trying too hard, and the emotional payoff? Absolutely unforgettable.
— Amazon
Heartbeats is carried by independent bookshops around the country, and signed copies are available directly from Rebecca.