Hey y'all!

Happy September! For those of you who are new to my newsletter, welcome! I appreciate you joining me in this journey!

What's going on?

Since the last time we chatted, I've attended another book signing. Charlotte, NC was the second stop on the Boozy Book Tour. The hosts, authors and readers were great. Plus side was I had the opportunity to hang out with a good friend.

If the tour stops near you, I recommend it. The next date is December 14, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Below are some photos from the event and my night out with the lovely Dahlia Rose at Fahrenheit on the rooftop of the Skye Condominiums.

Writing update

I'm in the final stages of wrapping up my book in the Silver Creek Ranch Series! I love Roth and Autumn. Their story is a mix of steam, drama, laughter with a few tear jerking moments thrown in for good measure. My patreon subscribers have been reading along as I'm writing. Thus far, their feedback on the two has been positive. It's been great chatting with them about the characters as the story unfolds.

Keep reading below for an excerpt from The Rancher's Home.

To learn more about the other books in the series, visit the Silver Creek Ranch Website and Sign up for the Newsletter!

I'm also hard at work on the latest installment of the Draft Pick Series on Kindle Vella. Have you met Vitaly and Jacelyn? As more than one reader has said, Vitaly is really showing himself to be Andrei's brother. 😏

New episodes are released on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. As always, there may be times when bonus episodes are posted. So, be on the lookout for those as well.

If you want to enjoy each story as I write and get a copy on release day, join my Patreon. All levels have access to my current works in progress (under my Darie McCoy pen name) and they receive the completed ebook on or before release day. Decadents and Divas receive a signed paperback with each new release, in addition to the ebook.

https://patreon.com/DarieMcCoy

What's next?

I have one more event left to cap my calendar for the year. I'll be in Philadelphia, PA for Authors in the Steel City on September 28th.

I'm really looking forward to meeting all of the readers and spending time chatting. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you there!

Of course, I'll have pics and a recap in my next newsletter.

That's all for now.

Thank you for rocking with me!

Until next time, happy reading! Keep scrolling below for some awesome book recommendations and an excerpt from The Rancher's Home!

If you haven't had a chance to read the Newsletter Exclusive bonus scenes and epilogue, click the button below to get your free copy.

Read Bonus Scenes Now

Buy Now or Read On KU

Construction Book Boyfriend: Book Boyfriend Series

Jerricka Bishop is fine with the fictional men in books she reads, but her best friends think she should venture out into the real world. To help, they introduce her to the Book Boyfriend Dating Agency. There, she finds more than the fantasy she signed up for.

Thiago Dominguez is satisfied with doing whatever is necessary to be successful and make his parents proud—except find a nice girl and settle down. However, the option is taken out of his hands.  

When the two meet, their chemistry is undeniable. They are swept up in a passionate whirlwind. Once he’s had Jerricka in his arms, Thiago isn’t willing to turn back. So, he happily accepts the gift of being Jerricka’s real life Book Boyfriend, along with all the rights his new title entails.

The Book Boyfriend Series

They say Book Boyfriends are our consolation for men in real life. What if we told that meeting your fantasy hunk is just a click away?... Tag Along for a series of sweet & spicy encounters between empowered women and the BBFs who fall for them!

Buy Now

Reclaimed: Central Valley Pack Book 3

Rosco Greywolf had resigned himself to his new life without his mate. As Central Valley Pack’s beta, he had his hands full with his duties. Having lost the shifter he believed to be his only chance at a finding a life-mate, he grouched his way through each day trying to hold together the pieces of his shattered existence. Until…

Deanna ‘DK’ Madkins was starting over. She’d done the mating thing. It failed when she was unable to give her mate the prize he coveted—progeny. After setting him aside, she left the pack of her birth. Her life would be away from shifters and she was fine with that. When she moved to a small town just beyond the borders of the Central Valley Pack’s lands, she thought she’d found the place for her solitary happily ever after. Until…

Circumstances bring the two together, and the sparks which ensue may be more than either is willing or able to handle. Can they find what they didn’t think they would ever have again? What happens when a gruff widowered shifter and a formerly mated she wolf crash into each other? Can they find themselves together? Can love be reclaimed?

Start Reading Now - For Free

Draft Pick Season IV: Vitaly

Vitaly Antonov has carved his own path out of his brother's shadow. Being the hockey's most sought-after goalie had its perks. Too bad his agent's sister, Jacelyn Shannon, wasn't one of them. At least not yet.

Jacelyn Shannon had learned long ago she was better off depending on herself. Being everything for everyone else was okay. But she stayed solid and solitary. Jacelyn had no desire to link her life with anyone else. Too bad Vitaly Antonov isn't just anyone.

Pre-Order Now

Wrangling Her Cowboy by Peyton Banks

A broken cowboy…his shining light. Will she be enough to pull him out of the darkness?

Draven Harvey came home to Ironhaven, South Dakota, to settle down. The retired Marine was done with serving his country and just wanted a peaceful life working his father’s ranch. The Silver Creek Ranch was for men like him–broken and needing help finding their place in society.

After his time in the military, he wants to be left alone. Ranching was to be his life.

Cashea Moss took notice of the grumpy town hero who came to the bar where she sang every weekend. She was new to town, but she’d heard plenty about Draven. His eyes were intense and held tales of horror she was sure he had experienced during deployments. There was something about him that made her want to see him smile.

Draven tried to fight the attraction he felt for Cashea, but she quickly dismantled the barriers he had constructed around himself. He couldn’t get her out of his mind after one steamy night. Her soft touch made him want to do things he’d sworn he wouldn’t do–become a protector and fall in love.

Wrangling Her Cowboy is a steamy interracial BWWM romance with a broken small town hero, a beautiful heroine and a HEA.

Start Reading Now for Free

Right (Family Secrets and Lies Part 2) by Niccoyan Zheng

A brother he betrayed... A son he denied... The woman he lied to... A family he's just discovered... Leonardo Baldi's life is one full of regret. He has a lot to make up for. It's tempting to walk away from all the upheaval he's caused. He has so much to make right. Can he correct it all and claim what should have been his? Disclaimer: Although this is a standalone, it is strongly recommended you read the Kindle Vella Left prior to reading this one.

Start Reading Now for Free

Shiloh Ashley is doing her best to build a new life for herself and her young son after a difficult divorce from her narcissistic ex-husband. As a paralegal to a top lawyer, she navigates the ups and downs of her career while trying to protect her heart and her hard-won independence. But when Asahi Nakamura, the enigmatic and stoic head of security for a powerful Yakuza family, steps into her world, everything changes.

Asahi Nakamura is tasked with protecting Kenya Miller, Shiloh’s boss and the wife of his syndicate’s second-in-command. Reluctant to take the job at first, Asahi’s indifference vanishes the moment he sees Shiloh. Initially drawn to her beauty, Asahi is soon captivated by the kind-hearted and resilient woman. But it’s not just attraction that pulls him in. Shiloh’s struggles with her ex-husband remind him of his own painful past, when his father’s narcissistic behavior tore his family apart.

Despite appearing worlds apart at first glance, Shiloh and Asahi discover they are more alike than they realize. Finding themselves irresistibly drawn to each other, the two embark on a relationship that could give them the stability they both crave. But could the shadows of their pasts tear them apart forever?

*****************

**unedited excerpt**

**Darie McCoy retains the rights to this work**

The Rancher's Home

Roth put the ATV in park, then pushed his hat upwards with the tip of his finger with a sigh. Looking toward front stairs of the ranch house, he exhaled before climbing out of the vehicle. Once he did, it was hard to miss the helicopter on the pad a short distance away from the house.

“What happened?” His already deep voice was gruff as he approached his oldest brother, Ryker.

“Why does something have to happen for me to come see my little brother?”

Roth grunted, he was only two years younger, but Ryker insisted on calling him and Rhinehart his little brothers. Sure, he was the tallest by a whole inch, but there was nothing little about the Stephens boys, as they’d been called as long as he could remember. Ryker stood at six-foot-six inches while Roth and Rhine topped out at six-foot-five inches. All three had wide shoulders, barrel chests and thick bodies. So, being called little wasn’t something Roth associated with either of them.

Stepping closer to where his brother stood on the top stair, leaning against one column, Roth arched a single eyebrow.

“You didn’t take a copter ride just to come sit on my porch and shoot the breeze. You call for that.”

Stopping once he was abreast of his eldest sibling, Roth stared at him. “So... What happened?”

“I’m getting married.”

“That’s old news, brother. You’ve been engaged for more than a year now.”

Shooting him an irritated glance, Ryker flipped him off before stalking over to one of the custom rockers and plopping into it. Lifting his hands, Roth raised both eyebrows.

“What? Am I wrong? Didn’t you and Ensley get engaged more than a year ago?”

“Fuck you.” Ryker looked off before returning his stare to Roth. “And yes, it’s been more than a year. That being said, we’ve set a date.”

Lowering himself into the chair closet to the one Ryker occupied, Roth nodded.

“Good for you. What’s the date?” Removing his hat, Roth hung it on his knee before leaning back into the seat.

“October twenty-fifth.”

With another bob of his head, Roth acknowledged Ryker’s statement.

“I’ll put it on my calendar. What do you need me to do?”  

Roth had been in a couple of weddings over the years with his army buddies, but Ryker was the first of his siblings to tie the knot.

“I’ll have my assistant send you the information. We’re having it in Las Vegas. Ensley doesn’t know many people in Houston and she doesn’t want to have it in her home town. Nothing there is large enough to accommodate us anyway.”

“How big of a wedding are you two having?” Roth was genuinely curious. Ryker had a small circle of friends, but a plethora of associates. Ensley appeared to be equally selective in her friend group from what Roth could tell when they’d met and during the times Ryker spoke of her.

As far as family went, he knew Ryker wouldn’t blink about flying people out to attend. Although most wouldn’t ask, they’d simply be happy to be invited. Many of them were starting to believe Roth and his brothers would never settle down and start families. So, they’d all want to be front row for the occasion.

Gently setting his chair to rocking, Ryker looked over at Roth and shrugged.  

“You know if it was up to me there would be enough people to witness and everyone else would read about it in the paper. But Mama...”

Ryker trailed off. He didn’t have to fill in the rest of the sentence. Roth already knew. Their mother was hell bent on getting them married to get her grandbabies. Hell, he knew for a fact she’d been encouraging Ryker and Ensley to get the baby making even if they hadn’t tied the knot. And for his Sunday School Teacher mother, that told of her desperation.

“Yeah...Mama is gonna want everybody to see and hear about it. Especially those old biddies who’ve been throwing their legion of rugrats in her face all these years.”

The slow rock of Ryker’s chair came to an abrupt halt. Roth glanced over to see the stricken expression on his brother’s face.

“What? Why do you look like we asked you to give a speech in your skivvies?”

“You don’t think she plans to invite all of her judgmental so-called friends do you? I like less than half of them, and it’s touch and go with the other half.”

Roth shook his head. Tapping his fingertips against the brim of his hat he lifted a shoulder.

“You never know with her. You know how she is. The first of her sons getting married is a major event. I’m surprised she didn’t strongarm you into having it in Lone Star, if you didn’t want to do Houston.”

“If we aren’t having it in the little one stop light town Ensley’s from, why would I have it here? Lone Star Ridge isn’t much bigger than Piney Bend, Mississippi.”

Throwing his hands up in surrender, Roth tilted his head toward Ryker.

“Don’t get testy with me. I’m just making an observation. It’s your wedding. You can have it wherever you want. I’m good with it not being in Lone Star. Hell, Mama would probably try to get me to pitch fancy tents and all kinds of shit to have it here on the ranch. No thank you to having more than half the town and a shit-ton of strangers traipsing around all over my land. It makes the cows nervous.”

Ryker’s posture relaxed halfway through Roth’s speech and he began nodding in agreement. There was no way in hell Roth was having any type of event on his ranch. He didn’t intentionally do crowds. He was never too fond of them, but after his last deployment before leaving the Army, things got pretty bad.  

It took him years, and some time working with Andy Harvey on the Silver Creek Ranch, to get to where he could sporadically attend large gatherings. Very sporadically. He preferred the company of the animals on the ranch and the comradery with the ranch hands who worked it with him. There were less than twenty of them, and most didn’t live on the ranch in the bunkhouses he provided.

His issue with big crowds was likely the reason Ryker felt he needed to come speak to him personally. Roth would have to prep himself for being in Las Vegas—especially the part where he’d have to be enclosed in a room with a bunch of people.

“I’m sure you’re really worried about the cows.” Ryker leveled him with look filled with the same sarcasm coating his voice.

“What? They’re sensitive beasts.” Roth’s additional rebuttal died on his lips with the screen door pushed open and his housekeeper stepped out onto the porch.

“Here.” Amelia Blake shoved a cellphone in his direction.

“What’re you giving me this for?” Accepting the phone which looked nothing like his, he stared up at her.

“Because you aren’t answering yours, Miss Ginny has taken to calling me.” Turning on her heel, Amelia went back into the house with the same flourish she’d used to exit.

Before putting the device to his ear, Roth gave Ryker a questioning glance. Shaking his head, his brother answered the silent query. 

“Don’t ask me. She didn’t mention your name when I was there earlier.”

Lifting the device, Roth tried to avoid getting his finger tangled up in the strap of the wallet case Amelia had the thing wrapped in.

“Hey, Mama. What’s going on?”

“Why does something have to be going on for me to call?”

One corner of Roth’s lips tipped up in a knowing smirk, then he responded. “Because, Mama. If you’re calling me on Amelia’s phone, it means you’ve been trying to call mine. That kinda determination means something has happened. But, since you’re not leading with it, I’m guessing it’s nothing life threatening.”

“Of course not! If you’d picked up or answered my texts, this wouldn’t be necessary.”  

His mother had the audacity to sound affronted that he’d even suggest she’d overstepped by calling his housekeeper’s cellphone in an effort to reach him.

“Okay then, Mama. What can I do for you?”

“Well, you know how I’ve been a member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for years. I finally talked them into doing something worthwhile and we’re having a fundraiser.”

Roth’s brow dipped. Something was suspicious, but he went with it.

“That sounds nice, Mama. Let me know your goal and I’ll be sure to make a donation. Do you want me to tell Ryker and Rhine? Ryker’s right here.”

Ryker shot him a glare before immediately standing from the rocking chair. Roth’s hand was already up to block the swipe he knew his brother was going to take at his head when he walked by. In his ear, his mother obliviously replied.

“Oh, no. Don’t bother. I know he’s gonna donate, because he can’t participate. Not with him being engaged and all. Not unless I can somehow get Ensley involved. And I don’t think that’ll happen in a million years.”

Picking up on a few key words, Roth’s frown deepened. “Mama, why would Ensley need to be involved for Ryker to participate?”

“Because, silly. It’s a charity auction. We’re calling it, Hearts for Heroes. Isn’t that cute?”

The mention of a charity auction got his full attention. His back stiffened and he sat ramrod straight in his seat. He loved his mama, but there was no way in hell he was parading around in front of a bunch of strangers to raise money. His check would have to be good enough.

“Yeah, Mama. It’s cute, but the answer is no. I’m not peacocking for a bunch of strangers. Not even for charity.”

“Pardon my grits? I don’t recall asking you to do any such thing. For your information, it’s dates with eligible women being auctioned—not men. As handsome as all my sons are, I don’t think I can get anyone to bid on either one of you ornery so-and-sos. You’re too much like your daddy.”

“Mama, you married daddy.”

“Did I ask you who I married?”  

If her tone of voice was any indicator, Virginia Stephens was getting tired of Roth’s commentary. He wisely opted not to respond to her retort.

“Anyway, as I was saying, the women have graciously volunteered to go on dates with the highest bidders. Of course, the terms are clear that nothing more than spending time with said woman should be expected. We’re the Ladies’ Auxiliary, not madams. We aren’t selling s-e-x.”

Not only did his mother spell the word, she whispered when she did it. Roth exercised supreme effort to hold in his laughter. He wouldn’t be the one to tell her he knew all about sex and it wasn’t necessary for her to do either thing when talking to him about it.

“Okay. So, if you don’t need me to be in it, what do you need? Like I said, I’m happy to donate. I can write you a check first thing.”

“I don’t want your check, Rothschild. I want to see you there. To bid on a date with a pretty lady. That’s how you can show your support, by showing your face at my event.”

“Mama...”

“Did I mention that the charity we’re supporting is geared toward veterans? I know how important it is to you to help your fellow veterans re-enter society after serving their country.”

That was below the belt, but it appeared his mama was prepared to pull out all the stops to get her way.

“Did I mention, Carla said Nick would be home and he’s going to be there too?”

Oh, she was really digging deep by bringing up his best friend of more than thirty years. Nick was still active duty, but he claimed he was going to retire soon. Either way, if he’d managed time off, there was no way Roth was going to get out of at least showing his face. Heaving a disgruntled sigh, Roth slumped back into his seat.

“Okay, Mama. When is this shindig?”