It's a new year and a new start! 🎊

Jan 04, 2026 12:01 pm

G'day, ,

🍾Happy New Year!🎉

I hope you had a fabulous holiday break and found time to read in between celebrations during this busy period. I've been busy reading, eating leftovers and napping.

I don't know about you, but the days between Christmas and New Year always leave me confused. It's like I'm in a vacuum and can't keep track of what day it is. 🙃

We spent most of Christmas Day at home, just the four of us, then spent the evening with my husband's family to share dinner. It's always a loud and sometimes overwhelming event with more than 30 family members in attendance, and this year was no different. We had plenty of delicious food and a tempting array of desserts—of which I ate too many because they all looked too good to pass up. I felt like I'd eaten enough food to last me a week, but Christmas only comes once a year. 🤷

New Year's Eve was spent down at the beach to watch the last sunset of 2025 with our youngest son. I'm not sure for how many more years one or both of our sons will join us for the last sunset of the year, but I'm going to enjoy their company while I can.

My wish for 2026 is to have a year that is more stable and peaceful than the last few years have been. After losing my brother suddenly the weekend before Christmas, I feel my nervous system needs to rest and reset. I think my body, mind, heart and soul would appreciate a year that's as smooth and stress-free as possible. There's something to be said for enjoying a quiet and peaceful life, and that's my goal for 2026.

Do you set yourself a goal? If so, I'd love to know what it is.

Happy New Year!

I hope 2026 is everything you wish it to be.

And may you find all the best book boyfriends.

I'm going to be completely honest with you; I've experienced several long months where I haven't wanted to open my manuscript for Nix and Abbi. My mind has been exhausted with getting through each day. And the longer I go without putting my fingers to the keys, the more I feel like a fraud.

After all, am I really an author if I don't write every day?

I read somewhere that writing is like working a muscle. The more you write, the better you get and the easier it becomes. Which means I need to write consistently—something I haven't been able to do. With the amount of time that I haven't written, I worry that I've lost the ability to write altogether. I'm possibly being overdramatic, but that's how I'm feeling.

But I will not be defeated!

I have started with small steps on my journey back to writing by reading back over what I've written so far for Nix and Abbi's story (it's pretty gut wrenching so far). I've reworked parts and am now ready to move forward with their story.

I'm determined to have the first draft completed within the first half of 2026!

Wish me luck! 🤞

December was another great reading month for me. I finished The Windy City series by Liz Tomforde and enjoyed every single moment. It was such a great series. When I searched to find more of her work, I couldn't find anything else, which means this must have been her debut series. Wow!

The next series I binge-read was a mafia series by Jill Ramsower. The advertisement for the first book popped up on my Facebook feed, and I thought, 'What the heck, let's give it a shot.' I ended up sucked in from the beginning and couldn't let go until I finished the last book. I wouldn't say this is a true mafia series, more a mafia-lite, but very enjoyable.

I grabbed In a Second from Kate Canterbary as soon as I could after it was released. I always know exactly what I'm going to get with her work, and she never disappoints. This book had me feeling all the feels, and the Hero was chef's kiss. Highly recommend this series of hers. In fact, I highly recommend any book she writes. Her guys are always grumbly cinnamon rolls with a touch of alpha.

You'll notice I've also been reading my own books. I started reading them for research purposes because I wanted to make a graphic that shows the spicy chapters in each of my books (you may have seen them across social media). I thought it might help new readers discover my work because my covers look innocent (but we all know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover 😉).

I must admit that I was disappointed when I read Loving Summer. It's the FIRST book I'd ever written, and it holds a special place in my heart because it started everything for me. It popped my author cherry!

However, I’ve been aware for some time that the writing in my debut isn’t up to my current standard because I've grown a lot as an author (as I should). I know it would be unrealistic to expect it to be my best work, and as proud as I am for writing a book at all; I cringed a little as I read it.

I asked my followers on Facebook whether I should rework Loving Summer to bring it closer to my current standards OR if I should leave it alone so readers can see my progress as an author. Most responders said I should leave it alone and focus my energy on writing my next book.

But after seeing another annual wrap author's post where she had gone through this same experience and decided to rework her earlier books, I've decided I'll do the same. I figure it's something I can do in front of the TV at night. I'll just plod along and get it done at my own pace.

I'll be sure to let you know when it's done so you can check it out.

I hope you had an awesome reading month!

And here's your template for this month! I hope you find all the best book boyfriends!

I've worked with my friends to curate a selection of books we think you'll love. Check them out!

Each month I'll be sharing a book that features our favourite book boyfriends ... cinnamon roll book boyfriends. Click the link to learn more!

Grumpy/Sunshine | Rockstar | Enemies-to-Lovers | Becoming his Muse | Forced Proximity

Grab it here!

Your contemporary romance read for this month! Click the link to learn more!

New Adult Romance | Brother’s Best Friend | Best Friend’s Sister | College/High School Romance | Coming of Age

Grab it here!

A freebie just for you! Click the link to learn more!

Motorcycle Romance | Second Chance | Childhood Love | Secret Child

Grab it here!

New Release Alert! Click the link to learn more!

Second Chance Romance | Accidental Pregnancy | Celebrity MMC | He Falls First (and he's all in)

Grab it here!

If you'd like somewhere to hang out and talk about my books, come and join my Facebook Group, Deb's Bibliomaniacs. Be sure to answer all the questions because I'd love to see you there. Just click on the image below. ⤵️

If you'd like to join a reader group that focuses solely on Cinnamon Roll Heroes, come and join Cinnamon Roll Book Boyfriends. Be sure to answer all the questions. Just click on the image below. ⤵️