{"id":14719,"date":"2014-12-04T10:15:53","date_gmt":"2014-12-04T15:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/?p=14719"},"modified":"2014-12-04T10:15:53","modified_gmt":"2014-12-04T15:15:53","slug":"giveaway-spotlight-excerpt-barefoot-in-pearls-by-roxanne-st-claire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/04\/giveaway-spotlight-excerpt-barefoot-in-pearls-by-roxanne-st-claire\/","title":{"rendered":"Giveaway, Spotlight & Excerpt \u272f Barefoot in Pearls by Roxanne St. Claire"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BarefootInPearls\"<\/p>\n

As her two best friends settle into their happily ever afters, destination wedding designer Arielle Chandler is beginning to wonder if the promise of \u201cThe One\u201d \u2013 one true love, meant only for her \u2013 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\u2019s plans to demolish a piece of land she believes is sacred.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke isn\u2019t 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\u2019s focused on creating a new life instead of destroying others, so he\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

While their immediate and potent attraction grows complicated, Luke and Ari discover the hills of Barefoot Bay could be hiding something far different \u2013 and even more valuable \u2013 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? <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"excerpt-sheilabold\"<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t handsome, not in any conventional way.\u00a0Just 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.\u00a0His chest and shoulders dwarfed her, with no tattoos, no chest hair, just tanned, sweaty skin covering rolling, ripped muscles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally sorry,\u201d he said again.\u00a0But he didn\u2019t sound sorry, or look it, either.\u00a0He scanned her face and made no effort to unlock his grip on her wrist.<\/span><\/p>\n

She should yank free.\u00a0She should step away.\u00a0She should stop staring.\u00a0\u00a0She should…breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n

But right that minute, bathed in sunlight and pinned by a green-gold gaze the color of oxidized copper, Ari Chandler couldn\u2019t do any of those things.\u00a0Because her whole body was kind of tingling and buzzing and sparking, like she\u2019d just stuck her entire arm in an electrical socket.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure you\u2019re okay?\u201d he asked.\u00a0\u201c\u2019Cause you look like I rung your bell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He rang something.\u00a0There was no other explanation for how lightheaded she suddenly felt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI…I\u2019m…I think…\u201d Words failed her.\u00a0No chance of a coherent sentence.<\/span><\/p>\n

His brows pulled into a frown as he gently turned her arm and placed a thumb over her pulse, which hit warp speed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa.\u00a0Your heart\u2019s racing more than mine.\u201d\u00a0He started to lower her back to the ground.\u00a0\u201cSit down. I have some water in my truck. Let me get it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, I\u2019m fine.\u201d\u00a0But Ari let him guide her down, sitting as he crouched in front of her.\u00a0\u201cWho runs with their eyes closed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was trained that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor what? Suicide missions?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething like that.\u201d\u00a0His 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally, what are you doing here?\u201d she asked.\u00a0\u201cNot very many people on Mimosa Key even know how about this place.\u201d\u00a0Only dirt roads led to this acreage, which was marked at the perimeter as \u201cPrivate Property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He glanced around.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m checking it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith your eyes closed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He almost smiled, just enough to show a hint of dimples and straight white teeth.\u00a0Just enough to take the edge off his face and turn it into something arresting.\u00a0She needed to look away, but all she could do was blink at the white lights flashing behind her eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Had she hit her head or…or…oh, no.\u00a0No.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she murmured.\u00a0\u201cNo, this isn\u2019t\u2026you can\u2019t be…no.\u201d\u00a0This wasn\u2019t possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026what?\u201d he asked, leaning in to get closer to her.\u00a0\u201cI can\u2019t check the place out? I have the owner\u2019s permission.\u00a0Do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was possible.\u00a0He could be…\u00a0 No, that was her imagination, not the universe answering her plea.\u00a0Right?\u00a0\u201cNo,\u201d she managed to say.<\/span><\/p>\n

For one long, suspended second, the world around her crystallized, making her hyperaware of every color, scent, and sound.\u00a0Everything was magnified.\u00a0Like the slow roll of a bead of sweat trickling over a scar on his temple.\u00a0And the flecks of color that somehow mixed to make his eyes a haunting blend of emerald and topaz.\u00a0Even the timbre of his voice, baritone and sweet, and the rhythmic sound of his breaths as the run caught up with him.\u00a0He smelled like sunshine and the sea, and his hand, still wrapped around her wrist, was like a hot brand of man against her skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything about him was\u2026right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She tried to nod at him, letting the very real possibility of what was happening sink in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey.\u201d\u00a0He snapped his fingers in front of her face, making her jump. \u201cDo you know your name?\u201d he asked sharply.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cArielle Chandler.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlace of birth?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSacramento, California.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHusband\u2019s name?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His eyes flickered.\u00a0\u201cPhone number?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She paused, but not because she couldn\u2019t remember it.\u00a0But because his smile went from almost to full force, and the impact actually hurt.<\/span><\/p>\n

She could practically hear Grandma Good Bear on her deathbed describing exactly these feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo way!\u201d\u00a0She shook her head, still not believing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, it was worth a try.\u201d Still smiling, he leaned back on his haunches.\u00a0 \u201cSince you\u2019re coherent enough to turn me down, I guess you\u2019re okay, Arielle Chandler.\u00a0In fact, you\u2019re\u2026\u201d He let his gaze drop over her.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And every cell in her body just went numb.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"BarefootinPearlsTeaser\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\"goodread-logo\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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a Rafflecopter giveaway<\/a>
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