Barefoot in White (The Barefoot Bay Series)

For me this was a very touching listen bring the past forward and overcoming it. One family with so much hurt and pain that needs to heal become whole. Willow has her reason for turning to food and adding the pounds she has finally overcome that in doing so she has walked not only away from her past changed her name but her family and friends. When her old college crush walks back into her life but doesn’t know who she is as he hits on her she is crushed again. One night years ago she promised him everything she had as he turned and walked away from her. She never got over that night it changed her in more ways than one. Years later she has started up a new business, made new friends and lost a ton of weight. She has finally got control of her life or has she…..The author gives a wonderful story of overcoming, forgiving, finding one self, finding what is truly important as she gives you a story of pain, sorrow, as not only Willow and Nick learn to love but her family as well.What I loved about this book was the humor, smiles the author gave me with wonderful characters. Each of us has a weakness just a Willow does she shows us it is hard work but everything can be overcome as we deal with issues to make our lives better. I loved Willow with her attitude, her love for life how she learned to deal to make her world a better place for her. She is strong but weak which makes her easy to relate to. Nick is totally a wonderful man overcoming his hearing loss trying to find a place in the world. He is a gentle man who stand up for his beliefs who is strong, protective, tries to do what is right even if it means he will lose the one thing that is the most important to him. I adored Willows father with his wonderful sense of humor always giving the ear to listen as he works his magic to give logic to his daughter. Willows mother was a trying character but I did grow to like her. I adored Willows friends they are so giving and protective of Willow. For me this book made me sad as it made me smile. I even laughed a few times.Dara Rosenberg as a narrator did a good job some of the voices didn’t change enough or at all but I still knew who was saying what. She did put the emotions into her voice you could hear the pain, excitement, sorrow and joy. Her voice is easy to listen to and I would enjoy listen to her narrating other stories. She pulled me in with her calming tones and her excited ways she hit the correct tones each time for the scene she was telling at the time.I totally loved the scene where Willow meets Nick after so many years as he comes out of the shower and totally naked. Nick with his bad singing just made him hotter to me and some I could relate to. The characters are very down to earth and very loveable. With so many people dealing with the same issues I found the story to be believable and loveable. The author gives you some very heated moments from some very over heated characters. There is passion that is pretty hot leaving Willow confused at times. Nick tries his best to do what is right but Willow just doesn’t understand anything only that he turned her down again. Nick and Willow bond as their relationship grows each trusting the other with their deep darkest secrets which brings them closer as they overcome their fears together. The author throws a twist in the mix which could tear down their new found relationship before it has a chance to grow. Not all things are as they seem as the author takes you one a exciting ride along the shores of Barefoot Bay to a wonderful thrilling ending. I loved this story. This is the first I have read/listen to of this author I can’t wait to read/listen to the next book in this series.

This is a hard book for me to review. It was well written, and I got super involved in the characters of Willow, her friends, her family, and Nick Hershey. There were times I was borderline crying as I read this book I was so emotionally involved. I felt really sorry for Willow, growing up as the overweight child of a supermodel and famous rock star. Her mother made it pretty obvious how she felt about her daughter's weight and Willow has chosen to have very little of a relationship with her mother. Her dad was okay, but I guess due to his love for her mother, never really stood up for her.Her mother has a near death experience, and now wants to reconcile with Willow, who, coincidentally, is now down 120 pounds and skinny. I can't help but wonder if she would still be all "Willow is so beautiful" if Willow was still fat. At one point, her mom pulls out a picture of fat Willow and says she was pretty, but that is about it.And of course, the guy that rejected her when she was fat, Nick, and who she has to practically BEG throughout the book to have sex with her throughout the book, is now interested when Willow is coincidentally, skinny.I just felt like Willow got a raw deal. It sounds like her mother was a nightmare and really put Willow's self confidence in the crapper. And I felt like Nick, when it came down to it, did what Willow's dad always did and took her mother's side. And although her mother did apologize for her behavior to Willow growing up, that stuff doesn't just GO away. And also, it is okay to cut yourself off from toxic family members, but it seems like no one in Willow's life could understand that or support that.I don't know, maybe I am just extra sensitive to someone with weight issues and an over critical mother, but I wish Willow had gotten more support from her father and from Nick. Part of me wanted the book to end with Willow telling all of them to go screw themselves while she rode off into the sunset with a hot pool guy or something.Anyway, this is probably the most rambling review ever, but the book was well-written, super emotional, but I think the main character, Willow, deserved more from the people that love her than what she got in this book and it really rubbed me the wrong way.

This is a first book in a new series by the awesome author Roxanne St. Claire.. the story revolves around Nick Hershey and Willow Ambrose... oh boy what an impassioned story... Willow and Nick both have serious and secret pasts they have to overcome before they can go forward with their lives .. This story tore at my heart.. it is so whimsical in places.. sorrowful.. and oh so hot and sexy.. it is heart stopping.. It made me cry.. the chemistry between them sizzles....Would Nick ever make love to her or will it always be foreplay!!! will the past come to break them or will it make them a couple.. will love conquer everything... I detest spoilers so you will have to read to find out outcome of the story.. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.. so looking forward to the other books in the series

Yes again ,Roxanne St Claire brings a heart warming, renchting and tearing heart's, she twists and turns making the pit so easy to turn the pages, the threads of days, weeks ,months and years, with heartache and sorrow.... But hopefully are going/gone by to the happy conclusion where hoping for.... the ever hopeful of a happy ending on the golden beaches of mimosa bay.....

Willow has self esteem problems in her early years her mother a control freak made her life shell she was a fashion designer willow her daughter she called dull willow upset piled on pounds of weight she finally escaped her mum's put downs and a new life begins she control her food intake became a beautiful woman she met up with a college friend who had let her down as she thought true love developed but her mother traps him into helping her get to willow they break up both have regrets both found true love but soon love and happiness finds them

This is a good start to a new series, I did find myself comparing the story with Nora Roberts wedding planner series but am pleased to say that didn't last very long. There are second changes, facing your past and hope mixed into this story. And then there's the question of if Willow will finally loose her virginity and how will Nick react when faced with telling her the truth to protect her or lie to make her face her past.

Willow was a fat person in the past. Ona her mum is very convincing when she wants to make things right with her daughter. Nick is only in Cassa blanca resort because Misty his friends twin sister is meant to be getting married. Willow and her two friends are wedding planners. A good read.