For me, romance stories are never just about two people falling in love.

They’re about the love we reclaim for ourselves, the growth we allow, and the truths we uncover in the process.

As an author, I believe every story is a living thing—a conversation between me, the page, and you, the reader. And like any good conversation, it grows and changes over time.

The Journey of “Brewing Truth”

When I first released “Brewing Truth”, I was thrilled (and a little nervous) to send it out into the world. On the surface, it’s a billionaire fake engagement romance, sure—but at its heart, it’s about earned intimacy, emotional honesty, and healing after grief.

I hadn’t even finished drafting the first five chapters before I realized that authenticity and truth were becoming the story’s heartbeat. As I wrote, it struck me that I wasn’t just crafting a love story between two characters–I was sketching a pattern, an example of the kind of relationship many of us long for:

A love between two emotionally mature people, already secure on many levels, who find each other and make intentional, loving choices.

Even for me, the author, the story became a reminder that we can always grow, always strengthen our connections—with ourselves, with family, or with a significant other.

Listening, Learning, Expanding

I read every review, every comment, every message.

And I noticed something important:

Some early readers loved the beginning but felt the story dropped at times or left a few threads unfinished.

One pointed out a pivotal moment in Chapter 16, “When Your Past Comes to Town”. Max Donovan is confronted by his past, and it shakes him; lies always rise to the surface eventually. Instead of calmly addressing the issue, he lashes out at Elle—the woman he loves—and pushes her away.

As the old song says, “you always hurt the one you love.”

Many romances might have had Max grovel and beg for forgiveness. But because both Max and Elle are mature people, that never felt right to me. Still, I assumed readers would “read between the lines” and understand the emotional undercurrents I hadn’t fully put on the page. Please forgive me, readers.

In the revised edition, this scene now ends differently. I shaped Max’s actions around the Hawaiian forgiveness practice called Ho‘oponopono—a healing approach the early readers of the updated text have told me they really love. They see it as underscoring the emotional truth and maturity of Max and Elle’s relationship.

Another expanded section is the town scandal subplot. In the updated version, I explain the outcome more clearly and add the quiet, behind-the-scenes steps that Max, Elle, and the Sinclair family take to help small business owners affected by the money laundering scheme.

Instead of seeing feedback as criticism, I chose to see it as a gift.

It gave me the chance to step back, reenter Max and Elle’s world, and polish the story—not to defend it, but to enrich it and bring it closer to my original vision.

What’s New?

I’m excited to announce that the updated edition of “Brewing Truth” is now live on Amazon and available on NetGalley (until June 5th)!

Here’s what’s new:

• Expanded scenes and richer emotional detail  
• More fully developed character arcs  
• Layered storytelling that brings out the nuance I always wanted to share  
• A new cover that reflects this next chapter in the book’s life

(I share both the original and updated covers here so you can see the evolution!)

Join Sable’s Spirited Sassy Swagger Society

This journey has reminded me how much I value my early fans—the ones who take a chance on a new author, dive into the first versions, and offer thoughtful, generous feedback.

That’s why I’ve created “Sable’s Spirited Sassy Swagger Society“—a community of readers who want to help shape the stories I tell.

When you join, you’ll:

• Get early access to upcoming romance novels  
• Share your thoughts, reviews, and reactions  
• Help me craft stories that sparkle before they launch to the wider world

If you’re interested, just fill out the form on my website (https://bit.ly/SableSassy), and you’ll be added to my private ARC email list. When a new book is ready, you’ll receive an invitation to download, read, and offer feedback through writing reviews on my SableBurns.com; or your favorite bookseller or social media site.

Thank You + What’s Next

To the readers who’ve come with me on this journey so far: thank you.

You’ve helped me see my work through fresh eyes and inspired me to keep growing, writing, and bringing you stories with soul, sass, and spiritual swagger.

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come. 💕  

With gratitude,  

Sable Burns