Mary’s Monet Moments in Reviewing...BAREFOOT IN THE SAND by Roxanne St. Claire

While reading the wonderful story of Lacey and Clay in BAREFOOT IN THE SAND by Roxanne St. Claire I was reminded of the fierce ability women have to fight back when everything is ready to knock us down.  Lacey had allot of responsibility and burden on her shoulders yet she still has the ability to celebrate life with Clay.  Big sigh here!

Then my email pops up and the author herself has answered a question I proposed to her and the thought – fate and good timing is awesome!

So Roxanne tell me what negative you turned into a little victory?  Oh, Mary, you would ask the toughest question!  And one that really ties into BAREFOOT IN THE SAND, since the heroine turns a hurricane that wipes her house away into a brand new life!  Other than experiencing my own hurricane, the most “negatives” I’ve ever had occurred when I was trying to sell a book. 

Rejection hurts and it comes fast and furious in this business, each “no thank you” letter leaving a writer reeling in doubt.  There were times during the two years that I worked to find an agent and sell a book when I really thought my pipe dream of being an author was the craziest thing I’d ever attempted.  However, I played a little game with myself and it always worked.  Every time I got a rejection, I forced myself to send out another query before I took one minute to cry, drink, whine, or have a pity party.  Once a new submission was out, I allowed the tears, complaints, and a few bottles of chardonnay.  A funny thing happened, then. I couldn’t really wallow in my self-pity because I had hope. 

Holding on to optimism and hope eliminates most of the heartache of a rejection...and eventually my dreams came true!  And, honestly, that’s the story and theme for BAREFOOT IN THE SAND, so you asked a perfect question!

I received BAREFOOT IN THE SAND by Roxanne St. Claire from hachette Book Group for review and a giveaway.  To be eligible to win please leave a comment on my favorite subject – your latest Little Victory.  Come back on Sunday – May 6^th to see if you have won.  Please remember if you do not come back, you will not know if you won, because I am going to need your address. 

As always I wish you happy reading, encourage you to turn a negative into a celebrated Little Victory, come back to see what book I am reviewing and offering up for a giveaway.  Do not forget to cast your positive votes for me on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Your vote matters and I greatly appreciate my followers!

BAREFOOT IN THE SAND by Roxanne St. Claire

Is love the one thing that can never be taken away? 

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.