New York Times and USA Today bestselling author brings readers back to the sun-drenched beaches of Barefoot Bay, where love is always in the air! In the brand new Billionaires of Barefoot Bay trilogy, meet a trio of sexy heroes and the most unlikely ladies who steal their hearts in three novella-length love stories.
Book Description
Like everything in his life, becoming a billionaire was easy for Elliott Becker. He bought some land in Massachusetts and discovered he sat on two billion dollars worth of rare Goshen stone. Lucky, charming, and blessed with every gift from every god, Elliott expects his simple purchase of property in Barefoot Bay will go the way everything does for him in life...easy. Until he meets the woman who currently owns that land and suddenly everything is...hard.
Frankie Cardinale’s fondest memories took place on the tiny goat farm owned and run by her “Nonno” in the heart of Barefoot Bay. As a child, the farm and its precious residents were a refuge for her after her parents died and her grandfather taught her all about “the sweet life” of raising goats. While she held her Nonno in her arms on his deathbed, she promised his land would never leave their family and that she would continue his legacy. Nothing -- not even a sexy, playful, intoxicating billionaire who always gets his way -- will convince her to break that promise.
Except Elliott Becker is a man who always gets what he wants even if that means a little seduction and double-crossing of a humble goatherd. But will his lucky streak hold long enough to keep him from making the biggest mistake of his life? Because it doesn't take long for Elliott to realize that all the money in the world can’t buy him what he really wants the most...her love.
Reviews for Secrets on the Sand (The Billionaires of Barefoot Bay #1) & all of the Barefoot Bay books:
I finished Secrets on the Sand a well-satisfied reader, and I can’t wait to dive into the next Billionaires of Barefoot Bay tale, Seduction on the Sand. - Wit & Sin Reviews Run–don’t walk–to download this fun book. I don’t typically love the novella format because I really enjoy a book I can sink my teeth into but this story more than captures the readers attention. A longer than typical Novella with not a single wasted word or page! - Writer Mom’s Blog SECRETS ON THE SAND is a light-hearted, sweet, feel-good read that had me sighing contently at the end. - Romance Junkies “Fun and engaging...a celebration of family and forgiveness!” -Publishers Weekly “Plenty of heat, humor, and heart!” - USA Today Happy Ever After A love story with genuinely flawed yet sympathetic characters filled with raw, real emotion, this will warm your heart as you turn the pages. - RT Book Reviews “It is impossible not to be completely enthralled from page one.” - Joyfully Reviewed “Fun, light-hearted, super sexy...fans of Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, and Susan Mallery will definitely want to check out this series.” - TheBookPushers.com “Pack this one in your beach bag and get ready for non-stop fun.” - Susan Mallery, New York Times Bestselling Author “Lovely, lush, and layered! One of the best books I’ve read this year!” - Kristin Higgins, New York Times Bestselling Author
The Barefoot Bay Quartet Barefoot in the Sand (Lacey and Clay) Barefoot in the Rain (Jocelyn and Will) Barefoot in the Sun (Zoe and Oliver) Barefoot by the Sea (Tessa and Ian)
I don’t know about you, but when I check out an author's bio, it’s usually because I’ve read a book I liked and wondered about the person behind it. Let's skip the formal bio and I'll give you the inside scoop on who Roxanne St. Claire really is.
First of all, call me Rocki. Everyone does. Evidently, when my mother brought me home from the hospital I seemed too scrawny and small to pull off “Roxanne” (she’d read Cyrano de Bergerac while pregnant or I would have been Judy) so they called me Rocki.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, the youngest of five (overachievers, every one), and fell in love with words and stories the summer I read Gone With The Wind. That year, for my twelfth birthday, my parents gave me a typewriter (with italic font – it was the coolest thing) and from that day on, I’ve had my fingers on a keyboard, pounding out love stories for fun. My AP English teacher taught me the two most important lessons an aspiring author ever needs: 1) verbs are the key to life and 2) a writer should get a real job. After attending UCLA and graduating with a degree in communications, I tried acting and television broadcasting. Oh, they aren’t real jobs? I learned that the hard way. I changed my last name from Zink to St. Claire because a news producer told me Roxanne Zink had too many harsh consonants for a TV personality – apparently Katie Couric didn’t get the memo. I got some fun gigs, and even met Tom Hanks when I did a guest appearance on Bosom Buddies. I liked on camera work, but wasn’t too crazy about starvation, so I moved to Boston and got that “real” job. In fact, I placed my foot on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder and didn’t look down until I’d climbed all the way up to the level of Senior Vice President at the world’s largest public relations firm. On the way up, I met the man of my dreams in an elevator. Two years later – in the same elevator! – he asked me to marry him and I wisely said yes.
I stayed in PR, moved to Miami, had a few babies, lost my home in a hurricane, built another one a few hours north and all along, I kept writing my “stories” for fun. One night, I read a particularly fabulous romance novel that changed my life for good. That night, I decided I wanted to make someone else feel as whole and happy as that author made me feel. (Everyone asks! It was Nobody’s Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.) With two small children and one big “real” job, writing my first novel wasn’t easy, but I did finish a manuscript that managed to get the attention of a literary agent. She told me to do one thing and one thing fast: write another book. (The first one is usually a “learner” book, honestly.) That second manuscript sold to Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books and was released in 2003 as Tropical Getaway. Since then, I’ve written almost thirty more, in multiple genres, and long ago replaced the corporate ladder with the rollercoaster of publishing as a full-time novelist. Finally, writing is my real job.
Today, I live in a small beach community in Florida with my husband and two dogs. Our kids are off to college and law school, which means my nest is empty! I spend my time writing, working with the kids at my church, enjoying my husband's gourmet cooking, and hanging with my many writer friends. Of course, I love to read. I’m still crazy about words and stories and hope to write at least a hundred books in my lifetime. And, yes, verbs are the key to life. My favorites? Love. Work. Believe.
Billionaire Elliott Becker is sent to see Frank Cardinale to seek his land so his friends can build a baseball stadium on Barefoot Bay.. When he steps off the helicopter asking everyone that he's looking for Frank Cardinale...then he sees her, and she's running....he runs after her only because he thinks she can help him...but when she informs him who she is and what he can do with his offer... he is bound and determined to stay and get it...He always gets what he wants..
Things get interesting between Elliott Becker and Francesca Cardinale....They both have some secrets....You might see a side of Elliott that isn't pretty at first, but I can assure you he makes up for it..and you will fall in love with him,,..I did...Helping Francesca with her goats and soap scents...He's really good at...your going to laugh...Guarantee it...cry, and it can't be helped..
When Elliott has found something, he has to stop what he has done and make it right....he tells his friend Zeke....the only one who tells him when it's real it's real...
Kick off your shoes and fall in LOVE!!!! You won't be able to stop it....The Billionaire series is amazing, and you won't want it to end.....SCANDAL is next....I for sure can't wait...Rocki has given a little sneak peek at the end....boy oh boy!!!! If you have not read SECRETS ON THE SAND read that too...No worries about reading in order..
Another good story. I Loved Elliot and Frankie, and I loved all her goats and dogs. The animals made the story much more fun.
It was about Elliot wanting to buy her land and her not wanting to sell and all they went through to find out the land wasn’t all that important. It was funny to read how this billionaire insisted on staying on her farm and sleeping in the barn, then on her couch in her double-wide trailer. And all the really great names he came up with for her goat-milk soaps. And, Of course, how Elliot screwed up their relationship and had to do some groveling when he realized how much he loved her.
It was nice to see Zeke and Nate again. And Nate’s story is the next one I’m going to read. I know a lot of you are tired of billionaire stories but I’m not. They aren’t a part of my world so that’s why I like them.
There is explicit sexual things that go on with this book, so if you don’t like “explicit” then this book is not for you. And the F-bomb is used 2 times.
As to the narrator: Kaleo Griffith was great once again. His men and women sounded terrific and Elliot was always whispering in Frankie’s ear and Kaleo did exactly that. Sounding as sexy as hell. Awesome job.
Seduction on the Sand is #2 in The Billionaires of Barefoot Bay novella trilogy and I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy from Ms. St. Claire for an honest review. I really enjoy Ms. St. Claire's style of writing, she has such a way of making all of her characters feel so real and packs them with personality as she did with Elliot and Frankie. Elliot made me laugh out loud with his over the top antics trying to get what he wants...think it's just land? I related to Frankie because she was determined to hold on to something that's close and dear to her heart. Love Love how Ms. St. Claire has tied this trilogy to Casa Blanca, an elite resort that was created in the Barefoot Bay series. It feels like I get to go back and visit! Seduction on the Sand is being released January 13, 2014, Nate's story will be released February 13th 2014...I'm anxiously waiting!
Elliott Becker jumped out of his helicopter and addressed the crowd asking for Frank Cardinale. But Miss Frankie wants nothing to do with him. He is in desperate pursuit of her plot of land on Barefoot Bay. She only wants to run the goat farm and sell the milk and soap she'll make. Who will win?
This is an enjoyable novella of the Barefoot series. It was humorous reading Elliott's interactions with the goats. The soap scent names were brilliant. Makes me want to try to find them.
Ah yes! The second installment novella of the Billionaires of Barefoot Bay! Elliott Becker is one of those guys that everything comes easy for. He had no trouble getting his billionaire status. When he bought a piece of land and found that what was in the ground was worth way more than the land itself. Now Elliott is part of a group of billionaire men who invest and build stuff and their latest idea is a baseball team and a ballpark that involves some land they desperately need for it all to work. Unfortunately that land belongs to one Frankie Cardinale. Frankie isn't budging. Her grandfather told her the land was hers and since he had no will is waiting for the courts. He was a goat farmer and had a vision of what the land should be and Frankie intends to make that happen no matter what. What Elliott hadn't counted on when he came to find Frankie was was that Frankie was a woman not a man as he thought and, he's attracted to her. Something he can't seem to help but what will win out? His need to have that land, when he gets into something dirty to get it from her or Frankie and what she could be to him? Roxanne St Claire gives us another winner! The mix of billionaire playboy and the goat woman is fun and interesting with a big surprise in the end. It was fun to watch Elliott fall and fight it on the way but Frankie is just to much for his heart to resist. Awesome fast read! Can't wait for the third and last in this trilogy next month.
Elliot Becker had one job, to seal the deal and acquire the land needed to open a minor baseball league with his friends on Barefoot Bay. As a billionaire, Elliot always had things easy, as money can buy anything, that is, until he met Francesca "Frankie" Cardinale.
Frankie had one promise to live up to. To honor her grandfather last wish and keep the goat farm they had. That's what she's been doing, living life as a goatherd, making soaps and selling goat milk until Elliot showed up, trying to buy the last thing she has any connections to.
For a novella, this read like a full length novel. There was a lot of depth to the MC, as well as room for growth for each of them. Jocelyn and Will Palmer make appearances in this one and I'm glad we get some update on their lives as well.
Overall, a sweet, romantic and very enjoyable read. And some "aww" moments, including the kids.
I just love these billionaires! While Zeke is still my favorite (I have a thing for geeks), Elliot Becker was adorable. Who else would try to be a goatherd just to get to know a woman better? I loved how he was really trying with Frankie. I loved Frankie as a heroine. She was strong and yet vulnerable at the same time. I loved how she wanted to hold on to what was left of her family's life. I also LOVED the surprise twist ending. Never saw that one coming. Like all the Barefoot books, Roxanne St. Claire had me laughing, crying and sizzling at the same time. All I say here is shower scene! ;) Another winner Rocki!
Roxanne St. Claire's second Billionaires of Barefoot Bay is another great read.
This one picks up right where Secrets on the Sand left off. Zeke and his friends want to build a minor league baseball stadium around the Barefoot Bay area. Elliot Becker is the one they trust to get the final piece of land they need from Frank Cardinale. What he don't know is Frank has passed away and his granddaughter Frankie is the one who he will have to get to sale. Frankie knows there are people who want her grandfathers land but she made him a promise that she would keep it in the family. She wants it to be the goat farm he built and nothing else.
a pretty good story though much shorter than expected. lots of heart wrenching moments and realizations, but thankfully Elliot pulled his shit together in time.
As contemporary romance novellas go this was a pretty entertaining short story. Unlike the first book in this 3 novella series there were no moments in this story where I said to myself,"that's just dumb and totally unrealistic." Frankie Cardinale was a wonderful heroine. She was incredibly intuitive as well as intelligent and saw right through our hero Elliot Becker's B.S. and called him on it. After a shaky start once Elliott fell for Frankie he became a very likable character. There's even a little bit of a surprise towards the end of the story. And the goats. How can you not like those cute little goats? I guess my only complaint with this book is I wish that like Zeke (the male m.c. of the first book), Mandy the female m.c. of the first book) who knew Frankie from high school would have actually had more of a role in this story. We learn Mandy and Zeke are still going strong but Mandy never really makes an appearance. In this story we also meet Liz who helps Frankie and will be the heroine of the final novella in this Billionaires of Barefoot Bay sub series of the Barefoot Bay series.
I want to love this series. I am loving the whole Barefoot Bay Universe and plan to read more within that universe....but I have issues with the characters within the series especially this second book. With such a short story I feel like I have to like the characters and the ones in this one really got on my last nerve. As a way of developing the characters the male characters start out as entitled, rich jerks who (this one especially( verge on the side of harassment. The women are attracted but for their own reasons shoot down advancements in the relationship. As a result you get the men who continue to ogle and be complete jerks and as a reader we should be swooning. As with most romances you know the happily ever after is coming, but I want all the world building of this series and less jerks who learn the error of their ways.
I think the fun of this one was Becker so out of his element at the goat farm with Frankie. With the back handed moves that Becker made I knew that things would blow up at some point and boy did it. I hated that Frankie learned things in the worst way and what Frankie had to do at the end. I will say that Becker managed to redeem himself in a great way at the end. I think it is the best for all of them.
Maybe I’m spoiled because this author has written so many other great stories, but this story didn’t impress me as much as most of her other works. I enjoyed the setting and the characters enough, but the plot got boring at times and I put the book aside and read others. I did finish the book and like it ok, so I’ll say 3.5 stars. I have started the next book in this series and am liking it much better.
Frankie came home for her grandad while he had a stroke and sadly died. While at the goat farm she realized she only wanted to stay and keep it but she was having offer after offer to buy. But when mr. Becker came not only did she say no but she also felt something more than annoyed. These two had more in common than either thought.
Frankie is in the fight of her life to keep her family property in the family. The problem is a sexy cowboy who invaded her property, life and heart. Will Frankie and Elliot take their happily ever after or will love pull them apart?
I am enjoying Roxanne's work. Not too long. She takes you to the heart of the story. I love this group of friends she's created. They feel real. Funny, comradery among them
I absolutely loved this book even though it is the second time I've read it. I have read almost all of the Barefoot Bay series and all of the Dogfather books. So good!
Let's see if we can turn Elliott Becker from billionaire playboy to goatherd. An interesting mix of baseball and farming with a little bit of mystery thrown in for good meast.
All Frankie wanted was to live on her recently acquired goat farm, left to her by her grandfather. Elliot wants her property and will pay any price to have it. The finagling to see who wins makes for a rewarding story
Just started this series and I am loving it. This story was a beauty, how she saw through his act to the real him. How he knew he had to be his real self to her, or he would lose her. Good to catch up with previous characters. Narration was awesome.
Ich tat mir leider schwerer in die Geschichte zu finden, doch am meisten gefreut habe ich mich über Jocelyn. Jetzt weiß ich wenigstens wie es bei ihr weitergegangen ist. 3,5 Sterne
While the hero frustrated me a little bit, in the end he got his comeuppance, and this helped to make the story's ending very satisfying. The heroine rocked all the way through.