Uncategorized Archive

Hot Tips for Protecting your Skin (and a Hot Read)!

Posted August 26, 2023 By Linda

I’m passing along some hot tips for protecting your skin and lowering your skin cancer risk while enjoying the outdoors. The Ontario Medical Association spoke with Dr. Sandra Landolt, chair of the OMA’s section of dermatology, and shared this information:

Understand sunscreen terminology

When buying sunscreen, look for one that has a “broad spectrum label”, which means that it offers protection from all UV (ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B) rays. Sunscreens can be chemical blockers, physical blockers or a combination of both. Chemical blockers absorb UV rays, preventing them from getting into your skin. Physical blockers deflect the UV rays off your skin, like a shield.

Mix sunscreen with your routine

You should apply sunscreen underneath all other skincare products. The sun’s visible light naturally increases skin pigmentation. To prevent that, you can either mix your sunscreen with makeup pigment to block the visible light or buy a tinted sunscreen. Wearing insect repellent and sunscreen at the same time will decrease the effectiveness of your sunscreen’s protection.

Reapply sunscreen throughout the day

All sunscreens become less powerful as the day goes on: chemical blockers deteriorate as they absorb UV light and physical blockers can be washed or rubbed off. Reapplying sunscreen every 90 minutes will give your skin the best protection.

Wear sun protection clothing

Wear sun protective clothing to shade your skin from UV light. The darker and the thicker the material, the more protective it will be. You can also purchase sun protection clothing with an ultraviolet protective factor that indicates how much UV radiation a fabric allows to reach your skin. These clothes will have labels indicating their UPF. They will generally have protective abilities of around UPF 50.

Consider the shade

It’s best to spend time outside when the sun is not at its highest point during the day, typically before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m. During the sunniest part of the day, it’s best to plan activities in the shade to avoid UV rays.

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

Behind the Bench by Linda O’Connor

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.

Buy Link Only 99c! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FTWRR9N

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: doctor, hockey, medical romance, romcom, sexy, sports romance

Don’t Drop the Baby Fun!

Posted August 10, 2023 By Linda

If you’re looking for a fun, sweet book to read – with a parenting twist – Don’t Drop the Baby would be perfect! Dr. Lauren Kane is temporarily caring for her nephew, and when his regular babysitter falls ill, she calls newly retired Brogan Corkie for help. Brogan, physician-turned-chef, has committed to looking after her friend’s relative who is recovering from an accident, but can easily do both. Turns out, Brogan’s “patient” is Ross Skye, billionaire owner of BabyCare and Lauren’s ex-beau, and Lauren isn’t too happy to be flying in his orbit again. The things we do for family!

A bit about Don’t Drop the Baby ~

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!

Ross Skye, owner of BabyCare, a high-end line of baby merchandise, is injured in an accident, and Brogan uses her cooking, medical – and matchmaking – skills to help him out. Dr. Lauren Kane is taking care of her nephew for two weeks, and Brogan agrees to babysit while Lauren is at work.

Two years ago, Ross and Lauren dated. At that time, Lauren wanted kids, but Ross wasn’t keen. Now the tables have turned, and Ross is trying to convince Lauren that they’d make an awesome parenting team. Brogan suggests they test drive parenthood by looking after a simulated baby for a week – a computerized version that eats, sleeps, wets, and cries. Ross and Lauren experience the “joy” of having a newborn firsthand, and the bar is set pretty low. Their first goal is: don’t drop the baby. The second goal is to find out if their love for each other will survive the test of…parenting.

Don’t Drop the Baby – only 99cents! Here’s the buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847SFBFV

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Lauren picked up her phone on the first ring.

“Hey Lauren, it’s Ross.”

“Hello, Ross.”

Aloof and frosty. She must not have his name stored anymore or she wouldn’t have answered the phone. “How are you?”

“Fine.”

Ross winced. So far, so terrible. He jumped right to the chase. “Brogan mentioned that you’re taking Joey to her house this afternoon. I wondered if you’d consider changing your plans and bring him here instead.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Why would I?”

“They delivered some of the new merch from BabyCare, and I’d love to see how Joey reacts to it. He’s the perfect demographic.”

Silence. “Ross, you have a whole team of researchers and developers. I’m sure any product sent to you has already had extensive testing. I can’t see how my nephew’s reaction to it is going to make one iota of difference.”

His jaw dropped. He was glad she wasn’t in the room with him to see it. “Joey’s your nephew?”

She sighed. “Ross, what is this really about?”

“I didn’t realize Joey was your nephew.” His brain couldn’t get past this simple fact.

“Not that it’s any of your business. Are we done here?”

This was going nowhere fast. He decided to come clean. “Actually, Lauren, I’m asking as a favour.” His voice was sombre. “Since the accident, I’ve had trouble sleeping. I wake up with flashbacks.” It was hard to admit. “The only restful sleep I’ve had was when I fell asleep holding Joey, so I wanted to try it again.”

“So you can patent it?”

He grinned reluctantly. “I wish I could.”

“Eventually you’re going to have to deal with the demons, you know. You can’t just hire out a baby.”

“Maybe I’m rethinking having my own.” As soon as the words came out, he regretted it. “I’m sorry. I’m making a mess of this. Blame it on the lack of sleep. I know this is a temporary solution, but I’m desperate. Please Lauren. Could we just try? I have a roomful of BabyCare merchandise that I’d be happy to give you in exchange. You could take your pick.”

“My sister does love your stuff.” The grudging reluctance in her voice gave him a glimmer of hope. “Is Brogan okay with this?”

“Yes. And I promise, if he doesn’t settle with me, then Brogan can take him home.”

She sighed. “All right. As long as he’s happy and gets his sleep, I’m okay with it.”

“Thanks Lauren, I appreciate it.”

“Be good to him, Ross. I’m trusting you.”

“Of course. I’ll treat him like he’s my own.”

“Wasn’t that part of the problem?”

“Good point. I’ll treat him like he’s a pair of 100-level tickets to a Stanley Cup final game.”

Lauren laughed. “We’ll be there in half an hour.”

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: fake baby, matchmaking, medical, medical romance, parenting, romcom

Christmas in July fun

Posted July 2, 2023 By Linda

In Perfectly Christmas, the medical clinic in Strathaven hosts a Secret Santa gift exchange. The only stipulation is that the gift has to be handmade. There are some clever crafty people at the clinic and everyone, except Dr. Madison Hayes, the new doctor in town, looks forward to the annual tradition. It’s lot of fun – unless you pull your ex’s name out of the hat!

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!

Grab your copy and escape into fun: https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Christmas-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01MYW5T7X

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Peggy stopped at the door. “Oh, one more thing. Did you want to be a part of the office Secret Santa? We pick names out of a hat, and each day during the twelve days of Christmas someone opens a gift.” She grinned. “Technically, we know, the twelve days of Christmas starts on December twenty-fifth, but we use it as a countdown to Christmas. We have a lot of fun with it.”

Madison hesitated. She wasn’t really big into exchanging presents. Stuff you didn’t need and wanted less. But Peggy and Nina were looking at her like it was the best thing ever.

Small town. Two years. Try to fit in. She sighed. She could always ask her sister for suggestions. “Okay, yeah. Sounds fun.” Translation: stressful.

Peggy’s grin widened. “I’ll be right back.”

After a moment, Peggy returned carrying a Christmas bag. She shook it and paper rustled inside. “Here you go. Pick one, but don’t tell us.”

Madison held back a sigh, reached in the bag, and picked out a piece of paper.

She unfolded it and her heart sank.

Quinn Malone. Dec. 24.

Don’t wait! : https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Christmas-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01MYW5T7X

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: Christmas, doctors, holidayromance, Perfectly series, romance, romcom, series

Duelling professions

Posted June 11, 2023 By Linda

The Perfectly Series books are romantic comedies and are stand-alone stories. Perfectly Together, book 6, was fun to write because I had a lot of the characters from the other books “pop” in to visit. I think loyal Perfectly readers will enjoy the extra layer – sharing an in-joke. This book is about Dr. Jayden Locke, a naturopathic doctor, who’s looking to settle in small-town Emerson, and Dr. Cole Cameron, a family physician who throws up obstacles and doesn’t think much of naturopaths. I had the idea to throw these two together after a conversation I had with a friend. She wanted to see a naturopath about a particular health concern and was surprised when her family doctor didn’t support it. I thought – perfect set up for conflict in a romance novel! Ah the mind of an author – always weaving what I hear into a story! 😀

Newly graduated naturopathic doctor Jayden Locke has a dream – start a practice in small-town Emerson and never move again. She’s found the perfect office building to buy. It passes an inspection, design plans are drawn up, and the bank okays the loan. Only one problem.

Dr. Cole Cameron scoops it before she has a chance to submit an offer. What?

It’s a good investment. Cole isn’t interested in settling down. He works three jobs in three different towns and would just as soon keep moving. But something about Jayden’s defiant eyes and sexy smile makes him pause and reconsider.

What are the chances that a heart filled with wanderlust and a soul longing for a home fit Perfectly Together?

It’s all here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NC1VW5R

Enjoy an excerpt ~

The weight of disappointment settled on her shoulders and an ache filled her chest. Her dream tumbled like a collapsing house of cards. She couldn’t bear it, and turned to go.

“Wait, maybe we could work something out.”

She looked back.

His eyes lit up and the green flecks glowed. “I planned on renting it out. We can renovate the interior to suit. Sounds like it would work out perfectly.”

For you, maybe. She longed to own. The thought of renting, of living at the whim of someone else, made her stomach twist in knots. She couldn’t do it. She wanted stability and needed permanency.

She blinked back tears. It had been so close.

“You’re thinking of a clinic? Are you a doctor?” he asked.

“I’m a naturopath – a doctor of naturopathy.”

Cole’s eyes widened and he smirked. “A naturopath? Interesting. What exactly do you do? Hand out herbs? Read a crystal ball?” He grinned. “Voodoo?”

Jayden put her hands on her hips. “Naturopaths follow the same curriculum as medical doctors and then get additional training in natural medicine,” she said stiffly.

He held up his hands. “Sounds very . . . important.”

She narrowed her eyes. Was he mocking her? “I don’t think renting would work. I was really looking to buy.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. “Good luck to you, though.” She glanced around one last time and walked to the front door.

A hand on her arm stopped her. “Take my card,” Cole said, offering it to her. “Think about it. If you change your mind, give me a call. I’m hoping to get underway in the next couple of weeks.” He tilted his head, the green flecks twinkling. “You know, you don’t look like a naturopath.”

Pft. She rolled her eyes. Should she even bother taking his card? She glanced at the open expanse out the window, the sunlight streaming in, and the view of the mountain.

Would it be worth it? Her dream property, at what cost?

He raised his eyebrows, and her heart stumbled at the interest in his dark blue eyes, the green specks mocking her with a dare.

She plucked the card out of his hand. Hopefully it had a picture on it. It might be a useful target for dart practice.

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: Linda O'Connor, medical romance, Perfectly series, romcom, small town romance

Small-town story with a twist!

Posted June 4, 2023 By Linda

I wanted to put a twist on the usual small-town story where the townsfolk are trying to convince the doctor to stay. In Perfectly Christmas, the small town is worried that the new surgeon, who is only planning on staying for 2 years, will fall in love with their beloved family doctor and will lure him away when she leaves. They set up a plan to keep the two doctors apart!

My story is a fun escape. It will make you laugh and transport you to an idyllic small town where you can experience the joy of Christmas – and all its shenanigans!

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!

One click here : https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Christmas-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01MYW5T7X

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Edna Alexander and Bea Mitchell stood at the window of the seniors’ center and watched the new surgeon drive out of the parking lot.

“She’s very young, Bea.”

“And very pretty,” Bea agreed with a frown. She adjusted the tortoise shell glasses perched on her nose. “Didn’t we specify we wanted someone old, someone frumpy?”

“There wasn’t a tick-off box for that.”

“Hmph. There should’ve been.”

They watched the car pull out onto the street and hit the curb as it turned.

“She drives like us.”

“True. And look at the bright side, Edna. If we need surgery, it’d probably be better to have a young whipper-snapper doin’ it rather than some old fart like us.”

“I’m more worried about losing Dr. Quinn.”

Bea pursed her lips. “I know. But what are the chances of that happening?”

Edna gave her a grim sideways glance. “I’d have said slim to none three weeks ago. But when Dr. Hoity-Toity Hecktare decided she’d had enough of us, and Dr. Quinn looked like he was going to go with her, I almost had a stroke. I would never have believed he’d abandon our beloved Strathaven for a girl.”

“Woman,” Bea corrected absently. “Do you think he truly loved her?”

Edna shook her head and her gray curls bounced. “No.” She bit her lip. “Yes. That’s what I’m worried about. What if he up and falls in love with this new surgeon and leaves us?”

“We’d have a town of five thousand with no doctor.”

“Exactly. We’d be right back where we were five years ago before Quinn returned home.”

“And we’d have to go through another round of recruitments for a new doctor. I rue the day when someone from the Underserviced Area program figures out that we’re the Mitchell Alexander who’s been filling out all those forms.”

“A problem for another day.” Edna sighed. “Maybe she’ll stay. Dr. Madison Hayes. She seemed very friendly. Very small-townish.”

Bea grunted. “Not likely. You read her application. I’ll bet my boots she’ll do her two years and move on.”

“And take Quinn with her.” Edna twisted the strap of her oversized purse. “We can’t control his heart.”

“No. But we can’t risk him falling in love, either.”

“So we’ll keep them apart.”

Bea’s eyebrows shot up and she paused, considering. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“Of course, it’d be easier if he wasn’t also the only anesthetist for miles around. They’re going to have to work together.”

“Sure, but they’re professionals. I can’t see them getting into any hanky-panky at work. We’ll just make sure they’re never alone together outside of the clinic.”

Edna grinned widely. “Excellent plan. I’ll get on the blower, and before she unpacks, we’ll have a network of chaperones in place.”

“Email me the list.”

“Send me an email, and I’ll reply.”

Bea looked at her pointedly. “Edna, you gotta learn how to send an email.”

“I know how,” Edna said. “You hit reply, then type, then send.”

Bea laughed and threw her arm around Edna’s shoulders. “I think I’ll get you a computer lesson for Christmas.”

Edna’s eyes lit up. “A private one? With that hotty Albert Sparkle?”

Bea stepped back and started buttoning her coat. “Albert’s one hundred and two. And I think the name is Spartan. Does he even own a computer?”

“Yes, and he’s rigged himself up the perfect cup holder with this little drawer thingy that slides out at the top of the computer engine.” Edna pulled a crocheted cap over her curls.

Bea frowned. “You mean the CD tray on the tower?”

Edna smiled. “Maybe. Isn’t that brilliant?”

Bea laughed. “You two were made for each other. C’mon, let’s go and start Operation Put Out the Fire.”

One click here : https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Christmas-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01MYW5T7X

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: doctors, fun, medical romance, Perfectly series, romcom, series, small town, standalone

Eat what? ;)

Posted May 28, 2023 By Linda

Wouldn’t Touch That with a Ten-foot Pole!

I eat a wide variety of foods and don’t consider myself a picky eater, but there are a few things I won’t go near. Blame it on the medical degree. ;D

Raw eggs – Salmonella, anyone?
Unpasteurized milk – The risk of getting tuberculosis is low, but it’s not zero. I also look for pasteurized honey – it has fewer (if any) anti-oxidants, I know, but there’s also no risk of Clostridium botulinum.
Undercooked hamburger – All that surface area for E. coli to grow. No thanks.
Bean sprouts – Too many cases of Salmonella and E. coli food poisoning.
Okra – No health risk with this one. I just don’t like it.

Perfectly Unpredictable is Book 4 in the Perfectly Series. This story tugs a little more on the heartstrings than the other stories in the Perfectly Series. Still has fun elements but it’s not a romantic comedy like the others. It’s about a new mom finding her way with the help of a reluctant neighbor. It takes a village to raise a child. Doesn’t he know that? The characters from the first three stories make cameo appearances – so you can catch up on them, too!

Falling in love is Perfectly Unpredictable …

Kalia Beck always dreamed of starting a family, living in a house with a white picket fence, and finding her soul mate. Just not in that order. Kalia is coping with an unplanned pregnancy when she learns the father has passed away. She soon finds out that single parenthood isn’t easy, especially when the only thing that soothes the baby is the guitar-playing of a reluctant and reclusive next-door neighbor.

Mack Challen, lead guitarist in a rock and roll band, knows it takes a village to raise a child. He just doesn’t think there’s a village big enough to help “gay momma” and her screaming baby.

Kalia and Mack aren’t looking for love and aren’t ready for each other, but when the future unfolds, it’s … Perfectly Unpredictable.

Pick up your copy today!

https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Unpredictable-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01IMEH5GC

Just a reminder…you can find me here:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98

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

Enjoy an excerpt~

Kalia pounded on her neighbor’s front door with her free hand. The other cradled a screaming Mani. In the last fifteen days, except for the past three, the neighbor had played his guitar from six until eight every night. And soothed Mani. It was the only thing that worked to calm the colic. No amount of rocking, walking, or singing worked to soothe the baby like fifteen minutes of guitar music. It was faintly amazing and fairly irritating that Kalia had to depend on the neighbor’s guitar playing.

He was home. She knew he was home. There was a new car in the driveway, and she could hear voices. So why wasn’t he answering the door? She pounded again.

The door swung open, and Kalia yelped at the suddenness of it. Mani screamed louder.

Mack frowned at them. “What?” he asked tersely.

Kalia groaned inwardly. It was the first time she had seen the neighbor close up. Six foot two, short dark hair with a sexy scruff, broad shoulders in a dark T-shirt, slim hips covered in worn sexy jeans, bare feet, and angry green eyes. Great. Just what she needed. A pissed-off lifeline. “Hi. I live next door. I need you to play guitar,” she said in a rush above Mani’s wailing.

“What?” His eyebrows winged up, and he put his hands on his hips.

“Why aren’t you playing guitar? You play guitar every night at this time.”

He shook his head. “I have company.”

“Well, you’re very good at guitar. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind listening to it for a few minutes.” Mani screamed louder. Desperate, Kalia strode in, noting that the layout to his home was the same as hers. Getting a fleeting impression of dark colors and sparse furniture, she moved past him into the living room. “Hello,” she said to the gorgeous brunette curled up on the dark leather sofa. “Would you mind very much if . . . he,” she gestured vaguely, realizing that she wasn’t sure of his name, “played guitar for a few minutes? Just a few minutes. It won’t take long.”

Mack followed her in. “Renee, this is my neighbor, half of the gay couple that lives next door, and her screaming baby,” he said wryly.

Kalia’s eyebrows shot up. “Yup, that’s me. The lesbian from next door,” she said with some chagrin. Is that what the neighborhood thought? She was living under a rock. “And we just need a little guitar music if you don’t mind.” She spied two guitars leaning on stands across the room and waved in their direction. “Whichever works.” Time’s a wastin’.

https://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Unpredictable-Linda-OConnor-ebook/dp/B01IMEH5GC

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: inspirational, Perfectly series, rock star, romance, standalone, surprise baby

Spring is in the air!

Posted May 21, 2023 By Linda

Spring is definitely in the air in my neck of the woods. The temperatures are rising, the snow has melted, Robins are back, and when I go for a walk, I can hear the birds singing in the trees. What a difference to last year when we still had snow up to our knees! This time of year, I find I have a craving for salads, so I thought I’d share a recipe for a light salad with a delicious peanutty dressing. I love Boston lettuce because of its fresh, airy taste.

Melon Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

1 cantaloupe – scooped out with a melon baller to make bite-sized balls

1 lb seedless grapes halved

1 head Boston lettuce, torn to pieces

Dressing:

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp gingerroot, minced

2 Tbsp peanut butter

½ cup coriander

1 Tbsp packed brown sugar

Dash of hot pepper sauce (optional)

Blend dressing ingredients together with a hand blender or in a food processor. Combine the lettuce, grapes, and lettuce in a bowl and pour dressing over top (you may not need it all). Enjoy!

Perfectly Planned is the third book in the Perfectly Series. The heroines of the first two books are close friends and have similar personalities. I wanted Chloe, the heroine of this story, to be completely different. She’s really quirky and has some crazy ideas, but she’s also kind and sweet and totally loveable. She butchers the lyrics to songs with some very funny results. She was a hoot to write! In Perfectly Reasonable, the second book of the series, Margo, the heroine, is tad obsessed with the type of car people drive and how it relates to their personality. I didn’t disclose what kind of car Trace Bennett, the hero, drives. I skimmed around it, and I thought it was pretty clever to leave it up to the reader’s imagination. My beta readers agreed, but oops, it really irritated some readers. 😀 So before I released Perfectly Planned, I added a scene where I reveal what type of car Trace drives. My loyal readers were much happier. 😀

Chloe Keay is on the hunt for the perfect sperm donor, but who knew it would be this hard? So many things to consider in a father – sure height and hair color are important, but what about the real issues. How does he feel about bagpipe music? Does he buy the extended warranty? Skittles or M&Ms? She doesn’t want an average Joe. She’s narrowed it down to two candidates and has the perfect plan to pick the heir and the spare.

Staff Sergeant Rip Logan, head of the elite Tactics and Rescue Unit, has a gut feeling that Chloe Keay is trouble. She’s a sexy little spark plug who radiates innocence, but it doesn’t jibe with her suspicious behavior and probing questions. The fact that he’s attracted irritates him. What exactly is she after? And should he go with his gut or follow his heart?

Planning for love – what could possibly go wrong?

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B017GGC346

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Strike three. You’re out.” The umpire signaled the call as Chloe Keay sat down in the stands. Fans clapped and the team in the outfield jogged toward the dugout.

Chloe squinted and tried to read the third baseman’s jersey. Poppa Pete’s Knuckleballs. Ripley Logan’s team must be at bat because his posted pictures were all about the Tried and TRU. She wrinkled her nose. Hopefully, that wasn’t a sexual reference.

The first batter up had very good form. Well-toned arms, nice butt. Got a two base hit. She wondered if he donated sperm.

The second batter struck out. He had very skinny legs. Pass.

The third batter sauntered out like he owned the field. All the outfielders backed up.

“Bring me home, Rip,” shouted the player at second base, clapping his hands.

Rip. Ripley Logan. Sounds like my man, Chloe thought and sat a little straighter. He was very attractive. A solid twelve out of ten. The navy T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and flat abdomen. Shorts showed off his muscular legs, and when he stuck out his butt to swing, Chloe raised her eyebrows. She could live with that.

He swung the bat on the first pitch and connected with the ball. It cracked off the bat and sailed into left field. Ripley dropped the bat and sprinted.

Heaven. A little taste of heaven on earth.

He was so pretty. Fluid, graceful, lightning fast. The player on second made it home, and Ripley made it to third. A silly man standing near the third base stopped him. Really, it was poetry in motion. Why would you stop that? Chloe shook her head.

It took two more batters to bring Ripley home. The inning ended and the Tried and TRU were up two runs.

She followed Ripley as the inning changed and watched him walk over to cover first base. He played it well. Very good hand-eye coordination. Nice long reach. Quick reflexes. Reasonable shoe size. Beautiful smile. Looked like he had straight teeth, but she’d really have to get closer to assess. All in all, she was pretty pleased. He hadn’t said enough to check for the nasally voice, but it was looking positive.

She loved the atmosphere at the game. Fans clapped and stood with each exciting play. Between innings, music blared over the loud speakers. She really got into rooting for the Tried and TRU, and when the music played she sang along.

“Carrots and biscuits. Every day.” She loved that song. It was so healthy. She joined in at the top of her lungs, but stopped when the gentleman beside her gave her an odd look.

“What?” she asked.

“Isn’t that supposed to be ‘Takin’ Care of Business’?” he said, shaking his head.

‘Taking Care of Business?’ What kind of health food message was that? She frowned at her neighbor, who had shifted his attention back to the game.

Really, with the exception of Skinny Legs, there was a stellar choice of sperm in that dugout. Her talents were wasted as a receptionist at the sperm bank. They should hire her to recruit donors. She’d found a gold mine.

At the top of the ninth, Ripley came up to bat again. The pitcher wound up, and Ripley connected with the sweet spot. The ball soared in the air. The infield and outfield watched as the ball arced over them toward the parking lot.

Chloe sat straighter as the ball, almost in slow motion, fell dead center into the windshield of her Camaro, the only car parked in the north lot. The sound of glass shattering broke the silence.

“Who the hell parked there?”

Chloe looked over at Rip, a hand on his hip, a scowl on his face. A nasally voice wasn’t going to be an issue.

Buy Link (enrolled in Kindle Unlimited): https://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B017GGC346

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: funny, Perfectly series, police, romcom, series, standalone

Celebrating Moms

Posted May 14, 2023 By Linda

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mom’s are amazing, aren’t they? It takes a lot of multi-tasking to nurture the emotional, physical, and social needs of a child and to nudge them to be responsible, caring individuals. There’s a lot of selfless love and sacrifice involved, and that’s why taking a moment to celebrate moms and to thank them for the job they do is so important. So, to all the mom’s out there, thank you for all you do! I hope you get a chance to relax today, and if you’d like to escape into a sassy, sexy, medical romcom, pick up a copy of Perfectly Reasonable. Margo has a bit of rocky relationship with her mom, who only wants what’s best for her child. But what’s best may not always be the easiest.

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

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: medical, medical romance, Perfectly series, romcom, series, sexy, standalone

Keeping the Elderly Safe

Posted April 23, 2023 By Linda

In Don’t Drop the Baby, Dr. Lauren Kane is a geriatrician who makes house calls to care for the elderly. We want to keep everyone safe, so here are 5 tips to prevent falls – they’re easy and worth the effort. The first time my mother-in-law visited our home, I walked a few feet ahead of her scooping up the throw rugs in her path. She must have wondered what the heck I was doing. Haha

Remove all throw rugs and small obstacles from hallways and floors.
Don’t store anything in low cabinets that would necessitate bending over. It’s easy to lose your balance or have a dizzy spell if you bend over suddenly. It’s important to move slowly from lying to sitting and from sitting to standing to give your blood pressure time to adjust.
Use a cane or walker, which has been appropriately sized for your height, strength, and mobility issue.
Make sure hearing aids and glasses prescriptions are up to date. Take pills as prescribed.
Exercise! Exercises for strength and balance are really important at any age –stretch calf muscles and shoulders, do knee bends to keep up the strength in your quadriceps/thighs so you can get up from a chair, lift weights (even light weights) to maintain forearm strength and flexibility – you need it to wipe your bum and wash your hair – and maintain your balance by standing on one leg at a time. Hold onto something initially until you can the hang of it.

Don’t Drop the Baby ~ 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!

Don’t Drop the Baby is only 99cents – a bargooooon! Here’s the buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847SFBFV

Enjoy an excerpt ~

Her phone rang and she picked it up eagerly when she saw her daughter’s name on the call display. “Hi love, how are you?”

“On a scale of one to ten, I’d have to say ten.”

Brogan smiled. When the kids were teenagers, they’d roll their eyes when Brogan switched hats from mom to doctor and asked them to rate their pain or mood on a scale of one to ten. Later on it became a running family joke and everything from the weather to vegetables to their opinion of their sibling’s date was fair game.

“How are things with you, Mom? How’s the retirement test going?”

“Also a ten out of ten. I’ve slipped into my new career like a fish to water. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Nice. I’m sure a lot of patients are missing you, but you’ve earned the break. Are you managing to keep busy?”

“Yes. My freezer was overflowing, but I’ve got my very first customer.”

“Good gracious. Someone’s paying you to cook?”

“Mae honey, have a little faith. Some people enjoy my cooking.”

Mae laughed. “I guess the bright side is you can treat them if something goes wrong. Not many chefs can boast that.”

Brogan chuckled reluctantly. “The advantage of keeping my license up.”

“What are you catering?”

“I’m the in-house chef for a young man.”

Silence. “Excuse me?”

“Jess’s nephew was in an accident and fractured his arm and leg. I’m getting his meals and keeping an eye on him.”

“Jess’s nephew? You’re telling me that you’re living with multi-millionaire Ross Skye, CEO of BabyCare, who recently walked away from the crash of his private helicopter with a broken arm and leg?”

Brogan frowned. “Helicopter? I didn’t realize. I’d assumed it was his car. But either way, yes.” She paused. “Although I highly doubt he walked away from it.”

“He’s an experienced pilot. Apparently there was some mechanical problem, and his skill saved him. The crash was pretty spectacular. It was caught on video and plastered all over social media. He’s lucky to be alive.”

That might explain the trouble sleeping.

“He could afford the best of the best,” Mae continued. “How did you get involved?”

Brogan pursed her lips and tried to overlook the insult. “Jess asked me to drop off a few meals for his freezer, and I offered to help.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“Does he know you’re a doctor? Has he asked you to prescribe something illegal for him? Narcotics? Benzos?”

Brogan sighed audibly. “Relax, Mae. I do know what I’m doing.”

“The fact that you’re staying at his house seems a little sketchy. A one out of ten, Mom,” Mae said with a grunt. “Does Finn know about this?”

“Something tells me he will shortly,” Brogan said wryly. “I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for it. I’m having fun.”

“That’s what concerns me!”

Brogan laughed. “I love you, dear. Say hello to Lori for me and don’t worry.”

Mae sighed. “Love you, Mom. Be careful.”

Brogan smiled and hung up the phone. Kids – can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.

Cozy up with a fun sweet romantic comedy! Get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0847SFBFV

Filed in Uncategorized | Tagged: medical romance, second chance romance, series, standalone, sweet

Advice that Stays with You!

Posted April 18, 2023 By Linda

Do you ever have moments when advice you heard growing up pops into your head? My mom’s “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is a frequent one for me. Sometimes when I’m tired and debating whether I really need to floss my teeth before bed, my grandmother’s voice echoes in my head, “You only need to floss the ones you want to keep.” Of course, then I floss. lol My son tells me that he still carries the “Good luck and have fun!” I said to him before every game he played. One he remembers from his teacher/coach is, “Suck it up, buttercup.” (It was said with a smile and the best of intentions. lol). My dad’s words inspired me to strive for a medical degree when one day he casually said, “Don’t settle. Be the one who interprets the tests.” I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it was an eye opener for me. One summer, when I was griping about having to wash rocks as part of my summer job, my dad said, “You never know where a job will lead you.” He was right! The next summer I was hired for a coveted job because of that experience on my resume. Sometimes it’s advice that’s fleeting, sometimes it’s advice that resounds like a mantra, but words from important people in our lives can be very impactful! I’d love to hear yours – drop them in the comments.

Perfectly Honest in 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 (enrolled in KU): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08V9CWRMK

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.

Website https://www.lindaoconnor.net

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