Sandy Appleyard Multi-Genre Author
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    • A Small Town Steamy Western Romance Series
      • Don't Trust the Cowboy
      • Don't Cross the Cowboy
      • Don't Tease the Cowboy
      • Don't Play the Cowboy
      • Don't Fight the Cowboy
    • Big Heart, Small Town Address Series
      • Lost in Texas
      • Found in Texas
      • Torn in Texas
      • Stuck in Texas
      • Broken in Texas
      • Stolen in Texas
      • Left in Texas
      • Wanted in Texas
      • Missed in Texas
      • Fooled in Texas
    • Christmas in Huttonville
      • Travis
      • Liam
      • Darryl
      • Christian
      • Jovi
    • A Town Without Pity Series
      • No More Tears
      • No More Lies
      • No More Games
      • No More Pain
      • No More Fear
      • No More Time
      • No More Dice
      • No More Luck
      • No More Doubt
      • No More Shame
      • No More Faith
      • No More Grace
    • The Magic at Cog Hill Series
      • She Only Speaks to Butterflies
      • Knowing
      • It's Not the Flowers
    • A Sweet Romance Series
      • Misunderstood
      • Decisions
      • Complicated
    • Standalone Romance
      • When Will Knocks at Your Door
      • Would You Still Love Me?
      • Blessed and Betrayed
      • The Man with the Black Belt
    • Betrayal Only Comes in Green
    • To Hide in Holly Springs
    • Standalone Suspense
      • Seven Lies, Four Truths
    • LA Cops Series
      • The Wife of a Lesser Man
      • Don't Mess with Daddy's Girl
      • The Wheels of Change
    • Steamy Romance
      • A Coupling Conspiracy
      • 21 Days for Liza
    • Memoir/Short Reads
      • No Thanks, Mommy, I Peed Yesterday
      • I'll Never Wear a Backless Dress
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  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • Series
    • A Small Town Steamy Western Romance Series
      • Don't Trust the Cowboy
      • Don't Cross the Cowboy
      • Don't Tease the Cowboy
      • Don't Play the Cowboy
      • Don't Fight the Cowboy
    • Big Heart, Small Town Address Series
      • Lost in Texas
      • Found in Texas
      • Torn in Texas
      • Stuck in Texas
      • Broken in Texas
      • Stolen in Texas
      • Left in Texas
      • Wanted in Texas
      • Missed in Texas
      • Fooled in Texas
    • Christmas in Huttonville
      • Travis
      • Liam
      • Darryl
      • Christian
      • Jovi
    • A Town Without Pity Series
      • No More Tears
      • No More Lies
      • No More Games
      • No More Pain
      • No More Fear
      • No More Time
      • No More Dice
      • No More Luck
      • No More Doubt
      • No More Shame
      • No More Faith
      • No More Grace
    • The Magic at Cog Hill Series
      • She Only Speaks to Butterflies
      • Knowing
      • It's Not the Flowers
    • A Sweet Romance Series
      • Misunderstood
      • Decisions
      • Complicated
    • Standalone Romance
      • When Will Knocks at Your Door
      • Would You Still Love Me?
      • Blessed and Betrayed
      • The Man with the Black Belt
    • Betrayal Only Comes in Green
    • To Hide in Holly Springs
    • Standalone Suspense
      • Seven Lies, Four Truths
    • LA Cops Series
      • The Wife of a Lesser Man
      • Don't Mess with Daddy's Girl
      • The Wheels of Change
    • Steamy Romance
      • A Coupling Conspiracy
      • 21 Days for Liza
    • Memoir/Short Reads
      • No Thanks, Mommy, I Peed Yesterday
      • I'll Never Wear a Backless Dress
  • NEW!!! Store
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​A future almost shattered. A strange new friend. And a holiday party that does more than raise a glass to good cheer.

Now, normally I don’t go around asking strange women personal questions, you know, owning a bar and all, it’s usually the other way around. But this girl, Venus, who’s helping her sister, catering at my brother Liam’s wedding, gives me an odd feeling. It’s not what you’re thinking, and shame on you for thinking that when it’s Christmas. Dang, I almost tripped over a reindeer as I went over and talked to her, behind the food table. She’s beautiful, no doubt about it at all, but she’s got that look in her eye, man, there’s no denying it. There’s trouble, and in no small way, neither. And when she blurts out the truth, well gosh, you could hear a pin drop, and this is a wedding attended by more than a hundred people, ladies and gentlemen.

***

Raine, my sister, points out the guy standing next to Liam, his brother, who’s staring at me like I’m his next meal. His name is Darryl, and he owns a local bar, and somehow I figure he’s caught wind of why I’m here. It’s impossible, of course, because nobody knows except for Raine, but the feeling I get in my gut tells me that he knows I’m not just serving lasagna as a favor to my sister. But he's adamant, despite my claws coming out, amongst all the holly and mistletoe, and I ignore the fact that he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, no ma’am, but that’s also because he’s the last thing I need. But I soon find out that in the few days that I’ve been here I’ve learned to ignore my needs and stick to my wants. God strike me dead, but as much as I hate him the moment we exchange pleasantries, I’m also unapologetically attracted to the sumbitch.

…but can we get past this tug of war between us? Then again, it doesn’t really matter, since the very reason why I’m hiding out here in Huttonville comes back...with a gun in hand…dressed up as, guess who…

Holiday romance
Christmas romance
Hate to love romance
Happily ever after romance
Steamy romance
High heat
Mild foul language
Cliffhanger ending​
​

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Copyright 2024 Sandy Appleyard.  All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • Series
    • A Small Town Steamy Western Romance Series
      • Don't Trust the Cowboy
      • Don't Cross the Cowboy
      • Don't Tease the Cowboy
      • Don't Play the Cowboy
      • Don't Fight the Cowboy
    • Big Heart, Small Town Address Series
      • Lost in Texas
      • Found in Texas
      • Torn in Texas
      • Stuck in Texas
      • Broken in Texas
      • Stolen in Texas
      • Left in Texas
      • Wanted in Texas
      • Missed in Texas
      • Fooled in Texas
    • Christmas in Huttonville
      • Travis
      • Liam
      • Darryl
      • Christian
      • Jovi
    • A Town Without Pity Series
      • No More Tears
      • No More Lies
      • No More Games
      • No More Pain
      • No More Fear
      • No More Time
      • No More Dice
      • No More Luck
      • No More Doubt
      • No More Shame
      • No More Faith
      • No More Grace
    • The Magic at Cog Hill Series
      • She Only Speaks to Butterflies
      • Knowing
      • It's Not the Flowers
    • A Sweet Romance Series
      • Misunderstood
      • Decisions
      • Complicated
    • Standalone Romance
      • When Will Knocks at Your Door
      • Would You Still Love Me?
      • Blessed and Betrayed
      • The Man with the Black Belt
    • Betrayal Only Comes in Green
    • To Hide in Holly Springs
    • Standalone Suspense
      • Seven Lies, Four Truths
    • LA Cops Series
      • The Wife of a Lesser Man
      • Don't Mess with Daddy's Girl
      • The Wheels of Change
    • Steamy Romance
      • A Coupling Conspiracy
      • 21 Days for Liza
    • Memoir/Short Reads
      • No Thanks, Mommy, I Peed Yesterday
      • I'll Never Wear a Backless Dress
  • NEW!!! Store
  • Subscribe
  • ARC Team
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Media