Mary J. McCoy-Dressel Books

Tag: Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series

• Meet the Heroine: Secretive Kimber Sinclair

  Posted at 9:07 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 15, 2019

  

  Meet the Heroines

  A Mini Blog Series

  Tressa Garnett/Kimber Sinclair

  Finding Kimber #2

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series

  A Double Dutch Ranch Spin off Series

  

  Kimber lives with a secret.

  Tressa Garnett’s secret began the night she’d intended on turning in her criminal boyfriend to the cops. She’s college educated and an intelligent woman, but she never saw his betrayal coming.

  Her plan backfired. His succeeded.

  Now, because of him, she has an image behind her eyes she’ll never forget.

  The event that night, took her away from everything and everyone she loved.

  Due to this betrayal, Tressa Garnett changed her identity and her appearance in order to survive and make a new life as Kimber Kay Sinclair.

  Kimber had been employed as a traveling credit union auditor, so she was used to rules. However, her new words to live by are: Tell no one. Trust no one. Follow the rules, follow the rules, follow the damn rules and you’ll survive!

  Swept away from Oregon to a rundown ranch in a small town in Arizona, she’s starting over. The only thing making her life bearable is two horses that remained with the ranch, and the quaint little adobe home on the property.

  Zach Bryson, the ranch foreman hired to help her, and show her the ropes, so to speak, is nothing more than a hot-headed smartass too handsome for his own good…and too nosy for her liking.

  Coming in contact with Zach before her identity change, makes keeping her secrets twice as hard.

  Uncomfortable around him, she watches each step she takes, each word, to prevent from triggering his memory of her. Except for that one time…

  She lives in fear of being found out, but she’s a fighter. Her life depends on her not being a quitter.

  
  

  She’s friendly but careful.

  Tressa loathes living a lie.

  She tries to find Kimber and forces Tressa out of her life.

  Kimber wants to be a mom and have her own family one day.

  She misses her parents and younger sister so badly and sometimes wants to throw her hands up at this new life and return to them.

  Kimber fears anyone she befriends will also become a target if she is found out, so she keeps a tall wall around herself.

  However, soon after, and doing her best to acclimate to this new life, the Carlson family from the Double Dutch Ranch befriend her. Kimber’s leery and untrusting at first though she’s willing to give friendship a try.

  Against her will, she envies their happy family when she is so alone.

  As if she didn’t have enough problems, she finds it hard to resist Zach’s cocky charm. She doesn’t know if she can ever trust a man again–especially when her ruggedly handsome foreman keeps digging for answers. Not to mention, his shoulders are damn strong and desirously comforting.

  Kimber wakes each day with one question. Will this be the day she gets a bullet in her head.

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series #2

  A Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off Novel.

  Universal Buy Link

  
  

  ---

  Meet our other heroines by clicking this link.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Meet Our Heroines | 0 Comments | Tagged Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Contemporary #western romance series, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off Novel, Finding Kimber, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance, Witness Protection romance

• #WritersLife Book Talk ~ Widowed Ranch Matriarchs Have a Life Too

  Posted at 1:51 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 14, 2019

  

  I know, I know, I’ve been so absent. My blogging mojo is kicking me where it hurts, but I can’t seem to find my blogging muse. So, for now, today, I found a reason to return.

  This refers to the ranch matriarch in my book series. In this series, Judy Carlson has been a widow for many years.

  Some of you are wondering if I’ll write my ranch matriarch’s book. Yes! Absolutely. I am writing it. In fact, I have nearly thirty-three thousand words written, which turns out to be eighty-five pages, so far.

  Remember, I write real-life situations. Expect this book to have multiple points of view. If you know the series, then you know her boys will not take the sidelines if another book is coming out. Oh, no. They have a lot to tell about their lives, too. In the interim, kids have grown, hormones, both pregnancy and menopausal, have run rampant, babies have been born, and lost, but they keep on keeping on the close-knit Carlson way. Now, let’s prepare for Judy’s story later in 2019, which picks up two years after Lassoing the Last Dance.

  At the last minute, I decided to treat you to a snippet. It’s rare for me to do this so early, but… Y’all deserve to see what’s happening:

  WARNING: If you haven’t read the series, this snippet contains SPOILERS. I’m sorry, but if you read this, you could forget them unless you start reading book one right away.  None of my books have cliffhanger endings, and if you choose to read only one book, you will still have a complete story in itself. Always.

  Excerpt subject to change:

  ~~

  Judy Carlson got up from the stool in her middle son’s kitchen and strode to the window in the great room. Her oldest granddaughter, Destiny, had added more blush to what she’d already plastered on Judy’s cheeks. Nora still fiddled with her hair and after she’d brushed her hands through it to soften the areas from too much spray.

  Judy pushed Nora’s hands away. “Honey, stop fussing. No more blush, Destiny. Child, put the makeup away. Trista Rose, get out of Grandma’s face cream. Dale Connor either likes me how I am or not at all.”

  “You two had numerous dances at the party the night you met. He already liked you. This is a date, nothing more,” Nora chided.

  Judy clasped her hands at her chest and peered into the mirror over the table at the front door. “That was two years ago. Where’s he been since? I’m surprised he remembered my name. Oh, I’m nervous. Why did I say yes?”

  “Why not?” Nora asked. “It’s all in fun. Enjoy yourself.”

  “Grandma, you look sexy—”

  “Destiny! I’m not trying to look sexy. Where do you get this stuff?”

  “Romance novels. My dad and Uncle Jase don’t want you to go out with Mr. Connor. In the barn, I heard them talking about your date.”

  Nora shook her head. “They aren’t used to your grandma dating anyone other than Martyn is all, but he has yet another new girlfriend. Remember, Destiny, when I met your daddy, you were a little unsure of me being with him?”

  Destiny’s brow furrowed. “Nah uh, I liked you right away.”

  “Me too, Mommy.”

  Nora smiled. “Thank you both.”

  Judy slid Destiny’s recently cut hair behind one ear. “You aren’t helping, sweetheart. Your daddy and uncles’ have a lot of influence in my life. If they aren’t happy. Well…” Judy sighed. “That’s it. I’m going home to wait for Dale. Either way, I don’t want trouble from those boys I raised. I’m sure Dane will understand.”

  “You think so, Judy?” Nora waggled her finger and lowered her voice. “Must I remind you your youngest lives close? Dane carries the biggest weapons and has a military working dog trained to…you know what?”

  Judy frowned. “Hmm. You have a point.”

  “Yes, and Tristan sent a text. All three of them are sitting around your kitchen table as we speak.”

  This night could not end quickly enough. Now she knew how Jase had felt when she’d coerced him into spending time with Brenna the evening they’d met. Judy picked up her keys. “Oh, dear… Well, we better get over there before Dale shows up.”

  ~~

  Newcomer to the series? Well, let me tell you, Cowboy Boss and His Destiny is book #1 with Tristan, the middle son. Judy’s book will be #5 so get busy reading while I’m writing.  🙂 I wrote a spin off to this series where the Carlsons also appear.

  

  Readers, thanks so much for your interest in upcoming books in this and the spin off series. 

  Update on the new book and new series coming out in November: 

  If you loved the Double Dutch Ranch Series and the spin off, I hope you’ll love my new series as much. I sure do. I’m crazy about the new characters I’ve created. Have you ever been to Sedona, Arizona? This area plays a big part in the new one, but the main setting is north of there toward the Grand Canyon.

  If you’ve been following my TITLE dilemma with this book, I’m proud to announce I have a title!

  Oh, come on. You know I don’t release titles this early. I recently posted on Facebook on both my regular profile and author page, that, yes, I have a title after letting the book sit a couple weeks. I went back to it a fifth or one-hundredth time to do another revision/edit, and out of the blue, my hero gave me the title. The guy lived in my heard for a year, and it took him this long to reveal it to me–the cocky cowboy that he is. Humph.

  Thanks for stopping by.

  I missed another 52-Week Blog Challenge Friday even after writing a draft post. It didn’t feel like what I really wanted to say about overcoming and accepting bad reviews. I’ve had to do both, so I let the post sit in draft and ignored another week. Albeit, as you can see, I have been busy writing books, and I took this week to clean my apartment between revisions. It’s another one of those necessities even writers can’t ignore. I suppose this includes laundry? I won’t tell you how many up-and-down-the-stairs trips I made to the washer and dryer or how much it cost me. Nope, I will not tell you. Until the next time… Be good to yourself.

   

  Top image credit: Pixabay.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Double Dutch Ranch Series | 12 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Book Talk, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, contemporary western romance, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Grand Canyon, mary j mccoy dressel, Northern Arizona, Widowed Ranch Matriarchs Have a Life Too

• #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: Whispers of Forever~ Probability of Paternity…

  Posted at 3:14 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on November 10, 2018

  

  Hi, Welcome back. If you’re expecting Part 2 this week as I mentioned last week when I posted Part 1, you won’t find it.

  I thought about the post and the rest of the scene all that weekend and decided not to extend the scene here. In fact, I deleted the entire post. For one reason, the scene was taken out of context for those of you who don’t know the story. You missed the beginning when Jake went though accepting the changes about to overtake his and his son’s lives.

  In hindsight, it wasn’t fair to the book. Maybe it gave you the wrong impression about the story, when in fact, it is not about what Paige did. It’s about what happens after Paige did Jake wrong. It’s about a first love coming back into a broken-hearted cowboy, and a little boy’s life. That’s what the story should convey.

  Therefore, the quote I included in the post, should’ve started later:

  When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ― Alexander Graham Bell

  So this week, I choose to post a different scene from Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas. I hope you don’t hold it against me for not continuing with the scene from last week. If you didn’t catch that post, all the better. LOL.  ❤

   

  ---

  In last week’s Short Snippet Saturday excerpt, Paige had mentioned something awful she had done to ensure Jake would let her take Trace to live out of state. If only she could’ve seen into the future. Well, this is Jake dealing with the aftermath of the last cruel thing she had done… 

  

  Beth’s thoughtfulness lightened his heart, but with a shrug, he stood straight. “I want you to be there.”

  Agreeing, she followed him to where Trace watched TV. “We’ll be in my office for a few minutes if you need anything.”

  “All right, Dad. I like this show. It’s a marathon tonight.”

  “Enjoy it.” In the hallway, he stopped and placed his palms against the wall like he needed to hold it up, when in fact, it held him up. His head lowered toward the floor. He closed his eyes, breathing deep. “I’ve been thinking about this moment all evening. I don’t want to know now.” After a few minutes he continued to the office, closed the door, and took his phone out. “I’m sure this message is notification to check my account, not the actual result over voice mail.”

  Beth took a seat in a leather chair near the window that looked out at the front of the property, and she remained quiet.

  Jake dialed. Listened. He played the message with his eyes closed, one hand against the desk to prop himself up. His body felt numb. Disconnecting the call, he nodded and took a seat at his desk. The strength he depended on most of his life dissipated into the hard wood floor beneath his feet. “Yeah. I have a message in my account.”

  Beth came to him and put her arm around his shoulder. He logged in with his computer password and went to his account, again logging in there too. She placed her other hand on his shoulder and spoke softly. Sweetly. “Do you want me to read it?”

  His heart raced faster with each letter of the password, and by time the account opened, he might have a heart attack or stroke. Each move was forced, because this was all done against his will, or his better judgement. Why had this happened? Had Paige hated him that much? “I have to do this myself, but thanks.”

  “Jake, wait.”

  He peered up at her, motionless, his hands still on the keyboard, his little finger ready to hit enter. His voice was sandpapery hoarse. “What?”

  “What will you do… God, forgive me for saying this, but if the result is the same?” Beth stood behind, hugging him, and she leaned down until her cheek pressed against his head.

  “How can I honestly answer? I love that kid, but to know he isn’t my flesh and blood, I don’t know how I’ll respond. Nothing can make me stop loving him…I hope.” Jake leaned his head back against Beth’s body, and she slid her hand over his shoulder to rest against his chest. Yeah, he was glad she was there. “I don’t want to feel any different, but what if I do? What do I tell him if I’m different toward him? He’s already lost his mother, for God sake.”

  “He’s your son. My mom and dad loved me like their own child. I never felt like they didn’t. Honey, Trace won’t know, because I see how you are with him—I can’t imagine you changing. That boy is in your heart, your soul.”

  “Because for almost ten years he was my child. That’s why I’m…” He hesitated.

  “He is your child. You’ve raised him—have loved him through all the ups and downs…and he loves you.”

  “There’s only one way to find out. Either way, he’s never going to know, Beth.” Jake blew out the breath building up inside his body like a gas ready to explode. He had never been afraid of anything, but he was terrified of this. What if the results turned out the same as her rigged test? He dropped his hands to his knees. What if he did tell Trace? Would he want to find his real father one day? “I don’t know if I can do this. I could lose him.”

  “No one would know except you and I. If you want, I can leave the room so only you know.”

  He grasped her hand. “No. You’re a part of this with me.” How could he ask her to love his son if he wasn’t sure himself that he could? Dammit. He was sure. One hundred percent sure. No matter what, that child was his, and he’d love him until the day he died, flesh and blood or not. Jake hit enter and clicked open the PDF attachment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. He read: “Child, Trace Lawton. Father, Jake Lawton. Are you reading this, Beth?”

  Still standing behind him, she whispered with empathy in her voice, “Yes,” and squeezed his shoulders.

  Jake scrolled to the bottom of the test, and read: “Probability of Paternity…

  ---

  Thanks for reading!

  If you want to know the results along with Jake, you know what to do. This first book in the series is $0.99, and it kicks off the Spin Off — Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series. For new visitors, please know it’s rare for me to write anything with a cliffhanger, but I couldn’t give away the results. 

  A Double Dutch Ranch: Love at First Sight Spin Off Novel.

  

   

  Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I’ve had a whole inch and a half of snow already, and this morning was 24 degrees! Bah humbug.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Short Snippet Saturday | 2 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, DNA test, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, First in a series romance, Full Length Novel, mary j mccoy dressel, Short Snippet Saturday, Short Snippet Saturday: Whispers of Forever~ Probability of Paternity, western romance, Whispers of Forever

• Short Snippet Saturday: You Can Hurt People Without Touching Them

  Posted at 10:22 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 13, 2018

  

  Welcome back to Canyon Junction! We’re here with another Short Snippet Saturday post, but first… My heart goes out to all of you affected by another hurricane in the U.S. Many of you are still suffering from Florence and now Michael. Prayers and hugs are sent to everyone in need, and for those of you who are experiencing nature’s forces around the world.

  Well, the business of the day here is:

  It’s no surprise that I’d soon be posting another snippet from my new release, Hooked by Sundown, #3 in Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series. I’m happy to say the first review came in with a five star rating. It made my day. By the way… There is nothing short about this snippet today. Not even the title.  ❤

  Sheesh, I need shorter series names though.

  I don’t think an explanation is necessary for this snippet. It involves, Wade, Sophie, and her brother in Wade’s POV. It’s rather long. Not as long as it nearly was though before I cut some out.  🙂  Pour yourself another beverage and take a seat.

  ---

  Wade set his cup down then cranked his neck to be sure she remained out there while he said his piece. “I warned you about hurting your sister.”

  “Shut up, dude. I didn’t touch her. Who said I had to listen to you, anyway?”

  Dumbass. He came close to grabbing him around the throat. “You can hurt people without touching them. Look at her. You need a job? Straighten up, and I’ll give you one where I work. We have a guy on his way out. He doesn’t know it yet. Let me know when you’re ready, and you got a job.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t like seeing her distressed over you.” Sophie rose from the chair and headed inside. “Keep the job in mind. It’s your choice.” Wade removed a skillet from the bottom cupboard, turned the stove on, and added bacon. He warmed up his coffee and observed Sophie’s face when she came in. She glanced at Clay then back to him as if she expected new blood and bruising.

  “Do you have ice?” she asked.

  “Yep.” All this reminded him too much about his own brother. Regardless, Wade missed him. Accepting his death hadn’t happened yet. How long would it take?

  She got ice out and found a baggie in a drawer. “Here, bro. This will make you feel better.”

  Clay glanced at Wade then applied the bag to a knot on his forehead. “Can I get out of here?” he asked Sophie.

  “Not yet, I’m making breakfast. Take those aspirins.”

  Wade had to get out of the room. He understood family issues better than most, but he was about to gag at the way she babied Clay. A couple big breaths later, he reentered the kitchen.

  Clay headed down the hallway but came back, gripped the doorway, saying, “Thanks. Both of you. I appreciate it. Don’t fix anything for me.” He turned toward the bathroom. “Let me know when you can take me to get my truck.”

  Sophie sighed. “I don’t know why I do this to myself.”

  She’d hid her turmoil well. Wade got up to hug her. “This is what I wanted to do last night. You’re afraid of losing out again and don’t trust me.”

  She returned his embrace. “Aren’t we all? I’m afraid of a lot of things like my boy being hurt again, me…”

  Wade held her at an arm’s length. “Didn’t you hear me say I don’t want to hurt anybody? You need to stop hearing only what you want.”

  “It’s a promise you can’t keep.”

  “Yes, I can. The part I can keep. Yeah, I’m gonna die one day. We all are, but I hope it’s not too soon. Between now and then, I can promise.” Wade peered into her eyes. “You gonna hurt me? It works two ways.”

  She sniffled, but tears didn’t fall. “I’m afraid I already did.”

  Yeah, she did, but he allowed it to dig at him. “Will you hurt me again?”

  “It isn’t my intention.”

  “Let’s move on then. Stop dwelling on the fact that you’re going to lose again. Maybe the other loss was also your gain.” Damn, but that sounded cold-hearted. He grabbed a fork to turn the burning bacon.

  “Oh no, it burned. I’m sorry. Go on. Get out of here so I can concentrate on feeding you.”

  “I can take Clay to get his truck if you want to finish breakfast.”

  She turned down the heat. “Sure. Let me ask him.”

  He took her arm, but she shook it free with a glare. “No. Tell him instead of asking.”

  She gave him a weird look. “Ah…”

  “Sophie…” He wouldn’t say she needed to stop acting like Clay’s mother. That decision was hers. She’d have to find her own escape from his dominance and to stop enabling him.

  “You’re right. Thank you for taking him in last night. If not, I’d be waiting at the hospital.”

  Wade strode into the great room and headed to the stairway. “I need to get my keys and wallet.” He went upstairs and stood at the rail. He couldn’t hear their voices, which was a good thing, meaning Clay hadn’t argued or raised his voice with her. Wade got what he came up for and went back downstairs.

  Clay waited at the door. “I’ll pay for your gas. I don’t suppose you smoke.”

  He shoved his wallet into his back pocket and attached a knife in a sheath to his belt. “Not anymore. It’s not necessary for you to put gas in my truck.”

  “It’s the least I can do. That’s a damn big knife.”

  “That’s the way I like them.” He gave Sophie a hug before leaving. “See you soon.”

  At Wade’s truck, Clay held the door before getting inside. “You’re good for my sister.”

  Wade nodded in agreement, got in, and drove away in silence. You’re damn right he was good for Sophie. Maybe she’d figure it out sooner than later because he didn’t plan on waiting until later.

  ---

  
  

  Thank you for reading. Visit the page HERE to read more about this Spin Off Series to the Double Dutch Ranch Series.

  ---

  I hope your weekend is off to a great start. The weather here went from the high 80s to the 40s within a couple days, but it’s beautiful here. Each day I see new trees changing color in the wooded area right outside my bedroom window. My car has turned yellow due to small leaves falling from the tree in the front yard. I don’t know what kind of tree it is.

  Soon, when the leaves are all down, I’ll be able to spot where the turkey and deer live. Eight or nine turkeys come out on occasion to strut across my parking lot. The Tom usually stays behind until later then he squawks and screams trying to find them. (I guess.)

  

  How’s the weather where you are this autumn?

  Thanks for visiting. I love when you stop by!

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, autumn, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Cowboy Romance, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Gentlemen Cowboys with a touch of bad, Hooked by Sundown, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, New Release eBooks, short snippet Saturday: You can Hurt People Without Touching Them, Vacation romance, western romance

• Release Day: Hooked by Sundown

  Posted at 7:41 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 28, 2018

  

  You recently joined me when I did the cover reveal a couple days ago. Now, you can read the book because it’s AVAILABLE. I’ll get right to the point and post the cover and blurb with a universal buy link to your favorite retailer and your country, and Amazon. com. Hooked by Sundown is available at Apple, Kobo, Amazon, and Nook, and at Walmart eBooks via Kobo. I’ve released this book at a discounted price for a limited time only.

  Forgive me for reiterating the info here, but if you’re new and didn’t see the cover reveal post, here we go with Release News:

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series #3

  A Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off

   

  

  Blurb:

  Wade Emory falls fast for women, yet it’s a well-known fact his relationships don’t last. On a trip to the Pacific Coast to visit his ill brother, he slips into his bad habit when he meets a hotheaded mom with a son who spews four-letter words. However, after enjoying nearly a week with them, she and the boy leave early. Before she’s gone forever, he convinces her to meet up again to pick up where they left off on the beach. Then, at home, an unexpected visitor pops in, and he learns the past harbors secrets and lies that don’t always stay hidden. Life’s lessons have taught him that people don’t stick around, so how can he prevent a relationship with Sophie from becoming another failure?

  Sophie Price-Daniels needs a change of scenery. The opportunity arises when she flies to California to bail her troublemaking brother out of jail. When he directs his anger at her and her boy, a stranger steps in, but a hero is the last thing she wants. She’s alone and living in her self-appointed prison of grief, until…until she peers into his warm yet saddened eyes. As desires long forgotten force their way to the surface, she’s faced with a dilemma—to give in to her needs and accept a new future is possible for her and her son—or back away and continue to believe she’s betraying a man who is no longer with them.

  Two lonely people need to trust each other—and themselves—to overcome their unfortunate pasts.

  ---

  Universal Buy Link

  Amazon. Com

  Check out the Series PAGE for info on all the books in this series.

  Visit the page below for information about the series that led the way to this Spin Off:

  Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight

  I’m happy you took a moment to stop by today. Thank you. Enjoy your weekend!

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, New Release | 9 Comments | Tagged Arizona, Beach vacation, bronc riding, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, cowboys, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Fiction, Hooked by Sundown, iBooks, Kindle, Kobo, mary j mccoy dressel, New Release, Nook, ranchers, Walmart eBooks, western romance

• Western Romance Spin Off Series Book 3~ Hooked by Sundown #CoverReveal!

  Posted at 8:53 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 26, 2018

  

  Howdy. I won’t dilly-dally here today. Why not start with something I’ve been talking about for too long now? Ha-ha. A Cover Reveal. How about that! By the way, this is the week Hooked by Sundown will be released. I’m excited!

  ---

  So, without further delay, I’m proud to introduce you to Wade (swoon-worthy) Emory and Sophie Price-Daniels.  ❤  You’ve met Sophie’s son Emmett in snippets throughout the past few months.

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series #3

  A Double Dutch Ranch Spin Off Series

  Cover Reveal

  

  Hooked by Sundown

  Blurb

  Wade Emory falls fast for women, yet it’s a well-known fact his relationships don’t last. On a trip to the Pacific Coast to visit his ill brother, he slips into his bad habit when he meets a hotheaded mom with a son who spews four-letter words. However, after enjoying nearly a week with them, she and the boy leave early. Before she’s gone forever, he convinces her to meet up again to pick up where they left off on the beach. Then, at home, an unexpected visitor pops in, and he learns the past harbors secrets and lies that don’t always stay hidden. Life’s lessons have taught him that people don’t stick around, so how can he prevent a relationship with Sophie from becoming another failure?

  Sophie Price-Daniels needs a change of scenery. The opportunity arises when she flies to California to bail her troublemaking brother out of jail. When he directs his anger at her and her boy, a stranger steps in, but a hero is the last thing she wants. She’s alone and living in her self-appointed prison of grief, until…until she peers into his warm yet saddened eyes. As desires long forgotten force their way to the surface, she’s faced with a dilemma—to give in to her needs and accept a new future is possible for her and her son—or back away and continue to believe she’s betraying a man who is no longer with them.

  Two lonely people need to trust each other—and themselves—to overcome their unfortunate pasts.

   

  Also in this series:

  

   

  Check out the series where it all began:

  Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight

  ---

  This is one of my favorite covers to date. Hooked by Sundown turned out to be another of my favorite books, as well. Giving this secondary character in the series a book was the right choice. I knew he had a story lurking inside. Poor guy.

  

  ---

  Thanks to:

  My talented cover designer, Dawnè Dominique at DuskTilDawn Designs, for creating more than a dozen covers for me. When she sent me the first draft for Hooked by Sundown, I accepted it with no changes to be made. She has a way of getting into my head and seeing my vision, but with her artistic eye to keep me focused. You know you’ve met the perfect team member when this happens. You have no idea, and I’ll never tell, all the special things she did to create certain aspects of this cover.

  Thanks to the male cover model, Mathias, for bringing Wade to life. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was the same Wade I had in my head. I swear, he walked out of my head and into the door at Period Images. VJ Dunraven sure knows how to capture a moment with her camera.

  Dreamstime Images.

  Thanks so much for coming around today to join me in showing off my newest cover to the world. I’ll return with links when the book is available.

  Enjoy the rest of your week!

  
  

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Cover Reveal, New Release | 10 Comments | Tagged #CoverReveal, #NewRelease, Alpha hero, amazon, Apple, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Close-knit families, Cover Reveal, cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Dreamstime, Finding Kimber, grieving heroine, Hooked by Sundown, iBooks, iTunes, Kobo, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, New Release, Nook, Pacific Coast, Period Images, small town, spin off series, Spin Off Series Book Three~ Hooked by Sundown #CoverReveal, Walmart eBooks, western romance, Whispers of Forever

• #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: No More Lies

  Posted at 11:56 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 23, 2018

  I thought I’d share a snippet from Finding Kimber.

  The third book in this series will be out by the end of summer.

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series

  A Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off novel.

  

  Here’s the blurb for this book to help explain the two names used in this short snippet:

   

  She’s wary of her future. He’s burdened by his past.

  Cattleman Zachary (Zach) Bryson arrives in Arizona with hopes of leaving the ghosts from his past behind. Hired by a stranger to run a ranch, he meets the owner—a secretive woman with no ranching experience. He’s seen her before, but she wasn’t a redhead with green eyes. In their first encounter, she swept him off his feet without their exchanging a word. Why did she change her appearance? What secrets lay behind those heart-stopping eyes? Seeing this job as a challenge, he sticks around to tackle this hottie head-on.

  After her life is threatened, Kimber Sinclair is forced to flee her lush Oregon county for a small town in Arizona with sand, saguaros, and dusty cowboys. She settles in to live a lie—to discover the person behind her new identity while she mourns the death of Tressa Garnett—her given name at birth. However, keeping a distance from her ruggedly handsome, broad-shouldered, wise-cracking ranch foreman, isn’t easy. She struggles daily to hide her secret from Zach who demands answers. By telling him the truth, his life could also be in danger.

  If trouble finds her, will she choose fight or flight? Can Zach set aside his own issues, or will his nightmares prevent him from doing what he was unknowingly hired to do?

  ---

  Set up: Kimber is doing something she swore never to do… Zach is taking her into hiding against her wishes because it is no longer safe for her to stay on the Adobe Sunset Ranch.  😦  (This makes me sad for her.) Modified to avoid spoilers.

  Her breath caught. “What the hell did you say?” Greg repeated it.

  “What does that mean? How?” Her heart hit the floorboard of the truck. This couldn’t have been Jerry’s doings. Who else was involved?

  “He was stabbed multiple times. They’ll transfer him to their local hospital.”

  “How do you know? Who did this?”

  “It doesn’t matter how I know.”

  “It matters. His men or woman, is still out there looking for me. There is no guarantee they’d stop looking if he…dies. I’m sure they’re all doing this for Sam now.”

  Zach whipped his head around so fast, she thought it’d roll off. She nodded to him, that in fact, he had heard her right. “I’ll get the phone you mentioned.”

  “Stay out of sight.” He paused. “Ah, Tressa, there’s something I have to tell you. Your father is on the way here.”

  “My father will be there?” Her fingers instinctively clasped her necklace, and she pictured her gentle dad.

  Zach pulled into the campground and drove around looking for their site. He stopped the truck and took her hand when he found the spot.

  Greg spoke low into the phone. “I have to go.”

  “Greg, wait. When my dad arrives, make sure they’re both safe. Please.”

  “Jerry is under guard; therefore, your father will be, too.” He hung up.

  Zach faced her, and his eyes held questions she’d become accustomed to. “Your father? Your family isn’t dead?”

  Here we go again. No more lies.

   

  ---

   

  Thanks for reading. Enjoy your weekend.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 5 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting Romance, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off, Finding Kimber, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Short Snippet Saturday: No More Lies, western romance, witness protection

• #AmWriting Update and Snippet

  Posted at 4:21 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 17, 2018

  

  What the heck have I been working on since the major revision of Cowboy Boss and his Destiny? Well, folks, for those of you who are interested, I’m back to working on book three in the spin off–Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series–Wade’s story. No, Wade’s story isn’t the title. The title is a whole other deal going on here in my head.

  I have three titles sitting at the top of my manuscript in fancy font looking as pretty as can be, but I can’t select the right one. They’re okay, but they don’t feel like “the one.” The other night I typed a good line… “Hmm, well, now,” I said to myself . “This could be my title.” It’s growing on me.

  By the looks of things, this might be the only book I publish this year. I had a goal of two. Of course, I’m not giving up on the goal yet, but with all the medical stuff going on in my life right now, I’m not sure what lies ahead besides more tests.

  Anyway, for readers of my spin off series, you have met Wade Emory in the first book. He works with Jake Lawton as a foreman and now owns part of Jake’s ranching supply business. However, his luck with women sucks. Isn’t it awful for a romance hero’s love life to suck? In all fairness, he hasn’t been a book hero, but I’ve had so much fun turning him into one. Wade is worthy of being called a romance hero now.

  As a secondary character in Whispers of Forever, Wade began a serious relationship with a woman in the Air Force who lived in Las Vegas, but nope, luck evaded him. In Finding Kimber, his buddy, and best friend, Dane Carlson, set him up with a, well, ahem, let’s move on, and say Wade wasn’t big on dating someone recently out of college who had a drinking problem. In this case, he made sure there wouldn’t be a second date. Oh, and then… Blah, blah,  this is the story of his life.  In his book, he takes a trip, but it isn’t for a vacation. It all boils down to… Will he have to travel four hundred miles from home to meet “the one”? Coming in 2018.

  Here’s a little tidbit from my draft:

  

  Wade hurried down the stairway, taking two steps at a time, through the lobby, and out the door. He caught the guy getting into a shuttle bus and yanked him off before he got to the second step. “You’re not going anywhere.” The smell of alcohol filled the air between them. Wade held his arm and dragged Clay back up the stairs without anything more than a missed swing from the drunk, and a few eyes from hotel patrons. Wade pounded on her door, and when she opened it, he shoved the guy inside. “Give the lady her money, or you won’t leave here walking.”

  She shoved Wade in the chest. “What in the hell are you doing?” She clasped her hands together and faced her brother. “Give me my money, Clay. You didn’t even care how me and Tanner got home. Do you think I’ll forget this?” She reached into his pocket for her money. “Get out of my life.”

  Her brother glared back and forth at her and Wade. “You’ll be sorry.”

  “I was sorry when I came to get you out of jail. Oh, if Dad were here, he’d beat you silly.”

  “I can do the job.” Wade shifted his stance and smirked.

  “You? Who are you? No, never mind.” She flipped her hand toward the door. “Would you get out of my room?”

  Wade held his stubborn ground. “Not until he leaves.”

  She glared at her brother. “You heard the man.”

  Wade shoved him toward the door and watched over the balcony railing until he staggered out of the hotel. He peered at her and shook his head, then left for a dinner he didn’t feel like eating.

   

  ---

  “Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” ~Author unknown

  Thanks for sticking around to read. 🙂

  #TuesdayThoughts

  Solitude coaxes magical things from our souls. ~Terri Guillemets

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Arizona, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, contemporary western romance, first draft, hero, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, series romance, Snippet, spin off series

• #AmWriting Celebrating in Stages: Farewell My Lovelies #MFRWauthor

  Posted at 7:30 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 13, 2018

  

  Here we are again. Welcome back. It’s Friday and time for another Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge post. It’s a blog hop, baby!

  Week 15: How I celebrate completing my manuscript

  I’m not sure if this means after completing a draft or after it’s been edited and ready to go. Either way, I don’t celebrate like I should, but for now it works for me, and gives me a period of down time after finishing a book.

  Upon completion of a manuscript, I’ll take a few days or a weekend to get away from the stories and relax with Netflix, movies, dinner with friends, or take time to read someone else’s book. To breathe.

  I don’t celebrate outwardly, but I do celebrate internally at different stages. A sense of pride overwhelms me once I:

  • Finish a first draft.
  • Send a manuscript to my editor.
  • Finish the final edits.
  • I RELAX and enjoy the moment after sending it to my formatter.
  • FINALLY I’m thrilled yet celebrating subtly after I upload and hit publish.

   When my work on a book is finished, I’ll smile and tell my hero and his heroine they are ready to go out into the world. I will literally miss them when it’s over. This is why I write a series. I get to see them again.

   

  

  One thing I do is give myself a silent praise or a pat on the back when I finish the first draft. I mention it on social media, email or text my friends and family, but other writers understand it better than even best friends. However, family and friends are happy for my accomplishment. After publication and while out, I want to scream, “I published another book!”

  Celebration is simple because I feel like I’m on a timeline and need to get the next book started and written as soon as possible. Book sales are my survival. Book writing is my sanity.

  With my next book, which is the third book in a spin off series, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, I DO PLAN on gathering my friends and celebrating together. Oh, and to get a mani-pedi.

  

  Thanks for reading.

  ---

  This is the time to hop on over to check out the #MFRWauthor Blog to find other participating authors. See ya next time.

  

  Photo credits: Pixabay.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor | 12 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, #WritersLife, Authors Life, blog hop, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Celebrating in Stages: Farewell My Lovelies, editor, First drafts, formatting, Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge, publiching, relaxing my way, Romance

• Snippet: Finding Kimber: An Unexpected Encounter

  Posted at 1:10 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 25, 2018

  

  For this excerpt, Kimber meets her dog for the first time. It doesn’t sound like an interesting excerpt to read about Kimber meeting her dog, but there’s more going on here, especially after what happened earlier in this scene. Now, after this second revelation, she’ll have some explaining to do in the near future. It isn’t an explanation she ever wanted to give to anyone. Picture Kimber leaving the barn after turning out the horses this early morning. She hadn’t expected to see Zach standing there, and especially hadn’t expected to meet his brother for the first time. She’s standing in a knee-length cotton robe with a thin gown underneath. Introductions happened earlier in the scene. The guys are getting ready to leave.

  ---

  She’s wary of her future. He’s burdened by his past.

  Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series

  A Double Dutch Ranch Spin Off Series.

  

  At that moment, a dog whined. Kimber widened her eyes. “I didn’t know you had a dog, Zach. Tyler?”

  “We don’t here in Arizona.” Zach headed to his truck. He opened the door and brought out a mid-size, long-haired dog. “You do.” He plopped the dog into her arms.

  Tyler chuckled. “I found her on the road between here and Boulder City. The poor girl has no tags, and she looks like she’s been neglected. My mama would whoop my behind if I left her there. I took a picture and left my phone number at the nearest rest stop.”

  “But—”

  Zach cut in, “You said you were lonely at night. Now you don’t have to be. I can’t keep her in the loft all day while I’m working, and she didn’t take kindly to Jake’s dog, Kasha.”

  “You’re giving her to me?” Kimber’s gaze followed Tyler out the back door and down toward the fence where she took the horses.

  “Maybe. You’re not allergic to dogs, are you? If it isn’t a problem, can you keep her here for me? It’s better for her here than locked up in the loft.”

  Kimber put her down before dropping her. She tickled the dog under her white chin. “She’s so cute, but she needs a bath and a good brushing. Have you named her?” She kept one hand on her in case she bolted. “You could bring her here daily with you, but I’ll keep her here. I hope she likes horses.”

  “She acted like they were no big deal over at Jake’s. I haven’t named her.” He called Tyler to leave. “Naming is your job, Red.”

  The dog rolled over, and Kimber patted her gray belly. “I can’t tell what she is. Part border collie? But the gray—”

  The pooch got up and shook sand from her stormy gray and white coat. “Looks a little like one. We have a couple on the ranch. She’s mixed though.”

  

  “I’ll have a name for her by time I see you for dinner tonight. Do either you or Tyler have any food allergies?” She got a dumbfounded look from Zach.

  “The reason I ask is because I’m allergic to turmeric. Weird, I know. I don’t know anyone else allergic to it. It can be a problem, but I carry an auto-injector with me.”

  Zach blinked. His Adams apple got stuck trying to swallow, it seemed. He chewed at a corner of his bottom lip, snapped his fingers and pointed at her. Then he closed his hand, bringing it to his chest.

  She repeated, “Do you or Tyler have food allergies?”

  He cleared his throat, came closer then lowered his gaze to her lips. His eyes flicked back to hers. Usually, his dreamy orbs sparkled in the sunlight, but not now. They darkened like grass in an oil spill. Tyler headed toward them.

  “Zach?” She asked again, nervous now due to his menacing glare, and she wished to be somewhere else. On the other side of the planet would work. Had he figured it out?

  “Uh uh.” Zach crouched and lifted the dog, squeezing her in a gentle hug.

  She looked small in Zach’s strong arms. Kimber stroked her fur, but Zach fell back a step. “Thank you for this. I’ll take good care of her for you.”

  His voice changed to a somber tone. “There might be something in the tack room to tie around her neck and a rope to keep her from running off until she gets to know you.”

  “I hope she’s housebroken.”

  “I’m positive she is.” Zach carried the dog with him. He glanced back at her with a frown, then he and Tyler entered the tack room.

  Kimber trembled as he walked away. She folded her arms, squeezing them. Something happened. A wrinkle interrupted their… Their what? Their working relationship that finally worked for a short time? The fact he was kind to the dog said something about him, but his instant melancholy veneer said the opposite.

  She rushed to her bedroom to dress for the day. She’d love to have a new dress to wear tonight, but now dinner was the last thing she wanted. Tonight, she wanted to be alone, but dammit, she’d blurted out the invitation. She couldn’t back out. This business meeting was her future. Hurriedly, she put in her contacts so he didn’t have to stare at her blue eyes any longer when he brought the dog up to the house.

  

  My dog Kasha is on the cover of Whispers of Forever. I suppose the other books in this series will have to have a dog, too.  🙂  ❤

  If you made it this far, thanks for reading.

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  Posted in #AmWriting, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series | 4 Comments | Tagged #Cowboy series, #WhatToRead, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, dogs, Dogs in books, Finding Kimber, full-length novel, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, series romance, Snippet, Snippet: Finding Kimber: An Unexpected Encounter, western romance

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