Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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    • Short Snippet Saturday ~ Blue Snow in the Moonlight: Christmas Lights

      Posted at 2:12 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on January 8, 2022

      You all had to know I’d post an excerpt for one of my two new releases. Let’s see another sample of Blue Snow in the Moonlight. On the New Release announcement page, I embedded a sample where you can read the beginning HERE. I loved my setting for this book, and I’m thinking of creating another book in or around the area where I set this book. Wow, North Dakota winters are harsh.


      Here’s the BLURB first so you have an idea who is who.

      Book Description

      California girl with Midwest roots. Hot cowboy in cold North Dakota. If anyone needs Christmas magic, it’s Cullen and Elle.

      Without kids, a cattle ranch, and a renter in his cottage, Cullen Hollister would hibernate during Christmas. Instead, he’s holding a detonator to brighten Sugarton in a festive display of lights. Then a stranger’s forever smile speeds up the beat of his wounded heart. An acquaintance introduces his niece with a heart seemingly as cold as Cullen’s. They’re thrown together in a cottage he loathes, but he’s drawn to her, admiring her assertiveness, down-to-earth nature, and sexy blue-snow eyes. He discovers a yearning more powerful than stubbornness. But it’s hard to trust after being burned once. If Christmas magic is real, maybe making memories with Elle will lead to a forever love after all. First, he needs to know he can trust her with his and his kid’s hearts.

      Elle Palmer-Shaw uses her cousin’s wedding in North Dakota as an escape from sorrowful memories. Her aunt and uncle beg her to move back to her roots. With her work, she can live anywhere. When she meets the handsome green-eyed owner of the cottage, a simmering attraction grows, and Christmas takes on a new meaning. His memories of the cottage are painful, yet he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. It’s a simple solution until she’s called back home. She tries to convince Cullen to keep the rental cottage available—to give them a chance when she returns, even after dropping a bombshell on him about her past. But will he destroy his walls and let her in, or will he continue to exist instead of live and love?


      This snippet is a bit long.

      Setup: Elle visited after a rehearsal dinner the night before. Due to a blizzard, she spent the night in the family room. They both fell asleep after a disappointing conversation. It’s morning and Cullen came in from taking care of the ranch while Elle helped his sister make breakfast. Modified from the original.

      Cullen cleared his throat, dipped toast into his eggs, and took a bite. They’d lain side by side on the couch on purpose last night. He became aware of her sitting to his left sipping coffee. Her lips touched the brim of the mug softly like she’d touched his in a kiss. He jerked his gaze away, but not before his sister eyed him.

      After breakfast, she insisted on helping Sierra clean up the kitchen. He sat at the table with his laptop while ordering supplies.

      Elle smiled. “If I didn’t have the wedding today, it’d be a perfect time to build snowmen at the cottage.”

      He spoke without looking at her. “Shouldn’t you be packing? If you’re still here we’ll postpone snowmen to the day after Christmas. Are you spending tonight with your family after the wedding?”

      “Upon waking, I forgot this was Christmas Eve and the wedding. The kids are calm for this close to Christmas.”

      “Give them time. My daughter especially will be uncontrollable later and beg to open presents.”

      “Will you let them?”

      “Nope.” He closed the laptop. “I need to plow the driveway. The cottage will need it, too, so when you’re ready, I’ll take you home.” He went to the back door to dress for outside but returned to the kitchen slipping on his duster instead. “On second thought, it’s getting late. I’ll plow a strip to get out and take you home. Give me a few minutes.”

      “Sure. I’ll be ready. Thanks.”

      “Welcome.” It wouldn’t be right to ask her to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas day here when she should be with family. He might as well cut it off now. He clicked his key fob. His truck had been plugged in all night. It started right up.

      All he and Sierra had planned for Christmas Eve was eating her pecan, pumpkin, and lemon meringue pies and pizza—a family tradition. With her going to the wedding, he’d still make his specialty pizza and bake it in the oven on the patio. The kids might still make smores. They’d eat while playing games or watching a holiday comedy.

      Later, he’d go to bed like every other night, but it wasn’t like every other night. He’d wake in the morning knowing their world had crashed on Christmas. In the truck, he lowered the plow and pulled out of the garage to make a sweep, then backed up to the sidewalk to wait.

      Maybe he’d break tradition tonight and let the kids open a gift. They needed a change. His heart hinted at healing, or at least the possibility lay in sight. Elle made him laugh. He liked her bringing out a side of him he’d lost. Even just meeting her, he had a new memory to wake to Christmas morning if he let himself. It’d be a welcome change. Well, until after midnight last night when she told him she was returning home. To be honest with himself, he didn’t want to cut it off with her. They had to start somewhere. She surely wouldn’t return if he continued to sulk.

      He turned the radio to a weather station out of Grand Forks while waiting for her to come out. He sighed. He had an idea that increased the rate of his heart, so he sent his son a text: Stick around later today. We have a job to do at the cottage.

      Lake sent a frown emoji.

      Cullen rolled his eyes and replied: I guarantee you’ll like this one. Instead of a war of words in texts, he called Lake.

      “I get it, Dad.”

      “No, you don’t. If you’re in earshot of Elle, get away from her until we hang up.”

      “You’re acting weird.”

      “Probably. You know that big box of exterior lights and decorations in the pole barn?”

      “The one you said you never wanted to see again.”

      “Right. As I said earlier, a guy has to do what he has to do. Can you drag those boxes out of storage but leave them inside? We’ll need them later.”

      Then she appeared at the door saying farewell to Sierra and the kids. Their gazes locked through the passenger side window. She looked so damn good that it hurt to breathe. “I have to go. Please, just get the boxes, and I’ll let you go to the movies with your friends.” He disconnected. Before it was too late, he shook off the stubborn and sullen wall he’d already begun rebuilding.

      He got out to offer his arm so she didn’t break a limb in those heels.


      End of Excerpt:

      Available at Amazon.

      Thank you so much for taking the time to visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Image credits: Pixabay

      Christmas tree credit: Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

      Mockups from MockUpShots

      Posted in #AmWriting, Blue Snow in the Moonlight, New Release, Short Snippet Saturday | 6 Comments | Tagged #NewRelease, Blue Snow in the Moonlight Holiday western romance, Christmas Eve, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, New Release, North Dakota, rental cottage
    • 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
      Cover Reveal Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance, Hooked by Sundown, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Blog Post

      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

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance author, Book Three Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Blog Post 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 trouble-making 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.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance author, Book Three Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Blog Post Cover Reveal


      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!


      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western Romance, Blog Post Cover Reveal Hooked by Sundown

      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
    • Something About Those Dangerous Millionaires! Guest Author Debra Andrews: New Release

      Posted at 3:38 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 22, 2015

      Hi folks. Sometimes I do a guest promo post. Not often, but every now and then I will. This is one of those times.

      Debra Andrews is a Romantic Suspense Author writing Glitzy, Sexy Romances with a Dangerous Twist. She invites you to come meet the elusive, intriguing Millionaires who will steal your heart and keep you flipping page after page.

       

      Dangerous Millionaires Series

      October NEW RELEASE

      Weekend Wedding Deception

      Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000032_00033]

      Blurb:

      “Lies, Betrayals, and Second Chances”

      Guests have gathered for an elaborate weeklong house party before a wedding at the McAlister mansion, owned by billionaire Mr. James Farrington, patriarch of the family:

      The worst thing that could happen to Abby Warren is to run into her ex-boyfriend Jack at her best friend’s wedding. When the man who broke her heart strolls in with Abby’s beautiful ex-roommate clinging to his arm, Abby is sure things can’t get any worse. Dateless herself, Abby plans to immerse herself in the lavish, weeklong festivities at the McAlister mansion and meet someone new out of all the single, handsome men, no matter how much Jack’s being there haunts her.

      Moving back to town to purchase his family’s old company, Jack McAlister has tried to wipe away memories of Abby any way he can. After what happened between them, and the trouble she caused him, he can’t stand the reminder of everything they once shared. He is determined to stand fast against the temptation when he’s near her and the jealousy evoked when other men surround her. However, when they come face to face, old feelings surface, making them both wonder how something so right could have ended so wrong.

      As if dealing with Abby’s presence isn’t bad enough, his new girlfriend is clamoring for an engagement ring, and Jack soon becomes aware that he has enemies and business rivals—there is obviously someone who has an ax to grind and wants a bit of revenge…

      Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0164O2FVM

      Barnes & Noble Print


      Also by Debra:

      Disguised with the Millionaire

      Final-Jpeg-DISGUISED-WITH-THE-MILLIONAIRE-FINAL-081914-196x300

      Blurb:

       

      She came to the company to find a Killer

      Kate Meyers is grief stricken after the news of her brother’s death at a construction site owned by wealthy Trent Farrington. After speculation of faulty equipment and wrongdoing, the police eventually clear his company. Not believing the results, Kate lands a job with the Florida Corporation to do her own investigation. When she meets Trent, Kate instantly dislikes the strikingly handsome millionaire and thinks he’s involved. Her greatest pleasure would be to see him pay for what he’s done—behind bars.

      Confirmed bachelor Trent Farrington finds himself intrigued by the company’s newest employee, but previous bad experiences with women have taught him to be cautious. However, he is drawn to the alluring beauty, but he’s puzzled that she seems to hate him for some unknown reason. He’s used to women throwing themselves at him, and her attitude shocks him and is refreshing all at the same time.

      While Kate searches for the evidence to implicate Trent, she has to work closely with him. However, the information she uncovers isn’t exactly adding up against her new boss. She dislikes how her traitorous body reacts whenever he is near, although he appears to enjoy her reaction immensely. She vows to leave the company as soon as she collects the evidence, but soon learns nothing is as it seemed…

      Available in eBook and Print.

      Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00MZ8HCHY

      5 Star Review: “Contagious…”


      Dangerous Paradise

       

      Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000032_00033]

      Blurb:

      Strangers on the run for their lives

      Kelly Cochran’s late father was accused of embezzlement, causing the financial ruin of many clients. After death threats, she gets away on a South Pacific cruise to consider her options. She thinks she has her life all figured out. She’ll save the family business to repay the investors and marry her Mr. Right, her childhood crush and mentor–the wealthy movie producer Robert Hillyard. Everything is going as planned on the cruise ship until an assassination attempt on her life leaves Kelly in a life-and-death survival situation with her fiancé’s associate, Alex Drake.

      English actor Alex is devastatingly handsome and the most infuriating man she’s ever met. He’s recently out of a marriage made in Hell and vows never to remarry. The cynical playboy is the last person she’d want to be stranded with alone on a tropical island. For Alex, who wants to be the next major movie star, getting involved with Kelly is career suicide as her future husband employs him.

      Now, in a fish-out-of-water survival game and trying to find their way home, they are dependent on each other for everything, even in the depths of the night. To survive, Kelly and Alex must put aside their differences while their attraction escalates. Unfortunately, the two don’t have time to analyze their feelings for each other since the only people who know they are alive are those out to kill her.

      DANGEROUS PARADISE –
      **Finalist in the 2012 National Readers’ Choice Awards for Romantic Suspense **RWA’s San Diego “Spring Into Romance” Contest Finalist (2011)

      Kindle/Amazon Available in eBook & Print:

      Barnes and Noble Print (Same book, different cover)

      The Romance Reviews (Delta) (5 stars, TOP PICK)


       

      About Debra:

      EwndmOyO_400x400 Debs photoDebra Andrews has dabbled with fiction writing most of her life. She writes “Glitzy, Sexy, Romances with a Dangerous Twist,” with sexy alpha males and the women who fall in love with them. Her books include family drama, humor, danger, action-adventure, mystery, suspense, and always an emotional, knock-your-socks-off romance. The heat level is steamy.

      Her current work is the romantic-suspense series DANGEROUS MILLIONAIRES. The stories feature distant cousins from around the globe. All the men are bonded together as a family by their uncle and patriarch of the family—billionaire James Farrington. Share their adventures while they fall in love.

      DANGEROUS PARADISE was a National Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist in Romantic Suspense. DISGUISED WITH THE MILLIONAIRE was released in September 2014. WEEKEND WEDDING DECEPTION is the newest release.

      Check out Debra’s website for more information. She also has a newsletter. (Books are standalones and can be read in any order.)

      When she is not working, she is enjoying her life with her husband, family, and pets. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.

      Visit Debra:

      Website  |  Facebook Page |  Twitter |  Goodreads


      It was a pleasure to host the Dangerous Millionaires Series on my blog today. Best of luck with your writing career, Debra.

      Debra might not be able to drop by to reply to any comments today, but she’ll come by when she can.

      Thank you for dropping by today.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting | 3 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #NewRelease, amazon, Dangerous Millionaires Series, Debra Andrews, Glitzy and Sexy Romance, guest post, iBooks, Kindle Unlimted, Mary J McCoy-Dressel Western Romance, Nook, Romantic Suspense, Weekend Wedding Deception
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