Saturday, March 10, 2012

"Playing The Game" teaser exerpt - by Laurie Kozlowski

Just then, Ian came in with another man that caught Julia’s eye immediately. From his running shoes all the way up to his dark, thick, shoulder length hair, Julia couldn’t help but to drink in the sight of him. He had a fit body, lean but muscular. Built like an athlete. His jeans encased long legs and powerful thighs. His t shirt was just tight enough to showcase his flat stomach and bulging biceps. He had a tribal tattoo on one of his arms that peeked from underneath the shirt. Oh, boy, but he was one delectable sight that she could just eat up! He also looked like trouble. She was sure, just by looking at him, that he could break her heart and not think twice about it. Well, that was out of the question this time around, because this time she would be doing the heartbreaking. Yep, this one was trouble with a capital “T”.



He caught her ogling his body and he lifted one brow, amusement shining in his eyes as he looked at her from across the room. She quickly lowered her gaze and turned the other way, embarrassed that he had caught her eyes wandering over his body. She frowned. As much as she would like to have fun with a man like him, he wasn’t her type. Sure she dreamed about men like him, but that was just a fantasy. She had accepted a long time ago that a curvy woman like her who was far from ideal model weight would never be able to attract a woman magnet like the man she fantasized about across the room.


This man was the opposite of Ryan in every way. She thought about what she saw in the handsome stranger as he first walked in. He walked with confidence in his step, striding with a slight strut and had golden skin that suggested he spent his fair share of time in the sun. The man oozed masculinity, and heads turned his way when he entered a room. She had observed the women smiling at him and no doubt, many of them were undressing him with their eyes.


Julia turned back around on her stool to see Ian introducing his friend to the other men.


They walked toward Julia. She thought her heart would beat out of her chest and she swallowed hard, bracing herself for the obvious introduction to come. She let out a slow breath and pasted on her widest smile.


“Julia, I’d like you to meet Jake Wallace, a friend of mine who runs an ad agency in town. Jake, this is my sister, Julia,” Ian looked around the bar and said, “ The bar is getting full fast, I’d better grab a table for us and order some food. I’ll just leave you two to get to know each other,” then he ran off to sit at a large table and called over a waiter.


Julia was ready to be rejected, but instead lifted her eyes to confidently meet Jake’s deep blue eyes. She felt rather than saw his hooded eyes move over her like a lovers gentle caress. His gaze traveled from her heels, slowly over the curves of her body, pausing at her lips when she licked them, then finally met her eyes. She was caught off guard when she saw the sudden heat in his eyes.


Jake gave her an appreciative smile that melted her insides and offered his hand to her. She didn’t hesitate to slide her small, smooth hand in his large, roughened one and he lifted it to his lips to kiss her knuckles like he had done it a thousand times before. His strikingly blue eyes never left hers as his firm but soft lips touched her hand in a whisper of a kiss. His lips lingered a few seconds too long to just be a friendly greeting and she could feel a tickle of his hot breath on her hand. Instead of the non committed friendly look she was expecting to see she saw his eyes darken with unmistakable desire and she felt her face grow warm as all the nerve endings in the most intimate parts of her body sparked to life. He finally pulled back.


“A pleasure to meet you, Julia,” he said, with a voice smooth and deep with a slight southern accent that did strange things to her once dormant libido.


She smiled back and said, “ The pleasure is all mine,” and absently wondered about all the other pleasures his big calloused hands and soft lips could provide. The room suddenly felt smaller, more intimate, and a few more degrees higher in temperature.


He just winked at her and gave her a wicked and sexy grin that suggested he knew what she was thinking.


She responded by giving him her best impression of an innocent smile. Oh, but she felt far from innocent in his presence.


Having a man like Jake kiss her hand made her feel like she had just committed the ultimate carnal sin.


She sighed and hope sprang within her as she had a sudden thought. He may not be like Ryan, but that’s a good thing right? For her heart’s sake, she sure hoped so.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Tempted Again - Cathie Linz

Tempted AgainTempted Again by Cathie Linz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Marissa was a librarian looking to start her life over in her hometown of Hopeful, Ohio. She is a very likable character who had me laughing at moments when I least expected it. She's a little quirky, a lot independent, and looking to make a difference in the community.

Sexy lawman Connor used to date Marissa back when she was in high school, and would rather leave the past in the past. That is, until he has a run in with Marissa at the Founders' Day Parade. The temptation may be more than he can stand when his Mother and Grandmother make up their minds that they want to play matchmaker.

They are both in for a surprise as they get to know each other once again after ten years has passed by and they discover the temptation they once felt for each other has in reality never went away.





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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Lucky Penny - Catherine Anderson

Lucky PennyLucky Penny by Catherine Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


To support her orphaned niece, impoverished Brianna O'Keefe accepts work with a Colorado rancher. To guard herself from unwanted attention, she resorts to a harmless little lie: that she's married to a Denver gold miner named David Paxton. But when her "husband" shows up, Brianna is stunned--not the least by her desire.

David is a stand-up hero in a relationship based on lies. He is sure of himself and wants to do right by the Mother of his child and his daughter. There is a twist at the end that is sure to catch readers off guard, but it makes the story a truly happy ending! Loved this book even though I normally don't read historicals. Anderson has a way of painting a picture with words that can touch the heart and warm the soul!



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Monday, February 13, 2012

Harvest Moon - Robyn Carr

Harvest Moon (Virgin River, #15)Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh. My. God! This book drove me nuts! Lief's daughter Courtney drove me insane with her bratty, ungrateful ways! I felt bad for her because her biological Dad could care less about her, but in the end at least she admitted she was being unreasonable! Kelly was great in this book. She is independent, classy, and driven. In the book Kelly was described as a woman with curves who lived for cooking upscale-restaurant food. It was a little off-putting that she constantly extended an olive branch to Courtney, but Courtney was a constant brat to her. It would have been nice to see Courtney and Kelly get along more in the book. Lief was described as a lumberjack type, but in my mind I pictured him a little less macho than that. When Lief and Kelly are intimate he meets her halfway, but does not try to steal the show - yet he is not selfish and tries to please her. I like my hero's a little more macho and domineering than what Lief was, but he was still a smart, caring, and outgoing guy, so he gets points for that in my book! Another great book by Robyn Carr!



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Monday, February 6, 2012

Promise Canyon - Robyn Carr

Promise Canyon (Virgin River, #13)Promise Canyon by Robyn Carr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After years spent on ranches around Los Angeles, Clay Tahoma is delighted to be Virgin River's new veterinary assistant. The secluded community's wild beauty tugs at his Navajo roots, and he's been welcomed with open arms by everyone in town--everyone "except" Lilly Yazhi.

Lilly has encountered her share of strong, silent, "traditional" men within her own aboriginal community, and she's not interested in coming back for more. In her eyes, Clay's earthy, sexy appeal is just an act used to charm wealthy women like his ex-wife. She can't deny his gift for gentling horses, but she's not about to let him control her. There's just one small problem--"she" can't control her attraction to Clay.

But in Virgin River, faith in new beginnings and the power of love has doors opening everywhere....

Enjoyed this book, as always Robyn's books are second to none! I learned about a few new people who came to Virgin River, also. But, as always, the romance of Clay and Lilly stole the show! Very touching story that was sincere and heartfelt with love and passion!



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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Remember Me - Laura Moore

Remember Me (The Rosewood Trilogy, #1)Remember Me by Laura Moore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


CAN A LOVE BE LOST THAT WAS MEANT TO BE?

A rising star in the modeling world, Margot Radcliffe hasn’t forgotten the hurt that sent her running from Rosewood, the beautiful Virginia horse farm where she was raised. Travis Maher, a ruggedly handsome rebel and gifted horse trainer with a hard-knock past, had once captured Margot’s heart—only to break it.

But when tragedy strikes her family, Margot is forced to set aside her skyrocketing career and return to a place she never expected to see again, where the legs that everyone admires belong to Thoroughbreds, not supermodels. Now Rosewood Farm’s success depends on Margot, and the only person she can count on for help is the very man who so ruthlessly rejected her love all those years ago.

As Margot and Travis enter an uneasy truce to save Rosewood from financial ruin, their wild natures clash and their unresolved passions for each other begin to surge. But can this hard-edged horseman find a way to express his desire for the one woman he’s ever loved before she’s lost to him forever?

At first I thought Travis was a major pain because his attitude sucked and he was so aloof it made me sick; however, after Travis apologized to Margot I forgave him for his stubbornness. Margot was a great heroine. Smart,independent, and brave, she made Travis work for her affections. There is nothing sexier than a man who is persistent and passionate. That was exactly what Travis was. I was sad and a little angry at the end of this book, but in the end a happily ever after was just what the doctor ordered! Great book! I will be reading more of the Rosewood Trilogy to see what happens to the other sisters!



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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Laurie's bookshelf for 2012!






















Laurie's books




To Kill a Mockingbird

The Great Gatsby

Of Mice and Men

Romeo and Juliet

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Twilight

Pride and Prejudice

Dead in the Family

Lover Avenged

Hard Bitten

Dark Lover

Lover Awakened

Lover Eternal

Lover Revealed

Lover Unbound

Lover Enshrined

Lover Mine

Some Girls Bite

Friday Night Bites




Laurie's favorite books »



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Laurie's bookshelf: read


Lone Star MillionaireThe Littlest MatchmakerSmart Girls Think TwiceTruth Or DareChristmas in Lucky Harbor: Simply Irresistible/The Sweetest ThingThe Texan's Happily-Ever-After

More of Laurie's books »




Book recommendations, book reviews, quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists


my read shelf:
Laurie's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

Check out my books on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4637744-laurie








2012 Reading Challenge





2012 Reading Challenge



Laurie has


read 17 books toward her goal of 200 books.




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Monday, January 9, 2012

Angel's Peak (Virgin River #10) - Robyn Carr

Angel's Peak (Virgin River, #10)Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As much as I like this series, this book dragged out the ending and is the least favorite of the series. That being said, Carr's writing is still untouchable. I could relate to the characters, I felt the happiness, sadness, and passion of the characters like I was one in the book myself. Although this book didn't appeal to my reader's palate, I still enjoyed the story.



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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Only Yours - Susan Mallery

Only Yours (Fool's Gold, #5)Only Yours by Susan Mallery

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Montana Hendrix has found her calling—working with therapy dogs. With a career she loves in a hometown she adores, she's finally ready to look for her own happily ever after. Could one of her dogs help her find Mr. Right… or maybe Dr. Right?

Surgeon Simon Bradley prefers the sterility of the hospital to the messiness of real life, especially when real life includes an accident-prone mutt and a woman whose kisses make him want what he knows he can't have. Scarred since childhood, he avoids emotional entanglement by moving from place to place to heal children who need his skillful touch. Can his growing feelings for Montana lead him to find a home in Fool's Gold, or will he walk away, taking her broken heart with him?

Montana was a woman who knew what she wanted and went after it. She was also caring, compassionate, and passionate. Simon had a passion for his work, but soon found out what passion and love combined could do to his heart. Totally unprepared for love, Simon has to overcome his haunting past to be with the woman he loves. This was a very touching love story that was real and down to earth. Mallery captured a man healing from past wounds with finesse, and painted a picture of a love story with many inward battles not to mention the outside influences that were overcome. This was one of my favorite books and I enjoyed reading it very much! This is a must read for lovers of romance everywhere!



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