Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
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    • Cover Reveal and New Release Announcement

      Posted at 10:52 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on November 22, 2017

      I’m proud to present to you:

      Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, #2
      A Double Dutch Ranch Series Spin Off

      FINDING KIMBER

      FindingKimber_2021_MED

      About the Book:

      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.

      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?


      Note: Zach made his first appearance in Lassoing the Last Dance as Randy Drake’s best friend.


      Buy Links

      Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Nook  |  Apple

      Universal Link for your country.

      Add on Goodreads

      Arizona, Goodreads, Mary J McCoy-Dressel Books, western romance

      Here’s the series so far.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel western romanceMary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance, cowboys


      If you’re a newsletter subscriber, this post looks familiar because it’s similar to the recent newsletter you received, minus the excerpt.


      Some of Chapter One:

      Regardless of her determination not to cry, tears trailed down Tressa Garnett’s cheeks. Greg Stone, the prosecuting attorney, continued to badger her on the witness stand. Wasn’t he on her side? Her ordeal played over like a documentary film. She had become Sam’s lover. Yes, she worked on and off with him for three years. She hesitated at the next question.

      “Ms. Garnett, you must answer.”

      She glanced at the judge who nodded and swept his hand through the air for her to get on with her answer.

      Greg asked again, “And is it correct you oversaw the money exchange between Mr. Cavalli and Samuel Allen?”

      “Yes.” Her gaze flicked to Sam. His glare gave threats his voice hadn’t. The smirk on his face matched the one he wore when he shoved the revolver into her hand after he shot and killed Pino Cavalli. From this day forward her life would change forever. She might as well walk out of the courtroom and grab a shovel if things didn’t go to plan. To plan? Her disappearance was the plan.

      Tressa peered at the salt-and-pepper-haired man sitting two rows from the back of the courtroom. Her godfather, Jerry Waterford, had become her lifeline. Could her heart take the agony of losing her family when she disappeared without a trace with a new name and identity? She choked back tears. Jerry gave a subtle nod.

      Now, the tissues in her hand matched her torn emotions. Her life hung in a balance somewhere in the middle of living and dying.

      Greg tapped on the railing around the witness stand. His eyes softened. “And were you in the warehouse when Mr. Cavalli was shot?”

      A bullet to Pino’s head had taken his life instantly. Her gaze moved to the two men behind Sam. If she said yes, would they be the ones to hunt her down?

      “Ms. Garnett, I must remind you that you’re under oath and need to answer the question. Were you in the warehouse—”

      “I heard you. Yes.” If Greg Stone said those words one more time, she might claw his eyes out. He picked up a handgun in a clear evidence bag. Yesterday he seemed like a friendly middle-aged man, and her way out of this hellish situation, but today while bullying her on the stand, he reminded her of an ogre.

      His gaze settled upon her. “Your fingerprints are on this weapon along with Mr. Allen’s. Tell us how your fingerprints got on this weapon.”

      She pointed at Sam. “Him. He stuck the revolver into my hand after he shot Mr. Cavalli.” She took a deep breath and slowly released air through barely parted lips as the defense attorney protested. “Let the record show Ms. Garnett pointed to Samuel Allen.” Greg paced across the room and back to the witness stand.

      Tressa breathed deeply. She wanted to pass out and when she came to, she’d learn it’d all been a dream. She focused on the prosecuting attorney, afraid if she glanced at Sam his glare might somehow cause her to explode.

      “Who shot Mr. Cavalli?” asked Greg Stone.

      God, can this be over? Sam had told Pino’s men he gave the money to her accomplice, further blaming the extortion on her. Now she had two enemies. She had no damn accomplice. All she did was learn the truth. Without hesitation or remorse, she pointed to Sam. “Mr. Allen.” The two men behind him both shifted in their seats, and Sam looked over his shoulder.

      The courtroom broke out into an uproar while the judge beat the gavel at least ten times, or maybe it was three. She covered her ears to ward off the noise. Tressa lowered her eyes to her lap while tears left stains on her navy-blue silk blouse.

      “Thank you, Ms. Garnett.”

      Her gaze settled on Melinda Richards who sat next to her godfather. She left the courtroom.

      The judge pounded the gavel one more time. “Are there any other questions?” He directed his gaze to the defense attorney who gave no rebuttal, nor did he cross-examine her. The judge gave her permission to return to her seat. Upon sitting, her mom leaned over her dad to pat her hand.

      ***

      After court, Jerry and two sheriff’s deputies swept Tressa out of the courtroom to a conference room to wait for the crowd to diminish. Soon after, Jerry and Melinda took her and her family back to the suite at a V.I.P. hotel on the outskirts of town. He didn’t want her to return to the courtroom for the verdict, so he demanded they leave the courthouse.

      Tressa paced while wringing her hands. “Jerry, I have to be there.”

      “I don’t advise it. Tressa, you must cooperate. For this plan to work, you have to trust me.”

      “I know. Waiting to see where my life is headed is damn hard.” The prosecutor hadn’t expected the jury to take long. Her mom sat on one side, her dad on the other. Her younger sister, Charlotte, sat across from her. “You did the right thing, sis.”
      Memories flooded her mind. Sam had wined and dined her, fed her fancy meals, took her on trips until the last weekend together. She had no way of knowing that he knew she’d only gone along with him to uncover more information. She had agreed to the weekend away, but she’d ended up with the ultimate betrayal against her.

      Finding Kimber snippet copy


      ❤ ❤  Thanks for stopping by today.  ❤ ❤

      Cover Credits: Cover design DusktilDawn Designs.

      Posted in Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Cover Reveal, New Release | 17 Comments | Tagged Arizona, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, cattleman, contemporary romance, Cover Reveal, cowboy, Finding Kimber, Full length series, Idaho, love story, New Release, rancher, Romance, starting over, western romance
    • #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: A Brief Glimpse

      Posted at 12:44 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 7, 2017

      Western Romance by Mary J McCoy-Dressel

       


      I chose this snippet today from Lassoing the Last Dance to give a little glimpse of Zach Bryson, the hero in my upcoming book, Finding Kimber. His family owns a cattle ranch in Idaho. Every now and then Zach has to get away from his nightmares. Now, he’s visiting his old Army buddy and best friend Randy Drake at Randy’s ranch, the Circle D, in Canyon Junction, AZ. Randy’s ranch borders the Double Dutch Ranch.

       


      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance

       

      Earlier in the day, Zach had gone to the Double Dutch with Randy and met Tristan and his brothers. They were invited to lunch. Randy would’ve declined, but he wanted the guys to get to know his buddy. Knowing him would make it easier to mention to other ranchers that the guy needed a job.

      Zach insisted on getting a suite at the hotel. At the end of the day, Randy offered his bike until he found a vehicle. Zach had declined. A sadness seemed to have a hold on his friend. Was there something he wasn’t telling Randy? Or, he went through a bout of memories, and was having a hard time moving past them. Maybe he had a recent breakup. His relationships didn’t last long since the Army. Zach’s mood began to bring Randy down.

      By the time they finished working on the stalls in his barn, and Zach had left, he glanced at his watch. It’d be dark soon. He had wanted to work on a painting until light had left the sky, but dusk loomed over the landscape. The mood or inspiration hadn’t come over him anyway, and if he painted something now, it’d be dark and ugly.


      Here’s more about Zach from Roxanne’s POV:

      Zach came in the back door after smoking a cigarette, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down. One look at Randy and Roxanne, and he got up and left the room. Through the doorway, he could be heard on the phone calling the hotel. Roxanne went to him, leaving Randy brooding at the sink.

      “You don’t have to leave, Zach. I’m going back home, and you’ll have the house to yourself while Randy’s at work. You two will have the whole night to catch up.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Randy’s thrilled you’re here. Stay.” It took a minute for him to speak, but she waited until he did.

      He glanced at Randy through the doorway. “I have to go check out a job. Maybe Randy hadn’t told you yet, but I’m sticking around for a while. He has his life and I have mine. I’ll be getting a room until I can find something better.”

      Roxanne observed his disheveled deep-coffee brown hair, his melancholy green eyes, and his toned body. Biceps the size of his were probably envied by many. Woe lurked deep inside of his tall frame. “I’m glad to have met you, and I hope to see you again.”

      He stuck out his hand. “You will.” His gaze went to her leg, but he pulled his eyes away. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare.”

      She shook hands with him. “It’s okay. Everyone does. Randy can fill you in if you ask. Good luck.”

       



      Finding Kimber will be out later this year. It’s back with my editor for a proofread.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance

      Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas is Book #1 in this spin off series. Finding Kimber is Book #2.

      western romance, Mary j McCoy-Dressel, cowboy, Arizona

      Thanks for visiting.

      Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 0 Comments | Tagged #AmReading, #AmWriting, Arizona, contemporary romance, cowboys, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Full Length Novel, Gentlemen Cowboys, Lassoing the Last Dance, mary j mccoy dressel, Proud women, rancher, series romance, western romance, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas
    • #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: No Guarantees

      Posted at 11:35 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 18, 2017

      Hello and good morning, evening, or whatever time of day it is for you. LOL. Yesterday I gave a sneak peek of the cover for Lassoing the Last Dance, book #4 in the Double Dutch Ranch Series. Today I’m giving you an excerpt. I can’t call this one a short snippet, but I’m calling it Short Snippet Saturday anyway.  🙂 

      western romance, contemporary romance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      We’re in Roxanne’s POV. She’s about to do something she’s put off for over eight months–something that destroyed her relationship with Randy, and there is no guarantee they’ll get it back after telling him. Slightly modified to avoid spoilers.

      Randy strolled to the doorway and extended his arm toward the living room. She sat on the end of the three cushioned, contemporary styled, burgundy colored sofa. The fireplace had a screen over the front. Above the mantel was a good-sized painting of Superstition Mountain, while three other walls showed smaller paintings of horses. One was a photograph of Randy’s stable during sunset. Another painting of the Grand Canyon sat nestled between two smaller sunset pictures. They were new since her last visit. He pulled an ottoman over to sit across from her and took her hands.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance, series romance“You have the look of pain in your eyes. What’s going on, Rox? Did that asshole hurt you again? Finally tear you down?”

      “Oh, God.” She released her hands and got up to pace, and stopped to get a better look of the picture over the mantel. The house was cool but her body felt overheated. In order to get out what she wanted to say, she took short, fast breaths until she was capable of speaking. “I’m not sure you’ll be able to handle what I have to tell you—”

      He stood in a rush, his hands clenching into fists, and he was at her side in a flurry. “You’re back with him?” he asked dryly.

      “For God’s sake, no! Nothing is the same, Randy.” Facing him, she searched his eyes. “Sweet Randy. You deserve more.” She grasped her head with both hands. Oh, how I missed you.

      “I deserve more? Then why are you even here? Why’d you come?” He didn’t wait for an answer and ambled to the kitchen.

      Back on the couch, her gaze followed after him and she waited. He looked out the window from the kitchen sink. Damn, he looked hot from the back, the way his raven hair fell over his collar. His hands shifted to the top of his head and he spread his legs to a wider stance. He looked strong, like he could take on the world and win.

      How could he know what to expect when she didn’t? At the sink, he twirled around and stood in the doorway. He gripped the woodwork on each side of him. Mr. Randy Drake looked so good from the front, too. Whoa, baby, his jeans sat low on his hips without a belt, and he wore black motorcycle boots to give him such a sexy persona. This was serious, and she shouldn’t be seeing sexy right now.

      “You know I don’t play games. I don’t try to be something I’m not. Again, Roxanne. Why are you here? Here in my house—in Canyon Junction?”

      “Why am I here in your house? Because you’re like a… Your magnetism pulled me here. But, I’m scared.”

      “Let me be the judge. Tell me what the hell’s going on, and let me make my own decisions. I’m a man, not a little boy. What are you scared of?” He came into the living room where he took a seat and straddled the ottoman.

      He was right. It wasn’t her decision to make, though she had herself convinced it was her decision to think for him. Her skin tingled as sweat formed on her arms, her face, while she built up the nerve to let it all out. First, she had to find a way to push that lump down her throat. Here goes. “I had an accident and nearly died. My reason for staying away is probably worse than you would even imagine.” She clasped his hot, calloused hands. “Randy…” I have to do this.

      He squeezed her hands and remained quiet. His gaze never faulted from staring at her eyes, her lips.

      End of Excerpt

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western romance, series romance


      Oh, boy! That even gets my heart pounding because I know what’s coming. Thanks for reading.

      The book will be out in April IF everything goes to plan. In yesterday’s post I mentioned why I don’t do preorders, which isn’t to say I never will do one. One day, I might.

      I appreciate your visit. Thanks for stopping by today.

      To learn more about the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight, visit HERE.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 6 Comments | Tagged Arizona, contemporary western romance, Full Length Novel, Lassoing the Last Dance, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, No Guarantees, rancher, Romance, series romance, western romance novel
    • Meet the Heroine~ This Week’s Star: Beth

      Posted at 3:21 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 11, 2017

       

      sunset sky, silhouette of cowgirl sitting, knee up, arm leaning over knee, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance Blog post Meet the Heroine series

      Beth Marconi is the heroine in Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas and the next heroine in my Meet Our Heroines mini-series.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance

      Beth dragged Jake into the picture for this post. Model portrayal- Ben and Gezzi from Period Images

      What can I say about Beth? I published the book in November, so I’ll have to give her some thought. One thing I can say is she pined for Jake for…well, since she was fifteen years old when she met him in the high school detention room. Yep, Beth went to detention. Jake says:

      What could’ve been better to a seventeen-year-old bad-boy? A hottie with a bad bone to send her to detention had fit his bill.

       

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel western romance

      • Beth is a compassionate woman. She’s sexy. Fun. A bad-bone still lurks beneath her calm, grown-up exterior. Bad in a good way, of course.
      • She has always been close to her mom, and Beth is  concerned for her mom’s future.
      • Ah, but Beth is pretty with coppery hair and green eyes. She is now my youngest heroine since the other ladies keep aging as all the series move on.
      • Beth is a whiz at math, but she doesn’t use it in her job.
      • This lady wants to be treated as an equal.
      • In high school, she got along better with the guys than the girls, but she had one close girlfriend. The girls bullied her because of her relationship with an older, popular guy in school…Mr. Jake Lawton.

      She’s strong-willed. I repeat…strong-willed. But she can be hurt easily. Give her a line she doesn’t like, and she’ll damn well give it right back… Proof? Jake’s POV:

      Before speaking, he shook his head. If he wasn’t already buzzed, he’d put a damn shot into the coffee. Ross had not acted like the type who’d hire call girls. “Come on. This isn’t the nineteenth century.”

      “Stop making fun of it. This happens more than you think. You don’t know his grandmother. Being the one who raised him, she had a lot of power over his life and future.”

      “Figures. What a wuss! How the hell did you meet Ross? No, wait, don’t you dare tell me you were—” Had Beth been a…a call girl—the way she’d met Ross? God almighty. He sank against the sofa back. Somebody shoot me right now.

      “Shut up. No, I wasn’t! Damn you, Jake Lawton.” Beth rose abruptly, stomping. She stomped not once, not even twice, but three times. “Damn you. How dare you. I don’t know you.” She turned toward the door, came back to shove his shoulder hard, then she took a step.

      “Don’t go. I’m sorry. But dammit, Beth. Have you listened to this story?”

      “I should slap your handsomely, sick-looking face, but it’s apparent someone already took care of the deed for me. Humph!” She sat back down, folding her arms. “Yes. I know how it sounds.”

      End of snippet. Oh, I love this girl!


      Have you met the other heroines? Judy Carlson, the matriarch of the Double Dutch Ranch can be found on the main page too! Her book will be out in 2019. Click here to find the other heroines.

      Y’all have a real nice weekend.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, Meet Our Heroines, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas | 4 Comments | Tagged alpha here, Arizona, contemporary romance, Cowboy Romance Series, first love, Full Length Novel, Holiday Romance, mary j mccoy dressel, Meet Our Heroines, rancher, Second Chance, western, Whispers of Forever
    • Short Snippet Saturday: The One That Got Away

      Posted at 1:53 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 15, 2016

      Ahh, sweet, sweet romantic love. It’s even sweeter when it’s your first love, or maybe I should say bittersweet when it comes to the couple in this snippet. You’ll meet Jake and Beth in the near future, but I hope you enjoy a snippet now.

      A while back I mentioned starting a new series as a spin-off to the Double Dutch Ranch Series. Jake and Beth kick off that series with a holiday romance.

      Whichever choice I make about a new series, or to add the new books to the Double Dutch Ranch Series, this book with Jake and Beth will move off the Double Dutch Ranch and onto Jake’s ranch. The Carlson family members will make their appearance in subtle ways.

      Now to catch up here, and since this is Short Snippet Saturday, I better get to it instead of babbling. Again, I’m posting this on Sunday so you don’t have to check your calendars…it is my blunder, but done on purpose. Yesterday, I couldn’t get around to Mary J McCoy Dressel Booksposting anything. My little fur baby just got out of the hospital at midnight last night after an emergency. She was admitted and spent 28 hours there. It was darn lonely at home without her. She isn’t doing well. My son and I have to come to terms with this situation.

      On to the snippet.


       

      It had been many, many years since these two spoke to each other. Beth could’ve walked away when she spotted this cowboy from her past, but she didn’t…

      Modified from its original writing. Eavesdrop with me in a quaint little eatery on U.S. 60 right outside of downtown Canyon Junction, Arizona.


      He held his hat against his chest, fingering the brim. “Sure am. I have a ranching business now, so yeah, you can find me in the book, online, ask a neighbor.” He chuckled. “Talk to you later.” Heading toward the booth, he peered over his shoulder. “Welcome back to town.”

      “Jake?” she called as he left.

      Oh, Beth. Facing her, he lifted his head in a nod and gave another once over. She looked damn good in that little cotton dress with a denim jacket atop it, but it didn’t hide a glimpse of her alluring breasts. Low boots replaced the cowboy boots she’d worn as a teen. Her hair was ten times longer than before. A trace of a Texas tan still remained on her gorgeous face. Yet, a tiredness lingered in her eyes. Gulping, he managed to get out, “Yeah?”

      Beth walked up to him and he got another whiff of her sultry perfume. “Is the Coffee Shoppe still in town?”

      “Sure is. Hey, they even have my phone number.” Jake sighed internally at his foolish remark. Again, she smiled that same sweet smile he had found so irresistible in the past.


      Coming October 2016

      Thanks for stopping by today. I love that you visited!

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      NOTE: Cover reveal for Christmas at Love House is coming soon!

      Posted in #AmWriting, Short Snippet Saturday | 10 Comments | Tagged Double Dutch Ranch Series Books, Feisty heroines, Full Length Novel, Gentlemen Cowboys, Hero focus romance, mary j mccoy dressel, rancher, romance series, Short Snippet Saturday: The One That Got Away, western romance
    • Meet the Heroines: Gorgeous and Feisty Brenna Page from Heartbreak’s Reward

      Posted at 8:26 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 18, 2016

      Introducing Brenna Page from Heartbreak’s Reward.

      sunset sky, silhouette of cowgirl sitting, knee up, arm leaning over knee, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance Blog post Meet the Heroine series

      What can I say about this Midwest girl? Brenna came from Iowa City, Iowa. How does she end up in “small town” Canyon Junction, AZ with the heat, dust storms, and monsoons? In order to save Chloe, her teen sister, from herself she accepted a job here. Brenna and Chloe both needed a fresh start—

      mary j mcCoy-Dressel, western romance

      Model Portrayal: Jax from Period Images

      Brenna says,

      This town’s full of damn cowboys and mountains.

      Well, without that damn mountain, she might not have met Jase.

      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, western romance, Heartbreak's Reward

      Model portrayal: Jax and Grigoris- models.

      Oh, boy, Brenna is a girl after my own heart. Why? It’s easy… Jase Carlson. Dang, he’s HOT!

      Heartbreak's Reward, Mary J McCoy-Dressel

      Some facts about Brenna:

      • She nurturing.
      • Quick-tempered
      • Witty
      • Loving
      • Heartbroken
      • Spunky (The spunkiest of all my heroines to date.)
      • She’s one of two of the youngest of my heroines to date. (31) Minus Chloe, of course.
      • Target practice is her hobby.
      • She takes no crap from a particular hot-headed cowboy.
      • She drives a red Mustang.
      • Brenna would love to be a part of a family. So would Chloe, but she’s too stubborn to know she needs one.

      Since you met Brenna, you have to meet Chloe, too. She insists.

      Chloe 2 resized 2

      Model portrayal: Image from Dreamstime.com

      Chloe wants nothing to do with Brenna or Arizona.

      • She’s sixteen, or as she says, “seventeen” since she’s nearing her seventeenth birthday.
      • Stubborn as already stated
      • Chloe thinks cowboy’s are ridiculous. (Haha, the joke’s on her.)

      I’d rather not give more away about Chloe. This sassy little girl really grew on me as the story went along. I admit to shedding tears for these sisters.

      I’m thrilled you stopped by today. Thanks for reading!


      You can read a short excerpt on the Heartbreak’s Reward page. Or a sample from the book HERE.


      Meet the other heroines at this link.

      Gracelyn Clark makes her debut in the next episode of Meet the Heroines, in my mini blog series. It seems she likes the military type.  🙂  I can’t say I blame her.  ❤

      Posted in #AmWriting, Heartbreak's Reward | 9 Comments | Tagged contemporary western romance, cowboy, Full Length Novel, Heartbreak's Reward, mary j mccoy dressel, Meet the Heroines, rancher, Romance, romance novel, series romance, Top Pick The Romance Reviews
    • 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.

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      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
    • Meet the Heroines: Facts About Book Heroine Nora Trinity

      Posted at 1:34 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on March 30, 2016

      Meet the Heroines

      A Mini Blog Series

      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 Nora Trinity from Cowboy Boss and his Destiny Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight.

      Four-year-old Destiny Carlson took to Nora right away when they met. She loved her red hair and once even asked Nora if she dyed it. LOL.

      When Nora first hugged Destiny, she loved the baby soft smell of her shampoo, and it didn’t take long for her to become attached to the little blue-eyed girl with a big personality.

      Model portrayal. Image from Dreamstime.com

      Nora is thirty-three when the series starts. She’s from our small town of Canyon Junction, Arizona but moved away after high school and worked her way through college. Moving back to her hometown was a tough decision for her.

      If I had to choose an actress to play Nora in a movie, it might be Amy Adams or Darby Stanchfield (From Scandal).

       

      A few things about Nora:

      • Perseverance.
      • A professional and dedicated worker.
      • Confident…most of the time. One person in her life can take her down with only a few words.
      • Holds a grudge
      • She’s been a best friend to Roxanne Connor since childhood.
      • Nora is a sister.
      • Shy to a degree.
      • She reluctantly adapts.
      • She looks just as good in jeans & boots as she does dressed to work in Tristan’s Nora boots2office. He once told her that everyday was a casual day, so I think he likes jeans and boots best. She does have a cute little skirt he likes… I digress…
      • Sensual and sexy, without sexual hang-ups
      • Nurturing.
      Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Western Romance, Newly Revised Edition

      Double Dutch Ranch #1

      That’s about it for now. I can’t give away all her secrets. You’ll meet her best friend Roxanne Connor in this book. She becomes the star with Randy Drake in Lassoing the Last Dance.

      Next time you’ll meet Brenna Page from Heartbreak’s Reward. Visit the blog page Meet Our Heroines where all our heroines will be added to the page as I write them in this mini blog series.

      I appreciate your visit! Thank you for reading.


       

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      Images: Pixabay. Dreamstime.

       

      Posted in #AmWriting, Cowboy Boss and his Destiny | 9 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Arizona, cowboy, Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, cowboy brothers, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, mary j mccoy dressel, Meet the Heroines, rancher, tristan's destiny, western romance, Western romance series books
    • Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: To Garner Emotion

      Posted at 12:34 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on February 2, 2016

      Last weekend I wrote a Short Snippet Saturday post about Dane Carlson, my soldier slash cowboy in Of the Cowboy’s Own Accord. Maybe this is a good time to mention how I had to get in a certain mindset to begin that book. I had to pull in emotion, get sad, and feel an ache in my heart. His book starts out n his mom’s POV. (Remember, once this was a dilemma?)

      I’m a mom. Neither of my boys had to go off to war, but in my younger years, I experienced it first hand with my boyfriend at the time. Well, he was much more than a boyfriend. The emotion was raw and painful to see him leave, each and every time he left. Plus, I had intense sadness the day, and days to follow, when my oldest son moved across the country…and he’s still there.

      From Merriam-Webster Dictionary

      Simple Definition of inspiration: Something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create : a force or influence that inspires someone.

       

      I had to find that raw and painful ache again to begin the story through a mom’s eyes, and also to be able to view it through his girlfriend’s eyes, and even his own feelings about going to war again. (I prefer to write hero focused books.) Other than plotting out my story, before and during writing this book, I did two things:

      • Went back to the day my oldest son moved to California. Drawing from experience from the day he left, I was able to experience that emotion all over again. My heart had been broken. Our hearts get broken a lot being a parent, but we have to look at it as a step toward their happiness. And then we can smile in their happiness.
      • Listened to a song over and over and over because “I Drive Your Truck” makes me cry.

       

      song notes

      The first time I heard this country tune, I cried. Then, one day while listening to NPR Radio, I heard the true story behind the song, and I cried even harder. Just now, I found the video on You Tube–a news report from CNN with the full story behind the lyrics. I didn’t cry, but if I play the song right now, I will. And I do plan on playing the song.Jason Alexander Charchan

      Today my Inspiration for the Muse post is for the way the song and life experiences clawed at my emotions to help me write Dane’s tale. I wanted to post the video with the true story, but I don’t want it to seem that I’m using that song and story for my own benefit. (Cover model Jason Alexander Charchan portraying my hero, Dane.)

      In fact, I’m not even going to post the video here.

      Instead, I’ll leave you to decide if you want to feel emotion today. Click HERE to view the video.

      If this is something you don’t want to experience at the moment, go ahead and skip listening. Or, maybe it won’t get to you the same way, after all, I’m the one who had to get in the right mindset to write a book.

      This tune by Lee Brice was Song of the Year in 2014. “‘I Drive Your Truck’ also won Song of the Year at the 2013 CMA Awards in November.” Source: Taste of Country

      Anyway, this is a couple of the ways I garnered emotion to get into the right mindset to write this book.

      I’m happy you visited today. If you left sad, I apologize, but I’ll also remind you that I write happy endings. (With a box of tissues.)


       

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      Image Credits: Pixabay. Jason Alexander Charchan- (A special shoot done for my book by Period Images)

      Posted in #AmWriting, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse | 10 Comments | Tagged #AmReading, #AuthorLife, #WritersLife, Contemporary romance novel, cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Full Length Novel, Hero focused romance, mary j mccoy dressel, Of the Cowboy's Own Accord, rancher, series romance, soldier, Tuesday Inspiration for the Muse: To Garner Emotion, western romance series
    • Tattling: 5 (subtle) Secrets in a Romance Novel

      Posted at 10:10 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on January 13, 2016

      Every once in a while, I’ll guest post on another blog. Sometimes I do an interview, or showcase a new or previously published book. Other times, I’ll have fun with a regular topic from the host blogger. Last year I did a Guest Post on Author L. A. Sartor’s blog. The guest spot was called “Five Secrets” and can be about a book or about me. Oh, my! Leslie was kind enough to let me repost the post here for you. Authors? Do your books have any secrets? Readers? Do you want to know a secret?

      Cowboy Boss and his Destiny has secrets, though I had to dig deep for some of them. Albeit, there were more, and it was tough to decide which to use. I suppose they aren’t really secrets now that I’ve blabbed. I hope you enjoy the ones I chose to tattle. You can find more information about L.A. Sartor at the end of this post.

       

      Five Secrets:

       

      • From: My Story My Way ~ An Indie Adventure:

      Hi Mary, please tell us Five Secrets we may not know about Cowboy Boss and his Destiny or you, but will after today!

      Hi, Leslie. Thanks for having me on your blog. I have no major secrets to give away in this book. Let’s call them subtle secrets. 🙂 Here we go…

      1) Nora, Destiny, and Tristan star in Cowboy Boss and his Destiny. When this book was planned, Destiny’s original age wasn’t what you see in the book. She’s four, but turns five shortly after the story begins. When I began planning, Destiny was sixteen-months old. She remained sixteen-months-old until about page two when she told me she wasn’t a baby. Our characters are almost always right. (I love it!) Why did I change her age? I wanted her to interact in her world, with her dad, and with the rest of the family. To have her own opinions. No doubt she has opinions, and she also has her own fun personality. Destiny adds to the story and it was a great decision to make her older. In the “bonus book” #1.5, a mid-length novel I wrote as an addition to Cowboy Boss, I noticed a change in her attitude.

      2) Tristan calls Destiny Baby Cakes. I’m a widow now, but when I met my second husband his daughter had just turned eight. He called her Baby Cakes. I didn’t call her that, because it was special between her and her dad. In Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, Nora won’t call Destiny “Baby Cakes,” either, for the same reason. In fact, no one else in Destiny’s family calls her by that nickname.

      3) This one surprised me in the beginning. Nora uses the color teal or turquoise at times for her carpet, bedroom colors, or clothes. Most of my heroines mention something in this color. This goes all the way back to the first book I wrote. Teal is my favorite color. It wasn’t planned in the beginning, but once I realized some of my heroines liked the color, I went with it. Update: I stopped doing this in recent books, but don’t be surprised if a new heroine also likes this color.

      4) The reason Tristan drives a Dodge Ram pickup in this book? I had my very own Ram pickup and I loved that truck. I guess that was my adult Tomboy stage. :-0 This type of truck fits my hero. If it brings me good memories, heck, why not give one to a hero? Mine was red and your basic pickup. His isn’t basic in any way. He’s a rancher and his truck fits the need, plus he has fun with the built-up engine. Tristan’s isn’t red.

      5) The original idea that I can contribute to Cowboy Boss and his Destiny is a post office box I used to have. Once, years ago, I’d often see the same guy picking up his mail when I picked up mine. My mind automatically saw this as a way for my characters to meet. Is this how Nora and Tristan meet? No, not exactly. But through the years I kept going back to that idea. When Tristan came to me, he also came to me with the same predicament he’s found in, in the beginning of the book. It happens to be at the post office in a roundabout way. They would have met inside like my imagination showed me, but the scenario changed when I realized Tristan was a single dad.

      This is my Five Secrets about Cowboy Boss and his Destiny.

      I’ve had more books published since this interview.  Please see the Menu or Welcome Page.

      Books one and two in the Bull Rider Series are also available.

      More books will follow in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight. Book #4 out of 5 comes in 2016.


      Blurb :

       Heartwarming. Passionate. (Cowboy Boss was revised in November 2015.) The newly revised edition was released in 2018.

      Tristan Carlson does the best he can to raise his four-year-old daughter on his own. His mother remains on the Double Dutch to lend a hand—giving him the ability to maintain the ranch, tend to his horses, and keep up his small-time ranching magazine. His pretty, new assistant is everything he wants in a woman, including her ginger-red hair. But from his experience with women lately, he’s learned that some don’t want a ready-made family. This one seems different, and he’s falling hard. But, there’s his little blue-eyed girl, and he’ll protect Destiny’s heart with everything within him. Until he knows for sure…

      Living the good life in a big city for many years, Nora Trinity ends up a statistic after the magazine she works for makes cutbacks. Despite a family betrayal from her past that still needs mending, she moves back home to the small town of Canyon Junction, Arizona, with forgiveness on her mind. When she is hired by a local rancher to help with his ranching magazine, she finds herself profoundly attracted to him. The thing is, her sexy boss comes as a package deal, and his little girl is immediately drawn to her. It’s not just about two hearts taking a chance now—or two people falling in love. Nora has to be sure of what she wants before she takes on the cowboy and his child.

      Don’t forget to stop by L.A. Sartor’s blog~

      L.A. Sartor
      National Bestselling Author & International Digital Award Winner
      Live the Adventure, Love the Romance

      My Story My Way ~ An Indie Adventure.

      While there, check out her books and other guests. She also has a Mailing List Sign Up and she sends out about four emails a year.

      Thanks again for letting me repost this on my blog, Leslie.


      Readers of my blog~ Here is my Mailing List Sign Up Link to be notified of new releases and important book information. Remember, if you contact me via my website Contact form, please check your spam box if you don’t hear from me. I personally reply to messages.

      Thanks for stopping by today.

      Posted in #AmWriting | 8 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, contemporary romance, cowboy, Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, Five Secrets, guest post, L A Sartor, Leslie Ann Sartor, mary j mccoy dressel, My Story My Way An Indie Adventure, rancher, Romance, series romance, western romance novel
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