~ Book Information ~
Book: Barefoot in Pearls
Author: Roxanne St. Claire
Release Date: January 30, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
~ Blurb ~
As her two best friends settle into their happily ever
afters, destination wedding designer Arielle Chandler is beginning to wonder if
the promise of “The One” – one true love, meant only for her – is merely
folklore passed down from her Native American grandmother. But when a
mysterious man nearly mows her down on a hill overlooking Barefoot Bay, the
legend of destined love suddenly feels very real. That is, until Ari learns of
Luke McBain’s plans to demolish a piece of land she believes is sacred.
Luke isn’t proud of the fact that he spent ten years as a
mercenary warrior, fighting battles for another country. With those dark days
behind him, he’s focused on creating a new life instead of destroying others,
so he’s moved to Barefoot Bay to launch a contracting business and build a
house for an old friend. But when an enigmatic dark-eyed beauty steals his
attention and stops his progress with her announcement that he is about to
flatten a native burial ground, Luke has a new battle to fight.
While their immediate and potent attraction grows complicated,
Luke and Ari discover the hills of Barefoot Bay could be hiding something far
different – and even more valuable – than ancient art or graves. They are
determined to discover the truth, but that will come at a cost. Will they risk
their chance at once-in-a-lifetime love to uncover secrets that could change
the landscape of Barefoot Bay forever?
~ Teaser Excerpt ~
He wasn’t handsome, not in any conventional way. Just
rough and dark with heavy whiskers over a jaw that looked like it might have
met a few fists in its day. His nose was a little off center and maybe broken
once or twice. His chest and shoulders dwarfed her, with no tattoos, no
chest hair, just tanned, sweaty skin covering rolling, ripped muscles.
“Really sorry,” he said again. But he didn’t sound
sorry, or look it, either. He scanned her face and made no effort to
unlock his grip on her wrist.
She should yank free. She should step away. She
should stop staring. She should...breathe.
But right that minute, bathed in sunlight and pinned by a
green-gold gaze the color of oxidized copper, Ari Chandler couldn’t do any of
those things. Because her whole body was kind of tingling and buzzing and
sparking, like she’d just stuck her entire arm in an electrical socket.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked. “’Cause you look like
I rung your bell.”
He rang something. There was no other explanation for
how lightheaded she suddenly felt.
“I...I’m...I think...” Words failed her. No chance of a
coherent sentence.
His brows pulled into a frown as he gently turned her arm
and placed a thumb over her pulse, which hit warp speed.
“Whoa. Your heart’s racing more than mine.” He
started to lower her back to the ground. “Sit down. I have some water in
my truck. Let me get it.”
“No, no, I’m fine.” But Ari let him guide her down,
sitting as he crouched in front of her. “Who runs with their eyes closed?”
“I was trained that way.”
“For what? Suicide missions?”
“Something like that.” His voice, low and charged with
mystery, sent another cascade of chills down her spine, a shocking feeling that
had no place dancing over her in this heat and humidity.
“Really, what are you doing here?” she asked. “Not very
many people on Mimosa Key even know how about this place.” Only dirt roads
led to this acreage, which was marked at the perimeter as “Private Property.”
He glanced around. “I’m checking it out.”
“With your eyes closed?”
He almost smiled, just enough to show a hint of dimples and
straight white teeth. Just enough to take the edge off his face and turn
it into something arresting. She needed to look away, but all she could do
was blink at the white lights flashing behind her eyes.
Had she hit her head or...or...oh, no. No.
“No,” she murmured. “No, this isn’t…you can’t
be...no.” This wasn’t possible.
“No…what?” he asked, leaning in to get closer to
her. “I can’t check the place out? I have the owner’s permission. Do
you?”
But it was possible. He could be... No, that
was her imagination, not the universe answering her
plea. Right? “No,” she managed to say.
For one long, suspended second, the world around her
crystallized, making her hyperaware of every color, scent, and
sound. Everything was magnified. Like the slow roll of a bead of
sweat trickling over a scar on his temple. And the flecks of color that
somehow mixed to make his eyes a haunting blend of emerald and topaz. Even
the timbre of his voice, baritone and sweet, and the rhythmic sound of his
breaths as the run caught up with him. He smelled like sunshine and the
sea, and his hand, still wrapped around her wrist, was like a hot brand of man
against her skin.
Everything about him was…right.
“Miss?”
She tried to nod at him, letting the very real possibility of
what was happening sink in.
“Hey.” He snapped his fingers in front of her face,
making her jump. “Do you know your name?” he asked sharply.
“Arielle Chandler.”
“Place of birth?”
“Sacramento, California.”
“Husband’s name?”
“I don’t have one.”
His eyes flickered. “Phone number?”
She paused, but not because she couldn’t remember
it. But because his smile went from almost to full force, and the impact
actually hurt.
She could practically hear Grandma Good Bear on her deathbed
describing exactly these feelings.
“No way!” She shook her head, still not believing it.
“Hey, it was worth a try.” Still smiling, he leaned back on
his haunches. “Since you’re coherent enough to turn me down, I guess
you’re okay, Arielle Chandler. In fact, you’re…” He let his gaze drop over
her. “You’re fine.”
And every cell in her body just went numb.
~ About The Author ~
Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times and USA Today 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 six-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.
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