Barefoot in the Sun (33 page)

“You’re the one who said ‘anguish.’ What if his right hand is permanently injured?”

“But… but Sebastian is so dreamy. So devilishly handsome. Why would you do that to him?”

“So that he’s forced to find a new purpose.” Fanciful Nina jumped up and started pacing. “What if Sebastian has to stop focusing on himself for once in his life in order to help someone who needs him? Like his brother? Or Clara? Or his brother
and
Clara?”

“Well…”

Fanciful Nina clapped her hands. “What if Darius knows something is wrong? Being a mechanical-minded fellow, he’s seeking secret plans for a machine that could be used in wartime. And because encoding machines and automata often have similar mechanisms, the plans are hidden in the Museum of Automata where Clara lives. So Sebastian has to approach Clara because he promised to help Darius, only he can’t tell her what he needs. And he doesn’t yet know that Clara has a desperate, heart-wrenching goal of her own. And Sebastian is the only person who can help her attain it!”

Fanciful Nina raised her arms in victory. “Conflict. Anguish. Strong goals. Very hot, sexy attraction. I’ll figure out the happy ending later.”

Serious Nina was silent. She picked at the label of a turmeric bottle.

“What?” Fanciful Nina frowned. “It’s good.”

“But does Sebastian
have
to lose his career?”

“He’ll find his way back to music,” Fanciful Nina said reassuringly. “I promise.”

“With Clara.”

“Of course! Their love is so powerful that they create a
new and exhilarating future together. With lots of steamy lovemaking.”

Serious Nina put the turmeric bottle back into place on the rack.

“Okay,” she finally agreed. “That’s cool.”

Happy Reading!

Dear Reader,

Our cat, Isabel, is a rescue kitty. She had it rough her first few years, but after living with her foster mom for several months, she was ready to be adopted. She was so sweet and engaging in spite of what had happened to her that we bonded instantly. Her foster mom was delighted that I was a writer, which meant someone was home all day every day to cater to Isabel's every whim. As she put it, “She hit the jackpot!”

As an animal lover, I’m always on the lookout for romance novels that feature pets. So when I was deciding what to write next, I wanted to include pets in a big way. Then I read a popular legend that revolves around pets—the Legend of the Rainbow Bridge—and I knew I’d found the basis for my new series. According to the legend,
there’s a spirit world tied to earth, inhabited by beloved pets who’ve passed to the other side. With all earthly age and disease erased, they wait in this transitional paradise for their human companions to join them. After a joyful reunion, together they cross the Rainbow Bridge to heaven.

From there, I created Rainbow Valley, a small town deep in the Texas Hill Country, which is considered to be the home of the mythical Rainbow Bridge and bills itself as the most pet-friendly town in America. The first book, COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY, revolves around the Rainbow Valley Animal Shelter, a place where animals like Isabel get a second chance to find a loving home.

As I write this, Isabel is asleep in my lap. She weighs approximately a thousand pounds these days and makes my legs fall asleep, but how can I tell her to move? We’re here to make her life better than the life she knew before. I don’t know if the legend is true or not. But I do know that the spirit of the legend—that of enduring love—couldn’t be more appropriate for a romance novel. And I like the idea that someday, when I leave this world, she just might be waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

I hope you enjoy COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY!

Happy reading!

janegraves.com

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Twitter@janegraves

“In a love story with genuinely flawed yet sympathetic characters, set on a picturesque island off the coast of Florida, St. Claire focuses on the complexities of familial relationships, and the past hurts and experiences that can shape them. Honest, genuine, and occasionally gritty, this is a story that will resonate.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“I’m so glad I found the Barefoot Bay series. Not only are they well-written but [I] love connected books . . . You’ll love it. You’ll love it even more if you start with
Barefoot in the Sand
, but each book definitely stands on its own.”

—Examiner.com

“[I] really enjoy the Barefoot Bay series and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I’ve come to love and adore these women and the resort they are building together.”

—TheBookPushers.com

“This book stayed with me even when I had to put it down. It can challenge the reader and make her think, which is a quality I greatly enjoy in a book . . . I have to admire Ms. St. Claire for taking risks with this novel. They paid off.”

—All About Romance (LikesBooks.com)

“
Barefoot in the Sand
—the first in Roxanne St. Claire’s new Barefoot Bay series—is an all-around knockout and soul-satisfying read. I loved everything about this book—the indomitable heroine, the hot hero, the lush tropical setting, and secondary characters I can’t wait to read more about. Roxanne St. Claire writes with warmth and heart, and the community she’s built in Barefoot Bay is one I want to revisit again and again and again.”

—Mariah Stewart,
New York Times
bestselling author of the
Chesapeake Diaries

“Lovely, lush, and layered—this story took my breath away. Rich, believable characters, multilayered plot, gorgeous setting, and a smokin’ hot romance. One of the best books I’ve read all year.”

—Kristan Higgins,
New York Times
bestselling author, on
Barefoot in the Sand

“I enjoyed the typical mother/teen relationship Lacey had with Ashley—so comfortable and believable. Lacey is older than Clay, but the difference never matters. The chemistry between them is scorching hot. I adored her friends and I’m looking forward to their stories as well.
Barefoot in the Sand
is a wonderful story with plenty of heat, humor, and heart!”

—
USA Today’s
Happy Ever After blog

“4 ½ stars! 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

“Roxanne St. Claire hits a homerun with
Barefoot in the Sand
. . . It is impossible not to be completely enthralled from page one of this outstanding story . . . You just have to read this beautiful story to find out why I love these characters so much! . . . Lacey has some really cool chicks as friends and they each have mysterious pasts that I cannot wait to dig into.”

—JoyfullyReviewed.com

“There is nothing I didn’t love about this book, from the wacky secondary characters to Lacey and Clay themselves . . . With a cast of zany troubled friends and neighbors this book will have you dreaming of love all while picturing yourself on a sandy beach with the waves tickling your toes . . . I cannot wait to return to Barefoot Bay.”

—GoodReads.com

“I loved and adored this book . . . such a fun, lighthearted, and super sexy read . . . I just know that St. Claire is going to rock the rest of the series, especially if this first book is any indication . . . Fans of Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, and Susan Mallery will definitely want to check out this series! I give
Barefoot in the Sand
an A!”

—TheBookPushers.com

“St. Claire is one of the best romance writers in the genre today.”

—TheRomanceReader.com

“Her stories are ripped from the heart.”

—
Winter Haven News Chief
(FL)

“St. Claire writes books that keep the reader engrossed in the story from cover to cover.”

—
Booklist

“Roxanne St. Claire’s writing is spellbinding.”

—BookLoons.com