Barefoot in the Sand (Barefoot Bay) [Mass Market Paperback]

Roxanne St. Claire (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2012 | Series: Barefoot Bay (Book 1)

When all you hold dear is taken away . . .

When a hurricane roars through Lacey Armstrong's home on the coast of Barefoot Bay, she decides all that remains in the rubble is opportunity. A new hotel is just what Mimosa Key needs, and Lacey and her teenage daughter are due for a fresh start. And nothing, especially not a hot, younger architect, is going to distract Lacey from finally making her dreams a reality.

A second chance is the only thing you have left.

Love has already cost Clay Walker everything. And if he's going to have any chance of picking up the pieces of his life, he needs the job as Lacey Armstrong's architect. What's not in the plans is falling for the headstrong beauty. Her vision of the future is more appealing than anything he could have ever drafted for himself. Will Clay's designs on Lacey's heart be more than she can handle, or will she trust him to build something that will last forever?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This first installment in the new Barefoot Bay series from award-winning author St. Claire (Killer Curves) features steamy sex in warm gulf waters; readers will be delighted." (Library Journal
)

"St. Claire, as always, brings a scorching tear-up-the-sheets romance combined with a great story: dealing with real issues starring memorable characters in vivid scenes. Best of all, since this is book one in the Barefoot Bay series, there's more to come."

(RT Book Reviews)

"St. Claire writes books that keep the reader engrossed in the story form cover to cover."

(Booklist)

"With Roxanne St. Claire, you are guaranteed a powerful, sexy and provocative read."
(Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author)

"Pack this one in your beach bag and get ready for nonstop fun." (Susan Mallery)

"On the fast track to making her name a household one." (Publishers Weekly)

About the Author

Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times bestselling author of nearly thirty novels of romance and suspense. She currently writes a contemporary romance series called "Barefoot Bay" and has also penned the popular "Guardian Angelinos" series and an eight-book award winning series called The Bullet Catchers. This summer, Delacorte Press will release her first Young Adult novel, Don't You Wish, which has been optioned as a feature film. In addition to being a four-time RITA nominee and one-time RITA winner, her books have won the National Reader's Choice Award for best romantic suspense for two consecutive years, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, and many others. She resides in Florida.

You can learn more at:

RoxanneStClaire.com

Twitter, @RoxanneStClaire

Facebook, facebook.com/roxannestclaire

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (May 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1455508217
• ISBN-13: 978-1455508211
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ROXANNE ST. CLAIRE is a New York Times Bestselling author of more than thirty novels of romance and suspense. She is the author of the Barefoot Bay contemporary series as well as two very popular suspense series, the Bullet Catchers and the Guardian Angelinos.

A five-time nominee and one-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award for the best in romantic fiction, Roxanne's books have also been awarded the National Readers Choice Award for best romantic suspense three times, as well as the Daphne du Maurier award, the Booksellers Best Award, the Award of Excellence, the Maggie, the Holt Medallion and many more. Roxanne's books have been published in dozens of countries and are routinely featured as selections in the Doubleday and Rhapsody book clubs.

Free reads, excerpts, character profiles, author news and contests can be found on her web site: www.roxannestclaire.com. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/roxannestclaire and www.twitter.com/@roxannestclaire,or email her via her web site. Roxanne lives in Florida with her husband, two children and loves to hear from readers all over the world!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read all year! April 24, 2012

By B

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a single mother, Lacey Armstrong's priority has always been her daughter, and she's always put Ashley's sake and before everything, even herself. When they have everything swept away by a hurricane, she sees it as an opportunity for reinventing her life and herself, and to finally tend to her long life dream of owning a cozy bed and breakfast in the little beach coast town of Mimosa Key. It was just what she needed, a whole new beginning, with nothing to lose, and no excuses to make.

But, as everything else is taken from her, the winds bring young architect Clay Walker right in, and he, who believes her land is a great spot for a resort, suggests they work on a project together, that soon takes bigger proportions than she could ever have imagined. Much bigger. And much more personal.

Because the attraction between them is real and inevitable and it doesn't take long before they realize that working together is turning into so much more.

Lacey strikes me as a real and strong heroine, with who's going through a process of painful, but wonderful, growth and self-discovery, and works to find balance between being a woman and a mother. Who, for the first time in her life, is fighting to make her dreams come true. And I thought it was amazing how much she changed and grew in the book.

And, Clay, who's a young hero, showed incredible depth and maturity. He needed to overcome a few self-build barriers (well, he *is* an architect) of his own to be with Lacey and have his happily ever after. But as he works through his issues, he's charming, funny, boyish and it's impossible not to fall in love with him.

What I really, really loved about this book, too, was that Lacey's best friends came to the rescue when there was trouble.... Jocelyn, Zoe and Tessa didn't think twice before jumping on a plame and rushing off to be on Lacey's side. It's their laugh and wine and jokes that give this book so, so much light and fun.

Barefoot in the Sand has been my favorite read this year. I've been a fan of Roxanne St. Claire's romantic suspense for a long time, but I'm usually a genre person. I don't read that many books without dead bodies in it. Imagine my surprise when I fell so much in love with this beach setting contemporary romance. I recommend it to everyone who loves a great love story. Read more ›

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just another beach read May 1, 2012

By Pat D

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been a fan of Roxanne St. Claire for a long time. Her romantic suspense novels are among the best in the genre. So it was no big risk to pick up Barefoot in the Sand and see if she was just as talented writing contemporary romance. And she is! I don't like to write reviews that are essentially synopses of the book, so if that is what you're looking for, check out the other reviews of this title.
I want to assure you that this is a delightful read, populated with well-drawn, believable characters, easy to love(or hate!), and compelling enough to have you rooting for them to succeed. The plot engages you from the very first page, and while not as complex as some of Ms. St. Claire's suspense titles, there are enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages well into the night. Despite the fact that I had an early start at work the following day, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it at 1:15 a. m.
Lacey's journey from post-hurricane total destruction to the realization of her dream is one filled with self-discovery and perseverance - and a new-found confidence in herself that her accidental architect, Clay is instrumental in supporting. While her teen-aged daughter bemoans the loss of all her 'stuff', Lacey knows, and tries to show her, that it's the people who are important. Meanwhile her three best friends provided some nudges of their own and made me wish the next installment in this series would be out next week.
Nice to know Roxanne St. Claire can write a fast-paced, yet very charming tale that doesn't require security specialists or dead bodies to keep you turning the pages.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Is love the one thing that can never be taken away? April 24, 2012

By Mary J. Gramlich VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Lacey Armstrong has spent her life chasing dreams that seemed so close yet like the horizon so far away. She was running a small but successful baking business until a hurricane came and took everything she owned away. Lacey is grateful that she and her daughter survived to build another day, but now the question looms what is she going to build and where?

A dream does answer her call in the form of Clay who is offering to help her build an expanded version of her original idea and he is offering his architectural services free. What on paper appears to be too good to be true, especially since he will not sign any papers probably is. Lots of questions and unanswered details about his past have red flags going up but Lacey is taking them all down and choosing to trust her opinion about Clay. Getting involved with your architect is bad business yet Lacey has had enough second-guessing it is time to storm the castle and let the bricks fall where they may.

As Lacey and Clay move forward with her resort plans, maneuver around the obstacle of small-minded citizens allot of ghosts show up in both of their lives. You can move to the left or right of your past but for some reason it always finds you. Lacey and Clay are both challenged with deciding how to deal with the latest disaster and what the future holds for them together. Neither is running away from the challenge of a relationship but they are also not embracing it without an internal emotional fight to the bitter conclusion.

Roxanne St. Claire is a prolific writer who tells a story so well she has you falling in love with the characters from page one. It is difficult to lay the groundwork for a new series yet somehow Ms. St.... Claire has a gift of doing just that and making you want for the next book, right now. Read more ›