Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Tag: Romance

• Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages

  Posted at 10:50 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on April 28, 2023

  

  The title is somewhat misleading. You know I didn’t time travel in a physical sense. Would you believe I did mentally and emotionally? The weirdest thing happened the other day. I’m calling it unplanned procrastination. Not so weird, huh? On Wednesday, I sat down to write in the afternoon. Out of the blue, I had the urge to go through one of my email folders.

  I have more email folders than any normal person needs. The one I’m mentioning today holds personal-to-me “stuff.” This covers, for example, saved reminders I email myself on occasion, among so many other email subjects. My list of “folders” holds a treasure trove of information from: Amazon news, to holiday gifts and shipping, to Writing Research with subfolders from Writing tools to Writing Weather Research, and beyond.

  Also, through the years, I’ve saved some messages from readers who have contacted me through my website to tell me they love my books. Their words make me so happy! Even the ones who tell me to write faster. LOL.

  

  A Mom Thing

  To give you an idea of what else I found: Directions from my oldest son on how to make changes to the Excel sheets he makes for my business. Hey, I don’t know how to work Excel formulas. To avoid having to ask him over and over, I tuck his emails away under this “stuff” folder. Another example: In 2018, I searched for a poem I had written for him back when he graduated high school. A long time ago. I couldn’t find it. He had the original copy and emailed it to me. Now, it’s there with the other stuff and easy to find. There’s so much more, though.

  I like using this folder for anything important or special I want to find again.

  Anyway, I had over seven hundred—ten to a page—messages all the way back to 2009. Fourteen years of saved messages.

  See? Time Traveling.

  Some messages were nonsense, so I deleted them. Deletion became my primary goal for going through this folder. See how easy it is to convince ourselves to procrastinate? Am I the only one who does things like this?

  Friendship

  As I continued through the pages and years, I read special emails from my forever best friend. We’ve time traveled back to 2017 now. Including the email where one of her twin daughters told me she had passed away. This wasn’t an unexpected email. Another message came with funeral arrangements. These messages are far from happy.

  It’s a given… When we go back to memories of our previous years, we all have sad times intermingled with happy times. I save her daughter’s messages so I can remember the date of her death. Is it morbid if I want to remember?

  Then in the same folder, I found emails from back in the years 2013 and 2009. Email from my long-lost buddy who I’ve known longer than anyone who isn’t a relative. While strolling through the pages of years, I came across one of the first five-star reviews for Howdy, Ma’am from a beautiful Italian woman who loved the series and checked all the Italian language in the three books in the Bull Rider Series. Who could ask for more? Today, she’s a writer turned photographer.

  Precious Information

   Toward the end of 2016, my son’s fiancée, now my awesome daughter-in-law, sent me photos of her modeling her wedding dress and wanted my opinion on what shoes to wear. To connect this to their wedding, in 2017 in this folder, I came across my California son’s travel itinerary to come to his brother’s official wedding reception, which took place months after the wedding. (Only parents were invited to their small wedding.) Around this same timeframe, I found email messages from our vet who helped get our dog through some rough times.

  All Business

  Continuing, I came across correspondence with cover models who have given me permission to use their photos, and from models who sold images to me directly. One came from a cover model who asked her photographer if I could use her photo in promotional material for the book where she’s on the cover. The photographer sent me the photo with rights to use it, and to do whatever I wanted with it!

  Other emails are from the stock photo company Period Images. One message included our discussion for an exclusive photo shoot with one of their models, Jason Charchan (a Michigander too) for a book cover and promotion. Jason promoted my book with him on the cover when it came out. Now and then, when his post pops up in his Facebook Memories, he’ll post it again. Thanks, Jason! Here are two of the many poses from the shoot. With so many, I had a difficult time choosing the one for the cover. Photo manipulation in the second image is my own:

  

  

  In 2015, I saved an email from another author who gave me lifetime permission to use any of his quotes in my books. In 2014, I received permission from a song writer and singer to use a song title to one of his songs in one of my books. A younger me would never ask such a thing.

  Many more business-related emails remain in there for reference from formatters to cover artists, to editors I’ve hired and fired. They have their own folders too for more pertinent info related to them.

  Counting Down

  How many can say they saved a Promotional Direct Message on Twitter from former President Barack Obama? Please. No political comments. Please!

  Clicking Back to the Heart

  Once in this folder, I knew I’d keep going and deleting until I got to the end of the “folder,” but I forgot what I had saved so many years ago. Then, I came to the final two pages: 2010 and 2009. I found a couple messages and a lot of photos sent to me from my husband. I hadn’t seen the photos in years. In fact, I forgot them. They were sent less than a year and a half before he passed away. I must have transferred them to this account from an old email provider and stuck them in there. In the old account, I had saved many, many of our emails because after all…we met through email.

  

  All in all, I deleted over three hundred saved messages that were either outdated for me, or something I wouldn’t want others to see, like in the case of… Ah, nope. Leave it to your imagination. 😉

  During my journey through new and old email messages, I discovered one can travel through time.

  Go ahead. Start your own journey. Thanks for reading!

  ---

  Maybe you’d like to read this post for more bittersweet memories.

  Featured Image: Photo by Sharad Kachhi on Pexels.com

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Heartbreak's Reward, Meet Our Heroines | 16 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bittersweet memories., Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Heartbreak's Reward, mary j mccoy dressel, Of the Cowboy's Own Accord, Pexels images, Romance, Time Traveling: Strolling Through Pages, western romance

• Writing Prompts at Your Fingertips

  Posted at 9:58 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 22, 2022

  

  Bloganuary

  Well, in January 2023, Bloganuary begins again. I’m not sure if I’ll participate this year because I have enough writing to keep me busy. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it, and doing it again would force my procrastinating mind to not procrastinate (maybe) at least for thirty-one days. I enjoyed reading the other participants posts too.

  If you followed my blog posts all of last year, then you know in January I participated in Bloganuary. My post at this link explains it. Or in the search bar, type in Bloganuary and you’ll see my month of posts in 2022. Oh, wait. Oops, I didn’t post throughout the entire month of January because I started late.

  Check it out and let me know if you will participate.

  ---

  Weekly Prompt

  You may not know, but WordPress has a weekly prompt. I wanted to participate in the weekly prompt in 2022 but never remembered to look. It’s posted on Facebook. This week’s prompt is Travel. Use Word Prompt with a hashtag to tag your post and on social media. You will need to scroll through the posts to find the prompts or click to view photos. They aren’t hard to find because a photo accompanies the prompt post. They will post other information there too, so it isn’t only prompts. Notice you can share other media besides writing. Here’s what they say:

  WordPrompts are designed to help inspire your creativity. We’d love to see what new recipes, photos, blog posts, or stories this week’s word inspires…

  WordPress on Facebook

  FYI Update about the above Weekly Prompt. It looks like the Facebook page has replaced the daily prompt with Bloganuary. Maybe they’ll bring the weekly prompt back in February.

  Daily Prompt

  Recently, I noticed Daily word prompts in the back-end of my blog where we find announcements and news. For example, today’s daily prompt is: “What was the last thing you did for play or fun?” When did daily prompts begin, anyway?

  ---

  On another topic, WordPress sent out a post about writing and posting newsletters. If you’ve read about it, have you considered checking it out? I asked a couple questions in the comment section and received a reply. I might look into it after the new year. It sounds like it’s a regular blog post with newsletter themes. Subscribers from other platforms can be imported.

  DISCLAIMER: I’m mentioning it a lot here, but I’m not affiliated with WordPress or Automattic in any way other than having this dot com website/blog. I wrote this post because if I’m interested in word prompts, maybe you are too. A simple search for writing or word prompts can be found in many other places as well.

  Thanks for reading. Stay warm, healthy, and happy! Peace and Love.

  Happy Holiday Wishes!

  We have a blizzard headed this way. Oh my!

  

  As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessèd world.

  ~Terri Guillemets via The Quote Garden

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bloganuary | 11 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bloganuary, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, Word Prompts

• Short Snippet Saturday: Scars and Fake Records

  Posted at 3:44 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on October 29, 2022

  

  Here we are on Saturday. The sun is shining brightly through my windows today. It’s nice out, too. The morning hours brought thick fog.

  This Saturday Snippet is from Finding Kimber, the second book in a spin off series to the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight. Kimber is a newcomer to Arizona. You can read more about Kimber and how she got to where she is at this LINK from Meet Our Heroines.

  The actual snippet is short. All this other writing around it makes it look long. ❤

  ---

  This book is available wide at this Universal Link.

  Brief setup: Earlier in the day, Tressa experienced the worst moments of her life. She’s giving up her identity to keep her family safe and is about to enter her new life in Arizona with a new name. Jerry is her godfather. Before retirement, he had a career in a branch of law enforcement. Everything he’s doing for her now is off the books. Melinda has been hired to accompany Jerry in getting Kimber settled.

  Saturday Snippet:

  Later in the hotel in Boise, Idaho, Melinda came to stand beside her. “Think of your parents and Charlotte. They’re safe because of your decision. A murderer is off the streets.”

  At fifty-three, Melinda didn’t look her age. Her auburn hair shone, and her green eyes were friendly most of the time, though they had darkened and hardened as of late. Tressa took a deep breath. “If I must do this, I’ll make the best of it. I have a good incentive to make it work—my family’s life.”

  Melinda patted her back. “And don’t forget it’s for your life.”

  Tressa buried her face in her hands. “I can’t stand them being hurt.” She pounded her chest. “It aches so much right here.”

  Jerry sat beside her, waiting until she got control of herself. “All of us will keep you safe, Kimber.”

  It was the first time she’d been called Kimber. She clutched her chest again. “I don’t know if I can do this. My heart is broken.”

  He handed her a degree from San Francisco University. There was a high school diploma, awards from high school, report cards, and her new credit history. “Like the passport, we’ll create your driver’s license and other photos when the scar from the removal heals. Are you sure you want the mole above your lip removed?”

  “Yes, it always stood out. Yes.”

  “All your records prove you are Kimber Kay Sinclair. You’ve nothing to fear. You need to do what we suggest. In my job, we warned, ah, our witnesses, to obey our rules. You’ll survive as long as you do what you’ve been told.”

  Tressa went through the motions while trying to distance herself from all the horror of the past and then today. Over a period of the last thirteen months, she had set money aside for later. Untraceable money meant for Kimber Sinclair. “But how? How, Jerry, did you do all of this?”

  “Kimber…” He smiled upon using her new name. “You know I can’t answer your question. And it’s best you don’t know, either, my dear.”

  

  END

  ---

  Here is what the book is about and where to find it:

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

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

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

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

  Universal Link

  

  I’d rate this book “R” by movie standards. If you only choose to read one book in a series, you’ll still have a complete story in itself.

  Thanks for reading.

  I hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy your weekend, especially if it’s as gorgeous as mine.<Waving>

  Posted in #AmWriting, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Short Snippet Saturday | 3 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, Short Snippet Saturday: Scars and Fake Records, western romance

• Inspiration Strikes Again #2

  Posted at 12:09 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 6, 2022

  

  Howdy, folks. Here is the follow-up excerpt I mentioned in the previous post. For those who missed it, I had intended to start book six in the Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight in 2023. The excerpt I’m posting is to give you a look at Rob, who stars in the sixth book in the series. He appears in almost every book in the series and the spin off series.

  The setting for this series is my fictitious town of Canyon Junction in Arizona with the Sonoran Desert and Superstition Mountains as a backdrop. Check the link HERE if you want to know more about the series. Books are rated between a PG-13 and R rating by movie standards. Going forward, I intend to update all of my books to a PG-13 rating and below. My newest books are already there. Rob’s book will reflect the change too.

  

  Set up: Nora and Tristan had a major argument, and she needed a ride home. Who better to call than a longtime friend.

  Like Rob’s long hair, so is this excerpt.

  Excerpt:

  This would kill her, but she’d have to ask for a ride. Who could she call? She took out her phone and called her old friend Rob Adams who recently opened Rob’s Place, a local sports bar in town. What choice did she have?

  He answered, “Rob’s Place.”

  “Rob? This is Nora Trinity.”

  “Nora, hey, hi. How’s it going, girl? Grab Tristan and come up for a drink on the house. We’re kind of slow tonight.”

  Nora dropped to the bed. The bar was noisy and didn’t sound slow at all. Glasses clinked and TVs blared in the background. “Can I ask a big favor?”

  “Huh? What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

  His voice held concern. They’d been good friends in school, but that was a long time ago. They’d run into each other in town a few times since she’d been back, and she and Tristan visited the last place he worked before opening his own bar, and the Grand Opening, but she had to ask. “I need a ride home. Please don’t ask me any questions.”

  “All right. Where are you?”

  Don’t cry now. Oh, should she be doing this? Maybe Tristan would have a change of heart when he returned… That didn’t matter. He needed time to think. She did, too. “I’m at the Double Dutch. Tristan’s section of the ranch.”

  “Is everything all right there?”

  “Not for me.”

  He must’ve been behind the bar because it sounded like he juggled beer glasses to patrons. “I’ll be right there.”

  “I’ll be waiting at the office. Thank you so much, Rob.”

  She looked up after disconnecting. Tristan waited at the door with his hands gripping the jamb. “I’m leaving. I had to call for a ride.”

  “I know. I came back to give you a lift.”

  He had removed his flannel shirt and looked so good standing there in a black t-shirt and black jeans. That shock of hair on his forehead needed to be brushed back. Would she ever be able to do it again? “I have a ride.”

  

  “I brought you here, I’ll take you home. Cancel your ride.”

  “No. I had to embarrass myself by asking, and I’m going through with it.” She stood and picked up her bag. He didn’t move out of the way. She peered at him eye to eye. “Let me pass.” Tristan turned enough to let her slip by. “You know where I live if you change your mind.” She strode down the hall and ran into Destiny at the top of the stairs. That was the last thing she’d wanted. Hold it together a little longer. “Hi, sweetheart. I’m going home now. I’ll see you later.”

  Destiny stomped. “No, Nora-Mom. You have to stay.” She looked up at Nora with wide eyes. “Why are you going? Can I go with you?”

  Tristan came over to take her hand. “You’re not going with her.”

  Nora knelt to hug her tightly. “I love you, Destiny.”

  “Nora, don’t go with your suitcase.” She cried. “Don’t go!”

  Nora rushed down the stairs. Destiny broke from her dad’s hand and ran down after her. “Nora, don’t go.” She took Nora’s hand.

  “Destiny, you can’t go with me, honey. I’m sorry.”

  Tristan came down the stairs to take her hand again, but she pulled away from him. “No, Daddy!” She ran upstairs and slammed her door.

  Nora peered at Tristan. As much as she tried not to cry, she couldn’t hold it back. Oh, God, oh, God. She rushed past Judy who no doubt came to see what was wrong with Destiny. No, she couldn’t face her. She hurried toward the office, closed the door, and locked it behind her so no one followed her in.

  Headlights shone through the front window. She rushed out and Rob pushed the door open in his truck, so she stuffed her bag and purse in ahead of her. Nora glanced toward the office door when she reached for her seat belt. Come on, Tristan, don’t let me go.

  “Where to, Red? Don’t you live out on the golf course?”

  “That’s right. Drive please.” Rob didn’t look clean-cut like he had during their high school days. Now, he had long hair and tattoos. It fit him though, and he was even more handsome all grown up.

  “Tristan’s a crazy asshole if he let you go that easily. Wanna go back to the bar for a drink?”

  Her stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten, but she wasn’t sure if she could. There wasn’t much at home to eat, either. “Sure, I can’t promise to be good company right now. What’s your special tonight?”

  “I’ll make you one of my special burgers.”

  “I’d like that. Fries, too?”

  “The best in town.”

  “Thank you for giving me a ride.” She broke down and cried again to think of the future without Tristan and Destiny. “I can’t have a drink.”

  Rob put his hand on her shoulder as a friendly gesture. “Oh, I see. That’s okay. I have soda…and milk.”

  “Don’t mention it to anyone. No one but Tristan and I know.”

  “I won’t, but now that makes Tristan look like an even bigger asshole.”

  “He’s not to blame. It’s my fault for not trusting him.”

  End of excerpt.

  

  Oh, the joy of writing romance! ❤

  ---

  If you read this far, thank you so much.

  Happy Belated Labor Day to my fellow Americans.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, Double Dutch Ranch Series, Excerpt | 6 Comments | Tagged #WritersLife, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Inspiration Strikes Again #2, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, small towns and cowboys, western romance

• Inspiration Strikes Again #1

  Posted at 8:37 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on September 4, 2022

  

  And a new book begins…

  Oh YAY. I love when I surprise myself. Ha-ha.

  I never planned on writing book six in my Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight this year, 2022.

  Never say never.

  My cover designer had a promotion for some of her premade covers. I saw one and emailed her, saying it fit a future book. Future book. She wrote back to say she’d hold it for me. However, I told her I hadn’t even started the book yet. Well, a few days later I opened a document, typed Chapter 1, and I kept writing. I told her the cover inspired me to start the book. The cover became mine when she began working on it. UPDATE: We ditched the premade cover because I found a different image of the hero, so my cover artist started the cover new, using the same background as the premade. In other happy words, I have a completed cover for this book that won’t be written until 2023.

  Even without the tweaks, the cover was more than enough to kick inspiration into gear. The cover is different from my other books. So is the hero. This means, it gave me new ideas. It’s fun writing this book because of the new ideas. He appears in nearly every book in the above mentioned series and the spin off series. I’m talking about my upcoming hero—Rob Adams. Hey, how about that. I mentioned my hero’s name, which isn’t something I do this soon. However, it isn’t his full name.

  This book has been in my head since early on when I introduced Rob. He grew up in town and went to school with some of the stars in the series.

  As the years flew by, I had more time to develop him. He’s evolved since book one. I knew he’d get a book one day. I already had the opening clear in my head.

  Because of the cover, I’m now over 17,900K words and loving the story thus far. I’m amazed and thrilled.

  

  At least I have a jump on it now. However, I’m writing two other books with a fourth on the back burner.

  Funny the way things work. In book five, a new character popped into the story—a female named Scarlett—who I thought would be Rob’s heroine when he got a book. In a stern voice, my muse blurted out, “Uh-uh! Not so fast. Scarlett is still healing. We’ll set her aside for now.” News to me because, heck, I’m the author, and I didn’t know about Scarlett’s cousin, who is a perfect match for Rob. So, I say to my muse, “You go, girl. Thanks!”

  Well, I had a lengthy excerpt to introduce Rob in this post, but I’m adding it to its own post to make this one shorter and more to the point of the title. The except is one where Rob appears in the first book in the series. So, with this post divided into two posts–Inspiration Strikes Again #1 and #2–it’s your choice to read the excerpt which will follow in the next post today or Tuesday.

  

  Book Six featuring Rob Adams is coming in 2023. The series and spin off takes place in my fictitious town of Canyon Junction in Arizona. I set the series in and around the spectacular Sonoran Desert with the Superstition Mountains as a backdrop.

  I’m excited and had to share! Enjoy your weekend.

  It’s a holiday weekend here in the U.S. for what we call Labor Day weekend. The actual day falls on the first Monday in September.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Excerpt | 3 Comments | Tagged cowboy, Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Inspiration Strikes Again, kick-butt muse, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, New book idea, Romance, series romance, western romance

• August – Romance Awareness Month

  Posted at 3:44 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on August 6, 2022

  

  Do you know August is Romance Awareness Month? Is it time to pay a little extra attention to the one you love? Why save your affection for Romance Awareness Month or Valentine’s day? Displaying romantic gestures can happen every day of the year. Am I right? Fold the laundry because I’ve had a hard day, or turn up the heat or toss a throw over me because I’m cold. Little things can say a lot. To me, these are romantic gestures. They don’t have to be huge.

  Love notes and quotes warm my heart.

  She lay in the darkness made bright by the filtering moonbeams, stretched her arms above her head, and gave herself up to dreams. She felt no shame, no regret, but a still ecstasy, a wild exultation because of her love. All life, all bliss, all beauty would be hers and his, because they had given their hearts to each other. ~Dorothy Scarborough, Impatient Griselda, 1927  [a little altered –tg]

  QuoteGarden Love Quotes

  How do you get romantic with the one you love? Ooohhhh, wait. That’s kind of personal so just tell yourself.

  ---

  Okay, okay, no more moaning and groaning now. Since it is Romance Awareness Month, and I’m an author of romance, I’m briefly covering the romance readers and writers side of romance. The majority of my followers aren’t romance writers or readers of the genre, so if that’s you choosing to read this, I hope I don’t bore you. I must be doing something else right to have y’all following me. Thanks!

  The following romance reader stats are from *Romance Writers of America® (RWA)

  Who is the romance reader?

  • Female: 82%
  • Male: 18%
  • Average age of the romance reader: 35–39 years old
  • Ethnicity: 73% White/Caucasian, 12% Black/African American, 7% Latino/Hispanic, and 4% Asian/Asian American.
  • Sexual orientation: 86% heterosexual or straight; 9%  bisexual, pansexual, or other bi+ identity; 2% gay or lesbian.

  Just an FYI. My newsletter demographics tell me many of my subscribers are close to my age. And heck, I read (and write) romance as a senior, so it’s good to know that I’m not alone.

  

  ---

  RWA also says:

  The Basics

  Romance fiction is smart, fresh and diverse. Whether you enjoy contemporary dialogue, historical settings, mystery, thrillers or any number of other themes, there’s a romance novel waiting for you! *Romance Writers of America® (RWA)

  RWA.Org

  ---

  Writing romance might sound easy. Pick your characters, think up a story, find a setting, do some research, write it.

  Whoa there, partner. Pull in the reins. Not so fast.

  It’s not easy to write romance, but it’s a heck of a lot of fun to bring characters together and guide them to a happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending. Don’t you dare forget the happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending!

  One thing I love about writing romance is the emotion, both in the story, settings, characters, and within myself. And the Happy Endings. Yes, I cry during writing. I figure if I don’t feel a deep emotion, you won’t, either. I’m proud to know I can write romance even though many snub their noses at me as if romance isn’t a real thing. In the past, I’d hold back saying what genre I wrote because I couldn’t stand seeing “ew” on their faces. Come on, it’s a billion-dollar business. (Not my business. Ha-ha.)

  From Book Riot: It’s unquestionable that romance books sell. At $1.44 billion in sales per year, romance is the best-selling genre, nearly double the next highest genre of crime/mystery at $728.2 million. It’s even seen an increase in sales during the pandemic as more readers are looking for a guaranteed happily ever after.

  Gina Nicoll Oct 8, 2021

  If you want to write romance, first you need to know what is necessary in the genre.

  

  Once again, I’ll add another fact from Romance Writers of America:

  Definition

  Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Visit the link to read more statistics and facts. *Romance Writers of America® (RWA)

  RWA.ORG

  Genres, Subgenres, and Tropes

  By the way, in romance, there are many genres and subgenres. Fantasy, paranormal, sweet, young adult, new adult romance… The list goes on.

  My genre is romance and subgenre is contemporary romance and contemporary western romance. Two books are also holiday romance. One of my favorite tropes to write is second chances. I also use the tropes: alpha-male, small town, and workplace romance/falling for the boss. I’ve used sports romance for my Bull Rider Series, but that keyword doesn’t work well for bull riding, or my bull riding books.

  I don’t incorporate these tropes because they’re popular, but because they fit my stories. In fact, when I began writing these themes, I never heard of the word “trope” referring to books.

  When I plan a book, I don’t look for a popular trope. Often, a certain trope becomes a trend. For me, I don’t write fast enough to get a book out because it’s the trend at the moment. It might not be by the time I finish a book. However, if I wrote faster, I would consider following trends.

  

  Examples of other tropes: When I typed “romance tropes” into Amazon search under Kindle Books, some books with these tropes came up. I knew some of them:

  • Enemies to Lovers
  • Secret billionaires
  • Marriage of convenience
  • Secret baby
  • Best friend’s siblings or friends to lovers
  • Workplace romance or falling for the boss
  • Rockstar
  • And more

  Referring to the “second chance” trope… Most say second chance romance is a couple coming back together for a second chance after being apart. Jake and Beth in my book, Whispers of Forever: Mending Christmas, is a second chance romance. It isn’t my only book like this. Jake and Beth were high school sweethearts in love but torn apart. Thirteen long years later, they met again. Could this be their opportunity for a second chance (in their small town)? My series and standalones are set in small towns except for the Bull Rider Series.

  Others say the second chance trope is couples finding love again as in losing a spouse or partner. This is the case in my book Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love, where my widowed sixty some year-old ranch matriarch, and one of the two men vying for her hand fall in love—getting a second or another chance at love.

  I’m curious. If you’re a romance reader or writer how do you see a “second chance” romance trope? I think readers who enjoy this trope will make their own decisions.

  • Do you see a second chance romance as a couple getting back together after a past relationship like Jake and Beth?
  • A couple finding love again with someone new like the widow and widowers in Seasoned with Destiny?
  • Or maybe you see it as both?

  Does it matter? I lean toward getting back together after a relationship didn’t work the first time like Jake and Beth, but I’m not against reading and writing second chances in either scenario.

  I could add more, but I’ll let you off the hook. Let me know if you come across anything that isn’t correct here. Until the next time… Take care and be safe.

  It’s time to get romantic!

  You have the entire month of August.

  

  ---

  Hours fly,
  Flowers die:
  New days,
  New ways:
  Pass by!
  Love stays.
  ☙
  Time is
  Too Slow for those who Wait,
  Too Swift for those who Fear,
  Too Long for those who Grieve,
  Too Short for those who Rejoice;
  But for those who Love,
  Time is not.
  ~Henry Van Dyke, “Katrina’s Sun-Dial,” Music and Other Poems, 1904

  QuoteGarden Love Quotes

  *Romance Writers of America® (RWA) grants permission to use this linked page and portions of the statistics with proper citation. RWA.ORG

  Posted in #AmReading, #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Romance Awareness Month | 8 Comments | Tagged August - Romance Awareness Month, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, Romance, romance tropes

• Let’s Ride: National Day of the Cowboy

  Posted at 2:05 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on July 23, 2022

  

  Yesterday I wrote an introduction to this post instead of adding it here to avoid what would be a longer post. It’s already long! Grab a beverage and enjoy. The post has been updated since the original.

  The fourth Saturday in July is National Day of the Cowboy. Be sure to check out the events they plan for this day, and more at the Empire Ranch Foundation.

  

  Back in 2005, to make sure it stays that way, the organization National Day of the Cowboy (NDOC) sponsored a bill in the Wyoming House and Senate to preserve and celebrate cowboy culture and history in that state, attaching an eponymous holiday to be observed on the fourth Saturday in July…

  To read more, click the link:

  https://nationaltoday.com/national-day-of-the-cowboy/

  National Today

  #NationalDayOfTheCowboy

  Cowboy Lover that I Am

  You know I’m jumping on this! Ha, too funny! I’v learned a few things since I began writing contemporary western romance. So for your reading pleasure, I present to you my take on the cowboy on their special day. Remember, I’m focusing mainly on MY take, which may not be the same as yours.

  Mostly, I’m dealing with fiction today. However, a whole lot of facts here are true. Images are from Pixabay unless otherwise stated. Credit for the Featured Image at the top: Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com. In the shameless promotion of showing my book covers, all of my covers have been created by award winning cover designer Dawné Dominique, at DusktilDawn Designs. 

  Why I Create Cowboy Heroes:

  What’s not to love? I reckon this post is for anyone who loves a cowboy. I couldn’t create this if I didn’t love them myself. It doesn’t matter if they’re single, married, head-over-heels in love, or dads. Scowling or smiling, fists balled to protect what they love, or gently holding a child’s hand, I think they’re the sexiest men alive. That’s my opinion. I know everyone doesn’t think so. Let me have fun on this day. I hope you read this with an open mind and know it’s all in fun.

  We’ll start with the basics from the ground up:

  

  Let’s put some boots on our guy’s feet. The cowboy boot fits nicely into the stirrup. They’re sturdy for whatever jobs he has to take care of during the day or night. He has more than one pair of boots. Sometimes you’ll find his boots to be dusty and worn—his favorites, but sometimes they’ll be shiny and new. Some ranchers are now wearing lace-up boots for working.

  He’ll spill coffee on them, step in horse or cattle manure–depending on what he raises, or do a two-step on the dance floor. Hey, readers… Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. That’s why they make soap and hand sanitizer. He’s your guy. When he’s dog-tired after a long day of hard work, feel free to pull them off for him. He’ll thank ya for it. *Wink* Remember to thank him for it, when he does the same for you. He will on occasion.

  Tight jeans. Loose-fittin’ jeans. Dirty, ripped, or dress jeans… Oh, come on. Need I say more? Add a pair of chaps and my eyes will bug out.

  

  Speaking for myself

  I like an oval belt buckle holding those jeans up on their waist. However, some cowboys don’t wear belts for fear of something catching on them while working. I’m torn here, for with no belt, the jeans ride lower on the waist. When he lifts a saddle on a horse, or bends over with a hoof pick, you might be lucky enough to get a peek at that abdomen and sexy back you can’t wait to run your nails over.

  Oh, we can’t forget his t-shirt with the sleeves tight against bulging biceps. Cowboys with dad bods have bulging biceps too. Hard work, is hard work. Young or old, he’s dedicated to hard work. After giving a horse a bath, expect a little water on the shirt. Should I explain the wet t-shirt?

  Flannel shirts with the sleeves turned up a couple rolls and open in the front isn’t so bad, either. But, wow, when your cowboy wears a dress shirt and clean jeans, hold him tight when you go out. Be prepared for a lot of ogling. Don’t be surprised if he casually looks back, but don’t worry, he’s true to you. However, he might deck another cowboy for getting a little too touchy-feely with you.

  

  A hint of stubble on the face or clean-shaven works for me. How about you? Chances are, you’ll find a little more than a hint of scruff after a couple long, tired days. Concerning beards, here’s a brief conversation between my heroine and hero in a work in progress. They haven’t seen each other for three and a half years. Due to circumstances beyond their control, she is staying with him, only at the moment. Not with him per se, but on his ranch:

  He draped his flannel shirt over the chair and took a bite of his donut. “Better eat the scrambled eggs while they’re still good, or I’ll take them out to the pigs.”

  Pigs? She handed him the mug of coffee complete with milk. “You wear a beard now?”

  He laughed and wiped powdered sugar from his mustache and donut crumbs from his beard. “Not normally. I haven’t shaved in four days. Do I look like hell?”

  “More like a lumberjack, but that’s not a bad thing.” She chuckled.

  Copyright 2022 Mary J. McCoy-Dressel/Mary J. Dressel

  You might have to get used to a little whisker-burn now and then. Go without shaving whatever needs shaving for a couple days. He’ll get the picture.  😉

  Oh, readers, when our cowboy sets his jaw in confidence or stubbornness, you know he means business. But so do we, so it evens out. His attitude or mood isn’t always going to be congenial. He has bad days too, and sometimes he can be downright miserable to be around.

  This man’s smile? Mmm, how about quirked lips when he questions something you said? A side smile? I can tell you, my knees buckle when he shoots that dangerous grin my way. Ooohhhh, what about his to-die-for wanton smile? You know the one where it shows in his eyes, too? The one he gives when you wonder what he’s up to next? But, goodness, when his face lights up with that special look, it TELLS you what he’s up to next. When he smiles at you in this way, you know your feet won’t be on the floor much longer. Am I right? Sigh. Who moved my fan? (I’ll use one of my own cowboys for an example–Caulder “Hotness” McCutchen, my sexy alpha bull rider.)

  

  It doesn’t matter if those sexy kissable lips are full, soft, chapped, or sunkissed sweet. When it comes to kissing them, you know they’re a perfect match for yours.

  

  Hat Hair

  Mmm, his hair. Hair and eyes are the first things I notice. He might wear his hair on the longer side. Who has time for a haircut? He’s too busy tending to a ranch, cutting hay on a prairie, riding horses and driving cattle across a wide divide. He might be fixing fences in a dusty desert or monsoon, or trying to stay on a bull or bronc for eight seconds. Depending on his mood, he’s comfortable wearing his hair neatly combed when the occasion arises, or wind-blown messy when he’s busy. Whichever way he chooses to wear it, it’ll end up looking like hat-hair by the end of the day.

  

  Either neat and tidy or wild and free, if a shock of hair falls over his forehead, I can’t think of a more perfect excuse to get closer than to move in and brush it back. He’ll appreciate it if we leave our palm to rest on the side of his face, for a minute anyway. Whew!

  Last but not least, let’s not forget the Stetson, or any brand of cowboy hat, in off-white or black, depending on the occasion. Straw works for those hot days. If you’re wearing a hat, make sure you get the right tilt to your head in order to kiss him. Enjoy.

  

  Since it is our cowboy’s special day, we’ll continue. Let’s give him a dog and a horse or two, preferably more. After his dog and horses, we’re giving this cowboy a cowgirl, or whoever he chooses to love.

  

  Romance

  When evening comes, if he’s in by then, of course, he’ll be contented to settle in beside you, wearing a subtle fragrance whether it’s aftershave or your favorite cologne. Could be ranch life. My cowboys are sexy, hard working men, and they aren’t always going to be smelling like they walked out of a shower. Don’t let that deter you, but a little hint won’t hurt. An offer to accompany him in the shower isn’t a bad idea. ❤ ❤ ❤

  More than likely, for dinner he’ll like his favorite carryout, spicy food to match his persona, or a meat and potato meal at the end of the day. Sometimes he’ll surprise us, and prepare a delicious meal. Maybe burgers on the grill or steak with candlelight. He’ll enjoy a shot of whiskey, brandy, tequila, or Scotch, and maybe sometimes a glass of wine or a longneck. Even milk.

  At the end of the day with our cowboy, we know, besides his family, it’s us and the kids he holds in his heart…along with his dog and horses maybe not in a particular order. 🙂 Finally, when you get up Sunday morning, chances are after chores and breakfast, y’all will head to church. But think about it… At the end of the day, your cowboy is curling up next to you. The next move is yours.

  

  

  REMEMBER, this is MY take on the cowboy, and this was written for fun. I hope you enjoyed reading.

  Celebrate National Day of the Cowboy the 4th Saturday of July.

  Remember what they say… Save a horse, ride a… *Smile*

  Thanks so much for reading, and an extra special thanks if you’ve read this more than once!

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Bull Rider Series, Canyon Junction: Hearts in Love Series, Double Dutch Ranch Series, national day of the cowboy, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 5 Comments | Tagged #NationalDayOfTheCowboy, boots, bronc riding, bull riders, Bull Riding, cattle ranch, cowboy, cowboy hats, dog, Empire Ranch Foundation, horses, mary j mccoy dressel, national day of the cowboy, ranchers, Romance, series romance, sexy cowboys, western hero

• Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change

  Posted at 12:15 am by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on May 28, 2022

  

  Hi! I’m sharing an excerpt from my second new December release, South of True North, featuring Cade and Faith. You’ll finally meet Faith in her POV.

  ---

  Book Description

  Townsfolk cheered when they fell in love. Then they destroyed them with rumors and lies.

  Rancher Cade Outlaw and his ex-fiancée share custody of their daughter. After a heartbreaking breakup seven years ago, they’re growing close again. Seven years ago, Faith’s ex-boyfriend’s vengeful attack on her destroyed Cade and Faith’s happily ever after. When he asks for a do-over, he vows to protect the relationship from the pain that separated them—to keep her and their child safe from their past. But how can he take a step back if he gets the chance to settle the score? Is his love for Faith and Nadia strong enough to hold on to the second chance they deserve?

  Heartbroken, pregnant, fired from her job, and Cade’s focus on avenging the assault took a toll on Faith Ribeiro. To heal, she’d left him. Years later, a Fundraising Executive and single mom, she lives with emotional and physical scars. Cade is the only man she’ll love, and she can’t deny the powerful chemistry between them. However, rekindling a relationship may invite wickedness back into their lives. What will she do this time if Cade still wants to pay back her abuser? How much will her heart break if Nadia gets swept up in their chaos after striving to keep her from it?

  They’re stronger together, though they need to overcome the challenges standing in their way of a peaceful life—hate, heartache, vengeance, and family betrayal. But how will they hang on to the profound love they once shared if they don’t come out of this unscathed?

  

  Available at Amazon.

  ---

  Setup: Faith hasn’t stepped a foot on Cade’s ranch for over seven years. Today, she put on her brave face and took their daughter, Nadia, to the Two-Five to get a school project she had started with her dad.

  A nauseous stomach overtook her as she drove up the ranch road. An unfamiliar horse to her grazed near the porch.

  “Grandma’s horse. Hurry, let me out.”

  Faith passed the porch, pulled off to the side, and stopped. “Please rush, Nadia. Grab it and come back. We have to get home.”

  “Why? Wanna see my pony?”

  “Not today. Hurry.” Cade’s horse grazed close to one of the barns. She sent a text: Are you near your house? I’m parked by the porch. A few moments later, he headed this way from the barn office. She rolled down her window.

  “Hey, is anything wrong?”

  She smiled. “Nope.”

  He leaned in to kiss her. “This is a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?”

  “Nadia needed her project. I didn’t think anyone would be here, then Nadia said that was your mom’s horse.”

  He looked back. “It is. Mom’s talking to Ronni about finances.”

  “Can you please hurry Nadia along?”

  “You’re fine here. Settle down. Nobody’s going to bother you.”

  She glanced in her rear mirror. Nadia came out the door with Ruth. Cade put his hand on Faith’s shoulder, and she placed her right hand over it. Nadia and her grandmother stood on the porch checking out the pictures on her board. “You haven’t told me what went down between you and your mom yet.”

  “Leave it alone. Some things never change.”

  As she expected. Their daughter called from the porch. “Daddy, Mom wants the hot picture of you and Mommy on the beach.”

  Cade chuckled. “I’m sorry,” he muttered to Faith, “but that kid kills me. I’ll bring the pictures tonight, but they are not to be put on her board.”

  

  “Don’t worry!” Faith winked. “Your picture is going in my secret stash.”

  “Yeah? I’d like to see your secrets.” He ran his gaze over her, his eyes lowering and lingering on her chest in a low tee.

  She glanced down. “My secrets belong to you. Go get your daughter, or let me leave.”

  “Don’t go anywhere. Come on, Nadia,” he called.

  Faith glimpsed the side mirror as his mom peered at Cade.

  “Don’t be in such a rush. Let her stay and spend time with Grandma today. We’ll go for a horseback ride. Does she have a day off?”

  “Not today, Mom. Come on, sweetheart.” Cade went toward the porch, up the steps, and took her hand and the board. “They’re in a hurry. Nadia needs to finish her school assignment.” He returned to the SUV where he opened the back door for her. “Buckle your belt.”

  She waved to her grandma. “By Granny. Love you.”

  Ruth said she loved her back. Faith hadn’t wanted to fold in on herself, but it tore at her heart that she wasn’t a part of this, though it thrilled her to see Nadia so accepted.

  Ronni, Cade’s sister and a friend to Faith, came out and stood beside her mom. “Hello, Faith! Nice to see you. Have fun with your board, Nadia.”

  Faith made eye contact with Cade. “Scoot over.” She stepped out and waved. “Hi, Ronni. Have a nice day. You, as well, Ruth.”

  She got back in, and he clutched the door frame with both hands. “I’m proud of your confidence. I’ll see you later.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth, and Faith wrapped her hand around the back of his warm, sweaty neck. “Thank you,” she whispered, leaving her cheek to rest against his. “I’ll see you soon. Buckled in, Nadia?”

  “Yep! I can’t wait to work on my board. Come on. Bye, Daddy. You kissed Mom.”

  Faith hooked her seat belt and met Cade’s gaze with happiness in hers. “It’s nice to see you smile. Don’t work too hard.”

  “Uh, then they’ll fire me.” He winked at Nadia, “Guess what? I’m kissing Mom again.” He leaned in the window and planted a long-lasting kiss on Faith’s lips that she thoroughly enjoyed. “See ya.”

  “Soon, cowboy.” Faith turned the SUV around, lifted her hand, and gave a subtle wave to Ronni and Ruth as she passed the porch. “It looks like you have a lot of pictures. I’m excited to look at them.”

  Nadia asked, “Why didn’t you come in?”

  End of Excerpt

  ---

  Faith’s reasons for not going inside can’t be explained to a six year old. Making it as far as the driveway is a big deal for her. Find a recent snippet for another new release, Blue Snow in the Moonlight HERE.

  Thank you for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! ~MJ

  

  About me board images: Created @ Picmonkey by yours truly with Shutterstock Images

  Posted in #AmWriting, New Release, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 4 Comments | Tagged #AmWriting, Imprisoned in a Cowboy's Heart, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, Snippet: South of True North ~ Some Things Never Change, South of True North, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws

• #AmWriting Short Snippet Saturday: Rumors & Lies

  Posted at 12:00 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on June 26, 2021

  Hello. I hope your weekend is off to a great start. This snippet is from book one in the Two-Five Ranch Outlaws series but refers to a conflict that sets up book two between Cade, his mother, and Faith. The thing is, most of the family sided with their mom against Faith and chose to believe rumors and lies that destroyed Cade and Faith’s relationship. Nadia is their six-year-old daughter.

  We’re in Karis’s POV. She’s the heroine in book one, and a few years after Cade and Faith’s breakup, Karis had become friendly with Faith and still is to this day.

  Imprisoned in a Cowboy’s Heart ~Two-Five Ranch Outlaws, Book One:

  

  Ruth glanced at her boys. “You’re all here, why not stay for supper? I got a lot of leftovers. I forget how to cook for only me and Jess.”

  “I don’t like leftovers, Grandma.” Nadia folded her arms and took a defiant stance.

  “You’ll eat them, child. Or go hungry. My leftovers aren’t like your mother’s.”

  “Mom.” Cade shook his head. “Be careful. You aren’t talking to a toddler anymore. Besides, Faith is a great cook.”

  Ruth had no qualms in showing her dislike of Cade’s ex-fiancée who had been rumored to have cheated on him. Rumor or not, Ruth stood firm in believing it to be true. Karis had believed Faith when she’d told her how the rumor materialized out of revenge. She’d recognized true pain in Faith’s eyes.

  It hadn’t helped to gain Ruth’s approval when Faith had kept the pregnancy from Cade until a couple months before their wedding. As the story goes, Ruth had been the one to insist he had a paternity test to prove the child was his before saying “I Do.” Turned out, seven months later, a bouncing baby Nadia came into the family with her dad at her mom’s side. By then, the family’s mistrust, and Cade not sticking up for Faith, had been enough to end their relationship. So, after knowing Ruth’s ability to quick-judge, it had worried Karis that Ruth might turn her back on her, too, but she hadn’t.

  Around here now at Jesse and Ruth’s, the family had always come together in times of need. Karis smiled at the loving banter between them. Nadia had been such a delight to Cade and the family. It saddened her that Ruth had never given Faith a chance to be a part of this.

  Book One is Available Now: https://books2read.com/u/mYKq7o

  Book Two Coming Summer 2021.

  

  Well, now… Cade and Faith have a lot to overcome before they can fathom a second chance. They may have a chance as long as their sworn enemy, and the one who started this whole ordeal, remains out of sight, because if he returns…

  ---

  Thank you for reading. Have a nice rest of your weekend. We’ve gone from drought to flooding in the area with more days of rain on the way while other parts of the state still suffer. We may continue with drought conditions after all this rain soaks in. Wishing you all the best. 💕

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Common Elements Romance Project, Short Snippet Saturday, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws | 4 Comments | Tagged cowboy, Imprisoned in a Cowboy's Heart, mary j mccoy dressel, Romance, Short Snippet Saturday, Two-Five Ranch Outlaws series

• Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love

  Posted at 3:10 pm by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel, on December 25, 2020

  

  I proudly present to you:

  Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight, Book #5

  

  Book Description

  Readers have grown to love the Double Dutch Ranch series and the Carlson family. Return to Canyon Junction with Book Five.

  Heartaches, hot flashes, and new beginnings.

  Content with her family and new grandbabies on the way, Judy Carlson is happy—despite day-to-day struggles of running a ranch and memories of sadness they share. Menopausal changes remind her birthdays arrive too doggone soon. On sleepless nights, she longs for a partner to snuggle up beside. She never minds gazing at a strong cowboy, a man with a handsome smile, or with an intellectual touch of silver in his hair. She observes this daily in their seasoned ranch foreman, Selva Rosado. Though she won’t admit to an attraction until an emotional and physical warming encompasses her when he’s around.

  However, after dancing a night away with Dale Connor three years ago, she’d considered settling down again. Then he disappeared on a clandestine trip, only to return with intentions as mysterious as his journey, and trouble from his past. She learns how right her family is to worry and how wrong she is to ignore intuition. Yet she can’t overlook their loyal foreman in the background who waits and watches with his own mysteries.

  Two men vie for her hand. How can a cowgal decide which one will park their boots beside hers at the end of each day? Before making any decisions, she aims to discover all of their secrets.

  Author Note: Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love is Judy’s story. However, her three sons will not sit back quietly when everything they love is at stake. Therefore, you’ll see chapters in their points of view, too, plus a chapter from a special man.

  Grab a copy here:

  Amazon

  Universal Buy Link

  ---

  How about a little sneak peek from the first chapter? Yeah? All Right!

  Chapter 1

  Judy walked cautiously into the great room and peered into the kitchen. The mumble and jumble from her family came to a halt. She peered around the room. “What’s the matter? You act like you’ve never seen me wear makeup before. Yes, it’s a new dress. I advise every one of you to keep your attitudes in line tonight.”

  They all looked stunned, but Jase, her firstborn, stood. “Should we sit down to have a talk, Ma? You haven’t had a real date for a long time. You never fooled me. You dated another guy for many years, but he never had your heart. Need any advice?” Jase roared. Tristan and Dane stood at the counter snickering.

  Jase continued. “Just saying. I don’t want to have to rough him up any, so we need to set up some boundaries in advance.”

  Judy rolled her eyes at the so-called leader of the pack. “Why, Jase Carlson. If you weren’t so big, I’d smack your behind. Instead, I’ll have Brenna do it.”

  “Hey!” Brenna waddled up to Jase. “Don’t bring me into this.”

  “Come on, Bren,” Jase smirked. “Smack my ass, doll.”

  Brenna patted his behind. “Watch it big guy. You know better than to mess with me right now.”

  Jase drew her over in front of him and slipped his hands to her round belly. “Because of this kid? Huh, little Mama?”

  “What do you think?” Brenna narrowed her eyes but smiled and lifted her face for a kiss.

  Judy carried the Cussin’ Jar over to Jase. “Now.”

  “Aww, come on.”

  “Five bucks, mister.”

  “Damn, you raised the price?”

  “That’ll be ten bucks. Between Brenna and Nora, I’ll have two more grandbabies. The cost went up. If you don’t like it, stop cussin’. Shall we make it an even twenty?”

  “I don’t mean to in front of you, Ma.”

  “Habits are hard to break.” Judy smiled at the friendly banter, but she saddened as this pregnancy reminded her of Jase and Brenna’s last one. She’d had a stillborn birth at five months with a little boy named Timothy. Today, little Timmy would be the age of Nora and Tristan’s three-year-old son, Shiloh. It had been one of the most difficult things the family had ever faced. She chose to believe Timmy rested in his grandpa Bill’s arms in Heaven.

  Jase pretended to zip his mouth but ignored the jar. “I’ll get it later. The kids took all my cash.”

  Tristan, her middle son who held the weight of the family on his shoulders, took over where Jase left off. “You’re awful calm, Mom, for a first date. Holding out on us and seeing Dale on the side? Slipping out at night? Huh?”

  “It’s none of your business, but no. Dale and I got along at the wedding. It’s almost like we’d known each other for years.” She only fooled herself. Too much time had passed to have those feelings for him now. Three years was too much time, and she’d heard different rumors concerning why he’d disappeared, but she didn’t have the heart to ask those who knew him. This evening, she intended to find out if they were true. Maybe she wouldn’t inquire on their first date.

  “You don’t know him.” Tristan frowned. “If it isn’t us watching out for you, who will? It’s no different than the third degree we’d get from you on our dates.”

  “Yeah, Ma. Remember when you coerced me to take Brenna to the hotel after just meeting her?” Jase leaned his head to the side to escape Brenna’s hand from covering his mouth.

  Judy nodded toward Brenna’s belly. “I was right, wasn’t I?”

  “Wasn’t she, Jase?” Brenna warned.

  Jase patted her tummy. “Okay, darlin’, she was right.”

  Judy brushed her hands forward in a sweeping motion. “Humph. Let me finish getting ready. You all go home before he gets here. I don’t need you scaring him off.”

  Jase and Dane pulled out a chair. Dane nodded to his brother. “Hey, Tristan, bring over some sandwich fixings.”

  “Uh-uh. No, you don’t.” Judy took hold of his and Jase’s sleeves and attempted to pull them out of the chairs. Instead, they sat speechless, and they must’ve applied glue to their jeans because none of them budged. “You boys, git. Come back to make your sandwiches after I leave.”

  Jase grinned at Brenna. “Come on, guys. She can’t kick us out of the driveway. Dale will have to come through us first.”

  She could spit Sonoran sand right now. Judy pushed Jase toward the door. “Wanna bet? Go home. I’ll call if I need you.”

  Selva Rosado, their ranch foreman, tapped on the door, entering with a confident air about him. He carried a bouquet. “Tristan, can I see you in the barn? We have a slight problem.”

  Tristan grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “Sure. Those flowers for me?”

  Selva chuckled. “No, amigo.”

  Judy smiled at Selva who had worked on the Double Dutch for years and had been good friends with Bill and her. The man had a swagger that caught her attention more times than she’d want to admit. She’d always imagined Bill would have the same touch of silver in his hair as Selva’s. “What are you doing with those flowers? Got a date yourself?”

  “Nah, not me. Good evening, Judy.” Handing her the flowers, Selva gazed at Judy from the floor up. “I saw these at the store today. They were the last bunch, sitting all alone. The first thing I thought of was how nice they’d look on your kitchen table.” He cleared his throat and nodded to Tristan. “Sorry to barge in on you all like this.”

  Tristan took a swig from the water bottle. “I’ll be right there. Mom’s got a date. We’re sticking around to intimidate him a little.”

  Selva lowered his eyes to Judy’s. “A date? Back with Martyn?”

  Judy strolled over to Selva, touched his upper arm, and thanked him for the flowers. “Don’t listen to him, and no, it isn’t Martyn.” She turned to Tristan but eyed all three boys. “You go out to the barn to see what’s the matter. Stay there until you leave for home. I don’t need you here when Dale comes. Go.” She swung her arm toward the door with her finger pointing.

  Jase and Dane each gave her a hug before following Tristan to the door. Dane hesitated. “How come Brenna gets to stay?”

  “Have you boys reverted back to teenagers?” Judy faced Brenna. “Now, honey, I love you like you’re blood, but gather the kids from outside and skedaddle. Please, all of you go home.”

  Dane frowned. “Let’s get out of here, guys.”

  “I love you boys.”

  “We love you, too, Ma,” Jase called over his shoulder.

  “Love ya, Mom, behave tonight.” Dane, her youngest and a protector of everything, gave one of the smiles he’d used to get his way as a boy. She couldn’t help but return it.

  Selva trailed through the kitchen behind them all, holding up at the door. He met her gaze. “You look nice tonight. Is it Dale Connor who you’re dating? Roxanne’s father?”

  “I wouldn’t say dating. He’s been gone. Do you remember him from the wedding a few years back?”

  “Yes, ma’am and for other reasons. I heard he’d returned. Be careful, Judy.”

  Judy tilted her head inquisitively. “Whatever for? Is there something I should know?”

  He put on his hat, opened his mouth as if to speak, but turned and exited.

  Hmm. What had that been about? Judy eyed his tall frame and muscles a senior personal trainer might die for, until Selva strode into the barn with Tristan. She padded over to lock the back door. Sighing, she wrung her hands at her midriff. A smile brightened her face upon spotting the flowers on the island. She picked up the mixed spring bouquet, got a vase from the china cabinet on the far wall, and arranged them in water. Tonight, he’d had on the familiar cologne. The beautiful flowers were what she needed to bring a calm over her, but it didn’t last long. His car rolled into the driveway three years too late.

  ---

  Ah, I love Judy and her story!

  

  Oh, one more thing, and I don’t like asking but… I haven’t been able to set up any promotion for this book because I didn’t think I’d get it out this year, so if y’all can help me spread the word, I’ll be grateful.

  AMAZON | BOOKS2READ

  ---

  Thanks so much for stopping by today.

  Posted in #AmWriting, #WritersLife, Double Dutch Ranch Series, New Release, Seasoned Romance | 11 Comments | Tagged Double Dutch Ranch Series Love at First Sight, Mary J McCoy-Dressel, New Release eBooks, Romance, Seasoned with Destiny: A Gift of Love, western

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