Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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  • Tag: Contemporary #western romance series

    • #WritersLife Decisions and Dilemmas

      Posted at 12:48 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 5, 2021
      Pixabay Geralt

      Hiya, folks. It’s me pondering again. Oh-oh!

      I’m wondering how many series writers ask themselves: When do I end a series? Ending a series also affects readers who are fans of the books. As a reader and author, I, too, have saddened to see a series end.

      Writers, have you ended a series?  How did you come to the decision?

      Readers, what do you think when a much-loved series is over?


      Decisions:

      Forgive me for making this about me, me, me. Haha. I might have mentioned this before, but early last year, I asked a few of my dedicated readers if my original subtitle Seasoned with Destiny: BILL’S FINAL GIFT sounded like the final book in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight.  

      My oldest son first pointed this out to me when he asked if this was the final book. Bless his heart. He’s great with critiquing my titles. Indeed, the readers I asked agreed it sounded like the last book in the series. Therefore, I changed the subtitle to “A Gift of Love” because lo-and-behold, I didn’t want it to sound like the last book in the series. I asked my cover designer to change the subtitle, and even she thought the first one sounded like the series would end.

      HOWEVER…

      Since then, and after days of contemplating whether I wanted to write more books in this series, I asked myself if book five should end it after all. The series can stop where it is without another book. But after two new and unexpected characters popped up in the story, and a surprise declaration from another, I mentally made a plan for a sixth and seventh book. Maybe eight.

      Should we step back from making major decisions at certain times in our lives? Wouldn’t illness be one of those times? Living in a pandemic when so many “normal” things change in our lives, also has an impact on decision making. Shouldn’t this be another time to take a step back and weigh all the options? This is what I’m trying to do. To me, these are rhetorical questions because I know the answer is yes.

      Way before the end of writing book one, I planned on a long series. I’d be sad to see this one end. An author who I admire has advised others to wrap it up if sales dry up. Sales almost had, but to be fair, I blame myself. One needs to put books in front of readers, and I neglected to do this for many months–nearly a year. Therefore, I can’t base a decision on low sales until I put my heart and brain back into my job and promote myself and my stories.

      When I promote, sales go up across the board and across all of my series books. My new book did push sales to all of my books. Needless to say, this encouraged me.

      Dilemmas:

      Another thing driving me to say farewell to the Carlson family is: I feel like I’m called to write something new.

      Do you know this feeling, writers?  

      This new idea rolled out of my head like a red carpet at an awards show. A little part of me thinks I can extend the spin off series with the new books that popped into my head. I’m sure this harebrained idea is me (or my muse) trying to hang on to the series??? You see, the spin off series takes us off the ranch and introduces us to friends and acquaintances who live and love in and around Canyon Junction. 😉

      I tell myself “The books can fit into the series.” Just in case, I wrote a short scene in Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love for the second unexpected character who would begin with this “new” idea.

      I can make it happen if I want it to. I’m a writer!

      After all, I transformed an old draft for Finding Kimber into a western to fit into the spin off series. A new western setting changed everything especially my hero Zachary (Zach) Bryson, who is now a cowboy. He’s a mighty fine cowboy, too, though a stubborn–the way I like them–alpha. He was not named Zachary in the draft. The major parts of the story that I kept was Kimber’s name and her needing witness protection. Read her tempestuous beginning HERE.

      The Truth Is:

      It’s 2021, and I’m feeling a bit better than last year and thinking clearer now. The thing is, I have a new series to build in the Two-Five Ranch Outlaws. I’m behind in this series. Instead of writing the draft for book two, I should be writing book three, but in 2020 life got in the way… The same as it did for all of us. At this point, I don’t want to begin another new series. Shame on my muse for nudging me at the wrong time. Hmm. I’m leaning toward writing the next Double Dutch Ranch story and to go from there. Maybe the new series idea is for another life.

      So much to write. So little time. All I can say is “Stay Tuned.”

      Time goes, you say? Ah no!

      Alas, Time stays, we go.

      ~Henry Austin Dobson

      I’ve been writing and revising this post since last year. What does that say about decision making? So, if you continued this far, I thank you kindly for reading. 💖 Enjoy the rest of your day.


      Readers? Authors? Any thoughts on the ending of a series?

      Image credits: Featured image- Geralt. Signs & mountain-Pixabay JanBaby. Quote from The Quote Garden.

      Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Double Dutch Ranch Series | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Contemporary #western romance series, Decisions and Dilemmas, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance Series books
    • Meet the Heroine: Secretive Kimber Sinclair

      Posted at 9:07 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 15, 2019
      sunset sky, silhouette of cowgirl sitting, knee up, arm leaning over knee, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance Blog post Meet the Heroine series

      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

      FindingKimber_2021_MED

      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.


      couple embracing, black and white, checked shirt on man, woman short top, jeans, Blog post Meet the Heroine Kimber Sinclair

      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


      FindingKimber_2021_MED


      Meet our other heroines by clicking this link.

      Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Meet Our Heroines | 2 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
    • #MFRWauthor ~A Reading Writer~ Week 25 Blog Challenge #AmWriting

      Posted at 9:17 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 23, 2017

       

      Favorite Books to Read

      Is it just me or are the weeks (years) flying by? It’s week 25 and we’re off to another week of the 52 Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop.

      There must be something wrong with me, or I’m trying to be too analytical when it comes to figuring out these topics. Does this mean what books I read over and over? Favorite books from my past? Favorite books I’d recommend? I have many favorites.

      I prefer to read romance, but it isn’t the only thing I read. What’s wrong with a  Happily-Ever-After?  ❤  ❤

       

      As a teenager, I read historical romance—my favorites then. I got hooked on Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen E. Woodiwiss.

      Some old favorites from long ago written by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss:

      • The Flame and the Flower
      • The Wolf and the Dove
      • Ashes in the Wind
      • A Rose in the Winter.

      The list goes on.

      Some of my favorite books were written by Nora Roberts. Other favorites are written by John Grisham. Oh, I read a lot of self-published books in different genres by Indie authors I’ve connected with online or have come across. Many are favorites.

      I don’t write erotic romance but I read it sometimes. One of my favorites was purchased by the cover alone while browsing books at Barnes and Noble. It’s called Submission by Cherie Feather. OMG. Today I might not think of it as a favorite. My reading style seems to change over the years. I should reread it to find out.  🙂  Another old favorite paranormal author is Christine Feehan. I say old favorite because I haven’t read anything by her for years because I can’t get back into paranormal.

      My favorite New Adult book is Easy by Tammara Webber.

      Today, my favorite western romance authors include Linda Lael Miller and Delores Fossen to name a few. When Delores friended me on Facebook, I about jumped over the moon. A favorite by her is Wrangled, but I have a long list of books yet to read. Louis L’Amour and Craig Johnson are favorite western authors. If Craig’s name is familiar, he wrote the Longmire books. (Longmire used to be a TV show, but is now on Netflix with the final season coming in September 2017.)

      I can’t say I have one favorite by Linda because many of them turn out to be my favorite after reading. I’m reading book #1 in a new series right now. I’m inspired by reading Linda’s westerns because it puts me in the mood to write my own stories. Does that make sense?

      It’s difficult for me to read, even a favorite book, without my muse, or characters, drawing me back to them. They’re a selfish lot, I suppose, because they want my attention. This prevents me from sitting down to relax and get lost in a story for long.  Once I am lost in the western environment—an environment I love— I’m reminded that I have a book needing attention in the same environment. So, if I have to answer the question about favorite books, I’ve proven to myself that my favorite books are contemporary western romance.

      I have favorite non-fiction books too:

      • God’s Strength for This Day by Lloyd John Ogilvie
      • Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing written by Mignon Fogarty
      • The Emotion Thesaurus Series by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
      • Let’s Get Visible by David Gaughran
      • Women Who Kept the Lights- An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers by Mary Louise Clifford and J. Candace Clifford. (I’m from the state with the most lighthouses. How can I not be interested in them? I love lighthouses!)
      • All my photography books are my favorites. (My hobby)

      And last but not least, my own books are on my favorites list, too. Please don’t think less of me for admitting it.

      I appreciate you taking the time to read.

      You can visit the other participating authors by clicking BLOG HOP. We’re all romance writers in many different genres. I’m curious as to what favorite books we might have in common.  ❤

      Week 25 – MFRW 52-week Blog Challenge Participants

      Books & Kindle image credit: Pixabay

      Disclaimer: I don’t get any compensation for mentioning Kindle. I also read on iPad, and I don’t have any compensation for mentioning iPad, either.

      Posted in #AmWriting, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge | 29 Comments | Tagged #AmReading, #AmWriting, #AuthorLife, #MFRWauthor, 52-week blog challenge, blog hop, books, Contemporary #western romance series, cowboys, favorite books, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, readers, Romance, series romance
    • #AmWriting This and That and a Short Snippet Saturday Peek~ Plus A Spring Fling Contest!

      Posted at 12:29 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 8, 2017

      Hello to you all. It’s the weekend!

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western romance, series romance

      Oh, you want to know where I’ve been? I’ve been far away from my blog, that’s for sure, but when I have a book ready to come out, I’m totally consumed by the process. I’m doing the final read-through on my Kindle. It’s amazing what you hear when Kindle reads your manuscript to you. Anyway, I’m on the countdown now to my formatting date…ten, nine, eight…actually it’s only two more days. Lassoing the Last Dance is in the very final stages.

       


      But today I bring you a not-so-short excerpt from Heartbreak’s Reward. I’m choosing to provide an excerpt from this book because the book is on sale and I’m one of the authors participating in The Kindle Book Review Spring Fling.

      💥 Enter the SPRING FLING Giveaway and WIN 1-Year #AmazonPrime, Kindles, or gift cards. https://wp.me/P2H01p-6xF


      Jase Carlson is the oldest brother at the Double Dutch Ranch. He’s a favorite hero, but Randy Drake from Lassoing the Last Dance is giving him a run for the money. Good thing they’re good friends.  🙂 Jase’s cousin Caulder from my Bull Rider Series makes his appearance in this book.

      western romance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      This excerpt comes from Chapter One. Jase and his brother Tristan left the courthouse after Jase was awarded soul custody of his two kids. Jase has a good reason for not trusting his ex-wife to return the kids to him on the following weekend.  Enjoy. (A bit of cursing is involved in the excerpt.)

      western romance, contemporary romance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      Once they rolled into the neighborhood, Tristan checked the number on Jase’s phone. “It should be right up here, according to the GPS.” He checked each address as they passed. “There,” he said, pointing to the left.

      “There’s no curtains on the windows, Trist.”

      “Sonofabitch.” Tristan flung his seatbelt off and hit his palm against the dashboard.

      “She doesn’t even live here?” Jase released the clutch and jumped out, ran up to the windows, and peered inside. “There’s nothing in here. Not a damn thing.”

      Tristan followed him to the house, shaking his head. “She either moved before court, or lied to her lawyer again. You sure you got the right address?”

      “I got the right address.” He went back to the truck for his phone. “I have to call Tom.” He paced in front of his truck, and said to Tristan, “She lied about everything, and has no intention of bringing the kids back.”

      Jase left a message for his lawyer and hung up. A neighbor walked from across the street. “You all looking for somebody?”

      “Yeah, the woman who lived here.” Jase sauntered up to the man and pointed back at the house. Either a nosy neighbor or someone who might be able to help.

      “Ah, she’s gone. Packed up last weekend and moved out. Can’t say I was sorry to see them go.” The man pointed across the street to another house. “I stood right there and watched.”

      “A woman with two kids?” asked Jase, his voice already quivering.

      “That’s right.” The neighbor turned to go.

      Tristan called after the man. “Wait. How many people lived here? I mean…did the woman have a man with her.”

      “A couple guys. Well…” The man hesitated.

      Jase took a step forward. “They’re my kids and that was my wife.”

      The neighbor folded his arms and stared at the ground. “Well, she lived there with her husband…or so I thought. The other guy…well, he just lived there.”

      “I was her husband,” said Jase, “until today. What about the kids? Two of them…a boy and a girl.” He held his palm flat to indicate their height.

      “Nope, they all moved out. Cute kids, too. Well-behaved. Their dad—sorry. The guy watched them sometimes.”

      Tristan asked the man, “You don’t happen to have any photos, do you? Maybe of the asshole pretending to be their dad?”

      The man shook his head. “No, nothing like that.”

      Jase weakened. Shook his head. Diverted his eyes. “Thanks, man.” He headed for the truck and got in the passenger side. He waited for his brother and handed him the keys. He slouched down in the seat and lowered his hat over his eyes.

      Tristan backed out of the driveway in Tucson and headed back home toward Canyon Junction. Most of the trip was spent in silence until they stopped to eat. He turned to Tristan. “Some asshole I don’t know watched my kids. I’ll find them…and him. I swear I will. Not even God can help him if he hurts my babies.”

      End of Excerpt. Thanks for reading.


      Keep an eye out for Lassoing the Last Dance. It’ll be live and available soon.

      Western Romance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      Want to know about new releases before anyone else? Sign up for my mailing list to be notified first.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Short Snippet Saturday | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, bull rider series, Contemporary #western romance series, Cowboy Romance Series, Double Dutch Ranch, Full Length Novel, Heartbreak's Reward, hero, Lassoing the Last Dance, Mary J McCoy-Dresel, sensual western romance, series, Short Snippet Saturday, The Kindle Book Review Spring Fling, western romance
    • Short Snippet Saturday: Darlin’~ It’ll Be Fine

      Posted at 5:50 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 17, 2016

      Oh, you caught me blushing. This isn’t Saturday, but look at my headline. No, I didn’t sleep through Saturday. Instead, it was a busy day, and I chose not to post the snippet that I had written. More on that one later.

      Instead, I chose to write a snippet from Bull Rider Series #3. The cover is finished and I’m not too far away from sending my manuscript off to the editor. Shame on you! Of course you can’t see the cover yet. 🙂

      Before we begin, I have a question. I do that often, huh? What do you think when you read, “Christmas at Love House?” What is the first thought that comes into your mind when you read Love House in the title? The full title is:

      Christmas at Love House: A Bittersweet Interlude.

      I’m only curious after having a short conversation with an author friend about my title. Thanks!

      I guess we should get to the snippet! It’s self-explanatory so no set up is needed.


      Caulder slid his hands up her back to bring her closer. Nuzzling his face against her neck, he whispered, “Come on, let’s get some coffee. It should be ready now.”

      “You hug me like that and leave? Humph!” She grinned with an upturned face. “Is Natale up? Last night she said she was an early riser, but they were all up late.” Velia took his hand and they walked down the elegant stairway. At the window on the first landing, she stopped a moment to look out at daylight peeking over the horizon of the forested landscape. A honey sunrise greeted her, offering a view of blowing snow and silhouetted trees.  “It’s already snowing hard.” She peered over her shoulder. “Please be careful. You have a long drive to the airport.”

      Caulder came back to embrace her from behind, speaking low beside her ear. “Darlin’, it’ll be fine. I ride big bulls for a living, I can do snowy roads. That’s why I drive that humungous four-wheel drive pickup truck.”

      “Let’s hope so. It isn’t your driving that concerns me, but those other drivers who aren’t bull riders.” A sneaky grin directed toward him, brought a smile to his face. At the bottom of the stairs she stood on the first step and wrapped her arms around his shoulders when he stepped off. “I’ll miss you. Oklahoma seems so far away.”

      “I’m not staying more than a day.” To be continued…

      Bull Rider Series #3

      Thanks for reading and putting up with my scattered posting schedule.

      For a bit more information, check out the page for this upcoming book.

      Sending good vibes for a fantastic week ahead.

      Twitter |  Facebook

      Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, bull rider, Contemporary #western romance series, contemporary romance, Full Length Novel, mary j mccoy dressel, rancher, romantic, series romance, Short Snippet Saturday: Darlin'~ It'll Be Fine
    • 2015 Wrap-UP & 2016 Optimisms

      Posted at 10:42 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 31, 2015

      A lot of bloggers are doing an End of the Year Wrap Up. I can’t recall ever doing this. Last year was my big publishing year with four books published. It was exciting yet scary for many reasons. But now, we’re talking about 2015. Here we go…

       

      2015 Break Down:

       

      Published:

      • Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord Bk #3
        Amazon #1 Best Seller in Contemporary Western Romance. Army Ranger Dane Carlson, the third and youngest brother at the Double Dutch Ranch—finally got his own book.Number 1 best seller OtCOA

       

       

      • NaNoWriMo: Won my sixth year and finished 50K words on the 23rd of November.

      Writing Progress in 2015: #AmWriting

      1. New western romance: This contemporary romance story came to me in a whirlwind with nothing more than an idea from a country song, although while writing, it changed direction. Completed first draft in December. Coming late 2016. (This was my 2015 NaNoWriMo novel.)
      2. Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Began writing book #4.
      3. Bull Rider Series #3 Completed first draft in December. Coming in 2016.

      The end

       

      The Year in General:

       

      • During 2015, this lady was sick for more than two months beginning in May.
      • In addition to being sick, a book needed editing and to get published on time, all while searching for a new place to live. The book was Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord. Needless to say, my cowboys remained in limbo as writing came to a halt. It was hard for me to accept an unwanted writing break. Fortunately, I believe things happen for a reason. Once settled in my new place, I began writing again.

      • The print book for Howdy, Ma’am was retired indefinitely in 2015. Available in eBook format.
      • My cover designer helped me to create an author brand.

      Author Brand

      • Both of my sons have had a healthy and productive year. This makes a mom happy. 🙂
      • After being unofficially diagnosed with a brain tumor last March, my fur baby is doing well. Her medication helps immensely. The neurological veterinarian said we might have a year with her. (I included her in my newest book.)

      Kasha2

      • Recently, I discovered Netflix!

       

      This isn’t where my wrap-up ended in the first draft of writing my post and I could go on…and on. But, this is where I chose to cut it off.

       

      As I wrote out my year, I realized, all in all, the year had been good to me.

      Most of it isn’t necessary to share with the world, for once I start saying all the good stuff I wanted to say, a part of me knows that the boat doesn’t always float on an even keel for long, and I don’t want to jinx myself. Superstition? Nah, just reality. No, I’m not a negative person, in fact, I’m rather positive and try to live with a positive attitude, but the boat floating “off keel” has happened more times than I care to remember.

       

      The Upcoming Year?

       

      2016

       

      Plan:

      • Stay healthy.
      • Love and hug my fur baby while I can. ❤
      • Publish!
      • Publish!!
      • Publish!!!
      • Write whatever new idea comes to my muse during the year.
      • Begin a new series in 2016.
      • Try to stick to a blogging schedule. Semi-schedule? A couple posts a week? At least one? LOL

      This too could go on and on, but not today. 🙂

      Thank you for taking the time to visit.

      I’ll return tomorrow to wish you all…well, you know what happens tomorrow. *Wink*

      Happy New Year to those already celebrating 2016.

       

      For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
      And next year’s words await another voice.
      And to make an end is to make a beginning.
      ~T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding”

      If you’d like to stay informed of new releases and important book updates, please consider signing up for my Mailing List. Don’t worry. I won’t send spam.

      Have an enjoyable day!

      Posted in #AmWriting, Bull Rider Series | 11 Comments | Tagged 2015 Wrap-UP & 2016 Optimisms, Amazon #1 Best Seller, Contemporary #western romance series, cowboys, Full Length Novel, Happy New Year, Mary J McCoy-Dresel, Romance, western romance, works in progress, Year End Wrap Up
    • Short Snippet Saturday: Halloween at the Ranch

      Posted at 10:58 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 31, 2015

      This will be a little longer than a short snippet today, although I modified it a bit for this post. After all, it is Halloween at the Double Dutch Ranch. From Cowboy Boss and his Destiny. Nora thinks she has one over on Tristan. She couldn’t be more wrong. Her costume is a sheriff’s outfit.


      halloween

      Nora did her best not to crack up when she gazed at Tristan. His hair was slicked back. He had a yellow bow tie on a white shirt, top button so tight it looked like it’d cut off circulation, and a multicolored pull-over vest over it. She fiddled around to loosen the bow tie a bit.halloween bow tie

      “Thanks, now I can breathe.”

      She dropped her gaze to his too short khaki pants, striped socks and red, high-top tennis shoes.

      “Daddy’s a geek.”

      Nora almost fell to the floor like Destiny had earlier. Her laughter was uncontrollable and her mustache fell off. “Your daddy is a geek!”

      halloween glasses“Is it that bad?” he asked. “Well, ladies, I guess while you’re both using me as the butt of your jokes, I might as well go all out.” He pulled out a pair of black framed glasses and stuck them on his face.

      “Daddy, your glasses are broke. There’s tape on them.”

      Nora laughed hysterically all over again. “Well, rancher, all I have to say is I’m glad you didn’t lock your keys in the truck today, because you’d be breaking that window.”

      “Ah, ha, you finally admit it. You stopped to help because I’m hot.” Tristan chortled.

      “No comment.” Nora removed handcuffs from her back belt loop. “I do believe I have to arrest you.” She picked up the mustache and it no longer stuck to her skin so she tossed it on the table.

      “Why are you arresting my daddy?” Destiny grabbed the mustache and tried sticking it on her own face.

      “Because I’m the new sheriff in town.” She knelt and whispered. “It’s a joke, honey, part of the costume.”

      handcuffs“Yeah, but we’re using these instead.” Tristan pulled out a real pair of handcuffs. He clicked one ring around his wrist and the other around hers. “Shall we go?”

      Nora gasped. “What? Where did you get these? Take them off. Where’s the key?”

      “Don’t worry about it.” He tossed her plastic cuffs to the sofa. “It pays to be friends with the real sheriff, darlin’.”


      Thanks for reading!

      snipped halloween banner3

      Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 10 Comments | Tagged Contemporary #western romance series, Full Length Novel, Halloween, Happy Halloween, mary j mccoy dressel, series romance, Short Snippet Saturday Halloween at the Ranch, western romance, western romance novel
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