Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Hi, is it Wednesday again? Ah, it must be time for another Book Hooks post. Today I bring you the first book in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight:

Cowboy Boss and his Destiny

The grandma he mentions is Tristan’s mom, our ranch matriarch who is featured in book five: Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love. Snippet modified to avoid spoilers.

Oh, my God. “I can’t talk right now, Destiny. We have to get there.” His child’s pain hit him like a spear to the chest. He wanted to be supportive while she cried, but he needed support. I have to get there. Have to get there. At the emergency room parking lot, he unhooked Destiny and carried her inside.

“I have to see her. Nora Trinity. Just brought in…”

“Just a minute, please.” She glanced at Destiny who still cried. “Do you have someone coming for your child?”

“Yes, but I can’t wait.” He released Destiny to the floor. She held him as tight as she could.

The lady called back there and told him it’d only be a minute. A doctor came out and glanced at Destiny. Tristan knelt. “Honey, you have to wait here for a minute. Grandma will be here soon, real soon.” He pointed to a chair. “Go sit right there and don’t get out of it. Don’t talk to anybody.”

“No, Daddy. Don’t leave me.” She clung to him with both arms.

There was no expression on the doctor’s face whatsoever.

“Listen to me. Only for a few minutes. I have to go to the back.” He held her face. “This is the time you need to be big.”

She shook her head erratically, and shouted, “I’m not big.”

He picked her up and hugged her. “Take me back, please.”

They went through the doors to a conference room. “I’ll put a chair outside the door for your daughter,” the doctor stated matter-of-factly. He dragged a chair out of the room, pushing it against the wall beside the door while Tristan fell apart inside.

Tristan lowered her to the chair. He demanded that Destiny stay. “I’ll be right inside. Right here.”

She folded her arms across her chest and stared at the floor.

The doctor closed the door behind him but leaned against it for what seemed an eternity. Silence.

Tristan’s heart shattered. They were in a conference room. Ah, damn, this couldn’t be good.

UNIVERSAL BUY LINK

From his experience with women, Tristan Carlson learned that some don’t want a ready-made family, and he and his four-year-old daughter come as a package. Then he falls hard and fast for Nora, but if she isn’t going to give him the trust he needs, their relationship won’t last. Without a warning, darkness falls over the entire Carlson family when a near-repeat of a devastating memory comes back to haunt them, and Tristan fears he and his child will have to suffer all over again.

When Nora Trinity returns to Canyon Junction, she doesn’t expect to fall for the handsome cowboy she lends a hand to in a parking lot. However, since then, she learns about a past that nearly destroyed him. Now she can lose everything if she can’t find it in her heart to trust he’s a changed man. Then why does he disappear at a time when Nora needs him more than she’s ever needed him before? Has she lost him, anyway?

Tristan and Nora’s bond is put to the test. They need to be strong enough to overcome issues of trust, family complications, and painful memories. They vow to prevail when circumstances beyond their control attempt to prove them wrong.

This book has gone through multiple changes since the first edition. In fact, in 2016 I revised the entire book and cut the length by… Hmm, A LOT. That isn’t all. I gave it a new cover. I removed so much for the purpose of adding book numbered 1.5 to make it one complete book and doing away with the original 1.5.

Thank you for reading. While here, click the image below to visit participating authors in this Marketing for Romance Writers Book Hooks blog hop.

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. It’s a chance each week to hook readers on your current WIP or any previously published book.

Image credit – Father and Daughter: Pixabay – platinumportfolio