Guest Post with Christi Barth and Giveaway

Please welcome author Christi Barth to RFTC. With the recent release of her book, Love at High Tide, Christi has stopped by to chat about the ultimate beach playlist. Please give her a warm welcome.

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.  Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Places to find Christi:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

The Ultimate Beach Play List for the Ultimate Beach Read

I love listening to the crash of the waves against the shore. I thoroughly enjoy eavesdropping on the interesting conversations of fellow beachgoers around me (something about the beach – it is the only place where I listen in, I promise!). And I’m okay in measured doses with sea gull squawks. But still, when you’re at the beach, even if you’re hunkered down with an awesome beach read, you want some music. I think it’s because the beach promotes a party feeling even if you are solo.

Now, I know everyone has different musical tastes. But there are some songs that, no matter whether you prefer country or hip-hop, need to be played.

“Kokomo” by The Beach Boys. Why does this song get top billing? Check out the lyrics: Bodies in the sand / Tropical drink melting in your hand / We'll be falling in love / To the rhythm of a steel drum band. Kind of sums up the beach experience, doesn’t it? I echo those sentiments in a back and forth between the main characters in my latest release (and the ultimate beach read, btw), Love At High Tide:

“Will you think less of me if I order something completely frou frou, like a piña colada?”

“A girly drink for a gorgeous girl. Nothing wrong with that.”

“Uh huh. I see that smirk. Remember, I’m on vacation. I get to indulge in as many slushy drinks and salty chips as my heart desires.”

“Good to know you’ve set up some rules for your vacation.”

“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. Because I DARE you not to bop along with this song and dance on the sand. Really. I dare you!

“Soak Up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow. The title alone should be self-explanatory. Talk about feel-good, sunshine-y energy.

“California Gurls” by Katy Perry. Okay, I’ll admit to a tiny prejudice. Although I am a proud Marylander, I did grow up in Los Angeles. But it isn’t ex-hometown pride – these lyrics truly work with any beach: California girls, we're unforgettable / Daisy dukes, bikinis on top / Sun-kissed skin, so hot / We'll melt your Popsicle.

Obviously, any song about surfing, surfers, the beach (almost the Beach Boys entire catalogue, come to think of it) fits the bill. Happy songs. Well-known songs so that everyone you are with can rock out and sing along. Songs that were a hit in your high school days usually work. But I’m headed to the beach in exactly 31 days, so I want to hear from you. What is on your beach playlist? I’m ready to fill up my iPod with your recommendations!

Darcy Trent is lucky Cooper Hudson is on hand to sweep her off her feet—literally—when she nearly drowns while swimming in the ocean. But life-saving aside, Mr. Perfect's timing stinks: Darcy's career is about to take her to the complete opposite side of the Atlantic. Still, a little summer loving with the tall, blond and sexy former cop is far too tempting to pass up.

When his plans to enter the Secret Service went south thanks to a bum knee, Coop retreated to the family beach house to mull his future. Romance is the last thing on his mind, until he fishes a curvy brunette out of the sea. Now, spending time in Darcy's arms seems like the ideal distraction, even if it is just for a week. 

But with Darcy's departure date fast approaching and their careers on the line, can they realize in time that their beach fling might become the real thing?

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Thanks for the rescue. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I’d still be doing somersaults underwater. In my book, that qualifies you for hero status.”

An unreadable emotion flickered across his eyes so fast she almost missed it. In a low mutter, he said, “Don’t call me a hero.” He hit the hard-packed sand at the edge of the water and stopped walking.

Modest, heroic and gorgeous. And it didn’t take even a fraction of her eight years of training in cultural anthropology to figure out he was attracted to her. They’d long since hit land, and yet he made no move to put her down. Not that she was complaining. She’d happily continue to sit cradled in his arms. It gave her an up-close view of his chiseled cheekbones, sharp enough to etch glass. Her fingers brushed through the salt-spiked tips of his blond hair. No doubt about it: she’d found the man candy Trina had promised. One bite of him would be as sinful and addictive as a chocolate honey truffle.

“Well, I can’t call you Mr. In-The-Right-Place-At-The-Right-Time.” When his lips curled up showing off his dimple, Darcy’s interest kicked up a notch.

“Good point. I’m Cooper Hudson. Coop, to my friends.”

“Darcy Trent.”

“It’s been a long time since I met an ocean virgin.”

“Oh, but only in the aquatic sense, I assure you.” What? Why wave her long-vanished virginity under his nose? Now he probably thought she had the morals of an alley cat. But hearing the hottest man she’d ever seen use the word virgin threw her for a loop. Not the standard nice-to-meet-you conversation, by a long shot.

He flashed an easy smile. “Don’t worry. I hadn’t planned on delivering you as a virgin sacrifice to appease the volcano gods over at the mini-golf course.”

Okay, now Darcy could add funny to the list of his overwhelming awesomeness. Maybe she really had blacked out and was hallucinating her ideal man while unconscious, underwater. What else could explain such perfection?

“Darcy, what happened?” Trina’s yell preceded her appearance in front of them. After a quick yank upward to her scrap of a top, she rested her hand on Darcy’s leg. “Why’s he carrying you? Did you get stung in the foot by a jellyfish? ’Cause if you did, I’ll pee on it. That’ll take the sting away.”

That certainly settled the whole am-I-hallucinating question. Never, ever would Darcy fantasize about her best friend peeing on her. The situation had to be real. And if Trina in all her adorable annoyingness was real, then her hot hero hunk had to be real, too.

To her dismay, Cooper lowered her to the ground.

“Your friend’s fine,” Cooper announced. “A wave almost rolled her, so she’s a little shaken up, but uninjured.”

“You keep your distance,” Darcy warned with a hand raised to keep Trina at arm’s length. “Don’t even think about peeing on me. Not even if I get attacked by an entire school of jellyfish.”

Trina wrinkled her nose. “Okay, but if the situation arises, just remember that I would be willing to make that sacrifice.”

“Friendship is a beautiful thing.” Cooper’s sardonic tone belied the sincerity of his expression.

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 lucky person will win an eBook copy of Love at High Tide

To Enter: 

• Please answer the question: What is on your beach playlist? I’m ready to fill up my iPod with your recommendations! 
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

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