Guest Blogger: Christi Barth

Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise? When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride’s unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise. But she didn't count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago!

Army medic Nate Hyatt never told Zoe goodbye when he enlisted - or the real reason why he dumped her on prom night after a year as high school sweethearts. And he never stopped dreaming about the girl he left behind. Could this voyage be his chance to fix the worst mistake he ever made? After all, a Caribbean cruise should be romantic… if he can convince her to move past ten years of bitterness and hurt.

Once aboard the luxury liner, Zoe befriends a bored Internet mogul with more heart than tact. Nate vents his problems to a ship’s photographer battling PTSD. The four team up on an island hopping treasure hunt. The stakes grow higher with each of Zoe’s mysterious brushes with death. They race to discover why she's a target and who's behind it, while still competing in the treasure hunt.

Zoe’s never gotten over her first love, and is tempted to let Nate back into her life. But she already lost him once. She’s not willing to risk loving a man whose career keeps him in a combat zone. Can Nate breach her defenses and suture her broken heart? Grab a deck chair and see if they survive the stormy relationship seas as they cruise toward love!


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Ahhh, I’m so happy to be under the Tiki Hut. Mostly because I just burned the heck out of my legs at the beach a few weeks ago. When it rains almost every day of vacation, the one day it is sunny, the lure of the unshaded towel is too strong to resist. Anyone else out there peeling from an end of summer beach extravaganza?

When I took my cruise, the same thing happened (sans sunburn). Here’s a picture of our day on the beautiful island paradise of Tortola.  Who knew a day spent hiking a Caribbean rain forest would actually be grey, cloudy and rainy?  The minute we were back on the boat I wrapped myself in layers of towels on a deck chair for warmth…but ordered a piña colada for fun.

Yes, I adore the beach.  No, not because I grew up in Southern California, since I only went to the beach about a total of five times before graduating from high school.  Something about the water just calls to me, hypnotically.  It’s my favorite vacation spot.  However, I only venture out beneath a hat, SPF 50, and an umbrella. (Gosh, I hope my husband never finds out I shared this picture of him with the entire world!).  See my protective sun shirt hanging over the back of the chair?  I tend to go from pale to searingly red in about ten minutes. 

For me, the beach is more of an excuse to read for 8 hours straight.  Right?  Who’s with me?  Which is exactly why I love cruises – they are a built in excuse to read for 7 days straight.  When I decided to write an entire book set on a cruise ship, I sure put my characters through a lot more activity than I’d ever do!  Every once in a while, we deserve to be sloth-like and revel in doing nothing…guilt-free.  Which is exactly why I’m at the Tiki Hut today, where lifting a glass is the sum total of physical activity for me.  So slap on that sunscreen and let me know if you actually do anything at the beach besides reading, eating, and yes, drinking one too many cocktails.  In fact…waiter…I think my glass needs to be topped off…..

Christi is hosting a giveaway of one digital copy of Cruising Toward Love to a lucky commenter.  For more information on Christi’s funny, sexy books, please visit www.christibarth.com

Comments

J.L. Campbell said…
Nice to meet you Christy. Ya know, it's amazing that those of us who live near a beach - think island - almost never spend time there. *Hangs head in shame* A cruise does sound like just the thing though. With all that slothful lying around, is it any wonder the fat creeps up after a week?
Linda G. said…
I totally agree about the slothful reading -- and your book sounds like a perfect way to indulge in it, Christy! Best of luck with your writing. :)
Unknown said…
Good to meet you, Christi. I do so agree about the beach being for reading. Cruises too. 'Cruising Toward Love' sounds like a fun read!
LR said…
Beach, cocktails... Bliss. :)
Christi Barth said…
Whew - our power's been out, so I'm as hot as if I were on the beach right now! The beauty of cruises is that you can eat as much as you want, with lots of walking on the shore excursions and an amazing gym on board. Guilt-free indulgence!
Luanne G. Smith said…
A cruise would scare me. I have a huge fear of the ocean. But your novel sounds fun! I'd read it on terra firma under an umbrella. :)
Anonymous said…
Its great to meet Christi! We are planning a Disney cruise sometime for next year. My first. looking forward to that! Have a great week!
Anonymous said…
Its great to meet Christi! We are planning a Disney cruise sometime for next year. My first. looking forward to that! Have a great week!
Carol Kilgore said…
Yikes, Christi, I hope it's not as hot where you are as it is here. We're topping 100 again today.

Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by.
Mason Canyon said…
Christi, your book sounds like a fun read at the beach or even in front of a fire on a cold night. Wishing you much success.

Carol, try and stay cool day. Keep telling yourself, it will get cooler (someday). :)

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason
Unknown said…
Chilling out at the beach when I visit in-laws. The big hat, sun glasses and a good book--that is my idea. I too burn easily (or freckle) as fair skinned as I am. But I do like the idea of a pina colada or mai tai with the fruit and umbrella toothpick! :)

Sounds like a great book Christi! Best of luck to you! ;)
Isis Rushdan said…
What a fun book. I don't really enjoy cruises, but your book sounds like perfect vacation reading.
Ciara said…
Sounds like a great read. After dancing on a cruise ship for an entire summer, 'storms' and 'cruising' make me cringe. :) I never had relationship storms though, so that is much better. I'm going to check it out.
Christi Barth said…
Wow - let me clarify: while this would make a great beach read, it is far more versatile than that! I don't want anyone rushing out and booking a cruise tonight just to read my book - althought maybe I should've thought of that and worked up a promotion with Celebrity Cruises:) I promise it can be enjoyed in bed, completely landlocked, while waiting in a doctor's office, or even in an office cafeteria!
Anonymous said…
I love doing nothing by the water. So relaxing.

Cruising Toward Love looks like an interesting read. Thanks for introducing me to Christi, Carol.
Janet, said…
Your books sounds like a good, interesting read. Good luck with it. If I went to the beach, I would probably walk in the sand along the shore line and look for shells.
Christi Barth said…
I grew up in Los Angeles, and loved looking for shells in the tidepools. Sadly, as much as I now adore living in MD, our beaches have zero shells. Pretty sand dunes, but no shell collecting. Pick up a few for me, Janet!
Tami Brothers said…
Hi Christi! Love that cover.

Only been on one cruise (for my 10th wedding anniversary). We sailed through a hurricane. NOT fun. I'd like to try it again some day. But I'll be sure to pick a better time of year. :)

Tami
Carol Kilgore said…
Thanks for stopping by everyone. And Christi, thanks for being a great guest host here Under the Tiki Hut. Good luck with your book!
Talli Roland said…
Slothful reading is the best! Christi, I must add your book to my TBR pile!

Hi Carol! :)
BECKY said…
Hi Christi! Glad you had fun Under the Tiki Hut! Carol is the best host, isn't she? Your book looks like a fun read. Ahhh...so many books, so little time. And speaking of time, I could sure use about 10 days of slothing...anywhere, but the beach would be wonderful! Best of luck with your book!
Christi Barth said…
Thanks to everyone who stopped by. I hope you all carve out a little virtual beach time to enjoy my book!

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