Blog Tour: Barefoot in the Sand by Roxanne St. Claire

UTC is taking part in Forever Romance's blog tour for Roxanne St. Claire's brand new contemporary romance series! We got a chance to ask Roxanne some questions. Here's what went down!

Hi Roxanne! Thanks so much for coming to UTC!

Thank you so much for the invitation to you blog! I’m delighted to answer your questions...and more in the comments, if you like. Ask away!

Who is Roxanne St. Claire? Tell us five interesting things about yourself that readers wouldn't know.

That’s not easy for a person who shares everything! Some of my readers have been following me for ten years and they could probably tell you more about me than I could. But I’ll give it a shot since I’ve never been here before and I could be a new face to your readers.

1. I had a fledgling career in television, appeared on Bosom Buddies, and met Tom Hanks. A lot of my friends know that. But few know that Peter Scolari -- the less famous of the Bosom Buddies -- asked me on a date while I was on the set. For the record, I turned him down. (I had a boyfriend at the time, but, oh, Peter was cutie-pie. Sigh. What might have been.)

2. Before I became a writer, I spent almost two decades in public relations. I started as a receptionist in a PR firm in L.A. when I graduated from college and two years later, that same company sent me to Boston to run the New England office. I went on to become a Sr. VP of the largest PR firm in the world -- I absolutely LOVED that job! I had so many interesting assignments, and my biggest PR “hit” was getting my client, Burger King Corporation, on the Tonight Show. Yes, Burger King! When they announced they’d be offering “table service” (a brief, failed experiment), my PR firm got Jay Leno to do a skit about it. Hysterical!

3. I wrote my first manuscript in 1999 after finishing a Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel called “Nobody’s Baby But Mine.” I closed that book and decided the only thing I wanted to do was make someone feel as whole and complete as she’d made me feel with that delightful romance novel. I don’t know if I’ve ever accomplished that, but I have met her and had the opportunity to tell her that she inspired my entire career.

4. I was folding laundry when I got “the call” that I’d sold my first book in 2002. My hands shook as I smoothed the Derek Jeter shirt, sized for a nine year old boy. When I went to find my son and tell him my news, all I said was, “Guess what just happened?” He took one look at my face and said, “You were drafted by the Yankees?” Uh...yes. (He turned 19 a few days ago.)

5. I discovered I had a green thumb I never knew about! A few years ago, I decided my barren patio needed a plant or two. At last count, I had about forty of them...and they are all my healthy babies! Every time I go to Lowes, my husband just groans and knows I’m coming home with something green. I had no idea I could keep a plant alive, let alone create a garden. Of course, I live in Florida, so that does make growing things a lot easier!

Barefoot In The Sand is the first book in your new contemporary romance series, Barefoot Bay. If you were spending the day at a beach, what 3 essential items would you need?

Oh, these are good questions! I am so fortunate to live a few minutes from an absolutely gorgeous beach, I know exactly what has to be put in a beach bag: sunscreen, a book, and something cold to drink. Assuming those items were covered, I might also add 1) a camera to capture the memory; 2) a notebook so I could jot down anything that inspired me; 3) money so I could buy a snow cone -- we have the BEST snow cone vendor in the world at our beach and a day in the sun and sand isn’t complete without one.

Unless I was the heroine of Barefoot in the Sand and slipped away to the Barefoot Bay beach with the hero. (And, yes, there might be a little Gulf of Mexico sex in this book. There might be.) All they’d need is a blanket, some oil, and each other. Oh, and, you know, a condom. Or three.

If you could collaborate with any other author (alive or dead) who would you pick and why?

You’re killing me with these tough questions! I doubt I’d be a very good collaborator unless my co-writer didn’t mind rewriting the living heck out of everything. I don’t like to write (I hate it, honestly) but I love, love, love to rewrite. Another writer might find that annoying. But, if I had to pick one, it would probably be...I can’t pick one. I’d like to sit next to Nora Roberts for just one day and watch her work. I’d like to have drinks with Suzanne Collins and find out what really happened to the world that brought on the dystopia of The Hunger Games. I’d like to brainstorm story ideas with Linda Howard, have Anne Lamott read one of my scenes and help me revise it, and I’d absolutely love to have been a little fly on Margaret Mitchell’s wall when she wrote the scene where Melanie dies. *sniff* Nope, could never pick one!

Thanks for answering our tough questions :P

(more like a 3.75)

Barefoot in the Sand

(Barefoot Bay #1)

by Roxanne St. Claire

Lacey Armstrong and her teenage daughter survive a brutal hurricane that takes everything they valued out of their lives. But upon further deliberation, it seems that Mother Nature has spared them the most important things – They still have each other. As a thirty-nine year old single mother, Lacey has her hands full as she tries to corral her opinionated and sometimes moody teenage daughter while making her dream of owning a new hotel in Mimosa Key a reality.

In an effort to juggle this, Lacey contacts the best architect out there to help her design her new project. However, when the architect named Clay Walker walks into her life, she realizes that more than her hotel needs to be repaired. Lacey finds this undeniable attraction to the younger architect but can’t seem to find peace within herself to be with a younger man.

To be honest, I enjoyed most of this book. However, there was one thing that bothered me about it. I felt that the characters impeded some of the progression I was expecting from this story. Lacey is an older woman who has been burned in the past by men so she has a reason to be suspicious when a good-looking, not to mention younger guy walks into her life expecting to charm her. However, I felt that Lacey put up way to many barriers that stopped the natural progression of the relationship and thus the flow of the book. She always came up with excuses and reasons for not being able to do something. I liked that Clay knew exactly what he wanted and was able to push her outside of her comfort zone. It was exactly what Lacey needed.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Clay very much, but just wasn’t thrilled with the fact that he held so many things back from Lacey. He expected Lacey to trust him with her life’s dream and their relationship, but he himself kept things away from her. That didn’t fly with me.

Overall, Roxanne St. Claire creates the perfect weekend or beach read with the first book in a new series. It’s fun, flirty and gives readers the escape that they need. I loved the fact that Lacey’s best friends were involved in this book and am hoping that we get to read some stories about them because they were interesting , especially Tessa. This series looks promising.

*ARC provided by publisher

 

 

Forever Romance is graciously giving away a copy of BAREFOOT IN THE SAND to one lucky US maiden. 

To enter, please:
1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment or question for Roxanne and a valid email address so we can contact you if you win!