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Quirky Characteristics Make for a Fun Story!

Posted July 15, 2024 By Linda

When I’m writing a story, I give my characters, particularly the heroine, a unique and sometimes quirky characteristic. I think it makes the story more fun to read. It’s not always based on something I do, but that’s usually what sparked the idea. Here are some examples:

Mikaela Finn (Perfectly Honest) plans her day around her horoscope. This was me – at one point I would read my horoscope each morning, and I even use the lucky numbers that are recommended on my birthday when I buy a lottery ticket.

Margo MacMillan (Perfectly Reasonable) judges people by the type and colour of car they drive. This was sparked when I got behind a green van, and the driver drove agonizingly slow. Plotting the character and scene for my book was how I channeled my frustration. Lol

Chloe Keay (Perfectly Planned) mashes up song lyrics. Yup.

Sarah Jain (Between the Pipes) loves to know the ending of a movie before she watches it. Oh so me.

Danni Angelo (Behind the Bench) is a stickler for infection control and bugs the hockey players about sharing water bottles. Yes – just ask my kids. For any sport and before pretty much every game they played, they would get a reminder. Although the bright side is that they are very good about washing their hands after being outside.

Kelly Danali (Beyond the Face-Off) is a total extrovert and loves to be the centre of attention. Not me – I’m more like her beau-to-be who tends to be an introvert.

Jordyn Kendra (Before the Whistle) faints at the sight of blood but takes it in stride when her aunt shows up as a ghost to poke and prod her about her love life. I must confess, when I started medical school I was prone to fainting at the sight of blood. I did numerous electives in the operating room until I could stay upright. I haven’t yet encountered a ghost, but I’d like to think I would be cool with it.

Incorporating the quirks in my writing has been a lot of fun, and I hope it makes the story more relatable.

If you’re in the mood for a fun hockey romance, then Behind the Bench, a standalone story as part of the In the Game Hockey Romance Series will hit the spot!

 

Behind the Bench

Dr. Danni Angelo is the team physician for the Clarington Quakes hockey team. She’s worked hard to earn the players’ respect, but the new coach, Trey Mason, is stirring things up, and Danni’s worried her job may be in jeopardy.

Trey finds Danni…distracting. Beauty, brains, and sexy moves on the ice have him uncomfortably attracted. He’s the new guy on the block. He has a reputation to build and a standard to set. The last thing he needs is a complication.

When the team spirals out of control and Danni and Trey get caught up in a drug scandal, things heat up on and off the ice. It’s a whole new game plan…Behind the Bench.

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Danni watched the tail end of the in-house broadcast of the news conference and flicked off the screen. How could you not be impressed with that? Trey Mason was confident and eloquent, and spoke in a relaxed and engaging way. The beach-bum blond hair, sculpted cheekbones, and easy smile would win over the non-hockey fans, and his passion and knowledge of the game would impress the followers. He had it all, and landing in a town like Clarington must be a dream come true. For him.

And a nightmare for her.

She had worked part-time as the team physician for the Clarington Earthquakes, Quakes for short, for the past three years. It had taken time to gain the players’ confidence. Being a female physician for a men’s hockey team hadn’t been easy, but she’d built a solid professional relationship.

She loved everything about the job – the energy of the games, working with high-level athletes, and a new clinic in a state-of-the-art arena. Two years ago, the Ontario community of a hundred thousand had banded together and invested countless hours of sweat equity into building a new arena. It was spacious and bright. From the wall of glass at the entrance to the wide well-lit hallways, lined with gleaming stainless steel and interspersed with elegant navy tiles, it drew people in. Moving ramps carried fans up to three levels of seating, and rumbling seats mimicked an earthquake when the Tectonic Plate mascots riled the crowd.

She didn’t know how a building could affect her so much. The sight of fans streaming in or players waiting restlessly in the wings before a game sent shivers down her spine. She had a feeling of utter contentment, at times like this, when it was quiet. There was always an underlying sense of anticipation, an expectant excitement, and she loved it all. She certainly didn’t want it to change because of a new head coach.

Trey Mason couldn’t fire her. Theoretically. That would be up to the owners of the team. He could, however, make her life miserable. And if there was friction between them, it would affect the players, and ultimately, what affected the players influenced the owners. There were two other physicians who shared the job with her and a few more who would be eager to take it on.

He, on the other hand, could be set for a long run if he delivered half of what he’d promised today. She certainly hadn’t seen any charm when he’d walked into the pressroom, and yet it came out in spades when he spoke. She could only hope that her initial impression had been wrong, because between the two of them, it wasn’t likely that he’d be leaving any time soon.

Bottom line – she needed to suck it up and get along with the new guy. She sighed. She hated sucking up. She’d thought she was done with that after building a solid reputation with the team. Apparently not. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. Time to smile and play nice.

 

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A Tasty Recipe and a Delicious Story!

Posted June 12, 2024 By Linda

I love crepes. They’re quick and easy to prepare, and only require a few ingredients. They can be filled with all sorts of flavors, in fact, my mother-in-law used to serve them with pressed cottage cheese and jam (delicious), and I’ve made ones with a creamy mushroom filling, but my current favorite is a combination of Gouda cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, and spicy guacamole. If I feel the need for a bit more protein, I swap out the guacamole for hummus or eat it with carrot sticks and hummus. I make my crepes with gluten-free flour, which tends to make the crepes a bit more fragile. I keep the batter in the fridge and only fry up two at a time, but generally you can fry up a batch and reheat them when you’re ready to eat.

This is the recipe I use for Gluten-Free Crepes:

2 eggs, beaten

¾ cup milk

½ cup water

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons sugar

1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (I use Robin Hood brand)

1 tsp vegetable oil for frying

Whisk together the first 6 ingredients and then sift in the flour. Whisk until smooth. Heat the oil over medium heat in a frying pan (I use a 9-inch frying pan because I like a good-sized crepe). Add ¼ cup of batter to the pan and swirl so the batter is evenly distributed in the frying pan. Cook 2-3 minutes until golden brown and then flip and cook the other side 2-3 minutes. Makes about 6 9-inch crepes.

The best thing about a quick and easy recipe for lunch or dinner (or breakfast) is that there’s more time to read! If you’re looking for a delicious story, pick up a copy of Love and the Hockey Heist, the second book in the Laugh-out-Loud Hockey Caper Romance series. The (stand-alone) stories in this series have an element of white-collar crime – like a cozy mystery without a murder!

Love and the Hockey Heist begins with the theft of a treasured travel alarm clock, which triggers a hilarious series of events when Dr. Piper Roblin tries to steal it back! It involves a fake engagement with popular pro hockey player, Brent Dean. In this story I’ve woven a white-collar crime mystery into a romance. Add in a smart, sassy doctor and a swoon-worthy professional hockey player, and the stage is set for a fun, clever hockey caper. Get your copy today and cozy up with a fun read!

 

Here’s the blurb for Love and the Hockey Heist ~

Love and the Hockey Heist coverDr. Piper Roblin is peeved. She’s pretty sure her new neighbour stole her travel alarm clock. It may not be worth much, but it has sentimental value. Piper hatches a plan to get it back, but her plan relies on Brent Dean, popular forward of the Brighton Edge hockey team, to finagle a dinner invitation to gain access to her neighbour’s house.

Brent thought the invite from the stunningly beautiful cardiologist was based on a thoughtful gesture to welcome new neighbours to Brighton. He didn’t realize the gig included subterfuge, thievery, and a fake engagement. But he didn’t get to where he is without a lot of hustle and determination, and since he’s always up for some fun, let the games begin.

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

“I need a fiancé.” Piper Roblin tucked her purse under the stool and sat down heavily. Her shoulder-length hair, the colour of rich dark chocolate flounced around her heart-shaped face. Her three best friends, already seated at the workstations waiting for the cooking class to begin, turned and stared at her with identical expressions: open-mouthed shock.

Bailey Jansen, a dermatologist with an adventurous spirit, and the most outspoken of their group, was the first to recover. “Excuse me?”

Piper pulled back her shoulders, trying to make the most of her one-hundred-fifty-seven-centimeter height, and raised her chin. “I need a man, a hockey player to be exact.”

Bailey grinned at the determination in Piper’s brown eyes and waved a hand. “I’ve been saying the same thing for months.”

They looked expectantly at Abigail Clark, a levelheaded emergency room physician, who sat at the workstation in front of them beside the fourth pea in their pod, Sierra Westlake, a serious-minded general surgeon.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Abigail asked.

“Two words. Del Braebury.” Bailey pointed at the impressive diamond ring on Abigail’s left hand. “You’re engaged to the captain of the Brighton Edge hockey team.”

“You can make it happen,” Piper said.

Sierra raised a hand. “Whoa. Let’s just pump the brakes here. Why do you need a fiancé? Last I heard you were too busy being the chief of cardiology to worry about dating, never mind planning a wedding. And didn’t you say that your parents are big on the whole pre-arranged marriage idea?”

Piper waved that aside. “This is just temporary. I have no intention of settling into a relationship. I accepted an invitation to a dinner party, but the only reason I was invited was because I sort of mentioned that my fiancé played for the Brighton Edge.”

Sierra shook her head. “What? Why would you do that?”

“I was backed into a corner.” Piper gritted her teeth.

Bailey laughed. “I hear you, sister. You don’t know how many times I’ve needed to use that.”

“Really?”

“No, never. How did that even come up?”

Piper sighed. “You know how I belong to a neighbourhood book club?” At their nods, she continued. “Last week I hosted. After everyone left, I realized that my little silver travel alarm clock was missing. I think my neighbour took it.”

“That’s crazy,” Abigail said. “Haven’t you been in that book club for years? Aren’t those people your friends?”

“I know how it sounds, but I’ve looked high and low for that clock, and I cannot find it. Most of the women have been part of the group for years, but a young couple, Jessica and Ryan, moved in beside me recently, and I invited Jessica to join us.”

“Why would she steal your alarm clock? Is it worth something?”

“No. That’s what’s so annoying. I bought it online a few years ago, for like, ten bucks. But I really like it. It’s compact and has a quiet alarm. It’s perfect for travel, and I used it all the time when I had to sleep at the hospital during my residency. I don’t know why she took it, but I’m almost positive she did.”

“Why? What makes you think that?” Abigail asked.

“She went to the washroom and instead of using the powder room, I caught her coming down the stairs. She made some excuse about not knowing about the bathroom on the main floor even though I specifically pointed it out. And I’m pretty sure her house is the exact same layout as mine.”

“That is odd,” Bailey said.

Piper nodded emphatically. “I know. I didn’t think much of it until I noticed that my little alarm clock was missing. I’m sure she took it while she was up there.”

“That’s pretty bold,” Abigail said. “Stealing from your neighbour isn’t a great way to settle into the community. Do you know anything about her?”

“Only that they bought the house next door. She said they own a cleaning company and moved here from Toronto to set up a local franchise. No kids, no pets, and huge hockey fans.”

“So you plan to have dinner with them, get to know them, and ask if she stole your alarm clock?” Bailey asked, more than a little skeptically.

“I’m going to steal it back.”

 

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Inspiring Women

Posted May 16, 2024 By Linda

We recently celebrated Mother’s Day, and I was thinking about all the inspiring women in my life. I’ve raised my kids alongside a group of other moms and we’ve muddled through a lot of shenanigans. I’ve managed to come out the other side feeling proud of the sons I’ve raised and thankful that I had a great group of women by my side.

Recently I started dancing with a group of Royal Scottish Country dancers, and I’ve met another group of inspiring women. They’re energetic, patient with new dancers, welcoming, friendly, and oh-so-smart, quickly learning and mastering all the steps to the dances. And, it turns out, they’re in their eighties – and one is ninety! I didn’t believe it when I learned that. I would’ve sworn they were all ten to fifteen years younger. Scottish Country dancing is lively with reels and jigs, done with a skipping step that makes you feel like a kid, and the occasional slower more elegant Strathspey. It’s a ton of fun but there is a lot of memory work involved as you move through the different positions in the dance. It obviously keeps you young! I’m so inspired by these women – I hope to carry myself into the future with the same elegance and grace.

 

If you’d like to hang out with another group of inspiring women and escape into a sassy, sexy, medical romcom, pick up a copy of Perfectly Reasonable. Margo’s life is a bit topsy turvy at the moment as she sorts out her career, but she has a best friend who sticks by her side, and a new admirer who forces her to look at things a little differently!

In Perfectly Reasonable, Trace is applying to medical school. With a little help from Margo, he plans to ace the dreaded medical school interview. Now he just has to convince Margo to help him!

 

Margo MacMillan finished medical school, but in the process, her self-confidence and self-esteem took a beating. So for the sake of self-preservation, she’s stepped away from medicine to re-group. In the meantime, painting soothes her soul and pays the bills.

Trace Bennett set his sights on a medical degree and has to prepare the perfect medical school application. His big plan is to paint his condo for a little feng shui divine luck. When Margo shows up to paint, he realizes he’s found exactly what he’s looking for. He just has to convince Margo to share more than the art of medicine.

 

She’s got it. He wants it. It’s Perfectly Reasonable.

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

“So, you’re a doctor,” Trace said slowly.

Jeez. Back to that. “Yup.”

“How come a doctor is painting my living room?”

“Because you’re paying twice the usual fee,” Margo said with a cheeky grin.

“Shouldn’t you be…doctoring?”

Her smile slipped. He sounded like her mother. All that time, all that money, blah, blah, blah. “I could be, but at the moment, I’m painting.” She pointed to the paint sample hanging on the wall. “That’s the color I chose.”

He looked over. “I like it. Hopefully it will work.”

“I think it’ll work. Blue’s a neutral color. Looks good in this lighting and it’ll be a great backdrop with your metal furniture.”

“Hm-mm. I’m hoping it’ll be lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“Feng shui. Water and metal elements, á la blue paint and metal furniture, in the west and southwest rooms are supposed to bring divine luck this year. Good bye beige and wooden antiques.”

She smiled at him. He wants to get lucky? Look at those abs. Really, any color would do. “Sounds like you’ve researched this.”

He took a sip of coffee and set the cup down. “I have. I’m applying to medicine. Again. I’m giving it one last chance, and this time I’m doing it properly.”

“Medicine.”

“Yes.”

“And you think feng shui will help?” She reached for a small tool in the outer pocket of the tote bag and used it to pry open the lid from the first can of paint.

“Couldn’t hurt. And I want to cover all the bases. If I can get a little divine luck on my side, I’m all for it.”

She smiled at him as she stirred the paint. Hopefully he had more than feng shui up his sleeve. “I’ll get this done and get you started. I’m happy to help.” Especially if it meant her bills would get paid.

“Are you? You could be handy.”

“Oh I’m definitely handy,” she said with a smile.

 

Buy link (free in Kindle Unlimited):  https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Reasonable-Book-2-ebook/dp/B09D6WFHNM

 

Award-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Linda loves to connect with readers ~

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnorAuthor

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Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA

 

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My fun new hobby!

Posted April 21, 2024 By Linda

I’ve fallen in love and I’m having a ton of fun with it! I’ve fallen in love with geocaching! I received a new phone for Christmas, and I’ve finally been able to download an app for geocaching. If you’re not familiar with geocaching, it’s basically a treasure hunt – people hide caches and post latitude and longitude co-ordinates or waypoints. Using the app (or a GPS), you can search out the hiding spots, find the caches, and sign a log to note that you’ve found it. The caches can be anything from a miniature tube hanging on a branch, a small container hidden under a rock or in a hole in a tree trunk, a fake bolt, or something tucked into a more elaborate secret compartment behind a little library, for instance. Geocaches are hidden all over the world and even in my own neighbourhood, I’ve visited beautiful parks, gems really, that I didn’t even know existed. Stealth is often required to keep the caches hidden and non-geocachers from moving them. There are EarthCaches that teach you about the geography of the area and newer virtual caches, often placed in areas with a lot of foot traffic where pulling out a container would be too obvious. Some of the caches require you to solve a puzzle to calculate the co-ordinates. It’s great for kids and adults, and I love that you can do it anytime, solo or in a group, and that it’s free! So if you’re looking for a fun new hobby to try, check it out. Here’s the website to learn more about the caches in your area: https://www.geocaching.com

 

If you’re looking for another fun way to pass the time, pick up a copy of Perfectly Honest. It’s the first book of the Perfectly Series, six stand-alone romantic comedies. When Mikaela meets Sam’s mom for the first time, she’s a bit taken aback by the advice she receives – and is trying to hide the fact that the engagement isn’t real!

 

Perfectly Honest

Medical Romantic Comedy

You never know where your words will take you…

When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam’s “fiancée” for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she’s a doctor. Sam O’Brien, aka “Dr. Eye Candy,” is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he’s ready to settle down.  But when his “fiancée” helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it’s a bit of a shock. If he’d known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his “fiancée” ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted.

Lies and deceit – it’s a match made in heaven!

 

 

Enjoy an excerpt from Perfectly Honest ~

your horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19)  Emotions will escalate and confusion will set in with regard to a partnership you thought you could count on.  Take time to absorb what’s happened.  You are sitting in a much better position than you realize.  Bide your time.

As they stirred their tea, Marla leaned forward with excited eyes.  “I want to know all the details.  What’s your sign?”

Mikaela blinked.  “My sign?”

“Yes.  You know, Sam is a Scorpio.  I hope you’re not a Virgo. All the Virgos are a little…zealous. Too much energy, if you ask me. And I don’t know that Pisces would be a good fit either. They tend to daydream the day away, don’t you think?  I think Sam needs someone a little more grounded. Taurus would be okay, but they do tend to be a bit stubborn and Leo, well I think a Leo would be a bit too boisterous, maybe a bit too bossy for Sam. I wouldn’t like to see another Scorpio. Could you imagine? That would be the worst kind of clash. Don’t you think? Now, last year, I would have said Sagittarius. It was a good year for Sagittarius. This year, I’m thinking a Libra or Aquarius would be good.  I could see that working. I’ve given this a lot of thought. I’ve told Sam. I told him he has to watch the sign, but I never know if he really listens.”

Mikaela’s head spun. “Ah, I’m an Aries,” she said hesitantly.

“Oh perfect.” Marla clapped her hands. “That’s a good match, especially this year. The moon cycle is perfect for an Aries-Scorpio match. I’ve always thought Aries was best at thinking things through before they do something irreversible. That will be the perfect balance to Sam’s Scorpio impulsiveness,” she announced confidently.

Mikaela almost burst out laughing. Yup, that was her all right. Thinking things through. Planning change. Avoiding the irreversible. Marla’s nailed it, she thought ruefully. Sam really should have paid more attention to the sign.

“What is your Chinese zodiac?”

“Pardon?”

“You know. Your heavenly stem, your earthly branch, your animal, your element?”

“I’m not really sure.”

“Hmmm. We’ll have to figure that out. Sam is a Tiger. At least he’s born a Tiger.  Personally, internally I think he’s a dragon. Truly there is a bit of ox and secretively, I suspect a little goat. But then I’m his mother.” She patted Mikaela’s hand. “So if you were a horse, dog or dragon, that would be wonderful. Oh dear, I do hope you’re not a monkey. That would not be good.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m not a monkey,” Mikaela assured her.

“That’s a relief. There are so many things to think about when you choose a mate. Are you a yin or yang?”

“Yin?” Mikaela guessed, hoping to make Marla happy.

“Perfect,” Marla beamed. “Sam’s a yang. The perfect match. You know Olivia and Ron are yang-yang, so I do worry. But they produced the most beautiful daughter.  Just goes to show there’s something good there somewhere.”

“And what is your favourite color?” Marla asked earnestly.

Seriously? She was engaged to her son and that’s what she thought was important? She was beginning to understand why Walt went for a swim. “Ah, aquamarine?”

“Oh, aquamarine,” Marla repeated, nodding her head.  “Now would that be more blue or more green?”

Mikaela just stared. “Blue?”

“Oh lovely. I love blue, too.”

“That’s important to finding someone compatible?” Mikaela asked skeptically.

Marla laughed. “No, now that would be silly, dear. No, I just asked because I enjoy quilting in my spare time, and I’ve decided to make a quilt for each of the kids as a wedding present. So yours shall be blue. And I’ll get started on that right away.” She leaned forward. “Have you picked a date for the wedding?”

 

Buy link (free with KU):  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V9CWRMK

 

 

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Protect Your Eyes!!

Posted April 6, 2024 By Linda

This is soooo important –> DON’T LOOK AT THE SUN DURING A PARTIAL ECLIPSE!!

The sun won’t seem bright enough to hurt your eyes, it won’t be painful, and it won’t make you squint, but it can cause PERMANENT DAMAGE and BLINDNESS if you look at it – even for a few seconds.

The partial phase of the eclipse occurs both before and after totality – that means that for the 2 hours before the moon completely blocks the sun and for the 2 hours after the moon completes blocks the sun, you are at risk of permanent, irreversible changes to your vision if you look at the sun. It’s pretty scary – it will be painless and it may not be apparent for up to 96 hours later.

Sunglasses won’t protect your eyes and you cannot look at the sun through the lens of a camera. In fact, it will also ruin your camera. There are special solar glasses available, but they have to be approved. And keep in mind, that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event so how exactly are the glasses tested ??  If the glasses are scratched, don’t use them!

The glasses cause complete blackness – don’t lower them to check the position of the sun and don’t plan to walk around once you put them on. Better yet, don’t look at the sun at all!! Just experience the eclipse by watching the shadows on the ground.

 

 

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted March 17, 2024 By Linda

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Have you ever wondered how the four-leaf clover became a symbol of luck?

According to folklore, the leaves of a four-leaf clover represent hope, faith, love, and good luck. The fourth leaf of a clover is an uncommon mutation and therefore rare, so it’s thought that if you find one, you’re lucky! I was surprised to learn that the traditional Irish symbol of a shamrock is actually three-leafed and not the lucky four-leafed one. The iconic symbol probably began around 1707 when Scotland became part of the United Kingdom. Scotland associated with the thistle, England with the rose, and Ireland with the shamrock. It continues to be an emblem of Ireland today and certainly any St. Patrick’s Day party wouldn’t be complete without a few green decorations and a shamrock or two! Just make sure yours only have three leaves.

If you’d like to escape with a fun, sexy medical hockey romance, the In the Game Hockey Romance series is perfect! There are 4 stand-alone stories to enjoy! Here’s a peek at the first one, Between the Pipes.

 

 

Sarah Jain is a family doctor in a hockey-crazy town. She hates hockey. She hasn’t gone anywhere near a rink in years, until her friend, the team doctor, calls in a favour. Mike Wallace is the starting goalie for the Clarington Quakes, the local professional hockey team. He’s not about to let an injury slow him down or a rookie doctor call the shots.

Sarah and Mike don’t respect each other’s jobs. When they have to work together, sparks fly and ice melts. Can they play a game they both can win?

Love on the ice doesn’t always go smoothly.

 

Enjoy an excerpt from Between the Pipes ~ 

“He’ll be in the intensive care unit overnight, but they’ll probably move him to another room tomorrow,” Sarah said. Coherent and professional. So far, so good. She could hardly be blamed for being distracted, though, considering what she was up against.

Ben popped his head into the dressing room. “Mike, how’s the chest?”

Mike’s gaze darted to Sarah and then back to Ben. “Fine,” he responded curtly.

Ben nodded as if that was the answer he’d expected to hear and left with a salute.

Sarah thought his chest was more than fine, but that probably wasn’t what Ben had meant. She looked over at Mike. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I caught a puck in the ribs in the third, but it’s fine.”

“Against your chest pads?”

“No. I must’ve twisted, and it found a hole.”

“Is it painful?” she asked, wondering if he could have injured a rib. From the little she’d watched of the game, it didn’t appear that the players held back when they shot at the goalie. It wouldn’t take much to fracture a rib.

He gave a short laugh with a shake of his head. “I’m a goalie. It would be unusual not to have pain after a game.”

“Maybe I should take a quick look.”

“No. It’s fine,” he replied with a hint of anger and a whole lot of impatience.

Sarah cocked her head to one side and looked at him. Why wouldn’t he want her to check it, to make sure it wasn’t something more serious than a bruise? She grabbed a towel off the bench and threw it at him.

“Hey,” Mike said, startled, and he instinctively reached for the towel. He twisted as he reached out his arm and grimaced, missed the towel, and grabbed his right side. His face was a study in pain, and he scowled at her.

If looks could kill…yikes. She set her bag down and pulled out her stethoscope. “Let me listen to your chest.”

He pressed his lips together, and his eyes darkened, but he stood and turned around.

“Can you take a deep breath?”

“Of course.”

Sure. He splinted his chest, barely moving air in and out, but it sounded normal. She ran her fingers gently over the side of his chest, feeling the ribs. He winced when she palpated a small bump on the right side. It was already starting to bruise. She looked him in the eyes when he turned back to face her. “You know, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve fractured a rib.”

Mike’s expression was stony. “I cannot have a fractured rib. I’ve worked my butt off to become the starting goalie, and I intend to stay that way. I’m not giving that up. I know my own body. This is not a fracture.”

Sarah watched his face. There was more anxiety than anger behind those words. She removed the stethoscope from around her neck and folded it to put it away. “You may be right, but you need an x-ray to be sure.”

“No.”

Sarah’s heart pounded. “I can’t let you play if your rib is fractured. It’s too dangerous,” she said quietly. She willed her hands to stay steady. She was right, she knew it. Danni always worried about players who insisted on playing through an injury. Sarah hadn’t understood how it felt to be in the position of deciding their fate until now. It didn’t feel very comfortable. “You can’t play until I’ve seen the x-ray result.”

“You can’t do that.”

They both knew she could. She stayed silent. He drew himself up and reined in the anger.

“I’ll transmit the requisition to the hospital,” she said.

“Fine.” He didn’t look at her. That hadn’t sounded fine.

“As soon as I hear the result, I’ll let you know.” She picked up her bag and headed out.

That went well, she thought ruefully. Man, she hated hockey.

Buy link (99c / Free with Kindle Unlimited): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078SHLX8T/

 

 

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Following the Clues and Falling in Love!

Posted February 19, 2024 By Linda

Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues coverLove and the Hidden Hockey Clues

When she was younger, Dr. Abigail Clark dreamed of playing professional hockey, but the world wasn’t ready for a female player. That stung. She skated as far away from hockey as possible – until she lands a job in the emergency department of a hockey-crazy town and buys the house of the late beloved Zamboni driver. A tin box is discovered during the renovation of her new home, and Abigail brushes it off as a time capsule left by the previous owner – that is until someone tries to steal it. Turns out, the odd collection is more than just sentimental hockey memorabilia.

Abigail inadvertently embroils Del Braebury, captain of the local pro hockey team, into helping her sort it out. Her history with hockey players is rocky at best, but he comes in handy when she needs to access parts of the rink that are off limits. Del is happy to be tangled up in the clues of the hidden hockey loot. In the process of solving the mystery, he hopes to win Abigail’s heart!

 

Buy link ~ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YJXZS7H/

 

Behind the Scenes with Love the the Hidden Hockey Clues ~ 

What inspired Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues?

Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues, is the first in a new series, Laugh-out-Loud Hockey Caper Romance. It’s about a doctor who finds a tin box hidden between the studs during renovations of her home. She thought the items were random hockey mementos but realizes they are clues and enlists the help of the captain of the local pro hockey team to help her sort out where they lead. I’ve always thought it would be cool to find a hidden treasure during renovations and that sparked the initial idea. I also love escape rooms with the challenge of clues to decipher and puzzles to solve. I thought I’d weave that type of white-collar crime mystery into a romance. Add in a smart, sassy doctor and a swoon-worthy professional hockey player, and the stage is set for a fun, clever hockey caper.

 

Is there anything special you would like people to know about Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues?

This is the first book in the series and all of the (stand-alone) stories will have an element of white-collar crime – like a cozy mystery without murder! I also decided to make these stories sweet with the feel of a sexy romance – sweet with heat.

 

What do people get wrong about writing romance?

I specifically write medical romance and here are 3 things that authors may get wrong when their main characters are doctors:

Physicians cannot/would not date their patients – unless they want to lose their licence to practice medicine. I know that readers are sometimes asked to suspend reality when reading fiction, but a doctor hooking up with their patient makes me cringe. It’s so unprofessional. If you want to write a romance with the doctor as the hero or heroine, their love interest could be a colleague. Generally, the rules about dating a fellow hospital employee aren’t as strict as they are in the corporate world.

Something else I’m often asked about with respect to the scope of practice outside of a clinic or medical facility – doctors can pretty much only do First Aid and CPR like any other bystander. Not many doctors carry around a stethoscope, medical equipment, or urgently needed drugs on an outing!

 

Gone are the days of old when a doctor, usually a surgeon, stereotypically a neurosurgeon, goes around throwing out arrogant orders to the doctors-in-training or nursing staff. That is no longer tolerated. Doctors are expected to maintain a level of professionalism – on and off the job. A couple of years ago a doctor was reprimanded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons for swearing at another driver after a minor motor vehicle accident. It wasn’t medically related at all, but it was deemed that the doctor’s behaviour was unbecoming to the profession.

 

If you were suddenly transported back to Victorian England as a member of the aristocracy, would you be thrilled or appalled? Would you be willing to stay there permanently?

I would be appalled. A female physician in Victorian England was pretty much unheard of, and the practice of medicine was very different. The use of anesthetics, antibiotics, and even basic sanitization practices were all still evolving. I would be anxious to be transported back to today.

 

Is true romance – the wooing, courtship, passion, seduction, the little gestures of affection – dead? Why or why not?

I don’t think so, at least not in my heart. It’s the little gestures of affection that carry the relationship forward. The wooing and courtship allow you to get to know someone and develop trust and respect. They build the foundation of affection and attraction, and the passion and seduction have to wait until your heart is ready. That foundation, in my opinion, has to be in place for a long-lasting relationship.

 

What’s the best thing that has ever happened to you as a writer?

The best thing is when a reader tells me they love my book. It’s not just the words, but the sparkle in their eye or the laugh when they recount a scene. Sometimes they haven’t finished reading it yet, so I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil the ending. But that genuine enjoyment is so uplifting to me as a writer.

 

 

 

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Posted February 11, 2024 By Linda

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful reminder to tell the people in our lives that we love them and to let them know how grateful we are that they are part of our lives. It takes energy, compromise, time, patience, and acceptance to nurture a relationship. It sometimes takes difficult conversations – ones we’d rather avoid – to make a relationship stronger. So, once a year, pat yourself on the back and celebrate that you did all that and more to keep your relationship strong. And why not make a point of thanking all the loved people in your life – from children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents and other assorted extended family to the server who pours you coffee, the IT guy who rescues your computer, the contractors that show up on time and take pride in their work, the readers who pick up your book and encourage you to write and the myriad of people who make your world a better place. It may be a different type of love, but they’ll appreciate hearing how much you care and appreciate them! Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Looking for a fun hockey romance to curl up with? Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues, is the first in the Laugh-out-Loud Hockey Caper Romance series. It’s about a doctor who finds a tin box hidden between the studs during the renovation of her home. She thought the items were random hockey mementos, but she realizes they’re clues and reluctantly enlists the help of the captain of the local pro hockey team to help her sort out where they lead. It’s a fun romance with an element of white-collar crime – like a cozy mystery without murder!

 

Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues coverHere’s the blurb for Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues ~

When she was younger, Dr. Abigail Clark dreamed of playing professional hockey, but the world wasn’t ready for a female player. That stung. She skated as far away from hockey as possible – until she lands a job in the emergency department of a hockey-crazy town and buys the house of the late beloved Zamboni driver. A tin box is discovered during the renovation of her new home, and Abigail brushes it off as a time capsule left by the previous owner – that is until someone tries to steal it. Turns out, the odd collection is more than just sentimental hockey memorabilia.

 

Abigail inadvertently embroils Del Braebury, captain of the local pro hockey team, into helping her sort it out. Her history with hockey players is rocky at best, but he comes in handy when she needs to access parts of the rink that are off limits. Del is happy to be tangled up in the clues of the hidden hockey loot. In the process of solving the mystery, he hopes to win Abigail’s heart!

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Abigail put her purse on the floor at her feet. “I found a date for next Saturday.”

“Yeah, I got that, but rewind a moment.” Sierra put up a hand. The black curls framing her face bobbed with the movement. “You’re going with some random guy from the gym and to seal the deal, you kissed him?”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t to seal the deal. It was to get a five-thousand-dollar donation to the hospital.”

Her three friends did simultaneous double takes. If she didn’t feel so sheepish about the whole thing, it would’ve been funny.

“He paid five thousand dollars to kiss you?” Bailey’s eyes were wide. “I mean I know you have sex appeal, but that’s impressive.”

Abigail laughed. “He had a bet going with his friends. They promised to fork over five thousand if I said yes and five thousand if we kissed before the night was over.” She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I just sped things up.”

“Abigail Sarah Clark, it seems we need to have a little talk about appropriate behaviour with the opposite sex.” Sierra gave a good stink eye.

Abigail sighed. “I know, I know. It was an impulse. His two friends were so smug. I was goaded.” She’d had to quash her own pang of embarrassment over the kiss. “He is quite easy on the eyes, though.”

Bailey leaned forward with a wide smile. “Deets.” Her heart-shaped face, porcelain skin, and fine features belied the adventure in her blood.

Abigail laughed. “Close to one-hundred-ninety centimetres tall, black wavy hair, and an angel face with a sexy five o’clock shadow.”

“What’s his name?” Piper asked softly. Her warm brown eyes held more worry than censure. Abigail could imagine she was the most appalled, though she’d never say so for fear of hurting Abigail’s feelings.

“I don’t know.”

Again with the simultaneous double takes.

Sierra blinked rapidly and held up her hands. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Didn’t he give you his name? Didn’t you ask?”

Abigail cleared her throat. “Not exactly. In my head I was calling him Muscles. I don’t think he introduced himself when he came over and then after that kiss…” She bit her lip. “You know that emoji with the big saucer eyes and flushed cheeks?”

Her friends nodded.

“That was me.”

Bailey laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. “Good kisser, check.” She made a big check mark in the air.

“Over the top,” Abigail said with a nod. “I was in the locker room before I realized I’d forgotten to ask his name, and when I came out he was hanging with his friends again. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that I didn’t know, you know?”

“So you have a date for Saturday, and you have no idea who he is except that he’s a good kisser?” Sierra asked. Her hands might as well have been on her hips.

“Pretty much,” Abigail said, a tad sheepishly. “I’m sure I’ll see him again at the gym before next Saturday. I’ll ask him then.”

“What’s the name of the gym?” Bailey asked.

“Break Point.”

Piper’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that owned by one of the Edge players? I heard the team hangs out there.”

Sierra’s jaw dropped. “You kissed a hockey player?”

“What? No.” Although they certainly were built. And they dropped ten grand like it was Monopoly money. “Oh, jeez.”

Bailey laughed delightedly and pulled out her cell phone. “The woman who has vowed never to date a hockey player, who disses hockey players at every opportunity, who shows nothing but disdain for women who date hockey players…is going out with a hockey player. Wouldn’t that be karma?” She searched for pictures of the Brighton Edge players and handed it to Abigail.

Abigail took Bailey’s phone reluctantly and scrolled through the team members. Her heart dropped when she found him. She held the phone out to show the others.

Bailey whistled, Sierra’s eyes narrowed, and Piper tried unsuccessfully to hide a sympathetic smile.

Abigail was going to the dinner and dance with Del Braebury, captain of the Brighton Edge hockey team.

 

Buy link ~ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YJXZS7H/

 

 

 

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Wisdom and Change

Posted January 13, 2024 By Linda

I walk in a local conservation area every day and in the past few weeks, I’ve seen an owl every day or so. The owl is never in the same spot, so it’s a bit like playing “Where’s Waldo?”, and it’s very well camouflaged so it’s a magical moment when I do see it. Owls are thought to symbolize inner wisdom, change, transformation, and good luck, so I thought it apropos to highlight some fun facts about owls as we begin 2024.

 

Owls vary in colour from white through many shades of tan, gray, brown, or rufous (reddish) to deep brown. A few are solidly coloured, but most are patterned, often resulting in them being almost invisible against tree bark.

 

Owls can see in the daytime. Their pupils don’t get as small as ours in bright light, so to block out the extra light, they often close their eyes half-way or more. They may look sleepy or even half asleep when really they are wide awake and alert.

 

Their eyes are fixed in position, and to compensate, they can rotate their necks more than 180 degrees in either direction meaning they can look directly backward. I’ve seen the owl do this and often think they need to rotate it back to unscrew their neck. Lol

 

Camouflage, daytime immobility, and silent flight combine to make it as difficult for owls to see each other as it is for natural enemies and humans to see them. The flight of owls is a steady flapping on a straight path, ending in a short upward glide to the perch. Hunting, usually from a perch, rarely involves extensive flight, requires only a short burst of speed to surprise the prey on the ground. Most of the time when I pick out an owl, it’s because it’s flying to a new perch.

 

I hope your year is filled with good luck, transformation, and change to make your life better! Make time to nurture yourself. I love to escape with a good book. If you do, too, you might enjoy Perfectly Honest. It’s the first book of the Perfectly Series and a fun, sexy, humorous romance about two doctors who find themselves in a fake engagement that snowballs out of control. Enjoy!

 

Perfectly Honest

You never know where your words will take you…

When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam’s “fiancée” for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she’s a doctor. Sam O’Brien, aka “Dr. Eye Candy,” is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he’s ready to settle down.  But when his “fiancée” helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it’s a bit of a shock. If he’d known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his “fiancée” ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted.

Lies and deceit – it’s a match made in heaven!

 

Enjoy an excerpt from Perfectly Honest ~

Mikaela woke with a start to the sound of voices. Disoriented, in unfamiliar surroundings, she looked down at her short shorts and loose shirt covered with spatters of paint. Painting, of course. She finished the job late and must have fallen asleep in the chair. Checking her watch, she saw that it was two o’clock in the morning. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. Pulling herself out of the chair, she listened to the voices. One voice was female, sounding impatient and unhappy and one male, sounding apologetic and resigned.

“I know it’s not ideal, Sophia, but it’s what I want. I’m tired of the large city, the tertiary care center, and all the politics. I’m tired of all the meetings and all the committees. I want a smaller hospital in a smaller city. I want a life.”

“Nonsense, Sam,” the woman shot back. “You don’t know what you want or what’s good for you. You need to pay your dues now to reap the benefits later.”

“Look, I don’t expect you to understand. I’m grateful you’ve agreed to help me out, but . . . ”

Mikaela wandered into the hallway and stopped when she saw the two of them at the front door. The woman had unbuttoned her coat, and as she put her hands on her hips, there was a flash of the red cocktail dress she wore underneath. The man was a foot taller and wearing a suit. A very nice fitting suit, Mikaela mused, as she came up behind him.

The woman noticed Mikaela first, and her startled gasp had the man looking over his shoulder. Mikaela wasn’t sure who looked more shocked, the man, who moved to shield the woman, or the woman, who raked her gaze over Mikaela from head to toe. As Mikaela fought the urge to straighten her shirt and fix her hair, she decided, definitely, the woman.

The woman’s eyes narrowed, the hands on her hips became clenched at her sides, and her face flushed red. Mikaela held her breath.

The woman pushed at the man’s shoulder and spun him around to face her. “Why you! You! ‘I can’t invite you in, the house is being painted,’” she mimicked. “Is that the new code word for ‘mistress?’ You could have just told me we were through. Well, I’m done. This is the last straw. You pig!” The woman spun on her heel and wrenched the door open.

“Sophia, wait!”

“No, wait,” Mikaela added. She lurched forward, now wide-awake.

The woman stormed out and slammed the door.

The man turned to Mikaela with his hands on his hips. “Who are you?”

 

Buy link (free with Kindle Unlimited):  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V9CWRMK

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Stress Busters!

Posted December 15, 2023 By Linda

What do you do to keep stress at bay this time of year? It’s a busy time and it helps to be intentional about taking time to reset and relax. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years and my favourite is to have a quiet space to retreat to when life gets hectic. Not gonna lie – it used to be the bathroom when my kids were little. LOL Now it’s a comfy chair in my bedroom that I can sink into. I wrap myself in a cozy blanket, put on upbeat Christmas tunes or pull out a book to read. Exercise has always been my go-to for busting stress, and even with the onset of colder weather and snow, I still try to get outside for a walk.  I also take advantage of indoor sports that local schools host in the evenings. I have a friend who loves to bake – her happy place smells delicious. This time of year, it helps to prioritize what’s truly important and reschedule what you can until after the holidays when things are a little less hectic. I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that you give yourself permission to take a moment (or a few) to relax.

 

If you love to relax by escaping into a fun book, here are a few suggestions! Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues and Love and the Hockey Heist are 2 books in the Laugh-out-Loud Hockey Caper Romance series. These stand-alone stories are humorous romances with a white-collar crime twist!

 

Love and the Hidden Hockey Clues coverLove and the Hidden Hockey Clues ~

When she was younger, Dr. Abigail Clark dreamed of playing professional hockey, but the world wasn’t ready for a female player. That stung. She skated as far away from hockey as possible – until she lands a job in the emergency department of a hockey-crazy town and buys the house of the late beloved Zamboni driver. A tin box is discovered during the renovation of her new home, and Abigail brushes it off as a time capsule left by the previous owner – that is until someone tries to steal it. Turns out, the odd collection is more than just sentimental hockey memorabilia.

 

Abigail inadvertently embroils Del Braebury, captain of the local pro hockey team, into helping her sort it out. Her history with hockey players is rocky at best, but he comes in handy when she needs to access parts of the rink that are off limits. Del is happy to be tangled up in the clues of the hidden hockey loot. In the process of solving the mystery, he hopes to win Abigail’s heart!

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Abigail put her purse on the floor at her feet. “I found a date for next Saturday.”

“Yeah, I got that, but rewind a moment.” Sierra put up a hand. The black curls framing her face bobbed with the movement. “You’re going with some random guy from the gym and to seal the deal, you kissed him?”

Abigail rolled her eyes. “It wasn’t to seal the deal. It was to get a five-thousand-dollar donation to the hospital.”

Her three friends did simultaneous double takes. If she didn’t feel so sheepish about the whole thing, it would’ve been funny.

“He paid five thousand dollars to kiss you?” Bailey’s eyes were wide. “I mean I know you have sex appeal, but that’s impressive.”

Abigail laughed. “He had a bet going with his friends. They promised to fork over five thousand if I said yes and five thousand if we kissed before the night was over.” She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I just sped things up.”

“Abigail Sarah Clark, it seems we need to have a little talk about appropriate behaviour with the opposite sex.” Sierra gave a good stink eye.

Abigail sighed. “I know, I know. It was an impulse. His two friends were so smug. I was goaded.” She’d had to quash her own pang of embarrassment over the kiss. “He is quite easy on the eyes, though.”

Bailey leaned forward with a wide smile. “Deets.” Her heart-shaped face, porcelain skin, and fine features belied the adventure in her blood.

Abigail laughed. “Close to one-hundred-ninety centimetres tall, black wavy hair, and an angel face with a sexy five o’clock shadow.”

“What’s his name?” Piper asked softly. Her warm brown eyes held more worry than censure. Abigail could imagine she was the most appalled, though she’d never say so for fear of hurting Abigail’s feelings.

“I don’t know.”

Again with the simultaneous double takes.

Sierra blinked rapidly and held up her hands. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Didn’t he give you his name? Didn’t you ask?”

Abigail cleared her throat. “Not exactly. In my head I was calling him Muscles. I don’t think he introduced himself when he came over and then after that kiss…” She bit her lip. “You know that emoji with the big saucer eyes and flushed cheeks?”

Her friends nodded.

“That was me.”

Bailey laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. “Good kisser, check.” She made a big check mark in the air.

“Over the top,” Abigail said with a nod. “I was in the locker room before I realized I’d forgotten to ask his name, and when I came out he was hanging with his friends again. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that I didn’t know, you know?”

“So you have a date for Saturday, and you have no idea who he is except that he’s a good kisser?” Sierra asked. Her hands might as well have been on her hips.

“Pretty much,” Abigail said, a tad sheepishly. “I’m sure I’ll see him again at the gym before next Saturday. I’ll ask him then.”

“What’s the name of the gym?” Bailey asked.

“Break Point.”

Piper’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that owned by one of the Edge players? I heard the team hangs out there.”

Sierra’s jaw dropped. “You kissed a hockey player?”

“What? No.” Although they certainly were built. And they dropped ten grand like it was Monopoly money. “Oh, jeez.”

Bailey laughed delightedly and pulled out her cell phone. “The woman who has vowed never to date a hockey player, who disses hockey players at every opportunity, who shows nothing but disdain for women who date hockey players…is going out with a hockey player. Wouldn’t that be karma?” She searched for pictures of the Brighton Edge players and handed it to Abigail.

Abigail took Bailey’s phone reluctantly and scrolled through the team members. Her heart dropped when she found him. She held the phone out to show the others.

Bailey whistled, Sierra’s eyes narrowed, and Piper tried unsuccessfully to hide a sympathetic smile.

Abigail was going to the dinner and dance with Del Braebury, captain of the Brighton Edge hockey team.

 

Buy link ~ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YJXZS7H/

 

Love and the Hockey Heist coverLove and the Hockey Heist ~

Dr. Piper Roblin is peeved. She’s pretty sure her new neighbour stole her travel alarm clock. It may not be worth much, but it has sentimental value. Piper hatches a plan to get it back, but her plan relies on Brent Dean, popular forward of the Brighton Edge hockey team, to finagle a dinner invitation to gain access to her neighbour’s house.

 

Brent thought the invite from the stunningly beautiful cardiologist was based on a thoughtful gesture to welcome new neighbours to Brighton. He didn’t realize the gig included subterfuge, thievery, and a fake engagement. But he didn’t get to where he is without a lot of hustle and determination, and since he’s always up for some fun, let the games begin.

 

Enjoy an excerpt ~

“I need a fiancé.” Piper Roblin tucked her purse under the stool and sat down heavily. Her shoulder-length hair, the colour of rich dark chocolate flounced around her heart-shaped face. Her three best friends, already seated at the workstations waiting for the cooking class to begin, turned and stared at her with identical expressions: open-mouthed shock.

Bailey Jansen, a dermatologist with an adventurous spirit, and the most outspoken of their group, was the first to recover. “Excuse me?”

Piper pulled back her shoulders, trying to make the most of her one-hundred-fifty-seven-centimeter height, and raised her chin. “I need a man, a hockey player to be exact.”

Bailey grinned at the determination in Piper’s brown eyes and waved a hand. “I’ve been saying the same thing for months.”

They looked expectantly at Abigail Clark, a levelheaded emergency room physician, who sat at the workstation in front of them beside the fourth pea in their pod, Sierra Westlake, a serious-minded general surgeon.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Abigail asked.

“Two words. Del Braebury.” Bailey pointed at the impressive diamond ring on Abigail’s left hand. “You’re engaged to the captain of the Brighton Edge hockey team.”

“You can make it happen,” Piper said.

Sierra raised a hand. “Whoa. Let’s just pump the brakes here. Why do you need a fiancé? Last I heard you were too busy being the chief of cardiology to worry about dating, never mind planning a wedding. And didn’t you say that your parents are big on the whole pre-arranged marriage idea?”

Piper waved that aside. “This is just temporary. I have no intention of settling into a relationship. I accepted an invitation to a dinner party, but the only reason I was invited was because I sort of mentioned that my fiancé played for the Brighton Edge.”

Sierra shook her head. “What? Why would you do that?”

“I was backed into a corner.” Piper gritted her teeth.

Bailey laughed. “I hear you, sister. You don’t know how many times I’ve needed to use that.”

“Really?”

“No, never. How did that even come up?”

Piper sighed. “You know how I belong to a neighbourhood book club?” At their nods, she continued. “Last week I hosted. After everyone left, I realized that my little silver travel alarm clock was missing. I think my neighbour took it.”

“That’s crazy,” Abigail said. “Haven’t you been in that book club for years? Aren’t those people your friends?”

“I know how it sounds, but I’ve looked high and low for that clock, and I cannot find it. Most of the women have been part of the group for years, but a young couple, Jessica and Ryan, moved in beside me recently, and I invited Jessica to join us.”

“Why would she steal your alarm clock? Is it worth something?”

“No. That’s what’s so annoying. I bought it online a few years ago, for like, ten bucks. But I really like it. It’s compact and has a quiet alarm. It’s perfect for travel, and I used it all the time when I had to sleep at the hospital during my residency. I don’t know why she took it, but I’m almost positive she did.”

“Why? What makes you think that?” Abigail asked.

“She went to the washroom and instead of using the powder room, I caught her coming down the stairs. She made some excuse about not knowing about the bathroom on the main floor even though I specifically pointed it out. And I’m pretty sure her house is the exact same layout as mine.”

“That is odd,” Bailey said.

Piper nodded emphatically. “I know. I didn’t think much of it until I noticed that my little alarm clock was missing. I’m sure she took it while she was up there.”

“That’s pretty bold,” Abigail said. “Stealing from your neighbour isn’t a great way to settle into the community. Do you know anything about her?”

“Only that they bought the house next door. She said they own a cleaning company and moved here from Toronto to set up a local franchise. No kids, no pets, and huge hockey fans.”

“So you plan to have dinner with them, get to know them, and ask if she stole your alarm clock?” Bailey asked, more than a little skeptically.

“I’m going to steal it back.”

 

Buy link ~ https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B0B1QVMSS3

 

If you’re into holiday romances this time of year, the sexy Perfectly Christmas or the sweet Don’t Mess with Christmas may hit the spot!

 

Don’t Mess with Christmas

Dr. Brogan Corkie is happily semi-retired from medicine and now has time for other hobbies. Her passion for food is second only to her skill at matchmaking!

Parker Roy grew up in the middle of four brothers and has lived with enough testosterone to last her a lifetime. She’s finally moved out and made a life of her own. Between putting the finishing touches on the set for Mapleton’s Christmas play, plowing snow, and transforming her hydroponic greenhouse into a Christmas wonderland, it’s ramping up to be a hectic season.

Dr. Julian Murphy, the only allergist in town, has his eye on the woman behind the set design of the holiday play. He’s volunteering backstage in the hope of getting to know her. There’s a bit of a snag when she’s referred to his clinic for a rash – doctors aren’t allowed to date their patients – but Dr. Brogan Corkie doesn’t see it as an insurmountable problem and steps in to give their romance a nudge. She’d better be right because, if not, it could seriously mess with Christmas.

 

The allergist or the rash– which itch will Parker scratch?

 

Buy Link  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L1DHDMS

 

Perfectly Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, his true love said to him, “Sorry, I have to work.”

That’s the life of a surgeon, and Dr. Madison Hayes wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dr. Quinn Malone has another priority. In the countdown to Christmas, he needs to convince his old flame that there’s more to life – and love – than the job itself.

This time, his heart is in it for the long haul. Really.

Romantic and . . . complicated – it’s Perfectly Christmas!

 

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYW5T7X

 

 

 

 

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